IN THE WORKS!
See
Rule- An Exhaustive Study
By D.M.M. 10-22-15
The Lord has led me to study “rule”. It’s been shown to me that it is a spiritual gift according to Romans 12:8. An exhaustive word study was conducted using Strong’s Concordance and Bible passages corresponding to the following words: “administered”, “administration/s”, “bishop”, “head/s”, “oversee”, “overseer/s”, “govern”, “government/s”, “governor/s”, “guide/s”, “judge/s”, “lead”, “leader/s”, “leadeth”, “led”, “reign”, “reignest”, “reigneth”, “rule”, “ruled”, “ruler/s”, “ruleth”, “dominion/s”, “prince/s”, “principality/ies”. The following points are noted as being worthy of further remark, and employ the same numbering as my longhand notes:
”ADMINISTERED”
1.) Administration of assets, II Corinthians 8:19-20 “What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.” In my exhaustive study I employ a running spread sheet in my longhand notes. This spreadsheet has column headings containing descriptors of what I perceive as important to that particular gift being studied. For the gift of “rule” I used the column heading descriptors of “Type”, “Minister”, “Those being ministered to”, and “Comments”. In this first entry, the running spread sheet immediately did its job, and brought out an important aspect of the gift of rule. In any aspect of Christian rule/ administration, financial or people skills, or Christian, labor or any effort by Christ’s Church, we must consider that such things are assets owned by the Lord. Paul points out two important perspectives of his administration of any gift by a Christian leader:
a) Our rule should “honor the Lord Himself”.
b) We should “avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift”. Lately, I’ve been perceiving how much the Lord is hard at work in his Church, even and especially when the Christian workers are getting things all fouled up. But the Lord is patient and seeks to use our efforts to advance his Kingdom Work, in spite of our carnality and worldliness. The Lord even wants to reward us for our efforts, however much we have run afoul. “Love covers over a multitude of sins”- I Peter 4:8. So, given our propensity toward carnality, even in spiritual things, we need to know that the Lord is doing practically all of the work, and honor the Lord in our small contribution, and be careful to avoid criticism in the way we deal with the Lord’s work.
“HEAD”
3.) Headship Defined, Genesis 49:26, “Your father’s (Jacob’s) blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.” These blessings were not just from Jacob, but were also from Almighty God, and they all rest on the head of Joseph, not at his feet, or his shoulders, but upon his head. The shoulders speak of a man’s own power. The feet speak of what a man is standing upon. The head speaks of a man’s mind- his decisions, his intellect, his cerebral abilities. Jacob points out Joseph’s abilities to make decisions based upon the Lord’s will in verses 22-25: “With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms remained limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob”. And, I’m reminded that the anointing oil was poured upon the head of those being anointed- Genesis 29:7, Psalm 23:5, etc.. This tells me that the Holy Spirit blesses and affects the mind and intellect of the one being anointed- historically in the Old Testament, such were rulers and prophets, who must use their minds to sort out and do their God given tasks. This anointing can, of course, be said for all of us, I John 2:27. (This anointing of all believers, speaks about the anointing of the Holy Spirit through teaching, which targets mental and cerebral processes. And, such anointing again speaks of an anointing of one’s head and mind.) But rulers and prophets have specific God given tasks for which the Lord gave them their grace gifts of rule and prophecy- which are, of course, an anointing different yet similar to the grace gifts apportioned by the Lord Jesus to each believer- Ephesians 4:7. The Lord wants to bless his own by making us the head not the tail- Deuteronomy 28:13, and Isaiah 9:14. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know a master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15.
4.) Family Head, Numbers 1:4, “One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you.” So, we see that a head of a family is recognized as usually being a responsible person. And, we see, in I Timothy 3:5 and Titus 1:6, that a local Christian elder is required to manage his family well. Here are some other verses in which heads of families are mentioned:
a) Exodus 6:14&25, “These were the heads of their families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben. … These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.” From this I see that each grandson of Israel became the head of his own clan. And each grandson of Levi became the head of his own family.
b) It is noted in I Chronicles 9:13 that Old Testament priests were also heads of families.
c) Also see: Joshua 21:1, 22:14; I Chronicles 5:23-24; 7:2,7&40; 8:6,10,13&28; 9:13; 12:27&32.
5.) Tribe head, Numbers 17:6-13, “ So, Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony. The next day Moses entered the tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them and each man took his own staff. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.’ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. The Israelites said to Moses, ‘We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?’”. The Lord had caused the Earth to swallow up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with all their families, and the Lord had consumed with fire the 250 insolent men who tried to offer incense before the Lord (Numbers 16:1-40); then another 14,700 people died of the plague before Aaron and Moses could make atonement for the assembly before God- because the Israelites still grumbled against God and Moses. Then the Lord told Moses how to show the Israelites that Aaron would be selected before all the leaders of each tribe- by causing Aaron’s staff to bud. We see herein the great weakness of the old nature/ carnality of mankind. This is the same carnality that we, in this age, have to contend with, both in ourselves and others. Oh, how easy it would have been for Israel to just obey God’s commands and accept God’s authority working through Aaron and Moses. But, looking back with 20-20 hindsight, it just seemed impossible for such carnal people to do so. Truly the flesh wars against the Spirit of God- Ephesians 5:17. And, my old fleshly nature isn’t any less dead than anyone else’s old, carnal nature. This carnality is amazing in its ability to blind men to God. I mean, look at this statement from God’s chosen people, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?” Even amongst the believers there can be a wide gap between being saved and walking closely with the Lord (Galatians 5:16). This is why the Lord would have us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”- II Peter 3:18. And, I must add, after retiring from local government after twenty years, that, one easy way to recognize God’s grace working around you is to recognize how the Lord works through governmental authority. “There is no authority except that which God has established”-Romans 13:1. In addition, the Scripture teaches that the Lord works through other authorities- parents, elders and deacons, the authority of God’s Word and his Holy Spirit, Godly teachers, employers, etc. Here are some other verses in which heads of tribes are mentioned:
a) Exodus 6:14&25, “These were the heads of their families: The sons of Ruben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Ruben.” … “These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.” Although the word “tribe” isn’t mentioned in these passages, the clan heads are given as the sons of each of Israel’s sons. So, the tribe heads were the clan heads at that point. And, I note that there were no women mentioned as heads. The teaching of Scripture is that men are to be the heads of households. Now, we know that this is contrary to what the world, in general, now teaches. And the roll of men as heads of households is further confounded by the breakup of marriages in the modern era. So, now women are forced to be the financial heads of households, and some businesses still would like to traditionally pay men more, since they historically should be the heads of households. The government now says, no, we must pay women and men equally. How can we argue with the government on this issue when men are not supporting their family, and the women usually are working full time- in the case of a broken family? What a mess has ensued from the sins that brought about such family breakups. The fix for this won’t be easily applied to the world in general, but we Christians should insist upon the Scripture standard. Kudos to all the Christian family teaching groups: Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, etc.. And, we all should readily question, “Do we now see the new freedom lady proposed by the women’s lib groups of the 60’s and 70’s? Or, has this always been just more lies from satan to befuddle the lost and stumble the weak Christian- man and woman?” I think the latter!
b) Numbers 1:4-16, “One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. … These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.” So, at this point, the leadership is trimmed down to one man from each tribe, and each was a clan head. This is also seen in Numbers 7:2.
c) Also see: Numbers 13:1-17, 30:1; Deuteronomy 5:23; I Kings 8:1; I Chronicles 27:16; II Chronicles 5:2.
So, God is a person of order, not disorder (I Corinthians 14:33&40), and He establishes and uses his power through earthly leaders (Romans 13:1-7). Though some of these earthly, and even Christian, leaders can be in error, we should recognize and revere God’s authority, and we ought to be able to see how the Lord blesses and protects us through these authorities. Also see Titus 3:1.
8.) Head of nations, Joshua 11:10-23, “At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword.” (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anything that breathed, and he burned up Hazor itself. … So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and He gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.” So, Hazor acted as head of the nations, yet the authority was actually the Lord’s. And, since these nations acted so abominably- Deuteronomy 18:12, the Lord told Israel and its leaders to totally destroy all of them. Please also see the following “Head of Nations” passages:
a) Deuteronmy 15:6. Israel as head of nations. Also Hosea 1:11.
b) Psalms 18:43. David as head of nations.
9.) Voluntary agreement of headship, Judges 10:18, “The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, ‘Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all those living in Gilead’”. Evidently the Lord approved of this agreement because “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jepthah” (Judges 11:29), and he crossed over into Ammon and defeated them. Also see Judges 11:8-11. Also, sometimes we agree to work for others because we have no choice. “The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.”- Proverbs 22:7. In fact, the entire middle class in America and the world is set up around this type of agreement in headship. In the Church we should submit to the authority of God through the elders and deacons. However, when we see errors, and there are many, we have to be careful. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”- Galatians 6:1&2. These sins that seek to stumble Christians, can be errors of teaching, so elders sometimes need to be corrected. The correction of an elder requires the presence of two or three witnesses- I Timothy 5:19&20.
11.) God as Head, I Chronicles 29:10-14, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; and You are exalted as Head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.’ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from your hand.” I remember a week of meetings years ago, and we had to start our attendance by memorizing this verse. And, my old friend who was an executive for a very large corporation came to meeting without memorizing it. The preacher for that week of meetings warned us that he would arbitrarily call upon people to recite, and they’d be asked to leave if not ready. And, sure enough the executive was asked to leave the meeting. Next meeting he had it down pat, but wasn’t called upon. I know why the preacher had us memorize this passage. It’s obvious to all who read it. The passage forces us to put God in the correct perspective, and to express in our mind and from our lips who He really is. And, I am reminded that this is why the Lord would have us to express “hallowed be thy name” when we pray! How can God not be the Head of all of his creation? The molecules themselves are subject to his conscious will at all times, lest they fly apart! (Regarding Christ as consciously holding the world together, please see Items#15e, 41f&g, 82, &180 of the Word of Knowledge Section, and Items# 17f2, 21d, & 50b of the Healings Section). Here are some more verses expressing God as head:
a) Ephesians 1:19-23. “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” The Lord wants us to realize who our Head is (Christ), and to realized Christ’s awesome position and power. And, also I note that not only does Christ consciously hold all things together, but He also “fills everything in every way”. Filling everything in every way is a concept so huge that it can barely be described. But, suffice to say, Christ makes things work out according to his will. As an example, He causes the sub-atomic and molecular particles making up a tree to function as a tree. Then he causes that tree to interact with wind, water, soil, animals and plants to function within his forests- which in turn function within his planet and his solar system and creation. So, when we and others perceive God in his creation or in a situation, if we also consider Christ as holding molecules together and filling everything in every way, we then perceive even more of God’s position and roll in a given situation- including our own bodies and lives.
b) Ephesians 4:15-16. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” This passage in the middle of Ephesians 4 (verses 11-24), usually throws me for a loop. I usually immediately conclude that the clergymen have tried to settle upon one of the least of the gifts listed in verse 11 (shepherding, and they don’t really do that), and have usually badly missed the life calling which Christ is aiming at for them. Then, because of that, a group usually called the laity is encouraged to do nothing except menial task work and put money in the bag each Sunday (even though the scripture specifically commands all to “eagerly desire the greater gifts”- I Corinthians 12:31). But this time, as I am caused to reconsider this Ephesians 4 passage. I see a glimmer of light which I hadn’t recognized before; and through this concept of Christ as the Head I’m recognizing this nugget of scripture for the pure gold that it really is. You see, I perceived that each part is not growing and building itself up in love, and I concluded that each part has not been allowed to do its work “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ might be built up”- Ephesians 4:12. To me, I had hoped that if this teaching of grace power would take hold, then perhaps the Lord’s Church would begin to build itself up and prepare God’s people to do great things for Christ. (And, this is actually what Paul was praying to be accomplished in his prayers cited in Ephesians 1:17-21.) However, since I am forced to consider that Ephesians 4:15&16 is a prophecy of growing “up into Him who is the Head”, and since I am forced also to look at the prophecy that “from Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”, I get hopeful. So, prophecy and the concept of growing up into Him who is the Head is something that we must look at carefully to get its meaning. But once I got its meaning, that this is a prophecy not a suggestion, I now have much more hope for Christ’s Church, in its ability to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”- II Peter 3:18. Of, course, the reason for this hope is that the Head, Christ, is alive and fully functioning even though some of the other parts almost seem lifeless. But, I know that with Christ all things are possible. He can even preach to dry bones and bring them to life (and so can we)- Ezekiel 37:4. See Item#d below, and Item#2c of the Mercy Section.
c) Colossians 1:15-20. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And he is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” We’re reminded of Christ’s pre-eminence even in creation, which occurred before the Lord Jesus walked this earth as a man.
d) Colossians 2:9,10&19. “For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority.” “He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” See #b above- it’s a prophecy!. So, our Head is Christ, and if we seek to go back under Law or merely keep up with other religious people, then we also will lose connection with the Head. We would lose connection because we would be doing what we see as religiously appropriate, rather than walking with the King. And it is our Head, Jesus Christ, who is working among the seven golden candlesticks, his Church (Revelation 1:20), to cause us to grow up into Him because we are his Body. WHAT FOLLOWS HEREIN IS A REVELATION THAT I RECEIVED CONCERNING THE “BLAZING EYES” OF OUR LORD JESUS, as described in Revelation 1:14. I was wondering and asking the Lord if I should even include this account in this Grace Study, since some readers may take it the wrong way- fleshly. I felt the revelation fortifies the statement that the growth of the Church into Christ as Head is a prophecy, not a suggestion; and it also helps to explain how this prophecy will come about, and helps us to understand those “blazing eyes” of the Lord Jesus. So, I searched for a place to insert this revelation within Rule, regarding growing into Christ as the Head. And lo and behold, I found that I had already started a discussion on this regarding the Lord Jesus walking among the seven golden candlesticks. The discussion was already started herein in Item#11. So, from my personal notes, herein is said revelation. I HAD RECEIVED A DREAM REGARDING A VICTORIAN AGE GEOGRAPHER , WHICH URGED ME TO PUSH ON WITH THIS GRACE STUDY. (See the dream in the Additional Remarks Section.) About a week later I was in my new truck, in my driveway at dusk with my headlights shining on my garage door (2-28-18 or so). I was talking on my phone with a young Christian friend. (Revelation 1:14, “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire”- the One who walks amidst the seven golden candlesticks.) As I was speaking I was trying to think how I could exhort this still fairly young man to grab hold of his gifts and grow in that grace and knowledge of our Lord (II Peter 3:18 ). In an instant, even while I was still speaking to my friend, (and I never even broke cadence while speaking), I was seeing, as it were, from the blazing eyes of the Lord Jesus. At first I saw through black scales covering my eyes, and the scales began to crack as blazing fire was generated from inside my eyes and burned through the scales, making the cracks disappear, as if being burned by a torch- not melting, but just being blasted through. Somehow I immediately knew that I was experiencing how Christ saw the Earth through his blazing eyes of fire. His vision not only blasted off the black scales of my eyes, but the blasting light and fire was seemingly penetrating all of the surface of the Earth, and the people and the buildings, and all the worldly goings on of this planet , seven times brighter than the sun, even though it was still night time where I live in Illinois. But I was experiencing the entire Earth being set ablaze by this great Spirit light, which was proceeding from Christ’s blazing eyes. (It was a vision from Christ.) Somehow I understood that Christ wanted his Church to do more through their grace gifts. He wants us to be the carriers of this blazing fire light, and consuming the entire Earth and totally burning through and overcoming the darkness of men’s flesh with his glory and truth. (Force them in, Luke 14:23). Well, I did exhort my friend to do greater things for Christ, but later I had to stop and think about what just happened, and what that blazing fire sight was all about. So, I decided to somehow chronicle that event so as not to lose it in my memory, which I just chronicled herein. And, also this is an encouragement to me, in this 68 year old flesh of mine, to keep pushing myself in this Grace Study-and that, yes, the Lord still wants me to proceed on this. But the question that stands out like the elephant in the room is, “What does the Lord want you to do?”
14.) “Symbolic headship” as reality, I Corinthians 11:3-12, “Now I want you to realize that the Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman s the man, and the Head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophecies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head- it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the image and glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. “ To view this as symbolic headship, as many do, is incorrect. If you’d like your Christianity to fit on the back pages of the Wall Street Journal, and be perfectly acceptable to the World, then this is symbolic headship. But if your reality is Christ’s throne and you are looking for that city not made with hands, then this is true headship. And, Christ’s throne is inarguably the true authority in your life and far above the authorities/principalities in this World. And, you dare not approach Christ’s throne in prayer having your head covered, because you know that because of Christ’s sacrifice you actually are before Christ’s throne while praying (Hebrews 10:19-20)- so for a man to approach God’s throne with head covered is a denial of the efficacy of the cross. It doesn’t matter if you’re praying in the local sanctuary, or in a closet, or in a public arena. And, if you’re a woman before God’s throne in prayer or in prophecy, the Scripture says cover your head in respect for the angels and other authorities. And, this is for today, as it was for those approaching God’s throne in 65 AD, when the Corinthians Scripture was written. Has Christ’s throne changed, because of the doubts and corruptions that are in the World? I think not! Judge for yourselves; are you really approaching God’s throne in prayer through the power of Christ’s atoning sacrifice? Or are you merely tossing words into the air with the hopes that maybe those words will come true? I conclude most believers do understand that we are before God’s throne when we pray. Then why would a believer act like he or she is not before God’s throne in prayer by not following the Scripture regarding head coverings?! I think the answer to my own quandary is that we walk in the flesh too much, and the reality of Christ becomes just a warm cozy feeling, rather than a close and continual walk. Many don’t realize, and even deny, that we are already seated with and in Christ in the heavenly realms- Ephesians 2:6. Many, including myself, have not received the answer to Paul’s prayers in Ephesians 1:17-19, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Now, the same case regarding head coverings during prayer is also true during prophecy by both men and women. The Scripture says, “Every man who prays or prophecies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head- it is just as though her head were shaved. What’s left is for us to realize that prophecy also occurs before God’s throne. Since God is continually seated at his throne, it is not possible for his Word of prophecy to proceed from Him through us, unless such Word proceeds from his throne. Since it is difficult for us to understand the workings of God’s mighty power continually proceeding from his throne, we don’t easily discern that prophecy also proceeds from his throne. Moreover, it’s difficult for us on earth to understand God’s throne and its organization and its structure; and how the Father, the Son, the Spirit, the Saints, and the angels are seated and function before and through the power of his throne. However, God has made it very simple for us. The Scripture says men are to have their head uncovered before his throne during prayer and prophecy, while the women are to have their head covered. I conclude that headship is actually concerning the throne and power of God. Since we know that all power proceeds from God (Romans 13:1), then as in the case of prophecy, how can any power or prophecy not be proceeding from God’s throne? So, we show our reverence and understanding of God’s mighty throne by practicing true headship by not only submitting to Godly authorities, but also respecting God’s throne with the teachings of head coverings. And, this is not symbolic headship but true headship, and true submission to God’s authority- which is the only true authority. The following passages also teach headship:
a) Ephesians 4:11-16, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” This is a core principle of this Grace Study, because this Grace Study helps the Body to grow up into the fullness that is in Christ- our Head. See also Item#11b, above.
b) Ephesians 5:22-33, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the Church, his body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the Church— for we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” So, it is obvious that Godly headship comes with a price. An administrator is required to commit his time and efforts to the ones being led. He is not to merely take, take, take as was the case of the bad shepherds of Ezekiel 34, but headship requires much giving, especially spending time- and actual performance, not just occupying a title.
c) Colossians 1:17&18, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” Sometimes we hear the term, “Get real!”- meaning that some person seems out of touch with reality. Well, when we practice symbolic headship such as head coverings/ uncoverings during prayer or prophecy, or merely honoring our parents or supervisors, or dare I say standing to respect our flag/ government, or merely taking a meek and humble stance when others are having a blowout, then we are practicing the reality of Christ. And, the angels and the demons and our obedient Lord Jesus can see what we’re doing; then our Lord will not only bless us, but also He will actually work through us- and the end result of that will be eternal rewards, “gold, silver, and precious stones” (I Corinthians 3:12).Gold speaks of being the actual right hand of God; see also Prophecy Section Item#53. Silver speaks of our work in the redemptive/ salvation process in Christ’s work (Numbers 18:15-16). Precious stones speak of costly things which we accomplished for the Lord which will stand the test of God’s judgment and for which a rich reward will be given for each of these costly individual works- as opposed to wood, hay, and stubble which will not stand through the fire of Christ’s judgment (II Corinthians 5:10).
15.) Organizational structures, Exodus 18:24-26, “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.” So Moses chose capable men to be leaders; and they were from Israel, not from the surrounding towns. And, there was a hierarchy to this work of governing with the more difficult decisions brought to Moses. The following are other passages from which we can glean insight into the facets of the organizational structure usually necessary for practicing the gift of “rule”:
a) Deuteronomy 1:13-17, “’Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from your tribes, and I will set them over you.’ You answered me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’ So I took the leading men from your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you- as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens and as tribal officials. And I charged your judges at that time: hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you and I will hear it.” It’s a well-known fact that the laws and judicial decrees within the United States government are based on the laws handed down to us from Europe, particularly England. And, we can conclude that many such legal concepts originated in the Bible, such as: 1) “What you propose to do is good”- This verse cites agreement among the governed to accept this new government. It’s a very brief agreement to the constitution of the statement. 2) “Commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens and as tribal officials”. This speaks of delegation of authority down to the smallest groups. That phrase “and as tribal officials” seems insignificant, but I estimate that eventually Israel would have more tribal officials than delegated leaders- as is usually the case in government. 3) “Whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them is an alien”. The question of purview comes up here. What about a case between two aliens? What cases should they not hear? 4) “Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from your tribes, and I will set them over you.” Who chooses the judges, and what are their term limits? Who removes them in case of corruption? 5) “Bring me any case too hard for you and I will hear it.” This leads to a hierarchy among the courts, and such a highest Court exists in the USA, that is SCOTUS- Supreme Court of the US.
b) Joshua 23:1-8, “After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, summoned all Israel- their elders, leaders, judges and officials,- and said to them: I am old and well advanced in years. You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake: it was the Lord your God who fought for you. Remember how I have allotted for an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain- … Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God as you have until now.” From this passage, and from the similar passage in Joshua 14:1-2, I note one of the most important facets of any organizational structure, which is communication. Instead of merely making a statement to a large crowd, Joshua gathered Israel’s leaders as well. Then these leaders could help explain what was said and to seek to judge and lead the people based on what was said. Also see Item#16 below regarding communications through organization.
c) I Kings 5:15&16, “Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stone cutters in the hills, as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workmen.” As a former construction engineer, I’m enthralled by the size of this stone cutting and transporting operation. And, we see that 150,000 men supervised by 3,300 foreman comes to 1 foreman per 45 men on average. Since these would need to be highly skilled workmen this would make sense. Of course, if you research the building of Solomon’s Temple, you’ll find that no one can figure out how such massive stones were moved. Solomon insisted that no stone would be dressed onsite. So, we see that such an organizational structure was necessary for performing such a large scale task. These foremen would have been responsible for keeping a tally for wages, and for making sure the workers are supplied with materia, tools, and other supplies, as well as meeting together to coordinate efforts.
d) I Chronicles 13:1-4, “David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.” Here we see David, soliciting agreement from those he ruled, to bring the ark back to Israel. He is helping these people be blessed by the Lord by allowing them to help serve the Lord- since they agreed with that work. And he’s able to rule with unity of purpose, which may later elicit agreement on a more questionable issue. Nice leadership ploy! See Item#43d below.
e) I Chronicles 27:1-2, “This is the list of the Israelites- heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24000 men. In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam son of Abdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division. He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.” This passage says that each division was on duty one month of the year, and I presume that those not on duty got to go home the other 11 months. This is an effective way to keep a large army trained and ready to go for less cost to the nation. Many local assemblies operate this way with certain deacons to be on duty certain months of the year to get various basic functions accomplished, such as special dinners, or gatherings, or even building and outside maintenance, and even visiting the sick or needy- (but, shepherding should be done by all mature Christians under whose feet God has placed such sheep, I Peter 5:2).
f) II Chronicles 19:4-11, “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshephat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the Law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: ‘You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your fellow country-men who live in the cities- whether blood-shed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances- you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; other-wise his wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will not sin. Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage and may the Lord be with those who do well.’” These were awesome judges, fearing the Lord, serving wholeheartedly, warning people not to sin, who operated with no injustice or partiality or bribery. In America today, we speak of Judeo-Christian values. Well, this is where the Law came into practice. And this is where law is practiced in America today, in Court decisions. “Case law is the law!”, is what an old attorney acquaintance once told me. Until a law gets out into the public and is ruled on by a high level Court, there is no judicial precedence; and the law remains a vague concept subject to interpretation by just about anyone. In fact many laws can die in rules committees and never come out of such meetings, even though signed by the appropropriate branches of government- I and many others have experienced that phenomenon. Of course today, in the USA, no one dares mention sin or the Lord, and fear of the Lord sounds to most like an abuse of civil rights. And, of course, American society reflects the case law dished out to us by the Courts, which are run for the most part by ungodly attorneys. Abortion, slow trials for even violent criminals, express divorces, public sodomy, and lately a movement to prosecute police for defending themselves, all are proceeding from judicial decisions. And much of this is brought about by judges pressured to make partisan political decisions- stemming from those politicians who put them in office. Such is the failure of democracy as a means of government, since the government eventually is ruled by demagogues who’ll do or say anything for fear of the vote. As I’m writing this, the state of California is all over the news for allowing what has been termed “the zombie vote”. People, dead for decades, have been voting in California, probably since the beginning of voter registration. I grew up in Chicago, where it was common to have live ballots found floating in the Chicago River a couple days after an election. So, how beautiful do those God fearing, Israelite judges appear to me now?! Such justice won’t be seen again until the Lord Jesus comes to reign. But I conclude their influence on jurisprudence is still existent today, especially in the southern US, often called the Bible Belt. And, I believe this is the primary reason that real estate and business investors are thronging to the Bible Belt states to develop their businesses. Who would deliberately invest their time and effort (aka money) in a system based in blatant partiality, bribery, demagoguery, and injustice? This is a big part of why the Church yearns for the coming of the Lord.
16.) Head of clans, Numbers 10:1-4, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make two trumpets of silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. … If only one is sounded, the leaders- the heads of the clans of Israel- are to assemble before you.” The term clan is properly used by the NIV, but the KJV term “thousands” is more literally translated from the Hebrew word “eleph”, Strong’s[1] number H504, which means the number “1000”. And, these heads were actually considered princes (KJV), see Strong’s number H5387, which could mean captain, governor or prince, or any exalted ruler. So, here is a good example of the expediency of communication through organizations. Also see Item#15b above regarding communications through organization.
17.) Leaders held accountable, Numbers 25:1-14, “While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them. The Lord said to Moses, ’take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.’ So Moses said to Israel’s judges, ‘Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor.’ Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them- through the Israelite and into the woman’s body. Then the Lord stopped the plague against the Israelites; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’ The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family.” So, the Lord was holding the leaders accountable, even unto public execution, for the gross sins of the people. Phinehas, by having the mind of God and taking action, saved the lives of all those leaders. The Lord was angry with Israel’s leadership and was concerned for his own name, by being associated with such carnal leadership. This is why we have discipline in the Church for gross errors. The Moabite debaucheries are included in I Corinthians 5:11- which lists gross errors for which a person should be expelled from a gathering of believers. And, this is why satan is still the prince of this world- because the leadership of this world is still continuously bent toward the evil intrinsic to their fleshly nature (Genesis 6:5-7). Yesterday in the early morn, 2 am, an agent of satan, a Muslim, entered a homosexual nightclub and began shooting as many people as possible. The current death count is 50, with 53 others injured. This world is not ready for the Lord Jesus’ reign. The Lord must first come and catch his Church away, and throw out the existing satanic forces, then he will come to set up his rule for 1,000 years from Jerusalem.
a) Another leader held accountable by God was King Amaziah of Judah, 2 Chronicles 25:7-28, “But a man of God came to him and said, ‘Your majesty, these troops must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel- not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow. Amaziah asked the man of God, ‘But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?’ The man of God replied, ‘The Lord can give you much more than that..’ So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them away. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage. Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that they were all dashed to pieces. Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back, and had not allowed to take part in the war, raided towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder. When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, ‘Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?’ While he was still speaking, the king said to him, ‘Have we appointed you an advisor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?’ So the prophet stopped but said, ‘I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.’ After Amaziak king of Judah consulted his advisors, he sent this challenge to Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: ‘Come let us face each other in battle.’ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: ‘A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?’ Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that He might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim gate to the corner gate- a section of about a hundred cubits long. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace of treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoaz king of Israel. As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. He was brought back by horse and was buried with his ancestors in the City of Judah.” When we consider Israel’s status before God today, we need to consider what verse 7 says, “These troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel- not with any of the people of Ephraim.” I say this because many people ask, “What does the nation of Israel mean to God today?” Well, that’s a difficult question to answer, in that most have rejected and still reject their Messiah. But, we do know that our Messiah will reign for a thousand years from Jerusalem. Halleluhah! And, so we see herein the story of Amaziah, a God fearing king who somehow turned away from following the Lord, and his apostasy brought about his demise. May it not be that any of us should fall into such huge sins like idolatry, that we would fall into such judgments by God.
[1] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Company, 1894 1st publishing) p. 16 of “Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament”.
18.) The leader’s portion, Deuteronomy 33:20-21, “About Gad he said: ‘Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.’” Also, I Timothy 5:17&18 says, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’ So, we see that the leaders, including New Testament Church leaders are worthy of double portions of the material blessings given out by the local assembly. Some church workers, who are on the road continually will actually be 100 % supported by the local gathering/s. These would normally be the apostles and evangelists. See Item#143 of the Teaching Section. We should understand that paying a professional cleric to attempt to do the job that the elders of the Church are supposed to do is not God’s way; and it doesn’t work. How can one cleric shepherd the people God has placed under another elder’s feet (I Peter 5:2)? There’s not enough time in the day. In a thousand person gathering, even with three clerics on staff, the sheep will be scattered (Ezekiel 34:5-21).
19.) Heads of all the Earth, Psalms 110:1-7, “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift his head high.” This passage speaks of the extreme power and majesty of the Lord Jesus, whom David prophesied would sit on the right hand of God and that God would crush “the rulers of the whole Earth”. Of course the Lord Jesus used this passage to explain that David’s offspring was indeed the Messiah, a person of greater stature than David, since David described Him as Lord (Matthew 22:41-45). II Chronicles 9:13&14 states, “The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories brought gold and silver to Solomon. (See also I Kings 10:14-15.) So, we see Solomon’s kingdom, as an extension of David’s reign, to be far superior to the kingdoms of the Earth. And we note that David’s throne will last forever through his prophesied offspring the Messiah. This prophecy is contained in Psalms 110:1, above, and even has its own title- the Davidic Covenant (II Samuel 7:4-17, Psalms 89:3-4, Mark 11:10, John 19:19-22).
20.) Bad leaders, Micah 3:1-12, “Then I said, ‘Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?’ Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. This is what the Lord says: ‘As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.’ But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.’ Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.” Well, obviously our leaders of today are also practicing some of the above noted practices. The passage also castigates clergymen who “judge for a bribe”, “teach for a price”, and “tell fortunes for money”. “Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” This is why it’s so important to walk day by day and minute by minute with the Lord. I John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” I like a shortened version of this passage which accentuates its reality: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. … For everything in the world … comes not from the Father but from the world.” There were plenty of examples of bad leaders found in Scripture, which are as follows: Leviticus 26:17, I Samuel 15:17, I Kings 8:48, II Chronicles 32:21, Nehemiah 5:7, 15 & 13:11, Psalms 2:2 & 106:41, Proverbs 16:29, 28:15-16 & 29:12, Isaiah 1:10, 9:16 & 14:5-6, Lamentations 5:8, Ezekiel 17:12, Daniel 6:7, John 7:48 & 12:42, Acts 3:17 & 4:5, II Peter 3:17. A survey of these bad leaders, beginning with the Micah verse, produced the following qualities of bad leadership displayed: Also see Item#21 below.
a) Hate good and love evil. Micah 3:1.
b) Prepare to make war against anyone who refuses to feed them. Micah 3:5.
c) Despise justice and distort all that is right. Micah 3:9.
d) Build a nation with bloodshed and wickedness. Micah 3:10.
e) Leaders and officials accept bribes. Micah 3:11.
f) Though they do evil, they claim the Lord is with them. Micah 3:11.
g) Not listen to the Lord, reject his decrees and abhor his laws. Leviticus 26:14-15.
h) Spoils become more precious than obedience to God. I Samuel 15:17.
i) Spoke of the true God of Israel in the same manner as they did of the false gods of other people of the world. II Chronicles 32:19.
j) They did not fear God and did the same sins as the Gentiles- charging exhorbitant interest and taxes. Also, they neglected and disrespected the House of the Lord and its services. Nehemiah 5:9-15, &13:11
k) They do not understand and realize that the Lord rules over all. And they think that they can break their own chains. They defiled themselves by acting just like the idolaters they were among. Psalms 2:2 & 106:32-41.
l) Practicing extortion, & making threats, and listening to lies. Proverbs 28:15-16 & 29:12.
m) Wicked acts coupled with insincere religion. Mislead the people and teach lies. Subdue nations with relentless aggression, and strike down people with unceasing blows. Isaiah 1:10, 9:16 & 14:5-6.
n) Being former slaves, they have no ability to rule. Lamentations 5:8.
o) Get rid of all the leading men in the land. Ezekiel 17:12.
p) Conspire against the believers. Daniel 6:7.
q) Refuse to recognize the Lord Jesus, and persecute Christians. John 7:48 & 12:42.
r) Act without knowing the facts. Refuse to recognize Godly authority. Acts 3:17 & 4:5.
“Bishop”
20a.) Qualifications of bishops, deacons, and overseers, I Timothy 3:1-13, “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” See Item#76 of the Teaching Section for a review of these overseer qualifications. Item#1 of the Shepherding Section defines the terms “elder”, “deacon”, “overseer”, “bishop”, “hireling”, and “pastor”. Each Christian needs to be able to understand and differentiate between these terms. Titus 1:5-9 also lists the qualification of bishops and overseers: “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” This is a nugget in Scripture because the passage clearly shows that an elder is the same as an overseer in God’s household, the local gathering. And, the passage shows that these overseeing elders are the ones who are to be managing the local assembly- not some paid clergyman. Such clear, concise and powerful words! I’ve come to expect such clarity from Scripture; but some, and sometimes I myself, insist on walking in the flesh in obvious resistance to God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Again, see Item#1 of the Shepherding Section. Titus is silent regarding the qualifications of deacons, while in Titus Paul adds “apt to teach” (KJV) to the list regarding overseers. Now each believer should honestly answer this question regarding the leadership of your local gathering, “Is this what’s required and practiced today in your local gathering?” If not, don’t abandon your local church, but seek to correct this, especially through prayer and whatever Spirit gift you have been given. Then watch the Holy Spirit do his work. And, since we are studying the gift of rule, in this section, we should notice that rule of one’s household is already built into the qualifications of elders and deacons, as stated above. And, many elders have had to step down in order to deal with unruly members of their households.
“Govern”
21) Bad rule, I Kings 21:4-19, “Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.’ He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, ‘Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?’ He answered her, ‘Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’’ Jezebel his wife said, ‘Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote: ‘Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.’ So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, ‘Naboth has cursed both God and the king.’ So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent word to Jezebel: ‘Naboth has been stoned to death.’ As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, ‘Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.’ When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’’ We must note that Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, are two of the worst scoundrels in history. Their conduct was disgusting, and their attitude was abhorrent. While being the king and queen of Israel, they were idolaters, and murderers, and used the Lord’s name to justify their conduct and trap their victims (as seen above). Some other notable examples of bad rule are as follows:
a) Judges 15:11-17, “Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, ‘Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?’ (See Item#91 regarding the saddest verse in Scripture.) He answered, ‘I merely did to them what they did to me.’ They said to him, ‘We’ve come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.’ Samson said, ‘Swear to me that you won’t kill me yourselves.’ ‘Agreed,’ they answered. ‘We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.’ So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Then Samson said, ‘With a donkey’s jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey’s jawbone I have killed a thousand men.’ When he finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone; and the place was called Ramath Lehi.” The rulers of Israel were content with the status quo, and as such did not know God- and they were content with bondage rather than blessings from God. (See also the last paragraph of Item#91.)
b) Ezra 9:2, “After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, ‘The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.’ When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice. Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God and prayed: ‘I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’ What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor?’” So, why is this an example of bad rule, because “the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness”. This fact sent Ezra and other faithful believers into weeping prayer before the Lord. Might this kind of weeping prayer for leaders be prevalent in America today!
c) Job 34:17, “Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.” This passage shows that God removes unjust rulers without the work of human hands. However, the passage also shows that the Lord loves justice. See also Item#22 below.
d) Proverbs 19:10, “It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!” Much can be said about this small verse. In America we have a lottery, and so fools sometimes do live in luxury. And in most cases these lottery millionaires quickly lose their money. Concerning a slave ruling over princes, without understanding and skill a ruler will only have brute force with which to rule. And if the princes come together, then the former slave won’t actually have more brute force?
e) Proverbs 29:2 "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan."
f) Ecclesiastes 8:9, “All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless. “ Lording it over others to your own hurt can refer to God’s judgment of all after death, or even to such judgment being meted out on Earth. The Lord Jesus warns, in Matthew 7:12, “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” This passage was written well before Christ’s “sermon on the mount”, some say 940 BC, by Solomon. Yet, the passage warns of God’s means for bringing judgment. When I consider such judgment I usually think of the emperor of Assyria whom God used to scatter the ten lost tribes of Israel. He was a violent and powerful man, yet came to a quick and violent death (II Kings 19:37); shortly after the Lord used him to bring the Northern Kingdom of Israel to judgment. Ecclesiastes also cites as meaningless those who prance back and forth to holy places to receive praise. The Lord’s “sermon on the mount” also warns of this, “Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 6:1.
g) Isaiah 3:12-15, “My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. The Lord takes his place in court; He rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: ‘It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” It is the Lord’s vineyard, and even as believers we should not take unfair advantage of others less gifted or others taken up in sin. Plundering of the poor is not the only thing that the Lord had against Israel’s leaders. His complaint against the Israelite women is in Isaiah 3:16-4:1. Ouch! Also see Isaiah 3:1-7.
h) Jeremiah 5:30-31, “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” “There is no authority except that which God has established”, Romans 13:1. So, if the clergy rule by their own authority and prophesy lies, then where will they and those who followed their lies be when Christ comes or at Christ’s judgment seat? Jeremiah 20:1-6 also addresses these concerns, “When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lord’s temple. The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, ‘The Lord’s name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.’’” This is why we practice our grace gifts by the Holy Spirit’s power, and as Christ has apportioned these gifts. It is not us, but God working through us, as God indwells the Church; see Prophecy Section, Item#439.
i) Luke 6:39-40, “He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” The blind leading the blind seems ridiculous, however, much of this is going on in the secular and religious world. If a person cannot see Christ’s grace working around him, is that not a form of blindness.
j) Luke 23:12-19, “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life”. God uses governmental authority to bring out the gospel and even magnify the gospel and his presence in his creation- even working through evil governors (Exodus 6:1, Ezekiel 20:33-34, Luke 2:1-4).
k) Acts 4:26, “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Today satan wages a subtle battle of lies against Christ’s Church. Worldly leaders, which includes most leaders in Western countries, publicly call out to a generic god, which they try to name as the one true God- at least when trouble brews. These public speakers do this by calling out, “God bless this” or “God bless that”- as if God was a genie in their bottle. SOME DO IT OUT OF FEAR, BUT MOST DO IT TO GET EMPATHY FROM THEIR LISTENERS. In using God’s name for their cause, they are stealing from God (Exodus 20:7). These same leaders are abortionists, and evolutionists, and are satan’s pawns in seeking to obliterate the name of Christ from all teaching and all government. In fact, I can almost agree with them though, because no one has the right to claim a relationship with God except through the cross and the new birth given by the grace of the gospel (Hebrews 10:19&20). So, when people, even civil leaders try to pray and make speeches claiming God’s name, and not mentioning Christ or his cross, this is tantamount to idolatry. It is all false. And such people are claiming a relationship with the Lord which isn’t there. The Scripture says that satan is behind all lies and idolatry, no matter how subtle- John 8:44, I Corinthians 10:20. The Lord meets out trials to force people to consider their latter end and to turn sinners to the cross. Then, instead of repenting, world leaders are pretending all is well with their soul and that they already have good standing before God, even without the cross. Also see II Corinthians 11:32-33 regarding persecution by government.
l) Acts 13:26-28, “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.” This is the same predicament that we are in today, wherein the rulers and people of this world don’t realize our need and God’s provision of the Cross.
m) Acts 14:1-7, “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.” At Iconium the people and rulers rejected the gospel, the same as in Jerusalem where the rulers and people, in general, rejected the gospel. But a few believed in each city. And so, the gospel goes on for the salvation of those few who will believe, and enter that narrow road that leads to life- Matthew 7:14.
n) Also see “the rulers of the Gentiles” in Item#36e below.
So, we can view bad rule in the past to discern what rulers are doing in our age, and also how we ourselves can practice God’s gift of rule- if we are so engifted. I note that just knowing that God’s authority protects us, and that all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1), will make a big difference in a person’s life- especially in boldness and focus on the kingdom work. That fact was a life changer in my life, as shown in Item#95h in the Teaching Section.
22.) Govern justly, Psalms 67:1-7, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us- so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” I like the KJV which says, “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the Earth.” Justice and righteous judgment are attributes of God. They are not just what He does, but rather part of who He is, inseparable from his throne’s work (grace)- Psalms 89:14, Genesis 18:18, Jeremiah 31:23, &50:7, Ezekiel 45:9. Donald Trump, yesterday, at the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland, remarked that he loves justice. I wonder if he understood how much the Lord loves justice. That’s a fairly laudible statement from someone not known to be a believer and Bible scholar. Perhaps, with much help from God, he can get elected and accomplish some things in that area in the USA. However, the injustices in our country and throughout the world are so many and vast, that I can only exclaim, “Even so come Lord Jesus”- Revelation 22:20. I also like how this passage brings out how the tenor of petitions to God ought to be. Instead of saying, “God bless”, the Psalmist says, “May God be gracious to us and bless us” and “May God bless us still”. There’s a huge difference between the tenor of Scripture in petitions for blessings as opposed to these worldly public speakers who are saying, “God bless America”, or even “God bless you”, when you sneeze. The one usage is a Godly, humble petition from a believer, who knows that without God’s grace they are headed for destruction. The other usage is by an uninformed person trying to impress people while unwittingly, or sometimes purposefully, stealing the use of God’s name. Some other verses relating to governing justly are as follows:
a) Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The Lord loves justice, as well as mercy and humility. Consider good king Josiah, “He did what was right and just, so all went well with him”- Jeremiah 22:15-19. Josiah’s son, however, did evil and was given the burial of a donkey.
b) Deuteronomy 33:20-21, “About Gad he said: ‘Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.’” God recognizes leadership especially that which carries out his own righteousness and judgment.
c) II Samuel 8:14-15, “He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.” See also I Kings 10:9, I Chronicles 18:14. We should not forget that David’s reign is going to continue forever- “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:7.
d) Proverbs 1:1-7, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
e) Proverbs 8:12-21, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.”
f) Ecclesiastes 5:8, “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.” Indeed, satan is the prince of this world- John 12:31, 14:30, & 16:11.
g) Isaiah 59:1-17, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for Him, and his own righteousness sustained Him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.” To cut to the quick, then, why is there not justice in our nations? Because we are yet too wicked! The new nature of Christians is not wicked, but our old nature, which many believers walk in, is just as wicked as the old nature of unbelievers. And so, “Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes.” “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.” If it were not for God’s continual intercession (grace), we Christian nations would be just as evil as the heathen. But, through God’s grace gifts, the Lord is able to inhabit his Church (see Item# 439 of the Prophecy Section and Item#39 of the Healings Section) and even do great works (Mark 16:15-19). This passage explains that lack of justice was a big factor in God’s plan to send his Redeemer- “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for Him, and his own righteousness sustained Him.”
h) Also see Item#23h, below, wherein it’s shown that the Righteous Branch will rule with righteousness and justice. And regarding the Lord’s love of justice, please see the following Items numbers in the Rule Section: 21c, 23d, 25d, 44c, & 70q.
So, we see how much the Lord loves justice in government. And, we also see how difficult justice is to achieve, especially from those who walk in the flesh, non-believers. As evangelical Christians we should recognize that our job is to reach souls for Christ. In the practice of our grace gifts, the Lord’s presence in our lives will achieve justice around us, because justice is a part of who He is. For believers gifted with the gift of rule, justice should always be a primary concern in their administrations. (“Administration” and “rule” are interchangeable terms in this Grace Study.)
“Government”
23.) The Lord Jesus’ rule, Isaiah 9:6&7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” Of course, there are many passages in Scripture discussing the reign of the Lord Jesus. The following are a few of them:
a) Psalm 110:1-7, “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift his head high.” This passage gives details of how the Lord Jesus will set up his millennial reign. And, in Luke the Lord Jesus proves that the Psalm’s discussion must be regarding the coming of the Messiah: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can He be his son?’’”- Luke 20:41-44. Also See Item#19 above, and Items k & 55 below; and Item#28e3 of the Word of Knowledge Section.
b) Isaiah 11:5-10, “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and his resting place will be glorious.” What a time, when Christ reigns on Earth! The Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and no one will harm or destroy anyone, even the carnivorous animals will be changed.
c) Isaiah 24:23, “The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.” When the Lord Jesus reigns his glory will be on display, and the heavenly lights will be minor compared to his great glory.
d) Isaiah 32:1-5, “See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.” The Lord’s reign will be a time for justice and righteousness-. Oh how the Lord loves justice! See also Item#22 above.
e) Isaiah 40:6-, “A voice says, “Cry out.”And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.’ You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the sovereign Lord comes with power, and He rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with Him, and his recompense accompanies Him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge, or showed Him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing. With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. ‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” This description of the coming reign of Christ is extolling his mighty power. And, we should proclaim and warn of his mighty power. If a mighty storm was coming, wouldn’t we cry out into the streets to warn people? When hurricanes threaten the South Eastern United States, you’d better believe we warn people to “Get out of the hurricane’s path- evacuate!”
f) Isaiah 49:8-13, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ ‘They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar— some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan.’ Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” Look at how carefully the Lord is to his own. Do our governments act like that? In studying the Lord’s pending rule we get a sense of what proper rule should be, and also what real justice and mercy looks like.
g) Isaiah 55:3-5, “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has endowed you with splendor.” David is a witness to the promised pending reign of the Lord Jesus- a reign endowed with splendor, and all of the attributes brought out in this Item#23, entitled “The Lord Jesus’ rule”.
h) Jeremiah 23:5-8, “’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’ ‘So then, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.’” The Lord as King will do what is right and just, and all Israel will be saved and live in safety.
i) Ezekiel 20:33-38, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” The Lord will reign with his mighty hand over all Israel, and will judge all and purge out the rebellious.
j) Matthew 2:3-6, “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’’” So, Christ is a ruler who will shepherd the people as opposed to typical worldly rulers whom Samuel warned about. I Samuel 8:11-20 warns, “He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.’” God is a ruler who shepherds and provides for his people, while worldly leaders sponge off the people. And really, this has always been the darkness in any worldly leadership. God wants us to have a relationship with Him, such that we can be lead by and walk with Him. In the flesh, though, people don’t have enough faith to walk with God; instead they say, “do not have God speak to us or we will die” – Exodus 20:18-21. This darkness is acutely present in Church clergy today. God wants us to walk with Him and practice our gifts, and to “eagerly desire the greater gifts”- I Corinthians 12:31, and I Corinthians 14:12. Yet, as has been the case with fleshly conduct, men have been duped into trying to have others do their God appointed tasks for them- clergy. The results of such errors are that the kingdom work isn’t being done and men aren’t getting rewarded by God, or growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (II Peter 3:18).
k) Acts 2:34-37, “For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’’ ‘Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” Due diligence requires that I note that this prophecy is repeated at least 7 times in Scripture: Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:43, Acts 2:34-36, Hebrews 1:13, and Hebrews 10:13. Also the fulfillment of this prophecy is shown in I Corinthians 15:25. The prophecy is also examined in Item#19 above. This prophecy is brought out again herein because it contains the statement, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah”. So, this prophecy helps describe Christ’s reign. It notes that the Lord Jesus’ reign begins after his rejection by Israel and his crucifixion and resurrection. I note that things on Earth would be a lot different today if Israel had not rejected their Messiah. But Israel’s loss is our gain- Romans 9:30&31.
l) Romans 15:12, “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in Him the Gentiles will hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Does this mean that the reign of Christ will be one filled with hope? Hebrews 6:13-7:3 says: “When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek the Priest . This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” So, we who are the Gentiles, of whom Paul prophesied, have a sure hope in this “King of Righteousness who is also “King of Peace”. This hope is made sure by two unchangeable things- God’s unchanging nature and his inerrant Word. Yet, while Christ is ruling in hope today, in the Inner Sanctuary, his future rule will be in hope fulfilled- not in hope expected. “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:24&25. So, I note that instilling an unattainable hope in people’s minds is not a necessary, or Godly, quality in an earthly or Godly leader. Because, if a false hope is instilled, it will eventually be revealed as false and unattainable. Also, people eventually will have to face God in judgment, and false hopes and false flattery do nothing to bring people to the Cross for salvation. It is far better for an earthly ruler to bring the people or corporation which are under his or her administration from point A to point B, according to the goals laid out by those who selected him or her as ruler. There is far too much “psychobabble” in the world today. Do you doubt this? Then why is it that everyone already understands what “psychobabble” means, even though no one takes the time to define that term. This is because “psychobabble” is so prevalent in our cultures that it has become an acceptable standard. But, lies, even white ones, are still lies and flattery is indeed a sin (Psalm 12:2&3, Proverbs 26:28, etc.).
m) Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Those who are truly in Christ Jesus will reign with Him for a thousand years from Jerusalem. Combined with eternal life, that is a very excellent blessing.
24.) Worldly government is fleeting, Isaiah 22:15-22, “This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: ‘Go, say to this steward, to Shebna the palace administrator: What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock? ‘Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, you mighty man. He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country. There you will die and there the chariots you were so proud of will become a disgrace to your master’s house. I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position. “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.’’” It’s amazing how historians have written history using the various rulers to form the chronology. We here in the United States also use our leaders, the presidents, to chronicle what was going on and when. But history itself is a witness that all such world governments are fleeting. In that regard, consider the following:
a) Daniel 4:17-26, “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people. This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.’ Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules’”. So, God rules over all, even the most powerful of emperors and people.
b) I Chronicles 29:10-14, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.’”
c) Luke 2:1-3, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.” Although, it can be said that the manner of our government is an extension of Roman rule, at least in many ways (especially considering those feet of iron and clay prophesied to exist in the end time- Daniel 2), no one can say that our government is under the Roman empire. So, Roman rule is gone, “Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth”- Revelation 19:6. And, I note, as was noted in Item #a above, that the various rulers were used to help chronicle the major events- as was the case with the citing of Quirinius and Ceasar Augustus above.
d) Also see Item Nos 55f & 71 below.
