(06/19/2021) The Leper Keeps Sabbath?

John Steel, Jesus heals 10 Lepers

Today, we have a multiple-choice pop quiz! It is written: James 2: 14-18, King James Version (KJV): 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Select the best answer for the following question from the list below: Why does a leper keep the seventh day Sabbath?

THE GOLDEN ARROW: And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (Luke 17: 12-19, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Why So Many Churches? (10/17/2020); GOD Can Forgive Us (09/13/2020); Divine Protection Against Covid-19? (04/26/2020); Getting Help From Church? (02/09/2020); He Healed Them All (10/20/2019); According To The Pattern (09/27/2018); Sabbath Now and Then? (08/15/2018); Naaman the Leper (12/21/2012)

WHY DOES THE LEPER KEEP THE SABBATH?

• A. Because he is a priest

• B. Because he is a king

• C. Because he is a covenant-keeper

• D. Because he is a leper

• E. Because he is hoping to be healed

• F. Because he is hoping for rest

• G. Because he is hoping to be with family and friends

• H. Because he is willing to obey divine law

• I. Because it is a good/bad habit

• J. To stay alive (like breathing)

• K. Because it is his way of life

• L. Because it is a work of faith

• M. To stave off any further curse (afraid not to)

• N. Because he is a child of GOD

• O. To express gratitude and give thanks

• P. All of the above

• Q. None of the above

Consider again the following that uses language from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible:

1. Exodus 20: 8-11, KJV: 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

2. 2^nd Chronicles 26: 16-21, KJV: 16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

3. Isaiah 58: 13-14, KJV: 13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, Isaiah 56: 1-7, KJV: 1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. 6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.). Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

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THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

(04/20/2021) "100% Gold and Marble"

 

For many Christian believers the most difficult elements of transformation away from relying on secular and worldly knowledge center on practicing godly and sacred operations that require consecrated substance rather than lavish display, money, ownership of possessions, the distribution of property, and accumulating wealth. Just as the character and nature of divinity is made visible to mankind on the earth through Jesus Christ, things are to appear within the church Christ has created that are to resemble, reflect, and reveal the things that appear in heaven. Correctly understood, what created beings and living creatures are to regard as the precious things of the earth have been provided to communicate such features as the abundance, authority, balance, dominion, humility, perfection, and wisdom of divinity. Sacred law delivers sanctions to the living that condemn covetousness, envy, idolatry, lust, possessiveness, exaggerated pride, and selfishness. It is written: James 4: 1-3, King James Version (KJV): 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion & Spirituality using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data shared) posted the following:

Why is the bishop’s church in my diocese 100% gold and marble when he closed down my church for lack of funding?

Hey, so I’ll burn in hell for all eternity for not having a church to go to but at least he can be ensconced in gold and platinum every Sunday.

Updated 1 hour ago:

Actually, I guess it’s a new bishop. The bishop who closed down my church in 2019 was replaced in early 2020. But still

THE GOLDEN ARROW: John 14: 1-3, KJV: 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: The Device of Inheritance (12/01/2020); On Giving and Tithing (11/05/2020); Why So Many Churches? (10/17/2020); The Inheritance From GOD (08/26/2020); Power To Get Wealth (01/15/2020); The Love Of Money (10/27/2019); Giving, A Divine Discipline? (10/09/2017); A $1,000 Dollar Seed? (11/02/2015); Some Points on Tithing (03/19/2015)

“Anonymous”, aspects of acknowledgment, glorification, praise, sacrifice, submission, and worship are involved. The use of gold, marble, and platinum that we see displayed among the various congregations sharing Christian belief is not intended to establish a base for political conflict and division, exalt hierarchy with worldly social standing and preference based on wealth, or represent the authority and power of any individual on the earth. Believers are to apprehend and discern the material presence of invisible divinity through the properties of consecrated and sanctified devices, tools, and utensils. Included are balance, beauty, completeness, purity, eternal purpose, simplicity, and transcendence projected through the carpeting, cloths, flowers, and other adornments of the altar, communion-ware, the font or baptism pool, the pews, prayer stalls, and other fixtures. The bishop may reside and regularly serve a broad area that includes diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Correctly understood, the “headquarters” church (often a cathedral) is a shared inheritance for the full community that has been increased, maintained, managed, and preserved through the work of many generations. Developing believers often err responding to divine displays as though they are selfish expressions from disbelievers and skeptics rather than unselfish offerings by those in commitment and conviction. While the church endures as a single sacred body by practicing a division of labor and oneness without sameness, it is not unreasonable that every discrete congregation must continue by its own members accepting requirements for accountability, duty, effort, and manifesting Christian maturity. Through the earthly treasures of the church believers are encouraged that the goals of their faith and practice can be achieved within their own life-process as those belonging to GOD. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

(1.) Exodus 25: 1-9, King James Version (KJV): 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. 3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, 4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, 5 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

(2.) Exodus 36: 1-6, KJV: 1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it: 3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; 5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make. 6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, eternal salvation with divinity is not determined by ones giving and financial behavior, their intellectual knowledge, their service, or their personal suffering so much as by their content of divine substance and their continuance under grace.). Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

Image downloaded 1:00 PM, April 18, 2021 @ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3b/27/84/3b2784a14f6cb78680023c66ae9314a7.jpg

THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC