DAY OF ATONEMENT

Fred Coulter - October 9, 2000

This is for the Day of Atonement, the year 2000.  And time is going forward, events are happening as we have seen, and God’s plan is right on schedule and we’re going ahead with the things that God wants us to do, and now we come to the Day of Atonement.  The Day of Atonement is a special day, a holy day, a day in which we fast. 

So let’s go to Leviticus 23 and let’s begin right here in verse 26.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.”  And we’re going to see a little later that afflicting means to afflict your soul with fasting.  And that means to drink no water, and eat no food. 

To offer an offering made by fire we don’t give animal offerings today so we do take up an offering.  And in taking up an offering we just need to understand and realize that God’s way is right and good and that in taking up the offering we’re following the principle here of offering an offering made by fire, so it is a command by God.  Today we don’t do the animal sacrifices as you know.  So at this time we’ll just pause and we’ll go ahead and take up the offering.

(Pause)

Now let’s continue on with the instructions that we have here in Leviticus 23.  We’re going to see that this is a special day where He emphasizes no work, or not any work several times.  Verse 28, “And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.  For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people” (vs. 28-29).  Meaning today, that you will lose contact with God.  And I’ve seen that.  I’ve seen that.  In the 40 years that I’ve been in Church I’ve learned one lesson from the Feast of Unleavened Bread which happens all the time.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 

Now there was a group of people who decided that since Christ fulfilled the Day of Atonement, which He has not completely fulfilled the Day of Atonement, as we will see when we understand it, therefore they didn’t fast and they actually had coffee and cake on the Day of Atonement.  Well, they were just given over to demons after that.  God is not going to be mocked.  Men are not going to enforce their will upon God.  Or their Bible interpretations upon God.  Now that doesn’t mean that we do everything perfect.  But when we get to those things which directly violate the laws and commands of God then we’re going to be in trouble.  And that’s what happened to them.  So when you are cut off from among your people that means you are cut off from God. 

“And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.” Now there are many ways also to destroy a person.  That doesn’t mean that you are instantly killed.  It just means that you are going to have a life that is going to be contrary to God, and that is going to end up destroying you.  “Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate [or keep] your sabbath” (vs. 30-31).  Now this is very important because that is the key thing that everyone could look to as to when the day began.  Now you might have a difference of opinion if it’s, “Well, when is noon and when the sun is starting to go down?”  You might have a difference of opinion, “Well, where is it exactly at three o’clock in the afternoon?”  But when you see the sun dip below the horizon you have no question whatsoever that it is sunset.  And “at even” means “at sunset”. 

Now let’s notice what He says here, “…You shall celebrate your sabbath…”  It’s very interesting in the Septuagint in the Greek where we’ve covered part of it, but I want to reiterate it here.  And it is that “you shall keep this sabbath”, “you shall keep your sabbaths” rather.  And in the Greek it is sabbatise ite  and then it does something very important here.  It uses the plural of sabbath.  The singular of sabbath in the Greek is ton sabbaton.  The plural is ta sabbata, so this is inserted right in there showing that all sabbaths are to be kept from sundown to sundown, not just the Day of Atonement.  But God didn’t want us to be in doubt whatsoever so He said from the ninth day of the month from even to the tenth day of the month at even shall you keep or celebrate your sabbath.  And in this case plural.  So this is inserted in there for all the sabbaths that we find here in the book of Leviticus.  And everyone of the holy days are sabbath days.  Every single one is.  That’s why it starts out at the beginning with the weekly Sabbath. 

Now let’s look concerning fasting.  Let’s come to Psalm 35:13 and let’s see that fasting is something that you do to draw close to God.  Now on fasting on the Day of Atonement, and we know that the meaning of the Day of Atonement part of it is that you will be at one with God.  Not only to forgive your sins, but to be at one with God, and for us who have our sins covered through the sacrifice of Christ as pictured by the Passover.  Then the Day of Atonement for us pictures more being at one with God because what’s going to happen with the Day of Atonement is when God applies that in it’s actual application like He did with Passover, then it’s going to apply to Israel and to the world to make atonement for them.  So that will be a very important thing to take place. 

And also as we will see that the author of sin is going to be removed.  Because it just doesn’t matter how perfect you may have things all around you.  It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you may have.  It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have been, or who your parents have been.  Because if Satan is there, there is still going to be sin because he is the author of sin.  Look what happened with Adam and Eve.  When Satan came, immediately there was sin.  But were they right there with God?  Yes.  Did they know the truth of God?  Yes.  Did God instruct them?  Yes.  But  Satan brings the sin and he brings the sinful nature to human beings.  So he has to be removed.  And the truth is you can never be at one with God totally, spiritually speaking, unless Satan is removed because he’s the adversary to divide from God.

Now here in Psalm 35, and this is also a prophecy of Jesus as well as something that happened to David.  Verse 11, “False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.  They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.  But as for me, when they sere sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting…”  So it says you shall afflict your soul, that means to humble yourself with fasting.  “…And my prayer returned into mine own bosom” (Psa. 35:11-13).  Now in difficult cases we find back in the account of Jesus and the casting out of the demon where the disciples couldn’t do it, He said that this kind comes out by nothing but by prayer and fasting. 

Now let’s go to Luke 4 and let’s see the tremendous spiritual battle that Jesus had with Satan the devil.  Because Jesus, when He came in the flesh, had to overcome Satan the devil in a one to one, head to head, knock down bruising spiritual battle.  Now, Christ as God could defeat Satan at any time.  Christ by using the power of God can defeat Satan at any time.  But now Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights so that He would have to fight and resist Satan only through the power of the Spirit of God within Him.  And by using the word of God correctly.  And to also do it in the weakest physical condition that He could possibly be in to show that it’s not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord. 

Now let’s begin in the book of Luke 4:1.  “And Jesus being full of the Holy [Spirit] Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil.”  Now I don’t think that any of us have ever endured the kind of thing that Jesus did.  “And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered.  And the devil said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4:1-3).  And Jesus could do that.  But you see, if He would have done it He would have disobeyed the Father, and would have obeyed Satan the devil instead.  So He didn’t do it. 

Notice how He answered.  “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man…”  Now here’s God Who’s man.  So He’s applying this not only to Himself but to all of mankind in general, but particularly to Himself in these circumstances where He’s fighting Satan the devil. “That man shall not live by bread alone…”  Now let’s understand, not only by food but and also this means not only by the physical things around you.  You have to live by every word of God.  That’s what He says here.  “…But by every word of God” (vs. 4).  And as it says in Deuteronomy 8:3 where this quote is taken from, it says “…that proceeds out of the mouth of God…”  And the whole story of the Bible can be reduced to three words.  “Obey My voice.”  So that’s exactly the whole sum of the Bible.  If you want a three word summation of the Bible there you have it.  And if you obey His voice you will be at one with God. 

Now then, He had to be tested whether He would want to seize and grasp controlling the world before the time came that God would give it to Him.  Verse 5, “And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.”  Just sort of a kaleidoscope of history passing before His eyes.  “And the devil said unto Him, All this power [yes, all this authority] will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”  Now we’re going to talk about the will of Satan, the will of God, the will of men in just a little bit.  But here Satan says to whomsoever I will, he gives it.  So Satan has a will and we will see what that is a little later.  “If Thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be Thine” (vs. 5-7).  And then we would have had no Messiah if He would have done that.   

Now this also tells us those who control the world are those who worship Satan the devil.  And that’s just the way that it is, whether they do it overtly or whether they do it secretly, whether they do it because they are controlled who others who are direct Satan worshippers, they are the ones who rule this world.  The rich, the elite, the establishment worldwide. 

Verse 8, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written…”  That is for man.  Now what He’s doing, He’s not saying Satan will worship God because Satan won’t worship God, because Satan wants to be worshipped as God.  So he won’t worship God.  He will rebel against God.  He’s the adversary.  But Jesus is quoting the scripture, “You shall worship the LORD your God and Him only shall you serve.”  And Jesus as a man was quoting that scripture.

