"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God has translated him." (Heb.11:5).
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Faith for the rapture is very important. Concerning the rapture, what was revealed to Enoch which made him disappear without seeing death? The bible said Enoch walked with God. It is very important for us to note that God must have revealed to Enoch that "immortality can be obtained from God." We can see another example of that in Elijah the prophet. God must have told Elijah that "if you walk with me this way, and you are faithful in that ministry, you will not see death". Elijah must have received such infomation from the Lord because, at one point in time, (in 1 kgs.19:4), Elijah seemed to give up saying "it is enough, now , O Lord; take away my life for I'm not better than my fathers". He was saying in effect "all my fathers were dead; why should I have to keep going in this narrow road, just because of translative faith?" When things were getting tough around him, Jezebel was after him with a band of soldiers, he prefered to die. From that verse alone, we realize that God must have revealed to Elijah the plan to take him in translation without seeing death if he could stay true till the end in the narrow road he was to walk. Then, the faith for immortality, the faith that we can live by God's power and not die physically is the faith for the rapture! It is the same faith that made Elijah to be translated. But it's not just believing it. It's walking with God in that "realm of faith"! We have to walk with God in a narrow realm: almost like it was said -- walking up and down among the stones of fire.
It's almost like someone walking with God with the faith that "I'm going to believe in divine healing. I'm going to believe God for my healing everytime without visiting any doctor." That's like walking on edges, because the world is full of troubles and diseases. When the devil sees such faith in any man, you can imagine the attack from the enemy to challenge the man's walk with God! But he that understands the cause of the attack, and can hold unto God without backing off, till God pushes back the devil for him, will be a champion for God in the faith. Yet if you say you are not going to run to doctors when sickness or disease attacks, you need to be closely walking in the power of God. God says he will stand with you.
That is the faith for overcoming diseases and sicknesses. Similarly for overcoming death, someone can say: Christ has abolished death, and I believe that he will keep me alive till he comes if I walk with him, as he said "if I keep his saying". (Jn.8:51).
God had revealed to Enoch (and to Elijah) how to walk in his ministry for the translative faith. His part was to seriously keep himself to that narrow road.
If we walk with Christ with the same faith He will honour his word. "Verily Verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death". (Jn.8:51). His word is yea, and Amen!
(From a sermon of Bro. Julius Adewumi, night vigil 6/24/95 )
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb.11:1)
I want to talk about the faith of Enoch. This is a teaching series on faith from Hebrew chapter 11.
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and he was not for God has translated him. And before his translation he has this testimony that he pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him"
The bible said Enoch was translated that he should not see death. I believe that is the highest level of faith (or rather highest reward for faith). We want to go and meet the Lord in the air! We want to go without seeing death! That has to be greater faith than just "praying for our bodies to be well", or praying for our needs to be met, or many other things we use faith for. This has to be greater because this seems like "impossible". You can say that even it is now possible because human beings already have space ships - space shuttle, which America has built and even the Russians have one. You get into it and they shoot you up into space by rockets. So you might say it's no more a big deal. Yet it's still a big deal because it's not going to be a metallic ship like those space shuttles, which still took billions of dollars to build one. This is going to be for individual who will go away . Jesus is building something for us that will take individual of us out of here in a blast of supernatural fire. It is going to be remarkable. It looks like impossible but it will happen. God has done it before. Now he is going to do it not just for one man, Enoch, but for a multitude of believers. Believing this in itself is faith. That is what we want to examine about Enoch.
Remember we have cases and examples we can refer to in the bible; and even in real life, people had gone into space and returned. It shouldn't be too strange for us to believe that Jesus will and can do this for believers. But in the old days like the days of Enoch, something remarkable about Enoch was that he was able to believe it when God revealed it to him that he can go away from here without physical death if he follow through in his faith. God said Enoch was translated that "he should not see death". I want to put emphazy on that phrase "he should not see death." That sounds like a reward of his faith, isn't it? Just meditate along with me in this sermon. That is, think about these things as we ponder upon individual man of God in this chapter eleven of Hebrews.
How did Enoch get this thing? What can I exercise my mind unto, which will help my walk with the Lord? The first point the Lord told me concerning the faith of Enoch is this:
Understanding:
1) God revealed it to Enoch that it is possible for man to get that immortality back from God. It's like any other sermon a preacher preaches before an audience such as "Jesus is the only saviour". You can be in a church among thousands of people when the message is preached. Every one of the people will believe it differently after hearing it. Like the parable of the sower: some seed fell on good ground, others fell on stony places. Even in the good ground, some still bring forth only thirty fold while some bring forth hundred fold and some, sixty.
In the first generation of men after Adam, they must have heard it preached or talked about or revealed somehow that Adam lost something, and that they can get the immortality back from God if they will come back to God. They were informed somehow that God didn't intend for Adam to die until the fall came to them.
"Because thou art dust, and unto dust shall thou return".
