Glorify Jesus!

Glorify Jesus!

The word “glorify” means to praise, honor, or lift up.  The Hebrew word for glorify is “chabad,” which means to be weighty, or heavy.  The idea of “honor” was associated with the word due to the gravity of honorable events. In the New Testament, the word “glorify” is a translation of the Greek word “doxazo,” which meant to hold an opinion, or think of something or someone. The word evolved to mean: to hold a high opinion of another, and thus to elevate or lift up another to a position of honor. The word “glorify” has many specialized meanings involving the status of God, Jesus, or the saints and ultimate honor given to them. For God, this honor is intrinsic to Who He is, and thus He is to be glorified, or praised (Leviticus 10:3, Luke 13:13).  Jesus earned honor by living a sinless life (John 17:1-5). Christians will be changed and glorified by the grace of God through Jesus (Romans 8:30).glorified

Jesus is three-times glorified. First, He is glorified for the fact of His being divine. He is God in the flesh, Immanuel, the incarnate Word, our Creator, Sustainer, and Provider.  For that very reason alone, He is to be glorified. Second, He is glorified for His sinless life and vicarious sacrifice. Peter said in Acts 3:13, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.” Third, He has also been glorified in His humanity. Paul wrote in Romans 8:17, “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

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Bad Singing

Bad Singing

Squawk!  Squawk!  Squawk!  This is how many of us view our singing voices.  It is not that we do not enjoy singing.  We can sing to the point of no voice left when alone in the car or shower.  Yes, it is true sometimes our thought that we may not have melodious singing voice is true.  Yet, somewhere out there are folks whose singing we would happily listen to all day long.  Their voices seem to be just perfect.  This being what it may, judgment of singing voices has made its way into the Church and this is not to its favor.

I have mentioned the following in other writings, but it bears mentioning here.  For years I attended an event where young people would gather in both random and planned gatherings to sing.  The young men would take turns leading the songs and it was truly a joy to witness.  Young hearts and voices blended in song directed at their God and one another in truly uplifting moments.  Of course, the innocence of those moments has since been robbed.  The youth are now led by a “song director”, because evidently those young men, glad to be lending their voices to God, were not good enough. Beyond this setting, in more progressive congregations, individual voices are being amplified with microphones above others or praise teams are leading the way because congregation’s voice being judged by men is not good enough to present to God as it is. bad singing

Most recently I attended a congregation where only two men led the singing every Sunday.  The congregation had many able-bodied men to lead, but the two had taken control of the song service and did not want anyone else involved.  When approached with the prospect of involving others, the men had multiple meetings arguing against such an occurrence.  Their reasoning was that no one else could sing properly.  According to these men, they felt the song leader must sing at the right pace, in the right key, gesturing with their hands in the correct manner, able to blend songs and switch octaves, and make the song service “fun”.  Traditional songs were being phased out and more conventional were being phased in.  The judgment was not on the content of the song, but upon the image being presented.  Their direction was ultimately to introduce clapping, beatboxing, and a festive, emotional atmosphere into the worship of God.  They didn’t have a care in the world as to whether the songs were patriotic, biblical, or irreverent.  It was all about the show, attention, and the power.

What does God want?   

Peter 1:14-16 – As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

God wants to be treated in a holy manner.  Not in a secular profane show of vanity.

John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

God wants hearts focusing on worship in the correct pattern demonstrated in scripture.

Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

God wants (according to the apostle Paul) teaching, admonishing, and utterance, through the vehicle of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, offered from our hearts to Him. No other mode of conveying this sacrifice is given other than through singing.  Neither clapping, beatboxing, or playing is authorized to convey what God has commanded.

It is especially important when examining what God desires to note that he never demanded any particular type of voice.  He never mandated gesturing a perfect beat.  In fact, he never ever required musical notes of any kind be followed or learned.  He did establish the congregation needed to sing, do so with reference to Him, and do so from their hearts.  If His followers do this and do this only, they will be pleasing in His sight.  Do not let men-pleasers steer your worship in the wrong direction.  Follow God’s commands only and you will never sing a sour note.

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Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Thank you to everyone who supports us throughout the year. We hope that you, your family, and your loved ones have a very safe holiday season whether at home or traveling about. A special thank you to all of the writers on this website past and present. Your efforts are appreciated and they have helped my spiritual growth throughout the years.  Stay warm, have fun, and all praise to God who continually blesses us.  Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

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Baby It’s Cold Outside

Baby It’s Cold Outside

In writing this article, it can be noted that the temperature outside is -2 F (-18 C).  Brrr!  Inside I have my big hairy monster slippers on and a coffee mug here at my desk ready with warmth to tickle my innards.  However, I trek outside a couple of times a day to throw some wood in my outdoor wood burner.  The cold bites out there.  I protect myself with a big trapper hat, heavy coat, and gloves.  Still, I do not linger out in the cold for long.  The wind chill supposedly makes the air feel like -24 f (-31 C) and I believe every bit of that!  Baby, it’s cold outside!cold outside

This weather makes me pause a moment and think about cold.  In the KJV, “coldeth” (just kidding), cold is mentioned 18 times.  There are some notable positives written about.

  • Genesis 8:22 – Cold is an indication that the earth is still here, moving right along as it always does and as God promised.
  • Proverbs 25:13 – Cold of snow following the harvest is refreshing. No more sweltering heat of summer.
  • Proverbs 25:20 – Cold means warm sweater weather, comfortable bundle up clothes, and friendly fuzzy slippers.
  • Proverbs 25:25, Matthew 10:42 – Cold water to one who is thirsty. I don’t always drink water, but when I do, it is cold!
  • Nahum 3:17 – The cold chases bugs off to the side and away from being a nuisance.
  • John 18:18, Acts 28:2 – With cold, comes the building of fires. I could sit around a fire all day long.  Enjoy the warmth of the flames and of good company.

Of course, there is the other side of cold that should not be overlooked.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:27 – Cold can cause suffering. It can weaken and destroy.  Therefore, not only must the individual be prepared, but he must be watchful of others who might suffer the effects of cold.
  • Matthew 24:12– When sin abounds, hearts grow cold.  There is frigid place where love, compassion, kindness, and goodness should be instead.  Individuals, congregations, societies, are a better place when they remove the icy shackles of sin from around them.

It is my hope that this insight into the Bible’s presentation of cold set a gentle flame in your mind.  As the cold days of winter visit you, enjoy the positives of some chill.  Break out some hot cocoa and don’t forget the marshmallows.  If there are those in need of warmth, protection, and care in these times of cold, reach out, and share the fire of your heart, hospitality, and love.  It’s cold outside, but don’t let it put the freeze on you.  May the good works and good news of Christ abound in your life and conversation and stoke the coals of hope and joy over these frosty days.

 

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Dispensational Premillenialism: Land Promise Unfulfilled?

Dispensational Premillenialism: Land Promise Unfulfilled?

This examination focuses itself on eschatology, the unfolding of events in “end times”.  I suggest to you we are indeed in the “end times, latter days, last days” (Isaiah 2:2, Micah 4:1, Hebrews 1:2).  The broader term of these days which I would personally use is the Christian Dispensation.  In these last days, our discussion includes a context of Dispensational Pre-Millenialism (DPM).  Central to this context are beliefs regarding the Kingdom of God and the role of physical Israel.  Believers of DPM hold that physical Israel (the DNA of Jacob) will again be gathered again as a nation and serve an important role in a thousand year Kingdom reign upon earth with Christ.  In this role a thousand years may be held figurative for eternity, however, most DPM believers see a final judgment at the end of the millennium.  At the heart of all DPM teaching are the questions: 1. What is the Kingdom of God?  2. What is God’s plan for the physical descendants of Jacob?  The answers reside within God’s promises regarding Israel and the Church.  The predominance of this study will focus on the answer to the second question.

Opening the pages of the Bible and looking for passages regarding the “kingdom of God” results in four different kingdoms.  Searching in Psalm 103:19 and Daniel 4:3, it is found that the Kingdom of God can refer to God’s universal kingdom over all things.  From I Chronicles 28:5, 2 Chronicles 13:8, and Mathew 21:43 it is seen that physical Israel was considered God’s Kingdom.  Next, Daniel 2:44, Mark 9:1, Acts 1:8, Acts 2, Colossians 1:13, and I Timothy 3:15 demonstrate that the Church is referred to as the Kingdom of God.  Finally, 2 Peter 1:10-11 and 2 Timothy 4:18 present the eternal home of the Faithful in heaven as the Kingdom of God.   Sesame Street is an American children’s television show which often plays a game called “one of these things is not like the other”.  Indeed, that is the situation with the four Kingdoms of God mentioned above. God’s universal kingdom, the Church, and the heavenly kingdom are all eternal.  National physical Israel is not like the others.  It is not eternal.  The physical descendants of Israel are scattered and no longer a Kingdom of God, nor will they ever be again.  Their purpose has been served and the physical descendants of Jacob no longer serve any more importance than any other individual upon earth.  We are undertaking this study because adherents of DPM reject these statements and declare promises to Abraham and Israel prove otherwise.

