Put on the Lord Jesus Christ - by Pastor Doug Riggs

This was originally recorded on September 25, 2016, as the second message that day, along with the discussion that followed.

My notes:

I’m a bit stymied as to give a clear title to this message. Doug covers many topics, as you’ll discover. I just figure I need to put on the Lord Jesus Christ to be able to receive what God wants to impart through this important teaching.

Doug reminds us of the distinction between the day of Christ and the day of the Lord: the former, the rapture; the latter starts with the 7-year tribulation culminating in the 1,000-year millennial kingdom. In the Hebrew mindset, the day begins at night.

Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ is synonymous with putting on the armor of light... the divine nature. In doing so, we put off the old man, making no provision for him. I've been focusing in on that in my own spiritual journey - evaluating the seemingly unimportant things that eventually lead to falling back into the pattern of the old man. When I recognize those things and stop them, falling back isn't happening as much as in the past.

As we present our bodies to the Lord as living sacrifices, this has much to do as to how we make ourselves available to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Intercessory prayer on their behalf is different from praying for them; it involves travail and suffering. We enter into the sufferings of Christ. "You're stretched out before the Lord for the realization of that which you know is His will." This is our calling as priests. "We have the ability, as ambassadors of God, to represent God to others and to mediate something of God to them which they don't have." Moses is an example of one who represented God to the people and the people to God. This was the responsibility of the priests under the Old Covenant. Jesus is the mediator between God and man, and this is one way He accomplishes it - through His body. "Priesthood means the more you come into oneness with Jesus Christ as the great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, then we become in the place of functioning as the blesser."

Doug clears up the error taught that the church replaced Israel as God's chosen people, termed 'replacement theology'. Yes, the church has replaced Israel as God's ambassador to the nations - but it is limited to this church age dispensation. Once we're gone, this is transferred back to Israel. We don't inherit the blessings (and curses) of Israel. "We have our own spiritual blessings. We, the church, 'have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ' (Ephesians 1:3). Those are beyond anything that God promised Israel."

Speaking of demon possession versus God possession, "If people can be demon possessed, why wouldn't Christians want to be God possessed? The more possessed you are by God, the more free you are to choose for God."

Speaking of the 'greater works than these shall you do', Doug explained these works will find their ultimate fulfillment during the day of visitation. This time period prior to the rapture of judgment on the household of God will not just be doom-and-gloom. As the morning star arises in the hearts of the surviving remnant, we shall see the overcomers overcoming! This will also occur in the surviving remnant during the tribulation - "... the ability to do heroic deeds" - "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Daniel 11:32). It will be the manifestation of the works of God in and through His people. "That's what we're called to. That's what it means to be first a holy priesthood and a royal priesthood."

In the previous message I posted last, Doug was speaking about predestination and election. In this message, he explained, "The called are the elect; and the elect are the called... Calling takes place at conversion while election takes place in eternity past." An explanation T. Austin-Sparks gave that really helped me understand the way these two concepts actually work together is that the terms predestined, foreordained and elect refer to those who have become saved, born again; and election pertains to the corporate church - what we were chosen for and unto. You may want to read The Danger of Coming Short by T. Austin-Sparks, especially the section 'Predestination' - 'Foreordination' - 'Election' (https://www.austin-sparks.net/english/002966.html).

Speaking of the 'danger of coming short', in the passage of Hebrews 10:26-39, which speaks of coming judgment on the household of God (i.e.: at the end of the church age), the warning mentions those who 'shrink back' in shame at the Lord's coming; conversely, a "wide entrance" is for those who finish well (those who will receive full reward, "Well done, good and faithful servant"). Doug, reading from notes from the Net Bible: "We must not neglect our responsibility (verses 5 and following), yet the enabling and credit is God's (verses 2 - 4)."

Link to Audio: https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/Assemblies/9-25-16%2Bsunday.mp3

Recommended resources:

Segulah, God’s Peculiar Treasure  article by Allan Halton (https://dougriggs.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/segulah.pdf)

????????? Segulah. Greek N.T. word equivalent: ?????????? (periousios) (https://biblehub.com/thayers/4041.htm)

Michael Lake: The Sheeriyth Imperative: Empowering the Remnant to Overcome the Gates of Hell (https://amzn.to/4d9DQnn)

Doug's series: Jesus Christ - the Bright Morning Star (https://www.dougriggs.org/Videos.html#anchor_95)

Maranatha!

John Mark

...hereby committing this unto the providential care of the enthroned Head of the Church; whose Name is blessed forevermore, Yeshua Mashiach - Jesus Christ!