Something that made me think a lot...

Something that had never occurred to me really made me stop and think this Easter weekend.  
 
In Israel, on Passover, the high priest, the person appointed by God to make the atoning sacrifice of a spotless lamb in the temple.

To outline his job for the day of atonement, which completed the Passover feast, what Christians refer to as Good Friday, the day that Christ died on the cross, I will give you the outline from bible.org.

"From all appearances, the rituals outlined in our text do not begin the day’s activities for Aaron, but come after the exercise of some of his regular duties. The day would seem to begin as usual with the offering of the morning sacrifice, the burnt offering of a one year old lamb (cf. Exod. 29:38-42; Num. 28:3-6). After these duties were performed, the High Priest would commence the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement, as prescribed in our text:⁷⁰

(1) Aaron was to take off his normal priestly garments, wash, and then put on the special garments which were prescribed for the sacrifices which took him into the holy of holies (v. 4; cf. Exod. 28; 39).

(2) Aaron secured the necessary sacrificial animals: a bull for his own sin offering and two male goats for the people’s sin offering; two rams, one for Aaron’s and the other for the people’s burnt offering (vv. 3, 5).

(3) Aaron slaughtered the bull for his own sin offering (vv. 6, 11).

(4) Before entering into the Holy of Holies with the blood of the bull, Aaron had to create a “cloud” of incense in the Holy of Holies, covering the mercy seat, to “veil” the glory of God so that he could enter in (vv. 12-13). The best approximation to this in my experience is what a bee-keeper does, smoking the hive of the bees, before he begins to remove the honey. In the case of Aaron, he was to offer only the prescribed incense so as to create an obscuring veil of smoke, thus dimming the glory of God’s presence and sparing his life.

(5) Aaron then took some of the blood of the bull and sprinkled it on the mercy seat seven times (v. 14).

(6) Lots were then cast for the two goats, to determine which would be slaughtered and which would be driven away (vv. 7-8).

(7) The goat for slaughter, the goat of the people’s sin offering, was sacrificed, and its blood was taken into the Holy of Holies and applied to the mercy seat, as the bull’s blood had been (v. 15).

(8) Cleansing was then made for the holy place (v. 16), seemingly by the sprinkling of the blood of both the bull and the goat. The atonement of the holy place is done alone, without anyone present to help, or to watch (v. 17).

(9) Next, outside the tent, Aaron was to make atonement for the altar of burnt offering,⁷¹ using, it would seem, the blood of both the bull and the goat (vv. 18-19).

(10) Now the second goat, the one which was kept alive, had the sins of the nation symbolically laid on its head, and was driven from the camp to a desolate place, from which it must never return (vv. 20-22).

(11) Aaron then entered the tent of meeting, removed his linen garments, washed, and put on his normal priestly garments

(12) The burnt offerings of rams, one for Aaron and his family and the other for the people, was now offered (v. 24)

(13) The earlier sacrifices of the bull and the goat were completed. The fat of the sin offering was burned on the altar (v. 25), and the remains of the bull and the goat were taken outside the camp, where they were burned (v. 27).

(14) Those who had been rendered unclean by handling the animals on which the sins of Aaron or the people were laid were to wash themselves and then return to camp (vv. 26, 28)."

The problem on the day that Christ died, is that Caiaphas the high priest that year is that instead of being at the temple performing the duties of a high priest, he spent most of the day with Pilate, the Roman governor, to ensure the death of Jesus, a man he saw as being a blasphemer, claiming to be equal with God.  Instead of overseeing the sacrifices of that sacred day-the bulls, goats, and lambs that covered the sins of the people, he was overseeing the death of the Lamb of God, the perfect, spotless Lamb.  While appearing to neglect his God-given responsibilities, he was actually overseeing the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb whose blood would totally take away sins.

Just a thought from a poor beggar.
http://bible.org/seriespage/day-atonement-leviticus-16 

 

What does the shield of faith really mean?

Something that has been dwelling on my mind quite a lot recently is the question: what is the armor of God; in particular what is the shield of faith?

 ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Ephesians 6:10-17

When we people of 21st century western culture think of the Christian armor, he thinks of the knight in shining armor, riding in on his white steed, or standing alone on a hill, wielding his mighty sword.

This just isn't the case.  When Paul wrote the verses describing the armor, in particular the shield, both he and his reader would have had a very different mental picture.  The reader in Paul's day would have pictured one of two things: the Greek phalanx,

or the Roman legion.

These units find their strength in their unity.  They are strong because they fight as one. 
I know this is the idea that Paul is trying to convey for the Christian for a few reasons. 
1. Because of what has been mentioned, the historical context of the Greek and Roman armies. 
2. Because Paul speaks on the armor of God right after speaking on unity in the church and working together as members of the body, as slaves and masters (employees and bosses in our context), husbands and wives, and children and parents.  He goes straight from that discussion to the discussion on spiritual warfare and the armor of God.
3. Because of a principle taught in Ecclesiastes 4

⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.   
¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!  
¹¹ Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?  
¹² And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
  
So what is the point?  We must learn that when Paul is talking about the armor of God, he isn't talking about individuals fighting sin as is so often proclaimed from pulpits across America today.  The preachers say that, "You have been called to fight sin," or, "You need to take up the whole armor of God."  When in all reality, they should be crying out: "We must take up the armor of God.  We must fight sin together."  It is our unity that gives us strength.

He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions

 ^{Isaiah 52:13-53:12}

¹³ Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
    he shall be high and lifted up,
    and shall be exalted.
¹⁴ As many were astonished at you—
    his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
    and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
¹⁵ so shall he sprinkle many nations;
    kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which has not been told them they see,
    and that which they have not heard they understand.

 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
² For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
³ He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
⁹ And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
    he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
¹¹ Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous,
    and he shall bear their iniquities.
¹² Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

What does it mean for God to be good?

Often humans ask the question: How can a good God allow such bad things to happen to good people?  At first glance it seems to be a valid question.  For example, why would a God who claims to love the Jews allow them to be one of the most hated races to ever walk the earth?  Why would He allow more than 9,000,000 of them to die at the hands of the Nazi's?  Allow them to be thrown from their lands for thousands of years?  Why would He allow millions of people, about half of the worlds population to be killed by the Black Death?  Why does He allow men to kill other men, or to sexually exploit others?  Every day the news is filled with stories of a world gone crazy: murder, rape, theft, and on and on and on.  Why does He allow these things?  Can He truly be good?  Do these charges make His word false?  NO!!!

Instead we should ask: Why does a good and holy God allow good things to come to wicked people?  When we first hear this statement, many of us, if not all of us probably would become offended.  But take a moment to examine yourself, not as you see yourself, but as God sees you.  You think of yourself as good because you do good things, helping those who are in need, maybe going to church, perhaps by getting baptized.  God sees you as you are: a rebel to Him.  He sees you, apart from the blood of Jesus, an evil, repugnant person.  Nothing that you can do will EVER gain you favor with God.  Instead, as Isaiah explains "We have all become like the unclean; all our righteous deeds are like a menstrual rag. All of us wither like a leaf; our sins, like the wind, carry us away"(Isaiah 64:6 Common English Bible).

I love what John Piper said on this topic in his blog on December 27, 2012.
"Where was God in 2012?

• Where was God when nine million planes landed safely in the United States?
• Where was God when the world revolved around the sun so accurately that it achieved the Winter solstice perfectly at 5:12 AM December 21 and headed back toward Spring?
• Where was God when the President was not shot at a thousand public appearances?
• Where was God when American farms produced ten million bushels of corn, and 2.8 million bushels of soybeans — enough food to sell $100 billions worth to other nations?
• Where was God when no terrorist plot brought down a single American building or plane or industry?
• Where was God when the sun maintained its heat and its gravitational pull precisely enough that we were not incinerated or frozen?
• Where was God when three hundred million Americans drank water in homes and restaurants without getting sick?
• Where was God when no new plague swept away a third of our race?
• Where was God when Americans drove three trillion accident free miles?
• Where was God when over three million healthy babies were born in America?

Here are a few of the answers given by God himself in his word.
1. God was reigning from his throne to do his sovereign will.

“Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” (Psalm 115:3)
“He works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11)

2. God was reigning from his throne to prevent much sin and harm in the world.

“God said to [Abimelech, the king of Gerar], it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.” (Genesis 20:6)
“You know what is restraining [the man of lawlessness] now.” (2 Thessalonians 2:6)

3. God was reigning from his throne to give a witness to his goodness and his patience.

“God did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17)

4. God was reigning from his throne to summon the world to repentance.

“Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

So as the year ends, I bow my head as an undeserving sinner, amazed that I have not been swept away. And even more, that because of Jesus, I am forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and destined for eternal life.
God has been good to us. And his best gift is the one that will be there when all the others fail. Jesus, crucified, risen, reigning."

Remember before you ask where God was when tragedy strikes, ask yourself, why He has held back His hand every other day.  You deserve God's wrath, but He gives grace!  As Flyleaf, one of my favorite bands said in the song Cassie: "Don't be shocked that people die, be surprised you're still alive."
 

Will the real Patrick please stand up...

Wow... this is late! I started this post on Saturday before St. Pats, but didn't finish it till now.  Better late than never I suppose.

When we think of St. Patrick's Day what instantly hits the average person?  Parades?  Green beer?  The Chicago river dyed green?  Leprechauns, pots of gold and four leaf clovers?  All of these have nothing whatsoever to do with Patrick.

The real Patrick is hard to track down because of the legends that surround him, but what follows is one of the likely truths.

In the late 300's AD in Scotland, Maewyn Succat, the son of Roman officials was captured by Irish pirates and taken back with them and sold into slavery. For six years Maewyn served a man by shepherding his sheep out in the wilderness.  It was there that Maewyn developed a relationship with the God of his father, Jesus Christ.  In the countless hours spent alone in the wilderness tending the flock of his master, he prayed for release.  At the end of six years, Maewyn had a vision from God telling him to journey over 200 miles to the coast where he would find a ship to return him to his home.  Maewyn followed the heavenly instructions and indeed there was the ship that took him home.

After arriving again in Scotland, Maewyn became a priest, some think he even went to Rome for education.  After he completed his training, again he received a vision.  He heard the voices of the Irish begging for him to return and help them.  Maewyn changed his name to Patrick and he and a group of priests journeyed to Ireland again.

Ireland at this time was totally controlled by the Druids, an order steeped in the occult, even practicing human sacrifices.  When Patrick arrived, he went strait to the King and presented his case.  After several years of working, the King of Ireland became a convert to Christianity and within the century, the druids were gone.

The fruit of Patrick's ministry to his former masters directly resulted the saving of western culture during the many hardships that would come later, like the fall of Rome, the rise of pagan hordes who destroyed much of Europe, but Ireland was largely spared.

So, next year when you start to think of little leprechauns, remember that behind the fun, lies a real man who selflessly gave of himself and returned with a message of hope to the people who had mistreated him.

Just a thought...

Right off the bat I would like to state that as a Christian, I believe that homosexuality is wrong.  I feel that scripture makes it plain that God finds it to be an abomination and a perversion of the beautiful image of the relationship that He has with His bride the Church.  That being said, God also views all other sexual sins (adultery, premarital sex incest, bestiality, rape, pedophilia, prostitution, pornography and masturbation, etc, etc, etc) as perversions.  They are equally wrong in His eyes.

Now in the words of Samuel L. Jackson in Jurassic Park: "Hold on to your butts."  I may get a lot of flak for saying what I am about to say, but I believe that as American citizens, under the law of the U.S. Constitution, people who practice a homosexual lifestyle should be allowed to be married to the person that they love.  Let the chaos ensue!

Sexuality is a moral issue, and to make it a political one I believe would be a mistake.  Let God handle the moral issues, because He will in the end; and let politicians sort out political concerns.

Lastly, a word to my fellow believers.  I have been seeing a lot of hateful speech directed at homosexual people.  STOP!!!  They are no worse than you were before Christ saved you...  God is not partial, all are equally sinners before God and equally damned.  So stop hating people made in God's own image!  Pray for them, love them, let God convict of sin.  Show them the love of God because in Jesus' own words, by our love they will know us!

"You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.- Romans 14:10-18" 

  I use the above symbol to both say that I do in a legal (Constitutional) aspect support the movement for homosexual marriage, but more importantly, to state emphatically that I believe that all are indeed equal!  All are equally worthy of the judgement of a holy righteous God, and all equally able to receive His free gift.  God is not partial to any man, woman, or child!  Come to the cross today!!

The oracles of God

Why don't we cherish the Bible anymore?

     This question started me on a journey to learn why I personally don't.  We look at the scriptures as a good book, a beautiful piece of literature, but it truly is so much more.  It is the very words of God.  I suppose that it is ingrained within the heart of man to long to know what God says.
      In ancient times, people would travel many days journey to a temple of a god that claimed to share his words with people.  These oracles would hear your request and then after waiting for up to several weeks would hear the response from the "gods" which was actually the ramblings of a priestess who was kept drugged constantly and the person who received the message would go away deceived, in awe that his god would share his words with him. They built massive, intricate temples that took hundreds of men many many years, in some cases more than one hundred, to build in which they housed these oracles.  They spent countless fortunes to purchase these oracles and to make sacrifices to satisfy whichever god had supplied it.  People did whatever they had to do to obtain these words from their god.
     Among the Hebrew people, the scriptures were always treated with love and respect, keeping the Torah scrolls locked away in a closet to protect it, spending countless hours copying it by hand, counting every word to be sure not one was missed.  When read, the scriptures were reverenced and people loved to hear them.  When king Josiah finds the book of the law within the Temple in II Kings 22 and 23, the people stand and listen to him read the whole thing for hours and hours, not only without complaint, but overcome with emotion because of their sin against God.
     During the Reformation, once the Bible began being translated into the common tongue from Latin, people risked their lives to attain it, because to the Catholic mind, the Bible was too sacred to be written in the language of the people.  The men who translated it risked, and very often faced and endured death because of their work.  Once translations became accepted, they became priceless treasures, worth a kings ransom.  Churches would have a beautifully decorated alter Bible chained in place so it could not be stolen.  The invention of the printing press made purchasing a Bible possible for everyone.
     During the 1950's till almost 1990 and even today in places like China, the presence of Communism made the printing, possession, and reading of Bibles illegal in many Eastern European nations.  Many men risked their lives in defiance of the government, men like Brother Andrew who has been smuggling Bibles behind closed doors since the 50's.  These people who receive these Bibles were and are ecstatic and overcome to think that they are holding God's word.
Today, when a Bible is translated into a new language, the people there rejoice and many cry when they hold their first Bible.
     But in America today, we find a people who take the Word of God for granted.  I am one of them.  I can't even tell you how many Bibles I own, and I barely read it.  I treat it as any other book, not the precious treasure that it is.  God has given to us, His people, and because the sacrifices of so many others, He has made it available to billions of people across the globe.  We let them gather dust on our shelves or on our coffee tables like they were some kind of picture book, and we either A, never read them to see what God has told us, or B, we read it because it is the "Christian" thing to do and we do not allow it to change us.
     We need to realize that what we hold in our hands is not just a beautifully written manuscript that was penned thousands of years ago with no relation to our lives today, but a living book.  A book given to us by God Himself.  God's very words written down for us, that give direction, that give solace, that point the way to God.  A book in which God Himself reveals to us His character and person.  We hold the very words, the very oracles of the one true God, and they are complete and perfect.  Why do we not treat them with the reverence and love that we should.  We should be willing to pay any price to enjoy them, we should not let anything get in the way of studying them and learning all that they have to say about life.

     Come with me, let us together, cherish and honor the Word of God as we ought.  Let us love it, read it, study it, protect and defend it, and share it with the world around us.