Jehoshaphat – Part 17
The Fear of God
And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. (2 Chronicles 20:29)
So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. (2 Chronicles 20:30)
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: (Hebrews 12:25)
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (Hebrews 12:26)
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:27)
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)
For our God is a consuming fire. (Hebrews 12:29)
The Cup
The complete power of the Spirit of God is unknown to man. Nations have completely been overthrown by the influence of the Spirit of God on other nations, and nations have fallen from within by His influence. The formula that God uses is a cup. 
When that cup, for any given nation, is full of iniquity then God through His Spirit dissolves that nation. The proof of this influence can be found throughout the Scriptures. I will give only a few examples: the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar was influenced by his dreams that the Spirit of God gave to him. They were interpreted by Daniel, and even Daniel’s interpretation was given by the Spirit of God. The kingdom of Belshazzar was brought to an end by the finger of the Spirit of God writing on a plaster wall. He had been weighed in the balance, and found wanting, his cup was full. (Daniel 5) Both the kingdoms of Darius and Cyrus were also moved and influenced through the Spirit’s, and also through the Spirit’s direction through Daniel.
The Sovereignty of God Experienced
In our scripture of 2 Chronicles the nations around Jehoshaphat’s kingdom were brought to fear the work of God. By the Spirit of God the nations were brought to the knowledge of God’s victory in the defeat of the Moabites; for God had fought and preserved both Judah and Jerusalem, thus, the Almighty God put His fear into all the nations round about. God in His sovereign act takes it upon Himself to protect His people. At times He will protect them and deliver them when they do not deserve His protecting hand. In our study of the life of Jehoshaphat and the waywardness of his people, we wonder why God would deliver them. This was His sovereign act of mercy. We see the fulfillment of such things in the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary. The Lord’s death was a sovereign act of mercy for and to the world. During the hours of darkness when Christ endured the terror of judgment against Himself, even then the Spirit of God brought fear upon the people round about by the darkness that covered the whole earth.
Divine Rest
Jehovah had delivered His anointed king, Jehoshaphat, and with that deliverance God gave him peace, the peace of God, So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about 9 (verse 30). God the Holy Spirit used the word ‘rest.’ In Hebrews, Chapter 4, again the Holy Spirit used the word ‘rest.’ The Spirit of God is speaking about divine rest for the people of God. They have ended their own works and have entered into the finished work of Christ. Through God’s mercy and grace they have entered in to God’s rest. The only way that one can enter into this glorious rest is through faith. One must have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to enter into His finished work and the rest of God; for without faith one can not enter in. In verse 2 of Hebrews, Chapter 4, we have to enter in by faith. God presents His total plan of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. If one is to lay hold of God’s rest it has to come through faith and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Faith
We are told of Israel while they were wandering in the wilderness that the gospel was preached unto them. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2) This through signs and wonders and diverse miracles of the Holy Spirit. This gospel, however, was not mingled or mixed with faith in them. For without faith it is impossible to please God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) Through God’s word He continually exposes men without faith; just as He reveals to us men of faith. How many times the Spirit of God mentions Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in relationship to God’s faith. In Jehoshaphat’s deliverance we see the working of God’s faith in delivering both Jehoshaphat and his people, and then giving them rest round about. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. (2 Chronicles 20:30) Both the deliverance of these people and their rest came via God’s faith. Many feel that their faith belongs to them, this is not so. Faith is given in the call of God. It is God’s faith given to man, and through that faith, grace is received; and through that grace one enters into God’ rest.
The Determinate Counsels of God
God asks this question of you, Where were you when I formed the circle of the earth?
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: (Isaiah 40:22)
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)
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. (Job 38:4)
Then Job answered and said, (Job 9:1)
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2)
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. (Job 9:3)
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? (Job 9:4)
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. (Job 9:5)
Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.(Job 9:6)
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. (Job 9:7)
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8)
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south (Job 9:9).
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.(Job 9:10)
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. (Job 9:11)
In all these verses we see the proof of the determinate counsels of God. For who has been God’s counselor? The answer is quite clear, God is His own counselor, and He has prepared a divine plan from before the foundations of the earth to present His Son with a bride from the children of men. A divine seed chosen through divine faith, and delivered by divine grace. I know man feels that he should be active in this, but the divine work of God is beyond what is known as the will of man. His divine purpose remains His divine mystery. For He has purposed all in His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not born of God because of our person, but because of the Person of Christ. We are changed in divine grace into a new creation, the same as God creating the worlds by the word of His power. In Hebrews, Chapter 11, we see the grandeur and power of God’s voice as He spoke the worlds into existence and brought them forth from nothing. As in the birth of His children, we are a divine creation. He puts Adam away and returns him to dust, and therein, He brings forth with His power a new divine creation in the sons of God. We are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of the divine miraculous power of the Spirit of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Who is sufficient for these things?
