The Prophet Haggai brings one of the great and most unbelievable prophesies of the Old Testament. In this prophecy, the LORD of hosts declares that the glory of the latter temple shall be greater than that of the former temple. This may not seem not some great or unbelievable claim except I need to tell you about the former temple (called Temple of Solomon) and the latter temple (called Herod's Temple).
The former or the first temple was constructed by King Solomon. He had some 183,000 men working on the temple. He used some 1,000,000 talents of silver and some 100,000 talents of gold, each talent weighing about 75 pounds each. This means that the first temple of the LORD contained some 200 billion dollars worth of silver and gold. Just so you can rap your mind around this super expensive glorious house of the Lord. 200 billion dollars is enough money to construct the "Burj Dubai" the largest building in the world 50 times.
No wonder this temple built by Solomon was called the "Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World". Now that you have some understanding of the cost and expense of the first temple, not to mention all the temple instruments made of silver and gold including the Ark of the Covenant. God Himself dwelt in this first temple and His glory filled this temple. Let's now take a look at the second or latter temple.
The second or latter temple constructed after the return from excile in Babylon had no Ark of the Covenant. It is said in the Talmud that daily miracles ceased in the second temple. There was not 183,000 workers to rebuild this second temple. In fact Ezra records that only 56,000 Jews returned from Babylon. They did not have all the Silver and Gold which David had saved up and given to his son Solomon to build the first temple. This second temple was so unimpresive that Herod spent 46 years remodeling and giving a face lift to this second temple, hence the name given to this second temple, Herod's Temple. So the question has to be is, "How is the glory of this latter or second temple greater than the first?"
Let's read the passage then answer this question;
"For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts... The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts" (Haggai 2:6-7, 9).
First Haggai prophesies that in a little while, the LORD is going to shake things up, in heaven and on the earth, and the sea, and the dry land. God is going to shake all the nations, because the desire of all the nations is coming. What is the desire of all the nations? The desire is none other than the Messiah, a savior of all people and all nations. The desire of all the nations is the Word of God, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The LORD says, "I will fill this house with glory".
This is exactly what John records in his gospel, "And the Word was made flesh (made into a temple of flesh), and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). This latter temple whose glory that would be greater than the temple built by Solomon was none other than a temple of flesh concieved in a womb of a virgin.
Jesus confirms this himself when challenged by what authority He does the things that He does. They challenged Jesus to show them a sign. "Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Destroy this temple; and in three days I will raise it up.' Then said the Jews, 'It took Forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?' But He was speaking of the temple of His body" (John 2:19-21).
This latter or second temple was the body of Christ. Jesus was speaking of Himself being that temple of God. The writer of Colossians writes that it pleased the Father that all the fulness of God dwelt in Him. (1:19) Daily miracles returned in this second temple. Peter tells us that even the very blood of Jesus was of more value than the 200 billion dollars worth of silver and gold writing; "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
The glory of the latter temple turned out to be greater than the first temple, as we have beheld the glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John records that when Jesus was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said that He would "raise this temple in three days" and "they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken" (John 2:22).
What Scripture did they believe? Haggai 2:9 which says, that the glory of the latter temple would be greater than the glory of the former temple.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
What does a Christian look like?
Question: What does a Christian look like?
Answer #1:
A Christian tries hard to be a "good person";
they try to change themselves;
they try harder and work harder to be better people for God.
Or
Answer #2:
They "give up";
They realize they are not a "good person";
They allow God to change them.
Which is it?
For most of my life I would have told you, a Christian is someone who "Tries". Someone who tries to be a better person, they try to change themselves, they try harder and work harder for God. But this is not what the Bible says, it is the person who "gives up", the person who realizes they are not "good" and the person who allows God to do the changing.
These thoughts are so foriegn to our minds, we live in a culture that says those who "Try" the hardest, work the hardest, change themselves are the ones that are admired.
The Kingdom of Heaven is completely backwards or upside down from mans ways. "Give up" that sounds crazy. But Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who labor and who are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Think about it what is Jesus saying? Give up enough of the self trying, enough of you working on your own, come into me I will do the work and give you rest.
The kingdom of heaven is not about our self trying but about surrendering to God and allowing Him to work through us. Jesus taught us to pray this way and life this way. Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10) and "Not my will but thy will be done" (Matthew 26:42).
It is the Spirit of God that He puts in every believe that is at work, but not human self effort that gets the job done. Ezekiel captured this thought when he recorded what God had to say about this. "Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name" Then the Lord GOD says "I will... and I will... and I will... and I will... Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes" (Ezekiel 36:22-27).
God is the one working. He is the one saying, "I will". Notice the Lord GOD does it for His name sake, He gives the new heart, He puts His Spirit within you, and He causes you to walk in His ways. He does all the work saying, "I am about to act". We receive His action and believe in the name of Jesus and by this we are born into His family by His will (John 1:12-13).
This is about self denial and allowing God to work in and through us. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). If you wish to come after Me, first deny all the self trying. The cross is the place where our self will dies.
This is sometimes hardest when we are in the toughest times of our lives. Isaiah wrote; "Yet those who wait for the LORD" Those who give up with all the self trying. Those who lack personal strength but wait for the LORD. Those who put faith in God and not in themselves. "Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not become faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
We don't work hard to become like Christ. It's by believing in Jesus and receiving what His Spirit wants to do in and through us. This is veiled to the world. "But whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).
God is the one who is transforming. He makes all things new. His Spirit does the work, we just turn to Him and allow His Spirit to transform us from glory to glory into the image of the Son. Paul wrote that he being the least of all the apostles said "I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God within me" (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). Paul says its not me, but God in me. May God work in you today!
Answer #1:
A Christian tries hard to be a "good person";
they try to change themselves;
they try harder and work harder to be better people for God.
Or
Answer #2:
They "give up";
They realize they are not a "good person";
They allow God to change them.
Which is it?
For most of my life I would have told you, a Christian is someone who "Tries". Someone who tries to be a better person, they try to change themselves, they try harder and work harder for God. But this is not what the Bible says, it is the person who "gives up", the person who realizes they are not "good" and the person who allows God to do the changing.
These thoughts are so foriegn to our minds, we live in a culture that says those who "Try" the hardest, work the hardest, change themselves are the ones that are admired.
The Kingdom of Heaven is completely backwards or upside down from mans ways. "Give up" that sounds crazy. But Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who labor and who are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Think about it what is Jesus saying? Give up enough of the self trying, enough of you working on your own, come into me I will do the work and give you rest.
The kingdom of heaven is not about our self trying but about surrendering to God and allowing Him to work through us. Jesus taught us to pray this way and life this way. Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10) and "Not my will but thy will be done" (Matthew 26:42).
It is the Spirit of God that He puts in every believe that is at work, but not human self effort that gets the job done. Ezekiel captured this thought when he recorded what God had to say about this. "Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name" Then the Lord GOD says "I will... and I will... and I will... and I will... Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes" (Ezekiel 36:22-27).
God is the one working. He is the one saying, "I will". Notice the Lord GOD does it for His name sake, He gives the new heart, He puts His Spirit within you, and He causes you to walk in His ways. He does all the work saying, "I am about to act". We receive His action and believe in the name of Jesus and by this we are born into His family by His will (John 1:12-13).
This is about self denial and allowing God to work in and through us. Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). If you wish to come after Me, first deny all the self trying. The cross is the place where our self will dies.
This is sometimes hardest when we are in the toughest times of our lives. Isaiah wrote; "Yet those who wait for the LORD" Those who give up with all the self trying. Those who lack personal strength but wait for the LORD. Those who put faith in God and not in themselves. "Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not become faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
We don't work hard to become like Christ. It's by believing in Jesus and receiving what His Spirit wants to do in and through us. This is veiled to the world. "But whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).
God is the one who is transforming. He makes all things new. His Spirit does the work, we just turn to Him and allow His Spirit to transform us from glory to glory into the image of the Son. Paul wrote that he being the least of all the apostles said "I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God within me" (1 Corinthians 15:9-10). Paul says its not me, but God in me. May God work in you today!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The LORD GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent Me!
The LORD GOD, and His Spirit, hath sent Me! This passage from Isaiah 48:16 it is clear that the Son of God, Jesus, is speaking about being sent by the Father and the Holy Spirit. This passage from the writings of Isaiah in verse 12 shows the Son refering to himself as the first and the last (Revelation 1:17) and the creator of heaven and earth (Colossians 1:17).
Jesus, the Son of God, is the "sent one" from God. In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus says, the Father has "sent Me" 32 times, and talks about being "sent" a total of 39 times just in this one gospel. Just take a read through all Jesus says about Himself being sent by the Father God.
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him" (John 3:17).
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work" (John 4:34).
"For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all my honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:22-23).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 5:30).
"But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me" (John 5:36).
"And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form" (John 5:37).
"And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him who He sent" (John 5:38).
"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29).
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).
"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:39-40).
"No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me" (John 6:57).
"My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me" (John 7:16).
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (John 7:18).
"You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know" (John 7:28).
"I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me" (John 7:29).
"For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me" (John 7:33).
"But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and He who sent Me" (John 8:16).
"I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me" (John 8:18).
"I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world" (John 8:26).
"And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him" (John 8:29).
"If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me" (John 8:42).
"We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work" (John 9:4).
"Do you say of Him, who the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? (John 10:36).
""Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me" (John 11:41-42).
"He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me" (John 12:44).
"And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me" (John 12:45).
"For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak" (John 12:49).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me" (John 13:20).
"He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me" (John 14:24).
"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me" (John 15:21).
"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'" (John 16:5).
"As Thou didst sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (John 17:18).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the One who sent him" (John 13:16).
"That they may all be one even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me" (John 17:21).
"I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me" (John 17:23).
"O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee, yet I have known Thee; and these have known that Thou didst send Me; and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:25-26).
"Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).
We are now sent! May this be our commissioning verse...
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant to those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Jesus, the Son of God, is the "sent one" from God. In the Gospel of John alone, Jesus says, the Father has "sent Me" 32 times, and talks about being "sent" a total of 39 times just in this one gospel. Just take a read through all Jesus says about Himself being sent by the Father God.
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him" (John 3:17).
"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work" (John 4:34).
"For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, in order that all my honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5:22-23).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).
"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 5:30).
"But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me" (John 5:36).
"And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form" (John 5:37).
"And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him who He sent" (John 5:38).
"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29).
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).
"And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:39-40).
"No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day" (John 6:44).
"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me" (John 6:57).
"My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me" (John 7:16).
"He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (John 7:18).
"You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know" (John 7:28).
"I know Him; because I am from Him, and He sent Me" (John 7:29).
"For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me" (John 7:33).
"But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and He who sent Me" (John 8:16).
"I am He who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me" (John 8:18).
"I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world" (John 8:26).
"And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him" (John 8:29).
"If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me" (John 8:42).
"We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work" (John 9:4).
"Do you say of Him, who the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? (John 10:36).
""Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me" (John 11:41-42).
"He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me" (John 12:44).
"And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me" (John 12:45).
"For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak" (John 12:49).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me" (John 13:20).
"He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me" (John 14:24).
"But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me" (John 15:21).
"But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?'" (John 16:5).
"As Thou didst sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world" (John 17:18).
"Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the One who sent him" (John 13:16).
"That they may all be one even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me" (John 17:21).
"I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me" (John 17:23).
"O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee, yet I have known Thee; and these have known that Thou didst send Me; and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:25-26).
"Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you" (John 20:21).
We are now sent! May this be our commissioning verse...
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant to those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The God of Us!
In the beginning, Day 6 for those of you who are counting, "God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness...' " (Genesis 1:26). The God of Us, the three in one God, the "Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (1 John 5:7); created man after Their likeness and image.
Some time after the Flood, "the whole earth was of one language, and of speech" (Genesis 11:1), these people gathered to build a tower whose top may reach unto heaven. God saw this and was displeased, saying, "Let Us go down, and comfound their language..." (Genesis 11:7). The three in one God acting in unison to comfound the languages of man.
Then in the year that king Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah saw into heaven itself. Isaiah heard a conversation between the three in one God and Isaiah wrote, "I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' " Isaiah then repeated the words spoken by the Son, "Here am I; send Me" (Isaiah 6:8). The Father speaking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go out of Us three?" And the Son steps forward and says, "Here I am, send Me."
In the book of Revelation Jesus declares, "Fear not; I am the first and the last" (Revelation 1:17). The writer of Colossians declares that by Jesus all things were made whether in heaven or in the earth. (Colossians 1:16). The Son who was sent by the Father on behalf of the Trinity is the first and the last as well as the creator of heaven and earth.
The Son then speaks to Israel in Isaiah 48:12-16, saying, "Hearken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens... Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I; and now the LORD GOD (The Father), and his Spirit (the Holy Ghost), hath sent Me (the Son)."
The Us God arrived in the New Testament, and we beheld them at the baptism of the Son "and the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost) descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, (of the Father) saying, "This is My beloved Son (the Son), in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17).
The Son, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld the Glory of the three in one God. The Son then prayed and we see the pronoun, Us, used again. "Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me (See Isaiah 6:8 & 48:16). And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one" (John 17:21-22).
The Father and the Son are one. The Son did not go rouge doing as He pleased, but being one with the Father, Jesus did the will of the Father. "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do" (John 5:19). Jesus declared, "I come in My Father's name" (John 5:43); "I and (My) Father are one" (John 10:30).
People disputed that Jesus was the Bread come down from heaven being from the Father. He said, "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He (the Son) which is of God, he (the Son) hath seen the Father" (John 6:46). Even his disciples had trouble with this, "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8-9).
God revealed Himself through the person of Jesus (the Son). Why would the Us God come for us? Jesus answered it in His prayer, recorded in John 17:23; "That the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me."
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Some time after the Flood, "the whole earth was of one language, and of speech" (Genesis 11:1), these people gathered to build a tower whose top may reach unto heaven. God saw this and was displeased, saying, "Let Us go down, and comfound their language..." (Genesis 11:7). The three in one God acting in unison to comfound the languages of man.
Then in the year that king Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah saw into heaven itself. Isaiah heard a conversation between the three in one God and Isaiah wrote, "I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' " Isaiah then repeated the words spoken by the Son, "Here am I; send Me" (Isaiah 6:8). The Father speaking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go out of Us three?" And the Son steps forward and says, "Here I am, send Me."
In the book of Revelation Jesus declares, "Fear not; I am the first and the last" (Revelation 1:17). The writer of Colossians declares that by Jesus all things were made whether in heaven or in the earth. (Colossians 1:16). The Son who was sent by the Father on behalf of the Trinity is the first and the last as well as the creator of heaven and earth.
The Son then speaks to Israel in Isaiah 48:12-16, saying, "Hearken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens... Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I; and now the LORD GOD (The Father), and his Spirit (the Holy Ghost), hath sent Me (the Son)."
The Us God arrived in the New Testament, and we beheld them at the baptism of the Son "and the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God (the Holy Ghost) descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, (of the Father) saying, "This is My beloved Son (the Son), in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17).
The Son, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld the Glory of the three in one God. The Son then prayed and we see the pronoun, Us, used again. "Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me (See Isaiah 6:8 & 48:16). And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one" (John 17:21-22).
The Father and the Son are one. The Son did not go rouge doing as He pleased, but being one with the Father, Jesus did the will of the Father. "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do" (John 5:19). Jesus declared, "I come in My Father's name" (John 5:43); "I and (My) Father are one" (John 10:30).
People disputed that Jesus was the Bread come down from heaven being from the Father. He said, "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He (the Son) which is of God, he (the Son) hath seen the Father" (John 6:46). Even his disciples had trouble with this, "Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8-9).
God revealed Himself through the person of Jesus (the Son). Why would the Us God come for us? Jesus answered it in His prayer, recorded in John 17:23; "That the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me."
