(01/17/2019) The Bible on Divorce

Today, reply is on divorce and the divine use of life companions through marriage. One of the most revealing incidents regarding the divine character, sanctification, and use of marriage appears in the accounts from Nehemiah the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest and scribe. Rather than the issues of emotions, love, or pride of family, the issues of accountability to GOD, duty, and sacred promise were primary. The two served as leaders and organizers of the Jews who returned home from the 70-year captivity of Babylon. Their efforts to restore Jerusalem included rebuilding the city walls, reinstating the Levitical priesthood, and reestablishing worship in the Temple. When it became clear that many of the Levites were now defiled by having married women who were not in covenant with GOD (we say, foreign or strange women) and had fathered children by them, hundreds were required to “put away” their profane marriages in a process of divorce. Those who would not willingly dissolve their unlawful union would lose their standing and family inheritance as men of Judah. It is written: Ezra 9: 1-3, King James Version (KJV): 1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass. 3 And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied. Also, Ezra 10: 10-17, KJV: 10 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. 11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. 12 Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. 14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us. 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them. 16 And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. 17 And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile is shared) posted the following:

Why's divorce wrong in Christianity, what if you're married to an abusive person?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1^st Peter 3: 1-7, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Transgression of Sacred Law? (10/25/2018); Applying The Divine Standards (10/02/2018); Two Become One Flesh (01/07/2018); When Believers Practice Divorce (12/10/2017); Marriage Is A Sacrament? (06/11/2017); The Wife of Your Youth? (12/22/2015); The Mistakes In Youth? (08/24/2015)

“Anonymous”, counsel and instruction for those who enter into covenant with divinity through the blood of Jesus Christ includes the following:

1. Deuteronomy 24: 1-4, King James Version (KJV): 1 When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; 4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

2. Malachi 2: 11-16, KJV: 11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts. 13 And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 14 Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 15 And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. 16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.

3. Matthew 19: 3-9, KJV: 3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.

4. 1^st Timothy 1-3, KJV: 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 5. 1^st Corinthians 7: 10-16, KJV: 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(08/29/2017) Bible Borders and Walls

Today, reply is shared on the use of border walls in the Scriptures.  The acknowledgment of fixed boundaries and the identification of locations on the earth as specially blessed of GOD are in keeping with the principles and demands for divine order.  For many centuries, those who were the keepers of divine mystery in the earth wandered as nomads.  While they left behind no permanent housing they often left a “footprint” of sacred altars and life-saving wells of water.  Multiple structures were already in place for those who entered the Promised Land with Joshua.  Perhaps the most important function of walls for Israel was that they served as landmarks, and made visible their inheritance as a people chosen of GOD.  In addition to being used as barriers to control the movement and traffic of foreigners and strangers, walls were defensive weapons used against siege warfare, and an enhancement to beautify cities and provide the appearance of strength and prosperity.  The description of the New Jerusalem that appears in Scripture as the Bride of Christ and the Holy City provides details of its twelve foundations, its single wall, and its twelve gates.  A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “LovelyGiraffe” (Level 7 with 36,599 points, a member since April 24, 2008) posted the following:


Biblically Speaking, does God ordain Border Walls ?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,  Having the glory of God:  and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;  And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:  On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.  And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.  And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth:  and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.  (Revelation 21:  9-16, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Faithless Israel, Unfaithful Judah? (08/18/2017); The Earth Made New (11/13/2013); Hierarchy (11/14/2013); Jericho Justified? (07/02/2013); Theoretical Forgiveness? (07/03/2013); The Root of Jesse (01/03/2013); Newness of Spirit? (01/04/2013)


“LovelyGiraffe”, the borders, countries, and land promised to Abraham that would become the inheritance of those in covenant with Moses are described in the Book of Joshua, chapters 13-20.  The holy writings describe many massive building projects that include the Tower of Babel, the monuments of Egypt, the ark of Noah, and the Temple at Jerusalem.  Speaking to the building of border walls in particular, consider the following points that use the language of the Bible:

(1.)  2nd Chronicles 14:  2-8, King James Version (KJV):  2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:  3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:  4 And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.  5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images:  and the kingdom was quiet before him.  6 And he built fenced cities in Judah:  for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.  7 Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.  8 And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand:  all these were mighty men of valour.

(2.)  Nehemiah 1:  1-4, KJV:  1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,  2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.  3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach:  the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.  4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

(3.)  Nehemiah 4:  16-18, KJV:  16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.  17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.  18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Proverbs 25:  28, KJV:  28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

 

(08/16/2017) On Prayer and Revival

Today, response is shared to the article (14 August 2017) The 1st Truth the Church Needs For Revival! posted by M R Charles (Rwanda) in his Mugisha Thoughts Blog  - Change Obey Endure Project™ - at wordpress.com.  Revival for the church of Jesus Christ is a sacred operation to assess and declare spiritual needs within the body, to prepare developing believers for a falling of the Holy Ghost as well as one to invoke and welcome a fresh outpouring of divine gifts.  It may be more correct to say that prayer is one of the fruits from revival, rather than revival being one of the fruits from prayer.  The following except was shared:


When prayer becomes the engine, not the caboose, of our ministry efforts then our churches become an unstoppable train that advance the Gospel in unimaginable ways!

To experience this we must learn how to pray with passion, focus and faith. We must pray for the lost. We must pray for each other. We must pray for this nation. We must pray for the world. We must pray that God intervenes to break up the hard soil of unregenerate hearts and send forth seed-chuckers who will spread his message everywhere to everyone!

Let’s wake up to the need to pray!

Written by Greg Stier


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:  and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.  (James 5:  13-20, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Meanings for “Apostolic Church” (05/08/2017); Sin Must Be Personal (04/29/2016); Confession and The Cross (03/25/2016); Prayer in Public? (02/24/2015); Saved by a Prayer? (10/31/2014); Is Prayer an Act of Faith? (11/01/2014); Perfection and Prayer? (08/27/2014); Before Getting Baptized? (11/28/2013); The Rich in Divine Relationship? (11/29/2013)


“Mugisha”, speaking in oneness without sameness and the authority of one believer to another, my first thoughts in response to the call for prayer being made in your blog was to caution myself that to pray is more than simply to ask that GOD give and supply whatever might be our sacred desires and needs.  In fact, I thought, that may be one of our greatest weaknesses, understanding prayer as primarily a process of petitioning divinity.  Prayer also can be continuous conversation and dialog with divinity, inquiry for guidance and knowledge, praise, and thanksgiving.  Surely where confession and sorrowing for sin are not thought more essential as the wellspring of revival, the church tends to center upon carnal and material goals for increased membership, fund raising, and social activity (i.e., business as usual).  The call for revival should emerge from the assessment of spiritual health and maturity within the body, not merely a calendar of events, or inquiry asking, how long has it been since the last…?
Both through regular prayer and revival, there should be acknowledgment of the ongoing judgment and refocus on the promises of GOD.  Thereby, the process, proclamation, and fulfillment of prophecy will be maintained in our view as our answer from GOD in Christ.  I hesitated to share any comment, because I thought my motives might be misunderstood, and received as argumentative, interference, or meddling.  Perhaps, because my goal is to edify, the following from the holy writings will clarify what it is that needs to be said:

(1.)  Ezra 9:  5-8, King James Version (KJV):  5 And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,  6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God:  for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.  7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.  8 And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.

(2.)  Nehemiah 9:  1-3, KJV:  1 Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.  2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.  3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

(3.)  Daniel 9:  4-10, KJV:  4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my
confession, and said, O LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;  5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:  6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.  7 O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.  8 O LORD, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.  9 To the LORD our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;  10 Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  1st John 1:  5-10, KJV:  5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(11/03/2015) More On Sacrificial Giving

Today, more is shared on sacrificial giving using examples from the Bible along with instances of daily offerings commanded by GOD, free will offerings (we say, optional gifts), and required seasonal offerings (we say, tithes).  Like the celebration of Passover, the daily burnt offerings were fundamental to the full range of sacred operations for covenant bond (e.g., atonement, expiation, forgiveness, memorial).  Free will offerings are given voluntarily, and are not demanded as duty and obligation.  Tithes (one-tenth) are required from continuous income (such as salary and wages) and from each harvest of livestock (such as cattle and sheep) as well as for crops from ones field.  Thereby tithing becomes understood as seasonal on an annual and semi-annual basis.  Sacrificial giving requires releasing and sharing despite burden to the giver as cost, damage, inconvenience, and loss.  With this in view, the “$1,000 dollar seed” also may appear as acts of compassion, courage, reverence, and unselfishness.

daily offerings

Numbers 28:  2-8, King James Version (KJV):  2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.  3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.  4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;  5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.  6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.  7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb:  in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.  8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even:  as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

free will offerings

Numbers 6:  13-15, KJV:  13 And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled:  he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:  14 And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,  15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.  16 And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:  17 And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread:  the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.  18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.  19 And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:  20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:  this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder:  and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.  21 This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get:  according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.

1st Chronicles 29:  13-18, KJV:  13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.  14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.  15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers:  our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.  16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.  17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things:  and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.  18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:

Romans 12:  1-9, KJV:  1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2 And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:  or he that teacheth, on teaching;  8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:  he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

tithes

Deuteronomy 12:  17-18, KJV:  17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:  18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates:  and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

2nd Chronicles 31:  5-7, KJV:  5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.  6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.  7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

Nehemiah 10:  32-39, KJV:  32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;  33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.  34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:  35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:  36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:  37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.  38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes:  and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.  39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers:  and we will not forsake the house of our God.

sacrificial giving

1st Kings 17:  10-16, KJV:  10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks:  and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.  11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.  12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse:  and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.  13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said:  but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.  14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.  15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah:  and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.  16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

Luke 21:  1-4, KJV:  1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.  2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.  3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:  4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God:  but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

Acts 3:  1-10, KJV:  1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.  2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;  3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.  4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.  5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.  6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:  and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:  10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Mark 14:  3-9, KJV:  3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.  4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?  5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.  6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.  7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good:  but me ye have not always.  8 She hath done what she could:  she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.  9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

Of course, there is far more that could be said and shared.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(08/26/2014) About Good Sermons?

More points are shared on sermons, today.


THE BATTLE AXE:  Sermons About Good Sex? (08/25/2014)—(5.)  Rightly understood, sermons are not casual and informal conversations, or personal exchanges based on private opinions.  Preaching, prophesying, and sermons are authoritative proclamations and statements made by spokespersons sent from GOD, who speak as the Holy Spirit gives utterance.  All believers are not called to  be pulpit preachers; however, all are challenged to hear, and be doers of the word.  Saying this another way:  Sermons are proclamations of divine law as seen with Moses and those who gathered at Sinai, or with Ezra and those of the Exile who gathered in Jerusalem.  Sermons are delivered to full congregations—minor children included—and are to establish unity through shared awareness of conditions, duties, privileges and responsibilities that extend to all within the body.  In addition to pastoral counseling conducted as private sessions, personal ministries of the church also are provided that supply needed fellowship and intimacy, the peculiar details, and the special needs of various groups such as singles, married believers, those returning from the military or prison, those recovering from addictions, and young adults.

(6.)  As with sacred knowledge regarding redemption, salvation, serving as vessels for the Spirit from GOD, and eternal life, many reject the church as a source for instruction regarding the process of life commanded by the Almighty.  Within the body of believers, standards for communication must be in place so that all things may be done decently, and in order.  This may include restrictions upon such verbal behavior as pronouncing curses (wicked prayers for the harm of others), swearing an oath, speaking in tongues when interpretation is not available, using profanity, and making threats of violence.  Valuable sermons regularly include those that establish the presence of Jesus in the hearts and minds of believers; that correctly present the  full Gospel and detail the plan of salvation; that prepare  believers for the promised coming of Jesus; that remind believers of neglected and overlooked doctrine, practices and teachings that have been provided for benefit, fulfillment and power.  Examples include, the seventh day Sabbath, the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit, and the specific expectations believers are commanded to maintain as hope.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.  And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.  And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God.  And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands:  and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law:  and the people stood in their place.  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:  for this day is holy unto our Lord:  neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.  (Nehemiah 8:  1-10, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Arguing Against the Bible in Church? (02/18/2014); Snake Handling? (02/19/2014); Should I Speak? (12/13/2013); Life Choices (12/14/2013); Blessings, Curses and Woes (10/03/2012); After We Die? (10/04/2012)


