The Good News

Without doubt, a man loses strength when he is overcome. “For by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19) And without question, a man who is overcome by a woman is weaker than a woman — however that may look. For her beauty is stronger than his strength. And as a result, she is in the position of a man in the household. For she has overcome him. How does she overcome him except by her beauty? As it says, “Turn your eyes away from me, For they have overcome me;” (Song of Solomon 6:5) And, “You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes, With a single strand of your necklace.” (Song of Solomon 4:9) So we see the power a woman has over a man. As wisdom says, “Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.” (Proverbs 31:3) God gave us marriage between man and woman. But beware of sexual immorality. 

Recognize what a great warrior Samson was! He was strong with the strength of God. Yet he was overcome by foreign woman and harlots. And without question, if anyone wishes to overcome lust, they need strength. But look how strong Samson’s strength, yet he fell to women. Now the wisest man once said, "Wisdom is better than strength.” (Ecclesiastes 9:16) And Solomon was the wisest man on earth at the time. But was he not also overcome by women? For he had “seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines.” (1 Kings 11:3) And his many wives led his heart astray to worship idols. Furthermore, if anyone is perfect and blameless, it would be his father, David. Yet he saw the beauty of a woman and sinned. He took Bathsheba for his wife although she was married. And weren’t even the angels overcome by women? They are not flesh and blood as we, but mighty spirits. Yet they were overcome by the beauty of women. Consider how great a fall these had because of women.

Without question, no-one on earth is stronger than the king. Even yet, the king Herod swore to give up to half of his kingdom for the sake of a woman. And did not the king Ahasuerus, in the days of Ester, promise to give her up to half of the kingdom? And without doubt, no matter how powerful a man is, no man comes into the world except through a woman. And does not a man leave father and mother to be joined to his wife? So we see, there is no greater strength over a man than a woman.

God made women beautiful. But consider God, who is more beautiful, having created the beauty of all things. Should you really lust after her beauty? Rather seek the visible image of the invisible God in Jesus Christ and set your affections on Him, and pray that you may not sin. For lust is the beginning of sin; for “when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin.” (James 1:10) Men who are overcome by women lose their masculinity. They depart from their role as head in the household of marriage. And as a result, like a four-footed animal, the head and the body are on level plain. Is not the fear great? Consider how great the sin of sexual immorality is. For “Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) And, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God,” (1 Corinthians 6:19) and “you are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19) “If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17) “Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:19) For God is the Avenger of all such sins (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7). 

I am writing concerning the man, Joseph, son of Israel; how he pertains to Christ Jesus: firstly, Joseph was beloved of his father “because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.” (Genesis 37:3) So Joseph was beloved by the father, and his brethren hated him, as Cain hated his brother Abel. “And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous.” (1 John 3:12) And was Joseph beloved of his earthly father only? No, but of His heavenly Father too. For God prophesied many things concerning him, which made his brothers hate him even more. For on two occasions God gave Joseph dreams concerning them.

Similarly concerning Jesus, “a voice came out of the heavens: "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."” (Mark 1:11) For Jesus is the Beloved of the Father. And God proves to us in Him is salvation through the writings; through many prophecies and testimonies, He predicts the things to come concerning Him, so that there would be no surprise when the things came, so that we may know it was brought about by the foreknowledge and predetermined plan of God. Yet Jesus was hated by his brethren, the Jews; and they sought to kill Him “because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18) So they hated Him because He was the Son of God. So Joseph is like Jesus in this way: he was hated because he was the beloved son of the father.

If there be hate, then let it be for a good cause. But “without cause they hid their net for me; Without cause they dug a pit for my soul.” (Psalms 35:7) “They repay me evil for good, To the bereavement of my soul.” (Psalms 35:12) And “Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me without cause wink maliciously.” (Psalms 35:19)“And those who repay evil for good, They oppose me, because I follow what is good.” (Psalms 38:20) “They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause.” (Psalms 109:3) “Thus they have repaid me evil for good And hatred for my love.” (Psalms 109:5) For Jesus was perfect and He was hated for being good “to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, 'THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.'” (John 15:25) "The world hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.” (John 7:7) "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:20)

They hated Joseph and said, "Come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, 'A wild beast devoured him.' Then let us see what will become of his dreams!"” (Genesis 37:20) And they said of Christ, "Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!" (Mark 15:29-30) Or in other words, “Let us see what will become of Your prophecies.” But just as Joseph remembered the dreams when they were fulfilled, when he seen his brothers bowing down to him; so the disciples were constantly remembering the Scriptures concerning Christ when they were fulfilled (Luke 24:8, John 2:17, John 2:22, John 12:16). And Jesus often was fulfilling Scripture and henceforth declaring it (Matthew 13:14, Matthew 26:54, Luke 4:21, Luke 22,37, John 13:18, John 17:12). And after He was raised, He said, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." (Luke 24:44) For “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.” (Luke 16:17)

Secondly, Joseph’s brothers did not want to kill Joseph, but they decided, "Let us not take his life.” (Genesis 37:21) And they said, "What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?” (Genesis 37:26) And in the same way, Christ’s betrayer said, "Why this waste?” (Matthew 26:8) When the ointment was poured out upon Him. And seeking profit, he asked His enemies, "What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?" (Matthew 26:15) As it is written in Zechariah, “So they weighed out thirty shekels of silver as my wages.” (Zechariah 11:12) “Then the LORD said to me, "Throw it to the potter, that magnificent price at which I was valued by them." So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.” (Zechariah 11:13) 

So then, Joseph’s beautiful robe was taken from him; they put him into the pit; his father’s splendor was dipped in blood; and he was sold into the land of Egypt. And likewise, concerning Jesus, “You have spurned the covenant of Your servant; You have profaned his crown in the dust.” (Psalms 89:39) “You have made his splendor to cease And cast his throne to the ground.” (Psalms 89:44) “And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots.” (Matthew 27:35) However “The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2) But when Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, he was thrown into the dungeon; however “The LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.” (Genesis 39:21) And when he was proven wise before Pharaoh, he was exalted as second in command over all Egypt, and only Pharaoh was higher than he. Likewise, concerning Christ, “GOD HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28) For Christ received a name higher than David’s name, “so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) So Joseph was exalted from the pit, and Jesus was raised from the dead because there was no fault found in Him.

Now concerning the remainder of this writing, I will take a more subjective approach: in times past God has revealed Himself in numerous ways to the people of Israel. To Moses He appeared in a burning bush, to Israel He appeared on the mountain top of Sinai in a burning flame and pillar of smoke, and to Israel in the wilderness, He appeared to them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. As it is written, “The LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” (Deuteronomy 4:24) And “God is a righteous judge,” (Psalm 7:11) and ”Holy is He” (Psalm 99:5). Without question a man fears fire because of its power; how much more should we revere a holy and righteous God and live? For the LORD God is a consuming fire. If we fear to be out in the sun too long, even when it is millions of miles away; how much more should we revere a holy and living God as we draw near unto Him? 

For this reason, Joseph “disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly.” (Genesis 42:7) For his brothers came to him as he was ruler in Egypt, and he disguised himself and spoke to them as a fierce king; but behind closed doors “He turned away from them and wept.” (Genesis 42:24) For outwardly he appeared one way, and disguised his true identity to his brothers for a time. For Joseph perceived it was from God that his brothers would bow down to him; and without question people only prostrate themselves to those they revere, who they reckoned powerful, who they reckoned as mighty. It was necessary that these things occurred before Joseph revealed himself to his brothers.

So you see, Joseph's brothers were blind to the goodness they received; for many good things happened to them from Joseph's hand. For Joseph returned the money into their sacks, but it says, "Their hearts sank, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?"” (Genesis 42:28) For they considered this good thing to be a judgement from God because of their sin. And another time they were brought into Joseph’s house and feasted; but it says, “The men were afraid,” (Genesis 43:18) despite the good things that were occurring to them, even in a time of famine. 

