During the last leg of the day, we had the priviledge of listening to Steven Meyer of the Discovery Institute. Dr. Meyer is one of the leading individuals presenting the case for intelligent design, and this is what he showed us tonight. He shared his testimony, why he has pursued forming a "rigorous scientific argument" in favor of intelligent design, and the situation when the person (I can't remember his name) responsible for the content of the Smithsonian's publication allowed Dr. Meyer's article into the magazine. He was literally put through the ringer for even allowing an article that didn't support evolution into the journal- nevermind that the article was well written, accurate, and worth considering, which was his opinion. This man was later vindicated by a government agency for this abuse. His entire story is in Ben Stein's movie "EXpelled."
Dr. Meyer also gave us several of the examples he's used to exemplify ID- the nanotechnology that exists inside each of our cells, the motors that govern our cellular functions. The nail in the evolutionary coffin is that no one can explain the origin of information. Life does NOT happen without the information, and information had to be in place prior to, not evolving later. Even in the smallest of single cell organisms, these tiny machines with 20+ moving parts could not have evolved. One thing that was funny to me was that when he would put pictures of these miniature motors on the screen, you could see the recognition in the faces of the crowd. Not mine! All I see is a picture with lots of different parts. Just an example of how non-mechanically I think :-)
For the final presentation of the night, Joseph Farah (founder of Worldnetdaily.com) inspired us to stand strong to our convictions. Biblical convictions in particular. He started out by saying that he had a great talk all written out, just to listen to Alan Keyes present it the night before! :-) He then went on to tell us about the Tea Party movement, and how the masses are jumping on board in waves, but also how some groups are trying to limit what it is standing for... ie. economic change instead of a sweeping return to constitutional rights and freedoms. Then he shared the beginning of what I thought was one of the most convicting portions of the whole conference. He began with sharing what had happended earlier this summer with WorldnetDaily and Ann Coulter... ending with a list of conservative leaders who are bending on the issue of same-sex marriage. The point is that if you claim Christianity, if you stand by God's law, if you want to reflect Biblical morality... you better not be compromising on the issue of homosexuality. God could not have been more clear on His position regarding this sin. It is punishable by death, it is called "wicked," "perversion," "unnatural," "penalty...." (Genesis, Leviticus, Romans, Jude, 1 Corinthians) There is no "gray area." Marriage is defined by Christ Himself as between a man and woman. We can justify whatever we want- we've become very good at it. But if we take on the name of Christ as Christians, and then try to explain away what God has made very clear... we'd better be prepared to reap the consequences of our hypocrital testimony, from both God and the world.
How's that for controversial? :-) And please note- I have people I know and love who are gay. But when the time comes for me to stand on the Word, I pray for courage and strength and love towards all who disagree. We are called to be NOT of this world...
Showing posts with label Scripture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scripture. Show all posts
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Confessions
Confession #1: Gabe makes fabulous crepes. I do not. :-) I'm trying to learn, but just can't bring myself to make the batter as runny as milk. I always think, "Oh, that's close enough," but it still ends up "fluffier" than his! And I'm making progress with cottage cheese- it's one of my "mind over matter" foods... (it so helps to have raspberry jam to eat with it!)
Confession #2: I still haven't finished copying Genesis. I know, I was almost done a LONG time ago, but it fell off my radar. I did chapter 47, and am halfway through 48. I'm sooo close! Only 2 1/2 to go! I have been working on Revelation though; I copy it during church because we are going through it during service, and having just finished our class not so long ago, I'm not learning a whole lot of new material. I listen with one ear and write with the other... wait, not really... ;-) I'm on Chapter 17 of that book. I still love the process- since starting I've had occasions where I remember that I read/copied that somewhere in regards to something someone was saying, and I'll go look it up. It sticks in my memory so much better when I've actually written it out. :-)
Confession #2: I still haven't finished copying Genesis. I know, I was almost done a LONG time ago, but it fell off my radar. I did chapter 47, and am halfway through 48. I'm sooo close! Only 2 1/2 to go! I have been working on Revelation though; I copy it during church because we are going through it during service, and having just finished our class not so long ago, I'm not learning a whole lot of new material. I listen with one ear and write with the other... wait, not really... ;-) I'm on Chapter 17 of that book. I still love the process- since starting I've had occasions where I remember that I read/copied that somewhere in regards to something someone was saying, and I'll go look it up. It sticks in my memory so much better when I've actually written it out. :-)
And, just for fun....
Kiera, helping with a big batch of breakfast burritos for the freezer.
Kiera, helping with a big batch of breakfast burritos for the freezer.Tuesday, May 4, 2010
In my inbox
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days..."
Deuteronomy 30: 19-20a
He gives us the choice. It's all up to us.
Deuteronomy 30: 19-20a
He gives us the choice. It's all up to us.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Jonah Revelation
This is more for my own record than anything else. I hope it makes sense, but I want to get it down before I lose it :-)
This morning we're discussing Jonah 2 in Sunday School. I find the line of thinking that Jonah actually died in the belly of the fish to probably be more accurate, even though it is contrary to traditional teaching. In his prayer in Jonah 2, he refers to being in Sheol and being brought up from the "pit," and if we look at this literally, he was probably in Sheol. This is both possible and probable due to the story of Lazarus and the rich man told by Jesus (Luke 16) which provides an example of the awareness of one's existence in the afterlife (Sheol being the realm of the dead). In addition, Jesus makes reference to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and nights as a type of Himself being in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matt 12:40). Note that Jesus is referring to the length of His death- if we consider Jonah as a type, it would be safe to assume that he was dead for three days and nights.
As expected when one explores outside the traditional thought, most disagreed with me. Which is fine- we're all supposed to be as Bereans and see what the Spirit shows us!
I pondered this understanding for a while, and during the beginning of service, I jolted in my seat and asked Gabe for my Bible. In Matthew 12:41, Jesus makes a second reference to Himself and Jonah:
"The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."
I didn't understand what this meant. In class we discussed how the stories from the other men on the boat probably preceded Jonah, possibly all the way to Nineveh, and that Jonah's "survival" had an impact on why Nineveh repented at Jonah's message. But all of the sudden it hit me- this statement makes sense if I consider it in light of pattern (Hebraic prophetic interpretation): Jonah being a physical type of Christ, in that his death and resurrection solidified the testimony of his word, and Christ's resurrection proved His power over death. The difference being that Jonah glorified God for his return from Sheol while Christ was Himself glorified.
I'm not going to say that I'm for sure right, but I will say that I am even more comfortable with this theory because of my experience this morning. I love it when I offer up my confusion, and in return receive a little glimpse of understanding. He is Good and Faithful!!
(If you have any comments, I'd love to hear them. We grow through challenging our assumptions, and Jonah is an example of how we've built doctrine out of tradition, instead of tradition out of doctrine. :-)
This morning we're discussing Jonah 2 in Sunday School. I find the line of thinking that Jonah actually died in the belly of the fish to probably be more accurate, even though it is contrary to traditional teaching. In his prayer in Jonah 2, he refers to being in Sheol and being brought up from the "pit," and if we look at this literally, he was probably in Sheol. This is both possible and probable due to the story of Lazarus and the rich man told by Jesus (Luke 16) which provides an example of the awareness of one's existence in the afterlife (Sheol being the realm of the dead). In addition, Jesus makes reference to Jonah being in the belly of the fish three days and nights as a type of Himself being in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matt 12:40). Note that Jesus is referring to the length of His death- if we consider Jonah as a type, it would be safe to assume that he was dead for three days and nights.
