A Generation

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Louis

Pr 30:11 There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its mother.

  • 12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
  • 13 There is a generation-oh, how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
  • 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, And whose fangs are like knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, And the needy from among men.

Ps 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

  • 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
  • 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
  • 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

A generation doesn’t always mean a people contemporary with one another. It can also mean the offspring of a given progenitor. The contexts above point to progenitors whose issue transcends the limits of a lifespan. Doubt and faith are produced through all ages. There are those who are of Jacob and those who are of apostasy.

Every individual is a receptacle of seed and bears the responsibility of what is accepted or rejected. The seed comes in the form of words and examples set before us; the truth of what has been done. Of Jacob it was said; “And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen.28:14)

 

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A Magnified Office

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Louis

The apostles of Jesus Christ were given a great responsibility. Through them God established His revelation for the ages, as witnessed by these few references:

  • Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)
  • Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (John 17:20)
  • Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (John 20:21)
  • But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
  • That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (I John 1:3)

Their work has provided the basis for all things we can currently understand concerning the Messiah of Israel; who He is, what He commands us to do, where it all leads, the particulars of Jesus being the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The Messiah would have been little more than a rumor if Jesus had not empowered His apostles to accomplish their work.

Therefore when an apostle of Jesus Christ wrote “. . I magnify mine office . .” it must have indicated something of particular importance. It was stated in the context of teaching people who had already tasted the fruit of salvation. So it was an issue of perspective and spiritual development.

It was written to a focus group of believers; “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office . .” (Rom.11:13) It was a “heads-up” for Gentile believers. (Are you a Gentile believer? In other words, is your human stock from the nations other than Israel?)

If you have read the eleventh chapter of Romans, you know where this is going.

  • Rom.11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
  • 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
  • 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

The express intention of God (the apostle’s magnified office) is that Gentile believers share in His desire for Israel’s salvation. It is singled out from His desire that all should be saved. Why?

  • Rom. 11:30-31 “For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.”

 

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a Prophet. . .like unto me. .

Posted on March 8, 2011 by Louis

“ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. . ” (Deut.18:15)

Moses was a unique prophet:

  • He stood among his people to lead them from bondage.
  • A covenant and law was given through him.
  • By Moses, a means of national worship was established.
  • He was the first to pitch the tabernacle of worship.
  • Moses offered the first sacrifice at that tabernacle.

In order for a prophet to be like Moses similar attributes must be in place. It doesn’t make sense he was speaking of an identical recurrance. Therefore Moses pointed to a higher order of similarities:

  • There is a greater bondage from which to be delivered than that of Pharaoh.
  • We must look to a greater covenant and law than that of Sinai.
  • There is a mode of worship above the priesthood of Aaron.
  • There is a tabernacle not made with the hands of men.
  • There is a sacrifice greater than that of animals.

Hope is channeled to disappointment when we look for the temple to be rebuilt, and a red heifer to be sacrificed. The Messiah has a higher order of things than that.

 

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the intelligence of faith

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Louis

In its beginning, church was first composed of Jews only. Not many years later, the Lord revealed that Gentiles could enter into the covenant of being God’s people. The blessing was for all nations. Thus the ancient prophecies of “light to the Gentiles” were fulfilled.

Some Gentiles have tried to incorporate the Law of Moses into the covenant of Jesus Christ; a kind of customized picking and choosing. And there are some Jews who think Jesus’ Way was incorporated into the Law; an outgrowth to be sustained by what God supplied from Sinai.  The Spirit bears record neither was so;

“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal. 2:15-16)

Our Jewish brethren of old were smart enough to see the fading of such things as the external ceremonies of the temple and the Aaronic priesthood. However, just as there were Gentiles who taught the infusion of idolatry in the name of the Lord, so also there were Jews who taught the keeping of the Law in the name of the Messiah. Jews and Gentiles alike who desire to follow Jesus of Nazareth must abandon such notions (if they are held) and stand in the intelligence of faith. . .

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

  • 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
  • 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
  • 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
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Jerusalem which now is. . .

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Louis

“For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.” (Gal. 4:25)

A city in bondage – What makes Jerusalem so? It has nothing to do with the state of political affairs or the sustenance of its existence. Jerusalem is like any other city in this respect. It has an infrastructure, commerce, citizenry, and a heritage. Jerusalem is in bondage from the standpoint of spiritual focus. The Most Holy Place of the Temple is gone, not to be re-established on earth. This is why the Spirit compares it to Hagar, the slave woman who had no place in bringing forth the promised blessing. The children of Jerusalem in bondage are those who place the meaning of their lives in that city.

Particularly, this has to do with those who are still holding on to Sinai, the covenant which God gave through Moses. (It is amazing how many who call on the name of Jesus are doing this.) The Law has fulfilled God’s design. The beauty of reconciliation has gone forth to all nations through the Messiah. We remember with honor that covenant and the city associated with it. However, the One born under the Law pointed to the new; “the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” (John 3:21)

Those who truly desire to be free are establishing their citizenship in the Jerusalem which is above. Could it be that God has returned Jews to the possession of Judea for the opportunity of demonstrating faith? – A demonstration whose vision goes beyond the material world?

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Natural Branches

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Louis

“Who has inflicted this upon us? Who has made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now? It is God that has made us as we are, but it will be God, too, who will raise us up again. If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example. Who knows, it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and that reason alone do we have to suffer now. We can never become just Netherlanders, or just English, or representatives of any country for that matter; we will always remain Jews, but we want to, too.” ~ Anne Frank

“Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?” (Rom.11:12)

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A throne? A house? A kindom?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Louis

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Lk.1:32-33) These are the words of Gabriel to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Materially, David’s throne is no longer. Around 586 BC, Jerusalem was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar; the temple and palace (with its throne) were brought to rubble. Also, the throne, as a by-word for the right of succession, was ended by the Lord; “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” (Jer.22:29-30)

The house of Jacob is not sequestered to an earthly, national identity. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” (Ps.24:3-6)

What kingdom on earth can be unending? Hear the words of the Preacher; “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.” (Eccl.1:14-15)

Therefore, Gabriel’s words can only make sense for a spiritual kingdom. As Jesus said; “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk.17:20-21)

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Battles (pt.3)

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Louis

We are warned of a day when “Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city. .” (Rev.20:7-9) Before considering the nature of the battle, it might be well to consider the location.

The camp of the saints is throughout the world. Believers are sojourning in Africa, China, the Philippines, and . . .  Only the Chief Shepherd can see them all. The word “camp” suggests a central location. This was the case when Israel made their forty year passage from Egypt to Canaan. However the nature of the Holy Nation has changed. It is not sequestered to an earthly national identity and geographical location. We get a glimpse of the absence of  boundaries when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman; “. . .Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” (John 4:21-23) Spirit and truth define the perimeters of the camp.

The beloved city is pointed out:

Gal. 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Heb. 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion (KJV), and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. . .

Rev. 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Such a city cannot be materially surrounded, just as the camp of the saints have no central location on earth. But the spiritual conflict can come to a point where hope for that heavenly city will arrive at the breaking point, thus a type of surrounding or cutting off.

What circumstances would foment such despair? Surely doubt and despair must be the steely thrust of Gog and Magog. Undoubtedly, the attack can come/is coming in many forms. Despair doesn’t just come with the threat of bloodshed, it also comes with sweet words of “peace and safety”; an imaginary hope based on what we would like the world to be, rather than what will be. The illusion might be found in any number of social trends: globalism, humanism, hedonism, etc. Even more disturbing are religious trends: Commercialized Christianity, the notion (with lots of diagrams on glossy paper!) of Jesus back in Jerusalem ruling the world, and people trying to wed the Kingdom of Heaven with earthly politics. These among other things contribute to doubt and despair. After all, “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. .” (IICor.11:14) Even with war and bloodshed, the real battle has to do with holding on to faith, hope, and love.

Our anchor is the knowledge of the Judgment Day. It is the final thing for this world. This is for all to see and understand. The One who has entered into the very presence of the Father shall return. It won’t be to make a nice place for us here. At His return, there will be no more repentance, there will be no man lifting his hand against another, there will be no more blasphemy. The Lord is coming. He is coming quickly. “. . . and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” (Rev.20:9)

We still have time to surrender.

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Battles (pt.2)

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Louis

In recent decades, there has been much discussion about Armageddon. Volumes have been written and marketed. The gist has to do with a great war in Israel, the Messiah overcoming the forces of evil, etc. A real problem with all of this prognostication / propaganda is that it fails to acknowledge the real battle and how it will be fought.

