Showing posts with label bowing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bowing. Show all posts

Sunday, October 11, 2015

(10/11/2015) For The Sake of The Created

Why worship is important to continuing right relationship with divinity is in view, today.   The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Love Unites” (Level 7 with 35,316 points, a member since May 08, 2013) posted the following:


Why would a god desire humans to bow to him? In what way does this benefit the god?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master:  if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.  And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us:  this hath been by your means:  will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering:  for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.  But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.  Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering:  should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.  But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing:  for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.  (Malachi 1:  6-14, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Awe? (08/09/2015); Prayer Behavior? (04/07/2015); The Meaning of Worship? (07/09/2014); Should Men Take Their Hats Off? (05/15/2014); The Issue Is Not Accuracy (05/16/2014); Fear & GOD? (12/30/2013); Continuously Tested (12/31/2013)


“Love Unites”, may I share some thoughts with you.  As a Christian believer, I can not give you an “easy” answer, here, for there are aspects of sacred knowledge involved.  No one having “a brow of brass and neck of iron” can comprehend the peculiar truths shared through the ministry of Jesus Christ without applying their own spirit content that must come from the makeup of GOD.  Given the principle that spiritual things (e.g., confession, sacred events (we say, miracles), forgiveness, incarnation, judgment, repentance, revelation, salvation, sanctification) are only recognized by using other spiritual things, Christians rely upon the holy writings as a major resource to understand the workings of divinity upon the earth, and through the living.  By faith, believers hold that GOD lacks no necessary element for eternal existence, sovereignty, and total supremacy.  Therefore, while divinity appears through divine law, sacred operations, and eternal purpose, GOD has no “desire”, lack, need, or want.  The fundamental imperatives (we sometimes say, basic demands for existence; the force of truth), and the standard operations for life (i.e., the cycles for continuous growth and maturation) require all created beings and living creatures be in communication, exchange, and interaction with their Creator and Maker, who is spirit.  Saying this another way, survival requires acknowledgement (respect, reverence, worship) like breathing in and out.  Consider the following:

(1.)  John 3:  6-12, King James Version (KJV):  6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is every one that is born of the Spirit.  9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?  11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.  12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

(2.)  Isaiah 42:  5-8, KJV:  5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:  6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;  7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.   8 I am the LORD:  that is my name:  and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

(3.)  Genesis 3:  17-19, KJV:  17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:  cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;  18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;  19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Exodus 34:  5-8, KJV:  5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.  6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,  7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.  8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

(04/07/2015) Prayer Behavior?

Today, points are shared on prayer as a sacred practice for Christian believers.  In addition to prayer by speaking aloud and silent prayer, believers correctly “enter the divine presence” for prayer with holy boldness and trembling, and using such varied postures as bowing, kneeling, sitting, standing, with their arms outstretched and uplifted, and with hands folded against one another (palm-to-palm) or joined (i.e., hand-in-hand).  In the same way tears may appear to express sorrow, weeping also may appear to express joy.  Prayers also may be distinguished by brevity, fervor, focus, importunity, inclusiveness, intensity, perseverance, and strength.  In Scripture, Moses, Aaron, Joshua and others even prostrate themselves (i.e., fall on their face; lay face down on ones stomach) fulfilling the word:  From dust thou art, to dust thou shalt return.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following sneak attack:


Why do Christians bow down when they pray to God when Jews do not and Christ never taught or bowed down when he prayed?


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.  Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Quench not the Spirit.  Despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.  (1st Thessalonians 5:  14-24, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Prayer to Read? (03/25/2015); Cornelius, and Prayer By Sinners? (03/09/2015); Prayer in Public? (02/24/2015); The Power in Prayer? (08/22/2014); The Rosary and Other Prayers? (08/23/2014); Should Men Take Their Hats Off? (05/15/2014); The Issue Is Not Accuracy (05/16/2014); Intercession (12/27/2013); Jesus Is GOD’s Word (12/28/2013)


“Anonymous”, here are a few points on the purpose and substance of Christian prayer that release many from error and spiritual confusion:

(1.)  The offering of prayer occurs in the new life of a believer as both a group (we say, communal) and individual (we say, personal, private) practice.

(2.)  Prayer is no less a sacrament (we say, sacred practice) than baptism, confession, marriage, and ordination to serve within the priesthood.

(3.)  Prayer sanctifies (we say, cleanses and sets apart for exclusive service to GOD) the place where it is offered.  Thus, ones private place for prayer (we say, closet) is purified by the believer’s truth in the same manner (and by the same Spirit) as the sanctuary within a church building provided for the full assembly of believers.

(4.)  Ones emotional, physical, psychological and spiritual  postures all are to be in agreement or harmonized in prayer through humility, intent, motive, purpose, and truth.  Thus, there are both inner and outward displays of acceptance, awe, compliance, gratitude, obedience, respect, reverence, and submission.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood.  For example, (5.)  Flesh and spirit are united in prayer.  For divinity, there are further nourishment of life, provision of sacred knowledge, and continuing revelation.  For humanity, there are contact, exposure, and self-discovery.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  May your prayers ever be answered according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC