[Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God] (1 John 3:1).
[In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him] (1 John 4:9).
From my favorite book, [Early Writings] on page 151, I once read, "Think ye that the Father yielded up His dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No, no. It was even a struggle with the God of heaven (our Father) whether to let guilty man perish, or to give His beloved Son 'who knew no sin' (2 Cor. 5:21) to die for them." Yes. It was an unbearable, agonizing, and sorrowful situation to the Father of infinite mercy and love, whether to give His innocent Son to the world of darkness abounding with evil spirits (Satan), to be torn by wicked hands and slain mercilessly by them or not. On page 126 it is written, "I then saw the lovely Jesus ... approach the exceeding bright light which enshrouded the Father ... The anxiety of the angels seemed to be intense while Jesus was communing with His Father. Three times He was shut in by the glorious light about the Father, and the third time He came from the Father, we could see His Person ... He then made known to the angelic choir that a way of escape had been made for lost man."
After having read this book, I was often moved by the thought of what a great pain and sacrifice our Father paid in sending His Son to save us! The news that earthly children had fallen by transgression filled all heaven with sorrow and astonishment, and in the heavenly courts, there was mourning and woeful silence. The sorrow and perplexity of our heavenly Father was too great to be described in words: whether to let man perish in their sins or to give His beloved Son who knew no sin to die for them. These were sorrowful and tormenting hours of agony. Jesus who had been waiting outside the sanctuary with the angels in deep sympathy with the Father, could wait no longer and went to the Father in the sanctuary, entreating Him earnestly for permission to give His life as a ransom for the children of earth. Now imagine the countenance of the Father beholding His Son, beholding His Son entreating so earnestly. How can He lose His Son so lovely? The Father asks to be left alone for more time to think. And more hours of agony and struggle pass on. But the Son aching at the sight of the Father's great pain, can wait no longer and goes to Him, to entreat once more. The Father who beholds the face of His Son standing before Him can never, never give up His Son who is innocent of sin; He once again asks His Son to leave Him alone for more time to think of a solution. And the terrible hours of agony and struggle begin. But Jesus waiting outside the sanctuary for the Father's decision, with the angels equally absorbed in the same sorrow, can no longer merely watch the ever deepening agony and unceasing struggle, so with a firm resolution, He goes in to see the Father for the third time, and pleads all the more earnestly. Beholding His countenance and listening to the pleading of His Son, God finally yields. God was to give His only Son, [that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life] (John 3:16). What a tremendous sacrifice and agony for the Father it was! There are many who speak about the agony of Jesus on Mount Gethsemane, but few speak about the agony of the Father which had taken place in heaven beforehand. The agony of Jesus on Mt. Gethsemane was only for the sinful children on earth, but the Father was moaning in agony pressed down by double burdens. He was under a tremendous agony for Jesus His only Son "who knew no sin," on top of His enormous anxiety for the fallen race. Oh what a grievous agony for the Father it was! As Jesus the Son of God fell prostrate in agony, He at least had the presence of the Father by His side to reply to His prayer and the attendance of angels to give Him strength and encouragement, but the Father who had been agonizing over this tremendous double burden had no such help. How many are there who give sincere thanks to the Father for His tremendous sacrifice? So immeasurable is the love of the Father for sinners, and so great is the suffering in sacrificing His dear Son. God's boundless love is a mystery hidden from the sinners of earth and from the angels of heaven - a love that neither earth nor heaven can comprehend. Let us at this moment bow down and give thanks to the heavenly Father. His love is [higher than the heavens - what can you do? ... deeper than the depths of the grave - what can you know?] (Job 11:8, NIV).
[He is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish,] [as the heavens are higher than the earth] (Luke 6:35, Isa. 55:9).
I would like to introduce a passage from another favorite book titled, [The Desire of Ages] which particularly illustrates the life of Jesus. It is written on page 478, "In all ages, philosophers and teachers have been presenting to the world theories by which to satisfy the soul's need. Every heathen nation has had its great teachers and religious systems offering some other means of redemption than Christ, turning the eyes of men away from the Father's face, and filling their hearts with fear of Him who has given them only blessing. The trend of their work is to rob God of that which is His own, both by creation and by redemption. And these false teachers rob man (soul) as well. Millions of human beings are bound down under false religions, in the bondage of slavish fear, of stolid indifference, toiling like beasts of burden, bereft of hope of joy or aspiration here, and with only a dull fear of the hereafter."
What a terrible and miserable religion it is! What a great disappointment and distress it must be to our Father and Jesus! Therefore, it was to remove this absurd fallacy, to reveal to the world the infinite love of God, that Jesus came to live among men. It was to make manifest the Father that the Son of God came from heaven. [No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him] (John 1:18). [No one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and he to whom the Son wills to reveal Him] (Matt. 11:27).
Jesus wanted the children of earth to know how much God loved and cared for them. He taught them that God is in search of every lost child, [As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him] (Ps. 103:13). Though this kind of God had never been introduced to the world by any other religion, it has always been ready to be revealed in the Bible. But churches falsely represented God, not as the God of love, but as an evil God who is pleased with sacrifices. Even the Israelites were ignorant to the extent of God's love taught by His prophets. This revelation of the parental love of God is a new, precious gift to the world.
Just before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples who, though boasting of their loyalty to their Teacher, would flee away for their lives, leaving Him alone, [Indeed the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave Me alone; yet I am not alone, for the Father is with Me] (John 16:32, RSV). Yes. When the God of mercy and love sent His Son to save sinners, He did not send Him alone to this world of darkness full of evil spirits (Satan), but He came together with His Son and was at His side from the manger in Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary. Even the evil, corrupt parents of earth do not allow their own children to go through rough paths and dangerous places alone. They rather carry them on their backs, hold them in their bosom, or grasp their hand. Then how much more would the loving, merciful God let His Son, who is as innocent as a lamb, to enter this cold world alone. Jesus said, [He who sent Me is with Me: The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to Him] (John 8:29). He again said, [I am not alone but I am with the Father who sent Me] (John 8:16).
Perhaps you remember Matthew 27:35, [They crucified Him.] This verse fills me with aching sorrow and makes me drop my head. The thought of the ungrateful, outrageous mob jumping at Jesus like [brute dogs] (Ps. 22:16), nailing the tender hands of the Son of God to the cross so mercilessly who had given up His position as a heavenly Prince to come down and save them. Now behold the Father standing beside His Son, never having left Him alone, not once. He who had always been with Him was now watching His Son's last hour, watching with pain how His Son was being treated. As I imagine the Father's countenance, I cannot help but drop my head. The outrageous mob cruelly nailing the hands and feet of the Son of God ... the sharp pounding heard echoing amidst their laughter - who are completely ignorant to who He is, not knowing that they are also nailing down and piercing the heart of God as well. The Father who is grasping His Son ever tighter with heart-wrenching agony... As I imagine the scene, I am unable to lift my head, too overcome with sorrow. How can mere words express the torment?
And there is a verse that makes me weep with tears, Matthew 27:46, [My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?]
Here Jesus the Son of God, after this final cry of agony, dropped His head and breathed His last. As I behold the Father holding His Son [who knew no sin] (2 Cor. 5:21), my heart feels as though it will burst with grief. For Jesus the Son of God, everything ceased with His innocent death, but now behold the wailing Father hugging the dead body of His beloved Son who was slain unjustly without sin.
On how He loved the world so much! [Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him] (1 John 3:1). [In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him] (1 John 4:9). [In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins] (1 John 4:10), [For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him] (2 Cor. 5:21). [For surely it is not with angels] of heaven [that He is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham (sinners)] (Heb. 2:16, RSV), to [deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage] (Heb. 2:15, RSV). [For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him] (John 3:16, 17).
But it is the darkness of the misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing the knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy and truth.
This is the work outlined by the prophet Isaiah in the words, [Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'] (Isa. 40:9, RSV).
All heaven is waiting for the sons and daughters of God who will go forth into the world with the love of the Father and proclaim it. This is the final, glorious work to occur at the end of earth's history prophesied by the prophet Malachi, [Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse] (Mal. 4:5, 6).
May the Elijahs of today raise up their hands and answer to the voice of the Lord. [And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, `Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'] (Isa. 6:8) .
Oh, the agony of the Father greater than that of the Son! The struggle of the Father more intense than that of the Son! The love of the Father thicker than the blood of the cross! The love of the Father stronger than the death of the cross! The love of the Father broader and wider than the whole universe! The love of the Father that neither, the world nor sinners can ever fully comprehend! The love of the Father that neither righteous people nor angels can ever know! The love of the Father that is unknown to both heaven and earth! The love that [no one knows except the Father] (Matt. 11:27). Where are the Elijahs today who will go forth with this love? [And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, `Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'] (Isa. 6:8).
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
3. Our Real Father Who Has Truly Begotten Us
[Jesus, When He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi... the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God] (Luke 3:23-38, RSV).
To rephrase this, "Jesus’ father is Joseph, whose father is Heli, whose father is Matthat, whose father is Levi... whose father is Noah, whose father is Lamech, whose father is Methuselah, whose father is Jared, whose father is Mahalaleel, whose father is Cainan, whose father is Enos, whose father is Seth, whose father is Adam, whose father is God."
To put it still another way, it means that "Jesus was born of Joseph (Mary), born of Heli, born of Matthat, born of Levi... born of Noah, born of Lamech, born of Methuselah, born of Enoch, born of Jared, born of Mahalaleel, born of Cainan, born of Enos, born of Seth, born of Adam, born of God." Therefore, our Father in heaven is our real Father who has personally given birth to us.
< A QUESTION! >
You may ask, "In Genesis 1:26 God said, `Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.' He never said He would give birth to us, so why do you insist that God has borne us personally from His body (womb)?" This is natural question. But I must still give the same answer; for the heavenly God is truly our real Father who personally gave birth to us.
Please allow me to clarify this fact.
Animals such as the cow or the deer bring forth their young that look just like themselves. In the same way, flying birds such as sparrows or pigeons also bring forth their young bearing resemblance to themselves. With humans also, they give birth to young (children) who perfectly resemble themselves. In all these examples, the young bear a close resemblance, if not identical to their parents. However, the process by which the young are brought forth among all the various species of God's creations are all considerably different. Animals such as the cow or the deer bear their young through their womb and nurture them through milk sac in their belly. But birds like sparrows, pigeons or chickens are different. As we know well, they bring forth their young from their bodies, not by means of the womb, but through an egg-sac, and not through the genital organs but through the anus. Their young are at first like a round stone with no eyes, nose, or mouth. Then they spend a period of time in the bosom of the brooding mother during which blood vessels, bones, eyes, nose, and feathers are formed; after which they hatch in considerable resemblance to their mother. Once out in the world, the are not fed on milk but manage to grow by pecking on worms and grain. Now, we can see that there are great incomprehensible differences between four-footed animals and birds with feathers in respect to their various methods of reproducing and breeding their young. And yet, the results are the same. They all end up having lovely offspring resembling themselves almost perfectly in character, shape, face and body. Only the way they bring forth and breed their offspring is entirely different.
Likewise, there is a complete difference in respect to producing lives between us bodily creatures and our heavenly Father, who is the bodiless Creator - [a Spirit] (John 4:24). While humans as bodily creatures like animals, give birth to babies by means of the womb in their bodies, God the Creator, because He is a bodiless Spirit, produces lives by means of His Creator's womb and raises them in His own unique way. It is through this Creator's womb that He produces and brings up His children. Understanding one another's methods of producing and breeding their young may be rather difficult as it is quite mysterious and strange. It is difficult for us bodily creatures to understand the way the Creator God, the bodiless Spirit, produces lives. But if we ponder upon it deeply, it is not that impossible to understand. For us, when a baby is born after a period of nine months in the womb of the mother, the baby is first fed on the liquid from the milk sac of her breast just like the four-footed animals. On the other hand, in the beginning, our heavenly Father gave birth to Adam and Eve by means of His spiritual Creator's womb, and fed them with coarse foods such as herbs yielding seeds, all fruits of the garden, and Fruit of the Tree of Life rather than milk, since He is a spiritual Father. Just as the flying birds have no breast and feed their young on coarse foods instead of milk, so our Father does it also. Flying birds and crawling animals are entirely different in their methods of giving birth to their young, but consequently, they all end up having young that resemble themselves perfectly. Likewise, the way we bodily men have our children is entirely different from the way God the Spirit, as the Creator has His children. But in the end, we both have children who perfectly resemble us.
He said, [You thought that I was one like yourself] (Ps. 50:21 RSV). But people have such limited and narrow minds that they are not willing to acknowledge or understand matters concerning God the Creator, who is a bodiless Spirit. Some even ridicule Him, as the flying birds laugh at the way four-footed animals produce their young, and the four-footed animals mock the flying birds with their stone-like eggs void of eyes, nose, or mouth, that will eventually be their young. But Jesus assures us, [Do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is your Father,] who has begotten you personally, [who is in heaven] (Matt. 23:9). And Malachi, who knew this fact, said,[Have we not all one Father?] (Mal. 2:10). That is why Jesus said, [Pray then like this: Our Father which art in heaven] (Matt. 6:9, RSV), and from now on call Him your [own (real) Father](John 5:18). While Jesus was on earth, He [called God His own (real) Father] (John 5:18). [Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him] (John 5:18), and eventually they did kill Jesus, the real Son of God.
Likewise, who can guarantee that in the last days also, those who have not accepted God as their real Father will not, out of jealousy and hate, persecute those who have accepted Him as their real Father? [But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance'] (Matt. 21:38). Jesus, the real Son of God, assures us again today that we are God's real sons and daughters as He is and says, [Go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God](John 20:17).
But even regardless of all this, we have an inseparable blood relationship with God. We are His offspring and He is our real Father, because God gave birth to man (Adam), and man (Mary) gave birth to God (Jesus). Therefore, based on the Biblical genealogy as well as by blood ties, it is an undeniable truth that the only true God in heaven is our real Father. It would have been much better if the writer of the Bible had written Genesis 1:26 as [Let us give birth to man in Our image] rather than, [Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.] [The Lord (our heavenly Father) ... said to me, 'You are My son, today I have begotten you'] (Ps. 2:7).
Dear brothers and sisters of the world! Let us not pray spiritlessly as we used to while we did not know our real Father, but from now on let us offer powerful prayers which is our deserved right as His real sons, prayers that will touch the deep heart of our Father, by saying, [Our Father in heaven!] (John 5:18). [My Father in heaven!] (Matt. 26:39). [My real Father in heaven!] (John 5:18.) [My Daddy in heaven!] [My real Daddy in heaven!] (John 5:18, Gal. 4:6 in the Common Translation of the Korean Bible Society).
So let us not behave awkwardly as we kneel in prayer, as if we were foster sons and daughters, but act boldly with great dignity as real sons. If even the sons and daughter of the kings and presidents of this world behave themselves with such dignity and enjoy great privileges, how much more do we not deserve to be proud as princes and princesses of the King of heaven, the King of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords! But in spite of this incredible truth, if you my brethren are ashamed to testify to the world that the only true God in heaven is your real Father who has given birth to you, and has raised you, listen then to the word of God, [I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before men, (I) also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God] (Luke 12:8, 9). I hope you will keep in mind that eternal life is given by the only true God to those who acknowledge and serve Him as their real Father.
