Categories
Archives
Search
Sent church is definitely a popular saying that is anywhere you look these days. the idea that we are required to title places of worship, missional, has always been odd to me. I ask you, shouldnt all church buildings be missional in their very nature? Shouldnt a church, at its very base, shoot to introduce their culture and area with the story of Christ as a missionary would in a different country? Isnt this what the places of worship is challenged to do in the great commission in Matthew 28:19? Our own hometown begs for this style of church. Austin churches is slowly gravitating to what our God instructed in the Gospels.
Christ gives the direction in Acts 1:8 saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 personifies this subject as, right before Jesus Christ leaves to go to Heaven, He commissions the disciples on a story that would start right in their own community. He begins with their hometown of Jerusalem, and then stretches the call to the far parts of the creation.
As disciples of Jesus, we are not called to privacy, but to be missional people who are aggressively going out and going to areas right where they are with the good news. We have gazed at this throughout history: God sends Abraham on a mission to go out of his place of origin and his people and go to the town that God would show him (Gen. 12:1), God motivated Moses on a story to save an enslaved people and lead them to freedom (Exodus 3:8-10), God motivated Jesus on a exploration to earth to restore all things to Himself through the blood of Christ (Colossians 1:20). And now God is sending believers on a journey to engage areas, cities, people groups, and even nations with the good news (Matt. 28:19 Mark 6:7 Luke 10:1 John 20:21 Acts 1:8). If we resist this call and continue to see the places of worship like a private country club ” encouraging that people resolve their performance, pay their money, and come to our place of worship God will continue His mission without us.
Tobias Ben David, in short, Toby the shepherd spent his entire life of forty years on the outdoors of Bethlehem hills, looked old. Ever so often, Toby used to shift his position out of his discomfort with too much crowdedness, had one day, and left the people to listen to their teacher. Today, the teacher is talking about salvation, “Why God came to save his people from their sins and waywardness and how can these people get back together and live peacefully?”
The teacher was none other than JESUS himself. He began his illustration starting with the shepherd and the sheep.
JESUS started, ” The man who is hired to take care of the sheep runs away if he sees a danger coming in front of him, but not the good shepherd who loves his flock of sheep because he knows defending the defenseless lambs, the attacking wolves or the mountain lion.”
This actually happened to be an incident in Toby’s life. One night, many years ago, Toby hired some men to watch the flock along with him. They soon ran away seeing a mountain Lion roaming the hills. But Toby stayed back. He knew the sacrifices
That shepherding required. And he risked his life to protect them.
And so Jesus continued” Suppose you loose one of the hundred sheep you have. What do you do?
You leave the ninety-nine sheep all safe together in a very safe place and then search until you find the lost sheep.
Once you find it, there is no limit to your happiness and you share this happiness with fellow shepherds.”
” It’s the same with GOD”,” When you are in trouble to find the right way, HE will help you in some or the other way and never gives up until you are met by HIM”
Toby, who patiently listened to all this, felt a lump in his throat, was completely relaxed at the way JESUS illustrated.
“A shepherd is a rescuer, a savior, who lays down his life for the sheep”,” come to me, all you who are weary people, you the people who have trouble to find the route, I will give you the rest because I AM gentle and humble in heart, I relax you out of stress, your tensions, your confusions, because I can show you that your goal can be reached by several ways!!!!!”
I am an SEO working in RST web solutions. I am responsible for generating traffic to this site.
Atheists often cannot figure out how a religious man can fall for an unsubstantiated story about an invisible God? They wonder how come a man with a mind who is able to think and reason can believe in a concept so similar to the tooth fairy or Santa Clause with nothing more than a book written by another for proof? The atheist does not ask who created man, but why did man create God.
One cannot discount that a human would not work to find a concept to help him explain what he feels but cannot see in his perceived reality. Once a plausible explanation is presented it stands to reason that he might cling onto it. However, to cling onto a theory, which another man or men for the purpose of control of groups of men created may not be wise? Typically this is the Atheists best argument against organized religion.
Modified history and purported wisdom handed down by men of lesser mind to those in the present period, must never be taken from a literal standpoint say the atheists. Embracing an invisible or improvable concept without admission of other potential explanations is in error. To be human is to error; is not a good enough reason to do so; say the atheists.
Now then the question the atheist asks is how can we allow 75% of all Americans to believe in an invisible friend? Generally any child past the age of 10 who still talks to invisible friends is immediately referred to a psychologist specialist. Yet, if we have a mass hallucination of millions of people and they call it a religion, well then it appears to be okay. Do you believe in Santa Clause? He is watching you, believe it! Do you believe in God, if not you are going to burn in hell after you are dead; if you do you can live in heaven; that is after you are dead?
This is how the atheists sees things and when talking with one, perhaps you can understand why they treat you like a child of an age who still believes in Santa Claus. You might think about that, next time you meet the 1-2% of the US population, which is outright atheist. They are a fascinating group of folks to study actually.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Some people may ask what is the wrath of God, and what does it do, to whom, and why? Some may ask is wrath the judgement of God? The dictionary explains wrath as being anger, rage, fury, and displeasure. Well let’s see what the Bible says. Look at 2Chhornicles 36:15 it says The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar.
Now look at Psalm 2:1 it says Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Let us break their chains, they say, and throw off their fetters. The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying I have installed my King on Zion, on my holy hill. Look at Psalm 76:10 it says Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of you wrath are restrained. Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
Look at Proverbs 15:1 it says A gentle answer turns away wrath,, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Now look at Jeremiah 25:15 it says This is what the Lord the God of Israel, said to me: Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them. Now look at Jeremiah 25: 29 it says See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the Lord Almighty. Now look at Jeremiah 25:32 is says: This what the Lord Almighty says: Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth. At that time those slain by the Lord will be everywherefrom one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground.
Look at Romans 1:18 it says The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualitieshis eternal power and divine naturehave been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Now look at Romans 5:9 it says Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Look at 1Thessalonians 5:9 it says For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Look at Revelation 6:15 it says Then the kings of the earth the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?
In closing look at 2Peter 3:10 it says But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed his coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Love Always,
Your Sister in Christ,
Mellody Davis
Enjoy more reading at: http://www.hostinghelps.com/allaboutjesus
When Sakyamuni Buddha said, “I have the Dharma hidden in the eye…” by taking a golden flower and twiddling it in front of his third eye, everyone present at that gathering was puzzled except for Mahakasyapa, about 2,500 years ago. At that very moment, Mahakasyapa understood the symbolism in his heart and connected with Buddha’s heart. Everyone grinned at each other in acknowledgement and then Buddha said, “I now have passed the Dharma to Mahakasyapa.”
The Dharma (the esoteric heart teaching of Tao) during the time of Buddha was meant to be passed down in secrecy, the way that it had always been done throughout the lineage of Tao propagation. From Mahakasyapa, the esoteric heart teaching was passed on to Ananda and then to another twenty-six Patriarchs until the 28th Patriarch, known as Bodhidharma. When Bodhidharma received the Dharma, he was instructed by his master, Prajnatara, to take the heart teaching back to China. In Chinese history, this significant event was known as “the old tide returning to its source.”
The esoteric heart teaching of Tao originated from China 5,000 years ago and Bodhidharma suffered immense hardships and went through numerous trials and tribulations in China searching for the right candidate to pass on the heart teaching. The critical turning point came five generations after Bodhidharma, when it was passed on to the 6th Patriarch Hui Neng. The 5th Patriarch Hong Ren was aware that Hui Neng was very close to perceiving the truth and understood his true nature. He then put Hui Neng to the test by assigning him to manual labor in the kitchen.
One day, the 5th Patriarch walked into the kitchen where Hui Neng was pounding rice. Hong Ren said to Hui Neng, “A seeker of the path of truth would risk his life for the Dharma, would he not?” Before he got the answer from Hui Neng, he further said, “Is the rice ready?” Hui Neng was wise enough to understand what his master was trying to ask him, which was his readiness to give his life for the sake of seeking truth. Hui Neng replied, “It was ready long ago, only waiting for the sift.” Hui Neng was implying that he was ready and waiting for Hong Ren’s guidance and teaching. Then Hong Ren knocked three times on the mortar with his stick and walked out without saying anything.
Hui Neng was wise enough to understand that the gesture was meant for him to go to his master private chamber at the third watch, which was at three o’clock in the morning. In the early hours of the morning, Hui Neng proceeded to Hong Ren’s room. In the privacy of Hong Ren’s private chamber and using the monk’s robe to cover the divine transmission so no one else could see, the 5th Patriarch passed on the heart teaching of the Tao to Hui Neng. He then instructed Hui Neng to leave the monastery to transmit the Tao to commoners when the time was right. In addition, he told Hui Neng to cease passing on the traditional robe and begging bowl as authenticating objects for a person with the mandate to pass on the Tao. The esoteric heart teaching of Tao from that point onwards was to be received by commoners who had spiritual affinity with Tao.
It took Hui Neng quite some time and a lot of trials and tribulations along the way before he could complete his mission. After Hui Neng, all Patriarchs given the mandate for the next generation of patriarch were commoners. This signaled a critical shift and turning point of the cycle of Tao propagation. This passing on of the heart teaching in secrecy is divine transmission from one patriarch to another for almost 5,000 years. There are a total of 64 Patriarchs over these 5,000 years and is known as the lineage of Tao or the Golden Thread from Heaven.
Before Hui Neng, the Patriarchs who had the heart teaching were firstly Emperors, Prime Ministers and Scholars (including Lao Tze, Confucius and Mencius) in China (in total 18 generations), then 28 generations of Indian Buddhist Monks in India, 6 generations of monks in China and 12 generations of enlightened commoners in China. The heart teaching no longer remains with the Buddhist monks since Hui Neng and any commoners with affinity now can receive the heart teaching transmitted in the temple of Tao of Heaven because the time is up for the general salvation. This is the saying of my Heavenly Teacher JiGong:
“The heart of Stableness must be purified on earth. The path of full enlightenment must be accomplished in the world. Break away with the Form and Shape Affairs of the Door of Emptiness. Should one’s mind be free from dust (external disturbances), why does one need to wear the kasaya?”
Heart of Stableness means a state of mind where one can stay calm and unperturbed in all external forms and conditions, known as ‘Dhyana’ in Sanskrit and ‘Zen’ in Japanese. Path of full enlightenment means the way to perfect universal awareness, Buddhahood. Form and Shape Affair according JiGong it means that some religious staff who live in temples or monasteries may not realize the true essence of Emptiness. On one hand, they are ‘detached’ with the forms and shapes of a worldly life such as family, career, etc; but on the other hand, they ‘dwell on’ the forms and shapes of a ‘divine’ life such as religious rituals, creed, spiritual honor, merits, etc. Kasaya (Jia Sha) means the three regulation-garments of a Buddhist monk. Here, Jia-Sha refers to the ‘uniforms’ of all religious personnel.
Author: T.A Chew
T.A Chew almost wanted to renounce and become a monk more than 12 years ago. Later he was told by different divine spirits including Goddess of Mercy that he was already a monk in his previous life in China. In this life he has to do the same thing, preaching, but this time it is Tao of Heaven. Website: http://www.white-sun.com
Jesus tells a story - a powerful story - that illustrates how God’s Truth for today is always a new Word for today. And it also helps us understand that if all we’re holding onto are “old truths”, we’re really holding onto no truths!
(By the way — if you want to read a summary of this
teaching, just read the words in bold…it will actually make sense!
)
Let’s examine Jesus’ story of the “Kingdom Scribe” to understand both its
interpretation and its application to you as a Follower of Jesus Christ. The text is
from Matthew 13. 51 & 52:
And [Jesus] said to [His disciples], “Therefore, every
scribe who has been discipled by the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man that is a
householder, who, out of his treasure, brings forth things new and old.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore’…”
Any time you see the word “therefore”, always ask what the word is
“there…for”. “Therefore” is a connective word and it means
that something that’s said before the verse is going to affect the interpretation of
that verse.
This story occurs in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. This chapter is often called
the “Kingdom of Heaven” chapter. In this one place, Matthew gathers
most of Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus’ last story, in chapter thirteen, is the story of the scribe who is “discipled
by the Kingdom of Heaven.”
We need to understand what a “scribe” was in Jesus’ day. Some
interpreters of this passage suggest that Jesus was only talking to people in His day
who were “officially scribes”. But He’s talking to us all, because in
today’s Kingdom, you’re called to be a scribe. Every one of you. We’re all ”
scribes”. So we need to understand what a scribe was in Jesus’ day in order to
see that part of our spiritual calling in today’s Kingdom.
Let me insert a prophetic word here:
In this season, God is beginning to raise up the Teachers in the Body of Christ as
never before. We can’t possibly share with others the Kingdom of God without this
gift coming to maturity in Christ’s Body. But to say He’s “raising up
teachers” means more than that He’s raising up the “Five-fold
Teachers” of the Body - it means that the “Five-Fold Teachers” are
raising up EVERYBODY as teachers and scribes in the Kingdom of God. The goal isn’t
only for YOU to be “well taught”, but for you to “teach well”!
Now back to our text - In Jesus’ day, people depended
on their “rabbis” to interpret and apply the Scriptures to their daily lives.