There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (7.)  Sermons may include the quoting of Bible verses and Scripture passages for many different reasons.  Foremost is that the holy writings are to be acknowledged as a common source of sacred truth for all believers.  Thus, Scriptures are used as the “shared language” and familiar expression whereby the concepts and thoughts under consideration are made immediately recognizable.  Discernment is encouraged (a believers use of spiritual things to recognize and respond to the spirit content in such aspects of life experience as events, objects, other persons, and prophecy.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(04/10/2013) A Guide to Salvation?

      Usefulness of the holy writings as a guide to salvation is the topic, today, along with more on faith as evidence, and the evidence for faith. A “Yahoo! Answers” Top Contributor using the ID “Nacirema” (Level 7 with 28,974 points, a member since July 25, 2011) posted the following:


*If* you were God, would you create a guide to salvation in the form of an archaic holy book?

This is a simple hypothetical question.


THE BATTLE AXE: Evidence of the Unseen Spirit? (04/09/2013)—Created beings and living creatures only receive faith from GOD, and cannot bestow, or transfer faith among and between one another. In-filled and motivated by the imparted, indwelling Spirit of Christ, believers put aside self-will, and operate as agents to carry out and perform the will of GOD. Included are divine intent, forgiveness, holy law, judgment, sacred purpose, sanctification, and zeal. Faith and all sacred substance is directed to the fulfillment of divine will. Believers may acknowledge and display faith as certainty, confidence and trust in GOD. Also, in accordance with their own endowment of faith, believers may share examples of godly behavior and conduct. Thereby, faith serves as “the substance” and active expression of “hope”, and the power that brings about prophecy, and many of ones sacred expectations (i.e., things hoped for). See Hebrews 11: 1-6, King James Version.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (Nehemiah 8: 1-10, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: On Producing Atheists (03/16/2013); The Children, not the Dogs (03/17/2013); What To Take Literally (03/11/2013); A GOD of War? (03/12/2013); Binder 2: Why Begin With Scriptures? (09/29/2011); Binder 3: A Commitment To The Scriptures (09/30/2011); Binder 4: Getting To Know The Scriptures (10/01/2011)

    
     Nacirema, here are some points about the holy writings that are often overlooked, and may be useful to you and your readers:

(1.) The holy writings were painstakingly prepared as sacred treasures by those having the highest levels of skill who were chroniclers, oral historians, priests, prophets, and scribes. These works were to anchor and further implement a divine priesthood upon the earth modeled after that in the heavens. The writings were not intended for amusement, entertainment and popular consumption like novels and paperbacks. 
 
(2.) The holy writings document and record a broad range of human events and divine utterances among, and on behalf of mankind. Included are covenants, divine appearances, hallowed law, judgments against sin, practices to sanctify and set apart the people of GOD, rule by divine agents, sacred purposes, and works accomplished through the imparted, indwelling Spirit of Christ.

(3.) Those not formally inducted into the “mysteries” (i.e., special knowledge), properly prepared, and thoroughly trained are not likely to correctly apply, receive and understand the Scriptures. Your own experience may include encounters with folk who presume themselves experts on the Bible, yet, they display no comprehensive grasp, and have not derived full benefit from the holy tool. Worse than this, they add nothing to the spiritual maturity and power of others.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) As a peculiar appearance of divinity, the Scriptures are only unlocked to reveal divine intent to mankind through the ministry of Jesus, the Lamb of GOD. Viewed through the animal nature that also describes mankind, the Scriptures are merely a record of miscellaneous episodes in the long history of life on the earth. Viewed through ones own endowment of divine person received by baptism, the Scriptures serve as a key to acknowledging GOD who is invisible as well as for embracing every provision for mankind to have eternal life.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to the measure of faith you now contain.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC