(10/26/2017) Foolish People and Unwise

Today, points are shared on the present generation, prophecy, and final judgment.  While a present generation is correct to acknowledge, confess, and petition GOD to forgive the sins of their parents and forbearers (as seen in Ezra 9 and Daniel 9), it is foolishness to compare the sins of modern nations against those of ancient Israel.  Believers are unwise to focus on claiming their own salvation by judging others, even those whose sins are on record and already exposed.  More than this, judgment to pronounce damnation is fraught with subtlety (i.e., barely visible differences; hidden shifts in meaning, quality, and value) and should be regarded as the exclusive privilege of the King.  It is more correct that developing believers focus on their own walk with the Lord, and on achieving the highest levels possible for expressing their own godliness and righteousness.  One of the fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:



Christians: Are we worse than our forefathers?

My Mum (who is a bible scholar) keeps quoting and reminding me of Jeremiah 16:12. She believes every scripture can be applied to today's society. Do you believe that YOU have acted more wickedly than your ancestors?

Something feels wrong in my heart and intuition when I hear that. But they say the heart and intuition is deceptive.



THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:  for great is your reward in heaven:  for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  Ye are the salt of the earth:  but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:  10-16, King James Version, KJV)



THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Caution! Work In Progress (10/19/2017); Temporal and Eternal Judgment (02/15/2017); Sharing The Correct Message (01/30/2017); Where Society Is Headed? (01/11/2016); Enduring As A Believer? (12/06/2015); About The End Of The World (08/30/2015); To Walk As He Walked? (11/16/2014); To Continue In His Footsteps (11/17/2014)



“Anonymous”, the human predicament established through the error of the first pair, Adam, itself has not changed, and only responds to divinity acting through a myriad of sacred devices.  Thus, the operations of sin, the requirement that there be death and mortality, and opposition to the continued existence of divine law remain an enormous challenge to the Creation of GOD.  Even the appearance of divinity using human form (we say, flesh and blood) by a person from the GODhead (Jesus Christ), and the imparting of the Holy Spirit to reside within the living have not been enough to eliminate sin.

When Moses asked GOD to show his glory, he revealed himself to be a God of judgment, and exposed sin as a threat to all existence, even that of divinity.  The operations of sin promote nonexistence and the return to conditions of chaos, flux, and multiple streams of darkness.  The sins committed by a present generation will continue to have direction, effect and presence to the third and fourth generation that follows.  (In Scripture, a single generation is a period of 40 years:  do the math—40, 80, 120, 160 years.)  The following generations are not condemned and punished for that of their ancestors, yet, as the offspring of sinners they will be increasingly challenged; and must turn to GOD for relief, redemption, and salvation.

Finite human tools such as intellect, logic, philosophy, and science are not able to transform consciousness and self-will (we say, willpower) to completely reject and resist sin (sinners are even found among university graduates and faculty).  The divine process for mankind allows sinners to  receive atonement, rebirth, and sacred (not secular) knowledge through discovery, gradual growth, continuing sacred practices (we say, sacraments such as baptism, holy matrimony, penance, etc.), and maintaining fellowship with GOD through those who are anointed and sent.  To avoid spiritual confusion as you continue your course as a developing believer, consider the following points of admonition, proclamation, promise, and prophecy that are shared through the holy writings:

(1.)  Daniel 12:  1-4, KJV:  1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:  and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:  and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.  2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.  4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:  many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

(2.)  Deuteronomy 32:  4-6, KJV:  4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect:  for all his ways are judgment:  a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.  5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children:  they are a perverse and crooked generation.  6 Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

(3.)  Ecclesiastes 7:  9-11, KJV:  9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry:  for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.  10 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.  11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance:  and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Matthew 24:  24-27, KJV:  24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  25 Behold, I have told you before.  26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.



THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(05/24/2017) The First Common Ancestor?

The Creation of Adam

Today, reply is made to errors concerning GOD being in relationship as an ancient ancestor to mankind.  Rather than as business partners, family, and members who share other temporal social relationships among humankind, created beings and living creatures are perpetually joined to immortal, incorruptible divinity through operations that are spirit in their anointing, oneness without sameness, purpose, and substance.  Examples are seen with adoption, covenant, marriage, priesthood, and rebirth.  Correctly understood, Jesus Christ “appears within the frameworks of time and space” (we say, manifests), is “begotten” as well as “made” (see Psalms 2, John 1 & 3, and Hebrews 1 & 5), and is also to be revealed (Revelation 1).  The Lord is properly understood as having been “reproduced” from the flesh of Adam, yet, is to be known as an eternal aspect of the active presence who is GOD.  The Savior, Jesus, was born of a woman, under law first given by GOD to mankind in the form of a covenant spoken aloud by GOD to the men, women, and children assembled with Moses, and later detailed, refined and reinforced with recorded decisions and judgments.  More than this, the Lord was born under promises uttered by GOD in the hearing of the first pair, Adam and Eve that they appropriated as hope and certain expectation.  The existence of Jesus Christ within the fullness of Deity before the creation of heaven and earth is described through the holy writings in the Gospel According to John, where Christ is the aspect of GODhead called “the Word” (see Chapter 1).  It is no error that the genealogy of Jesus Christ written in the Gospel According to Luke traces the Savior as the Son of Man from Adam, who was fashioned to exist as a son of GOD, and was not begotten from GOD through sexual reproduction.  This is later edified in the Scriptures through the Epistle to the Hebrews where Christ is proclaimed the Son of GOD through mysteries of Incarnation, divine promise, and prophetic proclamation.  The fighter at “Yahoo! 7 Answers (Australia)” using the ID “mr. mojorisin” (Level 1 with 2 points, a member since October 24, 2014) posted the following:


If we go back to the beginning is God the first common ancestor to each living organism? That means God is my Great, Great... Grandfather?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of GOD.  (Luke 3:  35, King James Version, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  The Flesh, Then Beyond (05/23/2017); The Fullness of GOD? (05/21/2017); Human Nature, Divine Spirit? (05/18/2017); The Holy Spirit “Begotten”? (02/27/2017); Many Sons of GOD? (06/28/2016); The Firstborn, Higher than Kings? (12/18/2012); The Ascension of Christ? (12/19/2012)


“mr. mojorisin”, following the example of Jesus Christ that maintains plainness of speech, many mature Christian believers only say “Abba” and “Father” when speaking to  GOD in private prayer.  The language that speaks to origin and source is directed to process within the frameworks of time and space, while language such as “common ancestor” speaks to social relationships, inherited substance, inseparable aspects of shared makeup, and the multiple endowments that have established created beings and living creatures.  Going “back to the beginning,” GOD must be understood as an active presence and the only summation containing all spirit matter (we say, the GODhead) who displays such features as communication, exchange, life essence (we say, breath, spirit, word), person, eternal purpose, and oneness without sameness.

GOD is to be known and spoken of on the basis of divine deeds and works, rather than a single appellation (name) or title.  Thus, believers acknowledge that divinity emanates material and spirit substance, puts forth the living and the environments and spheres of life where they endure, determines duration both for existence and life among the living, and establishes levels of access and intimacy along with spiritual tools for ongoing interaction (e.g., divine law, status as sons and daughters of GOD, priesthood, sacred knowledge, spokespersons, holy writings).  Going further, divinity both assigns meaning, quality, and value, and resolves conflicts and disputes by applying sacred law as a standard (i.e., judgment).

Believers in Jesus Christ are embraced as the offspring of GOD through operations of the Holy Spirit that include repentance and baptism (death and burial of ones inborn spirit with rebirth from divine DNA, so to speak).  Because Christians are a new creation and vessels of divinity, they also are “joint-heirs” with their Savior.  Even so, those who are “born again” also must “grow up again” to become ripe (mature) for harvest at the appearing of Christ (we say, the Advent, the Rapture, the Second Coming).  Consider the following from the Bible:

(1.)  Isaiah 63:  16, King James Version (KJV):  16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not:  thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

(2.)  Romans 8:  14-17, KJV:  14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

(3.)  Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.) 1st John 3:  7-11, KJV:  7 Little children, let no man deceive you:  he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him:  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:  whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.  11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/12/2013) Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela: An Acknowledgment

Today I present an acknowledgement of Nelson Mandela that I have been sharing with U. S. President Obama, the Ambassador of South Africa Rasool (Washington, DC), U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry, and others, a poem, ALL AFRICA REJOICING.  Just as the power of a single word, so the power of a single association or a single image.  The poem appearing upon the page is always only a fragment of the writers mind, while the other pieces are to be found within the reader.  At best, a poem is a fragment of thought, a phrase, and a small abstract of a great whole in place as the writer’s mind.  Specially for this reason, there should be some order, some direction, some integrity.  I look forward to your comments.  Be encouraged!

ALL AFRICA REJOICING
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela  (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013)

All Africa crying
Tears of joy
The cataracts of Tugela cascading
Thunders rainbow laden
Licking her chops as a lioness over prey

Surely, it is an act of GOD
When Methodist schoolboys
Escape Bantu education
To fill their hands with King Protea blooms
Broad fields of destiny and law

The sudden prison bars of island waves
Treacherous currents that torture you
To tell all your truth
Your tribal secrets
Your names, your hearts committed

There will be a future, the defense of peace
We must hide until then by silence
Stone face, arrested smiles
Or weeping gasps and snatches of
Breath in the cosmic egg, infinity

The splendid USA, a shining revolution
A heritage of reconciliation
From a common ground of shame
Nguni and the troublemaker’s rest
Amandla

The soil of the escarpment opens to embrace
Collusion, victory
The covert ancestral home
The rich earth of sky children
And the offspring of the trek, for all are welcome

From Joburg to Harlem
From Niagara to Soweto
Hands should now clap rhythms for dancing feet
Drums should now sound for freedom dreams
Made real

A hero of the Boer Wars released
Home again from Cape Town and Pretoria
The pantheon of ancestors
The power of our believing is now increased
The vision we all bled for still alive: 

Two elephant tusks and ears of wheat
A knobkierie and a spear
The secretary bird with wings expanding
Banded warriors beneath their rising sun
All Africa rejoicing

 


©Michael Andrew Williams, 2013.  All rights reserved.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC