Zep 1:7 Be silent before the face of the Lord Jehovah, for the day of Jehovah is at hand. For Jehovah has appointed a sacrifice; He has consecrated His called ones.
The appointed sacrifice died a sinner's death on the cross. Even though He died a sinner's death, He committed no sin. He was and is the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He is the Truth, Way, Life, Bread, Light. This man born of a virgin and named Jesus was the appointed sacrifice.
It is our heart belief in who Jesus is and what He did that makes us one of His own. We have been called into His family to be adopted sons and daughters. It is our faith that consecrates us to Him. Nothing of works can ever consecrate us. However, works are the offspring of faith in the Lord Jesus. For faith with out works is dead.
Friday, April 27, 2007
the disembodied Church
The bible states in 1Cor 12:12-27
(1Co 12:12) For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
(1Co 12:13) For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
(1Co 12:14) For the body is not one member, but many.
(1Co 12:15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:17) If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling?
(1Co 12:18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him.
(1Co 12:19) And if they were all one member, where would be the body?
(1Co 12:20) But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body.
(1Co 12:21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
(1Co 12:22) But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary.
(1Co 12:23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety.
(1Co 12:24) For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need;
(1Co 12:25) that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
(1Co 12:26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.
(1Co 12:27) And you are the body of Christ, and members in part.
and also in Romans 12:4-5
Rom 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function,
Rom 12:5 so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
The first thing you notice when reading these scriptures is that the Chruch is not a building or a place, but the Church are the people who have dedicated their hearts to the Lord Jesus. You will also notice that the Lord created the Church to be diverse(1Cor12:14 and Rom12:4) yet one. (1Cor12:20 and Rom12:5) Another thing you will notice is that what we do affects the body of Christ either for the good or bad.(1Cor12:26)
Yet, it seems that today the Body of Christ is in pieces. It's like the parts of the body decided that if they can't be like the others or the others can't/won't be like them that it is best to leave. They ignor the 'useless parts' and discard them as waste. In return, the 'useless parts' feel as if they never were a part. In fact the division is so bad that there is even division within the division.
Do you know that the Devil loves the fact that the body is in pieces? That is correct. He is loving it. This is because it is much easier for the Devil and his demons to penetrate when the Body is in pieces and in discontent with each other.
Is there a way back? There is. The problem is that we need to stop thinking 'denominations' and thinking 'One body, one mind'. That mind is the mind of Christ. We must also stop all of these petty fighting with in the body. Some of these are about what kind of bible to read and what kind of baptism is real. All these arguments do is further tear the body apart. This is not what the Lord wants for His elect.
We must understand that we are all at different levels in our walk with the Lord. This doesn't mean that one part is better than another. It just means that the Lord instills different gifts to different parts. We must use our different levels and gifts to enhance the body. We must never complain because we aren't like other Christians. For remember if we all had the gift of healing, who would teach? If all taught, then who would preach and so on.
So celebrate your differences and know that you are one in Christ.
(1Co 12:12) For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
(1Co 12:13) For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
(1Co 12:14) For the body is not one member, but many.
(1Co 12:15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(1Co 12:17) If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling?
(1Co 12:18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him.
(1Co 12:19) And if they were all one member, where would be the body?
(1Co 12:20) But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body.
(1Co 12:21) And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
(1Co 12:22) But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary.
(1Co 12:23) And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety.
(1Co 12:24) For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need;
(1Co 12:25) that there not be division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
(1Co 12:26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it.
(1Co 12:27) And you are the body of Christ, and members in part.
and also in Romans 12:4-5
Rom 12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function,
Rom 12:5 so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another.
The first thing you notice when reading these scriptures is that the Chruch is not a building or a place, but the Church are the people who have dedicated their hearts to the Lord Jesus. You will also notice that the Lord created the Church to be diverse(1Cor12:14 and Rom12:4) yet one. (1Cor12:20 and Rom12:5) Another thing you will notice is that what we do affects the body of Christ either for the good or bad.(1Cor12:26)
Yet, it seems that today the Body of Christ is in pieces. It's like the parts of the body decided that if they can't be like the others or the others can't/won't be like them that it is best to leave. They ignor the 'useless parts' and discard them as waste. In return, the 'useless parts' feel as if they never were a part. In fact the division is so bad that there is even division within the division.
Do you know that the Devil loves the fact that the body is in pieces? That is correct. He is loving it. This is because it is much easier for the Devil and his demons to penetrate when the Body is in pieces and in discontent with each other.
Is there a way back? There is. The problem is that we need to stop thinking 'denominations' and thinking 'One body, one mind'. That mind is the mind of Christ. We must also stop all of these petty fighting with in the body. Some of these are about what kind of bible to read and what kind of baptism is real. All these arguments do is further tear the body apart. This is not what the Lord wants for His elect.
We must understand that we are all at different levels in our walk with the Lord. This doesn't mean that one part is better than another. It just means that the Lord instills different gifts to different parts. We must use our different levels and gifts to enhance the body. We must never complain because we aren't like other Christians. For remember if we all had the gift of healing, who would teach? If all taught, then who would preach and so on.
So celebrate your differences and know that you are one in Christ.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Honoring the Lord through food and holidays part 2
Well, as I was saying, I celebrate the Lord's holidays instead of traditional Christian ones. This is because the Lord has laid it on my heart for me to do so. What I have to remember is that just because He laid this on my heart, it doesn't mean I should tell others they must celebrate like I do. You see, this is not a salvational issue and doing so could cause a fellow believer to lose faith.
Rom 14:16 Then do not let your good be spoken evil of,
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I think that many Christians either never knew about these versus, or never paid any mind to them. For I have seen many 'fights' and arguments about what to eat, kind of bible to read, songs to sing in church, etc... This is just silly and not very Christian like. If you are kosher and do so to please the Lord, then keep being kosher. If you are not kosher, and the Lord has not convicted you to become kosher, then don't become kosher.
Rom 14:23 But the one doubting, if he eats, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. That is right, if you do anything not of faith it is sin. So, making a person conform to your standards of what a Christian is to eat, read, celebrate, etc... is causing them to sin. For example, my church did a 'Resurrection Egg Hunt' at the local park. They were doing it in their hearts to honor the Lord. I didn't get involved, because in my heart doing so would have been sin. I didn't tell my pastor he was wrong, and he didn't tell me I was wrong(and neither did anyone involved). Btw, no one was in the wrong. This is because it was a faith issue.
Rom 14:16 Then do not let your good be spoken evil of,
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I think that many Christians either never knew about these versus, or never paid any mind to them. For I have seen many 'fights' and arguments about what to eat, kind of bible to read, songs to sing in church, etc... This is just silly and not very Christian like. If you are kosher and do so to please the Lord, then keep being kosher. If you are not kosher, and the Lord has not convicted you to become kosher, then don't become kosher.
Rom 14:23 But the one doubting, if he eats, he has been condemned, because it is not of faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin. That is right, if you do anything not of faith it is sin. So, making a person conform to your standards of what a Christian is to eat, read, celebrate, etc... is causing them to sin. For example, my church did a 'Resurrection Egg Hunt' at the local park. They were doing it in their hearts to honor the Lord. I didn't get involved, because in my heart doing so would have been sin. I didn't tell my pastor he was wrong, and he didn't tell me I was wrong(and neither did anyone involved). Btw, no one was in the wrong. This is because it was a faith issue.
Friday, April 13, 2007
honoring the Lord through food and holidays part 1
Rom 14:5 Some people think that a certain day is more important than other days, while others think that all days are the same. We each should firmly make up our own minds.
Rom 14:6 Those who think highly of a certain day do so in honor of the Lord; those who will eat anything do so in honor of the Lord, because they give thanks to God for the food. Those who refuse to eat certain things do so in honor of the Lord, and they give thanks to God.
I love this passage and infact, love Rom14. I think this chapter should be called 'don't think you're all that'. This passage addresses that we are all in different levels of our faith. We are not to judge how others honor the Lord.
