Dear Beloved Brethren,
“But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night:
but it shall come to pass, ‘THAT AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT.’ “ (Zechariah 14:7)
We want to welcome you to this ‘HIS VOICE THROUGH THE WEB’. It is once again ‘LIGHT IN THE EVENING TIME.’ Be blessed with it and remember, PASS IT ON TO OTHERS that it might be made plain upon the tables (of their hearts) so that as they read, they too might run with it. Other writings have been posted on the Kingdomlife and Dimensionsoftruth Websites under the topic, ‘THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM THE BRETHREN IN AFRICA', so we encourage you to visit these websites: www.kingdomlife.com and www.dimensionsoftruth.com and be blessed. Pray for Brothers Bill Gorton and Robert Burgess also as the Spirit of God uses them to direct the affairs of these websites.
We are led of His Spirit once again after this long break to start a new series under the title: “GOD’S PATTERN CHURCH”. We encourage you to prayerfully go through and allow Him by the power of His Holy Spirit minister to you. The topic is big, hence carries several sub-topics along and this might run into several weeks of study. We encourage you to take your time and flow along.
THE CROWN
OF PRIDE
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Our first reading will be taken from Revelation 19. It will be necessary for us to establish the link between this message and the things that have been shared in the previous editions, especially during the last six months. We read verses 1-3
“…And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God.
For true and righteous are his judgements: for he hath judge the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.
The first verse of the passage says “after these things…”. We ask, after what things? From what we read in the second verse showing the judgement of the harlot, we know that the reference is to the last two chapters that precede Revelation 19, i.e. Revelation 17 and 18. In Chapter 17, the revelation of the judgement of Babylon is given, and in Chapter 18, the judgement itself is described. Here we find a people rejoicing in the overthrow of Babylon, and with all it, marks of unfaithfulness and we find in the visible church systems today.
Now, it would be recalled that in the message: “The Language of Prophecy”, we observed that the word “heaven”, in this context, refer to the heavenly-minded people. Thus, it was not just that there was rejoicing in the celestial glory… Of course, we know heaven rejoices to see God’s purpose advancing in the earth… but the reference here is to the faithful class, those heavenly-minded of the Lord’s people who follow in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ, who are influenced in everything they do by the principles of God’s word.
Whatever He sets out too do He fulfils first amongst His people, then He takes in the rest of the world. Straightaway, we come to a very basic principle in the dealings of God: Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:17 that judgement will begin in the house of the Lord. It will begin at us, using the words of Peter. In God’s plan and purpose, He uses the house to judge the house. That judgement will begin in the house of God is clear to all. But that the instrument of judgement will be drawn from within the house is what we want to emphasise.
Recall that the seven letters to the seven were the main focus in the immediate past meditation. We promised that in this new series, we should be looking at God’s Pattern Church. This is because we know that ever before God’s judgements are visited upon a people, He, in compassion, will sensitise them to things pertaining to judgement. He will always make clear before hand both things that pleases Him and the things that He disapproved. He does these through the ministry of the word. Those who have reverential fear of the Lord will in the circumstance break free from things God condemns. Others, who lack a proper disposition to the things of God will, quite often disregard warning signals. Wrist still, these take up an attitude of discrediting any word that challenges them to deep repentance. But quite definitely the hour of judgement is near to be revealed. It is a time all true seekers after God to give ears to what the Spirit of prophecy is declaring. In the next few editions we would be looking at issues God’s judgement will concern itself with.
Please, come with me to Isaiah 28. We have as a subject “The Crown of Pride”. We will discuss principles of divine judgement by appealing to a prophecy that relates to our day. Notice the certainty of God dealing decisively with all things that obscures His purpose and undermines His counsel. Isaiah 28:1-8;
“…Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
The crown of pride, lie drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:
And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,
And for a spirit of judgement to him that sitteth in judgement, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision they stumble in judgement.
For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean …”.
Now, there are many figurative expressions here, and we will do well to begin to take them one by one and to examine them. This will enable us to have full entrance into this prophecy, which has direct bearing upon the events of the last hour.
We begin with “The Crown of Pride”. What does this mean? Let us for a while come back to Revelation 19. Something is said of the Lord Jesus Christ in verse 12. It says, “his eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written that no man knew but he himself”. Here we are told that the Lord Jesus Christ is seen wearing many crowns. We know that it is not possible for one man or individual to literally put on many crowns. What then does this represent? It represents the great victories that the Lord Jesus Christ has won, and the great marks of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, power, grace, which are so fully developed in the Lord Jesus Christ. The crowns upon his head reveal his achievements, the character of his person.
And now, if you will turn to 1 Thessalonians 2:19, you will find yet another reference to a figurative use of the word “crown”. Paul was writing to the Thessalonians Christians amongst whom he had laboured. He had seen the great power of God coming upon that land, gathering people unto the Lord Jesus Christ in salvation, constituting them into a local assembly of God’s people and leading them in the knowledge of God’s will. To these people, he was writing, in a form of a follow up. And in verse 19 of the second chapter he said certain things that have direct bearing on our subject matter. We read verse 19 and 20.
“…For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ as his coming?
For ye are our glory and joy….”
Here Paul was saying that the Thessalonians Christians were a crown of rejoicing to him and his fellow workers. When the scriptures talk about the crown of rejoicing which, the faithful shall put on, the reference is not to some physical, shining objects, but to the glory that shall be worked into the believer because of the anointing of fruitfulness that has attended the believer’s labour. The crown of rejoicing in 1 Thessalonians 2:15 is figuratively speaking of the results that accrued to Paul and such fellow servants that worked with him.
