CHRISTIANS KNOW LIFE AFTER DEATH IS IN GOOD HANDS- GOD'S! HOWEVER, LIKE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, THEY ARE CURIOUS. THEY WOULD OFTEN LIKE TO KNOW WHAT A PERSON EXPERIENCES IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH, AND WHAT IR WOULD BE LIKE IN HEAVEN. THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT BOTH MATTERS IN ONLY A LIMITED WAY.
AFTER THE LAST HEARTBEAT... CONFUSION EXISTED IN THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA. SOME WERE TEACHING THAT JESUS WOULD RETURN VERY SOON, AND WHEN HE DID THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY DIED WOULD NOT TAKE PART IN THE JOYS OF ETERNAL AGE THAT WOULD BREAK IN WITH HIS COMING. PAUL REMINDED THEM THAT WHEN CHRIST CAME HE WOULD RAISE ALL FROM THEIR GRAVES, AND TAKE ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM TO HIS ETERNAL HOME, [1 THESS.4:13-18.] IN V. 14 PAUL WRITES: "FOR SINCE WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THROUGH JESUS, GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP"
CHRIST "DIED" HIS OWN "FALL ASLEEP." THE DIFFERENCE IN TERMS IS MOST COMFORTING. HOWEVER, ONE SHOULD NOT READ TOO MUCH INTO THE TERM "FALLEN ASLEEP" ABOUT WHAT THE DEAD IN CHRIST EXPERIENCE WHILE WAITING FOR THE GREAT DAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF ALL FLESH. THE BIBLE TELL US VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THOSE WHO FALL ASLEEP IN CHRIST. PAUL IS CONTENT TO SPEAK OF LIFE AFTER DEATH AS BEING "WITH CHRIST" A CONDITION WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS "FAR BETTER," PHILIPPIANS [1:23;] SEE ALSO REVELATIONS
[7: 15-17], ESPECIALLY V.17.
THE REVELATION OF JOHN GIVES US EVERAL GLIMPSES OF THE WONDER OF LIFE IN GOD'S PRESENCE, AMONG ANGELS AND ARCH ANGELS, ITS IMAGES SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED TOO FAR LITERALLY, BUT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD AS AN ATTEMPT TO CONVEY IN EXPRESSIBLE HEAVENLY TRUTHS IN ADEQUATE EARTHLY WORDS. NOTE THE VISION DESCRIBED IN REVELATION, 4,5. GOD IS SEATED ON HIS THRONE IN HEAVENLY SPLENDOR. AROUND HIM IS A CIRCLE OF TWENTY-FOUR THRONES, ON EACH OF WHICH IS AN ELDER, CLAD IN WHITE AND WEARING A GOLDEN CROWN. AT EACH OF THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE THRONE PLATFORM IS A MYSTERIOUS HEAVENLY CREATURE, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT FACE REPRESENTING GOD'S QUALITIES ( LION-AWESOMENESS; OX-STRENGTH;-MAN WISDOM; EAGLE -MOBILITY). EACH CREATURE COVERED WITH EYES., INDICATING GOD'S UNCEASING WATCHFULNESS. THE BEASTS AND ELDERS CONSTANTLY SING GOD'S PRAISES, 48b; [4:11]. IF THE ELDERS, CLAD IN WHITE SITTING ON THRONES, DO NOTHING BUT BOW BEFORE HIM WHO SITS ON THE CENTRAL THRONE AND CAST THEIR GOLDEN CROWNS BEFORE HIM, HOW GREAT AND AWESOME HE MUST BE.!
JOHN SEES "A LAMB STANDING AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SLAIN" [5:6.] THE LAMB IS THE CRUCIFIED, RISEN, ASCENDED AND TRIUMPHANT CHRIST STANDING NEXT TO THE FATHER'S THRONE. HE HAS BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER THE UNIVERSE, AND HOLDS IN HIS HANDS THE KEY TO THE CONTROL OF HISTORY. [5:7].
BEYOND THE CIRCLE OF TWENTY-FOUR THRONES IS ANOTHER CIRCLE OF "MANY ANGELS, NUMBERING MYRIADS, AND THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS," [5:11]. THEY TOO SING THEIR OWN SONG OF PRAISE. FURTHER OUT IS YET ANOTHER CIRCLE, CONSISTING OF "EVERY CREATURE IN HEAVEN, AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE SEA". THIS CIRCLE OFFERS GOD ITS OWN SPECIAL SONG, [5:13b].
OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NATURE OF LIFE IN HEAVEN WILL BE ANSWERED SOON ENOUGH. WHILE WE WAIT! TO HAVE THEM ANSWERED, WE DO WELL TO DO WHAT THOSE ALREADY IN HIS PRESENCE DO: PRAISE! IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5:7,8 PAUL WRITES: FOR CHRIST OUR PASSOVER LAMB, HAS BEEN SACRIFICED. THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FESTIVAL, NOT WITH OLD YEAST OF MALICE AND WICKEDNESS, BUT WITH BREAD WITHOUT YEAST, THE BREAD OF SINCERITY AND TRUTH. PAUL HERE REFERS TO THE TRADITIONAL PASSOVER OBSERVANCE OF HIS DAY TO POINT TO THE CHRISTIAN'S GREATER PASSOVER CELEBRATION IN CHRIST.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
WELCOME HOME! [MATTHEW 25:31-46]
JESUS STATES THAT A DAY WILL COME WHEN HE WILL COMMAND ALL GRAVES TO GIVE UP THEIR DEAD, JOHN [5:28,29]. WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION CAN CHRISTIANS EXPECT WHEN THIS TAKES PLACE? THE " NATURE OF OUR EVENTUAL MEETING WITH THE LORD." MATTHEW 25: [31-46]. MATTHEW MAKES THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
WHEN THE LAST DAY COMES, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL COME IN GLORY TO GATHER ALL NATIONS BEFORE HIM. HE WILL SEPARATE HUMANITY INTO TWO GROUPS, THE "SHEEP" AND THE "GOATS." HE WILL PLACE THE SHEEP AT HIS RIGHT HAND, AND THE GOATS AT HIS LEFT. HE WILL SPEAK ONLY AFTER THIS SEPARATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. HE WILL EXTEND A GRAND "WELCOME HOME!" TO HIS OWN, AND COMMEND THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN SERVICE TO OTHERS- THOSE OTHERS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, BEING JESUS HIMSELF. THE "WELCOME HOME!" TAKES PLACE ENTIRELY DUE TO THE TO THE MERCY AND GOODNESS OF THE FATHER. JESUS WELCOMES HIS OWN WITH, "COME, O BLESSED OF MY FATHER." (THESE WORDS REFLECT THE PREAMBLE AND HISTORICAL PROLOGUE OF THE COVENANT OF HUMAN OBLIGATION; THE DEEDS OF SERVICE COMMENDED REFLECT THE STIPULATIONS). HE INVITES THEM TO INHERIT THE KINGDOM; "INHERIT" IMPLIES GIFT. THE KINGDOM WAS PREPARED FOR THEM (NOT BY THEM) BEFORE TIME BEGAN. ALL THOUGHT OF WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RULED OUT.
THOSE WHOM JESUS WELCOMES AND COMMENDS EXPRESS SURPRISE AT BEING COMMENDED WHEN THEY SERVED AS THEY DID, THEY WERE DEVOID OF ANY THOUGHT OF DOING IT TO MERIT ANY ACCEPTANCE BY GOD. THOSE WHOM JESUS WELCOMES AND CONDEMNS TO ETERNAL SEPARATION AND CONDEMNATION ARE NOT REBURKED FOR ANY HARM THEY DID TO ANYONE. THEY SIMPLY FAILED TO DO GOOD TO ANYONE. THEY USED LIFE TO SERVE THEMSELVES. THEY ARE REJECTED FOR DOING NOTHING. WHAT MAKES THE "WELCOME HOME!" POSSIBLE?
IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21, PAUL WRITES, "
"FOR OUR SAKE GOD MADE HIM SIN WHO KNEW NO SIN, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD." WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, GOD WROUGHT " THE GREAT EXCHANGE. GOD TOOK ALL OF OUR SINS AND PUT IT ON HIS SON; HE TOOK ALL CHRIST'S HOLINESS AND GAVE IT TO US. CHRIST DIED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE; WE LIVE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. WELCOME HOME WORKS! GOD ACCEPTS AND WELCOMES US SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF HIS GRACE IN CHRIST. (THE BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE.) WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS , BUT FOR WORKS.
WHEN THE LAST DAY COMES, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL COME IN GLORY TO GATHER ALL NATIONS BEFORE HIM. HE WILL SEPARATE HUMANITY INTO TWO GROUPS, THE "SHEEP" AND THE "GOATS." HE WILL PLACE THE SHEEP AT HIS RIGHT HAND, AND THE GOATS AT HIS LEFT. HE WILL SPEAK ONLY AFTER THIS SEPARATION HAS TAKEN PLACE. HE WILL EXTEND A GRAND "WELCOME HOME!" TO HIS OWN, AND COMMEND THEM FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN SERVICE TO OTHERS- THOSE OTHERS, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, BEING JESUS HIMSELF. THE "WELCOME HOME!" TAKES PLACE ENTIRELY DUE TO THE TO THE MERCY AND GOODNESS OF THE FATHER. JESUS WELCOMES HIS OWN WITH, "COME, O BLESSED OF MY FATHER." (THESE WORDS REFLECT THE PREAMBLE AND HISTORICAL PROLOGUE OF THE COVENANT OF HUMAN OBLIGATION; THE DEEDS OF SERVICE COMMENDED REFLECT THE STIPULATIONS). HE INVITES THEM TO INHERIT THE KINGDOM; "INHERIT" IMPLIES GIFT. THE KINGDOM WAS PREPARED FOR THEM (NOT BY THEM) BEFORE TIME BEGAN. ALL THOUGHT OF WORK RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RULED OUT.
THOSE WHOM JESUS WELCOMES AND COMMENDS EXPRESS SURPRISE AT BEING COMMENDED WHEN THEY SERVED AS THEY DID, THEY WERE DEVOID OF ANY THOUGHT OF DOING IT TO MERIT ANY ACCEPTANCE BY GOD. THOSE WHOM JESUS WELCOMES AND CONDEMNS TO ETERNAL SEPARATION AND CONDEMNATION ARE NOT REBURKED FOR ANY HARM THEY DID TO ANYONE. THEY SIMPLY FAILED TO DO GOOD TO ANYONE. THEY USED LIFE TO SERVE THEMSELVES. THEY ARE REJECTED FOR DOING NOTHING. WHAT MAKES THE "WELCOME HOME!" POSSIBLE?
IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21, PAUL WRITES, "
"FOR OUR SAKE GOD MADE HIM SIN WHO KNEW NO SIN, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD." WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, GOD WROUGHT " THE GREAT EXCHANGE. GOD TOOK ALL OF OUR SINS AND PUT IT ON HIS SON; HE TOOK ALL CHRIST'S HOLINESS AND GAVE IT TO US. CHRIST DIED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ARE; WE LIVE BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. WELCOME HOME WORKS! GOD ACCEPTS AND WELCOMES US SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF HIS GRACE IN CHRIST. (THE BASIS OF ACCEPTANCE.) WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS , BUT FOR WORKS.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
JUDGES. [ THE STORY OF EHUD].
AS THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND SERVED BAALIM. AND THEY FORSOOK THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, WHICH BROUGHT THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AND FOLLOWED OTHER gods, OF THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM, AND BOWED THEMSELVES UNTO THEM., AND PROVOKED THE LORD TO ANGER. AND THEY FORSOOK THE LORD, AND SERVED BAAL AND ASHTAROTH . AND THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS HOT AGAINST ISRAEL, AND HE DELIVER THEM INTO THE HANDS OF SPOILERS THAT SPOILED THEM, AND HE SOLD THEM INTO THE HANDS OF THEIR OF ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT, SO THAT THEY COULD NOT ANY LONGER STAND BEFORE THEIR ENEMIES.WHITHERSOEVER THEY WENT OUT, THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS AGAINST THEM FOR EVIL, AS THE LORD HAD SAID, AND HAS THE LORD SWORN UNTO THEM, AND THEY WERE GREATLY DISTRESSED.
NEVERTHELESS THE LORD RAISED UP JUDGES, WHICH DELIVERED THEM OUT OF
THE HAND OF THOSE THAT SPOILED THEM. AND YET THEY WOULD NOT HEARKEN
UNTO THEIR JUDGES, BUT THEY WENT A WHORING AFTER OTHER 'gods,' AND BOWED THEMSELVES UNTO THEM; THEY TURNED QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY WHICH THEIR FATHERS WALKED IN, OBEYING THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD.; BUT THEY DID NOT SO. AND WHEN THE LORD RAISED THEM UP JUDGES, THEN THE ,LORD WAS WITH THE JUDGE, AND DELIVERED THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THEIR ENEMIES ALL THE DAYS OF THE JUDGE.: FOR IT REPENTED THE LORD BECAUSE OF THEIR GROANINGS BY REASON OF THEM THAT OPPRESSED THEM AND VEXED THEM. AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE JUDGE WAS DEAD, THAT THEY RETURNED, AND CORRUPTED THEMSELVES MORE THAN THEIR FATHERS, IN FOLLOWING OTHER GODS TO SERVE THEM AND BOW DOWN UNTO THEM; THEY CEASED NOT FROM THEIR OWN DOINGS, NOR FROM THEIR STUBBORN WAY. AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID EVIL AGAIN IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD. AND HE GATHERED UNTO HIM THE CHILDREN OF AMMON AND AMALEK, AND WENT AND SMOTE ISRAEL., AND POSSESSED THE CITY OF PSALM TREES. SO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SERVED EGLON THE KING OF MOAB EIGHTEEN YEARS. BUT WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO THE LORD, THE LORD RAISE THEM UP A DELIVERER , EHUD THE SON OF GEMA, A BENJAMITE, A MAN LEFT HANDED; AND BY HIM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SENT HIM A PRESENT
NEVERTHELESS THE LORD RAISED UP JUDGES, WHICH DELIVERED THEM OUT OF
THE HAND OF THOSE THAT SPOILED THEM. AND YET THEY WOULD NOT HEARKEN
UNTO THEIR JUDGES, BUT THEY WENT A WHORING AFTER OTHER 'gods,' AND BOWED THEMSELVES UNTO THEM; THEY TURNED QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY WHICH THEIR FATHERS WALKED IN, OBEYING THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD.; BUT THEY DID NOT SO. AND WHEN THE LORD RAISED THEM UP JUDGES, THEN THE ,LORD WAS WITH THE JUDGE, AND DELIVERED THEM OUT OF THE HAND OF THEIR ENEMIES ALL THE DAYS OF THE JUDGE.: FOR IT REPENTED THE LORD BECAUSE OF THEIR GROANINGS BY REASON OF THEM THAT OPPRESSED THEM AND VEXED THEM. AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN THE JUDGE WAS DEAD, THAT THEY RETURNED, AND CORRUPTED THEMSELVES MORE THAN THEIR FATHERS, IN FOLLOWING OTHER GODS TO SERVE THEM AND BOW DOWN UNTO THEM; THEY CEASED NOT FROM THEIR OWN DOINGS, NOR FROM THEIR STUBBORN WAY. AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DID EVIL AGAIN IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD. AND HE GATHERED UNTO HIM THE CHILDREN OF AMMON AND AMALEK, AND WENT AND SMOTE ISRAEL., AND POSSESSED THE CITY OF PSALM TREES. SO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SERVED EGLON THE KING OF MOAB EIGHTEEN YEARS. BUT WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL CRIED UNTO THE LORD, THE LORD RAISE THEM UP A DELIVERER , EHUD THE SON OF GEMA, A BENJAMITE, A MAN LEFT HANDED; AND BY HIM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SENT HIM A PRESENT
Saturday, May 26, 2018
MATTHEW. !
NOT A SINGLE WORD THAT MATTHEW SPOKE IS RECORDED IN HIS GOSPEL OR IN ANY OTHER BOOK OF THE BIBLE (INTRO: COMMENTARY PEOPLE'S BIBLE). ALTHOUGH ALL THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE ORDER WHICH THEY WERE ARE ARRANGED WAS NOT INSPIRED. YET MATTHEW IS STILL LOCATED AS THE FIRST BOOK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
THE DISTINCTIVE LITERARY STYLE OF THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" AND THE PARABLES ARE IN SUCH STRIKING CONTRAST TO THE SURROUNDING PORTIONS OF THE GOSPEL THAT ONE FEELS CERTAIN THEY MUST HAVE COME FROM JESUS HIMSELF. MATTHEW CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT JESUS CAME, NOT TO DESTROY THE LAW AND PROPHETS, BUT TO FULFILL THEM. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A NEW RELIGION TO REPLACE JUDAISM; IT RATHER FULFILLS THE PROMISES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE " GARDEN OF EDEN" THE MIRACLES OF JESUS ARE NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATIONS OF HIS DIVINE POWER, PROVING HIM TO BE THE SON OF GOD; THE MIGHT THAT THE PROPHETS FORETOLD OF THE THEY SAID THE MESSIAH PROMISED TO MAKE THE DEAF HEAR, THE MUTE SPEAK,, THE BLIND SEE, THE LAME WALK, AND EVEN THE DEAD COME BACK TO LIFE, AND THE DEMONS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO HIM. HE WOULD PERFORM ALL THESE MIGHTY WORKS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD. SOME BIBLE SCHOLARS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT MATTHEW WROTE HIS GOSPEL IN HEBREW OR ARAMAIC AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE
LATER TRANSLATED IT INTO THE GREEK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. THE BASIS FOR THIS THEORY SEEMS TO BE A STATEMENT OF PAPIAS, A PUPIL OF THE APOSTLE JOHN
TO THE EFFECT THAT MATTHEW HAD WRITTEN IN HEBREW, BY THIS WE MAY BE CONFIDENT THAT MATTHEW WROTE HIS GOSPEL IN GREEK, AND WE HAVE HIS INSPIRED WORDS IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT. TWENTY-SEVEN BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WERE WERE WRITTEN IN GREEK IN THEIR FINAL FORM, IN CONTRAST TO THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MOST OF WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN HEBREW, ALTHOUGH A FEW OF THEM WERE WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC OR GREEK. IN ANY EVENT, THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESERVED UNTIL THE PRESENT WERE WRITTEN QUITE SOON AFTER THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT JESUS SERMON ON THE MOUNT IS THE MOST FAMOUS SERMON EVER PREACHED. IT IS PERHAPS ALSO THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD. IT IS NOT A SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN FAITH. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT A PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO FIND HIS WHOLE RELIGION IN THIS SERMON IS NOT EVEN A CHRISTIAN. AND NO ONE WHO HEARS OR READS THIS SERMON BY ITSELF, APART FROM THE REST OF SCRIPTURE, WILL COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THIS SERMON, WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THE AUDIENCE TO WHOM IT WAS PREACHED AND THE PURPOSE JESUS HAD IN MIND. THE AUDIENCE WAS, PRIMARILY, JESUS DISCIPLES, ALTHOUGH LARGE CROWDS WERE EVIDENTLY IN THE BACKGROUND LISTENING IN. THE PURPOSE OF THE SERMON WAS TO GIVE THE BELIEVERS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOD-PLEASING CHRISTIAN LIFE.
AN UNBELIEVER IS LIKELY TO INTERPRET JESUS WORDS AS A PRESCRIPTION FOR MAKING ONESELF RIGHTEOUS AND EARNING A PLACE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
WHEN HE TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS, HE MAY DECIDE THAT IT ISN'T WORTH THE EFFORT. OR HE MAY TAKE ONLY A SUPERFICIAL LOOK AND CONVINCE HIMSELF THAT HE IS ABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF BY HIS OWN EFFORTS, THAT HE CAN PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD DEMANDS OF US.
THE BEATITUDES (STATEMENTS OF BLESSINGS) SERVE AS A INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERMON. THEY DO NOT TELL US HOW TO BECOME BLESSED; THEY RATHER DESCRIBE THE BLESSEDNESS THAT ALREADY BELONGS TO ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. THEY DO NOT DESCRIBE EIGHT KINDS OF BELIEVERS; THEY MENTION EIGHT WAYS IN WHICH ALL CHRISTIANS ARE BLESSED. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE POOR IN SPIRIT. THEY ALL MOURN AND ARE MEEK. THEY ALL HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ARE MERCIFUL AND ARE PURE IN HEART. THEY ARE
PEACEMAKERS AND ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AS WE EXAMINE OURSELVES, WE MUST CONFESS THAT WE POSSESS THESE CHARACTERISTICS ONLY TO A LIMITED EXTENT, WE ARE MADE TO REALIZE THAT WE FORFEIT MANY BLESSINGS BY FAILING TO LIVE UP TO THE IDEALS JESUS EXPRESSES HERE. SO WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEATITUDES IN ORDER TO
GAIN A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE BLESSINGS WE ALREADY POSSESS AS
CHRISTIANS. "BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR SPIRITUAL POVERTY, THEIR SINFULNESS AND UNWORTHINESS IN GOD'S SIGHT.
GOD DEMANDS A 1OO PERCENT PERFORMANCE, BUT WE ARE STUCK ON ZERO.
THE POOR IN SPIRIT ALSO KNOW THEY ARE RICH BEFORE GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
IN THIS CONNECTION IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BIBLE DOES NOT REGARD POVERTY IN MATERIAL THINGS AS A SPECIAL VIRTUE. TO BE POOR OR EVEN TAKE A VOW OF POVERTY DOES NOT QUALIFY ANYONE FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. NOR DOES RICHES DISQUALIFY. IN CHRIST THROUGH WHOSE PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE POOR BECOME RICH. THEY ARE MOST BLESSED AFTER ALL.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS TO BOTH THE RICH AND THE POOR, WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT. BUT DOES JESUS POINT OUT THAT IT IS GENERALLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF LUKE WE ARE TOLD THAT JESUS READ FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH WHEN HE STOOD UP TO READ IN THE SYNAGOGUE IN NAZARETH: "THE LORD HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR, AND BIND UP THE BROKEN HEARTED." (ISAIAH 61:1). BUT THOSE WHO MOURN NOW CAN BE COMFORTED. FOR AS CHRISTIANS, WE DON'T MOURN LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE, FOR GOD HAS GIVEN US HOPE, PROMISING TO PROVIDE COMFORT AND STRENGTH IN EVERY TRIBULATION AND FINALLY ETERNAL LIFE FOR JESUS' SAKE
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, BLESSED ARE THE PURE OF HEART, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD. TO BE PURE IN HEART IS TO BE LIKE NATHANAEL, OF WHOM JESUS SAID, "HERE IS A TRUE ISRAELITE, IN WHOM THERE IS NO GUILE (NOTHING FALSE (JN 1:47). THE PURE IN HEART SPEAK AND ACT WITHOUT ULTIMATE MOTIVES OR CONCEALED SELFISH MOTIVES. OUR HEARTS ARE NATURALLY SINFUL AND UNCLEAN. WHAT YOU SEE IN THEM IS WHAT YOU GET FROM THEM; AND WHAT THEY SAY, THEY MEAN. WHAT THEY PROMISE, THEY WILL DO. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT, WE HEAR GOD'S WORD PROCLAIMED, WE CALL UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO " CREATE IN US A CLEAN HEART, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN US. THE PURE IN HEART WILL SEE GOD.
THE DISTINCTIVE LITERARY STYLE OF THE "SERMON ON THE MOUNT" AND THE PARABLES ARE IN SUCH STRIKING CONTRAST TO THE SURROUNDING PORTIONS OF THE GOSPEL THAT ONE FEELS CERTAIN THEY MUST HAVE COME FROM JESUS HIMSELF. MATTHEW CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT JESUS CAME, NOT TO DESTROY THE LAW AND PROPHETS, BUT TO FULFILL THEM. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A NEW RELIGION TO REPLACE JUDAISM; IT RATHER FULFILLS THE PROMISES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE " GARDEN OF EDEN" THE MIRACLES OF JESUS ARE NOT ONLY DEMONSTRATIONS OF HIS DIVINE POWER, PROVING HIM TO BE THE SON OF GOD; THE MIGHT THAT THE PROPHETS FORETOLD OF THE THEY SAID THE MESSIAH PROMISED TO MAKE THE DEAF HEAR, THE MUTE SPEAK,, THE BLIND SEE, THE LAME WALK, AND EVEN THE DEAD COME BACK TO LIFE, AND THE DEMONS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO HIM. HE WOULD PERFORM ALL THESE MIGHTY WORKS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD. SOME BIBLE SCHOLARS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT MATTHEW WROTE HIS GOSPEL IN HEBREW OR ARAMAIC AND THAT SOMEONE ELSE
LATER TRANSLATED IT INTO THE GREEK OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. THE BASIS FOR THIS THEORY SEEMS TO BE A STATEMENT OF PAPIAS, A PUPIL OF THE APOSTLE JOHN
TO THE EFFECT THAT MATTHEW HAD WRITTEN IN HEBREW, BY THIS WE MAY BE CONFIDENT THAT MATTHEW WROTE HIS GOSPEL IN GREEK, AND WE HAVE HIS INSPIRED WORDS IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT. TWENTY-SEVEN BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WERE WERE WRITTEN IN GREEK IN THEIR FINAL FORM, IN CONTRAST TO THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT, MOST OF WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN HEBREW, ALTHOUGH A FEW OF THEM WERE WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC OR GREEK. IN ANY EVENT, THE NEW TESTAMENT TEXTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESERVED UNTIL THE PRESENT WERE WRITTEN QUITE SOON AFTER THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT JESUS SERMON ON THE MOUNT IS THE MOST FAMOUS SERMON EVER PREACHED. IT IS PERHAPS ALSO THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD. IT IS NOT A SUMMARY OF THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN FAITH. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT A PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO FIND HIS WHOLE RELIGION IN THIS SERMON IS NOT EVEN A CHRISTIAN. AND NO ONE WHO HEARS OR READS THIS SERMON BY ITSELF, APART FROM THE REST OF SCRIPTURE, WILL COME TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND THIS SERMON, WE MUST KEEP IN MIND THE AUDIENCE TO WHOM IT WAS PREACHED AND THE PURPOSE JESUS HAD IN MIND. THE AUDIENCE WAS, PRIMARILY, JESUS DISCIPLES, ALTHOUGH LARGE CROWDS WERE EVIDENTLY IN THE BACKGROUND LISTENING IN. THE PURPOSE OF THE SERMON WAS TO GIVE THE BELIEVERS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOD-PLEASING CHRISTIAN LIFE.
AN UNBELIEVER IS LIKELY TO INTERPRET JESUS WORDS AS A PRESCRIPTION FOR MAKING ONESELF RIGHTEOUS AND EARNING A PLACE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
WHEN HE TAKES A CLOSE LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS, HE MAY DECIDE THAT IT ISN'T WORTH THE EFFORT. OR HE MAY TAKE ONLY A SUPERFICIAL LOOK AND CONVINCE HIMSELF THAT HE IS ABLE TO SAVE HIMSELF BY HIS OWN EFFORTS, THAT HE CAN PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD DEMANDS OF US.
THE BEATITUDES (STATEMENTS OF BLESSINGS) SERVE AS A INTRODUCTION TO THIS SERMON. THEY DO NOT TELL US HOW TO BECOME BLESSED; THEY RATHER DESCRIBE THE BLESSEDNESS THAT ALREADY BELONGS TO ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. THEY DO NOT DESCRIBE EIGHT KINDS OF BELIEVERS; THEY MENTION EIGHT WAYS IN WHICH ALL CHRISTIANS ARE BLESSED. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE POOR IN SPIRIT. THEY ALL MOURN AND ARE MEEK. THEY ALL HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ARE MERCIFUL AND ARE PURE IN HEART. THEY ARE
PEACEMAKERS AND ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
AS WE EXAMINE OURSELVES, WE MUST CONFESS THAT WE POSSESS THESE CHARACTERISTICS ONLY TO A LIMITED EXTENT, WE ARE MADE TO REALIZE THAT WE FORFEIT MANY BLESSINGS BY FAILING TO LIVE UP TO THE IDEALS JESUS EXPRESSES HERE. SO WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEATITUDES IN ORDER TO
GAIN A DEEPER APPRECIATION FOR THE BLESSINGS WE ALREADY POSSESS AS
CHRISTIANS. "BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR SPIRITUAL POVERTY, THEIR SINFULNESS AND UNWORTHINESS IN GOD'S SIGHT.
GOD DEMANDS A 1OO PERCENT PERFORMANCE, BUT WE ARE STUCK ON ZERO.
THE POOR IN SPIRIT ALSO KNOW THEY ARE RICH BEFORE GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
IN THIS CONNECTION IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE BIBLE DOES NOT REGARD POVERTY IN MATERIAL THINGS AS A SPECIAL VIRTUE. TO BE POOR OR EVEN TAKE A VOW OF POVERTY DOES NOT QUALIFY ANYONE FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. NOR DOES RICHES DISQUALIFY. IN CHRIST THROUGH WHOSE PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE POOR BECOME RICH. THEY ARE MOST BLESSED AFTER ALL.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS TO BOTH THE RICH AND THE POOR, WHO ARE POOR IN SPIRIT. BUT DOES JESUS POINT OUT THAT IT IS GENERALLY MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE RICH TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IN THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF LUKE WE ARE TOLD THAT JESUS READ FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH WHEN HE STOOD UP TO READ IN THE SYNAGOGUE IN NAZARETH: "THE LORD HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR, AND BIND UP THE BROKEN HEARTED." (ISAIAH 61:1). BUT THOSE WHO MOURN NOW CAN BE COMFORTED. FOR AS CHRISTIANS, WE DON'T MOURN LIKE THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE, FOR GOD HAS GIVEN US HOPE, PROMISING TO PROVIDE COMFORT AND STRENGTH IN EVERY TRIBULATION AND FINALLY ETERNAL LIFE FOR JESUS' SAKE
BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, BLESSED ARE THE PURE OF HEART, FOR THEY WILL SEE GOD. TO BE PURE IN HEART IS TO BE LIKE NATHANAEL, OF WHOM JESUS SAID, "HERE IS A TRUE ISRAELITE, IN WHOM THERE IS NO GUILE (NOTHING FALSE (JN 1:47). THE PURE IN HEART SPEAK AND ACT WITHOUT ULTIMATE MOTIVES OR CONCEALED SELFISH MOTIVES. OUR HEARTS ARE NATURALLY SINFUL AND UNCLEAN. WHAT YOU SEE IN THEM IS WHAT YOU GET FROM THEM; AND WHAT THEY SAY, THEY MEAN. WHAT THEY PROMISE, THEY WILL DO. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT, WE HEAR GOD'S WORD PROCLAIMED, WE CALL UPON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO " CREATE IN US A CLEAN HEART, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN US. THE PURE IN HEART WILL SEE GOD.
Saturday, May 19, 2018
WISDOM OF SOLOMON
THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON WAS PRODUCED ABOUT 5O B.C. IN ALEXANDRIA. JEWISH AND GREEK IDEAS ARE INTERMINGLED IN IT, AND SOME OF THEM COME RATHER CLOSE TO CHRISTIAN THOUGHT. THUS WELL WORTHY OF INCLUSION FOR ITS OWN SAKE, IT ALSO FORMS A CONVENIENT TRANSITION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT.
THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD, AN THERE SHALL NO TORMENT TOUCH THEM. IN THE SIGHT OF THE UNWISE THEY SEEMED TO DIE: AND THEIR DEPARTURE IS TAKEN FOR MISERY, AND THEIR GOING FROM US TO BE UTTER DESTRUCTION: BUT THEY ARE IN PEACE. THIS IS CALLED; "THE IMMORALITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS." FOR THOUGH THEY BE PUNISHED IN THE SIGHT MEN, YET IS THEIR HOPE FULL OF IMMORTALITY. AND HAVING BEEN A LITTLE CHASTISED, THEY SHALL BE GREATLY REWARDED: FOR GOD PROVED THEM. HE FOUND THEM WORTHY FOR HIMSELF. AS GOLD IN THE FURNACE HATH HE TRIED AND RECEIVED THEM AS A BURNT OFFERING HE TRIED THEM, AND IN THE TIME OF HIS VISITATION THEY SHALL SHINE,, AND RUN TO AND FRO, LIKE SPARKS AMONG THE RUBBLE. THEY SHALL JUDGE NATIONS, AND HAVE DOMINION OVER THE PEOPLE, AND THEIR LORD SHALL REIGN FOREVER. THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM SHALL UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH.: AND SUCH BE FAITHFUL IN LOVE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM.: FOR GRACE AND MERCY IS TO HIS SAINTS, AND HE HAS CARE FOR HIS ELECT.
THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS MAN STAND IN GREAT BOLDNESS BEFORE THE FACE OF SUCH AS HAVE AFFLICTED HIM.WHEN THEY SEE IT, THEY SHALL BE TROUBLED WITH TERRIBLE FEAR, AND SHALL BE AMAZED AT THE STRANGENESS OF HIS SALVATION., SO FAR BEYOND ALL THEY LOOKED FOR. AND THEY REPENTING AND GROANING FOR ANGUISH OF SPIRIT SHALL SAY WITHIN THEMSELVES, " THIS WAS HE, WHOM WE HAD SOMETIMES IN DERISION, AND A PROVERB OF REPROACH. WE FOOLS ACCOUNTED HIS LIFE MADNESS., AND HIS END WITHOUT HONOR. HOW IS HE NUMBERED AMONG THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND HIS LOT IS AMONG THE SAINTS!
THEREFORE HAVE WE ERRED FROM THE WAY OF TRUTH, AND THE LIGHT OF OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HATH NOT SHINED UNTO US, AND THE LIGHT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS NOT SHINED UNTO US. AS SOON AS WE WERE BORN, WE BEGAN TO DRAW TO OUR END, AND HAD NO SIGN OF VIRTUE TO SHOW; BUT WERE CONSUMED IN OUR OWN WICKEDNESS. BUT THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE FOREVERMORE; THEIR REWARD ALSO WITH THE LORD, AND THE CARE OF THEM IS WITH THE MOST HIGH. THEREFORE SHALL THEY RECEIVE A GLORIOUS KINGDOM; AND A BEAUTIFUL CROWN FROM THE LORD'S HAND: FOR WITH HIS RIGHT HAND SHALL HE COVER THEM:, AND WITH HIS ARM SHALL HE PROTECT THEM. REMEMBER "WISDOM" IS THE WORKER OF ALL THINGS. TAUGHT THAT IN HER IS A UNDERSTANDING SPIRIT, "HOLY," ONE ONLY, MANIFOLD, SUBTIL, CLEAR, UNDEFILED, NOT SUBJECTED TO HURT, LOVING THE THING THAT IS GOOD, QUICK, WHICH CANNOT BE LETTERED TO DO GOOD, AND BE KIND TO MAN, FREE FROM CARE, HAVING ALL POWER UNDERSTANDING THROUGH ALL UNDERSTANDING, OF PURE, AND MOST SUBTIL SPIRITS. FOR THE HOPE OF THE UNGODLY IS LIKE DUST THAT IS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE WIND; LIKE AS THE SMOKE WHICH IS DISPERSED HERE AND THERE WITH A TEMPEST, AND PASSES LIKE A GUEST THAT STAYED ONE DAY. BUT THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE FOR EVERMORE; THEIR REWARD ALSO IS WITH THE LORD. FOR WISDOM IS MORE MOVING THAN ANY MOTION. SHE PASSES AND GOES THROUGH ALL THINGS BY HER PURENESS. SHE IS THE PURE BREATH OF THE POWER OF GOD.
NOW IT WAS AT JERUSALEM THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION, AND IT WAS WINTER AND JESUS WALKED IN THE TEMPLE IN SOLOMON'S PORCH. THEN CAME THE JEWS ROUND ABOUT HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM. "HOW LONG DO YOU MAKE US TO DOUBT?
IF THOU BE THE CHRIST TELL US, TELL US PLAINLY."
JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "I TOLD YOU AND YOU DIDN'T BELIEVED ME." THE WORKS THAT I DO IN MY FATHER'S NAME, THEY BARE WITNESS OF ME. BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP, MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME: AND I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND. I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE. THEN THE JEWS TOOK UP STONES AGAIN TO STONE HIM. WE STONE YOU NOT FOR GOOD WORK DO WE STONE YOU, BUT FOR BLASPHEMY, CLAIMING TO MAKE YOURSELF GOD." JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "IS IT NOT WRITTEN IN YOUR LAW, I SAID.'YE ARE GODS'? IF HE CALLED THEM GODS, UNTO WHOM THE WORD OF GOD CAME, AND SCRIPTURE CAN NOT BE BROKEN; AND YOUR SAYING OF HIM, "BLASPHEMEST" BECAUSE I SAID, 'I AM THE SON OF GOD'? IF I DO NOT THE WORKS OF MY FATHER, BELIEVE ME NOT. BUT IF I DO, BELIEVE THE WORKS, BELIEVE THAT THE FATHER IS IN ME, AND I IN HIM."
THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD, AN THERE SHALL NO TORMENT TOUCH THEM. IN THE SIGHT OF THE UNWISE THEY SEEMED TO DIE: AND THEIR DEPARTURE IS TAKEN FOR MISERY, AND THEIR GOING FROM US TO BE UTTER DESTRUCTION: BUT THEY ARE IN PEACE. THIS IS CALLED; "THE IMMORALITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS." FOR THOUGH THEY BE PUNISHED IN THE SIGHT MEN, YET IS THEIR HOPE FULL OF IMMORTALITY. AND HAVING BEEN A LITTLE CHASTISED, THEY SHALL BE GREATLY REWARDED: FOR GOD PROVED THEM. HE FOUND THEM WORTHY FOR HIMSELF. AS GOLD IN THE FURNACE HATH HE TRIED AND RECEIVED THEM AS A BURNT OFFERING HE TRIED THEM, AND IN THE TIME OF HIS VISITATION THEY SHALL SHINE,, AND RUN TO AND FRO, LIKE SPARKS AMONG THE RUBBLE. THEY SHALL JUDGE NATIONS, AND HAVE DOMINION OVER THE PEOPLE, AND THEIR LORD SHALL REIGN FOREVER. THEY THAT PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM SHALL UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH.: AND SUCH BE FAITHFUL IN LOVE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM.: FOR GRACE AND MERCY IS TO HIS SAINTS, AND HE HAS CARE FOR HIS ELECT.
THEN SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS MAN STAND IN GREAT BOLDNESS BEFORE THE FACE OF SUCH AS HAVE AFFLICTED HIM.WHEN THEY SEE IT, THEY SHALL BE TROUBLED WITH TERRIBLE FEAR, AND SHALL BE AMAZED AT THE STRANGENESS OF HIS SALVATION., SO FAR BEYOND ALL THEY LOOKED FOR. AND THEY REPENTING AND GROANING FOR ANGUISH OF SPIRIT SHALL SAY WITHIN THEMSELVES, " THIS WAS HE, WHOM WE HAD SOMETIMES IN DERISION, AND A PROVERB OF REPROACH. WE FOOLS ACCOUNTED HIS LIFE MADNESS., AND HIS END WITHOUT HONOR. HOW IS HE NUMBERED AMONG THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND HIS LOT IS AMONG THE SAINTS!
THEREFORE HAVE WE ERRED FROM THE WAY OF TRUTH, AND THE LIGHT OF OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HATH NOT SHINED UNTO US, AND THE LIGHT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS NOT SHINED UNTO US. AS SOON AS WE WERE BORN, WE BEGAN TO DRAW TO OUR END, AND HAD NO SIGN OF VIRTUE TO SHOW; BUT WERE CONSUMED IN OUR OWN WICKEDNESS. BUT THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE FOREVERMORE; THEIR REWARD ALSO WITH THE LORD, AND THE CARE OF THEM IS WITH THE MOST HIGH. THEREFORE SHALL THEY RECEIVE A GLORIOUS KINGDOM; AND A BEAUTIFUL CROWN FROM THE LORD'S HAND: FOR WITH HIS RIGHT HAND SHALL HE COVER THEM:, AND WITH HIS ARM SHALL HE PROTECT THEM. REMEMBER "WISDOM" IS THE WORKER OF ALL THINGS. TAUGHT THAT IN HER IS A UNDERSTANDING SPIRIT, "HOLY," ONE ONLY, MANIFOLD, SUBTIL, CLEAR, UNDEFILED, NOT SUBJECTED TO HURT, LOVING THE THING THAT IS GOOD, QUICK, WHICH CANNOT BE LETTERED TO DO GOOD, AND BE KIND TO MAN, FREE FROM CARE, HAVING ALL POWER UNDERSTANDING THROUGH ALL UNDERSTANDING, OF PURE, AND MOST SUBTIL SPIRITS. FOR THE HOPE OF THE UNGODLY IS LIKE DUST THAT IS BLOWN AWAY WITH THE WIND; LIKE AS THE SMOKE WHICH IS DISPERSED HERE AND THERE WITH A TEMPEST, AND PASSES LIKE A GUEST THAT STAYED ONE DAY. BUT THE RIGHTEOUS LIVE FOR EVERMORE; THEIR REWARD ALSO IS WITH THE LORD. FOR WISDOM IS MORE MOVING THAN ANY MOTION. SHE PASSES AND GOES THROUGH ALL THINGS BY HER PURENESS. SHE IS THE PURE BREATH OF THE POWER OF GOD.
NOW IT WAS AT JERUSALEM THE FEAST OF THE DEDICATION, AND IT WAS WINTER AND JESUS WALKED IN THE TEMPLE IN SOLOMON'S PORCH. THEN CAME THE JEWS ROUND ABOUT HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM. "HOW LONG DO YOU MAKE US TO DOUBT?
IF THOU BE THE CHRIST TELL US, TELL US PLAINLY."
JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "I TOLD YOU AND YOU DIDN'T BELIEVED ME." THE WORKS THAT I DO IN MY FATHER'S NAME, THEY BARE WITNESS OF ME. BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF MY SHEEP, MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, I KNOW THEM AND THEY FOLLOW ME: AND I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH, NEITHER SHALL ANY MAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND. I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE. THEN THE JEWS TOOK UP STONES AGAIN TO STONE HIM. WE STONE YOU NOT FOR GOOD WORK DO WE STONE YOU, BUT FOR BLASPHEMY, CLAIMING TO MAKE YOURSELF GOD." JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "IS IT NOT WRITTEN IN YOUR LAW, I SAID.'YE ARE GODS'? IF HE CALLED THEM GODS, UNTO WHOM THE WORD OF GOD CAME, AND SCRIPTURE CAN NOT BE BROKEN; AND YOUR SAYING OF HIM, "BLASPHEMEST" BECAUSE I SAID, 'I AM THE SON OF GOD'? IF I DO NOT THE WORKS OF MY FATHER, BELIEVE ME NOT. BUT IF I DO, BELIEVE THE WORKS, BELIEVE THAT THE FATHER IS IN ME, AND I IN HIM."
Thursday, May 17, 2018
HIGH COST OF FINISHING FIRST. MARK 1O:35-45]
I ONCE HEARD A STORY OF A RICE FARMER WHO SAVED AN ENTIRE VILLAGE FROM DESTRUCTION. FROM THE HILLTOP FARM HE FELT THE EARTHQUAKE AND SAW THE DISTANT OCEAN SWIFTLY WITHDRAW FROM THE SHORE LINE. HE KNEW A TIDAL WAVE WAS COMING. IN THE VALLEY BELOW, HE SAW HIS NEIGHBORS WORKING IN THE LOW FIELDS THAT WOULD SOON BE FLOODED. THEY MUST RUN TO THE HILLTOP OR THEY WOULD DIE. HIS RICE BARNS WERE VERY DRY AS TINDER. SO WITH A TORCH HE SET FIRE TO THE BARNS AND SOON THE FIRE GONG STARTED RINGING. HIS NEIGHBORS RUSHED TO HELP HIM. THEN FROM THEIR SAFE PERCH THEY SAW THE TIDAL WAVE WASH OVER THE FIELDS THEY HAD JUST LEFT.
IN A FLASH THEY KNEW NOT ONLY WHO HAD SAVED THEM BUT WHAT THEIR SALVATION HAD COST THEIR BENEFACTOR.. THEY LATER ERECTED A MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY BEARING THE MOTTO, "HE GAVE US ALL HE HAD." THIS POOR FARMER GAVE US ALL HE HAD, AND GAVE IT GLADLY. THIS POOR FARMER FINISHED FIRST IN THE EYES OF HIS COMMUNITY., BUT IT COST HIM EVERYTHING. THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIKE THAT FARMER. WHO WILLINGLY SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR OTHERS. THIS TEXT IS DESIGNED TO TEACH US THE TRUTH THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO FINISHES FIRST IS VICTORIOUS.
AS THEY WERE GOING UP TO JERUSALEM, JESUS BEGAN TO TEACH THEM WHAT THINGS SHOULD HAPPEN UNTO HIM. HOW HE WOULD BE DELIVERED UNTO THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND UNTO THE SCRIBES; AND THEY SHALL CONDEMN TO DEATH, AND SHALL DELIVER HIM TO THE GENTILES: AND THEY SHALL MOCK HIM, SHALL SCOURGE HIM, AND SHALL SPIT UPON HIM, AND SHALL KILL HIM: AND THE THIRD DAY HE SHALL RISE AGAIN. AND JAMES AND JOHN, THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE, COME UNTO HIM, SAYING "MASTER, WE WOULD THAT THOU SHOULDEST DO FOR US WHATEVER WE SHALL DESIRE, " WHAT WOULD YE THAT I SHOULD DO FOR YOU?"
THEY SAID UNTO HIM, " GRANT UNTO US THAT WE MAY SIT, ONE ON THY RIGHT HAND, AND THE OTHER ON THY LEFT HAND, IN THY GLORY." BUT JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, " YE KNOW NOT WHAT YE ASK: CAN YE DRINK OF THE CUP THAT I DRINK OF?
AND BE BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITH ?"
AND THEY SAID UNTO HIM, "WE CAN." AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, " YE SHALL INDEED DRINK OF THE CUP THAT I DRINK OF; AND WITH THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITH! BUT TO SIT ON MY RIGHT HAND AND ON MY LEFT HAND IS NOT MY TO GIVE; BUT IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO THEM WHOM IT IS PREPARED." WHEN THE TEN HEARD IT, THEY BEGAN TO BE MUCH DISPLEASED WITH JAMES AND JOHN.
THEY MAY HAVE IMAGINED THAT IN JERUSALEM JESUS WOULD BECOME A REAL KING. THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THAT JOHN DIED OF OLD AGE IN EPHESUS; BUT ANOTHER TRADITION RELATES THAT HE WAS MARTYRED AT THE SAME TIME AS JAMES (ACTS 12:2) THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE CORRECT. THE REASON WHY THEY WERE DENIED THE TWO PLACES OF HONOR, IT WAS SOMETIMES THOUGHT IT TO BE THAT IT WAS PETER; AND THEN JAMES "THE LORD'S BROTHER," AND NOT THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE, FOR THEY EMERGED AS THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH. I THINK FROM THE TEXT IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR LORD'S DISCIPLES WERE ANYTHING BUT HUMBLE MEN. THEY WERE ALWAYS TRYING TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES. JESUS SOUGHT TO COMBAT THAT MENTALITY, BUT THEY NEVER SEEMED TO GET THE MESSAGE. WE SEE SELFISH AMBITION IN ALL OF ITS UGLINESS. JAMES AND JOHN COME TO JESUS ASKING FOR TOP SEATS. JESUS USE THIS EVENT TO TEACH A VALUABLE LESSONS, SERVICE TO OTHERS, AND FORGIVENESS. THE HIGH COST OF FINISHING FIRST. I HOPE YOU SEE THE HIGH PRICE THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PASSAGE. THAT BEING A SERVANT TO OTHERS IS MORE OF A BLESSING, IN THE END, THAN BEING SERVED BY OTHERS. TOO, WE ONLY SERVE THOSE WHO CAN DO SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR US. THE LORD WOULD HAVE US FAITHFULLY; SELFLESSLY SERVE OTHERS WITHOUT GIVING THOUGHT WHAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE IN RETURN.
JESUS USES HIS IMPENDING SACRIFICE AS THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICIAL SERVICE. HE SETS THE PATTERN ALL OF HIS PEOPLE ARE COMMANDED TO FOLLOW). IF HE IS WILLING TO SERVE SINFUL HUMANITY, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE AS WELL. THE LORD'S PASSION TO SERVE WAS SUCH THAT HE WILLINGLY TOOK THE PLACE OF A SLAVE. THE GREATEST EXAMPLE CAN BE SEEN THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WENT TO THE CROSS. WHEN JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES FINISHED THEIR MEAL IN THE UPPER ROOM, JESUS PUT A TOWEL AROUND HIS WAIST AND WASHED HIS DISCIPLES FEET, (JOHN 13: 1-17). HE TOOK THE PLACE OF A SLAVE AND WASHED THE DIRTY FEET OF MEN WHO WOULD RUN AWAY BEFORE DAWN. HE WASHED THE FEET OF PETER WHO WOULD DENY HIM THREE TIMES BEFORE DAWN. HE EVEN WASHED THE FEET OF JUDAS ISCARIOT WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM IN TO THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES THAT VERY NIGHT. JESUS FREELY SERVED THOSE WHO WOULD BREAK HIS HEART. THE NEXT DAY DAWNED, JESUS WENT TO CALVARY TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR SINNERS WHO HATED HIM AND WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.
DO WHAT HE WOULD HAVE YOU DO TODAY.?
IN A FLASH THEY KNEW NOT ONLY WHO HAD SAVED THEM BUT WHAT THEIR SALVATION HAD COST THEIR BENEFACTOR.. THEY LATER ERECTED A MONUMENT TO HIS MEMORY BEARING THE MOTTO, "HE GAVE US ALL HE HAD." THIS POOR FARMER GAVE US ALL HE HAD, AND GAVE IT GLADLY. THIS POOR FARMER FINISHED FIRST IN THE EYES OF HIS COMMUNITY., BUT IT COST HIM EVERYTHING. THERE ARE NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIKE THAT FARMER. WHO WILLINGLY SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR OTHERS. THIS TEXT IS DESIGNED TO TEACH US THE TRUTH THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO FINISHES FIRST IS VICTORIOUS.
AS THEY WERE GOING UP TO JERUSALEM, JESUS BEGAN TO TEACH THEM WHAT THINGS SHOULD HAPPEN UNTO HIM. HOW HE WOULD BE DELIVERED UNTO THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND UNTO THE SCRIBES; AND THEY SHALL CONDEMN TO DEATH, AND SHALL DELIVER HIM TO THE GENTILES: AND THEY SHALL MOCK HIM, SHALL SCOURGE HIM, AND SHALL SPIT UPON HIM, AND SHALL KILL HIM: AND THE THIRD DAY HE SHALL RISE AGAIN. AND JAMES AND JOHN, THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE, COME UNTO HIM, SAYING "MASTER, WE WOULD THAT THOU SHOULDEST DO FOR US WHATEVER WE SHALL DESIRE, " WHAT WOULD YE THAT I SHOULD DO FOR YOU?"
THEY SAID UNTO HIM, " GRANT UNTO US THAT WE MAY SIT, ONE ON THY RIGHT HAND, AND THE OTHER ON THY LEFT HAND, IN THY GLORY." BUT JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, " YE KNOW NOT WHAT YE ASK: CAN YE DRINK OF THE CUP THAT I DRINK OF?
AND BE BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITH ?"
AND THEY SAID UNTO HIM, "WE CAN." AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, " YE SHALL INDEED DRINK OF THE CUP THAT I DRINK OF; AND WITH THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITH! BUT TO SIT ON MY RIGHT HAND AND ON MY LEFT HAND IS NOT MY TO GIVE; BUT IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO THEM WHOM IT IS PREPARED." WHEN THE TEN HEARD IT, THEY BEGAN TO BE MUCH DISPLEASED WITH JAMES AND JOHN.
THEY MAY HAVE IMAGINED THAT IN JERUSALEM JESUS WOULD BECOME A REAL KING. THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING THAT JOHN DIED OF OLD AGE IN EPHESUS; BUT ANOTHER TRADITION RELATES THAT HE WAS MARTYRED AT THE SAME TIME AS JAMES (ACTS 12:2) THIS IS UNLIKELY TO BE CORRECT. THE REASON WHY THEY WERE DENIED THE TWO PLACES OF HONOR, IT WAS SOMETIMES THOUGHT IT TO BE THAT IT WAS PETER; AND THEN JAMES "THE LORD'S BROTHER," AND NOT THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE, FOR THEY EMERGED AS THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH. I THINK FROM THE TEXT IT IS CLEAR THAT OUR LORD'S DISCIPLES WERE ANYTHING BUT HUMBLE MEN. THEY WERE ALWAYS TRYING TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES. JESUS SOUGHT TO COMBAT THAT MENTALITY, BUT THEY NEVER SEEMED TO GET THE MESSAGE. WE SEE SELFISH AMBITION IN ALL OF ITS UGLINESS. JAMES AND JOHN COME TO JESUS ASKING FOR TOP SEATS. JESUS USE THIS EVENT TO TEACH A VALUABLE LESSONS, SERVICE TO OTHERS, AND FORGIVENESS. THE HIGH COST OF FINISHING FIRST. I HOPE YOU SEE THE HIGH PRICE THAT COMES OUT OF THIS PASSAGE. THAT BEING A SERVANT TO OTHERS IS MORE OF A BLESSING, IN THE END, THAN BEING SERVED BY OTHERS. TOO, WE ONLY SERVE THOSE WHO CAN DO SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR US. THE LORD WOULD HAVE US FAITHFULLY; SELFLESSLY SERVE OTHERS WITHOUT GIVING THOUGHT WHAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE IN RETURN.
JESUS USES HIS IMPENDING SACRIFICE AS THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF SACRIFICIAL SERVICE. HE SETS THE PATTERN ALL OF HIS PEOPLE ARE COMMANDED TO FOLLOW). IF HE IS WILLING TO SERVE SINFUL HUMANITY, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO SERVE AS WELL. THE LORD'S PASSION TO SERVE WAS SUCH THAT HE WILLINGLY TOOK THE PLACE OF A SLAVE. THE GREATEST EXAMPLE CAN BE SEEN THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WENT TO THE CROSS. WHEN JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES FINISHED THEIR MEAL IN THE UPPER ROOM, JESUS PUT A TOWEL AROUND HIS WAIST AND WASHED HIS DISCIPLES FEET, (JOHN 13: 1-17). HE TOOK THE PLACE OF A SLAVE AND WASHED THE DIRTY FEET OF MEN WHO WOULD RUN AWAY BEFORE DAWN. HE WASHED THE FEET OF PETER WHO WOULD DENY HIM THREE TIMES BEFORE DAWN. HE EVEN WASHED THE FEET OF JUDAS ISCARIOT WHO WOULD BETRAY HIM IN TO THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES THAT VERY NIGHT. JESUS FREELY SERVED THOSE WHO WOULD BREAK HIS HEART. THE NEXT DAY DAWNED, JESUS WENT TO CALVARY TO DIE ON THE CROSS FOR SINNERS WHO HATED HIM AND WANTED NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM.
DO WHAT HE WOULD HAVE YOU DO TODAY.?
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
FINDING LIFE BY LOSING IT. [MARK 8:31-38].
AS DEEP AS INSIGHT INTO THE MEANING OF LIFE, AS HAS EVER BEEN SPOKEN WAS GIVEN BY CHRIST ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS. AROUND THE DESTINY OF HIS OWN LIFE HE WRAPPED A TEACHING FOR EVERY LIFE CONCERNING HIS OWN SUFFERING DEATH, THE MESSAGE READS: TAKE THE LOVE HE BROUGHT. LEAD THE LIFE HE TAUGHT. JESUS SPOKE SIMPLY. HE HAD A PREMONITION OF THE FATE IN STORE FOR HIM., AND SOME CONSCIOUSNESS OF HIS DESTINY. HE SPOKE ABOUT IT PLAINLY. MUCH OF HIS TEACHING WAS IN PARABLES AND THE DISCIPLES HAD AS MUCH DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING IT AS ANYONE ELSE UNLESS, AS SOMETIMES HAPPENED, JESUS GAVE THEM A CLUE TO THE MEANING. BUT ON THIS OCCASION JESUS TALKED TO THEM PLAINLY, MARK RELATES THAT IS, IN A WAY THAT HE COULD NOT BE MISUNDERSTOOD. THEIR REACTION WAS TO REJECT WITH FRANK OPPOSITION TO THE IDEA THAT JESUS AND PERHAPS ALSO THEMSELVES, AS MEMBERS OF THE PEOPLE WHOM THE "SON OF MAN" WOULD REPRESENT, SHOULD SUFFER REJECTION AND EXECUTION. THIS AMOUNTED TO A FRANK SUBSTITUTION OF HUMAN PREFERENCES FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE DIVINE PURPOSE. IT WAS A MANIFESTATION, IN THE VERY CIRCLE OF JESUS OWN DISCIPLES ( FOR WHOM AGAIN, PETER STANDS AS SPOKESMAN), OF THE SEDUCTIVE POWER OF THE DEVIL WITH WHICH JESUS HAD ALREADY HAD TO WRESTLE IN THE "TEMPTATION" WITH WHICH HIS WORK BEGAN. HE BEGAN TO TEACH THEM, THE GOSPEL SAYS; IT WOULD BE THE HARDEST LESSON THEY HAVE EVER LEARNED. AFTER ALMOST THREE YEARS WITH HIM, THE DISCIPLES WERE PUT TO THEIR MOST DIFFICULT TEST. COULD THEY DISCERN THE MEANING OF THE CROSS? WHAT JESUS WAS GOING TO SAY WOULD STAGGER THEM. IT WOULD BE MIND-BOGGLING. THEREFORE WELL AHEAD OF TIME, LOVE WAS PREPARING THE BELOVED. JESUS WAS ALWAYS PREPARING HIS DISCIPLES FOR THE NEXT STEP. HE ONLY BEGAN TO TEACH THEM ABOUT THE CROSS. THE TEACHING WOULD NEVER END. THE HOLY SPIRIT WOULD CONTINUE LONG AFTER JESUS DEPARTURE FROM EARTH. " HE BEGAN TO TEACH THEM THAT THE SON OF MAN MUST SUFFER MANY THINGS." THAT THE DIVINE ONE COULD SUCCUMB TO SUFFERING WAS FOREIGN TO THE THOUGHT OF THE DAY. HE WOULD BE VICTOR, NOT VICTIM. THE TITLE, "SON OF MAN," MEANING THE GOD-SENT MESSIAH, GUARANTEED EXEMPTION FROM SUFFERING IN POPULAR THOUGHT. YET CHRIST WAS SAYING, HERE TO HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO SUFFER "TERRIBLE THINGS" AS ONE TRANSLATION RENDERS IT. HE WOULD EXPERIENCE EXCRUCIATING AGONIES. THIS LEFT THE DISCIPLES SPEECH-LESS. THEY JUST COULDN'T HANDLE SUCH A CONCEPT. SOMETIME AFTER THE EVENT THEY WOULD DISCOVER THAT "WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED." THROUGH THE SUFFERING DEATH OF THE MESSIAH, GOD WOULD WORK OUT THE WORLD'S RECONCILIATION WITH THE FATHER. ON THE WAY, HOWEVER, TO JERUSALEM THEY WERE BAFFLED. JESUS WENT ON TO SHARE WITH HIS DISCIPLES THAT "THE SON OF MAN... MUST BE REJECTED BY THE ELDERS, CHIEF PRIESTS, AND THE SCRIBES." THIS, TOO, BOGGLED THE MIND. WHY GO TO JERUSALEM IF THIS WAS IN STORE? HEAD BACK TO GALILEE WHILE THERE WAS TIME. OF ALL PEOPLE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS SHOULD ACCEPT GOD'S MESSIAH. THIS REJECTION WAS TO CUT JESUS MORE THAN WHIPS. HE CAME TO HIS OWN HOME, AND HIS OWN PEOPLE RECEIVED HIM NOT. WHAT A SUDDER MUST HAVE "SHAKEN" CHRIST'S OWN HEART. AS HE FORESAW THE REJECTION HE MUST EXPERIENCE! HE MUST BE KILLED JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, THE PREDICTION WAS GETTING MORE FANTASTIC WITH EVERY PHRASE. HERE WAS THE ULTIMATE SHOCKER. AFTERWARD THEY WOULD LEARN TO UNDERSTAND IT AS PAUL INTERPRETED , " GOD SHOW HIS LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US. THE DISCIPLES WERE APPALLED BY WHAT HE WAS SAYING. WHEN JESUS CAME TO THE CLIMAX, THAT HE WOULD RISE AGAIN AFTER THREE DAYS, THEY WERE COMPLETELY LOST.
THEIR WAS NO PARABLE OR ALLEGORY WITH HIDDEN MEANING. IT WAS FRANK, OPEN, DEVASTATING. AFTER THE DISCIPLES WOULD WITNESS THE SUFFERING DEATH AND TRIUMPHANT RESURRECTION OF THE LORD, AND THEY WILL COME TO REALIZE THE EARTH-SHAKING MEANING OF THESE EVENTS. GOD WAS EMBRACING HUMANKIND WITH AN OFFER OF MERCY THROUGH CHRIST. NO PERSON NEED EVER AGAIN FEEL REJECTED OR LOST OR HOPELESS. BY HIS CROSS CHRIST DREW THE STING FROM LIFE AND DEATH. FOR THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN WHAT HE DID FOR THEM, THERE IS PEACE WITH GOD. THE SECRET HID FROM CREATION WAS NOW SHOUTED OVER THE EARTH.. HE DID EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO SETTLE EVERY ONE'S ACCOUNT. THIS IS WHY CHRIST SUFFERED TERRIBLE THINGS, AND WAS CRUELLY REJECTED BY HIS OWN, WAS CRUCIFIED LIKE A CRIMINAL AND WAS RAISED TO LIFE ON THE THIRD DAY. THIS PRICELESS ASSURANCE THAT DIVINE LOVE SUPPORTS HUMAN LIFE IN TRIAL AND DEATH FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. "THEN JESUS GAVE LIFE'S GREAT MASTER PRINCIPLE. " FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LOSE THEIR LIFE, FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPELS WILL SAVE IT. "THIS IS A SACRED PROMISE." EVERY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP CAN BE REGARDED AS A SITUATION FROM WHICH TO GET OR WHICH TO GIVE. LIFE IS NOT TO GET BUT TO GIVE BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR ALL. WHAT CAN A MAN GIVE IN RETURN FOR HIS LIFE? CHRIST PRESSED FURTHER. WHAT IS FAIR EXCHANGE? WHEN IT COMES, TO LIFE, MEANING LIFE THAT IS MADE UP OF INNER PEACE, JOY, FULFILLMENT.
BRING BACK ALL WHO HAVE STRAYED FROM YOUR WORD., AND LEAD THEM AGAIN IN FAITH TO RECEIVE AND HOLD FAST TO YOUR TRUTH. JESUS CONCLUDED, " FOR WHOEVER IS ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS IN THIS ADULTEROUS GENERATION, OF HIM WILL THE "SON OF MAN" ALSO BE ASHAMED, WHEN HE COMES IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH THE HOLY ANGELS. THE WAY A CHRISTIAN LIVES ANNOUNCES HIS SHAME OR HIS PRIDE IN CHRIST. " TAKE THE LOVE HE BROUGHT. LEAD THE LIFE HE TAUGHT!
FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR ENTIRE LIFE AND WORLD VIEW IS OUR BELIEF THAT THERE IS A GOD
WHO IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING AND ON WHOM EVERYTHING DEPENDS; HE IS ALWAYS NEAR US. AS MY GRANDSON SAYS: HE LIVES AMONG THE STARS AND THAT HE IS HOLY. MUCH OF OUR FAITH IS INVISIBLE, FOR US CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE A WRITTEN RECORD, THE BIBLE, WHICH FROM THE FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST SPEAKS OF GOD EXISTING.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
THE MINISTRY OF PHILIP
THEN PHILIP WENT DOWN TO THE CITY IN SAMARIA, AND PREACHED CHRIST UNTO THEM. AND THE PEOPLE OF ONE ACCORD GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH PHILIP SPOKE, HEALING AND SEEING THE MIRACLES WHICH HE DID FOR UNCLEAN SPIRITS, CRYING WITH LOUD VOICE, CAME OUT OF MANY THAT WERE POSSESSED WITH THEM. : AND MANY TAKEN WITH PALSIES, AND THAT WERE LAME, WERE HEALED. AND THERE WAS GREAT JOY IN THE CITY.
BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN, CALLED SIMON, WHICH BEFORE TIME IN THE SAME CITY USED SORCERY, AND BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA, GIVING OUT THAT HIMSELF WAS SOME GREAT ONE TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, SAYING, " THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD." AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD, BECAUSE THAT OF A LONG TIME HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM WITH SORCERIES. BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP PREACHING THE THINGS CONCERNING THE "KINGDOM OF GOD." , AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO: AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED WITH PHILIP, AND WONDERED, BEHOLDING THE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WHICH WAS DONE.
NOW WHEN THE APOSTLES WHICH WERE AT JERUSALEM HEARD THAT SAMARIA HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, THEY SENT UNTO THEM PETER AND JOHN, WHO, WHEN THEY WERE COME DOWN, PRAYED FOR THEM, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST ( FOR AS: ONLY THEY WERE YET HE WAS FALLEN ON NONE OF THEM, ONLY THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST).
THEN LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. AND WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLES HANDS THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN,, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY, SAYING, " GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY HANDS, HE MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST. BUT PETER AND JOHN WHO SHOWED UP LATER HAD COME TO BE WITH PHILIP, SAYS TO SIMON IN A REBUKE; WHO WANTED TO GIVE MONEY FOR THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT " THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, BECAUSE THOU THOUGHT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY. THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER: FOR THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. REPENT THEREFORE OF THIS THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD, IF PERHAPS THE THOUGHT OF THINE HEART MAY BE FORGIVEN THEE. NOW PETER AND JOHN WENT UP TOGETHER INTO THE TEMPLE AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER, BEING THE NINTH HOUR. AND A CERTAIN MAN LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WAS CARRIED, WHOM THEY LAID DAILY AT THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE ASKED AN ALMS. AND PETER, FASTENING HIS EYES UPON HIM WITH JOHN, SAID, " LOOK ON US." AND HE GAVE HEED UNTO THEM, EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING OF THEM. THEN PETER SAID, "SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE; BUT SUCH AS I HAVE GIVE I THEE: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH RISE UP AND WALK.." AND HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND, AND LIFTED HIM UP: AND IMMEDIATELY HIS FEET AND ANKLE BONES RECEIVED STRENGTH. AND HE LEAPING, UP STOOD AND WALKED, AND ENTERED WITH THEM INTO THE TEMPLE PRAISING GOD. AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAW HIM WALKING AND PRAISING GOD: AND THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS HE WHICH SAT FOR ALMS AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE OF THE TEMPLE: AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT AT THAT WHICH HAD HAPPENED UNTO HIM. AND AS THE LAME MAN WHICH WAS HEALED HELD PETER AND JOHN, ALL THE PEOPLE RAN TOGETHER UNTO THEM IN THE PORCH THAT IS CALLED SOLOMON'S, GREATLY WONDERING.
AND AS THEY SPOKE UNTO THE PEOPLE, THE PRIESTS, AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE, AND THE SADDUCEES, CAME UPON THEM, BEING GRIEVED THAT THEY TAUGHT THE PEOPLE, AND PREACHED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. AND THEY LAID HANDS ON THEM AND PUT THEM IN HOLD UNTO THE NEXT DAY: FOR IT WAS NOW EVENTIDE. HOW BE IT MANY OF THEM WHICH HEARD THE WORD BELIEVED; AND THE NUMBER OF THE MEN WAS ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND. AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW, THAT THEIR RULERS, AND ELDERS, AND SCRIBES, AND ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST, AND CAIAPHAS, AND JOHN, AND ALEXANDER, AND AS MANY AS WERE OF THE KINDRED OF THE HIGH PRIEST,
WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AT JERUSALEM. AND WHEN THEY HAD SET THEM IN THE MIDST, THEY ASKED, " BY WHAT POWER, OR BY WHAT NAME, HAVE YE DONE THIS?"
THEN PETER FILLED WITH HOLY GHOST, SAID UNTO THEM, "YE RULERS OF THE PEOPLE, AND ELDERS OF ISRAEL, IF WE THIS DAY BE EXAMINED OF THE GOOD DEED DONE TO THE IMPOTENT MAN, BY WHAT MEANS HE IS MADE WHOLE, BE IT KNOWN UNTO YOU ALL, AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, THAT BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, WHOM YE CRUCIFIED, WHOM GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD, EVEN BY HIM DOTH THIS MAN STAND HERE AMONG YOU WHOLE. THIS IS THE STONE WHICH WAS SET AT NOUGHT OF YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER. NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED,
NOW WHEN THEY SAW THE BOLDNESS OF PETER AND JOHN, AND PERCEIVED THAT THEY WERE UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN, THEY MARVELLED; AND THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE (NOTICE) OF THEM, THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. AND BEHOLDING THE MAN WHICH WAS HEALED STANDING WITH THEM, THEY COULD SAY NOTHING AGAINST IT. THEREFORE LET ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL KNOW ASSUREDLY THAT GOD HATH MADE THIS SAME JESUS, WHOM YE HAVE CRUCIFIED, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST
BUT THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN, CALLED SIMON, WHICH BEFORE TIME IN THE SAME CITY USED SORCERY, AND BEWITCHED THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA, GIVING OUT THAT HIMSELF WAS SOME GREAT ONE TO WHOM THEY ALL GAVE HEED, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST, SAYING, " THIS MAN IS THE GREAT POWER OF GOD." AND TO HIM THEY HAD REGARD, BECAUSE THAT OF A LONG TIME HE HAD BEWITCHED THEM WITH SORCERIES. BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED PHILIP PREACHING THE THINGS CONCERNING THE "KINGDOM OF GOD." , AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. THEN SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED ALSO: AND WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED WITH PHILIP, AND WONDERED, BEHOLDING THE MIRACLES AND SIGNS WHICH WAS DONE.
NOW WHEN THE APOSTLES WHICH WERE AT JERUSALEM HEARD THAT SAMARIA HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD, THEY SENT UNTO THEM PETER AND JOHN, WHO, WHEN THEY WERE COME DOWN, PRAYED FOR THEM, THAT THEY MIGHT RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST ( FOR AS: ONLY THEY WERE YET HE WAS FALLEN ON NONE OF THEM, ONLY THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST).
THEN LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. AND WHEN SIMON SAW THAT THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF THE APOSTLES HANDS THE HOLY GHOST WAS GIVEN,, HE OFFERED THEM MONEY, SAYING, " GIVE ME ALSO THIS POWER, THAT ON WHOMSOEVER I LAY HANDS, HE MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST. BUT PETER AND JOHN WHO SHOWED UP LATER HAD COME TO BE WITH PHILIP, SAYS TO SIMON IN A REBUKE; WHO WANTED TO GIVE MONEY FOR THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT " THY MONEY PERISH WITH THEE, BECAUSE THOU THOUGHT THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE PURCHASED WITH MONEY. THOU HAST NEITHER PART NOR LOT IN THIS MATTER: FOR THY HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. REPENT THEREFORE OF THIS THY WICKEDNESS, AND PRAY GOD, IF PERHAPS THE THOUGHT OF THINE HEART MAY BE FORGIVEN THEE. NOW PETER AND JOHN WENT UP TOGETHER INTO THE TEMPLE AT THE HOUR OF PRAYER, BEING THE NINTH HOUR. AND A CERTAIN MAN LAME FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WAS CARRIED, WHOM THEY LAID DAILY AT THE GATE OF THE TEMPLE ASKED AN ALMS. AND PETER, FASTENING HIS EYES UPON HIM WITH JOHN, SAID, " LOOK ON US." AND HE GAVE HEED UNTO THEM, EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOMETHING OF THEM. THEN PETER SAID, "SILVER AND GOLD HAVE I NONE; BUT SUCH AS I HAVE GIVE I THEE: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH RISE UP AND WALK.." AND HE TOOK HIM BY THE RIGHT HAND, AND LIFTED HIM UP: AND IMMEDIATELY HIS FEET AND ANKLE BONES RECEIVED STRENGTH. AND HE LEAPING, UP STOOD AND WALKED, AND ENTERED WITH THEM INTO THE TEMPLE PRAISING GOD. AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAW HIM WALKING AND PRAISING GOD: AND THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS HE WHICH SAT FOR ALMS AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE OF THE TEMPLE: AND THEY WERE FILLED WITH WONDER AND AMAZEMENT AT THAT WHICH HAD HAPPENED UNTO HIM. AND AS THE LAME MAN WHICH WAS HEALED HELD PETER AND JOHN, ALL THE PEOPLE RAN TOGETHER UNTO THEM IN THE PORCH THAT IS CALLED SOLOMON'S, GREATLY WONDERING.
AND AS THEY SPOKE UNTO THE PEOPLE, THE PRIESTS, AND THE CAPTAIN OF THE TEMPLE, AND THE SADDUCEES, CAME UPON THEM, BEING GRIEVED THAT THEY TAUGHT THE PEOPLE, AND PREACHED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. AND THEY LAID HANDS ON THEM AND PUT THEM IN HOLD UNTO THE NEXT DAY: FOR IT WAS NOW EVENTIDE. HOW BE IT MANY OF THEM WHICH HEARD THE WORD BELIEVED; AND THE NUMBER OF THE MEN WAS ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND. AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW, THAT THEIR RULERS, AND ELDERS, AND SCRIBES, AND ANNAS THE HIGH PRIEST, AND CAIAPHAS, AND JOHN, AND ALEXANDER, AND AS MANY AS WERE OF THE KINDRED OF THE HIGH PRIEST,
WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AT JERUSALEM. AND WHEN THEY HAD SET THEM IN THE MIDST, THEY ASKED, " BY WHAT POWER, OR BY WHAT NAME, HAVE YE DONE THIS?"
THEN PETER FILLED WITH HOLY GHOST, SAID UNTO THEM, "YE RULERS OF THE PEOPLE, AND ELDERS OF ISRAEL, IF WE THIS DAY BE EXAMINED OF THE GOOD DEED DONE TO THE IMPOTENT MAN, BY WHAT MEANS HE IS MADE WHOLE, BE IT KNOWN UNTO YOU ALL, AND TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, THAT BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, WHOM YE CRUCIFIED, WHOM GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD, EVEN BY HIM DOTH THIS MAN STAND HERE AMONG YOU WHOLE. THIS IS THE STONE WHICH WAS SET AT NOUGHT OF YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER. NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED,
NOW WHEN THEY SAW THE BOLDNESS OF PETER AND JOHN, AND PERCEIVED THAT THEY WERE UNLEARNED AND IGNORANT MEN, THEY MARVELLED; AND THEY TOOK KNOWLEDGE (NOTICE) OF THEM, THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. AND BEHOLDING THE MAN WHICH WAS HEALED STANDING WITH THEM, THEY COULD SAY NOTHING AGAINST IT. THEREFORE LET ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL KNOW ASSUREDLY THAT GOD HATH MADE THIS SAME JESUS, WHOM YE HAVE CRUCIFIED, BOTH LORD AND CHRIST
Friday, May 11, 2018
BLESSINGS TO THE NATIONS.
MARTIN LUTHER ONCE WROTE ABOUT THE PROMISE MADE IN GENESIS 12:1-3, "INDEED THE WHOLE BIBLE DEPENDS ON THIS OATH OF GOD. AND WHATEVER WILL BE ACHIEVED IN THE CHURCH UNTIL THE END OF TIME AND WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN IT UNTIL NOW HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND WILL BE ACHIEVED BY THE VIRTUE OF THIS PROMISE, WHICH ENDURES AND IS IN FORCE TO THIS DAY.
GENESIS 12: 1-3,7 LIST THREE THINGS THAT GOD PROMISES TO DO FOR, AND THROUGH ABRAHAM. FIRSTLY, HE PROMISES TO GIVE THE LAND OF CANAAN TO ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS-SWEET THOUGHT INDEED TO A WANDERING NOMAD! SECONDLY, HE , PROMISED HIM OFFSPRING, OR PROGENY. THIRDLY, HE DECLARES THAT HE PLANS TO WORK THROUGH ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS TO BRING BLESSINGS TO ALL FAMILIES AND NATIONS. LOOKING AT THE EARLY CHURCH THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES IS A CONTINUATION OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE BY THE SAME AUTHOR. IT IS THE CHIEF SOURCE FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY. THROUGH ITS VIVID NARRATIVE WE ARE ENABLED TO FOLLOW THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY FROM JUDEA THROUGH ASIA MINOR AND GREECE AND FINALLY TO ROME-INVADED. AND MOST OF THEM CONQUERED BY DAUNTLESS CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES, THE READER WILL NOTE HOW THE STORY STARTED BY ABRAHAM NOW REACHES AND GAINS CREDIBILITY WHEN IT REACHES EVENTS WITH WHICH LUKE WAS PERSONALLY FAMILIAR. THOUGH NO MORE SKEPTICAL OF MARVELOUS HAPPENINGS THAN WERE OTHERS OF HIS GENERATION, HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SCRUPULOUSLY ACCURATE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF HIS OWN KNOWLEDGE. THROUGH THE GREAT FIGURE OF PAUL, THROUGH WHOM CHRISTIANITY BECAME A WORLD RELIGION. THROUGH THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, BY LOOKING AT THE "ASCENSION."
THE FORMER TREATISE HAVE I MADE, O THEOPHILUS, OF ALL JESUS BEGAN BOTH TO DO AND TEACH, UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP, AFTER THAT HE THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS UNTO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN. : TO WHOM ALSO HE SHOWED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS PASSION BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS, BEING SEEN OF THEM FORTY DAYS, AND SPEAKING OF THE THINGS PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD; AND BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH THEM, COMMANDED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DEPART FROM JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER WHICH, SAITH HE, "YE HAVE HEARD OF ME. FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER; BUT YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST NOT MANY DAYS HENCE.
WHEN THEY THEREFORE WERE COME TOGETHER, THEY ASKED OF HIM, SAYING"LORD, WILT THOU AT THIS TIME RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?" AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, " IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR SEASONS, WHICH THE FATHER HAS PUT IN HIS OWN POWER. BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE
POWER , AFTER THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS, WHILE THEY BEHELD, HE WAS TAKEN UP; AND A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. AND WHILE THEY LOOKED STEADFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN AS HE WENT UP, BEHOLD, TWO MEN STOOD BY THEM IN WHITE APPAREL; WHICH ALSO SAID, " YE MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN? THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN."
THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS FROM JERUSALEM A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY.
AND WHEN THEY WERE COME IN, THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM, WHERE ABODE BOTH PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND ANDREW, PHILIP, AND THOMAS, BARTHOLOMEW, AND MATTHEW, JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS, AND SIMON ZELOTES, AND JUDAS THE BROTHER OF JAMES. THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WITH ALL HIS BRETHREN.
AND IN THOSE DAYS PETER STOOD UP IN THE MIDST OF THE DISCIPLES AND SAID- THE NUMBER OF NAMES TOGETHER WERE ABOUT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY-- "MEN AND BRETHREN, THIS SCRIPTURE MUST NEEDS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, WHICH THE HOLY GHOST BY THE MOUTH OF DAVID SPOKE BEFORE CONCERNING JUDAS, WHICH WAS GUIDE TO THEM THAT TOOK JESUS.. FOR HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US, AND HAD OBTAINED PART OF THIS MINISTRY."( NOW THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD WITH THE REWARD OF INIQUITY; AND FALLING HEADLONG, HE BURST ASUNDER IN THE MIDST, AND ALL HIS BOWELS GUSHED OUT. AND IT WAS KNOWN UNTO ALL DWELLERS AT JERUSALEM; IN SO MUCH AS THAT FIELD IN THEIR PROPER TONGUE
"ACELDAMA", THAT IS TO SAY. THE FIELD OF BLOOD.) "FOR IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS,
'LET HIS HABITATION BE DESOLATE,
AND LET NO MAN DWELL THEREIN"
and
"HIS BISHOPRIC LET ANOTHER TAKE."
" WHEREFORE OF THESE MEN WHICH HAVE COMPANIED WITH US ALL THE TIME THAT THE LORD JESUS WENT IN AND OUT AMONG US, BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, UNTO THAT SAME DAY THAT HE WAS TAKEN UP FROM US, MUST ONE BE ORDAINED TO BE A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION.
AND THEY APPOINTED TWO, JOSEPH CALLED BARSABAS, WHO WERE SURNAMED JUSTUS, AND MATTHIAS. AND THEY PRAYED, AND SAID.
"THOU, LORD, WHICH KNOWEST THE HEARTS OF ALL MEN, SHOW WHETHER THESE TWO THOU HAST CHOSEN, THAT HE MAY TAKE PART OF THIS MINISTRY AND APOSTLESHIP, FROM WHICH JUDAS BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, THAT HE MIGHT GO
TO HIS OWN PLACE" AND THEIR GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS; AND THE LOT FELL UPON MATTIAS; AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES.
GENESIS 12: 1-3,7 LIST THREE THINGS THAT GOD PROMISES TO DO FOR, AND THROUGH ABRAHAM. FIRSTLY, HE PROMISES TO GIVE THE LAND OF CANAAN TO ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS-SWEET THOUGHT INDEED TO A WANDERING NOMAD! SECONDLY, HE , PROMISED HIM OFFSPRING, OR PROGENY. THIRDLY, HE DECLARES THAT HE PLANS TO WORK THROUGH ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS TO BRING BLESSINGS TO ALL FAMILIES AND NATIONS. LOOKING AT THE EARLY CHURCH THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES IS A CONTINUATION OF THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE BY THE SAME AUTHOR. IT IS THE CHIEF SOURCE FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY. THROUGH ITS VIVID NARRATIVE WE ARE ENABLED TO FOLLOW THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY FROM JUDEA THROUGH ASIA MINOR AND GREECE AND FINALLY TO ROME-INVADED. AND MOST OF THEM CONQUERED BY DAUNTLESS CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES, THE READER WILL NOTE HOW THE STORY STARTED BY ABRAHAM NOW REACHES AND GAINS CREDIBILITY WHEN IT REACHES EVENTS WITH WHICH LUKE WAS PERSONALLY FAMILIAR. THOUGH NO MORE SKEPTICAL OF MARVELOUS HAPPENINGS THAN WERE OTHERS OF HIS GENERATION, HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN SCRUPULOUSLY ACCURATE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF HIS OWN KNOWLEDGE. THROUGH THE GREAT FIGURE OF PAUL, THROUGH WHOM CHRISTIANITY BECAME A WORLD RELIGION. THROUGH THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, BY LOOKING AT THE "ASCENSION."
THE FORMER TREATISE HAVE I MADE, O THEOPHILUS, OF ALL JESUS BEGAN BOTH TO DO AND TEACH, UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH HE WAS TAKEN UP, AFTER THAT HE THROUGH THE HOLY GHOST HAD GIVEN COMMANDMENTS UNTO THE APOSTLES WHOM HE HAD CHOSEN. : TO WHOM ALSO HE SHOWED HIMSELF ALIVE AFTER HIS PASSION BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS, BEING SEEN OF THEM FORTY DAYS, AND SPEAKING OF THE THINGS PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD; AND BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH THEM, COMMANDED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DEPART FROM JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER WHICH, SAITH HE, "YE HAVE HEARD OF ME. FOR JOHN TRULY BAPTIZED WITH WATER; BUT YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST NOT MANY DAYS HENCE.
WHEN THEY THEREFORE WERE COME TOGETHER, THEY ASKED OF HIM, SAYING"LORD, WILT THOU AT THIS TIME RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?" AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, " IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR SEASONS, WHICH THE FATHER HAS PUT IN HIS OWN POWER. BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE
POWER , AFTER THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.
AND WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN THESE THINGS, WHILE THEY BEHELD, HE WAS TAKEN UP; AND A CLOUD RECEIVED HIM OUT OF THEIR SIGHT. AND WHILE THEY LOOKED STEADFASTLY TOWARD HEAVEN AS HE WENT UP, BEHOLD, TWO MEN STOOD BY THEM IN WHITE APPAREL; WHICH ALSO SAID, " YE MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN? THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN."
THEN RETURNED THEY UNTO JERUSALEM FROM THE MOUNT CALLED OLIVET, WHICH IS FROM JERUSALEM A SABBATH DAY'S JOURNEY.
AND WHEN THEY WERE COME IN, THEY WENT UP INTO AN UPPER ROOM, WHERE ABODE BOTH PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND ANDREW, PHILIP, AND THOMAS, BARTHOLOMEW, AND MATTHEW, JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS, AND SIMON ZELOTES, AND JUDAS THE BROTHER OF JAMES. THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, WITH ALL HIS BRETHREN.
AND IN THOSE DAYS PETER STOOD UP IN THE MIDST OF THE DISCIPLES AND SAID- THE NUMBER OF NAMES TOGETHER WERE ABOUT A HUNDRED AND TWENTY-- "MEN AND BRETHREN, THIS SCRIPTURE MUST NEEDS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED, WHICH THE HOLY GHOST BY THE MOUTH OF DAVID SPOKE BEFORE CONCERNING JUDAS, WHICH WAS GUIDE TO THEM THAT TOOK JESUS.. FOR HE WAS NUMBERED WITH US, AND HAD OBTAINED PART OF THIS MINISTRY."( NOW THIS MAN PURCHASED A FIELD WITH THE REWARD OF INIQUITY; AND FALLING HEADLONG, HE BURST ASUNDER IN THE MIDST, AND ALL HIS BOWELS GUSHED OUT. AND IT WAS KNOWN UNTO ALL DWELLERS AT JERUSALEM; IN SO MUCH AS THAT FIELD IN THEIR PROPER TONGUE
"ACELDAMA", THAT IS TO SAY. THE FIELD OF BLOOD.) "FOR IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS,
'LET HIS HABITATION BE DESOLATE,
AND LET NO MAN DWELL THEREIN"
and
"HIS BISHOPRIC LET ANOTHER TAKE."
" WHEREFORE OF THESE MEN WHICH HAVE COMPANIED WITH US ALL THE TIME THAT THE LORD JESUS WENT IN AND OUT AMONG US, BEGINNING FROM THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, UNTO THAT SAME DAY THAT HE WAS TAKEN UP FROM US, MUST ONE BE ORDAINED TO BE A WITNESS WITH US OF HIS RESURRECTION.
AND THEY APPOINTED TWO, JOSEPH CALLED BARSABAS, WHO WERE SURNAMED JUSTUS, AND MATTHIAS. AND THEY PRAYED, AND SAID.
"THOU, LORD, WHICH KNOWEST THE HEARTS OF ALL MEN, SHOW WHETHER THESE TWO THOU HAST CHOSEN, THAT HE MAY TAKE PART OF THIS MINISTRY AND APOSTLESHIP, FROM WHICH JUDAS BY TRANSGRESSION FELL, THAT HE MIGHT GO
TO HIS OWN PLACE" AND THEIR GAVE FORTH THEIR LOTS; AND THE LOT FELL UPON MATTIAS; AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE ELEVEN APOSTLES.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
CREATION TO CHRIST. [ THE DIVINE PERSONALITY]
A WOMAN GOES INTO A SHOP TO BUY A HAT. THE ASSISTANT SUGGESTS FIRST THIS ONE, THEN THAT ONE, AND THEN ANOTHER ONE- UNTIL FINALLY SHE PRODUCES ONE SHE INSISTS "SUITS MADAM PERFECTLY." THE ASSISTANT IS SUGGESTING THAT THE HAT EXPRESSES THE CLIENT'S PERSONALITY. SIMILARLY, HUMAN BEINGS PUT A VARIETY OF " PERSONALLY HATS" ON GOD'S HEAD. SOME PUT AN ACADEMIC HAT ON HIM. AFTER ALL HE KNOWS EVERYTHING [JOHN 21:17].
SOME PUT A POLICEMAN'S HAT ON HIM. THEY THINK OF HIM AS ONE WHO CONSTANTLY SPIES ON THEM FROM HEIGHTS OF HEAVEN TO CATCH THEM WHEN THEY DO WRONG, [PSALM 139: 1-12; GENESIS 3: 8-10].
THERE ARE THOSE THAT PUT A CHEF'S HAT ON GOD. THEY BELIEVE HE EXISTS MERELY TO TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF FOOD AND DRINK, [PSALM 145: 15,16]. SOME COMPLAIN WHEN THEY FEEL HE IS NOT AS GENEROUS AS HE MIGHT BE.
OTHERS THINK OF GOD AS A KIND FATHER CHRISTMAS OR SANTA CLAUS, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO SUPPLY THEM WITH ALL KINDS OF PLEASANT THINGS. TO OWN AND ENJOY. SOME GET A LITTLE PEEVED WITH HIM WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO SHORT OF SOMETHING, MATTHEW [6:31, 32].
MANY LOOK ON A MAGICIAN HAT AS A "MUST" FOR THE DIVINE WARDROBE, FOR THEY THINK OF GOD AS THE GREAT MIRACLE WORKER, [EXODUS 7:1O; 14:10-31].
MANY BELIEVE A CROWN IS AN APPROPRIATE HAT FOR GOD. THE BIBLE OFTEN USES
WORDS LIKE "KING" AND "KINGDOM" WHEN REFERRING TO HIM, [PSALM 24: 7-1O].
BECAUSE MANY UNINFORMED PEOPLE VIEW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE MERELY AS A MATTER OF "DO" AND "DON'T," THEY THINK OF A PURITAN HAT FOR GOD. [MARK 10:17:22].
SOME THINK ABOUT GOD WHEN THEY ARE SICK, [PSALM 103:3;] [MARK 5:21-43]'.
REMARKABLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO ASK, " WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?" WHEN THEY ARE SICK, BUT SLOW TO ASK THIS SAME QUESTION WHEN THEY ARE WELL.
THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE MESSAGES OF ALL THESE HATS. EACH REFLECTS SOMETHING OF WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GOD AND HIS ATTRIBUTES. IT IS ESSENTIAL, HOWEVER, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD'S ALL EMBRACING QUALITY IS LOVE. THIS BINDS ALL OF HIS OTHER QUALITIES TOGETHER AS A CORD BINDS TOGETHER THE STALKS IN A SHEAF OF HAY.
GOD IS WHAT HE IS-NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF HIM. OUR TASK IS TO COME TO GRIPS WITH HIS SELF-DESCRIPTION, HIS CHARACTER AND HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS. HE ONCE DID WEAR A HAT (THORNS). HE DID NOT CHOOSE IT FOR HIMSELF.
