Shameless Faith

And he [Jesus] said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. (Luke 11:5-8)

 

There is a word used in the scripture above (in the King James version) that I think is appropriate no matter what the version of scripture is; it's a word that gives great understanding to this scripture passage and to what it is Jesus would have us know about this particular passage. 

 

The word is "importunity." Here is how its root word "importune" is  defined:

 

Importune:  to ask (someone) pressingly and persistently for or to do something; to beset with insistent or repeated requests; entreat pressingly; to make repeated forceful requests for something, usually in a way that is annoying; to push relentlessly towards one's purpose or course of action; being unshakeable from one's goal; shameless in the pursuit of what one seeks or desires to have.

 

Jesus spoke this parable immediately following His instructions on how to pray to the Father (aka The Lord's Prayer).  It is clear that He was not finished instructing about prayer for this parable illustrates not the words with which we are to pray, but the attitude with which we are to pray.

 

If I pray with "importunity," then I will be persistent in requesting things of the Father. I will be dogged and clamorous and annoying and troublesome.  I will hold tenaciously to my purpose. I will not lose sight of my purpose, no matter how long it takes to get it.  I will not cease until I have what I have asked for, and the longer it takes to get it, the more irritatingly persistent I will be.   I will not slack off; rather, I will become more diligent in my purpose, as was the neighbor who went knocking on his friend's door in the middle of the night, shameless in his persistence, with no intention of stopping until the neighbor finally answered with what I can only imagine was intense irritation.  Still, the man got his three loaves of bread. And if I pray with such importunity, I also will get what I ask; assuming, of course, that I am not asking for anything that is contrary to the Word of God.

 

Sometimes, we don't get what we ask for because we give up so quickly; which tells us it was not all that important to us in the first place. What is important to us will carry us past political correctness to utter shamelessness because how we appear to others is of no significance compared to that which we seek.

 

I can't help but recall that scripture that says:

 
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." (Matthew 11:12)

 These are Christians who take the kingdom of heaven by force; these are Christians who are violent.  No, not violent in the sense that radical extremists are, but violent in our prayers that assault heaven unceasingly and with such great fervency that the heavens must shake from the onslaught. That's the kind of prayer attitude Jesus is trying to tell us we need to have.

 

What is the opposite of "importune"?

 

Perhaps some antonyms would be: nonchalant, quiet, weak, irresolute, slack, timid, unassertive, spineless.

 

Perhaps a good opposite for "importune" would be "tepid" or "lukewarm."  Hmm...lukewarm...where have I heard that word used before?

 

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:16)

These were the words of Jesus spoken to the church at Laodicea; the church which many bible scholars compare to the current-day church (church meaning those who claim to follow Jesus Christ).  Jesus alone would have every right to speak these words to any church who would not follow Him in passion and fervor and persistence; for Jesus was relentless in the pursuit of His course of action (the cross), unshakeable in His tenacity and determination, letting nothing prevent Him from reaching His goal, no matter how terrible for Himself.  If we are indeed followers of Christ, we will be as determined and persistent and tenacious and relentless as He was, in all that we do, but most especially in prayer.

 

Immediately after the parable of the importunate neighbor, Jesus goes on to say this, which is still very much related to the subject of prayer:

 

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

 

In the first parable we understand that the "importunity" was directly related to the man's knocking on his friend's door with such persistence that the annoyed neighbor, unable to sleep with the racket, got out of his comfortable bed and gave the man what he asked for. Here is further information I found about "knocking":

 

"Asking—without seeking and knocking—flows from the same lazy river as faith without works." (Jennifer LeClaire, Charisma Magazine article: http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-plumb-line/17225-ask-seek-knock-god-s-formula-for-persistent-faith)

Jennifer LeClaire relates "seeking" to getting up and doing something.  For example, if you are "asking" God for a job, you must also be "seeking" a job.  To sit on your sofa watching television all day while "asking" is, as Jennifer states, "lazy."   God will give the matter as much attention as you give the matter: none at all.  In another example, if you are "asking" for reconciliation, you must be actively pursuing ("seeking") reconciliation.  These are the works that prayers of "shameless faith" produce.

Then..."Once you see God's promise in clear view, knock and keep on knocking until the promised door is open...God opens doors that no one can shut (see Rev. 3:8), but often, you have to knock" (Jennifer LeClaire).

So, in order to pray prayers that are answered by God, we must pray for things that do not contradict His Word, and we must pray with an attitude that also does not contradict His Word; in other words, we must pray with importune (shameless, persistent, relentless) faith.  Then, once we are praying according to His will for the things we desire and with the right attitude, we will receive from Him that which we have requested.

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)

A Strange Thing

I read a lot.

I read Christian teaching books.  I read autobiographical books by other Christians.  I read a lot of biographies about martyrs and missionaries and men and women of God. I listen to a lot of teachings on video from biblical scholars that I trust, knowing that their gospel is the same gospel that Jesus taught His disciples (gospel meaning "good news").  I study the bible a great deal.

But when it is all said and done, no matter how much I study, or listen, or read, I cannot escape the fact that FAITH is just a strange thing that cannot be explained to others because it cannot even be understood by us.  It appears to have no logic, when in fact it is the most logical thing there is...at least to God.  True faith isn't something we can muster up on our own.  It comes only from God to us.  And what comes from God often appears as strange to mere mortal men who do not have the scope of vision that our Creator God has; infinite scope of vision is required to make "logical sense" of true faith.

What I have found, however, is that even though it cannot be explained, it can in fact be seen; or better put, it can be demonstrated by the one with faith and witnessed by others who might not yet have faith.  Thus, having a testimony that shows great faith becomes the best explanation of all, really.

It is a strange thing, for example, that in the very early 20th century, a man from South Wales by the name of Rees Howells and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to leave their only infant son behind with close family members, when the Lord called them to take up the work of missionaries to Africa. They could have rationalized that the Lord intended them to do this work once the child was grown, not when, being an infant, Africa could be life-threatening to the child.

But, instead, by faith they chose to live according to the word of God that said "Anyone who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Not wanting to harm the child, yet knowing they must respond obediently to the Lord, they made the decision to leave the child with Rees' uncle and aunt, who loved the child almost immediately upon meeting him. Still, the strength necessary for loving parents to part with their only son when the time came, would not have been possible had not the Lord reminded them of Calvary...of another One who gave up His own Son so that many might be saved from eternal death and have eternal life instead.

The Howells became part of the South Africa General Mission that had been founded in 1889 by the Rev. Andrew Murray; they were instrumental to the major revival that swept Africa during the early 1900's, a revival that brought thousands upon thousands to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

The Howells' son, meanwhile, had every advantage from the family members who raised him as their own, even graduating from Oxford University.  The foster parents of Samuel Rees Howells wanted him to become a doctor, but the young man received a call from God just as his own parents had done two decades earlier.  He answered God's call by entering the ministry and joining his parents in their work, even though his parents had been deliberate in their efforts to never influence or draw him to themselves, for they believed it would dishonor God to "look back" in longing to that which they willingly gave to the Lord. It was God who restored to them that which they had given up for His Name's sake.  It was God who brought Samuel back into the lives of his godly parents. The Howells gave up their life with their son, the privilege of all parents, in order to bring eternal life to countless others.

Strange also are those missionaries of the 1700's who packed their coffins with their few belongings before traveling to foreign places, knowing that the trip was one-way only...there would be no return to their homeland.  But these "one-way missionaries" were willing to answer the call of the Lord to take His good news to those who would have no other way to know Jesus, except for those who were willing to give up comfort, home, family and friends, even their lives, for the sake of others. By faith these missionaries believed that the sufferings of this life were but a moment in comparison to the eternity of joy that they, and those they took the good news of the gospel to, would experience in the presence of the very Creator whom they worshipped and served.

It is strange that in the 1500's William Tyndale was willing to risk death in order to bring the good news of the gospel to his fellow Englishmen, desiring to translate the Word of God into English from the Latin in which it had been successfully hidden for centuries from the masses. Knowing that their sins and excesses would be exposed by the Word of God once it was available for all to read and understand, the hierarchy of the powerful Roman Catholic Church imprisoned Tyndale for over a year, convicted him of heresy, executed him by strangulation, and burned his body at the stake. Even upon threat of violent death, Tyndale would no relent from serving His Creator and Lord.  By faith he knew that God Himself was not to be hidden from the world through an uncommon language. The faith demonstrated by William Tyndale birthed many missionaries who still to this day spend their lives living in the remotest foreign countries in order to learn specific new languages and translate the Word of God into those languages so that none will miss the opportunity to know Jesus Christ and have eternal life.

Strange that in the 2nd century, a Christian bishop named Polycarp refused to burn a simple pinch of incense as a sign of worship to the Roman Emperor; strange that he chose instead to burn at the stake.  He might have said to himself, "What is a little pinch of incense? Surely it makes no difference.  After all, in my heart I know who the real God is."  But he did not rationalize himself away from death back towards life.  He could not be dissuaded by mere death to compromise his witness to the world around him. And so he died a terrible death. Yet many who saw his faith received faith of their own and gained eternal life.

Strange that in the first century a young and vibrant 33 year old man, with his whole life still ahead of him, would demonstrate his tremendous faith in God, His Father, by following His Father's instructions willingly...all the way to a barbaric death on a cross.  Strange that He would give his life for millions and millions of folks, even with the risk that many of them might never thank Him for the gift of having sacrificed His own life on that cross for their eternal salvation.  Yet He went to the cross anyway, having faith that if even for only one, it was worth it all. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Listen to what the apostle Paul had to say about faith:

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Phil.2:8-9 NIV)

These words are strange to those who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Strange indeed that all material possessions and successes that the world sees as gain, we Christians consider to be loss and rubbish in comparison to having that great strange thing called "faith in Christ" by which we live lives that bring honor to God:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Here in America it is difficult to witness this strange thing called faith, although it can still be found.  Elsewhere, in countries suffering intense religious persecution it can be see more easily.

Here is a link to news stories tracked by an organization that strives to keep the world aware of those thousands that are still today being persecuted for their faith.  These Christians need our prayers. Most of these stories occurred during Christmas this year, as we here in America celebrated in the warmth of our homes surrounded by loved ones:

http://www.persecution.org/2013/12/

In one of these stories you will find a statement that reads:

"A mass exodus is taking place, on a biblical scale.  In some places there is a real danger that Christianity will become extinct."

The article goes on to state that this is due to religious persecution from those who have made Christianity "a taboo subject" due to "political correctness, or some sense of embarrassment at 'doing God'."