You see, as long as we honor the Lord in faith and love, we are pleasing the Lord. It doesn't matter what we celebrate or eat. However, if we do anything w/o faith we are sinning. This means that if you celebrate any holiday or eat anything that you feel is wrong in your heart, you have sinned. Also, if you celebrate any holiday or eat anything infront of a fellow beiever that would make him/her stumble, then you are sinning.
We are also not to make a fellow believer feel inadiquite because s/he doesn't adhear to the same holidays or eating habits as you. I would also extend this to the same unsalvational issues. (e.g. medicine, schooling, clothes, work, etc...) To do so will not make the other believer more 'in touch' w/ the Lord, but infact, can make the other believe loose faith in God.
I have to remember this because I don't celebrate the same holidays of my Christian brethern. I celebrate the Lord's holidays as in Lev23 and also Hanukkah and Purim. I celebrate them to honor the Lord, as my friends celebrate Christmas and Easter to honor the Lord. None of us are sinning as long as we make sure we are celebrating in faith and we honor the Lord and not make ourselves look 'righteous'.
Rom 14:6 Those who think highly of a certain day do so in honor of the Lord; those who will eat anything do so in honor of the Lord, because they give thanks to God for the food. Those who refuse to eat certain things do so in honor of the Lord, and they give thanks to God.
I love this passage and infact, love Rom14. I think this chapter should be called 'don't think you're all that'. This passage addresses that we are all in different levels of our faith. We are not to judge how others honor the Lord.
You see, as long as we honor the Lord in faith and love, we are pleasing the Lord. It doesn't matter what we celebrate or eat. However, if we do anything w/o faith we are sinning. This means that if you celebrate any holiday or eat anything that you feel is wrong in your heart, you have sinned. Also, if you celebrate any holiday or eat anything infront of a fellow beiever that would make him/her stumble, then you are sinning.
We are also not to make a fellow believer feel inadiquite because s/he doesn't adhear to the same holidays or eating habits as you. I would also extend this to the same unsalvational issues. (e.g. medicine, schooling, clothes, work, etc...) To do so will not make the other believer more 'in touch' w/ the Lord, but infact, can make the other believe loose faith in God.
I have to remember this because I don't celebrate the same holidays of my Christian brethern. I celebrate the Lord's holidays as in Lev23 and also Hanukkah and Purim. I celebrate them to honor the Lord, as my friends celebrate Christmas and Easter to honor the Lord. None of us are sinning as long as we make sure we are celebrating in faith and we honor the Lord and not make ourselves look 'righteous'.
Part 2 will be coming soon.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Blessed.
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David. A Contemplation. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Is it not amazing that we as believers in Christ Jesus have had our transgressions forgiven and our sins have been covered by His blood? It was nothing that we did He did it all on the cross.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man to whom Jehovah does not charge iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. Because of our acceptance of who Jesus is and our heart circumcision, we are no longer found guilty. Jesus paid the price!!!!
Psa 32:3 When I kept silence, my bones became old through my roaring all the day long. We should not keep silent about what Christ has done.
Psa 32:4 For by day and by night Your hand was heavy on me; my sap is turned into the droughts of summer. Selah. Sometimes love can hurt.
Psa 32:5 I confessed my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgression to Jehovah; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. If we truly confess our sins to Him, He will be faithful and forgive us our sins. He will also show us a way to turn away from our sin.
Psa 32:6 For this let every godly one pray to You, in a time when You may be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near him. The Lord is always near and in Him we shall have no fear. For He has placed in us a spirit of a sound mind knowing that He is in total control.
Psa 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall circle me with songs of deliverance. Selah. Isn't it wonderful that we can run and hide in the Lord? The Lord will protect us.
Psa 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you, My eye shall be on you. His word is like manna from Heaven.
Psa 32:9 Be not like the horse, or like the mule, who have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, so that they do not come near you. We need to stay in His word. The Lord gave us a mind so that we would use it. James and Paul both talk about how the tongue is a dangerous weapon that must be tamed. Wisdom comes from the Lord, and being in Him.
Psa 32:10 The wicked has many sorrows, but mercy embraces him who trusts in Jehovah. It was the Lord's mercy that we are saved. It was His mercy that he made a way for us. We just have to trust and obey. He did it all for us.
