In regard to the report below, are we prepared in this country to be treated in the same manner? Events such as these could be coming to our shores as the end of this age approaches. The enemy is getting angrier by the day and we should prepare to also suffer persecution for our faith in Christ. randypeacher
Ministry for revival in Israel and the nations
© 6/30/2011 Revive Israel Ministries
Missionaries - Asher Intrater
The dirtiest word in the Hebrew language is not 4 letters. Unfortunately, it is the word "missionary." The cultural ramifications are complex. There are 5 basic levels of meaning. Starting from the worst:
Soul Snatchers – like a cheap sci-fi movie, religious extremists have given the impression that missionaries snatch the souls of innocent Jewish people. The common phrase is that the Nazis killed our bodies and now you are killing our souls. This is screamed out loud with intense emotion in anti-Messianic demonstrations.
Criminals – There is an anti-missionary law in Israel. It is NOT against evangelizing. There are two clauses: bribing a person to change his religion, and converting a minor against parental desires. Both charges are absurd but are used manipulatively against us.
Unethical Methods – the image is one of psychologically pressuring people, of preying on unsuspecting minors, of exploiting people in need, etc. Again, an absurd accusation, yet when repeated enough creates an environment of mistrust when we share our faith with others.
Conversion from Jewish Identity – This is not a spiritual faith for salvation, but a wrong concept of conversion, meaning changing one's ethnic identity, betraying one's people, becoming a Gentile, changing religious denomination, and breaking the covenants of God with our forefathers.
Giving Evangelistic Materials – Legitimate distribution of Bibles or gospel material is often grouped together with the above 4 categories. The first 4 categories are not who we are, nor what we do. The 5th is. When we are asked in Hebrew if we are "missionaries," the answer is that we fully oppose all the negative definitions, yet we do share our faith with anyone and everyone, in accordance with the law.
This week anti-Messianic groups continued their campaign against us. The demonstration in front of S and N's house was not successful. Only about 30 religious showed up (most of them from the synagogue that I attended until asked to leave). The inflammatory rhetoric was directed against 3 targets: Messianic Jews in general, myself, and S and N's family. In addition another accusatory article came out against us in the newspaper.
The more we study the book of Acts, the more we realize that religious persecution is an inseparable element of true apostolic lifestyle. Three elements that we noticed this week are: inciting a crowd, false witnesses, and accusation of being anti-Jewish. The same was true of Stephen and Shaul/Paul.
Religious leaders incited a crowd against Stephen (Acts 6:12) and Paul (Acts 21:27). In order to cause persecution, people have to become emotional and excited so they will act irrationally.
False witnesses were raised against Stephen (Acts 6:13), and accused Paul of bringing a Gentile into the Temple (Acts 21:29). When a false witness is brought in an environment that does not allow for presentation of facts and evidence, there is no opportunity to refute the statements. The crowd's anger is reinforced by the false testimony.
Both Stephen (Acts 6:13) and Paul (Acts 21:28) were accused of operating against the Torah, the Temple, the Jewish people or the traditions. We, as Messianic Jews, have a fervent loyalty to our people, our land, and our covenants. Paul went out of his way to make a vow and a Temple sacrifice to demonstrate this loyalty (Acts 21:21-24). Although this didn't seem to help, it was important to him, both toward his people and toward God. I felt the same way about being in the synagogue, even though those who came to protest were members there.
We are facing continuing threats from further demonstrations, media reports, false witnesses, and religious leaders. S and N are being threatened with being thrown out of their home. In all these things, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Most persecution leads to a witness for Yeshua (Mark 13:9). We rejoice to take part in persecutions for His name (Matthew 5:11-12).The primary purpose of these attacks is intimidation. John describes this spirit as "fear of the Jews." Nicodemus came at night (John 3:1).
Many religious Jews believed in Yeshua but kept their faith hidden (John 7:13). The fear was to be excommunicated from the community (John 9:22). Among the rabbis there were many secret believers (John 12:42). Joseph of Arimathea came in secret (John 19:38). Even the disciples hid for fear behind closed doors (John 20:19).This was not a fear of the Jewish people, but a demonic spirit of intimidation through offended religious leaders.
An American reporter was present at this week's meeting. He has much experience reporting on persecution in the Muslim world. He called us and said, "I want to apologize. I thought your persecution was not real. Yet I experienced a fear here that I have never seen even in the face of Jihad radicals."
The good news is that these persecutions are actually drawing people towards us. Many are seeing the injustice. While we continue in love, faith and humility, the Lord is touching the hearts of our people.
And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all of your heart! (Jeremiah 29:13) The LORD is good to those that wait for Him; to the soul that seeks Him. (Lamentations 3:25)
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
THE STORM - HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok
This reading made me think of an old song that I remember as a child; Jesus is a Rock in the Weary Land; a Shelter in the time of storm....enjoy the article. randy peacher
KosherTorah.com
The Coming Storm
by HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok
Copyright © 2010 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. All rights reserved.
There is a storm coming. A storm with mighty winds and powerful thunder. The
lighting will light up the skies and the earth will rumble. This storm is to be
very destructive. Yet it will be more destructive upon those who have
unleashed it than upon those who were intended to be its victim. This mighty
storm, like everything else is still just a part of G-d's creation and as such it will
follow the course of natural law as ordained by Heaven.
We say at the Passover Seder that G-d will pour out His wrath upon the nations that
refuse to know Him and upon those who do not call upon His Name. Understand the future in light of this. Storms are a process of cleansing and balancing. They have a natural way to them and their course is predestined and set. Heaven knows the course of the storm. All those who keep their eyes upon Heaven will see the course of the coming storm and know to get out of its way before it comes.
All things have their purpose. All crises are allowed to arise to motivate us and force us into courses of action that we would otherwise not take. Crises are the way of Heaven to push us down the path that will eventually lead to still waters. Yes, we are pursued, yet we do not realize that what pursues us is goodness and mercy. The Hand of Heaven is not too short to reach us. Yet, we must reach up and grasp that which is extended to us or otherwise the Guiding Hand will remain out of reach. Without guidance we die, overwhelmed and overcome by the storm.
Fear not the coming storm, but remember this: those who try to stand strong against the mighty winds will eventually be blown down and lost, whereas those who know how to bend like a reed in the wind will survive. We may have to give up much, but in the end, the wise will let go of all that could harm them and instead use all their efforts to embrace only that which guarantees for them life. When the winds blow, we are all moved by them. Do not fear this, it is the way of natural law as ordained by the Creator.
The arrogant shall be toppled and the meek shall be elevated. This is the natural response to the unnatural push made by the arrogant. Weakness comes in many forms and so too does strength. Do not look to the surface of a thing and consider it to be its true essence. Indeed, the surface may be the exact opposite of that which lies within. Do not consider one strong because they look that way. In the same vein, do not consider one weak because of the appearance. All appearances are deceiving, every one of them.
Watch what transpires in both the east and the west. From them both will troubles brew and spread. This is by the Hand of Heaven, to strengthen the righteous and to punish the wicked. We are not meant to stop it. We are just meant to remove ourselves to a safe distance and then watch the Hand of Heaven act in the way that it is ordained to.
Those who surrender to Heaven, who are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get the job done, will in the end be passed over, even as it was so long ago. Heaven keeps an accurate accounting of human affairs even when the powers that be here on Earth try to alter the record. The pain of rebalancing is in direct proportion to the amount of imbalance. When there is imbalance created in the east, rebalancing will come from the west and so forth. When your eyes are focused on what is before you, quickly turn around and see what is behind you, before it is too late. For while you focus on what is in front of you, that which is behind you will sneak up on you and overtake you. Balance requires that one swing one's vision, from right to left and from left to right, from east to west and from west to east.
G-d will pass over His people. This is His promise. But not all who claim to be His people are really His people. Many of the people rebel and choose not to be His people. For them, there is no promise. There is hope, yes; but there is no promise. Without sacrifice there is no promise. The promise is sealed with the blood of the sacrifice. The blood and sacrifice of today is not that of an animal but rather of the heart, soul and deeds of the human being. Heed the warning. Stop your complacency. Clear your mind from questions. Silence your tongue from speaking. Open your heart and begin to see with your inner eye. Open your heart and begin to hear the inner voice speaking in the inner recesses of your mind. The Daughter of the Heavenly Voice will be heard within you, but only when you are calm and
silent. In the silence, will you learn to be still. And only when one is still will one learn how and when to bend like a reed when the wind comes.
Redemption is upon us. But it will not be what many expect. It will not be easy or painless. Like a woman's giving birth; there will be many screams; but in the end the child will be born. And he will be a healthy male child. After eight days, he will cast off his klipah and then he will be given a name. And his name shall be David.
KosherTorah.com
The Coming Storm
by HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok
Copyright © 2010 by Ariel Bar Tzadok. All rights reserved.
There is a storm coming. A storm with mighty winds and powerful thunder. The
lighting will light up the skies and the earth will rumble. This storm is to be
very destructive. Yet it will be more destructive upon those who have
unleashed it than upon those who were intended to be its victim. This mighty
storm, like everything else is still just a part of G-d's creation and as such it will
follow the course of natural law as ordained by Heaven.
We say at the Passover Seder that G-d will pour out His wrath upon the nations that
refuse to know Him and upon those who do not call upon His Name. Understand the future in light of this. Storms are a process of cleansing and balancing. They have a natural way to them and their course is predestined and set. Heaven knows the course of the storm. All those who keep their eyes upon Heaven will see the course of the coming storm and know to get out of its way before it comes.