Let’s get back to Isaiah 28. What is the crown of pride? One disturbing feature in many of the church systems of our day is a recourse to empty show of pride in successes recorded in ministry. Quite often what are counted as marks of success hardly meet God’s approval. It is even more abhorring when because of such measure of success real or imagined they cause the lord’s people to worship at the altar of their assumed greatness. In the figure used to depict their sad condition – “the crown of pride” God witnesses against it. Babylon the Great, the great city, always boasting herself of her achievements. That is the first figure of speech that we are examining here.
The next is “the drunkards of Ephraim”. Recall that Joseph had two sons, which the father, Israel adopted. So, when we talk of the twelve tribes of Israel, it includes the two sons that Joseph had: Manasseh and Ephraim. And you will recall that when Israel was blessing these two sons, though Manasseh was the firstborn, he laid his right hand upon Ephraim, and confer upon him the firstborn rights. Ephraim means fruitfulness, and Manasseh and Ephraim combine to give us a two-fold description of all of the Lord’s people. Manasseh is that part of the church that has long gone into apostasy and dead orthodoxy; while Ephraim stand for the Pentecostal church, that arm of the church that know Jesus Christ as saviour and baptiser in the Holy Spirit.
But again when we come to the figure of Ephraim, God uses yet another figurative expression to distinguish between two involved classes: the unfaithful and the faithful. In Jeremiah 31, we find the figure of Mount Ephraim. There, the reference is to the faithful who serve in the will of God. But when the word Ephraim is used without qualification, it refers prophetically to those of the Lord’s people who have known God in salvation and in the baptism and workings of the Holy Spirit but are nevertheless walking measurable in disobedience to God’s revealed will. This is especially applied to Spiritual movements, denominational churches having these characteristics
The drunkards of Ephraim therefore speak of persons who stand in the room of Teachers, Preachers, Leaders, but who nevertheless are overtaken by the intoxicating wine of this evilage. Remember that in Revelation 17, we are told that that evil lady, that lady of the kings, that harlot woman carries a golden cup in her right hand full of “the wine of her fornication”. Now, the drunkard, quite often, is off his senses. Persons who stand in the room of leaders in the house of God ought to be examples in Life and service, wholly given to the purpose of God. But when in effect, they lead the flock of God away from the will of Good it is a pitiable sight. The pursuit of personal agenda and the wine of illicit pleasure deaden spiritual series and sets up a soul against God.
In explaining this figure we would be introducing a vital principle that may seen the workings of divine judgement against a rebellious system. Then the next figure we want to talk about is “fat valley”. We are shown in several places in scriptures that one of the things God does in bringing severe judgement against that system of things which no longer vitally nor adequately represent his interest in the earth, is to first of all dry up the resources of such systems. Remember before the Medo-Persian overthrew the typical kingdom of Babylon, the first thing it did was to dry up her waters – the river Euphrates, which was the main river that serviced the empire of Babylon. We read in Revelation 16:12 that just like it happened with ancient Babylon, river Euphrates will be dried up in the case of spiritual Babylon. That is in a figure. The figure is that the supply system that keeps the visible denominational church systems going on in unfaithfulness will be greatly attacked by God.
Fat valleys refer to persons with great substance, with much financial blessings, who stand to keep the church systems going. We are told that there will be a judgement against these fat valleys. Those who support systems that are opposed to God are direct enemies of God, and they will first of all, bear the brunt of divine displeasure. May God dry up those resources, which in their use are directed against His redemptive purpose.
Isaiah 28:1 says, “Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower”. That is, the prospect of visible church systems that are unfaithful to God, continuing in their religious empires, expanding their frontiers, conquering and ruling over the people like despots, will dim. It would be in essence a fading flower. And that prospect is rested upon the fat valleys, those that supply the systems with funds. It says the glorious beauty, which is upon the head of the fat valley, shall be as a fading flower. In Isaiah 40, the princes among men are referred to as flowers while the ordinary people are referred to as grasses, Verse 7 says the grass withereth, the flower fadeth… One of the things that God will surely do in this last hour is to dry up the fat valleys. The financial support base of great denominational empires seems unassailable. But God will break through with the force of His righteous judgements.
We will just take two or three more observations and we close our meditation. We are told that these fat valleys are overcome with wine. Now, the teachings of the drunkards of Ephraim have had the effect of overcoming these financial wizards, these men of great wealth. Their senses have been overcome. So, they think they are serving God when they make their resources available to serve the programs of the church systems. They are overcome with wine. And we are told that the glorious beauty, which is upon their heads, shall be a fading flower.
In verse 3 we are told emphatically that the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot. But under what feet? Verse 2 brings out the answer. And that is something we will want you to take very seriously. Because, in a previous message we talked about the power of justification, and showed that the work the Lord is involved in at any given time is that which should exercise His servants. And that when we co-operate or co-labour with the Lord in that which He is doing at any given time, then our services are counted as justifying works. And we used the figure of Rehab. While in the figure of Abraham we said we must give our all in pursuing the outworking of God’s plans and purposes, in Rahab, we are shown that no matter at what costs, no matter what interpretation men may give to our actions, we must be involved in what God is doing at any given time. We are not to be in the vanguard of those whose works are contrary to the will of God.
Let us return to verse 2 of Isaiah 28. It says, “behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.” The hand in spiritual symbolism always talks about works. They also talk about the works that are fulfilled by persons who have been called unto the estate of the five-fold ministry. So, here we are told that the Lord hath a strong and mighty one. The one individual referred to, is actually a many-member body. God is gathering to Himself as many persons as will give him ears. First He will cleanse them, (because the pollution of the times and the unfaithfulness of the denominational church systems measurably stain us all). When the Lord calls us unto Himself, He first of all, beams His searchlight upon our lives, and we are able to see some awful things in our lives that we were not conscious of. And we begin to cry out unto the Lord in repentance. Then He begins to cleanse strengthen us to stand as His mighty ones.
