Revival Times 4

continued from page 17

seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be given, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.” (Eph 1:18-21) You need to be ‘enlightened’ in order to know His INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER, it is for YOU, He has given it to you, it is available today! Now! It is the life giving creative resurrection power of Jesus!

The so called ‘leaders’ of this world (non believers) do not have all authority, NO NOT ONE! Only Jesus the King of Kings has ALL authority. Leaders, kings, emperors, pharaohs, popes, presidents or prime ministers will rise and fall in the earth, they will contest for the ‘top position’ seeking to have authority and power. But any authority they have is only there because the Father allows it for a season. Throughout history God has raised leaders to achieve His purpose and then deposed leaders who are unjust and misuse their authority.

God gives authority and removes it according to His purposes either for blessing or for judgement.

“Do you refuse to speak to me? Pilate said, “Don’t you realise I have the power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above..” (John 19:10-11) The authority Jesus has is based on His POSITION with God the Father. In Ephesians Paul told us that Jesus was ‘seated at His right hand in the heavenly realms, FAR ABOVE all rule and

authority’. Notice he said FAR ABOVE, not just above, but FAR above. That means there’s not comparison or competition between them! Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and as Paul also points out we are in Him! As believers this is where our authority flows from, the very throne of God himself. It is not earthly power or strength from man, no it is FAR ABOVE that, it is SPIRITUAL authority over ALL things made, because all things were made by the SPIRIT of GOD!

As we begin to recognise, accept and believe the revelation that WE HAVE AUTHORITY we must begin to exercise it.

We must SPEAK with boldness and confidence over the circumstances (storms) of life here on earth commanding the demonic powers that attempt to condemn us and ruin us.

We are to have DOMINION or as Paul says to REIGN as kings.

Jesus wants us to plunder the kingdoms of satan just as Christ himself did when He was here as man in humility. YOU can do it, believe it, accept it and speak it today! n

Prayer of Thanksgiving Lord Jesus I thank you that I am seated with you as a King because you dwell in me and I in you which means I can speak your Word of Power over every situation. I thank you that it is not by might but by your Spirit and so I speak out today with confidence and reign over life.

In this section are a number of websites which can help inspire you to to seek the Lord in effective praying and in getting out there doing as well. As always, JESUS CHRIST is our greatest example and the one to whom we must compare ourselves and obey. The greatest resource is the Bible itself, so please spend your main study time in the Word of God, preferably the King James Version!

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 Free material to download, booklets and tracts.

Online Bible versions for comparison Online Bible versions and Greek / Hebrew Lexicon and Interlinear Powerful messages from one of the great preachers of the 19th Century Equipping and mobilizing indigenous churches and missionaries David Hathaway evangelistic website - recommended!

Revival preaching broadcasts to the world- David Hathaway Join the network of believers who want to see power evangelism Insights into current affairs and how to avoid deception A useful site for the latest in Biblical related finds A good source for some of the best Wesleyan texts and comment The best resource for creation material and news

If you have been blessed by anything in this magazine please be as generous as you can to any of these good Christian ministries to the poor and needy: www.bhct.org.uk The Beachy Head Chaplaincy - on mission to prevent suicides www.m25m.btck.co.uk Matthew 25 Mission - helping feed the wandering and homeless www.opendoorsuk.org Supporting outreach globally and supporting Christians in persecution www.teenchallenge.org.uk Helping people escape the problems of drugs and addiction www.capuk.org Christians Against Poverty, bringing the good news to the poor in UK hopenow.org.uk Working with Orphans in the Ukraine

ISSUE: 04

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

“And God raised us up with Christ (Spirit) and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”. (Eph 2v6)

Useful Resources

Websites: www.omega-ministries.org www.biblegateway.com www.biblehub.com www.spurgeongems.org www.heartcrymissionary.com www.propheticvision.org.uk www.eurovisiontv.org www.thelastreformation.com www.propheticalert.net www.biblearchaeology.org www.fwponline.cc www.creation.com

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

JESUS CHRIST

LORD OF THE SABBATH “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” D 32:4 eut

DEFEATING SIN & INIQUITY THROUGH HIS FAITH “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psa 32:2)

A

s Christian soldiers it is vital that we understand our enemy. When Jesus was anointed at the start of his ministry the first thing that the Holy Spirit did was to guide him into the desert to have a face off with the devil himself - he was tested and tempted as he fasted!

When we come to faith we must move from being a ‘victim’ of Satan to being a ‘soldier’ in training – quickly becoming a ‘conquering saint’ in the anointing of Christ. Therefore it’s important to understand the enemy’s character and tactics so that we are not ‘deceived again’. One of his many evil tactics is ‘iniquity’, often mentioned in the Scriptures, but neglected in churches, but

what is it?

Of the 11 words translated in the Bible as ‘iniquity,’ by far the most common and important is ‘awon’ (about 215 times). Etymologically (origins), it is customary to explain it as meaning literally ‘crookedness,’ ‘perverseness’, i.e. evil regarded as that which is not straight or upright, moral distortion (from ‘iwwah’, ‘to bend’, ‘make crooked’, ‘pervert’ (Hebrew)). Driver, however (following Lagarde), maintains that two roots, distinct in Arabic, have been confused in Hebrew, one equals ‘to bend’, ‘pervert’ (as above), and the other equals ‘to err’, ‘go astray’; that ‘awon’ is derived from the latter, and consequently expresses the idea of error, deviation from the right path, rather than that of perversion. Whichever etymology is adopted, in actual usage it has three meanings which almost imperceptibly pass into each other.

So we see that iniquity is about making the truth crooked or perverted leading people into error.

This understanding also translates into the New Testament Greek writings of Paul and the apostles.

Paul says this: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel---which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert (metastrepsai) the gospel of Christ.” (Gal 1:6-7) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: pervert, turn. From meta and strepho; to turn across, i.e. Transmute or (figuratively) corrupt - pervert, turn.)

From these root Hebrew and Greek definitions we see that ‘iniquity’ is to be understood differently from ‘sin’ (trespass) as ‘iniquity’ specifically relates to ‘perversion’ or ‘distortion’ of the truth, a ‘going astray’ away from truth after idols and false doctrine. continued on page 3

INSIDE A Message for our times Part 3 • Lord of the Sabbath • John Welsley Interview • The Isaiah Scroll - & more...

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

ISSUE: 01

Revival – God’s Way Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

Revival times is a FREE publication offered to those who want to be encouraged and built up to know JESUS CHRIST as their Lord God and saviour. It is published

by Omega Ministries which is a non-denominational prophetic movement of believers who want to see the Kingdom come on earth as in heaven. Please send all enquiries or questions to the email address given below.

We recognise all material copyrights and thank God that all contributors take no wages for their work of faith in order to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and to revive his true church in our day.

All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible and or Greek and Hebrew, where appropriate, for clarity.

This paper and other teaching material is offered online for downloading and printing free of charge.

If you are inspired by the content of this paper please pass on to brothers and sisters for their encouragement.

Revival is a long lost concept in our modern society because the true Gospel has been perverted, watered down and twisted for personal gain by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Enough is enough and now the sleepers must awake from their spiritual stupor. The dead dry bones must live and the faithful army of the Lord arise and shine the beauty of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

The Call Has Gone Out Soldiers of Christ, arise And put your armour on, Strong in the strength which God supplies Through His eternal Son; Strong in Lord of hosts And in His mighty power: Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror

Where is the hope for Revival— God’s Holy Spirit outpoured Convicting of sin, and of judgement And righteousness of the Lord?

Break Free From The Law

When nothing else is important— Only God’s presence Divine, When Christians quit worldly pleasures, Then God, His ear will incline.

Desperate prayer for Revival Will cleanse the Church by the Word.

Then clothed in spotless, white linen, The Bride clears the way for her Lord.

Prayer is the key to Revival, Prayer that is true Spirit-born, Nights of compassionate weeping— Intercession for all the forlorn.

Then will the burdens be lifted, Then all the sinners will cry, Then all the chains will be loosened And worldly passions will die.

The lost ones will yield to God’s Spirit When Christians, cleansed, weep and pray; God’s Living Water flows outward; This is “Revival—God’s Way”!

—Estelle Gifford Jackson

Editor: Stephen Turnham © please copy and pass on

FIRST THOUGHTS That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us .

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Download the PDF here: www.omega-ministries.org email: info@omega-ministries.org

Apostle Paul

They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint .

Isaiah 40:28-31

PAGE 2 REVIVAL TIMES

in

The E pistle

to the

Romans

chapter

is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.” (Heb 7:12-16).

8

Jesus has made you a new creature, no longer part of this world, but part of heaven itself.

Either this is true or it’s not.

If it’s true then you must act accordingly with thanksgiving and joy in him and in his provision of grace - and relax!

Listen, God is on your side and wants you to be totally FREE, let no man (however clever or nice they seem) put you under a their yoke, don’t work for them work only for Jesus, because his work is easy and his burden light. Break free from religious obedience (which is disobedience to God) and LISTEN for His Word to you every day by the HOLY SPIRIT then do it fearlessly. Walk by the Spirit just as he did it. “ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of the written code, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard

to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.”

(Col 2:13-19).

Listen to what Paul is telling you - break free! Live in the reality!

Don’t settle for one day, get into the EVERY DAY. Don’t serve men, but just listen to the Spirit and he will guide you, teach you and help you. For you everyday is a holy day (holiday!) He is the creator and, just as he gave Adam the earth, he has now given you ALL THINGS, as well as ALL HEAVEN as your inheritance.

This is your priestly and kingly appointment your ordination by the Holy Spirit a deposit of guarantee! Amazing Grace!

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:5-6).

But what about the Law I hear you say? The answer comes from the apostles doctrine: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8).

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Gal

5:14).

Ask yourself this question, ‘Am I able to love ALL my fellow men with the love that Christ Jesus has loved me?’ If the answer is ‘no’, then you do not have the Spirit of Christ or are suppressing him? If the answer is ‘Yes’ then you have fulfilled the law, because you are in Christ and he has fulfilled it on your behalf by love. God is love!

Just as he has shown us this mercy we should also show mercy to others and not judge them while they are currently unable to see this truth. We must help them enter the Kingdom of Heaven not put them in the shadow, in a religious institution which heaps additional burdens onto them.

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. (Jam 2:13).

Isn’t it wonderful when we see what Jesus has done so that we can be FREE from both Satan and man, no longer slaves either in reality or in our minds. Take up this abundant life and share it around, let Jesus do miracles for you and give you grace to share this good news to all nations.

The last word is given to the Lord of the Sabbath: Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29) n

continued from 18

to give him my best. I sent the man upstairs, and told him he would find a suit which he could put on, it was my second best. So after he had put on the clothes, and left his rags behind, he came down and said, ‘Well, Mr. Weaver, what do you think of me?’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘I think you look very respectable.’ ‘Oh, yes, but, Mr. Weaver, it is not me; I am not respectable, it is your clothes that are respectable.’ And so,” added Mr. Weaver, “so is it with the Lord Jesus Christ. He meets us covered with the rags and filth of sin, and He tells us to go and put on not His second best, but the best robe of His perfect righteousness. And when we come down with that on, we say, ‘Lord, what do You think of me?’ And He says, ‘Why, you are all fair, My love. There is no spot in you.’ We answer, ‘No, it is not I, it is Your righteousness; I am comely because You are comely. I am beautiful because You are beautiful.’”

So we may conclude by saying with Watts— “Strangely, my soul, are you arrayed By the great sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise Let all your powers agree.”

All this is by believing—nothing but believing! After believing will come the confessing and the doing; but the saving—the righteousness—rests in the believing and in nothing else— “Nothing, sinner, do, Nothing great or small; Jesus did it all, Long, long ago.”

Come to Him as He is! Take Him as your complete righteousness, and you will have believed with your heart unto righteousness.

God add His own blessing, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. n REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 23

the LAST Adam (1 Corin 15:45) to undo what Adam did. As we have seen Adam broke one law, Jesus had to fully obey 613 laws and then to be the actual sacrifice to destroy the power of death! He came as LORD of THE SABBATH or Lord of REST the Prince of PEACE! King of the heavenly Jerusalem. He was showing us how awesome his Father is and how weak we are and how much we need him to dwell IN US daily.

We must now realise that it is for this FREEDOM that Christ sets us free from the shadow of the law, and the bondage of sin going from just one day of peace and into his FULL GRACE which is EVERY DAY. We must rest from trying to obey the law in any form in order to be holy, and rely totally on his provision and of the Holy Spirit whom he has sent into our hearts by faith. It has ALL been done for us by Him and this is the whole point of grace - so relax and receive.

If we cannot receive this we have fallen from grace, we have not entered his rest we are in disobedience and still under law and all the curses that come with it!! This has huge implications as to how we live our daily lives as a disciple, priest, servant and willing slave of Jesus our Lord and saviour.

So we can see that if we think that by ritualistically trying to keep the Sabbath day (whether Sunday or Saturday or any day) as if it justifies us with God or man (by men who say we should do it), we are deceived. We lower ourselves to mere laws, we go back into the limitations of the legalism. Why only have one day when you can live in all SEVEN! This is why Paul the apostle is so adamant about this issue in writing to the disciples in Galatia.

“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” (Gal 3:10) If your Christian life is hard and not clear then it is likely that you have missed entering his rest and fallen from grace into law. If you feel like you are under a curse then perhaps you are trying to

keep the Law thinking you are obeying Christ? You need to be led by the Spirit not by the letter of the Law, you need to STOP and ASK God to speak his living word right into your heart! Fear not you will not die! It’s a simple process of hearing and obeying - but first you MUST hear.

“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:26-28) “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal 5:16-18).

A Change In The Priesthood Earlier we looked at the Levitical priesthood and how they appeared to break the Sabbath law. The real reason for this is that by being in the Tabernacle or the Temple they were in effect entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

A bit like an Embassy where the land of the nation is represented and is considered part of that very nation. The priests were only given the Lord as their portion, as their inheritance. Jesus has now changed the priesthood from the Levitical (under law, earth) to the spiritual (under grace, heaven).

He is called the High Priest of Heaven on the throne in the Most Holy Place and we are his priests serving him in the Holy Places (courts) of the heavens.

Even more than this Paul tells us that there is now no veil and we can boldly approach His throne!!

WOW! can we be so bold? YES! “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Every high priest is selected from among

PAGE 22 REVIVAL TIMES

the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called

by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place,“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

(Heb 4:14-5:6) Have you heard God the Spirit say to you those very same words? “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?

As priests of our heavenly Father we are with him in the eternal realm of glory, by faith in the work of our High Priest who has changed the priesthood from the order of Levi (with hierarchy) to the order Melchizedek (with access). The Sabbath has shifted from one day to everyday, because in heaven time is endless and every moment is in his presence and in service to him. We are now members of the New Jerusalem which is in heaven (not the one in Israel Gal 4:26). We must not go back again to the yoke of slavery, back to observing the law to be justified before God because we have it all for free already!

The Old Has Gone So we must not think that we need to have a mixture of the old Law and the new grace in order to walk with Christ in the earth today, because as we have said THE OLD HAS GONE! This has been a fact for the last 1,945 years since the destruction of the last Temple in Israel. I am telling you what the Bible tells us, it’s there in black and white - can you see it?

“For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said

continued from cover

Since Jesus came this ‘iniquity’ or perverting of God’s truth in Christ (The Rock) is also the ‘paganising’ and/or ‘Judaising’ of the Gospel of freedom back to ‘law’ and ‘works’ for justification (known as legalism).

‘Sin’ (Greek: hamartias), more often relates to personal unrighteousness and evil behaviour towards others. This word is often better translated as ‘trespass’ (KJV) which better conveys the idea of affecting another such as tresspassing on another’s property. It’s an invasion of some else’s privacy, property and livelihood. For example, you cannot murder God who is a Spirit (although they tried!), whereas you can ‘sin’ and murder a relative or neighbour (as did Cain). You can steal from another person, but you cannot steal from God, who owns all things. These are sins and not iniquity even though forbidden by God’s holy Law. His Law deals with ‘Iniquity’ against God (1st 5 commandments) and ‘sin’ against your neighbour (2nd 5 commands Exod 20).

Hence we have the summary Royal Law of ‘Love God’ and ‘Love your neighbour’ to prevent both these errors. The differentiation between the two opposing Satanic characteristics are important to understand to avoid being deceived. Many people will say that they love their neighbour and wish them no harm, however they may well be guilty of iniquity, denying God and Christ as Lord (Love God). When you look for it the distinction between sin and iniquity is in many places in Scripture.

“At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Dan 9:21-24) This passage prophesies the first coming of Jesus Christ who brought everlasting righteousness thus making an end of sins and reconciliation for their idol worship (iniquity). Jesus sealed up (fulfilled) vision and prophecy being anointed by the Spirit.

This is also described by Isaiah.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa 53:5) As well as post Temple Judaism, all false religion such as Baal worship, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc. is considered ‘iniquitous’ by Jesus as they claim to be the spiritual truth for salvation both for this life and or the next (as they perceive it). These ‘faiths’ pervert the truth of God’s spoken Word and set up alternative rules of conduct (legalism) to justify their ritual behaviour, in order to gain an advantage. This brings a false peace and a false security in their minds and in their followers.

Unfortunately for them these rituals are not recognised by the Almighty as any solution to their sin or iniquity against Him. Their religious ‘rituals’ and traditional lifestyle have no relation to the

example of Christ, whom we must know, emulate and obey. These ‘false religions’ do not deliver them from secret evil thoughts and sinful behaviour. They are no solution to the curse of the law and death itself! The blind lead the blind and fall into the pit!

Thus these subtle (and not so subtle) deceptions permit the violation of God’s revealed commands on many levels and as a result this leads to curses and judgement similar to those seen in the history of Israel and Egypt (Exod 7). God cannot prevent their choices and as such judgement reveals to the world that He alone is the one true God as he tries to save sinners. Iniquitous religion like this does away with true ‘repentance from sin’, what the Bible calls ‘living in the fear of the Lord’, ‘Yirah’ (Hebrew) and meaning ‘respect’ or ‘awe’ for God’s holy power which destroys sin and iniquity.

“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” (Psa 86:11).

Iniquitous religions often explain away their calamity, sickness and judgment on their own failure to sufficiently obey their own rules and laws, these poor deceived person’s are driven by this guilt to ‘do better’ and often look for hope in the many superstitions such as ‘good and bad luck’, ‘ying and yang’, ‘karma’ and even ‘spiritual faith’.

They often make ‘offerings’ and prayers to idols in order to appease their false ‘gods’ to quieten their anger or earn their favour. Guilt and fear are used to manipulate emotions to the benefit of those who officiate the religion at the top of the hierarchy (usually a false priesthood). Often forgiveness must be bought or earned by members to be justified (e.g. RC indulgences or hail Mary’s, the compulsory tithing of money, church membership and keeping Mass etc.). These sorts of distortions of truth and reality, even (and especially) of true Christian beliefs, is an abomination in God’s sight and an abuse of the liberty and freedom Christ died for.

The Truth Twisted In these final ages (since Christ) the perversion of Christian truth has led to multiple ‘denominations’ and ‘cults’ (especially since the 17th & 18th centuries) that are now prevalent in all modern cultures.

These hierarchical divisions are mostly iniquitous and not founded on a true relationship with Jesus as the only Lord (Matt 23:8; Eph 4:5-6) being mainly legalistic and hierarchical. He himself warned those who were seeing and hearing him, that even if you’re involved in ‘ministry’ it can’t save you if you are also involved in iniquity! You must also know him by the Spirit in Truth and obedience to his Words regarding true church and the Kingdom.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. (Matt 7:22-23) “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa 66:18) The plethora of false gospels are promoted by ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’, in order that they might REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 3

appear holy and boast about how many followers they have. They also look to benefit from their members materially through financial gain, taking a position of importance not sanctioned in scripture such as Pastor, Priest, Father, Leader, Bishop etc.

We must be careful not to slip into these erroneous traditions because Jesus redefined true spiritual leadership, not modelled on the hierarchy of the world, but on him alone! We are called to live only by obedience to the Spirit and the Word as given

by Jesus and not to any man or organisation. This is a radical idea for many today, but it was what Jesus taught and what the apostles did! If we think that over the years we have improved on his original teaching we are very mistaken and guilty of iniquity, so beware!

The Only Saviour The Father GAVE his Son to save the world as a FREE GIFT of grace. Iniquity occurs in Christianity where this free gift is distorted or sold for profit using manipulation and legalism (even based on the law of God!). The false gospel perversions can have a very powerful appearance of ‘doing good’, but closer inspection reveals a serious error. As Paul clearly teaches just one such error ruins the whole lump!

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.” (Gal 5:9, see also 1 Corin 5:6).

It’s possible that individuals can have the outward appearance of a pious and even ‘holy’ life and yet, because they submit to false teaching and rituals of law they are unwittingly guilty of iniquity.

These rituals can then become cultural norms and accepted by following generations as normal and truth. This normalisation disguises these rituals things such as: ‘Church temples’; ‘Mass’; ‘Communion’; ‘Christmas’; ‘Easter’; ‘Halloween’; ‘Sabbath’ keeping etc., none of which are commanded by Jesus or the apostles. Even the old testament feasts and rituals were ended by Christ’s glorious new work of grace. These biblical rituals, although good for then and full of insights, are now not necessary in order to please God (see 1 Corin 5:8; Phil 3:7-8; Heb 8:13, 9:10, 10:9, Rom 3:20). This is hard to see when it feels normal in our culture, but our culture is wrong and that’s why we suffer so many problems. Christ is the fullness!

Jesus puts an end to ALL this unnecessary activity!

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Heb 10:9 ) “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb 8:13) Let me tell you the secret ‘it has vanished away!’

Iniquity is a very serious condition and which PAGE 4 REVIVAL TIMES

ultimately destroyed Israel as a nation under God’s rule. The problem is that true or false rituals invite demon spirits into the lives of the participants, eventually bringing in death and corruption.

There are also many pagan rituals throughout the year created by deceived people over many centuries. Satan himself deceiving them into occult practices, including things such as winter solstice, pagan feasts, drug taking, rock ‘n’ roll concerts and even the mundane obsession with shopping and fashion, so called ‘retail therapy’! (Matt 6:32).

Any nation which follows these iniquitous false doctrines (gods) will ultimately be destroyed by evil corruption (demonisation, see Rom 3). History proves this to be the case (Deut 31:18), because God hides his face from those who worship idols! If they invite the devil he comes to kill, steal and destroy! (John 10:10). Sadly we see many cultures suffering because of this ignorant error such as; India (Hinduism); Asia (Islamism); China (Confusionism); Europe (Catholicism); USA (Materialism) etc. Billions of people are currently deceived into believing such lies from the pit of hell - teachings of demons!

