Come and See
What Manner of Man is This?
Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John – part ii
Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. (Psalm 66:5)
For I [know] their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. (Isaiah 66:18)
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He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about tenth hour. (John 1:39)
And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. (John 1:46)
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. (John 11:34)
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Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; (Philippians 1:27)
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And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1)
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:3)
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5)
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.(Revelation 6:7)
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THE FULLNESS
  Before we leave the five barley loafs and two small fishes in the gospel of John in Chapter 6 from the previous article titled After These Things there is one important point brought out by the Holy Spirit of God: it is confirming the fullness of the One who filleth all in all. Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23) They (the multitude of those who followed the Lord Jesus Christ) were being fed in the desert by the brightness of God’s glory, and the express image of His Person in the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. There was no murmuring as Israel in the wilderness. They were being fed with angels’ food, and yet, they rebelled against God and against His servant Moses. And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (Numbers 11:4)
Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: (Psalm 78:22) Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, (Psalm 78:23) And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. (Psalm 78:24) Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. (Psalm 78:25)
  The children of Israel wanted flesh. They lusted after the flesh. The sin within them (in Adam) could not be satisfied with God’s provision. Although this was the food of angels, the Israelites were under the control of the lust of their sin. Their hearts were hardened and their actions would reap judgment not satisfaction. God sent His wind and gathered the flying flesh, brought it to the desert place, and caused it to fall upon the desert ground. Their desires were met, however, the desires of the hearts also brought the judgment of God.
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind. (Psalm 78:26) He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: (Psalm 78:27)
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, (Psalm 78:30) The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. (Psalm 78:31) For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works. (Psalm 78:32)
  The heart of man is never satisfied in Adam for his thoughts, actions, and desires are controlled by every lust, and the sin of that lust. Lust cannot be satisfied. It only increases with sin, as sin multiplies the lust gets greater. Even today, look around and see how many are consumed by their own lust. God brought a great judgment on that day described in the book of Numbers, the fowls lay upon the earth, and while the flesh was yet between their teeth, before it was even chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people. And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. (Numbers 11:33) In verse 34 of Numbers 11, God named this place Kibrothhattaavah: which means ‘the graves of lust.’ And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. I would dare to say today that the world is full of these same graves. Lust cannot be satisfied until it is taken out of the way by the Lord Jesus Christ who is the fullness of all things.
  In Chapter 6 of the gospel of John, the Fullness was present. In the One before them was all provision and all power. He was there to satisfy them with His fullness, and only the heart that has the Lord Jesus Christ within can be satisfied. In temporal life He knew what He was about to do. He was there to feed the five thousand men, and women and children. The children did not complain. They did not turn their noses away from the barley bread, nor the fish that was provided. The table of the Lord had been set, and although the Jews were far away from the Almighty God, the banner over this table was a banner of love. The women didn’t complain about dry or stale bread, they did not complain to the waiter that the fish was over cooked, the men did not say, Give us meat. For they were given food from the hand of God, and they ate to their fullness. We see the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ many times in the gospel of John. In Chapter 2, we see the water pots of purification that were filled to the brim with new wine; at the well in Chapter 4, the fullness of God was sitting upon the well, the woman came with an empty water pot, she LEFT her water pot and went away with the fullness of living water bursting forth from her heart, Come see a man who told me all things that ever I did. The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, (John 4:28) Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:29)
  The Spirit of God gives us this same fullness in the temporal and then in the spiritual in John Chapter 6. In the realm of the temporal, the men, the women, and the children were filled; they were satisfied by temporal meat. They had eaten both bread and fish from the hand of the Eternal God. There was no murmuring as Israel at Kibrothhattaavah, and their was no judgment from above. This miracle of the feeding of the five thousand was done by a God of compassion and mercy for those present. However, this is the heart breaker, so great a crowd, so great a cloud of witnesses, and they could only see a king as the other nations. They were full and the sin within them lusted for a king. (Remember that at this time Israel had no visible king, they were under the control of Rome, and a pharisaical community of men controlled Jewish religion and thought.) They wanted to take Him by force and make Him a king.
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GREATER THAN
  They had acknowledged the truth of Scripture and its fulfillment for they acknowledged that this was THAT prophet that was to come into the world. No prophet was born to be a king, although David wrote prophecy in the Psalms, he was Israel’s king, and did not fulfill the office of a prophet, even though he wrote prophecy in the psalms. David was the king of force and judgment. Solomon was the king of wisdom and understanding, and their writings are a separate collection of God’s mind to the race of Adam. The only One who could be called both Prophet, and King is the One who lives forever: the Lord Jesus Christ. David’s life was a type of Christ, and Solomon was a type of Christ, yet, the Lord Jesus declared in the presence of the Pharisees and Sadducees that a greater than Solomon was in the midst. He also stated (on the prophetic side) that a greater than Jonah was in their midst. On the priestly side, fulfilling His work as Melchisedec, He stated a greater than the temple is here.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11)
But I say unto you, That in this place is [one] greater than the temple. (Matthew 12:6)
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here. (Matthew 12:41)
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here. (Matthew 12:42)
  They wanted a king of their own making. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. (John 6:15) Let us go into the mind, the heart, the soul and the spirit of these Jews who wanted a king. Did they want a king of righteousness? No, they wanted a king to fulfill their every wish and demand. It was the evil heart of sin lusting for the quail. They did not desire the divine rule over them. They did not desire a divine King. They wanted a king of their own making because they thought as the natural man in Adam, and they thought that the Lord Jesus had their same thoughts. However, the Lord of glory was exempt from the thoughts of Adam. Christ has always been a King from everlasting to everlasting. As they were scheming, He perceived their scheme, He knew their thoughts, and He knew their hearts. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:24) The Lord separated Himself from all mankind. As He is separated from Adam, He is separated from all men. For there is no sin of Adam within Him. He went to a place ALONE where He could pray and enjoy the presence of heaven, and His Father. He was in the world, and the world knew Him not. They knew not their Creator, no matter how many miracles that He performed, they only saw the temporal and not the eternal. They knew not their Creator, they knew not the righteousness of God, they knew not their Savior, and most of all, they knew not their God. Lord, open the eyes of the soul, spirit, and heart to see the wonder of thy self and to see only Thee and the glory of thyself. Who have we in heaven, but thee O Lord? Miracles do not bring salvation; it is salvation that brings the biggest miracle of all to the individual, when I can say, in my heart, Christ liveth in me.
  As this crowd of humanity sat upon the desert floor, it was the miracle of the five barley loafs and two small fishes that stirred their hearts, and not God’s Christ. Have you ever seen when a charlatan comes to town? He sets up his tent, or meeting place, and people flock to him to be healed or to be blessed. The deceiver puts on a show to seduce the people after their own lusts, and they drink in his deception like a fine wine. They are intoxicated with their own lusts for deception; therefore, they in turn, can lie and deceive others. Someone once told me that an angel would come and sit down beside her, I said to this person, Eve you are a liar, (her name was not Eve), but she got the point. Her anger showed she could not have been with an angel of the Lord, but this is the world, the world of deception that we live in. The great deceiver sells his deception every Sunday whether it is through the collection plate of redemption, or attendance for good works, or whether it is parading down an aisle with tears of self deception: it is the deception of the world and men claiming to be servants of God when they are still servants of sin inwardly and outwardly.
  When the Pharisees brought the woman into the temple who was caught in the very act of adultery, they themselves were breaking the law in bringing an unclean thing into the temple, however, the Lord Jesus knew their motivation, knew their deception, and He stooped down and began to write with the finger of God upon the ground. Was it, You have been weighed in the balance and have been found wanting? Was it the Ten Commandments? Or was it their individual sin, for each one in succession went out from the eldest to the youngest. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:9) They had been convicted by their own conscience. God stirred their conscience, as He stirs your conscience today. Each one of these men KNEW the list of their own individual sin. This was a weight so heavy that they had to leave the temple, and leave the Lord alone to exercise His mercy upon a sinner; Go, and sin no more. Not one deceiver was left. Their own sin drove them out of the presence of God. What a state to be in without repentance. They had been accused by the finger of God. As the children of Israel they would rather close their minds and hearts to God and keep their sin rather than to obey God and have everlasting life.
  In the crowd of the five thousand, I am sure that there were people from all walks of life, there were young, there were old, and numbers between, yet, they all wanted to make Him king, and if He would not be in subjection to them, they would take Him by force and make Him their king. What kind of king would this have been? It truly wouldn’t be the King from heaven. It would be a king like Adam. For only Adam would lust after the kingdom of men. This was not the only miracle that these people had witnessed. For many had been following Him from Judea, from Galilee, and from other parts of Israel. They had witnessed many miracles, and yet, they could not see because of their blindness: the majesty, and the glory of the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He did not need their authority to be king, for He was the Eternal King before the creation, in the counsels of God, He stood as the King, the ONLY King who encompasses all eternity. The Scripture testifies of the divine authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only before creation, but after creation, during creation, and over the whole that He has created, when He was manifested He was born to be King. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:37) These are just a few scripture verses testifying to the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ yesterday, today, and forever.
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KING
1. The King
This is a title that needs no comparison. It is not a declaration of any king upon the earth. It is a declaration that God and God alone is KING.
Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. (Isaiah 33:17)
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. (Luke 19:38)
2. The King of the Jews
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Matthew 2:2) The world saw His star from the depth of idolatrous worship in Babylon. God stirred the hearts of the magi to follow HIS star, the star of the eternal One who is the bright and morning star. What they saw and followed, the Jews and the Romans were blind to, all this was to bring about peace in heaven, not on the earth.
3. The King of Israel
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47) Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. (John 1:48) Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. (John 1:49)
  Nathanael was an Israelite in whom was no guile. This is a miracle in itself. For the Jews at this moment in time were full of guile, however, Nathanael was called an Israelite taking us back to the conversion of Jacob, and the giving of the name Israel, a prince with God. Nathanael made a great declaration, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel; showing the possession of the Lord Jesus over the whole nation of Israel from Jacob’s conversion to the millennial kingdom where Christ will reign for a thousand years upon the throne of Israel.
4. The King of saints
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15:3) Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. (Revelation 15:4)
  The world has tried to take this title away from the Lord, and His dominion over His saints. I glory in the day that Christ became my King and my God. These verses taken together verify the very words of the Lord Jesus, my kingdom is not of this world, and also the words in Colossians that God the Father has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. It is amazing how ‘higher criticism’ and ‘higher theologians’ do not want a King to reign over them, as the Jews they cry, We have no king but Caesar. This is the heart of the deceiver. He would take away the King of heaven. He would take away the King of righteousness and peace. He would take away the King of kings, and Lord of lords. For truly, they desire to reign over the word of God with their own intellectual power for they have not the Spirit of God within them. He IS King of saints to every child of God, whether you are on earth or in heaven, He is your King.
5. The King EternalÂ
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1st Timothy 1:17) We have mentioned this great truth previously that our great God and Savior possesses eternity. As the King Eternal with great authority He surrounds and encompasses ALL eternity. He is the eternal fiber OF eternity, and from that center of eternal power ALL things come forth, things seen and unseen.
6. The King of Righteousness and Peace
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (Hebrews 7:1) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;(Hebrews 7:2) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.(Hebrews 7:3)
  What could mankind contribute to the King of righteousness and the King of peace? There is no peak, there is no height that can reach the span of His righteousness and His peace. This title of King of righteousness and King of peace is also disputed by the deceiver, after all, they declare (through their blindness and their hard hearts), that Melchisedec was just a man, and not the eternal God in Jesus Christ, a high priest FOREVER after the oath (His personal oath) as Priest of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth. (Genesis 14)
7. The King of heaven
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37)
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: (Daniel 4:34)
  In the plain of Dura, in the land of Babylon, a proud and vain king set up an image to glorify himself and to usurp the authority of God from over the world. Nebuchadnezzar declared that every nation, every tongue, and every person should bow down and worship his golden image that he had erected of himself. For this action God knew his heart and sent him into an exile with the beasts of the field and with the fowls of the earth for seven long years to forage (the grass of the field) and eat as a beast. When God had finished His lesson, He restored Nebuchadnezzar to his throne. Nebuchadnezzar had learned that it is God who is the King of heaven, and it is God, as the King of heaven, who has authority over ALL the nations of the world, and over all the kings and leaders of this world. There is only one King and He is the King of heaven. (Psalm 2:6 -12)
8. The King of Glory
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:7, 8)
  There are two occasions in the New Testament that we behold the glory of the Son of God as the Son of man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The first we ‘behold’ is on the mount of transfiguration. In the gospel of Mark, Chapter 9, verse 3, the Lord’s glory shines exceedingly, and the second part of His glory is white as snow. It is whiter than any known whiteness upon the earth. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. In Matthew’s gospel Chapter 17, verse 2 in the same transfiguration, His face was as the brightness of the sun, and His raiment was white as the light. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. In the gospel of Luke, Chapter 9, verse 29, as the Lord Jesus prayed the fashion of His countenance was altered, was changed, and His raiment was white and glistening. These are all descriptions of the glory that the disciples beheld on the mount of transfiguration. In John Chapter 1,we have the simplicity of the Spirit, as He declared, and we beheld His glory. (John 1:14) And we are privileged by the revealing of the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1) John beheld His glory in the fullness of radiance, and it so overwhelmed him that he fell upon the ground as dead. At the touch of the Lord, John stood up, and received the wonderful vision of the Lord’s glory. The Spirit described the glory of the Lord as an everlasting glory before the first word of creation. Christ was encompassed with the glory of His being as the anointed One of God as the Son of the Father’s love, and as the fullness of the glory of God.
  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. (Psalm 24:7, 8) The psalmist proclaimed to the gates to be lifted up for the King of glory, and the everlasting doors to be opened for the King of glory. The gates are the gates of creation will be lifted up as Christ subdued the earth under His power and glory. The everlasting doors go further into His glory, for we see the doors of eternity being opened for a new heaven and a new earth wherein righteousness will dwell, and the saints of ALL ages will see the FULLNESS, the BRIGHTNESS, and the express image of God in the glory of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Who is this King of glory? is the question, and verse 10 of Psalm 24 answers the question, Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. And after this declaration the Spirit of God adds the word, Selah, so shall it be. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
9. The KING of KINGS
  The proclamation of King of Kings comes at the culmination of man’s history. God now erases all the kings and kingdoms of the world, and enthrones the King of Glory upon the throne of Israel; however, the duplicate of King of Kings is not only the supremacy of this King, but it is the duplicate of Sovereignty as the Son of God and the Son of man, all to be displayed in THIS KING of KINGS. The reason that we understand this is from the prophetic word, they will look upon Him who was pierced and will mourn for Him as they would mourn for an only child.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.(Zechariah 12:10)
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (Zechariah 13:6)
And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. (Amos 8:10)
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. (Isaiah 63:4) And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. (Isaiah 63:5) And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. (Isaiah 63:6)
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)
  The Creator of all things, the Lord Jesus Christ, has never been and will never be a passive Creator. Christ as the Spirit of prophecy has never been and will never be a passive Spirit of prophecy. Christ as a Priest (after the oath of Melchisedec) has never been, and will never be a passive Priest for it is He who threw out the money changers, and it is the priesthood of the Lord Jesus who holds mankind accountable for ALL of man’s unrighteousness that will be judged in the last day. Christ has never been a passive King. The book of Revelation shows us His vengeance and wrath on the nations of men. The great white throne reveals His judgments upon all the unrighteousness of mankind. And they will be cast into the lake of fire. This fulfills the KING of KINGS. For the whole earth shall be full of His glory.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: (Deuteronomy 10:17)
Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; (1st Timothy 6:15)
10. King Over All the Earth
For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.(Psalm 47:2)
God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.(Psalm 47:8)
<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.>> O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (Psalm 47:1)Â For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.(Psalm 47:2) He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.(Psalm 47:3)Â He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. (Psalm 47:4)Â God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.(Psalm 47:5)Â Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (Psalm 47:6)Â For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.(Psalm 47:7)Â God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. (Psalm 47:8)Â The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted. (Psalm 47:9)
  Number 10 ( King Over All the Earth) is complementary to number 9 (The KING of KINGS). In number 9 we have the heavens declaring that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Number 10 we have the nation of Israel clapping their hands, and blowing the trumpets for their great King over all the earth. In the earthly sense He subdued the people of the world and the nations under the feet of Israel. He will choose their inheritance and the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. In Chapter 47 of Psalms we have the uniting; verse 1, shout unto God; verse 2, Lord most high and great king; verse 5, God has gone up; verse 6, sing praises to our God, and unto our king; verse 7, for it is God who is the King; Verse 8, it is God that reigns, and it is God that sits upon the throne; and in verse 9, He is the God of Abraham. In this verse also, we have the shields of the earth belong unto God showing His great conquest over the earth and over the nations of the world.
11. King of Nations
  Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. (Jeremiah 10:7) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. Jeremiah begins with the fear of the Almighty who is the King of nations. For God is wiser than man, He is wiser than all the kings of the earth, and Jeremiah completes this verse with there is none like unto thee. In verse 10 of Jeremiah 10, the Lord is the true God, the living God, and the everlasting king. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. In verse 7 we have the wisdom of God (greater than the wisdom of men). In verse 10, we have the power of God, the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. And as we know Christ is the wisdom of God, and the power of God.
12. My King and My God
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. (Psalm 5:2)
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. (Psalm 44:4)
  These two psalms are very different. The common thread is that the psalmist declared that God is his King. He acknowledges that it is God’s dominion that he lives in, and it is the King of this dominion that he cries out to. Also, in the context of both of these psalms it shows the contrast of the evils of this world with the children of the most high God. The psalmist directs his voice and his eye to heaven alone, and to the King eternal who sits upon His throne.
  Every child of God has the privilege and the honor of declaring that the Almighty God is both his King and his Savior, and His children humbly bow, the King imparts, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)
  All these verses describe a King with an everlasting kingdom: a God with an everlasting love, and a Savior with an everlasting salvation. We have the holy word of God to show us God’s Christ. It is what we have IN Him, and not miracles of this temporal earth. He reigns as King of our hearts, King over our spirits, and King of our souls.
  There are two things that the world loves to deny: (1) that Christ is the King over all the earth; (2) that the redeemed are the sons of God called by His name. Search the scriptures, for in them is the wonder, the majesty, and the glory of the Son of God who is the Son of the Father’s love.
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THE PROMISE OF THE SEED
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (Hebrews 10:6)Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7)
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, (Psalm 40:7) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. (Psalm 40:9)
It is in the Scriptures that you will find the truth of the Son of God. The word of God is the clarification of who the Son of God is. It is in the Scriptures that we will find the majesty, and the glory of the Son of God. We are told by the Lord Jesus Himself to SEARCH the scriptures, and we are to search them as though it was a treasure map seeking the divine treasures of Christ Himself and IN Himself.
  The great miracle of the feeding of the five thousand has passed into history, and the Lord looked on the multitude, the weary, the down trodden, His divine words ring out to us from Matthew Chapter 11, Learn of me. There is no other knowledge so great. There is no other wisdom so moving as knowing and learning the Son of God, and to follow His path, and to walk in divine footsteps.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
  This is what is missing today in the Church of Laodicea. They are rich in the world, and poor in heaven. The saddest thing is that every Sunday, they hear the word and know not God’s Christ, and refuse to learn of Him. There will be a point in time when the saddest moment that these professors will ever experience will be when the Lord proclaims to them, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity for I never knew you. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23)
  In the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ Chapter 3, He spews them out of his mouth. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16) This is completely opposite from John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  Concerning Laodicea, this is not a rebuke, it is a casting off. A casting off of the cold hearted, a casting off of the lukewarm professor, Lord, Lord, will be their cry, and the thunderous reply will be, Depart into the lake of fire. Now, with all this being said, What manner of men should we be? Let’s listen to the Savior again in Matthew Chapter 10, verses 32 – 42.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:33)
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.(Matthew 10:35)
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (Matthew 10:36)
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:37)
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38)
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:39)
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. (Matthew 10:40)
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. (Matthew 10:41)
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)
  Twenty times in these ten verses, He used the word, ‘I,’ ‘my,’ and ‘me.’ Verse 32 is the confession before man. It is the assurance of Christ Himself that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before His Father in heaven.
  In verse 33, we have the opposite, we have denial. There is no room for man to warm his hands over the fire and deny Him, or He will deny them before His Father in heaven. The Lord Jesus came to upset the spiritual balance in the world.  He came to divide with the sword of His word. (Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. He came to take peace from the world, and provide a lasting and eternal peace for His redeemed. The faith of each and every child of God sets them apart from the world, from their families, from their neighbors, from their country. We are strangers in this world, and believe me, we are strange to the world. It is a rare thing today to find someone who loves the word of God both written and Living. Everyone wants to take you down their own personal rabbit hole; however, at the bottom there is no rabbit, but the old serpent, the devil. We must believe the word of God. It was given to us by revelation. As the Bible was given of God, so it is KEPT by God, and it is God and God alone who can give you the truth from its pages. Man has no authority in interpretation, it is the Holy Spirit and He alone who interprets the Scriptures. And there is only one interpretation and that belongs to its Author, the Almighty God. That is why the apostle Paul stressed that we must have the mind of Christ. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1st Corinthians 2:16)
  This is the key to the knowledge of God: one must become accustomed to the thoughts and mind of God by the knowledge of the holy Scriptures, and the movement of the Spirit of God upon the heart so that they may be taught by the Lord Himself.
But ye have not so learned Christ; (Ephesians 4:20) If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Ephesians 4:21) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (Ephesians 4:22) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:23) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)
  There was never a word that proceeded out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus that was not fulfilling the fullness of divine righteousness. He came to fulfill ALL righteousness, to minister righteousness, to reveal righteousness, and to show all mankind what could have been without sin. What manner of man is this? He is a Man in whom is no Adam.
Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:15) For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. (Hebrews 2:16)
  I want you to pay close attention, the Spirit of God did not go back to Adam, He did not go back to Seth, He did no go back to Enoch, He did not go back to Noah, it was Abraham who received the promise and that promise depended on a divine Seed from heaven itself, and this Seed was Christ. The promise that was given to Abraham disrupted the plans of Satan, for in the promise to Abraham God broke the link to Adam. He removed all prior genealogies, and established His eternity on Promise, the promise of a Redeemer, and the continued promise of a divine Seed that was revealed in Genesis Chapter 3, verse 15, And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Everything from the promise to Abraham looked forward to the day of Christ.
  This is why we have this statement in Matthew 1:1, The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. It is the generation of Jesus Christ (singular) He is the Author and Finisher of this generation, and their names are written in the book of life. We need to compare the following verses.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53:8)
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.(Psalm 22:30)
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psalm 24:6)
There were they in great fear: for God [is] in the generation of the righteous. (Psalm 14:5)
This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. (Psalm 102:18)
But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1st Peter 2:9)
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WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
  There is a spiritual generation, it is an unmarked generation. There is no temporal genealogy it is a separated generation of those born of the Spirit of God, and it will continue throughout all eternity. It is a generation that has one Author, has one Originator, has One Fulfiller, and this is the Lord Jesus Christ. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40) We are a heavenly generation, a generation that shall never end. We are separated from the world, and this generation belongs to the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. This generation is made up of those who have been born of the Spirit of God, who have breathed the breath of the Supernatural within themselves. It is made up of those who have heard the voice of God. It is made up of those who have their names recorded in the Book of Life. In Matthew Chapter 1, verse 1, the first name presented to us is the name of David. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Notice that there is no title connected to the name of David. The simplicity of just a single name gives more regal credibility to both the Lord Jesus Christ and the Author of this verse, the Holy Spirit of God. I would think that the key to David’s name here is in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 22, verse 16, I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. Notice again what the Spirit of God has done, there is no title in reference to the name of David because Christ is the predominant and preeminent One. It is the Lord Jesus who is both the root and the offspring of David. In this, being the root, we have the preexistence of the Son of God long before David, for Christ existed before the first words of creation were ever spoken. Christ is the pivotal point in the determinate counsels of God.
  The son of Jesse in his writing in the psalms has the Spirit of Christ within him. This was declared in Psalm 51:11 -12.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)Â Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (Psalm 51:11) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:12)
  When David was in distress, he requested that the Lord take not the Spirit of God from him. This was in relationship to the joy of salvation for in verse 12. David asked the Lord to restore the joy of salvation. David was not stating that he had lost his salvation, or that God cast him away. The word ‘cast’ in verse 11 is being cast from the presence of the Lord, and it is not in regard to the salvation of David, but entering into the presence of the Lord. The action of the Holy Spirit that David referred to is communion between himself and God. For the writings of David were given by the Holy Spirit of God. We see this when the Lord Jesus Christ quoted from the psalms in Matthew 22:42 – 44.
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. (Matthew 22:42) He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, (Matthew 22:43) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? (Matthew 22:44)
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? (Matthew 22:45) And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:46)
  As we examine this statement by the Lord concerning David and the book of Psalms, we see that David not only wrote in the Spirit, but also spoke in the Spirit. We also see that it is Christ who is the Center and the Lord presents Himself as the One who David was speaking about. Man is asked the same question today, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? WHY WOULD God reveal Himself to man as a Man?
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: (1st Peter 1:10)Â Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1st Peter 1:11)Â Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1st Peter 1:12)
  Peter expands our thoughts for now we not only see the Psalms as a book of songs, but we also see the Psalms as a book of prophecy, and that the Spirit of Christ is the true author of the Book of Psalms. In the prophecies within the book of Psalms we have prophecies that have been fulfilled, and will yet be fulfilled through the course of man’s history. At this particular point the Lord Himself had already claimed His Messiahship in both word and deed for this was late in His ministry when He asked them, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
  For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Mark 12:36) The Lord Jesus proclaimed that David said by the Holy Ghost. When we tie the Scriptures from Matthew with Mark and also with 1st Peter, it was the Spirit of Christ who was IN David who proclaimed, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
  In the passages from the Holy Ghost, we need to come to grips with two issues: (1) the authority of the speaker was the Son of God; and (2) that the Author of the Scripture is the very Spirit of Christ, which is the Spirit of God, which is the Holy Ghost. As the humanist wants to make Christ a mere man in Adam, the spirit people want the Holy Ghost to be a separate part of the divine Being or Godhead. As the humanist tries to divide the Father from the Son, the eccentric spirit people want to divide the Holy Spirit from both the Father and the Son. Get this one point in your mind — YOU CANNOT DIVIDE GOD. There is One Godhead and Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily manifested unto mankind. In His manifestation He revealed Himself as both Son AND Father.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. (John 14:7) Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. (John 14:8) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (John 14:9)
  The Lord Jesus also claimed in Chapter 6 of the gospel of John in verse 63 that the words that He spoke were spirit and life. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
  Also in John Chapter 3, verse 11, we have the complete unity of the Godhead for when the Lord Jesus was proclaiming that knowledge and speaking of the Godhead Christ used the word ‘we’ and not ‘Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.’ The word ‘we’ He used THREE times completely acknowledges the unity of the Godhead. In closing this verse, He referred to ‘our’ witness as a whole. This is very enlightening for this verse shows no division, fracture, nor breach in the Godhead. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. There is one word that you need to erase from your vocabulary and this is the word ‘trinity.’ It is not adequate when trying to describe the Almighty Being of God when God has given THE specific description of Himself in the fullness of the Godhead bodily, which was completely manifested on earth by the Lord Jesus Christ His beloved Son. There is division, not unity in the word ‘trinity.’ Christ neither can be divided, nor segregated as a mere man. There was no and I repeat this, there was NO ADAM in the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the references that overthrow the humanist. (1st John 3:5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. The last six words of this verse give us the reality that there is NO sin in the Lord Jesus Christ yesterday, today, and forever. For the Holy Spirit writes in the present tense – and in him is no sin. Let’s look at 2nd Corinthians 5:21, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. The sin that had come into the world by Adam, and through Adam, was not a part of the Lord Jesus Christ. The manifestation of Christ was OUTSIDE of the realm of sin; therefore, there was NO sin within His thoughts or actions: He knew no sin, and if this isn’t enough evidence, let’s go to the book of Hebrews, Chapter 4, verse 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. The Lord Jesus came into a world of evil. He was tempted of the devil. He was tempted of the Pharisees. He was tempted of the people. And yet, He was without sin. Let’s look at 1st Peter Chapter 2, verse 22, Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. For those who like to stain the Son of God with their own iniquity in their own hearts, the Holy Spirit says of the Lord Jesus He did no sin. All these verses show us that there was NO ADAM in Him. He was the divine Man, the Man without the taint of sin. The Lord proclaimed before He was crucified that the prince of the world was coming (speaking of Satan) and would have nothing in Him. (John 14:30) Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. The absence of sin and the absence of Adam proves the divine nature and the divine manifestation and the divine attributes of the Son of God. But, yet, we have one more Scripture reference, and this is Hebrews 7:26, For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; This verse paints a divine picture of the divine manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, the Holy Spirit speaks in the present by using the word ‘is.’ He IS holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. This is the portrait of the manifestation of God in the Man Jesus Christ who had these complete characteristics when on earth, and NOW He has these very same characteristics in heaven, He IS made higher than the heavens.
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
  I will ask this question again, What manner of man is this? He is not a man in Adam. He is the True Son of Man from heaven. When the Lord (in Genesis) described the creation of man in His own image, it was the image of Christ. Christ is a divine Man, and He existed as the Creator in the depths of eternity. He was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, yet, there is no sin in Him. And within His manifestation (contained and revealed) is the total Being of God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
  Has not God answered our question, or should we reach deeper into the mind of Christ? The Living Word made claim to His own Being. He declared unto mankind who He was, and yet, man was so alienated from God that man could not see through the thick darkness of sin. After the death and resurrection of the Lord, even the disciples hearts had a cloud between them and their Savior. The words of promise are so profound and give light into the hearts of men. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (John 20:24) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25)
  After all the miracles that Thomas had seen, and after all that he had heard of the words of truth from the very lips of the Lord Himself; and yet, the heart of Adam was in the way. It is not only doubt but unbelief. It was not accepting the truth of God, but denying God’s truth. Thomas should have already seen the Lord Jesus as his Lord and Master, but the heart of Adam was in the way. Thomas cried out for physical proof, yet, Christ had proved Himself over and over for we are reminded of the closing Chapter of John, and the very last verse, of John 21:25, And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. But don’t be too hard on Thomas for I have met many long time Church members who have many doubts, and live in unbelief. I have met pastors and preachers who cast doubt and unbelief on the words of God. I have met Bible scholars who do not believe in a God of provision, and a God of salvation for one told me that I could not expect manna from heaven, and I replied, Not only do I have manna from heaven, but this is just what I expect each and every day to be filled with the manna from heaven. Let’s return to Thomas . . . in John 20:26 thru 29. 　
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (John 20:26) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:28) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)
  One of the main points to the enlightenment of Thomas is the omniscience of the Lord Himself. The Lord KNEW what Thomas needed. Thomas did not make this request to the Lord that, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. The Lord KNEW the exact words that Thomas had previously expressed, and answered his request EXACTLY. Every detail was met by the Lord so that the cloud of Adam between the heart of Thomas and the Lord was no more. Thomas (out of the depth of his heart) cried, My Lord and my God. In the closing statement of Thomas he finalized his belief. As the psalmist David proclaimed in Psalm 38, verse 15, For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. Thomas professed that the One who stood before him (the Lord Jesus Christ) was his Lord and his God. The Holy Ghost, in capitalizing the word ‘My,’ shows a personal intimacy with the declaration of Thomas, My Lord and my God. (And to all the grammar boys and girls, we have to think with the mind of the Spirit and not the mind of grammar. There are things seen and there are things unseen, we are speaking about the heart of a man who had just received a divine revelation, and this magnified the word ‘My.’)
  I remind you of verse 29, blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. In 1st Peter 1:8 we read, Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. To my knowledge no one but Thomas has ever experienced what he experienced. Think of carrying that experience through the remainder of your sojourn on this earth. Being reminded every day (by the Spirit of God) that you are serving your Lord and your God — doubting nothing.
  This same Jesus will come again. He will come in the heavens above to claim His heavenly Bride, then after the ceremony of the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) He will come again to earth to claim the kingdoms of this world, and He will reign over this earth as King of kings, and Lord of lords. All the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of God and of His Christ. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. (Revelation 12:10)
  What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? Have you declared in your own heart, can you look into the heavens above, and proclaim, Thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel? We have much more in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we have another title that we expressed, He is King over ALL the earth, over ALL the nations expressed in Revelation 11, verse 15, The kingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Notice once again how the Spirit of God places a personal relationship of all believers with the word ‘our.’ This is very important for those who have this personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will live this verse. They will be able to repeat it when they come from heaven’s glory with Him. Just imagine that a homeless and sinful vagabond will come with the Lord of glory, this transformed vagabond (from Adam to Christ) will come with the King of kings, and Lord of lords. This was expressed by David when he stated in Psalm 110:1, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. This is the answer that the Spirit of God gave to David concerning the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ will sit on His throne as the eternal Priest after the order of Melchisedec and the offspring of David as the King of kings. He will be both King and Priest upon His throne as the book of Zechariah discloses in 6:13, and this is the fulfillment of Psalm 110. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)
<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalm 110:2)
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3)
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. (Psalm 110:5)
 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (Psalm 110:6)
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.(Psalm 110:7)
  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8) And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9) Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5:10)
  We have an eternal Priest in heaven. He tends the eternal Altar, and He has placed His own blood upon the Mercy-Seat. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: (Hebrews 9:13) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)
  He is the true Ark of God. He has sanctified us through His blood. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. (Hebrews 13:12)
And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. (Hebrews 5:10) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:11) 　
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (Hebrews 10:10) 　
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29)
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
KINSMAN — REDEEMER
  The child of God, who has been redeemed by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and who has the Spirit of Christ within him, realizes that the first step in faith is understanding that by His blood we have been separated from the world and separated UNTO God. We belong to God now, we have no motives that should be of the world. Our motives and motivation should be of the heavenlies. We live in a PRESENT EVIL world; yet, the Almighty God not only sees us in THIS world, but also IN His presence. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4) By delivering us from this present evil world, He, through His work on the cross, has made us accepted in the beloved. We are accepted by God the Father in God the Son. He is our Kinsman Redeemer. He offered Himself through the eternal Spirit without spot unto God. He has given discernment to see the world around us is engulfed in wickedness. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1st John 5:19)
  Before you were saved, the world was your playground, the moment that you were saved, the world became your battlefield. You then wore the garment of salvation. You are now a messenger of truth. You made a commitment in your heart, soul, and spirit of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you now are clad with the armor of God as described within the pages of holy Scripture. The present evil world, the world of wickedness, is not going to change just because you are saved. In fact, the Holy Spirit will show you MORE of the wickedness of the world to make you wiser in dealing with this wicked world. The playground is gone, and now every day you’re in a battlefield; however, before you (going in front of you) is the Captain of the Lord’s host, the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual warfare is a continuous tumultuous battle and only those who put the word of God in their hearts, souls, and spirit can conquer the works of wickedness. The world and the religions of mankind have trampled under foot the blood of Christ. They have ALL done despite to the Spirit of grace. As Christians, we must redeem our time from the world to serve the Living God. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:17)
  This is how we should look at these two verses. The word ‘redeem’ is more than our salvation. In this text we are to redeem our life from the world. We are to work in such a way that we give our TIME to God and not to the world. We have to give of ourselves which in turn will redeem our time for the Lord. We should remember that in THIS world we are as a lighthouse warning the mariner of the treacherous shoals. We are to show forth both our light, and the Light from above that shines through us to warn this present evil world of the eminent judgment that is to come.
  We must start where God starts. The first warning to the world is to repent. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
  In Isaiah 55 we find repentance although it is not called repentance; yet, the work of repentance is in Isaiah 55:7, Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Here is the condition of the soul BEFORE he returns unto the Lord. The Spirit of repentance is to heed the voice of the Spirit of God, when we are convicted of our low estate, and our NEED that cannot be met except by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I offer you Galatians 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. This verse not only shows the condition of our salvation, but it walks us through the divine mind concerning our salvation that we are crucified with Christ; this brings us to a point of death, and this is the death of the cross, and what took place on the cross . . . our sin was laid upon Him. He became sin for us, so that we might be made the righteousness of God IN Him. He has changed us, through His own creatorial power into a NEW being, one that reflects His holiness. We are sanctified through His blood. We live In Him, nevertheless, we live to serve Him redeeming the time, for the days are evil, and to give us the power over the adversary, and over this present evil world, Christ liveth in me. What a treasure to have the Spirit of Christ within, to battle the darkness of this world. And how do I live? I live BY the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me. Now, can you say in your heart, Captain of the Lord’s host, I am ready to fight the evil of this world, I am ready to fight the adversary, I am ready to fight for the souls of men. This can only be done with the Spirit of Christ within.
  In the book of Ephesians we are introduced to the whole armor of God. Not one piece is left off. We are completely covered with this armor, both outwardly and inwardly, both in the seen and in the unseen.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)
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. (Ephesians 6:13)
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16)
 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)
  The armor of God in Ephesians Chapter 6 is as the shields of Solomon; they were placed in the temple. The shields were always ready for battle. The only thing that they lacked was men to carry them into battle. So also, in the word of God, this wonderful armor that the Lord has provided MUST be USED in the battle against evil even in conflict with the prince of this world, the devil himself. Each piece of armor compliments the next piece. They are meant to encompass the whole soldier, and the strength of each soldier comes from the garment that he wears.
  The world and religion do not like to hear the words of Isaiah Chapter 55, Let the wicked forsake his way. Also the Spirit of God declares that the unrighteous man should forsake his thoughts. Do you see what we have here? The word ‘repentance’ is not only the outward works of man, but the inward thoughts of man. It is the whole man that needs repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Inwardly and outwardly, the Jews in the desert of John Chapter 6 wanted a king. They were going to take Christ by force. There was no repentance here. This was all self and self interests. This is what we have today every Sunday, as a herd of cattle, one by one, entering in the doors and going to their stalls; then after their devoted time is over, they are herded back out into the world to graze and feed on the world, and their shepherd is the butcher, the devil himself. This is the state that we are in world wide. Is it any wonder that we live, as it was in the days of Noah, when sin controls the world? They lust after every lust imaginable to man, and God looks down, and even now He wonders, as in the day of Noah, why He every made man.
  Repentance was the theme of the message of John the Baptist. It did not disappear after the death of John. The Lord Jesus came to fulfill ALL righteousness as the Lamb of God, and John with the message of repentance was given by God the work of introducing the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. This combined the message of John with the message of the Lord Jesus, for in the Lord Jesus we see both grace and truth. Grace is freely give of God on the fundamental grounds of truth. The entire Bible has shown us the NEED of man in his unrighteous state, and that this state can only be changed by belief in the One who came to fulfill all righteousness. The miracle of salvation is the miracle of grace to us. The miracle of salvation is the miracle of truth availed to us. We should understand that God does not wink at the iniquities of mankind; they can only be covered by the blood of His dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus was presented to the whole world and He has committed unto us the gospel to present HIM to the whole world in both mercy and grace. God has held out His hands of grace for everyone, and to those who are saved (born of the Spirit of Christ) it is your Father’s good pleasure to GIVE you the kingdom to dwell with the King of eternity.
  They wanted to take Him by force and make Him a king. They wanted to make the decision. This is the heart of mankind even today. What does the heart within man (the heart of Adam) imagine? Adam, What kind of king do you imagine? In looking back to the desert, and the greed of the five thousand, it was because they were filled with the temporal food they did not know the Son of God, He was in their midst and they knew Him not. They were filled, but not thankful. They desired more, they wanted a king as all the other nations, just as the children of Israel cried out in 1st Samuel 8:6, Give us a king to judge us.
  At the close of the Lord’s ministry, before He was crucified, we read in John 19:15, But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. The true Manna of heaven was among them and they were blind to His presence.
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
THE SON OF GOD is THE ETERNAL CREATOR
  The wonder of this Supernatural Being, in the presence of man, is that sin has blinded mankind to ALL that is in the Supernatural realm of God. The true Manna from heaven was among them and they were blind to His presence. This world that we live in today is blind to the truth of the Son of God. They cannot accept the wonder of His Supernatural Being as He told the crowd that followed Him, He in His Person was and is the Bread of life, that He and He alone is the Bread of righteousness. One must partake of His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, to have eternal life.
  They could call Him a prophet, which some do today, some even say that He was a good man, and few even recognize Him as being a king, but fewer still own Him as the Son of God, the eternal Creator, with ALL power in heaven and in earth. This separates the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares, the unbelievers from the believers, the eternal glory of the Lord with His own, and the fires of hell and the lake of fire for the damned.
  In verse 26 of Chapter 6 of the gospel of John, we see the heart of man. Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. It is the manifestation of self. The entire crowd was temporal, they as Terah (the father of Abraham) could only see the temporal earth, and the dust that they came from. The Lord was offering them heaven, and they settled for hell, and the lake of fire.
  In verse 33, the Lord tried to open their eyes. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. He pointed to Himself that He had come down from heaven, and that He was/is the Author of life, and that He is the Bread of God, and the world knew Him not. This verse is a comparative verse with John verse 13, Chapter 3, And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. In John Chapter 3, we see both the coming of the Son of man, and the omnipresence of the Son of man, and the ascension of the Son of man. What is marvelous about verse 13 is that it awakens the mind to verse 12. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? The very fact that the Savior had come to relate heavenly things to mankind, this is also what we see in John 6:33. He came down from heaven, and this is what Adam could not stand nor understand. Adam has a block of sin between himself and God. This is the blindness of sin. It is a coating over the moral character of Adam. It is the lust within Adam because of sin that he cannot see or understand the things of God. The only way that mankind can be awakened to heavenly things is to be changed into a new being, a heavenly being, in the new birth in Jesus Christ. These are the spiritual things that Nicodemus could not understand, and these are the spiritual things that the world cannot understand. They suffer the same blindness as the multitude in John Chapter 6.
  He had come to give life to the world, and those of the world settled for death. In verses 32 and 33 we have a combined witness of both the Father and the Son that the Son was the true bread from heaven. He had brought life to the world, sin and death enslaves all outside of Christ. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. The great provider had come and He had come out of the ‘house of provision.’ He disclosed to the multitude that He had come down from heaven. No prophet of Israel had ever claimed such a thing as this. No priest ever claimed to have come down from heaven, and no king ever claimed this for himself; yet, Christ, the Son of God, the eternal Spirit of prophecy, the eternal minister of His priesthood as Melchisedec, and as the King eternal claimed that it IS He who came down from heaven with ALL the power and authority of heaven; the works and miracles that He performed prove that within Him was ALL the power of the Godhead bodily. We always look at the miracles that the Lord Jesus performed as merely a temporal manifestation of His power; however, if you take each and every miracle that the Holy Spirit recorded it will open your eyes to heavenly things, and to His power over all things. Here are just a few examples: first, the demons in Mark Chapter 1: the Lord Jesus reached into the dark realm of Satan and freed the one who was bound by the prince of darkness; secondly, He touched the dreaded disease of leprosy and stated, Be thou clean. Leprosy was a disease given of God to relate to mankind that man’s own sin will bring upon him disease, even shortness of life. Leprosy is a good example of sin, for it eats away at the flesh, and you see the outward declaration in the decaying flesh; however, this also speaks of what is happening to every person within, that sin is a cancer, a tapeworm within, and sin is the eternal leprosy that eats away at the heart, soul, and spirit of man. Then next, the Lord Jesus had power over death. He raised a young maiden; He gave life back to the widow’s son; He called Lazarus out of the dark tomb, truly, in Him was life, and the life was the light of man. From the very young to the aged, He showed that He is the resurrection and the life. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (Hebrews 7:16)
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
THE WISDOM AND THE POWER OF GOD
  The very words that He spoke prove that He was the divine Author of the Scriptures, in both Spirit and truth. In His parables we see the wisdom of God. In His miracles we see the power of God. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1st Corinthians 1:24) Paul relates to us with the mind of Christ and the Spirit of Christ that Christ is both the power of God and the wisdom of God, and puts it all together in perfect harmony. In the word ‘power’ we see the Almighty God. In our Savior we see ALL power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth; He is the POWER behind the creation both visible and invisible. His power begins with nothing in existence.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)
  There is no power in heaven and earth like the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the greatest powers within our God is the power of redemption. We were lost, completely cut off from God, and God took us and formed us into a new lump, and gave us life in His beloved Son, and we will see Him, the Son of God as He is and we will be like Him. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1st Corinthians 1:24) Paul does not end with power, he includes wisdom, not only as a possession, but it is also a title of the Son of God. Both power and wisdom are met together in Jesus Christ. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1)
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. (Proverbs 8:22)
 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Proverbs 8:23)
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. (Proverbs 8:24)
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: (Proverbs 8:25)
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. (Proverbs 8:26)
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: (Proverbs 8:27)
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: (Proverbs 8:28)
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: (Proverbs 8:29)
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; (Proverbs 8:30)
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:31)
  The amalgamation of both power and wisdom in Christ Jesus is inseparable, and just as inseparable is the Father’s witness of the Son, and the witness of the Son of the Father united in ONE, I AM in the Father, and the Father is in me.
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:10) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. (John 14:11)
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)
  Three times in Chapter 14 of John, He affirmed that He is IN the Father. Two times He affirms that the Father is IN Him, and the third time (speaking of the Father IN Him. He relates His position WITHIN His own, drawing the Father and the Son in unity both working out, and in, our salvation to prepare a place for the Spirit of Christ to dwell.
  The Bread of life came down from heaven, and He spoke to them, approximately twenty-four hours after the great miracle of feeding the five thousand men, and women and children. This was fresh in their minds, and they would have taken Him to be king, but knowing their hearts and motive, Christ slipped away into a mountain place to be alone with His heavenly thoughts.
  Verse 36, is a verse of unbelief. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. They wanted to do the works of God? Yet, they knew not God. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (John 6:28) Why should they want to do the works of God? They had no qualifications. They were lost in sin and away from God, and would not believe in the One sent by God. They had seen all the miracles. This mixed multitude had followed Christ from Jerusalem, through Samaria, and through Galilee. They were gathered from many parts of Israel, and on the way they beheld many miracles, but this did not affect them in their hearts, souls, and spirit. There was not one voice from the crowd to recognizing the Savior of the world in Jesus Christ; not one word of belief; not one word of worship, but instead they would like to do the works of God in their unbelief and in their ignorance of God. They were full of earthly food; to them THIS was the work of God. They had seen miracles, to them, THESE were the works of God. To this entire crowd the works of God were all temporal, and brought about only temporal glory. Their thoughts never went higher than the horizon that bound them in their sins. This episode shows us that mankind cannot discern his own heart. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10) The Lord Jesus was trying their hearts. He was searching within them with the eyes of God. He knew their thoughts and their intent, for He knew what was in every man.
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:2)
  Man (in Adam) is motivated by reward, and because mankind is a temporal being their desires are to be enriched by this world, and by them who dwell therein. As mankind pretends to do the work of God, he also wants to be rewarded for his unrighteous works. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. (Malachi 1:10) He wants to preach for reward and notoriety. The message in Galatians 6:4 is completely foreign to the earth dweller in Adam. One has to have a heavenly mind, the mind of Christ, to appreciate the words of the Spirit in Galatians 6:4. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
  The Pharisees loved to be seen in the open marketplace. Their prayers were long and cumbersome. Their works were done in unrighteousness, and their hearts were full of vanity and pride. Their hearts cried out, Look what I have done. However, all works done outside of Christ are tinkling cymbals of brass, and go no higher than the dust of man. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. In verse 37 of John Chapter 6, we see the outpouring of the determinate counsels of God. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:23)
  How do the determinate counsels of God and His foreknowledge come into play in John 6:37? In this comparison, Christ was delivered to be crucified by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God by the wicked hands of man. God the Father in the foreknowledge of God had prepared the souls of men for the Son of God. When did this all come about? It all began in the determinate counsels of God. When did God’s foreknowledge begin? It all began in the determinate counsels of God. Proverbs Chapter 8 describes the wisdom and thinking of God to show us that the Eternal had a plan of redemption, and this plan of redemption was set before the creation of the world.
  In verse 37 of John Chapter 6, we see a gift of the Father to His beloved Son. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Yes, it is a determined number, for God in His foreknowledge KNEW the character of the Bride that He was going to present to His Son for His redemptive work on Calvary. The Bride is the hidden treasure of the Son. The Bride are those who are called by the Spirit and brought out of the world of darkness to dwell in the tent of Isaac as Rebekah was sought, and brought to Isaac. Now, this is a hard thing. Isaac took Rebekah not into Abraham’s tent, nor into his own tent, but into his mother’s tent. This is the Jerusalem from above, which is the mother of us all.
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. (Genesis 24:67)
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:26)
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. (Hebrews 12:22)
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
THE SUPERNATURAL IN WORKS AND DEEDS
  The Supernatural new birth is completely controlled by the Supernatural God. In John Chapter 6 we have some wonderful truths: in John 6:65, no man can come unto the Son EXCEPT it was given unto him of the Father; in 6:44 no man can come to the Son EXCEPT the Father draws him; in 6:45 every man that has learned of the Father cometh unto the Son. The Father draws men unto the Son. The belief on and in the Son of God is a Supernatural work of the Spirit of God. One should consider the Book of Life: (1) when was it written? (2) who was the Author? (3) whom was it applied to?
  This takes us back to the determinate counsels and foreknowledge of God. We are not only a Supernatural being IN the Lord Jesus Christ, but we have been brought into the very bosom of God. The love relationship the Father has for His Son has been given to us through His Son. The work of Calvary not only pledged our salvation, but gave us eternal life in God’s beloved Son. Why are we born of the Spirit? We are born of the Spirit because no flesh can enter into the kingdom of God. That which is Spirit is Spirit; that which is flesh is flesh.
  Verse 39 of John Chapter 6, 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. It is the will of the Father that has sent the Lord Jesus Christ that IN His Son all blessings should flow to mankind. All that He has given to His Son, the Son will leave nothing undone; all will be fulfilled. He will prove the everlasting truth of His word when He raises it ALL again at the last day.
  Those who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who has heard His voice, and have followed Him, and are part of His Body, He will in no way cast them off; they are eternally His. Compare these verses from Chapter 10 of the gospel of John.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:14)
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)Â My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:29) I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)
  Remember David did not watch his father’s sheep. He tended his father’s sheep. This is very important because the work of the shepherd is not just to watch, but to share in their birth, to watch them grow, and to protect them from the lion and from the bear. The lion and the bear are the two most feared animals in the world. They are unique for neither one of them have natural predators. They are so fierce that the entire animal kingdom fears them. David knew this well as he fought off both lion and bear. And our good shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, fulfills all these things for His sheep.
  When Peter addressed the sheep in his epistle, he encouraged the sheep to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God: to submit to God’s care and to God’s will, for those who do the will of God will be exalted in due time. Casting off our cares upon our Shepherd for it is the Good Shepherd who cares for us. Peter warned the sheep, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1st Peter 5:8) Both the lion and the bear can kill in a split second of time. Man is no match for the lion or the bear unless he has a weapon to defend and to overcome these beasts. His goal is to devour everything that speaks of God or that follows God. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) Resist the devil, be steadfast in the faith knowing that what you suffer in affliction that the rest of the flock also suffers in this world.
  Peter informs us that it is the God of grace who has called us to His eternal glory. Called us unto His eternal glory, what a statement. This should stimulate the heart, soul, and spirit to come before the Lord and to worship Him for it is BY Jesus Christ that we will be partakers of the eternal glory. The suffering that we bear here on earth is only for a little while for God in Jesus Christ is able to perfect us. He is able to establish us in the faith. He is able to strengthen us in our Spirit by the word of God, and He is able to settle all the doubts that the devil and man bring against us.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (1st Peter 5:6)
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1st Peter 5:7)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1st Peter 5:8)
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1st Peter 5:9)
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1st Peter 5:10)
To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1st Peter 5:11)
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
THE INDWELLING POWER
  In verse 37 of John Chapter 6, the Lord Jesus had come to do the will of the Father, and it is this will of the Son that He will in no wise cast any out. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. It is also important to notice the mind of the Spirit in verse 37. It is the beginning of the word ‘will,’ I will in no wise cast out. Then four more times, in the next three verses, the Lord Jesus refers to the will of the Father. In verse 38, the Lord Jesus came not to do His own will, but the will of the One who sent Him. In verse 39, that will is the will of the Father, and again in verse 40, it is the will of Him who sent Him (speaking of the Father). Now in verse 44, we have a change because the Lord Jesus speaks of His own will, I will raise him up at the last days. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Speaking of His own flesh in verse 51, we read, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. This, of course, is a reference to His approaching death upon Calvary; again, we see the foreknowledge and the omniscience of the Lord Jesus Christ knowing what was before Him.
  In verse 54, Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day, those who have entered in through the veil of His flesh, and have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, He declared, I will raise him up at the last day.
  John Chapter 6 is so full of the determinate counsels of God that we not only see His provision for salvation, but we see His keeping power that NO ONE will perish, that ALL that He has chosen in Himself HAS everlasting life. In John Chapter 6 we need to recognize how many times the Lord used the word ‘I,’ and ‘me,’ and also how many times He referred to His relationship with the Father.
  In verse 63 we read, It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life, we see that it is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that He speaks are the words of His own spirit, and these words are life. The reference to His Spirit reminds us of Chapter 3 of John, verse 5, Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. In John 3:8 we have, The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8) We are reminded that it is the Spirit of Christ who brings forth the new birth. It is the Spirit of Christ who dwells within us, and anyone without the Spirit of Christ is not of His own. (Romans 8:9)
  This entire section of the Bread of Life in this 6th Chapter reminds us of God’s dealing with the children of Israel, and giving them the tabernacle so that He might dwell among them. In John Chapter 6, God has given us the true Tabernacle IN His Son that His Son may dwell within us. This is a far greater work of God then the tabernacle for now, in the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the true Tabernacle of God, and He has proclaimed in Chapter 14 of the gospel of John, that as the Father is in Himself, He is in us. This should be one of the greatest parts of our spiritual life knowing that Christ dwells within us.
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WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS!
WITHIN THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY
  But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. (John 6:64) We again see a reference to the omniscience of the Lord Jesus Christ. For He KNEW from the beginning who they were that believed not. He KNEW from the beginning who should betray him, showing His complete foreknowledge in the counsels of God, for He Himself, was there in the beginning with God.
  In this 6th Chapter we have referenced to God the Father working to draw men unto Christ, to give men to Christ, and that no one can come unto Christ except it is given of God the Father to come. In verse 65 we read, And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. We also have a reference to the work of the Spirit of Christ in this Chapter, and we have seen and we have beheld the work and the will of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ bringing the Godhead into complete unity with the counsels of God, and with the salvation of those drawn by the Father, given to the Son, and quickened by the Spirit. This is the Supernatural. The Spirit of Christ in the manifestation of Christ is Supernatural. The unity of the Father and the Son in the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
  Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2nd Timothy 1:9) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2nd Timothy 1:10)
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1st Timothy 3:16)
  How we fail to see the full working of the Godhead bodily in our salvation. We should understand that the flesh (in Adam and of Adam) has nothing to do with this Supernatural act of God for our salvation. The flesh of Adam cannot see, nor enter into the kingdom of God.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? (John 3:4)
  To clarify (without any doubt) this tremendous gap between flesh and Spirit, the Lord continues in verses 5 and 6. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6)
  This is the profound truth written on the pages of eternity, although the word of God will never pass away; yet, the truth within its pages is lost in the hearts of mankind. God is Spirit. He does not counsel with the flesh in Adam. God does not move at the whim and wishes of fallen man, and fallen man cannot comprehend being born of the Spirit of God. If Nicodemus was confused, think of the rest of the Jews of that day. Think of men and women today. They do not understand the new birth. For the new birth comes not by the will of blood, nor by the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The epistles of Paul also emphasize to us that there is a birth of the flesh, and a birth of the Spirit. Paul informs us through the book of Galatians that Isaac was a child of promise born of the Spirit, and truly, this must be the Spirit of Christ.
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. (Galatians 4:22) But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. (Galatians 4:23) Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.(Galatians 4:24)
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. (Galatians 4:28)
But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Galatians 4:29)
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THE STORY OF THE PROMISE
  Abraham had two sons: one of the bond woman Agar (this was Ishmael). Ishmael was under the bondage of the flesh, sin had bound him, and he was not free. Isaac was born of the Spirit. He was a child of promise, and this promise was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ when Christ gave Himself on the cross of Calvary for the sin of the world. Isaac was the free man looking forward to the promise of a Savior, knowing and seeing the day of Christ. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:(Hebrews 11:9) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)
  These men were not ignorant of the day of Christ. They understood that there would be a provision given of God in the sacrifice of Himself that would confirm their salvation although the event was yet far in the future. For they saw these things a far off and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and they understood their heavenly relationship with God for they were just pilgrims here on earth. They were free from the sin of Adam, and how wonderful is the story of promise. If we consider once again John Chapter 8, verses 54 thru 58, we will see how it all dovetails with Hebrews Chapter 11.
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: (John 8:54)
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. (John 8:55)
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.(John 8:56)
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (John 8:57)
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)
  In Christ’s reply to the Jews, the Lord Jesus proclaimed that Abraham understood the promise and the call of God, and that within the promise that was given to Abraham, Isaac would be the child of promise. For God would give Sarah a child although she was well beyond the age of child bearing. This was such a Supernatural work that Sarah laughed because in her heart and mind this was impossible. Aahh . . . but yet, nothing is impossible with God.
  Abraham understood the work of the Spirit for the child of promise was born of the Spirit. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Abraham understood the promise and the work of redemption. To further prove this we see the assurance of Abraham in Genesis Chapter 22, verse 6 thru 8.
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.(Genesis 22:6) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (Genesis 22:7) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)
  So they went both of them together (in the same promise). Abraham disclosed to Isaac that it would be God Himself who would be the sacrificial lamb for the sin of the world. Although man would deny this fact, Abraham had received a revelation directly from God, and this was the revelation He received from Jesus Christ when the Lord Jesus manifested Himself to Abraham as Melchizedek. This was the complete revelation of the death of the Lord on the cross at Calvary. This revelation is recorded in Genesis Chapter 14.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. (Genesis 14:18) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (Genesis 14:19) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Genesis 14:20)
  The bread and the wine together is the key to the revelation that Abraham received from the Son of God, Melchisedec. I repeat these words from 1st Corinthians 11:26, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
  This is the key to the revelation given to Abraham. Abraham received the manifestation of the Son of God as Melchisedec. Was Abraham’s life changed at this point? Yes, it was. For when he met the king of Sodom (who is the ambassador of Satan), the king of Sodom tried to tempt Abraham by enticing him with the goods of the world. The reply could only come from a man who had been fortified by the Son of God, and knows that he belongs to heaven and not to the earth. This is the reply of Abraham . . .
And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. (Genesis 14:21) And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22) That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: (Genesis 14:23) Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. (Genesis 14:24)
  Abraham had lifted up his hand unto the Lord Jesus, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth. This was a past action that Abraham had done when he partook of the bread and the wine. He fully understood that his relationship was with the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth; consequently, Abraham took nothing from the world of Satan, not even the lowest and simplest article as a shoe latchet. Every preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ should have the same commitment to the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, as Abraham had. The smallest item, the lowliest item (a shoe latchet) can defile the soul, the spirit, and the heart. If you take from the world, they then will say that they have made you rich, even if it is only a shoe latchet, and when the world is through with you they will retire you and look for another. Now, let us combine the verses in Hebrews Chapter 11 that we have seen, with the verses of the Lord Jesus in John Chapter 8, and then the manifestation of the Lord Jesus in Genesis Chapter 14 in the taking the bread and the wine looking back to Calvary believing on the Son of God, believing the word of God, and by faith we can lift up our right hand unto the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth.
  The call of Abraham was not by chance. It was according to the election of God. Abraham was chosen of God not of man, and his own being had nothing to do with God’s choice when Abraham was in Ur of Chaldees. An omniscient God knows the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end. In the case of our Redeemer, He, and He alone is the Justifier of mankind. Abraham was dependent on God from the moment that he lifted up his hand to the most high God for Abraham had cast off the world around him. Although Abraham had herds and cattle, yet, his mind, heart, soul, and spirit was taken up by that heavenly realm and eternal life without end. In 1st John, Chapter 2, verses 15 thru 17 we are told not to love the world, neither the things within the world.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1st John 2:15) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1st John 2:16) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1st John 2:17)
  It is worthy to note that Abraham counted himself a stranger and a sojourner not only in the land of promise, but in the world. He had become a heavenly citizen, and a citizen in the kingdom of God by the preaching of the gospel. This is the text that we should read: Galatians 3:6 thru 9.
Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Galatians 3:6) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (Galatians 3:8) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)
  In our day we lay hold of the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the realm of His faith, we are joined and blessed with faithful Abraham. Now I had previously mentioned that there were two parts given to Abraham: one was earthly, and would be fulfilled in the Lord’s millennial kingdom as the innumerable sands of the sea; the second part of the promise was the heavenly, those who have entered in through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. We see the second part of the promise given to Abraham as the stars in the sky, again innumerable. That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; (Genesis 22:17) This is where we see Abraham and the Gentiles brought together. Galatians 3:14, That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The words that the Lord Jesus spoke in John Chapter 6 was by His Spirit. We see this in John 6:63, It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. This not only speaks of the present words that He was speaking at that time, but the eternality of the Word of God given by the Spirit of Christ.
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. (1st Peter 1:11) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1st Peter 1:12)
  These words from the Lord Jesus (It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life) connect all the Scriptures, for they have been given by His Spirit, and He is the Author of the word of God for He is the Word of God.
  The words that He spoke to Abraham were words of Spirit and life. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Before Abraham received the message of promise, he had defeated the kings of the earth. He had lifted up his hand to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, and he had refused the world of Satan. He understood the heavenly realm as we see in Hebrews 11, verse 10, For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Isaac and Jacob were heirs with Abraham, they were heirs of the promise, and they were heirs of the promised Seed. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)
  We again come back to one Seed, and this Seed is Christ. ALL the promises of God are linked and are IN this one Seed, which is Christ. This was that holy thing placed in Mary’s womb by the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. The Lord’s manifestation in the flesh began by the Holy Ghost placing Him in Mary’s womb. This is where He came into the world to be the Savior of the world sent of the Father to glorify God on earth. His manifestation is much higher than the understanding that mankind is capable of for God to be manifested in the flesh is beyond the knowledge and comprehension of mankind. This is not our own knowledge for all this has been given to us by revelation from the Almighty God. It is the highest Himself who came down from heaven to walk the earth, and to draw simple men unto Himself that He might be their Redeemer and fulfill the promises that He had made to faithful Abraham. Christ has been made higher than the heavens. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:26) And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. (Psalm 87:5)
  In Psalm 87 we see the first and second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the first advent we see the mention of both John the Baptist’s birth and the birth of the Lord: This and that man was born in her. This was speaking of Zion, And of Zion. In John Chapter 1, the word of God specifically declares that John was sent by God, John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The second man is of course, the Lord Jesus Christ ( the manifestation of God). In verse 6 of Psalm 87, The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. These verses take in His first advent, but the Spirit of God who searches the hearts of men, seems to be projecting not only the first advent, but His second advent, for in verse 7 of Psalm 87, we read, As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. We not only have the fact of water, but water springing forth as it does from the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The springs of eternal life are shown to us in John Chapter 4, and these springs are in the Lord Jesus Christ for He is the Living water.
  We should examine these two psalms: 87 and 110. Notice that both have seven verses, and they both end with flowing water. Psalm 87 is ‘the springs of water,’ Psalm 110 we see ‘the brook in the way;’ thus, connecting both these psalms together so that we might see both advents: the first and second advents of the Lord Jesus Christ. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee. (Psalm 87:7) He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. (Psalm 110:7)
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CHRIST THE PROMISED SEED
BY
THE SPIRIT OF PROMISE
  In the sixth Chapter of John we see the omnipotence of God in His power to create and maintain His creation. The feeding of the five thousand plus women and children was a divine act of His power. We also see His omniscience in many ways: (1) we see His foreknowledge for He knew what He was about to do; ( 2) we see His knowledge of the present for He would prove Philip knowing that Philip had little faith; and (3) we also see His omnipresence that while on the mountain praying He also SAW His disciples rowing and toiling in the great storm. Also, (4) we see that God the Father had sealed Him, John 6:27, Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
  Christ as the promised Seed was sealed or confirmed by the Father, And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17) In the promise to Abraham, God broke the link to Adam. He removed all prior genealogies, and established His eternity on Promise, the promise of a Redeemer, and the continued promise of a divine Seed.
  As Christ was sealed by the Father with a seal that cannot be broken, He came to deliver a covenant that could not be disannulled. As the Father draws a Bride for His Son out of this world, they are also sealed with the seal that cannot be broken for they are sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, and ALL the promises of God will be fulfilled for these promises cannot be nullified for they are sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
  The Lord declared that He was the heavenly Bread sent down from heaven that He was the true Manna and sustenance of all life. These words that He spoke were not just for the Jews, for the Holy Spirit has brought forth these words and penned them in a book so that the whole world might know that the Lord Jesus is the Bread of life sent down from heaven, and that He said of Himself, I am the Living bread, I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:51) The Jews could not understand the spiritual things that were being spoken about because their minds and their hearts were on earthly things. Even those who were praying for the Messiah to come could only see the temporal as a king who would deliver them. They could not see the spiritual; therefore, they did not understand the Spirit of promise.
  God, in the garden, promised that He would send a Seed that would defeat the serpent, and then as mankind failed not only in the day of Noah, but continually failed into the kingdom of Nimrod, and then onward into a world that knew not God. He called Abraham and promised a Seed, and that promise was given by the Spirit of promise. In the Supernatural that which is born of the Spirit, in the new birth, is born of the Spirit of promise, and this promise came from a God who cannot lie.
  In Christ being the Bread of life, we see the fulfillment of the Manna from heaven that every day the children of Israel partook of that manna, and were filled. Yet, there was manna left on the ground that simply disappeared in the heat of the day. God gave them MORE than enough out of His bountiful treasure house. He fed them with the corn of heaven which was the food of angels.
  In the wanderings of the children of Israel we never see one failure on the part of God, only failure in man under the sin of Adam. Even during the wanderings of Israel God desired to dwell among them. He gave Moses ALL the instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, and He gave every detail so that each and every article would show the wonder and the glory of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. As we see in the gospel of John, the articles of the tabernacle were fulfilled in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In John Chapter 6, it was the shewbread that was placed on a table of gold elevating the simplest of grain to a position of glory before the Lord. This we see in Christ, that He humbled Himself, He became lowly, and in His lowly estate He gave Himself to be the Servant of both God and man to bring God to man, and draw mankind to God. In the deepest part of His humiliation in His suffering upon the cross only a Being full of righteousness and full of love for mankind could enter into such a Spirit of promise. The Lord Jesus confirmed this in verse 37 of John Chapter 6, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
  In the shewbread on the golden table there was a loaf for each tribe of Israel. All the sons of Jacob including Levi had a place at the table of communion with their God. God placed it there so that immediately upon entering the priest would see the table of shewbread at his right hand, as the light from the Lamp-stand (candlestick) illuminated it. The glory of the table of gold would reflect the light from the Lamp-stand, and in this light, the Lamp-stand would be joined with the table of shewbread. Both the gold of the Lamp-stand and the gold of the table were united together to display a future glory when Christ will be all-in-all to the nation of Israel.
  The wheat had been beaten, the wheat had been trodden under, it had been baked in the fire beyond all of man’s comprehension. The Bread of life went into death to fulfill the Spirit of promise. In His death the Lord Jesus joined with Spirit of promise to seal ALL that God had promised throughout the Old Testament and through the New Testament. That which is yet to be fulfilled will be fulfilled by the Spirit of promise, and by the Son of God whom God has sealed. The glory of the Lord Jesus reigns in our hearts, and one day He will reign over all the world. The world then will declare
The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1) For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. (Psalm 24:2)
  The Lord Jesus Christ (in John Chapter 6) was giving them a choice, they could be joined to heaven if they would partake of the true Bread of life, and again, they could not comprehend the spiritual side for all the sin of past millenniums had cast them into a great darkness of soul and spirit and heart. He wanted to give them heavenly things, and their only desire was temporal desire. He wanted to show them the unseen through faith, but they could only see the present lusts of their hearts. They wanted a king, and yet, they did not desire the King in His true character, and through divine wisdom, and divine righteousness. They wanted to fulfill their lusts and this the Lord Jesus could not do. He could not abide with unbelief. Notice, that at this point the divine glory of God departed from them into a high mountain apart from them to spend time with His Father in prayer.
  The kingdom of God does nor rely on the desires of man. Each and every day that transpires on earth, God is moving behind a curtain of grace. In the realm of mankind there is only one true King, and only one true Kingdom. Mankind will not get a choice, nor a vote when God glorifies His Son as the King of kings, and Lord of lords. He will be King with all sovereign rule of the things seen and the things unseen. It is the right of the King to not give mankind a choice in His Kingdom. It is HIS Sovereign right to choose His own subjects who will be loyal to Him, and Him alone. Even now on this earth He is choosing His own, and He is giving them life from above. To every heart, soul, and spirit that is born anew, the words that He spoke to His disciples become a reality in the hearts of His own, Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. Amen.
But the men marvelled, saying,
What manner of man is this,
that even the winds and the sea obey him! (Matthew 8:27)
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And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another,
What manner of man is this,
that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:41)
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And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another,
What manner of man is this!
for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him. (Luke 8:25)
© Copyright 2020, Michael Haigh
This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)