Question #1:
Dear Teacher,
Sometimes, it puzzles me too, but something that you said in the last
email posting comes to mind. There is obviously some degree of ignorance
that those who will end up in the Lake of Fire exploit to allow
themselves to make that choice. Emphasizes to me once again why we
cannot afford to be ignorant of the Lord and His ways.
There's always something to do for you. I love that life keeps you
occupied like that. It's way better than the alternative. We are praying
for the Lord to always strengthen you and help you with these duties and
responsibilities since we can't do much ourselves to help.
I just had a thought that I wanted to ask your position on: Do you
suppose that the Israel of God (per Gal.6:16) includes all the elect,
that is, angels, the Church, and Millennial believers? Or is it just the
Church or only the human complement of the elect? I've been wondering if
New Jerusalem was a clue that the Church is not all of Israel? But then
there is Rom.11:26, so what do you think, Sir?
Also, a thought from the earlier question I asked: I have taken for
granted that knowing what the Lord wants us to do is paying close
attention to what we have learned from the Bible and adjusting our
choices to fit them in the varying circumstances that constitute our
lives. That is, there is no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit will
nudge us in different directions according to His will, but since our
emotions and desires etc can run interference in our hearts, I assumed
that we can just work with our growing understanding of the Bible and
let that straighten out the confusions of our emotions, desires, etc.
So, when you said, "if we are certain that we are doing what He wants us
to do," I assumed that you didn't mean if we feel sure but rather if
what we are electing to do matches what we have come to learn of the
Lord in the Bible. Am I right about that?
Always deeply grateful for your prayers, Sir. We continue to pray for
you and all of yours.
Your student in Jesus
Response #1:
"[W]e cannot afford to be ignorant of the Lord and His ways" – Amen!
On, "the Israel of God" (Gal.6:16), this is Paul's way in the Spirit of
distinguishing between believers and unbelievers for the benefit of the
Galatians who are being led astray by Jewish unbelievers. The Assembly of
Christ, His Church, consists of ALL believers from Adam and Eve to the last one
saved in the Tribulation. Complemented by the Friends of the Bride, the
millennial believers, and together with all the elect angels we form the Family
of God. New Jerusalem is described as "the Bride" because that is the home of
the Church. The Friends apparently reside outside on the new earth. Not sure
about elect angels. But all will assemble in New Jerusalem to worship the Father
and the Lamb forever. Plenty we don't know yet about all of this (what scripture
does have to say about it is written up in CT 6
as you know), but so much to look forward to!
On your next paragraph, I think you do a good job describing the mechanics. It's
difficult to put into words precisely HOW the Spirit guides us, even though we
know, of course, that He does so with the truth and with our consciences, giving
confidence in Him that what we are doing is pleasing to God (or not) – and also
by directing steps through events not in our control. If we are willing to be
led, it works out that way. If we are putting our will in front of God's will,
that restricts guidance. Figuring all that out is both a simple formula but a
complex process in actuality. We trust the Lord. He works it out. Getting too
confident in our own assessment of things is never a good idea.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
We do our best to figure out the best path; we trust Him; we move forward, even
if it means walking on stormy waves to get to the place He is leading us.
Thanks for your prayers, my friend! [omitted] So continuing prayers appreciated!
Keeping you in mine day by day.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Dear Teacher,
I took all of that for granted, Sir. I was wondering if Israel is to be
understood as encompassing all of God's Family or if it is only one part
of that Family. Is it perhaps one of those things we aren't given to
know yet until that Day? I am thinking that New Jerusalem is a clue that
it encompasses the whole Family of God, but then I wouldn't be surprised
to be wrong about that.
Thank you very much, Sir. That is a big help.
Your student in Jesus,
Response #2:
You're right that there's a lot we don't know. As to if "New Jerusalem is a clue that it encompasses the whole Family of God", I have said not because of these passages:
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
Revelation 21:24 NIV
On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Revelation 22:2 NIV
So it seems that there are dwellers outside of New Jerusalem. Also the
city is called "the bride, the wife of the Lamb" (Rev.21:9), and this
surely must mean the Church. So I have posited the Church (the Israel of
God) inside; the Friends outside but with access inside; the angels'
abode is unspecified except for the twelve angels stationed at the
twelve gates. I have also suggested that the entire family of God will
assemble before Him in the center of the city (at appointed times, no
doubt, to which the assemblies in Jerusalem under the Law give the
pattern). But we would surely like to know more than we presently do . .
. and we shall, anon!
Still waiting to hear here – thanks for the prayers!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Dear Teacher,
Very sorry for misunderstanding, Sir. My thought was whether the New
Jerusalem was like "old" Jerusalem, a capital, so that Israel would then
embrace even the nations outside New Jerusalem, but it makes more sense
to me that the mention of "nations" would make New Jerusalem identical
to the eternal nation of Israel then. In other words, it's not a capital
in the sense that there is a nation for which it is the core. It's
certainly the global/universal capital, but there is no need to posit a
nation that encompasses. So, the Church is identical to Eternal Israel
or the New Jerusalem. All three are synonymous, right, Sir? But the
Family of God comprises other nations outside this Israel and the
complement of elect angels too.
Your student in Jesus,
Response #3:
That is the way I see it based on the limited information we're given. As mentioned, the only thing said about elect angels has to do with the twelve angels at the twelve gates (Rev.21:12). We do have this passage from Hebrews, but this is describing the situation at present, not the one after the creation of the new heavens and the new earth, and the descent of New Jerusalem (but surely not entirely contrary to what will be on that great future day to come):
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12:22-24 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Dear Teacher,
We just got to Israel: God's Perfect Standard this morning in our daily family
study. As I think I've mentioned before, we have been going through
the Satanic Rebellion series for the past year or so. We are now at
SR 5 and will soon be done with the
series. Then, we will move on to the
CT series. I don't usually prepare the teaching before the sessions partly
because of time and partly because I still haven't got to having the need to do
so. This part though has had me doing a quick read the night before because the
festivals and the gaps were proving quite arcane for me. Anyway, I didn't
realize that we were coming up to that, so my question preempted it. I was
asking the question because of the writing plan that I was developing. I wanted
to discuss Israel in my overview of the Bible, but I was a little confused about
her eternal meaning. I probably should have just done a quick bit of research
into what you already said about it on Ichthys first, but it didn't occur to me
since we were already talking on email.
