These articles are on the number 5. Most people reading this already
know that this means grace. Grace is what saved us and it is what we
will be experiencing for all eternity. A few years ago God gave me a
vision about grace and I never forgot this because it was so vivid. I
comprehend but love to experience.
I have gone over four numbers so far and I am most excited
I have gone over four numbers so far and I am most excited
about
explaining this topic. I have heard people say "Too much
grace is not
good," yet as I read the Bible I find this statement to be
incorrect from
God to His Children.
It is true in one respect that we have to live our lives but
to put limits on
the grace of God sounds impossible to me. We cannot
understand how
much God really does love us.
I recently went over the number 4 and explained from
a worldly point of
view that in essence we are surrounded by four walls
. That is a prison.
I also went over the transcendent meaning of the number
4 which speaks
of the love of God. So here we see an option or a choice
as it were.The
confines of the world system or the love of God flowing
hrough our spirit.
Then we arrive at the number 5 which has grace written all
over the number
. Get excited about this because in a world of law we need all
the grace we can receive from God through His Son Jesus Christ.
Did you notice how this world is getting more "Law originated?
I would say, "There is no question about that."
What I am talking about is a trend that I am noticing on planet earth
in comparison to the 1990's up to this point. In the 1990's the
concentration in many countries was you are an individual with
rights. Now there are so many laws yet so little grace. That is
what happens when a group of people reject the love of God
. They go to the only other alternative which is law.
Over here in America I find this to be a society that is good
in many ways; however, our country seems to have everything
yet nothing. So many options yet so little opportunity.
The economy is bad and we are knee deep in debt. The presence
(grace) of God is slowly being removed from this country because
when individuals,societies and a nation as a whole reject the love
of God law and lawlessness go hand in hand.
In Deuteronomy chapter 28 God was instructing ancient Israel
they would be cursed. "He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not
lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail."
that a country is under or coming close to the judgment of God
modern word for debt.
should be the emphasis and maybe a little common sense
if you know what I mean.
I remember a couple of years ago the Lord gave me a dream
at night when I was sleeping. I know all about the controversy
over dreams. We can't necessarily trust them and it is way too
subjective.
Perhaps, but the Lord still called me to share this with you.
There were only two characters in my dream. Both men were
dressed well with signs on them going over their chests and
stomachs. One said law and the other said mercy.
The man who represented law was relentless in attacking the
man who represented mercy. He kept quoting the law very
loud at mercy. Each time this would happen the man who
represented mercy threw his hands up in the air trying to
explain that he had nothing to do with the law.Each timeTe even
more determined to make This point. Mercy kept throwing his hands
up in the air saying, "I have nothing to do with you because I am on
the other side."
all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so they
which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they
pass to us, that would come from thence."
This is a verse that describes the souls that were deceased
before Jesus Christ died on the cross. They went to either
the Paradise section of Sheol (Hades) or the suffering section
. The Righteous went to the good side because they accepted
the grace and mercy of God. The wicked went to the bad side
because they chose law rather than grace.
That "Great gulf" described in this verse kind of reminds me of
my dream. The man of law could not pass over to mercy and
the man of mercy could not pass over to law.One man made
his position very clear (law). The other (mercy) refused to join
him in any way.
As this was taking place I could hear words coming from the
throne of God that I never knew. If "I were able" to translate
this into the English language I suppose the words would be
75 letters long. I don't even know. The Lord gave me
understanding that each and every word meant a specific
form of mercy. I did not see any of this but I did hear.
The motion picture I saw were the two men at an impasse
; however, a portion of heaven was open to my ears. When
a heavenly word of mercy was spoken it seemed to me that
an applause in paradise expanded into togetherness at what
this truly meant. The words were spoken very fast with no
hesitation. I have not ruled out that it was Jesus Christ Himself
speaking these words.That was the sense I had in my spirit.
The very moment the words were spoken there seemed to be
many joyous responses. They were actually living out the reality
of the grace of God and understood exactly what was being said
and why.They were in full agreement. Such Hugh words. Rest
assured God never wanted me to forget this dream.My Lord
Jesus knew exactly where I was in life, preciously what I was
going through and how to portray His message to me.
close to impossible but the main idea was so clear. Heaven was not on the side of the man that represented law. The man with the sign of mercy over his chest and stomach clearly had the blessings of heaven. They were on his side.
When I logically thought about this dream a question came to my mind. "Am I a law man or a person of grace?" I sensed God gave me this dream because He knew I was struggling with this issue. This is an example of the mercy of God.
As Christians we are looking for the rapture of the church which ends this age of grace.The world moves into the dispensation of law and the kingdom. As you can see the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ is the most important subject in the universe.Our salvation because of our faith in Jesus Christ hinges upon this one biblical truth!
I would like to start with the person of Jesus Christ because if there is any hope for grace it is through Him. Isaiah introduces our Savior. "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. As you can see 5 titles are ascribed to Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 introduces Jesus Christ as grace and truth. The Apostle Paul often said, "Grace and peace be unto you." Peace comes after grace. The fifth title Isaiah gave Jesus Christ Himself was "Prince of Peace."
