This is the chapter that refutes the ubiquitous notion that 'Christians' must proselytize the world. Nowhere is anyone, other than the twelve Apostles, (the original eleven and Paul), commanded to go forth, and evangelize. As post-Pentecostal Gentiles, (or Jews, even), we are not able to 'change' someone's will, or heart. To anyone who has undertaken to attempt this, this is an incontrovertible truth: we each are responsible for our own selves and our own decisions about where we will spend eternity. Yes, we are called to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have, but, someone must first ask the question! Without that question, what need is there for an answer? That means: someone must first be curious, or rather, 'hungry', for something they know they lack! But it in no wise means we can 'force' or compel anyone to turn from their idols, from their 'religion', and adopt ours; nor to believe what we tell them to believe. It has to be a hunger, deep within each person, to truly know the Creator. Much the same way Christ could no more change the hearts and minds of the religious leaders of his day, we can't argue or convince anyone today to see the truth we see. Inherent in 'giving the answer for our hope, is the acknowledgement that we are speaking about our reasons; while we all share the 'human' experience, the reasons differ, one to another. The overwhelming reality is that we all need GOD. We all must have hope. So, as believers who profess to know God, and are known by God, we are urged and exhorted to admonish those who claim to know truth, but who exhibit wrong actions; not because we say 'such and such' is wrong, but because either the Word says so, explicitly, or because the actions contradict what they say they believe. The Truth is not about us; it is about HIM and HIS will. We are not His spokesperson. We are to be living sacrifices to His will, to the Truth, to His commandments, i.e. witnesses of the Grace, Mercy, Salvation, and promises, in His Word.
Ezekiel was commanded to admonish the nation, saying, this is "the Word of the Lord"; he was not told to force them to change. Ironically, not even God could force them to change, even though he gave them reason to, time and again. Imposed obedience is not obedience, voluntary obedience is. As with the nation during Ezekiel's time, each one must choose for themselves, who they will serve.
For a link to today's morning study in Ezek. 3; 5/8/11 am study
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
The start of a study in Ezekiel.
This will dash to pieces the mistaken imagination that John's Revelation is only his vision, and that there is a disconnect between the Old Testament and New, when it comes to prophecy. Hold on to your seats, get your pen/pencil ready, 'cause this is going to be exhaustive, and we'll cover the whole book, not just Ezekiel, from cover to cover.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
First response on a question, "personal relationship between each of us and God"
Jess:
First response is that I'm not sure it says that in such distinct and concise terms. However, mentioning that Dale reads it, leads me to think that you may be thinking about the verse in Genesis; "Let us make man...." where the 'understanding' is: that we are the ones, each of us, individually, to whom He is speaking; we work with HIM, to 'grow' ourselves into the perfect man. Again, this is the wisdom and understanding we've 'seen'. This thought is pervasive throughout scripture. We read it this morning, regarding Cain and Abel; God spoke to Cain, expecting him to stop and think before he (Cain) committed murder, but then allowed Cain to accomplish what his intents were. (tangent: "was God less loving, more 'harsh' in not stopping him from carrying out his murder? Christianity says that the NT GOD = love; while the OT JEHOVAH is cruel, harsh and a stern disciplinarian! However, His character doesn't change just because of time, (which, by the way, is only a reality for us humans). So, isn't this an example of Love, too?)
Or you may be thinking of the verses that speak of the man who has a broken spirit and a contrite heart; Ps. 34:18; Ps 51: all, but especially v.17; as well as Is. 57 and 66; and that God sees that person, and knows his heart.
Or, perhaps there are also the verses that speak of His Temple not being made of brick or stone and mortar, but that each person is intended to be His sanctuary, His temple. where He dwells, in our hearts, (thus the broken and contrite heart is one that 'knows' God and whom God knows). Here's where Romans. (the whole book/letter), but mainly ch.12 fits. As does 1Cor. ch.2, where Paul tells of the exclusivity of His promises meted to those who love Him, who obey the Gospel and His commandments. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man (because the thoughts and intents are not broken and contrite), those things that God has prepared for them who love Him." It also brings into the picture the idea from the OT, about making a place 'holy', the place which God will determine, and where His name will be written. The Jews thought that was Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the place where Solomon built the house of God. In reality, spiritually, it refers to the heart, the place where His law is written, no longer on tablets of stone, but now in the fleshly tables of our hearts. The verse is more accurately translated that 'He will tabernacle (v) with His people, live among them, (in their hearts), He will be their GOD, they will be His People. That's when Jerusalem will have peace.
Then there is also those verses in Revelations, where Jesus speaks about overcoming, and those that do are rewarded; which also ties in with the 'invitation' that 'whosoever will' may come and take of the water of life freely.
[The opposite admonition also applies, 'if anyone adds or subtracts, they will be rewarded with the plagues contained within...)
So, does it say (verbatim), that its a personal choice, a personal relationship, a one-on-one with the Creator? Not tht I can find; but the truth of that reality is incontrovertible. The little proverb I sometimes say, "God doesn't have grandkids, He only has Sons" is my interpretation of this. No one ever can point a finger at anyone else for their fate, good or bad, at the last day, when each of us will stand before Him.
Hope this helps...
First response is that I'm not sure it says that in such distinct and concise terms. However, mentioning that Dale reads it, leads me to think that you may be thinking about the verse in Genesis; "Let us make man...." where the 'understanding' is: that we are the ones, each of us, individually, to whom He is speaking; we work with HIM, to 'grow' ourselves into the perfect man. Again, this is the wisdom and understanding we've 'seen'. This thought is pervasive throughout scripture. We read it this morning, regarding Cain and Abel; God spoke to Cain, expecting him to stop and think before he (Cain) committed murder, but then allowed Cain to accomplish what his intents were. (tangent: "was God less loving, more 'harsh' in not stopping him from carrying out his murder? Christianity says that the NT GOD = love; while the OT JEHOVAH is cruel, harsh and a stern disciplinarian! However, His character doesn't change just because of time, (which, by the way, is only a reality for us humans). So, isn't this an example of Love, too?)
Or you may be thinking of the verses that speak of the man who has a broken spirit and a contrite heart; Ps. 34:18; Ps 51: all, but especially v.17; as well as Is. 57 and 66; and that God sees that person, and knows his heart.
Or, perhaps there are also the verses that speak of His Temple not being made of brick or stone and mortar, but that each person is intended to be His sanctuary, His temple. where He dwells, in our hearts, (thus the broken and contrite heart is one that 'knows' God and whom God knows). Here's where Romans. (the whole book/letter), but mainly ch.12 fits. As does 1Cor. ch.2, where Paul tells of the exclusivity of His promises meted to those who love Him, who obey the Gospel and His commandments. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man (because the thoughts and intents are not broken and contrite), those things that God has prepared for them who love Him." It also brings into the picture the idea from the OT, about making a place 'holy', the place which God will determine, and where His name will be written. The Jews thought that was Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, the place where Solomon built the house of God. In reality, spiritually, it refers to the heart, the place where His law is written, no longer on tablets of stone, but now in the fleshly tables of our hearts. The verse is more accurately translated that 'He will tabernacle (v) with His people, live among them, (in their hearts), He will be their GOD, they will be His People. That's when Jerusalem will have peace.
Then there is also those verses in Revelations, where Jesus speaks about overcoming, and those that do are rewarded; which also ties in with the 'invitation' that 'whosoever will' may come and take of the water of life freely.
[The opposite admonition also applies, 'if anyone adds or subtracts, they will be rewarded with the plagues contained within...)
So, does it say (verbatim), that its a personal choice, a personal relationship, a one-on-one with the Creator? Not tht I can find; but the truth of that reality is incontrovertible. The little proverb I sometimes say, "God doesn't have grandkids, He only has Sons" is my interpretation of this. No one ever can point a finger at anyone else for their fate, good or bad, at the last day, when each of us will stand before Him.
Hope this helps...
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wisdom and Understanding
This post is a place holder, an entry point if you will, for anyone who would like to pose a question for our group to study. To do so, follow the steps below, and be patient.
Following this post, is an option to add a comment. Click on that link, follow those steps, and submit it.
All comments will be monitored, so you probably won't see your question immediately. However, when it is reviewed, and 'posted' to the page, it will be asked in our Bible study group. Afterwards, the discussion will be uploaded to our church's alternate site, where our study recordings are accessible. Since I am new at this, I believe I can add , in my response post to your comment, a link to the sound file, (*.wma) that contains the discussion. This may be a time consuming, inefficient process, and for that, I apologize. What I am trying to avoid, is that this become an alternate source for answers, in and of itself. What we expect it to be, is a means to hear a Biblical answer to the question. During that process, (asking/posting, waiting for answer to be uploaded, and listening), if anyone should be curious, I would also hope that the Scriptures brought forth in our other recordings might provide answers to other questions, and in doing so, may encourage those to seek their own understanding revealed thropugh His Word.
A 'caveat' to all this, is that, firstly, because the Bible is written for anyone to understand, any answer must be researched, and understood by the one asking the question. We don't have final authority on what the Bible says. That's why you, the one seeking answers, must not rely on 'what we say it says'. Secondly, the purpose of this blog, as well as of us, as a church, is not to 'convert' anyone 'to our way of thinking', We, each, have a will, and a mind; it is the choice, for each of us to make, whether we will 'put on the mind of Christ' or not; and whether we will do the will of Christ, or not. "Not my will, but Thine..." As is recorded, the first Commandment is, "...Love the Lord your God, with all you heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength..." It is in our obedience to the rest of the commandment, "... and (love) your neighbor, as yourself", that we urge each to 'search the scriptures', because that's where LIFE is.
So, dig deep, send your tap root into the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of Christ, which you will find in His Word!
Following this post, is an option to add a comment. Click on that link, follow those steps, and submit it.
All comments will be monitored, so you probably won't see your question immediately. However, when it is reviewed, and 'posted' to the page, it will be asked in our Bible study group. Afterwards, the discussion will be uploaded to our church's alternate site, where our study recordings are accessible. Since I am new at this, I believe I can add , in my response post to your comment, a link to the sound file, (*.wma) that contains the discussion. This may be a time consuming, inefficient process, and for that, I apologize. What I am trying to avoid, is that this become an alternate source for answers, in and of itself. What we expect it to be, is a means to hear a Biblical answer to the question. During that process, (asking/posting, waiting for answer to be uploaded, and listening), if anyone should be curious, I would also hope that the Scriptures brought forth in our other recordings might provide answers to other questions, and in doing so, may encourage those to seek their own understanding revealed thropugh His Word.
A 'caveat' to all this, is that, firstly, because the Bible is written for anyone to understand, any answer must be researched, and understood by the one asking the question. We don't have final authority on what the Bible says. That's why you, the one seeking answers, must not rely on 'what we say it says'. Secondly, the purpose of this blog, as well as of us, as a church, is not to 'convert' anyone 'to our way of thinking', We, each, have a will, and a mind; it is the choice, for each of us to make, whether we will 'put on the mind of Christ' or not; and whether we will do the will of Christ, or not. "Not my will, but Thine..." As is recorded, the first Commandment is, "...Love the Lord your God, with all you heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength..." It is in our obedience to the rest of the commandment, "... and (love) your neighbor, as yourself", that we urge each to 'search the scriptures', because that's where LIFE is.
So, dig deep, send your tap root into the depths of the wisdom and knowledge of Christ, which you will find in His Word!
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