December 2003

HINDS’ FEET IN HIGH PLACES

Part 27

“He makes my feet like hinds’ feet,
and sets me on my high places!”

(2 Sa 22:34)

         It is my firm belief that while Jesus Christ lived on the earth in a body of flesh, He never set one foot in front of the other on any path not clearly marked by His heavenly Father! In fact, the Lord, Himself, says in Jn 5:19 & 30,

“Truly, truly...THE SON CAN DO NOTHING OF HIMSELF;
HE DOES ONLY WHAT HE SEES THE FATHER DO! For
the Son does only those things His Father does...so I CAN DO
NOTHING OF MY OWN SELF! I judge only as I hear; and
My Judgment is just since I DO NOT SEEK MY OWN WILL
BUT THE WILL OF MY FATHER Who has sent Me!”

         Hear, dear ones! The Son of God confesses complete subservience to His heavenly Father; taking no responsibility whatever for His actions; but utterly prostrating His self-will at God’s feet. So then why does He seem to contradict this declaration of helplessness in Mt 28:18 by saying,

“ALL POWER both of heaven and earth is GIVEN TO ME!”

         How can Jesus have ALL POWER of heaven and earth; and still say He can “do nothing” on His Own?! For surely, if He possesses all power, there is nothing that He cannot do! The key that unlocks this Mystery is found in 2 Co 12:9, where Paul pleads three times to be delivered from an unidentified “thorn in the flesh”; but each time the Lord says,

“MY STRENGTH is perfected in YOUR WEAKNESS!”

         So why was God’s apostle given a thorn in the flesh in the first place? In verse 7, Paul says, “I was given this ‘messenger of satan’ to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations (of Christ) given to me!” God’s loving response to him was elementary, “My Grace is sufficient for you!” (v. 9) Paul’s reaction to this was, “Therefore, I take pleasure in in all my infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, and distresses for Christ’s Sake; for (now I see that) when I am weak, then I am strong!” Paul saw the snare in being “exalted” by an “abundance of revelations”! Gk 5229 defines exalted as: “To raise oneself over another; and to become haughty.” But beloveds, EXALTATION belongs only to God! Only He is worthy to be lifted up and worshiped forever on the High Places of our hearts! When we lift up ourselves to that lofty pinnacle so as to worship our self-will, it is an abomination! God’s High Place is His Throne of Righteousness, and if “self” sits thereon, it becomes defiled. For “All our righteousnesses are as filthy, menstrual rags,” (Isa 64:6) whereas “God’s Righteousness is like the great mountains!” (Ps 36:6) And “(Godly) Wisdom leads us (up) to His Righteousness!” (Pr 8:20)
          Self-exaltation is described as “puffing up” in several places. Paul said in his first letter to the church in Corinth, “Some of you are puffed up, as though you think I will not come back to you (with rebuke)! If it be the Lord’s Will, I will come to you shortly, not to hear puffed up speech, but to see signs of Power; for the Kingdom of God is not comprised of (vain) words, but of Power! So what would you rather- that I should come to you with a painful rod of correction, or in LOVE and a spirit of meekness?” (1 Co 4:18-21) Paul went on to say, “God’s Love suffers long, is kind; does not envy, and is not boastful or puffed up!” (1 Co 13:4) But “Knowledge (without Anointing) puffs up; but God’s Love edifies (that is, builds up the inner man of spirit). Also, if any man thinks he knows anything (apart from Christ), he knows nothing yet, as he ought to know!” (1 Co 8:1-2) Finally, “Let no man beguile you about your reward by having you force a self-induced humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into things he has not really seen, but being vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind! He does not hold fast to the Head, from which all the body is nourished by its joints and ligaments, and being knit together, increase with the increase of God!” (Col 2:18-19)

         Ask yourself, into which vessel can more water be poured: an empty or full one? Of course, it is an empty one! Likewise Jesus could not be the Repository of “A-L-L POWER” unless He was first reduced to a state of “N-O POWER!” So if Jesus could only walk in the Fullness of God by first walking in the emptiness of self, then His Body has to be a partaker of the same discipline! As our Savior has told us, “The servant is not greater than his Lord...and Master!” (Jn 13:16; 15:20) But if His sons follow in His footsteps, as He did in His Father’s, He promises,“You shall do even greater works than He!” (Jn 14:12)

[TO BE CONTINUED]