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Your Word for Today

Your Word for Today

“then Solomon assembled the Elders of Israel, and all the heads of the Tribes, the chief of the fathers of the Children of Israel, unto King Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion (I Ki. 8:1).

The Temple is now finished! It seems that approximately a year, or maybe even a little more time, had elapsed between its completion and its dedication. This great event occurred in the Year of Jubilee, during the Feast of Tabernacles, in connection with the Great Day of Atonement. The Feast of the Dedication lasted for seven days, then came the Great Day of Atonement, and finally the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles. Thus are the circumstances of the dedication harmonized with the Grace and the Glory of the future Kingdom which was then foreshadowed, and we speak of the coming Kingdom Age.

The Ark of the Covenant was brought up from Zion, the city of David, where it had been lodged in a tent, to the neighboring hill of Moriah, upon which the Temple was built; and the Tabernacle of Moses was brought up from Gibeon, where it had been in the days of Saul. It may be assumed that the Tabernacle and its vessels were reverently laid up among the “treasures of the House” (I Ki. 7:51).

The Ark, having the Tables of the Law within it, was placed within the Holy of Holies. All was performed exactly as the Bible commanded; consequently, the Glory of Jehovah filled the House of Jehovah.

By God’s Command (I Chron. 28:19), there were variations made in the vessels in the Temple as contrasted with those of the Tabernacle. These changes harmonize with the purpose of the Temple as an exposition of the coming Glory, but there was no alteration with respect to the Ark, for it was God’s one and only Throne. Its staves, however, were withdrawn, and the Golden Pot of Manna and Aaron’s Rod that budded, which were associated with the Tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 16:33; Num. 17:10; Heb. 9:4), are not mentioned. All this is harmonious.

The Ark entered its rest. The staves with which the Priests had borne it in the wilderness were withdrawn and became the memorials of that time of pilgrimage, testifying to the Grace and Faithfulness which had brought them into God’s Rest. But Aaron’s Rod and the Pot of Manna are not mentioned, for these, being types of that which would be substantial in the Millennium, necessarily disappeared — they would be out of place in the glorious reign and rest of Canaan.

Therefore, it was that Solomon, as Priest and King, in the presence of a manifested glory, displaced Aaron and his Priesthood; for he, and not the High Priest, dedicated the Temple and blessed the people, because Solomon represented Christ Who will reign supreme in the coming Kingdom Age.

The Ten Commandments remained in the Ark; for the Word of the Lord endures forever. It is mentioned with emphasis (I Ki. 8:9) that they, and nothing else, were in the Ark. This had to be; for the Law of God was hidden in the Messiah’s heart (Ps. 119:11), as it was hidden in the Ark. That Law will be the basis and rule of the Righteousness which will govern in the coming Kingdom Age.

The Law, in fact, is kept now, and will be forever, through Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and Solomon offered a Sacrifice of Peace Offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the Children of Israel dedicated the House of the LORD. Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from Heaven and consumed the Burnt Offering and the Sacrifices; and the Glory of the LORD filled the House. And the Priests could not enter into the House of the LORD because the Glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S House (I Ki. 8:63; II Chron. 7:1-2).

The Temple was the only building in the entirety of the world in which the One True God was worshipped.

There is every evidence that the Lord gave Solomon these instructions regarding the tremendous number of Sacrifices which were offered at the Dedication of the Temple. This proclaimed the fact that Israel’s foundation, its only foundation, was the Precious Blood of Christ, of which the Sacrifices were a symbol. The tremendous number of animals offered portrays the significance of what Jesus would do at Calvary; consequently, it is not possible to overemphasize the Cross of Christ, as here should be abundantly evident.

Before the abundant number of sacrifices were offered, appropriate sacrifices were placed on the Great Altar. The Scripture says, “Fire came down from Heaven, and consumed them.” The fire that consumed the “Burnt Offering” at the Dedication “came down from Heaven,” but the fire that consumed the Burnt Offering at the Dedication of the Tabernacle “came out from before the LORD,” that is, came out from between the Cherubim within the Most Holy Place, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. But in coming out from, and passing through, the Tabernacle, that fire did not burn even the Veil through which it passed, for that Tent, in essence, was Christ. This is characteristic. The fire from the Tabernacle is Christ in His First Advent; the fire from Heaven, Christ in His Second Advent, even as the Tabernacle portrayed the First Advent of Christ, while the Temple portrayed His Second Advent.

