“THE SACRIFICE?”

 

Hear me O Lord, hear me, that these people may know thou art the Lord God, and thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water which was in the trench. And when the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, The Lord, he is God, the Lord, he is God. (1King 18:37 – 39.)

PRE-AMBLE by Robert 

The Lord through the Holy Spirit brought me to The Book 1Kings in the Old Testament to reveal the similarities of how far from God the modern churches worshipping their worldly god of love, have fallen and in similar actions how far from God the Israelites under King Ahab had fallen away from God.

Like Elijah, we as “Modern Day Disciples” are being lead to revealing who Yeshua is and why God placed Him among us. “Yes,”  we recognize the original saying, and it is true Yeshua came to save our, souls, and “Yeshua” did. However, do we fully comprehend and understand what really took place that, day? Remember we have been shown Adam and Eves’s sins separated our spirit from God. We were given a fleshly body that perishes, however, as well an opportunity in this lifetime to spiritually reconnect with God. In the July article “ADOPTION” published July 10, 2018, we were shown the true meaning of that adoption.

Now when we look at the event, Elijah put on display it is easy to see what his final goal was, Elijah’s sacrifice displayed God’s existence and glorious power (1King 18:38). After this event the people declared “The LORD, he is the God; The LORD, he is the God. (1Kings 18:39.) 

To premise this event we see Elijah saying onto the prophets of Baal. Choose you one Bulloch for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many, and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. Those who followed Baal as prophets took the Bullock who was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.  

Midday passed Elijah mocked them and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awakened. 

We no longer perform animal sacrifices to God, and I am going to bring forward what is being revealed through the Holy Spirit, the sacrifices we perform to demonstrate “Yeshua is the Son of God,” and His sacrifice is proof God is the Father of all mankind. It becomes apparent an understanding of our acceptance of Yeshua is not in question. But what it truly means on a spiritual level and what sacrifices we demonstrate so others will see and recognize and accept Him as the Son of God.

OPENING PRAYER by Robert

Father in heaven, we are calling out Lord to the multitudes to know your love, compassion, and forgiveness. We ask Father for your wisdom and discernment to demonstrate your greatness that they would know you as God. Fill us with the strength to endure all the attacks of the enemy. Polish us Lord that we might shine brightly before their eyes as we demonstrate your love for us so the multitudes would know it is you who is lifting us above the evil in this world. It is you who has freed us from the snares and trappings of Satan. Demonstrate through us Lord your greatness that they would see your sacrifice and know you are the Son of God. This we pray in your name Yeshua Amen and Amen.  

OPENING STATEMENT by Robert          

I want to delve into this article as quickly as possible as there is a considerable amount of information to absorb and discern. From (1Kings) the Holy Spirit lead me to (Romans 12), where we find the Apostle Paul in his writings explaining the prime fundamental doctrines of being a follower and believer in Yeshua the Son of God.

“We mistake our belief in Yeshua if we look upon it only as a system of notions and a guide to speculation. It is a reasonable belief, that tends to the right ordering of the conversation. It is designed not only to inform our judgments but to reform our hearts and lives. From the method of the apostle’s writing in this, as in some other of the epistles, the stewards of the mysteries of God may take direction on how to divide the word of truth. Not to press duty abstracted from privilege, nor privilege abstracted from duty but let both go together, with a complicated design, they will greatly promote and befriend each other,”

Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) relates the following, “The foundation of believers assembling must be laid in spiritual knowledge and faith. We must first understand how we receive Yeshua our Lord, and then we shall know the better how to walk in him. The exhortations are short and pithy, briefly summing up what is good, and what the Lord our God in Yeshua requires of us. It is an abridgment of the Assemblies directory, an excellent collection of rules for the right ordering of the conversation, as becomes the gospel. It is joined to the preceding discourse by the word “therefore.” It is the practical application of doctrinal truths that is the life of preaching. Therefore what God hath joined together let no man put asunder. Paul had been discoursing at large of the justification by faith, and of the riches of free grace, and the pledges and assurances we have. The particular exhortations of this chapter are reducible to the three principal heads of Assembly duty: our duty to God, to ourselves, and to our brother. The grace of God teaches us in general, to live “godly, soberly, and righteously” and to deny all that which is contrary hereunto. 

We will grow to understand what godliness, sobriety, and righteousness, are though somewhat intermixed. Paul entreated the Romans, like his brethren in Yeshua, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receiving? It is acceptable to God: a reasonable service, which we are able and ready to give a reason for, and which we understand. Conversion and sanctification are the renewings of the mind; a change, not of the substance, but of the qualities of the soul. The progress of sanctification, dying to sin more and more, and living to righteousness more and more, is the carrying on this renewing work until it is perfected in glory.

The Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-21 lays out the scheme mentioned earlier what is godliness Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) interprets it for us: It is to surrender ourselves to God, and so to lay a good foundation. We must first give our own selves unto the Lord, (2Corinthians 8:5). This is here pressed as the spring of all duty and obedience, (Romans 12:1,2). Man consists of body and soul, (Genisis 2:7; Ecclesiastes 12:7). The duty pressed–to present our bodies a living sacrifice, alluding to the sacrifices under the law, which were presented or set before God at the altar, ready to be offered to him. Your bodies — your whole selves so expressed because under the law the bodies of beasts were offered in sacrifice, (1Cor. 6:2). Our bodies and spirits are intended. The offering was sacrificed by the priest, but offered by the offerer, who transferred to God all his right, title, and interest in it, by laying his hand on the head of it, Sacrifice is here taken for whatsoever is by Gods own appointment dedicated to himself (1Peter 2:5).

We are a temple, priest, and sacrifice, as Yeshua was in his peculiar sacrificing. There were sacrifices of atonement and sacrifices of acknowledgment. Yeshua, who was once offered to bear the sins of many, is the only sacrifice of atonement but our persons and performances, tendered to God through Yeshua, our priest, are as sacrifices of acknowledgment to the honour of God. Presenting them denotes a voluntary act, done by virtue of the absolute despotic power which the will has over the body and all the members of it, It must be a free-will offering. Your bodies, not your beasts. The presenting of the body to God implies not only the avoiding of the sins that are committed with or against the body but the use of the body as a servant of the soul in the service of God. 

So to sum this up To be religious is to serve God. How? 1). We must make a business of it, and not be slothful in that business. 2). We must be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. God must be served with the spirit (Romans 1:9; John 4:24), under the influences of the Holy Spirit. Whatever we do in spirituality it is pleasing to God no further than it is done with our spirits wrought upon the Spirit of God. 3). Rejoicing in hope God is worshipped and honoured by our hope and trust in Him, especially when we rejoice in that hope, take a complacency in that confidence, which argues a great assurance of the reality and a great esteem of the excellency of the good hoped for. 4). Patient, in tribulation. Thus also God is served, not only by working for him when he calls us to work but by sitting still quietly when he calls us to suffer. Patience for God’s sake, and with an eye to his will and glory, is true piety. 5). Continuing instant in prayer, Prayer is a friend to hope and patience, and we do in it serve the Lord. It signifies both fervency and perseverance in prayer. We should not be cold in the duty, nor soon weary of it, (1Thess,v17; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4: 2). This is our duty which immediately respects God.

Next, Paul offered an explanation of sobriety which Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) again interprets: A sober opinion of ourselves, (Romans 12:3). It is ushered in with a solemn preface: I say through the grace given unto me: the grace of wisdom, by which Paul understood the necessity and excellency of this duty the grace of apostleship, by which Paul had the authority to press and enjoin it. We must not be self-conceited, nor esteem too much our own wisdom and other attainments, not think ourselves to be something (Gal.6:3).  There is a highly thought of ourselves which we may and must have to imagine ourselves too good to be slaves of sin and drudges to this world. On the other hand, we think soberly, that is,  we must have a low and modest opinion of ourselves and to what we have received from God our own abilities, our gifts and graces, according to what we have received from God. 

