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THE
SECOND COVENANT/KINGDOM OF GOD
 When
we speak of the "New Covenant" or "Second Covenant" just what are we
talking about? The First Covenant that was given to Moses for the people
on Mount Sinai was a covenant that was
writton on stone. There was a legend that the stone the commandments
were written on was blue sapphire weighing 40 sa'ah/670 pounds
each (The Midrash Says by Rabbi Moshe Weissman: Benai Yakov
Pubications). We see that blue was used a great deal in the declaration
of the tabernacle. Sapphire was one of the stones that was used on the
breastpiece of judgment worn by the priest to represent the twelve
tribes of Israel. We see
it also used as the second of the twelve foundations in the new
Jerusalem. The sapphire stone represents, according to the Strong's
Exhaustive Concordance, "showing forth, speaking out, or marking as a
tally or record". This certainly is a description of the commandments.
The
commandments were written, by the finger of God, in such a fashion that
one could read them from either side of the stone. As you can see, for
Moses to carry them down the mountain was a supernatural event. The
Second Covenant was spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah as a covenant
written on the hearts of men not stone. In Jeremiah 31:31-33 it is
written:
"Behold, the
days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: {32} Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by
the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they
brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: {33} But
this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;
After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward
parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people".
The kingdom of God
or second covenant came into the hearts of men at the festival of
Shavuot/Pentecost. Spiritually, the temple is our body. We are to
take great effort to make sure our temple is pure. In II Corinthians
6:16 it is written:
"And what
agreement hath the temple
of God with idols?
for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people".
Three
things were required to establish a covenant ... sacrifice, immersion,
circumcision. The second covenant was established on these three
principles just as the covenant God made with Moses and the people at
Mount Sinai. God told Moses to have the people
consecrate/purify themselves by sacrifice and immersion. They were
already circumcised through the command given to Abraham and his
descendents. The gentile/non-Jew that was living with them was also
responsible to carry out these commands. In Numbers 15:15 it is written:
"One
ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the
stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance forever in your
generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD".
The
sacrifice for the second covenant is Yeshua/Jesus, the perfect
Passover lamb. Not only did Yeshua fulfill all that was
required of a Passover Lamb but He also was the perfect hata'at/sin
offering, olah/burnt offering, and minchah/bread
offering, sh'lamim/peace offering and asham/guilt
offering. The immersion required is the immersion into Messiah, and the
circumcision is of the heart. In Colossians 2:11 it is written:
"In whom also
ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah".
SO
WHAT WAS YOCHANAN HAMATVIL/
JOHN THE BAPTIST DOING?
In
John 1:6-8 it is written:
"There was a
man sent from God, whose name was John. {7} The same came for a witness,
to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
{8} He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."
Yochanan
haMatvil/John the Baptist was seen by the people as bringing the
covenant just as his predecessor Elijah had done. It is the
understanding of the people that before Messiah can come Elijah must
come to prepare the way. Even today in the Passover Seder, there is a
place set at the table for Elijah and during the evening a child is sent
to the door to see if Elijah is coming. When they do not see him, they
answer "next year in Jerusalem". Yochanan haMatvil/John the
Baptist was born on Passover six months before his cousin Yeshua/Jesus.
(for documentation of this consult Luke the first Chapter and I
Chronicles 24, taking note as to when Zachariah from the family of
Abijah would be serving in the Temple and adding nine months.) The last
place we see Elijah in scripture is on the banks of the Jordan river
being taken to heaven in the chariot of G-d. The first place we see
Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist in his ministry is on the banks
of the Jordan river announcing the new covenant ... the kingdom of G-d
is at hand. He plainly said that he was preparing the way for this
covenant. Just as Moses had brought the people out of Egypt to Mount
Sinai to meet with G-d to accept the covenant.
In Exodus
19:10 it is written: "And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people,
and immerse/sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their
clothes"
As
you can see G-d commanded the people to prepare themselves for the
meeting by immersion/ritual purification of themselves and their
garments. Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist is telling the
people to prepare themselves to meet the Messiah and receive the new
covenant. The act of immersion into repentance was necessary for ritual
purity. Immersion was also necessary to elevate them to a higher state
of Holiness to enter into the kingdom.
Yochanan
haMatvil/John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah. There
is not a teaching in the Bible that substantiates such an idea.
Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist had been given the same
assignment or anointing as Elijah, to prepare the people for the
kingdom. As we have seen, those people just as we do today, need a time
of reflection and repentance in order to partake of the things of our
L-rd, the kingdom of G-d, just as the people prepared themselves each
time to enter the Temple by going through a mikvah.
Yochanan haMatvil/John the Baptist is telling the people they must
do the same. In order to move on in G-d, we must strive for a higher
degree of holiness, (without holiness no man shall see G-d). Just as the
priests were immersed/installed into the priesthood, we today are kings
and priest to our G-d and must be cognizant of our place in holiness. We
must remember that the water does not defile and the water does not
purify ... it is heart attitude. Just as the niddah and the
proselyte had to have intention, so must we. We can never immerse
ourselves enough to wash away our sins. Only the Blood of Yeshua
can do that. We will never work our way to heaven by just doing the
commandments, we arrive by faith.
We
see an incident in Acts 2 that has produced many different
understandings and several denominations. I would like to comment on it.
In Acts 2 it is written:
"And when the
festival of Shavu'ot/Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place. {2} And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as
of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were
sitting. {3} And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of
fire, and it sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit
gave them utterance".
When
G-d met with the ones that came out of Egypt on Mount Sinai to confirm
the covenant with them, He spoke to them out of a cloud. In Exodus
19:16-18 it is written:
"And it came
to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and
lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the
trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp
trembled. {17} And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to
meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. {18} And
mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon
it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace,
and the whole mount quaked greatly.
This
was a very impressive event to the people. The L-rd knows how to get our
attention and He sure had their attention. The L-rd is speaking to them
the covenant, part of this covenant is what we commonly call the "Ten
commandments". The text actually says in Hebrew that He spoke to them
with the voice of words and gives the idea that the words were
visible...such as tongues of fire. In Hebrews 12:18 it is written:
"For ye are
not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with
fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, {19} And the sound
of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard
entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: {20} (For
they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a
beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a
dart: {21} And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly
fear and quake:"
On
the festival of Shavu'ot/Pentecost, which means Feast of
Harvest, The L-rd is giving the new covenant to the people. They are at
the Holy Temple area as they would be to participate in this great feast
day. Suddenly, there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a
violent wind, and it filled the whole area. Then they saw what looked
like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of
them. After the covenant had been confirmed, Shimon/Peter
stands to give an explanation of what has happened. They have been
offered the new covenant, they are experiencing a higher degree of
holiness with elevated status in the kingdom. The natural thing to do
would be to be immersed, just as the L-rd had commanded before meeting
with the people on Mount Sinai. In Acts 2:41 it is written:
"Then they
that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls".
It
has greatly been debated how three thousand people could be immersed in
one day. But lets remember that we are at the Holy Temple area where
there are many mikvot/immersion baths. Each person entering the
Holy Temple would be immersed in a mikvah so there was ample
mikvot for each person to be immersed. On some feast days as
many as ten thousand people would enter the Holy Temple area. The text
indicates a house, so the assumption has been made over the years that
it was a literal house. This has caused some confusion as to how those
passing by would be able to witness this great event ... hear the
different languages etc. The simple fact is that the Temple was also
called a house. We even use that term today for a church ... house of
God.
IMMERSION INTO MESSIAH
Immersion
into Messiah is different than immersion into repentance. In Ephesians
4:5 it is written:
"One Lord,
one faith, one baptism".
The
immersion into Messiah is to install a person into the priesthood, the
kingdom and elevate that person to a higher degree of holiness. Just as
Aaron and his sons that were to become Kohen/priests were
immersed as an act of "change of status", when we enter the kingdom of
G-d, we are undergoing a change in status. In Revelation 1:6 it is
written:
"And hath
made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
It
is an act of accepting the new covenant. Yochanan haMatvil/John
the Baptist immersion was an immersion of repentance to prepare the
people to be ritually pure. In Acts 19:1 it is written:
"And it came
to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through
the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, {2} He
said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And
they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any
Holy Ghost. {3} And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?