All things have their purpose. All crises are allowed to arise to motivate us and force us into courses of action that we would otherwise not take. Crises are the way of Heaven to push us down the path that will eventually lead to still waters. Yes, we are pursued, yet we do not realize that what pursues us is goodness and mercy. The Hand of Heaven is not too short to reach us. Yet, we must reach up and grasp that which is extended to us or otherwise the Guiding Hand will remain out of reach. Without guidance we die, overwhelmed and overcome by the storm.
Fear not the coming storm, but remember this: those who try to stand strong against the mighty winds will eventually be blown down and lost, whereas those who know how to bend like a reed in the wind will survive. We may have to give up much, but in the end, the wise will let go of all that could harm them and instead use all their efforts to embrace only that which guarantees for them life. When the winds blow, we are all moved by them. Do not fear this, it is the way of natural law as ordained by the Creator.
The arrogant shall be toppled and the meek shall be elevated. This is the natural response to the unnatural push made by the arrogant. Weakness comes in many forms and so too does strength. Do not look to the surface of a thing and consider it to be its true essence. Indeed, the surface may be the exact opposite of that which lies within. Do not consider one strong because they look that way. In the same vein, do not consider one weak because of the appearance. All appearances are deceiving, every one of them.
Watch what transpires in both the east and the west. From them both will troubles brew and spread. This is by the Hand of Heaven, to strengthen the righteous and to punish the wicked. We are not meant to stop it. We are just meant to remove ourselves to a safe distance and then watch the Hand of Heaven act in the way that it is ordained to.
Those who surrender to Heaven, who are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to get the job done, will in the end be passed over, even as it was so long ago. Heaven keeps an accurate accounting of human affairs even when the powers that be here on Earth try to alter the record. The pain of rebalancing is in direct proportion to the amount of imbalance. When there is imbalance created in the east, rebalancing will come from the west and so forth. When your eyes are focused on what is before you, quickly turn around and see what is behind you, before it is too late. For while you focus on what is in front of you, that which is behind you will sneak up on you and overtake you. Balance requires that one swing one's vision, from right to left and from left to right, from east to west and from west to east.
Everything in life is in a state of constant movement. That which is stagnant soon dies. This is why the storm comes to wash away the stagnant and to cleanse the Earth.Winds blow, lighting flashes and thunder roars; this is the way of nature. It is how G-d has ordained that nature be rebalanced. As it is in the outside world, so too is it like this in the inner world of the human psyche. Human beings also follow the natural trends, however unaware. The coming storm will cleanse us. Those who prepare will weather the storm. They will bend and live. Whereas the blind and arrogant will dig in their heals and like the immovable and stagnant they will be broken into pieces and washed away. Such is the Way of Heaven. As it was in ancient days, there is nothing new under the sun for today or for tomorrow.
G-d will pass over His people. This is His promise. But not all who claim to be His people are really His people. Many of the people rebel and choose not to be His people. For them, there is no promise. There is hope, yes; but there is no promise. Without sacrifice there is no promise. The promise is sealed with the blood of the sacrifice. The blood and sacrifice of today is not that of an animal but rather of the heart, soul and deeds of the human being. Heed the warning. Stop your complacency. Clear your mind from questions. Silence your tongue from speaking. Open your heart and begin to see with your inner eye. Open your heart and begin to hear the inner voice speaking in the inner recesses of your mind. The Daughter of the Heavenly Voice will be heard within you, but only when you are calm and
silent. In the silence, will you learn to be still. And only when one is still will one learn how and when to bend like a reed when the wind comes.
Redemption is upon us. But it will not be what many expect. It will not be easy or painless. Like a woman's giving birth; there will be many screams; but in the end the child will be born. And he will be a healthy male child. After eight days, he will cast off his klipah and then he will be given a name. And his name shall be David.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Church - Jew - forward rpeacher (A study)
Universality and Particularity
By Solomon Intrater (with Asher Intrater)
Jewish Philosophy deals much with the concepts "Universality" and "Particularity." Universal principles deal with people from all nations. The creation story, for instance, is universal. Moral principles, such as not to murder or steal, are also universal.
Particularity is "ethno-centric," dealing with one people group alone. Much of the narrative in Hebrew Scriptures deals with the "particular" history of the nation of Israel alone. The Bible, as a whole, has both universal and particular elements.
To the degree that the Torah reveals the one God to mankind, it is universal. To the degree that it describes the covenants of the Levitical priesthood and the Jewish people, it is particular. However, the universal and particular elements are intertwined and interdependent, like the positive and negative poles of electric current.
During the gospels, Yeshua (Jesus) concentrates His evangelistic ministry on Jews in particular (Matthew 10:5-6; 15:26). After He was raised from the dead, He gave instructions to His disciples to proclaim their faith in Israel's Messianic King to the whole world (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47).
The disciples expected to "restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6)." However, Yeshua instructed them to be witnesses of Him "unto the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)." He expanded their understanding of the kingdom from particular to universal. The kingdom of God is both particular (its capital in Jerusalem) and universal (reaching all nations).
The tension over this transition is seen throughout the book of Acts. Simon Peter's vision of the sheet and his preaching to the Romans was criticized by some of the Jewish believers (Acts 10 – 11). The conflict brought about the first apostolic council (Acts 15). The council made the decision to universalize the gospel message for all nations, yet did not cancel the particular calling of the Jewish believers.
The apostles made a distinction between universal laws for Gentile converts versus the Torah commandments incumbent upon the Jewish people alone. While Paul (Saul) was the greatest proponent of the international church and universal theology, he maintained the ethno-centric aspects of his own Jewish identity and life style.
In the Apostle Saul's address to the religious Jews in the Temple (Acts 22), he faced little opposition when speaking of his vision of Yeshua. However, the moment he spoke of his mission to the Gentiles, the crowd went into an uproar (Acts 22:21). In his epistles to the Gentile churches, he encourages them that Jews and Gentiles are equal in the faith.
The New Covenant scriptures were written in Greek, because Greek was the international or universal language of the first century, as English is in modern times. However, Yeshua and His disciples spoke Hebrew among themselves and to their countrymen, as that was the language of the Jewish people in Israel (Acts 21:40; 22:2; 26:14). Within our congregations in Israel, we speak Hebrew, yet when we publish teachings internationally, we use English. There was conflict in the early church between those who spoke Hebrew and those who spoke Greek (Acts 6:1).
The destruction of the Temple in 70 AD drastically changed the Jewish world view. Rabbinic Judaism was consolidated by the Yavne council in the early second century. Meanwhile the faith of the early Messianic Jews became more universalized, de-centralized and spread to the Gentile nations. These two streams, (the Judaism of the Yavne rabbis and the Judaism of Yeshua's apostles) developed on parallel lines, often inter-weaving, often clashing.
Christianity and Judaism in the second and third centuries became polarized. Classic Christianity moved toward an extreme "replacement" view, whereas Rabbinic Judaism went toward extreme ethno-centricity. The dynamic balance between particularity and universality in early Messianic Jewish and Christian congregations was soon lost.
Faith in Yeshua the Messiah, as described in the New Covenant, is both universal and particular. Yeshua is universal as the "son of God" (Romans 1:4) and particular as the "son of David" (Romans 1:3). Any person can receive the Holy Spirit at any time and in any place (Acts 2:17), yet when Yeshua returns, He will set His feet on the Mount of Olives on a particular place at a set time.
The parable of the Olive tree in Romans 11 describes the merging of these two world views: the root is particular; the universal branches are grafted in; the natural branches were cut off, yet will return to be grafted in. This merging of the universal and the particular, of Israel and the Church, is a mystery, which requires a special revelation to be understood (Ephesians 3:3-6).
The resurgence of Jewish believers in Yeshua and the re-establishment of the state of Israel are restoring the original balance of these issues. We Messianic Jews need to embrace all the universal spiritual and moral aspects of the gospel, while at the same time being faithful to God's particular calling and covenants with our people.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Our Stone
TRUTH FOR TODAY
Christ the Stone - Marvin J. Rosenthal
When the body of missionary-explorer David Livingstone was laid in Westminster Abbey, a British journalist wrote, “Let marble crumble – this is Livingstone!” It is hard to conceive of living stone. In all of God’s creation, nothing appears more inanimate or lifeless than stone. It is interesting, therefore, to realize that the Bible repeatedly refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as a Stone.
To God Christ is the Smitten Stone
Moses confronted Pharaoh of Egypt with his Lord’s message, “Let my people go” (Ex. 8:1). A short time and 10 plagues later, Pharaoh reluctantly let the Hebrew people go. They hadn’t gone very far before the army of Egypt was in hot pursuit. As the Egyptians bore down upon the Hebrews, all hope appeared to be lost. However, at God’s command, Moses thrust forward his rod, the Red Sea parted, and the children of Israel crossed over on dry ground.
They continued only a few days’ journey into the hot, barren desert and began to murmur. There was no water, and the people thought it better to be slaves back in Egypt than to die of thirst as free men in the desert. They had only recently, and from a box-seat vantage point, seen the power of God to deliver. And now, at the first sign of difficulty, they murmured instead of trusted. Once again, God told Moses to take his rod in hand and strike a rock. As he did, an abundance of water gushed out, enough to meet the needs of the entire wandering nation.
Commenting on this in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul identified that Rock that was smitten: “And did all [those who came out of Egypt] drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).
The Prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years earlier, had written:
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isa. 53:4).
Christ was smitten by His Father that you and I, through trusting in Him, need never experience the smiting of a holy God.
To Israel Christ is the Stumbling Stone
Once again, hear the words of Scripture: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23).
It was not that Israel was not expecting a Christ – or Anointed One. They were. As a matter of fact, the coming of a Deliverer, an Anointed One, a Messiah – this was at the top of their hit parade. Messianic expectation was the focal point of Jewish theology. But they did not understand that suffering must precede glory – that Christ must die before He could reign. Their chief concern was that a Deliverer appear who could and would throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. A crucified Messiah was, therefore, an unexplainable enigma. Peter summed it up like this: “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them [Israel] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” (1 Pet. 2:8).
To the Jewish mind, a Christ, yes. A crucified Christ, no. This, then, was their stumbling stone.
To The ChurchChrist is the Foundation Stone
The Epistle to the Ephesians presents the highest Church truth to be found in all the Word of God. Paul sets forth the architecture of the Church (2:1-10); the appointments of the Church (Jew and Gentile, 2:11-18); and the appearance of the Church (2:19-22). In summing it up, he says: “And [you] are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (2:20).
After Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s table, and only hours before His crucifixion, the Bible records that He and His disciples sang a hymn before going out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30). The song they sang was called the Hallel. It comprised Psalms 113-118, with particular emphasis placed on Psalm 118:22: “The stone [Christ] which the builders [Israel] refused is become the head stone of the corner [foundation stone of the Church].”
To the NationsChrist is the Smiting Stone
The “times of the Gentiles” is a biblical term denoting that period of history when Jerusalem would be under Gentile domination (Luke 21:24). That period began with the Babylonian captivity in 606 B.C. and will terminate when Christ returns physically to the earth to establish a 1,000-year kingdom.
The dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation by Daniel (Chapter 2) depicts the times of the Gentiles. Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image. Its head was gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron mixed with clay. In Daniel’s interpretation, the times of Gentile domination over Israel are detailed. The head of gold represented Babylon; the chest and arms of silver, Medo-Persia; the belly and thighs of bronze, Greece; the legs and feet of part iron and part clay, Rome. These were four successive world powers that dominated Israel. All of these empires would diminish in influence but not be destroyed. In the final days of history, these empires will be restored to power. It is over this restored and expanded empire, the Anti-christ will rule.
What will happen to the final form of Gentile power? Hear the prophet Daniel once again:
Thou sawest till that a STONE was cut out without hands, which SMOTE the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and THE STONE THAT SMOTE THE IMAGE became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:34-35, emphasis added).
The Stone is Christ. That it was “cut out without hands” probably refers to His divine origin. When He smites the image on its toes, Gentile power will come to an end. The Stone becoming a great mountain and filling the whole earth depicts His worldwide kingdom. The Apostle John was describing the same scene when he wrote:
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:15-16).
To GodChrist is the Smitten Stone
To Israel Christ is the Stumbling Stone
To The ChurchChrist is the Foundation Stone
To the NationsChrist is the Smiting Stone
Who is He to you?
Christ the Stone - Marvin J. Rosenthal
When the body of missionary-explorer David Livingstone was laid in Westminster Abbey, a British journalist wrote, “Let marble crumble – this is Livingstone!” It is hard to conceive of living stone. In all of God’s creation, nothing appears more inanimate or lifeless than stone. It is interesting, therefore, to realize that the Bible repeatedly refers to the Lord Jesus Christ as a Stone.
To God Christ is the Smitten Stone
Moses confronted Pharaoh of Egypt with his Lord’s message, “Let my people go” (Ex. 8:1). A short time and 10 plagues later, Pharaoh reluctantly let the Hebrew people go. They hadn’t gone very far before the army of Egypt was in hot pursuit. As the Egyptians bore down upon the Hebrews, all hope appeared to be lost. However, at God’s command, Moses thrust forward his rod, the Red Sea parted, and the children of Israel crossed over on dry ground.
They continued only a few days’ journey into the hot, barren desert and began to murmur. There was no water, and the people thought it better to be slaves back in Egypt than to die of thirst as free men in the desert. They had only recently, and from a box-seat vantage point, seen the power of God to deliver. And now, at the first sign of difficulty, they murmured instead of trusted. Once again, God told Moses to take his rod in hand and strike a rock. As he did, an abundance of water gushed out, enough to meet the needs of the entire wandering nation.
Commenting on this in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul identified that Rock that was smitten: “And did all [those who came out of Egypt] drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).
The Prophet Isaiah, hundreds of years earlier, had written:
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted” (Isa. 53:4).
Christ was smitten by His Father that you and I, through trusting in Him, need never experience the smiting of a holy God.
To Israel Christ is the Stumbling Stone
Once again, hear the words of Scripture: “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:23).
It was not that Israel was not expecting a Christ – or Anointed One. They were. As a matter of fact, the coming of a Deliverer, an Anointed One, a Messiah – this was at the top of their hit parade. Messianic expectation was the focal point of Jewish theology. But they did not understand that suffering must precede glory – that Christ must die before He could reign. Their chief concern was that a Deliverer appear who could and would throw off the yoke of Roman oppression. A crucified Messiah was, therefore, an unexplainable enigma. Peter summed it up like this: “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them [Israel] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed” (1 Pet. 2:8).
To the Jewish mind, a Christ, yes. A crucified Christ, no. This, then, was their stumbling stone.
To The ChurchChrist is the Foundation Stone
The Epistle to the Ephesians presents the highest Church truth to be found in all the Word of God. Paul sets forth the architecture of the Church (2:1-10); the appointments of the Church (Jew and Gentile, 2:11-18); and the appearance of the Church (2:19-22). In summing it up, he says: “And [you] are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (2:20).
After Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s table, and only hours before His crucifixion, the Bible records that He and His disciples sang a hymn before going out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:30). The song they sang was called the Hallel. It comprised Psalms 113-118, with particular emphasis placed on Psalm 118:22: “The stone [Christ] which the builders [Israel] refused is become the head stone of the corner [foundation stone of the Church].”
To the NationsChrist is the Smiting Stone
The “times of the Gentiles” is a biblical term denoting that period of history when Jerusalem would be under Gentile domination (Luke 21:24). That period began with the Babylonian captivity in 606 B.C. and will terminate when Christ returns physically to the earth to establish a 1,000-year kingdom.
The dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation by Daniel (Chapter 2) depicts the times of the Gentiles. Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image. Its head was gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron mixed with clay. In Daniel’s interpretation, the times of Gentile domination over Israel are detailed. The head of gold represented Babylon; the chest and arms of silver, Medo-Persia; the belly and thighs of bronze, Greece; the legs and feet of part iron and part clay, Rome. These were four successive world powers that dominated Israel. All of these empires would diminish in influence but not be destroyed. In the final days of history, these empires will be restored to power. It is over this restored and expanded empire, the Anti-christ will rule.
What will happen to the final form of Gentile power? Hear the prophet Daniel once again:
Thou sawest till that a STONE was cut out without hands, which SMOTE the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and THE STONE THAT SMOTE THE IMAGE became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:34-35, emphasis added).
The Stone is Christ. That it was “cut out without hands” probably refers to His divine origin. When He smites the image on its toes, Gentile power will come to an end. The Stone becoming a great mountain and filling the whole earth depicts His worldwide kingdom. The Apostle John was describing the same scene when he wrote:
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:15-16).
To GodChrist is the Smitten Stone
To Israel Christ is the Stumbling Stone
To The ChurchChrist is the Foundation Stone
To the NationsChrist is the Smiting Stone
Who is He to you?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
MY FAVORITE SONG!
There is a song in the Bible that was sung in the Book of Exodus. It is also sung in Heaven when the seven angels holding the judgments of God upon a world that has rejected His Son. Exodus 15 is the first time it was sung; Revelation 15 is the second. We should memorize this song because we will be hearing it again!
It is a song of great deliverance by God for a people that were held for 400 years as slaves to a cruel task master. How many years were we bound? How many years has the enemy opposed us and tried to rob us of our conviction that we are truly Sons and Daughters of the Living God; never to be lost again? This cruel taskmaster is pulling out all of the stops in these last of days and it would bode us well if we learn to memorize the times when God interviened on our behalf when the Accuser did everything in his power to bring us down.
Here is the original Song of Moses; and I can think of dozens of times in my life when this song of deliverance was also for me~
" Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD (they sang it to God!)
I will sing unto the LORD for He hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea."
" The LORD is my strength and song and He is become my salvation:
He is my God and I will prepare Him an habitation (we are His habitation!)
My father's God, and I will exalt Him."
"The LORD is a man of war:
the LORD is His Name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea;
his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea."
" The depths have covered them, they sank to the bottom as a stone.
Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power:
Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy."
"And in greatness of Thine excellency Thou hast overethrown them that rose up against Thee:
Thou sentest forth Thy wrath which consumed them as stubble.
And with the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,
the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea."
" The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
my lust shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them."
*Notice the I will's of the enemy....remember what Satan said when he rebelled against God? I will arise up to heaven, I will become like the Most High, I will....
song continued:
" Thou (God) didst bow with Thy wind,
the sea covered them;
they sank as lead in the mighty waters."
" Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchedst out Thy right hand, the earth swallowed them."
" Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou has redeemed:
Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.
The people shall hear, and be afraid:
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina"
"The dukes of Edom shall be amazed;
the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them;
all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
Fear and dread shall fall upon them;
by the greatness of Thine arm they shall be as still as a stone;;
til Thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which Thou hast purchased."
"Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance,
in the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in,
in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have etablished."
" The LORD shall reign forever and ever.
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,
and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them;
but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea"
God always, and will continue to give deliverance to His own. We are His, the sheep of His pasture. He will plant us in His holy mountain on the last day. Our enemies will be amazed, trembling, fear and dread shall fall upon them. By the greatness of His Arm our enemy will be as still as stone!
When do we get to sing this song? In Revelation 15~
vs. 3
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvellous are Thy works,
Lord God Almighty,
just and true are Thy ways,
Thou King of the saints.
Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name?
for Thou only art holy;
for all nations shall come and worship before Thee;
for Thy judgments aare made manifest."
This song, sung this time, as the seven angels appear and prepare to pour out the final judgment upon the earth. It is a song of the great and final victory for the Saints. What a day that will be!
It is a song of great deliverance by God for a people that were held for 400 years as slaves to a cruel task master. How many years were we bound? How many years has the enemy opposed us and tried to rob us of our conviction that we are truly Sons and Daughters of the Living God; never to be lost again? This cruel taskmaster is pulling out all of the stops in these last of days and it would bode us well if we learn to memorize the times when God interviened on our behalf when the Accuser did everything in his power to bring us down.
Here is the original Song of Moses; and I can think of dozens of times in my life when this song of deliverance was also for me~
" Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD (they sang it to God!)
I will sing unto the LORD for He hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea."
" The LORD is my strength and song and He is become my salvation:
He is my God and I will prepare Him an habitation (we are His habitation!)
My father's God, and I will exalt Him."
"The LORD is a man of war:
the LORD is His Name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea;
his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea."
" The depths have covered them, they sank to the bottom as a stone.
Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power:
Thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy."
"And in greatness of Thine excellency Thou hast overethrown them that rose up against Thee:
Thou sentest forth Thy wrath which consumed them as stubble.
And with the blast of Thy nostrils the waters were gathered together,
the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea."
" The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
my lust shall be satisfied upon them;
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them."
*Notice the I will's of the enemy....remember what Satan said when he rebelled against God? I will arise up to heaven, I will become like the Most High, I will....
song continued:
" Thou (God) didst bow with Thy wind,
the sea covered them;
they sank as lead in the mighty waters."
" Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchedst out Thy right hand, the earth swallowed them."
" Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people which Thou has redeemed:
Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation.
The people shall hear, and be afraid:
sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina"
"The dukes of Edom shall be amazed;
the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them;
all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.
Fear and dread shall fall upon them;
by the greatness of Thine arm they shall be as still as a stone;;
til Thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which Thou hast purchased."
"Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance,
in the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in,
in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have etablished."
" The LORD shall reign forever and ever.
For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea,
and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them;
but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea"
God always, and will continue to give deliverance to His own. We are His, the sheep of His pasture. He will plant us in His holy mountain on the last day. Our enemies will be amazed, trembling, fear and dread shall fall upon them. By the greatness of His Arm our enemy will be as still as stone!
When do we get to sing this song? In Revelation 15~
vs. 3
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvellous are Thy works,
Lord God Almighty,
just and true are Thy ways,
Thou King of the saints.
Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name?
for Thou only art holy;
for all nations shall come and worship before Thee;
for Thy judgments aare made manifest."
This song, sung this time, as the seven angels appear and prepare to pour out the final judgment upon the earth. It is a song of the great and final victory for the Saints. What a day that will be!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Diffucult Lessons
Job 16 has profound lessons only a very few experience.Only the mercies of God on our behalf allow such events and feelings to overwhelm us. Most people will do anything at all to avoid such personal, life changing events. But is this to their peril or detriment? There are treasures in darkness that only going through the darkness can bring to us. Remember, darkness and light are the same to God; nothing is hidden.
During Job's journey he speaks of being filled with wrinkles and leanness that bears upon his face. He speaks of friends and neighbors gaping at him with their mouth and smiting him on the cheeks in reproach. All had gathered themselves against him. Job says in his anguish that God had delivered him to the ungodly and into the hands of the wicked.
He was previously at ease; but God broke him asunder! Job felt as if he had been taken by the neck and was shaken to pieces. His face became foul with weepings and his eyelids had the shadow of death. And not for any injustice that he had committed!
Job never let go of the fact that his prayer was pure! In the midst of this perverse trial he continued to claim that his witness was in heaven and his record is recorded on high. Even as his comforters were accusing him that surely he had sinned against God, Job held his ground. There is great confidence in knowing that we are secure in the Beloved!
These events Job endured occurred before the cross, before Christ came to wash away our sin and offer forgiveness freely and graciously. How much more confident we should be that our sins are forgiven, our trespasses have disappeared, and that we are in good standing with the Father through the rent curtain of the Temple and we can enter into the Holy of Holies through Jesus? If this does not bring confidence and security nothing can.
No matter the trials. No matter the events in our lives when even those closest to us hide or are embarrassed. We have an Advocate in the heavens. He is with us always; even to the very end. He said it, I believe it, and that settles it! Our record is clean through the blood of the Lamb.
Have a great weekend thinking upon Him.
During Job's journey he speaks of being filled with wrinkles and leanness that bears upon his face. He speaks of friends and neighbors gaping at him with their mouth and smiting him on the cheeks in reproach. All had gathered themselves against him. Job says in his anguish that God had delivered him to the ungodly and into the hands of the wicked.
He was previously at ease; but God broke him asunder! Job felt as if he had been taken by the neck and was shaken to pieces. His face became foul with weepings and his eyelids had the shadow of death. And not for any injustice that he had committed!
Job never let go of the fact that his prayer was pure! In the midst of this perverse trial he continued to claim that his witness was in heaven and his record is recorded on high. Even as his comforters were accusing him that surely he had sinned against God, Job held his ground. There is great confidence in knowing that we are secure in the Beloved!
These events Job endured occurred before the cross, before Christ came to wash away our sin and offer forgiveness freely and graciously. How much more confident we should be that our sins are forgiven, our trespasses have disappeared, and that we are in good standing with the Father through the rent curtain of the Temple and we can enter into the Holy of Holies through Jesus? If this does not bring confidence and security nothing can.
No matter the trials. No matter the events in our lives when even those closest to us hide or are embarrassed. We have an Advocate in the heavens. He is with us always; even to the very end. He said it, I believe it, and that settles it! Our record is clean through the blood of the Lamb.
Have a great weekend thinking upon Him.
Friday, June 3, 2011
In The Boat!
The weather is getting warmer, for sure. The spiritual weather is also getting ready to heat up considerably! As God begins to bring things to a head using both spiritual and natural events, we are going to need an assurance as solid as anything we have ever had to know that He is with us.
He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. It is a promise He made to each of us; not a casual statement; a promise! I can truly testify that after I have sought the LORD, sometimes for quite a season, He heard me. I believe that God loves to be sought after sometimes. We are the Bride of His Son; what can bring a relationship into disrepair more than taking one for granted and losing our first love? Is it that same in the spiritual world? I believe it is.
If we, like the Psalmist of old, seek the LORD and maintain a very current and present relationship with Him, we can say with confidence that we sought the LORD and He heard us! He will deliver us from all of our fears. He sees our going in and our coming out. In Psalm 34 He promises to encamp around about those who fear Him; and He delivers them.
The word encamp means that He actually sets up camp with us, wherever we are, to pitch a tent and dwell and rest along side of us! It means that He bends or stoops in kindness to an inferior. He rests with us in the same manner that Jesus rested in the boat with the disciples during the great storm on the sea of Galilee! He was there all of the time. Like the disciples, I quite often cry aloud, "LORD, don't you care??" Yes, He does. More than we will ever know.
Whether it is a storm of our making, a storm from the evil one, or just a storm that all of us go through because we are living on a planet in total rebellion; He is there resting with us; encamped around about us, and He is always ready and willing to save when we cry.
Oh taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the person that trusts in Him! Fear the LORD, oh ye, His saints; for there is no want to those who fear Him.
He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. It is a promise He made to each of us; not a casual statement; a promise! I can truly testify that after I have sought the LORD, sometimes for quite a season, He heard me. I believe that God loves to be sought after sometimes. We are the Bride of His Son; what can bring a relationship into disrepair more than taking one for granted and losing our first love? Is it that same in the spiritual world? I believe it is.
If we, like the Psalmist of old, seek the LORD and maintain a very current and present relationship with Him, we can say with confidence that we sought the LORD and He heard us! He will deliver us from all of our fears. He sees our going in and our coming out. In Psalm 34 He promises to encamp around about those who fear Him; and He delivers them.
The word encamp means that He actually sets up camp with us, wherever we are, to pitch a tent and dwell and rest along side of us! It means that He bends or stoops in kindness to an inferior. He rests with us in the same manner that Jesus rested in the boat with the disciples during the great storm on the sea of Galilee! He was there all of the time. Like the disciples, I quite often cry aloud, "LORD, don't you care??" Yes, He does. More than we will ever know.
Whether it is a storm of our making, a storm from the evil one, or just a storm that all of us go through because we are living on a planet in total rebellion; He is there resting with us; encamped around about us, and He is always ready and willing to save when we cry.
Oh taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the person that trusts in Him! Fear the LORD, oh ye, His saints; for there is no want to those who fear Him.
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