The Lord’s Work – Part 10
John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
The manna was the pattern, but not the true. So what are the parallels? What does the pattern say about the true?
If one laid it up until the morning, it was no longer available to eat. Why did it spoil?
As the pattern, it foreshadowed Jesus, but also stood for the old covenant.
- When the sun waxed hot, it melted. As a pattern of the law… work was allowed, required. There was a time to gather the manna, to work, and there was a time when there was no more work possible.
- When the sun rises the next day, that old meat spoiled. As a pattern of the law itself… There is a time to work and a time when works are not longer profitable. There is a time to eat this bread (the law), and a time when one cannot eat those old things. The old things were “done away”.
- When the sun rises the next day, that old meat spoiled. As a pattern of Christ… Why did it spoil? How long do we live? ONE day. You need to eat the Lord’s bread (Jesus) in THAT day. You can’t eat it after you die.
- The new meat (Jesus), in the day of rest (in the millennium and in eternity), will not spoil. So we are to eat it now, and lay it up now, and then enjoy it in the day of rest.
- On the sabbath day, one COULD not search for it. Why? One had to have already laid it up. It was already with you, in the camp. The millennium, Jesus is on the earth as King. Then, its time to eat the fruit of our labors. If you’re searching you’re going to find the wrong bread.
What is “the true bread” by which a man is tried? Jesus Christ. Not manna. Not a wafer. It would be pretty easy to disapprove a man that trusts in a wafer. You still hunger again. The wafer spoils. The wafer wastes.
It is the spiritual bread that is “the true bread”, not the carnal. Its the Word and word of God.
John 6:58-63 This is that bread which came down from heaven: … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
This is what a man is proved by: doctrine, of the word of God. That is the true fire, that is the true bread, that is the true living water. And if a man is to be approved, he must be tried with the words, the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, … 4 And they [the heathen nations with their gods] were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
The Lord left some heathen, some false gods, and some false prophets in the land to prove Israel by them. He left some defiled bread there. He left some false doctrine. To prove them, whether they would eat His bread, or the bread of idols.
Deuteronomy 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Do you wonder why these things are so hidden? Why are they called mysteries? Why are they so hard to see? Why is the truth so hard to find? Why is there so much doubt about who to believe? Why are there so many religions? Why are there so many “denominations”? Why are there so many false prophets? Why are the false prophets able to deceive so many? Why are they allowed to?? Why is there so much leavened bread???? Why does the Lord allow it?
To prove you. To try you. Whether you will eat His bread, or the bread of the false prophets.
–
Philippians 2:19-22 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, … 22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
It is the gospel coming out of your mouth that is the proof of you.
Prove your own selves… know ye not your own selves… Where is the proof?!?
2 Corinthians 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
The proof of you is whether ye be obedient in “all things” (the gospel, eternal life).
Try the heart to see if it is obedient in all things (i.e., the gospel).
Try the heart, prove it with hard questions, to see what is within the man. All things? Eternal life? Or confusion – and thus every evil work?
Your carnal works cannot be used to prove yourself. The works of the law prove you unrighteous, and under sin.
Romans 3:9-10 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
If you call yourself righteous, when none is but God, it proves you perverse. Proclaiming your own righteousness proves you preserve.
Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Your worKs cannot be used to prove yourself. Rather, your worDs prove you.
It is the gospel coming out of your mouth that proves you a true man.
It is anything else coming out of your mouth that proves you a spy.
It is your works (your own righteousness) coming out of your mouth that proves you perverse.
Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
This verse doesn’t say what the false prophets would like it to say.
It doesn’t say: but let every man prove himself by his own works.
It doesn’t say: but let every man prove, demonstrate, his true faith by doing good works.
Your works don’t prove you. Rather, you are to prove your work.
Don’t use your works to prove yourself! Rather, prove your work, with the word of God. With fire, with bread, with doctrine.
You ought to try, test, examine your work (singular) by the word of God, to judge whether your work be good and true, or whether it be evil. What sort is your work? Try it now, because He will try it soon.