In Gen.4 it was recorded that when Seth began to have children, "then began men to call upon the name of the Lord". That is why I said they understood somehow that if they would come back to God, he is gracious and can give back that immortality, at least to individual that will please him. Men started to worship God. It must have been revealed to them by God because Abel also tried to do something differently to please God; And God said he accepted the offering of Abel, which caused Cain's jealousy.
There was a difference between Enoch and the rest of the people in his time. Enoch understood the message. The others may say "I hear you", which does not mean "I agree with you". Understanding the message is very important. The Lord himself said about the seed that fell on good ground: they understand. (Mat.13:23) "He that receiveth seed on the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it, and bringeth forth some an hunred fold some sixty and some thirty." Even though they all understood they still will not bring forth the same measure of fruits. Remember that.
The Lord said to Peter when he revealed who the messiah was that, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this unto you but my father which is in heaven". "And upon this rock, I will build my church". Revelative understanding!
Enoch understood the message. Noah also understood and Noah was great-grandson of Enoch. Noah might have been able to hear his grandfather, Methuselah, spoke about Enoch the great-grandfather of Noah. I am going to correllate this faith of Enoch to my message that "Christ has abolished death". I did not originate the message. The Lord simply made me to preach it as I have believed it. He has given me more revelation that help to give me better understanding of the truth. We are talking of "revelative understanding". It is not just understanding the grammar of the statement and deciding whether you will accept it or reject it. It is "revelative understanding" of the plan and purpose of God in the message. The word of God comes by revelation. However some people may understand the message that Christ has abolished death and that we can live till Christ comes and not go to the grave or that we can live and please God to the point that he will take an individual away like Enoch that he should not see death, even though the rapture is not here yet. But they may give excuses by saying: "well, I understand, but it is not easy, therefore it is not possible". It is the revelation of the word that will make another man say, "I understand it and there is a quickening of my spirit that made me to strongly believe that the Lord will give it to me if I try."
Believing:
The second point about Enoch is that he believes it. Firstly, he understood the message by revelation: revelative understanding. Secondly he believed it! What about the others? Didn't they believe it? There are two things to consider when it comes to believing:
1) Is it true and can I attain to it?
2) Is the giver true and will he give it if I attain to it?
Let me give an example of what I mean: There is in America what is called "sweepstakes". The advertizers will say, if you buy this magazine or this product, your name will be included in a lottery drawing for you to win ten million dollars. It sounds too good to be true many times. This is different from the usual lottery. The first thought from many folks is that it is an advertizement gimmick. The first doubt in people is: can your name be drawn out of millions of people who will enter the sweepstakes? Many people who want to exercise faith do not have problem with this point. The second doubt is: are the sweepstakes organizers really faithful to give away ten million dollars? That is the biggest question!
Now correllating that to the faith of Enoch, some people may understand the message when Christ said "verily verily I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death". (Jn.8:51). They believe he was talking about physical death. But many may have problem with the first doubt. That is, they do not believe they can attain to it even if they try. Others believe they can attain to it if they try but they doubt God's faithfulness to that promise, as if to say even after they have tried so much, the Lord may find a flimpsy excuse to disqualify them and still let them die. However many others will rather say he did not mean physical death, and they spiritualize every bible doctrine.
Now Enoch believed the message but what about the rest of the people? Did they believe it? Did they believe it is possible to walk with God and overcome death? Some of them would say: "Ah, Adam died! God created Adam; he was the fresh handmade from God Himself. He was the direct creation, closest to perfection. If Adam could die, are you greater than Adam?" That will knock off a lot of people from even trying to believe that they could please God to the point of being granted immortality. They had already made up their mind that it is impossible.
The greeks in Athens manifested the same doubt when they heard apostle Paul preached, on Mars hill, about Christ's resurrection. (Acts.17:32). "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again on this matter." Their Philosophers and scientists had already concluded and closed their books on the topic, that when a man dies he is not coming back. So they had made up their minds before Paul came.
The same thing the Jews told Jesus. When the Lord Jesus told the Jews: "Verily, verily I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death", the Jews replied: "Now we know that you have a devil, Abraham is dead and all the prophets; and you say if a man keep my saying he shall never taste of death; Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: Whom makest thou thyself?" (Jn.8:51-52).
Concerning this message that Christ has abolished death, do you understand it? It is "revelative" understanding I am talking about. People have argued that "Peter died, Apostle Paul died and all the apostles, do you think this thing is possible?"
It is the same question. Do you believe it is possible? Enoch must have believed that it is possible. That is the key issue about faith. First, do you believe God can heal you? Do you believe your prayer can get hold of God to do it for you? That is, do you believe you can move close enough to God to get supernatural things done for you by God? If you say "yes, if I try, with His help I might be able to get close enough to the goal to get what I desire (as in immortality)". The next question is "do you believe God will give it?" A lot of people has problem with that. They do not know the will of God or they have been wrongly taught so that they can not believe God will do such thing for mankind. Therefore they never try. A lot of churches don't believe God will heal the sick, so they don't even try to pray and if they pray they do not pray right.