Psa 32:11 Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. Never forget that you are loved with a great love and that Jesus laid down His life for you. Jesus died for you because He loved you even before you loved him.
Friday, April 6, 2007
circumcision of the heart
There are heated debates about whether or not circumcision of the flesh is necessary. Both sides have valid points. What side you pick is up to you. BTW, my boys are not circumcised because I I fall on the said of uncircumcised when it comes to the flesh.
However, this post is not about circumcision of the flesh. As the the title reads 'circumcision of the heart'. This circumcision is very important and necessary for salvation. That is correct, a circumcised heart is vital to salvation. How, you ask? Well first of all just to have a head knowledge of who Jesus is just is not enough. The Devil and his demons know that Jesus is the Holy Son of the Living God. Yet, they are not and will never be saved. Why? Well the reason is obvious. They will never have a heart knowledge of Jesus. In fact, the Devil and demons trembles because of who Jesus is.
Unfortunatly there are people that have a head knowledge of who Jesus is and believe He is the only way, but never let Jesus into their heart. They never allowed Jesus to cut away the hardness of their hearts-to circumcise their hearts. These are the ones that Jesus talks about who do the works of the Lord, but are dismissed and told 'I never knew you, leave me you children of unrighteousness'. Sounds harsh, but the reason is that they do the works of the Lord not out of love, but out of selfishness.
So have you asked Jesus into your heart and allowed Him to start cutting away the hard parts? You know, the parts of hate, anger, rebellion, strife, ect...? I won't lie to you and say that it won't hurt. It will hurt, you will be put through a lot for Him when you allow your heart to be circumcised. However, you will notice that is it well worth it. In fact you will find yourself closer to Him. This is because when He circumcises your heart, He plants seeds that bear fruit. These fruits are love, compassion, long suffering, ect... Which from the water of the Holy Spirit will grow and take over.
Why can't Jesus just plant the seeds? Well, it's because like a ground must be softened and the rocks taken out before a garden can be planted, so must a heart be readied. Jesus must till, remove the dead and unwanted parts, and put in new soil. This is what circumcism of the heart is.
However, this post is not about circumcision of the flesh. As the the title reads 'circumcision of the heart'. This circumcision is very important and necessary for salvation. That is correct, a circumcised heart is vital to salvation. How, you ask? Well first of all just to have a head knowledge of who Jesus is just is not enough. The Devil and his demons know that Jesus is the Holy Son of the Living God. Yet, they are not and will never be saved. Why? Well the reason is obvious. They will never have a heart knowledge of Jesus. In fact, the Devil and demons trembles because of who Jesus is.
Unfortunatly there are people that have a head knowledge of who Jesus is and believe He is the only way, but never let Jesus into their heart. They never allowed Jesus to cut away the hardness of their hearts-to circumcise their hearts. These are the ones that Jesus talks about who do the works of the Lord, but are dismissed and told 'I never knew you, leave me you children of unrighteousness'. Sounds harsh, but the reason is that they do the works of the Lord not out of love, but out of selfishness.
So have you asked Jesus into your heart and allowed Him to start cutting away the hard parts? You know, the parts of hate, anger, rebellion, strife, ect...? I won't lie to you and say that it won't hurt. It will hurt, you will be put through a lot for Him when you allow your heart to be circumcised. However, you will notice that is it well worth it. In fact you will find yourself closer to Him. This is because when He circumcises your heart, He plants seeds that bear fruit. These fruits are love, compassion, long suffering, ect... Which from the water of the Holy Spirit will grow and take over.
Why can't Jesus just plant the seeds? Well, it's because like a ground must be softened and the rocks taken out before a garden can be planted, so must a heart be readied. Jesus must till, remove the dead and unwanted parts, and put in new soil. This is what circumcism of the heart is.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
denominations
There was a time that I concidered my denomination an important and necessary part of my faith. In fact it was more important than my walk w/ Christ. I would say that I am a_______ instead of saying I'm a Christian. Even when I went to other denominations, my denomination was what I was.
