CHAPTER FOUR CHRIST – THE HEAD OF MAN
“Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple.” *** Psalm 65:4
David, the Psalmist, wrote that the man the Lord chooses (selects) to approach (come near) God is blessed (happy). This man may dwell (permanently abide) in His courts (presence). This man shall be satisfied (filled) with God’s goodness of his house (tabernacle, temporary dwelling place of this body of flesh), even His holy temple (the temple of the Holy Spirit our changed body) that has put on immortality and incorruption. *** I Corinthians 15:53
God’s promise to man has never changed. It has been His eternal desire that man would come into His presence. Before sin, God walked with man in the cool of the evening in close harmony and fellowship. When sin entered man’s life, that fellowship was broken. When Jesus came to earth, He was our example of how we could enter, again, into this intimate relationship with the Father. Jesus stated,
“I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” *** John 14:6
If man is to come again into God’s courts (His presence), then He must come by the order that He has set; no other way is available. Jesus spoke of those who tried to enter into His presence some other way.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” *** John 10:1
God has a set order, and that set order is established in headship. If we are to enter into His courts with praise, we must submit to the headship as established by God. We must follow and adhere to His order in every area of our walk in Him.
The church at Corinth was the most worldly church in which Paul ministered. Both of his letters to the church were written to establish order; God’s order in the operation of the church, the home, man’s relationship to God, his wife and his children. When Paul addressed headship, it carried through every level of human existence in relationship to their God.
Paul stated, “The head of every man is Christ,” *** I Corinthians 11:3. Today, many, especially in the church, have twisted this scripture to indicate that Paul, through the Holy Spirit, was speaking of God’s creation, man, which would include His female creation, woman.
The word used by Paul for man is ANER and means “male or masculine”. It is never used to indicate the female gender in any way. It is always male. When Paul wrote that Christ, the anointing, is the head of every man, he was speaking only of Christ being the head of His male creation.
The word every is the Greek word PAS and means “every one of the class”. Paul could not have been more absolute in establishing the headship of Christ over the masculine creation. Paul related,
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.” *** I Corinthians 11:4
Again, the word used for man is ANER. Paul wrote that every man who prays or prophesies, having His head covered, dishonors His head. Most assume Paul was referring to man’s physical head. Much bondage has been put on men for wearing hats and other apparel that would cover the head. But Paul was speaking of a deep Spiritual truth. Paul had just stated that our head is “Christ”. When the man prays or prophesies, his head should be uncovered. Paul stated that when his head is covered, he dishonors his head (Christ). The word cover has the meaning of “being concealed, hidden or vailed”. If the man’s head, (Christ) is concealed, hidden or vailed, then his praying and his prophesying are vain, and his head is dishonored or shamed.
If his head is not uncovered, then everything he does is in the flesh, and not in the spirit. God is mocked because man is using His name. Yet this man is not giving Christ any part of what he is doing. Man brings shame to his head, “Christ”, because Christ is not being glorified.
The question arises, “What must we do to uncover our head, “Christ”? Our head will only reveal Himself through our openness to freely worship and praise Him in all situations. It is only through worship and praise that we can enter into His courts (His presence).
We are given the example of the high priest entering behind the vail on the day of Atonement as a physical pattern of what God is doing in the Spirit. This physical pattern, with all its cleansing aspects, shows us how to spiritually enter into God’s presence through a cleansed life. A man is to enter God’s presence (courts) with his head (Christ) uncovered (revealed and unveiled), with all glory being given to Him, alone.
God told Moses to build the tabernacle. He was to build it according to the pattern he was shown in the mount, *** Hebrews 8:5. Moses was given very definite instructions on how everything was to be constructed, including the articles of worship. Moses was to build an Ark. Above the Ark was to be the Mercy Seat which was also the lid for the Ark. Above the Mercy Seat were to be two Cherubims with wing spans of 10 cubits, or approximately fifteen feet. This was the total width of the Holy of Holies. God’s instructions to Moses were,
“Thou shalt put the Mercy Seat above upon the Ark; and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two Cherubims which are upon the Ark of the Testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.” *** Exodus 25:21:22
God would meet and commune with man above the Mercy Seat between the Cherubims. The word meet means “by agreement or appointment”. So God made an agreement to keep the appointment that He had made with man, to meet with Him above the Mercy Seat at the appointed time.
The word commune means “to arrange, to speak”. God made the agreement to meet man at the appointed time to arrange to speak unto Him. That appointed time was once a year on the day of Atonement. The high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies behind the vail, and God would speak to Him concerning His people, Israel.
This was not just a haphazard meeting with God. It took much preparation before the priest was able to enter into God’s presence. He had to stand clean before God. He was required to come apart seven days prior to His entering into the Holy of Holies. All his sins were atoned for, as well as his family’s sins. He could not enter in to the Holy of Holies without the blood of the sacrificial goat.
“And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.” *** Leviticus 16:7-9
The first goat was killed. This was the Lord’s lot (choice); the chosen vessel to be sacrificed for the sin offering. The first goat represented Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins.
“But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.” *** Leviticus 16:10
This goat represents all who have been cleansed of sin by the blood of Jesus, the sacrificial offering. The first goat, the sacrificial goat, paid the price for our sins.
The priest was to take the blood of the sacrificial goat before the Lord. But before he could do this, he had to cover the Mercy Seat with the smoke of the incense from the golden altar. God gave Moses instructions to build a golden altar.
“Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.” *** Exodus 25:23
This table was called the altar of incense. Incense represents our worship and praise that is to be offered up before God.
“And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” *** Exodus 30:7-8
Aaron was to burn incense morning and evening. This represents our worship and praise to God. He desires that we praise Him when we arise in the morning until we retire at night. Our praise is to be a perpetual offering, a never ending attitude of worship and praise before our God. Before he could enter into the Holy of Holies, he was to take coals from the altar of incense and carry them with him behind the vail.
“And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the Mercy Seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not.” *** Leviticus 16:12-13
The priest was to fill both hands full of sweet incense, which was prepared to burn quickly. The Mercy Seat was then totally covered with this symbol of praise and worship so that the high priest would not die. If his praise and worship was not in place, or if it was unacceptable when God appeared, he would be struck dead. His head would not be covered and his shame would appear before the Lord.
God was very definite. Our worship and praise must be in proper order; or when He appears, we will not be acceptable before Him and our shame shall appear. Our worship before God must be pure. When speaking to the woman at the well, Jesus revealed to her,
“Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” *** John 4:21-24
Our worship and praise before the Father must be in spirit and in truth. That is all that will be acceptable before our God. God is Spirit; fleshly worship is not acceptable. God informed Moses,
“Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.” *** Exodus 30:9
God told Moses not to offer strange incense before the Lord. When Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offered strange fire before the Lord, a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. *** Leviticus 10:1-2
When our praise and worship is not acceptable before the Lord, we die spiritually because our head is not uncovered. We cannot enter into His presence, and our appointment to hear His voice will have been canceled. Our praying and prophesying will simply be a fleshly exercise. Our praise and worship must not be as Nadab’s and Abihu’s who offered strange fire. This strange fire was full of the flesh. It had been emptied of all spirit and truth. The Holy Spirit moved upon Isaiah to record,
“A people that provoketh Me to anger continually to My face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick.” *** Isaiah 65:3
The people provoked God to anger because they burnt incense on an altar of brick. Brick represents that which we can produce with our own ability. The only altar man can construct that is acceptable before God is constructed with uncut stones; stones designed and shaped by God alone, not after man’s design, the work of his own hands.
Isaiah recorded that man was burning incense upon altars of brick. A brick is an artificial building material that has been shaped and designed to suit man, and not God. This represents fleshly worship before our God, and is not acceptable. Only through the Holy Spirit will our head be revealed. David, the Psalmist, declared,
“Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” *** Psalm 141:2
Our prayer reveals our praise (incense). The lifting of the hands in total surrender to God is our worship. This must be continual worship and praise before the Lord if our head is to be uncovered or unveiled. Jesus, our example, was the firstfruit Son who rent this vail of separation, so that we may have access into the Holy of Holies. But we must enter into the Holy of Holies in proper order.
Paul revealed that “Christ” is the head of every man. The Holy Spirit set a kingdom principle of order to which we must adhere. If we are to become the king’s domain, we must learn this principle of order. When we come to an understanding of this order, then we will be able to enter boldly into His presence and will be seated with Him in heavenly places in the Spiritual Realm.
The next step of kingdom order is “submission”. Submission releases the power and authority of God in our lives. The Greek word used for submission is HUPOTASSO. HUPO means “to put under”. TASSO means “to arrange in order”. Therefore HUPOTASSO means “to arrange in order under”. HUPOTASSO (submission) establishes headship. Subjection is from the bottom up; except in the instance of correcting children. In every other use of the word HUPOTASSO, subjection must be established from the lower level. We must lift up the head into His proper position for His power and authority to be released in our lives.
Unfortunately most people believe, or have been taught, that subjection means “slavery or bondage”. Submission is a willful act of one submitting. The word used in the New Testament for bondage or slavery is DOULOS. This word is used in other applications, while HUPOTASSO (submission) has to do with releasing God’s power and authority in our lives.
The word for authority is EXOUSIA and means “the right to act, or permission given”. A similar word commonly used in the church is “ordained”. A man is ordained into the ministry. This means that he has been given permission to teach in their association. Those ordained have been given this right or authority in their denomination.
The word EXOUSIA is only translated 29 times as authority in the New Testament. But it is translated 69 times as “power”. So in many cases the translators used the word EXOUSIA to speak of power, when EXOUSIA should have been translated “authority”.
When the word DUNAMIS is used, it means “ability, might or miracle”. When we read the word “power” in the Word, we should check to see if God is speaking about miracles, ability and might, or if He is speaking about permission to act.
Authority, EXOUSIA, begins with God. It is only through submission that He establishes His authorities. This constitutes His kingdom order. When we submit to His established order, this releases His power, His ability, His might and His miracles in our lives.
There are only three places in the Bible where God sets His authority:
Government Home Church
Jesus gave us an example of governmental, established authority. When the centurion came to Jesus to seek a healing for his servant, Jesus saith unto him, “I will come and heal him,” *** Matthew 8:7. Jesus did not say, “I will come and pray for Him.” He stated, with no hesitation, “I will come and heal him.” How could Jesus make that statement? Because He was submitted to the Father. He did and spoke only as the Father directed Him. He willfully submitted to the Father’s will and was given the authority to heal and forgive sins. Jesus proclaimed this to the centurion,
“That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins…” *** Matthew 9:6
The word for power used here was EXOUSIA, and should have been translated “the Son of man hath authority” on earth to forgive sins. The centurion understood authority. When Jesus said He would come and heal his servant, the centurion stated,
“Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.” *** Matthew 8:8-9
The centurion stated that he was under authority, and because he was under authority, he was given authority, and the power to act in that authority in mens’ lives. He recognized that authority in Jesus. All who came in contact with Jesus recognized that authority.
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine:
For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” *** Matthew 7:28-29
Jesus taught as one who had authority. Everyone recognized that Jesus spoke with authority. It was not that He related He was the Son of God and people had better listen. He spoke with the authority given Him by the Father because He was in total submission to the Father. This is why His words had power. He did not speak as the scribes which knew the law forwards and backwards. They had authority also, but their authority came from man, not God.
“When He was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said, By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?” *** Matthew 21:23
The chief priests and elders wanted to know how and where Jesus obtained His authority. The chief priests and elders knew where their authority came from. It had been given to them by man. They had been ordained by man to do what they were doing. They knew He had a higher authority that they did not understand.
Jesus’ authority came from above, the Spiritual Realm. Why did Jesus have authority? Was it because He was the Son of God? Was it because He was born of a virgin? These aspects certainly were an important part, but the writers of Hebrews added important insight as to why Jesus lived the perfect life in the flesh. He stated,
“Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up 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;
Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered;
And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” Hebrews 5:7-9
He came under total submission to the Father and sought only to do His will. He had submitted willfully and totally to the authority set over Him. When Jesus became totally submitted to that authority, He returned all glory back to God who had established that authority in Him. He took no credit for anything He accomplished.
When the rich, young man came to Jesus and said, “Good master!,” Jesus’ reply was,
“Why callest thou Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God.” *** Matthew 19:16-17
Jesus lifted Himself up in no situation. When the chief priest and elders wanted to know where Jesus’ authority came from, Jesus answered and said unto them,
“I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe Him?
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
And they answered Jesus and said, We cannot tell.” *** Matthew 21:24-27
With their own mouths, they said, “We fear.” Who did they fear? Did they fear God? No! They feared man; because man was the one who had given them their authority. They feared losing their position if they said, “…this man was of God. If we say He was of God, then why did we not believe Him? And if we say He was of men….”
They feared because the people thought John was a prophet. How like the ministers today who have been ordained by man. They must do as the organized headquarters dictate if they are to keep their position. If they bring conviction upon the people, the people will leave and their job will be in jeopardy.
When the chief priests and elders could not answer, Jesus said, “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things,” *** Matthew 21:27. Jesus was not being stubborn. He simply stated He could not reveal where His authority comes from, because He knew they were not submitted to that authority.
It was no accident that Jesus asked them who they thought John was. When the Jews sent priests and Levites to John to ask him, “Who art thou?”, *** John 1:19, John revealed who he was,
“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.” *** John 1:23
John was not the one crying in the wilderness. He was only the voice of the one crying. It was the Father, the Holy Spirit who had come to make, or to set straight, the way of the Lord. It was He, the Holy Spirit, who would cry, “Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand!” If the chief priest and elders did not recognize that voice, then they were not submitted to that power. Because of this, they never understood Jesus’ authority.
