The Armour Of Light

The Armour Of Light

The night is far spent, the day is at hand:
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness,
and let us put on the armour of light.
Romans 13:12

Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This passage is a very familiar one to most Christians, one that many keep coming back to over and over again to help them fight their daily spiritual battles. I have written several studies on the various components of the armour, so I won't list them again here, but I wanted to bring out a few newer points that I have been pondering on.

Whose armour is it? The Lord's. Whose strength and might do we go in? Christ's. The word power in verse 10 is Strong's #1743 and means "to empower; enable, increase in strength, make strong." The word for might also means "ability." We are to face each day with the strength and ability which the Lord offers all His children. There are to be no despairing thoughts of "I can't do it" in our Christian walk; we can do all things through Christ which strengthens us! If you need strength, wait on the Lord, and He promises to provide. (See Isaiah 40:28-31)

We know our fight isn't against the people we see around us, but is in reality against the spiritual forces of wickedness which we cannot see. The Devil wants to get us to lay down our weapons, and stop fighting, but God's Word teaches us otherwise. Romans 13:13 says:

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When we wear the whole armour of God, then the Lord says we will be able to withstand in the evil day, in the time of trouble and temptation. The word for withstand here is Strong's #436 which means "to stand against; to resist."

In studying this passage about resisting Satan and his spiritual forces (devils, unclean spirits, fallen angels), two other verses immediately come to mind. These verses also contain the same word in Greek:

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

How do we resist the devil? By submitting to God; by humbling ourselves before Him (see the context of both passages quoted above), and by seeking and obeying His will. When the devil seeks to ensnare us, we will have the Lord's strength to resist him with. We need to be in prayer continually, and in the Word of God daily. There is no victory apart from the Word of God! When the liar and enemy of our soul tries to deceive us with his wiles or discourage us, we can overcome him by clinging to God's Word, by claiming His promises, and by reminding ourselves of His truth.

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

According to this verse, it is the shield of faith that quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked! What are you waiting for, get in the Book! See what treasures Jesus has waiting there for you today! Stand strong and serve Him today in His might.

Written November 18th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey

For more on this theme:
The Armour Of God
Is Your Armour On? (Includes audio of sermon preached in 2023)

Is Your Amour On?

To hear an adapted version of this study combined with The Armour Of God study preached in 2023, please click on the link below:

Is Your Armour On? Sermon

Is Your Armour On?

So many Christians are concerned about wearing the armour of God (and rightly so), but there is so much unbiblical nonsense going around that it is rather disturbing. There is some truth and so much error taught in this area that many people will either get caught up in the false teachings and philosophies or avoid the issue altogether. This study will not be dealing with the whole armour (I have already written a study on that - The Armour Of God), but will be dealing with one essential part that so many neglect.

Ephesians 6:11-13 states: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Notice that there is an emphasis on putting on the whole armour of God, not just part of it. We are not to pick and choose which pieces of the armour we prefer and then neglect the rest. Victory as a Christian only comes when we wear the whole armour.

A question today's Christian needs to think about is: Is your armour on?

While there may be areas we need to work on or study to understand a little better, for the most part, those of us who are Bible-believing Christians have no problem with ensuring that our lives are based on the truths of God's Word (Belt of Truth), that we are striving to live a righteous lifestyle (Breastplate of Righteousness), that we are studying God's Word to build up our faith (Shield of Faith), that we know we are saved (Helmet of Salvation), that we are using our swords (The Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God), and that we are praying. But there is one important component that many of us deliberately (again, I say, deliberately) overlook - Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. That is witnessing, my brothers and sisters. I am as guilty as the next person for overlooking this important piece of armour at times in my Christian walk. But this should not be so.

This study will look at that specific piece of armour and why it is so essential to living a victorious Christian life.

Take another look at the passage in Ephesians quoted above. Paul says that it is important to wear the whole armour so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil, so we can withstand in the evil day. Withstand means to stand against, to resist. If you want victory over the devil in your day to day life, if you want power to stand against him (and to withstand him), then you need to put the whole armour on, including having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Two other passages that emphasize the need to stand against the devil are:

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

The word resist in both of these passages is the same word in Greek as withstand in Ephesians 6. Spiritual warfare is active, not passive. You can't withstand an enemy by ignoring him, or by living your life oblivious to his wiles and schemes. We can resist the devil by wearing the whole armour of God.

An important passage about witnessing is: Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The word for preacher and preach in this passage is Strong's #2784 which means to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel). This is a reference to a proclaimer or publisher of the Gospel, a witness who shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else. In Romans 10:15, Paul is quoting from Isaiah 52:7 which is a prophecy about the good news of the coming Messiah. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Someone may say, "But I have not been sent!" Maybe not by men, but all Christians have been sent by the Lord, according to these verses: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; John 15:16; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Thessalonians 2:4. John 20:21 says Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you. Why is it so important to share the Gospel with the lost? Because that is the only method of salvation the Lord has ordained - salvation through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

When a person gets saved, they are fervent to witness and tell others about the salvation found in the Lord Jesus Christ. They are excited about going to Heaven and want to tell everyone they meet about their precious Saviour. But as time goes on, many Christians begin to cool off in their fervency and zeal. Their hearts gradually go cold, and then their feet go cold - they stop witnessing.

Cold hearts lead to cold feet!

But the solution is not to wait for their hearts to warm up again, the solution is to get their feet warm, and their hearts will defrost by itself. Get active soulwinning and your heart will warm up. Get out there where the lost are and your heart will begin to break for them, you will begin to care for and be concerned about others eternal welfare once again. Even the prophet Jeremiah realized this important fact. Lamentations 3:51 Mine eye affecteth mine heart...

Why do you think so many missions organizations are busy showing pictures and films about the lost in third world countries? Because they realize this same truth: If you see the need, your heart will be affected by it. They believe that this might be just the motivation you need to start giving to missions, to start praying for these lost, to submit yourself to the Holy Spirit's leading to go... I don't believe love for the lost is magically induced just because you are in a different location - if you won't witness to the lost around you here, you will not do it in a foreign country either. If you come up with excuses not to go to your lost neighbours here, you will come up with excuses not to go to the lost in the neighbouring villages next to you in darkest Africa. We need to get busy here, being ambassadors for Jesus Christ in our own neighbourhoods and cities, and then, if it is the Lord's will, He will open foreign fields for us.

Another clear and concise passage about the necessity of witnessing is Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

1) They overcame him (the accuser of the brethren, the devil) by the blood of the Lamb - by being washed in Jesus' blood which He shed at Calvary for their sins (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; Revelation 1:5), and by being cleansed by His blood on a daily basis (1 John 1:7, 9).

2) And by the word of their testimony - These Christians were victorious because they were witnesses, they shared their testimonies with others! On the other side of the coin, this verse indicates that if we will not witness about the Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal salvation found only in Him, we will not be overcomers! (Note: this is referring to overcoming on a day by day basis - though born again believers are more than conquerors in Christ - we are overcomers through faith in Him according to Revelation 2-3 and 1 John 5:4-5 - we do not always walk in light of that victory. This is a key passage for showing us how we can obtain that victory on a daily basis, as we walk in right fellowship with the Lord.)

3) And they loved not their lives unto the death - They were more concerned with pleasing God than they were about being menpleasers; they were more concerned with being obedient and faithful to the Lord than they were about compromising to keep their lives. They would rather die than turn away from Jesus Christ, rather die than betray their Saviour. (See Matthew 16:24-26; Colossians 3:22-24) Their integrity and spiritual well-being was more important to them than their comfort and physical well-being. (See Daniel 3:16-18)

I would like to give a word of caution at this point: When you share your testimony, don't glorify your sin and the darkness you came out of, glorify the Saviour who saved you. Too many people give details that only fill the minds of others with sinful, graphic thoughts. That is not necessary. Paul never went into detail about how he slaughtered Christians, and never shared the specific ways and words he used to blaspheme God, he just said he murdered Christians and blasphemed the Lord. (See Galatians 1:13, 23-24; 1 Timothy 1:12-16) For example, if you came out of a past of drug and alcohol abuse, just state that. Don't go into detail about what type of drunken binges you've had and how many drugs you've abused. That doesn't glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, only the sin. Only go into as much detail as is appropriate and needed according to the person you are witnessing to. If you were a drug abuser witnessing to someone who is currently in bondage to drugs, you might go into a little more detail about how empty the drugs were, how they affected your family, and how they wrecked your life (so they can see that they also can escape that bondage and life of sin), but you don't need to give that kind of information to everyone you share your testimony with.

Go into detail about the Saviour and how the Saviour brought you out of the darkness you were previously living in. In my testimony on overcoming my depression, I didn't go into great detail about my thoughts, my sins, and my struggles during that time, only what was neccessary, but I did go into detail about the influences, the Scriptures, and the Lord Jesus Christ who helped me get out of that pit.

A perfect example of how witnessing helps us to claim the victory is found in the Song Of Solomon. I believe the primary interpretation of this book is the relationship between Jesus Christ and His bride (born-again Christians). While I don't understand all the symbolism at this point in time, there is still much I can glean from this book. Chapter 4 verses 11-12 state Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon. A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. First Solomon (and the Lord) declare that the Christian's speech is comely (see also verse 3), but then He states that she is closed up - there came a point in time, that she stopped telling others about the Saviour, her mouth was sealed. In verse 16, we have the Lord's solution to get her back on track - blow the winds of affliction and comfort on her. Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon My garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.

Both these winds, at various times, will cause the fountain of praise to flow again. Affliction, because it causes us to turn back to the Saviour and cling to Him. And comfort, because it makes us realize how much He loves us and cares for us.

In 5:1, we see the King in His garden. In verse 2, we see Him knocking on her door, but she is unwilling to get up and answer to His knock. She is backslidden - I sleep, but my heart waketh. She is filled with excuses why she can't go out. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? It's just too inconvenient, too uncomfortable. She is at her ease. Finally, she gets up to look for her king, but she goes looking in the city (she knew He was in the garden, the place of fellowship and seeking the Lord. (See Genesis 3:8; Matthew 26:36) She gets into trouble and the watchmen wound her and disgrace her (take her veil away). In her discouragement, she cries out to the daughters of Jerusalem, to tell her where He might be. These daughters then ask her, why is her beloved so special? She gets her eyes back on her King and waxes eloquent, so much so that the daughters now want to go with her to seek the King! (See 5:10-6:1) Suddenly, she remembers where her Beloved has been all along (in the garden!) and reminds herself of her relationship with her Beloved. 6:2-3 My Beloved is gone down into His garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine: He feedeth among the lilies.

Sometimes a bit of affliction is what we need to get out there and be the witnesses we are commanded to be. Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

There is a great world out there, filled with a great harvest if we will just get busy and work in the fields. Strap your armour on and let's go!

Matthew 9:36-38 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.

When Jesus calls, looking for someone to go for Him to speak to the lost, I pray that you (and I) will reply as Isaiah the prophet replied in Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

If you want to be an overcomer, put on those Gospel Shoes.
If you want daily victory in your life, then go.

Tell the Lord, Here am I.
Is your armour on?

Study written June 11th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey

If this study kindled your heart, you may also appreciate this song:

The Altar Is Empty

The altar is empty -
The sacrifice has walked away.
The heart's gone cold -
Where's the willingness to pray?
Something is wrong, it shouldn't be,
No peace within, convicting me!

Chorus:
Kindle my heart, stir into a flame.
Restore my soul, as I call on Your name.
Oh Lord above, grant me the grace
To deny myself and put Your will in its place.

The altar is empty -
There are no prayers offered today.
The heart's lukewarm -
Where's the desire to pray?
The field is white, but no reaping done,
No hearts breaking, pleading for God's Son.

Chorus

The field is empty -
Where are the labourers today?
Those faithful servants
Standing in the gap to pray.
Oh hear God's voice, His Spirit's call;
Repent, you watchmen, upon the wall.

2nd Chorus:
Quicken my heart, in Jesus' name,
Cleanse me from my sin - bring to life again.
Send me, oh Lord, and I will go -
Go and tell the world Jesus loves them so.

July 29th, 2004
Jerry Bouey

Other studies on this theme:
The Armour of God
The Armour Of Light

A Type Pictured In Revelation Four

A Type Pictured In Revelation Four

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.

