The
whole community of the people of Isra'el left the Seen Desert,
traveling in stages, as Adonai had ordered, and camped at Refidim; but there
was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moshe,
demanding, "Give us water to drink!" But Moshe replied, "Why
pick a fight with me? Why are you testing Adonai?" However, the people
were thirsty for water there and grumbled against Moshe, "For what did you
bring us up from Egypt?
To kill us, our children and our livestock with thirst?" Moshe cried out
to Adonai, "What am I to do with these people? They're ready to stone
me!"
(Exodus
17:1-4 CJB)
>>>>>>>>>>>
So
when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat
down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? You
call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for
that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your
feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it]
to wash one another's feet. For I have given you this as an example, so that
you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you. I assure you, most
solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who
is sent is superior to the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed
and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act
accordingly and really do them]. (John 13:12-17 AMP)
Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets. Why did He do that?
And
God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable,
pleasant) and He approved it completely. And there was evening and there was
morning, a sixth day.
(Genesis
1:31 AMP)
What happened to the things God made?
The
Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every
imagination and intention of all human thinking was only evil continually. And
the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved at
heart.
(Genesis
6:5-6 AMP)
Would
we wish to live in continual regret and grief? What we make belongs to us, and
when it is displeasing to us, what do we do? We fix it, or we throw it on the
trash heap.
What
did God do with the things He made which had become evil entirely and
continually?
The
earth was depraved and putrid in God's sight, and the land was filled with
violence (desecration, infringement, outrage, assault, and lust for power). And
God looked upon the world and saw how degenerate, debased, and vicious it was,
for all humanity had corrupted their way upon the earth and lost their true
direction. God said to Noah, I intend to make an end of all flesh, for through
men the land is filled with violence; and behold, I will destroy them and the
land.
(Genesis
6:11-13 AMP)
Would
God’s creation be a failure? Would He throw it and mankind made in Hid image
and likeness away?
But
Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord. This is the history of the
generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his [evil]
generation; Noah walked [in habitual fellowship] with God.
(Genesis
6:8-9 AMP)
What
happened to Noah when God favored him? God put him to work. He built a big
ship.
After
the flood Noah got drunk and his son Ham saw him naked. Why did this happen?
Did not God destroy all the wicked? Was Noah not “a just and righteous man,
blameless in his [evil] generation;” ???
God
promised Noah that never again would He drown the whole world. And yet we know
that evil was not eradicated from the earth or from the hearts of men by the
flood. Why? What IS God doing? Be assured it is something good!!!
"You
are worthy, Adonai Eloheinu, to have glory, honor and power, because you
created all things — yes, because of your will they were created and came into
being!"
(Revelation
4:11 CJB)
Many
others have been given favor from God. Can we name some? Can we readily give a
dozen examples of those whom God favored along with the lesson their story
teaches us? I fear I would be unable to meet that challenge well without a
concordance.
Paul
wrote of God’s giving him:
“…this
grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted” (Eph 3:8b AMP)
Like
Noah, after God showed Paul favor He put him to work!
to
proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and
exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have
searched out], Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the
plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men]
of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the
mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus. [The purpose is]
that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its
infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic
rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. This
is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He
has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our
Lord,”
(Eph
3:8c-11 AMP)
It is
awesome that God’s plan, His will and purposes are somewhat now revealed here
in Ephesians 3.
[The
purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of
God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known
to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the
heavenly sphere. (Eph 3:10 AMP)
Are
you church? Are you called of God? Have you received The Messiah Jesus? Are you
highly and lowly favored by God? Is His grace your inheritance? Is Jesus your
Lord, Savior and first Love? Watch out if you say yes, for He will surely put
you to work!
What
will your “job” be? Will it not be to participate with all those favored and
called of God to:
make known to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places the
complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and
innumerable aspects?
Is this not a great part of God’s plan and purpose in sending
Jesus to fulfill the law and the prophets? Was Jesus not a major worker in and
of:
“the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite
variety and innumerable aspects?”
Are you invited by God not only to go to heaven when you
die, but even NOW invited to:
“make known
to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places the complicated,
many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects?”
How do we do this? Surely this is something beyond what I, a
mere man or woman, am able to do. Surely this is a job for pastors and
prophets.
And
the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him [Moses], and took of the
Spirit that was upon him and put It upon the seventy elders; and when the
Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied [sounding forth the praises of God
and declaring His will]. Then they did so no more. [Num. 11:29.] But
there remained two men in the camp named Eldad and Medad. The Spirit rested
upon them, and they were of those who were selected and listed, yet they did
not go out to the Tent [as told to do], but they prophesied in the camp.
And a young man ran to Moses and said, Eldad and Medad are prophesying [sounding
forth the praises of God and declaring His will] in the camp. Joshua son of
Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, My lord Moses, forbid
them! But Moses said to him, Are you envious or jealous for my sake? Would that
all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon
them! [Luke 9:49, 50.] (Num 11:25-29 AMP) But Moshe replied, "Are
you so zealous to protect me? I wish all of Adonai's people were prophets! I
wish Adonai would put his Spirit on all of them!" (Num 11:29 CJB)
Have
you surrendered your will to Father? Have you prayed: “God save me a sinner
from sin?” Have you admitted that YOUR SINS are killing YOU, and is that not a
grief to your soul. But moreover is YOUR sin not a grief to God who owns your
soul? And now having believed God sent Jesus to save you from God’s judgment
for your sins, can you not also believe that He will give you an assignment
among your brothers and sisters, even to co-labor with them as we all: make known to the angelic rulers and authorities in heavenly places
the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and
innumerable aspects?
God’s
wisdom is complicated, many-sided, infinite in variety and innumerable in its
aspects. Be an aspect of God’s wisdom. Be even a complicated aspect! But BELONG
to God and allow Him to make you one of His chosen and peculiar people. God
takes man who will die of his own weight and breathes His Life Giving Spirit
into Him, BLESSED BE THE NAME OF YAHWEH! Your work may not be flashy, well
known or often seen or even acknowledged by man. But when you do it, I believe
God will commend you for it and reward you. You will have laid up a treasure in
heaven. There is no need to display it now to anyone. If God wants that wisdom
known to your friends He will show it. But will the work you do and the reward
reserved for you in heaven not be a real demonstration of the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in
all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects and be made known to the angelic rulers and
authorities in heavenly places?
WOO HOO!!! Hallelu Yah!!! Thank You Jesus, Thank You Abba, Thank You HOLY
SPIRIT GOD!
I
APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive
dedication of your bodies [presenting all your
members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated)
and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent)
service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial
customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that
you may prove [for yourselves] what is
the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good
and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you
not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance],
but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of
faith apportioned by God to him. (Rom 12:1-3 AMP)
Let
each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his
own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same
attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ
Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being
essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of
the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was
a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all
privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant
(slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He
had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further]
and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has
freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name
of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear
ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with
the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am
absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your
own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious
caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly
shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not
in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at
work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both
to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Do all
things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God]
and questioning and doubting [among yourselves], That you may show
yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children
of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and
wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you
are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark]
world, Holding out [to it] and offering [to all men] the Word of
Life, so that in the day of Christ I may have something of which exultantly to
rejoice and glory in that I did not run my race in vain or spend my labor to no
purpose.
(Php
2:4-16 AMP)
Remind
of mirror talk.
(2Co
5:9 AMP)
Therefore,
whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and
with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing
to Him.
(2Co
5:10 AMP)
For
we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of
Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has
done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and
motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself
and his attention to accomplishing].
(2Co
5:11 AMP)
Therefore,
being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win
people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is
plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is
plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your
inborn discernment).
(2Co
5:12 AMP)
We
are not commending ourselves to you again, but we are providing you with an
occasion and incentive to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you may
have a reply for those who pride themselves on surface appearances [on the
virtues they only appear to have], although their heart is devoid of them.
(2Co
5:13 AMP)
For
if we are beside ourselves [mad, as some say], it is for God and
concerns Him; if we are in our right mind, it is for your benefit,
(2Co
5:14 AMP)
For
the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the
opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;
(2Co
5:15 AMP)
And
He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for
themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.
(2Co
5:16 AMP)
Consequently,
from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of
view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though
we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we
have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the
flesh].
(2Co
5:17 AMP)
Therefore
if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new
creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual
condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
(2Co
5:18 AMP)
But
all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received
us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the
ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring
others into harmony with Him].
(2Co
5:19 AMP)
It
was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the
world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men]
their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message
of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).
(2Co
5:20 AMP)
So we
are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We [as
Christ's personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the
divine favor [now offered you] and be reconciled to God.
(2Co
5:21 AMP)
For
our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that
in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and
examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and
acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