This even went into my adult life. Instead of looking for a church that taught the Word of the Lord as truth, I looked for a church that was my denomination. I did not matter if what they taught was in compliance w/ the bible or not. Only thing that mattered was the denomination.
Well, years have passed and the Lord has been patient and kind towards me. He lead me to a church that if I knew it's denomation I would not have attended. This church really ministered to me and I'm a member. The Lord allowed me to this this church was non-denominational to open my heart. I started to learn that it doesn't matter about the denomination, but what is taught.
God also opened my heart to what a church really is. It is not a building or a denomination. The true church is the body of believers gathered together in one accord in the will of God. In the body, we are the same. None is better or worse.
This even went into my adult life. Instead of looking for a church that taught the Word of the Lord as truth, I looked for a church that was my denomination. I did not matter if what they taught was in compliance w/ the bible or not. Only thing that mattered was the denomination.
Well, years have passed and the Lord has been patient and kind towards me. He lead me to a church that if I knew it's denomation I would not have attended. This church really ministered to me and I'm a member. The Lord allowed me to this this church was non-denominational to open my heart. I started to learn that it doesn't matter about the denomination, but what is taught.
God also opened my heart to what a church really is. It is not a building or a denomination. The true church is the body of believers gathered together in one accord in the will of God. In the body, we are the same. None is better or worse.
end of Christianity?
Just the other day I read an article in my newspaper about how some athesists are trying to get rid of religion. What surprised me was that the alogation was made by other Athesists. Sounds like a big 'house divided against itself' situation.
Apparently there is a new type of athesist called 'fundemental athesist'. This 'new' athesist insists that trusting, obeying and believing in the Lord is not only foolish but must be stopped. One in the forefront is Dawkins who wrote a book called The God Delusion and basically said that any Christian who reads his book will end up an athesist when finished. OK, it looks like vanity is playing a big roll here.
Now am I worried about this? Of course not!!! First of all true Christanity is not a religion, but a relationship w/ the one true Lord. We know Him as Jesus or Yeshua. Why is it a relationship? Well because we can go directly to Him and tell Him our needs and wants. We can, and should listen for His response and His guidence. We don't have to jump through hoops, but just trust, obey and have faith. We don't have to use big words or 'Thees and thous' when we talk to Him. We can speak to Him as we do a trusted friend or relative.
Which brings me to another topic. Did you know that we are adopted into the Family of God? That is right, we are adopted sons and daughters of the Lord. Since the Lord is the King of Kings, that makes us princes and princesses. Pretty cool, huh? :~)
Apparently there is a new type of athesist called 'fundemental athesist'. This 'new' athesist insists that trusting, obeying and believing in the Lord is not only foolish but must be stopped. One in the forefront is Dawkins who wrote a book called The God Delusion and basically said that any Christian who reads his book will end up an athesist when finished. OK, it looks like vanity is playing a big roll here.
Now am I worried about this? Of course not!!! First of all true Christanity is not a religion, but a relationship w/ the one true Lord. We know Him as Jesus or Yeshua. Why is it a relationship? Well because we can go directly to Him and tell Him our needs and wants. We can, and should listen for His response and His guidence. We don't have to jump through hoops, but just trust, obey and have faith. We don't have to use big words or 'Thees and thous' when we talk to Him. We can speak to Him as we do a trusted friend or relative.
Which brings me to another topic. Did you know that we are adopted into the Family of God? That is right, we are adopted sons and daughters of the Lord. Since the Lord is the King of Kings, that makes us princes and princesses. Pretty cool, huh? :~)
Another reason I'm not worried is that the Lord made a covent with us that will never be broken. It is writen all in His Word. He(the second of Elohim*) also showed this by becoming a man and paying the price for sin that we should have paid. If He would do this, why should I worry about this attack? Why should you? For if God is for us who can be against us?
*Elohim is a Hebrew word for God. It means basically 'parts of one'. A few examples are the clover and egg. Both have been used to decribe the trinity. The clover has 3 seperate and distinct leaves. The egg has seperate and distincts parts(shell, white, yoke).
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