GIFTS – PART SEVEN
Sunday – December 1, 2019, Kislev 3, 5780
Greetings my precious brothers and sisters in Christ and welcome back to this powerful Sunday study titled “Gifts”. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment to hit the “love” and “share” buttons to encourage us and expand the reach of these teachings. These gifts are of God and the foundational gift is salvation.
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We had no idea we needed these gifts, that we needed a Savior, although it seems to be built into us to have a god. We are not independent spiritual creations. We all chose either the Son (Jesus) which brings us to the Father and Holy Spirit (the One who woos us to Jesus and the Father) or we choose the god of this world, Satan and his fallen angels. Do not be deceived, there is no neutral or middle ground. Notice in the Romans 6:23 (and many others) there is only two options, death or life, death is our eternal future when we chose Satan as our god and life is our eternal future when we chose Jesus Christ as our Lord.
Salvation is like the front door which gives us entry into many rooms (gifts) in the Kingdom of God. In addition to these gifts there are obligations and benefits of coming through the front door all of which yield nothing but good. In large part the diligent discharge of our obligations with a willing heart, even an eager heart, furthers the Kingdom, brings us into an abundance of finances, health, and every other area of life. As we receive and utilize the various gifts, we are better equipped to accomplish all that is assigned to us in the Kingdom of God. A true gift by definition is free, it is not earned by anything we did, it is available by love due to the works of Jesus at Calvary and beyond.
2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV)
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Thank you, Father, thank you Lord Jesus! In the past I have described these gifts as being like gifts under a Christmas tree. However, they may also be viewed like tools of any particular trade that are made available as we show ourselves responsible to utilize them. For example, in the natural we wouldn’t give a ten-year-old (example of an immature Christian) a high-powered car when they had not yet showed themselves responsible with a bicycle. When one first uses a tool of any kind, they are not expert but may be rather clumsy but with diligence and time we can become very skillful. I will talk more of this as we progress with these teachings. I will now return more directly to the trail of Precious Blood that purchased us, redeemed us, for our Heavenly Father who is nothing but good. Last Sunday I left off on this trail of Precious Blood in Genesis chapter seventeen and the solidifying of Abraham’s faith for the birth of Isaac. This also set the stage for the testing of this all-important Blood Covenant, and the coming of The Messiah (the Seed of Abraham). All of this was necessary for the first gift, salvation, to become available to all who would receive Jesus as Lord believing in their heart He is the risen Savior and confessing His as Lord with their mouth. Praise the Lord I have done that and if you have not done so, do so right now.
The twenty second chapter of Genesis is in some ways the most important chapter in all of the Holy Scripture.
Genesis 22:1-2 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
As we move into this chapter, Isaac has been born and is a young man, in my opinion likely in his early twenties however I would not be surprised it he was as old as thirty-three. Thirty-three is the supposed age of Jesus upon the Cross. As we proceed forward keep in mind that just as Jesus willingly even with joy went to the Cross so did Isaac lay upon the alter at Mount Moriah as we will see.
John 10:18 (KJV)
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The word translated in Genesis 22:1 as tempt is most commonly translated as proved and would give improved clarity to the verse. God is not just proving or testing Abraham, Abraham’s love for God, but He is testing or proving the Blood Covenant to which, they are both a party. Abraham’s love for God had to far exceed His love for Isaac that day just as our love for God must far exceed that for anyone or anything in the earth. As I finish for this week let me again remind us all of the three essential components of love (agape). First is obedience to Scripture and I might add there must be an eagerness, a willingness associated. Second is a lifestyle of selflessness towards God and others. Third is to abide in the elements of Blood Covenant. The key and essential element of Blood Covenant soon coming into view is the Law of Reciprocity.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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