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Us God wants to dwell with us!
From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion in Revelation 21-22, we read a story about an Us God who wants to dwell with His greatest creation, man. This amazing love relationship started when God said, "Let Us make man in Our image and Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). And from the beginning man has run and hidden himself from the very person(s) that he needed most in his life. When things go bad we should run to God, but instead we do what our father Adam did.
"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God" (Genesis 3:8).
Yes, the Bible is about reconciling a relationship that was broken by sin, but what does that relationship look like when it is restored? We live with God, we know Him as He knows us.
Six times the prophet Ezekiel describes it like this, “So you will be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 11:20, 14:11, 34:30, 36:28, 37:23,27). This only can take place through the Life and Spirit of Messiah Jesus. Our receiving and believing in the Name of Jesus restores what was a lost and broken relationship. Only then can we dwell with God, being His people and He being our God.
The Apostle Paul captured what Ezekiel and the entire Bible was trying to describe about those who would receive Messiah; "For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (2 Corinthians 6:16).
This is the be all end all of Christianity and the story of the Bible, that God would dwell with us and walk with us and be our God and we would be His people! This would not come cheap or easy, there was a price for sin that needed to be handled.
But God wanting to live with us, is not like some lazy roommate wanting to live with us. God is not some deadbeat who won't kick in for his half of the rent. God is not some mooch who always wants to borrow your car and then leaves it empty of gas. God is not someone who wants to see how much he can use you then go and find another friend. NO! God is nothing like that!
God is the perfect friend, the perfect father, the perfect brother! The LORD is our provider, Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis 22:14)! The LORD is our healer, Jehovah-Rapha (Exodus 15:26)! The LORD is our banner, Jehovah-Nissi (Exodus 17:15)! The LORD is our peace, Jehovah-Shalom (Judges 6:24)! The LORD is our Shepherd, Jehovah-Ra'ah (Psalms 23:1)! The LORD is our righteousness, Jehovah-Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6)! The LORD is there, Jehovah-Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)!
Jehovah-Jesus, The Lord is our Savior (Isaiah 43:3, Matthew 1:21) came to restore a relationship and save us from our sins. He is our eternal hope that we might see the day John described in Revelation 21:3-4 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain."
John 17:3 says "And this is Eternal Life, that we might know the One true God and His Son whom He has sent;" that we might know our God and dwell with Him and be His people!
"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God" (Genesis 3:8).
Yes, the Bible is about reconciling a relationship that was broken by sin, but what does that relationship look like when it is restored? We live with God, we know Him as He knows us.
Six times the prophet Ezekiel describes it like this, “So you will be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 11:20, 14:11, 34:30, 36:28, 37:23,27). This only can take place through the Life and Spirit of Messiah Jesus. Our receiving and believing in the Name of Jesus restores what was a lost and broken relationship. Only then can we dwell with God, being His people and He being our God.
The Apostle Paul captured what Ezekiel and the entire Bible was trying to describe about those who would receive Messiah; "For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (2 Corinthians 6:16).
This is the be all end all of Christianity and the story of the Bible, that God would dwell with us and walk with us and be our God and we would be His people! This would not come cheap or easy, there was a price for sin that needed to be handled.
But God wanting to live with us, is not like some lazy roommate wanting to live with us. God is not some deadbeat who won't kick in for his half of the rent. God is not some mooch who always wants to borrow your car and then leaves it empty of gas. God is not someone who wants to see how much he can use you then go and find another friend. NO! God is nothing like that!
God is the perfect friend, the perfect father, the perfect brother! The LORD is our provider, Jehovah-Jireh (Genesis 22:14)! The LORD is our healer, Jehovah-Rapha (Exodus 15:26)! The LORD is our banner, Jehovah-Nissi (Exodus 17:15)! The LORD is our peace, Jehovah-Shalom (Judges 6:24)! The LORD is our Shepherd, Jehovah-Ra'ah (Psalms 23:1)! The LORD is our righteousness, Jehovah-Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 23:6)! The LORD is there, Jehovah-Shammah (Ezekiel 48:35)!
