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You alone are God. Let our light shine that others might experience your presence. Grant us the comfort of your peace today. We come before you with praise and thanksgiving with heart, soul, and mind for your faithfulness unto us oh Lord our God, for you alone are worthy of our praise. We shall tell of your righteous acts and we shall be your arms and feet to bring your love to the wounded, the broken hearted and to the end of the wickedness of man.Response to Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23
The Curse of Religious Empowerment Deuteronomy 13
Matthew 13 shares the parable of the sower and the difficulty of the masses to understand. Jesus goes on to tell the story of the wheat and the tares. He shares the parable of the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, the pearl, the dragnet. The chapter finishes as Jesus returns to his hometown and closes with the words of Matthew 13:58 " he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." And yet, the chapter has one of the most profound verses of scripture given the treasures of faith each of us are bound to find. This is Matthew 13:52 "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
How can this be when Deuteronomy 13 recommends that anyone who disagrees with sound doctrine should be put to death? II Thessalonians 2:1-12 "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for (that day will not come) until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Matthew 24:24; "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect - if that were possible. (also see Mark 13:22).
Deuteronomy 13 may be the most unlucky chapter in the Bible. It has been used by the Jews to destroy prophets, bringing the condemnation of Jesus, ("O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.") It was used to destroy Jesus; (Matthew 26:65-66; "Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.) It resulted in the stoning of Stephen. Paul persecuted the early church because of his understanding of this teaching, yet faced death on numerous occasions under judgment of the same scripture. John's brother, James - an apostle - died to the pleasure of the Jews and Peter was miraculously saved. Christians faced death by Jews and today by Muslims. Reformists faced death by the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Splits and divisions have been justified as religious groups throughout history have imagined their understanding of scripture held highest ground.
And yet, who to date has realized the law stated to Love? What denomination or faith has looked at the law and said this isolationism and these divisions of man are anti-chirst! What powerful delusion is this causing us to believe these lies, causing us all to be condemned? Yesterday we studied Deuteronomy 12. The passage referred to Love God + Love Man on numerous occasions. We reflected on the multitude of scriptures that called us to love all men on earth. We found these virtues of love, joy, and peace to be completely divine and jealousy, rage, envy, strife to be completely against his Spirit. We investigated the demons and idols of our imaginations that have resulted in spiritual realities. We have imagined the miracles and powers of Jesus to have been given for us alone. We have granted d'evil a mighty power to destroy and our Savior and Lord nothing more than a crack in a rock that none of us can get through. We live in the dilusion. We have made Christ and everything that He represented to be anti-Christ. We have developed our own rules and accusations and judgements. We have set ourselves on God's throne as righteous against the perversions of mankind. We have sought our spiritual leaders on earth and set them up before the One True God who desires to meet us face to face. If we see God today when we look in our mirror and reflect upon ourselves, we must fall on our knees and defeat the anti-Christ with every part of our being and step out in Love God + Love Man.
Jesus Christ did not claim to be God. He said I and the Father are one. They had truly become one in the Spirit. He claimed it to be an error to call Him good for no one was good but God alone. (Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19) He also wants us to be one within the Spirit of God. (John 17:21-23) As I walk in the Spirit of Love, I become one with God. Heaven is the completion of that union! Jesus Christ was the way - He became God's atoning sacrifice so that all men could find that unity with their Father. He alone paid the penalty for sin. Many men have died as martyrs unto themselves as they refused to follow the religions of the world, and thereby became good witnesses leading to revivals and courage in ideological faiths, but only Jesus Christ died so that all men might be saved. This was according to the plan of God who made reunification possible. Jesus Christ became the truth. He chastised religious practice that would separate righteousness from the masses and continued to refine the Levites to have a heart for the sinner. He continually pointed man back to the Father and told the sinner their sins were forgiven, go and sin no more. He repeats that good news moment by moment for all of eternity. He became eternal life and He rose again and ascended unto the Father and became His mighty right hand and outstretched arm, preparing our eternal home and calling all men back to the garden. He did not exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, nor did he set himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God. He only claimed to possess a unity with the Father.
In the baptism of John, there was a man who had been born again as a new son or daughter of God. This child of God was symbolically blessed by His Holy Father with the Spirit of unity as water (or fire as both reflect the cleansing power of the Spirit) covered his head. Jesus, too, as a sign and a seal for our understanding also entered the river to be baptised by a man. God claimed Him as the first of many brethren as He confirmed His call to Jesus and John in all of our hearing: "This is my beLOVEed Son, listen to Him."
Until we release our divisions and judgments in the light of God and follow the words of Jesus Christ to Love all men as ourselves; until we fall on our faces before God as his children requesting forgiveness for our fellowman (as exemplified by Moses), we will not see Christ's return. (II Thesalonians 2:7-8) "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." Until that day, we will continue to kill one another in the name of God as required by the curse of Deuteronomy 13.
Legalistic Drowning Deuteronomy 14:1-21
Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."
Genesis 7:2 Take with you seven (or seven pairs) of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.
Romans 8:16 "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Acts 10:14-16 "'Surely not, Lord!' Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven."
Would you like to follow all the rules of the Bible? If you would like to reflect on the Epistle of Barnabas as he attempted to explain these nutritional laws and their symbolism, check my blog from February 21 on Leviticus 11. I don't think most of us worry too much about the hoofs or whether the sea creatures we partake of have fins or scales. (Are catfish outlawed?) Would you like to honor the memory of the dead and wear special clothes in their honor without consideration that you have somehow become defiled?
James 2:8-13; "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
Romans 3:10-18 "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.' ( Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20) 'Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.' (Psalm 5:9) 'The poison of vipers is on their lips."(Psalm 140:3, Luke 3:7) 'Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.' (Psalm 10:7) 'Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.'(Isaiah 59:7-8) 'There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Psalm 36:1)
Therefore, I will not comment further on the unclean and clean animals referenced in this passage exept to apply a moral of the passage as "honor God in what you say and do." and do not become overwhelmed in lording these rules over your fellowman. Whatever your religious practice, do not boil a kid in its mother's milk. Do not destroy the new convert within the rules and regulations of your religious practice. God will feed the young child within your presence and you will observe the power of God within your midst if you will choose to honor Him with your hearts and lives as you reach out to your fellowman and bring him or her into your fellowship. He will dress the new convert in new clothes - and you can help - as bridesmaids and groomsmen.
A Celebration in Righteousness Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Isaiah 45:24-25 "They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' "All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. But in the Lord all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult."
In a sense, the service of the Levites was a curse (Genesis 49:5-7). They received no inheritance but the sin of the people. The people were asked to take care of them. (Deuteronomy 14:27). Numbers 18:1-7 also limited the people other than the levites from coming near the temple. Therefore, we might presume that not all people are called to enter a house of worship. Some may even find such attendance to be an inconvenience, and it is not the purpose of those called of God to enter to hold such a bar over their fellowman! (boiling the kid in its mothers milk.) And yet, it is important to set aside a tithe to be used towards the coming together within the Kingdom of God.
II Corinthians 8:11-14; "Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,
With such gift, celebrate with family and friends, sharing in love and celebration as required by the law. (Deuteronomy 14:26 "Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.) Some may say this may only be done in the house of God, but Matthew 18:20 states: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
With this teaching, don't imagine for a moment that I have recommended against going to church and supporting community and worldwide ministry. This would go against every teaching previously relayed regarding loving and honoring God. And yet, if your friend or neighbor is not at that stage and they are not willing to go to the house of God, there is nothing stopping you from celebrating with one another through socializing within the community and through community events and activities. I believe this also follows Deuteronomy 12:20-28. The teaching of "you shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk" and don't suck the life out of the animal may very well be speaking of friendship evangelism. Be friends with the world and quit pretending to understand God beyond his commandment to love by applying any form of judgment or condemnation. Yet, keep yourself pure as you apply the fruits of the Spirit. Drink, but not to the point of debauchery, and not if it is offensive to those you are with.
Freedom From Debt and Poverty Deuteronomy 15
Houses and Lands! Riches and esteem! The haves and the have nots! Glory, glory, glory to man. The first step of Love is forgiveness. The world is absorbed in financial bondage. The last thing the rich could imagine might be to forgive debts and start over, but that is exactly what must happen. The option is to continue to watch bankruptcies and forclosures, death and suffering, war and international demise. More and more people are entering poverty as a few with aptitude and opportunity prey on societal corruption. If the common worker were not burdened by debt and paid a fair wage, they could afford healthcare and increase the demand for all products and services. The poor could afford to get married and invest in healthy relationships, avoiding the need for state funded abortions. The destitute would find release from depression and low self esteem and find renewed motivation to work instead of relying on social assistance. The need for taxes would decrease, yet the tax base would flourish! And yet, it will take the courage of all of mankind to forgive one another our debts and to serve one another. The release from the bondage of depression can happen overnight and does not need to come by war or international collapse. We can experience capitalism with heart governed by socialistic controls over our greed. We can start again uniting all men and offering life, liberty, justice, the pursuit of happiness, freedom, hope, and a future.
