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Now, let's continue on. Let’s see some more concerning the will of God.
Let’s come to the gospel of John 1 and let’s see how God did what He did for
us. Because we have to understand and realize that it was God the
Father Who began dealing with us, to call us, Who led us to Christ.
God is the one Who leads us to repentance. God is the one Who opens
our minds and brings us to the understanding of it. God is the one,
the Father, Who gives us the begettal of the Holy Spirit.
Now notice John 1:10. “He was in the world [that is the one Who
became the Word, Who became flesh and was the light of all men], and the
world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” That’s why the
world doesn’t understand Him. “He came unto His own, and His own
received Him not. But as many as received Him…” And this
receiving means “to welcome and embrace in a close bosom hug”. It just
doesn’t mean to acknowledge. It just doesn’t mean to pay lip service
to. It means to bring into your very being, if we could put it that
way. “…To them gave He [authority] power to become the sons of God
[not just adopted, but literal sons], even to them that believe on
His name: which were [begotten] born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:10-13). So that is
God’s will in your life. A little later on we’ll look and see how we
are to combine our will with God’s will and what that is to do.
Let’s come to 1 Thessalonians 4 and let’s see what God’s will is concerning
us. Yes, we’re going to have our lives, our Christian lives we’re
going to have our trials, we’re going to have our ups, we’re going to have
our downs, we’re going to have our good and our bad, but that’s why when we
go through keeping the Sabbath and keeping the holy days this is what keeps
us at one with God. And I’ll just have to say this. I have yet
to see anyone who does not keep the holy days really understand the plan of
God. I’m saying, ok, if they keep the Sabbath and the Passover, but
even that, even which they had-the Church of God 7th Day- which
they had, they are giving that up. They are not going to be preaching
the Sabbath and related doctrines from the pulpit of the Church of God 7th
Day. And that church will literally truly then be dead. So we
need to understand this is something - to be at one with God does not come
from the goodness of your heart but from the will of God.
Now let’s pick it up here in 1 Thessalonians 4:1. “Furthermore then
we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as
ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God…” And we
need to ask that question: in order to be at one with God are we
walking in those things and doing those things that please Him? “…So
ye should abound more and more [that is to grow in it]. For ye know
what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will
of God, even your sanctification…” Then it lists all kinds of
sins and things that a person has to give up beginning up with fornication,
or sexual immorality, which was rampant among the pagan Greeks. But
sanctification, and that is sanctification by the Spirit.
Now let’s also understand something concerning the word of God. Go to
2 Peter 1 and we will see it’s not what men have devised. And that’s
the way, when you read most of the commentaries, when you read most of these
things that men have written, they view it as, “Well, you know the disciples
remembered this years and years later and we don’t know whether this is
really accurate or not. And besides, you know, Luke wrote almost
toward the end of the first century…” Which is nonsense - he wrote
during the lifetime of Paul. As a matter of fact, Matthew we now know,
was available and distributed within five years of the resurrection.
The most important thing that has ever occurred in the whole history of the
world—do you think that God is going to leave His word to be written by men
who are far removed from it, who know nothing about it and go by just oral
tradition? Boy, I tell you this is something and we’re going to see
that with one of the videos that you’re going to watch during the Feast of
Tabernacles, what they are doing to the word of God, and it’s more urgent
for us today than ever before, to hold to the word of God, to understand the
word of God, and to live by the word of God. Now let’s understand, it
didn’t come because men decided so.
Let’s pick it up here in 1 Peter 1:19. “We have also a more sure word
of prophecy…” Now this sure word of prophecy, this doesn’t mean of
events to happen in the future. It can mean that. But this means
the inspired preachings of Christ, and the inspired preachings of the
apostles. “…Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light
that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in
your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any
private interpretation.” The will of man is not going to interpret the
word of God.
The word of God is going to interpret the word of God. Here’s the reason
why. “For the prophecy came not [at any time] in old time…” Now
it says here in old time but means at any time. Meaning that this can
apply to what the apostle Peter is writing, what Paul wrote, what Christ
preached, what Luke wrote, what Mark and John wrote, at any time. That
which is scripture, not at any time came “…by the will of man: but holy men
of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy [Spirit] Ghost” (1 Peter 1:19-21). And the apostles
are called. You read the title for the book of Acts, the acts of the
holy apostles. Holy men of God. Now that’s profoundly important
to understand. So now you have the will of God and you have the word
of God.