Spiritual matters are the real concern:

  • 2Cor. 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
  • Eph. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Jesus’ rule is for salvation:

  • John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

The children of God are not here to destroy the opponents of Jesus (all have been opponents):

  • Mt. 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

The issue is salvation of souls, not destruction of the lost. The righteous won’t be taking up arms in the name of the Lord, no matter how world events may unfold around the scene of Armageddon.

The weaponry of the Lord:

  • Eph. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
  • 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
  • 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
  • 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
  • 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Why would anyone who claims faith set the truth of redemption aside in favor of taking up arms against the lost? Could it be that many of the so-called “end-times” interpretations appeal to our lusts?

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Battles (pt.1)

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Louis

There are three theaters of battle: the earth, the inner man, and the realm of angels. The greatest impact is from the inner man.

The “inner man” is a biblical term as referenced in Eph 3:16 – “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. .” It has to do with our mind, our heart, and our spirit; the ethereal land of refection, conscience, and will; the seat of our identity and determination. This was the driving force for the “war in heaven.”

“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Rev. 12:7-9)

Convergence was in the inner-man, the spiritual world. Pride, pettiness, cowardice, lust, and the like proceeded from the mouths of men and moved events against Jesus. Jesus kept the good will of the Father. All virtues of mind and heart were alive in Him – righteousness without sin. He was called upon to bear the malice of sin against Himself while maintaining love. It was in the plan of God these internal forces should engage. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. . .” (Acts2:23) The war in heaven materialized through an event which occurred in the earth. The driving force of men’s sinfulness met the goodness of God in the Christ. When Jesus was crucified the, struggle for the world’s salvation was fully waged. Externally there were lashes, nails, thorns, a cross, mocking, contempt, a quiet endurance, words of blessing and comfort, words of a man suffering, words called out to God in hope, and a declaration. The externals were witnessed with eyes and ears. This was a battle displayed on earth. Internally, there was temptation to come down from the cross; to use His power for Himself. The constant pressure of pain and humiliation was on the mind of Christ to turn from the Father’s will. God’s desire was that such agony should be borne for the sake of true mediation and redemption. Had Jesus turned away, all would have been lost.

How did Michael and his angels come into play? They are depicted fighting with the Dragon and his angels. The Bible does not clearly explain the interaction between the world of angels and men. It says some things, but not all can be understood. And we must be wary lest we be guilty of “. . . intruding into those things which he hath not seen. . .” (Col.2:18) We do know they are ministering spirits “ . . sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. .” (Heb.1:14) Perhaps their part in the battle was that of ministering to Jesus strength from the Father. Some of their strength may have come from Jesus’ love. However it may have been, the keeping of determination was Jesus’ and Jesus’ alone. He wasn’t used by the angels, and the Father didn’t pull His strings. The angels success in the battle was only because Jesus submitted Himself to His Father’s will.

The Bible makes clear what the war in heaven was all about. It can be easily understood by looking at the spoils of  battle; “. . . Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev.12:10-11) Thus the field of battle was the spiritual dimension,”heaven”. . . not the dwelling place of God, but the dimension in which we all have a place.  “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. . .” (Eph. 2:6) Satan was deposed from his position of being the accuser. It is as simple as that.

There is no greater battle than what was waged on Calvary. The question of our meaning in life, the vanquishing of death, the power of redemption, reconciliation, the resurrection, the Judgment, the world to come . . . all of these things and more hinged on the obedience and love of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life to take it up again. Armageddon is small potatoes compared to what has already been done for us.

The pattern for Armageddon’s battle has been established on Golgotha.

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the beauty of redemption

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Louis

“They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents.” (Ps 69:21-25) – Thus are stated the terrible consequences concerning Israel’s rejection of Jesus.

Unfortunately there are people who, in the name of Jesus, use passages like this to justify their malice. Which is worse – the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, or persecuting (in the name of Jesus) those who reject Him? Let us state the obvious; Those who harm the lost, those who justify their actions in the name of Jesus are the essence of antichrist. It is antichrist inasmuch as it blasphemes the good will of God through practicing evil in the name of  His Anointed One. This is worse than anything an atheist might do.

