Psalms 1 has always been a favorite of mine and I often return to it in my meditations. I love verse 3, that speaks of the reward of the righteous. "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." I love the imagery of that verse. It speaks of security and safety. But, in order to experience verse 3, we must take to heart verse 2, " But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Law? Is that the law that has been done away with, the one Jesus nailed to the cross? If so, then verse 3 cannot apply to us. Oh, but it does. The English word "law" is from the Hebrew "torah", which means instructions. The biblical term torah simply means the instructions of our heavenly Father. Picture, if you will, a sheepfold. While in the sheepfold, under the protection of the shepherd, you are safe from harm. When you venture out on your own, you are in danger of that which lurks without and the enemy who comes only to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus tells us in John 10 that he is both the door to the sheepfold, as well as the good shepherd that protects the sheep. Verse 7 "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.", and in verse 11 "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." Verses 27-28 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." How do we follow him? We keep the torah! Isn't that trying to be saved by works? No! We are not given access to the protection of the sheepfold because we have kept torah, but keep torah because the good shepherd has brought us into his sheepfold by grace through faith, and then teaches us his instructions for righteous living, whereby we remain in his care. Now we can read again verse 3 and see the blessings that are the reward of those whose delight is in the torah.
The role of earthly parents should be patterned after our heavenly Father. They are to train up their children according to rules and guidelines that are given to keep their children safe and happy. It has been proven that children who are raised with parental boundaries feel loved and secure. They may test those boundaries, but often it is in hopes that their parents will prove to be consistent in their upbringing. Those of us who are parents know the pain and sorrow brought on by disobedient children and the fruit of their willful defiance of the teachings that would bring them innumerable blessings. It breaks our heart. Our heavenly Father feels that pain all too often as he sees his children turning from the ways of eternal life to that which leads to death. His instructions for righteous living are never meant to be seen as bondage, but as a loving father's desire to bless us with abundant life.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."
Do we see this, even in Christian households today? No, for all our advancements and technology, we see families growing farther apart. We are in bondage to TV, the internet, IPhones, Facebook, twitter, instagram, etc. Families rarely sit down together for a meal or engage in any meaningful conversation. Our children have lost the art of communication and socialization. Their method of "conversation" is through a cell phone attached to their hands every waking hour. Sadly, their parents are doing the same thing. This is not the abundant life our Father intended for us.
Many today grow nostalgic when thinking of the "good old days." Well, if you ask your grandparents or great-grandparents, those days were not all good. What was good though was that they lived in simpler times. They didn't have the distractions we live with today. They knew what it was to join hands at the dinner table in thanksgiving and enjoy the togetherness of family and friends, sharing and laughing with one another. After a hard day's work, they would often sit out on the porch, gazing up at the moon and stars, sharing stories with one another. Children would play outside under the watchful eyes of their elders long after the sun set, chasing fireflies, burning off excess energy, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Children respected their elders and found joy in sitting at their feet listening to tales of days gone by. Their education consisted of the bible and it's teachings, at church and at home. Today, bibles often sit on the bookshelf collecting dust, thought to be ancient tales of ancient times, no longer applicable to our day.
I will close with two passages, one from Jeremiah and the other from Revelation. Deuteronomy 19:15 tells us that at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. The passages I will share both witness to Psalms 1
Jeremiah 17:7-8 " Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Revelation 22:1-2, 14 "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
What a mystery! The bible reveals to us that, by our obedience to the creator, we will be as a tree of life and will one day be given access to THE TREE OF LIFE in the eternal city of our God.
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Sunday, October 15, 2017
King of kings, Lord of lords
The gospel message, according to the Christian church, is the story of Jesus and his free gift of salvation to all who believe in him as savior and call upon his name in repentance for the remission of sins. Following their conversion, believers have a deep desire to minister the message of salvation to others, that they too may experience this saving grace and the fellowship of the brethren. The death, burial and resurrection of our LORD is truly the greatest event in the history of the world to date. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures". He is indeed the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
The message, however, does not stop there. At his first coming to earth to take flesh upon him and tabernacle with men, he fulfilled the prophecies concerning the suffering servant, the sinless lamb of God who willingly laid down his life for his creation, who bore in his own body the penalty for our transgressions. He came to break the bondage of sin that held us captive in it's grasp, to be the mediator between God and man, for he was the Son of God and the son of man. However, he will once again come to earth to fulfill the prophecies concerning his reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. I believe that Christianity has, for the most part, failed in it's understanding of the significance of that day yet in the future.
Our LORD is no longer a babe in a manger or the suffering servant who died for our sins. He is seated at the right hand of the Father on high, where he has received all power and authority in heaven and on earth. The second time he returns to this earth, it will be as reigning King to establish the Kingdom of God and lay down the rules of the Kingdom. Many who have been taught that those rules no longer apply or have been nailed to the cross at his crucifixion will have a rude awakening when they stand before the judgment seat of the Almighty.
The "gospel" Jesus brought during his first coming was not about himself, but about the Kingdom of heaven. Everywhere he went throughout Judea and the Galilee, we are told that he taught the people concerning the gospel of the Kingdom. Fifty-four times in Matthew's gospel alone, his message was the Kingdom. Matthew understood the prophecy of old. Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." The parables in Luke's gospel were teachings on the Kingdom. The apostle Paul, in his letters, often spoke of the Kingdom. The gospel of the entire New Testament was primarily that of the Kingdom of God. Yet the message of the Church remains one about Jesus rather than what he taught. He is accepted as savior but rarely, if at all, as our Lord or master, the one whom we are commanded to obey.
Do we even have any concept of who Jesus is today? The apostle John, while exiled on the Isle of Patmos, was transported by the Spirit unto the future Day of the Lord. He heard a voice behind him as the sound of a trumpet. He turned and beheld the glorified Jesus standing before him amidst seven golden candlesticks. The sight was so awesome and fearful that John fell as a dead man at his feet. He wasn't looking at a baby in a manger or a suffering messiah, but the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, a King of such mind-numbing majesty that words failed him, as it would us as well.
Revelation 1:13-16 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
I believe, if the Church could get even a small glimpse of their savior as a ruling King on the throne of his glory, as was revealed to John, there would be an awakening and a revival such as the world has never seen. One day we will honor him as King of kings and Lord of lords and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is LORD!
Do we even have any concept of who Jesus is today? The apostle John, while exiled on the Isle of Patmos, was transported by the Spirit unto the future Day of the Lord. He heard a voice behind him as the sound of a trumpet. He turned and beheld the glorified Jesus standing before him amidst seven golden candlesticks. The sight was so awesome and fearful that John fell as a dead man at his feet. He wasn't looking at a baby in a manger or a suffering messiah, but the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, a King of such mind-numbing majesty that words failed him, as it would us as well.
Revelation 1:13-16 "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
I believe, if the Church could get even a small glimpse of their savior as a ruling King on the throne of his glory, as was revealed to John, there would be an awakening and a revival such as the world has never seen. One day we will honor him as King of kings and Lord of lords and every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is LORD!
Peace in the Storm
(NOTE: This is a reprint of a post I wrote on 9/7/15, that was accidentally deleted)
It's one thing to say prayer changes things, but another altogether to stand on that affirmation when the going gets rough. Prayer is not something we put on like clothes. A better analogy would be armor. An even better would be skin. Life brings with it many challenges, but God is sufficient to meet them all. It's easy to say that when it's someone else fighting the battle, but not so much when we are the one under attack. Prayer can be far from our lips when we are the one facing the enemy.
Enemies abound, both physical and spiritual. We encounter them each and every day. Some of us may be facing huge challenges at this moment from any number of events. However, it's not the challenges that do us in; illness, financial difficulties, family disputes, etc. It's the inability we seem to have in these moments to keep the faith, to pray to the only One who can change things. He is our strength, our rock, our fortress, our high tower. If we will turn to Him in our hour of need, He will hide us under the shadow of His wings.
I heard a story recently about a contest. The participants were told to paint a picture of the most peaceful scene they could think of. Of course, most of the entries were of beaches, meadows, beautiful mountain scenes, fields of wildflowers. The winning entry, however, was of a raging storm replete with lightning and thunder, heavy rain and high winds. In the corner of this picture was a small cleft in the side of a mountain where a mother bird sat peacefully with her babies tucked safely under her wings.
That is what real faith is all about. It's not the absence of the storm, but the peace that God gives in the midst of it. May He grant peace to each of us as we face the storms in our lives.
Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (NKJV)
It's one thing to say prayer changes things, but another altogether to stand on that affirmation when the going gets rough. Prayer is not something we put on like clothes. A better analogy would be armor. An even better would be skin. Life brings with it many challenges, but God is sufficient to meet them all. It's easy to say that when it's someone else fighting the battle, but not so much when we are the one under attack. Prayer can be far from our lips when we are the one facing the enemy.
Enemies abound, both physical and spiritual. We encounter them each and every day. Some of us may be facing huge challenges at this moment from any number of events. However, it's not the challenges that do us in; illness, financial difficulties, family disputes, etc. It's the inability we seem to have in these moments to keep the faith, to pray to the only One who can change things. He is our strength, our rock, our fortress, our high tower. If we will turn to Him in our hour of need, He will hide us under the shadow of His wings.
I heard a story recently about a contest. The participants were told to paint a picture of the most peaceful scene they could think of. Of course, most of the entries were of beaches, meadows, beautiful mountain scenes, fields of wildflowers. The winning entry, however, was of a raging storm replete with lightning and thunder, heavy rain and high winds. In the corner of this picture was a small cleft in the side of a mountain where a mother bird sat peacefully with her babies tucked safely under her wings.
That is what real faith is all about. It's not the absence of the storm, but the peace that God gives in the midst of it. May He grant peace to each of us as we face the storms in our lives.
Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (NKJV)
Lost in the Forest
(NOTE: This is a reprint of a post I wrote on 9/7/15 that was accidentally deleted)
Today I ran across something I wrote on February 11, 2014, following a dry season in my life. It bears repeating in hopes that it helps someone today who may be going through their own dark season.
"As my spiritual armor lay scattered before me on the floor, I succumbed to the reality. Accepting the futility of walking in circles, I retreated to my bedroom. Words were not necessary. God knew my plight. I needed his direction. I needed him to be my compass. Suddenly my attention was drawn to a book on my bookshelf, a Daily Guideposts. It was from 2012, but for some reason I felt led to pick it up and read the post from February 10th. The title for that day was "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and the scripture reading was from Psalms 40:1. "I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined to me and heard my cry."
At that moment I knew that I would once again find the light, as I had so many times before. Although the forest is dark and foreboding, trees looming high above, pathless in every direction, there is a way out. My savior is the light. He is the way, the truth and the life.
In my darkest hours I have always found his outstretched hand reaching out to me, leading me into the light. I've also experienced something very powerful each and every time. I come out of the blackness stronger and more committed, with a deeper abiding faith, a greater understanding of his marvelous grace and mercy. I've learned through the years, when I find myself once again lost in that black forest, not to wander there aimlessly too long, but to scan the darkness for that outstretched hand that will lead me home.
Today I ran across something I wrote on February 11, 2014, following a dry season in my life. It bears repeating in hopes that it helps someone today who may be going through their own dark season.
"As my spiritual armor lay scattered before me on the floor, I succumbed to the reality. Accepting the futility of walking in circles, I retreated to my bedroom. Words were not necessary. God knew my plight. I needed his direction. I needed him to be my compass. Suddenly my attention was drawn to a book on my bookshelf, a Daily Guideposts. It was from 2012, but for some reason I felt led to pick it up and read the post from February 10th. The title for that day was "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and the scripture reading was from Psalms 40:1. "I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined to me and heard my cry."
At that moment I knew that I would once again find the light, as I had so many times before. Although the forest is dark and foreboding, trees looming high above, pathless in every direction, there is a way out. My savior is the light. He is the way, the truth and the life.
In my darkest hours I have always found his outstretched hand reaching out to me, leading me into the light. I've also experienced something very powerful each and every time. I come out of the blackness stronger and more committed, with a deeper abiding faith, a greater understanding of his marvelous grace and mercy. I've learned through the years, when I find myself once again lost in that black forest, not to wander there aimlessly too long, but to scan the darkness for that outstretched hand that will lead me home.
A Leap of Faith
(NOTE: This is a reprint from a post I wrote on 1/13/16 that was accidentally deleted)
"Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith", author Margaret Shepard.
The above quote brings so many thoughts to my mind. As I look back over the years, what a life I have led! I've had more ups and downs than a yo-yo, that's for sure. One thing I've had to face about myself is that I've always been a big dreamer. I'm the queen of dreams, hopes, wishes, and prayers. Until I learned, though, to add real action-packed faith to those desires, I was destined to spend the rest of my life just dreaming, hoping, wishing and praying.
As I think back, I can't remember one time that a realized dream was not preceded by an act of faith on my part, I mean a “leaping into thin air” action. Until I was able to move, jump, walk, run or leap toward my desire, it lay as lifeless as a seed on the ground. We all know that a seed cannot become it's built-in intended purpose unless it is planted. Well, that works for people too. We each have a purpose to fulfill, but like that seed, we will never see our true worth or potential by just laying there wishing. God is the creator of all things and He is the one who has designed a purpose for each of His creations. However, everything comes into existence through struggle. That seed must struggle to exit the earth, birds must break out of their shell, the caterpillar out of his cocoon, and a baby out of its mother's womb. Every hope or dream we have lies as dormant as that seemingly lifeless seed until it is planted in faith and nurtured by action of some kind. Only then can it produce the desired result. Intention must be born of action.
It’s up to each of us to use our opportunities and nurture our talents to realize our potential, giving birth to those hopes and dreams that otherwise would lay dormant in our hearts. Then we need to encourage others and help them fulfill their own potential as well. Many of the people we rub shoulders with each and every day are dealing with enormous pressures. They have unrealized hopes and dreams and they pray for a way out. They look for that light at the end of the tunnel but wake up every day to the same darkness they lay down with the night before. We are our brother's keeper and we all have a responsibility to share our light with them. If you have been blessed, if you have experienced the answer to prayer, if you have leaped into thin air and found waiting arms that caught you and lifted you up, please share with others. Give someone else the faith that they too can move the mountains in their life, that they can plant that faith and experience the joy and beauty of becoming the unique and awesome person they were always meant to be.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
The Vineyard
The two passages below, one in Isaiah and the other in Matthew, portray Israel as the vineyard of Yehovah. They both allude to, in parable form, the story of our heavenly Father planting a vineyard (Israel) in a beautiful land. He provided everything needed for them to produce spiritual fruit.
Isa 5:1-7 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Mt 21:33-43 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
These passages may speak of a nation, the nation of Israel, but they also speak to me as an individual. I believe, that as a child, my Father was preparing the soil of my heart for His word. Although I was not aware of it at the time, I can now look back and see His work in my life. I can remember specific incidents which speak to His calling upon me. When it was time for Him to sow the seed of His word in my heart, I was able to receive it gladly. Much like the vineyard in the previous two passages, He chose me as a goodly place to plant His word. He cleaned me up, placed a fence of protection around me, removed anything that might inhibit my growth. He nurtured me like a precious plant and provided everything I needed to be fruitful.
More amazing, this word that was sown into my heart was the very WORD of God, my savior and LORD, Yeshua.
In John 15:1 he tells us, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."
Also in verses 4-5, we read, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
If I continue to let him abide in me and I in him, I will produce fruit fit for the kingdom. He will live his life in me if I will yield myself to the master's hand, if I will allow the husbandman to cultivate and prune and shape my life according to His plan for me.
