Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority

As Yet - Part 3 of 3

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Civil Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2017-07-04

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver concludes his series on the phrase 'as yet' by examining its use in Scripture to convey purpose, punishment, perception, and perfection. He explains that the failure to remove high places in Judah was due to the people's unprepared hearts, emphasizing that true reformation must begin with the people, not just godly leaders. He warns that God's delayed judgment is an opportunity for repentance, and that understanding Scripture requires both study and divine illumination. Finally, he points to the hope of our future glorified bodies, which are not yet fully revealed but will be like Christ's.

[John Weaver] Open our Bibles day to 2nd Chronicles chapter 20, 2nd Chronicles chapter 20. I want to bring the third and final message that I own the subject as yet I never finished it but I want to do so today. So 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33 and I will take a few moments to review. The Bible says, how be it the high places were not taken away for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. We've covered two messages concerning this phrase as yet. In fact I found it very interesting to see how this phrase is used in the Bible. The very first message you will remember dealt basically with two points. The first one was the as yet of presumption and it was based upon Exodus chapter 9 and verse 17 where it was said of Pharaoh, as yet exhausts thou thyself against my people that thou will not let them go. So the word presumption there was used to convey the concept of that which is unwarrantable, unbecoming, and impertinent.

[John Weaver] The Hebrew word actually means to lift oneself up and to act as a superior, and basically to look down upon someone. And so Pharaoh then was refusing to acknowledge God, God's law, God's word, and God's people. He was refusing to be humbled and of course he exalted himself against God. Bible says in Proverbs 16 and verse 18, that pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. The second point I covered was the as yet of preparation which was based on Deuteronomy chapter 12 and verse 9 where God said to Israel, for you are not as yet come into the rest of your inheritance which the Lord God giveth you. And basically in that chapter I shared with you how God was preparing the people to go receive their inheritance, and he was telling them how they were to live, how they were to act, and how they were to worship him not only while they were waiting, but also when they got into the land as well.

[John Weaver] And I pointed out the implications very simple. We have not as yet entered into our inheritance, that is literally. physically. And so the Bible tells us in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 2, by this we know that we love the children of God. When we love God and keep His commandments in verse 3, and His commandments aren't grievous, or this is the love of God that we keep His commandments and His commandments aren't grievous. So until we get to our inheritance we basically keep His commandments. And then I pointed out the fact that in a little while according to the Scripture the wicked would be no more and in a little while our Lord certainly would come.

[John Weaver] The second message I dealt with was Caleb. You remember that passage in Joshua chapter 14 verse 11 where Caleb said this, for as yet I am as strong this day as as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, so is my strength now for war, both to go out and to come in." And so this was the as yet are promised. If you remember that it was Joshua and Caleb that brought back the correct word about Canaan and honored God in their testimony and what they had seen. And God said that Caleb was going to enter into the land. fact God undertook and God promised that Caleb would have Hebron where his feet had trod. And the amazing thing is in Joshua chapter 14 and verse 11 when he said, as yet I am as strong this day as when Moses sent me. It was 45 years later and he was 85 years of age and God kept His promise. and God not only kept Caleb but He kept him not only alive but He kept him strong because at 85 he was just as strong as he was when he was at 40.

[John Weaver] And like I mentioned to James and some of the others I said it would be mighty embarrassing to get whipped by an 85 year old man and yet that is what Caleb could do. God had kept him. And you remember in Deuteronomy 1 in verse 36 God purposefully and specifically said that he, the sovereign God of heaven and earth, would undertake to make sure that Caleb got into the land and that his children inherited that land. And so it was an amazing thing to me when you stop and consider the fact that it was God Himself who undertook and gave that assurance to Caleb. And then, of course, We found out that God is faithful even 45 years later.

[John Weaver] Most of us want everything we want it right now. Caleb had to wait for 45 years. So today we are going to come to this fourth point, the as yet of purpose. So look in verse 33 again, he said, how be it the high places were not taken away for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. You know it is interesting as you read through the Old Testament that there were several kings that undertook to eradicate idolatry out of the land. They were wanting to restore the pure worship of God as it is revealed in His law. And the amazing thing is the scripture tells us here that some of these kings were not successful not because they did not want to do that which was right, because the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their father."

[John Weaver] Now Amaziah was one of those individuals who wanted to honor God. Joash was his father. Joash was a good man, and an honest man, and one that worshiped the Lord and so was Amaziah. So I want you to hold 2 Chronicles but look in your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 14, 1 Kings chapter 14, Bacchus book or two, 1 Kings chapter 14 and look if you would please at verse 23. 1 Kings chapter 14 and verse 23.

[John Weaver] Watch what the Scripture says, just to show you the high places were high places for idolatry. The Bible says, for they also built them high places and images and groves on every high hill and under every green tree. So here were these high places. The high places were basically places of idolatry. The interesting thing is the Bible says they built them on every high hill and under every green tree. These high places were usually on a mountain or on a hill because of the shadow or because of the shade.

[John Weaver] For instance in Hosea chapter 4 and verse 13 you don't have to turn there. Here is what God says, they sacrificed on the tops of the mountains and burned incense upon the hills under the oaks and poplars and elms because the shadow thereof is good. In other words they wanted to be cool and comfortable as they worshiped their idols is what it amounted to. So here are these high places should not have been, and yet they were. And so several kings undertook to abolish these high places. Now if you will look in 2 Kings chapter 14 you are going to find about Amaziah, 2 Kings chapter 14 beginning there with verse 1. 2 Kings 14 and verse 1. Look what the Bible says, In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoias king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

[John Weaver] He was 25 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem and his mother's name was Jehoiadan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away, look carefully, yet the people did sacrifice and burn incense on the high places." So the interesting thing is as good as Amaziah was, in fact if you will look down to verse 5 to show you how he wanted to be biblical, it came to pass as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father, but the children of the murderers he slew not. according to that which is written in the book of the Law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The father shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children to be put to death for the fathers, but every man shall be put to death for his own sin."

[John Weaver] So here was a man that was trying to do that which was right and biblical, and yet the Bible says at the same time the high places were not taken away. Now I want you to turn over to 2 Chronicles chapter 15 and 2 Chronicles chapter 15 because we are going to see that Asa was another king that endeavored to remove idolatry out of the land. Asa was so dedicated that he even removed his mother from being queen because she had built an idol. So in 2 Chronicles chapter 15 beginning there with verse 12 the Bible says this, watch carefully, 2 Chronicles chapter 15 and verse 12, And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul, that whosoever would not seek the Lord God

[John Weaver] of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. And they swore unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought Him with their whole desire, And he was found of them, and the Lord gave them rest round about.

[John Weaver] And also concerning Maacob, the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen because she had made an idol in a grove. And Asa cut down her idol and stamped it and burned it in the brook Kidron." So evidently Asa was a man of conviction as well. And by the way let me say this, I've told you this in times past, but I want to just reinforce it in your mind.

[John Weaver] time you see the word grove in the Bible with the one exception in the book of Genesis where it says that Abraham planted a grove, okay. When you and I think of a grove we think of a grove of trees, okay. Now Abraham did plant a grove of trees, but all the other times in the Bible when they say they built a grove it is actually the word Asherah.

[John Weaver] a shirim which means a sex goddess. In other words here was an image of a sex goddess that they are worshipping. So every time you see the word grove other than the one that Abraham planted it is always used in an idolatrous place. This is why Maacah the mother of Asa he removed because if you will look again in verse 16, and also concerning Maacah the mother of Asa the king he removed her from being queen and because she had made an idol in a grove. In other words here was a grove of these other idols. She made herself one and Asa cut down her idol and stamped it and burned it at the brook Kidron. Usually they were made of wood and therefore it says that as well.

[John Weaver] So here was a man that really and truly wanted to undertake a revival. But notice if you would please, if you would verse 17, Notice what the Bible says, after he removed his mother, but the high places were not taken away out of Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days. So all that Asa did and the reform that God gave during his reign they did not remove the high places.

[John Weaver] So if you will turn right over to 2 Chronicles 17 you are going to find it seems as if Jehoshaphat succeeded where others failed. Watch, 2 Chronicles 17 verse 1, And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the city of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Balaam, but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presence, and he had riches, and honor, and abundance, and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. Watch, moreover he took away the high places, and and groves out of Judah. So Jehoshaphat now has been able to do seemingly what none of the others have been able to do.

[John Weaver] He took away the high places and the groves out of Judah. Now here's the question. If Jehoshaphat took away The high places and the groves out of Judah look in your Bibles to first Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33 How is it that we read this now? How be it the high places were not taken away For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. So the Bible tells us that On the one hand that the Jehoshaphat had taken away the high places, now the Bible tells us in verse 33, the high places had not been taken away.

[John Weaver] So is there a conflict? And the answer is no. The truth is there are two possible explanations as to why it says Jehoshaphat took them away. and then it says the high places were not taken away. First of all, it could refer to the fact that idolatry had been suppressed very generally speaking. That is, as a whole, most of the idolatry had been done away with. Most of the high places had either been destroyed or removed. However, that would not mean that not every single individual could not slip around and build a high place.

[John Weaver] and do that which is wicked and wrong. In other words there may have been some there but they would have been a minority and certainly not a majority. So there is a possibility that they could exist in some small degree. The second explanation would be this, you have to remember that the people now out of habit and custom and tradition were used to worshipping in these high places. And notwithstanding the fact that the temple had already been built, some would assume that they could worship the one true and the living God in those high places as well. Now, can God be worshiped anywhere?

[John Weaver] And the answer is yes. That is true. But there is a public worship well as a private worship.

[John Weaver] Now these people would have been wrong, but the fact is they could have gone there. I've had people tell me, and everybody can smile at this because you've heard it yourself. I've heard people tell me, well Brother Weaver I can worship the Lord on the lake as easily as I can worship Him in church so I'm going fishing Sunday. Well can you not worship the Lord on the lake? Of course you could. Most people don't and most people won't. But you see what you do privately in your worship is one thing but then there is the public worship that God demands and God does not demand the worship publicly on the lake. He demands it in His temple or in His house.

[John Weaver] That is why He says, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is. In other words there is a time for public worship. So it could be that these people then were just simply trying to worship God. It would not be the fault of Jehoshaphat. It would be the fault of the people. Look in verse 33, for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers. So what that means is simply this, they complied with Jehoshaphat's Reformation because they could not but for shame do otherwise, but their hearts were not in it. They did not have a zeal for God and they did not act out of a good principle or with any zeal or resolution So let me put it to you like this and I want you to think about this Everybody says if we could just get a good godly man elected to public office Now I'm for having good godly men in public office don't misunderstand me, but I want to point out the fact that that the best leaders, the best rulers, the best magistrates cannot bring a reformation of past if the people are not willing to do what's right.

[John Weaver] It's impossible. There was no greater teacher than the Lord Jesus Christ. And when he got through teaching in John chapter 6 the Bible said that those who heard him said, this is a hard saying, who can hear it? And from that time forth many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him. Isn't that amazing? You can't get any more perfect than Jesus Christ. You can't be a better teacher than Jesus Christ and yet they would not listen to him. You see, but the problem is we have the exact same problem today they had in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. More people today are concerned with their traditions, with their habits, and with their customs than they are the Word of God.

[John Weaver] I've always said I could split the average church with one sermon. All I have to do is preach against tradition. And that's the truth. I'm gonna tell you something you start messing with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and you've got problems in most churches Because most churches had rather have that than they had the truth of the Word of God And you always hear something like this, but we've always done it like this Or this is the way my great-grandfather did it and my grandfather did it and my grandmother we've always done it like this Now, let me just point something out Traditions can be biblical, but usually they are not. Traditions are usually made by man. May I say this rather bluntly? Traditions were the downfall of the Pharisees.

[John Weaver] What did they ask our Lord? Why do you not keep the traditions of the fathers? could care less about what our Lord was teaching. They could care less about what the Law of God said. They were more concerned about their traditions. And the fact of the matter is we want it our way regardless of what God says. We want to do what we want to do.

[John Weaver] Now we have to understand that it is not sufficient to have a ruler that wants to do that which is right, holy, and godly. Certainly we should have that. But it is insufficient in and of itself. A ruler cannot bring about a reformation. He cannot bring about a change himself. When you talk about reformation, and when you talk about revival, usually it is not top down. It always begins bottom up. That is it begins with the people. And when the people prepare their hearts, and when the people do what is right, then inevitably it flows up to the top because the people are going to make sure that they have good godly rulers. But what we say is this, if we could just get a good man in Washington, if we could just get a good man in Atlanta, if we could just get a good man in Tallahassee, wouldn't do a bit of good if the people's hearts are not there to do that which is right.

[John Weaver] And so this is exactly what the Bible is telling us. How be it the high places are not taken away? Why? For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." Do you understand that when a true reformation occurs all of the habits, all of the customs, all of the traditions that are unbiblical will quickly and easily fall by the wayside.

[John Weaver] We just will not want to do it like that anymore. Why? Because our hearts will be set on doing it right. So here then this as yet that is very clearly revealed to us in 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31, Jeremiah chapter 31, which is indeed the chapter dealing with the New Covenant. But if you will look in Jeremiah chapter 31 and look at verses 22 and 23, So here is a text that indicates that we may safely trust in our Lord to give us a true biblical reformation. So we have it here in Jeremiah chapter 31 and notice if you would verses 22 and 23, and you shall be my people and I will be your God. That is Jeremiah, that is 30, 31 is what I want He says, How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter?

[John Weaver] For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, a woman shall encompass a man, which of course refers to the virgin birth. Then he says this in verse 23, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah, and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity. The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. Notice he said, as yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah, in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity. So when God does something it does indeed work. And God says here they shall as yet do this.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to look in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 13. 2 Kings chapter 13 because here is the fifth Notice if you would 2 Kings chapter 13 verse 23, 2 Kings 13 verse 23, it is the as yet of punishment. 2 Kings chapter 13 verse 23, And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." Do you see that? Here is the as yet of punishment. He said the Lord was gracious unto them, had compassion on them, had respect unto them, and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither casting them from His presence as yet."

[John Weaver] Let me tell you something it is indeed a truth that God is gracious and that God is merciful. When you look at Israel particularly God could have and should have destroyed them a multitude of times. You remember He said in one place, yet these ten times you have provoked Me. Each time would have been a suitable time for God to slay them, but he did not I Want you to hold this passage, but look if you would to Psalm 78 and verse 38 Psalm 78 in verse 38 Here's the truth Psalm 78 verse 38 Psalm 78 verse 38 If you read Psalm 78 You will find out how often Israel provoked God In fact, let me just show you Notice if you would please Verse 21, Therefore the Lord heard this and was wroth. So a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel, because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation. Skip down if you would please. Verse 31, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

[John Weaver] For all this they sinned still, and believed not His wondrous works. Verse 34, when he slew them, then they sought him and they returned and inquired of God early after God. And remember that God was their rock and the high God their Redeemer. And watch verse 36, nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth and they lightened him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant. Watch, but he being full of compassion forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not.

[John Weaver] Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all of his wrath." Isn't that amazing? Many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all of his wrath. In other words, if God had not had compassion, if God had not turned his anger away, if God had stirred up all of his wrath, all of them would have been killed.

[John Weaver] And may I point out the fact that is one of the reasons America is still in existence. That's one of the reasons you and I are still alive today is because God is compassionate and God is merciful. That's what the Scripture said many a time. Then if you will look back in 2 Kings chapter 13 and notice again verse 23 the latter part. He gives you a second reason why God did not destroy them.

[John Weaver] because of His mercy and compassion. But then the Bible says, because He had respect unto them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In other words God was merciful unto them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here is the amazing thing, God is faithful to even when we are unfaithful. You can read Psalm 78 all you want and you can see the unfaithfulness of God. We just read just a few of those verses. But God still remained faithful. God still fed them. God still honored His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did not give them over as yet because of that covenant.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 2. Now let me try to put this together for you so that you can see the tender mercies and compassions and faithfulness of God. Look at what the scripture says. Romans 2 verses 4 and 5. He says, or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.

[John Weaver] But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasures up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds." Now, stop and think with me. Many a time he turned away his wrath. Many a time he did not stir up all of his anger. And what does the Scripture say? He had compassion upon them, He had mercy upon them, moreover He remembered that covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

[John Weaver] So here is my question, if you and I recognize the fact that we should have been destroyed, even our country should have been destroyed, what should that lead us to do? Well look back in verse 4, or despises thou the riches of His goodness on forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." And in other words, everything that God does for us should remind us that we need to repent and turn from our sins and turn to Him. So His goodness and His mercy here should lead us to repentance. Now listen carefully.

[John Weaver] When those graces are abused and misused and despised, the only thing left is God's judgment. That's why he said, but after thy hardness and impenitent heart, all you're doing is treasuring up to thyself wrath against a day of wrath.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn back in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 36. Let me just show it to you. Here's a perfect illustration of what I'm talking about, the as yet of punishment. The Bible said he had not as yet destroyed them. Well, look in 2 Chronicles chapter 36 and notice if you would please verse 15. 2 Chronicles 36 verse 15, And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them, that is to His people, by His messengers, that is the prophets, the preachers, rising up at times and sending because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. Now how do you know when God has compassion upon a people? The answer is He sends them His preachers, He sends them His prophets, He sends them His messengers to declare His Word. So watch verse 16, what did these people do? But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people till there was no remedy.

[John Weaver] Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees who slew their young men with a sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion upon young men or maiden or old man or him that stooped for age. He gave them all into his hand."

[John Weaver] Now, go back and look at verse 15. Now, the Lord God of their father sent to them by his messengers, rising up at times and sending because he, God, had compassion on his people in his dwelling place. So notice messengers is plural in verse 15, he sent more than one. Verse 16, but they mocked the messengers, plural of God, now watch this, and despised his, singular, his words, and misused his prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy. So whose words were they actually despising? They were despising God's word. They were misusing the prophets.

[John Weaver] He had not destroyed them as yet. But when it reached this stage, He did destroy them. Therefore He brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with a sword, and the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young men or old men or him that stooped for age. He gave them all into His hand."

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 17, let me show you the same truth stated another way. 2nd Kings chapter 17 and Notice if you would please verse 18 fact we may look at this in a little greater detail next Sunday notice 2nd Kings chapter 17 and verse 18 Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight There was none left, but the tribe of Judah only Wow now skip down to verse 20 and the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel and afflicted them and Delivered them in the hand of the spoilers until he'd cast them out of his sight Wow So what did God do?

[John Weaver] God said here is the as yet a punishment you deserve to be punished You've been wicked. You've rebelled you've disobeyed but because of my compassions I And because of my covenant and my faithfulness, I have not destroyed you as yet." So what that boils down to is this, folks. The truth is we must turn or burn. We must repent or perish. It's just that simple. The immutable God, the unchangeable God that judged Israel and that judged Judah will also judge us if we misuse and abuse His grace and His mercy. He cleaned house in Israel. He cleaned house in Judah. And He is equally able to clean house in America.

[John Weaver] And if you and I think that we can rebel against Him, and despise His Son, and trample His law under our feet, and escape His judgment, we are not only deceived, we are absolutely stupid to the nth degree. It is impossible. It is impossible. I want you to see this. As long as we are in the as yet stage, there is hope. He has not destroyed us as yet. As yet. As long as we are in that as yet stage, there is hope. I want you to look in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 7 in what the scripture says. I want you to note, if you would, how this is phrased. Look in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 7 because we're reading about Noah Hebrews 11 verse 7 Watch carefully Hebrews 11 verse 7 by faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet Moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Did you hear that?

[John Weaver] By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet. What was the as yet in this context? It was the judgment. It was the flood. For 120 years he was building the ark. There was hope while he was building the ark. But once that as-yet stage passed, there was no hope. So the scripture tells us we have been warned, we must prepare, we must repent, and we must obey. That is the as-yet of punishment. As long as we are in the as-yet stage, there is hope.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go to the New Testament, to the book of John, chapter 20, and verse 9. I've got two more points. John chapter 20 and verse 9. Here is the as yet of perception. And this may surprise you. John 20 and verse 9. And I hope that you'll pay attention to how phrases are used in the Bible. Notice John chapter 20, if you would, and verse 9.

[John Weaver] Now we're talking about our Lord's disciples. For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. Wow Now this is where Peter and John Have gone to the sepulchre Look if you would please in verse 6 then cometh Simon Peter following him and went into the sepulchre and seeth the lending clothes lie and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the lending clothes but wrapped together in a place by itself Then went and also that other disciple which came first to the sepulchre. That's John and he's so unbelieved for as yet They knew not the scripture must rise again from the dead."

[John Weaver] I've got a question to ask you. How could they know not the Scripture? It's plainly revealed in the Scripture. How could they not know that He would rise the third day? He told them. And yet the Bible says, for as yet they knew not the Scripture. must rise again from the dead." In other words they did not understand those Old Testament types, and figures, and emblems that prefigured Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Moreover the truth was plainly stated not only in the Old Testament but our Lord told them personally. Let me show you.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles to Psalm 16, Psalm 16 and verses 9 and 10. Psalm 16 verses 9 and 10. Here it is. Psalm 16 verse 9. And this verse and this passage is applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoiceth. My flesh also shall rest in hope for thou will not leave my soul in hell or Sheol neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption The words our Lord was not going to see corruption. Yes. He was going to die Yes, he was going to be buried. But yes, he was also going to rise again from the dead If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 12 and Look in verse 40 Look how plainly our Lord makes this known to his disciples Matthew 12 and verse 40 Look what he says Matthew 12 verse 40

[John Weaver] For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly So shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth now What did our Lord just get out of his mouth? When he's going to die, he's going to be buried, he's going to be in the earth three days, three nights, and then he's going to rise again. Isn't that simple?

[John Weaver] See, you and I can look back upon these scriptures and we say, we see it. Why couldn't they see it? How foolish could they have been? I mean those were smart men and they walked with Christ Why could they not see it? Well, you have to remember you and I are understanding this after the fact after the reality Hindsight is always better. I can assure you But do you realize? Those apostles Were nothing more than mere men They did not have perfect understanding.

[John Weaver] They did not comprehend everything that our Lord said, and there were occasions when they were even afraid to ask Him. And do you remember it's in Matthew 15 and verse 16, our Lord looked at His disciples and He said this, are you also yet without understanding? Do you not understand? And then again in Mark 7 verse 18, He said unto them, Are you without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatsoever thing from without, and within a man cannot defile him? What did He say? Are you also yet without understanding? It may shock you to realize early Apostles and disciples were not perfect they did not have perfect understanding.

[John Weaver] In fact let me show you something. Look in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 1. Here is an interesting thing it is not only that the Apostles did not have perfect understanding a lot of the Old Testament prophets did not have understanding. They did not even know everything they were prophesying. 1 Peter chapter 1 notice if you would please and let's begin reading there with verse 10. 1 Peter 1 verse 10 watch it carefully. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently. Notice what they did they inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.

[John Weaver] Now watch the next verse, searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves But unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you, by them that have preached the gospel unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, which things the angels desire to look into." So even these Old Testament prophets, when they were prophesying about Jesus Christ and everything that involved Jesus Christ, they did not understand it all.

[John Weaver] They had to inquire and search diligently. And he says, mainly they were ministering to us. not to themselves. So we have to remember not everybody, not everybody understands everything. So here's my question. Why is it that we in this day and age who have all the Bibles that we want, all the study materials that we need, why is it do not as yet understand a lot of things in the Scripture.

[John Weaver] Stop and think about that. Why is it we do not? Let me give you an answer. The Apostle Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7, consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

[John Weaver] Now there are two truths there. First of all, he told Timothy, consider what I say. Think about it. Meditate upon it. Ruminate on it. Contemplate it. And then secondly, the Lord give thee understanding in all things. So understanding is the gift of God. However, we are responsible to meditate and contemplate, to study and to think. That's our responsibility. But we could study Until the day we died. But if God doesn't open our eyes, if God doesn't give us understanding, we'll never see anything.

[John Weaver] The point I'm trying to make is this. You don't go to bed dumb and wake up smart. You don't. You don't go to bed wishing that you understood something and wake up the next morning and there it is all perfectly laid out in your mind. It just does not work like that. in real life and it certainly does not work like that when it comes to Scripture.

[John Weaver] The truth of the matter is this, we must consider, we must study, we must meditate, we must ruminate upon God's Word and at the same time we have to seek God to give us understanding. We may not as yet understand certain things, but by His grace, using the means that He has ordained, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we still may perceive them and understand them. So, we don't give up just because we say, well, I don't see that right now. Fine. Seek the Lord for understanding, study, and ask Him to open your eyes. One last passage.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in 1 John chapter 5. 1 John chapter 3 it is. 1 John chapter 3. Here's the last point, and that is the as yet of perfection. 1 John 3, verse 2. I want you to note what he says. Beloved, now are we the sons of God. Thank God for that. And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Now I understand verse 2 does not have the phrase as yet in it. But I want you to look at it like this, Beloved now are we the sons of God and it does not as yet appear, which is the same truth, what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is.

[John Weaver] I had a discussion recently with a friend concerning our resurrection bodies. You know it is very interesting when you read some commentaries on what some of the men say concerning a resurrection body or a glorified body. Paul makes it clear in the scripture that our bodies will be new, that they will be glorified. If you were to ask me to describe our glorified bodies, I could generally could not particularly in every detail because the Scripture does not reveal everything. One thing I can assure you our glorified bodies will not be flesh and blood, I can assure you of that. Because the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 50, now this I say brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. So flesh and blood is not going to be in our bodies. However, our bodies will be flesh and bone.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 24. He's going to tell you this. Luke chapter 24. Watch it very closely. Luke 24. And let's begin reading there with verse 36. This is our Lord's glorified body. Luke 24, verse 36. And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said unto them, peace be unto you.

[John Weaver] Now, if you'll go back to verse 33, And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them. So they were in a room in a building. Verse 36, And as they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them. In other words, He just appeared. And He saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

[John Weaver] Did He walk through a wall? I don't know. Did He come through the door? I don't know. The Bible just says He appeared in a room. Watch verse 37, but they were terrified, and are frightened, and suppose that they had seen a spirit. And he said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have. So his resurrected, glorified body was flesh and bones. He had the same hands. He had the same feet. Verse 40, And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.

[John Weaver] And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have you here any meat? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and a honeycomb, and he took it, and it ate before them. Can tell you this based upon this scripture number one our bodies will be flesh and bone and number two We will be able to eat And I'm thankful we can eat fish I love fish That's what our Lord ate Okay, we can eat fish The interesting thing is I've had people say ask

[John Weaver] a question, Brother Weaver, do you think we will know each other in Heaven? And my response is always the same, I don't think we are going to be any more stupid there than we are here. And if we know each other here, obviously we are going to know each other in Heaven. And if we have the same hands and feet, same features, sure we are going to know everybody. And you have to remember we are going to have perfect knowledge at that particular time. Don't pin me down and say, well, what are our bodies going to look like?

[John Weaver] I have no earthly idea. I suppose we'll look like ourselves. You know? Maybe, David, we'll have more hair. I don't know. But I'm just simply saying there will be a new glorified body. It does not as yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, We shall be like Him. Let me show you the truth that I rely upon. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Philippians chapter 3. And look if you would please, beginning there with verse 21. Galatians 3. Well, in fact, let's begin with verse 20. The Apostle Paul writes, For our conversation, or our conduct, is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." So he says, we look for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

[John Weaver] So the point I'm trying to make, folks, it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body. And I can assure you, whatever our bodies are like in heaven, we'll be totally satisfied with them. We'll be happy with them. We'll be thankful for them. There will not be someone walking around saying, Well, I wish I wasn't so fat, or I wish I wasn't so thin, or I wish I had more hair. No, no, no, no. Whatever our bodies are, we will be absolutely, totally satisfied. That's it.

[John Weaver] Now, let me just make an application, bringing this brief series to a close. If we have not as yet experienced the wrath and judgment of God, there is hope. If we have not as yet perceived the truth of God, as long as we study and seek the Lord for understanding, there is hope. If we have not as yet received a reformation, as long as we turn from our sins and turn back to the Lord and worship Him according to His Word, there is hope. May I remind you that Jesus Christ is our hope in every area of life. He is our hope financially. He is our hope spiritually. He is our hope politically. He is our hope emotionally. He is our hope mentally. He is our hope economically. He is our hope in every imaginable way. And as long As He has not taken us home, as yet, there is hope that we can accomplish everything that He's ordained for us.

[John Weaver] In fact, you realize that one of the old fathers said it like this, that man is immortal until God is through with him. You're not going to die before your time. When God is through, then he will take us home. Then we'll have the glorified bodies. And then we can say, we know exactly what they're going to be like because we'll have them. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. He is our hope. Give us grace, Father, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Help us, Lord, to bow to Thee and to give Thee honor and worship through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] ♪

As Yet - Part 3 of 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	D5_SkXzNmrU
Subject	Civil Government
Course	Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority
Genre	Sermon
Date	2017-07-04
Dictation Name
Book	Book 098: As Yet — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	74

Formatted Transcript

Review of Previous Messages

Weaver reviews the first two messages on 'as yet': the 'as yet' of presumption from Exodus 9:17 regarding Pharaoh's pride, and the 'as yet' of preparation from Deuteronomy 12:9 about Israel not yet entering their inheritance.

Open our Bibles today to 2 Chronicles chapter 20, 2 Chronicles chapter 20. I want to bring the third and final message that I own on the subject "As Yet." I never finished it, but I want to do so today. So 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33, and I will take a few moments to review. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 2 Chronicles 20:33

"Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers."

We've covered two messages concerning this phrase "as yet." In fact, I found it very interesting to see how this phrase is used in the Bible. The very first message, you will remember, dealt basically with two points. The first one was the "as yet" of presumption, and it was based upon Exodus chapter 9 and verse 17, where it was said of Pharaoh, "As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go." So the word "presumption" there was used to convey the concept of that which is unwarrantable, unbecoming, and impertinent.

The Hebrew word actually means to lift oneself up and to act as a superior, and basically to look down upon someone. And so Pharaoh then was refusing to acknowledge God, God's law, God's word, and God's people. He was refusing to be humbled, and of course he exalted himself against God. The Bible says in Proverbs 16 and verse 18, that "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." The second point I covered was the "as yet" of preparation, which was based on Deuteronomy chapter 12 and verse 9, where God said to Israel,

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:9

"For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you."

And basically in that chapter I shared with you how God was preparing the people to go receive their inheritance, and He was telling them how they were to live, how they were to act, and how they were to worship Him, not only while they were waiting, but also when they got into the land as well.

And I pointed out the implications very simple. We have not as yet entered into our inheritance, that is literally, physically. And so the Bible tells us in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 2, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." And verse 3, "And His commandments are not grievous," or "this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." So until we get to our inheritance, we basically keep His commandments. And then I pointed out the fact that in a little while, according to the Scripture, the wicked would be no more, and in a little while our Lord certainly would come.

Review of Caleb's 'As Yet' of Promise

Weaver reviews the second message on Caleb's declaration in Joshua 14:11 that he was as strong at 85 as at 40, highlighting God's faithfulness to His promise over 45 years.

The second message I dealt with was Caleb. You remember that passage in Joshua chapter 14, verse 11, where Caleb said this,

Scripture Reading — Joshua 14:11

"For as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, both to go out and to come in."

And so this was the "as yet" of promise. If you remember that it was Joshua and Caleb that brought back the correct word about Canaan and honored God in their testimony and what they had seen. And God said that Caleb was going to enter into the land. In fact, God undertook and God promised that Caleb would have Hebron where his feet had trod. And the amazing thing is in Joshua chapter 14 and verse 11, when he said, "As yet I am as strong this day as when Moses sent me," it was 45 years later and he was 85 years of age, and God kept His promise. And God not only kept Caleb, but He kept him not only alive, but He kept him strong, because at 85 he was just as strong as he was when he was at 40.

And like I mentioned to James and some of the others, I said it would be mighty embarrassing to get whipped by an 85-year-old man, and yet that is what Caleb could do. God had kept him. And you remember in Deuteronomy 1 and verse 36, God purposefully and specifically said that He, the sovereign God of heaven and earth, would undertake to make sure that Caleb got into the land and that his children inherited that land. And so it was an amazing thing to me when you stop and consider the fact that it was God Himself who undertook and gave that assurance to Caleb. And then, of course, we found out that God is faithful even 45 years later. Most of us want everything; we want it right now. Caleb had to wait for 45 years. So today we are going to come to this fourth point, the "as yet" of purpose. So look in verse 33 again, he said, "Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." You know, it is interesting as you read through the Old Testament that there were several kings that undertook to eradicate idolatry out of the land. They were wanting to restore the pure worship of God as it is revealed in His law. And the amazing thing is the Scripture tells us here that some of these kings were not successful, not because they did not want to do that which was right, but because the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.

The 'As Yet' of Purpose: Unprepared Hearts

Weaver introduces the 'as yet' of purpose from 2 Chronicles 20:33, explaining that the high places remained because the people had not prepared their hearts, despite the efforts of godly kings like Amaziah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat.

Now Amaziah was one of those individuals who wanted to honor God. Joash was his father. Joash was a good man, and an honest man, and one that worshiped the Lord, and so was Amaziah. So I want you to hold 2 Chronicles, but look in your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 14, 1 Kings chapter 14. Back a book or two, 1 Kings chapter 14, and look if you would please at verse 23. 1 Kings chapter 14 and verse 23. Watch what the Scripture says, just to show you the high places were high places for idolatry. The Bible says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 14:23

"For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree."

So here were these high places. The high places were basically places of idolatry. The interesting thing is the Bible says they built them on every high hill and under every green tree. These high places were usually on a mountain or on a hill because of the shadow or because of the shade.

For instance, in Hosea chapter 4 and verse 13, you don't have to turn there. Here is what God says, "They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good." In other words, they wanted to be cool and comfortable as they worshiped their idols, is what it amounted to. So here are these high places; they should not have been, and yet they were. And so several kings undertook to abolish these high places. Now if you will look in 2 Kings chapter 14, you are going to find about Amaziah, 2 Kings chapter 14 beginning there with verse 1. 2 Kings 14 and verse 1. Look what the Bible says, "In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah."

He was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: look carefully, "as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places." So the interesting thing is, as good as Amaziah was—in fact, if you will look down to verse 5 to show you how he wanted to be biblical—"And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin."

So here was a man that was trying to do that which was right and biblical, and yet the Bible says at the same time the high places were not taken away. Now I want you to turn over to 2 Chronicles chapter 15, and 2 Chronicles chapter 15, because we are going to see that Asa was another king that endeavored to remove idolatry out of the land. Asa was so dedicated that he even removed his mother from being queen because she had built an idol. So in 2 Chronicles chapter 15, beginning there with verse 12, the Bible says this, watch carefully, 2 Chronicles chapter 15 and verse 12, "And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; that whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about."

And also concerning Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron." So evidently Asa was a man of conviction as well. And by the way, let me say this, I've told you this in times past, but I want to just reinforce it in your mind. Every time you see the word "grove" in the Bible, with the one exception in the book of Genesis where it says that Abraham planted a grove, okay. When you and I think of a grove, we think of a grove of trees, okay. Now Abraham did plant a grove of trees, but all the other times in the Bible when they say they built a grove, it is actually the word Asherah.

Asherim, which means a sex goddess. In other words, here was an image of a sex goddess that they are worshiping. So every time you see the word "grove," other than the one that Abraham planted, it is always used in an idolatrous place. This is why Maacah, the mother of Asa, he removed, because if you will look again in verse 16, "And also concerning Maacah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove." In other words, here was a grove of these other idols. She made herself one, and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. Usually they were made of wood, and therefore it says that as well.

So here was a man that really and truly wanted to undertake a revival. But notice if you would please, if you would verse 17, notice what the Bible says, after he removed his mother, "But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days." So all that Asa did and the reform that God gave during his reign, they did not remove the high places. So if you will turn right over to 2 Chronicles 17, you are going to find it seems as if Jehoshaphat succeeded where others failed. Watch, 2 Chronicles 17 verse 1,

Scripture Reading — 2 Chronicles 17:1-6

"And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah."

So Jehoshaphat now has been able to do seemingly what none of the others have been able to do.

He took away the high places and the groves out of Judah. Now here's the question. If Jehoshaphat took away the high places and the groves out of Judah, look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33. How is it that we read this now? "Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." So the Bible tells us that on the one hand that Jehoshaphat had taken away the high places, now the Bible tells us in verse 33, the high places had not been taken away.

Explaining the Apparent Contradiction

Weaver addresses the seeming conflict between 2 Chronicles 17:6 (Jehoshaphat removed high places) and 20:33 (high places not taken away), suggesting either a general suppression or the people's continued worship of God in high places out of tradition.

So is there a conflict? And the answer is no. The truth is there are two possible explanations as to why it says Jehoshaphat took them away and then it says the high places were not taken away. First of all, it could refer to the fact that idolatry had been suppressed very generally speaking. That is, as a whole, most of the idolatry had been done away with. Most of the high places had either been destroyed or removed. However, that would not mean that not every single individual could not slip around and build a high place

and do that which is wicked and wrong. In other words, there may have been some there, but they would have been a minority and certainly not a majority. So there is a possibility that they could exist in some small degree. The second explanation would be this: you have to remember that the people now, out of habit and custom and tradition, were used to worshiping in these high places. And notwithstanding the fact that the temple had already been built, some would assume that they could worship the one true and the living God in those high places as well. Now, can God be worshiped anywhere? And the answer is yes. That is true. But there is a public worship as well as a private worship.

Now these people would have been wrong, but the fact is they could have gone there. I've had people tell me, and everybody can smile at this because you've heard it yourself. I've heard people tell me, "Well, Brother Weaver, I can worship the Lord on the lake as easily as I can worship Him in church, so I'm going fishing Sunday." Well, can you not worship the Lord on the lake? Of course you could. Most people don't, and most people won't. But you see, what you do privately in your worship is one thing, but then there is the public worship that God demands, and God does not demand the worship publicly on the lake. He demands it in His temple or in His house.

The Problem of Tradition and Unwilling Hearts

Weaver argues that even the best leaders cannot bring reformation if the people's hearts are not willing, comparing it to the Pharisees' love of tradition over God's Word and modern church traditions like Santa Claus.

That is why He says, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is." In other words, there is a time for public worship. So it could be that these people then were just simply trying to worship God. It would not be the fault of Jehoshaphat. It would be the fault of the people. Look in verse 33, "For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." So what that means is simply this: they complied with Jehoshaphat's reformation because they could not but for shame do otherwise, but their hearts were not in it. They did not have a zeal for God, and they did not act out of a good principle or with any zeal or resolution. So let me put it to you like this, and I want you to think about this. Everybody says if we could just get a good godly man elected to public office. Now I'm for having good godly men in public office, don't misunderstand me, but I want to point out the fact that the best leaders, the best rulers, the best magistrates cannot bring a reformation to pass if the people are not willing to do what's right.

It's impossible. There was no greater teacher than the Lord Jesus Christ. And when He got through teaching in John chapter 6, the Bible said that those who heard Him said, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" And from that time forth many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Isn't that amazing? You can't get any more perfect than Jesus Christ. You can't be a better teacher than Jesus Christ, and yet they would not listen to Him. You see, but the problem is we have the exact same problem today they had in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. More people today are concerned with their traditions, with their habits, and with their customs than they are the Word of God.

I've always said I could split the average church with one sermon. All I have to do is preach against tradition. And that's the truth. I'm going to tell you something: you start messing with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and you've got problems in most churches. Because most churches had rather have that than they had the truth of the Word of God. And you always hear something like this, "But we've always done it like this." Or, "This is the way my great-grandfather did it, and my grandfather did it, and my grandmother—we've always done it like this." Now, let me just point something out. Traditions can be biblical, but usually they are not. Traditions are usually made by man. May I say this rather bluntly? Traditions were the downfall of the Pharisees.

What did they ask our Lord? "Why do you not keep the traditions of the fathers?" They could care less about what our Lord was teaching. They could care less about what the Law of God said. They were more concerned about their traditions. And the fact of the matter is we want it our way regardless of what God says. We want to do what we want to do.

Now we have to understand that it is not sufficient to have a ruler that wants to do that which is right, holy, and godly. Certainly we should have that. But it is insufficient in and of itself. A ruler cannot bring about a reformation. He cannot bring about a change himself. When you talk about reformation, and when you talk about revival, usually it is not top down. It always begins bottom up. That is, it begins with the people. And when the people prepare their hearts, and when the people do what is right, then inevitably it flows up to the top, because the people are going to make sure that they have good godly rulers. But what we say is this: if we could just get a good man in Washington, if we could just get a good man in Atlanta, if we could just get a good man in Tallahassee, it wouldn't do a bit of good if the people's hearts are not there to do that which is right.

The 'As Yet' of Punishment: God's Delayed Judgment

Weaver examines 2 Kings 13:23, where God did not destroy Israel 'as yet' because of His compassion and covenant, warning that abused grace leads to judgment, as seen in 2 Chronicles 36 when they mocked the prophets.

Now I want you to look in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 13. 2 Kings chapter 13, because here is the fifth—notice if you would 2 Kings chapter 13 verse 23, 2 Kings 13 verse 23, it is the "as yet" of punishment. 2 Kings chapter 13 verse 23, "And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." Do you see that? Here is the "as yet

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 13:23

" of punishment. He said the Lord was gracious unto them, had compassion on them, had respect unto them, and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, "

and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." Let me tell you something: it is indeed a truth that God is gracious and that God is merciful. When you look at Israel particularly, God could have and should have destroyed them a multitude of times. You remember He said in one place, "Yet these ten times ye have provoked me." Each time would have been a suitable time for God to slay them, but He did not. I want you to hold this passage, but look if you would to Psalm 78 and verse 38. Psalm 78 and verse 38. Here's the truth. Psalm 78 verse 38. If you read Psalm 78, you will find out how often Israel provoked God. In fact, let me just show you. Notice if you would please verse 21, "Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation." Skip down if you would please. Verse 31, "The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works." Verse 34, "When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer." And watch verse 36, "Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant." Watch, "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not. Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath." Isn't that amazing? "Many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath." In other words, if God had not had compassion, if God had not turned his anger away, if God had stirred up all of his wrath, all of them would have been killed.

And may I point out the fact that is one of the reasons America is still in existence. That's one of the reasons you and I are still alive today, is because God is compassionate and God is merciful. That's what the Scripture said, "many a time." Then if you will look back in 2 Kings chapter 13 and notice again verse 23 the latter part. He gives you a second reason why God did not destroy them. Because of His mercy and compassion. But then the Bible says, "because he had respect unto them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." In other words, God was merciful unto them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here is the amazing thing: God is faithful even when we are unfaithful. You can read Psalm 78 all you want, and you can see the unfaithfulness of God's people. We just read just a few of those verses. But God still remained faithful. God still fed them. God still honored His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did not give them over as yet because of that covenant.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 2. Now let me try to put this together for you so that you can see the tender mercies and compassions and faithfulness of God. Look at what the Scripture says. Romans 2 verses 4 and 5. He says, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

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; who will render to every man according to his deeds." Now, stop and think with me. "Many a time he turned away his wrath. Many a time he did not stir up all of his anger." And what does the Scripture say? He had compassion upon them, He had mercy upon them, moreover He remembered that covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

So here is my question: if you and I recognize the fact that we should have been destroyed, even our country should have been destroyed, what should that lead us to do? Well, look back in verse 4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" And in other words, everything that God does for us should remind us that we need to repent and turn from our sins and turn to Him. So His goodness and His mercy here should lead us to repentance. Now listen carefully.

When those graces are abused and misused and despised, the only thing left is God's judgment. That's why he said, "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath." Now, I want you to turn back in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 36. Let me just show it to you. Here's a perfect illustration of what I'm talking about, the "as yet" of punishment. The Bible said he had not as yet destroyed them. Well, look in 2 Chronicles chapter 36 and notice if you would please verse 15. 2 Chronicles 36 verse 15, "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." Now how do you know when God has compassion upon a people? The answer is He sends them His preachers, He sends them His prophets, He sends them His messengers to declare His Word. So watch verse 16, what did these people do? "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand." Now, go back and look at verse 15. "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." So notice "messengers" is plural in verse 15, he sent more than one. Verse 16, "But they mocked the messengers," plural, "of God, and despised his," singular, "his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy." So whose words were they actually despising? They were despising God's word. They were misusing the prophets.

He had not destroyed them as yet. But when it reached this stage, He did destroy them. "Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand."

The 'As Yet' of Perception: Understanding Scripture

Weaver discusses John 20:9, where the disciples did not yet know the Scripture about the resurrection, emphasizing that understanding comes through study and God's gift, and that even prophets did not fully understand their prophecies.

Now, I want you to go to the New Testament, to the book of John, chapter 20, and verse 9. I've got two more points. John chapter 20 and verse 9. Here is the "as yet" of perception. And this may surprise you. John 20 and verse 9. And I hope that you'll pay attention to how phrases are used in the Bible. Notice John chapter 20, if you would, and verse 9.

Now we're talking about our Lord's disciples.

Scripture Reading — John 20:9

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Wow. Now this is where Peter and John have gone to the sepulchre. Look if you would please in verse 6, "Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre," that's John,

Scripture Reading — John 20:9

"and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

I've got a question to ask you. How could they know not the Scripture? It's plainly revealed in the Scripture. How could they not know that He would rise the third day? He told them. And yet the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — John 20:9

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

In other words, they did not understand those Old Testament types, and figures, and emblems that prefigured Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Moreover, the truth was plainly stated not only in the Old Testament, but our Lord told them personally. Let me show you.

Look in your Bibles to Psalm 16, Psalm 16 and verses 9 and 10. Psalm 16 verses 9 and 10. Here it is. Psalm 16 verse 9. And this verse and this passage is applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:9-10

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

In other words, our Lord was not going to see corruption. Yes, He was going to die. Yes, He was going to be buried. But yes, He was also going to rise again from the dead. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 12 and look in verse 40. Look how plainly our Lord makes this known to His disciples. Matthew 12 and verse 40. Look what He says. Matthew 12 verse 40.

"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Now, what did our Lord just get out of His mouth? He's going to die, He's going to be buried, He's going to be in the earth three days, three nights, and then He's going to rise again. Isn't that simple? See, you and I can look back upon these scriptures and we say, we see it. Why couldn't they see it? How foolish could they have been? I mean, those were smart men, and they walked with Christ. Why could they not see it? Well, you have to remember you and I are understanding this after the fact, after the reality. Hindsight is always better, I can assure you. But do you realize those apostles were nothing more than mere men? They did not have perfect understanding.

They did not comprehend everything that our Lord said, and there were occasions when they were even afraid to ask Him. And do you remember it's in Matthew 15 and verse 16, our Lord looked at His disciples and He said this, "Are ye also yet without understanding?" Do you not understand? And then again in Mark 7 verse 18, He said unto them, "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him?" What did He say? "Are ye also yet without understanding?" It may shock you to realize early apostles and disciples were not perfect; they did not have perfect understanding. In fact, let me show you something. Look in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 1. Here is an interesting thing: it is not only that the apostles did not have perfect understanding, a lot of the Old Testament prophets did not have understanding. They did not even know everything they were prophesying. 1 Peter chapter 1, notice if you would please, and let's begin reading there with verse 10. 1 Peter 1 verse 10, watch it carefully. "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently," notice what they did, they inquired and searched diligently, "who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.

Now watch the next verse, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." So even these Old Testament prophets, when they were prophesying about Jesus Christ and everything that involved Jesus Christ, they did not understand it all. They had to inquire and search diligently. And he says, mainly they were ministering to us, not to themselves. So we have to remember not everybody, not everybody understands everything. So here's my question. Why is it that we in this day and age, who have all the Bibles that we want, all the study materials that we need, why is it we do not as yet understand a lot of things in the Scripture?

Stop and think about that. Why is it we do not? Let me give you an answer. The Apostle Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."

Now there are two truths there. First of all, he told Timothy, "Consider what I say." Think about it. Meditate upon it. Ruminate on it. Contemplate it. And then secondly, "the Lord give thee understanding in all things." So understanding is the gift of God. However, we are responsible to meditate and contemplate, to study and to think. That's our responsibility. But we could study until the day we died. But if God doesn't open our eyes, if God doesn't give us understanding, we'll never see anything.

The point I'm trying to make is this. You don't go to bed dumb and wake up smart. You don't. You don't go to bed wishing that you understood something and wake up the next morning and there it is all perfectly laid out in your mind. It just does not work like that in real life, and it certainly does not work like that when it comes to Scripture. The truth of the matter is this: we must consider, we must study, we must meditate, we must ruminate upon God's Word, and at the same time we have to seek God to give us understanding. We may not as yet understand certain things, but by His grace, using the means that He has ordained, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we still may perceive them and understand them. So, we don't give up just because we say, "Well, I don't see that right now." Fine. Seek the Lord for understanding, study, and ask Him to open your eyes. One last passage.

The 'As Yet' of Perfection: Our Future Glorified Bodies

Weaver concludes with 1 John 3:2, explaining that it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we will be like Christ with glorified bodies of flesh and bone, able to eat, and fully satisfied.

I want you to look in 1 John chapter 5—1 John chapter 3 it is. 1 John chapter 3. Here's the last point, and that is the "as yet" of perfection. 1 John 3, verse 2. I want you to note what he says.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 3:2

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God." Thank God for that. "And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." Now I understand verse 2 does not have the phrase "as yet" in it. But I want you to look at it like this: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not as yet appear," which is the same truth, "what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

I had a discussion recently with a friend concerning our resurrection bodies. You know, it is very interesting when you read some commentaries on what some of the men say concerning a resurrection body or a glorified body. Paul makes it clear in the Scripture that our bodies will be new, that they will be glorified. If you were to ask me to describe our glorified bodies, I could generally, but could not particularly in every detail, because the Scripture does not reveal everything. One thing I can assure you: our glorified bodies will not be flesh and blood, I can assure you of that. Because the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 50, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." So flesh and blood is not going to be in our bodies. However, our bodies will be flesh and bone.

