My studies

Thursday, December 15, 2016

MATT. 12- BEHOLD MY SERVANT
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  Cor.
https://youtu.be/VbG4OqBaEPE Matt. 12- Behold my servant
ON VIDEO
.It’s not a profession
.Where does God actually dwell?
.Is he ‘in’ a book?
.Jesus ministry was different
.Pharisees thought it was about speaking words from a book
.Jesus fulfilled  the words themselves
.Divine direction
.Roots
.Dreams
.Leadership
.Fleshed out letters
.Martin Luther
.Pillar and ground
NEW STUFF [Past links below]
Jesus fulfills the many prophecies written about him in the Old Testament prophets-
Sometimes we can read how/when he fulfilled them- and not really ‘see’ into the way he did it.
In Matthew chapter 12 we read of him healing a man- then as he continues his healing ministry- he tells the people ‘don’t spread the word- keep it to yourself’.
Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
Matthew 12:16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
Matthew 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
The writer tells us he did this so the prophecy of Isaiah might be fulfilled.
But how?
The prophet said
Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Matthew 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Matthew 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Jesus was not about getting the crowds to be attracted to his gifts.
He was different from the religious leaders of his day- who saw their ‘calling’ as the most important thing.
They truly believed serving God was the ‘speaking’ of the words from the Old Testament prophets- and making sure everybody knew that they were called to do this.
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
They wanted the attention- and thought that was what it was all about.
On the other side- you have Jesus- actually fulfilling the prophecies- and as he does it- he fulfils the one that says ‘neither shall they hear his voice in the street’.
Now- we know people heard him- but he was not promoting himself- the works that he did- they witnessed of who he was.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Jn. 14:11
I find it interesting that this style he had- of being meek and lowly- was in fact what the prophets foretold about him.
The apostle Paul taught us the same- when he rebuked the Corinthians for being attracted to the gifts of men.
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Cor. 3
Though Paul and Apollos were used of God- they rebuked the idea that the church should identify with their personas.
Jesus indeed drew a crowd- and some of the people he told ‘don’t tell anyone’- well- they went out and did it anyway.
But there was a stark comparison of the ministry of Jesus and the religious leaders of his day.
Jesus was actually fulfilling the words of the prophets- and the others were simply speaking them.
And they did not realize that it was more than just ‘speaking’- it was about actually doing the right thing- showing mercy to the poor.
He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8
Speaking out- yes- but speaking truth to power- like John the Baptist and Jesus did.
Their message was ‘the Kingdom of heaven is near- be ready’.
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The breaking in of the kingdom of God was a reality- Jesus was the Son who taught us to pray ‘thy kingdom come’.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matt. 6:10
He told us we were to demonstrate this kingdom in radical ways.
Forgiving those who hurt us- going the extra mile-
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Matt. 5:41
Laying down our lives.
Yes- this was a radical departure from what the religion of the day practiced.
And as he avoided the notoriety- there were those who were drawn to him.
He spoke with authority- not like the preachers of the day.
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:22
This core following would spread the word- yes- they did it- after he demonstrated what it meant to truly love-
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
To lay down your life.
The Word did indeed spread-
It spread thru those who followed the example he gave-
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
A selfless life- willing to die for others.
It’s in this demonstration that the church was founded.
Yes- he fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah- in ways that we don’t fully see.