As expected when one explores outside the traditional thought, most disagreed with me. Which is fine- we're all supposed to be as Bereans and see what the Spirit shows us!
I pondered this understanding for a while, and during the beginning of service, I jolted in my seat and asked Gabe for my Bible. In Matthew 12:41, Jesus makes a second reference to Himself and Jonah:
"The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here."
I didn't understand what this meant. In class we discussed how the stories from the other men on the boat probably preceded Jonah, possibly all the way to Nineveh, and that Jonah's "survival" had an impact on why Nineveh repented at Jonah's message. But all of the sudden it hit me- this statement makes sense if I consider it in light of pattern (Hebraic prophetic interpretation): Jonah being a physical type of Christ, in that his death and resurrection solidified the testimony of his word, and Christ's resurrection proved His power over death. The difference being that Jonah glorified God for his return from Sheol while Christ was Himself glorified.
I'm not going to say that I'm for sure right, but I will say that I am even more comfortable with this theory because of my experience this morning. I love it when I offer up my confusion, and in return receive a little glimpse of understanding. He is Good and Faithful!!
(If you have any comments, I'd love to hear them. We grow through challenging our assumptions, and Jonah is an example of how we've built doctrine out of tradition, instead of tradition out of doctrine. :-)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
A very personal post
I am trying to play catch up tonight on our Revelation II class, as the final opens next week, and I am still 5-6 weeks behind in my posts. The tests are easy to keep up on; I normally can finish one in 10 minutes at the most, but the posts take serious time and thought.
I had one I didn't want to answer, and yet felt drawn to. As I started to ponder it, more came from my heart than I expected, and after finishing it I thought it would be good to share. I hope this is a blessing to you.
When was the last time you told Jesus you love Him? List seven reasons that you do.
At first I thought, "I can't answer that! It's personal!" But this time I thought, "When did I? Why don't I?" And here's my answer...
I know I know my personal definition of love. How I feel about God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit does not fit into my catagory of love. Love does not seem a strong enough word to describe my gratitude, my unworthiness, my eternal service to Him who gave everything to save me. I don't want this to sound like an excuse, but I just haven't said "I love you" to my Savior anytime recently. I guess I wish I had some kind of divine term to use instead of "love." Or maybe I need a better definition of love, a more divine understanding.
Some reasons, though I know I could go on forever through my tears...
1. I know not from which He saved me. I have no idea what in this life and the next I could have expected had HE Not called me for His own.
2. He is so faithful, though I am not. The world offers a million distractions which pull my attentions away from Him, and though He literally has a million+ others to be paying attention to, He's there listening when I turn my heart back to Him.
3. He provides for me, though I sometimes fail to recognize Him as the ultimate Provider.
4. He wants to teach me. At times I feel so unworthy to hold His Word, to know and understand such profound details of His amazing plan.
5. He gave me a husband whom I do not deserve and who loves me despite myself, and three children so far for whom I pray desperately for wisdom to raise to honor Him.
6. He wants to use me for His kingdom work. This blows my mind.
7. He wants to spend eternity with me. How can I not love somebody who love me so much?
Thank you Lord. I do love you, more than I can possibly fathom.
I had one I didn't want to answer, and yet felt drawn to. As I started to ponder it, more came from my heart than I expected, and after finishing it I thought it would be good to share. I hope this is a blessing to you.
When was the last time you told Jesus you love Him? List seven reasons that you do.
At first I thought, "I can't answer that! It's personal!" But this time I thought, "When did I? Why don't I?" And here's my answer...
I know I know my personal definition of love. How I feel about God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit does not fit into my catagory of love. Love does not seem a strong enough word to describe my gratitude, my unworthiness, my eternal service to Him who gave everything to save me. I don't want this to sound like an excuse, but I just haven't said "I love you" to my Savior anytime recently. I guess I wish I had some kind of divine term to use instead of "love." Or maybe I need a better definition of love, a more divine understanding.
Some reasons, though I know I could go on forever through my tears...
1. I know not from which He saved me. I have no idea what in this life and the next I could have expected had HE Not called me for His own.
2. He is so faithful, though I am not. The world offers a million distractions which pull my attentions away from Him, and though He literally has a million+ others to be paying attention to, He's there listening when I turn my heart back to Him.
3. He provides for me, though I sometimes fail to recognize Him as the ultimate Provider.
4. He wants to teach me. At times I feel so unworthy to hold His Word, to know and understand such profound details of His amazing plan.
5. He gave me a husband whom I do not deserve and who loves me despite myself, and three children so far for whom I pray desperately for wisdom to raise to honor Him.
6. He wants to use me for His kingdom work. This blows my mind.
7. He wants to spend eternity with me. How can I not love somebody who love me so much?
Thank you Lord. I do love you, more than I can possibly fathom.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Playing Catch Up...
I finally caught up, just in time to be done :-) I finished my last two posts in our Galatians class, quickly took the final, and now our Revelation 2 class starts Monday! My goal is simply not to be laxadaisy in getting these posts done on time- while I still get the good grade I desire, I miss out on a lot of exchange and fellowship.
Last night at work I listened through the first hour of our next class, and had some treasures to share. I may have posted these before, but I just adore them. I love the details the Spirit has included in Scripture... the parallels, the types. It is simply amazing, each one laying another brick on my foundation of faith...
Types in the Book of Ruth
Boaz: Goel, the Kinsman Redeemer; must be a kinsman, must be able to perform, must be willing, and must assume all obligations
Naomi: Israel
Ruth: Gentile Bride
Observations from the Book of Ruth
* In order to bring Ruth to Naomi, Naomi had to be displaced from her land.
* What the Law could not do, Grace did. (Boaz marrying a gentile woman)
* Ruth does not replace Naomi.
* Ruth learns of Boaz's ways through Naomi.
* Naomi meets Boaz through Ruth.
* No matter how much Boaz loved Ruth, he had to wait for her move.
* Boaz, not Ruth, confronts the nearer kinsman.
Aren't those rich?
From the Koinonia Institute's Notes on Revelation compiled by Chuck Missler
...And is laxadaisy a real word?
Last night at work I listened through the first hour of our next class, and had some treasures to share. I may have posted these before, but I just adore them. I love the details the Spirit has included in Scripture... the parallels, the types. It is simply amazing, each one laying another brick on my foundation of faith...
Types in the Book of Ruth
Boaz: Goel, the Kinsman Redeemer; must be a kinsman, must be able to perform, must be willing, and must assume all obligations
Naomi: Israel
Ruth: Gentile Bride
Observations from the Book of Ruth
* In order to bring Ruth to Naomi, Naomi had to be displaced from her land.
* What the Law could not do, Grace did. (Boaz marrying a gentile woman)
* Ruth does not replace Naomi.
* Ruth learns of Boaz's ways through Naomi.
* Naomi meets Boaz through Ruth.
* No matter how much Boaz loved Ruth, he had to wait for her move.
* Boaz, not Ruth, confronts the nearer kinsman.
Aren't those rich?
From the Koinonia Institute's Notes on Revelation compiled by Chuck Missler
...And is laxadaisy a real word?
Friday, October 30, 2009
Some things that touched me...
On a T-shirt at the SP conference last weekend:
It's against my relationship to have a religion.
Love it.
From Galatians class:
There are only two religions in the world: the true and the false. False religions are alike in that they say, "Something in my hand I bring." The true religion revealed from heaven [Not created by any man!!!] leads one to sing, "Nothing in my hand I bring."
From Galatians
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (13)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.(16)
Along those lines...
