Monday, December 3, 2012

(12/03/2012) On Seeing Jesus Serve the Poor

      Focus, today, is upon poverty, and recognizing Jesus through the service of others. Also, there is more on the need for fear of the Lord. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Joshua the Tree” (Level 2 with 393 points, a member since November 28, 2012) posted the following:


Why don't we ever see Jesus in the Peace Corp feeding the starving children?

We never see Jesus doing anything useful. Why?


THE BATTLE AXE: A Need to Fear? (12/02/2012)—For a lasting bond to exist between two independent persons there must be peculiar acknowledgements through the tone and texture of their shared contact. Because “fear” as respect, reverence and willing acknowledgment of divinity derive from the person and substance of GOD, fear buttresses and supports right relationship with GOD. By the provision of GOD incarnate, appearing as Jesus Christ, mankind is made able to experience a full acceptance of GOD in spite of the great gulf between finite creatures and their eternal Creator. The imparted, indwelling Spirit prepares ones inner nature for its transformation into that that is immortal and incorruptible. Confidence, courage, holy boldness and trust both emerge from and nourish the divine spirit, and are increasingly built up and made visible through sacred fellowship, practice, prayer, study and worship. Only those indispensable, nonnegotiable elements such as closure, finality, permanence and resolution foster and continue belief that GOD is cold, indifferent, inflexible, and unloving.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty. There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. (Proverbs 30: 8-14, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: How To Have Conviction (11/24/2012); Attending Church? (11/12/2012); Why “Mysterious” (11/11/2012); To See With New Eyes (11/06/2012); Love in Christ (10/23/2012); Escape from Racism (10/24/2012); Prosperity Destroys Fools (09/25/2012); Yet, If I Judge (09/05/2012)


      “That part is yours to do.” You deserve a better answer than that; so I ask you to consider the following as advice from a mature Christian believer:

      “Seeing Jesus” or the ability to recognize spirit persons and spirit things requires what is called “discernment.” Discernment is a special consciousness established by the endowment of divinity that was deposited within all created beings and living creatures at the Creation. Through the operation of sin, the divine nature within the living has become corrupted and diminished. Sin weakens what we call “will power,” “self-will,” “volition,” and “free choice.” More than this, sin confuses divine processes that establish being, relationship and value for the created.

      The viral photograph that has been displayed showing “a random act of kindness” (a NYC police officer aiding a homeless man after purchasing shoes and sox for him), in fact, depicts many of the important aspects of service to GOD, and what it means to manifest Christ. However, unless the imparted Spirit from GOD (also called the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Prophecy) opens ones heart and mind establishing comprehension, many important spiritual truths are missed. For example, the photograph is a rebuke to all those believers who insist that destruction, warfare and violence are the highest good out of the Qur’an. The photo is a perfect illustration of what Muhammad taught regarding jihad-al-akbar, the Greater Jihad.

      Jesus taught that “the poor are always with us.” As a divine tool to shape the hearts and minds of men, mendicancy and poverty generate humility before GOD. Poverty also permits a further revelation of divine person (e.g., compassion, goodness, love, pity). Given that poverty is also the result of addiction, dishonesty, ignorance, lack of industry, pride, self-destructiveness, and sin, the poor are also an admonition and warning to mankind. Believers are to seek the triumph of divine spirit above physical circumstances, emotions, finances, and politics. Consider again the weathering of storm Sandy.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, in the Bible we learn that “evil” is sudden and widespread change or upheaval, not sin and wickedness. GOD proclaims the divine prerogative to create evil (i.e., calamity, catastrophe, disaster). However, GOD has not created sin, and does not generate sin.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

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