The Surface or the Depths?

"Then one from the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.'  But He said to him, 'Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?'  And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness....'" (Luke 12:14)

 

The man in our text wanted to deal with the immediate, the surface.  Jesus was after the depths of life, the healing of the soul.  If you follow closely the teachings and work of Jesus, you will see that no person is excluded from judgment, and no person is excluded from mercy.  The Biblical premise is always, "All have sinned and come short...."  You get no break based on gender, ethnicity, race,  economic status, or temper tantrums.  Our Living Triune God is out to save us, not spoil us. 

 

I have heard people "take sides" with the prodigal and his brother.  But Don Basham referred to them years ago as the prodigal who left and the prodigal who stayed at home.  There may be on the surface of things what appears to be an injustice with the prodigals and the "man" in our text.  But Jesus does not deal with surface issues.  Jesus goes to the depths of our lives, "for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God-- piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  What He says to us and does in our lives may not always seem "fair," but it will be redemptive.  It will conform you and me to the Image of Jesus Christ -------------------------------------------- save our lives.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be more concerned about Your work in me than getting my way.  Amen.

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"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. 

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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.

 

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"Three Are Even Better"

"And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other.  But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Eccl 4:11, 12-- NLT)

 

During the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) in mid December 1944 the weather was atrocious.  Many of the American troops were able to survive by applying our text.  They would curl up together sort of like a puzzle.  Their combined warmth saved their lives.

 

The last time I read our text I was particular impressed with the "triple-braided (three fold) cord."  There are times in conversation and life in general that we do not always agree with others.  That's Okay.  But it must never affect our love for and commitment to each other.  And neither must it affect our unity.  Our text is Biblical Theology "101."  Whether it's prayer, prophecy, the "latest word," decisions, or direction, the "triple-braided cord" is our safety net.  Never just rely on what someone else is "hearing," or what you and your small group are hearing.  Bring it all together under the "God-Breathed" Word, and together we will hear what the Lord Jesus Christ is saying "to the Churches."

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to do all I can to strengthen the "triple-braided cord."  Amen. 

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