I think what is sorely missing in far too many churches is the what the rebirth of Israel in 1948 means from a biblical viewpoint. I am amazed at the unwillingness among so many to see God's Word and His Love preparing to give them a redemption as a nation. God will demonstrate that He has not forgotten His people, the Jews, who he foreknew would fail him on Calvary Hill. Is the book of Revelation set before us, the Gentiles, as a sign that God also foreknows the great error among so many unsaved gentiles in that Day?
The key biblical principle is the righteousness of God……First the Jew now it is the Gentiles. Christians ought to see this principal at work but self righteousness prevents this and our own traditions cloud the landscape of the coming storm. Even many churches have their self righteousness and rituals to the same degree the Pharisees did. Refusing to see the physical Christ God placed before them. Now we have a physical Israel before us in our generation and false doctrine and unwarranted fears blind many also. If you want a prophet then God surely will give us one to speak, the problem is how many will really hear! The die has been cast and the season is ripe. This is not about a denomination for God is above our founding fathers on America's land. It is about walking with the Word in the promise God is ready to deliver not to just Israel but to all of us who believe in that same deliverance because of righteousness. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness as it is written. Be ready Church of America….be ready indeed!
The Holy Spirit has made me to see it this way…for indeed it is per the Word. See Romans Ch 11…See the warning Christ gives to the Seven Churches in Revelations…..See the calling of 144,000 men from the 12 Tribes of Israel that only God knows for sure!….Realize the test the Jews had on Calvary Hill but we the Gentiles never did have the same test to try our allegiance to Truth! Is it fair for us to NOT be tried also?
From the Arab nations which surround Israel with the cries of annihilation to the foothills of America's churches determined to live under the Replacement Theology and consider not God's sovereignty to redeem Israel as the words declares " All Israel will be saved in that day…for this is my covenant I make with them" written even in the New Testament. In fairness God will show His might and deliver the rod of iron to Lion of Judah as his feet are predicted to land on Mount Olive in that day and no other place on earth.
To those left behind there will indeed be a cry of Martyrs and they are known as the Tribualtion Saints as they finally see what they refused to believe after the raptured saints and the collapse of a world system as we know it. It will fall into chaos and desperation and then so shall the Antichrist rise above the turmoil and deception and hatred will reach it's peak. And most notably against Israel the nation! But what a mighty God we serve and so shall He demonstrate it……at last! Blessings in the name of Christ!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Monday, August 11, 2014
The Promised Land Debacle and the Cost of Democracy
While there are many lessons that can be learned from this tragic ending to a glorious opportunity for God's people before the land of Canaan, I have yet another to share. The Hebrews were delivered from Egyptian slavery and saw with their own eyes the many miracles of God's handiwork throughout their deliverance. In the wilderness journey they experienced the provisions of God right on up to the promise of the land with milk and honey. But something went wrong and the Spirit speaks to my heart about the conflicting nature of this key event in the ancient Hebrew people.
Moses had all the creditability and faith he needed to lay hold of the promise that God laid before them from the beginning to enter into the land of milk and honey in Deut 1:20-21. However, the people interjected and thought it best to send spies to search out the land and determine which way to go. Moses took this appeal to God and God agreed and even gave guidance to Moses. At this point, it is particularly challenging for any of us as leaders to demand an approach based on faith only ( God said it ....let's take it) versus the people demand for more facts (let's see what the reality or numbers add up to ...logically speaking). Moses yielded to the peoples approach. What if he hadn't? Would he be seen as an over ruling dictator who declares my way or the highway!!
The 12 spies go in and search the land ultimately challenging the substance of God's promise to deliver. In Numbers 13:1-2 the Lord gives instruction to Moses how best to address the request of the people to search the Land. God does not force anything and even if we the people do something different than God has directed, God's grace will still offer sound advice for aiding you in your decision making process. Clearly Moses perhaps did not take the stand to support the faith principle instead giving in to the people but still he's only human. God isn't angry....yet!!
Now here is where the plot thickens, to make the long story short we know that the spies report was 10 voted against going in because there were giants in the land and 2 spies voted (Joshua & Caleb) that we will take the land by faith....saying the Lord has delivered us this far surely we will be protected and blessed! What did the people do? They choose information based on facts (current conditions) and rejected the faith principle declared by Joshua & Caleb. They went with majority rule and such is the first truly published act of democracy at work in it's ancient history. And it demonstrates it's potential to be in opposition to what God wanted to do for his people. In this case, God is ready to deliver on His Promise at last.
The Hebrews may have still been murmuring, and tired and many may have been yet doubtful of the God that brought them out of Egypt and done so much in the wilderness to bring them to the entry gate of his promise. Despite their behavior God was ready to bless them. Their discontent did not keep them out of the Promised Land. What kept them out was their unbelief in God's promise to deliver His Promise! The Spirit tells me that is an affront to very God we are called to serve and this is where an angry God steps in and declare they shall not enter into it. Scripture reveals they tried to enter the land after God's decree was issued and they failed miserably!! It is written "As ye have spoken in my ear (the Lord) so shall it be unto you." See Numbers CH 14. Basically they got what they choose to believe.
To magnify this spiritual wisdom and insight and apply it to our journey to the Kingdom to Come we can learn from this debacle. I believe, because of our democratic society, it has much to offer for securing our faithfulness in these turbulent times and for believers at large. Democracy, as good as it is when compared to other forms of governance still has it's limits for application in the House of the Lord. We cannot control what the majority rule may be in church or outside of it. But we better be steadfast and unmovable in having faith in God's promise for a kingdom to come.
There are many challenging "issues" affecting the church community in our generation and it is particularly impacting our way of living! But let us remember God promise to the Church for a Kingdom to Come and Christ is it's King and Judge. Let's not confuse ourselves. It is not the American dream of home ownership worthy though the goal may be for human comfort and financial stability. The greater foundation and the greater house built is built on Christ words and hope.
With biblical signs seemingly everywhere indicating end times, God's promise of a New Jerusalem is about to be delivered at last and Christ is looking for his Joshua & Caleb's. God's promises to us as a body of believers is just as real for us as it was to them and so are it's "giants". The Hebrews made the mistake of looking back at the blessings they had received and not the mighty hand of God that made it all possible. Are those, who are Christians, doing the same and looking back at what was lost? Unfortunately a majority of them do seem to be doing just that. They want the good ole days when God may be ready to deliver so much more!
It seems paradoxical that our intellect and our democracy, good as it has been to us, could get in the way of the power of faith and cost us to lose sight of the high calling and it's reward for our hope in Christ and in looking for his appearing. To the Joshua's and Caleb's who hold up the faith principle God will yet reward you as he did so for them. For they went in the Promised Land at last and received the promised. If they so receive so can you. But you must keep the faith and remember the Promise of God. And it is written in Hebrew 4:9-11 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that entered into his rest, he also will ceased from his own works as God did from his. Let us therefore labor to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
The deeper issue is having the faith to still believe in the promise when so many don't. Only to have to wait another generation before you get the promise fulfilled in victory. How many of us would have waited like Joshua & Caleb that long and under the stress of being in the wilderness with those who did not have the faith? Let's be honest, it is easy to see the faith of these men but can you live the faith like they had to in the midst of unbelief and suffering in the same "wilderness" through no fault of their own.
When revisiting this event, most of us are responding to a conclusion but not really understanding the endurance test of their faith. There is so much more to be brought out in this event than a victory lap because most of us today would fail to believe just like the Hebrews did back then given the same obstacles. How do you convince your followers against the fear of being a grasshopper in the midst of giants? We are not doing a very good job in our generation of change! Where is your love for those who live in fear and doubt in the same camp? Joshua and Caleb greatest faith is found in staying with the people and securing them in their predicament due to their lack of faith. God needed them to bring up the next generation of believers in faith in order to take the promise. But Joshua and Caleb had to give up going into the land of Canaan until then and still love them despite the delay in receiving the Promise of God.
The two men choose not to abandon ship due to their awesome faith but used it to build up the faith of next generation. That is what the apostle Paul calls enduring faith and that is the foreknowledge and power of God at work among men needed to protect us and promote His purposes before the earth!!
In the today's perilous times in which we live there appears to be many christians ready to go with majority rule, when in fact, God may not be blessing us in that direction? Clearly, with the Jews return as a nation in May 1948, God may indeed preparing the New Jerusalem which is spoken of in the Book of Revelations. But first there is the rebirthing of the old Jerusalem physically and literally before us which scripture prophesies. The city is full of strife and under constant attack from many sides especially politically and militarily. Despite this, Christians should be seeing those "giants" about to be put down because of the promise of a new hope and victory which is to be led by Jesus Christ.
Let the Church not make the same mistake Israel made and fail to believe in the return of Christ for our deliverance and Israel's. Despite the changing world system and the majority rule and a christianity that as Apostle Paul says in 2 Thess 2:3 "Let know man decieve you for the day of Christ shall not come except there come a falling away first and then the man of sin shall be revealed...etc". Certainly in our generation we are seeing unprecedented doubt and disregard for sound biblical beliefs in our own wilderness. But remember God's promise is to he that overcomes! It's very personal, God will not be saving a denomination but individuals who have a love for Him and look for his appearing. The debacle in the promised land ought to be an example to us that majority rule does not rule God and to be encouraged by our faith and know the promise that God gives is the promise we ought not doubt. We are nearing the end of the journey and I say stay the course of sound biblical principals and keep hope alive….still!
Moses had all the creditability and faith he needed to lay hold of the promise that God laid before them from the beginning to enter into the land of milk and honey in Deut 1:20-21. However, the people interjected and thought it best to send spies to search out the land and determine which way to go. Moses took this appeal to God and God agreed and even gave guidance to Moses. At this point, it is particularly challenging for any of us as leaders to demand an approach based on faith only ( God said it ....let's take it) versus the people demand for more facts (let's see what the reality or numbers add up to ...logically speaking). Moses yielded to the peoples approach. What if he hadn't? Would he be seen as an over ruling dictator who declares my way or the highway!!
The 12 spies go in and search the land ultimately challenging the substance of God's promise to deliver. In Numbers 13:1-2 the Lord gives instruction to Moses how best to address the request of the people to search the Land. God does not force anything and even if we the people do something different than God has directed, God's grace will still offer sound advice for aiding you in your decision making process. Clearly Moses perhaps did not take the stand to support the faith principle instead giving in to the people but still he's only human. God isn't angry....yet!!
Now here is where the plot thickens, to make the long story short we know that the spies report was 10 voted against going in because there were giants in the land and 2 spies voted (Joshua & Caleb) that we will take the land by faith....saying the Lord has delivered us this far surely we will be protected and blessed! What did the people do? They choose information based on facts (current conditions) and rejected the faith principle declared by Joshua & Caleb. They went with majority rule and such is the first truly published act of democracy at work in it's ancient history. And it demonstrates it's potential to be in opposition to what God wanted to do for his people. In this case, God is ready to deliver on His Promise at last.
The Hebrews may have still been murmuring, and tired and many may have been yet doubtful of the God that brought them out of Egypt and done so much in the wilderness to bring them to the entry gate of his promise. Despite their behavior God was ready to bless them. Their discontent did not keep them out of the Promised Land. What kept them out was their unbelief in God's promise to deliver His Promise! The Spirit tells me that is an affront to very God we are called to serve and this is where an angry God steps in and declare they shall not enter into it. Scripture reveals they tried to enter the land after God's decree was issued and they failed miserably!! It is written "As ye have spoken in my ear (the Lord) so shall it be unto you." See Numbers CH 14. Basically they got what they choose to believe.
To magnify this spiritual wisdom and insight and apply it to our journey to the Kingdom to Come we can learn from this debacle. I believe, because of our democratic society, it has much to offer for securing our faithfulness in these turbulent times and for believers at large. Democracy, as good as it is when compared to other forms of governance still has it's limits for application in the House of the Lord. We cannot control what the majority rule may be in church or outside of it. But we better be steadfast and unmovable in having faith in God's promise for a kingdom to come.
There are many challenging "issues" affecting the church community in our generation and it is particularly impacting our way of living! But let us remember God promise to the Church for a Kingdom to Come and Christ is it's King and Judge. Let's not confuse ourselves. It is not the American dream of home ownership worthy though the goal may be for human comfort and financial stability. The greater foundation and the greater house built is built on Christ words and hope.
With biblical signs seemingly everywhere indicating end times, God's promise of a New Jerusalem is about to be delivered at last and Christ is looking for his Joshua & Caleb's. God's promises to us as a body of believers is just as real for us as it was to them and so are it's "giants". The Hebrews made the mistake of looking back at the blessings they had received and not the mighty hand of God that made it all possible. Are those, who are Christians, doing the same and looking back at what was lost? Unfortunately a majority of them do seem to be doing just that. They want the good ole days when God may be ready to deliver so much more!
It seems paradoxical that our intellect and our democracy, good as it has been to us, could get in the way of the power of faith and cost us to lose sight of the high calling and it's reward for our hope in Christ and in looking for his appearing. To the Joshua's and Caleb's who hold up the faith principle God will yet reward you as he did so for them. For they went in the Promised Land at last and received the promised. If they so receive so can you. But you must keep the faith and remember the Promise of God. And it is written in Hebrew 4:9-11 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that entered into his rest, he also will ceased from his own works as God did from his. Let us therefore labor to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."
The deeper issue is having the faith to still believe in the promise when so many don't. Only to have to wait another generation before you get the promise fulfilled in victory. How many of us would have waited like Joshua & Caleb that long and under the stress of being in the wilderness with those who did not have the faith? Let's be honest, it is easy to see the faith of these men but can you live the faith like they had to in the midst of unbelief and suffering in the same "wilderness" through no fault of their own.
When revisiting this event, most of us are responding to a conclusion but not really understanding the endurance test of their faith. There is so much more to be brought out in this event than a victory lap because most of us today would fail to believe just like the Hebrews did back then given the same obstacles. How do you convince your followers against the fear of being a grasshopper in the midst of giants? We are not doing a very good job in our generation of change! Where is your love for those who live in fear and doubt in the same camp? Joshua and Caleb greatest faith is found in staying with the people and securing them in their predicament due to their lack of faith. God needed them to bring up the next generation of believers in faith in order to take the promise. But Joshua and Caleb had to give up going into the land of Canaan until then and still love them despite the delay in receiving the Promise of God.
The two men choose not to abandon ship due to their awesome faith but used it to build up the faith of next generation. That is what the apostle Paul calls enduring faith and that is the foreknowledge and power of God at work among men needed to protect us and promote His purposes before the earth!!
In the today's perilous times in which we live there appears to be many christians ready to go with majority rule, when in fact, God may not be blessing us in that direction? Clearly, with the Jews return as a nation in May 1948, God may indeed preparing the New Jerusalem which is spoken of in the Book of Revelations. But first there is the rebirthing of the old Jerusalem physically and literally before us which scripture prophesies. The city is full of strife and under constant attack from many sides especially politically and militarily. Despite this, Christians should be seeing those "giants" about to be put down because of the promise of a new hope and victory which is to be led by Jesus Christ.
Let the Church not make the same mistake Israel made and fail to believe in the return of Christ for our deliverance and Israel's. Despite the changing world system and the majority rule and a christianity that as Apostle Paul says in 2 Thess 2:3 "Let know man decieve you for the day of Christ shall not come except there come a falling away first and then the man of sin shall be revealed...etc". Certainly in our generation we are seeing unprecedented doubt and disregard for sound biblical beliefs in our own wilderness. But remember God's promise is to he that overcomes! It's very personal, God will not be saving a denomination but individuals who have a love for Him and look for his appearing. The debacle in the promised land ought to be an example to us that majority rule does not rule God and to be encouraged by our faith and know the promise that God gives is the promise we ought not doubt. We are nearing the end of the journey and I say stay the course of sound biblical principals and keep hope alive….still!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Predestination & Foreknowledge of God at Work
God has his way of revealing his power to predestinate key events among mankind. We also, in some instance can call it dispensation of a new era. In addition, the indication of Church Age preparing to come to a close aka "until the fullness of the gentiles come in" as we know it. Doesn't mean it comes to an end but perhaps take on a new look thanks be to God. Because as we see now it is a fractured mess of over a thousands sects with wide varying beliefs and full of apathetic members who are asleep to the reality of any real visitation of Christ return.
Maybe I am too hopeful but I ask the question then why do we continue to follow Paul, Peter and John for they were full of hope in every way and there words are 2000 years old? Consider this, the last question asked by the disciples to Jesus was just before his Ascension. In Acts 1: 6-7 "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him saying "Lord will thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power" . Jesus never said it would never happen as some theologians may have thought so. Shall I follow the word of men or the grace of God and the Word his Holy Spirit gives to us?
The rebirth or replanting of the nation of Israel back into the ground of the earth is indicative of the greater reality of Christ return. This rebirth is brought to our attention into key areas of scripture. We have The Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel Ch 37. Also in Romans CH 11 commonly known as The Olive Tree Parable though it is far more than a parable because it is a covenant per verse 26-27. This has to be a dramatic event in biblical history, future tense. For what many thought to be symbolic or allegorical events about Israel. Now have the added possibility of it being far more literal than many theologians ever wanted to believe. Can we as gentiles be just as blinded and stubborn as the Jews were in their moment of testing? For the Lord did say he comes to test them. What is your answer churches? What on earth makes us, the Gentiles any better that we should NOT be tested? I believe we are beginning to see the full predestined plan of God before mankind and how marvelous is that!
Salvation came to the gentiles by God's grace with no effort on our part because of Israel's unbelief. God's word in Romans Ch 11 declares he will also take away Israel's sin by pouring his grace on them because of our unbelief. What a scripture of deep and sincere wisdom the apostle Paul tells us. Where are the prophets of righteousness in the churches who should help us to see to avoid error in our thinking? It is written in First Thess 5:19-20 "Quench not the Spirit…Despise not prophesyings" I assure you many do both!! We are even told in 1 Corinth 14:39 "Wherefor brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak in tongues". Covet is usually a negative word when used in scripture but not in this case. By denying the prophetic word of God within a church or theology or ministry you have a reward of blindness and clearly we have that with our pick and choose what we want to believe of the living word of God. Israel is suppose to be our example of how real our God is per the scriptures.
I ascribe this thinking to the Holy Spirit and I appeal to your ears to hear. Let us beware of God's agenda even more than our own to secure your faith and pray for what is fair. As righteousness of God is about to be performed and remember this. We serve the God of Israel and what a mighty God he is for He is preparing a demonstration to prove His foreknowledge of us once again and to His glory. God's glory only and let me say he deserves every bit of it even to my lost!! The book of Revelations is the final destiny of this world system and we already got the nuclear weapons to make every bit of it true without any help of an angry God. Predestination and Foreknowledge of God at work together but who shall we hear? May the Church say Amen.
Maybe I am too hopeful but I ask the question then why do we continue to follow Paul, Peter and John for they were full of hope in every way and there words are 2000 years old? Consider this, the last question asked by the disciples to Jesus was just before his Ascension. In Acts 1: 6-7 "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him saying "Lord will thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power" . Jesus never said it would never happen as some theologians may have thought so. Shall I follow the word of men or the grace of God and the Word his Holy Spirit gives to us?
The rebirth or replanting of the nation of Israel back into the ground of the earth is indicative of the greater reality of Christ return. This rebirth is brought to our attention into key areas of scripture. We have The Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel Ch 37. Also in Romans CH 11 commonly known as The Olive Tree Parable though it is far more than a parable because it is a covenant per verse 26-27. This has to be a dramatic event in biblical history, future tense. For what many thought to be symbolic or allegorical events about Israel. Now have the added possibility of it being far more literal than many theologians ever wanted to believe. Can we as gentiles be just as blinded and stubborn as the Jews were in their moment of testing? For the Lord did say he comes to test them. What is your answer churches? What on earth makes us, the Gentiles any better that we should NOT be tested? I believe we are beginning to see the full predestined plan of God before mankind and how marvelous is that!
Salvation came to the gentiles by God's grace with no effort on our part because of Israel's unbelief. God's word in Romans Ch 11 declares he will also take away Israel's sin by pouring his grace on them because of our unbelief. What a scripture of deep and sincere wisdom the apostle Paul tells us. Where are the prophets of righteousness in the churches who should help us to see to avoid error in our thinking? It is written in First Thess 5:19-20 "Quench not the Spirit…Despise not prophesyings" I assure you many do both!! We are even told in 1 Corinth 14:39 "Wherefor brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak in tongues". Covet is usually a negative word when used in scripture but not in this case. By denying the prophetic word of God within a church or theology or ministry you have a reward of blindness and clearly we have that with our pick and choose what we want to believe of the living word of God. Israel is suppose to be our example of how real our God is per the scriptures.
I ascribe this thinking to the Holy Spirit and I appeal to your ears to hear. Let us beware of God's agenda even more than our own to secure your faith and pray for what is fair. As righteousness of God is about to be performed and remember this. We serve the God of Israel and what a mighty God he is for He is preparing a demonstration to prove His foreknowledge of us once again and to His glory. God's glory only and let me say he deserves every bit of it even to my lost!! The book of Revelations is the final destiny of this world system and we already got the nuclear weapons to make every bit of it true without any help of an angry God. Predestination and Foreknowledge of God at work together but who shall we hear? May the Church say Amen.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
A WORD OF POETIC JUSTICE FOR OUR LORD JESUS IN HIS GLORY
This insightful poem continues to nourish me with the hope of Christ and the person that he truly is. I am blessed to have been able to write it down with such clarity. For I believe it also ministers to the heart of the reader and prepares us for the great soon coming day of our Lord's return in poetic form. While it also delivers a stark warning of the fullness of what the Cross means in all it's pain and glory! Your comments are welcome.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS
There’s something amiss when the creation resist
all that the Creator stands for.
As I gaze at the cross...it reflects a world lost
With Christ knocking on every Door.
Man thinking himself good...Did that which he thought he should.
With charges of blasphemy and plenty of religiosity
Refused to believe the Word...being filled with animosity.
Delivering the Lord to the Court of courts.
And so the trial did promptly begin.
He was alone, having not a character witness nor even a friend.
And when the judge could find no law against him.
Washing his hands, I’m sure he did what he can...
All...except free this sinless man.
Guilty...Guilty was the outcry from the crowd!
And the Law that was ...became no law at all and yet....God smiled!
So there our Savior laid with out stretched arms.
Demonstrating His love despite the harm.
And while every man is born in sin...
The injustice we profess don't compare to the injustice he was placed in.
There’s something amiss when the creation resist..
All that the Creator stands for even now....like then.
But an empty Tomb was God’s reward for a work well done.
Not to be hid the Lord shoned forth His only Son.
For Jesus showed His love toward all mankind.
And now there is life after death in only His Name you will find!
But......Let the other side of the cross speak also.
That what and who we are has surely been exposed.
For in God’s love so openly displayed....
We did show our wretchedness that day.
And God’s Law of Love resoundly defeated...
Our law of justice which we misdeeded.
Our anger truly showed only to see the peace of God flow.
And our fearfulness for no reason illuminated God’s love for all seasons.
The Cross is the meeting place for all of this....
And believe it or not, the Creator let the creation insist!
So let us remember the wisdom the Cross is meant to bring.
God has a day for justice that righteousness being fairness ought ring.
For the other side of the cross speaks well of his return.
Sitting on the right hand side of the Father...this he earned!
But there are yet those who chose not to believe...
Like doubting Thomas...They say “not by faith but by sight must I see!”
But blessed are those who believe and have not seen!
For no more is God a mystery and neither is he a dream.
For you see.....Grace and Mercy has been born out of Injustice.
And it is the other side of the cross which gives us this message.
That our way of justice means nothing when Truth demands His Return.
For this is why the Word declares the Earth shall burn
And we who are caught up in His Rapture shall bear witness..
Revealing the Other Side of the Cross was a lesson that went Unlearned!
Copyright @Gregory Booker
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
God's Right to Fulfill the Promised Land
Below is a comment I made on a discussion board concerning Israel right to the Promised Land. It's scriptural information concerning God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is clear that God made the declaration and it ought to be clear he is still going to perform it for them. It is quite contradictory for us as Christians to not see this promise that God is ready to fulfill in a way and on a scope totally unable to be grasp when Israel was elected over 3,000 years ago. I personally do not know where to draw God's line on the political front which is always hot news in the Middle East. But I come to realize it is God's word which has declared it and it is based on the burden the Jews had to endure being elected by God.
What moved me to write the article below is because a gentile christian thinks the Church is the true Jews and there is no more promise land nationally speaking. Hence Israel has no recourse for their actions. I responded with a historical account and the everlasting covenant God established thru Abraham. When all is said and done it isn't Israel that made the promise,it is God who made it and it was unconditional. The only missing component was when.
What moved me to write the article below is because a gentile christian thinks the Church is the true Jews and there is no more promise land nationally speaking. Hence Israel has no recourse for their actions. I responded with a historical account and the everlasting covenant God established thru Abraham. When all is said and done it isn't Israel that made the promise,it is God who made it and it was unconditional. The only missing component was when.
My dissertation to her comments are the following:
.....There is still a biblical Jewish line in effect because of God's power of election. There is still a physical blood line for the inheritance that runs thru the 12 Tribes of Jacob who is the younger of the twins. Esau does not have an inheritance it was sold and God gave it to the younger. Abraham was told by God to agree with Sarah who wanted Hagar and her son Ishmael, the first son of Abraham out of the house. For the Lord told Abraham in Genesis 21: 12 "And God said unto Abraham; Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad and because of the bondwoman. In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice, for in Isaac shall thy seed be called."
Isaac birthed the twins from the same woman of course Rebekah, his second wife and in Genesis ch 25:23 "And the Lord said unto her (Rebekah); two nations are in thy womb and two manner of people shall be seperated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people and the elder shall serve the younger" in verse 34 "Esau despised his birthright" and sold it to Jacob.
Gen 28:41 "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing that his father blessed him. Then Esau said in his heart, the days of mourning for my father are at hand , then will I slay my brother Jacob. Jacob wrestled with God and had his name changed to Israel. Jacob "Israel" birthed the 12 twelves sons/ tribes that becomes God anointed line for the messiah to come. This same group becomes the greater population of Israel the nation. God in his word dictates this lineage as the election. The devil uses flesh and blood to resist God on every hand of the move of God.
Abraham remarried after Sarah died and birthed even more sons and daughters but none were chosen specifically as Jacob was. There is no significance about being the siblings of Abraham...none whatsoever. It is historical honesty on the part of God to tell us the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...both the good and the not so good. It carries little spiritual relevance on it's own. The most critical fact is God is revealing that Jacob is the line for the messiah and the line for the building up of a nation to come. Clearly there are other offsprings of Abraham but it is God who elects not men who contend night and day with God's election all the while ignoring the grace given to all other nations during this time and through out the ages!! Israel was elected but also had a higher standard to live up to because of it. God had them document their successes and every bit of their failures for ultimately our example of how to relate to the God of all of us. It is an awesome plan by God with the blood, sweat and tears of the Jews shown without bias.
As a gentile Christian I and we are adopted into the family of Abraham by our faith in Christ who is a descendant of Abraham through the tribe of Judah. My adoption does not overrule the Jewish lineage which God has continued to keep in tact through out the ages any more than an earthly father adoption of another child does not overrule his own children by blood. They both partake of the promises and the inheritance and neither ought to be jealous of the other! But there is the rub, my friends! When all is said and done God has every right to give what he wants to whom he wants. And His Word has already spoken it. The mystery was not if but when God would deliver.
As Christians, let us have our eyes opened to this reality lest many fail God as was done on Calvary's Hill. Let us hold no envy, jealousy neither conceit nor is it about being boastful of ourselves but humble in our adopted role because God used the election of Israel to be an example for the Church and our lives has been blessed because of it. As a result, their burden ought to be lifted and their promise ought to fulfilled. A crucified savior was no surprise to God for the beauty of it became grace to the Church. Now it is time to lift the burden of a people and nation he used and it is truly God's right to do it.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Let the Church Be in Prayer
From Psalms 109:1-5 "Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me. They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred and fought against me without cause. For my love they are mine adversaries; but I give myself to prayer. And they have rewarded me with evil for good and hatred for my love."
This a psalms by King David expressing his love for God and his fellowman and how he is often met with discontent and hatred for it. If you replaced the nouns with the word christians it would highlight our same predicament as we seek to praise God and reach out to others. The strong yet unwarranted anti- christian atmosphere is prevalent everywhere. It is most pronounce as same-sex marital rights spearheads the charge against us as discriminatory and downright unloving. This is not just a USA issue, it is a world drive for equality which is pressing on many nations in an area of human life unprecedented . Today in the news, Russia itself is grappling with it's momentum and key policy changes in such a stoic nation sits on Putin's desk.
As believers in Christ we really don't have any enemies because we are called to love our enemies and to live in peace sharing the good news of the gospel for salvation sake. It seems we are being targeted without just cause and hated though for many of us our desire is to love others in order to bring others to that marvelous hope in Christ. We work our salvation trembling in the reverence, not the fear of our God and seeking his direction as we give him our praise.
As I read Psalms 109 this morning, it struck me deeply spirit to Spirit, the Church predicament. The Church position has been to love the sinner but hate the sin. In hating the sin what is really being said is that the sin represent poison to the success of salvation and renders nullifies it. The basic principle is our sins of which none are to be excused must be confessed and turned away from. The church should be doing this in love and not in anger or with a condemning attitude but sometimes we do. David says "For my love they are mine adversaries" and that is what it seems we have received which is a stiff rebuke. Christians are being seen as discriminatory and the media and special interest groups come at us without a just cause. Waiting for one mistake in our biblical perspective. It seems we are being rewarded with our good by being called judgmental and without love for our fellow man.
But what did David do as he was frustrated by the negative opinions of others concerning his love for them? He gave himself over to prayer. He did not fight them or force his God on them with a cry for revenge. David felt something for them and knew vengeance was the Lord's not his. And so must we. We must continue to pray for our strength to endure the rejection and yet pray that the adversaries receive the love of God thru Jesus Christ and have so much more than what little they have gained among themselves. Prayer also brought peace to David for in Philipians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Let the churches give themselves over to prayer for without we ay take matters in our own hands and in anger sin more.
This a psalms by King David expressing his love for God and his fellowman and how he is often met with discontent and hatred for it. If you replaced the nouns with the word christians it would highlight our same predicament as we seek to praise God and reach out to others. The strong yet unwarranted anti- christian atmosphere is prevalent everywhere. It is most pronounce as same-sex marital rights spearheads the charge against us as discriminatory and downright unloving. This is not just a USA issue, it is a world drive for equality which is pressing on many nations in an area of human life unprecedented . Today in the news, Russia itself is grappling with it's momentum and key policy changes in such a stoic nation sits on Putin's desk.
As believers in Christ we really don't have any enemies because we are called to love our enemies and to live in peace sharing the good news of the gospel for salvation sake. It seems we are being targeted without just cause and hated though for many of us our desire is to love others in order to bring others to that marvelous hope in Christ. We work our salvation trembling in the reverence, not the fear of our God and seeking his direction as we give him our praise.
As I read Psalms 109 this morning, it struck me deeply spirit to Spirit, the Church predicament. The Church position has been to love the sinner but hate the sin. In hating the sin what is really being said is that the sin represent poison to the success of salvation and renders nullifies it. The basic principle is our sins of which none are to be excused must be confessed and turned away from. The church should be doing this in love and not in anger or with a condemning attitude but sometimes we do. David says "For my love they are mine adversaries" and that is what it seems we have received which is a stiff rebuke. Christians are being seen as discriminatory and the media and special interest groups come at us without a just cause. Waiting for one mistake in our biblical perspective. It seems we are being rewarded with our good by being called judgmental and without love for our fellow man.
But what did David do as he was frustrated by the negative opinions of others concerning his love for them? He gave himself over to prayer. He did not fight them or force his God on them with a cry for revenge. David felt something for them and knew vengeance was the Lord's not his. And so must we. We must continue to pray for our strength to endure the rejection and yet pray that the adversaries receive the love of God thru Jesus Christ and have so much more than what little they have gained among themselves. Prayer also brought peace to David for in Philipians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving and let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Let the churches give themselves over to prayer for without we ay take matters in our own hands and in anger sin more.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The Bride & The New Jerusalem.
The Church is often described as the bride of Christ and rightfully so because Jesus loves his church as a groom loves his bride. But in addition to that is some scripture in the book of Revelations which provides some greater insight as to the designation of bride. This is a case where the term "bride" has both a symbolic and literal description and both are quite valid. I do not hear much about the new Jerusalem in my circle of christians but I reviewed it considering the Spirit's advise to read this wonderful book of the future.
To be technical....the Bride is actually a city and it's called the New Jerusalem. For it is written in Revelations 21: 2-3 "And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God"...... And it continues Rev 21: 9-10 " And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues and talked with me, saying, Come hither for I will show the the bride, the Lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven."
It appears that Christians are as a bride to Christ symbolically but are shared citizens that dwell within the New Jerusalem whose names being written in the Lamb's book of Life. It's members fall into several major categories: 1)The New Testament believers in Christ (Resurrected and Raptured saints) have entry. 2) Old Testament Jews and Gentiles who believed in the God of Israel and looked forward to a messiah to come and please include Abel who died righteous in the atonement of his sin which God gave favor. I wonder if Adam will be there for he communed with God like no other and may have been quite repentant. It's an interesting thought. 3) So also do those Tribulation saints whose lives were lost by the shedding of their blood in Christ name in the final call of God's grace.
The Bride is actually a city of which has a various groups of citizens who all gave proper atonement of their sins in looking forward to a savior to come as God revealed it in past ages. The names that border the walls of the New Jerusalem are the Jewish patriarchs which God used to reach all the Gentiles of the world in breathing His Spirit upon them to write the Holy Scriptures. Suffice it to say, it is incorrect to consider the NT Church to be the exclusive bride of Christ. God does not forget the deeds of others he has touched!
I think sometimes, we need to loose things on earth to prepare the things that are coming from heaven. For the Bible states whatever is loosed or bound on earth shall be likewise in heaven. We need to cast darkness aside in preparation of awakening the sleepy and slumbering ones to be caught up by the hope of the rapture. Clearly we need to be found walking in the power of God's vision just as it is given by his Word. There is a tearing down in order to build up! The Old Jerusalem is preparing to be a faded memory which men die over in it's final and greatest of conflict because the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven and is not made with the hands of men. In it shall be our mansion of many rooms! I feel a sense of utterance and shall go forward with it.
The current Jerusalem is a "cup of trembling" in the world today as prophesied by Ezekiel that it would be when Israel would come back as a nation. It is the center of the conflict among the Arabs and the Jews and it must play itself out among those who seek physical dominion. It has it's history and it has it's purpose for prophetic realities but peace is far from it and tensions will mount. It will be the "table of negotiations" that sets the terms and conditions that define where men stand before God. And it will set the stage that in a day God will stand before them in their unbelief! Such is the valley of decision and it will have served it's purpose.
And then comes the New Jerusalem for His Nation and for His Church and all to His Glory and given over to His Son as the Lion of Judah who rules the earth with His rod of love. And the waters shall be pure and the tress shall drink of it and their leaves shall bring a healing to the nations that remain and the people that remain after the valley of decision shall come and see the New Jerusalem. And we as ambassadors shall go forth and declare the good news of a Savior to the Gentiles and a Messiah to the Jews our Lord Jesus who has his seat in the Temple of God in Jerusalem. And then there shall be peace...lasting peace at last. Let our voices ring before the sound of the Trump as a show of faith working mightily within us! Blessing..my fellow servants.
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