Webster's 1828 Dictionary states that to signify means "To make known something, either by signs or words."

1) Christ Co-reigning With His Father:

Revelation 4:1-3  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

After the church age ends, the Apostle John is caught up to Heaven (as a picture of the rapture), and sees the throne room where the Father is sitting. As he is observing the events unfolding, he sees the Lamb of God taking the book from the Father on His throne.

Revelation 5:1, 6-7  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals... 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. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Chapter five unfolds how only the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy - as the Kinsman Redeemer who paid the full price necessary - to open the book and reclaim the earth, which man had lost due to Adam's fall into sin. This is a worthwhile study in itself, but I want to take a look instead at what is pictured in chapter four.

Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Even though it is the Father on the throne (from the overall context of chapters 4-5), we can see something pictured here in a type, which actually fits with the statement Jesus made in chapter 3 - just a few verses before:

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

This is not the promise for the faithful true believer to rule and reign with Christ (as seen in Revelation 2:26-27), but it a declaration that all true believers in the church age will share an inheritance with Jesus Christ, share in the authority He has to rule with His Father. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

What we see taught clearly in several places in the New Testament is now pictured in type in Revelation four. Jesus shares and is identified with the Father on His throne before Jesus actually begins to reign from His own throne in Jerusalem (His Millennial reign happens after the Tribulation period and is recorded in Revelation 20:4-6). He will rule on His own throne for 1000 years, but then the throne will go back to the Father, as noted in the following passages:

1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Revelation 22:1, 3 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb... And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

The throne of the universe is currently ruled by both the Father and the Son.  In the Millennium, Jesus will rule from His own throne, but in eternity there will only be one throne again (it does not say thrones, but throne).

It is similar in principle to Daniel being offered the ability to co-reign with Belshazzar. In this way, they would both in effect share the same throne (ie. Daniel would have authority to reign with Belshazzar on his throne):

Daniel 5:16  And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. 

Belshazzar’s father was Nabonidus, son in law to Nebuchadnezzar. During the time of this event, Nabonidus was travelling outside of Babylon and had placed Belshazzar on the throne as a co-ruler. This makes sense in light of his offer to make Daniel the third ruler of the kingdom if Daniel could help him; though we know that the king of Babylon lost his throne and his life that very night and the offered promise to Daniel was never carried out.

2) The Meaning Of The Stones In Revelation Four:

Revelations 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

What is the significance of the stones mentioned in verse 3? To answer that we need to look at the breastplate of the High Priest in Exodus 28.

Exodus 28:15-21, 29  And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row. And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes... And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.

The High Priest had twelve stones on his breastplate, representing each of the twelve sons of Jacob (ie. the 12 tribes of Israel). These stones are placed on the breastplate according to the order of the birth of Jacob's children, as listed in Genesis 29 on.

Exodus 28:9-10 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

Exodus 39:10-14 And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.

From the passages above, we can see all twelve children portrayed by their birth order. The specific stones mentioned in Revelation 4:3 are a jasper, a sardine stone (same as sardius), and an emerald, which we can see in Exodus 28:17-20 are the first, the fourth, and the twelfth stones respectively. If we go to Genesis 29, and onwards, we will find the birth of all twelve of Jacob's sons. They are listed as follows:

1. Reuben - Genesis 29:32 - represented by a sardius stone
2. Simeon - Genesis 29:33
3. Levi - Genesis 29:34
4. Judah - Genesis 29:35 - represented by an emerald
5. Dan - Genesis 30:6
6. Naphtali - Genesis 30:8
7. Gad - Genesis 30:11
8. Asher - Genesis 30:13
9. Issachar - Genesis 30:18
10. Zebulun - Genesis 30:20
11. Joseph - Genesis 30:24
12. Benjamin - Genesis 35:18 - represented by a jasper stone

The first, fourth, and twelfth stones represent Reuben, Judah, and Benjamin. Reuben's name means "Behold, A Son." Judah means "Praise, or Praise of Jehovah (the LORD)." The last (12th) son was named Ben-oni (meaning "Son of My Sorrow"), but was afterwards changed to Benjamin (meaning "Son of My Right Hand").

3) The Type Pictured In Revelation Four:

Who sat upon the throne? In chapters four and five, it is clearly God the Father on the throne - but Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, is pictured there in type, sharing the throne.

Revelation 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 

Now look again at the three stones mentioned. Which stone is mentioned first? A jasper stone, which represents Benjamin - "The Son of My Sorrow." This was what Jesus was known by when He was on earth (a Man of Sorrows - see Isaiah 53:3). Though now He is exalted and is at the right hand of the Father - "The Son of My Right Hand." Next, we see a sardius stone, representing Reuben, and refers to Christ's second coming - "Behold, a Son." Isaiah 9:6 says, For unto us a child is born (Christ's first coming), unto us a Son is given (His second coming). What color is the rainbow around the throne - around the King? Emerald, the fourth stone - representing Judah, "The Praise of the LORD." We know this was the line the Messiah came through - the kingly line.

Notice the rainbow (signifying mercy in judgement) completely encircling the throne. See Genesis 9:8-17. Even in this end-time period of worldwide judgement which is soon to unfold, the Lord God will have mercy on those who repent and turn to Him during those seven years. Habakkuk 3:2 O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

4) Further Comments From Several Writers On Revelation 4:3:

The following quote is from H. A. Ironside's commentary on Revelation:

Remembering that many of the first readers of the Revelation were converted Jews, we might ask, What would these stones suggest to them? Surely every instructed Hebrew would instantly recall that they were the first and last stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Exod. 28:17-20). As these stones bore the names of the tribes of Israel, arranged according to the births of the twelve patriarchs, the one would suggest at once the name Reuben, "Behold a Son," and the other Benjamin, "Son of my right hand." It is Christ enthroned, the Son about to reign in power who is before the Seer's vision. Round about the throne a rainbow, like an emerald, the stone of Judah ("praise") is seen, suggesting the perpetuity of the Noahic covenant, and God's unchanging goodness, despite all of man's failure, folly, and wickedness.

The following is from Oliver B. Greene's commentary on Revelation:

In the fourth chapter of Revelation, Jesus is described as a Jasper and a Sardine stone. The Jasper stone was clear - clear as crystal. The Sardine (or Sardius) was blood-red . . . the Bloody stone.

In Exodus 28, we read of these stones on the breastplate of the high priest. The Sardius. (the blood-red) stone having to do with Reuben is mentioned first, and the Jasper stone last. Revelation 4 speaks first of the Jasper stone - the clear white stone of Benjamin. This is not to be taken lightly. There is a definite reason for reversing of the stones, putting the first last, and the last first.

The Sardius was blood-red, speaking of the sacrifice of blood, pointing to the Cross and the first coming of Jesus to shed His blood for the remission of sin. The name is derived from two Hebrew words meaning “behold the Son.” It pointed to the Person of whom John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It also tells us that He (the Lord Jesus) was the first born of every creature, and the first begotten - the ONLY begotten - Son of God (John 3:16).

The Jasper, the last stone in the Old Testament breastplate, represented Benjamin. This was a clear stone, speaking of total victory. On the Jasper stone was Benjamin’s name, which is a combination of two Hebrew words (ben and jamin), so scholars tell us, meaning “the son of my right hand” . . . or, as one authority puts it, “the son of my power.” The first and the last stones pointed forward to the first and second coming of the Great High Priest - none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, here in Revelation 4, the order of the stones is reversed. John the Beloved sees Him (Jesus) first as the Jasper, and second as the Sardius. The reason is clear: In the Old Testament the saints looked forward to the day when the Lamb would come. They looked forward to the cross, and therefore saw the Sardius . . . the Blood-red stone . . . first. They looked beyond that and saw the Jasper, the clear white stone representing His power and His rule at His second coming to set up the kingdom. However, when John had the experience we are now studying, he was on this side of Calvary and the Rapture, and was looking back. John saw, first of all, the Jasper stone, the clear one - and then the red stone, the Cross and sacrifice.

From John Phillips commentary, Exploring Revelation:

Put the jasper and the sardius stones together, and they suggest the humanity connected to the government of God. The high priest of Israel was commanded to wear a breastplate studded with twelve precious stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel (Ex. 28:17, 20). Thus, symbolically the people were ever to be upon his heart, the place of affection and love. The first and last of these stones was the jasper and the sardius. The mention of the jasper and the sardius in connection with the throne of God is a beautiful reminder that although there is an element of hardness and holiness inevitable in the judgment of God, those qualities, fearful in themselves, are not divorced from humanity. The One to whom all judgment will be given is Himself both God and man (John 5:22, 27).

One final comment on Revelation 4:3, and on the High Priest's breastplate which was placed over the High Priest's heart:

It is interesting to note that the rainbow encircling the throne is in colour like an emerald. Yes, it certainly brings us back to Genesis 9 - and in wrath, God is remembering His mercy. The other stone colours point to Christ, and the emerald here also points to the Messiah from the tribe of Judah, who already paid the price for the sins of the world and bore God's wrath in the believer's place. Thus indicating even in the midst of all the judgements being poured out upon the earth, the Father remembers His Son who died for our sins and He will have mercy on all those who repent and turn to the Saviour even in the darkest time in earth's history.

Truly the Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy to reign!

Revelation 5:5-10 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 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. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Oh, come soon, Lord Jesus!

January 22nd, 2025

Jerry Bouey

A Peculiar Treasure

A Peculiar Treasure

One of the five crowns that we can earn as rewards in the Christian life is the crown of rejoicing. These are the people that we have won to the Lord by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. While this reward may also be physical (ie. a literal crown we earn in service to the Lord) - these crowns are also the people we had a part in the salvation of, part of the people we will spend eternity with.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

In eternity, we will forever be rejoicing in these loved ones. But did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ also rejoices in those He has saved, and we become His crown, and we also become jewels in His crown. Both descriptions are used of us.

Malachi 3:16-17  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Isaiah 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Zechariah 9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.

The people of God - whether in the Old Testament (ie. the nation of Israel), or in the New Testament (ie. the Bride of Christ, the church) - are God's peculiar treasure, a treasure He has made His own.

Exodus 19:3-6 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

In Exodus, Israel is declared to be God's peculiar treasure, and in 1 Peter, the church is called His peculiar people. The passage in 1 Peter basically applies the same terms to us today that God used for Israel. (In eternity, the people of God will be one.)

Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines peculiar as:

One's own property. Appropriate; belonging to a person and to him only. Exclusive property; that which belongs to a person in exclusion of others.

Consider the following parable on the kingdom of Heaven:

Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

According to Matthew 13:38, the field is the world. The Lord Jesus Christ found a treasure in this world and for joy went and bought that field (see Hebrews 12:2), and therefore purchased that treasure and made it His very own.

Just like the nation of Israel, we are God's peculiar treasure and God's peculiar people that the Lord Jesus Christ paid everything for.

Adam sinned and lost his dominion over the earth. Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, is the Kinsman Redeemer that paid the price to buy back what was lost through sin. The book of Revelation is about opening the book with seven seals. That book is the title deed to the earth. Only the Saviour Himself has paid the price to claim this world as His own.

Revelation 5:1-10 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 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. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

It is important to note that God loves Israel and loves the church because He is love, not because of anything we have done or any personal value we could give Him. See 1 John 4:8, 16. In fact, the Lord Himself says this about Israel:

Deuteronomy 7:6-8 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

We could say the same about all God's people throughout history - whether Israel, the church, or other Gentiles who were saved in the Old Testament - none of us could ever be worthy. The Lord Jesus Christ did not go to the cross and die for us because we were worthy. We could never be worthy apart from His work in our lives.

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

When we were at our worst, the Lord Jesus Christ gave His best for us - shed His precious, sinless blood for our sins. While we could never be worthy in ourselves, the love of God is what gives us worth in His sight. His love makes us worthy.

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Psalm 45:11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

Any beauty we have is only because we are in Him - yet God Himself delights in the changes wrought in us through His Holy Spirit.

This is so eloquently expressed by Matthew Henry in his comments on Song of Solomon 4:

The great delight Christ takes in his church and in all believers. He delights in them, As in an agreeable bride, adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2), who greatly desires her beauty, Psalm 45:11. No expressions of love can be more passionate than these here, in which Christ manifests his affection to his church; and yet that great proof of his love, his dying for it, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, goes far beyond them all. A spouse so dearly bought and paid for could not but be dearly loved. Such a price being given for her, a high value must needs be put upon her accordingly; and both together may well set us a wondering at the height and depth, and length and breadth, of the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that love in which he gave himself for us and gives himself to us.

Observe, (1.) How he is affected towards his spouse: Thou hast ravished my heart; the word is used only here. Thou hast hearted me, or Thou has unhearted me. New words are coined to express the inexpressibleness of Christ's surprising love to his church; and the strength of that love is set forth by that which is a weakness in men, the being so much in love with one object as to be heartless to every thing else. This may refer to that love which Christ had to the chosen remnant, before the worlds were, when his delights were with the sons of men (Proverbs 8:31), that first love, which brought him from heaven to earth, to seek and save them at such vast expense, yet including the complacency he takes in them when he has brought them to himself. Note, Christ's heart is upon his church; so it has appeared all along. His treasure is in it; it is his peculiar treasure (Exodus 19:5); and therefore there his heart is also. "Never was love like unto the love of Christ, which made him even mindless of himself, when he emptied himself of his glory, and despised all shame and pain, for our sakes. The wound of love towards us, which he had from eternity in himself, made him neglect all the wounds and reproaches of the cross;" so Bishop Reynolds. Thus let us love him. (2.) What it is that thus affects him with delight.

[1.] The regard she has to him: Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes, those doves' eyes, clear and chaste (which were commended, Song of Solomon 4:1), with one glance of those eyes. Christ is wonderfully pleased with those that look unto him as their Saviour, and through the eye of faith dart their affections to him, above any rival whatsoever, and whose eyes are ever towards him; he is soon aware of the first look of a soul towards him and meets it with his favours.

[2.] The ornaments she has from him, that is, the obedience she yields to him, for that is the chain of her neck, the graces that enrich her soul, which are connected as links in chain, the exercise of these graces in a conversation which adorns both herself and the doctrine of Jesus Christ, which she professes to believe (as a gold chain is an ornament to persons of quality), and an entire submission to the commanding power of his love... She had said of Christ's love, It is better than wine (Song of Solomon 1:2), and now Christ says so of hers...

[4.] The ointments, the odours wherewith she is perfumed, the gifts and graces of the Spirit, her good works, which are an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God, Philippians 4:18. The smell of thy ointment is better than all spices... Love and obedience to God are more pleasing to Christ than sacrifice or incense. The smell of her garments too, the visible profession she makes of religion, and relation to Christ, before men, and wherein she appears to the world, this is very grateful to Christ, as the smell of Lebanon. Christ having put upon his spouse the white raiment of his own righteousness (Revelation 3:18), and the righteousness of saints (Revelation 19:8), and this perfumed with holy joy and comfort, he is well pleased with it.

[5] Her words, both in her devotion to God and her discourses with men (Song of Solomon 4:11): Thy lips O my spouse! drop as the honeycomb, drop that which is very sweet, and drop it freely and plentifully. If what God speaks to us be sweeter to us than the honey and the honeycomb (Psalm 19:10), what we say to him in prayer and praise shall also be pleasing to him: Sweet is thy voice. And if out of a good treasure in the heart we bring forth good things, if our speech be always with grace, if our lips use knowledge aright, if they disperse knowledge, they then, in Christ's account, even drop the honeycomb, out-drop it. Honey and milk (the two staple commodities of Canaan) are under thy tongue; that is, in thy heart, not only reserved there for thy own use as a sweet morsel for thyself, but ready there for the use of others. In the word of God there is sweet and wholesome nourishment, milk for babes, honey for those that are grown up. Christ is well-pleased with those that are full of his word.

The Lord God praises in us the work He Himself did in and through us. He transformed us, made us beautiful in His sight, and is pleased by the eternal transformation.

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Song of Solomon 4:7 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

Psalm 45:13 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

Consider one more parable of the kingdom of Heaven:

Matthew 13:45-46  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

Again, we see the Lord Jesus Christ giving all He had to buy that one pearl of great price.

How is a pearl made? A grain of sand or some other irritant gets inside the oyster shell and injures the oyster. The oyster then basically sheds its blood (nacre, mother of pearl) to coat the irritant. Over time this mother of pearl coating transforms what had once hurt the pearl into a valuable treasure, worth so much more than it ever was before.

We are that pearl of great price. Jesus Christ bought the church with His precious blood:

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

The grain of sand that once injured the oyster was transformed into a beautiful pearl. The people of God - whose sins once crucified the Saviour - are now transformed into a beautiful treasure in His sight.

Yes, we were once a people that had hurt Him by our sins, injured and crucified Him, wandered and rebelled against Him - BUT NOW are transformed into vessels of mercy, into beautiful treasures in the eyes of the only one that truly matters - we are changed by the touch of the Master's hands, molded by the hands of the Heavenly Potter.

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Jeremiah 18:2-6 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Even though our past may have broken us, even perhaps shattered us into pieces in the eyes of the world, when we come to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, He remakes our vessels into a work of honour - a work He can take great pleasure and satisfaction in. (See Revelation 4:11.)

2 Timothy 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

We are His peculiar people - yeah, His peculiar treasure, if you will.

Psalm 68:13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

January 3rd, 2025
Jerry Bouey

What Is Your Name? Sermon

What Is Your Name?

Proverbs 30:4
Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended?
who hath gathered the wind in his fists?
who hath bound the waters in a garment?
who hath established all the ends of the earth?
what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

1. God’s Names:

A name in the Bible is who a person is, what they represent, basically their character. Every time God revealed a new name to His people, He was showing them more of what He could do in their lives. He was showing them who He was, and what He could do for His people, in them, and through them.

One of my favourite passages in the New Testament is:

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Please click here for a breakdown of this passage.)

All the trials we go through, all the promises we claim, all the names of the Lord given in the various seasons of our lives teach us more about the character of God.

In Exodus, when God was calling Moses to lead His people out of slavery, we see Moses asking the Lord a very important question:

Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Exodus 6:2-3 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.

