The Divine Appointment of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks, Part 1

The Divine Appointment of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks

(Isa. 26:1)

(Part 1)

By Michael Zaucha

Our Great God and Father is revealed as the One “who declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isa. 46:10-11), and Jesus Christ our Lord, God’s Beloved Son, God’s Elect Servant (Isa. 42:1), as Him who was sent to accomplish all of His Father’s good pleasure, and He has and continues to do so is the good news of the Gospel.

It is a Provision of God. “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks” (Isa. 26.1). The provision of a strong city is God’s appointed work, and praise God, it is an appointment He was faithful to keep. It is being manifested now as true, and will even moreso be shown to be true when Jesus comes again “from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (II Th. 1:7-9).

We all had better be in that strong city on that day.

Man is not able to think of such a Provision against what is to come, let alone provide for it. From this perspective, it’s a hands-off work to man. To God alone be the glory for this mighty Provision of a strong city.

With the Provision of God’s appointment made, the prophet cries out unto God: “Open Ye the gates” (vs. 2) – the crying out is unto God to do this for the people, for God is the One who must open the gates to the strong city – so “that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” In order for God’s people to partake of the Divine Provision, they must enter into it, and it is only God that can open the gates of entry to the strong city, and then and only then, the righteous nation may enter into it - the righteous being them being those who keep the truth. Jesus spoke of such a nation that keepeth the truth are in a most favored position with God: “Blessed are they which hear the word of God, and keep it” (Lk. 11:28). “Thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).

To each of the individuals and the entirety of the body of the righteous nation, “Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” (vs. 3). With the Provision made of a strong city, and the gates to it opened, again, there is more good news to declare: the promise of God to keep you in that place where He hath brought you in, for it is a place of peace, but know that there is a requirement of the righteous that have entered into it, and that is to stay where God has placed them, and they do so by trusting in God, in trusting and believing in the Provision that He Himself has provided, that it will affect the very thing that God said it would.

So the exhortation is to the righteous nation, both then and now: “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isa. 26:1-4). Hear the precision of the revelation to partake of everlasting strength.

The necessary strength to endure to the end is not around the Lord, it is not even by the Lord. It is far more closer and intimate than that - it is “IN” the Lord that is the place of obtainment of everlasting strength found.

(Continued Tomorrow)

 

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The Signs of an Apostle

The Signs of an Apostle

2Corinthains 12:12 "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience,in signs, and wonders and mighty deeds".
First it must be noted that a real servant of God is distinquished by what he has seen and heard.
One must first be a partaker of the things of God before he can deliver them to the saints. In the kingdom of God there is value found in the fruit men produce and among the body of Christ there is distinction made between men. "And God hath set some among the church first apostles, second prophets and third teachers...1Cor 12:28. And since these are managed by the Lord and are of the Spirit they can not be used to build an institution or wordly empires.
The twelve Apostles including Paul were all sent by the Lord they being an a apostle of Jesus. The twelve Apostles recieved much teaching before Jesus ascended back to the Father and were further led into all truth and brought into remembrance through the Holy Spirit. The twelve foundations of the glorified church are the twelve apostles of the Lamb Rev 21:14. They were given to know the mysteries of Christ, guided into all truth, being shown plainly the truth pertaining to redeemption. We have been called to remember the words spoken by the apostles.
Jude 1:17.
The prophets are joined to the Apostles as the foundation of the church. These prophets are the prophets of old...those who were given insight into the Messiah into the nature and ministry of the Lord. These are the Apostles hand picked by Jesus who were given to open the truth which is found in him. The words of scripture written by men such as these are foundational, essential for faith and the maintaining of faith. Any word that is supposedly come from God must be strict harmony with the scriptures underwise it is of the earth, earthly.
And the signs that followed the eleven apostles in Mark 16:14-20 were the confirmations to those who witnessed them that they were indeed Apostles sent by the Lord. Some have taken great liberty with the scripture at this point to say that Jesus was speaking to all believers but, this simply is not true. In Mark 16:20 still speaking of the same ones in verse 14 it says that they(the eleven)went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
Luke says: "And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs wrought among the people.In Heb 2:3-4 " How shall we escape if we nglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them who heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will"
Pauls told the Romans, For I will dare to speak of any those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentile obedient , by word or deed, through mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God"
What would we know about the salvation of God in Jesus Christ had it not been known through Paul? What about redeemption, justification, the struggle between the old man new man, the coming of Christ, unity of the body of Christ, the eternal purpose of God. Paul the apostle was the primary expositor of Christ's death, burial, resurrection and enthronment. In the lives of the Apostles particularly Paul we are exposed to the real nature of conversion and divine direction.
The point is not the miracles of God associated with salvation among men but, rather the signs of an Apostle.
Paul was apprehended on the Damascus road by Jesus to be His apostle and this appointment was confirmed in the crucible of sufferings...his apostleship was not accompanied by signs of grandeur. wealth or worldy fame. For many suppose today that to be in the "will of the Lord" is affirmed with the good and easy "blessed life".
In this the scriptures are clear that these men who Jesus chose to be His apostles brought to us the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ having seen Him full of grace and truth.
John said, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard and which we seen with our own eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life and then in verse three that which we have seen and heard declare we unto to you that ye may also have fellowship with us....
Who would say we need more apostles of Jesus.