Life Truths family,
Thanks to Jeff for a great discussion of the trumpets. Boy, this stuff
is thick and complex. You might be like me, spending more time in
commentaries than in the scripture. I'll send out a fore WORD in a day
or two to help us break out of that in preparation for this coming and
next Sundays. This Sunday the core passage is Rev 12, but we will
survey much more of the book and focus on the truth hidden in plain
sight, and the surprising inability to see it plainly due to our
current, personal, educational, historical, literal, and cultural taints
and biases. May not give you the answers you want, but I hope it will
give you the skills you need to pursue the character of God as revealed
to the seven churches in this letter. Next Sunday we'll focus on Rev
19-21 and survey the whole book yet again and discuss the profound
aspects of worship replete in its pages.
So if you can read as much of Revelation this week, even more than once,
and try not to dive into the imagery but just read it at face value and
stay focused in the book, that will help tremendously as we train to
study together.
In the meantime, yesterday it came up about the Jews, the 144,000 being
sealed, and the emblem of the nation of Israel. Well, speaking on the
context of culture and what you've been taught, did you know that long
ago the Rabbis decided to stop teaching a certain chapter of the Bible?
And this systematic elimination of this one chapter, which we know and
love in our Christian culture, is a hinge pin in the very fabric of
understanding the Messiah. In the Old Testament, prophets saw primarily
the coming of the Messiah as a single event, and even the disciples
seemed to not be able to get past it, either, at least not until the
resurrection. But we know that it is two appearances, first the cross,
then the conquering. When Jesus read the scriptures and said "this has
come true this day in your hearing" He only read the first half of the
verse that spoke of the first coming and not the conquering.
Please take 9 minutes this week and sit and watch this video about the
"forbidden chapter of the Bible" and see the profound impact it has on
everyday Jews as this young man reads with them from the Hebrew
scriptures...and watch them see the Messiah in truth for the first time
in their lives. You can almost feel their hearts burning within like
the disciples on the road to Emmaus as he reveals what the scriptures
say about the coming of the King.
https://www.facebook.com/MedabrimEnglish/videos/828796167189961/
Love y'all. Praying for you now.
In a group Bible study or Sunday School, it often helps to look at a word in the original language, it's roots and uses. A foreWORD might help set tone for an upcoming study and afterWORDs are great to revisit once the lesson has “soaked in.” There are also onWORDS and upWORDS, downWORDS and otherWORDS to expand your faith’s perspective and possibly get a deeper glimpse into the character of God being revealed in the passage. You just can't fit it all in in an hour. And you shouldn't have to.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
foreWORD Revelation 5 the ONLY Lamb of God
Listen, watch, and read the words of this scripture song: Acts 10:38-42.
now read v43.
See you Sunday. Praying for each of you today.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
afterWORD Revelation 1 Turning Away
If you haven't seen it yet, suggest you start on the foreWORD for this week:
http://forewordsandafterwords.blogspot.com/2015/07/foreword-and-afterword-revelation-1.html
afterWORD. Turning Away.
Revelation 1 introduces the Seven Spirits and the seven churches. As you review the lesson this week, think on Rom 8:26
Romans 8:26 (ASV) And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;
Incredibly helpful, just as in Revelation, to know that He walks with us in the Spirit and does not leave us alone, even interceding for us when we don't know what or how to pray.
I mentioned Sunday we've put in our dossier to Haiti for international adoption, finally! I also mentioned there is a little girl in an orphanage there that was born during the time of the earthquake, and as far as we know has known nothing but this orphanage. She is special needs in ways we still don't understand. There are caring people there, some that love the Lord and love this child.
And what about you?
Romans 8:27-28 ...and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:29-39 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Okay, now read the lyrics of the song:
How Deep the Father's Love for Us
http://forewordsandafterwords.blogspot.com/2015/07/foreword-and-afterword-revelation-1.html
afterWORD. Turning Away.
Revelation 1 introduces the Seven Spirits and the seven churches. As you review the lesson this week, think on Rom 8:26
Romans 8:26 (ASV) And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;
Incredibly helpful, just as in Revelation, to know that He walks with us in the Spirit and does not leave us alone, even interceding for us when we don't know what or how to pray.
But
not this starts with "and" so go back a few verses. The
Spirit helps us with groanings in like manner as...
Romans 8:22-25 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:22-25 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
I mentioned Sunday we've put in our dossier to Haiti for international adoption, finally! I also mentioned there is a little girl in an orphanage there that was born during the time of the earthquake, and as far as we know has known nothing but this orphanage. She is special needs in ways we still don't understand. There are caring people there, some that love the Lord and love this child.
I don't know if she would understand or
remotely grasp the luxury of a home in VA, USA with clean water
right out of the tap, lots of fresh and safe food, her own room,
toys to play with, doctors and medicine, even vacations at the
beach. Makes me think of CS Lewis describing us as little
children who go on making mud pies in the slums unable to
picture the offer of a holiday at the sea. But how could she?
She's lived there her
entire life, in an institution with 60+ kids, in an
impoverished country riddled with all kinds of troubles. She knows nothing different. Unless someone
reveals it to her. And what then? Will she ache for the day we
come to take her home? Or will she have no idea what she's never had and not think much about it?
And what about you?
So with that perspective, read one of the
most misquoted verses in the Bible again:
Romans 8:27-28 ...and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
This is the Spirit which lives in us, a
seal of promise for His coming again. So...how now shall we
live?
I know this is a long email, but if you got
this far, oh boy! I hope you kept your spoon (dessert time)!
Are you seeing this? Go back to the little girl in Haiti. She can't do things for herself. She can't pull herself up by her bootstraps (she doesn't even own boots), she can't earn her way out of the orphanage. She is where she is. It's been a year and a half or more of Robyn and I doing paperwork, two or so years before that when we started getting the call to start the process, plus at least 10 years before that praying for adoption (Robyn much much longer). And yet, before this little girl was born, before her mom was pregnant, before the earthquake, the Lord was ordaining a family to love her deeply and completely, to do whatever it took however long it took to come for her and take her home to be with us where we are. And how much more the Father, since before time ever was, has been seeking you and me, who cannot do anything to save ourselves from the mess we are in, and willing to pay so great a price...
Are you seeing this? Go back to the little girl in Haiti. She can't do things for herself. She can't pull herself up by her bootstraps (she doesn't even own boots), she can't earn her way out of the orphanage. She is where she is. It's been a year and a half or more of Robyn and I doing paperwork, two or so years before that when we started getting the call to start the process, plus at least 10 years before that praying for adoption (Robyn much much longer). And yet, before this little girl was born, before her mom was pregnant, before the earthquake, the Lord was ordaining a family to love her deeply and completely, to do whatever it took however long it took to come for her and take her home to be with us where we are. And how much more the Father, since before time ever was, has been seeking you and me, who cannot do anything to save ourselves from the mess we are in, and willing to pay so great a price...
Romans 8:29-39 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?
Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Okay, now read the lyrics of the song:
How Deep the Father's Love for Us
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed to hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that kept Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
I really love you peoples.
Tim
foreWORD Revelation 1 Turning Away
Life Truths family,
I'll warn you I lost control of the keyboard
about halfway through...
I have two WORDS this week, the first being a homework assignment in preparation for this coming Sunday. Normally we do a passage from the book the pastor is preaching from, but this week I’d like to pose a question to discuss. It fits with the lesson but it requires a lot of thought ahead of time. Can’t spring it on you last minute. Please be prepared to discuss, with references.
1 1. foreWORD and this week's topic.
The
song Amy Burchik wonderfully sang yesterday (no idea how she go
through that! I asked her
and she said she has to think things like baseball, dirt… I really believe Stuart
Townsend could submit that to a hymnal, it really is that kind of
timeless music and lyric. Lots
of great songs on the radio, moving lyrics and music. But old or new, there is a
clear distinction not just in music style but in the thickness of
the thought of hymns.
Selah
verson (with lyrics):
Spoiler
alert! The topic for this coming week's small groups discussion
breakout is the second line of the second stanza:
How great the pain of searing loss
The
Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
Doubtless most if not all of you have been
taught “God turned His face away from Jesus on the cross.” Is
that true? I offer a
reward for anyone who can put the chapter and verse to where the
Bible says that. But let's have this discussion.
Arguments
for:
Arguments otherwise:
Others say the crucifixion is the physical manifestation of the OT prophecy, the sun (the light who worships the Father, see Psalms 19) was darkened, and the moon (reflection of the Light in the Son, see Col 1) was turned to blood.
Come prepared to discuss.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
afterWORD 1 John 1:1-4, "backsliding"
LifeTruths Families,
What a blessing it was for me this morning, great discussion in Proverbs and 1 John.
John says it all starts with the Eternal God, and He chose to become flesh and dwell among us, to be a high priest who in all points could feel what we feel, yet without sin. He chose to bring many brethren into the house through suffering like us.
Therefore, John tells us there was a sound that hit his ears, that he could understand. He looked with awe, came near it, studied it, reached out with full power of his hands and held it, experienced it with power, not just an experience but life, the life of Eternity. And God is glorified as we are satisfied with a God who desires that we visit, that we come boldly, that we put our hands in His hands and His side, a God that desires not only to visit His people but desires to be touched by His people, and we are satisfied most fully with joy when we cling to Him.
Ok, several asked me at the end of class since I didn't get back to Prov 14:14 about "backsliding" so I thought I'd put a few words in email. (yeah, right). I'll try to be succinct. I'm open to discussion and different opinions. Please do let me know if any of this blesses you.
Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways : and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
"backslider" in English (use KJV for standardization) only appears here. "backsliding" appears in Jeremiah 2:19, 3:6, 3:8, 3:11, 3:12, 3:14, 3:22, 5:6, 8:5, 14:7, 31:22, 49:4 and Hosea 4:16, 11:7, 14:4. Of significant note, Hos 14 says "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him." (gee, wonder why...maybe Isaiah 53?)
The word in Prov 14:14 is cuwg, pronounced "soog", it s a primary root word meaning to flinch. (Oh, wow!) It can literally mean to go back, retreat, or figuratively mean to apostatize. In general it is translated "backslider" here, in other places to drive back, go back, turn back or turn away. I wonder if we joked across a fellowship supper to another Christian saying, "oh you apostatizer!" if they'd finish their cornbread or just pick up their tea and leave (stopping of course for a piece of cake, especially if it's on a paper plate).
Just to nail it down, that word cuwg, shows up in 14 places in the OT. Try Isaiah 42:17, "they shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods." But it's different than not ever knowing about God, for Zeph 1:4-6 says "I will consume man and beast...and them that are turned back from the Lord and that have not sought the Lord nor inquired for Him."
A bunch of places is Psalms where it ties enemies, shame, and confounding. Like Ps 53:3 "Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." David asks God that He not let us flinch: Ps 80:18 says "we will not go back from Thee: quicken us, and we will call upon Thy name." (He that hath the Son hath life, he that hath not the Son hath not life")
There is no soft word like this in the New Testament. Closest is what we're coming to in 1 John, "apostate".
But Ps 53:3 is quoted in Romans 3: there is none that seeks after God, no not one. So in a sense, "backsliding" is all of us before He quickens us. Now the closest description of the full language of Pr 14:14 applied to someone in the church is Hebrews 6. "it is impossible to taste and turn back..." The good seed was planted and it brought up thorns (do a search on "thorns" and see how many times the Bible speaks in this way). Some say this means we should all be moving forward in maturity, others think it means you were a Christian and denied the faith, or you turned back. Others say the thorns are false converts, not having ever received with joy in the first place. (parable of the guy that buried his talent, or the parable of the sewer where the seed that fell on wayside, on rocky ground, or among thorns.) These were not prepared to receive the seed with everlasting, life altering joy. Initial excitement, maybe, but not lifetime joy like in 1 John 1:1-4.
"For that which is from the beginning...lifetime...joy..." is the formula , as He sees fit: "for you were once dead in your sins, but God hath quickened you..."
One last point, PR 14:14 the words "shall be satisfied from himself" are there for vernacular in our language. They don't exist in the transcript. There are only 6 words in the verse:
"flinch"
"heart--feelings, intellect, will, center of being"
"filled to satisfaction"
"a trodden road or course of life"
"good (in the broadest sense)"
"man"
glad I'm not a translator. But if you were looking at ancient writings of prose, they like to compare. So it would make sense to me if it says
"apostates at the core of their being are satisfied with the trodden path, a good man is satisfied not by the path but in [being, doing, having, pursuing, living] good..."