“And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from hence:…”  And can you imagine what would have happened?  If He would have landed on His feet safely and securely right in the middle of the priests and scribes and the Pharisees and Sadducees, Satan would have said, “See, here is your savior.  Yes here is your savior.”  Because Jesus would have obeyed Satan.  Would have rejected the will of God.  Now Satan also quotes scripture so you have to be very careful about people who quote scripture and sound spiritual because they may not be from God.  So he says, “For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over Thee, to keep Thee: And in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone” (vs. 9-11).  And that is an absolute correct quote. 

Now Jesus said here verse 12, “And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”  So you need to understand that.  If you take the scriptures and misapply them, are you tempting God?  I think this is what it’s saying here.  So Jesus had to endure all these temptations in order to be our Savior.  And He had to endure all of this for 40 days and 40 nights when He was fasting, when He was not eating food or drinking any water, and He was yielding Himself to God totally being full of the Holy Spirit. 

Now notice, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season” (vs. 13).  And then it says in the book of Matthew that angels came to minister to Him to feed Him because He was so weak.  So that’s what Jesus Christ did.  That’s how we know.  Now we also…let’s come back here to the book of Ezra and let’s see where then fasting is without any water and without any food. 

Let’s come back here to Ezra 10, that way we can made it absolutely clear as to what fasting really consists of.  Verse 6, “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away [and for the sins which they had done].”  So fasting is without food and without water.

Now let’s come to Leviticus 16.  Let’s see what was to be done on this Day of Atonement in Israel.  Now let’s understand something very important that not all analogies or symbolism is necessarily completely accurate, as we will see here in just a little bit.  That the goat for Azazel is let off into the wilderness and then Satan is put into the abyss.  Well the wilderness is the closest in an analogy and a ritual that you could come to to an abyss.  And so that’s why it’s that way.  It doesn’t mean that one necessarily offsets and fights the other.  We’ll see that here in just a minute. 

Now on the Day of Atonement was a special day because that was the day that the High Priest went into the temple  One day that he went not only into the temple but into the Holy of Holies.  And the first part of it it shows how he would prepare himself, and the offerings that he would make.

Let’s begin here in verse 5.  “And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.  And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.  And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD…”  Now this is the only sacrifice that this was ever done with.  It was not done with any other sacrifice.  All other sacrifices were to be as specified without blemish.  Here he was to take “…and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Lev. 16:5-7).  Then something very different was done with these. 

Now the reason that this was done was because God had to make the choice.  Because in order to understand who the true sacrifice of God is, being Christ, and who the false messiah is, human beings of and by themselves cannot know without the intervention of God to call them and open their minds to it.  So likewise here, in order to understand which goat was for Azazel…and Azazel is another name for Satan, another name for the unclean spirit that inhabited the wilderness just like the abyss that Satan is going to inhabit in which there are demons right there now, which is called the prison. 

“…And [he shall] present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats [that is so God would make the decision]; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat [or Azazel]” (vs. 7-8).  Now this does not picture Christ.  Now I’ve gone through that several times, because people want to rely just on the Old Testament and not put it together with the New Testament properly.  Some people say that the second goat is also for Christ.  No, as we will see, the sacrifice of Christ as pictured by the goat which was sacrificed for sin and atonement is the sacrifice for sin.  And once that is done then the sins have been forgiven.  But as I have mentioned at the beginning, as long as Satan the devil is around there will be the author of sin and you can never be at one with God or have complete atonement until that is done.  And we’ll see how that is accomplished here.

“And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.”  Now a sin offering is a sin offering, correct?  Yes.  “But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement [over] with him…”  Or not with him.  Satan does not become an atoning part of what God has done, but the removal of him finishes the atoning.  So He is going to complete the atonement with him.  “…And to let him go for a scapegoat [or Azazel] into the wilderness” (vs. 9-10).  And then it shows that Aaron was to bring all the sacrifices to cleanse the temple and the altar and everything. 

Now verse 15, “Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people…”  Now if you have a sin offering for the people and that is accepted of God to make an atonement for them for all their sins and transgressions, have their sins been forgiven?  They answer is yes.  “…And bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: and he shall make an atonement [now this is a complete atonement] for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins…”  Meaning that this sin offering, as pictured by the sacrifice of Christ, atones for all of their transgressions in all their sins.  “…So shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness” (vs. 15-16).