It is not very clear to me what this link in
SR 5 under the discussion
aforementioned means, but it seemed to be saying that the whole human side of
God's family is organized into the twelve tribes (the 24 echelons bit is what
confuses me), but at the paragraph that begins, "the population of the New
Earth...," in CT 6, you described the
position in your answer. The two positions seem different to me. It seems to me
like it was from the first that I got the idea that Israel embraces the whole
human side of God's family and from the second that I got the idea that it is
only the Church. Is my understanding of the bit in
SR 5 wrong or did your understanding
evolve between both writings, Sir?
In the meantime, I thought quite a bit about it and it seems to me that the
Church is unique in the three divisions of God's family. It occurred to me that
while both the angels and Millennial believers are tested with great prosperity
and immediate oversight by the Lord (that is, the Lord is "physically"
accessible to them during their testing), the Church is tested in extremely
hostile conditions. I take for granted that both the angels and Millennial
believers have some unpleasant conditions to endure in their own testing: The
angels had to endure or otherwise deal with Satan's abuse of the universe that
was in their care to some degree and Millennial believers will almost certainly
go through some pain when the mass of the unbelieving world rises in rebellion
against the Lord at the end of the thousand years of His reign, but this is not
quite the same as 6000 years behind enemy lines beginning from a position of
hostility toward God and shifting to a position of loyalty to Him under
tremendous pressure from the enemy with their very lives and wellbeing on the
line up to the point that some will sacrifice their lives in the process.
Considering Deut.8:2-3,15-16, it seems to me that this is really what Israel is:
God's perfect standard, which is a family that chooses Him no matter what they
must suffer in doing so. While the angels and Millennial believers definitely
demonstrate a love for God that is absolutely genuine, they are spared this kind
of testing, so my thought right now is that this is what makes Israel Israel.
Therefore, in the Eternal State, it would make sense for it to be a nation by
itself rather than the totality of God's family. In other words, seen this way,
could we speak with more certainty about the organization of God's family in the
Eternal state? What do you think, Sir?
How is your weekend turning out?
Your student in Jesus
Response #4:
Is this the passage in SR 5 that you mean?
"Thus the final organization of the family of God would seem to be as follows: 6 clans of elect angels represented by 24 elders on the one hand, complemented by and equal in number to 12 tribes of saved and resurrected human beings, organized into 24 echelons on the other, both ruled over by the God Man Jesus Christ."
If so, the 24 echelons equals twelve of the Church; twelve of the Friends of the Bride. The latter are not the Church, but I do see what you mean. The distinction I was trying to maintain is the one which is set forth in Revelation where there are twelve tribal divisions represented by the twelve gates – even though in terms of numbers in the Church, most were originally gentiles (but now part of Christ so "the Israel of God" as opposed to mere biological membership; cf. Rom.9:6). The other twelve, the Friends, are likely mostly Jewish, but are described as "nations" in those same two chapters of Revelation (the opposite situation to the Church). The closeness we will all share on that great day is much more important than the distinctions / separation between our echelons – as Revelation itself asserts very dramatically (so strikingly, in fact, that most mss. copied it incorrectly):
And the leaves of the tree are for the enjoyment of [all] the nations, (3a) so that there will no longer be any division.
Revelation 21:2b-3a
I have posited a twelve part organization for the Friends based upon the Church (they are a mirror image of it) and what we know of the angelic organization. This doesn't mean they are the Church but that they are parallel to it – with no spiritual or significant "division" between any of us in eternity (cf. 1Cor.12:13; Gal.3:28). The unity of the Family of God is what is its premier feature in eternity.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
Ephesians 3:14-15 NKJV
If I gave the impression that since Israel is the pattern of ultimate
organization, elect angels and the Friends are equally Israel, that was not my
intention.
But in all this you do have a point, and not just about the lack of clarity in
the paragraph you cited. What does the name "Israel" mean in eternity and to
whom or what does it refer? I can't say anything more than I have said about
this because I don't find anything else in scripture. Israel is the ultimate
organizational pattern for saved humanity (see
the link), paralleling the angelic organization and taking in the gentiles
who believe into the Church (that is the "mystery" [link]).
As noted, I have posited the Friends sharing the same pattern both in numbers
and in organization. Are they not "Israel" too? And what of the angels? I cannot
say that they are, only that the Church IS. As I say, in eternity, these
"divisions" will be removed (Rev.21:2-3) and the unity of the entire family of
God, by whatever name, will be the blessed community we enjoy being a part of,
one with each other in a marvelous unity for all eternity.
VERY busy here. Lots of home improvement; some optional, some not. Hoping to
have everything buttoned up by the end of the month so as to have some large
amount of time to do the research I need to get to. Thanks for your prayers!
Hope all is well with you and your family. Keeping you all in my daily prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Hi again Bob,
I hope he does well despite this but this obviously happened for a good reason.
That is a very high profile job though. If he did get the position, would he
have been able to keep it given how close the Tribulation is?
I know the Mark of the Beast will prevent believers from buying or selling. Is
it possible that we will also be prevented from holding down employment or any
kind of position in society?
We may be allowed to have manual/ low paid work but I can't imagine any of us
having a high prestige role.
Also if America is Babylon then I can imagine the Antichrist wanting his own
people in all government positions, even if there will even be a justice system
by then as opposed to some unscrupulous kangaroo court type scenario.
It sounds as if he may have dodged a bullet there as they have already shown
that money talks and after all the Mark of the Beast is all about money.
We will all lose everything going forward but that is because what we already
have is more precious than anything this world has to offer. We have our
salvation, our eternal life.
In Jesus, the pearl of great price,
Response #5:
Re: "We will all lose everything going forward but that is because what we already have is more precious than anything this world has to offer. We have our salvation, our eternal life." Very well said! The smallest "well done!" from the Lord on that great day of days will be worth the entire world at present. What we have from Him will last forever, but this world is passing away. The Kingdom we are looking forward to is the "pearl of great price" for which any right-thinking person would give their all to attain (Matt.13:45-46). But we have entered into it positionally by God's grace and our faith in His Son.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wants to follow Me, let him [first] abandon his own aspirations, [then] pick up his cross and follow Me. For whoever makes it his purpose to preserve his life will end up losing it, but whoever forfeits his life for My sake will find that he has preserved it. What point is there for a man to come to possess the entire world, if he should then come to lose his life? Or what can a man pay to regain his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will repay every man in his own coin."
Matthew 16:24-27
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Hi Bob and family,
It’s been a little while since we’ve communicated but out of sight isn’t out of
mind. All’s well down under, and I’m a couple of days off my 80th birthday –
still on this side of the grass and looking forward to the day we see Him in the
clouds, (if He should so preserve me) what a day for those who love Him!
