Man, like angels, are created beings. Yet, man was made to be in the image and likeness of God. Even the highest ranking of angels were created to be servants while men were made to become sons.
"Beloved,
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him;
for we shall see him as he is," (I John 3:2).
Read the entire first chapter of Hebrews. Verse four says that Jesus was made "so much better than the angels". Verse five indicates that at no time did the Father say to an angelic being, "Thou art my Son." Angels are not to be worshiped, yet verse six speaks of Jesus saying, "let all the angels of God worship him". In verse eight the Son is referred to as God and as such, has a scepter of righteousness as the scepter of His kingdom. Only to the Son, not to the angels (vs 13) does God say, "Sit on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." The final verse explains that angels are ministering spirits, "sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation".
When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, He told them to begin by addressing God as "Our Father" (Mt. 6:9). However, calling God "Father" was considered blasphemous by the Jews and a cause for which they were ready to stone Jesus to death in John chapter 10:
30 "I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
Last week we talked about the fall of Lucifer. When he and the angelic host who followed him were cast out of heaven, there was no Redeemer or plan of redemption by which they could be restored back into the kingdom of God. They comprise an entirely different kingdom - the kingdom of darkness. They do not have hearts that can repent, or minds that can change, or a will to ever desire to serve and worship God again. And there are those among men who have chosen to take on the spirit and likeness of Satan. He has become their father [John 8:44].
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them," (2 Cor, 4:4).
How fortunate that God sent His Son to rescue fallen man! He is not willing that any should perish, but that men would come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Thank God for the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Because of His victory, He became the firstborn among many brethren.
15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ..." (Ro. 8).
Lucifer, who had been a light-bearer, permanently lost his position in God's kingdom. Now he can only "fake" it by attempting to transform himself into an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). His light came from God, but when he separated from God, he separated from light. Now Jesus has the position and title of Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). His light will never go out; but rather, in His light we see light (Ps. 36:9).
We have studied in depth regarding the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and we took a much deeper look into what He accomplished in Gethsemane as well as what His soul achieved while in hell for those three days His body was in the tomb [refer to www.echoesoftruthfromheaven.blogspot.com]. We know that as we behold Him we become like Him (2 Cor. 3:18).
Let's look at Moses as an example. Moses was unaware that forty days in God's presence caused his face to shine with the glory of God.
29 "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tables of the Testimony in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face shone and sent forth beams by reason of his speaking with the Lord," (Ex. 34:29, AMP).
While the children of Israel had to go through the Levitical priesthood to stand in the gap for them and to present their offerings and sacrifices before the Lord, Moses himself... the one by whom the Law was given... did not have to go through the priests, including Aaron the high priest. He met with God face to face in the tent of meeting just outside the camp (Ex. 33:11). He showed us through Moses what would become possible for all His people. The New Testament declares, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," (Mt. 5:8).
It's time for the Body of Christ to get her eyes back on Jesus. True transformation will only come as we behold Him. Jesus Christ was the corn of wheat that had to die lest He abide alone (John 12:24).
Because He died and rose again, there is the promise of a harvest of souls... of sons of God who are restored to His image and likeness.
It's time for the Rise of Man! More specifically, it's time for the rise of the Sons of God in the earth. It's not enough that Jesus rose. The whole earth is groaning and awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God (Ro. 8:19-22). We're living in the end time when the full maturity of both kingdoms is coming to a head. There will finally be a clear distinction between the sheep and the goat, the wheat and the tares, the children of light and the children of darkness. You cannot straddle the fence; it's time to grow up and be what God created you to be.
Before we close, let's shed the light on Psalm 8:4-5.
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour."
How can man be greater in rank than angels if he was made a little lower than angels? When you look in the Strong's Concordance for the word used in this verse and interpreted as "angels", it is actually the word, "Elohim". Remember where we saw that word used before? Yes. It's the plural name for "God" used throughout Genesis Chapter One. God refers to Himself in the plural when He says, "Let US make man in Our image and in Our likeness" (emphasis added). Perhaps the translators were too nervous to express the scripture as it should have been written: "For thou hast made him a little lower than Elohim...". In other words, God made man a little lower than Himself. Which is greater, a servant or a son? Angels are servants; men were created to be sons.
Therefore, o man, arise to your position of son-ship. It's time.
Therefore, o man, arise to your position of son-ship. It's time.
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