The latter has not yet come to pass, but it most assuredly shall!

The Sacrifice was offered, representing Calvary; the fire fell on the Sacrifice, consuming it, typifying the Judgment of God poured out on Christ instead of upon us who rightly deserved it. Then at that time the Glory filled the Temple to such an extent that the Priests could not even enter the Temple for the force of that power.

Let it therefore ever be understood:

The True Glory of the Lord will accompany nothing but Christ and His Cross. Any other professed glory is fake, as, of necessity, it must be. Everything must be based squarely on the Cross of Christ (I Pet. 1:18-20).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the Altar of the LORD that was broken down (I Ki. 18:30).

For God to move, the Altar, which was broken down, and which was a Type of the coming Atonement of Christ, had first of all to be repaired. Presently, the Church, that is, if it is to see a Move of God, has to come back to the Cross. God will tolerate no other direction.

To repair the Altar, Elijah used “twelve stones.” The number “twelve” is God’s number of Government; however, it must ever be remembered that it is God’s Government and not man’s. His Government is His Word. That Government is centered up in the Cross.

Elijah next “made a trench about the Altar,” which speaks of separation. To be sure, the Cross of Christ separates Believers from the world; it alone will separate Believers from the world.

Then the great Prophet put the Bullock, cut in pieces, on the Altar, which represented Christ on the Cross. The “Bullock, cut in pieces” represents the horror of sin. It is much more than a mere surface problem, but rather goes to the very vitals of the human being, hence the necessity of the Cross, which alone addresses sin, both its cause and its effect (Heb. 10:12).

He then “filled four barrels with water,” did it three times, and poured it on the Sacrifice that was to be offered; the water ran down and filled the trench. The “water” is a Type of the Word of God, which is to saturate everything. More than all, this typifies that the Cross of Christ alone fulfills the Word of God in every respect. In other words, if the Believer is not basing everything strictly on the Cross, what he is doing is not according to the Word and cannot be blessed by the Lord.

This being done, “the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the Burnt Sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench” (I Ki. 18:38).

The fire falling represented the Judgment of God. It fell on Christ instead of on mankind; however, if the Cross is not ever the Object of one’s Faith, to be sure, ultimately the fire of judgment will fall, and it will be on the individual instead of on Christ. Christ became our Substitute, thereby, taking our place; however, as God the Father cannot be approached except through Christ (Jn. 14:6), likewise, Christ cannot be approached except through the Cross (Lk. 9:23).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain (I Ki. 18:41).

Israel had suffered some three and a half years of drought, which had brought the nation to utter ruin. In fact, there was not a green thing to be seen, with all of the brooks in the land completely dried up. This drought, instigated by the Lord, was indicative of Israel’s spiritual condition. Governed by Ahab and wicked Jezebel, the nation had completely lost her way with God.

I’m afraid that this drought is also indicative of the modern Church. Religion abounds, even as it did in Israel of old, but precious little true Moving and Operation of the Holy Spirit. The modern Church says, “We are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” However, the Lord says, “And knowest not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17).

Due, however, to the Altar being repaired, which means that Israel was brought back to the Cross, with the fire falling, which means that God recognized the Cross, as God will always recognize the Cross, and, in fact, will recognize nothing else, then the land is ready for a deluge of rain. In fact, the Prophet Elijah tells Ahab, “Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain,” and that’s exactly what happened! The Scripture says, “There was a great rain” (I Ki. 18:45).

All of this tells us that before the rain of revival can come, the Church must first of all come back to the Cross. In these last days, I do not hold out any illusion that religious Denominations are going to come back to the Cross. In fact, they aren’t! However, the “abundance of rain” awaits any and every individual Believer who will come back to the Cross.

Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My Voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
The Miracle of God’s Word

“and it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. And he said, You have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so unto you; but if not, it shall not be so (II Ki. 2:9-10).

There have never been two Prophets quite like Elijah and Elisha. The name “Elijah” means “Jehovah is God,” and figures Law. “Elisha” means “God is Salvation,” and represents Grace. Elisha has now been some ten years with Elijah — a testing time — and the last test now comes.

The Scripture indicates that Elisha knew that Elijah was going to be taken. Exactly how, that he did not know! Consequently, Elisha will not let the great Prophet out of his sight. Irrespective that Elijah told him first to remain in Gilgal, then to remain in Bethel, and finally to remain in Jericho, Elisha, prompted by the Spirit of God, knew that he must not let Elijah out of his sight. He hungered and thirsted after Righteousness; consequently, he would be filled (Mat. 5:6).

And then, at the miracle of the parting of the waters of Jordan, Elijah said to his protégé, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you.” The answer from Elisha was instant, “Let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” Elisha wanted the Power of God. He was little interested in anything else.

For what is the modern Church seeking?

Then Elijah said to him, “You have asked a hard thing.” A better translation from the Hebrew would be, “You have staked a great claim.” And that’s exactly what the Holy Spirit wanted him to do. Far too many Christians presently are staking insignificant claims, or rather none at all. The Church desperately needs those who will “stake a great claim,” i.e., “ask for the impossible.”

To be frank, it was impossible for Elijah to give any part of his spirit to Elisha, much less a double portion; however, the Lord could do such; to be sure, the Lord did so such! There only was one requirement:

Elisha was not to take his eyes off the great Prophet. If Elisha observed Elijah as he was translated, he would receive his request; if not, “it shall not be so.” To be sure, the moment this tremendous spectacle occurred, i.e., the translation of Elijah, and done so by a “chariot of fire, and horses of fire,” Elisha was intently observing, and he received exactly that for which he asked — a double portion.

The “double portion” is exactly what I want from the Lord, and it should be exactly what you want. Grace promised it to Elisha, and Grace gave it to Elisha. Grace will do the same for us! We must not be satisfied with the status quo, or even what has been. There awaits a double portion for all who will believe.

Elisha got exactly that for which he asked. He performed exactly twice as many miracles as Elijah.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray you, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees: but the water is naught, and the ground barren (II Ki. 2:19).

This would be the second miracle performed by the Prophet Elisha, the opening of Jordan being the first (II Ki. 2:14). Elisha now comes into Jericho and is met by the elders of the city. They tell him that the situation of the city is pleasant, but they have one great problem. The water is poisoned, and the ground is, therefore, barren. The Holy Spirit will give the Prophet a beautiful answer to this scenario, all typifying Christ.

The Holy Spirit told Elisha to tell the Elders to “bring me a new cruse.” The “cruse” of which he spoke was made of clay. It symbolized the humanity of Christ, i.e., “His Incarnation.” Furthermore, it was required that this cruse be “new,” which symbolized the fact that there never had been since Adam a human being like Jesus. Born of the Virgin Mary, which means that His conception was decreed by the Holy Spirit, He was truly “new” in character, aspect, and every form of being.

That’s why Paul referred to Christ as “The Last Adam” and “The Second Man” (I Cor. 15:45, 47).

Elisha then told the men to “put salt therein,” which is a type of the incorruptible Word of God. This means that Jesus lived by the Word, functioned in the Word, abided by the Word in every respect, never failed the Word, and was, in fact, the Living Word (Jn. 1:1-2). The Scripture says that Elisha “took the new cruse” to the “spring of the waters” and “cast the salt in there.” This refers to the fact that Jesus obeyed the Word in every aspect, “even the death of the Cross” (Phil. 2:8).

For the poisoned waters to be healed, which represent original sin in the heart and life of every human being, Jesus would have to go to the Cross, thereby, in effect, casting the “salt,” i.e., “Himself,” into that iniquity (II Cor. 5:21). Only then can the poisoned waters of man’s soul be healed, even as the waters were healed in Jericho, which was a type.

Let it ever be understood:

Man can plant a garden around the poisoned well, even install a new pump, and even make the pump out of gold, but none of that will have any effect on what the well produces. For the poisoned waters to be healed, the problem has to be addressed at its source. Only Christ has done that, which, in fact, was done at the Cross.

That’s why Paul said he would glory in the Cross, and in the Cross alone (Gal. 6:14).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all your neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few (II Ki. 4:3).

A particular Prophet died, and his wife was left penniless. She went to Elisha, asking for help regarding her problem. Her situation was so acute that the creditors were about to come and take her sons away, forcing them into servitude.

Let it ever be understood:

When it comes to the world, “the creditor is come.” Satan is that creditor, and he will take all, steal all, and destroy all (Jn. 10:10).

The woman, however, took her problem to Elisha, i.e., “the Lord.” Unfortunately, the modern Church has come to the place that it advocates taking our problems to the psychologist. What a sorry trade! No help whatsoever can be expected from that source, much less miracles!

Elisha asked her, “What shall I do for you?” The Lord, in effect, and at innumerable times, asks us the same thing, “What shall I do for you?” (Mat. 21:22; Mk. 11:24-25; Jn. 14:14; 15:7).

The Prophet then asked her, “What have you in the house?” Her answer was quick in coming. She said, “A pot of oil.”

In the Bible, “oil” is typical of the Holy Spirit. The woman may not have had much of anything else, but she, in typical form, had the Holy Spirit. That being the case, there is no limit to what can be done.

The Prophet then told her that she was to go to all of her neighbors and to borrow as many empty vessels as possible, “borrow not a few.” She was to expect great things! What are you expecting? Are you expecting great things? If you are, you will want great containers.

One of our biggest problems as Christians is that we make God too small, thereby asking for too little. I will never forget the exhortation of my Grandmother, who, in effect, was my Bible School, my Seminary, etc. Over and over again, she told me, “Jimmy, God is a big God, so ask big!” I have never forgotten that, and it has helped me to touch the world for Christ.

After the woman gathered all the vessels, she was to take the lone pot of oil which she had and start pouring it into the vessels. She would find that her source would not run dry until there were no more vessels. In other words, God stops when we stop! I don’t ever want to stop, because if I don’t stop, He won’t stop! The oil will keep coming.

She took the oil, sold it, paid her debts, and had plenty enough left over to live on. He has enough, and to spare!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean (II Ki. 5:10).

This concerns Naaman, captain of the host of the King of Syria. The Holy Spirit says that he was a “great man,” “honorable,” and a “mighty man in valor.” But the Holy Spirit added, “but he was a leper.”

In those days, leprosy was tantamount to a sentence of death. In the Old Testament, leprosy was used by the Holy Spirit as a type of sin. There was no earthly cure for leprosy, just as there is no earthly cure for sin.

A little maid, whom the Holy Spirit desired to remain nameless, had been taken captive from Israel and was now serving in the household of Naaman. Upon overhearing the consternation that followed the news that Naaman had contracted leprosy, the Scripture says this little maid told her mistress about the Prophet Elisha in Samaria!

She said, “He will recover him of his leprosy.” This young lady, who had been taken captive and made to serve as a slave in a strange land, could easily have succumbed to depression, even blaming God for her predicament. After all, she was an Israelite; however, she allowed none of that to control her. She maintained her faith, attempting to serve God to the best of her ability where He had placed her.

What an example!

On the word of this little “maid,” Naaman departed for Israel, taking with him several millions of dollars in order to “pay for his healing.” How so like the world, thinking that Salvation can be bought! Furthermore, before going to Elisha, Naaman went to the King of Israel, who, of course, could do nothing for him.

Let that be a lesson for all. Man has no answer for these problems.

Elisha heard about the situation and said, “Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a Prophet in Israel.”

So Naaman came; however, the situation was not exactly to his liking. Elisha didn’t even come out to greet him; he rather sent a lowly messenger with a ridiculous message, at least ridiculous to Naaman. Naaman was to “Go and wash in Jordan seven times.” He grew furiously angry, exclaiming how much better the rivers of Syria were than the River Jordan.

It is true that the rivers he named in Syria were crystal clear, while Jordan was anything but that. Likewise, Calvary, typified here by the River Jordan, holds no attraction. The Cross, in fact, has no attraction at all; it rather is “an offence” (Gal. 5:11). The only thing that one can say about the Cross is, “It works.” It alone will “cleanse from the leprosy of sin.” No matter how sparkling clear and beautifully arrayed the other efforts are, whatever they are and wherever they are, they carry no healing process. The Cross alone does that.

Upon being told to wash in Jordan, Naaman, as stated, became enraged. Many today, when told about the Cross, do the same thing. But thankfully, Naaman ultimately obeyed and “dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (II Ki. 5:14).

Likewise is everyone who comes to that fountain. It may not be attractive to the world, but it cleanses from sin (Zech. 13:1).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and he (Naaman) returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the Earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray you, take a blessing of your servant. But he (Elisha) said, As the LORD lives, before Whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused (II Ki. 5:15-16).

After Naaman was healed, he obviously was very grateful. He goes back to the Prophet and offers to give him as much money as he wanted. But Elisha refused to take anything.

Why?

At times, Elisha did take gifts, or at least the indication is that he did. But this was different. All of this was a Type of what Christ did at the Cross, which affords Salvation free of charge to all who simply will believe (Jn. 3:16). No price is put on such, because no price can be put on such. So, Elisha was forbidden by the Lord to take anything. Had he done so, it would have spoiled the Type.

But after Naaman left, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, no doubt having overheard the conversation, ran and overtook the Syrian. Gehazi lied to Naaman, claiming that Elisha had changed his mind and would like some payment — “a talent of silver, and two changes of garments” (II Ki. 5:22).

The end result would not be pleasant. Because Gehazi spoiled the Type and lied to Naaman, Elisha was instructed by the Holy Spirit to tell him, “The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto you, and unto your seed forever.” Then, “he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow” (II Ki. 5:27).

This should be a powerful lesson for every person. Salvation cannot be bought. In fact, God has nothing for sale. Everything is a gift; and if we try to earn Salvation, we will find that the sin remains; it will remain forever, that is, if one continues on that path.

Such a direction completely destroyed Israel.

Paul said, “For they being ignorant of God’s Righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God” (Rom. 10:3). Paul then tells the Church, “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also spare not you,” meaning if God’s Redemption Plan of the Cross is ignored, the results will be destruction (Rom. 11:21).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and there were four leprous men at the entering of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? (II Ki. 7:3).

Because of sin, the Northern Kingdom of Israel has been reduced to slavery and starvation. At the moment of the Text, the Syrians had surrounded the city of Samaria, placing it under siege. Soon the food ran out, with the situation becoming dire indeed!

There were four leprous men sitting at the gate of the city, because they were not allowed inside. They too were starving to death. In this abject condition, they reasoned among themselves, “Why sit we here until we die?” They would go into the camp of the Syrians, who might give them some food. If they die in the attempt, i.e., if they were killed by the Syrians, they were no worse off than at present. They were most assuredly going to die, so they had nothing to lose.

These four men showed Faith; to be sure, Faith is always attached to action. “Faith without works is dead.”

How many modern Believers have simply given up? It may even be that you have sinned, and sinned greatly, typified by the leprosy. In this terrible condition, most in the modern Church would write you off. But you must realize that God has not written you off. God loves you; He paid a great price for your soul. But if you continue to sit in the place of despondency, refusing to act, there is nothing God can do. He awaits only your favorable response.

Why not say, as those four leprous men of so long ago, “Why sit I here until I die?”

When you get up, God gets up! Don’t forget that.

When the four lepers went into the camp of the Syrians, the Lord made their footfall sound like a mighty army. The Syrians thought that Israel had hired Hittites and Egyptians to come against them. Consequently, the Syrians fled, leaving everything in their camp — money, food, garments, everything!

After the lepers had eaten and drank, they, in essence, said to themselves, “This is a day of good tidings. We must not keep it to ourselves. We must tell it to all in the city.” And so they did! That which the Lord gives is of such magnificence and of such abundance, that it not only meets our every need, but we, at the same time, are to give this message of “glad tidings” concerning Salvation, which meets every need of every individual, to the entirety of the world.

The people in Samaria were starving to death. They are a type of the world without God. Admittedly, the world will not accept Christ and His largesse as readily as the starving people of Samaria accepted that which was left by the Syrians. Nevertheless, some few will. All who accept will find blessing untold.

As the lepers of old, it’s up to us to tell them (Jn. 10:10).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“and King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and King Ahaz sent to Urijah the Priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. And Urijah the Priest built an altar according to all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the Priest made it against King Ahaz came from Damascus (II Ki. 16:10-11).

The correct name of King Ahaz, King of Judah, was “Jehoahaz,” which means “the possession of Jehovah.” The man was so ungodly that the Spirit of God strikes the Jehovah-syllable out of his name, invariably calling him “Ahaz,” which simply means “possession.” Such was his life. He was led, influenced, and possessed by anyone or anything except God.

His history illustrates how disastrous it is for the spiritual profit of a man when his own plans succeed. God, through Isaiah, earnestly counseled him not to invite the King of Assyria to help him against the confederate kings of Israel and Damascus. He, however, followed his own counsel, and with success; but the ultimate result was ruin.

Not only did he worship the golden calf of the kings of Israel, but he introduced the horrible religion of Moloch, the god of fire, the red-hot iron arms of whose image received and burned alive helpless little children, possibly even hundreds. He completed his apostasy by displacing the great Brazen Altar of God’s appointment, which sat in front of the Temple, setting up in its stead an altar inspired of Damascus.

So determined was Ahaz in his opposition to the Bible, that not only did he send to Urijah the High Priest a sketch of the idolatrous altar that he saw at Damascus, but he also sent with it a model; for that is the import of the words, “the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it” (16:10).

Urijah the High Priest was just as guilty as Ahaz the king.

I’m afraid the modern Church is basically doing the same thing as Ahaz of old, replacing the Cross with a cross of their own design.

What do we mean by that?

Unless the Cross of Christ is totally the Object of our Faith, this means that we are also building another altar in conjunction with the Cross, whether we realize it or not. In fact, this is one of the most devious and crowning sins of the Evil One. He would like for Believers, so-called, to rid themselves of the Cross altogether, which most have done; however, barring that, i.e., if they want to cling to some semblance of the Cross, he will subtly suggest the substitution of another type of cross. Such is the Purpose Driven Life doctrine, or the Government of Twelve, or the Word of Faith, etc.

All false doctrine starts, in some way, with a wrong interpretation of the Cross, or else denies the Cross altogether.”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into the city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.

For I will defend this city, to save it, for My Own sake, and for My servant David’s sake (II Ki. 19:32-34).

From the accession of Hezekiah to the captivity, the Assyrian and the Babylonian overshadow the house of David, and call forth those exercises of heart which are painful to the flesh but profitable to the spirit. These enemies appeared because of Israel’s unfaithfulness.

So is it in the Christian life. Fidelity to the Lord and to His precious Book saves the Christian from those trials which a want of fidelity surely brings; and yet, the pitying love and wisdom of God may use these very griefs as instruments of spiritual enrichment to those who, like Hezekiah and Josiah, really love Him, though that love be imperfect.

Hezekiah began his reign as a vassal of the King of Assyria, by whom he was placed upon the throne during the lifetime of his father, Ahaz. In 18:7, it is recorded that he rebelled against that monarch and defeated the Philistines. This victory over the Philistine, who was an internal enemy, and the later victory over the Assyrian, who was an external enemy, illustrate the fact that victory over both inward and outward temptation is promised to the overcomer.

Sennacherib, leader of the mighty Assyrian empire, had laid siege to Judah and was now threatening Jerusalem. In fact, he was demanding the surrender of the Sacred City. The Prophet Isaiah now appears for the first time on the pages of the Bible (II Ki. 19:2).

Isaiah the Prophet predicted victory, and great victory, at that. Not only would Sennacherib not take Jerusalem, but, furthermore, he would not even shoot an arrow against it. This great victory, however, was not because of any moral beauty in Hezekiah, but rather for His Own sake, and for David’s sake, i.e., “the True David, Christ.”

The Scripture says, “And it came to pass that night, that the Angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred eighty and five thousand: and when they (the inhabitants of Jerusalem) arose early in the morning, behold, they (the army of Sennacherib) were all dead corpses” (II Ki. 19:35).

This shows us the power of prayer, and, above all, the Power of God. Never before had Sennacherib met such power. History records that he left immediately, going back to Assyria, where ultimately he was murdered by his own sons. Before his death, he made excursions into other parts of the world of that day, but never again toward Judah.

What a mighty God we serve!”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“but when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the Temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the Altar of Incense. And Azariah the Priest went in after him . . . and they withstood Uzziah the King, and said unto him, It appertains not unto you, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD. . . . Then Uzziah was wroth . . . and while he was wroth with the Priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the Priests in the House of the LORD, from beside the Incense Altar (II Chron. 26:16-19).

Uzziah was “marvelously helped,” that is, God prospered him so greatly that people marveled. But when he was strong, he entered the zone of real danger. “When we are weak, then are we strong,” Paul said (II Cor. 12:10). Strong Christians, it seems, are in very great danger.

Uzziah went into the Holy Place of the Temple in order to burn incense on the Golden Altar, which was the duty of the Priests alone. In other words, no other person could enter this place, not even the king.

The Priests were types of Christ, and, thereby, offered up incense on the Golden Altar twice a day, which was a type of the Intercession afforded us by Christ. Uzziah was saying, in effect, that he really didn’t need an Intercessor; he could be his own intercessor.

In the midst of his efforts to burn incense, while the Priests were pleading with him to stop, the Lord struck him with leprosy, and it began in his forehead.

Why his forehead?

On the forehead of the High Priest was the golden plate with the words inscribed upon it, “Holiness to the LORD.” As it regarded Uzziah, the Lord was, in essence, saying that instead of Holiness, there was sinfulness.

