Wake Up America! A lie is a lie no matter who speaks it!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ASTROLOGY?

What Does the Bible Say About Astrology?
QUESTION: What does the Bible say about astrology, tarot cards, and numerology?

ANSWER: Interestingly, all of these “activities” have something in common. They are all part of the occult, because they attempt to find the “hidden” signs that affect human destiny (the word “occult” means “hidden”).

The Bible does address all three of these types of activities in Deuteronomy 18:11-14. What you will find is that God did not allow His people to practice sorcery or divination.

The problem with these practices is that they attempt to explain human destiny through spiritual means, but it’s not the Spirit of God. There’s just no substitute for God when it comes to our future destiny. A great example of this is in the book of Daniel, where the court astrologers attempted to interpret the king’s dreams regarding the future, and they failed miserably. Daniel put them to shame with his God-inspired interpretations (Daniel 1:20).

We do want to make a couple of comments about what the Bible says about stars and numbers. In Genesis we find that God created the stars, along with the sun and the moon, as “signs to mark seasons and days and years” (Genesis 1:14). So the stars have value as “signs,” but God intended for them to be signs for the seasons, not for help in predicting our futures.

Same goes for numbers. There is such a thing as “Bible numerology.” Numbers in the Bible are important in that they symbolize certain truths, such as the number seven symbolizing completion or perfection. But when people try to read into the numbers or patterns of numbers, even in the Bible, it becomes an exercise in futility.

One of the reasons people are so intrigued with these “hidden” things is that they don’t want to accept what God has plainly revealed in His Word. It’s a way to avoid the truth about our future and the hope God has set before us.

Intro to World Religions(Comparative Religions)

While Christianity dominates the religious landscape of much of the Western world, there are many parts of the globe where Christians , regardless of how broadly or narrowly one defines the term, represent only a tiny fraction of the population.

 In an age when mobility is widespread, many religions are now represented in regions where they were not historically present.

Believers in Christianized countries who were once contended for the faith mainly with agnostic, apathetic, or simply uniformed neighbors, now find that many in their communities actively subscribe to other religions-and your community is probably no different.

In some areas of the world, Buddhism may represent the majority world view, while in others, it influence may be seen largely in the media (celebrity adherents, movie references and media fascination . The same may be true of Islam, which dominates the collective life of certain cultures , yet it is viewed through the media lens of other cultures of terms of fanaticism and terrorism.

Christians often have relatively limited knowledge about other religions: that is, they may understand a religions cultural significance without having a firm grasp on what it teaches.

This of course makes it difficult to articulate the differences when asked what makes Christianity unique or true.
Aren't all religions the same? Is Christ the only way to God?Jesus claimed absolute exclusivity. Christ was unique compared to founders of other world religions. Some promoted their teachings as the only way to God, but Christ proclaimed Himself as the only way to God. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

Christianity is unique in other ways. The views of gods of other religions are very different from Christianity.

 The philosophical Hindu is either a monist (believing that ultimate reality is a oneness beyond differentiation) or a pantheist (believing that everything is God).

The popular sects of Hinduism are polytheistic (worshipers of many gods).

Buddhist sects may hold a variety of views on God, including polytheism, pantheism, or usually, atheism.

Classical Islam endorses the killing of infidels but Christianity teaches to love your enemies. Islam also teaches that there is one impardonable sin—to accept that God has a Son. Christianity teaches that one must accept Jesus as the Son of God to get to heaven.

Of eleven major religions of the world, ten of them teach salvation through human effort.

  Only Christianity recognizes the frustration and futility of man's own efforts and declares that man's salvation rests in the provision and grace of God.

Christianity alone makes provision for man's basic need—the forgiveness of sin.

  Only Christianity resolves the problem of God's dual nature of both absolute justice and absolute love. This dichotomy(division into two parts)(
the belief that man consists of two parts, the body and the soul).
 This may also be viewed as man's physical being and his non-physical being.
 is once and for all resolved by Christ's coming, His sinless life, and His finished work on the cross as our substitute.

There are irreconcilable conflicts between Christianity and other religions.

Christianity is at odds with other views of God, the nature of man, heaven, and salvation.

The law of noncontradiction says that if two statements about one particular issue contradict each other, then

(1) only one of them is true, or
The law of noncontradiction says that if two statements about one particular issue contradict each other, then

 (2) they are both false.

.They cannot both be true in the same sense and at the same time. Truth, by definition, is exclusive

Actually all religions claim exclusivity. Just ask a Muslim or a Hindu if a Christian is one of them. Even those who say that there should be no exclusivity in religion are in reality making an absolutist claim by eliminating from their circle those religions who claim exclusivity.

 So the issue of exclusive truth claims cannot be merely brushed aside by uninformed statements like, "There are many paths to God." In the end, one must choose.

OBJECTIVES (What we do hope to do in this Study):

To analyze critically the concept of "religion" as commonly understood in Western societies.

To be introduced to a number of "religious" traditions other than evangelical Protestant Christianity.

To develop skills as an empathic interpreter of "religious" traditions other than one's own.

To gain a clearer understanding of the impact of "religious" convictions and practices on everyday      life.

To gain an appreciation for the diversity present within "religious" traditions, as well as across them.

To gain a clearer understanding of some of the distinguishing features of the world's "religious"            traditions.

To gain a clearer understanding of some of the similarities among many "religious" traditions.

Having accomplished the above, to see one's own "religious" tradition with a new perspective and renewed appreciation.

NON-OBJECTIVES (What we do not plan to do in this Study):

To resolve difficult and important questions about the relationship between Christianity and other "religious" traditions.

To develop apologetic strategies for demonstrating the superiority of Christianity to other traditions.

To develop strategies for evangelizing those from other "religious" traditions.

In these studies we will focus on some of the major religions of the world.

To include:
Judaism
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism
African traditional religions (as a group will also be introduced).
Atheism
the New Age movement, and the new "Christian" religion offshoots of traditional , orthodox Christianity  that are growing around the world.

We will define  the characteristics of a cult and a sect.

We will also outline some key claims of Christianity that set it apart from all other religions.


The scope of these lessons are intended to be a general  reference work for those who are interested in knowing what various groups believe .

We will also compare the standard beliefs of Christianity to the various groups of religions.


