Looking For Such Things: The Lord Cometh!
Pastor Toks Oshokoya
Pondering On The Human Hair, God, Spirits (ALL Angels & Demons) and Implications
THERE ARE FOUR “LOOKING FOR” THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AS THEY PERTAIN TO THE NEARNESS OF THE LORD’S COMING FOR THE CHURCH!
Titus 2: 11 – 15
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all auth ority. Let no man despise thee”
2Peter 3:9-18
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. …
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen”
Jude 1:17-25
“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen”
LET US CHECK CERTAIN THINGS WHILE LOOKING FOR SUCH THINGS – GOD IS NOT A DEMOCRAT!
The Human Hair, The Spiritual Worth, God’s Perspective And Inherent Capability To Transfer Spiritual Power:
Up to this morning, I had never attached much importance to this part of the human body called The Hair.
I am now being nudged to re-examine the words of The Lord and some inspired words spoken by the prophets of old:
Matthew 10:28
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered”
May we take liberty to look at the scriptures in order to attempt to grasp some truths, please?
Job 7:17, 18
“What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?
and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
And that thou shouldest visit him every morning,
and try him every…”
Job 15:14
“What is man, that he should be clean?
and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints;
yea, the heavens are not clean in his…”
Psalms 8:4
“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.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands;
thou hast put all things under his feet”
Psalms 144:3
“Lord, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him!
or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
Man is like to vanity:
his days are as a shadow that passeth away”
Psalms 139:14
“I will praise thee; for I am FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made:
marvellous are thy works;
and that my soul knoweth right well.
My SUBSTANCE was not hid from thee,
when I was made in secret,
and CURIOUSLY WROUGHT in the lowest parts of the earth.
THINE EYES did SEE MY SUBSTANCE, yet being unperfect;
and IN THY BOOK ALL MY MEMBERS WERE WRITTEN,
which IN CONTINUANCE WERE FASHIONED, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!
how great is the sum of them!
If I should COUNT THEM, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with…”
What if we take this chapter from the beginning?
Psalm 139
“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising,thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before,and laid thine hand upon me.
Such KNOWLEDGE is TOO WONDERFUL for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there”
PATTERNS, TYPES AND SHADOWS:
In the Old Testament, Jehovah God, issued out very clear instructions on why and how to
• investigate
• discern
• isolate
• exorcise or cleanse, and
• cast away
uncleanness of LEPROSY from the midst of His own people!
Leviticus 13:3
“And the priest shall look on the plague in the SKIN of the flesh: and when the HAIR in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the SKIN of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the HAIR thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:
And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the PLAGUE SPREAD not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:
And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall WASH HIS CLOTHES, and BE CLEAN.
But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:
And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a LEPROSY.
When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;
And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the HAIR WHITE, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising; It is an OLD LEPROSY in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall PRONOUNCE HIM UNCLEAN, and shall not shut him up: for he is UNCLEAN…”
We are all aware that in Bible context, the disease of leprosy which by implication means “uncleanness” is translated to imply “SPIRITUAL IMPURITY or CONTAMINATION” in the New Testament!
This may not be very clear but I see a relationship BETWEEN
HOW
♧ the physical disruption to the human skin and
♧ certain negative metamorphoric changes in the human hair
INDICATE PHYSICAL LEPROSY
AND
how such may have equally, inherently, have direct implications on SPIRITUAL STATE or have result in some contamination in the HUMAN SOUL.
THE HAIR & THE NAZARITE VOW:
What exactly is the connection between CONSECRATION OF THE NAZARITE & THE HUMAN HAIR?
Numbers 6:2
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall SEPARATE THEMSELVES TO VOW a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the Lord:
He shall separate himself from wine and STRONG DRINK, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.
…….
All the days of the vow of his separation there shall NO RAZOR come upon HIS HEAD: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he SHALL BE HOLY, and shall let the locks of the HAIR of HIS HEAD grow.
All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the CONSECRATION of his God is upon his head. …..
And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall SHAVE his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.
And on the eighth day he shall
……And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. And he shall consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering:
…..
And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: ….
And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings. …..
shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven: …”
THE BLESSING
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless…”
HOW EFECTIVE AND SERIOUS IS A NAZARITE VOW?
Samson and The Significance of The Hair:
Judges 16: 17 – end
“That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a RAZOR UPON MINE HEAD; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I BE SHAVEN, then MY STRENGTH WILL GO from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.
And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart.
Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.
Howbeit the HAIR OF HIS HEAD began to GROW AGAIN after he was shaven.
…..And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.
…….
And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein.
So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life”
Friends, are we wiser due to higher revelations or are we becoming more and more negligent of certain things which MAY have more spiritual implications than we care to notice?
Matthew 5:33 –
“Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shalt thou swear by THY HEAD, because thou canst not make ONE HAIR white or black.
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of…”
WHAT IS IT ABOUT OUR “HAIR” TO GOD?
Luke 21:17
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
But there shall not AN HAIR of your head PERISH.
In your patience possess ye your souls”
♡ WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE “HAIR” AND WORSHIP?
John 12:3
“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with HER HAIR: and the house was filled with the odour of the…”
Mark 14:6
“And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought A GOOD WORK ON ME. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the WHOLE WORLD, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a MEMORIAL of her”
♡ WHAT IS IT THAT GOD CARE ABOUT AND SPOKE OF THE WOMEN HAIR?
1 Corinthians 11:15
“But if a woman has LONG HAIR, it is a GLORY to her; for her hair is given to her for A COVERING.
But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God”
♡ HMNN…..WOMEN HAIR?
“I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with BROIDED HAIR, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence”
♡ WOMEN HAIR (CONTD)?
1 Peter 3: 1 – 5
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
Whose ADORNING let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the HAIR, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a MEEK and QUIET SPIRIT, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the HOLY WOMEN also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any AMAZEMENT (sudden exaggerated fear or panic)”
Again, what is the connection between
▪ The Human Soul’s Destiny,
▪ The Value That Our God attach To MAN and
preservation of man’s members,
▪ The Purity of Man’s Worship, Service and
Communion With God,
▪ Man’s Spiritual State and Worth,
▪ Consecration or Contamination,
and
The Human Hair?
Why such attention? Why are they “numbered”?
Is there a possibility that the hair we have on our heads influence
☆ our spiritual content or state of the soul?
☆ our anointing and influence?
☆ ability to transfer the anointing and what we transfer?
☆ acceptability of our spiritual worship?
What if we wear hairs previously dedicated to demons, wicked angels and rulers of darkness or satan himself?
DON’T WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO OUR CONSECRATION AND SPIRITUAL IMPARTATION?
How do we handle the possibility of CONTAMINATION?
Romans 14
“Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.
Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.
He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God.
All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.
Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
1 Corinthians 10: 18 – 32
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than He?
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, EAT NOT
• for his sake that shewed it, and
• for conscience sake:
for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof:
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: …”
ENGAGING “F.A.R.A”
FLEE
1 Cor 6: 18
“FLEE fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
1 Cor 10: 14
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, FLEE from idolatry”.
1 Tim 6: 11
“But thou, O man of God, FLEE these things –
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”
2 Tim 2: 22
“FLEE also youthful lusts: …”
ABSTAIN
Acts 15: 20
“But that we write unto them, that they ABSTAIN from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood”
Acts 15: 29
“That ye ABSTAIN from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well”
1 Thess 4: 3
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should ABSTAIN from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: …”
1 Thess 5: 22
“ABSTAIN from all appearance of evil”
1 Pet 2: 11
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, ABSTAIN from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;..”
RECKON
Romans 6: 11
“Likewise RECKON ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace”
ARM
1 Peter 4: 1-3
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, ARM yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: …”
May the PRIESTS be more pro-active, discerning and responsive.
Malachi 2:1-7
“And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts”
THE LAST “LOOKING FOR”
Hebrews 10:26-31
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
God Bless Us.
The Liteman