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Fred Coulter - October 9, 2000
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This is for the Day of Atonement, the year 2000. And time is going forward, events are happening as we have seen, and God’s plan is right on schedule and we’re going ahead with the things that God wants us to do, and now we come to the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement is a special day, a holy day, a day in which we fast.
So let’s go to Leviticus 23 and let’s begin right here in verse 26. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” And we’re going to see a little later that afflicting means to afflict your soul with fasting. And that means to drink no water, and eat no food.
To offer an offering made by fire we don’t give animal offerings today so we do take up an offering. And in taking up an offering we just need to understand and realize that God’s way is right and good and that in taking up the offering we’re following the principle here of offering an offering made by fire, so it is a command by God. Today we don’t do the animal sacrifices as you know. So at this time we’ll just pause and we’ll go ahead and take up the offering.
(Pause)
Now let’s continue on with the instructions that we have here in Leviticus 23. We’re going to see that this is a special day where He emphasizes no work, or not any work several times. Verse 28, “And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people” (vs. 28-29). Meaning today, that you will lose contact with God. And I’ve seen that. I’ve seen that. In the 40 years that I’ve been in Church I’ve learned one lesson from the Feast of Unleavened Bread which happens all the time. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Now there was a group of people who decided that since Christ fulfilled the Day of Atonement, which He has not completely fulfilled the Day of Atonement, as we will see when we understand it, therefore they didn’t fast and they actually had coffee and cake on the Day of Atonement. Well, they were just given over to demons after that. God is not going to be mocked. Men are not going to enforce their will upon God. Or their Bible interpretations upon God. Now that doesn’t mean that we do everything perfect. But when we get to those things which directly violate the laws and commands of God then we’re going to be in trouble. And that’s what happened to them. So when you are cut off from among your people that means you are cut off from God.
“And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.” Now there are many ways also to destroy a person. That doesn’t mean that you are instantly killed. It just means that you are going to have a life that is going to be contrary to God, and that is going to end up destroying you. “Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate [or keep] your sabbath” (vs. 30-31). Now this is very important because that is the key thing that everyone could look to as to when the day began. Now you might have a difference of opinion if it’s, “Well, when is noon and when the sun is starting to go down?” You might have a difference of opinion, “Well, where is it exactly at three o’clock in the afternoon?” But when you see the sun dip below the horizon you have no question whatsoever that it is sunset. And “at even” means “at sunset”.
Now let’s notice what He says here, “…You shall celebrate your sabbath…” It’s very interesting in the Septuagint in the Greek where we’ve covered part of it, but I want to reiterate it here. And it is that “you shall keep this sabbath”, “you shall keep your sabbaths” rather. And in the Greek it is sabbatise ite and then it does something very important here. It uses the plural of sabbath. The singular of sabbath in the Greek is ton sabbaton. The plural is tasabbata, so this is inserted right in there showing that all sabbaths are to be kept from sundown to sundown, not just the Day of Atonement. But God didn’t want us to be in doubt whatsoever so He said from the ninth day of the month from even to the tenth day of the month at even shall you keep or celebrate your sabbath. And in this case plural. So this is inserted in there for all the sabbaths that we find here in the book of Leviticus. And everyone of the holy days are sabbath days. Every single one is. That’s why it starts out at the beginning with the weekly Sabbath.
Now let’s look concerning fasting. Let’s come to Psalm 35:13 and let’s see that fasting is something that you do to draw close to God. Now on fasting on the Day of Atonement, and we know that the meaning of the Day of Atonement part of it is that you will be at one with God. Not only to forgive your sins, but to be at one with God, and for us who have our sins covered through the sacrifice of Christ as pictured by the Passover. Then the Day of Atonement for us pictures more being at one with God because what’s going to happen with the Day of Atonement is when God applies that in it’s actual application like He did with Passover, then it’s going to apply to Israel and to the world to make atonement for them. So that will be a very important thing to take place.
And also as we will see that the author of sin is going to be removed. Because it just doesn’t matter how perfect you may have things all around you. It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you may have. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have been, or who your parents have been. Because if Satan is there, there is still going to be sin because he is the author of sin. Look what happened with Adam and Eve. When Satan came, immediately there was sin. But were they right there with God? Yes. Did they know the truth of God? Yes. Did God instruct them? Yes. But Satan brings the sin and he brings the sinful nature to human beings. So he has to be removed. And the truth is you can never be at one with God totally, spiritually speaking, unless Satan is removed because he’s the adversary to divide from God.
Now here in Psalm 35, and this is also a prophecy of Jesus as well as something that happened to David. Verse 11, “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting…” So it says you shall afflict your soul, that means to humble yourself with fasting. “…And my prayer returned into mine own bosom” (Psa. 35:11-13). Now in difficult cases we find back in the account of Jesus and the casting out of the demon where the disciples couldn’t do it, He said that this kind comes out by nothing but by prayer and fasting.
Now let’s go to Luke 4 and let’s see the tremendous spiritual battle that Jesus had with Satan the devil. Because Jesus, when He came in the flesh, had to overcome Satan the devil in a one to one, head to head, knock down bruising spiritual battle. Now, Christ as God could defeat Satan at any time. Christ by using the power of God can defeat Satan at any time. But now Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights so that He would have to fight and resist Satan only through the power of the Spirit of God within Him. And by using the word of God correctly. And to also do it in the weakest physical condition that He could possibly be in to show that it’s not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.
Now let’s begin in the book of Luke 4:1. “And Jesus being full of the Holy [Spirit] Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil.” Now I don’t think that any of us have ever endured the kind of thing that Jesus did. “And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered. And the devil said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:1-3). And Jesus could do that. But you see, if He would have done it He would have disobeyed the Father, and would have obeyed Satan the devil instead. So He didn’t do it.
Notice how He answered. “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man…” Now here’s God Who’s man. So He’s applying this not only to Himself but to all of mankind in general, but particularly to Himself in these circumstances where He’s fighting Satan the devil. “That man shall not live by bread alone…” Now let’s understand, not only by food but and also this means not only by the physical things around you. You have to live by every word of God. That’s what He says here. “…But by every word of God” (vs. 4). And as it says in Deuteronomy 8:3 where this quote is taken from, it says “…that proceeds out of the mouth of God…” And the whole story of the Bible can be reduced to three words. “Obey My voice.” So that’s exactly the whole sum of the Bible. If you want a three word summation of the Bible there you have it. And if you obey His voice you will be at one with God.
Now then, He had to be tested whether He would want to seize and grasp controlling the world before the time came that God would give it to Him. Verse 5, “And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” Just sort of a kaleidoscope of history passing before His eyes. “And the devil said unto Him, All this power [yes, all this authority] will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Now we’re going to talk about the will of Satan, the will of God, the will of men in just a little bit. But here Satan says to whomsoever I will, he gives it. So Satan has a will and we will see what that is a little later. “If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine” (vs. 5-7). And then we would have had no Messiah if He would have done that.
Now this also tells us those who control the world are those who worship Satan the devil. And that’s just the way that it is, whether they do it overtly or whether they do it secretly, whether they do it because they are controlled who others who are direct Satan worshippers, they are the ones who rule this world. The rich, the elite, the establishment worldwide.
Verse 8, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written…” That is for man. Now what He’s doing, He’s not saying Satan will worship God because Satan won’t worship God, because Satan wants to be worshipped as God. So he won’t worship God. He will rebel against God. He’s the adversary. But Jesus is quoting the scripture, “You shall worship the LORD your God and Him only shall you serve.” And Jesus as a man was quoting that scripture.
“And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence:…” And can you imagine what would have happened? If He would have landed on His feet safely and securely right in the middle of the priests and scribes and the Pharisees and Sadducees, Satan would have said, “See, here is your savior. Yes here is your savior.” Because Jesus would have obeyed Satan. Would have rejected the will of God. Now Satan also quotes scripture so you have to be very careful about people who quote scripture and sound spiritual because they may not be from God. So he says, “For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over Thee, to keep Thee: And in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone” (vs. 9-11). And that is an absolute correct quote.
Now Jesus said here verse 12, “And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” So you need to understand that. If you take the scriptures and misapply them, are you tempting God? I think this is what it’s saying here. So Jesus had to endure all these temptations in order to be our Savior. And He had to endure all of this for 40 days and 40 nights when He was fasting, when He was not eating food or drinking any water, and He was yielding Himself to God totally being full of the Holy Spirit.
Now notice, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season” (vs. 13). And then it says in the book of Matthew that angels came to minister to Him to feed Him because He was so weak. So that’s what Jesus Christ did. That’s how we know. Now we also…let’s come back here to the book of Ezra and let’s see where then fasting is without any water and without any food.
Let’s come back here to Ezra 10, that way we can made it absolutely clear as to what fasting really consists of. Verse 6, “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away [and for the sins which they had done].” So fasting is without food and without water.
Now let’s come to Leviticus 16. Let’s see what was to be done on this Day of Atonement in Israel. Now let’s understand something very important that not all analogies or symbolism is necessarily completely accurate, as we will see here in just a little bit. That the goat for Azazel is let off into the wilderness and then Satan is put into the abyss. Well the wilderness is the closest in an analogy and a ritual that you could come to to an abyss. And so that’s why it’s that way. It doesn’t mean that one necessarily offsets and fights the other. We’ll see that here in just a minute.
Now on the Day of Atonement was a special day because that was the day that the High Priest went into the temple One day that he went not only into the temple but into the Holy of Holies. And the first part of it it shows how he would prepare himself, and the offerings that he would make.
Let’s begin here in verse 5. “And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD…” Now this is the only sacrifice that this was ever done with. It was not done with any other sacrifice. All other sacrifices were to be as specified without blemish. Here he was to take “…and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Lev. 16:5-7). Then something very different was done with these.
Now the reason that this was done was because God had to make the choice. Because in order to understand who the true sacrifice of God is, being Christ, and who the false messiah is, human beings of and by themselves cannot know without the intervention of God to call them and open their minds to it. So likewise here, in order to understand which goat was for Azazel…and Azazel is another name for Satan, another name for the unclean spirit that inhabited the wilderness just like the abyss that Satan is going to inhabit in which there are demons right there now, which is called the prison.
“…And [he shall] present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats [that is so God would make the decision]; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat [or Azazel]” (vs. 7-8). Now this does not picture Christ. Now I’ve gone through that several times, because people want to rely just on the Old Testament and not put it together with the New Testament properly. Some people say that the second goat is also for Christ. No, as we will see, the sacrifice of Christ as pictured by the goat which was sacrificed for sin and atonement is the sacrifice for sin. And once that is done then the sins have been forgiven. But as I have mentioned at the beginning, as long as Satan the devil is around there will be the author of sin and you can never be at one with God or have complete atonement until that is done. And we’ll see how that is accomplished here.
“And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.” Now a sin offering is a sin offering, correct? Yes. “But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement [over] with him…” Or not with him. Satan does not become an atoning part of what God has done, but the removal of him finishes the atoning. So He is going to complete the atonement with him. “…And to let him go for a scapegoat [or Azazel] into the wilderness” (vs. 9-10). And then it shows that Aaron was to bring all the sacrifices to cleanse the temple and the altar and everything.
Now verse 15, “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people…” Now if you have a sin offering for the people and that is accepted of God to make an atonement for them for all their sins and transgressions, have their sins been forgiven? They answer is yes. “…And bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: and he shall make an atonement [now this is a complete atonement] for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins…” Meaning that this sin offering, as pictured by the sacrifice of Christ, atones for all of their transgressions in all their sins. “…So shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness” (vs. 15-16).
“And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.” So that shows that the atonement was accomplished with what Aaron did with the sacrifices for himself and the sacrifice for the sin offering of the goat for the LORD. “And shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about [that’s the altar of burnt offering]. And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel [but is in all of their sins]” (vs. 17-19).
“And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat” (vs. 20). Now here is a very strange ceremony. The only one of its kind. Now, whenever someone brought an offering to be offered, whether it’s a burnt offering, he would lay his hands on the head of the animal and then slit it’s throat. When he would bring a sin offering he would do the same thing. The offerer would lay his hand on it, confess his sins over it, and then slit the throat of the animal. Now here we have something entirely different. Aaron does the whole thing.
Notice, “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel…” Now why would he do that when they were already forgiven? Well he does it because this goat represents Azazel and is putting back upon Satan his own responsibility for his own sins that he may bear them, because he won’t repent. That’s why this goat is not sacrificed. That’s why this goat does not represent Christ because Christ bore our sins and then He was slain. Complete difference. Now here we have it, this one is having the sins confessed after the goat for the sin offering was already accepted of God. So what is happening here, this is showing that Satan is responsible for all the sins of the whole world. Remember Ephesians 2, that you are dead in your sins and trespasses because of the prince of the power of the air - that spirit which now works within the children of disobedience among whom we also all had our conduct in the past time.
Now let’s continue on here, “…putting them upon the head of the goat [because he’s responsible], and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man…” Now this “fit man”, as we will see, is a type of an angel who removes Satan the devil. “And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited [or in the wilderness]…” So that’s as close as you can come to the abyss. “…And he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation…” (vs. 21-23). Then he shall wash his garments and everything and then finish off the sin offering.
Now let’s pick it up here in verse 27. “And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to made atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.” So all sin offerings were to be wholly burnt, wholly consumed. Why? To show that they were completely removed. And also to show that there was to be no further participation in it, that’s why they did not eat the sacrifices of the sin offering. Whereas they could eat the sacrifices of the burnt offering, the sacrifice of the peace offering, the sacrifice of the thank offering. They could eat all of those, but not this.
“And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp” (vs. 28). And back here to verse 26, “And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.”
Now notice verse 29. “And this shall be a stature for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your should, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever” (vs. 29-31). So there it is concerning the Day of Atonement.
Now let’s look at something here concerning how the sacrifice of Christ is applied to us by His sacrifice through the words which He spoke, which applies to the Church. As I said, the Day of Atonement will be the application of the sacrifice of Christ to Israel and to the world. But let’s come here to John 15 and let’s see what Jesus said showing that our sins are covered by the Passover. Our sins are not covered by the atonement but by the Passover.
Now here in John 15:1 He says, “I AM the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away…” And we’re seeing that God is doing that now. He’s taking a lot away. Because people are not staying at one with God. They are not doing the things of God. They are cutting themselves off from God. And I know in talking to many people that we do all we can to help restore, but even at that there are some who just don’t want to be restored. They want to join the ranks of Satan the devil and be unrepentant and go do their own thing. And there will be some people like that. And as we have seen, as what has happened to the Churches of God, there are some people who have just given up on God. And their lives have changed and their minds have changed and their whole countenance and visage has changed because they have been cut off from among the people of God. Now God the Father is the one Who’s doing that. “…And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1-2). So all the trials and difficulties we go through, and to successfully go through that means that God wants us to bear more fruit.
Now notice verse 3, “ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” So we have the Passover applied to us. In God’s great plan He’s going to apply the sacrifice of Christ to the world on the Day of Atonement. Then they will keep the Passover after that.
Now let’s continue on here and see the fulfillment of this. Let’s come to Revelation 20 and see the fulfillment of Leviticus 16 and putting away Satan the devil. Now he’s going to be put away temporarily. Now you’ll have to come to the service of the Last Great Day to understand why Satan is released for a short season.
Let’s pick it up here in Revelation 20:1. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the [abyss] bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.” Now hold your place here and come back to Revelation 9 and let’s understand something. Verse 1, “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit [or that is the abyss]. And he opened the [abyss] bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace:…” (Rev. 20:1-2). The demons are let loose, so right at this time with the sounding of the fifth trumpet the demons that are right now are in prison are loosed on this world.
Now let’s come over here to verse 11. It says, “And they had a king over them, whichis the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon [which are names for Satan the devil].” So Satan is…that’s his abode. Now he’s allowed to come out of there now. The demons, more demons will be allowed to come out during that time when the fifth trumpet is sounded. But when Christ comes back to the earth, as we saw there picturing the Feast of Trumpets, and we ended the Feast of Trumpets with Revelation 19.
Now let’s come back to Revelation 20 and continue on. Then Satan is removed, the demons are removed and whatever happens to Satan then also happens to all the demons in this particular case. Verse 2, “And [the angel] he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the [abyss] bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Rev. 20:2-3). So this day pictures the binding of Satan when Jesus Christ returns.
Now also it pictures being at one with God. And that was the whole purpose, the whole meaning of why Christ came. So let’s apply, first of all, the day of atonement to us concerning being at one with God. And then we will look at the will of God, we will look at self-will, and we will look at Satan’s will, and several combinations thereof to see whether we really want to do the will of God and be with Him - at one with Him. Now you cannot be at one with God until you have Satan removed. You cannot truly be at one with God until you are born again of the resurrection into the kingdom of God.
Now let’s go to John 17 because this is where Jesus in His final prayer about being at one with Him. And this truly was the Lord’s prayer. His prayer just before He was arrested. Now let’s begin in verse 1. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him [authority] power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.” See, so at this time it has to be that God is the one Who calls and then we are brought to Christ. “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God…” Now He said that because Christ was not yet resurrected from the dead so at that time the only true God still existing was God the Father, because Christ was not 100% God in the flesh. You cannot have 100% God in the flesh and 100% God in the Spirit in the same body because the Spirit body would destroy the physical body. And so that’s why Jesus, though He was God manifest in the flesh, was not 100% God as God is God, so He said “the only true God” Who was the Father” at that time. “…And Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:1-3).
“I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.” And that means “before the world existed.” I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world…” So if you’re brought out of the world, you’re brought into oneness with God. “…And Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee. For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world…” See now’s not the time for the salvation of the world. The time for the salvation of the world cannot come until Satan is removed and disposed of and put into the abyss. “…But for them which Thou hast given Me: for they are Thine” (vs. 4-9).
Now let’s come over here to continue on verse 11. “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.” And that’s what the Day of Atonement pictures for us, that we are at one with God.
Now let’s come over here to verse 20. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou has sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one. I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and has loved them, as Thou has loved Me” (vs. 20-23). And so this is the application of it for us - to be at one with God.
How are we at one with God even in the flesh though Satan is still around. That’s why we have to have the grace of God to cover us. That’s why we have to have God fight our battles for us. That’s why we have to be kept from the evil one.
Now let’s examine the will of God. Let’s first of all come to Matthew 6 and let’s read this prayer, very important prayer. Let’s begin in verse 9. This gives us a beginning understanding concerning the will of God. “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Now what we are doing in this prayer, we are not praying for our will. We’re praying for God’s will. That’s how you become at one with God. To unite your mind with the Spirit of God, which He gives to you, with the word of God, which He’s provided for you, to fill your mind with the word of God, to seek the will of God, and do as Jesus said, “Not My will but Your will be done” (Matt. 6:9-10). And on earth, that’s in our lives. Now notice verse 13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:…” But this is from the evil one. So that’s how we can be at one with God.
Now let’s focus in on the will of God and see what that is in our lives. How we are to apply it, how we are to live it, then we know that we’re at one with God. Let’s come to Ephesians 1 please. And God has made known His will to us. Brethren, it is something. The knowledge that God has given us is the secret of God, the will of God, the plan of God. And yet there are so many people ready and willing to give up on it, and to start and to do their own things. It is almost insane. Well, as a matter of fact it is. Anyone who would go against the will of God. Now we also know this, that if you sin willfully then you have the lake of fire to look forward to. You will never be at one with God.
Now Ephesians 1, and let’s see how great that this is here, what God has done. Let’s pick it up here in verse 3. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [the heavenly things, as it should read] places in Christ:” We’re not in the heavenly places yet. We shall be in the heavenly places when Christ returns and brings it to the earth. But we’re not there yet. “According as He hath chosen us in Him…”
Now I want you to, as you’re listening to these words, I want you to apply them directly to you - that God has chosen you, that the Father has reached down into your life, that He has made known to you His will and is a great and a marvelous and a wonderful thing. “…Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the [sonship] adoption of children…” Now adoption is not correct. Sonship because adoption is this: you adopt someone who is not of your own kind. Not of our own family. Not of your own begettal. Not of your own children. However, God the Father has begotten us unto a lively hope. He has put the seed of eternal life within us so therefore we are His children. So this should properly read “sonship of children” “…By Jesus Christ to Himself…” God the Father is doing this. “…According to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:3-5). It is God’s will. Now you need to understand something. If you go against the will of God and reject what God has done, please know and understand, there is no salvation.
Now continuing, “…To the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” And so that’s a tremendous thing: having the whole understanding of the will of God. “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will…” That’s how you are at one with God. By knowing His will. By living His will. By seeking His will. God does not want you to give up your will. He wants your will to be converted so that your will and your desire is His will and His desire. No, God doesn’t want you to be mindless and brainless and unthinking. He wants you to be totally committed to Him. He’s “…made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath proposed in Himself:” (vs. 6-9). And all of this is revealed by the holy days and the word of God, all put together.
You know, isn’t that something. The world doesn’t know where it’s going. It doesn’t know where it’s heading, but you know the will of God. Now think on that. To know the will of God. Not because we’re great. Not because we’re anything special. But because God has made it so. God has called the weak, God has called the despised. God has called the rejected. God has called the brokenhearted. He has called all so that He can just show and prove to the world that all the might and power of Satan the devil and his great fantastic society, which he’s developing now, is nothing compared to what God has and His family, and His kingdom. So that’s tremendous to know that and understand that.
“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” (vs. 10). And that is making it all at one with God.
Now let’s come to John 6 and let’s see what Jesus said the will of God is concerning us. Now we need to understand something while we’re going here. There is still our own will. That’s why I emphasized that if you don’t make your will the will of God, your will could carry you away and cause you to lose salvation. Now it is not God’s will that He loose any. But if you decide other, then you have used your will and you have gone against the will of God. And God is not going to force anyone into the kingdom of God. We’ll either get there because we love God, because we bow the knee to Christ, because we love Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and knowledge. We’re not going to get there by our own will, our own mind, our own power, or any of that.
Now notice the will of God for you. Let’s pick it up here in John 6:38 showing the will of Christ. “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” Did Christ have self will? Of course He did, because He could choose. Did He always seek to do the will of God? Yes, we’ll see that again in just a minute. “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth [so there’s a qualification to that will - you must believe] on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:38-40).
Now let’s come to James 1 and let’s see what God has done by the will of God. God has called you. Now don’t let your will reject you. Let your will become God’s will. Live by every word of God, to let the word of God dwell in you. To think with the word of God and that becomes then the most powerful thing that you can do brethren. That’s what God wants.
Now let’s pick it up here in James 1:17. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:17-18). That is of the creation through this process and the resurrection from the dead.
Part 2
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Now, let's continue on. Let’s see some more concerning the will of God. Let’s come to the gospel of John 1 and let’s see how God did what He did for us. Because we have to understand and realize that it was God the Father Who began dealing with us, to call us, Who led us to Christ. God is the one Who leads us to repentance. God is the one Who opens our minds and brings us to the understanding of it. God is the one, the Father, Who gives us the begettal of the Holy Spirit.
Now notice John 1:10. “He was in the world [that is the one Who became the Word, Who became flesh and was the light of all men], and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” That’s why the world doesn’t understand Him. “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him…” And this receiving means “to welcome and embrace in a close bosom hug”. It just doesn’t mean to acknowledge. It just doesn’t mean to pay lip service to. It means to bring into your very being, if we could put it that way. “…To them gave He [authority] power to become the sons of God [not just adopted, but literal sons], even to them that believe on His name: which were [begotten] born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:10-13). So that is God’s will in your life. A little later on we’ll look and see how we are to combine our will with God’s will and what that is to do.
Let’s come to 1 Thessalonians 4 and let’s see what God’s will is concerning us. Yes, we’re going to have our lives, our Christian lives we’re going to have our trials, we’re going to have our ups, we’re going to have our downs, we’re going to have our good and our bad, but that’s why when we go through keeping the Sabbath and keeping the holy days this is what keeps us at one with God. And I’ll just have to say this. I have yet to see anyone who does not keep the holy days really understand the plan of God. I’m saying, ok, if they keep the Sabbath and the Passover, but even that, even which they had-the Church of God 7th Day- which they had, they are giving that up. They are not going to be preaching the Sabbath and related doctrines from the pulpit of the Church of God 7th Day. And that church will literally truly then be dead. So we need to understand this is something - to be at one with God does not come from the goodness of your heart but from the will of God.
Now let’s pick it up here in 1 Thessalonians 4:1. “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God…” And we need to ask that question: in order to be at one with God are we walking in those things and doing those things that please Him? “…So ye should abound more and more [that is to grow in it]. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” Then it lists all kinds of sins and things that a person has to give up beginning up with fornication, or sexual immorality, which was rampant among the pagan Greeks. But sanctification, and that is sanctification by the Spirit.
Now let’s also understand something concerning the word of God. Go to 2 Peter 1 and we will see it’s not what men have devised. And that’s the way, when you read most of the commentaries, when you read most of these things that men have written, they view it as, “Well, you know the disciples remembered this years and years later and we don’t know whether this is really accurate or not. And besides, you know, Luke wrote almost toward the end of the first century…” Which is nonsense - he wrote during the lifetime of Paul. As a matter of fact, Matthew we now know, was available and distributed within five years of the resurrection. The most important thing that has ever occurred in the whole history of the world—do you think that God is going to leave His word to be written by men who are far removed from it, who know nothing about it and go by just oral tradition? Boy, I tell you this is something and we’re going to see that with one of the videos that you’re going to watch during the Feast of Tabernacles, what they are doing to the word of God, and it’s more urgent for us today than ever before, to hold to the word of God, to understand the word of God, and to live by the word of God. Now let’s understand, it didn’t come because men decided so.
Let’s pick it up here in 1 Peter 1:19. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy…” Now this sure word of prophecy, this doesn’t mean of events to happen in the future. It can mean that. But this means the inspired preachings of Christ, and the inspired preachings of the apostles. “…Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” The will of man is not going to interpret the word of God.
The word of God is going to interpret the word of God. Here’s the reason why. “For the prophecy came not [at any time] in old time…” Now it says here in old time but means at any time. Meaning that this can apply to what the apostle Peter is writing, what Paul wrote, what Christ preached, what Luke wrote, what Mark and John wrote, at any time. That which is scripture, not at any time came “…by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy [Spirit] Ghost” (1 Peter 1:19-21). And the apostles are called. You read the title for the book of Acts, the acts of the holy apostles. Holy men of God. Now that’s profoundly important to understand. So now you have the will of God and you have the word of God.
Now let’s understand something, we’re not to be self-willed in it. Let’s go to Titus 1, and that’s one of the requirements of one who is going to be an overseer or an elder, that he is not self-willed. Why? So that we understand that he is not going to exert his will, his influence into changing and manipulating the word of God.
Now let’s read it right here, verse 7. “For a [overseer] bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God…” Knowing that all the flock of God is the flock of God, all the brethren belong to God. Not self-willed. Because what happens when you get self-willed? What happens when you go off on your own self-righteous self-willedness? You destroy people, you destroy the word of God, you destroy faith, and you set yourself up and your own way becomes an idol in your own mind.
Now let’s look at the epitome of self-will. Let’s go to 2 Chronicles 26. This is talking about Uzziah. And he was 16 years old when he was made king. And let’s pick it up here in verse 3. “Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem.” See, so we’re going to see this: it’s not how you start but it is how you finish. Now he started well. Look at it here. “His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did. And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper” (2 Chr. 26:1-5).
Now what are we told in the New Testament? That we are to seek God with our whole heart, are we not? We are to worship God in spirit and in truth because those are the ones who God is seeking. Now let’s see what happened here.
Verse 15, “And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers an upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal.” And these stones were just like huge cannon. They were big slings. I saw a documentary on that on Discovery Channel where they made miniature slings, and how they could take 200 pound stones and make them into a round ball, and they would sling these at the walls that were surrounding the castles and they would actually destroy the walls. Break them in, break in the mortar and the stone. So, you know, they were men of cunning. They weren’t stupid little ape men running around half evolved, as this modern world would like you to think.
“And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped [that is by God], till he was strong.” But notice what happened. Now we’ve also seen this in our lifetime to one of the leaders of one of the Churches of God. Not quite as bad as this, but very close to it. “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…” Why? Because he sought his own will, not the will of God. “…For he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast transgressed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God” (vs. 15-18). No more was he to receive any more honor from God. He didn’t listen.
“Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar” (vs. 19). Now there is a swift reaction for being self-willed. Not all reactions are quite that quick but look at how he started. Look how he ended. And it’s also recorded in Josephus that there was a great earthquake at that time. The earthquake in the days of Uzziah spoken of in Zechariah 14. And that earthquake virtually destroyed the temple and it was out of commission for 55 years. So that was something.
“And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out because the LORD had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land” (vs. 20-21). Now that is a swift end, isn’t it? That’s what happens with self-will.
Now let’s look at Satan’s will because Satan has his will, and he is going to execute his will if God would let him. God is going to stop him. But let’s see what is in Satan’s heart, what his will is that he will not repent. Let’s come to Isaiah 14 and let’s see what is revealed concerning Satan’s will.
Verse 12. This is why you can never have at-one-ment with God until Satan is wholly removed. Now verse 12, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend…” His will is to become God, but that will never happen. God is going to cut him short. However at this time he is still called the god of this world, and he’s blinding the minds of those who don’t believe. “…I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God [be it the stars or angels - both apply]: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” But God says, “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isa.14:12-15). The abyss. That’s where he’s going to be cast into.
Now that’s Satan’s will. We also have it recorded in Ezekiel 28. Let’s see some things also concerning Satan’s will concerning the brethren. Does Satan not accuse us day and night before God? Yes, Revelation 12 says so. Let’s come to 1 Timothy 1, the very last part, and then we will go to 2 Timothy 2.
1 Timothy 1:18, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;” Because now in order to be at one with God we have to fight the world, fight Satan, and overcome ourselves at the same time. “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” Now if you wreck your ship you’re not going anywhere. “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander [that was Alexander the coppersmith]; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Tim. 1:18-20). Now, if you are blaspheming God, and we’re going to see, if you combine your will and Satan’s will you’re going to be turned over to him. And he’s going to run and control your life, and you will lose salvation and will not be in the kingdom of God.
Now let’s come here to 2 Timothy 2:25, and let’s see what Satan’s will is concerning those of us that he can get, and that they may recover themselves. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…” That’s what I’m trying to do here so that if there are any who are opposing themselves, going against the will of God. “…If God peradventure will give them repentance…” So not only on Atonement are we at one with God but we need to examine our lives: how do we stand before God? Are we doing the will of God? Are we doing our will, or are we doing the will of Satan the devil, or a combination thereof? We’ll look at some combinations of it here in just a little bit. “…Will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Tim. 2:25-26).
Now how does that happen? Whenever you give yourselves over to things which are not right, whether it be by behavior, whether it be wrong interpretation of the word of God, whether it be by dereliction in the things that you know you ought to be doing or whether it be by deliberately turning your back on God, you are taken over by Satan at his will and it is his will to get you.
Now let’s also see what else Satan can do. Some of the things let’s use the combined. Let’s look at the combined acts of Satan and the person. Let’s come to Matthew 13. Now here is the combined will of Satan and the combined will of man, and what Satan can do if you’re cooperative.
Now let’s pick it up here in Matthew 13:18. “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.” Now is Satan able to take out from your heart? Yes. If you don’t have the will to go forward and do the will of God he can take it away. Because you have no root in you. You’re to put down roots into the foundation of Christ. Then that won’t happen.
Now let’s look at another example of this. Let’s go to Acts 5. Now we need not go back and rehearse the whole thing concerning Adam and Eve, but what did Adam and Eve do? Their will combined with his will caused sin. Now let’s look here at Acts 5 and let’s see that Satan can also put in. Because Satan sends out missiles of fiery darts of temptation. And look what happened to Ananias and Sapphira.
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it…” Because what they did, they told the apostles, “Look, whatever it sells for we’re going to give it to you.” So apparently they received more. And they decided to give what they thought it would sell for and not give the whole thing. But that was not what they said they would do. “…And brought a certain part, and laid it at the apsotles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart…” (Acts 5:1-3). Can Satan fill your heart and mind to do his will? Yes. Did not Satan put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Jesus Christ? Yes. Did not Satan the devil directly possess Judas when Jesus gave him the sop? Yes.
Now Ananias and Sapphira were baptized. Ananias and Sapphira received the Holy Spirit. But look what they did because they wanted to exercise their will over the will of God. Satan came along and filled their hearts to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land. “Whiles it remained [that is before it was sold], was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?” Yes it was. “Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (vs. 4). So Satan will come along and hatch up things in our mind. Just like this and his wife went right along with it.
Now let’s look at another thing. Let’s come to Matthew 7 where it is the will of man combined with the will of Satan, and this time they’re thinking it’s the will of God. These are the false prophets who use the name of Jesus. These are the ones who come along and deceive. These are the ones who are the perfect counterfeit because they look good to the world, they sound good to the world, but they are preaching lawlessness.
Now Matthew 7:21, and I think we’ll be coming back here quite a bit as we go down the road and we face things in the future. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord…” See, not just what you say but you do. And who is it that looks upon the heart and judges the heart? God does. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that [is doing or practicing] doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” What is the will of the Father? You’ve got it right in your hands. That’s the will of the Father.
“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work [lawlessness] iniquity” (vs. 22-23). So that was combined their will and the will of Satan, and their own will. So they won’t receive salvation.
Now then let’s look at how we are to have God’s will combined with our will, by making God’s will our will. Now how does that begin? Let’s go to Psalm 40. It’s something you have to learn. And it’s something that can only be taught of God. And it’s something that you must apply yourself too. It’s not going to come as a funnel, just put into your mind, and all of a sudden you have the will of God. No, no, we’ll also see that this is a prophecy of Christ, when we look at this a little later when we come to Christ.
Now let’s pick it up here in Psalm 40:6. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will…” Now those are the words of Christ. But also David was inspired to write them, and he delighted to do the will of God. Question: do you delight to do the will of God? Do you? Is that your joy? Is that the thing that is right and good? David said so, Christ said so. “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:6-8). And that’s how you do the will of God.
Now let’s look at Psalm 143 and let’s see that it is something that we have to learn. It has to be taught. It doesn’t come naturally. That’s why we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” And that means in our particular lives. Now only in our lives but the lives of the brethren. Psalm 143:7, it’s something you have to pray about. You have to devote yourself to it. You have to study about it. You have to think about it. You have to act upon it.
Verse 7, “Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth…” He was going through a trial because of all the persecution of the enemy. “…Hide not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit [that is to the grave]. Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust…” Now that’s how then you begin to understand and do the will of God. To make your will the will of God is then you begin trusting in Him. “…Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk…” And that is out of the word of God. “For I lift up my soul unto Thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me” (vs. 7-9). So when trouble comes and enemies are at hand don’t seek your own will. Seek the will of God.
Now notice verse 10, “Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God…” God has to teach you. Now He can also teach you with His word and also with His Spirit combined. But you’re never going to have a situation that the Spirit of God is going to teach you where there is no word of God because that’s not the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God does not work that way. “…Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” Now then notice what will happen when you seek to do the will of God. “Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy name’s sake: for Thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I am Thy servant” (vs. 10-12). Now, I tell you what, that gives you a lot of strength, doesn’t it, and a lot of understanding. That’s how you do it.
Now here’s what else we need to do. Let’s go to Romans 12. Here’s how we live our lives, seek the will of God, and do the will of God. And we do it by living. Now let’s begin in verse 1. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…” So you must be totally dedicated to the way of God. That’s how you are at one with God. That’s how, right now in this life, you can be at one with God spiritually. But when the resurrection comes then you will be at one with God literally, not only just in spirit, but literally with a spirit body, a spirit mind, and shine in glory like Christ. “…Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is [and it should read “your spiritual service”] your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1).
“And be not conformed to this world…” And that’s how you then are conformed to the will of God. Too many people want to be conformed to the world. Too many people want to have part of the world and part of the Church, and part of the world and part of God. They want to have part of the pleasures of sin yet not be held accountable for sin. Do no be conformed to this world. But here’s what we are to do through the power of the Holy Spirit. “…But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (vs. 2). And that’s something we need to do over, and over, and over, and over again. That is, we grow in grace and knowledge. And as we grow in the understanding and truth that God will help us, because we do this.
Now let’s go to Ephesians 5:16, and let’s see something really important here that we need to do. God does not want us ignorant. He does not want us ignorant at all. Verse 17, very important key thing we need to understand. Let’s go back here to verse 16. “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” And if there’s any time that we need to be urgent… Now I tell you what, whenever there’s an emergency you can be urgent. It’s hard to be urgent and have a sense of urgency when there is not an emergency. But let me tell you something, that’s what we need to do. We need to have a sense of urgency in redeeming the time because the days are evil. And the days are going to get more evil. And as this whole world collapses in on us and the prophecies at the end begin being fulfilled in their final phase of it, then we are going to really understand. But if we can be urgent when everything is still calm and peaceful then that is going to help us, and we’ll see why in just a little bit. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:16-18). That’s how you’re going to know.
Now let’s come over here to Colossians 4, and here’s what the ministry is to do. Here’s what all elders and overseers are to do. And brethren, this is what I want to try and do. You think of this. Now what a tremendous thing that Paul is saying here, verse 12. “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” And brethren, that’s what I want to do. That you can stand as perfect and complete in all the will of God as you can. You know, and many of us are marching up in time. We’re getting older and we’re going see some of the older brethren pass on because the end of their life is going to come and they will rest in the grave waiting for the resurrection. And if whatever we can do to help perfect them, to help them make them ready for the kingdom of God. To help them to know and understand the will of God even more before that occurs.
Well brethren, it’s a wonderful thing and that’s the whole goal of what we’re doing here.
Now let’s see how the will of God can be combined with our will for the things that we can even do and speak. Let’s come to Matthew 10. Let’s see then how then the Father will work with us. If we are doing the will of God, have the Spirit of God, and doing the things that God wants us, then in times of trouble when they come God will be with us. He will lift us up. He will give us the words that we need.
Now right here, let’s see here in Matthew 10:16. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men…” And most men are the servants of Satan, or their own carnality. “…For they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak…” Why? Because if you are living the word of God, if you’re proving the word of God, if you’re standing perfect in all the perfect will of God you will know what to say. And God the Father will inspire you. Notice, “…for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matt. 10:16-20). And that will only happen because you are doing the will of God.
Now we have a fight that we need to fight. Just like Jesus had to fight against Satan with the word of God as we saw in Luke 4. Let’s go back to Ephesians 6 and let’s see that Satan is there with all of his ammunition, all of his tricks, all of his fiery darts. We need to have the whole defense of God. We need to have the whole armor of God. And we need to put it on in a way that we are protected through the grace of God from Satan the devil, because as we started out, remember, deliver us from the evil one.
Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” And you will be if you’re yielding to the will of God. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…” And this means we wrestle not only against flesh and blood. Not just men in the world, not just ourselves and our carnal nature. “…But against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [or wicked spirits in high places].” (Eph. 6:10-12). And as I pointed out at the beginning, the establishment that rules the world worships these spirits, and powers, and principalities, and yea even Satan himself.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Now not only do we need to stand but we need to work while we are standing. “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…”, which is the word of God. Your word is truth and we are sealed with that. “…And having on the breastplate of righteousness [to protect your heart and your mind]; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace [always doing the things of the gospel]; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked [one]” (vs. 13-16). Now that’s how you are saved from the wicked one, delivered from him. That you have that shield of faith, which you can ward off all the fiery darts, because they come. And the fiery darts you can liken unto missiles of passion, or lusts, thoughts that are put into the mind and the heart. That’s why we have to cast down every thought and every vain imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, because all of that is against the will of God.
Now verse 17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” So the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit are the word of God. That’s why you have to have it written in your heart and written in your mind, that you know it, that you study it, that you think on it, that you meditate on it, that you think with the word of God. That way you know and do the will of God.
Now let’s look at what Christ did, because Christ with the will of God… Remember what He said. He said, “Not My will be done, but Your will be done O Father.” And that was just before He was arrested to be led off to be crucified. So let’s come back here to Hebrews 10, and let’s see what’s important here, because today in what it’s talking about here in chapter 10 is so very important.
Now, let’s pick it up here in verse 5. “Wherefore when He [that is Christ] cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou [did not desire - it was not God’s will] wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared [for] Me. Now that was Christ’s own physical body, as well as the Church that God would call, “a body You have prepared for Me.” “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure” (Heb. 10:5-6). But we have to do the things that are well pleasing to God, don’t we? Yes.
Now let’s just stop here for just a minute. God also has no pleasure in the religious things that people do. And what comes out of self-will, but religion? That’s what comes out of self-will. Then Satan is right there to do it. Take advantage of it.
Verse 7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me, ) to do Thy will, O God.” That’s what Christ did. He is our model. He is the one we are to follow. “Above when He said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin you [did not want] wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second [that is the New Covenant]. By the which will [that is the will of God] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (vs. 7-10).
Now I want you to understand something here very important. We still have our will, and if we sin willfully and set our will above the will of God, we have committed the greatest and grossest idolatry of all. And we have joined the ranks of Satan the devil, and have set ourselves up to be destroyed in the lake of fire.
Now verse 26, “For if we sin wilfully [that is with premeditated deliberate forethought and motive and no repentance involved at all] after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (vs. 26-27). So the will of God is going to be done. Let’s have the will of God as Christ had the will of God in His life.
Now let’s look at Christ’s example. Let’s go to the book of John and see some things here in the gospel of John. John 4:34. The disciples came back and they said to Him, verse 31, “In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat. But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat [or My food] is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:31-34). Now that’s what we need to have in mind in our lives. To do the will of God.
Here, come over here to chapter 6 for just a minute, because we have a work and that work is what Christ is doing in you. And that is the greatest work. That must be ongoing at all times. Now after He fed the 5000, they wanted to have manna from heaven. And they said, “O Lord, give us this.” And they said, verse 28, “Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God…” Now listen to this carefully. I don’t want you to ever forget it. “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.” That you believe in Jesus Christ, that He is your head, He is your Lord, He is the one Who is over all, and He is the one Who is in you because it is Christ in you the hope of glory. And if that’s the case, and if that’s the way then you will be just like Jesus was here in John 5.
Now turn back to John 5:19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself…” Now we need to understand that. Even of ourselves, brethren we can do nothing spiritually unless it is with the Spirit of God that is motivating us, that is leading us, that is opening our minds, that is giving us the inspiration and strength and help and hope to go forward. “…Do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth…” And of course that has been revealed also to us to a great extent. “…And He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel” (John 5:19-20). Then He talks about the resurrection of the dead.
Now let’s come down here to verse 30 and let’s see how He constantly kept His mind on this. From the beginning right to the end of His physical life. “I can of mine own self [that means of the Greek ek “out from”] do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.” And that’s what we need to be doing. That is then brethren how we can be at one with Christ.
Now let’s go back to John 17 and let’s finish right there where began and let’s see how then we become at one with God. We’ve seen the whole thing. We do not enforce our will, we do not become self-willed, we do not do the will of men but the will of God. And we need to have the same attitude as Jesus Christ to do the will of God.
Now notice. Let’s pick it up here in John 17:14. “I have given them Thy word…” Now you have received the word of God too, haven’t you? “…And the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” And we will see that manifest in the future even more as we go down in time. “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world…” Though there are times when we feel as though we would like to be taken out of the world, see. But that is not God’s will. “…But that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one]. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through Thy truth…” And we are sanctified as we read, to do the will of God. “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify My self, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:14-19). And we are sanctified through the truth.
Now again verse 20, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word;” And you are part of that, and I am part of that, and all that because the Church of God has continued right on down thorough history and there’s always been a continual change, in spite of all the upheavals and all the difficulties that have come along, the Church of God always will prevail and will never be overcome by the grave. So there are those today who will hear. There are even more who are going to hear and know. And that prayer is going to be answered, and God is answering them.
Now verse 21, and here is the result of that prayer. “That they all may be [at] one…” That’s why the Day of Atonement is at-one-ment, to be at one with God. To be one. “…As Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one.” And think of that being in New Jerusalem with Christ and God the Father forever and ever. “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one…” (vs. 21-23).
So let this Day of Atonement be one where you are at one with God. Let this Day of Atonement be that you set your will and your mind to let God’s will become your will and your mind, the very mind of Christ, that you may be at one.
“…May be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am [which will be on the earth]; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (vs. 23-26).
And that is the meaning of the Day of Atonement.