If two people joined together in a contract, and one felt the other violated it, they
might go to a rabbi for him to apply the Scriptures in resolving their dispute. But
this was not the function, primarily, of a scribe. The scribe was a “teacher
of the law”. Scribes had great prestige and power and were seen as
having esoteric or obscure spiritual knowledge that could only be passed on to
committed students - disciples initiated into the mysteries of the Scriptures.
But Jesus leaps from the natural understanding of a scribe to a new and
supernatural understanding: This scribe “has been discipled by the
Kingdom of Heaven!“
My gosh! This is astounding!
Some versions translate this as, “every scribe who has been instructed about
the Kingdom of Heaven”, but this is not what Jesus actually said. The way
in which this is written in the original language is that this scribe is not discipled
about the Kingdom of Heaven, but is discipled by the Kingdom of
Heaven.
There’s another place in Matthew’s Gospel that uses the same grammatical
construction. It’s in chapter 27, verse 57. In it, it says that Joseph of Arimathea had
become a disciple of Jesus, not a disciple about Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea was
discipled by Jesus, not about Jesus. Jesus discipled him.
In the same way, this “scribe” Jesus is telling us about, hasn’t been
discipled about the Kingdom of Heaven but by the Kingdom of
Heaven.
Now don’t let that easily slide by you. Grab hold of it - it’s not at all the way we’d
normally think about discipleship. What would seem more normal is the way it’s
used there in chapter 27. We think of people being discipled by Jesus or discipled by
a pastor or discipled by a spiritual teacher. But here Jesus reveals that the
Kingdom of Heaven itself disciples people!
Come on! Look at this! This scribe “has been discipled by the Kingdom of
Heaven”!
Have you been “discipled by the Kingdom of Heaven”? Or
have you only been “discipled about the Kingdom of Heaven”?
Do you want to know for sure you’re being “discipled by the Kingdom
of Heaven”?
Well, what’s it mean to be “discipled by the Kingdom of Heaven”?
A disciple is more than a mere student. A student says to his teacher, “I’m
going to hear what you have to say, and consider whether it will be to my benefit to
apply it.”
That’s not what a disciple says. When a person becomes a disciple, he transfers his
allegiance from self to the discipler. So here’s what the disciple says to his ”
teacher”: “I’m going to hear what you have to say, and obey it.”
God has designed the Kingdom of Heaven to enter into your life as a Teacher, a
Discipler. If you transfer your allegiance to that which the Kingdom of Heaven
imparts to you, you will be discipled by the Kingdom.
And you’ll be like the scribe in Jesus’ story. In Jesus’ day, scribes were discipled
by other religious leaders. Paul’s religious teacher was renowned and honored by all
the Jews. His name was Gamaliel. Paul was discipled by Gamaliel. But after he met
Jesus, he transferred his allegiance. He became a disciple of Jesus. Not only that,
Paul became a disciple of the Kingdom of God. In other words, part of who Paul was
in fulfilling his spiritual destiny was a man who committed his allegiance to the
Presence of the Kingdom of God in his daily life.
Let’s look again at our little story:
And [Jesus] said to [His disciples], “Therefore, every scribe who has been
discipled by the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man that is a householder, who, out of
his treasure, brings forth things new and old.
The scribe (and not just any normal scribe, but the scribe who’s been discipled by
the Kingdom of Heaven itself!) Jesus compares the scribe to a ”
householder”. The “householder” is the “master over his
house”. In some Bible versions, “treasure” is translated ”
storeroom”. It refers to a safe place in which a homeowner could store his
most valuable belongings.
Why would a homeowner “go in and out” of his storeroom, bringing out
things new and old? Presumably, it’s to distribute the valuable things he has safely
stored away for the use of his household. Possibly, he goes into the storeroom to
bring out a gold-edged platter for a banquet that night, and maybe a string bag of
spices for the preparing the feast.
Now, the word for “storeroom” or “treasure”, in the original
Greek, is a lovely word: it’s thesaurus. That’s the word we use for collecting
into one book, a “treasury” of all the possible synonyms and antonyms
for every word in English. In the Bible, this word is translated “treasure”.
Jesus compares this “Kingdom Scribe” to a ”
homeowner”. How is a “spiritual teacher” like a ”
homeowner” who goes “in and out of his treasury”, fetching stuff?
Also, whose “house” is the scribe in charge of? And what’s in the ”
treasury” that the Kingdom Scribe is supposed to go in and out. Finally, what’s
the stuff the Kingdom Scribe is supposed to be bringing out, stuff old and new?