Now, these things were necessary just as it was necessary for God to first give the covenant at Horeb in the fearful manner that it was; but then later to reveal Himself in His Son as He truly is. For when the same God appeared to Elijah at the same mountain, mount Horeb, there was “a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.” (1 Kings 19:11-12) For we now know God and His likeness; as it says, "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:34) For “God is love,” (1 John 4:8) And “God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) “God is spirit,” (John 4:24) “God is true,” (John 3:33) and “God is a compassionate God,” (Deuteronomy 4:31) “God is gracious and compassionate.” (2 Chronicles 30:9)

Yet for a time, He appeared unto Israel in a dark cloud; as it says, “The mountain burned with fire to the very heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud and thick gloom.” (Deuteronomy 4:11) And then it says, “He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.” (Psalms 18:11) For although God is light, He encompasses Himself in a dark cloud so that He may be revealed in Christ at the proper time; for it is God’s pleasure to reveal Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Righteous, at the set time. And that time is now, that day is today.

Just as the skilled writer writes about such things; as he was saying:

 “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "IF EVEN A BEAST TOUCHES THE MOUNTAIN, IT WILL BE STONED." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I AM FULL OF FEAR and trembling." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:18-24) 

And if the gospel be veiled, “it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) And this god of the world is the devil, who “disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) For Joseph’s brethren did not know Joseph until the veil was removed; and while they did not see their brother, they were still in their sins; as they were saying, “God has found out the iniquity of your servants,” (Genesis 44:16) And, "Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us." (Genesis 42:21) And they also said, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood."” (Genesis 42:22) So they had guilt as long as they thought Joseph was dead.

But when Joseph was revealed as “alive from the dead”, they had no blood-guiltiness on his account, for he was alive. And these comforting words from Joseph were given to them, “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5) And, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 45:7-8) 

So you see, we may lament and cry and be angry with ourselves because of our sins and the penalty Christ bore on our behalf, saying, “Oh, Jesus died for me! How miserable am I! Even for my sins that He died!” And this good thing may appear unto us as an evil thing, a judgement from God; but it was according to God’s good plan that it occurred, to save life rather than destroy it. For “The LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief;” (Isaiah 53:10) And you see! Your Savior, Your Redeemer, Your Master, Your Lord, He is not dead, He is living; for He died for three days, but He is alive forevermore! So do not be unbelieving, but believing. As Joseph said, “Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth which is speaking to you.” (Genesis 45:12) Likewise Christ said, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." (John 20:27)

The first report given to Jacob from his sons was an ill report, but the second a good report. Likewise, the first covenant was given to shut everyone up so that they may be accountable to God, but the latter covenant is the good news. For “God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” (Romans 11:32) For without the first covenant there would be no transgression to forgive. “But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22)

So therefore, unveil your eyes and see that your brother is very much alive, Second in command, Mediator between you and God; and “He always lives to make intercession for” you (Hebrews 7:25). So draw near to God in reverence and awe, knowing His great love for you. And do not neglect fear, for the men who were irreverent previously, they did not live to tell the story of it; but they testify from the dead the truth of the words: “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.” (Leviticus 10:3) I remind you when God spoke to Israel from the mountain and they trembled with fear, Moses said, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin." (Exodus 20:20)

So let us draw near unto God in reverence, without neglecting fear, but not with fear which renders a men ineffective of any sort of movement, but coming to God through Jesus Christ knowing that He loves you and cares for your soul, that He was given over for your trespasses and was raised for your justification, to the result that you would return to Him and be healed. “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:56) And “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

Joseph was not slain, but a young goat was slaughtered instead; Isaac was not sacrificed, but a ram was given; Judah was to give his life for his brother Benjamin, but Joseph was revealed unto them; and Christ is the young goat, Jesus, the ram, Jesus Christ is like the man Joseph.

Surely we know how to read God’s Word. Doesn’t He teach us? Surely He does: through His Word. How to read His Word: a brief exhortation.

Surely we know how not to read His Word. As it was with Jehoiakim, king of Judah, when the scroll of Jeremiah the prophet was read before him, “The king cut it with a scribe's knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.” (Jeremiah 36:23) For it says, “The king and all his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments.” (Jeremiah 36:24) For they did not fear the Word of the LORD and the desolation He promised to pour out on Jerusalem. But as the LORD declares, ”To this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” (Isaiah 66:2) And worse yet is to read God’s Word and pervert it; as it says, “The untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16) For they do not humble themselves before the LORD, nor did they fear His Word; instead they twist His Words to suit their own lusts. 

Do you not know that Satan quotes the Bible too? So “Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22) For the Lord Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” (Matthew 7:26) When does a man only listen and do not heed to what is said? Is God’s Word as a sensual song to you? As it says, “Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.” (Ezekiel 33:32) So be a doer of the Word and not merely a hearer only. For if you do not do, why read at all? Does that not make your reading in vain? For, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) But if you are a hearer only and do not do, what profit is there? “Are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:20) 

But if you continue in the Word of God, “not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer” (James 1:25), you will be blessed. As “Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."” (John 8:31-32) For “Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9) And God who is faithful has promised us righteousness through this very faith. So abide!

For this is the very Word which divides; as the Word did in the beginning, dividing light from darkness, sea from land, water from water; and is able to pierce “as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) And the same Word which divides, created all things; for “We understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3) And the same Word which causes us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead; “for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21) And “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16) For, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead." (Luke 16:31) So then, listen to this Word which is spoken from heaven; for these are heavenly Words sent to save your soul from the coming destruction.

For in times past, God sent His sweet manna from heaven; “and its taste was like wafers with honey.” (Exodus 16:31) And they were to collect manna every morning for one day, but on the sabbath they were to collect enough for two days. “But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them.” (Exodus 16:20) For to the people who obeyed the Word of God, the manna was sweet; but to those who disobeyed, the manna bred worms and became foul. As the LORD God says, “Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?” (Micah 2:7) For God’s Word is sweet to those who obey, but foul and like death to those who disobey. “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) “To the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.” (2 Corinthians 2:16) But if we repent and hear the same Word, will it not be sweet unto us? So there is nothing wrong with God’s Word, but with us; as it says, “With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.” (Psalms 18:26)

Do you want to be blessed? Do you want to be happy? Then obey God’s Word. For the blessing lies not in the hearing of God’s Word, but in the doing. As the Lord Jesus says, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17) And then the apostle says, “One who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25) If we do what God asks, then what we ask, God will do. For, “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22) And we will store up for ourselves great assurance on the day of visitation; as it says, “By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17) And then it says, “Those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 3:13)

As the Lord Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25) So imitate the men of old who read God’s Word with humility and weeping and sackcloth and ashes. As the Psalmist says, “You save an afflicted people, But haughty eyes You abase.” (Psalms 18:27) And, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (James 4:6) So we ought to humble ourselves before the LORD and submit to Him; for they who were greatly distressed in times past upon reading His Word, found favor in His eyes:

As it was with Josiah, He obtained favor with the Lord; as the LORD declares, "Regarding the words which you have heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. "Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.” (2Ki 22:18-20) And as it was with Daniel, who read the words spoken by Jeremiah the prophet; and as soon as he prayed and blessed the Lord his God, angels were sent to visit him. Because upon reading the Word of God, he sought the Lord God “by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.” (Daniel 9:3) And he received insight about future events and was encouraged by the words, “You are highly esteemed.” (Daniel 9:23) And when the scribe Ezra read the book of the law of Moses to the people, “all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.” (Nehemiah 8:9) For they humbled themselves before the LORD God and were terrified by the Words which were written, which came to pass, which their ancestors did not give heed. But they were encouraged by the governor, Nehemiah, when he said, “Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) And when the people continued in the Word, they found out that they were to live in booths that month; so they obeyed the Word of the Lord and settled in booths; for they trembled at His Word.

Likewise, to us whom these last days have arrived, we have been given Scripture which is being fulfilled before our very eyes. As the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ says, “Realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) And again, “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.” (1 Timothy 4:1-3)

One may say, “Ah this evil! It is surely from the devil!” But if it is from the devil, then seek him for deliverance! Since you fear him so much why don’t you serve him? But if it be from the Lord, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?" (2 Kings 6:33) So that the LORD may be feared. In accordance with what is written, "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) For the fear is due to Him who is highly respected; and without question, men subject themselves to one in authority; does anyone subject themselves to anyone who is taken lightly? This is certainly why idolatry is so abominable! Does a man fall down to the work of his own hands? Does a man exalt excrement? Or love their filth to their own destruction? Surely not! But man ought to fear God for from Him come both good and ill.

And this is according to the teaching: as the LORD God says, “That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, The One forming light and creating darkness, Causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these.” (Isaiah 45:6-7) Furthermore He says, “See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39) And as it says of Him, “Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth?” (Lamentations 3:37-38) And then it says, "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them.” (1 Samuel 2:6-8) And again, “The LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11) So, “If a calamity occurs in a city has not the LORD done it?” (Amos 3:6)

"Will you speak what is unjust for God, And speak what is deceitful for Him? Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God?” (Job 13:7-8) For we know very well the LORD will contend for Himself; He appeared to Job in a whirlwind. He visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the third and forth generations. So who are we you quarrel with our Maker? Or even question Him? Does He not question us? And aren’t we the ones who must answer? As He says, “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know.” (Job 38:2-5) And then He says, “Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me. Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? Or do you have an arm like God, And can you thunder with a voice like His?” (Job 40:7-9)

So if anyone is contentious about their sufferings, saying, “Curse God and die!" (Job 2:9) We ought to say, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10) However it may be, the LORD does not execute evil, for “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor.” (Habakkuk 1:13) But He sends ministers of darkness to execute ill; as it was in Egypt, for the LORD sent “the destroyer” (Exodus 12:23) to strike the firstborn of the Egyptians; and He sent a destroying angel when David sinned by taking a census (2 Samuel 24:16). The LORD also sent an evil spirit to judge Abimelech for slaying his brothers on one stone (Judges 9:23). And He sent a deceiving angel to seduce Ahab (1 Kings 22:21-22); and He sent an evil spirit to torment Saul, son of Kish (1 Samuel 16:15); And when God, Most High, brings about the end of the world, He will release destroying angels from the abyss; as it says of them, “The four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.” (Revelation 9:15) 

So much so that in one account of Scripture it states: “Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah."” (2 Samuel 24:1) But in another account of the same event, it says, “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.” (1 Chronicles 21:1) For the LORD God protects from evil, and if He so wills, He hands over to evil. He uses satan for His own good purposes, and sends him unto nations to execute judgement. “Now ask the beasts, and let them teach you; And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you. Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you; And let the fish of the sea declare to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?” (Job 12:7-10) For even the animals know, so we also ought to know these things.

Although these are so, evil spirits cannot be released without His permission, and they cannot do more than what He wills; as it says of them, “They were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man.” (Revelation 9:5) And, “The LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” (Job 1:12) Then, “The LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life."” (Job 2:6) Although these spirits are subject to the will of God, in times past God sent nations to execute His judgements; as He did with the Babylonians, as He did with the Assyrians; but they exceeded His wrath, and went beyond His will (Zechariah 1:15); and David seeing this said, "I am in great distress. Let us now fall into the hand of the LORD for His mercies are great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man." (2 Samuel 24:14) So we see that these spirits do not execute evil by their own will, but they are subject to the will of God. So it is not they who we should fear, but God Almighty who executes righteous judgment through them. 

“Why should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins?” (Lamentations 3:39) For, “You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve;” (Ezra 9:13) “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” (Psalms 103:10) For even today, God has left a remnant chosen by grace; for “Unless the LORD of hosts Had left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1:9) For “Your hands fashioned and made me altogether, And would You destroy me?” (Job 10:8) So death was never the will of God, but death came about because of the disobedience of sin, and reigned throughout all creation. “But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.” (Psalms 130:4) 

Furthermore these angels used to execute judgment will not escape the judgement of God; for God oftentimes uses ministers of evil to execute His purpose, but then destroys them. As it is pronounced against Babylon, who God used as instruments of destruction, “Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am going to arouse against Babylon And against the inhabitants of Leb-kamai The spirit of a destroyer.” (Jeremiah 51:1) And as it says of the angels in the abyss, “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;” (2 Peter 2:4) But in regard to Israel it says, “'Therefore thus says the LORD, "I will return to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built in it," declares the LORD of hosts, "and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem."' Again, proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”’” (Zechariah 1:16-17)

For now, God has been gracious to us. Yes, He has inflicted us, but will He not heal? He has bruised, will He not also bandage? He breaks, will He not repair? “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” (Romans 11:32) “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21) For He has broken so that He may heal; He has bruised so that He may bandage; and He has broken, to repair. He has taken into account sin, so that He may forgive us all. He has sent evil spirits, and He sends forth His Holy Spirit. He makes blind, but gives sight to the blind. He makes deaf, but He gives hearing to their ears. The LORD God does all these things; and He came down: Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. He worked miracles, healing those who were born blind that the glory of God might be displayed in them (John 9:3). Men who died from illness were raised from their tombs because of the life of the Son of God; as He said to the dead man, "Lazarus, come forth." (John 11:43) And “The man who had died came forth.” (John 11:44) For God puts to death, as it says, “It is appointed for men to die once,” (Hebrews 9:27) but through Christ, all will be made alive; “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

For in times past God worked miracles of death to the people of Egypt, who did not believe in Him. Yes, He worked miracles of death in their midst and made His fame renown through them. But how much more now, as He works miracles of life to everyone who believes? For the Israelites were spared from the plagues and only witnessed them with their eyes. They were preserved, but Egypt was left in ruins. How much more today? For those who do not believe, they are cursed with plagues, but to those who do believe, they are blessed with life and peace with God. For when Moses put his hand in his cloak, “Behold, his hand was leprous like snow.” (Exodus 4:6) But when Christ came into the world, “A leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:2-3) For the signs God gave to Moses were signs of death, but when Christ came into the world, His signs were life and restoration.

For when Moses took water from the Nile and poured it upon the ground, “The water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.” (Exodus 4:9) But when Christ came into the world, He turned the water into wine (John 2:1-10). And without question, if water is blood, men should fear; but here, Jesus turned the water into wine for a joyous festival. For the good news of God has come, the righteousness which is from faith to faith in the Son of God. For just as Moses’ staff became a serpent (Exodus 7:8-13), so Christ judged the serpent on that cross “That through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

And Aaron stretched out his hand over the Nile and out came swarms of frogs which came up on all the Egyptians (Exodus 8:1-7). As a result of these plagues, it says of Pharaoh, “He hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said.” (Exodus 8:15) But without question, when Jesus performed a miraculous catch of fish, making them come up out of water by the disciple’s net, Peter fell down on his face and said, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8) “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10) So the plagues of death caused worldly sorrow in Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but the signs that Christ performed led to godly sorrow to repentance to life. 

In regard to Aaron striking the dust and turning it into gnats (Exodus 8:16-32), I say that in Christ, the promise given to Abraham is made full; as stated, "I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered.” (Genesis 13:16) For we who believe in Jesus Christ are Abraham’s descendants, sons of God by the Spirit of the Son. For, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:29) And what’s more miraculous than one man, and as good as dead, turning into a multitude of nations by the promise and fulfillment of God? And are we all not but dust? As it is written, “The LORD God formed man of dust from the ground.” (Genesis 2:7) “For I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.” (Luke 3:8) 

Furthermore the livestock and the crops of the Egyptians were destroyed. Their very food was taken away from them as punishment. Their crops were stripped by locusts (Exodus 10:14-15); and their livestock died of pestilence (Exodus 9:1-7). But when Christ came into the world, those that were hungry were fed, even a great multitude, He fed them with “only five loaves and two fish.” (Matthew 14:17) Multiplying the few provisions for the great multitude and leaving with more bread than they originally had! And He was doing this on more than one occasion for those who believed in Him and followed Him. He fed them with spiritual food, bread from heaven, and fed them with provisions for the flesh. 

