This has been a spectacular year for revelation! The last post of the year tied together all of the revelation into a powerful conclusion:
"Understanding God AND doing God's Process would change the world for the benefit of everyone! However, encouraging people that we can't understand God AND NOT repenting for faulty interpretations of the Word of God leads to more and more people having a faulty LUKEWARM thought process...and this eventually hurts everyone."
I do not expect 2009 to approach 2008. However, I still believe there is a lot to learn and the key is YOU!
Looking back on 2008, the key revelations and topics were suggested to me by comments on the blog and private e-mails. I know there are people who regularly read this blog that have NEVER commented or written me a private e-mail. To everyone who reads this blog please consider: making one comment on the blog or writing me one private e-mail in 2009. (As far as e-mail, I'd especially recommend sending me your gains and drains list so we can work on your ARE.)
To that end, I am looking for six more topics to cover in 2009. Please offer ideas in the Comments for this post. Here are the six topics I will be covering in 2009: The Book of Romans, The Book of Daniel, Resolution on justice/judgment/forgiveness, My Professional Experience, and Dealing With Churches (Lack of) Response to "Modeling God".
That last topic will detail my exchanges that have taken place for the last three years with the largest church in Wisconsin north of Milwaukee. I have been holding off taking "Modeling God" to other churches until this church stated their will. I believe God told me to give them right of first refusal because so many of the people who have left their church have embraced "Modeling God"...I am building on the foundation they began. Their ultimate response and the exchanges shed a lot of light on the objectives of today's churches. If you know of a church that is asking God for a fresh revelation that will mature their congregation and develop leaders, please contact me.
Here are a list of the topics we covered in 2008 by month... (Clicking the month will take you to the archive for the entire month).
JANUARY
Truth
The Importance of Words
Love
Our brains work with words. The point of the book "1984" was to show that you can limit a person's ability to think and communicate when you limit their words. This is what cult leaders do. I think people ought to use any words they want, however, they ought to define the words they use. When a person doesn't define their words, they are NOT thinking. They are trying to appear to think, but they are ACTUALLY not thinking.
FEBRUARY
The meaning of "I Love You"
God Wants You To Be A Modeler
The Causes Are Doctrine
MARCH
The Acts Church
Fellowship
The Rebuttal To Tim Snell's Refutation
Overcoming A Porn Addiction
The revelation really began flowing in March! Several of the topics ended up being the basis for the Sequel: "Modeling God's Wills". A pastor in Appleton who was looking for a distraction for his small church wrote a refutation of "Modeling God". His inability to interpret the text of "Modeling God" was alarming considering he is someone who gets paid to interpret the text of the Bible...which is much more difficult. His participation in gossip and slander, combined with his unwillingness to meet with me or follow through on his promises (e.g., get a group of pastors together to meet with me), appears to have been an attempt to distract me from the truly important and profitable topics.
The last post in that list is the most googled and privately commented post I have ever written. Porn addiction is something no man WANTS, yet there are national preachers humiliating men and/or telling them to "just stop", instead of providing Biblical answers on what TO DO. Some speakers tell men this is an addiction they will have to deal with everyday of their life. If you would like someone to come speak with your group to show them how to permanently break this addiction, please contact me.
Also, it was during this month that we completed the model that guides every friendship and marriage:
1. Sharing
What level do you share at? What level does your friend share at?
2. Abuse
What instances cause abuse?
Do you know what it means to be Open, Honest, and Vulnerable?
Do you know the difference between Statements and Questions?
Do you know the difference between Projection and Judgment?
Are you Open, Honest, and Vulnerable?
3. Repair
We are still going to hurt each other.
Do you know how to go IN, UP, and THROUGH?
APRIL
OUGHT Marriage Model
HOW to Think
IS Leader
April continued the learnings that became the foundation for the Sequel: "Modeling God's Wills".
MAY
We spent the entire month completing the series on Leadership.
