"Your Throne, O God, Is Forever and Ever" ("Fresh" Life From Jerusalem)

"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son...."  (Hebrews 1:1, 2a-- NASB) 

 

The word, "His," as you can see is in italics.  This means that the word is not in the Greek text.  It reads, "has spoken to us in Son."  Later in chapter one, Eternal Father says to Eternal Son, Jesus, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...."  This theology drives the Jew, the Muslim, and humanity crazy with hatred for The New Covenant Faith.  To me, it is our most precious Doctrine. 

 

Many Christians do not grasp the power of The Trinity.  Too many times people refer to Jesus as "the Second Person of the Trinity," and the Holy Spirit as "the Third Person of the Trinity," as though there were some descending order of importance.  Not so.  Son, Jesus, said, "I and Father are One."  The Jews and the Muslims refer to this as polytheism, and astoundingly in many polls over the years, it has been discovered that many Christians also believe their "religion" to be a "three-god" religion.  

 

When I was a college student I read a lot of E. Stanley Jones' works.  I would still highly recommend his writings to anyone interested in "comparative religion" studies.  Jones once liken the relation of Father, and Son Jesus to our thoughts and words.  My thoughts are not separate or different from my words.  My words are my thoughts extended to you, my thoughts made available to you.  This is the relation of Father and Son-----and Holy Spirit.  "But when the Comforter comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."  We can never fully understand this Great Truth, but we can fully enjoy Him Who is Truth!

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, You are indeed, "God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity!"  Amen. 

---

Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.

APF: Back From "The Eternal City"

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  This is the new, life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by means of his death for us.  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's people, let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him.  For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. "

(Hebrews 10:19-22-- NLT)

 

The day before we returned to the States, I took Sarah on the "Western Wall Tunnel" tour.  At one point on this tour, the guide tells people, "You are now 90 meters (about 100 yards) from the site of the original Holy of Holies."  Earlier in the week while sitting among the Jews and reading from Hebrews at "The Wall," I had perhaps the greatest "sense" of the theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews since the time I first read it as a little boy.  No time for details, but this was one of the most "moving" experiences of my life. 

 

One day, while at "The Wall," we ran into an older woman from Australia who was a part of one of the "Aglow" tour groups.  They had gone up to the Temple Mount, but she had to remain behind because she had a shophar with her.  An Israeli security guard told me that the Arabs also do not allow anyone to visit the site if they have a Bible with them.  I thought, "Onward Christian Soldiers!"  Sorry , but this was something new since I was there last, and blood can indeed boil.  At any rate, the woman asked me what I was hearing from the Lord.  I told her that the day before at "The Wall," I was impressed with our text. 

 

While Sarah and I were standing near the "earthly" Holy of Holies this past Sunday, the revelation from the "God-Breathed" Hebrews 13:10-15 passage came to me, "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.  For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.  Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.  Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp (this we then also did, by going "outside" to Golgotha- the sign there reads, "Skull Hill"), bearing His reproach.  For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.  Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God...."  In my 8 missions to Israel I have never experienced such moments.  Quite honestly, I think I could probably now lead quite an effective tour.

 

I wish we would have had a pedometer with us---- up and down the Jerusalem landscape, around the "Old City" walls, back and forth from our flat.  We arrived home this morning around 01:45 really exhausted, but really refreshed and renewed.  I'm sure we will be referring to our trip over the coming days, and Sarah has agreed to write down some of her perspectives for you also.  I have posted the speech which President Bush gave to the Israeli Knesset while we were in Jerusalem on our Blog site:        www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

It is the greatest American commitment which I have heard, surely in recent memory.  It was great to see the speech on Israeli television without all of the American cheap spin on things!

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for revelation which just keeps increasing my awe for You!  "There is none like You!"  Amen.

 

---

Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food.