Wednesday, August 31, 2016

SAMUEL 17
1Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

ON VIDEO-
.Did we land on the moon? [yes- I talk about it]
.Corruption in government
.The valley of Elah
.Sibling rivalry
.Why so mad David?
.Next video- is the earth flat? [I hope you realize this is a joke]
NEW- [past posts- verses below]
Most of us are familiar with this chapter- David fights Goliath.
The Philistines are in battle formation on one side of the valley-
And Israel on the other.
A great warrior from the Philistine’s side comes out and makes a challenge.
‘Instead of both our armies killing each other- just send out one of your guys to fight me- if he wins- we will become your slaves’.
 But if I kill him- ‘you serve us’.
Simple- the idea was not new- it was practiced by the Greeks.
The bible tells us that the army of Israel feared greatly when they heard the challenge.
Not just because Goliath was huge- but because they were men of their word.
The challenge was serious- if they lost- the whole ‘promised land’ thing was over.
So- the giant makes the challenge for 40 days- and no one takes him up on it.
David- still a young shepherd boy- brings some food to the front lines and hears the threat.
He says ‘who does this guy think he is- he’s challenging God’!
His oldest brother hears David saying this- and challenges his motive-
‘Who do you think you are- you just came up to see the fight’.
Remember- his oldest brother was already passed up to be the next king- and David was anointed by Samuel.
So- there is already some friction here.
David turns away- and keeps asking.
The words of David can be misunderstood- sort of like ‘sure- he talks big- but he has nothing to back it up’.
The Corinthians said the same thing about Paul.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.
11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
2nd Cor.
But David meant it- he had a real anger about what the giant was getting away with.
The bible says the zeal for God’s house has ‘eaten me up’.
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. Ps. 69:9
And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Jn. 2:17
Referring to the righteous anger that Jesus also had.
And this type of anointing can be misunderstood- most people do not believe others can have such a determination for a cause- that they would be willing to risk their lives.
Saul hears that there is some guy in the camp who is willing to take up the challenge- and he calls for him.
David shows up-
Saul says ‘you can’t fight him- you’re a kid- and he a man of war since he was a kid’.
David says when he was taking care of the sheep- he killed both a bear- and a lion when they threatened the fold.
And he says God will do the same with this ‘uncircumcised Philistine’.
David is not just making a derogatory statement here- he is saying ‘this guy is not even part of the covenant promise that we have’.
Circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant- and it did carry weight with it.
So- Saul gives the permission- and David is off to meet the challenge.
He put on Saul’s armor- but it was too much for him.
So he stuck with the weapons he was familiar with-
He takes 5 stones from the brook- and goes with a staff and sling.
Often times we make the mistake- and try and imitate others to get the job done.
No- keep it simple- use the tools you are already skilled with- God will do the rest.
As the giant sees David- he too disdains him 'what- you send some kid to fight me- I will feed him to the birds’.
At this point I think David is getting tired of everybody challenging his ability.
David says ‘I come to you in the name of the living God’.
He slings the rock [the average rock for this type of stuff- was about the size of a baseball- and a good ‘slinger’ could sling it at around 100 miles per hour- it was no pebble].
David hits the giant in the head- and he falls face forward- dead.
David has no sword- so he walks up to the giant- takes his sword [which we will read about later in the book of Samuel as well].
He chops the giants head off- and walks away with it- in hand.
‘Wow John- guess the Philistines surrender at this point- right?’
Wrong- they were not men of their word- and fled.
But it made no difference- the army of Saul chases them down and finishes the job.
A few things-
David shows the head to Saul- and then the bible tells us he brought it to Jerusalem.
‘What’s wrong with that John’?
Well- Jerusalem is not the capitol city of Israel yet.
Some people called the Jebusites still had it.
It was a strong fortress city- and David grew up under its shadow.
Bethlehem was about 8 miles away.
Now- David just had a great victory- he was already anointed as king- yet did not hold the official title yet.
How could he have walked up to Jerusalem- still held by enemies- and place the head of the giant there?
And why?
I think David might have been making plans for his capitol.
He knew Jerusalem was rightfully part of the inheritance- and it was a good fortress city.
He might have been sending a message-
‘Look- I just killed some guy with this huge head- and your next’.
And after the Jebusites got wind of the story- they might have ‘allowed’ David to place the trophy on the gate.
Either way David had a great victory this day- all who challenged his motives and skill, including the giant- were proven wrong.
David is now being seen in the eyes of the people as a great leader- even at this young age.
When men of ability rise up in a kingdom- it’s usually a good thing.
After all- you have a great fighter on your team.
But when Kings who are over them- are struggling with their own identity- then it’s not a great thing.
And Saul was one of those types of kings
PAST POSTS-
1st- 2nd Samuel- [video links included]
https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/1st-2nd-samuel/  [Old commentary I wrote years ago]
VIDEO/POST LINKS-
https://youtu.be/iImxoD3cRfQ  Samuel preview

VERSES-
1Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.
1Samuel 17:2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.
1Samuel 17:3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.
1Samuel 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
1Samuel 17:5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.
1Samuel 17:6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.
1Samuel 17:7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
1Samuel 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
1Samuel 17:9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
1Samuel 17:10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.
1Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
1Samuel 17:12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.
1Samuel 17:13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.
1Samuel 17:14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.
1Samuel 17:15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.
1Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.
1Samuel 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;
1Samuel 17:18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
1Samuel 17:19 Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
1Samuel 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
1Samuel 17:21 For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.
1Samuel 17:22 And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.
1Samuel 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
1Samuel 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
1Samuel 17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
1Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
1Samuel 17:27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.
1Samuel 17:28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
1Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?
1Samuel 17:30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
1Samuel 17:31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.
1Samuel 17:32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.
1Samuel 17:33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.
1Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
1Samuel 17:35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
1Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
1Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
1Samuel 17:38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.
1Samuel 17:39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.
1Samuel 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
1Samuel 17:41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.
1Samuel 17:42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
1Samuel 17:43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
1Samuel 17:44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.
1Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
1Samuel 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
1Samuel 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
1Samuel 17:48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
1Samuel 17:49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
1Samuel 17:50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
1Samuel 17:51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
1Samuel 17:52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
1Samuel 17:53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
1Samuel 17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
1Samuel 17:55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
1Samuel 17:56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.
1Samuel 17:57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
1Samuel 17:58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.  Gal. 4:26


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Note- Please do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. I deal with issues at times that it would be beneficial for some of you to download and save the file from the Word Press link. This creates a permanent record. The on-line videos are only good if sites are not hacked- which has happened in the past. Thanks- John.#



8 25 16 Samuel 17

Sunday, August 28, 2016

HEBREWS 10
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Hebrews 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

ON VIDEO-
.Jewish communities in transition
.Leadership
.Pastors
.Scarface
.Cathedral of the mind
.Church unity
NEW- [past links below]
 Ok, I already taught the chapter in context- here it is- https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/hebrews-updated-2015/  .
Context meaning- what does it say to the people the letter was actually written to in the 1st century.
It says this-
The old law had priests and animal sacrifices that kept being made every year.
If those sacrifices- and that earthly priesthood could really take away sins- then they wouldn’t have kept doing it every year.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
That makes sense.
But the fact that in the Old Testament law- they were continually making these offerings- that in itself was a sign of the insufficiency of the whole thing.
Now- Jesus- the High priest of the true tabernacle- heaven itself-
He offered himself one time- and SAT DOWN- at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

The earthly priests ‘stood daily’ meaning it was never finished under their office.
But Jesus SAT DOWN- signifying ‘it is finished’.
The writer also quotes the Psalm [41] and he sees the actual order of the verses in this Psalm as having significance.
He says God said ‘in sacrifice and offering I have no pleasure’ THEN he said ‘ I come’ [speaking of the incarnation- Jesus took upon him a Body]
Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

Speaking of Jesus.
See?
He took away the first- to set up the 2nd [covenant].
Ok- that’s the context.
Now my application [which means making it practical to us].
Often times God permits us to function as pastors- preachers- and yes- just ‘plain’ Christians- for many years in the ‘first office’ [standing all the time- a type of our own human efforts]
Sort of like the priests of the law.
Yet- God wants us to move on- and get to the better thing [church- ministry- etc.] that he has for us.
But in order to get to the 'better thing’ he has to take away the first thing.
That process is usually tough- but necessary.
In the example of Abraham [which I will get to in the next chapter]
He had all his hopes and dreams in Isaac- he knew that was the actual promise of God to him.
Yet- when God says ‘offer him up’ he was willing to do it.
God might be testing you- like he did Abraham- to see if your willing to ‘offer it up’.
The actual ministry you are doing right now.
And when you get to the place where you are willing to let the first go- for the 2nd.
God knows our hearts-
If you mean it- he might say ‘ok- this was a test- don’t actually offer Isaac’.
Or- he might say 'yes- I’m asking you to lay down the ministry you are in now because I have something better for you’.
God simply wants our heart- and when you make the proposition ‘ok- I’ll lay it down if you want’.
It only works if your honest- and trust me- God knows if you mean it or not.
And if he says ‘ok- lets go- I have something better for you’.
Then hang on- because the journey is about to get interesting.
                Note- The contrast of the priests of the law STANDING- with Jesus who SAT DOWN- Is a type of law versus grace.
In the law- they worked to please God- standing [though it never accomplished true righteousness] But in grace- we rest [sitting].
The New testament actually teaches that we are seated with Christ- now –
 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph. 1:20
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph. 2-
Being seated denotes a position of victory-
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Ps. 110
In the verses I pasted above- SAT DOWN- They are the fulfillment of this Psalm.
Notice the expectation of victory-
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
We are also told to have faith and patience- to be able to ‘wait’ for the victory from a position of rest.
Having the faith to know we followed God’s plan- and he will do the rest.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.  Heb. 10:36
PAST POSTS-
. Now, this would eventually lead up to the development of the strong nation states, an independent identifying with your state/region as opposed to being under Rome and the papacy. This type of independence would allow for the 16th century reformation to happen under Luther. If it were not for Frederick the Wise, the regional authority in Germany where Luther lived, he would have never had the protection or freedom to launch his reformation. Luther also had the influence of being a scholar at Wittenberg. Around the 12th-13th centuries you had the first university pop up at the great cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The word university simply meant a co-operative effort from two or more people. It applied to many things besides learning. It was also during this time that the church began to develop a system of harmonizing Christian doctrine; she began to do systematic theology. The writings of the Greek philosophers [Aristotle] were rediscovered after centuries of them being hidden, and the great intellectual Saint Thomas Aquinas would wed Aristotle’s ideas with Christian truth. This became known as Scholasticism. Aquinas believed that men could arrive at a true  knowledge of God from pure reason and logic. But man could not know all the truths about God and his nature without ‘special revelation’ [the bible and church tradition]. All Christians did not agree with Aquinas new approach to Christian truth, the very influential bishop Bernard would initially condemn Aquinas over this. Bernard said ‘the faith that believes unto righteousness, believes! It does not doubt’. The Scholastic school taught that the way you arrive at knowledge was thru the continuous questioning and doubting of things until you come to some basic conclusions. These issues would be debated for centuries, and even in the present hour many argue over the issue of Divine revelation versus natural logical reasoning. Tertullian, an early North Afrcian church father, said ‘I believe because it is preposterous, illogical’ he became famous for his saying ‘what does Jerusalem have to do with Athens’ meaning he did not believe that Greek philosophy should have any part with Christian truth. Origen, his contemporary, believed the other way. So the debate rages on. Why talk about this here? Some believers ‘believe’ in a type of knowledge called ‘revelation knowledge’ they mean something different than the historic use of the term. Historically ‘revelation’ meant that which God revealed to us THRU THE BIBLE, not something outside of the bible. For instance, the first canon of scripture put together was by a man called Marcion. His ‘bible’ contained the letters of Paul and parts of :Luke. He believed the revelation God gave Paul was for us today, not the Old Testament or the historical gospels. He was condemned by the church as a heretic. The point being some took Paul’s writings about receiving knowledge from God as an indicator that what God showed Paul was different than what the church got thru the other apostles. In point of fact the things that God revealed to Paul, or to you or me; all truth is consistent, it will not contradict any other part of Gods truth. Paul’s letters are consistent with the gospels, not in contradiction. When believers cling to an idea that their teachers are sharing ‘special revelation’ or a Rhema word that is somehow above the scrutiny of scripture, then they are in dangerous territory. Paul did appeal to his experience with God as a defense of his gospel, but he backed up everything he said with Old Testament scripture. God wasn’t ‘revealing’ things to Paul that were outside of the realm of true knowable ‘truth’. You could examine and test the things Paul was saying, he wasn’t saying ‘because God showed it to me, that’s why I’m correct’. So in today’s church world, we want all the things we learn and believe to be consistent with what the church has believed thru out the centuries. Sure there are always things that are going to be questioned and true reform entails this, but beware of teachers who come to you with ‘revelation knowledge’ or a ‘Rhema word’ that goes against the already revealed word of truth.
[parts]
THE CAPSTONE
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Zech 4:7
.you are the letter
.Apostles
.Flying the sign?
.Phone- off
.Walk alone too
.What if they teach the bible?
.is it all about a book?
.5 fold ministry
.Peddling the word for profit
PAST POSTS
‘Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom that can not be moved, let us HAVE GRACE, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire’ Though Paul doesn’t say it [I think he should have!] but this alludes to the ‘God’ of Moses day, who did not consume the burning bush, compared to the ‘God’ of today [new covenant] who will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire! This fits in with the theme of a harsher punishment for those who reject the covenant of grace as opposed to those who rejected the covenant of law. I know these themes are not popular, but this is clearly the way Paul is presenting them. I also am not saying the ‘God’ of the Old Testament is different from the ‘God’ of the new [this is the heresy of Marcion! I think that was his name. He was an early Christian heretic who comprised the first canon of scripture for a ‘new testament’ it included basically Paul’s letters, and he taught that The God of the new testament was different from the God in the old] but Paul is presenting the new covenant in a way that says ‘don’t neglect this new way of salvation, those who do will receive a harsher judgment than those who rejected the law’.
END NOTES-
A HEAVENLY CITY.
DON’T BE SAD, HE’S TREATING YOU LIKE A SON.
NO REPENTANCE- OUTSIDE OF CHRIST THAT IS.
CULTURE SHOCK IS HARD ON US ALL.
Once again we see the contrast between ‘he that spoke from earth’ [Moses- the law]- and he that ‘speaks from heaven’ [Jesus covenant is more strict- to those outside of it and reject it- because he has heavenly authority- Moses had earthly]. Hebrews 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

