Dear
Family Of The Elect
The word
family has the same meaning in the Hebrew and the Greek. It means
of the same clan, or of the same father. It is used both
spiritually and collectively. The word "house," as used
in the Bible reflects all these same meanings. Such references
as, the "house of Israel," the "house of
Judah," and others speak of the families of those persons.
In St. John 17, Jesus said in that
beautiful prayer before the close of His ministry that He was not
of this world (age) and neither are "they" of this
world. He was speaking of God's elect. He set aside or separated
those people. This didn't indicate prestige, but instead
identified those who had a purpose and destiny with a job to do.
God intended to use them to reach other people. It is written in
Ephesians 1:4 that God chose some before the foundations of this
earth age. He knew you from before this flesh life. His elect
were judged worthy because they proved themselves loyal and
useful servants in a time before this one.
It is beautiful when you meet someone
and begin to share God's Word with them and something sort of
clicks. It creates a special bond between you. Sometimes you feel
more comfortable around people who share your understanding of
your Father than you do around blood kin. I am not taking away
from blood family. Your family is a treasured blessing, but
sometimes God's Word divides rather than bonds the relationships
in a blood family.
Spiritually we feel closer in our walk
with the Lord to the people that share those same feelings. There
is a good reason for this closeness. A close family loves one
another enough that it can overcome misunderstandings and
arguments, and a spiritual family all the more so. God is strong
enough in you to overcome all problems with each other in every
day life.
That love that grows and bonds God's
family becomes stronger because of this. The reason for this is
because the kinship you share with a person who shares your love
for our Father is a bond that has been there a long, long time.
It is a kinship with our Father. He is our nearest Kinsman. Our
Redeemer.
Should you feel guilty that your
spiritual family is so important to you ? No. Love never ceases
and is not measured. We find a different love for every
individual and it is genuine and true.
Let's begin our study with Paul's
teaching in 1 Corinthians as he teaches us of this family union.
1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spake
as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but
when I became a man, I put away childish things.
When we come to
maturity in Christ, our Father's Word allows us to lay aside
petty, less important things. We shouldn't be bothered by little
squabbles over unimportant things.
1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a
glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but
then shall I know even as also I am known.
Even in maturity, when we try to look
beyond the veil to see what was and what will be, we do so
darkly. But, even so we begin to make out small amounts of
understanding. We can only have knowledge, in part, as long as we
are in the flesh life. When we pass through that veil and are
with our Father, His plan will be completely known in its
simplicity for us to see. God is very natural. He operates in
natural ways in allowing His children to love Him and His
returning that love. He is not way, far out in space. He is your
Father and you were made in His image. He has reason and purpose
for all His creation and especially for His elect.
The word "darkly" is an
interesting word. It is a compound of the Greek words that mean
"in something" and "at rest" or
"dormant". It indicates the veil that is upon each of
our minds. When we come to maturity, part of the knowledge of our
soul is still dormant, but we begin to see clearly. Let's
continue in 2 Corinthians.
2 Cor 3:1 Do
we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others,
epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from
you?
We don't have to prove ourselves with
family. The Spirit proves the kinship between the elect.
2 Cor 3:2 Ye
are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
2 Cor 3:3 Forasmuch
as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ
ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of
the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of
the heart.
All things that are really true are authored by the Spirit of
God, whether it be written by the teacher or a seed planted into
the heart and mind of a person that takes hold and grows. That is
your epistle.
2 Cor 3:4 And
such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
2 Cor 3:5 Not
that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of
ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able
ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the
spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
By the old testament
(which holds the law) we die, but the forgiveness and redemption
in Yashua, Jesus Christ gives us new life.
2 Cor 3:7 But if the ministration of
death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the
children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses
for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done
away:
The presence of God in
the face of Moses was so strong that the children of Israel
couldn't look at it. Here was a part of our true family and they
couldn't handle it. He was too glorious.
With our flesh heart,
head and mind we can understand all these things we have related
up to this point. We can understand why sometimes those of the
same faith in God's Word are closer to us than blood relatives.
But, here we go past that point to "behind the glass."
Moses had been there. He had seen the presence of God. He looked
possibly as he did at the time of his transfiguration (when
Christ was praying). Moses' presence was so bright that Peter and
the others could hardly look upon him. This is not written, but
it is implied.
So, we begin to see
that there is a deeper walk, that only in spirit do we see
through the glass.
2 Cor 3:8 How shall not the
ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2 Cor 3:9 For if the ministration of
condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of
righteousness exceed in glory.
2 Cor 3:10 For even that which was
made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the
glory that excelleth.
If the people couldn't
stand the glory in the ministration of the former, how can they
stand it under the far more glorious ministration that provides
eternal life ? There must be a change take place in that person
to allow them to see spiritual truths.
2 Cor 3:11 For if that which is done
away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
That which remains is
permanent and eternal.
2 Cor 3:12 Seeing then that we have
such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
We speak boldly the
thing of this ministry.
2 Cor 3:13 And not as Moses, which put
a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not
stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
There was something
better coming and they couldn't even stand that which was.
2 Cor 3:14 But their minds were
blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away
in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in
Christ.
This is as true today
as at the time of Paul. Maybe even more so. When you mature in
Christ you no longer speak and walk as a child. You follow the
footprints He left marking the only path that leads to Him. Up to
this point Paul has given us analogies. Sharpen up and let's
continue.
2 Cor 3:15 But even unto this day, when
Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
Matthew 23 explains why
this is.
2 Cor 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall
turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
"It" refers
to the "heart" of Israel.
2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that
Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
The truth sets us free!
2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into
the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.
Don't expect to be
recognized as somebody special for serving the Lord by this
world. They crucified Christ! But, in your kinship with Him, your
work will align with His deeds. Like Father, like son.
There is a generation
set aside with a strong family bond. It is God's election. Those
set aside before the foundations of this earth. They know each
other when they meet. They don't argue with their Father about
His Word, but seek diligently to imbed their minds and
understanding within that Word.
Should you turn against
other men? Of course not. It is for that purpose that you are
here. To witness, teach and help others. But, you find your true
comfort from that family that is bound to you spiritually. They
are set aside to accomplish God's plan at the time of the
"latter rain."
FAMILY
Was
written by my Pastor,
Dr.
Arnold Murray of The Shepherd's Chapel.©
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