Law&Spirit

The Apostle Paul walked in revelation from the Lord, and preached the Gospel of salvation in synagogues and among the Gentiles in various nations. His writings comprise most of the New Testament. He was trained in the Law of Moses under one of the most respected and honored rabbis of his time, Gamaliel the elder, who was a Pharisee as Paul was, and who also held a chief position in the Sanhedrin, the ruling Jewish Council during the first century. Gamaliel is still known today as one of Israel's greatest teachers of scripture. Gamaliel is mentioned in the New Testament in Acts 5:33-42. Early in the history of the Church, the apostles were brought before the Council for judgment, and Gamaliel, one who was respected by all, said of their forbidden preaching: "...I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it - lest you even be found to fight against God." This advice was accepted by the Council, and the apostles were ultimately released. Later in time, Paul would have an encounter with Christ in His glory speaking to him from heaven, and Paul would become a dedicated believer and then teacher to the churches he founded. Paul said of his own Torah background before he personally encountered the glorified Jesus: "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city (Jerusalem) at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictures of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today..." (Acts 22:3). The high priest and Council of elders of Jerusalem could attest to Paul's zealousness for the law (v. 5). With these credentials, as well as having been a student of Gamaliel, Paul was welcomed to teach in any synagogue. If someone was looking for a Torah expert, one probably could not find a greater expert than Paul. Yet Paul said of himself: "...I was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, and an insolent man...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1 Tim. 1:13, 15). Paul said that he found mercy with the Lord, because the persecution that he did, he did in the ignorance of unbelief (v. 13). Even as an apostle, Paul acknowledged in a letter to the Church in Rome what many of us would have difficulty admitting: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice....For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (rom. 7:18-25). Because of his very personal understanding of this struggle, and his deep study of the Word of God, Paul never lost his great gratitude and zeal for what Christ had mercifully achieved for him. Paul is an example of someone who studied the Law and the Prophets, but still missed God in the time of His visitation (Lk. 19:41-44), and severely persecuted those who did receive Him. How did Paul account for this duality? He marked the difference between those who worship God in the Spirit, and those who worship God in the flesh (in which dwells no good thing -Rom. 7:18 above). This is what Paul wrote to the Church at Philippi in Greece: "For we are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things (of fleshly identity and accomplishment) were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ." (Phil. 3:3-7). Jesus also spoke of the time when true worshippers would worship God, not according to their natural circumstances and characteristics or religious dogmas, but "in spirit and truth", because God is Spirit. Jesus spoke this revelation to a Samaritan woman of immoral reputation, the last kind of person with which the religious Jews would discuss spiritual matters (Jn. 4:23-24). However Jesus waited alone at a well just for the purpose of encountering her in order to reveal this life-changing truth. Paul said that all of his ethnic and "religious" identity and strict observance really meant nothing when contrasted with his faith and life in Christ. Yet we may argue that our flesh keeps us alive, moves us through work and life. However, the Word of God disagrees: "...they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being..." (Acts 17:27-28). We do not live because of our flesh, but we live in Him, the Lord God, who is Spirit. Our minds fight against this idea, but even our minds need to be washed and regenerated in the Word of God (Rom. 12:1-2, Eph. 5:25-27). Even this must be a work of Word and Spirit together. What does all of this have to do with this week's Sabbath reading portion? Hopefully, we will see! This week's portion is a double portion titled Nitzvarim (meaning "are standing", from Deut. 29:10) - Va yelech (meaning "Then he went out", from Deut. 31:1). In this Sabbath reading portion, Moses speaks with great concern about the Israelites understanding of God: "Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: 'You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes...Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive (yada - see below) and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day." (Deut. 29:2-4, excerpt). They were eyewitnesses, and had experienced the miracles of God, but spiritually, they didn't have a clue as to who God was because the LORD had withheld this from them. Moses knew that he would die soon, and he dreaded what would become of the people of the LORD because they were without this spiritual revelation of God. Moses as a prophet even saw the time, almost a thousand years in the future, when the Israelites would go into captivity because they had turned away from the LORD. (Deut. 30:1-4). After returning the Israelites from this prophesied captivity: "And the LORD your God will circumcise your (aleph-tav [same as Alpha and Omega Jesus in Rev. 1:8, 21:6, 22:13]) heart and the (vaw [nail]-aleph-tav) heart of your descendants, to love the (aleph-tav) LORD (YHWH - yod, he, vaw, he - "Behold the hand, behold the nail") your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live (hay/haya/hava - life, live, revival, renewed, sustenance/live, save, revive, quicken, restored to life and health, revive from death/to breathe, to show, declare)." (Deut. 30:6). This is a work of transformation by the Spirit , as we see the Hebrew word for "life", accomplished by the aleph-tav LORD, not by man's determination or flesh. The end result is a circumcised aleph-tav heart of love for the LORD, rather than a religious observance of the flesh. This is what leads to life, a life revived from the dead. Moses said to them: "...for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death?" (Deut. 31:27). He wanted to impress upon the Israelites that the Word of God is not just words written on a tablet or page, to read and know with the head, "But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it...I command you today to love the (aleph-tav) LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land...that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life, and your length of days..."" (Deut. 30:11-20, excerpt). When Moses referred to the Word being in their mouths, which is profession and confession, and in their hearts, which is faith or belief, it brings to my mind the way of personal salvation that Paul wrote of in Romans 10:8-11: "But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." This is directly from the command of Moses to the people of God. The transforming Word resides in our hearts and mouths because we love the LORD God, as Moses said. Jesus also said that this is the great commandment of the law (Lk. 10:25-28, Mt. 22:35-40). Moses stressed that the LORD Himself was with them, and would cross over before them into the Promised Land to defeat the nations inhabiting it: "The LORD your God Himself crosses over before you...He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you...do not fear nor be dismayed." (Deut. 31:3, 6,8, see also Mt. 28:18-20). The people had already seen the LORD and His mighty miracles, and Moses told them that the LORD went with them, but He was still far from their hearts. Moses wanted the people to know God by the Spirit, as he knew God. How could he communicate this vital thing to a people who had declared that they did not want to hear directly from God? (Ex. 20:18-21, Deut. 5:23-27). Yet, it was knowledge that was necessary for them to understand if they were to live, and Moses was running out of time. In another reading portion from this Sabbath in Isaiah 61, the prophet wrote: "The Spirit of the LORD God is upon Me..." (v. 1). We know that Jesus proclaimed this same prophecy fulfilled as He read it in the synagogue (see Lk. 4:16-21). It is by the Spirit of the LORD that miraculous transformation occurs in this chapter of Isaiah. There is, by the Spirit of the LORD, a relationship between the LORD Messiah and His people, who are made priests and ministers of God, that is compared to a Bridegroom and a Bride (v. 10). It also says: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in My God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness." (v. 10). The earth and the nations will witness this revival and transformation in God's people by the Spirit of God (v. 11). We can see that we do not clothe ourselves, according to Isaiah's prophecy, with these spiritual garments, but the LORD clothes us as He pardons our sins. It is a spiritual transformation, not achieved by the flesh. In a similar example from scripture, the prophet Zechariah records a vision in which the High Priest Joshua has his filthy garments removed from him as the Angel of the LORD says: "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes." And then the Angel of the LORD tells Joshua to keep the LORD's commands, and walk in His ways. (Zech. 3:1-10). In Isaiah 63, another Sabbath reading for this week, regarding mention of the love, lovingkindnesses and mercies by which the LORD redeemed His children who had turned from him, the (aleph-tav) Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of the LORD, is mentioned three times, including, "But they (Israel) rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit" (v. 10). It is interesting to note that Isaiah also prophesied in this chapter of a people who call God their "Father", but of whom Abraham was ignorant, and Israel does not acknowledge, yet the LORD their Father from everlasting redeemed them (v. 16). The term "everlasting" is connected to the Father" in only one other place in scripture. It is found in the prophecy of the birth of the Messiah, the Savior (Jesus) and His titles and names in Isa. 9:6-7. The concept that Paul taught regarding the importance of the Spirit of the Lord in the life of the believer has its roots in Moses and the Prophets. It is by the Spirit of God that the people of God are revived and restored. The Word of God (Jesus: Jn. 1:1-3) and the Spirit of God were never meant to be separated from each other. Jesus, the Word, is in fact the Baptizer or Sender of the Holy Spirit upon man (Mt. 3:11, Jn. 15:26). Scripture was not written by men's beliefs, but is given by inspiration of God (theopneustos/pneo - divinely breathed in/to breathe, to blow, breeze) (2 Tim. 3:16). Scripture is not subject to man's (flesh) interpretation, but must be joined with the same Holy Spirit breath by which it was created: "...knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private (idios - his own, part, pertaining to self) interpretation (epilysis/epilyo/lyo - unloosing, interpretation, application, explanation/unloose, untie,/to loose, break, destroy, dissolve, break down, to do away with), for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Pet. 1:20). In another reading portion from this Sabbath, Jeremiah wrote the Word of the LORD concerning the true and ultimate disposition of His Word, and it just happens to repeat what Moses had told the people of Israel that they must understand: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the (aleph-tav) house of Israel and the (vaw-aleph-tav) house of Judah - not according to the (aleph-tav) covenant that I made with their (aleph-tav) fathers...My covenant which they broke (see Deut. 29:25), though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the (aleph-tav) house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My (aleph-tav) law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his (aleph-tav) neighbor and every man his (aleph-tav) brother, saying, 'Know (yada - know, perceive, distinguish, confess (see Rom. 10:8-10), admit, acknowledge, revealed, know by experience) the (aleph-tav) LORD', for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jer. 31:31-34). This, the LORD said, He promised with love out of His everlasting love, and loving kindness (v. 3). If you would like to learn more about the work of the Spirit of the LORD in our obeying, and living by the Word of God, and His essential transformational work in us, you can pray with me: "Dear Everlasting Father, I ask that You show me the work of truth by Your Spirit in my life, and by Your Spirit, put Your Word in my heart, mind, and mouth, so that I can be changed by it, and conformed to it. Help me not to rely on my flesh or my own understanding in order to walk with You and in Your ways, but guide me by Your Spirit. Deliver me from false confidence in my own righteousness, and clothe me with the salvation and righteousness of my Savior, Jesus. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

Worms

Any gardener will tell you that worms are a valuable asset in soil. We don't give worms much thought, but they work diligently eating and digesting the decaying organic matter in the dirt, their castings enriching the soil and benefitting plants. Worms by their activity, also aerate the soil, breaking up the hardened dirt, increasing its oxygen content. Both soil, and the thriving plants that grow in it, are helped by the presence of worms.
God has a use for spiritual worms as well. Like the natural worm, these spiritual worms consume decaying organic matter. They feed on the carnal, or fleshly activities of man. We will see the details of that later on. First, we can look at an interesting account in Jonah:
In the fourth chapter of Jonah, the prophet has become very angry and exceedingly displeased. The LORD had compelled him to go to the city of Nineveh to warn of God's impending judgment for their wickedness. It turned out that the king and citizens of Nineveh listened to and believed the prophet, and sincerely repented of their wickedness before God. Therefore, "God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." (Jonah 3:10). Jonah was so angry that God did not carry out the judgment of which he had prophesied, that he even wished for death. He said it was better for him to die than to live. As Jonah sat on a hill to see what God would do with Nineveh, God caused a plant, or a gourd, to grow over Jonah to give him shade, and deliver him from his misery. Jonah was thankful for that miraculous plant. However, God prepared (appointed, ordained) a worm that so damaged the plant that it withered and died. As the plant died, and the sun and wind beat upon Jonah's head, Jonah again wished that he might die. God asked Jonah if it was right for Jonah to be angry about the plant, and Jonah answered, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!" (Jonah 4:9). God declared to him that even as Jonah was able to pity the loss of a plant that he had not labored to grow, shouldn't God pity Nineveh with its many people, even for its lowly animals?
The word "worm" in Jonah's account has a Hebrew root ("towla/yala") meaning of "to speak rashly, talk wildly, to blurt or utter inconsiderately, devour". This particular "worm" appointed by God is connected to dangerously careless speech. Jonah's reckless words came from the anger in his heart towards God, because Jonah's prophetic warning to Nineveh did not come to pass. Jonah's spiritual pride was wounded, and it generated extreme anger and bitterness. This is all carnal thought, words and behavior. The Word says:
"The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will come through trouble."  Prov. 12:13
This worm, with its roots in reckless speech, is the same Hebrew word used for the worm that Isaiah speaks of when he prophesies, "And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."  (Isa. 66:24). Jesus also referred to the worms of this prophecy of Isaiah in Mark 9:44-48 when describing hell. Natural worms feed upon decaying organic matter. Spiritual worms feed upon decaying matter of fleshly words and attitudes.
There is another kind of worm appointed by God. An example is used in Isa. 14, as the prophet describes what will happen to the oppressive king of Babylon, but even more so, to his spiritual counterpart, Lucifer himself:
"Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you...They all shall speak and say to you: "Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us?" Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your stringed instruments (sound made by empty skin-bag used to hold liquids); The worm* is spread under you, and worms** cover you. How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!"  Isa. 14:9-12
The second mention of "worms"**, in the above verses from Isaiah, that will be under this king in hell, refer to the same worms that were mentioned in Jonah-the worms ("towla/yala") connected to rash and dangerously careless speech. The first "worm"** mentioned above, that will cover this king in hell, is a different kind of worm in Hebrew ("rimmah/ramam"). This worm is bred from the putrification of self-exaltation, self-magnification. We can see why this second worm was appointed as this king/Lucifer declared in his heart, "I will ascend into heaven...I will exalt my throne above...I will sit on the mount...I will ascend above the heights...I will be like the Most High" (v. 13-14). We can see how God has appointed this worm to devour the rotting flesh of gross pride, and arrogant, destructive spiritual ambition. Hannah, in her warning to the so-called mighty, prayed:
"Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth. for the LORD is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed."  1 Sam. 2:3
The third different Hebrew word for "worm" is found in Isa. 51:7-8, as the LORD says to the righteous:
"...Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, and My salvation from generation to generation."
The worm mentioned in these verses, is appointed by God to devour decaying temporary things that the world relies upon and puts faith in as a covering. This is a warning to those who hold the opinions of men higher than the thoughts of God. Doing so, they trust in coverings that will be consumed into dust, rather than the everlasting nature of the covering of the salvation of God. This worm, by its meaning in Hebrew ("cac/cuc"), swallows up what it has been appointed to devour in the same manner that a leaping horse joyfully swallows up great distances over the ground. The root meaning for this worm also represents a chariot horse, or an outer appearance of great military strength, upon which man falsely relies:
"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."  Ps. 118:8
These different worms that we have looked at have been appointed by God to devour the dead and decaying, the works of those who have chosen the carnal and the dying over the eternal things of God. Even God's people, like the prophet Jonah, can be impacted by the spiritual worms of God's garden. The worms in His garden reveal our flesh to us, the flesh upon which we have foolishly relied, correcting us and helping us to grow in the things of the Spirit instead. By the work of the worms, we can easily see the end result of flesh and carnality. We are meant to walk not after the ways of the decaying flesh, but by the life quickening Spirit of God, and the work of God's spiritual worms helps us in these things. As we do walk in the Spirit, we are the sons of God:
"He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace...For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God..."  Rom. 8:3-5, 13-14 (Gal. 6:8, Phil. 2:15, 3:3)

Our Father has prepared worms to benefit His beautiful garden of life and peace.