Freedom & Delight in a Majestic God: Crossroads to Freedom, #3

By Riaan Engelbrecht

This series started 20 years ago with 'Crossroads to Freedom', which was written at the time to help believers, young and mature, to appreciate the greatness, the goodness, the majesty and the love of Christ. For we are all on a spiritual journey, one where we choose daily to either follow the Lord or follow our path. Freedom & Delight in a Majestic God Vol 3 is part of the three additional works that continue with the theme of encouraging the believer, and also the non-believer, to truly seek the Lord, to know Him, to hunger and thirst for His Presence. The series contains two decades of wisdom and knowledge as gathered by the author on his spiritual journey with a majestic, magnificent and glorious God. Even though the series is presented in an easy reading style, so often reminiscent of devotionals, it strives to maintain a high standard of theological correctness to uphold the eternal and true foundation of the Gospel. These volumes of work will inspire a person to seek a closer walk with God, to know His heart more intimately, to discover His will, to know the way of His Kingdom and to embrace His beauty. Be blessed on your journey with the loving God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riaan Engelbrecht
• Release date: Nov 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201338138

Riaan Engelbrecht

Ps Riaan Engelbrecht is the founder of Avishua Ministries, the vice-president of Lighthouse Ministries International and the station manager of Lighthouse Radio. His ministry deals primarily with the prophetic, but he also has a passion to teach the Truth of the Lord Jesus and His Kingdom for only the Truth of the Lord sets us free (John 8:32).  He is also a qualified and seasoned journalist.

Book preview

Also by the same author:

Perilous Times Series Volumes 1- 8

In Pursuit of God Series Volumes 1 -12

The Holy Spirit Series Volumes 1 – 3

Crossroads to Freedom Volumes 1- 4

The Disciple of God Series Volumes 1 - 5 (Vol 2 Part A and B)

Deliverance Volumes 1 – 3 (Vol 1 Part A and B)

The Prophetic Declarations Series Volumes 1 - 2

The Prophet of God

Collection of Prophetic Thoughts and Teachings

A  God of Law and Order

The Kingdom of God

Baptism of Water and Spirit

Dangers of hyper authoritarian cult like churches

The Wisdom and Will of God

The Pursuit of Truth and Doctrinal Unity

The Trinity

Freedom & Delight in a Majestic God

This is a distributed edition from Avishua Ministries.

The author’s intellectual property rights are protected by international Copyright law. You are licensed to use this digital copy strictly for your personal enjoyment only: it must not be redistributed or offered for sale in any form.

Scriptures quotes from the New Kings James Bible, Amplified, and the New International Version.

For more free study material and audio visit http://avishuaministries.wixsite.com/avishua

The Glory of the Resurrection

John 20:  ¹⁰Then the disciples went back to their homes, ¹¹but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹²and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. ¹³They asked her, Woman, why are you crying? They have taken my Lord away, she said, and I don't know where they have put him. ¹⁴At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Woman, he said, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him. ¹⁶Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, Rabboni! (which means Teacher). ¹⁷Jesus 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.' ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: I have seen the Lord! And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Solomon once wrote that there is nothing new under the sun, and this is so true when it comes to debates and arguments surrounding events in the Bible. Throughout the last 1000 years you will find countless discussions revolving around the divinity of Jesus, the reality of the Trinity, and so many other issues. The resurrection of Jesus and the death of Jesus on the cross are among the key subjects that have been debated. Today’s arguments are nothing new compared to the days of the Reformation or the Enlightenment.

One of the most critical and influential discussion groups of the Bible was formed in 1985 and was called the Jesus Seminar. This was a group of about 150 individuals, including scholars with advanced degrees in biblical studies, religious studies or related fields as well as published authors who are notable in the field of religion. One of the most active groups in biblical criticism, the seminar used votes with colored beads to decide their collective view of the historicity of Jesus, specifically what he may or may not have said and done as a historical figure.

This group attacked the Bible from every angle, trying their best to prove logically and rationally that Jesus was but a historical figure, therefore not divine on earth, which will bring into dispute the death and resurrection of Jesus.  They concluded that Jesus was executed as a public nuisance, not for claiming to be the Son of God. They seminar concluded that the empty tomb is a fiction and that Jesus was not raised bodily from the dead. And the seminar concluded that the belief in the resurrection is only based on the visionary experiences of Paul, Peter and Mary Magdalene.

It remains amazing that when we look back to this event in 1985 that people would willing come together, many of them Christians in name, to seek and find ways to cast doubt on the authenticity of the Bible and Jesus. After all, is not our belief in Jesus based on faith in the Almighty? Faith is not reliant on logical or rationalism, but it is reliant on divine truth. How sad and how weak must our love be in the Lord to willingly discredit Him through lies and deceit?

Issues touched on by the Jesus Seminar, especially regarding the resurrection of Jesus, still rages today. There are those schools of thoughts that argue Jesus was never dead but only sedated when placed in the tomb. Some believe Jesus was dead but His body was buried somewhere else. Some believe that He was only raised spiritually and not physically. Yet, the death on the cross and the resurrection of Jesus is an integral part of our faith. Christianity cannot exist without the firm faith in the Son of God’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb. And if we doubt in this in any way, then the very foundations and the very pillars of our faith collapses, leaving us in a wilderness of confusion and spiritual depravity.

Jesus, as man and the Son of God for a while on earth, died on the cross for our very sins. If we refute this, then redemption and salvation lies in ruin. Jesus was raised on the third day, and by this resurrection He proved to us once and for all that we shall conquer death, and that we shall live in eternity. If we refute this, then what then do we believe as Christians?

The wonderful truth about Jesus’ resurrection is that He prepared His disciples beforehand. He did not spring this upon this – He after all raised Lazarus from the grave as a run-up to His resurrection to show everybody present and all those who heard afterwards that God has the power over death. He said in John 11: 23Jesus said to her [Martha], Your brother will rise again. 24Martha answered, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? 27Yes, Lord, she told him, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.

Arguments rage over Jesus’ resurrection, but scholars and the wise struggle to explain the rise from the tomb by Lazarus. Lazarus’ resurrection happened on the fourth day to display God’s awesome power and that He is Lord over life and death. When Jesus arrived at the tomb, on time and in perfect timing, He presented a curtain riser to the great event of His resurrection.

And Thomas the disciple himself doubted (John 20 verses 24-20). He would have been a good candidate for the Jesus Seminar debates! When he saw the resurrected Jesus, he was shocked. But Jesus, who was raised in body and spirit, showed His hands as tangible prove that He has risen and is alive. John 20: 29Then Jesus told him [Thomas], Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

The Bible records how Jesus appeared to many after His resurrection (John 21, Luke 24, Mark 16, and how He presented Himself to His disciples, especially Peter, on the beach. He did all of this so that there is no doubt that He died for our sins and was raised. He did this so that we will be assured of our eternal life. Glory to God? Shall we doubt? Shall we argue? Shall we debate? He is God – died on the cross and raised from the tomb so that we may know and walk in assurance of salvation and redemption.

He is the Way, Truth and Life. Let us be assured in this time of His death and resurrection that He is the Living God who loves us so dearly and who came to earth to show us the way to heaven. And let us agree and believe, like Martha that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and that he who believes in Him will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in Him will never die. Do you believe this?

Entering the Kingdom – A price of sacrifice

Mark 10: ²⁴The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. ²⁶The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, Who then can be saved? ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. ²⁸Peter said to him, We have left everything to follow you! ²⁹I tell you the truth, Jesus replied, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Let us pause and contemplate how Jesus placed emphasis on how difficult it really is to enter the Kingdom of God – for this is not a trivial matter but one that pertains to our eternal life. Indeed, it is by faith that we are saved and not by good deeds. And for those who profess to have faith are those who should also regard God as their greatest treasure in life.

We also know that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, strength and with our mind. Nothing else therefore should take God’s place in our life. Jesus illustrated the absolute importance of pursuing and following God in such a matter, therefore staying true to the greatest commandment, by touching on the sensitive issue regarding the earthly pursuit of wants and needs. Jesus highlighted how easily the treasures of this world and our pursuit of the temporary can entangle us so that in the end we lose sight of God and He becomes devalued in our life.

And this is a serious, even a grievous, spiritual error. In Mark 10, Jesus addressed the issue of being saved by strangely enough placing emphasis on following the Ten Commandments.  Jesus first and foremost reminds us that if we truly value God and we truly value Him above else, then we will follow Him and do as He has commanded. And we cannot do this out of our strength, but only in the grace and mercy of the Spirit by which all things are possible.