JUNE
The Sequel: "Modeling God's Wills" was published on a separate blog during June. On this blog, I covered auto-biographical material up to my graduation from college.
JULY
The Meaning of Life...kind of an important topic.
AUGUST
Physiology of the Brain and Thought Processes
This series elicited a lot of positive comments and understanding. The cause of everything we do are "thought processes". This series showed how to repair incorrect thought processes.
SEPTEMBER
We continued the series from August and even looked at The Intellect of the Heart.
OCTOBER
We covered God's Will including an important post on REVEAL: God's Will For Church. All of this served as foundation for...
NOVEMBER
The Revelatory Series on the Book of Job. This is the only non-contradictory explanation of the Book of Job...
DECEMBER
The Book of Job Series finally got to the critical character: Elihu
We looked at how the Book of Job related to:
Saul
David
Solomon
Peter Being Sifted as Wheat
Take some time reviewing these topics.
The blog will continue on Monday with The Book of Romans.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Peter vs. Judas
Last month we began a series on the Book of Job. We discovered a revelatory non-contradictory interpretation that could benefit the world. (First Job Post in the series.)
This month we looked at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job: Satan sifting Peter as wheat. We saw there were seven steps in this sifting process. In the previous post, we looked at the role of prayer in both stories.
God couldn't move on the three friends until Job prayed for them...because the three friends sinned against Job! Job's prayer was a statement of his will that he forgave them. This, and this ALONE, allowed God to equal things out in THAT moment. It allowed God to Reward Job through Justice (with twice as much) because God was sure Job wouldn't take Justice into his own hands.
Peter sinned against Jesus personally...not God! Jesus did the same thing for Peter as Job did for the three friends. However, Jesus prayed for Peter up front...BEFORE Peter confessed and repented. If Jesus hadn't prayed for Peter, God couldn't have equaled things out...and the resulting condemnation and lack of resolution would have led to Peter's faith failing. Jesus told Peter (and us) that He had prayed for Peter so Peter (and us) could know for sure Peter was forgiven and God would accept his repentance...
Actually, when we look at the accounts of the Last Supper, we see that two people renounced Jesus...with two completely different results.
JUDAS
"23 And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.
25 And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said." (Matthew 26:23-25, ASV)
Notice, Judas doesn't admit to betraying Jesus. Judas asks a question and Jesus answers it. This is LUKEWARM. Notice also that Jesus predicted Judas would betray Him to Judas' face...just like Jesus did with Peter. How different are Judas and Peter? Later...
"46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
49 And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." (Matthew 26:46-50, ASV)
Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Judas takes a value from Jesus while appearing to give a value. Again, this is LUKEWARM.
Judas was NOT fated to betray Jesus. Judas was NOT born specifically to betray Christ. Judas was NOT the only person who could have betrayed Christ. However, once Judas was selected, he was the one that would eventually betray Christ:
"64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him." (John 6:64, ASV)
God's Will is that all are saved. This is His Original Will. However, people have responded over time to make it so that some people are unable to be saved. Let me be more specific: by the time Jesus was selecting his disciples, Judas had made choices that prohibited him from EVER being able to understand Jesus' message NO MATTER what Jesus did.
If a person believes that Jesus can do ANYTHING, then there are contradictions galore. Why couldn't Jesus heal EVERYONE? Why did Judas betray Jesus? If Jesus can do ANYTHING, then Jesus chose to NOT heal...Jesus chose FOR Judas to betray Him and go to hell.
The only non-contradictory explanation is that Jesus required a person to betray Him AND by the time Jesus arrives on earth, there are people who are unable (through choices they made) to understand Jesus' message.
The verse from John 6:64 is saying that Judas had the causes that would result in him betraying Jesus. That verse does NOT say that Judas was the ONLY person that had these causes. In fact, Jesus says others had the same problem:
"10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them." (Matthew 13:10-15, ASV)
Verse 15 clearly blames the people who don't understand the mysteries of God for their own inability. Notice understanding is in the heart and their hearts have waxed gross. In fact, people who tell you that you can't or aren't supposed to understand God's mysteries today are testifying that they are just like the people in verse 15! Be careful!