Several months ago I prayed to the Lord that He would give me His supernatural peace by experience working through my spirit because I was going through so many trials. For the most part I never lost this precious gift.If I were to try and logically explain I could not but if I could this would not be grace.The Holy Spirit fills a Believer.
In that small section from John chapters 14-16, 4 times the Holy Spirit is referred to as the comforter. The fifth time He is written about is Acts 9:31. "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied."
This is mentioned 5 times because the peace of the Holy Spirit and His mercy are always present because of the Grace of God. I really need to understand that whenever I have the peace of God this divine reality is only present with me because of the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
I always try and center every subject I write around the person of Jesus Christ. Grace means favor. It could be in the form of mercy,compassion or patience but the most popular way of looking at this is an unworthy sinner being saved by the grace of God. I just want to focus on some examples in the gospels because grace is found in the person of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew chapter 1 there are five women in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. If you were to read the Bible or their biographies they all had an incredible experience of the grace of God working through them. In the first chapter in the New Testament these five women, Rahab,Ruth,Tamar,Bethsheba and Mary are pointing to the very essence of Jesus Christ (Grace) through the symbolic meaning of this biblical number because there are five.
Jesus Christ came to redeem humanity from their sins. He being the very embodiment of grace really does fit the succession of order. (1) God the Father (2) Jesus Christ (3) Holy Spirit (4) Creation (5) Redemption.
All we have to do is read one of the gospels and it will become evident how the average person was drawn to Jesus Christ because of His grace. Redemption and grace go hand in hand. Unfortunately most people reject God. If a person rejects the grace of God through Jesus Christ by faith they have rejected God.
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. A wise person will accept Jesus Christ into his or her heart and live for Him.
I would like to show you through numeric examples in the Bible why Jesus Christ is the very embodiment of grace. It is our responsibly to accept Him by faith as our personal Savior.
That famous verse in Ephesians says "For by grace are ye saved through faith"... Ephesians 2:8. I would like to go in order and show you these examples from the backdrop of the number 5.Once again I am just going over examples at this point in the book of John and looking at Jesus Christ Himself.
The first two involve a man by the name of Nicodemus.This man was a Pharisee. He probably came to Jesus by night because he did not want to get caught. More than likely he was steeped in religion, took a couple of looks at Jesus and noticed there was something different in a good way.
Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus as being of God because His teachings and miracles were divine.
The response that Jesus gave him did not really have anything to do with what Nicodemus said. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,verily, I say unto thee,Except a man be born again,he cannot see the Kingdom of God." John chapter 3:3.
Some things were said and then by the time the reader arrives at verse 13, 2 sets of 5 are written in Scripture to show us the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself on the cross and the hope of everlasting life people have through His eternal grace.
(1)" And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, (2) even so must the Son of man be lifted up.(3) That whosoever believeth in Him (4) should not perish,but have (5) eternal life." John 3:14-15. That (1),(2),(3),(4),and (5) are not verse segmentations. There numbers represent "5" distinct biblical truths that Jesus taught yet they are all tied into one principle (5) grace.
If that were not enough the verse right after those 2 follows the same pattern and it is the most popular in the entire Bible. (1)"For God so loved the world, (2) that He gave His only begotten Son, (3) that whosoever believeth in Him, (4) should not perish, (5) but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Once again Jesus said five different truths in one verse (5) grace.
Moving through the gospels in John chapter "5", five porches comprised a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda. This whole chapter (5) carries a strong theme of grace. People were looking for grace around those five porches.
"And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years." Thirty eight in the Bible is the number that represents slavery. Jesus asked this man..."Wilt thou be made whole." John 5:6. This question had "5" words. Here we see a man in slavery helpless to save himself.
The Bible says "Jesus saith unto him,rise,take up thy bed,and walk." John 5:8. Main theme; chapter 5, (grace) sub theme a new beginning; verse 8 (new beginnings). When Jesus spoke to heal him He said "7" words which is the number for spiritual perfection.
Jesus Christ gave this man a new beginning (8) through His grace (5) by making him perfect (7) through Him. The "7" words (1) Rise (2) take (3) up (4) thy (5) bed (6) and (7) walk.
Does this sound like salvation? We were helpless sinners unable to save ourselves until we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts by faith. Then He gave us His grace. There is no way anybody could do that for themselves. Grace is a gift from God available to all through His Son Jesus Christ.
In closing there were 5 offerings in the tabernacle which was a place that described the grace of God. On the Alter of Sacrifice there were 5 offerings. (1) The Burnt Offering (2) The Peace Offering (3)The Sin Offering (4) The Trespass Offering and (5) The Meat Offering.
All these offerings were precursors of the atoning death of Jesus Christ and they were comprised of "5." The death of our Savior on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for us. As a result humanity has something called "Grace" offered to them.
close to impossible but the main idea was so clear. Heaven was not on the side of the man that represented law. The man with the sign of mercy over his chest and stomach clearly had the blessings of heaven. They were on his side.
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