From the beginning, the purpose of God has been to give life. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Ps.16:11) It is also clear that from the beginning man has transgressed and has turned from life. In view of this, God is willing for us to understand the consequences of death; “. . let their eyes be darkened so that they do not see. .” He wants us to understand that we might repent. And in repentance we find mercy.  One might ask; “What can be done when His mercy is rejected?” This is a good question. First of all, everyone has been guilty of this. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) Secondly, redemption is held for those who dwell in the darkness of rejection. This its beauty. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:21)

Ps 103:1 [A Psalm of David.] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
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the stain of what we project

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Louis

Our lives can be ritualistic, a pantomime of great expression. I sometimes get the feeling that the reality of who we are is lost in what it is we are trying to project. (Somebody out there is thinking; “Speak for yourself.”  I don’t discount myself in this. However, I suspect a number of readers can also identify.) Our lives can become a ritual; what it is we want people to perceive. Perhaps what we want people to see in us are things that have a noble idea, a virtuous notion, something from the Bible. However, the ritual of our lives is insidious. It is like a stain that covers our whole life, so that we don’t even know it is a stain. The stain is the most ugly when it projects an appearance of righteousness. “He wears his sincerity well.” It is not a bad thing to want to be righteous. The problem resides in wanting people to perceive a thing about us. (“What will they say if. . . ?”) When, in fact, it is not so much what others think. “. . . but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Heb.4:13) When man is the basis for approval more than God, the life becomes crosshatched with weirdness as exemplified in the following paragraph.

A congregation videoed a worship service for broadcasting. The whole scene was disturbing; brethren sitting up straight, holding hymnals with proper posture, all singing with gusto and fervor. Not a hair out of place. It was disturbing because it was unreal; wooden and manic. It would have appeared more natural if there were some folks slouching, or yawning, or a baby crying. However, I don’t think being natural is possible under such circumstances; studied nonchalance for the sake of appearing spiritual. . .ha!

I hope this wasn’t the way they lived. Maybe this occurred because the camera was on. This can make us feel as if we have to appear a certain way; we have to project. Unfortunately, we can perceive something like this as a model for everyday living. Thus, the camera is on all the time, so to speak. We have to wrestle with it. Turn that thing off. . .

This Psalm of David has the remedy:

Ps 51:1 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 ¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
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Hidden ones. .

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Louis

A girl was taken captive by Naaman the Syrian. She spoke of a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman’s leprosy. Naaman found the prophet Elishah and dipped in the Jordan River seven times, according to Elisha’s command. He was healed as a result of this young girl who, like Joseph in Egypt, displayed good will through adverse circumstances.

Who was she? Who were her parents? She was a young girl taken captive from Israel. This is all that is written about her. However there is much to surmise. She did a good thing for her captor. Not only was he healed of his affliction, but he came to acknowledge God. “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. .” (II Kings 5:15) Also, Naaman was consoled by Elisha about having to accompany his master (the King of Syria) to the idol’s temple. He was told to “go in peace.” The root of this goodness is found in the little girl. She was a vessel of God.

Who were her parents? Previous to this event, while the predecessor to Elisha was still in the world, Elijah challenged Jezebel’s arm of propaganda, the prophets of Baal. They were utterly humiliated and destroyed. Jezebel was out to kill the prophet so he ran to Horeb and hid. Elijah lamented being all alone in Israel. (That is to say, he thought he was the last man of faith in the land.) The LORD told him; “. .  I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (I Kings 19:18) It does no injustice to say the girl’s parents were among those who did not bend the knee to Baal.

If anyone could have seen and known the faithful, it surely would have been Elijah. Yet, he was certain of being the only one left. Jesus taught about “the salt of the earth.” The lesson was of people who are invisible to the vision of pride. Just as salt is dissolved into food and its properties aren’t appreciated until tasted, so are people who serve God well. They make a difference without publicity. We trust Elijah was the kind of man who could learn, and did just that.

In faith, there is a generation in Israel which will come to light. They probably won’t be among the big players; the power brokers of the religious world. Surely the innocent will remove themselves and avoid the stink of the big man ministries found among Jews and Gentiles alike. The innocent don’t need to be celebrated through the media, or need the name of a man other than the Messiah. The Lord will equip them to do the things that need to be done; charitable deeds done in quietness, kindliness carried out in humility, the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. I believe this is/will be the character concerning these of whom is is written; “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” (Rom.11:12)

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Coercion

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Louis

Charlemagne brought the Germanic peoples to a kind of faith by threatening to cut off their heads unless they obeyed. The followers of Mohammed threatened death or tribute to those who would not be converted to their vision. The Inquisition brought the Auto-Da-Fe to those souls who didn’t conform to the loving arms of “Holy Mother Church.” These examples from time-gone-by have their representatives in every age. People who require others to believe, or at least to pay lip service their construct. It doesn’t take much thinking to see how wrong this is.

Almost everyone has some belief system or philosophy of life. At the very least, there is a “leave me alone” attitude. It is inherent to all that we want others to appreciate, even to share in what we understand. No one wants to be alone. Some believe their point of view is beneficial for others to possess. Some would say essential, crucial, even required for saving the planet, or whatever. Okay, so there is some kind of conviction out there. But it doesn’t even begin to make sense that one would want another to share in the same belief through threatening death if they don’t.

What kind of fellowship would there be if fellow adherents to a faith (even a minority of them) came to that practice because they were afraid of being tortured, or having their family members killed, or having their livelihoods stripped from them? – Or at the very least, having some social ostracism placed against them? It would be a fellowship of fear; creating toadies, bullies, debauched thugs, smarmy lip service, and maybe a generation or two down the line, someone who thinks they actually believe. What a foundation!

It might be well to make a brief distinction between coercion for the sake of faith and the proper use of law enforcement which every nation requires to exist. Faith is a matter of the heart. Law enforcement is a matter of government. What gets nasty is when the government wants to be the lens through which all must appreciate life, the heart of faith. I’ll leave it to you to discern where this has been done in recent history and is in motion now. I will say a great potential for totalitarianism is found in the advocacy of climate control, herding minds through the fear of global warming.

In truth, what God requires is repentance. “. . .God. . .now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts. 17:30-31) Repentance does not have the stink of coercion. The information contained therein does have notice of fair warning; we will be judged by One who has risen from the dead. Buy hey, that’s in the future isn’t it? Those words don’t put a steely edge against your throat or mine. We can’t hear the cocking of a firing mechanism. The only way it makes sense is if you have faith. Who has the consequences? I only know of One who has risen from the dead to die no more. He is the One to judge, not some gang of thugs -  no matter how princely they may appear.  Repentance requires a love of the truth which cannot be coerced.

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Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Louis

Christmas is a man made holiday. It is not taught in the Bible. Yes, the birth of Emmanuel is recorded in the scriptures, but not keeping the day. The Lord’s way has always been to clearly describe what days He wanted observed. In the book of Numbers a succession of special days are recorded. They are  summarized with this statement; “And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.” (Numbers 29:40)

What? You mean now that the Messiah has come we can do anything we want? No doubt for many, it is in the spirit of wanting to do good. Peter was like this, He said; “. .  if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.” (Matt.17:4) Notice that Peter said “if thou wilt.” He recognized the proper thing was to subject the proposal to God’s will. The Heavenly Father’s response to Peter was; “. . hear ye him.” It appears somebody way back when had the idea of making a special day for the Lord’s birthday, as well as other religious things. It caught on.

The Lord gave leeway for the Jewish believers to come to terms with the great lack of ceremony in the New Covenant. This is evidenced in Acts 21:19-26 and the book of Hebrews. The fourteenth chapter of Romans teaches moderation and love as we behold one another in our growth as disciples. And there is a place for keeping customs of the land as long as they are not confused with Divine ordinance; “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” (I Cor.9:19-23)

However, the above statement is about intermingling with people, being flexible in our care for others. It’s not about permission to do anything we want in the worship of God. May His mercy be upon us all as we try to make our way through the brambles of human tradition.

It is nice to have a holiday. It is pleasant to have time to relax with family and friends. For some, there may be a degree of extra religious devotion on Christmas. For others like myself, there’s no more religion on Christmas than on any other day. This is all on a personal level. But what about the congregation, the assembly of believers? The apostle Paul made it clear when he wrote some would-be makers of holy days; “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.” (Gal.4:10-11)

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