These jewels were to be placed on the breastpiece of judgement worn by the high priest and be according to the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Reuben Ruby
Simeon Topaz
Gad Beryl
Judah Turquoise
Issachar Sapphire
Zebulun Emerald
Manasseh Jacinth
Ephraim Agate
Benjamin Amethyst
Dan Chrysolite
Asher Onyx
Naphtali Jasper
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Friday, 23 March 2007
The parenthesis of ,,,(Sin)
In the beginning God…
Had a plan to create the earth and populate it with people who would worship him as their creator and take delight in his creation of the animals and the plants, the trees, the mountains, hills and seas around them, plus the myriad of stars above. Perhaps also to interact with God on a more personal level and to worship alongside his angels, just as he had a relationship with Adam in the beginning.
God placed man in the Garden of Eden where there was a whole variety of species awaiting his delight and there was the tree of life.
(Then came sin…..and seperation of man and a 1/3 of angels from God. Through sin, God had to readjust his plan, and send his son to die so that man could be reconciled to God once more and the pain of seperation and death would be dealt with once and for all, by binding Satan up and evicting him in to the lake of fire. This plan took man through many phases and many generations, from two people (adam & eve) through to today, where 6 billion people are living on the earth, and over time whoever knows how many have lived and died in the earth, perhaps 10 – 12 billion over the generations).
God planned a definitive time for all things to come to a head, to judge and to overcome the sin that caused his creation to go astray. God gave man time to try to overcome sin themselves but instead are destroying the very planet they live on, and creating technological advances which they claim can match those of God (or even transcend them).
The earth will be laid bare. Bare rock. No green grass, trees, plants, animals, people. A new earth. Seedlings will begin, life begins. Lichens and moss. This spreads, young plants will grow and these will spread. Over time the green grass will be renewed and be fresh and pleasing. This will be the new earth. Heaven, where men will dwell to worship God. On the earth there will be a city. The new Jerusalem, where God will dwell amongst man. The tree of life will be there and men will worship God forever. The city will be 12000 stadia long on each of its four sides – 1500 miles long x 1500 miles = 2.25m sq. miles
The people of God in their new bodies will be forever young, forever worshipping the magnificent creator and praising him for his new creations which he will do for us to take delight in once again and never will there be any more sin or death or all of the evil that is associated with it for God in his glory will be the ultimate for whom we run to when he extends his open arms and walks with us upon the lush green grass in the garden.
Had a plan to create the earth and populate it with people who would worship him as their creator and take delight in his creation of the animals and the plants, the trees, the mountains, hills and seas around them, plus the myriad of stars above. Perhaps also to interact with God on a more personal level and to worship alongside his angels, just as he had a relationship with Adam in the beginning.
God placed man in the Garden of Eden where there was a whole variety of species awaiting his delight and there was the tree of life.
(Then came sin…..and seperation of man and a 1/3 of angels from God. Through sin, God had to readjust his plan, and send his son to die so that man could be reconciled to God once more and the pain of seperation and death would be dealt with once and for all, by binding Satan up and evicting him in to the lake of fire. This plan took man through many phases and many generations, from two people (adam & eve) through to today, where 6 billion people are living on the earth, and over time whoever knows how many have lived and died in the earth, perhaps 10 – 12 billion over the generations).
God planned a definitive time for all things to come to a head, to judge and to overcome the sin that caused his creation to go astray. God gave man time to try to overcome sin themselves but instead are destroying the very planet they live on, and creating technological advances which they claim can match those of God (or even transcend them).
The earth will be laid bare. Bare rock. No green grass, trees, plants, animals, people. A new earth. Seedlings will begin, life begins. Lichens and moss. This spreads, young plants will grow and these will spread. Over time the green grass will be renewed and be fresh and pleasing. This will be the new earth. Heaven, where men will dwell to worship God. On the earth there will be a city. The new Jerusalem, where God will dwell amongst man. The tree of life will be there and men will worship God forever. The city will be 12000 stadia long on each of its four sides – 1500 miles long x 1500 miles = 2.25m sq. miles
The people of God in their new bodies will be forever young, forever worshipping the magnificent creator and praising him for his new creations which he will do for us to take delight in once again and never will there be any more sin or death or all of the evil that is associated with it for God in his glory will be the ultimate for whom we run to when he extends his open arms and walks with us upon the lush green grass in the garden.
AN ODE TO CHRISTIAN APATHY
{ANTI-ENVIRONMENTALISM}
2 Kings 22 – 2 Kings 23 v 30
Josiah was King of Judah and whilst King, Hilkiah the Priest of the temple discovered the Book of the Law, which Moses had written (the Torah). He read from the book of the Law and found that many of the practices and the decrees which God wanted them to do were not being carried out. Josiah set out to change that and declared that he and his people would follow the letter of the Law and reconcile themselves and consecrate themselves back to God.
The Lord God however was still angry and burning with fury for their previous practices and the way they had been living and ignoring him, and making him jealous, therefore, despite this turnaround, He still declared that Judah will be overtaken and destroyed.
2 Ki 22 v 15 – 20.
King Josiah however hears the word of the Lord, YET despite knowing what is going to befall Jerusalem and Judah, he still sets out to renew the covenant with God and the people and removed all of the articles made for Baal and Asherah from the temple of the Lord, from the high places around the country and destroyed them all. He also defiled them by burning dead bones on them and ground all of the statues to powder which he scattered over graves (2 Ki 23 v 6).
He slaughtered all of the priests who served Baal and Asherah.
He then declared the words of the Law and covenant over the people and celebrated passover with them, (which had not been celebrated for a long time, perhaps since King David’s time).
Despite all of this the Lord did not turn away the heat of his anger against the people of Judah (2 Ki 23 v 26)
King Josiah knew this, yet still went ahead to destroy the worship of the other gods and destroy the connection to these other gods and slaughtered everything and anything which were connected to these other gods.
He did not waver from this task. He did not say to himself, what is the point, if the Lord is going to destroy Judah anyway. No. He carried on to reconcile his people for the Lord.
Today, we know for a fact that the earth will be destroyed
Will we just sit back and wait for it to happen and not care about how our actions are destroying the environment? (“ it doesn’t matter because the earth will be destroyed anyway, so why should I do anything to help it? What can I do? It’s nature. God is in control of it, so I can’t do anything to help”)
Josiah didn’t think like that. He carried on regardless of what was to happen. He knew that Judah will be destroyed. He knew that the Lord was angry, yet he carried on.
We should carry on doing whatever we can to help save the environment around us, and lobby governments to alter their thinking on environmental issues.
We should carry on looking after the homeless, the sick, the poor and the elderly, because God sees our hearts and knows that what we do is right in his eyes, yet the process and plans to destroy the earth are already in motion. Like an express train, we cannot stop it, yet should do what we can whilst on board to prepare for the great crash, and keep it tidy and clean. Who knows we may even survive it and live on the new earth in full glory, worshipping God.
2 Kings 22 – 2 Kings 23 v 30
Josiah was King of Judah and whilst King, Hilkiah the Priest of the temple discovered the Book of the Law, which Moses had written (the Torah). He read from the book of the Law and found that many of the practices and the decrees which God wanted them to do were not being carried out. Josiah set out to change that and declared that he and his people would follow the letter of the Law and reconcile themselves and consecrate themselves back to God.
The Lord God however was still angry and burning with fury for their previous practices and the way they had been living and ignoring him, and making him jealous, therefore, despite this turnaround, He still declared that Judah will be overtaken and destroyed.
2 Ki 22 v 15 – 20.
King Josiah however hears the word of the Lord, YET despite knowing what is going to befall Jerusalem and Judah, he still sets out to renew the covenant with God and the people and removed all of the articles made for Baal and Asherah from the temple of the Lord, from the high places around the country and destroyed them all. He also defiled them by burning dead bones on them and ground all of the statues to powder which he scattered over graves (2 Ki 23 v 6).
He slaughtered all of the priests who served Baal and Asherah.
He then declared the words of the Law and covenant over the people and celebrated passover with them, (which had not been celebrated for a long time, perhaps since King David’s time).
Despite all of this the Lord did not turn away the heat of his anger against the people of Judah (2 Ki 23 v 26)
King Josiah knew this, yet still went ahead to destroy the worship of the other gods and destroy the connection to these other gods and slaughtered everything and anything which were connected to these other gods.
He did not waver from this task. He did not say to himself, what is the point, if the Lord is going to destroy Judah anyway. No. He carried on to reconcile his people for the Lord.
Today, we know for a fact that the earth will be destroyed
Will we just sit back and wait for it to happen and not care about how our actions are destroying the environment? (“ it doesn’t matter because the earth will be destroyed anyway, so why should I do anything to help it? What can I do? It’s nature. God is in control of it, so I can’t do anything to help”)
Josiah didn’t think like that. He carried on regardless of what was to happen. He knew that Judah will be destroyed. He knew that the Lord was angry, yet he carried on.
We should carry on doing whatever we can to help save the environment around us, and lobby governments to alter their thinking on environmental issues.
We should carry on looking after the homeless, the sick, the poor and the elderly, because God sees our hearts and knows that what we do is right in his eyes, yet the process and plans to destroy the earth are already in motion. Like an express train, we cannot stop it, yet should do what we can whilst on board to prepare for the great crash, and keep it tidy and clean. Who knows we may even survive it and live on the new earth in full glory, worshipping God.
Sunday, 18 March 2007
The Treasure Hunters
The suitcases are on a conveyor belt which is moving continually but surely towards its end where the suitcases drop off into a furnace. Every suitcase has unique characteristics and contains a variety of treasure; of fine gold and silver cups, plates, pans, bowls and other articles.
As the suitcases move along on the conveyor belt, they become subject to the elements of weather. Sun, rain, dust, stones, hail, snow, frost, ice, cold, heat and wind all take their toll on them. The clasps and locks become rusty, and blocked with dirt. Creatures crawl over them and make their way inside. The treasure of gold and silver become tarnished and would eventually crack and crumble. The creatures live amongst them and cover the treasure in webs and dirt. Outside the suitcases, leaves and dirt pack around the case. Vines entwine around some of the suitcases closing them in even tighter.
Further on along the conveyor belt stands a man. He looks powerful yet acts gently. He holds a set of keys and attempts to open each suitcase in turn. He struggles with many of the cases but does not use force. If they cannot be opened then he would let them go by. He smiles when he finds a suitcase he can open. The man takes delight at the amount of treasure he finds inside. Although tarnished he can see how beautiful it all would be when polished. He grabs his cloth and one by one begins to polish the cups, plates, pans, bowls and other pieces. It takes time but that does not matter. The man walks along beside the suitcase as the conveyor belt glides by, polishing each article, taking delight in the gleaming beauty they each become. Finally, he removes all the creatures and cobwebs out of the case, and shuts the lid but does not lock it so that he is able to look inside the case at any time he wants to.
At the end of the conveyor belt stands another man. This man commands authority. He holds a hammer and chisel and checks each suitcase in turn by opening the locks and lifting the lids. The man uses the hammer and chisel on those suitcases which are rusted shut and entwined. Every suitcase has to be opened. He would often find blackened and tarnished cups or bowls. Plates and other articles may be cracked and broken or even crumbled. Some would be full of creatures and dirt. The man is saddened as he watches these suitcases tumble over the edge. As their contents spill out into the furnace, he reflects on what could have been and looks at the empty spaces on his shelves.
Some of the suitcases which reach the end of the conveyor belt look cleaner. The man opens them easily as the locks and clasps have been well oiled by the man who polished the treasure. He gasps as the gleaming gold and silver dazzle and laughs in delight at the treasure he finds. He picks them out of the case and carefully places them on the shelf where they catch the strong sunlight, which makes them shine and glimmer even more brightly. The empty cases tumble over the edge of the conveyor belt but God is not worried. God beholds the far more important, gleaming cups, plates, pans bowls and arranges them to shine from every angle.
What does your treasure look like? Is it tarnished or gleaming? Will you allow Jesus to make you clean again?
As the suitcases move along on the conveyor belt, they become subject to the elements of weather. Sun, rain, dust, stones, hail, snow, frost, ice, cold, heat and wind all take their toll on them. The clasps and locks become rusty, and blocked with dirt. Creatures crawl over them and make their way inside. The treasure of gold and silver become tarnished and would eventually crack and crumble. The creatures live amongst them and cover the treasure in webs and dirt. Outside the suitcases, leaves and dirt pack around the case. Vines entwine around some of the suitcases closing them in even tighter.
Further on along the conveyor belt stands a man. He looks powerful yet acts gently. He holds a set of keys and attempts to open each suitcase in turn. He struggles with many of the cases but does not use force. If they cannot be opened then he would let them go by. He smiles when he finds a suitcase he can open. The man takes delight at the amount of treasure he finds inside. Although tarnished he can see how beautiful it all would be when polished. He grabs his cloth and one by one begins to polish the cups, plates, pans, bowls and other pieces. It takes time but that does not matter. The man walks along beside the suitcase as the conveyor belt glides by, polishing each article, taking delight in the gleaming beauty they each become. Finally, he removes all the creatures and cobwebs out of the case, and shuts the lid but does not lock it so that he is able to look inside the case at any time he wants to.
At the end of the conveyor belt stands another man. This man commands authority. He holds a hammer and chisel and checks each suitcase in turn by opening the locks and lifting the lids. The man uses the hammer and chisel on those suitcases which are rusted shut and entwined. Every suitcase has to be opened. He would often find blackened and tarnished cups or bowls. Plates and other articles may be cracked and broken or even crumbled. Some would be full of creatures and dirt. The man is saddened as he watches these suitcases tumble over the edge. As their contents spill out into the furnace, he reflects on what could have been and looks at the empty spaces on his shelves.
Some of the suitcases which reach the end of the conveyor belt look cleaner. The man opens them easily as the locks and clasps have been well oiled by the man who polished the treasure. He gasps as the gleaming gold and silver dazzle and laughs in delight at the treasure he finds. He picks them out of the case and carefully places them on the shelf where they catch the strong sunlight, which makes them shine and glimmer even more brightly. The empty cases tumble over the edge of the conveyor belt but God is not worried. God beholds the far more important, gleaming cups, plates, pans bowls and arranges them to shine from every angle.
What does your treasure look like? Is it tarnished or gleaming? Will you allow Jesus to make you clean again?
Thursday, 8 March 2007
The Rock
Another large stone flew through the air and crashed against the stones already piled up causing stone splinters and dust to fly. It rolled down the pile to stop halfway down. I looked at it and at the others raining down in an incessant non-stop assault. The air was becoming thicker, blocking out the weak sunlight, as stones, boulders and pebbles rained down from all directions. I checked the time. Two hours forty minutes to go. Only twenty minutes have gone by. The pile of stones was now enormous. At least as big as two houses put together. Thousands were joining in and throwing their stones out of the old leathery bags they were all carrying. I held on to mine, reluctant to even think about it. I looked around at the people. Different faces, different colours, small and tall, large and men,women and children of all ages. From all over the world they came, arriving by the hundreds every minute. I had been one of the first to witess this incredible event, but now I didn't want to stay.
I couldn't stay. Racked by guilt and fear, i wanted to run away. Anywhere but here, however the crowd drew closer and was thousands thick. I never even realised there were so many people in the world let alone all being in one place at the same time. Stones were being thrown from far away and crashing against the man made mountain. I took a breath, turned to face the crowd, saw a small gap and ran as fast as i could, but the gap was closing. Almost at the same a boulder, hurled by a giant of a man, bounded towards me at great speed through the same gap. I stopped just short of being injured by the full force of the boulder which rolled past my feet to stop at the edge of the growing mountain.
A man stood close by who was fumbling with the tie of his sack, yet i saw it was clearly open. He was embarrassed to want to reach in and grab a stone. As i watched him, he spotted me. I walked towards him.
'you having difficulty with your sack?'
'none of your business' he replied.
He was dressed in a nicely tailored business suit and his mannerisms suggested an affluent upbringing, yet here he stood with a dirty leather sack, full to bursting with rocks and stones.
'it's already open' i said, looking inside, spying the contents. I was intrigued. Some of the stones were rocks, rough hewn with sharp edges, yet some glistened like jewels.
'what are these?' i ask in surprise.
The man looked sheepishly into his bag.
'I've carried them for years. They're my favourite stones. I've worked on them a bit each day and now, see how they shine. They are like diamonds and costly jewels. They are all precious.'
I nodded in agreement with him, then asked 'what about the rough rocks?'
'leave them alone', the man shouted defensively, 'i've only just put them in my bag. They're mine. I need to work on them so they shine like the others.'
I looked at him. He was glad of his burden.
'are you proud of your achievements and how you have acquired your stones.'
'yes' the man shouted above the din of the crashing stones on the mountain. 'what about yours?' he asked.
I felt myself turn red with embarrassment and contemplated the bulky rocks jutting through my own sack. The sack is heavy and ideally I wanted to throw the whole lot at the mountain, but i have carried it all my life and now i couldn't even consider the thought of losing it.
The stones in my sack are precious. They are mine and I have earned them. They hold precious memories, some I don't even wish to recall any longer, yet they hold the very fabric of my life, all of them have interconnected meanings; gained from perfecting the previous ones. As a child my sack was small, containing nothing more than a few pebbles, yet they were not enough. I wanted what my parents had, what the others in my village were carrying. I didn't know the weight or the colour of the stones, yet their sacks were larger and everyone carried them with pride. To gain more pebbles, I would learn to fight. I quickly realised that life was easier if I told a few white lies and hid a few truths. As I grew, I developed my character out of learning from others how they told lies, stole food and tools and were dishonest with their neighbours for their own personal gain. I copied them, wanting to be like them. I found that each time I told a lie a pebble would slip into my bag. Each time I stole food from my neigbour a large pebble chinked down onto the others. My parents would clip my ear, but I would walk away proud, for my bag was filling with pebbles and becoming larger. Growing older into my teens, I found a gem of a stone. Rough hewn at first, I learned to work on it until it shone, yet the stone also grew in size as I polished it. I had fun polishing the stone; a devious trick which shocked my parents to the core when they eventually discovered my callousness.
Through school and wanting to please my friends, I told them I was rich and was due to inherit a large fortune. I would bring in items of wealth claiming I had bought them with my share of the fortune whereas I had stolen them from another town and had hidden them in a hole until I needed to impress my friends. I stole a large cache of money and went on spending sprees with my friends, ,showering them with gifts. I had girls following me thinking I was in love with them and they with me, yet all they wanted was more gifts of money and jewellry.
The stone in my bag glinted with colours depending on the light of the day. The rough hewn stone of a lie became a gem of a lifestyle, and this stone attracted other stones and the whole fabric of my character was built up.
The man in the crowd looked at me expectantly.
'Are you going to accuse me of not throwing my stones?' he asked
'no' I repled. 'I don't want to throw mine away either. I want to leave and hide' I said, eyeing the crowds, trying to find an escape route.
As I looked at people, they looked at me, their faces sad and lifeless. Some others still held on to their sacks. Perhaps we should get together, form a group and in solidarity declare a rebellion for not wanting to lose our precious gems, but time was fast diminishing. I glanced at the time. Forty minutes to go.
'You need to cast your stones upon the mountain' The voice came from inside. I turned around looking for someone who may have uttered those words but there was no one sincere in their gaze. The man next to me also heard the voice.
'I'm not throwing my stones away. Never.'
'Why are you here?' the voice asked
I had no explanation. I couldn't remember purposely travelling here.
'Where are we?' I asked
'Golgotha' came the reply
Golgotha. The name conjures up images surreal to the present and haunting of the past, just as Armageddon portrays images of a future, yet may have been in the past, for now time was fast approaching its end and I stood on the very brink of existence surrounded by the population of the world watching a growing mountain, as heavy rocks still filled the air and the sounds of smashing rocks still reverberated around the site
The man next to me relented a little. Grabbing two stones out of his sack he threw them. I watched them carreen into the pile and were lost amongst the others.
'Those two were a token gesture. They were valuable to me, yet look, I can no longer see them. They are insignificant amongst all the others' he cried.
'I didn't realise how people had so many stones. How corrupt they all must be. Everyone. Not just a few, but everyone on the entire planet had stones and stories and life experiences all tied into their sacks.
I dug through mine looking for some stones I didn't like. Finding two, I held them in my hands. 'Should I throw them?'
'It's up to you, but you know it's inevitable'
'It's not'. They were heavy. I dropped them to the ground. There. That will do. As I let them go, a force of unexplained power lifted them and shot them fast high into the mountain, causing them to split into myriad pieces as they hit.
'go on. You can let them all go now.' The voice said.
I stood still. I didn't need to throw them. I just needed to let them out of my hand. Simply, give them up in my mind and the power of the mountain would draw them away.
I became frustrated. I wanted to leave the stones on the ground in front of me, yet each time i let one drop, it would fly fast into the mountain. I shouted out in anger.
Out of the corner of my eye i noticed people watching me for a response. The sky was suddenly lighter and the sound of crashing rocks has diminished. Less than one minute to go.
'Cast your stone' the voice called out, 'obey me, just as you used to. You need to trust me once again. I've always been true to you'.
I looked into my sack, now light and empty except for one last rock, highly polished into a multi-coloured layered gem. I could never let this stone go. I couldn't surrender. I couldn't trust, yet i knew, even as time and life ebbed away, that i would have to. This is my life, my secret, my character and ego. It seemed everyone is staring at me, urging me to let the rock fly, yet i closed the sack and held the neck tightly in my hands.
Seconds raced by, counting down to zero. Voices raised and shouting. The whole world beckoning to me to let go. I have the very last stone. If they have cast all of their stones onto the mountain, surely there is no problem with me letting go of mine, yet pride stood strong. Everyone would see my secret. Did it matter any longer. My sack became suddenly heavy, weighted down as if by a thousand stones. I opened the sack. Holding the polished gem in my hand, i contemplated its design. Uniquely formed, i am glad to have made it, yet now perhaps it is time to let it go, for time was now no more.
Raising my arm, i drew my hand back and flung the gem as hard as i could. Everyone watched as the stone flew in an arc high and straight. It landed directly on top of the high mountain and the collision reverberated around the world.
Time stood still. No one moved. Darkness covered the sun; snuffed out as in a candle. I stared straight ahead at the invisible form of the mountain. I knew it was there yet all was hidden and silent. Was this the end? The end of life itself? Would i simply die along with everyone else, glued to their spot in the darkness?
The ground beneath my feet began to shake. A tremor. An earthquake. The shaking became worse and the rumbling sound became louder. People started screaming in fear and shock.
'what if the mountain slips. All those rocks will bury us.' said a woman close by.
Would that be how the end will happen? Buried by our guilt? The tremors became stronger. The darkness making it worse since we couldn't see what was happening. Suddenly the mountain appeared to split. Strong sharp light filtered through fissures in the rock. i held my breath, thinking quickly through the implications of the scene enfolding in front of me. Then, with an almighty noise, like a shout, the mountain broke apart, the light became stronger than the midday sun, and appearing above was a figure emblazoned in light, a sword in his hand, fire in his eyes. Songs of glory surrounded the standing crowds as angels in their thousands praised the risen, living Lord.
I fell on my face on the ground. 'i am guilty, my Lord' i cry in the din.
A hand grabs my shoulder,and pulls me up.
'fear not, my Son, you are forgiven.'
I stand in his glory, fear gone, and praise the mighty risen Lord.
K S WHITE
20 June 2004
I couldn't stay. Racked by guilt and fear, i wanted to run away. Anywhere but here, however the crowd drew closer and was thousands thick. I never even realised there were so many people in the world let alone all being in one place at the same time. Stones were being thrown from far away and crashing against the man made mountain. I took a breath, turned to face the crowd, saw a small gap and ran as fast as i could, but the gap was closing. Almost at the same a boulder, hurled by a giant of a man, bounded towards me at great speed through the same gap. I stopped just short of being injured by the full force of the boulder which rolled past my feet to stop at the edge of the growing mountain.
A man stood close by who was fumbling with the tie of his sack, yet i saw it was clearly open. He was embarrassed to want to reach in and grab a stone. As i watched him, he spotted me. I walked towards him.
'you having difficulty with your sack?'
'none of your business' he replied.
He was dressed in a nicely tailored business suit and his mannerisms suggested an affluent upbringing, yet here he stood with a dirty leather sack, full to bursting with rocks and stones.
'it's already open' i said, looking inside, spying the contents. I was intrigued. Some of the stones were rocks, rough hewn with sharp edges, yet some glistened like jewels.
'what are these?' i ask in surprise.
The man looked sheepishly into his bag.
'I've carried them for years. They're my favourite stones. I've worked on them a bit each day and now, see how they shine. They are like diamonds and costly jewels. They are all precious.'
I nodded in agreement with him, then asked 'what about the rough rocks?'
'leave them alone', the man shouted defensively, 'i've only just put them in my bag. They're mine. I need to work on them so they shine like the others.'
I looked at him. He was glad of his burden.
'are you proud of your achievements and how you have acquired your stones.'
'yes' the man shouted above the din of the crashing stones on the mountain. 'what about yours?' he asked.
I felt myself turn red with embarrassment and contemplated the bulky rocks jutting through my own sack. The sack is heavy and ideally I wanted to throw the whole lot at the mountain, but i have carried it all my life and now i couldn't even consider the thought of losing it.
The stones in my sack are precious. They are mine and I have earned them. They hold precious memories, some I don't even wish to recall any longer, yet they hold the very fabric of my life, all of them have interconnected meanings; gained from perfecting the previous ones. As a child my sack was small, containing nothing more than a few pebbles, yet they were not enough. I wanted what my parents had, what the others in my village were carrying. I didn't know the weight or the colour of the stones, yet their sacks were larger and everyone carried them with pride. To gain more pebbles, I would learn to fight. I quickly realised that life was easier if I told a few white lies and hid a few truths. As I grew, I developed my character out of learning from others how they told lies, stole food and tools and were dishonest with their neighbours for their own personal gain. I copied them, wanting to be like them. I found that each time I told a lie a pebble would slip into my bag. Each time I stole food from my neigbour a large pebble chinked down onto the others. My parents would clip my ear, but I would walk away proud, for my bag was filling with pebbles and becoming larger. Growing older into my teens, I found a gem of a stone. Rough hewn at first, I learned to work on it until it shone, yet the stone also grew in size as I polished it. I had fun polishing the stone; a devious trick which shocked my parents to the core when they eventually discovered my callousness.
Through school and wanting to please my friends, I told them I was rich and was due to inherit a large fortune. I would bring in items of wealth claiming I had bought them with my share of the fortune whereas I had stolen them from another town and had hidden them in a hole until I needed to impress my friends. I stole a large cache of money and went on spending sprees with my friends, ,showering them with gifts. I had girls following me thinking I was in love with them and they with me, yet all they wanted was more gifts of money and jewellry.
The stone in my bag glinted with colours depending on the light of the day. The rough hewn stone of a lie became a gem of a lifestyle, and this stone attracted other stones and the whole fabric of my character was built up.
The man in the crowd looked at me expectantly.
'Are you going to accuse me of not throwing my stones?' he asked
'no' I repled. 'I don't want to throw mine away either. I want to leave and hide' I said, eyeing the crowds, trying to find an escape route.
As I looked at people, they looked at me, their faces sad and lifeless. Some others still held on to their sacks. Perhaps we should get together, form a group and in solidarity declare a rebellion for not wanting to lose our precious gems, but time was fast diminishing. I glanced at the time. Forty minutes to go.
'You need to cast your stones upon the mountain' The voice came from inside. I turned around looking for someone who may have uttered those words but there was no one sincere in their gaze. The man next to me also heard the voice.
'I'm not throwing my stones away. Never.'
'Why are you here?' the voice asked
I had no explanation. I couldn't remember purposely travelling here.
'Where are we?' I asked
'Golgotha' came the reply
Golgotha. The name conjures up images surreal to the present and haunting of the past, just as Armageddon portrays images of a future, yet may have been in the past, for now time was fast approaching its end and I stood on the very brink of existence surrounded by the population of the world watching a growing mountain, as heavy rocks still filled the air and the sounds of smashing rocks still reverberated around the site
The man next to me relented a little. Grabbing two stones out of his sack he threw them. I watched them carreen into the pile and were lost amongst the others.
'Those two were a token gesture. They were valuable to me, yet look, I can no longer see them. They are insignificant amongst all the others' he cried.
'I didn't realise how people had so many stones. How corrupt they all must be. Everyone. Not just a few, but everyone on the entire planet had stones and stories and life experiences all tied into their sacks.
I dug through mine looking for some stones I didn't like. Finding two, I held them in my hands. 'Should I throw them?'
'It's up to you, but you know it's inevitable'
'It's not'. They were heavy. I dropped them to the ground. There. That will do. As I let them go, a force of unexplained power lifted them and shot them fast high into the mountain, causing them to split into myriad pieces as they hit.
'go on. You can let them all go now.' The voice said.
I stood still. I didn't need to throw them. I just needed to let them out of my hand. Simply, give them up in my mind and the power of the mountain would draw them away.
I became frustrated. I wanted to leave the stones on the ground in front of me, yet each time i let one drop, it would fly fast into the mountain. I shouted out in anger.
Out of the corner of my eye i noticed people watching me for a response. The sky was suddenly lighter and the sound of crashing rocks has diminished. Less than one minute to go.
'Cast your stone' the voice called out, 'obey me, just as you used to. You need to trust me once again. I've always been true to you'.
I looked into my sack, now light and empty except for one last rock, highly polished into a multi-coloured layered gem. I could never let this stone go. I couldn't surrender. I couldn't trust, yet i knew, even as time and life ebbed away, that i would have to. This is my life, my secret, my character and ego. It seemed everyone is staring at me, urging me to let the rock fly, yet i closed the sack and held the neck tightly in my hands.
Seconds raced by, counting down to zero. Voices raised and shouting. The whole world beckoning to me to let go. I have the very last stone. If they have cast all of their stones onto the mountain, surely there is no problem with me letting go of mine, yet pride stood strong. Everyone would see my secret. Did it matter any longer. My sack became suddenly heavy, weighted down as if by a thousand stones. I opened the sack. Holding the polished gem in my hand, i contemplated its design. Uniquely formed, i am glad to have made it, yet now perhaps it is time to let it go, for time was now no more.
Raising my arm, i drew my hand back and flung the gem as hard as i could. Everyone watched as the stone flew in an arc high and straight. It landed directly on top of the high mountain and the collision reverberated around the world.
Time stood still. No one moved. Darkness covered the sun; snuffed out as in a candle. I stared straight ahead at the invisible form of the mountain. I knew it was there yet all was hidden and silent. Was this the end? The end of life itself? Would i simply die along with everyone else, glued to their spot in the darkness?
The ground beneath my feet began to shake. A tremor. An earthquake. The shaking became worse and the rumbling sound became louder. People started screaming in fear and shock.
'what if the mountain slips. All those rocks will bury us.' said a woman close by.
Would that be how the end will happen? Buried by our guilt? The tremors became stronger. The darkness making it worse since we couldn't see what was happening. Suddenly the mountain appeared to split. Strong sharp light filtered through fissures in the rock. i held my breath, thinking quickly through the implications of the scene enfolding in front of me. Then, with an almighty noise, like a shout, the mountain broke apart, the light became stronger than the midday sun, and appearing above was a figure emblazoned in light, a sword in his hand, fire in his eyes. Songs of glory surrounded the standing crowds as angels in their thousands praised the risen, living Lord.
I fell on my face on the ground. 'i am guilty, my Lord' i cry in the din.
A hand grabs my shoulder,and pulls me up.
'fear not, my Son, you are forgiven.'
I stand in his glory, fear gone, and praise the mighty risen Lord.
K S WHITE
20 June 2004
Friday, 2 March 2007
The Temptation of Jesus
Miracle, Mystery, Authority
The Devil tempts Jesus under the three categories below. The Devil never changes his ploy. These categories have been his ‘M.O.’ from the beginning of time.
This temptation occurred during a time when Jesus was physically weak after being 40 days in the desert without food.
I began also to think of the Israelites while they were in the desert, during those 40 years and the way they were kept from entering the promised land because of their unbelief and disobedience. They had been tempted by the Devil, who deceived them as a people into thinking that God had led them out in to the desert to die, that God was not really interested in them any longer.
During those years, something of the ‘M.O.’ of the Devil came through the accounts in Exodus.
Miracle
Jesus
Luke 4:3 “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:4 “You will not surely die!”
Israelites
Exodus 16 & 17
Manna, Quail and Water. The Israelites accused Moses of letting them starve. They were tempted to give up and turn back to Egypt.
Mystery
Jesus
Luke 4:9 “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone’”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of the fruit your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Israelites
Exodus 32. The golden Calf.
The Israelites whilst waiting for Moses to return from visting with the Lord on the top of Mt Sinai, became restless and were tempted into creating a golden calf in order to worship a tangible god, so they could focus on something as being representative of the Lord, rather than believing him without seeing him. The mystery of the Lord without a tangible presence other than the cloud and the pillar of fire, was what the devil played upon their minds to think that without an icon there would be no God.
Authority
Jesus
Luke 4:5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in a instant all the Kingdoms of the world. And he said to him “I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:1 “ Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
Israelites
Numbers 22- 24
Balak, King of Moab wanted Balaam, known as a sorceror, to place a curse on the Israelites. Balaam however, was open to the word of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.
The Lord told him not to curse the Israelites because they are a blessed people.
Balaam was tempted in everyway to curse the people of Israel.
The Devil wanted his authority to be placed over the Israelites through the curses from Moab, but the Lord intervened. There was a spiritual battle.
The Devil tempts Jesus under the three categories below. The Devil never changes his ploy. These categories have been his ‘M.O.’ from the beginning of time.
This temptation occurred during a time when Jesus was physically weak after being 40 days in the desert without food.
I began also to think of the Israelites while they were in the desert, during those 40 years and the way they were kept from entering the promised land because of their unbelief and disobedience. They had been tempted by the Devil, who deceived them as a people into thinking that God had led them out in to the desert to die, that God was not really interested in them any longer.
During those years, something of the ‘M.O.’ of the Devil came through the accounts in Exodus.
Miracle
Jesus
Luke 4:3 “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:4 “You will not surely die!”
Israelites
Exodus 16 & 17
Manna, Quail and Water. The Israelites accused Moses of letting them starve. They were tempted to give up and turn back to Egypt.
Mystery
Jesus
Luke 4:9 “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone’”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat of the fruit your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Israelites
Exodus 32. The golden Calf.
The Israelites whilst waiting for Moses to return from visting with the Lord on the top of Mt Sinai, became restless and were tempted into creating a golden calf in order to worship a tangible god, so they could focus on something as being representative of the Lord, rather than believing him without seeing him. The mystery of the Lord without a tangible presence other than the cloud and the pillar of fire, was what the devil played upon their minds to think that without an icon there would be no God.
Authority
Jesus
Luke 4:5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in a instant all the Kingdoms of the world. And he said to him “I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Adam & Eve
Genesis 3:1 “ Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”
Israelites
Numbers 22- 24
Balak, King of Moab wanted Balaam, known as a sorceror, to place a curse on the Israelites. Balaam however, was open to the word of the Lord and the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.
The Lord told him not to curse the Israelites because they are a blessed people.
Balaam was tempted in everyway to curse the people of Israel.
The Devil wanted his authority to be placed over the Israelites through the curses from Moab, but the Lord intervened. There was a spiritual battle.
Sunday, 25 February 2007
The Ten Commandments, as Promises from God.
KSW 19 July 2003
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... Heb 12v2
When we fix and keep our eyes on Jesus we can see the ten Commandments as ten promises, reassuring, not condemning.
#1You shall have No other Gods before me. Exodus 20 v 3
God promises that He alone is the ONLY God and there is none other beside HIM.
Isaiah 42 v 8 I am the Lord; that is my Name! I will not give my Glory to another or praise to Idols.
Isaiah 44 v 18. They (idols) know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so that they cannot see and their minds closed so that they cannot understand.
#2 Ex 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Isaiah 44 v 18. They (idols) know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so that they cannot see and their minds closed so that they cannot understand.
Man does not need to have an idol to be able to enjoy and worship God. He need only bring himself in praise and worship and the Holy Spirit opens the way to the father.
John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
#3 Ex 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Ex 3:14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
God promises to punish those who takes his name in vain or who swears false oaths in his name.
Le 19:12 'And you shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.
The Name of the Lord evokes strength and power.
#4 Ex 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Leviticus 11:44 ”For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.”
Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1Pe 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;
#5 Ex 20:12 ¶ "Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Ro 2:5 -10 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honour and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
John 3:27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.
Heb 5:4 And no one takes the honour to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.
God likewise shows and bestows honour on us as we believe in him. He will not give honour to anyone who will not receive it from him.
#6 Ex 20:13 "You shall not murder.
John 10:9-10 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
God promises not to kill us but give us eternal life if we believe in him.
#7 Ex 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery.
Heb 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
God holds faithful to us because of the covenant of the blood through Jesus Christ our Lord. He will not go and leave us for someone else.
#8 Ex 20:15 "You shall not steal.
God will not steal from us.
1Co 6:15 - 20 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH." But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
#9 Ex 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
1Jo 2:27 – 29 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Re 14:4 – 5 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.
#10 Ex 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbour."
2Co 11:2 – 3 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
God does not covet the things that we covet and keeps himself whole for us. He has a Godly jealousy if we go astray and will covet us if we return but shall remain faithful.
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith... Heb 12v2
When we fix and keep our eyes on Jesus we can see the ten Commandments as ten promises, reassuring, not condemning.
#1You shall have No other Gods before me. Exodus 20 v 3
God promises that He alone is the ONLY God and there is none other beside HIM.
Isaiah 42 v 8 I am the Lord; that is my Name! I will not give my Glory to another or praise to Idols.
Isaiah 44 v 18. They (idols) know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so that they cannot see and their minds closed so that they cannot understand.
#2 Ex 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Isaiah 44 v 18. They (idols) know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so that they cannot see and their minds closed so that they cannot understand.
Man does not need to have an idol to be able to enjoy and worship God. He need only bring himself in praise and worship and the Holy Spirit opens the way to the father.
John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
#3 Ex 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Ex 3:14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
God promises to punish those who takes his name in vain or who swears false oaths in his name.
Le 19:12 'And you shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.
The Name of the Lord evokes strength and power.
#4 Ex 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Leviticus 11:44 ”For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.”
Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1Pe 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;
#5 Ex 20:12 ¶ "Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Ro 2:5 -10 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honour and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
John 3:27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.
Heb 5:4 And no one takes the honour to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.
God likewise shows and bestows honour on us as we believe in him. He will not give honour to anyone who will not receive it from him.
#6 Ex 20:13 "You shall not murder.
John 10:9-10 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
God promises not to kill us but give us eternal life if we believe in him.
#7 Ex 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery.
Heb 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
God holds faithful to us because of the covenant of the blood through Jesus Christ our Lord. He will not go and leave us for someone else.
#8 Ex 20:15 "You shall not steal.
God will not steal from us.
1Co 6:15 - 20 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? May it never be! Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a harlot is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO WILL BECOME ONE FLESH." But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
#9 Ex 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
1Jo 2:27 – 29 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.
Re 14:4 – 5 These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they have kept themselves chaste. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These have been purchased from among men as first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And no lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.
#10 Ex 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbour."
2Co 11:2 – 3 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.
God does not covet the things that we covet and keeps himself whole for us. He has a Godly jealousy if we go astray and will covet us if we return but shall remain faithful.
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
The Race
K.White 17 October 1999
Hebrews 12 v 1 -2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.”
Notice:- “Cloud”, not crowd of witnesses. These witnesses are those who have ran the race before us, have reached the goal and look down with joy and excitement, cheering us on to complete the goal.
I see a man on the track. He’s running his race. He knows his goal, but doesn’t know how fast he’s going or how long he’s got until he can reach the goal. Along the way, he’s hindered by people around him. A dense, seemingly endless crowd of people. None of the people are standing watching the race. Those watching the race are in the clouds above. No, these people are jostling him and each other as they are all attempting to run their own race, to find their own goal, to be the first to reach the ribbon across the end of the track and so as they aiming to be first, they also along the way either intentionally or unintentionally trying to prevent others from running and achieving their goals. So the man running was constantly having to fend off those who either tried to trip him, grab him, or push him over. The man knew where his goal was. He always tried to fix his eyes on Jesus, and not to look either to the left or the right. He had to knock people out of the way. He ignored their cries, because he was in a race, a race to glory. He shook off everything that hindered or entangled him. He went straight as an arrow for Jesus.
Along the way he heard a voice telling him to tell the others around him about the goal he was heading for, about Jesus and that his goal was better than any other. Surely not! He couldn’t stop to tell people. He was in a race. The people about him were intent on their race. But the voice persisted. He was told to slow down, look about him at the people, to hear their cries and frustrations and to point out that the goal he was headed for was by far the better goal and that at the end of the race their pains and frustrations would disappear.
He couldn’t do that. He would have to stop to explain. He would have to realise their pain and maybe even take note of his own pain too. Time was short, he was in a race. He couldn’t stop.
There seemed more people in his way now, going in all directions. He was forced to go slower and he became more annoyed. An old woman grabbed him. She told him she was confused. Had lost her goal and didn’t know the way back to it. He pointed out his goal. Pointed out the eyes of Jesus and told her about that goal, but she didn’t comprehend. She didn’t move and so he went on his way.
“You need to explain. You need to take time with them” the voice raged in his head. “Just like the one who had explained it to you.”
The man was thinking hard now. How could he explain effectively? He thought back to how one day he had met someone who had pointed out Jesus to him, who told him that the goal of heaven was greater than any other, that the prize was greater and the welcome warmer. Whilst thinking of these things he had stopped still. A giant of a man appeared to be barrelling straight towards him from the left. He only had a very short time to think which way to dive before the man would knock him flat, but this giant suddenly stopped right beside him indignant as to why he was directly in his way. The runner thought this was his chance and so he pointed to Jesus and told the giant to fix his eyes on Jesus that there was where the greater prize would be waiting. The man promptly turned and started towards Jesus. The runner had difficulty in keeping up with him. “By the way” he told the giant “tell others about Jesus as well.” As the two headed towards the goal together there seemed to be a surer step, but there were still a lot of people to negotiate. Both began explaining their goal to others. Soon there was a small group who were headed in the same direction with the same purpose. Some though after a while began looking around at other goals and wandering off again, only to be tripped up by other people.
As the group grew, the way seemed to be easier. People began to give way to the group or to give it wide berth for fear of being trampled on. The man began running again. His race was on. The group was happier than others about them. They began to encourage each other to run faster and surer towards the goal.
The man was sprinting now. The weakest in the group seemed to be keeping pace and even to be ahead of him at times. He was spurred on. He ran flat out. The group ahead, his ‘family’ cleared the way for him, allowing him to run freely. He was thrilled at the shear joy of running the race. The group moved off to the left. He wondered why until he realised he could see the ribbon in front of him. He was on the threshold of winning his race, of receiving his prize, the crown of righteousness, of being able to be with Jesus, his friend whom he had known since the time when he first fixed his eyes upon him.
Bolting through the ribbon, he felt the excitement of finishing the race, felt the joy of reaching his goal, and he ran straight into the arms of his friend, Jesus. Jesus said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”and placed the crown of righteousness on his head. Placed a banner around his shoulders, a medal over his head. Only a few of the group who had ran with him, had ran through the goal. He looked questioningly at Jesus, who pointed downwards. He looked and saw these people, saw the giant and the others, carrying on their race, letting others know about Jesus and the prize, heading towards the goal in their time, heading for Jesus. He was in the clouds. He had joined the witnesses, watching, encouraging, shouting, cheering as people streamed towards the goal of Heaven.
As Timothy had written, he had run his race, fought the good fight, kept the faith and had received the crown of righteousness.
Friday, 2 February 2007
Lake
I see a lake on top of a plateau leading up to the edge of a precipice. The lake is fed from the far side by a river floowing out from the distant hills.
The lake is beautiful, and is surrounded by green fields growing all kinds of crops, being irrigated from the river and the lake. There are beautiful trees, poplars and firs growing up beside the river and the lake. The land is very fruitful.
The lake is held before the precipice by boulders built to keep the water from flowing over the edge. The land below the precipice is arid and dusty. Nothing grows there and there are lots of boulders.
The river is God’s grace and mercy. We benefit from the lake of grace, but we lack from seeing further grace and from the benefit of God’s power because we have placed boulders to dam the river, creating the lake by which we want to live in the beauty of God’s present grace to us.
By building the boulders, we do not see the river tumbling down into the valley below. We miss out seeing the magnificent waterfall. We miss out seeing the magnificence of God’s power. We miss out from receiving fresh grace and mercy. We live from past grace, storing it up for future use to irrigate our lives.
By building boulders, we are preventing God’s grace from reaching our neighbour below us. We keep the grace of God to ourselves. We do not share it. We do not let our neighbour see God’s power at work. We prevent the river of God from touching their lives. We let them wallow in the dusty dirt of their land without water, without sustenance. We keep them from experiencing God’s love and mercy.
Remove the boulders and the river flows down the precipice, flows as waterfall, clearing out a channel into the dry land, directing the water, forcing the water to flow faster into that land, washing and cleansing the land, allowing grass, crops and trees to grow, allowing that land to be fruitful.
The lake is beautiful, and is surrounded by green fields growing all kinds of crops, being irrigated from the river and the lake. There are beautiful trees, poplars and firs growing up beside the river and the lake. The land is very fruitful.
The lake is held before the precipice by boulders built to keep the water from flowing over the edge. The land below the precipice is arid and dusty. Nothing grows there and there are lots of boulders.
The river is God’s grace and mercy. We benefit from the lake of grace, but we lack from seeing further grace and from the benefit of God’s power because we have placed boulders to dam the river, creating the lake by which we want to live in the beauty of God’s present grace to us.
By building the boulders, we do not see the river tumbling down into the valley below. We miss out seeing the magnificent waterfall. We miss out seeing the magnificence of God’s power. We miss out from receiving fresh grace and mercy. We live from past grace, storing it up for future use to irrigate our lives.
By building boulders, we are preventing God’s grace from reaching our neighbour below us. We keep the grace of God to ourselves. We do not share it. We do not let our neighbour see God’s power at work. We prevent the river of God from touching their lives. We let them wallow in the dusty dirt of their land without water, without sustenance. We keep them from experiencing God’s love and mercy.
Remove the boulders and the river flows down the precipice, flows as waterfall, clearing out a channel into the dry land, directing the water, forcing the water to flow faster into that land, washing and cleansing the land, allowing grass, crops and trees to grow, allowing that land to be fruitful.
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
Just A Thought - About the Flood Genesis 6
The water during the flood covered the earth to a extent that it rose to a height of 20 feet higher than the highest mountain.
The water would not only have destroyed the surface of the earth and changed the layout of the forests, deserts, seas, lakes etc. but imagine how heavy the water would have weighed. A bottle of water is heavy. A pool of water is heavier. When water is allowed to flow through unnatural areas it destroys and moves a lot of debris. Floods and Storms create havoc to the land. Rivers erode the land albeit slowly because the weight of the water at any particular point is not that much against the rock, but a pool at the bottom of a waterfall is deep because the water is heavier as it falls and erodes the rocks at the bottom even further.
When the water covered the whole earth the currents streaming through the water would have been tremendously powerful and forceful. The currents could have shaped huge grafts out of the land. The weight of the water upon the earth could have been enough to put pressure on the underlying continental plates and with the force of the currents would have shifted into their present positions. For example, the Indian Sub-continent being perhaps once an island after having broken away from Africa could have been forced Northwards by the weight of the water on it, and the currents churning North from around the Cape of Africa could have pushed the island up into Asia with such a force the two continents locked together and the Himalayas were pushed up.
The other continents could have been shifted into their present positions in a similar fashion. Likewise, internal seas would have been left over after the flood; Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Sea of Galilee even, the great lakes of North America and even Lake Baikal in Russia, where there is evidence to suggest that sea creatures like Seals and certain fish arrived with the flood waters. If this theory of the shifting of the plates is pliable then it raise a different viewpoint of the age of the earth, as geologists, scientists and geography experts currently believe the plates shifted to their current positions during millions of years, but this does not account of how certain types of creatures are found in same geographic areas on different continents, whose evidence does not suggest their fossils are millions of years old. Even Dinosaurs would well have been around at the time before the flood.
Friday, 26 January 2007
Elijah Flees to Mount Horeb 1 Kings 19
After the experiencing the amazing miracle of God in front of the Prophets and politicians of Israel on Mount Carmel Elijah now found himself in one of the lowest times of his life. He arrived back in the lowlands and heard that Jezebel had issued a death threat against him. He now suddenly felt very insecure in himself and in his faith. Where was God now? How could God let this happen? He thought God would protect him.
At Beersheba, the oppression of the threat became so great that Elijah went off into the desert and sat under a broom tree. He just wanted to die. He thought God had left him after leaving Mount Carmel. Elijah didn’t care any longer. He wanted to die. He thought he had failed, sinned in some way. If Jezebel caught up with him, then that didn’t matter any longer. He thought God seemed to be no longer interested in him, that he wasn’t answering his prayers. Elijah did not realise that it was the Angel of the Lord who came to him with food and drink, who looked after him during his time in the desert. God did still have his hand on Elijah’s life. God did want to nourish him, help him and be with him, but now it was Elijah who had shut the door.
Elijah needed to find God for himself again. Elijah did not know God was with him, trying to lead him. God had planned Elijah to go on a long journey, hence the nourishment God provided for him. God had prepared for Elijah to go to the desert of Damascus, to anoint Hazael, Jehu and Elisha in their various roles, however, Elijah had lost faith in God and wanted to search him. In his own mind and knowing the history of Israel, he know Moses had met with God and talked with God on Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb), and so in his stupor, he seemingly, aimlessly, walked down the country into the desert of Sinai to Mount Horeb. He took 40 days and nights to reach the mountain. He was looking for God, perhaps everywhere along the way too. He must have been very heavy hearted, trying to avoid people along the way, trying to lift himself out of his depression. In his mind though, he knew he could find and meet with God on this mountain.
Elijah moved from one mountain experience to another, through a tough valley experience along the way.
As Elijah reached the mountain and rested in a cave, he perhaps did start to relax his thoughts, and to open up for the first time in those 40 days, he started to seek God and sure enough, God was there.
Then the Lord, instead of rebuking Elijah outright, educated him further by telling him that God was always with him wherever he was, not just in the dramatic, amazing times, but also in the quiet times, the gentle whispers, like as he had sat under the broom tree. It did not always have to be fire, thunder and lightening.
God lifted Elijah out of his depression, but not callously, however gently, after all, the death threat still stood. God had planned for Elijah to escape by going to Damascus, but now Elijah was 40 days behind schedule. God redirects Elijah’s path, tells him to go and find Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. Elijah has to retrace his steps back up the Country, but now knowing that God is by his side, he must have run back making up lost time, elated because God would be with him always, protecting him and nourishing him spiritually as well as physically.
Death in the Pot 2 Kings 4: 38-41
The pot can be seen as being a city, a community or even a church. In the Bible, a pot always brings sickness so it can be assumed the city, community or church is being effected by sin.
A mission team sets forth and arrives in a community to teach the good news and proclaim the truth of the Word of God and allow people to become interested in the church.
Of those interested though, some have been sent by the enemy. They accept the invitations to the church, they listen to the preaching and, accept them, mix themselves in the church or community, and win friendships within them. They are dark and devious. They begin to spread their malicious false teachings, albeit subtly, gently and through various seemingly innocent ways, by which they begin to cause upsets within the church or community as they seek to poison the true word. If they manage to obtain a position of authority within the church, they can cause huge disruptions, lead people away from the truth, and eventually could confuse them, cause them to leave the church, cause the church to split or even kill the church off. This would have an adverse effect on the wider community, enabling the church to become weaker to lose its effectiveness, its vision and its God-given healing power to the community.
Flour- A substance which neutralises the effect of the poison. People who are strong in the Lord, who know the truth, who know the Word of God and who are intercessors, warriors of prayer, who cover the whole situation in prayer. Prayer can neutralise the effects of the poisonous teachings because it calls upon the power of the God and the Holy Spirit and they can cause the false teachings and the false teachers to be exposed for what they are.
Compare this with Ezekiel 11:3 where the city is a cooking pot and wicked men are the poisonous meat which God then causes to be thrown out of the pot because of its wickedness.
Ezekiel 24 also mentions a cooking pot. This symbolises society of only the best people, the well educated, the famous, the higher classes and castes and the most wealthy or influential people. The society in the pot is boiled. It becomes a hive of activity. Its passions become intense, a magnet for business where the rich get richer. In the pot, bones are added for their additional nutrients. The wheels of commerce turn greatly. Life is great, life is pleasurable and sin abounds. There is bloodshed for those who cannot survive in the community, those who society pushes out, makes poor and who they trample upon on their way to the top. These people become like garbage and because of their number cannot be entirely hidden or buried away. They hang on the fringes of society like scum. Their lives although insignificant to some, remain as hints of danger.
The sin in the society is exposed. It is broken up or the society dies out, goes out of fashion, but now the remains of those who were trampled upon, those who were cheated, those who were ignored are now visible. It’s sins, cover ups, pay deals, murders, slanders are revealed. Those in the leadership positions in the society are not now beyond the law. They are exposed, however, even if all the deeds of the society are investigated and all assets are stripped away, and those in the society are forgotten about, its stained reputation will remain. Its impurities cannot be removed, even by fire. Such examples are like Sodom & Gomorrah, Babylon and more recently Waco, Texas.
Only when the Lord chooses, will the old reputations be forgotten and fade away.
Micah 3:2 explains that leaders in such a society rip people off, trample them, break them, destroy them to get want they want, but the Lord will turn his back on them.
Thursday, 25 January 2007
The Axe Head Floats 2 kings 6
An axe is used to work, to chop trees and cut them into pieces.
Elisha and the Prophets were travelling along the Jordan searching for some new, idyllic ground where they could build a place for them to live. Each was given or had taken an axe because each had to cut down a tree and make it into a pole to be used in the building.
Elisha and the Prophets were travelling along the Jordan searching for some new, idyllic ground where they could build a place for them to live. Each was given or had taken an axe because each had to cut down a tree and make it into a pole to be used in the building.
Christians, priests and evangelists use axes to help build the Kingdom of God, using the Word of God in their preaching to the community around about them. They cut the dead wood and branches off them and make them into a sturdy pole for the Kingdom of God.
Suddenly an axe falls and sinks into the river. The prophet who was using it told Elisha that the axe head was borrowed.
1) The axe head is someone who preaches the word, but becomes burned out or becomes broken in their spirit and falls beneath the river, those about them, those in the community. Their presence within the community is diminished or even discarded or ignored. They sink in ineffectiveness, worry, accountability, integrity and collapse from being a pillar of the community.
Elisha collects a stick and plunging it into the river makes the axe head float. This fallen person needs a ‘crutch’ to help them back into being secure and confident once again. He needs to be taken out from under the river, back into the community, where through love, care and a sense of self-worth can once again transform them into being that effective worker for God they once was. Jesus is the ‘crutch’. Jesus is the one who can lift people out of the depths where they have sunken and bring them back as a new person to a better, effective life in the church and the community.
2) The axe head is someone who may be called a “Pseudo-Christian” - someone who knows the truth, who knows the Word of God, knows that Jesus has died for them, knows God loves them and is interested in them, but does not personally believe. Eventually the world would swallow up such a person because their effectiveness will not be much, they will not be as strong in preaching the Word of God or in evangelising and the temptations of the world will be too strong for them and eventually the ties to the Kingdom of God would break and they will fall into the temptations of the world and sink amongst the sin and desolateness of the world.
Once again only Jesus Christ is able to draw them out of the world and into the Kingdom of God, out of sin and into life, out of the desolateness and into effective working in the building of the Kingdom of God.
The axe head could have been a false prophet or someone using false doctrine which does not stand up in the work they are doing and it breaks.
3) The axe head was borrowed, so perhaps can be seen as someone from another community or country, a missionary, not used to this community, or culture who becomes perhaps overwhelmed with the circumstances of the work around them, the dreams of working for God not turning out as they would have wanted them to be, the hard tough work in just producing a small dent or chip in those people of the community may be too much to bear, the work which should have been considered easy, because God was meant to be behind it, is not as conveyed and so they break too soon, they sink in worry, grief, feelings of failure.
Jesus before the Sanhedrin Mark 14 v 53 - 65
Jesus is standing on trial before the Sanhedrin, the religious council of Jerusalem and is being questioned by Annas and Caiaphas the High Priest. During the questions and the taunts of the accusers, Jesus remains silent and stands there listening refusing to answer to their lies, correct their rumours and heresies until he is asked directly by the High Priest if Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (v61).
This is the first time Jesus replies by saying “I am and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming with the clouds of heaven” (v62). The question had to be answered because it was perhaps the only true question so far directed to Jesus, but then why does Jesus have to add to his accession with a seemingly obscure sentence, which apparently does not tie in with the subject or the intent of the trial except perhaps to add more fuel to the fire and cause the High Priest to make a decision and end the questioning more quickly.
From the words of Stephen Burns of Scripture Union ‘Closer to God’ daily bible notes: “Jesus breaks the silence with the words ‘I AM’ echoing the mighty name of the Lord from Exodus 3:14.”
The rest of the words do not hold any context however, unless noted that Jesus has said them before when he was talking to his disciples about the signs of the times to come.
In Luke 21 v 27-28 Jesus says the “The Son of Man will come in a cloud from heaven with power and great glory” then he continues in v28 by saying “when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” This is a bold, uplifting command, encouraging us and his disciples to stand up in those times. Jesus may have even drummed this into them, he may have used a bit of drama so they could remember this important command.
This passage in Luke comes shortly before the passage of Jesus’ betrayal, so these words may have literally been spoken a few days before Jesus was arrested and therefore as Jesus spoke these words before the Sanhedrin, the disciples present would have remembered the time when Jesus had last spoken them, would have remembered the bold statement after these words, for them to stand up, to lift up their heads for their redemption is near.
Now, hearing these words again in that room along with the Sanhedrin, it’s as though Jesus was speaking, not to the High Priest, but directly to his disciples, speaking to them in code, urging them to remember the command to lift their heads and to be bold for their redemption is near. This is true now, because if they continued to hold on and to believe and to be bold, even throughout the time when Jesus was to be beaten, whipped, scorned and crucified, Jesus is about to save them from sin by dying for them and for all men on the cross.
Revolutionaries over the years have used similar contexts to call their men to arms but here, Jesus is calling for his disciples not to be downhearted at the trial of himself, because he knows that they all feel saddened and shocked and that outside Peter was sitting with the soldiers around the fire and about to deny he knew Jesus.
At the same time, with the same words, Jesus is telling the High Priest that he will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds.
John picks this up in Revelation 1 v7 where he mentions especially “even those who pierced him”. As John is writing this passage, prompted by the Holy Spirit, perhaps he remembers well those words spoken by Jesus before the Sanhedrin, although by all accounts John may not have been present in the room, because in his gospel, he does not record these words, but instead writes about Peter, so John may have been outside with or near Peter.
It’s doubtful the High Priest and those of the Sanhedrin understood what Jesus was talking about and took it as further confirmation that Jesus was blaspheming. Jesus did not defend his position but went with the judgment and the crowds to the cross so his words could be fulfilled.
On the outside, these words recorded in Mark and spoken by Jesus may seem obscure, out of context, just words, but to Jesus and his disciples they were words of meaning, of life and truth and hope.
The cup of god’s wrath Mark 14 v 36
Jesus says in Mark 14 v 36 “ Take this cup from me”
What is this cup?
Cup of Sorrow
Sorrow of having to see lost souls. The sorrow of weight of rejection knowing that these people were rejecting Christ but that ultimately perhaps they would be rejected by God on the day of judgement. Interesting side note: Jesus in John 17 prays for their forgiveness “for they know not what they are doing”, i.e these people are caught up in the whole plan of the father. They are only playing the part out in fulfilling scripture. Would God forgive them? Perhaps there would be plenty of opportunity afterwards whereby they would be able to recognise their sins and repent just as the centurion who stood below the cross perhaps did, when he recognised that Christ surely was the Son of God.
Cup of Anguish
Jesus would take on all of man’s anguish, fears and hurts. He also is full of anguish for the imminent event of death. His sweat is like blood falling from his brow (Luke 22 v 44) and he says “ My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” (Matthew 26 v 38).
Cup of Suffering
Jesus accepts his own suffering. The pain of the beatings, the pain of the whip, the pain of the crown of thorns and that of the cross he has to carry along the way to Golgotha. The pain of the nails in his hands and feet. Jesus also sees the suffering of the world. The pain of life without a saviour, the pain of the unfairness of life for those who have to bear hardship while others wallow in comfort and the pain of the persecutions of his own followers.
Cup of God’s wrath
As Jesus is on the cross dying, he cries out “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God has turned away from his son, as Jesus takes upon himself the punishment for the sin of the world.
