|
BACKGROUND
DEFINITION OF TERMS
BLOOD
LAMB
LAMB OF GOD
WORD
TESTIMONY
TESTIMONY, TABERNACLE OF
MARTYR
DEATH
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
DETAILED DEFINITION OF TERMS
|
Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| REVELATION 12:11 |
|
"They overcame him (ie satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES SO MUCH AS TO SHRINK FROM DEATH."
Today considering points e. to i.
|
| e. Knowing God Better: |
|
 So how do I get to know my master better? By trust, acquired through experience. In Christian language, that is through faith.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17)
Romans 10:14-18
|
|
|
 Sometimes bible translators add words to make a passage clearer. In this case the words ‘hearing’ and ‘heard’ have been added to make the passage read better. However I would suggest that their additions limit the meaning of the verse too much. For the bible is a living experience. To be understood, it needs to be both heard and experienced. Academic understanding is not enough.
We need to apply its words to experience the results, to build up our faith. The literal translation is actually better in expressing this meaning. “Consequently, faith comes from the message and the message through the word of Christ.” Or the ‘David’ translation! ‘Consequently faith comes from hearing and experiencing the message and the message is understood and absorbed through the word of Christ.’
|
| f. The Example of Jesus: |
|
 The reality and challenge of this process for you and me, is to put the interests of God the Father above our own. In fact, to be like Jesus. The example He set in His amazing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was recorded in Matthew 26:42, when He prayed for Himself before submitting to death on the cross. It is indelibly etched on my mind.
“……My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
Matthew 26:36-46
|
|
|
 Jesus had the option to say no to his Father but He chose to be obedient, even though it was going to cost Him his life and worse still, temporarily separate Him for the first time, from his Father. Remember those agonising last words on the cross. Were they about the physical pain He was in? No. Translated into English He cried out,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Matthew 27:45-50
This ultimate submission required of Jesus, is what the Father is calling all of us to, in the spirit. Don’t let’s kid ourselves - Jesus didn’t want to go through this ultimate, horrendous experience. But He did it because of His commitment to the Father.
|
| g. The Fire of Testing: |
|
 Why Lord? Why, whyyyyyyyy! Once we have recovered from yet another challenge (to a positivist), problem (to a negativist), or test (to a well worn, mature Christian realist) we generally have to, sometimes grudgingly though, admit that we have learned something. And are a better person because of our experience. A favourite question of mine is “Am I Jonah or Job?” If you don’t know these stories, look them up in your bible. Jonah was punished for disobedience, Job was tested to prove the strength of his relationship with God. Both ended up the better for their testing.
The best physical description I can relate to, to show what happens, is actually taken from the Bible. As it is taken from 3 places that aren’t really connected, please don’t quote me as saying this came straight from the Bible – or we might both be tested! For in Isaiah 64:8 the inspiration for famous “potters“ song is drawn.
Isaiah 64:7-9
|
|
|
If you take a lump of clay (us – should have thought of a better word for “lump” shouldn’t I!), have it moulded into the desired container shape by the potter (God), the container will not hold water for more than a short time before collapsing. Why? The pot needs to be fired (tested) before becoming watertight. For when we overcome trials and testings, our faith is strengthened and we become more useful to God and others. Does that help?
While walking through Pentecost, we are targets of Satan’s wiles and our old human nature, but as we move towards maturity, our testings come more and more from God himself. It is comforting to know this, as it helps explain otherwise seemingly inexplicable situations, often softening the pain a little. Anything for that! Thus Job’s trials weren’t just a game God wasn’t playing with him, or the result of Job doing something wrong, but God’s means of preparing him to cope with the additional blessings that He had for him in the future. I am afraid that the ups and downs of life don’t disappear with maturity but our means of coping with them improve. Therefore my Auntie Ina was able to cope with her pain through the unswerving faith, experience, relationship and trust she had in her God. Job too, did not lose faith, in spite of all that happened to him.
|
| h. The love chapter. |
|
 One of the best known portions of the bible, probably because it is read at so many funerals! A bit late then, in so many cases! For that brings us right back to the New Testament commandment of Jesus. David’s paraphrase – ‘Love God totally and your neighbour as yourself.’ For love is the first and most important fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)
Galatians 5:16-26
|
|
|
 These are the standards of Jesus we are to aim for. When we have attained all these, we will have come to perfection, which none of us have as yet – particularly me! But I am giving it my best and God and I together are becoming a great team! By myself – a disaster! But we have to have a goal to aim at, don’t we. For no one ever won a race by determining to run second! The beauty of God’s spiritual race is that everyone who has sufficient commitment to Him can be the winner – a “multi-million way tie” for first place! That’s the sort of race I like!
|
| i. A Male Problem: |
|
 It saddens me to write this but I must face reality. In the natural, girls generally relate to fathers more easily than boys, whose natural affiliation is to their mothers. When it comes to man expressing love to a man, a father to a son, a son to a father, there are many problems.
Unfortunately this seems to be the case in the spiritual also. Not that God has any difficulty in relating to men. But we, as men, generally have much more difficulty in fully understanding His love and returning it to Him. For we view “God” as being a man, even though He in fact is a spirit without bodily form.
“……God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see……” (1 Timothy 6:16-17).
1 Timothy 6:13-19
|
|
|
 This inability of man to relate to a god perceived of as being “masculine” exists in most cultures throughout the world. This has resulted in there being more women than men in the church and, in turn, generally more women than men seeking a deeper relationship with God. Yes, I know from personal experience, it is harder for us men to break down these natural and cultural barriers. Yet it is possible, for most of God’s breakthrough revelations over the centuries have been given to His church through men. Perhaps this is because we do have to try harder, to allow God to take us and change us, even if it is through the fiery furnace that we all love so little!
|
| RELATIONSHIP TO THE FEASTS OF THE LORD AND THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES |
|
|
| FEASTS OF THE LORD |
|
 This verse, Revelation 12:11, dovetails in beautifully with the Feasts of the Lord. The pattern of the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New.
The BLOOD OF THE LAMB was spilled at Passover and on the Cross.
The WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY was set out in type at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus.
SUBMISSION UNTO DEATH is a picture of the Feast of Tabernacles, whose final fulfilment will come upon the return of Jesus. But we must first go through the Day of Atonement. Then it will be the party time of the Feast of Tabernacles itself!
|
| TABERNACLE OF MOSES |
|
 A similar pattern is reflected through Moses Tabernacle.
The OUTER COURT of sacrifice and cleansing is a picture of the coming 'BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
The HOLY PLACE of revelation and worship pictures the Holy Spirit's affect on our life as shown by the WORD OF TESTIMONY.
And finally, to complete the perfect picture the HOLY OF HOLIES, where the presence of the Father dwelled above the Ark of the Covenant, reflects the total submission to His will EVEN UNTO DEATH
Incredible, isn't it! All planned from the beginning of time!
|
| OUR COMMITMENT: |
|
 Throughout the ages the full re-establishment of Adam and Eve’s “pre-sin” depth of relationship, has been God the Father’s ultimate desire for His followers. The call to die to self, as proclaimed in Revelation 12:11 is stronger today than at any time in history.
Satan, you are a defeated foe!
REVELATION 12:11
"They overcame him (ie satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."
|
| <i>NEXT WEEK</i>
A REVELATION OF……. THE WAY OF HOLINESS
PART 1 OF 9
<b>INTRODUCTION - KNOWING GOD</b> |
|
 The pursuit of holiness is at the centre of the Christian faith, yet it is also one of its least understood principles.
Over the years I have struggled with its meaning, and more importantly, its life application! Like us all!
The interesting thing is that it can't be laid out simply in points 1 through 10, as many people make the mistake of trying to do. Rather, holiness is a life learning and development process during which the individual grows more into the image of Jesus.
Yes, the pursuit of holiness is a lifetime walk, a journey that our Lord so much desires each pilgrim to take. I trust that this may help us a little as we seek to walk with Jesus.
|
| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
|
 "My God, my desire is to live 100% for you. Thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit, thank you Father. My life is yours."
For the more adventurous, the Luge provides a (very godly!) thrill as you go down the hill on one of 3 tracks perched upon this little cart. A bit painful if you overdo it and come off! Speaking from personal experience!
Subject: The Luge
Location: Ngongotaha, Rotorua
|
So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
|
A DAVID'S DOODLING
8. A foolish man speaks before he thinks, a wise man thinks before he speaks, but a godly man lets his life speak for him.
David Tait
|
Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Till Death do us Part!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/tddup.php
Pets Rule!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php
The World's Greatest Groans: http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php
|