If we truly want to govern the world by biblical standards, this is the best place to start. This is righteousness. This is love in action. Seven year cycles and a year of jubilee. Not a bad plan for our modern planetary crisis nor the opportunity for celebration as one body. This is the undiscovered country!
'Loving the Lord Our God With All' Deuteronomy15:12-23
All men are created equal, but sometimes, circumstances cause one man to serve another. Nowhere in the Bible does it say slavery is wrong, but it is governed by the same laws of catch and release. Slavery again offered a humane way to care for the poor. How dare we hold slave owners in such low regard as though we were more righteous than they. However, just as we should not beat our wives or children, we should not mistreat slaves as anything but members of our own households. Love your fellowman, rich and poor alike, slave or free, employer or employee, male or female, domestic or alien, clean or unclean.
The requirement of the tithe and presenting ourselves before our God in fellowship and holiness is visited again in Deuteronomy 15:19-23. If our offering is found to be impure, which all of our offerings are bound to be, we must offer ourselves to the Lord in the fellowship with our communities, both religious and otherwise.
Response to Luke 8:40-9:6
Power and Great Glory Luke 8:40-56 (Matthew 9:18-26, Mark 5:21-43)
Jesus is returning from the cleansing the unclean man of the Gerasenes. ( Josephus (Life, IX, 42) refers to Gadara as possessing territory "which lay on the frontiers of Tiberias" (= the Sea of Galilee). That this territory reached to the Sea may be inferred from the fact that ancient coins bearing the name Gadara often portray a ship.) http://www.textexcavation.com/exorcismgadarene.html
He is met by Jairus, ruler of a local synagogue who well may have witnessed Jesus healing powers and may well be included with those who had concern about His preaching about the forgiveness of sins. Regardless of any possible disagreements on faith, Jesus went with him with no apparent complaint or judgment on his faith or previous conduct (any speculation good or bad is only that). Before they reached Jairus home, they recieved information that his daughter had already died. Jesus cautioned him immediately not to fear but only believe. They went to the home and made entry through the gathered mourners who knew well that the girl had died, even though Jesus attempted to dissuade them. In the solace of the girl's room, Jairus daughter was raised from death by the power available through the ministry of this man, Jesus Christ.
This story is reflected in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Little is changed between the gospels and each tells the story of the woman with the flow of blood on the road toward Jairus house. Jesus brings to light the fact that her faith has made her well for all who were following. Luke 8:48 "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
This is not unlike his earlier statements: Luke 4:35 "Be quiet, Come out of him!" Luke 5:20 "Friend, your sins are forgiven." Luke 5:24 "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." Luke 6:10 "Stretch out your hand." Luke 7:14 "Young man, I say to you, get up!" Luke 7:48 "Your sins are forgiven." Luke 7:50 "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 8:39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you." The Centurian of Luke 7 understood this authority Jesus had best. Luke 7:6b-8 "I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
How is our faith? Do we deserve to be healed? Do we believe Romans 14:8 "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord?" Do we believe that on the other side of death, our Father will grab our outstretched hand, and say those words of Matthew 25:23 "Well done, good and faithful child! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in my happiness!"
I Corinthians 15:51-52a "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye." Revelation 21:3b-5a "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, 'I am making everything new!'" We shall all be healed. He holds the power and He is mighty to save. And yet, perhaps you are still in bondage to your sin and your circumstances in life and cannot believe this good news. Perhaps you are more reflective of the man with no hope from John 5:6 "When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'" He will not force anyone's hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJcHat3b-PE&feature=related
Step Out in Faith Luke 9:1-6
Do you truly believe the good news of Salvation? Have you doused your childlike faith with the burden of theology? Do you believe your God has the power to heal? Do you believe you are a sinner saved only by the grace of God? Are you willing to loose the bonds of your neighbor and forgive him or her of any wrongs against you? Do you believe if you, a man can forgive sins that your Father in heaven would not be willing to do the same? Are you willing to share your faith in this good news by loving your world?
Perhaps you're still saying "Its too hard! I don't have the power to heal!" Jesus answered in Luke 5:23 "Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?" Do you have the power to forgive your neighbor? I think you do. Can you tell them you believe God loves them and you've heard He loves them too? I think you can. Can you pray for healing? I know you can and you just might be amazed!