I cannot help but be reminded of the prophetic words of Jesus recorded more than 2,000 years ago:

 

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

                                                         (Luke 18:8)

The Message of Christmas

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Savior of mankind: Jesus the Christ, or Jesus the Messiah.  Here is how His birth came about, and here is what His birth meant to mankind:

His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name of Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins..."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25)

The name Jesus means: THE LORD SAVES. It was the Spirit of God who put the seed of a baby within the womb of a young virgin girl; the seed did not come from man. So that, born in the flesh to share in the pain and suffering of mortal man, and to save mortal man from his sins by the power of the Lord God, came a male child, born of God and of woman, worshipped in the manger by three wise men who could read the heavens and the stars, signs put in place by our Creator God Himself, and were looking there for the star (most likely a comet) that would signal the Messiah's coming:

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.... the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. (Matthew 2:1-9)

Jesus grew from the babe in the manger and became a man perfectly obedient to God in every way, even to the cross, where He became the perfect atonement for the sins of mankind; sins being anything that went against the way the Creator designed His creation (mankind) to live, beginning with loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind and strength, for we were created for a relationship with Him first and foremost.  Because man rebelled and love himself more than God, choosing his own way over God's way, man became separated from that relationship with God (sin separates us from God). But the Creator loved man enough to rectify that relationship through His own Son, Jesus, sending Jesus to save man from sin's destruction and to become the divine bridge that reconnected mankind back to God

For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosever would believe in Him, would not perish, but have life everlasting.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

Jesus humbled himself all the way to the cross for your sake and for mine. He gave His life for YOU and for ME as perfect atonement (reconciliation) for the sins that separate us from God.

Jesus is the message of Christmas: a message which was delivered first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles, so that all the people of the world could receive this gift of God that would save them from their sins.

It is not about how good you are.  It is not about how bad you are. God says that we have all sinned, for our measuring stick for righteousness is not between one another, but between us and our Creator who is without sin.  By God's measuring stick there is no one who is perfectly good, not one!  We are all equal in our imperfection which shows in our lack of neglect towards our Creator God. We are all equal in our need to be saved from sin. "A God deserving of worship cannot issue an arbitrary amnesty for humanitarians or pantheists who persist in worshiping and serving themselves more than their personal Creator Himself." -Chuck Missler

So God provided His own Son, Jesus, being both God and man, yet being perfect in his obedience to the Father, showing us that with God all things are possible, including obedience to God, so that forgiveness of sin, and the right to know our Creator God as "Father," is provided to us through the Son, Jesus Christ, sent to us by God Himself.

The message of Christmas is simply about trusting by faith in the saving grace that the Father provided to each of us through His Son Jesus; grace that releases us from the bondage of sin, and sets us free the guilt of sin, and its condemnation, restoring us back to a right relationship with the Father: GOD.  It is not a gift that you can purchase, or earn.  It cannot be received through force or might. It must be received as freely as it is freely given.

The message of Christmas is: receive the gift of God, your Creator, now at Christmas, and with it receive the promise of the eternal God and Father: life everlasting beyond the grave through....

...YESHUA HAMASHIACH TO THE JEWS, JESUS CHRIST THE MESSIAH TO THE GENTILES, OUR SAVING LORD.

All that is needed is that you believe that God sent His Son, Jesus, for your sake. that God raised Jesus from death after His crucifixion for our sin, and that Jesus is the first of many who...having faith to believe God is true and faithful to His Word...will live after death eternally in the presence of their loving Father God.  Simply believe and put your eternal life back under God's saving protection where it was meant to be from the very beginning of Creation itself.

                         THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS.

The Church at Sardis, Part 3

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. (Rev. 3:3)

Let me see if I can get you properly into the spirit of the early Hebrew church.

At the time that this vision was given to the disciple Yochanan (John) to record, there was no New Testament.  The only scriptures that were available to them were the Torah (the Law of God), the Neviim (the Prophets - those early in the history of Israel, such as Isaiah, Ezekiel, etc.), and the Ketuvim (the Writings - the Psalms and all the remaining books of our Old Testament).  The first letter of each of these sections of scripture were taken to form the word TaNaK.  The Tanak was all the scripture that was available and it was through the Tanak that righteous men recognized, and became disciples of, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Anointed One).

Isn't it interesting that with only the Tanak to guide them, humble hearts that were truly seeking HaMashiach were able to find Him?  The New Testament had not been written, and yet there were 120 disciples waiting in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) on Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks, aka the Day of Pentecost). And on that same day 3,000 more came to know Jesus Christ as their Messiah. And yet there was no "Roman road" to lead them through. There was not a single letter of Paul written at that time. (Doesn't that make you wonder, as it does me, why the church today believes that the "Roman road" is a necessary formula for salvation, when 2,000 years ago there was no Roman road, yet thousands were saved?)

And all Peter had to do on that day of Pentecost to bring 3,000 souls to Christ was to remind them of passages from the Tanak, specifically prophetic words written by the prophet Joel and David, the former God-appointed king of Israel; comparing those words to eyewitness facts about Jesus. Thus, the Tanak was vital to their understanding, as I believe it must be to our own understanding today.

There in Jerusalem, waiting for the promise, was the early and very first church; not dead, but very much alive.

They received nothing less than what the church at Sardis had also received. It was through the Tanak that the church of Sardis "received" and it was through the spoken testimonies of eyewitnesses (not yet recorded in writing) illuminated to them by the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) that they "heard" about Yeshua who had walked among them, performed too many miracles to be held in one book, been tortured, crucified, and raised from the dead.  It was because of what they had "received" and "heard" that the church of Sardis should have believed that Yeshua was now seated at the right hand of the YHWH, having sent the gift of the Ruach-HaKodesh to completely enable them to do good works that would bring glory to Adonai (the Lord); works even greater than Yeshua Himself had performed, for He Himself had said this would happen. And this very thing had happened to the 120 disciples waiting in Jerusalem on Pentecost: they had performed even "greater" works (more in number) than Jesus did.

But the church in Sardis had not done so...performed good works, that is....that brought glory to Adonai.  And it could only be because they did not "do" what the Tanak told them to "do."  Yeshua did everything the Tanak told Him to do because it was the heart of YHWH (God) spoken to man, but the church at Sardis decided it would be acceptable to do things a little differently than Yeshua HaMashiach had done or than YHWH wanted.

That must have been the problem because their works were not found perfect before YHWH, and yet the works of Yeshua had been found perfect before Him.  If the church had been following Yeshua, specifically following His obedience to the written word of YHWH as found in the Tanak  ("received") as well as His obedience to the Ruach-HaKodesh ("heard"); their works would have been perfect as well, would they not?  They would have been obedient to the Word of God, just as Yeshua had been obedient.

Yeshua came to fulfill the Tanak; not to change one yod (see note below) or one tittle (Matthew 5:18) of the Tanak (because God does not change and neither does His Word), but to fulfill it, in other words to confirm its validity by being obedient to it in every way and even more to show the Spirit of God dwelled in that law; that to do the law without the Spirit of God that dwelled in the law, was to miss the mark.  But He did not do away with the law, that is doctrinal error that has been passed down through the ages.  This error did not come from the early church who were obedient in every way to the Law, just as Jesus had been obedient.  They didn't believe obedience to the law could save them, but then again, they never had believed that.  Even Abraham, the scripture says, was saved by faith, not by his works.  No one who kept the law believed it would bring them eternal life, but they knew that by keeping the law they were pleasing God and identifying themselves with God.  Thus, Jesus pleased God and identified Himself as being of God.  So also, did the early church.

And then somewhere along the way, perhaps beginning even here in Sardis, the church stopped identifying itself with the law, turning away from "perfect" works that were obedient to the law; works performed through grace (through the Holy Spirit) by faith (in Jesus the Messiah).  They began instead to do things according to what they believed was the right way to do things, following one another, following  man, instead of God according to His Word. And so they failed to please God. The modern church still fails to please God because they are still following man, the traditions of man, rather than the law and the complete word of God.

What does Jesus tell the church at Sardis to do about their decision to do things "imperfectly" (their own way instead of Yeshua's, not observing or obeying the Tanak, nor listening to the Ruach HaKodesh)?

Repent.

What would He tell us to do today because we have decided to do things man's way (through the traditions of men who decided to do things a little differently than Yeshua as we choose to continue to follow man's error rather than observe and obey the complete Word of God including the Tanak being led by the Ruach HaKodesh in all of this?)

Repent.

Our own works will never be "perfect" before God until they abide (dwell in) in the completeness of His Word as illuminated to us by the Holy Spirit.  The church today needs to stop doing its own works, and begin dwelling in the Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to confirm the Word to them.  Just as Jesus did:

Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. (John 8:28)

Who better to judge whether our works (performed by His church) are of ourselves or of the Father?

Jesus warns the church at Sardis, as He does us today.  But this same warning can be found in another part of scripture concerning the virgin bride.  Listen to what Jesus is telling the church...not the lost...but the saved church.  So as you read this parable that Jesus spoke, think of yourself and what is it that you could be missing out on because of the same imperfect works as the church at Sardis:

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

 

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 

 

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

 

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

 

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1-13)

 

This same lesson for the church is repeated in various forms in other parables.  Take a quick look at Matthew 25:29-46 and Matthew 22:1-14.  They contain the same warning, but described in different parable form...and the warning is to the church, NOT to the lost.

 

We will explore the meaning behind the warnings to the church when we continue this study sometime after the holidays.

[Note: yod is the tenth letter of the aleph-bet, the Hebrew alphabet.  It is the smallest of the Hebrew letters. It is a mere dot. The first dot with which the scribes first start writing a letter, or the last dot that gives a letter its final form...is a yod. (Likutei Maharan). In Jewish tradition: "since the yod is used to form all the other letters, and since God uses the letters as the building blocks of creation, yod indicates God's omnipresence."  Such was the reverence given to the Word of God by the Hebrew nation.  The modern church lacks the understanding of the importance of even one yod of God's Word.

The Church at Sardis, Part 2

I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Jesus declares that He sees the works (the deeds) of this church.  He acknowledges that they are well-known, possibly because their works are praised by the community as being charitable and good social works; works that any community would be proud to claim. He says their works are proclaimed, by the world's standards, to be full of life.

But He says that their works are not perfect according to God's standards of holiness, and as a result, the church itself is dead!

Imagine being in your church that is a hopping busy church full of all sorts of programs and works, and Jesus walks in and declares you and your church to be DEAD. 

What can Jesus be talking about; why is this church of reputable works, declared to be missing God's standard (not perfect) for a church?

Perhaps John 15:5-8 gives some understanding:

He who abides in Me, and I in Him, bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.....by this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

We can gloss over a lot of things in the Word of God by not really meditating upon and understanding key words used, such as: ABIDE.

The simple definition of ABIDE is: to accept or act in accordance with. 

Some synonyms of abide (meaning the same thing basically) are:

comply with, obey, observe, follow, keep to, hold to, conform to, adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed, accept, acknowledge, respect,  go along with, defer to.

This church was doing a lot, but according to Jesus it was nothing, meaning it had nothing to do with HIM.  The members of this church were not abiding in Christ; they were not observing Hiim, complying with Him, holding to Him, conforming to Him, adhering to Him, acting in accordance with Him, acknowledging Him, respecting Him, deferring to Him in the things that they were doing.

Yet they were popular in their community.  All of which goes to show us that when we are really something special according to the world's standard, we should be worried because it can't possibly be right according to God's standard.