We saw that Peter had his moment when he repented. So did Judas!
"1 Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself." (Matthew 27:1-5, ASV)
What do you think of HOW Judas repented?
Judas repented to the chief priests and elders! Even the chief priests and elders realize Judas' repentance to them means nothing!
Judas took a value from Jesus...to His Face. We saw that Jesus told Judas to do whatever he was going to do. Jesus forgave Judas...which opened Judas up to God's judgment. I believe the Justice that came on Judas was so great AND Judas' thought process was so wrong, that the ONLY relief Judas could get was to kill himself. What other result could there have been?
Judas still being alive would have denied the effect of Justice on his thought process. Judas having a good enough thought process to do the right thing in response to Justice would have resulted in redemption...yet Jesus said it would have been good for this man not to have been born. Judas doesn't go to Heaven. People who try to claim that Judas makes it to Heaven have to ignore passages in the Bible and believe that God was COMPLETELY responsible for Judas' betrayal.
What did the chief priests do with Judas' repentance?
"6 And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price;
10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." (Matthew 27:6-10, ASV)
The chief priests did NOT accept Judas' repentance.
Judas was LUKEWARM. He betrayed Jesus, yet confessed and repented to the chief priests...and even they didn't accept his repentance. Judas clearly had a faulty thought process...which is one of the reasons Jesus selected Judas. This faulty LUKEWARM thought process is Judas' fault. Jesus knew Judas would eventually fulfill the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah because of Judas' faulty LUKEWARM thought process.
PETER
Jesus knew Peter had a thought process that followed God's Process: take definite action (HOT or COLD), check with God, and repair if it is wrong...no matter how bad he looked. Look again at how the story ends:
"75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75, ASV)
Peter weeps bitterly. Peter knows he was wrong. Peter knows Jesus prayed for him. Peter confesses and repents to God. What was the purpose of Jesus praying for Peter?
"31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32, ASV)
Jesus wanted Peter to strengthen the brethren...to become their leader! Think about this as well as you possibly can: Jesus' appointed leader went through a humiliating experience that EVERYONE knows about! In fact, Peter's handling of the humiliating experience PROVES to us how excellent he was!
I don't want to follow someone who sins and can't repair. They are COLD.
I don't want to follow someone who never sins...because everyone falls short. Someone who appears to never sin is a hypocrite...they are LUKEWARM.
I want to follow someone who sins and repairs. This is God's Process. This is HOT.
How many leaders do you know that are HOT?
Judas betrayed Jesus and ended up committing suicide because Judas followed Satan's Process: disconnection. Judas had a faulty LUKEWARM thought process.
Peter denied Jesus and ended up being the leader because Peter followed God's Process. Peter handled a humiliating experience with excellence.
CONCLUSION
God told Job in the Long Term there is no middle ground with God...you either are for Him completely (HOT) or you are against Him (COLD).
We ALL begin LUKEWARM. We are ALL unaware.
The reason we need to "evangelize" is to make people aware of God...
This means helping people UNDERSTAND God so that they can make a decision to go HOT or COLD...then God can work on them. This is the definition of SUCCESSFUL evangelism. God cannot work on the LUKEWARM.
However, we have people who think successful evangelism is agreement. People will "agree" in order to get you to stop bugging them. So the evangelist focused on agreement got someone to appear to agree but try not to think about it any more. This is LUKEWARM. Evangelists who have this goal are actually encouraging people to have the same faulty LUKEWARM thought process that Judas had!
Notice, SUCCESSFUL evangelism would require the evangelist to UNDERSTAND God well enough to help others UNDERSTAND God. Maybe that is why there isn't a lot of true evangelism going on. What is the REAL objective of people who encourage you to believe that you CAN'T understand God?
IF God's message is so powerful, why aren't more people becoming believers and benefiting the world?
1. Is it because God doesn't want people to become believers?
2. Is it because God's message really isn't that powerful?
3. Is it because we aren't understanding God's message and we are not doing God's Process?
Everyone believes it is one of these three answers. Which one do you believe it is? What are you doing about it?
We ought to rejoice when a person says, "I understand what you believe God is, but I don't agree. I think God is this..."
NOW that person has stated they are COLD and God can work on them.
Being COLD in the short-term can result in being HOT in the Long Term. This is going from BAD (LUKEWARM) to GOOD (HOT) through WORSE (COLD).
Being LUKEWARM in the short-term ALWAYS results in COLD in the Long Term.
Do we want to evangelize or do we want to justify ourselves?
Understanding God AND doing God's Process would change the world for the benefit of everyone!
However, encouraging people that we can't understand God AND NOT repenting for faulty interpretations of the Word of God leads to more and more people having a faulty LUKEWARM thought process...and this eventually hurts everyone.
Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
God is watching...
Next Post
This month we looked at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job: Satan sifting Peter as wheat. We saw there were seven steps in this sifting process. In the previous post, we looked at the role of prayer in both stories.
God couldn't move on the three friends until Job prayed for them...because the three friends sinned against Job! Job's prayer was a statement of his will that he forgave them. This, and this ALONE, allowed God to equal things out in THAT moment. It allowed God to Reward Job through Justice (with twice as much) because God was sure Job wouldn't take Justice into his own hands.
Peter sinned against Jesus personally...not God! Jesus did the same thing for Peter as Job did for the three friends. However, Jesus prayed for Peter up front...BEFORE Peter confessed and repented. If Jesus hadn't prayed for Peter, God couldn't have equaled things out...and the resulting condemnation and lack of resolution would have led to Peter's faith failing. Jesus told Peter (and us) that He had prayed for Peter so Peter (and us) could know for sure Peter was forgiven and God would accept his repentance...
Actually, when we look at the accounts of the Last Supper, we see that two people renounced Jesus...with two completely different results.
JUDAS
"23 And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24 The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.
25 And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said." (Matthew 26:23-25, ASV)
Notice, Judas doesn't admit to betraying Jesus. Judas asks a question and Jesus answers it. This is LUKEWARM. Notice also that Jesus predicted Judas would betray Him to Judas' face...just like Jesus did with Peter. How different are Judas and Peter? Later...
"46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
49 And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him." (Matthew 26:46-50, ASV)
Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. Judas takes a value from Jesus while appearing to give a value. Again, this is LUKEWARM.
Judas was NOT fated to betray Jesus. Judas was NOT born specifically to betray Christ. Judas was NOT the only person who could have betrayed Christ. However, once Judas was selected, he was the one that would eventually betray Christ:
"64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him." (John 6:64, ASV)
God's Will is that all are saved. This is His Original Will. However, people have responded over time to make it so that some people are unable to be saved. Let me be more specific: by the time Jesus was selecting his disciples, Judas had made choices that prohibited him from EVER being able to understand Jesus' message NO MATTER what Jesus did.
If a person believes that Jesus can do ANYTHING, then there are contradictions galore. Why couldn't Jesus heal EVERYONE? Why did Judas betray Jesus? If Jesus can do ANYTHING, then Jesus chose to NOT heal...Jesus chose FOR Judas to betray Him and go to hell.
The only non-contradictory explanation is that Jesus required a person to betray Him AND by the time Jesus arrives on earth, there are people who are unable (through choices they made) to understand Jesus' message.
The verse from John 6:64 is saying that Judas had the causes that would result in him betraying Jesus. That verse does NOT say that Judas was the ONLY person that had these causes. In fact, Jesus says others had the same problem:
"10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them." (Matthew 13:10-15, ASV)
Verse 15 clearly blames the people who don't understand the mysteries of God for their own inability. Notice understanding is in the heart and their hearts have waxed gross. In fact, people who tell you that you can't or aren't supposed to understand God's mysteries today are testifying that they are just like the people in verse 15! Be careful!