Asa and Jehoshaphat Compared
In our study of Jehoshaphat the Spirit of God begins with Jehoshaphat walking in the first ways of David, then at the end of his life we see him walking in the ways of his father, Asa. Compare 2 Chronicles 14:2 with 16:11-12.
And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: (2 Chronicles 14:2)
And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. (16:11)
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. (16:12)
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign. (16:13)
We should realize that in the end of the life of Jehoshaphat he had traveled over mountains, and past through some dark valley’s. The Spirit of God brings forth the name of his father to bring out the frailty of all men so that we might understand what beats in the heart of man. We would like to end Jehoshaphat’s life on a high spiritual note, yet the Spirit of God brings in the walk of his father. Although Asa walked in the ways of God, he also had failures as did Jehoshaphat, his son. Asa was lifted up in his own pride when the seer, Hanani, came to him and rebuked him for trusting in the king of Syria. Asa put Hanani in prison, and from this point Asa’s walk changed that God identifies his end walk with disease in his feet, and yet, Asa would not seek the Lord, but sought after the physicians. In this brief mention of Asa in the life of Jehoshaphat we see God the Holy Spirit bringing out the best of men, and the worst of men. When Jehoshaphat returned to Judah after his defeat with Ahab at Ramothgilead, Jehu, the son of Hanani rebuked him. At the end of this rebuke God was kind for He declared that He had found the good part in Jehoshaphat. We need to examine these things as all men stand before God and are viwed by the Spirit and by the word of God; for the Lord Jesus knows the heart of man, and what is in man. Both Asa and Jehoshaphat had relied on the hand of the ungodly, and not on the Lord. In the case of Asa read 2 Chronicles, Chapter 16:7-10.
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. (2 Chronicles 16:7)
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. (2 Chronicles 16:8)
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. (2 Chronicles 16:10)
On Asa’s part we can only blame his pride, I believe he took the defeat of the Ethiopians as his own victory, a form of self glorification, and held this victory as his own accomplishment above the miracles of God; thus, interjecting man and his flesh as the victor and not the divine Spirit of God defeating his enemies. The seer was sent by God to return king Asa to his proper position before the Lord, but Asa’s heart was hardened against the word of God, and God’s seer. He had relied on the king of Syria, and for this he would continually have wars. There was no rest in Asa’s kingdom, and his personal peace was taken from him through the disease of his feet because it had been his walk with the Lord that had changed. This is a lonely place to be. We live in an evil world that promotes and exalts the flesh, or man in every way. Without the Lord beside us we are without comfort. Man may be able to comfort us somewhat with our physical wounds, but in the end it is the Lord and not the physician that heals us. Not only our phsysical wounds, but our spiritual wounds must be healed by the Spirit of God. We are sad because in Asa’s case the Holy Spirit tells us that he sought not to the LORD. All that Asa went through in his final days was because of his alliance with evil in the Syrian king. His son Jehoshaphat also made alliances with evil, and trusted in the arm of the flesh and not the Lord. Why Asa could not bring his heart to call on the Lord instead of the Syrians is beyond our understanding. But rest assured, from the acts of the Almighty, that God knew the seat of the iniquity that was in Asa. Our trust should always be in our Savior, Jesus Christ. No matter how dark the days, or our troubles and turmoil, we should rely on the words of the Holy Spirit given to David in Psalm 20:6-9.
Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. (Psalm 20:6)
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)
They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. (Psalm 20:8)
Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. (Psalm 20:9)
Should not the King of kings hear us when we call, Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call. We lay so much value on the temporal when it is the unseen that will endure. It is that good part that we have in Jesus Christ. For the Spirit of God has put in us the hope of glory. How many have staggered in their walk including this writer only because the flesh got the upper hand, but it is a wonderful thing that the eternal eyes of the Lord are upon us to bring our hearts and souls to a point that we cry out to God the Father, and simply say, Sir, we would see Jesus and only Him.
When are vision is completely taken up with His glory it is His image that we desire. It is the image in our soul of the Son of God as the pattern of the divine perfect man in glory. The Spirit of God revealing within us the brightness of his glory, and the express image of His Person.
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;(Hebrews 1:3)
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (John 17:20)
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)
Those Who Fear God in His Judgment — Run — Hide
It is this One, the divine Son of God, in Him we find rest, in Him we find peace with God. In verse 29 of 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, we have rest given to Jehoshaphat and his people by God. Just as God had delivered them, He will keep them. The Spirit of God brings fear into the hearts of their enemies. The proud waves can come thus far and no further for God has staid the power of their enemies by inserted fear into their hearts.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
The Holy Spirit is not one to waste words. He declares a lot in very few words. Whenever there is fear present of God’s great power and judgment, nations will be controlled and moved by that great fear and power. The fear that the nations experienced was because of God’s judgment against Moab and their allies. Today there are no godly nations; therefore, we also see that there is no fear of God in them. We live in a world that has not only cast out the Prince of Life, but has turned it’s back on all God’s commandments and righteousness. This explains the lack of wisdom and understanding of world leaders. The turmoil that we see in all nations is like a gigantic mouth of a whirlpool of sin sucking man into it’s lowest level. Man is not seeking a further knowledge of God, but denying any knowledge of God. Man will end up in fear running and hiding himself in dens and caves to hide himself from the wrath of God and the Lamb.
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (Revelation 6:14)
And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15)
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Revelation 6:16)
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:17)
In Revelation, Chapter 6 we see the outcome of man’s wickedness. He is crying for the rocks to fall upon him, and to hide him from the face of God. The world in our day has cast out wisdom and her children.
Wisdom
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (1 Corinthians 1:19)
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Corinthians 1:20)
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: (1 Corinthians 1:22)
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:23)
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25)
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26)
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (1 Corinthians 1:27)
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (1 Corinthians 1:28)
That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:29)
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
I speak now to the hearts of the children of God: the world is totally confounded concerning the sons of God. They try to imitate us in their false professions. They try to eliminate us through their bigotry and hate. They try to deny us a voice in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet, God in His glorious wisdom and power has shattered the world with His voice. Man might silence the voice of any of God’s servants, but will never silence the voice of God. When one leaves this world God will raise up another. And the gospel that is preached by God’s servants will not compromise the Savior, the word of God, or the Almighty God. The world is totally confounded in their sin and lust. Everything in the modern life style is controlled by their sin and lust. When this becomes the rule of man he is unable to make wise decisions in all areas of life because all his decisions are based on his sin and lust. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? In it’s sin it deceives itself. The world cycles in deception whether politics, or the people of the nations because of the lack of true wisdom, for they have cast off the wisdom of God. Is it any wonder there is no world peace or rest? And the world will not know rest. Think of this: the cities of the world burn bright 24 hours a day, the people of these cities take all kinds of stimulants to prolong their activities and waking moments in an attempt to to fit 48 hours into a 24 hour day. In this world madness there is no rest physically and spiritually; however, for the children of God there is rest in Jesus Christ.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:10)
A Supernatural Rest
In verse 30 of 2 Chronicles 20, we have Jehoshaphat and his people identified with the rest of God for his God gave him rest round about. This, of course, was a supernatural rest for the Lord had put fear into the nations round about. This rest was not eternal rest, for at the death of Jehoshaphat all fell apart. There were days of tremendous darkness under the reigns of Jehoram, Ahaziah, and Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. In verses 29 and 30 we have examples of what the Almighty can do in the world of flesh and blood. He can give both rest and peace by His divine will and sovereign acts. With Jehoshaphat we have a shadow of a world to come under the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ in His millennial kingdom. For us, today, our rest of both heart and soul and spirit is in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a reality of God’s peace and rest. We are in a position of this rest through Jesus Christ, and Christ remains all in all to the heart and soul. As we have partaken of our new life as the new creation of God, we have also been set apart from the world to learn of Christ. The Lord Jesus said, Learn of me.
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)
In verses 28 and 29, rest is mentioned twice, this is God’s rest, and it is declared by the Son of God showing another proof of His creatorial power and Godhead for He declares that this is His rest. God’s rest of Hebrews 4 is the rest He gives to His beloved. We, as new born babes, receive His rest and guidance of the Lord Jesus through the Spirit of God.
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (Matthew 11:25)
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: (1 Peter 2:2)
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:3)
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (1 Peter 2:4)
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
In these two scriptures in Matthew and 1st Peter there is no excuse for infancy or a person declaring that he is still a babe in Christ. Both the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of God declares life, and desire in the new born babe, to both receive and believe the word of God. If there is no desire to learn the word of God then the Spirit of God does not dwell in you. The Spirit of God has been given to each and every child of God to led them into all truth.