25.) God’s authority in government, II Peter 2:4-11, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.” This study regarding the gift of rule is much concerned with God’s authority in government, “for there is no authority except that which God has established”- Romans 13:1. So, when we talk about the Kingdom work of the Lord, we’re primarily speaking of the Lord Jesus’ work around us in saving souls; yet God’s power and authority is what is being used to bring all these events to fruition and also to even hold the entire universe together. So while we are seeking to study God’s gift of rule in Christ’s Church, God’s power is very evident in government and in creation. Here are some other passages which touch on God’s authority in government:
a) Exodus 22:28, “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.” This saying is given among the Laws God gave to Moses. It’s meant to protect the people, because God knows that his authority runs through each ruler, and He doesn’t want to take people to task for the folly of speaking against his authority- as He did with Miriam, Numbers 12:1-12.
b) Psalm 22:27-29, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him— those who cannot keep themselves alive.” The Lord uses his dominion to establish princes and principalities in all nations. And He can raise up or take down rulers as He sees fit. And, we’re reminded that each person must kneel before God and give account for his works, Romans 14:10-12.
c) Proverbs 8:12-21, & 35 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. … For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.” Wisdom comes from fear of the Lord and is part of the attributes contained by people practicing the gift of rule (Proverbs 9:10).
d) Proverbs 29:26, “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.” I had an acquaintance who was an accomplished litigation attorney, having presented cases even before the Illinois Supreme Court. One of his famous lines was, “Men seek justice, but settle for litigation”. I took it that he meant a man’s fervor for justice subsides when he sees how difficult it is to move a case through the government system. Also see Item#22 above. I conclude, if you’re looking for justice, practice Godliness and the Lord will uphold your position. “’Vengeance is mine, I wil repay’ saith the Lord”- Romans 12:9. But Christians must realize that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (I Peter 5:5); and also “As it is written, ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’” (Romans 8:36). So, we Christians absorb injustice in order to give out the gospel. This doesn’t mean that we can’t take legal action, especially against criminals. A friend asked me once about a man that was cheating him. I advised that while the Lord said, “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” (Matthew 5:40). However, the Lord did not say, “If anyone takes away your ox, give him your cart as well.” The Lord was talking about not being tit for tat, He is not meaning that we should allow criminals to continually take advantage of us. But, larger problems, and even smaller, is what prayer is meant for. My old friend Clarence used to say, “When you pray, expect an answer!”
e) Mark 13:8-11, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Also see Luke 21:12-13.) So, God will work through governments in the End Times to deliver the gospel effectively- even by instances of a Word of Knowledge, a Word of Wisdom, and by Prophecies. (See Item#97 of the Word of Knowledge Section, for these nuggets of Scripture.)
f) Acts 23:2-5, “At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!’ Those who were standing near Paul said, ‘How dare you insult God’s high priest!’ Paul replied, ‘Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’’” So, even though Paul was in the right as God’s sent one (apostle), he gave place to God’s authority working through the then defunct priesthood- which Paul discerned was becoming obsolete, if not already obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). And, so we should learn to give honor to God’s authority, even God’s authority working through wicked people, as Paul and even the angel Michael did (Jude 1:9). Also see II Peter 2:10.
g) Titus 3:1, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” If I could just accomplish that in my life, I’d be a much better reflector and testimony of God’s victorious grace.
“Governments”
26.) Rule as a Spirit gift, I Corinthians 12:27-31, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance (“governments” in KJV), and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” There are two New Testament passages in which this Spirit gift of rule is clearly shown to be a grace gift- the I Corinthians 12 passage and the Romans 12 passage below. Then a study of the Greek words in those two passages brings out other references in Scripture to this vital gift. The greek word for “governments” in the I Corinthians 12 passage is “kubernesis”: directorship, pilotage, governments (only 1x in NT). Romans 12:6-8 states, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (KJV). The Greek word for “ruleth” is “proistemi”: rule, maintain, be over. Examples of the usage of the Spirit gift of rule, based on these two passages, are:
a) I Thessalonians 5:12-15, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among ourselves, and to all men.”
b) I Timothy 3:4&5,12&13, “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
c) I Timothy 5:17&18, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward.”
d) I Peter 5:1-7, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This verse is normally taken as an exhortation to the elders to practice shepherding of the ones Christ has placed under their care, feeding and watching (bishoping) over them. However, considering that rule obviously is meant to be practiced in the local gatherings, this passage also applies to the gift of rule: taking oversight, not lording it over people, but leading by example, not working for money, but rather for the crown that fades not away. I note also that the younger ones are told to submit to the elders not necessarily meaning the oversight but to all elder mature Christians; and this is considered humbling oneself before the mighty hand of God. So, if this authority is of God, so much that humbling ourselves to this authority is considered humbling ourselves before the mighty hand of God, then this does involve not just eldership and shepherding, but also rule. Also see items# 26d, 35e, 36,&74. From these passages I tend to feel that the Spirit gift of rule is given by Christ for practice within the local assembly, -by elders and deacons because such a person’s authority to rule would come from God, at least in New Testament times. Having said that, a person’s ability to rule well in worldly principalities would be greatly advanced if such a person either had or understood God’s gift of rule. Then again, how can a person practice rule within the local assembly without first being an elder or a deacon. I say deacon because deacons are given certain areas of administration- such as head of kitchen or pageant committees, or building maintenance, etc.. And, having said all this, then a person with the gift of rule, who was practicing this outside the assembly at their job or within worldly governments, is indeed practicing the gift of rule outside the local assembly. And so, I cannot say that the gift of rule is limited to the local assembly. But Godly rule starts in the local assembly, remember the warning of the Lord Jesus, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Matthew 20:25-28. So, Godly rule is not much like the rule that we see practiced in the world. Rule is kind of like “stickhandling” in ice hockey. A fairly good stick handler was trying to teach stick handling. And he said (my paraphrasing), “The main thing about stick handling is not the artful stick work or how fast you move your stick to confuse your opponents. The main thing to realize is that you need to control the puck, wherever it is- behind you, in front of you, and to the side of you, even right under your feet- which is sometimes the most difficult. The same is true with Godly rule. It is not how well managed or agreeable an administration is, but mostly it matters that the basic functions are accomplished, and not left undone. The Lord is looking for people to serve Him and get very important items done, not to hog the pulpits or pontificate, or pat each other on the back.
“Governor”
27.) Public officials, Genesis 41:37-40, “The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’” Item#26, above, shows that Godly rule starts from the Holy Spirit inside a person, practicing such in his or her local gathering. Isn’t that the same with Joseph? Wasn’t the Spirit’s presence what lead Pharoah to appoint Joseph as his second in command- Acts 7:9&10? The following items below also discuss the Spirit working in and through Joseph: Item#3, 50, 70a, 75a, 76, &82. Other public officials, that are cited in Scripture, are as follows- remembering that all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1):
a) Exodus 18:24-26, “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.” See also Item#15. We should note that having all believers as public officials is a luxury that Israel had back in Moses’ day, but will not happen again until the Lord Jesus reigns. I note this because sometimes I perceive Christians acting as if our government should somehow be a Godly government, with issues like prayer in schools, and evangelization by the government. We should note that it’s the Church’s work to evangelize. And, why would the Lord want a non-believer to try to approach Him in prayer at secular schools, when our only access to God is clearly only through the cross (Hebrews 10:19-22). We should not imply that a person has access to God in prayer unless they are born again. Also see Item#38c.
b) I Kings 18:1-8, “After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.’ So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) Ahab had said to Obadiah, ‘Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.’ So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another. As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, ‘Is it really you, my lord Elijah?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied.’Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’”. Now, I love the story of Elijah at Mount Carmel, but space is limited. And, it is sufficient to say that Obadiah, in his consistent, faithful walk, was a critical person for setting up the whole event. In the same way, the Lord uses faithful believers who are employed even in the most ungodly governments. Consider Joseph in Egypt, Esther in Medea-Persia, Obadiah herein, the Magi in Herod’s Judea. The Lord does work through government and especially through faithful government officials. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”- II Chronicles 16:9.
c) II Kings 25:21-16, “So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah. When all the army officers and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. ‘Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,’ he said. ‘Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.’ In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. At this, all the people from the least to the greatest, together with the army officers, fled to Egypt for fear of the Babylonians.” The point herein is that these Judeans never did accept Babylonian rule, even though the Babylonians were serving God by bringing judgment upon the Southern Kingdom of Israel. But if the people of the Southern Kingdom had accepted Babylonian rule, as Jeremiah had urged them to do, they would have been taken care of, just as Gedaliah had said. And, we get this knee jerk reaction against authority in our day and circumstances. Each person really does need to come to terms with the civil authorities, because God’s protection often does come through that authority. And unless we live in Israel prior to the Babylonian conquest, that authority will probably be wielded by non-believers.
d) I Chronicles 29:22-25, “They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok to be priest. So Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon. The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.” We, in this age, don’t like to acknowledge the authority of royalty, and I’d say with good cause- See Item#5 above. The real conflict with government was first expressed by Samuel, “Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles’ When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, ‘Listen to them and give them a king’ (I Samuel 8:10-22). So, Samuel is warning that a direct relationship with God is better than having an indirect submission to God through a king. In other words submission to a worldly government, rather than direct submission to God, even in Old Testament Israel, is acquiescing to carnality. Samuel is warning that a worldly government, even with a Godly king, will make the people give up their families to servile labor, rather than merely enjoying the blessings of God. Isn’t that what has been going on in the world, even before Samuel’s warning? The Lord Jesus put it this way,” No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”- Matthew 6:24. Now, at this writing, the USA is preparing for the 2016 general election for president. And, Donald Trump has built his platform on his complaints against big and corrupt government. Of course, we don’t have a monarchy, but through taxes and regulation, we certainly can consign future generations, and ourselves, to submit to financial and idealogical bondage. So, we should submit to God’s authority even through unjust government, but realize that walking by faith and merely enjoying the Lord’s blessings is that “easy yoke” which the Lord Jesus would consign us to while we’re on Earth (Matthew 11:29&30).
e) II Chronicles 1:1-17, “Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’ Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel. Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.” Wow! What a statement of strength and power through God! Not only was Solomon able to speak to all his public officials, and not only did those public officials gladly assist in offering sacrifices before the Lord’s tabernacle, and not only was Solomon able to be directly advised of God, and not only was Solomon blessed with immeasurable wealth, wisdom and honor, but Israel was so powerful during Solomon’s reign that they made a huge profit selling chariots to Israel’s historic enemies. And, what world leader could claim to have full agreement from his staff of public officials- I don’t believe that will happen again until Christ reigns.
f) II Chronicles 19:4-11, “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: ‘You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin. Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.’” When people nowadays speak of Judeo Christian ethics, these concepts of justice and impartiality are what are discussed- as well as just a society of people submitting to the law. These are big discussion items nowadays with the immense immigration problems facing the western nations- with Islamic ideologies allowing unfairness, even murder, as an acceptable form of jihad and Islamic behavior. Make no mistake. When an Islamic man cheats a westerner, his Imam would give him a hearty thumbs up for practicing Jihad. This becomes a problem since, under Shariah law, any contract can become void, since a muslim is considered superior to an infidel according to the Koran. From a different perspective, any person without morality or ethics can cheat another, and refuse to live within the boundary of laws. There’s an old saying, “You cannot legislate morality.” And that is a huge conflict we face in America, and western civilization today. The US presidential candidate, Donald Trump, is saying continually, “We are a nation under the rule of Law!” And we all realize that the issue is not a particular law, but whether US citizens will even submit to the rule of Law. Many liberal teachers steal the minds of youth by teaching that rebellion to authority is a noble endeavor. And, I suppose that parents, who reward rebellion in their children by giving in to their wants, are setting their children up for these bad teachings. However, this rebellion to Godly authority is actually a form of witchcraft- I Samuel 15:23, and Item#54a of the Prophecy Section.
g) II Chronicles 34:8-10, “In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God. They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple.” Now, we can clearly see the difference between the government of Old Testament Israel (Southern Kingdom) and the governments we see today in the USA and other western nations. We woudn’t expect the government to be doing God’s work today. In fact, until Christ returns, the principalities of this world are controlled by satan. However, this merely means that the kingdom work of the Lord Jesus is to be done by Christ’s Church. And, we truly need to realize that God has empowered Christ’s Church with everything it needs to accomplish Christ’s Kingdom work.- not to disclaim the work to be done by God Himself. (And, the work done by the Church is also done by God through the Church.) Isn’t that what He meant when He sent us out, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” And this is Christ’s vision for the Church; also see Item#11d above. Matthew 28:18-20. So, the Church already has the authority to do God’s work, so we should just be doing that work, and not trying to have our work either recognized or approved by others- especially not satan’s principalities in governments. And, if we have to endure some affliction in doing our ministry, then count it a joy- Acts 5:41, II Timothy 4:5.
h) Ezra 4:23-25, … 5:1-3&11, … 6:6-12, “As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes (Grandson of Cyrus) was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop. Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” … “Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, ‘Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?’ They also asked, ‘What are the names of those who are constructing this building?’ But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.” … (From Darius) “Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons. Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.”… :They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.” The point herein is that in large governments there is much corruption and there are enemies of God. So, we must work through situations by prayer and petitions to government authorities, while still respecting God’s authority through government.
i) Nehemiah 2:7-10, 5:14-17, “I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” … “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations.” This is another example of how the Lord can work through government, even the governments of the ungodly, to accomplish his kingdom work. And, we can be like Nehemiah, weaving our way through all this power while accomplishing the Lord’s tasks and still recognizing that all power comes from God. Also, we see in Nehemiah an example of what Peter wrote in I Peter 5:2-3, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Also see Samuel’s warning in Item#d above. I like what Nehemiah said, “Out of reverence for God I did not act like that.”
j) Esther 3:12-14, &7-17, “Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.” … “King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.’ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.” This story is interesting for many reasons. We see the contrasts between the two decrees. Haman the Agagite displays his hatred for the Jews; and his decree is based in lies, proceeding ultimately from that father of lies- satan. However, in Mordecai’s decree, we see the unmentioned hand of God manifested in love, truth, beauty, blessings, joy and victory- and even salvation and repentance for those who crossed over to faith in the God of Israel. Also, I see another conflict herein, a struggle between the Law of the Medes and Persians and the rule of the king. The king recognized that even he could not just nullify a law which was decreed, but he’d rather undo the previous decree by issuing a second decree. This is like the conflict between the president and the legislature in the USA. And, I see it as a veiled realization that one’s power is not absolute, but that there is an absolute power vested in God. And, we know from our study of “rule” that all such power comes from God- and sometimes exists only fleetingly. So, while satan is still the prince of this wicked world, and the descendants of Agag and Ishmael still hate Israel, where is the power of the king of the Medes and Persians? In fact Artaxerxes was a popular king, whose decendants also claimed his name, but eventually his dynasty ended and the area is now, several dynasties later, ruled by other haters of Israel- the muslim state of Iran. It’s interesting that, while writing this, my wife and I met a lady who claimed to be Persian. She loved Persia but denounced everything about the state of Iran, and only claimed to be Persian. So, I conclude that there are many who love their Persian heritage, and disagree with everything Iranian. But still, we see that the power of the Medeo-Persian monarchy only exists as a memory. Their power to rule, which only comes from God, has been given to the Iranian Islamic government- which only reiterates the Lord Jesus’ statement that satan is “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).
k) Jeremiah 30:21-22,” Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me— for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the Lord. ‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” (See also Numbers 16:5, and Deuteronomy 17:15.) So, we see in Jeremiah’s prophecy of Christ’s millennial kingdom that the leaders will all be believers and they will be close to the Lord and devoted to Him. And, I believe that a leader in the Church must have these qualities as well.
l) Jeremiah 40:1-6, “The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, ‘The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.’ However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, ‘Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.’ Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.” So, here we see that the Lord provides for his own, especially through governmental authorities, evil or good. Jeremiah 1:4-8 is the promise of provision which God gave him when he called him to speak for Him to the nations: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.” God will always be with us as well- “Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
m) Daniel 2:44-48, “’In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.’ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.” This is similar to what happened to Joseph, when Pharoah recognized his Godly wisdom and understanding as leadership qualities.
n) Daniel 3:1-6, 26&27,” King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’” … “Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Well, here is a situation typical of what believers face all the time. In this case the believers are facing two unseemly alternatives: worship an idol or face certain death in a fiery furnace. Praise the Lord that they chose the furnace, and as a result the Lord was able to show, for eternity, his power through them. But, you know we face choices as a Christian all the time. And, if Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego hadn’t chose correctly, my experience, personally and as a Bible student , shows me that the Lord would have come up with another way to get things done; and even to continue to build the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I remember the story of a man during the reformation, Thomas Bilney, who gave in to his persecutors and signed a recantation. But, then he found that position untenable and retracted the statement. When he was finally burned at the stake, he held out his index finger first into the flames, thus stating that he was emphatically denying the work of that finger in signing his original recantation. So, God will find a way to let our light shine for all to see- even using the officials of ungodly governments, and even using demons around us, to magnify and publicize our small deeds.
o) Haggai 1:1-4, “In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’’ Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’” Herein we see the Word of the Lord coming to both the public official and the high priest, with both being ministers of the Lord’s will and work. Was there a separation of Church and state in Judea at that time? There was a difference in work items, but all under the power of God- because there is no power but of God (Romans 13:1). See also Haggai 2:1-5. We do not live in Old Testament Israel. The power of the Church and the power of the state all come from God. But we should not expect the state, which has satan as its prince, to be a Godly government. The Church is different, though. And, we are to be working under the power of God, through our grace gifts, to build up the Church as Christ directs through the Spirit- Ephesians 4:4-16; also see Items#1h and #8 of the Shepherding Section.
p) Matthew 10:18, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” I note that the disciples would be flogged in the synagogues, but handed over to the councils. I believe the Lord’s power in government provides order to even carnal situations. In those days, especially, there was no better way to disseminate information than through the government. The Roman roads were well known for providing safe transportation, even for apostles and evangelists, throughout the Roman empire. So, we see the apostles brought before local governments and councils to plead their case. I note that the Lord is still using his power, “under the table”, to bring about his will through government. We could note the Lord’s use of such power in numerous places in Scripture, the Lord’s birth- Luke 2:1-3, the plaque on the cross- John 19:19-22, displaying his mighty power through Pharaoh- Exodus 7:3-5, and other instances. Also consider Item#97 of the Word of Knowledge Section. And, if we look around us we will see his grace working around us, even in unrighteous governments. “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”, Revelation 19:6.
q) Acts 17:8, “They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: ‘These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.’ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.” And we see how the government again added a bit of sanity to the carnality of the religious Jews- merely requiring a bond be posted probably preclusive to a legal hearing.
After reviewing how God can and does work through governmental authority, consider the recent surge of violence against the police here in America. I see satan’s hand at work therein; because these situations often end up as “suicide by police”. And, these situations are brought about by a strong web of lies- set in motion by the father of lies, satan. It’s sad that the media doesn’t take more responsibility for their role in these situations, because they amp up any death of a minority- knowing that such stories sell newspapers and media time. The media is sadly “getting its come uppins”, though. Media should understand that licentious behavior eventually causes loss of freedom. And, the media’s claim of freedom under the Constitution’s first amendment is swiftly being eroded by their own malpractice. The public isn’t stupid, and once you get the public going against you, legal action by demagogues in congress isn’t far behind. Then consider these nasty, satirical media outlets, and other filthy rags of media (which sell soft or hard porn); are such reporters free to report the facts? That’s not freedom of the press when one is forced by the company executives to report false info, or just plain filth. How can America claim freedom of the press when its reporters are all in such bondage?! I conclude most people, even Christians, don’t realize what true freedom encompasses. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Also, II Corinthians 3:17 says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.”
28.) False religion, II Chronicles 28:1-6, “Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him.” Ahaz worshipped idols, and undoubtedly didn’t fear God, and so brought himself and Israel to calamity after calamity. And I should warn, that there are many people, calling themselves Christians, who have built themselves chapels worshiping saints and even Mary “on the hilltops and under every spreading tree”. As I’m editing this item, a duplicate Arch of Baal is being circulated through the major cities of the world as a sign of peace and resilience- the original having been destroyed by ISIS in 2015. The current (2018) city is Washington, DC.
29.) God’s authority through Pilate, Matthew 27:2-27, “Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate asked Him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you? But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered. ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’ ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.” This item could have been included in Item#25, above, “God’s authority in government”, or even Item#27, “Public officials”. However, the magnitude of the events accomplished through Pilate requires separate treatment. So, regarding God’s authority through Pilate, the following points are noted:
a) I immediately note that the Lord Jesus responded to Pilate as one having Godly authority, especially to Pilate’s very important first question, “Are you the King of the Jews?”. Pilate, the man under God’s authority asked the question; Christ the Lord of Glory (even though his shekinah glory was hidden) reminded Pilate that he had said it. Then, as is explained in Item#d below, Pilate doubles down on this statement with his inscription on the cross- when Pilate says, “What I have written I have written.” But to the Jewish religious leaders He gave no response, because their authority as leaders was coming to an end and would soon be obsolete- Hebrews 8:13.
b) A very public death was needed for the Father to communicte Christ’s payment for sin, and at the same time use such death as the basis of the gospel (Colossians 2:14-15). And, as such, Pilate was a puppet in the Father’s hands- John 10:17-18, & 19:10-11.
c) The Passover lamb was examined four days before killing it for the Passover. So, Christ was examined four times: twice by Pilate in John 18 and 19, once by Caiphas in John 18, and once by Herod in Luke 23.
d) The plaque on the cross is perhaps the most telling sign of God’s authority in government. All those walking in the flesh did not understand the cross: Christ’s disciples, the Jewish clergy, even Peter and John. Yet, Pilate, under God’s authority announced the truth in his plaque on the cross. “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’”- John 19:19-22.
e) “’What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked”- Matthew 27:22a. Looking at the careful wording by Pilate, I see it’s no accident that Christ was clearly and publicly offered to the Jews as their Messiah, and publicly rejected by them. This fulfilled the prophecy of Psalms 118:22, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner”.
So, we can note that Pilate is a very telling example of how God can work through governmental authorities, even authority wielded by very ungodly people. And, from my experience, such people in authority are seldom believers.
30.) Leader in small things, John 2:8, “Then He (the Lord Jesus) told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’” Luke 19:17 reminds us that we need to be faithful in the small things before the Lord will entrust us with larger tasks- “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’” The point is that all service to the Lord counts because, to a Christian, this life is training time for reigning time- I Peter 1:7.
32.) Felix the governor, Acts 23:24-24:10,&17-27; “’Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.’ He wrote a letter as follows: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. ‘We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.’ The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: ‘I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.” (Paul realized God’s authority working in governments per Romans 13:1) … “’After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. ‘When Lysias the commander comes,’ he said, ‘I will decide your case.’ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. (I just love that description of the early Church as The Way!) Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.” This passage is important so that Christians won’t be naïve and we can see that satan is indeed the prince of this world and that God does protect us through authorities, even ungodly governments. Along this line, then, consider the following points:
a) As the passage begins we see Paul being driven by the Spirit and returning to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24), even though Agabus and others (Acts 21:10), by God’s Spirit warned him even of his pending imprisonment by Gentiles. I have reviewed closely the facts surrounding Paul’s return to Jerusalem. I’ve concluded that it was the Lord’s will that Paul should return to Jerusalem and to be rejected by those seeking to remain under the Law. This return and rejection of Paul at Jerusalem seems to me to be an excellent witness to the Jerusalem Christians- that they could not try to remain under the Law or return to it. I say witness because, in Acts 23:11, the Lord stamps his approval on Paul’s work, “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’”
b) The Roman commander in Jerusalem gives a one sided report with some truth in it, and it’s obvious that Paul was protected, even somewhat directed, by the authority of God meted out by the commander and by Felix. It’s said that the Lord directs our affairs by opening and closing doors- Revelation 3:8 & 20, and 4:1, also Acts14:27, I Corinthians 16:9, II Corinthians 2:12, and Colossians 4:3. Well Paul had done his job of testifying in Jerusalem, and the Jews soundly rejected the gospel- although a few believed. And so, the door for any further work by Paul in Jerusalem was definitely closed. However, we see a strange force used by God to protect Paul, the Roman garrison at Jerusalem. This is the same garrison that put a plaque over the Savior’s head which stated, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews” (See Item#29d above). Truly “There is no authority except that which God has established”- see Items#5&25 above.
c) Felix shows himself as a typical public official twisting his decision regarding Paul in order to secure a possible bribe, and also basing his decision regarding Paul in a manner that he felt pleased the Jews (in order to better his own cause). Samuel warns Israel and us that this is what earthly governments will do- always looking out for themselves first, see Items#23j and 27d&I above.
“Governors”
33.) Governors of Judah and Israel, Judges 5:7-9 & 13-15, “Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!” … ““The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty. Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley.” Deborah is describing the gift of rule, and the Lord’s part in many of the grace gifts. Even though war had come and the people were willing to fight, “not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel”. The Lord then moved in the heart of Deborah and the princes. When we discuss Spirit gifts, we should always recall the discussion in Item#68 of the Apostleship Section. Item#68 shows us that God indwells the Church (and Old Testament Israel) by his very presence (even Christ walking among the 7 golden candlesticks- Rev 1:12-20, also Christ as the Rock following Israel- I Corinthians 10:4) and by the Spirit working among indviduals . Without the Spirit raising Deborah up to lead, the work might have been severely delayed. This is how the Lord works through and in his Church, by empowering individuals- and Deborah, Barak, and Israel’s princes are a good example of such empowerment by God in Old Testament Israel. Another example of God moving in a leader’s heart is the story of Jehoida. II Chronicles 23:16-21 states, “Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’s people. All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter. He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.” Jehoida made bold moves and restored the temple and reign of King David’s successor for all of Jehoda’s lifetime. And this motivation and action came from him knowing the Law and God’s teaching regarding promise of royal succession through David’s descendants. I believe he was clearly helped and directed by God, and God’s Word in his heart.
“Judge”
34.) Judge of all the Earth, Genesis 18:23-26, “Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham appealed to God based on God’s justice and God’s position as judge of all the Earth. The Lord agreed with Abraham and placated him in Abraham’s plea for justice and righteousness- not wanting to confuse Abraham. However, the Lord knew all along that there were not 10 righteous men in Sodom, only Lot and his wife and two daughters. So, the “judge of all the Earth” executed judgment upon Sodom. And, the lesson of Sodom is that God is the “judge of all the Earth” and will judge the wicked. Some other verses also relate to God as “judge of all the Earth” as follows:
a) I Samuel 2:1-10, “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed. The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them He has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.’” This is the prayer of Hannah when she gave Samuel over to Eli to serve the Lord at the Temple.
b) I Chronicles 16:31-33, “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.” These are the praises of Asaph who was charged by David to minister in song, at the time when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. This passage prophesies of the coming of the Lord to judge the Earth with a focus on the reconciliation of God’s creation- the sea, the forest, the fields, the heavens, the earth itself (Romans 8:19). Also see Psalms 96:10-13 and 98:3-9. There is a consistent theme in these passages that we should rejoice because the Lord is coming to bring salvation and restore creation and judge the peoples.
c) Psalms 7:6-17, “, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. If He does not relent, He will sharpen his sword; He will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; He makes ready his flaming arrows. Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.” King David could count on the Lord to help establish a modicum of justice in his kingdom. I suppose that we can pray and hope for some justice meted out by the Lord around us as well. But until the Lord comes and establishes his throne in Jerusalem, this world will not be a just place. And, as believers involved in the Kingdom work of Christ, we will be “considered as sheep to be slaughtered”- Romans 8:36. Also see the above Items #15f, 22g, & 23d.
d) Psalms 9:7-10, “The Lord reigns forever; He has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.“ I sometimes remind people that no one is getting away with anything. We will all stand before the throne in judgment and must give account for all the works done in our flesh and every word proceeding from our mouth- Romans 14:10, II Corinthians 5:10, Hosea 4:17-19, Acts 17:31, and Matthew 12:36. I should note that the Lord’s judgment is ongoing. He doesn’t have to wait for the Bema Seat (Romans 14:10) to judge believers, or the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11) to judge the lost. He is continually discerning and judging which trial (I Peter 1:7) or which blessing (James 1:17) He will give, that brings people to salvation then completion in Christ. The Lord also discerns, judges, and acts to maintain this planet and all his creation. And, He continually discerns and judges the authorities (Romans 13:1) and the ungodly and Godly people in this world (Psalms 1:4-6).
e) Psalms 67:1-7, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” There’s much said in this brief psalm. If the Lord is gracious to his own, his salvation will become known among all the nations, and the nations will fear Him. And, even though satan is the prince of this world, the Lord rules with equity and guides the nations.
f) Psalms 82:6-8, “I said, ‘You are ‘gods’; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler. Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. “ Asaph shows us that the light of God that’s in us makes us like God in our hearts and soul (II Corinthians 4:6&7). However, until Christ comes to give us new bodies we still must face death. And, as we see our weaknesses, and the despotism of the world system, we can only cry out to the Lord to bring his judgment and justice.
g) Isaiah 2:3-5, “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. “ This is, of course, prophesying of the Lord’s coming rule from Jerusalem in the Millenium Reign of Christ. During that reign He will judge disputes among the peoples. Also see Isaiah 11:1-16, 16:5, Acts 10:42, and Romans 2:16. I note that I was often forced to wonder, “Who are these nations of peoples whom Christ and his saints will rule over during his Millenial Reign?” Jehovah Witnesses claim that the witnesses of Jehovah will be the ones inheriting the Earth. However, I don’t find any resurrection unto that kind of life. Lately, I’ve concluded that these will be the natural people and their offspring- who will have remained alive through the Tribulation- and so still exist on the Earth when the Lord comes in glory. Many people will die at Armageddon, but not all of the Earth’s inhabitants (Revelation 14:20). Anyway, there is still much exegesis needed on this topic of who these nations are, and what happens leading up to and during Christ’s Millenial Reign.
h) Ezekiel 7:20-27, “They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. They made it into vile images; therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them. I will give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile it. I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it. Prepare chains! For the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain. Calamity upon calamity will come, and rumor upon rumor. They will go searching for a vision from the prophet, priestly instruction in the law will cease, the counsel of the elders will come to an end. The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” “Prepare chains!”- I live near Chicago, and grew up there; there is plenty of bloodshed and violence in Chicago, and there are murders and abortions throughout this America. Have you or yours succumbed to the chains- of addictions, poverty, sickness, ungodly thinking/ confusion, covetousness? Ezekiel is in Babylon by this time, so he is both edifying the people in captivity and yet predicting how and why Jerusalem will fall. “His ministry (as we know of it) extended from the first year of Jehoichin’s exile, 599 BC, to the twentieth year, 570 BC (1:2; 29:17).[1] After the seventy years exile prophesied by Jeremiah a remnant of Israel did return to Jerusalem, from whom the Messiah was born. And, I believe the Judge of all the Earth is still discerning and judging among all men, especially his Church, in order to manifest his Kingdom work. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” II Chronicles 16:9- KJV.
i) Hebrews 12:18-25, “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’ But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven?” So, this passage contrasts God’s presence at Mt Sinai to his actual throne in heaven/ Mt Zion. And, what is the difference?! Well, God’s throne is different than his presence at Sinai especially since the Lord Jesus now sits at God’s right hand in bodily form (Colossians 2:9&10) The Lord sought to have a closer relationship with Israel, but the Israelites were afraid (Exodus 20:18-21). But since the Church has God’s Holy Spirit indwelling each person, and since we are each already in Christ Jesus, the Lord wants each of us, the Church, to boldly draw close to Him (Hebrews 10:19-22). Also see Item#266 of the Word of Knowledge Section.
j) Revelation 19:11-14, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” Here are some points describing this Judge of all the Earth, who is coming to reign from Jerusalem: He is Faithful and True, so much so that those are two of his names; He must judge and wage war, but He does it with justice; his glory is so intense that his eyes are like blazing fire (see Item#11d above); He is ruler above all, and has many crowns (Ephesians 1:21); He shed his blood for our sins, and is the living declaration of who God is (John 1:1, 14, &18); He cleanses his Church and gives us power and purpose-allowing us to share in his glory.
35.) Judges as leaders, Judges 2:18-23, “Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, He was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, ‘Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.’ The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; He did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.” The Lord is very wise. He did as He said He would do with Israel, driving out their enemies before them, but then He tested them. And, He found that Israel, indeed, was not living up to their part of the Mosaic covenant (vs 20 above). I believe this is how He deals with individual believers as well. There’s an old saying, “The Lord allows us to grow by first shrinking us through pressure. Then when we respond correctly to the pressure we grow on the rebound.” See “grow up into Him who is the Head”- Item 11b above & Item39c below. So, the Lord didn’t allow Israel to sink too far into their sin, but raised up rulers which were called judges to rule and save the people from the results of their sin- at least for the lifetime of that particular judge. The following are more passages referring to judges as leaders:
a) Judges 3:1-11, “These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses. The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.” Two things stick out here. First the Lord is purposefully allowing trials in young Israel- trials that will eventually cause them to go to war with their enemies. We need to be at war with sin in our lives- especially sin which allows us to be complacent while others are headed inevitably to the Lake of Fire. Secondly, there’s an awesome nugget of Scripture herein- “The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war”. What God wanted was already stated, “to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience”. The nugget is how God came upon Othniel to empower him with God’s gift of rule, allowing Othniel to serve God so effectively. This method, direct control by God’s Spirit, is inherent to all of God’s Spirit gifts. “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit”- I Corinthians 12:3.
b) Ruth 1:1, “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” If there is any doubt that the judges did indeed practice the Spirit ability of rule, then this verse should dispel that doubt. Also see II Samuel 7:11. And see Item#i below for the meaning of the word “judge”.
c) Judges 4:1-9, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead. So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help. Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’ ‘Certainly I will go with you,’ said Deborah. ‘But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.’ So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.” So, here we see Deborah with the gifts of rule and prophecy- whereby she is serving as the Lord’s own right hand (“pure gold”, as shown in Item#16 of the Prophecy Section, also Items# 1h&53 of the Teaching Section). If Barak had recognized Deborah’s role and had great faith, he would have shared in more blessings from the Lord. But, instead since he only had moderate faith, and put a stipulation to the Lord’s command, his blessings of service were less- even though Godly Barak is listed in Scripture’s “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:32). Oh that we each could recognize the Lord’s commands to us more clearly and immediately obey Him (John 15:14-15)!
d) Judges 10:1-3, “ After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir. He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. “ Not much is said concerning Tola and Jair, except I note that not only were they judges, but each ruled Israel. And, while not being kings, they still had the Spirit gift of rule- given to them by God. (See numbers d, f, g, &i herein.)
e) Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-4, 15:11, and 16:30-31 “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.’” … “Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, ‘I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.’ His father and mother replied, ‘Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?’ But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.’ (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.) … “Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.” Now, from the story of Samson, we recognize that the power of rule comes strictly from the Lord and is not dependant upon our conduct; because, while Samson loved the Lord he did some very carnal things. And, I note that the justice that Samson, the judge, meted out was in accordance with “the Law and the Prophets”-Judges 15:11/ Matthew 7:12. “Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.” So, in the end, for Samson, God made good on his promises to Manoah and his wife, giving Samson the gift of rule (vs 13:5 above) - through which Samson did many great things and found his place in Scripture’s”Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:32).
f) I Samuel 4:18, “When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.” Eli was the priest of the tabernacle at Shiloh, and his judgeship began the end of Israel’s rule by judges. Also, his sons were very corrupt priests who caused Israel to yearn for a king to rule them.
g) I Samuel 7:15-17, “Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.” So, Samuel was the last judge of Israel (Acts 13:20).
h) I Samuel 8:1-10, “When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ‘You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.’ But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us, ’this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.’” The Lord saw through the hearts of the Israelite elders. God was looking for a personal relationship with people who loved and believed in Him, just as He is today. Instead, because of the Israelites Adamic, old nature, He had to bide his time until the coming of his Son to give a new nature to those trusting in God’s Christ.
i) II Chronicles 1:10-12, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’” The word “lead”, underlined above, is Strong’s number H8199[2], “shaphat”, which means judge and is the same word as used in the Book of Judges when describing judges. See items d, f, g, above. And, per II Chronicles 26:21 Jotham is also referred to as judging Judah, using that same Hebrew word, “shaphat”. So both kings and judges ruled, but the kings tried to pass down the rule to their sons, and also generally levied much taxes upon the people, having the people serve themselves rather than God. See Samuel’s warning in Item#27d above. (Some superintendants were also used to judge the people- Deuteronomy 16:18 & Ezra 10:14.
j) Matthew 19:28, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” Again we see that judgement and justice are very important with God, so much so that judging is citing as the better part of our work at Christ’s throne during his millennial reign.
“Lead”, ”leader”, ”leadeth”, “led”
36.) Lead softly, Genesis 33:18 (KJV), “And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my Lord unto Seir.” Since I first discovered this passage, I’ve picked up on this teaching as a theme for my lifestyle, as I don’t see myself as a natural born leader (if there is such a thing). I do take a bit of joy, then, that I can practice true Godly leadership. And, I can do it quietly whereby the people being affected don’t even know what is going on- similar to the young children and young cattle which Jacob was leading softly along the trail, back to Canaan. So, this is a nice nugget of Scripture, and the following are more passages along this theme:
a) Ecclesiastes 9:17, “The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.”
b) Isaiah 40:9-11, “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with Him, and his recompense accompanies Him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young.” When I first read this passage, I read the last verse and thought it was speaking of one of the patriarchs. Then, upon searching backwards to see whom this beautiful passage was speaking of, I realized that this careful and loving leader/ shepherd was actually the Lord Jesus- at his first and second comings to the Earth. What a statement for gentle Godly leadership!
c) Isaiah 55:12, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” I think of all the Grace Study items, this item entitled “Lead softly” is unexpectedly the most beautiful. This is probably because, in studying Godly leadership, we meet up with the Lord Jesus walking amidst the seven golden candlesticks. And, what really does this prophecy mean, when “the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands”? If a believer is out in nature, perhaps praying beside a mountain road, I’ll wager that most of the time this prophecy is fulfilled when that believer opens his eyes and sees the beauty of God reflected in God’s creation. Also see Psalms 148:1-14.
d) Ezekiel 34:4, “You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.” Ezekiel 34, of course, speaks forth the Lord’s complaint against carnal shepherds, and prophesies of why He sends his own, Good Shepherd- the Lord Jesus. See Items# 12, 20, & 37 of the Shepherding Section. And what a Shepherd, to teach us what Godly shepherding and leadership is all about, and how it’s done! Also, John 10:1-13 tells us of the Christ as the Good Shepherd in fulfillment of the Ezekiel 34 prophecy. “’Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all his own, He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow Him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.’ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what He was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” The old adage is that we never see a shepherd pushing his sheep but, rather leading them- and sometimes carrying them. See the Shepherding Section Items#1, 12, 20,25, & 37 for more details of the Good Shepherd concept.
e) Matthew 20:23-28, “Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.’ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” See also Mark 9:35, & 10:42-44. These passages, which I consider to be front and center in God’s teaching of rule, tell us that Christian leaders ought not follow after the carnal leadership mold of the Gentiles. Christian leadership requires servant leaders- serving the flock through Christ, by the Holy Spirit. Carnal/ worldly leadership can be compared more to the law of the pack, herd instinct, or schooling of fish than being compared to Godly administration. I have a Master of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University, and I have since had to unlearn much of the sociological portion of that education (and even the quantitative portions)- because no one practiced business like that. Later, as a saved servant-leader I concluded that the worldly management style no longer fit me. Please see the comparison of administrations to stick handling in ice hockey in Item26’s conclusion paragraph, above. Regarding rule as starting from within the local church, see Items 26d & 27, above.
f) John 12:42, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” Do you believe what is being said in this Grace Study, yet are afraid to practice and teach these? Then please understand that you are like this because you fear men not God; then pray to the Father to release you from the falsehood of such fear, and that He might release his glorious power in you- Matthew 26:41, and Ephesians 3:14-19.
g) Romans 2:4, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Oh that I had time to tell you how many times I’ve seen people accept Christ not because of fear, but because they tasted the kindness of his love. I can merely say that I was such an individual. And I’m glad I came to Him when I did, else I probably never would have, given the darkness of my mind and heart. The leading of God through his kindness, obviously then, is a proven example of leading softly.
h) Colossians 2:9&10, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority.” So, once we are in Christ Jesus, we should understand that Christ’s power is in us, since we are in Christ. This would be hard to explain, except to say that we are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), and He wants us to practice our Spirit/ grace gifts (I Corinthians 12:31).
i) II Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” Well, this is direct instruction in how and why we should use gentle leadership to unbelievers and believers alike.
To me, it is excellent and a relief to know that I can be an effective leader without having to go toe to toe arguing with people, but rather “speaking the truth in love” I can practice leadership through God’s Spirit- and expect success in the long run. I’ve tried the toe to toe arguing in worldly situations, especially as a young construction engineer, and it doesn’t work- for various reasons. On the other hand I knew a young plant manager who, when I disagreed with him, used to say, “Well please think about what I said”. The fellow had the clout to give me a lot of grief, but never did. And, since he was the client and I the project engineer, we both knew that I’d have to eventually accept what he requested. And, I think his attitude and techniques were that of a effective, gentle leader, even though I doubt the man was a believer.
37.) Led by God, Exodus 13:21, “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ” (See also Nehemiah 9:19.) The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Prior to that they were known as the Way- “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify”, Acts 22:4. See also Matthew 7:14 and John 14:6. So, we New Testament believers, having God’s Holy Spirit in us, can be led closely by God. This is as opposed to the many who believe that success comes through mindset- and who usually preach what’s become known as psycho babble. Benjamin Netanyahoo, Israel’s prime minister, in a 10-18-17 interview, referred to his attackers as using psycho babble against him. Worldly logic is usually just trying to trick your mind into believing lies- and if such logic is sweetly presented, it is very enticing. The following are some passages of the Word which I’ve found, related to that concept:
a) Genesis 24:26-27 &42-48, “Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.’ … “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’ and if she says to me, ‘Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,’ let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’ Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also. I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.” The Lord will lead us succinctly, just as the servant in this story will lead us- unless we close our eyes and mind to Him. See also Item#6 of the Word of Wisdom Section, and Item#21 of the Word of Knowledge Section.
b) Exodus 13:16-18, “’And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.’ When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” The travels and wanderings of the children of Israel as they seek to enter into the Promised Land has always been, and typologically is, a description of how the Lord leads his people- I Corinthians 10:2-6. (And please note regarding water baptism, Israel was first immersed in the cloud, and then in the sea, according to Exodus 13:20-14:22.) Regarding such typology/ symbolism see Item#74 of the Apostleship Section, Item# 67 of the Evangelism Section, and Item#92 of the Teaching Section.
c) Exodus 15:13, “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” It’s important that the Lord is not just leading us around, but rather that He is leading us all the way to heaven- to be with Him. As the hymnist, Fanny Crosby, has written, “All the way my Savior leads me, oh the fullness of his love! Perfect rest for me is promised, in my Father’s house above.”
d) Deuteronomy 4:27-31, “The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which He confirmed to them by oath.”
e) Deuteronomy 8:2-9 &15-20,” Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to Him and revering Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.” … “He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.” I meet and deal with many young people, and new believers, and unbelievers. And, if you try to advise them, even in simple matters, you have to battle through Satan’s fleshly teachings to even get in a true Word edgewise. This is why using the Lord’s power and his gifts have a distinct advantage in ministry. The Spirit prepares hearts and we can work in the Lord’s timing- in the long run it is the Lord’s work even though we’ll get more than amply rewarded for our part.
f) Deuteronomy 28:36-37, “The Lord will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone. You will become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you.” This passage in Deuteronomy is called the “Blessings and Cursings from Mount Ebal”, and the sad part is that Israel did stray from the Lord and all these cursings did indeed happen. Sometimes I advise a new believer who is trying to fit into the world by living in sin. And, I say, “Listen, you will never be successful in the world, because the Lord won’t let you. You have a new nature enabling you to serve God. Develop your Godly nature, because the world has nothing but pain for you.” I think my advice is similar to what God is advising Israel- that straying from his commands will render nothing but pain and suffering.
g) Deuteronomy 29:2-6, “Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. Yet the Lord says, ‘During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.’” The Lord treated Israel as a special nation allowing them to call Him Jehovah (Lord God), allowing them to serve Him by obedience to his commands. See Item#313b of the Prophecy Section and Item#67l of the Word of Knowledge Section. Also, Isaiah 63:11-14 expounds, “Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is He who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is He who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided your people to make for Yourself a glorious name.”
h) Deuteronomy 32:10-12, “In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him.” This passage speaks of the beauty of a people being led by the Lord, and God’s perspective of such beauty. See also Joshua 24:3&4.
i) Job 12:13-25, ““To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; those He imprisons cannot be released. If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if He lets them loose, they devastate the land. To Him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his. He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges. He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established. He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; He makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.” Since the Lord rules above all, He really controls and allows all.” And, He allows mankind to make their own decisions, even when horribly wrong. And, for now, allows satan’s reign as prince of this world. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”- Collossians 1:16-17.
j) Psalms 5:8-9, “Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.” The people of this world, and especially its leaders, have been ensnared by the lies of satan. Such people will try to get us believers to partake in their sins. So, we really have to seek the Lord’s counsel in prayer and live by the Word, else we’ll get caught up in satan’s snares as well. “Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations”- Psams 27:11&12. “Since you are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my Refuge”- Psalms 31:3&4. “Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock”- Psalms 80:1. A shepherd leads the flock; he does not drive the flock.
k) Psalms 23:2-4(108:10), “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Many have noted that the Lord’s rod and staff are used to lead us. And such stern leadership will comfort us, and praise the Lord for such leadings in my life. “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long”- Psalms 25:4&5. And oh for the Lord’s name to be blessed and hallowed in and by my life!
l) Psalms 139:7-13, &23-24, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. … Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This passage implies being led by the Spirit of God, Who is everywhere and in all things. See also Psalms 143:7-10, “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Also see, Galatians 5:16-18, I Corinthians 12:1-14, John 14:15-28, 16:12-15.
m) Isaiah 42:16, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Before I got saved I was truly blind, but now I can truly see, and am led by the Lord- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Also see Isaiah 57:14-21.
n) Hebrews 8:7-13, “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” How appropriate that this is the last sub-item of this Item called “Led by God”, since we are no longer to be led by rules and laws, but rather by Christ and God’s Spirit in our hearts and minds (Colossians 1:27 & Galatians 5:25), and by the Father as our Shepherd and the owner of the sheep (reference Item#37 of the Shepherding Section)!
38.) Moses, Exodus 32:31-34, “So Moses went back to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.’ The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.’” Moses was a picture of the Lord Jesus in his intercessory work between Israel and God. And I like to note that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth”- Numbers 12:3. The following additional passages help describe Moses’ leadership:
a) Numbers 27:15-18, “Moses said to the Lord, ‘May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’ So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. …’” While the passage is speaking about Joshua’s anointing, it is also speaking to the shepherding and leadership qualities of Moses, whom Joshua must replace.
b) Isaiah 63:10-14, “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy and He Himself fought against them. Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is He who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is He who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power
to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for Himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided your people to make for Yourself a glorious name.” Here we see Moses as a sub-shepherd to that Great Shepherd (Psalms 23). And I note ample references to God’s Holy Spirit in this section of Isaiah’s prophecies- more than normal for the Old Testament writers. And, regarding Moses’ style of leadership, we see God’s glorious arm of power at the right hand of Moses, that most humble of all men.
c) Numbers 12:1-14, “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. ‘Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?’ they asked. ‘Hasn’t He also spoken through us?’ And the Lord heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, ‘Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.’ So the three of them went out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; He stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, he said, ‘Listen to my words: ‘When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’’ The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, and he said to Moses, ‘Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.’ So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘Please, God, heal her!’ The Lord replied to Moses, ‘If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.’ Regarding seeing the Lord “face to face”, please see Item#1 of the Prophecy Section, and in this Rule Section Item Nos 23i,60e,67g, &105c.
d) Regarding the gift of “rule” manifested in the Old Testament, see the following Items shown above: Items#5, 15, 25, 27a, 34i, and 37g.
39.) Led captivity captive, Judges 5:12, “Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive (Psalms 68:18, Ephesians 4:8), thou son of Abinoam” (KJV). This concept of leading captivity captive begs two questions. Who is this captivity? And, why/ how are they captive? In Barak’s case, all Israel was considered captive since Jabin, King of Canaan, was terrorizing Israel so bad that people couldn’t travel the highways. So, when Barak and Israel’s 10,000 man army, primarily from Naphtali and Zebulun, and from Ephraim and Benjamin and Issachar, freed all Israel from the tyranny of King Jabin they led captive Israel from out of their captivity. After this battle Deborah continued to rule as Israel’s judge, and “Then the land had peace for forty years”- Judges 5:31. The following beautiful, yet deep, verses describe how the Lord Jesus led captivity captive:
a) We need to consider the sequence of what is described in these passages, even though the subject warrants much more careful study than can be included herein. 1) Christ physically dies and descends into the presence of the souls of the physically dead. (E.g. Luke 16:23). Christ then preaches the gospel to the souls of the physically dead (E.g. I Peter 3:19&20). Such believers, even Abraham and the Patriarchs, could not ascend into heaven until Christ died on the cross to atone for their sins (E.g. Hebrews 10:19-22). Before ascending to be seated at the Father’s right hand, the Lord Jesus stops to visit his disciples and shows them his resurrected body (E.g. Matthew 28:9&10, John 20:27, Acts 1:3). He then ascends to heaven, Luke 24:51:, and sends God’s Holy Spirit to strengthen the Church and to give Spirit gifts allowing the Lord to dwell therein (E.g. John 15:26 & Eph 4:7-16). Christ then is seated at the Fathers right hand (E.g. Acts 2:34-35). Much can be gained from viewing the specifics of the sequencing of events in Christ’s life, and from viewing an overall (macroscopic) viewing of such events. Consider the Lord Jesus’ explanation to the Sadducees in Mark 12:26-27 (who didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead). The Sadducees had a sequencing error in their reasoning. They concluded the patriarchs as living in the past. However, Christ advised, “He is not the God of the dead but of the living. ‘You are badly mistaken.’”
b) Psalms 68:18 (KJV), “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” Let’s remember the rebellious as the receivers of great gifts- of which I believe I am included therein, and the apostle, Paul, also. I believe the more grievous sinners get the greater gifts, so that the Lord may be all the more glorified therein: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst”, I Timothy 1:15. Herein lays the meaning of “captivity captive”. We were captive to satan and our flesh, but those fetters were broken by Christ- and now we are gladly and powerfully his bond servants- Colossians 3:24, I Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 9:14, etc..
c) Ephesians 4:7-16, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “He ascended” mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ, Himself, gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” This Ephesians 4 passage actually quotes Psalms 68:18 (see Item#b above). These passages, when taken together, are telling us that God is indwelling the Church through these grace gifts being practiced. See Item#68 of the Apostleship Section.
d) Luke 4:17-21, “And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” The scroll is from what we define as Isaiah 61:1&2; the Hebrews used scrolls rather than books with numbered chapters and verses. It’s been duly noted that the Lord Jesus stopped short of declaring “the day of vengeance of our God”, which is yet to come even in our day. The Lord Jesus brought and proclaimed true freedom for the prisoners- II Corinthians 3:17. And, oh that we and others could walk in that freedom. Sometimes I momentarily want to go back into the slavery of the Law; and, like Peter (Matthew 14:30), while taking my eyes off Christ, I lose faith and no longer want to walk on the waters which Christ has even bidden me to walk upon. Instead of listening to Christ and believing, I predict an ill wind coming, then sink into worldly waters which will never hold me up. Nothing in this world comes from the Father- I John 2:16.
e) I Peter 3:18-22, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” It’s been said, and I agree, that there are things about Calvary that only the Father and Son can discern and enter into. Here’s another sequence of events, “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits.” I know Christ’s body was dead; but did the separation of his body from his spirit allow Christ to visit and preach the gospel to these pre-flood souls? Apparently this is so. But if God wanted us to understand more, He would have told us more in Scripture. We are in a totally different age, yet God still saved them by proclamation of the gospel to those imprisoned spirits. And, the Lord Jesus is still saving souls today through the proclamation of the gospel- Romans 1:16.
f) I Peter 4:1-6, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.” There are three sets of doublets in this passage which gives keys to the meaning of the passage. Also, we already know that there will be two judgments: one for the spiritually alive (II Corinthians 5:10) and one for the spiritually dead (Revelation 20:12-15). The three doublets are: living for evil human desires vs living for the will of God (also see I John 2:15-17); the two judgments described above; Being judged by human standards regarding the body (worldly perspectives of righteousness, even the Law) vs living alongside God’s Spirit (grace). This captivity speaks of those saved in the age of grace, who are also a portion of those previously in captivity and have been set free (Colossians 2:13-15) and the ascension of the new believer’s soul to being seated with and in Christ is already accomplished as soon as such a person is saved (Ephesians 2:4-7, Romans 6:23).
40.) Led by parents, Proverbs 6:20-24, “My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,
keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.” Our parents, generally, are what God has given us for our protection (and we know that God, Himself, has promised to be the Father of the Fatherless- Psalms 68:5). We also know that “first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2). Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” And, we see that, notwithstanding other moral perils or shortcomings, the promise is a long life for those staying under the protection of their parents’ teachings. The Lord stresses this teaching by its continuous repetition in the Scripture, Proverbs 1:8, 20:20, etc. So, the Lord doesn’t just require that we obey our parents, but that we honor them. And, the protection and blessings from our heavenly Father proceed from such honoring of our earthly parents.