If a homeowner stores spices and banquet platters in his “treasury”,
what does a “scribe” store? A scribe is a “teacher of
Scripture”, so what he goes into his treasury for are teachings - teachings
both “old and new”. Comparing the scribe to the homeowner
implies that the scribe’s teachings are his own property.
Have you been “discipled by the Kingdom”? Have you stored up in
the treasury of your heart, Kingdom teachings that are not only “old and
new” but your personal truths? Or do you only have teachings stored up
about Jesus and about the Kingdom, teachings that honestly are
just the teachings of other “Kingdom Scribes” that you’ve adopted as
your own?
We’re still comparing the “Kingdom Scribe” to a homeowner. Now, the
homeowner’s “treasury” is located in his “house”. If the
scribe’s “treasury” is located in the scribe’s “house”, what is
the Kingdom Scribe’s “house”?
“House” doesn’t just refer to a structure of stone, sticks or straw. ”
House” is the “household” - the family and the family’s
possessions over which the householder has authority. And just as the
homeowner brings treasures out of his storeroom for the sake of his household, so
the Kingdom scribe brings forth things new and old, not for purely private or
personal reasons, but in their capacity as teachers.
What has God given you authority over? Your own life? Children? How about your
community? How about the world around you? According to Jesus, if you are faithful
with the smaller things over which you’ve been given spiritual authority, you’ll be
given cities over which to exercise your authority.
Whatever you exercise authority over now, that’s your “house”, and
whatever truths the Kingdom of God has discipled in you, are your truths to bring
out into your sphere of authority.
Finally, Jesus says these “truths” are “old” and “new”.
Most people read this phrase as if it speaks of several “truths” - some of
which are “old truths” and some of which are “new truths”.
That’s not a correct interpretation. The correct interpretation is staggering in its
implications.
According to the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, what the Kingdom
Scribe brings forth from his treasury are not “new things as well as old”,
which suggests the new things have been added to the old things. The
Kingdom Scribe brings out of his treasury “things that are old and
new.”
What’s this? The new truths are not added to the old truths - there is
but one Revelation, but since Jesus has ushered in the Kingdom of Heaven, the “old”
truths are revealed in a “new” way. In the Kingdom, the “old” has become
“new”! God has promised to reveal to us “the mysteries of
the Kingdom”. And yet every “mystery” revealed to us can in seed
form be found as an “old” truth in the Old Testament. For example: we
already know of the “truths” of David’s Tabernacle, but in the Kingdom
the significance of these truths - over 3,000 years old - is made new for us today.
The truths of David’s Tabernacle are both 3,000 years old and they’re new this very
day - if you hear the Wind of God’s Spirit on this truth.
Many people - especially in non-renewal congregations - are afraid of prophetic
ministry. They’re afraid that people who see themselves as prophets are going to
start writing new Scripture like Joseph Smith did. It’s important to notice that the
Apostle Peter commands everyone who serves the Body by speaking gifts, are to
“speak as God’s oracle”. “Oracle” means “God’s
mouthpiece”.
This fear that the “new” truths the Spirit brings to us every day can be
contrary to that which has already been revealed in Scripture, is not at all
unreasonable. But this fear can be dispelled by the fact that what the Holy Spirit
speaks through us are in fact ancient truths, but ancient truths brought into our
lives with a fresh Wind of illumination. They are “old and new”.
The Kingdom Scribe will go into his Treasury of Kingdom Truths, and from that
Treasury will distribute to others Truths that are “old/new” — ancient,
and yet fresh for today. Every, successful, Kingdom Believer who is discipled by the
Kingdom of Heaven, will find that the Truths of God’s Word are new everyday.
If you go back into the treasury of Kingdom Truths God has discipled within you,
and you bring out a Truth - is it just an “old truth”? Is it yesterday’s
Manna? Then you’re not being a faithful scribe of the Kingdom.
Here’s how you can go back into the Treasury and bring forth an “old
truth” that’s also a “new truth”: Take an “old truth” you know, and
go to the Father with it. Take it in your hand and say, “Heavenly
Father - illumine this truth… I know what it’s meant to others, I know what it’s
meant to me - but ever since I opened my eyes this morning, it’s been a new day,
and I need fresh Manna today (not old Manna); I need the Wind of the Spirit to blow
across my understanding of this Truth, and see afresh.”