In this world, there are many adopted sons and daughters, stepsons and stepdaughters under one father, and in orphanages, there are hundreds of sons and daughters under one president whom they all call their father. But there are only a few who can inherit the father's estate, his birthright, and succeed his line age - his real sons and daughters only. We all know this well so [what does the Scripture say? 'Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the (real) son of the freewoman.' So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free] (Gal. 4:30, 31). [Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward,] [for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry] (Heb. 10:35, 37). then Jesus will exclaim, [Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world] (Matt. 25:34). This joyful call will be heard only by God's real children. May we all meet together with Jesus then!
Praise the Lord! Glory to our real Father!
Our Prayer
"My real Father in heaven!
I am very thankful to You for showing me so plainly that the holy God in heaven is my real Father. Now all of heaven and earth, and everything in the universe has become new and is mine because the whole universe is Yours, my Father.
But Father, my real Daddy! Please send Jesus Christ, my eldest Brother quickly so that He can take my brethren and I back to our heavenly home, to be by Your side. I do not want to stay in this world any longer where abound innumerable evil spirits of Satan, for only in heaven are found everlasting joy, peace, and happiness. To my Father who has borne and brought me up, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Eldest Brother, I pray."
To rephrase this, "Jesus’ father is Joseph, whose father is Heli, whose father is Matthat, whose father is Levi... whose father is Noah, whose father is Lamech, whose father is Methuselah, whose father is Jared, whose father is Mahalaleel, whose father is Cainan, whose father is Enos, whose father is Seth, whose father is Adam, whose father is God."
To put it still another way, it means that "Jesus was born of Joseph (Mary), born of Heli, born of Matthat, born of Levi... born of Noah, born of Lamech, born of Methuselah, born of Enoch, born of Jared, born of Mahalaleel, born of Cainan, born of Enos, born of Seth, born of Adam, born of God." Therefore, our Father in heaven is our real Father who has personally given birth to us.
< A QUESTION! >
You may ask, "In Genesis 1:26 God said, `Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.' He never said He would give birth to us, so why do you insist that God has borne us personally from His body (womb)?" This is natural question. But I must still give the same answer; for the heavenly God is truly our real Father who personally gave birth to us.
Please allow me to clarify this fact.
Animals such as the cow or the deer bring forth their young that look just like themselves. In the same way, flying birds such as sparrows or pigeons also bring forth their young bearing resemblance to themselves. With humans also, they give birth to young (children) who perfectly resemble themselves. In all these examples, the young bear a close resemblance, if not identical to their parents. However, the process by which the young are brought forth among all the various species of God's creations are all considerably different. Animals such as the cow or the deer bear their young through their womb and nurture them through milk sac in their belly. But birds like sparrows, pigeons or chickens are different. As we know well, they bring forth their young from their bodies, not by means of the womb, but through an egg-sac, and not through the genital organs but through the anus. Their young are at first like a round stone with no eyes, nose, or mouth. Then they spend a period of time in the bosom of the brooding mother during which blood vessels, bones, eyes, nose, and feathers are formed; after which they hatch in considerable resemblance to their mother. Once out in the world, the are not fed on milk but manage to grow by pecking on worms and grain. Now, we can see that there are great incomprehensible differences between four-footed animals and birds with feathers in respect to their various methods of reproducing and breeding their young. And yet, the results are the same. They all end up having lovely offspring resembling themselves almost perfectly in character, shape, face and body. Only the way they bring forth and breed their offspring is entirely different.
Likewise, there is a complete difference in respect to producing lives between us bodily creatures and our heavenly Father, who is the bodiless Creator - [a Spirit] (John 4:24). While humans as bodily creatures like animals, give birth to babies by means of the womb in their bodies, God the Creator, because He is a bodiless Spirit, produces lives by means of His Creator's womb and raises them in His own unique way. It is through this Creator's womb that He produces and brings up His children. Understanding one another's methods of producing and breeding their young may be rather difficult as it is quite mysterious and strange. It is difficult for us bodily creatures to understand the way the Creator God, the bodiless Spirit, produces lives. But if we ponder upon it deeply, it is not that impossible to understand. For us, when a baby is born after a period of nine months in the womb of the mother, the baby is first fed on the liquid from the milk sac of her breast just like the four-footed animals. On the other hand, in the beginning, our heavenly Father gave birth to Adam and Eve by means of His spiritual Creator's womb, and fed them with coarse foods such as herbs yielding seeds, all fruits of the garden, and Fruit of the Tree of Life rather than milk, since He is a spiritual Father. Just as the flying birds have no breast and feed their young on coarse foods instead of milk, so our Father does it also. Flying birds and crawling animals are entirely different in their methods of giving birth to their young, but consequently, they all end up having young that resemble themselves perfectly. Likewise, the way we bodily men have our children is entirely different from the way God the Spirit, as the Creator has His children. But in the end, we both have children who perfectly resemble us.
He said, [You thought that I was one like yourself] (Ps. 50:21 RSV). But people have such limited and narrow minds that they are not willing to acknowledge or understand matters concerning God the Creator, who is a bodiless Spirit. Some even ridicule Him, as the flying birds laugh at the way four-footed animals produce their young, and the four-footed animals mock the flying birds with their stone-like eggs void of eyes, nose, or mouth, that will eventually be their young. But Jesus assures us, [Do not call anyone on earth your father, for one is your Father,] who has begotten you personally, [who is in heaven] (Matt. 23:9). And Malachi, who knew this fact, said,[Have we not all one Father?] (Mal. 2:10). That is why Jesus said, [Pray then like this: Our Father which art in heaven] (Matt. 6:9, RSV), and from now on call Him your [own (real) Father](John 5:18). While Jesus was on earth, He [called God His own (real) Father] (John 5:18). [Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him] (John 5:18), and eventually they did kill Jesus, the real Son of God.
Likewise, who can guarantee that in the last days also, those who have not accepted God as their real Father will not, out of jealousy and hate, persecute those who have accepted Him as their real Father? [But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance'] (Matt. 21:38). Jesus, the real Son of God, assures us again today that we are God's real sons and daughters as He is and says, [Go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God](John 20:17).
But even regardless of all this, we have an inseparable blood relationship with God. We are His offspring and He is our real Father, because God gave birth to man (Adam), and man (Mary) gave birth to God (Jesus). Therefore, based on the Biblical genealogy as well as by blood ties, it is an undeniable truth that the only true God in heaven is our real Father. It would have been much better if the writer of the Bible had written Genesis 1:26 as [Let us give birth to man in Our image] rather than, [Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.] [The Lord (our heavenly Father) ... said to me, 'You are My son, today I have begotten you'] (Ps. 2:7).
Dear brothers and sisters of the world! Let us not pray spiritlessly as we used to while we did not know our real Father, but from now on let us offer powerful prayers which is our deserved right as His real sons, prayers that will touch the deep heart of our Father, by saying, [Our Father in heaven!] (John 5:18). [My Father in heaven!] (Matt. 26:39). [My real Father in heaven!] (John 5:18.) [My Daddy in heaven!] [My real Daddy in heaven!] (John 5:18, Gal. 4:6 in the Common Translation of the Korean Bible Society).
So let us not behave awkwardly as we kneel in prayer, as if we were foster sons and daughters, but act boldly with great dignity as real sons. If even the sons and daughter of the kings and presidents of this world behave themselves with such dignity and enjoy great privileges, how much more do we not deserve to be proud as princes and princesses of the King of heaven, the King of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords! But in spite of this incredible truth, if you my brethren are ashamed to testify to the world that the only true God in heaven is your real Father who has given birth to you, and has raised you, listen then to the word of God, [I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before men, (I) also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God] (Luke 12:8, 9). I hope you will keep in mind that eternal life is given by the only true God to those who acknowledge and serve Him as their real Father.
In this world, there are many adopted sons and daughters, stepsons and stepdaughters under one father, and in orphanages, there are hundreds of sons and daughters under one president whom they all call their father. But there are only a few who can inherit the father's estate, his birthright, and succeed his line age - his real sons and daughters only. We all know this well so [what does the Scripture say? 'Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the (real) son of the freewoman.' So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free] (Gal. 4:30, 31). [Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has a great reward,] [for yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry] (Heb. 10:35, 37). then Jesus will exclaim, [Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world] (Matt. 25:34). This joyful call will be heard only by God's real children. May we all meet together with Jesus then!
Praise the Lord! Glory to our real Father!
Our Prayer
"My real Father in heaven!
I am very thankful to You for showing me so plainly that the holy God in heaven is my real Father. Now all of heaven and earth, and everything in the universe has become new and is mine because the whole universe is Yours, my Father.
But Father, my real Daddy! Please send Jesus Christ, my eldest Brother quickly so that He can take my brethren and I back to our heavenly home, to be by Your side. I do not want to stay in this world any longer where abound innumerable evil spirits of Satan, for only in heaven are found everlasting joy, peace, and happiness. To my Father who has borne and brought me up, in the name of Jesus Christ, my Eldest Brother, I pray."
Friday, March 13, 2009
4. Our Real Father Who Made A Sweet Home F or Us as a Branch Family of Heaven
[Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things] (Isa. 40:26).
[For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God] (Heb. 3:4).
[God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth...] (Acts 17:24).
[The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell there in] (Ps. 24:1).
[The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's but the earth He has given to the children of men] (Ps. 115:16).
Our Father who has begotten us is the most skillful carpenter in the universe. Peerless in His superb skill, this is probably why Jesus of Nazareth, His Son, was also a carpenter while on this earth.
[It is He (our heavenly Father) ... who stretches out the heavens like a curtain] (Isa. 40:22).
[For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers] (Ps. 24:2).
He [has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure, weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance] (Isa. 40:12). With an elaborate design and accurate measurement [He founded it: He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited] (Isa. 45:18, NIV). And then [He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth] (Acts 17:26). [Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good] (Gen. 1:31).
What an excellent workmanship of our Father it is! What a loving, tender care He has for His children! The first home that our Father made for us was not as it is today: dark, dreary and filthy into which, because the roof (sky) collapsed, rain and snow pour down. It was always new, bright, sunny mild and comfortable because there were no snowstorms or rainstorms. Beautiful flowers never faded and not a leaf from the tree fell to the ground. There were no tears, no pain, no sorrow, no sigh; and no sounds of mourning over death of family members. It was a home in which no shadow of sorrow could be found. Instead, it was always full of joy and happiness, immortal life, unceasing pleasure, cheerful smiles and songs of praise. This beautiful world was not always a haunt of horrible demons where thieves swarm like they do today. Neither burglars, murderers nor even mischievous boys who mimic thieves were found there. Lions and deer, wolves and lambs, all sorts of animals and birds lived together; neither the sound of roaring nor even a breath of fury, or anger were heard the. They were all one family, loving and helping, playing together in peace, joy and love. O what a beautiful home it was! But now, where has it disappeared to? Why must we live in this terrible home? It has become so horrible that daily events of terror make us doubt what we see and hear, trembling with surprise and fear. Why has it become like this? Before we search for the reason, let us take a look at the first home our Father made for us with His own hands in devotion and love.
After God had created the heavens and the earth, on the earth He [planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river] of life [went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four river heads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which encompasses the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second ... the third ... the fourth... The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend it and keep it] (Gen. 2:8-15). [And indeed, it was very good] (Gen. 1;31). And above all, [God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it] (Gen. 2:3).
While reading a book called [the Story of Redemption,] I was attracted by the following story. "As the earth came forth from the hand of its Maker, it was exceedingly beautiful. Its surface was diversified with mountains, hills, and plains, interspersed with noble rivers and lovely lakes; but the hill and mountains were not abrupt and rugged, abounding in terrific steeps and frightful chasms as they do now. The sharp, jagged edges of earth's rocky frame-work were buried beneath fruitful soil, producing a luxuriant growth of verdure everywhere. There were no loathsome swamps or barren deserts. Graceful shrubs and delicate flowers greeted the eye at every turn. The heights were crowned with trees more majestic than any that now exist. The air, untainted by foul miasma, was clear and healthful. The entire landscape outvied in beauty the decorated grounds of the proudest palace. The angelic host viewed the scene with delight, and rejoiced at the wonderful works of God."
"As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, " from the womb of his Father, "he was of lofty stature and perfect symmetry. His countenance bore the ruddy tint of health and glowed with the light of life and joy. Adam's height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her form was noble and full of beauty. The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them."
"Everything that God had made was the perfection of beauty, and nothing seemed wanting that could contribute to the happiness of the holy pair; yet the Creator gave them still another token of His love by preparing a garden (Eden) especially for their home. A portion of their time was to be occupied in the happy employment of dressing the garden and a portion in receiving the visits of angels, listening to their instruction, and in happy meditation. Their labor was not wearisome, but pleasant and invigorating. This beautiful garden was to be their home, their special residence.
In this garden the Lord placed fruit trees of every description, for usefulness and beauty, also lovely flowers which filled the air with fragrance. Everything was tastefully and gloriously arranged. These were to be the food of the holy pair as He had designed. There were lovely vines growing upright, laden with fruits unseen after the fall of Adam and Eve. The fruits were big and in a variety of colors, some soft red, red, dark red, soft green, and so on. It was the work of Adam and Eve to train the branches of the vine to form bowers, thus making for themselves a dwelling from living trees covered with foliage and fruit. There were fragrant flowers of every hue in rich profusion. In the midst of the garden stood the Tree of Life, surpassing in glory all the other trees. Its fruit appeared like apples of gold and silver, and had the power to perpetuate life, and the leaves contained healing properties.
Very happy were the holy pair in Eden. Unlimited control was given them of every living thing. The lion and the lamb sported together peacefully and harmlessly around them or slumbered at their feet. Birds of every variety of color and plumage flittered among the trees and flowers and about Adam and Eve, while their mellow-toned music echoed among the trees in sweet accord to the praises of their Creator. Adam and Eve were very happy surrounded by the little singers, listening to their songs of joy. This holy pair sang with them songs of love and praise and admiration to God and to His son for all the work of His love that surrounded them. Unceasingly appearing beauty and glory of Eden so filled them with greater reverence, that they expressed their gratitude and admiration to their Creator (their Father)."
This was the original home that our real Father provided for us in the beginning. but to this peaceful home a great storm of misery, disaster, and misfortune approached. This peaceful home was suddenly invaded by Satan, the outrageous, lawless enemy of the universe, the notorious murderer, the bandit, the well-known deceiver with his innumerable agents. They did not carry out their plan like the unwise armies of the world do, flourishing sword, riding on horses or blowing trumpets with a battle cry. If they had invaded in this manner, we could have easily defeated them. [The great dragon ... that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world] (Rev. 12:9), who was thrown down from heaven defeated by [Michael, the great Prince] (Dan. 12:1, Rev. 12:7), He is the chief of treacherous, tricky thieves, notorious for his deceiving wit and schemes; who succeeded in seducing one third of the heavenly angels] (Rev. 12:4). And it was he that devised a scheme to plunder our peaceful home.
Commanding his innumerable agents to be silent, he sneakingly encroached upon the earth and crawled deeply into the midst of our Eden home. He gained access to Eve who was naive and inexperienced. After gaining control over the pure and innocent Eve with ease, the cunning enemy used Eve, a loving companion of her husband Adam, to seduce him as well. And so Adam was ensnared by the scheme of the merciless enemy, and immediately our peaceful home fell into the murderer's hands, steadily becoming what it is today, a den of thieves and burglars. Since then we have been wandering aimlessly from place to place as homeless nomads for six thousand years until now.
Our real Father loved us so much that He personally begot us, raised us, and made us a beautiful home (the earth) and a garden (Eden) as our eternal nest. But He became terribly worried when He found that His loving children had fallen into the hands of Satan, that outrageous deceiver. And so, in order to reclaim us, He wandered about day and night looking for His lost children, sacrificing Himself completely until now. At last He is able to possess us into His bosom as He so earnestly desired. Oh what a persevering love it is! What a wondrous love it is! What a love it is!
* Back to Our Home Again
Now let us go back to our home, our original home; back to our sweet home that our Father has made for us and restored for us. The enemy who had robbed us of our home has been forever defeated by the Lord Jesus our Eldest Brother, who has recovered for us our home after a bloodshedding battle. On top of our recovered home is raised the glorious bloodstained banner of Immanuel. And our Father stands waiting for us, to lead us back to our home that He has made with such great love and dedicated elaboration.
My dear brothers and sisters! Let us all together return to our sweet home, our eternal home, where our loving Father stands waiting for us. Let us enjoy a life of eternal happiness with our Father there, forever and ever!
[And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem](Micah 4:8).
[You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land anymore be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah (My delight is in her), and your land Beulah (Married); for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married](Isa. 62:4).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our Father!
[For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God] (Heb. 3:4).
[God who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth...] (Acts 17:24).
[The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell there in] (Ps. 24:1).
[The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord's but the earth He has given to the children of men] (Ps. 115:16).
Our Father who has begotten us is the most skillful carpenter in the universe. Peerless in His superb skill, this is probably why Jesus of Nazareth, His Son, was also a carpenter while on this earth.
[It is He (our heavenly Father) ... who stretches out the heavens like a curtain] (Isa. 40:22).
[For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers] (Ps. 24:2).
He [has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure, weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance] (Isa. 40:12). With an elaborate design and accurate measurement [He founded it: He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited] (Isa. 45:18, NIV). And then [He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth] (Acts 17:26). [Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good] (Gen. 1:31).
What an excellent workmanship of our Father it is! What a loving, tender care He has for His children! The first home that our Father made for us was not as it is today: dark, dreary and filthy into which, because the roof (sky) collapsed, rain and snow pour down. It was always new, bright, sunny mild and comfortable because there were no snowstorms or rainstorms. Beautiful flowers never faded and not a leaf from the tree fell to the ground. There were no tears, no pain, no sorrow, no sigh; and no sounds of mourning over death of family members. It was a home in which no shadow of sorrow could be found. Instead, it was always full of joy and happiness, immortal life, unceasing pleasure, cheerful smiles and songs of praise. This beautiful world was not always a haunt of horrible demons where thieves swarm like they do today. Neither burglars, murderers nor even mischievous boys who mimic thieves were found there. Lions and deer, wolves and lambs, all sorts of animals and birds lived together; neither the sound of roaring nor even a breath of fury, or anger were heard the. They were all one family, loving and helping, playing together in peace, joy and love. O what a beautiful home it was! But now, where has it disappeared to? Why must we live in this terrible home? It has become so horrible that daily events of terror make us doubt what we see and hear, trembling with surprise and fear. Why has it become like this? Before we search for the reason, let us take a look at the first home our Father made for us with His own hands in devotion and love.
After God had created the heavens and the earth, on the earth He [planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river] of life [went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four river heads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which encompasses the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second ... the third ... the fourth... The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend it and keep it] (Gen. 2:8-15). [And indeed, it was very good] (Gen. 1;31). And above all, [God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it] (Gen. 2:3).
While reading a book called [the Story of Redemption,] I was attracted by the following story. "As the earth came forth from the hand of its Maker, it was exceedingly beautiful. Its surface was diversified with mountains, hills, and plains, interspersed with noble rivers and lovely lakes; but the hill and mountains were not abrupt and rugged, abounding in terrific steeps and frightful chasms as they do now. The sharp, jagged edges of earth's rocky frame-work were buried beneath fruitful soil, producing a luxuriant growth of verdure everywhere. There were no loathsome swamps or barren deserts. Graceful shrubs and delicate flowers greeted the eye at every turn. The heights were crowned with trees more majestic than any that now exist. The air, untainted by foul miasma, was clear and healthful. The entire landscape outvied in beauty the decorated grounds of the proudest palace. The angelic host viewed the scene with delight, and rejoiced at the wonderful works of God."
"As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator, " from the womb of his Father, "he was of lofty stature and perfect symmetry. His countenance bore the ruddy tint of health and glowed with the light of life and joy. Adam's height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her form was noble and full of beauty. The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them."
"Everything that God had made was the perfection of beauty, and nothing seemed wanting that could contribute to the happiness of the holy pair; yet the Creator gave them still another token of His love by preparing a garden (Eden) especially for their home. A portion of their time was to be occupied in the happy employment of dressing the garden and a portion in receiving the visits of angels, listening to their instruction, and in happy meditation. Their labor was not wearisome, but pleasant and invigorating. This beautiful garden was to be their home, their special residence.
In this garden the Lord placed fruit trees of every description, for usefulness and beauty, also lovely flowers which filled the air with fragrance. Everything was tastefully and gloriously arranged. These were to be the food of the holy pair as He had designed. There were lovely vines growing upright, laden with fruits unseen after the fall of Adam and Eve. The fruits were big and in a variety of colors, some soft red, red, dark red, soft green, and so on. It was the work of Adam and Eve to train the branches of the vine to form bowers, thus making for themselves a dwelling from living trees covered with foliage and fruit. There were fragrant flowers of every hue in rich profusion. In the midst of the garden stood the Tree of Life, surpassing in glory all the other trees. Its fruit appeared like apples of gold and silver, and had the power to perpetuate life, and the leaves contained healing properties.
Very happy were the holy pair in Eden. Unlimited control was given them of every living thing. The lion and the lamb sported together peacefully and harmlessly around them or slumbered at their feet. Birds of every variety of color and plumage flittered among the trees and flowers and about Adam and Eve, while their mellow-toned music echoed among the trees in sweet accord to the praises of their Creator. Adam and Eve were very happy surrounded by the little singers, listening to their songs of joy. This holy pair sang with them songs of love and praise and admiration to God and to His son for all the work of His love that surrounded them. Unceasingly appearing beauty and glory of Eden so filled them with greater reverence, that they expressed their gratitude and admiration to their Creator (their Father)."
This was the original home that our real Father provided for us in the beginning. but to this peaceful home a great storm of misery, disaster, and misfortune approached. This peaceful home was suddenly invaded by Satan, the outrageous, lawless enemy of the universe, the notorious murderer, the bandit, the well-known deceiver with his innumerable agents. They did not carry out their plan like the unwise armies of the world do, flourishing sword, riding on horses or blowing trumpets with a battle cry. If they had invaded in this manner, we could have easily defeated them. [The great dragon ... that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world] (Rev. 12:9), who was thrown down from heaven defeated by [Michael, the great Prince] (Dan. 12:1, Rev. 12:7), He is the chief of treacherous, tricky thieves, notorious for his deceiving wit and schemes; who succeeded in seducing one third of the heavenly angels] (Rev. 12:4). And it was he that devised a scheme to plunder our peaceful home.
Commanding his innumerable agents to be silent, he sneakingly encroached upon the earth and crawled deeply into the midst of our Eden home. He gained access to Eve who was naive and inexperienced. After gaining control over the pure and innocent Eve with ease, the cunning enemy used Eve, a loving companion of her husband Adam, to seduce him as well. And so Adam was ensnared by the scheme of the merciless enemy, and immediately our peaceful home fell into the murderer's hands, steadily becoming what it is today, a den of thieves and burglars. Since then we have been wandering aimlessly from place to place as homeless nomads for six thousand years until now.
Our real Father loved us so much that He personally begot us, raised us, and made us a beautiful home (the earth) and a garden (Eden) as our eternal nest. But He became terribly worried when He found that His loving children had fallen into the hands of Satan, that outrageous deceiver. And so, in order to reclaim us, He wandered about day and night looking for His lost children, sacrificing Himself completely until now. At last He is able to possess us into His bosom as He so earnestly desired. Oh what a persevering love it is! What a wondrous love it is! What a love it is!
* Back to Our Home Again
Now let us go back to our home, our original home; back to our sweet home that our Father has made for us and restored for us. The enemy who had robbed us of our home has been forever defeated by the Lord Jesus our Eldest Brother, who has recovered for us our home after a bloodshedding battle. On top of our recovered home is raised the glorious bloodstained banner of Immanuel. And our Father stands waiting for us, to lead us back to our home that He has made with such great love and dedicated elaboration.
My dear brothers and sisters! Let us all together return to our sweet home, our eternal home, where our loving Father stands waiting for us. Let us enjoy a life of eternal happiness with our Father there, forever and ever!
[And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem](Micah 4:8).
[You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land anymore be termed Desolate; but you shall be called Hephzibah (My delight is in her), and your land Beulah (Married); for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married](Isa. 62:4).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our Father!
Friday, February 27, 2009
5, Our Real Father Who Choose Us and Gave us to Jesus, His Eldest Son
[For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth] (Deut. 14:2). [You are a chosen generation , a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people] who are ... [chosen and faithful] (1Peter 2:9, Rev. 17:14). [I chose you out of the world] (John 15:19).
It is written in Deuteronomy 14:2 that the Lord God chose us to be His holy people. We know well that the triune Gods- the Father, the Son, and the Spirit - are all termed "the Lord." Then who out of the three chose us among all peoples of the earth? This is the issue we would like to question.
And now I would like to present an argument through the Bible, that it is God the Holy Father, our real Father who has chosen us.
Most believers today think that Jesus alone chose them (John 15:16) and takes care of them while the Father is unconcerned about them, only searching for their faults and sins with sharp eyes, who is stingy with His love and pardon and always seeking to give judgment and orders.
But I would like to prove, through the Bible, that this conception of God is absolutely contrary to reality and that our Father is not at all who we think.
I say again that He is our real Father who is not in the slightest bit less concerned about His sin-polluted children than Jesus or the Spirit. He is rather so much more concerned that [the very hairs of [our] head are all numbered ] (Matt. 10:30) by Him. He draws near to every child of His with tender care and love for each one individually. It is our heavenly Father who has chosen us out of all the people of the earth and made us heirs to His everlasting kingdom.
Every child of His that lived on earth throughout the ages have been [predestined according to the purpose of Him,] the only true God, [who works all things according to the counsel of His will] (Eph. 1:11). [The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will] (Eph. 1:3-5). [You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave Him the name Abraham] (Neh. 9:7). And after that God also said to Moses, [Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you'] (Ex. 3:15). We can see that it was our Father who chose Moses, the leader of Israel. And [the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our father, glorified His Servant Jesus] (Acts 3:13), whom He had chosen to be the Savior of the world.
While I was preaching in a church regarding this subject one of the brethren asked, "But wasn't it Jesus who chose the Apostle Paul?" My answer to him was "No," and we opened the Bible. Let us now investigate this matter. Please find Acts 22:13-15 first. This is the word delivered by Ananias, a messenger of the Lord, [Brother Saul, receive your sight ... the God of our fathers (the Father) has chosen you that you should know His (the Father's) will and see the Just One(Jesus of Nazareth) and hear the voice of His (Jesus') mouth ; for you will be His (God's) witness to all men.] And later he praised the God of heaven in gratitude who had called and chosen him, [Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... He chose us in Him before the foundation of the word] (Eph. 1:3, 4). He exclaimed [By the grace of God (the Father of Jesus) I am what which was with me] (1 Cor. 15:10).
Now let us find out about Jesus' twelve disciples. It seems as though they were chosen and called by Jesus Himself, but actually, our heavenly Father Himself chose them and committed them to Jesus His Son. What we must know first is that before Jesus chose and ordained the twelve, He had gone to His Father and spent a night in prayer. For it was a most profound and grave matter for Him to choose His disciples to whom would be entrusted the work of redemption of the world, that the Father and Son had begun with such great sacrifice, and upon whom the success or failure of it would depend upon. [In those days He went out to the mountain to pray; and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him, and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles] (Luke 6:12, 13). These were the disciples whom God had given to Jesus in answer to His previous night's prayer, “Oh My Father who sent Me! Please choose for Me disciples who will take up the work of redemption that You have planned." And then He said, [No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him] (John 6:44). [All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out] (John 6:37). [I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand] (John 10:28). In these words He pledged Himself to protect and steadfastly preserve those whom His Father had given Him.
Indeed, there is no one under heaven who can snatch us out of the mighty hand of Jesus Christ, our General, who has overcome the world and has always been victorious in the battle against Satan the great enemy. Our stray and fall is not by the force of the enemy but by our own choice. Unless we agree, Satan the devil cannot snatch us from the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. [He who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him] (1 John 5:18). He also guarantees us double protection, [My Father ... is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand] (John 10;29). What a mighty and thorough, undestroyable double-walled protection our Father and Eldest Brother, who neither slumber nor sleep, guard us with! Moreover, we are also surrounded by three, four-fold walls of protection - the Holy Spirit and the attendance of thousands and ten thousands of angels.
Now finally, who has chosen you, reader? Let us incline our ears to the Bible, the true witness of God. [God is faithful, by whom you are called into the fellowship of His son, Jesus Christ our Lord] (1 Cor. 1:9). [The Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth] (Deut. 14:2). [You are a chosen generation ... His own special people] (1Peter 2:9). We are His own children whom He has chosen and called out of the world. What a wonderful grace and love of our Father it is! If our Father had not chosen us out of the world and drawn us to Jesus, who could enjoy communion with Jesus and become His friend today?
[In this is love, not that we loved God,] [He first loved us] (1 John 4:10, 19).
[All we like sheep have gone astray] (Isa. 53:6), but He loved us so much and made us His children.
Hymn
1. The love of God is far greater than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell:
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child he reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure - the saints' and angels' song.
2. Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure - the saints' and angels' song.
* Questions and Answers about the Doctrine of Foresight and Predestination
As I was traveling by train, a smart young man who was sitting in front of me asked me a question, "Excuse me, but are you not a pastor?" From this introduction, a conversation began with him asking, "In church I learned that because God has long ago chosen those whom He would save, it would be useless for those who are not chosen to believe in Him; meanwhile, the chosen ones would be saved by any means. Is this the true doctrine of the Bible?"
This is an issue that not only perplexed this young mind but is also disputed among many theologians today. The doctrine of foresight and predestination was first initiated by the words of Apostle Paul who said that God had chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world; and so a group of theologians assert that because God had chosen those who would be saved before the foundation of the world, none could be saved but them. Still others assert otherwise, based on the words of the Apostle John, "Since God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him can be saved," therefore, the redeemed ones cannot have been fixed for salvation a long time ago. At this point I would like to say that both views are right. Though you may say, "What an absurd answer that is!" Let me have a moment to explain it.
There are about sixty students in a school classroom. The teacher in charge of the class is responsible for choosing the best student and giving that student a prize at the end of the year. Then can he not, being in charge of them all year round, foresee and predetermine who will win the first prize? It is easy for the teacher who has carefully watched his students, to foresee and predetermine who will win the first prize. And his foresight and predetermination is usually over 95% accurate, so at last, the one whom he foresaw and predetermined receives the first prize.
But there is an exception. If the one whom the teacher foresaw and predetermined unexpectedly deviates from his good conduct in the middle of the year and starts making bad friends, neglecting to study and going astray, while on the other hand, the unfaithful and mischievous pupil regrets his past and sets his heart to diligent studying, then eventually, the ends will somehow justify the means. This naughty and mischievous student will end up receiving the first prize upon evaluation of the final examination while the predetermined, expected winner will only lose out. In such a situation, can the teacher say to the mischievous student who got the highest grade, "Because you are not the one I foresaw and predetermined, I will not grant you the first prize. I will rather grant it to him whom I foresaw and predetermined at the beginning of the year, even though he got such a low grade by his negligence throughout the term?"
Perhaps there is no such teacher in the world who would judge so unfairly. Likewise, do you think our omniscient Father who knows everything from everlasting to everlasting, the past, present, and future, cannot foresee who are His faithful and obedient ones to be saved from a long time ago? Nothing is hidden from His sight. It is His responsibility and right to foresee and predetermine us, for He is our real Father who has begotten and brought us up. None can raise objection to His power. Who has the right to interfere with what He does as He pleases in how He brings forth and raises His own children or gives them rewards? Even parents in this world can bestow large fortunes upon the faithful ones while upon the reckless ones, they give no inheritance but rather drive them out; and yet, no one can interfere or question the parents' judgment.
We have seen in the Bible people such as Balaam the prophet and king Saul whom God had foreseen and predestined going astray to destruction. While on the contrary, people such as the burglar on the cross, who had led a degrading and corrupt life in the world, repent of his past sins and return to God, taking another's place and receiving the reward in heaven. Therefore, I do not believe in the theory that those whom God has foreseen and predestined from the beginning of the world will be saved at any rate. I believe that even the Gentiles who are not chosen will inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God if they only, though so late, like the burglar on the cross, return, repent and obey Him at anytime.
So I support both assertions that God has chosen those who will be saved since the beginning and that any one who believes in Him will be saved. Therefore, I am certain that both statements of Apostle Paul and Apostle John in the Bible are genuine truths that no one need misunderstand or doubt.
[When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right ... walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die] (Eze. 33:13-15).
[As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?] (Eze. 33:11).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our righteous heavenly Father!
It is written in Deuteronomy 14:2 that the Lord God chose us to be His holy people. We know well that the triune Gods- the Father, the Son, and the Spirit - are all termed "the Lord." Then who out of the three chose us among all peoples of the earth? This is the issue we would like to question.
And now I would like to present an argument through the Bible, that it is God the Holy Father, our real Father who has chosen us.
Most believers today think that Jesus alone chose them (John 15:16) and takes care of them while the Father is unconcerned about them, only searching for their faults and sins with sharp eyes, who is stingy with His love and pardon and always seeking to give judgment and orders.
But I would like to prove, through the Bible, that this conception of God is absolutely contrary to reality and that our Father is not at all who we think.
I say again that He is our real Father who is not in the slightest bit less concerned about His sin-polluted children than Jesus or the Spirit. He is rather so much more concerned that [the very hairs of [our] head are all numbered ] (Matt. 10:30) by Him. He draws near to every child of His with tender care and love for each one individually. It is our heavenly Father who has chosen us out of all the people of the earth and made us heirs to His everlasting kingdom.
Every child of His that lived on earth throughout the ages have been [predestined according to the purpose of Him,] the only true God, [who works all things according to the counsel of His will] (Eph. 1:11). [The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ... has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will] (Eph. 1:3-5). [You are the Lord God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gave Him the name Abraham] (Neh. 9:7). And after that God also said to Moses, [Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you'] (Ex. 3:15). We can see that it was our Father who chose Moses, the leader of Israel. And [the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our father, glorified His Servant Jesus] (Acts 3:13), whom He had chosen to be the Savior of the world.
While I was preaching in a church regarding this subject one of the brethren asked, "But wasn't it Jesus who chose the Apostle Paul?" My answer to him was "No," and we opened the Bible. Let us now investigate this matter. Please find Acts 22:13-15 first. This is the word delivered by Ananias, a messenger of the Lord, [Brother Saul, receive your sight ... the God of our fathers (the Father) has chosen you that you should know His (the Father's) will and see the Just One(Jesus of Nazareth) and hear the voice of His (Jesus') mouth ; for you will be His (God's) witness to all men.] And later he praised the God of heaven in gratitude who had called and chosen him, [Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... He chose us in Him before the foundation of the word] (Eph. 1:3, 4). He exclaimed [By the grace of God (the Father of Jesus) I am what which was with me] (1 Cor. 15:10).
Now let us find out about Jesus' twelve disciples. It seems as though they were chosen and called by Jesus Himself, but actually, our heavenly Father Himself chose them and committed them to Jesus His Son. What we must know first is that before Jesus chose and ordained the twelve, He had gone to His Father and spent a night in prayer. For it was a most profound and grave matter for Him to choose His disciples to whom would be entrusted the work of redemption of the world, that the Father and Son had begun with such great sacrifice, and upon whom the success or failure of it would depend upon. [In those days He went out to the mountain to pray; and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Him, and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles] (Luke 6:12, 13). These were the disciples whom God had given to Jesus in answer to His previous night's prayer, “Oh My Father who sent Me! Please choose for Me disciples who will take up the work of redemption that You have planned." And then He said, [No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him] (John 6:44). [All that the Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out] (John 6:37). [I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand] (John 10:28). In these words He pledged Himself to protect and steadfastly preserve those whom His Father had given Him.
Indeed, there is no one under heaven who can snatch us out of the mighty hand of Jesus Christ, our General, who has overcome the world and has always been victorious in the battle against Satan the great enemy. Our stray and fall is not by the force of the enemy but by our own choice. Unless we agree, Satan the devil cannot snatch us from the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. [He who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him] (1 John 5:18). He also guarantees us double protection, [My Father ... is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand] (John 10;29). What a mighty and thorough, undestroyable double-walled protection our Father and Eldest Brother, who neither slumber nor sleep, guard us with! Moreover, we are also surrounded by three, four-fold walls of protection - the Holy Spirit and the attendance of thousands and ten thousands of angels.
Now finally, who has chosen you, reader? Let us incline our ears to the Bible, the true witness of God. [God is faithful, by whom you are called into the fellowship of His son, Jesus Christ our Lord] (1 Cor. 1:9). [The Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth] (Deut. 14:2). [You are a chosen generation ... His own special people] (1Peter 2:9). We are His own children whom He has chosen and called out of the world. What a wonderful grace and love of our Father it is! If our Father had not chosen us out of the world and drawn us to Jesus, who could enjoy communion with Jesus and become His friend today?
[In this is love, not that we loved God,] [He first loved us] (1 John 4:10, 19).
[All we like sheep have gone astray] (Isa. 53:6), but He loved us so much and made us His children.
Hymn
1. The love of God is far greater than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell:
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child he reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure - the saints' and angels' song.
2. Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure - the saints' and angels' song.
* Questions and Answers about the Doctrine of Foresight and Predestination
As I was traveling by train, a smart young man who was sitting in front of me asked me a question, "Excuse me, but are you not a pastor?" From this introduction, a conversation began with him asking, "In church I learned that because God has long ago chosen those whom He would save, it would be useless for those who are not chosen to believe in Him; meanwhile, the chosen ones would be saved by any means. Is this the true doctrine of the Bible?"
This is an issue that not only perplexed this young mind but is also disputed among many theologians today. The doctrine of foresight and predestination was first initiated by the words of Apostle Paul who said that God had chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world; and so a group of theologians assert that because God had chosen those who would be saved before the foundation of the world, none could be saved but them. Still others assert otherwise, based on the words of the Apostle John, "Since God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him can be saved," therefore, the redeemed ones cannot have been fixed for salvation a long time ago. At this point I would like to say that both views are right. Though you may say, "What an absurd answer that is!" Let me have a moment to explain it.
There are about sixty students in a school classroom. The teacher in charge of the class is responsible for choosing the best student and giving that student a prize at the end of the year. Then can he not, being in charge of them all year round, foresee and predetermine who will win the first prize? It is easy for the teacher who has carefully watched his students, to foresee and predetermine who will win the first prize. And his foresight and predetermination is usually over 95% accurate, so at last, the one whom he foresaw and predetermined receives the first prize.
But there is an exception. If the one whom the teacher foresaw and predetermined unexpectedly deviates from his good conduct in the middle of the year and starts making bad friends, neglecting to study and going astray, while on the other hand, the unfaithful and mischievous pupil regrets his past and sets his heart to diligent studying, then eventually, the ends will somehow justify the means. This naughty and mischievous student will end up receiving the first prize upon evaluation of the final examination while the predetermined, expected winner will only lose out. In such a situation, can the teacher say to the mischievous student who got the highest grade, "Because you are not the one I foresaw and predetermined, I will not grant you the first prize. I will rather grant it to him whom I foresaw and predetermined at the beginning of the year, even though he got such a low grade by his negligence throughout the term?"
Perhaps there is no such teacher in the world who would judge so unfairly. Likewise, do you think our omniscient Father who knows everything from everlasting to everlasting, the past, present, and future, cannot foresee who are His faithful and obedient ones to be saved from a long time ago? Nothing is hidden from His sight. It is His responsibility and right to foresee and predetermine us, for He is our real Father who has begotten and brought us up. None can raise objection to His power. Who has the right to interfere with what He does as He pleases in how He brings forth and raises His own children or gives them rewards? Even parents in this world can bestow large fortunes upon the faithful ones while upon the reckless ones, they give no inheritance but rather drive them out; and yet, no one can interfere or question the parents' judgment.
We have seen in the Bible people such as Balaam the prophet and king Saul whom God had foreseen and predestined going astray to destruction. While on the contrary, people such as the burglar on the cross, who had led a degrading and corrupt life in the world, repent of his past sins and return to God, taking another's place and receiving the reward in heaven. Therefore, I do not believe in the theory that those whom God has foreseen and predestined from the beginning of the world will be saved at any rate. I believe that even the Gentiles who are not chosen will inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God if they only, though so late, like the burglar on the cross, return, repent and obey Him at anytime.
So I support both assertions that God has chosen those who will be saved since the beginning and that any one who believes in Him will be saved. Therefore, I am certain that both statements of Apostle Paul and Apostle John in the Bible are genuine truths that no one need misunderstand or doubt.
[When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. Again, when I say to the wicked, 'You shall surely die,' if he turns from his sin and does what is lawful and right ... walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he shall surely live; he shall not die] (Eze. 33:13-15).
[As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?] (Eze. 33:11).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our righteous heavenly Father!
Friday, February 20, 2009
6. Our Father Who Personally Answers All Our Prayers
[But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do ... for your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him] (Matt. 6:6-8).
It is so heart-breaking and embarrassing to see a great number of people think that our Father does not accept our prayers directly, but that when we pray to Jesus the Intercessor, He goes to the Father and tells Him what we prayed about; then, after He hears of our circumstances from Jesus, He bestows His gifts or His will upon Him, and He (Jesus) brings them to us.
But this is fatally wrong and a great misunderstanding. If there are any who have cherished this thinking among my brothers and sisters reading this book, I hope that you will, from now on come to the throne of our Father boldly with confidence, meeting Him directly and talking to Him openly of your desires, requests, and perplexing situations without any hesitation. This is an absolute privilege of the sons and daughters of the heavenly Father.
For instance, in these earthly nations, in order for cabinet ministers, congressmen or generals to meet their king or president, they must first get permission from the chief of the office of the presidential security. And as they draw toward the president, they bend their heads and approach with an awe-stricken heart. They cannot behave freely before their king. However, the king's real children, his princes and princesses do not act like this at all. However dignified, majestic and fearful the king may be, they are not in the slightest degree afraid of him because he is their real father who has begotten them; to be with him is their joy. As they come before the king, do they need any permission from the chief of the office of the presidential security? Who would dare to even inspect them? It is not because they are better looking than others, or higher in rank than ministers and congressmen. On the contrary, they are more plain-looking than those considered handsome or beautiful in this world, and they hold no respected position. It is solely because they are the kings' real sons and daughters that they behave and speak so freely and openly without the slightest apprehensions or fear in front of all peoples or officials of the court.
In the same way, as we who [received the right to become children of God] (John 1:12) draw near to our real Father who has borne and brought us up, we do not need any mediator in between. Though we are not generals or ministers, angels or archangels, we are real sons and daughters of the King of the universe, heavenly princes and princesses! We need neither formalities, procedures, nor any identification cards for inspection. Moreover, it is rather silly to have an interpreter or a mediator. Let us come boldly to our real Father who is so tender and loving, who has borne and brought us up. Let us leap into His bosom and talk to Him with our little lips, sharing with Him all our wishes, joys and delightful experiences. Let us be as happy children in the bosom of our wonderful Father.
The intercession of Jesus and the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible is similar to when in a family, a little baby learns to say, "mom" or "daddy." Because he cannot speak clearly, the mother and brothers intercede for the baby to his daddy. Likewise, Jesus and the Holy Spirit speak to the Father for us when [we do not know what we should pray for as we ought] (Rom. 8:26), not that They are making intercession between a deadly criminal and the king, begging for relief on his behalf, but rather in a family viewpoint.
Our Father in heaven, the King of the entire universe, declares to all the inhabitants of the universe today, [And to the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones,] they are My sons [in whom is all My delight] (Ps. 16:3). He also speaks to us, [You are My son ... I have begotten you] (Ps. 2:7). [Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance](Ps. 2:8). [You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you] (Jer. 29:12). [I will answer you] (Jer. 33:3). [You shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am'] (Isa. 58:9). [Before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear] (Isa. 65:24). [And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart] (Jer. 29:13). And He kindly says to us al ways, [call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me] (Ps. 50:15).
Jesus also says, [Ask, and it will be given to you ... For everyone who asks receives] (Matt. 7:7, 8). [Ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you] (John 16:26, 27). [Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights] (James 1:17). [You do not have because you do not ask] (James 4:2).
[Let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him] (James 1:5). [He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?] (Rom. 8:32). [If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him] (Matt. 7:11). [Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them] (Mark 11:24).
Pray to your Father who is in the secret place] (Matt. 6:6).
We may come into God's presence with the confidence that children have in their parents. No man is needed to act as a mediator. In the secret place of prayer, where no eye but God's can see, no ear but His can hear, we may pour out our most hidden desires and longings to the Father of infinite pity, and in the hush and silence of the soul, that voice which never fails to answer the cry of human need will speak to our hearts. [The Lord is very compassionate and merciful] (James 5:11). He waits with unwearied love to hear the confessions of the wayward and to accept their penitence. He watches for some return of gratitude from us, as a mother watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved child. He would have us understand how earnestly and tenderly His heart yearns for us. He invites us to take our trials to His sympathy, our sorrows to His love, our wounds to His healing, our weakness to His strength, our emptiness to His fullness. Never has one been disappointed who came to Him. [Your Father who sees in secret will reward you] (Matt. 6:6).
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Our Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and eager to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think, of poor helpless human beings who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, they pray so little and have so little faith?
Satan encloses those who neglect to pray. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse where are treasured the boundless resources (riches, power, wisdom, etc.) of Omnipotence.
Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.
We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer. Pray in your room, and as you go about your daily labor, let your heart be often uplifted to God. It was thus that Enoch walked with God.
My brothers and sisters! Spread out your wants, your joys, your sorrows, you cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden or weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. [The Lord is very compassionate and merciful] (James 5:11).
His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds. He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too difficult for Him to unravel.
No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. [He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds] (Ps. 147:3). The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.
Jesus says, [You will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you] (John 16:26). [I chose you ... that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you] (John 15:16). Our God is a tender, merciful Father. Service to Him should not be looked upon as a sorrowful and distressing event. It should be a pleasure to worship the Lord and take part in His work. God would not have His children, for whom so great salvation has been provided, act as if He were a hard, exacting taskmaster. He is their best Friend. Let us with joy come before our Father, with [thanksgiving and the voice of melody] (Isa. 51:3).
Praise the Lord.!
It is so heart-breaking and embarrassing to see a great number of people think that our Father does not accept our prayers directly, but that when we pray to Jesus the Intercessor, He goes to the Father and tells Him what we prayed about; then, after He hears of our circumstances from Jesus, He bestows His gifts or His will upon Him, and He (Jesus) brings them to us.
But this is fatally wrong and a great misunderstanding. If there are any who have cherished this thinking among my brothers and sisters reading this book, I hope that you will, from now on come to the throne of our Father boldly with confidence, meeting Him directly and talking to Him openly of your desires, requests, and perplexing situations without any hesitation. This is an absolute privilege of the sons and daughters of the heavenly Father.
For instance, in these earthly nations, in order for cabinet ministers, congressmen or generals to meet their king or president, they must first get permission from the chief of the office of the presidential security. And as they draw toward the president, they bend their heads and approach with an awe-stricken heart. They cannot behave freely before their king. However, the king's real children, his princes and princesses do not act like this at all. However dignified, majestic and fearful the king may be, they are not in the slightest degree afraid of him because he is their real father who has begotten them; to be with him is their joy. As they come before the king, do they need any permission from the chief of the office of the presidential security? Who would dare to even inspect them? It is not because they are better looking than others, or higher in rank than ministers and congressmen. On the contrary, they are more plain-looking than those considered handsome or beautiful in this world, and they hold no respected position. It is solely because they are the kings' real sons and daughters that they behave and speak so freely and openly without the slightest apprehensions or fear in front of all peoples or officials of the court.
In the same way, as we who [received the right to become children of God] (John 1:12) draw near to our real Father who has borne and brought us up, we do not need any mediator in between. Though we are not generals or ministers, angels or archangels, we are real sons and daughters of the King of the universe, heavenly princes and princesses! We need neither formalities, procedures, nor any identification cards for inspection. Moreover, it is rather silly to have an interpreter or a mediator. Let us come boldly to our real Father who is so tender and loving, who has borne and brought us up. Let us leap into His bosom and talk to Him with our little lips, sharing with Him all our wishes, joys and delightful experiences. Let us be as happy children in the bosom of our wonderful Father.
The intercession of Jesus and the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible is similar to when in a family, a little baby learns to say, "mom" or "daddy." Because he cannot speak clearly, the mother and brothers intercede for the baby to his daddy. Likewise, Jesus and the Holy Spirit speak to the Father for us when [we do not know what we should pray for as we ought] (Rom. 8:26), not that They are making intercession between a deadly criminal and the king, begging for relief on his behalf, but rather in a family viewpoint.
Our Father in heaven, the King of the entire universe, declares to all the inhabitants of the universe today, [And to the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones,] they are My sons [in whom is all My delight] (Ps. 16:3). He also speaks to us, [You are My son ... I have begotten you] (Ps. 2:7). [Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance](Ps. 2:8). [You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you] (Jer. 29:12). [I will answer you] (Jer. 33:3). [You shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am'] (Isa. 58:9). [Before they call I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear] (Isa. 65:24). [And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart] (Jer. 29:13). And He kindly says to us al ways, [call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me] (Ps. 50:15).
Jesus also says, [Ask, and it will be given to you ... For everyone who asks receives] (Matt. 7:7, 8). [Ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you] (John 16:26, 27). [Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights] (James 1:17). [You do not have because you do not ask] (James 4:2).
[Let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him] (James 1:5). [He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?] (Rom. 8:32). [If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him] (Matt. 7:11). [Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them] (Mark 11:24).
Pray to your Father who is in the secret place] (Matt. 6:6).
We may come into God's presence with the confidence that children have in their parents. No man is needed to act as a mediator. In the secret place of prayer, where no eye but God's can see, no ear but His can hear, we may pour out our most hidden desires and longings to the Father of infinite pity, and in the hush and silence of the soul, that voice which never fails to answer the cry of human need will speak to our hearts. [The Lord is very compassionate and merciful] (James 5:11). He waits with unwearied love to hear the confessions of the wayward and to accept their penitence. He watches for some return of gratitude from us, as a mother watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved child. He would have us understand how earnestly and tenderly His heart yearns for us. He invites us to take our trials to His sympathy, our sorrows to His love, our wounds to His healing, our weakness to His strength, our emptiness to His fullness. Never has one been disappointed who came to Him. [Your Father who sees in secret will reward you] (Matt. 6:6).
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Our Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and eager to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think, of poor helpless human beings who are subject to temptation, when God's heart of infinite love yearns toward them, they pray so little and have so little faith?
Satan encloses those who neglect to pray. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse where are treasured the boundless resources (riches, power, wisdom, etc.) of Omnipotence.
Through sincere prayer we are brought into connection with the mind of the Infinite. We may have no remarkable evidence at the time that the face of our Redeemer is bending over us in compassion and love, but this is even so. We may not feel His visible touch, but His hand is upon us in love and pitying tenderness.
We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer. Pray in your room, and as you go about your daily labor, let your heart be often uplifted to God. It was thus that Enoch walked with God.
My brothers and sisters! Spread out your wants, your joys, your sorrows, you cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden or weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. [The Lord is very compassionate and merciful] (James 5:11).
His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds. He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too difficult for Him to unravel.
No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. [He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds] (Ps. 147:3). The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.
Jesus says, [You will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you] (John 16:26). [I chose you ... that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you] (John 15:16). Our God is a tender, merciful Father. Service to Him should not be looked upon as a sorrowful and distressing event. It should be a pleasure to worship the Lord and take part in His work. God would not have His children, for whom so great salvation has been provided, act as if He were a hard, exacting taskmaster. He is their best Friend. Let us with joy come before our Father, with [thanksgiving and the voice of melody] (Isa. 51:3).
Praise the Lord.!
7. Our Real Father Who Forgave Us Our Iniquity, Transgression, and Sin
[And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity'] (Ex. 34:6, 7).
Scores of centuries ago, the heavenly Father, the King of kings who so loves and pities His children on earth, declared a surprising message which makes us doubt our ears. He granted an amnesty to all the sinners on earth who were doomed to death by transgression, trembling with fear and waiting hopelessly for the day of execution. This message was the best news that had ever been heard by all condemned criminals who were helplessly waiting for the day of execution, living in despair in the bar-less prison of earth. The general amnesty itself was for their lives.
But in spite of the fact that this acquittal has already been declared, which should fill this earth-prison with joyful exclamations and shouts of exultation, it is rather strange and even more surprising to see that no one has even attempted to take off their filthy garments. No one seems to run out of this prison to freely enjoy the already newly endowed life of glory and liberty even though thousands of years have passed now since the amnesty was declared.
Consequently, in the prison of this earth is a perpetuation of the same dark and miserable life amid oppressive silence without any response to the joyful message. What is all this about? What is the reason? The first reason is that most criminals have not heard the message as they themselves claim; and the second reason is that although a few have heard it, they do not understand what it implies. This is why this glorious message of joyful tidings has contributed nothing to anyone in the immense prison of this earth. What a heart-breaking, sorrowful reality it is! Their acquittal has already been declared thousands of years ago and they did not hear it! Even if they heard it, they did not understand it! Oh, what a sad story it is that they have all died in this prison for generations, transferring their prison garments from father to son, and from son to grand son, and from generation to generation! Now, we can fully understand the heart of our heavenly Father who sent the message, [My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge] (Hosea 4:6). Our Father sight, saying, "My children are dying away in this earth-prison without bars because they do not know!"
(1) I Forgive [Iniquity and Transgression and Sin] (Ex. 34:7).
We will now learn what the amnesty (declaration of their acquit¬tal means, and why most of the criminal on earth do not understand it.
[The Lord ... proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin] (Ex. 34:6, 7). This means, I the Lord, the King of the universe proclaim, I am the Lord: I am merciful, gracious and longsuffering who hates to punish. And so I proclaim to all prisoners under heaven, enjoy your freedom, live happily and freely from now on since I have forgiven your [iniquity and transgression and sin] (Ex. 34:7).
Our merciful Father proclaims that He has forgiven our iniquity and transgression and sin. Then what are the nature of these three sins that confine us so miserably? And what makes us enjoy such complete liberty when we are freed from them? Let us now learn, one by one.
(1) Iniquity: This is what sinful David sighed about when he said, [Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity] ( Ps. 51:5), and this is what we are born with from our mother's womb. We are helpless to change our evil inclinations. This is the source of our evil inclinations which have been so strongly rooted in us throughout six thousand years, and we are helpless to be freed from it. It is an evil trait that a sinner can neither overcome nor change, as God says in the Bible, [can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard it spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil] (Jer. 13:23). But the merciful God proclaims that He will change it for us Himself.
(2) Transgression: This is a sin committed, not on purpose, but by a momentary mistake, as a converted soul who longs and strive to live according to the will of God, makes accidental mistakes along the way. As Apostle Paul says,[O wretched man that I am!] [for the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do , that I practice] (Rom. 7:24, 7:19). For instance, it is likened to the guilt of an accidental homicide committed by the mistake of a fine driver.
Our heavenly Father proclaims that He understands all these mistakes and forgives us completely.
(3) Sin: This is the worst evil out of the three, like that which David committed when he killed an innocent man Uriah, under an elaborate plan to take Bathsheba, his wife. But as God forgave the dreadfully sinful David when he returned in heartbreaking repentance, so He also proclaims to us that He has already forgiven all our sins, even the ones we committed intentionally.
[`Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord, `though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool'] (Isa. 1:18).
[I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins] (Isa. 43:25).
[I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you] (Isa. 44:22).
Now, besides the three evils - that which we were born with, that which we commit by mistake during our lifetime, and that which we commit intentionally with no sense of shame, can you search out any other unpardoned evil in you? Brothers and sisters! Your Father in heaven who has begotten and brought you up with such great love, has been exclaiming for scores of centuries now, earnestly again and again, that He has already forgiven all your sins through the blood of Jesus His Son. [I have redeemed you] (Isa. 44:22). He has been shouting, " I have freed you from the chains of death; therefore, live forever happily in freedom and peace."
[Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea] (Micah 7:18, 19).
[Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed] (Isa. 44:23).
[What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? ... Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? ... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord] (Rom. 8:31-39).
(2) He Will By No Means Clear the Guilty
Our grateful Father has cast our iniquity and transgression and sin into the depths of the sea. Then what does He mean when He says He "will by no means clear the guilty" but visit the iniquity? Perhaps there is some other kind of evil that cannot be forgiven. If so, what are these unpardonable sins and how many are there? Let us take time to find the answer.
Confucius who was once referred to as the Saint of the East, classified all evils committed by men into three thousand categories. Then how many do you think are numbered by our heavenly Father? How many will there be in the sight of the Almighty God? Let us direct our attention to His voice. [My people have com¬mitted two evils: (1) they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and (2) hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water] (Jer. 2:13). Therefore, in the sight of our real Father who has removed all our iniquity and transgression and sin, there are found only two evils.
First is that we have forsaken and departed from God, the Source of life; and second is that we have striven to live by ourselves apart from God, the Source of life which implies the same as the first. Consequently, in the sight of God there is only one kind of evil, that is to forsake and depart from our heavenly Father who is the source of eternal life.
The Bible refers to this kind of sinner as one whom God "will by no means clear his guilt but surely visit the iniquity." Then is our God one who kills and has vengeance upon those children on earth who depart from Him? I am sad when I see that many people misunderstand here.
Our heavenly Father is the one who so loved His sinful children on earth that He gave up His only Son for us. He came down with His Son to share His agony of Calvary. His Son who died for the sins of the world. Can this be the wicked God who kills and destroys so mercilessly those children who forsake and depart from Him? No, never. On the contrary, He has greater pity and compassion on them than those children who have returned to Him. He always thinks of them, yearning for them with love and tenderness. So the why does the Bible describe the sinner who commits this sin "unpardonable?" This is well illustrated in the parable of the vine. As the branch dries up under the sun when it is separated from the vine, so do earthly children die away exhausted when they forsake and depart from the Father who is the fountain of living water. Jesus prophesied that the soul-branches who depart from God would dry up and be thrown into the fire in the end, saying, [They gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned] (John 15:6). These are whom God represented as guilty, who cannot be forgiven but their iniquity will surely be visited.
Concerning this unpardonable evil, Matthew, one of the disciples, testifies that it is [the blasphemy against the Spirit and it [will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come] (Matt. 12:31, 32). This testimony is true and right. Only in the hands of our Father are the living water of the Holy Spirit and precious blood of Jesus found. And so our heavenly Father is running after His sinful children of Earth holding this living water of the Holy Spirit in one hand and the precious blood of His Son Jesus on the other hand, but these foolish children run away all the more quickly. How can they find a drop of sin-cleansing blood that can wash them clean, or the living water of the Holy Spirit which can quench their thirst, either in this world or in the world to come, if they keep running away from the Father who is the only One possessing the living water and cleansing blood? Wandering around endlessly in the vast desert, they fall exhausted and die, all dried up and parched. Therefore,[the blasphemy against the Spirit ...] that [will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come] (Matt. 12:32), does not mean that our Father of infinite love and mercy does not forgive, but that He cannot forgive.
Before the love of our Father greater and broader than the universe, and before the sea of the precious blood of Jesus our Brother surging with greater majesty that the Pacific Ocean, can there be found any sin too great to be washed? No, not one. If there is any, it is solely because he himself chooses to run away from the tender care of the Father and from the precious blood of Jesus. And so, without pardon he only perishes in his sins. This is the natural consequence of his own deed, as one must reap the harvest of his own sowing. For He [will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity] (Ex. 34:7).
What is the Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit? (Matt. 12:31, 32)
Since we are on the subject , let us find out more about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit before we close this chapter.
Jesus told us, [It is the Spirit ( the Holy Spirit) who gives life ... the words ( the Bible ) that I speak to you are spirit (the Holy Spirit)] (John 6:63), and [the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart] (Heb. 4:12). This is the Holy Spirit. He also adds, [You are gods ... to whom the word of God came, (and the Scripture cannot be broken)] (John 10:43, 35).
Moses was a man just like us, but he became a god (Ex. 4:16, 7:1) because he received the word that came out of the mouth of God (the Spirit of God).
The Holy Spirit is the Author of the entire 66 books of the Bible. He abides in the Bible and the words of the Bible themselves are the Holy Spirit. Therefore blaspheming against the Spirit means to defy and reject the word of God in the Bible. This is the dreadful sin of [blasphemy against the Spirit] that [will not be forgiven either in this age, or in the age to come] (Matt. 12:31, 32).
We know quite well the reason why King Saul, the greatly favored of God and leader of His people, was forsaken. he perished by a horrible death because of no other sin (Iniquity, transgression or sin) but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, that is, disobedience to the word of God (the Bible).
[But Samuel said to Saul ... `For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel'] (1 Sam. 15:26).
Jesus said, [Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine (the Bible) and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these saying of Mine (the Bible ) and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, and it fell. And great was its fall] (Matt. 7:24-27). [For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things (the words of the Bible), God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,] [He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches] (Rev. 22:18, 19, 2:7).
The words of the Bible that proceeds from the mouth of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit are [Spirit and life] - the everlasting life (John 6:63). Jesus also says, [You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life] (John 5:39). [Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God] (Matt. 4:4).
Therefore, the [two evils] that [they have forsaken Me] and hewn themselves Cisterns] (Jer. 2:13) are, to abandon the Bible, or disobey it although they have it. In the Bible abide God the Father, Jesus the Savior, and the Holy Spirit - the living water for perishing souls. In the Bible are found the guarantee of forgiveness, the cleansing blood, the heavenly kingdom, eternal life, the living water, and the fruit of life. All these promises and rewards are granted not to those who listen and obey only one or two phrases or some parts of the Bible, but to those who obey [every word] (Matt. 4:4) of God from both the Old and New Testaments.
Dear brothers and sisters! Your real Father in heaven who has forgiven the tremendous evils of your life - your iniquity, transgression and sin - asks you for only one thing in turn, to obey and follow the Bible; for it is the earnest desire of He who so loves us, to give us eternal life and every reward that is promised in the Bible.
[My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments] (Pro 3:1). [Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar] (Pro. 30:6). [You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it] (Deut. 4:2).
[To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them] (Isa. 8:20).
[Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry] (1 Sam. 15:22, 23).
[My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart] (Pro. 3:1-3).
Scores of centuries ago, the heavenly Father, the King of kings who so loves and pities His children on earth, declared a surprising message which makes us doubt our ears. He granted an amnesty to all the sinners on earth who were doomed to death by transgression, trembling with fear and waiting hopelessly for the day of execution. This message was the best news that had ever been heard by all condemned criminals who were helplessly waiting for the day of execution, living in despair in the bar-less prison of earth. The general amnesty itself was for their lives.
But in spite of the fact that this acquittal has already been declared, which should fill this earth-prison with joyful exclamations and shouts of exultation, it is rather strange and even more surprising to see that no one has even attempted to take off their filthy garments. No one seems to run out of this prison to freely enjoy the already newly endowed life of glory and liberty even though thousands of years have passed now since the amnesty was declared.
Consequently, in the prison of this earth is a perpetuation of the same dark and miserable life amid oppressive silence without any response to the joyful message. What is all this about? What is the reason? The first reason is that most criminals have not heard the message as they themselves claim; and the second reason is that although a few have heard it, they do not understand what it implies. This is why this glorious message of joyful tidings has contributed nothing to anyone in the immense prison of this earth. What a heart-breaking, sorrowful reality it is! Their acquittal has already been declared thousands of years ago and they did not hear it! Even if they heard it, they did not understand it! Oh, what a sad story it is that they have all died in this prison for generations, transferring their prison garments from father to son, and from son to grand son, and from generation to generation! Now, we can fully understand the heart of our heavenly Father who sent the message, [My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge] (Hosea 4:6). Our Father sight, saying, "My children are dying away in this earth-prison without bars because they do not know!"
(1) I Forgive [Iniquity and Transgression and Sin] (Ex. 34:7).
We will now learn what the amnesty (declaration of their acquit¬tal means, and why most of the criminal on earth do not understand it.
[The Lord ... proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin] (Ex. 34:6, 7). This means, I the Lord, the King of the universe proclaim, I am the Lord: I am merciful, gracious and longsuffering who hates to punish. And so I proclaim to all prisoners under heaven, enjoy your freedom, live happily and freely from now on since I have forgiven your [iniquity and transgression and sin] (Ex. 34:7).
Our merciful Father proclaims that He has forgiven our iniquity and transgression and sin. Then what are the nature of these three sins that confine us so miserably? And what makes us enjoy such complete liberty when we are freed from them? Let us now learn, one by one.
(1) Iniquity: This is what sinful David sighed about when he said, [Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity] ( Ps. 51:5), and this is what we are born with from our mother's womb. We are helpless to change our evil inclinations. This is the source of our evil inclinations which have been so strongly rooted in us throughout six thousand years, and we are helpless to be freed from it. It is an evil trait that a sinner can neither overcome nor change, as God says in the Bible, [can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard it spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil] (Jer. 13:23). But the merciful God proclaims that He will change it for us Himself.
(2) Transgression: This is a sin committed, not on purpose, but by a momentary mistake, as a converted soul who longs and strive to live according to the will of God, makes accidental mistakes along the way. As Apostle Paul says,[O wretched man that I am!] [for the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do , that I practice] (Rom. 7:24, 7:19). For instance, it is likened to the guilt of an accidental homicide committed by the mistake of a fine driver.
Our heavenly Father proclaims that He understands all these mistakes and forgives us completely.
(3) Sin: This is the worst evil out of the three, like that which David committed when he killed an innocent man Uriah, under an elaborate plan to take Bathsheba, his wife. But as God forgave the dreadfully sinful David when he returned in heartbreaking repentance, so He also proclaims to us that He has already forgiven all our sins, even the ones we committed intentionally.
[`Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord, `though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool'] (Isa. 1:18).
[I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins] (Isa. 43:25).
[I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you] (Isa. 44:22).
Now, besides the three evils - that which we were born with, that which we commit by mistake during our lifetime, and that which we commit intentionally with no sense of shame, can you search out any other unpardoned evil in you? Brothers and sisters! Your Father in heaven who has begotten and brought you up with such great love, has been exclaiming for scores of centuries now, earnestly again and again, that He has already forgiven all your sins through the blood of Jesus His Son. [I have redeemed you] (Isa. 44:22). He has been shouting, " I have freed you from the chains of death; therefore, live forever happily in freedom and peace."
[Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depth of the sea] (Micah 7:18, 19).
[Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed] (Isa. 44:23).
[What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? ... Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? ... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord] (Rom. 8:31-39).
(2) He Will By No Means Clear the Guilty
Our grateful Father has cast our iniquity and transgression and sin into the depths of the sea. Then what does He mean when He says He "will by no means clear the guilty" but visit the iniquity? Perhaps there is some other kind of evil that cannot be forgiven. If so, what are these unpardonable sins and how many are there? Let us take time to find the answer.
Confucius who was once referred to as the Saint of the East, classified all evils committed by men into three thousand categories. Then how many do you think are numbered by our heavenly Father? How many will there be in the sight of the Almighty God? Let us direct our attention to His voice. [My people have com¬mitted two evils: (1) they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and (2) hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water] (Jer. 2:13). Therefore, in the sight of our real Father who has removed all our iniquity and transgression and sin, there are found only two evils.
First is that we have forsaken and departed from God, the Source of life; and second is that we have striven to live by ourselves apart from God, the Source of life which implies the same as the first. Consequently, in the sight of God there is only one kind of evil, that is to forsake and depart from our heavenly Father who is the source of eternal life.
The Bible refers to this kind of sinner as one whom God "will by no means clear his guilt but surely visit the iniquity." Then is our God one who kills and has vengeance upon those children on earth who depart from Him? I am sad when I see that many people misunderstand here.
Our heavenly Father is the one who so loved His sinful children on earth that He gave up His only Son for us. He came down with His Son to share His agony of Calvary. His Son who died for the sins of the world. Can this be the wicked God who kills and destroys so mercilessly those children who forsake and depart from Him? No, never. On the contrary, He has greater pity and compassion on them than those children who have returned to Him. He always thinks of them, yearning for them with love and tenderness. So the why does the Bible describe the sinner who commits this sin "unpardonable?" This is well illustrated in the parable of the vine. As the branch dries up under the sun when it is separated from the vine, so do earthly children die away exhausted when they forsake and depart from the Father who is the fountain of living water. Jesus prophesied that the soul-branches who depart from God would dry up and be thrown into the fire in the end, saying, [They gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned] (John 15:6). These are whom God represented as guilty, who cannot be forgiven but their iniquity will surely be visited.
Concerning this unpardonable evil, Matthew, one of the disciples, testifies that it is [the blasphemy against the Spirit and it [will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come] (Matt. 12:31, 32). This testimony is true and right. Only in the hands of our Father are the living water of the Holy Spirit and precious blood of Jesus found. And so our heavenly Father is running after His sinful children of Earth holding this living water of the Holy Spirit in one hand and the precious blood of His Son Jesus on the other hand, but these foolish children run away all the more quickly. How can they find a drop of sin-cleansing blood that can wash them clean, or the living water of the Holy Spirit which can quench their thirst, either in this world or in the world to come, if they keep running away from the Father who is the only One possessing the living water and cleansing blood? Wandering around endlessly in the vast desert, they fall exhausted and die, all dried up and parched. Therefore,[the blasphemy against the Spirit ...] that [will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come] (Matt. 12:32), does not mean that our Father of infinite love and mercy does not forgive, but that He cannot forgive.
Before the love of our Father greater and broader than the universe, and before the sea of the precious blood of Jesus our Brother surging with greater majesty that the Pacific Ocean, can there be found any sin too great to be washed? No, not one. If there is any, it is solely because he himself chooses to run away from the tender care of the Father and from the precious blood of Jesus. And so, without pardon he only perishes in his sins. This is the natural consequence of his own deed, as one must reap the harvest of his own sowing. For He [will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity] (Ex. 34:7).
What is the Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit? (Matt. 12:31, 32)
Since we are on the subject , let us find out more about the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit before we close this chapter.
Jesus told us, [It is the Spirit ( the Holy Spirit) who gives life ... the words ( the Bible ) that I speak to you are spirit (the Holy Spirit)] (John 6:63), and [the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart] (Heb. 4:12). This is the Holy Spirit. He also adds, [You are gods ... to whom the word of God came, (and the Scripture cannot be broken)] (John 10:43, 35).
Moses was a man just like us, but he became a god (Ex. 4:16, 7:1) because he received the word that came out of the mouth of God (the Spirit of God).
The Holy Spirit is the Author of the entire 66 books of the Bible. He abides in the Bible and the words of the Bible themselves are the Holy Spirit. Therefore blaspheming against the Spirit means to defy and reject the word of God in the Bible. This is the dreadful sin of [blasphemy against the Spirit] that [will not be forgiven either in this age, or in the age to come] (Matt. 12:31, 32).
We know quite well the reason why King Saul, the greatly favored of God and leader of His people, was forsaken. he perished by a horrible death because of no other sin (Iniquity, transgression or sin) but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, that is, disobedience to the word of God (the Bible).
[But Samuel said to Saul ... `For you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel'] (1 Sam. 15:26).
Jesus said, [Therefore whoever hears these saying of Mine (the Bible) and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these saying of Mine (the Bible ) and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house, and it fell. And great was its fall] (Matt. 7:24-27). [For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things (the words of the Bible), God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,] [He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches] (Rev. 22:18, 19, 2:7).
The words of the Bible that proceeds from the mouth of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit are [Spirit and life] - the everlasting life (John 6:63). Jesus also says, [You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life] (John 5:39). [Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God] (Matt. 4:4).
Therefore, the [two evils] that [they have forsaken Me] and hewn themselves Cisterns] (Jer. 2:13) are, to abandon the Bible, or disobey it although they have it. In the Bible abide God the Father, Jesus the Savior, and the Holy Spirit - the living water for perishing souls. In the Bible are found the guarantee of forgiveness, the cleansing blood, the heavenly kingdom, eternal life, the living water, and the fruit of life. All these promises and rewards are granted not to those who listen and obey only one or two phrases or some parts of the Bible, but to those who obey [every word] (Matt. 4:4) of God from both the Old and New Testaments.
Dear brothers and sisters! Your real Father in heaven who has forgiven the tremendous evils of your life - your iniquity, transgression and sin - asks you for only one thing in turn, to obey and follow the Bible; for it is the earnest desire of He who so loves us, to give us eternal life and every reward that is promised in the Bible.
[My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments] (Pro 3:1). [Do not add to His words, lest He reprove you, and you be found a liar] (Pro. 30:6). [You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it] (Deut. 4:2).
[To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them] (Isa. 8:20).
[Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry] (1 Sam. 15:22, 23).
[My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart] (Pro. 3:1-3).
8. Our Real Father Who Personally Heals All Our Diseases
There are innumerable children of God on earth, over five billion in number today. But we see there are only a few among all of them who know and genuinely appreciate the heavenly Father's love and grace. For example, many of His children get sick and groan every day while others get well daily. There are of course some who die of old age, but there are none among the healed who have not received the touch of our Father's curing hands.
Among the variety of medicines that doctors or physicians prescribe, not a single drug is made of ingredients that are not given by God. Their hands and minds, and even the knives held in their hands, are all given freely by the God of heaven.
[God who made the world and everything in it ...He gives to all men life, breath, and everything] (Acts 17:24, 25), hands and feet, and wisdom in heart. He says to us, [Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding] (Job. 38:3, 4). [Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?] (Job 38:36). [And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?] (1 Cor. 4:7).
[Thus says the Lord: `Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord] (Jer. 9:23, 24).
If a doctor in a hospital performs a surgical operation on his patient with all his knowledge and skill, putting stitches in the wounds and applying remedies on them, afterwards there is nothing more he can do for the patient. This is the limit of the human doctor. From then on, God's hand does all the work. He heals up fractured bones and makes them strong, binds up bleeding wounds so perfectly that not a drop of water can soak into the healed skin, relieves sharp pains and restores the skin as perfectly as it was before. This is the everyday work of the heavenly Physician.
And some of the cured patients give thanks and praise to Jesus and the Holy Spirit for such an abundant grace, but there are few who give sincere thanks to the Father. Of course, Jesus and the Holy Spirit heal our diseases too, but I would, in this chapter, like to highly praise the healing power of God, the Father. Most people with one accord speak much about the power of Jesus that healed all the sick on earth two thousand years ago. And yet in the Bible, the [two witnesses] [who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth] (Rev. 11:3, Zech. 4:14), testify that most of the power to heal the sick and raise the dead performed by Jesus actually was the power of the Father and His healing hands.
It is written, [Is any among you sick? Let him pray] (James 5:14). [As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him] (Ps. 103:13).
[Miracles, wonders, and signs ... God did through Him (Jesus) in your midst, as you yourselves also know] (Acts 2:22). With power of God, He (Jesus) [went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him] (Acts 10:38). [Now Jesus went about all Galilee ... healing... all kind of disease among the people ... And they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them] (Matt. 4:23, 24). And Jesus said, [When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know ... that I do nothing of Myself; but ... My Father] (John 8:28).
[I am in the Father, and the Father in Me the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves] - Healing the sick and the mighty works and wonders. [I can of Myself do nothing] (John 14:10, 11, 5:30). "The mighty works that I did in healing the sick, raising the dead, and calming the sea were not what I a man Jesus did, but the Father." Yes, as He had been a true God before He came to this earth, so was He a true human, Jesus of Nazareth, a son of carpenter. Therefor the human Jesus did not raise up the dead, remove the maladies that were afflicting His children, and rebuke and calm the sea. The mighty works and power that flowed out from Jesus were performed by the power of the Almighty God, the Father who was in Him: God Himself did all the works through His Son. That is why Jesus said, [Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself] (John 5:19). [My Father has been working until now, and I have been working] (John 5:17). [He is kind to the unthankful and evil] (Luke 6:35).
Truly it was God the Father who came in the form of a man, Jesus of Nazareth, two thousand years ago; who laid hands on the poor, pitiful children, rejected, forsaken and left comfortless. He healed them all, especially visiting the needy from village to village, from city to city, and from town to town.
Oh, what an amazing love of the Father for the world! So unbelievably wonderful is the love that caused Him, the Majesty of heaven, the King of the universe, to come down to this cursed ground, to visit every poor home, to lay His hands on His afflicted children and heal them. How sad it is that the world does not know, that it is a hidden mystery even today.
The Bible shows that the disciples had been taught by Jesus about the Father's healing of love for His children, and upon witnessing all the healings the Father performed through His Son, they prayed after His ascension, not to Jesus or the Spirit, but to the Father, asking for His grace and aid in healing the sick.
[They raised their voices together in prayer to God, `Sovereign Lord... stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.'] (Acts 4:24, 30 NIV). And the God of infinite love answered their prayer. [And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit] (Acts 4:31), and went about to heal all the sick. Once on the way to the temple, Peter and John saw [a man lame from his mother's womb] (Acts 3:2) and healed him. [And all the people were ... filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him] (Acts 3:9,10). And seeing them glorify the disciples and not God, Peter exclaimed, [Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers] by healing this man in the name of Jesus,[glorified His Servant Jesus] (Acts 3:12, 13).
Truly our real Father in heaven healed us Himself two thousand years ago through His Son and through the disciples. He is also healing us today, in the hospitals and in our homes. [But they did not know that I healed them] (Hosea 11:3).
How many among all the children of God in this world are there who appreciate and praise Him for His grace and love, for curing and delivering them from their painful diseases, and for being constantly concerned and caring for them. Surprisingly, there are very few. How sad the angels must be at the sight! There are many among the healed who feel grateful to Jesus. But it seems that there are almost none who give sincere thanks to the Father who in reality deserves to receive the greater gratitude from His children. How lonely and deserted He must feel when He sees no response of love or thanks from us! But without the slightest look of complaint or displeasure, He still lays His healing hands of love upon you and me even today, caring for us with steadfast love and tenderness. He continues to say to us, [I am the Lord who heals you] (Ex. 15:26).
Dear brothers and sisters! Although it is late let us now give thanks to our heavenly Father.
[Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God] (Ps. 147:1-3). [Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ... who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's] (Ps. 103:2-5). [Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever] (Ps. 136:1, 26). He is our real Father who personally heals all our diseases.
Praise the Lord!
Among the variety of medicines that doctors or physicians prescribe, not a single drug is made of ingredients that are not given by God. Their hands and minds, and even the knives held in their hands, are all given freely by the God of heaven.
[God who made the world and everything in it ...He gives to all men life, breath, and everything] (Acts 17:24, 25), hands and feet, and wisdom in heart. He says to us, [Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding] (Job. 38:3, 4). [Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?] (Job 38:36). [And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?] (1 Cor. 4:7).
[Thus says the Lord: `Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord] (Jer. 9:23, 24).
If a doctor in a hospital performs a surgical operation on his patient with all his knowledge and skill, putting stitches in the wounds and applying remedies on them, afterwards there is nothing more he can do for the patient. This is the limit of the human doctor. From then on, God's hand does all the work. He heals up fractured bones and makes them strong, binds up bleeding wounds so perfectly that not a drop of water can soak into the healed skin, relieves sharp pains and restores the skin as perfectly as it was before. This is the everyday work of the heavenly Physician.
And some of the cured patients give thanks and praise to Jesus and the Holy Spirit for such an abundant grace, but there are few who give sincere thanks to the Father. Of course, Jesus and the Holy Spirit heal our diseases too, but I would, in this chapter, like to highly praise the healing power of God, the Father. Most people with one accord speak much about the power of Jesus that healed all the sick on earth two thousand years ago. And yet in the Bible, the [two witnesses] [who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth] (Rev. 11:3, Zech. 4:14), testify that most of the power to heal the sick and raise the dead performed by Jesus actually was the power of the Father and His healing hands.
It is written, [Is any among you sick? Let him pray] (James 5:14). [As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him] (Ps. 103:13).
[Miracles, wonders, and signs ... God did through Him (Jesus) in your midst, as you yourselves also know] (Acts 2:22). With power of God, He (Jesus) [went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him] (Acts 10:38). [Now Jesus went about all Galilee ... healing... all kind of disease among the people ... And they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them] (Matt. 4:23, 24). And Jesus said, [When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know ... that I do nothing of Myself; but ... My Father] (John 8:28).
[I am in the Father, and the Father in Me the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves] - Healing the sick and the mighty works and wonders. [I can of Myself do nothing] (John 14:10, 11, 5:30). "The mighty works that I did in healing the sick, raising the dead, and calming the sea were not what I a man Jesus did, but the Father." Yes, as He had been a true God before He came to this earth, so was He a true human, Jesus of Nazareth, a son of carpenter. Therefor the human Jesus did not raise up the dead, remove the maladies that were afflicting His children, and rebuke and calm the sea. The mighty works and power that flowed out from Jesus were performed by the power of the Almighty God, the Father who was in Him: God Himself did all the works through His Son. That is why Jesus said, [Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself] (John 5:19). [My Father has been working until now, and I have been working] (John 5:17). [He is kind to the unthankful and evil] (Luke 6:35).
Truly it was God the Father who came in the form of a man, Jesus of Nazareth, two thousand years ago; who laid hands on the poor, pitiful children, rejected, forsaken and left comfortless. He healed them all, especially visiting the needy from village to village, from city to city, and from town to town.
Oh, what an amazing love of the Father for the world! So unbelievably wonderful is the love that caused Him, the Majesty of heaven, the King of the universe, to come down to this cursed ground, to visit every poor home, to lay His hands on His afflicted children and heal them. How sad it is that the world does not know, that it is a hidden mystery even today.
The Bible shows that the disciples had been taught by Jesus about the Father's healing of love for His children, and upon witnessing all the healings the Father performed through His Son, they prayed after His ascension, not to Jesus or the Spirit, but to the Father, asking for His grace and aid in healing the sick.
[They raised their voices together in prayer to God, `Sovereign Lord... stretch out Your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.'] (Acts 4:24, 30 NIV). And the God of infinite love answered their prayer. [And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit] (Acts 4:31), and went about to heal all the sick. Once on the way to the temple, Peter and John saw [a man lame from his mother's womb] (Acts 3:2) and healed him. [And all the people were ... filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him] (Acts 3:9,10). And seeing them glorify the disciples and not God, Peter exclaimed, [Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers] by healing this man in the name of Jesus,[glorified His Servant Jesus] (Acts 3:12, 13).
Truly our real Father in heaven healed us Himself two thousand years ago through His Son and through the disciples. He is also healing us today, in the hospitals and in our homes. [But they did not know that I healed them] (Hosea 11:3).
How many among all the children of God in this world are there who appreciate and praise Him for His grace and love, for curing and delivering them from their painful diseases, and for being constantly concerned and caring for them. Surprisingly, there are very few. How sad the angels must be at the sight! There are many among the healed who feel grateful to Jesus. But it seems that there are almost none who give sincere thanks to the Father who in reality deserves to receive the greater gratitude from His children. How lonely and deserted He must feel when He sees no response of love or thanks from us! But without the slightest look of complaint or displeasure, He still lays His healing hands of love upon you and me even today, caring for us with steadfast love and tenderness. He continues to say to us, [I am the Lord who heals you] (Ex. 15:26).
Dear brothers and sisters! Although it is late let us now give thanks to our heavenly Father.
[Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God] (Ps. 147:1-3). [Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ... who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's] (Ps. 103:2-5). [Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever] (Ps. 136:1, 26). He is our real Father who personally heals all our diseases.
Praise the Lord!
Friday, January 30, 2009
9. Our Real Father Who Works Diligently For Each of His Children
(1) Our Heavenly Father Who Works Diligently
Most of my brethren in the world seem to think that our heavenly Father is a God who does nothing Himself, but is always in a state of idle inactivity on His throne, requiring of all angels and men glory, praise and reverence. He is also looked upon as a stern, harsh and mean tyrant, who searches for the faults and wrong doings of sinners in order to punish them. But this is a most grievous misunderstanding and perversion.
Let us now listen to the testimony of our Eldest Brother, Jesus Christ, the very Son of the God who has been with Him from eternity and from the beginning of the foundation of the world.
It is written, the Lord Started [His works of old... while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primeval dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there when He drew a circle on the face of the deep when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the foundations of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him] (Pro. 8:22, 26-30).
[My Father has been working until now, and I have been working ... Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner] (John 5:17, 19). [I can of Myself do nothing] (John 5:30).
Truly our heavenly Father has been working diligently for all His children in the universe since the beginning of the world and will never cease His work and service. He never becomes tired or weary. [Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength] (Isa. 40:28, 29). [But I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared - the Lord of hosts is His name] (Isa. 51:15).
(2) Our Heavenly Father Who Supplies the Needs
Jesus specifically tells us of the works of His Father in detail. [Look at the birds of the air; for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them ... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these] for He clothed them so beautifully ... [God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven] (Matt. 6:26, 28-30). Moreover, [who provides food for the raven when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?] (Job 38:41). Your Father, your heavenly Father feeds them.
[Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens (in hunger)?] (Job 38:39, 40). Your Father also feeds them.
He [covers the heavens with clouds, (He) prepares rain for the earth, (He) makes grass to grow on the mountains] (Ps. 147:8). And He [causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man] (Ps. 104:14).
And [this great and wide sea in which are innumerable teeming things ... both small and great ... these all wait for You ... what Your give them they gather in, You open Your hand, they filled with good] (Ps. 104:25-28).
[In this manner therefore pray: Our Father in heaven ... Give us today our daily bread.] And He will give [to all liberally and without reproach] (Matt. 6:9-13, James 1:5). [The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open your hand, and satisfy the desires of every living thing] (Ps. 145:15, 16).
[O Lord, how manifold are Your works!] (Ps 104:24). No one can count or number them.
(3) Our Real Father Who Takes Unceasing Care of Us
[Then Jesus said to them again, `Peace be unto you'] (John 20:21).
[Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows] (Matt. 10:29-31).
[Now if God so clothes the grass of the field] with such tender love [which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you] (Matt. 6:30) whom He has Himself begotten and brought up with such great love? [O you of little faith ... do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things] (Luke 12:28-30) and provided them for you.
[But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, a home, treasures) shall be added to you] (Matt. 6:33).
[Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever] (1 John 2:15-17). Therefore [having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
[As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.] [As one whom his mother comforts, so [He] will comfort you.] He will [satisfy your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's] (Ps. 103:13, Isa. 66:13, Ps. 103:3, 5).
[He is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being ... for we are also His offspring] (Acts 17:27, 28).
Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature, think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the love of the Creator, our heavenly Father. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures.
[God is love] is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green - all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire in making His children happy.
Moreover, His power is revealed on the pulsation of the heart, on the movement of the lungs, and on the thousands of blood vessels of every organ in the whole body. Every passing moment of our existence and well-being we owe to Him. He takes care of us with greater pity than that of a mother hugging her baby groaning in sickness. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them.
There is not a sigh breathed, not a pain felt, nor a grief piercing our souls that does not vibrate to His heart.
There is no family head as faithful, devoted, loving and kind as our heavenly Father in this whole world. He is also the most tender Caretaker of our universal family. Unlimited is His love for us.
[But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me'] (Isa. 49:14-16).
You [who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear: even I will carry, and will deliver you] (Isa. 46:3, 4).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our Father who takes unceasing care of us! Praise the Lord!
Most of my brethren in the world seem to think that our heavenly Father is a God who does nothing Himself, but is always in a state of idle inactivity on His throne, requiring of all angels and men glory, praise and reverence. He is also looked upon as a stern, harsh and mean tyrant, who searches for the faults and wrong doings of sinners in order to punish them. But this is a most grievous misunderstanding and perversion.
Let us now listen to the testimony of our Eldest Brother, Jesus Christ, the very Son of the God who has been with Him from eternity and from the beginning of the foundation of the world.
It is written, the Lord Started [His works of old... while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, or the primeval dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there when He drew a circle on the face of the deep when He established the clouds above, when He strengthened the foundations of the deep, when He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters would not transgress His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside Him as a master craftsman and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him] (Pro. 8:22, 26-30).
[My Father has been working until now, and I have been working ... Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner] (John 5:17, 19). [I can of Myself do nothing] (John 5:30).
Truly our heavenly Father has been working diligently for all His children in the universe since the beginning of the world and will never cease His work and service. He never becomes tired or weary. [Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength] (Isa. 40:28, 29). [But I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea whose waves roared - the Lord of hosts is His name] (Isa. 51:15).
(2) Our Heavenly Father Who Supplies the Needs
Jesus specifically tells us of the works of His Father in detail. [Look at the birds of the air; for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them ... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these] for He clothed them so beautifully ... [God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven] (Matt. 6:26, 28-30). Moreover, [who provides food for the raven when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?] (Job 38:41). Your Father, your heavenly Father feeds them.
[Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens (in hunger)?] (Job 38:39, 40). Your Father also feeds them.
He [covers the heavens with clouds, (He) prepares rain for the earth, (He) makes grass to grow on the mountains] (Ps. 147:8). And He [causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and vegetation for the service of man] (Ps. 104:14).