Jehovah means “I am that I am”, the LORD, the self-existent God. This is the name God chose to reveal Himself by to the Israelites, and it occurs over 6500 times in the Bible. The other main name or title used for the Lord is literally the Hebrew word for God: Elohim, a singular noun with a plural meaning. (The "im" ending signifies that the word is plural. For example, cherub and cherubim, seraph and seraphim, etc.) This Hebrew word in effect shows the Trinity or the Godhead all throughout the Old Testament - one God in three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We see many names of God in both Testaments. In Exodus 34, we see a very intriguing sevenfold description of His name:

Exodus 34:5-7 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God,
1) merciful and gracious,
2) longsuffering,
3) and abundant in goodness and truth,
4) Keeping mercy for thousands,
5) forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
6) and that will by no means clear the guilty;
7) visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

There are sooo many names and titles of God in the Bible. I tried doing some research on how many, and all the numbers I found varied. In Nave's Topical Bible, it gives approximately 253 names of the Lord Jesus Christ, and some I could think of were not even listed. Add that to the multitude of names for the Father and the Holy Spirit and you have a manifold treasure chest of wonder.

Asking several friends the last few weeks about their favourite names for God and I was given a wide variety. Names such as: Immanuel, meaning “God with us”; Abba, Father; The Comforter - John 14:16-17; The Desire of Nations. In that list, no doubt, are several of the compound names of the Lord. There are 9 of them, the most well known and most loved are Jehovah-Jireh (the LORD my provider), the LORD my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1). Some love the LORD my Banner (Jehovah Nissi) or the LORD my healer (Jehovah Rapha).

The nine compound names and their translations into English are as follows:

1) Jehovah-Jireh, The LORD my Provider (Genesis 22:8,13-14)
2) Jehovah-Rapha, The LORD my Healer (Exodus 15:26)
3) Jehovah-Nissi, The LORD is my Banner (Exodus 17:15)
4) Jehovah-Qadash, The LORD thy Sanctifier (Exodus 31:13)
5) Jehovah-Shalom, The LORD our Peace (Judges 6:23-24)
6) Jehovah-Raah, The LORD my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
7) Jehovah-Sabaoth, The LORD of Hosts (Isaiah 6:3)
8) Jehovah-Tsidkenu, The LORD our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
9) Jehovah-Shammah, The LORD Is There (ie. Present) (Ezekiel 48:35)

The name “Jesus” means “the LORD our Salvation,” a further revelation of the magnitude of the LORD. Remember the name the LORD means "I Am That I Am, or I Am." In The New Testament, we see Jesus claiming to be God, claiming to be the I Am of the Old Testament.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus’ 7 I Am statements in John:

1) The Bread of Life - John 6:35, 48, 51
2) The Light of the World - John 8:12; 9:5
3) The Door of the Sheep - John 10:7, 9
4) The Good Shepherd - John 10:11, 14
5) The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
6) The Way, the Truth, and the Life - John 14:6
7) The True Vine - John 15:1, 5

Through the many names of God, He reveals to His people that He is everything they could ever need or want in this life, and in eternity.

2. Jacob’s Name:

Sum up Jacob’s history:

Genesis 25:20-34. Prophecy of the two sons, their character, Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 27, especially verses 33-36. Jacob and Rebekah's deception of Isaac and the taking of the blessing. This disrupted their family and led to Jacob fleeing to Haran, where his uncle Laban lived.

Genesis 28, especially verse 11-22. Verses 13-15 contain a sevenfold promise to Jacob. Jacob is saved here, names the place Bethel (the house of God), and makes a covenant with God.

Genesis 29-31. Jacob learned how to manipulate people during the 20 years he lived with and worked with his uncle, Laban. Working 14 years for his two wives (being tricked to marry Leah, then working seven more years to get the wife he loved). Six more years of working with his uncle, where we find Laban changed his wages ten different times. Then one day, Laban and his sons were no longer favourable to Jacob. That was when the Lord called Jacob to return back home to the land of his fathers. Genesis 31:3. God promised to protect Jacob and his family, cautioning Laban from doing Jacob any harm.

Genesis 32:1-2. Jacob encounters a host of angels, then he sends messengers to Esau, only to find out shortly that Esau was coming with 400 armed men to meet him. Ever the manipulator, Jacob divides his family into two, rationalizing that if one of his wives and children are killed, he still has the other.  Then in desperation, he prays. The Lord confirms that He will keep His promises to Jacob, to make his family prosperous and numerous. He sends a large gift of his cattle to appease Esau, and camps for the night. All these years later, still living by his wits, by his ability to work each situation to his advantage, to manipulate others.

Genesis 32:21-32

Verse 25. God took away Jacob's physical strength.

Verse 27. Jacob is confronted with who he really was (a supplanter, a deceiver) - and the Lord changed his name to Israel (a prince or contender with God, having power with God).

Verses 29-30 Jacob asked the Man what His name was - but the Lord did not answer. Verse 30 indicates he knew he was wrestling with God, but did not know His personal name.

This encounter with the Lord God changed Jacob forever, and is referred to in Hebrews 11:21.

3. The Angel Of The LORD’s Name:

During the time of the Judges, when the nation of Israel was oppressed by the Philistines, God promised them another deliverer. The Angel of the LORD sought out Manoah and his wife, and said that He will give them a son who would be a Nazarite from the womb. 

Judges 13:1-3. The Angel gives them the instructions on how they were to raise their child, then we see them wondering who this Angel of God was. Manoah prays to the Lord to send the messenger to them again, and He does. 

Verses 15-23. After their encounter with the Angel of the LORD, they realize He is actually God, and were fearful because they had seen Him face to face. When they asked Him His name, He said it was secret. 

Judges 13:18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

Secret here is Strong's #6383, from 6381. The word wondrously in verse 18 is 6381. It wasn't time yet to reveal the Angel of the Lord's name...

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. A secret is something you share with a close friend or confidant, someone you trust.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

God will reveal things to His people over time, and we find further revelations of Himself at various times in their history.

4. God’s Character:

Later, in the book of Jeremiah, we learn that the nation of Israel would be judged and carried away captive by Babylon, and their lands would lie abandoned for seventy years. However, the Lord moves Jeremiah, the kinsman redeemer, to buy his uncle's property. After going through all the legal proceedings (which is an interesting type to study out!), we are given these promises by the Lord.

Read Jeremiah 32:13-27. 

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Strong’s #6381

Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Strong’s #6381

In Genesis 18:9-14, Abraham and Sarah, who was barren, and who were both past childbearing age, are promised that their desired son will at last be born within the next year.

Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. Strong’s #6381

The phrase "too hard" is a different form of the same word that was translated as "secret" in Judges 13. Nothing is too hard for the God of all creation, the God of all flesh. He has all wisdom and power to bring about His will in our lives. Just like He could bring the nation of Israel back to the Promised Land after their seventy year captivity, and could provide the promised miraculous son to a couple that was past their natural childbearing years, so too can He help His children in the trials and struggles we face day by day.

5. The Secret Name Revealed:

In the time of the Assyrian invasion, the nation of Israel was discouraged due to the judgment by the Lord for their sins. They were fearful and seemingly without hope.

We read about this sad situation in Isaiah 8:20-9:7.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Jesus’ name is Wonderful: Strong’s #6382

Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Nothing is too hard for God, nothing is impossible, nothing is too wonderful for the Lord God to do in our lives, if we will just walk with Him and trust Him with all our needs and cares, trust Him with all we face day by day.

We can trust Him:

With the salvation of our loved ones. Romans 1:4; 8:32

The following is from Spurgeon's sermon entitled Is There Anything Too Hard For The Lord?:

Apply this to any case of great sin. Select anyone whom you knew to be especially hard-hearted and pray for him earnestly and hopefully. Choose out some glaring sinner, or special heretic, or fierce hater of religion and pray for him. You say to yourself, "I will choose an easier case." Do not. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Will you, in your judgment, set anyone beyond the reach of mercy and out of the bounds of grace? Make an application of our text to the most desperate and loathsome sinner and believe that nothing is too hard for the Lord. O chief of sinners, if you are here this morning — blasphemer, swearer, thief, drunkard, whoremonger, harlot, take home this question to yourself — Thus says the Lord, "Is anything too hard for Me?"

If you believe in the Lord Jesus, God has saved you, saved you now. He can and will wash every believing sinner from all his sins through the blood of Jesus and He will graciously blot out all his iniquities. Remember how He forgave David and Manasseh and the dying thief and Saul of Tarsus and the woman that was a sinner? May the Holy Spirit make a personal application of omnipotent love to each of you who now feel your sins! Salvation is not too hard a thing for the Lord.

With a family that glorifies the Lord.

With a transformed life.

With anything you face day by day.

I Call Him Saviour

All that you could ever need is found in the Lord;
He’s the First and the Last, the Beginning And The End.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God With Us - Immanuel -
The Messiah is my Beloved, and my True Friend.

He’s the Precious Rock on which I build my life,
The Sure Foundation and the Corner Stone;
The Lamb of God who died for all my sins;
The Shepherd who will never leave me alone.

Jesus is the King of kings and the King of Glory;
The Desire of Nations is God's Only Begotten Son;
He is the Ancient of Days, and the coming Prince of Peace;
He is the Branch of Righteousness, and the Holy One.

He is my Comforter, my Shield and my High Tower;
In Jesus Christ, I have grace and eternal favour;
There are oh, so many names for the Bishop of my Soul -
Some call Him the Almighty God - but I call Him my Saviour.

Poem written December 18th, 2024
Sermon written December 21, 2024
Jerry Bouey

No Man Cared For My Soul

No Man Cared For My Soul

Psalm 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

This is one of the saddest verses in all of Scripture. There was a point in David's life that he felt no man cared for him. He was left all alone in this world, left all alone to fend for himself. More striking than the fact that no one cared for him, was the fact that no one cared for his soul; no one cared for him spiritually, no one cared where he stood before God, where he was in his walk with the Lord. No man cared for his soul.

Our study today starts in John chapter five. It is the story of the impotent man. Again we come across the phrase, "no man." In this case, there was no man to help this powerless man to find the healing he so desperately needed, but had given up all hope of receiving.

John 5:1-9 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered Him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

Several things immediately come to our attention:

1) Healing was available.

2) The man knew he needed healing.

3) The Lord knew he desired healing, and was completely willing to provide it.

4) But the impotent man had almost given up hope, because there was no one to help him.

The story is very interesting and there is much to learn from here. The name Bethesda means House Of Mercy. The five porches picture God's grace (the number five typifies grace throughout the Bible). While the porches covered many people, only those who entered the pool of Bethesda received healing from the Lord. After the angel stirred up the waters, whosoever entered therein was healed of whatsoever disease he had. While there was healing available for those who looked for it, it was only applied to those who had help to receive it. (I will come back to this thought later.)

Some other verses on the theme of no man are:

Isaiah 41:28 For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

Isaiah 50:2a, Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?...

Isaiah 59:16a And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor:

1 Samuel 2:25a If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him?

Job 9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Job 16:21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

2 Timothy 4:16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me.

Ezekiel 22:30 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.

Psalm 142:4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

While this problem is a grievous one, the Lord has provided several solutions:

What did the Lord Jesus Christ Himself do about this problem?

The Old Testament paints a picture of the world in need of a Saviour, of Israel in need of a Kinsman-Redeemer. A Kinsman-Redeemer was a relative that was in a position to redeem their enslaved or poverty-stricken kinsman. This redeemer needed to be someone who was related, as well as someone who was physically able to pay the required price - another enslaved family member could not do so.

In a very real sense, spiritually, the world is in the same bind. Mankind has fallen into bondage to sin; they are poverty-stricken in God's sight, and there is no man living who was born without sin, all are tainted by the sin nature. Something needed to be done. A Kinsman-Redeemer needed to be found. That Redeemer was Jesus Christ, God Himself, who became a man to die for our sins. He took on our human nature so He could legally redeem mankind. He became flesh and dwelt among us. He who knew no sin bore our sins on the cross of Calvary. He paid the price that our Heavenly Father demanded be paid to ransom humanity from sin.

Revelation chapter five reveals what took place in Heaven. The book mentioned in this passage is the title deed for the reclamation/redemption of the Earth.

Revelation 5:1-9 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 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. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. And when He had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

While others may have been willing, this passage (and many others) teach that Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah) was the only sinless Man capable of redeeming fallen mankind from their enslavement to sin and death, from the kingdom of darkness. Through His death for our sins, His burial, and His physical resurrection, He did what no one else in the history of the world could do: He provided for our complete salvation, which is ours by personal faith in Him. This is the reason the whole Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) declares Him as the ONLY SAVIOUR! (If you disagree with that, take your complaint up with the Author!)

Isaiah 59:16-17 And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.

Isaiah 63:5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me.

Just like the impotent man in John 5, there are many today who are looking for answers, for healing, for forgiveness of sins, for refuge from the fire of God's eternal wrath, but many don't know where to look, or how to receive the help they need. No man is there to help them find the healing pool, to carry them to the fountain of living waters. Jesus is the source of eternal life; His blood is the fountain that cleanses all our sins, but who is there to help them?

What can we do about it?

The price for sin has been paid, and yet the despairing cry goes out, "There is no man to help me!"

The biggest way we can help the lost is by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 1:16,  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  But someone must go and bring them the Gospel. Whether it is across the world, or across the street, we are commanded to go and tell others the Good News of salvation. You may not be called to be a missionary, but you are commanded to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 5:20)

Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

The word for beautiful means "belonging to the right hour or season (timely)." There can never be a wrong time to preach the saving Gospel to those who are lost and on their way to Hell. The Good News is beautiful to the soul who comes to Jesus Christ! (See also Proverbs 15:23; 25:11)

We must first show our love for the lost souls around us by doing all we can to reach them for Christ. We must pray fervently for the lost. We must give to missions to send the Gospel out to other countries. And we must go where we can, and share the Gospel with those we personally come in contact with. All our praying for lost souls won't amount to much if we don't put feet to those prayers by witnessing to them about Jesus Christ! How can we expect the Lord to save our loved ones if we couldn't be bothered to share the Gospel with them. Yes, the Lord can use anyone to reach the lost, but He wants to use you (and me)!

We can also show our love for saved souls by teaching and reminding them where refuge is to be found from all of life's trials and afflictions - in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Psalm 142:4-5 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto Thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Isaiah 50:4-5 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

Isaiah 63:7-9 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His mercies, and according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses. For He said, Surely they are My people, children that will not lie: so He was their Saviour. In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

2 Timothy 4:16-18 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Like the impotent man in the Gospel of John, there are many today who need help to reach the healing waters of Shiloah. (See Isaiah 8:6) There are many lost souls who need help to understand the Word of God and find the Saviour revealed therein. (See Acts 8:30-31)

John 5:15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

1 Corinthians 10:24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. The idea here is for Christians to be concerned with the welfare of others around them, particularly spiritually. We need to consider the eternal welfare of those we encounter every day. When the impotent man was healed, he told others that it was Jesus who had healed him. We need to share the Good News of salvation with others that they too may be healed of their sins. The healing waters are available for whosoever will heed the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The psalmist's cry, "No man cared for my soul!"

Our response, let's tell them Jesus cares!

Study written May 25th, 2002

By Jerry Bouey

Not Of This World

Not Of This World

Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, descended from Eber - Eber was the third generation after Shem (Genesis 10:21-24). The name Eber appears 7 times in Genesis (in the Table of Nations in Genesis chapters 10-11). Abram was the sixth generation after Eber, and he is often referred to as a Hebrew, and the nation that descended from him are called the Hebrews. The name Hebrew comes from the name Eber.** Eber means “the region beyond,” and therefore a Hebrew is “one from beyond.”

**It is interesting to note that Eber is the 14th generation from creation (Enoch being the 7th). The people of God in the Old Testament take their name (the Hebrews) from this man. Contrast this with the rebel, Nimrod, the founder of Babel/Babylon, who was the 13th generation (see Genesis 10:6-10). In Genesis, Abram is the 20th generation (see Genesis 11:10-32). However, if you look at Luke 3:34-38, you will see Abraham listed as the 21st generation (counting backwards from verse 38, Adam being the first generation; and Cainan being listed in verse 36 - for whatever reason he is not listed in the genealogies in Genesis). That makes the 7th generation, the “dedicated” man, Enoch (see Genesis 5:21-24 and Jude 1:14-15); Eber (the namesake for the people of God, the Hebrews), the 14th generation; and Abram/Abraham, the father of the Jews physically (Romans 4:1) and the father of all who believe spiritually (see Romans chapter 4, where Abraham is called a “father” seven times; see especially Romans 4:11), the 21st generation. If you count out the number of generations listed in Luke 3:23-38, you will also discover that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, is the 77th generation from God! Interesting stuff indeed!

I love studying out Old Testament types and pictures and seeing how they portray spiritual things that are opened up to us in the light of the New Testament. Consider the following passage:

Numbers 15:37-41  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.

In regards to the priesthood and the tabernacle system, the colour blue (ie. blue thread or blue material) is representative of Heaven. They were to put blue fringes (ie. tassels) on the borders of their garments so that everything they did was with the things of Heaven in view, in light of the glory of God, in light of eternity. We see that exact same idea portrayed in Colossians:

Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Are you living for the Lord, keeping your focus on Him, and serving Him day by day?

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

This also comes to mind regarding Abraham:

Joshua 24:2-3 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

We also see the following statement about Abraham, the other patriarchs, and OT believers:

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

And for us:

John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1 Peter 2:9-11  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

A really great quote from Warren Wiersbe from his BE Commentaries on the last passage above is: “Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), our names are written down in heaven (Luke 10:20), and we are “pilgrims” in this world (1 Pet. 1:1). A fugitive is running from home, a vagabond has no home, a stranger is away from home, but a pilgrim is heading home. This dual citizenship forces us to look at this world from the viewpoint of heaven.”

Are you living for this world or for the world that is to come? Are you of this world, living for the things of this world - or are you not of this world? Let us keep our minds steadfastly focused on the things of eternity, storing up treasures in Heaven, and keeping our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

November 6th, 2024
Jerry Bouey

For a further blessing on this theme, please read the following poem, Soaring Aloft On Eagle's Wings