“KingdomScribes” is a ministry led by Emil and Michele Swift. Their newsletter can
be found at http://KingdomScribes.InJesus.com/ The Swifts have been called by
God to minister together uniquely to the Body of Christ and share a revelatory
teaching ministry — gifted in the Spirit to teach mysteries of the Kingdom in a
simple, direct fashion. Emil is a “Kingdom Scribe” whose heart is to raise every
Believer into living and ministering in the power of the Spirit and the Word as
“scribes of the Kingdom”. A passion to engage the hearts, souls and spirits of his
listeners has led Emil into a teaching style characterized by its lack of religion,
rituals and church jargon. He ministers in words easily understood by those to
whom he speaks. The Swifts have a blog at http://KingdomScribes.blogspot.com/
and their main web site is at http://KingdomScribes.net/
Have you ever wondered how exactly would someone find out which parts of a city or even a state is more religious than another? As an Internet enthusiast I always figure there is some help rendered for such research in any walks of life from websites. The one particular topic I chose to write for this article is how to find out which locality is good for targeting your website advertisements. Here I am taking one Christian Book Store as an example to drive the point. The popularity of books in a particular topic is based on two factors, the segments popularity and the quality of the book. This is based on my own lexicon. The First is how popular Christianity is as a topic to read at this particular time. The second is more of a wider scope as it has the keyword “Quality”, some of it is author’s popularity (!?), title name, topics covered, the style and language. This is what makes a book, a high quality piece of “Marketing Material”. Don’t be offended when I tell a book is a Marketing Material. The targeted audience is booksellers and distributors plus you as a person who like to understand how well your community can be gauged against the religious meter.
Well how exactly do these online stores help in this aspect? Do you know that this demographics data is the vital marketing tool in the hands of the distributors? Any good store willing to stand on for a long time rather than be a shooting star “Wowed” for a second and then diminishes into the oblivion, would invest time in studying their customers. They are just looking at where you are from, have you seen lately that folks collect atleast your Zip code when you purchase items. This is exactly what I am talking about. They use this information to figure out where the readers are from and where to add more marketing dollars or strategically improve their inventory in the right stores. This is “very very very” localized data, unless you are a big chain you are not going to get this vital stats correctly for a larger demography. This is where the websites are more powerful than their brick and mortar counterparts. They get to see a wider audience, and do you know that the popular item that sells is books through online shops. These are relatively easy to pack and ship without worries about much damage. The online stores also get the information about demographics for free. How you ask? Well you got to provide the shipping address to get the book in the first place and this is what makes the online store powerful than the one in your street corner. There are many uses to this data, which needs a separate book to be written about so let’s get back to the core of this article. One of the uses is to gauge the popularity of a religion in particular regions, for example Christianity in bay area. This information is available from any remote corner of the world. This popularity is useful to target the marketing dollars to that zone rather than elsewhere.
This is also useful data for the customer, I don’t know whether you will be allowed to see the data or you will purchase such data. But you will enjoy much steeper discounts where there are more folks interested in religion and the warehouses are stocking more books of the same type passing on volume discounts for the customers. The point I am trying to make is rather than go to the corner shop you may be well off browsing through the collections offered by online stores. This allows you to comparison shop against your local store. If the offer in Internet is less than your local store then chances are that your religion is not so popular in that locality. This article deals in an interesting topic for doing further research if you are a marketing buff or a savvy customer. I have a sample website in the resource box which can kick-start your research.
For good pointers to interesting resources in christian books, christian book store, discount christian books, christian web sites visit http://www.1st-christian-book-store-and-gifts.com. “Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as the article is re-printed in its entirety and all links are left intact.”
Luke 16:19 - 31
The rich man was probably a man of royal lineage, a king or perhaps a prince, for the color of his clothes was purple which is the color of royalty and it seems that Jesus wouldn’t mention this fact unless it had great significance. Also the fine linen he wore indicates how very rich he was and gives us a yardstick to show the vast chasm that exists between the very rich and very poor and the indifference the one has for the other. This rich man fared sumptuously which is to say all that was set before him was of the very best that money could buy. We can look at the word “sumptuously” according to the Greek and find its meaning is “Shining & Bright.” Can you imagine sitting down to a table spread with the finest and most expensive food prepared by the very best chefs in the world. The table is covered with a silken table cloth and the glasses are of the most expensive crystal. The plates are of pure gold and the serving bowls are silver. Shining and Bright is a very good description of the splendor in which this man lived.
