(06/10/2018) Why Jonah Willfully Disobeyed

Today, reply speaks to the account of Jonah and the great fish where multiple streams of sacred truth come together.  For there to be accord and agreement between the Creator and the created, the living must be joined to the oneness without sameness that exists within the GODhead.  To many, the primary focus of the account of Jonah is repentance by the city/kingdom of Nineveh, and by a servant of GOD.  (Jonah is a figure of all those who refused to heed the preaching of Noah, and is a figure of the High Priest of the tabernacle and the temple who must make atonement for the sins of the people, and for his own sins.)  To others, the major themes are resurrection and salvation.  Even so, it is written:  Hosea 6:  5-6, King James Version (KJV):  5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth:  and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.  6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.  One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information shown) posted the following:

Why did Jonah willfully disobey God?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly,  And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.  For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about:  all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.  Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.  The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:  the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.  I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever:  yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.  When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD:  and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.  They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.  But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.  And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.  (Jonah 2:  1-11, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  When Prophecy Opposes Desire (05/31/2018); Divine Law Is Demanding (04/10/2018); Why Does GOD “Repent”? (04/06/2018); “I Am The Resurrection”  (03/25/2018); Mercy to the Merciless? (07/30/2017); Accepting the Divine Will? (12/06/2016); Justice Comes by Love (10/01/2012); A Daily Revelation? (10/02/2012)

“Anonymous”, a man may be dead to the world, yet, alive within the heart and mind of GOD.  Conversely, he may be alive to the world, yet, dead in spirit, defiant, and in rebellion to GOD.  Christian believers are cautioned to understand that, where they do not receive fresh endowments of spirit substance from the makeup of divinity, the operations of sin may dominate awareness and self-will within created beings and living creatures.  The separation that permit’s the living to exist having integrity and soundness of their own personhood must be reinforced by deposits of sacred life essence (we say, breath; spirit; word) from the makeup of the Creator.  Inseparable aspects of GOD are imparted to indwell those on the earth including faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, meekness, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  The human condition displayed by Jonah included ethnic arrogance (Jonah, a Jew was sent to preach to the very Gentiles (the Assyrians) who would later carry the Northern Kingdom (Israel; Somalia) into exile); exaggerated pride; indignation; and self-righteousness (a holier-than-thou attitude).  The belly of a great fish was prepared to serve as a burial site and grave for Jonah.  Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.)  Proverbs 16:  25, King James Version (KJV):  16 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

(2.)  Romans 10:  2-4, KJV:  2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

(3.)  Romans 6:  2-7, KJV:  2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Galatians 5:  16-25, KJV:  16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:  and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.  18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,  20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,  21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(11/09/2013) How Children Learn

THE BATTLE AXE:  Unguarded Chocolates? (11/07/2013)—All humans make mistakes in the course of growing up and maturing that will need forgiveness, forbearance, correction and acceptance, yet, that do not require damnation, punishment, or withholding love.  As well as for adults, GOD has set standards for minor children also, and all are to be held accountable.  Parents and caretakers are to encourage and guide the young understanding that children learn and internalize life lessons by answering challenge, copying, demonstration, discovery, imitation, play, having to make their own choices, repetition, risk-taking, trial and error, and “hands-on walk through.”  See Proverbs 20:  11, Deuteronomy 21:  18-21, Ecclesiastes 11:  9, Psalms 25:  6-9 and 1st Corinthians 13:  1-13, King James Version.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient:  but rather giving of thanks.  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no man deceive you with vain words:  for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light:  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  (Ephesians 5:  1-11, KJV)


There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood.  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Even so, be it unto you according to your faith.  Jesus is coming soon.  Grow in grace.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(10/25/2012) Christians Who Ignore GOD’s Laws

     Christian maturity, covenant, and law are topics, today, with more on escaping racism. A “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Ian” (Level 1 with 37 points, a member since September 30, 2012) posted the following:


Why do most Christians ignore God’s laws?


