Angelic Conflict part 85: Angelology 102; Basic facts – 2Ti 2:1-26; Mat 10:33; Isa 29:16; Psa 90:12.
Title: Angelic Conflict part 85: Angelology 102; Basic facts – 2Ti 2:1-26; Mat 10:33; Isa 29:16; Psa 90:12.
Memorial Dayis a United States federal holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.
Over 600,000 soldiers died in four years of fighting in the Civil War. Even in a free and prosperous nation as the US was in the first half of the 19th century conflict still arose. I won’t go into the causes for the start of our Civil War since that is still hotly debated, but I will stress that conflict can occur anywhere and in conflict great evils are done and great sacrifices are made; some are very honorable and some very dishonorable. Each individual heart decides this for themselves and none can make the excuse before God that they acted in evil because they were caught up in the movement. Each individual heart decides for himself.
In honor of the many who have laid such a costly sacrifice on the altar of freedom and also in honor of a recently fallen soldier for God who lived very near this place and who was a wonderful man of God, Ed Rank, and in honor of his surviving wife Lynda, a beautiful woman of God, I read the Gettysburg Address.
Gettysburg Address; Nov 19, 1863.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom— and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
My prayers and gratitude go out to any American who has lost loved ones in military service.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."
2Ti 2:20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
2Ti 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
It really and simply boils down to your system of priorities. In your own conscience what is most important and what do you personally consider to be good or bad.
Mat 10:33
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Mar 8:35
"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it.
Concerning your system of priorities; answer that question for yourself. Don’t answer what you know God to consider good or bad or any other person, parents, mentors, pastors, heroes, etc., but what do you consider good and bad for ultimately that is what directs your behavior.
And if you find that they are messed up or out of order, don’t think that you can set them straight, because you can’t. I sometimes wish that were true, but if it were then we would take credit for the changes in our lives. Only God’s word can make transformations. You can only be transformed by the renewing of your mind and the only knowledge that can renew is the word of God that is alive and powerful. Keep learning and learning and wait for the transformation. Be patient and don’t condemn yourself.
Rom 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind [implying separation from the world], that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [God’s personality].
2Ti 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
“sanctified” = separated from worldly doctrines, religion, apathy, argumentation, i.e. all opposition to God – uncontaminated by vessels of dishonor.
Flee, follow, fight:
1Ti 6:11-12
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith
That’s why Paul doesn’t use his name, but a title, “man of God.” The man of God belongs to God, is the temple of God, is the bride of Christ, and in the body of Christ and so he has no business dwelling in God’s opposition.
And Paul says to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. He didn’t say to become these things over night, but to pursue them. The Greek word is dioko and it means to pursue zealously (present active imperative).
The same word is used by Paul in Phi 3:14:
Phi 3:12-13
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Phi 3:14
I press on [dioko = pursue] toward the goal for the prize of the upward call [election] of God in Christ Jesus.
The vessel of honor is prepared or made ready:
2Ti 2:21 Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
As the soldier guards his weapons, the athlete his body, the farmer his seed and tools and are then ready when called, so it is with the believer in Christ. Every day we are preparing ourselves for the Master’s call to arms, the starting gun, or the planting season or we are getting farther away from it.
Your days are numbered by God and none of them have been decreed by Him that are not preparing you for sharing in His glory.
Psa 90:12
So teach us to number our days,
That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.
The context of this statement is the fleeting life of man who may last 70 years or maybe 80, says Moses. We are like grass, here today, withered and gone at the end of the season. Every day therefore can be one of preparation for God’s bugle call or moving farther away from it.
Eph 2:10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
God prepares the works and we choose to have Him prepare us through the word of God or we choose some other master.
2Ti 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
2Ti 2:23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
2Ti 2:24 And the Lord's bond-servant [slave] must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
2Ti 2:25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
2Ti 2:26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Avoid the arguments but do not ignore the people, but rather correct with gentleness and leave the results to God the HS.
Continuing in the general facts about angels we continue with the cherubim.
God is said to dwell between the golden cherubim on the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.
1Sa 4:4 So the people sent to Shiloh, and from there they carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts who sits above the cherubim [as He did in Ezekiel’s vision]; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
2Sa 6:2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim.
2Ki 19:15-16
And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, who art enthroned above the cherubim, Thou art the God, Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. Thou hast made heaven and earth.
Psa 80:1
Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel,
Thou who dost lead Joseph like a flock;
Thou who art enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth!
Psa 99:1
The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
Isa 37:16
"O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who art enthroned above the cherubim, Thou art the God, Thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. Thou hast made heaven and earth.
God wanted to let Israel know that He was with them and so He had a man made throne in the Tabernacle where the Shekinah glory dwelled.
God is said to speak from between the cherubim.
Num 7:89
Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.
God only speaks to man based on the blood of Christ as represented by the mercy seat. Heb 4:16
Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
Mercy is equivalent to pity or compassion.