We are now entering retirement and we again need to "crunch the numbers" again to work out a lifestyle that is within our means. We are cutting back on many things. NO biggie. We understand that things are fleeting pleasures and even necessities and that God has so much more in story for us in Christ. Time will fly by and we both will be at home with the Lord sooner than many on this site. But in the time between now and then, we will live a life of gratitude, sensibility, responsibleness, and generosity, according to how God blesses us.
I agree we need to be watchful of "subtle things" as you say, avoiding even the appearance of sin ( 1 Th. 5:22), some versions say, others say avoid every kind of evil. So, I think we need to do both, to say no to what we know to be evil and to turn away from anything that is subtlety evil in appearance (as we never know who is watching our conduct and example). The first we do for ourselves truly, to say not to obvious evil. But the second is for the conscience and judgment of others AND for ourselves as indulging in what appears to be evil can tempt us into more serious sin. Also, if certain practices and interactions with others cause us to sin, then we are to shun such things so we will escape being entrapped in a sin we had previously overcame or one that will ensnare us and master us.
Even so, I agree, we are to enjoy the life that God has blessed us with. We are to be wise in discerning good and evil so that we can walk according to what is good (and can be enjoyed to God's honor) and righteous (and is in obedience to God's will).
Living a balanced life between willingly forgoing some things for Christ's sake and enjoying the blessings of this mortal life in gratitude to God who provides and allows us to partake is the key important factor here.
AS for me, I endeavor to live a simple life her in the U.S. and avoid the over-indulgent lifestyle touted by those of worldly-mindedness. But I find many things that are simple pleasures meant for me to enjoy. I grew up in poverty that went back for generations and generations. God lifted me out of poverty when I married. We spent most of our married life just barely making ends meet raising our family. We were lived frugally and responsibly. In the last decade we have been blessed with a better standard of living than we have ever had before, but we are certainly not rich. AS a result of this blessing, we have not only been able to make ends meet, but also enjoy many things we hadn't the resources for past.
I am so sorry that you and your husband are at such odds on this matter.
For me, I have this approach to this conflict.
1) Palestine was controlled by the Britian prior to its becoming a nation for the Jews.
2) Israel was formed by the British, giving over control of Palestine to the Jews as a recognized nation.
3) Israel has allowed people from a whole plethora of nationalities live within its borders.
4) There has never been a nation of Palestine. Prior to Israel being established as the nation of that area, control of Palestine has been from nations outside of Palestine for almost a Millennia.
5) The Palestinian terrorists hate the Israel as a nation, the Jews as a people, and Christians as a religious group because deep down they hate the God revealed in the Bible. They wish to repudiate Him by destroying the people who have believed in Him through Scriptures and take the land God had promised to Israel.
6) The Palestinian terrorist started this war. They have launched over 10,000 missiles in a year in just one Israeli town, let alone 100's of thousand more into other towns in Israel. The Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing the equivalent in percentage of al most 40,000 Americans. If this happened to the U.S. I would hope that we would put the terrorists out of business really quickly and soundly.
7) Israel is defending itself because their country was attacked.
8) So, I support Israel, not because they are Jews, as there are many non-Jews in Israel, too, but because it is a sovereign nation attacked by a rebel people who want to eliminate it as a present nation. I think that it is wrong to want to attack and eliminate any sovereign nation anywhere in the world.
This is my reasoning for supporting Israel and being strongly against the Hamas terrorists. I feel sorry for innocent civilians on both sides of this conflict. Any in Gaza or Lebanon who do not support terrorists deserve our sympathies and humanitarian aid.
We do not need to feel guilty of enjoying things in this life our even possessing things that others do not have. Abraham was a very rich man for his time, a Chieftan. He had oodles of livestock and many servants. Was it wrong or him to have these things? No, God had blessed him in such a way that he prospered beyond what would be subsistence living. I am sure he enjoyed wine, too.
So, do not think that we need to live so simply that we are miserable in doing so with a dour attitude that leads to a downhearted countenance. We are to be joyful, living our life in the abundance that God has blessed us with, whether little or much. His blessings should not be shunned. in times past, many believers resorted to ascetic behavior to renounce material things. We do not need to turn to that lifestyle. Yet we are to learn to deny ourselves in favor of the Lord's will. In order for the apostles to do the work God willed for them to do, they needed to depend on the giving of other Christians who had means to fund their work and life needs. They encouraged those with means to support those who are poor, but not to forsake their means or not enjoy the life these means provide, as God had blessed them.
Jema, I do believe it is fine to enjoy certain hobbies and such as long as it is in moderation and does not overtake our interest, attention, and time. There is a time for everything, as it says in Ecclesiastes, and a purpose for every thing under heaven.
As for me, I have so enjoyed gardening these past 3 years since I retired. When I was teaching, I did not have time to do this. Now I can enjoy how God makes vegetables and flowers grow from small seeds. The flowers are so beautiful and the vegetables are good for us to eat. They also provide food for animals and pollen for insects, which in turn, pollinate the flowers so that they produce fruit. How beautiful is this cycle of interdependence! Others may enjoy raising animals. We just do all for God's glory.
Good day, One-eighty, I hope you will stay with us here.
I am glad that you seem to fess up to having read the book Jesse mentioned. If this is true, then I now have more of an understanding of where your ideas spring from, although, like Jesse, I thought as much as he did. Like Jesse, I place the teachings of ACIM into the New Age spiritualism that espouses many ideas contrary to historic biblical Christian faith. The New age is a mish-mash of many different spiritual sources including some distorted Christian ideas, but mostly ideas that spring from eastern mysticism, Gnosticism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and occultic sources. Therefore, like Jesse, I repudiate these beliefs as well. I consider them heretical and those who embrace New Age ideas as you have are endangering their souls by drawing one away from true Christianity with ideas that tantalize the spirit with esotericism, mysticism, and beliefs that eventually lead to belief in the deity of man, which is an abhorrence to the true God of the Bible.
One-eighty, I value your friendship, and I don't ever mean to be unduly judgmental of your ideas. But I do find most of them crossing the line of sound doctrine. I care for you and do not wish to push you away. I pray for you almost daily and look forward to our conversations here. It saddens my heart to know how you have been steeping your mind and spirit in New Age thinking. I encourage you to stick to the Bible only and refuse to listen or read anymore from New Age materials. I encourage you to seek the Lord of the Bible with all of your heart, mind, soul, and spirit; to honestly ask the Lord to search you and show you any way that you have thought that is in contradiction to what He has revealed in the Bible. We all should do this as well.
In Ps. 51 David so wanted to have a clean heart before the Lord and follow Him only and truly. I pray that you and I and others on this site will desire this also. Reading, rea-reading and praying Ps. 51 is helpful.
Thank you, I am grateful for you also! I agree, we cannot explain God but we can experience Him in His fullness.
I truly meant no harm by questioning your posts. I believe I had mentioned to you before that I valued your contributions here. I mean that. I do hope you continue to post on this forum. But if you choose not to, I just hope that I am not the cause. You are a very kind and thoughtful person. I do hope to see you back on here again soon.
May the Lord continue to work in your life, and through His word may you continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Thank you for your kind reply , I appreciate it . I hope you will stay around here long enough to share some more about yourself and your experiences . Looking forward to reading more from you .
Thank you Jordyn , you always calm me down :) . I had a long prayer today which helped me very much . I realised that I've felt this way before , a few years ago when my favourite Aunt was dying . When I get stressed I revert to old habits , not exactly sinful but definitely a bit worldly . You are correct about church rules , they often put burdens on people that are not mentioned at all in the Bible . Ive never taken much notice of human rules , or of humans who seek to impose them , God is my judge , only He knows my heart . I think part of my problem comes from not having parents that liked me , so with my Heavenly Father I always feel as if I'm not good enough , I wasn't good enough for my biological parents so....you can guess the rest I'm sure . A couple of very nice things happened to me recently and I don't feel as if I deserved them . I need to follow my own words and trust in God's love for me and in Jesus's love for me :) . Thanks again for your time , much love in Christ .
"In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of theLordlaid, in the month Zif:/And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it."
Fourth year marks the laying of the foundation, which indicates that the preparation was in full steam. In the preceding chapter we read that,"And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house(5:17)". Stones were cut and were brought to the site. "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building(6:7)". Compare this with this Messianic verse from Isaiah,"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.(28:16)" This stone carries several tags. It is tried. it is precious stone. It is a corner stone meaning that it secures two walls of the Gentiles and Israel to be hold fast. It is a precious stone since it refers to the Son. He was the rock of stumbling but it has become precious corner stone. He was tried or tempted, as written here, 'but was in all points tempted like aswe are, yetwithout sin(He.4:15)'. He is the foundation on which the house of God shall be raised. To this the foundation work of king Solomon anticipates.
The time lapse is very much in evidence where the fourth year does not mean stones were instantly found ready to us. From the creation account to the inauguration of New Jerusalem work has been going both in heaven and on the earth. Four is a command number to indicate universal aspect of Salvation Plan and it is word-based.
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of theLord(6:1).
Compare the above with the opening verses of the Book of Ezekiel, "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God./In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,(Ez.1:1-2)"
In the first the eternal will of God concerning the body that 'Thou has prepared for me' is held fast into the bezel of Time where specific details with regards to months and years are to highlight the work of the holy city of God being prepared from heaven(Re.21:3). On the other hand in the second instance the vision of four living creatures are to hold out consolation to the nation in exile.
In whichever case what we need to keep in mind is that the world of the flesh gives us readings that must be seen as one part of puzzle, which can only be understood by setting both halves side by side. The Bible is God document and as such we ought to take warning when we are assailed by puzzling feature of our present circumstance.
Before Jesus would be born the three Magi accustomed to read the face of heaven could not have remained untouched by the wondrous star. His birth was a sign and a warning.
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,/Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him(Matt.2:1-2)".
Herod's fright is not our fright. Light has been shown unto us from above.
John the Baptist was called from the foundation of the world to be the forerunner of Christ, your called to be his wife.
John had everything he needed to dwell in the wilderness, a coat of camels hair, and locust to eat.
Jesus SAID:
Luke 7:28 .... among those that are born among women there is not a GREATER PROPHET than John the Baptist, be he that is LEAST in the Kingdom of God is a GREATER (prophet) than he.
Revelation 10:11 .... thou (you) must PROPHESY AGAIN before many people, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Your calling is to be a JUDGE, along the side, of your husband Christ , when he resurrects the dead back to life.
Just as God told Gideon, you only need a FEW to destroy the Midianites, he is ONLY calling out a FEW to be JUDGES with him, and they together will DESTROY the carnal mind of those resurrected back from the dead.
They will BE JUDGED by God's word, just as we are judged by God's word.
Proverbs 16:6 .... by MERCY and TRUTH, iniquity is purged .......
Jema, I'm so glad with your kind reply, thank you brother/sister(?), your nickname doesn't reveal it).
However, I think I was misunderstood face my defense of the accusations saying I feel myself superior, and I bellit GOD's people by heavy and not soft Judgments, as many examples of Judgment recorded in the Word of GOD. In fact, the Word is GOD and Judges us, He weigheth the spirits in the balances- Proverbs 16:2 & Daniel 5:27.
By the way, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part"- 1Corinthians 13:4-9).
In the other hand, what does the Word of GOD say? Hebrews 12:3-4&6-9
3 Consider Him that endured contradictions of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, GOD dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Greetings and love from our God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ.
"Let you heart be not troubled" we can all stumble in our walk, this is what fellowship is actually for, so that we can Keep each other in the faith. I may not quite have ears to hear yet but I do see a lot. I have always been a quiet, meek yet observant and inquisitive individual. But I am humble enough to admit that I am nothing but dust without God. I have had a very troubled past which God has saved me from and I think sometimes that people often forget about the spiritual war we are in. We are taught "it's not of works" which can be very deceiving itself because people tend to fall back in to the temptations we are told to avoid. I agree and accept the finished works of Christ but that doesn't mean I can sit back, put my feet up and drink my coffee. Quite the contrary I am now in debt to Christ and want to work daily "strive to enter" "pick up my cross daily" to show my Faith and constantly "examine thyself. ( James 2:18) "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." It's the one true Jesus I seek not the many impostors that have entered the world. I have tried to share my testimony on here too but I am struggling to shorten it to fit the characters required as I have had many different experiences that have all contributed to who I am today and how I came to Jesus for salvation. It really does show the extent that Jesus will go to just to find his lost sheep.
May the grace God guide you always and peace be with you in Jesus name.
All Churches have rules, and those rules put burdens on the congration.
Just as the people couldn't carry the rules put on them by the Pharisees.
The problem is they usually associate those rules as a part of salvation
Christ puts no rules on you, his burden is light and easy to carry.
Before the foundation of the world; God, though Christ spoke the words of his salvation for man.
God alway see what he has spoken AS IF IT has ALREADY HAPPENED.
Christ has NOT YET put all things under him, God told him he needs a HELPMATE, so he came in the fullness of time (as God's word were spoken that he would come) died and was resurrected, but by HIS RESURRECTION a helpmate came forth, his wife, flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone, his IMAGE, and she is going to HELP HIM, judge the world.
God has done the work, just ENJOY HIS LIFE, as his wife, and walk not in deception of HIS WORKS.
( Rom. 3:10)"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
( Rom. 3:23)"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
It is because of that FAITH that leads me in to a life of OBEDIENCE.
( Rom. 4:4)"Now to him that WORKETH is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of DEBT."
( 1 John 1:6) "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK in DARKNESS, WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH:"
( 2 Cor. 6:17) "Wherefore COME OUT from among them, and BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"
( Heb. 11:8) "BY FAITH Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."
Jordyn You should know that you cannot profess a FAITH in Christ yet WALK in DARKNESS
( Mat. 6:24)"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
We have to be cautious of the "subtle" things or I might as well continue smoking cigarettes, commit fornication, adultery and thievery so long as I BELIEVE. No, I want to have FULL OBEDIENCE.
( Rev 3:16) "So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
You are explaining something I already understand quite well.
Again I thank you for your time and patience. you have helped me in some areas of which I am really grateful for.
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Greetings and grace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I'll try and keep it short as I can so that what I say will be easy to understand. After a life that I have lived I want nothing more than to please and serve God all day, everyday. 24/7. This is my only joy and my true (sabbath) rest. If I am not reading His word then, I am praying or speaking to someone about God. Things like facebook although is meant to allow people to communicate has only brought a disconnection between people from my own personal experience. Although I have faith in the finished works of Christ it's because of that is what transforms me from the old me to the new me. If there is no transformation then it becomes ( Mat. 15:8) empty lip service. Then I might as well just continue in fornication and pagan practices because, Hey ho Christ did it all for me. That last part was a bit of sarcasm, sorry.
I thank you for taking the time out of day to respond, I am really grateful
May God continue to guide you and peace be with you in Jesus name.
I really do appreciate the patience you have shown me. I think I am beginning to understand. It came to me last night after a dream I had. I know Christ lives because he lives in me. And so it is not I who lives but Christ in me. By the way the church I attend does not teach a works based doctrine. They teach "not of works lest any man shall boast". From what you have been saying and what they teach at the church I attend has mirrored each other. It was my understanding that was the problem.
I thank you again for your time and the patience you have bestowed upon me.
One more thing: Truth and Perfect Love, God, truly cannot be explained; They, It, can ONLY be experienced. Oh yes, we can try, but only in vain attempts. A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible, but necessary!
I realize you didn't directly accuse me. Nevertheless, take seriously what I said regarding it absolutely necessary to devote the time it takes to thoroughly read and actually meditate on extremely serious matters that are so important to spiritual "freaks" (using the term in a positive way) like you and I, and others.
By your own words, you did a "a little research" and "it didn't take much time". I'm speculating from my own experience, you observed numerous commentaries and statements from individuals who used the terms "heresy" and "cult". Many were Christians who claimed to be or thought they were an authority on the subject. Every one of them obviously did not do what I suggested as necessary to actually fully comprehend and grasp its intended meaning. It was obvious because they mentioned things that it said that were completely untrue, and completely ignored many of the basic terms and themes; either because they were ignorant by not spending the time needed to grasp it, or they just enjoyed being contentious and antagonistic, or they maybe just wanted to feel important by being an authority on something and blatantly lied. The other possibility is it was just to fearful for them to consider and accept certain concepts in which they were not indoctrinated. Would it not concern you if others approached the Bible like this?
Who knows; either way, my intention is NOT to promote the book. I don't really care, which is one reason I never mentioned it. Undeniably though, it has helped me considerably.
I can explain all the items you said should be considered heretical, but I won't, as it would take seemingly endless hours of writing in which I'd rather do something else; as it is, family obligations have been lacking due to time put into writing . I also feel inspired to focus much more solitary time in prayer.
Enough said. My last post was my final intended one on this site, but I felt the need to respond to your comment.
"So Solomon built the house, and finished it." David his father had given basic plan which he followed.
"Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,/12And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of theLord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things ( 1 Ch. 28:11-12)". David in turn received counsel from above which is what v.12 conveys,' And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit which by themselves would not add up. This was dedicated to the Lord.
The temple was laid out on the mount, where earlier Abraham was about to sacrifice his son and where Jesus was crucified. "Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where [the LORD] had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared..."(2 Ch.3:1-NKJV). The Spirit is telling us by Min Max mode how the Salvation Plan simultaneously works with the earth.
No matter whether it is of Moses or King Solomon it was a cube.:The Holy of Holies was located in the westernmost end of the Temple building, being a perfect cube:20 cubits by 20 cubits by 20 cubits. 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide and 30 cubits high" ( 1 Kings 6:2). When we consider the New Jerusalem in eternity we read the same. "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal./And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel(Re.21:16-17). Measure of man is incomplete unless it is dedicated to God where each part refers to the living sacrifice of man redeemed from the earth. Thus tabernacles of the earth foreshadow that of the Holy City of God which St John saw coming down from heaven.
God shall destroy the Egyptians who had for long oppressed to which the Spirit refers,"And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt." Now what shall happen in future do not change for oppressors of men. All oppression against man created in the image of God is against God who is just. So the one who helps the oppressor deal unjustly with immunity is Satan. St James speaks 'your gold and silver is cankered.' In our times it is called cryptocurrency. Has it spared the handlers escape scot-free. FTX or any name you call it it shall not leave the user from its consequences.
"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."
"And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of theLord./And the house which king Solomon built for theLord,"
In the above passage we have a building historically is no longer extant. In the manner the Spirit places the matter it is clear that it is not as much as about the physical shape and substance of the building as about point of reference and to what it is leading. "This is what the LORD says: "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? (Is.66:1)". God is a Spirit. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?(1 Co.3:16)" If God could discard his tabernacle set up in Shiloah he would do the same to the temple of Solomon. "So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tentwhichhe placed among men(Ps.78:60;Josh.18:1) God abandons where sin is let and man who has known His goodness does nothing about it. Prophet Jeremiah asked in his time, 'Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel(Je.7:12).' Before his passion the disciples of Jesus drew attention to the temple of Herod and got this response from him,"And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down (Matt.24:2)". It is to this St. Paul, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Co.3:17)". A temple is not so much as man who is represented as one because God is enthroned of which House we are all members.
God shall destroy the Egyptians who had for long oppressed to which
Coming back to the Egyptians they were like the Corporate Czars in our times. Their free enterprise allowed them to write rules as the market trends showed so price gouging is a matter for the best legal minds to make it stick. Egyptians would not escape so lightly. "And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted themwhat they requested.Thus they plundered the Egyptians.(Ex.12:36-NKJV)"Building the tabernacle in the wilderness. Egypt had to pay back wages. Min Max mode. The Son paid with his body against the slaughter of the first born.
"And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (1 Co.12:28-NKJV). Each ministry is to be done according to the grace given and we are to do it as unto the Lord. "Whatever you do unto these little ones you do unto me."And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me(Matt.25:40)".
v.6 "And unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint."
God is the builder. "For every house is builded by someman; but he that built all thingsisGod (He.3:4)." Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool, so whatever we build has to come within that House which we may not see with our eyes but it is there. Keeping this in our mind let us consider King Solomon about to embark on a project he requires help. "Now theLordmy God hath given me rest on every side(v.4)'.
He also gave him wisdom to conceive it and also acquire provisions for building it."And theLordgave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together." and in v.10 we read thus,"So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire(v.10,12)".
Solomon agrees to pay Hiram fair wages. Neither his father David would buy the threshing floor for free which we have already covered. Neither Hiram nor Solomon are free agents but their transactions are ever before the Lord. It is for this reason we read that when the Egyptians cracked their whips on the Israelites God had seen it all. We read of their bondage, "So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob./And Godlooked upon the children of Israel, and Godacknowledgedthem.(Ex.2:24-25-NKJV)"
David sinned against God and as a result a plague devastates the land. The burden is on David to plead his case before the Lord. "And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto theLordmy God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver./And David built there an altar unto theLord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So theLordwas intreated for the land(2 Sa.24:24-25)."
Glorious rest of the Anointed One tells us that his ministry of reconciliation is over. It shall bring the Gentiles over. King Solomon bring Pharaoh's daughter to live in Jerusalem (the city of David) has a parallel where the bride of Christ on the holy mountain shall form the nucleus of the church. The Bride of the Lamb, New Jerusalem descending from heaven (Re.21:3) are the saints redeemed from the earth."
On this basis 'And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David' makes sense.
King Solomon's own house, palace is yet another. These three parts, own house, temple and the walls round about are to be taken as one. Body, Spirit and Soul are set in the direct context of salvation. "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation willGodappointforwalls and bulwarks(Is.26:1). Walls around Jerusalem has its spiritual significance to which we referred in the previous post. When the Lord is exalted glory of God makes the glory of the sun redundant. Zion is the soul of the holy city of God. In that day refers to it. The walls have foundations glory of which is derived from the soul. 'And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones (Re.21:19) " And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.(Is.33:6-)".
It is the ensign that the Gentiles seek on that holy mountain. Government is upon the shoulders of the Messiah-King, and glory shall be his rest. No more burnt offerings or sacrifices other than bodies as living sacrifices. Why no animal sacrifices? "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;(Is.11:6-10)"
The Spirit introduces the kings of Israel called to be double for the Messiah King which in turn is a stand-in for the word of God the rider on the white horse in the Book of the Revelation."And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war (Re.19:11)". He is the King of kings. "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords(19:18)".
The many kings that are recorded are consequently called to be stand-in for the Word of God that appears from heaven, to which we only need refer the cavalcade that the breaking of seven seals by the slain Lamb brings on. The rider on the white horse sets out to conquer and conquering which by law of Gradation lead us to the King of kings mentioned above. King Solomon as Prince of peace is a double for the Messiah King. It also has a frame of reference to the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Kings introduces the reign of King Solomon with this verse that is to be understood at different level. "And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of theLord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about(3:1)".
The Millennial Reign shall be noteworthy for the following reasons. Peace shall reign and it is a rest that is glorious. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of theLord, as the waters cover the sea./And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious(Is.11:9-10)".
King Solomon was called to be the double for the Son. So he has his own house,"Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrificesshall beaccepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people(Is.56:7)".Secondly the house of the Lord of which we have reference in this passage,
"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof(Re.21:14-23)". It is obvious that this is in mid-air otherwise 'the wall of Jerusalem' would need not be indicated in particular with all the profusion of stones adorning the foundation and the walls(21:19-21).
His failure is mentioned in this verse, "And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David (3:1a)"
This three fold division was crucial for the Spirit to lay out our calling and we have to draw the much needed lesson of Solomon falling short in making his election sure. Moses had warned them of ever going back to Egypt."But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.(De.17:16)'
We are now entering retirement and we again need to "crunch the numbers" again to work out a lifestyle that is within our means. We are cutting back on many things. NO biggie. We understand that things are fleeting pleasures and even necessities and that God has so much more in story for us in Christ. Time will fly by and we both will be at home with the Lord sooner than many on this site. But in the time between now and then, we will live a life of gratitude, sensibility, responsibleness, and generosity, according to how God blesses us.
I agree we need to be watchful of "subtle things" as you say, avoiding even the appearance of sin ( 1 Th. 5:22), some versions say, others say avoid every kind of evil. So, I think we need to do both, to say no to what we know to be evil and to turn away from anything that is subtlety evil in appearance (as we never know who is watching our conduct and example). The first we do for ourselves truly, to say not to obvious evil. But the second is for the conscience and judgment of others AND for ourselves as indulging in what appears to be evil can tempt us into more serious sin. Also, if certain practices and interactions with others cause us to sin, then we are to shun such things so we will escape being entrapped in a sin we had previously overcame or one that will ensnare us and master us.
Even so, I agree, we are to enjoy the life that God has blessed us with. We are to be wise in discerning good and evil so that we can walk according to what is good (and can be enjoyed to God's honor) and righteous (and is in obedience to God's will).
Living a balanced life between willingly forgoing some things for Christ's sake and enjoying the blessings of this mortal life in gratitude to God who provides and allows us to partake is the key important factor here.
AS for me, I endeavor to live a simple life her in the U.S. and avoid the over-indulgent lifestyle touted by those of worldly-mindedness. But I find many things that are simple pleasures meant for me to enjoy. I grew up in poverty that went back for generations and generations. God lifted me out of poverty when I married. We spent most of our married life just barely making ends meet raising our family. We were lived frugally and responsibly. In the last decade we have been blessed with a better standard of living than we have ever had before, but we are certainly not rich. AS a result of this blessing, we have not only been able to make ends meet, but also enjoy many things we hadn't the resources for past.
I am so sorry that you and your husband are at such odds on this matter.
For me, I have this approach to this conflict.
1) Palestine was controlled by the Britian prior to its becoming a nation for the Jews.
2) Israel was formed by the British, giving over control of Palestine to the Jews as a recognized nation.
3) Israel has allowed people from a whole plethora of nationalities live within its borders.
4) There has never been a nation of Palestine. Prior to Israel being established as the nation of that area, control of Palestine has been from nations outside of Palestine for almost a Millennia.
5) The Palestinian terrorists hate the Israel as a nation, the Jews as a people, and Christians as a religious group because deep down they hate the God revealed in the Bible. They wish to repudiate Him by destroying the people who have believed in Him through Scriptures and take the land God had promised to Israel.
6) The Palestinian terrorist started this war. They have launched over 10,000 missiles in a year in just one Israeli town, let alone 100's of thousand more into other towns in Israel. The Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing the equivalent in percentage of al most 40,000 Americans. If this happened to the U.S. I would hope that we would put the terrorists out of business really quickly and soundly.
7) Israel is defending itself because their country was attacked.
8) So, I support Israel, not because they are Jews, as there are many non-Jews in Israel, too, but because it is a sovereign nation attacked by a rebel people who want to eliminate it as a present nation. I think that it is wrong to want to attack and eliminate any sovereign nation anywhere in the world.
This is my reasoning for supporting Israel and being strongly against the Hamas terrorists. I feel sorry for innocent civilians on both sides of this conflict. Any in Gaza or Lebanon who do not support terrorists deserve our sympathies and humanitarian aid.
Praying
6)
'
We do not need to feel guilty of enjoying things in this life our even possessing things that others do not have. Abraham was a very rich man for his time, a Chieftan. He had oodles of livestock and many servants. Was it wrong or him to have these things? No, God had blessed him in such a way that he prospered beyond what would be subsistence living. I am sure he enjoyed wine, too.
So, do not think that we need to live so simply that we are miserable in doing so with a dour attitude that leads to a downhearted countenance. We are to be joyful, living our life in the abundance that God has blessed us with, whether little or much. His blessings should not be shunned. in times past, many believers resorted to ascetic behavior to renounce material things. We do not need to turn to that lifestyle. Yet we are to learn to deny ourselves in favor of the Lord's will. In order for the apostles to do the work God willed for them to do, they needed to depend on the giving of other Christians who had means to fund their work and life needs. They encouraged those with means to support those who are poor, but not to forsake their means or not enjoy the life these means provide, as God had blessed them.
Jema, I do believe it is fine to enjoy certain hobbies and such as long as it is in moderation and does not overtake our interest, attention, and time. There is a time for everything, as it says in Ecclesiastes, and a purpose for every thing under heaven.
As for me, I have so enjoyed gardening these past 3 years since I retired. When I was teaching, I did not have time to do this. Now I can enjoy how God makes vegetables and flowers grow from small seeds. The flowers are so beautiful and the vegetables are good for us to eat. They also provide food for animals and pollen for insects, which in turn, pollinate the flowers so that they produce fruit. How beautiful is this cycle of interdependence! Others may enjoy raising animals. We just do all for God's glory.
I am glad that you seem to fess up to having read the book Jesse mentioned. If this is true, then I now have more of an understanding of where your ideas spring from, although, like Jesse, I thought as much as he did. Like Jesse, I place the teachings of ACIM into the New Age spiritualism that espouses many ideas contrary to historic biblical Christian faith. The New age is a mish-mash of many different spiritual sources including some distorted Christian ideas, but mostly ideas that spring from eastern mysticism, Gnosticism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and occultic sources. Therefore, like Jesse, I repudiate these beliefs as well. I consider them heretical and those who embrace New Age ideas as you have are endangering their souls by drawing one away from true Christianity with ideas that tantalize the spirit with esotericism, mysticism, and beliefs that eventually lead to belief in the deity of man, which is an abhorrence to the true God of the Bible.
One-eighty, I value your friendship, and I don't ever mean to be unduly judgmental of your ideas. But I do find most of them crossing the line of sound doctrine. I care for you and do not wish to push you away. I pray for you almost daily and look forward to our conversations here. It saddens my heart to know how you have been steeping your mind and spirit in New Age thinking. I encourage you to stick to the Bible only and refuse to listen or read anymore from New Age materials. I encourage you to seek the Lord of the Bible with all of your heart, mind, soul, and spirit; to honestly ask the Lord to search you and show you any way that you have thought that is in contradiction to what He has revealed in the Bible. We all should do this as well.
In Ps. 51 David so wanted to have a clean heart before the Lord and follow Him only and truly. I pray that you and I and others on this site will desire this also. Reading, rea-reading and praying Ps. 51 is helpful.
Thank you, I am grateful for you also! I agree, we cannot explain God but we can experience Him in His fullness.
I truly meant no harm by questioning your posts. I believe I had mentioned to you before that I valued your contributions here. I mean that. I do hope you continue to post on this forum. But if you choose not to, I just hope that I am not the cause. You are a very kind and thoughtful person. I do hope to see you back on here again soon.
May the Lord continue to work in your life, and through His word may you continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
"In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of theLordlaid, in the month Zif:/And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it."
Fourth year marks the laying of the foundation, which indicates that the preparation was in full steam. In the preceding chapter we read that,"And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house(5:17)". Stones were cut and were brought to the site. "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building(6:7)". Compare this with this Messianic verse from Isaiah,"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.(28:16)" This stone carries several tags. It is tried. it is precious stone. It is a corner stone meaning that it secures two walls of the Gentiles and Israel to be hold fast. It is a precious stone since it refers to the Son. He was the rock of stumbling but it has become precious corner stone. He was tried or tempted, as written here, 'but was in all points tempted like aswe are, yetwithout sin(He.4:15)'. He is the foundation on which the house of God shall be raised. To this the foundation work of king Solomon anticipates.
The time lapse is very much in evidence where the fourth year does not mean stones were instantly found ready to us. From the creation account to the inauguration of New Jerusalem work has been going both in heaven and on the earth. Four is a command number to indicate universal aspect of Salvation Plan and it is word-based.
And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of theLord(6:1).
Compare the above with the opening verses of the Book of Ezekiel, "Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God./In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,(Ez.1:1-2)"
In the first the eternal will of God concerning the body that 'Thou has prepared for me' is held fast into the bezel of Time where specific details with regards to months and years are to highlight the work of the holy city of God being prepared from heaven(Re.21:3). On the other hand in the second instance the vision of four living creatures are to hold out consolation to the nation in exile.
In whichever case what we need to keep in mind is that the world of the flesh gives us readings that must be seen as one part of puzzle, which can only be understood by setting both halves side by side. The Bible is God document and as such we ought to take warning when we are assailed by puzzling feature of our present circumstance.
Before Jesus would be born the three Magi accustomed to read the face of heaven could not have remained untouched by the wondrous star. His birth was a sign and a warning.
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,/Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him(Matt.2:1-2)".
Herod's fright is not our fright. Light has been shown unto us from above.
John the Baptist was called from the foundation of the world to be the forerunner of Christ, your called to be his wife.
John had everything he needed to dwell in the wilderness, a coat of camels hair, and locust to eat.
Jesus SAID:
Luke 7:28 .... among those that are born among women there is not a GREATER PROPHET than John the Baptist, be he that is LEAST in the Kingdom of God is a GREATER (prophet) than he.
Revelation 10:11 .... thou (you) must PROPHESY AGAIN before many people, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Your calling is to be a JUDGE, along the side, of your husband Christ , when he resurrects the dead back to life.
Just as God told Gideon, you only need a FEW to destroy the Midianites, he is ONLY calling out a FEW to be JUDGES with him, and they together will DESTROY the carnal mind of those resurrected back from the dead.
They will BE JUDGED by God's word, just as we are judged by God's word.
Proverbs 16:6 .... by MERCY and TRUTH, iniquity is purged .......
God BLESS YOU as SPIRIT declares his truth to us.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I put my trust in Jesus that you make a steady recovery.
My God bless you with comfort and peace in Jesus name.
However, I think I was misunderstood face my defense of the accusations saying I feel myself superior, and I bellit GOD's people by heavy and not soft Judgments, as many examples of Judgment recorded in the Word of GOD. In fact, the Word is GOD and Judges us, He weigheth the spirits in the balances- Proverbs 16:2 & Daniel 5:27.
By the way, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the Truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part"- 1Corinthians 13:4-9).
In the other hand, what does the Word of GOD say? Hebrews 12:3-4&6-9
3 Consider Him that endured contradictions of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, GOD dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
GOD bless
Greetings and love from our God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ.
"Let you heart be not troubled" we can all stumble in our walk, this is what fellowship is actually for, so that we can Keep each other in the faith. I may not quite have ears to hear yet but I do see a lot. I have always been a quiet, meek yet observant and inquisitive individual. But I am humble enough to admit that I am nothing but dust without God. I have had a very troubled past which God has saved me from and I think sometimes that people often forget about the spiritual war we are in. We are taught "it's not of works" which can be very deceiving itself because people tend to fall back in to the temptations we are told to avoid. I agree and accept the finished works of Christ but that doesn't mean I can sit back, put my feet up and drink my coffee. Quite the contrary I am now in debt to Christ and want to work daily "strive to enter" "pick up my cross daily" to show my Faith and constantly "examine thyself. ( James 2:18) "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." It's the one true Jesus I seek not the many impostors that have entered the world. I have tried to share my testimony on here too but I am struggling to shorten it to fit the characters required as I have had many different experiences that have all contributed to who I am today and how I came to Jesus for salvation. It really does show the extent that Jesus will go to just to find his lost sheep.
May the grace God guide you always and peace be with you in Jesus name.
I know you go to church and enjoy going.
All Churches have rules, and those rules put burdens on the congration.
Just as the people couldn't carry the rules put on them by the Pharisees.
The problem is they usually associate those rules as a part of salvation
Christ puts no rules on you, his burden is light and easy to carry.
Before the foundation of the world; God, though Christ spoke the words of his salvation for man.
God alway see what he has spoken AS IF IT has ALREADY HAPPENED.
Christ has NOT YET put all things under him, God told him he needs a HELPMATE, so he came in the fullness of time (as God's word were spoken that he would come) died and was resurrected, but by HIS RESURRECTION a helpmate came forth, his wife, flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone, his IMAGE, and she is going to HELP HIM, judge the world.
God has done the work, just ENJOY HIS LIFE, as his wife, and walk not in deception of HIS WORKS.
God Bless YOU!
I have FAITH in the finished WORKS of Christ.
( Rom. 3:10)"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:"
( Rom. 3:23)"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
It is because of that FAITH that leads me in to a life of OBEDIENCE.
( Rom. 4:4)"Now to him that WORKETH is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of DEBT."
( 1 John 1:6) "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK in DARKNESS, WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH:"
( 2 Cor. 6:17) "Wherefore COME OUT from among them, and BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,"
( Heb. 11:8) "BY FAITH Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, OBEYED; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."
Jordyn You should know that you cannot profess a FAITH in Christ yet WALK in DARKNESS
( Mat. 6:24)"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
We have to be cautious of the "subtle" things or I might as well continue smoking cigarettes, commit fornication, adultery and thievery so long as I BELIEVE. No, I want to have FULL OBEDIENCE.
( Rev 3:16) "So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
You are explaining something I already understand quite well.
Again I thank you for your time and patience. you have helped me in some areas of which I am really grateful for.
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Greetings and grace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I'll try and keep it short as I can so that what I say will be easy to understand. After a life that I have lived I want nothing more than to please and serve God all day, everyday. 24/7. This is my only joy and my true (sabbath) rest. If I am not reading His word then, I am praying or speaking to someone about God. Things like facebook although is meant to allow people to communicate has only brought a disconnection between people from my own personal experience. Although I have faith in the finished works of Christ it's because of that is what transforms me from the old me to the new me. If there is no transformation then it becomes ( Mat. 15:8) empty lip service. Then I might as well just continue in fornication and pagan practices because, Hey ho Christ did it all for me. That last part was a bit of sarcasm, sorry.
I thank you for taking the time out of day to respond, I am really grateful
May God continue to guide you and peace be with you in Jesus name.
I really do appreciate the patience you have shown me. I think I am beginning to understand. It came to me last night after a dream I had. I know Christ lives because he lives in me. And so it is not I who lives but Christ in me. By the way the church I attend does not teach a works based doctrine. They teach "not of works lest any man shall boast". From what you have been saying and what they teach at the church I attend has mirrored each other. It was my understanding that was the problem.
I thank you again for your time and the patience you have bestowed upon me.
God bless you with peace and love in Jesus name.
One more thing: Truth and Perfect Love, God, truly cannot be explained; They, It, can ONLY be experienced. Oh yes, we can try, but only in vain attempts. A universal theology is impossible, but a universal experience is not only possible, but necessary!
Now, enough said.
I'm grateful for you!
Peace eternal
I realize you didn't directly accuse me. Nevertheless, take seriously what I said regarding it absolutely necessary to devote the time it takes to thoroughly read and actually meditate on extremely serious matters that are so important to spiritual "freaks" (using the term in a positive way) like you and I, and others.
By your own words, you did a "a little research" and "it didn't take much time". I'm speculating from my own experience, you observed numerous commentaries and statements from individuals who used the terms "heresy" and "cult". Many were Christians who claimed to be or thought they were an authority on the subject. Every one of them obviously did not do what I suggested as necessary to actually fully comprehend and grasp its intended meaning. It was obvious because they mentioned things that it said that were completely untrue, and completely ignored many of the basic terms and themes; either because they were ignorant by not spending the time needed to grasp it, or they just enjoyed being contentious and antagonistic, or they maybe just wanted to feel important by being an authority on something and blatantly lied. The other possibility is it was just to fearful for them to consider and accept certain concepts in which they were not indoctrinated. Would it not concern you if others approached the Bible like this?
Who knows; either way, my intention is NOT to promote the book. I don't really care, which is one reason I never mentioned it. Undeniably though, it has helped me considerably.
I can explain all the items you said should be considered heretical, but I won't, as it would take seemingly endless hours of writing in which I'd rather do something else; as it is, family obligations have been lacking due to time put into writing . I also feel inspired to focus much more solitary time in prayer.
Enough said. My last post was my final intended one on this site, but I felt the need to respond to your comment.
Peace
"So Solomon built the house, and finished it." David his father had given basic plan which he followed.
"Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,/12And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of theLord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things ( 1 Ch. 28:11-12)". David in turn received counsel from above which is what v.12 conveys,' And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit which by themselves would not add up. This was dedicated to the Lord.
The temple was laid out on the mount, where earlier Abraham was about to sacrifice his son and where Jesus was crucified. "Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where [the LORD] had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared..."(2 Ch.3:1-NKJV). The Spirit is telling us by Min Max mode how the Salvation Plan simultaneously works with the earth.
No matter whether it is of Moses or King Solomon it was a cube.:The Holy of Holies was located in the westernmost end of the Temple building, being a perfect cube:20 cubits by 20 cubits by 20 cubits. 60 cubits long, 20 cubits wide and 30 cubits high" ( 1 Kings 6:2). When we consider the New Jerusalem in eternity we read the same. "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal./And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel(Re.21:16-17). Measure of man is incomplete unless it is dedicated to God where each part refers to the living sacrifice of man redeemed from the earth. Thus tabernacles of the earth foreshadow that of the Holy City of God which St John saw coming down from heaven.
God shall destroy the Egyptians who had for long oppressed to which the Spirit refers,"And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt." Now what shall happen in future do not change for oppressors of men. All oppression against man created in the image of God is against God who is just. So the one who helps the oppressor deal unjustly with immunity is Satan. St James speaks 'your gold and silver is cankered.' In our times it is called cryptocurrency. Has it spared the handlers escape scot-free. FTX or any name you call it it shall not leave the user from its consequences.
"Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."
"And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of theLord./And the house which king Solomon built for theLord,"
In the above passage we have a building historically is no longer extant. In the manner the Spirit places the matter it is clear that it is not as much as about the physical shape and substance of the building as about point of reference and to what it is leading. "This is what the LORD says: "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? (Is.66:1)". God is a Spirit. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?(1 Co.3:16)" If God could discard his tabernacle set up in Shiloah he would do the same to the temple of Solomon. "So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tentwhichhe placed among men(Ps.78:60;Josh.18:1) God abandons where sin is let and man who has known His goodness does nothing about it. Prophet Jeremiah asked in his time, 'Go now to the place in Shiloh where I first made a dwelling for my Name, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel(Je.7:12).' Before his passion the disciples of Jesus drew attention to the temple of Herod and got this response from him,"And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down (Matt.24:2)". It is to this St. Paul, "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Co.3:17)". A temple is not so much as man who is represented as one because God is enthroned of which House we are all members.
God shall destroy the Egyptians who had for long oppressed to which
Coming back to the Egyptians they were like the Corporate Czars in our times. Their free enterprise allowed them to write rules as the market trends showed so price gouging is a matter for the best legal minds to make it stick. Egyptians would not escape so lightly. "And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted themwhat they requested.Thus they plundered the Egyptians.(Ex.12:36-NKJV)"Building the tabernacle in the wilderness. Egypt had to pay back wages. Min Max mode. The Son paid with his body against the slaughter of the first born.
"And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (1 Co.12:28-NKJV). Each ministry is to be done according to the grace given and we are to do it as unto the Lord. "Whatever you do unto these little ones you do unto me."And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me(Matt.25:40)".
v.6 "And unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint."
God is the builder. "For every house is builded by someman; but he that built all thingsisGod (He.3:4)." Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool, so whatever we build has to come within that House which we may not see with our eyes but it is there. Keeping this in our mind let us consider King Solomon about to embark on a project he requires help. "Now theLordmy God hath given me rest on every side(v.4)'.
He also gave him wisdom to conceive it and also acquire provisions for building it."And theLordgave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together." and in v.10 we read thus,"So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire(v.10,12)".
Solomon agrees to pay Hiram fair wages. Neither his father David would buy the threshing floor for free which we have already covered. Neither Hiram nor Solomon are free agents but their transactions are ever before the Lord. It is for this reason we read that when the Egyptians cracked their whips on the Israelites God had seen it all. We read of their bondage, "So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob./And Godlooked upon the children of Israel, and Godacknowledgedthem.(Ex.2:24-25-NKJV)"
David sinned against God and as a result a plague devastates the land. The burden is on David to plead his case before the Lord. "And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto theLordmy God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver./And David built there an altar unto theLord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So theLordwas intreated for the land(2 Sa.24:24-25)."
Glorious rest of the Anointed One tells us that his ministry of reconciliation is over. It shall bring the Gentiles over. King Solomon bring Pharaoh's daughter to live in Jerusalem (the city of David) has a parallel where the bride of Christ on the holy mountain shall form the nucleus of the church. The Bride of the Lamb, New Jerusalem descending from heaven (Re.21:3) are the saints redeemed from the earth."
On this basis 'And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David' makes sense.
King Solomon's own house, palace is yet another. These three parts, own house, temple and the walls round about are to be taken as one. Body, Spirit and Soul are set in the direct context of salvation. "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation willGodappointforwalls and bulwarks(Is.26:1). Walls around Jerusalem has its spiritual significance to which we referred in the previous post. When the Lord is exalted glory of God makes the glory of the sun redundant. Zion is the soul of the holy city of God. In that day refers to it. The walls have foundations glory of which is derived from the soul. 'And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones (Re.21:19) " And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.(Is.33:6-)".
It is the ensign that the Gentiles seek on that holy mountain. Government is upon the shoulders of the Messiah-King, and glory shall be his rest. No more burnt offerings or sacrifices other than bodies as living sacrifices. Why no animal sacrifices? "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;(Is.11:6-10)"
The Spirit introduces the kings of Israel called to be double for the Messiah King which in turn is a stand-in for the word of God the rider on the white horse in the Book of the Revelation."And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war (Re.19:11)". He is the King of kings. "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords(19:18)".
The many kings that are recorded are consequently called to be stand-in for the Word of God that appears from heaven, to which we only need refer the cavalcade that the breaking of seven seals by the slain Lamb brings on. The rider on the white horse sets out to conquer and conquering which by law of Gradation lead us to the King of kings mentioned above. King Solomon as Prince of peace is a double for the Messiah King. It also has a frame of reference to the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Kings introduces the reign of King Solomon with this verse that is to be understood at different level. "And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of theLord, and the wall of Jerusalem round about(3:1)".
The Millennial Reign shall be noteworthy for the following reasons. Peace shall reign and it is a rest that is glorious. "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of theLord, as the waters cover the sea./And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious(Is.11:9-10)".
King Solomon was called to be the double for the Son. So he has his own house,"Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrificesshall beaccepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people(Is.56:7)".Secondly the house of the Lord of which we have reference in this passage,
"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it./And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof(Re.21:14-23)". It is obvious that this is in mid-air otherwise 'the wall of Jerusalem' would need not be indicated in particular with all the profusion of stones adorning the foundation and the walls(21:19-21).
His failure is mentioned in this verse, "And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David (3:1a)"
This three fold division was crucial for the Spirit to lay out our calling and we have to draw the much needed lesson of Solomon falling short in making his election sure. Moses had warned them of ever going back to Egypt."But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.(De.17:16)'