“When God asks a question it’s not because He lacks answers.
God’s queries are designed to make us contemplate
who He is, and why he proclaims the things He does.
He is attempting to bring us to the place where we can lean on Him wholly -
rather than on our own understanding.”
Kris Vallotton
Bethel Church, Redding, California
@Christ Community Church 12-29-07
The Bread of the Lord’s Presence:
When was the last time that God used you to perform a miracle,
God’s queries are designed to make us contemplate
who He is, and why he proclaims the things He does.
He is attempting to bring us to the place where we can lean on Him wholly -
rather than on our own understanding.”
Kris Vallotton
Bethel Church, Redding, California
@Christ Community Church 12-29-07
The Bread of the Lord’s Presence:
When was the last time that God used you to perform a miracle,
or to demonstrate His authority, or exercise a special sign or wonder?
For many Christians such actions have become a benchmark for measuring their spirituality. While I think we should earnestly desire to be used of God in this manner, I also believe that very pursuit can also become a idolatrous stumbling block for the believer.
1At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath,
and His disciples became hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.
2But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him,
"Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath."
3But He said to them,
"Have you not read what David did
when he became hungry, he and his companions,
4how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread,
which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him,
but for the priests alone?
5"Or have you not read in the Law,
that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple
break the Sabbath and are innocent?
6"But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.
7"But if you had known what this means,
'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:1-8 NASB
Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets…
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Matthew 5:17,18 NASB
…yet when his disciples violated the Law, by picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus was not the least bit offended by their actions. The Pharisees, on-the-other-hand, were incensed by their actions; after all they had “broken the Law,” and they were quick to challenge Jesus.
Religious types are today still becoming outraged by even the slightest violation of the law, because they are still trying to “work-their-way” into heaven.
Jesus was quick to point to the Scriptures and give them the example of David and his followers consumption of the “Bread of the Presence” when they were being pursued by king Saul and his army.
4The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
5David answered the priest and said to him, "Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy?"
6So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.
1 Samuel 21:4-6 NASB
David’s men were given the consecrated Bread of the Presence to satisfy their hunger. The disciples were allowed to eat the grain in the presence of the One who is the bread of life.
32Jesus then said to them,
"Truly, truly, I say to you,
it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven,
but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
33"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven,
and gives life to the world."
34Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
35Jesus said to them,
"I am the bread of life;
he who comes to Me will not hunger,
and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:32-35 NASB
When we partake of the Bread of Life, we become ambassadors for Christ’s life giving bread to the world around us. We partake of the Bread of His Presence by being in his presence. There is no greater responsibility, nor pleasure, than to be in His presence. Our highest priority must always be to be lead by the presence of the Lord. Being lead by the presence of the Lord is characterized by a lifestyle of worship, adoration and praise. We have our hearts and eyes focused on Him.
Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12 NASB
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NASB
Each time we demonstrate the character of Christ that has been birthed in us because of His presence in our lives we are giving away His grace and mercy. The very heart of the Father is present in every kind act of compassion, each kind word or gentle gesture that we perform.
When the Pharisees tried to pin Jesus down with their observation, He subtly rebuked them saying:
"But if you had known what this means,
'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:7,8 NASB (quoting Hosea 6:6)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6 NIV
Jesus was equating the presence of mercy and compassion with knowledge of the intimate presence of the God. Having an intimate relationship with the Lord is the only way that we will walk in the compassion and mercy of God.
The religious hypocrite will always focus on the deeds and shortcomings of others, but those who are lead by the Spirit of God will always walk in compassion and mercy so that another’s need is met.
Remember the question at the very beginning…
‘When was the last time that God used you to perform a miracle,
or to demonstrate His authority,
or exercise a special sign or wonder?’
I believe that while these things will follow after believers, the pursuit of them is the wrong approach. We need to pursue the giver of the gifts not the gifts. That said, many believers have been deceived in thinking that demonstrations of power, signs and wonders are the only marks of a spiritual life.
Each time we extend the love an grace of our hand to another, we have witnessed the Bread of His Presence being distributed. When we have compassion for another… it is His compassion. When we bring peace to the storm in another person’s life… it is His peace. When we wrap a loving arm around a grieving brother, sister or stranger on the street… we extend his arm of comfort… His presence. His presence brought into the life of another is the most significant miracle we can witness.
40"The King will answer and say to them,
'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it
to one of these brothers of Mine,
even the least of them,
you did it to Me.'
Matthew 25:40 NASB
When we minister in love and mercy to others, we are ministering to the Lord Himself. Our every small act of kindness, patience, longsuffering, gentleness…
each brings a smile to the Lord’s face. When we love them, we love the One who created them.
Love and the mercy and grace that are expressions of that love are birthed in us by God.
7Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is from God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8The one who does not love
does not know God,
for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 NASB
30
fkj
1At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath,
and His disciples became hungry
and began to pick the heads of grain and eat.
2But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him,
"Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath."
3But He said to them,
"Have you not read what David did
when he became hungry, he and his companions,
4how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread,
which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him,
but for the priests alone?
5"Or have you not read in the Law,
that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple
break the Sabbath and are innocent?
6"But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.
7"But if you had known what this means,
'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:1-8 NASB
Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets…
17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Matthew 5:17,18 NASB
…yet when his disciples violated the Law, by picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus was not the least bit offended by their actions. The Pharisees, on-the-other-hand, were incensed by their actions; after all they had “broken the Law,” and they were quick to challenge Jesus.
Religious types are today still becoming outraged by even the slightest violation of the law, because they are still trying to “work-their-way” into heaven.
Jesus was quick to point to the Scriptures and give them the example of David and his followers consumption of the “Bread of the Presence” when they were being pursued by king Saul and his army.
4The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
5David answered the priest and said to him, "Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy?"
6So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.
1 Samuel 21:4-6 NASB
David’s men were given the consecrated Bread of the Presence to satisfy their hunger. The disciples were allowed to eat the grain in the presence of the One who is the bread of life.
32Jesus then said to them,
"Truly, truly, I say to you,
it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven,
but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.
33"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven,
and gives life to the world."
34Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread."
35Jesus said to them,
"I am the bread of life;
he who comes to Me will not hunger,
and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
John 6:32-35 NASB
When we partake of the Bread of Life, we become ambassadors for Christ’s life giving bread to the world around us. We partake of the Bread of His Presence by being in his presence. There is no greater responsibility, nor pleasure, than to be in His presence. Our highest priority must always be to be lead by the presence of the Lord. Being lead by the presence of the Lord is characterized by a lifestyle of worship, adoration and praise. We have our hearts and eyes focused on Him.
Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and love Him,
and to serve the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deuteronomy 10:12 NASB
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NASB
Each time we demonstrate the character of Christ that has been birthed in us because of His presence in our lives we are giving away His grace and mercy. The very heart of the Father is present in every kind act of compassion, each kind word or gentle gesture that we perform.
When the Pharisees tried to pin Jesus down with their observation, He subtly rebuked them saying:
"But if you had known what this means,
'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,'
you would not have condemned the innocent.
8"For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:7,8 NASB (quoting Hosea 6:6)
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6 NIV
Jesus was equating the presence of mercy and compassion with knowledge of the intimate presence of the God. Having an intimate relationship with the Lord is the only way that we will walk in the compassion and mercy of God.
The religious hypocrite will always focus on the deeds and shortcomings of others, but those who are lead by the Spirit of God will always walk in compassion and mercy so that another’s need is met.
Remember the question at the very beginning…
‘When was the last time that God used you to perform a miracle,
or to demonstrate His authority,
or exercise a special sign or wonder?’
I believe that while these things will follow after believers, the pursuit of them is the wrong approach. We need to pursue the giver of the gifts not the gifts. That said, many believers have been deceived in thinking that demonstrations of power, signs and wonders are the only marks of a spiritual life.
Each time we extend the love an grace of our hand to another, we have witnessed the Bread of His Presence being distributed. When we have compassion for another… it is His compassion. When we bring peace to the storm in another person’s life… it is His peace. When we wrap a loving arm around a grieving brother, sister or stranger on the street… we extend his arm of comfort… His presence. His presence brought into the life of another is the most significant miracle we can witness.
40"The King will answer and say to them,
'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it
to one of these brothers of Mine,
even the least of them,
you did it to Me.'
Matthew 25:40 NASB
When we minister in love and mercy to others, we are ministering to the Lord Himself. Our every small act of kindness, patience, longsuffering, gentleness…
each brings a smile to the Lord’s face. When we love them, we love the One who created them.
Love and the mercy and grace that are expressions of that love are birthed in us by God.
7Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is from God;
and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8The one who does not love
does not know God,
for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 NASB
30
fkj
Hi, I notice that you are discussing the throne of God. We have been led to believe by our ancestors that when Jesus was resurrected he went up to a throne in heaven. However I just read a fascinating book by the New Testament scholar Stephan Huller that in earliest Christianity that the original gospel writer (St. Mark) might have had a physical throne ON THIS EARTH in mind - one which originally sat in Alexandria and which he rediscovered in Venice - see the photos of the object in the Basilica di San Marco which Italian sailors stole from the Church of St. Mark in Alexandria along with the body of St. Mark in 828 AD - see photos of the throne here - http://www.therealmessiahbook.blogspot.com.
ReplyDeleteThe point of Huller's book is that St. Mark was the first Pope and that Jesus ruled 'on his right hand' as he sat on this throne.
I was really fascinated by this book. It wasn't anything like what I had been taught in Sunday school. It really made me think and learn about the language that Jesus and the original gospel writer (St. Mark) spoke.
For instance in Hebrew or Aramaic (the language of Jesus) there would be no way to distinguish the concepts of 'divine throne' or 'heavenly throne' - i.e. it would be easy for white Europeans to get misled or confused.
It is an amazing book and here is some background information on the author http://www.stephanhuller.blogspot.com/
Just thought I would pass this along
Peace
Jacob
Hi, I notice that you are spamming people's blogs promoting Stephan Huller's idiotic book. I just read and picked apart his book and found it to be full of half-truths, obfuscations, poor reasoning, and insufficiently documented claims. A bunch of us are discussing Huller's nonsense here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theologyweb.com/campus/showthread.php?t=130969
The point of the thread is to expose Huller as the fraud that he is. Huller is a circus performer by trade, and we can believe that, given the sort of gymnastics he uses in the book.
I was really disgusted by his book. It wasn't anything like what serious scholars have to offer, which I guess is why he can only get fringe nutcases like Robert Price and Robert Eisenman to endorse it. It really made me think Huller needs some psychotherapy and exposure to serious historical scholarship and critical thinking.
It is a goofy book and it belongs in the trash can.
Just thought I would pass this along