DOCTRINE OF KENOSIS PART 7
Point 4. The Manifestation of Kenosis in our Lord's Evidence Testing.
Sunday morning, I quoted Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer who wrote the following:
I may comment now and then, if necessary.
First of all,
Throw away your concept that Satan tries to get people to sin.
As Dr. Chafer wrote said;
Y "A serious question arises whether the presence of gross evil in the world is due to Satan's intention to have it so, or whether it indicates Satan's inability to execute all he has designed.
The key word here is “inability”
Satan has found out that controlling the human race is an impossible task and it is very difficult.
Next, he says:
Y The probability is great that Satan's ambition has led him to undertake more than any creature could ever administer."
Then he warns us:
Y "Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits" (MAT 7:15-20).”
MAT 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
MAT 7:16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn {bushes,} nor figs from thistles, are they?
MAT 7:17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
MAT 7:18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
MAT 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
MAT 7:20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Y The warning to the children of God under grace is against false teachers who are to be discerned by their doctrine concerning Christ (2Pe 2:1, 2Jo 1:7-11): never by their lives.
Y The warning to the children of God under grace is against false teachers who are to be discerned by their doctrine concerning Christ (2Pe 2:1, 2Jo 1:7-11): never by their lives.
And this falls under the principle of it’s not the man but the message that counts.
Y for outwardly, false teachers are said to be directly under the power of Satan who himself appears as an angel of light (2Co 11:13-15).
Y The attractive personality of the false teacher affords g1reat advantage as a background for the appeal he makes for his doctrine."
MAT 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
MAT 4:2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
Now, in verses 3-11 we have five principles concerning the temptations.
MAT 4:3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “Since You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
Satan isn’t interested in you or me cranking out sin; this hurts his cause.
He is interested in your cranking out human good.
This leads us to verse 4
MAT 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
For forty days He had been living on the Word and now He is ready for the devil.
The devil is not the one who tries to get people to sin; the devil can use people who are full of human good — do-gooders, religious people.
There is a man called Paul Harvey that some of you may remember who would tell five minute stories with great lessons behind them.
One of them is entitled “If I Were the Devil.”
It is really amazing to realize over 47 years ago how accurately he “prophesied” the future spiritual condition of the United States.
Many of his statements were considered ridiculously outlandish at that time in history.
Yet, we find ourselves today in almost exactly what we are going through.
Like Chafer, I will quote him to illustrate the principle.
If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness, and I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population,
but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree.
I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first by beginning with a campaign of whispers.
With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.
“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’
I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’
And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington’
“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting.”
I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could.
I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction.
I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.
“If I were the devil I’d soon have families that fight with each other, war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed.
And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.
If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions.
Just let the emotions run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.
“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography.
Soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress.
And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money.
If I were the devil, I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
“If I were the devil, I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.”
And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich?
I would caution against extremes and hard work in Patriotism, in moral conduct.
I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be.
And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.
In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing what I’m doing.
Then he was known for two salutations;
At the end of his message, he would say; “Paul Harvey, Good day!
Or at the end of his message:
He was known for the statement, “And now you know, the rest of the story.”
Our Lord knew Deuteronomy because:
He quotes from DEU 8:3, and He gave Satan a dogmatic answer: “It is written,” in the perfect tense, it is written in the past with the result that it goes on forever.
Deuteronomy is the book that describes the walk of the people in the land when it says; “Man shall not live” which indicates that it takes more than mere survival to be truly alive,
When Jesus Christ set up the pattern for the Church-age believer, He had the indwelling Spirit and He had the filling of the Spirit, both of which He never lost.
We lose the filling of the Spirit but we will never lose the indwelling of the Spirit; JOH 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
Another principle concerning Mat 4:4, that man must not live by bread alone, is that:
Our Lord indicated to us that just having food, shelter and clothing and the necessities of life isn’t living.
Man is not living apart from relationship to God and so man is not going to live by bread alone.
Bread is a type of logistical grace blessings.
And we all know that in:
2TI 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
The word “alone” also adds the spiritual to it because we still all need food in order to survive.
Relationship with the Lord must come first, however.
Food is necessary to sustain physical life but the sustaining of physical life is meaningless without spiritual life --- because that simply is not living.
Here’s where we go back to the principle of I.C.E. and note the exegesis or the original language;
There are three Greek words for life: bios, psuche, and zoe.
These words have different meanings:
Bios refers to the existence of life
Psuche refers to thinking of life as a normal function
Zoe refers to the supernatural way of life.
