AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Thursday – September 9, 2021, Tishrei 3, 5782
WHO RULES US?
One might glance at the title of this teaching and exclaim “Jesus rules over me, of course!” Really? What is our evidence? Do we have overflowing abundance, are we in good health, and are we doing the works of Jesus and the greater works? If Jesus, the King of kings, were really ruling over us shouldn’t we have abundant evidence? So, let me ask again, who is ruling over us? The featured picture today of Donna and me was taken recently at a beautiful Italian Restaurant here in San Antonio named Maggiano’s. Please take a moment to share these teaching as widely as possible expanding our reach. Thank you for doing that. Now let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text from the Book of Isaiah and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
Isaiah 3:12-15 (KJV)
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.
14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15 What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Now we find the Lord speaking only to His people. Most of the Bible is directed to His people and not the world. He does address the world as we saw in the prior passages this week but for the most part He talks to His people. It seems at least in part because we look away from ourselves to others for wickedness and evil has to do with how we see or define wickedness and evil. Perhaps we see evil and wickedness as associated with murderers, rapist, abortionist (all involved), and terrorists and not our choosing not to study or do the Word of God. It is all evil, it is all wicked. Sin separated God from His people, brought the curse upon His creation including man, and caused Him to come out of Heaven to pay the price of redemption.
As I am writing this the debacle of our withdrawal from Afghanistan is unfolding and is awful in human costs, finance, and American credibility. There is no understanding of evil it seems in our current leadership. The leadership of this country is expecting evil itself to protect our troops and the evacuation of other Americans and Afghans as well. That is not what evil does, we and these others are infidels and it is okay, even encouraged (in Islam), to lie to the infidel to get an advantage. What does evil do in the end once the deception is set (trap set)?
John 10:9-11 (KJV)
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (Bold added)
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Now, let’s refocus on verse twelve (governance) of our primary text. God through Isaiah is not just talking about the government but the rulers in the Church. We don’t tend to think of those in the governance of the Church (Five-Fold Ministers) or those given authority in a Church as ruling over us but the Bible says they are ruling over us. In the physical these people can enforce rules concerning the meeting place and acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Regarding the spiritual, most important, they tell us what is right and we choose to obey or not. This is how it works with the Head of the Church, Jesus, the King of kings as well.
Hebrews 13:17 (KJV)
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Submission to authority is not popular in or out of the Church. COVID-19 has brought the rebellion level of the Church into clear focus. It is astonishing. Our rulers are causing many in the Church to err. That we are in error in many areas seems to escape the notice of pew and pulpit alike. We have conveniently developed false ideas to explain away the profound defeat, stealing, killing, and destroying, in the Church. These errors (deceptions of the devil) have destroyed the wonderful beautiful path God put in place for every person since the foundation of the world. Instead we walk in defeat, sick and broke like the world, focused on things other than the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. I know this is perhaps a little rough for you but we must come out of this intense darkness into God’s marvelous light and live the abundant life Christ paid for us to live in the here and now. It is not going to drop in our laps we must take it by faith. We must raise up righteous leaders in every sphere of influence especially the government at every level. We must have leaders in the Church focused on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let us find the old paths and walk on them.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Monday.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, doubt it not, 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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