Since this third part includes a link to another FMF article, and others to TTUF and a youtube teaching, this last part will be much shorter, as the reader is encouraged to check out the other articles/video.
The TESTING of GOD – HEAVENS SHAKING TO REVEAL THE FAKING
Just as the Corner Stone, the very Foundation of God’s Kingdom being Christ Himself was tested in every way conceivable, yet without sin (HEB. 4:15) and remained steadfast and immoveable, so too this world and all in it will be tested: sinner and saint when the “great shaking” comes, spoken of by the prophets, most notably Haggai and Joel. Even now, there are lesser ‘shakings’ going on that test our faith.
Only those founded on the Rock will endure these shaking, and great storms that will assail the two houses represented in MATT. 7:7-28. Will you declare, as did Joshua before, that as for you and your house, you will serve the LORD (JOSH 24:15)?
There is coming a day when national Israel will see the Messiah arriving (for the Second Time!) to save them from their enemies (most notably the Beast and his armies; REV 19:11-20) and establish His Kingdom in Zion, the city of the LORD; and at that time the nation of Israel will be exalted in prominence above all the nations of the world:
ISAIAH 60:14
14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
We have addressed this great testing in a previous article on FMF called HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION.
WHICH WISDOM DO YOU WANT?
Note that it’s the wise man who builds his house upon the Rock and I would like to address this issue of wisdom because there are various sources: Divine as from the Scripture of God, carnal wisdom as derivative of human thought, and demonic as that which is of the spirit of Satan.
Just as wisdom is closely associated with discernment, we likewise must employ both to perceive the inner and underlying substance of the things we see in this world – which of these things are in accord with the wisdom of God (COL. 1:28) and which of these oppose this wisdom (which would consist of both human and devilish wisdom)? We, like Paul, must be wise master builders who can only lay Christ as the sure foundation in our lives and in the lives of those we evangelize (1 COR. 3:9-11).
Wisdom and discernment comes from the Word of God as well as from the Spirit of God as amply shown in Scripture itself, in such passages as HEB. 4:16; 5:13-14; ISA. 11:2; 1 COR. 12:10; PSA. 119:99 and many others.
The TESTING of GOD – HEAVENS SHAKING TO REVEAL THE FAKING
Just as the Corner Stone, the very Foundation of God’s Kingdom being Christ Himself was tested in every way conceivable, yet without sin (HEB. 4:15) and remained steadfast and immoveable, so too this world and all in it will be tested: sinner and saint when the “great shaking” comes, spoken of by the prophets, most notably Haggai and Joel. Even now, there are lesser ‘shakings’ going on that test our faith.
Only those founded on the Rock will endure these shaking, and great storms that will assail the two houses represented in MATT. 7:7-28. Will you declare, as did Joshua before, that as for you and your house, you will serve the LORD (JOSH 24:15)?
There is coming a day when national Israel will see the Messiah arriving (for the Second Time!) to save them from their enemies (most notably the Beast and his armies; REV 19:11-20) and establish His Kingdom in Zion, the city of the LORD; and at that time the nation of Israel will be exalted in prominence above all the nations of the world:
ISAIAH 60:14
14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee; The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
We have addressed this great testing in a previous article on FMF called HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION.
WHICH WISDOM DO YOU WANT?
Note that it’s the wise man who builds his house upon the Rock and I would like to address this issue of wisdom because there are various sources: Divine as from the Scripture of God, carnal wisdom as derivative of human thought, and demonic as that which is of the spirit of Satan.
Just as wisdom is closely associated with discernment, we likewise must employ both to perceive the inner and underlying substance of the things we see in this world – which of these things are in accord with the wisdom of God (COL. 1:28) and which of these oppose this wisdom (which would consist of both human and devilish wisdom)? We, like Paul, must be wise master builders who can only lay Christ as the sure foundation in our lives and in the lives of those we evangelize (1 COR. 3:9-11).
Wisdom and discernment comes from the Word of God as well as from the Spirit of God as amply shown in Scripture itself, in such passages as HEB. 4:16; 5:13-14; ISA. 11:2; 1 COR. 12:10; PSA. 119:99 and many others.
In as much as we heed the words of Christ, and obey them we are standing upon the ROCK and are ‘storm proofing’ our lives, and the wisdom by the Spirit no less guides and directs our lives so that we may apply our hearts to wisdom (PSA. 90:12; PROV. 2:2).
The Holy Spirit Himself grants to us the wisdom of Christ (1 COR. 2:13; PSA. 86:11), the Third Person of the Trinity is our teacher (1 COR. 2:13); our Instructor (NEH. 9:20); our Guide (LK. 12:12); our Comforter (JN. 14:26); and our Anointer (1 JN. 2:27) and He is absolutely and necessarily involved in establishing and keeping us upon that holy foundation which shall endure beyond the life span of this fallen creation.
Those without the Spirit of God can only remain upon the profane foundation, unless they repent and change their allegiance from the kingdom of Darkness to the kingdom of Light!
And just as God shall test everyone of us by His ‘shakings’ He likewise purges us, His saints even now, by way of fiery trials. Through the purity of God’s Spirit Himself, He refines us like gold being purified of its dross, for our God is a consuming fire (HEB. 12:29).
And just as God shall test everyone of us by His ‘shakings’ He likewise purges us, His saints even now, by way of fiery trials. Through the purity of God’s Spirit Himself, He refines us like gold being purified of its dross, for our God is a consuming fire (HEB. 12:29).
It's this same fire that purifies, refines and strengthens saints, will ruin and destroy every unrepentant, unredeemed sinner (2 THESS. 1:7-9) who refuses God His rightful place as absolute Ruler of their lives (ISA. 45:22-24; ROM. 14:11; yet, certainly not a tyrannical Ruler, but a gentle and gracious One; see MT. 11:29).
HEBREWS 12:28-29
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
For more verses that contrast God’s wisdom from other sources (which will surely be our faithful counsel and guide in distinguishing between the holy foundation from the profane), consider these: ROM. 1:22; 1 COR. 1:19; 2:6; 3:19-20; 2 COR. 1:12; COL. 2:23;
JAMES 3:15.
So then, there are two primary considerations that we come away with from this study on FOUNDATIONS: The foundation of our lives as individuals and whether we choose the Holy or the Profane and by this choice we determine the course of our lives from now and into eternity in heaven or hell.
The other consideration is to realize that no matter what foundation we may choose, “the foundation of God remains sure” and shall endure forever and ever. Evil, sin and rebellion will not endure the great shaking of God’s wrath and judgment, but soundly and certainly be consigned to eternal damnation.
HEBREWS 12:28-29
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
For more verses that contrast God’s wisdom from other sources (which will surely be our faithful counsel and guide in distinguishing between the holy foundation from the profane), consider these: ROM. 1:22; 1 COR. 1:19; 2:6; 3:19-20; 2 COR. 1:12; COL. 2:23;
JAMES 3:15.
So then, there are two primary considerations that we come away with from this study on FOUNDATIONS: The foundation of our lives as individuals and whether we choose the Holy or the Profane and by this choice we determine the course of our lives from now and into eternity in heaven or hell.
The other consideration is to realize that no matter what foundation we may choose, “the foundation of God remains sure” and shall endure forever and ever. Evil, sin and rebellion will not endure the great shaking of God’s wrath and judgment, but soundly and certainly be consigned to eternal damnation.
The LORD God will then proceed in His eternal kingdom to rule and reign in His benevolent grace and majestic holiness, blessing forever those saints that have embraced the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment