Elohim - A plural Hebrew word
Many folks have used this term to empahsize the supposed theory of the "triune" nature of God as they believe is revealed in the Old Testament. What would be the answer to this teaching from a Oneness believer as myself? How could I defend the Oneness of God with such a verse as this one that seem to being identifying God with a plural pronoun? Keep in mind that the Old Testament was written by the Hebrew people, and these people strongly believed and were instructed by God that He was the ONLY Creator and ONE God. Therefore, for someone to come years later and attempt to understand God through philosophy, vain deceit, through the rudiments of the world, and after the traditions of men and use these pronouns to teach contrary to the understanding of the original writers can be descried as nothing more than ignorance. We will now build a foundation of why the original writers believed in the Oneness of God:
Deut 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Deut 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Now after reading these scriptures, we must be extremely careful not to compromise what the LORD has explained to us. What most theologians and traditional bible scholars do is use the reasoning that God can still be ONE and yet have a "triune" nature. They do not believe that the doctrine of the trinity, "three persons in One God" compromises these scriptures. Then if you ask about this doctrine, and try to understand how God could be ONE but three persons at the same time, you cannot understand it. Then you are told that this is a divine mystery that cannot be understood. HOWEVER. We must be careful that our doctrine be molded by scripture, and NOT mold scripture to fit our doctrine. I believe that there is a simple answer to the plural pronouns in Genesis 1:26 that do not compromise the scriptures at all, and I believe that God intended for us to understand these matters for the scripture tells us:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
When the apostle Paul writes such words as CLEARLY SEEN and BEING UNDERSTOOD... to me defines that this issue SHOULD NOT BE A MYSTERY. Believers in a triune nature of God are logically stating the following:
Clearlry Seen + Being Understood = A Divine Mystery
Call me simple minded if you will, but common sense tells me that if God said I could clearly see and understand even his eternal power and Godhead, then that means I should not call it a mystery. So now we will explain our understanding of these matters by the help of God.
We have taken the original Hebrew from a Strong's Concordance and we will examine the original verse from Hebrew translation:
Hebrew Elohiym el-o-heem' ‘amar aw-mar' `asah aw-saw' 'adam aw-dawm'
English God said make man
Hebrew ‘tselem tseh'-lem’ dmuwth dem-ooth' radah raw-daw' ‘dagah daw-gaw'
English image likeness dominion fish
Hebrew yam yawm owph ofe shamayim shaw-mah'-yim bhemah be-hay-maw'
English sea fowl air (sky) cattle
Hebrew 'erets eh'-rets remes reh'-mes ramas raw-mas' 'erets eh'-rets
English earth creeping creature any creeping creature earth
The "Plural Majestic" of the Hebrew language
ELOHIM - The Hebrew Noun used to designate God. Notice that this is the noun used in the verse to describe God. It is true that Elohim is a plural noun in this verse. But hold on, please do not leave with just that understanding, you must understand why this is so. In Hebrew tradition, it was always a correct formality to speak of majesty and kings using the plural out of respect for that royalty. This is why Elohim is used to describe God, out of Majestic respect to God, never was it intended for someone to read the verse with the understanding that the Hebrews were referring to there God as more than One person!!! The Hebrew language is an elementary language that does not compare to the complexity of the English language. Understanding this logic, you must also keep in mind that the Hebrew language does not ../include what we refer to as "pronouns". As you read the above verse, notice that the English line does not ../include conjunctions or pronouns, as this is exaclty how it was written in the orginal language. When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, Latin, and English, the translators used pronouns and conjunctions to correctly give understanding in the respective language. Because ELOHIM is PLURAL, when the translators added pronouns into the scripture, it was necessary for the pronouns added to agree with the tense of the noun that it represented. Therefore, the translators were absolutely correct with the translation using US and OUR as plural pronouns to describe God, however keep in mind that the plurality of Elohim was merely a custom of respect to majesty. Also please read verse 27 which says...
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
If there had been a "trinity" I would have to ask the question which person of God was man created in? The first, second, or third?
Of course this is silly. The answer is simply that God's image was Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14 2 Cor 5:19, Colossian 1:15) an image that God created before the foundation of the world, but did not become a reality until the fullness of time came. (Galatians 4:4). Remember that the Bible says that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world, and that He was the Word with God from the beginning of time. This does NOT MEAN that God was talking to His Son from the beginning of time, It means that God had the plan of Salvation, and the plan of manifesting Himself in flesh before the foundation of the world. It was not until Mary concieved through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Son of God became a physical reality. Before Bethlehem the Son of God was not manifested, but was simply known to His people as the ONLY GOD. Isaiah 63:16.. Thou O LORD are our Father and our Redeemer, and thy name is for everlasting....
Friday, April 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Fall into the hand of the LORD
Luke 21:19
(19) In your patience possess ye your souls.
1 Chronicles 21:1
(1) And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
If we are not careful to keep in our spirit that God is in control of every step of our lives, (even in Tribulation) then we can let the devil “provoke” us, as he did to David, to number Israel. This really spoke to my heart to never ever forget that God is always in control of every detail of life. The fact is that most of His Creation is in blindness to this fact. That is why Paul spoke this:
Titus 3:1-5
(1) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
(2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
(3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
(4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
(5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Part of the renewing of the Holy Ghost must be a realization and fresh awakening of the fact that our lives are “hid in Christ”, the realization that God is in control even if we don’t see it. The washing is to clean us of walking contrary to God, the renewing is the vision and awareness of being completely in His control. (Even before we surrendered to His Will) It is hard to be moved to tears by the goodness of God in our lives, since we committed to Him and even before we did!!!! I think that is so important to live as an example of this pattern, we should be moved to compassion to do good to others, even if we don’t expect an immediate response: JUST TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF OUR MASTER!!! Because we can look back and see Him giving to us BEFORE we ever gave to Him. Our walk and giving of our lives to His Will is reinforced by these examples, so will others do if we use the same pattern to them. If they make the wrong choice that is between them and God! Notice David’s action after Judgment was pronounced:
1 Chronicles 21:11-13
(11) So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee
(12) Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
(13) And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
What a revelation David had of God’s mercy! Certainly it was his experiences as a boy, running from Saul, that made him know the Master this way! This is what a backslider needs to come to the Revelation when he has walked away from God, the hand of man is going to wear them out! The hand of the LORD HAS VERY GREAT MERCIES! David not only believed it, but his actions proved HOW MUCH he believed it:
1 Chronicles 21:22
(22) Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
David was MOVED to REPENTANCE. I can’t say that I see that being out of fear of God, I see it as David believing in His MERCY! That is the most powerful motivator of serving God, people that only serve out of fear can only give so much, but those that are MOVED by His MERCY, have an unlimited amount of resources.
1 Chronicles 21:27
(27) And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Bottle in the midst of Smoke
Psalms 119:83
(83) For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
------
As the bottles in the East are made of skin, it is evident that one of these hung up in the smoke must soon be parched, shrivelled up, lose all its strength, and become unsightly and useless. Thus the Psalmist appeared to himself to have become useless and despicable, through the exhausted state of his body and mind, by long bodily afflictions and mental distress.
------ Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
----
Because, though his affliction was great, yet it had not driven him from his duty, and therefore he was within the reach of God's promise: Yet do I not forget thy statutes. Whatever our outward condition is we must not cool in our affection to the word of God, nor let that slip out of our minds; no care, no grief, must crowd that out. As some drink and forget the law (Pro_31:5), so others weep and forget the law; but we must in every condition, both prosperous and adverse, have the things of God in remembrance; and, if we be mindful of God's statutes, we may pray and hope that he will be mindful of our sorrows, though for a time he seems to forget us.
---- Matthew Henry's Commentary
Surely David is expounding the feelings of the children of God in the midst of life. So much awesome Revelation is coming from the heart of David and is available to us in the middle of our trials. Such strength, such encouragement from the heart of the man after God' heart. David is telling us that he felt like a "BOTTLE in the midst of SMOKE" This is what the NT refers to when it says we are "IN THE WORLD" but not "OF THE WORLD". This is what Apostle Peter exhorted the Church when he said:
1 Peter 2:11
(11) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
The SMOKE is the influence of the world. SMOKE chokes the breath out of people. The danger of house fires is NOT just the fire burning, but the danger of choking and dying from SMOKE inhalation. SMOKE finds a way to get through the cracks. SMOKE leaves it's dirty aroma and contaminates anything nearby. SMOKE darkens the lungs. SMOKE sucks the oxygen out of the environment around it. Doesn't the WORD of GOD give us a really good object lesson of the world. So we are surrounded by this WORLD. We are IN THIS WORLD, but we ARE PILGRIMS. That means we are BOTTLES in the midst of the SMOKE. The danger of this, is if the BOTTLE becomes empty. As long as the BOTTLE is full, the smoke cannot enter it. As long as the BOTTLE is full, breath remains, oxygen remains, SMOKE is refused. The danger is when the BOTTLE becomes empty. Then the smoke darkens it, pushes against the outside of it until the inside of the BOTTLE COLLAPSES. Then the SMOKE begins to invade. The only answer to fixing the collapsed bottle is for the life giving OXYGEN to fill it back again.
Psalms 22:15
(15) My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psalms 32:3
(3) When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Job 30:30-31
(30) My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
(31) My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
Proverbs 17:22
(22) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Psalms 102:3-4
(3) For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
(4) My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
When the BOTTLE collapses, and our heart is smitten, it can absolutely cause you to forget to eat your bread. The Word of God can become distant, our pray life dry, and our vision dim. The key to victory is to remember how good God has been, to begin to meditate on the mercy of God, begin to eat. A sick person always needs to EAT. That BOTTLE must get filled again to push back against the SMOKE.
The REMEDY to re-filling the BOTTLE
Psalms 119:87-88, 92-94
(87) They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
(88) Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
(92) Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
(93) I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
(94) I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Romans 12:1-2
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Isaiah 54:6-17
(6) For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
(7) For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
(8) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
(9) For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
(10) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
(11) O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
(12) And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
(13) And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
(14) In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
(15) Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
(16) Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
(17) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Jude 1:17-21
(17) But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
(18) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
(19) These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
(20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Remember - the kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, but the VIOLENT take it by FORCE. The devil is no match for the Holy Ghost. Greater is HE that is IN ME, than he that is IN the WORLD.
(83) For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
------
As the bottles in the East are made of skin, it is evident that one of these hung up in the smoke must soon be parched, shrivelled up, lose all its strength, and become unsightly and useless. Thus the Psalmist appeared to himself to have become useless and despicable, through the exhausted state of his body and mind, by long bodily afflictions and mental distress.
------ Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
----
Because, though his affliction was great, yet it had not driven him from his duty, and therefore he was within the reach of God's promise: Yet do I not forget thy statutes. Whatever our outward condition is we must not cool in our affection to the word of God, nor let that slip out of our minds; no care, no grief, must crowd that out. As some drink and forget the law (Pro_31:5), so others weep and forget the law; but we must in every condition, both prosperous and adverse, have the things of God in remembrance; and, if we be mindful of God's statutes, we may pray and hope that he will be mindful of our sorrows, though for a time he seems to forget us.
---- Matthew Henry's Commentary
Surely David is expounding the feelings of the children of God in the midst of life. So much awesome Revelation is coming from the heart of David and is available to us in the middle of our trials. Such strength, such encouragement from the heart of the man after God' heart. David is telling us that he felt like a "BOTTLE in the midst of SMOKE" This is what the NT refers to when it says we are "IN THE WORLD" but not "OF THE WORLD". This is what Apostle Peter exhorted the Church when he said:
1 Peter 2:11
(11) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
The SMOKE is the influence of the world. SMOKE chokes the breath out of people. The danger of house fires is NOT just the fire burning, but the danger of choking and dying from SMOKE inhalation. SMOKE finds a way to get through the cracks. SMOKE leaves it's dirty aroma and contaminates anything nearby. SMOKE darkens the lungs. SMOKE sucks the oxygen out of the environment around it. Doesn't the WORD of GOD give us a really good object lesson of the world. So we are surrounded by this WORLD. We are IN THIS WORLD, but we ARE PILGRIMS. That means we are BOTTLES in the midst of the SMOKE. The danger of this, is if the BOTTLE becomes empty. As long as the BOTTLE is full, the smoke cannot enter it. As long as the BOTTLE is full, breath remains, oxygen remains, SMOKE is refused. The danger is when the BOTTLE becomes empty. Then the smoke darkens it, pushes against the outside of it until the inside of the BOTTLE COLLAPSES. Then the SMOKE begins to invade. The only answer to fixing the collapsed bottle is for the life giving OXYGEN to fill it back again.
Psalms 22:15
(15) My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
Psalms 32:3
(3) When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Job 30:30-31
(30) My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.
(31) My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.
Proverbs 17:22
(22) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Psalms 102:3-4
(3) For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
(4) My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.
When the BOTTLE collapses, and our heart is smitten, it can absolutely cause you to forget to eat your bread. The Word of God can become distant, our pray life dry, and our vision dim. The key to victory is to remember how good God has been, to begin to meditate on the mercy of God, begin to eat. A sick person always needs to EAT. That BOTTLE must get filled again to push back against the SMOKE.
The REMEDY to re-filling the BOTTLE
Psalms 119:87-88, 92-94
(87) They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
(88) Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
(92) Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
(93) I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
(94) I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Romans 12:1-2
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Isaiah 54:6-17
(6) For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
(7) For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
(8) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
(9) For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
(10) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
(11) O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
(12) And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
(13) And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
(14) In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
(15) Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
(16) Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
(17) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Jude 1:17-21
(17) But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
(18) How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
(19) These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
(20) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Remember - the kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, but the VIOLENT take it by FORCE. The devil is no match for the Holy Ghost. Greater is HE that is IN ME, than he that is IN the WORLD.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan
Psalms 1:1-6
(1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
(2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
(3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
(4) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.a
(5) Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
(6) For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Deuteronomy 29:2-9
(2) And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;
(3) The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:
(4) Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.
(5) And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.
(6) Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.
(7) And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:
Heshbon
khesh-bone'
From H2803; properly contrivance; by implication intelligence: - account, device, reason.
khaw-shab'
A primitive root; properly to plait or interpenetrate, that is, (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute: - (make) account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work, workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine, impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon (-ing be made), regard, think.
"And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer" (Joshua 21:27 KJV)
(8) And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.
(9) Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
Psalms 135:10-12
(10) Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
(11) Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
(12) And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
Deuteronomy 29:29
(29) The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Tithing – A Spiritual Principle for humanity
1. Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek establishes the principle BEFORE the LAW.
- Melchizedek is a type and shadow of the NT Ministry (Hebrews 7)
- Abraham paid tithe to the Priest BEFORE he was circumcised. (Applies to Gentiles)
- Cain’s offering was cursed because it was not a BLOOD sacrifice, but also because it was NOT the FIRSTFRUIT of his increase. Abel’s offering specifically mentions that his was the firstfruit.
- Adam and Eve could eat of every tree of GARDEN EXCEPT for the one tree (Type and Shadow of the Tithe)
- Jacob continued in the process of the “tenth” in his walk with God (Genesis 28:20-22)
2. Is the tithe (as required by the LAW) required by the NT saints today?
- God owns all, and we are Stewarts.
- The firstfuit is mentioned in Proverbs 3, which is a principle that exists within the LAW of Moses, but is a timeless law just as much as the moral law of God was within the ten commandments.
Proverbs 3:9-10
(9) Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
(10) So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
- When the scripture refers to the LAW being fulfilled, it specifically refers to the ceremonial laws. Colossian 2:16 Paul refers to the meat and drink, holyday, new moon, and Sabbath days. These are fulfilled by Calvary and acted as “schoolmaster” to the people of God until Faith in Jesus’ atonement became a reality. Tithing is a spiritual concept that is intended to be obeyed, just like prayer and the moral law. It is an unchanging principle of the people of God.
3. The rebuke of Malachi to the Levitical Priesthood, does it apply to believers?
-Absolutely, the whole book of Malachi is not just a teaching for the Old Testament, the principles of the PROPHECY apply to the Church without a doubt.
Malachi 1:11 …”my NAME shall be GREAT among the GENTILES”
The message of this prophet is a rebuke to the people of God in Malachi’s time, but it also is loaded with spiritual principles that the GENTILES would take up in the NT Church and provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11), no doubt the tithe and offering is a PRIVELDGE for God to accept, and it being the firstfruit of the Child of God gives Honor and Glory to God and His Church.
Can believers in Christ be cursed?
-Absolutely – Acts 5 look at Annais and Sapphira
Can believers rob God?
-No doubt, the firstfruit of our increase BELONGS to God, taking it for yourself is robbing God. But also the scripture teaches “tithes AND offerings” so therefore, offerings are ALSO belong to God. Tithe is not simply a law, it is the bare essential, it is the reasonable service of a Child of God, it is the measure that God has chosen to set as the requirement. No doubt that times come in our walk with God that we feel led to do more, tithing sets the Church in order and sets a standard so that the ministry can be supported.
4. The tithe belongs to the ministry
Nehemiah 10:37-38
(37) And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
(38) And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
1 Corinthians 9:9
(9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1 Corinthians 9:13-14
(13) Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
(14) Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Paul spoke in 9:15 that he was not writing this for his own profit, and I totally understand his feeling of this. When you are the minister, you do not preach tithes, respect, etc.. for your own gain and that is what Paul is stating. He went on to say that it would be better for him to die rather than use his God given authority for his own gain. This is not something a child of God should put his finger on, once the obedience of giving has been done, it is completely up to the ministry on being good stewards of the offerings of God. Rather Paul chose to give it back or whatever is completely his choice, just as it is today. The sentiment of the “church world” has a bad taste in folk’s mouth because so many false prophets have misled and misused their position and taken offerings that folks gave from a willing heart for their own gain, but they will receive their just due. As a saint of God, it is our duty to be obedient to giving to God and leaving it at that, you do what the Spirit has instructed and should have the attitude that it belongs to the house of God. Also the attitude of not “muzzling the mouth of the ox” should be in our hearts, the saints should desire for the man of God to be well fed and taken care of, which strengthens the ministry. This is profitable for the BELIEVER! Think about this – do you have a problem paying the doctor bill after the doctor does surgery on you? How about the dentist, the CPA, etc… Having a problem with tithing/offerings shows an issue with trust to God and His Church. If you do not believe that your ministry and Church is God led, then you have no business trusting your soul to it, and of course that cuts off the pocket book. The opposite of this is also true, if you trust your soul being fed and your family receiving ministry from the house of God, then your tithe/offering will be unrestricted and coming from the same trusting heart. This operation is for our own good, it is the plan of God for the Spirit led NT Church.
Does the NT still have a Priesthood?
Of course, and no doubt the scripture teaches that Jesus is the High Priest of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
He is the head of Church. (1 Corinthians 11:13) which is his BODY.
He is the only mediator between man and God. (2 Timothy 2:5)
But is an erroneous teaching to not be accountable to a man of God in the NT Church. The plan of God is NOT for the children of God to be led of the Spirit outside of the BODY.
Ephesians 1:22-23
(22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Notice that every statement in the 1st chapter of Ephesians speaks of “we” and “us” and “our” plural pronouns.
Ephesians 1:3 …who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Go on and see that this is addressed to the Church not to an individual. This means the idea of serving God outside of the BODY is a false pre-tense. Just as there was no atonement in the Old Covenant without the tabernacle, there is no atonement in the NT times outside of the BODY. This also goes for the Lord’s prayer… “OUR Father, give US this day, and forgive US, etc….
The New Testament Church has local government and order that is absolutely essential for the children of God to submit to:
Hebrews 13:6-9
(6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(7) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
(8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
(9) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Hebrews 13:17-18
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
(18) Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Romans 13:1-4
(4) For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
(5) Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
(6) For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
(7) Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
1 Corinthians 1:21
(21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Tithes and Offerings are the tribute that is due to the House of God in the New Testament established by the Word of God. When you encounter a true Spirit Led Ministry and Apostolic Assembly that teaches the Apostles Doctrine, these scriptures are not just a teaching of a time gone past, but they will come alive in your life and heart. When we truly say that we want to be Apostolic, it is not only in doctrine, but in Spirit, in attitude, in appearance, and in every aspect of our walk with God.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
First trusted in Christ
Ephesians 1:12-14
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
I have found a 2 fold revelation of this verse -
I do believe it is referring to the fathers of Israel as per Psalm 22
Psalms 22:3-5
(3) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
(4) Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
(5) They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
The Jews trusted in Christ because Christ is God, so therefore that is a powerful statement of Paul's revelation of God in Christ to state that the Jews FIRST trusted in Christ.
I also see the fact that God first TRUSTED in CHRIST. (Which is also Paul quoting from Psalm 18:2 and 22:22 ) and Christ first TRUSTED in God.
Hebrews 2:12-13
(12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Psalm 22:22)
(13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
The revelation I would like to share is that the gospel of eternal salvation manifested through Jesus Christ is completely based up TRUST. God TRUSTED Christ, Christ TRUSTED God. It was the perfect example of TRUST between mankind and God. This is what makes a relationship have that special ring to it, when both parties TRUST one another. It is quite remarkable that the plan of God works through man, which was FIRST done in Christ and then passed to the Apostles. When man trusts God and God trusts man, this is what brings the real anointing and the moving of the Spirit of God.
There is a Biblical example to us as believers of the TRUST between Christ and His Church, it is MARRIAGE. I look up to couples that make it 20, 50+ years together and still have that TRUST for one another. You can tell that they are happy and it affects the rest of the areas of their life when TRUST is in the home. So it is with the children of God that He can TRUST with His gospel, and the children of God that TRUST God without reservation. This is the environment for a strong foundation in the life of a child of God. Without this TRUST the walk with God would be mechanical, just as a wife that does not completely TRUST her husband, the relationship is mechanical.
Notice:
(13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
When a man and wife seal their relationship with marriage vows, etc... it is based on TRUST for one another. The same relationship is between Christ and the Church, which was the TRUST between Christ (man) and God (the Spirit).
Baptism in Jesus name is that MARRIAGE vow in the Spirit. This is why Peter commanded Cornelis to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus after his group received the "sealing" (Holy Ghost).
Acts 10:44-48
The wife takes the name of the husband and then TRUSTS Him.
Cornelius trusted just as the Fathers of Israel trusted, when are dealing with such a lovely and perfect God, it is not hard to TRUST Him. God's plan's for Cornelius were to make him better, the same is for us today.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
(13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(14) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
We serve that same Faithful God... Praise God for His Goodness!
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
I have found a 2 fold revelation of this verse -
I do believe it is referring to the fathers of Israel as per Psalm 22
Psalms 22:3-5
(3) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
(4) Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
(5) They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
The Jews trusted in Christ because Christ is God, so therefore that is a powerful statement of Paul's revelation of God in Christ to state that the Jews FIRST trusted in Christ.
I also see the fact that God first TRUSTED in CHRIST. (Which is also Paul quoting from Psalm 18:2 and 22:22 ) and Christ first TRUSTED in God.
Hebrews 2:12-13
(12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Psalm 22:22)
(13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
The revelation I would like to share is that the gospel of eternal salvation manifested through Jesus Christ is completely based up TRUST. God TRUSTED Christ, Christ TRUSTED God. It was the perfect example of TRUST between mankind and God. This is what makes a relationship have that special ring to it, when both parties TRUST one another. It is quite remarkable that the plan of God works through man, which was FIRST done in Christ and then passed to the Apostles. When man trusts God and God trusts man, this is what brings the real anointing and the moving of the Spirit of God.
There is a Biblical example to us as believers of the TRUST between Christ and His Church, it is MARRIAGE. I look up to couples that make it 20, 50+ years together and still have that TRUST for one another. You can tell that they are happy and it affects the rest of the areas of their life when TRUST is in the home. So it is with the children of God that He can TRUST with His gospel, and the children of God that TRUST God without reservation. This is the environment for a strong foundation in the life of a child of God. Without this TRUST the walk with God would be mechanical, just as a wife that does not completely TRUST her husband, the relationship is mechanical.
Notice:
(13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
When a man and wife seal their relationship with marriage vows, etc... it is based on TRUST for one another. The same relationship is between Christ and the Church, which was the TRUST between Christ (man) and God (the Spirit).
Baptism in Jesus name is that MARRIAGE vow in the Spirit. This is why Peter commanded Cornelis to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus after his group received the "sealing" (Holy Ghost).
Acts 10:44-48
The wife takes the name of the husband and then TRUSTS Him.
Cornelius trusted just as the Fathers of Israel trusted, when are dealing with such a lovely and perfect God, it is not hard to TRUST Him. God's plan's for Cornelius were to make him better, the same is for us today.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
(13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(14) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
We serve that same Faithful God... Praise God for His Goodness!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Mind of Christ
Where does Spiritual Authority come from? Is the Church run by the ability and minds of mortal men? This was the case for the Pharisee's and Sadducee's which earned them STIFF rebukes by our LORD. Who in this world is worthy to judge other men? The answer is no one without the power of Calvary. This is the very point why our LORD had to die at the cross.
Isaiah 59:15-16
(15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
(16) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Revelation 5:4-5
(4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
(5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
However, our LORD also commissioned and empowered His disciples to take this authority so that Truth will prevail and there will be JUDGMENT. This was not intended for man to take upon himself, but this is in fact the repeated cycle in the history and present time of mankind. Many "churches" (as titled so) have folks that are educated, talented, charismatic, perhaps even very sincere, but that does not entitle these folks to take on the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commission of the LORD was given in the gospels (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:44-47, Mark 16:16) however this commission was not ENACTED completely, the authority of Jesus' ministry was not COMPLETELY transferred to the Apostles until the day of Pentecost.
For proof of this we can take the words of Jesus Christ to Simon Peter:
Luke 22:31-32
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Satan is on the prowl to make sure the men that God has chosen to invest His authority in are taken away. He desires to HAVE these men. But these men belong to God, notice that the only way they will not be taken by Satan is that their FAITH FAIL NOT, but also more importantly that they have a CONVERSION. Notice that the conversion is not simply a BELIEF in Jesus Christ. Peter at this point in his walk with God for over 3 years, has eaten with Him, was called the Petros (Rock) and given the keys to the Kingdom PRIOR to this conversation yet the LORD told Peter that His CONVERSION was in the future. This is referring to the day of Pentecost when Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room would be FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. That AND ONLY that is what gives the AUTHORITY of GOD to man, because GOD invested HIMSELF in man. The Holy Ghost is not a concoction of emotions nor some sort of mind control, it is a GIFT from God.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We live in a very carnal world, much like the days of the Noah, and have many examples of even God's people being misled through the History of Israel after the reign of David and all the rebellion that came up in the people. This is the result of carnal minds, and the same has happened to our world today. God does not intend His Church to be run by "brute beasts".
2 Peter 2:1
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:12
(12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
The truth that I have discovered and would like to potray, is that every one of us have this "brute beast" potential inside of us. Therefore, not a single one of us can stand on our own righteousness and declare that our interpretation of scripture is correct and everyone else must bow down to our authority. The LORD was VERY angry at the folks that have taken up this attitude. However, as an Apostolic Church we are scrutinized and accused of this very thought.
I had a discussion with my father about Scripture this week and mentioned to me that God is so infinitely more wise than man, that though man can create a "pun" that may have two or three applications, the LORD's Living Word has much more Wisdom as it has timeless and multiple applications for human beings. This though enlightened my mind and heart and I realized the walk that God has given to my life and how without a doubt the things that I am standing on are not from the heart of man, but indeed are the mind of Christ. I then recalled what Paul said in 2 Corinthians and realized that the Church is only standing if men will get Spiritually Minded, meaning we surrender our thoughts to the greater power. This is how one will received the Holy Ghost by SURRENDERING to the thoughts of God and ALLOWING HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT to control us. This being the case, the LORD is USING men to give HIMSELF to man. This is what Jesus was the perfect example of, and what we as the children of God are striving to maintain. Therefore, the Apostolic Church is in fact God's authority THROUGH man.
This is why Satan desired to have Peter, to steal him and the souls that God would use Peter to disciple, But thank God we know that Jesus didn't give up on Peter, and I thank God that we can say the same thing today. Peter gave Himself to God, and just like Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, when the Holy Ghost came on the Apostles, the SPIRIT was now in multiple bodies. Submitting to this Spirit is how the Apostolic Church was built, and today is the exact same formula.
When you see this right, the Church is DIVINE, you thank God (and today how thankful I am) to have Spiritual leadership that is surrendered to God's Spirit. I also believe that when a seeker becomes sincere and seeks God for help, they will be led to this same path, a man of God will come into their life.
Isaiah 59:15-16
(15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
(16) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Revelation 5:4-5
(4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
(5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
However, our LORD also commissioned and empowered His disciples to take this authority so that Truth will prevail and there will be JUDGMENT. This was not intended for man to take upon himself, but this is in fact the repeated cycle in the history and present time of mankind. Many "churches" (as titled so) have folks that are educated, talented, charismatic, perhaps even very sincere, but that does not entitle these folks to take on the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commission of the LORD was given in the gospels (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:44-47, Mark 16:16) however this commission was not ENACTED completely, the authority of Jesus' ministry was not COMPLETELY transferred to the Apostles until the day of Pentecost.
For proof of this we can take the words of Jesus Christ to Simon Peter:
Luke 22:31-32
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Satan is on the prowl to make sure the men that God has chosen to invest His authority in are taken away. He desires to HAVE these men. But these men belong to God, notice that the only way they will not be taken by Satan is that their FAITH FAIL NOT, but also more importantly that they have a CONVERSION. Notice that the conversion is not simply a BELIEF in Jesus Christ. Peter at this point in his walk with God for over 3 years, has eaten with Him, was called the Petros (Rock) and given the keys to the Kingdom PRIOR to this conversation yet the LORD told Peter that His CONVERSION was in the future. This is referring to the day of Pentecost when Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room would be FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. That AND ONLY that is what gives the AUTHORITY of GOD to man, because GOD invested HIMSELF in man. The Holy Ghost is not a concoction of emotions nor some sort of mind control, it is a GIFT from God.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We live in a very carnal world, much like the days of the Noah, and have many examples of even God's people being misled through the History of Israel after the reign of David and all the rebellion that came up in the people. This is the result of carnal minds, and the same has happened to our world today. God does not intend His Church to be run by "brute beasts".
2 Peter 2:1
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:12
(12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
The truth that I have discovered and would like to potray, is that every one of us have this "brute beast" potential inside of us. Therefore, not a single one of us can stand on our own righteousness and declare that our interpretation of scripture is correct and everyone else must bow down to our authority. The LORD was VERY angry at the folks that have taken up this attitude. However, as an Apostolic Church we are scrutinized and accused of this very thought.
I had a discussion with my father about Scripture this week and mentioned to me that God is so infinitely more wise than man, that though man can create a "pun" that may have two or three applications, the LORD's Living Word has much more Wisdom as it has timeless and multiple applications for human beings. This though enlightened my mind and heart and I realized the walk that God has given to my life and how without a doubt the things that I am standing on are not from the heart of man, but indeed are the mind of Christ. I then recalled what Paul said in 2 Corinthians and realized that the Church is only standing if men will get Spiritually Minded, meaning we surrender our thoughts to the greater power. This is how one will received the Holy Ghost by SURRENDERING to the thoughts of God and ALLOWING HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT to control us. This being the case, the LORD is USING men to give HIMSELF to man. This is what Jesus was the perfect example of, and what we as the children of God are striving to maintain. Therefore, the Apostolic Church is in fact God's authority THROUGH man.
This is why Satan desired to have Peter, to steal him and the souls that God would use Peter to disciple, But thank God we know that Jesus didn't give up on Peter, and I thank God that we can say the same thing today. Peter gave Himself to God, and just like Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, when the Holy Ghost came on the Apostles, the SPIRIT was now in multiple bodies. Submitting to this Spirit is how the Apostolic Church was built, and today is the exact same formula.
When you see this right, the Church is DIVINE, you thank God (and today how thankful I am) to have Spiritual leadership that is surrendered to God's Spirit. I also believe that when a seeker becomes sincere and seeks God for help, they will be led to this same path, a man of God will come into their life.
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