Unity Through Government

I was reflecting this morning upon how the Lord always brings deliverance through His selected steward who becomes the chief elder of His spiritual government and how the absence of His rule through His government, truth, and Spirit always returns people back to the bondage of darkness. The example that came to mind was in the deliverance of the children of Israel under Joseph's rule.

The children of Israel had acted independently from His government by discarding the words of their father Israel and following after their own hearts instead. This unsanctified independence brought about blindness through working with their aspiration instead of faith and brought about division within the body.

God did not sanctify this but He did authorize this. God was raising up a steward for their deliverance beginning with his separation for cleansing.

It was through this selected individual that they were brought in from the wilderness to experience a rest under His government while growing strong in His care. After the passing of Jacob, they fell from favor and became enslaved by the philosophies and people of the land in Egypt. While they were once held in honor, they were now in bondage and in need of deliverance. They could remember and read about what it was once like, but their new experience was severed from that of there forefathers and this brought them much confusion.

We see this same thing taking place today among the sand people. They feel they should show forth to the world the image of a glorious church but find no power within themselves to fulfill such a vision. Christ spoke of returning for:

Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

While many seek to take this upon themselves, Apostle Paul had already spoken of the design of Christ through which this would be fulfilled:

Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

These are those things which he also referred to:

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Apostle Eric’s Study Bible Notes from 9/9/2007:

All the tools of the Lord follow one design who is Jesus Christ, the way and original pattern (true). All the tools of His grace free us of falsehoods (honest). All the tools of the Spirit free us of condemnation (just). All the tools of His glorious kingdom are free of deceit (pure). All the tools which He blesses His saints and beautify us by His virtues of Light (lovely). And all tools which proceed from His glorious throne beget faith in the heart (good report). His peace is in this pattern.

The knowledge of these things comes by government through which we receive the foundation of truth in our hearts that we may serve the Lord in holiness, righteousness, and perfection apart from the defilement of sin. In the absence of government, the people become distracted and overcome by the cares of this world which are endless and cannot be resolved. Those who take it upon themselves to resolve the issues of their day find themselves fighting against God and find that His judgments are working against their efforts in order to frustrate their aspirations.

This focus upon issues brings about confusion about God and about Christ. Instead of finding strength and unity through submission to the principle of God (Christ), they find strength in their own principle and set divisions amongst themselves. Every christian believes they are called to fight this or that cause, but in fact, they were all called to one priesthood under Christ. This one pattern and one design (truth) escapes them in their efforts to reverse God's judgments upon the land.

It's interesting that in providing for the deliverance of the children of Israel out of darkness and bondage in Egypt, that He sent one with the Keys of David who brought forth the knowledge of new restrictions God has set for the expression of their faith. While Abraham, Isaac, and Israel were all free to worship God on every high hill, they were taught of Moses that this was no longer acceptable before God. God was not condemning their fathers, but was unfolding Christ to them. They would be required to obey His voice as did their fathers and cooperate with His Spirit as did their fathers.

God did not simply allow them to return to their traditions but instead established a new tradition of faith for them under the First Covenant through Moses (His selected knowledge steward for their deliverance after the death of Joseph). So also with the church today as we see many wanting to intermingle their favorite traditions with the New Covenant of Christ. They want to justify these traditions by going back to their fathers and trying to link these things to the first apostles but these things were never taught by them.

They taught the same gospel which is still being taught today by covenant apostles under the stewardship of God's selected knowledge steward. It is by this yoke of knowledge that we are all experiencing the sanctified independence as we grow up into the fullness and stature of Christ through daily overcoming our cycles of growth, through daily strengthening ourselves in the knowledge of His Word (reflecting, rehearsing, and reciprocating -- 3r's), through communicating the grace which we are receiving one to another for the edification of all. This is Christ in whom there can be found no division. Not by precept but by the priesthood. Not by a zeal to project an image of unity but by the reality of His equity formed within us all by the throne of His peace.

Praise God for the preparation of our deliverance through which we may all enter in through the door of Christ by accepting His invitation and abiding within His house to bring forth and increase of His kingdom through the birthing of His fruit within our souls! This remains a mystery to those who continue trusting only in themselves but those who put their trust in Christ daily through the use of all these things (Phil 4:8) have a daily experience of His fullness which is not of this world.

Christ is not a mystery to those who are shown His face.

1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

"For in His fullness we grow confident in His mercy and through the cleansing of our consciences we grow strong in His grace."

Walking with God,

--John
Second 8th Week University
College of Iowa, USA