But it should tell us something else as well: who do we think we are to do anything without being led by Jesus whose servants (slaves) we are?  It doesn't matter if a slave does something good, if it is not what the master wants at the time and place that He wants it.  It is simply evidence that the slave is doing his own thing and not his master's thing. 

This is who we are in Christ; just as He was to the Father:  always observing the Father, constantly on guard to the Father's desires, never failing to hear the Father above all others, first and foremost, never putting man (or man's ideas and thoughts) before the Father.

Until we follow Jesus as He followed the Father, we are not abiding in Christ.

Until we are abiding in Christ, all that we do is worthy only to be burned, it doesn't matter how GOOD we think we are or how GOOD the things are that we do. We are not judged by the world's standards, but by our Creator's.  His is the only opinion that should matter to us.

We can know if we are abiding in Christ, by whether or not we are in His Word, whether or not He consumes our day, whether or not we communicate with Him through prayer ceaselessly, as Paul tells us we should, throughout the day, whether or not we are able to hear His voice telling us : "Go there!"

Being a disciple of Christ is not a part-time job.  It is not something we can do only when we have time.  It is all or it is nothing.

If Christ is not ALL in your life, it is not too late to repent and make Him ALL.  You won't be popular with other people around you, but Christians cannot abide in the world and abide in Christ too.  It just does not work.  We are to be in the world, but not of it and abiding in the world implies being of it, just as abiding in Christ implies being of Him.

But we can be a LIGHT to the world if we carry Christ in us (abiding in us) who IS the LIGHT.  And those in the world will receive LIFE from that LIGHT of CHRIST.

I believe abiding in Christ is a very difficult thing for us Americans who are so blessed.  We hustle and bustle constantly, always doing, always buying, always busy.  I think those who have nothing find it easy to make Christ everything.

But we must persevere.  We must struggle to remain separate from the world and abiding only in Christ.  We must not lose sight of what it will take to hear those words spoken to us one day by the only One who matters when He says to us individually: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

The church in Sardis is a dead church because it is of the world and not of Christ.

The Story of Hanukkah, Final

Then said Judas and his brothers, "Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it."

So all the army assembled and they went up to Mount Zion. And they saw the sanctuary desolate, the altar profaned, and the gates burned. In the courts they saw bushes sprung up as in a thicket, or as on one of the mountains. They saw also the chambers of the priests in ruins.

Then they rent their clothes, and mourned with great lamentation, and sprinkled themselves with ashes. They fell face down on the ground, and sounded the signal on the trumpets, and cried out to Heaven. Then Judas detailed men to fight against those in the citadel until he had cleansed the sanctuary. He chose blameless priests devoted to the law, and they cleansed the sanctuary and removed the defiled stones to an unclean place. They deliberated what to do about the altar of burnt offering, which had been profaned. And they thought it best to tear it down, lest it bring reproach upon them, for the Gentiles had defiled it. So they tore down the altar, and stored the stones in a convenient place on the temple hill until there should come a prophet to tell what to do with them. Then they took unhewn stones, as the law directs, and built a new altar like the former one. They also rebuilt the sanctuary and the interior of the temple, and consecrated the courts. They made new holy vessels, and brought the lampstand, the altar of incense, and the table into the temple.  Then they burned incense on the altar and lighted the lamps on the lampstand, and these gave light in the temple. They placed the bread on the table and hung up the curtains. Thus they finished all the work they had undertaken. 

Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering which they had built.  At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshiped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.
So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and offered burnt offerings with gladness; they offered a sacrifice of deliverance and praise. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and furnished them with doors. There was very great gladness among the people, and the reproach of the Gentiles was removed.

Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with gladness and joy for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev. ( 1 Maccabees 4:36-59)

Jewish tradition has it that there was only enough oil to burn for one day in the lampstand, yet the lamps burned for eight entire days, and thus the holiday is also known as the Festival of Lights.

Why should a believer in Christ be interested in Hanukkah?  If you read the online book with the link I provided, you will understand.

The Jewish Hanukkah season is over now and the Gentile Christmas season has just begun; we are back to our normal division; a thing that I know should not be since we Christians were grafted into a Jewish root, but have long ago (since the second or third century) left all things Jewish behind...our loss....

It is our very great loss in terms of spiritual preparation for the Millennium and beyond, when there will once again be a temple, with Jesus as the Light of that temple, and Sabbaths (Saturday Sabbaths) will once again be reinstated, as well as the sacrifices.  Yes, the sacrifices will be reinstated as well; sacrifices made to the Prince of the land, who happens to be Jesus.  And He says in Ezekiel that He will dwell with His people in this temple FOREVER. You will find descriptions of the New Temple and the New City in which it will stand in Ezekiel 40-48, just past chapter 30 in which the battle of Gog takes place.

I pray, truly, I pray for the day when we will be united with our Jewish brethren again.  I know the day is coming.  And until then, I will not shy away from the Torah and the Feast Days as though they are not to be touched by anyone not Jewish; instead I will learn all that I can about them and even practice them where I am able in my limited understanding.  Because I believe Jews will always be God's chosen people, and we Christians will always be their adopted spiritual brethren, learning much from our elder brothers, especially those obedient to the Torah and recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, which the Word of God says they will ALL do...one day.  And I hope it is soon!

The Story of Hanukkah, Part 2

In those days Mattathias the son of John, son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, moved from Jerusalem and settled in Modein.  He had five sons, John surnamed Gaddi, Simon called Thassi, Judas called Maccabeus, Eleazar called Avaran, and Jonathan called Apphus. 

 He saw the blasphemies being committed in Judah and Jerusalem, and said, "Alas! Why was I born to see this, the ruin of my people, the ruin of the holy city, and to dwell there when it was given over to the enemy, the sanctuary given over to aliens? Her temple has become like a man without honor; her glorious vessels have been carried into captivity. Her babes have been killed in her streets, her youths by the sword of the foe. What nation has not inherited her palaces and has not seized her spoils? All her adornment has been taken away; no longer free, she has become a slave. And behold, our holy place, our beauty, and our glory have been laid waste; the Gentiles have profaned it. Why should we live any longer?"

And Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned greatly...

...a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king's command. When Mattathias saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar. At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu.

Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: "Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!" And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city...

...Now the days drew near for Mattathias to die, and he said to his sons: "Arrogance and reproach have now become strong; it is a time of ruin and furious anger. Now, my children, show zeal for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of our fathers....behold, I know that Simeon your brother is wise in counsel; always listen to him; he shall be your father. Judas Maccabeus has been a mighty warrior from his youth; he shall command the army for you and fight the battle against the peoples.  You shall rally about you all who observe the law, and avenge the wrong done to your people. Pay back the Gentiles in full, and heed what the law commands." Then he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers.  He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year and was buried in the tomb of his fathers at Modein. And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation. ...

...Then Judas his son, who was called Maccabeus, took command in his place.

All his brothers and all who had joined his father helped him; they gladly fought for Israel. He extended the glory of his people. Like a giant he put on his breastplate; he girded on his armor of war and waged battles, protecting the host by his sword. He was like a lion in his deeds, like a lion's cub roaring for prey. He searched out and pursued the lawless; he burned those who troubled his people. Lawless men shrank back for fear of him; all the evildoers were confounded; and deliverance prospered by his hand. He embittered many kings, but he made Jacob glad by his deeds, and his memory is blessed for ever. He went through the cities of Judah; he destroyed the ungodly out of the land; thus he turned away wrath from Israel. He was renowned to the ends of the earth;
he gathered in those who were perishing....

...When [Judas] saw that the army [of Lysias] was strong, he prayed, saying, "Blessed art thou, O Savior of Israel, who didst crush the attack of the mighty warrior by the hand of thy servant David, and didst give the camp of the Philistines into the hands of Jonathan, the son of Saul, and of the man who carried his armor. So do thou hem in this army by the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be ashamed of their troops and their cavalry. Fill them with cowardice; melt the boldness of their strength; let them tremble in their destruction. Strike them down with the sword of those who love thee, and let all who know thy name praise thee with hymns." Then both sides attacked, and there fell of the army of Lysias five thousand men; they fell in action.

And when Lysias saw the rout of his troops and observed the boldness which inspired those of Judas, and how ready they were either to live or to die nobly, he departed to Antioch and enlisted mercenaries, to invade Judea again with an even larger army.

Then said Judas and his brothers, "Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it." (1 Maccabees 2-4)

The Story of Hanukkah, Part 1

For those of you who did not take the time to download the book about Hanukkah from the link I provided in yesterday's blog, I have decided it is noteworthy enough (so did Jesus as He went to the temple to honor the celebration called Feast of Dedication - in John 10:22-23 - to commemorate the rededicating of the temple after this atrocity, and he spoke of it in detail to His disciples in Mark 13:13-16 and Matthew 24:15-18) to print the entire story of Hanukkah here which follows after my brief intro. But believers are missing an incredible lesson in the prophecy of the Book of Daniel if they do not download and read this free, 55 page booklet....just read the first 33 pages...it is easy to read online (very large print) and you will not be disappointed.  The second chapter is the one that details the prophecy of Daniel...both past events and the future events that will appear on our horizon fairly soon, I think. It is excellent, really! It pertains very much to believers in Christ. Please take time to read it!  Here is the link one more time to make it easy for you:
http://elshaddaiministries.us/MiscPDF/light-in-the-darkness_ebook.pdf

Now on to the story of Hanukkah.

INTRO
The time is approximately 160 years before Christ. The people of God known as Israel, even before the nation by that name was officially recognized, were continuing in their observance of the laws given to them by God through Moses and recorded in the Old Covenant books of the Torah; this included circumcising all male babies on the 8th day after their birth, abiding by dietary restrictions that considered pork, among other things, to be an unclean animal and not fit for human consumption (certainly not for God's people), and congregating at the temple of God on feast days and Sabbaths.

Then an event occurred that was a foreshadowing of things to come on this earth that will be worse even than the Holocaust, for this coming event will include both Jews and Gentiles.  Although to those who suffered under the demonic tyranny of Antiochus IV, himself a pre-cursor of not only Hitler but also the end-times anti-christ, the most horrific of holocausts had just happened....to them! 

To find the historical accounting of this dark period for the Jews, I now turn to what are known as the apocryphal books, specifically those two books known as 1 and 2 Maccabees.  The portions that are in brackets [ ] are my words, all else is from Maccabees.

1 Mac. 1

After Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came from the land of Kittim, had defeated Darius, king of the Persians and the Medes, he succeeded him as king. (He had previously become king of Greece.)  He fought many battles, conquered strongholds, and put to death the kings of the earth.  He advanced to the ends of the earth, and plundered many nations. When the earth became quiet before him, he was exalted, and his heart was lifted up. He gathered a very strong army and ruled over countries, nations, and princes, and they became tributary to him. After this he fell sick and perceived that he was dying.

So he summoned his most honored officers, who had been brought up with him from youth, and divided his kingdom among them while he was still alive. And after Alexander had reigned twelve years, he died. Then his officers began to rule, each in his own place.

They all put on crowns after his death, and so did their sons after them for many years; and they caused many evils on the earth. From them came forth a sinful root, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king; he had been a hostage in Rome. He began to reign in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

In those days lawless men came forth from Israel [this refers to Jews who turned their back on the law of Moses, being disobedient to God, and thus "lawless"], and misled many, saying, "Let us go and make a covenant with the Gentiles round about us, for since we separated from them many evils have come upon us." [God told His people specifically to keep separate from the pagan Gentiles and their pagan ways knowing that Israel would eventually be turned away from God if they mingled; only those Gentiles who converted to Judaism were allowed to travel with the camps of Israel.]

This proposal pleased them [the Jews], and some of the people eagerly went to the king. He authorized them to observe the ordinances of the Gentiles. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, according to Gentile custom, and removed the marks of circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant. They joined with the Gentiles and sold themselves to do evil. When Antiochus saw that his kingdom was established, he determined to become king of the land of Egypt, that he might reign over both kingdoms.

So he invaded Egypt with a strong force, with chariots and elephants and cavalry and with a large fleet. He engaged Ptolemy king of Egypt in battle, and Ptolemy turned and fled before him, and many were wounded and fell. And they captured the fortified cities in the land of Egypt, and he plundered the land of Egypt. After subduing Egypt, Antiochus returned in the one hundred and forty-third year. He went up against Israel and came to Jerusalem with a strong force.

He arrogantly entered the sanctuary and took the golden altar, the lampstand for the light, and all its utensils. He took also the table for the bread of the Presence, the cups for drink offerings, the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the gold decoration on the front of the temple; he stripped it all off. He took the silver and the gold, and the costly vessels; he took also the hidden treasures which he found. Taking them all, he departed to his own land.

He committed deeds of murder,
and spoke with great arrogance.
Israel mourned deeply in every community,
rulers and elders groaned,
maidens and young men became faint,
the beauty of women faded.
Every bridegroom took up the lament;
she who sat in the bridal chamber was mourning.
Even the land shook for its inhabitants,
and all the house of Jacob was clothed with shame.

Two years later the king sent to the cities of Judah a chief collector of tribute, and he came to Jerusalem with a large force.

Deceitfully he spoke peaceable words to them, and they believed him; but he suddenly fell upon the city, dealt it a severe blow, and destroyed many people of Israel. He plundered the city, burned it with fire, and tore down its houses and its surrounding walls. And they took captive the women and children, and seized the cattle. Then they fortified the city of David with a great strong wall and strong towers, and it became their citadel.

And they stationed there a sinful people, lawless men. These strengthened their position;
they stored up arms and food, and collecting the spoils of Jerusalem they stored them there, and became a great snare.

It became an ambush against the sanctuary,
an evil adversary of Israel continually.
On every side of the sanctuary they shed innocent blood;
they even defiled the sanctuary.
Because of them the residents of Jerusalem fled;
she became a dwelling of strangers;
she became strange to her offspring,
and her children forsook her.
Her sanctuary became desolate as a desert;
her feasts were turned into mourning,
her sabbaths into a reproach,
her honor into contempt.
Her dishonor now grew as great as her glory;
her exaltation was turned into mourning.

Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, and that each should give up his customs. All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king. Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.

And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah; he directed them to follow customs strange to the land, to forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary, to profane sabbaths and feasts, to defile the sanctuary and the priests, to build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols, to sacrifice swine and unclean animals, and to leave their sons uncircumcised. They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane, so that they should forget the law and change all the ordinances.

"And whoever does not obey the command of the king shall die."

In such words he wrote to his whole kingdom. And he appointed inspectors over all the people and commanded the cities of Judah to offer sacrifice, city by city. Many of the people, every one who forsook the law, joined them, and they did evil in the land; they drove Israel into hiding in every place of refuge they had.

Now on the fifteenth day of Chislev, in the one hundred and forty-fifth year, they erected a desolating sacrilege upon the altar of burnt offering. They also built altars in the surrounding cities of Judah, and burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. The books of the law which they found they tore to pieces and burned with fire. Where the book of the covenant was found in the possession of any one, or if any one adhered to the law, the decree of the king condemned him to death. They kept using violence against Israel, against those found month after month in the cities. And on the twenty-fifth day of the month they offered sacrifice on the altar which was upon the altar of burnt offering. According to the decree, they put to death the women who had their children circumcised, and their families and those who circumcised them; and they hung the infants from their mothers' necks.

But many in Israel stood firm and were resolved in their hearts not to eat unclean food.
They chose to die rather than to be defiled by food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die.  And very great wrath came upon Israel.

The remainder of the story will follow in tomorrow's posting.

The Final Day of Hanukkah

Today is the last day of the eight day celebration of Hanukkah, a Jewish celebration that began on Thanksgiving Day this year.  If you have seen any eight-candled menorahs lit in windows in your neighborhood, then you have seen the primary decoration of this holiday season for the Jewish people.  The menorah plays a very significant role in the history of Hanukkah.

 

I happened upon a downloadable book, that talks about the history of Hanukkah, in all of its very sad detail...it was a pre-cursor in 145 BC to the Holocaust of the 20th century.  Women who circumcised their babies according to the law of God were killed and their babies hung by the neck...those who helped to circumcise were also killed...yet many held faithful to God in spite of this terrible persecution.  The entire story is found in a Jewish writing called 1 and 2 Maccabees.  In it is told of the bravery of many specific Jews, cited by name, but, as always, these were fewer in number than those who surrendered to the enemy in fear of their lives; who began doing things that were forbidden by God, but demanded by a tyrant by the name of Antiochus IV.

 

I have added the link below, if you want to download the book...it is a small book...with excerpts taken from 1 and 2 Maccabees about the incident involving Antiochus and the Jewish Maccabees (Maccabees means Hammers) who rose up against him to end his terrible tyranny. [There are several blank pages that follow the cover page, but just scroll on down until you get to the beginning of the book.]

 

http://elshaddaiministries.us/MiscPDF/light-in-the-darkness_ebook.pdf

 

Hanukkah is the celebration of the end of this holocaust.

The Church at Sardis, Part 1

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars. (Revelation 3:1a)

In each of the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus identifies Himself in a way that is specific to the church of whom He is speaking. Here Jesus identifies Himself has having "the" seven Spirits of God and as having "the" seven stars, making reference to something specific concerning the Spirits of God and the stars, not as random as might be signified if the article "the" had not been used. What God places importance upon should also be of importance to us, thus causing us to search His Word further for understanding of this passage. And obviously "seven" is key to our understanding. The Word tells us that these "metaphors" are "mysteries" and I believe the Lord wants us to seek Him enough to want to take time to search out His mysteries.

At one time in my life I relied heavily upon biblical commentaries, but I soon realized that this was taking the "easy" way out, allowing someone else to search scripture and to think for me, instead of doing the hard work of searching for that "pearl" myself.  I seldom do that now.  I search scriptures and I allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me and bring understanding.  That doesn't mean that I don't read other books, or refer to dictionaries, both biblical and secular for help at times, because I do, quite frequently if I find myself drawing a blank all the way round, but never until I have first searched out the understanding for myself.  Then, when I find that others have found what I have found, it becomes confirmation for me that I heard the Lord correctly.

So, where else in scripture are there references to "the seven Spirits of God" and where else are there references to "the seven stars"?

The seven stars are quite easy, in fact, as they are explained only two chapters earlier in Revelation as Jesus speaks to His servant John explaining a vision of the Lord that John had just received:

The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:20)

Now, if you read your commentaries, you will be told that the "angels" being referred to are the bishops or heads of the seven churches; that "angel" is another word for "messenger" and that these letters are going to given by John to those "messengers" that are the head of the churches so that the messengers can deliver the letters to be read aloud to one and all.  And the commentaries could be right.

But there is also the possibility that "angel" simply means "angel."  Classical dispensationist that I am, I like to take the Bible literally, and then apply a secondary prophetic meaning where it is clearly meant to be prophetic.  There is no doubt that Revelation is meant to be taken prophetically, although these seven letters were most definitely written to the local churches of John's time as well. 

We have already seen for example that the letter Jesus wrote to the church at Ephesus was discussing issues or problems that Paul himself had already personally discussed with them as well, confirmation that these letters were for John's day, even as they are also for us.  Why else would Jesus say to those of us reading all these centuries later: Whoever has ears, let him what the Spirit says to the churches?  He is telling us that these words are for our individual ("whoever" and "him")benefit and growth as well, thus they are prophetic of our times as well.  Thus, the Word "lives" even  into our present 21st century. 

Many biblical scholars will also tell you that the seven churches represent historical church "ages."  For example, the "persecuted church" age could be identified by the Church in Ephesus.  This would be the original early church of the Disciples who walked with Jesus and might continue for the first 100 years or so...it was definitely identified with persecutions.  And the church at Laodicea might represent that "apostate" or "falling away" church age of our modern times, where the young generation is simply not interested in the churches of their elders, and churches are mostly filled with the older generation instead.  But all of that is for another time of discussion.  Just trying to help you see the prophetic significance to these letters, as well as to the entire book of Revelation.

So, if "angel" does in fact mean "angel" then this might imply that there are angels given guard over each of Christ's churches, mightn't it?  Then again, it could mean the physical heads of the churches.  Then again, it could signify both.

One thing is for sure, these seven stars are held in the right hand of Jesus, signifying His authority over the angels of the churches, or His authority over the churches themselves. Authority, however, does not mean "control" for Jesus does not take control as One who holds a remote in front of a television set takes control.  Jesus gives control to those who submit to Him.  If Jesus controlled as with a remote, then there would be no issues in these churches, the churches would all go exactly as He dictates with a push of a button, but we will find at the end of our study that there are only two churches out of seven in which Jesus finds no issues. Yet Jesus does have complete authority over the churches.  He is the indisputable authoritative Head of the churches. And after this time of "proving" His saints, He will indeed take control over this out-of-control world that by legal deed belongs to Him.

What about the seven Spirits of God?  It is thought, by the commentators, that this refers to God's Holy Spirit.  And indeed, I believe it does as well.  But I think there is more to it than just calling it the Holy Spirit, and I am sure they (the commentators) thought that too.

Isaiah 11:2 speaks about the seven identifications, we might call them, of the Holy Spirit of God.  The Holy Spirit is:

1) of the LORD, 2) of wisdom, 3) of understanding, 4) of counsel, 5) of might, 6) of knowledge, 7) of the fear of the LORD.

I believe that it is all of these rolled into One Holy Spirit, and He, the Holy Spirit, is the one who moves the angels of the Lord to do His bidding, just as the Holy Spirit moves us to do the Lord's bidding. Right?

Searching scripture specifically looking for passages referring to the "seven Spirits of God" quickly brings up these two passages:

Rev. 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Rev. 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

So what do these additional scriptures tell us about the seven Spirits of God? That they are a metaphor for the church; believers who, through the work of Christ on the cross, can stand before the very throne of God in the inherited righteousness of Christ.  Believers who make up the church - the one that is following the instructions of Jesus given to the disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.