I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 24. He's going to tell you this. Luke chapter 24. Watch it very closely. Luke 24. And let's begin reading there with verse 36. This is our Lord's glorified body. Luke 24, verse 36. "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

Now, if you'll go back to verse 33, "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them." So they were in a room in a building. Verse 36, "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them." In other words, He just appeared. And He saith unto them, "Peace be unto you." Did He walk through a wall? I don't know. Did He come through the door? I don't know. The Bible just says He appeared in a room. Watch verse 37, "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." So His resurrected, glorified body was flesh and bones. He had the same hands. He had the same feet. Verse 40, "And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet."

And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, "Have ye here any meat?" And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. I can tell you this based upon this Scripture: number one, our bodies will be flesh and bone, and number two, we will be able to eat. And I'm thankful we can eat fish. I love fish. That's what our Lord ate. Okay, we can eat fish. The interesting thing is I've had people ask

a question, "Brother Weaver, do you think we will know each other in Heaven?" And my response is always the same: I don't think we are going to be any more stupid there than we are here. And if we know each other here, obviously we are going to know each other in Heaven. And if we have the same hands and feet, same features, sure we are going to know everybody. And you have to remember we are going to have perfect knowledge at that particular time. Don't pin me down and say, "Well, what are our bodies going to look like?" I have no earthly idea. I suppose we'll look like ourselves. You know? Maybe, David, we'll have more hair. I don't know. But I'm just simply saying there will be a new glorified body. It does not as yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him. Let me show you the truth that I rely upon. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Philippians chapter 3. And look if you would please, beginning there with verse 21. Galatians 3—well, in fact, let's begin with verse 20. The Apostle Paul writes,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:20-21

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

So he says,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:20-21

"We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

So the point I'm trying to make, folks, it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body. And I can assure you, whatever our bodies are like in heaven, we'll be totally satisfied with them. We'll be happy with them. We'll be thankful for them. There will not be someone walking around saying, "Well, I wish I wasn't so fat," or "I wish I wasn't so thin," or "I wish I had more hair." No, no, no, no. Whatever our bodies are, we will be absolutely, totally satisfied. That's it.

Application: Hope in the 'As Yet'

Weaver applies the series by urging that as long as we are in the 'as yet' stage—before judgment, before full understanding, before reformation—there is hope in Christ for every area of life.

Now, let me just make an application, bringing this brief series to a close. If we have not as yet experienced the wrath and judgment of God, there is hope. If we have not as yet perceived the truth of God, as long as we study and seek the Lord for understanding, there is hope. If we have not as yet received a reformation, as long as we turn from our sins and turn back to the Lord and worship Him according to His Word, there is hope. May I remind you that Jesus Christ is our hope in every area of life. He is our hope financially. He is our hope spiritually. He is our hope politically. He is our hope emotionally. He is our hope mentally. He is our hope economically. He is our hope in every imaginable way. And as long as He has not taken us home, as yet, there is hope that we can accomplish everything that He's ordained for us.

In fact, you realize that one of the old fathers said it like this: that man is immortal until God is through with him. You're not going to die before your time. When God is through, then He will take us home. Then we'll have the glorified bodies. And then we can say, we know exactly what they're going to be like because we'll have them. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. He is our hope. Give us grace, Father, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Help us, Lord, to bow to Thee and to give Thee honor and worship through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Necessity of Heart Preparation for Reformation

Summary: True reformation requires the people's hearts to be prepared for God, not just the efforts of godly leaders.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the best leaders, the best rulers, the best magistrates cannot bring a reformation to pass if the people are not willing to do what's right.'

God's Delayed Judgment as an Opportunity for Repentance

Summary: God's compassion and covenant faithfulness delay His judgment, giving people time to repent, but persistent rebellion leads to inevitable wrath.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'As long as we are in the "as yet" stage, there is hope. He has not destroyed us as yet.'

The Danger of Tradition Over God's Word

Summary: Traditions, like the high places, can hinder true worship and obedience when they replace biblical commands.

Evidence: Weaver notes, 'More people today are concerned with their traditions, with their habits, and with their customs than they are the Word of God.'

The Need for Divine Illumination in Understanding Scripture

Summary: Understanding Scripture requires both diligent study and God's gift of understanding; even the disciples and prophets did not fully comprehend at first.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'we could study until the day we died. But if God doesn't open our eyes, if God doesn't give us understanding, we'll never see anything.'

The Hope of Future Glorification

Summary: Believers have the hope of being transformed into Christ's likeness with glorified bodies, though the full details are not yet revealed.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body.'

Key Arguments

Reformation must begin with the people, not just leaders.

Summary: Weaver argues that even the best kings could not remove idolatry because the people's hearts were not prepared, showing that top-down reform is insufficient without grassroots change.

Evidence: He states, 'a ruler cannot bring about a reformation. He cannot bring about a change himself. When you talk about reformation, and when you talk about revival, usually it is not top down. It always begins bottom up.'

God's mercy in delaying judgment should lead to repentance.

Summary: Weaver contends that God's compassion and covenant faithfulness are reasons He has not destroyed us yet, but this grace is meant to lead us to repentance, not presumption.

Evidence: He cites Romans 2:4-5, 'the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance,' and warns that abusing this grace stores up wrath.

Traditions can become obstacles to true worship.

Summary: Weaver argues that just as the people clung to high places out of habit, modern Christians often prioritize traditions like Santa Claus over biblical truth, hindering reformation.

Evidence: He says, 'you start messing with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and you've got problems in most churches. Because most churches had rather have that than they had the truth of the Word of God.'

Spiritual understanding requires both human effort and divine enablement.

Summary: Weaver explains that the disciples' lack of understanding about the resurrection, despite clear Scripture and Jesus' teaching, shows that perception is a gift from God that comes through study and prayer.

Evidence: He references 2 Timothy 2:7, 'Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things,' to show the dual responsibility.

The 'as yet' of our future state provides hope and motivation.

Summary: Weaver argues that not knowing exactly what our glorified bodies will be like should not cause anxiety, because we trust that we will be like Christ and fully satisfied.

Evidence: He says, 'whatever our bodies are like in heaven, we'll be totally satisfied with them.'

Scripture References

2 Chronicles 20:33

Context: The key verse for the 'as yet' of purpose: the high places were not taken away because the people had not prepared their hearts.

Exodus 9:17

Context: Used in the first message for the 'as yet' of presumption regarding Pharaoh exalting himself against God.

Deuteronomy 12:9

Context: Used in the first message for the 'as yet' of preparation: Israel not yet come to their rest and inheritance.

Joshua 14:11

Context: Caleb's declaration that he was as strong at 85 as at 40, illustrating the 'as yet' of promise.

1 Kings 14:23

Context: Describes the building of high places for idolatry on every high hill and under every green tree.

2 Kings 14:1-6

Context: Amaziah did right but did not remove the high places; the people still sacrificed there.

2 Chronicles 15:12-16

Context: Asa's covenant to seek God and his removal of his mother Maacah for idolatry, yet high places remained.

2 Chronicles 17:1-6

Context: Jehoshaphat walked in God's ways and took away the high places and groves out of Judah.

Jeremiah 31:22-23

Context: God promises a future reformation where 'as yet' they shall use a speech of blessing in the land.

2 Kings 13:23

Context: The 'as yet' of punishment: God did not destroy Israel yet because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Psalm 78:38

Context: God, being full of compassion, forgave iniquity and did not destroy them, turning His anger away many times.

Romans 2:4-5

Context: God's goodness leads to repentance, but hardness of heart stores up wrath for the day of judgment.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16

Context: God sent messengers out of compassion, but the people mocked them until there was no remedy, leading to destruction.

Hebrews 11:7

Context: Noah, warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark, illustrating hope before judgment.

John 20:9

Context: The 'as yet' of perception: the disciples did not yet know the Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.

Psalm 16:9-10

Context: Prophecy of Christ's resurrection: God will not leave His soul in hell nor suffer His Holy One to see corruption.

Matthew 12:40

Context: Jesus plainly states He will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, like Jonah.

1 Peter 1:10-12

Context: Prophets inquired and searched diligently about the salvation to come, not fully understanding their own prophecies.

1 John 3:2

Context: The 'as yet' of perfection: it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we shall be like Christ when He appears.

Philippians 3:20-21

Context: Christ will change our vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body.

Historical References

Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go

Context: Mentioned in review of the first message as an example of presumption, exalting himself against God.

Caleb's inheritance of Hebron

Context: Caleb waited 45 years to receive the land promised by God, demonstrating God's faithfulness.

King Amaziah of Judah

Context: A king who did right but failed to remove the high places because the people's hearts were not prepared.

King Asa of Judah

Context: A king who removed his mother Maacah from being queen for idolatry, yet the high places were not taken away.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah

Context: A king who initially removed high places, but later the people's unprepared hearts allowed them to remain.

The Babylonian captivity

Context: God brought the king of the Chaldees to destroy Judah after they mocked His messengers, as judgment.

Noah and the flood

Context: Noah was warned of things not seen as yet and built the ark, providing hope before judgment.

The disciples at the empty tomb

Context: Peter and John saw the linen clothes but did not yet understand the Scripture about the resurrection.

Important Quotes

the best leaders, the best rulers, the best magistrates cannot bring a reformation to pass if the people are not willing to do what's right.

Significance: Summarizes the core argument that heart preparation is essential for true reformation, not just godly leadership.

More people today are concerned with their traditions, with their habits, and with their customs than they are the Word of God.

Significance: Highlights the danger of tradition hindering obedience to God's Word, a key application of the high places.

As long as we are in the "as yet" stage, there is hope. He has not destroyed us as yet.

Significance: Emphasizes the hopeful aspect of God's delayed judgment, calling for repentance while there is time.

we could study until the day we died. But if God doesn't open our eyes, if God doesn't give us understanding, we'll never see anything.

Significance: Stresses the necessity of divine illumination alongside human study for spiritual perception.

it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body.

Significance: Expresses trust in God's promise of future glorification despite not knowing all the details.

that man is immortal until God is through with him.

Significance: A quote from an old father used to encourage believers that they will accomplish God's purposes before death.

Discussion Questions

Why does Weaver argue that reformation must begin with the people rather than with leaders? Do you agree?

Context: Weaver explains that even godly kings like Amaziah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat could not fully remove idolatry because the people's hearts were not prepared.

What are some modern 'high places' or traditions that might hinder true worship today?

Context: Weaver mentions traditions like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny as examples of customs that can take precedence over biblical truth.

How should the truth that God's delayed judgment is meant to lead to repentance affect our daily lives?

Context: Weaver cites Romans 2:4-5 and the example of Israel to show that God's goodness should lead us to repentance, not presumption.

Why do you think the disciples did not understand the Scripture about the resurrection, even though Jesus had told them plainly?

Context: Weaver discusses John 20:9 and the need for divine illumination, noting that even the prophets did not fully understand their own prophecies.

What does it mean to 'prepare your heart unto the God of your fathers'? How can we do this practically?

Context: The sermon centers on 2 Chronicles 20:33, where the people's unprepared hearts prevented reformation.

How does the hope of our future glorified bodies impact the way we live now?

Context: Weaver concludes with 1 John 3:2 and Philippians 3:20-21, emphasizing that we will be like Christ and fully satisfied.

Applications

Prepare your heart for true reformation

Summary: Weaver urges believers to examine their hearts and turn from traditions and sins that hinder obedience to God's Word, so that reformation can occur.

Evidence: He states, 'when a true reformation occurs, all of the habits, all of the customs, all of the traditions that are unbiblical will quickly and easily fall by the wayside.'

Repent while there is still time

Summary: Weaver warns that God's delayed judgment is an opportunity for repentance; abusing His grace leads to inevitable wrath.

Evidence: He says, 'As long as we are in the "as yet" stage, there is hope. He has not destroyed us as yet.'

Seek God for understanding of Scripture

Summary: Weaver encourages diligent study and prayer for divine illumination, acknowledging that we may not yet understand everything but can grow in perception.

Evidence: He advises, 'Seek the Lord for understanding, study, and ask Him to open your eyes.'

Trust in the hope of future glorification

Summary: Weaver points believers to the promise that Christ will transform our bodies to be like His, providing comfort and motivation in the present.

Evidence: He says, 'it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body.'

Recognize Christ as our hope in every area

Summary: Weaver concludes that Jesus is our hope financially, spiritually, politically, and in every way, and as long as we are alive, we can accomplish God's purposes.

Evidence: He states, 'Jesus Christ is our hope in every area of life... as long as He has not taken us home, as yet, there is hope that we can accomplish everything that He's ordained for us.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:53:13Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:41:53Z

Clean Transcript

As Yet - Part 3 of 3

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Open our Bibles today to 2 Chronicles chapter 20, 2 Chronicles chapter 20. I want to bring the third and final message that I own on the subject "As Yet." I never finished it, but I want to do so today. So 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33, and I will take a few moments to review. The Bible says, "Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." We've covered two messages concerning this phrase "as yet." In fact, I found it very interesting to see how this phrase is used in the Bible. The very first message, you will remember, dealt basically with two points. The first one was the "as yet" of presumption, and it was based upon Exodus chapter 9 and verse 17, where it was said of Pharaoh, "As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go." So the word "presumption" there was used to convey the concept of that which is unwarrantable, unbecoming, and impertinent.
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The Hebrew word actually means to lift oneself up and to act as a superior, and basically to look down upon someone. And so Pharaoh then was refusing to acknowledge God, God's law, God's word, and God's people. He was refusing to be humbled, and of course he exalted himself against God. The Bible says in Proverbs 16 and verse 18, that "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." The second point I covered was the "as yet" of preparation, which was based on Deuteronomy chapter 12 and verse 9, where God said to Israel, "For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you." And basically in that chapter I shared with you how God was preparing the people to go receive their inheritance, and He was telling them how they were to live, how they were to act, and how they were to worship Him, not only while they were waiting, but also when they got into the land as well.
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And I pointed out the implications very simple. We have not as yet entered into our inheritance, that is literally, physically. And so the Bible tells us in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 2, "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments." And verse 3, "And His commandments are not grievous," or "this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous." So until we get to our inheritance, we basically keep His commandments. And then I pointed out the fact that in a little while, according to the Scripture, the wicked would be no more, and in a little while our Lord certainly would come.
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The second message I dealt with was Caleb. You remember that passage in Joshua chapter 14, verse 11, where Caleb said this, "For as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, both to go out and to come in." And so this was the "as yet" of promise. If you remember that it was Joshua and Caleb that brought back the correct word about Canaan and honored God in their testimony and what they had seen. And God said that Caleb was going to enter into the land. In fact, God undertook and God promised that Caleb would have Hebron where his feet had trod. And the amazing thing is in Joshua chapter 14 and verse 11, when he said, "As yet I am as strong this day as when Moses sent me," it was 45 years later and he was 85 years of age, and God kept His promise. And God not only kept Caleb, but He kept him not only alive, but He kept him strong, because at 85 he was just as strong as he was when he was at 40.
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And like I mentioned to James and some of the others, I said it would be mighty embarrassing to get whipped by an 85-year-old man, and yet that is what Caleb could do. God had kept him. And you remember in Deuteronomy 1 and verse 36, God purposefully and specifically said that He, the sovereign God of heaven and earth, would undertake to make sure that Caleb got into the land and that his children inherited that land. And so it was an amazing thing to me when you stop and consider the fact that it was God Himself who undertook and gave that assurance to Caleb. And then, of course, we found out that God is faithful even 45 years later.
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Most of us want everything; we want it right now. Caleb had to wait for 45 years. So today we are going to come to this fourth point, the "as yet" of purpose. So look in verse 33 again, he said, "Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." You know, it is interesting as you read through the Old Testament that there were several kings that undertook to eradicate idolatry out of the land. They were wanting to restore the pure worship of God as it is revealed in His law. And the amazing thing is the Scripture tells us here that some of these kings were not successful, not because they did not want to do that which was right, but because the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
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Now Amaziah was one of those individuals who wanted to honor God. Joash was his father. Joash was a good man, and an honest man, and one that worshiped the Lord, and so was Amaziah. So I want you to hold 2 Chronicles, but look in your Bibles to 1 Kings chapter 14, 1 Kings chapter 14. Back a book or two, 1 Kings chapter 14, and look if you would please at verse 23. 1 Kings chapter 14 and verse 23.
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Watch what the Scripture says, just to show you the high places were high places for idolatry. The Bible says, "For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree." So here were these high places. The high places were basically places of idolatry. The interesting thing is the Bible says they built them on every high hill and under every green tree. These high places were usually on a mountain or on a hill because of the shadow or because of the shade.
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For instance, in Hosea chapter 4 and verse 13, you don't have to turn there. Here is what God says, "They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good." In other words, they wanted to be cool and comfortable as they worshiped their idols, is what it amounted to. So here are these high places; they should not have been, and yet they were. And so several kings undertook to abolish these high places. Now if you will look in 2 Kings chapter 14, you are going to find about Amaziah, 2 Kings chapter 14 beginning there with verse 1. 2 Kings 14 and verse 1. Look what the Bible says, "In the second year of Joash the son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah."
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He was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: look carefully, "as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places." So the interesting thing is, as good as Amaziah was—in fact, if you will look down to verse 5 to show you how he wanted to be biblical—"And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin."
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So here was a man that was trying to do that which was right and biblical, and yet the Bible says at the same time the high places were not taken away. Now I want you to turn over to 2 Chronicles chapter 15, and 2 Chronicles chapter 15, because we are going to see that Asa was another king that endeavored to remove idolatry out of the land. Asa was so dedicated that he even removed his mother from being queen because she had built an idol. So in 2 Chronicles chapter 15, beginning there with verse 12, the Bible says this, watch carefully, 2 Chronicles chapter 15 and verse 12, "And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; that whosoever would not seek the Lord God
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of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. And they sware unto the Lord with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the Lord gave them rest round about."
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And also concerning Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron." So evidently Asa was a man of conviction as well. And by the way, let me say this, I've told you this in times past, but I want to just reinforce it in your mind.
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Every time you see the word "grove" in the Bible, with the one exception in the book of Genesis where it says that Abraham planted a grove, okay. When you and I think of a grove, we think of a grove of trees, okay. Now Abraham did plant a grove of trees, but all the other times in the Bible when they say they built a grove, it is actually the word Asherah.
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Asherim, which means a sex goddess. In other words, here was an image of a sex goddess that they are worshiping. So every time you see the word "grove," other than the one that Abraham planted, it is always used in an idolatrous place. This is why Maacah, the mother of Asa, he removed, because if you will look again in verse 16, "And also concerning Maacah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove." In other words, here was a grove of these other idols. She made herself one, and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burned it at the brook Kidron. Usually they were made of wood, and therefore it says that as well.
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So here was a man that really and truly wanted to undertake a revival. But notice if you would please, if you would verse 17, notice what the Bible says, after he removed his mother, "But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days." So all that Asa did and the reform that God gave during his reign, they did not remove the high places.
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So if you will turn right over to 2 Chronicles 17, you are going to find it seems as if Jehoshaphat succeeded where others failed. Watch, 2 Chronicles 17 verse 1, "And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah." So Jehoshaphat now has been able to do seemingly what none of the others have been able to do.
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He took away the high places and the groves out of Judah. Now here's the question. If Jehoshaphat took away the high places and the groves out of Judah, look in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33. How is it that we read this now? "Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." So the Bible tells us that on the one hand that Jehoshaphat had taken away the high places, now the Bible tells us in verse 33, the high places had not been taken away.
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So is there a conflict? And the answer is no. The truth is there are two possible explanations as to why it says Jehoshaphat took them away and then it says the high places were not taken away. First of all, it could refer to the fact that idolatry had been suppressed very generally speaking. That is, as a whole, most of the idolatry had been done away with. Most of the high places had either been destroyed or removed. However, that would not mean that not every single individual could not slip around and build a high place
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and do that which is wicked and wrong. In other words, there may have been some there, but they would have been a minority and certainly not a majority. So there is a possibility that they could exist in some small degree. The second explanation would be this: you have to remember that the people now, out of habit and custom and tradition, were used to worshiping in these high places. And notwithstanding the fact that the temple had already been built, some would assume that they could worship the one true and the living God in those high places as well. Now, can God be worshiped anywhere?
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And the answer is yes. That is true. But there is a public worship as well as a private worship.
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Now these people would have been wrong, but the fact is they could have gone there. I've had people tell me, and everybody can smile at this because you've heard it yourself. I've heard people tell me, "Well, Brother Weaver, I can worship the Lord on the lake as easily as I can worship Him in church, so I'm going fishing Sunday." Well, can you not worship the Lord on the lake? Of course you could. Most people don't, and most people won't. But you see, what you do privately in your worship is one thing, but then there is the public worship that God demands, and God does not demand the worship publicly on the lake. He demands it in His temple or in His house.
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That is why He says, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is." In other words, there is a time for public worship. So it could be that these people then were just simply trying to worship God. It would not be the fault of Jehoshaphat. It would be the fault of the people. Look in verse 33, "For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." So what that means is simply this: they complied with Jehoshaphat's reformation because they could not but for shame do otherwise, but their hearts were not in it. They did not have a zeal for God, and they did not act out of a good principle or with any zeal or resolution. So let me put it to you like this, and I want you to think about this. Everybody says if we could just get a good godly man elected to public office. Now I'm for having good godly men in public office, don't misunderstand me, but I want to point out the fact that the best leaders, the best rulers, the best magistrates cannot bring a reformation to pass if the people are not willing to do what's right.
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It's impossible. There was no greater teacher than the Lord Jesus Christ. And when He got through teaching in John chapter 6, the Bible said that those who heard Him said, "This is a hard saying; who can hear it?" And from that time forth many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Isn't that amazing? You can't get any more perfect than Jesus Christ. You can't be a better teacher than Jesus Christ, and yet they would not listen to Him. You see, but the problem is we have the exact same problem today they had in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. More people today are concerned with their traditions, with their habits, and with their customs than they are the Word of God.
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I've always said I could split the average church with one sermon. All I have to do is preach against tradition. And that's the truth. I'm going to tell you something: you start messing with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and you've got problems in most churches. Because most churches had rather have that than they had the truth of the Word of God. And you always hear something like this, "But we've always done it like this." Or, "This is the way my great-grandfather did it, and my grandfather did it, and my grandmother—we've always done it like this." Now, let me just point something out. Traditions can be biblical, but usually they are not. Traditions are usually made by man. May I say this rather bluntly? Traditions were the downfall of the Pharisees.
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What did they ask our Lord? "Why do you not keep the traditions of the fathers?" They could care less about what our Lord was teaching. They could care less about what the Law of God said. They were more concerned about their traditions. And the fact of the matter is we want it our way regardless of what God says. We want to do what we want to do.
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Now we have to understand that it is not sufficient to have a ruler that wants to do that which is right, holy, and godly. Certainly we should have that. But it is insufficient in and of itself. A ruler cannot bring about a reformation. He cannot bring about a change himself. When you talk about reformation, and when you talk about revival, usually it is not top down. It always begins bottom up. That is, it begins with the people. And when the people prepare their hearts, and when the people do what is right, then inevitably it flows up to the top, because the people are going to make sure that they have good godly rulers. But what we say is this: if we could just get a good man in Washington, if we could just get a good man in Atlanta, if we could just get a good man in Tallahassee, it wouldn't do a bit of good if the people's hearts are not there to do that which is right.
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And so this is exactly what the Bible is telling us. "Howbeit the high places are not taken away." Why? "For as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers." Do you understand that when a true reformation occurs, all of the habits, all of the customs, all of the traditions that are unbiblical will quickly and easily fall by the wayside.
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We just will not want to do it like that anymore. Why? Because our hearts will be set on doing it right. So here then this "as yet" that is very clearly revealed to us in 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 33. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Jeremiah chapter 31, Jeremiah chapter 31, which is indeed the chapter dealing with the New Covenant. But if you will look in Jeremiah chapter 31 and look at verses 22 and 23, so here is a text that indicates that we may safely trust in our Lord to give us a true biblical reformation. So we have it here in Jeremiah chapter 31, and notice if you would verses 22 and 23, "And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." That is Jeremiah—that is 30, 31 is what I want. He says, "How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter?
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For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man," which of course refers to the virgin birth. Then he says this in verse 23, "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness." Notice he said, "As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah, in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity." So when God does something, it does indeed work. And God says here they shall as yet do this.
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Now I want you to look in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 13. 2 Kings chapter 13, because here is the fifth—notice if you would 2 Kings chapter 13 verse 23, 2 Kings 13 verse 23, it is the "as yet" of punishment. 2 Kings chapter 13 verse 23, "And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." Do you see that? Here is the "as yet" of punishment. He said the Lord was gracious unto them, had compassion on them, had respect unto them, and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, "and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet."
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Let me tell you something: it is indeed a truth that God is gracious and that God is merciful. When you look at Israel particularly, God could have and should have destroyed them a multitude of times. You remember He said in one place, "Yet these ten times ye have provoked me." Each time would have been a suitable time for God to slay them, but He did not. I want you to hold this passage, but look if you would to Psalm 78 and verse 38. Psalm 78 and verse 38. Here's the truth. Psalm 78 verse 38. If you read Psalm 78, you will find out how often Israel provoked God. In fact, let me just show you. Notice if you would please verse 21, "Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel; because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation." Skip down if you would please. Verse 31, "The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
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For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works." Verse 34, "When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer." And watch verse 36, "Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant." Watch, "But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not.
