Mercy Seat

Jesus has many titles. Perhaps the two most distant titles from each other are brought together at the mercy seat.

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 


John 1:34  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

Jesus The Lamb of God and Jesus, Son of God are two distant names that came together as our atonement for sins. God came down in a human, to be the sacrifice, the Lamb of God for our sins; His blood applied to the mercy seat. This blood was received by God the Father as the atonement for our sins. Jesus has been called the Mercy Seat, the propitiation. He is the atonement, the sacrifice, and the sin forgiver as God the Son. Mercy grew to bring to us grace. We who receive Jesus by faith are adopted sons of God. Only a perfect sacrifice and our perfect loving and just God could do this for us.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 
Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 
Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

Rom 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

Eaglewings Ministries

Crucified with Christ

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I love this verse. I am crucified with Christ, my body died with him; so that I might live in Christ and he in me, by His Spirit. I live by faith in the Son of God, he loves me, and gave himself for me. Jesus did it all. Now we work out our life to conform to our new position as children of God. Saved through faith unto good works. We must be careful to remember the order of things. Faith and then works. We are his voice and body to proclaim the way; Grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Frustration is confusion in action; we do not seek our righteousness by our own efforts, if it were so, then Christ need not have died on the cross. If we make our own righteousness, why did Jesus have to come? Many religions insist on works or some gift or action to be truly saved. It is the work of God through faith.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved; )

We add nothing to grace. If we could save ourselves, then Jesus did not need to come, to suffer and die for our sins. Believe in him and trust and obey God. We will be judged for faithfulness, as to rewards. Yes, it is possible to be saved by grace and do nothing with your new life, but isn't that a waste? All are gifted for some ministry. Add nothing to salvation, but give all your life to Christ Jesus in His service.

Eaglewings Ministries

Wings of a Dove

Looking through the blinds of the kitchen window a dove rests on the bird feeder. He was turned from me so the picture of his back side is of his wings at rest. When sadness comes or fear, remember the wings of the dove. Here the dove is at rest; be at rest and feel his peace.

Exo 33:21  And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 
Exo 33:22  And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 

Exo 33:23  And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. 

Psa 55:5  Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 
Psa 55:6  And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 

Psa 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. 

John 1:32  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 

John 1:33  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 

John 1:34  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 

If Jesus is your Lord and master he has provided you with the Holy Spirit and power. The dove is a symbol of his Spirit. He is gentle to those who trust in him. The power of God has overcome this world and the devil. We cannot do this alone. Jesus has given us his peace.

 John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Refusing the truth

Luke 22:66  And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
Luke 22:67  Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
Luke 22:68  And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
Luke 22:69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
Luke 22:70  Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
Luke 22:71  And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

These religious leaders should have known who Jesus was, but they did not believe in him. You cannot talk to unbelief. Jesus often spoke in parables because of peoples unbelief. Those who could hear could understand them, but those of unbelief had no understanding.

Mat 13:9  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
Mat 13:14  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

A parable was a story illustrating a spiritual truth. Those who do not believe only hear a story, but those with spiritual ears to hear God's message, they hear his truth. Faith opens up our spiritual seeing and hearing. Unbelief cannot see and because of chosen unbelief they will not inherit eternal life. The spiritual leaders would not believe when given the plain truth. We are to hear and believe the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Some have purposefully chosen to not believe.  Do not waste too much time arguing with them.

Nathanael

Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Joh 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Joh 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Joh 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
Joh 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Philip brings Nathanael to Jesus, but Jesus had already seen Nathanael under the fig tree, under a symbol of that nation Israel. Jesus knew this son of Jacob before he was brought to him. God chooses first and when we share Jesus with others, those who God has chosen will come to him. Nathanael was not thinking much of anyone coming from Nazareth, this was a stumbling block to some of the Jews who knew the Messiah was to come from Bethlehem. Jesus indeed was born in Bethlehem and when he saw Nathanael he said somehing truly unusual. Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! He had no guile, craft, deceit, like so many of the deceitful leaders of Israel who tried to destroy him because of envy. He came to him having received the invite from Philip "Come and see."

Jesus said that we must come into the kingdom as children; they trust and are accepting.

Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Nathanael was quick to believe on Jesus with little proof.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

We come to Jesus by faith and our faith grows as we learn more and more.

Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

You will see these things because you are to be redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, you will see me in my glory when I return to set up my kingdom. Angels will ascend and descend upon the Son of God who is the Lord of Hosts.

What of so many who come to Jesus with guile in their hearts? We see them when we witness on the Internet. They come in with trick questions. Some appear to be polite, but they want to destroy your ministry. Some are bitter and destitute of hope at the bottom of life. Share God's word and give them the good news. Be consistent, unmovable and perhaps the LORD will do something in their hard hearts. A mocker may by your life style, see something in you that they want. They will see Jesus in you, who is their salvation.

Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

Php 1:28 and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God; (ASV)

The Son of God

Mar 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.
Mar 3:10 For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Mar 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mar 3:12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

Earlier in Mark chapter one, an unclean spirit spoke out with fear that Jesus was the holy one of God. Demons know the spirits and Jesus is the Holy One of God. In Mark 3 verse 11, a number of unclean spirits cry out, saying, Thou art the Son of God. So right they were. Why did Jesus command them to be quiet? Probably because the scribes and Pharisees were looking for something that they could accuse him of. In the end they did accuse him of blasphemy.

Mat 26:62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mat 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mat 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Mat 26:66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Their unbelief and envy led them to crucify Jesus, our Messiah and the Son of God. We are adopted son's of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Still there are people lacking faith who seek to mock and get rid of us. They did it to Jesus and they will seek to remove us.

The devil, Lucifer, that old dragon tempted Jesus at the end of his forty day fas in the wilderness. One thing he tempted him with was concerning his power and title as the Son of God.

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

The devil uses doubt to get us to follow him instead of God. The end result is to try to destroy us and our work for God. Jesus answered the devil with the word of God a second time. The word is our defense. Notice how the devil used Gods word, twisting it to make Jesus be tempted to follow the devils will. The devil may quote the Bible, but check the context. Is it a correct interpretation and application of the word? Also check the spirit. Too often I am caught off guard by someone quoting scripture that has the wrong spirit. He will seek to tear you down. Christ builds up; satan tears down. We are to build up the church body and guard against those who seek to tear down our ministry. Jesus is the Son of God.