Now let’s understand something, we’re not to be self-willed in it.
Let’s go to Titus 1, and that’s one of the requirements of one who is going
to be an overseer or an elder, that he is not self-willed. Why? So
that we understand that he is not going to exert his will, his influence
into changing and manipulating the word of God.
Now let’s read it right here, verse 7. “For a [overseer] bishop must
be blameless, as the steward of God…” Knowing that all the flock of
God is the flock of God, all the brethren belong to God. Not
self-willed. Because what happens when you get self-willed? What
happens when you go off on your own self-righteous self-willedness?
You destroy people, you destroy the word of God, you destroy faith, and you
set yourself up and your own way becomes an idol in your own mind.
Now let’s look at the epitome of self-will. Let’s go to 2 Chronicles
26. This is talking about Uzziah. And he was 16 years old when
he was made king. And let’s pick it up here in verse 3. “Sixteen
years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and
two years in Jerusalem.” See, so we’re going to see this: it’s not how
you start but it is how you finish. Now he started well. Look at
it here. “His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.
And he did that which was
right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the
visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper”
(2 Chr. 26:1-5).
Now what are we told in the New Testament? That we are to seek God
with our whole heart, are we not? We are to worship God in spirit and
in truth because those are the ones who God is seeking. Now let’s see
what happened here.
Verse 15, “And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be
on the towers an upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones
withal.” And these stones were just like huge cannon. They were
big slings. I saw a documentary on that on Discovery Channel where
they made miniature slings, and how they could take 200 pound stones and
make them into a round ball, and they would sling these at the walls that
were surrounding the castles and they would actually destroy the walls.
Break them in, break in the mortar and the stone. So, you know, they
were men of cunning. They weren’t stupid little ape men running around
half evolved, as this modern world would like you to think.
“And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped [that is by
God], till he was strong.” But notice what happened. Now we’ve
also seen this in our lifetime to one of the leaders of one of the Churches
of God. Not quite as bad as this, but very close to it. “But
when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction…”
Why? Because he sought his own will, not the will of God. “…For
he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the
LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest
went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were
valiant men: and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It
appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but
to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go
out of the sanctuary; for thou hast transgressed; neither shall it be
for thine honour from the LORD God” (vs. 15-18). No more was he to
receive any more honor from God. He didn’t listen.
“Then Uzziah was wroth, and had
a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests,
the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of
the LORD, from beside the incense altar” (vs. 19). Now there is a
swift reaction for being self-willed. Not all reactions are quite that
quick but look at how he started. Look how he ended. And it’s
also recorded in Josephus that there was a great earthquake at that time.
The earthquake in the days of Uzziah spoken of in Zechariah 14. And
that earthquake virtually destroyed the temple and it was out of commission
for 55 years. So that was something.
“And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and,
behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from
thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out because the LORD had smitten him.
And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a
several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of
the LORD: and Jotham his son was
over the king’s house, judging the people of the land” (vs. 20-21). Now
that is a swift end, isn’t it? That’s what happens with self-will.
Now let’s look at Satan’s will because Satan has his will, and he is going
to execute his will if God would let him. God is going to stop him.
But let’s see what is in Satan’s heart, what his will is that he will not
repent. Let’s come to Isaiah 14 and let’s see what is revealed
concerning Satan’s will.
Verse 12. This is why you can never have at-one-ment with God until
Satan is wholly removed. Now verse 12, “How art thou fallen from
heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to
the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in
thine heart, I will ascend…” His will is to become God, but that will
never happen. God is going to cut him short. However at this
time he is still called the god of this world, and he’s blinding the minds
of those who don’t believe. “…I will ascend into the heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God [be it the stars or angels -
both apply]: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the
sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be
like the most High” But God says, “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell,
to the sides of the pit.” (Isa.14:12-15). The abyss. That’s where he’s
going to be cast into.
Now that’s Satan’s will. We also have it recorded in Ezekiel 28.
Let’s see some things also concerning Satan’s will concerning the brethren.
Does Satan not accuse us day and night before God? Yes, Revelation 12
says so. Let’s come to 1 Timothy 1, the very last part, and then we
will go to 2 Timothy 2.
1 Timothy 1:18, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to
the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a
good warfare;” Because now in order to be at one with God we have to
fight the world, fight Satan, and overcome ourselves at the same time.