Enjoyed Hebrews 8, and eager for more, hope
you get it finished before too long, and I continue to be amazed at what you do!
Last Saturdays Postings of Q & A’s, #13 was a reminder of part of my own
journey. You may remember in one of our first emails a few years ago now, I told
you of a cult that I had the misfortune to belong to for 11 years until a family
crisis brought me out of it. The cult I’m referring doesn’t have a name as such,
and loosely goes by the name of ‘the way’ or the 2 x 2’s, and it is your country
as well. It’s founder was William Irvine, an Irish man who formed it with a
group of others in 1897, both men and women, called ‘workers’ that minister
either as 2 men, or 2 women in school halls on Sundays and also on one night of
the week in people’s houses. These workers are unpaid and live, supported in
those people’s houses usually for a year before moving on to another suburb or
town. So many similarities of ‘hero worship’ of the workers with what was said
in #13.
I’ve forgotten it now but your questioner brought it back but now I know there
is something better.
Doubt started some time during those 11 years when I questioned the workers,
when did this way begin?, and I was always told this ministry is the
continuation of Jesus’ ministry – they never told the truth. I eventually
discovered a couple of years later by searching the internet it came to
Australia around 1923.
Sadly, there are so many cults in various persuasions, all leading people
astray, which as you mention, it is Satan’s work and will get worse in a few
short years, unbeknown to so many. As you also know, I have said I will never
again attend ANY church ever again – so many just don’t know that it’s NOT
necessary to attend a church to receive salvation, that is the lie. Even sadder,
anyone with even a little knowledge, and even if their reading of scripture is
spasmodic at best, ALL know the scripture in Matthew 7: 13, 14 – which is a
clear directive of how Jesus told us to receive salvation, which is, through
your heart and mind. If they would only remember the very next verse after those
verses, Jesus tied that verse to those verses to cause people to think . . .
There is no other way, and He established it through His death, so it bears
serious and considered thought.
I’ll make this do for now and keeping you in my prayers.
As always dear Bob,
Response #6:
Congrats in advance on making it to 80! By current calculations, if I make it
there, it'll be only a few weeks shy of the Lord's return.
Glad to hear that you're enjoying Hebrews chapter eight (link).
It took me longer than expected. Chapter nine will take even longer (now
posted at the link). But I do have hopes and the expectation of finishing
the series before the late fall of 2026!
Thanks so much for your testimony. I know that this will be a help to others to
hear as well. The devil has all manner of "workers" out there pushing his
agenda. Anything that undermines the truth and our attention to it is especially
high priority, I would imagine. Any group which can effectively misdirect a
person's true interest in the Lord and His Word is likely going to be provided
"extra resources" by the evil one and his apparatus. Most believers who are
moving forward spiritually have similar stories of having escaped from something,
at least. It seems we all have to learn a few things the hard way before we're
ready and willing to learn them the right way. I rejoice in your deliverance!
Thanks for those prayers! Keeping you and your family in mine daily as well.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Hi Bob,
I have just started to work in earnest to get my ministry going again. I have
uploaded two videos and I have ideas of the shape this ministry will develop
into.
I will upload a blog alongside it and do videos of each posting so that people
can either watch/listen to the video or read the blog. My fondness of your MP3
page (link) encouraged me to put the
ministry work up online in two forms.
It was put on my heart to make a video of what I showed you (the Crown Chakra
and it's possible connection to the mark/number of the Beast). I know it isn't a
smoking gun or conclusive but I thought it good to be aware of it just in case.
I also made a video about Kundalini Yoga and how it is everywhere now,
especially the Charismatic side of the 'Church Visible'. There is an aspect of
this which is particularly deceiving called 'Laughter Yoga'. It sounds harmless
enough but it has been repackaged under false teachers as 'Holy Laughter' or
'Drunk in the Spirit'. I have never heard or seen any of this stuff before apart
from your tip off about the 'Kundalini Warning' video link on your site in one
of the email postings.
As I have never been in Charismatic/Pentecostal circles, I had no idea about
this stuff. I had only been exposed to 'speaking in tongues' once and that was
from a 'Charismatic Catholic Priest' (yes they exist too!) when I got involved
with conspiracy theory.
Other than that, a long time ago before I was saved, __ was watching something
on the Internet which I thought was some comical mesmer/hypnotism circus show. I
remember him laughed his head off but I was confused and disturbed at what was
going on. There was a white haired man in a white suit, throwing his jacket
around saying weird things and people were falling over all around him.
Sadly only now do I know that this was Benny Hinn and his 'church'. It is really
sad that we thought we were watching some weird carnival sideshow and we were
actually watching a church full of extremely deceived lukewarm baby Christians.
So sad and frustrating to think of now. Imagine how bad it looks that even
unbelievers are appalled and confused about this stuff as we had never seen the
like of this stuff before. I guess so many believers think that if something
seems 'new' or 'shocking' in a supernatural way then it must be from God?!
Of course the Word says there is nothing new under the sun. I was reading
yesterday that the 'Sibylline Oracles' of Ancient Greece would babble out
riddles which were supposed to be divine revelations whilst the women were in a
frenzied state. You will of course know a lot about this and I would really like
to hear your thoughts about these things. I know that these types of things are
classed as pseudepigrapha.
Bob, what with all the insanity bubbling around me, this country is having
weekly protests/riots over Palestine and many Muslims here are calling for
Sharia Law. __ can't cope with any of it and __ is developing high anxiety and
depression because of how anti-Semitic this county is becoming. As a lot of
people are crumbling around me and it isn't even the start of the Tribulation
yet, I am already finding things hard and it makes me worried that I won't be
able to get through it.
This has all started to creep in as I have seen too much news and social media.
Seeing all that darkness and chaos and seeing the effects it has had on people
who I love has really got to me.
I feel I must take a break again from seeing too much of the world online and
busy myself with what the Lord wants me to do and draw close to Him in prayer.
I am going away tomorrow for a little break. It is my birthday. Usually I do
still get excited about birthdays but this time I just wake up with a feeling of
dread inside me. Please pray I will be delivered from it and confidently enter
the fight again with strengthened faith.
Your friend in Jesus,
p.s. is it common for the enemy to use anxiety and depression as a weapon when
we start making real strides with Ministry? Just thought that the way I
currently feel could be spiritual warfare designed to stop my Ministry from
going forward.
Response #7:
First, early birthday felicitations! Please have a wonderful break.
Also, please don't stress out. I think it's wonderful that you're engaging in
ministry, and I pray daily for that – and that you will be protected in doing
it. This world is in sorry shape and getting sorrier by the moment. Please don't
let yourself get discouraged by that since this world is passing away.
Everything that happens is in the plan of God and He knows what He is doing. Our
job is to keep plugging away at spiritual growth and production, passing also
whatever tests come our way, and to keep doing so until our Lord returns. The
worse things look, the more likely it is that He will be returning sooner rather
than later (at least that is the way I interpret things). So take heart, my
friend. Jesus Christ is our mighty fortress and we have nothing whatsoever to
fear from this awful world . . . as long as we are delighting ourselves in the
fear of the Lord (Is.11:3). We shall see Him rendering justice to all and for
all very soon.
(1) God is our refuge and strength. [He is] our help in [times of] tribulation, [and] very quick to be found. (2) Therefore we shall not fear when the earth totters, when the mountains quake in the heart of the seas, (3) [when] its waters roar and foam, when the mountains shake on account of its swells. Selah (i.e., "rest"). (4) There is a river whose streams delight the city of God (Ezek.47:1-12; cf. Is.33:20-21; 41:18), the holy residence of the Most High (i.e., Messiah's capital). (5) God is in her midst. She will not be shaken. God will help her, before morning [comes]. (6) The nations were in an uproar. The kingdoms [of the world] tottered. He gave forth His voice. The earth melted. (7) The Lord of Hosts (i.e., Jesus Christ) is with us! The God of Jacob is our refuge! Selah (i.e., "rest"). (8) Come, see the wonders of the Lord, [even] He who has wrought devastations on the earth, (9) [even] He who makes wars cease to the very end of the earth. He will break [every] bow and shatter [every] spear and burn [all] chariots with fire. (10) "Cease [your agitation] and know that I am God. I shall be exalted over [all] the nations. I shall be exalted over the [entire] earth." (11) The Lord of Hosts (i.e., Jesus Christ) is with us! The God of Jacob is our refuge! Selah (i.e., "rest").
Psalm 46:1-11
Re: "is it common for the enemy to use anxiety and depression as a weapon" – it's common for the evil one to use anything and everything against us always and especially if we are headed the right way, making progress or helping others. But please remember: he cannot do a single thing without the Lord's approval. You have the Holy Spirit in you and there is nothing He cannot do, being God. He will never let you down (the REAL Holy Spirit, not the Benny Hinn pretend/circus false substitute).
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 NKJV
Re: the Sibylline oracles: these are a mishmash of indistinct "prophecies" along
the lines of astrology; the closest thing we have in the modern world are "the
prophecies of Nostradamus" – equally general to allow anyone to apply them to
anything they wish.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
[omitted]
Response #8:
Sorry about no electricity AND no water! I know how that is on both counts. A
good time to go on vacation! That's how some of my neighbors coped with the
recent outage here as well.
Re: "sometimes when the Lord gives a person a reprieve, then they seem to use
this as an opportunity to turn back to the distractions of the world again",
that is certainly often the case. No doubt all who are lost have been given many
opportunities in their lives to demonstrate conclusively that they are not
willing to be saved. This will all be made clear at the last judgment.
Meanwhile, it is our job to provide the truth to any and all who are willing to
listen to it.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
I was just thinking today, what is happening to __ is close to my heart as I
went through something very similar. I wasn't ever made homeless but everything
went wrong for me (job, friendships and family) within a really short amount of
time so that I was completely despairing of life and didn't want to go on. I
went through so much varied intense suffering in such a small amount of time
that it completely smashed to pieces any illusions I had about this life. As I
could only then see the evil here, I thought I wouldn't be able to take it
anymore. Thankfully I didn't give up but reached out to God instead. Despairing
at this life is not a bad place to be in spiritually as long as it leads to
reaching for something else, something more, something that never fails and is
perfect..of course that is our Lord!
I thought after that point of despair and then salvation that I was still really
through with this world but it made me realise how much of a grip I still had on
this world even as a baby Christian. It has amazed me given my own desire to
leave this world before being saved that it still took a lot since to get me to
the point that I truly begin to detach myself from what is in the here and now.
It is spiritual growth and testing (the combination of the two) that has brought
me to a place of longing to be with God and a dissatisfaction with this
crumbling world. It is only when we mature spiritually that we truly see this
world as vexing and wearisome just as is written in Ecclesiastes.
Through testing, so many times my attempts to move forward has been thwarted by
the evil one. I will not give up my momentum and my moving forward of course but
it has made me realise that only that which has been wrought through God will
last and has any real purpose. Everything else truly is waste of time.
It did make me think of the huge difference between an unbeliever wanting to
leave this world and a believer longing to be with the Lord. The former has
despaired and has no hope but the latter may well have become wearied but knows
there is something better. The former doesn't know of anything better but the
latter does. It has made me think that the truly mature place to be is where a
believer can be happy to be here as they are earning a reward but also be happy
to leave as then they will be with the Lord face to face. If we have then this
professional attitude towards our faith and the work the Lord has given us then
we truly can consider it all joy!
I was studying on your site about testing and that it is the stuff of the mature
to welcome testing. I am not there yet though I really do want to be there -- I
know that's a start, that I want to be in the position of embracing testing as
it proves and purifies me through the refiner's fire. I do see these things so
much differently now than I used to do.
We really do need to only have a light hold on all that is here as we come in
naked and leave naked though we will take our salvation, works and rewards into
eternity. So really what is really stopping us from getting stuck in, working in
the vineyard?
Even my thoughts towards the Tribulation have changed the more I have matured. I
used to be terrified at the thought but now I see it differently. For one, our
Lord will be at the door as the time counts down. For another, all of the middle
ground and mystery around it will evaporate and we will really know what we will
be finally up against. Another is that it is a great opportunity to prove our
faith and that we truly believe in all we have studied and learnt about the Lord
until that time. Finally, we will be keenly aware of our Lord's protection,
provision and deliverance through it and even if the Lord wants us to go through
particularly tough testing, we will know that this is a great compliment from
our Lord and a great honour to be called to witness to others in this way.
I really am starting to fully grasp the joy we can have no matter what earthly
troubles are thrown our way. We just have to trust the Lord and the Word more
than what our own eyes and ears tell us about this temporary world of lies and
illusions.
In Jesus,
Response #9:
This is really excellent, my friend, and I know that it will benefit others as
well.
Re: "Thankfully I didn't give up but reached out to God instead."
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.
Psalm 119:67 NIV
Re: "Everything else truly is waste of time."
"Do not store up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and corrosion eat them away and where thieves dig through and steal them. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor corrosion eat them away and where thieves neither dig through nor steal them. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:19-21
Re: "The former doesn't know of anything better but the latter does."
For we do not have here [on earth] a city which [is meant to be] lasting; rather we are eagerly looking forward to the city that is destined [to come] (i.e., the New Jerusalem).
Hebrews 13:14
Re: "If we have then this professional attitude towards our faith and the work the Lord has given us then we truly can consider it all joy!"
(2) Brothers, when you are being beset with all manner of trials, take pains to be joyful. (3) For you should keep in mind that this testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) So let your perseverance develop fully, that you may become fully mature and entitled to a full reward, having been found lacking in no respect.
James 1:2-4
Re: "I want to be in the position of embracing testing as it proves and purifies me through the refiner's fire."
(3) May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ be praised, who has in His great mercy caused us to be reborn to a hope which lives through Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, (4) and to an inheritance which will never be destroyed, defiled, or dimmed, but which is being guarded in heaven for us, (5) who are ourselves also being kept safe by God's power and our faith in Him to an ultimate deliverance ready to be unveiled at the end of time. (6) In anticipation of this ultimate deliverance, your joy overflows, though at present it may be your lot to suffer for a time through various trials (7) to the end that your faith may be shown to be genuine. This validation of your faith is far more valuable than gold, for gold, though it too is assayed by fire, ultimately perishes. But your faith, when proven genuine in the crucible of life, will result in praise, glory and honor for you at the glorious return of Jesus Christ. (8) Though you have never laid eyes on Him, yet you love Him. And though you cannot see Him at this present time, yet you have faith in Him. For this reason you rejoice with an inexpressible joy that bespeaks the glorious future to come, (9) when you shall carry off in victory the ultimate prize – the [eternal] deliverance of your lives – which is the very purpose and objective of this faith of yours.
1st Peter 1:3-9
Re: "So really what is really stopping us from getting stuck in, working in the vineyard?"
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
Matthew 21:28-32 NIV
Re: "even if the Lord wants us to go through particularly tough testing, we will know that this is a great compliment from our Lord and a great honour to be called to witness to others in this way."
"I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death."
Revelation 2:9-11 NIV
Re: "We just have to trust the Lord and the Word more than what our own eyes and ears tell us about this temporary world of lies and illusions."
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2nd Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
And many other passages besides come to mind when reading your message. It is a
true sign of spiritual maturity, of having adjusted our thinking to God's
thinking – His truth as expressed in scripture – when our words convey the
truth, even when we are not directly quoting scripture. Well done you!
Keeping you in my prayers as well, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Bob,
So much is going on here.
I did read some of your newly posted letters last night. It never ceases to
amaze me how so many Christians just do not want to deeply seek the truth and
never find it and stay confused and religious. In contrast, there are those who
show some diligence and just read the English text carefully and show great
discernment as that one did on Matthew. O, how I wish more Christians would get
with it but it seems the trend continues downward.
Then there was the excellent letter you wrote, no. 12 that had the "sweet roll"
in it. What a good synopsis of our current landscape. If the U.S. is not
Babylon, it sure is in the running. Just about every church I had visited or
attended either before or after Berachah have been much the same, included the
ones I pastored. So few hunger for truth at the level needed for spiritual
growth. But you know all of that.
[omitted] As always, it is in the Lord's hands. Oh yeah, I heard there was an
election or something soon.
I just keep doing ministry (link
to Bible Academy) and try to keep my eyes on the Lord.
In His lovingkindness,
Response #10:
Thanks for the good words, my friend. Yes, the lukewarmness is pretty amazing,
but that is where we are. Also, I have nothing against sweet rolls per se
(bought some cinnamon roles at the store today: just what my fat body needs no
doubt).
It seems that more and more of our brothers and sisters are getting hammered
financially lately, and we're not even in a recession or depression or the
Tribulation yet. Just learned about a situation where a medical debt contracted
without health insurance exploded to 1.2 mil! And I'm thinking, "I thought I'd
had some challenges on the money front!" Well, there's no money in New Jerusalem
– and no debt either. Qualifies for paradise on that basis alone if you ask me.
"I just keep doing ministry and try to keep my eyes on the Lord." That is
what it is all about, my friend, and I greatly admire you for your consistent
love and faithful effort for the Lord. Much more important, I'm sure it's not
lost on Him either. And that's what counts for us more than anything. The
smallest possible reward given by Him then for doing what we are supposed to be
doing down here now, will be worth more than the entire present universe,
infinitely so and for all eternity.
Thanks for your prayers too, old friend.
Your pal in Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Bob,
[omitted]
Then I suddenly rallied and tried to encourage myself. The mistake I
made was looking to unbelievers for encouragement.
I need to re-read your section on Peter about 'elect outcasts' to
encourage myself again and see myself as God sees me, not as the world
sees me.
In Jesus,
Response #11:
I'm sorry to hear that it's a difficult time. I expected that as you began to engage seriously with your ministry, and I have been praying for you, my friend.
"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life."
Matthew 19:29
To tell you the truth, I am anxious for friends and family with very young children. Just from the standpoint of the collapse of moral and law-abiding society the future looks very dark. When we consider the soon-to-come Tribulation, I am reminded of these words of our Lord:
But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”
Luke 23:28-31 NKJV
You hold in your hands an immense opportunity: to win the three crowns of reward that will bless you and glorify our Lord Jesus forever (link). And you have made great progress down that road already. We can't look to this world for encouragement and justification. This world belongs to the devil. If we are being applauded by it, we are in spiritual trouble.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1st John 2:15-17 NKJV
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:4b NKJV
Whenever we are feeling physically unwell, it is very easy to fall into a
spiritual funk along with that. At such times, we need to take special care to
stay close to the Lord and focus on the deliverance He will surely bring –
trusting Him no matter what.
I know you know all of the above, my friend, and also it does my heart good to
see you spiritually rallying in spite of the pressure. Be pleased to let the
Lord lead you all the way through this Red Sea. He didn't bring you to the
shoreline to abandon you.
Keeping you in my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #12:
Thank you Bob and I do know that everything you said is the truth.
Emotions had got the better of me but I have rallied now and am waiting
until I feel better which I know I will get through soon. I know that
the Lord's plan will carry on regardless. He doesn't need me but I need
Him and I want to be a part of His plan. Sometimes I led myself to
believe that I needed to be up and doing things but being taken down by
illness has given me the humility I needed to have. He doesn't need me
to get everything done but I want to be a part of His plan. I need Him.
He is all I need and there is nothing to fear as long as I abide in Him
and with on Him. Amen!
[omitted]
Thanks again my friend,
Response #12:
I'm praying for your health, my friend.
Re: "That faith rest you always write about, the moment to moment
Sabbath is all the more clear to us in the moments when we have to wait
on the Lord. When we must be patient and trust in Him to get us through."
It's wonderful to hear you say this! When the pressure is on, even
believers who should know better often lose their spiritual balance. As
Mike Tyson famously said, "Everybody has a plan . . . until they get hit
in the mouth". You've "been hit" but you are holding course just the
same. That is a great measure of spiritual growth.
For the record, patience and humility are not particular strengths of
mine either. We all need to adjust our natural tendencies to the will of
God, whether we tend toward the over-eager or the over-reluctant. I've
always felt that it's better to have a horse that needs to be reined in
than spurred on.
Hope to hear from you that you are feeling better soon.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Bob,
I am feeling better today. I will be having some tests done tomorrow.
I have been praying for deliverance on this and would rather wait on the
Lord for this than take something I am not thrilled about but this
intervention is very common so it is hardly experimental shot in the
dark treatment. I will pray on this that the Lord makes it very clear if
He doesn't want me to take it.
Despite being better physically, been hit with family problems again.
Without going over the whole thing, often I am hit with something that
is outrageously unfair and unjust and rather than see it as the trial
that it is, I get very angry and explain exactly how and why it is
unjust to my family.
I can't imagine going through these things without the Lord. They would
probably finish me off. Sometimes I experience things that are
breathtakingly cruel and unjust that it really stings and yet if I
immediately turn to Him while it is happening, I can feel His holding my
hand and the sting is only for a brief moment and I feel that comfort
and peace around me again. As I am safe in Him it also means I can be
immediately forgiving to the person who has just been cruelly cold to
me. I hope they notice the witness of this.
Thank you so much for all you do.
In Jesus,
Response #13:
Good to hear that you are feeling some better – but sorry to learn that
you are continuing to be maltreated by family. Of course at this point
is that really a surprise? There's nothing wrong with getting a little
emotional distance from people who have proven that they don't
necessarily have our best interests at heart (Jn.2:24-25).
In terms of meds, I'm confident that you'll make the best decision for
you. Good to hear that you're having the tests done you need to be more
sure of things.
"I can't imagine going through these things without the Lord."
Amen! Yes you are growing – and have grown – and will continue to do so
in the truth and through persevering through these trials. They don't
last forever.
Keeping you in my prayers daily, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
The following from Satanic Rebellion Part 4 under I. 2.
"Along with life, the poor lose only their poverty in death, but the rich, successful person loses the things esteemed most in this vain, secular world. Death thus renders all secular achievements essentially pointless:
Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him.
Psalm 49:16-17 NIV
Just had to let you know that this REALLY blessed me!
I am a multimillionaire's son who was disinherited and not even named in my
father's obituary or invited to his internment. My father's shaming me because I
would not comply with his wishes has plagued me all my life (I'm 68).
Reading this lifted a great weight from my soul. I've been successful in my own
right and have a great life and marriage. And yet?
A father's curse haunts his son.
Thank you.
Response #14:
Glad to be of help!
We're always happier as believers when we are living in joyful anticipation of
New Jerusalem rather than trying to eke out some sort of temporary happiness
down here. All we really have to do is take it one day at a time. If we can make
it to the end of the day, doing what the Lord would have us do, we have no
worries, because the Lord only gives us one day at a time. Everything else is an
illusion. If we are OK "at this moment", we can trust the Lord to get us to the
next one until the day is done. Tomorrow we will be with Him. It's only a
question of which tomorrow, and we'll get the answer to that soon enough.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
In your above referenced study I found something you may have forgotten:
on the occasion that led to his arrest, that is, to present the offering he had
laboriously gathered from the gentile believers for that church (Acts 24:17;
2Cor.8-9; Gal.2:10).
In the above reference for 2Cor.8-9, I think you might have missed the chapter.
Did you mean 2 Cor. 8:8-9 ? Or?
I am watching you..LOL
Best blessings to you,
Your friend,
Response #15:
Actually, this is correct because Paul uses two full chapters (as we have
divided the Bible) to treat this issue of giving money – something that has
always struck me: how much trouble "money" has always caused in the Church even
under the apostles (cf. Acts 5:1ff.). That's one of the reasons I've always been
grateful that it's not involved in Ichthys.
I don't know a better way to cite this. It does show up on reftagger correctly
as "2nd Corinthians 8:1 - 9:15". Perhaps I should put it in that way too if you
found it confusing.
Watch away! I'm always grateful for readers catching my typos.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Hi Bob,
Not too good. I'm having a rough time of it at the moment and it's still
ongoing. Like I've been bombarded in a few different areas and I've been dealing
with some nasty stuff on my own. I've felt exhausted some days and it's had an
effect on how much study I've been able to do. But I'm hoping to be able to get
back to it this week. That and prayer is the most important thing especially
because we're so close to the T. It's a tough fight and we're always being
tested but I'll get through it.
How are things with you? Did the exams go OK last week?
Thank you for your prayers!
In Jesus
Response #16:
Things here are OK. Got through the flak on this end alright. Now it's like,
"OK, when is the rest period?" . . . but I have to wait to the end of the week
for that and plenty to do with the one day off I'll be having. Thanks for your
prayers (greatly appreciated).
I'm sorry to hear things are problematic on your end at present. It seems from
this vantage point to be opposition designed to get you to back off of what's
important. On days like that, sometimes just engaging with Bible study and
prayer etc. is a victory. If you totally "run out of gas", it's important not to
get down on yourself for not doing the optimal. It's important to feel good
about what we ARE able to do and ARE doing, even though we are tired and under
attack. We may not always be able to be jumping for joy, but we can be at peace
and keep in mind that no one and nothing can keep New Jerusalem from coming to
earth. On that day we will all gather together on Mt. Zion as one Church in
perfect unity and peace and joy and worship our dear Savior together in eternal
bliss. Nothing can stop that from happening . . . even if there are a few miles
of rough road between here and there.
Peace I leave for you; peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you."
John 14:27
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NKJV
I'm keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Hi Bob,
I'm really happy to hear that you got through the flak alright. Why will you
just have one day off, Bob? I'm praying for you.
I really do appreciate your encouragement. You're right about being under attack
and I'm in a situation where I have to trust in the Lord and keep hold of that
peace. I've been mostly able to do what you wrote about. Keeping in the Word
even if it's not as much as I'd like and praying too. Some evenings I've hardly
been able to keep my eyes open. I've been so tired! But I actually had a lot of
time to myself this afternoon and got stuck into CT again (link).