However, despite terrible persecution the Gospel of the Kingdom is also expanding against these evil systems. The wheat and the weeds growing together (Matt 13:30) as Jesus prophesied.

Can a true believer be deceived?

Can a genuine Christian still be iniquitous even having believed? Consider if you will Simon the sorcerer who repented, became a believer and was baptised. Someone most of us would agree was a Christian. Although obviously a new believer he apparently was still affected by bitterness and ‘iniquity’ in his thinking. This was revealed in his selfish ambitions to buy and sell the Holy Spirit for profit.

“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him,Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”

(Acts 8:18-23).

Simon had somehow missed the point about the free grace of the Holy Spirit, which he was afterwards sorry for, but this reveals a key point. Thinking that money can buy you favour with God is iniquitous.

Surely we don’t do that today do we? This case proves that iniquity such as this in Simon can still dwell in an inexperienced unsanctified believer.

We must all check our hearts that we do not see the grace of God as a means to profit financially.

By becoming a man of flesh God clearly revealed his perfect will for humanity and particularly for the remnant who believed. Now we can live by Christ’s faith (authority) in this present age by trusting in his free grace and power, being freed from law and ALL

does not mean he did nothing!

‘Nothing’, says Jesus, ‘is impossible for the Father’ for ‘he is always working’. The abundant energy of life that exudes from the glorious awesome person who is God breaks out continuously like a river in full flood that never stops!

When he rested he merely stopped making ‘material things’ on earth for the one day and focussed on being with Adam and Eve in the love of His glorious grace - wow! It gets better because the next day that dawned Adam and Eve were still in that rest, they still had his presence with them and they still enjoyed the abundant provision. (This was mirrored by the Levite priests inside the holy place, like heaven on earth). This may have gone on for 1 day or 100 years we don’t know. For them this presence was ‘normal life’ and this grace and innocence went on day after day as long as they did one thing obey him and not break the one law - do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

They knew that if they did they would die, however think about this, they had never experienced death - they had no idea what this was?

The Mystery Revealed Jesus the creator put the tree of knowledge into this garden deliberately. It was not far away on the other side of earth where one day they may have stumbled upon it. Why was it even there?

We understand why the Tree of Life was there because (in hindsight) we all want to live forever, so why would Jesus put that tree of the knowledge of good and evil in this special place too? Here is the mystery, the conundrum that has puzzled mankind for centuries, and here we see Jesus the creator seemingly creating his own problem, why?

But Jesus has also given us the secret revelation as to why he did this and it is stated by Paul: “It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free” (Gal 5:1) Can you see it? Can you see that in order for us ‘to be like him’ we must have free choice! Free will to obey or disobey. Jesus took the

risk that one day they may give in to the temptation by the serpent, but in order for us to have FREE WILL and to willingly LOVE him in return, not just for what he created, but for WHO HE IS there had to be a choice made.

He whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

This is why we were chosen from the creation of the world to KNOW HIM in spirit and in TRUTH. If we reject Jesus the WORD of God (our creator) to satisfy ourselves with the knowledge of evil we leave his rest, his peace. When we think we know best and do not live by every Word that proceeds from his mouth (daily) we choose death - and we now understand what death is - and it’s really bad. After all Adam and Eve did become LIKE HIM (Gen 3:22) and so do we - FREE. In order that mankind would not be trapped in sin under the curse of the law Father prevented Adam and Eve from eating any more from the Tree of Life and so he cast them out of the garden.

Their Sabbath ended right then!

They lost access to the Tree of Life and entered spiritual death which would later end in physical death - disconnection God’s Presence 24/7. He was now a slave to sin (Satan) and work, they had chosen the lie instead of God’s Word - they disobeyed. Sin is choosing to listen to anything other than God’s Word for guidance.

Overcome Evil with Good As disciples we must not be fooled like our parents into thinking that we can disobey and succeed - we cannot. Just as Jesus created and did everything for Adam and Eve’s physical provision, Jesus has also provided everything we need for our spiritual needs by faith. Because of his sacrifice once for all upon the ‘tree’ (cross) Jesus tells us that the old has gone the new has come, we are now able to be like God knowing good and evil and yet have the power to OVERCOME evil with GOOD. We become equal with God in this way because He makes us equal with himself when we believe

His Word of grace to us. When we operate as his priests we are separated from this old world and Satan’s kingdom. We function as part of the new creation where everyday in eternity is the same - life in his presence the eternal sabbath rest of the Kingdom of Heaven!

Restoring The Garden So the Sabbath Law given to Moses is used by God as a sign to the Israelites and all mankind of His Holy Heavenly Rest that we lost in Eden. A time before slavery and toil was introduced to restrain sin. As we have seen ONE DAY out of the EVERY DAY was given to Israel as a ‘holy’ day to give them ‘a taste’ of what it could be like everyday without working for our own salvation or provision - a foretaste! These things in the past were merely a shadow of the reality that was to come back to mankind. ‘The reality’, says Paul, ‘is found in Jesus Christ’, so we can now dwell with our maker 100% of the day, day after day into eternity! Hallelujah! He is our tabernacle dwelling! We can choose LIFE. This is he good news!

“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” (Exod 31:13).

As mentioned this ‘sign’ of the Sabbath was God’s promise that a time would come when the remnant of his people would have opportunity to return to him and enter that lost eternal rest and SHALOM (wholeness). It seemed so distant to them and all mankind until the NEW covenant came through Messiah, they were limited to just a taste, only a shadow of what could be.

“The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.” (Exod 31:16).

Only having a taste does not satisfy the hunger of the heart, so that they were always longing for more.

The Last Adam Paul tells us that Jesus came as REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 21

Today If You Hear His Voice “Now we who have believed do enter that rest (disciples), just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They (Jews) shall never enter my rest.’” (Psa 95:11 ) And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” Therefore since it still remains for some (Jews) to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7,8) For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God (Jews); for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works (law), just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” (Heb 4:3-11).

This brings us back to the exhortation and warning to ‘enter God’s rest’ and stop trying to please God by outward laws, but to simply listen and obey. First notice the two groups of people mentioned in this passage. First those who DO enter God’s rest -the disciples or followers of grace in Christ, secondly notice that the other group are those who disobeyed the gospel in the wilderness and so God said ‘they shall NEVER enter my rest’. Why? Simply because they refused to ‘hear’ God speak to them personally. See what happened: “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exod 20:18-19).

God warned them not to approach him up the mountain PAGE 20 REVIVAL TIMES

because of his holiness and power, but the Israelites wrongly believed that God wanted to kill them! Their fear of death hardened them against hearing God’s voice. This is what God offered them all (without death) through consecration, but instead they gave in to fear and wanted Moses to be an intermediary. If they had only waited to hear the ‘Rams horn’ promised by the Lord (Exod 19:13) they could have gone up in the mountain and met with God just as Moses had done before them. The fear of death prevented them from receiving God’s best.

If they had each chosen to know God for themselves, as Moses had proven was possible, they would have all found the rest, peace and glory that Moses knew! However they chose second best, they chose as a nation to have the Word interpreted for them by a mediator. Moses therefore remained their shepherd (Pastor) an intermediary and the people failed to receive God’s grace by faith (Gospel).

Come up The Mountain Today Exodus 19 reveals to us that God’s desire was always to have a ‘Kingdom of Priests’, a ‘treasured possession’, but the Hebrew people refused this and so they ended up with a temporary measure (a shadow)with a three tier system. The Tabernacle with a High Priest, his sons as priests, then the Levite assistants and a lot of work to bring sacrifices under various laws. God gave this system so that he could still show grace and mercy to them by freeing their consciences from guilt and fear. He gave Moses the Laws to teach the people how to be holy despite their stubborn hearts. This was their choice, not God’s best. The Laws revealed their sin and what they had lost by rejecting his voice for themselves (Rom 3:20).s The writer to the Hebrews powerfully reveals that for disciples of Christ there is a special place of ‘REST’ or ‘peace’ that we must enter into TODAY. His holy mountain! This is a place in our hearts that the people of

Israel (under the Law) never entered or experienced because they refused to, even though they entered the promised land with Joshua. They had refused to listen for the Jubilee shofar in Sinai and this changed the course of their history.

TODAY, says the writer, we come to the mount Sion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where God dwells and that we too must not refuse him who speaks. We must not run from God’s Word, but rather run into the mountain, because Jesus has opened the way into the heavens! (Heb 12).

Jesus gives us his righteousness TODAY - so that we can HEAR and OBEY him every day anywhere!

In The Beginning God Rested This holy rest was the first life experience of Adam and Eve at the creation of the earth when Jesus made all things with the Father by the Spirit. They made man on the sixth day to be like them, to be able to fully know them and to dwell with them in peace. All the work of creation had been done before man came along, the earth had been prepared for man to enter and to have dominion over in a priestly and kingly service to him - perfect! They even had a special garden as an example of how God wanted the whole earth to flourish.

So mankind’s first full day of existence was on the SEVENTH day or on the Sabbath day. On this day God the Father spent time dwelling with mankind enjoying all that He had made, it was good! Man had no job stress, no worries about anything, he had no pressure, there was no calendar or clock because every day was the same and everything was provided for - it was easy.

The whole focus of his day was the Father in relationship with his children without sin or fear. There was nothing else to do but relax and enjoy the goodness of God. For man the seventh day was every day because every day they were living in his presence and blessing.

When it says ‘God rested’ it

rituals as a means to guarantee ultimate salvation.

We are told not to ‘add to’ or ‘subtract from’ Jesus Christ’s word and testimony (Rev 22:18-19). This means that we have the perfect measuring rod, a cornerstone, a plumb line and THE perfect example that we can trust as THE truth - Jesus’ life and the Holy Spirit he gives us. This is confusing to the natural man of flesh and those trapped in iniquity.

The carnal man seeks solutions of their own making, rather than forsaking the world and trusting only in an invisible God and his revealed Word Jesus Christ!

(1 Corin 2:14). “ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

(Col 1:13-20)

Enduring to the end As we have seen Satan uses two distinct approaches to deceive the nations - Sin & Iniquity. The World System and the Harlot Church who rides upon that political system. As Christians we must break free in our minds and also in our lifestyle from the clutches of this trap of darkness.

If we do not break free we are risking both our lives and the lives of those we love, because iniquity stains your soul and spirit grieving God. It grieves him because as a holy God he must withdraw from you, so that you are not destroyed, but this means that you are left to your own devices. Jesus is the only way to the Father and showed us how to cooperate with the Spirit to live righteously like Jesus. If we reject this way we will end up living in an alternative which will lead to destruction maybe even for a Christian!

“As it is written,There is none righteous, no not one:There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known:There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

(Rom 3:10-18) n

www . omega - ministries . org

Free material to download, booklets and tracts

The Scroll of Isaiah The Reliability of the Bible confirmed

Replica of the actual complete Isaiah scroll found at Qumran in the Dead Sea caves. This is on display in the Shrine of the Book at the Israeli Museum in Jerusalem. The actual scroll is in a sealed vault beneath the museum.

I

n 1987, as the Dead Sea Scrolls publishing controversy captured the world’s attention, a graduate student by the name of Peter Flint moved from South Africa to the United States. He took a doctoral fellowship at the University of Notre Dame and began to study under one of the figures at the center of the controversy, Eugene Ulrich, the chief editor of the biblical Dead Sea Scrolls.

By 1997, Dr. Peter Flint had published the second largest portion of the biblical Dead Sea Scrolls: the Psalms Scrolls. This publication was full of discoveries that soon changed Bibles, Bible study, and biblical scholarship. Today, Flint is an editor of the largest intact Dead Sea Scroll: The Great Isaiah Scroll.

Since the Great Isaiah Scroll’s discovery in late 1946, an Indiana Jones-like story has followed it. The scroll has journeyed through the heart of war-torn Israel, Palestine and Jordan, through the hands of Bedouins, priests and scholars.

The definitive publication of the scroll is slated to be published in the critically acclaimed Discoveries of the Judean Desert series by the end of 2008. The findings published so far hint that this forthcoming publication will have a massive impact on the way we think of the Bible.

The Great Isaiah Scroll tells the story of how we got our Bible. Because of this, nations and individuals alike have felt connected to the scroll, but very few people have felt as connected to this ancient artifact as Dr. Peter Flint.

Read the interview about his work at: http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2013/04/17/TheGreat-Isaiah-Scroll-and-the-Original-Bible-An-Interview-withDr-Peter-Flint.aspx

The discovery of the scrolls should boost our faith and trust in the Bible we have inherited. “The Great Isaiah Scroll, and all the Dead Sea Scrolls, are faithaffirming, life-giving, and historically accurate” (Dr Peter Flint).

REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 5

Let God Speak to your Heart Nothing speaks more than the pure Word of God the Father through his servants the Prophets. This chapter of Isaiah is a plea to both Israel and the World to turn again back to faith in their creator.

Isaiah 55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 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.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

PAGE 6 REVIVAL TIMES

lamps and eating the bread and renewing it. How can this be? The answer is given to us in Jesus’ statement in verse 8: ‘For the Son of Man is Lord EVEN of the Sabbath’ The issue here is really one of ‘Lordship’ that is ‘Kingship’, and it is important to note that the two instances of exemption that Jesus gives only involved the role of priests. This will be the key to understanding what this all means then and for us today.

The Levitical Priesthood The Levite priests of God were a set-apart group from the whole nation, purchased by God, and they had been commanded to live differently from everyone else (they were in the world, but not of it (Num 3:11-13. See John 17:14)! They served in the Temple and offered the sacrifices for the purifying of the whole nation (their brothers), their existence meant that God could have mercy on them all when they messed up and sinned. The Levites enjoyed the presence of God in the Holy Place daily and the High Priest in the Most Holy Place once per year, they were very special to God. They lived in this shadow of the heavenly kingdom, the tabernacle, the temple, His dwelling place. This gave them ‘exemption’ from the curse of the Law of the Sabbath, because they worked in His presence 24/7*. God had sanctified them or separated them for himself! (* Levite priests worked on a rotation system and when not working in the services would have obeyed the laws exactly as the other tribes. Also they were retired off at 50 years of age!).

Now all the people and even the Pharisees and teachers of the law fully accepted this state of affairs, because without this priesthood they were doomed as a nation! If they failed to maintain the priesthood effectively they knew that they would be cast out of their land and lose their inheritance (this had happened twice). With soft hearts they did this gladly, willingly and with joy, but over time we see that their hearts grew hard and they did this grudgingly. Additional burdens were added by the lawyers (rules of men) for their own benefit and

for financial gain.

This ‘going beyond what was written’ blinded their minds to the mercy expressed in the priesthood system and it blinded their minds to who Jesus was - the King of Mercy - the great High Priest of heaven itself! Like David Jesus was on a mission, his was to preach his kingdom in every town and village, his disciples with him were like David’s fighting men, but more Jesus considered them his priests! So we see this scripture fulfilled by Jesus and his disciples. Jesus considered the disciples equivalent to his priests and exempt from any judgement.

The apostles were in no doubt about this fact (see Rev 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5).

So Jesus and his disciples were seen as Sabbath breakers because to Pharisees they were working by doing something only permitted by priests. However, Jesus was building his new priesthood of a New Covenant and showing mercy to the people as the living High Priest and Apostle of faith. The Kingdom had come among them. They reacted with indignation because to them he was from Judah and not Levi and had no rights or exemptions from strict observance of Levitical law and so this led them to accuse Jesus as a blasphemer. For them this was a very serious issue and one of the many reasons they plotted to kill him, thinking they were serving God! They were blind to the truth that was staring them in the face, but this is what was prophesied (Matt 13:1415). The disciples were literally dwelling with God 24/7 and had re-entered the same rest that Adam and Eve experienced before the fall on the very first Sabbath, the 7th day of rest. Immanuel or ‘God with us’ brings a permanent rest. Jesus was busy fulfilling the whole Law and the prophets in this way, whilst at the same time training his apostles to become the new holy nation - a kingdom of priests by the Spirit, exempt from law. This was always the Father’s original plan, but one which they rejected (Exod 19:6; Psalm 81:11).

One Greater Than The Temple Here was Jesus telling them that he was greater than the Temple which they worshipped and this was even more blasphemous (in their eyes). He said that he was even greater than the Law! We can see why their anger rose up, they did not recognise him for who he was - God in the flesh!

The implications of all this to us, who are followers of Jesus, is very very significant. Our own understanding of the Sabbath and the Law, what it is and its real purpose for us who are ‘in Christ’ must be based on Christ’s word. Understanding the Sabbath rest will prevent us from being complacent and hardening our hearts like the Pharisees did. Their understanding was not based on ‘who Jesus was’, but on ‘who they were’ and their traditions and this deceived them. This is why Jesus said, “beware the yeast (teaching) of the Pharisees and Sadducees”, because when this bitterness exists hearts can only see from a ‘earthly’ point of view! If we are relying on any part of the Law to justify our actions or beliefs we have fallen from relying on the ‘heavenly’ point of view, that is on Christ alone and are in danger of being subject to the curses of that Law (Gal 5:4).

Purpose of the Sabbath - Rest So then as believers in Jesus redemptive work we are ‘born again from above’ into a Kingdom who’s new High Priest is Jesus himself and we are ALL called to be his priests, even kings, serving with him in the earth (1 Pet 2:9).

Just as God purchased the Levites he has purchased us for himself (Exod 3:12) by his blood. Perhaps you never quite realised this when you came to know him?

What does this mean with regard to the Law of Moses? Paul tells us that ‘we are not under the Law, but under grace’ (Rom 6:14) that we are not under the ‘Moses Levitical covering’, but under ‘Jesus’ Melchizedek covering’. This means that we abide with him in the holy place (in heaven), we can even go into the holy of holies at any stage we need to! Wow! what a wonder, what a magnificent grace has been given!

REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 19

continued from page 14

been bowed down under it, by God’s grace; I have been able to sustain it. I have had bereavements,”— and he points to the many graves he has left behind him in the wilderness—“But I have been helped to bury wife and children, and faith has enabled me to say with bursting heart, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ I have had many conflicts, but I have always overcome through the blood of the Lamb. I have been slandered, as all men must be, but I have taken that with all my other crosses upon my shoulders— and I have found it light when I have carried it by faith. I can say that such is the hallowed serenity and calm which the religion of Jesus gives to my heart at all times, and all seasons, that I do believe it, not as a matter of head, but as a matter of heart. My heart is itself experimentally convicted that this cannot but be the religion of God, seeing that it works such wonders for me.”

Remember, dearly beloved, this is the right way to believe in Jesus, because this is the way in which you can believe in Him when you come to die. You have heard of the renowned bishop, a true servant of our Lord and Master. On his dying bed, memory reeled. He had grown old and forgotten everything.

His friends said to him, “Do you not know us?”

There was a shake of the head. He had taken sweet counsel with them, walked to the house of God in their company, but he had forgotten them all! Next, the children clustered round the hoary father, and they begged him to remember them. But he shakes his head, he had forgotten them all! Last came his wife, and she thought, was it possible that she should be forgot- ten? Yes, he had forgotten her, and shook his head again. At last, one said in his ear, “Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?” The response was instantaneous! That charming name, Lord, brought back consciousness from its innermost retreat to the more outward temple of the mind! “Know Him?” he said, “Yes, He is all my salvation and all my desire.”

You see it was the heart that knew Jesus, and though the heart may know the wife and the child, yet never can the heart know the dearest earthly object as it knows Christ! The letters of earthly names may be larger than the name of Christ, but the name of Christ is cut deeper. All other names may be cut deep through many skins of the soul, if I may use so strange a metaphor, but that name is cut into the core, right into the core of the soul! He who believes with his heart, has Christ in him, not on him—Christ in him, the hope of glory!

My dear hearers, you who have not believed in Jesus, I have tried not to puzzle you with refinements, but to talk in simple style. I think it is a very blessed thing that the text says, “With the heart man believes,” because some of you might say, “I have not head enough to be a Christian.” If you had not any head at all, if you had a loving heart, you could believe in Jesus! You may say, “Why, I never had any very great natural parts.” No great natural parts are needed! You may say, “I never had any education,” and by the way, I do like to see smock frocks here, I would to God that more would come—“I never had any education; I went to a national school, and PAGE 18 REVIVAL TIMES

they taught me many things; but I do not re- member them.” Well, suppose you do not remember them; you have a heart, and some of you have bigger hearts than many who have let their brains swell while their hearts have shrivelled; you can believe with your heart! Your heart can see that Christ is such a Christ as you need—that pardon and mercy are just what you require—and your heart can say, and may God the Holy Spirit make it say, “I accept Christ; I trust in Christ; I take Christ to be my all in all.” This precious word, “With the heart man believes,” sets the gate of heaven wide open to those who are of the least capacity, who seem to be on the very verge of idiocy, if there should be such persons here. Even those who write themselves down as being the biggest fools that ever lived, such fools as these may still believe! “The wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein.”

III. Now, I must conclude, intending to take the second half of the text next Sunday morning, if God spares our lives. I take the most necessary first. You may go to heaven without confessing—you cannot go to heaven without believing. So we have the believing first, and the other can come next. I have to close by noticing THE RESULT of faith. “With the heart man believes UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS.” The text means that the man who believes in Christ is righteous—he is righteous at once, in a moment; he is righteous in the germ. When God makes up the account, He has two books. The one is the black book in which He writes down the name of the ungodly, the unrighteous. You may look all through that and though that man has been a thief, a whoremonger and adulterer; though he has been the biggest sinner that ever defiled society and polluted God’s air, you may look that book through, if that man has been led to believe with his heart—his name is not there among the unrighteous! You cannot find it there; it is not in that book. You must get the other. You look into the Book of Life, and there is the name of Noah, Daniel and Ezekiel, John the Baptist, and so on. You say, “You do not expect to find that man’s name there, do you?” I do. If that man believed in Jesus Christ with his heart, he has believed unto righteousness, and his name is there among the righteous men; for he is righteous, first of all, in the germ. God has put into him an unquenchable spark of righteousness; He has dropped into that man’s heart a vitalizing force which never, by any possibility, can die! It has made him righteous in part, already, and which will go on until it has sanctified him, spirit, soul, and body— and made him completely righteous—in the real sense of the term righteous—righteous in the sense of holiness through the sanctification of the Spirit!

But there is another sense. The moment the man believes in Jesus Christ, he is in the righteousness of Christ—perfectly righteous; He has put upon him the Saviour’s garments. You heard Mr. Weaver say on this platform—I thought it was a good illustration— that one day he met with a very poor man who was in rags. This man, being a Christian, he wished to befriend him; he told him if he would go home with him, he would give him a suit of clothes. “So,” said Richard, “I went upstairs and took off my second best, and put on my Sunday best, for I did not want

Believing with the Heart

NO. 519 A SERMON DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 12, 1863, BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON. 1863.