“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning
faith have made shipwreck:” Now if you wreck your ship you’re not
going anywhere. “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander [that was
Alexander the coppersmith]; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may
learn not to blaspheme” (1 Tim. 1:18-20). Now, if you are blaspheming
God, and we’re going to see, if you combine your will and Satan’s will
you’re going to be turned over to him. And he’s going to run and
control your life, and you will lose salvation and will not be in the
kingdom of God.
Now let’s come here to 2 Timothy 2:25, and let’s see what Satan’s will is
concerning those of us that he can get, and that they may recover
themselves. “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves…”
That’s what I’m trying to do here so that if there are any who are opposing
themselves, going against the will of God. “…If God peradventure will
give them repentance…” So not only on Atonement are we at one with God
but we need to examine our lives: how do we stand before God? Are we
doing the will of God? Are we doing our will, or are we doing the will
of Satan the devil, or a combination thereof? We’ll look at some
combinations of it here in just a little bit. “…Will give them
repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may
recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by
him at his will” (2 Tim. 2:25-26).
Now how does that happen? Whenever you give yourselves over to things
which are not right, whether it be by behavior, whether it be wrong
interpretation of the word of God, whether it be by dereliction in the
things that you know you ought to be doing or whether it be by deliberately
turning your back on God, you are taken over by Satan at his will and it is
his will to get you.
Now let’s also see what else Satan can do. Some of the things let’s
use the combined. Let’s look at the combined acts of Satan and the
person. Let’s come to Matthew 13. Now here is the combined will
of Satan and the combined will of man, and what Satan can do if you’re
cooperative.
Now let’s pick it up here in Matthew 13:18. “Hear ye therefore the
parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth
away that which was sown in his heart.” Now is Satan able to take out
from your heart? Yes. If you don’t have the will to go forward
and do the will of God he can take it away. Because you have no root
in you. You’re to put down roots into the foundation of Christ.
Then that won’t happen.
Now let’s look at another example of this. Let’s go to Acts 5.
Now we need not go back and rehearse the whole thing concerning Adam
and Eve, but what did Adam and Eve do? Their will combined with his
will caused sin. Now let’s look here at Acts 5 and let’s see that
Satan can also put in. Because Satan sends out missiles of fiery darts
of temptation. And look what happened to Ananias and Sapphira.
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a
possession, and kept back part
of the price, his wife also being privy to it…” Because what they
did, they told the apostles, “Look, whatever it sells for we’re going to
give it to you.” So apparently they received more. And they
decided to give what they thought it would sell for and not give the whole
thing. But that was not what they said they would do. “…And
brought a certain part, and laid it at the apsotles’ feet. But
Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart…” (Acts 5:1-3).
Can Satan fill your heart and mind to do his will? Yes. Did not
Satan put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Jesus
Christ? Yes. Did not Satan the devil directly possess Judas when
Jesus gave him the sop? Yes.
Now Ananias and Sapphira were baptized. Ananias and Sapphira received
the Holy Spirit. But look what they did because they wanted to
exercise their will over the will of God. Satan came along and filled
their hearts to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of
the land. “Whiles it remained [that is before it was sold], was it not
thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?”
Yes it was. “Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?
Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (vs. 4). So Satan will come
along and hatch up things in our mind. Just like this and his wife
went right along with it.
Now let’s look at another thing. Let’s come to Matthew 7 where it is
the will of man combined with the will of Satan, and this time they’re
thinking it’s the will of God. These are the false prophets who use
the name of Jesus. These are the ones who come along and deceive.
These are the ones who are the perfect counterfeit because they look good to
the world, they sound good to the world, but they are preaching
lawlessness.
Now Matthew 7:21, and I think we’ll be coming back here quite a bit as we
go down the road and we face things in the future. “Not every one that
saith unto Me, Lord, Lord…” See, not just what you say but you do.
And who is it that looks upon the heart and judges the heart? God
does. “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into
the kingdom of heaven; but he that [is doing or practicing] doeth the will
of My Father which is in heaven.” What is the will of the Father?
You’ve got it right in your hands. That’s the will of the Father.
“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy
name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from Me, ye that work [lawlessness] iniquity” (vs. 22-23). So
that was combined their will and the will of Satan, and their own will.
So they won’t receive salvation.
Now then let’s look at how we are to have God’s will combined with our
will, by making God’s will our will. Now how does that begin?