41.) Led by God’s Light and Word, Psalms 43:3-4 (KJV), “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.” David knew the joy of walking by God’s light and truth, and the Lord certainly wants his Church to walk day by day in his light and truth (Galatians 5:16). The following are additional verses pertaining to this beautiful topic:
a) Psalms 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”Some have discerned that a foot lamp is for placing each step so that we don’t stumble, while a light for a path helps us to look farther ahead. I note that the Word which David considered would have been the scrolls of Moses, Job and what he knew of Joshua, Judges and Ruth, and also the Word which God gave David personally- from which he formulated the many prophecies contained in his Psalms (eg. Mark 12:36, Acts 1:16, Acts 2:25-35, 4:25&26, Romans 4:6-8, 11:9&10, Hebrews 4:7, etc.).
b) John 1:1-14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ “Jesus Christ is the Light of the World (John 8:12, & 9:5)- Who gives life and lights up mankind (John 12:46) and exposes darkness (John 3:18-21, Ephesians 5:11-14, and I John 1:5).
c) John 8:31-32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” And, we know that Jesus Christ is the Truth as well as the Light, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6&7). REGARDING THE TRUE FREEDOM THAT IS ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS, see the end of Item #27 above, Item#146 of the Teaching Section, Item#112c of the Evangelism Section, and Item#16g of the Word of Knowledge Section.
d) Acts 22:6-11, “”About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of Him who was speaking to me. ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.’” These verses describe the physical brilliance of the Lord Jesus’ presence, which is a portion of his glory. I believe the brightness of the the Lord Jesus’ glory to be an extremely interesting study in and of itself. And the intensity of Christ’s glory is the same thing which brings about the spiritual light of Christian understanding. His physical glory is impacting one’s physical senses, while his glory in creation, or the light of his teaching, as opposed to worldly teaching or false religions, is impacting one’s soul. However, it is Christ Himself and his glory which make up our perception of Him and his teachings. And, as a former engineer/ draftsman, I must point out that two perspectives of an object or a person are enough to complete all other views of an object. So, in terms of Christ and his glory, two perspectives of Him (his physical glory and his doctrinal glory- especially the gospel) are enough to give one a fairly complete picture of Him- until He comes. Some other famous passages which describe the brightness of the Lord’s glory are as follows: Exodus 19:18, 33:20, II Samuel 22:7-17, I Kings 8:10-11, Matthew 17:2, John 1:14, Revelation 1:14-17, 21:21-25, and Item#f below.
e) Romans 11:9-10, “And David says: ‘May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.’” David said this about the Israelites who reject Christ. And, this is a good example of how stubborn unbelief equates to spiritual darkness for those who refuse the light of Christ (per Item#f below).
f) II Corinthians 4:3-6, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” As was said in Item#e, above, rejection of the gospel is rejection of the light of Chrst. I note that this passage presents God’s light as both the gospel and the physical glory of Christ- see Item#d above.
g) I John 1:5-10, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” The choice is plain for us, and where else do we get such a great opportunity, worth more than we can imagine- to walk in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Himself, and to experience his light- which surely carries us along in times of weakness/ darkness.
h) I John 2:9-11, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.” This verse explains what’s being said herein, that is that light and darkness can tell us which path to choose. If you know there is evil in one direction, go the other way! It’s not all that complicated; and with prayer and God’s Word, it’s very plain. In my experience I get off track by not doing the simple Godly practices that make me a good soldier- prayer, morning Bible study, and Scripture memorization at night. Then, when not walking by the new nature, the old nature things start creeping in, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”-Galatians 5:19-21.
43.) David, Isaiah 55:3-4, “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.” So, David and his reign give witness and prophecy of the coming reign of Christ. Also see Item#78, below. Along with this theme, the following verses are noted:
a) II Samuel 5:4-5, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.”
b) I Kings 1:28-30, “Then King David said, ‘Call in Bathsheba.’ So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. The king then took an oath: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.’” David knew he was promised by the Lord an everlasting reign in Israel through his offspring. And, David walked closely with the Lord, so that the Lord told him which of his offspring would rule in his stead- I Chronicles 22:8-10.
c) I Kings 14:21-31, “Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom. As for the other events of Rehoboam’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. And Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.” It’s been said that, “David had a whole heart for God, but Solomon had a half heart for God. And, so the kingdom split after Solomon’s reign”- sad! See Item#56 below. See also Jeremiah 44:22, II Chronicles 28:35, 33:1-2& 10-12.
d) I Chronicles 13:1-7, “David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people. So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the NAME. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.” Well yesterday was the inauguration of Donald Trump, and they had a lot of pomp and ceremony, and multiple faith groups sought the Lord’s blessing through prayer and Scripture readings. Most of the clergymen were merely seeking to tickle people’s ears, but there were some believers of the gospel there. And, it was heartening to see all the various areas of America represented in Washington to witness the peaceful exchange of power in Amerca’s capital. But, it’s gratifying to read that David, the man after God’s own heart, was able to persuadethe entire Israelite national assembly to glorify the Lord’s Name by bringing the ark to Jerusalem. And, while many Americans take great joy in their freedom and democracy, David and Israel took their joy in the Lord and his Name. See#15d above.
e) I Chronicles 29:26-30, “David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king. As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.”
f) Luke 1:26-35, “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.’” This verse points out that the Davidic covenant, that Messiah would be born through David’s lineage, was well recognized in Judaism through their knowledge of the Scripture, and that such prophecy was highly protected and cherished by God and his angels.
44.) Blind guides, Matthew 15:12-14, “Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’ He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’” There are still many, many blind guides today- some say more than in Christ’s time, since there are more religions, even very large religions such as Islam, Scientology, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Seventh Day Adventists; and then there are many so called Christian groups who don’t understand the new birth. I just met a very vocal, homeless fellow, last night who insisted that the Lord Jesus wasn’t God, but that he himself was indeed born again. When I asked him questions, and showed him the Scripture, he became very loud and defensive. He also misunderstood and misquoted many Scriptures. The following are some examples of blind leadership from Scripture, with the goal of understanding such bad leadership- and Item#g below asserts that any disciple practicing his or her Spirit gift is practicing Godly leadership:
a) Isaiah 42:18-24,”’Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the Lord? You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.’ It pleased the Lord for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, ‘Send them back.’ Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.” This is spiritual blindness brought about by sin resulting in judgment from God.
b) Isaiah 56:9-12, “Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain. ‘Come,’ each one cries, ‘let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.’” Herein spiritual blindness is explained as shepherds who lack knowledge- seeking their own carnal gain. Is there much of this today among those claiming to be believers?
c) Isaiah 59:2-14, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads;
no one who walks along them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.” Also see Item#22g- “Govern justly”, above.
d) Lamentations 4:11-15, “The Lord has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations. The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem. But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous. Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments. ‘Go away! You are unclean!’ people cry to them. ‘Away! Away! Don’t touch us!’ When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, ‘They can stay here no longer.’” What could Israel do to bring such wrath on the People known as “the apple of God’s eye”? “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”- Proverbs 6:16-19. We should not be quick to go to use mlitary action, and the USA really should do away with abortions. And, really, how can we not defund Planned Parenthood- especially since they’ve been caught trafficking in baby parts?! People nowadays in the USA wonder why the liberals are so vindictive and filled with hatred. These people don’t have a new nature. They only have an Adamic, fallen nature- the flesh. The Bible reminds us what is inherent to the old nature: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21.
e) Zephaniah 1:14-18, “The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. ‘I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them
on the day of the Lord’s wrath.’” All of these Items, nos a-i, are citing the same thing, that sin has lead to leaders in blindness. And this is true for all believers today. If I slip into carnality, whatever my favorite sins are, I can feel the darkness slowly taking over. But God is merciful and reminds me that I am in Christ, and slowly the darkness is peeled back as I confess and turn from such folly- I John 1:7-9. Sometimes I, myself, am able to repent, but sometimes the Lord, Himself, must come to remove the darkness. But, I’m saved, and the darkness of my old nature cannot rule over me for long- I John 1:5 and Item#41 above. Praise the Lord!
f) Matthew 23:16-26, “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.’ ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.’” The Lord Jesus was chastising the teachers of the Law and Pharisees, calling them blind for not seeing the weightier matters of God in the Law. Later in that passage of woes, the Lord prophesies of how they will persecute and kill the prophets and teachers that He will send. No, blindness is not too strong a description for these religious people. But, because of God’s Holy Spirit, He is able to open our eyes to see his workings/ grace all around us- especially regarding our own Spirit gifts. And, Oh that we might recognize and accept others’ Spirit gifts!
g) Luke 6:37-41, “’Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ He also told them this parable: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’’” We practiced an old saying at my previous church, “Take the high ground!” This can have meaning from many perspectives- but mainly regarding new relationships, we should show and take our place in Christ early to avoid confusion and undue controversy. In Luke’s account above of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ is showing us, among other teachings, that normal Christian life will be a life of leadership- “Can the blind lead the blind?”. And, the Lord Jesus is explaining that we need to remove planks from our eyes in order to lead, because such planks cause spiritual blindness in us who are called upon to be spiritual leaders through the practice of our Spirit gifts. Is God’s Spirit part of the Godhead? Then taking up your Spirit gifts is leadership- Ephesians 4:11-13. The following are New Testament teachings which also describe/ discuss spiritual blindness: Matthew 5:14-16, John 9:39-41, Romans 2:17-24, Revelation 3:16-17&20, also see Item#41 above.
h) John 3:3-15, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ ‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’” Common sense dictates that when the Lord of Life says, “Truly truly”, or “verily verily, I say unto you”, this is a passage that needs careful study. We love to use this Nicodemus discussion of the Lord Jesus to explain how to be born again; and we can do that from several angles. However, for our perspective discussing spiritual blindness, and for this Grace Study’s overall proclamation of the existence of divine revelation in modern times, this passage gives out a beautiful nugget of Scripture. The Lord Jesus herein makes two amazing statements- which most try to roll into one statement. These are obviously meant as two different statements. First the Lord Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see (perceive in the Greek interlinear) the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” My “Interlinear Scripture Analyzer 3”[3] has this as “Amen, Amen, I am saying to you”- so each statement has the weight of being three times spoken by the Lord. Secondly the Lord Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” As a young construction engineer, I worked on the Inland Steel peninsula on the shores of Lake Michigan, in East Chicago Indiana, I could see the beautiful skyline of Chicago though it was 20 miles away. I hadn’t even entered Illinois, yet I could see and perceive the grand city of Chicago. So, we understand that the Lord Jesus was speaking of two separate but related events, perceiving God’s kingdom and entering God’s kingdom. Further, this seeing is not of the physical kingdom of heaven but rather of the workings of God around us (grace); because the Lord Jesus explains, “We speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen”. So, the new birth brings spiritual sight while on earth as well as a guaranteed place in heaven.
i) II Peter 1:3-11, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, Godliness; and to Godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Also see Item#g above.
45.) Led by the Lord Jesus Christ, John 10:27-30, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Much has been said and written concerning this passage of Scripture. For our purpose, though, we’re considering how to be led by the Lord Jesus. The following are some notes regarding being led generally by the Lord Jesus and being led by Him as our Good Shepherd:
a) John 10 is the chapter of Scripture which reveals and explains the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd who was prophesied to come in Ezekiel 34. In John 10 we see the following aspects of his leadership: we must hear his voice, we must listen to his voice because there are false shepherds in this world; He knows us intimately, by name, when He leads us- vs 3, and He intimately holds the very molecules of our body together by his conscious will- Colossians 1:17; He goes ahead of us so that we can follow Him; He lays down his life for us, He has authority from the Father; He is the only true Gate, and He is always with us- Hebrews 13:5.
b) Regarding the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd, please see Items#20, 25, 37, & 200 of the Shepherding Section; Item#27 of the Word of Knowledge Section; and Item#20 of the Healings Section.
c) II Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So, serious believers study the Bible in order to be led by Christ and not wander off. “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”- I John 5:3.
d) In John 10:27-30, above, the Lord makes it clear that we must recognize his voice and listen for it. Revelation 3:20 seeks to stir up the lukewarm by stating, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
e) Mark 9:2 tells of Peter, James, and John being led to the Mount of Transfiguration. Luke 24:50-51 tells of the Lord Jesus leading the disciples up the Mount of Ascension. In Revelation 4:1 John is summoned before God’s throne in all its glory. The point is, that if we allow ourselves to be led by God, we should expect glorious things to happen to and around us- things that are obviously accomplished only by the interceding grace of God.
46.) Led by God’s Holy Spirit, Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (This story is also repeated in Luke 4:1-13.) Now there’s an interesting narrative. The Holy Spirit, being the Teacher (John 14:26) is leading the Lord Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Hebrews 5:8). Also note that the Lord Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”- John 10:30. Why didn’t the Lord Jesus know, by Himself, to go out into the wilderness to be tempted? I believe this has to do with the fact that the Godhead exists in three persons- and if all were one, then they wouldn’t be three persons in one Godhead. This is not what I want to consider herein. However, we can certainly note that if the Son needs to be led by God’s Spirit, then we obviously need the Spirit’s leading as well. Here are some passages concerning being led by God’s Holy Spirit, and praise the Lord that we can be led by his Holy Spirit, rather than the spirits of darkness and debauchery with whom we formerly walked- Ephesians 2:1&2; and may we not be led by false spirits- II Corinthians 11:4:
a) John 16:12-15, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” There’s some important facts concerning God’s Holy Spirit herein, which many miss resulting in their confusion. God’s Holy Spirit is our only Teacher and it is He who will guide us into all truth. So, if He’s not working on your behalf through your favorite clergymen, you’ll not get taught. God’s Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, and yet, He never speaks about Himself or on his own. From Jesus the Spirit receives what He makes known to us. It follows then, that we should not pray, worship, or seek to speak to God’s Holy Spirit. We should pray to the Father, in the name of the Son; and we worship the Father and the Son only. This is what the New Testament teaches by writers who were led by God’s Holy Spirit in their writings. Anything else is men’s teaching separate from the Spirit and separate from the Lord Jesus. In fact, as I’ve said before, anything that sounds really nice, but can’t be found in Scripture, is probably straight from satan- the father of lies.
b) Romans 8:5-17, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Or those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. “ This passage explains perfectly what it means to be led by the Spirit of God.
c) Galatians 5:16-26, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Our old nature is contrary to God’s Spirit and they are at war with one another. In the blast furnaces of the steel mills, where I worked as a young engineer, an extremely dangerous situation would occur when the molten iron came in contact with water; because if the hot metal encapsulated the water, the rich oxygen content of the water would cause a violent explosion. This is what I think of when I consider that the flesh wars against the Spirit- they are opposite to one another and violently oppose one another. REGARDING KEEPING CADENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF ITEM#15G OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION.
“Guide”
47.) Our Lord as guide, Psalms 48:12-14, “Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.” Have you walked on the mountain tops with the Lord? Well, consider well what that was like! Tell that experience to others, because God is guiding us there.
a) Psalms 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” God’s eye guiding us is exactly what we want and need. “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”- Psalms 61:2. See also Psalms 25:9, 31:3, & 73:24.
b) Isaiah 58:9-11, ““If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” I have a friend, whose ministry is feeding the poor at the Mexico border, and I noticed he uses Isaiah 58 as one of his encouragement verses. But I, just now, noticed the words “sun scorched land”, which aptly applies to the Mexico Texas border. And, my friend’s ministry is always running over with food for the poor.
c) Job 38:1-7& 32-35, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? …Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth? Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?’” It’s obvious that God understands matters that we cannot even fathom. And, surely He is the ultimate and best guide. And yet when a trial comes, not many turn to the Lord for guidance and protection. Also see Item#99a below.
d) Exodus 15:13&17, “In your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In your strength You will guide them to your holy dwelling. … You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, You made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.” How can others guide us- blind guides who don’t really understand where we are going?
e) Psalms 25:8-10, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.”
f) Psalms 31:1-5, “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit;”.
g) Psalms 32:8-10, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” Some say, and rightfully so, “The Lord leads by opening and closing doors.” But the Lord would rather that we have understanding- and not need this binary means of instruction (John 15:15). In rearing a child there’s a place for the rod, but I’d rather have children who sought understanding and wisdom.
h) Psalms 73:22-28, “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
i) Psalms 78:51-55 & 70-72, “He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. But He brought his people out like a flock; He led them like sheep through the wilderness. He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. And so He brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken. He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. … He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep He brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands He led them.” The Lord’s people are guided along safely. “Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”- Psalms 1:4-6. Guiding implies a journey. And, as believers, our journey is to the glory. “All the way my Savior leads me. What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide?”- Fanny Crosby.
j) Isaiah 49:8-13, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ ‘ They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar— some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan.’ Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.’ “ See also Luke 3:4-6 and Isaiah 40:3-5.
k) Isaiah 58:9-12, ““If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
l) Luke 1:76-79, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Rising Sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” This is Zecharia’s prophecy of his son, John the Baptist, as the forerunner of Christ. Thank the Lord that we have the Lord Jesus to guide these wandering feet of ours!
m) John 16:12-15, ““I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” We should be discerning what we claim is coming from the Spirit- not just so that we don’t quench Him, but also that we might learn. What the Spirit is making known to us, He receives from the Lord Jesus for our benefit. We should be slow to speak and quick to listen and discern. And, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”- Psalms 119:15. Just as the grace gifts are appropriated to us by the Lord Jesus through God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:7), so we are guided into truth and knowledge by God’s Holy Spirit, as God’s Spirit receives such from the Lord Jesus (John 15:26 &16:13-15).
“Oversee”, “overseers”
48.) Work of an overseer, I Chronicles 9:29 (KJV), “Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.” I was going to name this “ministerial work of an overseer”, but that would be duplicitous. I’m reminded that minister and work actually have the same meaning from the Lord’s point of view. And, then I’m reminded that the Lord’s concern is that the work actually gets done, rather than who gets the credit. And then, I’m reminded that the Lord’s principle focus is still saving souls from the Lake of Fire. So we really need t get to work, and, as my old boss, George Murphy, used to say, “Don’t just set there spinning your wheels”. “These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants. They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.” I Chronicles 24:1-5. So, we see that in David’s time there was an agreement to get the work done. Even in the case of the priesthood, the leaders merely cast lots, split up the assignments, and got to work. I conclude that the principle work of an overseer is to make sure the work gets done.
49.) Oversight is to watch over, II Chronicles 2:18, “Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.” That’s 100% of the foreigners in Israel that were put to work on the temple and Solomon’s palace. 3600 of these people had to be overseers/ foreman. In terms of man power, I’ve never heard of a project that large. I suppose the pyramids in Egypt took up such manpower, but I never read of any quantities estimated. It’s said that the largest construction project in the history of mankind is the US Interstate Highway System (which is still expanding), and I wonder if that project ever employed 153,000 people all at once. Of course, if we count all the engineering firms and people working in gravel pits, stone quarries, in government, in ashphalt, concrete, and cement plants, in heavy equipment servicing, and other auxiliary services, then 154,000 might be a little light, but a good starting estimate- off the top of my head. Josiah also put overseers over his work to repair the temple during his reign- II Chronicles 34:12-13&17.
50.) Oversight of a household, Genesis 39:4&5, “Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.” A believer is continually surrounded by the grace and glory of God, but we should not abuse nor deny such favor from God. “A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”- I Timothy 3:12. So, the grace of “rule” should be shining, if indeed that Spirit ability is present in a life. Also see Item#75 below.
51.) Public officials, Nehemiah 11:1,2,9,14,&22 “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. … Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city. … Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, and his associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim. … The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God.” So, we see that there was a strong leadership among those resettling Israel. But all this authority came from. Romans 13:1 states, “there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” So, we see the authority of God being established and meted out by God through these leaders in Israel, and from two directions we see this. First, the prophet Jeremiah speaks for God in promising the Israelites’ return from captivity- Jeremiah 29:10. Secondly, Cyrus (II Chronicles 36:23) and Darius (Ezra 6:12) have decreed that the Israelites should be allowed to reinhabit the land and rebuild the temple. And, the authority of Jeremiah, Darius, and Cyrus, all, clearly comes from God. So, we see how and why that public officials receive their authority from God- even the worst of them. And, the why is that there is no other authority except that which comes from God. Also see Items# 5, 21h, 25, &27o above, as well as Item#46b of the Healings Section, and Item#15c of the Word of Knowledge Section. Also we note that these Israeli leaders were chosen by casting lots, not according to leadership abilities- which connotes that the eventual selection is given to God.
52.) Oversight of ministry, Nehemiah 12:42&46, “The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. … For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” In the local gatherings of Christ’s Church, there are deacons and elders in charge of certain functions and ministries (service). And we are to submit to such oversight as if from God, Hebrews 13:17. However, be careful not to assume a person is credible just because he or she holds such an office. The Scripture also says, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure”- I Timothy 5:22. This verse in I Timothy becomes difficult if you know someone in authority is in error. And, Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” And Scripture wisely says that we should not attempt to correct an elder Christian except in the presence of two or three witnesses- I Timothy 5:19.
53.) Oversight of contributions, II Chronicles 31:2-5&11-13, “Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling. The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord. He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. … Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah, a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah were assistants of Konaniah and Shimei his brother. All these served by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of the temple of God.” This oversight of the distribution of these offerings was a huge task. Israel was an agricultural society and much livestock and grain was offered, as well as wine, olive oil, and honey. And, all the priests and their families needed these contributions in order to survive. The oversight of contributions is still an important work of a local gathering. Also see Item#80 below, and Item#2f in the Giving Section. In this regard, we should always conclude that money is equivalent to and is a measure of time and effort (Item#1 of the Giving Section). It’s the same as doing Godly service, but is portable. Just like a battery stores up energy to be used elsewhere, money is time and effort stored up to be used elsewhere- by Godly servants doing Godly work. And, making sure that our offerings are given to Godly people who are actually doing God’s work takes serious effort and a serious attitude. In my own life, I am contacted by all kinds of people trying to get money. So, I really need discernment and prayer in selecting where to give.
54.) Elders as oversight, Acts 20:17-22&25-31, “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: ‘You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. … Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the Church of God, which He bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.’” Acts 13:15-16 also says, “After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: ‘Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!’ So, Paul and his group, being travelers, were encouraged to speak by the elders of the synagogue. The point is that these Jewish synagogues were already ruled by elders. So when the apostles/ church builders taught that the local gatherings were to be ruled by a concensus of the elders, there wasn’t much need for further explanation (see Item#79d below) - except what Paul warned concerning wolfish clergymen coming in to destroy the flock. Indeed, Paul’s statement wasn’t just a warning, but actually was a prophesy- “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” Also see Items# 1a&c, and 8e of the Shepherding Section. I note that in order for the wolves to savage the flock, they must “distort the truth”. Lately, I’ve been forced to defend my positions. My most common defense cites the Lord Jesus as being “the Truth”; and then I ask, “How can I, Christ’s disciple, teach and practice things which aren’t true?” The above Scripture, Acts20:30, which cites distortion of the truth as a mark of the savaging wolf, is a nugget of Scripture. So, be on your guard!
“Reign”, “reignest”, “reigneth”
55.) The Lord’s Reign, Exodus 15:17-18. “You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
‘The Lord reigns forever and ever’.”
a) Revelation 11:15-17, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever.’ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.’” We should note that the Lord Jesus’ Millennial Reign is also the Father reigning- but reigning through his Son. And this passage exposes “the kingdom of the world” finally joining the heavenly hosts in the recognition and enjoyment of the Lord’s reign.
b) I Samuel 8:7-11, “And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.’ Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. …’”
c) I Samuel 12:12-25, ““But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors. ‘Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.’ Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel. The people all said to Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.’ ‘Do not be afraid,’ Samuel replied. ‘You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.’”
d) Psalms 110:1-7, “ The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.” The one sitting at the Lord’s right hand is the Lord Jesus, per Luke 20:42, and the Lord Jesus will rule directly from the Lord’s right hand until the Father has made his enemies a footstool for his feet. “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all his enemies under his feet. … When He has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under hHm, so that God may be all in all.”- I Corinthians 15:24-25&28. This I Corinthians 15 passage is the furthest forward point in time prophesied in Scripture- not withstanding a prophecy which is not a point in time, but none-the-less prophesies of eternity future, “from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”- Psalms 90:2. Also see Item#k below.
e) Psalms 146:6-10, “He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.” How can we not love, bow down, and praise a God like that?!
f) Daniel 4:13-17, &24-26, “’In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.’ ‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.’ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’’… ‘This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.’” The underlined portion above defines the whole passage. The Lord rules over kingdoms, and places over them base and lowly people as rulers. A believing acquaintance brought this out in a discussion regarding Donald Trump’s recent election as president of the USA. I’m not saying that President Trump is a base and lowly man, but I see through him that a direct person can be a very powerful leader. While people with an “ivory tower” attitude, always seeking perfection, get little to nothing accomplished.
g) Micah 5:2, ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This is famously prophesying of the coming of the Messiah to reign and his birth in Bethlehem. And, as explained in Item#d above, the Father and the Son are one and rule as one (John 10:30).
h) I Corinthians 15:22-28, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ. When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all.” There is much history in Scripture and also much prophecy of future events- even the millennial reign of Christ and the destruction of Earth as we know it. But, this passage prophesies farther into the future than any other passage of Scripture to that point where “God may be all in all”. And it occurred to me, that at that far future event, those thrust into theLake of Fire will still be in that fire- and will be in those flames for eternity. This fact propels me on to do my work in Christ, and seek to be as effective a Christian as I can- lest I cause someone to stumble or fall short of God’s purpose for me. See also Item#d above and Item#23k.
i) Revelation 12:1-6, “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” This Gracestudy is not an eschatology study, so I’m recusing myself from a detailed explanation of this passage. I only note that the Church, being in Christ, will rule with Him, and “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter “. Lately I’ve been led back to those verses which explain that the Church is always “in Christ Jesus”, so wherever He is, we also will be (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:6, 7, &10- already in Christ, I Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 2:4, Philippians 1:1, et al).
j) Revelation 22:3-5, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” If you’ve ever experienced the glory of God, then you probably understand why we will need no external lights in heaven, and contrary to what some seem to be teaching, we will see his face. (See Item#1 in the Prophecy Section.) However, for this Item#55 in which we’re considering the Lord’s reign, it’s important to realize that “his servants will serve Him” and “they will reign forever and ever”. This is very revealing because it gives us a sense of what we’ll be doing in heaven, and shows us that we’ll be busy, because heaven is a very active place (Matthew 11:12, Ezekiel 1:4-22). President Trump currently has great plans for America, but can’t get his cabinet up and functioning. And, we realize how busy Washington DC is, and yet heaven is much busier by far.
k) Psalms 22:27-31, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!” And we see the fulfillment of the Psalms 22 prophecy contained in Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Also see Item#d above. And, yes, we believers, even in this day, are a fulfillment to these prophecies. Hallelujah, “He has done it!” Also see Items 61 & 99 above.
56.) Good kings of Judah, I Kings 9:1-9 “When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon (I Kings 3:5-15). The Lord said to him: ‘I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.’’” I had went to a seminar once, called “Walk through the Old Testament”, in which the teacher had us all memorize thoughts and hand signals which brought out basic concepts of the Old Testament. The short excerpt describing the reign of the Judean kings was, “David had a whole heart for God. Solomon had a half heart for God, and the kingdom split”. The speaker then explained that, after Solomon there were only a few good kings of Judah, and zero good kings of Israel (the Northern kingdom). So, since “good” is a relative term, and this fact seemed to fit into this study of the gift of rule, I researched the Scripture. I found that, after Soloman, there were indeed zero good kings of the Northern kingdom, but eight good kings of Judah- per the Scripture. Those eight good kings and the Scriptures describing their rule are as follows: Asa, I Kings 15:11, “Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done.”; Jehoshaphat, I Kings 22:43; Joash, II Kings 12:2; Amaziah, II Kings 14:3; Azariah (aka Uzziah), II Kings 15:3; Jotham, II Kings 14:34; Hezekiah, II Kings 18:3; Josiah, II Kings 22:2. Some of these eight “good kings” allowed idolatry to persist at the “high places”. However, as noted, the Scripture describes them as good kings. So,we conclude that good leadership involves doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and following the example of Godly men which have gone before us.
57.) Solomon, I Kings 3:5-15, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.’ Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.” (See also II Chronicles 1:7-12 and I Kings 4:24-25.) Solomon has always been an example of Godly wisdom and discernment. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak of his great wisdom. I note, though, that his great wealth and honor were not a result of his wisdom, but separate blessings from God. And I note that the Lord added a caveat to his promises to Solomon, “if you walk in obedience to me”. This caveat was not there in his promise to David, or his promises to Abraham (Galatians 3:8-14). However, a caveat requiring obedience was included in the Lord’s promises to Moses (Exodus 19:5, &23:20-22), Jeroboam (I Kings 11:38), and to Saul (I Samuel 12:13-15). Obviously, the Lord knew that the children of Israel, as well as Saul, Jeroboam, and Solomon, were going to fall short of God’s covenant promise, so God needed a caveat requiring obedience in order for his Word to be true. To be wise we must recognize God’s hand in creation and his grace working around us, and that obedience to Him who provides all the facets of our very existence is always a wise choice. To walk away from such protection is very dangerous. See also I Kings 1:35-37, and also see II Chronicles 8:1-17, Solomon realized that wisdom and knowledge come from God and are necessary to govern effectively . It is sad, but telling, to see that with all of Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge, his flesh brought down his kingdom. I Kings 11 chronicles that Solomon disobediently took wives from other nations, and these idolatrous wives eventually led him into idolatry. Finally, the Lord had to tell him, “I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates”- I Kings 11:11. In the failures of Solomon and David, and myself, I see why Christ had to die- that we could obtain a new nature. Our old nature will always lead to sin. Only with a Godly nature can we endure eternity in Christ Jesus.
58.) The king’s desire, I Kings 11:35-38, “I will take the kingdom from his (David’s} son’s hands and give you ten tribes. I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.” However, out of disbelief in the Lord’s blessings as prophesied above, Jeroboam immediately turned to the carnality of idolatry – Galatians 5:20, I Kings 12:26-33, 13:33, and 14:6-14. Item#23j, above, spells out Samuel’s complaint against Israel having a king, and and, of course, “the king’s desire”, not being God’s desire, is prevalent in Samuel’s complaint. And, this is God’s complaint with most earthly rule, but the King of Righteousness is coming soon- Isaiah 32:1, hallelujah!
59.) David’s mighty men, II Samuel 23:8-39, “These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.” I note that it is necessary for a ruler to have mighty men close by him in order to rule. Of course, God can summon legions of angels, so God doesn’t need mighty men.
60.) Christians reign, II Timothy 2:11-13, “Here is a trustworthy saying, ‘If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.’” There are two Christian sayings that pertain to this. The first says, “Earth is training time for reigning time”. The second saying is that, “After the rapture, wherever Christ goes, we go!”- same as I Thessalonians 4:17. We should really learn the concept of believers being “in Christ Jesus”. Wherever He goes we have to go, and whatever He does we will be doing and are doing- even now. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … .”- Ephesians 2:6. Also see Item#55i, above. The following are more passages about Christians reigning:
a) Daniel 7:27, “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.”
b) Revelation 2:26-29, “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This rule certainly doesn’t sound like a passive form of rule.
c) Revelation 5:9&10, “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” We’ll be reigning on Earth!
d) Revelation 20:4-6, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” We’ll be reigning for 1000 years!
e) Revelation 21:1-3, and 22:1-5, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” … “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” After the thousand year reign of Christ, in which we also will reign, the believers will reign forever and ever. Regarding seeing the Lord’s face, please see Item#38c above.
61.) God reigns over all, I Chronicles 29:10-13, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to You, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise your glorious name.’” The following are additional verses helping to explain that God reigns over all:
a) II Chronicles 20:2-7, “Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar’ (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: ‘Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?’”
b) Psalms 66:1-7, “Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.’ Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot— come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against Him.”
c) Psalms 99:1-7, “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; He sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name— He is holy. The King is mighty, He loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; He is holy. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and He answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees He gave them.” Amen, and hallelujah!
d) Psalms103:19, “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul!”
e) Daniel 5:18-28, “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position He gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone He wishes. But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription. This is the inscription that was written: ‘mene, mene, tekel, parsin’ Here is what these words mean: ‘Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’” Wow, what a bold work of prophesying by Daniel!
f) Colossians 1:15-20, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
g) Revelation 19:6-8, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.’ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” I love that saying, “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”. Who better to reign than the Lord- that’s what the word “Lord” means!
h) Also see Items#55&99.
62.) God reigns over the Heathen, Psalms 47:5-9, “God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.” The following passages also ascribe to the Lord his glorious rule over the heathen nations:
a) I Chronicles 16:28-35, “Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, ‘Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.’”
b) Psalms 96:7-13, “Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’ The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.” This passage in Psalms is a sister passage to the I Chronicles 16 passage in Item#a above it.
64.) Godly man as a guide, Psalms 112:2-10, “Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct (‘guide’ in KJV) their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.” Christian men and women are called to guide the affairs of their household and their lives in a Godly manner.
a) Proverbs 11:2-7, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.” This passage starts out warning that the Lord resists pride, but gives grace to the humble; this concept is repeated consistently in Scripture- I Peter 5:5, James 4:6, Proverbs 16:19, etc. And, we see herein that integrity and righteous conduct becomes a guide, as we follow the Scripture, bathing our walk in prayer, and seeking to do things the Lord’s way.
b) Acts 8:30-31, “Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me (should guide me- KJV)?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” This is more akin to the Spirit gifts of evangelism and teaching, rather than the gift of rule.
c) I Timothy 5:14, “So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage (guide- KJV) their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.” Christian women have a monumental battle on their hands. The world is teaching that women should be money makers, and get a job when their children reach school age. I perceive that public schools are a terribly dangerous place for a child to be. Homeschooling is far superior. Consider! In the public schools we have Godless teachers trying to impart wisdom, knowledge, and understanding on Christian youth. Is anything more ironically anti-Christian than that. And, why does it have to be that way? I believe it is because believers are not opening their eyes to the battle for their children’s souls, and aren’t seeing God’s grace providing for them. Believers are settling for worldly wisdom- measuring decisions by dollar value rather than by Godly wisdom. We should pray, “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyes!”
“Rule”, “ruled”, “ruler/s”, “ruleth”
67.) Light rules darkness, Genesis 1:14-19, “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern (rule- KJV) the day and the lesser light to govern (rule- KJV) the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern (rule- KJV) the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.” What an obvious example of God’s working his way in his creation- light vs. darkness, and light having power over the darkness, both physically and spiritually. The following are other passages which help bring out this dichotomy of light vs. darkness:
a) Psalms 136:3-9, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. who made the great lights— His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.” The psalmist knew the great blessing which God bestowed on us- to be able to discern light from darkness, not to mention the use of these great heavenly lights to frame out and provide for our existence.” I can’t imagine the chaos in the world if the sun, moon, and stars were not here to guide our seasons and times and travels. And, any reasonable scientist can why life cannot physically exist on earth without the sun and moon.
b) John 1:3-13, &9, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all might believe. He himself was not the Light; He came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
c) John 9:1-5, “As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.’” As Phillip Bliss wrote in his hymn, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin. The Light of the World is Jesus!” “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”- John 8:12.
d) John 3:19-21, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
e) John11:8&9, “’But Rabbi,’ they said, ‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.’”
f) John 12:44-46, “Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.’”
g) II Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” And, we have yet to realize the true brilliance of the glory of Christ’s face- Exodus 33:20, Revelation 1:16, 6:16, 10:11, 20:11, and 22:4. Regarding seeing the Lord’s face, please see Item#38c above.
h) Mt 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
i) Luke 16:8, “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light”. The Lord refers to us as the people of light, quite a high calling to live up to; but with God’s grace gifts and his Holy Spirit we can do just that! The gift of rule is not merely to rule the darkness, but also to administer our affairs and gatherings so that we walk as the people of light.
68.) Rule with kindness, Leviticus 25:39-43, &53-55, “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.” … “They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly. ‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’” These are weighty statements regarding rule in the Church. Believers are the Lord’s servants, and should be treated as such, even when they are in error. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”- John 13:35.
a) I Kings 9:22-23, “But Solomon did not make slaves of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.” (Also see II Chronicles 8:9-10.) Herein we see Solomon making slaves of people whom Israel had conquered. This might cause some difficulty in understanding. Actually God told Israel to totally destroy these people- Joshua 9:24. But we don’t live in those times and even a nominal Christian’s way of thinking is greatly influenced by the practice of Christians living before us, and by God’s Spirit of truth. Others, however, such as Muslims and those living before Christ, practiced slavery as a supposedly logical way of dealing with a conquered people. In fact, Muslims- in Libya currently, sex and drug traffickers, and even providers of illegal immigration, still practice slavery to this day. But Christians seek to practice and teach the true freedom of Christ, and in so doing lift up the culture around them in many ways. However, we must be aware of satan’s counterfeit angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14). In order to keep people blind to the glorious gospel he needs to offer a carnal counterpart to the good works testimony of Christians- Matthew 5:16. I have concluded that a good example of such counterfeit light is the so-called Renaissance. This is the time when serious Christians were being persecuted for their faith and the truth of the glorious gospel was exploding out into nominal Christendom, especially through the Bible’s publication into people’s native tongues; and yet worldly people were amazed by a supposed new enlightenment of mankind. I can see why satan had to offer something more juicy to tantalize unregenerated mankind- the Renaissance, lest they see and understand the true light of Christ’s gospel and become free through salvation- II Corinthians 4:4. Satan loves bondage of any sort, especially outright slavery of the type that Islam practices. Death, sickness, and destruction in the Lake of Fire, are also maladies toward which satan directs people.
b) Matthew 20:25-26, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” This is, of course a nugget of Scripture regarding the gift of rule. (Also see Mark 10:42 and Luke 22:24-30.) As a young man I received a Master of Science in Business Administration, and subsequently attended various leadership teaching events, and was even a member of a few admin societies. None of these groups teach what the Lord Jesus is sayng herein. What the Lord is saying is that there are things needed to be done in the Church, and if you want to be great in his eyes, then work with him to get the job done. And, forget about the accolades of others. Logically, if you want to be a successful businessman, this should apply to business as well (except that worldly colleagues will try to steal your work). You might say that real leadership involves loving God and others enough to make sure the job gets done, and correctly- as opposed to pretending that you have the “right stuff” to be a leader. Regarding this servant leadership, also see Items#23e,26,& 36e above.
c) Ezekiel 34:1-4 &20-23, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.’” … “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and He will tend them; He will tend them and be their Shepherd.” This is part of the Lord’s criticism against the shepherds of Israel, (See Shepherding Item#20f.) in which He prophesied that He must send a Good Shepherd (John 10:14) to straighten out all this.
d) Also see Item#36 below, “Lead Softly”.
69.) Not burdensome and for personal gain, Nehemiah 5:14-18, “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.”
a) Esther10:3, “Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.”
b) I Peter 5:2-4, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
c) Also see Items#36i,& 68c above. There are obviously elements of the gift of rule which are contained in the gift of shepherding. And, as well, there are elements of the gift of shepherding which are contained in the gift of rule.
70.) Qualities of a good ruler, Proverbs 12:24, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” I love the simplicity of this proverb. And yet, it’s absolutely true- as is all Scripture. Other leadership qualities espoused by Scripture are as follows:
a) Genesis 45:8-9, “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.’” This also is a nugget of Scripture in that it simply shows that God engifts certain people to rule. Some have even taught exactly how each of Joseph’s trials taught him how to be a ruler. And, I conclude that realizing God’s will in a person’s administrative duties is very important in growth as a leader.
b) Exodus 35:27, “The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.” Functional generosity is a mark of a good leader. And, I notice these leaders are being generous by giving from their own pockets, not from the government’s coffers. In fact David said, “No, I insist in paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God sacrifices that cost me nothing.”- II Samuel 24:24.
c) Leviticus 4:22, “When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.” A leader should be a Godly person, who keeps a short account with God- quickly obtaining atonement by confession to the Lord, and asking forgiveness.
d) Deuteronomy 1:9-18, “At that time I said to you, ‘You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”’ You answered me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’ So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.’ And at that time I told you everything you were to do.” So herein are key qualities of Godly leaders. They should be wise, understanding, and respected men; and they should be appointed to have Godly authority (rule) over the believers.
e) I Samuel 25:30-31, “When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing He promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.” This is Abigail requesting David to spare her husband and family. Here are two qualities of leadership which David had. He had the Lord’s anointing on his rule (II Samuel 6:21), and he was spared from needless bloodshed. In fact, David was not perfect in that he had multiple wives, and he was a man of war (I Chronicles 22:7-8).
f) II Samuel 23:1-4, “ These are the last words of David: The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’ “Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”- II Chronicles 16:9. The Lord is looking to strengthen rulers who are fully committed to Him.
g) I Chronicles 29:6-9, “Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” Correct and focused giving to the Lord is also a mark of a good leader. If a leader isn’t using his own money responsibly, what do you think he’s doing with your money? This is a very important point. Money is a measure of our time and effort. This country, the USA spends trillions of dollars each year, but accomplishes very little- because, from a Godly perspective, our leaders are blind and impotent regarding the Lord’s will. Also see Item#4 of the Giving Section, and II Chronicles 35:8.
h) II Chronicles 19:8-10, “In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.” A big part of rule is the ability to successfully delegate authority. This is a sad part of the Trump administration in the USA today. There are leakers of confidential information within the US government, and the leaders of the Department of Justice (truly a sad name) cannot, and some will not, expose these leakers. In a sense it seems the corruption and rebellious nature of these government workers has permeated the ranks of the US intelligence agencies, seemingly to the point of no return. Also see Item#15f above.
i) II Chronicles 26:3-21, “Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful. Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said, ‘It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.’ Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.” The Lord made Uzziah very powerful, yet, when he transgressed God’s Law due to pride, the Lord took him down. There’s a lesson there, for sure! It is also noteworthy that the Lord made it impossible for Uzziah to enter the temple again, due to his unclean leprosy. Truly we serve a wise, powerful and loving God.
j) Ezra 4:18-23, “Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests? As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.” So we see that when Jerusalem had powerful kings, who feared God, they were respected throughout the Mideast. But, out of foolishness they turned to idols and lost their power, II kings 17:6-23 and I Chronicles 9:1. And all power comes from God- Romans 13:1.
k) Nehemiah 4:14-18, “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.’ When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” So, a good leader recognizes the hatred and danger coming from the Lord’s enemies and takes steps to defend against such attacks.
l) Nehemiah 7:2, “I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.” So Nehemiah appointed his brother with whom he had a long term trusting relationship. He also appointed him because he felt Hanani was worthy of trust since Hanani feared God greatly. God’s summary judgment on those headed for hell is that “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”- Romans 3:18. Also, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7); and “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
m) Nehemiah 11:1-2, “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” The point is that it’s good to have the leaders live in a place which has easy access to the others in leadership. This facilitates quick communication and informed decisions.
n) Esther 8:8-14, “’Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.’ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.” Communication through proper authorities is key to proper administration of authority.
o) Psalms 78:70-72, “He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Administrators, particularly in the local church, are also called upon to be shepherds; leading is a shepherding term. See also I Chronicles 11:2, and Matthew 2:6.
p) Proverbs 17:2, “A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.” So prudence is something to be sought after, and is often fleeting and the reason why many tasks go unfinished! See Item#95 of the Teaching Section for an excellent encouragement in prudence.
q) Isaiah 32:1-2, “See, a King will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.” Oh, for just rulers today! Justice is not an easy thing to achieve, when satan is the prince of this world- and most rulers don’t even understand his presence, or the Good News of Jesus Christ. See Item#22 above for a further discussion on just rulers.
r) Daniel 2:45-49, “’The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.’ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.” The point herein is that knowledge of God and his intercession (grace) are awesome attributes befitting great rulers- and people can have such knowledge. Also see Daniel 5:7&29.
s) Matthew 24:45-47, ““Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” This agrees with Item#68b, above, which says the Lord is looking for leaders who actually get things done. This also agrees with Matthew 25:21, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
71.) Rule also is fleeting, Ecclesiastes 2:18-21, “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.”
a) Jeremiah 22:24-25,&30, “’As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, ‘even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.’” …”This is what the Lord says:, ‘Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.’” Rule is fleeting because all power comes from God, and his power is focused to do his will. And, I perceive that when men stray from his will, his power will still focus on doing his will. See Romans 13:1, and Items# 24, 25 & 27j above.
b) Daniel 11:2-7, “’Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.’” There is much prophecy to analyze and discern herein. But we can easily conclude that the rule of these kingdoms is changing hands very rapidly.
72.) Strength of rule, Daniel 2:36-45, “’This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands He has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, He has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the Rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a Rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.’” There has been much speculation as to who these empires were and will be. Most Bible scholars would conclude that the empire following Nebuchadnezzar’s is the Medo-Persian empire; the bronze empire was the Grecian empire; the iron empire was the Roman empire, and the iron clay mixed empire is the modern day remains of the Roman empire. Daniel’s prophecy reveals that the weakness in these empires will be the mixture of peoples making up these empires. So, various empires, had and will have, less or greater strength of rule. And, I perceive that this strength of rule is directly related to the empire’s ability to carry out God’s plans. (See Item#71a.) Also, we see that there will be a final empire which will rule forever, and which was set up by the Rock. Of course, this Rock is Christ, and of his kingdom there will be no end- I Corinthians 10:4, Isaiah 9:7. Other passages which deal with this concept of strength of rule are as follows:
a) Psalms 89:9, “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.” God’s rule serves as an example of absolute power and rule.
b) Daniel 11:3-4, “Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.” Daniel prophesies of the rise and fall of various kings of Persia, some with great power of rule. It is also interesting that Daniel speaks of some princes working within these realms of power, who, I conclude, are mighty angels- Daniel 10:21-11:1, &12:1, etc..
74.) Spirit rule, II Corinthians 10:13-18, “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
a) Colossians 3:15-17, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
b) I Timothy 5:17-20, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’ Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.”
c) Hebrews 13:7,17,&24-25, ” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” … “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” … “Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.” We should accept and cherish our Christian leaders as leaders. And, I love this final verse in the Book of Hebrews: “Grace be with you all.” Truly the first century Church understood our vital need for God’s grace! The point of this item regarding Spirit rule is, that we are to allow God to rule in our spheres of influence; and at all times “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16)- keeping in step with his cadence. REGARDING KEEPING CADENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF ITEM#15G OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION.
75.) Household rule, Genesis 24:1-4, “Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
a) Genesis 43:16, “When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.” Abraham and Joseph were wise servants of God. So, their chief stewards must also have been wise, capable, and responsible men. Also see Item#50 above.
76.) National rule, Genesis 41:39-43, “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, ‘Make way!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Egypt indeed prospered under the rule of that Godly man Joseph. Many people look back at America’s heritage and easily relate its prosperity to the Godly perspectives and principles of our forefathers. Items# 37 & 41 above speak of people being led by and in God’s light- and the great blessing which usher from that light to those people basking in God’s light.
a) Genesis 45:7&8, “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” It’s worth noting that the gift of rule is not self-indulging, but is for God’s purposes. In Joseph’s case Joseph’s rule was obviously given by God for the preservation and growth of Israel. Nowadays, Christian rule and favor in a nation is usually given by God to perpetuate the gospel and protect other Christian works- but primarily focuses directly or indirectly on the salvation of souls through evangelism- which is still the Lord Jesus’ principle work.
77.) Rule has boundaries, Joshua 12:2-3, “Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.” The point herein is simply that rule has boundaries. Of, course these boundaries can increase, decrease, or cease dependant upon the Lord- who rules over all, Revelation 19:6. And, obviously kings and men greedy for power naturally want to increase their power and boundaries- II Samuel 11:1.
78.) Davidic covenant, II Samuel 7:8-17, “’Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.” And, we believers conclude that the eternal throne of David will be reigned over by the King of Kings- the Lord Jesus Christ. Also see I Chronicles 17:7. See Item#43.
a) I Chronicles 28:2-7, “King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’ Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah He chose my family, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’ However Solomon was led astray by his many idolatrous wives. He had a half heart for God and the kingdom split (see Items 43 & 56, above especially #43c, also Item#93).
b) II Chronicles 7:11-22, “When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said: ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’ But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why He brought all this disaster on them.’’” It seems as if the Lord is looking ahead to Solomon’s and Israel’s future idolatries, and warning them that He cannot support such activities. This is why it’s so important to realize our gifts and God’s will for our lives; because God wants to bless us and will always be seeking to point us toward those blessings.
79.) Rule of the House of God, I Chronicles 9:2-11, “Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were: Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah. Of the Shelanites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690. Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah. The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families. Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin; Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God; …”. So, the Israelites set a person to administer the house of God, whether the tabernacle at Shiloh, or later the temple in Jerusalem, there was a high priest over the house of God. This high priesthood later became obsolete, because it was only a type/ forshadowing of Christ. And, when Christ died and ascended to God’s right hand, the Old Covenant and its entire priesthood became obsolete- Hebrews 8:1,2&13. In fact, the entire temple was torn down by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD, just as the Lord Jesus prophesied, Matthew 24:2.So, the New Covenant has Jesus Christ as the Minister of the Sanctuary (Hebrews 8:2), not an earthly high priest. And, all believers are priests- able to make acceptable sacrifices to the Father, and to come before his throne in prayer and in praise (Hebrews 10:21-25, I Peter 2:9). And, since we believers make up the house of God, as living stones (I Peter 2:5), we need to consider that the Lord has set up elders as administrators within his Body- the Church. And the leadership within the local church is by concensus of elders, not by the rule of one, or even a few: see above Items#20a, 26c&d, 52, 54, &74; also Item#1 of the Shepherding Section, and#7 in Shepherding Section Summary; and Item#76 of the Teaching Section; and Hebrews 13:17. The following passages also briefly discuss administration over God’s house, with an excellent brief listing of what the early New Testament elders were accomplishing.
a) I Chronicles 9:13-34, “…The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God. … The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. … Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting. … But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices. A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread. Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table. Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.”
b) Nehemiah 11:1-22, “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. … From the priests: Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God, and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; … The Levites in the holy city totaled 284. The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men. The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property. The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them. The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. The musicians were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.”
c) Acts 11:30. Famine giving from Antioch to the Jerusalem assembly was transferred through the Jerusalem elders.
d) Acts 14:23. During their return trip, “Paul and Barnabus appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Norbie (see Item#1 in the Shepherding Section) has said that there is no Scripture-cited point where the apostles give way to leadership by the elders in the Jerusalem assembly. The Scripture does cite that the Jerusalem assembly was governed by the elders though, such as Item#e below. Norbie (see footnote in Shepherding Section, Item#1) brings out that the early Jewish Christians already knew what governance by elders was due to such governance in the Jewish synagogues from the time of Moses. However, the Gentile gatherings didn’t have such familiarity with such governance, and the new Christians didn’t have mature, experienced Christians taking responsibilities. So, it was necessary for the newly established gatherings to have elders appointed by the apostles to expedite the necessary decisions within such assemblies. Now, I conclude that in modern assemblies, nowadays, there are mature Christians who’ve even grown up in local gatherings, who obviously fit the Scripture credentials of eldership, although never formerly appointed. I conclude also that such appointment is not necessary, and such elder mature Christians ought to take up leadership, especially shepherding, else Christ’s work will be slowed. Now, if a gathering chose to have such elders serve temporarily on an elder board or oversight committee charged with making expeditious decisions for that gathering, I’d say that is profitable. However, non-inclusion on such committees doesn’t relieve an elder of his responsibility of leadership and shepherding within that local gathering- or even the responsibility of overseeing the oversight committee. And, obviously, this doesn’t leave any excuse for a paid pastor to try to do the work allocated to such elders.
e) Acts 15:2,4,6,22&23. Paul, Barnabus, & others visit Jerusalem assembly regarding circumcision and the Law vs. grace through faith. The Jerusalem council gives them a letter of advice, but can only say, “Farewell”.
f) Acts 16:4. Paul Silas and Timothy, while continuing their apostleship to the Gentiles, “delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey”. We should consider that Paul & his group were not preaching submittal to a magisterium in Jerusalem, but rather confirming, by the original gathering in Jerusalem’s agreement, that salvation was by grace through faith and not by the Law. The Jerusalem letter also advised the Gentile assemblies not to practice disgusting acts which would alienate the Jews around them- in those Gentile cities.
g) Acts 18:8. Crispus, a Jewish Corinthian elder, gets saved and brings his whole household to Christ.
h) Acts 20:17-38. Paul sends for the Ephesian elders while at Miletus. He encourages them to be shepherds and overseers. And, he warns them that savage wolves will come among them, even from their own number, and will not spare the flock, “and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them”.
i) Acts 21:18. Paul sees James and the Jerusalem elders again. They give him some strange advice that still accomplishes God’s will by getting Paul arrested and sent along his way to Rome as the apostle to the Gentiles.
j) General discussions of New Testament elders and their duties: Items# 4,9,18,20a,21k,26,52,54, 68b,74 & 88a.
k) Also see Items#68b, and 74 above.