Enoch believed it! (1) He believed that it is possible. (2) He believed that he could get to the goal of overcomers if he tried. (3) He also believed that God will do it. These are the issues to consider about "believing".
Some people had the problem with the third point. They might have said "Yea, it is possible to attain to that goal; but no, it's God that is killing mankind." That is how they have been taught. They have learned that it was God who cursed mankind because of the sin of Adam. Many nowadays still think it is God that put diseases upon people. Such mindset will have problem believing that God will give out immortality to any man who tried to walk with God. But Enoch was able to believe that God will give it, because he had "revelative understanding" of the message. That is what I am pointing out to you. Pray for revelative understanding of the word of God!
After you have the understanding and you believe it, the next thing is to walk the walk. This principle applies to anything in life. If you really believe it, strong enough, you will pursue it and try to get it. You will not give up but will try and try again asking for help from whatever source you can get help.
Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. Enoch practised the walk with God. After you have believed, you must do it! You must pursue it. God usually gives a general word. To those who believe and decide to follow the word, He will reveal more to them. He must have showed to Enoch, and to Elijah, the narrow road they are to walk, that "if you get to the end of this road or go thus far, I will take you away without seeing death". It is now the doing of it you have to do. "Many are called but few are chosen!" A lot of people in this generation also will believe the rapture and every thing about the rapture, but they are not doing the deeds and are not walking the walk. That will separate the true hearers from the lukewarm. Enoch pleased God by practising and fulfilling his own side of the bargain. "Covenant of life" is what I called it! Remember Elijah tried to give up one time and prayed for himself to die. (1Kgs.19:4). But God will not break covenant. The angel woke him up and asked Elijah to eat and to keep on going.
Abraham had the similar covenant with God but not the same content. The revelation is different for each type of person. You must remember that! If you have a revelation, don't throw it away just because somebody respectable in the church does not have the same revelation. King David wrote that "I have more understanding than all my teachers" (Psa.119:99). God gives revelation to individual follower as he purposed in your life.
For instance people will think Elisha the prophet should also have gone in a chariot of fire if he received double portion of Elijah's anointing. But he died! God gives revelation as he foreordained. If He had foreordained us in this generation to know better and enjoy the greatest promise of God than the first apostles, so that we will go in the rapture like Enoch disappeared, who can argue with God? Didn't the Lord Jesus say that "the first shall be last and the last first?" (Mat.19:30).
Abraham received a promise that his seed will inherit the land of Canaan. He believed it. For believing it, it was counted to him as righteousness. God has revealed to mankind that immortality is possible by walking with God. (Jn.8:51, 2Tim.1:10). I believe it. Do you also believe it? What we need to do henceforth is to walk with God to the pleasing mark.
Obstacles:
While you are practising what you believe, there will be obstacles in the way. The fourth point about the faith of Enoch is that Enoch was not shaken by circumstances. Obstacles are the circumstances. He was not shaken by circumstances. One of the circumstances could be "mockers saying to his face that it's not possible". Mockers would ask him: "how do you think you can escape death when Adam died, your father died, your grand father died?" That didnot shake his faith. He had revelation. Revelation is what will make you to be able to say "No. Everybody may be dieing around me but the bible says, if I walk in this narrow road and keep his saying, He will take me in the rapture and I shall never see death." (Jn.8:51).
Circumstances may also be that great men whom Enoch respected doubted the message. But Enoch was not shaken by them.
I don't care who preached against it. One big prophet somewhere may say it is wrong to believe that way. God didn't reveal it to that prophet! When God has given you a revelation of the word, hold on to it. Your part is to walk the walk. "Let God be true and every man a liar."
Similar revelation was given to Elijah the prophet which I called covenant of life with God. God does not have to sign a paper with him. He simply throw the revelation of his word into your heart. If you believe it and say to him "Lord I'm going to do it and walk the walk to please you if you will help me", it becomes a covenant. God will say, "if he is walking the walk, I am going to wait and help him on the way to take him away in translation that he should not see death". That was what Elijah received from God.
Get the revelative understanding of the word. The Lord has given enough bible verses to make me understand that he wants to give immortality to mankind. The rapture is the manifestation of it to the band of believers who will attain to the goal of overcomers at this end time. "Christ only has immortality" and he has brought immortality to light through the gospel. (2Tim.1:10).
Yea, walk the walk which the prophets walk and please the Lord so that you can receive the immortality and go in the rapture. The rapture is not a lazy escape of death. Those who are caught up to the throne of God really overcame death and the dragon as it is written : And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony;and they loved not their lives unto the death". (Rev.12:11). They knew Christ has abolished death!
I pray that your eyes of understanding be enlightened to be able to comprehend with the saints and to aspire to the goal of the overcomers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bro. Julius Adewumi, Gospel Distribution USA.
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