And they said, Unto John's baptism. {4} Then said Paul, John verily
baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that
they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on
Christ Jesus. {5} When they heard this, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus".
A good example of
immersion into Messiah is recorded in Acts 8. There is a devout
Ethiopian man returning from worship at the Holy Temple in
Yerushalayim/Jerusalem reading from Yeshayahu/Isaiah. By
the way this man was not a eunuch, if he were he would not have been
allow to worship in the Holy Temple and the scripture states that he was
returning from worshiping. In Acts 8:27 it is written:
"...and had
come to Jerusalem for to worship".
Adonai
sent Philip to tell him about Messiah helping him to understand and
expanding on the passage in Yeshayahu/Isaiah 53:7,8 as to the
deity of Yeshua/Jesus. In Acts 8:35 its is written:
"Then Philip
opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him
Jesus. {36} And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the Ethiopian said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me
to be baptized? {37} And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine
heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. {38} And he commanded the chariot to stand
still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the
Ethiopian; and he baptized him."
This
man was ritually pure, but he wanted to accept the covenant of Messiah
and attain a change of status, doing so by immersion.
The
account of Rav Sha'ul/Paul accepting the covenant in Messiah is
another example of immersion into Messiah. As soon as he realized who
Messiah was He wanted to be immersed for a change of status. In Acts
9:18 it is written:
"And
immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he
received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized".
Peter
was summoned by the Ruach haKodesh/Holy Spirit to present the
covenant to the Goyim/Gentiles. This was an amazing thing to
the Jews ... that the covenant would be offered to the pagan world.
Adonai in the vision he gave Shimon/Peter of the sheet
filled with unclean things was to show Shimon/Peter that he was
cleansing the goyim/gentiles. The vision does not do away with
the dietary laws as stated in Leviticus 11 as has been the teaching in
the Christian world. The vision was only understood by Shimon/Peter
after the men arrived from Cornelius of Caesarea. In Acts 10:44-48 it is
written:
"While Peter
yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the
word. {45} And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished,
as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured
out the gift of the Holy Ghost. {46} For they heard them speak with
tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, {47} Can any man forbid
water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy
Ghost as well as we? {48} And he commanded them to be baptized in the
name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days".
After
the covenant had been presented to Cornelius and his group on be half of
the whole pagan world, The Holy spirit confirmed the covenant by
descending. The most natural thing for Cornelius and his group was to
accept the covenant of Messiah by immersion.
How
does immersion relate to us now...believers in Messiah without the
temple in force? Emerging from the Mikvah is very much like a
process of rebirth. The Mikvah represents the womb. When a
person enters the Mikvah, he is reentering the womb, and when
he emerges, he is as if "born again". Thus he attains a completely new
status. In John 3:3 in the Jewish New Testament version, Yeshua/Jesus
is having a conversation with a righteous man by the name of Nicodemus
who has asked how to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yeshua
answered him:
"I tell you
that unless a person is born again from above he cannot see the Kingdom
of G-d." (4) Nicodemus said to him, "How can a grown man be 'born again'
can he go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time? (5)
Yeshua answered, "Yes, born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
the Kingdom of G-d."
The
womb is a place that is completely free from all concepts of tumah/ritual
impurity. A baby enters the world in complete purity, and there is no
way in which he can be defiled while in the womb. Thus when an
individual enters the Mikvah, he leaves all tumah/
ritual impurity behind and comes forth as a new, ritually purified
person. In a sense, water represents the womb of creation. When a person
immerses in the Mikvah, he is placing himself in the state of
the world yet unborn, subjecting himself totally to G-d's creative
power. Immersing then nullifies ego and asks " What am I?" Ego is the
essence of permanence, while water is the essence of impermanence. When
a person is ready for the mighty hand of G-d to replace his ego with a
question, "What am I?", then he is also ready to be reborn with its
answer. When a person enters the Mikvah he subjugates his ego
to G-d. Another way of looking at the immersion is a state of
non-existence or non-life, an environment where a person cannot live. If
a person stays submerged for any length of time he will die form lack of
air. Since breath is the essence of life, this is placing him in
non-existence or non-life. According to Torah, if a person stops
breathing he is no longer considered among the living. Upon entering the
Mikvah, a person momentarily enters the realm of the nonliving,
so upon emerging, he is like one reborn.