The writer says ‘don’t be sad- God disciplines every son who he receives’- though this certainly applies to Christians- Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Hebrews 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Remember this- though the message of grace and Jesus as the Messiah is wonderful- especially to us Gentile believers-
Yet- it was indeed a cultural shock to the 1st century Jew-
Why?
Even though Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophets- yet in order for the Jewish person to accept this [Like the apostle Paul]
He had to accept a real cultural change in the religion he practiced from his youth-
He was being asked to stop the animal sacrifices- to ‘move on’ from the Law covenant- and to embrace Christ.
Now- in reality- it would be the fulfillment of all that was contained in the law- but it’s often hard for anyone to ‘move on’ from former religious practices that are embedded in his culture.
So- in context ‘Don’t be sad- God is disciplining you- showing you new stuff- and it’s tough for sure- but he does this with all the sons he receives’.
We also see the promise of the heavenly city- As opposed to the earthly one. Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

The writer is speaking about the church- and how both Jew and Gentile are part of this spiritual
[parts]
A few years back I did an on-line teaching about the other books that never made it into the bible.


Many years ago I bought some of these- and when you study church history and theology- well- these are an aspect of that type of teaching.


So I commented on them- gave the reasons why we don’t have them in our bibles.

But I also said that when I read some of them- I have found some are actually quite good.



One of my favorites is called the Epistle of Barnabus.


But there are others as well.



Some in the early church actually had a couple of these that were included in some of the early bibles- others were never given a 2nd thought.



By the way- in this field of study- I come down of the conservative side.

That is I don’t hold to the ideas of men like Bart Ehrman- the more liberal scholars.


They seem to give more credence to the books that never made it into the canon- and cast too much doubt on the bible we have today.

Anyway- the few that I do lile- when I re-read them as the years go by- there have been times when God did speak to me.



Here’s one.


As my prayer time developed into this inclusion of dead folk [above].

I felt much more awareness of my friends who have died- as being amongst us during prayer.


Now- I don’t ‘pray to them’ but I have a greater sense of praying ‘with them’.  I mention their kids and all- because these guys- some- were actually friends of mine- who came to my church meetings I started years ago.


So- I painted a spot on my wall- it was dedicated to this group.


I simply wrote a few things- stuff that reminded me that these were those who have gone on- and are yet ‘here’.


Sort of like my ‘friends in prison’ type of thing.


Prison represents those who have died- and we are not so sure where they are- to be honest.



I’ll explain it in a moment.



So- right after I painted this little altar area- I read in one of the ‘lost books of the bible’ [I think it was in the Revelation of St. Peter?].

It said ‘have you preached to the spirits in prison yet’.


Meaning- have you included those who have died yet- have you yet ‘learned this’ son?


That was the type of sense I got.


As I read the verse- I simply said ‘yes’.


Now- I do know the source is from one of the early books that is not in the bible.


But this reference- even if it is a copy- or a fake- does come from our bibles as well.


It’s in the letter of Peter [I think 1st Peter 3?]


And it’s one those texts that scholars haggle over.


But Peter is speaking about some who died before the days of the world wide flood [Genesis 6].

And he refers to these dead people hearing the gospel- by Christ himself- after he died and rose again.


And they are called ‘the spirits in prison’.


So- that’s the same thing I felt/understood as I began seeing those who have gone on- well- they are still with us in a way.



Yeah- in a few minutes I will post little Niko’s picture up on my wall.


I’ll look at it as time goes by- as I see all my friends- both living and dead- and I will read his words.


‘Today I have to go- don’t worry’.

Yes- Jesus said out of the mouths of babies thou hast perfected praise.

You think?

[parts]
END NOTES [I posted the video for this portion a few days ago- it goes along with Hebrews 7-9 video/post] The past few weeks I had a few friends ask me about the Dead Sea Scrolls- and a few other questions about the ‘lost books of the bible’ and some other common- and mistaken ideas [like the original sin being Eve had sex with the serpent].
So- I figured I would cover a little Jewish history- which would help in this study of Hebrews-
And also hit on a few of these subjects.
As we read Hebrews- it helps to also understand some of the history that we don’t have in our bibles [though the Catholic bibles do have some of it in the Apocrypha].
Ok- the ruling empire at the time of Christ was Rome- just prior to the appearance of Jesus- the Roman Emperor- Caesar Augustus- consolidated the Roman Empire under his rule-
Rome was ruled by a senate- some famous names from history were in it- Cicero being one.
Caesar Augustus was the nephew of Julius Caesar- his real name was Octavian [Octavius].
After the death of Julius Caesar- there were some power struggles that took place- between some other famous people.
Marc Antony being one of them [Cleopatra too- he was in love with the girl for sure].
Now- we read about Augustus in the New Testament- and we read in the book of Revelation about the Mark of the Beast- and that those who don't worship- give homage to the Beast- they will be killed.
So- Many Christians would be killed because they would refuse to give homage to Caesar Augustus [meaning son of the Divine].
‘Wow- how did he get a name like that’ [there was more than one Caesar by the way- as well as more than one Herod- who did play a part in these power struggles- it can get confusing- even to me].
When Octavian defeated Marc Antony at Actium [32 BC].
Herod [The Great] had a problem- he had previously sided with Antony and found himself on the losing side.
Yet he was smart- did some ‘brown nosing’ as we say-and patched things up.
Herod had 3 sons- who would eventually take positions of authority in the Roman government at the time of Christ.
Herod Antipas was over the region that we read about in the New Testament where Jesus did most of his ministry- Galilee.
Ok- Octavian claimed deity because of a heavenly sign associated with his rise to power- and this is how he became called ‘Caesar Augustus’.
He sort of saw himself as a   ‘re-incarnate’- of his great uncle Julius Caesar.
‘John- what in the heck does this have to do with the Dead Sea Scrolls’.
Ok- good question.
The Jews had various responses to the empires that ruled over them during various times.
Alexander the Great instituted Hellenization- a sort of cultural compromise over the people he conquered.
They could keep their religious/cultural roots- but would be subservient to Alexander and Greek rule.
Some Jewish people rejected any compromise- we call them the Essenes- they moved out of town- so to speak, and lived in what we refer to as the Qumran community.
This was a few centuries before the time of Christ- and this was where the Dead Seas Scrolls were found in the 20th century.
A Bedouin boy was looking for his goats- threw a rock in a cave right off the Dead Sea- and that’s how we found the scrolls.
The scrolls might have been hidden there by the Essenes-
Now- when my friends asked me about them- I told them that it’s been a while since I read up on any of this- but to the best of my memory the thing that made them significant was the fact that they were very old manuscripts- from the bible- and they backed up what we had had all along.
I did read up this week- and basically had it right.
The earliest Hebrew manuscripts of the Old Testament we had previously dated back to around 900- 1000 A.D.
These manuscripts went back about 1000 years earlier- and they contained portions from almost every book of the Old testament- and some complete books.
The only book missing was Esther.
So- this was indeed a very significant find for scholars.
But the Scrolls also contain some of the writings from the Essenes themselves- things we never had before- so this too was significant.
There were Jews at the time of the first century who tried to ‘get along’ with Rome- and with the person in charge of their region [one of the sons of Herod the Great at the time of Christ].
These are referred to as Herodian’s in the bible.
Some wanted a revolution to rid Rome from Jerusalem- these were the Zealots [one of Jesus disciples was in this group].
Some thought if they returned to a legalistic obeisance of the law- that this would bring in a deliverer- like the stories we read about in the Old testament- these were the Pharisees.
And some took more of a political compromise- these were the Sadducees.
Eventually a war with Rome would be fought [By the way- Josephus- the famous 1st century historian- fought on the side of the Jews in the war- and after Jerusalem was sacked in A.D. 70- he went to Rome and wrote his great works- thinking he would make a case for the Jewish people with the Romans. This is why we have his works today- which are very valuable to scholars].
NOTE- In time I’ll try and cover how we ‘got our bibles’ [called the Canon- meaning Rule/ Measurement].
Frankly- there is a lot of confusion in the general public about conspiracies [like the Catholic Church had some type of plot to keep certain books out].
Or stories about how the Church taught Mary Magdalene was a prostitute so they could discredit her.
Actually- we read in the gospels that Jesus cast out ‘spirits’ from a woman who was probably living this type of life-
And Jesus had a ministry to the down and out- it is indeed possible that Mary was one of these women-
And if true- it would not demean her in any way-
That’s how this tradition more than likely developed- But- we don’t know for sure.
So a few years back the Church officially said ‘we don’t know’.
Ok- Plot?
No- just being careful.
So there are other misguided beliefs like this- that sincere people have- and over time I hope to get to them.
I’ll do one more in keeping with this post.
I mentioned above that Caesar Augustus did indeed take the title of ‘son of God’.
And some critics of the Church say ‘see- there were all types of religions that had Sons of God’.
I watched one show a few years back- and it stated that these religions had ’12 disciples- a leader named Lord and Savior- and he healed and claimed to be God’s Son- and rose from the dead’.
Ok- that show was ‘fibbing’ to put it lightly- they went too far [historically speaking] in trying to diminish the Christians claim of Christ by doing this.
Now- is there some truth to this at all?
Yes- like I just mentioned above- Octavian did indeed claim deity- a ‘son of god’.
So- how do we explain this?
In the book of Galatians the bible says ‘in the FULLNESS of times God sent forth his Son’.
Jesus came at a set time in history- in fulfilment of the Jewish Prophets- to be who he was- and to do what he did.
Now- this is not special pleading here- but I find it a masterpiece that God’s Son came at a time when the Roman Empire had one sitting on the throne- who too claimed deity.
Yet Jesus was in a region of the lower class- his men were not highly educated- and his followers were people under oppression.
Augustus lived in the wealthy and influential capital of ‘the world’- he had all you could ever ask for- he was worshiped as a god.
Yet in 3 short centuries- one of the heirs of the empire- Constantine- would have an experience – not with a former Caesar- but with a vison of a Cross-
He would convert to Christianity- and declare Christianity to be the religion of the realm.
[parts]


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Note- Please do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. I deal with issues at times that it would be beneficial for some of you to download and save the file from the Word Press link. This creates a permanent record. The on-line videos are only good if sites are not hacked- which has happened in the past. Thanks- John.#






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8 24 16 Hebrews 10

Saturday, August 27, 2016

SOME FRIENDS-
Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?  Ps. 1
https://vimeo.com/180408431  Bobby and Shakky
ON VIDEOS-
.The door blew open
.Black Sabbath
.Charles Manson
.Jesus Christ super star
.Healed from leprosy? ‘take 2’
.Is this how Bobby’s ex found him?
.Jimmy saw the country star!
.Angola prison
.Men and Leopards
.The Black bishop

NEW-
These videos were off the cuff- taken over a couple of days.
But you can see a theme- that the guys brought up on their own.
I added a few verses that relate [below].
You have seen some of the guys before-
Doing well-
And not so well.
I never planned on making any videos from the start.
In 2014 when I was in North Bergen- I just started making a few- from an old phone/camera-
And over time it became part of the ‘community’-
So- hopefully you can gain some insights into ‘real life’.
Many of the stories of people who have been on the road to recovery- then messed up- you hardly ever get to hear from them again.
I have had friends in AA- when their relatives relapsed- they told me ‘I will not speak to them again- and whenever they want to talk- I will offer them the program- and if they say no- that’s it’.
I felt that was strange- because in one case- a father told me this about his son.
Because his sponsor gave him that advice.
So- hopefully you can benefit from all of their stories- the good- the bad-
And at times- the ‘ugly’.
ONE MORE- I added this note right before I post.
I realize it’s possible for some who are very into AA- to say ‘see- all of the people John is trying to help- thru Christianity- have relapsed’.
First- that’s not true.
One of our first ‘church members’- in Kingsville- who had a long prison record [drugs] is doing great- has been free for many years.
Got his degree- while in prison- and is a counselor for the County [working with other ex- cons].
Second- we should not try and evaluate the authenticity of any movement- based on one person [Like- let’s see if John ever relapses].
I have said this many times- if you look at the history of recovery- over thousands of years [yes- Noah got drunk!]
The recovery rate for those ‘in the church’- meaning they found God- is actually higher than AA.
Now- some of my AA friends were shocked when they heard this [the recovery rate in AA is about 7 %- 10 % -about the same as other addiction recovery treatments].
So- I refer those who are not aware of all of the other statistics- to read more into it- to learn more about the entire field.
Third- Jimmy was doing AA- Shakky did try it [at first he told me he never was in it- but later I found out he was].
I don’t think Bobby ever tried it.
Actually Jimmy avoided me at one point- because he knew I was not ‘into AA’.
I think a sponsor might have told him that.
He relapsed a while back- while doing the program.
So- none of this is simply ‘John’s view’-
The Christian ‘movement’ has been bringing people to recovery for hundreds of years before AA was around.
This is not my point of view- it’s documented fact.


VERSES-
Isaiah 54:16 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.
Isaiah 54:17 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.
[Funny- Jimmy brought up this verse and I quoted it.
 This morning- as I was reviewing the videos and adding the notes-
I took a break to read my morning chapter- I have been reading one chapter a day in Isaiah- and sure enough- the verse was in this morning’s chapter- Isaiah 54]
 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Matt. 10:28
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  1st Jn. 4:18
Isaiah 54:1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
Isaiah 54:3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Isaiah 54:4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.  Is. 48:10
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Gal. 5:22

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Note- Please do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. I deal with issues at times that it would be beneficial for some of you to download and save the file from the Word Press link. This creates a permanent record. The on-line videos are only good if sites are not hacked- which has happened in the past. Thanks- John.#