It's all a test and I'm asking for wisdom along the way and working through it
with the Lord's help. Each day is bringing its own challenges and it's a case of
taking it one step at a time and handling it all in a godly way. The Lord is in
control and I know He will work it all out for good.
I'm working an extra day this week as holiday cover. So I'm in tomorrow,
Thursday and Friday. I'll get some early nights in. Getting plenty of sleep is a
biggie for me - always has been.
I can't wait for that day when we're all together with our dear Saviour. It
won't be too long now.
Make sure you take good care of yourself, Bob.
In Jesus
Response #17:
I'm really sorry to hear that you are so fatigued. I do hope that whatever is
leading to this will be short-lived. Having to have an extra day in at work
can't help. Is the home-improvement / flipping operation about to settle down?
Please do take care of your health and get the rest you need.
I have Friday off on account of a conference they have here which takes up the
room spaces (so I cancel classes on the syllabus ahead of time). Deadline for
the merit package, our yearly review, is looming, so that is one thing I'll have
to do (haven't got to income taxes this year yet either and some other odds and
ends so I'll be busy but at least not down at the uni).
When we do bear up under these tests, it also increases our confidence – seeing
the Lord bringing us through and knowing that nothing we are doing for Him is in
vain.
Blessed is the man who stands firm in testing, because when he has been [tested and] approved he will receive the crown of life which [God] has promised to all who love Him.
James 1:12
I have no doubt about your future rewards, my friend. All we need to do is
persevere . . . one day at a time.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Thank you, Bob. One day down, two to go. I'll be happy when you reach the
weekend too for a rest.
The home-improvement is settling down. Just a couple more weeks and we should be
ready to put it on the market (I think I said the same a few weeks back!).
I'm struggling to find any words, Bob. It's a test and I feel pressure and it's
uncomfortable but I'm bearing up. I think I'll be able to explain it all to you
when I've got more energy. And I'm sure you will think it's nothing.
So grateful for your prayers and encouragement and patience, Bob.
In Jesus
Response #18:
Praying for you to make it through.
LOL, you DID tell me this before. Of course, that's what contractors always say
too when you ask them when it'll all FINALLY be done, "About three more weeks".
You don't have to feel bad other people thinking "it" is "nothing": the evil one
knows where we are vulnerable so that my "nothing" can easily be your "quite
something" . . . and vice versa. One thing is for sure, however, as advancing
believers, we are sure to get "hit".
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1st Peter 4:12-13 NIV
Keep running your good race for the Lord, my friend.
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Thank you Bob,
I am really not sure whether I have passed this test of not, I never seem to be
sure. To pass the test do we need to be Christlike in every way, perfect through
the test?
[omitted]
In Jesus,
Response #19:
One of my professors, one of the few Christian ones I ever had, being a football
fan remarked one time that life is unlike football in that you can't look up at
the scoreboard and see how you are doing. That is apropos of your question here.
We may have some idea that we're "doing well", and we may know very well if
we've really messed something up. But life is messy. And life for Christians,
being ever under attack of one sort or another, from within and from without,
from the evil one and his troops and from the world-system he has set in place,
never seems to give us a smooth ride . . . at least not if we're advancing. Of
course, if we're slacking off on spiritual growth and giving no thought to
trying to live a good Christian life, much less ever producing anything for the
Lord, then we are not likely to be opposed. That would be wasted effort on the
part of the adversary.
So if you're getting attacked, that's a good sign . . . even if it's not a happy
time. Secondly, if you're not 100% happy with how you're handling it, then
confess anything sinful, reorient to the truth and the "why" we are here, and
resolve to do better tomorrow. This is a one-day-at-a-time fight. Always limit
introspection. Most people are inclined to spend hours on that and minutes on
the prayer and study necessary to get to feeling better and doing better, but
that proportion is exactly upside down from what it should be. We need to have
short memories about our failures and fix our gaze on the future instead.
Nothing can stop New Jerusalem from descending when the time comes. Nothing. We
will be there and be joyous about it. In the meantime, we have opportunities to
put something into our heavenly thesaurus. If we didn't make as big a deposit
today as we might have done, no worries. We can have a go at doing better
tomorrow. And no one has ever been perfect at this. No one . . . except the
Lord.
I'm glad to hear that you are getting these problems resolved. We all "blow our
stacks" from time to time. We can learn from that. At least you didn't smite the
Rock with your staff. So it could have been worse.
Meanwhile, you are honing in on the witnessing, and that's all to the good.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2nd Timothy 4:7 NKJV
Keep fighting the fight, my friend. It's called "a fight" for a reason.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
In the following passage from Mark 11,
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to
this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their
heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have
received it, and it will be yours.
I can't understand how if you pray with that kind of faith, that kind of
assurance and what you are praying is within God's will, how that intersects
with other people's free will. And I don't know any instance where anyone has
actually moved a mountain. I know the Lord does not lie so I can't wrap my head
around this.
Response #20:
First, in terms of the interaction of free will, it's important to keep in mind
that God is bigger and more powerful and more wise than anything we can imagine
by orders and orders of magnitude. The thought that He foreordained absolutely
everything that happens in history from the pre-angelic beginning to the entire
situation before the blacking out of the universe following Satan's rebellion,
to absolutely everything that has and is and will happen in human history, all
the way to the end, to the "ages of the ages" following the last judgments and
incineration of the present heavens and earth to be replaced by the new ones, is
mind-boggling. That is indeed "hard to wrap one's mind around". That would be
incomprehensible enough if we were only talking about the physical world. How
many atoms are there in the universe? How many subatomic particles? What is
their exact location? Where were they all twenty thousand years ago (or more)?
God knows all this without effort. Indeed, He created them all (and no doubt
many more things that the world of academic physics has yet to discover) and
decreed the course of their existence and transformation and movement and
everything else that has ever happened. But He also did this with all of the
spirits He has, did, will create – and most particularly with the lives of all
of the free-will endowed creatures He has created. Those of us with the image of
God are the entire reason for the creation, namely, to bring about the perfect
end state which is the objective of the plan of God, namely, an eternal state
populated by creatures who have the image of God, who had, in time, the ability
to choose, who have chosen to be there and have chosen to worship and serve and
be with Him . . . of their own free will . . . in response to the great Gift of
Jesus Christ.
