Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. (Micah 5:3—NIV)

Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17—NIV)

We were not from the beginning, as is true of Jesus Christ. But by the will of God we are coheirs with Him of all the works of God's hands.

"Go tell My brothers I ascend to My Father and your Father; to My God and your God." This is what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene. There are awesome implications in this statement!

One hindrance to our full grasp on the promises of God is an understandable sense of reverence when we are approaching Divinity. We are not God, not as holy as God, and we know this. It is well that we do.

But when our reverence causes us to stagger at the promises of God it becomes a hindrance. The angels understand we have been made in God's image. We can relate to God and one another in a manner impossible to angels. They are not male and female.

We laugh, we cry, we trudge along wearily under the pressures of life. We are dust, and to the dust we return when our feeble frame expires. None of this is true of the angels.

There is no evidence that angels are capable of love, and love is the single most defining characteristic of man. Satan and his followers wish they could love, but love forever is denied them. They exist in hate, corruption, and destruction and inspire people to exist in the same manner.

We have been made in God's image, but to attain that image fully we have to be born twice—the first time of Adam and the second time of God.

The angels have been reduced (or exalted!) to the role of the servants of Jesus Christ and His brothers. However we are not, as currently is being suggested, to attempt to tell the angels what to do. Jesus Christ alone is the administrator of the Kingdom of God at this time. Whether He chooses to share this administration when He returns remains to be seen.

One of the dangers of our day of increased revelation is presumption! We had better cease trying to do "great things for God" and look to Jesus before we attempt to control the Holy Spirit and the angels!

Christ, Head and Body

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. (Isaiah 42:1—NIV)

The Book of Isaiah tells us of the Servant of the Lord, the Anointed Deliverer who is to come and establish justice on the earth. The Servant of the Lord is Christ—Head and Body.

The purpose of the Church Age is to call out from the nations of the earth an elect. Each of the elect is to be ministered to by the gifts and ministries given by the Holy Spirit until he or she comes to maturity as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.

To be continued.