We saw that Peter had his moment when he repented. So did Judas!
"1 Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2 and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou to it.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself." (Matthew 27:1-5, ASV)
What do you think of HOW Judas repented?
Judas repented to the chief priests and elders! Even the chief priests and elders realize Judas' repentance to them means nothing!
Judas took a value from Jesus...to His Face. We saw that Jesus told Judas to do whatever he was going to do. Jesus forgave Judas...which opened Judas up to God's judgment. I believe the Justice that came on Judas was so great AND Judas' thought process was so wrong, that the ONLY relief Judas could get was to kill himself. What other result could there have been?
Judas still being alive would have denied the effect of Justice on his thought process. Judas having a good enough thought process to do the right thing in response to Justice would have resulted in redemption...yet Jesus said it would have been good for this man not to have been born. Judas doesn't go to Heaven. People who try to claim that Judas makes it to Heaven have to ignore passages in the Bible and believe that God was COMPLETELY responsible for Judas' betrayal.
What did the chief priests do with Judas' repentance?
"6 And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.
7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
8 Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom certain of the children of Israel did price;
10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me." (Matthew 27:6-10, ASV)
The chief priests did NOT accept Judas' repentance.
Judas was LUKEWARM. He betrayed Jesus, yet confessed and repented to the chief priests...and even they didn't accept his repentance. Judas clearly had a faulty thought process...which is one of the reasons Jesus selected Judas. This faulty LUKEWARM thought process is Judas' fault. Jesus knew Judas would eventually fulfill the prophecy spoken by Jeremiah because of Judas' faulty LUKEWARM thought process.
PETER
Jesus knew Peter had a thought process that followed God's Process: take definite action (HOT or COLD), check with God, and repair if it is wrong...no matter how bad he looked. Look again at how the story ends:
"75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75, ASV)
Peter weeps bitterly. Peter knows he was wrong. Peter knows Jesus prayed for him. Peter confesses and repents to God. What was the purpose of Jesus praying for Peter?
"31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32, ASV)
Jesus wanted Peter to strengthen the brethren...to become their leader! Think about this as well as you possibly can: Jesus' appointed leader went through a humiliating experience that EVERYONE knows about! In fact, Peter's handling of the humiliating experience PROVES to us how excellent he was!
I don't want to follow someone who sins and can't repair. They are COLD.
I don't want to follow someone who never sins...because everyone falls short. Someone who appears to never sin is a hypocrite...they are LUKEWARM.
I want to follow someone who sins and repairs. This is God's Process. This is HOT.
How many leaders do you know that are HOT?
Judas betrayed Jesus and ended up committing suicide because Judas followed Satan's Process: disconnection. Judas had a faulty LUKEWARM thought process.
Peter denied Jesus and ended up being the leader because Peter followed God's Process. Peter handled a humiliating experience with excellence.
CONCLUSION
God told Job in the Long Term there is no middle ground with God...you either are for Him completely (HOT) or you are against Him (COLD).
We ALL begin LUKEWARM. We are ALL unaware.
The reason we need to "evangelize" is to make people aware of God...
This means helping people UNDERSTAND God so that they can make a decision to go HOT or COLD...then God can work on them. This is the definition of SUCCESSFUL evangelism. God cannot work on the LUKEWARM.
However, we have people who think successful evangelism is agreement. People will "agree" in order to get you to stop bugging them. So the evangelist focused on agreement got someone to appear to agree but try not to think about it any more. This is LUKEWARM. Evangelists who have this goal are actually encouraging people to have the same faulty LUKEWARM thought process that Judas had!
Notice, SUCCESSFUL evangelism would require the evangelist to UNDERSTAND God well enough to help others UNDERSTAND God. Maybe that is why there isn't a lot of true evangelism going on. What is the REAL objective of people who encourage you to believe that you CAN'T understand God?
IF God's message is so powerful, why aren't more people becoming believers and benefiting the world?