Dispensational Premillenialism

Dispensational Premilenialism finds its error in many ways.

What were the promises to Abraham?  The book of Genesis provides five instances where God spoke to Abraham and detailed the given promises (Genesis 12:1-7, 13:14-17, 15:18-21, 17:2-8, 22:17-18).  Specifically referenced are a nation promise, a land promise and a seed promise.  The Genesis 12 passage makes it clear that from Abraham would come a great nation.  Yes, this was physical Israel from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Additionally, Abraham was promised the land of the Canaanites.  Finally, this same passage also makes it clear that all families of the earth would be blessed through Abraham.  This is known as the seed promise.  Further information is gleaned about each of these promises as God speaks to Abraham in additional Genesis texts.  Genesis 13 details the land of the Canaanite would be given to Abraham and his seed “forever”.  This passage further figuratively declares the descendants of Abraham would be as numerous as the dust of the earth.  Genesis 15 provides not only information that the seed of Abraham would be as numerous as the stars of heaven, but specifics to the land promise.  It details a northern and southern border demonstrating the scope of the possession would encompass many other peoples.  Important to notice in this passage are the terms “river of Egypt” and “great river, the river Euphrates”.  This will be considered later in our examination.  Genesis  17 sees God declare His covenant with Abraham and his seed would be everlasting.  Additionally, God states the land of Canaan will be for an “everlasting possession” to them.  Finally, Genesis 22 essentially repeats the three promises, but it declares the reasoning for giving them – “thou has obeyed my voice”.  The promises given to Abraham and his descendants would also be directly promised to Isaac and Jacob.  The critical issue surrounding these promises is:  were the promises fulfilled?

There is no doubt in Christendom or within the DPM circle that the nation promise to Abraham was fulfilled.  The question do be answered later is whether or not Israel will be gathered again as a Nation.  Deuteronomy 1:10, 4:6-8, and 2 Samuel 7:23 all make it clear the descendants of Abraham became a great nation.  In the first passage the words of Moses proclaim fulfilled prophecy in that he describes Israel in number as the stars of heaven.  In the second passage Moses calls Israel a nation three times.  Finally, in 2 Samuel 7, King David of Israel in proclaiming the might of God recognizes Israel as a nation whom God redeemed from Egypt.

The promise to Abraham regarding the boundaries and duration of the possession of the promised land by the nation of Israel are hotly declared as unfulfilled by DPM adherents.  This is a must for DPM doctrine.  If Israel’s role is over, if there place as a nation is over, then DPM fail to stand.  Later, their objections shall be examined.  At the present, let us search the inspired scriptures of God and see what He has said.  Joshua 21:43-44 declares all the land sworn to the fathers of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) was given to them and they possessed it.  The context follows from Joshua 18:1 in which the land was said to be subdued before Israel.  Thus, Joshua sent me out to detail the boundaries and he then divided the land among the tribes.  Prior to this in Joshua 11, it is said that Joshua took the whole land promised unto Moses (who brought the children of Israel to the land to claim the promise given to the Fathers.).  I Kings 4:21 details the third king of Israel holding all the land from the Border of Egypt to the Euphrates (the land promised).  Nehemiah 9:7-8 sees Israel centuries after it had taken the land.  They were now returning from captivity in Babylon.  Having been centuries since Israel had taken the land, common sense would declare there would have been much grumbling and complaining if God had not fulfilled His land promise to Abraham.  Yet, during that time frame there is not a single utterance about a lack of fulfillment.  In fact, when Nehemiah and the other Israelites returned to the land, Nehemiah references the promise God made to Abraham and declared that God had performed it.  Are the scriptures God breathed as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17?  Are they from the mind of God 2 Peter 1:20-21?  If God be true, then the scriptures proclaim the Land promise fulfilled.  Further evidence of this is seen in Deuteronomy 19:8-9 and Joshua 20:7-8.  God told Moses that three cities of refuge should be established in the land of Israel.  Then, when all the land God had promised the fathers had been given three more cities of refuge should be set up.  Following the fulfillment of the promise, Joshua appointed the three additional cities of refuge.  Once more in the Old Testament, the psalmist writes in Psalm 105:42-44 that Israel had inherited the promised lands as he had spoken to Abraham.  But does the New Testament say anything about the Land Promise to Abraham?  In Acts 13:19 the apostle Paul declares Canaan was conquered and divided among the tribes.  Never in the Old Testament or the New Testament were the words of fulfillment to Abraham challenged.  Never did the people cry out that God had failed to be faithful.  This cry comes only from the 1800’s AD by a people looking back at history and questioning the veracity of the very people to whom the promise was made and acknowledged fulfilled.

From scripture it has been seen that the nation and land promise to Abraham have been fulfilled.  This leaves an examination of the seed promise.  Galatians 3:8-9, 16, 26-29 provides us with the words of the apostle Paul.  He preached both to Israel and non-Israel.  He shared the gospel with everyone.  All those that are in Christ through baptism are considered the Children of Abraham.  Paul says these people of all families and nations of the world are blessed by the seed promise to Abraham.  The apostle Peter declared to the Jews who would convert to Christianity that the seed promise to Abraham would also be fulfilled in them and 5,000 were baptized (Acts 3:25-26).  Paul speaks later to the Jews and he provides an understanding of exactly what the blessing to all promised to Abraham would be.  In Acts 13:32-33, 38, it is established that through Christ was the forgiveness of sins.  The forgiveness was available to all and the blessing experienced by those who acted in faith to the commands of God.

A straightforward look at the scriptures has demonstrated that the promises to Abraham (nation, land, seed) have been fulfilled.  Specifically regarding the Land promise, those who took the land believed it, those who returned to the land believed it, and the apostle Paul declared it so.  With such strong witness as the Word of God, his prophets, and his apostles teaching this it is a fair question to ask why anyone would question the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham.  Next up a number of DPM arguments are presented as to why they believe the way they do.

Some DPM believe that Abraham himself did not receive the promised land and must therefore rise before the millennium to enter the promised land.  Stephen filled with the Spirit of God testified in Acts 7:5-7 that the fulfillment of Abraham’s possession would be with that of his descendants.  He clearly states Abraham would not even put a foot in it.  As he spoke his reference was the promise given by God in Genesis 15:7-8, 13-16, when Abraham asked how he would know if he inherited the Land.  God told him that he would die before going, but his inheritance would come with his descendants returning to the land after their stay in Egypt.  Promise fulfilled.

Some DPM believe that physical Israel was to receive the promised land forever (previously read).  Consider this from two different approaches.  First, remember the promise was given to Abraham based upon his obedience.  The children of Israel were told before entering the land that though they would receive the Land, they would perish if they were disobedient to God (Deuteronomy 8:19-20; 30:17-18).  Joshua repeated this and declared their disobedience would destroy them off the Land God gave them (Joshua 23:12-16).  Consider the promised land like a car.  A father gives his son a car and tells him this is your car forever.  He tells him before handing him the keys, if you transgress the law you I will not let you enjoy its blessings.  The son later breaks the law with the car.  The father “impounds” the car.  The car may still be the son’s car, but he no longer has the right to be in it.  The father may drive the car.  The mother may drive the car.  The sister or neighbor may drive the car.  However, the son is excluded from driving his own car based on his disobedience.  Promise fulfilled.  A second way to consider the concept of forever is to examine the Hebrew language.  Though the English words “forever” and then “everlasting” are used in translation in Genesis 17 and 13 the translation is not adequate to explain the Hebrew.  The Hebrew words are “Olam” and “Ad”.  “Olam” is used in Leviticus 24:7-9 and 2 Chronicles 2:4 in reference to the showbread offering of Israel.  Though the terms everlasting, forever, and perpetual are used, it is quite clear the Law of Moses would end and so would the earthly sacrifices.  One might argue that these could again begin.  Why on earth would someone reject the once for all sacrifice of Christ which could forgive sin in order to go back to an imperfect sacrificial system?   “Ad” is used in Job 20:4 and Psalm 132:13-14.  As used in Job it references mankind from the beginning of earth… not an eternal timeframe.  In the book of Psalms the references God’s connection with Israel, yet God would cast off that people and place.  Alternative definitions for “Olam” and “Ad” prohibit certainty of the solution stating these terms mean the English “forever”.   Israel held the land for a period unseen into the future.  The end of that period became visible with their sins.  Promise fulfilled.