Don't just leave it all with mere words though, take action - be involved in the process. Step out in faith. If you meet rejection to your friendship, shake it off and step into the next opportunity. Don't press it, just let faith (love) be part and parcel of everything you are.
Response to Psalm 71:1-24
Rebellious children, I know them right well. Wicked? Yes! But in need of love and dealing with the trials of life all the same. They have a knowledge of God, but a need to go their own way. Just like the righteous, they deal with affliction, sin, and the consequences of bad choices. Like every person I have ever met, each of them has been in touch with God from their youth. Yet, my rebellious children were not princes intent upon usurping the throne.
This introduction may be totally off base as there is no heading confirming that it is a Psalm of David. However, I could not help but wonder whether it represents David's flight from his son Absalom in II Samuel 15-18. (A messenger came and told David, 'The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.' Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, 'Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin upon us and put the city to the sword.' II Samuel 15:13-14). What we do know is that the Psalmist depicts himself to be aged and in distress.
Needless to say, I believe wickedness is a dillusion of our imaginations as we consider individuals outside of our limited comfort zones to be the representatives of wickedness. Even Absalom and Ahithophel showed righteousness in their lives. Earlier in David's life he was on the run from Saul who also sought after God, but God had turned his back on him. Had he not, we would not have the wonderful Psalms of David which reflected the tragedy of the Cross and made the Bible the book of amazement it is today. To judge Saul, Absalom, or Ahithophel as wicked just because David depicts them as such in the Psalms is a grievous mistake. Each of them had succombed to evil actions and wicked behaviour just as the demon posessed man we reflected on yesterday in Luke 8:26-39. Most of us have also.
Thus, with many words, I have presented the conclusion that we all possess righteousness and wickedness. My children have sensed that much of my own behaviour in their lives stemmed from wickedness, yet I am able to pray right along with the Psalmist. The world outside of your faith generally assumes there is some sort of evil or wickedness within the walls of your house of worship; Thus, my consideration that wickedness is a dillusion of our imaginations regarding our fellow human beings. Lets consider the prayer of this Psalm as we consider the afflictions of our imaginations represented by the very real demons amongst us.
If we run to thee Lord as our place of refuge, protect us from shame. Hear us as we call Lord - rescue us, deliver us, and save us. Be our rock of refuge as life tends to overwhelm us. Command the enemy to leave us Lord, for in thy strength and righteousnes have we placed our faith. Deliver us from evil Lord, for our heart is faint in his seemingly cruel grasp.
O Sovereign Lord, you have been our hope, our confidence, and our prayer since childhood. You have strengthened and provided for us to this day. We will ever praise you. Bless our hope in you Oh Lord and avoid our shame as our community is watching to witness the justification of our faith. Our mouth shall tell of your great love and your glory forevermore.
As age creeps in and death draws near, do not forget your children Lord. Keep our light burning as our world looks on. Let no one say 'His God has left Him' and fall away on our account. Stay ever near us and cause our worship to forever pass through our lips that others may take note and glorify our Rock and our Redeemer.
We choose this day, Father, to forever hope! We choose this day, Father, to forever praise! We affirm that your righteousness and salvation is beyond man's comprehension. We proclaim the knowledge you have provided of your mighty acts! We proclaim your glory and majesty on display through the amazing history of your awesome creation.
From our earliest days, Lord, you have spoken to us so that today we can proclaim your wonder! As we near the end, Lord, turn not away from your children. Guide us as we share your love with our fellowman and lead us in your path toward everlasting life. We believe, Lord, that your love and righteousness shall reach the very ends of the earth. Your Kingdom reigns on earth as it is in Heaven. You alone are God.
So let our light shine that others might experience your presence. Grant us the comfort of your peace today. We come before you with praise and thanksgiving with heart, soul, and mind for your faithfulness unto us oh Lord our God, for you alone are worthy of our praise. We shall tell of your righteous acts and we shall be your arms and feet to bring your love to the wounded, the broken hearted and to the end the wickedness of man.
Response to Proverbs 12:5-7
Remember those cartoons with the angel on one shoulder and d'evil on the other? Such is this Proverb. The perseverance of plans built on faith, hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, meekness, and self control will mend broken relationships and meet with justice. They shall build a house that not even the gates of hell can overcome. Yet, plans built upon revenge, strife, division, hate, dishonor, and the like will end in heartache, bloodshed, and disillusionment.
His instructions are worth patient effort (try a lifetime)!
Until Tomorrow
Rick
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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