Is there fault with the LORD? Are not His judgements just and fair? As it says, “The LORD will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the LORD, and He will respond to them and will heal them.” (Isaiah 19:22) "For when the earth experiences Your judgments The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” (Isaiah 26:9) For His wounds are so that men would “RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.” (Matthew 13:15) And He breaks so that they may come; as it says, “Fill their faces with dishonor, That they may seek Your name, O LORD. Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever, And let them be humiliated and perish, That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalms 83:16-18) For when they find Him, “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3)

And furthermore Moses threw soot from a kiln into the air and it became boils breaking out with sores on man and beast. But when Christ came into the world, He healed 10 lepers, saying to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17:14) For they came to Him and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:13) And because they trusted in His mercy, they received their hope. And not without cost, for just as God sent a “darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." (Exodus 10:21) He also sent His Son into the world to be the light of the world; and just as God took the lives of the firstborn of the Egyptians, He gave His firstborn Son as a ransom for sin, even the sins of the whole world, to work life in everyone who believes.

“The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.” (Exodus 15:3) "They will say of Me, 'Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.'” (Isaiah 45:24) The men of old errored, they trusted in the strength of Egypt; as it says, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!” (Isaiah 31:1) For they did not look to Him for strength, for they did not believe in Him. Instead they committed harlotry with other nations, trusting in their shadow. They were not saved. As it says, “Now the Egyptians are men and not God, And their horses are flesh and not spirit; So the LORD will stretch out His hand, And he who helps will stumble And he who is helped will fall, And all of them will come to an end together.” (Isaiah 31:3)

As the man of God, David says, “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.” (Psalms 20:7) Did he merely say this? No! For with horses did he come to Goliath, or with chariots. No, not even with a sword! In what strength did he come then? "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.” (1 Samuel 17:45) David came with a sling and a staff in his hand, for he knew the victory belongs to the LORD. As he taught Solomon, “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.” (Proverbs 21:31)

And the son of God, Jesus Christ, did not work victory for the whole world with weapons of war, but in the name of God, He came with a cross, which is wood. As David came with a staff in hand, Christ worked victory for all with wood. And Moses delivered Israel from Egypt with staff in hand, by which God worked acts of power. For David appeared as no threat to Goliath, and Moses as a sport to Pharaoh; and in Christ’s weakness, He was never considered a threat to the enemy, but He nevertheless worked victory for the whole world. In this, God shows His incredible strength; for, “the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25) And in His weakness, He gained the victory, not only for Himself, raising from the dead, but for the whole world, for all who put their trust in His name. 

God shows forth this victory in His name through the great acts in times past. He worked victory for Israel as they trusted in Him. As Hezekiah king of Judah spoke, "Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8) And since they trusted in Hezekiah’s words, they trusted in the Lord, and what was the outcome? As it says, “And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria.” (2 Chronicles 32:21) And what did Israel do but rely upon the LORD their God? And God worked the victory and the deliverance for them. For our hand is not strong to save.

What about what Jehoshaphat said? As he said, “Put your trust in the LORD your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and succeed." (2 Chronicles 20:20) And then he said, “Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting." (2 Chronicles 20:21) And what was the outcome? As it says, “When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.” (2 Chronicles 20:22) For they believed the word of Jehoshaphat which was in accordance with the Psalms and the Prophets which say, “Seek the LORD,” and “Take refuge in God.” For seeking the LORD is faith, and taking refuge in Him is trust.

Consider when Israel and Judah were fighting against one another: Israel’s trust was in two golden calves which Jeroboam made for them, but Judah’s trust was in the LORD. Did Israel conquer their brethren? For they worked abominations and distrusted the LORD their God. Will the strength of wickedness deliver them? Or will the lies which they made for themselves be a goodly foundation? A stronghold in the day of trouble? Of course not! As the truth says, “Then the men of Judah raised a war cry, and when the men of Judah raised the war cry, then it was that God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. When the sons of Israel fled before Judah, God gave them into their hand.” (2 Chronicles 13:15-16) And for what reason? “The sons of Israel were subdued at that time, and the sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the LORD, the God of their fathers.” (2 Chronicles 13:18)

And when Samaria was under siege by the king of Aram, how were they delivered? By their own strength? Did they submit themselves to the king? No! But by God’s grace the prophet Elisha gave the promise of God, saying, “Listen to the word of the LORD; thus says the LORD, 'Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'” (2 Kings 7:1) And God worked deliverance; as it says, “For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army; (…) Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents and their horses and their donkeys, even the camp just as it was, and fled for their life.” (2 Kings 7:6-7)

And the man who disbelieved the promise of Elisha perished, for he did not believe God was able to do what He promised. He resembled Israel in the wilderness, for they said in their hearts, “Behold, He struck the rock so that waters gushed out, And streams were overflowing; Can He give bread also? Will He provide meat for His people?" (Psalms 78:20) And likewise the man said, “If the LORD should make windows in heaven, could this things be?” (2 Kings 7:2) And as a result, he was trampled by the feet of them who hurried after the fulfillment of the promise. And he seen God’s power with his own eyes, but he was not able to taste of it. As the LORD says, “Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not." (Numbers 11:23)

In a similar way, they who did not believe God in the wilderness perished; they seen the land with their eyes and the signs which God performed, but they did not enter the land. As the LORD testifies about them, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?” (Numbers 14:11) For although they saw signs, they did not believe in Him, and in their much seeing, they perished. For “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) As the writer writes about us and them, “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” (Hebrews 4:2) For the good news we have preached to us is Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

And those spies which gave an ill report, perverting the gospel of the promise of God, and all who believed their corrupted report, disbelieved in God — and all of them perished in their wanderings in the wilderness; they did not inherit the promise because of their unbelief. But Caleb and Joshua trusted in God and believed He was able to give the inhabitants over into their hands, despite the bad report, despite the giants of the land. As the LORD God testified of Caleb, “My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.” (Numbers 14:24) 

What about when they were to inherit the promised land? Did they do so by their own strength? Did God promise and leave the fulfillment up to them? Of course not! God fought for them. When five of their kings and their armies of the land came against Israel to fight; He gave the promise, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not one of them shall stand before you." (Joshua 10:8) And Joshua believed the promise, for “Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching all night from Gilgal.” (Joshua 10:9) And God fulfilled what He promised; as it says, “The LORD confounded them before Israel, and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.” (Joshua 10:10-11) 

Then Israel had rest on every side because God subdued their enemies before them. As Joshua testifies, “The LORD has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you.” (Joshua 23:9-10) And the promise given through Moses says, “The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes.” (Deuteronomy 1:30) And the LORD God fought Egypt with plague after plague because they did not let His people go. And He delivered them from Egypt. And when the Egyptians pursued them, “The LORD looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to swerve, and He made them drive with difficulty; so the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from Israel, for the LORD is fighting for them against the Egyptians." (Exodus 14:24-25)

These things testify to the work of Jesus, the Christ, which He worked on our behalf at the cross on Calvary. He saves us apart from works which we have done. He fights for us and delivers us from the slavery of sin through His body. For true slavery is not captivity to nations. No. For if that were so, then Christ would have come to deliver Israel from the Romans; but instead, He came and died to deliver from the slavery of sin by justifying us freely through His blood. He delivers us from Egypt by His work. For our works produce wrath, but the work of Christ, deliverance. By our works, we work sin into slavery, but by the work of the eternal Spirit, He works righteousness unto salvation to everyone who believes. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4) “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

For if they were not able to prevail against God in times past, how will anyone today? If God justifies us, who then can condemn us? Did they succeed who fought against Israel? Did the rulers succeed who fought against Christ and His apostles? As it says, “The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed.” (Psalms 2:2) If they succeeded, how is the Message standing today? How is Christ proclaimed throughout the earth? For “If it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.” (Acts 5:39) And, “O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed." (2 Chronicles 13:12) For true Israel puts their faith in God, believing in Him; they put no confidence in the flesh, they put their trust in God. 

So since we have such great promises, let us submit ourselves to God and learn from Him the righteous warfare; as it says, "He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” (2 Samuel 22:35) And, “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle;” (Psalms 144:1) For David was a man of war. He fought a righteous warfare, for the cause of God: the peace of righteousness and the rest of holiness. For the LORD says, “There is no peace for the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:22) And contention is between the righteous and the wicked. As Jeremiah was called a man of contentions; but he was speaking the word of the LORD in righteousness; as it says, “Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me As a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.” (Jeremiah 15:10) So he was righteous, but they were wicked.

What fellowship is there between good and evil? As it says, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Furthermore it says, “I am for peace, but when I speak, They are for war.” (Psalms 120:7) For the lips of the righteous are righteousness. If we keep quiet, we will be subdued by the enemy. Where there is no resistance, there is submission and troubles of many kinds; as it says, “If you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sides, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live.” (Numbers 33:55) As it was with Rebekah, who was troubled by the inhabitants of the land: "I am tired of living because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife from the daughters of Heth, like these, from the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?" (Genesis 27:46)

As David says about his commander Joab, “he also shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt about his waist, and on his sandals on his feet.” (1 Kings 2:5) For David’s enemies were submitting to him, to righteousness, but Joab slew them; for although Joab was David’s commander, although he was on David’s side, he was fighting against the cause which David was upholding; and Joab fought for the enemy in unrighteousness. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) For this is the true warfare, not merely flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces; and the weapons of our warfare are Spirit and truth; as it says, “The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)  

For the belt of the wicked are splattered with blood and the feet of the contentious are with blood; but the feet of them who bring good news, “WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;” (Ephesians 6:15) And the belt of them, “GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH.” (Ephesians 6:14) But to the men of unrighteousness, “He has scattered the peoples who delight in war.” (Psalms 68:30) But if the wicked do not repent, Christ’s feet will be shod, with peace? No. Blood. As it says, “And He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.” (Revelation 19:15) And with what will His garments be? “I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment.” (Isaiah 63:3) For in the time of God’s grace and peace, they reject it; instead they delighted in wickedness and wrongdoing. Children of strife! Their judgement comes swiftly; for the children of wrath will inherit wrath in the day of God’s fierce wrath. 

As Christ says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER IN LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER IN LAW; and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.” (Matthew 10:34-36) For this is the warfare which Christ fought; and David, and the prophets, and the men of God, and the apostles and believers in the Lord Jesus. As it says, "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” (Jude 1:3) This is the fight of peace, the fight of righteousness, the fight of the faith of grace and peace in the Lord Christ. As Christ says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) For God is the God of peace. 

Now let us look to those before us who fought this fight, which is not by human hands. Do you remember Lot? How he contended with the wicked in Sodom, saying, "Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly.” (Genesis 19:7) As it says of him, he was “oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men. (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds)” (2 Peter 2:7-8) And he even sought to hand over his two daughters for the sake of the men he gathered to himself. And for what cause was the contention? He contended for the cause of righteousness, the cause of peace. For if he would not contend, he would become just like them! The evil around him would have subdued him. For when one does not fight, he becomes a prey and is overcome.  

Or Abraham, for example, in regard to the same city, he interceded on their behalf, saying, “Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?” (Genesis 18:24) For he sought not their condemnation or destruction, but their salvation. And the apostle Paul was saying the same thing when he says, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4) For what is the purpose? As it says, “that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” So it is for the cause of peace.

Or the man traveling through Gibeah, who found a refuge in an old man’s home; and when the men of that town, the men of darkness, came to the door to work heinous acts of darkness in the dark, the old man said, “No, my fellows, please do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not commit this act of folly.” (Judges 19:23) And he even sought to give his virgin daughter. And what was the judgement of Sodom and this town? Did God say, “Peace to you”? But rather, “The work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.” (Isaiah 32:17) And the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel has said, "In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15) But they were unwilling. So judgement came from heaven, from the LORD. 

Or do you remember when Abraham who made a covenant with the inhabitants of Canaan? As one spoke to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do; now therefore, swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but according to the kindness that I have shown to you, you shall show to me and to the land in which you have sojourned.” (Genesis 21:22-23) And they made a covenant of peace together; for righteousness walks hand in hand; as it says, “Do two men walk together unless they have made an appointment?” (Amos 3:3) And, “Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (Psalms 85:10) 

For these reasons it says, “the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” (2 Chronicles 15:2) For the LORD will never deviate from His right way to pursue us in crooked ways; we must turn to Him and He will turn to us. If He is with us, He will fight for us; but if He is not with us, we will be subdued. As it says to those who were rebelling, who were moving when the LORD God did not move, “Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the LORD. And the LORD will not be with you."” (Numbers 14:42-43) Yes, Jesus ate with sinners, but He wasn’t a friend of them; He did not walk with them in their sin; He called them to Himself through repentance and faith.

And Isaac made a covenant with Abimelech; for he came to him and said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.'" (Genesis 26:28-29) For these sought their favor because they seen God was with them. And they sought for their peace, doing good to them. When a dispute was brought up, they addressed it. And they received a blessing; as the promise says, “I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

Do you remember when David sent consolers to the king of the Ammonites, Hanun, on behalf of his father’s death? David certainly did not seek war at that time, did he? But, “Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle as far as their hips, and sent them away.” (2 Samuel 10:4) Then they went out to battle against David. And David sent out the hosts against them. Certainly the Ammonites weren’t fighting for peace, were they? For they were opposing David, the man of righteousness. But when they were defeated, they made peace with Israel and served them. For “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

Or when David was cursed by Shimei and threw stones at him, did he fight back? No. But rather it says, "Behold, my son who came out from me seeks my life; how much more now this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him.” (2 Samuel 16:11) For he did not fight against God’s will, but he humbly accepted it. For David was being punished by God for his sins with Bathsheba, so he sought for peace with God even though the LORD’s hand was against him; for who can strive against God and succeed? And isn’t it similar when his son, Solomon, sinned against the Lord and the kingdom was split because of it? Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was going to battle against Israel to restore the kingdom to himself, but the word of the LORD came to the prophet saying, “You shall not go up or fight against your relatives; return every man to his house, for this thing is from Me." So they listened to the words of the LORD and returned from going against Jeroboam.” (2 Chronicles 11:4) 

As it says, “For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience?” (1 Peter 2:20)  These did not retaliate even though they suffered for wrong-doing; instead they endured it, hoping not to make an evil matter worse. They sought for peace with the LORD by patiently enduring suffering. And through their actions they became a type of Christ, except He was without sin; as it says, “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24)

Who knows? Perhaps the Lord would look upon with favor; if there is retaliation, perhaps it would be worse with them. As it says, “Why should any living mortal, or any man, Offer complaint in view of his sins?” (Lamentations 3:39) What peace comes from contending with God? Are we stronger than He? Are we more perfect than He? The LORD is not quick to bring about the day of punishment; but rather, as it says, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) For He extends the days of His grace and delays the day of His judgement for the sake of salvation.