“For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10).

VERY star in heaven yields its ray of light to cheer the mariner upon the watery waste, but there are leaders among that sparkling host— stars of the first magnitude—whose golden lamps are so dexterously hung, and trimmed with such excessive care, that they offer way-marks to the wanderer by which he may be able to steer his vessel to the desired haven. So all the promises of Scripture are full of comfort! In their sphere, they glow and glisten with the warmth and light of love; but there are “bright particular stars,” even among these— promises, conspicuous as Orion, brilliant as the Pleiades, fixed as Arcturus with his sons. Brothers and sisters, you know those soul-saving texts to which I refer, which are radiant with comfort, and have in them such a blessed combination of simple words and comforting sentences, that they guide multitudes of sinners to the port of peace in Jesus Christ! My text, I think, is one of these. At least, the doctrine which it teaches—that of salvation by faith—is the very polestar of the gospel; and he who steers by it shall find the heavenly shore! Be not at all displeased that such a truth of God should again be proclaimed in your hearing. The physician who is about to go abroad, and knows that he shall not be able to procure more drugs, lays in a store of all the valued medicines in pharmacy, but he buys the largest stock of remedies for the more common diseases of the body; and so, my brothers and sisters, we are bound in our ministry to preach upon all sorts of subjects; we ought not to bring out things old and old, but things new and old; yet the preacher must dwell most upon that doctrine which is the most required, and is most likely to heal the sin-sick soul. We believe that for every one converted under another doctrine, there have been 10 brought to Christ by the simple preaching of salvation by faith.

Although every truth in Scripture is like a mesh of the great gospel net, the great truth of justification by faith makes up so many meshes that it constitutes the major part of the net, and holds within its influence great multitudes of fishes.

God help us to cast this net today on the right side of the ship! While I let down the great dragnet, you take your share in the gospel fishery, and pray that God may send the fishes into it, and may His name be praised this day both in heaven and on earth!

The text very simply divides itself into two parts.

Faith and confession. The two are joined together. Let no man put them asunder. “With the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Three things on each of these topics.

First, upon faith. We have here set before us, either in the text, or in the context, the object of faith, the nature of faith, and its result.

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I.THE OBJECT OF FAITH is clearly mentioned in the context.

The preceding verse runs thus—“That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” It is evident, then, that Jesus Christ, dead and risen, is the foundation of faith! The object of faith is probably the most important subject of our contemplation. I believe there are many who think too much of their faith and too little of the object of it. For many a weary month, they are questioning whether they have the right sort of faith—whereas, they would do a great deal better if they looked to see whether their faith rested upon the right Foundation; for after all, while faith is important, the foundation of that faith is all-important, and we must look most to Him. Now, soul-saving faith rests, according to a thousand places in Scripture, upon Christ—upon Christ in all His characters, works, and offices. Faith, first of all, rests upon Christ, as incarnate. What was sung by angels becomes the song of the poor depressed spirit. Jesus, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem’s manger—God was made flesh and dwelt among us. Faith believes this great mystery of godliness—God manifest in the flesh—believes that He, by whom the heavens were framed, and without whom was not anything made that was made, did for us men and for our salvation, come down from heaven to tabernacle in the virgin’s womb. Faith so believes this as to draw comfort from it, for, says faith, “If God thus became man that He might come into nearness with our nature, this deed of love attracts me, gives me confidence toward God, and bids me approach the Lord with boldness, inasmuch as God comes to me.”— “Till God in human flesh I see, My thoughts no comfort find; The holy, just and sacred Three Are terrors to my mind.

But if Immanuel’s face appears, My hope, my joy, begins—His name forbids my slavish fear, His grace removes my sins.”

Faith next sees Christ in His life. She perceives that He is perfect; in obedience, sanctified wholly to His work, and although, “Tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” faith delights to admire and adore Him in His complete obedience to the law of God; and she perceives with rapture, that in every jot and tittle, He has fulfilled it, magnified it, and made it honourable. Faith, with holy boldness, cries, “This righteousness shall be mine, Christ has kept the law for me.

Evidently He was under no necessity to do this of Himself; but being found in fashion as a man for my salvation, He with the same end and objective kept that law.” faith looks to that righteousness of Christ and, like the apostle, she learns to say, “Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, continued on page 12

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A Message For Our Times PART 3 - By Stephen Turnham

“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings sensual songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. When this comes*—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” (Ezekiel 33:30-33) (*judgement).”

Welcome to the third in a 12 part series looking at who the ‘church’ really are and why.

PART 3 - WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE OF JESUS?

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ot as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Rom 8:6-8) Both John the baptist (Matt 3:7) and Jesus (Matt 23:33) referred to the Pharisees that rejected him as ‘a brood of vipers’, and told them that their spiritual father was actually the devil! (John 8:44).

He said that they were not his sheep, because His sheep hear his voice (John 10:27). Jesus also made it clear that it is those who believe in him and do the will of the Father whom he considers his family.

“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt 12:46-49) This statement by Jesus is very PAGE 8 REVIVAL TIMES

significant, because he redefined the qualification for being included in his ‘heavenly’ nation, ‘whosever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven’, and we see what the Father’s will was, and still is 3 things; that we ‘believe in his Son’, and ‘follow his kingdom teaching’ and ‘endure to the end’ (Mark 16:16; Matt 24:13; John 14:21 see also Matt 7:21).

The people of God are no longer defined by the fleshly inheritance of Abraham’s body, or by man’s traditions, (both of which have been corrupted beyond repair), but rather it is those who have received the Holy Spirit (the eternal promise) who are the true children of heaven and thus His church (Eklessia). Faith is not a passive state of mental ascent such as agreeing that the earth is round (without actually seeing it in person), but it’s an active obedience to Jesus’ specific new covenant commands, following by the Spirit given within.

Christianity is not a ‘religion’ in the modern sense of rules, but a relationship of love for Jesus Christ (God creator) and all his words that bring life!

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of

God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:9-13) “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom 8:9)

His Presence within The promise of the indwelling Spirit was first fulfilled in the remnant of Jews who believed (12 apostles and approx 12,000 others read about in the book of Acts), but soon this promise extended to the Gentiles, when Peter was sent to Cornelius by the Spirit and angels (see Acts 10). As far as God, Jesus and the Spirit were concerned, the Word of God had taken effect, all the promises of God had been kept to the Jewish people in full. Jesus was building his spiritual ‘kingdom’ in human hearts, human spirits connected directly to heaven by His Spirit within them, even in Gentiles! (see J er 31:33; Zech 6:12-13). The good news of this direct access to the Father in heaven had been delivered and the invitation is still open to all, as long as it is called ‘today’ both Jew and Gentile (see Heb 4:7).

As disciples of Christ we must awaken to the truth that we are no longer a part of the ‘spirit’ of this world system, we are now foreigners, we have no inheritance on this earth anymore (spiritual or physical) - did you realise this when you decided to follow Christ? Did anyone explain this to you when you went for baptism? We must leave the spirit of this world and its

after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:12-14; 2 Corin 1:22; see also R ev 7:3 ) Just as we have been given the same Spirit that was in Christ we should also live (or walk) as he did and have no desire for the worldliness around us: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments (Jesus commands), is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word (Jesus words), in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth

in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:4-6)

John does not mean we walk in sandals, but rather that our lifestyle reflects the life of Jesus Christ - hence ‘Christian’ or ‘Christ-like’. Take into account here that John is not speaking specifically of the 10 commandments of the Law, but rather the ‘new commands’ that Jesus gave (more detail on this later). John also gives us another indicator of who ‘knows’ Jesus and who does not: “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth..…

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you (Pharisees). But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (Spirit).” (1 John 2:20-29) Our words and actions reveal our true beliefs and he tests our hearts to help us see this!

If we believe in Jesus we will obey the Spirit and do what he asks us to do (without violating all the written word of God in Scripture). God’s will is summarised thus - become like Jesus in every aspect. n

The Inheritance In Christ Jesus

This is an extract from day 21 titled YOUR AUTHORITY IN CHRIST. The whole booklet of 26 days to discover your christian inheritance is available free online.

“Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1).

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s we enter into the subject of authority, remember we are looking at what God has already given to us by the Holy Spirit of promise. We see that he has given us eternal life, grace, hope, faith and more as our rightful inheritance in Christ. The only opposition Satan can set against you is to lie to you, to bluff you into taking wrong actions, even as when he deceived Eve in the garden. He wants to steal what God has given you by blinding your mind.

Satan has no power over you or me unless it has been given to him. How do we give it to him?

“The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov 18:21) God has sovereignly ordained that the power of the universe is His Word spoken from His mouth. Jesus is the ‘Living Word’ the Word of God made flesh. All the authority or power of God is expressed to us by His Words to us. After Jesus had been resurrected, he gave the early disciples this commission:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

(Matt 28:18-19) God the Father gave Jesus Christ the man ALL authority in heaven and on earth. What did He do with it? Answer - He gave it to His apostles! Notice that the pre-condition to the commission of the apostles was that He had ALL authority.

“Therefore” He said, “Go and make...”. This authority enables US, his body on earth, to make something, to make disciples or to make ‘disciplined ones’. This authority is to enable us to follow the lifestyle pattern that Jesus showed us, to imitate him and teach others to follow this example. If we are not following correctly He will gently correct us and tap us to bring us back to Him:

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent

his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Prov 3:11-12).

Authority is useless, however, unless there is power to support it. God Almighty has the authority because He has the power! He made the earth and all that we are and have. He can destroy it at any time, He can change it at any time. Jesus was given this authority, the power to even change the forces of nature. Remember the story of Jesus calming the storm in Matt 8:23-27, the disciples conclude the story by saying, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus’ faith in His Father was total and never wavered, He had total confidence in receiving answers to his prayers.

“So they took away the stone.Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

(John 11:41-42) Immediately after this revealing prayer, Jesus exercised the authority He KNEW He had:

“When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”The dead man came out....” v43 Jesus makes the point that He has authority even over death itself! Now we are the body of Christ, we are His disciples and that very same authority HAS BEEN given to us. It is the authority to do what Jesus did, and more abundantly. It is power to destroy the work of Satan, even death. The apostle Paul prayed daily for those he trained (in the secrets of the Kingdom) to receive the revelation of this great power and authority that we now have:

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is like the working of his mighty power, which He exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and continued on page 24

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in God’s eyes, that is not his teaching, not the Gospel. His blood cleanses those who have a contrite (humble) heart towards him in repentance (see also Acts 2; Jas 1). Your name must be known in heaven through the acceptance of Christ (Gal 4:9). Water and Spirit Baptism are more than a symbol of belief, it is a contract of obedience towards him, the pledge of a clear conscience (Rom 6:1-14; 1 Pet 3:21). If you make a pledge to God and do not keep it he will discipline you until you understand the importance of your conscience.

2. HOW DO WE KNOW THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT?

Firstly, Jesus shows that those who believe and receive the Spirit life are drawn to the ‘light’ (J ohn 3:21) , that is the truth of the Word of God in Christ, and seek to know God the Father, Son and Spirit every day. Our desires and actions reveal our true beliefs.

Our lips reveal who really rules our hearts and minds (Luke 6:45 ). Our whole lifestyle will be changed beyond recognition and noticed by others.

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds (lifestyle) may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:20-21) The true Christian has a repentant attitude towards God and a changed lifestyle which rejects sin and worldly desires. (1 John 5 ). Those who truly believe will not continue to sin, but are changed daily to reject a sinful lifestyle and live holy before God (Gal 5:21), bearing fruit in every good work towards the needy.

Sin and iniquity is confessed rapidly and dealt with quickly to avoid grieving the Spirit and losing his glorious presence and peace within.

3. JESUS SAID THAT HIS SHEEP KNOW HIS VOICE. (JOHN 10:27)

This means that you should be increasingly aware of a new form of communication from heaven (‘revelation’) which unveils the truth to you, confirmed by every word of God in Scripture.

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Some may even hear instruction audibly at times, even on practical matters of daily living.

This all leads to a greater and greater maturity in thought and action (Matt 7:24; John 5:30) and a knowledge of God as our Father.

4. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ARE MANIFESTLY PRESENT AND OBSERVED BY EVERYONE AND CAN BE TESTED WITHOUT OFFENCE. (MATT 3:8; 7:16; 21:43) (GAL 5:22, EPH 5:9)

Paul also tells you to examine yourself to see if indeed you do have the Spirit dwelling in you.

“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 Corin 13:5) This text shows that it’s not wrong to ‘test’ things are correct. The Spirit and Jesus are inseparable and in perfect unity, you cannot have one without the other, plus he who has the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23).

These three are one and so if we do not have the Spirit of Christ we do not belong to Christ! (Rom 8:9). As a consequence we expect to not only see fruit as a priority, but also the manifestaion of gifts for the common good (1 Corin 12). Especially noted by Paul is Prophecy and Love.

5. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BRETHREN.

Another clear test is the holy and sincere fellowship with other brothers and sisters of faith. The apostle John explains this: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

(1 John 1:5-7)

Genuine fellowship is free from sin and founded on God’s holy love toward one another. If you struggle to love your brother then maybe his Spirit is not in you? or you have unforgiveness against them, both of which disqualify you for eternity! John explains further: “He who says he is in the light, and

hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

(1 John 2:9-10)

6. FINALLY IF WE HAVE CHRIST WE LOSE INTEREST IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND SEE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE ‘VAIN’ AND ‘PASSING AWAY’.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Note again that Jesus says that the world is passing away and this is surely nearer now than in his day! More crucially he implies that it is possible to know the will of God and to do it. For most people the will of God is a complete mystery, because they do not hear by the Spirit.

The world system is now more powerful than it has ever been with a myriad of distractions to keep most from the truth of God’s will. (see also Luke 8:5) We are probably in the very last days of human history! (See Dan 12).

We are meant to be in the world, but not of it so that our purpose changes from self-pleasing to selfless-serving, to reveal Christ in us the hope of glory.

The Great Seal of God “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.” (John 6:26)

The ‘seal’ of which John speaks is the Holy Spirit, THE spiritual MARK of the invisible God himself, who gives us his guarantee of the greater inheritance to come - the resurrection to eternal life! “..that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ (Jews).

In whom ye also trusted (Gentiles),

trinketts behind us for a better place. If we fail to do this we are in danger of destruction along with tthe ungodly, this is serious stuff. Paul wept for many who thought they were ok, but sadly they had not been truly crucified with Christ to this world of sin!

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil 3:18-21) This supernatural building of God is unseen by the natural eye, no physical outward appearance can signify who’s a true believer, because we are earthen vessels.

Faith and conversion is in the heart, (in the inner spirit).

Israelites had never had this experience in all their history with God. Before this time they believed that God lived in the Temple (Holy of Holies), but never inside of them (Col 1:27).

He may have surrounded them, but was never in them. God was seen as external to them and feared. They looked for those who also outwardly obeyed the rules of Moses (the ordinances) to be justified and blessed. This is the huge difference between the obedience to the external Laws (old) and obedience to the indwelling Spirit of Christ (new). Being a child of God is now about hearing his voice and obeying on a daily basis, what Paul calls ‘living by the Spirit’, as clearly revealed by Jesus’ own life and ministry. The book of Acts also records that this is how the apostles lived, being directed by the Spirit here and there, as they preached and persuaded men to repent and turn to God by faith in Christ. They were also equipping God’s new children to be holy or ‘separated from Sin’ and ‘worldliness’ (holiness) leading to everlasting life (Rom 6:16-22).

“I am the good shepherd, and know

my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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 10:14-16) Jesus reached out to the nations who are ‘not of this fold’, the nations, through the witness of the apostles, thus ‘salvation is of the Jews’. Crucially these also ‘shall hear my voice’ and as a consequence the two become ‘one fold’, this being the church, believers baptised in water and the Spirit, with ‘one shepherd’ Christ Jesus himself! Jesus did do this, by removing all the barriers and limits of the Law and the ignorance of pagan Gentile philosophy.

“For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph 2:14-18) This is not something that Jesus will do, but something he has already done and that ‘one body’ is his spiritual church of ingrafted nations into HIM which both have access by the one Spirit to the Father! Our qualification is none of the flesh and 100% of the Spirit we have received.

The Book of Life So, in answer to the question, ‘Who are in the house of Jesus?’, it’s only those whose names are spiritually written in the Lambs Book of Life who qualify to be in the city of God, the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:27). Therefore we must ask ourselves, how do I know if I am in the Book of Life? Well Jesus has given us an assurance, a guarantee, so that we can know. He’s given a special ‘seal’ of approval or a ‘guarantee’. This has been fully explained to us by Jesus and

his apostles in their letters to the churches, so that we can be fully persuaded, informed and confident of the truth, based on his power.

1. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN, OF WATER AND SPIRIT, TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (J ohn 3:1-21)

Jesus tells Nicodemus that you need to first ‘see the kingdom’ and then ‘enter the kingdom’ by the Spirit. Notice he does not say ‘you must join a church’ or ‘you must keep the Law’. He goes on to explain that this will only be possible because of his offering to pay for sin upon the cross. When you look at the cross (see Num 21:8 ) and see the LOVE of God for you, you see the Kingdom and can have faith in him as God’s only begotton Son. You must then ‘enter the kingdom’ by water baptism and receiving of the Holy Spirit. It’s then the Spirit (God) in you who ‘converts’ you and makes you a new creature.

This is nothing of yourself but your spirit is renewed to have Christ likeness. You will then want to crucify your ‘carnal flesh’ life by denying the ‘lusts of the flesh’ by repentance from sin and iniquity (false religion). This is the grace of the Spirit in us, his power to overcome sin and Satan. Without obedience to this Gospel truth there is no entrance into the heavenly church, because nothing unclean can enter nothing and no-one who has not died or received the Spirit!

Those who repent, believe and are baptised in water AND his Spirit gain entrance through this cleansing of sin. However, if we sin again we must also confess this error and turn away from it with all gravity and sincerity to remain clean and free. To live consciously with sin is to reject Christ’s work of the cross and is sacrilege, such a one will NOT enter the kingdom of God! (Gal 5:19-26). Again this is VERY serious and those foolish ones are considered worse off than if they did not believe (2 Pet 2:21; Heb 6:1-9).

Having a signed up membership of a human organisation called ‘church’ does not count enough continued on page 16

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The Great Revivalists - John Wesley THE LAW AND GOSPEL AS EXPLAINED BY JOHN WESLEY Edited by Joseph D. McPherson First published online in THE ARMINIAN MAGAZINE. Issue 35. Spring 2017. Volume 35. Posted May, 21, 2017

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r. Wesley wrote thirteen discourses “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount.” By these he has greatly expanded understanding of our Lord’s teachings. In the opening pages of Sermon 25, Wesley provides suitable explanation of the relationship the moral law has with the Gospel of this New Testament dispensation. In the following we wish to share Wesley’s insight by way of a simulated interview.

Questions will be asked of Mr. Wesley as though he were present with us. His answers will then follow as found in this sermon.

Question: When Jesus says: “Think not I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil,” how are we to understand our Lord’s view of the ceremonial law? Was it not a part of his mission and intention to annul or abolish this part of the law?

Wesley: The ritual or ceremonial law delivered by Moses to the children of Israel, containing all the injunctions and ordinances which related to the old sacrifices and service of the temple, our Lord indeed did come to destroy, to dissolve, and utterly abolish. To this bear all the apostles witness: not only Barnabas and Paul, who vehemently withstood those who taught that Christians “ought to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5); not only St. Peter, who termed the insisting on this, on the observance of the ritual law, as “tempting God, and putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers, (saith he) nor we, were able to bear;” but “all the apostles, elders, and brethren, being assembled with one accord” (v 22), declared, that to command them to keep this law, was to “subvert their souls;” and that “it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to them, to lay no such burden upon them.” This “handwriting of ordinances out Lord did blot out, take away, and nail to his cross” (v 28).

Question: What part of the law did he not take away? What law is in continuance to which we are all obliged to observe?

Wesley: The moral law, contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets, he did not take away. It was not the design of his coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken, which “stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven.” The moral stands on an entirely different foundation from the ceremonial or ritual law, which was only designed for a temporary restraint upon a disobedient and stiffnecked people; whereas this was from the beginning PAGE 10 REVIVAL TIMES

of the world, being “written not on tables of stone,” but on the hearts of all the children of men when they came out of the hands of the Creator. And however the letters once wrote by the finger of God are now in a great measure defaced by sin, yet can they not wholly be blotted out, while we have any consciousness of good and evil. Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages; as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.

Question: When Jesus assures us that he came “not to destroy, but to fulfil,” how are we to understand the meaning of his fulfilling the law?

Wesley: Some have conceived our Lord to mean, I am come to fulfil this by my entire and perfect obedience to it. And it cannot be doubted but he did, in this sense, fulfil every part of it. But this does not appear to be what he intends here, being foreign to the scope of his present discourse. Without question, his meaning in this place is (consistently with all that goes before and follows after): I am come to establish it in its fullness, in spite of all the glosses of men: I am come to place in a full and clear view whatsoever was dark or obscure therein; I am come to declare the true and full import of every part of it; to show the length and breadth, the entire extent of every commandment contained therein, and the height and depth, the inconceivable purity and spirituality of it in all its branches.

And this our Lord has abundantly performed in the preceding and subsequent parts of the discourse before us, in which he has not introduced a new religion into the world, but the same which was from the beginning: a religion the substance of which is, without question, “as old as the creation,” being coeval with man, and having proceeded from God at the very time when “man became a living soul.” (The substance, I say; for some circumstances of it now relate to man as a fallen creature); a religion witnessed to both by the law and by the prophets in all succeeding generations. Yet was it never so fully explained, nor so thoroughly understood till the great Author of it himself condescended to give mankind this authentic comment on all the essential branches of it; at the same time declaring it should never be changed, but remain in force to the end of the world.

Question: Can it be supposed that some parts of the moral law which include the Ten Commandments might reasonably be altered, modified or omitted to make suitable adjustment to our enlightened time and dispensation?

Wesley: “For verily I say unto you” (a solemn preface, which denotes both the importance and certainty

Lord of the Sabbath

By Stephen Turnham

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (Hebrews 4:1) “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Have you ever wondered why it was that God rested on the seventh day? Why did God have to rest when he does not get tired (see Isa 40:28) and why on the seventh day?

