A Distinguished People, Set Apart For The Lord
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word “distinguish” implies “a recognizing or marking apart from others by special features or characteristic qualities.” There is a distinguishing mark placed upon God’s obedient, “choice” children that separates them from all other people. It is the mark of protection in Ezekiel 9:4-6 and Revelation 9:4 that will spare our lives in the days to come when the Lord pours out His wrath on earth (see the Bible studies The Mark Of The Beast and The Righteous Covering).
The Distinguishing Mark Of God’s People
Exodus 33:12-16- The Lord told Moses that His recognizable presence would be the distinguishing mark upon His people, separating them from all other people. Moses also asked the Lord to show him His ways so that he could continue in His favor. We too, MUST have His ways, not the worlds, His agenda, not ours. The continued favor of God is a result of continued obedience by His people to His revealed ways. In fact, Moses said, “let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight.” So, therefore, to know God, which is to be known (i.e. recognized) by Him and therefore be recognized by Him (see Romans 1:28), is to know or to have His ways revealed to us, so that we may walk in them and have/find favor (i.e. grace) in His sight (see the Bible study Have Grace). Otherwise He will say to us, His rebellious children that refused to repent and return to Him and do His ways, “Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, those of you who practice lawlessness [anarchy, disorder, chaos], I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 13:24-30). It will be as if He never knew you (see Ezekiel...
12 Then Moses said to the Lord, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found favor [2580] in My sight.'
13 "Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found favor [2580] in Thy sight, let me know Thy ways, that I may know Thee, so that I may find favor in Thy sight. Consider too, that this nation is Thy people."
14 And He said, "My presence [“face”] shall go with you, and I will give you rest [“to settle down and remain, to be quiet, to repose, to have rest”]." [See the Bible study Emmanuel; God With Us.]
15 Then he said to Him, "If Thy presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.
16 "For how then can it be known that I have found favor [2580] in Thy sight, I and Thy people? Is it not by Thy going with us [see the Bible study The Proper Order], so that we, I and Thy people, may be distinguished [6395] from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?"
(NAS)
OT:2580 chen (khane)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from OT:2603; graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):
KJV - favour, grace (-ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
favor, grace, charm
a) favor, grace, elegance
b) favor, acceptance
OT:6395 palah (paw-law')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a primitive root; to distinguish (literally or figuratively):
KJV - put a difference, show marvelous, separate, set apart, sever, make wonderfully.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
to be distinct, marked out, to be separated, to be distinguished
a) (Niphal)
1) to be distinct, to be separated, to be distinguished
2) to be wonderful
b) (Hiphil) to make separate, to set apart
“Moses was convinced that without God’s presence in His life it was useless for him to attempt anything… He was saying, ‘Lord, if you’re not with us, we’re not going to make it. We won’t take a single step unless we are assured of your presence.’
Moses knew it was God’s presence among them that set them apart from all other nations. The same is true of God’s people today. The only thing that sets us apart from nonbelievers is God’s presence ‘with us,’ leading us, guiding us, working His will in and through us. His presence drives out fear and confusion.
Moses’ attitude was, ‘We operate on one principle alone. The only way for us to be guided or governed, to do battle and survive in these times, is to have God’s presence with us. When His presence is in our midst, no one can destroy us. But without Him we are helpless, reduced to nothing. Let all the nations of the world trust in their mighty armies, iron chariots and skilled soldiers. We will trust in the manifest presence of the Lord.
God answered Moses’ bold statement: ‘My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest’ (Exodus 33:14). The Hebrew word for ‘rest’ here means ‘a comfortable, peaceful confidence.’ God was saying, ‘No matter what battles or trials you face, you will always be able to find a quiet rest and confidence in me.’”
(David Wilkerson - World Challenge Pulpit Series - The Power Of The Lord’s Presence; 3-2-09)
Moses; A Distinguished Man Before The Egyptians
Exodus 11:3- Moses was held in high regard by those who held God’s people in bondage. His life before them as a man of God who declared His powerful word distinguished him from all other Israelites. It marked him out, gave him favor (“grace”) in their eyes as one who rightfully, and even fearfully, deserved respect and honor.
3 And the LORD gave the people favor [2580] in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed [1419- “great, distinguished”] in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and in the sight of the people.
(NAS)
Joseph; The One Distinguished Among His Brothers
(This passage was taken from the Bible study The Revealing Of Joseph.)
Deuteronomy 33:13-17- Joseph’s tribe's blessing from Moses included the possession of the “choice things” of the earth, as well as the favor of God, distinguishing him among his “brothers.”
13 And of Joseph he said, "Blessed of the LORD be his land, with the choice things [4022] of heaven, with the dew, and from the deep lying beneath,
14 And with the choice yield [4022] of the sun, and with the choice produce [4022] of the months.
15 "And with the best things [7218] of the ancient mountains, and with the choice things [4022] of the everlasting hills,
16 And with the choice things [4022] of the earth and its fullness [4393-“handful, entire contents”], and the favor of Him who dwelt in the bush. Let it come to the head of Joseph, and to the crown of the head of the one distinguished [5139- “separate, consecrated, devoted one”] among his brothers.
17 "As the first-born of his ox, majesty is his, and his horns are the horns of the wild ox; with them he shall push the peoples, all at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and those are the thousands of Manasseh."
(NAS)
OT:4022 meged (meh'-ghed)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from an unused root probably meaning to be eminent; properly, a distinguished thing; hence something valuable, as a product or fruit:
KJV - pleasant, precious fruit (thing).
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
excellence
OT:7218 ro'sh (roshe)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.):
KJV - band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief (-est place, man, things), company, end, every [man], excellent, first, forefront, ([be-]) head, height, (on) high (-est part, [priest]), lead, poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
the head, the top, the summit, the upper part, the chief, the total, the sum, the height, the front, the beginning
a) the head (used of a man, animals)
b) the top, the tip (used of a mountain)
c) the height (used of stars)
d) the chief, the head (used of a man, a city, a nation, a place, a family, a priest)
e) the head, the front, the beginning
f) the chief, the choicest, the best
g) a head, a division, a company, a band
h) a sum
This chapter in Deuteronomy describes Moses’ blessing over the sons of Israel before his death. This particular portion deals with his blessing over the tribe of Joseph, the favored one who was “distinguished among his brothers.” Multiple times Moses spoke of the “choice” things, the “best” things (“precious things” in other versions) for Joseph’s descendants. He even mentioned the earth’s “fullness” for him, the “entire contents” of the land, as well as God’s favor.
I believe this blessing falls on the “Joseph Company” of believers at the end of this age who will, like Joseph, separate themselves unto the Lord. It was his consecration before the Lord that “distinguished” him among his “brothers.” As with Exodus 33, it was the mark of separation unto the Lord. (See the Bible study called Consecration.)
Remember, Joseph was the one given a place of ruling authority and the wisdom of God to store up mass quantities of that which would spare the world, and in particular his brothers (God’s people), from starvation. It was strictly for the sake of others. The judgment of famine on the world was used to exalt the Lord’s servant into a prominent position for a great deliverance. It will be the same at the end of this age. In the right time, the appointed time, God will reveal His proven, trusted servants for His name’s sake. They will do His will, delivering His people.
Last but not least, notice Joseph’s dominion in verse 17 over all nations, driving them, it appears at the same moment, to the ends of the earth. I believe this will occur at the end of this age.
Mordecai; Distinguished Among His People
(See the Bible study The Mordecai Ministry.)
Esther 2:5-7
5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the capital whose name was Mordecai [4782], the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite [which means “a son of the right hand”; the right hand signifies the authority of God],
6 who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled.
7 And he was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.
(NAS)
OT:4782 Mordekay (mor-dek-ah'-ee)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
of foreign derivation; Mordecai, an Israelite:
KJV - Mordecai.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
Mordecai = "little man" or "worshiper of Mars";
1) cousin and adoptive father of queen Esther; son of Jair of the tribe of Benjamin; deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman the chief minister of Ahasuerus; institutor of the feast of Purim
2) a Jew who returned from exile with Zerubbabel
Esther 10:3- Mordecai’s distinguishing mark was that he sought, or worked for, the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare (“peace, completeness, soundness, safety”) of his entire nation. Selflessness will also mark out the end-time Mordecai’s who will help to raise, like Esther, the future Bride of the King. In the end, he and Queen Esther were used for a great deliverance of God's people. I believe they are a type of the last days minstry over God's people.