Let’s take a look at the “tempest of hail” and “mighty flood of water”. Through the ministry of teaching and preaching, as we shall show in later consideration God will manifest such things as are according to His will, so that those who are found in it might rejoice in the goodness of the Lord towards them. At the same time, He will manifest those things, which are contrary to His will. This will lead those who have the spirit of the fear of God but find themselves in these things, to cry out unto the Lord for help and deliverance. By prayers, by the ministry of the word and by prophetic decrees, the present unfaithfulness in the visible church systems will be brought low. About seven hundred years before the Lord Jesus Christ came, Isaiah spoke this prophecy, and we shall see the fulfilment of this in our time. In the years ahead, some couple of years ahead, we will see things happening in the church world that answer to judgmental acts of God.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He stir up in your heart a strong desire to submit and to keep on submitting to His processing. Only such persons who render due reverence to God may abide in the day of the coming judgement.
GOD’S PATTERN
CHURCH
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We will be beginning a series in this meditation subtitled God’s pattern church. The burden specifically, is to speak in the Lord’s word to His people, as He has revealed it to us. We have in the previous twenty-two editions (which are contained in the book Living letters from the Book of Revelation) shown that from the same holy beginning of the church history, two histories developed; the one in unfaithfulness charting an earthly course, and the other in faithfulness charting an heavenly course. We found in all of those ministrations what results from faithfulness and what results from unfaithfulness.
Now, in taking these series and this edition are merely an introduction, we would like to suggest that we come with open minds. Because that which God will do, he will bring unto completion. We expect that God will shine His light more and more on His word only those who submit to the dictates of His word will be relevant in the divine scheme of things in the years ahead.
We begin with a reading from Revelation 21:22. The passage in context discusses the New Jerusalem. We have seen that this is the church in perfection, or putting it more correctly, the church being brought to perfection. We are also shown in the finished picture, what the church is when she is brought to the perfection of the image of Christ. And still talking about this holy city, verse 22 says
“…And I saw no temple therein for the Lord GOD Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. …”
This is important. When you come to the city of God, the holy city, this New Jerusalem, we are told there is no temple found in it. Then it goes on to say that the temple therein, is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. Not the temples but the temple of the city has two great expressions: The Lord God Almighty in His power and great glory makes the church a supernatural organism. The Lamb element indicates that called to serve in the city of God, must have the same character structure that they find fully developed in Jesus: vicarious sufferings, selfless service, ministering to the people in the interest of God, not taking advantage of God’s calling and graces to exploit the people. So, the temple is a two-fold description: The Lamb of God and The Lord God Almighty. The temple service in the city of God is not pattered after the Levitical order of the Old Testament church.
This should arrest us very powerfully, because this is the day when there is an increase in rituals and ceremonies, even in Pentecostal assembles. When we read and understand this in the light of what Jesus said in John 2, our understanding will be more fruitful. He was speaking to the Pharisees, and he said unto them, destroys this temple, and I shall raise it up the third day. And it was said later that he spoke of the temple of his body. Let us distinguish between the “house of God” and “the temple of God”, two terms used to describe God’s church.
Now, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ can be described as the house of God, when the emphasis is the services that the church fulfils towards the visible world, although it includes the idea of her devotions to God. But when we call it a temple, the main emphasis is the devotions of the church to God. It is something that becomes characteristic of all her services as she comes to adulthood in the Lord. Even when ministering to men, there is a continuous reflection of credit to the character and glory of God. So that in worship, or teaching and preaching, it is all in the same vein; the character and glory of God is ministered to.
We here day that, ‘the house of God’ is the church in the early stages of her growth, and the temple of God is the church when she comes into the full scheme of things as God has designed it to be.
Now, let us turn to Exodus 25:8. You will recall that when God’s power went forth through the ministry of Moses and Aaron to deliver the children of Israel from the Land of Egypt, they were brought out into the wilderness of Sinai. There, God manifested Himself to them. In Exodus we see God coming to dwell with His people. In Leviticus, God shows how man, in whom He dwells, can receive more and more of the glory of His life. In the book of Numbers, we are shown how God judges His people in the Light of the unveiling of Himself to them.
In Exodus 25:8, we read something that is interesting. There He says, “…and let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. …” God commanded Moses to make Him a tabernacle, a sanctuary, since He desired to dwell among the people. And from Exodus 25 to Exodus 40, those sixteen chapters describe the details of this great structure that God commanded Moses to build. We are told God cannot and does not dwell in building made with hands, even though He once commanded Solomon to build him a temple (Acts 7:48). He dwells in buildings that are fashioned by the power of His Spirit. Jesus was God’s temple, and the church today, the Lord’s people, is the temple of the Living God. When this emphasis becomes clear at the beginning, it will assist in delivering others and us from so much error and deviations from God pattern for His church.
Now, you know in 1 Corinthians 6, Paul was writing to the Christians, and he said to them, “…know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ…”. A little later, he said, “…know ye not that your body is the temple of the Living God…”. So God’s emphasis at this last hour is the church, His people, these Living Stones through whom He is raising up an invincible, mystical sanctuary for the blessing of humanity. This is important. That is the first thought that should sink into our minds as we enter into these series of teachings.
Now, let us go to 1 Peter 2, which is quoted from Isaiah 28. From Peter’s inspired pen, one readily sees that the prophecy in Isaiah 28, which we began to examine in the last edition, speaks concerning the church and the events of this last hour. In 1 Peter 2, beginning from verse 1 and taking note of verses 4-6, particularly, we read,
“…WHEREFORE laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.
If so be ye have tested that the Lord is gracious.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but choosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded….”