The word living here is the word “zoe” which is the “life” our Lord revealed to us when He handled the temptations that He faced.
The zoe life!
What is it?
Zoe comes from zoology and it means the function of life and here it refers to the super-grace life which is the objective of all doctrine.
The objective of doctrine is to take the believer to the super-grace life.
The “zoe life” is God's fantastic grace provision which is far beyond even your most fervent prayers.
You have never prayed for anything that even comes close to the "zoe life” or the life that God has designed for you.
The “zoe life” came from the doctrine of the Hypostatic union when our Lord as a man operated in the Doctrine of Kenosis.
Kenosis was when our Lord revealed the uniqueness of His Hypostatic Union by living in the “zoe” life.
The "zoe life” is God's fantastic grace provision which is far beyond things for which you have asked from others.
You ask parents, people, friends, spouses, and children for things throughout your lifetime.
However;
The "zoe life” or the "life that God has designed for you" is far beyond anything for which you have ever asked from anyone.
EPH 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
TLJC said;
JOH 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have [zoe] life, and might have {it} abundantly.
The "zoe life” is also God's fantastic grace provisions which are far beyond your fondest dreams.
No matter how wild and seemingly impossible your dreams may be;
God has provided something far greater than any thinking or imagination in any dream you have ever had.
And what God has provided for the mature believer in the "zoe life” staggers the imagination.
The "zoe life” is the direct result of fulfilling the life beyond gnosis or knowledge into epignosis .
It's one thing to know something, it's another to experience it.
The life beyond gnosis of Eph 3:19 is the means of entering the zoe life of Eph 3:20.
In EPH 3:18, Paul says that we:
EPH 3:18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
EPH 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.
The life beyond gnosis or knowledge is the means of executing the PPOG, and the "zoe life” is the result of executing the PPOG.
In the "zoe life, God does infinitely more than two things stated in Eph 3:20.
1. He does infinitely more than all we ask, whether the asking is toward God in prayer, or toward man by request.
Secondly:
2. He does infinitely more than all we think or imagine, which is our personal desires, expectations, and our thoughts associated with happiness symbols.
Dreams can represent:
What we want to be!
What we want to have!.
With whom we desire to associate!
To what we want to be promoted to.
And where applicable, with whom we desire to marry.
Dreams carry us to the farthest extent of our imagination.
So:
For every member of the royal family of God, there is a "zoe life” which goes beyond anything for which we can ask of anyone, whether God or man.
For every Church-age believer, as a member of the body of Christ, there is a life beyond our dreams and our imaginations.
It is a fantastic life.
A life that is in view in Col 3:3 For you have died and your life [zoe-life] has been hidden together with Christ by means of God.
This is the ultimate life, and it is what God expects for every believer to have.
And for this life, God has made complete and total provision.
The provisions come in three spiritual mechanics and the four spiritual skills.
The three spiritual skills:
1. The filling of the Holy Spirit,
2. The ten problem-solving devices,
3. The execution of the PPOG.
The four spiritual mechanics are:
1. The utilization of divine power
2. The three spiritual skills
3. The deployment of the 10 PSD.
4. The execution of the three stages of spiritual adulthood; S.S.E.; S.A.; S.M.
Now, dreams are often an escape from reality, but there is nothing but reality and indescribable blessing in the "zoe life”.
In other words, the zoe life doesn't escape from reality, but it is fantastic, indescribable reality.
We do not even have the imagination to dream or the power to ask for the things which God has prepared for us in the zoe life.
1Co 2:9 "However, as it stands written, `no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.'"
"Those who love Him" here refers to mature believers.
Isa 55:8 "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are My ways your ways,' says the Lord."
This means God has done some thinking way beyond our thinking.
And His thinking becomes a reality for us once we enter the zoe life.
And the ways of God are way beyond our understanding.
But once we reach the “zoe-life”, we begin to comprehend God's ways in a way which gives worship and gratitude and appreciation for God an entirely new meaning.
ISA 55:9 "`For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.'"
But those ways of God, though higher, are not beyond our grasp.
Because…..
In the “zoe-life”, we learn about those ways and experience some of those ways that are higher than our ways.
The point is that you cannot even begin to think, imagine, or dream of the fantastic things that God has provided for you in the “zoe life”.
This is all because our Lord chose to live in the Doctrine of Kenosis and gave us the power and the ability to do so.
In the life beyond gnosis, the Church glorifies God through the attainment of spiritual maturity.
In the zoe life, the church glorifies God through receiving their escrow blessings for time and in the eternal state.