Jesus was unable to tell them for they had no spiritual insight; nor were they submitted or committed to God. Only those who willfully commit and submit to God will receive the power to act in any situation. Paul understood revealed power. He wrote to the Corinthians,
“My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” *** I Corinthians 2:4
Today the ministry is still coming to the people with enticing words to tickle their ears, to please the people and maintain the numbers to please headquarters. But they have forgotten the power.
If the headship of Christ is to be established in our lives, our total desire must be to uncover or unveil our head and come into His presence (courts). Thomas asked Jesus, “…How can we know the way?” Jesus said, “I am the way…” *** John 14:5-6. Jesus is our example. He gave us this example that we should follow His steps. *** I Peter 2:21
The Father was revealed in Jesus’ life in everything He did. Not only was He revealed, but He was glorified. Man, being in His image and likeness, should also reveal the Father and bring all glory to Him.
When our head (Christ) has been revealed (unveiled); then our lives are brought into total submission to His voice. And when His will and authority have been established in us, we will know the power that will bring us into sonship. John recorded,
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God…” *** John 1:12
The word power is EXOUSIA. We are given authority in the physical realm to bring us into the Spiritual realization of sonship. Why? Because we have submitted to the Head. When God’s power and authority have been released in our lives, it brings us into His promises. What are His promises? All things that happen in and to our lives are working together for good, to those who are the called according to His purpose, *** Romans 8:28. God’s promises to man are vast and many, but they can be summed up very easily; to return His creation to ruling and reigning in the earth and on the earth.
Jesus was our example. His head (the Father) was uncovered (revealed or unveiled) in all that Jesus accomplished because He was in total submission and subjection to Him. Because of this submission, Jesus was given authority and power to do the works that were manifested in His life. And if all that Jesus did was recorded, the world could not contain the books that would be written. *** John 21:25
It would be well to consider the miracles (power) that Jesus performed. His first miracle was when He turned the water into wine. He stilled the storm, walked on water, fed the four and five thousand, translated a ship to shore with Him and His disciples, withered the fig tree, raised the dead, healed the sick, delivered the demoniac and perceived men’s thoughts. Jesus declared,
“All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” *** Matthew 28:18
This power was made available in Jesus’ life because He was in submission to the Father. This released the power and authority in His life. Nevertheless, we hear many today stating, “I could never be like Jesus;” and, “He doesn’t expect me to do the works that He did.” These are partially correct, because Jesus said,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall He do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.” *** John 14:12
Those who make such statements are partially correct when they state they could not become like Jesus or do the works that He did because Jesus gave a prerequisite for doing the greater works. We must believe on Him. Those who say such things, do not believe Jesus’ words. If they did, they would come to a knowing relationship with the Father as Jesus had.
Jesus expects us to do the greater works: greater works than speaking to the elements and having them obey our voices; greater works than changing the sea to support a man’s weight; greater works than multiplying the food to feed the multitudes; greater works than raising the dead, healing the sick and setting creation free from all demonic activities.
Yet, that is exactly what is expected of those who have the head (Christ) revealed in their lives. These have come into kingdom order because they have submitted their lives unto the Head and have become obedient to His voice. His Word has been released to have total authority to act and to change their lives into His image and likeness. The power has been released to accomplish the task that God has set before them. Then, when they pray and prophesy, their Head will not be dishonored, but glorified in their earthen vessel. God’s life will be the only thing visible in their earth. We can do nothing with our Head covered. When we come into this order, the following scripture will become a reality,
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” *** Matthew 5:16
God’s order must be established. Our Head must be uncovered if we are to enter into His presence. Worship and praise must be established in our lives. We must come into total subjection to His voice and His will. Then will we know God’s power and authority in our lives. Then, and only then, can we claim His promises in our lives.
QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 4
1. What is God’s eternal desire?
2. Why must man lift up Christ as his “Head” in everything he does?
3. How does Christ, our “Head” reveal Himself?
4. Explain the roles of the two goats of sacrifice.
5. What is the significance of incense.
6. Explain the sin of Nadab and Abihu’s “strange fire” and the significance.
7. When our praise and worship is not acceptable before the Lord, we ____________ ________because _______ _________ ____ _______ ____________.
8. Subjection is from ______________ ____________ ____________, except in the _________________ __________ ______________ ___________________.
9. What is the difference between submission and bondage?
10. What are the only three places in the Bible where God sets His authority?
11. What is necessary in our relationship to God in order to have authority?
12. What are the revealed steps to sonship?
THE MYSTICAL COURT 