The goal here is not to attack other religions but to come to have a better understanding about them.

Prayer



Whys this Study?

With an advance of modern technology, the world has shrunk to the point that we would do well to know and understand what our neighbors believe. This study is an effort to fill this information gap by giving us a working knowledge of the great religions of the world.

What Is Religion?
A religion is a system of human thought which usually includes a set of narratives, symbols, beliefs and practices that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power, deity or deities, or ultimate truth.

 Religion is commonly identified by the practitioner's prayer, ritual, meditation, music and art, among other things, but more generally is interwoven with society and politics. It may focus on specific supernatural, metaphysical, and moral claims about reality (the cosmos and human nature) which may yield a set of religious laws, ethics, and a particular lifestyle.

 Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and religious experience.

The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.

 "Religion" is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system," but it is more socially defined than personal convictions, and it entails specific behaviors, respectively.



The development of religion has taken many forms in various cultures.

 It considers psychological and social roots, along with origins and historical development.

In the frame of western religious thought, religions present a common quality, the "hallmark of patriarchal religious thought": the division of the world in two comprehensive domains, one sacred, the other profane

According to the futurist Raymond Kurzweil, "The primary role of traditional religion is deathist rationalization—that is, rationalizing the tragedy of death as a good thing." Religion is often described as a communal system for the coherence of belief focusing on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth.

  Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, tradition, rituals, and scriptures are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy.

 Religion is also often described as a "way of life" or a life stance.

The term religion has many definitions.

 None is agreed upon by everyone,but certain common aspects and implications of religion can be observed.

Religion can be defined as that aspect of ones experience in which he/she attempts to live harmoniously with the power or powers he believes are controlling the world.

Even secular religions, though they do not believe in God or the supernatural,and involve in no form of worship or liturgy,still are more less unified comprehensive world views, which seek to explain the "why" of existence.
 Because they have their own, creeds,scriptures,clergy and closely knit groups, they may properly labeled religious.


Religion is Universal

Wherever man lives he is found giving some recognition to a power or powers beyond himself.

Religion is not only universal,it is also one of the features separating man from the animal world.


Religion Meets Needs

Religion gives to a person what he can obtain from no other source.


The distinguishing function of a religion , in contrast with that of philosophy or ethics is to give to a human being the supreme satisfaction of his life through a vital relationship with what he recognizes as the super human Power, or powers in the world.

Religion gives to a person what he can obtain from no other source.



The practice of religion is varied as the religious themselves,


All Religions Are Not The Same

A common misconception is that all religions are basically saying the same thing or that religious paths eventually reach the same summit-God          



In this study we will explore excerpts from the holy writings of Christians,Jews,Hindus,Buddhist,Muslims,as well as other religions of India, Persia,China and Japan.
 time and end on time.



Please remember that this study is not an attack on the beliefs of others but an information tool for us that me may better understand the religions of the world.

There will be some denominational study discussion.

Please remember that we are only here to understand their beliefs and not here to attack anyone .
Many of us here belong to different denominations and have different beliefs.

Let us be like Christ , be about love.


Next weeks study

Defining the meaning of and understanding what are considered Cults and Sects .

ABCs of Father Heart of God "C" carry, choose, comfort

 So we are looking at... The ABC’s Of Father God’s heart and so far...

A - Abba My Father is my Abba, Papa-God. I am His beloved child. (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:4-7, John 1:12, Jam. 1:18)

B - Bless 

My Father blesses me with every heavenly (spiritual) gift. (Eph. 1:3)

 This week we will look at “carry, comfort and chosen”

C- Carry, comfort and Chosen

( My Father gathers me in His arms and carries me all my life. (Isa. 40:11, 46:3-4; Deu. 1:31)

My Father chose me from the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4-6)

My Father desires to comfort me. (psa 69:16, Psa 94:19. Psa 119:76, Isa 49:12, Isa 51:3, Isa 51:12, Isa 52:9, Matt 5:4, John 14:26, 2 Cor 1:2-4) 

Have you ever carried a small baby? Or held one?

Do you ever just long to be able to completely rest and relax in the arms of Jesus? Maybe you can. Maybe you have only for a moment, but looking at the pictures we can surely imagine how it feels and also probably most of us have held a baby.

God, our Father offers to tenderly carry us. His arms are always open to invite us to enter his embrace. Let’s look at some verses....

Isa 40:11 He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those who have young.

AMP 11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.

      He will carry the lambs in his arms,

   holding them close to his heart.

      He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Would anyone like to share their heart response to reading/hearing this verse?

***pictures...shepherd sheep, Jesus lamb

Isa 46:3-4 AMP Listen to Me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born,Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

NLT  3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob,

      all you who remain in Israel.

   I have cared for you since you were born.

      Yes, I carried you before you were born.

 4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime—

      until your hair is white with age.

   I made you, and I will care for you.

      I will carry you along and save you.

IT doesn’t matter if we are old or young, God, our Abba wants to care for us, and love us. (carry us)

Deu 1:31 ( Let’s back up to verse 30 also) AMP  30 The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, 31And in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God bore you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.

NLT 30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt. 31 And you saw how the Lord your God cared for you all along the way as you traveled through the wilderness, just as a father cares for his child. Now he has brought you to this place.’

The Lord going ahead of us, fighting for us, carries us and cares for us...

Now let’s look a another verse... Eph 1:3-6

AMP 3May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!

    4Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.

    5For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[a]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]--

    6[So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

NLT 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

also Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

and Jer 29:11

Comfort: Psalm 69:16

Hear and answer me, O Lord, for Your loving-kindness is sweet and comforting; according to Your plenteous tender mercy and steadfast love turn to me.

Psalm 94:19

In the multitude of my [anxious] thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!

Psalm 119:76

Let, I pray You, Your merciful kindness and steadfast love be for my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.

Isaiah 49:13

Sing for joy, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, and break forth into singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion upon His afflicted.

Isaiah 51:3

For the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song or instrument of praise.

Isaiah 51:12

I, even I, am He Who comforts you. Who are you, that you should be afraid of man, who shall die, and of a son of man, who shall be made [as destructible] as grass,

Isaiah 52:9

Break forth joyously, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem!

Matthew 5:4

Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

John 14:26

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

2 Corinthians 1:2-4

2Grace (favor and spiritual blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),

4Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

As someone pointed out, there is another “C” word chastens...

Choose Your Friends Carefrully

For those of you who have really entered into a true Spirit-filled, fully-surrendered walk with the Lord where He is now leading your life in the direction that He will want it to go in – one of the first things that you will find happening is that God will start to prune out the people that He does not want in your life and start to bring in the people that He does want in your life.

As you will see in the Scripture verses I will list below, the Bible tells us to choose our friends very carefully in this life. These verses will tell us that he who walks with wise people will become wise himself, but that he who keeps company with fools will be destroyed. The Bible tells us that we are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, that we are to stay away from people who cause divisions and offenses, and to withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.

This does not mean that we cannot work with the lost, the downtrodden, and the people who need to find God and His message of eternal salvation. When Jesus came to our earth in the flesh, He always went after the sinners and the outcasts. But when Jesus went after these sinners, it was always for the express purpose of getting them saved and cleaned up.

Jesus did not chase after everyone. He ripped on the Pharisees and many of the high-ranking Jewish leaders. Some people are open to be helped, others are not. The Bible tells us to stay away from people who are considered to be “dogs,” and to beware of people who are “evil workers.”

One of the first things that God will do with your life once you come into a full surrender with Him is to start to set some boundary lines. He will now decide the path that you will follow in Him. He will now be leading you into the specific jobs that He will want you to have in this life. If you are single and have not married yet, He will lead you to the mate that He will want you to marry if it is in His perfect will that you get married in this life.

And once those boundary lines start to go up – one of the first things that God will do is to decide who is going to be coming into those boundary lines and who will be going out. In other words, God will be deciding who your true friends are going to be in this life and who will not.

The main reason God will be helping you to choose who your true friends are going to be in this life is because His ultimate and highest aim for you is to transform and sanctify you. In other words, He wants you to spiritually grow and mature in your walk with Him.

The Bible tells us that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. God’s ultimate aim for us is our sanctification – where He starts to begin to mold and transform us into the express image of His Son Jesus Christ.

The main reason that God will start to take out the friends in your life that He does not want you to have is because some of these people may be negative influences in your life. They may not be open to growing and maturing in the Lord like you will be, and all they will do is try and hold you back when you start your own spiritual journey and growth in the Lord.

God will not be putting up with this, and He will thus be taking all of these bad and negative influences out of your life very early on once you enter into this full surrender with Him. For those of you who are married and have children – it is the same thing when you do not want your children hanging out with other children who you know would be a bad and negative influence on your child.

It is the exact same way with God the Father! This is why God will be moving very early on to take out these negative influences in your life. Once this starts to happen, you have to go with the program or you could cause God to start pulling back on you. And once that starts to happen, you could then start to backslide and everything could then start to shut down.

If you will allow God to prune out the people that He does not want you to have in your life – then what He will start to do is to bring in the people that He will want to have in your life. I call these types of friends “God-friends.” These people will be other good, godly, Spirit-filled Christians who are truly walking in good stead with the Lord and they will now be the people that He will want you to share your walk with!

As you will see in the Scripture verses listed below – you will need other good, solid, Christian friends in your life to help you grow in the Lord. The Bible tells us that we can only “know in part.” No one has all of the answers to everything. By sharing your walk with other good, solid, Christian friends, you can each help each other out in your pursuit of the knowledge and ways of God.

You will know some things about God they may not know, and they will know some things that you may not know. You thus are able to help contribute to each other’s storehouse of knowledge in the Lord.

One of the verses listed below state that two friends can help sharpen each other up like “iron sharpens iron.” Just like one piece of iron can make the other piece of iron extremely sharp by rubbing up against it – two solid Christian friends can also have the same type of positive effect on one another by sharing their own personal walks in the Lord with one other.

By having other good, solid, Christian friends to share your journey with – you will literally accelerate your spiritual growth and development in the Lord because you will have more than one source in which to feed and learn from. You will be learning about God from all of your own personal adventures and experiences with Him – but you will also be learning more about God from all of your other friend’s personal journey and experiences with Him.

How many of these types of God-friends can you expect God to bring into your life? Only God will be able to answer that for each and every one of you. Some may only get one or two to start off with, others may get 5 or 10. Let God make the decision as to how many and when they will be brought into your life.

What I have learned is that it is not the quantity or amount that comes in – it is the quality. You are much better off having just one or two good, solid, quality friends as versus 10 or 15 that are not as good quality friends as the one or two may be.

Every Christian is operating at different levels of spiritual development with the Lord. God knows best as to who would be best suited for you at the level of spiritual development that you are currently operating at with Him. When God does bring in these types of special God-friends to share your journey with – they will be real treasures! These God-friendships will be anointed by God Himself due to the quality feedings and interaction that will occur in them.

Sadly, what you will find out very early on, is just because someone may be a saved and born again Christian does not mean this person has their act together in the Lord. Some people have become too judgmental and too critical in their walks with the Lord. Some have become too arrogant and pompous, thinking they have all the answers to everything. They will tend to look down on anyone else who is not operating at the knowledge levels they are operating at. Some have become so flaky in their walks with the Lord, that they have lost touch with reality and you won’t be able to connect with any of them.

God knows best as to who will be best suited for you at your current level of spiritual development with Him – so let Him guide you to the ones that He will want you to connect with. I have seen God do this so many times for others, that I literally consider it a miraculous piece of work – especially as to how He gets you to meet some of these people in the first place. Some of these chess moves are quite incredible, as most of these people will be total strangers to you until God moves in to match the two of you up.

The other thing that could occur besides God matching you up with total strangers is that He may move on someone else you may know, but that you are not particular good friends with. That person then gets saved and plugged in, and then they find out that you too are saved and plugged in – and now a good God-friendship can start to build up as you now have something in common with one another to start to build a good solid friendship with.

This could be another member in your family, someone that you may work with, a friend who you may have known from your past, or someone you may see at church from time to time but never really talked with. The possibilities are endless as to where these people may come from. These God-friends can come from anywhere and at anytime – so keep your radars up, as you never know when God may move to bring one of them into your life.

Now I will go to the actual Scripture verses confirming all of the above for you.

1.  Choose Your Friends Carefully
This first verse is the one that will tell us to choose our friends very carefully in this life. This verse should literally be burned into your memory banks so that you never, ever forget this basic fundamental command from the Lord! Here it is:

“The righteous should CHOOSE HIS FRIENDS CAREFULLY, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.” (Proverbs 12:26)


Notice this verse is specifically telling us that if we do not choose our friends very carefully in this life, that we could end up choosing the wrong type of people to become friends with, and they can then end up leading us astray from God and with what He wants to do with our lives. Many of God’s people have lost their calls in Him because they chose to hang out with the wrong type of people.

2.  Benefits of Choosing Good God-Friends
Here are six very interesting verses showing you why God does want you to have other good, solid, Christian friends to share your walk with.

These six verses will show you that there is safety in the multitude of counselors, that plans can go awry without having other people to hash things out with, that war is waged by having wise counsel with others, that learning is increased by listening to wise counsel, and that if you cease to listen to wise counsel – that you will start to stray from being able to acquire more knowledge in God.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
 
“A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 24:5)
 
“Every purpose is established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war.” (Proverbs 20:18)
 
“Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” (Proverbs 15:22)
 
“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” (Proverbs 19:20)
 
“Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 19:27)
Once you turn the reigns of your life over to God for Him to fully handle, He will now make sure that you get matched up with the right kind of people that you can become true God-friends with.

3.  As Iron Sharpens Iron
This next verse is extremely fascinating as it tells us that two friends can help sharpen each other up as iron sharpens iron. A true God-friend can help keep you sharp in the Spirit, let you know when you are getting too far off track, help you get through and make sense of some of the downswings that can occur in your walk, confirm and help bear witness when you are on the right track, give you pep talks when needed, and help keep you in the game when you start to get too mad and frustrated when things do not go your way.

You each serve to help keep each other up in the Lord so that you both can continue to stay on the straight and narrow road that God now has you set up on. You can also help each other out if one starts to be tempted to do something they should not be engaging in. Here is the verse:

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

A true God-friend will always be honest and straight forward with you. You cannot help keep each other up and sharp in the Lord unless you are both willing to be totally honest with one another.

4. Do Not Be Unequally Yoked With Unbelievers
These next seven verses will tell us not to be yoked together with unbelievers, foolish men, dogs, evil workers, those who are disorderly, reckless, contentious and always causing trouble and strife.

There is one verse in particular that tells us that “evil company corrupts good habits.” This verse perfectly shows us what can happen to any of your children if they start hanging out with the wrong type of people.

Here are 7 good verses telling us to stay on our side of the fence, and to stay away from all of the bad apples who have no desire for God or anything that He stands for.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14)
 
“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)
 
“A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:6)
 
“Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers …” (Philippians 3:2)
 
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
 
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17)
 
“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
All of these verses are giving us major warnings that we are to stay away from all of the bad apples in this life who will do nothing but try and bring us down to their lower way of living in this life. Many Christians have had their lives totally ruined and destroyed as a result of marrying the wrong people or choosing the wrong kinds of friends to hang out with.

Conclusion
Just as God saw fit to create Eve for Adam in the Garden of Eden when He first created the first man – God still places an extremely high value on personal friendships, and He will make sure to bring the right people and the right number of people in your life so you can each help each other out to go farther and fly higher in the Lord.

When Jesus first started to send the 12 apostles out to walk with His anointing, He would always send them out two-by-two.

Once you enter into a real supernatural walk with the Lord, you will go nuts if you do not have someone to share your walk with. There are simply too many good God things that will start to happen in your life, and you will need others to talk with, to vent with, to share with, to learn from one another, and to help keep each other on track.

I believe Jesus was giving us a major piece of revelation when He started sending the apostles out two-by-two instead of by themselves.

For those of you who have not been matched up with a good God-friend at this time – just go to God the Father in prayer and ask Him to bring you the right friend that would be best suited for you at your present level of spiritual development in Him.

Unless God is keeping you all to Himself for a reason and a season, there is no reason that God will not want to move on this request to bring you a true special God-friend in order to help accelerate your spiritual growth in Him. If God did it for Adam in the Garden of Eden, then there is no reason that He would not want to do it for you.

http://www.ucg.org/sermon/be-true-friend

HOW SHOULD I PRAY?

How Should I Pray?

Question: Are all our prayers answered? Some say yes, others say no. Do we doubt when we repeat our prayers? Should a request be made only once or should we continue praying until we see results?

Answer: Some people would say that all of our prayers are answered, because even “no” is an answer.

However, we would say that God answers all prayers in His time, and since we don’t know what that is in every situation, we can conclude that some of our prayers have not yet been answered.

Repeating prayers doesn’t mean you are doubting God. It means you are being persistent. The Bible says that the “fervent” or persistent prayers of righteous people are effective and have great results (James 5:16).

But again, keep in mind that God’s ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing. We want everything right away, and occasionally that is what God wants, too. But more often than not, God takes longer than we would like. It’s only afterwords, when we see the results of God’s plan, that we realize His timing was the best.

When it comes to prayer, here are some wise words to live by: God is rarely early and never late, but always right on time.

What Is A Christian? Part 2

What Is A Christian? Part 2 by Romans

Last week, I conducted a Discussion called What Is A Christian? I used The World's Bible Handbook by Robert Boyd, and an article titled “I Am What I Am,” in the section commenting on 1 Corinthians 15, to list many amazing and wonderful adjectives and descriptions of what it is to be a Christian. In that list we learned that Christians are forgiven, justifies, declared to be righteous, sanctified (set apart for Holy use), God's children by adoption, a new creation, heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, members of the Body of Christ, we are the Temple of the Living God, kings and priests, the people of God, a Holy nation, crucified with Christ, dead with Christ, buried with Christ, raised with Christ, seated in the Heavenlies, not of this world, delivered from this present evil world, in Christ's Kingdom, a child of light to the lost, co-laborers with God, the servants of righteousness, God's workmanship, like Christ, at peace with God, Heaven's Ambassadors, empowered witnesses, the salt of the earth, the light of the world, highly valued,  Jesus' disciples, victorious, more than conquerors, Jesus' friends, and glorified. It is a wonderful and enriching list. Powerful and edifying. As I went through it last week, one person commented, “No wonder Christians are hated as they are.” I had never thought of that but it has much truth to it. Look, again, at that list! God has poured out His Blessings on us exceeding by far the riches of the wealthiest person on earth.

But during the week, it occurred to me that, as wonderful as that list was, it was missing something... It was missing what is, perhaps, the [i]most marvelous aspect[/i] of being a Christian: We are [i]loved[/i]. Without love, anything and everything else means nothing. In I Corinthians 13, which is sometimes referred to as “the love chapter,” Paul writes about the importance of "charity." Charity is translated from the original Greek word, "agape" meaning "Godly love." We read, beginning in Verse 1: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

In order to better understand this particular dimension of being a Christian, we need to establish our spiritual roots. As Christians, few if any of us in this room, and few Christians in the world can trace themselves along bloodlines that go back to Abraham.  We are, from a strictly Jewish standpoint, Gentiles. But we have been grafted into the nation of Israel. And, for the time being, we have, in a manner of speaking, supplanted physical descendants of the nation of Israel. This is something that Jesus, Himself, told His detractors would take place. We read in Matthew 21:43: “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Notice, also, Paul's words in Romans 11:25: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Gentiles' supplanting physical descendants of Abraham, and becoming the people of God, was already taking place in Paul's day. But it was not to be a permanent replacement. Israel has not be foresaken. Paul reinforces that with these words found in Romans 11:1: “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.”

Matthew Henry writes comments: “The restoration of the Jews is, in the course of things, far less improbable than the call of the Gentiles to be the children of Abraham; and though others now possess these privileges, it will not hinder their being admitted again.”

Let's go back to the beginning, and get a clearer picture of the nation into which we have been grafted in:

Deuteronomy 7:6: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers...”

Let's take this, again, a phrase at a time, to see how Gentiles, both in New Testament times, and today, factor into these descriptions of God's Chosen People:

Deuteronomy 7:6: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God:”

And Peter writes of us in 1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Deuteronomy 7:6 says: “... the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Peter writes: “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

Deuteronomy goes on to say: “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers...”

But where is our bloodline, as Gentiles, going back to the Patriarchs? Does God also include us as coming under promises He had sworn unto Abraham? We read beginning  in Galatians 3:27: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Yes. We have been grafted into Israel. We are considered an Holy Nation, the people of God, who have obtained Mercy, but God also regards us as “Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

But I would like to go back to the introductory portion of the reason that God tells Israel is the reason why He chose them to be His people. He told them that they were not more in number than any people but rather because they were the fewest in number.

And why were we chosen? Because we were among the mighty, the noblest and the wisest? Just the opposite: we read of ourselves beginning in1 Corinthians 1:26: “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

But then God told Israel one other reason why He chose them. He said He did not choose them “because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you...” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

God loved Israel.

Of all the things that differentiated Israel from the nations that lived at the time, and that surrounded them,  the fact that the God Whom they worshiped loved them, stands out, to me as a most outstanding difference. While their neighbors were worshiping the rivers and the moon and the cattle and bugs... while their neighbors were sacrificing their own children to serve their gods, Jehovah was telling them to be a holy people.

Just as they were about to enter the Promised Land, God made this statement to them: It is found in Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Matthew Henry: “What could be said more moving, and more likely to make deep and lasting impressions? Every man wishes to obtain life and good, and to escape death and evil; he desires happiness, and dreads misery. So great is the compassion of the Lord, that he has favoured men, by his word, with such a knowledge of good and evil as will make them for ever happy, if it be not their own fault. Let us hear the sum of the whole matter. If they and theirs would love God, and serve him, they should live and be happy. If they or theirs should turn from God, desert his service, and worship other gods, that would certainly be their ruin. There never was, since the fall of man, more than one way to heaven; which is marked out in both Testaments, though not with equal clearness. Moses meant that same way of acceptance, which Paul more plainly described; and Paul's words mean the same obedience, on which Moses more fully treated. In both Testaments the good and right way is brought near, and plainly revealed to us.”

Yes, “In both Testaments the good and right way is brought near, and plainly revealed to us.”

We read in the Old Testament in Psalms 36:7: “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

With that in mind, Jesus lamented over the stiffnecked and rebellious resistance of the Israelities. We read in Luke 13:34: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!”

God wanted them to trust Him, to believe Him and to obey Him, not merely that He might be worshiped and glorified, but for their good, as well: Notice in Deuteronomy 5:29: “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”

Those are words that are spoken to someone who is loved, whose well-being is a priority.

What kind of love did God love Israel with? We are told in Jeremiah 31:3: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

God's love for His people is an everlasting love. Yes, as I said earlier, at the present time Gentiles have supplanted the descendants of Jacob as the people of God. But God's love is an everlasting love. In the Verses immediately following His declaration of lovingkindness and an everlasting love for Israel, we read a Prophecy of Israel's return from their exile which God, Himself will bring about:

Beginning in Isaiah 31:8: “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.” His everlasting love will be made manifest.

As Christians, we are also in a love relationship with God. And these Psalms that were written in songs of praise to God, apply every bit to us as they did to Old Covenant Israel:

We read in Psalms 143:8: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

The psalmist wrote: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning...”

But then we are to respond: We read in Psalms 69:16: “Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.”

Notice, also, Psalms 146:8: “The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:”

Our eyes, as New Testament Christians have been opened to see, to recognize, to understand, and to accept the Truth of the Word of God. And we can say, as Israel was able to say, that the love for  His people was God's motivating factor.

What is the reason given in, what may be, the most well-known Verse, about why God gave His only begotten Son?

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned:”

God loved us.

God loves us.

God [i]is[/i] love.

Notice 1 John 4:16: “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:10: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

1 John 4:19: “We love him, because he first loved us.”

John 15:9: “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.”

John 15:10: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”

God's love for us is as a Father to His children:

Proverbs 3:12: “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

But how is His love manifest to us? I give full credit to Torrey's Topical Textbook for the lists and headings provided there as I wrote this Evening's Discussion:

It is manifested in His coming to seek the lost:
Luke 19:10: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus love is manifest by His praying for His enemies:
We read, beginning in Luke 23:33: “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.”

But I hasten to add, Jesus' love was manifest in His praying for His enemies. When we read that, it is so easy to limit that list of enemies to the Pharisees and chief priests who had Him arrested, and to the soldiers who mocked and beat Him. But all of our names would appear on a list of the enemies of Christ,  if one existed.

Yes, Jesus said in John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

But we have not always done whatsoever He commanded us. So Jesus did not lay down His life for those who obeyed Him, for His friends...

We read in Romans 5:8 and 10: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And Verse 10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

The Love of Christ is manifest to us by His giving Himself for us:
Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

The Love of Christ is manifest to us by His dying for us:
1 John 3:16: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Jesus' love is manifest in His bearing our sins:
Hebrews 9:28: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

The Love of Christ is manifest to us by His washing away our sins:
Revelation 1:5: “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood...”

Jesus manifests His Love for us by Interceding for us:
Hebrews 7:25: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Notice, now,  the incredibly beautiful summary statement that Matthew Henry penned about Christ as our High Priest and Intercessor, and our proper response to Him: “The law which made the Levitical priesthood, showed that the priests were frail, dying creatures, not able to save their own lives, much less could they save the souls of those who came to them. But the High Priest of our profession holds his office by the power of endless life in himself; not only to keep himself alive, but to give spiritual and eternal life to all who rely upon his sacrifice and intercession. The better covenant, of which Jesus was the Surety, is not here contrasted with the covenant of works, by which every transgressor is shut up under the curse. It is distinguished from the Sinai covenant with Israel, and the legal dispensation under which the church so long remained. The better covenant brought the church and every believer into clearer light, more perfect liberty, and more abundant privileges. In the order of Aaron there was a multitude of priests, of high priests one after another; but in the priesthood of Christ there is only one and the same. This is the believer's safety and happiness, that this everlasting High Priest is able to save to the uttermost, in all times, in all cases. Surely then it becomes us to desire a spirituality and holiness, as much beyond those of the Old Testament believers, as our advantages exceed theirs.”

Jesus Love is manifest to us by His sending the Holy Spirit:
John 16:7 and 13: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

John 16: 13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

The Love of Christ is manifest to us by His rebukes and chastisements:
Revelation 3:19: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Notice also these words found beginning in Hebrews 12:6: “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?”

Matthew Henry writes of this chastisement: “Sinners ought to take the rebukes of God's word and rod, as tokens of his love to their souls. Christ stood without; knocking, by the dealings of his providence, the warnings and teaching of his word, and the influences of his Spirit. Christ still graciously, by his word and Spirit, comes to the door of the hearts of sinners. Those who open to him shall enjoy his presence. If what he finds would make but a poor feast, what he brings will supply a rich one. He will give fresh supplies of graces and comforts. In the conclusion is a promise to the overcoming believer. Christ himself had temptations and conflicts; he overcame them all, and was more than a conqueror. Those made like to Christ in his trials, shall be made like to him in glory.”

To His saints, the Love of Christ is unchangeable:
John 13:1: “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

And, a Christian is also one who receives and reflects the Love of God:
John 15:12: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Notice also: Romans 5:5: “... the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” To me, Paul is not merely saying that God's love is shed abroad to our hearts, but rather through our hearts as He loves through us, all those who come into contact with us. This understanding is confirmed beginning in 1 John 4:19: “We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

What is a Christian?

A Christian is one who is Loved by our Almighty Creator God, and who, through the Power of His  indwelling Holy Spirit, [i]accepts[/i] His Love, [i]cherishes [/i]His Love, and [i]returns [/i]His Love  through obeying His Commands:

Jesus said in John 15:10: “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

Do you see what Jesus just said? “Keep my Commandments that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” It is the [i]very same[/i] Love desire for blessing that God expressed for Israel as they were about to enter the Promised Land, when He said in Deuteronomy 30:19: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live...”

A Christian is one who [i]never[/i] has to fear being rejected by his Savior:

We read in John 6:37: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

Lastly, a Christian is one who [i]never[/i] has to fear being separated from the Love of Christ:

Paul asked in Romans 8:35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I will close with Matthew Henry's thoughts: “All things whatever, in heaven and earth, are not so great a display of God's free love, as the gift of his coequal Son to be the atonement on the cross for the sin of man; and all the rest follows upon union with him, and interest in him. All things, all which can be the causes or means of any real good to the faithful Christian. He that has prepared a crown and a kingdom for us, will give us what we need in the way to it. Men may justify themselves, though the accusations are in full force against them; but if God justifies, that answers all. By Christ we are thus secured. By the merit of his death he paid our debt. Yea, rather that is risen again. This is convincing evidence that Divine justice was satisfied. We have such a Friend at the right hand of God; all power is given to him. He is there, making intercession. Believer! does your soul say within you, Oh that he were mine! and oh that I were his; that I could please him and live to him! Then do not toss your spirit and perplex your thoughts in fruitless, endless doubtings, but as you are convinced of ungodliness, believe on Him who justifies the ungodly. You are condemned, yet Christ is dead and risen. Flee to Him as such. God having manifested his love in giving his own Son for us, can we think that any thing should turn aside or do away that love? Troubles neither cause nor show any abatement of his love. Whatever believers may be separated from, enough remains. None can take Christ from the believer: none can take the believer from Him; and that is enough.”

This concludes this Evening's Discussion: What Is A Christian? Part 2

Romans, January 21st, 2012

The Tabernacle (part 2)

The Golden Altar of Incense of the Tabernacle
The golden altar of incense, which is not to be confused with the brazen altar, sat in front of the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was smaller than the brazen altar. It was a square with each side measuring 1.5 feet and was 3 feet high. It was made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold. Four horns protruded from the four corners of the altar.
God commanded the priests to burn incense on the golden altar every morning and evening, the same time that the daily burnt offerings were made. The incense was to be left burning continually throughout the day and night as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was made of an equal part of four precious spices (stacte, onycha, galbanum and frankincense) and was considered holy. God commanded the Israelites not to use the same formula outside the tabernacle to make perfume for their own consumption; otherwise, they were to be cut off from their people (Exodus 30:34-38).
The incense was a symbol of the prayers and intercession of the people going up to God as a sweet fragrance. God wanted His dwelling to be a place where people could approach Him and pray to Him.
“…for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” (Isaiah 56:7)
The picture of prayers wafting up to heaven like incense is captured in David’s psalm and also in John’s vision in Revelations:
“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalm 141:2)

“Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand.” (Revelations 8:3-4)
The golden altar, furthermore, is a representation of Christ, who is our intercessor before God the Father. During His days on earth, Jesus prayed for the believers. He was like the high priest of the tabernacle, who bore the names of each of the Israelite tribes on his breastplate before God. Just before He was betrayed and sentenced to death, Jesus interceded for His disciples and all believers, asking God to guard them from evil and sanctify them by His Word, and that they may see God’s glory and be a witness to the world (John 17:1-26). Today, Jesus still is our high priest at the Father’s side, interceding for God’s people:
“Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
Since we have been forgiven of our sins through the blood of Christ, we also come boldly in prayer in Jesus’ name. When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are praying based on the work He has done and not on our own merit. It is in His powerful name that we are saved and baptized, and in His name we live, speak and act.
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)
The horns of the golden altar were sprinkled with blood from the animal sacrifice to cleanse and purify it from the sins of the Israelites (Leviticus 4:7, 16:18). Just as the horns on the brazen altar represent the power of Christ’s blood to forgive sins, the horns on golden altar signify the power of His blood in prayer as we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness.
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:15-16)
The Holy of Holies and the Veil
Within the Holy Place of the tabernacle, there was an inner room called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. Judging from its name, we can see that it was a most sacred room, a place no ordinary person could enter. It was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people. During the Israelites’ wanderings in the wilderness, God appeared as a pillar of cloud or fire in and above the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was a perfect cube — its length, width and height were all equal to 15 feet.
A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. This curtain, known as the “veil,” was made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn. There were figures of cherubim (angels) embroidered onto it. Cherubim, spirits who serve God, were in the presence of God to demonstrate His almighty power and majesty. They also guarded the throne of God. These cherubim were also on the innermost layer of covering of the tent. If one looked upward, they would see the cherubim figures.
The word “veil” in Hebrew means a screen, divider or separator that hides. What was this curtain hiding? Essentially, it was shielding a holy God from sinful man. Whoever entered into the Holy of Holies was entering the very presence of God. In fact, anyone except the high priest who entered the Holy of Holies would die. Even the high priest, God’s chosen mediator with His people, could only pass through the veil and enter this sacred dwelling once a year, on a prescribed day called the Day of Atonement.
The picture of the veil was that of a barrier between man and God, showing man that the holiness of God could not be trifled with. God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil and He can tolerate no sin (Habakkuk 1:13). The veil was a barrier to make sure that man could not carelessly and irreverently enter into God’s awesome presence. Even as the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, he had to make some meticulous preparations: He had to wash himself, put on special clothing, bring burning incense to let the smoke cover his eyes from a direct view of God, and bring blood with him to make atonement for sins.
“But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.” (Hebrews 9:7)
So the presence of God remained shielded from man behind a thick curtain during the history of Israel. However, Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross changed that. When He died, the curtain in the Jerusalem temple was torn in half, from the top to the bottom. Only God could have carried out such an incredible feat because the veil was too high for human hands to have reached it, and too thick to have torn it. (The Jerusalem temple, a replica of the wilderness tabernacle, had a curtain that was about 60 feet in height, 30 feet in width and four inches thick.) Furthermore, it was torn from top down, meaning this act must have come from above.
As the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed. God’s presence was now accessible to all. Shocking as this may have been to the priests ministering in the temple that day, it is indeed good news to us as believers, because we know that Jesus’ death has atoned for our sins and made us right before God. The torn veil illustrated Jesus’ body broken for us, opening the way for us to come to God. As Jesus cried out “It is finished!” on the cross, He was indeed proclaiming that God’s redemptive plan was now complete. The age of animal offerings was over. The ultimate offering had been sacrificed.
We can now boldly enter into God’s presence, “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.” (Hebrews 6:19-20)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body …let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)
The Holy of Holies is a representation of heaven itself, God’s dwelling place, which we have access now through Christ. In Revelations, John’s vision of heaven — the New Jerusalem — also was a perfect square, just as the Holy of Holies was (Revelation 21:16).
“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. …But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:24-26)
The Ark of the Covenant and Atonement Cover
Within the Holy of Holies, shielded from the eye of the common man, was one piece of furniture comprising two parts: the Ark of the Covenant and the atonement cover (or “mercy seat”) on top of it. The ark was a chest made of acacia wood, overlaid with pure gold inside and out. It was 3 feet, 9 inches long and 2 feet, 3 inches wide and high. God commanded Moses to put in the ark three items: a golden pot of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written. We will discuss these three objects in further detail below.
The atonement cover was the lid for the ark. On top of it stood two cherubim (angels) at the two ends, facing each other. The cherubim, symbols of God’s divine presence and power, were facing downward toward the ark with outstretched wings that covered the atonement cover. The whole structure was beaten out of one piece of pure gold. The atonement cover was God’s dwelling place in the tabernacle. It was His throne, flanked by angels. God said to Moses:
“There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.” (Exodus 25:22)

“Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” (Leviticus 16:2)
Other Scriptures also speak of God’s throne:
“…the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark.” (2 Samuel 6:2)

“O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Isaiah 37:16)
Above the ark and the atonement cover, God appeared in His glory in “unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16). This light is sometimes referred to as the Shekinah glory. The word Shekinah, although it does not appear in our English bibles, has the same roots as the word for tabernacle in Hebrew and refers to the presence of the Lord.
Because the ark was God’s throne among His people, it was a symbol of His presence and power with them wherever it went. There are quite a number of miracles recorded in the Old Testament surrounding the ark: With the presence of the ark, the waters of the River Jordan divided so the Israelites could cross on dry land, and the walls of Jericho fell so that the Israelites could capture it (Joshua 3:14-17, 6:6-21). Yet the ark could not be treated with irreverence because it was also a symbol of God’s judgment and wrath. When the Israelites fought their enemies the Philistines during the time of the prophet Samuel, they disregarded the commands of the Lord and took the ark out to the battlefield with them, “summoning” God’s presence. God caused the Philistines to win the battle and “the glory departed from Israel, for the ark of the Lord was taken” (1 Samuel 4:22). However, God showed His power to the Philistines when He caused their idol, Dagon, to fall to the ground when the ark was placed next to it, and several Philistine cities were plagued heavily when the ark was in their midst (1 Samuel 5). Ultimately, the ark was returned to Israel.

What Is A Christian?

What Is a Christian? By Romans

I wasn't sure what to speak on tonight, so I consulted a book that has been for me a gold mine of unlimited riches, The World's Bible Handbook by Robert Boyd. In an article titled “I Am What I Am,” in the section commenting on 1 Corinthians 15,  Mr. Boyd compiles a list that describes what we, as Christians, are. I have titled tonight's Discussion, “What Is A Christian?” I have used most of the headings and Scriptures from the Bible Handbook, but I have also added a few ideas and Verses of my own to round things out. Tonight, we will be looking at what makes us Christian. Speaking for myself, Mr. Boyd has compiled a list that is more thorough and, seeing it all in one place, is more inspiring than anything I have ever seen before. It also serves to powerfully point out the stark difference between how the world writes us off a fools, compared to how God provides for us, and has welcomed us into His Family.

First, we should remember who we were:
Ephesians 2:12: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Then Verse 19: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

We are forgiven:
We read in Romans 4:7: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

That, my friends, is who we are, [i]Blessed[/i] because we are forgiven.

And, as a result of being forgiven, Paul goes on to tell us in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

But being forgiven is just the beginning...

We are justified:
Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith...”

We are declared to be righteous:
Romans 3:25: “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

We are sanctified (which means, set apart for Holy use):
Hebrews 10:10: “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

1 Corinthians 6:11: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

We are children of God by adoption:
Romans 8:15: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

It is important to point out here that in the Middle East, Abba is an intimate term of endearment. We miss that intimacy in this culture if we don't fully realize that that is how children there say, [i]“Daddy.”[/i] That is how the Almighty God wants us to think of Him! This really struck home powerfully for me when I visited Israel. I was in a crowded street walking through the crowds of both tourists and local residents, when suddenly a happy little boy broke through the crowd and ran to his father calling, “Abba! Abba!” It was then that I realized, as never before, the kind of relationship that God wanted with me.

Ephesians 1:5: “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will...”

We are a new creation:
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

As children, we are heirs of God, as well as joint-heirs with Christ:
Romans 8:16: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

But, as heirs, [i]what[/i] do we inherit?
Matthew 25:34: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:”

Revelation 21:7: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”

We are members of the Body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

Ephesians 5:29: “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”

We are the Temple of God:
1 Corinthians 3:16: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

1 Corinthians 6:19: “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

We are kings and priests:
Revelation 20:6: “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Revelation 22:5: “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

1 Corinthians 4:8: “Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

We are the people of God:
1 Peter 2:10: “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

1 Peter 2:9: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

“Peculiar” is not a word that is usually used as a compliment. But if you hear it in these two other Verses you might be less concerned about it being applied to us, as believers:

We read in Psalms 135:4: “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.”

And then in Titus 2:14: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

We are crucified with Christ:
Romans 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

We are dead with Christ:
Romans 6:8: “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

Buried with Christ
Romans 6:4: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:”

Romans 6:6-7: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

And then we are raised with Christ:
Colossians 2:12: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

Romans 6:3-8: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

We are seated in the Heavenlies:
Ephesians 2:5: “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: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

Being a Christian means that we are not of this world:
John 15:19: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”

John 17:15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

We are delivered from this present evil world:
Galatians 1:3: “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”

We are in Christ's Kingdom:
Colossians 1:13: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

We are each a child of light to the lost:
Acts 13:47: “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”

Ephesians 5:8: “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

We are co-laborers with God:
1 Corinthians 3:9: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

We are servants of Righteousness:
Romans 6:18: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

We are God's Workmanship:
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

We are like Christ:
1 John 4:17: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

We are at Peace with God:
Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

We are Heaven's Ambassadors:
2 Corinthians 5:20: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

We are empowered witnesses:
Acts 1:8: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

We are the salt of the Earth:
Matthew 5:13: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

We are the light of the world:
Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

We are highly valued:
Luke 12:6: “... ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Of more value than sparrows? Is that being highly valued? Well, it is when you consider what Jesus said immediately before that: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?” Yes, we are highly valued.

We are Jesus' disciples:
John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

We are victorious:
1 Corinthians 15:57: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are more than conquerors:
Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

We are Jesus' friends:
John 15:14: “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

We are glorified:
Romans 8:30: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”

Who are we?

We are Christians.

We read in Hebrews 3:14: “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end...” Besides being made “partakers of Christ,” we read in 2 Corinthians 2:15: “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ...” On another level we are told in Ephesians 4:25: “...for we are members one of another.” The list of positive themes that describe us can supply us with many, many hours of meditation and edification in our spiritual walk. I have never heard any of our detractors ever use any of the adjectives, descriptions and categories that I used, tonight, to describe who and what we are. The world dismisses us as fools believing in fairy tales. They don't have the [i]remotest[/i] idea of the blessings poured out on us by God. But remember, Jesus told us to expect to be resisted and rejected: He said beginning in John 15:18: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.”

But I also hasten to add these words of consolation that Jesus also spoke to us in John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Lastly, we are [i]complete[/i] in Christ:
That is such a reassuring and comforting thought: We read in Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”

Now, if you think I could get through a Discussion without sharing with all of you the comments of Matthew Henry, you are wrong. Regarding our being complete in Christ, Mr. Henry writes: “We have in Him the substance of all the shadows of the ceremonial law. All the defects of it are made up in the gospel of Christ, by his complete sacrifice for sin, and by the revelation of the will of God. To be complete, is to be furnished with all things necessary for salvation. By this one word "complete," is shown that we have in Christ whatever is required. "In him," not when we look to Christ, as though he were distant from us, but we are in him, when, by the power of the Spirit, we have faith wrought in our hearts by the Spirit, and we are united to our Head. The circumcision of the heart, the crucifixion of the flesh, the death and burial to sin and to the world, and the resurrection to newness of life, set forth in baptism, and by faith wrought in our hearts, prove that our sins are forgiven, and that we are fully delivered from the curse of the law. Through Christ, we, who were dead in sins, are quickened. Christ's death was the death of our sins; Christ's resurrection is the quickening of our souls.”

This concludes this Evening's Discussion, “What Is A Christian?”

Romans, January 13th, 2012