Span-10 Apostolic & Prophetic Foundations 7 of 8 — Art Katz

Alpha and the Omega that you are, ever and always again, the God of the beginning and the end. You gave us a beginning four days ago. Give us now an end. You alone know the.

End from the beginning. And we ask for that end which was appointed from the beginning,.

An end that will become a beginning for many of us, a new beginning, a beginning of new days, because you have brought us to an end, an end of all things, that you might bring us to the new and the everlasting.

So be the Lord over us. In every word that proceeds from this pulpit, every syllable, the tone and the accent of it, that you are speaking, spoil us completely. Ruin us for anything less. Thank you for being such a God.

Break our hearts for the knowledge of it, that we cannot contain it. We thank you, O precious God, for this day that you have made, once and for all, shall not be given again. It has come from God in all creative power and wonder.

We receive it as a very gift that has come down to us from heaven. And we thank you with all our hearts for it. In Jesus'.

Name. Speak, Lord. Your servants are hearing. Amen. I would like you to turn to Ezekiel.

Chapter 37. We have referred to it from time to time, but on our last occasion together today, we need to look more directly into it, which is not to say that we can exhaust it. I don't know of any single chapter in the books of prophecy that are more comprehensive than this chapter.

This one chapter is a summation of the whole prophetic intention and wisdom of God for Israel through the church. It's there, though the word church is never once mentioned. So it's full of rich symbolisms that we are called to interpret and understand.

And the chapter ends with Israel's theocratic glory. Not only Israel's restoration to the land, from among the nations where it has been driven, but the culmination of everything. The Lord's own coming as a prince over them.

Jerusalem as the eternal dwelling place of God. And the people have become the people of God. And he has become their God. The chapter begins in death, and it ends in life evermore. One chapter. Only God could have conceived it.

So let's look at it now. The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley. It was full of bones. And he caused me to pass by them all around.

And behold, there were very many in the open valley. And indeed they were very dry. And he said to me, son of man, can these bones live? So I answered, oh Lord, you know. And again he said to me, prophesy to these bones.

Say to them, oh dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones, surely I will cause breath to enter into you and you shall live. I will put sinners on you and bring flesh upon you and cover you with skin.

And put breath in you and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied there was a noise. And suddenly a rattling. And the bones came together.

Bone to bone. Indeed as I looked the sinners and the flesh came upon them. And the skin covered them over. But there was no breath in them. And he said to me, prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man.

And say to the breath, thus says the Lord God, come from the four winds of breath and breathe on these slain that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me. And breath came into them. And they lived and stood upon their feet.

An exceedingly great army. Then he said to me, son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. And they indeed say, our bones are dry. Our hope is lost. And we ourselves are cut off. Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God, behold all my people, I will open your graves.

And cause you to come up from your graves. And bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. When I have opened your graves. All my people. And brought you up from your graves.

The Two Sticks and Israel's Future Unity

I will put my spirit in you. And you shall live. And I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know. That I the Lord have spoken it. And performed it, says the Lord. Well just briefly to look at the conclusion of the text.

The word of the Lord again came to the prophet. Speaks to him about taking two sticks. Identifies the sticks with different names. Ephraim and Judah. Make them one stick. And then in verse 20. 21 rather.

Thus says the Lord God. Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations. Wherever they have gone. And will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land.

On the mountains of Israel. One king shall be king over them. They shall no longer be two nations. Nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols.

Nor with their detestable things. Nor with any of their transgressions. But I will deliver them. From all their dwelling places in which they have sinned. And will cleanse them. Then shall they shall be my people.

And I will be their God. David my servant shall be king over them. They shall all have one shepherd. They shall all shall walk in my statues. Of my judgments. And they shall observe my statutes and do them.

Then they shall dwell in the land. For I have given to Jacob my servant where your fathers dwell. And they shall dwell there. They their children and their children's children. Forever. And my servant David shall be their prince.

Forever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them. And I will set my sanctuary in their midst. Forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them.

Indeed I will be their God. They shall be my people. And the nations also will know. That I the Lord sanctify Israel. When my sanctuary is in their midst. Forevermore. Amen. Juicy text. Rich. Comprehensive.

Detailed. Full. What would you say about it? What struck your attention? What statements were especially repeated? Well we know that God is against vain repetitions. Well he says something more than once.

Guys three times. That deserves our attention. Do you know how to read? How to study and ponder them? How to search them? Who's this son of man? What a mysterious character. Why is he necessary at all?

Couldn't God himself directly prophesy to them all? After all in the beginning of the book of Genesis. Who broods over their chaos? And speaks. Let there be. And there is. And it's good. Why doesn't he do it again?

Directly. So his nation Israel will always know that he was directly the run. Who has recreated them. Out of death. And they would be eternally grateful. Why does he need a son of man? Who is that son of man?

The Son of Man's Obedience and Prophetic Faith

Who is commanded. And commanded. And commanded. And is obedient. Each time. So that the issue of Israel's restoration. Is the issue of his obedience. What a frail thread. Depending on one man. Son of man.

His obedience. Is Israel's restoration. Well what's the big deal? So what if he failed? Because we're not always that obedient. We're not always capable of rendering an immediate obedience. Particularly of an ultimate kind.

So his word fails. If his obedience is weak. If his authority is shallow. If his faith is inadequate. Because unless it's a real faith. How shall it be a real word? That raises the dead. We can't afford to be religious here.

Just say the right things. Bones I command you to come together. If it's only wishful thinking. If it's only just mere verbiage. Without. I could have believed it if God had spoken it. But can I believe it if I speak it?

Son of man. Who sweats. Urinates and defecates. A bundle of weakness. Who didn't even sleep last night. That's going to work through me. I have faith to believe it for God. But can I believe it through me?

Because I have not that faith. Which is an ultimate faith. The faith of incarnation. Of Christ the God in me. That we have this treasure in this earth and vessel. And that treasure is speaking. With our voice and our accent.

Those bones remain in the grave. You know what? I admire the faith of God. In the son of man. He's put all his eggs in one basket.

You say that in Spanish? It's an American. Western saying.

You put all your eggs in one basket. You have limited yourself to the one thing. And you have no backup alternatives. You have no plan B if plan A doesn't work.

It's an insane single insistence. On one thing only. And if it doesn't work through that one.

Thing. It doesn't work. I admire the faith of God. In the son of man. You would almost think from this chapter. That not only is God concerned for the restoration of this earth. Which is the key to his own coming.

As we read. I will place my king over you. Even David. Forever more. I will dwell with you and make it my sanctuary, my tabernacle. Look at what is at stake here. We're not just talking about a nation being restored.

Great though that is. More great than we can express. But the restoration of Israel. Is the key to the Lord's own coming. Who else is the David that shall rule over them forever?

If it is not the root and the offspring of David himself.

The greater David. Shall rule over them forever. And if he rules over them. All nations. The stakes are unspeakably great. And everything rests on obedience. Faith. In a prophetic entity. Called the son of man.

The Church as the Corporate Son of Man

Okay. What manner of God is this? All the more. If the son of man is not some heroic personality. A kind of 100 art cats is rolled up into one.

But yourself. The church. The ordinary church. The church of the last days. In its corporateness. In what it is in itself. As a prophetic entity. Formed at the hand of God. From obedience to obedience.

And brought now to the final obedience. That will consummate the age. That's something to whistle over. We are the son of man.

And if we have not prophetic faith. If we cannot render immediate obedience. Israel is finished. Why is God doing that? Because he wants Israel to be eternally grateful. That the key to their restoration. Was a gentile church.

Whom they had historically despised. Looked upon with disdain and contempt.

That this frail thing.

This church. Is the very instrument of God. The salvific agency. For Israel's restoration. To the eternal gratitude of the nation. You might even be one of the two sticks. In the hand of the prophet. That will never again be separated.

The Communal Test as a Corporate Learning Experience

That be forever joined together. The church in Israel. To the eternal praise of his glory. I don't think you're impressed. I think you think that this is the subject matter for today. That you need to listen so you can pass the test.

Wait until you see what the test is. That I composed somewhere in the late night hours. Seventeen questions. Seven questions. None of this true and false stuff. Or fill in the empty blank. No, you're going to have to compose statements.

And limited and confined to a single paragraph. In the answer for each question.

And the answer for each question. You can choose seven out of the 17.

They are all blockbusters. It's not calculated to measure your knowledge. But to transform you in the taking. It's your final learning experience. And I've even had this thought. I'll give you a choice.

You can take it individually. Or you can take it corporately. Where we will divide the class into several committees.

Each committee will recognize a head or a president.

And the secretary to take the notes. And the committee itself will answer the seven questions that they choose.

And the committee itself will answer the seven questions that they choose. You will have to agree on your answers together.

And discuss together what you think ought to be said. You might realize then you don't know as you ought to know. You might be impressed at the insight that one other brother or sister has. That brings it together for you in an unusual way.

This is your experience as church. As a corporate entity. Submitting one statement. That is the sum total. Of your collaboration and understanding. Over these ponderous statements.

And whatever grade your paper gets. You'll share together. If it's poor. Barely passing.

You'll suffer the shame of it together. If it's excellent. You'll be exhausted. Together. You'll rise or fall. Together. Would you like to try that? You won't be quick to invite me another time. And then there's one compulsory question.

It's not informational. It's this. Of all that has been said in these days. What for you personally. Has been the most significant. Why? How will it affect your future? No cheap answers here. No little glib getting away with it.

One of this. Your answers are going to be scrutinized deeply. And the other overseers. I will be away. Vacationing in Texas.

In five cities. In three weeks. Day and night. Vacationing. Hmm. But I'll get the result. And if it's poor. I will pursue you. Wherever you are. So we better start being students now. Real students. Have you noticed?

In all Christendom. Who has greater opportunity. To understand and to experience. Church as community. Than a bible school. And you haven't even noticed. You're still an aggregate of individuality. Community is a conscious choice.

Nothing has changed externally.

Same number of students. But your attitude to them. And what you recognize represented in them.

Is all the difference between school and community. Understand? Take advantage. Of being integral. And related with one another. And don't just be ships passing in the night. Who are required to be together.

For the benefit of instruction. That you might receive your certificate. For your personal ministry. And have missed entirely. The opportunity to experience church as church. And it's corporateness. That will so spoil you.

You cannot go back to the church as pure. You'll insist on turning the furniture around. That you can behold each other face to face.

And in that beholding move from glory to glory. Beholding the face of God. So the Lord is already plotting.

To trap you. By taking the test together. And then every name that is in the committee. Will be listed at the end. In the order of their participation. So if your name is the last name given. You were the least of the participants.

You see why you need to have Jews in the body of Christ? Because you've been getting away with murder.

Too long. And no one has really required of you. Okay.

Get the same grade? Then all the names will be on one line. But don't cheat. We're not talking about being democratic. The kingdom of God. In truth. And everyone will agree. My name is listed. Where it belongs to be.

Because I was slack. And I hung back. I was too lazy. Or shy. Or timid. Or fearful. And I didn't want to give my opinion. And you came to the cross? When? Oh dear children. The church is the ground and pillar of truth.

And if the church becomes a lie. A lie. What shall we hope for in the world? So we talk about coming to the cross. Lord I have laid down my life. It's yours.

I'm as a dead man. And if there's no resurrection. I of all people are most to be pitied. And I of all people am most to be pitied. And then you come to the committee to take the test. And find that you're strangely alive.

To your fear. And your timidity. And your self-consciousness. So what have we made of the cross?

Paper mache. Un papier mache. Counterfeit. You can hit it with your finger. And it's a dull fact. And Israel is not moved to jealousy. There's not a day that is before us. That does not contain issues of this kind.

That does not contain issues of this kind. If only you could see it.

They are continually before us. We are continually choosing. For or against God. On behalf of our self-interest. Or on behalf of His glory. Where does God find the Son of Man?

A Life of Obedience Preparing for the Final Crisis

Who can command the bones. There's a history. Of obedience. From obedience to obedience. From faith to faith.

That when the ultimate requirement comes. He shall not fail. That's the way to perceive your life. We're aiming toward a final moment. Unbelievably critical. But it's not a moment which we're going to suck air and take a deep breath.

And rise to meet the occasion. If we have not consistently been meeting all occasions. By faith. And in integrity. And by the Spirit. All before. The final moment is the summation of all of our moments.

That's why I'm jealous over you. For this moment. And I can read your faces. And I know how you're perceiving it. That's why I interrupted myself. Because I saw some of you falling into a certain posture.

As if this were only a class. And another subject. Okay. Are we students? Are we going to immerse ourselves into this text? Are we going to wrestle with it?

Draw out its meaning? Or just superficially pass through it?

And be no different at the end of it than we were at the beginning. If I can remind you. This is the Word of God. It's not gone with the wind.

And we need to ponder it. Every word.

Divinely intended. A crafted statement. Out of the Divine Wisdom. Of intense, comprehensive meaning. Compacted. In one chapter. That speaks of the whole eschatological future. The destiny of Israel. And how it is that the appointed nation.

Brought to death by its own sin. Is yet restored. To the place of primacy before all nations. And that as a result of this process.

Through the Church, the Son of Man. God can say to it.

Then. When I have brought you up out of your grave. And I will bring you into the land. Not you yourself. You took a shot at it. And it became a mess. It must necessarily be a mess. When you in your own Jewish prowess and ability.

And Zionist ambition. Is different. From when I will return you. I will bring you back. Just make a study of how many times in this one chapter. The two words are repeated. I will. I will. I will bring you out of your grave.

I will bring you to the land. I will cleanse you from your sin. I will, I will, I will, I will. Then you shall know.

That I am the Lord. Who has spoken and performed. That said three times in one chapter. Then you shall know.

The nations shall know. As if knowing is supremely important to God. Doesn't Israel know? Of course not. They don't know from beans. Even the religious. Even the orthodox minority. Does not know God. As God.

As he deserves to be known. As the God who raises the dead. By his word. If you don't know that. You don't know God. For that's what he ultimately is. The God who raises the dead. By a word.

You don't know it either. As you ought to know. And as you will know. You know what I thought as I sat here this morning? That scripture came back to me.

Mercy Received and Extended to Israel

By your mercy they shall obtain mercy. Which is found where? What book? What chapter? Roman. Eleven. What mercy have you got to give? That they can obtain. God's not talking about the concept of mercy.

The idea of mercy. The doctrine of mercy.

He's talking about palpable and substantial mercy.

He's talking about palpable and substantial mercy. So that by your mercy.

By the mercy that was extended to you. They might obtain mercy. But what if you have not mercy to give? How are you fixed for it? When's the last time you've received it? When's the last time you needed it?

When's the last time you needed it? You nicely dressed kids. Well provided for. When have you needed mercy last? Where if the mercy of God did not come. You were finished. Because you allowed God to bring you to such a place.

Such a circumstance. Such a circumstance. Such a predicament of faith.

In your reckless desire to serve him.

So it was well over your head and ability. That if his mercy did not come. In an authentic and palpable way. You would have died a thousand deaths. But when his mercy came.

Astonishingly. It's a revelation of God. Of his faith. His power, his ability. Have you got mercy to give? Or is the word only a technicality? A critical question. God says by your mercy. They will obtain mercy.

Well if you haven't needed mercy before. You're going to need it now. Not just the examination that's coming. You'll need it there. But for the crisis that is coming. The crisis of Israel. Will make such a requirement of you.

That you'll not be able to meet. On the basis of any ordinary ability.

Unless the mercy of God comes to you. You cannot fulfill it. How many of you recognize.

That I'm speaking this morning. By the mercy of God. By the pure mercy of God. I'm trying to understand. Why my entire night. I spent it without sleeping. I would turn around to this side. Then to the other.

I would go to the bathroom again and again. I would push my pillows. I would put them on horseback. And hope to fall asleep.

Nothing worked. An entire sleepless night. To run the conclusion of these days. That I should come wilted. Can't remember my name. Walking into walls. Only to demonstrate something. That if there's anything that comes through me today.

It is nothing other nor less. Than the mercy of God. How would you like to be a people who live by his mercy? How would you like to live from your times? And give the 90 to the kingdom? How would you like to live a lifestyle?

Not according to what you are financially able. But to a willfully chosen poverty. An apostolic and prophetic poverty. Not according to your means.

Which no one will fault. They are all living according to their means.

But according to a mode and a lifestyle. That is less. And puts you in a place of trembling dependency.

And puts you in a place of trembling dependency. Dependency of the mercy of God. Mercy we ask of you. Do you know why? Because after this we won't have another chance. This is our last time together. And if we lose this.

Well, it's lost.

So we don't want to miss it. I'm hearing myself already say insane things. Voluntary poverty. That was not in today's agenda. Not in my notes. It's in the Lord's heart. We're moving by mercy. Because I'm always asking God.

A foolish man that I am. Lord, not just to proclaim the word. But to demonstrate. And to set forth before your students. The thing in itself. That's why I think I had the sleepless night. And I'd be willing to suffer much more.

For your sake. If we could bring home the truth. Of what God is wanting in the church. Or Israel will never be raised. The apostle and the prophet are not performers. They're not biblical technicians.

Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry as the Reality of God in Man

They are the thing in itself. The reality of God wrought in man.

The reality of God wrought in man.

Why does God say that the church is built upon the foundations of the apostles and the prophets? Because of their remarkable insight?

Their command of the knowledge of God's way? Yes, but more.

That they bring to the church. Its foundation. The sense of God as he is in himself. They come to us from the holiest place. And out of his presence. To bring the reality of God himself. Which is so easy to lose.

So difficult to obtain.

Needs to be so consciously sought.

Unless you're satisfied with the measure you have.

There's nothing more under attack. Everything in the world conspires against it. The sense of God. Who raises the dead.

By his word. How can we be that for Israel? If God has not first been that for ourselves? How can we speak a resurrection word to them?

If a resurrection word has not come to us. By the mercy of God. To bring us out of our death. Which we have voluntarily chosen.

Again and again. By participating in the committee taking the test.

Willing to appear foolish. Trying to express yourself. And you might fail. And look terribly weak. Or reveal your ignorance. Or your lack of true spirituality. Why take the risk? It's a painful thing.

That's the way it's said. Stay reserved. Don't say too much. Just enough. To get by. The issues are before us continually. If we can but see them. And respond rightly. From faith to faith. Yes, to know and realize we're weak.

Inadequate. But we will not withhold ourselves. We will trust God even through us.

To speak into that committee.

As it forms its corporate answer. For our identity. And our grade. Will be the result of it.

We're in something together. Or would you rather have a true and false question? You can almost guess your way through that. It's convenient.