Letters
Letter From the Editor
Letter From the Editor
Hello again and welcome to our 12th issue of Morning Star! Well
folks, we actually made it through an entire year - Praise the
Lord!
In our next issue (Volume 2.1) we will have a detailed history
of this "online ministry", but for now let me say it has
exceeded anything we had dreamed of. The original intent of the
staff was to produce a small magazine for the members our
particular computer network. Within a few month's time however,
Morning Star had made it all around the world to places as far
away as Australia, England, Finland and Japan!
The prophet Daniel wrote that in the last days knowledge would
increase and people would travel to and fro ... it seems that
the Lord is having knowledge itself travel to and fro!
This issue of Morning Star has "Praise, Prayer and Worship" as a
theme in the Feature area as well as some of the regular
columns. If anyone wishes to make a literary contribution,
future themes are:
Vol 2.1 (Oct) 1990's Evangelism
Vol 2.2 (Nov) Pastors & Ministers (testimonies, articles,
stories)
Vol 2.3 (Dec) Missions & Missionaries
Vol 2.4 (Jan) Christian Men's Issues
Vol 2.5 (Feb) Messianic Judaism - studies and stories
We welcome suggestions for future themes as well as new column
ideas.
There is "something special" in the Ministry Information column
of this issue! We have compiled a list of feature themes,
article descriptions and their authors from Issues 1 through 11.
You can use this to determine which back issues you want to
download from a BBS or order direct from us. If ordering, write
to the Post Office box for subscription information. Be
specific as to which issues, what format and what disk size you
need.
Next month, the Ministry Information column will have an updated
list of all electronic bulletin board systems (BBS) that carry
Morning Star. If you are aware of such a BBS, please send us
the following info:
1. BBS name
2. Phone number with area code
3. City and state (or country)
4. Name of Sysop
5. Do they run the MSDOOR program?
Thank you all for your support over this last year. It is our
hope that this magazine continues to help and encourage many
people in the future.
Don't forget, we are always looking to hear from our readers and
publish your comments in our Letters section. Please write to
us!
In service to Jesus the Messiah,
Toby Trudel
MORNING STAR accepts literary contributions from believers
wherever they may live. It is our policy to publish testimonies
as they are originally submitted with minimal alteration of the
text. Opinions stated in these testimonies do not necessarily
reflect those of the MORNING STAR staff. The content of MORNING
STAR does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any
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Your Letters
Your Letters
"Praise the Lord for His unfailing love and faithfulness to all
who love and serve Him. It is a real blessing to be
collectively serving the Lord for a common cause (the
proclamation of the Gospel of Christ.) It is also a joy to know
that churches and even some Bible believers are now aware that
the Morning Star is out in the world!"
Roger Obe
Philippines
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California, Maryland
Commentary
Commentary
THE MIGHTY GOD
The Seventies were the years of the Jesus Movement. Many good
things resulted from the efforts of bringing the message of
salvation to society's young people. They were exposed to God
and the teachings of Christianity for the first time. Christ was
made real and personal to a group of people who saw God as a
distant being, someone who was not concerned with their needs.
Many came to a saving knowledge of Christ. Today, many of these
individuals are in active leadership in churches throughout the
nation and the world.
But a serious problem also came out of this movement. Jesus was
turned from the Second Person of the God Head into believer's
"best buddy." The emphasis in teaching the Scripture was
primarily on the Gospels, Matthew through John. Attention was
focused on the humanity of Christ. Unintentionally, He was
frequently reduced to some kind of superman instead of God.
As a result, much of the church's teachings no longer focused on
the awesomeness of Christ. Christ's roles as Creator, King, and
the world's judge were de-emphasized. And consequently, within
much of Christianity, the ability to worship, pray and praise
effectively was lost.
Worship, prayer and praise flow from an understanding of who God
is. We must return to the study of the entire Bible to have a
clear understanding of all of God's qualities. Without a clear
comprehension of His attributes, we cannot give Him the service
He deserves.
Yes, Jesus loves us. Yes, we are joint heirs with Christ. Yes,
we are to call God Abba, Daddy. But we must never loose sight
of the fact that He is the creator and we are His creations. He
is the infinite being. We are finite ones. We are to praise.
He will receive our praises.
The Apostle John, was Jesus' closest friend during His ministry
on earth. If anyone could have claimed Jesus as buddy, it would
have been John. But what was John's response to meeting the
resurrected Christ? "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as
though dead (Revelation 1:17).
The result of overemphasizing the humanity of Christ versus His
deity, is that we lose the ability to properly worship Him. I
remember growing up in San Francisco. I would frequently go to
the local planetarium and see the shows there. As the "sky"
darkened and the stars appeared, I would be overwhelmed by the
vastness of the universe. I would respond by praising the One
Who held it all in place.
Worship, praise, prayer--these were the life blood of the nation
Israel. This was because they experienced the majesty of God in
their lives. But if you are a believer so have you. You have
experienced the greatest miracle of all. You have received the
gift of salvation. You have become a new creature. "Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone,
the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
So much of Christianity has become concerned with what God can
give us. And, certainly we are given the right to come to God
with our needs. Jesus told us, "I tell you the truth, my Father
will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have
not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive,
and you joy will be complete" John 16:23-24). But we also need
to be equally concerned with what we can give God.
Peter called us a priesthood of believers. "But you are a
chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God..." And what does Peter say we are to do as
such? "...that you may DECLARE THE PRAISES of him who called
you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
The role of the priest was to offer up the sacrifice of prayer,
to worship and praise the most Holy God, blessed be His name.
Examine the Psalms, the praise book of Israel. In Psalms 146
through 150, each starts with the phrase, "Praise the Lord."
What a blessing to be able to go to God in prayer whenever we
desire to, not just to petition Him for needs, but to be able to
offer Him our very best of worship and praise.
Let us strive within our lives and the life of our church to
regain the perspective of the awesomeness of God. Let us
remember that our lives are acts of worship to Him. May we
pray, praise and worship in a manner that is worthy of the God
to whom we offer these gifts.
Let us say with the Psalmist,
Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty
heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing
greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the
trumpet
praise him with the harp and
lyre,
praise him with tambourine and
dancing,
praise him with the strings and
flute,
praise him with the clash of
cymbals,
praise him with resounding
cymbals,
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 150
Staff List
Morning Star Staff
STAFF LISTING
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Toby Trudel - Nashua, NH
SENIOR EDITOR - Biblical Department
Geoffrey Kragen - Roseville, CA
SENIOR EDITOR - Christian Life Department
Teresa Giordanengo - Canonsburg, PA
FEATURES AREA EDITOR
Dale Strand - Dublin, CA
LITERARY EDITOR
Al Murillo III - El Paso, TX
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Jerry Johnson - Modesto, CA
Clark Stephens - Huntington Beach, CA
J.C. Trudel - Naples Park, FL
Mike Wilkinson - Citrus Heights, CA
Dr. Charles Wootten - Matoaca, VA
SENIOR PUBLISHER - DOS and WINDOWS Editions
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NETWORK DISTRIBUTION:
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DIRECTOR OF BBS DISTRIBUTION - USA
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MSDOOR PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION
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David Johnston - Norwich, U.K.
OFFICE SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN
Patrick Auriemma - Nashua, N.H.
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Features
Praise and Worship
Praise and Worship by Pastor Ralph Rechnitz
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
By Pastor Ralph Rechnitz
The Lord's Church
Danville, CA
Psalm 102:18 says, "This will be written for the generation to
come, that a people yet to be created, may praise the Lord".
(NKJV)
To become God's instruments of praise, is to fulfill our destiny
as the end-time body of believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. I
Peter 2:9 says we are to "show forth the praises of Him who
called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light."
There is a move of the Holy Spirit that is coming to the Body of
Christ which is so exciting, because it is bringing us into a
new dimension and dynamic of God's awesome power, displayed in
the area of praise and worship. We can experience new heights
and depths of worship in the presence of God.
How do we prepare for such an encounter? Surrender. Total,
absolute surrender. Romans 12:1 says we are to "present our
bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is
our reasonable service (spiritual worship)". This is the truest
act of worship.
In the old testament, things that were sacrificed to God had to
be killed. Today, God desires us to be LIVING sacrifices. This
means that as we live unto Him, our own selfish ambitions and
wills must die in order for us to become a "sacrifice". This
attitude of the heart is what brings us into the area of
worshipping in truth. "Those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth". (John 4:24 NKJV)
As we surrender ourselves in this way, I believe God will unfold
new forms of praise and worship in the Church. We'll hear new
kinds of music used to glorify God. There will be a diversity
of talents, gifts and styles that will spill out of the four
walls of the Church and literally invade every culture and
people group. Nations will be touched by this move of God and
we'll see the fulfillment of Psalm 100:1, "Make a joyful shout
to the Lord, all you lands".
Let's look again now at the rest of Psalm 102, beginning at
verse 19: "For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
from heaven the Lord viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of
the prisoner, to loose those appointed to death, to declare the
Name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, when the
peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the
Lord".
Apparently, there is a direct correlation between our praises to
God, and Him hearing the groanings of those imprisoned by sin
and setting free those appointed to death.
PRAISE BREAKS THE ATMOSPHERE OF A SIN-COVERED WORLD!
Marvelous things will happen in the earth as believers begin to
wholeheartedly praise God both individually and corporately.
Romans 8 says that all of creation awaits with earnest
expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God. Let's
stay on the cutting edge of what God is doing in the earth and
grow into the praising Church to which we've all be called
The Language of the Kingdom of God
The Language of the Kingdom of God by Denny L. Strand
THE LANGUAGE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD
By Denny L. Strand
Bothell, Washington
KEY VERSES: Heb. 13:15-16: "...let us offer the sacrifice of
praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving
thanks to His Name. But to do good and to communicate, forget
not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
Related Verses: Ps. 48:1-2, Ps. 47:6, Ps. 98:4, Ps. 150:2.
KEY THOUGHT: True worship and praise produces character, and
character produces a desire to evangelize the lost. When we
learn how to effectively worship - our hearts will cry out for
salvation for the lost.
WHAT IS PRAISE AND WORSHIP? They are the language of the
Kingdom of God.
WHY SHOULD WE PRAISE AND WORSHIP? Praise and worship flow in
recognition of God's virtues.
Praise always involves something to be thankful for, as it did
with the Psalmist, David (Ps. 8:3-4) when he said, "When I
consider the heavens, the work of Thy hands, the moon, and the
stars which Thou hast ordained, what is man that Thou art
mindful of him...". David's expression of worship was fixed
upon the majesty of God and His creation.
We are to operate and flow in Kingdom Language because of who
God is, and also in recognition of his virtues and attributes.
True praise and worship is not only Kingdom Language, but the
deepest expression of love from the heart of man to the heart of
God.
CAUTION: How many times have we attempted to praise and worship
God through our words when we were really not saying anything at
all? Sometimes our words are like boxes with nothing in them -
we say a lot of words, but what we convey is empty and
meaningless. We use nice catchy phrases and religious sounding
words - glory to God, thank you Lord, Hallelujah - words that
are common to religious upbringing, but they're just an outer
package tied with a bow and maybe even with the smell of perfume
- but so many times they're still just an empty box!
God doesn't want just the container. He wants the true and pure
heart on the inside of the vessel.
The word "PRAISE" carries quite a depth of meaning when you
examine each letter and apply it to God's truths on praise and
worship:
P - Pull yourself together (focus on what's important in your
life).
R - Raise your hands (the sign of surrender).
A - Add your vocal cords (praise must be heard).
I - In one spirit (flowing in unity of relationship).
S - Singing from the heart (verbalize praise in word and song).
E - Exalting God the Father (our ultimate purpose).
The Psalmist, David, expresses it well in Ps. 34:1: "His praise
shall continually be in my mouth."
NOTE: When praise and worship is continual, there is no room
for anything else such as criticism, hatred, unrighteous anger,
bitterness, etc.
The devil has his counterfeits for everything God created. In
addition to a Language of the Kingdom, there is also a language
of darkness. This language includes complaining, grumbling and
negativism.
Notice the urgency of constant praise and worship as it relates
to our daily lifestyle: Praise and worship is a refueling
mixture with anti-knock ingredients that keeps our body, soul,
and spirit running smoothly.
One cannot get through the hazards of life unscathed when
they're not using the proper fuel. No matter how much you "pump
your pedal" or "choke your carburetor", you'll never move
forward if your "tank" is empty.
There's not a person living who doesn't know when their "tank"
is empty. An empty "tank" reflects depression, resentment,
irritation, worry, and fear and what follows is always
expressions from the devil's kingdom - the language of darkness.
The refueling station is God's Word and His church. It's also a
repair ship for those who have "blown their head gaskets".
Some of the Biblical methods of praise and worship fall into the
following categories: Singing (Heb. 2:12), singing in the
spirit (I Cor. 14:15) making a joyful noise (Ps. 100:1),
clapping and shouting (Ps. 47:1), and lifting up hands (Ps. 141:2).
If we're not praising and worshipping believers, we're dead and
decaying. Ps. 115:17 says, "The dead praise not the Lord".
When praise and worship continually flow out of a humble heart,
lives will be changed, God's anointing will be evident, your
"tank" will be full and your "mileage" endless.
"Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...".
Is 61:3
The Payload is Praise
The Payload is Praise by Moishe Rosen
THE PAYLOAD IS PRAISE
By Moishe Rosen
(From The JEWS FOR JESUS NEWSLETTER, vol 5:5752)
Language can cover and conceal a matter even while it exposes or
discloses facts. It says as much about the speaker as it does
about the subject. All too often we disguise our motivation and
make excuses in the argot or slang of our day. We choose to
express ourselves through certain metaphors that give us comfort
and self-affirmation. Yet sometimes in doing that we deceive
ourselves.
A good example of this kind of self-deception is the term
"burnout." We use the word to denote a certain kind of malaise
or weariness that seems to afflict many of us in this day and
age. The word "burnout" came into being with the space age, and
it is not to be confused with an earlier phrase, "burned out,"
from the mechanical age.
In modern language "burnout" is used to describe those who, like
ignited rockets, have used up all of their energy and have
dropped back with their motivational powers entirely spent. The
older term "burned out" refers to mechanical bearings, where
moving parts of machinery have been neglected and the heat
produced by friction has caused damage that severed the
connection to the power source. "Burned out" means neglected to
the point of dysfunction, but "burnout" as we apply it to people
means that they have given their all and have nothing left to
give.
The metaphor falls far short, in that a rocket always carries
enough fuel to accomplish its mission, and once it has
accomplished what it should, it exists only as a shell to be
discarded. Yet those who claim they are suffering from "burnout"
are not ready to admit that they ought to be discarded. They are
merely expressing a need to be regenerated and renewed. Thus,
the metaphor fails.
There is yet another way in which the metaphor fails. Most
people who are undergoing what they call "burnout" are not
really experiencing the problem because they have used all of
their energy in reaching their goal. It is extremely rare to
suffer genuinely from overwork. Rather the malaise that is so
readily attributed these days to overwork usually comes from
disengagement-something that can happen to anyone who works at
any kind of job or who is a student.
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we
shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
Disengagement is what happens when people stop relating to the
world outside them, to their own objectives, and most of all, in
the case of Christians, to God. Disengagement or malaise happens
when we release the initiative. We sever, as it were, the reins
of control. At that point, if our tasks and relationships were
horses, they would wander on as best they could, taking the
wagon wherever they might.
To overcome this we must learn how to focus our attention and
wield ourselves.
Unfortunately there are all too many who look for someone else
to prod them or they will not move in the direction they ought
to move. Usually the "burnout" occurs when the prodding stops
and the individuals will not push themselves ahead. This malaise
does not stem from a person's energy being depleted, but from a
worker becoming exhausted because he or she does not want to
have his or her ignition turned on.
We experience this malaise not only through hard work. Sometimes
it is brought on by intense relationships with people. Have you
ever heard someone say of another person, "He/she wore me out"?
I'm not talking about tired feet from too much shopping. I'm
talking about listening, listening, listening-extending
sympathy, empathy, pity and caring-while the other person soaks
up that empathy like a sponge and still needs more.
One example is a visit with a friend who does all of the talking
and none of the listening. The visit will soon wear you out
emotionally because in self-defense you will undergo
disengagement.
Or consider a woman who for years defines herself solely in
terms of her maternal relationship. She undergoes a similar
malaise and usually ends up cutting her relational ties and
says, "I'm seeking to find out who I am. I know myself as a
wife. I know myself as a mother. Now I want to know the real
me." She finds herself in the midst of malaise not because she
gave too much of herself, but because of the kind of wife-or
mother-or worker she was. She was not alert. She did not learn
to take proper satisfactions in her tasks. She was not mindful
of what she received in return for all that she gave of herself.
For the Christian there is an antidote to the problem of
malaise-proper satisfaction. It happens in the realization that
we are where God wants us to be, and we are doing what God wants
us to do. Giving our all, spending ourselves and our energies
for the right reason, ought to bring this kind of satisfaction,
and with it will come praise-praise to God.
When we work hard we ought to praise God-not seek to be praised
ourselves (although certainly a word of encouragement never hurt
anyone). When we inventory our lives and see the progress of
those tasks to which we have committed ourselves (particularly
those that turned out well when they could have gone badly), it
brings us to the place of praising God. We relate to Him by our
praise. And where we feel that we cannot praise Him for some
specific life situation, we can still make the connection
through praise so that we can motivate ourselves and petition
Him to improve that particular situation.
When we praise God, we stay connected with Him, and that
connection is enough to take us through every circumstance. The
unhappy marriage, the boring job, the opposition we face-all are
made more than bearable when the activity of our praise releases
the power of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our lives and make
us more like Y'shua. Such praise will turn "burnout" to ignition
of the second, third and endless successive stages of our lives
as we face new challenges, new situations and new relationships.
And we will grow in the process of being headed higher.
When believers do not feel like praising God, it is a reliable
indication of a backslidden condition. They have lost their
awareness of the Almighty. They have burned out, rusted out,
loosened their connection with Him. They have severed the reins
of His control and are drifting aimlessly.
On the other hand, if we as believers can re-establish our
connection with the Lord through praise, we will find our energy
level increased. We will know that we are serving Him to the
best of our abilities in whatever circumstances He has placed
us. Then we will find the fresh assurance that we can keep on
with the task before us-that we can keep on glowing, growing and
going, because we are constantly being refueled and moved
forward in the Holy Spirit
Intercession and the Intercessor
Intercession and the Intercessor by Joyce Bentley
INTERCESSION AND THE INTERCESSOR
By Joyce Bentley
(Christian Friends of Israel, Jerusalem)
When the Apostle Paul had set out something of his experiences,
his sufferings, his burdens to the church in Thessalonica, he
said, "Brethren, pray for us" or, as the Jewish New Testament
translates it, in the present continuous, "Brothers keep praying
for us+. (1)
In our day there is a cry - conscious or unconscious -coming
from the heart of Israel, "Intercessors, pray for us, pray for
our people, for our nation which is constantly being criticized,
and even hated, by the nations of the world."
Paul wrote to the Colossians saying, "Since the day we heard it,
we do not cease to pray and make request for you+. (2) He
begged the Thessalonians to, "Pray without ceasing+. (3) In
saying, "do not cease to pray for us+, did he expect the
Thessalonians to leave their businesses, their daily
occupations, in order to give themselves, on their knees, to
praying for himself and for his co-workers? Certainly not.
Intercession is not a matter of an occasional or even a frequent
and regular use of words, a ceaseless succession of requests for
a specific person nation or objective. Intercession means a
going between two "poles, standing among different "parties+.
The Greek word used in Romans 8:26, "making intercession+, means
"to meet with in behalf of one+.
An intercessor is a person - the whole of a person - who is
doing a specific thing. If we are involved in the great ministry
of praying for Israel and the Jewish people, it is not merely
and only something that we are doing, but it is what we ARE that
makes us an intercessor.
Firstly, an intercessor needs to be aware of God's utter
holiness and needs, therefore, to be clothed with the
righteousness of the Lord Jesus in order to be fit to make an
appeal, bring a request, intervene on behalf of His people.
Secondly, he needs to know what God's purposes for Israel are,
and what is the goal towards which He is working, as well as His
intentions for "today+, the fast-moving events of our time.
Thirdly, an intercessor needs to be deeply and truly aware of
the needs of the people for whom, or the nation, for which he is
interceding. (There is much literature available from the CFI
office. Information can also be obtained through the Jerusalem
Post, the Jewish Chronicle and many other sources).
As intercessors, that is, as people who are responsibly involved
in "meeting God on behalf of Israel", we also need to remember
that there are practical aspects to the work:
SHARING
We need to tell others what we know of God's purposes
for Israel and of the situation there at present - politically,
both internationally and within the nation; economically;
religiously etc. We need to inform them of the .multitudinous
needs of Messianic Believers; of immigrants; of Arabs and of
foreigners in the land.
CARING
We need to speak and to stand up for Israel on every
possible occasion; to do all we can in taking helpful and active
steps in regard to letter writing to the media etc.; to become
involved in meetings and conferences, whether Jewish or
otherwise; to contribute financially and in many other ways to
individuals' needs.
PRAYING
We need to encourage other Christians to spend much
time with God, seeking to know and to understand further what is
His will concerning Israel and the Jewish people, reminding them
that "the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses for we don't know
how to pray the way we should. But the Spirit Himself pleads on
our behalf with groanings too deep for words." (4) and, "He
pleads for God 's own people in God 's own way." (5)
God is looking for intercessors. "I looked for a man among them
who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on
behalf of he land so that I would not have to destroy it." (6)
May the Lord grant that we may be linked together with Israel
and the Jewish people, knowing what it is to "bear their burden.
(7) The Lord Jesus, the Perfect Intercessor, is linked with us
and is "actually pleading on our behalf -. (8) He is able to do
so because He knows what it Is to be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities". (9)
May He never need to say:
"The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice.
He saw that there was none, and He was appalled that there was
no one to intercede; so His own arm worked salvation for Him,
and His own righteousness sustained Him. He put on righteousness
as His breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on His head; He
put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped Himself in zeal as
in a cloak. According to what they have done, so will He repay
wrath to His enemies and retribution to His foes; He will repay
the islands their due. From the west, men will fear the name of
the Lord, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere His
glory. For He will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of
the Lord drives along.+ (10)
BIBLE REFERENCES
(1) 2 Thess 5:25 (2) Colossians 1:9 (3) 1 Thessalonians 5:17
(4) Romans 8:26 (Jewish New Testament) (5) Romans 8:27 (New
English Bible) (6) Ezekiel 22:30 (7) Galations 6:2 (8) Romans
8:34 (Jewish New Testament) (9) Hebrews 4:15 (10) Isaiah
59:16-19 (New International Version)
Prayer - Giving God a Reason
Prayer - Giving God a Reason by Pastor David J. Blacksmith
PRAYER - GIVING GOD A REASON
By Pastor David J. Blacksmith
First Baptist Church
Sonoma, CA
There are dozens of books written on the doctrine of prayer.
There are motivational books and pamphlets on the subject of
prayer that could keep us busy reading for months. And recently,
articles are streaming through Christian magazines challenging
the Body of Christ to pray. Denominations are giving strong
emphasis to prayer, urging their people to humble themselves
and do some "carpet-chewing" for God; to pray for revival and
spiritual awakening, and intercede for the lost world.
Yet, many Christians find themselves praying constantly,
continually, fervently, and urgently, only to go away from the
throne room of God feeling empty. The emptiness is in knowing
whether or not God is going to move. We leave oftentimes with
the question, "Have I prayed the will of God?"
I pray what follows in this article is practical, spiritual
information that will challenge, enlighten, and transform your
life of prayer.
Frankly, it's something I've recently begun in my life of
communion with the living Christ. Without question, it is
causing revival in my life and those around me. I believe it
will do the same for you if you but take a moment and let the
God of Prayer speak to your heart and reveal whether or not this
may very well be the secret to genuine prayer and a mighty
movement of God in your life and prayers.
Oftentimes when we approach the throne of God, we bring Him our
burdens, requests, intercessions, and petitions, and leave
without giving Him a reason to answer. A look at the prayers
offered by godly men and women throughout Scripture, we find
that they all had one thing in common ... they gave God a reason
to answer. They not only had a request, but had a basis for
asking. The particular basis they used varied with the person
asking and the circumstances of their requests. But if we look
carefully, we will always find a reason for God's granting their
request. To look closely at the wording of the prayers
themselves, one senses that the men and women of the Bible had
heard God ask them, "Why should I grant this request?" Perhaps
we could say that they approached prayer by seeking God's
viewpoint. They wanted to pray for what God wanted to do. By
doing so, they offered God a reason to grant their request.
Ezra was a scribe and leader of the exiles in Babylon. He had
asked King Artaxerxes for permission to return to Jerusalem and
rebuild the Temple. The King granted his request (Ezra 7).
Ezra was concerned about the safety of the people as they
traveled to Jerusalem carrying large quantities of gold and
silver for the Temple. We read in Ezra 8:21-23,
"There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we
might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe
journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I
was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect
us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The
gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but
his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted
and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."
When Ezra had spoken to the king, he told him that "the gracious
hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him." Had Ezra
asked the king for soldiers to protect them on their journey, he
would have dishonored God. He had already told the king that God
would provide safety. Should he now "trust in the arm of
flesh?" He would have also dishonored God in his own distrust
or unbelief that God would indeed be their protector. Ezra was
concerned about the testimony of God.
God had indeed answered Ezra's prayer by providing the people
with safe passage to Jerusalem.
"On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava
Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he
protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. So we
arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days." (Ezra 8:31-32)
God answered this prayer because it was offered in order to
protect His reputation as being One who protects those who seek
Him.
Moses offered a prayer on a similar basis. After the faithless
report of the spies who were sent into the Promised Land, God
threatened to slay the Israelites. (Numbers 14:11-12) But
Moses prayed on behalf of God's honor.
"If you put these people to death all at one time, the nations
who have heard this report about you will say, The LORD was not
able to bring these people into the land he promised them on
oath; so he slaughtered them in the desert." (Numbers 14:13-14)
Moses expressed a desire to protect God's honor and reputation
amongst the nations. And not only did Moses pray to God on
behalf on His honor, but pleaded based on His character.
"Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have
declared: The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and
forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty
unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers
to the third and fourth generation. In accordance with your
great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have
pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now." (Numbers
14:17-19)
Moses identified several qualities of God's character and asked
God to respond to his request based on those very qualities. He
believed God's power would be magnified in the eyes of the
people when they experienced these qualities of God. How did
God respond to Moses' prayer?
"The Lord replied, I have forgiven them, as you asked." (Numbers
14:20)
Nehemiah heard of the tragic situation of the Jews in Jerusalem,
the breaking down of the walls and gates. It grieved his heart and
moved him to prayer.
"I said, O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who
keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his
commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear
the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for
your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we
Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have
committed against you." (Nehemiah 1:5-6)
Nehemiah acknowledged God as heavenly, great, awesome, and a
keeper of His promises. Nehemiah approached God on the basis of
who He is. And he humbled himself before God and confessed his
sins and those of his people. This is just the beginning of his
prayer. Nehemiah had more on his mind than just praising God. He
was looking for great favor from Him.
"Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying,
If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but
if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled
people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from
there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling
for my Name. They are your servants and your people, whom you
redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. O Lord,
let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and
to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your
name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in
the presence of this man." (Nehemiah 1:8-11)
How did God respond?
"So the king asked me, Why does your face look so sad when you
are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart. I was
very much afraid, but I said to the king, May the king live
forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my
fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been
destroyed by fire? The king said to me, What is it you want?
Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, If
it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his
sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are
buried so that I can rebuild it ... It pleased the king to send
me. (Nehemiah 2:2-6)
God honored Nehemiah's request because Nehemiah's request
honored God.
So far, we've seen that Ezra prayed on the basis of
acknowledging God's honor and reputation. Moses did the same,
while also acknowledging God's holy character. Nehemiah
approached the Lord on Divine terms, acknowledging God's
attributes and nature. God honored each request because each
request honored Him.
When Solomon wrote, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and
lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path" (Proverbs 3:5-6),
he was expressing that acknowledging God is more than just
saying, "Hey God. You've got the answer to this prayer." He
was proclaiming that we must acknowledge God by mirroring God's
character, His nature, His attributes, and His Word in our
prayers. This gives Him reason to answer and causes us to come
closer to Him in the prayer itself.
God's sovereignty is another basis for our prayers. God's
sovereignty means that God has supreme power, rank, and authority
over all else.
Sennacherib was gathering his Assyrian army against Hezekiah.
Look what Hezekiah says.
"And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: O LORD, God of Israel,
enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the
kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give
ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen
to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. It
is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these
nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the
fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood
and stone, fashioned by men's hands. Now, O LORD our God,
deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know
that you alone, O LORD, are God." (2 Kings 19:15-19)
Hezekiah acknowledged God's sovereignty over all the kingdoms of
the earth. He realized that a positive answer to his request would
cause all the kingdoms of the earth to realize that truth as
well. How did God answer?
"Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: This is
what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer
concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria... That night the angel
of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five
thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next
morning, there were all the dead bodies!" (2 Kings 19:20, 35)
The scene in Matthew 8:5-13 is truly marvelous. A Roman
centurion approaches Jesus and has a request (a prayer). Jesus
is moved by this man in a way that causes Him to speak very highly
of the man's faith.
"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him,
asking for help. Lord, he said, my servant lies at home
paralyzed and in terrible suffering. Jesus said to him, I will go
and heal him. The centurion replied, Lord, I do not deserve to
have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant
will be healed... When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and
said to those following him, I tell you the truth, I have not
found anyone in Israel with such great faith. (Matthew 8:5-10)
The centurion based his petition to Christ for the healing of
his servant on Christ's sovereignty. He did not expect Jesus to
have to come to his home physically. He understood that Jesus'
word was enough! How did Jesus respond?
"Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go! It will be done just as
you believed it would. And his servant was healed at that very
hour." (Matthew 8:13)
There are many other examples, but it's time to make the point.
When you reflect on the character, nature, and attributes of
God, and openly acknowledge them in prayer, and base your
petitions on those very qualities of God, you will undoubtedly
move to higher planes in your prayer life. God moves when He is
exalted. God is pleased when He is glorified, for He said, "I am
the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give another."
(Isaiah 42:8)
So the next time you go to prayer, reflect on the integrity of
God's character. When you have a request to bring to Him, first
ask yourself, "Why would God want to grant this request? What
quality would God demonstrate of Himself should He grant the
request?" Acknowledge that particular quality of God as your
basis for your request
Six Steps To a Prayer Breakthrough
Six Steps To a Prayer Breakthrough
SIX STEPS TO A PRAYER BREAKTHROUGH
From Living Way Ministries
Van Nuys, CA
The Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-13. Vs. 9: "In this manner,
therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your Name."
1. BEGIN WITH WORSHIP: Everything fits its proper perspective
when we acknowledge the Almighty, All-Loving God and His
unfailing resource.
Vs 10: "Your kingdom come: Your will be done on earth as it
is in heaven."
2. SEEK THE LORD'S WILL: He has a plan and is seeking sons and
daughters through whom His will may be administered on the
planet. As we ask, He will answer.
Vs 11: "Give us this day our daily bread."
3. ASK FOR YOUR PROVISION: We all have needs - and the Father
stands willing to provide. Scripture declares boldly, "We
have not because we ask not."
Vs 12: "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.:
4. FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN: Prayer is crippled by
unforgiveness toward those who have hurt and failed us; also
through a sense of inadequacy because of our own sin.
Vs 13: "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one..."
5. FACE OUR REAL ADVERSARY: Target our intercession against
satanic opposition. Don't waste spiritual energy against
targets which hide the source of trouble. Demonic forces are
real, and unless their power is broken, the battle goes unwon.
Vs 13 Cont'd: "...for Yours is the kingdom and the power and
the glory forever. Amen."
6. STAND IN FAITH: He is advancing His Kingdom through us. It
is not our power which secures victory, IT'S HIS. Having
prayed, rest in faith and continue to worship the God of all
power and glory.
Copyright 1992 Living Way Ministries
Van Nuys, CA 91405
Used By Permission
The Goal of our Salvation
The Goal of our Salvation by Bob Huitt
THE GOAL OF OUR SALVATION
By Bob Huitt
Foster City, CA
Have you ever wondered why God saved you? I don't mean, how
could someone like you ever be saved, for that question is
appropriately asked about each and every one of us. Instead,
I'm think of objectives and goals; that is, "what is the
purpose of your salvation?"
Is it merely to keep you from a bad end -- you know, lake of
fire and all that? No doubt about it, the Scriptures
continually affirm that we have been saved from death, hell, and
all that nasty business; but can we speak of being saved to
something as well? "Sure," you say, "to heaven, streets of
gold, being reunited with departed loved ones, freedom from
pain, perfect bodies... oh yeah, and seeing Jesus." All good
and true, but if we had to top the list, we would concede that
the last is the first in terms of importance.
Have you ever really though about what you will say to Jesus
when you first see Him? Many might think of questions they want
answered. Perhaps the theologically inclined would ask, "Jesus,
who had it right -- Calvinists or the Arminians?" Those curious
about anatomy could inquire whether Adam had a belly button.
And those with a tabloid level of consciousness would be dying
to know whether Elvis really did cash it in on August 16, 1977.
Actually, although such queries may gorge our thought at the
present, they will all shrivel away at the dazzling exhilaration
we will know the moment we view the One who wrought and bought
us. And that exhilaration will lead to one thing: WORSHIP.
By coincidence, that just happens to be the goal of our
salvation. A. W. Tozer said it like this: "The purpose of God
in sending His Son to die and rise and live and be at the right
hand of God the Father was that He might restore to us the
missing jewel, the jewel of worship; that we might come back and
learn to do again that which we were created to do in the first
place - worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, to spend our
time in awesome wonder and adoration of God, feeling and
expressing it, and letting it get into our labors and doing
nothing except as an act of worship of almighty God through His
Son Jesus Christ." The Westminster Catechism said more
succinctly: "What is the chief end [purpose] of man? To
glorify God and enjoy Him forever." And Jesus Himself declared
that the Father was searching for those who would worship Him in
spirit and truth (John 4:23).
The minute we become worshipers of God through Jesus Christ, we
fulfill not only the goal of our salvation, but also the purpose
of our creation. And as we learn how to "feel and express" our
adoration of the One who made and remade us, we find ourselves
in the very center of God's design and will for us.
Come on, get with the program...: become a worshiper.
Reprinted by permission of the author from "Communique," the
church newsletter of Central Peninsula Church, Foster City,
California
Worship
Worship by Vernon Nepstad
WORSHIP
By Vernon Nepstad
Pastor Emeritus - Retired
Victory Temple
Oakland, CA
"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father
seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit and they that
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." John
4:23, 24.
There is in the heart of man a desire to worship something. God
put it there because He seeks worship from the man He created.
It is almost impossible to comprehend how seemingly intelligent
men could ever bow down and worship dead, cold, stone, idols.
Yet even today, sadly, there are thousands who bow their knees
to idols.
Abraham was one of the earliest Bible characters diligent in his
worship of the true God. There is a legend concerning him:
"Abraham's people were fire worshippers. But Abraham did not
want a God who could be quenched by water. They they told him
to worship the water. But he saw how the sun had power over the
water and refused to worship it. So they asked him to worship
the sun as it was one of the greatest of all created things.
Yet, Abraham said it lacked power at times, to light the world
so he rejected it. Then he said the One who created the sun is
the One who should be worshipped". And so Abraham's closeness
to God and favor with God happened as a direct result of his
worship of God.
We do not know how much truth there is in this legend, but we do
know that God called Abram (his name was later changed to
Abraham) out from his idol-worshipping people and asked him to
go to a land He would show him. When he reached Canaan, he
built an altar unto the Lord (Gen 12:7). The religion of Abram
was passed on to his son, Isaac, and to his grandson, Jacob.
Then it was delivered to the twelve patriarchs, who were the
heads of the twelve tribes of Israel. They became His own
chosen people. He gave them the law and demanded worship of
them. He told them, "Thou shalt worship no other God, for the
Lord, is a jealous God, and Him only shalt thou serve". (See
Matt. 4:10). Even so, they kept turning away from the LORD and
worshipped idols.
Our text says that true worshippers will worship God in spirit
and in truth and that God seeks such people to worship Him.
Will YOU, have YOU answered His call?
Lifestyle Worship
Lifestyle Worship by Gary Hodges
LIFESTYLE WORSHIP
By Gary Hodges
Music Pastor
New Life Christian Fellowship
Gulf Breeze, FL
Lately it seems that God is moving us more into the area of
spiritual warfare in our worship. If we are believers, doing
battle in the spiritual realm is a part of our existence. But
how does this apply to our worship?
Second Chronicles 20 gives us an astounding example of how
effective our obedient worship can be. Judah, under the rule of
King Jehoshaphat, was about to be attacked by a vast army.
There was no hope of winning this battle on their own. Here are
the steps they took:
1. The people came together to seek help from the Lord (vs 4)
2. Jehoshaphat prayed; proclaiming God's power and their lack
of power to face the enemy. But their eyes were upon God.
(vs 6-12)
3. The whole assembly waited on the Lord. (vs 13)
4. A prophecy was given saying the battle was not theirs, but
God's. However, they were commanded to march down against them.
(vs 15-17)
5. All the people worshiped the Lord. They praised Him even
before He had done anything they could see. (vs 18-19)
6. They set out to meet their vast enemy with unarmed men
leading the way, singing and praising the Lord. (vs 20-21)
What were they singing? "Give thanks to the Lord, for His love
endures forever." They weren't proclaiming how God was to go
about routing the enemy. They put their trust in Him and
allowed Him to do the rest. So what did they find as they
reached the overlook to the battle site?
The enemy had been destroyed completely! Incredible, huh? When
we are faced with attacks by the enemy, what should be our
response? Keep our eyes focused on God, do what He tells us,
and allow Him to do the rest, always keeping our hearts in a
worshiping attitude toward Him
Biblical Department
New In Christ
New In Christ
SOME THOUGHTS ON DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES
By Toby Trudel
I went to a large church in Florida a little while back while on
vacation. There were well over 1,000 people there. I heard the
Word of God preached, and I learned some more.
I was in a small chapel in New Hampshire last weekend, about 50
adults were present. I heard the Word of God preached, and I
learned some more.
I've been to churches that believed the gifts of the Holy Spirit
(praying in tongues and prophetic utterances), are for today.
The pastor preached and taught from the Bible and I was blessed.
I've been to churches that did not believe the gifts of the Holy
Spirit are for today. The pastor preached and taught from the
Bible and I was blessed.
I've listened to born again Christian preachers who believe that
once saved, you could not ever lose your salvation (Calvinism).
I left, glad that I was saved, and didn't lose sleep over my
status with God.
I've listened to born again Christian preachers who believe that
once saved, you could indeed lose your salvation (Arminianism).
I left, glad that I was saved, and didn't lose sleep over my
status with God.
There are no perfect churches, for we all see darkly. True
Christians will always have minor doctrinal differences until
the Lord returns.
However, I CAN worship my God in a church which differs with my
views on such issues. My faith is in the Word of Christ, not
that of any man or woman. As long as a church claims the Word
of God ALONE as the sole authority, teaches the inerrancy of
Scripture, and preaches salvation through faith only,
(repentance from all sin and total commitment to Jesus Christ
ALONE), I can show tolerance for these differences, worship
Christ, and learn something.
"Religions" who give merit to extra-Biblical teachings, or their
own church traditions, or who claim the Bible is anything but
the complete, inerrant Word of God, or who skirt the issue of
becoming born again, or who preach "good works" as a way to earn
salvation, I must reject.
I reject them, NOT because they are "not to my liking" - for I
greatly enjoyed the comfort of such religion for most of my
life. Rather, I cannot accept them, for they are in opposition
to the teachings of Jesus and the rest of the God-inspired New
Testament writers.
I believe that there are only two religions in the final
analysis - man's and God's. I lived too many years with the
former, I thank God for opening my eyes to the truth of the
latter
Bible Study
Bible Study
This issue features a study of Psalm 2. Future studies will
include other Psalms, and books from both the Old and New
Covenants.
JUST WHO'S IN CHARGE? - Psalm 2
There is a question on everybody's mind. "Who's in charge here?"
The question creates an continuous battle at the individual
level. Husbands and wives fight over who is in charge of the
marriage. Children and parents fight over who is to be in
charge in the home. Employees and employers fight over who is
in charge in the office. And, individuals fight over who is in
charge in society. Throughout society, fighting goes on,
politics continues--all over the question of who's in charge.
Right now the question is "Who's going to be President?" The
nation is deciding whether he will be a Republican, Democrat, or
none of the above. Who will be in charge? In the Middle East,
it isn't clear if anyone is in charge. Through out the world
fighting goes on, politics continues, all over the question of
who's in charge.
This same question creates hostility and rebellion within the
church. Churches fight over whether the denomination or the
local church is in charge. So called religious leaders fight
over whether they or their elders are in charge. So called
theologians debate whether Scripture or their views are in
charge. And one big question is whether or not the Bible or
social pressures are supposed to set direction for
life--morality, and everything. "Believers" argue what or who
is in charge over the Christian life, experience or God's word.
Throughout Christendom fighting goes on, politics continues, all
over the question of who's in charge.
Apparently, there is an awful lot of people who don't have any
idea who is in charge. But, they are clear about one
point--they want to be in charge! Satan told Eve that she and
Adam could be gods. The cause of the fall is the basis of sin
today: people putting themselves in God's place. The author of
Psalm 2 understands that the final battle over who is in charge
is between mankind and a sovereign God. And this will be seen
in this study. But, the outcome of the battle already been
decided. There is a clear answer as to who is in charge. The
problem is that people won't accept the answer.
First, this study will examine the context of the passage.
Second, the text will be reviewed. Finally, consideration will
be given to the call to let God be in charge.
The primary focus of Psalm 2 is on the unrighteous. They are
rebelling against the Lord and His Anointed One, the
Messiah--Jesus. The psalm recounts the final victory which will
occur with the millennial rule of Messiah.
The battle over who is in charge began when Satan tempted Eve to
rebel against God. Later Satan tried to destroy the Hebrew
people, hoping to prevent the coming of Messiah. Herod
continued the struggle when he tried to find the infant Jesus
and have Him put to death. The war will only end with the final
judgment after the reign of Messiah over the earth. Only then
will all in rebellion be forced to recognize that it is God who
is in charge.
The Psalm is broken down into sections reflecting movement
between earth and heaven. Dr. J. Vernon McGee, in his
commentary on the Psalms, pictures it as a television program
with a camera in each location that is switched back and forth.*
The psalm has four sections, each broken down into three verses.
The first and fourth deals with conditions on earth. The
second and third sections show the response in heaven.
Psalm 2:1-3. The nations are in rebellion against God. The
word nations is Goyam and refers to the gentile people. This
suggests the rebellion ends just before the millennial age. In
this period, the nation Israel has returned to God. As a result
she is no longer included in the action. Examining the three
verses it becomes clear that people of all status are present.
Rebellion against God is the bane of the human race.
Note the delusion of mankind. People think they can remove
themselves from the authority of God. It is the same delusion,
the fallacious idea that men can choose for themselves whatever
is right or wrong, that first led to the fall. "'You will not
surely die,' the serpent said to the woman. 'For God knows that
when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be
like God, knowing good and evil'" (Genesis 3: 4-5).
As one reads through scripture it becomes clear that mankind
hates God. The reason there are so many religions is that
individuals are trying to create a view of God consistent with
their view of life. They chose to come up with their own gods.
Even the nicest individuals, (good people), are in rebellion
against the Lord. As long as they go their way and no one
infringes on their independence, they are fine. But, if
believers let them know they are sinners in need of a Savior,
the believer had better duck. Unbelievers doesn't want to be
told they are lost without God's intervention. What is their
response? It is rage against God and then the "imagining of a
vain thing," that is, that they think they can escape His
authority. Notice what these individuals said: "Let us break
out from the control of God and His anointed one, Messiah."
It is hard to fathom the depth of people's delusions. This is a
world where a significant number of individuals ignore the
involvement of God in both the world at large and in their own
lives, specifically. Many hold the view that God should
consider Himself lucky they are even willing to give Him any
attention at all. Therefore, He must accept whatever they have
to offer. God must live by man's rules not the other way
around. Is it any wonder that the warning against the coming
judgment of God is hated? "First of all, you must understand
that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following
their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this 'coming'
he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as
it has since the beginning of creation'" (2 Peter 3:3-4).
Psalm 2:4-6. So here is a scene much like a stirred up ant
hill. Men are running around in circles trying to get out from
under God's authority. In contrast the scene in heaven is
tranquil, peaceful. Spurgeon expresses it succinctly: "Mark
the quiet dignity of the Omnipotent One, and the contempt which
he pours upon the princes and their raging people. He has not
taken the trouble to rise up and do battle with them--he
despises them, he knows how absurd, how irrational, how futile
are their attempts against him--he therefore laughs at them."
** The ants are going to tell men how to run "their" garden.
One can have nothing but contempt for this level of
self-delusion.
So what is the Lord's response? He will judge by His word. He
will speak to them out of His anger! As His word created the
universe, His word spoken in righteous anger is adequate to
judge mankind. God says He will also respond by the placing of
Messiah on the throne over the nations. Messiah will finally
sit on the throne of His father David and rule from Jerusalem
over the entire world. Man has revolted against the invisible
rule of God and so will receive the direct rule of Messiah.
Mankind will live under a theocracy where there will be no
question as to who's in charge. Hear the word of the Lord, His
wrath will not always be withheld.
Psalm 2:7-9. Now Messiah speaks for Himself quoting the Father.
God tells Messiah that first, He is the only begotten Son,
brought forth from the grave--speaking of the resurrection (See
Acts 13:33). It is the work of the cross, Messiah's death and
God's power exemplified by the resurrection, which is the
foundation of His rule at the second coming. "That power is
like the working of His (God's) mighty strength, which He
exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated
Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule
and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be
given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be
head over everything for the church..." (Ephesians 1:19-22).
Obviously, this is said to benefit believers. Clearly, Messiah
is to rule over the world and the church both of which are His.
This rule of the world will be an authoritarian one. Messiah
will be taking the rule from those who are in rebellion against
God. This means that these people will be broken. They will
accept His rule whether or not they want it. Proof of this is
the fact that at the end of the Millennial age, when Satan is
released, mankind will again rise up against Messiah. "When the
thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison
and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of
earth--Gog and Magog--to gather them for battle" (Revelation
20: 7).
Psalm 2:10-12. There is an alternative to rebellion and
judgment. Mankind, from the least to the greatest, has the
opportunity to turn to God. The end of revolt requires a
recognition of personal sinfulness. People must accept that in
God lies all authority and power. It is only by throwing
oneself onto the mercy of God, coming to Him on His terms, that
His wrath can be satisfied.
People must worship God--give Him the awe and reverence which
belongs to Him. Notice that not only must one worship God, but
also Messiah. They are instructed to kiss the son; that is give
Him the honor that God requires. For those that say, "I believe
in God, but I don't think it is necessary to accept Messiah,"
the Lord says either do homage, or wrath will fall on you.
Finally, for mankind, the question will change! It will no
longer be "Who's in charge?" The answer will be
obvious--Messiah. The question will be whether people will
follow Him and be saved or continue to rebel and be judged.
This has always been the question, but most people won't admit
it!
So where does this leave the Christian? It is the believer's
responsibility to bring the gospel to the lost. It is the
reality of Messiah's ultimate victory and His authority which
provides the courage to give out this message. It is the
believer's relationship with Him that empowers him or her to
live within the midst of this reality.
But first, while God should be in charge, you have the freedom
to control your own life. Too often, while believers accept the
gift of salvation, they struggle with the issue of control over
all aspects of their lives. At one level, they truly want God
in control, but because of the old nature they take it back. As
Paul notes: "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to
do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not
want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no
longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know
that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it
out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I
do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now I do what I do not
want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in
me that does" (Romans 7: 15-20).
It is important that you constantly remember that every aspect
of your life must honor the Lord and be a witness for Him. To
live this way, we must depend on Him to overcome the sinful
self. "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this
body of death? Thanks be to God--through Jesus Messiah our
Lord" (Romans 7: 24-25)!
It is only as you recognize and act on your need to depend on
the Holy Spirit for direction and power that you can give over
control to the Lord. As you look to decisions of life, how to
raise children, where to work, how to use your time and spend
your resources, remember the Lord needs to be your source of
direction. You must listen for the leading of His Spirit. You
must be open to the truths of Scripture. Also consider the
input of more mature believers. Your focus should be to find
God's direction.
By the way, this isn't a game between God and the believer. Too
often Christians act as if life is a mystery, a game in which
they must guess what God wants. "Should I pick door number one,
two or three? I have no way to know and if I pick the wrong one
I'll get in trouble."
If you truly desire His will, He will make it clear. He doesn't
place you in a position where, if you are seeking His will, you
will make the wrong choice because He hasn't given you a way to
know what is right.
If believers are to witness for God, they must live for Him.
The clearest witness isn't words, it is lives. If believers
understand that His is the final victory, and that to reject Him
is to fall under His judgment, then they must strive to get this
truth to the lost.
Look at the people that you come in contact with and see them as
God does. Many, if not most, of those you are looking at are on
the way to Hell. They are separated from the Lord now and face
a future of eternal separated from Him.
While it is the Holy Spirit Who is responsible for conversion.
Believers are the ones God has chosen as His instruments.
Knowing that God is in control of all things, you should have no
reason to be concerned with what the response to truth is. You
must simply present the gospel to those who need to hear it's
message.
Mankind will continue to rebel until the final judgment. This
is reality! Believers are God's ambassadors to the rebelling
world. This is reality! You must choose! You have the choice,
as an act of will, to live under the power of the Holy Spirit.
You can reach out to all those around you: family, friends,
whoever the Lord puts you in contact with. You can give the
gospel, presenting them with the opportunity to bow before the
Lord by choice, not by force. "Therefore God exalted him to the
highest place and gave him that name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and
on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus the Messiah is Lord, to the glory of God the Father"
(Philippians 2: 9-11).
* J. Vernon McGee, THRU THE BIBLE WITH J. VERNON MCGEE, Thomas
Nelson, Inc., 1982, Vol. 2, p. 668.
** C. H. Spurgeon, THE TREASURY OF DAVID, Macdonald Publishing
Company, Vol. 1, p. 11
Special Studies - Correction
Special Studies
[Publisher's Note]
The following article was supposed to appear in the July 1992
issue of Morning Star. Due to an oversight on my part, the
order was mixed. This article is actually part 1 of 2, and the
conclusion can be found in the August 1992 issue. I apologize
for the confusion - SWP
The Bible is an account of God's relationship to man, a covenant
relationship. We find this from the day of creation to the
eternal relationship we can have with the Messiah. This is the
seventh in a series of articles detailing the individual
covenants found within Scripture.
This issue's article is one of two dealing with the subject of
symbols and types. There are many symbols and types within
Scripture. Some can be interrupted dogmatically and others
can't. We can interpret types dogmatically when they are
explained in Scripture. For example, the serpent in the
wilderness is a picture of Christ. We are told this in the New
Testament. On the other hand, Joseph can be taken as a picture
of Christ because much of his life fulfills the pattern of
Christ's life. But we can't be dogmatic in our understanding
because nowhere in Scripture are we told that Joseph is a type
of Christ. Keeping this distinction in mind we present the
following.
------------------------------------------------------------------
HE IS REVEALED IN SYMBOLS AND TYPES
By Rev. Dr. Charles A. Wootten
God reveals Himself through many symbols and types. Rather than
hide these revelations of God within the text of overviews of
various instances and situations, we shall first list the
symbols followed by a listing of the types in the next issue. A
symbol is a representation, i.e., one thing standing for
another. A type is a prophetic representation, i.e., one thing
foreshadowing another. We shall see herein symbolic actions,
colors, creatures, directions, names, and objects. Although we
do not recognize numerology as a basis of Christian belief, a
selection of vital numbers that aid in the understanding of
God's revelation will be added. Since this overview of symbols
and types is brief the reader should use a concordance to locate
the references of the symbols and types. He can follow the chain
of thought involved in them throughout the Scriptures.
Therefore, specific references will be omitted in the basic
interest of brevity.
Actions.
Anointing. Anointing is the act of smearing with oil for the
purposes of consecration. Consecration is that act that separate
from the worldly, or common, to that which is holy. This action
is even more readily seen in receiving Divine equipping from the
Holy Spirit for service unto God for the believer.
Breathing. This is just more than inhaling and exhaling
life-giving oxygen for us mere mortals. God reveals Himself in
breathing as a symbol for the giving of life.
Circumcision. The symbolic action that shows the revelation of
God in a person's life in that He cuts away the flesh life to
reveal His life in the believer.
The Lifting of Hands. This represents the taking of an oath, or
giving praise to Him, and surrender to Him. There are many
more symbolic actions that help us in finding the revelation of
God. If we but check all that we do unto the Lord then this list
becomes greater and greater. In your daily prayer chronicle
begin to write down those actions that you do that symbolize
the revelation of God.
The symbolic colors are found in the Tabernacle and in the
Temple and on the Priestly garments.
Amber: This material is quite hard having neither taste nor
smell until pounded or heated. When those two activities are
enacted, either singly or together, then there is noticed a
distinctly fragrant odor. In revealing God, this symbolizes the
glory of God in all His Divine Majesty.
Black: This is the color of night; destitute of light. It is
also a sullen attitude; an atrociously wicked action; the
destitution of all colors. So, it is symbolic of sin, death, and
famine. It is the very opposite of God's desire for us.
Blue: This is one of the seven colors of the rainbow. Its
significance is the revelation of God through the Holy Spirit
and the showing of heaven.
Crimson: This is a very deep color of red tinged with blue. God
reveals Himself through this color in that it represents His
blood atonement and the sacrifices that He requires.
Purple: This color has more of a bluish tinge than does
crimson. In the imperial government of Rome purple was the
distinguishing color that separated emperors from anyone else.
In Kingdom of God it denotes the color of kingship, His
Kingship.
Red: In several languages (Arabic, Syriac, Ethiopic) this word
means to bring down, to invade, to subdue, to have dominion. Red
is one of the primary colors that has several applications as we
have seen. In our context red is graphically symbolic of
bloodshed or war.
Scarlet: This is a bright, beautiful color, brighter than
crimson and symbolizes also blood atonement and sacrifice.
White: This color is as pure snow and represents the basics of
purity, light, and righteousness. Revelation 19:8 (NKJV)
states, "And to her (the wife of the Lamb) it was granted to be
arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is
the righteous acts of the saints."
A few of the symbolic creatures are: the clean animals thus
symbolizing Christ and the saints; the unclean animals
representing the Antichrist, Satan, sinners, and generally the
Gentile nations. The bullock symbolizes the sacrifice that
leaders must make in His service. The goat represents sinners.
The scapegoat is symbolic of Christ, our sinbearer. While the
eagle is symbolic of swiftness, it is the eagle's wings that
provide the supernatural transportation.
Also of interest are the numbers that symbolize God's Truths. By
following out the number schemata in the entire Bible we shall
not find one instance of disagreement. The number one
symbolizes God who is the source, the beginning, the first. The
number two is the minimum number for witness or testimony. Three
is the manifestation of the Godhead: a perfect testimony. The
winds, seasons, and earth corners are represented by the number
four. Grace, atonement, life is shown in the number five. Six is
the number of man, and also of Satan. Perfection and
completeness is found in the number seven. The number eight is
symbolic of the new beginning. Nine is the figure of
completeness, finality, fullness (think of the number of months
for the fruit of the womb). And, finally, ten is the number for
law, government, restoration.
There are man-made objects that also symbolize God and His
Kingdom. The altar is a place of sacrifice and for incense. As
pointed out earlier, Noah's Ark represented not only salvation
but the fullness of the Godhead. The purity of the sound of the
bell is symbolic of the sweet sound of the voice. Trials,
afflictions, and pressures are represented in the furnace. Iron
and brass represent His judgment. The staff is the shepherd's
protection. The covering for the pilgrim or stranger is by the
tent. The voice of prophetic utterance is represented by the
trumpet.
In natural objects in the animal world we find that the fat of
offerings represents inward warmth and truth. For natural
minerals dust is the frail nature of man; oil is the anointing
of the Spirit; salt is symbolic of judgment on people and on the
land; sand is the physical seed of Abraham; smoke is the
overpowering presence of God; and precious stones are symbols of
the glories of the twelve tribes.
Mankind has been staring at the sky from the beginning. There
are many objects in the sky that symbolize the various
revelations of God. The cloud, similar to the smoke, surrounds
the Shekinah glory of God. However, in the plural, clouds
represent several things, such as: the chariots of God; the
glory of God; hosts of people; and armies of the enemy. Rain is
a revival, a refreshing; an outpouring of the Spirit and the
Word. The rainbow has no other symbolic meaning other than the
Seal of God's covenant with His people, despite claims of the
New Age movement to the contrary. The stars are the
light-bearers of those who are fallen away in apostasy. The
glory of God the Father is seen in the sun. The sun, moon,
stars are symbolic of glory of the Godhead and even
resurrection. Spiritual power, whether for bad or good, is
represented by the wind. In the religious aspect symbolic
objects have even more a precious idea of the representation of
the revelation of God.
The Ark of His Covenant is the idea of Christ in the fullness of
the Godhead bodily. The unleavened cakes are shown as the purity
of life presented to God. The golden candlestick is Christ the
light in whom dwells God's fullness. The incense represents not
only the prayers of the saints but also intercession. The brazen
laver is the emblem of our sanctification and separation. The
white raiment is the priest's attire. The blue ribband is a
reminder of God's laws. The tabernacle indicates God's
habitation with each believer. The table of shewbread is an
indication of nourishment and communion with God. The veil is a
device that gives us access to God.
The symbolic places are interesting as they show the journey
along the narrow way to God. Babylon is the city of Satan and
confusion. Canaan represents our inheritance in Him. The Cities
of Refuge represent refuge in Him and in the Church. Eden is the
Paradise of God. Egypt betokens bondage. Jerusalem is the City
of God and peace (note the difference between this City and
Babylon). The Jordan River symbolizes death to self and
baptism. Mount Ebal is the mountain of cursing; Mount Gerizim
is the mountain of blessing. Mount Moriah is the mountain of
sacrifice and the temple; and Mount Sinai is the mountain of
law and covenant. The Red Sea is symbolic of the baptism in
water.
Moses' Tabernacle was built after very specific instructions
from God. Since these instructions were very specific, that
shows God had a purpose and a meaning for each item. These are:
blue showing the Lord from Heaven. Brass represents His capacity
to endure judgment for sin. Gold is His divine glory and
nature. The fine linen is symbolic of His holiness and
righteousness. Silver shows His redemptive ministry and power.
The badger's skins shows His protection and unattractiveness to
the unregenerate. The skins of rams dyed red represents
substitution. The precious stones are His priestly glories and
perfections for His people. The shittim (acacia) wood shows His
incorruption.
All symbols are generally interpreted within Scriptural context.
Sometimes a symbol may be used to symbolize more than one thing
such as Christ, the saints, and the devil (Revelation 5:5; I
Peter 5:8, etc.). If the symbol seems to be uninterpreted in the
Word, consider the surrounding context for the thought as its
very nature gives clue to its interpretation. Next, we shall
consider the types
Special Studies
Special Studies
GOD IS REVEALED IN THE PALESTINIAN COVENANT
By Dr. Charles A. Wootten
The Palestinian Covenant was made in the land of Moab with the
second generation out of Egypt. This covenant was affirmed at
the end of the forty years of wandering, just before they
entered into the Land promised in the Abrahamic Covenant. It
laid down for all generations the conditions for entering and
maintaining the Promised Land.
In association with the Mosaic Covenant we find a little known
covenant called the Palestinian Covenant. Its authority comes
from Deuteronomy 29:1 (or 28:69 in the Jewish Publication
Society's translation of the Torah). This passage clearly
distinguishes it from the Mosaic Covenant by stating, "in
addition to the covenant which He had made with them at Horeb."
The Palestinian Covenant was made in the plains of Moab with the
second generation and gave laws for the Land.
The purpose of this covenant was to express the conditions for
entering into and maintaining occupancy of the Promised Land.
God is revealed herein as providing a place to live and survive
for the ones He has called out of bondage. This bondage was not
only physical slavery replete with the overseer's whips and
chains, but also a mental and spiritual bondage.
The first generation of the Israelites failed to see the
Promised Land and died without entering into covenant rest. In
Numbers 13,14, Deuteronomy 8:1-16, and Hebrews 3,4 we find God's
laws are kept only if we keep our hands off our lives and commit
them to Christ, acknowledging Him to be our Lord and our
Saviour. This is the culmination of the covenant rest. We walk
in the assurance that He is Lord and that it is His will, not
ours, which shall prevail. The disobedience of the first
generation of Israelites resulted in the giving of the
Palestinian Covenant.
The Israelites failure is recorded in Numbers 13 and 14. At
Kadesh- Barnea they searched the land for forty days, believed
the "evil report," and in unbelief rejected the covenant land
promised to Abraham. This generation went through the cycle of
probation, failure, and judgment which led to the new generation
receiving the next covenant.
The important thought to remember is that the Palestinian
Covenant reaffirms and fully amplifies the conditions of the
Mosaic Covenant for the keeping of the land promised in the
Abrahamic Covenant.
The new generation received a reaffirmation and amplification of
the Mosaic Covenant for the keeping of the Land promised in that
covenant. The Palestinian Covenant rehearsed the moral and civil
laws of the Mosaic Covenant.
What God promised was a Land overflowing with blessing
(Leviticus 25:23,24; Deuteronomy 8:7-10; 11:9-17; 26:15;
28:11-13). In Leviticus 25:23,24 God forbade the selling of the
Land beyond reclaim because "the Land is Mine; you are but
strangers resident with Me." God described the Land as:
* A land of prosperity.
* A land that has a wealth of minerals.
* A land of many rivers and fountains.
* A land He would watch over and protect.
* A land of fruitfulness.
* A land watered by early and latter rains.
* A land of valleys and hills.
(see also Deuteronomy 8:7-10; 11:9-17; 26:15; 28:11-13;
Leviticus 26:3-13).
The Promises of Blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) would come upon
them and they would receive the Blessings in all areas and
aspects of their lives. These Promises of Blessing have not been
canceled, and we, the joint heirs, may reap these blessings in
the Spirit. When Israel is restored and the land in obedience,
under the rule of the Messiah, they will again experience them.
The blessings of the Palestinian Covenant are:
* Blessed in commerce.
* Blessed in national position.
* Blessed in seasonal rains.
* Blessed in labor.
* Blessed in storehouses.
* Blessed in victory over enemies.
* Blessed in daily activities.
* Blessed in daily provision.
* Blessed in fruitfulness.
* Blessed in the field.
* Blessed in the city.
All these began their fulfillment when Joshua led them in their
possession and conquest of the Land. Joshua (11:23; 21:43-45)
records their victory over their enemies and the dividing of the
Land into the tribal inheritances. The greatest extent of their
conquest came under the leadership of David. The greatest extent
of their material prosperity came during the reign of King
Solomon.
On the other hand the Promises of Cursing (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)
are spelled out to take effect upon disobedience to His
commandments. These are distinctly called curses of the
covenant. God is bound by His word to judge them for their
disobedience (I Kings 8; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27:15-26).
The curses are the opposite of the blessings:
* Cursed in the city.
* Cursed in the field.
* Cursed in daily provision.
* Cursed in fruitfulness.
* Cursed in daily activities.
* Cursed in labor.
* Cursed in diseases.
* Cursed in the Land.
* Cursed in the lack of rains.
* Cursed in defeat by their enemies.
* Cursed in captivities.
* Cursed in domestic life.
* Cursed in possessions.
* Cursed in national position.
The fulfillment of these promises of cursing began in the time
of the Judges when the people turned away from God to idols
(Judges 2). The books of Ruth, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles
record when these promises of cursing were fulfilled. The
ultimate fulfillment came with the captivities of the houses of
Israel and Judah.
The terms of the covenant were very simple: Obey the
Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:1-21; 27:1-4), maintain their love
for God, (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; 18:12-16; 30:6-8), and rest for the
Land (Leviticus 25:1-22). The overwhelming emphasis in the
Palestinian Covenant was on obedience. There had to be obedience
to the moral laws as well as the laws of the Land. The most
specific term attached to this covenant was the keeping of the
seventh year and jubilee Sabbath rest for the land.
There is no specific oath attached to the blessings of the
covenant, but there is an oath attached to the curses. This oath
was meant to assure Israel of the certainty and severity of
God's punishment upon their covenantal disobedience.
The blood of the covenant was to be shed in the same manner as
the Mosaic Covenant (see also Leviticus 1,2,3). Deuteronomy 27
begins:
"Moses and the elders of Israel charged the people, saying:
Observe all the Instruction that I enjoin upon you this day. As
soon as you have crossed the Jordan into the land that the Lord
your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones. Coat them
with plaster and inscribe upon them the words of this Teaching.
When you cross over to invade the land that the Lord your God is
giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the
God of your fathers, promised you--upon crossing the Jordan, you
shall set up these stones, about which I charge you this day, on
Mount Ebal, and coat them with plaster. There, too, you shall
build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. Do not
wield an iron tool over them; you must build the altar of the
Lord your God of unhewn stones. You shall offer on it burnt
offerings to the Lord your God, and you shall sacrifice there
offerings of well-being and eat them, rejoicing before the Lord
your God."
There could be no land of rest apart from sacrifice.
The seal of the covenant has two parts: the Sabbath rest
(Leviticus 25:1-17) and the sending of the early and latter
rains (Deuteronomy 11:10-17; 28:1-8; I Kings 8:35-40; Joel 2).
Just as the principles of rest and rain upon obedience to the
covenant are applicable in the natural they are also applicable
in the spiritual." For we are God's fellow workers; you are
God's field, you are God's building" (I Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)),
"waiting patiently for . . . the early and latter rain" (James
5:7(b) (NKJV); cf. also Joel 2:18-52).
Of especial interest in respect to this covenant is what
happened just after the Israelites entered the Land.
"At that time Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of
Israel, on Mount Ebal, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, had
commanded the Israelites--as is written in the Book of the
Teaching of Moses--an altar of unhewn stone upon which no iron
had been wielded. They offered on it burnt offerings to the
Lord, and brought sacrifices of well-being. And there, on the
stones, he inscribed a copy of the Teaching which Moses had
written for the Israelites. All Israel-- stranger and citizen
alike--with their elders, officials, and magistrates, stood on
either side of the Ark, facing the Levitical priests who carried
the Ark of the Lord's Covenant. Half of them faced Mount Gerizim
and half of them faced Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the
Lord had commanded them of old, in order to bless the people of
Israel. After that, he read all the words of the Teaching, the
blessing and the curse, just as it is written in the Book of the
Teaching. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded
which Joshua failed to read in the presence of the entire
assembly of Israel, including the women and children and the
strangers who had accompanied them." (Joshua 8:30-35 (JPSA)).
The sanctuary of the Palestinian Covenant was complete.
The natural language in the Palestinian Covenant is given
spiritual significance in the New Testament with respect to the
Church. The New Testament speaks of the Church as being God's
land that He tills with the expectation of receiving spiritual
fruit (I Corinthians 3:9).
Next we shall discuss the Davidic Covenant. This covenant was
made with David after the death of Saul and David's ascent to
the throne at Jerusalem. In involved David's Seed, Throne, and
Kingdom both naturally and spiritually. It pointed ultimately to
the everlasting Throne and Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ,
David's greatest Son
Messianic Studies
Messianic Studies
Over the next two issues Dr. Renald Showers examines the
biblical analogy of Jesus the Messiah as the Bridegroom of the
Church. This first article discusses Jewish marriage customs.
The customs reviewed are those carried out during Biblical
times.
BEHOLD - THE BRIDEGROOM COMES!
Part 1 of a 2-part article
By Dr. Renald Showers
(From ISRAEL MY GLORY Magazine)
The Comforting Promise
It was a night of destiny. Jesus had gathered with His disciples
in the Upper Room. In a few more hours He would be crucified on
a cross.
Jesus had been warning His disciples concerning His coming
death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. The prospect of
these events caused the disciples to be greatly disturbed. In
order to ease their fears, Jesus made the following comforting
promise:
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also
in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not
so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you maybe also
(KJV, John 14:1-3).
Those who live in the modern western world do not catch the full
significance of Jesus' promise. This is due to the fact that in
His promise Jesus was drawing an analogy from Jewish marriage
(customs in biblical times. Since this is so, those marriage
customs must be examined if one is to grasp the significance of
the promise.
The first major step in a Jewish marriage was betrothal.
Betrothal involved the establishment of a marriage covenant. By
Jesus' time it was usual for such a covenant to be established
as the result of the prospective bridegroom taking the
initiative. The prospective bridegroom would travel from his
father's house to the home of the prospective bride. There he
would negotiate with the father of the young woman to determine
the price (mohar) that he must pay to purchase his bride. Once
the bridegroom paid the purchase price, the marriage covenant
was there by established, and the young man and woman were
regarded to be husband and wife. From that moment on the bride
was declared to be consecrated or sanctified, set apart
exclusively for her bridegroom. As a symbol of the covenant
relationship that had been established, the groom and bride
would drink from a cup of wine over which a betrothal
benediction had been pronounced.
After the marriage covenant had been established, the groom
would leave the home of the bride and return to his father's
house. There he would remain separate from his bride for a
period of twelve months.- This period of separation afforded the
bride time to gather her trousseau and to prepare for married
life. The groom occupied himself with the preparation of living
accommodations in his father's house to which he could bring his
bride.
At the end of the period of separation the groom would come to
take his bride to live with him. The taking of the bride usually
took place at night. The groom, best man and other male escorts
would leave the groom's father's house and conduct a torch light
procession to the home of the bride. Although the bride was
expecting her groom to come for her, she did not know the exact
time of his coming. As a result the groom's arrival would be
preceded by a shout. This shout would fore warn the bride to be
prepared for the coming of the groom.
After the groom received his bride together with her female
attendants, the enlarged wedding party would return from the
bride's home to the groom's father's house. Upon arrival there
the wedding party would find that the wedding guests had
assembled already.
Shortly after arrival the bride and groom would be escorted by
the other members of the wedding party to the bridal chamber
(huppah). Prior to entering the chamber the bride remained
veiled so that no one could see her face. While the groomsmen
and bridesmaids would wait outside, the bride and groom would
enter the bridal chamber alone. There in the privacy of that
place they would enter into physical union for the first time,
thereby consummating the marriage that had been covenanted
earlier.
After the marriage was consummated, the groom would announce the
consummation to the other members of the wedding party waiting
out-side the chamber (John 3:29). These people would pass on the
news of the marital union to the wedding guests. Upon receiving
this good news the wedding guests would feast and make merry for
the next seven days.
During the seven days of the wedding festivities, which were
sometimes called " 'the seven days of the huppah,' " the bride
remained hidden in the bridal chamber. At the conclusion of
these seven days the groom would bring his bride out of the
bridal chamber, now with her veil removed, so that all could see
who his bride was.
Next month this series will be concluded with the examination of
the analogy. Dr. Showers will show how each aspect of Jewish
marriage customs relates to the life and ministry of Jesus the
Messiah
Anee M'Amin
Anee M'Amin
SETTLED - ONCE AND FOR ALL
THE TESTIMONY OF JESS PINCUS
(From ISRAEL MY GLORY magazine June/July 1991)
The Bible states, "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, salt the LORD" (Isa. 55:8). How true that
is!
When I was a youngster, my dad obtained a sales position in a
shoe store, but the working conditions were uncomfortable, and
he consequently became dissatisfied with life. One day a Jewish
lady walked into the store and asked to see my father. My dad
did not know her but asked, "Would you like to buy some shoes?"
"No," she replied, 'I don't want any shoes. I saw you through
the window, and I sense that you have some genuine needs in your
life. I would like to talk to you about them." "There are other
people working here," my father responded. "Talk to them." "No,"
she said, "I want to talk to you about your spiritual needs."
Finally, Esther Brown convinced my dad to have lunch with her.
During the conversation she persuaded him to call Bill Brown, an
attorney who was her close friend. My dad called Bill and made
an appointment to meet with him. "Rubin," Bill said, "my family
conducts a Bible study for Jewish people every Thursday evening.
I would like you to attend."
Studying God's Word
My mom, dad, and I attended the Bible study and were very
impressed with the genuine love that Mr. Brown and his family
had for the Jewish people. During the Bible study he taught that
God wants each of us to have a personal relationship with Him.
He said, however, that many people do not experience this
personal relationship with God because of the sin in their
lives. He read Isaiah 59:2: "Your sins have hidden his face from
you, that he will not hear."
He also explained that our mitzvahs (good works) could not
remove our sins, not even fasting on the Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 17:11 states that sin can be removed only through a
blood sacrifice, and Mr. Brown stated that there has been no
blood sacrifice for over 1,900 years-since the destruction of
the Temple in 70 A.D. However, in God's perfect timing He sent
His Son Jesus to be the ultimate blood sacrifice.
Mr. Brown also showed us verses telling where the Messiah would
be born, when He would come, that He would be both God and man,
that He would die, that He would be resurrected, and that He
would come again. Each of these verses fits the life of the
Messiah Jesus.
Although everything the Brown family and others said made sense,
we still felt that we would be meshumeds (traitors) if we
received Jesus as our Jewish Messiah.
We Met the Messiah!
After attending the Browns' Bible study for about a year and a
half, my parents accepted Jesus as their promised Messiah and
Savior, believing that He took their sins on Himself when he
died on Calvary's cross. They could now see that their faith in
Jesus made them more Jewish, rather than less so, because He is
the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies.
But the question still existed ... "Jess Pincus, what about your
personal relationship with God?" In my head I believed that
Jesus was the promised Messiah and the ultimate blood sacrifice,
but I was afraid to make it known to anyone else.
At the age of 12 in Miami, Florida, I was confronted by a Jewish
minister, Rev. Siegelman, who asked, "Would you like to settle
your personal relationship with the Lord Jesus once and for
all?" My answer was, "Yes!" At that moment I prayed, "Lord
Jesus, I recognize that I am a sinner and that You came to the
earth to be my ultimate blood sacrifice. I am now receiving You
as my personal Savior. Amen!"
Walking With the Lord
Since that August day in 1959, the Lord has guided me every step
of the way. He directed me to Miami Christian Junior-Senior High
School. How exciting it was to learn from the Word of God. Then
He led me to Florida Bible College and William Jennings Bryan
College, from which I graduated. I later received graduate
degrees from Florida Atlantic University and Nova University. In
1977 I married Penny Hawk. She has been a great encouragement to
me through the years. Truly, the Lord's directing power can be
seen in every step of my life as He prepared me for full-time
service with The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.
For 14 years I preached and taught the Word of God in many
Bible-believing churches on a part-time basis, while serving
full-time in the field of education. Then the Lord showed me
that He wanted me to be a full-time witness to my Jewish
brethren, as well as to all mankind. In June 1983 God's call to
me was confirmed when I was appointed a staff member of The
Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry to serve in Tampa and Central
Florida. Penny and our children, Matthew (age 10) and Christina
(age 5), help in various aspects of the ministry.
The Lord has blessed me with a multifaceted outreach, which
includes personal evangelism, counseling, and teaching and/or
administration of Bible studies in Tampa, Beverly Hills,
Gainesville, and Daytona Beach, Florida. I have also ministered
in hundreds of fundamental churches through prophecy
conferences, evangelistic Passover seder demonstrations, "Thank
God For Israel" days, "Speak Tenderly to Jerusalem" conferences,
and pulpit supply. The major metropolitan areas of Orlando and
Jacksonville, Florida, are also part of my outreach ministry.
There is a song that summarizes my personal experience with the
Lord. It says, "Thank You Lord for saving my soul Thank You Lord
for making me whole; Thank You Lord for giving to me Thy great
salvation so rich and free."
If you would like to know that your sins are paid for, that you
have eternal life, and that you have a new hope for living, then
pray the following prayer:
Messiah Jesus, I recognize that I have sinned and come short of
God's glory. I realize that I cannot remove this sin through my
own good works (mitzvahs) because You require a blood atonement.
I realize that You became my ultimate blood atonement. I now
receive You as my Savior and Lord
The WORD for Today
The WORD for Today
Before this last Easter (1992), many churches across the country
were involved in The Chapel of the Air's "Fifty-Day Spiritual
Adventure." This program was designed to help local churches
become "The Family God Wants Us To Be." The material provided
focused on dysfunctional behavior found in families and brought
into the church. The article presented here is the fourth of
seven messages given by Pastor Geoff Kragen. They were
presented at Foothill Bible Church in Lincoln California as part
of that church's involvement with the program.
BUT I WAS OUT OF THE OFFICE!
2 Samuel 12:1-14
One of the more unique characteristics of humanity is the
ability to deny truth. I know that I can convince myself of
anything, if I want to badly enough. I remember when I was
still a hospital administrator. There were several individuals
who called me on the phone. They were people I really didn't
want to talk to. On one specific occasion a call came from a
very irregular person. I solved the problem of talking to her
by stepping into the hallway. This allowed my secretary to say,
"He just stepped out of his office." Well, neither of us lied,
did we?
Where people are severely dysfunction, the ability to practice
denial and to live in delusion is extraordinary. The anorexic
young woman looks like a victim of a concentration camp. But
when she looks in the mirror she sees a fat person. The father
who is falling down drunk every weekend doesn't think he has a
drinking problem. He just needs to unwind after a tough week!
One individual I knew had been severely abused throughout
childhood, for some eighteen years. This child was frequently
yelled at. This was usually followed by physical abuse. When,
as an adult, this individual would get into an argument with
someone, the situation would usually deteriorate into yelling.
The yelling would cause my friend to expect a physical attack.
Generally there was no real danger. The experience as a child
of abuse tied to yelling led the adult to expect physical
violence.
Self-delusion is also of a major characteristic of the
dysfunctional family. Tremendous energy is spent on putting on
a healthy outward appearance, and believing it to be true. Each
child is trained to reject reality and comes to believe the
false front. This is terribly damaging. The child, and years
later the adult, has great difficulty in distinguishing between
reality and delusion or self-deception. The ultimate "no no" in
the dysfunctional family is admitting there are problems.
Conversely, the functional family recognizes problems. The
focus of this family, however, is not avoidance of problems.
Instead, the mature family makes a cooperative effort to solve
them. The healthy church family is also an environment where
problems are recognized. They are openly faced, and, in prayer
before the Lord, dealt with in a way that brings Him honor.
Nevertheless, even believers, individually and as a body, can
choose to deny truth and live in delusion. Make no mistake,
this is a choice. King David, the man of God, chose to live in
delusion. He desired Bathsheba. He committed adultery with
her. She got pregnant. Unfortunately for David, her husband
Uriah was a loyal soldier of the king. David found a good way
to deal with this problem. He sent Uriah to the front line
where he would be killed. Of course, that wasn't David's fault.
It was simply the "luck of the draw" that led to Uriah's death.
David believed that he had solved his problem. After all,
David didn't kill Uriah. Did he? With a clear conscience David
could marry Bathsheba and have his baby. See 2 Samuel 11 & 12.
The problem with self-delusion is that God always sees through
it. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) If we are His
children, sooner or later we are going to have to see through
delusion and recognize what lies underneath, sinful thinking.
"Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my
disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set
you free' " (John 8:32). It is God's truth that was soon to
come home to David. In 2 Samuel 12:1-14, we see how God chose
to expose David's denial to the light of truth.
Nathan was sent by the Lord to David. He brought a dispute for
the King's consideration. One behavior I've noticed over the
years is that while we can see a sin in the other guy, we often
don't recognize this same sin in ourselves. Anyway, according
to Nathan's account, a certain rich man stole a lamb from his
poor neighbor. He who had much took from him who had little.
David was furious with this kind of behavior. The other
behavior I've noticed about those that don't see sin in
themselves is how angry and intolerant they become when this sin
is held up before them in the actions of someone else.
Apparently, David wasn't an exception. He demanded the death
penalty for the lamb stealer.
Then Nathan drops the bomb. The criminal is David. The crime
Nathan was actually discussing wasn't sheep stealing. It was
David adultery and murder. God had given much to David; a
kingship, protection, material prosperity, family; plus Israel
and Judah. What was David's response? It wasn't obedience, but
covetousness, lust and violence.
Shortly, God's judgment would be carried out by the actions of
David's son Absalom. God used Absalom as the instrument of His
judgment. He allowed Absalom to raise up a rebellion against his
father, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. Absalom took David's
wives and slept with them in front of the entire nation.
Additionally, the child, who was to be born from the illicit
relationship between David and Bathsheba, died.
The good news was that David did repent. Despite his sin, he
was still God's man. The Lord did forgive him. But forgiveness
is not synonymous with escaping the consequences of one's sin.
As Paul said: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man
reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7).
David had managed to deceive himself about his behavior. Since
he was a servant of God, the Lord wouldn't allow him to continue
in this deception. David, who truly desired to walk in God's
ways, repented and was restored. But he, and the nation, paid
the price for his sin in political chaos and civil strife. Sin
is always the real problem when we practice denial, and live in
delusion.
Consequences are also the natural result of denial and delusion
within the family. Frequently in the alcoholic family one finds
denial of the problem. Children are told that Daddy, who is
passed out on the couch, is simply tired. Or after mom flies
off the handle and beats the child, the behavior is blamed on
the actions of the child. The children are smart enough to
realize that there is a problem with the parent. Depending on
their age, they may even recognize that alcohol abuse is the
symptom. The parent however lies. This places the child in an
untenable position. He either is forced to accept the
unacceptable, that the parent is a liar, or to deny the reality
of the situation. He can do this by denying truth and
convincing himself that everything is ok. Frequently
self-deception and denial are the actions of choice.
Once one accepts the denial and self-delusion of others, then it
is only a matter of time until this also becomes one's own
behavior. One individual was convinced that his childhood had
been wonderful. Then, with the Lord's help, he came to see his
own dysfunctional behavior. He recognized that he had learned
his behavior in childhood. He finally realized that his family
had been far from wonderful. His memories had been adjusted to
support his protection system. These memories were a product of
denial to avoid pain, and self-delusion in rejecting the truth
of how his family had actually functioned.
Keep in mind, for those of us on the outside, it is extremely
difficult to accept that this self-denial process is so well
developed that those involved really do not see what appears to
be obvious to us. I suppose an extreme example of this was the
denial of many Central Europeans that they knew of the Jewish
slaughter during World War II. Today we find this almost
impossible to understand, yet I believe that many of them really
weren't aware of what was going on. This may have been because
they convinced themselves they weren't aware of it.
How does this practice of denial and delusion carry over into
the church family? There are a couple of ways. First, while we
accept doctrinally that we are all sinners, we often act as if
this wasn't the case. This happens by a pretense of having it
all together, or by being judgmental of the sins of others.
Instead, believers should move in love to encourage restoration.
Second, we have a practical problem with helping one another to
be open in our weaknesses. David Main puts it this way.
"One of the problems with the contemporary church is that it's
structured in such a way that openness and honesty are difficult
to come by. When is it appropriate to say what you're
struggling with? Do you do that during the worship hour?
