THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD

 

THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD - AUDIO

Staying on the topic of building the Kingdom of God and our Kingdom mandate, the book of Matthew, although written with a heavy emphasis on the Jews, citing the Torah more than any of the other gospels, is mostly about the Kingdom of God.  Having said that, we should read it with “end-time eyes” when it comes to what Jesus promised us, which is that we who endure with Him in His trials, will be given a kingdom and that we will rule and reign with Him - Luke 22.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, please read my previous devotional called, “Building a Kingdom” or better yet, download my recent book “The Kingdom Mandate” for free on my blog.  Our King, the King of kings, is speaking to us in these pages of Matthew as well.  In Matthew 5 we read the Beatitudes on the Sermon on the Mount.  In no other gospel are the Beatitudes found.  To which the thought came that those who reign will be those who will be “the blessed” that Jesus is talking about.   Remember, I am talking end-time understanding.  I was led in a special way to this Sermon on the Mount.  I had two visions at different times on the same day.  I knew they were connected because of one topic.  Children. 

The first vision was during my morning prayer.  I saw a little boy of approximately 8 years old, sitting on the ground looking very dirty.  He had black curly hair, a beautiful child.  He looked poor and was lifting the edge of what looked to me like a square piece of sackcloth from the ground, as to carefully peek underneath it.  And what he found was absolutely beautiful.  It was a very huge blue sapphire.  I would say about the size of a football.  It was buried under the ground.  That was the end of that vision.

Then I had another vision later in the afternoon of the front page of the TIME’S magazine.  I knew that it was the TIME’S magazine because of the yellow outline.  On this page was a picture of a little blond girl with ponytails.  She was looking ahead of her.  The best way I to describe her is that she looked like Drew Barrymore in E.T., for those who are familiar with the movie.  Very innocent and cute.  But I think there was something different about her.  The cute factor was not there, but a seriousness I would say.  In big bold yellow letters the heading read: WE ARE HERE.

And then this morning on my YouTube feed, one of these random videos came up of rescuers that rescued a girl of the same age, also with two ponytails, from out of this well. 

The interpretation is as follows:

The poor boy and the two girls resemble the sons and daughters of God.  The disposition of the children of God is that they are poor in spirit and innocent.  The sackcloth speaks of mourning and a humble attitude of heart, as well the fact that the boy was sitting on the ground.  The treasure that he found was “veiled” or hidden under the sackcloth.  The TIME magazine is an indication of “timing” and the “WE ARE HERE” heading is saying, the TIME IS NOW for the manifestation of the Sons and Daughters of God. 

We read about this in Romans 8, which for me is quite interesting that it says that the whole of creation is waiting for this manifestation.  That means heaven and earth.

Romans 8: 19

¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Are we really to think that this manifestation constitute glorified bodies only?  Or is it possible that this manifestation will in fact be Christ manifested in us?  Are we not His Body?  When you keep on reading Romans 8 there is a clear identification made with suffering and how this relates to being a Son or Daughter of God, and how this suffering will never be able to separate us from His love.  So the glorifying of our bodies is one thing, but that which lies at the heart of our ability to endure immense suffering is Christ in us, the hope of glory.  In fact, verse 16 – 18 says:

Romans 8: 16 - 19

¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

This glory will be revealed in us.  And who is our hope of glory?  Jesus Christ.  He will be revealed in us as the Sons and Daughters of the Most High God.  The question remains, will this be through our bodies being glorified at some time?  I cannot help but to think how Jesus manifested himself on this earth as the Patterned Son whom we are to emulate. 

Let’s read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5: 1 – 12

 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

² And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

What we find in these beatitudes is that it has a present and a future.  A disposition and a promise.  In fact, these blessings are conditional.  This does not mean He does not bless His children when they do not meet up to the standard, but rather, this is showing the blessedness of persecution.   So it is not based on your position in Christ as a child of God, but based on the work of the cross in your life.  For each of these characteristics one has to lay your life down, even your life itself.  That’s like the small print on a document that we miss.  You get all this, IF you do this.  The beatitudes has a spin on it that few are truly willing to see through.  So let’s look at that résumé again of the Sons and Daughters of God:

• Poor in spirit
• Meek
• Mourning
• Hunger and Thirsty
• Merciful
• Purity
• Peacemaker
• Persecuted
• Reviled

It has the cross written all over it.  And because it has the cross all over it, it is exactly who Jesus is.  He was and is all these beatitudes.

The present part of these beatitudes is that we are blessed.  It is not a future thing, but a present disposition to be had.  However, the promise part of the beatitudes, that which is future, is that there is a great reward waiting for us in heaven.  In my book, “The Kingdom Mandate”, the last chapter is called the Moral Conflict.  Looking at the beatitudes one can see how this will be what the kings that are to rule and reign will have to have in order to endure with the King.  Also by what moral standard the Kingdom of God will be ruled, which is righteousness established on the earth.  That this ruling and reigning are not based on the world’s wisdom, which is to indoctrinate, control with fear or violence, murder and hate, but the wisdom of God that is from above, being peaceable and loving.  No wonder this wisdom is foolishness to this world, but to those who follow the Lamb slain before the foundation of this world, know that we are to walk as He walked. 

This devotional has been “brooding” in my heart for a while now.  The day before yesterday, I was overwhelmed by the enormity of what is to come upon this earth soon and the devastation that nobody is really truly prepared for.  However, when I woke up yesterday, I had such a feeling of lightness in my heart.  It is difficult to explain, but I think I can best describe it as an overwhelming sense of peace enveloped with joy.  I even asked the Lord, “Why am I feeling so happy Lord?”  Don’t get me wrong, I was not complaining, but the joy that I felt was not that of giggling and smiling the whole time, it was a deep inner sense of the joy of the Lord.   I think His joy comes with this peace, because it says in Philippians 4 that His peace transcends all understanding, and I was not understanding.  I was so aware of this overwhelming peace and joy that I said to the Lord that it feels as if a window in heaven opened up and I am standing in a pool of His goodness.  That I am surrounded by His goodness and completely overwhelmed.  It drew my attention again to the Beatitudes of Matthew 5 that starts with Blessed are…

This word “blessed” the Amplified Bible describes as:

• ·         spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired
• ·         forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace
• ·         inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect
• ·         joyful, nourished by God’s goodness
• ·         content, sheltered by God’s promises
• ·         anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature
• ·         spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor
• ·         comforted by inner peace and God’s love
• ·         morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness

At that, one has to ask, “Who does not want to be blessed!”  This is His promise to us, that beautiful sapphire stone to be found by those who seek the Kingdom of God.  This sapphire stone is known as the seventh stone and found in the second row of the High Priests’ breastplate.

Exodus 28: 18

And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

Without going into the other meanings that can only just let you go down an unnecessary rabbit hole, it is significant for me that this sapphire stone is the seventh stone, meaning God’s rest. And is God’s rest not His whole aim with all His dealings with us?   His “Shalom”?

He says in Matthew 11, “I am meek and lowly, learn of Me” and mentions this rest.  Our King is speaking to us…”Learn of Me.” 

Matthew 11: 28 - 30

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

There is the promised rest.  That beautiful blue sapphire of the Kingdom of God.   That blessing He wishes to give those who will come under His yoke.  The blessing of rest.

Whenever we read a verse and we want to understand it better, we have to read it in context with the whole of the chapter, and if need be the chapter after it as well.  A verse never stands on its own, but forms and intricate part of the whole.  If we make our doctrine from a single verse and out of context to the chapter, we stand the chance of being deceived.  So let’s begin at the beginning of Matthew 11.

John the Baptist is in prison and he sends his disciples to go and find out whether Jesus is the promised Messiah, the one that has been prophesied about, and indeed the one whom John has been preparing the people for in the desert.  Wait…what? We are talking about the same man that saw the Dove descending on Jesus, baptized Him, and heard the voice of the Father coming from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, today I have begotten Him…hear ye Him”.  That would normally settle it for anyone, and at that point John told two of his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God” and that they should follow Him.  So why is John asking whether Jesus is the one?

Jesus replies by saying that his disciples should report back to John saying that the blind see, the death hear and the lame walk.  His very works are testifying of who He is.  But He tells them to give John a message for Him personally. 

Matthew 11: 6

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me.