Hmmm, sounds like Matt 7:13-14: Enter by the narrow gate, for broad is the gate and wide is the path that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it; but narrow is the gate and narrow is the path that leads to life, and there are few that find it.
The satisfaction is not the road but the Master we walk with all the days of our life. "And to them that believed, He said, 'if you continue in My word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:28-32).
I love you folks. I pray today you find the satisfaction of your very souls to filling. Now pass the tea and let's get some cornbread and pie. no, seriously...
What a blessing it was for me this morning, great discussion in Proverbs and 1 John.
John says it all starts with the Eternal God, and He chose to become flesh and dwell among us, to be a high priest who in all points could feel what we feel, yet without sin. He chose to bring many brethren into the house through suffering like us.
Therefore, John tells us there was a sound that hit his ears, that he could understand. He looked with awe, came near it, studied it, reached out with full power of his hands and held it, experienced it with power, not just an experience but life, the life of Eternity. And God is glorified as we are satisfied with a God who desires that we visit, that we come boldly, that we put our hands in His hands and His side, a God that desires not only to visit His people but desires to be touched by His people, and we are satisfied most fully with joy when we cling to Him.
Ok, several asked me at the end of class since I didn't get back to Prov 14:14 about "backsliding" so I thought I'd put a few words in email. (yeah, right). I'll try to be succinct. I'm open to discussion and different opinions. Please do let me know if any of this blesses you.
Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways : and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
"backslider" in English (use KJV for standardization) only appears here. "backsliding" appears in Jeremiah 2:19, 3:6, 3:8, 3:11, 3:12, 3:14, 3:22, 5:6, 8:5, 14:7, 31:22, 49:4 and Hosea 4:16, 11:7, 14:4. Of significant note, Hos 14 says "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from him." (gee, wonder why...maybe Isaiah 53?)
The word in Prov 14:14 is cuwg, pronounced "soog", it s a primary root word meaning to flinch. (Oh, wow!) It can literally mean to go back, retreat, or figuratively mean to apostatize. In general it is translated "backslider" here, in other places to drive back, go back, turn back or turn away. I wonder if we joked across a fellowship supper to another Christian saying, "oh you apostatizer!" if they'd finish their cornbread or just pick up their tea and leave (stopping of course for a piece of cake, especially if it's on a paper plate).
Just to nail it down, that word cuwg, shows up in 14 places in the OT. Try Isaiah 42:17, "they shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods." But it's different than not ever knowing about God, for Zeph 1:4-6 says "I will consume man and beast...and them that are turned back from the Lord and that have not sought the Lord nor inquired for Him."
A bunch of places is Psalms where it ties enemies, shame, and confounding. Like Ps 53:3 "Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." David asks God that He not let us flinch: Ps 80:18 says "we will not go back from Thee: quicken us, and we will call upon Thy name." (He that hath the Son hath life, he that hath not the Son hath not life")
There is no soft word like this in the New Testament. Closest is what we're coming to in 1 John, "apostate".
But Ps 53:3 is quoted in Romans 3: there is none that seeks after God, no not one. So in a sense, "backsliding" is all of us before He quickens us. Now the closest description of the full language of Pr 14:14 applied to someone in the church is Hebrews 6. "it is impossible to taste and turn back..." The good seed was planted and it brought up thorns (do a search on "thorns" and see how many times the Bible speaks in this way). Some say this means we should all be moving forward in maturity, others think it means you were a Christian and denied the faith, or you turned back. Others say the thorns are false converts, not having ever received with joy in the first place. (parable of the guy that buried his talent, or the parable of the sewer where the seed that fell on wayside, on rocky ground, or among thorns.) These were not prepared to receive the seed with everlasting, life altering joy. Initial excitement, maybe, but not lifetime joy like in 1 John 1:1-4.
"For that which is from the beginning...lifetime...joy..." is the formula , as He sees fit: "for you were once dead in your sins, but God hath quickened you..."
One last point, PR 14:14 the words "shall be satisfied from himself" are there for vernacular in our language. They don't exist in the transcript. There are only 6 words in the verse:
"flinch"
"heart--feelings, intellect, will, center of being"
"filled to satisfaction"
"a trodden road or course of life"
"good (in the broadest sense)"
"man"
glad I'm not a translator. But if you were looking at ancient writings of prose, they like to compare. So it would make sense to me if it says
"apostates at the core of their being are satisfied with the trodden path, a good man is satisfied not by the path but in [being, doing, having, pursuing, living] good..."
Hmmm, sounds like Matt 7:13-14: Enter by the narrow gate, for broad is the gate and wide is the path that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it; but narrow is the gate and narrow is the path that leads to life, and there are few that find it.
The satisfaction is not the road but the Master we walk with all the days of our life. "And to them that believed, He said, 'if you continue in My word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:28-32).
I love you folks. I pray today you find the satisfaction of your very souls to filling. Now pass the tea and let's get some cornbread and pie. no, seriously...
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
afterWORD Malachi 3 Depth Perception
LifeTruths family,
Sorry we didn't get to do the full survey of the minor prophets in class. There were so many amazing things we discovered this quarter, it would have been great to have recapped at least some of them. And so many critical ties to the Old and New Testaments in these little messages, oracles, burdens.
One thing I thought would be valuable as a transition from studying the end of the Old Testament to the study of the end of the New Testament is to link you to some very interesting diagrams I mentioned in class by Clarence Larkin. He was an American Baptist preacher who studied, taught, and wrote a lot of interesting detailed descriptions, tying together various prophetic images and times tables through books like Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi, and into Revelation.
The "mountain peaks" I so terribly drew Sunday is listed on the left side of this page:
http://clarencelarkincharts.com/
Worth a look anyway. It's interesting when you read some of the prophecy of the OT and there is little to no distinction of two comings of Christ, it's just one event, the great and terrible day of the Lord. And in pockets where they saw something of the first coming (Ps 22, Is 53), the suffering servant, to look upon the One whom they pierced, the receiver of the full brunt of the wrath of God, they couldn't get a full grip on its meaning let alone the depth of its eternal power. I can't, and it happened. How could they? Blessed are they that do not see and yet believe...
You could say they had a depth perception problem. Of course, we have the same thing looking back. Even Pastor Ray said in his sermon on Sunday that "as far as the east is from the west...if you are traveling east, you never go west." I wonder if that is at all tainted by the fact that we had Pythagoras, Ptolemy, and Eratosthenes and many others to convince us the world was round, but the Psalmist in writing that line knew only a flat, finite world. Is it possible to view the NT without having to first acclimate ourselves to the knowledge that the prophets of the OT had when they received their visions? Maybe perhaps time is not just mountain peaks but itself has horizons like a sphere, and we can only see so far in one direction, whether forward or backward, without losing perspective.
If you click in the middle of that page and see the chart on the Revelation, he tries to line up the various images of prophecy and the full spectrum of human history. Mind boggling.
One last thing I'll mention as a close of the Minor Prophets (named that by the length of the books, not by the value or extent of their vision), and that is the tie between prophecy, the gospel, and the church. Malachi heard clearly from the Lord that our righteousness is imputed, about being spared from wrath and remembered as His "own son who works for him" (Mal 3:16-18). He spoke of the need of an intercessor and revealing His own arm of salvation. He talked of a book of remembrance of those who feared the Lord. He spoke of giving His people spiritual discernment of those who serve and those who don't, what is of God and what is not of God. These things captured in a mere 3 verses in Malachi will take all of the letters of John, Jude, and Revelation to unpack.
Very exciting! My email signature from Jonathan Edwards captures it in one line what just took me a whole blog to say:
"Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected."
Sorry we didn't get to do the full survey of the minor prophets in class. There were so many amazing things we discovered this quarter, it would have been great to have recapped at least some of them. And so many critical ties to the Old and New Testaments in these little messages, oracles, burdens.
One thing I thought would be valuable as a transition from studying the end of the Old Testament to the study of the end of the New Testament is to link you to some very interesting diagrams I mentioned in class by Clarence Larkin. He was an American Baptist preacher who studied, taught, and wrote a lot of interesting detailed descriptions, tying together various prophetic images and times tables through books like Isaiah, Daniel, Malachi, and into Revelation.
The "mountain peaks" I so terribly drew Sunday is listed on the left side of this page:
http://clarencelarkincharts.com/
Worth a look anyway. It's interesting when you read some of the prophecy of the OT and there is little to no distinction of two comings of Christ, it's just one event, the great and terrible day of the Lord. And in pockets where they saw something of the first coming (Ps 22, Is 53), the suffering servant, to look upon the One whom they pierced, the receiver of the full brunt of the wrath of God, they couldn't get a full grip on its meaning let alone the depth of its eternal power. I can't, and it happened. How could they? Blessed are they that do not see and yet believe...