“And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.”  So that shows that the atonement was accomplished with what Aaron did with the sacrifices for himself and the sacrifice for the sin offering of the goat for the LORD.  “And shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about [that’s the altar of burnt offering].  And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel [but is in all of their sins]” (vs. 17-19).

“And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat” (vs. 20).  Now here is a very strange ceremony.  The only one of its kind.  Now, whenever someone brought an offering to be offered, whether it’s a burnt offering, he would lay his hands on the head of the animal and then slit it’s throat.  When he would bring a sin offering he would do the same thing.  The offerer would lay his hand on it, confess his sins over it, and then slit the throat of the animal.  Now here we have something entirely different.  Aaron does the whole thing.  

Notice, “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel…”  Now why would he do that when they were already forgiven?  Well he does it because this goat represents Azazel and is putting back upon Satan his own responsibility for his own sins that he may bear them, because he won’t repent.  That’s why this goat is not sacrificed.  That’s why this goat does not represent Christ because Christ bore our sins and then He was slain.  Complete difference.  Now here we have it, this one is having  the sins confessed after the goat for the sin offering was already accepted of God.  So what is happening here, this is showing that Satan is responsible for all the sins of the whole world.  Remember Ephesians 2, that you are dead in your sins and trespasses because of the prince of the power of the air - that spirit which now works within the children of disobedience among whom we also all had our conduct in the past time. 

Now let’s  continue on here, “…putting them upon the head of the goat [because he’s responsible], and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man…”  Now this “fit man”, as we will see, is a type of an angel who removes Satan the devil.  “And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited [or in the wilderness]…”  So that’s as close as you can come to the abyss.  “…And he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.  And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation…” (vs. 21-23). Then he shall wash his garments and everything and then finish off the sin offering.

Now let’s pick it up here in verse 27.  “And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to made atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.”  So all sin offerings were to be wholly burnt, wholly consumed.  Why?  To show that they were completely removed.  And also to show that there was to be no further participation in it, that’s why they did not eat the sacrifices of the sin offering.  Whereas they could eat the sacrifices of the burnt offering, the sacrifice of the peace offering, the sacrifice of the thank offering.  They could eat all of those, but not this. 

“And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp” (vs. 28).  And back here to verse 26, “And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.”  

Now notice verse 29.  “And this shall be a stature for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your should, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.  It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever” (vs. 29-31).  So there it is concerning the Day of Atonement.

Now let’s look at something here concerning how the sacrifice of Christ is applied to us by His sacrifice through the words which He spoke, which applies to the Church.  As I said, the Day of Atonement will be the application of the sacrifice of Christ to Israel and to the world.  But let’s come here to John 15 and let’s see what Jesus said showing that our sins are covered by the Passover.  Our sins are not covered by the atonement but by the Passover. 

Now here in John 15:1 He says, “I AM the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away…”  And we’re seeing that God is doing that now.  He’s taking a lot away.  Because people are not staying at one with God.  They are not doing the things of God.  They are cutting themselves off from God.  And I know in talking to many people that we do all we can to help restore, but even at that there are some who just don’t want to be restored.  They want to join the ranks of Satan the devil and be unrepentant and go do their own thing.  And there will be some people like that.  And as we have seen, as what has happened to the Churches of God, there are some people who have just given up on God.  And their lives have changed and their minds have changed and their whole countenance and visage has changed because they have been cut off from among the people of God.  Now God the Father is the one Who’s doing that.  “…And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1-2).  So all the trials and difficulties we go through, and to successfully go through that means that God wants us to bear more fruit.

Now notice verse 3, “ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”  So we have the Passover applied to us.  In God’s great plan He’s going to apply the sacrifice of Christ to the world on the Day of Atonement.  Then they will keep the Passover after that. 

Now let’s continue on here and see the fulfillment of this.  Let’s come to Revelation 20 and see the fulfillment of Leviticus 16 and putting away Satan the devil.  Now he’s going to be put away temporarily.  Now you’ll have to come to the service of the Last Great Day to understand why Satan is released for a short season. 

