Depth for Height – (IV)

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Main Text – Romans 11:33

… 33 “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!, How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out”

The case of the Church (Romans 11: 1-32)

Processes of the depth of the church:

Process 1

· Pronouncement of Dominion

Gen 1: 26 And God said, Let us make *man in our image, after our likeness and let them have dominion……….

(*Romans 1: 20 For the invisible of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead……

Colossians 2: 6-10 9 For in him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily 10 And ye are complete in him which is head of all principality and power)

· God gave Instruction

Gen 2: 15 And the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat. 17 But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt *surely die (AKJV)

· The coming of Satan

Gen 3: 1-7 4 And the serpent said unto the woman Ye shall *not surely die
(* Read Romans 5: 14-19)

· Redemption Pronounced

Gen 3: 14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because you have done this……… 15 ………….he shall bruise your head

Process 2

· Israel Announced Oppressed and Delivered

God spoke to Abraham in a vision – Genesis 15:12-21
:
13 “…know ye certainly that your descendants shall be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years”

Joseph became Prime Minister in Egypt and his brothers joined him and they settled in Goshen and prospered. (Genesis 47: 1-6)

But there arose a Pharaoh that did not know Joseph and the children of Israel went into servitude (Exodus 1: 3-8)

Israel was delivered by God’s mighty arm and went out of Egypt with great substance (Exodus 12: 30-35)

· Blindness has happened to Israel

Romans 11: 1-12

ü Israel has not obtained that which he sought for but were blinded 7
ü God gave them over to the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see
ü Ears that they should not hear 8
ü Their table a snare and a trap 9
ü Their eyes are darkened and bow down their back always 10

· Acceptance of the Gentiles

ü The Gentiles obtained what Israel sought 7
ü Salvation came to provoke Israel to jealousy 11
ü The fall is riches to and reconciling of the world 12

· The Church is both Jew and Gentile, Bond or Free and Fully Equipped

Galatians 6: 14But God forbid that I should glory in the flesh save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world 15For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor un-circumcision but a new creature

Ephesians 4: 4There is one body and one Spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling 5One Lord one faith one baptism 6One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all………..
(Read verses 8-10)

An Illustration with the Encounter of Simon with Jesus – Luke 5:1-11

· The Depth of disappointment and frustration.

2 ….But the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets

· The enabling environment for Height will always be present

1 And it came to pass as the people pressed on him to hear the word of God….

· Be available for “selection” or “use”

2 And he saw two ships…..but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one…. which was Simon’s and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.

· Be patient it is a matter of and the time is always NOW.

4. Now when he had left speaking he said unto Simon “Launch out into the deep and let down your net for a drought”

Daniel in the captivity of Babylon

· Daniel ‘s depth of commitment to God gave him a great height of victory

Daniel 1: 8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat nor the wine which he drank………18As for these four children their countenance appeared fairer and fatter in flesh……20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding the king inquired of them he found them ten times better

Daniel 6:1-10 4Then said this men we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God 10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed he went into his house and his windows being open in his chambers towards Jerusalem he kneeled down upon his knees three times in a day and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime

· Daniel went down into the lion’s den and made the lions his head rest but his adversaries become prey for the lions (Daniel 6: 20-24)

· Daniel attained unto such prominence that made an heathen king declare that there is no other God but the God of Daniel (Daniel 6: 25-28)

.
Consider Jesus

· Jesus learnt obedience by the things which he suffered

Hebrews 5: 4-10 7Who in the days of his flesh when he had offered prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared 8Though he were a Son he learned obedience by the things which he suffered

(Ref: John 19: 1-20; Isaiah 53: 1-12)

· Death could not hold Him captive, the grave could not contain Him

Matthew 27: 50Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice yielded up the ghost 51And behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the rocks rent 52And the graves were opened…………….

Matthew 28: 1-20 2And behold there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it

Psalm 24: 1-10 7Lift up your heads o ye gates and be ye lift up ye everlasting doors and the King of Glory shall come in 8Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle

Be like Jesus Philippians 2:1-11

1If there therefore be any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of joy if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels of mercies 2Fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind………..

· Be like minded
· Have same love
· Be of one accord
· Have one mind

Have the mind of Christ (Phil 2: 7-8)

· He made himself of no reputation
· Took upon him the form of a servant
· Was made in the likeness of men
· He humbled himself
· Became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross

Beyond the skies

I Thessalonians 4: 13-18 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaving with a shout with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God………17…….to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord

Revelation 19: 1-9 7Let us be glad and rejoice and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made herself ready 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white for the linen is the righteousness of the saints 9And he saith unto me write blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb and he said unto me these are the true sayings of God

Revelation 20: 4And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgement was given unto them…………..6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection….they shall be priest of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years

Revelation 21: 1-6 4And I heard a great voice from heaven saying Behold the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them……..6And he said unto me it is done I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end I will give unto him that is athirst of fountains of the water of life freely

Songs:

Ancient of days you are the Lord
As old as you are, you will never fail
Ancient of days you are the Lord
As old as you are, you will never fail

My soul doth magnify the Lord
And my spirit praise His name
For death could not hold Him captive)
Even in the grave Jesus is Lord ) 2ce

Dr. Udoh
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