PAST POSTS-
http://www.kztv10.com/story/34018356/missing-plane-passengers-presumed-to-have-crashed-in-alaska-lake  After I made the video- and shared about a plane crash- I id read this. In my dream it was a small plane- the plane crashed just about the time I had the dream.
I quote from these bible books on Toady’s video [Matt. 12] below are the links to my past teaching-
Here’s some past teaching I did on stuff that I mentioned on today’s video-
- At the end of the chapter Samuel both ‘speaks’ the words of the kingdom to the people- and ‘writes’ them down.
In the gospels Jesus is speaking [called oral tradition] and later on his men ‘write’ called the 4 gospels.
The church is founded upon the Word of God- yes- true.
But our Catholic brothers and sisters also speak of the Church as the ‘pillar and ground of the truth’.
This is an actual verse- as well  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  Tim.
Protestants and Catholics debate the issue.
Protestants say ‘no- the bible is the foundation of truth’.
Now- this is true.
But yet- The Catholic position is true too.
Huh?
How can this be?
Because the BIBLE also says the Church [the people of God- all the people of God] is the pillar and ground of the truth.
God has used his people- thru out the ages- to speak the word of God.
We obviously do not have a record of every word God ever spoke thru all of his people.
It even says this in the gospel of John  30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
John
But we do have the inerrant word of God- the bible.
Both Catholics and Protestants believe the bible is the word of God.
But we see in the prophet Samuel- he spoke- and wrote.
We see the same in the ministry of Jesus-
He spoke- his men wrote.
And we see the pattern in the great apostle Paul.
He wrote the majority of the great letters of the New testament- and he also communicated- by word- when he visited the communities he was establishing .
No word of a prophet- if it is a true word- will contradict scripture.
But God does indeed give specific words- detailed at times- thru his prophets.
In the case of Saul- we have the written record.
But in many other cases- we do not.
TYPES-
1- Bread, wine and a sacrifice to come-
 We see 3 men [trinity] with 3 things [bread- baby goats- wine].
In the Old testament- the true sacrifice- the Lamb of God- has not come yet.
In the story of Abraham- he had a ram- and told Isaac ‘God will someday provide a Lamb’.
So- we could say we see a type of the Communion table here.
Bread- wine- and goats- the Lamb is still to come.
2- Two men at the grave.
One of the signs is Saul will see 2 men at the grave of Rachel.
In the New Testament there were 2 angels at the empty tomb- angels are often ‘seen’ as men.



MY LINKS- PAST POSTS- [verses below]

ON VIDEO-
.Was it a fake clock?
.Joan of Arc
.Montanism
.Russia, Syria and U.S.
.Eugenics
.Agincourt
.Planned parenthood

JOAN OF ARC- I mentioned her on the video- and did a document search of my past teaching- and realized I never wrote about her.
So- Joan was part of what we call the mystics- these were Christians who had supernatural experiences with God.
The common life movement was big into this- the most famous being Thomas A Kempis.
I have his famous book ‘the Imitation of Christ’- a classic.
So- Joan was a young Catholic girl who had visions and related some of the things I’m teaching in revelation to what she felt God showed her.
She claimed Michael the archangel appeared to her.
She convinced a prince from France that God told her to fight the English [they raided northern France].
And to everyone’s surprise- she won!
She actually dressed in White armor and road a White horse into battle [all images we see in the book of Revelation].
 Joan was tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake in 1431- at the age of 19.
Yet she remained a popular figure- and the Catholic Church canonized her as a saint in 1920.
BATTLE OF ANGICOURT- One of the more famous battles of the 100 years’ war- Henry the 5th defeated the French in Northern France against great odds.
The use of the Longbow by the English played a major factor giving the reality that the French outnumbered the English.
Yet when it was all said and done England took ground from the French and  France lost around 6,000 men- English troops about 400.
The battle took place on October 25th- 1415.


PAST POSTS [verses below]-
(1375) SOCIAL EVOLUTION- As I have been doing some blogging on other sites over the science of evolution, I thought it would be good to do a little on the philosophical ideas that spawned from it. Many sincere people do not realize the bias that comes along with a full embrace of a purely materialistic approach to life. There once was a woman named Margaret Sanger, she was a strong believer in Evolution and its sister science, Eugenics. Eugenics was an idea espoused by a relative of Darwin that taught  that if you ‘quickened’ evolution by eliminating the so called ‘inferior races’ by human action, that this would advance the purer races faster and man would arrive at his Utopian state quicker. Darwin himself used the Black Aborigines tribes as an example of the inferiority of the ‘lesser races’. He looked at them as an in between race of people who were not fully human [like the white race] but were sort of a mix between man and ape. Anyway Sanger developed this idea to the point we she set up an organization that would assist the inferior races in the rush to eliminating their offspring; less child bearing, the quicker the more noble whites would advance. She received praise from another man who believed in the same principle, Adolph Hitler. After WW2 it became quite unpopular to continue to associate her organization with a megalomaniac who also carried out the same plan with the Jews, so she renamed her organization- today we know it as Planned Parenthood. Now as hard as this is to believe, the facts on this have been out there for many years. This is also why many advocates for minorities are upset that the planned parenthood clinics are located in poor minority areas, they see this as an attempt to get rid of minorities. The point today is the social construct of evolutionary theory has had disastrous effects; from biblical theology [documentary theory advanced by Wellhausen- he taught that the bible followed the ‘evolutionary model’ of mans advance from primitive religions to Monotheism, an idea espoused by the philosopher Hegel] to the public school systems embrace of evolution as the answer to all things from biology to cosmology. When Christians advocate a progressive-theistic evolutionary model, and when they do a worldwide ‘Darwin week’ [like we just did!] we need to also  recognize the social effects of Darwinism as well as the scientific advances that some believe have been made thru the theory.
[parts]
ATHEISM- APOLOGETICS [links added- long version]


https://ccoutreach87.wordpress.com/2016/06/20/history-of-everything-2/


MY RADIO LINKS-
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-7R  Kant, Hume, Sartre
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-6E Apologetics- Kant, Hume
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-62  Apologetics
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-6F  DaVinci code
http://wp.me/a4V5qQ-7Q  Something from nothing- Quantum Leap
MY VIDEOS

[parts]
[1740] THE UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING- PLATO.

I caught a show the other night on Link TV. It was a spin off from this famous Platonic quote- it was called ‘The examined life’.

They interviewed some of the most prominent philosophers of our day. Cornell West, Peter Singer- a few others [I think the name is Singer?] I found it interesting that Singer- who specializes in Ethics- tried to make the case that you really don’t need religion/God in order to do ethics- all you need is to work from the basic principle that says ‘try to treat others like you too want to be treated- and then you will have a foundation for morals’.

Now- I caught the contradiction right away- do you see it? Who is he quoting? This is the great moral principle- given to us by Jesus himself- called the Golden Rule.

This actual principle- in Theology [the study of God] we call Natural/Moral law. The Argument is based on the reality that all people [not animals- Singer- get to it in a moment] have within them this moral compass [Romans 1] and that this in itself is proof that there must be a higher moral being- a transcendent being- who has put it in man.

I just found it funny that Singer- who is supposed to be a prominent atheist/agnostic thinker- would fall flat on his face like this.

Singer advocates for legal Rights for animals- and has also argued that viability of the new born baby should determine its personhood- he says that we should be able to abort babies up until around the age of 1- because they can’t really survive on their own until that age.

Sad.

Okay- why do Philosophy- or Physics- or any other of a number of schools of thought?  Because too often Christians abandon these fields- and then when someone from that field says ‘this is why we don’t need God’ we usually have no answer.

When we think about philosophy- most of us think about the 3 great big shots- Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. While it is true that these guys were the major guys at right around the 5th century B.C.- yet we actually date the beginning point to the early 6TH Century B.C. to a man by the name of Thales.

Thales accurately predicted a solar eclipse in the year 585 B.C. and he gained notoriety because of this. Thales was the first Greek thinker to grapple with the idea that there must be one reality that makes up all things.

He would argue that Water was this element- that contained being and Motion and life. Many of these pre Socratic thinkers were obsessed with the idea of motion- where did it come from?

Thales observed that streams and rivers- and all types of water sources flow- so to him this was a logical source of motion.

This idea- that only one element makes up all reality- is called Monism. Monism is not be confused with Monotheism- the belief in one God- Monism actually leads to another religious view- called Pantheism- the belief that God is everything- and everything is God.

This is not the historic Christian view.

Now- the pre Socratic guys- Parmenides, Zeno, Heraclitus- these guys would challenge Thales view that water was the main thing.

Some said ‘maybe it’s Air’ another said ‘Earth’ and some Fire. These 4 elements [Earth, Air [wind] Fire and Water- are the 4 basic elements of the early Greek philosophers.

We see these things in the naming of musical groups [Earth Wind and Fire] as well as the themes in movies [fantastic 4- based on 4 basic elements- powers].

Now- one of the thinkers said ‘wait- maybe the reality behind all things is not any one of these elements- maybe there is a 5th dimension [another musical name- and also the famous Bruce Willis flick- called the 5th Element] a Boundless being- outside of time and matter- maybe this 5ht element is the foundation for all things.

Of course this view would lead to the more developed view of God that Socrates and his followers would embrace- an early view of God- much like the later Christian view [absent the Trinity].

By the way- the view that 2 or more elements make up all reality is called Pluralism- not to be confused with religious Pluralism [that all religions lead to the same God]. The most common form of Pluralism is Dualism [2 realities equally true] but all non Monists who embrace more than one reality are Pluralists.

Okay- maybe a bit much with the 10 dollar words- but it might spark the interest of some.

The church has debated for centuries on whether or not Philosophy should be taught to Christians. One of the early church fathers- Tertullian- said no- his famous quote is ‘what does Jerusalem have to do with Athens’.

Meaning what does Philosophy have in common with Christianity [Athens- Greece was the seat of philosophy in Jesus’ day].

For the most part- the early church fathers would embrace the study of philosophy- and try to make arguments for the Christian faith by presenting Christianity as ‘thee’ philosophy that best answers the questions of man.

These early Christian thinkers are called Apologists- men like Justin Martyr are in this class.

Apologist is a word we use to describe those who defend the faith- it comes from the Apostle Peter’s letter in the N.T. where Peter says ‘give an answer to those who ask you about the faith’. In the Greek language- the original language the N.T. was written in- this phrase is talking about a defense- an ‘apology’ in the sense of ‘making the case’ not in the common sense of apologizing.

In the book of Acts- chapter 17- we read the famous sermon of the apostle Paul-  given at Mars Hill. He was in Athens at the time- and he was debating with all the philosophers of the day. He tells them ‘as I was looking around town- I saw that one of your altars is addressed to The Unknown God’.

He would go on and declare unto them that this Jesus is the true God- the one raised from the dead.

Paul also said ‘in Him we live and MOVE and have our being’. Kind of a popular verse quoted by preacher’s today- but we often overlook the significance of the MOVE part.

I mean- why say we MOVE in him too? Paul was a smart guy- he knew these children of Socrates questioned where motion came from [Remember Thales?] So he was basically saying ‘I am declaring to you the one true reality- the true 5th Element- the missing God particle from your system’ and he went on and preached Christ- being raised from the dead.

Paul knew that you can’t really do true philosophy- to grapple with the questions of life and being and ‘motion’ without realizing that God is indeed the ultimate answer to all things.

Even Peter Singer- who claimed that you don’t need God or religion in order to do Ethics- even he unknowingly quoted Jesus in attempting to give a basis for his Philosophy- yes- he quoted a God- one unknown to him- just like the altar at Athens- but a God never the less. 

An inescapable 5th element- the missing part to the whole puzzle.
VERSES I QUOTE ON VIDEO-
Matthew 12:9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Matthew 12:11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
Matthew 12:12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
Matthew 12:13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
Matthew 12:16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
Matthew 12:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
Matthew 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
Matthew 12:19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Matthew 12:21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace ispoured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.  Ps. 45:2
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.  Mark 13:11
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  Tim.
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Ps. 50:23
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Ps. 119: 133
I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.  Is. 48:3
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,  Is. 62:6
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;  Is. 54:2
1Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
1Corinthians 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  2nd Cor. 3:17


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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