GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue 21
Published occasionally for Zion's mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

WITHOUT MEASURE

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. John 3:34-35

All which GOD has created is finite (i.e.; having a beginning, and limitations associated with the purpose for which each part was created) and has no self-existent or self-sustaining life, since HE alone has immortality, dwelling in the LIGHT to which no man can approach. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) HE alone inhabits eternity and can neither be seen nor known apart from that which HE is pleased to reveal unto HIS creation. HIS eternality is that (among other things) which sets HIM apart from HIS creation and is the basis of HIS “holiness”, (i.e.; that which is set apart,). HE revealed HIMSELF to Moses as “I AM THAT I AM”. That literally means, I exist who exist. Even as HE said to Isaiah, “I am the LORD, and there is none else.” (Isa 45:6)

No man has a complete knowledge of HIM nor is it possible that any man can explain in any great measure, HIS ways or thoughts. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa 55:8-9) Vain is the man who would undertake to explain to men all of the mysteries which are hid in HIM. Job is a good example of an upright man, who eschewed (i.e.; avoided) evil and sought to instruct his erstwhile friends of his knowledge of the HOLY ONE, even as they sought to do the same. What folly existed in their midst and how humbled in the dust was Job when the LORD finally appeared to HIM. “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” (Job 38:1-3) Well did Paul comment on this very subject when he said, “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” (1Cor 8:2)

When the LORD is pleased to reveal HIMSELF, HE will shut up the mouths of the proud and bring them to the dust of repentance. We see this in the confession of Job, as the LORD took away any pride he had in his supposed knowledge. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6) We see it in the trembling query of the blinded Saul of Tarsus, crying out, “who art THOU LORD?” This same man who thought himself to be something when he stood before the Sanhedrin, breathing out slaughters against the Church of JESUS CHRIST, now grovels in the dust before the very ONE whom he unknowingly persecuted. In the twinkling of an eye, all that he thought he knew about the LORD of Glory was swept away and he who was certain of the direction and purpose in which he was traveling was left in need of instruction and help as a small child in a strange place. “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”(Jer 10:23) ”And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Isa 42:16)

The LORD JESUS CHRIST came into the world born of a woman and made in the likeness of sinful flesh, taking upon HIMSELF the weakness of the same, yet HE was without limitation, never ceasing to be the ETERNAL GOD who created the world out of nothing. HE is pleased to give to everyone of HIS elect; HIS SPIRIT according to the “measure” which pleases HIM. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3)

Yet, though HE bore our weakness, HE was “given” the SPIRIT of GOD by HIS FATHER, “without measure, since HE is ONE with the FATHER even as HE explained this to the amazement of Phillip who asked to see the FATHER. “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:9-14)

HE was “without measure” in the love of the FATHER for HIM. HE has been installed as the KING of HIS Everlasting Kingdom. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psa 2:6-8) Because of FATHER’s love for HIS Only Begotten SON, HE has committed into HIS hands that people which HE loved and gave to HIS SON. “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” (John 10:17) The fate of GOD’s elect rested in the hands and redemptive work of CHRIST. Thus, HE demonstrated the love of HIS FATHER to HIM.

HE was “without measure” in HIS love for HIS FATHER. “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40) HE would not fail in HIS determination to redeem that Bride which the FATHER had entrusted into HIS care. In this HE demonstrated HIS eternal love for HIS FATHER.

HE was “without measure” in HIS love for HIS elect bride for whom HE came to bleed and die in accomplishing her redemption and deliverance. “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” (John 13:1) “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:38-39) HE has demonstrated HIS unchanging and everlasting love for that elect bride as HE bore her griefs and carried her sorrows. HE pursues her in the wilderness of sin as that one lost sheep and will not let her go until HE has brought her out of the darkness and into the LIGHT. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15:4-5)

HE is “without measure” in the glory which surrounds HIM as the KING of kings and LORD of lords.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Php 2:9-11) HE is worthy of all praise as the REDEEMER of sinners who is seated upon an everlasting throne upon which HE shall reign for ever. The glory that belongs to HIM as the REDEEMER of HIS people, transcends even the glory which is HIS as the CREATOR of all things. “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Rev 1:18) Do you worship at HIS footstool?
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