The answer to these questions lay in the revelation of Jesus Christ ‘in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (Col 2:3). As Messiah he revealed himself to be the ‘cornerstone’ against whom ALL truth is measured (Luke 20:17) in fact he is TRUTH. Messiah is the beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega) of all things, in all creation (Rev 22:13), the Word of Life itself.

God told Moses on mount Sinai to ‘Keep the Sabbath day holy’ (Exod 20:8), so in any investigation into why God rested on the seventh day we must consider why this Law was given and how Jesus the Messiah interpreted it to us.

After all Jesus is the Truth, so for the Christian what he said is the absolute truth!

Jesus The Sabbath Breaker?

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

So the Son of Man is Lord even of

the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28).

In this encounter the religious Pharisees pick up on the fact that Jesus’ disciples were breaking the ‘do no work’ law of the Sabbath.

Were they right to accuse them?

Well yes, strictly speaking, it’s true they were indeed breaking the no work law! But hang on Jesus then proceeds to defend them! What’s going on here, are the commandments no longer commands? All will be revealed, but first let’s see Jesus break the Sabbath deliberately in front of them again to make a point.

“Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” (Mark 3:1-6).

This story is repeated in two other gospel accounts and it certainly makes us re-think what Jesus’ attitude towards the Sabbath really is and the implications for us as disciples today. The Pharisees were in no doubt that Jesus and his disciples were Sabbath breakers! Not only was this so, but we also see that this was one of the reasons they hardened their hearts and plotted to kill him. But why?

Their hearts were stubborn and could not recognise that God himself was standing in front of them, their minds were on ‘justification by law’, they had no peace unless the law (as they

interpreted it) was followed exactly as they determined, they had no rest, no compassion or love for those in need (the purpose of rest!). Even the miracle did not move them to compassion. We see that Jesus was ‘angry and deeply distressed’ with this ‘hardness of their hearts’, they had misunderstood what the Sabbath was all about - resting in His mercy and grace. (see also John 5:17-18)

The Bread Of Presence In the first example (opposite) Jesus reminds the Pharisees that king David, whom they admired and revered, had not followed the Law to the letter when he and his men were hungry, (when on mission in 1 Sam 21 in obedience to the king) and their genuine need was seen as more important to him than the limits of the Law as it was then (David did not take the bread but was given it by Abiathar the priest). Jesus expands on this truth with regard to priesthood: “Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple profane the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt 12:5-8).

So as ‘Lord (Creator) of the Sabbath’ Jesus is revealing a very important truth regarding the legalistic observance of the Sabbath day, especially by the Levitical priests. He reveals that the priests in the Temple ‘profane the Sabbath’ because they had to perform ‘Daily’ priestly duties and services even on the Sabbath day in genuine service to God for the sake of all the people. This included cleaning, trimming the

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to yourself that water is good because it quenches your thirst. Just so with bread— when you are hungry, if you come to the table and a philosopher should say to you, “You do not understand the ground upon which bread nourishes the human frame; you do not know anything about the process of digestion, and the method of assimilation, and how the bones are nourished by the phosphorus, and by the lime, and by the silica contained in the flour!” You would say, “I do not know; I do not particularly care to know; but one thing I know, I am sure bread is good to eat if I am hungry, and I will show you.” And you seize the loaf and begin to cut and eat. So it is with the believing heart. The heart is hungry, therefore, the heart feeds upon Jesus; the heart is thirsty, therefore, the heart drinks the living water, and so the heart believes unto righteousness.

Again, there is another explanation. Is it not, dear friends, man’s heart, renewed by Divine grace, which is led to perceive the difficulty of reconciling the apparently discordant attributes of God? Do you not remember well that day when your heart said, “God is just; it is right He should be”? And your heart seemed as if it would kiss the hilt of the sharp sword justice. You said, “Lord, though it is my own damnation, yet I would adore You, because You are holy, holy, holy.” Your heart said, “Lord, I know You are merciful, for You have told me so; I see in the lovely works of Your hands, in the bountiful corn- fields laden with the yellow grain, in this fair sunshine ripening all the fruits—I see proof that You are a good and gracious God. But, Lord, I cannot understand how You can be gracious, and yet be just, for if You are just, You are sworn to punish, and if You are gracious, then you will forgive! How can You do both? How can you punish and yet forgive? How can You smite and yet receive with tokens of affection?” You came up to the sanctuary one day when your heart was just in that state—in a quandary. Your heart was like the city of Shushan, it was perplexed; but you heard the preacher show clearly that Christ became the substitute for man, and paid to the last drachma all that mighty debt which man owed to God. You saw the wounds of Jesus, and you understood how an angry God had all His justice satisfied in the agonies of His beloved Son, and your heart said, “There, that is the very answer I have been wanting. I perplexed myself, vexed myself; I had a jealousy for the justice of God; my conscience made me jealous for it; I had a longing toward the mercy of God, my heart made me long for it. Now, I see how righteousness and peace have kissed each other, how justice and mercy fall about each other’s neck, and are reconciled forever.”

And your heart says, “This is the thing! Here is the master key which unlocks all the doors of doubt; the divine finger which draws back the bolts.” Oh, the joy and gladness with which your heart laid hold upon a crucified Redeemer, saying, “It is enough; I am satisfied, I am content, my trouble is removed.”

So you see it is not difficult to understand how the belief can be a belief of the heart.

But I want you to notice yet further, that believing with the heart implies a love to the plan of salvation.

I will suppose that one of you, today, troubled with PAGE 14 REVIVAL TIMES

thoughts of sin, shall go home, and you shall reach your chamber, and sit down and think over the great plan of salvation. You see God choosing His people from before the foundation of the world, and choosing them though He knew that they would be lost in the fall of Adam. You see the Son entering upon a covenant relationship towards them, and engaging to be their surety to redeem them from Wrath. You see Jesus Christ in the fullness of time coming forth as that surety, and fulfilling all His engagements.

You see the Spirit of God working to teach man his need, influencing him to accept the plan of salvation. You see the sinner washed and cleansed; you mark him kept and preserved, and sanctified and perfected—and at last brought home to glory.

While you are thinking over this work of the Lord, you say to yourself, “Well, I do not know that I have any interest in it, but what a blessed plan it is! How sublime! How condescending! How admirably suited to the needs of man! And how excellently adapted to bring out and glorify every attribute of God!” As you are thinking it over, there is a tear in your eye, and something whispers, “Why, such a plan as that must be true.” Then, the sweet promise flashes across your mind, “Whoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.” And your heart says, “Then, I will believe on Him; that plan is worthy of my credence; that system, so magnificent in its generosity, is worthy of my loving acceptance.” You go down on your knees and say, “Lord, by Your grace, I have seen the beauty of Your great work of grace, and my soul is in love with it. I have no quarrel against it; I submit myself to it; let me be a partaker in it. Jesus, let the virtue of Your precious blood stream on me; let the power of the cleansing water, which flowed with the blood, come and kill the power of sin within me. ‘Lord, I believe! Help You my unbelief!’” That is believing with the heart! It is believing because the heart is led to see that this must be true, and therefore, by a process of logic that is more subtle and more mighty in its magic influence than the logic of the brain, the soul, the whole mind, the whole powers of the man are compelled, blessedly compelled by the grace of God, to yield obedience to it!

What is true, dear friends, of us when we commence our spiritual career, is true all our lives long. Soulsaving faith is always the belief of the heart, as well in the full grown Christian, as in the new-born babe!

Let me appeal to some of you who have been years in Christ. What, my dear brothers and sisters, is your testimony today to the truth as it is in Jesus?

Does your heart believe it? I think I see some grayheaded man rise up, and leaning upon his staff, he says, “In my young days I gave my heart to Christ, and I had a peace and joy such as I had never known before, though I had tried the pomp and vanities, the pleasures and allurements of sin. My heart can bear its witness to the peace and pleasantness which I found in religion’s ways. Since that time, this brow has been furrowed with many cares, and as you see, this head has become bleached with many winter’s snows, but the Lord has been my heart’s stay and confidence. I have rested on Christ, and He has never failed me!

When trouble has come in upon me, I have never continued on page 18

of what is spoken), “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.”

“One Jot” - it is literally, not one iota, not the most inconsiderable vowel; “or one tittle,” one corner, or point of a consonant. It is a proverbial expression, which signifies that no one commandment contained in the moral law, nor the least part of any one, however inconsiderable it might seem should ever be disannulled.

“Shall in no wise pass from the law.” The double negative, here used, strengthens the sense, so as to admit of no contradiction: And the word parelthe (shall pass), it may be observed, is not barely future, declaring what will be; but has likewise the force of an imperative, ordering what shall be. It is a word of authority, expressing the sovereign will and power of him that spake, of him whose word is the law of heaven and earth, and stands fast for ever and ever.

Question: If the law has been fulfilled by Christ, should we not assume that it is to pass in order that the Gospel be established in its place?

Wesley: “One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till heaven and earth pass;” or as it is expressed immediately after, “till all” (or rather all things) “be fulfilled,” till the consummation of all things. Here is therefore no room for that poor evasion, (with which some have delighted themselves greatly) that “no part of the law was to pass away till all the law was fulfilled; but it has been fulfilled by Christ, and therefore now must pass, for the gospel to be established.” Not so; the word “all” does not mean all the law, but all things in the universe; as neither has the term “fulfilled” any reference to the law, but to all things in heaven and earth.

From all this we may learn that there is no contrariety at all between the law and the gospel; that there is no need for the law to pass away in order to the establishing the gospel. Indeed neither of them supersedes the other, but they agree perfectly well together. Yea, the very same words, considered in different respects, are parts both of the law and of the gospel. If they are considered as commandments, they are parts of the law: if as promises, of the gospel. Thus, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” when considered as a commandment, is a branch of the law; when regarded as a promise, is an essential part of the gospel. Thus, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” when considered as a commandment, is a branch of the law; when regarded as a promise, is an essential part of the gospel, the gospel being

“The

no other than the commands of the law proposed by way of promise. Accordingly, poverty of spirit, purity of heart, and whatever else is enjoined in the holy law of God, are no other, when viewed in a gospel light, than so many great and precious promises. n For part 2 of this interview please see the website here: www.fwponline.cc/arminiandex.html John Wesley (1703-1791) the great revivalist from the

eighteenth century who shook the world with his powerful ministry, was open to the idea of people disagreeing with him. Perhaps one of his greatest sermons reflecting his flexibility and openness was his sermon entitled “Catholic Spirit.” In it, Mr. Wesley expounds on his ideology that we should all “think and let think.” The sermon stands as a monument to Christian tolerance. “Every wise man therefore will allow others the same liberty of thinking which he desires they should allow him,” says Mr. Wesley in sermon thirty-nine, “and will no more insist on their embracing his opinions than he would have them to insist on his embracing theirs.” Yet Mr. Wesley was no doctrinal latitudinarian; he did make clear what he thought was wrong in other Christian theological traditions (e.g. Calvinism). However, in terms of his ethic of love, Wesley never believed in violence or forced religion. Yet this is not the case with Islam. In his sermon sixty-three, “The General Spread of the Gospel,” Wesley has some stinging, albeit true, words to say about Islam: A little, and but a little, above the heathens in religion are the Mahometans. But how far and wide has this miserable delusion spread over the face of the earth! Insomuch that the Mahometans are considerably more in number (as six to five) than Christians. And by all the accounts which have any presence to authenticity these are also in general as utter strangers to all true religion as their fourfooted brethren. As void of mercy as lions and tigers, as much given up to brutal lusts as bulls or goats; so that they are in truth a disgrace to human nature, and a plague to all that are under their iron yoke.

Such words may be somewhat humorous, but unfortunately they are accurate. All around the world, people are losing their lives to Islam. What many call “Islamic extremism”should be called “Mere Islam” since it has always been a religion of violence and bloodshed. Mohammed was not a preacher of peace and love; he was a vicious military leader. While Islam has some features within its doctrines that might reflect virtue, it also contains some immoral teaching. Christ tells his followers to love their enemies; Islam teaches its followers to destroy infidels, which are all unbelievers. Thankfully, many Muslims live a happy inconsistency in which they are able to be very kind to their neighbours. Every religion is plagued with members that are not all that faithful to their own doctrines and Islam is no exception. However, what would happen if every Muslim were to take up the sword and do as the Koran commands?

vague and tenuous hope that

God

is too

kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions”

A.W.Tozer REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 11

and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” But, chiefly, faith looks to Christ as offering up Himself upon the tree. She stands at the foot of the cross, watching that mysterious, that matchless spectacle—God made flesh, bleeding, dying—the Son of God wasted with pangs, torn with agonies and unutterable throes— obedient, even unto death! She watches Him with the expectancy of hope, and the emotion of gratitude, both of which bring the tears streaming down her cheeks. She hears the expiring sin-bearer cry with a loud voice, “It is finished!” She adds a glad, “Amen!

It is finished!” My soul believes that there is enough in those wounds to wash away my sins—enough to avert the thunders of an angry God—enough in that righteousness to cover me from head to foot, and win for me the smile of infinite justice. O blessed Jesus, You are the one pillar of our consolation! Faith builds her all on this chief cornerstone.

But beloved, faith has never done with Jesus, where He goes, she follows hard after Him. Her eyes track the body of the Saviour to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. She beholds that body, on the third day, instinct with life, rolling away the stone and bursting its grave clothes. “Jesus lives,” says faith— and inasmuch as Christ was put into the prison of the tomb as a hostage and bail for His people, faith knows that He never could have come out again if God had not been completely satisfied with His substitutionary work— “If Jesus never had paid the debt, He never had been at freedom set.”

Faith, therefore, perceives that if Christ is risen, the soul is justified! God has accepted Christ on my behalf—His resurrection proves it; and I stand accepted in the beloved, because Jesus Christ has risen! If you believe in this sense in your heart—that God raised Him from the dead—you shall be saved! Borne aloft as on eagle’s wings, Faith is not afraid to pursue her Redeemer up to His Father’s throne; her illuminated eyes behold Him in His session at the right hand of God, sees Him pleading as the great High Priest before the mighty Father’s throne; and expecting until His enemies are made His footstool, faith builds upon His intercession and dominion, as well as upon His death and resurrection. He is able also to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.

Mark, my dear brothers and sisters, the whole foundation upon which faith rests is Christ living in the flesh, Christ dying in that flesh, Christ rising from the dead, Christ pleading in glory on behalf of sinners.

Not so much as a hair’s breadth of faith’s foundation is to be found out of Christ Jesus! Faith does not build on its own experience; it rests on no graces, raptures, melting, communing, fights, or prayers; its chief cornerstone is Christ Jesus. Faith never builds on any knowledge which it has obtained by research— on no merit which it fancies it has procured by long and ardent service. It looks altogether beyond self, and out of self. Christ Jesus, and Christ Jesus alone, is PAGE 12 REVIVAL TIMES

the object of its confidence! Sinner, what do you say to this? There is nothing in you, but there needs be nothing. Can you trust Jesus? Jesus, the Son of God, becomes your brother, bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh. Can you not trust His love? Jesus, the Son of God, dies on the cross. Can you not trust that blood, that agony, that death? Look, sinner! From head, and hands, and feet, the blood is streaming! It is a Divine Being who thus suffers; it is none other than God over all, blessed forever, who is nailed to that tree! Can you not believe that there is merit enough in agonies like these to stand in the place of your sufferings in hell? Do you not believe that justice gets an ampler recompense from the wounds of Christ than it ever could find in all your wounds, even if you had been beaten from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head, until you had been nothing but wounds and putrefying sores? I think you will reply, “I believe that upon Calvary, God received a greater glorification of His law than in all the agonies of all the damned in hell, though they suffer eternally the infinite anger of God.” I ask you, sinner, can you not believe that Christ’s perfect righteousness is enough for you? Can you see a flaw in it? Is it not fair white linen? Is there a spot? Is it not made of such precious material, the divine work of a divine Saviour, that nothing can match it? If you had it, sinner, do you not think you would stand before God without so much as a spot or wrinkle? And I ask you, sinner, do you not believe that if Jesus pleads for you, you will be saved?

Can He stretch out His hands and say, “Father, save that sinner,” and will God refuse to hear His prayer?

If you give Him your cause to plead, do you think He will be an unsuccessful advocate? Why, man, with all the unbelief that is in your heart, I hope you will believe that if Jesus, who was the very heart of God, shall espouse your cause, He cannot plead in vain!

I think I hear you answer, “Oh, yes, we believe all this; we believe that this is ground for the fullest confidence to saints, but may we rest upon it? Are we to understand that if we trust in Jesus Christ, because He was a man, and because He lived, and died, and rose again, and pleads, we are saved?” Soul, this is just what I would have you understand! If you have no good thoughts or feelings; if up to now, you have been the most damnable of rebels against God; if up to this moment your hard and impenitent heart has been at enmity against God and against Christ; yet if now, this very day, you will believe Christ incarnate, Christ died, Christ risen, Christ pleading can save you—and if you will rest your soul upon that fact— you shall be saved! God, the infinitely loving Father, is willing to receive you just as you are. He asks nothing of you. O prodigal, you may come back in your rags and filthiness, notwithstanding that you have spent your living with harlots; notwithstanding that the swine have been your companions, and you would gladly have filled your belly with their husks; you may come back without upbraiding, or so much as a word of anger, because your Father’s only begotten Son has stood in your place! And in your place He has suffered all that your many sins deserved! If you will now trust in Je- sus, the Lord, who loved you with unspeakable love, you shall be this very day received

into joy and peace with a Father’s arms about your neck, accepted and beloved; with your rags stripped from off you, clothed in the best robe—with the ring upon your finger, and the shoes upon your feet, listening to music and dancing—because your soul which was lost is found, your heart which was dead has been made alive!

This, then, is the object of faith—our one and only Saviour, doing all, for all who trust Him.

II. Next, we have in the text, the NATURE OF FAITH. This is obvious. We are told that, “With the heart man believes unto righteousness.” This is not introduced by way of making a subtle distinction. Sometimes ministers make so many distinctions about faith, that true seekers are much perplexed. I am very jealous of myself this morning, lest I should do the same. I have read sermons upon natural faith, and upon spiritual faith; and I have been persuaded that what the preacher called natural faith was as much spiritual as that which he distinguished as the faith of God’s elect! The less distinction we try to make here, I think, the better, when Jesus Christ has broadly put it, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Where He makes few distinctions, but openly puts it, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved,” we ought not to be making and multiplying theological points of differences. Still, dear brothers and sisters, the text does say, “With the heart man believes.” And this is somewhat strange, because we generally attribute the act of faith to the mind, to the understanding. The understanding believes certain facts, which appear to it to be worthy of credence, but our text puts saving faith upon the heart, and makes it to be a work of the affections rather than of the understanding. I take it this is done for this reason—first, in order merely to state that faith—saving faith—must be sincere. We must not merely say, “I see the thing is so,” but we must heartily believe it; it must not be a notional faith which a man professes, because his mother was of the same persuasion, or because living in a Christian land he would be somewhat singular if he were to set up to be an infidel. Our faith must be a hearty, honest, sincere persuasion of the truths of God which we profess to believe. If I say to myself, “Well, I have no doubt the Christian religion is true; I dare say it is”—but if I do not in my heart feel and know it to be true, then my faith will not save me.

Doubtless, the word “heart” is put in here to make a distinction between doctrinal faith and the faith which accepts Christ. Why, I have the misfortune to know scores who are well read in divinity; they can get on excellently in all the scholastic parts of theology; they are orthodox—yes, orthodox to the last turn of the scale—and they fight like lions and tigers for but one hair of the head of a creed; and yet, they will never be saved by their faith, because their belief is merely a belief of certain abstract propositions which never affected their nature; which, to speak honestly, they do not believe after all! Those dogmas which they accept as truths of God have no relationship to them; their unregenerate hearts can- not perceive the true bearing of those doctrines upon themselves,

consequently, they receive them as lies! If you put a truth of God out of its proper place, you make it either marvellously like a lie, or else really a lie. And if I hold certain doctrines merely as having respect to some particular persons, but not as having any reference to me, and if I hold them so that they do not in any degree influence my character and touch my heart—then I hold them falsely—I turn the truth of God into a lie, and my faith can never save my soul!

True religion is more than notion, something must be known and felt; and faith is something more than acceptance of a sound creed—it is believing with the heart.

But now, I hope I shall not darken counsel by words without knowledge. Let me try, if I can, to explain what I think believing with the heart is.

Beloved, you know very well that the first work of God the Holy Spirit in man is not to teach him doctrines, but to make him feel a great hungering and thirsting, a great emptiness within himself; he is vexed with an uneasiness, a perpetual pining, and longing, and groaning after a something, he scarcely knows what. Now, that is his heart set in motion by the Spirit! His heart, like the needle touched with the magnet, cannot rest, because it has not found its pole; it has been mysteriously touched, it does not know how or why; but this it knows—it has a restlessness in it, and trembles after a settled and abiding peace. It is the heart, you know, which is thus sorely troubled.

Now, when the Lord Jesus Christ is set forth in our hearing as being a perfect and complete Saviour, able at this very moment to pardon all sins, and to give a perfect righteousness—to give us this day a salvation which is complete—and which will be complete when time shall be no more, then the heart says, “Why, that is just what I have been wanting.” Just as the flowers which have been shut up all night, as soon as ever the sun is up, open their cups as if they felt—“There! That is what we were wanting! Hail, glorious sun!” So the breaking, yearning, longing, thirsting heart, says, “Ah, that is what I need! You, O Christ, are all I need—more than all in You I find.”

Then, that heart says, “Come to me, Jesus, come to me. Be mine, I would entertain You; if You would but come under my roof, I would have my poor humble heart made happy as the gates of heaven.” The heart stretches out its arms to Christ, and Christ comes into that heart; and the heart press- es Him close to itself.

That is believing with the heart. It is the heart’s own conviction that Jesus Christ is just what it needs.

Many of you have a true faith in Christ, and yet you have never read “Paley’s Evidences,” nor “Butler’s Analogy.” It would not hurt you if you did; but you never did study such books, and perhaps you never will. You hardly know upon what ground the Bible is accepted as true, and therefore, cunning infidels give you a good shaking when they get hold of you upon that point! But there is one thing upon which you can never be shaken—you feel the gospel must be true, because it just suits the needs of your heart! If any man should say to you when you are thirsty, “Water is not good.” You would say, “Give me more of it; I have a thirst in here that makes me desire it.” By an irresistible process stronger than logic, you can prove REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 13

and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” But, chiefly, faith looks to Christ as offering up Himself upon the tree. She stands at the foot of the cross, watching that mysterious, that matchless spectacle—God made flesh, bleeding, dying—the Son of God wasted with pangs, torn with agonies and unutterable throes— obedient, even unto death! She watches Him with the expectancy of hope, and the emotion of gratitude, both of which bring the tears streaming down her cheeks. She hears the expiring sin-bearer cry with a loud voice, “It is finished!” She adds a glad, “Amen!