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Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath." Isn't that amazing? "Many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath." In other words, if God had not had compassion, if God had not turned his anger away, if God had stirred up all of his wrath, all of them would have been killed.
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And may I point out the fact that is one of the reasons America is still in existence. That's one of the reasons you and I are still alive today, is because God is compassionate and God is merciful. That's what the Scripture said, "many a time." Then if you will look back in 2 Kings chapter 13 and notice again verse 23 the latter part. He gives you a second reason why God did not destroy them.
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Because of His mercy and compassion. But then the Bible says, "because he had respect unto them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." In other words, God was merciful unto them because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here is the amazing thing: God is faithful even when we are unfaithful. You can read Psalm 78 all you want, and you can see the unfaithfulness of God's people. We just read just a few of those verses. But God still remained faithful. God still fed them. God still honored His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did not give them over as yet because of that covenant.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 2. Now let me try to put this together for you so that you can see the tender mercies and compassions and faithfulness of God. Look at what the Scripture says. Romans 2 verses 4 and 5. He says, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
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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; who will render to every man according to his deeds." Now, stop and think with me. "Many a time he turned away his wrath. Many a time he did not stir up all of his anger." And what does the Scripture say? He had compassion upon them, He had mercy upon them, moreover He remembered that covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
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So here is my question: if you and I recognize the fact that we should have been destroyed, even our country should have been destroyed, what should that lead us to do? Well, look back in verse 4, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" And in other words, everything that God does for us should remind us that we need to repent and turn from our sins and turn to Him. So His goodness and His mercy here should lead us to repentance. Now listen carefully.
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When those graces are abused and misused and despised, the only thing left is God's judgment. That's why he said, "But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath."
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Now, I want you to turn back in your Bibles to 2 Chronicles chapter 36. Let me just show it to you. Here's a perfect illustration of what I'm talking about, the "as yet" of punishment. The Bible said he had not as yet destroyed them. Well, look in 2 Chronicles chapter 36 and notice if you would please verse 15. 2 Chronicles 36 verse 15, "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." Now how do you know when God has compassion upon a people? The answer is He sends them His preachers, He sends them His prophets, He sends them His messengers to declare His Word. So watch verse 16, what did these people do? "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
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Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand."
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Now, go back and look at verse 15. "And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place." So notice "messengers" is plural in verse 15, he sent more than one. Verse 16, "But they mocked the messengers," plural, "of God, and despised his," singular, "his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy." So whose words were they actually despising? They were despising God's word. They were misusing the prophets.
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He had not destroyed them as yet. But when it reached this stage, He did destroy them. "Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand."
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Now, if you'll go back in your Bibles to 2 Kings chapter 17, let me show you the same truth stated another way. 2 Kings chapter 17 and notice if you would please verse 18. In fact, we may look at this in a little greater detail next Sunday. Notice 2 Kings chapter 17 and verse 18, "Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only." Wow. Now skip down to verse 20, "And the Lord rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight." Wow. So what did God do?
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God said here is the "as yet" of punishment. You deserve to be punished. You've been wicked. You've rebelled, you've disobeyed, but because of my compassions and because of my covenant and my faithfulness, I have not destroyed you as yet. So what that boils down to is this, folks. The truth is we must turn or burn. We must repent or perish. It's just that simple. The immutable God, the unchangeable God that judged Israel and that judged Judah will also judge us if we misuse and abuse His grace and His mercy. He cleaned house in Israel. He cleaned house in Judah. And He is equally able to clean house in America.
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And if you and I think that we can rebel against Him, and despise His Son, and trample His law under our feet, and escape His judgment, we are not only deceived, we are absolutely stupid to the nth degree. It is impossible. It is impossible. I want you to see this. As long as we are in the "as yet" stage, there is hope. He has not destroyed us as yet. As yet. As long as we are in that "as yet" stage, there is hope. I want you to look in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 7 and what the Scripture says. I want you to note, if you would, how this is phrased. Look in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 7, because we're reading about Noah. Hebrews 11 verse 7. Watch carefully. Hebrews 11 verse 7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Did you hear that?
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"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet." What was the "as yet" in this context? It was the judgment. It was the flood. For 120 years he was building the ark. There was hope while he was building the ark. But once that "as yet" stage passed, there was no hope. So the Scripture tells us we have been warned, we must prepare, we must repent, and we must obey. That is the "as yet" of punishment. As long as we are in the "as yet" stage, there is hope.
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Now, I want you to go to the New Testament, to the book of John, chapter 20, and verse 9. I've got two more points. John chapter 20 and verse 9. Here is the "as yet" of perception. And this may surprise you. John 20 and verse 9. And I hope that you'll pay attention to how phrases are used in the Bible. Notice John chapter 20, if you would, and verse 9.
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Now we're talking about our Lord's disciples. "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." Wow. Now this is where Peter and John have gone to the sepulchre. Look if you would please in verse 6, "Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre," that's John, "and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."
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I've got a question to ask you. How could they know not the Scripture? It's plainly revealed in the Scripture. How could they not know that He would rise the third day? He told them. And yet the Bible says, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." In other words, they did not understand those Old Testament types, and figures, and emblems that prefigured Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. Moreover, the truth was plainly stated not only in the Old Testament, but our Lord told them personally. Let me show you.
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Look in your Bibles to Psalm 16, Psalm 16 and verses 9 and 10. Psalm 16 verses 9 and 10. Here it is. Psalm 16 verse 9. And this verse and this passage is applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament. "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." In other words, our Lord was not going to see corruption. Yes, He was going to die. Yes, He was going to be buried. But yes, He was also going to rise again from the dead. If you will look in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 12 and look in verse 40. Look how plainly our Lord makes this known to His disciples. Matthew 12 and verse 40. Look what He says. Matthew 12 verse 40.
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"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Now, what did our Lord just get out of His mouth? He's going to die, He's going to be buried, He's going to be in the earth three days, three nights, and then He's going to rise again. Isn't that simple?
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See, you and I can look back upon these scriptures and we say, we see it. Why couldn't they see it? How foolish could they have been? I mean, those were smart men, and they walked with Christ. Why could they not see it? Well, you have to remember you and I are understanding this after the fact, after the reality. Hindsight is always better, I can assure you. But do you realize those apostles were nothing more than mere men? They did not have perfect understanding.
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They did not comprehend everything that our Lord said, and there were occasions when they were even afraid to ask Him. And do you remember it's in Matthew 15 and verse 16, our Lord looked at His disciples and He said this, "Are ye also yet without understanding?" Do you not understand? And then again in Mark 7 verse 18, He said unto them, "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him?" What did He say? "Are ye also yet without understanding?" It may shock you to realize early apostles and disciples were not perfect; they did not have perfect understanding.
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In fact, let me show you something. Look in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 1. Here is an interesting thing: it is not only that the apostles did not have perfect understanding, a lot of the Old Testament prophets did not have understanding. They did not even know everything they were prophesying. 1 Peter chapter 1, notice if you would please, and let's begin reading there with verse 10. 1 Peter 1 verse 10, watch it carefully. "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently," notice what they did, they inquired and searched diligently, "who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.
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Now watch the next verse, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." So even these Old Testament prophets, when they were prophesying about Jesus Christ and everything that involved Jesus Christ, they did not understand it all.
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They had to inquire and search diligently. And he says, mainly they were ministering to us, not to themselves. So we have to remember not everybody, not everybody understands everything. So here's my question. Why is it that we in this day and age, who have all the Bibles that we want, all the study materials that we need, why is it we do not as yet understand a lot of things in the Scripture?
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Stop and think about that. Why is it we do not? Let me give you an answer. The Apostle Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 7, "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
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Now there are two truths there. First of all, he told Timothy, "Consider what I say." Think about it. Meditate upon it. Ruminate on it. Contemplate it. And then secondly, "the Lord give thee understanding in all things." So understanding is the gift of God. However, we are responsible to meditate and contemplate, to study and to think. That's our responsibility. But we could study until the day we died. But if God doesn't open our eyes, if God doesn't give us understanding, we'll never see anything.
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The point I'm trying to make is this. You don't go to bed dumb and wake up smart. You don't. You don't go to bed wishing that you understood something and wake up the next morning and there it is all perfectly laid out in your mind. It just does not work like that in real life, and it certainly does not work like that when it comes to Scripture.
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The truth of the matter is this: we must consider, we must study, we must meditate, we must ruminate upon God's Word, and at the same time we have to seek God to give us understanding. We may not as yet understand certain things, but by His grace, using the means that He has ordained, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, we still may perceive them and understand them. So, we don't give up just because we say, "Well, I don't see that right now." Fine. Seek the Lord for understanding, study, and ask Him to open your eyes. One last passage.
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I want you to look in 1 John chapter 5—1 John chapter 3 it is. 1 John chapter 3. Here's the last point, and that is the "as yet" of perfection. 1 John 3, verse 2. I want you to note what he says. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God." Thank God for that. "And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." Now I understand verse 2 does not have the phrase "as yet" in it. But I want you to look at it like this: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not as yet appear," which is the same truth, "what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
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I had a discussion recently with a friend concerning our resurrection bodies. You know, it is very interesting when you read some commentaries on what some of the men say concerning a resurrection body or a glorified body. Paul makes it clear in the Scripture that our bodies will be new, that they will be glorified. If you were to ask me to describe our glorified bodies, I could generally, but could not particularly in every detail, because the Scripture does not reveal everything. One thing I can assure you: our glorified bodies will not be flesh and blood, I can assure you of that. Because the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 50, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." So flesh and blood is not going to be in our bodies. However, our bodies will be flesh and bone.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 24. He's going to tell you this. Luke chapter 24. Watch it very closely. Luke 24. And let's begin reading there with verse 36. This is our Lord's glorified body. Luke 24, verse 36. "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."
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Now, if you'll go back to verse 33, "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them." So they were in a room in a building. Verse 36, "And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them." In other words, He just appeared. And He saith unto them, "Peace be unto you."
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Did He walk through a wall? I don't know. Did He come through the door? I don't know. The Bible just says He appeared in a room. Watch verse 37, "But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." So His resurrected, glorified body was flesh and bones. He had the same hands. He had the same feet. Verse 40, "And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet."
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And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, "Have ye here any meat?" And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. I can tell you this based upon this Scripture: number one, our bodies will be flesh and bone, and number two, we will be able to eat. And I'm thankful we can eat fish. I love fish. That's what our Lord ate. Okay, we can eat fish. The interesting thing is I've had people ask
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a question, "Brother Weaver, do you think we will know each other in Heaven?" And my response is always the same: I don't think we are going to be any more stupid there than we are here. And if we know each other here, obviously we are going to know each other in Heaven. And if we have the same hands and feet, same features, sure we are going to know everybody. And you have to remember we are going to have perfect knowledge at that particular time. Don't pin me down and say, "Well, what are our bodies going to look like?"
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I have no earthly idea. I suppose we'll look like ourselves. You know? Maybe, David, we'll have more hair. I don't know. But I'm just simply saying there will be a new glorified body. It does not as yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him. Let me show you the truth that I rely upon. If you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. Philippians chapter 3. And look if you would please, beginning there with verse 21. Galatians 3—well, in fact, let's begin with verse 20. The Apostle Paul writes, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." So he says, "We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
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So the point I'm trying to make, folks, it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body. And I can assure you, whatever our bodies are like in heaven, we'll be totally satisfied with them. We'll be happy with them. We'll be thankful for them. There will not be someone walking around saying, "Well, I wish I wasn't so fat," or "I wish I wasn't so thin," or "I wish I had more hair." No, no, no, no. Whatever our bodies are, we will be absolutely, totally satisfied. That's it.
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Now, let me just make an application, bringing this brief series to a close. If we have not as yet experienced the wrath and judgment of God, there is hope. If we have not as yet perceived the truth of God, as long as we study and seek the Lord for understanding, there is hope. If we have not as yet received a reformation, as long as we turn from our sins and turn back to the Lord and worship Him according to His Word, there is hope. May I remind you that Jesus Christ is our hope in every area of life. He is our hope financially. He is our hope spiritually. He is our hope politically. He is our hope emotionally. He is our hope mentally. He is our hope economically. He is our hope in every imaginable way. And as long as He has not taken us home, as yet, there is hope that we can accomplish everything that He's ordained for us.
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In fact, you realize that one of the old fathers said it like this: that man is immortal until God is through with him. You're not going to die before your time. When God is through, then He will take us home. Then we'll have the glorified bodies. And then we can say, we know exactly what they're going to be like because we'll have them. Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We thank you for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. He is our hope. Give us grace, Father, that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Help us, Lord, to bow to Thee and to give Thee honor and worship through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
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♪
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T21:53:13Z

As Yet - Part 3 of 3

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver concludes his series on the phrase 'as yet' by examining its use in Scripture to convey purpose, punishment, perception, and perfection. He explains that the failure to remove high places in Judah was due to the people's unprepared hearts, emphasizing that true reformation must begin with the people, not just godly leaders. He warns that God's delayed judgment is an opportunity for repentance, and that understanding Scripture requires both study and divine illumination. Finally, he points to the hope of our future glorified bodies, which are not yet fully revealed but will be like Christ's.