The church is a word used to interpret the Greek word “ekklesia”. It is that Christians are called out of the world and invited unto the inheritances that are spelt out in scriptures. The meaning of ekklesia is “called out”. In Philippians 3, Paul tells us of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are out of the world, from among men to become divine in its finished picture. And here in the figure of a building, we are told that the church as God’s house has Christ as the chief corner stone. All parts of the building take their characteristic lines from him. This being so, the house is to be built in a continuos reference to Christ. But if the builders reject Christ, what house could they be building? But the stone, which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner, the chief corner stone.
We know in this last hour, the Lord will clean up the church and lay the foundation again, in the unveiling of Himself, and must have all things done according to His will.
It is clear that there is a confused picture of what the church is supposed to be… because you only need to run your eyes through ten, twenty denominational churches, and you will find great contradictions and conflicting signals. But God has not left us in the dark to just grope for light and to try to do things to the best of our human knowledge; God’s pattern for His church is clearly revealed in the scriptures. God is in this last hour demanding a return to the pattern His wisdom has graciously provided for the church. When the Lord Judges the various assemblies of His people, He does not meet any operating in full conformity with His mind. But those who begin to repent and open up to His instructions and corrections and begin to pattern their affairs according to that which is revealed receive a further help. A change is a must to obtain the change that brings in perfection and glory.
That God in the midst of the religious confusion of the present hour desires to constitute a people according to His will is indicated in the letter God commanded John to write to the church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13). We will not be doing a full expository consideration of it now, but it is important that we go into it.
Of seven churches, only two churches had the mark of divine approval, nothing was condemned in these two church types: the church in Smyrna and the church in Philadelphia. The letter to the church in Philadelphia contain much of what will assist our minds to understand the things that God wants reproduced in His church. When that is read and considered side by side with the history of the early church as set forth in the Acts of the Apostles, and in the teachings of the apostles, in the epistles, we find the picture coming out clearly of how the Lord will have His church operate. We would find the things that make for the heavenly growth of the body and what the true inheritances of the church are.
Now let’s move to Revelation 3:7. We are challenged to see that as it was then so it could be now. In the midst of today’s religious confusion, a local church can operate in harmony with God’s will. No assembly, with open mind, should say, “We are already operating in that”. But if we seek to pattern ourselves increasingly according to that which is revealed, while yet not claiming to be that church, but evermore seeking God in humility and holding unto him, it may be that the glorious promises made to these seven churches will be fully realised in us. And thank God that there are things already happening that are evidences of God’s commitment to bringing about a great church revival in this last hour. We will just take the reading before rounding up the message.
“…And unto the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write;
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
I know thy works; behold, I’have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou has kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
In the next edition we will be looking expositorily at this passage. And we will spell out certain key things, which answers to the Lord’s mind and receive the Lord’s approval. The Lord bless you, the Lord strengthen you, and increase His son in you. And he will do away with so much of what is called the refuge of lies. And we are better be prepared for a great shake-up, for that must come, in Jesus name. Amen.
Part 1
THE CHURCH IN
PHILADELPHIA
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We are so grateful for another opportunity to come your way preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are continuing in our series on God’s pattern church. In this edition, we will be looking at what in scriptures is an expression of that pattern. Turn with me to Revelation 3, we will be looking at the letter to write to the church in Philadelphia. For a background, you will recall that there are seven such representative churches, standing for all times, in the room of all churches. That is, there is no congregation of the Lord’s people, worth its name, known of God as belonging to Him, but that it takes a picture of one or the other of these seven typical churches.
Come with me to Revelation 3:7–13.
“…And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
I know thy works: behold I have set before thee an open door and no m an can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Behold, I will make, them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
Because thou that kept the word of m y patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Him that over cometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of God, and the name of the city of my God which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God l and I will write upon him my new name.
He that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. …”
We begin by making two strong observations. One, the central concept in all of the New Testament revelation, is the body of Christ. That is, all of God’s revelation detailing how He would carry out His programme upon the earth is bound up with the body of Christ. It is the central theme of all scriptures. Now, the body is an instrument for the expression of life. The proper functioning of the body, in its local expression, is one of the strongest features in the outworking of God’s purpose. If the church does not function properly according to the mind of God, then divine results cannot be received. It is important to know why all of these seven letters are addressed to the church, to the angels of the churches, but the call to overcome is addressed to the individual believer in the local church. The individual can only overcome when he is grown in a spiritual environment that is according to God’s will. This is important.
Now, what is God’s pattern church? Again, who is God’s pattern church, for we know that the church is a people. We answer in this manner: The Lord Jesus Christ himself is God’s pattern church, and the church in Philadelphia is an expression of harmony with this pattern in a local setting. That is, discussing the pattern, we are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the temple of the living God, He is the house of the Living God, He is the church of the Living God, And when we are talking about a practical expression of what all of these mean amongst men, the church in Philadelphia gives us that pattern.
In our examination of the features that we find here in the letter to the church in Philadelphia, we will be looking at four things. And of course, we will be moving from one to the other, discussing them in as much detail as possible. Now, the first thing we will want to draw our attention to in this letter is the way the Lord introduces himself to the church.
Secondly, we concern ourselves with what Christ approves of in the Philadelphia church. Thirdly, a warning is given. That is, even when a people are operating according to the mind of God, they need watch against drifting. They must constantly lay hold upon the things the Lord has revealed to them, only then can they be kept on track. So, a warning is included, and, that is the third feature in this letter. Fourthly, a promise is made to this church type a promise to the overcomer.
Let us begin with Christ’s presentation of himself to this church. He says in verse 7, “…these things saith He that is holy; He that is true…”. And lastly, “…He that hath the key of David…”. And as having the key of David, he opens and no man can shut. He shuts and no man can open.