3 For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus and great [1419- “distinguished”] among the Jews, and in favor with the multitude of his kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation. (NAS)
Esther 2:5-7 says, “Now there was a Jew in Susa the capital whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled. And he was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.”
One of the meanings of Mordecai’s name is “little man.” He was the cousin and adoptive father of Queen Esther, and a deliverer under Divine providence of the children of Israel from the destruction plotted by Haman, the chief minister of King Ahasuerus.
Mordecai was a “little-man,” a seemingly insignificant person in the ruling elite’s eyes. He was despised for his lack of fear toward them. Eventually, God raised him, with Queen Esther, into a place of ruling authority. He became second only to King Ahasuerus of Persia and great among his own people, the Jews.
Publicly refusing to bow down to the wicked, arrogant Haman, the King’s right-hand man, would bring about a confrontation that at first looked bad for him as well as the entire Jewish nation. Haman sent out a decree to “destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day.” God would use this situation to deliver His people, revealing to them, as well as us that their fate was not in the hands of their enemies, but of Almighty God. Purim, the celebration of the Jewish nation commemorating this event, was instituted by Mordecai in celebrating this great deliverance by God.
Esther, his cousin, was placed under his care. She listened to him even after she became Queen. He was very instrumental in her maturing process, helping her to prepare for the throne. Mordecai also sustained and protected her through a time of great danger. His life and ministry are a “type” of end-time ministry, describing those who will be used to prepare and protect the Bride of Christ.
Under Divine providence, Mordecai was used to deliver God’s people from destruction that had been plotted against them by their enemies. Esther 9:1 says that “on the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary (“the opposite occurred”) so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.”
“To gain the mastery” means “to dominate, to govern, have dominion or power over.” Through the decree of Queen Esther and Mordecai who had been raised to a place of ruling authority by God for that time in history, the decree of judgment upon God’s people was turned about so that the exact opposite occurred. This is an Old Testament type of what will soon take place. At the end of this age, when it looks like Satan will have total world dominion, God’s government will be established, taking back dominion through the authoritative decree of God’s distinguishable “Mordecai’s.” The enemies of the Jews will come against Jerusalem from the north, and destroy two thirds of the people (Zechariah 14).
As mentioned earlier, according to Webster’s Dictionary the word “distinguish” implies “a recognizing or marking apart from others by special features or characteristic qualities.” The distinguishing mark of Mordecai is summed up for us in the last verse of Esther. It tells us that he was great (“distinguished”) among the Jews and in favor with the multitude of his kinsmen because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of the entire nation. So will the end-time Mordecai’s.
John 2:10- Saving the “best” (also interpreted “choice”) wine for last (see the Bible study and article Many Are Called). The Greek for “best” is not just defining physical taste, but more in regards to personal nature and characteristics. It is by definition “beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy, morally good, and noble.” It speaks of an honorable person such as those within 2 Timothy 2:20-21 referred to as “vessels of honor.” They are the sanctified, consecrated, prepared vessels (six stone waterpots in John 2:6) who will pour out of themselves what God has poured into them. They are the “sons of fresh oil” spoken of in Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11 (see the section Sons Of Fresh Oil in the Bible study Living Creatures And Wicked Beasts).
10 and said, "Everyone brings out the choice [2570] wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved [5083] the best [2570] till now."
(NIV)
5083 tereo (tay-reh'-o)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
from teros (a watch; perhaps akin to 2334); to guard (from loss or injury, properly, by keeping the eye upon; and thus differing from 5442, which is properly to prevent escaping; and from 2892, which implies a fortress or full military lines of apparatus), i.e. to note (a prophecy; figuratively, to fulfill a command); by implication, to detain (in custody; figuratively, to maintain); by extension, to withhold (for personal ends; figuratively, to keep unmarried):
KJV-- hold fast, keep (-er), (pre-, re-) serve, watch.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
to attend to carefully, to take care of
a) to guard
b) metaphorically, to keep, one in the state in which he is
c) to observe
d) to reserve: to undergo something
2570 kalos (kal-os')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from 18, which is properly intrinsic):
KJV-- X better, fair, good (-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable
a) beautiful to look at, shapely, magnificent
b) good, excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends
1) genuine, approved
2) precious
3) joined to names of men designated by their office, competent, able, such as one ought to be
4) praiseworthy, noble
c) beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy, morally good, noble
d) honorable, conferring honor
e) affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming
According to this passage which describes Jesus first public miracle at a wedding banquet “on the third day” (see the Bible study The Third Day, and The Third Day Gathering), Jesus has “saved,” or “kept” the choice wine, the best wine, for the last days. It will be poured out first into those who have kept themselves pure. They will in turn pour out what has been placed within them to those who respond to the invitation to come to the wedding feast of the Lamb. They are represented by the six stone waterpots that were used for ceremonial cleansing by the Jews. Biblically, six is man’s number. These are God’s consecrated “vessels of honor” (see 2 Timothy 2:20-21) that have in obedience cleansed themselves from wickedness (Rev. 19:7-8).
Christ loved the church “and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). As we will see further down, the splendor of holiness is the prevailing mark upon the Lord’s warriors in Psalm 110:3 (also see 2 Peter 3:10-14, 2 Timothy 2:19).
The word “saved” in John 2:10 comes from the Greek word tereo which means “to attend to carefully, to take care of, to guard, to reserve.” Metaphorically it means “to keep, one in the state in which he is.” In 1 Samuel 9, Saul, a “choice” man (verse 2) who would become the first king of Israel, was given a choice portion that had been reserved, or “kept” for him “until the appointed time” (see below).
Isaiah 25:6 (see the section Receiving The Best Of Egypt In The Worst Of Times in the Bible study Living Creatures And wicked Beasts) speaks of a banquet of “aged wine.” The Hebrew for this is shemer which means “something preserved, i.e. the settlings (plural only) of wine.” It is taken from a word that means “to hedge about, to guard, to protect, attend to, to watch for, to wait for, to keep (within bounds), to restrain.” The best wine, the aged wine, of the Lord has been kept for the last days, the appointed time, for the chosen vessels of honor.
God Differentiating Between Those Who Are His And Those Who Are Not
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word “differentiate” suggests the noting or ascertaining of specific differences between things by comparing in detail their distinguishing qualities or features.
Exodus 8:20-23- Throughout the judgment of Egypt we see the Lord making a distinction between His people and the Egyptians. It was the proof of where His presence dwelt, revealing to all those who were His and those who were not. As the Hebrew definition for distinction implies, His distinction is our deliverance. The children of Israel are our example.
20 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and confront Pharaoh as he goes to the water and say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
21 If you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you and your officials, on your people and into your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground where they are.
22 "'But on that day I will deal differently with the land of Goshen, where my people live; no swarms of flies will be there, so that you will know that I, the LORD, am in this land.
23 I will make a distinction [6304] between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will occur tomorrow.'"
(NIV)
6304 peduwth (ped-ooth')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
or peduth (ped-ooth'); from 6929; distinction; also deliverance:
KJV-- division, redeem, redemption.
(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)
a ransom
Exodus 9:4- The Lord’s judgment of Egypt made a clear distinction between those who had His favor, and those who did not; those who were His people, and those who were not. This distinction would continue with further judgments. It will be the same at the end of this age. The favor of God protecting and sustaining his people will be obvious to all. (Also see Exodus 10:23 and 11:7)
4 But the LORD will make a distinction [6395- see definition above] between the livestock of Israel and that of Egypt, so that no animal belonging to the Israelites will die.'"
(NIV)
Malachi 3:16-18- The distinguishing mark of God at the end of this age upon those who fear the Lord and esteem His name. First of all the Lord will prepare His people through the pressure He will bring into this world. Interestingly, the Greek for tribulation means “pressure, a pressing together.” This squeezing together of God’s people through intense pressure will occur so that we will draw near to the Lord and be spared. (See the section The Pressure Of God And The New Wine in the Bible study Living Creatures And Wicked Beasts.)
16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name.
17 "And they will be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare [6213- “to fashion, to make, to deal with, to press, to squeeze”] My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."
18 So you will again distinguish [7200- “to see, to perceive, to discern, to distinguish”] between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
(NAS)
Genesis 17:1-14- God’s distinguishing mark of circumcision, the sign of the covenant (see below).
1 Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.
2 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly."
7 "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting [“perpetual, continuous existence”] covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
11 "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign [226- “a signal, a distinguishing mark”- see below for more] of the covenant between Me and you.
13 "A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14 "But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off [“to cut down, to cut off a body part”] from his people; he has broken My covenant."
(NAS)
226 'owth (oth)
probably from 225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.:
KJV-- mark, miracle, (en-) sign, token.
1) a sign, a signal
a) a distinguishing mark
b) a banner
c) remembrance
d) a miraculous sign
e) an omen
f) a warning
2) a token, an ensign, a standard, a miracle, a proof
In this scripture we see God establishing His covenant with Abraham through circumcision, the “distinguishing mark” (sign) of the covenant. If a person would not become circumcised, it would be considered breaking the covenant. The result would be getting “cut off” from the rest of the body. Circumcision, or the cutting away of the fleshly nature, is performed by the Holy Spirit through the new covenant in the blood of Jesus. As those who have turned to the Lord, our choice appears to be either allowing the Holy Spirit to cut off our old nature, or risk being cut off altogether.
An “uncircumcised” male who breaks the new covenant is one who resists the work of cutting (of the covenant) by the Holy Spirit. This is blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the sin that leads to separation from the Body of Christ. They have become what Jude 12 refers to as being “twice dead.” They were dead as an unbeliever, and have now become dead as a believer. In this state they have now become an “unbelieving believer,” twice dead.
In describing this type of person 2 Peter 2:20-22 says, “For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.’” The “first state” was as a lost person. The “last state” is turning to Christ (“accepting Jesus”) and then turning away. Again, they are twice dead.
The “everlasting covenant” is that which started with Abraham and is then re-entered into by each succeeding generation. It is broken through sin and rebellion against the circumcising work of the Holy Spirit on our inner man. The Lord makes it clear that He is the one who establishes this covenant, giving His people the distinguishing mark of a circumcised nature that is being conformed to His.
Passover And The Distinguishing Mark
Exodus 13:6-9,16- Keeping the Passover feast with “unleavened bread” (see 1 Cor. 5:6-8 below) will be like a mark (226- “a distinguishing mark”; in Genesis 17:11 above) on your hand and a reminder on your forehead (see the section The Mark Of The Beast in the Bible study Living Creatures And Wicked Beasts). Not eating leaven represents a walk of purity, without partaking of sin (see the Bible study Beginning And Ending With Passover). His powerful “hand” will once and for all, at the end of this age, bring His people out from the place of bondage. This is the redemption of the Body that will soon take place.
6 "For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.
7 "Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be seen among you in all your borders.
8 "And you shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'
9 "And it shall serve as a sign [226-see definition above] to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.
(NAS)
John 6:53-58- “I will raise him up on the last day…” like the “bent double” woman in Luke 13:10-17 (see the Bible study Bent Double). Keeping the (Passover) feast is a total consumption of Christ, the bread of life. This is a promise of our redemption, the redemption of His Body, in the end. We have not been able to rise up until the appointed time in history was upon us, as it now is. The leaven of wickedness has affected (leavened) the church greatly in America.
53 Jesus therefore said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
54 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 "For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.
56 "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
57 "As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.
58 "This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate, and died, he who eats this bread shall live forever."
(NAS)
1 Corinthians 5:6-8- The cleansing of the “old,” creating room for the “new,” is about to take place through the difficult days that lie ahead for us. The Refiner’s fire will purge us of the leavening affect the false teachers have had. If unrepentant, they will be the first to go (see the section The Tabernacle in the Bible study The Inner Tunic).