And the poor attempt of the pastor to teach about your escrow blessings doesn't even begin to describe what God has for you personally in the zoe life.
Your blessings for time are infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine.
They are life beyond our dreams.
Now, if you are normal, you want things in life.
People dream about what they want or desire in life.
These dreams are associated with happiness symbols.
And there is nothing wrong with having dreams providing that:
These dreams do not inhibit your relationship with God or and come between Him and your assigned personal sense of destiny.
People dream about what they want or desire in life.
And these dreams are associated with happiness symbols.
For example, people dream of:
a. Greatness or success.
b. Commendation from people.
c. Being respected and receiving approval.
d. Money and security.
e. Social life and romance.
f. The possession of materialistic things which are coveted for pleasure or which are desired as a status symbol.
g. Achievement in some field in which they are interested.
h. Possessing beauty, strength, attractiveness, and-or health.
i. And where applicable, being married to the ideal person.
These dreams express what we want, what we desire, what we think, and what we imagine.
But God has provided for the mature believer a zoe-life, beyond imagination, and beyond our greatest solicitation to self-interest.
For dreams, imaginations, prayers, and asking favors of others all add up to solicitation to self-interest.
Yet God provides for the mature believer the "zoe life" which is beyond all of that.
So, there is nothing like the Zoe-life or the life of God.
Therefore, let's notice some principles concerning this life “zoe life” that God has for us which is hidden in Christ as found in the Gospel of John.
First of all,
1. This life is only found in Christ and gives us guidance and direction; JOH 1:4.
JOH 1:4 In Him was life, and this zoe-life was the light f men.
Notice, light gives you guidance, direction and clarity.
There is no confusion or chaos or boredom with the zoe-life.
2. This life is made available to anyone who believes in TLJC, JOH 3:15.
JOH 3:15 That whoever believes may in Him have eternal life [that is the “zoe life”.
The “zoe life” is life more abundantly; JOH 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have “zoe life,” and might have {it} abundantly.
3. This “zoe life” or the life which comes from God fulfills the desires which are found in every one of us, JOH 4:14.
JOH 4:14 But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
PSA 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
4. This life is made available to us in time, not beginning with eternity, JOH 5:24.
JOH 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, "has" eternal life zoe life or the life which comes from God , and does not come into judgment, but "has passed" out of death into life.
5. This “zoe life” or the life which God gives to us is given to us through the intake of doctrine, JOH 6:27.
JOH 6:27 "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life [zoe-life], which the Son of man shall give to you, for on him the Father, even God, has set his seal."
In JOH 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives zoe-life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
6. This “zoe life” is given without measure depending upon the believer's desire for it; JOH 3:34.
JOH 3:34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.
7. This life can never be taken away, Joh 10:28-30.
JOH 10:28 And I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
JOH 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
JOH 10:30 "I and the Father are one."
8. This "zoe life” is described in Joh 17:3 as "knowing" God and TLJC.
JOH 17:3 "And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
9. It is through the written communication of Bible doctrine that this life is offered to every member of the human race, Joh 20:31.
JOH 20:31 But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and that believing you may have zoe life in His name.
10. In PHI 4:11-12, we have the correct interpretation of life is for the believer who sticks with doctrine and lives in the way and the truth manifested by the Kenosis life.
PHI 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
PHI 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;
in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
This is what it means to be on the right side of history or to accept your calling and place in life.
This, of course, refers to the lifestyle and thinking of the mature believer.......contentment no matter what.
This is the result of perception, metabolization of and application of Bible doctrine.
This is living in "the zoe-life."
For the true purpose of receiving doctrine is to recognize what TLJC means when He said in JOH 14:6:
JOH 14:6 "I am the way [entrance], and the truth [doctrine], and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
The reason why truth is so important is because of what it produces as mentioned in our passage when the apostle Paul said:
PHI 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
The Truth leads to the Christian life, or the zoe-life.
Zoe means the function of life.
In the spiritual life, zoe refers to the super-grace life which is the objective of Bible doctrine resident in the soul.
This zoe-life refers to an extraordinary peace that God desires for us to experience even in time.
The “zoe life.”
Even in time, you have the ability to begin to experience “zoe-life” within you.....as we noted last evening in he Gospel of John.
This sense of inner peace and contentment may decrease or increase because this new life, the zoe life, a life of complete contentment is given little by little.
However, in the eternal state, this zoe-life will fill you entirely.
However, the point is that:
As God has a plan for our lives which enables us to recognize death to old sin nature with its selfish desires, as a part of that plan He also gives us the experience of zoe-life in time.