The
Mikvah also represents the grave. When a person immerses, he is
temporarily in a state of nonliving, and when he emerges, he is
resurrected with a new status. The representation of immersion as both
womb and grave is not a contradiction. Both are places of non-breathing,
and are end points of the cycle of life. Indeed, it is interesting to
note that the Hebrew word kever, which usually means a "grave"
is also occasionally used for the womb. Both are in the cycle of birth
and death, and when a person passes through one of these, he attains a
totally new status.
Please
remember that there is not enough water to wash away our sins or to make
us righteous, only the blood of Yeshua/Jesus can do that.
Ultimately all purification comes from G-d and His gracious kindness. In
Titus 3:5 it is written:
"Not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost"
In
Hebrews 10:22 it is written:
"Let us draw
near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water".
All
that we have seen up to now seems to be a rehearsal for the time that
Messiah will catch us away for the great wedding. The first miracle that
Messiah performed was to turn the purification water into wine at the
wedding in Cana. We might consider all the times that we go through the
immersion/purification process as a rehearsal for the time that the
bride will be presented to Messiah without spot or blemish. We will
receive our glorified body and join Him for the great festivities. In
Ephesians 5:25b-27 (Jewish New Testament version) it is written:
Messiah loved
the Messianic Community/church, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf
{26} in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion
in the mikvah, so to speak, {27} in order to present the Messianic
Community/church to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot,
wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without defect
We
might ask, "why does Messiah have a bride"? Yeshua fulfilled Torah
completely as we have previously stated. In Genesis 1:28, there is a
commandment to marry. To understand more about the wedding of the bride
to Messiah, we must look at the Jewish wedding ceremony that was
performed in ancient Israel.
There
was not any dating or courtship or even teenage years as we think of
today. A boy became a man at age 13 when he had his Bar-Mitzvah
(son of the commandment). A girl also went through a ceremonial
Bat-Mitzvah (daughter of the commandment) at age 12 or 13 declaring
she had reached the age of religious majority. Marriage was a practical
legal matter which was established by contract and carried through by
exacting procedure. The marriage ceremony consisted of two parts
kiddushin/betrothal and nissu'in/marriage proper. A form
of these customs exist today in the Jewish wedding ceremony.
A
young Jewish man would select a young Jewish lady or perhaps his parents
would select a young Jewish lady that they thought would make him a good
wife. In some cases, the selection was made while the children were
quite young. Sometimes a person called a "Matchmaker" would make the
arrangements for the families. The Broadway play "Fiddler on the
Roof" gives us a glimpse into the roll that a matchmaker would
play.
The
young man would go to the house of the young lady with a marriage
contract. This contract or covenant is a true legal agreement giving the
terms of the marriage proposal. We might call this today kiddushin/betrothal.
The price that the young man was willing to pay for this bride was the
most important consideration of the contract. In parts of the world
today there is still a "bride price". The old saying "put your money
where your mouth is" was surely true in this case.
He
would ask the young lady and her father to read the contract. If the
terms were suitable, the bride and groom would drink a cup of wine
together thus sealing the contract and they were betrothed. This cup is
of great importance. If the bride chose not to enter into this
agreement, she would not drink the cup. The kiddushin/betrothal
period is considered a sacred relationship. The bride is consecrated to
her husband and forbidden to all others during the betrothal. This
contract is so binding that a divorce is needed for dissolution. The
groom, by drinking the cup, signifies his willingness to sacrifice in
order to have this bride.
After
drinking the cup, the groom would pay the price. The price was set so
that the new bride would be a costly item and not just a modest token.
The young man had no delusions that he was getting something for
nothing. He would pay dearly to marry this girl. Genesis 29 is an
example of the "bride price". Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, then
is tricked into marrying Leah, then must work another seven years for
Rachel. Fourteen years of labor is a very high price. The price that
Messiah paid for us is even higher ... He gave His very life as the
"bride price".
After
the transactions were concluded, the groom would depart. But before
leaving, he would make a speech to his bride ... "I go to prepare a
place for you". He would return to his fathers house to prepare a
honeymoon cottage for his bride. There was never a doubt in the bride's
heart that he would not return for her. She knew that he would return
for her because of the high price he had paid. We can be just as sure
that Messiah will return for us, just as He has promised, because of the
high price he has paid for us.
The
wedding would take place at the father's house. After the wedding, the
bride and groom would stay in the honeymoon cottage for a period of
seven days. The guests would be having a great party during this time.
When the seven days were completed, the bride and groom would return to
the brides house for another party. We see a parallel here to the seven
year period when we will be at the Father's house while the tribulation
or the "birth pains of the Messiah" is transpiring on the earth. In Luke
21:36 it is written:
"Watch ye
therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape
all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man".
In
Revelation 19:7-8 it is written:
"Let us be
glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is
come, and his wife has made herself ready. {8} And to her was granted
that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine
line is the righteousness of saints".
After
that time, we will return to the earth with our bridegroom for the reign
of a thousand years. In Revelation 19:14 it is written:
"And the
armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in
fine linen, white and clean"
Yeshua,
our bridegroom, has gone on to His father's house after He brought the
covenant/marriage contract, drank the cup and paid the price. In Luke
22:20 it is written:
"Likewise
also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my
blood, which is shed for you"
The
announcement that He made to His disciples is very much like the words
of a Jewish bridegroom. In John 14:1 it is written:
"Let not your
heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also."
During
the kiddushin/betrothal period, there were "friends of the
bridegroom". One was assigned to the groom and one to the bride.
Yochanan HaMatvil/John the Immerser declares that he is the "friend
of the Bridegroom". In John 3:29, it is written:
"He that hath
the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which
standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's
voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled"
The
"friend of the bride" was responsible for the bride. At the wedding, the
friend of the bride was to present the bride to the groom. He was to
make sure that the bride had remained pure and acted as a liaison
between the bride and the groom. We know that the "friend of the bride"
is the Holy Spirit. In Romans 8:26 it is written:
"Likewise the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered"
This
person also gave gifts to the bride. In this, we see a beautiful picture
of the works of the Holy Spirit with us today. He has given us wonderful
gifts ... the gifts of the Spirit. Not only gifts of the Spirit but
beautiful attributes also. In Galations 5:22-26 it is written:
"But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
{24} And they that are Messiah's have crucified the flesh with
affections and lusts. {25} If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in
the Spirit. {26} Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one
another, envying one another"
In
Ephesions 4:11-12 it is written:
"And he gave
some, apostles: and some, prophets: and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers; {12} For the prefecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Messiah/ Christ"
While
in the kiddushin/betrothal period the bride had the
responsibility to beautify herself. She would purchase expensive oils
and perfume and had a detailed beautification regiment that she strictly
adhered to. In I Peter 3:3-4 it is written:
"Whose
adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and
of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel: {4} But let it be the
hidden man of the heart, in that which is not ocrruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is the sight of God of great
price"
We
today have that responsibility also, to beautify ourselves with the
gifts of the Spirit. We are in the kiddushin/betrothal period
with our bridegroom Messiah and the Holy Spirit is keeping us pure and
will soon present us to Messiah at the wedding. In II Corinthians 11:2
it is written:
"For I am
jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one
husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah/Christ."