Jesus, therefore, issued the first challenge to the disciples that if they truly love Him then they will live according to His teaching. The disciples reluctantly agreed but then Jesus issued a second challenge by showing them that they should harbour no love for anything in this world that is greater than their love for God.

And by such teachings, Jesus shook the value system of the disciples when He pointed out that it will be hard for them to enter the Kingdom of God if they held onto such a love for earthly treasures. Was Jesus condemning wealth? No. Jesus, being the Living Lord, made a point 2000 years, with foresight into our days, how our love for such treasures can entangle us so that our highest priority becomes not the pursuit of a spiritual relationship with God but a physical gratification born out of the world.

We may insist that such a search for earthly treasure does not entangle our priorities. Job, who had great wealth, was challenged on his love for the Lord when all he had taken was shaken to the core. What will happen if the Lord removes all our treasures? Will we stand with God or will we cry aloud that we are doomed?

Jesus issued a third challenge to His disciples by making the point clear that entering the Kingdom is not so as simple for believing entails a committed heart of loving and serving. He, therefore, stressed His point that to enter the Kingdom requires obedience, faithfulness and purity. The third challenge is wrapped up in these words: I tell you the truth, Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

The disciples could stomach the thought of following the commandments. They were, however, less enthusiastic about seeking the treasures of God above the treasures of life. But now, Jesus strikes at the very essence of it all – for if they truly love Him then nothing but nothing, not even family or loved ones should steal their love for the Living Lord.  We today also tend to think it is easy to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus highlighted the fact this is not so – yes, we have to believe, but to believe is to sacrifice and to become less so that God becomes more. No easy task but a rewarding one – for now and in heaven.

Our relationship with the Lord requires an unwavering determination to seek Him above all else. It requires obedience, sacrifice and faithfulness that is not lukewarm but ablaze all day and all week. It requires living to please Him above all and to seek Him above all and to love Him above all. It requires our deeds and actions to speak aloud of His glory. We may speculate how we will react if we were in Job’s sandals, but we can’t really. But God was making a point – if we have nothing, not even our health, is God still our greatest treasure and love? Jesus made the point that when everything goes wrong and the world hates us, will we still stand with God or we surrender?

Indeed, entering the Kingdom is not easy. The faithful enter, but the faithful stay true to the ancient ways of the Living Lord. And indeed God challenges us daily and right now. How much do we love Him? Do we love Him above all else? Those who follow Him will be rewarded by gaining the treasures of heaven – treasures that cannot wither and fade away.  And what greater reward remains than to know God and for He to know us?

1 Timothy 6: ¹⁸Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age."

Wherever the King is, may we also be

2 Samuel 15: ²¹ But Ittai replied to the king, As surely as the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be. ²² David said to Ittai, Go ahead, march on. So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.

King David was a man who had to endure numerous struggles – one of them being the betrayal of his son, Absalom. Absalom had set himself up as a counterfeit king, conspiring to harm David’s reputation. As a result, David had to depart from Jerusalem, having for a time and while having to lay down his rule so that Absalom could have his day in the sun.

We read this account in 2 Samuel 15, and we note in verse 23 how the whole countryside wept aloud as all the people passed by. David was beloved, yet many throughout Israel had betrayed him, standing with the counterfeit king, while this anointed man of God was forced to flee to the desert. It was in this exodus out of Jerusalem that David encountered Ittai, a foreigner who simply had no obligation to stand with the true king. But Ittai proved his love for David was not based on him being an Israelite, but his loyalty went far deeper than ethical connection, it was rather a matter of him showing his true loyalty as a servant to the true King.

The words of Ittai are indeed so powerful! What a testimony of his faithfulness, declaring that no matter if he faces life or death, he will stand with David. Does this story ring any bells to another event that has shaped all our lives?  2000 years ago Jesus for a time laid down His rule and authority, even though it was by His accord. John 10: 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." 

Jesus, the true King, willingly died on the cross for our sins, and He willingly departed Jerusalem to be seated at the right hand of God, allowing the prince of this world – the devil - to have his temporary day in the sun as the counterfeit king. John 14: 29I [Jesus] have told you now