STRONG IN THE LORD
Thursday – March 23, 2017
Greetings from Patti and I at The Three Minute Word and we speak the blessings of God into your life as you pursue Him with all your hearts.
Ephesians 6:10-11 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
As I finished yesterday I was speaking of a learning curve and the mercy of God in the context of being strong in the Lord. We are strong in the Lord, or stronger, when we are doing what we know to do and are actively, diligently, pushing forward in the things of God. Let’s look at the Scriptures I presented yesterday and then a couple of others that point to the importance of intercessory prayer for the weaker ones in our group. A person who is in disobedience through ignorance is still in sin but there is a greater mercy in the amount of stealing, killing, and destroying God will allow in that person’s life. We are not talking about ignorance by way of laziness. We are talking about a person who is pressing forward in the Lord and studying the Policy and Procedure Manual with all due diligence and implementing what they find in their lives. Let’s look at what Jesus had to say in the New and Old Covenant.
Luke 12:47-48 (KJV)
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Notice the first phrase referencing the person who knew the will of God but chose not to do the will of God. Does this strike you like it does me of being very much like the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25)? They were all properly prepared for the groom in that they were virgins and all had the Anointing. In that parable Jesus called five of them wise and five foolish. Those who were foolish slumbered and slept and when the cry come that the bridegroom was coming their lamps had gone out and they were barred from entering the marriage supper (Heaven). As the Apostle Peter spoke of, we are to be sober and vigilant (2 Peter 5:8) otherwise we are devoured of the devil. This also brings to mind Jesus talking about being hot or cold and that when we are lukewarm he spews us out of His Mouth (Revelation 3:16). Let’s look at what the Word said under the Old Covenant concerning ignorance and punishment.
Leviticus 5:17-19 (ESV)
17 “If anyone sins, doing any of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, though he did not know it, then realizes his guilt, he shall bear his iniquity.
18 He shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent for a guilt offering, and the priest shall make atonement for him for the mistake that he made unintentionally, and he shall be forgiven.
19 It is a guilt offering; he has indeed incurred guilt before the LORD.”
The person was guilty right along and when the sin came to his knowledge he owned up to it, confessed it before the priest and innocent blood was shed on his behalf cleansing him of the guilt. We enjoy a similar but better situation.
1 John 1:7 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Notice we must be walking in the light, this is not sleeping and slumbering, it is an active process of being diligent not to stray from the light into darkness. When we do this we are in fellowship with God (Holy Spirit) and when we confess our sin (1 John 1:9) the blood of Jesus, the innocent blood, cleanses us. A ram is a male adult sheep (Leviticus 5:18, 1 John 1:7).
Romans 8:1 (KJV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Notice here that there is no ‘condemnation’ adverse judgment or judgment against a person who is in Christ Jesus and walking after or by the leadership of the Spirit. That is not to say the devil can’t get a toehold here and there but so long as the person is pressing in and quick to repent it is like water off a ducks back. Remember we are looking at this in the context of being strong in the Lord, in this case for immature persons in the Kingdom of God. The next area that is essential is intercession for the less mature by the more mature and those of authority in the Church.
Luke 13:6-9 (KJV)
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
In this parable the ‘certain man’ represents God, the ‘fig tree’ is the target person, and the ‘dresser’ is the intercessor and the one more mature or of authority (spiritual) in the person’s life. The intercessor asks God to give the person more time to learn to be sober and vigilant, to awaken from their slumber and sleep, repent and become fruitful. As you gather from the parable this cannot be a forever process but it is a time of mercy and kindness extended by God because of the intercession of another.
Job 22:28-30 (AMP)
28 You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.
29 When they make [you] low, you will say, [There is] a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves.
30 He will even deliver the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.
Notice in Job 22:30 that we can bring deliverance by our decrees on their behalf although they are guilty before God. This is fully contingent on the cleanness of our hands (the intercessors hands).
The Scripture, the ways of God are wonderful!
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
