Life on earth is a time of testing. It is a probationary period. What is the purpose of the troubles we experience continuously in the world? These pains and dreads discipline us; they teach us obedience to the Father; they drive out of us the love of the world. Obedience! We learn obedience to God through the things we suffer. As was true of the Apostle Paul, when we are faithful in our prisons and sufferings other people are blessed.
We Christians suffer many tribulations and pains throughout our discipleship. It is a comfort to know that when we are serving the Lord diligently our troubles are not chance occurrences or pointless harassments but are the disciplining hand of the Lord.
For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:6,7)
We are God’s children. God is our Father. God is teaching us obedience—perfect obedience to Himself. God will not tolerate disobedience in any of His sons and daughters.
King Saul lost his throne through disobedience. The Lord had commanded Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites and all their livestock. But Saul spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, plus the best of the livestock.
When the Prophet Samuel came, Saul blamed the people. Saul protested that the people had kept the animals alive in order to sacrifice them to the Lord. When we disobey God we often put the blame on other people.
Samuel declared to Saul that obedience is more important than sacrifice:
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of sorcery, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (I Samuel 15:22,23)
So it is today. There are many who are "praising" Jesus and calling Him Lord, Lord but are not doing what He says. They are not obedient to God but are hoping to make up for their disobedience by praising the Lord.
Fervent, enthusiastic worship is one of the most important activities of an assembly of saints. Fervent worship is necessary if we are to please the Lord. But strict obedience to God, to both His written Word and specific, personal guidance, is more important even than praise.
Obedience to the Father is the basis of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is manifested in doing God’s will in the earth as it is performed in Heaven.
Obedience must be learned and it often can be learned best through suffering.
Life on earth is a time of testing. It is a probationary period. The main lesson we learn on earth is the knowledge of the Holy One of Israel, that is, complete trust in the faithfulness of God and stern obedience to His will. The result of trust and obedience is the Presence of God, which is the only true holiness.
Iniquity can be removed from our personality in a moment while we are on earth or in the spirit realm.
And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. (Zechariah 3:4)
But it appears that only during life on the earth can the knowledge of the Lord, perfect trust in and obedience to the Father, be wrought in the soul.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Offspring of God. Christ is filled with the Father. He is the Word from eternity. He always does the Father’s will. His Spirit and Character are flawless. He is the express Image of the Father’s Person.
Yet even Jesus had to learn obedience through suffering during His life on the earth.
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)
If Jesus, who is altogether above us in every way, had to learn obedience through suffering on the earth, it is no wonder we who are completely undone in our sins and rebellion are chastened continually. We are sent tribulation after tribulation. Our Father in Heaven is disciplining us. He is teaching us obedience to Himself.
There are three primary realms of disobedience in the believer: the love of the world, the love of sin, and the love of self. These three loves are in us, and this is why every one of us is deeply rebellious against our Father in Heaven. God deals with each of these three areas by means of suffering.
The love of the world that abides in us presses us continually to disobey the Lord. The world calls to us with a loud, enticing voice. The world projects to our minds a glamorous future filled with delights of all kinds. But it is a siren call inviting us to the rocks of destruction, to the bleached bones of those who have succumbed before us.
Jesus commands us through the Apostle John:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15)
But many find obedience to Christ so difficult and the world so attractive!
Therefore God pours tribulation (chastening) on us in order that we may not be condemned with the world.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (I Corinthians 11:32)
Notice how the Lord calls us to Himself, "In me ye might have peace." In the world we shall have tribulation but in Jesus we shall have peace.
It is human nature to turn away from what is painful and to seek joy and peace. By sending tribulation on us God causes us to turn away from the world and to find rest in His Son. We learn obedience through the things we suffer.
Should we get married? Should we work in the world? Should we participate in the world? Many times it is God’s will that we marry and participate in the world.
But then we run into trouble in the flesh. There is incompatibility. There is anxiety. There is that boss who is perverse. Our Eden is plagued with weeds, mosquitoes, and serpents. Trouble!
What is the purpose of the troubles we experience continuously in the world? These pains and dreads discipline us; they teach us obedience to the Father; they drive out of us the love of the world. This present world is not our rest, our inheritance, and God reminds us of that fact every day.
The current doctrine that through "faith" we can escape the tribulations God sends to us is erroneous and destructive. It is of the False Prophet. It is contrary to the Scriptures and seeks to prevent our progress in the Lord.
When we are sick, or otherwise in distress, we are to pray and seek God, using the faith and trust He gives us. In numerous instances the Lord heals our diseases and delivers us from our troubles. All experienced saints know this is true. Going to the Lord for help in our hour of need is scriptural.
But believing that if we have faith we never will experience suffering or sickness is not scriptural. It is the spirit of the False Prophet attempting to emphasize the immediate happiness and welfare of people at the expense of God’s will for them; at the expense of God’s will being done in the earth; at the expense of bringing the light of God to the nations of the earth; at the expense of the eternal joy and blessing of the believer who is being seduced by this humanistic teaching.
The Lord Jesus suffered much in the world and is an example to us. We must share His sufferings if we desire to experience the power of His resurrection.
The love of the world is in us, causing disobedience. Also, the love of sin dwells in our flesh.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Romans 7:20)
God causes us to turn away from our sins by sending fiery sufferings on us.
For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (I Peter 4:1)
If we commit acts of lust or covetousness or violence or drunkenness or sorcery Divine judgment will fall on us and our sin. We may become violently ill or lose our job or hurt someone or end up in prison. Calamity may fall on our household. We may die before our appointed task has been completed.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [die physically]. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (I Corinthians 11:30-32)
God is teaching us obedience. God does not want us to be conformed to this world, which is of the devil, or to sin; and so He sends pain to us continuously—enough pain, dread, perplexity, and sorrow that to live a righteous, holy, obedient life becomes preferable to sinning.
There was no sin dwelling in the flesh of Christ. He did not have to learn righteous behavior. But He took upon Himself our sins and suffered the terrible penalty.
We now are learning through suffering the peaceable ways of righteousness.
He who would obey God must, through Christ’s grace, gain victory over the love of the world and the love of sin. Finally, the love of self must be overcome. The love of self, and trust in self, may be the deepest, most resistant aspect of the believer’s rebellion against God. Perhaps it is in this realm that even the holy, righteous Christ had to learn obedience through suffering.
The world and sin are obviously evil. Even the unsaved can understand that much of what is practiced is wicked and destructive, being contrary to the law of conscience that dwells in every person.
But the love of self and trust in self are not always deemed to be wicked and hostile to God. Neither the world nor the Christian believers, for the most part, understand the monster of evil lurking in the cavern of self-love. It may be true that the love of self is a more horrible serpent than the world and sin combined.
The individual who is free from self-love is far along on the path to the Father’s heart.
Since the love of self is the most vicious of all forms of rebellion and the most firmly entrenched in the human personality, so it is true that the sufferings required to dislodge it, to cleanse it from the soul, are the most intense, the most fiery of the tribulations the believer experiences.
There are in the Scriptures two dreadful portrayals of God dealing with self-love. One is found in the Old Testament, the other in the New. One took place in the land of Moriah, the other in Gethsemane—both within the boundaries of Jerusalem.
God "tested" Abraham in the realm of self-love, self-will, trust in self. This trial had nothing to do with the world or with sin. It had to do with Abraham’s trust in God.
God promised Abraham that his descendants would be in number as the stars and as the sands of the sea. Then He made Abraham wait for the birth of Isaac for a quarter of a century. You can imagine the patience involved in waiting twenty-five years for something desired so intensely.
Finally the promise was kept, as God’s promises always are. The glorious, impossible hope became flesh and blood. Abraham’s future was all joy now. Or was it?
One day, out from the darkness came the most frightful words Abraham had ever heard or ever would hear again. "Offer up Isaac as a burnt offering."
This was a perfect, comprehensive test of Abraham’s self-love. His whole soul was wrapped up in Isaac. To slay Isaac was to slay himself.
Had Abraham refused to surrender his soul to God, neither Abraham nor Isaac would have become the ancestor of Christ. God will not tolerate disobedience in His children—and no excuses are accepted.
The greatest testings are reserved for those whose destinies are the highest. Abraham learned obedience through suffering and thus became the father of many nations, the father of all who are part of Christ. God disciplines every son whom He receives. If we are without chastening, God is not our father. The extent to which we are brought under discipline depends on our particular calling.
Christ is destined to be Lord of all, the King of kings, the Center and Circumference of all things. The love of the world was not in Him, neither did sin dwell in His flesh.
But Christ learned obedience to the Father through the things He suffered.
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9)
God has promised Jesus the nations for His inheritance and the farthest reaches of the earth for His possession. The kingdoms of this world shall be His to do with as He will.
Satan offered a short cut to his inheritance, which Christ quickly rejected.
Christ was tested in the wilderness. He was rejected by His neighbors. He was persecuted by the Jews. He was accused falsely. He suffered perplexity, perversity, loss of dignity, spiritual and physical pain.
But none of these approached the agony of Gethsemane.
"Gethsemanes" cannot be evaluated as to the intensity of their pain except by those who are experiencing them.
The enormity of Jesus’ suffering is indicated in a few sentences:
And there appeared an angel unto him from Heaven strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:43,44)
Christ’s unequaled strength, courage, and obedience are evident. But what was taking place in His soul that was causing such extreme agony of heart and mind?
The testing was somewhat similar to that of Abraham. Christ possessed the fullness of the Presence of God and the hope of a truly marvelous inheritance. His future was spread before Him—golden, glorious, wonderful—the dream to end all dreams.
Now this apparently was being taken from Him. Not only the golden dream but the very Presence of God. Christ was losing His salvation, His eternal life, His very soul, because this is the penalty of sin against God.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me (Psalms 18:4,5).
"Oh," we say, "but it was only for a few days. Christ knew that soon He would be raised from the dead and enter His inheritance. The Presence and Glory of God would be restored to Him. There actually was no basis for His extreme agony!"
How did Christ know His travail was but for a brief period? From the Scriptures? We too have the promises of God. Do they make our "Gethsemanes" less excruciating?
The fact is, Christ, as is true also of us, had to lean totally on the faithfulness of God. During those dark hours in Gethsemane, Christ was being required to give back to God His inheritance, His glory, His very eternal Life in the Presence of God. Would they ever be restored? How could He be certain? After all, He was bearing on Himself the sins of the whole world.
What if He was doomed to spend eternity among the demons? What if God did not raise Him from the dead? The demons to the present hour claim that Jesus is chained to a rock in the underworld and is hurling profanities at God. This is what they threatened Him with that night in the garden of Gethsemane.
This is why Christ sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. This is why a holy angel was sent to strengthen Him. Christ was being cut off from God. He was bearing our sins on Himself and paying the penalty for our sins. He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. He became the bronze serpent that was lifted up.
Christ understands, as does no one else, the extent of God’s wrath against sin and rebellion.
This was the moment of supreme obedience, the obedience that reversed the effect of Adam’s disobedience.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)
Christ drank a frightful death from the cup. In doing so, He surrendered His will to the Father in absolute obedience.
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (Luke 22:42)
Obedience! We learn obedience to God through the things we suffer. As in the case of Abraham, Joseph, Christ, the Apostle Paul, and countless others less well known, when we are faithful in our prisons and sufferings other people are blessed.
Will there ever be an end to our sufferings? Yes, there shall indeed be an end. As soon as we are perfectly righteous, perfectly holy, perfectly obedient there will be no more need for chastening.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (I Peter 5:10)
We are chastened more severely than is true of the world. We receive of the Lord’s hand double for all our sins. The sailors were not swallowed by the fish, only Jonah, only the man of God. But as soon as our "warfare has been accomplished" the Lord speaks comfortably to us.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:2)
What a blessed thought it is to realize we shall not be chastened forever! If we remain faithful, praying in our afflictions, there will come a time when the chastening is concluded. It shall come to an end!
God will not be forever scolding us. One day we will walk in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. (Isaiah 57:16)
We can prolong our sufferings by refusing to learn obedience; or we can shorten the program by being quick to learn, quick to obey.
But in no case can the sufferings of the righteous be avoided, for obedience must be formed in us so deeply, so perfectly, that God will be able to trust us with the power and glory of the ages to come.
We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God.
Copyright © 2006 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Why Am i Suffering? ~ Click Here
Greetings beloved of our Abba Father in Yeshua! The new song, Holy, Worthy, Glory, Honor and Praise is now up and ready to be heard first by all of you who come by to read my blogger. i also posted it on the Godly Christian Music site, but it is pending review before it can be heard there. i will also post the song on my reverbnation player in the next week or so.
i don't know how much longer i can record the songs Abba gives me. My voice has been really under much duress and has not been the same for the past several months. This last real bad cold where i had those violent cough attacks really took it's toll on my throat. It was very difficult to record this song. i came very close to walking away from it. i couldn't hit certain notes that i never have had trouble with hitting before. After many takes and getting weary, i asked Abba what i should do. i tried using my Kaipo as high up on the frets as i could go. i tried all the possible chord changes to make the song work but that failed too. Before putting my guitar down and turning off my digital recorder, i heard the Holy Spirit say. Do the verses after each chorus in the key of F. To my surprise i was able to do the song without changing anything else. To Abba Father God ALL Glory, Honor and Praise! \0/
When i am weak, HE IS STRONG! i will trust Him with whatever and however He wants to use these vocals. When Abba says, your work is finished then His Will be done!
i pray this song will draw you in Praise and worship to He ~ Abba Father who sits on the throne of our hearts and unto Yeshua the Lamb!
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you too, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:3-4)
Fellowship is a greatly confused word among many Christian circles. Most times it is reduced to a bunch of people hanging out and doing activities together. Though there is an element of truth in this perspective, it does not necessarily mean that people are speaking of the same kind of fellowship that John had in mind. The kind of fellowship that John spoke of was when people walked together in communion with God. The Greek word for fellowship comes from the idea of sharing something in common. At times, this sharing can refer to a financial burden (2 Corinthians 9:13, Romans 15:26). In other cases, it may refer to the sharing of a common work (Philippians 1:4-5, Philemon 1:17). Nevertheless, the word most often refers to communion and a sharing of experience. Paul demonstrates this usage when he writes, “God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Corinthians 1:9). And elsewhere he writes, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). It is this usage that John adheres to when he writes, “And our fellowship is with the Father and with His son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). John is saying that he has communion and shares his experience of life with the Father and His son, Jesus Christ.
When many Christians think of fellowship they often associate it with building friendships and sharing experiences with other believers. They think that going to a football game together or watching a movie with others is Christian fellowship. Never-the less, in most cases it really isn’t Christian fellowship at all. Rather, it is fellowship with football or a movie. The fellowship that John described was with God. John was already experiencing fellowship with God, but he desired that other people would enter into the fellowship he was already having. Therefore he writes, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you too, so that you also may have fellowship with us” (1 John 1:3). The key word here is also. John already walked sharing the experience of communion with God with other people, but he desired that those he wrote to would also come to know this fellowship. What kind of fellowship do you have with other Christians? We rally around all sorts of different practices and topics. Some of us have fellowship in specific forms of dress, others in a particular doctrinal knowledge, and still others in fun activities. All these kinds of fellowship are frequently dead works that often distract us from drawing near to God. Though it is not wrong for us to have fellowship in many different ways, our primary fellowship must be rooted in experientially knowing God. If knowing God is not at the center of your fellowship with other Christians, you need to repent. Change your mind and perspective about how and why you spend time with other believers. When we walk together in proper fellowship with God, all of our joy will be truly made complete (1 John 1:4).