Not only is our Redemption based strictly on the Cross of Calvary, but all Intercession by Christ is also based strictly on what He has done for us at the Cross. God accepts His Intercession only on that basis, i.e., “the complete Sacrifice.” This simply means that when any Believer places his faith in something other than the Cross of Christ, he is, in effect, doing the same thing that Uzziah did, which, if continued, ultimately will incur the same result.

The greatest sin of all is rebellion against God’s Prescribed Order, which is what Uzziah did, and what millions presently are doing! (Phil. 3:18-19)”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the Priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and built the Altar of the God of Israel, to offer Burnt Offerings thereon, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God (Ezra 3:2).

The Bible and the Atonement are the two great facts of this Third Chapter in Ezra — the one recognized as authoritative, the other confessed as necessary, and absolutely so.

Even though Israel had many enemies surrounding them, nations which were not at all in sympathy with Israel’s restoration, dread of these surrounding nations did not impel Israel to seek safety in walls and battlements, but rather in Burnt Offerings and Sin Sacrifices. They, in effect, and in spirit, sought refuge in a Crucified Saviour. This means that they placed themselves under the wings of the God of Israel. This was a beautiful testimony.

Therefore, before they built the Temple, even before they built the walls, they first of all built at Altar. Instructed by the Scriptures, they offered up the Burnt Offerings, and the Sin Offerings, thus publicly confessed themselves to be guilty sinners, and that only by the shedding of atoning blood could they be forgiven and brought back to God. It hasn’t changed from then until now.

The safety, protection, strength, and power of the individual Christian is found entirely in the Cross, and only in the Cross, of which all of this was a type. When Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, proceeded to give instructions how the Believer is to live a perpetually holy life, he took us straight to the Cross. We find it in the Sixth Chapter of Romans.

First of all, it must be remembered that Paul is dealing with Believers, and not the unredeemed. So he tells Believers in the first two Verses of the Sixth Chapter of Romans that sin is the problem. Whatever the difficulty, sin is the problem. And then he tells us the cure for sin, and the only cure for sin, which is the Cross. That is found in Romans 6:3-5.

Actually, if one doesn’t properly understand the Sixth Chapter of Romans, then one simply doesn’t know how to live for God. To be sure, a person can be saved and not understand this Chapter, but they cannot walk in victory.

As Israel after the dispersion proclaimed this fact, and actually as it is proclaimed throughout the entirety of the Bible, the Believer must ever understand that the entirety of the Message of the Word of God is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” (Gen. 3:15; Isa., Chpt. 53; Rom. 6:1-14; I Cor. 1:17-18, 21, 23; 2:2).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“there was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and eschewed evil (Job 1:1).

Job is the oldest Book in the Bible, and thereby the oldest Book in the world. It was written by Moses (Lk. 24:27, 44). It explains the problem of why good men are afflicted. It is in order to bring about their Sanctification. It is interesting that this difficult question should be the first taken up and answered in the Bible.

In the Book of Job, the discovery of the worthlessness of self is the first step in Christian experience. Then we discover the worthfulness of Christ, which is the second step. However, the worthfulness of Christ can never be reached until we fully understand the worthlessness of self.

The Book of Job does not symbolize an unconverted man, but rather a Believer. It was necessary that one of God’s Children should be chosen for this trial; for the subject of this Book is not the conversion of the sinner, but the consecration of the Saint. It is evident that an unconverted man needs to be brought to the end of himself; but that a man who feared God, who was perfect in his efforts to serve the Lord, and who hated evil, should also need this, such presents itself as a mystery to most Christians. God chose the most consecrated man on the face of the Earth at that time to portray the fact that “self” is a problem, and that it must be dealt with, and that dealing with it is never easy, but always extremely difficult.

The effect of all that happened to Job was that he ultimately came to “abhor himself” (Job 42:5-6). This language shows that previously, i.e. before his great trial, he had thought well of himself. His creed was orthodox, for he approached God through Sacrifice, and his conduct was faultless, for he was a just man and hated evil. But these sharp trials, and especially the anger which the unjust accusations of his friends stirred up in his heart, revealed to himself unknown depths of moral ugliness; and, finally, his being challenged to measure himself with God made him conscious that in him, that is, in his “flesh,” there dwelt no good thing. This is a deep and painful experience which all Christian people have not reached, but yet must be reached, if we are to be what we ought to be in Christ (Williams).”

—Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
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