Some DPM believe that despite the nation of Israel declaring it received the promise of God that not all the land promised was truly given.  This is based upon the words in Genesis 15:18 that the land would be possessed to the “River of Egypt”.  By this it is declared that the River of Egypt is the Nile.  Numbers 34:5, Joshua 15:4, I Kings 8:65, and 2 Chronicles 7:8 reference the River of Egypt in regard to the possession of Israel.  Yet, all obvious scriptural references to the Nile use H2975 to reference the Nile.   None of the aforementioned verses use that word.  Additionally, other passages describing the promised land of Israel use “Brook of Egypt”, “Border of Egypt”, “Shihor”, and “From the wilderness” (Exodus 23:31, I Kings 4:21, 2 Kings 24:7, 2 Chronicles 9:26, Isaiah 27:12, Jeremiah 2:18).  These terms are all synonymous with the river name or location of the Wadi el Arish.  That this land was held is not disputed.  The River of Egypt in Genesis 15:18 is the same.  Note:  From Genesis 15 we drew attention to the “great river, the river Euphrates”.  The Nile was not smaller than the Euphrates.  To call the Euphrates “Great” in comparison would indicate the truth that the Nile was not being referenced.  Again, the fulfillment of the land promise was never questioned by ancient Israel.

Some DPM declare Replacement Theology is responsible for substituting the Church for Israel and it should not be done.  It is declared that the Bible does not spiritualize literal Israel.  Jeremiah 31:31-40 speaks of the ending of the Law of Moses and points to the New Covenant in Christ.  It is said this new covenant would be with the “House of Israel”.  Then the text continues on to mention a faithful Israel, forgiveness of sin, and God’s faithfulness to that Israel.  The question is whether or not this “House of Israel” is the Church or physical Israel.  The truth of the matter is that the Law of Moses, the sacrifices, the tabernacle, all of it was a shadow or type of what was to come.  Hebrews 8ff puts the context and fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-40 into proper understanding (Hebrews 8:6-13, 9:28, 10:14-22).  The Hebrew author first quotes Jeremiah.  Then he ties this to Christ and forgiveness of sins.  Finally, he ties all of this to those who would be sanctified by Christ.  That is the “House of God” which Timothy declares is the Church (I Timothy 3:15).  What DPM says cannot occur, the spiritualization of physical Israel in the form of the Church, is exactly what God does.

Finally, though there are countless arguments that DPM attempt to assert, we now consider the claim that Israel was promised to be restored.  It has already been seen from Jeremiah 31 that speaking of a physical faithful Israel can reference the Church. I suggest to you all such passages speak of the Church.  Historic Israel never returned faithful to God.  It is understood as well that there are passages like those in Daniel 9 and Jeremiah 25:8-13 referencing the return of Israel from their 70 year captivity in Babylon. This was certainly fulfilled. However, in regard to the destiny of physical Israel Jesus proclaimed in Mathew 21:42-44 that their kingdom would be taken from them.  Jeremiah 19:1,10-11 proclaims physical Israel to be like broken pottery – impossible to make whole again!  The destiny of Physical Israel is complete.  Physical Israel had the purpose of showing the world God’s blessings and curses (Romans 15:4).  They had the purpose of carrying the seed who is the Christ (Galatians 3:16).  In doing so, they fulfilled the seed promise of Abraham.  There will be no physical restoration of the nation of Israel.  The salvation of all mankind is united in Christ not divided in DNA.

DPM is a false doctrine that looks to a future plan for physical Israel.  These plans rest upon assertions that God has not fulfilled His promise to Israel.  Yet, scripture refutes these claims.  God is faithful and just.  God cannot lie.  What he declares by Word has and will occur.  His plans for faithful men revolve around Christ’s Church and not physical Israel.

 

 

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