Let’s go to Psalm 40. It’s something you have to learn. And it’s
something that can only be taught of God. And it’s something that you
must apply yourself too. It’s not going to come as a funnel, just put
into your mind, and all of a sudden you have the will of God. No, no,
we’ll also see that this is a prophecy of Christ, when we look at this a
little later when we come to Christ.
Now let’s pick it up here in Psalm 40:6. “Sacrifice and offering thou
didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin
offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the
volume of the book it is
written of me, I delight to do thy will…” Now those are the words of
Christ. But also David was inspired to write them, and he delighted to
do the will of God. Question: do you delight to do the will of
God? Do you? Is that your joy? Is that the thing that is
right and good? David said so, Christ said so. “I delight to do
thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:6-8).
And that’s how you do the will of God.
Now let’s look at Psalm 143 and let’s see that it is something that we have
to learn. It has to be taught. It doesn’t come naturally.
That’s why we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
And that means in our particular lives. Now only in our lives but the lives
of the brethren. Psalm 143:7, it’s something you have to pray about.
You have to devote yourself to it. You have to study about it.
You have to think about it. You have to act upon it.
Verse 7, “Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth…” He was going
through a trial because of all the persecution of the enemy. “…Hide
not Thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit
[that is to the grave]. Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the
morning; for in Thee do I trust…” Now that’s how then you begin to
understand and do the will of God. To make your will the will of God
is then you begin trusting in Him. “…Cause me to know the way wherein
I should walk…” And that is out of the word of God. “For I lift
up my soul unto Thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee
unto Thee to hide me” (vs. 7-9). So when trouble comes and enemies are
at hand don’t seek your own will. Seek the will of God.
Now notice verse 10, “Teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my God…”
God has to teach you. Now He can also teach you with His word and also
with His Spirit combined. But you’re never going to have a situation
that the Spirit of God is going to teach you where there is no word of God
because that’s not the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of God does not work
that way. “…Thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of
uprightness.” Now then notice what will happen when you seek to do the
will of God. “Quicken me, O LORD, for Thy name’s sake: for Thy
righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. And of Thy
mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul; for I
am Thy servant” (vs. 10-12). Now, I tell you what, that gives you
a lot of strength, doesn’t it, and a lot of understanding. That’s how
you do it.
Now here’s what else we need to do. Let’s go to Romans 12.
Here’s how we live our lives, seek the will of God, and do the will of God.
And we do it by living. Now let’s begin in verse 1. “I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice…” So you must be totally dedicated to the way of
God. That’s how you are at one with God. That’s how, right now
in this life, you can be at one with God spiritually. But when the
resurrection comes then you will be at one with God literally, not only just
in spirit, but literally with a spirit body, a spirit mind, and shine in
glory like Christ. “…Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is
[and it should read “your spiritual service”] your reasonable service” (Rom.
12:1).
“And be not conformed to this world…” And that’s how you then are
conformed to the will of God. Too many people want to be conformed to
the world. Too many people want to have part of the world and part of
the Church, and part of the world and part of God. They want to have
part of the pleasures of sin yet not be held accountable for sin. Do
no be conformed to this world. But here’s what we are to do through
the power of the Holy Spirit. “…But be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable,
and perfect, will of God” (vs. 2). And that’s something we need to do
over, and over, and over, and over again. That is, we grow in grace
and knowledge. And as we grow in the understanding and truth that God
will help us, because we do this.
Now let’s go to Ephesians 5:16, and let’s see something really important
here that we need to do. God does not want us ignorant. He does
not want us ignorant at all. Verse 17, very important key thing we need to
understand. Let’s go back here to verse 16. “Redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.” And if there’s any time that we need to be
urgent… Now I tell you what, whenever there’s an emergency you can be
urgent. It’s hard to be urgent and have a sense of urgency when there
is not an emergency. But let me tell you something, that’s what we
need to do. We need to have a sense of urgency in redeeming the time
because the days are evil. And the days are going to get more evil.
And as this whole world collapses in on us and the prophecies at the end
begin being fulfilled in their final phase of it, then we are going to
really understand. But if we can be urgent when everything is
still calm and peaceful then that is going to help us, and we’ll see why in
just a little bit. “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what
the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:16-18). That’s how
you’re going to know.
Now let’s come over here to Colossians 4, and here’s what the ministry is
to do. Here’s what all elders and overseers are to do. And
brethren, this is what I want to try and do. You think of this.
Now what a tremendous thing that Paul is saying here, verse 12.
“Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you,
always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and
complete in all the will of God.” And brethren, that’s what I want to
do. That you can stand as perfect and complete in all the will of God
as you can. You know, and many of us are marching up in time. We’re
getting older and we’re going see some of the older brethren pass on because
the end of their life is going to come and they will rest in the grave
waiting for the resurrection. And if whatever we can do to help
perfect them, to help them make them ready for the kingdom of God. To
help them to know and understand the will of God even more before that
occurs.
Well brethren, it’s a wonderful thing and that’s the whole goal of what
we’re doing here.
Now let’s see how the will of God can be combined with our will for the
things that we can even do and speak. Let’s come to Matthew 10.
Let’s see then how then the Father will work with us. If we are doing
the will of God, have the Spirit of God, and doing the things that God wants
us, then in times of trouble when they come God will be with us.
He will lift us up. He will give us the words that we need.
Now right here, let’s see here in Matthew 10:16. “Behold, I send you
forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and
harmless as doves. But beware of men…” And most men are the
servants of Satan, or their own carnality. “…For they will deliver you
up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye
shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony
against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no
thought how or what ye shall speak…” Why? Because if you are
living the word of God, if you’re proving the word of God, if you’re
standing perfect in all the perfect will of God you will know what to say.
And God the Father will inspire you. Notice, “…for it shall be given
you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you” (Matt.
10:16-20). And that will only happen because you are doing the will of
God.
Now we have a fight that we need to fight. Just like Jesus had to
fight against Satan with the word of God as we saw in Luke 4. Let’s go
back to Ephesians 6 and let’s see that Satan is there with all of his
ammunition, all of his tricks, all of his fiery darts. We need to have
the whole defense of God. We need to have the whole armor of God.
And we need to put it on in a way that we are protected through the grace of
God from Satan the devil, because as we started out, remember, deliver us
from the evil one.
Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of His might.” And you will be if you’re yielding to the will of
God. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood…” And this means we wrestle not only against flesh and blood.
Not just men in the world, not just ourselves and our carnal nature. “…But
against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of
this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [or wicked
spirits in high places].” (Eph. 6:10-12). And as I pointed out at the
beginning, the establishment that rules the world worships these spirits,
and powers, and principalities, and yea even Satan himself.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Now not
only do we need to stand but we need to work while we are standing.
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth…”, which is the
word of God. Your word is truth and we are sealed with that.
“…And having on the breastplate of righteousness [to protect your heart and
your mind]; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
[always doing the things of the gospel]; above all, taking the shield of
faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked [one]” (vs. 13-16). Now that’s how you are saved from the
wicked one, delivered from him. That you have that shield of faith,
which you can ward off all the fiery darts, because they come. And the
fiery darts you can liken unto missiles of passion, or lusts, thoughts that
are put into the mind and the heart. That’s why we have to cast down
every thought and every vain imagination that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God, because all of that is against the will of God.
Now verse 17, “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God:” So the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the Spirit are the word of God. That’s why you have to have
it written in your heart and written in your mind, that you know it, that
you study it, that you think on it, that you meditate on it, that you think
with the word of God. That way you know and do the will of God.
Now let’s look at what Christ did, because Christ with the will of God…
Remember what He said. He said, “Not My will be done, but Your will be
done O Father.” And that was just before He was arrested to be led off
to be crucified. So let’s come back here to Hebrews 10, and let’s see
what’s important here, because today in what it’s talking about here in
chapter 10 is so very important.
Now, let’s pick it up here in verse 5. “Wherefore when He [that is
Christ] cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou [did
not desire - it was not God’s will] wouldest not, but a body hast Thou
prepared [for] Me. Now that was Christ’s own physical body, as well as
the Church that God would call, “a body You have prepared for Me.” “In
burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin thou hast had no pleasure” (Heb. 10:5-6). But we have to do the
things that are well pleasing to God, don’t we? Yes.
Now let’s just stop here for just a minute. God also has no pleasure
in the religious things that people do. And what comes out of self-will,
but religion? That’s what comes out of self-will. Then Satan is
right there to do it. Take advantage of it.
Verse 7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written
of Me, ) to do Thy will, O God.” That’s what Christ did. He is
our model. He is the one we are to follow. “Above when He said,
Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offerings for sin you
[did not want] wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which
are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.
He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second [that is the New
Covenant]. By the which will [that is the will of God] we are
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”
(vs. 7-10).