Let’s pick it up here in Revelation 20:1.  “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the [abyss] bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.”  Now hold your place here and come back to Revelation 9 and let’s understand something.  Verse 1, “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit [or that is the abyss].  And he opened the [abyss] bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace:…” (Rev. 20:1-2).  The demons are let loose, so right at this time with the sounding of the fifth trumpet the demons that are right now are in prison are loosed on this world.

Now let’s come over here to verse 11.  It says, “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon [which are names for Satan the devil].”  So Satan is…that’s his abode.  Now he’s allowed to come out of there now.  The demons, more demons will be allowed to come out during that time when the fifth trumpet is sounded.  But when Christ comes back to the earth, as we saw there picturing the Feast of Trumpets, and we ended the Feast of Trumpets with Revelation 19.

Now let’s come back to Revelation 20 and continue on.  Then Satan is removed, the demons are removed and whatever happens to Satan then also happens to all the demons in this particular case.  Verse 2, “And [the angel] he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the [abyss] bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season” (Rev. 20:2-3).  So this day pictures the binding of Satan when Jesus Christ returns.

Now also it pictures being at one with God.  And that was the whole purpose, the whole meaning of why Christ came.  So let’s apply, first of all, the day of atonement to us concerning being at one with God.  And then we will look at the will of God, we will look at self-will, and we will look at Satan’s will, and several combinations thereof to see whether we really want to do the will of God and be with Him - at one with Him.  Now you cannot be at one with God until you have Satan removed.  You cannot truly be at one with God until you are born again of the resurrection into the kingdom of God.

Now let’s go to John 17 because this is where Jesus in His final prayer about being at one with Him.  And this truly was the Lord’s prayer.  His prayer just before He was arrested.  Now let’s begin in verse 1.  “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify Thee: as Thou hast given Him [authority] power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him.”  See, so at this time it has to be that God is the one Who calls and then we are brought to Christ.  “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God…”  Now He said that because Christ was not yet resurrected from the dead so at that time the only true God still existing was God the Father, because Christ was not 100% God in the flesh.  You cannot have 100% God in the flesh and 100% God in the Spirit in the same body because the Spirit body would destroy the physical body.  And so that’s why Jesus, though He was God manifest in the flesh, was not 100% God as God is God, so He said “the only true God” Who was the Father” at that time.  “…And Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent” (John 17:1-3).

“I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.  And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”  And that means “before the world existed.”  I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest Me out of the world…”  So if you’re brought out of the world, you’re brought into oneness with God.  “…And Thou gavest them Me; and they have kept Thy word.  Now they have known that all things whatsoever Thou hast given Me are of Thee.  For I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from Thee, and they have believed that Thou didst send Me.  I pray for them: I pray not for the world…”  See now’s not the time for the salvation of the world.  The time for the salvation of the world cannot come until Satan is removed and disposed of and put into the abyss.  “…But for them which Thou hast given Me: for they are Thine” (vs. 4-9).

Now let’s come over here to continue on verse 11.  “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee.  Holy Father keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are.”  And that’s what the Day of Atonement pictures for us, that we are at one with God.

Now let’s come over here to verse 20.  “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou has sent Me.  And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one.  I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and has loved them, as Thou has loved Me” (vs. 20-23).  And so this is the application of it for us - to be at one with God. 

How are we at one with God even in the flesh though Satan is still around.  That’s why we have to have the grace of God to cover us.  That’s why we have to have God fight our battles for us.  That’s why we have to be kept from the evil one. 

Now let’s examine the will of God.  Let’s first of all come to Matthew 6 and let’s read this prayer, very important prayer.  Let’s begin in verse 9.  This gives us a beginning understanding concerning the will of God.  “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”  Now what we are doing in this prayer, we are not praying for our will.  We’re praying for God’s will.  That’s how you become at one with God.  To unite your mind with the Spirit of God, which He gives to you, with the word of God, which He’s provided for you, to fill your mind with the word of God, to seek the will of God, and do as Jesus said, “Not My will but Your will be done” (Matt. 6:9-10).  And on earth, that’s in our lives.  Now notice verse 13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:…”  But this is from the evil one.  So that’s how we can be at one with God.