Isa 5:1-7 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Mt 21:33-43 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
These passages may speak of a nation, the nation of Israel, but they also speak to me as an individual. I believe, that as a child, my Father was preparing the soil of my heart for His word. Although I was not aware of it at the time, I can now look back and see His work in my life. I can remember specific incidents which speak to His calling upon me. When it was time for Him to sow the seed of His word in my heart, I was able to receive it gladly. Much like the vineyard in the previous two passages, He chose me as a goodly place to plant His word. He cleaned me up, placed a fence of protection around me, removed anything that might inhibit my growth. He nurtured me like a precious plant and provided everything I needed to be fruitful.
More amazing, this word that was sown into my heart was the very WORD of God, my savior and LORD, Yeshua.
In John 15:1 he tells us, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."
Also in verses 4-5, we read, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
If I continue to let him abide in me and I in him, I will produce fruit fit for the kingdom. He will live his life in me if I will yield myself to the master's hand, if I will allow the husbandman to cultivate and prune and shape my life according to His plan for me.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
The Oracles of God
I listened to a DVD recently on the oracles of God by teacher and historian, Michael Rood. It was very enlightening, so I decided to look into this topic for myself. These oracles are mentioned four times in the New Testament, once by Luke, the evangelist, twice by the Apostle Paul in his writings and once by the Apostle Peter. The word "oracles" is from the Greek "logion", meaning utterance or communication.
Luke writes in Acts 7:38-39, speaking of Moses, This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel (messenger) which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively (living) ORACLES to give unto us. To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt.
Moses was a mediator between the children of Israel and the Almighty. He spent 40 days at the top of Mt. Sinai receiving the oracles or communication directly from the creator, which he then taught the people. However, they quickly turned from God's commandments in disobedience. They would not listen to Moses, so he gave them a stern warning that is still applicable to all nations today.
Luke references in Acts 7:37 the message from Yehovah himself to the disobedient Israelites who refused to obey him. Deut 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
This Prophet is none other than Yeshua (Jesus). Yehovah declared that he would put HIS words into his mouth and he would only speak as he was commanded. All will be required to shama (hear and obey). We see in the gospels Yeshua stating over and over that he only spoke or did what the Father told him. He was totally submissive to Yehovah and taught nothing of himself or in opposition to the Father's instructions. He declared the same ORACLES that were given to Moses at Mt Sinai. We learn in 1Cor 10:4 that He was the Rock that followed them through the wilderness and, no doubt, was the one who communicated directly with Moses.
In Romans 3:2, Paul states that there were advantages to being a Jew, chiefly because unto them were committed the ORACLES of God. See the words of Moses in Deut 4:5-8 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Paul was referring them back to the Torah, back to Mt. Sinai, where the oracles of God were transmitted to Israel. These instructions or communication from the Almighty are eternal. Israel was to be a light to the nations around them, teaching them the way of Yehovah. Though, as a nation, they never fulfilled their calling, spiritual Israel is waking up and declaring these oracles to the world.
In Hebrews 5:12, Paul chastises many believers in his day with these words. "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the ORACLES of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."
Many Christians today are satisfied with the milk of the word, so to speak.They readily accept the sacrifice of Yeshua for salvation. They worship him and eagerly share him with others. However, the gospel message is not primarily the story of his life on earth, but the message he brought to us, the message of the Kingdom. That is the story the Bible presents to us from Genesis to Revelation. Most Christians don't really know that story. They don't read what is termed the "Old Testament". They are not familiar with the oracles of God. Paul calls them the first principles. These oracles are the communication of God with mankind, his instructions for righteous living based on his word, not on modern Church theology.
In 1Peter 4:11 we read "If any man speak, let him speak as the ORACLES of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
This is a message for those who preach the gospel to us in our churches, no matter the denomination. If any speak, let him speak the oracles or communication of God. We need to hear this today, to take it to heart, to hear and obey the words of our creator. We are often told that these words are not applicable for our day and time, that they are outdated or spoken only to an ancient people. We don't have to obey them. All we need is JESUS. Scripture proves that this Jesus was the God of the Old Testament, that he was the one through whom the Father created the world. All things were made by him and for him. He was the one who met with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). He was the one who journeyed in the wilderness with the Israelites, the one who instructed the prophets, the one who came to earth as a man and tabernacled among us, who taught the disciples, met Paul on the road to Damascus, gave his life as a ransom for sin, was resurrected to the right hand of the Father in heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on his followers on Shavuot (Pentecost). He is alive today as our High Priest, interceding for us before the throne of God. The story is all about him and he is the WORD! The living oracles are his instructions and we must hear and obey if we are to enter into life everlasting.
Luke writes in Acts 7:38-39, speaking of Moses, This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel (messenger) which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively (living) ORACLES to give unto us. To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt.
Moses was a mediator between the children of Israel and the Almighty. He spent 40 days at the top of Mt. Sinai receiving the oracles or communication directly from the creator, which he then taught the people. However, they quickly turned from God's commandments in disobedience. They would not listen to Moses, so he gave them a stern warning that is still applicable to all nations today.
Luke references in Acts 7:37 the message from Yehovah himself to the disobedient Israelites who refused to obey him. Deut 18:18-19 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
This Prophet is none other than Yeshua (Jesus). Yehovah declared that he would put HIS words into his mouth and he would only speak as he was commanded. All will be required to shama (hear and obey). We see in the gospels Yeshua stating over and over that he only spoke or did what the Father told him. He was totally submissive to Yehovah and taught nothing of himself or in opposition to the Father's instructions. He declared the same ORACLES that were given to Moses at Mt Sinai. We learn in 1Cor 10:4 that He was the Rock that followed them through the wilderness and, no doubt, was the one who communicated directly with Moses.
In Romans 3:2, Paul states that there were advantages to being a Jew, chiefly because unto them were committed the ORACLES of God. See the words of Moses in Deut 4:5-8 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Paul was referring them back to the Torah, back to Mt. Sinai, where the oracles of God were transmitted to Israel. These instructions or communication from the Almighty are eternal. Israel was to be a light to the nations around them, teaching them the way of Yehovah. Though, as a nation, they never fulfilled their calling, spiritual Israel is waking up and declaring these oracles to the world.
In Hebrews 5:12, Paul chastises many believers in his day with these words. "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the ORACLES of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."
Many Christians today are satisfied with the milk of the word, so to speak.They readily accept the sacrifice of Yeshua for salvation. They worship him and eagerly share him with others. However, the gospel message is not primarily the story of his life on earth, but the message he brought to us, the message of the Kingdom. That is the story the Bible presents to us from Genesis to Revelation. Most Christians don't really know that story. They don't read what is termed the "Old Testament". They are not familiar with the oracles of God. Paul calls them the first principles. These oracles are the communication of God with mankind, his instructions for righteous living based on his word, not on modern Church theology.
In 1Peter 4:11 we read "If any man speak, let him speak as the ORACLES of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
This is a message for those who preach the gospel to us in our churches, no matter the denomination. If any speak, let him speak the oracles or communication of God. We need to hear this today, to take it to heart, to hear and obey the words of our creator. We are often told that these words are not applicable for our day and time, that they are outdated or spoken only to an ancient people. We don't have to obey them. All we need is JESUS. Scripture proves that this Jesus was the God of the Old Testament, that he was the one through whom the Father created the world. All things were made by him and for him. He was the one who met with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). He was the one who journeyed in the wilderness with the Israelites, the one who instructed the prophets, the one who came to earth as a man and tabernacled among us, who taught the disciples, met Paul on the road to Damascus, gave his life as a ransom for sin, was resurrected to the right hand of the Father in heaven and poured out the Holy Spirit on his followers on Shavuot (Pentecost). He is alive today as our High Priest, interceding for us before the throne of God. The story is all about him and he is the WORD! The living oracles are his instructions and we must hear and obey if we are to enter into life everlasting.
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