“The cup of God’s wrath may pass from guilty humanity only if Jesus Christ drinks it”.
Jesus accepts that he has to drink from the cup as John 18 v 11 “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”. He implies that whatever the Father has given to Jesus is good for him. As God is our Father, so must we learn to accept from Him whatever he gives us, as it is ultimately for our benefit. Jesus also indicates that he is obeying his Father and submits to Him. Whatever you say Father, I will do.
The cup of God’s wrath has been given / taken in several instances in the Bible.
Jeremiah 25 V 15 - 17 The cup is filled with the wine of God’s wrath. All nations shall drink it whom God sends Jeremiah to.
Psalm 75 The cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices in the hand of the Lord and it is poured out upon all wicked.
Zechariah 2 v 2 Jerusalem is a cup that sends all reeling.
Revelation 14 v 10 People will receive the wine of God’s fury for those who have the mark of the beast upon them.
Jeremiah 49 v 12 If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it (Jesus?) Why do you not go unpunished?
The cup of God’s wrath contains wine with spices which is foaming - being fermented. On the cross Jesus was offered wine vinegar - a wine with vinegared spices. As soon as Jesus receives the drink he cries “It is finished”. Jesus has drunk from the cup God, his Father, had given him.
Jesus is our cupbearer too. He bears the cup for us. As one who served the King with wine, often having himself tasted it first for quality and as a safety measure. Jesus has tasted the wine first and now passes it to us after ensuring it is good for us to drink.
What is this cup?
Cup of Sorrow
Sorrow of having to see lost souls. The sorrow of weight of rejection knowing that these people were rejecting Christ but that ultimately perhaps they would be rejected by God on the day of judgement. Interesting side note: Jesus in John 17 prays for their forgiveness “for they know not what they are doing”, i.e these people are caught up in the whole plan of the father. They are only playing the part out in fulfilling scripture. Would God forgive them? Perhaps there would be plenty of opportunity afterwards whereby they would be able to recognise their sins and repent just as the centurion who stood below the cross perhaps did, when he recognised that Christ surely was the Son of God.
Cup of Anguish
Jesus would take on all of man’s anguish, fears and hurts. He also is full of anguish for the imminent event of death. His sweat is like blood falling from his brow (Luke 22 v 44) and he says “ My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” (Matthew 26 v 38).
Cup of Suffering
Jesus accepts his own suffering. The pain of the beatings, the pain of the whip, the pain of the crown of thorns and that of the cross he has to carry along the way to Golgotha. The pain of the nails in his hands and feet. Jesus also sees the suffering of the world. The pain of life without a saviour, the pain of the unfairness of life for those who have to bear hardship while others wallow in comfort and the pain of the persecutions of his own followers.
Cup of God’s wrath
As Jesus is on the cross dying, he cries out “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God has turned away from his son, as Jesus takes upon himself the punishment for the sin of the world.
“The cup of God’s wrath may pass from guilty humanity only if Jesus Christ drinks it”.
Jesus accepts that he has to drink from the cup as John 18 v 11 “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”. He implies that whatever the Father has given to Jesus is good for him. As God is our Father, so must we learn to accept from Him whatever he gives us, as it is ultimately for our benefit. Jesus also indicates that he is obeying his Father and submits to Him. Whatever you say Father, I will do.
The cup of God’s wrath has been given / taken in several instances in the Bible.
Jeremiah 25 V 15 - 17 The cup is filled with the wine of God’s wrath. All nations shall drink it whom God sends Jeremiah to.
Psalm 75 The cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices in the hand of the Lord and it is poured out upon all wicked.
Zechariah 2 v 2 Jerusalem is a cup that sends all reeling.
Revelation 14 v 10 People will receive the wine of God’s fury for those who have the mark of the beast upon them.
Jeremiah 49 v 12 If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it (Jesus?) Why do you not go unpunished?
The cup of God’s wrath contains wine with spices which is foaming - being fermented. On the cross Jesus was offered wine vinegar - a wine with vinegared spices. As soon as Jesus receives the drink he cries “It is finished”. Jesus has drunk from the cup God, his Father, had given him.
Jesus is our cupbearer too. He bears the cup for us. As one who served the King with wine, often having himself tasted it first for quality and as a safety measure. Jesus has tasted the wine first and now passes it to us after ensuring it is good for us to drink.
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
The Cost of following Jesus Luke 9 v 57-62
Jesus meets 3 people:
Person 1
This man speaks out as Jesus walks past “I will follow you wherever you go”. It seems as though he wants to be a “groupie”. He has heard that being following Jesus around the country is popular. Jesus is in the limelight. He’s a star and his followers were becoming famous too.
Jesus replies “Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”.
Jesus answered in this way because he knows what was in this man’s heart.
The man told Jesus he would follow him wherever he went, but perhaps as long as he could book to stay overnight in a 5 star hotel, get paid for following him, have protection and insurance and be the second best next to Jesus in the limelight. The man had a romanticised idea of the life which Jesus lived, a cushy life with no real responsibilities and loads of money. Jesus knew the man’s heart and knew that sleeping one night under the stars would put the man off totally. To commit, the man would have to overcome the need of having a good, cushy, life.
Person 2
Jesus is the one who opens up the conversation with this man by saying simply “Follow me”. Perhaps the man stood staring at Jesus as he walked by, in two minds whether to just go along with Jesus right there and then or to wait.
The man replied “Lord, first let me go and bury my father”. Jesus replies “let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the Kingdom of God”.
This man had certainly met Jesus before. He calls Jesus “Lord”. He believed in Jesus, had seen the miracles and knew Jesus was the true way and in his heart he wanted to spread the good news of the Kingdom of God to others throughout the country, in preparation of Jesus’s visits. Jesus could see this in his heart.
The man though is torn because he may have been tied down in having a responsibility to his father. Perhaps his father was strict and treated him as a servant demanding to carry out his every whim. Jesus knew the man’s father was spiritually dead. Maybe his father even denounced the Jewish faith, or even worse - a Pharisee!!
This man felt he had an obligation to his father and therefore wanted to wait until his father died, until he was free of his responsibility, until he could begin his ministry.
Jesus challenges him to seize the moment, while the mission was hot in the man’s heart. He may have sounded callous, but perhaps there may have been others of the family who would be able to look after his father. Jesus may also have known that the man’s father would take many more years before he died. If this man waited that long, then the fire of his mission would be diminished.
Person 3
This person says he will follow Jesus. Again he believes in Jesus and wants to follow Jesus, but feels he has a commitment to his family. He feels he cannot suddenly leave them and follow Jesus without proper goodbyes. His family wouldn’t understand, would be angry and may resent or even reject him. Perhaps he has children who would need a father.
Jesus replies “ No-one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God”
Jesus knows this person’s heart. He thinks he can follow Jesus for a short while and the return to his family. Perhaps be with Jesus for the week and return to his family at weekends. Jesus knows this man starts a project and perhaps does not complete them. He does not see something through to the end and leaves if things become unbearable or takes too much time.
Perhaps the man though following and working with Jesus, may have his mind on his family, worrying about them while he would be away, and worrying how they may cope. He may often take time out to go back and check on his family.
Through these characters, Jesus indicates that he knows our hearts, our will and plans and what would hold us back from carrying out the will of God. Jesus tells us through the last two people that we need to seize the moment now and not to wait or delay lest we be distracted or lose the passion for mission. Jesus is telling us that once we start our ministry, to stay with it, see it through to the end or until God indicates otherwise and God will provide for us and look after our families as well.
The Grain of Wheat John 12 v 24
I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds.”
I have often struggled in understanding what this means because when something dies there is no life left to produce anything else. This is the world’s understanding of life. I am not an agriculturalist, but it is known that when seeds are planted they grow to produce plants which then produce more seeds, which when planted will produce further seeds.
This is a law of God. I thought not everything works this way. Humans die and there remains nothing but a skeleton. Animals die and there remains nothing but skeletons, so why are seeds different?
When people die, it is only then, when others reflect upon the life of that person, and what they have achieved. Their possessions are searched for any gems they may have kept.
Anything interesting which is written is published or at least circulated for others to read what they had learnt. Possessions are passed on for others to enjoy or placed in museums as objects of life gone by, to show how they have been used to enable us to learn to produce better things which then give us a better life.
If the works of those who die are good, then their works are published to benefit other people, professionally or otherwise. Sometimes, it is only when these works are found, that progress can be truly made in that particular field, perhaps due to the selfishness of those who died.
God’ word is often given us as seeds. We have to let these die. We have to let them lodge in the back of our minds and in our heart, where in certain circumstances, they are brought back when we can use them to help us. As we eat the word, some of it drops away, in our hearts and minds. It dies. It produces further thoughts and character. We teach others what we have learnt stemming from these seeds, so yes, as we let the word of God settle into our lives, it produces further seeds in others as we live our lives and as we teach.
I have often struggled in understanding what this means because when something dies there is no life left to produce anything else. This is the world’s understanding of life. I am not an agriculturalist, but it is known that when seeds are planted they grow to produce plants which then produce more seeds, which when planted will produce further seeds.
This is a law of God. I thought not everything works this way. Humans die and there remains nothing but a skeleton. Animals die and there remains nothing but skeletons, so why are seeds different?
When people die, it is only then, when others reflect upon the life of that person, and what they have achieved. Their possessions are searched for any gems they may have kept.
Anything interesting which is written is published or at least circulated for others to read what they had learnt. Possessions are passed on for others to enjoy or placed in museums as objects of life gone by, to show how they have been used to enable us to learn to produce better things which then give us a better life.
If the works of those who die are good, then their works are published to benefit other people, professionally or otherwise. Sometimes, it is only when these works are found, that progress can be truly made in that particular field, perhaps due to the selfishness of those who died.
God’ word is often given us as seeds. We have to let these die. We have to let them lodge in the back of our minds and in our heart, where in certain circumstances, they are brought back when we can use them to help us. As we eat the word, some of it drops away, in our hearts and minds. It dies. It produces further thoughts and character. We teach others what we have learnt stemming from these seeds, so yes, as we let the word of God settle into our lives, it produces further seeds in others as we live our lives and as we teach.
Monday, 22 January 2007
Jesus calms the Storm Luke 8 v 22 - 25
The notion of wind is often used to portray the Holy Spirit.