THE BATTLE AXE: Escape from Racism (10/24/2012)— Because they identify racism with social realities, many fail to recognize that racism is a spiritual problem that derives from sin, an influence that dominates the will of created beings and living creatures, and that opposes the divine existence of GOD. Despite accounts from the Bible and The Book of Mormon, bias, discrimination, prejudice and racism (called being a respecter of persons in Scripture) are forms of unrighteous judgment, and therefore are disgusting and hateful to GOD. Becoming free of racism within others as well as from within oneself, requires power that comes only from GOD. At no time in the history of mankind has the righteousness of GOD been identified as the result of skin color, and ethnic origin. Yet, condemnation, and the curse of GOD against sin have been promoted as portrayed through race. Mature believers from every ethnic origin now trust that Jesus Christ has broken-off every curse that may have come through earlier forms of the law. In many settings where racism now appears, doctrinal differences were first at issue; and racism emerged later as the corruption of sacred truth. While originally competition, conflict, division and schism may have begun through the Devil, racism appears maintained primarily through operation of the world system. There, contrary to the holy writings and promptings by the Spirit of GOD, mankind insists upon customs and traditions that amplify racial differences, and that enlarge human error. Clearly the Scriptures teach us that there are divine standards for holy service, for entering the presence of GOD, and for obtaining divine favor. As demonstrated by the account of Abel and Cain (sons of Adam), every sacrifice is not answered with holy fire confirming acceptable worship, and commanded obedience. Standards for the people of GOD, and genuine priesthood after the things in heaven, have been demonstrated through Jesus Christ, the Incarnate person of GOD. In Scripture, class differences began among the sons of Adam very early on the basis of such elements as prowess in hunting (Nimrod). Later, ethnic discrimination appears against the Jews (who were herdsmen, keepers of livestock), that apparently began in Egypt on the basis of occupation. The Jews were not chosen as a divine instrument to promote their ethnicity, their economic productivity, or any racial differences. Nor were the Jews taken into covenant to perpetuate racial conflict. Even so, wherever the people in the covenant of Moses have gone in Diaspora, there have been problems that result because they must separate (i.e., be cleansed and set apart) to serve Almighty GOD. Like many contemporary Jews, some Christians account themselves socially acceptable and involved in the great issues of modern society. However, they too have a duty to be “a peculiar people,” and should answer sanctification, the operation of the imparted, indwelling Spirit from GOD whereby a believer is set apart to be further made fit for eternal life.


THE GOLDEN ARROW: Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. (Deuteronomy 4: 5-10, King James Version)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Double Standard? (10/12/2012); Family and Romance (10/13/2012); Faith Establishes Law (03/10/2012); Support For The Bible (03/11/2012); Dispatch 42: Unprofitable Servants (09/21/2011); Why Disobey? (03/18/2011); Two Opinions? (03/19/2011); To Do His Will? (01/31/2011); To Get Wisdom? (02/01/2011)

    
     Until they are mature, created beings and living creatures do not fully grasp the divine realities of law from GOD. While the law is to make Almighty GOD, who is nonmaterial and spirit both known and visible, there are many other sacred operations and purposes accomplished through the law that at first cannot be seen, and understood. The law must respond to many subtle points (barely visible differences; fine details), and goes beyond attitudes, behavior, and conduct of the living. Law is a display of divine will, thus, in this sense, the law itself is invisible; and may only be “seen” after being assimilated, and internalized. Do you see what I mean?
    
     When still developing, many Christians acknowledge the covenant of Moses (called “the law” in Scripture) as an historical foundation for Christian belief. However, they mistakenly understand the covenant as having been ended by Jesus, rather than transformed, improved, and extended. These incorrectly apply the critiques that identify the shortcomings of the Mosaic covenant, and its system of animal sacrifices for atonement, and propitiation of sin. In addition to condemning the rites and ceremonies from the Tabernacle and Temple, many condemn all the civil law, ordinances, statutes and testimonies of Israel, pointing to them as the cause of the failures and sins of the people. More than this, they do not yet comprehend the various connections among faith, forgiveness, humility, judgment, love, obedience, and righteousness.
    
     There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, when lacking balance and depth of understanding, many are prone to regard salvation as a free gift that demands no action, or change on the part of believers. While they are correct that, as with the Creation of mankind, salvation is an operation of divine person, and that believers have no active part or “say” in the sacred process; it remains, believers must respond to various disciplines and standards for fellowship within the body of Christ. All believers do not preach or sing in the choir, yet, all are given the “work” of spreading the Gospel through their routines of daily living.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.


THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC