THE 144,000 An ingathering of souls for Christ will never be accomplished by human strategy or shrewd plans. The truth, spoken by lovers of truth, is the appointed means of awakening slumbering souls. From one point of view, effective preaching is done by those who are sent by God. As it is written, "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!" (Rom 10:14-15). -- Tomorrow:
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Rev 14:1-4).
Devotion 23 of 26
Whether it was a lawgiver like Moses, a high priest like Aaron, priests like the Levites, prophets, the twelve apostles, or the seventy disciples who were sent out, such souls were never volunteers. They were chosen and sent by the Lord. Even in the matter of elders within the churches, they are appropriately described as men who have been made overseers "by the Holy Spirit" (Acts 20:28). Much of the condition of the modern church can be traced to leaders who have neither been empowered nor sent by the Head of the church. Men are being sent forth by institutions who have neither a heart nor aptitude to "make disciples."
As I understand it, Israel will be used mightily in the matter of reaching the world. When their eyes are opened, they will proclaim the truth in a guileless manner. In them will be fulfilled this word: "Surely they are my people, children that will not lie" (Isa 63:8). The veil will be lifted from their heart (2 or 3:16), the Deliverer will turn away ungodliness from them (Rom 11:26), and God, according to His covenant, will "take away their sins" (Rom11:27). In fulfillment of the promise of Moses, God will circumcise their hearts, so that they will love the Lord with all their soul (Deut 30:6). Then will come the time of which Hosea prophesied, "And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi (Husband); and shalt call me no more Baali (Master)" (Hosea 2:16). The time will come of which Isaiah spoke: "And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin" (Isa 1:25). Ezekiel's word will yet be filfilled: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them" (Ezek 36:26-27).
One of the essential differences realized in the conversion of Israel is that their understanding of God Himself will be more thorough, even though they will be brought to faith through the same Gospel that has been preached throughout all the world. God and Christ are scarcely known in the Gentile church, even though such knowledge is described as eternal life. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3). The wide variety of views concerning God that are extant in the professed church is astounding. However, where genuine conversion takes place, a diversity of views concerning God's Person and purpose is never Divinely fostered.
Candidly we are reminded, "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph 4:4-6). Wherever spiritual life is genuine, the Holy Spirit promotes such marvelous unity – called "the unity of the Spirit," which is to be kept, not produced (Eph 4:3). You can see this is the manner of the Kingdom. There really is no other acceptable posture for the people of God.
Under the Gentiles, however, the church has degenerated into a state of unacceptability. Lukewarmness, inattentiveness, and at-homeness in this world have become common among those professing the name of Christ. For this reason, "the times of the Gentiles" will come to an end, just as both Jesus and Paul affirmed (Luke 21:24; Rom 11:25). The Gentile church has done a miserable job of being the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim 3:15). Therefore, her time of leadership is coming to an appointed conclusion.
The last great harvest will not be accomplished under the leading of the Gentiles. Rather, it will occur under the influence of a large number of redeemed "from the tribes of Israel." Their tree will flourish once again. They will yet be found on Mount Zion, in company with the Lamb, just as John saw in the marvelous vision given to him on the Isle of Patmos.
THE MEANS ARE NOT NEW
Once again, we are witnessing the nature of salvation itself. No new Gospel is affirmed. A new spiritual condition is not created. The redeemed of the Lord do not acquire different traits than have always been experienced in salvation. What we are seeing in our text is the restoration of spiritual life in a large body of people. They are taken from among "the tribes of Israel," but represent the norm of the Kingdom.
Their description and demeanor is that of every person who is really in Christ Jesus. In our time, the church must be encouraged to use Divine means to accomplish acceptable results. There have been far too many purely human resources brought into the church. Their presence has made it impotent. It will not again be powerful until it is purged of these defiling influences. If this appears to be too strong, it is really not strong enough.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, move Your church to give You no rest until You make Jerusalem a praise in the earth (Isa 62:7).