It is finished!” My soul believes that there is enough in those wounds to wash away my sins—enough to avert the thunders of an angry God—enough in that righteousness to cover me from head to foot, and win for me the smile of infinite justice. O blessed Jesus, You are the one pillar of our consolation! Faith builds her all on this chief cornerstone.

But beloved, faith has never done with Jesus, where He goes, she follows hard after Him. Her eyes track the body of the Saviour to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. She beholds that body, on the third day, instinct with life, rolling away the stone and bursting its grave clothes. “Jesus lives,” says faith— and inasmuch as Christ was put into the prison of the tomb as a hostage and bail for His people, faith knows that He never could have come out again if God had not been completely satisfied with His substitutionary work— “If Jesus never had paid the debt, He never had been at freedom set.”

Faith, therefore, perceives that if Christ is risen, the soul is justified! God has accepted Christ on my behalf—His resurrection proves it; and I stand accepted in the beloved, because Jesus Christ has risen! If you believe in this sense in your heart—that God raised Him from the dead—you shall be saved! Borne aloft as on eagle’s wings, Faith is not afraid to pursue her Redeemer up to His Father’s throne; her illuminated eyes behold Him in His session at the right hand of God, sees Him pleading as the great High Priest before the mighty Father’s throne; and expecting until His enemies are made His footstool, faith builds upon His intercession and dominion, as well as upon His death and resurrection. He is able also to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.

Mark, my dear brothers and sisters, the whole foundation upon which faith rests is Christ living in the flesh, Christ dying in that flesh, Christ rising from the dead, Christ pleading in glory on behalf of sinners.

Not so much as a hair’s breadth of faith’s foundation is to be found out of Christ Jesus! Faith does not build on its own experience; it rests on no graces, raptures, melting, communing, fights, or prayers; its chief cornerstone is Christ Jesus. Faith never builds on any knowledge which it has obtained by research— on no merit which it fancies it has procured by long and ardent service. It looks altogether beyond self, and out of self. Christ Jesus, and Christ Jesus alone, is PAGE 12 REVIVAL TIMES

the object of its confidence! Sinner, what do you say to this? There is nothing in you, but there needs be nothing. Can you trust Jesus? Jesus, the Son of God, becomes your brother, bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh. Can you not trust His love? Jesus, the Son of God, dies on the cross. Can you not trust that blood, that agony, that death? Look, sinner! From head, and hands, and feet, the blood is streaming! It is a Divine Being who thus suffers; it is none other than God over all, blessed forever, who is nailed to that tree! Can you not believe that there is merit enough in agonies like these to stand in the place of your sufferings in hell? Do you not believe that justice gets an ampler recompense from the wounds of Christ than it ever could find in all your wounds, even if you had been beaten from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head, until you had been nothing but wounds and putrefying sores? I think you will reply, “I believe that upon Calvary, God received a greater glorification of His law than in all the agonies of all the damned in hell, though they suffer eternally the infinite anger of God.” I ask you, sinner, can you not believe that Christ’s perfect righteousness is enough for you? Can you see a flaw in it? Is it not fair white linen? Is there a spot? Is it not made of such precious material, the divine work of a divine Saviour, that nothing can match it? If you had it, sinner, do you not think you would stand before God without so much as a spot or wrinkle? And I ask you, sinner, do you not believe that if Jesus pleads for you, you will be saved?

Can He stretch out His hands and say, “Father, save that sinner,” and will God refuse to hear His prayer?

If you give Him your cause to plead, do you think He will be an unsuccessful advocate? Why, man, with all the unbelief that is in your heart, I hope you will believe that if Jesus, who was the very heart of God, shall espouse your cause, He cannot plead in vain!

I think I hear you answer, “Oh, yes, we believe all this; we believe that this is ground for the fullest confidence to saints, but may we rest upon it? Are we to understand that if we trust in Jesus Christ, because He was a man, and because He lived, and died, and rose again, and pleads, we are saved?” Soul, this is just what I would have you understand! If you have no good thoughts or feelings; if up to now, you have been the most damnable of rebels against God; if up to this moment your hard and impenitent heart has been at enmity against God and against Christ; yet if now, this very day, you will believe Christ incarnate, Christ died, Christ risen, Christ pleading can save you—and if you will rest your soul upon that fact— you shall be saved! God, the infinitely loving Father, is willing to receive you just as you are. He asks nothing of you. O prodigal, you may come back in your rags and filthiness, notwithstanding that you have spent your living with harlots; notwithstanding that the swine have been your companions, and you would gladly have filled your belly with their husks; you may come back without upbraiding, or so much as a word of anger, because your Father’s only begotten Son has stood in your place! And in your place He has suffered all that your many sins deserved! If you will now trust in Je- sus, the Lord, who loved you with unspeakable love, you shall be this very day received

into joy and peace with a Father’s arms about your neck, accepted and beloved; with your rags stripped from off you, clothed in the best robe—with the ring upon your finger, and the shoes upon your feet, listening to music and dancing—because your soul which was lost is found, your heart which was dead has been made alive!

This, then, is the object of faith—our one and only Saviour, doing all, for all who trust Him.

II. Next, we have in the text, the NATURE OF FAITH. This is obvious. We are told that, “With the heart man believes unto righteousness.” This is not introduced by way of making a subtle distinction. Sometimes ministers make so many distinctions about faith, that true seekers are much perplexed. I am very jealous of myself this morning, lest I should do the same. I have read sermons upon natural faith, and upon spiritual faith; and I have been persuaded that what the preacher called natural faith was as much spiritual as that which he distinguished as the faith of God’s elect! The less distinction we try to make here, I think, the better, when Jesus Christ has broadly put it, “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Where He makes few distinctions, but openly puts it, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved,” we ought not to be making and multiplying theological points of differences. Still, dear brothers and sisters, the text does say, “With the heart man believes.” And this is somewhat strange, because we generally attribute the act of faith to the mind, to the understanding. The understanding believes certain facts, which appear to it to be worthy of credence, but our text puts saving faith upon the heart, and makes it to be a work of the affections rather than of the understanding. I take it this is done for this reason—first, in order merely to state that faith—saving faith—must be sincere. We must not merely say, “I see the thing is so,” but we must heartily believe it; it must not be a notional faith which a man professes, because his mother was of the same persuasion, or because living in a Christian land he would be somewhat singular if he were to set up to be an infidel. Our faith must be a hearty, honest, sincere persuasion of the truths of God which we profess to believe. If I say to myself, “Well, I have no doubt the Christian religion is true; I dare say it is”—but if I do not in my heart feel and know it to be true, then my faith will not save me.

Doubtless, the word “heart” is put in here to make a distinction between doctrinal faith and the faith which accepts Christ. Why, I have the misfortune to know scores who are well read in divinity; they can get on excellently in all the scholastic parts of theology; they are orthodox—yes, orthodox to the last turn of the scale—and they fight like lions and tigers for but one hair of the head of a creed; and yet, they will never be saved by their faith, because their belief is merely a belief of certain abstract propositions which never affected their nature; which, to speak honestly, they do not believe after all! Those dogmas which they accept as truths of God have no relationship to them; their unregenerate hearts can- not perceive the true bearing of those doctrines upon themselves,

consequently, they receive them as lies! If you put a truth of God out of its proper place, you make it either marvellously like a lie, or else really a lie. And if I hold certain doctrines merely as having respect to some particular persons, but not as having any reference to me, and if I hold them so that they do not in any degree influence my character and touch my heart—then I hold them falsely—I turn the truth of God into a lie, and my faith can never save my soul!

True religion is more than notion, something must be known and felt; and faith is something more than acceptance of a sound creed—it is believing with the heart.

But now, I hope I shall not darken counsel by words without knowledge. Let me try, if I can, to explain what I think believing with the heart is.

Beloved, you know very well that the first work of God the Holy Spirit in man is not to teach him doctrines, but to make him feel a great hungering and thirsting, a great emptiness within himself; he is vexed with an uneasiness, a perpetual pining, and longing, and groaning after a something, he scarcely knows what. Now, that is his heart set in motion by the Spirit! His heart, like the needle touched with the magnet, cannot rest, because it has not found its pole; it has been mysteriously touched, it does not know how or why; but this it knows—it has a restlessness in it, and trembles after a settled and abiding peace. It is the heart, you know, which is thus sorely troubled.

Now, when the Lord Jesus Christ is set forth in our hearing as being a perfect and complete Saviour, able at this very moment to pardon all sins, and to give a perfect righteousness—to give us this day a salvation which is complete—and which will be complete when time shall be no more, then the heart says, “Why, that is just what I have been wanting.” Just as the flowers which have been shut up all night, as soon as ever the sun is up, open their cups as if they felt—“There! That is what we were wanting! Hail, glorious sun!” So the breaking, yearning, longing, thirsting heart, says, “Ah, that is what I need! You, O Christ, are all I need—more than all in You I find.”

Then, that heart says, “Come to me, Jesus, come to me. Be mine, I would entertain You; if You would but come under my roof, I would have my poor humble heart made happy as the gates of heaven.” The heart stretches out its arms to Christ, and Christ comes into that heart; and the heart press- es Him close to itself.

That is believing with the heart. It is the heart’s own conviction that Jesus Christ is just what it needs.

Many of you have a true faith in Christ, and yet you have never read “Paley’s Evidences,” nor “Butler’s Analogy.” It would not hurt you if you did; but you never did study such books, and perhaps you never will. You hardly know upon what ground the Bible is accepted as true, and therefore, cunning infidels give you a good shaking when they get hold of you upon that point! But there is one thing upon which you can never be shaken—you feel the gospel must be true, because it just suits the needs of your heart! If any man should say to you when you are thirsty, “Water is not good.” You would say, “Give me more of it; I have a thirst in here that makes me desire it.” By an irresistible process stronger than logic, you can prove REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 13

to yourself that water is good because it quenches your thirst. Just so with bread— when you are hungry, if you come to the table and a philosopher should say to you, “You do not understand the ground upon which bread nourishes the human frame; you do not know anything about the process of digestion, and the method of assimilation, and how the bones are nourished by the phosphorus, and by the lime, and by the silica contained in the flour!” You would say, “I do not know; I do not particularly care to know; but one thing I know, I am sure bread is good to eat if I am hungry, and I will show you.” And you seize the loaf and begin to cut and eat. So it is with the believing heart. The heart is hungry, therefore, the heart feeds upon Jesus; the heart is thirsty, therefore, the heart drinks the living water, and so the heart believes unto righteousness.

Again, there is another explanation. Is it not, dear friends, man’s heart, renewed by Divine grace, which is led to perceive the difficulty of reconciling the apparently discordant attributes of God? Do you not remember well that day when your heart said, “God is just; it is right He should be”? And your heart seemed as if it would kiss the hilt of the sharp sword justice. You said, “Lord, though it is my own damnation, yet I would adore You, because You are holy, holy, holy.” Your heart said, “Lord, I know You are merciful, for You have told me so; I see in the lovely works of Your hands, in the bountiful corn- fields laden with the yellow grain, in this fair sunshine ripening all the fruits—I see proof that You are a good and gracious God. But, Lord, I cannot understand how You can be gracious, and yet be just, for if You are just, You are sworn to punish, and if You are gracious, then you will forgive! How can You do both? How can you punish and yet forgive? How can You smite and yet receive with tokens of affection?” You came up to the sanctuary one day when your heart was just in that state—in a quandary. Your heart was like the city of Shushan, it was perplexed; but you heard the preacher show clearly that Christ became the substitute for man, and paid to the last drachma all that mighty debt which man owed to God. You saw the wounds of Jesus, and you understood how an angry God had all His justice satisfied in the agonies of His beloved Son, and your heart said, “There, that is the very answer I have been wanting. I perplexed myself, vexed myself; I had a jealousy for the justice of God; my conscience made me jealous for it; I had a longing toward the mercy of God, my heart made me long for it. Now, I see how righteousness and peace have kissed each other, how justice and mercy fall about each other’s neck, and are reconciled forever.”

And your heart says, “This is the thing! Here is the master key which unlocks all the doors of doubt; the divine finger which draws back the bolts.” Oh, the joy and gladness with which your heart laid hold upon a crucified Redeemer, saying, “It is enough; I am satisfied, I am content, my trouble is removed.”

So you see it is not difficult to understand how the belief can be a belief of the heart.

But I want you to notice yet further, that believing with the heart implies a love to the plan of salvation.

I will suppose that one of you, today, troubled with PAGE 14 REVIVAL TIMES

thoughts of sin, shall go home, and you shall reach your chamber, and sit down and think over the great plan of salvation. You see God choosing His people from before the foundation of the world, and choosing them though He knew that they would be lost in the fall of Adam. You see the Son entering upon a covenant relationship towards them, and engaging to be their surety to redeem them from Wrath. You see Jesus Christ in the fullness of time coming forth as that surety, and fulfilling all His engagements.

You see the Spirit of God working to teach man his need, influencing him to accept the plan of salvation. You see the sinner washed and cleansed; you mark him kept and preserved, and sanctified and perfected—and at last brought home to glory.

While you are thinking over this work of the Lord, you say to yourself, “Well, I do not know that I have any interest in it, but what a blessed plan it is! How sublime! How condescending! How admirably suited to the needs of man! And how excellently adapted to bring out and glorify every attribute of God!” As you are thinking it over, there is a tear in your eye, and something whispers, “Why, such a plan as that must be true.” Then, the sweet promise flashes across your mind, “Whoever believes on Him shall not be ashamed.” And your heart says, “Then, I will believe on Him; that plan is worthy of my credence; that system, so magnificent in its generosity, is worthy of my loving acceptance.” You go down on your knees and say, “Lord, by Your grace, I have seen the beauty of Your great work of grace, and my soul is in love with it. I have no quarrel against it; I submit myself to it; let me be a partaker in it. Jesus, let the virtue of Your precious blood stream on me; let the power of the cleansing water, which flowed with the blood, come and kill the power of sin within me. ‘Lord, I believe! Help You my unbelief!’” That is believing with the heart! It is believing because the heart is led to see that this must be true, and therefore, by a process of logic that is more subtle and more mighty in its magic influence than the logic of the brain, the soul, the whole mind, the whole powers of the man are compelled, blessedly compelled by the grace of God, to yield obedience to it!

What is true, dear friends, of us when we commence our spiritual career, is true all our lives long. Soulsaving faith is always the belief of the heart, as well in the full grown Christian, as in the new-born babe!

Let me appeal to some of you who have been years in Christ. What, my dear brothers and sisters, is your testimony today to the truth as it is in Jesus?

Does your heart believe it? I think I see some grayheaded man rise up, and leaning upon his staff, he says, “In my young days I gave my heart to Christ, and I had a peace and joy such as I had never known before, though I had tried the pomp and vanities, the pleasures and allurements of sin. My heart can bear its witness to the peace and pleasantness which I found in religion’s ways. Since that time, this brow has been furrowed with many cares, and as you see, this head has become bleached with many winter’s snows, but the Lord has been my heart’s stay and confidence. I have rested on Christ, and He has never failed me!

When trouble has come in upon me, I have never continued on page 18

of what is spoken), “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.”

“One Jot” - it is literally, not one iota, not the most inconsiderable vowel; “or one tittle,” one corner, or point of a consonant. It is a proverbial expression, which signifies that no one commandment contained in the moral law, nor the least part of any one, however inconsiderable it might seem should ever be disannulled.

“Shall in no wise pass from the law.” The double negative, here used, strengthens the sense, so as to admit of no contradiction: And the word parelthe (shall pass), it may be observed, is not barely future, declaring what will be; but has likewise the force of an imperative, ordering what shall be. It is a word of authority, expressing the sovereign will and power of him that spake, of him whose word is the law of heaven and earth, and stands fast for ever and ever.

Question: If the law has been fulfilled by Christ, should we not assume that it is to pass in order that the Gospel be established in its place?

Wesley: “One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass till heaven and earth pass;” or as it is expressed immediately after, “till all” (or rather all things) “be fulfilled,” till the consummation of all things. Here is therefore no room for that poor evasion, (with which some have delighted themselves greatly) that “no part of the law was to pass away till all the law was fulfilled; but it has been fulfilled by Christ, and therefore now must pass, for the gospel to be established.” Not so; the word “all” does not mean all the law, but all things in the universe; as neither has the term “fulfilled” any reference to the law, but to all things in heaven and earth.

From all this we may learn that there is no contrariety at all between the law and the gospel; that there is no need for the law to pass away in order to the establishing the gospel. Indeed neither of them supersedes the other, but they agree perfectly well together. Yea, the very same words, considered in different respects, are parts both of the law and of the gospel. If they are considered as commandments, they are parts of the law: if as promises, of the gospel. Thus, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” when considered as a commandment, is a branch of the law; when regarded as a promise, is an essential part of the gospel. Thus, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,” when considered as a commandment, is a branch of the law; when regarded as a promise, is an essential part of the gospel, the gospel being

“The

no other than the commands of the law proposed by way of promise. Accordingly, poverty of spirit, purity of heart, and whatever else is enjoined in the holy law of God, are no other, when viewed in a gospel light, than so many great and precious promises. n For part 2 of this interview please see the website here: www.fwponline.cc/arminiandex.html John Wesley (1703-1791) the great revivalist from the

eighteenth century who shook the world with his powerful ministry, was open to the idea of people disagreeing with him. Perhaps one of his greatest sermons reflecting his flexibility and openness was his sermon entitled “Catholic Spirit.” In it, Mr. Wesley expounds on his ideology that we should all “think and let think.” The sermon stands as a monument to Christian tolerance. “Every wise man therefore will allow others the same liberty of thinking which he desires they should allow him,” says Mr. Wesley in sermon thirty-nine, “and will no more insist on their embracing his opinions than he would have them to insist on his embracing theirs.” Yet Mr. Wesley was no doctrinal latitudinarian; he did make clear what he thought was wrong in other Christian theological traditions (e.g. Calvinism). However, in terms of his ethic of love, Wesley never believed in violence or forced religion. Yet this is not the case with Islam. In his sermon sixty-three, “The General Spread of the Gospel,” Wesley has some stinging, albeit true, words to say about Islam: A little, and but a little, above the heathens in religion are the Mahometans. But how far and wide has this miserable delusion spread over the face of the earth! Insomuch that the Mahometans are considerably more in number (as six to five) than Christians. And by all the accounts which have any presence to authenticity these are also in general as utter strangers to all true religion as their fourfooted brethren. As void of mercy as lions and tigers, as much given up to brutal lusts as bulls or goats; so that they are in truth a disgrace to human nature, and a plague to all that are under their iron yoke.

Such words may be somewhat humorous, but unfortunately they are accurate. All around the world, people are losing their lives to Islam. What many call “Islamic extremism”should be called “Mere Islam” since it has always been a religion of violence and bloodshed. Mohammed was not a preacher of peace and love; he was a vicious military leader. While Islam has some features within its doctrines that might reflect virtue, it also contains some immoral teaching. Christ tells his followers to love their enemies; Islam teaches its followers to destroy infidels, which are all unbelievers. Thankfully, many Muslims live a happy inconsistency in which they are able to be very kind to their neighbours. Every religion is plagued with members that are not all that faithful to their own doctrines and Islam is no exception. However, what would happen if every Muslim were to take up the sword and do as the Koran commands?

vague and tenuous hope that

God

is too

kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions”

A.W.Tozer REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 11

The Great Revivalists - John Wesley THE LAW AND GOSPEL AS EXPLAINED BY JOHN WESLEY Edited by Joseph D. McPherson First published online in THE ARMINIAN MAGAZINE. Issue 35. Spring 2017. Volume 35. Posted May, 21, 2017

M

r. Wesley wrote thirteen discourses “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount.” By these he has greatly expanded understanding of our Lord’s teachings. In the opening pages of Sermon 25, Wesley provides suitable explanation of the relationship the moral law has with the Gospel of this New Testament dispensation. In the following we wish to share Wesley’s insight by way of a simulated interview.

Questions will be asked of Mr. Wesley as though he were present with us. His answers will then follow as found in this sermon.

Question: When Jesus says: “Think not I am come to destroy the Law, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil,” how are we to understand our Lord’s view of the ceremonial law? Was it not a part of his mission and intention to annul or abolish this part of the law?

Wesley: The ritual or ceremonial law delivered by Moses to the children of Israel, containing all the injunctions and ordinances which related to the old sacrifices and service of the temple, our Lord indeed did come to destroy, to dissolve, and utterly abolish. To this bear all the apostles witness: not only Barnabas and Paul, who vehemently withstood those who taught that Christians “ought to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5); not only St. Peter, who termed the insisting on this, on the observance of the ritual law, as “tempting God, and putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers, (saith he) nor we, were able to bear;” but “all the apostles, elders, and brethren, being assembled with one accord” (v 22), declared, that to command them to keep this law, was to “subvert their souls;” and that “it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to them, to lay no such burden upon them.” This “handwriting of ordinances out Lord did blot out, take away, and nail to his cross” (v 28).

Question: What part of the law did he not take away? What law is in continuance to which we are all obliged to observe?

Wesley: The moral law, contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets, he did not take away. It was not the design of his coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken, which “stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven.” The moral stands on an entirely different foundation from the ceremonial or ritual law, which was only designed for a temporary restraint upon a disobedient and stiffnecked people; whereas this was from the beginning PAGE 10 REVIVAL TIMES

of the world, being “written not on tables of stone,” but on the hearts of all the children of men when they came out of the hands of the Creator. And however the letters once wrote by the finger of God are now in a great measure defaced by sin, yet can they not wholly be blotted out, while we have any consciousness of good and evil. Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages; as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.

Question: When Jesus assures us that he came “not to destroy, but to fulfil,” how are we to understand the meaning of his fulfilling the law?

Wesley: Some have conceived our Lord to mean, I am come to fulfil this by my entire and perfect obedience to it. And it cannot be doubted but he did, in this sense, fulfil every part of it. But this does not appear to be what he intends here, being foreign to the scope of his present discourse. Without question, his meaning in this place is (consistently with all that goes before and follows after): I am come to establish it in its fullness, in spite of all the glosses of men: I am come to place in a full and clear view whatsoever was dark or obscure therein; I am come to declare the true and full import of every part of it; to show the length and breadth, the entire extent of every commandment contained therein, and the height and depth, the inconceivable purity and spirituality of it in all its branches.

