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| JAMES LESSON #8 This particular lesson might �appear� a little longer than the rest � but that�s because when I get to a section in Hebrews I am actually going to type out the entire chapter and insert things � and when I insert the things I�m going to insert, I want you to MARK YOUR BIBLE with those insertions ok? Those of you who have been in class with me will have already marked your Bible text, but with this, you�ll be able to check your markings and make sure you got them all ok? As a reminder from the last lesson, learn to fight the war from the heavenly perspective- not the earthly one. Big question with that statement is : HOW? We�re going to �start� to look at the �HOW� � and then go deeper into the question later. Turn to Daniel 10:12-13 Daniel is really hurting- really struggling- really unsure of many things he is experiencing, and he�s on his face day in and day out, seeking God for guidance and understanding. He�s so earnest about hearing from God that he�s fasted and prayed for 21 days � (THAT, is a long time ) The angel says �I have come in response to your words.� I can just hear Daniel�s insides screaming � �Yeah, but that was TWENTY ONE DAYS ago!!! Where have you been???� Good question: Where HAD the angel been? Look at verse 13. He had been fighting the �prince of the kingdom of Persia� �not the earthly king, but the angelic being behind the king of Persia. �Michael� is also mentioned. Michael is the archangel that watches over Israel. Basically what this angel is saying is that he was held up in a battle with the angelic being that was running Persia � and would have STILL been held up, if Michael the archangel hadn�t showed up to bail him out of trouble. Did Daniel know this when he was praying? No. No. No. Did he just throw up his hands and say, �Why pray anyway? God doesn�t answer. God doesn�t listen. God doesn�t care. What�s the point in praying if God never answers?� No. He ENDURED. We�re going to look at the word �endure� extensively, but for now, the definition of �endure� is: to bear, hold up under, stand, hold out- Daniel �endured� in prayer, and as a result SAW the outcome of his prayers. Notice that I said he saw the OUTCOME of his prayers: I did NOT say, he got answers he was hoping for. It�s really important to note (without going into extensive study of the book of Daniel right now) that usually when Daniel prayed and endured in prayer he sought God for �understanding� � in hopes that what he �thought� he�d seen or had been given in visions was not what he �thought� he�d seen or had been given in visions. His heart was constantly hoping for a �different answer� � he labored in prayer- endured in prayer- fasted and grew weak in prayer � and was willing in the prayer journey to LET GOD BE JUST THAT � God. THAT, is where most of us hit a wall at a hundred miles and hour. Yes we can grow earnest in prayer � fast- endure �stand firm : but what happens when God says �no.� Are our hearts so intimately connected to His that we are willing to let Him say �no� because we trust the love He has for us? BIG BIG BIG check point for each of us-especially when He doesn�t explain WHY. When you look at Daniel you might say, �Yeah, well, Daniel had an angel help him � one that talked out loud � one that he could see.� Question: do we? When we try to balance the scales between our experience and Daniel�s are they equal? No No No - who has the lesser deal? Daniel or Me? Let�s look at it. Turn to Hebrews 1: and THIS is where you start marking your Bible. Hebrews Chapter 1 : yes�the WHOLE chapter: so get your pen ready. (Anything I insert that is NOT in your Bible text, insert it-) God, (the father) after He (God the father) spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, In these last days has spoken to us IN (not �by�, �in� � spoke to us in who He was, what He did, what He said) His Son (Jesus,) whom He (God the Father) appointed heir of all things, through whom (Jesus) also He (God the Father) made the world. (so who created the earth? Jesus did.) And He (Jesus) is the radiance of His(God the Father�s) glory: (Jesus gives a correct opinion of who God the Father is) and the exact representation (from the Greek word: �charakter� = an impress that is made with a dye or a seal �like that which a king would use to make his mark on a letter with his ring � and exact transfer image) of His (God the Father�s) nature, and upholds all things by the word of His (God the Father�s) power. When He (Jesus) had made purification of sins, He (Jesus) sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high; (God the Father) (We already covered this in Ephesians 1-2) Having become as much BETTER THAN the angels, as He (Jesus) has inherited a more excellent name than they. (One of Deity) For to which of the angels did He (God the Father) ever say, �Thou art My Son, Today I (God the Father) have begotten Thee?� And again, �I (God the Father) will be a Father to Him (Jesus) and He (Jesus) will be a Son to Me?� (God the Father) And when HE (God the Father) again brings the first-born(Jesus) into the world, He (God the Father) says, And let all the angels of God(the Father) worship Him (Jesus) And of the angels He(God the Father) says, Who makes His(God the Father�s) angels winds, And His (God the Father�s) ministers a flame of fire. But of the Son(Jesus) He (God the Father) says, Thy (Jesus) throne O GOD (here God the Father calls Jesus, God) is forever and ever And the righteous scepter is the scepter (sign of authority) of His (Jesus) kingdom. Thou (Jesus) has loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God (the Father), Thy God (Jesus� God) hath anointed Thee (Jesus) With the oil of gladness: (Hebrews 12:2-�fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM: �the oil of gladness� � what was the �joy set before Him?