A sailing boat uses wind to move to its destination. When there is no wind, it cannot go anywhere.
Likewise, when we trust in God and let him control our lives through the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will help us to move to our destiny in our lives and in God. The Holy Spirit is the power moving in us to motivate us to live as God would want us to live, to live for God and to continually aim towards the will of God.
In a boat, we use the wind as our source of power, but we steer in a direction, using the rudder. We can choose which way to steer, navigating ourselves through the water. We can choose to steer with the wind or against the wind. We can choose to go with full sails or without any sails.
Sails can be similar to how we move in God. We have the Bible, Christian literature, worship, prayer and fellowship. We can choose whether we read God’s word, whether we pray or worship God. We can choose the length of time spent doing these activities, and this will form the power of our advancement in God and in the destiny planned for us. If we choose against spending time with God, i.e if we lower our sails fully, we would still move, but much more slowly because the Spirit will always be with us.Then we would have to work harder to get to our destination as a rower would use oars rather than sails.
When there is wind on the ocean there are also waves. The stronger the wind, the greater the waves. Waves can be seen as being problems in our lives. We have ups and downs. We cope with the small waves as we become used to the little problems and do not worry about them much. We get used to making decisions to solve the little problems. We get used to seeing or hearing and accepting the “small” sins, which like the sea, go down deep. However, where there are small waves there is not much wind. Our problems are small. We can cope. We don’t need to rely much on God. We don’t need to have real prayer sessions about them, we don’t need to read the pages of God’s word looking for answers to these insignificant problems. There is less activity taking place and less relationship with the Holy Spirit within us. - Jesus has fallen asleep!
God then has to send a storm to wake us up. A storm comprises of high waves and strong wind. We have to solve a huge problem. We put the sails up. We awaken our Spirit. We start praying, we start reading. We move! As our relationship with God becomes stronger, we become more exhilarated. The Spirit is strong. Now we go faster and experience the Spirit as he wants us to know him.
BUT with the wind there are high waves and other winds. The enemy does not like us in revival time, when we are living in God’s purpose, living full in the Spirit. The enemy sends us breakers , problems designed to trip us up, cause us to travel in turmoil and to make us flounder on rocks away from our true course. We look at the waves towering above us and around us, like Peter (Matthew 14 V 28-32). When waves tower over us, crash around us, flow over the bow of the boat, we begin to loose our perspective, to loose sight of our destination. We cannot see the other side and we think of the deep. Other winds are in the storm like fear, anger, jealousy, revenge. We pray more, read our Bibles more, but nothing seems to happen. We go around in circles. We then don’t pray, don’t read. We lower the sails, trying to keep the boat still in the raging, ever changing maelstrom around us.
In desperation we cry “JESUS, WAKE UP”. Jesus will then take control of the problems, the raging storm. The waves stop. The winds stops, as Jesus commands them to stop. Jesus will always have final control.
Jesus asks us “where is your faith?”, for through the storm we were moving well in God’s destiny, because the Spirit was strong and was carrying us through the waves. We should not give up. We need to have faith while we are strong in the Spirit. They go together. Without faith, it is like a lost rudder and then there is no way to guide the boat. Jesus allows us to experience problems to test our faith and to keep us strong in God. We can learn to use these problems to move to our ultimate destination in God.
Post trib rapture
2 Samuel 22 v 5 - 20.
Is this an argument for post-tribulation rapture?
This passage is by David describing his despair when his enemies have gathered around him and are about to crush and defeat him. He sees there is no way out. Death is upon him. It has him in his grip. In David’s distress, he cries out to the only one he knows can rescue him. God. Then David describes how the Lord came through the clouds, through the enemy lines and broke the cords of death, and grabbed him by the hand to lift him out of the depths of death and into a safe spacious place.
This can happen at the end of time after the battle of Armageddon.
Is this an argument for post-tribulation rapture?
This passage is by David describing his despair when his enemies have gathered around him and are about to crush and defeat him. He sees there is no way out. Death is upon him. It has him in his grip. In David’s distress, he cries out to the only one he knows can rescue him. God. Then David describes how the Lord came through the clouds, through the enemy lines and broke the cords of death, and grabbed him by the hand to lift him out of the depths of death and into a safe spacious place.
This can happen at the end of time after the battle of Armageddon.
Sunday, 21 January 2007
The Wife of a Noble Character
The Wife of a Noble Character Proverbs 31 v 10-31
Can this passage be used to represent the church of Christ? In Revelation, the church is portrayed as a woman.
V 10 A wife of noble character who can find?
Who can find good, upright, Christ centred church, strong in all areas of prayer, praise, community and love? Such a church is better than having lots of precious items, or lots of “high points” like conferences, praise parties, camps etc. Her husband - Christ- has full confidence in the church and highly values it. The church should project Christ’s love to give him glory and not shame every day. The church selects and chooses the way in which they want to work and then works eagerly in those areas with full attention.
The church will be like the merchant ships of old, bringing good news to all peoples, showing them the beauty of Christ’s grace and love, giving them good tasting , different / spiritual food.
The church is awake while people sleep, while people are in darkness, providing spiritual food for its brethren and allocates portions of this food for missionaries. The church works eagerly while the people are in spiritual darkness showing them the way towards the light of Christ, and giving peoples the hope of the light of Christ to take away the darkness when he returns. The church is a stronghold for everyone.
The church considers the field, the mission field, an area where they can evangelise and claim it for God. Out of her earnings, from the tithes and offerings of the congregation, the church will plant, develop, a vineyard or a new church / cell structure within that community to further evangelism. Out of her earnings - the fruit, the new born Christians who after their initial evangelisation will set up and run the new church.
The church works vigorously and fervently. Her arms are strong. Prayer is strong, faith is strong, people are strong in their faith in God for the tasks they do. Church activities flourish. The church is profitable spiritually. It grows in numbers from the work it does. It’s lamp does not go out at night. It is a light for all to see, shining through the darkness in the world.
The church holds the instruments / materials for working in the community and the necessary resources for life to grow. The church opens its doors to the poor, the needy and the sick. It has the necessary resources and faith to cope and grow.
When it snows - when bad, cold things happen, the church does not fear because God is with her. All people are clothed in scarlet. They have been bought by the blood of the Lamb.
The church covers it bed, protects its roots and builds upon them. The church lifts the Rock as King wearing fine linen and purple. Christ is respected in the realms of heaven and at the gate of hell. He takes his seat in Heaven and sits amongst the Elders of the church.
The church provides coverings for its Brethren in prayer, praise and thanksgiving, supplying missionaries with sashes - strips of cloth- pieces of news, teachings, worship in the church and the community to people on missions who would not otherwise know what the church would be getting involved with / instructed in.
The church is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh with the joy of the Lord, at circumstances of life and at the future. The church speaks wisdom and gives out faithful instruction and teachings.
The church keeps an eye on its affairs and ensures they are all true and correct. The church will never be idle.
New generations arise and bless the church for keeping to the good instruction and decrees of the Lord. Christ will bless the church.
Many religions and sects will do noble things and will start great things for life, but the CHURCH will prevail and surpass them.
Charm is deceptive. Be honest and open.
Beauty is fleeting - It’s no good to have the best church building in the world but have no Christians to fill it.
A church who fears the Lord in reverence will be praised and earn the reward for which the church has worked and run, and her words will bring her praise in the heavens on that glorious day when the pure and spotless bride will meet her bridegroom.
Can this passage be used to represent the church of Christ? In Revelation, the church is portrayed as a woman.
V 10 A wife of noble character who can find?
Who can find good, upright, Christ centred church, strong in all areas of prayer, praise, community and love? Such a church is better than having lots of precious items, or lots of “high points” like conferences, praise parties, camps etc. Her husband - Christ- has full confidence in the church and highly values it. The church should project Christ’s love to give him glory and not shame every day. The church selects and chooses the way in which they want to work and then works eagerly in those areas with full attention.
The church will be like the merchant ships of old, bringing good news to all peoples, showing them the beauty of Christ’s grace and love, giving them good tasting , different / spiritual food.
The church is awake while people sleep, while people are in darkness, providing spiritual food for its brethren and allocates portions of this food for missionaries. The church works eagerly while the people are in spiritual darkness showing them the way towards the light of Christ, and giving peoples the hope of the light of Christ to take away the darkness when he returns. The church is a stronghold for everyone.
The church considers the field, the mission field, an area where they can evangelise and claim it for God. Out of her earnings, from the tithes and offerings of the congregation, the church will plant, develop, a vineyard or a new church / cell structure within that community to further evangelism. Out of her earnings - the fruit, the new born Christians who after their initial evangelisation will set up and run the new church.
The church works vigorously and fervently. Her arms are strong. Prayer is strong, faith is strong, people are strong in their faith in God for the tasks they do. Church activities flourish. The church is profitable spiritually. It grows in numbers from the work it does. It’s lamp does not go out at night. It is a light for all to see, shining through the darkness in the world.
The church holds the instruments / materials for working in the community and the necessary resources for life to grow. The church opens its doors to the poor, the needy and the sick. It has the necessary resources and faith to cope and grow.
When it snows - when bad, cold things happen, the church does not fear because God is with her. All people are clothed in scarlet. They have been bought by the blood of the Lamb.
The church covers it bed, protects its roots and builds upon them. The church lifts the Rock as King wearing fine linen and purple. Christ is respected in the realms of heaven and at the gate of hell. He takes his seat in Heaven and sits amongst the Elders of the church.
The church provides coverings for its Brethren in prayer, praise and thanksgiving, supplying missionaries with sashes - strips of cloth- pieces of news, teachings, worship in the church and the community to people on missions who would not otherwise know what the church would be getting involved with / instructed in.
The church is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh with the joy of the Lord, at circumstances of life and at the future. The church speaks wisdom and gives out faithful instruction and teachings.
The church keeps an eye on its affairs and ensures they are all true and correct. The church will never be idle.
New generations arise and bless the church for keeping to the good instruction and decrees of the Lord. Christ will bless the church.
Many religions and sects will do noble things and will start great things for life, but the CHURCH will prevail and surpass them.
Charm is deceptive. Be honest and open.
Beauty is fleeting - It’s no good to have the best church building in the world but have no Christians to fill it.
A church who fears the Lord in reverence will be praised and earn the reward for which the church has worked and run, and her words will bring her praise in the heavens on that glorious day when the pure and spotless bride will meet her bridegroom.
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