"WORDS OF TRUTH"
“Words of Truth”
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
22: 20-21: “Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge. That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send to you?”
This is a three-fold covenant of the words of truth used especially of the Words of God (Strong’s H561) in the Old Testament. “Young’s Literal Translation says, “have I not written to you three times…?” The Jerusalem Bible adds, “Have I not written for you thirty chapters…?” The number thirty reveals the principle of coming to maturity or coming to the throne. It is also a number denoting priesthood.” In the New Testament the “word” is “logos” (G3056 a word uttered by a living voice; the sayings of God).
The patriarch Joseph and the monarch David were thirty years old when they ascended to their places of ruler ship. The priests began to minister at the age of thirty. The heavens opened over the head of the prophet Ezekiel when he was thirty. The Pattern Son Jesus came to the river Jordan and began his public ministry at the age of thirty. The child was born at Bethlehem, but the Son was given at the Jordan.
The Hebrew word for “excellent things” in proverbs 22:20 is “shalosh (#7991) and means “a triple (as a musical instrument), a triangle (or perhaps a three-stringed lute), a three-fold measure, a general of the third rank (upward, the highest).” It is translated in the King James Version as “captain, instrument of music, (great) lord, (great) measure, prince, and three.” It is taken from the word (#7969) meaning “three, third, thrice.” Thus, these “excellent things” are three-fold things! Truths dealing with three dimensions. This is the manner in which the Father has written His counsels and knowledge that we might know the certainty of the words of truth (Ex. 23:14); 11 Sam. 23:9).
It is interesting that the primary meanings of this word speak of the area of music. We have heard prophetic words that Robert Steele will birth the Song of Songs from the Holy of Holies for this era of the Kingdom. With each move of God from Luther to the present, the Lord has brought a new song to His Church. There was a song for the Outer Court, a song for the Holy Place, and the Song of Songs for the Holy of Holies. Each has its place, and when struck together by the Hand of God, they provide a symphonic chord of truth, perfectly balanced and blended at every level.
All of us are hungry. Along the way, as with the prophet Elijah, we have been fed by ravens in the Outer court. Then God led us to the woman (Spirit-filled church) of the Holy Place. But I pray that an angel (or messenger) will stop by and feed us with meat that is in season (Gal. 4:14; Rev. 1:20); a many-membered angel with one mouth and one voice. I am thankful for what the ravens have brought. I praise him for what the Woman, a Spirit-filled church can offer. But God wants us to eat of Himself, of His Word and of His Spirit beyond the rent veil. There is standing up a priest with Urim and Thummin so that we can eat the things of the Most Holy Place (Ezra 2:63). This is the “hidden manna” of Rev. 1:17. At one time, it was not lawful to consider these new creation realities (11 Cor. 12: 1-4), but now the Lamb has been killed and the table is spread. All things are now ready.
Only the living word can help us now…We must learn to listen for the Voice within the voice. We must hear “the Words of Truth”. Once we have heard the Lord speak to us, faith is released and no man/woman can dissuade us from our commission and vision. The living, creative Word will divide soul and spirit and transform your life.
Romans 10:17: “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth and their words to the ends of the world.”
“There is a gathering unto One by the voice of One. It is not the voice of two, but the Voice of One. Every man and woman who has been gifted with the prophetic spirit, the Elijah spirit, needs to say with John the Baptist, “I am the voice of one…prepare ye the way of the Lord makes His paths straight.” (Matt. 3: 1-3)
Hebrews 8:6” “He (Jesus) has now obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant which was established upon better promises.”
The shadow of the old has given way to the sunlight of the new. The message of the Old Covenant prophets was “he is coming.” The reality of the New covenant is that the Son is here and He is speaking. (Heb. 1) “God who at sundry times and divers manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;” May we be patient to hear what He is saying.
The writer of the Hebrews in chapter 7: 28, use a certain phrase three times: “the word (G3056) of the oath” to show the superiority of Jesus’ priesthood to the Levitical priesthood. One of the remarkable facts of Jesus’ priesthood was that it is confirmed with an oath. God had said to the Lord (through David), “You are a priest forever!” You would think God’s word would be good enough by itself, but in this case He backed His Word to the Messiah with an irrevocable oath. The Jewish priesthood had no such oath. God never swore anything to Aaron or his sons. God’s oath is given to confirm that Jesus’ priesthood will never pass away, that it will remain forever! The emphasis of the oath is on the words, “priest forever!”
7: 20-22; 28: “This time when God established the priesthood He did it with an oath. No oath was given when the Levites were installed as priest. But in Jesus’ case this appointment was made with an oath when God said to Him: “The Lord swear and will not repent, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament… (Vs28)”For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word (G3056) of the oath, which was since the law makes the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”
The priesthood and the covenant are inextricably bound. The covenant is only as permanent as the priesthood. Jesus has a permanent priesthood because he lives forever. Because Christ’s priesthood is inviolable and un-transferable, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him. He can guarantee our total and final salvation. Those who constantly come to worship God through Jesus Christ are the ones He is able to save. He is able to make continual intercession for us---uninterruptedly He can take our case before God.
In our study of Hebrews, we have been teaching on Melchisedec. Kelly Varner in his book, The More Excellent Ministry writes:
“The priesthood of Melchisedec has been a mystery to most of the Church world. He is first mentioned in Gen. 14 in connection with Abraham. The time in which the father of the faithful met this priest is significant. Abraham had just defeated the heathen kings, bringing restoration and deliverance. This encounter was historic, a turning point for creation. Melchisedec gave bread and wine to Abraham, revealing the principle of flesh and blood. This rejuvenated Abraham, who, in turn, ministered this life to Sarah, who then bore Isaac. Hundreds of years later, God would visit another daughter of Abraham (Luke 3:34). The virgin Mary was instructed by the angel Gabriel that God desired to take back that flesh and blood, and then wrap Him in swaddling clothes and lay Him in a manger (Lk.2; Jn. 1:14; Heb. 2:14-18).
John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
In the Gospel of John logos denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his ministry in procurement of man’s salvation. This Word put on a human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds.”
John 1: 1-5: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and with Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe.
Faith not only believes the words of truth, but the certainty of them that our faith may be intelligent, rational and grow up to a full assurance in Christ. John 7:16-17: “Jesus answered them, and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His that sent Me. If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or whether I speak of Myself. He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory; but he that seeks His glory that sent Him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him”
The Words of truth given by the Holy Spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, power, and the fear of the Lord are so that we may seek the glory for God; that others may light their candle at our lamp; and we may edify, encourage and build up the church according to the will of God. So many in public ministries are still promoting themselves and their ministry ambitions.
John gives us a “key” of how to measure a true minister of the gospel or one who is self-promoting.
(1) He will seek Jesus’ glory – the same is true and no unrighteousness is in him.
The More excellent ministry operates according to the power of the creative, spoken Words of truth, and flows in:
1. Forgiveness
2. Blessing
3. Counsel
4. Knowledge
5. without condemnation
6. without prejudice
7. without idolatry
8. without retaliation
Matthew 8:16: “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils and he cast out the spirits with his word (G3056), and healed all that were sick.”
Isa. 40: 3-5: “The voice of him that cries in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God…And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.”
The highway is the high calling (Phil 3: 12-14), the upward calling to the top of Mt. Zion.
Psa. 110:1-4: “The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind; you are a priest forever, in the order of Melchisedec.”
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Scripture from K.J.V.
Bibliography: The More Excellent Ministry by: Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I glean.
THE MYSTERY
bet howard amante
The mystery unravels
As we journey on our way
And in all our earthly travels
We are guided day by day
Our destiny is certain
Our eternal home secure
Far beyond the velvet curtain
Beckoning with sweet allure
So often roads are hidden
Some pathways run parallel
Lined by trees with fruit forbidden
Yet by sight one cannot tell
It is only by the hearing
Of the master’s still small voice
That we recognize the clearing
Of the road that is his choice
And the mystery unfolding
Now before these earthly eyes
Is the treasure we are holding
As we run to gain the prize
Flesh can’t understand the story
It sounds too good to be true
Christ is now the hope of glory
Not in heaven but in you