Now, let us look at these three elements in Revelation 3 in the light of how God reveals Jesus Christ in Isaiah 28. They are parallel passages in this case. You will remember we used this passage in connection with “The Crown of Pride”. Our purpose for now is to see the things mentioned in Revelation 3:7 also discussed in Isaiah 28:16. Notice we are talking about the church, the church that is built by Christ, the church which, when built is Christ, and the church that must be measured by the things that are found in Christ. So, Christ is the ultimate picture of the church when perfected in His image and likeness. So, in building the church, the finished picture is always in view. Christ is the building plan, Christ is the builder, and He builds by means of Christ, and what is built is Christ. This is important.
Now turn with me to Isaiah 28:16. There we read, “…Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in z ion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste …”. Now, we take verse 17 quickly. It says, Judgement also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall over flow the hiding places.
First we observe that Christ is He that is holy. The moral glory of Christ is referenced here. The humanity of Jesus is in view. Christ is the holy one, tested and tried amongst men and found to be absolutely one with the Lord God Almighty in all of his works. So, Christ is the holy One. In Isaiah 28, He is said to be the tried stone. It says “…I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone…”. Zion is a type of the church Hebrews 12:22 says, “…we are come to Mount Zion…”. Psalm 48:1 and 2: “…Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the side of the north, the city of the great king…”.
I lay in Zion, I lay in the church for the building of the church, a foundation, a stone, a tried stone. The tried stone of Isaiah 28:16 answers to Christ presentation of himself to the Philadelphia church as the one who is holy.
Then secondly, in Revelation 3:7, he is presented as the one who is true. And that answers to the phrase “a sure foundation” in Isaiah 28:16, so, while the word “holy” refers to His being separated from sinners undefiled, holy in life and conduct, the fact that he is true means that he does all his works and mission in line with the will of God. The Father speaks; He receives it and goes to fulfil the will of God. He is faithful. While the word true refers to the character of the ministry he comes to fulfil, the word holy relates to the character of his person. These are two great matters, and we shall touch upon them when we examine the seventieth verse of Isaiah 28.
We shall be going straight to the third element. He is said to have the key of David. The reference is to the fact that He is the elect one; He is the chosen one. It is upon him that the Father has set the seal. What He determines is final. He has the first say, the final say and the only say, in any matter that pertains to the kingdom. He is an elect stone. Notice this picture of one possessing the key of David is drawn from Isaiah 22. We may not be able to go into all of that, but the fact that Christ is the elect one is what is set forth in Revelation 3:7 as “…he that hath the key of David…”. He is holy, he is true, he is elect. And in verse 16 of Isaiah 28, the fact of his election is figured in his description as “…a precious corner stone…”, elected of God. 1Peter 2 also bears this out. He is the one elected; He is the one upon whom the Father has set the seal. No other!
Christ’s introduction of himself to the church in Philadelphia, he is saying to us in effect that He finds these same characteristics true of them. Now, the first thing he says in his letter to the church in Philadelphia when He addresses her directly is to be noted carefully. Come with me to the first part of Revelation 3:8. It says. “…I know thy works…”. It is of great importance always to remember that all our works are carried out in His sight. He will bless that which is in accordance with His set goals.
Whether our works are done in secret or in public, whatever we think of ourselves not withstanding, the truth is that the Lord knows them that are faithful. The Lord knows our works. We may ask, “How does He come to know our works”?
The fact that He knows our works is because He measures them, of what sort they are. Whatever we may say of ourselves, whatever we may say of our congregation, there is One who knows our works. There is the elect One, the precious corner stone who comes to measure our works. And He relates to us according to how works are found to be. Let us look closely at Isaiah 28:17.
“…Judgement” also will lay to the line, and “righteousness” to the plummet…”.
These are figures borrowed from the building industry. In the word “judgement”, is used in connection with the moral character of His people. He will measure them. The word “line” denotes a tape; a tape with which the dimensions of a building are ascertained. He is the holy One; He is the precious corner stone. All the building must take its bearing from the corner stone. He will measure the character of His people. Their character must conform to His, since He has the power to fully save them. The good things in our lives are a result of His works in us. Therefore, if there is anything in our lives that is out of course, it is because we are refusing him to be Lord in that area. Since He knows what he wants and He himself is the finished picture, he cannot settle for anything less. In talking about judgement being laid to the line, the reference is to testing the character structure of the Lord’s people.
Next, it says, “righteousness to the plummet”. Whereas, judgement to the line is something like a horizontal measurement, the plummet is vertical, speaking of conformity with the Father’s will. The reference is to the faith structure of the Lord’s people, that is, the content of their belief system. What is believed and taught and what influences their practices are to be inspected, and judged. Notice, in the figure of a building when you are laying a column, you want to be sure it is upright. The plummet is used to ascertain its verticality. Our relationship with the Father, conformity with his will, is in view in this aspect of judgement. So, our faith structure, what we believe and teach the things that instructs our practices will be measured. Remember that He knows our works because He measures our works. It says and “And righteousness shall he lay to the plummet”.
When we come back to Revelation 3, we find some other things the Lord says about this church. In the closing part of verse 8, He says, “thou has kept my word and hast not denied my name”. What does that mean? In verse 10 He says, “…thou has kept the word of my patience…”. So, what is this thing that He found in the Philadelphian church? If you read all seven letters to the seven churches, no other church is addressed in the same way. Now, when He says thou hast kept my “word”, the Greek word so translated is Logos. So, it talks about the sum total of the unveiling of Himself to His people. God, the invisible, makes himself visible by His word. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him, there is nothing made that was made. In him was life and that life was the light of men.
The Logos is God revealed to men, so men can see him, touch him and handle him. The word kept in Revelation 3:8 is the Logos. That is different from the Rhema, which is an aspect of the revealed word quickened to the understanding of the believer. “Thou hast kept my word”. And we can show, as we shall do later, that the full range of truth set forth by the term Logos covers all things that are contained in redemption.
If you read John 14, Matthew 7, you meet this same word. It says “he that hears my saying and believes it and obeys it” is he that built his house upon the rock. But he that hears it and does not obey it is as a man who built his house on the sand. Christ is either a rock or sand, depending on the word received and obeyed or the word heard and rebelled against.
Now, in practical terms, what does the Logos instruct us to keep? Come with me to 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3.
“…PAUL, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in god the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;…”
“Your work of faith”, that is the first division of the Logos. The word of faith reveals itself in works that are done in harmony with that faith. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith: one-third division of the inheritance of the saints. The second division is the “labour of love.” Then the third is the “patience of hope.” Within these three are found all of the things that God looks for when he measures His people.
When you read Revelation 2 and 3 concerning the things written to the seven churches, you will find these are the elements that were picked; the faith, the hope, the love. Now abideth these three (1 Corinthians 13:13). In the present time abideth these three. Now in the future will abide these three: faith, hope and love. Those three things here set forth constitute the Logos.
But notice the way these three things are presented in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, the works of faith, the labours of love, the patience of hope And that is why we find a little latter in Revelation 3:10, “…because thou has kept the word of my patience…”. In relation to the works of faith and the labours of love, they speak about the outreaches of God’s people, while the patience of hope talk about the upreach, and it has to do with the blessed hope, the hope of full union with Christ in glory, honour and power.
In Isaiah 28 it is said that when the Lord measures his house, He will sweep away the refuge of lies. One of the characteristics of the unfaithful visible denominational church systems is that the prophetic word is almost entirely missing. It is the prophetic word that stabilises a people and keeps them focused upon Christ. Prophecy of scriptures provides the only sure way to deliver man from himself and services that have no bearing with the divine purpose. Most things taught and held out to the people as the hope of the believer are mere lies. But in this last hour Christ will sweep away the refuge of lies. As He is measuring His house, He will cause so many of His servants the world over to rise up, take up the measuring line and measure the house (Revelation 11:1). For He will empower His servants to show to the church world, the things that are not in harmony with His revealed will. The refuge of lies will be swept off. They are the wine of the fornication of that harlot woman. All of these things call for times of separation and waiting upon God continually. Isaiah 28:16 says “he that believeth shall not make haste”. There is time element in knowing God. We are to look unto Jesus, draw inspiration from him, and conduct all our affairs in harmony with His will.
This is just an introduction to this letter, and I believe that you will be glad when the refuge of lies are swept away and the true and proper foundation of the hope of the believer set forth clearly. The Lord bless you, in Jesus name. Amen.
THE CHURCH IN
PHILADELPHIA
Good evening, you are welcome to this edition of Light in the Evening Time. We have observed that in the last edition, the delivery of the word was rather fast. Thus, in this edition, we want to review some of those things, which we said in the last edition, going through them again. We are conscious of the importance of possessing a very clear understanding of these principles of God’s word, which will assist us to take major decisions that will affect our lives in the days that are just ahead.
We began by saying that Christ is the pattern church. We are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s pattern. The word pattern is used in reference to a building. The Lord Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. All parts of the building take their characteristic lines from the chief corner stone. Christ is the pattern church. And we said additionally that there is an expression of that pattern in the local church. That this is a possibility is set forth in the letter to write to the church in Philadelphia. You understand that there are seven letters in all, and those seven churches are typical; representative. The seven churches reveal characteristics that may be found in any local assembly of God’s people all through the course of the church age. In the midst of the religious confusion, there is that church that satisfies divine pleasure. The church in Philadelphia types that church.
Again, we find that Christ builds up the church to be conformed to his own image and likeness. The building as we have seen is Christ the Builder is Christ. In the finished picture what is seen is Christ in His fullness, Christ in the fullness of His image and likeness. This is important.
What we see in the letter to the church in Philadelphia, are features that we can relate to. What are the things the Lord is looking for in His church? How is the church to function properly? How can divine results, results pleasing in the sight of God attend the works of God’s people? And we answer that the Lord has not left us ignorant. He makes known in His word what things please Him. We have these things adequately revealed in the letter to the church in Philadelphia. And that is why we will be looking at this letter to the church in Philadelphia for quite some time.
Now let’s turn to Revelation 3:7, 8. We will be commenting on those features in the church that interest us.
“…And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and n o man openeth;
I know they works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it : for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. …”
We saw in the last edition that the first important thing that the Lord does is the introduction of Himself. He is the holy one. That talks about the moral beauty and glory of Christ. He is the true One whose labours are in exact harmony with the Father’s will. He does not work from himself but He works with what the Father counsels and reveal. He is the true One. Then He is the elect one. He is the one that holds the key of David. He is the one who exercises judgement. The Father judgeth no man but has committed all judgement to the Son, that all might worship the Son as they worship the Father (John 5: 22).
Then again, He says to the church in Philadelphia, “I know thy works”. We are to read from Isaiah 28, two verses that enable us to understand this passage well. And someone may ask why is it that a passage is read in Revelation and the discussion on it is drawn from Isaiah 28? And we answer that there is only one mind behind all scriptures. All scriptures speak of Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ and His church. “Ye search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, but they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). So, come with me to Isaiah 28:1;
“…Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. …”
There is time element in knowing God. Don’t hurry out of the presence of God. For prayers and communion is a two – way system. We speak to Him and He speaks to us. And we increasingly speak to him by the things He speaks to us. That is true fellowship. We don’t hurry out of the Lord’s presence. So, he says in verse 17;
“…Judgement also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plumet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place….”