The
Holy Spirit also has the job of pointing out sin in our lives that we
are not even aware of in some cases, and pointing the way to Messiah for
cleansing of that sin. In Genesis 24, there is a picture of Avraham/Abraham
sending his servant, to a far land to bring a wife back for his son,
Yitzchak/Isaac. We can see in this passage that Avraham/Abraham
is a type of God the Father. The son of Avraham/Abraham,
Yitzchak/Isaac is a type of Yeshua, the bride Rebekah is a picture
of us, mankind in a far and pagan country. The servant is a picture of
the Holy Spirit and his work to present us to the son of promise.
Avraham/Abraham's
servant gave to Rebekah gifts of golden bracelets and a nose ring. The
servant escorted the bride on the long journey to the father's house
protecting her from all harm. When she saw her bridegroom, she knew who
he was instantly, jumped from the camel's back and ran to him. Likewise,
we are on that long journey but not alone, we are being escorted by the
"friend of the bride" the Holy Spirit. I am sure that on the long
journey Rebekah asked the servant many questions about the man with whom
she would spend the rest of her life. In like manner, we have questions
from time to time about what Messiah is like and what heaven is like.
When we arrive, we will fly to Messiah in a moment and in a twinkling of
an eye.
While
we are in this waiting period, we are being immersed daily in the
spiritual mikvah by the Holy Spirit to prepare us for the day
when we will be presented to Yeshua our bridegroom. The Holy
Spirit is writing the covenant on our hearts each day and cleansing us
by that word. In Ephesians 5:25b-27 Jewish New Testament version) it is
written:
Messiah loved
the Messianic Community/church, indeed, gave himself up on its behalf
{26} in order to set it apart for God, making it clean through immersion
in the mikvah, so to speak, {27} in order to present the Messianic
Community/church to himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot,
wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without defect
In
Ephesians 1:17 it is written:
"That the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him"
Not
only will we be wed to our Messiah but we will participate in His
coronation as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In Revelation 22:14
(Jewish New Testament) it is written:
"How blessed
are those who wash their robes, so they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city"
A
beautiful picture of both the wedding and the coronation is found in
Psalm 45 as it is written:
"To the chief
Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of
loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I
have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. {2}
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips:
therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. {3} Gird thy sword upn thy
thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. {4} And in thy
majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and
righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. {5}
Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the
people fall under thee. {6} Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the
sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. {7} You love righteousness
and hate wickedness: therefore, God, your God, has annointed thee with
the gladness above thy fellows. {8} All thy garments smell of myrrh, and
aloes, and cassia, out of thy ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee
glad. {9} King's daughters were among your honourable women: upon your
right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir. {10} Hearken, O
daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own
people, and thy father's hosue; {11} So shall the king greatly desire
thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. {12} And the
daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the
people shall entreat thy favour. {13} The king's daughter is all
glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. {14} She shall be
brought unto the king in raiment and needlework: the virgins her
companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. {15} With
gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the
king's palace. {16} Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom
you may make princes in all the earth. {17} I will make your name to be
remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee
for ever and ever"
We
that make up the bride of Messiah have a responsibility to prepare
ourselves for that role. Each time we drink the cup of communion we are
reaffirming the marriage contract that we have with our Messiah. In I
Corinthians 11:24 it is written:
"And when he
had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body,
which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me"
Each
time we enter the spiritual mikvah, we are renewing our mnd and
becoming more like Messiah. In Romans 12:2 it is written:
"And be not
conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God"
Immersion
in the mikvah is an outward sign of the changes that the Holy
Spirit is making in our hearts. An outward sign is death to self and
selfish motives. An outward sign of the blessed day when we will all be
changed into our glorified bodies. An outward sign of the changes of
status, going from one level of holiness to another. As we beautify our
spirits with the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit and we asked Him
each day to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, we enter the spiritual
mikvah.
Will
you make a decision to immerse as an outward sign of the many changes
that the Holy Spirit, "friend of the bride" is doing in your life?
In
light of what we have seen ... do we need to immerse ourselves today? Do
we have any times we need to repent? Is there any desire to achieve a
higher degree of holiness? The answer is yes just as in a marriage
covenant the vows are renewed and reaffirmed, we need to renew and
reaffirm our covenant with Messiah. How often? You pray and ask Adonai!
Part 5
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