| Swan Songs [message #14018] |
Fri, 17 November 2023 19:47  |
 Mark L
Messages: 853
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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Websters:
a farewell appearance or final act or pronouncement
From the Internet:
The swan song is a metaphorical phrase for a final gesture, effort, or performance given just before death or retirement.
I think there are several of them in the bible. The book of Ecclesiastes is a summing up of Solomon's entire life. He examined everything in life and gave his conclusion in 12/13-14
Moses wrote Ps. 90. I would argue that 11 Tim. was Paul's. A lot of the prophets at the close of their life would go over all their ministry and would just keep what they thought needed to be passed on. (Isaiah for eg.) And more.
So with that in mind, I think Bro Freeman's series Exhortation from Exodus was his swan song. He didn't know he was going to die in the middle of it but the HS certainly did. I think those messages were "from the Holy Spirit" a summing up of his ministry and some of what the Lord wanted us to know about what is coming.
The point of his messages was to show parallels between Israel's deliverance from Egypt and our deliverance from this world. My purpose here is not to rehash everything he said. Or even to put in much in the way of scripture references as much will be very familiar to us. My entire focus was on what I think the HS wanted us to remember from his ministry and something of what is coming.
If anyone is interested in listening to the series here is a link.
https://tinyurl.com/ys8fjyxp
With that in mind here is what Bro. Freeman mentioned in some way in these messages. In the following post, I will put my thoughts and impressions so I don't mix up my thoughts with his.
1. Faith
He talked about it all through these messages. Went over basic faith. What it is and how you use it.
Always two aspects to true faith
- always without works
- always produces works of faith
Faith doesn't ask questions it just believes
Our deliverance (rapture) like Israel will be by faith alone
Moses' mother could never have figured out how to preserve Moses on her own. That is why you need faith and trust. We don't need to know everything. Obey first then more understanding comes. If he shows us too much we just get in his way
An accurate reflection of our faith is how much scheming and planning we do to try and help God
2. Trials
Another familiar topic.
I am mostly going to highlight his comments that relate to us going forward.
We get raptured by faith so without trials we won't know if we have that faith.
Common trials (persecution) weld the church together
Matures our faith so we can endure until the deliverance (rapture) comes
Trials are designed to separate us from the world
They show the weaknesses in our lives
They remove affection for the world
They give us a chance to strengthen the weak areas
It took Israel 40 years to get there because they failed their trials
Affliction weans you of all desire to stay in this world.
People get defeated because they don't see meaning and purpose and don't understand so they give up.
Only affliction would remove Israel from Egypt.
(I would add here that it is the same as today. People are just too comfortable. In WW2 and the lead-up to it Jews could see what was happening but didn't want to give up their homes)
We should rejoice over the privilege of suffering for his name
insulted and reproached you're blessed God is glorified by that and our faith
By enduring our trials we partake of Christ's suffering.
3. Signs
Signs are the church credentials
They were given to Moses so the people would believe
Signs are to confirm the word
God is glorified and manifests himself through the vessel he gives the signs to.
Signs do not produce faith they confirm the word
God manifests his power and glory through earthen vessels
God was glorified by the signs in Israel's deliverance
4. Providential births
People in history were raised at needed times
Noah Joshua Moses David
Here at the close of the age, God has raised a remnant to restore apostolic faith.
Bro. Hef said that all of us have a providential birth but pointed to himself as well.
He had a providential birth. Born sick and sick all his life and the
devil tried to kill him on occasion when he was growing up
(I will put my comments on this in a post below.)
5. The blood of Jesus
We are to constantly remind ourselves it is the blood that delivers us
You are only protected when under that blood Exodus 12/7,13
The rapture will come by the application of the blood of Jesus
The death angel didn't see Jew or gentile he saw the blood on the door
The only way into the kingdom through the rapture is by faith and the blood
We are to stay under the blood constantly
6. God's name becomes known
We in the NT know that to be Jesus
Bro. He had a dream many years ago. He sat at Jesus' feet and asked him questions.
Among others Jesus said when you go through a trial you just call on "my name" and I will remember you.
7. Judicial hardening
Hardening pharaoh's heart meant God's name became known and magnified
It clearly says in Ex. 4/21, 7/3-5, 11/9-10, with Rom 9 that God himself personally hardened Pharaoh's heart.
God hardens the hearts of the world so he can demonstrate his power
He reveals his power through the resistance of the world
The purpose of judicial hardening is so that God's name (Jesus) will be known
God allows resistance by the world so he can reveal his mighty power in our deliverance
Judicial hardness takes place in the hearts of those who oppose in proportion to God's withdrawal of his light and his restraints on them. The hardening of their hearts grows stronger and is channeled by God to bring our deliverance. They won't listen or accept the truth.
God judicially smites with a spirit of blindness those who reject and resist his word. Blindness from which there is no healing 11Thess 2. God will remove his constraining grace and as a result, the person (or the world) becomes less and less a free moral agent in his choices and more and more falls under that deluding spirit and believes a lie. God judicially smites with a spirit of blindness those who resist and reject his word for which there is no healing. God does not just send a spirit of blindness but God's constraining grace is removed and as a result, the individual becomes less and less a free moral agent in his choices and more and more falls under the deluding spirit and believes a lie
11Thess. 2/11, 1 Kings 22, Rom 1,9 Matt 13 Is. 6
8. Satan's purpose is to destroy the manchild which is being prepared in the womb of the church. Rev. 12 shows the devil ready to devour it when it is birthed.
9. A final warning
Bro Freeman had a dream with 3 parts during this series
It was a warning to be on guard or we might miss the rapture
He saw:
- a traffic light on yellow meaning caution
- a tower in a fortress castle meaning Ps. 91
- a roaring lion the devil himself looking to devour
Putting these together we are to take heed and be on our guard. Satan is looking to devour and we may get devoured in ways we can't yet see. Bro. Hef said this was a warning from the Lord
11. What is coming
There will come a judicial hardening upon the world so God's name will be known throughout the earth. His power and glory are magnified. More and more in judicial hardening the finger of God will be seen.
There will be a deeper experience of trials so we can endure the deliverance or endure until the deliverance/rapture comes.
Trials will grow harder as get nearer to the end
Before the manchild, a monument of faith will be established
God is going to put a division between his people and the world. Including some of the religious or Christian world.
Nature itself will help us. God will use nature on our behalf as happened many times in the Bible
God is going to do supernatural things through his people
The finger of God will be seen throughout the world
The time will come when the world won't be able to stand before the judgments of God
We can expect a deeper revelation and understanding of Jesus' name
God is in no hurry yet he is always on time. The rapture will not happen until the job of preparation is done.
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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| Re: Swan Songs [message #14019 is a reply to message #14018] |
Fri, 17 November 2023 20:04  |
Mark L
Messages: 853
Registered: October 2006
Location: Canada |
Senior Member |
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Here are my thoughts on those messages.
Anyone who wants a refresher on Bro. Hefs entire message and ministry should listen to this series. It also contains a clear word from the Lord on some of what is coming.
On providential birth.
I think Bro. Hefs entire ministry "from God's side" was
1/ to restore apostolic faith. Ie: the faith message
2/ to lay the foundation for the preparation of the overcomers. I don't believe that work has even started yet.
That is to some degree seen by the efforts Satan made to oppose it.
-The threat of the faith message was so serious that Satan himself came to deal with it. ( I would argue that is highly unusual) By trying to recruit Bruce Kinsey. I think a parallel passage to that is Eph. 4/14 A man raised up by the devil for the same purpose. To oppose Paul's and later Timothy's message.
- Kenneth Copeland was raised up by the devil very shortly after Bro. Freeman receiving the Holy Spirit. Which I think was a direct response to it.
His purpose in raising that man up was to pervert the faith message:
1/By perverting the message itself
2/By adding the JDS heresy to it.
3/Those 2 issues have combined to cover the modern church's eyes so they can't see the truth and can only see the error.
I heard many years ago a message by Gerald Derstine. Part of that message was a prophecy given in a dramatic way in a group he was part of. Part of the message was similar to the Holy Spirit being poured out from creation till now similar to a few drops in a 5-gallon pail. The balance of the pail would be poured out in the end times.
I think that anointing will come to the church in an increasing way following the Gog War. This anointing will be different than any that has come before.
One of the purposes of that anointing will be to preserve God's people. My point here is to say that I am determined to get my share of it. If God is going to pour out his Spirit in a new and unique way then I am holding fast that I; like Bro Moses and Bro. Abraham and sister Sarah will have my youth renewed. As Ps. 103/5 declares. To put it in different terms . . . I'm 70 years old. I don't intend to be hobbling along waving my cane and hollering for them to wait for me. Like Bro. Peter said I'm going to haste toward that day. 11Peter 3/12
If anyone is interested in listening to the Exodus series here is a link.
https://tinyurl.com/ys8fjyxp
You can read
"Meanderings on Scripture by Mark
https://mlederman.substack.com/
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| Re: Swan Songs [message #14024 is a reply to message #14019] |
Sat, 18 November 2023 14:23 |
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william
Messages: 1462
Registered: January 2006 |
Senior Member
Administrator |
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Mark, this is monumental! The outline inspires us to zoom in on the details with a fresh perspective. Just reading over your notes with the idea of it being a summation of his ministry is exciting to contemplate.
Also, the perspective that during this time Satan was doing his best to derail God's plan, eerily similar to the events recorded in Exodus and makes us recall Paul's words:
: Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. [1Co 10:11-12 KJV]
Thanks much for your labor!
William
[Updated on: Sat, 18 November 2023 21:05]
I want to believe!
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