Brownsville Revival, Part 2 — David Ravenhill

Israel’s Calling to Make God’s Deeds Known

We need to understand again, God's calling on the nation of Israel. I think I've given you possibly enough verses now to to make that clear. Anybody want one more? 1 Chronicles chapter 16 and verse 8.

Okay, thanks Lord Call upon his name make known his deeds Among the peoples and you can always put in there the nations make known his deeds among the people or make known his deeds Among the nations.

In fact, this is a this is an interesting chapter here I Understand I've been traveling and will be continuing to travel all this month. So I'm gonna miss Ray Hughes. That's ministering. I've heard a little snippet of one of his tapes and it's great.

But you know, he's he's speaking a lot about what we call the Davidic type of worship David's tabernacle and The one thing about David's tabernacle that many people don't understand and I hope brother Hughes doesn't no doubt.

He he does but the end result of it all is not just the glory of God it's the bringing in of the nations and here in 1 Chronicles and I understand he went through this particular chapter one of my favorite chapters in 1 Chronicles 13 about David bringing back the ark, but David eventually After he does everything right he blew it a few times after he gets everything, right?

He finally brings the ark in in chapter 16 and he places it inside the the tent that he'd made for it and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. A lot of people have a misunderstanding that David's tabernacle.

This tent was just a sort of a basic little pot tent to hold about two people, you know. It wasn't quite like that. It was a far more elaborate. There were gatekeepers. There were all sorts of things associated with it wasn't you know, just a that's simple a lot of people also say that God was sort of doing away with the old sort of a you know, traditional ceremonies and so on and the David's tabernacle represented total liberty and freedom and so on and obviously there's a measure of truth in that but You'll you'll notice that there was never that we know of anyway.

Never any expression of a glory of God in David's tabernacle and the glory of God does not show up again until David's tabernacle. The ark is once again placed in Solomon's temple where you've got the the entire Functioning if you like of the the brazen altar and everything else back in in one place.

Then the glory of God shows up. In other words, God was not saying this is all over that. I'm ushering in a whole new phase. That's not true. It was a time of transition. Obviously, it was a time of a tremendous liberty and so on but God will never substitute the cross and those other things.

In fact all the time that David's tabernacle was going on David saw to it the back of Moses temple that the offerings and so on were kept going. In fact, it was at the it was at the brazen altar that God appeared to Solomon and spoke to him says listen.

Whatever you ask I'll give you. And Solomon was offering a thousand burnt offerings. Anyway, that's not my job to get into that. But after he pitches the ark here in chapter 16 he gives them this psalm and this is the first psalm associated with the The tabernacle of David and he says on that day verse 7 David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord and he says I'll give thanks to the Lord.

Call upon his name make known his deeds among the peoples and that word can be translated. Nations sing to him sing praises to him speak of all these wonders glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad seek the Lord and his strength seek his face continually.

Then he goes down verse 16 the covenant which he made with Abraham and his oath to Isaac. He also confirmed it to Jacob. That's the covenant that we're looking at saying. Saying I will. Where am I saying to you?

I will give the land of Canaan as a portion of your inheritance when they were few in number and so on. Let me drop down. So I picked this thing up verse 22 23 sing to the Lord all the earth. Proclaim good tidings of his salvation from day to day.

Tell of his glory among the nations his wonderful deeds among all the peoples. Going down again Verse 29 ascribe to the Lord the glory to his name. Bring an offering and come before him worship the Lord in holy array.

Tremble before him all the earth. Verse 31 and let them say among the nations the Lord reigns. Verse 35 then say save us O God of our salvation gather us and deliver us. From the nations give thanks thy holy name and glory in thy praise.

But you'll notice if you read through that. That the nations are at stake now if you go into the book of Acts for a moment. And I know I'm rushing and some of you possibly this is Going over your head.

I hope not but Over in Acts chapter 15 and This is where they had the first sort of church council determining how much of the law of the Old Testament was going to be placed upon the New believers whether they had to be circumcised and so on and so forth and eventually we have.

It says Simon in verse 14 as related how God first concerned himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for his name and notice this. Let me go back Verse 12 and all the multitude kept silent and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were.

Relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. They've brought a report back to Jerusalem about the fact that the Holy Spirit's been poured out upon the Gentiles now. And of course the Jews had a hard time because most the Jews thought Man these dogs, I mean, that's what they were called.

You know God is visiting these dogs that we've despised that we've separated ourselves from we've looked on our nose at that. They're less than human and so on you're telling me that the God that blessed us a Pentecost is blessed them and so on.

So this is a sort of the background there and he they're relating what has happened. And so it says Simon has related verse 14 how God first concerned himself About taking from among the Gentiles a people for his name and with these the words of the prophets agree.

Just as it is written after these things I will return and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen and I will build up its ruins and I will restore It in order. Notice that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord and all the Gentiles who are called by my name.

Saith the Lord who make these things known from of old. So one of the functions of David's tabernacle was that there was to be a type of music that would attract the world. There was something of the presence of God that was going to be manifest and the glory of God the nature of God the works of God again talk about these deeds talk about these wonders and What is that those are testimonies if you like of the people of God listen, I've been healed.

I've been delivered. I was a drug addict. I was this I was that and so on. I want to tell you what God's done for me tell his wonders among the nations and then the nations are going to come in. But there's something about the music itself that is also going to be, you know part of God's Advertisement and and so David understands that when he puts you know, the the tabernacle David together so to speak He's concerned about it being a witness to the nation.

So it has a twofold function not only to magnify and glorify the Lord. But also ultimately to reach out to the nation so that they to ultimately glorify and magnify the Lord. You see every time you get somebody saved you just simply add to the choir and the choirs job is to glorify the Lord and So, you know one day there's going to be men from every kindred tribe tongue and nation around the throne.

Singing the song of Moses and Lambda gonna sing again about the glory of God and what Jesus Christ has done for them. So really every time again somebody gets saved the choir is that you know added to and the praise is that much greater more?

Spectacular and so on and so forth. So David understood this, you know. The way in which we can really make this worship great is to get a few more members in the choir, you know. And so there was a purpose behind it all right, let's Let me go back now and highlight some verses for you in Genesis chapter 18, and this is the word obedience.

Abraham’s Obedience and Blessing to the Nations

Obedience God said to Abraham I have chosen him for reason in other words if you want to know why it was that God singled out Abraham out of all the heathen of the earth and The Bible says his glory appeared unto our father Abraham in Acts chapter 7.

There was something that God saw about Abraham and it was this that when Abraham got a hold of something he would spread it. He would make sure that everybody else understood it. And so it says here I've chosen him in order that he will command his children and his servants as his servants.

Let me go back to him. Just got part of the verse. And his family Genesis 18 verse 16 and 19 um. Is that right? Oh 19 yeah Genesis 18 verse 19 for I chosen him in order that he may command his children and his household After him to keep the way the Lord by doing righteousness justice in order that the Lord may bring upon Abraham.

What he has spoken about him now, you'll notice then that obedience Was the key to fulfilling what God wanted to do. God says Abraham. I'm gonna bless you. I'm gonna make you a blessing. I'm gonna make you a great nation, but you are gonna bring blessing to the nations of the earth as long as You're obedient.

So he says I've appeared to Abraham because I knew I chose him that he would command his children after him and. Then also over into 20 Genesis 22 again. Sorry, it's yeah 22 and Verse 16 by myself I have sworn declares Lord because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son your only son.

Indeed, I will greatly bless you and notice again because of his obedience indeed I will bless you verse 18 and in your seat all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed my voice.

So we find in that the the key to God's purpose being fulfilled Obviously is obedience, which is true today as well. Genesis 26 the same thing. It says the Lord appeared to him and said do not go down to Egypt stay in the land in which I will tell you sojourn in this land and.

And so on and verse 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my charge my commandments my statutes and my laws. He says in the previous verse that all the nations of the earth will be blessed. So three verses there that bring out that all of this is conditional upon obedience.

Abraham if you obey this will happen. Isaac if you obey this will happen. Jacob if you obey this will happen. So he's wanting to bless again all the nations of the earth. Now, let's go back to Genesis 13 and verse 14 and the Lord said to Abraham After a lot had separated from him lift up your eyes look from the place where you are north south east and west.

For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your seed forever. I want you to just understand that the word descendants I'm using the the new American literally means the word seed in the Bible in the you'll notice in the margin.

All right. So it says and I will give it to you and your seed forever. I will make your seed as the dust of the earth. So if anyone can number the dust of the earth and your seed or your descendants can also be numbered.

Arise walk around the land through its length and its breadth for I have given it to you. Abraham moved his tent came dropped by the orcs of memory which are in Hebron and there he built an altar. Now God comes to Abraham after Abraham finally leaves home and he obeys what God told him to and After a lot separated and he takes him up on a mountain and he says Abraham I want you to look north south east west all this land.

It's going to be yours and it's going to belong to your seed one day now many times when God speaks prophetically. Prophecies come in seed form and we don't have all the details. It's like somebody prophesying over you.

I'll pick on John again and say yea said the Lord have I not raised thee up to be an evangelist, you know. Ten years from now. He's replaced Billy Graham, you know now the seed just said an evangelist.

But the fulfillment of that seed is that he's filling stadiums with 50 ,000 people you see but initially it's just a seed. He accepted that. Okay. Now let's let's look at the fulfillment then of the seed in the the eyes of the New Testament now over in the book of Romans.

Romans chapter 4 and verse 13. For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he would be the heir of the world. Was not through the law but through the righteousness of faith. Now, what was he the heir of?

Verse 13 the world. In other words God said to Abraham listen, you are going to inherit the earth. And that's a little bigger than standing on a mountain saying north south east and west, you know I can see about 15 miles that way maybe 30 miles that way and you know.

Since I'm looking down over a valley a hundred miles that way. Wow. This is incredible. Abraham did not fully understand What God was saying about his seed. Paul now gives us the greater revelation. He says God made a promise to Abraham and to his seed that he would be the heir of the world.

That's a pretty big blessing. Don't you think a incredible promise. All right now back into you don't have to turn to all these incidentally, but Israel failed to obey God's call. Let me just look at that for a moment and then we're going to tie a lot of this together.

I know it's been a little bit see but that's what jigsaws are like until you put in the final piece Exodus 17 and verse 3 The nation of Israel now has come out of Egypt. They're wandering in the wilderness.

They ask a question and the question is There in verse 3 the people thirsted there for water. They grumbled against Moses and said why now have you brought us up from Egypt? Is it to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?

How many of you know you can ask a good question with a bad attitude? This was a good question, but it was from a complaining heart. In other words, why have you brought us up? In other words, why are we saved?

Basically in typology. Why have you redeemed us? Why have you taken us out of bondage? Why have you taken us out of captivity? Why have you set us free? Why is the blood of the Lamb being shed? What are we doing?

Is it just so that we could you know There weren't enough graves in Egypt and you want us to just wander around the wilderness and so on so forth. God responds in chapter 19. And it says verse 3 Moses went up to God the Lord called him from the mountains saying thus you shall say to the house Of Israel and tell the sons of Israel the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel.

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians how I bore you on eagles wings and I brought you to myself. Now then if you will indeed obey my voice notice the word obey keep my covenant then you shall be mine own Possession among all the peoples for all the earth is mine.

See he wanted them to know right off listen. You are special, but all the earth is mine and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.

Israel as a Kingdom of Priests

Now. What does that mean? You shall be to me a kingdom of priests. What is the function of a priest. A Priest obviously his highest function is to minister to God. But then he is also to minister on behalf of God to people.

Now it would be right if I were to say I'm a school teacher. You could have the right to ask me how big's your class? Right, you would assume that if I'm a teacher, I've got a class and I'd say 40 students or whatever, you know now.

To ask the nation of Israel you are priests you're all priests. So who's your congregation? In other words a priest needs a parish if we can put in the terminology of the Catholic Church. You know priest needs a parish.

How big is your parish? You're a priest. Oh, how big a congregation do you have? Oh, you're a pastor. How big's your church? You see you are all priests. So where were they to be priests? They were to be priests to the nations of the earth.

That was the that was a call now. That's not just my theory. There's numerous books that are brought out on that. In fact, I think I've got a little clipping here from. I Think it's Grover is the guy's name.

I'd have to get you the exact Name and he says the the course of Christian missions. And he says basically what then is his purpose speaking of the nation of Israel? What is the ideal which he set before them and asked them to accept as their own the ideal?

To which they will give corporate expression in the Hebrew people in the nation if they will yield themselves up to him he says you shall be to me a nation of priests a nation dedicated as. It is the function of a priest to represent a congregation in worship of God.

So in the plan of God this nation of priests are to lead all the earth. Quote-unquote. Which is his to the worship of the one and Holy God. In other words, that was their function. They were priests they were to lead the nations of the earth into the worship of the one and the Holy God.

Now I could you give you new numerous or not numerous but a number of articles and books that Bring that out. So I want you to know that's not my just my interpretation. But when they said what are we doing here?

What's our function? Why have you brought us out? He says listen tell the nation of Israel you are kings and priests to me and your responsibility Basically is to reach the nations of the earth now. Romans Chapter 15, let's start putting all this together because we need to wrap things up a little bit.

Paul’s Priestly Ministry to the Gentiles

Romans 15 and verse 16. Where Paul is giving his testimony he says to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles ministering as a priest. The gospel of God that my offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

This is one of the few times in New Testament where Paul literally uses the same word that is used to describe the priestly function in the Old Testament now, there's all sorts of All sorts of offerings, you know, we or sacrifices we talk about the sacrifice of praise.

That's just one of many sacrifices in New Testament. Notice what Paul sacrifices. He said God basically has called me to be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. Ministering as a priest the gospel of God that my offering of the Gentiles Might be acceptable sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Paul is saying listen. I am as a priest. I Am bringing sacrifices to God. I'm bringing offerings to God and the offering that I'm bringing now is the Gentiles. I'm presenting them to to God. So there we see again something of the function of a priest that was what Israel was supposed to do.

They were supposed to be a priestly Nation like Paul was functioning as a priest and they were supposed to be offering if you like the Gentiles to God let me Tie in another verse here. While I remember it just looking for one verse there's a verse I'll have to find it where Paul says.

Where it says we are turning from. I'll find it later on. All right, Romans chapter 15 and verse 8 for I say that Christ has come or has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers and For the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy as it is written.

Therefore I will give praise to thee among the Gentiles and I will sing to thy name and again He says rejoice O Gentiles with his people and again praise the Lord all you Gentiles and let all the people praise him.

Again Isaiah says they shall come forth the root of Jesse and he will arise to rule over the Gentiles in him shall the Gentiles hope and notice all of those verses talking about God's desire to reach the Gentiles.

Gentiles. Gentiles anybody other than a Jew God's Longing is to reach the nations of the earth and time after time he reiterates it. But he makes this statement in verse 8 that Christ has come as a servant to the circumcision.

On behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers now when you confirm something you Revalidate it. In other words, one of the reasons that Jesus came he came to reconfirm certain promises.

Those of you who travel I am traveling these days I know you know. They recommend especially on our overseas flights that 36 hours before departure you reconfirm to make sure that you know that the flights.

Going at the time. It was supposed to be going you may have made the bookings two months ago. I've got maybe I was looking at them today six or seven envelopes with the tickets in for the next two or three months of travel and some of those were made a couple of months ago and then the ticket finally came and I filed it away and and so on and I need to maybe reconfirm that so Jesus Christ came to reconfirm certain promises that he made Notice to the fathers.

All right, who are the fathers? Acts 3 and verse 13 It says the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the God of our fathers. All right, when the Bible speaks about the fathers it always refers to Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

Acts 7 verse 32 I am the God of your fathers the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. So we have twice there the fact that the fathers are mentioned and who the fathers are Abraham Isaac and Jacob. So Jesus came to confirm Certain promises that he made to Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

Christ, Abraham’s Seed, and the Church

Now back into the book of Galatians and we'll finally begin to put this together. Galatians 3 and verse 16 now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say and to seeds as Referring to many but rather to one and to your seed that is Christ.

Now notice now we're tying together an awful lot that we've already covered. Think of all these promises. I'm gonna bless you Abraham. I'm gonna bless you Isaac. I'm gonna bless you Jacob and in your seed All the families of the earth are going to be blessed and in your seed all the families of the earth are going to be blessed.

And in your seed all the families of the earth are going to be blessed. Now The problem with some of these translations is like mine it uses the word descendants. But at least it's honest enough to admit if you look in the margin that uses the word seed.

Now Paul then is tying this together. He says the promise was spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say and to seeds as referring to many but rather to one and to your seed that is Christ. All right.

So Christ then is what God said he was going to raise up. One day and through Christ all the nations of the earth are going to be blessed now. Some of you are sighing a great sigh of relief thinking I thought it was gonna be me.

Well, hold on for a moment verse 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek. There's neither slave nor free man. There's neither male nor female. For you're all one in Christ. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed.

Is according to the promise and we say that again. This is verse 29 Galatians 3. There's neither Jew nor Greek. There's neither slave nor free man. There's neither male nor female for you are all one in Christ.

In other words the moment you and I accept Christ we come into the body of Christ, right? That's what the church is the church, which is his body and Another word for the body of Christ if you like in Paul's terminology, at least right now is we are now the seed.

Because we join Christ we are members of his body. So we are all one in Christ. There's neither male nor female Jew nor Greek and blah blah blah. We're all one in Christ now, but he says and if you belong to Christ or if you are Christ it says literally in my margin if you are Christ then you are Abraham's seed and Therefore what?

Heirs. According to the promise. What does that mean? What is an heir? Somebody who receives an inheritance or whatever, right? And you know if say you've you get word that your parents died and You're the sole heir now.

You're the sole heir of their blessings. But all those are also the sole heir of whatever Debts they had as well, right. And you're hoping that mom and dad were wise enough to set money aside. So that you know.

You don't discover after they've gone that you've got a million dollars to pay back because they were owing and you know. And you thought boy this million-dollar house was going to be mine. And now you've got to liquidate it to pay off the debts.