Now let’s focus in on the will of God and see what that is in our lives.  How we are to apply it, how we are to live it, then we know that we’re at one with God.  Let’s come to Ephesians 1 please.  And God has made known His will to us.  Brethren, it is something.  The knowledge that God has given us is the secret of God, the will of God, the plan of God.  And yet there are so many people ready and willing to give up on it,  and to start and to do their own things.  It is almost insane.  Well, as a matter of fact it is.  Anyone who would go against the will of God.  Now we also know this, that if you sin willfully then you have the lake of fire to look forward to.  You will never be at one with God. 

Now Ephesians 1, and let’s see how great that this is here, what God has done.  Let’s pick it up here in verse 3.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [the heavenly things, as it should read] places in Christ:”  We’re not in the heavenly places yet.  We shall be in the heavenly places when Christ returns and brings it to the earth.  But we’re not there yet.  “According as He hath chosen us in Him…” 

Now I want you to, as you’re listening to these words, I want you to apply them directly to you - that God has chosen you, that the Father has reached down into your life, that He has made known to you His will and is a great and a marvelous and a wonderful thing.  “…Chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the [sonship] adoption of children…”  Now adoption is not correct.  Sonship because adoption is this: you adopt someone who is not of your own kind.  Not of our own family.  Not of your own begettal.  Not of your own children.  However, God the Father has begotten us unto a lively hope.  He has put the seed of eternal life within us so therefore we are His children.  So this should properly read “sonship of children” “…By Jesus Christ to Himself…”  God the Father is doing this.  “…According to the good pleasure of His will” (Eph. 1:3-5).  It is God’s will.  Now you need to understand something.  If you go against the will of God and reject what God has done, please know and understand, there is no salvation.

Now continuing, “…To the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”  And so that’s a tremendous thing: having the whole understanding of the will of God.  “Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will…”  That’s how you are at one with God.  By knowing His will.  By living His will.  By seeking His will.  God does not want you to give up your will.  He wants your will to be converted so that your will and your desire is His will and His desire.  No, God doesn’t want you to be mindless and brainless and unthinking.  He wants you to be totally committed to Him.  He’s “…made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath proposed in Himself:” (vs. 6-9).  And all of this is revealed by the holy days and the word of God, all put together. 

You know, isn’t that something.  The world doesn’t know where it’s going.  It doesn’t know where it’s heading, but you know the will of God.  Now think on that.  To know the will of God.  Not because we’re great.  Not because we’re anything special.  But because God has made it so.  God has called the weak, God has called the despised.  God has called the rejected.  God has called the brokenhearted.  He has called all so that He can just show and prove to the world that all the might and power of Satan the devil and his great fantastic society, which he’s developing now, is nothing compared to what God has and His family, and His kingdom.  So that’s tremendous to know that and understand that. 

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him” (vs. 10).  And that is making it all at one with God.

Now let’s come to John 6 and let’s see what Jesus said the will of God is concerning us.  Now we need to understand something while we’re going here.  There is still our own will.  That’s why I emphasized that if you don’t make your will the will of God, your will could carry you away and cause you to lose salvation.  Now it is not God’s will that He loose any.  But if you decide other, then you have used your will and you have gone against the will of God.  And God is not going to force anyone into the kingdom of God.  We’ll either get there because we love God, because we bow the knee to Christ, because we love Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and knowledge.  We’re not going to get there by our own will, our own mind, our own power, or any of that. 

Now notice the will of God for you.  Let’s pick it up here in John 6:38 showing the will of Christ.  “For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.”  Did Christ have self will?  Of course He did, because He could choose.  Did He always seek to do the will of God?  Yes, we’ll see that again in just a minute.  “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth [so there’s a qualification to that will - you must believe] on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:38-40).

Now let’s come to James 1 and let’s see what God has done by the will of God.  God has called you.  Now don’t let your will reject you.  Let your will become God’s will. Live by every word of God, to let the word of God dwell in you.  To think with the word of God and that becomes then the most powerful thing that you can do brethren.  That’s what God wants. 

Now let’s pick it up here in James 1:17.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:17-18).  That is of the creation through this process and the resurrection from the dead.