Message From The MessengerThe Adamant Stone Forehead

Bible 1611.Com / Sluice Box Adventures.com / Old Paths Baptist Mission © 2014

I will ask you this question.

How can the born-again Bible-believer be set to minister “the word of the Lord” [the Gospel of Jesus Christ] to this people who live in this 21st century?

In this message we will find that God in certain times and under certain conditions will equip the believer with an “adamant” “forehead”.

He fashions this “adamant” “forehead” in the believer in Jesus Christ so as to compensate for the poison found in this 21st century.

This poison is contained in the “adamant” hearts of all those who have rejected “the word of the Lord”, and the attendant grace of God, which is given by the Son of God [WHO is Jesus Christ] through the shed blood of the cross of Mount Calvary … nearly two thousand years ago.

 

1. The Bible Is
2. For Every Man
3. And Refusing To Hearken
4. Brings Downward To Hardness Of Heart
5. Ending In Adamant Stone
6. The Antidote: Foreheads of Adamant Stone
7. God Sets Your Face Like A Flint

1. The Bible Is

[Zechariah 7:8] “And the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah, saying,”

The Bible is the “word” of the LORD: “the word of the Lord came unto” a prophet [Zechariah]. Now, the Bible is comprised of words, and these words have come to us, [that is, to mankind], through the prophets and by Jesus Christ Himself [WHO is GOD come in the flesh] [1 Timothy 3:16].

Now, for this declaration to be shown true … according to the Bible … see Hebrews chapter one, verse one and two: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” [Hebrews 1:1-2].

Furthermore, these “spoken” words were recorded words [see for this First John chapter five, verse eleven: “And this is the record, that God …”]. This “record” is called “scripture” [Daniel 10:21].

Now, take note of this thing [this truth]: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” [2 Timothy 3:16-17]

There you have it!!!! The Bible is a perfect BOOK … given by GOD … to imperfect men [which are sin-filled men] … to make “perfect” men.

Now, there is something else here. The “scripture” or “the lively oracles” [which are the written words of God] came down to us in a span of time [over fifteen hundred years] through the Jews [Acts 7:38], and is now given to us [to all men of every nation] for to hearken and to obey … being preserved down to this very day for all of us who live in the 21st century.

You ask me: “Where is this Scripture? [In other words: Where is this Bible?”]

Now, here is the answer to your question. [Are you ready for this?]

The King James Bible of 1611 [or any of its editions] is “the word of the Lord” in the English language. Now, for added emphasis: the Authorized Version of 1611, or any of its editions, (1613, 1644, 1676, 1680, 1701, or 1767) is God's pure word and is preserved for us who are alive today on this earth.

Now, if we would only read, believe and obey the King James Bible, we would all be far better off both as a people and as a nation. Let this thing sink into your mind.

The knowing and the believing of the things that are found in God’s BOOK are for our “health” … for both you and me. It is to our … “saving health.” Amen! Listen to the SCRIPTURE: “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” [Psalm 67:2]

2. For Every Man

[Zechariah 7:9-10] “Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.”

Every man upon the face of this earth … ought to do right to others. This means “every man” ought to treat others as he would want others to treat himself. Is not this truth found in the second of two commandments located in the book of Matthew chapter twenty-two, verse thirty-nine? “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” [This is the precise summation given by the Spirit of God of the Ten Commandments through Moses in the book of Exodus.]

Every man ought to love his neighbor as himself … according to God. In fact, a huge amount of what God has given to us by “the scripture of truth” [Daniel 10:21] to both Israel [and to all the nations of the earth] comprise a very extensive set of instructions on how men ought to treat other men [which are their neighbors].

This can be seen … even with a very cursory review of the Bible in such places as in the book of Exodus chapters 20, 21, and 22. God’s regulations are called “the judgments” of God [here in chapter twenty-one, verse one] which now see. Also here is located a TENET: a truth.  These “judgments” can be seen for regulation to produce a solution for every possible or conceivable problem that can exist among any people … in any nation of the earth ... through the instructions given to one nation: ISRAEL.

Here are just a few of the issues [or topics] that God deals with here in “the word of the Lord” concerning the human relationships among the neighbors of a particular nation [Israel]:

1. Servants … in verse two.

2. Marriage in regard to servants … in verses three through six.

3. Daughters sold to servitude … in verse seven.

4. The regulations concerning multiple wives … in verses eight through eleven.

5. Murder and manslaughter … in verses twelve through fourteen.

6. Violence toward parents … in verse fifteen.

7. Stealing and selling men … in verse sixteen.

8. Disrespect to parents … in verse seventeen, [and on and on we could go].

Now remember, these are just a few of the things that can be found in the Bible. If one were to sit down and just consider this matter, how this BOOK deals with every possible situation found under the sun that exists among men, we might realize the magnitude and the power of “the word of the Lord” to intimately tweak, tune and control all the human relationships of a sinful world.

Now, in any case, we ought to act according to the light of the Bible. Yea, every man ought to do right in his dealings with others, but do we?

3. And Refusing To Hearken

[Zechariah 7:11a] “But they refused to hearken,"

Now, God sees all the thoughts of a man [my thoughts and your thoughts] by the “the word of the Lord” because “the word of the Lord” takes on the attributes of a PERSON:

1. The “word of God” is alive [or “quick”].

2. The “word of God” is “powerful”.

3. The “word of God” is “sharper” than any “sword”.

What is more, “the word of the Lord” discerns “the thoughts and the intents of the heart”. The “word of the Lord” can read your mind!

You do not believe me? Good for you! 

Then BELIEVE GOD! READ for your selves Hebrews chapter four verses twelve and thirteen: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” [Hebrews 4:12-13]

When a man treats his neighbor wrongly, then he also is the same man that sins against God.  Now, the Spirit of God says it this way in the book of Proverbs: “He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” [Proverbs 14:21]

[Premise: disobedience to God’s word is sin.]

When a man sins against God then he becomes the man who hurts himself. Now, how does sin hurt a man? Here is the answer: “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” [Proverbs 8:36]

[Conclusion: He that sins against God loves death.]

A man that hates God is a man that is ready to bust HELL wide open.

What can we learn from all this? We can learn this … that sin will drive you out of a “right mind” [or crazy]. [See for this the story of “a certain man” in Luke chapter eight, verse thirty-five: “in his right mind”.] 

A crazy man is a man that can no longer think straight enough to even save his own soul! He is a man that loves death!!!  What can be crazier than that?  Amen!

4. Brings Downward To Hardness Of Heart

[Zechariah 7:11b] “and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.”

All one has to do in these perilous times is to look people in the eye, and what do you see?  You see HARDNESS!  You see a “hardness” of heart in their eyes.

Now, the eyes are connected to the heart of a man.  When you see the hardness therein then know this:

1. Their ears are plugged.

2. They cannot hear … because they will not hear.

They will not hear what?

3. They will not hear … THE BIBLE!

4. They will not hear … their parents.

5. They will not hear … the Evangelist.

6. They will not hear … the Preacher.

7. They will not hear … the SPIRIT of GOD!

The Spirit of God has proclaimed it this way by the prophet Zechariah concerning Israel: “But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.” [Zechariah 7:11]

But this has application to us who live in this day as well.  There is an old saying: What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.  Therefore, my friend, take heed to this admonition for your own health:  “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” [1 Corinthians 10:11]

Now consider this: the “hardness” of the heart is connected to an “impenitent heart”, which condition leads a man to HELL.  Do you doubt this?  Then, believe the SCRIPTURE which is in the book of Romans chapter two, verse five: “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;” [Romans 2:5].

Conclusion: It is a crazy man that “treasurest up” the wrath of God!

Something else is here.  Not only is the “hardness” of the heart connected to an “impenitent heart” but the “hardness” of the heart is connected to “unbelief” of what GOD has said [spoken] and [written] through the witness of the prophets.  Read Mark chapter sixteen, verse fourteen: “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” [Mark 16:14]

The person with hardness of heart refuses to believe GOD … even in the very face of a miracle.  This agrees with what Jesus Christ found while HE HIMSELF was here on this earth … concerning the hearts of men.  See for this the proof found in Mark chapter three, verse five: “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.” [Mark 3:5]

5. Ending In Adamant Stone

[Zechariah 7:12] “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.”

Something “adamant” is something that is harder than average run-of-the-mill stone.  Now mind you, this “adamant stone” is truly the hard stuff. Diamond is hard stuff, but not as hard as the “adamant stone” of the hearts of the people of Israel of Zechariah’s day here in our text, nor is it as hard as the “adamant stone” of the hearts of men who are living all over the world today in these perilous times.  But this is where we are now, no doubt:  

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;” [2 Timothy 3:1-4].

The Scripture [here in 2 Timothy 3:1-4] identifies the attributes of the “men” living today in the 21st century. “We have arrived,” as they would say.  We have now run the full course of apostasy, and its fruit has fully ripened [2 Thessalonians 2:3].  We are now ready for judgment.  Amen! Amen! Amen!

Since 1901 we have seen the steady and at times almost imperceptible downward course for America.  When a people or a nation turns from “the word of the Lord” when they used to love “the word of the Lord” and use to read “the word of the Lord” and fear “the word of the Lord” then the end result is their destruction.

6. The Antidote: Foreheads of Adamant Stone

[Ezekiel 3:9] “As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.”

In the foregoing we have discussed the hardness of hearts; “the adamant stone” found in people today in the 21st century toward their neighbors and toward God.

In the book of Ezekiel we will learn that when things go downhill [called “progress” by the “change agents”] in any nation or with any people in regard to “how” they treat “the word of the Lord” [the Bible, the GOD of the Bible, the Jews or the Christians] that the Bible believer [the true Christian] must be equipped with a “forehead” “as an adamant harder than flint” to withstand the “adamant stone” of the hearts of the people.

God said in verse nine that HE HIMSELF will get involved with the prophet in making the prophet’s forehead “as an adamant harder than flint”.

A personal God gets personally involved with man.

It is no wonder that if one were to go to the SCRIPTURE and just search “the word of the Lord”, you will see this very thing is so. For example, read Second Corinthians chapter six in verse sixteen: “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” [2 Corinthians 6:16]

1. It is the believer in Jesus Christ whose body becomes the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit [“I will dwell in them”]. 

It’s a personal relationship with a PERSONAL GOD!

2. It is “in them” [the believers in Jesus Christ] that God walks permanently.

It is a personal relationship with a PERSONAL GOD!

If God can “save” the believer in Jesus Christ through a new birth [“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23], and God can “seal” the believer by the Holy Spirit to eternal life, [“Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1:22], and if God can “circumcise” the heart of the believer and set him free, [“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:” Colossians 2:11], then it is no wonder that God will in certain times and under certain conditions equip the believer with an “adamant” “forehead” so as to compensate for the “adamant” hearts of those who have rejected God, and the grace of God, given through the blood of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, at the cross of Mount Calvary … nearly two thousand years ago.

7. God Sets Your Face Like A Flint

[Isaiah 50:7] “For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”

Declaration

: all prophesy from God [prophesied in the Bible] has [or will] come true … without fail.

Now, what do we have here in Isaiah chapter fifty, verse seven?  Look at it carefully. Somebody here in Isaiah’s day [in 700 B.C.] is going to somewhere in the future to get help from GOD: “For the Lord God will help me”.

Now something else: somebody here in this verse has already [in Isaiah’s day – note the past tense] had his face rigidly set [“like a flint”] for a purpose … with a goal in mind.

This PERSON located here in the book of Isaiah [from our perspective in the 21st century] came to this earth two thousand years ago [The First Advent] with his face set “like a flint” to accomplish what no other man born of Adam could ever do.

We see this PERSON identified for us in the book of Luke in chapter nine, verse fifty-one: “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,” [Luke 9:51]. It is Jesus Christ, both SON of GOD and Son of Man!

We are to look no further.

Look to “the word of the Lord” found in the book of Hebrews chapter twelve, verse two: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” [Hebrews 12:2]

We need to look to no other for our salvation but to Jesus Christ.

It is God WHO equips us to be able to stand in the 21st century till He comes to get us in the great meeting in the air. Amen! “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” [Ephesians 6:11-17]

“I made thy forehead” as “an adamant harder than flint” so as to be able to stand in these perilous times at the end of this age which time is “the beginning of sorrows” found just before the Great Tribulation [Matthew 24:8].

Stand for “the word of the Lord” … stand for Jesus Christ. Be as the Apostle Paul when by the Holy Ghost he said this to the believer: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” [2 Timothy 1:12]

In Conclusion:

The Bible is for every man, and for a man to refuse to hearken to “the word of the Lord” will bring that man downward [modern man’s natural progression] to the condition of hardness of heart, otherwise known as “adamant stone” of heart.

The antidote to the poison from all those that have “made their hearts as an adamant stone” for the believer in Jesus Christ in the 21st century … is God’s setting the believer’s forehead as “adamant stone”.

Brethren:

• May the LORD “remember” us and “visit” us.

• May we find “the word of the Lord” and “eat” those words and therein, find endless “joy”.

• May we never waste our time, sitting “in the assembly of the mockers.”

• May we be willing to “sit” all alone [as the prophet Jeremiah did] for the sake of the testimony of Jesus Christ.

• May God make of us … “a fenced brasen wall” … to all the people in the land!

“O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” [Jeremiah 15:15-21]

Set your face like a flint … to be a testimony of Jesus Christ by proclaiming “the word of the Lord”!