And [this great and wide sea in which are innumerable teeming things ... both small and great ... these all wait for You ... what Your give them they gather in, You open Your hand, they filled with good] (Ps. 104:25-28).
[In this manner therefore pray: Our Father in heaven ... Give us today our daily bread.] And He will give [to all liberally and without reproach] (Matt. 6:9-13, James 1:5). [The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open your hand, and satisfy the desires of every living thing] (Ps. 145:15, 16).
[O Lord, how manifold are Your works!] (Ps 104:24). No one can count or number them.
(3) Our Real Father Who Takes Unceasing Care of Us
[Then Jesus said to them again, `Peace be unto you'] (John 20:21).
[Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows] (Matt. 10:29-31).
[Now if God so clothes the grass of the field] with such tender love [which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you] (Matt. 6:30) whom He has Himself begotten and brought up with such great love? [O you of little faith ... do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things] (Luke 12:28-30) and provided them for you.
[But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things (food, clothing, a home, treasures) shall be added to you] (Matt. 6:33).
[Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever] (1 John 2:15-17). Therefore [having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
[As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.] [As one whom his mother comforts, so [He] will comfort you.] He will [satisfy your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's] (Ps. 103:13, Isa. 66:13, Ps. 103:3, 5).
[He is not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being ... for we are also His offspring] (Acts 17:27, 28).
Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature, think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the love of the Creator, our heavenly Father. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures.
[God is love] is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green - all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire in making His children happy.
Moreover, His power is revealed on the pulsation of the heart, on the movement of the lungs, and on the thousands of blood vessels of every organ in the whole body. Every passing moment of our existence and well-being we owe to Him. He takes care of us with greater pity than that of a mother hugging her baby groaning in sickness. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them.
There is not a sigh breathed, not a pain felt, nor a grief piercing our souls that does not vibrate to His heart.
There is no family head as faithful, devoted, loving and kind as our heavenly Father in this whole world. He is also the most tender Caretaker of our universal family. Unlimited is His love for us.
[But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me my Lord has forgotten me. Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me'] (Isa. 49:14-16).
You [who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear: even I will carry, and will deliver you] (Isa. 46:3, 4).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our Father who takes unceasing care of us! Praise the Lord!
10. Our Real Father who Gives His Holy Spirit to Us Sinners
As I travel to new areas during missionary work, I frequently ask fellow believers this question, "Dear friends! God has promised to pour His Holy Spirit upon us; then will He give it to the pure, holy and blameless ones or to the wicked, filthy, abominable sinners?' And most of them reply in unison, "of course to the pure, holy and blameless ones."
As I hear such replies from my fellow believers, I feel so sorry. And the discussion leads us to open the Bible. Let us look to the Bible now and see whether He has truly said that He would give it to the good and blameless ones. Let's open Luke chapter 11 and we will have a period of interesting Bible study.
In Luke chapter 11 Jesus said, [If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ... How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!] (Luke 11:11-13). [And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened] (Luke 11:9, 10).
To whom did He say, " Ask and it will be given you?" Let's look this up in detail.
[If you then being evil ... your heavenly Father (will) give the Holy spirit to those who ask Him] (Luke 11:13). We are assured that He has promised to give His Spirit to the evil. Yes, it is true. When the Holy Spirit, the third God, comes to the sinner by grace, he realizes that he is a sinner and is led to repent of his past sinful life. Then his life becomes pure and regenerated, and he is sanctified into a spotless person.
On the contrary, if a sinner attempts to make himself pure and good enough to receive the Holy Spirit on his own before he comes to God first, he will never become good enough to receive it nor have an opportunity to receive it, ever. Trying to become holy without God is an absurd and presumptuous sin.
[For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters (Holy Spirit), and hewn themselves cisterns- broken cisterns that can hold no water (Holy Spirit)] (Jer. 2:13). Toward these people God says, [You fool!] [Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots] by themselves? [Neither can you do good,] without the help of the Holy Spirit, [who are accustomed to doing evil] (Luke 12:20, Jer. 13:23).
[O foolish man,] neither say in your heart, [Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, it its season ... Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good things (the Spirit of the former and latter rain) from you.] [Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain. You have a harlot's forehead, you refuse to be ashamed] (James 2:20, Jer. 5:24, 25, Jer. 3:3).
They at last become like those who have forever lost the opportunity to be saved and dry out, [The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!] (Jer. 8:20). While they are spending foolish time in striving to make themselves pure and holy enough to receive the Holy Spirit, the merciful God is earnestly waiting for them to come to Him to receive the Spirit, allowing them so much time and opportunities with perseverance, but they persist and do not go to Him.
Therefore He says, [I will scatter them like stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness ...This is your lot, the portion of your measures from Me, says the Lord, because you have forgotten Me and trusted in (your own) falsehood] (Jer. 13:24, 25).
[And if you say in your heart, `Why have these things come upon me?' (It is) for the greatness of your iniquity] (Jer 13:22). [Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you still not be made clean?] (Jer. 13:27).
The greatest sin of those who profess to be Christians is that they neither seek the Holy Spirit nor open their heart to receive it. Desires for goodness and holiness are good as far as they go; but if you stop there and do not seek the Holy Spirit, they will avail nothing. Many will perish while only hoping and desiring to be true Christians.
[There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews] (John 3:1). He was truly a man who endeavored to keep the laws, to live a pure, holy, and pious life, trying to become a sanctified man all by himself. But contrary to his diligent efforts and aspirations, his life was only a succession of bitter disappointment, distress and disillusion resulting from continual atrophy and failure. At last He determined to meet Jesus of whom he had heard so much of through rumors.
As he came to Jesus one night, he did not expose his miserable state before Him but concealing his true heart said, [Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him] (John 3:2). But He who clearly knew the miserable state and sympathized with the agony of this desperate soul, did not respond to his meaningless speech but rather gave him the very answer to the cry from the deep of his heart - "Lord! What should I do to be sanctified and join the holy people of God's kingdom?" And so He answered, [Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God] (John 3:3).
To say again, "Truly I teach you aright: unless one first receives from God His Spirit to be born again by it, and becomes a regenerated person by receiving a new life from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." But Nicodemus failed to comprehend Jesus' words and retorted with an absurd question unworthy of a well-informed Jewish ruler, [Nicodemus said to Him, `How can a man be born when he is old?'] (John 3:4). And more specifically [Jesus answered, `Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of ... the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God'] (John 3:5). That is to say, 'Truly I teach you again, unless a sinner receives from God His Holy Spirit to be transformed into holiness by His power, and becomes born again, all his efforts to become sanctified by himself and to enter heaven will avail nothing and prove impossible."
From that hour on, this struggling soul settled all is hidden problems after only one precious interview with Jesus, to become one of His most faithful disciples who from then on, began to live a regenerated life by submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And after His crucifixion, although all the other disciples had forsaken Him and run away, Nicodemus alone brought [a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pounds] (John 19:39) and bravely received Him with sorrow upon His death.
Many today lust for the Spirit, [and do not have; You murder and covet and cannot obtain ... you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spent it on your pleasures] (James 4:2, 3).
Truly the Spirit does not come by force or compulsion like the evil spirits do into the heart of those who neither feel need nor seek for it. It is a pure as a dove and only comes to those who invite it with kindness. The Holy Spirit is not given in answer to the prayers of those who seek to use it for display, show and other selfish motives, but only to those who are willing to obey it with the humility of a child.
Today, Jesus proclaims to the humble, [If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive] (John 7:37-39).
Isaiah exclaims, [Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters (Holy Spirit); and you who have no money, come, buy and eat... without money and without price] (Isa. 55:1).
Peter exclaims,[ ... everyone of you .. in the name of Jesus Christ ... shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call] (Acts 2:38, 39).
Apostle Paul exclaims too, [When the kindness and the love of God or Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life] (Titus 3:4-7).
The Holy Spirit itself exclaims, [The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!' And let him who hears say, ‘Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.] [Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick... For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners] (Rev. 22:17, Matt. 9:12, 13) who are not yet sanctified.
Our heavenly Father is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than are parents to give good gifts to their children. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. If all were willing, all would be filled with Spirit and have the experience of regeneration and attain to the state of sanctification.
[As the body without the spirit is dead,] [if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His] (James 2:26, Rom. 8:9).
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end of the world. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ's parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit.
The children of God are not those whose hearts are sometimes touched by the Spirit, who yield to its, power now and then. It is only those who are led by the Spirit always that He acknowledges as His children. It is time to receive the Spirit today when whoever seeks for it can receive. Seek and pray earnestly for the blessing of the Spirit, and believe it. We must have it, and heaven is waiting to bestow it.
[And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!] (Luke 11:9-13).
[He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not be with Him also freely give us all things?] (Rom. 8:32).
[Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full] (John 16:24).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our real Father in heaven who bestows His Holy Spirit upon us sinners!
As I hear such replies from my fellow believers, I feel so sorry. And the discussion leads us to open the Bible. Let us look to the Bible now and see whether He has truly said that He would give it to the good and blameless ones. Let's open Luke chapter 11 and we will have a period of interesting Bible study.
In Luke chapter 11 Jesus said, [If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ... How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!] (Luke 11:11-13). [And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened] (Luke 11:9, 10).
To whom did He say, " Ask and it will be given you?" Let's look this up in detail.
[If you then being evil ... your heavenly Father (will) give the Holy spirit to those who ask Him] (Luke 11:13). We are assured that He has promised to give His Spirit to the evil. Yes, it is true. When the Holy Spirit, the third God, comes to the sinner by grace, he realizes that he is a sinner and is led to repent of his past sinful life. Then his life becomes pure and regenerated, and he is sanctified into a spotless person.
On the contrary, if a sinner attempts to make himself pure and good enough to receive the Holy Spirit on his own before he comes to God first, he will never become good enough to receive it nor have an opportunity to receive it, ever. Trying to become holy without God is an absurd and presumptuous sin.
[For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters (Holy Spirit), and hewn themselves cisterns- broken cisterns that can hold no water (Holy Spirit)] (Jer. 2:13). Toward these people God says, [You fool!] [Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots] by themselves? [Neither can you do good,] without the help of the Holy Spirit, [who are accustomed to doing evil] (Luke 12:20, Jer. 13:23).
[O foolish man,] neither say in your heart, [Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, it its season ... Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good things (the Spirit of the former and latter rain) from you.] [Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain. You have a harlot's forehead, you refuse to be ashamed] (James 2:20, Jer. 5:24, 25, Jer. 3:3).
They at last become like those who have forever lost the opportunity to be saved and dry out, [The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!] (Jer. 8:20). While they are spending foolish time in striving to make themselves pure and holy enough to receive the Holy Spirit, the merciful God is earnestly waiting for them to come to Him to receive the Spirit, allowing them so much time and opportunities with perseverance, but they persist and do not go to Him.
Therefore He says, [I will scatter them like stubble that passes away by the wind of the wilderness ...This is your lot, the portion of your measures from Me, says the Lord, because you have forgotten Me and trusted in (your own) falsehood] (Jer. 13:24, 25).
[And if you say in your heart, `Why have these things come upon me?' (It is) for the greatness of your iniquity] (Jer 13:22). [Woe to you, O Jerusalem! Will you still not be made clean?] (Jer. 13:27).
The greatest sin of those who profess to be Christians is that they neither seek the Holy Spirit nor open their heart to receive it. Desires for goodness and holiness are good as far as they go; but if you stop there and do not seek the Holy Spirit, they will avail nothing. Many will perish while only hoping and desiring to be true Christians.
[There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews] (John 3:1). He was truly a man who endeavored to keep the laws, to live a pure, holy, and pious life, trying to become a sanctified man all by himself. But contrary to his diligent efforts and aspirations, his life was only a succession of bitter disappointment, distress and disillusion resulting from continual atrophy and failure. At last He determined to meet Jesus of whom he had heard so much of through rumors.
As he came to Jesus one night, he did not expose his miserable state before Him but concealing his true heart said, [Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him] (John 3:2). But He who clearly knew the miserable state and sympathized with the agony of this desperate soul, did not respond to his meaningless speech but rather gave him the very answer to the cry from the deep of his heart - "Lord! What should I do to be sanctified and join the holy people of God's kingdom?" And so He answered, [Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God] (John 3:3).
To say again, "Truly I teach you aright: unless one first receives from God His Spirit to be born again by it, and becomes a regenerated person by receiving a new life from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." But Nicodemus failed to comprehend Jesus' words and retorted with an absurd question unworthy of a well-informed Jewish ruler, [Nicodemus said to Him, `How can a man be born when he is old?'] (John 3:4). And more specifically [Jesus answered, `Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of ... the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God'] (John 3:5). That is to say, 'Truly I teach you again, unless a sinner receives from God His Holy Spirit to be transformed into holiness by His power, and becomes born again, all his efforts to become sanctified by himself and to enter heaven will avail nothing and prove impossible."
From that hour on, this struggling soul settled all is hidden problems after only one precious interview with Jesus, to become one of His most faithful disciples who from then on, began to live a regenerated life by submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And after His crucifixion, although all the other disciples had forsaken Him and run away, Nicodemus alone brought [a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pounds] (John 19:39) and bravely received Him with sorrow upon His death.
Many today lust for the Spirit, [and do not have; You murder and covet and cannot obtain ... you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spent it on your pleasures] (James 4:2, 3).
Truly the Spirit does not come by force or compulsion like the evil spirits do into the heart of those who neither feel need nor seek for it. It is a pure as a dove and only comes to those who invite it with kindness. The Holy Spirit is not given in answer to the prayers of those who seek to use it for display, show and other selfish motives, but only to those who are willing to obey it with the humility of a child.
Today, Jesus proclaims to the humble, [If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive] (John 7:37-39).
Isaiah exclaims, [Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters (Holy Spirit); and you who have no money, come, buy and eat... without money and without price] (Isa. 55:1).
Peter exclaims,[ ... everyone of you .. in the name of Jesus Christ ... shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call] (Acts 2:38, 39).
Apostle Paul exclaims too, [When the kindness and the love of God or Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life] (Titus 3:4-7).
The Holy Spirit itself exclaims, [The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!' And let him who hears say, ‘Come!' And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.] [Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick... For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners] (Rev. 22:17, Matt. 9:12, 13) who are not yet sanctified.
Our heavenly Father is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than are parents to give good gifts to their children. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. If all were willing, all would be filled with Spirit and have the experience of regeneration and attain to the state of sanctification.
[As the body without the spirit is dead,] [if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His] (James 2:26, Rom. 8:9).
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end of the world. From the day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ's parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit.
The children of God are not those whose hearts are sometimes touched by the Spirit, who yield to its, power now and then. It is only those who are led by the Spirit always that He acknowledges as His children. It is time to receive the Spirit today when whoever seeks for it can receive. Seek and pray earnestly for the blessing of the Spirit, and believe it. We must have it, and heaven is waiting to bestow it.
[And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will our heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!] (Luke 11:9-13).
[He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not be with Him also freely give us all things?] (Rom. 8:32).
[Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full] (John 16:24).
Praise the Lord! Glory to our real Father in heaven who bestows His Holy Spirit upon us sinners!
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