MEN FASHIONED IT AND PLACED IT ON HIM IN MOCKERY. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY PLACED THERE WILL SERVE A USEFUL TEACHING PURPOSE FOR US.
.
SOME PUT A POLICEMAN'S HAT ON HIM. THEY THINK OF HIM AS ONE WHO CONSTANTLY SPIES ON THEM FROM HEIGHTS OF HEAVEN TO CATCH THEM WHEN THEY DO WRONG, [PSALM 139: 1-12; GENESIS 3: 8-10].
THERE ARE THOSE THAT PUT A CHEF'S HAT ON GOD. THEY BELIEVE HE EXISTS MERELY TO TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN AMPLE SUPPLY OF FOOD AND DRINK, [PSALM 145: 15,16]. SOME COMPLAIN WHEN THEY FEEL HE IS NOT AS GENEROUS AS HE MIGHT BE.
OTHERS THINK OF GOD AS A KIND FATHER CHRISTMAS OR SANTA CLAUS, WHOSE JOB IT IS TO SUPPLY THEM WITH ALL KINDS OF PLEASANT THINGS. TO OWN AND ENJOY. SOME GET A LITTLE PEEVED WITH HIM WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO SHORT OF SOMETHING, MATTHEW [6:31, 32].
MANY LOOK ON A MAGICIAN HAT AS A "MUST" FOR THE DIVINE WARDROBE, FOR THEY THINK OF GOD AS THE GREAT MIRACLE WORKER, [EXODUS 7:1O; 14:10-31].
MANY BELIEVE A CROWN IS AN APPROPRIATE HAT FOR GOD. THE BIBLE OFTEN USES
WORDS LIKE "KING" AND "KINGDOM" WHEN REFERRING TO HIM, [PSALM 24: 7-1O].
BECAUSE MANY UNINFORMED PEOPLE VIEW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND LIFE MERELY AS A MATTER OF "DO" AND "DON'T," THEY THINK OF A PURITAN HAT FOR GOD. [MARK 10:17:22].
SOME THINK ABOUT GOD WHEN THEY ARE SICK, [PSALM 103:3;] [MARK 5:21-43]'.
REMARKABLY, MANY PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO ASK, " WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?" WHEN THEY ARE SICK, BUT SLOW TO ASK THIS SAME QUESTION WHEN THEY ARE WELL.
THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE MESSAGES OF ALL THESE HATS. EACH REFLECTS SOMETHING OF WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT GOD AND HIS ATTRIBUTES. IT IS ESSENTIAL, HOWEVER, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT GOD'S ALL EMBRACING QUALITY IS LOVE. THIS BINDS ALL OF HIS OTHER QUALITIES TOGETHER AS A CORD BINDS TOGETHER THE STALKS IN A SHEAF OF HAY.
GOD IS WHAT HE IS-NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF HIM. OUR TASK IS TO COME TO GRIPS WITH HIS SELF-DESCRIPTION, HIS CHARACTER AND HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS. HE ONCE DID WEAR A HAT (THORNS). HE DID NOT CHOOSE IT FOR HIMSELF.
MEN FASHIONED IT AND PLACED IT ON HIM IN MOCKERY. HOWEVER, WHAT THEY PLACED THERE WILL SERVE A USEFUL TEACHING PURPOSE FOR US.
.
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
ECCLESIASTES THE PREACHER.!
THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES WAS THE WORK OF A UNKNOWN SECOND CENTURY AUTHOR. WHO WROTE UNDER THE NAME OF "KOHELETH," OR THE PREACHER. IN HIS VIEW OF THE WORLD THE DOUBTS OF JOB. HAVE DEEPENED TO AN ALL-EMBRACING PESSIMISM AS TO THE VALUE OF EXISTENCE. BECAUSE OF THIS GENERAL TONE, THE WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE FAVORITE BOOK OF THE "BIBLE" AMONG UNBELIEVERS. TO OFFSET THE TENDENCY SO HOSTILE TO THE MAIN SPIRIT OF JEWISH LITERATURE, LATER EDITORS INCORPORATED IT IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. BUT IN SPITE OF THESE EDITORIAL EFFORTS THE TENOR OF THE WORK REMAINS SO HERETICAL THAT WITHOUT ITS ERRONEOUS ASCRIPTION TO KING SOLOMON IT WOULD HARDLY HAVE FOUND A PLACE AMONG THE JEWISH SACRED SCRIPTURES OR BEEN INCLUDED IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE. ( HERE WE GO)
THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM.
VANITIES OF VANITIES, SAITH THE PREACHER, ALL IS VANITY. WHAT PROFIT HATH MAN OF ALL HIS LABOR WHEREIN HE LABORETH UNDER THE SUN?
ONE GENERATION GOETH, AND AND ANOTHER COMETH; AND THE EARTH ABIDETH FOR EVER. THE SUN ALSO RISETH, AND THE SUN GOETH DOWN, AND HASETH TO THE PLACE WHERE HE ARISETH. THE WIND GOETH TOWARD THE SOUTH, AND TURNETH ABOUT UNTO THE NORTH; IT TURNETH ABOUT CONTINUALLY IN ITS COURSE, AND THE WIND RETURNETH AGAIN TO ITS CIRCUITS. ALL THE RIVERS RUN INTO THE SEA, YET THE SEA IS NOT FULL; UNTO THE PLACE WHITHER THE RIVERS GO, THITHER THEY GO AGAIN.
ALL THINGS ARE FULL OF WEARINESS; MAN CANNOT UTTER: THE EYE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING, NOR THE EAR FILLED WITH HEARING.
THAT WHICH HAS BEEN IS THAT WHICH SHALL BE; AND THAT WHICH HAD BEEN DONE IS THAT WHICH SHALL BE DONE. AND THERE IS NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN. IS THERE A THING WHEREOF MEN SAY, " SEE THIS IS NEW"?
IT HATH BEEN ALREADY, IN THE AGES WHICH WERE BEFORE US.
THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF THE FORMER GENERATIONS; NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY REMEMBRANCE OF THE LATTER GENERATIONS THAT ARE TO COME,
AMONG THOSE THAT SHALL COME AFTER.
I THE PREACHER WAS KING OVER ISRAEL IN JERUSALEM. AND I APPLIED MY HEART TO SEEK AND SEARCH OUT WISDOM CONCERNING ALL THAT IS DONE UNDER HEAVEN. IT IS A SORE TRAVAIL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THE SONS OF MEN TO BE EXERCISED THEREWITH. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS DONE UNDER THE SUN; AND BEHOLD, ALL IS VANITY AND A STRIVING AFTER THE WIND THAT WHICH IS CROOKED CANNOT BE MADE STRAIGHT. AND THAT WHICH IS WANTING CANNOT BE NUMBERED. I HAVE COMMUNED WITH MY OWN HEART, SAYING , "LO, I HAVE GOTTEN ME GREAT WISDOM ABOVE ALL THAT WERE BEFORE ME IN JERUSALEM: YEA, MY HEART HAS HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. AND I APPLIED MY HEART TO KNOW WISDOM, AND TO KNOW MADNESS AND FOLLY. I PERCEIVED THIS WAS CHASING AFTER THE WIND. FOR IN MUCH WISDOM IS MUCH GRIEF. AND HE THAT INCREASED KNOWLEDGE INCREASETH SORROW.. I SAID IN MY HEART, " GO TO NOW, I WILL PROVE THEE WITH MIRTH; THEREFORE ENJOY PLEASURE" AND, BEHOLD, THIS ALSO WAS VANITY, I SAID OF LAUGHTER, " IT IS MAD." AND OF MIRTH,"WHAT DOETH IT?" I SEARCHED IN MINE HEART HOW TO CHEER MY FLESH WITH WINE, YET MY HEART YET GUIDING ME WITH WISDOM, AND HOW TO LAY HOLD ON FOLLY, TILL I MIGHT SEE WHAT IT WAS GOOD FOR THE SONS OF MAN THAT THEY SHOULD DO UNDER THE HEAVEN ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIFE.. I MADE ME GREAT WORKS; I BUILDED ME HOUSES; I PLANTED ME VINEYARDS ; I MADE ME GARDENS AND PARKS, I PLANTED TREES IN THEM OF ALL KIND OF FRUITS. SO I WAS GREAT, AND INCREASED MORE THAN ALL.
TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON
AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN
A TIME TO BE BORN, AND A TIME TO DIE
A TIME TO PLANT, AND A TIME TO PLUCK UP THAT WHICH IS PLANTED;
A TIME TO KILL, A TIME TO HEAL;
A TIME TO BREAK DOWN, AND A TIME TO BUILD UP;
A TIME TO WEEP, AND A TIME TO LAUGH
A TIME TO MOURN, AND A TIME TO DANCE
A TIME TO CAST AWAY STONES, AND A TIME TO GATHER STONES TOGETHER
A TIME TO EMBRACE, AND A TIME TO REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING;
A TIME TO SEEK, AND A TIME TO LOSE.
A TIME TO SEEK, A TIME TO LOSE;
A TIME TO KEEP, AND A TIME TO CAST AWAY;
A TIME TO REND A TIME TO SEW;
A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, AND A TIME TO SPEAK
A TIME TO LOVE AND A TIME TO HATE;
A TIME FOR WAR, AND A TIME FOR PEACE;
HE THAT LOVETH SILVER SHALL NOT BE SATISFIED;
THERE IS GRIEVOUS EVIL WHICH I HAVE SEEN UNDER THE SUN, NAMELY, RICHES
KEPT BY THE OWNER THEREOF TO HIS HURT: AND THOSE RICHES PERISH BY EVIL
ADVENTURE; AND IF HE HAD BEGOTTEN A SON, THERE IS NOTHING IN HIS HAND
AS HE CAME FORTH OUT OF HIS MOTHER'S WOMB, NAKED SHALL HE GO AGAIN AS
HE CAME, AND SHALL TAKE NOTHING FOR HIS LABOUR
BEHOLD, THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN TO BE GOOD AND TO BE COMELY. IS FOR ONE TO
EAT AND TO DRINK, AND TO ENJOY GOOD IN ALL LABOR.
WISDOM IS A STRENGTH TO THE WISE MAN MORE THAN TEN RULERS WHICH ARE IN THE CITY.
"BEHOLD, THIS HAVE I FOUND SAITH THE PREACHER, LAYING ONE THING TO ANOTHER, TO FIND OUT ACCOUNT, WHICH MY SOULS STILL SEEKETH, BUT I HAVE NOT FOUND BEHOLD ONLY, THIS IS ONLY HAVE I FOUND, THAT GOD MADE MAN UPRIGHT; BUT THEY HAVE SOUGHT OUT MANY INVENTIONS.
WHO IS THE WISE MAN? AND WHO KNOWETH THE INTERPRETATION OF A THING?
A MAN'S WISDOM MAKETH HIS FACE TO SHINE, AND THE HARDNESS OF HIS FACE IS CHANGED.
THEN I COMMANDED MIRTH, BECAUSE A MAN HATH NO BETTER THING UNDER THE SUN THAN TO EAT, AND TO DRINK, AND TO BE MERRY: FOR THAT SHALL ABIDE
WITH HIM IN HIS LABOR ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE WHICH GOD HAS HATH GIVEN HIM UNDER THE SUN.
WHEN I APPLIED MY HEART TO KNOW WISDOM, AND TO SEE THE BUSINESS THAT IS DONE UPON THE EARTH ( FOR ALSO THERE IS THAT NEITHER DAY NOR NIGHT SEETH
SLEEP WITH HIS EYES). THEN I BEHELD ALL THE WORK OF GOD, THAT MAN CANNOT FIND OUT THE WORK THAT IS DONE UNDER THE SUN.: BECAUSE HOWEVER MUCH A MAN LABOUR TO SEEK IT OUT, YET HE SHALL NOT FIND IT; YEA MOREOVER, THOUGH A WISE MAN THINK TO KNOW IT, YET SHALL HE NOT BE ABLE TO FIND IT.
FOR ALL THIS I LAID TO MY HEART, EVEN TO EXPLORE ALL THIS; THAT THE RIGHTEOUS, AND THE WISE, AND THEIR WORKS, ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD. ALL THINGS COME ALIKE TO ALL THERE IS ONE EVENT TO THE RIGHTEOUS AND TO THE WICKED TO THE GOOD AND TO THE CLEAN AND TO THE UNCLEAN.
GO THY WAY, EAT THY BREAD WITH JOY, DRINK THY WINE WITH A MERRY HEART; FOR GOD HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED THY WORKS. LET THY GARMENTS BE ALWAYS WHITE; LIVE JOYFULLY WITH THE WIFE WHOM THOU LOVEST ALL THE DAYS OF THE LIFE OF THY VANITY: WHICH HE HAS GIVEN THEE UNDER THE SUN FOR THAT IS THY PORTION IN LIFE, AND IN THY LABOR WHATSOEVER THY HAND SHALL DO, DO IT WITH THY MIGHT; FOR THERE IS NO WORK, NOR DEVICE, NOR KNOWLEDGE, NOR WISDOM, IN THE GRAVE WHITHER THOU GOEST
I RETURNED, AND SAW UNDER THE SUN THAT THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT, NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG, NEITHER YET BREAD TO THE WISE, NOR YET RICHES TO MEN OF UNDERSTANDING., NOR YET FAVOR TO MEN OF SKILL.
TRULY THE LIGHT IS SWEET, AND A PLEASANT THING FOR THE EYES TO BEHOLD THE SUN. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE DAYS OF DARKNESS, FOR THERE ARE MANY.
ALL THAT COMETH IS VANITY. REMEMBER THE CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH.
VANITY OF VANITIES, SAITH THE PREACHER: ALL IS VANITY. AND FURTHER, BECAUSE THE PREACHER WAS WISE, HE STILL TAUGHT THE PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE; YEA, HE PONDERED, AND SOUGHT OUT, AND SET IN ORDER MANY PROVERBS EVEN WORDS OF TRUTH.
THIS IS THE ND OF THE MATTER; FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. FOR GOD SHALL BRING EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, WITH EVERY HIDDEN THING, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR WETHER IT BE EVIL
THE WORDS OF THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING IN JERUSALEM.
VANITIES OF VANITIES, SAITH THE PREACHER, ALL IS VANITY. WHAT PROFIT HATH MAN OF ALL HIS LABOR WHEREIN HE LABORETH UNDER THE SUN?
ONE GENERATION GOETH, AND AND ANOTHER COMETH; AND THE EARTH ABIDETH FOR EVER. THE SUN ALSO RISETH, AND THE SUN GOETH DOWN, AND HASETH TO THE PLACE WHERE HE ARISETH. THE WIND GOETH TOWARD THE SOUTH, AND TURNETH ABOUT UNTO THE NORTH; IT TURNETH ABOUT CONTINUALLY IN ITS COURSE, AND THE WIND RETURNETH AGAIN TO ITS CIRCUITS. ALL THE RIVERS RUN INTO THE SEA, YET THE SEA IS NOT FULL; UNTO THE PLACE WHITHER THE RIVERS GO, THITHER THEY GO AGAIN.
ALL THINGS ARE FULL OF WEARINESS; MAN CANNOT UTTER: THE EYE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING, NOR THE EAR FILLED WITH HEARING.
THAT WHICH HAS BEEN IS THAT WHICH SHALL BE; AND THAT WHICH HAD BEEN DONE IS THAT WHICH SHALL BE DONE. AND THERE IS NO NEW THING UNDER THE SUN. IS THERE A THING WHEREOF MEN SAY, " SEE THIS IS NEW"?
IT HATH BEEN ALREADY, IN THE AGES WHICH WERE BEFORE US.
THERE IS NO REMEMBRANCE OF THE FORMER GENERATIONS; NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANY REMEMBRANCE OF THE LATTER GENERATIONS THAT ARE TO COME,
AMONG THOSE THAT SHALL COME AFTER.
I THE PREACHER WAS KING OVER ISRAEL IN JERUSALEM. AND I APPLIED MY HEART TO SEEK AND SEARCH OUT WISDOM CONCERNING ALL THAT IS DONE UNDER HEAVEN. IT IS A SORE TRAVAIL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THE SONS OF MEN TO BE EXERCISED THEREWITH. I HAVE SEEN ALL THE WORKS DONE UNDER THE SUN; AND BEHOLD, ALL IS VANITY AND A STRIVING AFTER THE WIND THAT WHICH IS CROOKED CANNOT BE MADE STRAIGHT. AND THAT WHICH IS WANTING CANNOT BE NUMBERED. I HAVE COMMUNED WITH MY OWN HEART, SAYING , "LO, I HAVE GOTTEN ME GREAT WISDOM ABOVE ALL THAT WERE BEFORE ME IN JERUSALEM: YEA, MY HEART HAS HAD GREAT EXPERIENCE OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. AND I APPLIED MY HEART TO KNOW WISDOM, AND TO KNOW MADNESS AND FOLLY. I PERCEIVED THIS WAS CHASING AFTER THE WIND. FOR IN MUCH WISDOM IS MUCH GRIEF. AND HE THAT INCREASED KNOWLEDGE INCREASETH SORROW.. I SAID IN MY HEART, " GO TO NOW, I WILL PROVE THEE WITH MIRTH; THEREFORE ENJOY PLEASURE" AND, BEHOLD, THIS ALSO WAS VANITY, I SAID OF LAUGHTER, " IT IS MAD." AND OF MIRTH,"WHAT DOETH IT?" I SEARCHED IN MINE HEART HOW TO CHEER MY FLESH WITH WINE, YET MY HEART YET GUIDING ME WITH WISDOM, AND HOW TO LAY HOLD ON FOLLY, TILL I MIGHT SEE WHAT IT WAS GOOD FOR THE SONS OF MAN THAT THEY SHOULD DO UNDER THE HEAVEN ALL THE DAYS OF THEIR LIFE.. I MADE ME GREAT WORKS; I BUILDED ME HOUSES; I PLANTED ME VINEYARDS ; I MADE ME GARDENS AND PARKS, I PLANTED TREES IN THEM OF ALL KIND OF FRUITS. SO I WAS GREAT, AND INCREASED MORE THAN ALL.
TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON
AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN
A TIME TO BE BORN, AND A TIME TO DIE
A TIME TO PLANT, AND A TIME TO PLUCK UP THAT WHICH IS PLANTED;
A TIME TO KILL, A TIME TO HEAL;
A TIME TO BREAK DOWN, AND A TIME TO BUILD UP;
A TIME TO WEEP, AND A TIME TO LAUGH
A TIME TO MOURN, AND A TIME TO DANCE
A TIME TO CAST AWAY STONES, AND A TIME TO GATHER STONES TOGETHER
A TIME TO EMBRACE, AND A TIME TO REFRAIN FROM EMBRACING;
A TIME TO SEEK, AND A TIME TO LOSE.
A TIME TO SEEK, A TIME TO LOSE;
A TIME TO KEEP, AND A TIME TO CAST AWAY;
A TIME TO REND A TIME TO SEW;
A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, AND A TIME TO SPEAK
A TIME TO LOVE AND A TIME TO HATE;
A TIME FOR WAR, AND A TIME FOR PEACE;
HE THAT LOVETH SILVER SHALL NOT BE SATISFIED;
THERE IS GRIEVOUS EVIL WHICH I HAVE SEEN UNDER THE SUN, NAMELY, RICHES
KEPT BY THE OWNER THEREOF TO HIS HURT: AND THOSE RICHES PERISH BY EVIL
ADVENTURE; AND IF HE HAD BEGOTTEN A SON, THERE IS NOTHING IN HIS HAND
AS HE CAME FORTH OUT OF HIS MOTHER'S WOMB, NAKED SHALL HE GO AGAIN AS
HE CAME, AND SHALL TAKE NOTHING FOR HIS LABOUR
BEHOLD, THAT WHICH I HAVE SEEN TO BE GOOD AND TO BE COMELY. IS FOR ONE TO
EAT AND TO DRINK, AND TO ENJOY GOOD IN ALL LABOR.
WISDOM IS A STRENGTH TO THE WISE MAN MORE THAN TEN RULERS WHICH ARE IN THE CITY.
"BEHOLD, THIS HAVE I FOUND SAITH THE PREACHER, LAYING ONE THING TO ANOTHER, TO FIND OUT ACCOUNT, WHICH MY SOULS STILL SEEKETH, BUT I HAVE NOT FOUND BEHOLD ONLY, THIS IS ONLY HAVE I FOUND, THAT GOD MADE MAN UPRIGHT; BUT THEY HAVE SOUGHT OUT MANY INVENTIONS.
WHO IS THE WISE MAN? AND WHO KNOWETH THE INTERPRETATION OF A THING?
A MAN'S WISDOM MAKETH HIS FACE TO SHINE, AND THE HARDNESS OF HIS FACE IS CHANGED.
THEN I COMMANDED MIRTH, BECAUSE A MAN HATH NO BETTER THING UNDER THE SUN THAN TO EAT, AND TO DRINK, AND TO BE MERRY: FOR THAT SHALL ABIDE
WITH HIM IN HIS LABOR ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE WHICH GOD HAS HATH GIVEN HIM UNDER THE SUN.
WHEN I APPLIED MY HEART TO KNOW WISDOM, AND TO SEE THE BUSINESS THAT IS DONE UPON THE EARTH ( FOR ALSO THERE IS THAT NEITHER DAY NOR NIGHT SEETH
SLEEP WITH HIS EYES). THEN I BEHELD ALL THE WORK OF GOD, THAT MAN CANNOT FIND OUT THE WORK THAT IS DONE UNDER THE SUN.: BECAUSE HOWEVER MUCH A MAN LABOUR TO SEEK IT OUT, YET HE SHALL NOT FIND IT; YEA MOREOVER, THOUGH A WISE MAN THINK TO KNOW IT, YET SHALL HE NOT BE ABLE TO FIND IT.
FOR ALL THIS I LAID TO MY HEART, EVEN TO EXPLORE ALL THIS; THAT THE RIGHTEOUS, AND THE WISE, AND THEIR WORKS, ARE IN THE HAND OF GOD. ALL THINGS COME ALIKE TO ALL THERE IS ONE EVENT TO THE RIGHTEOUS AND TO THE WICKED TO THE GOOD AND TO THE CLEAN AND TO THE UNCLEAN.
GO THY WAY, EAT THY BREAD WITH JOY, DRINK THY WINE WITH A MERRY HEART; FOR GOD HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED THY WORKS. LET THY GARMENTS BE ALWAYS WHITE; LIVE JOYFULLY WITH THE WIFE WHOM THOU LOVEST ALL THE DAYS OF THE LIFE OF THY VANITY: WHICH HE HAS GIVEN THEE UNDER THE SUN FOR THAT IS THY PORTION IN LIFE, AND IN THY LABOR WHATSOEVER THY HAND SHALL DO, DO IT WITH THY MIGHT; FOR THERE IS NO WORK, NOR DEVICE, NOR KNOWLEDGE, NOR WISDOM, IN THE GRAVE WHITHER THOU GOEST
I RETURNED, AND SAW UNDER THE SUN THAT THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT, NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG, NEITHER YET BREAD TO THE WISE, NOR YET RICHES TO MEN OF UNDERSTANDING., NOR YET FAVOR TO MEN OF SKILL.
TRULY THE LIGHT IS SWEET, AND A PLEASANT THING FOR THE EYES TO BEHOLD THE SUN. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE DAYS OF DARKNESS, FOR THERE ARE MANY.
ALL THAT COMETH IS VANITY. REMEMBER THE CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH.
VANITY OF VANITIES, SAITH THE PREACHER: ALL IS VANITY. AND FURTHER, BECAUSE THE PREACHER WAS WISE, HE STILL TAUGHT THE PEOPLE KNOWLEDGE; YEA, HE PONDERED, AND SOUGHT OUT, AND SET IN ORDER MANY PROVERBS EVEN WORDS OF TRUTH.
THIS IS THE ND OF THE MATTER; FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS; FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. FOR GOD SHALL BRING EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, WITH EVERY HIDDEN THING, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR WETHER IT BE EVIL
Friday, May 4, 2018
"RIVERS OF LIVING WATERS." [JOHN 7:37-39]
ON THE LAST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL (PENTECOST) THE GREAT DAY, WHILE JESUS WAS STANDING THERE, HE CRIED OUT, " LET ANYONE WHO IS THIRSTY COME TO ME, LET THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME DRINK. AS THE SCRIPTURES HAS SAID, "OUT OF THE BELIEVERS HEART SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATERS. NOW HE SAID THIS ABOUT THE SPIRIT, WHICH BELIEVERS IN HIM WERE TO RECEIVE; FOR AS YET THERE WAS NO SPIRIT, BECAUSE JESUS WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED.
WHEN ANYONE TALKS ABOUT RIVERS COME OUT OF HIS HEART, HE MUST BE USING PICTURE LANGUAGE, BUT JUST WHAT WAS IT THAT JESUS WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE, WITH THOSE RIVERS WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD? IF WE HAD BEEN THERE ON A DUSTY DAY IN THE DRY SEASON, IT WOULDN'T HAD BEEN SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND. AFTER EVERYONE HAD FINISHED WITH HIS PRAYER FOR RAIN, JESUS WAS DESCRIBING THE SPIRIT AS AN INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY OF WHAT YOU AND I NEED JUST AS MUCH AS DRY LAND NEEDS WATER. AND THEN HE EXTENDS THE OFFER, THE INVITATION, TO CALL UPON HIM, "GIVE ME A RIVER!" WHEN WATER IS WHAT YOU NEED, A RIVER WOULD BE IDEAL. FOR GOD TO GIVE US A RIVER FOR OUR PARCHED SOULS A RIVER OF HIS SPIRIT WOULD BE IDEAL, FOR IT WOULD PROVIDE US WITH A RESERVOIR FOR SATISFACTION.
WHEN YOUR THIRSTY, WATER MEANS LIFE. AND THAT'S THE KIND OF WATER JESUS OFFERED, THE WATER OF LIFE. TO THE WOMEN AT THE WELL HE DESCRIBED IT AS "A SPRING OF WATER WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE." HERE HE TALKS ABOUT THE RIVER IN ORDER TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WITH HIM THERE ARE NO SHORTAGES, NO DRY SEASONS. IN A RAIN POOR PALESTINE EVERY YEAR COULD BE A DISASTER IF THE NEEDED RAIN DIDN'T FALL, AND SO THE WHOLE NATION JOINED IN PRAYER FOR RAIN FOR THE FESTIVAL, THE "FEAST OF TABERNACLES".
THE TABERNACLE WAS A PORTABLE SANCTUARY, A TENT, AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR THE ISRAELITES. FROM THE TIME OF THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS UNTIL THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE BY SOLOMON,TYPIFIED GOD DWELLING WITH HIS PEOPLE. BUT JESUS CALLS OUT THAT ANYONE THAT COMES TO HIM CAN DRINK FROM A RIVER, INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY, A RESERVOIR FOR SATISFACTION, GOD'S WATER SUPPLY IS AMPLE FOR OUR WHOLE LIVES; FROM A FEW DROPS SPLASHED ON A BABY'S HEAD IN BAPTISM TO THE LAST SIP THROUGH A GLASS STRAW THAT WETS THE LIPS OF THE DYING, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE, OF THE WATER OF LIFE WITH GOD WHO OFFERS US A RIVER. OF COURSE, WATER IS THE ONLY KIND OF A SYMBOL
FOR WHAT WE NEED, JUST AS JESUS SPOKE OF HIMSELF. ELSEWHERE AS THE BREAD OF LIFE OR THE LIGHT OF LIFE. IN ALL THESE WAYS JESUS IS SAYING THAT HE IS ALL THAT WE NEED, THAT HE IS A RESERVOIR FOR SATISFACTION. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW, AS PAUL SAYS, THAT IF HE GAVE HIS OWN SON BECAUSE OF OUR NEED, HOW COULD WE POSSIBLY FEAR HE WOULD HOLD ANYTHING BACK. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT WAS THE SPIRIT THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. IT WAS THE FORCE THAT EMPOWERED "DRY BONES" TO STAND UP AND LIVE. WHEN JACOB WAS AN OLD MAN AND HIS SONS BROUGHT HIM WORD THAT JOSEPH WAS STILL ALIVE IN EGYPT, THE BOOK OF GENESIS TELLS US THAT JACOB SPIRIT WAS REVIVED. WE WOULD SAY HE WAS" HITTING ON ALL FOUR AGAIN." IN JUST THE OPPOSITE WAY, WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA LISTENED TO SOLOMON'S WISDOM AND SAW ALL THE SPLENDOR., SHE WAS SO OVERWHELMED THAT IT SAYS THERE WAS NO SPIRIT LEFT IN HER. TODAY'S WORD FOR THAT KIND OF SPIRIT WOULD BE "ENERGY." IN VIEW OF ALL THE CONFUSION ABOUT THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT TODAY, IT WOULD BE WELL TO ASK, "STRENGTH FOR WHAT?" THE WAY TO APPROACH THAT QUESTION IN THE BIBLE'S OWN WAY OF SPEAKING WOULD BE TO ASK, THE "SPIRIT OF WHAT?" SINCE THE RIVER JESUS TALKS ABOUT COMES FROM HIS OWN HEART, IT MUST BE HIS SPIRIT, THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS MEANT, WHICH ALSO MEANS HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, OF LOVE, OF JOY, AND PEACE AND THOSE THINGS MEAN STRENGTH!
TO LIVE THAT KIND OF LIFE CALLS FOR POWER. " SIN IS EASY, HOLINESS IS HARD;
YOU SIMPLY CAN'T BE BOTH HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME. AND YET GOD IS!
ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (CHAPTER 15), GOD GETS HIS JOY WHEN ONE SINNER REPENTS. THERE IS AN OLD MOVIE IN WHICH FREDRIC MARCH PLAYS THE PART OF AN ELDERLY WIDOWER WHO FALLS IN LOVE WITH YOUNG KIM NOVAK.
BUT ALONG WITH THE JOY OF LOVE HE DISCOVERS THE PAIN OF JEALOUSY, AND HE BREAKS OFF THE ROMANCE, TELLING THE GIRL HE JUST CAN'T LIVE IN THIS KIND OF PAIN.
BUT AFTER HE RETURNS TO HIS LONELY ROOM HE REALIZES THAT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL PAIN IS A SIGN OF LIFE, AFTER HE HAD BEEN DEAD IN LONELINESS, HE WAS BEGINNING TO COME ALIVE.
TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CRIED," GIVE ME A RIVER," CHRIST HAS OPENED HIS HEART AND OUT OF HIS HEART HAVE FLOWED RIVERS OF LIVING WATER"
WHEN ANYONE TALKS ABOUT RIVERS COME OUT OF HIS HEART, HE MUST BE USING PICTURE LANGUAGE, BUT JUST WHAT WAS IT THAT JESUS WANTED TO ILLUSTRATE, WITH THOSE RIVERS WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD? IF WE HAD BEEN THERE ON A DUSTY DAY IN THE DRY SEASON, IT WOULDN'T HAD BEEN SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND. AFTER EVERYONE HAD FINISHED WITH HIS PRAYER FOR RAIN, JESUS WAS DESCRIBING THE SPIRIT AS AN INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY OF WHAT YOU AND I NEED JUST AS MUCH AS DRY LAND NEEDS WATER. AND THEN HE EXTENDS THE OFFER, THE INVITATION, TO CALL UPON HIM, "GIVE ME A RIVER!" WHEN WATER IS WHAT YOU NEED, A RIVER WOULD BE IDEAL. FOR GOD TO GIVE US A RIVER FOR OUR PARCHED SOULS A RIVER OF HIS SPIRIT WOULD BE IDEAL, FOR IT WOULD PROVIDE US WITH A RESERVOIR FOR SATISFACTION.
WHEN YOUR THIRSTY, WATER MEANS LIFE. AND THAT'S THE KIND OF WATER JESUS OFFERED, THE WATER OF LIFE. TO THE WOMEN AT THE WELL HE DESCRIBED IT AS "A SPRING OF WATER WELLING UP TO ETERNAL LIFE." HERE HE TALKS ABOUT THE RIVER IN ORDER TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WITH HIM THERE ARE NO SHORTAGES, NO DRY SEASONS. IN A RAIN POOR PALESTINE EVERY YEAR COULD BE A DISASTER IF THE NEEDED RAIN DIDN'T FALL, AND SO THE WHOLE NATION JOINED IN PRAYER FOR RAIN FOR THE FESTIVAL, THE "FEAST OF TABERNACLES".
THE TABERNACLE WAS A PORTABLE SANCTUARY, A TENT, AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR THE ISRAELITES. FROM THE TIME OF THE WILDERNESS WANDERINGS UNTIL THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE BY SOLOMON,TYPIFIED GOD DWELLING WITH HIS PEOPLE. BUT JESUS CALLS OUT THAT ANYONE THAT COMES TO HIM CAN DRINK FROM A RIVER, INEXHAUSTIBLE SUPPLY, A RESERVOIR FOR SATISFACTION, GOD'S WATER SUPPLY IS AMPLE FOR OUR WHOLE LIVES; FROM A FEW DROPS SPLASHED ON A BABY'S HEAD IN BAPTISM TO THE LAST SIP THROUGH A GLASS STRAW THAT WETS THE LIPS OF THE DYING, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE, OF THE WATER OF LIFE WITH GOD WHO OFFERS US A RIVER. OF COURSE, WATER IS THE ONLY KIND OF A SYMBOL
FOR WHAT WE NEED, JUST AS JESUS SPOKE OF HIMSELF. ELSEWHERE AS THE BREAD OF LIFE OR THE LIGHT OF LIFE. IN ALL THESE WAYS JESUS IS SAYING THAT HE IS ALL THAT WE NEED, THAT HE IS A RESERVOIR FOR SATISFACTION. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW, AS PAUL SAYS, THAT IF HE GAVE HIS OWN SON BECAUSE OF OUR NEED, HOW COULD WE POSSIBLY FEAR HE WOULD HOLD ANYTHING BACK. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT WAS THE SPIRIT THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. IT WAS THE FORCE THAT EMPOWERED "DRY BONES" TO STAND UP AND LIVE. WHEN JACOB WAS AN OLD MAN AND HIS SONS BROUGHT HIM WORD THAT JOSEPH WAS STILL ALIVE IN EGYPT, THE BOOK OF GENESIS TELLS US THAT JACOB SPIRIT WAS REVIVED. WE WOULD SAY HE WAS" HITTING ON ALL FOUR AGAIN." IN JUST THE OPPOSITE WAY, WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA LISTENED TO SOLOMON'S WISDOM AND SAW ALL THE SPLENDOR., SHE WAS SO OVERWHELMED THAT IT SAYS THERE WAS NO SPIRIT LEFT IN HER. TODAY'S WORD FOR THAT KIND OF SPIRIT WOULD BE "ENERGY." IN VIEW OF ALL THE CONFUSION ABOUT THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT TODAY, IT WOULD BE WELL TO ASK, "STRENGTH FOR WHAT?" THE WAY TO APPROACH THAT QUESTION IN THE BIBLE'S OWN WAY OF SPEAKING WOULD BE TO ASK, THE "SPIRIT OF WHAT?" SINCE THE RIVER JESUS TALKS ABOUT COMES FROM HIS OWN HEART, IT MUST BE HIS SPIRIT, THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT IS MEANT, WHICH ALSO MEANS HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF HOLINESS, OF LOVE, OF JOY, AND PEACE AND THOSE THINGS MEAN STRENGTH!
TO LIVE THAT KIND OF LIFE CALLS FOR POWER. " SIN IS EASY, HOLINESS IS HARD;
YOU SIMPLY CAN'T BE BOTH HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME. AND YET GOD IS!
ACCORDING TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (CHAPTER 15), GOD GETS HIS JOY WHEN ONE SINNER REPENTS. THERE IS AN OLD MOVIE IN WHICH FREDRIC MARCH PLAYS THE PART OF AN ELDERLY WIDOWER WHO FALLS IN LOVE WITH YOUNG KIM NOVAK.
BUT ALONG WITH THE JOY OF LOVE HE DISCOVERS THE PAIN OF JEALOUSY, AND HE BREAKS OFF THE ROMANCE, TELLING THE GIRL HE JUST CAN'T LIVE IN THIS KIND OF PAIN.
BUT AFTER HE RETURNS TO HIS LONELY ROOM HE REALIZES THAT TO BE ABLE TO FEEL PAIN IS A SIGN OF LIFE, AFTER HE HAD BEEN DEAD IN LONELINESS, HE WAS BEGINNING TO COME ALIVE.
TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CRIED," GIVE ME A RIVER," CHRIST HAS OPENED HIS HEART AND OUT OF HIS HEART HAVE FLOWED RIVERS OF LIVING WATER"
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM. [10:17/07]. [LUKE 17: 5-10]
WHEN THE COVENTRY CATHEDRAL IN ENGLAND WAS BLITZED IN NOVEMBER, 1940, DURING WORLD WAR II AND DESTROYED BY FIRE, A LARGE NUMBER OF NAILS FROM MEDIEVAL TIMES WAS FOUND IN THE RUBBLE. MANY OF THESE WERE GATHERED UP AND MADE INTO SILVER PLATED CROSSES. ONE IS SET UP ON AN ALTAR IN THE RUINS OF THE OLD CATHEDRAL. BEHIND IT IS A GREAT CHARRED CROSS AND WRITTEN ON THE WALL BEHIND THAT, THE WORDS, "FATHER FORGIVE."
MANY LITTLE CROSSES OF NAILS HAVE BEEN SENT TO OTHER CHURCHES IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR. THE "COVENTRY CROSS" AND EXPERIENCE HAD BECOME A SYMBOL OF FORGIVENESS AND THE NEW LIFE OF RECONCILIATION. IT IS THE EXCITING NEWS OF LIFE FROM DEATH: OF RENEWAL AND THE LIFE AND FAITH OF A CONGREGATION IN ENGLAND. IT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT LIFE IN ALL OUR CONGREGATIONS. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS: FORGIVENESS, FAITH, WITH GOD, OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THE EARTH. THIS IS THE MESSAGE, THAT HAD THE APOSTLES CRY OUT TO THE LORD;
"INCREASE OUR FAITH." THE LORD REPLIED. " IF YOU HAD THE FAITH THE SIZE OF A
"MUSTARD SEED," YOU COULD SAY TO THE MULBERRY TREE," BE UPROOTED AND PLANTED IN THE SEA," AND IT WOULD OBEY YOU. WHO AMONG YOU WOULD SAY TO YOUR SLAVE WHO JUST CAME IN FROM PLOWING OR TENDING THE SHEEP IN THE FIELD, ' COME HERE AT ONCE AND TAKE YOUR PLACE AT THE TABLE? ' WOULD YOU NOT RATHER SAY TO HIM, PREPARE SUPPER FOR ME, PUT ON YOUR APRON AND SERVE ME WHILE I EAT AND DRINK; LATER YOU MAY EAT AND DRINK? DO YOU THANK THE SLAVE FOR DOING WHAT WAS COMMANDED?
SO YOU ALSO, WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL THAT YOU WERE ORDERED TO SAY.:
' WE ARE WORTHLESS SLAVES; WE HAVE DONE ONLY WHAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE DONE!'
WE ADORE OUR GOD WHO HAS BROUGHT US INTO A LOVING RELATIONSHIP, AND WE RECEIVE GOD'S GRACE THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD UP OUR FAITH. THERE ARE MANY SIDES OF FORGIVENESS. OUR TEXT, IS LIKE ALL GOOD NEWS TEXT, ARE THERE TO REINFORCE THIS CENTRAL ACT OF GOD AND TO INVITE MAN'S RESPONSE
SOMETIMES WE SEE IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GOD WHO TAKES THE INITIATIVE AND SHOWS HIS LOVE AND CARE FOR US.
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GOD'S DEED IN JESUS CHRIST; HOW HIS LIFE, WORDS, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS PRESENCE IN OUR MIDST AND HIS PROMISES ARE AT THE CENTER.
LUKE 7 TELLS THE STORY OF THE WOMAN IDENTIFIED SIMPLY AS A SINNER WHO POURED OINTMENT ON JESUS FEET, KISSED THEM, AND WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR. JESUS SAID SHE LOVED MUCH BECAUSE SHE WAS FORGIVEN MUCH.
THE BIBLE IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE STORY OF FORGIVENESS SEEN IN A THOUSAND PERSPECTIVES. SOMETIMES INDIVIDUAL, SOMETIMES CORPORATE, SOMETIMES LONG INVOLVED SITUATIONS THAT END HAPPILY , SOME TIME TRAGIC CONCLUSIONS. IN OUR DIALOG WITH GOD THROUGH OUR PRAYERS, WE HEAR A DOUBLE ANSWER: " JUSTICE SHALL SURELY COME; THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE, TO LIVE, IS TO HOLD FAST TO THE CENTER OF LIFE WHICH IS GOD. DANIEL MADE THE SAME POINT WITH A DREAM IMAGE. IT HAD A GOLDEN HEAD, SILVER CHEST, BRONZE TORSO, AND IRON LEGS, THIS REPRESENTED FOUR ANCIENT KINGDOMS, BUT IT COULD BE CRUSHED WITH A HUGE STONE! IT IS NOT THE STONE OR THE MATTER OF OUR INTENSITY OF OUR FAITH, BUT THE GOD OF OUR FAITH, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM,ISAAC, JACOB, THAT IS WHY FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE. YOU MUST HAVE FAITH IN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS THE WORDS, " I FORGIVE YOU". OR IS IT OF LITTLE COMFORT.
WE NEED NEVER WORRY THAT WE WILL BE ASKED TO FORGIVE MORE THAN GOD HAS FORGIVEN US. FORGIVENESS AND DISCIPLESHIP IS A CALL IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT DEMANDS AN ONGOING LIFE STYLE OF FORGIVENESS. WE FREQUENTLY
UNCONSCIOUSLY TRYING TO DISTORT GOD'S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS INTO A POWER WHICH WE CAN GRASP, OVER WHICH WE HAVE CONTROL BY WHICH WE MANIPULATE. WE SEIZE PERHAPS THE VERSE WHICH TELLS OF FAITH SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE TREE TO BE TAKEN UP AND ROOTED IN THE SEA OR THE STRONGER MATTHEW VERSION, " FAITH TO MOVE MOUNTAINS." WE ALMOST NECESSARILY SEE AS A POWER WHICH PERMITS US TO DO THOSE THINGS WE DESIRE DONE; A SUPER HUMAN FAITH, A MAGICIAN, A FAITH THAT COMPELS THING TO BE DONE. BUT FAITH IN THE VERSES OF OUR TEXTS IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH FORGIVENESS. IT IS THE SUFFERING SERVANT WHO IS THE PROMISED "MESSIAH." IT IS THE "LAMB" WHO IS THE VICTOR. THIS MEANS THAT DISCIPLESHIP MAKES COMMON CAUSE WITH JESUS.
PAUL WRITES FROM PRISON TO TIMOTHY: FOR THIS GOSPEL I WAS APPOINTED A PREACHER AND APOSTLE AND TEACHER AND THEREFORE I SUFFER AS I DO, BUT I AM NOT ASHAMED, FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED AND I AM SURE THAT HE IS ABLE TO GUARD UNTIL THAT DAY WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO ME. " THAT IS THE FAITH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT." FAITH DOES NOT REMOVE FAILURE." "TEMPTATION TO SIN ARE SURE TO COME," SAID JESUS, " BUT WOE TO HIM BY WHOM THEY COME." THIS IS A HARD WORD. BUT DO WE NOT MOST OFTEN SEE OURSELVES AS BEING THOSE TEMPTED RATHER THAN SEEING OURSELVES AS CAUSING OTHERS TO SIN? IS THIS NOT THE VERY "ORIGINAL SIN" OF THE POWERFUL OVER AGAINST THE POWERLESS? LORD ACTON WROTE, " POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY." ABRAHAM LINCOLN USED THIS VERSE IN HIS SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS ON MARCH 4, 1865. IT WAS DURING THE WANING MONTHS OF THE CIVIL WAR WHICH BY THEN HAD TAKEN 600,000 LIVES. THE WORD IN THE TEXT IS "SKANDALON," SCANDAL, AN OFFENSE. AN OCCASION FOR STUMBLING IS THE ROOT MEANING; WE HAVE TRANSLATED IT, "TEMPTATION TO SIN". HE SAID, " THAT AMERICAN SLAVERY IS ONE OF THOSE OFFENSES WHICH, IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, MUST NEEDS COME, BUT WHICH, HAVING CONTINUED THROUGH HIS APPOINTED TIME, HE NOW WILLS TO REMOVE, AND THAT HE GIVES BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH THIS TERRIBLE WAR. THEY BOTH READ THE SAME BIBLE AND PRAYED TO THE SAME GOD, AND EACH INVOKES HIS AID AGAINST THE OTHER. THE PRAYER OF BOTH COULD NOT BE ANSWERED; THAT OF NEITHER HAS BEEN FULLY ANSWERED."
I STARTED THIS MESSAGE WITH A REFERENCE TO COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, THEIR EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL RENEWAL AND THE CROSS OF NAILS. IN THE MODERN CITY, HATE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR, RULERS AND RULED, IS MUCH EASIER TO PREACH THAN LOVE; BUT UNLESS LOVE IS BOTH PREACHED AND PRACTICED THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO LISTEN.
THERE YOU HAVE IT. LUTHER BEGAN HIS 95 THESES: " WHEN OUR LORD JESUS SAID REPENT, HE MEANT THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER SHOULD BE REPENTANCE." IRENAEUS, ONE OF THE CHURCH FATHERS, SAID CENTURIES AGO, " THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE." THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE FORGIVEN!
St. PAUL SAYS WE HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; AND IT IS NO LONGER WE WHO LIVE, BUT IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN US. AND THE LIFE WE NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH BY "FAITH" IN THE SON OF GOD. WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US.
"AMEN"
MANY LITTLE CROSSES OF NAILS HAVE BEEN SENT TO OTHER CHURCHES IN OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE WAR. THE "COVENTRY CROSS" AND EXPERIENCE HAD BECOME A SYMBOL OF FORGIVENESS AND THE NEW LIFE OF RECONCILIATION. IT IS THE EXCITING NEWS OF LIFE FROM DEATH: OF RENEWAL AND THE LIFE AND FAITH OF A CONGREGATION IN ENGLAND. IT HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT LIFE IN ALL OUR CONGREGATIONS. THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS: FORGIVENESS, FAITH, WITH GOD, OURSELVES AND OUR NEIGHBORS, AND THE EARTH. THIS IS THE MESSAGE, THAT HAD THE APOSTLES CRY OUT TO THE LORD;
"INCREASE OUR FAITH." THE LORD REPLIED. " IF YOU HAD THE FAITH THE SIZE OF A
"MUSTARD SEED," YOU COULD SAY TO THE MULBERRY TREE," BE UPROOTED AND PLANTED IN THE SEA," AND IT WOULD OBEY YOU. WHO AMONG YOU WOULD SAY TO YOUR SLAVE WHO JUST CAME IN FROM PLOWING OR TENDING THE SHEEP IN THE FIELD, ' COME HERE AT ONCE AND TAKE YOUR PLACE AT THE TABLE? ' WOULD YOU NOT RATHER SAY TO HIM, PREPARE SUPPER FOR ME, PUT ON YOUR APRON AND SERVE ME WHILE I EAT AND DRINK; LATER YOU MAY EAT AND DRINK? DO YOU THANK THE SLAVE FOR DOING WHAT WAS COMMANDED?
SO YOU ALSO, WHEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL THAT YOU WERE ORDERED TO SAY.:
' WE ARE WORTHLESS SLAVES; WE HAVE DONE ONLY WHAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE DONE!'
WE ADORE OUR GOD WHO HAS BROUGHT US INTO A LOVING RELATIONSHIP, AND WE RECEIVE GOD'S GRACE THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD UP OUR FAITH. THERE ARE MANY SIDES OF FORGIVENESS. OUR TEXT, IS LIKE ALL GOOD NEWS TEXT, ARE THERE TO REINFORCE THIS CENTRAL ACT OF GOD AND TO INVITE MAN'S RESPONSE
SOMETIMES WE SEE IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF GOD WHO TAKES THE INITIATIVE AND SHOWS HIS LOVE AND CARE FOR US.
SOMETIMES WE SPEAK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF GOD'S DEED IN JESUS CHRIST; HOW HIS LIFE, WORDS, HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, HIS PRESENCE IN OUR MIDST AND HIS PROMISES ARE AT THE CENTER.
LUKE 7 TELLS THE STORY OF THE WOMAN IDENTIFIED SIMPLY AS A SINNER WHO POURED OINTMENT ON JESUS FEET, KISSED THEM, AND WIPED THEM WITH HER HAIR. JESUS SAID SHE LOVED MUCH BECAUSE SHE WAS FORGIVEN MUCH.
THE BIBLE IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE STORY OF FORGIVENESS SEEN IN A THOUSAND PERSPECTIVES. SOMETIMES INDIVIDUAL, SOMETIMES CORPORATE, SOMETIMES LONG INVOLVED SITUATIONS THAT END HAPPILY , SOME TIME TRAGIC CONCLUSIONS. IN OUR DIALOG WITH GOD THROUGH OUR PRAYERS, WE HEAR A DOUBLE ANSWER: " JUSTICE SHALL SURELY COME; THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." THE ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE, TO LIVE, IS TO HOLD FAST TO THE CENTER OF LIFE WHICH IS GOD. DANIEL MADE THE SAME POINT WITH A DREAM IMAGE. IT HAD A GOLDEN HEAD, SILVER CHEST, BRONZE TORSO, AND IRON LEGS, THIS REPRESENTED FOUR ANCIENT KINGDOMS, BUT IT COULD BE CRUSHED WITH A HUGE STONE! IT IS NOT THE STONE OR THE MATTER OF OUR INTENSITY OF OUR FAITH, BUT THE GOD OF OUR FAITH, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM,ISAAC, JACOB, THAT IS WHY FORGIVENESS IS POSSIBLE. YOU MUST HAVE FAITH IN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS THE WORDS, " I FORGIVE YOU". OR IS IT OF LITTLE COMFORT.
WE NEED NEVER WORRY THAT WE WILL BE ASKED TO FORGIVE MORE THAN GOD HAS FORGIVEN US. FORGIVENESS AND DISCIPLESHIP IS A CALL IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT DEMANDS AN ONGOING LIFE STYLE OF FORGIVENESS. WE FREQUENTLY
UNCONSCIOUSLY TRYING TO DISTORT GOD'S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS INTO A POWER WHICH WE CAN GRASP, OVER WHICH WE HAVE CONTROL BY WHICH WE MANIPULATE. WE SEIZE PERHAPS THE VERSE WHICH TELLS OF FAITH SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE TREE TO BE TAKEN UP AND ROOTED IN THE SEA OR THE STRONGER MATTHEW VERSION, " FAITH TO MOVE MOUNTAINS." WE ALMOST NECESSARILY SEE AS A POWER WHICH PERMITS US TO DO THOSE THINGS WE DESIRE DONE; A SUPER HUMAN FAITH, A MAGICIAN, A FAITH THAT COMPELS THING TO BE DONE. BUT FAITH IN THE VERSES OF OUR TEXTS IS INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH FORGIVENESS. IT IS THE SUFFERING SERVANT WHO IS THE PROMISED "MESSIAH." IT IS THE "LAMB" WHO IS THE VICTOR. THIS MEANS THAT DISCIPLESHIP MAKES COMMON CAUSE WITH JESUS.
PAUL WRITES FROM PRISON TO TIMOTHY: FOR THIS GOSPEL I WAS APPOINTED A PREACHER AND APOSTLE AND TEACHER AND THEREFORE I SUFFER AS I DO, BUT I AM NOT ASHAMED, FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED AND I AM SURE THAT HE IS ABLE TO GUARD UNTIL THAT DAY WHAT HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO ME. " THAT IS THE FAITH WE ARE TALKING ABOUT." FAITH DOES NOT REMOVE FAILURE." "TEMPTATION TO SIN ARE SURE TO COME," SAID JESUS, " BUT WOE TO HIM BY WHOM THEY COME." THIS IS A HARD WORD. BUT DO WE NOT MOST OFTEN SEE OURSELVES AS BEING THOSE TEMPTED RATHER THAN SEEING OURSELVES AS CAUSING OTHERS TO SIN? IS THIS NOT THE VERY "ORIGINAL SIN" OF THE POWERFUL OVER AGAINST THE POWERLESS? LORD ACTON WROTE, " POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY." ABRAHAM LINCOLN USED THIS VERSE IN HIS SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS ON MARCH 4, 1865. IT WAS DURING THE WANING MONTHS OF THE CIVIL WAR WHICH BY THEN HAD TAKEN 600,000 LIVES. THE WORD IN THE TEXT IS "SKANDALON," SCANDAL, AN OFFENSE. AN OCCASION FOR STUMBLING IS THE ROOT MEANING; WE HAVE TRANSLATED IT, "TEMPTATION TO SIN". HE SAID, " THAT AMERICAN SLAVERY IS ONE OF THOSE OFFENSES WHICH, IN THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD, MUST NEEDS COME, BUT WHICH, HAVING CONTINUED THROUGH HIS APPOINTED TIME, HE NOW WILLS TO REMOVE, AND THAT HE GIVES BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH THIS TERRIBLE WAR. THEY BOTH READ THE SAME BIBLE AND PRAYED TO THE SAME GOD, AND EACH INVOKES HIS AID AGAINST THE OTHER. THE PRAYER OF BOTH COULD NOT BE ANSWERED; THAT OF NEITHER HAS BEEN FULLY ANSWERED."
I STARTED THIS MESSAGE WITH A REFERENCE TO COVENTRY CATHEDRAL, THEIR EXPERIENCE OF PERSONAL RENEWAL AND THE CROSS OF NAILS. IN THE MODERN CITY, HATE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR, RULERS AND RULED, IS MUCH EASIER TO PREACH THAN LOVE; BUT UNLESS LOVE IS BOTH PREACHED AND PRACTICED THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO LISTEN.
THERE YOU HAVE IT. LUTHER BEGAN HIS 95 THESES: " WHEN OUR LORD JESUS SAID REPENT, HE MEANT THE WHOLE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER SHOULD BE REPENTANCE." IRENAEUS, ONE OF THE CHURCH FATHERS, SAID CENTURIES AGO, " THE GLORY OF GOD IS MAN FULLY ALIVE." THAT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE FORGIVEN!
St. PAUL SAYS WE HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; AND IT IS NO LONGER WE WHO LIVE, BUT IT IS CHRIST WHO LIVES IN US. AND THE LIFE WE NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH BY "FAITH" IN THE SON OF GOD. WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US.
"AMEN"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)