And the apostle Paul with wisdom says, “Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) For he casted down every refuge which men find themselves in, which are not Christ through the Word of truth. And he continues, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6) For our warfare is spiritual, our enemies are erroneous thoughts, lies, lofty imaginations, and everything which is contrary to the true knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. And he says, “By the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left.” (2 Corinthians 6:7) For only one hand is dominant, but God helps both hands for righteousness by which we may “overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21) “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?” (1 Peter 3:13)

So let us think seriously of the fight of faith; for those who fought in times past and lost, their bodies died, but the faithful fight is for eternity, for the soul and the body. For the men of God also slew men. If those who disobeyed back then suffered death, how much more those who disobey Christ suffer eternal death? For fire flashed forth from heaven by the word of Elijah; as it says, “The fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.” (2 Kings 1:12) And furthermore, he slew 450 of Baal’s prophets in the name of the LORD; as it says, “and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” (1 Kings 18:40) And Elisha, his successor, bore the sword as well; as it says, "It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.” (1 Kings 19:17) So if these prophets were men of war in the flesh, how much more when they come with raging fire with Christ Jesus?

And the same Elijah stood against 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel according to the Word of the Lord. He is one prophet, but he stood against 450 in the name of the LORD. As he said, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.” (1 Kings 18:22) Yet he stood against them and the LORD God flashed forth fire from heaven; and Elijah gave the command to slay all the prophets of Baal; as it says, “Then Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape." So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” (1 Kings 18:40) For he was one man, yet he was strong in the Lord, defeating many in the name of the LORD; through weakness, he was made strong.

And Joshua as a man of God, a man of war, killed the men and women of Jericho and Ai, and burnt the city with fire. The Israelites did other such things to the people of Canaan, all according to the Word of the Lord; for He was patient with them; as He said of them to Abraham, “Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” (Genesis 15:16) For He did not send Israel into the land until the wickedness of the land was made full; as Moses also says of this, “It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 9:5) For God does not slay the innocent.

And the prophet Samuel was a man of God who slew; as it says, “Samuel said, "As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women." And Samuel hewed Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.” (1 Samuel 15:33) He did not slay him in unrighteousness, but it was according to the Lord’s judgement. And the tribe of Judah fought against his enemies, and mutilated the king of his enemies; as it says, “But the king fled; and they pursued him and caught him and cut off his thumbs and big toes. The king said, "Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me." So they brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.” (Judges 1:6-7) For as these did to others, it was done to them according to the righteous judgement of God.

And do you not remember what David did to his enemies? As it says, “He also brought out the people who were in it, and set them under saws, sharp iron instruments, and iron axes, and made them pass through the brickkiln. And thus he did to all the cities of the sons of Ammon.” (2 Samuel 12:31) And look what he did to the men who killed the innocent: “David commanded the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool in Hebron.” (2 Samuel 4:12) He also hamstrung horses in war. For if these men were prophets of God and did these things, how much more terrifying will Christ’s coming be, when He comes as a Warrior in strength to reign with His saints, to recompense His enemies who fight against Him in unrighteousness?

And David, a man of war, as one man, defeating Goliath, a giant; David fought against him with no weapon at all; he only had a staff and a sling and stones. Yet, he trusted in God and fought the good fight, overtaking his enemy. He stood alone against the giant; but he was not alone, for the LORD God was with him; he trusted in the LORD and He delivered Israel. As it says, “The LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few." (1 Samuel 14:6) For “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16) David’s mighty men imitated him; as it says of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, “He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature five cubits tall. Now in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.” (1 Chronicles 11:23)

And Samson, who slayed a thousand men with a jawbone of a donkey; he had no weapon at all, but fought in the strength of God. A sword is a weapon, and so is a spear; but God works through the weak things, and shows His strength. Samson as one man killing a thousand. How is it so, except by His God? For the LORD brought about that great victory. As it was with Adino the Eznite, who “slain eight hundred at one time;” (2 Samuel 23:8) And this might man slayed 800 with a sword; who could imagine killing a thousand without a sword, but a jawbone of a donkey? So it is, these are mighty men of God. They held down fortresses alone, and fought against multitudes; their hands clung to the spear and did not let go. They were made strong in God and fought against unrighteousness in the flesh.

For all these took up the sword, pointing to the time of Christ’s return when they will also rule with Him; all these look toward to the future reign of the righteous. Christ Jesus is coming. And it says of Him, “You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.” (Psalms 2:9) And, "I trod down the peoples in My anger And made them drunk in My wrath, And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." (Isaiah 63:6) And regarding the saints it says, "Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, For your horn I will make iron And your hoofs I will make bronze, That you may pulverize many peoples, That you may devote to the LORD their unjust gain And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.” (Micah 4:13)

And all of these look to Christ, for they are types of Christ. For Christ Jesus is the ultimate Warrior. He is one and He stood up against a host of enemies. He stood up against the religious Pharisees and Sadducees. He stood in the truth, fighting against them with the truth. Yes, He is one, yet he withstood them all. There was not a righteous man on earth to help Him, but He entrusted Himself to God. As it says, “Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.” (John 2:24-25) And so, He clung to the Father; as it says of the warriors in times past, “He arose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary and clung to the sword.” (2 Samuel 23:10) So God’s grace is our strength.

And Christ did not fight against His enemies with a sword or a spear; no, He fought against them with a weapon which is no weapon at all. He fought with “a staff”, a piece of wood: the cross. And with it, even in His death, He subdued more of His enemies than He did in His life. As it says, “The dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.” (Judges 16:30) For, “When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” (Colossians 2:15) And He, being one man, with no weapon at all, subdued the powers and principalities which govern this world by freely justifying us through the cross. He fought against them, and worked the victory on our behalf; being one, He wins justification for the whole world. “The LORD is a warrior; The LORD is His name.” (Exodus 15:3)

I don’t want to do evil, but I do it anyway; I want to do good, but I don’t do it. I’m living in slavery, for the things I will to do, I can’t do, and the things I will not to do, I do. I am compelled to do what I hate; I am forced into doing what I don’t want to do. I am a man in prison; I would rather be outside; I would much rather sleep in; I want to read now or watch a cartoon; however, I am compelled to be inside; I am forced to wake up early and make my bed; I must clean rather than read books. I dream about having my own home and my own wife and my own children; but I am forced into laboring for another man’s family, for plans and objectives which are not mine. “Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” (John 8:34)

Does anyone say, “I wish not to be free?” Is it a good thing to be shackled? Why would anyone want chains about them? Which is better: obligation or free-will? Is not obligation slavery? And free-will, well… freedom? Are you free if you’re free to sin? Of course not! One is not free who is delivered from the oppression of nations, or masters, or principalities; no! For if he is free’d from these and sins, he is a slave to sin. There is no such thing as free to sin; there is such things as freewill, but there is no freedom in sin; "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” (John 8:34) There is only freedom from sin; deliverance is from sin into true freedom.

How does repentance come about? I want it, but I don’t know how to obtain it. Furthermore, God’s wrath is against sin; He abhors it; and He will judge sin with eternal damnation. Why would anyone want sin? I affirm: if anyone wants sin, sin has deceived them. If sin were truthful, no-one would willingly choose it. If sin were truthful, it would say, “You can have me now, but you’ll have everlasting disgrace later; I am far less superior than anything, but anyway, I am now; you’ll need me again quickly later, for I am fleeting. There is no good in me, and if you taste me, you’ll taste sickness, pain, and burnings; the wrath of the Almighty is right behind me, and He has prepared a place ahead of me. Everyone who tastes me, tastes death; taste a little bit of me and I have full reign in you. Everyone who loves me, hates their own self.”

But instead sin lying says, “Surely you will not die; you will feel good; did not God create you for me and me for you? Besides, you will love me! Can anything this bad taste this good? If you feel bad later, I can speak to you more and relieve your guilt — I will give you more of me so that you will forget. I offer you wisdom and superior knowledge, others do not know what I know — I only offer you the best! Don’t you hear me already? Don’t you recognize the knowledge even in these sayings? Yes, the Almighty says, “Beware of me”, but I know what He really means. I am good; look how happy they are who taste me!”