So you are correct in the implication here that every single free-will choice
made by every creature gifted with the image of God (i.e., human beings and
angels), is an essential element in the perfect plan of God. And while we may
see problems in how one person's decisions bump into another's, this is no
problem for God whatsoever. In His deity He held the entire plan of God "in
mind" (so to speak) before the decree; and after creation was decreed, with
everything foreknown in absolute detail, He has been carrying out the plan
perfectly. There are no "slips" because God is incapable of "slipping". There
are no hypotheticals, because there is only one plan of God, the one perfect
plan of which we are a part.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
James 1:17-18 NKJV
The perfect plan of God reveals His nature, His goodness, His love and His mercy at every turn. It is based upon the cross – because creating creatures with the ability to choose meant the rebellion and fall of some (angels and men respectively), so that only through the blood of Christ, which paid for the latter and replaced the former could harmony and completeness (angels), salvation and redemption (human beings) be provided for. By initiating creation, God the Father obligated Himself to sacrifice Jesus Christ – and the Son was willing. Therefore just how much He loves us is impossible for us to fathom this side of eternity.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 NKJV
All this being the case, whenever we approach passages such as the one you ask about, "moving mountains", we have to keep in mind that God has it all in hand. That whatever may seem impossible for us is much simpler than child's play for Him. What our Lord says here is of course absolutely the case. If we need to move a mountain, we will be able to do so – if we have faith sufficient there unto. In the history of believers, I don't know of any time this was needful, but it may be in the future.
For His feet will stand on that day on the Mount of Olives which lies before Jerusalem on the east. Then the Mount of Olives will be split in its midst [into] a very great valley [leading] east and west. For half of the mountain will recede [out of the way] to the north, and half of it to the south.
Zechariah 14:4
No doubt many will be praying for this mountain to move – and it will happen.
And that will be a very literal fulfillment of the passage you ask about.
I don't know about you, but I have seen many mountains move in my lifetime. Not
literal, physical mountains – which human effort could, after all, achieve with
enough force, engineering, nuclear explosions, etc. – but "mountainous problems"
which no human force could ever change or fix or alter. Problems which only God
could solve for me and others – and He did so . . . in answer to prayer. That
doesn't mean that we receive these mountain-moving responses immediately (I had
to wait a long time for some of these – not as long as Abraham had to wait for
Isaac, however), and not necessarily in the exact way we had anticipated or
specifically asked for: in my experience, the timing has always been perfect,
despite my impatience, and the result has always been better than my limited
imagination could conceive of.
If we are asking God to "change other people" in some way, we do have to account
for their free will. For it is certainly true that "people make their own
decisions" regardless of what we pray. But consider: God knew all about us in
eternity past. God knew all about the person, perhaps a beloved family member,
we are concerned about. God knew all of the circumstance, all of the ins and
outs, all of the "what ifs" before He ever decreed the one perfect plan. And
knew it all perfectly to a depth of understanding beyond our comprehension. We
know that He loves us. We know that He is perfect, intrinsically "good" in every
way. We know He wants our best – our absolute best. And we know, or should, that
He is working absolutely everything out for our good, for we who love Him
(Rom.8:28). So perhaps we should stop and consider that God actually does "know
what He is doing". Perhaps we should have a little faith. If our faith is not
yet built up and strengthened to the point of being able to move an actual
mountain, it may be sufficient to trust Him to move our personal
mountain-problem for us. Perhaps He is giving us this problem, whatever it is,
for our good, for our benefit in the end, to strengthen our faith by trusting
Him. Actually, how could that not be so since He is perfect and loves us so
much. How much? Just look to the cross: He sacrificed the One He loves beyond
everything else on our account.
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32 NKJV
Our part is to TRUST Him that all this is so. And by trusting Him in difficult straits, we grow in our faith. The mustard seed sprouts. A tree replaces it – eventually – if we persevere in trusting Him no matter what.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
Psalm 50:15 NKJV
As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.
Psalm 55:16 NKJV
In the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
Psalm 86:7 NKJV
"He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him."
Psalm 91:15 NKJV
Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:2 NKJV
"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you."
Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV
God only has to say something once for it to be true. We have these assurances
throughout scripture – including in the passage you ask about. No believer is
perfect in this. Even some of the great believers in the Bible stumbled in their
faith from time to time (cf. Jas.3:2). But faith is what commends us to the Lord
(Heb.11:2). Faith, trust, belief is how we entered the family of God through
believing in Jesus Christ, and faith is the means by which we grow, believing
the truth we are learning, and then applying it in our lives in the tests that
always come the way of the advancing believer. Tests can be taxing – just as
consistent physical exercise can be – but there is no other way to get in top
"spiritual shape" (lots about all this in BB 6A:
Peripateology at the link).
There is an overall plan of God. There is also a plan of God for our individual
Christian lives as well. It is also perfect – and has taken account of every
single circumstance we face and every decision we make. It is designed to help
us get the most out of this experience called "life". Not "having a good time"
(although God does not begrudge us reasonable things), but making the most of
the time and opportunities we have for Jesus Christ and His Church. For all the
positive things we do, we will be rewarded, and the least reward we receive will
be far better than all the "good times" we may have had here in these few years
on soon-to-be-replaced planet earth – better than the entire present universe,
infinitely and eternally so. God is with us, helping us in everything and in
every way. It is our job to "see it" and to respond in the right way. This does
take growth. A mustard seed is scarcely visible and it doesn't become a tree
overnight. A little bit of faith can move a mountain. It is truly amazing what
great faith can do.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
James 5:16b-18 NKJV
Accepting and understanding these things does take faith. But then, growing spiritually is only accomplished by that same faith – in the truth. And the more truth we take in – and the more truth we believe – the closer we grow to the Lord and the more we come to accept that nothing is impossible for Him.
“Is anything too hard for the LORD?"
Genesis 18:14 NKJV
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NKJV
“The LORD of armies says this: ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?' declares the LORD of armies.
Zechariah 8:6 NKJV
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26 NKJV
“For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 1:37 NKJV
But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Luke 18:27 NKJV
Speaking of the impossible, while nothing is impossible for God to accomplish, in spite of all obstacles we may see whether physical or theological or whatever, what really IS impossible is pleasing Him without being willing to trust Him that what He says is true:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
I'm keeping you and the situation in my prayers, my friend. I know the Lord
loves you, and I know that He knows how much you love your son. So trust Him
that He is willing and able to help you and that He will indeed do so in due
time, regardless of all indications to the contrary or anything your eyes see or
ears hear or feelings feel. If you do so, then soon enough "nothing will be
impossible for you" (Matt.17:20).
In Jesus,
Bob L.