Now, hopefully you will receive the blessing, but there are also Responsibilities that go with it. And so Paul says now we are Abraham's seed but we not only inherit the blessings of Abraham. But the responsibilities of Abraham.

Now we're always quick to cash in on the blessings of Abraham hence the song I'm on the seat of Abraham and his blessings. You know come to me or however the song went but also the responsibilities in other words you and I now pick up this mandate.

You see the the purpose of God has not changed the instruments have changed. The purpose of God is an unchanging purpose. And that is to reach the nations of the earth through your seed all the nations the earth is available your seed your seed your Seed you see and now we have what that seed is.

Okay having said that Let me see. Let's look at Romans 9 verses 6 through 8. But it is not as though the Word of God has failed for they are not all Israel who are descendants from Israel. Neither are they all children because they are Abraham's seed.

But through Isaac your seed will be named that is it is not the children of the flesh Who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as seed. For this is a word of promise at that time.

I will come and Sarah shall have a son and so on and so forth. But notice there it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God. But the children of the promise are regarded as seed or descendants.

It literally says seed so again. We see that we are The seed of Abraham now that doesn't mean you can't be a Jew and be the seed. The way you become the genuine seed of God is Through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me give you some scriptures now Ephesians chapter 2. I know you're going to be having some of you that have signed up for the controversy class biblical controversies that I think Dr. Brown is going to expound Israel the church and the nations and You know some of you are aware of sort of what they call replacement theology.

Did the church replace Israel and all of that. Well I don't want to get into that right now, but let me look at least at Ephesians chapter 2. Verse 11 now Paul is speaking to the Gentiles. He says therefore remember that you That formerly you the Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcised in other words.

He says the Jews refer to you as uncircumcised. He says which is performed in the flesh by human hands. Remember that you were at that time speaking about before they were saved Separate from Christ you were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel.

You were strangers to the covenants of promise having no hope without God in this world. So Paul reminds them again writing to the Gentiles, and he says listen. There was a time He says when you were totally cut off from God the promises didn't relate to you the blessings didn't relate to you.

Nothing related to you. He said you had no hope you were without God in this world Verse 13, but now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were a far-off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace who made both groups into one.

Who are the both groups? Jew and Gentile. And he broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by abolishing in his death the enmity which is in the law and Commandments contained in ordinances that he himself might make the two into one new man.

Thus establishing peace in other words he has reconciled Jew and Gentile into one new man that new man Obviously being Christ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross by it having put to death the enmity.

He came and he preached peace to you who are far off. Peace to those who were near in other words peace to those that were far off the Gentiles. Peace to you who were near the Jews for through him we both have our access in one spirit to the father.

So then we're no longer strangers or an aliens, but we're fellow citizens with the saints. We are God's household and so on so We understand then that the the seed. The church is made up of Jew and Gentile.

The early church was primarily for a period of time a Jewish church but Again, God poured out his spirit on the Gentiles and the two groups became one and so there is only one Body if you like now having said that Acts chapter 13 and This is Paul now and Barnabas giving their testimony.

Paul’s Mandate to Turn the Gentiles from Darkness to Light

Let's pick it up in verse 42 and as Paul and Barnabas were going out the people kept of begging them. That these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up many of the Jews and God-fearing Proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who speaking to them were urging them to continue in the grace of God and the next Sabbath nearly the whole City assembled to hear the Word of God.

But when the Jews saw the crowd they were filled with jealousy began contradicting the things spoken by Paul. And they were blaspheming and Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said it was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken to you First and notice he's addressing the Jews.

It was necessary said that we bring the message to you first. But since you repudiate it or reject it and have judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life. Behold we are turning to the Gentiles. For thus now notice verse 47 for thus the Lord has commanded us.

I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles that you should bring salvation to the ends of the earth. Now notice how Paul identified With this calling on the nation of Israel. He was a Jew and he understood as a Jew I have got a mandate on my life.

God called me as a nation to be a blessing to the other nations. But first of all, I'm going to my own people but they reject it they don't want to have anything to do with it. So I am turning now to the Gentiles because God has commanded us and I'm part of that being a Jew.

He says and God has commanded us. I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles that you should bring salvation to the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard This they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord and as many as had been appointed to eternal life.

Believed and the Word Lord was spread through the whole region. So you can understand now Paul Understands this whole this big picture. He understands. Listen. I'm a Jew. I've got a responsibility. My responsibility is to reach the nations of the earth.

But first of all, I've also got it now sadly enough reach my own people. But they don't want to have anything to do with it. So That doesn't let me off the hook because the rest the nation of Israel isn't getting involved.