And this our Lord has abundantly performed in the preceding and subsequent parts of the discourse before us, in which he has not introduced a new religion into the world, but the same which was from the beginning: a religion the substance of which is, without question, “as old as the creation,” being coeval with man, and having proceeded from God at the very time when “man became a living soul.” (The substance, I say; for some circumstances of it now relate to man as a fallen creature); a religion witnessed to both by the law and by the prophets in all succeeding generations. Yet was it never so fully explained, nor so thoroughly understood till the great Author of it himself condescended to give mankind this authentic comment on all the essential branches of it; at the same time declaring it should never be changed, but remain in force to the end of the world.

Question: Can it be supposed that some parts of the moral law which include the Ten Commandments might reasonably be altered, modified or omitted to make suitable adjustment to our enlightened time and dispensation?

Wesley: “For verily I say unto you” (a solemn preface, which denotes both the importance and certainty

Lord of the Sabbath

By Stephen Turnham

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. (Hebrews 4:1) “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Have you ever wondered why it was that God rested on the seventh day? Why did God have to rest when he does not get tired (see Isa 40:28) and why on the seventh day?

The answer to these questions lay in the revelation of Jesus Christ ‘in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (Col 2:3). As Messiah he revealed himself to be the ‘cornerstone’ against whom ALL truth is measured (Luke 20:17) in fact he is TRUTH. Messiah is the beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega) of all things, in all creation (Rev 22:13), the Word of Life itself.

God told Moses on mount Sinai to ‘Keep the Sabbath day holy’ (Exod 20:8), so in any investigation into why God rested on the seventh day we must consider why this Law was given and how Jesus the Messiah interpreted it to us.

After all Jesus is the Truth, so for the Christian what he said is the absolute truth!

Jesus The Sabbath Breaker?

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?

In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

So the Son of Man is Lord even of

the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28).

In this encounter the religious Pharisees pick up on the fact that Jesus’ disciples were breaking the ‘do no work’ law of the Sabbath.

Were they right to accuse them?

Well yes, strictly speaking, it’s true they were indeed breaking the no work law! But hang on Jesus then proceeds to defend them! What’s going on here, are the commandments no longer commands? All will be revealed, but first let’s see Jesus break the Sabbath deliberately in front of them again to make a point.

“Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” (Mark 3:1-6).

This story is repeated in two other gospel accounts and it certainly makes us re-think what Jesus’ attitude towards the Sabbath really is and the implications for us as disciples today. The Pharisees were in no doubt that Jesus and his disciples were Sabbath breakers! Not only was this so, but we also see that this was one of the reasons they hardened their hearts and plotted to kill him. But why?

Their hearts were stubborn and could not recognise that God himself was standing in front of them, their minds were on ‘justification by law’, they had no peace unless the law (as they

interpreted it) was followed exactly as they determined, they had no rest, no compassion or love for those in need (the purpose of rest!). Even the miracle did not move them to compassion. We see that Jesus was ‘angry and deeply distressed’ with this ‘hardness of their hearts’, they had misunderstood what the Sabbath was all about - resting in His mercy and grace. (see also John 5:17-18)

The Bread Of Presence In the first example (opposite) Jesus reminds the Pharisees that king David, whom they admired and revered, had not followed the Law to the letter when he and his men were hungry, (when on mission in 1 Sam 21 in obedience to the king) and their genuine need was seen as more important to him than the limits of the Law as it was then (David did not take the bread but was given it by Abiathar the priest). Jesus expands on this truth with regard to priesthood: “Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple profane the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matt 12:5-8).

So as ‘Lord (Creator) of the Sabbath’ Jesus is revealing a very important truth regarding the legalistic observance of the Sabbath day, especially by the Levitical priests. He reveals that the priests in the Temple ‘profane the Sabbath’ because they had to perform ‘Daily’ priestly duties and services even on the Sabbath day in genuine service to God for the sake of all the people. This included cleaning, trimming the

continued on page 19

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in God’s eyes, that is not his teaching, not the Gospel. His blood cleanses those who have a contrite (humble) heart towards him in repentance (see also Acts 2; Jas 1). Your name must be known in heaven through the acceptance of Christ (Gal 4:9). Water and Spirit Baptism are more than a symbol of belief, it is a contract of obedience towards him, the pledge of a clear conscience (Rom 6:1-14; 1 Pet 3:21). If you make a pledge to God and do not keep it he will discipline you until you understand the importance of your conscience.

2. HOW DO WE KNOW THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT?

Firstly, Jesus shows that those who believe and receive the Spirit life are drawn to the ‘light’ (J ohn 3:21) , that is the truth of the Word of God in Christ, and seek to know God the Father, Son and Spirit every day. Our desires and actions reveal our true beliefs.

Our lips reveal who really rules our hearts and minds (Luke 6:45 ). Our whole lifestyle will be changed beyond recognition and noticed by others.

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds (lifestyle) may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:20-21) The true Christian has a repentant attitude towards God and a changed lifestyle which rejects sin and worldly desires. (1 John 5 ). Those who truly believe will not continue to sin, but are changed daily to reject a sinful lifestyle and live holy before God (Gal 5:21), bearing fruit in every good work towards the needy.

Sin and iniquity is confessed rapidly and dealt with quickly to avoid grieving the Spirit and losing his glorious presence and peace within.

3. JESUS SAID THAT HIS SHEEP KNOW HIS VOICE. (JOHN 10:27)

This means that you should be increasingly aware of a new form of communication from heaven (‘revelation’) which unveils the truth to you, confirmed by every word of God in Scripture.

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Some may even hear instruction audibly at times, even on practical matters of daily living.

This all leads to a greater and greater maturity in thought and action (Matt 7:24; John 5:30) and a knowledge of God as our Father.

4. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ARE MANIFESTLY PRESENT AND OBSERVED BY EVERYONE AND CAN BE TESTED WITHOUT OFFENCE. (MATT 3:8; 7:16; 21:43) (GAL 5:22, EPH 5:9)

Paul also tells you to examine yourself to see if indeed you do have the Spirit dwelling in you.

“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 Corin 13:5) This text shows that it’s not wrong to ‘test’ things are correct. The Spirit and Jesus are inseparable and in perfect unity, you cannot have one without the other, plus he who has the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23).

These three are one and so if we do not have the Spirit of Christ we do not belong to Christ! (Rom 8:9). As a consequence we expect to not only see fruit as a priority, but also the manifestaion of gifts for the common good (1 Corin 12). Especially noted by Paul is Prophecy and Love.

5. FELLOWSHIP WITH THE BRETHREN.

Another clear test is the holy and sincere fellowship with other brothers and sisters of faith. The apostle John explains this: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

(1 John 1:5-7)

Genuine fellowship is free from sin and founded on God’s holy love toward one another. If you struggle to love your brother then maybe his Spirit is not in you? or you have unforgiveness against them, both of which disqualify you for eternity! John explains further: “He who says he is in the light, and

hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

(1 John 2:9-10)

6. FINALLY IF WE HAVE CHRIST WE LOSE INTEREST IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND SEE THEM FOR WHAT THEY ARE ‘VAIN’ AND ‘PASSING AWAY’.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17) Note again that Jesus says that the world is passing away and this is surely nearer now than in his day! More crucially he implies that it is possible to know the will of God and to do it. For most people the will of God is a complete mystery, because they do not hear by the Spirit.

The world system is now more powerful than it has ever been with a myriad of distractions to keep most from the truth of God’s will. (see also Luke 8:5) We are probably in the very last days of human history! (See Dan 12).

We are meant to be in the world, but not of it so that our purpose changes from self-pleasing to selfless-serving, to reveal Christ in us the hope of glory.

The Great Seal of God “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.” (John 6:26)

The ‘seal’ of which John speaks is the Holy Spirit, THE spiritual MARK of the invisible God himself, who gives us his guarantee of the greater inheritance to come - the resurrection to eternal life! “..that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ (Jews).

In whom ye also trusted (Gentiles),

trinketts behind us for a better place. If we fail to do this we are in danger of destruction along with tthe ungodly, this is serious stuff. Paul wept for many who thought they were ok, but sadly they had not been truly crucified with Christ to this world of sin!

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” (Phil 3:18-21) This supernatural building of God is unseen by the natural eye, no physical outward appearance can signify who’s a true believer, because we are earthen vessels.

Faith and conversion is in the heart, (in the inner spirit).

Israelites had never had this experience in all their history with God. Before this time they believed that God lived in the Temple (Holy of Holies), but never inside of them (Col 1:27).

He may have surrounded them, but was never in them. God was seen as external to them and feared. They looked for those who also outwardly obeyed the rules of Moses (the ordinances) to be justified and blessed. This is the huge difference between the obedience to the external Laws (old) and obedience to the indwelling Spirit of Christ (new). Being a child of God is now about hearing his voice and obeying on a daily basis, what Paul calls ‘living by the Spirit’, as clearly revealed by Jesus’ own life and ministry. The book of Acts also records that this is how the apostles lived, being directed by the Spirit here and there, as they preached and persuaded men to repent and turn to God by faith in Christ. They were also equipping God’s new children to be holy or ‘separated from Sin’ and ‘worldliness’ (holiness) leading to everlasting life (Rom 6:16-22).

“I am the good shepherd, and know

my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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 10:14-16) Jesus reached out to the nations who are ‘not of this fold’, the nations, through the witness of the apostles, thus ‘salvation is of the Jews’. Crucially these also ‘shall hear my voice’ and as a consequence the two become ‘one fold’, this being the church, believers baptised in water and the Spirit, with ‘one shepherd’ Christ Jesus himself! Jesus did do this, by removing all the barriers and limits of the Law and the ignorance of pagan Gentile philosophy.

“For he is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph 2:14-18) This is not something that Jesus will do, but something he has already done and that ‘one body’ is his spiritual church of ingrafted nations into HIM which both have access by the one Spirit to the Father! Our qualification is none of the flesh and 100% of the Spirit we have received.

The Book of Life So, in answer to the question, ‘Who are in the house of Jesus?’, it’s only those whose names are spiritually written in the Lambs Book of Life who qualify to be in the city of God, the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:27). Therefore we must ask ourselves, how do I know if I am in the Book of Life? Well Jesus has given us an assurance, a guarantee, so that we can know. He’s given a special ‘seal’ of approval or a ‘guarantee’. This has been fully explained to us by Jesus and

his apostles in their letters to the churches, so that we can be fully persuaded, informed and confident of the truth, based on his power.

1. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN, OF WATER AND SPIRIT, TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (J ohn 3:1-21)

Jesus tells Nicodemus that you need to first ‘see the kingdom’ and then ‘enter the kingdom’ by the Spirit. Notice he does not say ‘you must join a church’ or ‘you must keep the Law’. He goes on to explain that this will only be possible because of his offering to pay for sin upon the cross. When you look at the cross (see Num 21:8 ) and see the LOVE of God for you, you see the Kingdom and can have faith in him as God’s only begotton Son. You must then ‘enter the kingdom’ by water baptism and receiving of the Holy Spirit. It’s then the Spirit (God) in you who ‘converts’ you and makes you a new creature.

This is nothing of yourself but your spirit is renewed to have Christ likeness. You will then want to crucify your ‘carnal flesh’ life by denying the ‘lusts of the flesh’ by repentance from sin and iniquity (false religion). This is the grace of the Spirit in us, his power to overcome sin and Satan. Without obedience to this Gospel truth there is no entrance into the heavenly church, because nothing unclean can enter nothing and no-one who has not died or received the Spirit!

Those who repent, believe and are baptised in water AND his Spirit gain entrance through this cleansing of sin. However, if we sin again we must also confess this error and turn away from it with all gravity and sincerity to remain clean and free. To live consciously with sin is to reject Christ’s work of the cross and is sacrilege, such a one will NOT enter the kingdom of God! (Gal 5:19-26). Again this is VERY serious and those foolish ones are considered worse off than if they did not believe (2 Pet 2:21; Heb 6:1-9).

Having a signed up membership of a human organisation called ‘church’ does not count enough continued on page 16

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A Message For Our Times PART 3 - By Stephen Turnham

“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings sensual songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it. When this comes*—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” (Ezekiel 33:30-33) (*judgement).”

Welcome to the third in a 12 part series looking at who the ‘church’ really are and why.

PART 3 - WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE OF JESUS?

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ot as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Rom 8:6-8) Both John the baptist (Matt 3:7) and Jesus (Matt 23:33) referred to the Pharisees that rejected him as ‘a brood of vipers’, and told them that their spiritual father was actually the devil! (John 8:44).

He said that they were not his sheep, because His sheep hear his voice (John 10:27). Jesus also made it clear that it is those who believe in him and do the will of the Father whom he considers his family.

“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt 12:46-49) This statement by Jesus is very PAGE 8 REVIVAL TIMES

significant, because he redefined the qualification for being included in his ‘heavenly’ nation, ‘whosever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven’, and we see what the Father’s will was, and still is 3 things; that we ‘believe in his Son’, and ‘follow his kingdom teaching’ and ‘endure to the end’ (Mark 16:16; Matt 24:13; John 14:21 see also Matt 7:21).

The people of God are no longer defined by the fleshly inheritance of Abraham’s body, or by man’s traditions, (both of which have been corrupted beyond repair), but rather it is those who have received the Holy Spirit (the eternal promise) who are the true children of heaven and thus His church (Eklessia). Faith is not a passive state of mental ascent such as agreeing that the earth is round (without actually seeing it in person), but it’s an active obedience to Jesus’ specific new covenant commands, following by the Spirit given within.

Christianity is not a ‘religion’ in the modern sense of rules, but a relationship of love for Jesus Christ (God creator) and all his words that bring life!

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of

God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:9-13) “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (Rom 8:9)

His Presence within The promise of the indwelling Spirit was first fulfilled in the remnant of Jews who believed (12 apostles and approx 12,000 others read about in the book of Acts), but soon this promise extended to the Gentiles, when Peter was sent to Cornelius by the Spirit and angels (see Acts 10). As far as God, Jesus and the Spirit were concerned, the Word of God had taken effect, all the promises of God had been kept to the Jewish people in full. Jesus was building his spiritual ‘kingdom’ in human hearts, human spirits connected directly to heaven by His Spirit within them, even in Gentiles! (see J er 31:33; Zech 6:12-13). The good news of this direct access to the Father in heaven had been delivered and the invitation is still open to all, as long as it is called ‘today’ both Jew and Gentile (see Heb 4:7).

As disciples of Christ we must awaken to the truth that we are no longer a part of the ‘spirit’ of this world system, we are now foreigners, we have no inheritance on this earth anymore (spiritual or physical) - did you realise this when you decided to follow Christ? Did anyone explain this to you when you went for baptism? We must leave the spirit of this world and its

after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:12-14; 2 Corin 1:22; see also R ev 7:3 ) Just as we have been given the same Spirit that was in Christ we should also live (or walk) as he did and have no desire for the worldliness around us: “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments (Jesus commands), is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word (Jesus words), in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth

in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:4-6)

John does not mean we walk in sandals, but rather that our lifestyle reflects the life of Jesus Christ - hence ‘Christian’ or ‘Christ-like’. Take into account here that John is not speaking specifically of the 10 commandments of the Law, but rather the ‘new commands’ that Jesus gave (more detail on this later). John also gives us another indicator of who ‘knows’ Jesus and who does not: “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth..…

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you (Pharisees). But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (Spirit).” (1 John 2:20-29) Our words and actions reveal our true beliefs and he tests our hearts to help us see this!

If we believe in Jesus we will obey the Spirit and do what he asks us to do (without violating all the written word of God in Scripture). God’s will is summarised thus - become like Jesus in every aspect. n

The Inheritance In Christ Jesus

This is an extract from day 21 titled YOUR AUTHORITY IN CHRIST. The whole booklet of 26 days to discover your christian inheritance is available free online.

“Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1).

A

s we enter into the subject of authority, remember we are looking at what God has already given to us by the Holy Spirit of promise. We see that he has given us eternal life, grace, hope, faith and more as our rightful inheritance in Christ. The only opposition Satan can set against you is to lie to you, to bluff you into taking wrong actions, even as when he deceived Eve in the garden. He wants to steal what God has given you by blinding your mind.

Satan has no power over you or me unless it has been given to him. How do we give it to him?

“The tongue has the power of life and death and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Prov 18:21) God has sovereignly ordained that the power of the universe is His Word spoken from His mouth. Jesus is the ‘Living Word’ the Word of God made flesh. All the authority or power of God is expressed to us by His Words to us. After Jesus had been resurrected, he gave the early disciples this commission:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”

(Matt 28:18-19) God the Father gave Jesus Christ the man ALL authority in heaven and on earth. What did He do with it? Answer - He gave it to His apostles! Notice that the pre-condition to the commission of the apostles was that He had ALL authority.

“Therefore” He said, “Go and make...”. This authority enables US, his body on earth, to make something, to make disciples or to make ‘disciplined ones’. This authority is to enable us to follow the lifestyle pattern that Jesus showed us, to imitate him and teach others to follow this example. If we are not following correctly He will gently correct us and tap us to bring us back to Him:

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent

his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (Prov 3:11-12).

Authority is useless, however, unless there is power to support it. God Almighty has the authority because He has the power! He made the earth and all that we are and have. He can destroy it at any time, He can change it at any time. Jesus was given this authority, the power to even change the forces of nature. Remember the story of Jesus calming the storm in Matt 8:23-27, the disciples conclude the story by saying, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus’ faith in His Father was total and never wavered, He had total confidence in receiving answers to his prayers.

“So they took away the stone.Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I know that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

(John 11:41-42) Immediately after this revealing prayer, Jesus exercised the authority He KNEW He had:

“When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”The dead man came out....” v43 Jesus makes the point that He has authority even over death itself! Now we are the body of Christ, we are His disciples and that very same authority HAS BEEN given to us. It is the authority to do what Jesus did, and more abundantly. It is power to destroy the work of Satan, even death. The apostle Paul prayed daily for those he trained (in the secrets of the Kingdom) to receive the revelation of this great power and authority that we now have:

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is like the working of his mighty power, which He exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and continued on page 24

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continued from page 14

been bowed down under it, by God’s grace; I have been able to sustain it. I have had bereavements,”— and he points to the many graves he has left behind him in the wilderness—“But I have been helped to bury wife and children, and faith has enabled me to say with bursting heart, ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ I have had many conflicts, but I have always overcome through the blood of the Lamb. I have been slandered, as all men must be, but I have taken that with all my other crosses upon my shoulders— and I have found it light when I have carried it by faith. I can say that such is the hallowed serenity and calm which the religion of Jesus gives to my heart at all times, and all seasons, that I do believe it, not as a matter of head, but as a matter of heart. My heart is itself experimentally convicted that this cannot but be the religion of God, seeing that it works such wonders for me.”

Remember, dearly beloved, this is the right way to believe in Jesus, because this is the way in which you can believe in Him when you come to die. You have heard of the renowned bishop, a true servant of our Lord and Master. On his dying bed, memory reeled. He had grown old and forgotten everything.

His friends said to him, “Do you not know us?”

There was a shake of the head. He had taken sweet counsel with them, walked to the house of God in their company, but he had forgotten them all! Next, the children clustered round the hoary father, and they begged him to remember them. But he shakes his head, he had forgotten them all! Last came his wife, and she thought, was it possible that she should be forgot- ten? Yes, he had forgotten her, and shook his head again. At last, one said in his ear, “Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?” The response was instantaneous! That charming name, Lord, brought back consciousness from its innermost retreat to the more outward temple of the mind! “Know Him?” he said, “Yes, He is all my salvation and all my desire.”

You see it was the heart that knew Jesus, and though the heart may know the wife and the child, yet never can the heart know the dearest earthly object as it knows Christ! The letters of earthly names may be larger than the name of Christ, but the name of Christ is cut deeper. All other names may be cut deep through many skins of the soul, if I may use so strange a metaphor, but that name is cut into the core, right into the core of the soul! He who believes with his heart, has Christ in him, not on him—Christ in him, the hope of glory!

My dear hearers, you who have not believed in Jesus, I have tried not to puzzle you with refinements, but to talk in simple style. I think it is a very blessed thing that the text says, “With the heart man believes,” because some of you might say, “I have not head enough to be a Christian.” If you had not any head at all, if you had a loving heart, you could believe in Jesus! You may say, “Why, I never had any very great natural parts.” No great natural parts are needed! You may say, “I never had any education,” and by the way, I do like to see smock frocks here, I would to God that more would come—“I never had any education; I went to a national school, and PAGE 18 REVIVAL TIMES

they taught me many things; but I do not re- member them.” Well, suppose you do not remember them; you have a heart, and some of you have bigger hearts than many who have let their brains swell while their hearts have shrivelled; you can believe with your heart! Your heart can see that Christ is such a Christ as you need—that pardon and mercy are just what you require—and your heart can say, and may God the Holy Spirit make it say, “I accept Christ; I trust in Christ; I take Christ to be my all in all.” This precious word, “With the heart man believes,” sets the gate of heaven wide open to those who are of the least capacity, who seem to be on the very verge of idiocy, if there should be such persons here. Even those who write themselves down as being the biggest fools that ever lived, such fools as these may still believe! “The wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein.”

III. Now, I must conclude, intending to take the second half of the text next Sunday morning, if God spares our lives. I take the most necessary first. You may go to heaven without confessing—you cannot go to heaven without believing. So we have the believing first, and the other can come next. I have to close by noticing THE RESULT of faith. “With the heart man believes UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS.” The text means that the man who believes in Christ is righteous—he is righteous at once, in a moment; he is righteous in the germ. When God makes up the account, He has two books. The one is the black book in which He writes down the name of the ungodly, the unrighteous. You may look all through that and though that man has been a thief, a whoremonger and adulterer; though he has been the biggest sinner that ever defiled society and polluted God’s air, you may look that book through, if that man has been led to believe with his heart—his name is not there among the unrighteous! You cannot find it there; it is not in that book. You must get the other. You look into the Book of Life, and there is the name of Noah, Daniel and Ezekiel, John the Baptist, and so on. You say, “You do not expect to find that man’s name there, do you?” I do. If that man believed in Jesus Christ with his heart, he has believed unto righteousness, and his name is there among the righteous men; for he is righteous, first of all, in the germ. God has put into him an unquenchable spark of righteousness; He has dropped into that man’s heart a vitalizing force which never, by any possibility, can die! It has made him righteous in part, already, and which will go on until it has sanctified him, spirit, soul, and body— and made him completely righteous—in the real sense of the term righteous—righteous in the sense of holiness through the sanctification of the Spirit!

