Something Moses mentioned to Joshua was not to forbid
people prophesying in the camp, instead it would be better if all the Lord’s
people were prophets and had His Spirit on them. As we have looked at the
prophets and the Essenes, and the connection to those who lived through the
ages who have spoken from and for the Lord we have seen a very different
picture of those who laid down their lives for us. The prophets looked to the
future, to our time, and saw the age we live in. These were men and women that
were duty bound to a higher calling for our sakes. They lived morally
constrained lives so that we could know there was a spiritual aspect to the
life we live on earth. Even though we lost our spiritual eyesight in the
garden, humans were made to walk with our Creator. Humans were caught up in a
spiritual world that existed long before Adam was created. Adam was to have
dominion on this earth but forfeited his position to satan when he chose to
know good and evil like the Gods. Even though mankind is technically Elohim, “gods”, we are not above our
creator, nor the other sons of God who have existed and assisted humanity. The
challenge for us today is in understanding our spiritual dilemma and overcoming
our deficient state with the Holy Spirit’s help. That is where the prophets
come in.
Num 11:29 But Moses said to him, Are you envious or jealous
for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord
would put His Spirit upon them! [Luke 9:49,50.]
AMP
While the commitment to be connected to the Lord was quite weighty, many chose that life vow because they knew there was something more to our physical existence than living out 80+ or so years. There was something they were living for that superseded what they could visually see and physically experience. Prophets are those who know there is more, a spiritual dynamic that they need to live out. The prophets of old felt compelled to participate in a spiritual life more so than living a physical life. Joshua Ben Sirach praises famous men starting in chapter 44 and he gives us a recap regarding Samuel, mentioning that Samuel even prophesied after his death.
Ecclus 46:13-203 Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved
of his Lord, established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.14 By
the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord had respect unto
Jacob.15 By his faithfulness he was found a true prophet, and by his word he
was known to be faithful in vision.16 He called upon the mighty Lord, when his
enemies pressed upon him on every side, when he offered the sucking lamb.17 And
the Lord thundered from heaven, and with a great noise made his voice to be
heard.18 And he destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, and all the princes of the
Philistines.19 And before his long sleep he made protestations in the sight of the
Lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man's goods, so much as a shoe: and
no man did accuse him.20 And after his death he prophesied, and shewed the king
his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the
wickedness of the people. KJV
We usually think of Saul visiting the witch of Endor, who
was a necromancer, as a bad thing. And while Saul shouldn’t have done that, she
was able to bring up Samuel, and Samuel did prophesy to Saul. On a side note,
who had the keys to hell and death at that time? This is why Samuel could be
“brought up”. Today who has the keys to hell and death? This is why dead people
cannot be “brought up” by necromancers today. Samuel had a school of prophets
as we have studied, and Elijah and Elisha were both part of that order. As
Joshua Ben Sirach reminds us of Elijah’s miracles he points out that Elisha’s
body prophesied to us after his death. They threw a dead man into Elisha’s
sepulcher and when the dead man’s body touched Elisha’s bones he came back to
life.
Ecclus 48:1-16 Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and
his word burned like a lamp.2 He brought a sore famine upon them, and by his
zeal he diminished their number.3 By the word of the Lord he shut up the
heaven, and also three times brought down fire.4 O Elias, how wast thou
honoured in thy wondrous deeds! and who may glory like unto thee!5 Who didst
raise up a dead man from death, and his soul from the place of the dead, by the
word of the most High:6 Who broughtest kings to destruction, and honorable men
from their bed:7 Who heardest the rebuke of the Lord in Sinai, and in Horeb the
judgment of vengeance:8 Who annointedst kings to take revenge, and prophets to
succeed after him:9 Who was taken up in a whirlwind of fire, and in a chariot
of fiery horses:10 Who wast ordained for reproofs in their times, to pacify the
wrath of the Lord's judgment, before it brake forth into fury, and to turn the
heart of the father unto the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.11 Blessed
are they that saw thee, and slept in love; for we shall surely live.12 Elias it
was, who was covered with a whirlwind: and Eliseus was filled with his spirit:
whilst he lived, he was not moved with the presence of any prince, neither
could any bring him into subjection.13 No word could overcome him; and after
his death his body prophesied.14 He did wonders in his life, and at his death
were his works marvellous.15 For all this the people repented not, neither
departed they from their sins, till they were spoiled and carried out of their
land, and were scattered through all the earth: yet there remained a small
people, and a ruler in the house of David:16 Of whom some did that which was
pleasing to God, and some multiplied sins. KJV
Elijah’s life, where he lived with the Holy Spirit on him,
was remarkable. That is why Elijah was taken and has not technically died yet,
like Enoch. Both Elijah and Enoch will return with their bodies as the two
witnesses, and then they will be killed. They are the only two people who still
have their bodies and are returning in the future. Look at the description of
Elisha after receiving the Holy Spirit. He was not moved by princes and no one
could bring him into subjection. No word could overcome him, that would be no
curse, hex, vex, spell, or incantation. Even Elisha’s dead body was so
energized with life from the Holy Spirit that a dead man came back to life just
by touching Elisha’s bones. We could hope that we are so filled with the Holy
Spirit that we live and die like Elisha.
David merged the prophets from Shem and Eber’s school in
Jebus with the tabernacle, priests and Levites, when he put the tabernacle on
the threshing floor of a Jebusite. Prior to that, Jebus was an independent
city, the place where Shem/Melchizedek/Adonizedek schooled the Zedek’s, the
prophets. Jesus mentions that all the prophets prophesied until John, and that
John is like Elijah to those who have ears to hear. This has been the quandary
of the Israelites throughout history, having ears to hear as Joshua Ben Sirach
pointed out as well.
Matt 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.13
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14 And if ye will
receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.15 He that hath ears to hear,
let him hear.KJV
We have the benefit of hindsight, but how many of us would
have heard the things that John said? How many of us would have believed him?
How many of us would have been caught up in different movements, such as the
Zealot Fascists, or the Pharisees who lost the Holy Spirit so they could be
servants of the temple. Or would we have been like the Sadducees, who enjoyed
riches but didn’t like the Pharisees, Essenes, Nazarenes, or the prophets. What
group would we have ended up in if we lived during the first century? The
prophets saw into the future and saw something better, but the common people
did not see or understand what was to come. The prophets were told that what
they were serving to the people was not for them but for us.
1 Peter 1:10-12 The prophets, who prophesied of the grace
(divine blessing) which was intended for you, searched and inquired earnestly
about this salvation. 11 They sought [to find out] to whom or when this was to
come which the Spirit of Christ working within them was indicating when He
predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow [them]. 12
It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering were not
meant for themselves and their period of time, but for you. [It is these very]
things which have now already been made known plainly to you by those who
preached the good news (the Gospel) to you by the [same] Holy Spirit sent from
heaven. Into these things [the very] angels long to look! AMP
1 Peter 1:10G4012Concerning
G3739which G4991deliverance
G1567[2sought
G25323and G18304searched
out G43961 the prophets],
G3588the
ones G4012[2concerning
G35883the G15195towards
G14736you G54844favor G43951prophesying];
11G2045searching
G1519in G5100what, G2228or G4169of
what kind G2540of
time G1213[3was
manifest G3588 G17224in G14735them G41511spirit
G55472of
Christ], G4303testifying
beforehand G3588the G1519[2in
G55473Christ
G38041sufferings],
G2532and G3588the G3326[2after
G37783these things
G13911glories];
12G3739to
whom G601it was
revealed G3754that, G3756it was not
G1438to
themselves, G1473but to
us G1161 G1247they
were serving up G1473those things,
G3739which G3568now G312were
announced G1473to you
G1223by G3588the
ones G2097announcing
good news G1473to you
G1722in G4151[2spirit
G391holy] G649sent G575from G3772heaven,
G1519in G3739which G1937[2desire
G321angels]
G3879to
lean over to see
Look at the way the Greek mentions the angels, as if they
were leaning over the shoulders of the prophets to see what was going to be
done in the future. This is the way it was. The prophetic future was given to
humans to communicate to humans. Angels were not bringing news of the kingdom,
or grace, or the age of the Holy Spirit poured out on all people. Angels were
not making disciples of people. Angels were not leading people, people were
being led by the Holy Spirit and the Angels were assisting people according to
God, but not because Angels are commissioned to bring salvation to humanity.
That is the job of humans. In other words, Angelic beings do not lead humanity.
Humanity is under the oppression of a dethroned angelic being, but what kind of
salvation would it be if Angels, with more power, overtake the evil spirit
beings on our behalf without our at least engaging in the battle. The entire
point satan was making in the garden is that he would not bow to man because
man was inferior to him. Satan had already lost his previous place of
leadership, where he merchandized his subjects and had sanctuaries. So it seemed to satan that Adam was an
inferior being that he should not have to bow to. Therefore if Angels fight our
battles without our knowing, we would be proving satans point. If also we allow
satan to berate us, without us knowing there is even a spiritual battle, we
again are proving satans point. Why would satan bow to Adam if humans are that
stupid. But we have the prophets, who laid down their lives from pleasures and
living for self-gratification, to serve us the good news of the kingdom. Now is
this a “fair fight” between satan and humans? Not really, we are spiritually
blind and satan has a lot more knowledge of how the universe works, spiritually
speaking. Hence the need for the prophets. They are the people who are teaching
us how to overcome. They are the people who like Elijah, Elisha, and Samuel,
are showing us the power of the Holy Spirit. So while the prophets were
announcing the future to fellow humans, Angels were looking over their
shoulders to hear about what was to come.
What the prophets were serving up through the years was
hope, details for right living, knowledge of future events, freedom to escape
hades, eternal life, and grace. The good news of the coming kingdom was what
was served to the people. There was one mystery that the prophets didn’t see,
we will look at that shortly. But the time seemed long to people who were
impatient, and living rightly was hard when a reward seemed too far off. Remember
Isaiah recording that the people didn’t want to hear anything hard, only easy
things. The people did not want to hear the truth because the truth became a
burden against their sins and lusts.
Isa 30:9-11 For they are a rebellious people, deceitful
children, children unwilling to hear the Lord’s instruction. 10 They say to the
seers, ‘Don’t see visions,’ and to the prophets, ‘Don’t give us visions of what
is right! Instead, tell us welcome things, prophesy illusions, 11 get out of
the way, turn aside from the path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of
Israel.” ISV
Now to contrast this, in our day, have you ever heard
people who claim to be prophetic, who only speak superstitions and illusions?
It is hard to tell the false prophets from the true ones because money carries
the false prophesies far and wide, while the true prophets, without the flash
and drama, are not heard. The remedy to this is simple, the Holy Spirit, poured
out to everyone who believes. Peter reiterates some of Joel’s prophecies.
Acts 2:16-24 But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what
was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 And it shall come to pass in the last
days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels]
and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your
old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. 18 Yes, and on My menservants
also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and
they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future
events pertaining especially to God's kingdom]. 19 And I will show wonders in
the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor;
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious
day of the Lord comes — that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned
[day]. 21 And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
[invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord — Christ] shall be saved. [Joel
2:28-32.] 22 You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of
Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and
attested to you by God by the mighty works and [the power of performing]
wonders and signs which God worked through Him [right] in your midst, as you
yourselves know — 23 This Jesus, when
delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and
foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the
hands of lawless and wicked men. 24 [But] God raised Him up, liberating Him
from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to
be controlled or retained by it. AMP
This is what happened on Pentecost. Now we all have access
to true prophetic words, and can tell if prophesies are correct or not because
it is the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. There is no longer one group
of people who are to tell everyone how to live. The Holy Spirit leads each one
of us individually. This is key for our time. However it is still not quite a
“fair fight” between humans and satan because humans have to actually commune
with the Holy Spirit to gain knowledge. Humans have to live rightly as best as
they possibly can, to stay in communication with the Holy Spirit. But imagine
how hard it was to live rightly without the Holy Spirit. Pentecost was a new
way of living for those who believe Jesus is Lord and Messiah.
In the assemblies, we are to hear from the prophets, but we
are to carefully weigh what they say. We have become afraid to judge prophesies
because we are afraid we could be wrong. That would be why false prophets can
run rampant in the church. We all can hear from the Holy Spirit, but have we
developed that line of communication to be confident in what the Holy Spirit
says to us? If someone gives a motivational speech are we led by that person or
the Holy Spirit?
1 Cor 14:29-33 Two or three prophets should speak, and
others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to
another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. 31 For
everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone
can be encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33
for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. ISV
Within the assemblies, we are to weigh the prophecies, and
if someone is inspired to prophesy they should be allowed to speak. The Greek
word is actually scrutinize, we are
to scrutinize what is said. This is what should happen so that we can all be
instructed and encouraged. Paul says that the spirits of the prophets are under
the control of the prophet, meaning a prophet can control whether he/she
speaks, or what he/she says, or whether he/she adds his/her own opinion to the
word of the Lord. This is how prophesies are to work today so that we can be made
one new body of Christ.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so]
far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. 14 For
He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both
[Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the
hostile dividing wall between us, 15 By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh
the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He
annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new
quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. 16 And [He designed] to
reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of
His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end. 17
And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and
[peace] to those who were near. [Isa 57:19.] AMP
This is why it seems the Essenes disappeared; although they
didn’t really disappear, they merged into one new man, one new quality of
humanity out of the two. One new body, the body of Christ. No matter what part
of the world people are from, everyone can be of the one body, and have the
Holy Spirit on the inside. The Essenes, Nazarenes, and Therapeutaes were all
schooled in living with the Holy Spirit in and on them. Like Apollo, they had
to live a pure and committed life to walk with the Holy Spirit. The new way
allowed a cover of grace so that people could walk with the Holy Spirit and
then learn to become pure.
Eph 2:18 For it is through Him that we both [whether far
off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the
Father [so that we are able to approach Him]. 19 Therefore you are no longer
outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens),
but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated
and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. 20 You are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself
the chief Cornerstone. 21 In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded)
together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy
temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the
presence of the Lord]. 22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you
yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form
a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit. AMP
We are being built up to make a fixed abode of God through
the Holy Spirit. This is what the prophets saw ahead to, and what was for our
dispensation, because Jesus ruined death and hell, and took back the keys. Because
Paul brought the knowledge of the dispensation of the one body and Paul changed from being a Pharisee to an
Essene/Nazarene, he was persecuted. Paul had an insight into the mystery of
Christ that wasn’t told to the prophets of old.
Eph 3:1FOR THIS reason [because I preached that you are
thus built up together], I, Paul, [am] the prisoner of Jesus the Christ for the
sake and on behalf of you Gentiles — 2
Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace (His unmerited
favor) that was entrusted to me [to dispense to you] for your benefit, 3 [And]
that the mystery (secret) was made known to me and I was allowed to comprehend
it by direct revelation, as I already briefly wrote you. 4 When you read this
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 [This mystery] was
never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed
to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy]
Spirit. 6 [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the
Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same
divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the
Gospel). AMP
This mystery was not disclosed to humans in the past, but
was revealed by the Holy Spirit to Paul for everyone who believes. Paul
revealed that everyone is a fellow heir and of the same body, joint partakers
of the good news. Think that through for a moment. The Essenes, Nazarenes,
Therapeutaes, and all those who kept themselves under the teachings of
Shem/Melchizedek/Adonizedek, and the prophets, were now partakers and one body
with all Pharisees who believed, all Sadducees who believed, all people’s from
any nation or religion or language who believed. We have misunderstood, it is
not about Jews who disrespected Yahweh, or Jews who followed the law, who the
non-Jews were now joined to. It is about the prophets and holy men and women
who pursued God and lived circumspect lives, who everyone else can be joined
to. It is not Jews as a nation just because they are special, it is about Jews
who lived as followers of the Zedek way, with the Holy Spirit within them,
whose way is now opened to everyone. It is the joining of the people who had
the Holy Spirit upon them and in them, before Jesus ascended and now, people
who have the Holy Spirit in them after Jesus ascended. It is all about the Holy
Spirit. Now, no matter what our calling is, this is what we are to share with
those who don’t know about the merging of all people into one body, identified
by the Holy Spirit within.
Eph 4:8 Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He
led captivity captive [He led a train of vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts
on men. [Ps 68:18.] 9 [But He ascended?] Now what can this, He ascended, mean
but that He had previously descended from [the heights of] heaven into [the
depths], the lower parts of the earth? 10 He Who descended is the [very] same
as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence]
might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest). 11 And
His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be
apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and
expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling
missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 12 His
intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His
consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward
building up Christ's body (the church), 13 [That it might develop] until we all
attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate]
knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood
(the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height
of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the
Christ and the completeness found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be
children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and
wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and
cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of
trickery in inventing errors to mislead. AMP
Jesus descended first, took back the keys to hell and
death, and then ascended. While that did not take away the spiritual blindness
of all humanity, it did take away the spiritual blindness of those who believe
on Jesus via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then, from those who have the
Holy Spirit within, they are sent as gifts to humanity. This is to keep people
from being taken advantage of by satan.
Peter suggests we recall the predictions to the holy
consecrated and dedicated prophets. The predictions of the prophets of old are
not all fulfilled. The predictions of the prophets of the first century are not
all fulfilled either.
2 Peter 3:1-2 BELOVED, I am now writing you this second
letter. In [both of] them I have stirred up your unsullied (sincere) mind by
way of remembrance, 2 That you should recall the predictions of the holy
(consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior
[given] through your apostles (His special messengers). AMP
The dedication of the prophets of old helped bring us the
day of Pentecost and the merging of non-followers of Yahweh into the followers
of Yahweh. The prophets, the Zedeks, are the ones that we merge with today to
make one body. The Essenes, Nazarenes, Therapeutaes, and prophets all lived
filled with the Holy Spirit, and once Jesus spoiled death and hell, he poured
out the Holy Spirit on all who believe. Right after Pentecost people weren’t
sure who the Holy Spirit was poured out on until non-Jewish believers on Jesus
started getting filled like Cornelius and all his house. Then it started to
become clear that the Holy Spirit was given to all who believe, and Paul was
the one to promote that mystery.
We saw how the Pharisees had split from the Essenes during
the Hasmonean era, they stayed and served the law, becoming dedicated to the
law rather than the Holy Spirit. Even today we have people who push others into
abiding by the law rather than being led by the Holy Spirit. That mistake
derailed the Pharisees back then and it derails the modern day Pharisees and
Rabbi’s, and their followers, today. The prophets brought us knowledge on how
to overcome our spiritual dilemma, being oppressed by satan. They showed us the
power of the Holy Spirit. They gave us insight into the future and they guided
the Israelites the best they could. Many of the Zedek order lived and prospered
even when both the northern and southern kingdoms fell. It did not matter where
they lived, it wasn’t about a sacred place, it was about the Holy Spirit’s
leading. That is why there was such a large group of healers in Egypt, where
Jesus lived with his family, and another large group of prophets in Syria.
Their location was not about the temple, they knew and saw the defilements that
went on in the temple. Yet they stayed faithful to the Holy Spirit and spoke of
the disasters that were coming, even when they were shunned and persecuted.
They gave insight into the temple’s destruction, and many people survived
because they heeded the warnings. Because the religious majority rejected
Jesus, they did not receive the Holy Spirit, and they were the ones who were
overrun by the Zealots. If we take note, that the absence of the Holy Spirt
causes satan to destroy humans, we will be well aware of our own times and our
own quandary’s.
We don’t have the same formal set up as in older
dispensations, where one prophet leads a nation. We all have access to the Holy
Spirit and should be led individually. Now let’s take a look at Romans 11. Paul
talks about being grafted into the olive tree, he talks about the hardness of
Israel’s heart to let the non-Jews come in. But let’s look at this from this
point, the Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and the prophets were the good
branches, the loyal minority as the Message notes. The “self-interest Israel”
are the Maccabees, the Zealots, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees. They are the
dead wood.
Rom 11:1-10 The Loyal Minority 1 Does this mean,
then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll have nothing more to do with
them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a
descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more
Semitic than that! 2 So we're not talking about repudiation. God has been too
long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of
them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and
cried out in prayer? 3 God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your
altars; I'm the only one left and now they're after me! 4 And do you remember
God's answer? I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who
are loyal to the finish. 5 It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal
minority still — not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. 6 They're
holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but
because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they
were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left
long ago. 7 And then what happened? Well, when Israel tried to be right with
God on her own, pursuing her own self-interest, she didn't succeed. The chosen
ones of God were those who let God pursue his interest in them, and as a result
received his stamp of legitimacy. The "self-interest Israel" became
thick-skinned toward God. 8 Moses and Isaiah both commented on this: Fed up
with their quarrelsome, self-centered ways, God blurred their eyes and dulled
their ears, Shut them in on themselves in a hall of mirrors, and they're there
to this day. 9 David was upset about the same thing: I hope they get sick
eating self-serving meals, break a leg walking their self-serving ways. 10 I
hope they go blind staring in their mirrors, get ulcers from playing at god.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H.
Peterson. All rights reserved.)
The son’s of Jacob became quarrelsome, self-centered,
self-serving, and thick skinned towards God. They are the ones who hardened
their hearts towards God and His ways, the ones Isaiah wrote about who only
wanted to hear smooth prophecies.
Rom 11:11-25 Pruning and Grafting Branches 11 The
next question is, "Are they down for the count? Are they out of this for
good?" And the answer is a clear-cut no. Ironically when they walked out,
they left the door open and the outsiders walked in. But the next thing you
know, the Jews were starting to wonder if perhaps they had walked out on a good
thing. 12 Now, if their leaving triggered this worldwide coming of non-Jewish
outsiders to God's kingdom, just imagine the effect of their coming back! What
a homecoming! 13 But I don't want to go on about them. It's you, the outsiders,
that I'm concerned with now. Because my personal assignment is focused on the
so-called outsiders, I make as much of this as I can 14 when I'm among my
Israelite kin, the so-called insiders, hoping they'll realize what they're
missing and want to get in on what God is doing. 15 If their falling out
initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off
something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even though
it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what's going to
happen when they get it right! 16 Behind and underneath all this there is a
holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy,
there's bound to be some holy fruit. 17 Some of the tree's branches were pruned
and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by
that rich and holy root 18 gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches.
Remember, you aren't feeding the root; the root is feeding you. 19 It's
certainly possible to say, "Other branches were pruned so that I could be
grafted in!" 20 Well and good. But they were pruned because they were
deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason
you're on the tree is because your graft "took" when you believed,
and because you're connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don't get cocky
and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and
green. 21 If God didn't think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural
branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn't give it a second thought.
22 Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless
severity that exist side by side in God — ruthless with the deadwood, gentle
with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The moment you
become deadwood, you're out of there. 23 And don't get to feeling superior to
those pruned branches down on the ground. If they don't persist in remaining
deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. God can do that. He can
perform miracle grafts. 24 Why, if he could graft you — branches cut from a
tree out in the wild — into an orchard tree, he certainly isn't going to have
any trouble grafting branches back into the tree they grew from in the first
place. Just be glad you're in the tree, and hope for the best for the others.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H.
Peterson. All rights reserved.)
There is some holy fruit, the
Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and the prophets are the holy fruit that we who
believe on Jesus as Messiah are grafted into. And the
Essenes/Nazarenes/Therapeutaes and prophets are the holy root that feeds us. He
can graft in those who rejected Jesus anytime if they repent. Therefore it is
up to us to pray for the Jesus rejecters. It is up to us to us to be the
apostles and prophets to show them how to be overcomers.
Rom 11:25-29 A Complete Israel 25 I want to lay all
this out on the table as clearly as I can, friends. This is complicated. It
would be easy to misinterpret what's going on and arrogantly assume that you're
royalty and they're just rabble, out on their ears for good. But that's not it
at all. This hardness on the part of insider Israel toward God is temporary.
Its effect is to open things up to all the outsiders so that we end up with a
full house. 26 Before it's all over, there will be a complete Israel. As it is
written, A champion will stride down from the mountain of Zion; he'll clean
house in Jacob. 27 And this is my commitment to my people: removal of their
sins. 28 From your point of view as you hear and embrace the good news of the
Message, it looks like the Jews are God's enemies. But looked at from the
long-range perspective of God's overall purpose, they remain God's oldest
friends. 29 God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty — never
canceled, never rescinded. (from THE
MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All
rights reserved.)
Those who have the Holy Spirit are the ones who can lead
others to the Holy Spirit, just like Apollos did. The apostles and prophets are
to serve the Holy Spirit so that others can be grafted into the Zedek order,
the way that Shem and Eber taught so long ago. It is not ideal to serve in a
temple and follow laws at the expense of losing the Holy Spirit. This is why
there has been so much controversy at the time of the first century and harsh
contentions against Jesus. Those who believe on Jesus are joined into one body,
the body of Christ. We are to scrutinize prophecies to make sure what people
are claiming are words from God actually are words from God. And because we all
have the Holy Spirit on the inside we can discern the truth and be individually
led by the Spirit. This is the age or dispensation of the mystery that the
prophets looked for but could not see. Paul revealed it to us so that we could
understand the greatness of the fullness of times, and lead others to Jesus. Those
who believe on Jesus are grafted into the holy prophets, not the dead wood of the
Pharisees. This is who we are in Christ.
