From: allan-sv@algonet.se   
      
              The people of God's wandering through the desert   
      
   The people of Israel's wandering through the desert correspond to the   
   Assembly's wandering through the world. This world is like as a desert.   
   The heavenly manna that we have to life of is God's word. Jesus is the   
   Word. John 1:1-5. He is the living bread that has come down from   
   heaven. John 6:32-35, 47-49.   
      
   When Israel's people want to have water to drink, the Lord said to   
   Moses that he would take his rod and smite the rock and water came   
   out of the rock. Exodus 17:1-7. Another time said the Lord that he   
   would speak unto the rock and the rock would give water. Numbers   
   20:7-13. But instead of speak to the rock, he smote the rock with his   
   rod. The Lord was angry with Moses and said, therefore, ye shall   
   not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.   
   Why? Oh, the rock symbolized Jesus Christ, he who is our rock of   
   salvation. 1 Cor. 10:4. He has once been bruised for our iniquities.   
   Isaiah 53:5. Now we need only to speak to this Rock and he gives   
   us of his living water. Please, read John 4:10-14, 7:37-39.   
      
   The manna in the desert tasted like wafers made with honey.   
   Exodus 16:31. As the taste of fresh oil. Numbers 11:8. The   
   heavenly manna, which is God's word, is also very good. It is   
   sweeter than honey. Psalm 119:103. The statutes of the Lord   
   are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is   
   pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,   
   enduring for ever: the judgements of the Lord are true and   
   righteous together. More to be desired are they than gold, yea,   
   than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the   
   honeycomb. Moreover, by them is thy servant warned: and   
   in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm 19:8-11.   
      
   Though the people of Israel were allowed to eat of the good   
   manna, they grumbled yet. They were rebellious and longing   
   back to Egypt. So it is also now. Though the heavenly manna,   
   God's word, is the absolute best spiritual food and taste superb,   
   there are many who are peevish and rebellious. They are not   
   at all happy about the Lord's commands. For them the rock of   
   salvation has been a rock that makes them fall. Rom. 9:33.   
   1 Peter 2:4-8.   
      
   "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant,   
   how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed   
   through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud   
   and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did   
   all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that spiritual   
   Rock that followed them : and that Rock was Christ. But with   
   many of them God was not well pleased: for they were   
   overthrown in the wildness. Now all these things happened   
   unto them for examples: 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." 1 Cor. 10:1-5,   
   11-12. This is of great immediate interest now. God is not   
   pleased with many of those who are called Christians, and their   
   bodies become scattered in the desert of this world.   
      
   We can read in Ezekiel 18:24 "But when the righteous turneth   
   away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth   
   according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth,   
   shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not   
   be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his   
   sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." "When I shall say   
   to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own   
   righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousness shall   
   not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed,   
   he shall die for it." Ezekiel 33:13.   
      
   One day many apostates will say to the Lord: "Lord, Lord, have   
   we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out   
   devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then   
   will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye   
   that work iniquity!" Matt. 7:21-23. On the day of judgement the   
   Lord shall not remember their righteousness. It will be like as he   
   had never knew them.   
      
   Like as the Lord on the day of judgement will not remember our   
   sins, which have been obliterated through the propitiatory sacrifice   
   of Jesus, so the Lord will neither remember the righteousness that   
   backsliders once have done. Through their unfaithfulness and   
   apostasy they lose all their righteousness. It will be like as their   
   righteousness had never existed. Please, also read Ezekiel   
   18:21-24, 33:10-20. Rom. 11:17-22 and Hebr. 10:26-31.   
      
      
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)