But there is another sense. The moment the man believes in Jesus Christ, he is in the righteousness of Christ—perfectly righteous; He has put upon him the Saviour’s garments. You heard Mr. Weaver say on this platform—I thought it was a good illustration— that one day he met with a very poor man who was in rags. This man, being a Christian, he wished to befriend him; he told him if he would go home with him, he would give him a suit of clothes. “So,” said Richard, “I went upstairs and took off my second best, and put on my Sunday best, for I did not want

Believing with the Heart

NO. 519 A SERMON DELIVERED ON SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 12, 1863, BY THE REV. C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON. 1863.

“For with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10).

VERY star in heaven yields its ray of light to cheer the mariner upon the watery waste, but there are leaders among that sparkling host— stars of the first magnitude—whose golden lamps are so dexterously hung, and trimmed with such excessive care, that they offer way-marks to the wanderer by which he may be able to steer his vessel to the desired haven. So all the promises of Scripture are full of comfort! In their sphere, they glow and glisten with the warmth and light of love; but there are “bright particular stars,” even among these— promises, conspicuous as Orion, brilliant as the Pleiades, fixed as Arcturus with his sons. Brothers and sisters, you know those soul-saving texts to which I refer, which are radiant with comfort, and have in them such a blessed combination of simple words and comforting sentences, that they guide multitudes of sinners to the port of peace in Jesus Christ! My text, I think, is one of these. At least, the doctrine which it teaches—that of salvation by faith—is the very polestar of the gospel; and he who steers by it shall find the heavenly shore! Be not at all displeased that such a truth of God should again be proclaimed in your hearing. The physician who is about to go abroad, and knows that he shall not be able to procure more drugs, lays in a store of all the valued medicines in pharmacy, but he buys the largest stock of remedies for the more common diseases of the body; and so, my brothers and sisters, we are bound in our ministry to preach upon all sorts of subjects; we ought not to bring out things old and old, but things new and old; yet the preacher must dwell most upon that doctrine which is the most required, and is most likely to heal the sin-sick soul. We believe that for every one converted under another doctrine, there have been 10 brought to Christ by the simple preaching of salvation by faith.

Although every truth in Scripture is like a mesh of the great gospel net, the great truth of justification by faith makes up so many meshes that it constitutes the major part of the net, and holds within its influence great multitudes of fishes.

God help us to cast this net today on the right side of the ship! While I let down the great dragnet, you take your share in the gospel fishery, and pray that God may send the fishes into it, and may His name be praised this day both in heaven and on earth!

The text very simply divides itself into two parts.

Faith and confession. The two are joined together. Let no man put them asunder. “With the heart man believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Three things on each of these topics.

First, upon faith. We have here set before us, either in the text, or in the context, the object of faith, the nature of faith, and its result.

E

I.THE OBJECT OF FAITH is clearly mentioned in the context.

The preceding verse runs thus—“That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” It is evident, then, that Jesus Christ, dead and risen, is the foundation of faith! The object of faith is probably the most important subject of our contemplation. I believe there are many who think too much of their faith and too little of the object of it. For many a weary month, they are questioning whether they have the right sort of faith—whereas, they would do a great deal better if they looked to see whether their faith rested upon the right Foundation; for after all, while faith is important, the foundation of that faith is all-important, and we must look most to Him. Now, soul-saving faith rests, according to a thousand places in Scripture, upon Christ—upon Christ in all His characters, works, and offices. Faith, first of all, rests upon Christ, as incarnate. What was sung by angels becomes the song of the poor depressed spirit. Jesus, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem’s manger—God was made flesh and dwelt among us. Faith believes this great mystery of godliness—God manifest in the flesh—believes that He, by whom the heavens were framed, and without whom was not anything made that was made, did for us men and for our salvation, come down from heaven to tabernacle in the virgin’s womb. Faith so believes this as to draw comfort from it, for, says faith, “If God thus became man that He might come into nearness with our nature, this deed of love attracts me, gives me confidence toward God, and bids me approach the Lord with boldness, inasmuch as God comes to me.”— “Till God in human flesh I see, My thoughts no comfort find; The holy, just and sacred Three Are terrors to my mind.

But if Immanuel’s face appears, My hope, my joy, begins—His name forbids my slavish fear, His grace removes my sins.”

Faith next sees Christ in His life. She perceives that He is perfect; in obedience, sanctified wholly to His work, and although, “Tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.” faith delights to admire and adore Him in His complete obedience to the law of God; and she perceives with rapture, that in every jot and tittle, He has fulfilled it, magnified it, and made it honourable. Faith, with holy boldness, cries, “This righteousness shall be mine, Christ has kept the law for me.

Evidently He was under no necessity to do this of Himself; but being found in fashion as a man for my salvation, He with the same end and objective kept that law.” faith looks to that righteousness of Christ and, like the apostle, she learns to say, “Yes doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, continued on page 12

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Let God Speak to your Heart Nothing speaks more than the pure Word of God the Father through his servants the Prophets. This chapter of Isaiah is a plea to both Israel and the World to turn again back to faith in their creator.

Isaiah 55 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 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.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

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lamps and eating the bread and renewing it. How can this be? The answer is given to us in Jesus’ statement in verse 8: ‘For the Son of Man is Lord EVEN of the Sabbath’ The issue here is really one of ‘Lordship’ that is ‘Kingship’, and it is important to note that the two instances of exemption that Jesus gives only involved the role of priests. This will be the key to understanding what this all means then and for us today.

The Levitical Priesthood The Levite priests of God were a set-apart group from the whole nation, purchased by God, and they had been commanded to live differently from everyone else (they were in the world, but not of it (Num 3:11-13. See John 17:14)! They served in the Temple and offered the sacrifices for the purifying of the whole nation (their brothers), their existence meant that God could have mercy on them all when they messed up and sinned. The Levites enjoyed the presence of God in the Holy Place daily and the High Priest in the Most Holy Place once per year, they were very special to God. They lived in this shadow of the heavenly kingdom, the tabernacle, the temple, His dwelling place. This gave them ‘exemption’ from the curse of the Law of the Sabbath, because they worked in His presence 24/7*. God had sanctified them or separated them for himself! (* Levite priests worked on a rotation system and when not working in the services would have obeyed the laws exactly as the other tribes. Also they were retired off at 50 years of age!).

Now all the people and even the Pharisees and teachers of the law fully accepted this state of affairs, because without this priesthood they were doomed as a nation! If they failed to maintain the priesthood effectively they knew that they would be cast out of their land and lose their inheritance (this had happened twice). With soft hearts they did this gladly, willingly and with joy, but over time we see that their hearts grew hard and they did this grudgingly. Additional burdens were added by the lawyers (rules of men) for their own benefit and

for financial gain.

This ‘going beyond what was written’ blinded their minds to the mercy expressed in the priesthood system and it blinded their minds to who Jesus was - the King of Mercy - the great High Priest of heaven itself! Like David Jesus was on a mission, his was to preach his kingdom in every town and village, his disciples with him were like David’s fighting men, but more Jesus considered them his priests! So we see this scripture fulfilled by Jesus and his disciples. Jesus considered the disciples equivalent to his priests and exempt from any judgement.

The apostles were in no doubt about this fact (see Rev 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5).

So Jesus and his disciples were seen as Sabbath breakers because to Pharisees they were working by doing something only permitted by priests. However, Jesus was building his new priesthood of a New Covenant and showing mercy to the people as the living High Priest and Apostle of faith. The Kingdom had come among them. They reacted with indignation because to them he was from Judah and not Levi and had no rights or exemptions from strict observance of Levitical law and so this led them to accuse Jesus as a blasphemer. For them this was a very serious issue and one of the many reasons they plotted to kill him, thinking they were serving God! They were blind to the truth that was staring them in the face, but this is what was prophesied (Matt 13:1415). The disciples were literally dwelling with God 24/7 and had re-entered the same rest that Adam and Eve experienced before the fall on the very first Sabbath, the 7th day of rest. Immanuel or ‘God with us’ brings a permanent rest. Jesus was busy fulfilling the whole Law and the prophets in this way, whilst at the same time training his apostles to become the new holy nation - a kingdom of priests by the Spirit, exempt from law. This was always the Father’s original plan, but one which they rejected (Exod 19:6; Psalm 81:11).

One Greater Than The Temple Here was Jesus telling them that he was greater than the Temple which they worshipped and this was even more blasphemous (in their eyes). He said that he was even greater than the Law! We can see why their anger rose up, they did not recognise him for who he was - God in the flesh!

The implications of all this to us, who are followers of Jesus, is very very significant. Our own understanding of the Sabbath and the Law, what it is and its real purpose for us who are ‘in Christ’ must be based on Christ’s word. Understanding the Sabbath rest will prevent us from being complacent and hardening our hearts like the Pharisees did. Their understanding was not based on ‘who Jesus was’, but on ‘who they were’ and their traditions and this deceived them. This is why Jesus said, “beware the yeast (teaching) of the Pharisees and Sadducees”, because when this bitterness exists hearts can only see from a ‘earthly’ point of view! If we are relying on any part of the Law to justify our actions or beliefs we have fallen from relying on the ‘heavenly’ point of view, that is on Christ alone and are in danger of being subject to the curses of that Law (Gal 5:4).

Purpose of the Sabbath - Rest So then as believers in Jesus redemptive work we are ‘born again from above’ into a Kingdom who’s new High Priest is Jesus himself and we are ALL called to be his priests, even kings, serving with him in the earth (1 Pet 2:9).

Just as God purchased the Levites he has purchased us for himself (Exod 3:12) by his blood. Perhaps you never quite realised this when you came to know him?

What does this mean with regard to the Law of Moses? Paul tells us that ‘we are not under the Law, but under grace’ (Rom 6:14) that we are not under the ‘Moses Levitical covering’, but under ‘Jesus’ Melchizedek covering’. This means that we abide with him in the holy place (in heaven), we can even go into the holy of holies at any stage we need to! Wow! what a wonder, what a magnificent grace has been given!

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Today If You Hear His Voice “Now we who have believed do enter that rest (disciples), just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger,‘They (Jews) shall never enter my rest.’” (Psa 95:11 ) And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” Therefore since it still remains for some (Jews) to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Psalm 95:7,8) For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God (Jews); for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works (law), just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” (Heb 4:3-11).

This brings us back to the exhortation and warning to ‘enter God’s rest’ and stop trying to please God by outward laws, but to simply listen and obey. First notice the two groups of people mentioned in this passage. First those who DO enter God’s rest -the disciples or followers of grace in Christ, secondly notice that the other group are those who disobeyed the gospel in the wilderness and so God said ‘they shall NEVER enter my rest’. Why? Simply because they refused to ‘hear’ God speak to them personally. See what happened: “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear.They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exod 20:18-19).

God warned them not to approach him up the mountain PAGE 20 REVIVAL TIMES

because of his holiness and power, but the Israelites wrongly believed that God wanted to kill them! Their fear of death hardened them against hearing God’s voice. This is what God offered them all (without death) through consecration, but instead they gave in to fear and wanted Moses to be an intermediary. If they had only waited to hear the ‘Rams horn’ promised by the Lord (Exod 19:13) they could have gone up in the mountain and met with God just as Moses had done before them. The fear of death prevented them from receiving God’s best.

If they had each chosen to know God for themselves, as Moses had proven was possible, they would have all found the rest, peace and glory that Moses knew! However they chose second best, they chose as a nation to have the Word interpreted for them by a mediator. Moses therefore remained their shepherd (Pastor) an intermediary and the people failed to receive God’s grace by faith (Gospel).

Come up The Mountain Today Exodus 19 reveals to us that God’s desire was always to have a ‘Kingdom of Priests’, a ‘treasured possession’, but the Hebrew people refused this and so they ended up with a temporary measure (a shadow)with a three tier system. The Tabernacle with a High Priest, his sons as priests, then the Levite assistants and a lot of work to bring sacrifices under various laws. God gave this system so that he could still show grace and mercy to them by freeing their consciences from guilt and fear. He gave Moses the Laws to teach the people how to be holy despite their stubborn hearts. This was their choice, not God’s best. The Laws revealed their sin and what they had lost by rejecting his voice for themselves (Rom 3:20).s The writer to the Hebrews powerfully reveals that for disciples of Christ there is a special place of ‘REST’ or ‘peace’ that we must enter into TODAY. His holy mountain! This is a place in our hearts that the people of

Israel (under the Law) never entered or experienced because they refused to, even though they entered the promised land with Joshua. They had refused to listen for the Jubilee shofar in Sinai and this changed the course of their history.

TODAY, says the writer, we come to the mount Sion, the heavenly Jerusalem, where God dwells and that we too must not refuse him who speaks. We must not run from God’s Word, but rather run into the mountain, because Jesus has opened the way into the heavens! (Heb 12).

Jesus gives us his righteousness TODAY - so that we can HEAR and OBEY him every day anywhere!

In The Beginning God Rested This holy rest was the first life experience of Adam and Eve at the creation of the earth when Jesus made all things with the Father by the Spirit. They made man on the sixth day to be like them, to be able to fully know them and to dwell with them in peace. All the work of creation had been done before man came along, the earth had been prepared for man to enter and to have dominion over in a priestly and kingly service to him - perfect! They even had a special garden as an example of how God wanted the whole earth to flourish.

So mankind’s first full day of existence was on the SEVENTH day or on the Sabbath day. On this day God the Father spent time dwelling with mankind enjoying all that He had made, it was good! Man had no job stress, no worries about anything, he had no pressure, there was no calendar or clock because every day was the same and everything was provided for - it was easy.

The whole focus of his day was the Father in relationship with his children without sin or fear. There was nothing else to do but relax and enjoy the goodness of God. For man the seventh day was every day because every day they were living in his presence and blessing.

When it says ‘God rested’ it

rituals as a means to guarantee ultimate salvation.

We are told not to ‘add to’ or ‘subtract from’ Jesus Christ’s word and testimony (Rev 22:18-19). This means that we have the perfect measuring rod, a cornerstone, a plumb line and THE perfect example that we can trust as THE truth - Jesus’ life and the Holy Spirit he gives us. This is confusing to the natural man of flesh and those trapped in iniquity.

The carnal man seeks solutions of their own making, rather than forsaking the world and trusting only in an invisible God and his revealed Word Jesus Christ!

(1 Corin 2:14). “ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

(Col 1:13-20)

Enduring to the end As we have seen Satan uses two distinct approaches to deceive the nations - Sin & Iniquity. The World System and the Harlot Church who rides upon that political system. As Christians we must break free in our minds and also in our lifestyle from the clutches of this trap of darkness.

If we do not break free we are risking both our lives and the lives of those we love, because iniquity stains your soul and spirit grieving God. It grieves him because as a holy God he must withdraw from you, so that you are not destroyed, but this means that you are left to your own devices. Jesus is the only way to the Father and showed us how to cooperate with the Spirit to live righteously like Jesus. If we reject this way we will end up living in an alternative which will lead to destruction maybe even for a Christian!

“As it is written,There is none righteous, no not one:There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known:There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

(Rom 3:10-18) n

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The Scroll of Isaiah The Reliability of the Bible confirmed

Replica of the actual complete Isaiah scroll found at Qumran in the Dead Sea caves. This is on display in the Shrine of the Book at the Israeli Museum in Jerusalem. The actual scroll is in a sealed vault beneath the museum.

I

n 1987, as the Dead Sea Scrolls publishing controversy captured the world’s attention, a graduate student by the name of Peter Flint moved from South Africa to the United States. He took a doctoral fellowship at the University of Notre Dame and began to study under one of the figures at the center of the controversy, Eugene Ulrich, the chief editor of the biblical Dead Sea Scrolls.

By 1997, Dr. Peter Flint had published the second largest portion of the biblical Dead Sea Scrolls: the Psalms Scrolls. This publication was full of discoveries that soon changed Bibles, Bible study, and biblical scholarship. Today, Flint is an editor of the largest intact Dead Sea Scroll: The Great Isaiah Scroll.

Since the Great Isaiah Scroll’s discovery in late 1946, an Indiana Jones-like story has followed it. The scroll has journeyed through the heart of war-torn Israel, Palestine and Jordan, through the hands of Bedouins, priests and scholars.

The definitive publication of the scroll is slated to be published in the critically acclaimed Discoveries of the Judean Desert series by the end of 2008. The findings published so far hint that this forthcoming publication will have a massive impact on the way we think of the Bible.

The Great Isaiah Scroll tells the story of how we got our Bible. Because of this, nations and individuals alike have felt connected to the scroll, but very few people have felt as connected to this ancient artifact as Dr. Peter Flint.

Read the interview about his work at: http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2013/04/17/TheGreat-Isaiah-Scroll-and-the-Original-Bible-An-Interview-withDr-Peter-Flint.aspx

The discovery of the scrolls should boost our faith and trust in the Bible we have inherited. “The Great Isaiah Scroll, and all the Dead Sea Scrolls, are faithaffirming, life-giving, and historically accurate” (Dr Peter Flint).

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appear holy and boast about how many followers they have. They also look to benefit from their members materially through financial gain, taking a position of importance not sanctioned in scripture such as Pastor, Priest, Father, Leader, Bishop etc.

We must be careful not to slip into these erroneous traditions because Jesus redefined true spiritual leadership, not modelled on the hierarchy of the world, but on him alone! We are called to live only by obedience to the Spirit and the Word as given

by Jesus and not to any man or organisation. This is a radical idea for many today, but it was what Jesus taught and what the apostles did! If we think that over the years we have improved on his original teaching we are very mistaken and guilty of iniquity, so beware!

The Only Saviour The Father GAVE his Son to save the world as a FREE GIFT of grace. Iniquity occurs in Christianity where this free gift is distorted or sold for profit using manipulation and legalism (even based on the law of God!). The false gospel perversions can have a very powerful appearance of ‘doing good’, but closer inspection reveals a serious error. As Paul clearly teaches just one such error ruins the whole lump!

“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.” (Gal 5:9, see also 1 Corin 5:6).

It’s possible that individuals can have the outward appearance of a pious and even ‘holy’ life and yet, because they submit to false teaching and rituals of law they are unwittingly guilty of iniquity.

These rituals can then become cultural norms and accepted by following generations as normal and truth. This normalisation disguises these rituals things such as: ‘Church temples’; ‘Mass’; ‘Communion’; ‘Christmas’; ‘Easter’; ‘Halloween’; ‘Sabbath’ keeping etc., none of which are commanded by Jesus or the apostles. Even the old testament feasts and rituals were ended by Christ’s glorious new work of grace. These biblical rituals, although good for then and full of insights, are now not necessary in order to please God (see 1 Corin 5:8; Phil 3:7-8; Heb 8:13, 9:10, 10:9, Rom 3:20). This is hard to see when it feels normal in our culture, but our culture is wrong and that’s why we suffer so many problems. Christ is the fullness!

Jesus puts an end to ALL this unnecessary activity!

“Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Heb 10:9 ) “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb 8:13) Let me tell you the secret ‘it has vanished away!’

Iniquity is a very serious condition and which PAGE 4 REVIVAL TIMES

ultimately destroyed Israel as a nation under God’s rule. The problem is that true or false rituals invite demon spirits into the lives of the participants, eventually bringing in death and corruption.

There are also many pagan rituals throughout the year created by deceived people over many centuries. Satan himself deceiving them into occult practices, including things such as winter solstice, pagan feasts, drug taking, rock ‘n’ roll concerts and even the mundane obsession with shopping and fashion, so called ‘retail therapy’! (Matt 6:32).

Any nation which follows these iniquitous false doctrines (gods) will ultimately be destroyed by evil corruption (demonisation, see Rom 3). History proves this to be the case (Deut 31:18), because God hides his face from those who worship idols! If they invite the devil he comes to kill, steal and destroy! (John 10:10). Sadly we see many cultures suffering because of this ignorant error such as; India (Hinduism); Asia (Islamism); China (Confusionism); Europe (Catholicism); USA (Materialism) etc. Billions of people are currently deceived into believing such lies from the pit of hell - teachings of demons!

However, despite terrible persecution the Gospel of the Kingdom is also expanding against these evil systems. The wheat and the weeds growing together (Matt 13:30) as Jesus prophesied.

Can a true believer be deceived?

Can a genuine Christian still be iniquitous even having believed? Consider if you will Simon the sorcerer who repented, became a believer and was baptised. Someone most of us would agree was a Christian. Although obviously a new believer he apparently was still affected by bitterness and ‘iniquity’ in his thinking. This was revealed in his selfish ambitions to buy and sell the Holy Spirit for profit.

“And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him,Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”

(Acts 8:18-23).

Simon had somehow missed the point about the free grace of the Holy Spirit, which he was afterwards sorry for, but this reveals a key point. Thinking that money can buy you favour with God is iniquitous.

Surely we don’t do that today do we? This case proves that iniquity such as this in Simon can still dwell in an inexperienced unsanctified believer.

We must all check our hearts that we do not see the grace of God as a means to profit financially.

By becoming a man of flesh God clearly revealed his perfect will for humanity and particularly for the remnant who believed. Now we can live by Christ’s faith (authority) in this present age by trusting in his free grace and power, being freed from law and ALL

does not mean he did nothing!

‘Nothing’, says Jesus, ‘is impossible for the Father’ for ‘he is always working’. The abundant energy of life that exudes from the glorious awesome person who is God breaks out continuously like a river in full flood that never stops!

When he rested he merely stopped making ‘material things’ on earth for the one day and focussed on being with Adam and Eve in the love of His glorious grace - wow! It gets better because the next day that dawned Adam and Eve were still in that rest, they still had his presence with them and they still enjoyed the abundant provision. (This was mirrored by the Levite priests inside the holy place, like heaven on earth). This may have gone on for 1 day or 100 years we don’t know. For them this presence was ‘normal life’ and this grace and innocence went on day after day as long as they did one thing obey him and not break the one law - do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

They knew that if they did they would die, however think about this, they had never experienced death - they had no idea what this was?

The Mystery Revealed Jesus the creator put the tree of knowledge into this garden deliberately. It was not far away on the other side of earth where one day they may have stumbled upon it. Why was it even there?

We understand why the Tree of Life was there because (in hindsight) we all want to live forever, so why would Jesus put that tree of the knowledge of good and evil in this special place too? Here is the mystery, the conundrum that has puzzled mankind for centuries, and here we see Jesus the creator seemingly creating his own problem, why?

But Jesus has also given us the secret revelation as to why he did this and it is stated by Paul: “It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free” (Gal 5:1) Can you see it? Can you see that in order for us ‘to be like him’ we must have free choice! Free will to obey or disobey. Jesus took the

risk that one day they may give in to the temptation by the serpent, but in order for us to have FREE WILL and to willingly LOVE him in return, not just for what he created, but for WHO HE IS there had to be a choice made.

He whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

This is why we were chosen from the creation of the world to KNOW HIM in spirit and in TRUTH. If we reject Jesus the WORD of God (our creator) to satisfy ourselves with the knowledge of evil we leave his rest, his peace. When we think we know best and do not live by every Word that proceeds from his mouth (daily) we choose death - and we now understand what death is - and it’s really bad. After all Adam and Eve did become LIKE HIM (Gen 3:22) and so do we - FREE. In order that mankind would not be trapped in sin under the curse of the law Father prevented Adam and Eve from eating any more from the Tree of Life and so he cast them out of the garden.

Their Sabbath ended right then!

They lost access to the Tree of Life and entered spiritual death which would later end in physical death - disconnection God’s Presence 24/7. He was now a slave to sin (Satan) and work, they had chosen the lie instead of God’s Word - they disobeyed. Sin is choosing to listen to anything other than God’s Word for guidance.

Overcome Evil with Good As disciples we must not be fooled like our parents into thinking that we can disobey and succeed - we cannot. Just as Jesus created and did everything for Adam and Eve’s physical provision, Jesus has also provided everything we need for our spiritual needs by faith. Because of his sacrifice once for all upon the ‘tree’ (cross) Jesus tells us that the old has gone the new has come, we are now able to be like God knowing good and evil and yet have the power to OVERCOME evil with GOOD. We become equal with God in this way because He makes us equal with himself when we believe

His Word of grace to us. When we operate as his priests we are separated from this old world and Satan’s kingdom. We function as part of the new creation where everyday in eternity is the same - life in his presence the eternal sabbath rest of the Kingdom of Heaven!

Restoring The Garden So the Sabbath Law given to Moses is used by God as a sign to the Israelites and all mankind of His Holy Heavenly Rest that we lost in Eden. A time before slavery and toil was introduced to restrain sin. As we have seen ONE DAY out of the EVERY DAY was given to Israel as a ‘holy’ day to give them ‘a taste’ of what it could be like everyday without working for our own salvation or provision - a foretaste! These things in the past were merely a shadow of the reality that was to come back to mankind. ‘The reality’, says Paul, ‘is found in Jesus Christ’, so we can now dwell with our maker 100% of the day, day after day into eternity! Hallelujah! He is our tabernacle dwelling! We can choose LIFE. This is he good news!

“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” (Exod 31:13).

As mentioned this ‘sign’ of the Sabbath was God’s promise that a time would come when the remnant of his people would have opportunity to return to him and enter that lost eternal rest and SHALOM (wholeness). It seemed so distant to them and all mankind until the NEW covenant came through Messiah, they were limited to just a taste, only a shadow of what could be.

“The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant.” (Exod 31:16).

Only having a taste does not satisfy the hunger of the heart, so that they were always longing for more.

The Last Adam Paul tells us that Jesus came as REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 21

the LAST Adam (1 Corin 15:45) to undo what Adam did. As we have seen Adam broke one law, Jesus had to fully obey 613 laws and then to be the actual sacrifice to destroy the power of death! He came as LORD of THE SABBATH or Lord of REST the Prince of PEACE! King of the heavenly Jerusalem. He was showing us how awesome his Father is and how weak we are and how much we need him to dwell IN US daily.

We must now realise that it is for this FREEDOM that Christ sets us free from the shadow of the law, and the bondage of sin going from just one day of peace and into his FULL GRACE which is EVERY DAY. We must rest from trying to obey the law in any form in order to be holy, and rely totally on his provision and of the Holy Spirit whom he has sent into our hearts by faith. It has ALL been done for us by Him and this is the whole point of grace - so relax and receive.

If we cannot receive this we have fallen from grace, we have not entered his rest we are in disobedience and still under law and all the curses that come with it!! This has huge implications as to how we live our daily lives as a disciple, priest, servant and willing slave of Jesus our Lord and saviour.

So we can see that if we think that by ritualistically trying to keep the Sabbath day (whether Sunday or Saturday or any day) as if it justifies us with God or man (by men who say we should do it), we are deceived. We lower ourselves to mere laws, we go back into the limitations of the legalism. Why only have one day when you can live in all SEVEN! This is why Paul the apostle is so adamant about this issue in writing to the disciples in Galatia.

“For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” (Gal 3:10) If your Christian life is hard and not clear then it is likely that you have missed entering his rest and fallen from grace into law. If you feel like you are under a curse then perhaps you are trying to

keep the Law thinking you are obeying Christ? You need to be led by the Spirit not by the letter of the Law, you need to STOP and ASK God to speak his living word right into your heart! Fear not you will not die! It’s a simple process of hearing and obeying - but first you MUST hear.

“But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:26-28) “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Gal 5:16-18).

A Change In The Priesthood Earlier we looked at the Levitical priesthood and how they appeared to break the Sabbath law. The real reason for this is that by being in the Tabernacle or the Temple they were in effect entering the Kingdom of Heaven.

A bit like an Embassy where the land of the nation is represented and is considered part of that very nation. The priests were only given the Lord as their portion, as their inheritance. Jesus has now changed the priesthood from the Levitical (under law, earth) to the spiritual (under grace, heaven).

He is called the High Priest of Heaven on the throne in the Most Holy Place and we are his priests serving him in the Holy Places (courts) of the heavens.

Even more than this Paul tells us that there is now no veil and we can boldly approach His throne!!

WOW! can we be so bold? YES! “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Every high priest is selected from among

PAGE 22 REVIVAL TIMES

the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called

by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place,“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

(Heb 4:14-5:6) Have you heard God the Spirit say to you those very same words? “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?

As priests of our heavenly Father we are with him in the eternal realm of glory, by faith in the work of our High Priest who has changed the priesthood from the order of Levi (with hierarchy) to the order Melchizedek (with access). The Sabbath has shifted from one day to everyday, because in heaven time is endless and every moment is in his presence and in service to him. We are now members of the New Jerusalem which is in heaven (not the one in Israel Gal 4:26). We must not go back again to the yoke of slavery, back to observing the law to be justified before God because we have it all for free already!

The Old Has Gone So we must not think that we need to have a mixture of the old Law and the new grace in order to walk with Christ in the earth today, because as we have said THE OLD HAS GONE! This has been a fact for the last 1,945 years since the destruction of the last Temple in Israel. I am telling you what the Bible tells us, it’s there in black and white - can you see it?

“For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said

continued from cover

Since Jesus came this ‘iniquity’ or perverting of God’s truth in Christ (The Rock) is also the ‘paganising’ and/or ‘Judaising’ of the Gospel of freedom back to ‘law’ and ‘works’ for justification (known as legalism).

‘Sin’ (Greek: hamartias), more often relates to personal unrighteousness and evil behaviour towards others. This word is often better translated as ‘trespass’ (KJV) which better conveys the idea of affecting another such as tresspassing on another’s property. It’s an invasion of some else’s privacy, property and livelihood. For example, you cannot murder God who is a Spirit (although they tried!), whereas you can ‘sin’ and murder a relative or neighbour (as did Cain). You can steal from another person, but you cannot steal from God, who owns all things. These are sins and not iniquity even though forbidden by God’s holy Law. His Law deals with ‘Iniquity’ against God (1st 5 commandments) and ‘sin’ against your neighbour (2nd 5 commands Exod 20).

Hence we have the summary Royal Law of ‘Love God’ and ‘Love your neighbour’ to prevent both these errors. The differentiation between the two opposing Satanic characteristics are important to understand to avoid being deceived. Many people will say that they love their neighbour and wish them no harm, however they may well be guilty of iniquity, denying God and Christ as Lord (Love God). When you look for it the distinction between sin and iniquity is in many places in Scripture.

“At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” (Dan 9:21-24) This passage prophesies the first coming of Jesus Christ who brought everlasting righteousness thus making an end of sins and reconciliation for their idol worship (iniquity). Jesus sealed up (fulfilled) vision and prophecy being anointed by the Spirit.

This is also described by Isaiah.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isa 53:5) As well as post Temple Judaism, all false religion such as Baal worship, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism etc. is considered ‘iniquitous’ by Jesus as they claim to be the spiritual truth for salvation both for this life and or the next (as they perceive it). These ‘faiths’ pervert the truth of God’s spoken Word and set up alternative rules of conduct (legalism) to justify their ritual behaviour, in order to gain an advantage. This brings a false peace and a false security in their minds and in their followers.

Unfortunately for them these rituals are not recognised by the Almighty as any solution to their sin or iniquity against Him. Their religious ‘rituals’ and traditional lifestyle have no relation to the

example of Christ, whom we must know, emulate and obey. These ‘false religions’ do not deliver them from secret evil thoughts and sinful behaviour. They are no solution to the curse of the law and death itself! The blind lead the blind and fall into the pit!

Thus these subtle (and not so subtle) deceptions permit the violation of God’s revealed commands on many levels and as a result this leads to curses and judgement similar to those seen in the history of Israel and Egypt (Exod 7). God cannot prevent their choices and as such judgement reveals to the world that He alone is the one true God as he tries to save sinners. Iniquitous religion like this does away with true ‘repentance from sin’, what the Bible calls ‘living in the fear of the Lord’, ‘Yirah’ (Hebrew) and meaning ‘respect’ or ‘awe’ for God’s holy power which destroys sin and iniquity.

“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” (Psa 86:11).

Iniquitous religions often explain away their calamity, sickness and judgment on their own failure to sufficiently obey their own rules and laws, these poor deceived person’s are driven by this guilt to ‘do better’ and often look for hope in the many superstitions such as ‘good and bad luck’, ‘ying and yang’, ‘karma’ and even ‘spiritual faith’.

They often make ‘offerings’ and prayers to idols in order to appease their false ‘gods’ to quieten their anger or earn their favour. Guilt and fear are used to manipulate emotions to the benefit of those who officiate the religion at the top of the hierarchy (usually a false priesthood). Often forgiveness must be bought or earned by members to be justified (e.g. RC indulgences or hail Mary’s, the compulsory tithing of money, church membership and keeping Mass etc.). These sorts of distortions of truth and reality, even (and especially) of true Christian beliefs, is an abomination in God’s sight and an abuse of the liberty and freedom Christ died for.

The Truth Twisted In these final ages (since Christ) the perversion of Christian truth has led to multiple ‘denominations’ and ‘cults’ (especially since the 17th & 18th centuries) that are now prevalent in all modern cultures.

These hierarchical divisions are mostly iniquitous and not founded on a true relationship with Jesus as the only Lord (Matt 23:8; Eph 4:5-6) being mainly legalistic and hierarchical. He himself warned those who were seeing and hearing him, that even if you’re involved in ‘ministry’ it can’t save you if you are also involved in iniquity! You must also know him by the Spirit in Truth and obedience to his Words regarding true church and the Kingdom.

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. (Matt 7:22-23) “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa 66:18) The plethora of false gospels are promoted by ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’, in order that they might REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 3

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

ISSUE: 01

Revival – God’s Way Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

Revival times is a FREE publication offered to those who want to be encouraged and built up to know JESUS CHRIST as their Lord God and saviour. It is published

by Omega Ministries which is a non-denominational prophetic movement of believers who want to see the Kingdom come on earth as in heaven. Please send all enquiries or questions to the email address given below.

We recognise all material copyrights and thank God that all contributors take no wages for their work of faith in order to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and to revive his true church in our day.

All Scriptures are quoted from the King James Bible and or Greek and Hebrew, where appropriate, for clarity.

This paper and other teaching material is offered online for downloading and printing free of charge.

If you are inspired by the content of this paper please pass on to brothers and sisters for their encouragement.

Revival is a long lost concept in our modern society because the true Gospel has been perverted, watered down and twisted for personal gain by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Enough is enough and now the sleepers must awake from their spiritual stupor. The dead dry bones must live and the faithful army of the Lord arise and shine the beauty of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

The Call Has Gone Out Soldiers of Christ, arise And put your armour on, Strong in the strength which God supplies Through His eternal Son; Strong in Lord of hosts And in His mighty power: Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror

Where is the hope for Revival— God’s Holy Spirit outpoured Convicting of sin, and of judgement And righteousness of the Lord?

Break Free From The Law

When nothing else is important— Only God’s presence Divine, When Christians quit worldly pleasures, Then God, His ear will incline.

Desperate prayer for Revival Will cleanse the Church by the Word.

Then clothed in spotless, white linen, The Bride clears the way for her Lord.

Prayer is the key to Revival, Prayer that is true Spirit-born, Nights of compassionate weeping— Intercession for all the forlorn.

Then will the burdens be lifted, Then all the sinners will cry, Then all the chains will be loosened And worldly passions will die.

The lost ones will yield to God’s Spirit When Christians, cleansed, weep and pray; God’s Living Water flows outward; This is “Revival—God’s Way”!

—Estelle Gifford Jackson

Editor: Stephen Turnham © please copy and pass on

FIRST THOUGHTS That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us .

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Download the PDF here: www.omega-ministries.org email: info@omega-ministries.org

Apostle Paul

They will soar on wings like eagles; They will run and not grow weary, They will walk and not be faint .

Isaiah 40:28-31

PAGE 2 REVIVAL TIMES

in

The E pistle

to the

Romans

chapter

is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.” (Heb 7:12-16).

8

Jesus has made you a new creature, no longer part of this world, but part of heaven itself.

Either this is true or it’s not.

If it’s true then you must act accordingly with thanksgiving and joy in him and in his provision of grace - and relax!

Listen, God is on your side and wants you to be totally FREE, let no man (however clever or nice they seem) put you under a their yoke, don’t work for them work only for Jesus, because his work is easy and his burden light. Break free from religious obedience (which is disobedience to God) and LISTEN for His Word to you every day by the HOLY SPIRIT then do it fearlessly. Walk by the Spirit just as he did it. “ When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of the written code, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard

to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you.”

(Col 2:13-19).

Listen to what Paul is telling you - break free! Live in the reality!

Don’t settle for one day, get into the EVERY DAY. Don’t serve men, but just listen to the Spirit and he will guide you, teach you and help you. For you everyday is a holy day (holiday!) He is the creator and, just as he gave Adam the earth, he has now given you ALL THINGS, as well as ALL HEAVEN as your inheritance.

This is your priestly and kingly appointment your ordination by the Holy Spirit a deposit of guarantee! Amazing Grace!

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:5-6).

But what about the Law I hear you say? The answer comes from the apostles doctrine: “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Rom 13:8).

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this;Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Gal

5:14).

Ask yourself this question, ‘Am I able to love ALL my fellow men with the love that Christ Jesus has loved me?’ If the answer is ‘no’, then you do not have the Spirit of Christ or are suppressing him? If the answer is ‘Yes’ then you have fulfilled the law, because you are in Christ and he has fulfilled it on your behalf by love. God is love!

Just as he has shown us this mercy we should also show mercy to others and not judge them while they are currently unable to see this truth. We must help them enter the Kingdom of Heaven not put them in the shadow, in a religious institution which heaps additional burdens onto them.

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. (Jam 2:13).

Isn’t it wonderful when we see what Jesus has done so that we can be FREE from both Satan and man, no longer slaves either in reality or in our minds. Take up this abundant life and share it around, let Jesus do miracles for you and give you grace to share this good news to all nations.

The last word is given to the Lord of the Sabbath: Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29) n

continued from 18

to give him my best. I sent the man upstairs, and told him he would find a suit which he could put on, it was my second best. So after he had put on the clothes, and left his rags behind, he came down and said, ‘Well, Mr. Weaver, what do you think of me?’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘I think you look very respectable.’ ‘Oh, yes, but, Mr. Weaver, it is not me; I am not respectable, it is your clothes that are respectable.’ And so,” added Mr. Weaver, “so is it with the Lord Jesus Christ. He meets us covered with the rags and filth of sin, and He tells us to go and put on not His second best, but the best robe of His perfect righteousness. And when we come down with that on, we say, ‘Lord, what do You think of me?’ And He says, ‘Why, you are all fair, My love. There is no spot in you.’ We answer, ‘No, it is not I, it is Your righteousness; I am comely because You are comely. I am beautiful because You are beautiful.’”

So we may conclude by saying with Watts— “Strangely, my soul, are you arrayed By the great sacred Three!

In sweetest harmony of praise Let all your powers agree.”

All this is by believing—nothing but believing! After believing will come the confessing and the doing; but the saving—the righteousness—rests in the believing and in nothing else— “Nothing, sinner, do, Nothing great or small; Jesus did it all, Long, long ago.”

Come to Him as He is! Take Him as your complete righteousness, and you will have believed with your heart unto righteousness.

God add His own blessing, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. n REVIVAL TIMES PAGE 23

continued from page 17

seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be given, not only in the present age, but also in the one to come.” (Eph 1:18-21) You need to be ‘enlightened’ in order to know His INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER, it is for YOU, He has given it to you, it is available today! Now! It is the life giving creative resurrection power of Jesus!

The so called ‘leaders’ of this world (non believers) do not have all authority, NO NOT ONE! Only Jesus the King of Kings has ALL authority. Leaders, kings, emperors, pharaohs, popes, presidents or prime ministers will rise and fall in the earth, they will contest for the ‘top position’ seeking to have authority and power. But any authority they have is only there because the Father allows it for a season. Throughout history God has raised leaders to achieve His purpose and then deposed leaders who are unjust and misuse their authority.

God gives authority and removes it according to His purposes either for blessing or for judgement.

“Do you refuse to speak to me? Pilate said, “Don’t you realise I have the power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above..” (John 19:10-11) The authority Jesus has is based on His POSITION with God the Father. In Ephesians Paul told us that Jesus was ‘seated at His right hand in the heavenly realms, FAR ABOVE all rule and

authority’. Notice he said FAR ABOVE, not just above, but FAR above. That means there’s not comparison or competition between them! Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and as Paul also points out we are in Him! As believers this is where our authority flows from, the very throne of God himself. It is not earthly power or strength from man, no it is FAR ABOVE that, it is SPIRITUAL authority over ALL things made, because all things were made by the SPIRIT of GOD!

As we begin to recognise, accept and believe the revelation that WE HAVE AUTHORITY we must begin to exercise it.

We must SPEAK with boldness and confidence over the circumstances (storms) of life here on earth commanding the demonic powers that attempt to condemn us and ruin us.

We are to have DOMINION or as Paul says to REIGN as kings.

Jesus wants us to plunder the kingdoms of satan just as Christ himself did when He was here as man in humility. YOU can do it, believe it, accept it and speak it today! n

Prayer of Thanksgiving Lord Jesus I thank you that I am seated with you as a King because you dwell in me and I in you which means I can speak your Word of Power over every situation. I thank you that it is not by might but by your Spirit and so I speak out today with confidence and reign over life.

In this section are a number of websites which can help inspire you to to seek the Lord in effective praying and in getting out there doing as well. As always, JESUS CHRIST is our greatest example and the one to whom we must compare ourselves and obey. The greatest resource is the Bible itself, so please spend your main study time in the Word of God, preferably the King James Version!

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15 Free material to download, booklets and tracts.

Online Bible versions for comparison Online Bible versions and Greek / Hebrew Lexicon and Interlinear Powerful messages from one of the great preachers of the 19th Century Equipping and mobilizing indigenous churches and missionaries David Hathaway evangelistic website - recommended!

Revival preaching broadcasts to the world- David Hathaway Join the network of believers who want to see power evangelism Insights into current affairs and how to avoid deception A useful site for the latest in Biblical related finds A good source for some of the best Wesleyan texts and comment The best resource for creation material and news

If you have been blessed by anything in this magazine please be as generous as you can to any of these good Christian ministries to the poor and needy: www.bhct.org.uk The Beachy Head Chaplaincy - on mission to prevent suicides www.m25m.btck.co.uk Matthew 25 Mission - helping feed the wandering and homeless www.opendoorsuk.org Supporting outreach globally and supporting Christians in persecution www.teenchallenge.org.uk Helping people escape the problems of drugs and addiction www.capuk.org Christians Against Poverty, bringing the good news to the poor in UK hopenow.org.uk Working with Orphans in the Ukraine

ISSUE: 04

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 3:19

“And God raised us up with Christ (Spirit) and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus”. (Eph 2v6)

Useful Resources

Websites: www.omega-ministries.org www.biblegateway.com www.biblehub.com www.spurgeongems.org www.heartcrymissionary.com www.propheticvision.org.uk www.eurovisiontv.org www.thelastreformation.com www.propheticalert.net www.biblearchaeology.org www.fwponline.cc www.creation.com

OMEGA-MINISTRIES.ORG

JESUS CHRIST

LORD OF THE SABBATH “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” D 32:4 eut

DEFEATING SIN & INIQUITY THROUGH HIS FAITH “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (Psa 32:2)

A

s Christian soldiers it is vital that we understand our enemy. When Jesus was anointed at the start of his ministry the first thing that the Holy Spirit did was to guide him into the desert to have a face off with the devil himself - he was tested and tempted as he fasted!

When we come to faith we must move from being a ‘victim’ of Satan to being a ‘soldier’ in training – quickly becoming a ‘conquering saint’ in the anointing of Christ. Therefore it’s important to understand the enemy’s character and tactics so that we are not ‘deceived again’. One of his many evil tactics is ‘iniquity’, often mentioned in the Scriptures, but neglected in churches, but

what is it?

Of the 11 words translated in the Bible as ‘iniquity,’ by far the most common and important is ‘awon’ (about 215 times). Etymologically (origins), it is customary to explain it as meaning literally ‘crookedness,’ ‘perverseness’, i.e. evil regarded as that which is not straight or upright, moral distortion (from ‘iwwah’, ‘to bend’, ‘make crooked’, ‘pervert’ (Hebrew)). Driver, however (following Lagarde), maintains that two roots, distinct in Arabic, have been confused in Hebrew, one equals ‘to bend’, ‘pervert’ (as above), and the other equals ‘to err’, ‘go astray’; that ‘awon’ is derived from the latter, and consequently expresses the idea of error, deviation from the right path, rather than that of perversion. Whichever etymology is adopted, in actual usage it has three meanings which almost imperceptibly pass into each other.

So we see that iniquity is about making the truth crooked or perverted leading people into error.

This understanding also translates into the New Testament Greek writings of Paul and the apostles.

Paul says this: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel---which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert (metastrepsai) the gospel of Christ.” (Gal 1:6-7) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: pervert, turn. From meta and strepho; to turn across, i.e. Transmute or (figuratively) corrupt - pervert, turn.)

From these root Hebrew and Greek definitions we see that ‘iniquity’ is to be understood differently from ‘sin’ (trespass) as ‘iniquity’ specifically relates to ‘perversion’ or ‘distortion’ of the truth, a ‘going astray’ away from truth after idols and false doctrine. continued on page 3

INSIDE A Message for our times Part 3 • Lord of the Sabbath • John Welsley Interview • The Isaiah Scroll - & more...