Then we have Lazarus, a poor man who lived a life of poverty, though the scriptures don’t tell us how long Lazarus had lived this way, I believe it was a life of poverty from childhood brought on by a crippling disease. Lazarus was laid at the gate of the rich man which means he couldn’t make his way there himself. Verse 21 says he was full of sores which means in the Greek that he was covered with ulcers or open wounds. These ulcers were probably caused by laying or sitting in one place for long periods of time, not being able to move. A life of pain and misery, a life of hunger and thirst, a life of begging and pleading for even a crumb of bread to eat. This was the life of Lazarus. But though Lazarus lived a tortured life, he feared God and worshiped Him. Lazarus looked and saw beyond this material world to a world to come, and even though his body was weak and diseased, his spirit prevailed. Many people would and do take there own lives because they give up and fall into the pit of misery and despair, they curse their life, and God, but not Lazarus, because scripture says he died (naturally) “and was carried by the Angels into Abraham’s bosom.”
Lazarus dies and is “Carried by the Angels” which according to the Greek, “he was not carried like a sack of flower, but born up in arms as of someone who is precious and greatly loved, carried like a newborn baby that has experienced a long hard childbirth and has now sprouted to new life.
But in contrast to Lazarus the rich man is buried, placed in the ground and seemingly forgotten by the world or perhaps the world is rejoicing over his death and the end of the repression which he imposed on those less fortunate then he. In any case this man who was so rich and powerful in life, now finds himself in torment, being cast into hell which the Greek describes as “the unseen world” which I believe indicates that hell is a totally dark place where one cannot even see the flames which cause the great pain experienced there.
Even being in the great pain and torment, the rich man lifts up his eyes (v23) and through the darkness surrounding him sees Abraham at a great distance with Lazarus being tenderly held in his arms. Now the rich man cries out to Abraham “Father Abraham have mercy on me,” what a cry that must have been. A cry of desperation from a man who has spent a life in comfort, and now finds himself in pain and anguish and not just a cry but a scream tearing from his dry and parched throat with only one thing in mind, one great need to be satisfied. I would think that at this time the overwhelming burden this man carried would be one of repentance and guilt for his sin. But not this man! Water is the only thing this sinner can think about, a need to once again satisfy the lust of the body at the expense of the soul.
We must all take to heart Gods word while we have the opportunity and look to Jesus for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sin. We must repent and turn from the life of our past and let God lead us into the life of our future. To wait is to risk sharing this rich mans destiny where there is no repentance, remorse, or salvation but only eternity in hell, eternity in pain, eternity in darkness.
This man also beside his need of water, still has a need of being served. In (v24) he begs Abraham “send Lazarus” to satisfy his thirst. Even though he is condemned to eternity in hell and everlasting torment, still his old nature prevails, even after death. This plainly shows that if there is to be any change, it must take place here, on this earth, or we will forever regret missing the opportunity to experience that change that God can make in our lives.
Why do we differ on Passover and Pentecost? Is it because our Father God left us in the dark? Has the God of law and order left us in chaos and confusion? Are we unable to “prove all things” from the Scriptures - as we’re commanded - because we’re unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the correct dates to observe God’s holy days? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
Since there are many questions on this holy subject, we must start from the premise that God’s Word is true, consistent and does not contradict itself (John 10:35) We must look for those basic Scriptures that are black and white and build our biblical case upon them. Such supportive Scriptures are actually abundantly available and the biblical evidence is overwhelming! Let us shine the Light of God’s Word on our prayerful study with open minds, hearts and Bibles (Isa. 8:20; John 3:19-21; Acts 17:11).
The apostle Paul was inspired to write for the record that “the oracles of God” were committed to the Jews. The sacred calendar is clearly a part of “the oracles of God” (Ex. 12:2; Lev. 23:4). The purpose of the sacred calendar is for the Jews to determine and declare when the holy days of God are to be observed.
Jesus clearly revealed which Jews were responsible for these holy matters. Jesus declared that “the scribes and the PHARISEES sit in Moses’ seat” of AUTHORITY (Matt. 23:2). God has ordained that the Jews preserve His Word on the Law, Prophets and Writings - despite themselves (Rom. 3:2-3). God will not renege on giving Judah this special calling and precious gift (Gen. 49:10, Rom. 11:29).
God has also ordained that Church officials can make binding decisions based upon biblical legal precedents, affecting Church issues (such as discussed in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem council of elders), that do not undermine the foundation of the Church - the Law and the Prophets (Rom. 11;18; Eph. 2:20). God has not given Church leaders a license to “kill” the brethren by destroying them doctrinally, uprooting and overturning foundational truths, or “playing God” by stealing divine prerogatives! (Matt. 5:17, 19; 2 Thess. 2:3-4).
