EVERY OPPRESSOR
Zechariah 10:4 Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
We have seen that Christ alone is our corner stone, both sustaining and defining the church. We then saw Christ alone as God’s nail fastened in a sure place to bear the glory we came short of in sin, and to uphold all the vessels of mercy in his house. (Isaiah 22:23-24). We also saw Christ alone as our battle bow, going forth on his white horse (Rev. 6:1,2; 19:11ff), conquering the hearts of men by his gospel weapons. (2 Cor. 10:4,5; Eph. 6:17). And now we come to see him as sovereign over “Every Oppressor,” or, every “exactor.” For we clearly read in Psalm 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
That Christ is presently reigning Lord over all the universe shall soon be the realization of every living being. Some may have to be staked out on the White House lawn like Nebuchad-nezzar, in order to come to that realization, but get there they will! Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Listen to the conclusion of Nebuchad-nezzar’s ordeal, from his own mouth: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:35.
Do you believe Christ’s words, or Mr. Scofield’s? This is what the Lord Jesus said; To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev. 3:21.
And this is what the Holy Spirit said, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3. That verse even gives the time of his enthronement! It was after he had “purged our sins!” But most religionists in our day don’t believe anything really was accomplished on the cross!
Here is what the Apostle Peter recorded of this in 1 Peter 3:22, Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
And some are very careful NOT to quote verse eighteen of the Matthew passage that they so often use to attempt to set a fire under their members,in order to get them to bring in more warm bodies to their services. And they even hurriedly read over the therefore, and its intended implication, in verse nineteen of that Matthew twenty eight passage. Just take a moment and see that world wide evangelism is to be solely based on the present reign and Lordship of Christ!
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
But they DO quote a verse in their soul winning endeavors that they really don’t think about, even as it comes out of their mouth! Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Wait a minute! Call upon whom?!? – Did you just say, “the name of THE LORD?” Yep! That’s exactly what you said.
For his Lordship is the basis upon which faith can be granted! 1 Peter 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Christ has to be “given glory” now, or none can be granted saving faith and enduring hope!
The blood of bulls and goats could not sustain world wide evangelism! In fact, it never cleansed one single sinner from one single sin! {Gal. 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.} That commission recorded in Matthew was never issued for any to go into all the world, until Christ came and made an end of sins and finished the transgression! (Daniel 9:24). Until the very Lamb of God Himself proclaimed, “It is finished,” from the cross, the teachings of God were, primarily to remain within national Israel! It was only upon his being seated at God’s right hand, being witnessed by the sending of the Holy Spirit, that God assembled 17 nations at Jerusalem to hear the gospel for the first time, to take it back to their own countries!
Christ’s present reign is called a Mediatorial Reign in order to distinguish it from his continued, Eternal Reign. But he is the same Lord, and his reign and kingdom are eternal! In fact the Scriptures instruct us that he must continue to presently reign, until he has put down all other rule and authority! 1 Corin. 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
And it is not just pastors, evangelists and religious authorities who are said to be his ministers. Three times in the thirteenth chapter of Romans the civil authorities are clearly said to be “ministers of God!” (Rom. 13:4.6). And upon this basis the church is instructed to “be subject” to them both, for the fear of wrath from them, and for conscience sake towards God! To be in rebellion against the civil authorities is to resist the very ordinance of God!
Slander towards, and evil speaking against governmental authority is very prevalent in this hour. And there are many reasons given, even among church folk to justify such. But the scriptures clearly state, 2 Pet. 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
The sovereign power of God is here clearly set against “the unjust!” And that designation is defined by the Holy Spirit as those who “despise government,” and those who “speak evil of dignities!” God has no anarchists in his kingdom! His people have his nature and character living within them, conforming them to the submissive spirit of his obedience to authority. For he yielded to the Roman authorities, without resistance to the most horrible crime exacted against the only perfect Man who has ever lived on earth! He even instructed his judge that he could have no power over him except it was given to him from the Father! (John 19:11). If ever there was going to be a revolt against authority – that would have been the time!
And even the holy and pure angels, when dealing with the essence of evil himself, Satan, dared not, from their consciousness of God, bring “railing accusation” against him! For they respected the authority that the Creator had placed, even in such a wicked one!
Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
The most basic of Christian instruction gives us understanding of the true, spiritual character by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When the regenerating Spirit of life enters into the sinner, old things pass away. He becomes a cheek turner; a second mile goer; an overcoat giver to that one who took his coat; and a bestower of mercy!
He becomes poor in his spirit, where once naught but haughtiness dwelt. He becomes mournful, as now realizing his own eye beam! He is now meek of heart, taking on the lowly nature of his master. His ambition, now seen as the cancer of his spirituality, is abated, and his hunger is for righteousness. He has now seen his great need for mercy; a grace designed exclusively for the guilty, which renders him willing to forgive and restore others. His old, wicked heart, darkened under the evil influences of sin, is now becoming pure, as he is constantly seeing the revelation of God, by the Spirit, in the Holy Scriptures. He becomes worthy of being a member of the heavenly jury on earth, by his gospel formed heart, making peace between himself and between others.
His christianity is not just another of many religions. His christianity is a way of life! And it all is derived from the new nature within providing him with the greatest deterrent against sin – God consciousness! For with the loving eyes of his Heavenly Father affixed to his heart’s awareness, how could he possible be ought else? For God’s kindness to him sets the standard for his treatment to others!
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
He has no problem when he hears the expounding of the Present Reign of the Lord Christ! For God presently reigns within his own heart, mind and soul! And he remembers how it was before the Sovereign applied that unsolicited and free grace therein!
Pastor Gene Breed
April 6, 2011
