Pastor Joseph Prince (3rd service on 2nd service playback)
Remember how the year of Jubilee started - it started out with challenges / problems / difficulties (i.e. Israel was surrounded by enemies) but out of that jubilee came
The jubilee victory that we shall receive far overwhelms the difficulties faced
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Recap last week
AD 70 to 1917 - Israel under the feet of Gentiles. Even though they were sinning, they were still offering blood sacrifices yearly on the Day of Atonement that covered their sins, so in a sense things were still “okay". Today, all our sins are remitted (not just covered) by blood of Jesus once and for all.
The opposition against this message was strong. But praise God, God comes through always!
The jubilee victory that we shall receive far overwhelms the difficulties faced
Recap last week
AD 70 to 1917 - Israel under the feet of Gentiles. Even though they were sinning, they were still offering blood sacrifices yearly on the Day of Atonement that covered their sins, so in a sense things were still “okay". Today, all our sins are remitted (not just covered) by blood of Jesus once and for all.
1917 - General Allenby rode into and liberated Jerusalem supernaturally. Armistice was signed exactly 11 months after on 11 Nov at 11am, thus marking the 11th hour generation. That's us - the most blessed and privileged generation. Call was also made for Jews to return to their homeland, but it was not heeded.
Every 50 years, God makes a call for Jews to return. So 50 years later is 1967 - Israel becomes a nation including whole of Jerusalem in the 6 day war like Joshua and walls of Jericho.
And another 50 years later is 2017!
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Sermon proper
Lev 25:9-10
Day of atonement = Yom Kippur day
Trumpet is sounded only after the sin offering = freedom is based on the blood of the sin offering
Jubilee means every debt canceled, every slave set free, every land returned to original owners
Isaiah 61 / Luke 4:17-21
Acceptable year of the Lord = dektos year = the free favours of God profusely abound
Acceptable year of the Lord = dektos year = the free favours of God profusely abound
There will be troubles and difficulties, but those won't abound
Even if you are faced with difficulties, expect the free favours of God to profusely abound!
Even if you are faced with difficulties, expect the free favours of God to profusely abound!
Lev 27
When you buy land, you will pay in proportion to the year of jubilee
E.g. if you buy 40 years before jubilee = more expensive
if you buy 10 years before jubilee = less expensive because the end will go back to the original owner
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This means the rapture will happen very soon
This generation will not pass away until these things are fulfilled (Matt 24:34)
No one knows the day or hour but of the times and seasons we will know (Matt 24:36). The season is now!
1/3 of earth population will be killed (Rev 9:18) but we'll be gone before then
No one knows the day or hour but of the times and seasons we will know (Matt 24:36). The season is now!
1/3 of earth population will be killed (Rev 9:18) but we'll be gone before then
Old Israel custom is that the bride won't know the exact day when bridegroom will come to get the bride but will know the season bcos she needs to get ready. Same, we see the day approaching already
Rapture is not second coming of Christ
Antichrist will come from the revive Roman empire (which is likely Europe) but Jesus will come, defeat him and establish millennium
We won't go through the tribulation, we'll be raptured away firstWe believe God for healing here now still but we look forward to the new body
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V15 All fears go down to the fear of death
E.g. Fear of flying
E.g. Fear is operations
Q2) Why does devil have power of death?
Q3) How did Jesus destroy the devil when he’s still around?
Q4) Who did Jesus do this for?
V16 This promise is for the seed of Abraham. That's me - those who believe in Christ (Gal 3:29)
[Note: this answers Q4) Who did Jesus do this for? Me ans: us who are in Christ]
Beyond death's door by Dr. Maurice Rawlings
Isaiah 14:12-15
Mainly refers to OT saints who feared death bcos they didn't know about redemption yet, but also for those now who still have this fear
As a believer, death does not exist for us bcos Jesus conquered death when He rose from the dead bodily. For us, “death” is really just falling asleep. (1 Cor 15:51)
We look forward to rapture, not death. If Jesus tarries, we look forward to falling asleep and then rapture.
Sentences like “everyone dies” is not scriptural.
For us the 11th hour generation, it’s very likely we won't know what it means to die
Jesus came as a man for one purpose = to die. Why? Bcos as God He cannot die but as man He can, and through death He destroys the devil who had the power of death.
Long before man was created, God created angels with governments / hierarchy
There are low level angels and high level ones. Same for demons (ex angels) - there is hierarchy in the spiritual kingdom
Top angels = cherub (singular) / cherubim (plural). Not a baby cupid angel.
There were 3 top angels = Gabriel, Michael and lucifer
V12, 14 lucifer used to be a cherub but wanted to usurp God’s throne
V13 stars of God = angels
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Wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) Sickness and growing old is but death began
No such thing as God vs science as if they’re opposing beliefs
Science is moving and evolving, only to meet up with where the Bible was already
Don't build your life on something that still evolves. Our life is too precious to be built on conjectures. Let it be built on certainties
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V14 devil is described as "the anointed cherub who covers". What does that phrase mean? Cover what?
Exodus 25:20
In the ark, the cherubim covers the mercy seat with their wings
Ezekiel 28:14-15
Another depiction of the devil
Tyre was the NY of those days
Prophet was told to speak to prince of Tyre = ruler of Tyre (V2)
But half way it became king of Tyre instead = spirit being behind = devil (V12)
In the ark, the cherubim covers the mercy seat with their wings
Pastor Prince believes there were 3 cherubim initially bcos God works in 3s.
God = Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Time = past, present, future
Me = spirit, soul, body
Cherubim = Michael, Gabriel, lucifer (but fallen)
Ezekiel 28:14-15
V14 anointed cherub who covers what? The mercy seat
God = Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Time = past, present, future
Me = spirit, soul, body
Cherubim = Michael, Gabriel, lucifer (but fallen)
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When Mary looked into the empty tomb after Jesus rose from the dead, she saw 2 angels at head and foot looking down = she saw the real ark of the covenant. Likely Michael and Gabriel (highest angels) for something so important
Many accounts and videos even of super natural intervention.
Angels are real and keep charge over us (Ps 91:11)
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V14 anointed cherub who covers what? The mercy seat
i.e. they are guardians of God's holiness and righteousness
What is the work of the devil?
A) Causing red light district problems, drugs etc? That's actually just the work of the low level demons
B) Making people believe in holiness but through man's effort and nothing about Jesus - that's the real work of the devil
Devil does not accept the fact that's he's fallen. He still wants to usurp God's throne. He was created with anointing and gifts to defend God's holiness and righteousness and he still does that today but in a perverted way.
Many people say lucifer was the angel in charge of worship bcos inside him were instruments / pipes & timbrels. Actually all angels worship God and Bible describes him as cherub who covers the mercy seat
V14 devil’s function = walked back and forth
A) Causing red light district problems, drugs etc? That's actually just the work of the low level demons
B) Making people believe in holiness but through man's effort and nothing about Jesus - that's the real work of the devil
How? "You are a sinner, how can you expect God's blessings.” etc etc.
He glorifies morality, human doings, even righteousness but of works not of faith (2 Cor 11:14), and based on pride (I will ascend above God etc)
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Jesus took 7 steps down (??), and God gave Him 7 steps up = name above every other name (Phil 2:9)
When you humble yourself, God will exalt you
Ezekiel 28:16
V16 by the multitude of your trafficking
traffic root word = slander i.e. he slandered God by getting 1/3 of angels to follow him and these became demons
e.g. pain jumping to other parts of body. That’s caused by spirits
Like David's son Absalom (who died young)
Flawless from head to toe but went against his father & deliberately stole hearts of people to become king (2 Sam 15)
What spirit was that? lucifer
V14 walked back and forth = walking around enforcing God's holiness making sure no one fell short (see Job 1:7-8 below)
Devil still thinks he's the custodian of God's holiness. That was his original purpose as the cherub who covers
Job 1:7-8
V6 angels present themselves to God
V7 satan walking back and forth on the earth = I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm looking out who is righteous and who isn't so that I can enforce what you said at the garden "the day you eat from the tree dying you shall die" (i.e. not immediate death)
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Devil still thinks he's the custodian of God's holiness. That was his original purpose as the cherub who covers
V6 angels present themselves to God
V7 satan walking back and forth on the earth = I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm looking out who is righteous and who isn't so that I can enforce what you said at the garden "the day you eat from the tree dying you shall die" (i.e. not immediate death)
[Note: this answers Q2) Why does devil have power of death? Me ans: bcos that was his original function]
satan is still doing what he's supposed to be doing as the guardian of the mercy seat but his motive is God’s throne
Also means that the devil is not omnipresent to disturb you
God didn’t ask the question bcos He didn’t know the answer
God knew devil already ’targetted' Job bcos Job was very “I” focused ("I have done this and that" etc). The spirit was behind there already
Ezekiel 28:15-16
V15 He was perfect until iniquity/sin was found in him
What's his sin? That he wanted to take God's throne and be God
V16 He was cast out of heaven and went to earth
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God told Adam "replenish the earth” i.e. there was life there previously but now no more
Earth as without form and void (Gen 1:2), but God doesn’t create things that are void
i.e. there was life previously but was wiped out and earth was devil’s “home ground”
Man was made a little lower than Elohim (Ps 8:5)
Man was made a little lower than Elohim (Ps 8:5)
Elohim usually refers to God, but here it’s angels
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How can devil usurp God’s throne?
Ps 89:14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne
If God ever does something that is unrighteous and injustice, God's throne is gone
Devil thought he can usurp the throne on this basis, that’s why he’s trying very hard to make God do smh unrighteous / injustice
If God ever does something that is unrighteous and injustice, God's throne is gone
Devil thought he can usurp the throne on this basis, that’s why he’s trying very hard to make God do smh unrighteous / injustice
Me: on the same basis, God is righteous in making me ____ (righteous,blessed,forgiven) today. And if God ever ever ever stops making me ____, He would be unrighteous in doing that and would lose His throne. So, because God is still on His throne today, I CAN HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT I AM ____ IN CHRIST and that GOD WILL ALWAYS SEE ME ____ IN CHRIST!
Heb 2:14-16
V16 does not give aid to angels = fallen angels
Jesus didn't die for the fallen angels but He died for me! So it's obvious God loves us so much!
V16 does not give aid to angels = fallen angels
Jesus didn't die for the fallen angels but He died for me! So it's obvious God loves us so much!
So devil now attacks man to try and get God to do smth unrighteous /injustice so that God will lose His throne
Ps 89:14
Mercy and truth go before God’s face
Mercy and truth go before God’s face
God delights in mercy (hersed = grace) and truth (emeth) = God delights in Jesus
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17)
God loves mercy but He can't exercise it at the expense of righteousness or justice cos that's the foundation of His throne
So devil is trying to get God to lean on one side and do smth to compromise that will jeopardise His throne
So devil is trying to get God to lean on one side and do smth to compromise that will jeopardise His throne
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Love mercy (grace) but do justice (Micah 6:8), don't love justice and do justice
When smth is wrong, address it but your heart must be for mercy
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Story 1: Love powerless against law
Daniel 6:7-16
V7 all = made king think that Daniel was part of the plan too
When pple say everybody says this, don't worry it's not actually everybody
V14 King was greatly displeased with himself not with Daniel. He was upset that he fell into the trap
King Darius (God) and Daniel (us) and others (devil)
V7 all = made king think that Daniel was part of the plan too
When pple say everybody says this, don't worry it's not actually everybody
Law = wicked law by man
Guilty person = Daniel = godly man
On one side, love & mercy = Darius doesn’t want Daniel to be punished
On the other side, righteousness & justice = Darius has signed the law that cannot be revoked
Parallel = devil trying to put God in a dilemma (throne vs man, righteousness vs mercy), knowing that God loves us very much
John 8:4-12
Jesus (God) and the woman (us) and Pharisees (devil)
Law = spiritual Moses law by God. Holy, righteous and just law
Guilty person = woman caught in adultery = sinner
On one side, love & mercy = Jesus loves woman (hence don’t stone but that's not righteous)
On the other side, righteousness & justice = woman has broken the law (hence stone but that's not loving)
The people who brought the woman were against Jesus not the woman, otherwise they would have stoned her already. No need to bring her to Him.
Same for us, devil's target is not us but God cos he wants to see how God can be righteous but still love us
How did Jesus handle the “dilemma”?
Jesus never answered them. He always had time, never hurried
He wrote on the ground / stone = “you presume to tell me about the law when I wrote it”
His answer = “he without sin, let him throw the first stone” = mercy but not at any expense of justice
Lesson for us = never rush to give an answer / be hasty. Don't make decisions based on convenience or time. If I need to decide now, then I'm not deciding. The one who doesn't need to rush, wins.
If you feel pushed / driven, it's the devil. Usually pressure from the outside.
If you are led, that's the Holy Spirit. A still small voice leading from the inside.
No condemnation on a righteous foundation enables us to sin no more
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Devil = accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10), he plays with your conscience
It’s not no sin first then no condemnation
It’s also not no condemnation, so go and lead your life anyhow
V12 Jesus spoke to them again. But didn’t everyone already leave after He said “he who is without sin let him throw the first stone”?
V11 & V12 there's a gap. They left, He ministered to the woman alone first, then He went to where they were and that's V12 where He said He's the light
Man in the natural is afraid of God’s light bcos instinct tell us we are darkness and His light will show our sinful we are
But for us in Christ, His light is not to show how sinful we are but to show the perfection of His work in our life to remove all our sins on a righteous foundation
i.e. it is not possible for a true believer to ever walk in darkness
V25 propitiation = mercy seat of ark
I.e. God set Jesus as the mercy seat by His blood
1 John 1:7 tell us where we’re walking (in the light) not how to walk
As a believer, we’re always walking in the light even if we turn our backs on God for a while or occasional sin, God’s light is still shining on us to say wow! what a perfect work by God!
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So how did Jesus let the woman go without compromising His righteousness?
Romans 3:24-26V25 propitiation = mercy seat of ark
I.e. God set Jesus as the mercy seat by His blood
For every sin committed before Jesus died, He was able to seemingly pass over their sins/work miracles/blessings because He would pay for every one of those sins at the cross
Like a visa card payment with the actual payment at the cross where His blood was shed - blood allowed God to forgive/heal us righteously
Healing/blessing is now a righteous thing for God to do!
V26 God demonstrates His righteousness by passing over our sins
Me: remember earlier revelation above! (in blue)
People are afraid bcos they think their failure/sins are going to come catch up with them. And the devil bases his accusations on truth. You did fail, yes, so don’t deny it. But go 1 step further! The next truth is that God still blesses me and righteously, even though I committed those sins bcos they were paid on the cross
Heb 2:14
Jesus destroyed (= katargeo = to nullify / deprive) the devil
Not that the devil dies, but that Jesus deprived the devil of the power of death
How? By paying for it at the cross
E.g. U are behind bars waiting for death bcos of a sin u committed but someone (Jesus) died in ur place as u and judge (God) accepts that. Now, if u accept this substitution, u are free.
I'm not free bcos the sentence is not executed and I ran away, but i’m free bcos it was executed!
So now devil can't threaten u with death bcos Jesus alrdy took ur death!
I'm not free bcos the sentence is not executed and I ran away, but i’m free bcos it was executed!
So now devil can't threaten u with death bcos Jesus alrdy took ur death!
[Note: this answers Q3) How did Jesus destroy the devil when he’s still around? Me ans: by depriving him of the power of death, through the cross]
If you don’t know what happened at the cross (i.e. Jesus already took your punishment & death), you will still fear the devil / his threats about punishment & death
Isaiah 54:17
Every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn
Every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn
So now, tables have been turned!
When devil tries to accuse you, his accusations are false and you can righteously report him for his nonsense. he is now the guilty one for trying to frame you
When devil tries to accuse you, his accusations are false and you can righteously report him for his nonsense. he is now the guilty one for trying to frame you
Most honouring thing I can do, is say I am the righteousness of God in Christ
Otherwise, if you say/feel “i’m so sinful, God may not hear me bcos I’ve done so many bad things” u are questioning the sacrifice of Jesus which is such an insult as if Jesus is not enough
Otherwise, if you say/feel “i’m so sinful, God may not hear me bcos I’ve done so many bad things” u are questioning the sacrifice of Jesus which is such an insult as if Jesus is not enough
Wisdom of God is demonstrated through the cross in that the 2 opposing sides kissed (righteousness & justice vs mercy & truth) and so His love & law can perfectly co-exist / one is no longer powerless against the other
For healing, say first “I’m the righteousness of God in Christ” then “by His stripes I am healed” bcos the foundation for healing is that you’re righteous in Christ
[Note: overall, this answers Q1) Why does fear of death mean bondage? Me ans: bcos fear of death means you don’t believe Jesus has paid for your death at the cross. Deeper than that, it means you don’t accept Jesus' payment for you for everything at the cross which exposes you to the accusations of the devil]
