"The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out." (Lev. 6:13)
You probably know of the book, The Practice of the Presence of God; my Dad was the one who introduced me to it. Notice the title. It was the writer's intent to "practice" being aware and communicating with the Lord God as constant as possible, when in set times of prayer, when at the kitchen sink, when in the garden.
I know most people are probably getting tired of my "presence-theology"-bashing, but it needs it. If you listen to many, you get the idea that they are living in the Old Testament dispensation, viz., the high priest could only enter the, "Most Holy Place," once a year, the "morning and evening sacrifice," encountering God in, "the tent of meeting," etc. The modern, enslaving and very limiting version is church meetings, wonderful worship gatherings, special people who "their worship really brings us into the presence." Lord, Help us.
When Jesus died on the Cross, however, all of that was broken, as in, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His Spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom...," notice, "from top to bottom." God did it, not you nor I nor anyone, only the Living Triune God could. Someone once said that the renting of, "the veil of the temple," was not so much to let us "in," but to let God "out." Well, of course, both are true, and man's broken fellowship with His Creator was restored in the Blood of Jesus; in Jesus there is no more "veil" of separation. Both "in" and "out" emphasis reveal that there was no longer presence-encounter once a year, or morning and evening, or a particular "location," but "Presence-Enjoyed" 24/7/365, whenever, wherever you and I so choose to avail ourselves of the Blessed Trinity. The Presence of the Living Triune God is, "The fire...; it must not go out"------------- "Practice."
Right now as I write this, and right now wherever you are, on your computer, phone, wherever and whatever, we can say, affirm and live, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain (veil), that is, His Body, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience....Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Eternal Flame of Presence, "Bread of the Presence," Jesus, "....bread of life," burn on in me. Amen.
**********************
* David's Tent Report & more on the Crisis in Europe at: jhs58.blogspot.com
You probably know of the book, The Practice of the Presence of God; my Dad was the one who introduced me to it. Notice the title. It was the writer's intent to "practice" being aware and communicating with the Lord God as constant as possible, when in set times of prayer, when at the kitchen sink, when in the garden.
I know most people are probably getting tired of my "presence-theology"-bashing, but it needs it. If you listen to many, you get the idea that they are living in the Old Testament dispensation, viz., the high priest could only enter the, "Most Holy Place," once a year, the "morning and evening sacrifice," encountering God in, "the tent of meeting," etc. The modern, enslaving and very limiting version is church meetings, wonderful worship gatherings, special people who "their worship really brings us into the presence." Lord, Help us.
When Jesus died on the Cross, however, all of that was broken, as in, "And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His Spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom...," notice, "from top to bottom." God did it, not you nor I nor anyone, only the Living Triune God could. Someone once said that the renting of, "the veil of the temple," was not so much to let us "in," but to let God "out." Well, of course, both are true, and man's broken fellowship with His Creator was restored in the Blood of Jesus; in Jesus there is no more "veil" of separation. Both "in" and "out" emphasis reveal that there was no longer presence-encounter once a year, or morning and evening, or a particular "location," but "Presence-Enjoyed" 24/7/365, whenever, wherever you and I so choose to avail ourselves of the Blessed Trinity. The Presence of the Living Triune God is, "The fire...; it must not go out"------------- "Practice."
Right now as I write this, and right now wherever you are, on your computer, phone, wherever and whatever, we can say, affirm and live, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain (veil), that is, His Body, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience....Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He Who promised is faithful."
Father, in Jesus' Name, Eternal Flame of Presence, "Bread of the Presence," Jesus, "....bread of life," burn on in me. Amen.
**********************
* David's Tent Report & more on the Crisis in Europe at: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