There is indicated in this verse the fact of a two-fold measurement of the believer’s works: character and service. And what is more, it is predicted that much of the labour of God’s people contain what has been described as a refuge of lies.
The same verse provides that the refuge of lies will be flushed out by “the hail” and “the waters” of divine appointment. In the 16th verse, all that is said about Christ is to show His qualification as One who has the right to execute judgement. This means so much as we shall later see. For now, let’s allow a few comments on the 16th verse. First, Christ is described as the tried stone. In the days of His humanity, especially in the three-and-half years of ministry, Christ was grievously tested, tempted in all points but proved to be perfect, separate from sinners, undefiled. It is fitting then, for this glorious personage is made the cornerstone, the sure foundation on, which is built the human – temple of the living God.
Christ, indeed is the pre-eminent One, His varied offices include all that is of ultimate value in executing the program of God. He holds the keys of David and grants entrance to the full enjoyment of life rights and redemption honours to those whose “works” He adjudges approves.
But, our emphasis in this meditation is on the things He says concerning the Philadelphian church. After saying I know they works, He said, “Because thou has kept my word”… Recall that the Greek word used here is “Logos”. And it refers to the declaration of God’s thoughts and intent as they may be concretely demonstrated. The word became flesh. In the beginning was the Logos and the Logos was with God and the Logos was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by the Logos and without the Logos was nothing made that was made. As it was in the beginning so it is now. The Logos is at work again, building the new creation.
He says, “…Thou hast kept my word…”. That statement is not made to any other church but the church in Philadelphia. And this is important. Not the rhema. The rhema is an aspect of the revealed word quickened to the understanding of the believer to assist him to know how to relate to a given situation. But the Logos is the full range of divine intent and purpose in redemption. So He says, “…thou hast kept my word…”.
Now, we observed that with respect to salvation there are three divisions in the word of truth. And these are what God looks for when He comes to measure His people. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 reveal these three things. They are to be seen as the inheritance of the believer both now and in future. Remember 1 Corinthians 13:13. “…And now abideth faith, hope, love…”. Each of these abides now, continues to fullness ultimately. In the three divisions of the Logos are to be found all of the inheritances of God’s people.
Come with me to 1Thessalonians 1:3. Paul in praying for the brethren without ceasing remembers their “work of faith”. He also mentions “the labours of love” and the “patience of hope”.
If you will turn with me to Revelation 3:10, something will strike you in that passage. This verse shows that the dominant work of the Lord among His people at the time of the end is to bring to focus what might be called the patience of hope. This grace found in a believer, qualifies him to be delivered from the grievous tribulation that is to come upon the world. Revelation 3:10
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
In Revelation 1: 9, John was writing and said, “I John who also I am your brother and companion in the tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ”.
We find that when God measures the believer’s works He resolves them into what is in harmony with either the works of faith, the labours of love or the patience of hope. Now, time was when the Logos was completely lost to the church. The parables of the kingdom recorded in Matthew 13 deals with that. Verse 33 says “…The kingdom of heaven shall be likened to leaven… error is leaven… a meal that a woman took and hid in three measures of leaven, until the whole meal was leavened…”. That is a complete loss of the truth of God’s word, of the Logos, in what is better described as the dark ages. Emerging from that, there has been a gradual recovery of lost truth. The treasure that was hid in the field (Mathew 13:44) is “the works of faith”. The merchantman in search of goodly pearls (verse 45) speaks of the “Patience of hope”. The kingdom of heaven likened to the net (verse 47) stands for the “labour of love”. And we are shown that all of these things shall be recovered.
The predicted order of recovery as is shown in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 is first, “the works of faith”, then “the labour of Love” and finally, “the patience of hope”. The patience of hope is the aspect that comes up last. And that speaks of the blessed hope. Whereas the works of faith and the labours of love speak of the outreach of the church, the “patience of hope” is all about the up reach. In the first two, the needs of men are met. In the third, God’s needs are met. Redemption is all about meeting the needs of God and the needs of men. For when man is as God created him to be and called him to be in the upward calling that is in Christ Jesus, then God’s needs are met. Our God comes to rest when a body of believers has been brought into fullness of divinity.
Let us come back to examining the first of the three divisions of the Logos. The Lord said to this church type, “thou hast kept my Logos”, and we said the first part of the Logos is “the works of faith”. In Romans 10, Acts 10, you find Logos and Rhema used together. Whereas the Logos speaks of all of the revealed word of God, the rhema, as we have observed, speaks of an aspect of the revealed word giving specific guidance enabling proper response in a particular situation. In Romans 10:8; Paul says
“…The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the rhema of faith, which we preach. That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead; thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth and so he is accounted just, he is counted justified in the sight of God. With the heart man believeth unto a position of righteousness in the sight of God qualifying him thus to receive all the blessings of redemption. With the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…”.
The first aspect of the work of faith, which is the rhema of faith, is shown in Romans 10: and how we are to enjoy it is also revealed. There is a heart position and there is an active and aggressive declaration of the word of faith through the mouth.
Now, the first aspect of redemption concerns itself with the restoration of man to that which was lost in the fall: sickness, diseases, bareness, insecurity of life and property, a failing mind, ageing process etc. All of these are things that came with the fall. The first aspect of the work of redemption is to show that in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is lifted up to the estate Adam had before the fall. Thus, the rhema of faith concerns itself with declaring to the Lord’s people how they can enjoy the saving benefits of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are already accounted as standing in the same position or estate of life that Adam had before the fall.