Now I want you to understand something here very important. We still
have our will, and if we sin willfully and set our will above the will of
God, we have committed the greatest and grossest idolatry of all. And
we have joined the ranks of Satan the devil, and have set ourselves up to be
destroyed in the lake of fire.
Now verse 26, “For if we sin wilfully [that is with premeditated
deliberate forethought and motive and no repentance involved at all] after
that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and
fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (vs. 26-27). So
the will of God is going to be done. Let’s have the will of God as
Christ had the will of God in His life.
Now let’s look at Christ’s example. Let’s go to the book of John and see
some things here in the gospel of John. John 4:34. The disciples
came back and they said to Him, verse 31, “In the mean while His disciples
prayed Him, saying, Master, eat. But He said unto them, I have meat to
eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another,
Hath any man brought Him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them,
My meat [or My food] is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish
His work” (John 4:31-34). Now that’s what we need to have in mind in
our lives. To do the will of God.
Here, come over here to chapter 6 for just a minute, because we have a work
and that work is what Christ is doing in you. And that is the greatest
work. That must be ongoing at all times. Now after He fed the
5000, they wanted to have manna from heaven. And they said, “O Lord,
give us this.” And they said, verse 28, “Then said they unto Him, What
shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and
said unto them, This is the work of God…” Now listen to this
carefully. I don’t want you to ever forget it. “This is the work
of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent.” That you believe in
Jesus Christ, that He is your head, He is your Lord, He is the one Who is
over all, and He is the one Who is in you because it is Christ in you the
hope of glory. And if that’s the case, and if that’s the way then you
will be just like Jesus was here in John 5.
Now turn back to John 5:19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself…”
Now we need to understand that. Even of ourselves, brethren we can do
nothing spiritually unless it is with the Spirit of God that is motivating
us, that is leading us, that is opening our minds, that is giving us the
inspiration and strength and help and hope to go forward. “…Do nothing
of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He
doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the
Son, and sheweth Him all things that Himself doeth…” And of course
that has been revealed also to us to a great extent. “…And He will
shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel” (John 5:19-20).
Then He talks about the resurrection of the dead.
Now let’s come down here to verse 30 and let’s see how He constantly kept
His mind on this. From the beginning right to the end of His physical
life. “I can of mine own self [that means of the Greek ek “out
from”] do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I
seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.”
And that’s what we need to be doing. That is then brethren how we can
be at one with Christ.
Now let’s go back to John 17 and let’s finish right there where began and
let’s see how then we become at one with God. We’ve seen the whole
thing. We do not enforce our will, we do not become self-willed, we do
not do the will of men but the will of God. And we need to have the
same attitude as Jesus Christ to do the will of God.
Now notice. Let’s pick it up here in John 17:14. “I have given
them Thy word…” Now you have received the word of God too, haven’t
you? “…And the world hath hated them, because they are not of the
world, even as I am not of the world.” And we will see that manifest
in the future even more as we go down in time. “I pray not that Thou
shouldest take them out of the world…” Though there are times when we
feel as though we would like to be taken out of the world, see. But
that is not God’s will. “…But that Thou shouldest keep them from the
evil [one]. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through Thy truth…” And we are sanctified as we read, to
do the will of God. “As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I
also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify My
self, that they also might be sanctified through the truth” (John 17:14-19).
And we are sanctified through the truth.
Now again verse 20, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on Me through their word;” And you are part of
that, and I am part of that, and all that because the Church of God has
continued right on down thorough history and there’s always been a continual
change, in spite of all the upheavals and all the difficulties that have
come along, the Church of God always will prevail and will never be overcome
by the grave. So there are those today who will hear. There are
even more who are going to hear and know. And that prayer is going to
be answered, and God is answering them.
Now verse 21, and here is the result of that prayer. “That they all
may be [at] one…” That’s why the Day of Atonement is at-one-ment, to
be at one with God. To 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 hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I
have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one.” And
think of that being in New Jerusalem with Christ and God the Father forever
and ever. “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in
one…” (vs. 21-23).
So let this Day of Atonement be one where you are at one with God.
Let this Day of Atonement be that you set your will and your mind to let
God’s will become your will and your mind, the very mind of Christ, that you
may be at one.
“…May be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast
sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that
they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am [which will be on
the earth]; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for
Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous
Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have
known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name,
and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may
be in them, and I in them.” (vs. 23-26).
And that is the meaning of the Day of Atonement.
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