The LEADERSHIP – Part 3 (Continuation from Part 2) (Open Letter pages 86-90).
Oh … of course, we, great Christians saved by Grace do not have to read these passages … they belong to “poor” Israel, right? And so, even from the Old Testament, we can pick up only those goodies that suit our palate. All the horrible things belong to that stiffnecked, idolatrous, rebellious and good-for-nothing house of Jacob! Is this not a brilliant doctrine, Lord?
Alas, we are not only inclined to believe this rubbish, we are ready to declare it with a very innocent face. Even though we, Christians, belong to Christ and, therefore, are Abraham’s seed (Gal.3:29), yet, we somehow bypassed Isaac and Jacob and all his seed … and have nothing to do with them! As if You were only the God of Abraham … and then of David … and of Jesus, but not the God of Isaac nor Jacob!
We even behave as if we ourselves were the olive tree and as if they, “poor” Israel, might in time be grafted into us – and thus be saved! But we turn Your Word upside down and feel fine. THEY ARE the olive tree – and we were grafted INTO THEM, and WITH THEM do we partake of the root (Christ) and fatness of the olive tree!! (Rom.11:17).
I do wonder, Lord, had they not fallen because of unbelief, would Salvation have come unto the Gentiles? (Rom.11:11). The Church today would have been “pure Israel”, indeed! But “because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith; BE NOT HIGHMINDED, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not you (which were wild olives). Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God, on them which fell, severity, but towards you (Christians) goodness, IF YOU (Christians) CONTINUE in His goodness, otherwise YOU (Christians) ALSO SHALL BE CUT OFF.” (Rom.11:20-22).
Shall we now dare to say that we have inherited nothing from the craftiness of Jacob?, from the treachery of Judah? (Jer.3:10), from the backsliding Israel?, from the misery of their false prophets?, from the pride and hypocrisy of their Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes? Shall we now dare to say that Jeremiah could not possibly have a message for us, Christians, even today? Are not all the things that happened unto them written FOR OUR ADMONITION, upon whom the ends of the world are come??? (1Cor.10:11).
Wherefore, Lord, I say to Your true people and especially to their true leaders: “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall!” (1Cor.10:12). And again: “I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say and what I shall say.” Furthermore, this I say on Your behalf:
“Declare this in the house of Jacob (the worldwide Church) and publish it in Judah (the evangelicals, hot charismatics, cold fundamentalists), saying: Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding: which have eyes and see not: which have ears and hear not. FEAR YE NOT ME? saith the Lord; will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it; and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolting and gone. Neither say they in their heart: LET US NOW FEAR THE LORD OUR GOD … But among my people are found wicked men; they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch man (by crafty doctrines) … The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so.
But this thing commanded I them, saying: OBEY MY VOICE, and I will be your God, and ye (Christians) shall be my people … But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ears, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their EVIL HEART, and went backward, and not forward…
Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them (the Church), but they WILL NOT hearken unto thee; thou shalt also call unto them, but they WILL NOT answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them: This is a nation (a church) that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction; truth is perished and is cut off from their mouth.” (Jer.5:20-24,26,31 and 7:23,24,27,28).
What shall I say now, O greatly beloved Lord? Before I mention or address some individual leaders and ministries, I do want both to loudly proclaim to the ignorant and sleeping and to whisper in the ears of the wise the following.
What is the difference between “light” and “life”? Behold, the difference is truly great and it is this:
When we receive from You truth, it becomes our light. Henceforth, we can share it, teach it, preach it, fight for it, die for it. But it still is only a light to us – we know the truth, we may understand that truth by wisdom if we have that wisdom, we may cherish that truth or we may forfeit that truth if we are foolish. But, we freely received from You – therefore WE KNOW that truth – therefore we have that light!
But now, You desire to incorporate that truth (any particular truth) into us – through chastisement, suffering, breaking, pain, intellectual pain, emotional pain, physical pain. IF we cooperate, one day we begin to live that truth – in addition to knowing it. At that very day – WE ARE that truth – therefore we have that life! Henceforth, we share life, teach life, preach life … and no man takes it from us. The same applies to KNOWING the way (to the Kingdom) – and BEING that way (to the Kingdom).
The more truths we receive from You, the more light we have. The more of that light is worked into us (Phil.2:12,13) and becomes our NEW nature and we EFFORTLESSLY practise it, the more life we have. This new life is then proved by its fruits!
I thank You, O Life, Way and Truth, that You have not only shown me the way to the Kingdom of heaven – but You have made me the way! Though I have not attained, though I am far from perfection, yet, I AM the way – and whosoever follows me shall arrive at the Kingdom of heaven! This word is NOT OF MY FLESH but of my spirit and faith – and I thank You immensely for this reality, O Lord of Grace and Glory!
I also pray in Your Name that there would be many who could in spirit and in truth proclaim the same statement in faith. Amen.(To be continued next week in part 4)
brother Hanola
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