However, having noted these concepts regarding the local gatherings, I must note that the living stones make up Christ’s Church, not the local assemblies. And so the family becomes the basic grouping of Christ’s Church, not the assembly. And, we should not sacrifice our family duties for duties in the local gathering- as some tend to do, myself included.
80.) Administration of the Treasuries, I Chronicles 26:20-28, “Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things. The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli, the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of the Lord. From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites: Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the official in charge of the treasuries. His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son and Shelomith his son. Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord. And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.” Churches and synagogues have long recognized the need to have one or several people in charge of handling the money- taking it in, paying it out, storing/ investing it, and accounting for it. In a church, such a person would hold a deaconship and be known as a treasurer. I was once the treasurer of a local engineering association. And, I remember at one monthly meeting, rather than give a good accounting of the funds, I merely said, “We have a few thousand dollars in the account and will easily be able to function through the next few months.” Well that didn’t go over at all. The engineers wanted an accounting to the penny. It was a trust issue. They wanted to be know that their funds were well accounted for and being carefully watched. And normally you want people of impeccable repute to do such tasks, so there’s not even a glimmer of mistrust. The same is true for local churches and for the nation of Israel. The following items also discuss rule of the treasuries:
a) Also see Item#53 above. In II Chronicles 31:2-13, as seen in Item#53 above, we see that as Hezekiah and Judah gave as the Lord asked, they prospered greatly as a nation, with Hezekiah prospering as King- Malachi 3:10.
b) Also see Item#2f of the Giving Section.
81.) Involved in community, Nehemiah 3:9-19, “Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes. Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall.” So there were city administrators who ruled over districts in Jerusalem, and these administrators got involved with community activities- not the least of which was common defense, even the wall rebuilding. In the Chicago area, where I live, Chicago and some towns are broken into precincts. And, these precincts have precinct captains monitoring affairs. And in Chicago, some of the neighborhoods have set up block watches to prevent gang activity and drug sales. So Americans have historically approved of community involvement, and church groups which get involved in community would not be inappropriate in these endeavors, especially while giving out and living out the gospel. Above Items#7 and 15a mention the parallel between the British and American governments and biblical Israel’s government and laws. This is right for Christian nations, especially because the glow of God’s righteous teachings shine in such nations. However, it’s important for believers to recognize that America is not biblical Israel. Nominal Christian nations will shine with God’s light, but satan is still the prince of this world and such nations will also reek with the stench of carnality and satan’s trickery. Believers should understand that America and these Christian nations still need to be evangelized. When our Lord cited, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they have been born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), He is telling us that each generation must be reached with the gospel. And, only those who receive the gospel are our brothers and sisters. America today is still murdering their unborn, reveling in satanic music and fornication, and have minds filled with hatred and worldly insanity- “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32. We are in the world and not of the world, and we must be careful what parts of government and community with which we participate.
a) Exodus 16:21-23, “Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.” This is indicative that we need community leaders to communicate activities and to help the community to function well.
b) Exodus 34:30-31, “When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them.” Community leaders are important in the dissemination of information and teaching.
82.) Joseph’s rule- a picture of Christ, Psalms 105:16-22, “He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and He sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.” Many teachers see Joseph as a picture of Christ, because he was thrown in a pit and sold into bondage for silver, then he was raised up to be at Pharaoh’s right hand to rule over all Egypt. And we also notice that Joseph was never seen to do any wrong, as opposed to the shortcomings of most others in Scripture. And, Jacob gave him that coat of many colors which is seen as a symbol of Christ’s reign over all nations and races. Also see Item#76a above.
84.) Rulers need to pray, Luke 8:41-42 &54-56, “Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.” … “But He took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.” (Also see Matthew 9:18-26.) Sometimes we believers forget to pray, forgetting that all real power comes from God (Romans 13:1). The following are some noteworthy (and famous) prayers by biblical leaders (David, Solomon, Hezekiah & Elijah):
a) David’s prayer of thanks, at his blessing from God, I Chronicles 17:16-27, “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: ‘Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises. There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for Himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you. You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.’” And this eternal blessing of David’s house is wrought through his descendant, the Lord Jesus Christ.
b) David’s prayer of joy for the wholehearted giving by Israel’s leaders for the building of the temple, I Chronicles 29:10-21, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. ‘But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.’ Then David said to the whole assembly, ‘Praise the Lord your God.’ So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king. The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.” We see how David’s heart felt about the Lord from this prayer. We used to memorize the first part of this prayer, to be reminded and help us understand the Lord’s majesty. I note that David prayed for the heart of his son Solomon and also for the hearts of the people. And, I’m sure the Lord heard David’s prayer and sought to honor David’s prayer. However, the Lord won’t impose Himself upon someone, because He already knows who will be believers and who will reject salvation. So, while we continuously pray for some people, some cannot be saved because they refuse to be saved- and continue in fleshly thinking and Christ rejection, and as Romans 3:18 says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
c) Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple, I Kings 8:22-54, “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today. ‘Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.’ … ‘May your eyes be open to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.’ When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.” And, this prayer was immediately preceded by the Cloud filling the temple (vs 11)- so much so that the priests had to leave. So, Solomon was walking on the mountain top when he made this prayer!
d) Hezekiah’s powerful pleas, II Kings 19:14-19 &35-37, “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.’” … “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.” Wow! What an answer to his prayer! And, what a statement as to who is the true God of all! I must say that Hezekiah knew how to petition God- laying the facts before the Lord as to how these idolaters were mocking the Lord. Hezekiah also was able to modify a prophecy through his ability to plea to the Lord: “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: ‘Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’’ Then Isaiah said, ‘Prepare a poultice of figs.’ They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.”- II Kings 20:1-7. So, it is possible to reason with God in prayer regarding these very serious matters.
e) Elijah’s powerful and effective prayer for drought and rain, James 5:6-8, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” See also I Kings 17:1, & 18:1-46. It’s been said, “When you come before a king, make a request fit for a king!” How much more when we come before the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?!
85.) Appointees, I Chronicles 26:32, “Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.” This, of course, brings up the concept of appointed administrators. A leader wants his appointees to be able to administer the departments and offices for which they are selected. The current president of the USA, Donald Trump, is being attacked from all sides by the media, especially through attacks on his appointees. Since this is a democracy, where everyone has the right of free speech, and especially since President Trump has always been a figure who sells well in the media, the media is having a field day making all types of accusations in order to sell media exposure. Even the media which seemingly are on the president’s side are seeking sensationalism to sell their media time. His appointees are also under intense scrutiny, and any bit of seeming news regarding these appointed officials is bent to fit a story line, and quickly shoved out into the media with little verification- and often put out even though the publishers know it’s “fake news”. Well, I was always taught, “Never believe what you see on TV!” TV is not meant to disseminate the truth. TV is meant to sell advertising time and products. Even internet news casts need advertisers and donations to make these systems plausible, and to run at a profit. These media executives and newscasters make millions of dollars per year. Their motivation to get a good story out far exceeds their motive to remain ethical, or even truthful. A person expecting the truth from even the finest media is naive. Be especially careful of media people who claim to preach the Bible. Of course, with TV preachers we can check their truthfulness by God’s own Word- the Bible. (See Prophecy According to Jeremiah Section, vs 28:9.) And we should and must verify such teachings and teachers- I John 4:1. And so, church appointees must be able to do the job, and also be able to endure the scrutiny of peers and onlookers.
86.) Dark rule, Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” If you’re a believer, you can see this spiritual struggle in world politics today. But, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”- John 3:3. This is an important concept. I had an old friend, Paul Adams, who has since went on to be with the Lord. Paul, once a year, was invited to give his message entitled “Know your enemy!”- in which he warned against satan’s ways, principally: lies leading to physical and spiritual death, sickness, and bondage. (“Know your enemy” was a phrase borrowed from a military theme used in World War II, and possibly WWI.) I remember Ronald Reagan when he referred to the Soviet Union as the “evil empire”. And, I realize that even unsaved people can see tangible wickedness in our societies. Recently, in the last few days, the US Senate failed to approve the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, which notably still contains the funding of Planned Parenthood- an obviously satanic program whose supporters have been influential in killing .7 to 1.7 million unborn babies per year since 1973 (www.nlrc.org). This ghoulish organization has even been recently exposed as selling the body parts of these unborn innocents. These abortions are a stronghold of satan in our society, and in the minds of unbelievers- see Item#e below. In fact, satan is the prince of this world, and believers should take in that fact and chew on it for a long time- to help understand God’s grace working around us, especially regarding salvation as opposed to worldly change. At the same time, it helps to understand that the Lord also loves justice and righteousness; and if real change can come to our society, so be it. But always consider that only salvation through new birth brings the righteousness of God- Romans 3:21&22. The following are some more “dark rule” passages:
a) satan as ”prince of this world”, 1st use- John 12:28-33, “’Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him. Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die.” Be careful in defining “this world”. I John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” The world is satan’s mess, not God’s. Consider only the underlined phrases of the I John 2 passage above, “For everything in the world… comes not from the Father but from the world”. The Lord Jesus is coming again to establish his righteous rule over this creation. Until Christ comes, expect this world and everything in it to operate in sin and the dysfunction that comes from sin. Doesn’t a prince need a principality, that is, a region in which he controls most of the power. Satan controls this world system, as allowed by God the Father, principally to vex us to the point of seeking salvation and, after salvation, seeking the victorious, truly powerful life in Christ. However, Satan’s days are numbered by God- and satan knows this! And we should conclude that our days to manifest God’s will and be rewarded for good and faithful service are also numbered. “Time and tide will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last!”- anonymous, but wisely true. And, truth-be-told, Christ still reigns over all; but his reign is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in this present age but also in the one to come.”- Ephesians 1:21.
b) satan as ”prince of this world”, 2nd use- John 14:25-31, ““All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. ‘Come now; let us leave.’” This passage begins to explain the furious dichotomy and spiritual warfare between God’s Holy Spirit, as our Advocate, and the father of lies, our accuser- satan. We actually have two Advocates from theFather- Jesus Christ in heaven, and God’s Holy Spirit on earth. This advocacy is most auspiciously displayed by the Spirit’s grace gifts being manifest in us. This power from God in us blatantly testifies of Christ’s absolute victory on the Cross. And the complaint, that mankind has a relationship with God, was satan’s complaint from the beginning- in the garden.
c) satan as ”prince of this world”, 3rd use- John 15:26-16:15, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to Him who sent Me. None of you asks Me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.” These passages from John 14:25 through 16:15 are nuggets of Scripture, in that they bring out the dichotomy and opposite forces between satan as our accuser and the father of lies as opposed to God’s Holy Spirit as our Advocate- not just as God’s “Spirit of Truth”, but also as our power source through Jesus’ power. So, we can see the importance of this Grace Study even in Grace Study’s title page which says, “We are proclaiming the power of God manifested through the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ”. All this agrees with Item#b above, which points out satan’s complaint against believers having a a relationship with God, especially a relationship in which God’s power is in us, and in which we are consciously using that power. Summarizing satan as the “prince of this world”, the first description, per Item#a above, cites satan’s use of the world’s system of lies. The second description ,of satan as the “prince of this world”, exposes satan as the adversary to God and his Christ. The third description, of satan as the “prince of this world”, tells us that satan has already lost and “the prince of this world now stands condemned”. Other Item#s within this Rule Section which reference satan as the prince of this world are Item#s 17, 22f, 27j, 32, 34e, 37i, 69q, and 81.
d) “prince of the power of the air” (KJV), Ephesians 2:1-10, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I could have stopped with the 1st two verses and made my point. But this is such a beautiful and encouraging passage that I thought to include ten verses to remind us of the treasures God has given us in Christ, and more treasures that can be gained by going with the flow of the Holy Spirit- refusing to be further tricked by this prince of smoke, vapors and lies.
e) “the god of this age”, II Corinthians 4:1-7, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Hallelujah! Although I have questions about Donald Trump’s ability to accomplish change in American politics, and questions about his testimony in Christ, I really love President Trump for upsetting his wealthy lifestyle and trying to help Americans. In America today, satan has established a stronghold in the abortion industry. Pro-life forces have tallied the abortions in America at approximately 700,00 this year and has high as 1.6 million some years since the 1973 Roe v Wade decision. Somehow, ghoulish, satanic politicians have had their minds twisted past the point of stating a woman has a right to an abortion to the point of insisting that all Americans must pay the bills for these murders. Now, along come these, for the most part, worldly congressmen seeking to defund Planned Parenthood- in order to appease large voting blocks of nominal and evangelical Christians. The funding of Planned Parenthood, the major killer of the unborn in America, seems inextricably nestled in the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans have promised to repeal and replace. I wish and hope and pray that Planned Parenthood could be defunded. However, I can see why God allows satan to smoosh such evil in the face of Americans- so that they can see and understand that they are not righteous in God’s eyes and need to turn to the Savior, and his Cross. Never the less, I feel that with much prayer for our government going up before Christ’s throne, I still hope for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, and even the reversal of Roe v Wade. America may still be “the Home of the Brave”, but God knows that America is also the home of sinners in need of salvation, and not just religion. As my friend used to like to say, “If religion could make you into a Christian, then going to MacDonalds could make you into a hamburger”. Every soul must be born anew by trusting Christ’s cross as full and final payment for sin, and turning to follow Christ. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”- Ephesians 2:8&9. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life”- John 5:24.
f) “prince of Persia”, Daniel 10:12-14,20, & 12:1-2; Jude 9; and Revelation 12:7&8. What’s Michael’s perspective of satan’s position? Dan 10:12-14, “Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 12:1-2, ““At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” … “So He (another angel possibly a Christophany) said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.” Jude 9 notes, “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Revelation 12:7&8 notes, “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” So, from these passages we see the perspective of the Scriptures, which also describe satan as “the prince of this world”- remembering that the Lord Jesus, and God’s Holy Spirit are “far above” all principalities in this world (Ephesians 1:21). I note that Michael in all his strength and focus, still did not condemn satan for slander but left such power moves against satan to the Lord. Michael realized that satan still has standing in this wicked world- as its prince and its accuser. We believers however are in Christ Jesus. And, I’ve always noted that the Lord Jesus is not claiming the world as it stands as his own, but rather as satans principality. The Lord will come to rule for a thousand years, but first satan must be cast down to the pit, (not just to the Earth, where he now is prince of this world) along with all who participated in his rebellion; and righteousness must be restored to this world through and during Christ’s reign.
87.) God’s rule over Jacob, Psalms 59:9-13, “You are my Strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my Fortress, my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. But do not kill them, Lord our Shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down. For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. “The Lord is tIsrael’s Strength, Fortress, the God on whom Israel relies, and Israel’s Shield. This is evident to all as God consumes the enemies of Jacob. Now, many Bible students, including myself, notice that when the Scripture cites Jacob rather than Israel, then the Scripture is referring to the more fleshly aspects of God’s nation. Since “Israel” means prince of Almighty God, and is the name the Lord gave Jacob after carnal Jacob wrestled with God at Bethel, there will always be an imputed difference between the usage of the two names. (Also see Item#252 of the Shepherding Section.) So, when this passage says, “Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob”, the Scripture is bringing out the testimony of having God rule over a fleshly nation, and thus transforming those people into the nation of promise, Israel. And this is the testimony of Israel and of the Church, which is graffed/spliced into Israel- God’s olive tree (Romans 11:17-24). Further, as we discuss God’s rule over Israel through Moses, the priesthood, and the Tabernacle, we see that these rule items are pictures/ types of God’s throne and his rule from heaven over his people, while dwelling among his people. (Regarding such pictures and types, see Item#37b, above.). It brings much understanding to consider and realize that the wanderings/ travels of the children of Israel is typological to ourselves as Christians. Do you think you have entered into the promises of God yet? Then please take seriously this Grace Study. And, from this Item#87, we gain understanding when we also consider that Israel is not only typological to us, but we are also spliced into Israel- God’s olive tree (Romans 11:7).
88.) Rule of self, Proverbs 16:32, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” If God’s Word is true, and it certainly is, then before we try to practice the gift of rule, we must rule ourselves. This means that we have to get rid of those little tiny foxes of sin which are eating away at our fruitfulness (Song of Songs 2:15). However, with our old nature clinging to our earthly bodies until Christ comes, how can we truly rule our minds and tongues? Below are some passages which discuss rule of self:
a) One fruit of God’s Spirit is self control, Galatians 5:16-25, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. There are many gems in this brief passage. However, since we are discussing rule of self we should only focus on self-control. And, I conclude that self-control is given by God’s Spirit to those who seek to be obedient to God. It is, if nothing else, a means of ruling over our carnality. And, this self-control is focused on keeping in step with the Spirit, which keeps us walking by the Spirit. In fact, Item#244 of the Teaching Section explains how grace teaches self-control. And, self-control is required of those seeking the office of elder, per Item#168 of the Teaching Section. See also II Peter 1:3-11. REGARDING KEEPING CADENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF ITEM#15G OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION.
b) Rule of the tongue, James 3:3-12 “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” And, Matthew 12:34&35 says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” If you knew me, you’d agree that I’m a person of few spoken words. (I can’t say that this is true of my writing.) But, even with few words, I still struggle to control my tongue. But I’m working on it. Lately, I’ve actually been trying to consciously follow the Spirit’s lead in conversations, not jamming my comments into a discussion just to be heard; and I even considering Ephesians 4:29 (which we all should memorize and meditate upon). But, how are those fairing who are not people of few words? I find it notable that James is saying that the fire of the tongue “is itself set on fire by hell”. And, at the judgment, we each must give account for every word we have spoken in our lifetime- Matthew 12:36&37. Ouch!!
c) Paul’s struggle with his old nature and the Law, Romans 7:14-8:4, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The big point herein is that, once we are born from above, our old nature or even the Law is not to be what guides or rules us, rather God’s Holy Spirit. And, to be ruled by God’s Holy Spirit (even keeping in step with the Spirit, per Item#a above) will inevitably lead us to practice our grace gifts- Ephesians 4:7.
Dominion/s
89.) Man’s dominion over the creatures, Genesis 1:26-31, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they (mankind) may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. “ Well, I could have said what I’m led to say about “Man’s dominion” while only listing the underlined portion of this passage, However, the passage is so beautiful that I couldn’t see separating the passage into parts. We see that mankind is commanded to “Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground”. I originally entitles this passage as “Man’s dominion over the Earth”. However, after more careful study, I saw that the Scripture only cites mankind’s dominion over the creatures, not the Earth. The Earth is Christ’s dominion. It makes no sense to claim rule over something we cannot control. How can we control the Earth?! I do feel, though, that in having been given dominion over God’s creatures we certainly should be responsible toward our and the creatures’ environment. The following are some points I note concerning this passage:
a) Is it possible to rule over all the fish of the sea and all the birds of the air while only inhabiting the garden of Eden? It appears God was already looking toward man’s sin and expulsion from the Garden, whereby mankind would have a more hands-on approach to dominion over the planet’s creatures.
b) Most countries, even the worst, have conservation departments which watch over the abuse of animals and natural resources. Is it only because they recognize the monetary value of such? I believe that governmental authorities, having been given their power by God, eventually see the correctness of protecting these natural resources and wildlife.
c) People who only live day to day don’t seem to care much about conservation. And we know that man’s flesh continually and intensely wars against the Spirit of God- Galatians 5:17.
d) “A bruised reed He will not break”- Matthew 12:20. This speaks of Christ’s gentleness, but also his concern not to make a big mess of our surroundings/ environment. I think it’s difficult for a messy person to be a good testimony for Christ. Never the less, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”, Romans 10:17; so, God’s Word has power in itself because it’s the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).
90.) Despising prophetic dominion, Genesis 37:5-11, “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?’ And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, ‘What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?’ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” Many people readily turn to carnal pecking orders and the law of the pack, rather than seeking God’s will in a matter. (See Item#456 of the Healings Section.) So, we see that Joseph was selected by God to be the prince of Egypt in order to allow the nation of Israel to, not just survive the famine, but to grow and prosper. I believe the Lord is going to use many people in great ways yet, in order to further his Kingdom. But I’m not jealous of them, but rather, hope to aid such by proclaiming and assuring God’s mighty power to them. In fact, God commands the Church, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. “- I Thessalonians 5:20. This passage connotes that we should expect such prophecies to aid us, and that such is God’s will for his Church. Further discussion regarding treating prophecies with contempt can be found in Items#97c, 122, 172, 216, &333 of the Prophecy Section; Item#16 of the Exhortation Section; and Item#66c of the Apostleship Section.
91.) Wrongful dominion as a result of sin, Judges 14:3-4, &15:11 “His father and mother replied, ‘Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?’ But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.’ (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)” … “Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, ‘Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?’ He answered, ‘I merely did to them what they did to me.’ I always mistakenly felt that Samson was too willful in these actions. But, now I understand the Lord’s hand working through his minister Samson. The problems with the children of Israel are not too different than the problems that we as the Church have. You see, we have the power of God available to us, but we need to put this power to work- and live up to our present estate which is that “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:6. The Lord gave me verse 15:11 to help me understand Samson’s seemingly willful conduct. What a sad verse, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” Even we can see that Israel was much too comfortable having the Philistines ruling over them. But God was even more enraged at that situation. So, God empowered Samson to seek “an occasion to confront the Philistines” and awaken Israel to the power of their God. In many ways this is what this Grace Study is all about- to “Proclaim the power of God to his people, the Church” (See GraceStudy Purpose on the homepage). The following passages also describe wrongful dominion due to sin, and the wrongful dominion of sin:
a. Nehemiah 9:22-37, “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies. But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways. But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.
b. Psalms 19:13, “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” It’s obvious that David, the man after God’s own heart, struggled with sin, as we all do. He honestly knew the dangers of toying with sin; that sin could set up a stronghold in our heart.
c. Psalms 119:133, “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” This psalmist knew, like David above, that sin could set up a dominion in some part of our soul and mind.
d. Romans 6:11-14, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” There are many moral laws, even in Scripture, but we are to keep in step with God’s Holy Spirit. If we are seriously seeking God’s will, and we are in Christ Jesus (and all believers are), then we are under grace and not the Law.
e. Romans 7:14-8:7, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so .” As born again believers we must walk in our new nature, by grace, keeping cadence with God’s Holy Spirit. The Law is no longer available to us as a means of measuring right conduct. “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing.”- Galatians 2:21.
f. Ephesians 4:17-28, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” So, we cannot walk in our old self or even give satan a foothold in our soul, else we are setting ourselves up for greater trials, and future battles whereby the Lord will have to help us kick satan out of our lives and our lifestyle.
We cannot give in to sin in our lifestyles, else satan can set up a stronghold. Consider the sad estate of the Israelites who were told to totally destroy the inhabitants of the promised land. Yet, decades later they are citing probably the saddest verse in Scripture to God’s man, Samson, ““Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?”- Judges 15:11, see also Item#21a.
92.) Don’t boast of your blessings, II Kings 20:12-18, “At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, ‘What did those men say, and where did they come from?’ ‘From a distant land,’ Hezekiah replied. ‘They came from Babylon.’ The prophet asked, ‘What did they see in your palace?’ ‘They saw everything in my palace,’ Hezekiah said. ‘There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.’ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” It is never good to boast of what we have, because all that we have has come from God, and should be used for his work- particularly his kingdom work of saving souls. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”- James 1:17. And, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”- I Corinthians 4:7.
93.) Worldly proof of Davidic covenant, I Chronicles 17:1-20:8, “After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.’ Nathan replied to David, ‘Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.’ But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: ‘Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. ‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.’ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.” – I Chronicles 17:1-15. “In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute. Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles. When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David’s Officials. David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.”- I Chronicles 18:1-14. The following passages speak of the continuation of David’s throne, even through Christ’s reign over the Earth:
a) II Chronicles 7:17&18, “As for you (Solomon), if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’”
b) II Chronicles 10:16-19, “When all Israel saw that the king (Solomon’s son Rehoboam) refused to listen to them, they answered the king: ‘What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!’ So all the Israelites went home. But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.”
c) II Chronicles 13:4-5&18,” Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?” … “The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”
d) II Chronicles 21:4-7, “When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father’s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the officials of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.
e) II Kings 18:1-7, “In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.”
f) Also see Item#78 above.
g) Psalms 72:1-8, “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
h) Micah 4:8, “As for you, watchtower of the flock, stronghold of Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”
i) Zechariah 9:9-10, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
j) Matthew 21:4-5, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’’”
k) Israel today: Israel has just celebrated its 70th anniversary since the May 14, 1948 rebirth of the state of Israel. I have many questions as to how this nation will play into the fulfillment of the end times prophecies- especially since I’ve been warned that Israel today has a very secular and seemingly Godless society.
98.) Dominion of the upright, Psalms 49:13-14, “This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.” What dominion do the believers in Christ have? Much actually! However, in seeking to be humble, we don’t speak much about our roles and responsibilities as leaders and rulers- which can cause a believer to sidestep these roles and responsibilities, or mistakenly assume that others in a local gathering are are fulfilling these needs. Ephesians 2:6-10 explains our current status in Christ, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Some other passages which help explain our dominion status in Christ Jesus are as follows: Items # 14,36h,39f,55i&j,60, & 91. Daniel 7:27 states, “The the sovereignity, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens will be handed over to the saints, the people of the most high. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.” The point is that if we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”, we ought to pick up and learn our grace gifts and get into the battle! Further, we should realize that where Christ is, that is where we are, “In Christ Jesus”- Ephesians 2:6-10, Romans 6:23, &8:2, I Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 2:4, Philippians 1:1, et al. Further, that beloved teacher, Watchman Nee, stated, “As long as a man is regenerated, he is in Christ and becomes a part of the Body of Christ.”[4]
99. God’s dominion, Psalms 103:17-22, “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.” To have one as master/ lord is to some an appalling concept. However, the alternative is to be dominated by satan. “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”- Romans 6:14-16. The following are more passages which discuss God’s dominion:
a) Job 38:1-3 & 33, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ … ‘Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?’”
b) Psalms 114:1-8, “When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.” Do we really understand much about God’s dominion and realm? Do we really understand his creation? Scientists admit that they haven’t even skimmed the surface of what the universe entails. God’s relationship with Israel is displayed herein as an illustration of what God’s dominion can be like. Yet an illustration doesn’t describe the totality of a concept. We freely concede that God’s dominion over Israel through the Law (of which believers are graffed in- Romans 11:17) is different than his dominion/ rule over the Church through grace. Yet we who are under grace are a part of Israel. Further, wasn’t Law given as intercession from God’s throne- so Law is, in that aspect, an act of grace (Item#34i above)? Truly it is God’s presence that manifests intercession (grace) and brings Israel and the Church together. And scientists are digging and studying the universe, even with a renewed effort lately to explore space- even though God merely placed the stars in the heavens as an afterthought (Genesis 1:16). I fear all this concern over outer space will degenerate into another platform for global conflict- especially of the military type.
c) Psalms 145:10-14, “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” It’s excellent to realize that we serve a Lord who is more powerful and more gracious than we are. As opposed to many rulers who worked hard at seeking fear from their subjects.
d) Isaiah 26:9-15, “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord. Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor. They are now dead, they live no more; their spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them. You have enlarged the nation, Lord; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.” The Lord teaches through judgments, but the wicked only understand the whip.
e) Daniel 4:1-3, 34&35, “It is my pleasure to tell you (Nebuchadnezzar) about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” … “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”.
f) Daniel 6:26-28, “’I (Darius) issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
g) Daniel 7:13,14&23-28, “In my vision at night I (Daniel) looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” … “He (an angel) gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” This discusses the 2nd half of the tribulation, known as the “Great Tribulation”, after which the Messiah and his holy people (the Church) will reign for a millennium- after which rule will be returned from the Son to the Father (I Corinthians 15:23-28).
h) Zechariah 9:9-11, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.” God’s rule is currently administered by his Son, the Lord Jesus- and the Son will yet reign for a thousand years from David’s city, Jerusalem.
i) Romans 13:1&2 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” This passage is often repeated throughout this Rule Section of the Grace Study. See the following Items: #4,#14,#25,#27,#27o,#32,#34d,#51,#70j,#71a, T.
j) Also see items# 55 & 61 above, and Item#104 below.
So, from the above there is knowledge to glean regarding God’s dominion. His dominion is everlasting, all powerful, too huge and too intricate to fully understand, all encompassing, currently administered by the Lord Jesus at the Father’s right hand, merciful, and all his works praise Him.
100. Man’s dominion is only set by God, Jeremiah 34:1-6, “While Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms and peoples in the empire he ruled were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding towns, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and given into his hands. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.’ Yet hear the Lord’s promise to you, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: ‘You will not die by the sword; you will die peacefully. As people made a funeral fire in honor of your predecessors, the kings who ruled before you, so they will make a fire in your honor and lament, ‘Alas, master!’ I myself make this promise, declares the Lord.’ Then Jeremiah the prophet told all this to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem, while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.” The following passages also discuss this topic:
a) Jeremiah 51:28-29, “Prepare the nations for battle against her— the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the countries they rule. The land trembles and writhes, for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand— to lay waste the land of Babylon so that no one will live there.”
b) Daniel 4:23-27, “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.
c) Daniel 7:6,11-14, &21-27, “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.” … “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was One like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” … “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’” We should understand that nothing can happen in God’s creation that God isn’t aware of. Having said that though, God has an agenda being manifested in his kingdom work; and He allows satan to be the prince of this world until the absolute rule of the Lord Jesus comes to this Earth for a thousand years. Job 1:12&17 relates, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’ Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. … While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’.” So, satan still has power to vex God’s children and unbelievers until he is thrown into the bottomless pit. See also Item#37i above.
d) Daniel 11:2-5, “Now then, I (the man from heaven) tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.” The point herein is that these goings on are allowed and controlled by God to accomplish his agenda for this world and for Israel. This control by God is sometimes through satan, the prince of this world. And sometimes this control is through God’s angels, and sometimes by God’s direct control over his creation- famine, works of nature, etc.
e) Psalms 8:1-9, “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” I note that Scripture cites more than once that mankind shall have dominion over all creatures. But I don’t see any statement giving man dominion over the Earth itself- that is Christ’s domain. How can we rule over something that we cannot control? See Item#89 above.
101. Christian rule and reign summarized, Matthew 20:25-28, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” If you want to remember anything concerning the gift of rule, remember this passage in Matthew 20. It’s wise to categorize between the Spirit gift of rule and Christians reigning, and also between the reign of Godly people in this world and the reign of ungodly people, and then there is the reign of God also. The following Items discuss the Spirit gift of rule:
a) Item#20a, Qualifications of bishops, deacons, and overseers
b) Item#26, Rule as a Spirit gift
c) Item#36, Lead softly
d) Item#54, Elders as oversight
e) Item#68, Rule with kindness
f) Item#79, Rule of the House of God
The following items discuss Christians reigning:
g) Item#60, Christians reign
h) Item#98, Dominion of the upright
102. Dominion of death, Romans 6:3-14, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Death no longer has dominion over the believer since we look forward to eternal life with and in Christ (John 3:16), and if our mortal body does expire we are guaranteed eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). The following passages also relate to this:
a) Romans 5:12-21, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
b) 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Paul considered this mortal life as being extremely temporary and not worthy of comparison to our heavenly life to come- when we’ll be separated from our old nature and these temporary bodies. So, when studying Scripture we should be careful to discern whether the writer is discussing this temporary, mortal life or our glorious life in Christ. And, I note that the glorious life started when we first trusted Christ (See Item#c below).
c) Ephesians 2:1-6, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …” So, we were spiritually dead when we first believed, then God made us spiritually alive through baptism in his Holy Spirit. And, through that new birth, death seized its reign over us. I believe it’s important to realize that, even and especially if we are sick, death no longer has dominion over us; and that such should be constantly in the attitude of our minds, because that is the truth. And we follow a King whose very name is Truth (John 14:6, Revelation 19:11); so while love is certainly important, truth is also certainly important.
d) Also see Item#91, “Wrongful dominion as a result of sin”.
103. Dominion of the Law, Romans 7:1-25, “Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” So, the Law and the fleshly nature are intertwined in that God gave the Law for fleshly man to know their fallen estate (I John 3:4, Romans 5:20&21, Galatians 3:19-21, 24&25). The second phrase underlined above is important and intrinsic to this Grace Study: “you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” God wants to manifest his exceedingly great power through us, and this is how He indwells his Bride, the Church. (See Item#13e in the Table of Contents Section, “God's Indwelling of the Church Through Gifts”.) And why does He want us to bear fruit for Him? There are two excellent reasons found in Scripture. First, it is Christ’s vision for the Church that his bride should participate in and reflect his glory, Revelation 1:14 (See Item#11d) and Hebrews 12:28. Secondly, and this is a nugget of Scripture, Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 why God wants us to share in his glory. Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-13a, &15-19a contains the nugget as to why the Lord wants his Bride to participate in his glory and bear fruit for Him: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” … “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” … “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” So, we are no longer under the Law, but we are under grace, we are in Christ Jesus. And, our Bridegroom has given us his power so that we may share in his glory by practicing our grace gifts, and so shining/ blazing in this world of darkness (Revelation 1:14 again, & John 1:5).
104. Dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:20-22, “That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. In the above Item#103 we see that Christ wants us to bear fruit for Him and share in his glory as his Bride. However, in Ephesians 1:20-22, we are reminded that all this glory and power and authority and dominion comes from Him who is the Creator. And we are reminded that He rules far above what we experience as authority and dominion.
a.) Colossians 1:15-20, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And he is the Head of the Body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Who else should have all power and authority, other than the One who created and consciously holds together all things?! And, I note and love how the Lord Jesus is carefully and sensitively revealing to us, as “the image of the invisible God”, who He is and what the Lord’s grace and dominion is all about.
b.) I Peter 4:10-11, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” I had this passage noted as a doxology. However, as is usually the case with any Scripture, it has some very succinct and useful meaning, other than merely being a praise to God- which would be excellent as well. This passage is noting that the use of our grace gifts is an excellent way to obtain praise for God through Jesus Christ. (And it’s no accident that this seems like the same concept of Christ’s Bride reflecting and sharing his glory.
c.) Jude 24, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude is praising the Lord God in a doxology and requesting glory, majesty, power and glory be his forevermore, which is and was already true, but ascribes such dominion, and salvation, to the Father through the Son. We like to consider our salvation as being through the Son. However, since salvation comes through the Son’s work at the cross, and his guidance from the Father’s right hand, then salvation also comes through the Father and the Spirit as well- John 10,29&30 and Titus 3:4-6.
d.) Revelation 1:4-6, “To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” John is praising the Lord Jesus and ascribing to Him glory and power for ever and ever. And Christ’s shekinah glory is and was always his as the 2nd person of the Godhead. John is also revealing to us, as Christ’s servants and friends, what the Father revealed to the Son regarding who Christ actually is and what will come to fruition- Revelation 1:1&2. Revelation 1:1-2 & 4-6 help us to see the working relationship between the Father and the Son. We can touch on that relationship, but not we the depths of it are too deep to plumb. See also Matthew 24:36 and Item#c above.
e.) Also see Items#55, 61, &99 above.
105.) Rejecting Godly dominion, Jude 3-11, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. From the above we quickly conclude that rejecting Godly authority is very dangerous with eternal consequence- if not for us, then for our families. The following are other passages referring to rejection of Godly authority
a.) “The way of Cain”. Genesis 4:3-15 chronicles Cain’s decisions against God, “The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ The Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.’ Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.’ Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.” Hebrews 11:4 notes that Cain lacked the faith of Abel, “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.” I John 3:12, explains that Cain was satan’s at the first, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.” We can conclude that Cain rebelled against God because he didn’t revere God or his power (lack of faith and wisdom), and he refused to repent even though God warned him- “sin is crouching at your door”. So, that constitutes the “way of Cain”- lack of faith and wisdom, and inadequate fear of the Lord, all of which led to some serious sins, even murder. And, many Christians have perceived that the first man born of a woman was, sadly, a murderer!
b.) “Rushed for profit into Balaam’s error”. II Peter 2:15 says Balaam “loved the wages of wickedness”. Revelation 2:14 says Balaam “taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality”. Upon reviewing Balaam’s conduct in Numbers 22 through 25, it’s difficult to see what Balaam did that was wrong. However, God’s Word in II Peter and Revelation above says that he loved the money (I Timothy 6:10), and he somehow taught Moab to entice Israel; and so these were Balaam’s sins. And these were serious sins since Balaam has been a Scriptural example of an unfaithful prophet ever since. Perhaps we know of clergymen who, because of their dependence on money paid to them from the Lord’s coffers, have led others into teachings and lifestyles which are less than what the Lord wants for them. (Hint: If you don’t think you know one personally, start by finding one of the many on TV.) That would then be the same error as Balaam. Also see Item#51b of the Healings Section, and Mark 13:22.
c.) “Been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion”. Numbers 16:1-3, 30-35, “Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?’” “… ‘But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.’ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, ‘The earth is going to swallow us too!’ And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” Now, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face (Item#38c), and these men knew it. I suppose satan must have really twisted their minds to get them to attempt to resist Moses after all the miracles that the Lord worked through Moses. But the Scripture warns of such rebellious and insolent men who have already destroyed their souls by entering such rebellion against Godly dominion. Please note that the passage is saying that such men have already “been destroyed” once they get to that point of rebellion.
d.) Romans 13:1-7, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” This is a Scripture passage which I had to memorize and understand in order to work in government in the midst of the Democratic Party in Chicago (Item#95h of the Teaching Section). This passage explains that we should have reverence for government because God’s power and authority works through governments- even bad government; because in this world most government workers are not Christians. But, amazingly, there is much Godly justice administrated by some very poor governments. Of course, there is much oppression of people by governments too. Many Christians feel that it is not a good testimony for Christians to be constantly resisting and complaining about government, and especially being cited as law breakers. Actually, Romans 13 says that stepping outside the law is placing ourselves outside of the Lord’s protection through authorities. Also see Items #117a of the Teaching Section, 46b& 47f of the Healings Section, and 27f of the Shepherding Section.
As has been the case in this Grace Study, the first and last points in this section have been extremely noteworthy. Item#1 discusses administration of a local gathering’s assets- buildings, furnishings, and money. These assets are a direct measure of the time and effort of the gathering. So, the care and administration of a gatherings assets comprises much of the care and administration of the assembly. The last Item discusses rejecting Godly dominion. In the assemblies, accepting Godly dominion includes recognizing the relevance and authority of God’s written Word and recognizing God’s leading/ unction (Jeremiah 31:333&34, Matthew 13:11, John 14:26, Acts 26:19, I John 2:20&27, I Corinthians 3:5-11). These are obviously both very important points. I used to play ice hockey. And, I once followed a hockey trainer on the internet. One thing he said really stuck with me regarding stick handling. He said, (my paraphrasing) “It doesn’t really matter how fancy your stick handling looks. What matters is that you control the puck in all situations.” This is the same in basketball, soccer, and in the administration of local gatherings. An easy way to do this is to let your rule merely be facilitating God’s rule in the assembly and in your self- a servant leader, leading softly (Items#36 and 68b, above). “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”- I Corinthians 14:33. Further, the concept that God rules over all things is intrinsic to all points being set forth in this Grace Study, particularly in this Section concerning the grace gift of Rule- see Item#7 below.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT POINTS
Lest someone misconstrue, or even deliberately twist, the results of what’s being concluded from this study, the following summary points are noted:
1) The Scripture, which cannot be broken, according to the Lord Jesus in John 10:35, defines “rule” as a Spirit manifested ability/ gift ranked with prophecy and other gifts. The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 3, 9, 26, 44g, & 82.)
2) The Church needs the gift of rule to function as the body of Christ. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1,14a,30,39,44,46,48,49, & 79.)
3) When we study Christian rule in Scripture we inevitably have to differentiate between the following terms: the Spirit gift of rule practiced in the Church, Christians reigning now and in the millennium, worldly reign by Godly people, worldly reign by ungodly people, and then the reign of God. (See Items# 4,99,100,101, & 104.)
4) Rule starts within the local assembly. Worldly government is not “rule”, but is greatly influenced by Godly men and principles (Matthew 5:14)- especially Godly rule. ((The above items reference this: Nos.25,26,27a,27m,36e,64,&79.)
5) “Rule” also existed in the Old Testament times in the makeup of individuals such as David and Joseph. (The above items reference this: Nos. 3,8,9,15,27,33,35,36,38,50,71,75,76,&78.)
6) Believers should take God’s gift of rule seriously. Adherence to Christian “rule” can mean the difference between being inside of God’s will or being outside of God’s will. Loss of blessings, sickness and death can ensue from ignoring such. And our time on Earth is “training time for reigning time”, so we should make use of our time here and learn God’s way of rule. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1,5,11,17,40,43,60,64c, &70a.)
7) God is head over all things, in heaven and in all creation. And the Lord Jesus rules now at the Father’s right hand until He turns all rule over to the Father- I Corinthians 15:28. (The above items reference this: Items# 11,14,19,23,25,34,37,39,43c,45,47,55,60,61,62, &84b.)
8) There are two great prophetic hopes that will carry us when we are down and urge us onward to practice and follow through on our grace gifts. The Church “will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ”- Ephesians 4:15. We believers will reign with Him. (The above items reference this: Nos. 11a-d,14a,23,44e&f, and 61g.)
9) The authority of government to govern nations, and administrate civil law, as well as the gift of rule, to administrate in the local gathering, all comes from God. (The above items reference this: Items# 1,4,5,8,9,15a&f,19,24,25,27,29,32,43,51,70d&e,72,74,77,&84,)
10) Communication is imperative for effective rule/ leadership. (The above items reference this: Nos. 15,27p,45,70m&n, and 81a&b).
11) Each believer needs to understand and differentiate between the terms “elder”, “deacon”, “overseer”, “bishop”, “hireling”, and “shepherd”. (The above items reference this: Items# 9,15e,20a,26,52,70o,74b, &79.)
12) The Lord loves justice and righteousness among rulers and in all situations. (The above items reference this: Items# 15f,20,22,23f,27f,34d&c,35j,43c,44,47e,61c,62b,64, &70f.)
13) The Lord Jesus’ style of servant leadership sets the standard for Christian “rule”, not lording it over one another, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve”- Matthew 20:28. (The above items reference this: Nos. 21,26,27b&i,36,68b, &101.)
14) There are certain leadership qualities which can be gleaned from Scripture and put into practice, especially from the prophetic rule of the Lord Jesus. (The above items reference this: Items# 1,4,15d,20,20a,21,22,23,26,27,28,30,47i,50,69,70,81, &84.)
END HOME
[1] The Open Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers) First page of “The Book of Ezekiel”, pg 732.
[2] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Company, 1894 1st publishing) p. 159 of “Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament”. Copyright assigned 1986 to World Bible Publishers, Inc., Iowa falls, Iowa.
[3] ISA basic 3.0.2, Scripture 4 All Publishing, Copyright 2015.
[4] The Body of Christ, page 2, Living Stream Ministry, 1993, Anaheim, CA 92804.
Rule- An Exhaustive Study
By D.M.M. 10-22-15
The Lord has led me to study “rule”. It’s been shown to me that it is a spiritual gift according to Romans 12:8. An exhaustive word study was conducted using Strong’s Concordance and Bible passages corresponding to the following words: “administered”, “administration/s”, “bishop”, “head/s”, “oversee”, “overseer/s”, “govern”, “government/s”, “governor/s”, “guide/s”, “judge/s”, “lead”, “leader/s”, “leadeth”, “led”, “reign”, “reignest”, “reigneth”, “rule”, “ruled”, “ruler/s”, “ruleth”, “dominion/s”, “prince/s”, “principality/ies”. The following points are noted as being worthy of further remark, and employ the same numbering as my longhand notes:
”ADMINISTERED”
1.) Administration of assets, II Corinthians 8:19-20 “What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.” In my exhaustive study I employ a running spread sheet in my longhand notes. This spreadsheet has column headings containing descriptors of what I perceive as important to that particular gift being studied. For the gift of “rule” I used the column heading descriptors of “Type”, “Minister”, “Those being ministered to”, and “Comments”. In this first entry, the running spread sheet immediately did its job, and brought out an important aspect of the gift of rule. In any aspect of Christian rule/ administration, financial or people skills, or Christian, labor or any effort by Christ’s Church, we must consider that such things are assets owned by the Lord. Paul points out two important perspectives of his administration of any gift by a Christian leader:
a) Our rule should “honor the Lord Himself”.
b) We should “avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift”. Lately, I’ve been perceiving how much the Lord is hard at work in his Church, even and especially when the Christian workers are getting things all fouled up. But the Lord is patient and seeks to use our efforts to advance his Kingdom Work, in spite of our carnality and worldliness. The Lord even wants to reward us for our efforts, however much we have run afoul. “Love covers over a multitude of sins”- I Peter 4:8. So, given our propensity toward carnality, even in spiritual things, we need to know that the Lord is doing practically all of the work, and honor the Lord in our small contribution, and be careful to avoid criticism in the way we deal with the Lord’s work.
“HEAD”
3.) Headship Defined, Genesis 49:26, “Your father’s (Jacob’s) blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.” These blessings were not just from Jacob, but were also from Almighty God, and they all rest on the head of Joseph, not at his feet, or his shoulders, but upon his head. The shoulders speak of a man’s own power. The feet speak of what a man is standing upon. The head speaks of a man’s mind- his decisions, his intellect, his cerebral abilities. Jacob points out Joseph’s abilities to make decisions based upon the Lord’s will in verses 22-25: “With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms remained limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob”. And, I’m reminded that the anointing oil was poured upon the head of those being anointed- Genesis 29:7, Psalm 23:5, etc.. This tells me that the Holy Spirit blesses and affects the mind and intellect of the one being anointed- historically in the Old Testament, such were rulers and prophets, who must use their minds to sort out and do their God given tasks. This anointing can, of course, be said for all of us, I John 2:27. (This anointing of all believers, speaks about the anointing of the Holy Spirit through teaching, which targets mental and cerebral processes. And, such anointing again speaks of an anointing of one’s head and mind.) But rulers and prophets have specific God given tasks for which the Lord gave them their grace gifts of rule and prophecy- which are, of course, an anointing different yet similar to the grace gifts apportioned by the Lord Jesus to each believer- Ephesians 4:7. The Lord wants to bless his own by making us the head not the tail- Deuteronomy 28:13, and Isaiah 9:14. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know a master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15.
4.) Family Head, Numbers 1:4, “One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you.” So, we see that a head of a family is recognized as usually being a responsible person. And, we see, in I Timothy 3:5 and Titus 1:6, that a local Christian elder is required to manage his family well. Here are some other verses in which heads of families are mentioned:
a) Exodus 6:14&25, “These were the heads of their families: The sons of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben. … These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.” From this I see that each grandson of Israel became the head of his own clan. And each grandson of Levi became the head of his own family.
b) It is noted in I Chronicles 9:13 that Old Testament priests were also heads of families.
c) Also see: Joshua 21:1, 22:14; I Chronicles 5:23-24; 7:2,7&40; 8:6,10,13&28; 9:13; 12:27&32.
5.) Tribe head, Numbers 17:6-13, “ So, Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the Tent of the Testimony. The next day Moses entered the tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them and each man took his own staff. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Put back Aaron’s staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.’ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him. The Israelites said to Moses, ‘We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?’”. The Lord had caused the Earth to swallow up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with all their families, and the Lord had consumed with fire the 250 insolent men who tried to offer incense before the Lord (Numbers 16:1-40); then another 14,700 people died of the plague before Aaron and Moses could make atonement for the assembly before God- because the Israelites still grumbled against God and Moses. Then the Lord told Moses how to show the Israelites that Aaron would be selected before all the leaders of each tribe- by causing Aaron’s staff to bud. We see herein the great weakness of the old nature/ carnality of mankind. This is the same carnality that we, in this age, have to contend with, both in ourselves and others. Oh, how easy it would have been for Israel to just obey God’s commands and accept God’s authority working through Aaron and Moses. But, looking back with 20-20 hindsight, it just seemed impossible for such carnal people to do so. Truly the flesh wars against the Spirit of God- Ephesians 5:17. And, my old fleshly nature isn’t any less dead than anyone else’s old, carnal nature. This carnality is amazing in its ability to blind men to God. I mean, look at this statement from God’s chosen people, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost! Anyone who even comes near the Tabernacle of the Lord will die. Are we all going to die?” Even amongst the believers there can be a wide gap between being saved and walking closely with the Lord (Galatians 5:16). This is why the Lord would have us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”- II Peter 3:18. And, I must add, after retiring from local government after twenty years, that, one easy way to recognize God’s grace working around you is to recognize how the Lord works through governmental authority. “There is no authority except that which God has established”-Romans 13:1. In addition, the Scripture teaches that the Lord works through other authorities- parents, elders and deacons, the authority of God’s Word and his Holy Spirit, Godly teachers, employers, etc. Here are some other verses in which heads of tribes are mentioned:
a) Exodus 6:14&25, “These were the heads of their families: The sons of Ruben the firstborn son of Israel were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Ruben.” … “These were the heads of the Levite families, clan by clan.” Although the word “tribe” isn’t mentioned in these passages, the clan heads are given as the sons of each of Israel’s sons. So, the tribe heads were the clan heads at that point. And, I note that there were no women mentioned as heads. The teaching of Scripture is that men are to be the heads of households. Now, we know that this is contrary to what the world, in general, now teaches. And the roll of men as heads of households is further confounded by the breakup of marriages in the modern era. So, now women are forced to be the financial heads of households, and some businesses still would like to traditionally pay men more, since they historically should be the heads of households. The government now says, no, we must pay women and men equally. How can we argue with the government on this issue when men are not supporting their family, and the women usually are working full time- in the case of a broken family? What a mess has ensued from the sins that brought about such family breakups. The fix for this won’t be easily applied to the world in general, but we Christians should insist upon the Scripture standard. Kudos to all the Christian family teaching groups: Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, etc.. And, we all should readily question, “Do we now see the new freedom lady proposed by the women’s lib groups of the 60’s and 70’s? Or, has this always been just more lies from satan to befuddle the lost and stumble the weak Christian- man and woman?” I think the latter!
b) Numbers 1:4-16, “One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. … These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.” So, at this point, the leadership is trimmed down to one man from each tribe, and each was a clan head. This is also seen in Numbers 7:2.
c) Also see: Numbers 13:1-17, 30:1; Deuteronomy 5:23; I Kings 8:1; I Chronicles 27:16; II Chronicles 5:2.
So, God is a person of order, not disorder (I Corinthians 14:33&40), and He establishes and uses his power through earthly leaders (Romans 13:1-7). Though some of these earthly, and even Christian, leaders can be in error, we should recognize and revere God’s authority, and we ought to be able to see how the Lord blesses and protects us through these authorities. Also see Titus 3:1.
8.) Head of nations, Joshua 11:10-23, “At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword.” (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anything that breathed, and he burned up Hazor itself. … So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and He gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.” So, Hazor acted as head of the nations, yet the authority was actually the Lord’s. And, since these nations acted so abominably- Deuteronomy 18:12, the Lord told Israel and its leaders to totally destroy all of them. Please also see the following “Head of Nations” passages:
a) Deuteronmy 15:6. Israel as head of nations. Also Hosea 1:11.
b) Psalms 18:43. David as head of nations.
9.) Voluntary agreement of headship, Judges 10:18, “The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, ‘Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all those living in Gilead’”. Evidently the Lord approved of this agreement because “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jepthah” (Judges 11:29), and he crossed over into Ammon and defeated them. Also see Judges 11:8-11. Also, sometimes we agree to work for others because we have no choice. “The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.”- Proverbs 22:7. In fact, the entire middle class in America and the world is set up around this type of agreement in headship. In the Church we should submit to the authority of God through the elders and deacons. However, when we see errors, and there are many, we have to be careful. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”- Galatians 6:1&2. These sins that seek to stumble Christians, can be errors of teaching, so elders sometimes need to be corrected. The correction of an elder requires the presence of two or three witnesses- I Timothy 5:19&20.