� ME. When He looks at ME He sees what He has bought for me: 1. Redemption 2. Adoption into the family of God 3. Adoption as a SON of God 4. A position ABOVE the angels 5. A position �with� Him, ABOVE the enemy � and is FULL OF JOY ) And Thou, Lord (Jesus) in the beginning did what? Didst lay the foundation of the earth: (The Father calls the Son the Creator) And the heavens are the works of Thy (Jesus) hands; They (heavens and earth) will perish, but Thou (Jesus) remainest; And they all will become old as a garment, And as a mantle Thou (Jesus) will roll them up; And as a garment they will also be CHANGED. (New heaven and New earth as spoken of in Revelation) But Thou (Jesus) art the same, And Thy (Jesus) years will not come to an end.� (The beginning of the story in Genesis 3:15 � begins with the eternity of the past) (We�ll look at Genesis 3:15 in great detail later..not now) But to which of the angels has He (God the Father) ever said, Sit at My (God the Father�s) right hand Until I (God the Father) make Thine (Jesus�) enemies A footstool for Thy (Jesus) feet? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of who? Those who will inherit salvation? Now flip over to Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest (Jesus) who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (taking God at His Word- trusting in His love for us) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One (Jesus) who has been tempted in ALL THINGS as WE are, yet without sin. So what privilege do we have? Let us therefore draw near with CONFIDENCE (trusting in the love of His heart and that He�ll do what He says He�ll do) �to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace (for what?) to help in time of need. (not ditch us, which is what everything around us will work hard to convince us to believe) Yes- Daniel had angels � but the scales are definitely not balanced. We have angels AND Jesus. Question is: What do you do with Him? Flip back to Job 3:1 Job doesn�t curse God-He curses the day of his birth. He wants to die- but doesn�t take his life. As if he�s not tormented enough his �friends� (notice that it�s coming from the ones closest to his heart) begin to �counsel� him. Some counsel: Job, you�re in trouble here buddy because you�re in sin. (Notice that the counsel they are giving Job is THEIR response to what they are SEEING) --verse 8, �According to WHAT I HAVE SEEN� � this is not from the Word of God. READ on down through verse 21: Job�s response? He stands AGAINST their counsel. NONE of what is being said to him is from the Word of God. Verse 17 is absolutely contrary to the Word of God. Job isn�t getting ANY support from his friends BUT he KNOWS the Word of God and because He KNOWS the Word of God He knows the TRUTH � and could RECOGNIZE THE LIE and stand his ground. �Conditioned thinking?� Look at this picture: Trouble starts happening out of the blue. His wife (closest to his heart) tells him to turn away from God. His closest friend accuses him falsely � then a voice out of nowhere tells him that man is not capable of being �just� (what a loser you are Job!) � that God places no trust in men � that God even finds wrong in His angels � thought after thought after thought �conditioning Job� to do what? Believe that God is nothing and that he is even less � that he�ll never �measure up� �that he�s �blown it so bad that God would never want anything to do with him..� and on and on and on. Job 12:9-10 Job KNEW that God was in on everything that was happening to him and he was willing to trust him with his life because he believed everything would work out ok???? No. There's no indication of that at all. Job KNEW GOD. In KNOWING GOD, Job trusted His heart. In trusting His heart, he was WILLING to allow God to use His hands in his life: A frighteningly wonderful walk with God�s sovereignty. Read Job 13:4, 12 and 15 Job let�s them have it and clings to God with everything that he is. Job is willing to go �WIDE OPEN� with God with one exception: Read Job 13:20-21 DON�T ABANDON ME : you can do whatever you want: JUST DON�T LEAVE ME ALONE- READ Job 19:25-27 I don�t care what you guys do or don�t do: say or don�t say: I KNOW MY GOD- END OF DISCUSSION. READ Job 23:10 Job knew he was on a journey with God: He didn�t understand what was happening: He just knew he was �WITH� God- and that God was �FOR� Him not against him � and he was willing to trust His heart. How did he end up? Hearing God declare who He was: Being greatly humbled in God�s declaration of Himself. NOW- FINALLY: for a minute: Go to James 5:11: Behold, we count those BLESSED who have endured. (WHY?) You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord�s dealings � what outcomes? More kids? More livestock? More wives? More land? Happily ever after? Is that why we count those �BLESSED?� who have endured? Because they get a bunch of great stuff if they hang on long enough. Nope� Go back to Job 42:4-5 I will ask Thee and do Thou instruct me: I have heard of Thee by the what? Hearing of the ear: Circle the next two words: BUT NOW: my eye sees Thee : I�ve known in my head for a long time: I had it down: I memorized it: Followed all the rules: BUT NOW: THROUGH MY SUFFERING It�s alive in my heart�Now I really know: Now I really see: Now I really understand You: And because of that what? Verse 6: I REPENT: I�m sorry for confronting you: I lost sight of your heart for awhile: My eyes followed distractions and I lost sight of your heart: I began to believe what I SAW and what I HEARD: those things that accused You: I�m sorry: Job�s confrontation of God is evidence that he struggled with doubt: We count those �BLESSED� who have endured � WHY? Because they no longer know God with their HEADS- They know Him with their HEARTS- through the heat of the fire � That God�s love is sure His compassion unmoving His mercy a constant open door of invitation And His faithfulness � ever present, even when we are faithless� REMEMBER: It�s not how you start the race that counts: It�s how you finish it. -----you�re adopted -----you�re an equal heir -----you�re seated above your enemies -----GOD has designed the conflict -----GOD has designed the way out -----you have angels: and Jesus. �..Blessed are those who trust His heart- for they have found it faithful. � copyright 2001 Jim and Robin Hibschman |
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