A KINGDOM HEART - I

WBS.031

 FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

A KINGDOM HEART - I

Genesis 6:5  And Elohim saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see Elohim.

Many Bible schools and seminaries teach that there is significance to the “first appearance” of words in the Scripture. These are the first verses where the word “heart” is found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.   Notice that at the time of the Creator’s decision to judge the world by flood in the days of Noah, the thoughts of man’s heart “was only evil continually;”  but, when He sends His son, the Messiah, into the world, the first mention of the heart in the New Testament is that “the pure in heart…shall see Elohim.”  This is no coincidence.  The more one studies the Scripture, the more one receives revelation of Truth from Elohim, the more it becomes evident that IAUE is searching for a people whose hearts are devoted to Him.

What is the first and great commandment?

Matthew 22:37  Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love IAUE thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

After nearly 2,000 years from the time IAUE cut the covenant with Abram, changed his name to Abraham and made him the father of many nations, what was the condition of the hearts of those whom IAUE chose to follow after Him?

Matthew 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Matthew 15:18 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but Elohim knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of IAUE.

The Hebrews, then, not unlike the Christians of today, rested upon their laurels of being the “chosen people” of Elohim.  They were made to be different from all the other peoples on the earth, by their circumcision, their dress, their hair, their laws and their deity…all things that could be done to them or done by them without having any effect upon their heart.  They went along with the basic dictates of the Law of Moses and the social standards of Hebrew society; but they were never known for being a people of faith.  They were feared by other nations because of IAUE’s reputation in the earth; but even that was attributed to His relationship with Abraham, and not his relationship with the people in the succeeding generations. 

The Hebrews embraced the promise of Messiah; a savior that would come from the line of David, assume David’s throne to establish the Kingdom of Elohim, vanquish all their enemies and establish a world-wide reign; leaving the Jews to bask in the resulting glory and safety; and live like kings in the earth.  It was not very different than the contemporary Christian perspective of Heaven.  While the Jews await what they believe to be the “coming” of Messiah; Christians recognize that Messiah has already come the first time and they are awaiting the “second coming” of Messiah.  That would be a day when all their enemies would be vanquished, the Kingdom of Elohim will be established; and they can bask in the resulting glory and safety, and live like kings for eternity. Both the Hebrews and the Christians believe they have passed the entrance exam to such a promise, and they are merely waiting for their Messiah to appear and make it all happen for them.  In the meantime, they comply with the basic expectations of the outward life (attend synagogue/church, observe festivals/religious holidays, and appear to be Jewish/Christian when seen in public).  Having become a Jew/Christian, there is no need to be changed on the inside.  Changing the inside has a direct impact on how much we are able to enjoy the world; and man does not want to decrease his enjoyment of the world.  This is why we have developed philosophies and religions that have allowed us to “have our cake and eat it too.”   

The “first coming” of Messiah was a mystery hidden in Elohim.  Paul tells us that if the rulers of that age had known of IAUE’s plan, they would never have crucified the Master (2 Cor 2:8).  The prophet Malachi told the Hebrews that they were wrong to be looking forward to the day of IAUE; because in their condition of heart, they would most certainly be judged and rejected by Him.  The prophet chided them for their compromise, their faithlessness, their pride, their self-gratifying pursuits and their wicked deeds.

Malachi 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith IAUE of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

The last verse of the OId Testament was a warning that their hearts needed to be changed before they had any reason to look forward to the day of IAUE.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of IAUE:

6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Messiah appeared the first time, not to set up a worldly throne; but to remove the impediment that prevented both Jew and Gentile, alike, from participating in the Kingdom of Elohim.  No man could have an everlasting relationship with Elohim while sin still separated him from Him; and while the lack of righteousness was still a glaring void in man’s experience.  Yahushua came as the sacrifice lamb to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and to offer his own righteousness to man (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9).

The “second coming” of Messiah (what the Hebrews look to as “the coming” of Messiah) is being delayed to afford mankind the opportunity to change their hearts.  The obstacle to relationship with Elohim has been removed for both Jew and Gentile and the time of preparation for participation in the Kingdom of Elohim has begun.

Luke 17: 20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of Elohim should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of Elohim cometh not with observation:  

The Jews expected that when Messiah appeared, He would come with glory and with power, defeating all of the enemies of Israel, and magnificently restoring the kingdom of David to the Jews, placing all the nations of the earth in subjection to His rule.  Yet, here, we see Yahushua speaking to the Pharisees, the religious "scholars" of the day; telling them that "The kingdom of Elohim cometh not with observation." They clearly had no basis in their scholarship to comprehend what Yahushua meant.  In their minds, Messiah was going to come and put down their enemies and restore the Kingdom to Israel.  What could He mean by saying the Kingdom would not come in a manner that could be observed with the eyes?  How else COULD it come?

Their confusion and the inevitable question surfacing in their minds was the lead-in that Yahushua was anticipating.  He answered their unspoken question in his next breath.

 

Luke 17: 21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of Elohim is within you.

You will not be able to observe the kingdom of Elohim coming and being restored to Israel all at once under the invincible rule of Messiah.  No, Messiah is steadfastly building His kingdom right now within the hearts of men and women who are embracing the forgiveness that His blood has purchased for them; and who are laying down their own self-will to take up obedience to the will of Elohim in their lives.

Romans 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

No longer does man have an excuse not to change on the inside.  No longer does he have the opportunity to believe in philosophies and religions that say if you “do” certain things or “believe” certain things, your relationship with the Creator will be established and your eternal destiny confirmed.  The Jew may have no confidence in his observance to the Law of Moses (which could only regulate the outward behavior).  The Christian may have no confidence in the subjective experiences of praying a specific prayer or of being “born again.” Yahushua is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the true and undisputed King of Israel; and He is conscripting members into his kingdom by conquering hearts.  Those whose hearts are hardened or resistant to His command are not qualified for his kingdom, no matter how much outward activity the person may offer on his behalf. 

Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22  Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Notice the appeal for acceptance in the Master’s kingdom is based upon outward activity, even activity associated with his name.  The Master says they will be rejected because he never knew them…because they were workers of iniquity.  Iniquity is what proceeds from a wicked heart.  I am sure we have all seen ministers who preached a fiery sermon, who aroused an emotional response from his congregation; or those who even ministered in the gifts of the Holy Spirit to prophesy or to cast out demons, or to perform healings or miracles; but deep down inside your mind you were thinking that despite how accurate the teaching or how legitimate the miracles, he was using it to manipulate his audience to regard him.  It looks impressive on the outside to the uninitiated; but it is iniquity because it proceeds from a heart that seeks to promote its own interests.  This is what Messiah is rejecting.  Messiah is building his kingdom on the inside of man.  He is looking for those who will have “a kingdom heart.”

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Kingdom heart - a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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THE ADOPTION OF SONS - II

WBS.030

 FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

THE ADOPTION OF SONS - II

Matthew 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

A day is approaching when IAUE Elohim will call forth His mature sons from among His children; those who, by reason of experience and discipline have pursued the instruction of their Master Yahushua Messiah to recognize understand and obey His will.  What, specifically, will the Father look to see in those who have become qualified to experience this adoption of sons, the adult son placing?

First, let us look again at the promise of the adult-son placing:

Romans 8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of IAUE, they are the sons (huios) of IAUE.

15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children (teknon) of IAUE:

17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of IAUE, and joint-heirs with Messiah; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons (huios) of IAUE.

20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children (teknon) of IAUE.

The cardinal qualifier for becoming an adult son is “being led by the Spirit“ (v.14).  Paul tells us that we have been given the Spirit of adoption that provides that upward call to our very heart.  The Spirit “bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of IAUE.”  He confirms that we are His children, that we are in the class of people who are able to receive that recognition of sonship from IAUE.  Not all men and women on the Earth are in that class.  We must be the children of Elohim by the creative miracle of the new birth.

The second qualifier for becoming an adult son is “that we suffer with him” (v. 17).

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Messiah Yahushua shall suffer persecution.

Another thing to note in Romans 8:21 is that the adoption of sons will come as a liberation to the children, the “teknon” of IAUE.  We stated in our last post that the “teknon” differ from the “nepios” in that the nepios are newborn infants; and the teknon are the adolescents that have submitted to tutelage to become mature sons.  There is no mention of an adoption of the “nepios” of IAUE.  The nepios first must become teknon.  Now, with that in mind, let’s look at the following passage: 

Hebrews 5:8   Though he (Yahushua) were a Son (huios), yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10  Called of IAUE an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of IAUE; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe (nepios).

Let us first observe that even Yahushua learned obedience; and the atmosphere in which he learned it was that of suffering.  It is easy to obey easy commands.  It is easy to obey direction that does not produce any controversy or disagreement.  All such obedience does not reveal what is in our hearts; for even the flesh can obey commands that do not require much of it.  We have stated repeatedly that the law of Moses could be observed by men of wicked hearts; because such laws do not impact and shape the heart of man.  It is when the commands put us in a cauldron of resistance, disagreement, opposition, hardship…suffering, that our hearts are revealed through our obedience; and it is the heart of man that IAUE wants to be in allegiance to Him; not the flesh.

The writer of Hebrews reprimands his readers for not having grown up.  He tells them that they have been in the faith long enough to have become teachers by now; but they are still in need of pablum.  They are babes…nepios.  They are not even in the class of those who are qualified to answer the high call of the adoption of sons.  Note, particularly, that they were “dull of hearing.”  It is impossible to be led of the Spirit if you cannot hear His voice.  By this, we may recognize another qualifier for sonship:  Hearing the voice of the Spirit. (In every age of man: 1) Adam and Eve in the garden, 2) the time from the fall of Adam to Noah, 3) the time from Noah to Abraham, 4) the time from the cutting of the covenant with Abraham to the giving of the Law, 5) the time from the Law of Moses to the coming of Messiah; and 6) the current age of the gospel of Yahushua, one common denominator in every age has been the command to listen to and obey the voice of the Spirit.)

Hebrews 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Here we have revealed a characteristic of children who are becoming sons.  They recognize that their physical senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing) are the sense-gates to all that is perceivable and knowable in the flesh.  They are not the means whereby we are made aware of the things of the spirit world.  That is not their domain, their sphere of operation; however, “by reason of use,” which is to say, by repeated exercise and discipline, even their physical senses are developed to be able “to discern both good and evil.“  The obvious reason for doing so is to aid in their ability to obey the voice of the Spirit when everything around them is screaming to do the opposite.  Such disciples are not nepios.  They are not in need of milk to sustain them.  They are able to eat strong meat; which is to say, they are capable of receiving revelation of more Truth.  All Truth comes with a purchase price, and the immature are not capable of paying the price for the Truth that makes increasingly deeper cuts into our natural man.

From the last posting, we saw that the upward call is answered by pursuing three things:

1      The knowledge of Yahushua.

2      The knowledge of the power of his resurrection.

3      The knowledge of the fellowship of his suffering.

Today, we see that to obtain the reward of that upward call, we must do four things:

1      Be led by the Spirit.

2      Suffer with him.

3      Hear the voice of the Spirit.

4      Take command of your senses.

Now would be a good time to remind you of the difference between knowing something academically and having a revelation of that same thing.  One is knowledge comprehended by your mind.  The other is Truth that has come alive in your spirit.  One only adds to the catalog of things you know.  The other changes you.  The Father wants to change you...to make you like Him.  The danger to which every reader of this blog is subject, is that they he/she may increase in knowledge and be satisfied with that understanding, yet never possess the revelation.  Please take what you are learning and present it to Elohim with meekness, and ask Him to reveal the Truth to you.  This is His desire.  He will meet you if you approach Him with an honest and humble heart.

THE ADOPTION OF SONS

 FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

THE ADOPTION OF SONS

Philippians 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah Yahushua.

It is my belief that Paul (and pretty much all the writers of Scripture) drew heavily upon contemporary regional culture for language and illustrations that would convey spiritual truths.  One might say all of Messiah's parables are just such cultural stories so the hearer would be without excuse to understand what he was saying (Matthew 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.).   

One such illustration used by Paul is often misunderstood because his terminology no longer means today what it did in the early years of the church.

Paul referred to adoption three times; the adoption of sons, once, and the adoption of children, once, in the following passages:

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 

Romans 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Elohim, and the promises; 

Galatians 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Ephesians 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Yahushua Messiah to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

 

I normally try to refrain from referring to the Greek and Hebrew texts of the Scripture; but as I explained in earlier lessons in this blog, there are inherent problems with all translations due to the inability of the receiving language to adequately portray what is happening in the original language. It is needful to understand that there are three different words in the Greek text each of which are translated, "children."

nepios - non-speaking infant (refers to the earliest stages of development)

teknon - juvenile (refers to the phase of development from early speech up to, but not

                including, adult behavior and responsibility)

huios   - mature sons, capable of adult behavior and responsibility.

Nepios and teknon are not used in any of the verses above regarding adoption.  The word used in all five verses is huiothesia, which literally translated means: the adult son placing.

It is important, first, to acknowledge that none of us are "adopted" into the family of Elohim, in the sense that we understand adoption in our culture, today.  The Father did not look upon us as orphans needing a family to take care for us.  He did not sign some legal paper to bring us into his family to begin being treated as His children, though not being of His own family. No, we are BORN into His family.  The new life created within us by the exercise of the exact same power He used when he raised Messiah from the dead (Eph 1:19-20) birthed us into His family.  This is why Messiah is no longer called the only begotten of the Father; but rather, the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18).

In the Greek culture, in families of property or business, there was a formal ceremony shared by family and friends when a father would formally acknowledge that his juvenile son (teknon) was now a man. It was a formal declaration that his child had become a man, a huios.  Invitations would be sent to all whom the father wanted to share this glorious time with his family. It was at this point that the name of the family business would be changed; for example, from “Stephanos Carpentry” to "Stephanos and Son - Carpentry," as the father’s child, now recognized as an adult son, assumed a responsible role in his father's business. This was the “adoption,” the “adult son placing,” the “huiothesia.”

Now, looking again at our five passages of scripture referring to the adoption, it becomes apparent that there is an "upward call" in the disciple to the mature adult walk before the Master.

Compare these adoption verses with:

Philippians 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Messiah.

8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Messiah Yahushua my Master: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Messiah,

9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Messiah, the righteousness which is of Elohim by faith:

10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Messiah Yahushua.

13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Elohim in Messiah Yahushua.

Paul's passion betrays an inward upward call to maturity, to responsible behavior, to becoming as perfect as is possible in his body of flesh in order to win the “the prize” of that ”high/upward calling.”  He clearly understood that such a prize could not be won by keeping the law of Moses.  He acknowledges that the path to that prize, the path to apprehending that for which he had been apprehended of Messiah Yahushua, is to “follow after,” which is to say, explicit obedience to the law of the Spirit of life in Yahushua Messiah.  Following after, specifically, would bring him to:

      The experiential knowledge of Messiah Yahushua,

      The experiential knowledge of the power of Messiah Yahushua’s resurrection, and

      The experiential knowledge of the fellowship of Messiah Yahushua’s sufferings. 

Such a heart that pants after these things quite literally separates the men from the boys.  Most believers are willing to have the proverbial "ticket" to Heaven; but where are the "men" in the Body of Messiah that are daily laying down their lives as dead men to know the power of His resurrection; with a heart that is prepared to suffer daily for His name's sake?

All who have been born of the Spirit have this upward call within them, the call to the adoption, the adult son placing; but not all have the heart to allow that call to draw them unto perfection.  Most resist it in order to retain a certain level of selfish control over their lives and their personal circumstances.  The quality of our repentance dictates the nature of the development of our "childhood."  Many forever remain nepios.  Many enter the teknon stage; but only the elect attain unto the huiothesia of the Most High.

Romans 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons (huios) of Elohim.
20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children (teknon) of Elohim.

All of creation was subjected to the effects of death working through the sin of man, the bondage of corruption; yet even in nature there is hope for the deliverance that will come to it when the “children of Elohim” are liberated from childhood and the manifestation of their adult son placement is revealed.

Frankly, it would be a devastating reality to discover that I might not have laid down all that is necessary, might not have pursued all that is required, might not have experienced all that He desired for me such that I am not appointed a huios in that day.  This, certainly, was the heart of Paul; and absolutely the kind of heart that he sought to train in others.  It is this heart that is the very objective of the gospel; and it is this heart that is fundamental to our discipleship.