11.) God as Head, I Chronicles 29:10-14, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; and You are exalted as Head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.’ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from your hand.” I remember a week of meetings years ago, and we had to start our attendance by memorizing this verse. And, my old friend who was an executive for a very large corporation came to meeting without memorizing it. The preacher for that week of meetings warned us that he would arbitrarily call upon people to recite, and they’d be asked to leave if not ready. And, sure enough the executive was asked to leave the meeting. Next meeting he had it down pat, but wasn’t called upon. I know why the preacher had us memorize this passage. It’s obvious to all who read it. The passage forces us to put God in the correct perspective, and to express in our mind and from our lips who He really is. And, I am reminded that this is why the Lord would have us to express “hallowed be thy name” when we pray! How can God not be the Head of all of his creation? The molecules themselves are subject to his conscious will at all times, lest they fly apart! (Regarding Christ as consciously holding the world together, please see Items#15e, 41f&g, 82, &180 of the Word of Knowledge Section, and Items# 17f2, 21d, & 50b of the Healings Section). Here are some more verses expressing God as head:
a) Ephesians 1:19-23. “That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed Him to be Head over everything for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” The Lord wants us to realize who our Head is (Christ), and to realized Christ’s awesome position and power. And, also I note that not only does Christ consciously hold all things together, but He also “fills everything in every way”. Filling everything in every way is a concept so huge that it can barely be described. But, suffice to say, Christ makes things work out according to his will. As an example, He causes the sub-atomic and molecular particles making up a tree to function as a tree. Then he causes that tree to interact with wind, water, soil, animals and plants to function within his forests- which in turn function within his planet and his solar system and creation. So, when we and others perceive God in his creation or in a situation, if we also consider Christ as holding molecules together and filling everything in every way, we then perceive even more of God’s position and roll in a given situation- including our own bodies and lives.
b) Ephesians 4:15-16. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” This passage in the middle of Ephesians 4 (verses 11-24), usually throws me for a loop. I usually immediately conclude that the clergymen have tried to settle upon one of the least of the gifts listed in verse 11 (shepherding, and they don’t really do that), and have usually badly missed the life calling which Christ is aiming at for them. Then, because of that, a group usually called the laity is encouraged to do nothing except menial task work and put money in the bag each Sunday (even though the scripture specifically commands all to “eagerly desire the greater gifts”- I Corinthians 12:31). But this time, as I am caused to reconsider this Ephesians 4 passage. I see a glimmer of light which I hadn’t recognized before; and through this concept of Christ as the Head I’m recognizing this nugget of scripture for the pure gold that it really is. You see, I perceived that each part is not growing and building itself up in love, and I concluded that each part has not been allowed to do its work “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ might be built up”- Ephesians 4:12. To me, I had hoped that if this teaching of grace power would take hold, then perhaps the Lord’s Church would begin to build itself up and prepare God’s people to do great things for Christ. (And, this is actually what Paul was praying to be accomplished in his prayers cited in Ephesians 1:17-21.) However, since I am forced to consider that Ephesians 4:15&16 is a prophecy of growing “up into Him who is the Head”, and since I am forced also to look at the prophecy that “from Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”, I get hopeful. So, prophecy and the concept of growing up into Him who is the Head is something that we must look at carefully to get its meaning. But once I got its meaning, that this is a prophecy not a suggestion, I now have much more hope for Christ’s Church, in its ability to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”- II Peter 3:18. Of, course, the reason for this hope is that the Head, Christ, is alive and fully functioning even though some of the other parts almost seem lifeless. But, I know that with Christ all things are possible. He can even preach to dry bones and bring them to life (and so can we)- Ezekiel 37:4. See Item#d below, and Item#2c of the Mercy Section.
c) Colossians 1:15-20. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And he is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” We’re reminded of Christ’s pre-eminence even in creation, which occurred before the Lord Jesus walked this earth as a man.
d) Colossians 2:9,10&19. “For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority.” “He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.” See #b above- it’s a prophecy!. So, our Head is Christ, and if we seek to go back under Law or merely keep up with other religious people, then we also will lose connection with the Head. We would lose connection because we would be doing what we see as religiously appropriate, rather than walking with the King. And it is our Head, Jesus Christ, who is working among the seven golden candlesticks, his Church (Revelation 1:20), to cause us to grow up into Him because we are his Body. WHAT FOLLOWS HEREIN IS A REVELATION THAT I RECEIVED CONCERNING THE “BLAZING EYES” OF OUR LORD JESUS, as described in Revelation 1:14. I was wondering and asking the Lord if I should even include this account in this Grace Study, since some readers may take it the wrong way- fleshly. I felt the revelation fortifies the statement that the growth of the Church into Christ as Head is a prophecy, not a suggestion; and it also helps to explain how this prophecy will come about, and helps us to understand those “blazing eyes” of the Lord Jesus. So, I searched for a place to insert this revelation within Rule, regarding growing into Christ as the Head. And lo and behold, I found that I had already started a discussion on this regarding the Lord Jesus walking among the seven golden candlesticks. The discussion was already started herein in Item#11. So, from my personal notes, herein is said revelation. I HAD RECEIVED A DREAM REGARDING A VICTORIAN AGE GEOGRAPHER , WHICH URGED ME TO PUSH ON WITH THIS GRACE STUDY. (See the dream in the Additional Remarks Section.) About a week later I was in my new truck, in my driveway at dusk with my headlights shining on my garage door (2-28-18 or so). I was talking on my phone with a young Christian friend. (Revelation 1:14, “The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire”- the One who walks amidst the seven golden candlesticks.) As I was speaking I was trying to think how I could exhort this still fairly young man to grab hold of his gifts and grow in that grace and knowledge of our Lord (II Peter 3:18 ). In an instant, even while I was still speaking to my friend, (and I never even broke cadence while speaking), I was seeing, as it were, from the blazing eyes of the Lord Jesus. At first I saw through black scales covering my eyes, and the scales began to crack as blazing fire was generated from inside my eyes and burned through the scales, making the cracks disappear, as if being burned by a torch- not melting, but just being blasted through. Somehow I immediately knew that I was experiencing how Christ saw the Earth through his blazing eyes of fire. His vision not only blasted off the black scales of my eyes, but the blasting light and fire was seemingly penetrating all of the surface of the Earth, and the people and the buildings, and all the worldly goings on of this planet , seven times brighter than the sun, even though it was still night time where I live in Illinois. But I was experiencing the entire Earth being set ablaze by this great Spirit light, which was proceeding from Christ’s blazing eyes. (It was a vision from Christ.) Somehow I understood that Christ wanted his Church to do more through their grace gifts. He wants us to be the carriers of this blazing fire light, and consuming the entire Earth and totally burning through and overcoming the darkness of men’s flesh with his glory and truth. (Force them in, Luke 14:23). Well, I did exhort my friend to do greater things for Christ, but later I had to stop and think about what just happened, and what that blazing fire sight was all about. So, I decided to somehow chronicle that event so as not to lose it in my memory, which I just chronicled herein. And, also this is an encouragement to me, in this 68 year old flesh of mine, to keep pushing myself in this Grace Study-and that, yes, the Lord still wants me to proceed on this. But the question that stands out like the elephant in the room is, “What does the Lord want you to do?”
14.) “Symbolic headship” as reality, I Corinthians 11:3-12, “Now I want you to realize that the Head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman s the man, and the Head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophecies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head- it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the image and glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head. In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. “ To view this as symbolic headship, as many do, is incorrect. If you’d like your Christianity to fit on the back pages of the Wall Street Journal, and be perfectly acceptable to the World, then this is symbolic headship. But if your reality is Christ’s throne and you are looking for that city not made with hands, then this is true headship. And, Christ’s throne is inarguably the true authority in your life and far above the authorities/principalities in this World. And, you dare not approach Christ’s throne in prayer having your head covered, because you know that because of Christ’s sacrifice you actually are before Christ’s throne while praying (Hebrews 10:19-20)- so for a man to approach God’s throne with head covered is a denial of the efficacy of the cross. It doesn’t matter if you’re praying in the local sanctuary, or in a closet, or in a public arena. And, if you’re a woman before God’s throne in prayer or in prophecy, the Scripture says cover your head in respect for the angels and other authorities. And, this is for today, as it was for those approaching God’s throne in 65 AD, when the Corinthians Scripture was written. Has Christ’s throne changed, because of the doubts and corruptions that are in the World? I think not! Judge for yourselves; are you really approaching God’s throne in prayer through the power of Christ’s atoning sacrifice? Or are you merely tossing words into the air with the hopes that maybe those words will come true? I conclude most believers do understand that we are before God’s throne when we pray. Then why would a believer act like he or she is not before God’s throne in prayer by not following the Scripture regarding head coverings?! I think the answer to my own quandary is that we walk in the flesh too much, and the reality of Christ becomes just a warm cozy feeling, rather than a close and continual walk. Many don’t realize, and even deny, that we are already seated with and in Christ in the heavenly realms- Ephesians 2:6. Many, including myself, have not received the answer to Paul’s prayers in Ephesians 1:17-19, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Now, the same case regarding head coverings during prayer is also true during prophecy by both men and women. The Scripture says, “Every man who prays or prophecies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head- it is just as though her head were shaved. What’s left is for us to realize that prophecy also occurs before God’s throne. Since God is continually seated at his throne, it is not possible for his Word of prophecy to proceed from Him through us, unless such Word proceeds from his throne. Since it is difficult for us to understand the workings of God’s mighty power continually proceeding from his throne, we don’t easily discern that prophecy also proceeds from his throne. Moreover, it’s difficult for us on earth to understand God’s throne and its organization and its structure; and how the Father, the Son, the Spirit, the Saints, and the angels are seated and function before and through the power of his throne. However, God has made it very simple for us. The Scripture says men are to have their head uncovered before his throne during prayer and prophecy, while the women are to have their head covered. I conclude that headship is actually concerning the throne and power of God. Since we know that all power proceeds from God (Romans 13:1), then as in the case of prophecy, how can any power or prophecy not be proceeding from God’s throne? So, we show our reverence and understanding of God’s mighty throne by practicing true headship by not only submitting to Godly authorities, but also respecting God’s throne with the teachings of head coverings. And, this is not symbolic headship but true headship, and true submission to God’s authority- which is the only true authority. The following passages also teach headship:
a) Ephesians 4:11-16, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” This is a core principle of this Grace Study, because this Grace Study helps the Body to grow up into the fullness that is in Christ- our Head. See also Item#11b, above.
b) Ephesians 5:22-33, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the Church, his body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the Church— for we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” So, it is obvious that Godly headship comes with a price. An administrator is required to commit his time and efforts to the ones being led. He is not to merely take, take, take as was the case of the bad shepherds of Ezekiel 34, but headship requires much giving, especially spending time- and actual performance, not just occupying a title.
c) Colossians 1:17&18, “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” Sometimes we hear the term, “Get real!”- meaning that some person seems out of touch with reality. Well, when we practice symbolic headship such as head coverings/ uncoverings during prayer or prophecy, or merely honoring our parents or supervisors, or dare I say standing to respect our flag/ government, or merely taking a meek and humble stance when others are having a blowout, then we are practicing the reality of Christ. And, the angels and the demons and our obedient Lord Jesus can see what we’re doing; then our Lord will not only bless us, but also He will actually work through us- and the end result of that will be eternal rewards, “gold, silver, and precious stones” (I Corinthians 3:12).Gold speaks of being the actual right hand of God; see also Prophecy Section Item#53. Silver speaks of our work in the redemptive/ salvation process in Christ’s work (Numbers 18:15-16). Precious stones speak of costly things which we accomplished for the Lord which will stand the test of God’s judgment and for which a rich reward will be given for each of these costly individual works- as opposed to wood, hay, and stubble which will not stand through the fire of Christ’s judgment (II Corinthians 5:10).
15.) Organizational structures, Exodus 18:24-26, “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.” So Moses chose capable men to be leaders; and they were from Israel, not from the surrounding towns. And, there was a hierarchy to this work of governing with the more difficult decisions brought to Moses. The following are other passages from which we can glean insight into the facets of the organizational structure usually necessary for practicing the gift of “rule”:
a) Deuteronomy 1:13-17, “’Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from your tribes, and I will set them over you.’ You answered me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’ So I took the leading men from your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you- as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens and as tribal officials. And I charged your judges at that time: hear the disputes between your brothers and judge fairly, whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them and an alien. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you and I will hear it.” It’s a well-known fact that the laws and judicial decrees within the United States government are based on the laws handed down to us from Europe, particularly England. And, we can conclude that many such legal concepts originated in the Bible, such as: 1) “What you propose to do is good”- This verse cites agreement among the governed to accept this new government. It’s a very brief agreement to the constitution of the statement. 2) “Commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens and as tribal officials”. This speaks of delegation of authority down to the smallest groups. That phrase “and as tribal officials” seems insignificant, but I estimate that eventually Israel would have more tribal officials than delegated leaders- as is usually the case in government. 3) “Whether the case is between brother Israelites or between one of them is an alien”. The question of purview comes up here. What about a case between two aliens? What cases should they not hear? 4) “Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from your tribes, and I will set them over you.” Who chooses the judges, and what are their term limits? Who removes them in case of corruption? 5) “Bring me any case too hard for you and I will hear it.” This leads to a hierarchy among the courts, and such a highest Court exists in the USA, that is SCOTUS- Supreme Court of the US.
b) Joshua 23:1-8, “After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, summoned all Israel- their elders, leaders, judges and officials,- and said to them: I am old and well advanced in years. You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake: it was the Lord your God who fought for you. Remember how I have allotted for an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain- … Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God as you have until now.” From this passage, and from the similar passage in Joshua 14:1-2, I note one of the most important facets of any organizational structure, which is communication. Instead of merely making a statement to a large crowd, Joshua gathered Israel’s leaders as well. Then these leaders could help explain what was said and to seek to judge and lead the people based on what was said. Also see Item#16 below regarding communications through organization.
c) I Kings 5:15&16, “Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stone cutters in the hills, as well as thirty-three hundred foremen who supervised the project and directed the workmen.” As a former construction engineer, I’m enthralled by the size of this stone cutting and transporting operation. And, we see that 150,000 men supervised by 3,300 foreman comes to 1 foreman per 45 men on average. Since these would need to be highly skilled workmen this would make sense. Of course, if you research the building of Solomon’s Temple, you’ll find that no one can figure out how such massive stones were moved. Solomon insisted that no stone would be dressed onsite. So, we see that such an organizational structure was necessary for performing such a large scale task. These foremen would have been responsible for keeping a tally for wages, and for making sure the workers are supplied with materia, tools, and other supplies, as well as meeting together to coordinate efforts.
d) I Chronicles 13:1-4, “David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.” Here we see David, soliciting agreement from those he ruled, to bring the ark back to Israel. He is helping these people be blessed by the Lord by allowing them to help serve the Lord- since they agreed with that work. And he’s able to rule with unity of purpose, which may later elicit agreement on a more questionable issue. Nice leadership ploy! See Item#43d below.
e) I Chronicles 27:1-2, “This is the list of the Israelites- heads of families, commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and their officers, who served the king in all that concerned the army divisions that were on duty month by month throughout the year. Each division consisted of 24000 men. In charge of the first division, for the first month, was Jashobeam son of Abdiel. There were 24,000 men in his division. He was a descendant of Perez and chief of all the army officers for the first month.” This passage says that each division was on duty one month of the year, and I presume that those not on duty got to go home the other 11 months. This is an effective way to keep a large army trained and ready to go for less cost to the nation. Many local assemblies operate this way with certain deacons to be on duty certain months of the year to get various basic functions accomplished, such as special dinners, or gatherings, or even building and outside maintenance, and even visiting the sick or needy- (but, shepherding should be done by all mature Christians under whose feet God has placed such sheep, I Peter 5:2).
f) II Chronicles 19:4-11, “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Judge carefully for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshephat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the Law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: ‘You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your fellow country-men who live in the cities- whether blood-shed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances- you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; other-wise his wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this and you will not sin. Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage and may the Lord be with those who do well.’” These were awesome judges, fearing the Lord, serving wholeheartedly, warning people not to sin, who operated with no injustice or partiality or bribery. In America today, we speak of Judeo-Christian values. Well, this is where the Law came into practice. And this is where law is practiced in America today, in Court decisions. “Case law is the law!”, is what an old attorney acquaintance once told me. Until a law gets out into the public and is ruled on by a high level Court, there is no judicial precedence; and the law remains a vague concept subject to interpretation by just about anyone. In fact many laws can die in rules committees and never come out of such meetings, even though signed by the appropropriate branches of government- I and many others have experienced that phenomenon. Of course today, in the USA, no one dares mention sin or the Lord, and fear of the Lord sounds to most like an abuse of civil rights. And, of course, American society reflects the case law dished out to us by the Courts, which are run for the most part by ungodly attorneys. Abortion, slow trials for even violent criminals, express divorces, public sodomy, and lately a movement to prosecute police for defending themselves, all are proceeding from judicial decisions. And much of this is brought about by judges pressured to make partisan political decisions- stemming from those politicians who put them in office. Such is the failure of democracy as a means of government, since the government eventually is ruled by demagogues who’ll do or say anything for fear of the vote. As I’m writing this, the state of California is all over the news for allowing what has been termed “the zombie vote”. People, dead for decades, have been voting in California, probably since the beginning of voter registration. I grew up in Chicago, where it was common to have live ballots found floating in the Chicago River a couple days after an election. So, how beautiful do those God fearing, Israelite judges appear to me now?! Such justice won’t be seen again until the Lord Jesus comes to reign. But I conclude their influence on jurisprudence is still existent today, especially in the southern US, often called the Bible Belt. And, I believe this is the primary reason that real estate and business investors are thronging to the Bible Belt states to develop their businesses. Who would deliberately invest their time and effort (aka money) in a system based in blatant partiality, bribery, demagoguery, and injustice? This is a big part of why the Church yearns for the coming of the Lord.
16.) Head of clans, Numbers 10:1-4, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make two trumpets of silver, and use them for calling the community together and for having the camps set out. … If only one is sounded, the leaders- the heads of the clans of Israel- are to assemble before you.” The term clan is properly used by the NIV, but the KJV term “thousands” is more literally translated from the Hebrew word “eleph”, Strong’s[1] number H504, which means the number “1000”. And, these heads were actually considered princes (KJV), see Strong’s number H5387, which could mean captain, governor or prince, or any exalted ruler. So, here is a good example of the expediency of communication through organizations. Also see Item#15b above regarding communications through organization.
17.) Leaders held accountable, Numbers 25:1-14, “While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them. The Lord said to Moses, ’take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.’ So Moses said to Israel’s judges, ‘Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor.’ Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them- through the Israelite and into the woman’s body. Then the Lord stopped the plague against the Israelites; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’ The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family.” So, the Lord was holding the leaders accountable, even unto public execution, for the gross sins of the people. Phinehas, by having the mind of God and taking action, saved the lives of all those leaders. The Lord was angry with Israel’s leadership and was concerned for his own name, by being associated with such carnal leadership. This is why we have discipline in the Church for gross errors. The Moabite debaucheries are included in I Corinthians 5:11- which lists gross errors for which a person should be expelled from a gathering of believers. And, this is why satan is still the prince of this world- because the leadership of this world is still continuously bent toward the evil intrinsic to their fleshly nature (Genesis 6:5-7). Yesterday in the early morn, 2 am, an agent of satan, a Muslim, entered a homosexual nightclub and began shooting as many people as possible. The current death count is 50, with 53 others injured. This world is not ready for the Lord Jesus’ reign. The Lord must first come and catch his Church away, and throw out the existing satanic forces, then he will come to set up his rule for 1,000 years from Jerusalem.
a) Another leader held accountable by God was King Amaziah of Judah, 2 Chronicles 25:7-28, “But a man of God came to him and said, ‘Your majesty, these troops must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel- not with any of the people of Ephraim. Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow. Amaziah asked the man of God, ‘But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?’ The man of God replied, ‘The Lord can give you much more than that..’ So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them away. They were furious with Judah and left for home in a great rage. Amaziah then marshaled his strength and led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he killed ten thousand men of Seir. The army of Judah also captured ten thousand men alive, took them to the top of a cliff and threw them down so that they were all dashed to pieces. Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back, and had not allowed to take part in the war, raided towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quantities of plunder. When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, ‘Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?’ While he was still speaking, the king said to him, ‘Have we appointed you an advisor to the king? Stop! Why be struck down?’ So the prophet stopped but said, ‘I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.’ After Amaziak king of Judah consulted his advisors, he sent this challenge to Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel: ‘Come let us face each other in battle.’ But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: ‘A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. You say to yourself that you have defeated Edom, and now you are arrogant and proud. But stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?’ Amaziah, however, would not listen, for God so worked that He might deliver them into the hands of Jehoash, because they sought the gods of Edom. So Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah. Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim gate to the corner gate- a section of about a hundred cubits long. He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of God that had been in the care of Obed-Edom, together with the palace of treasures and the hostages, and returned to Samaria. Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoaz king of Israel. As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. He was brought back by horse and was buried with his ancestors in the City of Judah.” When we consider Israel’s status before God today, we need to consider what verse 7 says, “These troops from Israel must not march with you, for the Lord is not with Israel- not with any of the people of Ephraim.” I say this because many people ask, “What does the nation of Israel mean to God today?” Well, that’s a difficult question to answer, in that most have rejected and still reject their Messiah. But, we do know that our Messiah will reign for a thousand years from Jerusalem. Halleluhah! And, so we see herein the story of Amaziah, a God fearing king who somehow turned away from following the Lord, and his apostasy brought about his demise. May it not be that any of us should fall into such huge sins like idolatry, that we would fall into such judgments by God.
[1] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Company, 1894 1st publishing) p. 16 of “Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament”.
18.) The leader’s portion, Deuteronomy 33:20-21, “About Gad he said: ‘Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.’” Also, I Timothy 5:17&18 says, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’ So, we see that the leaders, including New Testament Church leaders are worthy of double portions of the material blessings given out by the local assembly. Some church workers, who are on the road continually will actually be 100 % supported by the local gathering/s. These would normally be the apostles and evangelists. See Item#143 of the Teaching Section. We should understand that paying a professional cleric to attempt to do the job that the elders of the Church are supposed to do is not God’s way; and it doesn’t work. How can one cleric shepherd the people God has placed under another elder’s feet (I Peter 5:2)? There’s not enough time in the day. In a thousand person gathering, even with three clerics on staff, the sheep will be scattered (Ezekiel 34:5-21).
19.) Heads of all the Earth, Psalms 110:1-7, “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift his head high.” This passage speaks of the extreme power and majesty of the Lord Jesus, whom David prophesied would sit on the right hand of God and that God would crush “the rulers of the whole Earth”. Of course the Lord Jesus used this passage to explain that David’s offspring was indeed the Messiah, a person of greater stature than David, since David described Him as Lord (Matthew 22:41-45). II Chronicles 9:13&14 states, “The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents, not including the revenues brought in by merchants and traders. Also all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the territories brought gold and silver to Solomon. (See also I Kings 10:14-15.) So, we see Solomon’s kingdom, as an extension of David’s reign, to be far superior to the kingdoms of the Earth. And we note that David’s throne will last forever through his prophesied offspring the Messiah. This prophecy is contained in Psalms 110:1, above, and even has its own title- the Davidic Covenant (II Samuel 7:4-17, Psalms 89:3-4, Mark 11:10, John 19:19-22).
20.) Bad leaders, Micah 3:1-12, “Then I said, ‘Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?’ Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. This is what the Lord says: ‘As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.’ But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.’ Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.” Well, obviously our leaders of today are also practicing some of the above noted practices. The passage also castigates clergymen who “judge for a bribe”, “teach for a price”, and “tell fortunes for money”. “Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say, ‘Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us.” This is why it’s so important to walk day by day and minute by minute with the Lord. I John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” I like a shortened version of this passage which accentuates its reality: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. … For everything in the world … comes not from the Father but from the world.” There were plenty of examples of bad leaders found in Scripture, which are as follows: Leviticus 26:17, I Samuel 15:17, I Kings 8:48, II Chronicles 32:21, Nehemiah 5:7, 15 & 13:11, Psalms 2:2 & 106:41, Proverbs 16:29, 28:15-16 & 29:12, Isaiah 1:10, 9:16 & 14:5-6, Lamentations 5:8, Ezekiel 17:12, Daniel 6:7, John 7:48 & 12:42, Acts 3:17 & 4:5, II Peter 3:17. A survey of these bad leaders, beginning with the Micah verse, produced the following qualities of bad leadership displayed: Also see Item#21 below.
a) Hate good and love evil. Micah 3:1.
b) Prepare to make war against anyone who refuses to feed them. Micah 3:5.
c) Despise justice and distort all that is right. Micah 3:9.
d) Build a nation with bloodshed and wickedness. Micah 3:10.
e) Leaders and officials accept bribes. Micah 3:11.
f) Though they do evil, they claim the Lord is with them. Micah 3:11.
g) Not listen to the Lord, reject his decrees and abhor his laws. Leviticus 26:14-15.
h) Spoils become more precious than obedience to God. I Samuel 15:17.
i) Spoke of the true God of Israel in the same manner as they did of the false gods of other people of the world. II Chronicles 32:19.
j) They did not fear God and did the same sins as the Gentiles- charging exhorbitant interest and taxes. Also, they neglected and disrespected the House of the Lord and its services. Nehemiah 5:9-15, &13:11
k) They do not understand and realize that the Lord rules over all. And they think that they can break their own chains. They defiled themselves by acting just like the idolaters they were among. Psalms 2:2 & 106:32-41.
l) Practicing extortion, & making threats, and listening to lies. Proverbs 28:15-16 & 29:12.
m) Wicked acts coupled with insincere religion. Mislead the people and teach lies. Subdue nations with relentless aggression, and strike down people with unceasing blows. Isaiah 1:10, 9:16 & 14:5-6.
n) Being former slaves, they have no ability to rule. Lamentations 5:8.
o) Get rid of all the leading men in the land. Ezekiel 17:12.
p) Conspire against the believers. Daniel 6:7.
q) Refuse to recognize the Lord Jesus, and persecute Christians. John 7:48 & 12:42.
r) Act without knowing the facts. Refuse to recognize Godly authority. Acts 3:17 & 4:5.
“Bishop”
20a.) Qualifications of bishops, deacons, and overseers, I Timothy 3:1-13, “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.” See Item#76 of the Teaching Section for a review of these overseer qualifications. Item#1 of the Shepherding Section defines the terms “elder”, “deacon”, “overseer”, “bishop”, “hireling”, and “pastor”. Each Christian needs to be able to understand and differentiate between these terms. Titus 1:5-9 also lists the qualification of bishops and overseers: “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” This is a nugget in Scripture because the passage clearly shows that an elder is the same as an overseer in God’s household, the local gathering. And, the passage shows that these overseeing elders are the ones who are to be managing the local assembly- not some paid clergyman. Such clear, concise and powerful words! I’ve come to expect such clarity from Scripture; but some, and sometimes I myself, insist on walking in the flesh in obvious resistance to God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:17). Again, see Item#1 of the Shepherding Section. Titus is silent regarding the qualifications of deacons, while in Titus Paul adds “apt to teach” (KJV) to the list regarding overseers. Now each believer should honestly answer this question regarding the leadership of your local gathering, “Is this what’s required and practiced today in your local gathering?” If not, don’t abandon your local church, but seek to correct this, especially through prayer and whatever Spirit gift you have been given. Then watch the Holy Spirit do his work. And, since we are studying the gift of rule, in this section, we should notice that rule of one’s household is already built into the qualifications of elders and deacons, as stated above. And, many elders have had to step down in order to deal with unruly members of their households.
“Govern”
21) Bad rule, I Kings 21:4-19, “Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.’ He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, ‘Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?’ He answered her, ‘Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’’ Jezebel his wife said, ‘Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote: ‘Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.’ So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, ‘Naboth has cursed both God and the king.’ So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent word to Jezebel: ‘Naboth has been stoned to death.’ As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, ‘Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.’ When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: ‘Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’’ We must note that Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, are two of the worst scoundrels in history. Their conduct was disgusting, and their attitude was abhorrent. While being the king and queen of Israel, they were idolaters, and murderers, and used the Lord’s name to justify their conduct and trap their victims (as seen above). Some other notable examples of bad rule are as follows:
a) Judges 15:11-17, “Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, ‘Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?’ (See Item#91 regarding the saddest verse in Scripture.) He answered, ‘I merely did to them what they did to me.’ They said to him, ‘We’ve come to tie you up and hand you over to the Philistines.’ Samson said, ‘Swear to me that you won’t kill me yourselves.’ ‘Agreed,’ they answered. ‘We will only tie you up and hand you over to them. We will not kill you.’ So they bound him with two new ropes and led him up from the rock. As he approached Lehi, the Philistines came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. The ropes on his arms became like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his hands. Finding a fresh jawbone of a donkey, he grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. Then Samson said, ‘With a donkey’s jawbone I have made donkeys of them. With a donkey’s jawbone I have killed a thousand men.’ When he finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone; and the place was called Ramath Lehi.” The rulers of Israel were content with the status quo, and as such did not know God- and they were content with bondage rather than blessings from God. (See also the last paragraph of Item#91.)
b) Ezra 9:2, “After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, ‘The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.’ When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice. Then, at the evening sacrifice, I rose from my self-abasement, with my tunic and cloak torn, and fell on my knees with my hands spread out to the Lord my God and prayed: ‘I am too ashamed and disgraced, my God, to lift up my face to you, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today. But now, for a brief moment, the Lord our God has been gracious in leaving us a remnant and giving us a firm place in his sanctuary, and so our God gives light to our eyes and a little relief in our bondage. Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem. But now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commands you gave through your servants the prophets when you said: ‘The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons. Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them at any time, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it to your children as an everlasting inheritance.’ What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins deserved and have given us a remnant like this. Shall we then break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor?’” So, why is this an example of bad rule, because “the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness”. This fact sent Ezra and other faithful believers into weeping prayer before the Lord. Might this kind of weeping prayer for leaders be prevalent in America today!
c) Job 34:17, “Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.” This passage shows that God removes unjust rulers without the work of human hands. However, the passage also shows that the Lord loves justice. See also Item#22 below.
d) Proverbs 19:10, “It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!” Much can be said about this small verse. In America we have a lottery, and so fools sometimes do live in luxury. And in most cases these lottery millionaires quickly lose their money. Concerning a slave ruling over princes, without understanding and skill a ruler will only have brute force with which to rule. And if the princes come together, then the former slave won’t actually have more brute force?
e) Proverbs 29:2 "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan."
f) Ecclesiastes 8:9, “All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless. “ Lording it over others to your own hurt can refer to God’s judgment of all after death, or even to such judgment being meted out on Earth. The Lord Jesus warns, in Matthew 7:12, “Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” This passage was written well before Christ’s “sermon on the mount”, some say 940 BC, by Solomon. Yet, the passage warns of God’s means for bringing judgment. When I consider such judgment I usually think of the emperor of Assyria whom God used to scatter the ten lost tribes of Israel. He was a violent and powerful man, yet came to a quick and violent death (II Kings 19:37); shortly after the Lord used him to bring the Northern Kingdom of Israel to judgment. Ecclesiastes also cites as meaningless those who prance back and forth to holy places to receive praise. The Lord’s “sermon on the mount” also warns of this, “Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”- Matthew 6:1.
g) Isaiah 3:12-15, “My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path. The Lord takes his place in court; He rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: ‘It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” It is the Lord’s vineyard, and even as believers we should not take unfair advantage of others less gifted or others taken up in sin. Plundering of the poor is not the only thing that the Lord had against Israel’s leaders. His complaint against the Israelite women is in Isaiah 3:16-4:1. Ouch! Also see Isaiah 3:1-7.
h) Jeremiah 5:30-31, “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” “There is no authority except that which God has established”, Romans 13:1. So, if the clergy rule by their own authority and prophesy lies, then where will they and those who followed their lies be when Christ comes or at Christ’s judgment seat? Jeremiah 20:1-6 also addresses these concerns, “When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lord’s temple. The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, ‘The Lord’s name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.’’” This is why we practice our grace gifts by the Holy Spirit’s power, and as Christ has apportioned these gifts. It is not us, but God working through us, as God indwells the Church; see Prophecy Section, Item#439.
i) Luke 6:39-40, “He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” The blind leading the blind seems ridiculous, however, much of this is going on in the secular and religious world. If a person cannot see Christ’s grace working around him, is that not a form of blindness.
j) Luke 23:12-19, “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life”. God uses governmental authority to bring out the gospel and even magnify the gospel and his presence in his creation- even working through evil governors (Exodus 6:1, Ezekiel 20:33-34, Luke 2:1-4).
k) Acts 4:26, “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Today satan wages a subtle battle of lies against Christ’s Church. Worldly leaders, which includes most leaders in Western countries, publicly call out to a generic god, which they try to name as the one true God- at least when trouble brews. These public speakers do this by calling out, “God bless this” or “God bless that”- as if God was a genie in their bottle. SOME DO IT OUT OF FEAR, BUT MOST DO IT TO GET EMPATHY FROM THEIR LISTENERS. In using God’s name for their cause, they are stealing from God (Exodus 20:7). These same leaders are abortionists, and evolutionists, and are satan’s pawns in seeking to obliterate the name of Christ from all teaching and all government. In fact, I can almost agree with them though, because no one has the right to claim a relationship with God except through the cross and the new birth given by the grace of the gospel (Hebrews 10:19&20). So, when people, even civil leaders try to pray and make speeches claiming God’s name, and not mentioning Christ or his cross, this is tantamount to idolatry. It is all false. And such people are claiming a relationship with the Lord which isn’t there. The Scripture says that satan is behind all lies and idolatry, no matter how subtle- John 8:44, I Corinthians 10:20. The Lord meets out trials to force people to consider their latter end and to turn sinners to the cross. Then, instead of repenting, world leaders are pretending all is well with their soul and that they already have good standing before God, even without the cross. Also see II Corinthians 11:32-33 regarding persecution by government.
l) Acts 13:26-28, “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.” This is the same predicament that we are in today, wherein the rulers and people of this world don’t realize our need and God’s provision of the Cross.
m) Acts 14:1-7, “At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, where they continued to preach the gospel.” At Iconium the people and rulers rejected the gospel, the same as in Jerusalem where the rulers and people, in general, rejected the gospel. But a few believed in each city. And so, the gospel goes on for the salvation of those few who will believe, and enter that narrow road that leads to life- Matthew 7:14.
n) Also see “the rulers of the Gentiles” in Item#36e below.
So, we can view bad rule in the past to discern what rulers are doing in our age, and also how we ourselves can practice God’s gift of rule- if we are so engifted. I note that just knowing that God’s authority protects us, and that all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1), will make a big difference in a person’s life- especially in boldness and focus on the kingdom work. That fact was a life changer in my life, as shown in Item#95h in the Teaching Section.
22.) Govern justly, Psalms 67:1-7, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us- so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” I like the KJV which says, “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon the Earth.” Justice and righteous judgment are attributes of God. They are not just what He does, but rather part of who He is, inseparable from his throne’s work (grace)- Psalms 89:14, Genesis 18:18, Jeremiah 31:23, &50:7, Ezekiel 45:9. Donald Trump, yesterday, at the 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland, remarked that he loves justice. I wonder if he understood how much the Lord loves justice. That’s a fairly laudible statement from someone not known to be a believer and Bible scholar. Perhaps, with much help from God, he can get elected and accomplish some things in that area in the USA. However, the injustices in our country and throughout the world are so many and vast, that I can only exclaim, “Even so come Lord Jesus”- Revelation 22:20. I also like how this passage brings out how the tenor of petitions to God ought to be. Instead of saying, “God bless”, the Psalmist says, “May God be gracious to us and bless us” and “May God bless us still”. There’s a huge difference between the tenor of Scripture in petitions for blessings as opposed to these worldly public speakers who are saying, “God bless America”, or even “God bless you”, when you sneeze. The one usage is a Godly, humble petition from a believer, who knows that without God’s grace they are headed for destruction. The other usage is by an uninformed person trying to impress people while unwittingly, or sometimes purposefully, stealing the use of God’s name. Some other verses relating to governing justly are as follows:
a) Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” The Lord loves justice, as well as mercy and humility. Consider good king Josiah, “He did what was right and just, so all went well with him”- Jeremiah 22:15-19. Josiah’s son, however, did evil and was given the burial of a donkey.
b) Deuteronomy 33:20-21, “About Gad he said: ‘Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.’” God recognizes leadership especially that which carries out his own righteousness and judgment.
c) II Samuel 8:14-15, “He put garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.” See also I Kings 10:9, I Chronicles 18:14. We should not forget that David’s reign is going to continue forever- “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:7.
d) Proverbs 1:1-7, “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
e) Proverbs 8:12-21, “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.”
f) Ecclesiastes 5:8, “If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.” Indeed, satan is the prince of this world- John 12:31, 14:30, & 16:11.
g) Isaiah 59:1-17, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know;
there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads; no one who walks along them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey. The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for Him, and his own righteousness sustained Him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as in a cloak.” To cut to the quick, then, why is there not justice in our nations? Because we are yet too wicked! The new nature of Christians is not wicked, but our old nature, which many believers walk in, is just as wicked as the old nature of unbelievers. And so, “Justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes.” “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.” If it were not for God’s continual intercession (grace), we Christian nations would be just as evil as the heathen. But, through God’s grace gifts, the Lord is able to inhabit his Church (see Item# 439 of the Prophecy Section and Item#39 of the Healings Section) and even do great works (Mark 16:15-19). This passage explains that lack of justice was a big factor in God’s plan to send his Redeemer- “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for Him, and his own righteousness sustained Him.”
h) Also see Item#23h, below, wherein it’s shown that the Righteous Branch will rule with righteousness and justice. And regarding the Lord’s love of justice, please see the following Items numbers in the Rule Section: 21c, 23d, 25d, 44c, & 70q.
So, we see how much the Lord loves justice in government. And, we also see how difficult justice is to achieve, especially from those who walk in the flesh, non-believers. As evangelical Christians we should recognize that our job is to reach souls for Christ. In the practice of our grace gifts, the Lord’s presence in our lives will achieve justice around us, because justice is a part of who He is. For believers gifted with the gift of rule, justice should always be a primary concern in their administrations. (“Administration” and “rule” are interchangeable terms in this Grace Study.)
“Government”
23.) The Lord Jesus’ rule, Isaiah 9:6&7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.” Of course, there are many passages in Scripture discussing the reign of the Lord Jesus. The following are a few of them:
a) Psalm 110:1-7, “The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift his head high.” This passage gives details of how the Lord Jesus will set up his millennial reign. And, in Luke the Lord Jesus proves that the Psalm’s discussion must be regarding the coming of the Messiah: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can He be his son?’’”- Luke 20:41-44. Also See Item#19 above, and Items k & 55 below; and Item#28e3 of the Word of Knowledge Section.
b) Isaiah 11:5-10, “Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and his resting place will be glorious.” What a time, when Christ reigns on Earth! The Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and no one will harm or destroy anyone, even the carnivorous animals will be changed.
c) Isaiah 24:23, “The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.” When the Lord Jesus reigns his glory will be on display, and the heavenly lights will be minor compared to his great glory.
d) Isaiah 32:1-5, “See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear. No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.” The Lord’s reign will be a time for justice and righteousness-. Oh how the Lord loves justice! See also Item#22 above.
e) Isaiah 40:6-, “A voice says, “Cry out.”And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.’ You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the sovereign Lord comes with power, and He rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with Him, and his recompense accompanies Him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young. Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge, or showed Him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing. With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple. Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. ‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” This description of the coming reign of Christ is extolling his mighty power. And, we should proclaim and warn of his mighty power. If a mighty storm was coming, wouldn’t we cry out into the streets to warn people? When hurricanes threaten the South Eastern United States, you’d better believe we warn people to “Get out of the hurricane’s path- evacuate!”
f) Isaiah 49:8-13, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ ‘They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar— some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan.’ Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” Look at how carefully the Lord is to his own. Do our governments act like that? In studying the Lord’s pending rule we get a sense of what proper rule should be, and also what real justice and mercy looks like.
g) Isaiah 55:3-5, “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has endowed you with splendor.” David is a witness to the promised pending reign of the Lord Jesus- a reign endowed with splendor, and all of the attributes brought out in this Item#23, entitled “The Lord Jesus’ rule”.
h) Jeremiah 23:5-8, “’The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’ ‘So then, the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.’” The Lord as King will do what is right and just, and all Israel will be saved and live in safety.
i) Ezekiel 20:33-38, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” The Lord will reign with his mighty hand over all Israel, and will judge all and purge out the rebellious.
j) Matthew 2:3-6, “When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’’” So, Christ is a ruler who will shepherd the people as opposed to typical worldly rulers whom Samuel warned about. I Samuel 8:11-20 warns, “He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.’” God is a ruler who shepherds and provides for his people, while worldly leaders sponge off the people. And really, this has always been the darkness in any worldly leadership. God wants us to have a relationship with Him, such that we can be lead by and walk with Him. In the flesh, though, people don’t have enough faith to walk with God; instead they say, “do not have God speak to us or we will die” – Exodus 20:18-21. This darkness is acutely present in Church clergy today. God wants us to walk with Him and practice our gifts, and to “eagerly desire the greater gifts”- I Corinthians 12:31, and I Corinthians 14:12. Yet, as has been the case with fleshly conduct, men have been duped into trying to have others do their God appointed tasks for them- clergy. The results of such errors are that the kingdom work isn’t being done and men aren’t getting rewarded by God, or growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (II Peter 3:18).
k) Acts 2:34-37, “For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’’ ‘Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” Due diligence requires that I note that this prophecy is repeated at least 7 times in Scripture: Psalm 110:1, Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:43, Acts 2:34-36, Hebrews 1:13, and Hebrews 10:13. Also the fulfillment of this prophecy is shown in I Corinthians 15:25. The prophecy is also examined in Item#19 above. This prophecy is brought out again herein because it contains the statement, “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah”. So, this prophecy helps describe Christ’s reign. It notes that the Lord Jesus’ reign begins after his rejection by Israel and his crucifixion and resurrection. I note that things on Earth would be a lot different today if Israel had not rejected their Messiah. But Israel’s loss is our gain- Romans 9:30&31.
l) Romans 15:12, “And again, Isaiah says, ‘The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in Him the Gentiles will hope.’ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Does this mean that the reign of Christ will be one filled with hope? Hebrews 6:13-7:3 says: “When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek the Priest . This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.” So, we who are the Gentiles, of whom Paul prophesied, have a sure hope in this “King of Righteousness who is also “King of Peace”. This hope is made sure by two unchangeable things- God’s unchanging nature and his inerrant Word. Yet, while Christ is ruling in hope today, in the Inner Sanctuary, his future rule will be in hope fulfilled- not in hope expected. “But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:24&25. So, I note that instilling an unattainable hope in people’s minds is not a necessary, or Godly, quality in an earthly or Godly leader. Because, if a false hope is instilled, it will eventually be revealed as false and unattainable. Also, people eventually will have to face God in judgment, and false hopes and false flattery do nothing to bring people to the Cross for salvation. It is far better for an earthly ruler to bring the people or corporation which are under his or her administration from point A to point B, according to the goals laid out by those who selected him or her as ruler. There is far too much “psychobabble” in the world today. Do you doubt this? Then why is it that everyone already understands what “psychobabble” means, even though no one takes the time to define that term. This is because “psychobabble” is so prevalent in our cultures that it has become an acceptable standard. But, lies, even white ones, are still lies and flattery is indeed a sin (Psalm 12:2&3, Proverbs 26:28, etc.).
m) Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” Those who are truly in Christ Jesus will reign with Him for a thousand years from Jerusalem. Combined with eternal life, that is a very excellent blessing.
24.) Worldly government is fleeting, Isaiah 22:15-22, “This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: ‘Go, say to this steward, to Shebna the palace administrator: What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock? ‘Beware, the Lord is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, you mighty man. He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country. There you will die and there the chariots you were so proud of will become a disgrace to your master’s house. I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position. “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.’’” It’s amazing how historians have written history using the various rulers to form the chronology. We here in the United States also use our leaders, the presidents, to chronicle what was going on and when. But history itself is a witness that all such world governments are fleeting. In that regard, consider the following:
a) Daniel 4:17-26, “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people. This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.’ Belteshazzar answered, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules’”. So, God rules over all, even the most powerful of emperors and people.
b) I Chronicles 29:10-14, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.’”
c) Luke 2:1-3, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.” Although, it can be said that the manner of our government is an extension of Roman rule, at least in many ways (especially considering those feet of iron and clay prophesied to exist in the end time- Daniel 2), no one can say that our government is under the Roman empire. So, Roman rule is gone, “Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth”- Revelation 19:6. And, I note, as was noted in Item #a above, that the various rulers were used to help chronicle the major events- as was the case with the citing of Quirinius and Ceasar Augustus above.
d) Also see Item Nos 55f & 71 below.
25.) God’s authority in government, II Peter 2:4-11, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.” This study regarding the gift of rule is much concerned with God’s authority in government, “for there is no authority except that which God has established”- Romans 13:1. So, when we talk about the Kingdom work of the Lord, we’re primarily speaking of the Lord Jesus’ work around us in saving souls; yet God’s power and authority is what is being used to bring all these events to fruition and also to even hold the entire universe together. So while we are seeking to study God’s gift of rule in Christ’s Church, God’s power is very evident in government and in creation. Here are some other passages which touch on God’s authority in government:
a) Exodus 22:28, “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.” This saying is given among the Laws God gave to Moses. It’s meant to protect the people, because God knows that his authority runs through each ruler, and He doesn’t want to take people to task for the folly of speaking against his authority- as He did with Miriam, Numbers 12:1-12.
b) Psalm 22:27-29, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him— those who cannot keep themselves alive.” The Lord uses his dominion to establish princes and principalities in all nations. And He can raise up or take down rulers as He sees fit. And, we’re reminded that each person must kneel before God and give account for his works, Romans 14:10-12.
c) Proverbs 8:12-21, & 35 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth. I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full. … For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.” Wisdom comes from fear of the Lord and is part of the attributes contained by people practicing the gift of rule (Proverbs 9:10).
d) Proverbs 29:26, “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.” I had an acquaintance who was an accomplished litigation attorney, having presented cases even before the Illinois Supreme Court. One of his famous lines was, “Men seek justice, but settle for litigation”. I took it that he meant a man’s fervor for justice subsides when he sees how difficult it is to move a case through the government system. Also see Item#22 above. I conclude, if you’re looking for justice, practice Godliness and the Lord will uphold your position. “’Vengeance is mine, I wil repay’ saith the Lord”- Romans 12:9. But Christians must realize that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (I Peter 5:5); and also “As it is written, ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’” (Romans 8:36). So, we Christians absorb injustice in order to give out the gospel. This doesn’t mean that we can’t take legal action, especially against criminals. A friend asked me once about a man that was cheating him. I advised that while the Lord said, “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” (Matthew 5:40). However, the Lord did not say, “If anyone takes away your ox, give him your cart as well.” The Lord was talking about not being tit for tat, He is not meaning that we should allow criminals to continually take advantage of us. But, larger problems, and even smaller, is what prayer is meant for. My old friend Clarence used to say, “When you pray, expect an answer!”
e) Mark 13:8-11, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” (Also see Luke 21:12-13.) So, God will work through governments in the End Times to deliver the gospel effectively- even by instances of a Word of Knowledge, a Word of Wisdom, and by Prophecies. (See Item#97 of the Word of Knowledge Section, for these nuggets of Scripture.)
f) Acts 23:2-5, “At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!’ Those who were standing near Paul said, ‘How dare you insult God’s high priest!’ Paul replied, ‘Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’’” So, even though Paul was in the right as God’s sent one (apostle), he gave place to God’s authority working through the then defunct priesthood- which Paul discerned was becoming obsolete, if not already obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). And, so we should learn to give honor to God’s authority, even God’s authority working through wicked people, as Paul and even the angel Michael did (Jude 1:9). Also see II Peter 2:10.
g) Titus 3:1, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” If I could just accomplish that in my life, I’d be a much better reflector and testimony of God’s victorious grace.
“Governments”
26.) Rule as a Spirit gift, I Corinthians 12:27-31, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance (“governments” in KJV), and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” There are two New Testament passages in which this Spirit gift of rule is clearly shown to be a grace gift- the I Corinthians 12 passage and the Romans 12 passage below. Then a study of the Greek words in those two passages brings out other references in Scripture to this vital gift. The greek word for “governments” in the I Corinthians 12 passage is “kubernesis”: directorship, pilotage, governments (only 1x in NT). Romans 12:6-8 states, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (KJV). The Greek word for “ruleth” is “proistemi”: rule, maintain, be over. Examples of the usage of the Spirit gift of rule, based on these two passages, are:
a) I Thessalonians 5:12-15, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among ourselves, and to all men.”
b) I Timothy 3:4&5,12&13, “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)” “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
c) I Timothy 5:17&18, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, the labourer is worthy of his reward.”
d) I Peter 5:1-7, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This verse is normally taken as an exhortation to the elders to practice shepherding of the ones Christ has placed under their care, feeding and watching (bishoping) over them. However, considering that rule obviously is meant to be practiced in the local gatherings, this passage also applies to the gift of rule: taking oversight, not lording it over people, but leading by example, not working for money, but rather for the crown that fades not away. I note also that the younger ones are told to submit to the elders not necessarily meaning the oversight but to all elder mature Christians; and this is considered humbling oneself before the mighty hand of God. So, if this authority is of God, so much that humbling ourselves to this authority is considered humbling ourselves before the mighty hand of God, then this does involve not just eldership and shepherding, but also rule. Also see items# 26d, 35e, 36,&74. From these passages I tend to feel that the Spirit gift of rule is given by Christ for practice within the local assembly, -by elders and deacons because such a person’s authority to rule would come from God, at least in New Testament times. Having said that, a person’s ability to rule well in worldly principalities would be greatly advanced if such a person either had or understood God’s gift of rule. Then again, how can a person practice rule within the local assembly without first being an elder or a deacon. I say deacon because deacons are given certain areas of administration- such as head of kitchen or pageant committees, or building maintenance, etc.. And, having said all this, then a person with the gift of rule, who was practicing this outside the assembly at their job or within worldly governments, is indeed practicing the gift of rule outside the local assembly. And so, I cannot say that the gift of rule is limited to the local assembly. But Godly rule starts in the local assembly, remember the warning of the Lord Jesus, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” Matthew 20:25-28. So, Godly rule is not much like the rule that we see practiced in the world. Rule is kind of like “stickhandling” in ice hockey. A fairly good stick handler was trying to teach stick handling. And he said (my paraphrasing), “The main thing about stick handling is not the artful stick work or how fast you move your stick to confuse your opponents. The main thing to realize is that you need to control the puck, wherever it is- behind you, in front of you, and to the side of you, even right under your feet- which is sometimes the most difficult. The same is true with Godly rule. It is not how well managed or agreeable an administration is, but mostly it matters that the basic functions are accomplished, and not left undone. The Lord is looking for people to serve Him and get very important items done, not to hog the pulpits or pontificate, or pat each other on the back.
“Governor”
27.) Public officials, Genesis 41:37-40, “The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, ‘Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?’ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’” Item#26, above, shows that Godly rule starts from the Holy Spirit inside a person, practicing such in his or her local gathering. Isn’t that the same with Joseph? Wasn’t the Spirit’s presence what lead Pharoah to appoint Joseph as his second in command- Acts 7:9&10? The following items below also discuss the Spirit working in and through Joseph: Item#3, 50, 70a, 75a, 76, &82. Other public officials, that are cited in Scripture, are as follows- remembering that all authority comes from God (Romans 13:1):
a) Exodus 18:24-26, “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.” See also Item#15. We should note that having all believers as public officials is a luxury that Israel had back in Moses’ day, but will not happen again until the Lord Jesus reigns. I note this because sometimes I perceive Christians acting as if our government should somehow be a Godly government, with issues like prayer in schools, and evangelization by the government. We should note that it’s the Church’s work to evangelize. And, why would the Lord want a non-believer to try to approach Him in prayer at secular schools, when our only access to God is clearly only through the cross (Hebrews 10:19-22). We should not imply that a person has access to God in prayer unless they are born again. Also see Item#38c.
b) I Kings 18:1-8, “After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.’ So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) Ahab had said to Obadiah, ‘Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.’ So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another. As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, ‘Is it really you, my lord Elijah?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied.’Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’’”. Now, I love the story of Elijah at Mount Carmel, but space is limited. And, it is sufficient to say that Obadiah, in his consistent, faithful walk, was a critical person for setting up the whole event. In the same way, the Lord uses faithful believers who are employed even in the most ungodly governments. Consider Joseph in Egypt, Esther in Medea-Persia, Obadiah herein, the Magi in Herod’s Judea. The Lord does work through government and especially through faithful government officials. “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”- II Chronicles 16:9.
c) II Kings 25:21-16, “So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in Judah. When all the army officers and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, Jaazaniah the son of the Maakathite, and their men. Gedaliah took an oath to reassure them and their men. ‘Do not be afraid of the Babylonian officials,’ he said. ‘Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.’ In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood, came with ten men and assassinated Gedaliah and also the men of Judah and the Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. At this, all the people from the least to the greatest, together with the army officers, fled to Egypt for fear of the Babylonians.” The point herein is that these Judeans never did accept Babylonian rule, even though the Babylonians were serving God by bringing judgment upon the Southern Kingdom of Israel. But if the people of the Southern Kingdom had accepted Babylonian rule, as Jeremiah had urged them to do, they would have been taken care of, just as Gedaliah had said. And, we get this knee jerk reaction against authority in our day and circumstances. Each person really does need to come to terms with the civil authorities, because God’s protection often does come through that authority. And unless we live in Israel prior to the Babylonian conquest, that authority will probably be wielded by non-believers.
d) I Chronicles 29:22-25, “They ate and drank with great joy in the presence of the Lord that day. Then they acknowledged Solomon son of David as king a second time, anointing him before the Lord to be ruler and Zadok to be priest. So Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king in place of his father David. He prospered and all Israel obeyed him. All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David’s sons, pledged their submission to King Solomon. The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.” We, in this age, don’t like to acknowledge the authority of royalty, and I’d say with good cause- See Item#5 above. The real conflict with government was first expressed by Samuel, “Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.’ But the people refused to listen to Samuel. ‘No!’ they said. ‘We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles’ When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, ‘Listen to them and give them a king’ (I Samuel 8:10-22). So, Samuel is warning that a direct relationship with God is better than having an indirect submission to God through a king. In other words submission to a worldly government, rather than direct submission to God, even in Old Testament Israel, is acquiescing to carnality. Samuel is warning that a worldly government, even with a Godly king, will make the people give up their families to servile labor, rather than merely enjoying the blessings of God. Isn’t that what has been going on in the world, even before Samuel’s warning? The Lord Jesus put it this way,” No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”- Matthew 6:24. Now, at this writing, the USA is preparing for the 2016 general election for president. And, Donald Trump has built his platform on his complaints against big and corrupt government. Of course, we don’t have a monarchy, but through taxes and regulation, we certainly can consign future generations, and ourselves, to submit to financial and idealogical bondage. So, we should submit to God’s authority even through unjust government, but realize that walking by faith and merely enjoying the Lord’s blessings is that “easy yoke” which the Lord Jesus would consign us to while we’re on Earth (Matthew 11:29&30).
e) II Chronicles 1:1-17, “Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great. Then Solomon spoke to all Israel—to the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, to the judges and to all the leaders in Israel, the heads of families— and Solomon and the whole assembly went to the high place at Gibeon, for God’s tent of meeting was there, which Moses the Lord’s servant had made in the wilderness. Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. But the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made was in Gibeon in front of the tabernacle of the Lord; so Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’ Then Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting. And he reigned over Israel. Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue—the royal merchants purchased them from Kue at the current price. They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty. They also exported them to all the kings of the Hittites and of the Arameans.” Wow! What a statement of strength and power through God! Not only was Solomon able to speak to all his public officials, and not only did those public officials gladly assist in offering sacrifices before the Lord’s tabernacle, and not only was Solomon able to be directly advised of God, and not only was Solomon blessed with immeasurable wealth, wisdom and honor, but Israel was so powerful during Solomon’s reign that they made a huge profit selling chariots to Israel’s historic enemies. And, what world leader could claim to have full agreement from his staff of public officials- I don’t believe that will happen again until Christ reigns.
f) II Chronicles 19:4-11, “Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and turned them back to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah. He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for mere mortals but for the Lord, who is with you whenever you give a verdict. Now let the fear of the Lord be on you. Judge carefully, for with the Lord our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.’ In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: ‘You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin. Amariah the chief priest will be over you in any matter concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the tribe of Judah, will be over you in any matter concerning the king, and the Levites will serve as officials before you. Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well.’” When people nowadays speak of Judeo Christian ethics, these concepts of justice and impartiality are what are discussed- as well as just a society of people submitting to the law. These are big discussion items nowadays with the immense immigration problems facing the western nations- with Islamic ideologies allowing unfairness, even murder, as an acceptable form of jihad and Islamic behavior. Make no mistake. When an Islamic man cheats a westerner, his Imam would give him a hearty thumbs up for practicing Jihad. This becomes a problem since, under Shariah law, any contract can become void, since a muslim is considered superior to an infidel according to the Koran. From a different perspective, any person without morality or ethics can cheat another, and refuse to live within the boundary of laws. There’s an old saying, “You cannot legislate morality.” And that is a huge conflict we face in America, and western civilization today. The US presidential candidate, Donald Trump, is saying continually, “We are a nation under the rule of Law!” And we all realize that the issue is not a particular law, but whether US citizens will even submit to the rule of Law. Many liberal teachers steal the minds of youth by teaching that rebellion to authority is a noble endeavor. And, I suppose that parents, who reward rebellion in their children by giving in to their wants, are setting their children up for these bad teachings. However, this rebellion to Godly authority is actually a form of witchcraft- I Samuel 15:23, and Item#54a of the Prophecy Section.
g) II Chronicles 34:8-10, “In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God. They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Then they entrusted it to the men appointed to supervise the work on the Lord’s temple.” Now, we can clearly see the difference between the government of Old Testament Israel (Southern Kingdom) and the governments we see today in the USA and other western nations. We woudn’t expect the government to be doing God’s work today. In fact, until Christ returns, the principalities of this world are controlled by satan. However, this merely means that the kingdom work of the Lord Jesus is to be done by Christ’s Church. And, we truly need to realize that God has empowered Christ’s Church with everything it needs to accomplish Christ’s Kingdom work.- not to disclaim the work to be done by God Himself. (And, the work done by the Church is also done by God through the Church.) Isn’t that what He meant when He sent us out, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” And this is Christ’s vision for the Church; also see Item#11d above. Matthew 28:18-20. So, the Church already has the authority to do God’s work, so we should just be doing that work, and not trying to have our work either recognized or approved by others- especially not satan’s principalities in governments. And, if we have to endure some affliction in doing our ministry, then count it a joy- Acts 5:41, II Timothy 4:5.
h) Ezra 4:23-25, … 5:1-3&11, … 6:6-12, “As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes (Grandson of Cyrus) was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop. Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.” … “Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, ‘Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and to finish it?’ They also asked, ‘What are the names of those who are constructing this building?’ But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.” … (From Darius) “Now then, Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and you other officials of that province, stay away from there. Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God. Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover, I hereby decree what you are to do for these elders of the Jews in the construction of this house of God: Their expenses are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury, from the revenues of Trans-Euphrates, so that the work will not stop. Whatever is needed—young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and olive oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem—must be given them daily without fail, so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons. Furthermore, I decree that if anyone defies this edict, a beam is to be pulled from their house and they are to be impaled on it. And for this crime their house is to be made a pile of rubble. May God, who has caused his Name to dwell there, overthrow any king or people who lifts a hand to change this decree or to destroy this temple in Jerusalem. I Darius have decreed it. Let it be carried out with diligence.”… :They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God.” The point herein is that in large governments there is much corruption and there are enemies of God. So, we must work through situations by prayer and petitions to government authorities, while still respecting God’s authority through government.
i) Nehemiah 2:7-10, 5:14-17, “I also said to him, ‘If it pleases the king, may I have letters to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, so that they will provide me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah? And may I have a letter to Asaph, keeper of the royal park, so he will give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple and for the city wall and for the residence I will occupy?’ And because the gracious hand of my God was on me, the king granted my requests. So I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates and gave them the king’s letters. The king had also sent army officers and cavalry with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the welfare of the Israelites.” … “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations.” This is another example of how the Lord can work through government, even the governments of the ungodly, to accomplish his kingdom work. And, we can be like Nehemiah, weaving our way through all this power while accomplishing the Lord’s tasks and still recognizing that all power comes from God. Also, we see in Nehemiah an example of what Peter wrote in I Peter 5:2-3, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” Also see Samuel’s warning in Item#d above. I like what Nehemiah said, “Out of reverence for God I did not act like that.”
j) Esther 3:12-14, &7-17, “Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring. Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day.” … “King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, ‘Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.’ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration. For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.” This story is interesting for many reasons. We see the contrasts between the two decrees. Haman the Agagite displays his hatred for the Jews; and his decree is based in lies, proceeding ultimately from that father of lies- satan. However, in Mordecai’s decree, we see the unmentioned hand of God manifested in love, truth, beauty, blessings, joy and victory- and even salvation and repentance for those who crossed over to faith in the God of Israel. Also, I see another conflict herein, a struggle between the Law of the Medes and Persians and the rule of the king. The king recognized that even he could not just nullify a law which was decreed, but he’d rather undo the previous decree by issuing a second decree. This is like the conflict between the president and the legislature in the USA. And, I see it as a veiled realization that one’s power is not absolute, but that there is an absolute power vested in God. And, we know from our study of “rule” that all such power comes from God- and sometimes exists only fleetingly. So, while satan is still the prince of this wicked world, and the descendants of Agag and Ishmael still hate Israel, where is the power of the king of the Medes and Persians? In fact Artaxerxes was a popular king, whose decendants also claimed his name, but eventually his dynasty ended and the area is now, several dynasties later, ruled by other haters of Israel- the muslim state of Iran. It’s interesting that, while writing this, my wife and I met a lady who claimed to be Persian. She loved Persia but denounced everything about the state of Iran, and only claimed to be Persian. So, I conclude that there are many who love their Persian heritage, and disagree with everything Iranian. But still, we see that the power of the Medeo-Persian monarchy only exists as a memory. Their power to rule, which only comes from God, has been given to the Iranian Islamic government- which only reiterates the Lord Jesus’ statement that satan is “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).
k) Jeremiah 30:21-22,” Their leader will be one of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring him near and he will come close to me— for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the Lord. ‘So you will be my people, and I will be your God.’” (See also Numbers 16:5, and Deuteronomy 17:15.) So, we see in Jeremiah’s prophecy of Christ’s millennial kingdom that the leaders will all be believers and they will be close to the Lord and devoted to Him. And, I believe that a leader in the Church must have these qualities as well.
l) Jeremiah 40:1-6, “The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, ‘The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.’ However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, ‘Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.’ Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.” So, here we see that the Lord provides for his own, especially through governmental authorities, evil or good. Jeremiah 1:4-8 is the promise of provision which God gave him when he called him to speak for Him to the nations: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.” God will always be with us as well- “Surely I am with you always to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
m) Daniel 2:44-48, “’In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.’ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.” This is similar to what happened to Joseph, when Pharoah recognized his Godly wisdom and understanding as leadership qualities.
n) Daniel 3:1-6, 26&27,” King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’” … “Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’ So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Well, here is a situation typical of what believers face all the time. In this case the believers are facing two unseemly alternatives: worship an idol or face certain death in a fiery furnace. Praise the Lord that they chose the furnace, and as a result the Lord was able to show, for eternity, his power through them. But, you know we face choices as a Christian all the time. And, if Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego hadn’t chose correctly, my experience, personally and as a Bible student , shows me that the Lord would have come up with another way to get things done; and even to continue to build the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I remember the story of a man during the reformation, Thomas Bilney, who gave in to his persecutors and signed a recantation. But, then he found that position untenable and retracted the statement. When he was finally burned at the stake, he held out his index finger first into the flames, thus stating that he was emphatically denying the work of that finger in signing his original recantation. So, God will find a way to let our light shine for all to see- even using the officials of ungodly governments, and even using demons around us, to magnify and publicize our small deeds.
o) Haggai 1:1-4, “In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’’ Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’” Herein we see the Word of the Lord coming to both the public official and the high priest, with both being ministers of the Lord’s will and work. Was there a separation of Church and state in Judea at that time? There was a difference in work items, but all under the power of God- because there is no power but of God (Romans 13:1). See also Haggai 2:1-5. We do not live in Old Testament Israel. The power of the Church and the power of the state all come from God. But we should not expect the state, which has satan as its prince, to be a Godly government. The Church is different, though. And, we are to be working under the power of God, through our grace gifts, to build up the Church as Christ directs through the Spirit- Ephesians 4:4-16; also see Items#1h and #8 of the Shepherding Section.
p) Matthew 10:18, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” I note that the disciples would be flogged in the synagogues, but handed over to the councils. I believe the Lord’s power in government provides order to even carnal situations. In those days, especially, there was no better way to disseminate information than through the government. The Roman roads were well known for providing safe transportation, even for apostles and evangelists, throughout the Roman empire. So, we see the apostles brought before local governments and councils to plead their case. I note that the Lord is still using his power, “under the table”, to bring about his will through government. We could note the Lord’s use of such power in numerous places in Scripture, the Lord’s birth- Luke 2:1-3, the plaque on the cross- John 19:19-22, displaying his mighty power through Pharaoh- Exodus 7:3-5, and other instances. Also consider Item#97 of the Word of Knowledge Section. And, if we look around us we will see his grace working around us, even in unrighteous governments. “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”, Revelation 19:6.
q) Acts 17:8, “They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: ‘These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.’ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.” And we see how the government again added a bit of sanity to the carnality of the religious Jews- merely requiring a bond be posted probably preclusive to a legal hearing.
After reviewing how God can and does work through governmental authority, consider the recent surge of violence against the police here in America. I see satan’s hand at work therein; because these situations often end up as “suicide by police”. And, these situations are brought about by a strong web of lies- set in motion by the father of lies, satan. It’s sad that the media doesn’t take more responsibility for their role in these situations, because they amp up any death of a minority- knowing that such stories sell newspapers and media time. The media is sadly “getting its come uppins”, though. Media should understand that licentious behavior eventually causes loss of freedom. And, the media’s claim of freedom under the Constitution’s first amendment is swiftly being eroded by their own malpractice. The public isn’t stupid, and once you get the public going against you, legal action by demagogues in congress isn’t far behind. Then consider these nasty, satirical media outlets, and other filthy rags of media (which sell soft or hard porn); are such reporters free to report the facts? That’s not freedom of the press when one is forced by the company executives to report false info, or just plain filth. How can America claim freedom of the press when its reporters are all in such bondage?! I conclude most people, even Christians, don’t realize what true freedom encompasses. Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Also, II Corinthians 3:17 says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.”
28.) False religion, II Chronicles 28:1-6, “Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. Therefore the Lord his God delivered him into the hands of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and took many of his people as prisoners and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hands of the king of Israel, who inflicted heavy casualties on him.” Ahaz worshipped idols, and undoubtedly didn’t fear God, and so brought himself and Israel to calamity after calamity. And I should warn, that there are many people, calling themselves Christians, who have built themselves chapels worshiping saints and even Mary “on the hilltops and under every spreading tree”. As I’m editing this item, a duplicate Arch of Baal is being circulated through the major cities of the world as a sign of peace and resilience- the original having been destroyed by ISIS in 2015. The current (2018) city is Washington, DC.
29.) God’s authority through Pilate, Matthew 27:2-27, “Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer. Then Pilate asked Him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you? But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor. ‘Barabbas,’ they answered. ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked. They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’ ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’ All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.” This item could have been included in Item#25, above, “God’s authority in government”, or even Item#27, “Public officials”. However, the magnitude of the events accomplished through Pilate requires separate treatment. So, regarding God’s authority through Pilate, the following points are noted:
a) I immediately note that the Lord Jesus responded to Pilate as one having Godly authority, especially to Pilate’s very important first question, “Are you the King of the Jews?”. Pilate, the man under God’s authority asked the question; Christ the Lord of Glory (even though his shekinah glory was hidden) reminded Pilate that he had said it. Then, as is explained in Item#d below, Pilate doubles down on this statement with his inscription on the cross- when Pilate says, “What I have written I have written.” But to the Jewish religious leaders He gave no response, because their authority as leaders was coming to an end and would soon be obsolete- Hebrews 8:13.
b) A very public death was needed for the Father to communicte Christ’s payment for sin, and at the same time use such death as the basis of the gospel (Colossians 2:14-15). And, as such, Pilate was a puppet in the Father’s hands- John 10:17-18, & 19:10-11.
c) The Passover lamb was examined four days before killing it for the Passover. So, Christ was examined four times: twice by Pilate in John 18 and 19, once by Caiphas in John 18, and once by Herod in Luke 23.
d) The plaque on the cross is perhaps the most telling sign of God’s authority in government. All those walking in the flesh did not understand the cross: Christ’s disciples, the Jewish clergy, even Peter and John. Yet, Pilate, under God’s authority announced the truth in his plaque on the cross. “Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, ‘Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’”- John 19:19-22.
e) “’What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked”- Matthew 27:22a. Looking at the careful wording by Pilate, I see it’s no accident that Christ was clearly and publicly offered to the Jews as their Messiah, and publicly rejected by them. This fulfilled the prophecy of Psalms 118:22, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner”.
So, we can note that Pilate is a very telling example of how God can work through governmental authorities, even authority wielded by very ungodly people. And, from my experience, such people in authority are seldom believers.
30.) Leader in small things, John 2:8, “Then He (the Lord Jesus) told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’” Luke 19:17 reminds us that we need to be faithful in the small things before the Lord will entrust us with larger tasks- “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’” The point is that all service to the Lord counts because, to a Christian, this life is training time for reigning time- I Peter 1:7.
32.) Felix the governor, Acts 23:24-24:10,&17-27; “’Provide horses for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.’ He wrote a letter as follows: Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, but I came with my troops and rescued him, for I had learned that he is a Roman citizen. I wanted to know why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their Sanhedrin. I found that the accusation had to do with questions about their law, but there was no charge against him that deserved death or imprisonment. When I was informed of a plot to be carried out against the man, I sent him to you at once. I also ordered his accusers to present to you their case against him. So the soldiers, carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him. The governor read the letter and asked what province he was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will hear your case when your accusers get here.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod’s palace. Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. ‘We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.’ The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: ‘I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.” (Paul realized God’s authority working in governments per Romans 13:1) … “’After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’ Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. ‘When Lysias the commander comes,’ he said, ‘I will decide your case.’ He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs. (I just love that description of the early Church as The Way!) Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, ‘That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.’ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him. When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.” This passage is important so that Christians won’t be naïve and we can see that satan is indeed the prince of this world and that God does protect us through authorities, even ungodly governments. Along this line, then, consider the following points:
a) As the passage begins we see Paul being driven by the Spirit and returning to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-24), even though Agabus and others (Acts 21:10), by God’s Spirit warned him even of his pending imprisonment by Gentiles. I have reviewed closely the facts surrounding Paul’s return to Jerusalem. I’ve concluded that it was the Lord’s will that Paul should return to Jerusalem and to be rejected by those seeking to remain under the Law. This return and rejection of Paul at Jerusalem seems to me to be an excellent witness to the Jerusalem Christians- that they could not try to remain under the Law or return to it. I say witness because, in Acts 23:11, the Lord stamps his approval on Paul’s work, “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’”
b) The Roman commander in Jerusalem gives a one sided report with some truth in it, and it’s obvious that Paul was protected, even somewhat directed, by the authority of God meted out by the commander and by Felix. It’s said that the Lord directs our affairs by opening and closing doors- Revelation 3:8 & 20, and 4:1, also Acts14:27, I Corinthians 16:9, II Corinthians 2:12, and Colossians 4:3. Well Paul had done his job of testifying in Jerusalem, and the Jews soundly rejected the gospel- although a few believed. And so, the door for any further work by Paul in Jerusalem was definitely closed. However, we see a strange force used by God to protect Paul, the Roman garrison at Jerusalem. This is the same garrison that put a plaque over the Savior’s head which stated, “Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews” (See Item#29d above). Truly “There is no authority except that which God has established”- see Items#5&25 above.
c) Felix shows himself as a typical public official twisting his decision regarding Paul in order to secure a possible bribe, and also basing his decision regarding Paul in a manner that he felt pleased the Jews (in order to better his own cause). Samuel warns Israel and us that this is what earthly governments will do- always looking out for themselves first, see Items#23j and 27d&I above.
“Governors”
33.) Governors of Judah and Israel, Judges 5:7-9 & 13-15, “Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. God chose new leaders when war came to the city gates, but not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!” … ““The remnant of the nobles came down; the people of the Lord came down to me against the mighty. Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down, from Zebulun those who bear a commander’s staff. The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; yes, Issachar was with Barak, sent under his command into the valley.” Deborah is describing the gift of rule, and the Lord’s part in many of the grace gifts. Even though war had come and the people were willing to fight, “not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel”. The Lord then moved in the heart of Deborah and the princes. When we discuss Spirit gifts, we should always recall the discussion in Item#68 of the Apostleship Section. Item#68 shows us that God indwells the Church (and Old Testament Israel) by his very presence (even Christ walking among the 7 golden candlesticks- Rev 1:12-20, also Christ as the Rock following Israel- I Corinthians 10:4) and by the Spirit working among indviduals . Without the Spirit raising Deborah up to lead, the work might have been severely delayed. This is how the Lord works through and in his Church, by empowering individuals- and Deborah, Barak, and Israel’s princes are a good example of such empowerment by God in Old Testament Israel. Another example of God moving in a leader’s heart is the story of Jehoida. II Chronicles 23:16-21 states, “Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’s people. All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter. He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.” Jehoida made bold moves and restored the temple and reign of King David’s successor for all of Jehoda’s lifetime. And this motivation and action came from him knowing the Law and God’s teaching regarding promise of royal succession through David’s descendants. I believe he was clearly helped and directed by God, and God’s Word in his heart.
“Judge”
34.) Judge of all the Earth, Genesis 18:23-26, “Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.” Abraham appealed to God based on God’s justice and God’s position as judge of all the Earth. The Lord agreed with Abraham and placated him in Abraham’s plea for justice and righteousness- not wanting to confuse Abraham. However, the Lord knew all along that there were not 10 righteous men in Sodom, only Lot and his wife and two daughters. So, the “judge of all the Earth” executed judgment upon Sodom. And, the lesson of Sodom is that God is the “judge of all the Earth” and will judge the wicked. Some other verses also relate to God as “judge of all the Earth” as follows:
a) I Samuel 2:1-10, “Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the Lord; in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed. The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away. The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. The Lord sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them He has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.’” This is the prayer of Hannah when she gave Samuel over to Eli to serve the Lord at the Temple.
b) I Chronicles 16:31-33, “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.” These are the praises of Asaph who was charged by David to minister in song, at the time when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem. This passage prophesies of the coming of the Lord to judge the Earth with a focus on the reconciliation of God’s creation- the sea, the forest, the fields, the heavens, the earth itself (Romans 8:19). Also see Psalms 96:10-13 and 98:3-9. There is a consistent theme in these passages that we should rejoice because the Lord is coming to bring salvation and restore creation and judge the peoples.
c) Psalms 7:6-17, “, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. If He does not relent, He will sharpen his sword; He will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; He makes ready his flaming arrows. Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.” King David could count on the Lord to help establish a modicum of justice in his kingdom. I suppose that we can pray and hope for some justice meted out by the Lord around us as well. But until the Lord comes and establishes his throne in Jerusalem, this world will not be a just place. And, as believers involved in the Kingdom work of Christ, we will be “considered as sheep to be slaughtered”- Romans 8:36. Also see the above Items #15f, 22g, & 23d.
d) Psalms 9:7-10, “The Lord reigns forever; He has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.“ I sometimes remind people that no one is getting away with anything. We will all stand before the throne in judgment and must give account for all the works done in our flesh and every word proceeding from our mouth- Romans 14:10, II Corinthians 5:10, Hosea 4:17-19, Acts 17:31, and Matthew 12:36. I should note that the Lord’s judgment is ongoing. He doesn’t have to wait for the Bema Seat (Romans 14:10) to judge believers, or the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11) to judge the lost. He is continually discerning and judging which trial (I Peter 1:7) or which blessing (James 1:17) He will give, that brings people to salvation then completion in Christ. The Lord also discerns, judges, and acts to maintain this planet and all his creation. And, He continually discerns and judges the authorities (Romans 13:1) and the ungodly and Godly people in this world (Psalms 1:4-6).
e) Psalms 67:1-7, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” There’s much said in this brief psalm. If the Lord is gracious to his own, his salvation will become known among all the nations, and the nations will fear Him. And, even though satan is the prince of this world, the Lord rules with equity and guides the nations.
f) Psalms 82:6-8, “I said, ‘You are ‘gods’; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every other ruler. Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. “ Asaph shows us that the light of God that’s in us makes us like God in our hearts and soul (II Corinthians 4:6&7). However, until Christ comes to give us new bodies we still must face death. And, as we see our weaknesses, and the despotism of the world system, we can only cry out to the Lord to bring his judgment and justice.
g) Isaiah 2:3-5, “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. “ This is, of course, prophesying of the Lord’s coming rule from Jerusalem in the Millenium Reign of Christ. During that reign He will judge disputes among the peoples. Also see Isaiah 11:1-16, 16:5, Acts 10:42, and Romans 2:16. I note that I was often forced to wonder, “Who are these nations of peoples whom Christ and his saints will rule over during his Millenial Reign?” Jehovah Witnesses claim that the witnesses of Jehovah will be the ones inheriting the Earth. However, I don’t find any resurrection unto that kind of life. Lately, I’ve concluded that these will be the natural people and their offspring- who will have remained alive through the Tribulation- and so still exist on the Earth when the Lord comes in glory. Many people will die at Armageddon, but not all of the Earth’s inhabitants (Revelation 14:20). Anyway, there is still much exegesis needed on this topic of who these nations are, and what happens leading up to and during Christ’s Millenial Reign.
h) Ezekiel 7:20-27, “They took pride in their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols. They made it into vile images; therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them. I will give their wealth as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile it. I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it. Prepare chains! For the land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. When terror comes, they will seek peace in vain. Calamity upon calamity will come, and rumor upon rumor. They will go searching for a vision from the prophet, priestly instruction in the law will cease, the counsel of the elders will come to an end. The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and by their own standards I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” “Prepare chains!”- I live near Chicago, and grew up there; there is plenty of bloodshed and violence in Chicago, and there are murders and abortions throughout this America. Have you or yours succumbed to the chains- of addictions, poverty, sickness, ungodly thinking/ confusion, covetousness? Ezekiel is in Babylon by this time, so he is both edifying the people in captivity and yet predicting how and why Jerusalem will fall. “His ministry (as we know of it) extended from the first year of Jehoichin’s exile, 599 BC, to the twentieth year, 570 BC (1:2; 29:17).[1] After the seventy years exile prophesied by Jeremiah a remnant of Israel did return to Jerusalem, from whom the Messiah was born. And, I believe the Judge of all the Earth is still discerning and judging among all men, especially his Church, in order to manifest his Kingdom work. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” II Chronicles 16:9- KJV.
i) Hebrews 12:18-25, “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.’ The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, ‘I am trembling with fear.’ But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven?” So, this passage contrasts God’s presence at Mt Sinai to his actual throne in heaven/ Mt Zion. And, what is the difference?! Well, God’s throne is different than his presence at Sinai especially since the Lord Jesus now sits at God’s right hand in bodily form (Colossians 2:9&10) The Lord sought to have a closer relationship with Israel, but the Israelites were afraid (Exodus 20:18-21). But since the Church has God’s Holy Spirit indwelling each person, and since we are each already in Christ Jesus, the Lord wants each of us, the Church, to boldly draw close to Him (Hebrews 10:19-22). Also see Item#266 of the Word of Knowledge Section.
j) Revelation 19:11-14, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.” Here are some points describing this Judge of all the Earth, who is coming to reign from Jerusalem: He is Faithful and True, so much so that those are two of his names; He must judge and wage war, but He does it with justice; his glory is so intense that his eyes are like blazing fire (see Item#11d above); He is ruler above all, and has many crowns (Ephesians 1:21); He shed his blood for our sins, and is the living declaration of who God is (John 1:1, 14, &18); He cleanses his Church and gives us power and purpose-allowing us to share in his glory.
35.) Judges as leaders, Judges 2:18-23, “Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, He was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and said, ‘Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me, I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations Joshua left when he died. I will use them to test Israel and see whether they will keep the way of the Lord and walk in it as their ancestors did.’ The Lord had allowed those nations to remain; He did not drive them out at once by giving them into the hands of Joshua.” The Lord is very wise. He did as He said He would do with Israel, driving out their enemies before them, but then He tested them. And, He found that Israel, indeed, was not living up to their part of the Mosaic covenant (vs 20 above). I believe this is how He deals with individual believers as well. There’s an old saying, “The Lord allows us to grow by first shrinking us through pressure. Then when we respond correctly to the pressure we grow on the rebound.” See “grow up into Him who is the Head”- Item 11b above & Item39c below. So, the Lord didn’t allow Israel to sink too far into their sin, but raised up rulers which were called judges to rule and save the people from the results of their sin- at least for the lifetime of that particular judge. The following are more passages referring to judges as leaders:
a) Judges 3:1-11, “These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan (He did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience): the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the Lebanon mountains from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. They were left to test the Israelites to see whether they would obey the Lord’s commands, which he had given their ancestors through Moses. The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their gods. The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that he sold them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim, to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them. The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.” Two things stick out here. First the Lord is purposefully allowing trials in young Israel- trials that will eventually cause them to go to war with their enemies. We need to be at war with sin in our lives- especially sin which allows us to be complacent while others are headed inevitably to the Lake of Fire. Secondly, there’s an awesome nugget of Scripture herein- “The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war”. What God wanted was already stated, “to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience”. The nugget is how God came upon Othniel to empower him with God’s gift of rule, allowing Othniel to serve God so effectively. This method, direct control by God’s Spirit, is inherent to all of God’s Spirit gifts. “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit”- I Corinthians 12:3.
b) Ruth 1:1, “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” If there is any doubt that the judges did indeed practice the Spirit ability of rule, then this verse should dispel that doubt. Also see II Samuel 7:11. And see Item#i below for the meaning of the word “judge”.
c) Judges 4:1-9, “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead. So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim. Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help. Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’ ‘Certainly I will go with you,’ said Deborah. ‘But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.’ So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.” So, here we see Deborah with the gifts of rule and prophecy- whereby she is serving as the Lord’s own right hand (“pure gold”, as shown in Item#16 of the Prophecy Section, also Items# 1h&53 of the Teaching Section). If Barak had recognized Deborah’s role and had great faith, he would have shared in more blessings from the Lord. But, instead since he only had moderate faith, and put a stipulation to the Lord’s command, his blessings of service were less- even though Godly Barak is listed in Scripture’s “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:32). Oh that we each could recognize the Lord’s commands to us more clearly and immediately obey Him (John 15:14-15)!
d) Judges 10:1-3, “ After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir. He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. “ Not much is said concerning Tola and Jair, except I note that not only were they judges, but each ruled Israel. And, while not being kings, they still had the Spirit gift of rule- given to them by God. (See numbers d, f, g, &i herein.)
e) Judges 13:1-5, 14:1-4, 15:11, and 16:30-31 “Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years. A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.’” … “Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. When he returned, he said to his father and mother, ‘I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.’ His father and mother replied, ‘Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?’ But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.’ (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.) … “Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” He answered, “I merely did to them what they did to me.” Now, from the story of Samson, we recognize that the power of rule comes strictly from the Lord and is not dependant upon our conduct; because, while Samson loved the Lord he did some very carnal things. And, I note that the justice that Samson, the judge, meted out was in accordance with “the Law and the Prophets”-Judges 15:11/ Matthew 7:12. “Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel twenty years.” So, in the end, for Samson, God made good on his promises to Manoah and his wife, giving Samson the gift of rule (vs 13:5 above) - through which Samson did many great things and found his place in Scripture’s”Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11:32).
f) I Samuel 4:18, “When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward off his chair by the side of the gate. His neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and he was heavy. He had led Israel forty years.” Eli was the priest of the tabernacle at Shiloh, and his judgeship began the end of Israel’s rule by judges. Also, his sons were very corrupt priests who caused Israel to yearn for a king to rule them.
g) I Samuel 7:15-17, “Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. From year to year he went on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all those places. But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the Lord.” So, Samuel was the last judge of Israel (Acts 13:20).
h) I Samuel 8:1-10, “When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ‘You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.’ But when they said, ‘Give us a king to lead us, ’this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.’” The Lord saw through the hearts of the Israelite elders. God was looking for a personal relationship with people who loved and believed in Him, just as He is today. Instead, because of the Israelites Adamic, old nature, He had to bide his time until the coming of his Son to give a new nature to those trusting in God’s Christ.
i) II Chronicles 1:10-12, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’” The word “lead”, underlined above, is Strong’s number H8199[2], “shaphat”, which means judge and is the same word as used in the Book of Judges when describing judges. See items d, f, g, above. And, per II Chronicles 26:21 Jotham is also referred to as judging Judah, using that same Hebrew word, “shaphat”. So both kings and judges ruled, but the kings tried to pass down the rule to their sons, and also generally levied much taxes upon the people, having the people serve themselves rather than God. See Samuel’s warning in Item#27d above. (Some superintendants were also used to judge the people- Deuteronomy 16:18 & Ezra 10:14.
j) Matthew 19:28, “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.’” Again we see that judgement and justice are very important with God, so much so that judging is citing as the better part of our work at Christ’s throne during his millennial reign.
“Lead”, ”leader”, ”leadeth”, “led”
36.) Lead softly, Genesis 33:18 (KJV), “And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my Lord unto Seir.” Since I first discovered this passage, I’ve picked up on this teaching as a theme for my lifestyle, as I don’t see myself as a natural born leader (if there is such a thing). I do take a bit of joy, then, that I can practice true Godly leadership. And, I can do it quietly whereby the people being affected don’t even know what is going on- similar to the young children and young cattle which Jacob was leading softly along the trail, back to Canaan. So, this is a nice nugget of Scripture, and the following are more passages along this theme:
a) Ecclesiastes 9:17, “The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.”
b) Isaiah 40:9-11, “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with Him, and his recompense accompanies Him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young.” When I first read this passage, I read the last verse and thought it was speaking of one of the patriarchs. Then, upon searching backwards to see whom this beautiful passage was speaking of, I realized that this careful and loving leader/ shepherd was actually the Lord Jesus- at his first and second comings to the Earth. What a statement for gentle Godly leadership!
c) Isaiah 55:12, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” I think of all the Grace Study items, this item entitled “Lead softly” is unexpectedly the most beautiful. This is probably because, in studying Godly leadership, we meet up with the Lord Jesus walking amidst the seven golden candlesticks. And, what really does this prophecy mean, when “the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands”? If a believer is out in nature, perhaps praying beside a mountain road, I’ll wager that most of the time this prophecy is fulfilled when that believer opens his eyes and sees the beauty of God reflected in God’s creation. Also see Psalms 148:1-14.
d) Ezekiel 34:4, “You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.” Ezekiel 34, of course, speaks forth the Lord’s complaint against carnal shepherds, and prophesies of why He sends his own, Good Shepherd- the Lord Jesus. See Items# 12, 20, & 37 of the Shepherding Section. And what a Shepherd, to teach us what Godly shepherding and leadership is all about, and how it’s done! Also, John 10:1-13 tells us of the Christ as the Good Shepherd in fulfillment of the Ezekiel 34 prophecy. “’Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all his own, He goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow Him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.’ Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what He was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” The old adage is that we never see a shepherd pushing his sheep but, rather leading them- and sometimes carrying them. See the Shepherding Section Items#1, 12, 20,25, & 37 for more details of the Good Shepherd concept.
e) Matthew 20:23-28, “Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.’ When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” See also Mark 9:35, & 10:42-44. These passages, which I consider to be front and center in God’s teaching of rule, tell us that Christian leaders ought not follow after the carnal leadership mold of the Gentiles. Christian leadership requires servant leaders- serving the flock through Christ, by the Holy Spirit. Carnal/ worldly leadership can be compared more to the law of the pack, herd instinct, or schooling of fish than being compared to Godly administration. I have a Master of Science in Business Administration from Indiana University, and I have since had to unlearn much of the sociological portion of that education (and even the quantitative portions)- because no one practiced business like that. Later, as a saved servant-leader I concluded that the worldly management style no longer fit me. Please see the comparison of administrations to stick handling in ice hockey in Item26’s conclusion paragraph, above. Regarding rule as starting from within the local church, see Items 26d & 27, above.
f) John 12:42, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” Do you believe what is being said in this Grace Study, yet are afraid to practice and teach these? Then please understand that you are like this because you fear men not God; then pray to the Father to release you from the falsehood of such fear, and that He might release his glorious power in you- Matthew 26:41, and Ephesians 3:14-19.
g) Romans 2:4, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Oh that I had time to tell you how many times I’ve seen people accept Christ not because of fear, but because they tasted the kindness of his love. I can merely say that I was such an individual. And I’m glad I came to Him when I did, else I probably never would have, given the darkness of my mind and heart. The leading of God through his kindness, obviously then, is a proven example of leading softly.
h) Colossians 2:9&10, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority.” So, once we are in Christ Jesus, we should understand that Christ’s power is in us, since we are in Christ. This would be hard to explain, except to say that we are in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), and He wants us to practice our Spirit/ grace gifts (I Corinthians 12:31).
i) II Timothy 2:24-26, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” Well, this is direct instruction in how and why we should use gentle leadership to unbelievers and believers alike.
To me, it is excellent and a relief to know that I can be an effective leader without having to go toe to toe arguing with people, but rather “speaking the truth in love” I can practice leadership through God’s Spirit- and expect success in the long run. I’ve tried the toe to toe arguing in worldly situations, especially as a young construction engineer, and it doesn’t work- for various reasons. On the other hand I knew a young plant manager who, when I disagreed with him, used to say, “Well please think about what I said”. The fellow had the clout to give me a lot of grief, but never did. And, since he was the client and I the project engineer, we both knew that I’d have to eventually accept what he requested. And, I think his attitude and techniques were that of a effective, gentle leader, even though I doubt the man was a believer.
37.) Led by God, Exodus 13:21, “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. ” (See also Nehemiah 9:19.) The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26). Prior to that they were known as the Way- “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify”, Acts 22:4. See also Matthew 7:14 and John 14:6. So, we New Testament believers, having God’s Holy Spirit in us, can be led closely by God. This is as opposed to the many who believe that success comes through mindset- and who usually preach what’s become known as psycho babble. Benjamin Netanyahoo, Israel’s prime minister, in a 10-18-17 interview, referred to his attackers as using psycho babble against him. Worldly logic is usually just trying to trick your mind into believing lies- and if such logic is sweetly presented, it is very enticing. The following are some passages of the Word which I’ve found, related to that concept:
a) Genesis 24:26-27 &42-48, “Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.’ … “When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, ‘Please let me drink a little water from your jar,’ and if she says to me, ‘Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,’ let her be the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’ Before I finished praying in my heart, Rebekah came out, with her jar on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water, and I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too.’ So I drank, and she watered the camels also. I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel son of Nahor, whom Milkah bore to him.’ Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms, and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to get the granddaughter of my master’s brother for his son.” The Lord will lead us succinctly, just as the servant in this story will lead us- unless we close our eyes and mind to Him. See also Item#6 of the Word of Wisdom Section, and Item#21 of the Word of Knowledge Section.
b) Exodus 13:16-18, “’And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.’ When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.” The travels and wanderings of the children of Israel as they seek to enter into the Promised Land has always been, and typologically is, a description of how the Lord leads his people- I Corinthians 10:2-6. (And please note regarding water baptism, Israel was first immersed in the cloud, and then in the sea, according to Exodus 13:20-14:22.) Regarding such typology/ symbolism see Item#74 of the Apostleship Section, Item# 67 of the Evangelism Section, and Item#92 of the Teaching Section.
c) Exodus 15:13, “In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.” It’s important that the Lord is not just leading us around, but rather that He is leading us all the way to heaven- to be with Him. As the hymnist, Fanny Crosby, has written, “All the way my Savior leads me, oh the fullness of his love! Perfect rest for me is promised, in my Father’s house above.”
d) Deuteronomy 4:27-31, “The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey Him. For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which He confirmed to them by oath.”
e) Deuteronomy 8:2-9 &15-20,” Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to Him and revering Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.” … “He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.” I meet and deal with many young people, and new believers, and unbelievers. And, if you try to advise them, even in simple matters, you have to battle through Satan’s fleshly teachings to even get in a true Word edgewise. This is why using the Lord’s power and his gifts have a distinct advantage in ministry. The Spirit prepares hearts and we can work in the Lord’s timing- in the long run it is the Lord’s work even though we’ll get more than amply rewarded for our part.
f) Deuteronomy 28:36-37, “The Lord will drive you and the king you set over you to a nation unknown to you or your ancestors. There you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone. You will become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you.” This passage in Deuteronomy is called the “Blessings and Cursings from Mount Ebal”, and the sad part is that Israel did stray from the Lord and all these cursings did indeed happen. Sometimes I advise a new believer who is trying to fit into the world by living in sin. And, I say, “Listen, you will never be successful in the world, because the Lord won’t let you. You have a new nature enabling you to serve God. Develop your Godly nature, because the world has nothing but pain for you.” I think my advice is similar to what God is advising Israel- that straying from his commands will render nothing but pain and suffering.
g) Deuteronomy 29:2-6, “Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. Yet the Lord says, ‘During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.’” The Lord treated Israel as a special nation allowing them to call Him Jehovah (Lord God), allowing them to serve Him by obedience to his commands. See Item#313b of the Prophecy Section and Item#67l of the Word of Knowledge Section. Also, Isaiah 63:11-14 expounds, “Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is He who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is He who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided your people to make for Yourself a glorious name.”
h) Deuteronomy 32:10-12, “In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him.” This passage speaks of the beauty of a people being led by the Lord, and God’s perspective of such beauty. See also Joshua 24:3&4.
i) Job 12:13-25, ““To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; those He imprisons cannot be released. If He holds back the waters, there is drought; if He lets them loose, they devastate the land. To Him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his. He leads rulers away stripped and makes fools of judges. He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. He leads priests away stripped and overthrows officials long established. He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and disperses them. He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; He makes them wander in a trackless waste. They grope in darkness with no light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.” Since the Lord rules above all, He really controls and allows all.” And, He allows mankind to make their own decisions, even when horribly wrong. And, for now, allows satan’s reign as prince of this world. “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”- Collossians 1:16-17.
j) Psalms 5:8-9, “Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.” The people of this world, and especially its leaders, have been ensnared by the lies of satan. Such people will try to get us believers to partake in their sins. So, we really have to seek the Lord’s counsel in prayer and live by the Word, else we’ll get caught up in satan’s snares as well. “Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations”- Psams 27:11&12. “Since you are my Rock and my Fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my Refuge”- Psalms 31:3&4. “Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock”- Psalms 80:1. A shepherd leads the flock; he does not drive the flock.
k) Psalms 23:2-4(108:10), “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Many have noted that the Lord’s rod and staff are used to lead us. And such stern leadership will comfort us, and praise the Lord for such leadings in my life. “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long”- Psalms 25:4&5. And oh for the Lord’s name to be blessed and hallowed in and by my life!
l) Psalms 139:7-13, &23-24, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. … Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This passage implies being led by the Spirit of God, Who is everywhere and in all things. See also Psalms 143:7-10, “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Also see, Galatians 5:16-18, I Corinthians 12:1-14, John 14:15-28, 16:12-15.
m) Isaiah 42:16, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.” Before I got saved I was truly blind, but now I can truly see, and am led by the Lord- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Also see Isaiah 57:14-21.
n) Hebrews 8:7-13, “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’ By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” How appropriate that this is the last sub-item of this Item called “Led by God”, since we are no longer to be led by rules and laws, but rather by Christ and God’s Spirit in our hearts and minds (Colossians 1:27 & Galatians 5:25), and by the Father as our Shepherd and the owner of the sheep (reference Item#37 of the Shepherding Section)!
38.) Moses, Exodus 32:31-34, “So Moses went back to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.’ The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.’” Moses was a picture of the Lord Jesus in his intercessory work between Israel and God. And I like to note that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth”- Numbers 12:3. The following additional passages help describe Moses’ leadership:
a) Numbers 27:15-18, “Moses said to the Lord, ‘May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.’ So the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. …’” While the passage is speaking about Joshua’s anointing, it is also speaking to the shepherding and leadership qualities of Moses, whom Joshua must replace.
b) Isaiah 63:10-14, “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy and He Himself fought against them. Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is He who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is He who set his Holy Spirit among them, who sent his glorious arm of power
to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for Himself everlasting renown, who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble; like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how You guided your people to make for Yourself a glorious name.” Here we see Moses as a sub-shepherd to that Great Shepherd (Psalms 23). And I note ample references to God’s Holy Spirit in this section of Isaiah’s prophecies- more than normal for the Old Testament writers. And, regarding Moses’ style of leadership, we see God’s glorious arm of power at the right hand of Moses, that most humble of all men.
c) Numbers 12:1-14, “Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. ‘Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?’ they asked. ‘Hasn’t He also spoken through us?’ And the Lord heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, ‘Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.’ So the three of them went out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; He stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, he said, ‘Listen to my words: ‘When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?’’ The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, and he said to Moses, ‘Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.’ So Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘Please, God, heal her!’ The Lord replied to Moses, ‘If her father had spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.’ Regarding seeing the Lord “face to face”, please see Item#1 of the Prophecy Section, and in this Rule Section Item Nos 23i,60e,67g, &105c.
d) Regarding the gift of “rule” manifested in the Old Testament, see the following Items shown above: Items#5, 15, 25, 27a, 34i, and 37g.
39.) Led captivity captive, Judges 5:12, “Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive (Psalms 68:18, Ephesians 4:8), thou son of Abinoam” (KJV). This concept of leading captivity captive begs two questions. Who is this captivity? And, why/ how are they captive? In Barak’s case, all Israel was considered captive since Jabin, King of Canaan, was terrorizing Israel so bad that people couldn’t travel the highways. So, when Barak and Israel’s 10,000 man army, primarily from Naphtali and Zebulun, and from Ephraim and Benjamin and Issachar, freed all Israel from the tyranny of King Jabin they led captive Israel from out of their captivity. After this battle Deborah continued to rule as Israel’s judge, and “Then the land had peace for forty years”- Judges 5:31. The following beautiful, yet deep, verses describe how the Lord Jesus led captivity captive:
a) We need to consider the sequence of what is described in these passages, even though the subject warrants much more careful study than can be included herein. 1) Christ physically dies and descends into the presence of the souls of the physically dead. (E.g. Luke 16:23). Christ then preaches the gospel to the souls of the physically dead (E.g. I Peter 3:19&20). Such believers, even Abraham and the Patriarchs, could not ascend into heaven until Christ died on the cross to atone for their sins (E.g. Hebrews 10:19-22). Before ascending to be seated at the Father’s right hand, the Lord Jesus stops to visit his disciples and shows them his resurrected body (E.g. Matthew 28:9&10, John 20:27, Acts 1:3). He then ascends to heaven, Luke 24:51:, and sends God’s Holy Spirit to strengthen the Church and to give Spirit gifts allowing the Lord to dwell therein (E.g. John 15:26 & Eph 4:7-16). Christ then is seated at the Fathers right hand (E.g. Acts 2:34-35). Much can be gained from viewing the specifics of the sequencing of events in Christ’s life, and from viewing an overall (macroscopic) viewing of such events. Consider the Lord Jesus’ explanation to the Sadducees in Mark 12:26-27 (who didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead). The Sadducees had a sequencing error in their reasoning. They concluded the patriarchs as living in the past. However, Christ advised, “He is not the God of the dead but of the living. ‘You are badly mistaken.’”
b) Psalms 68:18 (KJV), “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.” Let’s remember the rebellious as the receivers of great gifts- of which I believe I am included therein, and the apostle, Paul, also. I believe the more grievous sinners get the greater gifts, so that the Lord may be all the more glorified therein: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst”, I Timothy 1:15. Herein lays the meaning of “captivity captive”. We were captive to satan and our flesh, but those fetters were broken by Christ- and now we are gladly and powerfully his bond servants- Colossians 3:24, I Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 9:14, etc..
c) Ephesians 4:7-16, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “He ascended” mean except that He also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ, Himself, gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” This Ephesians 4 passage actually quotes Psalms 68:18 (see Item#b above). These passages, when taken together, are telling us that God is indwelling the Church through these grace gifts being practiced. See Item#68 of the Apostleship Section.
d) Luke 4:17-21, “And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’” The scroll is from what we define as Isaiah 61:1&2; the Hebrews used scrolls rather than books with numbered chapters and verses. It’s been duly noted that the Lord Jesus stopped short of declaring “the day of vengeance of our God”, which is yet to come even in our day. The Lord Jesus brought and proclaimed true freedom for the prisoners- II Corinthians 3:17. And, oh that we and others could walk in that freedom. Sometimes I momentarily want to go back into the slavery of the Law; and, like Peter (Matthew 14:30), while taking my eyes off Christ, I lose faith and no longer want to walk on the waters which Christ has even bidden me to walk upon. Instead of listening to Christ and believing, I predict an ill wind coming, then sink into worldly waters which will never hold me up. Nothing in this world comes from the Father- I John 2:16.
e) I Peter 3:18-22, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” It’s been said, and I agree, that there are things about Calvary that only the Father and Son can discern and enter into. Here’s another sequence of events, “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits.” I know Christ’s body was dead; but did the separation of his body from his spirit allow Christ to visit and preach the gospel to these pre-flood souls? Apparently this is so. But if God wanted us to understand more, He would have told us more in Scripture. We are in a totally different age, yet God still saved them by proclamation of the gospel to those imprisoned spirits. And, the Lord Jesus is still saving souls today through the proclamation of the gospel- Romans 1:16.
f) I Peter 4:1-6, “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.” There are three sets of doublets in this passage which gives keys to the meaning of the passage. Also, we already know that there will be two judgments: one for the spiritually alive (II Corinthians 5:10) and one for the spiritually dead (Revelation 20:12-15). The three doublets are: living for evil human desires vs living for the will of God (also see I John 2:15-17); the two judgments described above; Being judged by human standards regarding the body (worldly perspectives of righteousness, even the Law) vs living alongside God’s Spirit (grace). This captivity speaks of those saved in the age of grace, who are also a portion of those previously in captivity and have been set free (Colossians 2:13-15) and the ascension of the new believer’s soul to being seated with and in Christ is already accomplished as soon as such a person is saved (Ephesians 2:4-7, Romans 6:23).
40.) Led by parents, Proverbs 6:20-24, “My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,
keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.” Our parents, generally, are what God has given us for our protection (and we know that God, Himself, has promised to be the Father of the Fatherless- Psalms 68:5). We also know that “first commandment with promise” (Ephesians 6:2). Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” And, we see that, notwithstanding other moral perils or shortcomings, the promise is a long life for those staying under the protection of their parents’ teachings. The Lord stresses this teaching by its continuous repetition in the Scripture, Proverbs 1:8, 20:20, etc. So, the Lord doesn’t just require that we obey our parents, but that we honor them. And, the protection and blessings from our heavenly Father proceed from such honoring of our earthly parents.
41.) Led by God’s Light and Word, Psalms 43:3-4 (KJV), “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.” David knew the joy of walking by God’s light and truth, and the Lord certainly wants his Church to walk day by day in his light and truth (Galatians 5:16). The following are additional verses pertaining to this beautiful topic:
a) Psalms 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”Some have discerned that a foot lamp is for placing each step so that we don’t stumble, while a light for a path helps us to look farther ahead. I note that the Word which David considered would have been the scrolls of Moses, Job and what he knew of Joshua, Judges and Ruth, and also the Word which God gave David personally- from which he formulated the many prophecies contained in his Psalms (eg. Mark 12:36, Acts 1:16, Acts 2:25-35, 4:25&26, Romans 4:6-8, 11:9&10, Hebrews 4:7, etc.).
b) John 1:1-14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.’ “Jesus Christ is the Light of the World (John 8:12, & 9:5)- Who gives life and lights up mankind (John 12:46) and exposes darkness (John 3:18-21, Ephesians 5:11-14, and I John 1:5).
c) John 8:31-32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” And, we know that Jesus Christ is the Truth as well as the Light, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6&7). REGARDING THE TRUE FREEDOM THAT IS ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS, see the end of Item #27 above, Item#146 of the Teaching Section, Item#112c of the Evangelism Section, and Item#16g of the Word of Knowledge Section.
d) Acts 22:6-11, “”About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of Him who was speaking to me. ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’ My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.’” These verses describe the physical brilliance of the Lord Jesus’ presence, which is a portion of his glory. I believe the brightness of the the Lord Jesus’ glory to be an extremely interesting study in and of itself. And the intensity of Christ’s glory is the same thing which brings about the spiritual light of Christian understanding. His physical glory is impacting one’s physical senses, while his glory in creation, or the light of his teaching, as opposed to worldly teaching or false religions, is impacting one’s soul. However, it is Christ Himself and his glory which make up our perception of Him and his teachings. And, as a former engineer/ draftsman, I must point out that two perspectives of an object or a person are enough to complete all other views of an object. So, in terms of Christ and his glory, two perspectives of Him (his physical glory and his doctrinal glory- especially the gospel) are enough to give one a fairly complete picture of Him- until He comes. Some other famous passages which describe the brightness of the Lord’s glory are as follows: Exodus 19:18, 33:20, II Samuel 22:7-17, I Kings 8:10-11, Matthew 17:2, John 1:14, Revelation 1:14-17, 21:21-25, and Item#f below.
e) Romans 11:9-10, “And David says: ‘May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.’” David said this about the Israelites who reject Christ. And, this is a good example of how stubborn unbelief equates to spiritual darkness for those who refuse the light of Christ (per Item#f below).
f) II Corinthians 4:3-6, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” As was said in Item#e, above, rejection of the gospel is rejection of the light of Chrst. I note that this passage presents God’s light as both the gospel and the physical glory of Christ- see Item#d above.
g) I John 1:5-10, “This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” The choice is plain for us, and where else do we get such a great opportunity, worth more than we can imagine- to walk in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Himself, and to experience his light- which surely carries us along in times of weakness/ darkness.
h) I John 2:9-11, “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.” This verse explains what’s being said herein, that is that light and darkness can tell us which path to choose. If you know there is evil in one direction, go the other way! It’s not all that complicated; and with prayer and God’s Word, it’s very plain. In my experience I get off track by not doing the simple Godly practices that make me a good soldier- prayer, morning Bible study, and Scripture memorization at night. Then, when not walking by the new nature, the old nature things start creeping in, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”-Galatians 5:19-21.
43.) David, Isaiah 55:3-4, “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples.” So, David and his reign give witness and prophecy of the coming reign of Christ. Also see Item#78, below. Along with this theme, the following verses are noted:
a) II Samuel 5:4-5, “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.”
b) I Kings 1:28-30, “Then King David said, ‘Call in Bathsheba.’ So she came into the king’s presence and stood before him. The king then took an oath: ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.’” David knew he was promised by the Lord an everlasting reign in Israel through his offspring. And, David walked closely with the Lord, so that the Lord told him which of his offspring would rule in his stead- I Chronicles 22:8-10.
c) I Kings 14:21-31, “Rehoboam son of Solomon was king in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom. As for the other events of Rehoboam’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. And Rehoboam rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite. And Abijah his son succeeded him as king.” It’s been said that, “David had a whole heart for God, but Solomon had a half heart for God. And, so the kingdom split after Solomon’s reign”- sad! See Item#56 below. See also Jeremiah 44:22, II Chronicles 28:35, 33:1-2& 10-12.
d) I Chronicles 13:1-7, “David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.’ The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people. So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the NAME. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.” Well yesterday was the inauguration of Donald Trump, and they had a lot of pomp and ceremony, and multiple faith groups sought the Lord’s blessing through prayer and Scripture readings. Most of the clergymen were merely seeking to tickle people’s ears, but there were some believers of the gospel there. And, it was heartening to see all the various areas of America represented in Washington to witness the peaceful exchange of power in Amerca’s capital. But, it’s gratifying to read that David, the man after God’s own heart, was able to persuadethe entire Israelite national assembly to glorify the Lord’s Name by bringing the ark to Jerusalem. And, while many Americans take great joy in their freedom and democracy, David and Israel took their joy in the Lord and his Name. See#15d above.
e) I Chronicles 29:26-30, “David son of Jesse was king over all Israel. He ruled over Israel forty years—seven in Hebron and thirty-three in Jerusalem. He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him as king. As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet and the records of Gad the seer, together with the details of his reign and power, and the circumstances that surrounded him and Israel and the kingdoms of all the other lands.”
f) Luke 1:26-35, “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.’” This verse points out that the Davidic covenant, that Messiah would be born through David’s lineage, was well recognized in Judaism through their knowledge of the Scripture, and that such prophecy was highly protected and cherished by God and his angels.
44.) Blind guides, Matthew 15:12-14, “Then the disciples came to him and asked, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?’ He replied, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.’” There are still many, many blind guides today- some say more than in Christ’s time, since there are more religions, even very large religions such as Islam, Scientology, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Seventh Day Adventists; and then there are many so called Christian groups who don’t understand the new birth. I just met a very vocal, homeless fellow, last night who insisted that the Lord Jesus wasn’t God, but that he himself was indeed born again. When I asked him questions, and showed him the Scripture, he became very loud and defensive. He also misunderstood and misquoted many Scriptures. The following are some examples of blind leadership from Scripture, with the goal of understanding such bad leadership- and Item#g below asserts that any disciple practicing his or her Spirit gift is practicing Godly leadership:
a) Isaiah 42:18-24,”’Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one in covenant with me, blind like the servant of the Lord? You have seen many things, but you pay no attention; your ears are open, but you do not listen.’ It pleased the Lord for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious. But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits or hidden away in prisons. They have become plunder, with no one to rescue them; they have been made loot, with no one to say, ‘Send them back.’ Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law.” This is spiritual blindness brought about by sin resulting in judgment from God.
b) Isaiah 56:9-12, “Come, all you beasts of the field, come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream, they love to sleep. They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain. ‘Come,’ each one cries, ‘let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better.’” Herein spiritual blindness is explained as shepherds who lack knowledge- seeking their own carnal gain. Is there much of this today among those claiming to be believers?
c) Isaiah 59:2-14, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things. No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments, they utter lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil. They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider’s web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways. The way of peace they do not know; there is no justice in their paths. They have turned them into crooked roads;
no one who walks along them will know peace. So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. Like the blind we grope along the wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. At midday we stumble as if it were twilight; among the strong, we are like the dead. We all growl like bears; we moan mournfully like doves. We look for justice, but find none; for deliverance, but it is far away. For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.” Also see Item#22g- “Govern justly”, above.
d) Lamentations 4:11-15, “The Lord has given full vent to his wrath; he has poured out his fierce anger. He kindled a fire in Zion that consumed her foundations. The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the peoples of the world, that enemies and foes could enter the gates of Jerusalem. But it happened because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed within her the blood of the righteous. Now they grope through the streets as if they were blind. They are so defiled with blood that no one dares to touch their garments. ‘Go away! You are unclean!’ people cry to them. ‘Away! Away! Don’t touch us!’ When they flee and wander about, people among the nations say, ‘They can stay here no longer.’” What could Israel do to bring such wrath on the People known as “the apple of God’s eye”? “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”- Proverbs 6:16-19. We should not be quick to go to use mlitary action, and the USA really should do away with abortions. And, really, how can we not defund Planned Parenthood- especially since they’ve been caught trafficking in baby parts?! People nowadays in the USA wonder why the liberals are so vindictive and filled with hatred. These people don’t have a new nature. They only have an Adamic, fallen nature- the flesh. The Bible reminds us what is inherent to the old nature: “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21.
e) Zephaniah 1:14-18, “The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. ‘I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them
on the day of the Lord’s wrath.’” All of these Items, nos a-i, are citing the same thing, that sin has lead to leaders in blindness. And this is true for all believers today. If I slip into carnality, whatever my favorite sins are, I can feel the darkness slowly taking over. But God is merciful and reminds me that I am in Christ, and slowly the darkness is peeled back as I confess and turn from such folly- I John 1:7-9. Sometimes I, myself, am able to repent, but sometimes the Lord, Himself, must come to remove the darkness. But, I’m saved, and the darkness of my old nature cannot rule over me for long- I John 1:5 and Item#41 above. Praise the Lord!
f) Matthew 23:16-26, “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.’ ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.’” The Lord Jesus was chastising the teachers of the Law and Pharisees, calling them blind for not seeing the weightier matters of God in the Law. Later in that passage of woes, the Lord prophesies of how they will persecute and kill the prophets and teachers that He will send. No, blindness is not too strong a description for these religious people. But, because of God’s Holy Spirit, He is able to open our eyes to see his workings/ grace all around us- especially regarding our own Spirit gifts. And, Oh that we might recognize and accept others’ Spirit gifts!
g) Luke 6:37-41, “’Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ He also told them this parable: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.’’” We practiced an old saying at my previous church, “Take the high ground!” This can have meaning from many perspectives- but mainly regarding new relationships, we should show and take our place in Christ early to avoid confusion and undue controversy. In Luke’s account above of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ is showing us, among other teachings, that normal Christian life will be a life of leadership- “Can the blind lead the blind?”. And, the Lord Jesus is explaining that we need to remove planks from our eyes in order to lead, because such planks cause spiritual blindness in us who are called upon to be spiritual leaders through the practice of our Spirit gifts. Is God’s Spirit part of the Godhead? Then taking up your Spirit gifts is leadership- Ephesians 4:11-13. The following are New Testament teachings which also describe/ discuss spiritual blindness: Matthew 5:14-16, John 9:39-41, Romans 2:17-24, Revelation 3:16-17&20, also see Item#41 above.
h) John 3:3-15, “Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’ ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ ‘How can this be?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘You are Israel’s teacher,’ said Jesus, ‘and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.’” Common sense dictates that when the Lord of Life says, “Truly truly”, or “verily verily, I say unto you”, this is a passage that needs careful study. We love to use this Nicodemus discussion of the Lord Jesus to explain how to be born again; and we can do that from several angles. However, for our perspective discussing spiritual blindness, and for this Grace Study’s overall proclamation of the existence of divine revelation in modern times, this passage gives out a beautiful nugget of Scripture. The Lord Jesus herein makes two amazing statements- which most try to roll into one statement. These are obviously meant as two different statements. First the Lord Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see (perceive in the Greek interlinear) the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” My “Interlinear Scripture Analyzer 3”[3] has this as “Amen, Amen, I am saying to you”- so each statement has the weight of being three times spoken by the Lord. Secondly the Lord Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” As a young construction engineer, I worked on the Inland Steel peninsula on the shores of Lake Michigan, in East Chicago Indiana, I could see the beautiful skyline of Chicago though it was 20 miles away. I hadn’t even entered Illinois, yet I could see and perceive the grand city of Chicago. So, we understand that the Lord Jesus was speaking of two separate but related events, perceiving God’s kingdom and entering God’s kingdom. Further, this seeing is not of the physical kingdom of heaven but rather of the workings of God around us (grace); because the Lord Jesus explains, “We speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen”. So, the new birth brings spiritual sight while on earth as well as a guaranteed place in heaven.
i) II Peter 1:3-11, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, Godliness; and to Godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Also see Item#g above.
45.) Led by the Lord Jesus Christ, John 10:27-30, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Much has been said and written concerning this passage of Scripture. For our purpose, though, we’re considering how to be led by the Lord Jesus. The following are some notes regarding being led generally by the Lord Jesus and being led by Him as our Good Shepherd:
a) John 10 is the chapter of Scripture which reveals and explains the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd who was prophesied to come in Ezekiel 34. In John 10 we see the following aspects of his leadership: we must hear his voice, we must listen to his voice because there are false shepherds in this world; He knows us intimately, by name, when He leads us- vs 3, and He intimately holds the very molecules of our body together by his conscious will- Colossians 1:17; He goes ahead of us so that we can follow Him; He lays down his life for us, He has authority from the Father; He is the only true Gate, and He is always with us- Hebrews 13:5.
b) Regarding the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd, please see Items#20, 25, 37, & 200 of the Shepherding Section; Item#27 of the Word of Knowledge Section; and Item#20 of the Healings Section.
c) II Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So, serious believers study the Bible in order to be led by Christ and not wander off. “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”- I John 5:3.
d) In John 10:27-30, above, the Lord makes it clear that we must recognize his voice and listen for it. Revelation 3:20 seeks to stir up the lukewarm by stating, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
e) Mark 9:2 tells of Peter, James, and John being led to the Mount of Transfiguration. Luke 24:50-51 tells of the Lord Jesus leading the disciples up the Mount of Ascension. In Revelation 4:1 John is summoned before God’s throne in all its glory. The point is, that if we allow ourselves to be led by God, we should expect glorious things to happen to and around us- things that are obviously accomplished only by the interceding grace of God.
46.) Led by God’s Holy Spirit, Matthew 4:1, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (This story is also repeated in Luke 4:1-13.) Now there’s an interesting narrative. The Holy Spirit, being the Teacher (John 14:26) is leading the Lord Jesus out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Hebrews 5:8). Also note that the Lord Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”- John 10:30. Why didn’t the Lord Jesus know, by Himself, to go out into the wilderness to be tempted? I believe this has to do with the fact that the Godhead exists in three persons- and if all were one, then they wouldn’t be three persons in one Godhead. This is not what I want to consider herein. However, we can certainly note that if the Son needs to be led by God’s Spirit, then we obviously need the Spirit’s leading as well. Here are some passages concerning being led by God’s Holy Spirit, and praise the Lord that we can be led by his Holy Spirit, rather than the spirits of darkness and debauchery with whom we formerly walked- Ephesians 2:1&2; and may we not be led by false spirits- II Corinthians 11:4:
a) John 16:12-15, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” There’s some important facts concerning God’s Holy Spirit herein, which many miss resulting in their confusion. God’s Holy Spirit is our only Teacher and it is He who will guide us into all truth. So, if He’s not working on your behalf through your favorite clergymen, you’ll not get taught. God’s Holy Spirit is part of the Godhead, and yet, He never speaks about Himself or on his own. From Jesus the Spirit receives what He makes known to us. It follows then, that we should not pray, worship, or seek to speak to God’s Holy Spirit. We should pray to the Father, in the name of the Son; and we worship the Father and the Son only. This is what the New Testament teaches by writers who were led by God’s Holy Spirit in their writings. Anything else is men’s teaching separate from the Spirit and separate from the Lord Jesus. In fact, as I’ve said before, anything that sounds really nice, but can’t be found in Scripture, is probably straight from satan- the father of lies.
b) Romans 8:5-17, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. Or those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. “ This passage explains perfectly what it means to be led by the Spirit of God.
c) Galatians 5:16-26, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Our old nature is contrary to God’s Spirit and they are at war with one another. In the blast furnaces of the steel mills, where I worked as a young engineer, an extremely dangerous situation would occur when the molten iron came in contact with water; because if the hot metal encapsulated the water, the rich oxygen content of the water would cause a violent explosion. This is what I think of when I consider that the flesh wars against the Spirit- they are opposite to one another and violently oppose one another. REGARDING KEEPING CADENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF ITEM#15G OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION.
“Guide”
47.) Our Lord as guide, Psalms 48:12-14, “Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.” Have you walked on the mountain tops with the Lord? Well, consider well what that was like! Tell that experience to others, because God is guiding us there.
a) Psalms 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” God’s eye guiding us is exactly what we want and need. “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I”- Psalms 61:2. See also Psalms 25:9, 31:3, & 73:24.
b) Isaiah 58:9-11, ““If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” I have a friend, whose ministry is feeding the poor at the Mexico border, and I noticed he uses Isaiah 58 as one of his encouragement verses. But I, just now, noticed the words “sun scorched land”, which aptly applies to the Mexico Texas border. And, my friend’s ministry is always running over with food for the poor.
c) Job 38:1-7& 32-35, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? …Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth? Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?’” It’s obvious that God understands matters that we cannot even fathom. And, surely He is the ultimate and best guide. And yet when a trial comes, not many turn to the Lord for guidance and protection. Also see Item#99a below.
d) Exodus 15:13&17, “In your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In your strength You will guide them to your holy dwelling. … You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, You made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.” How can others guide us- blind guides who don’t really understand where we are going?
e) Psalms 25:8-10, “Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.”
f) Psalms 31:1-5, “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit;”.
g) Psalms 32:8-10, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” Some say, and rightfully so, “The Lord leads by opening and closing doors.” But the Lord would rather that we have understanding- and not need this binary means of instruction (John 15:15). In rearing a child there’s a place for the rod, but I’d rather have children who sought understanding and wisdom.
h) Psalms 73:22-28, “I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”
i) Psalms 78:51-55 & 70-72, “He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham. But He brought his people out like a flock; He led them like sheep through the wilderness. He guided them safely, so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies. And so He brought them to the border of his holy land, to the hill country his right hand had taken. He drove out nations before them and allotted their lands to them as an inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their homes. … He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep He brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands He led them.” The Lord’s people are guided along safely. “Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”- Psalms 1:4-6. Guiding implies a journey. And, as believers, our journey is to the glory. “All the way my Savior leads me. What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide?”- Fanny Crosby.
j) Isaiah 49:8-13, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ ‘ They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. See, they will come from afar— some from the north, some from the west, some from the region of Aswan.’ Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.’ “ See also Luke 3:4-6 and Isaiah 40:3-5.
k) Isaiah 58:9-12, ““If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
l) Luke 1:76-79, “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Rising Sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” This is Zecharia’s prophecy of his son, John the Baptist, as the forerunner of Christ. Thank the Lord that we have the Lord Jesus to guide these wandering feet of ours!
m) John 16:12-15, ““I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what He will make known to you.” We should be discerning what we claim is coming from the Spirit- not just so that we don’t quench Him, but also that we might learn. What the Spirit is making known to us, He receives from the Lord Jesus for our benefit. We should be slow to speak and quick to listen and discern. And, “I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.”- Psalms 119:15. Just as the grace gifts are appropriated to us by the Lord Jesus through God’s Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:7), so we are guided into truth and knowledge by God’s Holy Spirit, as God’s Spirit receives such from the Lord Jesus (John 15:26 &16:13-15).
“Oversee”, “overseers”
48.) Work of an overseer, I Chronicles 9:29 (KJV), “Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.” I was going to name this “ministerial work of an overseer”, but that would be duplicitous. I’m reminded that minister and work actually have the same meaning from the Lord’s point of view. And, then I’m reminded that the Lord’s concern is that the work actually gets done, rather than who gets the credit. And then, I’m reminded that the Lord’s principle focus is still saving souls from the Lake of Fire. So we really need t get to work, and, as my old boss, George Murphy, used to say, “Don’t just set there spinning your wheels”. “These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron: The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as the priests. With the help of Zadok a descendant of Eleazar and Ahimelek a descendant of Ithamar, David separated them into divisions for their appointed order of ministering. A larger number of leaders were found among Eleazar’s descendants than among Ithamar’s, and they were divided accordingly: sixteen heads of families from Eleazar’s descendants and eight heads of families from Ithamar’s descendants. They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.” I Chronicles 24:1-5. So, we see that in David’s time there was an agreement to get the work done. Even in the case of the priesthood, the leaders merely cast lots, split up the assignments, and got to work. I conclude that the principle work of an overseer is to make sure the work gets done.
49.) Oversight is to watch over, II Chronicles 2:18, “Solomon took a census of all the foreigners residing in Israel, after the census his father David had taken; and they were found to be 153,600. He assigned 70,000 of them to be carriers and 80,000 to be stonecutters in the hills, with 3,600 foremen over them to keep the people working.” That’s 100% of the foreigners in Israel that were put to work on the temple and Solomon’s palace. 3600 of these people had to be overseers/ foreman. In terms of man power, I’ve never heard of a project that large. I suppose the pyramids in Egypt took up such manpower, but I never read of any quantities estimated. It’s said that the largest construction project in the history of mankind is the US Interstate Highway System (which is still expanding), and I wonder if that project ever employed 153,000 people all at once. Of course, if we count all the engineering firms and people working in gravel pits, stone quarries, in government, in ashphalt, concrete, and cement plants, in heavy equipment servicing, and other auxiliary services, then 154,000 might be a little light, but a good starting estimate- off the top of my head. Josiah also put overseers over his work to repair the temple during his reign- II Chronicles 34:12-13&17.
50.) Oversight of a household, Genesis 39:4&5, “Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.” A believer is continually surrounded by the grace and glory of God, but we should not abuse nor deny such favor from God. “A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”- I Timothy 3:12. So, the grace of “rule” should be shining, if indeed that Spirit ability is present in a life. Also see Item#75 below.
51.) Public officials, Nehemiah 11:1,2,9,14,&22 “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. … Joel son of Zikri was their chief officer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was over the New Quarter of the city. … Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, and his associates, who were men of standing—128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim. … The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God.” So, we see that there was a strong leadership among those resettling Israel. But all this authority came from. Romans 13:1 states, “there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” So, we see the authority of God being established and meted out by God through these leaders in Israel, and from two directions we see this. First, the prophet Jeremiah speaks for God in promising the Israelites’ return from captivity- Jeremiah 29:10. Secondly, Cyrus (II Chronicles 36:23) and Darius (Ezra 6:12) have decreed that the Israelites should be allowed to reinhabit the land and rebuild the temple. And, the authority of Jeremiah, Darius, and Cyrus, all, clearly comes from God. So, we see how and why that public officials receive their authority from God- even the worst of them. And, the why is that there is no other authority except that which comes from God. Also see Items# 5, 21h, 25, &27o above, as well as Item#46b of the Healings Section, and Item#15c of the Word of Knowledge Section. Also we note that these Israeli leaders were chosen by casting lots, not according to leadership abilities- which connotes that the eventual selection is given to God.
52.) Oversight of ministry, Nehemiah 12:42&46, “The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. … For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” In the local gatherings of Christ’s Church, there are deacons and elders in charge of certain functions and ministries (service). And we are to submit to such oversight as if from God, Hebrews 13:17. However, be careful not to assume a person is credible just because he or she holds such an office. The Scripture also says, “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure”- I Timothy 5:22. This verse in I Timothy becomes difficult if you know someone in authority is in error. And, Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” And Scripture wisely says that we should not attempt to correct an elder Christian except in the presence of two or three witnesses- I Timothy 5:19.
53.) Oversight of contributions, II Chronicles 31:2-5&11-13, “Hezekiah assigned the priests and Levites to divisions—each of them according to their duties as priests or Levites—to offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to minister, to give thanks and to sing praises at the gates of the Lord’s dwelling. The king contributed from his own possessions for the morning and evening burnt offerings and for the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, at the New Moons and at the appointed festivals as written in the Law of the Lord. He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to give the portion due the priests and Levites so they could devote themselves to the Law of the Lord. As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. … Hezekiah gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple of the Lord, and this was done. Then they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes and dedicated gifts. Konaniah, a Levite, was the overseer in charge of these things, and his brother Shimei was next in rank. Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah were assistants of Konaniah and Shimei his brother. All these served by appointment of King Hezekiah and Azariah the official in charge of the temple of God.” This oversight of the distribution of these offerings was a huge task. Israel was an agricultural society and much livestock and grain was offered, as well as wine, olive oil, and honey. And, all the priests and their families needed these contributions in order to survive. The oversight of contributions is still an important work of a local gathering. Also see Item#80 below, and Item#2f in the Giving Section. In this regard, we should always conclude that money is equivalent to and is a measure of time and effort (Item#1 of the Giving Section). It’s the same as doing Godly service, but is portable. Just like a battery stores up energy to be used elsewhere, money is time and effort stored up to be used elsewhere- by Godly servants doing Godly work. And, making sure that our offerings are given to Godly people who are actually doing God’s work takes serious effort and a serious attitude. In my own life, I am contacted by all kinds of people trying to get money. So, I really need discernment and prayer in selecting where to give.
54.) Elders as oversight, Acts 20:17-22&25-31, “From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: ‘You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. … Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the Church of God, which He bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.’” Acts 13:15-16 also says, “After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent word to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.’ Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: ‘Fellow Israelites and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!’ So, Paul and his group, being travelers, were encouraged to speak by the elders of the synagogue. The point is that these Jewish synagogues were already ruled by elders. So when the apostles/ church builders taught that the local gatherings were to be ruled by a concensus of the elders, there wasn’t much need for further explanation (see Item#79d below) - except what Paul warned concerning wolfish clergymen coming in to destroy the flock. Indeed, Paul’s statement wasn’t just a warning, but actually was a prophesy- “Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.” Also see Items# 1a&c, and 8e of the Shepherding Section. I note that in order for the wolves to savage the flock, they must “distort the truth”. Lately, I’ve been forced to defend my positions. My most common defense cites the Lord Jesus as being “the Truth”; and then I ask, “How can I, Christ’s disciple, teach and practice things which aren’t true?” The above Scripture, Acts20:30, which cites distortion of the truth as a mark of the savaging wolf, is a nugget of Scripture. So, be on your guard!
“Reign”, “reignest”, “reigneth”
55.) The Lord’s Reign, Exodus 15:17-18. “You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
‘The Lord reigns forever and ever’.”
a) Revelation 11:15-17, “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and He will reign for ever and ever.’ And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.’” We should note that the Lord Jesus’ Millennial Reign is also the Father reigning- but reigning through his Son. And this passage exposes “the kingdom of the world” finally joining the heavenly hosts in the recognition and enjoyment of the Lord’s reign.
b) I Samuel 8:7-11, “And the Lord told him: ‘Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.’ Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. …’”
c) I Samuel 12:12-25, ““But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king. Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you. If you fear the Lord and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God—good! But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors. ‘Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes! Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king.’ Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel. The people all said to Samuel, ‘Pray to the Lord your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.’ ‘Do not be afraid,’ Samuel replied. ‘You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.’”
d) Psalms 110:1-7, “ The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’ Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’ The Lord is at your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.” The one sitting at the Lord’s right hand is the Lord Jesus, per Luke 20:42, and the Lord Jesus will rule directly from the Lord’s right hand until the Father has made his enemies a footstool for his feet. “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all his enemies under his feet. … When He has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under hHm, so that God may be all in all.”- I Corinthians 15:24-25&28. This I Corinthians 15 passage is the furthest forward point in time prophesied in Scripture- not withstanding a prophecy which is not a point in time, but none-the-less prophesies of eternity future, “from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God”- Psalms 90:2. Also see Item#k below.
e) Psalms 146:6-10, “He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— He remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.” How can we not love, bow down, and praise a God like that?!
f) Daniel 4:13-17, &24-26, “’In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.’ ‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.’ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’’… ‘This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone He wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.’” The underlined portion above defines the whole passage. The Lord rules over kingdoms, and places over them base and lowly people as rulers. A believing acquaintance brought this out in a discussion regarding Donald Trump’s recent election as president of the USA. I’m not saying that President Trump is a base and lowly man, but I see through him that a direct person can be a very powerful leader. While people with an “ivory tower” attitude, always seeking perfection, get little to nothing accomplished.
g) Micah 5:2, ““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” This is famously prophesying of the coming of the Messiah to reign and his birth in Bethlehem. And, as explained in Item#d above, the Father and the Son are one and rule as one (John 10:30).
h) I Corinthians 15:22-28, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He ‘has put everything under his feet.’ Now when it says that ‘everything’ has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ. When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all.” There is much history in Scripture and also much prophecy of future events- even the millennial reign of Christ and the destruction of Earth as we know it. But, this passage prophesies farther into the future than any other passage of Scripture to that point where “God may be all in all”. And it occurred to me, that at that far future event, those thrust into theLake of Fire will still be in that fire- and will be in those flames for eternity. This fact propels me on to do my work in Christ, and seek to be as effective a Christian as I can- lest I cause someone to stumble or fall short of God’s purpose for me. See also Item#d above and Item#23k.
i) Revelation 12:1-6, “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” This Gracestudy is not an eschatology study, so I’m recusing myself from a detailed explanation of this passage. I only note that the Church, being in Christ, will rule with Him, and “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter “. Lately I’ve been led back to those verses which explain that the Church is always “in Christ Jesus”, so wherever He is, we also will be (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:6, 7, &10- already in Christ, I Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 2:4, Philippians 1:1, et al).
j) Revelation 22:3-5, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” If you’ve ever experienced the glory of God, then you probably understand why we will need no external lights in heaven, and contrary to what some seem to be teaching, we will see his face. (See Item#1 in the Prophecy Section.) However, for this Item#55 in which we’re considering the Lord’s reign, it’s important to realize that “his servants will serve Him” and “they will reign forever and ever”. This is very revealing because it gives us a sense of what we’ll be doing in heaven, and shows us that we’ll be busy, because heaven is a very active place (Matthew 11:12, Ezekiel 1:4-22). President Trump currently has great plans for America, but can’t get his cabinet up and functioning. And, we realize how busy Washington DC is, and yet heaven is much busier by far.
k) Psalms 22:27-31, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!” And we see the fulfillment of the Psalms 22 prophecy contained in Philippians 2:9-11: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Also see Item#d above. And, yes, we believers, even in this day, are a fulfillment to these prophecies. Hallelujah, “He has done it!” Also see Items 61 & 99 above.
56.) Good kings of Judah, I Kings 9:1-9 “When Solomon had finished building the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had achieved all he had desired to do, the Lord appeared to him a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon (I Kings 3:5-15). The Lord said to him: ‘I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’ But if you or your descendants turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord their God, who brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why the Lord brought all this disaster on them.’’” I had went to a seminar once, called “Walk through the Old Testament”, in which the teacher had us all memorize thoughts and hand signals which brought out basic concepts of the Old Testament. The short excerpt describing the reign of the Judean kings was, “David had a whole heart for God. Solomon had a half heart for God, and the kingdom split”. The speaker then explained that, after Solomon there were only a few good kings of Judah, and zero good kings of Israel (the Northern kingdom). So, since “good” is a relative term, and this fact seemed to fit into this study of the gift of rule, I researched the Scripture. I found that, after Soloman, there were indeed zero good kings of the Northern kingdom, but eight good kings of Judah- per the Scripture. Those eight good kings and the Scriptures describing their rule are as follows: Asa, I Kings 15:11, “Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done.”; Jehoshaphat, I Kings 22:43; Joash, II Kings 12:2; Amaziah, II Kings 14:3; Azariah (aka Uzziah), II Kings 15:3; Jotham, II Kings 14:34; Hezekiah, II Kings 18:3; Josiah, II Kings 22:2. Some of these eight “good kings” allowed idolatry to persist at the “high places”. However, as noted, the Scripture describes them as good kings. So,we conclude that good leadership involves doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, and following the example of Godly men which have gone before us.
57.) Solomon, I Kings 3:5-15, “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.’ Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.” (See also II Chronicles 1:7-12 and I Kings 4:24-25.) Solomon has always been an example of Godly wisdom and discernment. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes speak of his great wisdom. I note, though, that his great wealth and honor were not a result of his wisdom, but separate blessings from God. And I note that the Lord added a caveat to his promises to Solomon, “if you walk in obedience to me”. This caveat was not there in his promise to David, or his promises to Abraham (Galatians 3:8-14). However, a caveat requiring obedience was included in the Lord’s promises to Moses (Exodus 19:5, &23:20-22), Jeroboam (I Kings 11:38), and to Saul (I Samuel 12:13-15). Obviously, the Lord knew that the children of Israel, as well as Saul, Jeroboam, and Solomon, were going to fall short of God’s covenant promise, so God needed a caveat requiring obedience in order for his Word to be true. To be wise we must recognize God’s hand in creation and his grace working around us, and that obedience to Him who provides all the facets of our very existence is always a wise choice. To walk away from such protection is very dangerous. See also I Kings 1:35-37, and also see II Chronicles 8:1-17, Solomon realized that wisdom and knowledge come from God and are necessary to govern effectively . It is sad, but telling, to see that with all of Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge, his flesh brought down his kingdom. I Kings 11 chronicles that Solomon disobediently took wives from other nations, and these idolatrous wives eventually led him into idolatry. Finally, the Lord had to tell him, “I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates”- I Kings 11:11. In the failures of Solomon and David, and myself, I see why Christ had to die- that we could obtain a new nature. Our old nature will always lead to sin. Only with a Godly nature can we endure eternity in Christ Jesus.
58.) The king’s desire, I Kings 11:35-38, “I will take the kingdom from his (David’s} son’s hands and give you ten tribes. I will give one tribe to his son so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I chose to put my Name. However, as for you, I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.” However, out of disbelief in the Lord’s blessings as prophesied above, Jeroboam immediately turned to the carnality of idolatry – Galatians 5:20, I Kings 12:26-33, 13:33, and 14:6-14. Item#23j, above, spells out Samuel’s complaint against Israel having a king, and and, of course, “the king’s desire”, not being God’s desire, is prevalent in Samuel’s complaint. And, this is God’s complaint with most earthly rule, but the King of Righteousness is coming soon- Isaiah 32:1, hallelujah!
59.) David’s mighty men, II Samuel 23:8-39, “These are the names of David’s mighty warriors:
Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory. During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors. Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? He became their commander, even though he was not included among them. Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors. He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard. Among the Thirty were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem, Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite, Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite, Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the ravines of Gaash, Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, the son of Hagri, Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite and Uriah the Hittite. There were thirty-seven in all.” I note that it is necessary for a ruler to have mighty men close by him in order to rule. Of course, God can summon legions of angels, so God doesn’t need mighty men.
60.) Christians reign, II Timothy 2:11-13, “Here is a trustworthy saying, ‘If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.’” There are two Christian sayings that pertain to this. The first says, “Earth is training time for reigning time”. The second saying is that, “After the rapture, wherever Christ goes, we go!”- same as I Thessalonians 4:17. We should really learn the concept of believers being “in Christ Jesus”. Wherever He goes we have to go, and whatever He does we will be doing and are doing- even now. “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … .”- Ephesians 2:6. Also see Item#55i, above. The following are more passages about Christians reigning:
a) Daniel 7:27, “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.”
b) Revelation 2:26-29, “To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This rule certainly doesn’t sound like a passive form of rule.
c) Revelation 5:9&10, “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” We’ll be reigning on Earth!
d) Revelation 20:4-6, “I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the Word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.” We’ll be reigning for 1000 years!
e) Revelation 21:1-3, and 22:1-5, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’” … “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” After the thousand year reign of Christ, in which we also will reign, the believers will reign forever and ever. Regarding seeing the Lord’s face, please see Item#38c above.
61.) God reigns over all, I Chronicles 29:10-13, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to You, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give You thanks, and praise your glorious name.’” The following are additional verses helping to explain that God reigns over all:
a) II Chronicles 20:2-7, “Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar’ (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the Lord in the front of the new courtyard and said: ‘Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?’”
b) Psalms 66:1-7, “Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.’ Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot— come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against Him.”
c) Psalms 99:1-7, “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; He sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name— He is holy. The King is mighty, He loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; He is holy. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and He answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees He gave them.” Amen, and hallelujah!
d) Psalms103:19, “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul!”
e) Daniel 5:18-28, “Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. Because of the high position He gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone He wishes. But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription. This is the inscription that was written: ‘mene, mene, tekel, parsin’ Here is what these words mean: ‘Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.’” Wow, what a bold work of prophesying by Daniel!
f) Colossians 1:15-20, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
g) Revelation 19:6-8, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.’ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” I love that saying, “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth”. Who better to reign than the Lord- that’s what the word “Lord” means!
h) Also see Items#55&99.
62.) God reigns over the Heathen, Psalms 47:5-9, “God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.” The following passages also ascribe to the Lord his glorious rule over the heathen nations:
a) I Chronicles 16:28-35, “Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, ‘Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.’”
b) Psalms 96:7-13, “Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’ The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.” This passage in Psalms is a sister passage to the I Chronicles 16 passage in Item#a above it.
64.) Godly man as a guide, Psalms 112:2-10, “Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct (‘guide’ in KJV) their affairs with justice. Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.” Christian men and women are called to guide the affairs of their household and their lives in a Godly manner.
a) Proverbs 11:2-7, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing. The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.” This passage starts out warning that the Lord resists pride, but gives grace to the humble; this concept is repeated consistently in Scripture- I Peter 5:5, James 4:6, Proverbs 16:19, etc. And, we see herein that integrity and righteous conduct becomes a guide, as we follow the Scripture, bathing our walk in prayer, and seeking to do things the Lord’s way.
b) Acts 8:30-31, “Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me (should guide me- KJV)?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” This is more akin to the Spirit gifts of evangelism and teaching, rather than the gift of rule.
c) I Timothy 5:14, “So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage (guide- KJV) their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.” Christian women have a monumental battle on their hands. The world is teaching that women should be money makers, and get a job when their children reach school age. I perceive that public schools are a terribly dangerous place for a child to be. Homeschooling is far superior. Consider! In the public schools we have Godless teachers trying to impart wisdom, knowledge, and understanding on Christian youth. Is anything more ironically anti-Christian than that. And, why does it have to be that way? I believe it is because believers are not opening their eyes to the battle for their children’s souls, and aren’t seeing God’s grace providing for them. Believers are settling for worldly wisdom- measuring decisions by dollar value rather than by Godly wisdom. We should pray, “Lord, stamp eternity on my eyes!”
“Rule”, “ruled”, “ruler/s”, “ruleth”
67.) Light rules darkness, Genesis 1:14-19, “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.’ And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern (rule- KJV) the day and the lesser light to govern (rule- KJV) the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern (rule- KJV) the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.” What an obvious example of God’s working his way in his creation- light vs. darkness, and light having power over the darkness, both physically and spiritually. The following are other passages which help bring out this dichotomy of light vs. darkness:
a) Psalms 136:3-9, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever. to Him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. who by his understanding made the heavens, His love endures forever. who spread out the earth upon the waters, His love endures forever. who made the great lights— His love endures forever. the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.” The psalmist knew the great blessing which God bestowed on us- to be able to discern light from darkness, not to mention the use of these great heavenly lights to frame out and provide for our existence.” I can’t imagine the chaos in the world if the sun, moon, and stars were not here to guide our seasons and times and travels. And, any reasonable scientist can why life cannot physically exist on earth without the sun and moon.
b) John 1:3-13, &9, “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all might believe. He himself was not the Light; He came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
c) John 9:1-5, “As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.’” As Phillip Bliss wrote in his hymn, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin. The Light of the World is Jesus!” “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”- John 8:12.
d) John 3:19-21, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
e) John11:8&9, “’But Rabbi,’ they said, ‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.’”
f) John 12:44-46, “Then Jesus cried out, ‘Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.’”
g) II Corinthians 4:4, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” And, we have yet to realize the true brilliance of the glory of Christ’s face- Exodus 33:20, Revelation 1:16, 6:16, 10:11, 20:11, and 22:4. Regarding seeing the Lord’s face, please see Item#38c above.
h) Mt 5:14-16, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
i) Luke 16:8, “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light”. The Lord refers to us as the people of light, quite a high calling to live up to; but with God’s grace gifts and his Holy Spirit we can do just that! The gift of rule is not merely to rule the darkness, but also to administer our affairs and gatherings so that we walk as the people of light.
68.) Rule with kindness, Leviticus 25:39-43, &53-55, “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.” … “They are to be treated as workers hired from year to year; you must see to it that those to whom they owe service do not rule over them ruthlessly. ‘Even if someone is not redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children are to be released in the Year of Jubilee, for the Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’” These are weighty statements regarding rule in the Church. Believers are the Lord’s servants, and should be treated as such, even when they are in error. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”- John 13:35.
a) I Kings 9:22-23, “But Solomon did not make slaves of any of the Israelites; they were his fighting men, his government officials, his officers, his captains, and the commanders of his chariots and charioteers. They were also the chief officials in charge of Solomon’s projects—550 officials supervising those who did the work.” (Also see II Chronicles 8:9-10.) Herein we see Solomon making slaves of people whom Israel had conquered. This might cause some difficulty in understanding. Actually God told Israel to totally destroy these people- Joshua 9:24. But we don’t live in those times and even a nominal Christian’s way of thinking is greatly influenced by the practice of Christians living before us, and by God’s Spirit of truth. Others, however, such as Muslims and those living before Christ, practiced slavery as a supposedly logical way of dealing with a conquered people. In fact, Muslims- in Libya currently, sex and drug traffickers, and even providers of illegal immigration, still practice slavery to this day. But Christians seek to practice and teach the true freedom of Christ, and in so doing lift up the culture around them in many ways. However, we must be aware of satan’s counterfeit angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14). In order to keep people blind to the glorious gospel he needs to offer a carnal counterpart to the good works testimony of Christians- Matthew 5:16. I have concluded that a good example of such counterfeit light is the so-called Renaissance. This is the time when serious Christians were being persecuted for their faith and the truth of the glorious gospel was exploding out into nominal Christendom, especially through the Bible’s publication into people’s native tongues; and yet worldly people were amazed by a supposed new enlightenment of mankind. I can see why satan had to offer something more juicy to tantalize unregenerated mankind- the Renaissance, lest they see and understand the true light of Christ’s gospel and become free through salvation- II Corinthians 4:4. Satan loves bondage of any sort, especially outright slavery of the type that Islam practices. Death, sickness, and destruction in the Lake of Fire, are also maladies toward which satan directs people.
b) Matthew 20:25-26, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” This is, of course a nugget of Scripture regarding the gift of rule. (Also see Mark 10:42 and Luke 22:24-30.) As a young man I received a Master of Science in Business Administration, and subsequently attended various leadership teaching events, and was even a member of a few admin societies. None of these groups teach what the Lord Jesus is sayng herein. What the Lord is saying is that there are things needed to be done in the Church, and if you want to be great in his eyes, then work with him to get the job done. And, forget about the accolades of others. Logically, if you want to be a successful businessman, this should apply to business as well (except that worldly colleagues will try to steal your work). You might say that real leadership involves loving God and others enough to make sure the job gets done, and correctly- as opposed to pretending that you have the “right stuff” to be a leader. Regarding this servant leadership, also see Items#23e,26,& 36e above.
c) Ezekiel 34:1-4 &20-23, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.’” … “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and He will tend them; He will tend them and be their Shepherd.” This is part of the Lord’s criticism against the shepherds of Israel, (See Shepherding Item#20f.) in which He prophesied that He must send a Good Shepherd (John 10:14) to straighten out all this.
d) Also see Item#36 below, “Lead Softly”.
69.) Not burdensome and for personal gain, Nehemiah 5:14-18, “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that. Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land. Furthermore, a hundred and fifty Jews and officials ate at my table, as well as those who came to us from the surrounding nations. Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.”
a) Esther10:3, “Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.”
b) I Peter 5:2-4, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”
c) Also see Items#36i,& 68c above. There are obviously elements of the gift of rule which are contained in the gift of shepherding. And, as well, there are elements of the gift of shepherding which are contained in the gift of rule.
70.) Qualities of a good ruler, Proverbs 12:24, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” I love the simplicity of this proverb. And yet, it’s absolutely true- as is all Scripture. Other leadership qualities espoused by Scripture are as follows:
a) Genesis 45:8-9, “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.’” This also is a nugget of Scripture in that it simply shows that God engifts certain people to rule. Some have even taught exactly how each of Joseph’s trials taught him how to be a ruler. And, I conclude that realizing God’s will in a person’s administrative duties is very important in growth as a leader.
b) Exodus 35:27, “The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.” Functional generosity is a mark of a good leader. And, I notice these leaders are being generous by giving from their own pockets, not from the government’s coffers. In fact David said, “No, I insist in paying for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God sacrifices that cost me nothing.”- II Samuel 24:24.
c) Leviticus 4:22, “When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect.” A leader should be a Godly person, who keeps a short account with God- quickly obtaining atonement by confession to the Lord, and asking forgiveness.
d) Deuteronomy 1:9-18, “At that time I said to you, ‘You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone. The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky. May the Lord, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised! But how can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you.”’ You answered me, ‘What you propose to do is good.’ So I took the leading men of your tribes, wise and respected men, and appointed them to have authority over you—as commanders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens and as tribal officials. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the disputes between your people and judge fairly, whether the case is between two Israelites or between an Israelite and a foreigner residing among you. Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it.’ And at that time I told you everything you were to do.” So herein are key qualities of Godly leaders. They should be wise, understanding, and respected men; and they should be appointed to have Godly authority (rule) over the believers.
e) I Samuel 25:30-31, “When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing He promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.” This is Abigail requesting David to spare her husband and family. Here are two qualities of leadership which David had. He had the Lord’s anointing on his rule (II Samuel 6:21), and he was spared from needless bloodshed. In fact, David was not perfect in that he had multiple wives, and he was a man of war (I Chronicles 22:7-8).
f) II Samuel 23:1-4, “ These are the last words of David: The inspired utterance of David son of Jesse, the utterance of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, the hero of Israel’s songs: The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings grass from the earth.’ “Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”- II Chronicles 16:9. The Lord is looking to strengthen rulers who are fully committed to Him.
g) I Chronicles 29:6-9, “Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” Correct and focused giving to the Lord is also a mark of a good leader. If a leader isn’t using his own money responsibly, what do you think he’s doing with your money? This is a very important point. Money is a measure of our time and effort. This country, the USA spends trillions of dollars each year, but accomplishes very little- because, from a Godly perspective, our leaders are blind and impotent regarding the Lord’s will. Also see Item#4 of the Giving Section, and II Chronicles 35:8.
h) II Chronicles 19:8-10, “In Jerusalem also, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites, priests and heads of Israelite families to administer the law of the Lord and to settle disputes. And they lived in Jerusalem. He gave them these orders: “You must serve faithfully and wholeheartedly in the fear of the Lord. In every case that comes before you from your people who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or regulations—you are to warn them not to sin against the Lord; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your people. Do this, and you will not sin.” A big part of rule is the ability to successfully delegate authority. This is a sad part of the Trump administration in the USA today. There are leakers of confidential information within the US government, and the leaders of the Department of Justice (truly a sad name) cannot, and some will not, expose these leakers. In a sense it seems the corruption and rebellious nature of these government workers has permeated the ranks of the US intelligence agencies, seemingly to the point of no return. Also see Item#15f above.
i) II Chronicles 26:3-21, “Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful. Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. They confronted King Uzziah and said, ‘It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.’ Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.” The Lord made Uzziah very powerful, yet, when he transgressed God’s Law due to pride, the Lord took him down. There’s a lesson there, for sure! It is also noteworthy that the Lord made it impossible for Uzziah to enter the temple again, due to his unclean leprosy. Truly we serve a wise, powerful and loving God.
j) Ezra 4:18-23, “Jerusalem has had powerful kings ruling over the whole of Trans-Euphrates, and taxes, tribute and duty were paid to them. Now issue an order to these men to stop work, so that this city will not be rebuilt until I so order. Be careful not to neglect this matter. Why let this threat grow, to the detriment of the royal interests? As soon as the copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai the secretary and their associates, they went immediately to the Jews in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop.” So we see that when Jerusalem had powerful kings, who feared God, they were respected throughout the Mideast. But, out of foolishness they turned to idols and lost their power, II kings 17:6-23 and I Chronicles 9:1. And all power comes from God- Romans 13:1.
k) Nehemiah 4:14-18, “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.’ When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.” So, a good leader recognizes the hatred and danger coming from the Lord’s enemies and takes steps to defend against such attacks.
l) Nehemiah 7:2, “I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do.” So Nehemiah appointed his brother with whom he had a long term trusting relationship. He also appointed him because he felt Hanani was worthy of trust since Hanani feared God greatly. God’s summary judgment on those headed for hell is that “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”- Romans 3:18. Also, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7); and “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).
m) Nehemiah 11:1-2, “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.” The point is that it’s good to have the leaders live in a place which has easy access to the others in leadership. This facilitates quick communication and informed decisions.
n) Esther 8:8-14, “’Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.’ At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa.” Communication through proper authorities is key to proper administration of authority.
o) Psalms 78:70-72, “He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.” Administrators, particularly in the local church, are also called upon to be shepherds; leading is a shepherding term. See also I Chronicles 11:2, and Matthew 2:6.
p) Proverbs 17:2, “A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.” So prudence is something to be sought after, and is often fleeting and the reason why many tasks go unfinished! See Item#95 of the Teaching Section for an excellent encouragement in prudence.
q) Isaiah 32:1-2, “See, a King will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.” Oh, for just rulers today! Justice is not an easy thing to achieve, when satan is the prince of this world- and most rulers don’t even understand his presence, or the Good News of Jesus Christ. See Item#22 above for a further discussion on just rulers.
r) Daniel 2:45-49, “’The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.’ Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’ Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.” The point herein is that knowledge of God and his intercession (grace) are awesome attributes befitting great rulers- and people can have such knowledge. Also see Daniel 5:7&29.
s) Matthew 24:45-47, ““Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” This agrees with Item#68b, above, which says the Lord is looking for leaders who actually get things done. This also agrees with Matthew 25:21, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
71.) Rule also is fleeting, Ecclesiastes 2:18-21, “I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.”
a) Jeremiah 22:24-25,&30, “’As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, ‘even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.’” …”This is what the Lord says:, ‘Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah.’” Rule is fleeting because all power comes from God, and his power is focused to do his will. And, I perceive that when men stray from his will, his power will still focus on doing his will. See Romans 13:1, and Items# 24, 25 & 27j above.
b) Daniel 11:2-7, “’Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power. After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father and the one who supported her. One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.’” There is much prophecy to analyze and discern herein. But we can easily conclude that the rule of these kingdoms is changing hands very rapidly.
72.) Strength of rule, Daniel 2:36-45, “’This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; in your hands He has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, He has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the Rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a Rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.’” There has been much speculation as to who these empires were and will be. Most Bible scholars would conclude that the empire following Nebuchadnezzar’s is the Medo-Persian empire; the bronze empire was the Grecian empire; the iron empire was the Roman empire, and the iron clay mixed empire is the modern day remains of the Roman empire. Daniel’s prophecy reveals that the weakness in these empires will be the mixture of peoples making up these empires. So, various empires, had and will have, less or greater strength of rule. And, I perceive that this strength of rule is directly related to the empire’s ability to carry out God’s plans. (See Item#71a.) Also, we see that there will be a final empire which will rule forever, and which was set up by the Rock. Of course, this Rock is Christ, and of his kingdom there will be no end- I Corinthians 10:4, Isaiah 9:7. Other passages which deal with this concept of strength of rule are as follows:
a) Psalms 89:9, “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you. You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies. The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.” God’s rule serves as an example of absolute power and rule.
b) Daniel 11:3-4, “Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.” Daniel prophesies of the rise and fall of various kings of Persia, some with great power of rule. It is also interesting that Daniel speaks of some princes working within these realms of power, who, I conclude, are mighty angels- Daniel 10:21-11:1, &12:1, etc..
74.) Spirit rule, II Corinthians 10:13-18, “We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
a) Colossians 3:15-17, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
b) I Timothy 5:17-20, “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’ Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning.”
c) Hebrews 13:7,17,&24-25, ” Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” … “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.” … “Greet all your leaders and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. Grace be with you all.” We should accept and cherish our Christian leaders as leaders. And, I love this final verse in the Book of Hebrews: “Grace be with you all.” Truly the first century Church understood our vital need for God’s grace! The point of this item regarding Spirit rule is, that we are to allow God to rule in our spheres of influence; and at all times “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16)- keeping in step with his cadence. REGARDING KEEPING CADENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF ITEM#15G OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION.
75.) Household rule, Genesis 24:1-4, “Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.”
a) Genesis 43:16, “When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.” Abraham and Joseph were wise servants of God. So, their chief stewards must also have been wise, capable, and responsible men. Also see Item#50 above.
76.) National rule, Genesis 41:39-43, “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.’ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, ‘Make way!’ Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Egypt indeed prospered under the rule of that Godly man Joseph. Many people look back at America’s heritage and easily relate its prosperity to the Godly perspectives and principles of our forefathers. Items# 37 & 41 above speak of people being led by and in God’s light- and the great blessing which usher from that light to those people basking in God’s light.
a) Genesis 45:7&8, “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” It’s worth noting that the gift of rule is not self-indulging, but is for God’s purposes. In Joseph’s case Joseph’s rule was obviously given by God for the preservation and growth of Israel. Nowadays, Christian rule and favor in a nation is usually given by God to perpetuate the gospel and protect other Christian works- but primarily focuses directly or indirectly on the salvation of souls through evangelism- which is still the Lord Jesus’ principle work.