Good fruit or evil fruit? Pure oil or stinking ointment? Clean bread or defiled? Leavened or unleavened? Spiritual or natural? A living stone or a natural stone. New Jerusalem or old Jerusalem. Eternal life or death? Jesus or anything else?
What is your work? Paul knew where his work was… it was in the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
Our work is in the gospel. Our work is in the word of God. Prove your own work. Are your works spiritual or natural?
Paul knew where His work was.. it was in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul knew what his was… it was people.
Paul’s work was New Jerusalem. Paul’s work was husbandry. Paul’s work was the body of Christ.
Paul proved his work (the brethren, the churches) with the word of God.
Have you proved your work? Do the people you have preached to have eternal life? Or are they confused? Or are YOU not sure? What do they teach.. is their doctrine pure? Prove your own work!
—
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
MANY will stand before the Lord and say, “we did many wonderful works”, to which He will say “ye work iniquity”. They had not proved their own work. If they had, they would have found it to be fake.
I don’t want that to be me! Do you want that to be you?
We better prove our doctrine. We better try our gospel. We better test our prophecies!
Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
The false prophets don’t KNOW they are false. They are sincere. They believe it. But they are deceived.
IF you have not proved your doctrines, your prophecies, you’re a false prophet.
“Lord, Lord, I prophesied in your name, I did many wonderful works in your name.”
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You need to prove your doctrine, and you also need to prove your own work. These have proved neither, but were deceived. Their doctrine was false/fake, and their work is false/fake.
We better figure out what a true good work is, and whether that work is our work. Is your work good? Are your “good works” true good works, or are they reprobate? Prove them! Try them. Put them on trial!
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Prove yourself. Put yourself on trial!
In court, we use evidence to prove innocence or guilt. You need evidence that Jesus Christ is on you! You need evidence that you are “in the faith”! Well, guess what the evidence is?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is the evidence, of course. Do you have faith in you? That is evidence.
If faith comes out of your mouth, with no works involved, that is evidence.
Works are not called “evidence”, but faith IS.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The evidence is faith alone. Faith, without mixture. Without works. Without boasting. Without confusion.
Now, I suppose finished works (fruit) will be evidence at the judgment, but carnal works (what you do and don’t do) are not evidence to us now. You can’t use them to prove yourself. If you use them to prove yourself, then you will be completely blindsided when one day the Lord proves you with FIRE.
How does one prove himself? How does one test to know that he is not a reprobate?
By faith, by words, by meat and drink, by fire, by doctrine, by the word of God, with hard questions.
Certainly not by works. There is nothing else with which you should try yourself. Nothing else to prove yourself by, other than by the Word of God.
Finally, once something is proved, and found to be good and true and obedient, it is called “approved”. And we are approved by – no surprise – the word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
How else should one be proved, and by what else can one be deemed approved? Nothing.
Work in that book. Dig in that book.
Divide the word… divide truth from error. Divide flesh from Spirit. Divide Jesus Christ from everything else. Divide true doctrine from error. Divide strange fire from fire. Divide pure oil from stinking ointment. Divide leavened bread from unleavened. Divide faith from works. Divide carnal works from spiritual works. Divide our works from the Lord’s works. Divide our faith from His faith. Divide false prophets from true. Divide false apostles from true. Divide false brethren from the brethren. Divide spies from true men. Divide reprobates from Real Christians. DIVIDE! Lay down THE LINE!
—
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Does this contradict what we’ve established?
God himself was approved by the Lord’s work: working what only He can work. By bringing forth bread and water. By healing the sick, by raising the dead. By working salvation in the Earth. How? With His word. The only way for us to do the Lord’s work is in the gospel.
Build the city of New Jerusalem (with words, with wisdom), that work (when it is tried) will stand witness for you, that you are approved.
Lay the line down between man’s work and the Lord’s work.
1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
The false prophets are here to PROVE YOU. Heresies are present to TEST YOU.
The Lord does not prove you with works, but with doctrine – MEAT (bread).
You will be justified or condemned not by your works, but by your words.
How else can we approve a man? How else can we know ourselves? How else can we distinguish between Real Christians and false brethren. How else can we distinguish between true pastors and false prophets? By their worDs. Whether their words are His words. Whether they are faith and hope, or they are doubt and confusion.
Romans 16:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. …
A man is not approved by his works. A man, and his works, must be approved IN CHRIST.
Either one is IN CHRIST (approved), or in works (reprobate).
Sep 27 2020
The Lord’s Work – Part 10
Downloadable Word document:
The Lord’s Work – Part 10
The Lord’s Work – Part 10
John 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
The manna was the pattern, but not the true. So what are the parallels? What does the pattern say about the true?
If one laid it up until the morning, it was no longer available to eat. Why did it spoil?
As the pattern, it foreshadowed Jesus, but also stood for the old covenant.
What is “the true bread” by which a man is tried? Jesus Christ. Not manna. Not a wafer. It would be pretty easy to disapprove a man that trusts in a wafer. You still hunger again. The wafer spoils. The wafer wastes.
It is the spiritual bread that is “the true bread”, not the carnal. Its the Word and word of God.
John 6:58-63 This is that bread which came down from heaven: … the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
This is what a man is proved by: doctrine, of the word of God. That is the true fire, that is the true bread, that is the true living water. And if a man is to be approved, he must be tried with the words, the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Judges 3:1 Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, … 4 And they [the heathen nations with their gods] were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.
The Lord left some heathen, some false gods, and some false prophets in the land to prove Israel by them. He left some defiled bread there. He left some false doctrine. To prove them, whether they would eat His bread, or the bread of idols.
Deuteronomy 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Do you wonder why these things are so hidden? Why are they called mysteries? Why are they so hard to see? Why is the truth so hard to find? Why is there so much doubt about who to believe? Why are there so many religions? Why are there so many “denominations”? Why are there so many false prophets? Why are the false prophets able to deceive so many? Why are they allowed to?? Why is there so much leavened bread???? Why does the Lord allow it?
To prove you. To try you. Whether you will eat His bread, or the bread of the false prophets.
–
Philippians 2:19-22 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, … 22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
It is the gospel coming out of your mouth that is the proof of you.
Prove your own selves… know ye not your own selves… Where is the proof?!?
2 Corinthians 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
The proof of you is whether ye be obedient in “all things” (the gospel, eternal life).
Try the heart to see if it is obedient in all things (i.e., the gospel).
Try the heart, prove it with hard questions, to see what is within the man. All things? Eternal life? Or confusion – and thus every evil work?
Your carnal works cannot be used to prove yourself. The works of the law prove you unrighteous, and under sin.
Romans 3:9-10 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
If you call yourself righteous, when none is but God, it proves you perverse. Proclaiming your own righteousness proves you preserve.
Job 9:20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Your worKs cannot be used to prove yourself. Rather, your worDs prove you.
It is the gospel coming out of your mouth that proves you a true man.
It is anything else coming out of your mouth that proves you a spy.
It is your works (your own righteousness) coming out of your mouth that proves you perverse.
Galatians 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
This verse doesn’t say what the false prophets would like it to say.
It doesn’t say: but let every man prove himself by his own works.
It doesn’t say: but let every man prove, demonstrate, his true faith by doing good works.
Your works don’t prove you. Rather, you are to prove your work.
Don’t use your works to prove yourself! Rather, prove your work, with the word of God. With fire, with bread, with doctrine.
You ought to try, test, examine your work (singular) by the word of God, to judge whether your work be good and true, or whether it be evil. What sort is your work? Try it now, because He will try it soon.
Good fruit or evil fruit? Pure oil or stinking ointment? Clean bread or defiled? Leavened or unleavened? Spiritual or natural? A living stone or a natural stone. New Jerusalem or old Jerusalem. Eternal life or death? Jesus or anything else?
What is your work? Paul knew where his work was… it was in the gospel.
1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
Our work is in the gospel. Our work is in the word of God. Prove your own work. Are your works spiritual or natural?
Paul knew where His work was.. it was in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
Paul knew what his was… it was people.
Paul’s work was New Jerusalem. Paul’s work was husbandry. Paul’s work was the body of Christ.
Paul proved his work (the brethren, the churches) with the word of God.
Have you proved your work? Do the people you have preached to have eternal life? Or are they confused? Or are YOU not sure? What do they teach.. is their doctrine pure? Prove your own work!
—
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
MANY will stand before the Lord and say, “we did many wonderful works”, to which He will say “ye work iniquity”. They had not proved their own work. If they had, they would have found it to be fake.
I don’t want that to be me! Do you want that to be you?
We better prove our doctrine. We better try our gospel. We better test our prophecies!
Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
The false prophets don’t KNOW they are false. They are sincere. They believe it. But they are deceived.
IF you have not proved your doctrines, your prophecies, you’re a false prophet.
“Lord, Lord, I prophesied in your name, I did many wonderful works in your name.”
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You need to prove your doctrine, and you also need to prove your own work. These have proved neither, but were deceived. Their doctrine was false/fake, and their work is false/fake.
We better figure out what a true good work is, and whether that work is our work. Is your work good? Are your “good works” true good works, or are they reprobate? Prove them! Try them. Put them on trial!
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Prove yourself. Put yourself on trial!
In court, we use evidence to prove innocence or guilt. You need evidence that Jesus Christ is on you! You need evidence that you are “in the faith”! Well, guess what the evidence is?
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is the evidence, of course. Do you have faith in you? That is evidence.
If faith comes out of your mouth, with no works involved, that is evidence.
Works are not called “evidence”, but faith IS.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The evidence is faith alone. Faith, without mixture. Without works. Without boasting. Without confusion.
Now, I suppose finished works (fruit) will be evidence at the judgment, but carnal works (what you do and don’t do) are not evidence to us now. You can’t use them to prove yourself. If you use them to prove yourself, then you will be completely blindsided when one day the Lord proves you with FIRE.
How does one prove himself? How does one test to know that he is not a reprobate?
By faith, by words, by meat and drink, by fire, by doctrine, by the word of God, with hard questions.
Certainly not by works. There is nothing else with which you should try yourself. Nothing else to prove yourself by, other than by the Word of God.
Finally, once something is proved, and found to be good and true and obedient, it is called “approved”. And we are approved by – no surprise – the word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
How else should one be proved, and by what else can one be deemed approved? Nothing.
Work in that book. Dig in that book.
Divide the word… divide truth from error. Divide flesh from Spirit. Divide Jesus Christ from everything else. Divide true doctrine from error. Divide strange fire from fire. Divide pure oil from stinking ointment. Divide leavened bread from unleavened. Divide faith from works. Divide carnal works from spiritual works. Divide our works from the Lord’s works. Divide our faith from His faith. Divide false prophets from true. Divide false apostles from true. Divide false brethren from the brethren. Divide spies from true men. Divide reprobates from Real Christians. DIVIDE! Lay down THE LINE!
—
Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Does this contradict what we’ve established?
God himself was approved by the Lord’s work: working what only He can work. By bringing forth bread and water. By healing the sick, by raising the dead. By working salvation in the Earth. How? With His word. The only way for us to do the Lord’s work is in the gospel.
Build the city of New Jerusalem (with words, with wisdom), that work (when it is tried) will stand witness for you, that you are approved.
Lay the line down between man’s work and the Lord’s work.
1 Corinthians 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
The false prophets are here to PROVE YOU. Heresies are present to TEST YOU.
The Lord does not prove you with works, but with doctrine – MEAT (bread).
You will be justified or condemned not by your works, but by your words.
How else can we approve a man? How else can we know ourselves? How else can we distinguish between Real Christians and false brethren. How else can we distinguish between true pastors and false prophets? By their worDs. Whether their words are His words. Whether they are faith and hope, or they are doubt and confusion.
Romans 16:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. …
A man is not approved by his works. A man, and his works, must be approved IN CHRIST.
Either one is IN CHRIST (approved), or in works (reprobate).
By Pastor • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0