Hardly.
Do you write out your confession to be included in the Sunday
bulletin?" *
But the church is to be a hospital for the hurting. We have to
be an environment where truth is encouraged for...
Denial and delusion are rejection of truth. And, rejection of
truth makes it impossible for us to be the person God desires
us to be. Each one of us can fall into the trap of self
delusion. "If we only made another twenty thousand a year all
our problems would be solved." "If my wife/husband would loose
twenty pounds, our marriage would be much better." "If I
divorced my spouse and married so and so, my life would be
wonderful."
But delusion keeps us from God. Scripture calls us to be
humble. Biblical humility is having an accurate self-image.
This means seeing ourselves as God sees us. It is only in this
way that we can allow Him to conform us to His image. Clinging
to denial and delusion prevents this from occurring.
And, the problem of denial and delusion carries over into the
church. I'm sure you have all run across churches where it
seems everybody has his or her act together. "We have no
problems here, because Christians don't have problems." This is
a sad delusion. And when problems appear, which they always do,
the "perfect" church may be destroyed because it has no way of
dealing with them.
The pastor must be the example of the perfect man of God. When
he turns out to be human, the problem is solved by shooting him.
As is frequently said, the church is the only army that shoots
its wounded. But shooting the wounded allows the church to
maintain the illusion of having it all together.
So what can we do, besides taking a positional commitment to
truth, to create an environment where it is safe to give up
denial and delusion? First, we have to allow the body to be a
nurturing place where we are not concerned with condemnation,
but with healing. This means loving unconditionally, giving up
expectations, unhealthy comparisons and competition and not
blaming and shaming. All this can only occur through dependency
on the Holy Spirit. (See previous articles in this series.)
Many years ago, Janette, my wife, and I were having problems in
our marriage. We had to go into counseling for about nine
months to deal with them. At that time I was an elder in the
church. There were only four of us, one of whom was the new
pastor we had just hired. Nevertheless, it was mandatory for me
to step down and concentrate on dealing with our marital
problems. It was necessary for me to stand in the pulpit and
tell a few hundred people of our difficulties. I didn't know
how people would respond. I didn't want to admit that I was in
a situation that I couldn't handle. But the point of the story
is that not only were people supportive, but more importantly
openness helped create an environment where others also felt
free to admit they had problems. The sense was, "If it is ok
for one of the elders to admit to problems, I guess it is ok for
me to do so." As a result, several couples went for help for
the first time in their lives.
The church needs to be a place where we don't deny the problems
of life. We must love one another and help each other grow in
the Lord. We have to be willing to face problems and learn to
deal with them constructively.
There are also a couple of practical steps we can take to help
the body be a place of openness and truth. Encourage people to
seek a prayer partner. This will require truth between two or
three people. It is an opportunity to hold one another
accountable and help one another walk before the Lord. "As iron
sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).
And taking this one step further, the small group can also carry
on this same function. Here we can gather, praying and caring
for one another. It is risky being open and honest, facing
problems and dealing with them. And, certainly we have to use
desecration in what we expose and to whom we talk. But we must
find those within the church with whom we can be open,
transparent, and accountable.
The bottom line of all this is that the church offers truth as
the way of salvation, the truth of the Gospel. We must be
willing to practice truth as the basis of understanding God and
our relationship with Him. We cannot allow deceit and delusion
to be the pattern within the body, because it prevents growth
and healing.
May John's words be said of us. "For I rejoiced greatly, when
the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee,
even as thou walkest in the truth" (3 John 3).
* David Mains, HEALING THE DYSFUNCTIONAL CHURCH FAMILY, Victor
Books, Wheaton, IL, 1992, p. 69
Prayer Guidelines
Prayer and Sin by Michael Wilkinson
PRAYER AND SIN
Article 7 of the "Prayer and..." Series
by Michael Wilkinson
"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities
have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His
face from you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2).
When we pray to the Lord, we believe that He hears our prayers
and will answer according to His will. We believe that we can
"Ask, and it will be given to you..." (Matthew 7:7).
This seems easy to understand. Yet God giving us what we ask
for is not the result of some formula for getting His riches.
It is a description of how God WANTS to work in our lives when
we obey Him. "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, BECAUSE
we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing
in His sight" (1 John 3:22).
Ever since Adam and Eve, there has been a breakdown in
communication between God and man. The source of this breakdown
is man's sin. This is certainly a barrier between God and the
unbeliever. The unbeliever cannot have communion with God
without being reconciled to Him through Christ (see Colossians
1:21-22).
Sin also hinders communion between God and the believer. "If we
claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we
lie and do not live by the truth" (1 John 1:6).
We are to have fellowship with God, and this includes prayer.
Yet a Christian who lives a sinful life will have no success in
prayer (although God is long-suffering and may still answer some
prayers). And if a Christian has no desire to pray, that may be
a sign of unconfessed sin requiring repentance. Remember, it is
not God failing to hear, it is sin making us not want fellowship
with God.
Prayer is essential for fellowship with Him. And holiness is
essential for fellowship and prayer. "As obedient children, do
not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in
ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in
all you do. For it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy' "
(1 Peter 1:14-16).
Fortunately, the Lord will always hear a prayer of repentance.
Recall the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. Here Jesus
talks about a son who took his father's money, left him, and
wasted the wealth on worldly pleasures. His desire was for that
which his father would not allow him to have at home. When that
son came to the end of his money and the pleasure of sin had
wasted away, he returned home. He came in humility to beg for
whatever mercy his father might give. At the first sign of his
son coming back in repentance, the father ran to meet him. The
father kissed him and had him dressed up according to the son's
former richness.
Jesus told this story so we would know about our heavenly
Father's forgiveness when we repent of our sins. And we should
all examine our own lives, repenting daily of the sins that lead
us astray from the Father. For that is the only way we can keep
ourselves pure and know that he takes pleasure in our prayers.
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around
your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you
will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man"
(Proverbs 3:3-4)
SCUD Warnings
SCUD Warnings by Jerry Johnson
S piritual
C ounterfeits
U ndermining
D octrine
W A R N I N G S
By Jerry Johnson
At this point I am slightly behind my deadline for this column
... and I'm just now writing the first sentence. It's not that
I haven't tried, it's just that between the Olympics seducing me
away from my computer and a newly laid sod backyard that takes
the rest of my time away, I'm running late.
Scenario one: God gave me a passable writing style and
Christians doing their best to minister to others have created
the opportunity for this column. The circumstances have
occurred naturally because of the way that God set up the church
to function. It is now my job to get this column done. I pray
for help, but that is really just to create a focus for me.
After all, God gave me what I have ... it's up to me to use it
to the best of my ability. God did his original creative work
so well that he really doesn't have to intervene much anymore.
Scenario two: God is absolutely obsessed with being involved
with my life... and this column. All I have to do is yield
myself to him enough and he'll do something miraculous so that I
will write a column straight from his heart. Not only that, but
it will be written so well that God will ensure that a copy gets
to Saddam Hussein and he'll convert his entire nation to
Christianity! All I have to do is expect the miracle for
guidance and it will come. Wait!!! I've just looked out my
window and there IS a sign. It says YIELD. That's it! God
wants me to yield. As I empty my mind I happen to glance over
at the floor and I notice we left a board game out ... it's the
game of LIFE. Life, is that what God wants me to write about?
Wait, I'm feeling something. Is it a confirmation from the
Lord? Oops, it was just a burp. I'll just tarry until I get
further guidance.
Am I making fun of someone's beliefs?
Me??
Yeah, I guess I am. As usual I mean no offense. I just hope to
get people to think about things.
The topic of this column is "the spiritual pendulum". The above
scenarios represent the two extremes of spiritual awareness
within Christendom.
The first is what can be called Christian Agnosticism. It is
the basic concept that God wound things up and stays
functionally uninvolved. It is this group that might refer to
the Trinity as the Father, the Son and the other one.
The second is what I refer to as the Hookey Pookies. These are
the kind that love and seek any type of spiritual event, at
times with little to no discernment. They love personal
prophecies are rarely slowed down when they don't come to pass.
"These are spiritual counterfeits?"
Anything that distracts from Christ's preeminence and pulls us
away from truth is a pale imitation, or counterfeit if you will,
of accurate doctrine. So, yes, they are.
"So what's the big deal? Do these beliefs really hurt anyone?"
They hurt the people involved with them. We'll start with the
more subtle, Christian Agnosticism, and then move to the
dramatic.
"ianity."
"Was that a typo?"
No, that was Christianity without Christ. Just as Pharisaism
was the Law without God's compassion. Just as Christian
agnosticism is the philosophy and concepts of Christ without an
on-going personal relationship with Christ.
In Revelations 3:20 Jesus says "If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me"
That is personal interaction ... and it was written to
Christians,
NOT unbelievers.
There can be a multiple number of reasons why someone might find
greater comfort in following the direction of the Bible without
interacting with the Director of the Bible.
Now I'm not saying they haven't accepted the Lord. They have.
It's just that I have met with some people, often Bible
scholars, who have so fixated on the revealed Word of God, that
they seem satisfied with knowing about God, without feeling the
drive to know God.
Why?
Awfully good question. There are probably just as many answers
as there are people. But here are some possibilities:
You can study the Bible and become a "scholar". You can take
tests in Bible College and get A's in the book of Jude. You can
know Hebrew and Greek and KNOW you know Hebrew and Greek.
A relationship with God is not so quantifiable. Philippians
2:12 says that we are to work out our salvation with fear and
trembling. That doesn't exactly connote a process in which we
can know we have "arrived" or "succeeded" or "passed". A
relationship between any two personalities is dynamic and fluid.
With God it is yet more dynamic and with his abilities and
character it is radically fluid, within the "limits" of his
nature which is pretty limitless.
Or to give an obscure metaphor: it is easier to be a marriage
counselor than to be married.
Other possibilities? When you relate to a God who is Spirit, a
being you cannot see and touch, faith is required. Faith can be
scary. How can you KNOW you are "doing it" right? That's the
catch 22. It is the Spirit of God (you know, the personal,
interacting part) that confirms the truth to our hearts in
accordance to the Word of God. So you can't get confirmation
that the personal relationship is right until you have the
personal relationship. You have to trust a God you don't know
well in order to get to know him enough to really trust him.
"Where did you get that idea?"
James 4:8 Come near to God and he'll come near to you.
Maybe people are nervous that if they spiritually experience
God, which is a redundant statement, he might cause them to do
something embarrassing or to do something they do not want to
do, like go to a foreign mission field.
Yep, that's the pattern of scripture all right ... God doing his
best to embarrass the people he sacrificed his son for.
I don't think so.
To pray the sinner's prayer, study the Word and stop short of
developing a mental AND emotional AND spiritual relationship
with God is like having a Porsche and never going for a drive
... you miss the really good part.
If God loved you enough to send his son, he doesn't want just a
theoretical relationship with you, he wants a personal
relationship with you.
Honest.
Next, the Hookey Pookies. Those who LOVE spiritual stuff. The
more spiritual the better. The more dramatic the better. If
it's spiritual it's good, right?
Not necessarily.
I've known a number of people who loved the spiritual. They
loved to have revelations and dreams and personal prophecies.
Loved it so much that they kept it up whether or not it was tied
to reality.
I had a friend who was REALLY into personal prophecy. How much?
So much so that she had prophesied that a female friend would
marry and after that friend died in a car wreck my friend
staunchly believed that God would raise that woman from the dead
so that the personal prophecy could be fulfilled. That was that
same friend who died of the cancer she was ardently claiming she
had been healed of.
I John 4:1 says that we are not to believe every spirit, but
test the spirits to see if they are from God.
Test. Examine. Verify. And notice ... it instructs us to
start with disbelief until it proves to align with the Word and
character of God. We are instructed to be skeptical ... then if
we come to understand it is from God we are to embrace it.
"Is this saying you believe in personal prophecies?"
I do not believe in anything, prophecy, instruction, insight,
whatever that goes beyond or contradicts the Bible. I believe
the book of Revelation is the totality of what God wanted us to
know ahead of time about our world and its future.
I have not yet had anyone do a personal