Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "tradition"
Strange Bedfellows – Part 1
A command came to me by the word of the Lord, “You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.” [1 Kings 13:17]
I am a creature of habit. I take the same route to work each day, shop for food at the same market, and visit the same department store for clothing and bedding and window dressing. I generally am in bed at the same time and up again at the same time each day. Yep, I am a creature of habit.
Now there is nothing immoral in being a creature of habit. In many ways it can be a good thing, a very good thing. Structure is needed in life, if we are to be all that the Lord wants us to be. Discipline is structure, and all of us need to discipline ourselves so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for us.
Still, we need to have some moderation in our habits, or else they become bad habits. We need to have some flexibility when our routine is interrupted. And when it comes to living for the Lord, routine and habit can be a dangerous thing, a very dangerous thing. Too much routine in spiritual life is no more than ritualism, religiosity, tradition. It is known as “playing church”.
We need structure because without it we don’t accomplish much. Withoug structure we hang out, enjoy ourselves, put off our responsibilities, and generally fail the Lord. If we don’t set aside a daily time to be with Jesus, we won’t often be with Jesus, you see. On the other hand, if we want church service to follow the same format each week, we can’t help ourselves: we wind up in a rut putting on a religious show and relegating Jesus to the outside looking in.
In the Bible verse we quoted at the start of this study, the Lord taught this truth to His people back in the day. Let me present the context to you. The twelve tribes of Israel ceased being governed by “judges” at the time of the prophet Samuel. The Israelites insisted on having a “king”, so the Lord gave them Saul, a man after the people’s own heart. Saul was what the people were looking for, but not what God wanted in a king.
After the people got a taste of what they wanted and learned what not to look for in a king, the Lord then gave them King David, a man after the Lord’s own heart. Under King David Israel became a united kingdom, rather than a collection of twelve tribes.
When David’s son Solomon became king, he began well but finished abysmally. Solomon became too big for his breeches and fell into idolatry. Consequently, upon Solomon’s death the Lord divided the kingdom between southern Judah and northern Israel.
Now that we’ve reached the divided kingdom, we can take a break and chew the cud on what we’ve learned today. But don’t forget to return same time same station tomorrow. We still have to find out what the two points of the Lord’s instructions are all about! See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I am a creature of habit. I take the same route to work each day, shop for food at the same market, and visit the same department store for clothing and bedding and window dressing. I generally am in bed at the same time and up again at the same time each day. Yep, I am a creature of habit.
Now there is nothing immoral in being a creature of habit. In many ways it can be a good thing, a very good thing. Structure is needed in life, if we are to be all that the Lord wants us to be. Discipline is structure, and all of us need to discipline ourselves so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for us.
Still, we need to have some moderation in our habits, or else they become bad habits. We need to have some flexibility when our routine is interrupted. And when it comes to living for the Lord, routine and habit can be a dangerous thing, a very dangerous thing. Too much routine in spiritual life is no more than ritualism, religiosity, tradition. It is known as “playing church”.
We need structure because without it we don’t accomplish much. Withoug structure we hang out, enjoy ourselves, put off our responsibilities, and generally fail the Lord. If we don’t set aside a daily time to be with Jesus, we won’t often be with Jesus, you see. On the other hand, if we want church service to follow the same format each week, we can’t help ourselves: we wind up in a rut putting on a religious show and relegating Jesus to the outside looking in.
In the Bible verse we quoted at the start of this study, the Lord taught this truth to His people back in the day. Let me present the context to you. The twelve tribes of Israel ceased being governed by “judges” at the time of the prophet Samuel. The Israelites insisted on having a “king”, so the Lord gave them Saul, a man after the people’s own heart. Saul was what the people were looking for, but not what God wanted in a king.
After the people got a taste of what they wanted and learned what not to look for in a king, the Lord then gave them King David, a man after the Lord’s own heart. Under King David Israel became a united kingdom, rather than a collection of twelve tribes.
When David’s son Solomon became king, he began well but finished abysmally. Solomon became too big for his breeches and fell into idolatry. Consequently, upon Solomon’s death the Lord divided the kingdom between southern Judah and northern Israel.
Now that we’ve reached the divided kingdom, we can take a break and chew the cud on what we’ve learned today. But don’t forget to return same time same station tomorrow. We still have to find out what the two points of the Lord’s instructions are all about! See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Strange Bedfellows – Part 2
A command came to me by the word of the Lord, “You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.” [1 Kings 13:17]
In Israel Jeroboam became king. He feared that his subjects in the north would go to Jerusalem in the south to worship the Lord, and soon they would favor King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they would kill Jeroboam and reunite the kingdom under Rehoboam.
To thwart such a possibility, Jeroboam of Israel had two golden calves constructed. He placed one in Dan to the far north and the other at Bethel in the south of Israel. He commanded his subjects to worship the calves in those locations. The calves were Israel’s gods!
Needless to say, but the Lord wasn’t exactly thrilled at this. He sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy Jeroboam’s demise. The Bible verse at the start of this lesson was part of the Lord’s instructions to His prophet from Judah. Now let’s note the two parts of the Bible verse.
1. do not eat or drink while in Bethel of Israel
2. don’t return to Judah by the same route you took to Bethel
Are you nonplussed by those instructions? Why would the Lord tell the prophet not to eat or drink while there? And why specify that he take a different route back to Judah? “Hmm. I don’t get it?” some of you are saying to yourself.
Allow me to explain. In the Bible the Lord often employs visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The two points listed are the visible physical realities, and now we need to mine the ore and recover the invisible spiritual truths contained therein.
The first point forbade the prophet of Judah from sitting down and sharing a meal with the folks of idolatrous Israel. This is in keeping with the doctrine of separation which begins in Genesis 1 and continues to the end of Revelation 22. God’s kids are not to fraternize with the devil’s kids. Israel worshiped two golden calves. Judah worshiped the Lord. Don’t fraternize while in Israel, O prophet!
The second point has to do with how I began this study today. I am a creature of habit, but in spiritual life habit and routine can easily spell deadness. If we keep doing the same things we’ve always done, we will keep being what we’ve always been. That is the death knell of true spiritual vitality, dear friends.
Our life is often expressed as the road we travel or the way we take. The Lord told the prophet to go to Bethel one way but to return a different way. In doing so the Lord taught that we cannot serve Him by doing the same old same old day after day. We cannot learn something from Him and then run around doing the same thing all the time and call that “serving the Lord”.
If we would truly serve Jesus, we need to go to Him daily and receive our marching orders from Him. If we habitually spend time alone with Him, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be leading us and we will be following His will. Otherwise, not so much.
So which will it be? Will we return by the same route we went? Or will we take an alternate route and remain dependent on the Lord for guidance?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In Israel Jeroboam became king. He feared that his subjects in the north would go to Jerusalem in the south to worship the Lord, and soon they would favor King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they would kill Jeroboam and reunite the kingdom under Rehoboam.
To thwart such a possibility, Jeroboam of Israel had two golden calves constructed. He placed one in Dan to the far north and the other at Bethel in the south of Israel. He commanded his subjects to worship the calves in those locations. The calves were Israel’s gods!
Needless to say, but the Lord wasn’t exactly thrilled at this. He sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy Jeroboam’s demise. The Bible verse at the start of this lesson was part of the Lord’s instructions to His prophet from Judah. Now let’s note the two parts of the Bible verse.
1. do not eat or drink while in Bethel of Israel
2. don’t return to Judah by the same route you took to Bethel
Are you nonplussed by those instructions? Why would the Lord tell the prophet not to eat or drink while there? And why specify that he take a different route back to Judah? “Hmm. I don’t get it?” some of you are saying to yourself.
Allow me to explain. In the Bible the Lord often employs visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The two points listed are the visible physical realities, and now we need to mine the ore and recover the invisible spiritual truths contained therein.
The first point forbade the prophet of Judah from sitting down and sharing a meal with the folks of idolatrous Israel. This is in keeping with the doctrine of separation which begins in Genesis 1 and continues to the end of Revelation 22. God’s kids are not to fraternize with the devil’s kids. Israel worshiped two golden calves. Judah worshiped the Lord. Don’t fraternize while in Israel, O prophet!
The second point has to do with how I began this study today. I am a creature of habit, but in spiritual life habit and routine can easily spell deadness. If we keep doing the same things we’ve always done, we will keep being what we’ve always been. That is the death knell of true spiritual vitality, dear friends.
Our life is often expressed as the road we travel or the way we take. The Lord told the prophet to go to Bethel one way but to return a different way. In doing so the Lord taught that we cannot serve Him by doing the same old same old day after day. We cannot learn something from Him and then run around doing the same thing all the time and call that “serving the Lord”.
If we would truly serve Jesus, we need to go to Him daily and receive our marching orders from Him. If we habitually spend time alone with Him, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be leading us and we will be following His will. Otherwise, not so much.
So which will it be? Will we return by the same route we went? Or will we take an alternate route and remain dependent on the Lord for guidance?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Different and the Same – Part 1
When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out [Ezekiel 46:8-10].
Our text for this study is somewhat longer than is customary for these studies. It cannot be helped, dear friends, but it will be well worth the learning. A wealth of precious ore is to be mined from this mother lode. So let’s not be caught dilly dallying around the Maypole. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work in the mine!
Ezekiel chapters 40-48 are a vision from the Millennium. Permit me to explain, please. The Lord Jesus will return again (His Second Coming) to bring the Great Tribulation to a close. The false trinity of Satan/beast/false prophet will be defeated, judged by the Lord Jesus, and be found wanting. The beast (antichrist) and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.
Satan on the other hand will be bound and cast into the abyss for 1,000 years, locked up and unable to tempt mankind any longer. The word millennium is Latin for 1,000 years. During the Millennium the Lord Jesus will rule the entire earth from Jerusalem, and the Hebrew people will again be taken up by Him as His chosen people on the earth. All the Lord’s yet-to-be-fulfilled covenant promises with Israel will be fulfilled during the Millennium.
The Lord’s Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and all the Gentiles (i.e., everyone not a Jew) will go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord with the Jews there. The Holy Spirit graced Ezekiel with a vision of this Temple, as also a depiction of Israel’s organization during the Millennium. Our quoted text for today refers to this Millennial Temple.
With this context in mind, let’s mine the ore of this text. Valuable nuggets are there for the taking.
There are three fundamental spiritual truths we wish to learn from the text.
1. the prince leaves the Millennial Temple by the same route He enters it
2. the people leave the Millennial Temple by the opposite route they enter it
3. the prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together
We will stop for the time being now and spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. I look forward to seeing you again on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Our text for this study is somewhat longer than is customary for these studies. It cannot be helped, dear friends, but it will be well worth the learning. A wealth of precious ore is to be mined from this mother lode. So let’s not be caught dilly dallying around the Maypole. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work in the mine!
Ezekiel chapters 40-48 are a vision from the Millennium. Permit me to explain, please. The Lord Jesus will return again (His Second Coming) to bring the Great Tribulation to a close. The false trinity of Satan/beast/false prophet will be defeated, judged by the Lord Jesus, and be found wanting. The beast (antichrist) and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.
Satan on the other hand will be bound and cast into the abyss for 1,000 years, locked up and unable to tempt mankind any longer. The word millennium is Latin for 1,000 years. During the Millennium the Lord Jesus will rule the entire earth from Jerusalem, and the Hebrew people will again be taken up by Him as His chosen people on the earth. All the Lord’s yet-to-be-fulfilled covenant promises with Israel will be fulfilled during the Millennium.
The Lord’s Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and all the Gentiles (i.e., everyone not a Jew) will go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord with the Jews there. The Holy Spirit graced Ezekiel with a vision of this Temple, as also a depiction of Israel’s organization during the Millennium. Our quoted text for today refers to this Millennial Temple.
With this context in mind, let’s mine the ore of this text. Valuable nuggets are there for the taking.
There are three fundamental spiritual truths we wish to learn from the text.
1. the prince leaves the Millennial Temple by the same route He enters it
2. the people leave the Millennial Temple by the opposite route they enter it
3. the prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together
We will stop for the time being now and spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. I look forward to seeing you again on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Different and the Same – Part 2
When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out [Ezekiel 46:8-10].
We paused our last study with a three-point list of spiritual truths which appear in the quoted text. Let’s continue with our study now.
Throughout Scripture the Holy Spirit employs visible physical realities for the purpose of teaching us invisible spiritual truths. We humans are finite creatures, so we haven’t an inkling about infinity and eternity. The only way we can grasp even the simplest eternal truths is by comparison with something from visible physical reality.
We humans exist within time, space, and matter. The spirit world exists in eternity, so we haven’t an inkling about invisible spiritual truths. The only way the Lord can teach these to us is by comparisons with visible physical realities. The comparisons are not identical by a long shot, but they do serve to enhance our understanding of things with which we have no experience.
This applies to the Millennial Temple of Ezekiel 40-48, dear friends. Our text today depicts invisible spiritual truths from the vantage point of a visible physical temple. We cannot become bogged down in an exposition of Ezekiel’s entire teaching on this subject. We must needs stick to the three points already presented. Not to fear though: a plethora of spiritual truths will yet be ours.
The “prince” refers to the Messiah. We now know this person to be the Lord Jesus Christ. He will rule the entire earth from His throne in Jerusalem throughout the Millennium, crushing all wickedness as iron smashes an earthenware vessel. The offices of prophet, priest, and king are combined in Him during the Millennium.
When the Lord Jesus goes to the Millennial Temple, He enters and leaves by the east gate. This gate is shut for six days of the week and opened on the seventh day for use by the Lord Jesus.
Everyone else, contrariwise, enters the Millennial Temple by either the north gate or the south gate. He who enters by the north gate exits by the south gate. The one who enters by the south gate exists by the north gate.
The prince has his private gate, while the people share two gates. This isn’t the only contrast between prince and people. The prince enters and exits by the same gate, while the people enter by one gate and exit by the other.
I know this is a bit arcane to most of you, an effort in futility perhaps. But don’t give up on me just yet. We’re just now ready to present an interpretation of these visible physical realities. You won’t want to miss out!
In fact this is an excellent location to pitch our tents for the night. That way you will have a chance to chew the cud of our study and collect your thoughts. Take time to be refreshed by the Lord and return for some more nourishment tomorrow. See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We paused our last study with a three-point list of spiritual truths which appear in the quoted text. Let’s continue with our study now.
Throughout Scripture the Holy Spirit employs visible physical realities for the purpose of teaching us invisible spiritual truths. We humans are finite creatures, so we haven’t an inkling about infinity and eternity. The only way we can grasp even the simplest eternal truths is by comparison with something from visible physical reality.
We humans exist within time, space, and matter. The spirit world exists in eternity, so we haven’t an inkling about invisible spiritual truths. The only way the Lord can teach these to us is by comparisons with visible physical realities. The comparisons are not identical by a long shot, but they do serve to enhance our understanding of things with which we have no experience.
This applies to the Millennial Temple of Ezekiel 40-48, dear friends. Our text today depicts invisible spiritual truths from the vantage point of a visible physical temple. We cannot become bogged down in an exposition of Ezekiel’s entire teaching on this subject. We must needs stick to the three points already presented. Not to fear though: a plethora of spiritual truths will yet be ours.
The “prince” refers to the Messiah. We now know this person to be the Lord Jesus Christ. He will rule the entire earth from His throne in Jerusalem throughout the Millennium, crushing all wickedness as iron smashes an earthenware vessel. The offices of prophet, priest, and king are combined in Him during the Millennium.
When the Lord Jesus goes to the Millennial Temple, He enters and leaves by the east gate. This gate is shut for six days of the week and opened on the seventh day for use by the Lord Jesus.
Everyone else, contrariwise, enters the Millennial Temple by either the north gate or the south gate. He who enters by the north gate exits by the south gate. The one who enters by the south gate exists by the north gate.
The prince has his private gate, while the people share two gates. This isn’t the only contrast between prince and people. The prince enters and exits by the same gate, while the people enter by one gate and exit by the other.
I know this is a bit arcane to most of you, an effort in futility perhaps. But don’t give up on me just yet. We’re just now ready to present an interpretation of these visible physical realities. You won’t want to miss out!
In fact this is an excellent location to pitch our tents for the night. That way you will have a chance to chew the cud of our study and collect your thoughts. Take time to be refreshed by the Lord and return for some more nourishment tomorrow. See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Different and the Same - Part 3
When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out [Ezekiel 46:8-10].
Our last study noted significant differences between the prince and the people. Let’s continue with this topic now.
The prince is the Lord Jesus, Who is simultaneously both God and man. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. He is always the same holy Person. Accordingly He cannot get into a rut and fall into a quagmire of ritualism and tradition. He can enter and exit the same way because He cannot become bogged down and perfunctorily go through the motions of religion.
The same cannot be said about sinful man. We are prone to finding a comfy corner and hanging out, doing the same old same old day after day. We don’t want to think and study and grow, at least not for long. We are finite, limited, and easily tired out, so we put forth a smidgeon of effort and then hasten to find a place of rest.
The history of mankind exposes man as ritualistic, apathetic, and feckless. We consolidate the Word of God into a set of dos and don’ts, establish a given format for church services to be repeated with no variation each week, and crown tradition as king.
This is where the provision comes in, of all the people entering through one gate and exiting through the other. God, you see, never changes. He enters and exits the same way always, and it is the right way, not simply a rut He is stuck in.
But man cannot exist this way or he will fall prey to rote religion and give no thought to God. He will turn the worship of God into activities and programs, all functioning thoughtlessly and carried out mechanically. The end game of man’s worship will become the activities and programs themselves, and God will no longer enter the picture. Man will wind up worshiping activities and programs, church, rather than God. Our god will then be church!
This is the spiritual truth taught by the contrasts between the prince and the people. They used separate gates and they entered and exited following different criteria. The reason is that the prince is qualitatively different than the people. The prince is God, and God is quite different than man and doesn’t suffer from our limitations.
Not to become distraught, dear friends. We still have a third spiritual truth taught in the quoted text. The prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together. The spiritual truth here is that the prince and the people are inseparably bound together in covenantal relationship. Though they are qualitatively different, they nonetheless are inseparable in their relationship.
The prince is the Lord Jesus and the people are those who know Him and love Him. The Lord Jesus is not only God: He is also truly man. He is one of us! He goes in with us, leaves with us, and remains with us. God and man are inseparably bound together by the God-man, Jesus Christ.
Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He is faithful even when we are not. He and we are inseparable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing.
This is cause for the loudest hallelujahs to ring out across the earth! Let’s take our leave now and go to Him for a time a rest and fellowship. I’ll race you to the prayer closet.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Our last study noted significant differences between the prince and the people. Let’s continue with this topic now.
The prince is the Lord Jesus, Who is simultaneously both God and man. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. He is always the same holy Person. Accordingly He cannot get into a rut and fall into a quagmire of ritualism and tradition. He can enter and exit the same way because He cannot become bogged down and perfunctorily go through the motions of religion.
The same cannot be said about sinful man. We are prone to finding a comfy corner and hanging out, doing the same old same old day after day. We don’t want to think and study and grow, at least not for long. We are finite, limited, and easily tired out, so we put forth a smidgeon of effort and then hasten to find a place of rest.
The history of mankind exposes man as ritualistic, apathetic, and feckless. We consolidate the Word of God into a set of dos and don’ts, establish a given format for church services to be repeated with no variation each week, and crown tradition as king.
This is where the provision comes in, of all the people entering through one gate and exiting through the other. God, you see, never changes. He enters and exits the same way always, and it is the right way, not simply a rut He is stuck in.
But man cannot exist this way or he will fall prey to rote religion and give no thought to God. He will turn the worship of God into activities and programs, all functioning thoughtlessly and carried out mechanically. The end game of man’s worship will become the activities and programs themselves, and God will no longer enter the picture. Man will wind up worshiping activities and programs, church, rather than God. Our god will then be church!
This is the spiritual truth taught by the contrasts between the prince and the people. They used separate gates and they entered and exited following different criteria. The reason is that the prince is qualitatively different than the people. The prince is God, and God is quite different than man and doesn’t suffer from our limitations.
Not to become distraught, dear friends. We still have a third spiritual truth taught in the quoted text. The prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together. The spiritual truth here is that the prince and the people are inseparably bound together in covenantal relationship. Though they are qualitatively different, they nonetheless are inseparable in their relationship.
The prince is the Lord Jesus and the people are those who know Him and love Him. The Lord Jesus is not only God: He is also truly man. He is one of us! He goes in with us, leaves with us, and remains with us. God and man are inseparably bound together by the God-man, Jesus Christ.
Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He is faithful even when we are not. He and we are inseparable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing.
This is cause for the loudest hallelujahs to ring out across the earth! Let’s take our leave now and go to Him for a time a rest and fellowship. I’ll race you to the prayer closet.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Strange Bedfellows – Part 1
A command came to me by the word of the Lord, “You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.” [1 Kings 13:17]
I am a creature of habit. I take the same route to work each day, shop for food at the same market, and visit the same department store for clothing and bedding and window dressing. I generally am in bed at the same time and up again at the same time each day. Yep, I am a creature of habit.
Now there is nothing immoral in being a creature of habit. In many ways it can be a good thing, a very good thing. Structure is needed in life, if we are to be all that the Lord wants us to be. Discipline is structure, and all of us need to discipline ourselves so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for us.
Still, we need to have some moderation in our habits, or else they become bad habits. We need to have some flexibility when our routine is interrupted. And when it comes to living for the Lord, routine and habit can be a dangerous thing, a very dangerous thing. Too much routine in spiritual life is no more than ritualism, religiosity, tradition. It is known as “playing church”.
We need structure because without it we don’t accomplish much. Without structure we hang out, enjoy ourselves, put off our responsibilities, and generally fail the Lord. If we don’t set aside a daily time to be with Jesus, we won’t often be with Jesus, you see. On the other hand, if we want church service to follow the same format each week, we can’t help ourselves: we wind up in a rut putting on a religious show and relegating Jesus to the outside looking in.
In the Bible verse we quoted at the start of this study, the Lord taught this truth to His people back in the day. Let me present the context to you. The twelve tribes of Israel ceased being governed by “judges” at the time of the prophet Samuel. The Israelites insisted on having a “king”, so the Lord gave them Saul, a man after the people’s own heart. Saul was what the people were looking for, but not what God wanted in a king.
After the people got a taste of what they wanted and learned what not to look for in a king, the Lord then gave them King David, a man after the Lord’s own heart. Under King David Israel became a united kingdom, rather than a collection of twelve tribes.
When David’s son Solomon became king, he began well but finished abysmally. Solomon became too big for his breeches and fell into idolatry. Consequently, upon Solomon’s death the Lord divided the kingdom between southern Judah and northern Israel.
Now that we’ve reached the divided kingdom, we can take a break and chew the cud on what we’ve learned today. But don’t forget to return same time same station tomorrow. We still have to find out what the two points of the Lord’s instructions are all about! See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
I am a creature of habit. I take the same route to work each day, shop for food at the same market, and visit the same department store for clothing and bedding and window dressing. I generally am in bed at the same time and up again at the same time each day. Yep, I am a creature of habit.
Now there is nothing immoral in being a creature of habit. In many ways it can be a good thing, a very good thing. Structure is needed in life, if we are to be all that the Lord wants us to be. Discipline is structure, and all of us need to discipline ourselves so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for us.
Still, we need to have some moderation in our habits, or else they become bad habits. We need to have some flexibility when our routine is interrupted. And when it comes to living for the Lord, routine and habit can be a dangerous thing, a very dangerous thing. Too much routine in spiritual life is no more than ritualism, religiosity, tradition. It is known as “playing church”.
We need structure because without it we don’t accomplish much. Without structure we hang out, enjoy ourselves, put off our responsibilities, and generally fail the Lord. If we don’t set aside a daily time to be with Jesus, we won’t often be with Jesus, you see. On the other hand, if we want church service to follow the same format each week, we can’t help ourselves: we wind up in a rut putting on a religious show and relegating Jesus to the outside looking in.
In the Bible verse we quoted at the start of this study, the Lord taught this truth to His people back in the day. Let me present the context to you. The twelve tribes of Israel ceased being governed by “judges” at the time of the prophet Samuel. The Israelites insisted on having a “king”, so the Lord gave them Saul, a man after the people’s own heart. Saul was what the people were looking for, but not what God wanted in a king.
After the people got a taste of what they wanted and learned what not to look for in a king, the Lord then gave them King David, a man after the Lord’s own heart. Under King David Israel became a united kingdom, rather than a collection of twelve tribes.
When David’s son Solomon became king, he began well but finished abysmally. Solomon became too big for his breeches and fell into idolatry. Consequently, upon Solomon’s death the Lord divided the kingdom between southern Judah and northern Israel.
Now that we’ve reached the divided kingdom, we can take a break and chew the cud on what we’ve learned today. But don’t forget to return same time same station tomorrow. We still have to find out what the two points of the Lord’s instructions are all about! See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Strange Bedfellows – Part 2
A command came to me by the word of the Lord, “You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.” [1 Kings 13:17]
In Israel Jeroboam became king. He feared that his subjects in the north would go to Jerusalem in the south to worship the Lord, and soon they would favor King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they would kill Jeroboam and reunite the kingdom under Rehoboam.
To thwart such a possibility, Jeroboam of Israel had two golden calves constructed. He placed one in Dan to the far north and the other at Bethel in the south of Israel. He commanded his subjects to worship the calves in those locations. The calves were Israel’s gods!
Needless to say, but the Lord wasn’t exactly thrilled at this. He sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy Jeroboam’s demise. The Bible verse at the start of this lesson was part of the Lord’s instructions to His prophet from Judah. Now let’s note the two parts of the Bible verse.
1. do not eat or drink while in Bethel of Israel
2. don’t return to Judah by the same route you took to Bethel
Are you nonplussed by those instructions? Why would the Lord tell the prophet not to eat or drink while there? And why specify that he take a different route back to Judah? “Hmm. I don’t get it?” some of you are saying to yourself.
Allow me to explain. In the Bible the Lord often employs visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The two points listed are the visible physical realities, and now we need to mine the ore and recover the invisible spiritual truths contained therein.
The first point forbade the prophet of Judah from sitting down and sharing a meal with the folks of idolatrous Israel. This is in keeping with the doctrine of separation which begins in Genesis 1 and continues to the end of Revelation 22. God’s kids are not to fraternize with the devil’s kids. Israel worshiped two golden calves. Judah worshiped the Lord. Don’t fraternize while in Israel, O prophet!
The second point has to do with how I began this study today. I am a creature of habit, but in spiritual life habit and routine can easily spell deadness. If we keep doing the same things we’ve always done, we will keep being what we’ve always been. That is the death knell of true spiritual vitality, dear friends.
Our life is often expressed as the road we travel or the way we take. The Lord told the prophet to go to Bethel one way but to return a different way. In doing so the Lord taught that we cannot serve Him by doing the same old same old day after day. We cannot learn something from Him and then run around doing the same thing all the time and call that “serving the Lord”.
If we would truly serve Jesus, we need to go to Him daily and receive our marching orders from Him. If we habitually spend time alone with Him, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be leading us and we will be following His will. Otherwise, not so much.
So which will it be? Will we return by the same route we went? Or will we take an alternate route and remain dependent on the Lord for guidance?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
In Israel Jeroboam became king. He feared that his subjects in the north would go to Jerusalem in the south to worship the Lord, and soon they would favor King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they would kill Jeroboam and reunite the kingdom under Rehoboam.
To thwart such a possibility, Jeroboam of Israel had two golden calves constructed. He placed one in Dan to the far north and the other at Bethel in the south of Israel. He commanded his subjects to worship the calves in those locations. The calves were Israel’s gods!
Needless to say, but the Lord wasn’t exactly thrilled at this. He sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy Jeroboam’s demise. The Bible verse at the start of this lesson was part of the Lord’s instructions to His prophet from Judah. Now let’s note the two parts of the Bible verse.
1. do not eat or drink while in Bethel of Israel
2. don’t return to Judah by the same route you took to Bethel
Are you nonplussed by those instructions? Why would the Lord tell the prophet not to eat or drink while there? And why specify that he take a different route back to Judah? “Hmm. I don’t get it?” some of you are saying to yourself.
Allow me to explain. In the Bible the Lord often employs visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The two points listed are the visible physical realities, and now we need to mine the ore and recover the invisible spiritual truths contained therein.
The first point forbade the prophet of Judah from sitting down and sharing a meal with the folks of idolatrous Israel. This is in keeping with the doctrine of separation which begins in Genesis 1 and continues to the end of Revelation 22. God’s kids are not to fraternize with the devil’s kids. Israel worshiped two golden calves. Judah worshiped the Lord. Don’t fraternize while in Israel, O prophet!
The second point has to do with how I began this study today. I am a creature of habit, but in spiritual life habit and routine can easily spell deadness. If we keep doing the same things we’ve always done, we will keep being what we’ve always been. That is the death knell of true spiritual vitality, dear friends.
Our life is often expressed as the road we travel or the way we take. The Lord told the prophet to go to Bethel one way but to return a different way. In doing so the Lord taught that we cannot serve Him by doing the same old same old day after day. We cannot learn something from Him and then run around doing the same thing all the time and call that “serving the Lord”.
If we would truly serve Jesus, we need to go to Him daily and receive our marching orders from Him. If we habitually spend time alone with Him, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be leading us and we will be following His will. Otherwise, not so much.
So which will it be? Will we return by the same route we went? Or will we take an alternate route and remain dependent on the Lord for guidance?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Different and the Same – Part 1
When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out [Ezekiel 46:8-10].
Our text for this study is somewhat longer than is customary for these studies. It cannot be helped, dear friends, but it will be well worth the learning. A wealth of precious ore is to be mined from this mother lode. So let’s not be caught dilly dallying around the Maypole. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work in the mine!
Ezekiel chapters 40-48 are a vision from the Millennium. Permit me to explain, please. The Lord Jesus will return again (His Second Coming) to bring the Great Tribulation to a close. The false trinity of Satan/beast/false prophet will be defeated, judged by the Lord Jesus, and be found wanting. The beast (antichrist) and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.
Satan on the other hand will be bound and cast into the abyss for 1,000 years, locked up and unable to tempt mankind any longer. The word millennium is Latin for 1,000 years. During the Millennium the Lord Jesus will rule the entire earth from Jerusalem, and the Hebrew people will again be taken up by Him as His chosen people on the earth. All the Lord’s yet-to-be-fulfilled covenant promises with Israel will be fulfilled during the Millennium.
The Lord’s Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and all the Gentiles (i.e., everyone not a Jew) will go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord with the Jews there. The Holy Spirit graced Ezekiel with a vision of this Temple, as also a depiction of Israel’s organization during the Millennium. Our quoted text for today refers to this Millennial Temple.
With this context in mind, let’s mine the ore of this text. Valuable nuggets are there for the taking.
There are three fundamental spiritual truths we wish to learn from the text.
1. the prince leaves the Millennial Temple by the same route He enters it
2. the people leave the Millennial Temple by the opposite route they enter it
3. the prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together
We will stop for the time being now and spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. I look forward to seeing you again on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Our text for this study is somewhat longer than is customary for these studies. It cannot be helped, dear friends, but it will be well worth the learning. A wealth of precious ore is to be mined from this mother lode. So let’s not be caught dilly dallying around the Maypole. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work in the mine!
Ezekiel chapters 40-48 are a vision from the Millennium. Permit me to explain, please. The Lord Jesus will return again (His Second Coming) to bring the Great Tribulation to a close. The false trinity of Satan/beast/false prophet will be defeated, judged by the Lord Jesus, and be found wanting. The beast (antichrist) and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire.
Satan on the other hand will be bound and cast into the abyss for 1,000 years, locked up and unable to tempt mankind any longer. The word millennium is Latin for 1,000 years. During the Millennium the Lord Jesus will rule the entire earth from Jerusalem, and the Hebrew people will again be taken up by Him as His chosen people on the earth. All the Lord’s yet-to-be-fulfilled covenant promises with Israel will be fulfilled during the Millennium.
The Lord’s Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and all the Gentiles (i.e., everyone not a Jew) will go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord with the Jews there. The Holy Spirit graced Ezekiel with a vision of this Temple, as also a depiction of Israel’s organization during the Millennium. Our quoted text for today refers to this Millennial Temple.
With this context in mind, let’s mine the ore of this text. Valuable nuggets are there for the taking.
There are three fundamental spiritual truths we wish to learn from the text.
1. the prince leaves the Millennial Temple by the same route He enters it
2. the people leave the Millennial Temple by the opposite route they enter it
3. the prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together
We will stop for the time being now and spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. I look forward to seeing you again on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Different and the Same – Part 2
When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out [Ezekiel 46:8-10].
We paused our last study with a three-point list of spiritual truths which appear in the quoted text. Let’s continue with our study now.
Throughout Scripture the Holy Spirit employs visible physical realities for the purpose of teaching us invisible spiritual truths. We humans are finite creatures, so we haven’t an inkling about infinity and eternity. The only way we can grasp even the simplest eternal truths is by comparison with something from visible physical reality.
We humans exist within time, space, and matter. The spirit world exists in eternity, so we haven’t an inkling about invisible spiritual truths. The only way the Lord can teach these to us is by comparisons with visible physical realities. The comparisons are not identical by a long shot, but they do serve to enhance our understanding of things with which we have no experience.
This applies to the Millennial Temple of Ezekiel 40-48, dear friends. Our text today depicts invisible spiritual truths from the vantage point of a visible physical temple. We cannot become bogged down in an exposition of Ezekiel’s entire teaching on this subject. We must needs stick to the three points already presented. Not to fear though: a plethora of spiritual truths will yet be ours.
The “prince” refers to the Messiah. We now know this person to be the Lord Jesus Christ. He will rule the entire earth from His throne in Jerusalem throughout the Millennium, crushing all wickedness as iron smashes an earthenware vessel. The offices of prophet, priest, and king are combined in Him during the Millennium.
When the Lord Jesus goes to the Millennial Temple, He enters and leaves by the east gate. This gate is shut for six days of the week and opened on the seventh day for use by the Lord Jesus.
Everyone else, contrariwise, enters the Millennial Temple by either the north gate or the south gate. He who enters by the north gate exits by the south gate. The one who enters by the south gate exists by the north gate.
The prince has his private gate, while the people share two gates. This isn’t the only contrast between prince and people. The prince enters and exits by the same gate, while the people enter by one gate and exit by the other.
I know this is a bit arcane to most of you, an effort in futility perhaps. But don’t give up on me just yet. We’re just now ready to present an interpretation of these visible physical realities. You won’t want to miss out!
In fact this is an excellent location to pitch our tents for the night. That way you will have a chance to chew the cud of our study and collect your thoughts. Take time to be refreshed by the Lord and return for some more nourishment tomorrow. See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
We paused our last study with a three-point list of spiritual truths which appear in the quoted text. Let’s continue with our study now.
Throughout Scripture the Holy Spirit employs visible physical realities for the purpose of teaching us invisible spiritual truths. We humans are finite creatures, so we haven’t an inkling about infinity and eternity. The only way we can grasp even the simplest eternal truths is by comparison with something from visible physical reality.
We humans exist within time, space, and matter. The spirit world exists in eternity, so we haven’t an inkling about invisible spiritual truths. The only way the Lord can teach these to us is by comparisons with visible physical realities. The comparisons are not identical by a long shot, but they do serve to enhance our understanding of things with which we have no experience.
This applies to the Millennial Temple of Ezekiel 40-48, dear friends. Our text today depicts invisible spiritual truths from the vantage point of a visible physical temple. We cannot become bogged down in an exposition of Ezekiel’s entire teaching on this subject. We must needs stick to the three points already presented. Not to fear though: a plethora of spiritual truths will yet be ours.
The “prince” refers to the Messiah. We now know this person to be the Lord Jesus Christ. He will rule the entire earth from His throne in Jerusalem throughout the Millennium, crushing all wickedness as iron smashes an earthenware vessel. The offices of prophet, priest, and king are combined in Him during the Millennium.
When the Lord Jesus goes to the Millennial Temple, He enters and leaves by the east gate. This gate is shut for six days of the week and opened on the seventh day for use by the Lord Jesus.
Everyone else, contrariwise, enters the Millennial Temple by either the north gate or the south gate. He who enters by the north gate exits by the south gate. The one who enters by the south gate exists by the north gate.
The prince has his private gate, while the people share two gates. This isn’t the only contrast between prince and people. The prince enters and exits by the same gate, while the people enter by one gate and exit by the other.
I know this is a bit arcane to most of you, an effort in futility perhaps. But don’t give up on me just yet. We’re just now ready to present an interpretation of these visible physical realities. You won’t want to miss out!
In fact this is an excellent location to pitch our tents for the night. That way you will have a chance to chew the cud of our study and collect your thoughts. Take time to be refreshed by the Lord and return for some more nourishment tomorrow. See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Different and the Same – Part 3
When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the porch of the gate and go out by the same way. But when the people of the land come before the Lord at the appointed feasts, he who enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate. And he who enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. No one shall return by way of the gate by which he entered but shall go straight out. When they go in, the prince shall go in among them; and when they go out, he shall go out [Ezekiel 46:8-10].
Our last study noted significant differences between the prince and the people. Let’s continue with this topic now.
The prince is the Lord Jesus, Who is simultaneously both God and man. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. He is always the same holy Person. Accordingly He cannot get into a rut and fall into a quagmire of ritualism and tradition. He can enter and exit the same way because He cannot become bogged down and perfunctorily go through the motions of religion.
The same cannot be said about sinful man. We are prone to finding a comfy corner and hanging out, doing the same old same old day after day. We don’t want to think and study and grow, at least not for long. We are finite, limited, and easily tired out, so we put forth a smidgeon of effort and then hasten to find a place of rest.
The history of mankind exposes man as ritualistic, apathetic, and feckless. We consolidate the Word of God into a set of dos and don’ts, establish a given format for church services to be repeated with no variation each week, and crown tradition as king.
This is where the provision comes in, of all the people entering through one gate and exiting through the other. God, you see, never changes. He enters and exits the same way always, and it is the right way, not simply a rut He is stuck in.
But man cannot exist this way or he will fall prey to rote religion and give no thought to God. He will turn the worship of God into activities and programs, all functioning thoughtlessly and carried out mechanically. The end game of man’s worship will become the activities and programs themselves, and God will no longer enter the picture. Man will wind up worshiping activities and programs, church, rather than God. Our god will then be church!
This is the spiritual truth taught by the contrasts between the prince and the people. They used separate gates and they entered and exited following different criteria. The reason is that the prince is qualitatively different than the people. The prince is God, and God is quite different than man and doesn’t suffer from our limitations.
Not to become distraught, dear friends. We still have a third spiritual truth taught in the quoted text. The prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together. The spiritual truth here is that the prince and the people are inseparably bound together in covenantal relationship. Though they are qualitatively different, they nonetheless are inseparable in their relationship.
The prince is the Lord Jesus and the people are those who know Him and love Him. The Lord Jesus is not only God: He is also truly man. He is one of us! He goes in with us, leaves with us, and remains with us. God and man are inseparably bound together by the God-man, Jesus Christ.
Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He is faithful even when we are not. He and we are inseparable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing.
This is cause for the loudest hallelujahs to ring out across the earth! Let’s take our leave now and go to Him for a time a rest and fellowship. I’ll race you to the prayer closet.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Our last study noted significant differences between the prince and the people. Let’s continue with this topic now.
The prince is the Lord Jesus, Who is simultaneously both God and man. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. He is always the same holy Person. Accordingly He cannot get into a rut and fall into a quagmire of ritualism and tradition. He can enter and exit the same way because He cannot become bogged down and perfunctorily go through the motions of religion.
The same cannot be said about sinful man. We are prone to finding a comfy corner and hanging out, doing the same old same old day after day. We don’t want to think and study and grow, at least not for long. We are finite, limited, and easily tired out, so we put forth a smidgeon of effort and then hasten to find a place of rest.
The history of mankind exposes man as ritualistic, apathetic, and feckless. We consolidate the Word of God into a set of dos and don’ts, establish a given format for church services to be repeated with no variation each week, and crown tradition as king.
This is where the provision comes in, of all the people entering through one gate and exiting through the other. God, you see, never changes. He enters and exits the same way always, and it is the right way, not simply a rut He is stuck in.
But man cannot exist this way or he will fall prey to rote religion and give no thought to God. He will turn the worship of God into activities and programs, all functioning thoughtlessly and carried out mechanically. The end game of man’s worship will become the activities and programs themselves, and God will no longer enter the picture. Man will wind up worshiping activities and programs, church, rather than God. Our god will then be church!
This is the spiritual truth taught by the contrasts between the prince and the people. They used separate gates and they entered and exited following different criteria. The reason is that the prince is qualitatively different than the people. The prince is God, and God is quite different than man and doesn’t suffer from our limitations.
Not to become distraught, dear friends. We still have a third spiritual truth taught in the quoted text. The prince and the people enter and leave the Millennial Temple together. The spiritual truth here is that the prince and the people are inseparably bound together in covenantal relationship. Though they are qualitatively different, they nonetheless are inseparable in their relationship.
The prince is the Lord Jesus and the people are those who know Him and love Him. The Lord Jesus is not only God: He is also truly man. He is one of us! He goes in with us, leaves with us, and remains with us. God and man are inseparably bound together by the God-man, Jesus Christ.
Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He is faithful even when we are not. He and we are inseparable. Nothing can separate us from the love of God given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nothing.
This is cause for the loudest hallelujahs to ring out across the earth! Let’s take our leave now and go to Him for a time a rest and fellowship. I’ll race you to the prayer closet.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Joshua: Volume 6 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