Moving forward we are now looking for an understanding and description of righteousness under faith. However to fully comprehend what we have in righteousness through faith a look at righteousness which is of the law I believe is needed first. Paul in [Romans 10] desired for the Jews to come out from under the law to be truly saved from the wrath to come, eternal wrath, which was hanging over their heads. With his rendition, Paul believed they could be convinced and converted but knew he could not pray in faith so they might be saved in their unbelief.  Paul was merciful, as God is, who is not willing that any should perish (2Peter 3:9), desires not the death of sinners. Paul in this chapter set the tone: it is our duty as “modern-day disciples” honestly and earnestly to desire the salvation of our own. To complete what has been set before us. I believe we need the following information to identify which righteousness those we are about to meet are walking in. 

Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) offers an in-depth look at both walks in righteousness the first being the righteousness of the law. “This Paul shows in (Romans 10:5). The tenor of it is, Do, and live. Though it directs us to better and more effectual righteousness in Yeshua, yet in itself, considered as a law abstracted from its respect to Yeshua and the gospel (for so the unbelieving Jews embraced and retained it), it owneth nothing as righteousness sufficient to justify a man but that of perfect obedience. For this, he quotes that scripture (Leviticus 18:5), You shall, therefore, keep my statutes and my judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them. To this, he refers to (Galatians 3:12), The man that doeth them, shall live in them. Live that is, be happy, not only in the land of Canaan but in heaven, of which Canaan was a type and figure. The doing supposed must be perfect and sinless, without the least breach or violation. Now, was it not extreme folly in the Jews to adhere so strictly to this way of justification and salvation, which was in itself so hard, and by the corruption of nature now become impossible, when there was a new and a living way opened?

Now we turn to the definition of righteousness which is of faith. Described by Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) Paul describes in the words of Moses, in Deuteronomy, in the second law (so Deuteronomy signifies), where there was a much clearer revelation of Yeshua and the gospel than there was in the first giving of the law: he quotes it from (Deuteronomy 30:11-14), and shows: 1). That it is not at all hard or complicated. The way of justification and salvation has in it no such depths or knots as may discourage us, no insuperable difficulties attending it but, as was foretold, it is a highway, (Isaiah 35:8). We are not put to climb for it, it is not in heaven we are not set to dive for it, it is not in the deep. First, we need not go to heaven, to search the records or to inquire into the secrets of the divine counsel. It is true Yeshua is in heaven, but we may be justified and saved without going thither, to fetch him thence, or sending a special messenger to him. Secondly, we need not go to the deep, to carry Yeshua out of the grave, or from the state of the dead: into the deep to bring up Yeshua from the dead. This plainly shows that Yeshua’s descent into the deep, or into Hades was no more than his going into the state of the dead, in allusion to Jonah. It is true Yeshua was in the grave, and it is as accurate he is now in heaven. But we need not perplex and puzzle ourselves with fancied difficulties, nor must we create to ourselves such gross and carnal ideas of these things as if the method of salvation was impracticable, and the design of the revelation was only to amuse us. No, salvation is not put at so vast a distance from us. 2). But it is very understandable and manageable. “The word is nigh thee.” When we speak of looking upon Yeshua, and receiving Yeshua, and feeding upon Yeshua, it is not Yeshua in heaven, nor Christ in the deep that we mean but Yeshua in the promise, Christ exhibited to us, and offered, in the word. Yeshua is nigh thee, for the word is nigh thee: nigh thee indeed: it is in thy mouth and in thy heart, there is no difficulty in understanding, believing, and owning it. The work thou hast to do lies within thee; the kingdom of God is in you, (Luke 17:21). 

So now we have these definitions to work with, which give us a solid foundation. Where like Peter we stand on the Rock Yeshua is building His Assembly upon Matthew Henry (1662 – 1774) explains Matthew 16:18 “The grant is put into Peter’s hand [I say it to thee.] The Old Testament promises relating to the Assembly were given immediately to particular persons, eminent for faith and holiness, as to Abraham and David which yet gave no supremacy to them, much less to any of their successors, so the New Testament charter is here delivered to Peter as an agent, but to the use and behoof of the Assembly in all ages, according to the purposes therein specified and contained. Now it is here promised.

That Yeshua would build his Assembly upon a rock. This body politic is incorporated by the style and title of Yeshua’s Assembly. It is a number of the children of men called out of the world, and set apart from it, and dedicated to Yeshua. It is not thy Assembly, but mine. Peter remembered this when he cautioned ministers not to lord it over God’s heritage. The Assembly is Yeshua’s peculiar, appropriated to him. The world is God’s, and they that dwell therein but the Assembly is a chosen remnant, that stands in relation to God through Yeshua as Mediator. It bears his image and superscription. The Builder and Maker of the Assembly are Yeshua himself [I will build it]. The Assembly is a temple which Yeshua is the Builder of (Zechariah 6:11-12.)

CLOSING COMMENTS by Robert

So now knowing what our sacrifices represent as “Modern Day Disciples,” it becomes clear, our Assembly is built upon a rock a firm, strong, and lasting foundation, which time will not waste, nor will it sink under the weight of the building. Yeshua would not build his Assembly upon the sand, for he knew that storms would arise. So the call goes out to us as disciples like it did to Peter we must show strength and stability are with us. We must show that we are not shaken by the waves of men’s fluctuating opinions concerning us, but be established in the present truth (2Peter 1:12). The Holy Spirit brought me to Hebrews 12:7-8 to recognize the position of the modern-day Churches offering a god who only loves you and does not chasten. Those who follow this walk need to know without the sacrifice of being Chastened you will be seen being outside of the Assembly and seen as bastards and not sons.

The captain of our salvation Yeshua does not call his people out to the hardest trials at first, but wisely trains them up with fewer sufferings to be prepared for greater. As “Modern Day Disciples” we must demonstrate the gentleness of Yeshua in accommodating their trial to their strength. We must demonstrate how not to magnify our afflictions, but as disciples, identify the mercies which are mixed with the hardships.

In closing, I want to share this message from God as he has directed his people how we should behave towards all our afflictions they must avoid the extremes that many will run into: 

1. We must not despise the chastening of the Lord we must not make light of afflictions and be stupid and insensible under them, for they are the hand and rod of God and His rebukes for sin. Those who make light of affliction make light of God and make light of sin. 
2. They must not faint when they are rebuked they must not despond and sink under their trial, nor fret and repine, but bear up with faith and patience. 
3. If they run into either of these extremes, it is a sign they have forgotten their heavenly Father’s advice and exhortation, which he has given them in pure and tender affection.  

CLOSING PRAYER by Robert

Father in heaven hear our petitions for your knowledge strength and discernment to demonstrate your love and compassion. Bring us your understanding and wisdom that when we please you, Father, you will bring peace into our lives even from our enemies. Show us the way to walk in your light that we might reflect our sacrifices so those in the darkness will see your glory and gentleness towards us as we go through our journey to everlasting life and peace. Give us the fervor to be living examples of how your blessings bring us through all turmoil silently but showing courage and endurance in your name. Allow us to share the knowledge of your presence calming and uplifting us through our turmoils as lessons lifting us to more significant achievements in your name. Allow our walk and demonstrations to prove your deity as the Son of God. This we pray in your name Yeshua, Amen and Amen.

Remember these articles are messages given to a humble, dedicated servant of Yeshua going forward as His Watchman sounding the Trumpet of trials and tribulations coming upon the Assembly and the believers within it. 

And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty if I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty. (2Kings 1:10) 

May our Father send His blessings to you lifting all curses and infirmities smoothing your path as you go forward in His name as “Modern Day Disciples.”

Robert