The correct dates to observe God’s holy days should not be a Church issue, having been settled by God thousands of years ago and preserved throughout the ages by faithful Jews.
So why do we differ on Passover and Pentecost? Because some have refused, rejected, denied and attempted to dismiss the biblical testimony! (Rom. 1:18; 3 John 9-10). We don’t differ because God’s forgotten or neglected to properly instruct His children in His ways (Deut. 6:7). We don’t differ because we’re unable to prove from the Scriptures, beyond a reasonable doubt, what’s right and what’s wrong.
“Come now and let us reason together, saith the LORD” (Isa. 1:18), “for the LORD has a controversy with His people, and He will plead with Israel” (Micah 6:2).
We differ because some have questioned God’s right to choose the Jews to preserve the Bible and doubt God’s ability to see that they fulfill their serious responsibility (Ex. 4:11; Isa. 45:9).
We differ because some won’t submit to the biblical fact that Jesus clearly decreed that the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat and attempt to usurp that authority by forcibly installing the Sadducees in that position instead. God destroyed the power-base of the Sadducees when the Temple was destroyed but preserved the Pharisees. The Sadducees are history! We must make sure that we support God’s chosen and not find ourselves in the enemy camp. (I Kgs. 2:27,35; Acts 5:39).
God’s Church, as a general rule, has stubbornly followed the blind Sadducean dates for Passover and Pentecost. That is to our shame! We must reject the rebellious traditions of men for the commandments of God, otherwise God will reject us as His Priest-King (Mark 7:7-9; 1 Sam. 15:23). It’s that serious!
Some, knowing better, continue to enjoy bitter strife and envying, getting caught up in proud personality clashes rather than humbling themselves before the Word of God ( 2 Tim. 2:23-26; Jas. 3:13-18). Truth is truth. It shouldn’t be a matter of “I’m right and you’re wrong,” but what does God’s Word say? God is truth. None of us owns the truth, only God does. Any truth that we might have God’s revealed it to us (1 Cor. 4:6-7). We’re not to take credit for it - all credit goes to God (2 Cor. 4:7).
Thankfully, a growing number of the brethren are beginning to see that the Bible does prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, which holy dates God would have us to observe. Therefore, may we celebrate God’s holy days as He would have us to - “in spirit and in truth” - and praise Him for restoring this truth to His Church!
Faith Fellowship Church, PO Box 1586, Broken Arrow, OK 74013, Pastor Terry Dashner
Neglect is a powerful force…
What is the best way to destroy a garden? You could drown it with too much water, or burn it up with too much fertilizer. You could plow it, chop it, burn it, or pull up all the plants by the roots. But why all the sweat? Just leave it alone, and the weeds and insects will do it for you.
What is the best way to destroy a friendship? You could telephone everyone you know and spread malicious rumors about you friend. You could make false accusations directly to your friend. You could borrow from her and fail to repay. You could write her insulting letters. But why all the sweat? Just leave her alone, and neglect will kill the friendship. Act as if she doesn’t exist. Forget her telephone number. Look the other way when you meet her.
What is the best way to destroy a church? You could vandalize the building by breaking the windows, shredding the hymnals, painting obscenities on the walls. You could disrupt the worship services, be rude to visitors, or tell all the leaders what a miserable mess they are making. But why all the sweat? Just live as if your church doesn’t exist. Ignore it. Don’t go around it. Don’t give to it. Don’t visit it. That part of the church which is you will gradually die of itself.
I think you get the point.
Yes sir, neglect is a powerful force. Is there anything in your life that you’re neglecting? Maybe you should do an inventory of your life, assessing what is important and what is trivial. What about spiritual things? Shouldn’t spiritual matters be important enough to make the top of your list? Jesus said that we are to seek the Kingdom of God first, and then the other things will be added. Maybe it’s true. Life, for the believer, is all about aligning our priorities. When we take care of the “first things” the “second things” will follow naturally.
Remember, Jesus created us to thrive in life. He has given us abundant life in Him. Shouldn’t it be a natural thing to put Him first? If so, why are we neglecting prayer, Bible reading, church attendance, tithing, helping our neighbors, and so on and so on? These things are important too. Joy stands for J-Jesus first, O-others second, and Y-yourself last. The only way to spell joy is to put the “j” first——JESUS!
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming soon!
Pastor T (Matthew 6:33)
About the Author
Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. Writes for enjoyment.