"Go, and sin no more..." John 8:11
It's against my relationship to have a religion.
Love it.
From Galatians class:
There are only two religions in the world: the true and the false. False religions are alike in that they say, "Something in my hand I bring." The true religion revealed from heaven [Not created by any man!!!] leads one to sing, "Nothing in my hand I bring."
From Galatians
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (13)
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.(16)
Along those lines...
"Go, and sin no more..." John 8:11
Friday, September 18, 2009
Melia's rendition of John 3:16
John 3:16
For God so loved the world He gave His only gotten Son, Whoever believes in Him Should not be punished but have everliving lasting life.
*grin*
For God so loved the world He gave His only gotten Son, Whoever believes in Him Should not be punished but have everliving lasting life.
*grin*
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I Love Parallels-- from the Word
I am slowly working my way through The Kingdom, Power, and Glory by Chuck and Nancy Missler. Gabe and I are considering leading a small group in the fall-- and I've really been wanting to check this out, probably because He seems to really be pruning me in the area of obedience lately, and this book's subtitle is "The Overcomer's Handbook."
Anyway, a quote that spoke to me, as I've never gone this deep in this area before...I understood it, but haven't really delved into that understanding.
"Complete salvation therefore means not only receiving God's Life in our spirits (justification), but also renewing every part of our souls and bodies as well (sanctification). Many Christians take only the first step of salvation and stop there. Like the Israelites, they put Christ's blood on the doorposts of their homes, but they forget to purge the leaven [sin] from their lives."
Mmhmmm. Love it love it love it. Such a perfect word picture.
Anyway, a quote that spoke to me, as I've never gone this deep in this area before...I understood it, but haven't really delved into that understanding.
"Complete salvation therefore means not only receiving God's Life in our spirits (justification), but also renewing every part of our souls and bodies as well (sanctification). Many Christians take only the first step of salvation and stop there. Like the Israelites, they put Christ's blood on the doorposts of their homes, but they forget to purge the leaven [sin] from their lives."
Mmhmmm. Love it love it love it. Such a perfect word picture.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Hermeneutics
I've been pondering this post for a long time- It is difficult to put faith into words sometimes! After a request to more fully explain what to take literally and not, we enrolled in a Hermeneutics class. I gleaned a great deal from the class, but have been unsure of how to verbalize it. I think sharing notes is the easiest way to explain it? We'll see.
Hermeneutics refers to your method of interpreting the Bible.
I don't know what I'm classified as- when I read things about "literalist," they are terribly limiting by their own definitions and assumptions- This may just be the different authors or what, but I would say that their perspectives definitely skew their opinions!
However, I do agree with these statements regarding Bible study:
* God means what He says, and says what He means.
* The Bible is an integrated whole: Every detail is there by design.
* Nothing is trivial: All things are for our learning.
* God is His own interpreter. (Not such and such teacher, or translation, or denomination!)
I also have been long vexed by the arguments for the different translations, as they all have their pros/cons, but obviously, none is perfect. Some are better than others, *most* all can be used to bring someone to faith, but for study purposes, it's better to get as close to original as possible, right? The conclusion I believe I was given is that no matter what "translation" I am using, none of them are the direct word of God. The Words of Scripture are God's own- in the original languages. (That's why I look up what the Greek definition is, not Websters!)
This is why I find it so exciting that I do not have to know Hebrew or Greek to be able to find out what God was originally saying; we live in an age where research is open to all, and thanks to computers, I don't have to have a personal library to do it. (Not to say I shouldn't be building one, but you know...) Example: blueletterbible.com with just a click you can access lexicons, translations, concordances.... It's amazing!
A few other notes:
All Scripture is given by inspiration [Godbreathed]
of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
I like this expansion....
“All Scripture is . . . profitable” in four ways: for
doctrine—that’s what’s right; for reproof—that’s
what’s not right; for correction—that’s how to get
right; and for instruction in righteousness—that’s
how to stay right.
*What about figures of speech?
There are over 200 different types of figures of speech in Scripture- No, we don't take them literally, as they are not meant to be. But they are more than worthy of study and consideration; the deeper meanings are such a treasure! Often, they can be used to help interpret a different scripture because of the correlating figures of speech... it's a treasure hunt!
Pitfalls to be aware of regarding bible study:
1. Analysis Paralysis: Data lacking relevance- This is a spiritual study, not intellectual only.
2. Textual Doubts: Founded in "scholarship" or arrogant skepticism?
3. Relying on Church History: Set aside your traditional teaching and read the Word!
4. Not "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth"
5. Distinguish between Israel and the Church: the Lord deals with Israel and the church mutually exclusively; their origin, mission, and destiny are each unique.
6. The Hazards of Presuppositions: Examine the texts for yourself- sometimes we are taught theories that are more simplistic than accurate. Line them up Biblically and make your own decision.
7. Lacking the Whole Counsel of God: the entire Word is the final test, don't let single contexts drag you down without comparing them to what the whole context says.
Preconditions to Study:
* Are you saved? Essential prerequisite.
* Prayer! Always! Be under the tutorship of the Author!
* Obedience. Be pre-commited and surrendered, not in a rebellious frame of mind.
A love of the Bible requires knowing your Bible; Knowing your Bible leads to a deeper love of Him.
Why would I say this method of interpretation is correct? I find freedom in making God responsible for what I believe because of what He has inspired instead of having myself be responsible to decide what in the Bible is truth and what isn't.
Why would I say I'm right in my understanding or learning? Other than the obvious written Truths, such as the Gospel, I wouldn't, not for sure. This is a lifelong journey! But you know those little bites of wonder that the Spirit shares with you? Those I will cling to with certainty, until the Spirit or the Word tells me differently. There is no greater high than having Him give me a treasure, and that alone will keep me on my journey. They may sometimes be far and few between, but the Word has lots to keep me busy! :-) It's probably a good thing, because some lessons take years to fully grasp and apply in obedience- that is definitely a personal experience! It's hard to "put off the old... and put on the new" but it is a blessing to obey!
And a further note: I don't agree with everything that one person teaches. Oftentimes I have this persistent thought to reconsider and examine something myself which makes me not immediately agree; than later as I research it, there is a deeper lesson or a different perspective that I need to consider, either for or against. The Word needs to be our prioritized reference, not man.
I hope this encourages most of you! I find that it helps me to be able to reiterate what I have learned, and this was certainly an exercise! And feel free to agree to disagree- with me! Not with Him! ;-) Your comments and questions are welcome, as there was tons of info and examples I did not include in the interests of brevity. (I know...what brevity?!!)
Hermeneutics refers to your method of interpreting the Bible.
I don't know what I'm classified as- when I read things about "literalist," they are terribly limiting by their own definitions and assumptions- This may just be the different authors or what, but I would say that their perspectives definitely skew their opinions!
However, I do agree with these statements regarding Bible study:
* God means what He says, and says what He means.
* The Bible is an integrated whole: Every detail is there by design.
* Nothing is trivial: All things are for our learning.
* God is His own interpreter. (Not such and such teacher, or translation, or denomination!)
I also have been long vexed by the arguments for the different translations, as they all have their pros/cons, but obviously, none is perfect. Some are better than others, *most* all can be used to bring someone to faith, but for study purposes, it's better to get as close to original as possible, right? The conclusion I believe I was given is that no matter what "translation" I am using, none of them are the direct word of God. The Words of Scripture are God's own- in the original languages. (That's why I look up what the Greek definition is, not Websters!)
This is why I find it so exciting that I do not have to know Hebrew or Greek to be able to find out what God was originally saying; we live in an age where research is open to all, and thanks to computers, I don't have to have a personal library to do it. (Not to say I shouldn't be building one, but you know...) Example: blueletterbible.com with just a click you can access lexicons, translations, concordances.... It's amazing!
A few other notes:
All Scripture is given by inspiration [Godbreathed]
of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
I like this expansion....
“All Scripture is . . . profitable” in four ways: for
doctrine—that’s what’s right; for reproof—that’s
what’s not right; for correction—that’s how to get
right; and for instruction in righteousness—that’s
how to stay right.
*What about figures of speech?
There are over 200 different types of figures of speech in Scripture- No, we don't take them literally, as they are not meant to be. But they are more than worthy of study and consideration; the deeper meanings are such a treasure! Often, they can be used to help interpret a different scripture because of the correlating figures of speech... it's a treasure hunt!
Pitfalls to be aware of regarding bible study:
1. Analysis Paralysis: Data lacking relevance- This is a spiritual study, not intellectual only.
2. Textual Doubts: Founded in "scholarship" or arrogant skepticism?
3. Relying on Church History: Set aside your traditional teaching and read the Word!
4. Not "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth"
5. Distinguish between Israel and the Church: the Lord deals with Israel and the church mutually exclusively; their origin, mission, and destiny are each unique.
6. The Hazards of Presuppositions: Examine the texts for yourself- sometimes we are taught theories that are more simplistic than accurate. Line them up Biblically and make your own decision.
7. Lacking the Whole Counsel of God: the entire Word is the final test, don't let single contexts drag you down without comparing them to what the whole context says.
Preconditions to Study:
* Are you saved? Essential prerequisite.
* Prayer! Always! Be under the tutorship of the Author!
* Obedience. Be pre-commited and surrendered, not in a rebellious frame of mind.
A love of the Bible requires knowing your Bible; Knowing your Bible leads to a deeper love of Him.
Why would I say this method of interpretation is correct? I find freedom in making God responsible for what I believe because of what He has inspired instead of having myself be responsible to decide what in the Bible is truth and what isn't.
Why would I say I'm right in my understanding or learning? Other than the obvious written Truths, such as the Gospel, I wouldn't, not for sure. This is a lifelong journey! But you know those little bites of wonder that the Spirit shares with you? Those I will cling to with certainty, until the Spirit or the Word tells me differently. There is no greater high than having Him give me a treasure, and that alone will keep me on my journey. They may sometimes be far and few between, but the Word has lots to keep me busy! :-) It's probably a good thing, because some lessons take years to fully grasp and apply in obedience- that is definitely a personal experience! It's hard to "put off the old... and put on the new" but it is a blessing to obey!
And a further note: I don't agree with everything that one person teaches. Oftentimes I have this persistent thought to reconsider and examine something myself which makes me not immediately agree; than later as I research it, there is a deeper lesson or a different perspective that I need to consider, either for or against. The Word needs to be our prioritized reference, not man.
I hope this encourages most of you! I find that it helps me to be able to reiterate what I have learned, and this was certainly an exercise! And feel free to agree to disagree- with me! Not with Him! ;-) Your comments and questions are welcome, as there was tons of info and examples I did not include in the interests of brevity. (I know...what brevity?!!)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Whew- moving forward :-)
With KI, we started our Revelation part 1 course at the beginning of December. But with Christmas, I prioritized getting the quizzes done on time, and leaving the discussion boards until I was through the holiday season because of the amount of time they take. Of course, as with all procrastinating, the pressure was building to get back in there and get those done. I only have to do two posts and one response per week, but as of this morning that meant 7 posts and 4 responses.... no light load!
Thankfully, He was gracious during nap time today and I was able to complete 5 posts and 4 responses! AND it was a blessed time! New treasures and everything!
Check this one out-- I love it-- I understood it a little before, now more fully today.
Adam is a type (model) of Christ, in that not being deceived, he gave his life for Eve, his wife...
I had never before considered this verse:
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
I found KJV to be a little hard to understand, so I looked at a few other translations:
NKJV: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
NIV: And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
NASB: And {it was} not Adam {who} was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
"Eve was taken from Adam's body. Instead of allowing Eve to remain in sin alone, Adam sacrificed himself for the one he loved. As a result they had children and the Savior came to redeem the world. This type matches Jesus who was not deceived when He gave His life for all sinners. Christ chose to live with His Bride instead of separating Himself and not taking on the sins of the world at the Cross. His Bride is also taken from His Body, the Church. The Bride of Christ is the rib of the Church." KI post
Previously, any teaching I heard or held seemed to hang onto the whole Adam vs Eve conflict; who really was at fault for all our sin? Even the best one I remember put Adam "at fault" for possibly not teaching Eve all she needed to know to not fall into sin, as instructed... she was deceived, but he willingly sinned- but if you look at it through the lens of the above verse, NIV style- it says that she was the one who became the sinner.
Now, I know this whole passage is so huge and can be dissected/discussed as long as we sojourn here, but I just wanted to mention it because it was one of those truths that just rang so clear when it lined up in my mind. It is different because it looks at the underlying "why" things happened the way they happened-not just whose fault it is. Christ decided to die before Adam even sinned. From the beginning, never being deceived, He chose to become sin so that we could be with Him. A truth we are told over and over, but which becomes even more evident the more we know Him, primarily through His Word.
I hope you find this profound as well! :-)
Thankfully, He was gracious during nap time today and I was able to complete 5 posts and 4 responses! AND it was a blessed time! New treasures and everything!
Check this one out-- I love it-- I understood it a little before, now more fully today.
Adam is a type (model) of Christ, in that not being deceived, he gave his life for Eve, his wife...
I had never before considered this verse:
1Ti 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
I found KJV to be a little hard to understand, so I looked at a few other translations:
NKJV: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
NIV: And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
NASB: And {it was} not Adam {who} was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
"Eve was taken from Adam's body. Instead of allowing Eve to remain in sin alone, Adam sacrificed himself for the one he loved. As a result they had children and the Savior came to redeem the world. This type matches Jesus who was not deceived when He gave His life for all sinners. Christ chose to live with His Bride instead of separating Himself and not taking on the sins of the world at the Cross. His Bride is also taken from His Body, the Church. The Bride of Christ is the rib of the Church." KI post
Previously, any teaching I heard or held seemed to hang onto the whole Adam vs Eve conflict; who really was at fault for all our sin? Even the best one I remember put Adam "at fault" for possibly not teaching Eve all she needed to know to not fall into sin, as instructed... she was deceived, but he willingly sinned- but if you look at it through the lens of the above verse, NIV style- it says that she was the one who became the sinner.
Now, I know this whole passage is so huge and can be dissected/discussed as long as we sojourn here, but I just wanted to mention it because it was one of those truths that just rang so clear when it lined up in my mind. It is different because it looks at the underlying "why" things happened the way they happened-not just whose fault it is. Christ decided to die before Adam even sinned. From the beginning, never being deceived, He chose to become sin so that we could be with Him. A truth we are told over and over, but which becomes even more evident the more we know Him, primarily through His Word.
I hope you find this profound as well! :-)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Amen!
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Amen!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Happy Hanukkah!
To anyone who celebrates or appreciates it!
I was fascinated to learn that the Hanukkah celebration is in the Bible (John 10:22), and to understand what it is truly about. After all, my spiritual roots are Jewish :-) and learning about it all is quite the adventure!
I was fascinated to learn that the Hanukkah celebration is in the Bible (John 10:22), and to understand what it is truly about. After all, my spiritual roots are Jewish :-) and learning about it all is quite the adventure!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Thoughts from Sunday
Sorry I've been missing for a while! I had a Pampered chef party Friday, then a date night Saturday, and normal church/work Sunday, and here I am ready to smush in a chiropractor visit before I go to work today because every time I stand up I swoon and my cookies are ready to fly....
But God was speaking yesterday, and I wanted to share what was impressed upon my heart.
In church, Pastor Doug made the point that we must be obedient. The statement was something like this: Why do we expect God to speak clearly and give direction when we are not obedient to what He has already made clear?
Then, listening to my class at work, there is a pattern: Call, Obedience, Revelation.
The ponderable point? God speaks very clearly through His Word. (If you doubt this, pray for clarity!) And if we don't obey what He clearly says in the Word, why would He choose to further take us to the next step? Do we give our children further responsiblity if they do not properly complete the current one? If you are wanting to hear His Voice, read the Word, and obey what is clear. Then, if no next step is made available, read more and obey more! We have so many areas in which to grow.
I appreciated this because while I know He speaks through His Word, I find it hard to verbalize when asked how I hear God speak. This will make my own testimony more clear, because I never "heard God speak" until I started to truly obey, to change the hard things, to sacrifice. I couldn't have verbalized this, but the pattern is evident in my own life. And now I can identify it. And in the future, when I or someone I know is going through a dry period, we can draw upon this to help us find our way back.
But God was speaking yesterday, and I wanted to share what was impressed upon my heart.
In church, Pastor Doug made the point that we must be obedient. The statement was something like this: Why do we expect God to speak clearly and give direction when we are not obedient to what He has already made clear?
Then, listening to my class at work, there is a pattern: Call, Obedience, Revelation.
The ponderable point? God speaks very clearly through His Word. (If you doubt this, pray for clarity!) And if we don't obey what He clearly says in the Word, why would He choose to further take us to the next step? Do we give our children further responsiblity if they do not properly complete the current one? If you are wanting to hear His Voice, read the Word, and obey what is clear. Then, if no next step is made available, read more and obey more! We have so many areas in which to grow.
I appreciated this because while I know He speaks through His Word, I find it hard to verbalize when asked how I hear God speak. This will make my own testimony more clear, because I never "heard God speak" until I started to truly obey, to change the hard things, to sacrifice. I couldn't have verbalized this, but the pattern is evident in my own life. And now I can identify it. And in the future, when I or someone I know is going through a dry period, we can draw upon this to help us find our way back.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Debrief Part Four: Amir Tsarfati
It's taken me a bit to recover from the election and some personal wounds inflicted (not here)- but I want to finish this. Whether or not you agree, some of you said for me to go on! :-)
Because so much of this was included in my previous posts on Israel, I will try to be brief.
Amir Tsarfati:
2Pe 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
Prophecy is spoken (and understood) through the Holy Spirit; do not believe that you cannot understand- especially in this age when things which were hidden are being revealed, and that which was sealed is being unsealed!
Dan 12:9 "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
Things to keep watch on:
Russia: broke, and looking for money- ie. they are selling weapons to whomever will buy them.
Completing Naval Base in Syria- will have 30 warships next to Israel.
US: People want change- don't care what kind.
Syria: Starting work on another nuclear reactor and purchased from Russia a missile defense system.
Iran: Have been pursuing nuclear capability (despite what the world is told) since 1992.
Will have nuclear capability by the beginning of next year, with Russia's help.
Turkey: Forming relations with Iran, since their attempts to become "western" have been rejected. Depending on your interpretations of Eze. 38, (Magog as Russia or Turkey?) players are moving into place.
Encouragement: It is apparent that the US is not a key player in the end times. America could fall as a result of ecomonic, political, or wartime disaster, but if you consider the very conservative estimate that if 10% (not 48%!) of 300 million people (our pop.) were raptured, that is 3 million Americans gone- including key players at high levels of government. Look at any other country: There is none other that would collapse as a result of the rapture. A hopeful possiblity!
Israel: We can learn from history, including the Word: Either God will provide a way for Israel to defend themselves, or He will defend it Himself. In light of Iran's iminent nuclear capability, Israel is not worried. (In 1979, they stopped Iraq; in 2007 they stopped Syria.) We should expect an attack on Iran's plant, with or w/out the US's blessing, and the world will condemn Israel for it.
Because so much of this was included in my previous posts on Israel, I will try to be brief.
Amir Tsarfati:
2Pe 1:20 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
Prophecy is spoken (and understood) through the Holy Spirit; do not believe that you cannot understand- especially in this age when things which were hidden are being revealed, and that which was sealed is being unsealed!
Dan 12:9 "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
Things to keep watch on:
Russia: broke, and looking for money- ie. they are selling weapons to whomever will buy them.
Completing Naval Base in Syria- will have 30 warships next to Israel.
US: People want change- don't care what kind.
Syria: Starting work on another nuclear reactor and purchased from Russia a missile defense system.
Iran: Have been pursuing nuclear capability (despite what the world is told) since 1992.
Will have nuclear capability by the beginning of next year, with Russia's help.
Turkey: Forming relations with Iran, since their attempts to become "western" have been rejected. Depending on your interpretations of Eze. 38, (Magog as Russia or Turkey?) players are moving into place.
Encouragement: It is apparent that the US is not a key player in the end times. America could fall as a result of ecomonic, political, or wartime disaster, but if you consider the very conservative estimate that if 10% (not 48%!) of 300 million people (our pop.) were raptured, that is 3 million Americans gone- including key players at high levels of government. Look at any other country: There is none other that would collapse as a result of the rapture. A hopeful possiblity!
Israel: We can learn from history, including the Word: Either God will provide a way for Israel to defend themselves, or He will defend it Himself. In light of Iran's iminent nuclear capability, Israel is not worried. (In 1979, they stopped Iraq; in 2007 they stopped Syria.) We should expect an attack on Iran's plant, with or w/out the US's blessing, and the world will condemn Israel for it.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Do Not Fear - Read slowly.
To Abraham, do not be afraid!
To Isaac, Do not fear!
To Jacob, Do Not fear!
To Rachael in Labor, Do not Fear!
To Joseph's brothers, Do not be afraid!
To Moses, Do Not be Afraid
To Israel in Egypt, Do Not Fear!
To Israel fleeing Egypt, Do not be Afraid!
To the Armies of Israel, Do not be afraid! Do not fear! Do not fear!
To Joshua, Do Not be Afraid! Do not fear!
To the children of Israel, Do not fear them! Do not be afraid! Fear not!
To Gideon, Do not Fear!
To Ruth, Do not be afraid!
To the people of Israel, Do not fear!
To David, Do not fear!
To Mephibosheth, Do not fear!
To Solomon, Do not Fear! Do not be afraid!
To Elisha's servant, Do not be afraid!
To Jehoshaphat, Do not fear!
In the Psalms, The Lord is on Your side! Do not Fear!
The Psalms, I will not fear!
To Isaiah, Do not fear!
In Isaiah, Do not fear, nor be afraid!
To the righteous, Do not fear!
O Israel, do not fear!
My servant Jacob, do not fear! Do not fear!
To the dispersed house of Judah, fear not!
To the fearful hearted, Do not fear!
To the widow woman, Fear not!
In Joel, to Israel, Fear not!
To the beasts of the field, Do not be afraid!
To Daniel, Do not be afraid!
To Jerusalem, Do not fear!
In Lamentations, Do not fear!
To Israel, in Haggai, Do not fear!
To the house of Judah and the house of Israel, do not fear!
In Matthew, do not fear!
To Zacharias, Do not be afraid!
To Isaac, Do not fear!
To Jacob, Do Not fear!
To Rachael in Labor, Do not Fear!
To Joseph's brothers, Do not be afraid!
To Moses, Do Not be Afraid
To Israel in Egypt, Do Not Fear!
To Israel fleeing Egypt, Do not be Afraid!
To the Armies of Israel, Do not be afraid! Do not fear! Do not fear!
To Joshua, Do Not be Afraid! Do not fear!
To the children of Israel, Do not fear them! Do not be afraid! Fear not!
To Gideon, Do not Fear!
To Ruth, Do not be afraid!
To the people of Israel, Do not fear!
To David, Do not fear!
To Mephibosheth, Do not fear!
To Solomon, Do not Fear! Do not be afraid!
To Elisha's servant, Do not be afraid!
To Jehoshaphat, Do not fear!
In the Psalms, The Lord is on Your side! Do not Fear!
The Psalms, I will not fear!
To Isaiah, Do not fear!
In Isaiah, Do not fear, nor be afraid!
To the righteous, Do not fear!
O Israel, do not fear!
My servant Jacob, do not fear! Do not fear!
To the dispersed house of Judah, fear not!
To the fearful hearted, Do not fear!
To the widow woman, Fear not!
In Joel, to Israel, Fear not!
To the beasts of the field, Do not be afraid!
To Daniel, Do not be afraid!
To Jerusalem, Do not fear!
In Lamentations, Do not fear!
To Israel, in Haggai, Do not fear!
To the house of Judah and the house of Israel, do not fear!
In Matthew, do not fear!
To Zacharias, Do not be afraid!
To Mary, do not fear!
To Joseph, Do not be afraid!
To the sheperds, Do not be afraid!
To Simon, Do not be afraid!
To Jairus, Do not be afraid!
To the disciples, do not fear! Do not be afraid!
To the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be afraid!
To the disciples on the boat, do not be afraid!
To the disciples, let your heart not be afraid!
To the women at the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the disciples running from the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the sheep, from the sheperd, Do not fear!
To Paul, Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid!
To the Romans, Do not fear!
To those who suffer, do not be afraid!
To the Hebrew Christians, fear not!
To John, Do not be afraid.
In Revelation, DO NOT FEAR!
Fear Not, For I AM the Lord your God. I am with you always, until the ends of the earth.
To the disciples on the boat, do not be afraid!
To the disciples, let your heart not be afraid!
To the women at the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the disciples running from the tomb, do not be afraid!
To the sheep, from the sheperd, Do not fear!
To Paul, Do not be afraid! Do not be afraid!
To the Romans, Do not fear!
To those who suffer, do not be afraid!
To the Hebrew Christians, fear not!
To John, Do not be afraid.
In Revelation, DO NOT FEAR!
Fear Not, For I AM the Lord your God. I am with you always, until the ends of the earth.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Wow! This is Powerful!
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah--Jer 31:32
"not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,[fn1] says the LORD.Jer 31:33
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.Jer 31:34
"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."Jer 31:35
Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The LORD of hosts is His name):Jer 31:36
"If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever."Jer 31:37
Thus says the LORD:
"If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the LORD.Jer 31:38
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that the city shall be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.Jer 31:39
"The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.Jer 31:40
"And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever."
"not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,[fn1] says the LORD.Jer 31:33
"But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.Jer 31:34
"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."Jer 31:35
Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for a light by day,
The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night,
Who disturbs the sea,
And its waves roar
(The LORD of hosts is His name):Jer 31:36
"If those ordinances depart
From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease
From being a nation before Me forever."Jer 31:37
Thus says the LORD:
"If heaven above can be measured,
And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath,
I will also cast off all the seed of Israel
For all that they have done, says the LORD.Jer 31:38
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that the city shall be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.Jer 31:39
"The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.Jer 31:40
"And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever."
Israel: Just How Literal?
I just wanted to do a quick post on Israel and literal interpretation of prophecy. The deeper we get in discussing this, the more space it takes up! So, my intent is a small post! Ha! But I also want to write out the scriptures, so it may be longer... hmm. we will see.
I want to list some of the scriptural supports for the modern day Jewish state. My question is - Do you take these promises and prophecies literally in their fulfillment, or allegorically?
God gave the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob as an everlasting possession. This is the Abrahamic convenant: the title to the land.
Gen 17:8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Gen 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Gen 26:3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. Gen 26:4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; Gen 26:5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."
Gen 28:1 THEN Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Gen 28:2 "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. Gen 28:3 "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; Gen 28:4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham."
Gen 28:13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I [am] the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Gen 28:14 "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Gen 28:15 "Behold, I [am] with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
Scriptures which I believe support the fact that neither the cross nor the disobedience of the Jews cause the convenant to end (w/out repeating those above).
1Ch 16:17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [for] an everlasting covenant, 1Ch 16:18 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Psa 105:8 He remembers His covenant forever, The word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, Psa 105:9 [The covenant] which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, Psa 105:10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant, Psa 105:11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Rom 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom [pertain] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [of God,] and the promises;
Rom 3:1 WHAT advantage then has the Jew, or what [is] the profit of circumcision? Rom 3:2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Rom 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ["That You may be justified in Your words,] [And may overcome when You are judged."]
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.
Rom 9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:"Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
Why can we consider the present day nation of Israel to be still under the promises and convenants of Biblical Israel? They have violated the Land Convenant (conditions for inhabiting and possessing the land), but God still promised to gather them up and return them to the land.
"The Land Covenant promised that Israel would become the prime nation of the world if the Jews were obedient to God (Deuteronomy 28:1,13). But the covenant warned that many curses would befall the people if they were disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:15-37), including exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:38-57). The covenant warned further that if temporary exile did not restore the Jews to obedience, they would suffer worldwide dispersion and persecution (Deuteronomy 28:58-68). But nowhere are they told that their disobedience would lead to a loss of their title to the land. In fact, the Land Covenant ends in chapter 30 with a prophecy and a promise that a day will come — after the Jews have experienced the curses of the covenant — when the Lord will restore them to their land once again: "The Lord will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it" (Deuteronomy 30:3-5).
For almost 1900 years the Jews wandered among the nations and suffered severe persecution, just as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28. During that time, their land became desolate as prophesied in Deuteronomy 29. But in this century, God has regathered them from the four corners of the earth, re-established them in their land, and transformed their land from wilderness to milk and honey — as prophesied in Deuteronomy 30.
The only prophecy left to be fulfilled in the Land Covenant is the spiritual salvation of the gathered remnant (Deuteronomy 30:6-8). That will occur soon when they repent and accept Yeshua as their Messiah.
The Abrahamic and Land Covenants make it clear that the Jewish people have both the right to the land of Israel and the right to be back in it today." (Dave Reagan, Lamb and Lion Ministries, to save on time :-)
Why we ought not be forcing or encouraging division of the land?
Amo 9:14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit [them;] They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. Amo 9:15 I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
Joe 3:1 "FOR behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
Forgive my brevity, but I am trying not to let blogging interfere with my more important priorities-- so trying to be quick! :-) I know I didn't answer all the questions here; my intent was to get a response to the scriptures. I also have another scripture coming which addresses why they have to be in the land before the remnant will believe (ie, why back in before they become obedient again), but I am having trouble finding it. Time...time... :-)
Thoughts?
I want to list some of the scriptural supports for the modern day Jewish state. My question is - Do you take these promises and prophecies literally in their fulfillment, or allegorically?
God gave the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob as an everlasting possession. This is the Abrahamic convenant: the title to the land.
Gen 17:8 "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
Gen 26:2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Gen 26:3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. Gen 26:4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; Gen 26:5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."
Gen 28:1 THEN Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. Gen 28:2 "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. Gen 28:3 "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; Gen 28:4 And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham."
Gen 28:13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I [am] the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Gen 28:14 "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Gen 28:15 "Behold, I [am] with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
Scriptures which I believe support the fact that neither the cross nor the disobedience of the Jews cause the convenant to end (w/out repeating those above).
1Ch 16:17 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [for] an everlasting covenant, 1Ch 16:18 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Psa 105:8 He remembers His covenant forever, The word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, Psa 105:9 [The covenant] which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, Psa 105:10 And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant, Psa 105:11 Saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan As the allotment of your inheritance,"
Rom 9:4 who are Israelites, to whom [pertain] the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service [of God,] and the promises;
Rom 3:1 WHAT advantage then has the Jew, or what [is] the profit of circumcision? Rom 3:2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Rom 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ["That You may be justified in Your words,] [And may overcome when You are judged."]
Rom 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.
Rom 9:27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel:"Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
Why can we consider the present day nation of Israel to be still under the promises and convenants of Biblical Israel? They have violated the Land Convenant (conditions for inhabiting and possessing the land), but God still promised to gather them up and return them to the land.
"The Land Covenant promised that Israel would become the prime nation of the world if the Jews were obedient to God (Deuteronomy 28:1,13). But the covenant warned that many curses would befall the people if they were disobedient (Deuteronomy 28:15-37), including exile from the land (Deuteronomy 28:38-57). The covenant warned further that if temporary exile did not restore the Jews to obedience, they would suffer worldwide dispersion and persecution (Deuteronomy 28:58-68). But nowhere are they told that their disobedience would lead to a loss of their title to the land. In fact, the Land Covenant ends in chapter 30 with a prophecy and a promise that a day will come — after the Jews have experienced the curses of the covenant — when the Lord will restore them to their land once again: "The Lord will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are at the ends of the earth, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you back. And the Lord your God will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it" (Deuteronomy 30:3-5).
For almost 1900 years the Jews wandered among the nations and suffered severe persecution, just as prophesied in Deuteronomy 28. During that time, their land became desolate as prophesied in Deuteronomy 29. But in this century, God has regathered them from the four corners of the earth, re-established them in their land, and transformed their land from wilderness to milk and honey — as prophesied in Deuteronomy 30.
The only prophecy left to be fulfilled in the Land Covenant is the spiritual salvation of the gathered remnant (Deuteronomy 30:6-8). That will occur soon when they repent and accept Yeshua as their Messiah.
The Abrahamic and Land Covenants make it clear that the Jewish people have both the right to the land of Israel and the right to be back in it today." (Dave Reagan, Lamb and Lion Ministries, to save on time :-)
Why we ought not be forcing or encouraging division of the land?
Amo 9:14 I will bring back the captives of My people Israel; They shall build the waste cities and inhabit [them;] They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. Amo 9:15 I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
Joe 3:1 "FOR behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, Joe 3:2 I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.
Forgive my brevity, but I am trying not to let blogging interfere with my more important priorities-- so trying to be quick! :-) I know I didn't answer all the questions here; my intent was to get a response to the scriptures. I also have another scripture coming which addresses why they have to be in the land before the remnant will believe (ie, why back in before they become obedient again), but I am having trouble finding it. Time...time... :-)
Thoughts?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Debrief, Part Three... Israel, Part Me
Israel. Since it's such a hot topic. ;-) And I am going to mention-- because I really really had a struggle today-- I had Gabe read this to make sure I didn't screw anything up, and I now have instructions to stop being so apologetic for my beliefs. So, if you don't like this, then prove it with a biblical discussion. Look it up! The Bible is opinionated, and it is right!
The statistic is that 90% of churches preach Replacement Theology, if they preach on Israel at all. I do not believe that the church has replaced Israel in God's program. No way.
As I understand it, Israel refers to all Jews worldwide in general, but also to the political state. I don't see how we can include one and exclude the other, in regards to the Biblical promise of blessing? Note: I will include a partial list of "what" Israel refers to in the Bible in my second section on Israel- this is already too big in my head for one post! ;-)
But, "I will bless those which bless thee, and I will curse those who curse thee." Gen 12:3 Is there any other nation or people group in which we are promised curses if we are on the wrong side? A quote that deserves consideration: the "only reason God has not released judgement on America is because we continue to support Israel." Not just be neutral, but support. But our position is changing quickly. (Side note: A really thought-provoking study: God's Wrath in relation to how we treat Israel. Did you know that Hurricane Katrina formed on the exact day the US completed with "assisting" the removal of 8500 Israelis from the Gaza Strip? There are NUMEROUS other examples I would encourage you to examine. We first heard it from Dave Reagan and Bill Koenig at Steeling the Mind '06.)
Take a logical look at the nation itself.
"Given the circumstances surrounding Israel's birth as a nation, and the odds against its survival, Israel should not exist as a nation today. Yet it not only exists, but seems to thrive in spite of its adversaries and in the face of circumstances that defy logic and reason... Not all attribute their military victories to divine assistance, but everyone agrees that the odds for Israel's survival through the turbulent twentieth century have defied all reasonable logic....Why did an unstoppable armada of Syrian tanks bound for Tel Aviv at the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, suddenly stop just north of Tiberius and simply wait for the Israeli army to arrive so they could surrender without a fight? When an Israeli tank commander found himself and his men in the middle of a mine field, how was the prayer of one of his men suddenly followed by an unprecedented wind that blew away nearly a foot of topsoil and then just as suddenly stop, revealing the hiding places of thousands of mines so the soldiers could escape unharmed? Why, during the war for independence, did a battalion of Jordanian soldiers approaching the position of a handful of Israeli soldiers defending Mt. Zion without ammunition, suddenly shout "Abraham" and turn and flee? How could three dozen teenagers, survivors of the Holocaust, walk right past a company of Egyptian soldiers in the Negev without being seen?" (Against All Odds)
God wants them there. Let me get past my humanist education and point out that it is their God-given right to exist on that specific piece of property. In actuality, a much larger piece of property, but I'm guessing that just ain't gonna happen until their rightful King returns!
Do not assume I think we should not bless and love everyone else- Of course we should! It is one of our greatest responsibilities! I am not "against" all the rest of the Arab or Palestinian nations. We should pray for all of them! For example, our church supports missionaries in Israel whose main ministry is Palestinians, most of them Muslim and Greek Orthodox. We are accountable to ALL nations. But the promise is attached to Israel!
One of the points made at the conference was that because of our western media, we assume that everyone is the same "culture" or "people group"over there. (Other than Sunnis and Shiites, of course.) But the true Arabs, who are actually a smaller people group that most would assume, are enduring great persecution by the rest of the Palestinians, not to mention the rest of the world. I can't begin to reiterate the list that was given, but I found it discouraging how we refer to them as one group, but we are terribly deficient in our understanding.
Now I am going to get unpleasant.
The Bible is not "nice." When Israel was sent to purge the Promised Land, they were often instructed to kill every man, woman, and child. No regard for "innocent" life. In fact, when they did not do as commanded, it repeatedly came back to bite them in the butt. Revelation states that huge portions of the world's population will perish during the Tribulation. It is not going to be pretty! But it is God's plan!