(Taken from Day 2 of the book, "Finding Life; a Journey through 1 John ~ by Peter John Schrock You can read the rest of the book by scrolling my side bar and clicking on the picture of the book)
(Click on the audio link below to hear the reading of 1 Chr 13 ~ Make sure you click the back arrow button after listening this to bring you back to the blogger)
Audio Link
1 Chronicles 13
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.
This morning during my prayer time with Abba the Holy Spirit led me to 1 Chronicles 13. When I got to verse 9-12 that you see in bold, I asked Abba about this. Why did you kill Uzza for trying to steady your Ark when the ox stumbled? He then led me to...
Numbers 4:15
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And then He led me to 1 Chronicles 15
Before you listen and read along keep in mind what Uzza means and the word Breach.
Uzza ~ ooz-zaw', ooz-zaw'
Feminine of H5797; strength;
Breach ~ peh'-rets
From H6555; a break (literally or figuratively): - breach, breaking forth (in), forth, gap.
(Click on the audio link below to hear the reading of 1Chr 15 ~ Make sure you click the back arrow button after listening this to bring you back to the blogger )
Audio Link
1 Chronicles 15
And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty: Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief and his brethren an hundred and thirty: Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters. So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful. And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.
Uzza which means Strength in Hebrew took it upon himself to uphold the symbol of Yahweh’s Holy Presence. Trust NOT in the arms of the flesh. We cannot keep or retain Abba’s Presence by our own strength, self righteousness and our carnal fallen nature. David realized that this first attempt to restore the Ark of the Covenant was out of the flesh. There was NO PREPARATION to bring the Ark to its rightful place. Even though Davids heart was right, what he did was out of impulse. He did not go according the the instructions given to Moses on how to rightfully handle the Ark of the Covenant. This caused a gap (separation ~ sin) which led to (Uzza’s) death. This breach is SIN! The gap that separates us from Yahweh’s Presence and leads to death. When you are in the flesh it cuts off the full awareness of Yahweh’s Presence from your life which is death. To be in Him and He in us is LIFE, but to be apart from Him is death.
ARK OF THE COVENANT
names the original container for the Ten Commandments and the central symbol of God's Presence with the people of Israel.
Old Testament The ark of ancient Israel is mysterious in its origins, its meanings, and its ultimate fate. Its many names convey the holy sense of God's Presence. The Hebrew word for ark means simply “box, chest, coffin,” as is indicated by its use for the coffin of Joseph (Genesis 50:26) and for the Temple collection box of King Joash (2 Kings 12:9-10).
The names used for the ark define its meaning by the words which modify it. The word “covenant” in the name defines the ark from its original purpose as a container for the stone tablets upon which the Ten Commandments (sometimes called the “testimony”) were inscribed. Sometimes it is identified rather with the name of Deity, “the ark of God,” or “the ark of the Lord” (Yahweh), or most ornately “the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts (Yahweh Sabaoth) who is enthroned on the cherubim” (1 Samuel 4:4)
SO, what is the example here for those of His People who hunger for Yahweh by counting all things lost that we may know Him? The old testament is an outward example and picture of how this applies to us in the unseen realm today. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what we cannot see. Thats the walk of the Spirit. There is a Divine order for us today as we see in 1Chronicles 13, Numbers 4:15 and I Chronicles 15
To be aware and maintain the Presence of Yahweh in our life comes through sanctification. In order for the Levites ( who were of the priestly order under the old covenant / Under the new covenant Christ who is our High Priest after the order of Melchezadek ~ 1 Peter 2:9 ` But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ) to carry the Ark of the Covenant they had to be sanctified along with ALL their brethren.
So......, what does it mean to be sanctified?
Sanctify ~ kaw-dash' (Hebrew)
A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): - appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), wholly. (complete)
Sanctify ~ hag-ee-ad'-zo (Greek)
From G40; to make holy, that is, (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: - hallow, be holy, sanctify.
