Christian's Handbook 3

Handbook 3 shares a Christian's personal experiences while being led out of the "organized visible church" by the Holy Spirit.

Scriptural Responses, a Commission

Handbook 3: Article 4 - My Personal Journey Begins

Revelation is one thing, what men "do" about it is another.

I thought of others in the Scriptures who received revelations from God -- some personal, some to be shared with a few people, some with world-wide, heaven-filled, eternal prophecies and warnings -- men and women who with willing hearts served the purposes of God in their generations. They "did" the revelations God gave them.

"Men become aware of the approach of God and they hear for themselves His word and believe. Then those who hear and believe carry out, in the place and circumstances in which they find themselves, their understanding of what this word requires."

Harpers Bible Dictionary

I thought of Paul: By Revelation there was made known to Paul the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to men. Think of his response.

I remembered Noah:

The Situation:

"Now it came about when men began to multiply on the face of the land... the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with (or rule in, abide in) man forever, in his going astray he is flesh...' Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in (Lit. to) His heart... And the Lord said, 'I will blot out man whom I have created... for I am sorry that I have made him.' But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

Genesis 6:3-8

His Response:

"By faith Noah being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of righteousness which is according to faith."

Hebrews 11:7

And Abraham:

The Situation:

"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to a land which I will show you.'"

His Response:

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Joseph, fellow-heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God."

Hebrews 11:8

Mary:

The Situation:

"Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph. Gabriel's word to her: 'You will conceive in your womb, and bear a Son and you shall name Him, Jesus.'"

Her Response:

And Mary said, "Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word."

Luke 1:38

Joseph:

The Situation:

"Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. But an angel appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.'"

His Response:

"And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife."

Matthew 1:24

Jesus:

The Situation:

"Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. He said to His disciples, 'My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.' And He went a little beyond them and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.' ...He prayed a second time... 'My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Thy will be done.' He prayed a third time, the same thing..."

His Response:

"He came to His disciples and said to them... 'Arise, let us be going. Behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand.'"

Matthew 26:46

Ananias:

The Situation:

"Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Behold, here I am, Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so he might regain his sight.' But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to the holy ones at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name.' But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine...'"

His Response:

"And Ananias departed and entered the house, and laid his hands on him..."

Acts 9:10-17

Isaiah:

The Situation:

"Isaiah saw the Lord, sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Isaiah cried, 'Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips... for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.' Then one of the seraphim touched Isaiah's mouth with a burning coal saying, 'Your iniquity is taken away and your sin is atoned for.'"

"Then Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'"

Isaiah 6

Isaiah's revelation contained a commission:

"Revelation presupposes on our part a capacity to respond. To be completed, revelation must break out of the limitations of language -- written words on a page -- it must become a living activity."

Harpers Bible Dictionary

His Response: "Here I am. Send me."

The Revelation in HB 2 also contains a commission (Handbook 2, Article 39):

"Now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage... our God has not forsaken us, but has extended loving-kindness to us... to give us a reviving to raise up the house of the Lord, to restore its ruins..."

Ezra 9:10

"Arise! For this matter is your responsibility."

Ezra 10:4

And I remembered the word given me at the beginning of this personal journey when I asked God: "How do I do the Revelation?"

"Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words from the mouth of the prophets, those who spoke in the days that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, to the end that the temple might be built."

Zechariah 8:9

The house of the Lord to be raised up, its ruins restored?

A foundation to be laid, a temple to be built?

My responsibility?

I don't know how to respond or what to do -- so I echoed the words of Ezra:

"And now, O Lord, what do I say after this?" (Handbook 2, Article 39)


« LastNext »

  1. A Review: The Revelation, HB2
  2. The Revelation and Beyond, a Personal Journey
  3. My Personal Journey Begins
  4. Scriptural Responses, a Commission
  5. A History of Useless Words
  6. Useless Words in My Generation, My Later Years in the O.V. Church
  7. Taking Responsibility for My Early Years, Presenting Myself for His Correction
  8. Instructions for My Personal Correction, a Check List!
  9. Quoting It Doesn't Make It So!

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