Respect for innocent life is a theory, not a common practice. Especially in times of war. And Israel is at war- fighting for the right to exist. I don't like death and war, but there's a lot of things I don't like and can do absolutely nothing about. I live in a country which, in practice, believes it's ok to murder babies which are socially inconvenient. Even though I fervently disagree with this, I still live here. We are to be responsible with the abilities given us; to make the difference He inspires us to make. I can't change the fact that "innocent" people will die. But I can support with my prayers and finances the missions who minister in Christ's name.
An odd thought I had- it could be argued from a Biblical perspective that those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem are praying for the destruction of 2/3 of the worlds population. Because before True Peace will come, the false peacemaker must come, and with his false treaty, the wrath of God. But we are still instructed to do so! Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Hermeneutics dictate that how you choose to interpret the Bible makes all the difference in your beliefs. Gabe and I have chosen to educate ourselves under teachers and scholars who interpret the Bible literally. We don't take everything we are taught straight to the bank; many good scholars disagree on the details! If you've ever tried to understand the different legitimate views, much less the crazies (!) you know that it takes a while to prayerfully sort out the details and let the Spirit work discernment. We are on a long road, but so excited to be here, making progress step by step as He leads us.
Isa 46:9-13Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' ... Indeed I have spoken [it;] I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it;] I will also do it... I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
The statistic is that 90% of churches preach Replacement Theology, if they preach on Israel at all. I do not believe that the church has replaced Israel in God's program. No way.
As I understand it, Israel refers to all Jews worldwide in general, but also to the political state. I don't see how we can include one and exclude the other, in regards to the Biblical promise of blessing? Note: I will include a partial list of "what" Israel refers to in the Bible in my second section on Israel- this is already too big in my head for one post! ;-)
But, "I will bless those which bless thee, and I will curse those who curse thee." Gen 12:3 Is there any other nation or people group in which we are promised curses if we are on the wrong side? A quote that deserves consideration: the "only reason God has not released judgement on America is because we continue to support Israel." Not just be neutral, but support. But our position is changing quickly. (Side note: A really thought-provoking study: God's Wrath in relation to how we treat Israel. Did you know that Hurricane Katrina formed on the exact day the US completed with "assisting" the removal of 8500 Israelis from the Gaza Strip? There are NUMEROUS other examples I would encourage you to examine. We first heard it from Dave Reagan and Bill Koenig at Steeling the Mind '06.)
Take a logical look at the nation itself.
"Given the circumstances surrounding Israel's birth as a nation, and the odds against its survival, Israel should not exist as a nation today. Yet it not only exists, but seems to thrive in spite of its adversaries and in the face of circumstances that defy logic and reason... Not all attribute their military victories to divine assistance, but everyone agrees that the odds for Israel's survival through the turbulent twentieth century have defied all reasonable logic....Why did an unstoppable armada of Syrian tanks bound for Tel Aviv at the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, suddenly stop just north of Tiberius and simply wait for the Israeli army to arrive so they could surrender without a fight? When an Israeli tank commander found himself and his men in the middle of a mine field, how was the prayer of one of his men suddenly followed by an unprecedented wind that blew away nearly a foot of topsoil and then just as suddenly stop, revealing the hiding places of thousands of mines so the soldiers could escape unharmed? Why, during the war for independence, did a battalion of Jordanian soldiers approaching the position of a handful of Israeli soldiers defending Mt. Zion without ammunition, suddenly shout "Abraham" and turn and flee? How could three dozen teenagers, survivors of the Holocaust, walk right past a company of Egyptian soldiers in the Negev without being seen?" (Against All Odds)
God wants them there. Let me get past my humanist education and point out that it is their God-given right to exist on that specific piece of property. In actuality, a much larger piece of property, but I'm guessing that just ain't gonna happen until their rightful King returns!
Do not assume I think we should not bless and love everyone else- Of course we should! It is one of our greatest responsibilities! I am not "against" all the rest of the Arab or Palestinian nations. We should pray for all of them! For example, our church supports missionaries in Israel whose main ministry is Palestinians, most of them Muslim and Greek Orthodox. We are accountable to ALL nations. But the promise is attached to Israel!
One of the points made at the conference was that because of our western media, we assume that everyone is the same "culture" or "people group"over there. (Other than Sunnis and Shiites, of course.) But the true Arabs, who are actually a smaller people group that most would assume, are enduring great persecution by the rest of the Palestinians, not to mention the rest of the world. I can't begin to reiterate the list that was given, but I found it discouraging how we refer to them as one group, but we are terribly deficient in our understanding.
Now I am going to get unpleasant.
The Bible is not "nice." When Israel was sent to purge the Promised Land, they were often instructed to kill every man, woman, and child. No regard for "innocent" life. In fact, when they did not do as commanded, it repeatedly came back to bite them in the butt. Revelation states that huge portions of the world's population will perish during the Tribulation. It is not going to be pretty! But it is God's plan!
Respect for innocent life is a theory, not a common practice. Especially in times of war. And Israel is at war- fighting for the right to exist. I don't like death and war, but there's a lot of things I don't like and can do absolutely nothing about. I live in a country which, in practice, believes it's ok to murder babies which are socially inconvenient. Even though I fervently disagree with this, I still live here. We are to be responsible with the abilities given us; to make the difference He inspires us to make. I can't change the fact that "innocent" people will die. But I can support with my prayers and finances the missions who minister in Christ's name.
An odd thought I had- it could be argued from a Biblical perspective that those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem are praying for the destruction of 2/3 of the worlds population. Because before True Peace will come, the false peacemaker must come, and with his false treaty, the wrath of God. But we are still instructed to do so! Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Hermeneutics dictate that how you choose to interpret the Bible makes all the difference in your beliefs. Gabe and I have chosen to educate ourselves under teachers and scholars who interpret the Bible literally. We don't take everything we are taught straight to the bank; many good scholars disagree on the details! If you've ever tried to understand the different legitimate views, much less the crazies (!) you know that it takes a while to prayerfully sort out the details and let the Spirit work discernment. We are on a long road, but so excited to be here, making progress step by step as He leads us.
Isa 46:9-13Remember the former things of old, For I [am] God, and [there is] no other; [I am] God, and [there is] none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times [things] that are not [yet] done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,' ... Indeed I have spoken [it;] I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed [it;] I will also do it... I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
He is so Good!
In my Bible study today, I read something that I just had to share, especially in light of another discussion going on in a different blog.
Psalm 129:1-5
"Since my youth they have often attacked me - let Israel say -
Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not prevailed against me.
Plowmen plowed over my back, they made their furrows long.
The Lord is righteous, He has cut the ropes of the wicked.
Let all who hate Zion be driven back in disgrace."
Study notes:
The enemy, the world system, and our own flesh try to convince us that we're free when we are out from under authority and can do as we please. The Bible and life experience teach us something completely different. Only under the umbrella of God's trustworthy, for-us authority do we find our spacious place.
Only He can clarify our clouded belief systems.
Beth Moore, Stepping Up
Today, this was an reassuring answer to prayer.
Psalm 129:1-5
"Since my youth they have often attacked me - let Israel say -
Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not prevailed against me.
Plowmen plowed over my back, they made their furrows long.
The Lord is righteous, He has cut the ropes of the wicked.
Let all who hate Zion be driven back in disgrace."
Study notes:
The enemy, the world system, and our own flesh try to convince us that we're free when we are out from under authority and can do as we please. The Bible and life experience teach us something completely different. Only under the umbrella of God's trustworthy, for-us authority do we find our spacious place.
Only He can clarify our clouded belief systems.
Beth Moore, Stepping Up
Today, this was an reassuring answer to prayer.
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