Exposing the False Professor and Religionist
The world has done a good job in watering down the Christian profession. All types of professors have been revealed. The sadness is that they have no life in Christ. They are not His beloved, and they do not desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:. It is very easy to expose them. Simply talk about the word of God, if it bounces off them, and they have nothing to enhance what you have said, then they are void of understanding in the word of God: they do not belong to Christ. They are simply a religious person. If you want to speak about the Lord Jesus, and they only want to speak about their church and the activities that their church offers then there is no life in them. Of course, because we are in the last days, they will put you out and not accept the truth of God.
The Glory of Christ Declared Revealed Through His Witnesses
The Lord Jesus stressed that we should learn of Him. We should not only learn of Him in the cross, but His eternal existence in His great eternity. You will share this great eternity with Him. This eternity has always been ruled by Him. He is the Son of the living God, and all power has been given unto Him. We are placed in the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, we have been given to the Son of God by God the Father.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (John 17:20)
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24)
The Holy Spirit makes it perfectly clear that we have been given to Christ, and we, as believers, are in the Beloved. We also have been given the Spirit of God to be a witness within us, for He bears witness of the Son of God to us. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:. (Romans 8:16) Paul wrote to the Galatians that God’s Christ lives within him, and lives within all believers. 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. (Galatians 2:20) It is the declaration that Christ liveth in me, so Christ is where I am in this world working through me to declare His glory; thus, the Spirit of God works through me to reveal the wonders of Christ. We are with Christ on earth, this is a wonder! But we are also where He is, as He is in glory, so we are part of His glory. The Father has given to the Son a bride, He has sent the Spirit of God as a servant to call out this bride and deliver her safe to His Son who has delivered us by His death upon the cross, and He has given us life by His resurrection from the dead. Our spiritual life is upheld by the Spirit of God on this earth, but our eternal life is settled in heaven in Christ. We have a supernatural union with the Lord Jesus both here and in heaven; therefore, we have God’s rest. Our work has ended, and we rest in His finished work in the cross. In John 14:3 we read, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. In this verse many see the return of the Lord Jesus in the resurrection and translation of the saints as in 1 Thessalonians; however, since we belong to the heavenly Jerusalem the Lord reveals to us that we are present with Him. 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). This is a reality by the Spirit of God. Hebrews 12:22 expands John 14:3 to the present age or Church age, for Christ has received us unto Himself by His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. (Romans 8:9) And He has set us in heavenly places with Himself. We are recognized by God the Father that we are in His Son, and we are in His Son in heavenly places. As we have been known on earth, even so now, we are known in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:(Ephesians 4:13)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (Ephesians 1:17)
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18)
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (Ephesians 1:19)
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:20)
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesians 1:21)
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22)
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)
As we have been part of this earth, we are now part of the heavenlies in Jesus Christ. And by the Spirit of God we have obtained wisdom in the mystery of Christ, and revelation from the Spirit of God, the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17)
The Christians Three Divine Rights
We have three divine rights given by the Spirit of God: we have the right to the wisdom of God, we have the right to receive revelation from the Spirit of God,* and we have the right to have the knowledge of God within us. For too long, the world of religion has distorted the life which is in Jesus Christ. They have taken away the very foundation of the Christian life, and replaced it with man’s tradition and religion (which is an abomination to the Lord). But for the child of God, the world cannot take his glory, for his glory is in Jesus Christ. It is time for all true believers to tell the truth concerning the life of faith with Jesus Christ. It is a life of power working by the Spirit of God to show the world the glories of Christ. In every thing we do the flesh must be cast off, and we walk in the Spirit of God so that our life with Christ is a reality to the world around us. They might reject us, but that does not cease our message. And in each step of the way, the Spirit of God will give us confirmation over the will and thoughts of men. We have an inheritance in the Lord Jesus, and that inheritance reveals Christ in us today through the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is our earnestness of our inheritance in Christ. He is here to reveal Christ in us that we might live today in all godliness and love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)
∗ There are two types of revelation:
1 – Revelation, the act of God to reveal His truth to men in a written form called the word of God.
2 – Revelation, the act of God of the Spirit of God giving understanding and wisdom in the word of God and enhancing the glory of Christ.
© Copyright 2016, Michael Haigh
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)