Review of Previous Messages

Scripture Reading — 2 Chronicles 20:33

"Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers."

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 12:9

"For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you."

Review of Caleb's 'As Yet' of Promise

Weaver reviews the second message on Caleb's declaration in Joshua 14:11 that he was as strong at 85 as at 40, highlighting God's faithfulness to His promise over 45 years.

The second message I dealt with was Caleb. You remember that passage in Joshua chapter 14, verse 11, where Caleb said this,

Scripture Reading — Joshua 14:11

"For as yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, both to go out and to come in."

The 'As Yet' of Purpose: Unprepared Hearts

Scripture Reading — 1 Kings 14:23

"For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree."

Scripture Reading — 2 Chronicles 17:1-6

"And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; but sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah."

So Jehoshaphat now has been able to do seemingly what none of the others have been able to do.

Explaining the Apparent Contradiction

The Problem of Tradition and Unwilling Hearts

The 'As Yet' of Punishment: God's Delayed Judgment

Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 13:23

" of punishment. He said the Lord was gracious unto them, had compassion on them, had respect unto them, and because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, "

The 'As Yet' of Perception: Understanding Scripture

Now we're talking about our Lord's disciples.

Scripture Reading — John 20:9

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Scripture Reading — John 20:9

"and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Scripture Reading — John 20:9

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead."

Look in your Bibles to Psalm 16, Psalm 16 and verses 9 and 10. Psalm 16 verses 9 and 10. Here it is. Psalm 16 verse 9. And this verse and this passage is applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 16:9-10

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

The 'As Yet' of Perfection: Our Future Glorified Bodies

Weaver concludes with 1 John 3:2, explaining that it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we will be like Christ with glorified bodies of flesh and bone, able to eat, and fully satisfied.

I want you to look in 1 John chapter 5—1 John chapter 3 it is. 1 John chapter 3. Here's the last point, and that is the "as yet" of perfection. 1 John 3, verse 2. I want you to note what he says.

Scripture Reading — 1 John 3:2

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God." Thank God for that. "And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." Now I understand verse 2 does not have the phrase "as yet" in it. But I want you to look at it like this: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not as yet appear," which is the same truth, "what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:20-21

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

So he says,

Scripture Reading — Philippians 3:20-21

"We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

Application: Hope in the 'As Yet'

Weaver applies the series by urging that as long as we are in the 'as yet' stage—before judgment, before full understanding, before reformation—there is hope in Christ for every area of life.

As Yet - Part 3 of 3

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	D5_SkXzNmrU
Subject	Civil Government
Course	Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority
Genre	Sermon
Date	2017-07-04
Dictation Name
Book	Book 098: As Yet — Chapter 3
Source Timed Segments	74

Lecture Guide

Outline

Review of Previous Messages: Weaver reviews the first two messages on 'as yet': the 'as yet' of presumption from Exodus 9:17 regarding Pharaoh's pride, and the 'as yet' of preparation from Deuteronomy 12:9 about Israel not yet entering their inheritance.
Review of Caleb's 'As Yet' of Promise: Weaver reviews the second message on Caleb's declaration in Joshua 14:11 that he was as strong at 85 as at 40, highlighting God's faithfulness to His promise over 45 years.
The 'As Yet' of Purpose: Unprepared Hearts: Weaver introduces the 'as yet' of purpose from 2 Chronicles 20:33, explaining that the high places remained because the people had not prepared their hearts, despite the efforts of godly kings like Amaziah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat.
Explaining the Apparent Contradiction: Weaver addresses the seeming conflict between 2 Chronicles 17:6 (Jehoshaphat removed high places) and 20:33 (high places not taken away), suggesting either a general suppression or the people's continued worship of God in high places out of tradition.
The Problem of Tradition and Unwilling Hearts: Weaver argues that even the best leaders cannot bring reformation if the people's hearts are not willing, comparing it to the Pharisees' love of tradition over God's Word and modern church traditions like Santa Claus.
The 'As Yet' of Punishment: God's Delayed Judgment: Weaver examines 2 Kings 13:23, where God did not destroy Israel 'as yet' because of His compassion and covenant, warning that abused grace leads to judgment, as seen in 2 Chronicles 36 when they mocked the prophets.
The 'As Yet' of Perception: Understanding Scripture: Weaver discusses John 20:9, where the disciples did not yet know the Scripture about the resurrection, emphasizing that understanding comes through study and God's gift, and that even prophets did not fully understand their prophecies.
The 'As Yet' of Perfection: Our Future Glorified Bodies: Weaver concludes with 1 John 3:2, explaining that it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we will be like Christ with glorified bodies of flesh and bone, able to eat, and fully satisfied.
Application: Hope in the 'As Yet': Weaver applies the series by urging that as long as we are in the 'as yet' stage—before judgment, before full understanding, before reformation—there is hope in Christ for every area of life.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Reformation must begin with the people, not just leaders.

Weaver argues that even the best kings could not remove idolatry because the people's hearts were not prepared, showing that top-down reform is insufficient without grassroots change.

He states, 'a ruler cannot bring about a reformation. He cannot bring about a change himself. When you talk about reformation, and when you talk about revival, usually it is not top down. It always begins bottom up.'

God's mercy in delaying judgment should lead to repentance.

Weaver contends that God's compassion and covenant faithfulness are reasons He has not destroyed us yet, but this grace is meant to lead us to repentance, not presumption.

He cites Romans 2:4-5, 'the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance,' and warns that abusing this grace stores up wrath.

Traditions can become obstacles to true worship.

Weaver argues that just as the people clung to high places out of habit, modern Christians often prioritize traditions like Santa Claus over biblical truth, hindering reformation.

He says, 'you start messing with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and you've got problems in most churches. Because most churches had rather have that than they had the truth of the Word of God.'

Spiritual understanding requires both human effort and divine enablement.

Weaver explains that the disciples' lack of understanding about the resurrection, despite clear Scripture and Jesus' teaching, shows that perception is a gift from God that comes through study and prayer.

He references 2 Timothy 2:7, 'Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things,' to show the dual responsibility.

The 'as yet' of our future state provides hope and motivation.

Weaver argues that not knowing exactly what our glorified bodies will be like should not cause anxiety, because we trust that we will be like Christ and fully satisfied.

He says, 'whatever our bodies are like in heaven, we'll be totally satisfied with them.'

Scripture References

2 Chronicles 20:33: The key verse for the 'as yet' of purpose: the high places were not taken away because the people had not prepared their hearts.
Exodus 9:17: Used in the first message for the 'as yet' of presumption regarding Pharaoh exalting himself against God.
Deuteronomy 12:9: Used in the first message for the 'as yet' of preparation: Israel not yet come to their rest and inheritance.
Joshua 14:11: Caleb's declaration that he was as strong at 85 as at 40, illustrating the 'as yet' of promise.
1 Kings 14:23: Describes the building of high places for idolatry on every high hill and under every green tree.
2 Kings 14:1-6: Amaziah did right but did not remove the high places; the people still sacrificed there.
2 Chronicles 15:12-16: Asa's covenant to seek God and his removal of his mother Maacah for idolatry, yet high places remained.
2 Chronicles 17:1-6: Jehoshaphat walked in God's ways and took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
Jeremiah 31:22-23: God promises a future reformation where 'as yet' they shall use a speech of blessing in the land.
2 Kings 13:23: The 'as yet' of punishment: God did not destroy Israel yet because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Psalm 78:38: God, being full of compassion, forgave iniquity and did not destroy them, turning His anger away many times.
Romans 2:4-5: God's goodness leads to repentance, but hardness of heart stores up wrath for the day of judgment.
2 Chronicles 36:15-16: God sent messengers out of compassion, but the people mocked them until there was no remedy, leading to destruction.
Hebrews 11:7: Noah, warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear and prepared an ark, illustrating hope before judgment.
John 20:9: The 'as yet' of perception: the disciples did not yet know the Scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.
Psalm 16:9-10: Prophecy of Christ's resurrection: God will not leave His soul in hell nor suffer His Holy One to see corruption.
Matthew 12:40: Jesus plainly states He will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, like Jonah.
1 Peter 1:10-12: Prophets inquired and searched diligently about the salvation to come, not fully understanding their own prophecies.
1 John 3:2: The 'as yet' of perfection: it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we shall be like Christ when He appears.
Philippians 3:20-21: Christ will change our vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body.

Historical References

Pharaoh's refusal to let Israel go: Mentioned in review of the first message as an example of presumption, exalting himself against God.
Caleb's inheritance of Hebron: Caleb waited 45 years to receive the land promised by God, demonstrating God's faithfulness.
King Amaziah of Judah: A king who did right but failed to remove the high places because the people's hearts were not prepared.
King Asa of Judah: A king who removed his mother Maacah from being queen for idolatry, yet the high places were not taken away.
King Jehoshaphat of Judah: A king who initially removed high places, but later the people's unprepared hearts allowed them to remain.
The Babylonian captivity: God brought the king of the Chaldees to destroy Judah after they mocked His messengers, as judgment.
Noah and the flood: Noah was warned of things not seen as yet and built the ark, providing hope before judgment.
The disciples at the empty tomb: Peter and John saw the linen clothes but did not yet understand the Scripture about the resurrection.

Important Quotes

the best leaders, the best rulers, the best magistrates cannot bring a reformation to pass if the people are not willing to do what's right.

Summarizes the core argument that heart preparation is essential for true reformation, not just godly leadership.

More people today are concerned with their traditions, with their habits, and with their customs than they are the Word of God.

Highlights the danger of tradition hindering obedience to God's Word, a key application of the high places.

As long as we are in the "as yet" stage, there is hope. He has not destroyed us as yet.

Emphasizes the hopeful aspect of God's delayed judgment, calling for repentance while there is time.

we could study until the day we died. But if God doesn't open our eyes, if God doesn't give us understanding, we'll never see anything.

Stresses the necessity of divine illumination alongside human study for spiritual perception.

it is sufficient for me to know that He will change my vile body like unto His glorious body.

Expresses trust in God's promise of future glorification despite not knowing all the details.

that man is immortal until God is through with him.

A quote from an old father used to encourage believers that they will accomplish God's purposes before death.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

Why does Weaver argue that reformation must begin with the people rather than with leaders? Do you agree?

[Context]

Weaver explains that even godly kings like Amaziah, Asa, and Jehoshaphat could not fully remove idolatry because the people's hearts were not prepared.

[Question]

What are some modern 'high places' or traditions that might hinder true worship today?

[Context]

Weaver mentions traditions like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny as examples of customs that can take precedence over biblical truth.

[Question]

How should the truth that God's delayed judgment is meant to lead to repentance affect our daily lives?

[Context]

Weaver cites Romans 2:4-5 and the example of Israel to show that God's goodness should lead us to repentance, not presumption.

[Question]

Why do you think the disciples did not understand the Scripture about the resurrection, even though Jesus had told them plainly?

[Context]

Weaver discusses John 20:9 and the need for divine illumination, noting that even the prophets did not fully understand their own prophecies.

[Question]

What does it mean to 'prepare your heart unto the God of your fathers'? How can we do this practically?

[Context]

The sermon centers on 2 Chronicles 20:33, where the people's unprepared hearts prevented reformation.

[Question]

How does the hope of our future glorified bodies impact the way we live now?

[Context]

Weaver concludes with 1 John 3:2 and Philippians 3:20-21, emphasizing that we will be like Christ and fully satisfied.

Applications

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