Jehovah-Jesus, The Lord is our Savior (Isaiah 43:3, Matthew 1:21) came to restore a relationship and save us from our sins. He is our eternal hope that we might see the day John described in Revelation 21:3-4 "And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain."
John 17:3 says "And this is Eternal Life, that we might know the One true God and His Son whom He has sent;" that we might know our God and dwell with Him and be His people!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Emmanuel the impossible God with us!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14).
God became man and dwelt among us. This is the most amazing event in the history of man. This event is the stuff of legends, of ancient mythology. But in fact, it is the center piece of all Christianity and if true all mankind needs to investigate it. Examine the how, the where, the why and the when of this great event. Look at the ancient writings written thousands of years ago which describe in detail and in advance this great event. Look at the writings of eyewitness accounts which describe the fulfillment of these ancient prophesies.
The most famous ancient writing or prophecy that describes the coming of our Lord is recorded by a prophet named Isaiah. Isaiah records a conversation between the LORD and a doubting king named Ahaz. The Lord speaks to this king of doubt Ahaz and says, “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven” (Isaiah 7:11).
I love this, God says, “make your request for a sign as deep as Hell or as high as the heaven.” Now the bible describes hell as the bottomless pit, so there is nothing deeper than Sheol because nothing is deeper than a bottomless pit. And at the same time God says, or ask for a sign as high as heaven. We know there is no place higher than the place where God resides. So this king of doubt is told by God, “Ask for the greatest of all signs a sign as deep as anything imaginable, or a sign as high as anything imaginable."
God tells this king of doubt Ahaz, “Ask for an impossible sign?” Ahaz being no dummy says, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” (Isaiah 7:12). I can hear God saying these words, “It’s too late to apologize! It’s too late!” (One Republic – Apologize). God says to Ahaz, 'You have tried the patience of men, Now try the patience of God' (paraphrase of Isaiah 7:13).
Then the most famous of all signs of the coming of our God and our King is given. It is a sign as high as the heavens and as deep as hell. The greatest and most famous of signs; “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew tells us that the name Emmanuel literally means and translates as “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
This sign given by the Lord Himself. The virgin was with child, a manchild. And she did bear a Son, the Son of God. Divinity and humanity fussed together in the womb of the virgin Mary.
This one prophecy by itself being fulfilled should be enough for the whole world to shout, “Hallelujah!” But God did not just give one sign. He gave hundreds of foretold signs and miracles all fulfilled in one person. But this one was surely the greatest sign.
I have never heard of any other person than Jesus of Nazareth who was born miraculously of a virgin. I’m not talking about a virgin who man implanted an embryo by in vitro-fertilization. I am talking an untouched virgin, who herself could not believe it. The angel who told this virgin the news had to remind her that “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).
The impossible sign fulfilled by God Himself, for nothing is too high for God or too low for God, nothing is impossible for God!
God became man and dwelt among us. This is the most amazing event in the history of man. This event is the stuff of legends, of ancient mythology. But in fact, it is the center piece of all Christianity and if true all mankind needs to investigate it. Examine the how, the where, the why and the when of this great event. Look at the ancient writings written thousands of years ago which describe in detail and in advance this great event. Look at the writings of eyewitness accounts which describe the fulfillment of these ancient prophesies.
The most famous ancient writing or prophecy that describes the coming of our Lord is recorded by a prophet named Isaiah. Isaiah records a conversation between the LORD and a doubting king named Ahaz. The Lord speaks to this king of doubt Ahaz and says, “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven” (Isaiah 7:11).
I love this, God says, “make your request for a sign as deep as Hell or as high as the heaven.” Now the bible describes hell as the bottomless pit, so there is nothing deeper than Sheol because nothing is deeper than a bottomless pit. And at the same time God says, or ask for a sign as high as heaven. We know there is no place higher than the place where God resides. So this king of doubt is told by God, “Ask for the greatest of all signs a sign as deep as anything imaginable, or a sign as high as anything imaginable."
God tells this king of doubt Ahaz, “Ask for an impossible sign?” Ahaz being no dummy says, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” (Isaiah 7:12). I can hear God saying these words, “It’s too late to apologize! It’s too late!” (One Republic – Apologize). God says to Ahaz, 'You have tried the patience of men, Now try the patience of God' (paraphrase of Isaiah 7:13).
Then the most famous of all signs of the coming of our God and our King is given. It is a sign as high as the heavens and as deep as hell. The greatest and most famous of signs; “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Matthew tells us that the name Emmanuel literally means and translates as “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).
This sign given by the Lord Himself. The virgin was with child, a manchild. And she did bear a Son, the Son of God. Divinity and humanity fussed together in the womb of the virgin Mary.
This one prophecy by itself being fulfilled should be enough for the whole world to shout, “Hallelujah!” But God did not just give one sign. He gave hundreds of foretold signs and miracles all fulfilled in one person. But this one was surely the greatest sign.
I have never heard of any other person than Jesus of Nazareth who was born miraculously of a virgin. I’m not talking about a virgin who man implanted an embryo by in vitro-fertilization. I am talking an untouched virgin, who herself could not believe it. The angel who told this virgin the news had to remind her that “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).
The impossible sign fulfilled by God Himself, for nothing is too high for God or too low for God, nothing is impossible for God!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Seventy Weeks to the Day!
What is amazing is that Daniel Prophecies to the exact day, from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, saying it shall be 7 Weeks and 62 Weeks or a total of 69 Weeks of Years. And 483 years from the decree given "in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes" (Nehemiah 2:1) Messiah presented Himself as King to all Jerusalem.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).
Luke records the day as follows; "And after He had said these things, He was going on ahead, ascending to Jerusalem. And it came about that when He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it, and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it.' " And those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owner said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and threw their garments on the colt, and put Jesus on it. And as He was going, they were spreading their garments in the road. And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, saying "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and gloy in the highest!" (Luke 19:28-38).
Daniel records by the word of the Angel Gabriel to the exact day 483 (360 day years) that Messiah would present Himself to the world as King. A total of 173,880 days passed from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince. And when Jesus approached, "He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known in this day' " (Luke 19:41-42). What day is Jesus talking about, "If they had known this day"? He is talking about the 173,880th day. "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:42-44).
If you had known this 173,880th day, the things which make for peace! But it has been hidden from your eyes, And now calamity is coming upon you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation!
I should maybe have titled this Sixty-nine Weeks to the very day! The King of all the earth presented Himself to Jerusalem and the world as Messiah the King 173,880 days after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem a total 483 years at 360 days each. One Week of seven years is yet to be fulfilled, seven years of 360 days each or a total of 2520 days! Revelation records these seven years in two half of 1260 days and 1260 days.
Until next time Grace and Peace!
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9).
Luke records the day as follows; "And after He had said these things, He was going on ahead, ascending to Jerusalem. And it came about that when He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village opposite you, in which as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it, and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' thus shall you speak, 'The Lord has need of it.' " And those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owner said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?" And they said, "The Lord has need of it." And they brought it to Jesus, and threw their garments on the colt, and put Jesus on it. And as He was going, they were spreading their garments in the road. And as He was now approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, saying "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and gloy in the highest!" (Luke 19:28-38).
Daniel records by the word of the Angel Gabriel to the exact day 483 (360 day years) that Messiah would present Himself to the world as King. A total of 173,880 days passed from the decree to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince. And when Jesus approached, "He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known in this day' " (Luke 19:41-42). What day is Jesus talking about, "If they had known this day"? He is talking about the 173,880th day. "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:42-44).
If you had known this 173,880th day, the things which make for peace! But it has been hidden from your eyes, And now calamity is coming upon you, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation!
I should maybe have titled this Sixty-nine Weeks to the very day! The King of all the earth presented Himself to Jerusalem and the world as Messiah the King 173,880 days after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem a total 483 years at 360 days each. One Week of seven years is yet to be fulfilled, seven years of 360 days each or a total of 2520 days! Revelation records these seven years in two half of 1260 days and 1260 days.
Until next time Grace and Peace!
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