FISH Ministry

ETERNAL SECURITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

God’s people rejoice over the many New Testament scriptures that teach eternal security for the believer, and rightly so. It is not that several references of the same are absent from the Old Testament, rather they are often not so readily apparent to the English reader. One such reference is especially enriched by the way translation puts it in various contexts. That term is the Hebrew “Chashaq.” As this story unfolds, what may appear to be odd coalesces into a common idea producing a tremendous blessing to those who know the Lord.

Various usages of the Hebrew term appear in several different English terms. Some of these are:
1. In I Kings 7:33 the translation is “Spokes” as part of a wheel.
2. The “fillets” connecting the vertical boards of the tabernacle is translated from “Chashaq.” Exo. 38:28.
3. Emotional “Desire” as in a man desiring a woman is often translated from “Chashaq.”
4. This term is translated “longeth,” as an action applied to what a caananite prince did to Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob. This caused the sons of Jacob to slay an entire village. Gen 34:8
5. The term is also translated “Love” in Isaiah 38:17.

There are other similar usages, but one can easily see that the idea however used Is “Attachment,” whether emotional or physical.
Underscoring the meaning of the title of this article is that of Isaiah 38:17, “Behold for peace, I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love (Chashaq)to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” This is not something the believer did or merited, but action initiated by God extended to the soul. It is therefore not the option of the believer to undo what God has done, and the power of preservation is only as strong as God Himself.

Readers should now coordinate John 10:29 and Romans 8:38-39 with “Chashaq” and rejoice!

BAPTISM DOOR AND GUARD OF THE SPIRIT ENDOWED CHURCH
(Requested by several)

Baptism in water of a professed believer in Christ Jesus as it was practiced in New Testament times and continues to today, began with one man: John the Baptist. He was sent from God to prepare a people for His only begotten Son. He baptized such as brought forth life-fruit appropriate to repentance. He knew no other method or practice than immersion or burial of a candidate in water. Consequently, the scriptures state that John was baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there. John 3:23.

John was austere, but most faithful to his calling. He refused to baptize the unrepentant. Realizing he alone had heaven’s authority to baptize, he must not violate its divine constraints. So it remained until the initiation of the public ministry of Jesus whom John baptized and announced to Israel. Upon the assimilation of the apostolic church, Jesus placed the authority for water baptism in the New Testament church. Presently, it alone has heaven’s authority to administer the ordinance as specifically stated in Matthew 28:18-30. Like John the Baptist, true churches must not violate its heaven-given restraints.

The importance of baptism is underscored in Luke 7:29-30, “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.” Through the centuries, the Lord’s true churches though known by various names in sundry countries, one name identified them all: Anabaptist. They were, as true churches of their descendants are, adamant about the authority that makes a baptism valid.

Following the Divine order, disciples are made through repentance from sin and belief in Jesus as the only Savior. Baptism is then administered upon the authority of a New Testament church and by which the new convert is entered into the Holy Spirit endowed body, the baptizing church.

In recent times much has been done to erode faith in the Bible and in the work of the Lord’s churches, not the least of which is about baptism. False churches may sprinkle or pour and even admit infants to what they call baptism, but it is iniquity plain and simple. Still others, claiming to be scriptural and more conservative will not question a proposed member’s baptism as to method or administration. They may claim that so long as it is “Believers Baptism,” all is well. (Believer’s baptism is an idea that it does not matter who administers baptism on a believer). All is never well when man’s ideas supplant the Word of God. There is a bible word for that, too. It is called “Iniquity.”

The plain truth is folks who may be admitted to a scriptural church with invalid baptism are denied an understanding of the faith once delivered to the saints, and the unity of Jesus prayer in John 17. They will not stand in troublesome times. They cannot stand because they are in opposition to the counsel of God as much as the Pharisees were in Luke 7:30.

Let Satan’s counterfeits do as they may. It remains that heaven recognizes only the directions it has given. Far be it from any of us to assume editorial changes to the Holy Word.

WHO PREPARES YOUR SPIRITUAL TABLE

Elisha was a mighty prophet of God in ancient Israel; the successor of Elijah, and a worker of miracles among the people of his time. Some of his mighty works are recorded in 2 Kings 4. A dearth prevailed in Gilgal (rolling hill country) when Elijah visited the sons of the prophets there. At his command a huge pot was prepared for pottage sufficient to feed all the people. One of the food preparation workers went into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine from which he gathered many gourds and shredded them into the pot. When served, the people could not eat. The gourds were poisonous and doubtless very bitter. They cried out that there was death in the pot. Elisha commanded that meal be cast into the pot then the pottage served. And so it was that the food was good and all the people ate with no harm.

What a wonderful story! But why is it in the Bible, and does it have meaning for this generation? In a world of sin and degradation, there is almost always a spiritual dearth. Too many times, what is gathered to satisfy spiritual hunger is nothing more than certain religious garbage (Iniquity) that can only produce eternal harm because it is not of God, but of man, or worse, from Satan’s recipe book. It may look good, sound good, and offered as good, but in spiritual affairs nothing is good but that which comes from God. That which is unknown and wild is not to be trusted as a remedy and guide to satisfy spiritual hunger, and to direct the lives of men toward eternal reward.

So, Elijah ordered that meal (flour) be added to the pot, and the people served. It was then that they found no harm at all in the pottage. Now flour is the substance of bread. Jesus said “I am that bread of life,” John 6:48. One may eat of the bread that Jesus gives, and find his hunger satisfied. In fact, He stated that those who do not eat of that bread of life have no part with Him. Truly, there is death in the pottage of this world, but Jesus, the bread of life negates the effects of sin and of death by His own eternal righteousness which is imparted to all those who hear Him and follow His directions.

Surely, the tables of life are laden for many banquets, but what is being served? On the other hand, there is a banquet provided by the Lord Jesus that a man may eat thereof and live forever. Whose table are you feeding from? Are you confident that yours’ is a banquet of life, or is it a banquet of death from the delicacies of the devil?

Jesus said, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6. David said, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8. At the Lord’s banquet there is no death in the pot, only life, and that everlasting!

UNDERSTANDING ANTICHRIST

The apostle John uses the term “Antichrist” four different times in his epistles; three times in I John 2, and one time in 2 John 1. He affirms that in his day, there were many already by which the last time is made known. In the other references, he describes the spirit, attitude, and nature of antichrist, identifying Characteristics instead of outright personages. Such are appropriate and in total harmony with other bible references. Of course, over the passage of time and through national crises, many actions have been referred to as antichrist. Some of these include Social Security numbers; rationing stamps for sugar, gasoline, and auto supplies during WWII etc.

Perhaps a more concentrated focus on the subject will be helpful. The term “Anti” is a prefix to many words. It means “Against” or the opposite to the meaning of the word to which it is attached. “Christ” to the dismay of some, is not the sir name of Jesus, rather it is His title. He is Jesus the Christ. The meaning of this Greek term which is transliterated into English is “Anointed.”

Anointing has its roots in the heart of Hebrew history. Kings and high priests were anointed with oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit which did indeed accompany the official anointing with oil. It was the enabling power for the anointed person to fulfill the duties of his office. Only two entities have been anointed in the New Testament. The first was Jesus at His baptism as He embarked upon His ministry of ultimate High Priest, Prophet, King, and Head of the spiritual body. The second was the anointing of the spiritual body at Pentecost. Hence, the Head and the body are Holy Spirit anointed as one as Jesus emphatically prayed in His recorded prayer in John 17. Additionally, John wrote in his epistle, I John 4:17, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

So, to be antichrist is to be anti-Jesus, in the form of being “Anti” the teachings of Jesus; hence, “Anti” the Holy Spirit empowered body of the Anointed One, even the church which is the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And who is more “Anti” the true church of our Lord, and its teachings than the bulk of what is called “Christianity?” It is a chilling thought that some of the Lord’s churches that are allowing themselves to be aligned with “Christianity” as defined by the Catholic and Protestant theologies may unwittingly find themselves in the camp of Antichrist, whose lamps are extinguished at the midnight cry!

Is the church of your membership swallowing the antichrist theology of universal church and believer’s baptism?

ANNOUNCING A PERU PROJECT FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.

Missionary Doug Clements is starting a work in a needful area in Peru. He has asked FISH Ministry if we could supply 50 additional solar-powered audio Bibles in Spanish for advancing this work. I told him we would be thrilled to help. If you or your church would like to get in on this opportunity, we will receive offerings for the Peru Project until the 15th of June to allow time for procurement of the units and shipping.

Clements will be in Peru in July to personally place the units in the most effective areas. We are excited to help get this one done. Designated offerings will be the main source of funding the project, and Undesignated offerings to FISH Ministry will be used to help underwrite the project. Funds should be sent to FISH Ministry, P. O. Box 1023, Bryant, AR 72089 no later than June 10th. Funds may also be received on our website,

Fish Ministry FellowHelper is the first part of our corporate name of FellowHelpers To The Truth, Inc. Shortly after the start of this ministry a hard copy newspaper named “The FellowHelper” was sent out four times a year to over 8,000 recipients. It contained information on all the works and ministry being d...

WINNING THROUGH LOSING

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear” Rev. 13:7-9

In the letters to the seven churches of Asia, recorded in Revelation Chapters Two and Three, much is said to encourage God’s people of covenant to be overcomers of the sins that threaten their well-being. and that of the churches. However, as the world nears the end of the present age, it is prophesied that the beast will be given power to make war with the saints and to overcome them. This appears to be escalating at the present time.

Modern Christians who long have lived in unparalleled luxuries of life are softened to the point of recoiling in horror at the thoughts of any adversity. Doctrinal compromise is not new. Their preference is to shun Revelation and the dreadful apocalypse envisioned as the age closes. But, we dare to ask just what does it mean that the beast will make war with the saints and overcome them?

Certainly, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ has sailed through bloody seas, suffering horribly in the flesh in the dark ages, and the inquisitions of the sixteenth century. Is that what is referenced in Revelation 13? Perhaps there is understanding of these scriptures that escapes those whose occupation it is to make sensational books on religion for monetary gain. Think with me.
Several Greek words are translated “war” in the New Testament. Some specifically denote armies of soldiers, while others lend themselves to more figurative scenarios. In Revelation 13:7, the word is “Polemos” from which the English language also gets” polarize, polemics”, etc. The dark ages proved that blood baths did not stop the testimony of churches. Moreover, our adversaries are truly not flesh and blood, but principalities, powers, and spiritual wickedness in high places, according to the apostle, Paul. Eph. 6:12

It is a point of logic then that the war the beast will wage against the saints will be a war of influence, a war of polarizing the minds of godless beast worshippers against the witness of Christ Jesus, overcoming saints to a point of near complete marginalization. When we understand that “beast” in prophetical terms means government, then we look for governmental powers and personnel to implement words, ways, and means to negate the meaning of the faith, and the power of evangelism. The effectiveness of such governmental actions will engulf all whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. God’s people have no trouble identifying measures currently in place which are directly aimed at this goal. Others, more strenuous will follow. Indeed the saints will lose this war, but will have the final, great, eternal victory in Christ that will follow. Hence, in the war of the beast with the saints, we lose the battle, but we win the war in the power of Christ Jesus ... big time!!!

TO WHAT (WHERE) WE ARE COME

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” Heb 12:22-24.

These few lines center on the contrast between the law and the church, as expressed by “church of the firstborn.” The Old Testament world of shadows and symbols and the New Testament world of realities match in a most thrilling way.

It begins in the Hebrews’ exodus from Egypt. God purchased to Himself the firstborn by the blood of the Passover Lamb. This act emphatically proclaimed to the Hebrews that the first fruits of man, beast, the field, etc. belonged to Him, and such must be yielded to Him or redeemed with fair price. A census was taken, and the tribe of Levi almost perfectly matched in number the total of firstborn saved from death by the blood; whereupon, God traded the firstborn back to the Hebrews for the entire tribe of Levi, who would produce the priests and minister about holy things. It is important to connect the dots here. The Old Testament priests became representative of the firstborn ones whom God redeemed for Himself and symbolic of the New Testament church to which we have come.

The Levitical priesthood was destined to cease; however, another high priest, after the order of Melchizedek would serve the covenant people of God without end. This priest, of course, is Jesus, Who is THE FIRST BORN from the dead among many brethren.

When the new high priest fulfilled every jot and title of the Mosaic Law, He redeemed his people of covenant out from under the old and into the new, the expression of the New Covenant among men is the New Testament church, the pillar and ground of the truth,
purchased with His own blood. Soon after Pentecost, gentiles were added. The church grew by leaps and bounds under its missionary efforts. People of this New Covenant are called the “Israel of God,” Gal. 6:16. Moreover, Peter calls them “a royal priesthood.” I Peter 2:9.

Consequently, the emphasis is that we are no longer under the law. We have not come to Mt. Sinai, but to Mt. Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem . . . to the church of the firstborn . . . while we have this blessed status and enjoy the understanding and spiritual maturity it affords us, there is much greater personal responsibility regarding submission to the instructions of Christ Jesus, our eternal high priest. We must not turn away from Him who has spoken to us.
We must learn to worship and serve God acceptably. While it is sweet to enjoy our relationship with Him as our Loving Heavenly Father, we must hear the other verses as well, and know that
our God is indeed a consuming fire.

The church of the firstborn! A lofty position, place, covenant, to which we have been elevated in Christ Jesus.

FOR THOUGHT: What is the contrast under consideration in Hebrews 12:22-24? Who, and what, was under a death sentence in Egypt if the Passover blood was not applied? How does the ancient order of the Aaronic priesthood foreshadow us today? Who is our eternal high priest?

STRANGE FIRE, INSTANT DEATH,
AND A DRUNKEN WORLD

From the pages of the Old Testament comes the divine record of the cost of attempting to serve God man’s way instead of strictly God’s way. The incident is referenced three different places to underscore its notice: Leviticus 10:1; Number 3:4 and 26:61. Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded. Immediately, God caused them both to die instantly. Now, let us examine this unusual incident a little closer.

Were the priests to use fire in the service of the tabernacle? Yes, they were. They must use fire at the altar of sacrifice. They also used fire at the altar of incense. However, for specific didactic purposes, explicit instructions were given as to how this was to be done. Obedience to the instruction sanctified the Lord in the sight of all Israel, but disregard for the instructions did just the opposite. Nadab and Abihu were one up on God: they had a better idea than what they were told to do. It cost their life.

But wait a minute! Modern man says. fire is fire, so what difference does it make? It seems the Old Testament God is harsh and cruel. Well, that is indeed the mindset of most modern religionists. Perverting God’s instructions to do things man’s way is called “iniquity” in the Bible. God will not have it. But, it seemed so nice and certainly more palatable to the general populace to make things nicer; put in a little incense. . . make a little more show. But, it is not what God commands, neither is it what God will accept.

Well, that certainly would not happen today, thanks to the grace of God. Yes, the teaching period of the Law is done. The adult period of Grace is ours. But does not one’s actions as an adult have weightier consequences? If one spends any time at all with Jesus’ sermon on the mount, Matt. 5-7, he will know the answer is a definite yes.

It is for this reason that the oft New Testament call to God’s people is to be vigilant, to be sober. The incident of Nadab and Abihu forever testifies that man must not, cannot, serve God man’s way, but strictly God’s way. Too much is made of a supposed liberty to interpret scriptures differently. After all, many claim a right to their opinion. But the truth is that no one has a right to an opinion on God’s Word. It is not of any private interpretation, and means what it says. It may seem nice to exclude the blood of Jesus, or the supposed radical burial in water for baptism by substituting sprinkling or a ritual outside the church, and then being added to a church roll. But as drunken as the world may be on man-made religion and the enticement of materialism, the God everyone must face is indeed the very God Who took the life of Nadab and Abihu who dared to defy explicit instructions of God in favor of doing what seemed “nicer” to them.

AND THEY KNEW NOT. . .

“ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24:38, 39.

The Divine description of life in the antediluvian world may cause one to ask, “Just what is wrong with what they were doing? It is not still just fine to eat, and to drink, and to marry and give in marriage?” It depends on what is understood by the statement. If those things were done in moderation, and in accord with the will of the Heavenly Father, then there was indeed no wrong done by those deeds. On the other hand if these were the driving forces of life, they speak of a sensual, epicurean society that did not eat to live, but lived to eat, drink, and gratify wanton lusts, the deciding clue comes from the rest of that description, “….And knew not until the flood came and took them all away…” This underscores the driving force of life then as sensual continuously. They had neither regard for God nor any sense of accountability to Him.

When people persist in debauchery, they exclude God from their thinking. Life then degenerates to the lowest level of “me only.” When that determination persists, God gives people over to a reprobate mind to do those things that and not convenient, but rotten, filthy, and without compassion. So, they continued on in a degenerate lifestyle which they must have thought would never end. And the flood came and took them all away, except the righteous man Noah and his family.

Jesus’ description of that time was given as a warning sign that the world would degenerate into that same condition as the time of His coming approached. Let the reader pause and read again the first chapter of the book of Romans. Certainly, this is a description of the dark side of civilization in Paul’s day. But that was nearly 2000 years ago. The kind of folks he described were the same kind as those before the flood. Moreover, this type of humanity has multiplied exponentially during the last two millenniums. On the American scene, at least, this has become considered normal and acceptable. It is not that warnings have escaped the scope of their knowledge; rather it is that they refuse to believe them and so discount them altogether.

What can be done? Keep sounding the alarm! This evil world system is going down, and all with it who love it. But there may be one here or there who will hear. Still, for the most part it shall be repeated, “And they knew not . . . “

So soon shall the Lord appear and the corrupters of men will cry for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them to hide them from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” Rev. 6:16