GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 412 March 14, 2012
REIGNING WITH THE LORD
"He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations,
The COVENANT which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac.
Then He confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel as an everlasting Covenant, Psalms 105:8-1.
It's a done deal!!! God promised Abraham saying, "To your descendants I will give this land" (Gen. 12:7). Then, the LORD GOD repeated His plan telling Jacob, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants (Gen. 28:13). What a revelation! Throughout the Bible, we see that the promise remains the same ONE that God gave to Abraham. Mankind is going to inherit the land. Once we understand that, we might fail, as man; but, we know that God never fails. And, because God never fails, the same promise made to Israel, stands for us today. From study of the Bible, we learned that God has always had a man to secure the plan; even before the foundations of the world. But, sin defeats man's efforts and it would be God's only Son that would accomplish what God promised to Abraham and his Seed.
Of course, the Old Covenant that David served within was a TYPE of the real. But, don't we love the meaning of TYPES ! David pictures the life and Person of Jesus, the Christ, beautifully. However, David did not live forever. Like all men, David died. Not so with Jesus. He lives eternally. Thus, we are assured of the kingdom when Jesus returns to earth at His Second Coming. Matthew 6:9 is a prayer that every Bible student knows. We need to understand it's meaning, however. The Second Coming is true, just as Jesus taught it. Learn more by reading all of Matthew. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven."
Last week we talked about reigning through a king. We showed how David was chosen to lead Israel. But, David served as a type, remember. He taught about the Son of God, Jesus. As a TYPE, David revealed what God expected man to do in order to live victoriously. There are many types in the Bible; David being only one. And, since David was a mere man, after 80 years, the kingdom was divided and eventually fell to gentiles. Yet, in the TYPE, we can see the true king, Jesus; a man after God's own heart. "Yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt my will" (Mt. 26:39). Jesus surrendered in the garden. Thus, the New Covenant teaches us that by faith in the name of Jesus Christ, we are allowed to understand about the teachings of Jesus, the Christ (See 2nd Timothy 3:16 and apply 2nd Timothy 2:15). We don't know it all; but, enough to inherit the kingdom.
Our first lesson is on humbleness; according to Jesus, "Blessed are the gentle (MEEK), for they shall inherit the earth," Matthew 5:5. Once again, I ask: 'YOU KNOW WHAT?" Jesus came to complete what David pictured; as well as teaching the meaning of what David did. All this truth is in the New Covenant. Only through Jesus can we know about God's salvation and the coming kingdom on earth. Further, only through Jesus can we be acceptable to serve within the promise made to Abraham. God surely blesses those who study the Kingdom; for, IT IS COMING.
Thus, after we know that God had a king to lead His people in the Old, we also need to understand what occurred within the Old Covenant. As we have stated, don't be surprise to find out that God's plan has been the same in both Covenants. Man was meant to dwell on the earth. Adam sinned but, the Second Adam redeemed sinners. The Bible teaches that through the holy name of Jesus the Father forgives sinners because of the blood of the New Covenant that was shed at Calvary by His Son, Jesus. "WHAT CAN TAKE
AWAY MY SIN?" Nothing but the blood of Jesus. My favorite song.
So, we come to the thought for this issue; that of REIGNING WITH THE LORD. First, reigning can be done today, but it has to be only through God's chosen king, Jesus. Since the advent of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant, we know what is the correct and acceptable manner of service. It is only through Christ and the church that He built (See Mt. 16:18). We learn the truth comes when we realize that man is never good enough to ever serve God. Man has to come by the grace of God, alone. Only by God's love and mercy can we approach God to serve Him. But, it doesn't stop there; for, in the New Covenant, God considers us to be kings, TODAY. When the Kingdom comes AT Jesus' return, the authority of the Kingdom will be given to His people that served by faith, obeying Jesus and His teachings. Here, we note that Scripture says, "Unto Him be glory through the church..." Ephesians 3:21. See also: Ephesians 1:22; 3:10 and 5:29.
David and Solomon served forty years apiece; which, is the Biblical number for temptation. But, Israel failed. You'll see the nation wandered forty years in the wilderness, as well. Yet, after these two kings, the lineage was divided. That is, Israel had a northern and a southern kingdom until it ceased, altogether. The account of a divided kingdom shows just how insufficient man is at ruling his life. After Solomon, the kingly office changed a lot. But, thank God, He has always had a king in the future for His people. It is, of course, Jesus, the Christ (Messiah). Today, Jesus provides us a reign that is spiritual. God's kingdom is no longer the physical reign but, we see that true worship lies in the spiritual; something that those in the Old Covenant never enjoyed. Not even David.