Friday, December 18, 2015

BAPTISM SERIES -- Lesson Two Section 1 / The Wilderness

Questions added.
For lesson One, here is the link: (Lesson One)

The next section (Lesson Two) is the next addition, to 
(http://pearl-bibleteach.blogspot.com/):

Lesson Two

Progressing through the book of Matthew, the next words of Christ are found at Matt.4:4 where he is contending with his temptations by Satan, immediately following his baptism and it's vow to God (Matt.3:13,15,17; Luke4:16-21; Ps.40:7-8; Heb.10:7,16,9), to fulfill God's will and purpose concerning him (John4:34; 6:38). 
Here is the context of Christ's first response to Satan...
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ " (Matt.4:1-4) (Deut.8:2-3)

So much could be said about each verse of this context, to supplement the actual words of Jesus, and the lesson those words teach us.
In Part A, I will do an overview of the context... verses 1-3 in sections 1-3
and then Part B will proceed to go into more scriptural depth about Christ's own statement at Matt.4:4. 
Examining the sayings of Christ, is the main purpose of this series (Matt.28:20 A).

Part A -- section 1 (Matt.4:1)
"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

Par.1
First we learn, that it was God's spirit that lead Jesus to be strengthened ("made perfect") through obedience, by the acceptance of trials (Heb.5:8-9; 4:15; Phil.2:8; John15:10; Rom.8:3) in the "wilderness" (Deut.8:2; Eze.4:6).
In imitation of Christ, his New Covenant anointed priests (Rev.5:9-10) (anointed with the token of Holy Spirit), must also be made "perfect" in holiness. They do that through loyalty toward and union with, that spirit. That requires endurance in it's fine work (1Cor.9:24-25; James1:12). Those who do this successfully, will receive more spirit (Matt.13:12) and life (John 6:63)
(Heb.10:14-17,19-22; 13:21; 5:5; 8:1,5; Ex.29:21; 30:25; Eph.5:26-27; 1Thess.3:13; Lev.8:30; Ps.133:2; 45:7; Heb.1:4-5; 1John2:27; 3:24; 4:13; John14:17; 2Cor.1:21-22; 5:5-6; 2Tim.2:10; Matt.5:48; Heb.12:23; Acts20:32; James1:4,12). The path to success was first tread by Christ. By acceptance of the same path of refinement tread by Christ, they are made perfect (John17:19; Rom.8:16-17; Col.1:24; 1Pet.5:10; 1:6; 4:13; 2Cor.4:17; Phil.3:10; Rom.6:5; 8:36; Rev.6:9,11; Eph.4:13; Heb.13:13; John10:3-4; Mark8:34-35; 1Pet.2:21; Heb.12:5-7,11-13; Zech.13:9; 1Pet.1:7; Mal.3:1-3; 1Cor.3:13; Rev.3:19).
Questions:
Why did God's spirit lead Christ to face Satan?
Who else must be tested like Christ, and why?

Par.2
Along with accepting such training, we also will always be afforded the choice to do what is right in God's eyes. God sees to that, and affords those who faithfully endure, a way to be delivered out of their trials, still preserving their righteous integrity (1Cor.10:13; 1:8; Matt.6:13; 2Pet.2:9; 1:3; 2Thess.3:3; Rom.16:25; James1:12; 5:8,11; 2Tim.2:12; Rev.3:10; 21:7). 
Question:
How may we overcome when under Satanic test?

Par.3
God allows all those called to be His sons, to be tried by the devil (Luke22:31,46; Eph.6:12-13; 1Pet.5:8-9; 2Cor.11:3,13-14,4,20; Rev.2:20,10; Col.2:8; Eph.5:6; Matt.24:4; James1:13-14; Job 1:6,8-12,22; 27:6; 13:18; 31:6; James5:10-11) (Rev.13:10; Luke21:24; Matt.5:13; Rev.11:2). 
It is our opportunity to rise to meet the occasion, and to prove whose sons we truly are.
If we belong to Christ, we will, like him, endure in faithfulness, by obeying God throughout our trials. In doing so, we are spiritually branded and sealed, as servants of God (Deut.11:18; Rev.14:4-5; 22:4,3; Heb.8:10; Deut.11:18; 1Pet.2:10,9).
Question:
What opportunity is afforded those who are enduring Satanic trial?

Par.4
For the aforementioned reason of refinement (James1:1-4); those of the woman covenant (Gal.4:24,26,28,31; Rev.12:1) are also lead by the spirit of God into the wilderness to face Satan (Deut.8:6; Matt.4:1; Rev.12:6,17,15,4,14; Dan.7:25; 12:7; Rev.2:10; 13:10,7). Yet as Par. 2 above explained; the faithful will be strengthened and enabled, to endure (Rev.12:14; Isa.40:31; Ex.19:4; Eph.2:6; Rev.12:5; 3:21; Heb.10:12; Rom.8:17; 6:5).
The "place prepared" for the "woman" (Rev.12:6), is her own heart (Prov.16:1; Job 11:13; Luke 1:17; James4:8; Isa.42:16) (Prov.17:3; Zech.13:9; Mal.3:3), which is being healed, cleansed, and nurtured by the truth of Christ, to follow in his footsteps (John14:3-6; 1Pet.2:21). God dwells in many such hearts/"ivory palaces" Ps.45:8; Eph.5:19 (John 14:2; 1Cor.3:16; Rom.5:5; 2Tim.1:14; Rev.3:12). 
She returns to the spirit originally given to her heart (Jer.4:1; Isa.51:1; 46:3; Deut.1:31; Isa.10:20-22) (1John2:27; 2Pet.3:2; John14:26; 16:13; Rev.22:6-7), so that it will enlighten her perception/"lamp" (Matt.25:1,4,7-10; Rev.13:17; Isa.55:2; Rev.3:18) (Luke11:34), so that she may faithfully endure her time under test in the "wilderness", while "facing Satan" (Rev.12:14) (Rev.3:10; Jude1:24-25; Rev.1:6).
Questions:
Who, in the book of Revelation, is lead into the wilderness to be tested as Christ was?
What has God prepared for those who remember their devotion to Him?
How can a heart which has been moulded by God, prepare us to conquer Satan?

Par.5
There are those called to follow the steps of Christ, who do not remain faithful (Deut.8:6) during their time of testing in the wilderness (Matt.4:1; Rev.17:3,2; Jer.2:20,19,21; Heb.3:12; Hosea13:6; Isa.1:21; 57:6-9; 31:1-2; Eze.16:23-25; Ps.78:58-59; Rev.13:11,14-15,8,7) [(Jer.2) (Jer.2:15; Rev.9:8; Jer.2:19; 9:15; Rev.8:11; Jer.2:5; Rev.13:8; Jer.2:9; Rev.2:23; Jer.2:21; Rev.14:18-19; Jer.2:21,20; Rev.17:1-2)]. These called ones fail the Satanic test, mentioned at Matt.4:8-9 (Rev.13:4,1-2; 17:3; Isa.31:1; Rev.9:7,9; 19:18-20; 17:14). 
Questions:
In the scroll of Revelation, who else is in the "wilderness" of testing?
What are they seen doing?
Which Satanic test did they fail?

We will discuss those verses of Matt.4:8-9, in an upcoming lesson.

Part A -- section 2 (Matt.4:2) 
Matt.4:2
"After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry."

"After forty days and forty nights"
The time Jesus spent in the wilderness, was patterned for us in Moses (Ex.24:18; 34:28). By examining that pattern, we learn more about the purpose of Christ being there (Matt.4:2), after his anointing by God (Luke3:22; Ps.45:2,7,17; Luke22:29; Rev.3:21; Ps.110:1-4).
God initiated a covenant during that same time period, through Moses (Deut.9:9,11) during which he interceded on behalf of God's sinful nation (Deut.9:18,25; 10:10), and learned a means of atonement for His people's sins (Deut.9:18; Acts 3:22-23,25).

Other examples of this time pattern, also involve bearing the iniquity of sin  (Num.14:34; Eze.4:6; 1Kings 19:14,8; Jonah 3:4) and includes the repairing of a covenant/God's favor, for the repentant (Num.14:19-20,27,29-30,23,31-32,34; Eze.5:13; Jonah 3:6-7,10).
It is a period that signifies testing, to let each person prove their heart before God. By that period's completion, all reap what they have sown. Those who remain to inherit God's promises, are cleansed and suitable (Joshua 5:6; Num.32:13; 14:34).
(segment about numbers is removed, due to feedback. I will wait to publish that information, when it can be more fully explained.)

"Forty days and forty nights" is also a reference to the period during which God sent rain to cleanse the earth (Gen.6:11,17; 7:12,17), which also initiated a covenant (Gen.6:8,22,18). Those who remain faithful and are granted God's favor and mercy, and are carried through the period of trial, during which God removes the wicked (2Pet.2:4-9,1-3).
When Jesus went into the wilderness, he also suffered deprivation and temptation on behalf of his nation and it's sin (Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2; 19:10; Matt.15:24). He too sought God's Laws for His wayward people (Luke4:18-21), sought to become a channel of God's laws to be written on tablets of hearts, and for those who obey, a covenant... mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and divine favor for the repentant.
(John1:17; Heb.1:1-2; 2:10; 5:9) (2Cor.3:3; Jer.31:33; Ps.40:8; Deut.11:18; Rev.7:3; 14:1; 22:4).

Jesus Christ's successful endurance of ongoing Satanic test (Mark 1:13), established the fall and rise of many within God's nation, based upon the divine favor he attained by that faithful endurance, and it's comparison to those proving unfaithful.
(Luke 2:34-35; John12:48; Luke 1:50-54; Isa.8:14,18; Ps.110:2)
Our faith must accomplish the same
(2Cor.6:4; 1John2:13; Rev.12:11; 1Cor.6:3; Mal.3:18)
(Heb.11:7; Rom.4:13; John16:33; Heb.12:2; 1John5:4; Rev.3:21; Acts 3:25; Gal.3:29; Ps.110:2; Rev.5:9-10; Eph.2:6).

Lastly, Jesus began to fulfill his role toward those who entered a covenant with him, by the same time pattern (Acts 1:2-3).
What can we learn by this time pattern, and how might we apply it in our own life?
During that final period on earth, Jesus provided "orders" to his apostles (Matt.28:20) and God's teachings "about the kingdom", which are also contained in the scroll of Revelation (Rev.19:9; 22:19). During that 40 day period, it was time for Jesus to be the one to impart understanding, authority, and a means of reconciliation, through his apostles (2Cor.5:11-12,18-20).
We are facing our own period in the wilderness (1,260 days) (Rev.12:6)
We will either prove faithful to those teachings (Rev.12:14), or unfaithful (Rev.17:3) (two mothers) (Rev.22:11-12,18-19).

Those who prove faithful, will come through their time of testing in the wilderness... refined, restored, and reconciled to God (James 1:12; 1Thess.2:4).

"
...he felt hungry" (Matt.4:2)

According to Jesus, his "food" was to do the will of Him who sent him to the earth (John 4:34). That work and will, was to bear testimony to God's Words of truth (John5:36,24; 17:6,4; Rev.3:14; John1:1,4,9,14,17-18; 6:58). As we feed others, we are fed (1Cor.9:9-10; 1Tim.5:18).
This was also true of Christ (John 4:32,34; Deut.8:3). Yet until he finishes God's will, he feels hungry (Luke12:49-50; John5:17). When the fire from heaven is finally finished with it's work (Luke12:49; Jer.23:29; 5:14; Rev.11:5; 2Pet.3:7,10-13); Jesus will again feast in the Kingdom of God (Luke22:18; Ps.23:5; Rev.19:9; Jer.31:14).

(to be continued)

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2 comments:

  1. Isa 10:20-22 20 And it shall come to pass in that day [That] the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on Yhwh, the Holy One of Israel, in truth."

    "And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them".

    An important part of baptism is learning the same lesson many Anointed within "jws" have yet to learn. They are "defeated" by someone...and worse "depend" on that same one. Anointed "depend" on the GB,yet are also defeated by them. They dont depend on Christ. So at this time,there are Anointed Christ is using to dispense food supplied by Christ. If we dont recognise this,then we are in danger of being defeated and depending on that conquerer. Any being "baptised" as a "jw" are baptised into that domain of spiritually defeated,which also contains defeated Anointed. Just because there are Anointed leading that organisation...and has many 1,000's of Anointed within its ranks,does not mean it has Jahs blessing. The verse above shows it has conquered Anointed who need to be saved by Jah out of "jws",not who are blessed by Him for being there. The vows demanded just before being baptised,show its baptism to the organisation.

    We need to be baptised in the "name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". NOT the name of an organisation which stands for slavery and being spiritually "defeated" by LIES. "Depend on (the name)Yhwh,in truth." If Anointed need saving from there,why would any considering being baptised,want to be baptised into that place Anointed need saving from?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even worse than depending upon a wicked steward who was appointed by Christ over the Master's house
      (Luke12:42,45-46; Hosea 6:5); is that the anointed are now feeding spiritually, from Gentiles...
      a counterfeit priesthood, that tramples and defiles God's genuine Temple.
      They worship that organized priesthood (counterfeit body of Christ) as an Idol.
      They were mislead by the wicked steward/Harlot/false prophet, to do so
      (Rev.13:11,14,15,8,7; 1Tim.4:1; Rev.16:13-16). The Gentiles, defile the Temple priesthood of God (Eph.2:20-22; 2Chron.23:6; 1Pet.2:5). If we discern this "disgusting thing" standing over God's Holy place/Temple (2Thess.2:4); we must flee that City (Matt.24:15-16). If we have the courage to do that, we can be invited to the Marriage Feast
      (http://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-comment-left-by-reader-i-understand.html).

      Delete

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