INTIMATE RELATIONS

Part 2

Jack Davis

In part one (August issue) we covered how we are related (joined or united) to Jesus Christ. He has made us His Brethren, and members of His body, the Church.
HIS BRIDE

“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” – II Cor. 11:1-3.

The Apostle Paul, by the message of grace which he preached, offered this espousal to the whole church, “Christ’s body;” but who will accept and submit to the Holy Spirit for the necessary preparation and purification in order to qualify to be part of this glorious company of redeemed humanity. Of Jesus’ brethren, His body, only a remnant will fully overcome and sit with our dear Lord on His throne.

Please bear with us a little in our folly when we speak of a “rib company.” A rib speaks of that closest to the heart. Those who truly draw near to the Lord are being tested, tried, purified and developed for His glory. We are not using our imagination or just picking this thought out of the air, when we speak of Adam and Eve being typical representatives of a later union. This is indeed a great mystery. The apostle spoke of many things hard to be understood, but that are given to us by revelation.

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come” – Rom. 5:14.

“Wherefore, my brethern, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” – Rom. 7:4.

Adam, who prefigured Him that was to come, was the head of the first creation. Some foolishly claim that the apostle Paul didn’t speak of a bride in all his epistles. What he says here is plain enough for me.

What a glorious prophecy Adam was inspired to give! “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” – Gen. 2:23-24. Adam gave names to all the creatures, but among them all no wife was found for Adam. “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” – Gen. 2:21-22.

If the first Adam was a figure of him that was to come, (Jesus Christ; the last Adam) then it is scripturally evident that Eve was a figure of her that was to come, the bride of the Lamb. “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” – Rev. 19:7.

When we read of the marvelous love, and the amazing provision Jesus Christ had made for His church, we wonder how any one could resist. “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body…Husband, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a Glorious church, not have spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish…For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” Eph. 5:23,25-27, then quotes Adam’s statement in verse thirty-one and adds, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” – V. 32.

Full provision has been made for the closest eternal relations with Jesus Christ. A problem arises because comparatively few of His brethern of this Church Age, or His body will accept this espousal, or submit to the needed daily cleansing. Not all members in a real, practical sense become one with Christ. Many are honoring other headships above Jesus Christ, and are being robbed of the reward of reigning conjointly with Him. At that great marriage in the heavenlies, there will be guests, servants, but also a “rib company” of Christ’s body out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. This company will be united with Him as the Bride of the Lamb in that golden glorious wedding service! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! Amen.

COUNT IT ALL JOY

Anita Clark Pastor

Grace Chapel, Carbondale, Kansas

“My brethren, Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations. Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” James 1:2-4.

“Count it all joy” or “Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren” (Amp. Version). “When you fall into divers temptations.” The word “temptations” in the original Greek means, “a putting to the proof.” A temptation is any trial that tempts us to complain or lose faith in Who God is, and is perpetrated by the devil. God allows these trials as tests of faith. Trials are dynamic -they have the ability to work in us and produce growth and greater trust in Christ.

“The trying of your faith works patience,” means “trying or proving” of our faith, that testing period when we must wait upon the Lord for Him to work and change the situation we are enduring. God is so very patient with us, and loves this characteristic of patience in His people. He is constantly working so tirelessly to produce this beautiful attribute in our lives.

We are reminded of Romans 5:2-5, where Paul says, “We glory in tribulations ... knowing that tribulations worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Tribulation is “pressure, anguish, burdens, persecution, or trouble.” Notice Paul says, “knowing” that these things “work” in us. Through experience with the Lord over time, we learn that trials and tests are doing a work in God’s perfect will for us, “changing us from glory to glory” (II Cor. 3:17). Romans 8:28 is true, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

There are some things that every believer in Christ can positively know that should give us confidence in all our trials and tests. (1) II Cor. 1:7 - “ Knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.” (2) Col. 3:24 -”Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (3) Heb. 10:34 “Took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in your selves, that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (4) Ps. 118:6 - Knowing that “The Lord is on our side, what can man do unto me?” And as Paul says, “If God be for us, who can be against us.” Rom. 8:31.

James 1:4 says, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.” “Let endurance and steadfastness have full play and do a thorough work that you may be fully developed (with no defects), lacking nothing” (Amp. Version).

In II Corinthians 4:16-18, Apostle Paul says, “For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” “We faint not” speaks of failing, being weary and exhausted.

There is no way that we can overcome the trials in our own strength. This is the lesson we must learn. Col. 1:27 says, “Christ in you the hope of glory.” “For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). The “eternal weight of glory” speaks of a “load beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons, and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease.” (Amp. Version.)” Our part is to let God do the work.

II Cor 4:18 says, “While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen.” The word “look” in the Greek. means “to take aim.” Is our “aim set on the trial and the suffering or on the victory and our Lord Jesus Christ. The things of this life, the trials, tests and deaths are just temporary detours. “The things which are seen,” are these “temporal” natural things that only go on for a time before relief comes. “The things which are not seen,” (meaning not seen with our natural eye) are “eternal weights of glory.” There will come a day very soon when He will come again, and we will stand before our Beloved Lord Jesus and enter into the glory there.

Those things we see in the Spirit through our Spiritual eyes or vision. Let us press on. The time is short. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us” Romans 8:18.

Transformed

“And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Romans 12:2

The word “transformed” comes from the Greek meaning to metamorphose. This is what happens to a worm that transforms (metamorphoses) into a butterfly. This is not just a small change to a new color, it is a complete change to something new and different.

Paul pleads with us to yield ourselves to God for His work, and instead of being conformed to the manner of thinking of the world, we should be “transformed” by the renewing of the mind. God wants to completely change our thinking to be like His.

“Can two walk  together, except they be agreed?”  Amos 3:3. God is not looking for people to help change His mind, He is looking for those that want to be changed to be and think like Him. So many Christians today are looking to align the Bible with their thinking, when it should be the other way around.

This is not just a small change in our thinking, it is a complete metamorphosis so different from how we normally think that it cannot be something we accomplish on our own. We need to allow God to change us by studying His Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s purposes to us. We will be much happier when we come into agreement with God.

It is clear that God’s ways are not even close to man’s ways. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith  the LORD. For as the heavens are higher  than the earth, so are my ways higher  than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9 This is why there must be a transformation, and it needs to occur daily. We continually have an enemy that attempts to drag us back to the thinking of this world.

“Renewing” comes from two Greek words that essentially mean to be new over and over again. This is not a one time occurrence. It seems so easy to be drawn back into the way the world thinks. To be drawn into the fear around us. To forget that God has a plan and is completely in control.

As we allow our mind to be transformed by God’s Word, we will discern His perfect will. While I cannot tell you God’s specific will for your life, I can tell you that it is His will for you to rest in His Word and in His promises. Jesus died to give us those things. Do not allow the world to take them from you by keeping your mind in the old mindset. Keep your mind stayed on Him. Isaiah 26:3.

Gordon Crook

RUTH

Pastor Debra Isenbletter

Christian Assembly, Springfield, Missouri

Ruth 4:12 – “And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.”

In this verse we have a continuance of the blessing for Boaz and Ruth. In verse 11, Rachel and Leah, were mentioned, the wives of Jacob (Israel) and the house of Israel is mentioned. Now in this verse another house is mentioned, it is the house of Pharez. The line of blessing begins to narrow further. We see the tracing of that blessing and fruitfulness from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob (Israel), to a son of Judah (Pharez). This is Boaz’s lineage. Pharez was his great, great, great, great grandfather. But besides the relationship (this man was his ancestor), there is something else in this blessing. The descendents of Pharez were and will be both many and mighty.

When Moses took a first census Judah numbered 74,600 (Num 1:27) and in the second census they numbered 76,500 (Num 26:20), they had increased by 1,900. But it is not just the number of men that this blessing refers to; it is also the type of men, the mighty men that came from this line. In our present context we see in Boaz is an example of this strength and might and through Ruth a line of descendents will flow that are mighty men. Two later descendents after Boaz from the house of Pharez were Jashobeam (1 Chron 27:2) and Zerubbabel (1 Chron 9:4; Neh 11:4-6). Jashobeam was one of the “mighty men” of David (1 Chron 11:11). He was called “chief of the captains. He was commander in chief of a division of David’s army (2 Sam 23:8). Zerubbabel was a descendent of David and he was the grandson of King Jehoiachin. He became the governor in Judah during the restoration of the Temple.

“The family of Pharez continued to thrive and multiply from the numbers who returned from captivity. At Jerusalem alone 468 of the sons of Perez, with Athaiah, or Uthai, at their head, were dwelling in the days of Zerubbabel.” McClintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia

This is a prayer and a prophecy that the “house of Pharez” will be fruitful. But the fruitfulness and blessing has come from, and will come from, unexpected sources – Two Unusual Women!

In this blessing we see another woman mentioned who is an ancestor of Boaz. Tamar: “whom Tamar bare unto Judah.” It is through her the house of Pharez begins! Without this woman there would be no house of Pharez. Without her there would be no Boaz!. She is essential and yet her methods are desperate. Her story is found in Genesis 38:1-30. Tamar was a widow (like Ruth), her first husband (Er) was wicked and he was judged by God and died. Tamar (like Ruth) exercised her rights and married a “kinsman” (Onan) the brother of her husband. The difference is that kinsman did not want to fulfill his obligation, he was disobedient and God judged him and he died. After her second husband died Tamar waited for another promised kinsman and she was denied that right. She knew her rights, she wanted to carry on the family line, she wanted a husband and children but her father-in-law Judah denied her this. So she boldly laid hold of her rights, but she did it by deception. In the end, Judah, her father-in-law, and the father of her children called her “more righteous than I.” She was more obedient, she didn’t choose any man, she chose a man who was a kinsman and through him became fruitful. She had twin sons, Pharez and Zarah. This is the prayer and prophecy and blessing, it is to be fruitful like Tamar! Nothing critical is said of Tamar, only her fruitfulness is mentioned!

Tamar, who is mentioned here, is one of five women in the genealogy of Christ (Matt 1:3-6). And what is so striking is that each of these women would not be one that you would think God would choose but He did! Tamar played the harlot. Rahab was a harlot, and a Gentile. Ruth was an idolater, a Moabitess, a Gentile. Bathsheba was an adulteress. The only one that is blameless is Mary, she was a virgin. But God chose each of these women, He looked at their hearts and their faith, He saw beyond what man saw! The son of Tamar, Pharez, is mentioned in the genealogy of Christ, in both Joseph’s and Mary’s descendents. In Matthew it is the Kingly Line (Judah, Pharez, Boaz, David, Solomon). In Luke it is the Righteous Line (Judah, Pharez, Boaz, David, Nathan)

The blessing ends with the prayer that the Lord would give Boaz and Ruth children: “of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman.” The emphasis is on the house of Boaz and not the house of her first husband. The only recorded son of Ruth in the Bible is Obed, if this is true, the fruitfulness will come from his descendents. So we see in this wonderful blessing a description of God’s wonderful provision for those who walk by faith and live by faith. We see that the fruitfulness comes from faith and obedience! It is not by chance that this woman is mentioned in connection with Ruth. Both are women of faith, and both brought forth fruit from a kinsman and both have descendents leading to the Messiah!
Continued next issue

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Verta Giddings

Chapter 1:19-30 & chapter 12
Peter Arrested and Released

Events of Chapter 11:19-30: persecution caused the believers to be scattered (Acts 8:4). Wherever they went they took the message of Jesus. At first only the Jews heard the message. Then the Grecian Jews did. A church was established in Antioch. It was there the disciples were first called Christians. In V. 27 we meet the Prophet Agabus. He predicted a dearth (no rain) throughout all the world. The believers in Antioch were impressed to send relief to the believers in Judea. Barabas and Saul would take this help to them.

CHAPTER 12: Vs. 1-4, Herod the king, desiring to please the Jews who, of course, were against Jesus and His followers, put James the brother of John to death. He put Peter in prison, planning to kill him right after Passover. They kept Peter closely guarded with sixteen soldiers, likely taking turns, four at a time.

V. 5: Notice the word “BUT.” Jesus had taught the disciples to pray. The Lord was looking after Peter. No wonder they were gathered together. It was much needed.

Vs. 6-10: Just the night before Peter was to be killed, a wonderful thing took place. Peter was asleep, but the Lord wasn’t. He knew Peter was in danger. It must be that Peter was at peace about it all, since he could sleep under those conditions. The angel of the Lord came upon him; light shined in the prison; and the angel smote Peter on the side. The angel raised him up and told him to arise up quickly. Right then the chains fell off his hands. The angel told him to gird himself, put on his sandals, put his garment upon him, and follow the angel. Peter did all that, but didn’t really know what was taking place. He thought he was having a vision. Still he followed and they came to the first ward, then the second, and right to the iron gate. It opened right up. Out they went. Then the angel left him.

Vs. 11-17: Then Peter came to himself and knew what really had happened. He knew he had been delivered, from Herod, and from all the Jews mean thoughts and plans. Where do you suppose Peter went? He must have known where those prayer warriors were. Isn’t it good that when other believers are in trouble, we can pray, and they can be saved out of their trouble? Where he went was to Mary’s house. She was the mother of John Mark. We will learn more about him later.

Lots of folks were there praying for Peter. Of course they didn’t know he had been delivered from prison. Peter went and knocked on the door. A young girl named Rhoda came to the door. She knew Peter’s voice, but she was so glad she ran back in, without opening the door, and told the people that Peter was out there knocking. They couldn’t believe it could be Peter. They said the girl was out of her mind, and that it must be his angel (spirit). Peter didn’t give up; he kept right on knocking. Finally they opened the door and were really surprised. Are we ever that way when we pray? Are we ever taken off guard when we do receive the answer?

Peter told them all about the angel, and how he was brought out of prison. Peter told them to go and tell James and the brethren. Then he went into another place. Do you think the people praying might have been afraid to answer the door, thinking that they too, might be arrested?

Vs. 18-23: The soldiers couldn’t figure out what had happened to Peter. When Herod looked for him and couldn’t find him, the soldiers were put to death.  It wasn’t their fault. Herod didn’t care. Worldly people don’t have the same feelings as Christians do. Herod didn’t get away with all of this. God didn’t allow him to do any more damage. Some foolish people tried to say, he was a god and not a man. Herod died.

Vs. 24-25: Barnabas and Saul had completed their work of taking relief to the people in Jerusalem. When they came back to Antioch, they brought John Mark back with them.

Does it pay to pray? Can we believe that the God of heaven hears us when we cry unto Him? All through the Bible we find that God’s people pray and are answered. Remember, that it is the people of God who have the right to come to Him in prayer. Unbelievers don’t. How can one who is not saved ever think they can say, “Our Father which art in heaven” – when God is not their Father? If you don’t know the Lord. You can ask Him right now to save you from you sins. Then you will have the right to come to Him when you or others have needs.
Continued next Issue

The Lord is at Hand

E. J. Davis

We find the scriptural way to personal victory over Mental Anxiety, victory over Bodily Infirmities, and victory in our Spirit Life, in Apostle Paul’s epistles to the church. First consider Paul’s statement in Phil. 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (or at peace).” This is a good start for this thought and could be used also to sum it all up.

Three words just stood out to me, “I have learned.” How did Paul learn? It was by experiences with God in life’s lessons. What did he learn through it all? That in  what ever conditions he found himself, to be at peace. “I know both how to be abased: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” Vs. 12 and 13. Such an important lesson. We can’t help but notice the order of the schooling. If we never learn how to be abased, we will never know how to abound. We learn to be content with little or even nothing, then God can trust us with much.

To understand what led up to such a victory, we must go back in this chapter. Verse 4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” We have so much to rejoice about, especially the deliverances God has given us from the legality and carnality of our own flesh. May we rejoice continually in the Lord. We dare not boast in our victories, but ever rejoice in Christ our Savior, having no confidence in the flesh (essential to winning Christ).

Verse 5, “Let your moderation (forbearance, or yieldedness) be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” He is at hand to enable us to maintain a victorious attitude as we run our race course.

Verse 6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto  God.” Be not anxious or troubled for nothing. Many things will arise that could trouble us, but mental anxiety is not faith and leaves God out. But by prayer and supplication we find, “the Lord is at Hand.” Prayer here means worship and supplication means an entreaty for a need. To call upon the Lord “with thanksgiving” is real faith, that we expect an answer. Faith is the victory. Our desired answer may not come at once, but a far greater thing will be granted.

Verse 7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (or guard) our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” What more could we ask? Safely guarded by God’s peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding. Not only did Paul learn this victory over mental anxiety, but he passes it on to us to learn. Remember the account of Martha and Mary? Martha was consumed with mental anxiety. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, thou art troubled about many things.” In saying her name twice denotes a tone of correction. Mary by contrast found peace at Jesus feet, listening to His words.

Paul also learned an outstanding victory over his bodily infirmities, he even gloried in them. II Cor. 11:30, “If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” We learn how this came to pass in the next chapter. II Cor. 12:1-5, tells that Paul had received special visions and revelations from the Lord. He relates a vision he had 14 years ago, how he was caught up to the third heaven, into paradise and heard unspeakable words which he could not utter. He said he knew not if he was in his body and out of it, God knoweth. Most men would glory in them, but Paul delayed 14 years in mentioning this and in modesty tells of it as if it were another person and not himself. He always wanted the peoples eyes to be on the Lord and never on him.

Verses 6-8, “though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” God allowed some affliction in Paul’s flesh. It was a messenger of Satan, but the Lord had to allow it and what He allows is always for our good. The value for Paul was that he would not be lifted up, nor people putting him on a pedestal because of the revelations God had given him.

Paul sought the Lord for it to be removed. The Lord answered his prayer, with a promise of strength. Verse 9, The Lord said “MY grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Most people are more concern to know just what was Paul’s thorn in the flesh, but very few care to learn the meaning and purpose of the thorn. God’s interest should be our chief concern “My grace” and “My strength.” What a glorious victory over his infirmities, knowing that Christ’s power rested on him.

I believe this victory lesson led to spiritual victories in all phases of Paul’s life as the next verse bares this out. Verse 10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches (the insults of men), in necessities (suffering want), in persecutions, in distresses (being pressed above measure), for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” He learned the source and supply of unfailing strength.  He took pleasure in such things, for when he had no strength, the dynamic power of God was his strength. He knew he could not get along without God any where or any time. May we not rob Christ of His place in us. Eph. 6:10, “Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”