“Come Up ” (also a free .pdf format download)
© B. Keith Chadwell, January, 2010
Philippians 3:13-14 (ASV)
“Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
Ultimate spiritual fulfillment for Christians is; “appropriating our full inheritance”. The hope of our inheritance or calling in Christ is; Christ fully manifest in us. The appropriation of this hope of our calling is not nearly so associated to our “how to” knowledge as it is to our “deciding to”.
Just because, to date, we have not seen the full manifestation of our appointed destiny as Christians, does not mean God has not provided the way and the means to that end or goal. Both have been available for over two thousand years now. Like for the Children of Israel in the wilderness, the promise has been true and has been before us all the way. However, the journey has been unnecessarily long. Which, of course, is no surprise to God.
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Looking again, in Exodus chapter 19; at the profound and mind blowing offer God made to ALL of the children of Israel, back then, to sanctify themselves and be ready to come up to meet Him by the “3d day, in the morning”.
Then, following, in Exodus chapter 20; is their recorded response, which was; a list of their fears and their subsequent refusal to come up to the mountain and hear God's voice as He would have spoke to Moses. Rather, they were fearful and stood on the lower part of the mountain and said to Moses; “you speak to us and we will listen, but let not God speak with us, lest we die”. ”
The people stood afar off...” ”...and Moses drew near”. To see this today is sad and yet, we must remember that from the beginning, all true Christians have had this choice, as it were, set before us, also.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we, like those Children of Israel of old, are come once again, as it were, to this same mount and we are reminded of their refusal as a warning to us; “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.” We have the same offer as it were, to “come up”. Only now it is only through Christ Jesus that we can enter into His rest and experience face to face, heart to heart intimacy with God, in the Spirit, by the Spirit.
Upon the death of Jesus on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in two. Thus signifying a way was made into the Holy of Holies and intimacy with God the Father.
Moses was changed through his face to face intimacy with God. Although, at first it was not known to him, the people could see the glory of God on his face. Further, we are told, he needed to wear a veil to shield the people from the Glory of God that was upon his face.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face (no veil) beholding as in a glass, (mirror) the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
His hand is stretched out still...... His offer is;..... ongoing, sustained, face to face, heart to heart intimacy with Jesus and with Father God. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Joh 14:20
His offer is:......”To enter into His rest”; No more striving to be righteous; That would be our choice to humble ourselves before Him and admit we can't grit our teeth and attain to manifest righteousness in our own strength. Then choosing and allowing Him to do His work in us.
His offer is;....”To enter into His rest”; No more speaking our own words; That would be; Speaking to Him, face to face, heart to heart in the Spirit, by the Spirit. See references below: Isaiah 28: and 58; Ps 81: Zeph 3; 1Corinthians 14; Romans 8: Eph 6: Jude and etc.
Then, we will be able to call the sabbath a delight and the holy of Jehovah, honorable and honor it. Having chosen to enter into His rest, we can, in the same way, choose to continue to remain in His presence. Then, God the Father, through Jesus Christ and His work, in us, by the Holy Spirit, will be able to complete or finish the work that He started in us, when we first believed. Which is; “Christ in us”....
When we first believed, by faith, we received the down payment of our inheritance, (the earnest of our inheritance). Our hope is in Him, for Him to work in us, to bring us, as we would choose to allow Him, to our full inheritance, “even unto the stature and the measure of Christ”. Christ in us, the hope of glory. Manifest Sons of God.
Heb 4:9-10 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
We can do nothing without Him!
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Isa 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
Isa 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isa 28:11-13 (NIV) Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, "This is the resting place, let the weary rest"; and, "This is the place of repose"- but they would not listen. So then, the word of the LORD to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured.
Psa 81:8 -14 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt
hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.
Zep 3:9 -13 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.
In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast
transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them
that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy
mountain.
I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in
the name of the LORD.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful
tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make
them afraid.
Rom 8:18-19 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:25-29 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Eph 5:25b.-27.....even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
hat 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.
Eph 6:17-18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
2Co 3:17 -18 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
1Co 13:10-11 (ASV) but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.
1Jn 3:2 -3 (ASV) Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
Jud 1:17 -25 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
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