GRACE SPACE

Jack Davis

Ezra 9:8-10, “And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this?”

We are often amazed at God’s gracious dealing with Israel. As we read their history, it seems that God was always delivering them from some form or degree of bondage. He used several different instruments to give them a reviving, stirring them up to make them constructive. Their grace space was undeserved, unearned, but so is ours. Thank God, that in spite of their trend toward declension and apostasy, His grace always provided for a remnant and escape. (V. 14)

Romans 11:5-6, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

Grace space as considered from our text can teach us of the power of our preservation, to leave us a remnant to escape, and promotion to a prominent position, to give us a nail in his holy place, and of provision for precious perception, that our God may lighten our eyes. I am thinking of this in relation to time, area and opportunity. The grace of God that is producing lasting results, gives eternal benefits, is now offering passing opportunities.

We think of grace space for Israel as a nation. “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, (killed the Prince of life) as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began…Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” –Acts 3:17-21,26.

Grace space for all nations: “God that made the world…And hath made of one (blood) all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver, or stone, graven by the art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at (overlooked); but now commendeth all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead:” -Acts 17:24,26-31. Therefore we realize that all nations will have opportunity to have fallen in line with God’s will and purpose.

Apostate Christendom is given space to repent, (Rev. 2:21) In fact each assembly written to in Revelation two and three hear the words “repent” except Philadelphia and Smyrna. God graciously warns them to turn around. He give space for a change of direction. Changes of attitude and actions come from a changed heart.

Space is given to each individual. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually…The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence:” –Gen. 6:5,11. No wonder the Lord said, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he is also flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years” -Gen. 6:3. Reading this verse along with I Peter 3:20, it seems that God gave them ample opportunity to avail themselves of His marvelous grace. “…when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a-preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by water. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord…and Noah walked with God” -Gen. 6:8-9, It seems here that God began anew, with this one man a real movement of grace. In each generation, God always had those who had faith and walking with Him.

The “fashion” of the ark in the details given, teach us some lessons about grace space. “A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it about; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it” -Gen. 6:16. Each creature found his space by grace in the safe place. The three “stories,” elevation or nests in the ark remind me of Amos 9:6, “It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth.” We also think of the Tabernacle having the outer court, inner court, and the holiest of holies.

Time is of the essence: “And now for a little space grace hath been shewed” -In a contract each party has an allotted period in which to fulfill his part of the agreement. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work:” -Ecc. 3:1,17. “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…” -Ecc. 12:1. Give Him your whole life while you are full of life. In so many of our everyday events and experience, we fail to realize the importance of the present. Lord help us to be wise in time, redeem the time, buy up the opportunities that are quickly passing to appropriate the grace of God. “We spend our years as a tale that is told. So teach us to number our day, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom” -Ps. 90:9,12.

How are we spending our span? What tale will our years tell? What are we doing with our grace space? “O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” -Ps. 90:14. It is not just a matter of counting days, but rather making our days count for His glory. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that NOW it is high time to awake out of sleep: for NOW is our salvation nearer than when we believed” -Rom. 13:10-11. “We then as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he said, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee; behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation). Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:” -II Cor. 6:1-3. God’s grace would make us fruitful, give us productive lives for His glory. This is a time to be sowing, and growing, and for His light to be glowing, but very soon we will be going and then it will be time for His universal showing of the glorious grace He has been freely bestowing. GLORY BE TO God forever!!

The grace of God did not make the Apostle Paul lax, lazy or indifferent, but spiritually ambitions. God’s grace was not ineffective or without results in Paul’s life. Praise God, we are still receiving great benefit. “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me:” –I Cor. 15:10, Read Col. 1:27-28.

How much grace do we want, do we need, will we take? “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” -Eph. 4:7. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” -II Cor. 8:9. “…they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” -Rom. 5:17.

Love One Another

& Jesus Christ

Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS

“This is My commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

What more can be said about “LOVE.” It would seem that this topic would be exhausted by now, but it isn’t. As the song says, “If we with ink the ocean fill and were the sky of parchment made, and every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade; to write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry; nor would the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky” (The Love of God). God’s love for us is so immense because He is so immense. His love fills the universe. “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool...” (Isa.66:1). How can He truly care for me or you, little pusillanimous mankind?

John 3:16, says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Almost every Sunday School child can quote this familiar verse. I’m so glad I learned it when I was a child. It tells us how much God, the Father loves us - “He gave His only begotten Son.” This is the greatest gift ever given. This is a living gift that goes on and on, never wearing out. It reaches down through the centuries from that old rugged cross on the hill to the lowest sinner even in our day. What a gift! What a love! Although mankind has often rejected Him, yet He still loves them.

Jesus gave a new commandment, not like the old commandments of the law. We cannot fulfill this new commandment in our own strength or determination, but only by having Christ in our hearts. When we were saved, Christ’s life entered ours, and as we yield to God, that life manifests characteristics that are like the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the greatest attributes is “love.” Jesus loved so much that He willingly went to the cross for us. And now, He asks that we love others in the same way. If we say that we love others, but we never manifest it, then, it is doubtful that we really love as Christ wants from our lives.

I Corinthians 13 gives us examples of what “love” does. In short, love never does anything that harms or hurts another individual. Love never by it’s own actions deliberately stumbles another person. Love always thinks through a situation, “Will this thing I am doing edify another or tear down another’s faith.” My actions may not be to deliberately hurt someone, but if I knowingly do something that will hurt someone else, then I have failed to really love as God wants from me.

Think about this. An example is a weak brother or sister, who may not see the Word of God as deeply as we do.” Apostle Paul said, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” I Cor. 8:13. Can you imagine doing that? What love this act shows. It would be hard to give up meat entirely for the sake of another’s conscience, but that act is a real show of love. In speaking of the “meat issue” Paul said in I Cor.8:9, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.” Would we be willing to do this in order to not be offensive? Apostle Paul was a great example to all believers. Let us think about this and see what God can do through us in winning someone to faith in Christ, and to a walk with the Lord.

The most important work of Love in our hearts and lives is to love Jesus supremely - above all else. When this is true in a believer’s life, love is distributed to the members of our families and to all the believers we know or come in contact with, and even the people that are not Christians.

In Revelation 2:4, we read that the Church of Ephesus had “left their first love.” After a list of achievements credited to this church group, such as “works, labor and patience, and had not fainted, and recognized those that were false” the verse four says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against you because you have left your first love.” Some interpret this to mean, the love you had right after you were born again. Think about it! At that point in our relationship with Jesus Christ we loved Him with a very immature love. As we go on with the Lord we come to a deeper place of love with Him. The word “first” in the Greek mean “foremost, (in time, order or importance), best, or chiefest.” This is the kind of love the Lord wants reserved for Himself. Christ alone. Our relationship with Jesus should be a deep love. He should be number one in our lives and hearts, the most important person in our lives, the chiefest one. Song of Solomon 5:10 says, “My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.

Amazing Love

Behold , what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1 John 3:1


I would like to just let you read these words over and over again and consider them carefully. If you are not stopped in your tracks to be amazed at what God has done, you are not paying attention.

Behold – “to see,” “to know,” “to be aware.” We have to stop and take some time to see and know and be aware of what God has accomplished for us. This is not something that we should just pass by lightly.

What manner – “what possible sort.” What kind of love reaches out to one’s enemies (Romans 5:10)? What kind of love offers freely a perfect and innocent life for the life of a transgressor? An enemy?

Hath bestowed upon us – “given freely to us.” No cost on our part. No requirement for repayment. We are recipients of this love. If you ever get to thinking that you have done something to deserve this privilege, you are absolutely wrong. God in His sovereignty bestowed this love upon us before we even sought for Him.

That we should be called the sons (children) of God – He has called us His children, not because we made ourselves fit for His family, but because He gave us a new birth into His family. He makes us fit for His family (Ephesians 1:4-6) in His sovereign grace. We were not even worthy to be called His friend, but He makes us His children. It is beyond amazing to consider this. Take some time to just meditate on what it means to be called the children of the Living God.

We should be exceedingly humbled by this verse. When you get to thinking too much of yourself and taking yourself too seriously, think about this. We were nothing without Him, but we are everything in Jesus.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be : but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are now a child of God. In case that is not enough, there is something still to come. He has given us so much more than we can imagine. Someday, we will be like Him, when we see Him in glory.

These verses continually amaze me. How can we not continually worship and praise our Lord for His amazing love? I’m not just talking about singing in church, or mouthing some words, but rather our entire life should be in worship of Him continually. He deserves to be worshiped because He is God, but doubly so because He has bestowed upon us an amazing love that cannot be fathomed.


Gordon Crook

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Verta Giddings

Chapter 28

MELITA AND ROME

In our last lesson, the ones on the ship were able to safely get to the shore in spite of the difficult time they had at sea. God had promised there would be no loss of life, but that the ship would not be saved. They were to land on a certain island.

They escaped to an Island called Melita – Vs. 1-11. This is now called Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea. They were barbarous people, of Phoenician descent, who had a language different from Greek. They were kind to those shipwrecked people who were wet and cold. They kindled a fire for their comfort. Here a great miracle took place. Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire. A viper (poisonous snake) came out of the heat and fastened itself to Paul’s hand. When those island people saw this take place they figured that this man, Paul, must have been a murderer who had escaped the sea. Now he was going to get what was coming to him, and they just knew he would die. Instead of that, Paul just shook off the beastly thing into the fire and felt no harm. They all watched, thinking he would die any minute. When he didn’t die, just like human nature they changed their minds and figured he was a god. Before Jesus went back to heaven after His resurrection, He told the disciples to go into all the world and preach and gospel to every creature. One sign which would follow them that believe, would be – “They shall take up serpents” – Mark 16:17. That didn’t mean they could just play around with poisonous snakes and not be hurt. This is really what Jesus meant. This was not presuming on God’s protection. This WAS God’s protection.

The people didn’t forget about this miracle. The chief man of the island, Publius, received them and let them stay with him for three days. While there, Publius’ father became very sick. Paul went in and prayed, laid hands on him, and he was healed. That opened the way for many others to come and be healed. The ones there gave them a lot of honor, so that when they left the island, they were given many necessary things. They stayed there for three months.

On to Rome – Vs. 12-16: The shipwreck people had lost everything they had in the storm. Now with the provisions the island people gave them, they could go on their journey. There was a ship which had wintered in the island, named Castor and Pollux. They were able to board that ship. Their first stop was Syracuse, where they stayed three days, then on to Rhegium and Puteoli. The three believers, Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus, were able to stay with other  Christians there for seven days. Then they went on as far as Appii forum and the three taverns. There they were net by other brethren. Paul thanked God for that and took courage. Upon their arrival in Rome, the centurion delivered them to the captain of the guard. Paul was allowed to live by himself with just a soldier to watch over him.

Paul’s ministry in Rome – Vs. 17-31: As was Paul’s custom, he gave his message to the Jews. He called the chief of the Jews together to tell them first. He explained to them why he was there in Rome. He told them he had appealed unto  Caesar and it wasn’t because he had anything against his nation, nor had he done anything against their customs. He told them he was bound because of the hope of Israel. They told him they had not received any letters against him, nor had anyone who had come from Israel spoken any harm of him. They did want to know about this “sect” for it was everywhere spoken against. Then they decided upon a day when they would come where Paul lived and hear his message. So they did. He testified of Jesus, out of the Law of Moses, and out of the prophets. They stayed all day listening. The result was the same as always – some believed; some did not. They left when they couldn’t agree among themselves. Paul knew this was an example of what had been written by Isaiah the Prophet, that some would hear and not understand, and see and yet not perceive. He knew their hearts were not really open, so they could really see, and really hear, and have an heart understanding, and be converted. So they departed and kept on reasoning among themselves.

Paul lived two whole years in his own “rented” house. He received all that came to him. He preached and taught them about Jesus and no one kept him from doing so. Paul had the opportunity in Rome to give the gospel story to the guards who watched over him. He also ministered to some in Caesar’s household. Some of them believed in the Lord Jesus Christ – Phil. 4:22. The Bible does not say when or how Paul died, but history says he was beheaded there in Rome.

Another part of Paul’s ministry in Rome was writing epistles (letters) to the churches at Ephesus, Philippi, and Colosse. He also wrote letters to Timothy (II Timothy) and to Titus. What a wonderful life Paul lived. He told those who lived in Philippi that he was ready for whatever God had in store for him, Whether to live or to die. He just wanted the Lord to be glorified – Phil. 1:20-23. And God was indeed glorified by the life and even the death of the Apostle Paul.

Valleys

Pastor Debra Isenbletter

Christian Assembly, Springfield, Missouri

The Valley of the Shadow of Death (Ps. 23:4): “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” There are several comforting thoughts associated with this valley, one is that we “walk through” the valley, we don’t stay there, and when we walk through this valley, we don’t walk alone. David said, “for thou art with me,” the Lord walks with each child of God that walks through this valley. The other comforting thought is that in this valley death is only a shadow, it has no substance, no reality, we may see the shadow but that is all and a shadow can’t hurt us.

There may be times when we walk through this valley and yet we don’t die, we come through the valley, as with a long illness. Hezekiah “sick unto death.” (II Kings 20:1) The Lord told Hezekiah to set his house in order, “for thou shalt die” and Hezekiah cried unto the Lord and wept before the Lord and the Lord said, “I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee…And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; (II Kings 20:5-6). There was a healing for Hezekiah, he walked through this valley. Paul walked through the valley of the shadow of death when he was stoned at Lystra. “And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city.” (Acts 14:19-20).

Jesus brought Lazarus through this valley of death when He brought him up from the grave to show that one day death would only be a shadow with no substance. Jesus is the One who has walked through this valley for us and now He walks through this valley with us and it has no power to hurt us. It is because He willingly went into this valley and died for us and in our place, that death has no power, it is only a shadow. At Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lieth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26). The child of God who believes this sees only the shadow of death! This is part of the rod and staff that comfort us as we walk through the valley.

The message of the gospel is, “He is risen.” There may come a time when we walk through this valley and see the shadow of death but we know it is only a shadow, it has no power over us, and it cannot hurt us. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John 8:51). What did He mean? One of the meanings for “see” is “one who looks at a thing with interest and for a purpose.” Kenneth Wuest says, “A Christian as he is dying will not look at death with interest, he will have his eyes on Jesus.” How can we do that? It is because going through this valley we see the victory of resurrection and Jesus has already passed through this valley for us and will always go with us. We see a risen Savior! Here is the basis for our victory, we don’t see death – we see Christ – we see Life! When we believe this then we see that “Death is shallowed up in victory.” (I Cor. 15:54)

EXAMPLES FROM THE PAST

By Orville Freestone

Lakewood, Colorado

MOSES – HE CHOSE TO SUFFER

Moses chose to suffer with the people of God
–    Heb. 11:25

When Moses was born, the Israelites were an oppressed and enslaved people. Pharaoh ordered that all the male babies of the Hebrews be killed, thus beginning the many attempts at the destruction of this people, the first such “genocide.” (Exodus chapter 2) The importance of Moses cannot be overestimated.  After three thousand five hundred years his influence is strong in Judaism, Christianity and western civilization.

Moses was a fully bi-cultural man. From his Hebrew mother he learned his “mother tongue” and faith. As “the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” he “was learned in all the wisdom of the  Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds.” (Acts 7:22) What were his accomplishments as an Egyptian prince is not told. We can safely venture that it included both military and government careers.  Theses were abilities that he later used in leading Israel. As to his character, we see that he had compassion for the oppressed. (Exodus 2) In Numbers 12:3 we read a parenthetic statement, probably inserted later by another, that “the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” This is the account of the first third of Moses’ life.

At the age of forty he had a “mid-life crisis.” How could he, a Hebrew, separate himself from his own people and their suffering. But though he would identity with his people, they would not accept him. Thus, “by faith” he spent the next forty years as an exile. The first forty  years of his life were determined for him by Providence. The rest of his life was determined by his decisions!

We read (Heb. 11:24-28) of his decisions of faith. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” He “esteemed the reproach of Christ of greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” He “had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” He “forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king.” These five decisions not only determined Moses’ future, but also equipped him for the future. Not a lot is told about his life on the “backside of the desert.” (Exodus 3:1) Away from the pomp and glitter of  Egypt God could talk to him. Like Paul, he knew how to be abased as will as how to abound – Phil. 4:12. As a result, he “saw Him who is invisible.”

The final third of Moses’ life was spent leading his people from Egypt to Canaan, from bondage to freedom. It took thirty days to take Israel out of  Egypt, but forty years to take Egypt out of Israel! He is forever known as the great Lawgiver. The Torah was the legacy he left to Israel. The word Torah means much more than law. It is true that the New Testament phrase “the Law” usually means what the word law means to us and refers to the 613 commandments of the Torah. In Hebrew the word Torah means instruction. It also means the Word of  God. (Psalm 119:21). The Torah was a great revelation of God to Israel, leading them to the revelation of God in Christ. (Gal. 3:24). Moses is an example to us of the power of our decisions. Every persons life is the sum total of all one’s decisions.

Portraits of Christ

The LION / The LAMB

E. J. Davis

I am still enjoying the different Portraits of Christ. We read of two that are right together (Rev. 5:5-6), Christ as The Lion and Christ as The Lamb. Chapters 4 & 5 are wonderful scenes of heaven that are yet to come to pass. Christ is seen taking His throne in chapter 4, and the overcomers are there when it takes place. They worship Christ as the Creator, the eternal God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (Jn. 1:1-3). Because of His condescension He will always be man (the God man). Phil. 2:6-8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

John is still viewing the throne room of heaven in chapter 5. Christ seated on the throne has a book in His right hand, (a scroll in the Greek). It is written on both sidles, yet sealed with seven seals. For the contents to be known, somebody has to be worthy to loose the seals and open it (V. 2). We learn the contents of the scroll in chapter. 6, and that it contains God’s judgments that He will pour out on this world and upon the ungodly who have refused God’s grace of salvation. But at this point in the vision, the contents of the scroll is a mystery.

No man was to be found that was worthy to loosen the seals of the scroll nor even to look on it, not even one of the overcomers (V. 3). John knew it was an important book and no doubt thought the contents would never be known, causing him to weep (V. 4). One of the fully mature saints (an elder), one of the overcomers knew who was the worthy One. John is told not to weep for behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David hath prevailed to open the book and loose the seals of it (V. 5).

The lion is the king of the beasts of the earth and depicts our Lord’s kingly authority. He was born of the kingly tribe of Juda when He became flesh, born of a woman. Though He was a son of David as a man, He was also the Root of David as the creator. The root comes before the tree. The next verse tells how He prevailed. The Greek has “overcame” for the word prevailed.

John looks to see the Lion and he beheld a Lamb (V. 6). The Greek text tells us that it is the smallest kind of Lamb, a Lambkin. It is not only small and weak, but even as it had been slain. Isa. 53:7, “He was oppressed, and … afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb…” But He hath prevailed. The Lamb as it had been slain, STOOD. He overcame in weakness and won the victory conquering death and hell. He hath paid the redemption price for sin and is worthy to complete its accomplishment.

The Lamb had seven horns, speaking of complete and perfect power. This little Lambkin conquered Satan by His death. Heb. 2:14-15, Through death He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil.” He defeated Satan with his own weapon (death), and delivered us from the fear of death and the spirit of bondage. Satan may have bruised His heel, but Christ bruised Satan’s head, fulfilling Gen. 3:15.

The Lamb also had seven eyes, which speaks of Him being fully equipped, having discernment through the power of the 7-fold Holy Spirit. Isa. 11:1-4 describes this Spirit filled Man. “… the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD:…with righteousness shall he judge…he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”

Christ won the right or we could say, He purchased the authority to reign as King by the sacrifice of Himself for the sins of the world. First he was God’s Lamb (the cross) the Redeemer; then He will become The King (the crown). As the victorious Lamb, He is the worthy One to loose the sealed of judgments of God upon a Christ rejecting world. The intercessions and prayers of the overcomers are in agreement with Christ and His purposes and in His righteous judgment (Vs. 7-10).

The universal praise of Christ just swells and finally involves all creation; “Worthy is the Lamb” to rule (Vs. 11-14). By God grace I desire to be in the throne room of heaven as Christ takes His throne.