But the works of faith goes beyond the rhema of faith, because it includes the plus, plus, plus of redemption. In Christ, something is added to us far beyond what Adam lost in the fall. In Philippians 3 it is called “The high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. In Hebrews 3, it is called “The heavenly calling”. So, that man of the earth, Adam, a living soul, of the earth earthy, had certain glory. In the first experiences of salvation, we are accounted as standing in that glory. But the works of redemption is not over in man’s needs met, so, he is called up, he is called up to partake of the divine nature. As it is in the primary enjoyment of the things of redemption, so it is in this secondary aspect, the life of faith is required. And the works of faith concerns itself therefore in teaching concerning what might be called our common salvation and also our great salvation (the upward calling of God) in Christ Jesus.
The thrust that may seen in most teaching of the word limits itself to the rhema of faith God has always provided for the freshness in the Spirit’s work in making Christ known, in making Christ to be revealed in His word, that our labours, our understanding of God’s word, should be made fuller and fuller as we fellowship with him. But when there is a stunted growth situation, even that which, was once is revealed begins to be stretched beyond measure, and lies to creep in. There are certain emphases in the teaching of faith that are presumptuous; they do not give life, rather, they destroy. There is the (outer) front side of the word of God that relates to man’s redemption bringing him to those rights and blessings which he lost in the fall and there is the inside part, the core part, that relates to lifting the believer in Christ up from the earth to the highest heaven, to be like Christ in all ramifications.
Now, we will talk about the labours of love. The best way to explain the labours of love is to look at the seventh parable of the kingdom of heaven (Mathew 13:47). Briefly put, it is that which talks about bringing other persons to the enjoyment of that which we have in the works of faith. So, “the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea”. The labour of the Lord’s people in ministering the blessings to others is here set forth. The net cast into the sea speaks of those labours motivated by love for our fellowmen, directing them to the love of the saviour. When it is a ministration to the unsaved, the “Labours of Love” could be described as soul winning.
Now we come to “the blessed hope”. The blessed hope is related to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the crystallising in us of full divine nature. The figure of the merchantmen in search of goodly pearls, which is the substance of the sixth parable in Matthew 13, is used to picture “the patience of hope”. This is a longing for a full share in the coming kingdom that will rule over the whole earth. (Daniel 7:27). We must wait for it. We must live daily in the light of the kingdom. This calls for patience and living true to our sacred calling. We would take a fuller look into this in another edition. This is just but a brief introduction.
Now, come with me to Isaiah 28. We find that when the Lord Jesus Christ measures His church, He is sure to sweep away refuge of lies. Hope is a refuge; hope is an anchor. The hope of being with Christ eternally is the blessed hope. 1 John 3:1 – says;
“…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. 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 b e like him; for we shall see him as he is. And everyone that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. …”
That is the blessed hope the hope of living and ruling eternally with Christ, fully united with Him in our will, heart and mind. This life purifies the heart, renders it submissive to God and strengthens one to walk in love.
There is so much error in the teachings of the visible church systems on this subject. God comes to correct this through shining His light on the scriptures and by acts of judgement.
In closing, let us go back to the rhema of faith. We know that in this last hour, the pressure is increasing. Unknown sicknesses, that is, sicknesses not known in time past are becoming scourges in society today. There is also an increase interest in occultism today. And, how shall the believer live in the midst of all these, living above the evil waters, enjoying the redemption that is in Christ Jesus? Remember that the gospel is called the glad tidings, the good news that man can fully enjoy life through Jesus Christ. First we must understand our position of great authority in Christ. There is the first dominion restored to the believer, that dominion that was given to Adam at the beginning when God blessed him and said, “…Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowls of the air, and over creaturely forces upon the earth’s sphere”. …”
In justification we stand in that position, and the throne of glory, the throne power of God backs us up. In Christ, all things in the animate and inanimate world are subject to us. This is something the believers must be thoroughly founded in this last hour. It will always consist in the following things; believing with our hearts the Lord’s word concerning the redemption that is in His Son (with the heart man believeth unto righteousness). Upon the strength of this declaring with our months in prophetic utterances, prophetic prayers, prophetic praises, power – filled words of command that which must be. With the mouth confession is made unto actual possession.
We believe that as God gives the latter rain revealing the things that pertain to the patience of hope, he will give again the former or early rain also, opening the minds of the Lord’s people, causing the scriptures to be opened again, and making the words of faith to come alive in the midst of His people. The Lord bless you, the Lord keep you. The church honours God when she walks in victory. The believer honours God when he walks in victory. And may the Lord bring you to understanding faith in its first aspect and understanding faith in the second aspect. I believe that God will assist us to go further into this aspect of the works of faith that will enable us to know how to walk with God in relation to the kingdom that is to be revealed. May the Lord really bless you and keep you, in Jesus name. Amen.
HOUSE
BUILDING
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You are welcome to this edition of Light in the Evening Time. We will begin our meditation this evening by observing that we are continuing in the series: God's Pattern Church. The last two editions were mainly introductory considerations. Even though certain vital things were mentioned in those two editions, which will be further developed in other editions, we will start up today's meditation by saying that God loves to speak to his people. In doing this, he would always employ the language his people understand. When God speaks, man should have an understanding of what he is saying. It is for this reason that divine things are set forth in human language, in figures familiar to man, so that his understanding might be fruitful.
Now, the challenge of living the Christian life is set forth in scriptures under the figure of building a house. How a man lives as a Christian is shown in the character or nature of the house he is raising up. Just as it is with individuals, so it is with local assemblies of God's people as they seek to fulfil their commission. The character of the work they do, and their belief system: those things that inform their practices and their teachings are all set forth in the figure of building a house.
Now, if you will turn with me to Mathew 7, beginning from verse 24 (a passage we are all familiar with), we will do quite some study. Mathew 7:24-17.
“…Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house: and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon tha