Here are some scriptures that give us a clue as to how we are to be sanctified
John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Truth ~ al-ay'-thi-a
Truth; truthfulness corresponding to reality; verify
(Thy ~ HIS) Word ~ Logos
Word spoken or written, often with the focus of a content of communication; The Word is the title of Christ emphasizing His own Deity; Communication of what God is and what He is like; doctrine, intent; reason; word spoken
John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Eph 5:26
That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
1Thes 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;(completely) and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 13:8 - 15
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
1 Pe 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
As you have read, it is by Abba’s Word written and Spoken to us
2 Tim 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
How is it rightly divided? When we ask Abba to reveal His Word to us by His Spirit than HE opens it up to us. It is by the Holy Spirit and not our flesh that rightly divides His Word of Truth in us.
It is CHRIST who sanctifies us as we pick up our cross, deny self and follow HIM.
Abba’s Presence through sanctification is expressed in our praise, worship and giving thanks to Him in all things.
Ephesians 5:18-20
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Filled ~ play-ro'-o
From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfill, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
Psalms ~ psal-mos'
From G5567;(Make melody, to sing) a set piece of music, that is, a sacred ode (accompanied with the voice, harp or other instrument; a “psalm” from G6503 o-day' G103; a chant or “ode” (the general term for any words sung; while G5215 denotes especially a religious metrical composition, and G5568 still more specifically a - song.
This sanctification also expresses itself through humility, meekness and fear. What seems to be prevalent among Christianity today is the lack of true humility, meekness and the fear of the Lord. Many words that are spoken and taught from His Word and the songs being sung are done in the flesh and by mans own strength. There is very little reverence, fear, awe, meekness and humility coming from the MANY words being spoken and taught along with the spiritual songs being sung. Whether it be in the churches, facebook, myspace, youtube or in your own home it is not just the casual course jesting and irreverence being spoken, but it also includes the idle words of His Word spoken, taught and sung. i believe that is most abominable to Yahweh. That is how we do all in the Name of Yahweh in vain.
Kinda sheds more Light to what it means, "Do not take the Lord your Yahweh's Name in vain."
Matthew 7:22-28
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? and in Thy Name have cast out devils? and in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 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 every one 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 that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Idle ~ ar-gos'
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G2041; inactive, that is, unemployed; (by implication) lazy, useless: - barren, idle, slow.
If what we say and do is not done out of reverence, awe, obedience and the deepest respect for Yahweh our Abba Father for His glory and the benefit of His Body to draw near to Abba with our whole heart, then what we are offering are worthless, empty and barren words! Thus the Words and works become works of iniquity and will bring a gap ~ separation (death) for eternity if you don't repent!
I also want to bring up the last part of 1 Chronicles 15 and 2 Samuel 6:16-23
And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.
2 Samuel 6:16-23
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
When David was bringing in the Ark of the Covenant he was overjoyed and lost himself in Yahweh as he danced in his ephod of linen in the Presence of Yahweh. This deeply offended Michal who was Sauls daughter. Saul had the anointing of being the king of Israel that the PEOPLE wanted instead of Yahweh being their Head and king, but because of the fear of man and Sauls disobedience to Yahweh God, that anointing was cut off. Michal is the seed of that cutting off, breach and gap from Abba’s Presence. She saw the promised seed coming through David a man after Yahweh’s own heart who took the place of Saul. The promised seed of Yeshua for all who believe on Him had come from the line of David. Saul represents bondage and David represents those who are free. The Holy Spirit was speaking to me more about Michal. She represents the bound up carnal harlot church of today who despises those who are the free sanctified children of Yahweh in Yeshua through suffering and brokenness.
What happened to Michal? She was childless till her death. There was no greater shame than for a Jewish woman to not bring forth a child. An heir to her husband. I find it interesting that the word idle in Greek means useless and barren. Those who are of the harlot Christianity will themselves remain barren and cut off if their remains no true Godly sorrow leading to repentance from dead works and un-sanctified lives before Yahweh who is HOLY and worthy of all our praise.
Search your hearts! Seek Abba Father God while He may be found and call on ( & cry out to) Him with a sincere, contrite and broken heart while He is still near.
James 4:8-10
Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. We don't lift ourselves up, but in humility and brokenness when He lifts us up it is Christ others will see.
Linda Rose ~ Spiritsong
