lets understand a critical topic.
"The Arm of God"
A. Power, and B. Authority
Foundation Scripture: Isaiah 63:5 "And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me."
The Revealing Scripture: Isaiah 53:1 "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”.
Teaching Scripture: John 8:28 "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things”.
this key phrase is what we will zero in on. "and that I do nothing of myself". was the Lord Jesus lying... no, but why make such a statement. many scholars, preachers, and lay Christian say see Jesus is not God but is sent to Do the Father's will, he, Jesus don't have any Authority. well lets's see if what you say is true.
Question, Jesus is God OWN ARM ... right, according to Isaiah chapter 53. now think for a second, do your own natural arm on its own just slap someone up side the head without you knowing about it? no, you must give Authority from the brain to your ARM to slap someone else head. that's a. "Authority", and, b. "Power" to do it right.
now, lets teach a heavenly concept from a earthly example. the U.S. Army. do our military just jump up on its own and start fighting against another nation on its own? no, our military is under the Authority of this Country Government. and our military is this country power to a. defend, or b. attack a declared enemy nation against this country.
now lets see this in the Bible and understand why the Lord Jesus said, "and that I do nothing of myself".
if one would read, 2 Chronicles 32, we see that the king of Assyria, Sennacherib, invaded the land of Judah, where Hezekiah was king. lets get to the heart of the matter, Hezekiah encourages his people. lets pick up the action. scripture, 2 Chronicles 32:6 "And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,"
2 Chronicles 32:7 "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:"
2 Chronicles 32:8 "With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."
notice verse 8a, "With him is an arm of flesh". .... an "ARM of Flesh?. YES, an ARM of FLESH is Sennacherib ARMY, or fighting men. well God's OWN ARM, according to John 1:1 & 1:14 is in flesh. so we have an ARM of Flesh that is God Army, an Army of ONE.
just like any ARM of Flesh/Army, it's under orders or Authority, by the Government or the KING that's in Authority. and God's Arm of Flesh/Army of one, the Lord Jesus is under the Authority from the Government/King of who is in Authority.
so as with an earthly Army who is only AUTHORIZE to Fight or do the ... "WILL" of the Government or the king in Authority. likewise, our Lord Jesus as the ARM of Flesh is the Army of the Heavenly Government, the King, is under Authority, so when the Lord Jesus said, "I do nothing of myself", he's correct, because he is under orders, or Authority from the Government/King who sent him.
he is our EXAMPLE. he don't do anything on his OWN, just as any Army, it's not their own will that they do, nor do the Lord Jesus, while here on EARTH under Authority, NOT HIS WILL BUT THE WILL OF WHO SENT HIM.
now the POWER,
when the Lord Jesus was sent, or came in flesh, he was in a diverse, (shared), G2758 κενόω kenoo state in that flesh, meaning without .... "POWER". hence his BAPTISM... by John in Water to be EMPOWERED by his Spirit from on high. (note there is the diversity, Jesus diverse in flesh, and the Holy Spirit, in apperance as a dove ... the Spirit, Who is God, per John 4:24a). now God Army, as with a earthly army is equip with the the most lethal weapon, or power on earth. fleshly armies, have their guns, and ammo..... ect, but as Hezekiah said, "but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles". for our battle is not carnal, scripture, Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
this was the Jews loss, and lack of expectations of the Lord as the messiah. they was looking for a king to deliever them from physical bondgage of the Romans over them. they was ignorant, just as many today, the reason for their physical bondgage was their spiritual sin. the messiah came to release them from sin.
for it is the Spirit that empower us, just as the apostle Peter told them, Read Acts chapter 3:1-12 when him and John was coming from the temple and a lame man was healed. scripture, Acts 3:12 "And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?"
Now this is just a couple of the aspects and some of the thing our Lord said that have puzzle a many of Christian. so one need to research out theses thing, and ask God the Holy Spirit to teach you the truth. why he said he could do nothing of himself, or not my will but your will. diversidied oneness answer all and every of these type of question and or mysteries. but it takes the wisdom of God to know and understand these things.
again, "ye have not because ye ask not".
REMEMBER, Don't argue with 101G, argue with the scriptures, God Holy Word.
PICJAG
101G The "Spiritual Saboteur"