So then, how does repentance happen? What is it? Repentance is change of mind. For example: A man goes down a wrong path, and sees many warning signs which say, “Dead End”; but he continues down the wrong path anyway. Later, he sees from a distance: the path is leading to death. Then he comes to his senses and changes his mind, and he turns back; he didn’t want to die, he wants to live. He didn’t believe the signs; he figured, “They’re old signs, very ancient writings; I know the way I’m going, the very way of my ancestors. Were they all wrong too?” But the truth came to him, and he came to his senses. He very well could have said to himself, “My eyes are deceiving me!” And continued down his way; but when he seen death from afar, he remembered the signs and came to his senses, “Even the distant sight of it terrifies me! The many signs were frightening, and I ignored them all! And they all sang the same dirge! How foolish am I! I will return back with my head laid low.” 

We all have one face and one back. If we wish to change direction, from south to north, we must first put our back to the south and face the north. So we turn. If we had no back, but two faces, we wouldn’t need to turn around. We would just walk in the other direction. But we do not have two faces, so we must put our back to what we face, and face what we’ve turned our back to. Repentance is change. Change of what? Ways, actions, motives? Yes. “But how? I want to change, but I can’t. I want to do good, but I don’t. I don’t want to die; but I am following sin unto death!” Repentance is a change of mind.

When the mind is changed, then all the members which are governed by the mind also change. My hand does what my mind says; and my foot does the command of my head. I tell it, “Pick it up” and they do it; and I tell the others, “Go over there” and they go. I send the command and the left works with the right and the right with the left, and they accomplish my command — all according to my direction, which I supposed in my mind. So if I will for my members to change from doing one thing to another, the command must come from my mind. “But my mind is perverse! It is evil; there is no good thing it thinks. It is set on evil! And my members follow its direction!”

So then how does repentance come about? “How can I change my mind?” You cannot change your mind. There is nothing good in it; can that which is evil reform itself? Can dirty water purify? Our mind is sinful, so it can’t change itself; if it does, it is for the worse. Therefore, the message is not within ourselves, but it is outside; it is from Another. Words change the mind. Persuasion. Debate. Speaking. These are words which are consumed by the mind. Words are not for the stomach are they? No! Words are for the mind: whether spoken or read. The mind contains words: whether spoken or unspoken. So it is by words, our minds are changed. And if it’s not by our own words, then whose?

The Word of God brings about conviction, persuasion, and assurance. Namely, the Word of God concerning His Son, Jesus. He was sent for us, for our good; He loved us to death, even on the cross; His love is great for us, even though we’re sinners. He loved us to die for us, for our sins. He became the atonement for our sins to wash us from our sins. The message is received by faith, by believing the message of the cross, which purifies our minds and hearts. The love of God made known to all through the message of the cross of Christ, the gospel of peace. He has made peace with us through His Son Jesus Christ. He has justified us freely, apart from our works, by His blood on the cross; He makes us right with Himself through the sanctifying work of His sacrifice, through faith in His name. 

Through the conviction of the Word of the testimony of God, which He has given concerning His Son, our minds are changed, they are renewed, by continually setting our minds on Christ in the heavens. Remembering Christ crucified for us by which we are saved through faith. He died for us, shedding His blood, the Innocent for the guilty, to reconcile us to God by faith. God’s compassion and mercy towards man to die for us on the cross, loving us in shedding His blood for us. We must die for our sins, but Christ died in our stead to reconcile us to God, heavenward.

Repentance comes about by setting your mind on these things. And your members, being servants of your mind, will soon follow. Does our repentance precede God’s kindness? Rather God’s grace has appeared to all men, and, “the kindness of God leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) Therefore, continue in the Word of Christ, setting your mind on Him, and the Word of God will renew and wash and cleanse your mind, granting you repentance to life with faith in the truth, through the true knowledge of Him; call upon His name with a pure heart, and He will deliver you. 

Scripture: Setting the Mind on Things Above

• “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Romans 8:5-9) 

• “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

• “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

• “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

• “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:20-24)

Scripture: Sanctification by Faith

• “To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'” (Acts 26:18)

• “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:17-19)

• “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

• “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)

• “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” (Hebrews 13:12)

• “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

• “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5)

Scripture: God grants Repentance

• "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31)

• “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."” (Acts 11:18)

• “The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

• “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

• “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Scripture: We Turn to God and He Turns to us

• "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Return to Me," declares the LORD of hosts, "that I may return to you," says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3)

• "From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. But you say, 'How shall we return?’" (Malachi 3:7)

• "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah 44:22)

• “namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-20)

• “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

Scripture: We Change our Mind and God Changes His Mind

• “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10)

• “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son's days." (1 Kings 21:29)

• "Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and the LORD changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves."” (Jeremiah 26:19)

• “Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and say to Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.” (Isaiah 38:2-5)

• "because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you," declares the LORD. “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place." So they brought back word to the king.” (2 Kings 22:20)

• “When he was in distress, he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed to Him, He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.” (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)

• "Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.” (Jeremiah 26:13)

Listen! The LORD God says, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!"” (Exodus 33:20) For God is holy; so holy that they who peered into the ark of His covenant were slain; saying, “He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.” (1 Samuel 6:19) His voice is terrifying, His appearance fire; they seen the fire and said, “'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.'” (Deuteronomy 18:16)

Therefore, God has removed the sight of Him that we may not die; for even while He came down on Sinai, they “heard the sound of words, but saw no form—only a voice.” (Deuteronomy 4:12) And furthermore, when the high priest entered through the veil into the most holy, he, even he, needed a veil of incense to diminish the sight of the ark; as it says, “He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, otherwise he will die.” (Leviticus 16:13) 

Who is it that can ascend to the mount of God, to continual burning and fire, to see God and live? As it says, "Who among us can live with the consuming fire? Who among us can live with continual burning?” (Isaiah 33:14) It was Moses who went up to God in Sinai; saying, “The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.” (Exodus 19:20) "So I (Moses) turned and came down from the mountain while the mountain was burning with fire, and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.” (Deuteronomy 9:15) 

So likewise now God has raised up Another, like Moses, that abides and speaks with God face to face, who dwells with consuming fire; as it is written of Moses, “Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10); and the Prophet which was to come, came, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who lives with the consuming fire and who abides in the bosom of the Father; as it is written of Him, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” (John 1:18)

And as Moses writes of Christ, “The LORD said to me, 'I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:17-18) Those who believe Moses, believe Christ, for Moses wrote of the Christ; as Christ was saying, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” (John 5:46-47) So Moses is a shadow to Christ and wrote about Him.

And Christ’s speech is not booming like God; as it says of Him, “He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.” (Isaiah 42:2) And His appearance is not the consuming fire like God; as it is written of Him, “He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.” (Isaiah 53:2) And the Spirit of Him is a gentle whisper; as it says, “After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.” (1 Kings 19:12) Albeit these are so, “It shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which He shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:19) So “Be on your guard before Him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in Him.” (Exodus 23:21)

Even as these are so, He is the Son of God, in God and apart from God. As the saying goes, “Like father, like son”, so Christ is like the Father. But how much so? When men have children, the child has an attribute or two of the father and some of the mother; so much so, people may say, “I see his father’s creativity in him; and I see his mother’s temperance in him.” But not so with Christ, for Christ doesn’t have an attribute or two of the Father, but resembles Him in His exact likeness, every attribute and every likeness, every work and every deed; as He says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?” (John 14:9)

Furthermore, the apostle says, “For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6) And by His Light He creates us anew in Himself for Himself. Furthermore, it is said of Jesus, “For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) For He is God with us: the Eternal Father.

Under the Old Covenant, those who seen the Father, or even the Ark of His Covenant, died; but in the New Testament, those who see God in the face of Christ live. Those who see the face of God die, but those who seek the face of God through Christ live; as David wrote in the Psalms, “When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” (Psalms 27:8) But he did not know the Son, he did not know His name; as it says, “What is His Name or His Son's name? Surely you know!” (Proverbs 30:4) But surely David knew faith, otherwise He would seek God’s face to death; for whoever sees God perishes, but He gives grace to those who see Christ.

However, many did see God in the Old and did not die — they did not see a fire, but an angel, the angel of God’s Presence; as Isaiah writes of Him, “In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9) One who did see Him was Gideon; as it says, “When Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD, he said, "Alas, O Lord GOD! For now I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face." The LORD said to him, "Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die."” (Judges 6:22-23) As it says, “Peace to you, do not fear;” For with sight of Christ Jesus comes grace and peace with God. 

Another who saw Him and even wrestled with Him was Jacob; as it says, “Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved." (Genesis 32:28-30) For it was the angel of the LORD that wrestled with him, and He is God, yet he did not die — only the socket of his thigh was rent out of place. And like Moses, Jacob saw God face to face and spoke with Him.

And another example is Manoah and his wife; as it says of them, “Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. So Manoah said to his wife, "We will surely die, for we have seen God." But his wife said to him, "If the LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time."” (Judges 13:21-23) And their lives were spared; they received the favor of God, receiving the promise of a son, Samson, the deliverer and judge of Israel. And what about Hagar who seen the angel of the Lord and called Him, “The God who sees”.

But all of these did not know the Angel's name; they only seen the Angel, for His name had not yet been disclosed to them; as it says in the account, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” (Judges 13:18) And, “Why is it that you ask my name?” (Genesis 32:29) Therefore, no name was given; thus the answer to the question, “What is His Son’s name?” was not known during those days. Just as it was in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for the patriarchs did not know the Father God’s name; as God says, “I am the LORD; and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself known to them.” (Exodus 6:2-3) 

But when He revealed Himself to Moses, “God said to Moses, "I AM who I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.’” God furthermore said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.” (Exodus 3:14-15) Then the LORD made for Himself a glorious name; as it says, “Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, Who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name, Who led them through the depths? Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble; As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious name.” (Isaiah 63:12-14) And when God ceased, His name remained on earth, sanctified.

So likewise, when the Son of God, the Angel of the LORD, was to be revealed, His name was made known; saying, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:31-33) And His name was made great by many signs and miracles and wonders by the power of the mighty hand of God, as it is even to this day. 

For the Father God visited and left, leaving His great name to be called upon through faith; and Christ Jesus came and left, sanctifying His name for salvation to everyone who believes; saying, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Therefore, if on earth they do not revere His holy name, certainly they will not revere Him when He comes in great power and glory to execute wrath on His enemies. Unless you, oh man, think otherwise? But I ask you, who know the Scriptures, who is it that will gather together to battle against the Son of God on the day of His visitation (Revelation 19:19)? Is it not they who do not fear His name? Won’t they not revere Him when He comes even in great glory? 

Therefore, “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;” (1 Peter 3:15) For when a person is absent, it is necessary to come or another to come in his name; and Jesus Christ has come in the Father’s name, working His works and speaking His words; and He has left, leaving His name for us to call upon for salvation; as it says, “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” (Romans 10:13)

And now, Christ is absent until He comes again; and where His absence is, there is given His Spirit and righteousness by faith; as He says, “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7) And, “concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;” (John 16:10) For if He were here, we would see Him and the righteousness thereof could not come by faith, for faith is the conviction of things unseen. But we who see Him, do so by faith to life; for who can call on Him unless they believe in Him?

So therefore, seek faith! I ask you, know you not the eyes of faith? As the writer of Hebrews says, “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” (Hebrews 12:2) Is it our physical eyes that he is talking about? Of course not! Who of us has seen Him risen, except the apostles? He is speaking of the eyes of our mind; just as Paul says about those who have no faith, “even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) And we can now only see God through the image of God, that is Christ; and even so now, only through faith, through the image of our mind, through the vision of our head, do we see Him; as Solomon says, “And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.” (Ecclesiastes 2:13-14)

For even the Holy Son of God needs to be sought after through this kind of vision; and this is the vision we preach: faith. It is sight without seeing, for God is terrifying, a consuming fire; who can see Him? So thus, we need Christ, our Mediator, and furthermore, faith. For while Christ dwelt with them, they were constantly terrified, even of Him, putting even great kings to fright. And this is the vessel of faith: the eye of our understanding. As it was with Adam and Eve, their eyes were opened; or do you think Adam and Eve were led by the hand being blind before they ate of the fruit? As it says, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.” (Genesis 3:7) Rather, it was the eye of their understanding that was opened, for although they were naked, they did not perceive it. God makes humans physically blind that we would see this; as He says, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” (Exodus 4:11)

Just as Paul was physically blind when he seen the living Christ; as it says, “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.” (Acts 9:8) For those who are blind need to be led by someone who can see. Likewise, the spiritually blind also need leading, as Paul was saying, “and are confident that you (teachers of the Law) yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness.” (Romans 2:19) Or even the Lord, “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39) And, “Let them (Pharisees) alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:14)

Concerning spiritual vision: how did Paul see when he was blind? As it says later, “and he (Paul) has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” (Acts 9:12) If he were blind, how could he see? Therefore, anyone who seeks God must seek Him through spiritual means, which is faith, for God is Spirit. The one who sees God in spirit sees more than the one seeing only in the flesh; the one who is physically blind and believes has more sight than the one who is sees. As it says, “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8) But, “whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” (John 3:15)

Who led the multitude of soldiers by the hand when Elisha struck them with blindness? As it says, “When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Strike this people with blindness, I pray." So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:18) But no-one led them by the hand, for it was their understanding that was blinded, and they became blind in mind; and they needed a leader. It was Elisha who they sought after, it was Elisha who led them right into the enemy territory; as it says, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he brought them to Samaria.” (2 Kings 6:19) “Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, "My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?"” (2 Kings 6:21) So there was none to lead them by the hand, for they were not physically blind.

Furthermore Christ says, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." (John 9:39) For true blindness is unbelief; and true sight is faith; and Christ making the physically blind see, gives true sight as well, but to those who do not believe are hardened; as He says, “WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN.” (Mark 4:12) For many who were hardened by unbelief, although having eyes, they did not see, nor perceive; as Christ says, “HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR?” (Mark 8:18)

Give us, Oh Lord, “eye salve” (Revelation 3:18) that we may see! For, “When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing.” (John 9:6-7) And help us with our unbelief; saying, “Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."” (Mark 9:24) Help us to see Your works that we may see You; saying, “let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight.” (Exodus 33:13) For we know You are gracious and merciful, abounding in lovingkindness and truth!

Therefore, whoever you are, open up your eyes, and awake! Circumcise your hearts and ears; come to the Light! For, “We grope along the wall like blind men, We grope like those who have no eyes; We stumble at midday as in the twilight, Among those who are vigorous we are like dead men.” (Isaiah 59:10) “By day they meet with darkness, And grope at noon as in the night.” (Job 5:14) For the one who walks in the darkness “does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:11) But Christ has become to us who are blind, the great Shepherd and Leader of the sheep, the Light of the World, and the Way to life.

Come to the knowledge of Christ! Jesus Christ crucified for you! The love of God in Christ Jesus. See! Not with eyes of flesh, but with eyes of spirit; as it says, “before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.” (Galatians 3:1) For “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) Just as a blind dolphin can see by triangulating noises in water through hearing, and a submarine by echolocation, so we can see Christ through hearing the testimony of Him; and by seeing Him through faith, the righteousness of God comes; saying, “The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.” (3 John 1:11) So the one who does good has seen Him.

Open up your eyes and see where you have come to! “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:20-24) For even Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." And God answered the man of God with a physical sight to see, “And the LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17)