"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out Mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads," saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 22:30-31)
" ... for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loathes this light bread." (Numbers 21:5)
My question -- are we there yet? Are we living in the days when few believers are willing to make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ for this land? Is it safe to suggest that there is a famine in this land -- not for physical bread or water, but rather hearing the words/Word of the Lord? The Bread of Life, wherein our souls are nourished? Or do we hear the Word, but the shallow teachings are so far removed from the "I AM" truth that we actually have begun to "loathe" this light bread?
Still, even in this saddest of times, we can be assured the Lord is still searching for those hearts who are focused entirely on Him, and who are unshakeable in their faith, willing to stand in the gap for the people of this land. There is an example in John 6 -- a similar situation to the days in which we live, wherein Jesus is telling them that He is that Bread of Life, the Living Water wherein if they (and by extension, we) would only drink, we would never thirst again.
When these asked Jesus, "What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee?" they also asked Him, "What dost Thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written -- "He gave them bread from heaven to eat." How does Jesus respond? He then said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the Bread of God IS HE WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND GIVES LIFE UNTO THE WORLD!"
For clarity, please read that scripture again -- "For the Bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world." (John 6:33)
Then said they unto Him, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." Jesus said unto them, "I AM the Bread of life: he that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst." But I said unto you, "That ye also have seen Me, and believe not. All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and him that comes to Me I will in no wise cast out .... For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:30-40)
Again, for clarity, Jesus said, "And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)
If Jesus were not the Great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the King of kings and Lord of lords, how could Jesus, as He states here, "raise him up at the last day" -- those who believe in Him?
How could those which see the Son and believe on Him (as the scripture saith) be raised up on that last day by Jesus if He were not the Word that was God made flesh; God manifest in the flesh; to wit, God in Christ; the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily among us -- clothed in sin-prone flesh and yet without sin?
How could Jesus claim the authority to raise believers up in the last day if He were only the "second" person in a multi-headed Godhead, as the modern day religious culture would have us believe?
Because the religious culture founded on a tri-une god (trinity, god in 3 persons) does not know the One and Only God that "was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) For had they known, they too would have understood, as Jesus said, "I AM [He]"
Jesus clearly said He is the Bread of Life! The first man earthy but the second, the Lord from heaven. After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. (Titus 3:4-7) "If you have seen Me, ye have seen the Father ..." (John 14:6-12)
You are now asking -- how did we miss this? The Lord coming forth as a mighty man? (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) Because there is a famine in the land -- for the Word made flesh. And that shallowness is causing even those who profess to "loathe" that Bread -- because the religious teachings fall short. Nevertheless, as Jesus said in His model prayer, "Give us this day our daily Bread!" We don't need to rely on a one-man/one-woman ministry for our sustenance. We can seek the Bread of Life, and become wholly sustained from His nourishment.
Remember the two who walked toward Ennaus and Jesus started walking with them, and how their hearts burned within from the scriptures? We need to return to that place of worship and praise -- our first love for our Lord God and Saviour, and let Him establish our steps, and like the apostles on the day of Pentecost, similarly recognize that this same JESUS, whom ye/we have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
The key here is to believe on Jesus the Christ, and know too that He is the Lord from heaven. As Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM!"
Yes, indeed, God manifest in the flesh. The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him. God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. The Great I AM. The ONE LORD GOD who willingly became our Saviour. And we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
Other scriptures? That SAME GOD is telling us that He -- JESUS -- the Word made flesh -- is THAT very same Bread -- the Bread from heaven, and that the Bread He "will give is My flesh!" "This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE ON HIM whom He hath sent." (John 6:29) Jesus said, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM [He], ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
Some said, "This is He." Others said, "He is like Him: but He said, I AM [He]." (John 9:9)
Jesus said, "But I know Him: for I AM from Him, and He hath sent Me." Then cried Jesus in the temple as He taught, saying, "Ye both know Me, and ye know whence I AM: and I AM not come of Myself, but He that sent Me is true, whom ye know not!' ... "What manner of saying is this that He said, "Ye shall seek Me, and shall not find Me: and where I AM, [thither] ye cannot come?" (John 7:28-36)
Yes, God became man to save all of mankind, but He did so without stopping being God, and He will raise those who believe in Him on that last day. Remember, Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I AM meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29)
Stand in the offering plate.
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