In Exodus chapter
fifteen verse twenty-six, it says, "If thou wilt
diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy GOD,
and wilt do that which is right in HIS sight, and
wilt give ear to HIS commandments, and keep all HIS
statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon
thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I
AM the LORD that healeth thee." Have you ever
read this verse? Have you ever heard it quoted? Do
you understand what it says? It says that if you and
I will diligently (seek after, or look for) and
hearken (listen to, pay attention to) the voice of
the LORD, (IT IS WRITTEN) and do that which is right
in HIS sight, (which is) give ear (or pay attention)
to HIS commandments and keep all HIS statutes, GOD
will put none of the diseases of Egypt upon you and
me that GOD brought on the Egyptians. Where did the
diseases come from? GOD. And HE also said, I AM the
LORD that heals you and me.
How do we get sick?
By not heading to HIS commandments and following ALL
HIS STATUTES. They don't count anymore because that
is the Old Testament, you say? Revelations chapter
twenty-two and verse fourteen says, "Blessed are
they that do HIS commandments, that they (you and me)
may have right to the tree of life," That means
health to all my flesh.
Let us examine one
of GOD's sets of statutes and see why we are sick,
and why we have also inherited the sins of our
fathers and our own sins in the sickness of Egypt.
Scientists and doctors are finding that our DNA
carries disease, and that they do not activate in
every generation. However, GOD said the curse carries
to the fourth generation and to the tenth generation
(in the area of sexual sin), unless satan can get you
or me to repeat the sin, then the cycle continues.
For example, take Judah, in Genesis chapter
thirty-eight. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law,
deceived him by acting like a harlot. Today, we would
say whore. She conceived and bore the twins Parez and
Zarah, by Judah, which was incest: a ten generation
curse as indicated in Deuteronomy twenty three verse
three: "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter
into the congregation of the LORD; even to their
tenth generation shall they not enter into the
congregation of the LORD for ever:" Who are
these people? Genesis chapter nineteen, verses
thirty-six through thirty-eight tells us: "Thus
were both the daughters of Lot with child by their
father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his
name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites
unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son,
and called his name Benammi: the same is the father
of the children of Ammon unto this day." Incest
is a ten generation curse and what did this curse
affect?
In I Samuel eight,
verses five through seven it says, "And said
unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not
in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all
the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when
they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel
prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel,
Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they
say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but
they have rejected ME, that I should not reign over
them." GOD told Samuel to give them a king and
in I Samuel chapter ten, verses nineteen and twenty,
the tribe of Benjamin is chosen and Saul is made
king. "And ye have this day rejected your GOD,
who HIMSELF saved you out of all your adversities and
your tribulations; and ye have said unto HIM, Nay,
but set a king over us. Now therefore present
yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by
your thousands. And when Samuel had caused all the
tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin
was taken."
Wait a minute,
something is wrong here! In Genesis chapter
forty-nine and verse ten the prophesy is given by
Jacob, (ISRAEL) to Judah and it says "The
sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, until SHILOH come; and unto
HIM shall the gathering of the people be." The
kingship is promised to the tribe of Judah - has GOD
made a mistake? NO! GOD has to honor HIS own laws.
The Tribe of Judah is bound by a ten generation curse
that has to run its course, until David comes, a man
after GOD's own heart.
In this study we
will consider one of GOD's statute that is the main
cause for most of our sickness, because of our
rebellion against it. Before we start to consider
this statute which is Leviticus chapter eleven, some
of you are already finding Scriptures to prove me
wrong. So while you are doing that, I want to quote
Psalms chapter nineteen, verses seven through eleven
for you, then we will return to Leviticus chapter
eleven. 'The law of the LORD is perfect, converting
the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making
wise the simple. The statute 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 forever: the judgments of the LORD
are true and righteous altogether. 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.'
David says that the
STATUTES, COMMANDMENTS, and JUDGMENTS of the LORD are
true and righteous, and in keeping of them there is
GREAT REWARD. Let us look at one of GOD'S STATUTES
that satan has used tradition through the
mistranslation of Scripture to make null and void, to
harm our physical health. It is written is Leviticus
11, verses one through twelve, "And the LORD
spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto
them," What did that say? "THE LORD
SPAKE". So is this Old Testament law? Moses'
law? No it is GOD'S LAW or STATUTE. Speak unto the
children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts
which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on
the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven
footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that
shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of
them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the
hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but
divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And
the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth
not the hoof; he is unclean (foul, dirty, filthy)
unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud,
but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be
cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is
unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and
their carcase (the dead body of an animal) shall ye
not touch; they are unclean to you. These shall ye
eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath
fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in
the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not
fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of
all that move in the waters, and of any living thing
which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination
(extreme hatred, detestation, Webster's number one
meaning) unto you: They shall be even an abomination
unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye
shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever
hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be
an abomination unto you."
Four more times, GOD
tells the children of Israel through Moses and Aaron
that these are an ABOMINATION to HIM. GOD says in
this chapter, if we handle the unclean or it falls in
a pot, we are to wash ourselves and the pot, if it is
clay, it is to be broken. In verse 44, GOD says,
"For I AM the LORD your GOD: ye shall therefore
sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I AM
holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any
manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth." Have you been saying to yourself as you
read this statute, "But I have been told
TRADITION makes this okay"? You have just read
it for yourself - IT IS WRITTEN - which is correct?
Most of you would agree that drugs and alcohol are
bad because IT IS WRITTEN, yet you try to find a way
to dispute GOD's WORD on the subject of what we are
to eat. So let us examine IT IS WRITTEN and the
traditions that you have been taught in error.
We will start with
Peter's vision. In Acts chapter ten, verses one
through forty-eight: "There was a certain man in
Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band
called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that
feared GOD with all his house, which gave much alms
to the people, and prayed to GOD always. He saw in a
vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an
angel of GOD coming in to him, and saying unto him,
Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid,
and said, What is it, LORD? And he said unto him, Thy
prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial
before GOD. And now send men to Joppa, and call for
one Simon, whose surname is Peter: (Jappa is
approximately fifty miles) He lodgeth with one Simon
a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall
tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the
angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he
called two of his household servants, and a devout
soldier of them that waited on him continually; And
when he had declared all these things unto them, he
sent them to Joppa. On the morrow, as they went on
their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter
went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth
hour: And he became very hungry, and would have
eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a
trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel
descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet
knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the
earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and
fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him,
Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so,
LORD; for I have never eaten any thing that is common
or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the
second time, What GOD hath cleansed, that call not
thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was
received up again into heaven. Now while Peter
doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen
should mean, behold, the men which were sent from
Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and
stood before the gate, And called, and asked whether
Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said
unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise
therefore, and get thee down, and go with them,
doubting nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter
went down to the men which were sent unto him from
Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek:
what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they
said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one
that feareth GOD, and of good report among all the
nation of the Hebrews, was warned from GOD by an holy
angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear
words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged
them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them,
and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And
the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And
Cornelius waited for them, and had called together
his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming
in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and
worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand
up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with
him, he went in, and found many that were come
together. And he said unto them, Ye know how that it
is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew (Hebrew)
to keep company, or come unto one of another nation;
but GOD hath showed me that I should not call any man
common or unclean. Therefore came I unto you without
gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask
therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? And
Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until
this hour; and at the ninth hour (3 o'clock in the
afternoon) I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man
stood before me in bright clothing, And said,
Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are
had in remembrance in the sight of GOD. Send
therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose
surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one
Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh,
shall speak unto thee. Immediately therefore I sent
to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come.
Now therefore are we all here present before GOD, to
hear all things that are commanded thee of GOD. Then
Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I
perceive that GOD is no respecter of persons: But in
every nation he that feareth HIM, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with HIM. The word which
GOD sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace
by JESUS CHRIST: That word, I say, ye know, which was
published throughout all Judaea, and began from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How
GOD anointed JESUS of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost
and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for GOD
was with HIM. And we are witnesses of all things
which HE did both in the land of the Jews, (Hebrews)
and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a
tree: Him GOD raised up the third day, and showed HIM
openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses
chosen before of GOD, even to us, who did eat and
drink with HIM after HE rose from the dead. And HE
commanded us to preach unto the people, and to
testify that it is he which was ordained of GOD to be
the Judge of quick and dead. To HIM give all the
prophets witness, that through HIS name whosoever
believeth in HIM shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost
fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of
the circumcision which believed were astonished, as
many as came with Peter, because that on the Heathens
also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For
they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify GOD.
Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that
these should not be baptized, which have received the
Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the LORD. Then prayed they
him to tarry certain days."
Now let us see what
happened when Peter got back home to Jerusalem -
chapter eleven, verse one through eighteen: "And
the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard
that the Heathens had also received the word of GOD.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that
were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying,
Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat
with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the
beginning, and expounded it by order unto them,
saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a
trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as
it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by
four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which
when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw
fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and
creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a
voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But
I said, Not so, LORD: for nothing common or unclean
hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice
answered me again from heaven, What GOD hath
cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was
done three times: and all were drawn up again into
heaven. And, behold, IMMEDIATELY there were THREE MEN
already come unto the house where I was, sent from
Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with
them, nothing doubting. Moreover these SIX BRETHEREN
(and Peter made seven) accompanied me, and we entered
into the man's house: And he showed us how he had
seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto
him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose
surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby
thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began
to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at
the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the
LORD, how that He said, John indeed baptized with
water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as GOD gave them the like gift as HE
did unto us, who believed on the LORD JESUS CHRIST;
what was I, that I could withstand GOD? When they
heard these things, they held their peace, and
glorified GOD, saying, Then hath GOD also to the
Heathens granted repentance unto life.'
What have you been
taught by tradition from the record of Peter's vision
- have you ever studied it for yourself? To see if
what you have been taught is truth or error? Let us
now study these two chapters together. First, how
many times did Peter see the vision? You know it was
three. How many came looking for Peter? It was three
- one vision for each man. Do you find any record
where Peter came down after the vision and ate
anything? What did Peter see in the vision? Animals
that God says are unclean. And what do these animals
represent? Remember the children of Israel? Each
tribe had a standard, (a banner or flag to you and
me), and some of these standards (banners) of the
tribes, clans, nations, had animals on them, even to
this day. In Peter's day, all standards (flags) had
an animal on it - a lion, bear, snake, bird, fish,
etc., and when Peter came to the door, he understood
the vision. For there were three heathens - unclean -
just like he had seen in the vision. So Peter obeyed
the vision, but he got in trouble and was called
before the Presbytery to see if he was going to have
his ministers' papers taken away from him. As you
have read in chapter eleven, Peter explains his own
vision and never once does he say that he sat down
and ate pork or any other forbidden thing.
(TO BE
CONTINUED IN THE SEPT/OCT 2002 ISSUE OF VOICES FROM
HIS EXCELLENT GLORY)
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