You could say they had a depth perception problem. Of course, we have the same thing looking back. Even Pastor Ray said in his sermon on Sunday that "as far as the east is from the west...if you are traveling east, you never go west." I wonder if that is at all tainted by the fact that we had Pythagoras, Ptolemy, and Eratosthenes and many others to convince us the world was round, but the Psalmist in writing that line knew only a flat, finite world. Is it possible to view the NT without having to first acclimate ourselves to the knowledge that the prophets of the OT had when they received their visions? Maybe perhaps time is not just mountain peaks but itself has horizons like a sphere, and we can only see so far in one direction, whether forward or backward, without losing perspective.
If you click in the middle of that page and see the chart on the Revelation, he tries to line up the various images of prophecy and the full spectrum of human history. Mind boggling.
One last thing I'll mention as a close of the Minor Prophets (named that by the length of the books, not by the value or extent of their vision), and that is the tie between prophecy, the gospel, and the church. Malachi heard clearly from the Lord that our righteousness is imputed, about being spared from wrath and remembered as His "own son who works for him" (Mal 3:16-18). He spoke of the need of an intercessor and revealing His own arm of salvation. He talked of a book of remembrance of those who feared the Lord. He spoke of giving His people spiritual discernment of those who serve and those who don't, what is of God and what is not of God. These things captured in a mere 3 verses in Malachi will take all of the letters of John, Jude, and Revelation to unpack.
Very exciting! My email signature from Jonathan Edwards captures it in one line what just took me a whole blog to say:
"Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected."
Sunday, February 1, 2015
afterWORD Nehemiah 7 Love of Truth
Church family, living stones,
This week we talked in Nehemiah 7 (after running all over on a mystery chase) that our first step in "playing our part" is to examine to see if we are in fact genuine, if we can trace our existence as heirs to the Kingdom back to the work of Christ on the cross and a repentance unto faith, without any works of our own to pretend to add to it.
I found this quote tonight in Wiersbe's 50 People Every Christian Should Know, in chapter 11 (pgs 65-66) on John Henry Newman (1801-1890).
Are you genuine?
What is your role?
Where is your zeal placed?
Are you a conveyor of the love of truth?
This week we talked in Nehemiah 7 (after running all over on a mystery chase) that our first step in "playing our part" is to examine to see if we are in fact genuine, if we can trace our existence as heirs to the Kingdom back to the work of Christ on the cross and a repentance unto faith, without any works of our own to pretend to add to it.
I found this quote tonight in Wiersbe's 50 People Every Christian Should Know, in chapter 11 (pgs 65-66) on John Henry Newman (1801-1890).
It is unfortunate that Newman did not known the better evangelical men of that day. He saw only (or perhaps only wanted to see) a ministry that emphasized correct doctrine and dedicated zeal, but lacked Christian character and true spiritual power. R.W. Church described evangelicals as people with "an exhausted teaching and a spent enthusiasm." The evangelical churches were "respectable" and popular with men of position, but (added church) "they were on very easy terms with the world." If there was one thing Newman hated with a holy zeal, it was a religion of words without reality, words that described an experience but failed to effect it in the lives of people...It strikes me to ask privately and openly about my part in our fellowship or any fellowship for that matter, whether preacher, teacher, encourager, worker, or witness of His goodness. If I am genuine, wonderful. If I am zealous for the right reasons for the right purposes in our time together, great. If I am genuine but not of the most use by our Master, then I must more faithfully render my role or more honestly understand it. I challenge each of us, in the fellowship of the class, in the local body, in the body of Christ, and to the world around us to "know whom I have believed..."
One final observation: When I read Newman's sermons, I find myself examining not only my own heart but also my preaching. I find myself asking: Am I a faithful physician of the soul? Am I preaching to the conscience? Am I faithful to declare truth, not simply my "clever ideas" about truth? Do I offer Christ as the only Redeemer? Do I get beneath the surface and help my hearers where they need it most?
Are you genuine?
What is your role?
Where is your zeal placed?
Are you a conveyor of the love of truth?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)