The Dusty Disciples

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Seek First The Kingdom - Part 8

They kingdom exists as the transitional period between the present world and the world to come as we move toward the unity with God, “so that God may be all in all,” (1 Cor 15:28). While the apostle Paul said that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking” (1 Cor 15:32), the prophets foresaw the kingdom as a place of great prosperity, abundance, and joy.

"’Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved…They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.’” (Amos 9:13&15)

The prophets saw the fullness of the kingdom as an agricultural paradise, “The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the books will flow with water.” (Joel 3:18). Such prosperity would give each man time to “sit under his vine and fig tree,” (Micah 4:4)(1 Kings 4:24-25).

The use of the phrase “the vine” is seen in scripture as a metaphor for the prosperity of the kingdom. Jacob prophesized of the coming Messiah saying, “He ties his foal to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, and his robes in the blood of grapes,” (Gen 49:11). Apparently this vine is very prosperous. According to the Bereishis Rabbah, “there would be such an abundance of wine that one would conceivably be able to launder his clothes with white wine (white wine would not stain the garment)…There will be such plentitude of red wine that one would be able to dye his clothing red with it.”

When the twelve spies searched out the promised land, they returned carrying a single cluster of grapes that was so bountiful it had to be carried on a pole between two men, (Num 12:23). The Promised Land is a picture of the kingdom, where all human needs are abundantly supplied. In the words of John,

“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." (Rev 7:16-17)

The kingdom is frequently seen in scripture as a joyful feast, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,” (Matt 22:2). The return of Jesus is seen to culminate with a great marriage ceremony of the Lamb and His bride, (Rev 19:7). It will be a time when the righteous sit down with the great patriarchs of the faith, “Many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matt 8:11). The Hebrew Feast of Sukkot celebrates the time Israel dwelt in the wilderness and is seen to be a picture of the kingdom. It was said that anyone who had not seen the rejoicing of the people at the temple during the time of Sukkot had never witnessed a real celebration, (Gemara, Sukkah 53a).

“The Son of man came eating and drinking” (Matt 11:18), would have been consistent with His words, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matt 3:2). All the gospel writers record at least one of the miraculous feeding of the multitudes by Jesus because it both identifies Jesus with Moses and testifies to the power of the Kingdom of God. The first miracle Jesus performed, turning water into wine (John 2:1-11), may have been selected by John both for the wedding feast where it occurred and as a picture of the bounty of the kingdom. After the Passover meal before the crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom,” (Matt 26:29).

The prophet Isaiah looked forward to the future bounty of the kingdom saying,

"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David.” (Isa 55:1-3)

(to be continued - Scott)

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The God Given Role of Governments

This post is a deviation from the normal subject matter. About two months ago, Jacob and I, frustrated by the current political process, discussed how we could speak about the subject in church without offending fellow believers who felt that politics should stay outside the walls of the assembly. While it may be true that non-profit organizations cannot espouse support for specific candidates without jeopardizing their tax exempt status, they are permited to speak about the actions of candidates and the impact those actions have on our beliefs.

Most believers have some understanding that scripture instructs us to pray for our leaders. What most believers do not recall is the specific need we are to lift up in prayer.

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Tim 2:1-2)

The goal of praying for our leaders is so that we might “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” Said another way, believers should pray for the ability to worship and conduct our lives in a manner prescribed by the LORD. Judging by the condition of our government, believers have not sufficiently prayed for our leaders.

The opportunity to worship the LORD in a manner He prescribes was the reason Moses stood before Pharaoh while the nation was in Egypt,

“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness,” (Ex 5:1).

Like the repressive governments before and after, Pharaoh would not allow the people of God to go and worship in a manner prescribed by the LORD.

The LORD is a God Who desires all to be free so that every person may have the opportunity to “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near,” (Isa 55:6). The principle of seeking the LORD runs throughout the entire breath of scripture. To this end, God establishes rulers, authorities and principalities to function as “a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil,” (Rom 13:4). Punishing “the one who practices evil” provides a level of restraint against the sinful nature of man “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life.”

The writers of the Declaration of Independence drew on these principles from scripture when they wrote,

“All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. – That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men.”

Many believers are unaware that the current (2009-2012) Executive Administration of the Federal Government has become increasingly hostile against religious institutions and the free expression of religion in public places. The examples are numerous, but for the sake of brevity, we will cite only a few.

**********************************************

Banning the Mention of God at Military Funerals: In June 2011, the Department of Veteran Affairs and its Director of the Houston National Cemetery, who fall under the authority of the Obama Administration, forbid the mention of God and Jesus at funerals services for veterans buried in the local area National Cemetery. In addition, funeral volunteers were required to remove “God Bless” from condolence cards to grieving families and were banned from speaking a religious message when talking directly to veteran’s families while on cemetery grounds. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgY5ej-9kSg)

Banning Bibles At Walter Reed Military Hospital: In November 2011, Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington, D.C., issued a memorandum to caregivers stating, “No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading material and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.” After sufficient protest, including collecting a petition with over 20,000 signatures, the Hospital reversed their position.

“This is very ironic,” said Tony Perkins of The Family Research Council, “We’re talking about the ability of family members to read from a Bible to their wounded or even dying family members who fought to defend that same liberty. If the freedom of those who have sworn to give their lives defending such freedoms can be taken away, what can we expect for the rest of us?”

Forcing Christian and Jewish Worshippers to Violate Their Faith: In January 2012, under the provisions of Obamacare, churches, synagogues, and related religious institutions, including affiliated hospitals, colleges, and charities, must pay for contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion drugs for their employees even when such payments would violate the institution’s religious beliefs. Although the Catholic Church was most vocal in the news about these provisions of Obamacare, the requirements would apply to most religious institutions.

In the words of Pastor and author Rick Warren, “The issue here is not about women’s health. There is a greater principle, and that is do you have the right to decide what your faith practices?”

Dictating Who A Church Can Hire: In the fall of 2011, President Obama’s Justice Department petitioned the Supreme Court to eliminate the long-standing legal precedent that protects religious organizations from government regulations in the case of “Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School vs Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.” The case involved a teacher who lost her job at the school and sued under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Rather than just argue the merits of the specific case, the Justice Department used the opportunity to argue that all employees of a church are subject to Federal employment regulations. If the Administration’s claim was approved, government-appointed judges “could impose ministers on churches against their will,” said Luke Goodrich, a legal council representing the church. Churches would then lose their ability to make employment decisions based on religious beliefs.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on January 11, 2012, affirming the freedom of religious groups to choose their own ministers. In the words of the court,

“Requiring a church to accept or retain an unwanted minister, or punishing a church for failing to do so, intrudes upon more than a mere employment decision. Such action interferes with the internal governance of the church, depriving the church of control over the selection of those who will personify its beliefs. By imposing an unwanted minister, the state infringes the Free Exercise Clause, which protects a religious group’s right to shape its own faith and mission through its appointments. According the state the power to determine which individuals will minister to the faithful also violates the Establishment Clause, which prohibits government involvement in such ecclesiastical decisions.”

The decision appeared clear cut to the court justices so why was the Justice Department of the Obama Administration so willing to take this case to the Supreme Court? One must conclude that the position of the Justice Department reflects the convictions of the Obama Administration.

Failing to Defend Traditional Marriages: The Obama Administration’s Department of Justice does not defend the traditional definition of marriage between a man and women. In February 2011, President Obama instructed the Justice Department to stop defending the Defense of Marriage, which has since 1996 allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex partnerships recognized in other states.

Not only did the President make this decision, but this position was publicly announced to throw open the door and invite the opposition to come in. This is typical of the current the Administration. At best, the Obama Administration weakly defends the traditional values of most believers and, at worst, the administration is openly hostile toward those values.

Conclusion: Through the efforts of faithful men and women, most of the above infringements have been successfully reversed for the moment, but the approach of the current administration in Washington is clear:

(1) Disassemble and remove religious symbols, practices and institutions to the degree that these institutions will abdicate their beliefs,
(2) Backtrack from this strategy only temporarily when under extreme pressure, and
(3) Continue to wear down the opposition and look for future opportunities to continue the process.

The Believer’s Responsibility: Some in the body of Christ do not believe the discussion of politics should occur under the roof of the sanctuary. This dispute is as old as the gospel accounts. In the days that Jesus walked the earth, the Jewish Pharisees accepted the rule of Rome, provided such rule did not interfere with the worship of the Jewish people. At the other end of the spectrum were the Zealots who wanted to throw off all Roman rule and were willing to risk the nation to achieve that end. Even the apostle Paul appeared reluctant to criticize the Empire since he was able to preach the message under the protection of, and with relatively little interference from, the Roman government.

However, when a government or leaders within that government fail to fulfill their God given function to
secure the rights of citizens to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” and thus threaten the ability of citizens to worship and conduct their lives in a manner prescribed by God, those citizens become obligated to speak against such abuses and the people who authored them. To remain silent only invites further repression that will ultimately spiral down into total persecution against the body of believers.

-- Scott

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Seek First the Kingdom - Part 7

“When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.’” (Luke 4:42-43)

A close examination of the miracles Jesus performed will reveal that many, if not all, of the miracles testify to the kingdom, “for I was sent for this purpose.” Jesus began His ministry teaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt 4:17), told His audience “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matt 6:33), and then He proceeded to perform miracles that demonstrated aspects of the kingdom.

“Jesus was going throughout all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people,” (Matt 4:23).

The gospel of John records seven miracles of Jesus that all testify to the kingdom. Three of the miracles deal with healing the body. Healing a diseased person, a person who is crippled, or one who is blind, represent some of the greatest signs of the kingdom because “Shalom” is restored to that individual’s life and the people around him. The benefits of the kingdom are greatest for the person whose life is in the most chaos. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” (Matt 5:3). The kingdom comforts the mourners, feeds the hungry, bestows mercy, bears up under persecution, and brings forth peace, (Matt 5:3-10).

When Jesus sent the twelve disciples out He instructed them, “Preach saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand,’” (Matt 10:7). Their preaching was to be accompanied by four signs of the kingdom, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons,” (Matt 10:8). Casting out demons, like the healing of sickness, restores the health of the person bringing peace to the individual’s life. Casting out demons is one sign specifically identified by Jesus as a sign of the kingdom.

“If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matt 12:28).

Jesus performed all the signs that He instructed His disciples to perform to testify to the kingdom.

"Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Luke 7:22)

The “gospel” Jesus was referring to was “the gospel of the kingdom,” (Matt 4:23). When Jesus healed people, feed people and clothed people, he brought Shalom into their lives and gave His followers an example to follow. When Jesus healed the woman bleeding for twelve years, He restored her to her family and community. When Jesus healed the man blind from birth, the man could bless God for the beauty of the creation. When the man was freed of the demon possession, he sat down “at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind,” (Luke 8:35).

Jesus raised three people from the dead, including Lazarus, (John 11:1-45). If healing is a sign of the kingdom, it follows that resurrecting the dead would be among the greatest signs of the kingdom. Jesus may have been alluding to those who would witness His own resurrection when He said,

“Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste of death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power,” (Mark 9:1).

When prompted to bring about the kingdom, Jesus said,

“The kingdom of God does not come with careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is, because the kingdom of God is within you,” (Luke 17:21).

The statement of Jesus has led many to understand that the kingdom is not manifested in a physical form on the existing earth. However, if the kingdom of God is within believers, then the kingdom will manifest itself in the physical actions of kingdom people. If it is manifested in the actions of believers then the kingdom has a physical form on the earth today. Said another way, people see the kingdom every time a believer acts to bring order, purpose, and peace into the world, “for the kingdom of God is…righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” (Rom 14:7).

We can gain some insight into the operation of the kingdom by understanding the types of behavior that are not part of the kingdom. For example, the kingdom does not consist of people nor activities that bring chaos to the world.

“Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:9-10)

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal 5:19-21)

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Eph 5:5)

The examples Paul cites move the individual and the world toward greater chaos and turmoil. Instead of bringing Shalom to the world, these actions bring about the "Tohu-Bohu" that existed before the creation. At the end of the age, “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness…then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father,” (Matt 13:42-43).

The actions of kingdom people are to be different from worldly people who introduce chaos into the creation. The actions of kingdom people bring “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The actions of the believer must always be bent toward repairing the world. When believers act like Jesus we manifest the kingdom in the world. The action of the believer should always be judged against the standard of the kingdom, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father,” (Col 3:17).

The Holy Spirit is fundamental to the progression of the kingdom. The Spirit enables the believer to live a kingdom life through obedience to the commandments of God. The work of the Spirit was prophesized by Ezekiel who said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” (Ezek 36:26-28).

If the work of God at creation brings peace out of chaos, we would expect the work of the Son of God to bring peace to the world. Through every miracle He performed, Jesus restored a portion of the world back into the condition that existed before the fall.

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near,” (Eph 2:17).

The miracles of Jesus testified that He was from the Father because the Father has been in the business of creating Shalom out of tohu-bohu at creation.

“Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father?’ ‘Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.” (John 14:8-10)

(to be continued - Scott)

Monday, May 7, 2012

Seek First the Kingdom - Part 6

After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples greatly anticipated that the fullness of the kingdom would appear. They quizzed the Master, “’Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.” (Act 1:4-5). Although, Jesus does not give a specific time, His words “times…fixed by His (the Father’s) own authority,” hint that the return of the Master will occur at one of God’s “appointed times,” i.e., one of the biblical feasts.

A few days later, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Shavuoat) only reinforced the pattern that God was working out His plan for the kingdom on consecutive feast days. The apostles and disciples had previously witnessed the death of Jesus on Passover, His burial on Unleavened Bread, and His resurrection on Firstfruits. We can only speculate what first century believers thought would be revealed as they waited expectantly throughout the long summer months looking forward to the fall feasts of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles which begin around late September to early October.

Many believers must have anticipated the fullness of the kingdom appearing on the Feast of Trumpets. “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles,” (Acts 2:43). In anticipation of the coming kingdom, many believers stayed in Jerusalem. Why return home when you are witnesses to the unfolding of God’s plan? Every believer wanted to be in Jerusalem to witness the return of the Master (Zech 14:3), the gathering of the lost sheep of Israel (Mark 13:27), the rebuilding of the temple (Zech 6:12), and the crowning of Jesus as King to sit on the throne of David, (Luke 1:32). These are not the events of providence that a believer is satisfied to hear about when God has given a person the opportunity to experience.

Peace existed in the church like no other time in history, “The congregation of those who believe were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them,” (Acts 4:32). And knowledge of the LORD increased, “With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the LORD Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all,” (Acts 4:33). The kingdom was manifested in the actions of believers; “There were continually devoting themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer,” (Acts 2:42).

Believers opened up their homes to those who did not live in Jerusalem. “All those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need,” (Acts 2:44-45). Selling possessions provided for the needs of the community, is considered to be among the acts of righteousness, and earned believers “merits/rewards” that would become impossible to earn after the arrival of the kingdom. All met together for worship in the temple, all eat together, and all praised God and found favor among the people, (Acts 2:46).

The call to a higher level of righteousness and blessing came with a greater level of personal responsibility and judgment on those who “put the Spirit of the LORD to the test,” (Act 5:9). This was the case for Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a piece of property, but then lied to the apostles about the selling price and kept some of the proceeds for them selves. Even in the prosperity of the coming fullness, judgment will still come, on the unthankful, the sinner, and those who reject the knowledge of God and the grace that will be offered.

The pattern of unity, understanding, and worship among believers never repeats to this degree in scripture, “they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico,” (Acts 5:12). Men and women were constantly being added to the group of believes and people “even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them…and they were all being healed,” (Acts 5:14-16).

The fullness of the kingdom that was manifested by believers after the day of Pentecost remains as a pattern for believers to follow today. This fullness continued until the persecution of Stephen, which may have come as quickly as the fall feast of Rosh HaShanah. Unfortunately, the fullness promised by Jesus and the prophets would be delayed until a time that “the Father has fixed by His own authority,” (Acts 1:7).

(to be continued - Scott)

Monday, April 30, 2012

Seek First the Kingdom - Part 5

(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) Jesus Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Kingdom of Solomon (Part - 5)
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Prosperity and Joy
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Holiness
- Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom

PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Kingdom of Solomon

“He had peace on all sides around about him. So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:24-25)

The time of Solomon is a time of peace and is seen in scripture to foreshadow the time of the Messiah’s earthly kingdom, “In His (a righteous Branch) days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely,” (Jer 23:6). The name Solomon (“Shlomo”) is derived from the Hebrew word for peace, “shalom.” The phrase “every man under his vine and his fig tree,” is seen by the rabbis as a metaphor for the prosperity, blessing, and peace that accompanies the kingdom. Micah connects the fig tree to the coming of the kingdom saying,

“They will hammer their swords into plowshares And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they train for war. 4 Each of them will sit under his vine And under his fig tree, With no one to make them afraid,” (Mic 4:3-4)

Sitting under the fig tree was seen by the prophets as a time of personal and national peace that is brought about through the removal of iniquity by “My servant the Branch.” Zechariah wrote of this time saying,

"‘Behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch’…declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.’ ‘In that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and under his fig tree.’” (Zech 3:8-10)

We see this concept of “sitting under the fig tree” in the New Testament when Jesus called Nathanael to be a disciple. “‘How do You know me?’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,’” (John 1:48). The statement of Jesus results in Nathanel alluding to the kingdom of God, “You are the Son of God; the King of Israel,” (John 1:49).

The fig tree was a picture of the kingdom and is used in scripture to foreshadow the return of the kingdom, “Behold the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near,” (Luke 21:31). Since the fig tree is seen in the context of the physical land of Israel, both in Solomon’s kingdom and the ministry of Jesus, the reappearance of the land of Israel announces the season for the coming of the kingdom.

The days of Solomon were a time of unprecedented understanding and wisdom. In the days of Solomon, “All the earth was seeking the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom which God had put in his heart,” (1 Kings 10:24). In the words of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon, “How blessed are your men, how blessed are these your servants who stand before you continually and hear your wisdom,” (1 Kings 10:8). The days of Solomon foreshadowed the days of the coming kingdom spoken by Isaiah about Jerusalem, “All the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths,” (Is 2:2-3). The teacher will be Jesus and the world will come to know the ways of the LORD.

Jesus alluded to the days of Solomon saying, “The Queen of the South…came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is hear,” (Luke 11:31). It was not just royalty that had access to Solomon, but “your servants who stand before you.” Even two women who were harlots were able to come and stand in the presence of the king in the famous story of Solomon’s wisdom, (1 Kings 3:16-28). The deficiency of Solomon’s kingdom was not its inability to influence the world, but that Solomon let the world of his wives influence him to build high places to foreign gods that would ultimately result in the downfall of Judah.

During the time of Solomon’s reign, the nation of Israel possessed great wealth, “All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were gold…None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon,” (1 Kings 10:21). Solomon became greater than all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom. Ships brought wealth to nation from other countries, “They brought…articles of silver and gold, garments, weapons, spices, horses, and mule… year by year,” (1 Kings 10:25). So it shall also be in the days of the coming kingdom.

“The abundance of the sea will be turned to you, The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6 ‘A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD…11 ‘Your gates will be open continually; They will not be closed day or night, So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, With their kings led in procession…16 ‘You will also suck the milk of nations And suck the breast of kings; Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 "Instead of bronze I will bring gold, And instead of iron I will bring silver, And instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron. And I will make peace your administrators And righteousness your overseers." (Isa 60:5-17)

The bringing of “gold and frankincense” by the wise men to Jesus (Matt 2:11), may have been in response to the prophecy of Isaiah and a testimony that the magi believed Jesus would bring about the fulfillment of the kingdom. How do we know that the time Isaiah speaks of is the Millennial Kingdom, because his prophecy is followed by the words mirror those of John,

“No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over. Then all your people will be righteous; They will possess the land forever…The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, the LORD will hasten it in its time.” (Isa 60:19-22)(Rev 21:23).

The rabbis saw the latter part of this Isaiah passage as speaking of the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom prophesized elsewhere in scripture. They noted the seeming contradiction between the kingdom coming “in its time,” while at the same time, the LORD “will hasten it.”

“Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked, ‘It is written (Isa 60:22) “in its time” and is written, “I will hasten it”’. He answered, ‘If they merit it, I will hasten it (HASHEM will bring the promised redeemer before the appointed time). But if they do not merit it, he will nevertheless come at the appointed time.’”

Jesus and the apostles appeared to have different interpretations of Isaiah 60:22. Peter seemed to hold a position that the date of Jesus’ return could be brought about sooner by the righteous deeds of the saints. “What sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God,” (2 Peter 3:11-12).

On the other hand, Jesus appeared to indicate to the apostles that the future day of His return associated with the kingdom was fixed by God, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority,” (Acts 1:7). If the time is fixed, how did Jesus understand “hasten it in its time”? Maybe Jesus explained the phrase this way concerning the coming tribulation, “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” (Matt 24:22). Maybe "hasten" will mean to "cut short" and will be an act of grace and mercy not dependant on the actions of man.

(to be continued - Scott)

Monday, April 23, 2012

Seek First the Kingdom - Part 4

(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) Jesus Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom?
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness (Part 4)
- The Promised Land (Part 4)
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom - Prosperity and Joy - Peace - Righteousness - Holiness - Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Millenium Kingdom
(10) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom

PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Wilderness

The time Israel spent in the wilderness is one of the patterns in scripture for the kingdom. God provided manna every morning for the people to eat so they did not have to sow, cultivate, or harvest. All the gospel writers record at least one of the miraculous feeding of the multitudes by Jesus because it both identifies Jesus with Moses and testifies to the power of the Kingdom of God. In the wilderness, there was no need to dig wells because the people all drank from the rock that miraculously flowed water and followed the nation wherever it resided, (1 Cor 10:4). The miraculous water is like that which will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem, (Rev 22:1).

After the Exodus, the LORD promised the nation of Israel that He would keep the diseases and infirmities that plagued the Egyptians away from the Hebrew people.

“You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. ‘The LORD will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all who hate you.’” (Deut 7:14-15)

There is a hint of extended life in the wilderness in the persons of Caleb, Joshua, and Moses. The latter two were probably at least forty when they entered the wilderness and lived forty years in the wilderness. Joshua then had strength to lead the nation into the Promised Land and conquer the nations. It was said of Moses when the LORD took him, “Although Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye was not dim, nor his vigor abated,” (Deut 34:7). The Bible indicates that Moses did not age in the presence of the LORD. Nehemiah records that in the wilderness even “their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell,” (Neh 9:21).

Scripture prophesizes of a future time that alludes to the days of Israel in the wilderness, where the people of Israel were even protected from the elements.

“The LORD will create over the whole area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, even smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.” (Isa 4:5-6)

In the wilderness, all the needs of the people were met and they were protected against the elements and disease so that the majority of every day and night could be devoted to dwelling in the presence of God Who tabernacled among them. The “flaming fire by night” gives hint to the illumination of God at all times and foreshadows the time in the New Jerusalem when “the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light,” (Rev 21:23-24).

The annual Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration that looks forward to God’s Kingdom on earth foreshadowed by the experience of Israel as they dwelled in tents in the wilderness when the LORD tabernacled among them. I smile when I say this because believers are often too fixated on their “mansion above.” The people in the wilderness lived in tents, which is given as the picture of our mansion above. You see, it is not what you live in, but who you are living with, God Almighty. We are not blessed with the same ability to be removed from cares and burdens in the present world, but we look forward to a time when we will live continually in the presence of the LORD.

The tabernacle gave the people of Israel a unique access to the LORD through Moses. When a man was caught gathering wood on the Sabbath the case was taken directly to the LORD Who instructed the nation to stone the individual who violated the Sabbath, (Num 15:32-35). Ultimately, Moses did not have the stamina or opportunity to hear every case or to bring every question before the LORD. The human nature of Moses became the weak link for each person in the nation to have access to the LORD. In the Millennial Kingdom, the righteous will have access to the LORD.

One sobering fact of the wilderness is the judgment that came on all those who did not believe, (Jude 1:5). No man twenty years old or older who left Egypt entered the Promised Land because of disbelief, except Joshua and Caleb. It is not clear when most of the deaths occurred, whether these died throughout the course of the nation’s wandering in the wilderness or near the end to allow time to raise the new generation. Some speculate that Korah’s rebellion (Num 16), occurred near the end of the wilderness as a reaction to the judgment that was occurring. Miriam, Aaron, and Moses all died during the last few weeks in the wilderness.

A final rebellion, then judgment, followed by the entry into the Promised Land follows the pattern of Revelation. In the Book of Revelations, the end of the Millennial Kingdom is depicted as a time of rebellion, as Satan deceives the nations into attacking “the camp of the saints and the beloved city (Jerusalem),” (Rev 20:9). Satan is defeated and thrown with his followers into the lake of fire. At the conclusion of this conflict, the dead are resurrected, judged, and those whose names are not written in the book of life are also thrown into the lake of fire, (Rev 20:15). At this time, those whose names are written in the book of life are ushered into the new heaven and new earth, where “nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying shall ever come into it,” (Rev 21:1-27).

PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Promised Land

“So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey,” (Ex 3:8)

The Promised Land is seen as a land of abundance, the desired destination of the people of Israel. As the old church hymnal goes, “To Canaan’s land I’m on my way.” I have always wondered why the song refers to the land as “Canaan’s land” and not “Israel” since the Canaanites were a pagan worshiping and child sacrificing civilization. Moses gave the people of Israel a lengthy description of the Promise Land at the end of their journey in the wilderness.

“A land flowing with milk and honey,” (Deut 11:9)

“A land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven,” (Deut 11:11)
“A land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year,” (Deut 11:12)
"He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil,” (Deut 11:14)
“He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied,” (Deut 11:15)

“Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. "All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God" (Deut 28:1-14)

Sounds like a great opportunity where the "all these blessing" of the LORD "overtake you if you obey." The LORD promised a land where the nation of Israel would be:

Blessed in every place (v 3 & 6),
Blessed in the offspring of man, animal, and field (v 4, 8, 11, & 12),
Blessed in every endeavor of the hands (v 5 & 8),
Protected from enemies (v 7)
Established as a holy people (v 9)
Called by the name of the LORD (v 10)
A Leader among the nations (v 13)

The United States does not sound like the Promised Land. Maybe it has to do with our level of obedience to the Word of God. The Promised Land contained the essential ingredients of the kingdom previously discussed: Prosperity, Peace, Righteousness, and the presence of the LORD Who would dwell in the midst of the people. All these blessings were promised, but contingent on the obedience of the people, “if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them,” (Deut 28:13-14).

Unfortunately, the people did not remain obedient to the commandments of the LORD. The promises, which had been contingent on the obedience of the people, were deferred, but not lost forever. The prophet Zechariah foretold of a future time when the promises will be fulfilled for the remnant of the people of Israel.

“'But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days, 'declares the LORD of hosts. 'For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.’” (Zech 8:11-12)

(to be continued - Scott)

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Seek First the Kingdom - Part 3

(1) Creating Shalom Out of Chaos
(2) The Fall Brought Chaos Back Into Creation
(3) The Kingdom: God’s Plan to Restore Peace to the World
(4) I Was Sent for This Purpose
(5) What is the Kingdom? (Part - 3)
(6) Patterns of the Kingdom in Scripture (Part - 3)
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Land
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Days of the Apostles
(7) The Life and Ministry of Jesus
(8) Attributes of the Kingdom
- Prosperity and Joy
- Peace
- Righteousness
- Holiness
- Knowledge of the LORD
(9) The Believer’s Responsibility to Progress the Kingdom
(10) The Millenium Kingdom

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM?

Most believers acknowledge the existence of the kingdom, but not many see the propagation of the kingdom as central to the earthly ministry of Jesus. Fewer still can define the kingdom in a concise manner, which makes it difficult to fulfill the commandment, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness" (Matt 6:33). This difficulty is due, in part, to the broad variation and seemingly contradictory scripture concerning the kingdom. Matthew records Jesus saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 4:17), while at the same time, John records Jesus saying, "My kingdom is not of this world," (John 18:36).

Luke records Jesus saying, "The kingdom of God is in your midst" (Luke 17:21), while at the same time believers are told to pray, "Your kingdom come," (Luke 11:2). Paul adds to the confusion telling Timothy, "The LORD will rescue me…and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom," (2 Tim 4:18). Even the words of the Hebrew writer, "since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken" (Heb 12:28), shade the kingdom as a future event and not a present reality. One time when Jesus was near Jerusalem, the people "supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately," (Luke 19:11). The words of Luke make us wonder what the people expected to appear. So which statements are correct? Is the "kingdom at hand" and "in your midst" or is the kingdom "not of this world" and in "heaven" requiring us to pray, "Your kingdom come"?

Matthew consistently refers to the kingdom as "the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 5:10), while the other gospel accounts almost universally refer to the kingdom as "the kingdom of God," (Mark 14:24)(Luke 9:60)(John 3:3). Although different in terminology, the phrases are one and the same in reference. Since Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish audience, the author elected to use a circumlocution to protect the Most Holy Name of the Creator. Jesus also employed this technique, substituting alternate names to avoid referring to the creator by His most Holy Name. The most common circumlocution Jesus used was "Father," but other examples He used include Most High, Heaven, and LORD.

The kingdom is confusing because it both exists in the present world, while at the same time, the kingdom is moving toward a greater and greater fulfillment to be witnessed at "His appearing and His kingdom," (2 Tim 4:1). Although the kingdom of God existed from the "foundation of the world" (Matt 25:34), the fullness of the kingdom has not yet been revealed. Such is the revelation of God’s plan to the creation, "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live," (John 5:25). Like the resurrection that occurred in the days of Jesus and will have a greater fulfillment at His return, so the kingdom was also revealed in the days of Jesus, while it awaits a greater fullness in the days of His return.

The most concise definition of the kingdom in scripture can be found in the prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," (Matt 6:10). From the words of Jesus, the kingdom can be understood to exist in any person or place where God’s rule is accepted as supreme. Contrary to what most believers have understood, the kingdom is not the church, though the church is a subset of the kingdom. The kingdom existed long before the church, but the church has been given a significant role in revealing the kingdom to the world in this present age. Paul summarized the kingdom in terms of the fruit it produces.

"For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men" (Rom 14:17-18).

Uniting the statements of Jesus and Paul leads the believer to understand that the kingdom exists where the submission to God’s will produces righteousness, peace, and joy. The words of Paul provide a framework to understand characteristics of the kingdom that we will explored later in this chapter. The greater these attributes are exhibited, the greater the presence of the kingdom.

One way to understand the kingdom is to examine patterns in scripture that foreshadow the fullness of the kingdom because these patterns contain characteristics of the kingdom. Examples include:
- The Garden of Eden
- The Wilderness
- The Promised Lane
- The Disciples After Receiving the Holy Spirit
- The Kingdom of Solomon
- The Life and Ministry of Jesus

PATTERNS OF THE KINGDOM: The Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden prior to the fall, "Paradise," stands as a picture of the fullness in the coming kingdom. Hunger was never a concern since the Garden was filled with the fruit of many trees. Although Adam had a responsibility to "cultivate" the Garden (Gen 2:15), we are given the impression that this was not a time consuming job until after the fall. Unhindered by the burdens of the world, Adam had frequent opportunity to fellowship with God. The characteristics Paul listed for the kingdom were all in the Garden prior to the fall: Prosperity, Peace, and Righteousness.

For all its bounty and proximity to the LORD God, the Garden appeared to have two striking deficiencies when compared to the future kingdom. First, Satan was permitted to roam in the Garden to tempt Adam and Eve. During Jesus’ coming reign on the earth, Satan will be bound in the abyss "so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed," (Rev 20:3). Before the "World to Come," Satan will be "thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone…and…will be tormented day and night forever and ever," (Rev 20:10).

Second, although the LORD God apparently walked with Adam in the "cool of the day" (Gen 3:8), scripture is unclear if Adam was always in the presence of God. Apparently Adam and Eve were not in the presence of God when they were tempted by Satan since Adam and Eve "hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God" (Gen 3:8). During the coming fullness of the kingdom, Jesus will be ever present ruling the nations with "a rod of iron" (Rev 19:15), until "all things are subjected to Him," (1 Cor 15:28).

Beginning in Genesis 2:4 and continuing through Genesis 3:23, the Creator is primarily referred to as the "LORD God," a name used in scripture for the totality of the Creator. The name also indicates the unique relationship that was offered to Adam and Eve by the Creator. After the fall, beginning in Genesis chapter four, the creator is more commonly referred to as "God." In fact, the Creator will tell Moses that "I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not make Myself know to them," (Ex 6:3). In other words, a revelation of the totality of God was lost to mankind after the fall. The future kingdom will restore that relationship, "’They will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,’ declares the LORD," (Jer 31:34).

In the garden, the serpent refers to the creator only as "God" (Gen 3:1), not the complete nature of the creator. Eve also refers to the creator in this manner, "God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die,’" (Gen 3:4). The fact that Eve does not refer to the creator as "LORD God" indicates that something was lacking in her relationship with the Creator, which exposed her to the tempting of the serpent. In the future kingdom, we will no longer "see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face," then we will "know fully," (1 Cor 13:12).

Finally, in the Garden, Adam and Eve had the evil inclination, which allowed them to be tempted and to sin. In the fullness of the kingdom, the evil inclination will be removed by the LORD Who will circumcise our hearts (Deut 30:6), and give us new hearts that are obedient to His will, (Ezek 36:27). In the New Jerusalem, "nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life," (Rev 21:27).
　

(to be continued - Scott)