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
7 Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
(NAS)
Knowing God; Gaining His Presence
Exodus 33:17- God’s favor on Moses and His acknowledgement of having “known” him by name is the product of an intimate relationship. Genesis 4:7 uses the same Hebrew word in a sexual manner saying, “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived…” (KJV). It is defined as “to know by experience, to become acquainted with.” Moses spent time in God’s presence, learning about Him and, therefore, also becoming known by God (Galatians 4:9). Healthy relationships require regular maintenance, motivated by love.
17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor [2580 - “grace, favor, acceptance”; see def. above] in My sight, and I have known you by name."
(NAS)
Titus 1:16- Our actions prove whether or not we really know God.
16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed. [See the Bible study Worthless Men.]
(NAS)
Matthew 7:21-23- These people claim to know God, and have even performed miracles in His name, but the Lord claims to have never known them. They practiced lawlessness, not walking in obedience. It’s as if He never knew them. Only those who do what He says are the ones “known” by Him. They are close to Him, walking in intimacy.
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'
(NAS)
2 Timothy 2:19- This statement by Paul combines knowing Christ with abstaining from wickedness. The signet ring mark of God upon His genuine children will be their obedient, godly, Christ-like life. It is their “seal” of approval. Again, knowing, by definition, refers to a knowledge gained through intimate contact with someone. Because of a close relationship, you have become acquainted with them, how they think and act. So it is with God and His children that draw close.
19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal [4973], "The Lord knows [1097] those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."
(NAS)
4973 sphragis (sfrag-ece')
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
probably strengthened from 5420; a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication, the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively:
KJV-- seal.
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
a seal:
a) the seal placed upon books
b) a signet ring
c) the inscription or impression made by a seal; used of the name of God and Christ stamped upon their foreheads
d) that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated, as by a seal (a token or proof)
1097 ginosko (ghin-oce'-ko)
(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)
a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed):
KJV-- allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know (-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure,
(Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
understand.
1) to learn to know, to come to know, to get a knowledge by perception, to feel, to become known
2) to know, to understand, to perceive, to have knowledge of
a) to understand
b) to know
3) a Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman (compare Gen. 4:1)
4) to become acquainted with, to know
1 John 2:3-6- We know God if we keep His commandments.
3 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
(NAS)
John 14:15- Same as above.
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
(NAS)
1 Corinthians 8:3- Loving God results in His knowing us.
3 But the man who loves God is known by God.
(NIV)
1 John 4:7-8- The one who does not love does not know God.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Keeping His Presence; Obedience To His Revealed Will
Psalms 101:6-7- Those who practice deceit will not dwell in the Lord’s presence. See Genesis 4 in which Cain was cast out of the Lord’s presence. He acted treacherously against his brother Abel, killing him.
6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
7 No one who practices deceit [“treachery”] will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
(NIV)
Isaiah 30:15- The rebellious children of Israel who looked to Egypt (the world’s ways) for their strength instead of the Lord.
“For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, "In repentance and rest [“quiet attitude”] you shall be saved, in quietness [“to be at peace, undisturbed”] and trust [“confidence, a place of refuge”] is your strength [“might, valor, victory”]." But you were not willing,”
(NAS)
James 3:12-4:4- The source of quarrels and the results of friendship with the world.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
1 What is the source of quarrels [“a war, fight, battle, dispute”] and conflicts [“combat, controversy, persons at variance”]among you? Is not the source your pleasures [“lusts”] that wage war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(NAS)
Joshua 7- The sin of Achan in the battle of Jericho affected the entire camp. It would cost the lives of many people, including his own family. The Lord’s presence, and therefore His power and authority, left the Israelites until there was a revealing of the sin and its removal. Our sin, as well as our obedience, always affects everyone who is close to us. He heard the warning before their first battle in the Promised Land to not covet in Joshua 6, but gave in to temptation.
Genesis 3- In this passage we find Adam and Eve hiding from the presence of God because of disobedience. The great “cover-up” began. Mankind covers his sin with a garment of his own making, fig leaves. The Lord provides one instead. This was the first picture of the atonement, blood covering, of Jesus Christ. Man continues trying to cover up his guilt of sin through many different means. In the end, it’s all “fig-leaves.”
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