77.) Rule has boundaries, Joshua 12:2-3, “Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge—from the middle of the gorge—to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. This included half of Gilead. He also ruled over the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Galilee to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea), to Beth Jeshimoth, and then southward below the slopes of Pisgah.” The point herein is simply that rule has boundaries. Of, course these boundaries can increase, decrease, or cease dependant upon the Lord- who rules over all, Revelation 19:6. And, obviously kings and men greedy for power naturally want to increase their power and boundaries- II Samuel 11:1.
78.) Davidic covenant, II Samuel 7:8-17, “’Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.” And, we believers conclude that the eternal throne of David will be reigned over by the King of Kings- the Lord Jesus Christ. Also see I Chronicles 17:7. See Item#43.
a) I Chronicles 28:2-7, “King David rose to his feet and said: ‘Listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.’ Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from my whole family to be king over Israel forever. He chose Judah as leader, and from the tribe of Judah He chose my family, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’ However Solomon was led astray by his many idolatrous wives. He had a half heart for God and the kingdom split (see Items 43 & 56, above especially #43c, also Item#93).
b) II Chronicles 7:11-22, “When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, the Lord appeared to him at night and said: ‘I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’ But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why He brought all this disaster on them.’’” It seems as if the Lord is looking ahead to Solomon’s and Israel’s future idolatries, and warning them that He cannot support such activities. This is why it’s so important to realize our gifts and God’s will for our lives; because God wants to bless us and will always be seeking to point us toward those blessings.
79.) Rule of the House of God, I Chronicles 9:2-11, “Now the first to resettle on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. Those from Judah, from Benjamin, and from Ephraim and Manasseh who lived in Jerusalem were: Uthai son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, a descendant of Perez son of Judah. Of the Shelanites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons. Of the Zerahites: Jeuel. The people from Judah numbered 690. Of the Benjamites: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah; Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, the son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah. The people from Benjamin, as listed in their genealogy, numbered 956. All these men were heads of their families. Of the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin; Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God; …”. So, the Israelites set a person to administer the house of God, whether the tabernacle at Shiloh, or later the temple in Jerusalem, there was a high priest over the house of God. This high priesthood later became obsolete, because it was only a type/ forshadowing of Christ. And, when Christ died and ascended to God’s right hand, the Old Covenant and its entire priesthood became obsolete- Hebrews 8:1,2&13. In fact, the entire temple was torn down by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD, just as the Lord Jesus prophesied, Matthew 24:2.So, the New Covenant has Jesus Christ as the Minister of the Sanctuary (Hebrews 8:2), not an earthly high priest. And, all believers are priests- able to make acceptable sacrifices to the Father, and to come before his throne in prayer and in praise (Hebrews 10:21-25, I Peter 2:9). And, since we believers make up the house of God, as living stones (I Peter 2:5), we need to consider that the Lord has set up elders as administrators within his Body- the Church. And the leadership within the local church is by concensus of elders, not by the rule of one, or even a few: see above Items#20a, 26c&d, 52, 54, &74; also Item#1 of the Shepherding Section, and#7 in Shepherding Section Summary; and Item#76 of the Teaching Section; and Hebrews 13:17. The following passages also briefly discuss administration over God’s house, with an excellent brief listing of what the early New Testament elders were accomplishing.
a) I Chronicles 9:13-34, “…The priests, who were heads of families, numbered 1,760. They were able men, responsible for ministering in the house of God. … The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman and their fellow Levites, Shallum their chief being stationed at the King’s Gate on the east, up to the present time. These were the gatekeepers belonging to the camp of the Levites. … Altogether, those chosen to be gatekeepers at the thresholds numbered 212. They were registered by genealogy in their villages. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel the seer. They and their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord—the house called the tent of meeting. … But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices. But some of the priests took care of mixing the spices. A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread. Some of the Kohathites, their fellow Levites, were in charge of preparing for every Sabbath the bread set out on the table. Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.”
b) Nehemiah 11:1-22, “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. … From the priests: Jedaiah; the son of Joiarib; Jakin; Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God, and their associates, who carried on work for the temple—822 men; … The Levites in the holy city totaled 284. The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men. The rest of the Israelites, with the priests and Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, each on their ancestral property. The temple servants lived on the hill of Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them. The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mika. Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants, who were the musicians responsible for the service of the house of God. The musicians were under the king’s orders, which regulated their daily activity.”
c) Acts 11:30. Famine giving from Antioch to the Jerusalem assembly was transferred through the Jerusalem elders.
d) Acts 14:23. During their return trip, “Paul and Barnabus appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Norbie (see Item#1 in the Shepherding Section) has said that there is no Scripture-cited point where the apostles give way to leadership by the elders in the Jerusalem assembly. The Scripture does cite that the Jerusalem assembly was governed by the elders though, such as Item#e below. Norbie (see footnote in Shepherding Section, Item#1) brings out that the early Jewish Christians already knew what governance by elders was due to such governance in the Jewish synagogues from the time of Moses. However, the Gentile gatherings didn’t have such familiarity with such governance, and the new Christians didn’t have mature, experienced Christians taking responsibilities. So, it was necessary for the newly established gatherings to have elders appointed by the apostles to expedite the necessary decisions within such assemblies. Now, I conclude that in modern assemblies, nowadays, there are mature Christians who’ve even grown up in local gatherings, who obviously fit the Scripture credentials of eldership, although never formerly appointed. I conclude also that such appointment is not necessary, and such elder mature Christians ought to take up leadership, especially shepherding, else Christ’s work will be slowed. Now, if a gathering chose to have such elders serve temporarily on an elder board or oversight committee charged with making expeditious decisions for that gathering, I’d say that is profitable. However, non-inclusion on such committees doesn’t relieve an elder of his responsibility of leadership and shepherding within that local gathering- or even the responsibility of overseeing the oversight committee. And, obviously, this doesn’t leave any excuse for a paid pastor to try to do the work allocated to such elders.
e) Acts 15:2,4,6,22&23. Paul, Barnabus, & others visit Jerusalem assembly regarding circumcision and the Law vs. grace through faith. The Jerusalem council gives them a letter of advice, but can only say, “Farewell”.
f) Acts 16:4. Paul Silas and Timothy, while continuing their apostleship to the Gentiles, “delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for them to obey”. We should consider that Paul & his group were not preaching submittal to a magisterium in Jerusalem, but rather confirming, by the original gathering in Jerusalem’s agreement, that salvation was by grace through faith and not by the Law. The Jerusalem letter also advised the Gentile assemblies not to practice disgusting acts which would alienate the Jews around them- in those Gentile cities.
g) Acts 18:8. Crispus, a Jewish Corinthian elder, gets saved and brings his whole household to Christ.
h) Acts 20:17-38. Paul sends for the Ephesian elders while at Miletus. He encourages them to be shepherds and overseers. And, he warns them that savage wolves will come among them, even from their own number, and will not spare the flock, “and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them”.
i) Acts 21:18. Paul sees James and the Jerusalem elders again. They give him some strange advice that still accomplishes God’s will by getting Paul arrested and sent along his way to Rome as the apostle to the Gentiles.
j) General discussions of New Testament elders and their duties: Items# 4,9,18,20a,21k,26,52,54, 68b,74 & 88a.
k) Also see Items#68b, and 74 above.
However, having noted these concepts regarding the local gatherings, I must note that the living stones make up Christ’s Church, not the local assemblies. And so the family becomes the basic grouping of Christ’s Church, not the assembly. And, we should not sacrifice our family duties for duties in the local gathering- as some tend to do, myself included.
80.) Administration of the Treasuries, I Chronicles 26:20-28, “Their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries for the dedicated things. The descendants of Ladan, who were Gershonites through Ladan and who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli, the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the treasuries of the temple of the Lord. From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites: Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was the official in charge of the treasuries. His relatives through Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son and Shelomith his son. Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and by the other army commanders. Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the temple of the Lord. And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.” Churches and synagogues have long recognized the need to have one or several people in charge of handling the money- taking it in, paying it out, storing/ investing it, and accounting for it. In a church, such a person would hold a deaconship and be known as a treasurer. I was once the treasurer of a local engineering association. And, I remember at one monthly meeting, rather than give a good accounting of the funds, I merely said, “We have a few thousand dollars in the account and will easily be able to function through the next few months.” Well that didn’t go over at all. The engineers wanted an accounting to the penny. It was a trust issue. They wanted to be know that their funds were well accounted for and being carefully watched. And normally you want people of impeccable repute to do such tasks, so there’s not even a glimmer of mistrust. The same is true for local churches and for the nation of Israel. The following items also discuss rule of the treasuries:
a) Also see Item#53 above. In II Chronicles 31:2-13, as seen in Item#53 above, we see that as Hezekiah and Judah gave as the Lord asked, they prospered greatly as a nation, with Hezekiah prospering as King- Malachi 3:10.
b) Also see Item#2f of the Giving Section.
81.) Involved in community, Nehemiah 3:9-19, “Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate. The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David. Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes. Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah. Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armory as far as the angle of the wall.” So there were city administrators who ruled over districts in Jerusalem, and these administrators got involved with community activities- not the least of which was common defense, even the wall rebuilding. In the Chicago area, where I live, Chicago and some towns are broken into precincts. And, these precincts have precinct captains monitoring affairs. And in Chicago, some of the neighborhoods have set up block watches to prevent gang activity and drug sales. So Americans have historically approved of community involvement, and church groups which get involved in community would not be inappropriate in these endeavors, especially while giving out and living out the gospel. Above Items#7 and 15a mention the parallel between the British and American governments and biblical Israel’s government and laws. This is right for Christian nations, especially because the glow of God’s righteous teachings shine in such nations. However, it’s important for believers to recognize that America is not biblical Israel. Nominal Christian nations will shine with God’s light, but satan is still the prince of this world and such nations will also reek with the stench of carnality and satan’s trickery. Believers should understand that America and these Christian nations still need to be evangelized. When our Lord cited, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they have been born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5), He is telling us that each generation must be reached with the gospel. And, only those who receive the gospel are our brothers and sisters. America today is still murdering their unborn, reveling in satanic music and fornication, and have minds filled with hatred and worldly insanity- “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32. We are in the world and not of the world, and we must be careful what parts of government and community with which we participate.
a) Exodus 16:21-23, “Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses.” This is indicative that we need community leaders to communicate activities and to help the community to function well.
b) Exodus 34:30-31, “When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them.” Community leaders are important in the dissemination of information and teaching.
82.) Joseph’s rule- a picture of Christ, Psalms 105:16-22, “He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and He sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom.” Many teachers see Joseph as a picture of Christ, because he was thrown in a pit and sold into bondage for silver, then he was raised up to be at Pharaoh’s right hand to rule over all Egypt. And we also notice that Joseph was never seen to do any wrong, as opposed to the shortcomings of most others in Scripture. And, Jacob gave him that coat of many colors which is seen as a symbol of Christ’s reign over all nations and races. Also see Item#76a above.
84.) Rulers need to pray, Luke 8:41-42 &54-56, “Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.” … “But He took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.” (Also see Matthew 9:18-26.) Sometimes we believers forget to pray, forgetting that all real power comes from God (Romans 13:1). The following are some noteworthy (and famous) prayers by biblical leaders (David, Solomon, Hezekiah & Elijah):
a) David’s prayer of thanks, at his blessing from God, I Chronicles 17:16-27, “Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: ‘Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men. What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises. There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem a people for Himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You made your people Israel your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. And now, Lord, let the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you. You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.’” And this eternal blessing of David’s house is wrought through his descendant, the Lord Jesus Christ.
b) David’s prayer of joy for the wholehearted giving by Israel’s leaders for the building of the temple, I Chronicles 29:10-21, “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, ‘Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. ‘But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. Lord, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep these desires and thoughts in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.’ Then David said to the whole assembly, ‘Praise the Lord your God.’ So they all praised the Lord, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the Lord and the king. The next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and presented burnt offerings to him: a thousand bulls, a thousand rams and a thousand male lambs, together with their drink offerings, and other sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.” We see how David’s heart felt about the Lord from this prayer. We used to memorize the first part of this prayer, to be reminded and help us understand the Lord’s majesty. I note that David prayed for the heart of his son Solomon and also for the hearts of the people. And, I’m sure the Lord heard David’s prayer and sought to honor David’s prayer. However, the Lord won’t impose Himself upon someone, because He already knows who will be believers and who will reject salvation. So, while we continuously pray for some people, some cannot be saved because they refuse to be saved- and continue in fleshly thinking and Christ rejection, and as Romans 3:18 says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
c) Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple, I Kings 8:22-54, “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today. ‘Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.’ … ‘May your eyes be open to your servant’s plea and to the plea of your people Israel, and may you listen to them whenever they cry out to you. For you singled them out from all the nations of the world to be your own inheritance, just as you declared through your servant Moses when you, Sovereign Lord, brought our ancestors out of Egypt.’ When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the Lord, he rose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven.” And, this prayer was immediately preceded by the Cloud filling the temple (vs 11)- so much so that the priests had to leave. So, Solomon was walking on the mountain top when he made this prayer!
d) Hezekiah’s powerful pleas, II Kings 19:14-19 &35-37, “Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.’” … “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there. One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.” Wow! What an answer to his prayer! And, what a statement as to who is the true God of all! I must say that Hezekiah knew how to petition God- laying the facts before the Lord as to how these idolaters were mocking the Lord. Hezekiah also was able to modify a prophecy through his ability to plea to the Lord: “In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: ‘Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’’ Then Isaiah said, ‘Prepare a poultice of figs.’ They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.”- II Kings 20:1-7. So, it is possible to reason with God in prayer regarding these very serious matters.
e) Elijah’s powerful and effective prayer for drought and rain, James 5:6-8, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” See also I Kings 17:1, & 18:1-46. It’s been said, “When you come before a king, make a request fit for a king!” How much more when we come before the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords?!
85.) Appointees, I Chronicles 26:32, “Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.” This, of course, brings up the concept of appointed administrators. A leader wants his appointees to be able to administer the departments and offices for which they are selected. The current president of the USA, Donald Trump, is being attacked from all sides by the media, especially through attacks on his appointees. Since this is a democracy, where everyone has the right of free speech, and especially since President Trump has always been a figure who sells well in the media, the media is having a field day making all types of accusations in order to sell media exposure. Even the media which seemingly are on the president’s side are seeking sensationalism to sell their media time. His appointees are also under intense scrutiny, and any bit of seeming news regarding these appointed officials is bent to fit a story line, and quickly shoved out into the media with little verification- and often put out even though the publishers know it’s “fake news”. Well, I was always taught, “Never believe what you see on TV!” TV is not meant to disseminate the truth. TV is meant to sell advertising time and products. Even internet news casts need advertisers and donations to make these systems plausible, and to run at a profit. These media executives and newscasters make millions of dollars per year. Their motivation to get a good story out far exceeds their motive to remain ethical, or even truthful. A person expecting the truth from even the finest media is naive. Be especially careful of media people who claim to preach the Bible. Of course, with TV preachers we can check their truthfulness by God’s own Word- the Bible. (See Prophecy According to Jeremiah Section, vs 28:9.) And we should and must verify such teachings and teachers- I John 4:1. And so, church appointees must be able to do the job, and also be able to endure the scrutiny of peers and onlookers.
86.) Dark rule, Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” If you’re a believer, you can see this spiritual struggle in world politics today. But, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again”- John 3:3. This is an important concept. I had an old friend, Paul Adams, who has since went on to be with the Lord. Paul, once a year, was invited to give his message entitled “Know your enemy!”- in which he warned against satan’s ways, principally: lies leading to physical and spiritual death, sickness, and bondage. (“Know your enemy” was a phrase borrowed from a military theme used in World War II, and possibly WWI.) I remember Ronald Reagan when he referred to the Soviet Union as the “evil empire”. And, I realize that even unsaved people can see tangible wickedness in our societies. Recently, in the last few days, the US Senate failed to approve the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, which notably still contains the funding of Planned Parenthood- an obviously satanic program whose supporters have been influential in killing .7 to 1.7 million unborn babies per year since 1973 (www.nlrc.org). This ghoulish organization has even been recently exposed as selling the body parts of these unborn innocents. These abortions are a stronghold of satan in our society, and in the minds of unbelievers- see Item#e below. In fact, satan is the prince of this world, and believers should take in that fact and chew on it for a long time- to help understand God’s grace working around us, especially regarding salvation as opposed to worldly change. At the same time, it helps to understand that the Lord also loves justice and righteousness; and if real change can come to our society, so be it. But always consider that only salvation through new birth brings the righteousness of God- Romans 3:21&22. The following are some more “dark rule” passages:
a) satan as ”prince of this world”, 1st use- John 12:28-33, “’Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him. Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die.” Be careful in defining “this world”. I John 2:15-17 says, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” The world is satan’s mess, not God’s. Consider only the underlined phrases of the I John 2 passage above, “For everything in the world… comes not from the Father but from the world”. The Lord Jesus is coming again to establish his righteous rule over this creation. Until Christ comes, expect this world and everything in it to operate in sin and the dysfunction that comes from sin. Doesn’t a prince need a principality, that is, a region in which he controls most of the power. Satan controls this world system, as allowed by God the Father, principally to vex us to the point of seeking salvation and, after salvation, seeking the victorious, truly powerful life in Christ. However, Satan’s days are numbered by God- and satan knows this! And we should conclude that our days to manifest God’s will and be rewarded for good and faithful service are also numbered. “Time and tide will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last!”- anonymous, but wisely true. And, truth-be-told, Christ still reigns over all; but his reign is “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in this present age but also in the one to come.”- Ephesians 1:21.
b) satan as ”prince of this world”, 2nd use- John 14:25-31, ““All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. ‘Come now; let us leave.’” This passage begins to explain the furious dichotomy and spiritual warfare between God’s Holy Spirit, as our Advocate, and the father of lies, our accuser- satan. We actually have two Advocates from theFather- Jesus Christ in heaven, and God’s Holy Spirit on earth. This advocacy is most auspiciously displayed by the Spirit’s grace gifts being manifest in us. This power from God in us blatantly testifies of Christ’s absolute victory on the Cross. And the complaint, that mankind has a relationship with God, was satan’s complaint from the beginning- in the garden.
c) satan as ”prince of this world”, 3rd use- John 15:26-16:15, “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to Him who sent Me. None of you asks Me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in Me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.” These passages from John 14:25 through 16:15 are nuggets of Scripture, in that they bring out the dichotomy and opposite forces between satan as our accuser and the father of lies as opposed to God’s Holy Spirit as our Advocate- not just as God’s “Spirit of Truth”, but also as our power source through Jesus’ power. So, we can see the importance of this Grace Study even in Grace Study’s title page which says, “We are proclaiming the power of God manifested through the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ”. All this agrees with Item#b above, which points out satan’s complaint against believers having a a relationship with God, especially a relationship in which God’s power is in us, and in which we are consciously using that power. Summarizing satan as the “prince of this world”, the first description, per Item#a above, cites satan’s use of the world’s system of lies. The second description ,of satan as the “prince of this world”, exposes satan as the adversary to God and his Christ. The third description, of satan as the “prince of this world”, tells us that satan has already lost and “the prince of this world now stands condemned”. Other Item#s within this Rule Section which reference satan as the prince of this world are Item#s 17, 22f, 27j, 32, 34e, 37i, 69q, and 81.
d) “prince of the power of the air” (KJV), Ephesians 2:1-10, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” I could have stopped with the 1st two verses and made my point. But this is such a beautiful and encouraging passage that I thought to include ten verses to remind us of the treasures God has given us in Christ, and more treasures that can be gained by going with the flow of the Holy Spirit- refusing to be further tricked by this prince of smoke, vapors and lies.
e) “the god of this age”, II Corinthians 4:1-7, “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” Hallelujah! Although I have questions about Donald Trump’s ability to accomplish change in American politics, and questions about his testimony in Christ, I really love President Trump for upsetting his wealthy lifestyle and trying to help Americans. In America today, satan has established a stronghold in the abortion industry. Pro-life forces have tallied the abortions in America at approximately 700,00 this year and has high as 1.6 million some years since the 1973 Roe v Wade decision. Somehow, ghoulish, satanic politicians have had their minds twisted past the point of stating a woman has a right to an abortion to the point of insisting that all Americans must pay the bills for these murders. Now, along come these, for the most part, worldly congressmen seeking to defund Planned Parenthood- in order to appease large voting blocks of nominal and evangelical Christians. The funding of Planned Parenthood, the major killer of the unborn in America, seems inextricably nestled in the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans have promised to repeal and replace. I wish and hope and pray that Planned Parenthood could be defunded. However, I can see why God allows satan to smoosh such evil in the face of Americans- so that they can see and understand that they are not righteous in God’s eyes and need to turn to the Savior, and his Cross. Never the less, I feel that with much prayer for our government going up before Christ’s throne, I still hope for the defunding of Planned Parenthood, and even the reversal of Roe v Wade. America may still be “the Home of the Brave”, but God knows that America is also the home of sinners in need of salvation, and not just religion. As my friend used to like to say, “If religion could make you into a Christian, then going to MacDonalds could make you into a hamburger”. Every soul must be born anew by trusting Christ’s cross as full and final payment for sin, and turning to follow Christ. “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”- Ephesians 2:8&9. “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life”- John 5:24.
f) “prince of Persia”, Daniel 10:12-14,20, & 12:1-2; Jude 9; and Revelation 12:7&8. What’s Michael’s perspective of satan’s position? Dan 10:12-14, “Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” Daniel 12:1-2, ““At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” … “So He (another angel possibly a Christophany) said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth.” Jude 9 notes, “But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Revelation 12:7&8 notes, “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” So, from these passages we see the perspective of the Scriptures, which also describe satan as “the prince of this world”- remembering that the Lord Jesus, and God’s Holy Spirit are “far above” all principalities in this world (Ephesians 1:21). I note that Michael in all his strength and focus, still did not condemn satan for slander but left such power moves against satan to the Lord. Michael realized that satan still has standing in this wicked world- as its prince and its accuser. We believers however are in Christ Jesus. And, I’ve always noted that the Lord Jesus is not claiming the world as it stands as his own, but rather as satans principality. The Lord will come to rule for a thousand years, but first satan must be cast down to the pit, (not just to the Earth, where he now is prince of this world) along with all who participated in his rebellion; and righteousness must be restored to this world through and during Christ’s reign.
87.) God’s rule over Jacob, Psalms 59:9-13, “You are my Strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my Fortress, my God on whom I can rely. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. But do not kill them, Lord our Shield, or my people will forget. In your might uproot them and bring them down. For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, consume them in your wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. “The Lord is tIsrael’s Strength, Fortress, the God on whom Israel relies, and Israel’s Shield. This is evident to all as God consumes the enemies of Jacob. Now, many Bible students, including myself, notice that when the Scripture cites Jacob rather than Israel, then the Scripture is referring to the more fleshly aspects of God’s nation. Since “Israel” means prince of Almighty God, and is the name the Lord gave Jacob after carnal Jacob wrestled with God at Bethel, there will always be an imputed difference between the usage of the two names. (Also see Item#252 of the Shepherding Section.) So, when this passage says, “Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob”, the Scripture is bringing out the testimony of having God rule over a fleshly nation, and thus transforming those people into the nation of promise, Israel. And this is the testimony of Israel and of the Church, which is graffed/spliced into Israel- God’s olive tree (Romans 11:17-24). Further, as we discuss God’s rule over Israel through Moses, the priesthood, and the Tabernacle, we see that these rule items are pictures/ types of God’s throne and his rule from heaven over his people, while dwelling among his people. (Regarding such pictures and types, see Item#37b, above.). It brings much understanding to consider and realize that the wanderings/ travels of the children of Israel is typological to ourselves as Christians. Do you think you have entered into the promises of God yet? Then please take seriously this Grace Study. And, from this Item#87, we gain understanding when we also consider that Israel is not only typological to us, but we are also spliced into Israel- God’s olive tree (Romans 11:7).
88.) Rule of self, Proverbs 16:32, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” If God’s Word is true, and it certainly is, then before we try to practice the gift of rule, we must rule ourselves. This means that we have to get rid of those little tiny foxes of sin which are eating away at our fruitfulness (Song of Songs 2:15). However, with our old nature clinging to our earthly bodies until Christ comes, how can we truly rule our minds and tongues? Below are some passages which discuss rule of self:
a) One fruit of God’s Spirit is self control, Galatians 5:16-25, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. There are many gems in this brief passage. However, since we are discussing rule of self we should only focus on self-control. And, I conclude that self-control is given by God’s Spirit to those who seek to be obedient to God. It is, if nothing else, a means of ruling over our carnality. And, this self-control is focused on keeping in step with the Spirit, which keeps us walking by the Spirit. In fact, Item#244 of the Teaching Section explains how grace teaches self-control. And, self-control is required of those seeking the office of elder, per Item#168 of the Teaching Section. See also II Peter 1:3-11. REGARDING KEEPING CADENCE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM OF ITEM#15G OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SECTION.
b) Rule of the tongue, James 3:3-12 “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” And, Matthew 12:34&35 says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” If you knew me, you’d agree that I’m a person of few spoken words. (I can’t say that this is true of my writing.) But, even with few words, I still struggle to control my tongue. But I’m working on it. Lately, I’ve actually been trying to consciously follow the Spirit’s lead in conversations, not jamming my comments into a discussion just to be heard; and I even considering Ephesians 4:29 (which we all should memorize and meditate upon). But, how are those fairing who are not people of few words? I find it notable that James is saying that the fire of the tongue “is itself set on fire by hell”. And, at the judgment, we each must give account for every word we have spoken in our lifetime- Matthew 12:36&37. Ouch!!
c) Paul’s struggle with his old nature and the Law, Romans 7:14-8:4, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The big point herein is that, once we are born from above, our old nature or even the Law is not to be what guides or rules us, rather God’s Holy Spirit. And, to be ruled by God’s Holy Spirit (even keeping in step with the Spirit, per Item#a above) will inevitably lead us to practice our grace gifts- Ephesians 4:7.
Dominion/s
89.) Man’s dominion over the creatures, Genesis 1:26-31, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they (mankind) may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. “ Well, I could have said what I’m led to say about “Man’s dominion” while only listing the underlined portion of this passage, However, the passage is so beautiful that I couldn’t see separating the passage into parts. We see that mankind is commanded to “Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground”. I originally entitles this passage as “Man’s dominion over the Earth”. However, after more careful study, I saw that the Scripture only cites mankind’s dominion over the creatures, not the Earth. The Earth is Christ’s dominion. It makes no sense to claim rule over something we cannot control. How can we control the Earth?! I do feel, though, that in having been given dominion over God’s creatures we certainly should be responsible toward our and the creatures’ environment. The following are some points I note concerning this passage:
a) Is it possible to rule over all the fish of the sea and all the birds of the air while only inhabiting the garden of Eden? It appears God was already looking toward man’s sin and expulsion from the Garden, whereby mankind would have a more hands-on approach to dominion over the planet’s creatures.
b) Most countries, even the worst, have conservation departments which watch over the abuse of animals and natural resources. Is it only because they recognize the monetary value of such? I believe that governmental authorities, having been given their power by God, eventually see the correctness of protecting these natural resources and wildlife.
c) People who only live day to day don’t seem to care much about conservation. And we know that man’s flesh continually and intensely wars against the Spirit of God- Galatians 5:17.
d) “A bruised reed He will not break”- Matthew 12:20. This speaks of Christ’s gentleness, but also his concern not to make a big mess of our surroundings/ environment. I think it’s difficult for a messy person to be a good testimony for Christ. Never the less, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”, Romans 10:17; so, God’s Word has power in itself because it’s the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17).
90.) Despising prophetic dominion, Genesis 37:5-11, “Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, ‘Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.’ His brothers said to him, ‘Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?’ And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. ‘Listen,’ he said, ‘I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.’ When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, ‘What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?’ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” Many people readily turn to carnal pecking orders and the law of the pack, rather than seeking God’s will in a matter. (See Item#456 of the Healings Section.) So, we see that Joseph was selected by God to be the prince of Egypt in order to allow the nation of Israel to, not just survive the famine, but to grow and prosper. I believe the Lord is going to use many people in great ways yet, in order to further his Kingdom. But I’m not jealous of them, but rather, hope to aid such by proclaiming and assuring God’s mighty power to them. In fact, God commands the Church, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. “- I Thessalonians 5:20. This passage connotes that we should expect such prophecies to aid us, and that such is God’s will for his Church. Further discussion regarding treating prophecies with contempt can be found in Items#97c, 122, 172, 216, &333 of the Prophecy Section; Item#16 of the Exhortation Section; and Item#66c of the Apostleship Section.
91.) Wrongful dominion as a result of sin, Judges 14:3-4, &15:11 “His father and mother replied, ‘Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?’ But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me. She’s the right one for me.’ (His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time they were ruling over Israel.)” … “Then three thousand men from Judah went down to the cave in the rock of Etam and said to Samson, ‘Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?’ He answered, ‘I merely did to them what they did to me.’ I always mistakenly felt that Samson was too willful in these actions. But, now I understand the Lord’s hand working through his minister Samson. The problems with the children of Israel are not too different than the problems that we as the Church have. You see, we have the power of God available to us, but we need to put this power to work- and live up to our present estate which is that “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” Ephesians 2:6. The Lord gave me verse 15:11 to help me understand Samson’s seemingly willful conduct. What a sad verse, “Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?” Even we can see that Israel was much too comfortable having the Philistines ruling over them. But God was even more enraged at that situation. So, God empowered Samson to seek “an occasion to confront the Philistines” and awaken Israel to the power of their God. In many ways this is what this Grace Study is all about- to “Proclaim the power of God to his people, the Church” (See GraceStudy Purpose on the homepage). The following passages also describe wrongful dominion due to sin, and the wrongful dominion of sin:
a. Nehemiah 9:22-37, “You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness. But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies. But as soon as they were at rest, they again did what was evil in your sight. Then you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies so that they ruled over them. And when they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven, and in your compassion you delivered them time after time. You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen. For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in your eyes—the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our priests and prophets, on our ancestors and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways. But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.
b. Psalms 19:13, “Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” It’s obvious that David, the man after God’s own heart, struggled with sin, as we all do. He honestly knew the dangers of toying with sin; that sin could set up a stronghold in our heart.
c. Psalms 119:133, “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” This psalmist knew, like David above, that sin could set up a dominion in some part of our soul and mind.
d. Romans 6:11-14, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” There are many moral laws, even in Scripture, but we are to keep in step with God’s Holy Spirit. If we are seriously seeking God’s will, and we are in Christ Jesus (and all believers are), then we are under grace and not the Law.
e. Romans 7:14-8:7, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so .” As born again believers we must walk in our new nature, by grace, keeping cadence with God’s Holy Spirit. The Law is no longer available to us as a means of measuring right conduct. “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing.”- Galatians 2:21.
f. Ephesians 4:17-28, “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” So, we cannot walk in our old self or even give satan a foothold in our soul, else we are setting ourselves up for greater trials, and future battles whereby the Lord will have to help us kick satan out of our lives and our lifestyle.
We cannot give in to sin in our lifestyles, else satan can set up a stronghold. Consider the sad estate of the Israelites who were told to totally destroy the inhabitants of the promised land. Yet, decades later they are citing probably the saddest verse in Scripture to God’s man, Samson, ““Don’t you realize that the Philistines are rulers over us? What have you done to us?”- Judges 15:11, see also Item#21a.
92.) Don’t boast of your blessings, II Kings 20:12-18, “At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of Hezekiah’s illness. Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices and the fine olive oil—his armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, ‘What did those men say, and where did they come from?’ ‘From a distant land,’ Hezekiah replied. ‘They came from Babylon.’ The prophet asked, ‘What did they see in your palace?’ ‘They saw everything in my palace,’ Hezekiah said. ‘There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.’ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” It is never good to boast of what we have, because all that we have has come from God, and should be used for his work- particularly his kingdom work of saving souls. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”- James 1:17. And, “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”- I Corinthians 4:7.
93.) Worldly proof of Davidic covenant, I Chronicles 17:1-20:8, “After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.’ Nathan replied to David, ‘Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you.’ But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: ‘Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. ‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.’ Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.” – I Chronicles 17:1-15. “In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines. David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to him and brought him tribute. Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah, in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at the Euphrates River. David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung all but a hundred of the chariot horses. When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea, the pillars and various bronze articles. When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze. King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek. Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went. David’s Officials. David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.”- I Chronicles 18:1-14. The following passages speak of the continuation of David’s throne, even through Christ’s reign over the Earth:
a) II Chronicles 7:17&18, “As for you (Solomon), if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’”
b) II Chronicles 10:16-19, “When all Israel saw that the king (Solomon’s son Rehoboam) refused to listen to them, they answered the king: ‘What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents, Israel! Look after your own house, David!’ So all the Israelites went home. But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them. King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem. So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.”
c) II Chronicles 13:4-5&18,” Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, “Jeroboam and all Israel, listen to me! Don’t you know that the Lord, the God of Israel, has given the kingship of Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?” … “The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”
d) II Chronicles 21:4-7, “When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father’s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the officials of Israel. Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.
e) II Kings 18:1-7, “In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.”
f) Also see Item#78 above.
g) Psalms 72:1-8, “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish
and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
h) Micah 4:8, “As for you, watchtower of the flock, stronghold of Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”
i) Zechariah 9:9-10, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
j) Matthew 21:4-5, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: ‘Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’’”
k) Israel today: Israel has just celebrated its 70th anniversary since the May 14, 1948 rebirth of the state of Israel. I have many questions as to how this nation will play into the fulfillment of the end times prophecies- especially since I’ve been warned that Israel today has a very secular and seemingly Godless society.
98.) Dominion of the upright, Psalms 49:13-14, “This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings. They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd (but the upright will prevail over them in the morning). Their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions.” What dominion do the believers in Christ have? Much actually! However, in seeking to be humble, we don’t speak much about our roles and responsibilities as leaders and rulers- which can cause a believer to sidestep these roles and responsibilities, or mistakenly assume that others in a local gathering are are fulfilling these needs. Ephesians 2:6-10 explains our current status in Christ, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Some other passages which help explain our dominion status in Christ Jesus are as follows: Items # 14,36h,39f,55i&j,60, & 91. Daniel 7:27 states, “The the sovereignity, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heavens will be handed over to the saints, the people of the most high. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.” The point is that if we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”, we ought to pick up and learn our grace gifts and get into the battle! Further, we should realize that where Christ is, that is where we are, “In Christ Jesus”- Ephesians 2:6-10, Romans 6:23, &8:2, I Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 2:4, Philippians 1:1, et al. Further, that beloved teacher, Watchman Nee, stated, “As long as a man is regenerated, he is in Christ and becomes a part of the Body of Christ.”[4]
99. God’s dominion, Psalms 103:17-22, “But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.” To have one as master/ lord is to some an appalling concept. However, the alternative is to be dominated by satan. “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”- Romans 6:14-16. The following are more passages which discuss God’s dominion:
a) Job 38:1-3 & 33, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ … ‘Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?’”
b) Psalms 114:1-8, “When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back;
the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.” Do we really understand much about God’s dominion and realm? Do we really understand his creation? Scientists admit that they haven’t even skimmed the surface of what the universe entails. God’s relationship with Israel is displayed herein as an illustration of what God’s dominion can be like. Yet an illustration doesn’t describe the totality of a concept. We freely concede that God’s dominion over Israel through the Law (of which believers are graffed in- Romans 11:17) is different than his dominion/ rule over the Church through grace. Yet we who are under grace are a part of Israel. Further, wasn’t Law given as intercession from God’s throne- so Law is, in that aspect, an act of grace (Item#34i above)? Truly it is God’s presence that manifests intercession (grace) and brings Israel and the Church together. And scientists are digging and studying the universe, even with a renewed effort lately to explore space- even though God merely placed the stars in the heavens as an afterthought (Genesis 1:16). I fear all this concern over outer space will degenerate into another platform for global conflict- especially of the military type.
c) Psalms 145:10-14, “All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” It’s excellent to realize that we serve a Lord who is more powerful and more gracious than we are. As opposed to many rulers who worked hard at seeking fear from their subjects.
d) Isaiah 26:9-15, “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you. When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord. Lord, your hand is lifted high, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people and be put to shame; let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them. Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us. Lord our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but your name alone do we honor. They are now dead, they live no more; their spirits do not rise. You punished them and brought them to ruin; you wiped out all memory of them. You have enlarged the nation, Lord; you have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for yourself; you have extended all the borders of the land.” The Lord teaches through judgments, but the wicked only understand the whip.
e) Daniel 4:1-3, 34&35, “It is my pleasure to tell you (Nebuchadnezzar) about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” … “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’”.
f) Daniel 6:26-28, “’I (Darius) issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.’
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”
g) Daniel 7:13,14&23-28, “In my vision at night I (Daniel) looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” … “He (an angel) gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” This discusses the 2nd half of the tribulation, known as the “Great Tribulation”, after which the Messiah and his holy people (the Church) will reign for a millennium- after which rule will be returned from the Son to the Father (I Corinthians 15:23-28).
h) Zechariah 9:9-11, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.” God’s rule is currently administered by his Son, the Lord Jesus- and the Son will yet reign for a thousand years from David’s city, Jerusalem.
i) Romans 13:1&2 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” This passage is often repeated throughout this Rule Section of the Grace Study. See the following Items: #4,#14,#25,#27,#27o,#32,#34d,#51,#70j,#71a, T.
j) Also see items# 55 & 61 above, and Item#104 below.
So, from the above there is knowledge to glean regarding God’s dominion. His dominion is everlasting, all powerful, too huge and too intricate to fully understand, all encompassing, currently administered by the Lord Jesus at the Father’s right hand, merciful, and all his works praise Him.
100. Man’s dominion is only set by God, Jeremiah 34:1-6, “While Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms and peoples in the empire he ruled were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding towns, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and given into his hands. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.’ Yet hear the Lord’s promise to you, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: ‘You will not die by the sword; you will die peacefully. As people made a funeral fire in honor of your predecessors, the kings who ruled before you, so they will make a fire in your honor and lament, ‘Alas, master!’ I myself make this promise, declares the Lord.’ Then Jeremiah the prophet told all this to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem, while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.” The following passages also discuss this topic:
a) Jeremiah 51:28-29, “Prepare the nations for battle against her— the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the countries they rule. The land trembles and writhes, for the Lord’s purposes against Babylon stand— to lay waste the land of Babylon so that no one will live there.”
b) Daniel 4:23-27, “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.
c) Daniel 7:6,11-14, &21-27, “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.” … “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.) In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was One like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” … “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’” We should understand that nothing can happen in God’s creation that God isn’t aware of. Having said that though, God has an agenda being manifested in his kingdom work; and He allows satan to be the prince of this world until the absolute rule of the Lord Jesus comes to this Earth for a thousand years. Job 1:12&17 relates, “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.’ Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. … While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!’.” So, satan still has power to vex God’s children and unbelievers until he is thrown into the bottomless pit. See also Item#37i above.
d) Daniel 11:2-5, “Now then, I (the man from heaven) tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases. After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others. The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.” The point herein is that these goings on are allowed and controlled by God to accomplish his agenda for this world and for Israel. This control by God is sometimes through satan, the prince of this world. And sometimes this control is through God’s angels, and sometimes by God’s direct control over his creation- famine, works of nature, etc.
e) Psalms 8:1-9, “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” I note that Scripture cites more than once that mankind shall have dominion over all creatures. But I don’t see any statement giving man dominion over the Earth itself- that is Christ’s domain. How can we rule over something that we cannot control? See Item#89 above.
101. Christian rule and reign summarized, Matthew 20:25-28, “Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” If you want to remember anything concerning the gift of rule, remember this passage in Matthew 20. It’s wise to categorize between the Spirit gift of rule and Christians reigning, and also between the reign of Godly people in this world and the reign of ungodly people, and then there is the reign of God also. The following Items discuss the Spirit gift of rule:
a) Item#20a, Qualifications of bishops, deacons, and overseers
b) Item#26, Rule as a Spirit gift
c) Item#36, Lead softly
d) Item#54, Elders as oversight
e) Item#68, Rule with kindness
f) Item#79, Rule of the House of God
The following items discuss Christians reigning:
g) Item#60, Christians reign
h) Item#98, Dominion of the upright
102. Dominion of death, Romans 6:3-14, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Death no longer has dominion over the believer since we look forward to eternal life with and in Christ (John 3:16), and if our mortal body does expire we are guaranteed eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). The following passages also relate to this:
a) Romans 5:12-21, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
b) 2 Corinthians 5:1-5, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” Paul considered this mortal life as being extremely temporary and not worthy of comparison to our heavenly life to come- when we’ll be separated from our old nature and these temporary bodies. So, when studying Scripture we should be careful to discern whether the writer is discussing this temporary, mortal life or our glorious life in Christ. And, I note that the glorious life started when we first trusted Christ (See Item#c below).
c) Ephesians 2:1-6, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, …” So, we were spiritually dead when we first believed, then God made us spiritually alive through baptism in his Holy Spirit. And, through that new birth, death seized its reign over us. I believe it’s important to realize that, even and especially if we are sick, death no longer has dominion over us; and that such should be constantly in the attitude of our minds, because that is the truth. And we follow a King whose very name is Truth (John 14:6, Revelation 19:11); so while love is certainly important, truth is also certainly important.
d) Also see Item#91, “Wrongful dominion as a result of sin”.
103. Dominion of the Law, Romans 7:1-25, “Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” So, the Law and the fleshly nature are intertwined in that God gave the Law for fleshly man to know their fallen estate (I John 3:4, Romans 5:20&21, Galatians 3:19-21, 24&25). The second phrase underlined above is important and intrinsic to this Grace Study: “you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God” God wants to manifest his exceedingly great power through us, and this is how He indwells his Bride, the Church. (See Item#13e in the Table of Contents Section, “God's Indwelling of the Church Through Gifts”.) And why does He want us to bear fruit for Him? There are two excellent reasons found in Scripture. First, it is Christ’s vision for the Church that his bride should participate in and reflect his glory, Revelation 1:14 (See Item#11d) and Hebrews 12:28. Secondly, and this is a nugget of Scripture, Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 why God wants us to share in his glory. Ephesians 1:4-6, 11-13a, &15-19a contains the nugget as to why the Lord wants his Bride to participate in his glory and bear fruit for Him: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” … “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” … “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” So, we are no longer under the Law, but we are under grace, we are in Christ Jesus. And, our Bridegroom has given us his power so that we may share in his glory by practicing our grace gifts, and so shining/ blazing in this world of darkness (Revelation 1:14 again, & John 1:5).
104. Dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:20-22, “That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. In the above Item#103 we see that Christ wants us to bear fruit for Him and share in his glory as his Bride. However, in Ephesians 1:20-22, we are reminded that all this glory and power and authority and dominion comes from Him who is the Creator. And we are reminded that He rules far above what we experience as authority and dominion.
a.) Colossians 1:15-20, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And he is the Head of the Body, the Church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Who else should have all power and authority, other than the One who created and consciously holds together all things?! And, I note and love how the Lord Jesus is carefully and sensitively revealing to us, as “the image of the invisible God”, who He is and what the Lord’s grace and dominion is all about.
b.) I Peter 4:10-11, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” I had this passage noted as a doxology. However, as is usually the case with any Scripture, it has some very succinct and useful meaning, other than merely being a praise to God- which would be excellent as well. This passage is noting that the use of our grace gifts is an excellent way to obtain praise for God through Jesus Christ. (And it’s no accident that this seems like the same concept of Christ’s Bride reflecting and sharing his glory.
c.) Jude 24, “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” Jude is praising the Lord God in a doxology and requesting glory, majesty, power and glory be his forevermore, which is and was already true, but ascribes such dominion, and salvation, to the Father through the Son. We like to consider our salvation as being through the Son. However, since salvation comes through the Son’s work at the cross, and his guidance from the Father’s right hand, then salvation also comes through the Father and the Spirit as well- John 10,29&30 and Titus 3:4-6.
d.) Revelation 1:4-6, “To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” John is praising the Lord Jesus and ascribing to Him glory and power for ever and ever. And Christ’s shekinah glory is and was always his as the 2nd person of the Godhead. John is also revealing to us, as Christ’s servants and friends, what the Father revealed to the Son regarding who Christ actually is and what will come to fruition- Revelation 1:1&2. Revelation 1:1-2 & 4-6 help us to see the working relationship between the Father and the Son. We can touch on that relationship, but not we the depths of it are too deep to plumb. See also Matthew 24:36 and Item#c above.
e.) Also see Items#55, 61, &99 above.
105.) Rejecting Godly dominion, Jude 3-11, “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. From the above we quickly conclude that rejecting Godly authority is very dangerous with eternal consequence- if not for us, then for our families. The following are other passages referring to rejection of Godly authority
a.) “The way of Cain”. Genesis 4:3-15 chronicles Cain’s decisions against God, “The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’ Now Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let’s go out to the field.’ While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ The Lord said, ‘What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.’ Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.’ Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.” Hebrews 11:4 notes that Cain lacked the faith of Abel, “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did.” I John 3:12, explains that Cain was satan’s at the first, “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.” We can conclude that Cain rebelled against God because he didn’t revere God or his power (lack of faith and wisdom), and he refused to repent even though God warned him- “sin is crouching at your door”. So, that constitutes the “way of Cain”- lack of faith and wisdom, and inadequate fear of the Lord, all of which led to some serious sins, even murder. And, many Christians have perceived that the first man born of a woman was, sadly, a murderer!
b.) “Rushed for profit into Balaam’s error”. II Peter 2:15 says Balaam “loved the wages of wickedness”. Revelation 2:14 says Balaam “taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality”. Upon reviewing Balaam’s conduct in Numbers 22 through 25, it’s difficult to see what Balaam did that was wrong. However, God’s Word in II Peter and Revelation above says that he loved the money (I Timothy 6:10), and he somehow taught Moab to entice Israel; and so these were Balaam’s sins. And these were serious sins since Balaam has been a Scriptural example of an unfaithful prophet ever since. Perhaps we know of clergymen who, because of their dependence on money paid to them from the Lord’s coffers, have led others into teachings and lifestyles which are less than what the Lord wants for them. (Hint: If you don’t think you know one personally, start by finding one of the many on TV.) That would then be the same error as Balaam. Also see Item#51b of the Healings Section, and Mark 13:22.
c.) “Been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion”. Numbers 16:1-3, 30-35, “Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?’” “… ‘But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.’ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, ‘The earth is going to swallow us too!’ And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.” Now, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face (Item#38c), and these men knew it. I suppose satan must have really twisted their minds to get them to attempt to resist Moses after all the miracles that the Lord worked through Moses. But the Scripture warns of such rebellious and insolent men who have already destroyed their souls by entering such rebellion against Godly dominion. Please note that the passage is saying that such men have already “been destroyed” once they get to that point of rebellion.
d.) Romans 13:1-7, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” This is a Scripture passage which I had to memorize and understand in order to work in government in the midst of the Democratic Party in Chicago (Item#95h of the Teaching Section). This passage explains that we should have reverence for government because God’s power and authority works through governments- even bad government; because in this world most government workers are not Christians. But, amazingly, there is much Godly justice administrated by some very poor governments. Of course, there is much oppression of people by governments too. Many Christians feel that it is not a good testimony for Christians to be constantly resisting and complaining about government, and especially being cited as law breakers. Actually, Romans 13 says that stepping outside the law is placing ourselves outside of the Lord’s protection through authorities. Also see Items #117a of the Teaching Section, 46b& 47f of the Healings Section, and 27f of the Shepherding Section.
As has been the case in this Grace Study, the first and last points in this section have been extremely noteworthy. Item#1 discusses administration of a local gathering’s assets- buildings, furnishings, and money. These assets are a direct measure of the time and effort of the gathering. So, the care and administration of a gatherings assets comprises much of the care and administration of the assembly. The last Item discusses rejecting Godly dominion. In the assemblies, accepting Godly dominion includes recognizing the relevance and authority of God’s written Word and recognizing God’s leading/ unction (Jeremiah 31:333&34, Matthew 13:11, John 14:26, Acts 26:19, I John 2:20&27, I Corinthians 3:5-11). These are obviously both very important points. I used to play ice hockey. And, I once followed a hockey trainer on the internet. One thing he said really stuck with me regarding stick handling. He said, (my paraphrasing) “It doesn’t really matter how fancy your stick handling looks. What matters is that you control the puck in all situations.” This is the same in basketball, soccer, and in the administration of local gatherings. An easy way to do this is to let your rule merely be facilitating God’s rule in the assembly and in your self- a servant leader, leading softly (Items#36 and 68b, above). “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”- I Corinthians 14:33. Further, the concept that God rules over all things is intrinsic to all points being set forth in this Grace Study, particularly in this Section concerning the grace gift of Rule- see Item#7 below.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT POINTS
Lest someone misconstrue, or even deliberately twist, the results of what’s being concluded from this study, the following summary points are noted:
1) The Scripture, which cannot be broken, according to the Lord Jesus in John 10:35, defines “rule” as a Spirit manifested ability/ gift ranked with prophecy and other gifts. The above items reference this: Nos. 1, 3, 9, 26, 44g, & 82.)
2) The Church needs the gift of rule to function as the body of Christ. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1,14a,30,39,44,46,48,49, & 79.)
3) When we study Christian rule in Scripture we inevitably have to differentiate between the following terms: the Spirit gift of rule practiced in the Church, Christians reigning now and in the millennium, worldly reign by Godly people, worldly reign by ungodly people, and then the reign of God. (See Items# 4,99,100,101, & 104.)
4) Rule starts within the local assembly. Worldly government is not “rule”, but is greatly influenced by Godly men and principles (Matthew 5:14)- especially Godly rule. ((The above items reference this: Nos.25,26,27a,27m,36e,64,&79.)
5) “Rule” also existed in the Old Testament times in the makeup of individuals such as David and Joseph. (The above items reference this: Nos. 3,8,9,15,27,33,35,36,38,50,71,75,76,&78.)
6) Believers should take God’s gift of rule seriously. Adherence to Christian “rule” can mean the difference between being inside of God’s will or being outside of God’s will. Loss of blessings, sickness and death can ensue from ignoring such. And our time on Earth is “training time for reigning time”, so we should make use of our time here and learn God’s way of rule. (The above items reference this: Nos. 1,5,11,17,40,43,60,64c, &70a.)
7) God is head over all things, in heaven and in all creation. And the Lord Jesus rules now at the Father’s right hand until He turns all rule over to the Father- I Corinthians 15:28. (The above items reference this: Items# 11,14,19,23,25,34,37,39,43c,45,47,55,60,61,62, &84b.)
8) There are two great prophetic hopes that will carry us when we are down and urge us onward to practice and follow through on our grace gifts. The Church “will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ”- Ephesians 4:15. We believers will reign with Him. (The above items reference this: Nos. 11a-d,14a,23,44e&f, and 61g.)
9) The authority of government to govern nations, and administrate civil law, as well as the gift of rule, to administrate in the local gathering, all comes from God. (The above items reference this: Items# 1,4,5,8,9,15a&f,19,24,25,27,29,32,43,51,70d&e,72,74,77,&84,)
10) Communication is imperative for effective rule/ leadership. (The above items reference this: Nos. 15,27p,45,70m&n, and 81a&b).
11) Each believer needs to understand and differentiate between the terms “elder”, “deacon”, “overseer”, “bishop”, “hireling”, and “shepherd”. (The above items reference this: Items# 9,15e,20a,26,52,70o,74b, &79.)
12) The Lord loves justice and righteousness among rulers and in all situations. (The above items reference this: Items# 15f,20,22,23f,27f,34d&c,35j,43c,44,47e,61c,62b,64, &70f.)
13) The Lord Jesus’ style of servant leadership sets the standard for Christian “rule”, not lording it over one another, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve”- Matthew 20:28. (The above items reference this: Nos. 21,26,27b&i,36,68b, &101.)
14) There are certain leadership qualities which can be gleaned from Scripture and put into practice, especially from the prophetic rule of the Lord Jesus. (The above items reference this: Items# 1,4,15d,20,20a,21,22,23,26,27,28,30,47i,50,69,70,81, &84.)
END HOME
[1] The Open Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers) First page of “The Book of Ezekiel”, pg 732.
[2] James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (McLean, VA: MacDonald Publishing Company, 1894 1st publishing) p. 159 of “Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament”. Copyright assigned 1986 to World Bible Publishers, Inc., Iowa falls, Iowa.
[3] ISA basic 3.0.2, Scripture 4 All Publishing, Copyright 2015.
[4] The Body of Christ, page 2, Living Stream Ministry, 1993, Anaheim, CA 92804.