Wednesday 21 October 2020

The End of the Law

 Scripture:  Romans 4 v 13 -16: "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14  For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15  Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,"

Galatians 3 v 1 - 3: "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

Just over twenty years ago my team of Intercessors was invited to spend a weekend of ministry at a resort a few hundred miles away.  Our journey had some interruptions.  We were discerning a high level of witchcraft while travelling through dense fog and rain on unfamiliar roads at night.

We prayed for a breakthrough against both spiritual and weather problems.  Suddenly, the fog lifted and we picked up some speed.  Only a few miles further and our car spun out of control.  It was totally dark.  Anton, the driver, had military training in extreme driving conditions.  All he said afterwards was, Jesus had control of the car, especially my feet on the brake and accelerator, and my hands on the steering wheel.

The car was going forward at a speed and suddenly it drifted sideways and was going backwards at a speed then it turned fast backwards up the side of a hill.  And stopped.  The guys went the check out the road we had just spun through.  At our first violent move we had missed going over a long cliff to our deaths.  Then we spun across the road towards a rockface.  That's when we drifted and went backwards.  Where we turned back up the hill was just a metre from another drop.  Jesus was at the wheel.

We later learned that over 2000 witches lived on that mountain and removed road signs indicating dangerous bends which caused cars and trucks to go over the first cliff, which they then looted.  That night we shone a torch at that spot and a number of vehicles were saved from going over the edge.  One nearly collided with us!

We praised and glorified the Lord for our deliverance and the people we had to visit collected us and towed the car.  The next morning our work began and before long we realised this group had gone back under the law.  Satan had tried to destroy us before we could reach them with the truth.

There was so much witchcraft in that area that it was difficult to breakthrough to these people.  As Paul said, who has bewitched you to disobey the truth?

There are huge numbers of people who have compromised their salvation by reverting to the Jewish Law, keeping the Sabbath, keeping all the feasts.  The Law was given to inform people of their unrighteousness.  Jesus took all that unrighteousness up in Himself on the Cross and being sinless Himself He was the only person who could break the curse of sin over us.  By His grace we are forgiven and therefore the law is no longer our concern.

If we are filled with the Holy Spirit and are obedient to God there is no law applicable to us.  We live by faith, goodness, love and peace.  Those who choose to live by the law of Judaism forsake the power of the Blood of Jesus.  It's a terrible choice to make as they lose divine protection and all the New Testament promises.  

When Jesus was dying His last utterance was, It is finished!  He was referring to the Law.  Now began the Time of the Gentiles.  

Luke 21 v 24 - 26: "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken."

Seventy years ago Israel became a nation again, after 1900 years being scattered all over the world, back in their homeland.  This was the beginning of the end of the dispensation to the Gentiles which will soon be fulfilled when the Tribulation has reached mid point.  

Revelation 11 v 2 - 4: "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 
3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 
4  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth."

42 months is three and a half years, so is 1260 days.  The first half of the Tribulation is that length of time too.

Revelation 11 v 11 - 12: "And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."

John prophesied that these two witnesses, who are strongly believed to be Moses and Elijah, will be killed and their bodies will lie dead in the street for three and a half days.  Then they will be resurrected and caught up to Heaven.  Sounds very like the Rapture and it occurs mid Tribulation.

We are living in interesting times but only for believers in Jesus.  He is our only hope.  For those who reject Him there is no hope.  They can never again say, This too shall pass.  

Let us remain faithful to Him, and if any have foolishly moved to believing the Jewish Law is all they need, they are denying Christ and His salvation, and must repent and believe the truth.  Paul was a Pharisee who was obsessive about the Law but he found the truth and was very vocal about it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all You reveal in Your Word and by many confirmations.  Help us to convince those who are confused and bewitched by the Law and that salvation is of the Jews.  We are saved by being born again, washed in the Blood of Jesus and filled by the Holy Spirit.  Let us never deny You Lord.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.