Another beatitude!  And there we have it.  John was offended.  Why was John offended?  Did he not say that he must become least and Christ more?  Did he not say that he is not worthy to untie his shoelaces?  But here we have a man in jail, ready to lose his head, literally, and he is offended.  At this juncture we have to take a step back and consider John the Baptist.  This man, even before he was born, had the anointing to preach the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God on his life.   Even so that in his mother’s womb, in close proximity to Mary, whilst Jesus was in her womb, leapt!  He paid a very dear price as the actual High Priest of that present age, to be in the desert for years, eating honey and locusts.  Being the scorn of the people.  This is also why Jesus was baptized by John, because He was the actual High Priest, from the lineage of Aaron.  Be that as it may, the man was offended and Jesus called him out on it.  Maybe John was looking at his circumstances and thinking, “what’s up with this?  I give up everything, and Jesus takes over and my head is about to be chopped off?”  Why do I get the worst out of the deal?”  Or maybe he expected that Jesus would come and get him out of there.   After all, they were related.  Maybe that was the reason for him being offended as well, the fact that Jesus did not come quite as he has prophesied all those years in the desert.  As the coming ruling King that the “brood of vipers” should fear, because everything will change when he comes.  Maybe he was offended that the King of kings came as his cousin, and not quite what he expected.  We cannot really say, but the point is, where he was at, things were not looking too rosy.

Jesus then in verse 7 turns this offence around to the crowd and asks them whom they were expecting.  He is addressing their offence with John, asking them what they expected to see in the wilderness.

Matthew 11: 7 – 9

⁷ And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

⁸ But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

⁹ But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

He is saying to them basically, don’t get too happy, you yourself are offended with him whom was sent to prepare the way.  You too are offended.  But, I tell you that among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.

Well, it is clear here that Jesus was not offended by John at all, and rather acknowledges him and his calling as the messenger of God that was sent to prepare the way.   And let’s just be honest here, imagining what John must have looked like, most of us have this idea of the rugged and scruffy old man with his long beard, and a massive sign around his neck, reading “The end of the world is here” that comes to mind.  And though people can relate to the message, they have problems relating to the person.  Pretty much like John.  And this is why Jesus said, “Blessed is he, whosoever he is who is not offended in me.”  God truly works in mysterious ways.  I think He likes to push our buttons like that…it keeps us on our toes and helps us to not judge by the cover. 

In verse 16 He tells them exactly how they are, saying that this generation are those that are like children at a table and do not like what they are fed. They are spoiled brats basically.  They get offended if things are not done their way and they are professional moaners, offended with whatever comes their way.  “Feed me!” is there motto and they have made their belly, that is to say their lust, their God.  Just think about the prophets God has sent, and how the generation, yes even the Christian generation has acted exactly like this.  And so Jesus says neither John nor I are acceptable to you and indeed you are offended by what we offer.  You want it your way.   

Jesus says that in spite of their attitude, wisdom is justified by her children.  That is just another way of saying what Jesus said to John’s disciples with regard to all the miracles He is doing that testifies that He is indeed the One.  His works testify that He is the One. 

At this point He got righteously indignant and started to upbraid the different cities wherein most of his works were done, because they repented not.  The very same message that John gave, only Jesus’ message of repentance was with works as well.  In spite of all His miracles, the people still did not change their ways.  They were offended and not willing to repent.

So to sum up so far, we have John offended, the multitude offended and cities wherein He did great works.  Bringing us back to verse 6, “Blessed are he, whosoever he is who is not offended in Me”.  With all this understanding, there are every now and then clues in Matthew 11 telling us those who are the ones that do not get offended.

He first starts off by saying after acknowledging John the Baptist as one whom are the greatest of the messengers sent by God, by saying that: Notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (v.11) In verse 25 Jesus thanks the Father for hiding the very things of the kingdom from the wise and prudent, the ones that are so easily offended, and has revealed them unto babes.  The innocent ones.  And then in verse 27 he says that the revelation of the Father and the Son is given by Him, to these babes.  Now at this point it is clear that He is talking about children, but this is not children as in a certain young age, but the disposition of a child.  This is why He said in Matthew 18 what He said because of the offence we take.

Matthew 18:3

³ And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This is different from that of being born again.  It is conversion and becoming.  Here the issue is the disposition of a child.  Which is trust, innocence and without guile…”Eager Beavers”.  They are open and ready to receive.  No prejudice or assumptions.

And so Jesus says something about this childlike disposition in verse 12.

Matthew 11:12

¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

This is where the Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a castle being besieged where those who want to enter, does whatever it takes to enter.  You say it, they’ll do it.  Whatever it takes.  They labor to enter in.  Their violence is that of a disposition of passion, eagerness and desperateness to enter.  They lay hold onto the Kingdom only and hold on for dear life.  It is an active seeking and grasping.  Not passive, lazy and unmotivated.  It is with all their hearts. 

Jesus is saying that in Him, who He is and what He does and how He does it, is wisdom.  His Father reveals this to those who are not offended and who really wants to know.  Those who truly desire the truth no matter in what form it comes, whether a shaggy looking desert prophet or the King of Heaven as a servant. There is no regard for self.  It is to them, these babes, these that are without prejudice, that are taking the Kingdom by force, that has labored and become heavy laden that He says, “Come to Me, give me your yoke.”  And take up mine, because my yoke will give you rest.  That beautiful blue sapphire of rest.  A yoke is shaped into two upside down U’s wherein two oxen are yoked.  They usually take a younger and more inexperienced ox to be yoked with a more mature and experienced ox.   So Jesus is saying, “Come My Child, be yoked with me, because when you walk with me in meekness and lowliness, I will show you who My Father is and I will reveal to you who I am.  Because two is better than one and when you walk with me, things will get done faster and better.  Learn of Me when we walk together.  How can two walk together unless they agree? When you get offended by how I work and who I am, your burden will become heavy and you will not walk in my rest.  Rest is only found in trusting Me.

He is not saying to those who are heavy laden to stop laboring. What do you think a yoke is for?  Definitely not to sit on the sidelines and cheer the others on.  Jesus is not talking in Matthew 11 in the context of ministry, but in context of the Christian walk on the highway of holiness, paved with repentance.  To be yoked with Him is to labor with Him.  But He is saying that when we are yoked with Him, His commandments will not be burdensome.  Why?  Because in faith, and only by faith, you are entering into His rest, which is to be yoked with Him.  We read about this rest in Hebrews 4.

Hebrews 4: 9 - 11

⁹ There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

¹⁰ For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

¹¹ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

In this we see two actions.  Ceasing from our own works, our own works being an act of unbelief, and laboring to enter into His rest.  Two works that differ from one another from the basis of our disposition.  Whether we try to do His commandments by our own efforts, which is unbelief, versus doing it in faith, which is that of the trust of a child.  This is why He has come to inscribe His commandments on our hearts, so that we may fulfill them by faith, yoked with Him, and enter into His rest.

The gospel is an offence to most, because we like to be in control.  We want to know exactly how we will be able to fulfill this commandment.  Give me the rules please!  But faith, faith is an offense because for those who by the means of hyper grace want to enter without storming the gates of heaven, taking it by force, are offended with the faith that is required to labor to enter into that rest that is spoken of in Hebrews 4.  The other flipside of the coin is that those who profess that this faith is not cheap and that one indeed do have to labor to enter in, often find themselves on the side of tell me how to do this?  Give me step 1 – 10 and I will do it no matter the cost.  Without realizing it, they labor and are heavy laden.  Two sides that in itself are both wrong.  Because the only way to enter into this rest, is by being yoked to Him.  There are those who are offended and do not want to be yoked with Him and would rather have others to fail on the same premise as they.  But if you succeed to fulfill the commandments of the Lord on the basis of being yoked with Him, and therefore in His rest by faith, well then what excuse do they have then? 

We enter by becoming as little children.  This brings me back to my visions, which is the manifestation of the Sons and Daughters of God.  Those chosen to rule and reign His Kingdom, not on the basis of works or hyper grace, but on the basis of faith.  The manifestation of these Sons and Daughters of God, which is NOW, will be in their disposition of being in the rest of God.  Because they are poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hungry and thirsty for the Kingdom, peacemakers, persecuted and reviled.  They are blessed in every sense of the word.  They have entered into that “shalom” of God now, where the cross has had its way with them and unto such He has promised kingdoms to rule and reign.  Those who have made covenant with Him by sacrifice and have indeed laid their lives down. 

These are they who causes the Kingdom of God to suffer violence as they take it by force.  These are the manifested Sons and Daughters of God to be revealed in this time, as these very beatitudes are to be displayed from an authentic place, having been made into the image of the Son, in the moral conflict of the ages between the two wisdoms.  The wisdom of the Kingdom of God and the wisdom of this world. 

Therefore He admonishes us to labor to enter into this rest, that we may as the little boy in poverty of spirit, discover the shalom of God, veiled for those who are offended, but revealed to those who are as babes.  Let us even now enter into His rest.