1. Is it because God doesn't want people to become believers?
2. Is it because God's message really isn't that powerful?
3. Is it because we aren't understanding God's message and we are not doing God's Process?
Everyone believes it is one of these three answers. Which one do you believe it is? What are you doing about it?
We ought to rejoice when a person says, "I understand what you believe God is, but I don't agree. I think God is this..."
NOW that person has stated they are COLD and God can work on them.
Being COLD in the short-term can result in being HOT in the Long Term. This is going from BAD (LUKEWARM) to GOOD (HOT) through WORSE (COLD).
Being LUKEWARM in the short-term ALWAYS results in COLD in the Long Term.
Do we want to evangelize or do we want to justify ourselves?
Understanding God AND doing God's Process would change the world for the benefit of everyone!
However, encouraging people that we can't understand God AND NOT repenting for faulty interpretations of the Word of God leads to more and more people having a faulty LUKEWARM thought process...and this eventually hurts everyone.
Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
God is watching...
Next Post
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Role of Prayer
Last month we began a series on the Book of Job. We discovered a revelatory non-contradictory interpretation that could benefit the world. (First Job Post in the series.)
This month we looked at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job: Satan sifting Peter as wheat. We saw there were seven steps in this sifting process. We finished the seventh step in the previous post. What happens next?
"60 But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:60-62, ASV)
What were the circumstances of Jesus saying to Peter that he would deny Him?
"31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:31-34, ASV)
It would be easy to say that Peter remembered Jesus predicting that Peter would deny Him. However, I believe Peter also remembered that Jesus said he would be sifted as wheat by Satan AND that Jesus had prayed for him so that his faith would not fail. I think it would be a little hard to forget either of these words from the Lord.
Jesus prayed for Peter. This means Jesus is saying that if He hadn't prayed for Peter, Peter's faith would have failed. What specifically did Jesus pray?
Some people have interpreted this passage as Jesus praying specifically for Peter's faith not to fail. Is that possible? Does Jesus have power over other peoples' faith? If He does, why didn't He pray for everyone's faith not to fail, including yours? We have seen that this is actually "witchcraft". Here is an excerpt from that post:
"Prayer is the expression of our will and takes faith. In order for a prayer to be answered, we must express our will when we converse with God. This means, what we express must be something we have control over or it is witchcraft. If we ask God to do things that violate the will of others, then we are practicing witchcraft."
"God cannot violate our will in order to give us a value. (God can take a value from us through justice.) Even Jesus asked what their will was when he healed people. In fact, Jesus’ ability to heal people depended on the person’s will and faith."
When Jesus was unable to heal a person, it was because the faith of the person wasn't enough. If Jesus could specifically pray that peoples' faith would not fail, why didn't Jesus first pray this before He healed people?
The Calvinist puts everything in God's control...so that ultimately everything is God's fault and NOT ours. The Calvinist ultimately will have to admit that our faith failing is God's fault for not giving us all enough faith...and the contradictions with the rest of the Bible abound.
Clearly, our faith is in our power to lose or grow. Don't fall for the Calvinists' trap.
Prayer is a critical doctrine! However, how many people do you know who can explain this critical doctrine?
If you think you know someone who understands the doctrine of prayer, ask them these questions and see if their answers are abstract and/or contradictory:
-What is prayer?
-Why do we have to pray? (Can't God just give us what we need?)
-Can we change God's Will?
-Can we change God's Mind?
-What determines whether God does or doesn't answer a prayer?
-Are there limits to what we can pray about?
We have seen that a Calvinist (Matt Chandler) answers the question "Why do Calvinists pray?" with a question: "Do you think you can change God's Mind?" Calvinists cannot explain the doctrine of prayer...neither can traditionalists and post-moderns.
Doesn't it bother you that we can't get a non-contradictory explanation for the doctrine of prayer from pastors and theologians?
Let me be clear:
Jesus did NOT participate in witchcraft. Jesus did NOT pray against the will of people. Jesus prayed SOMETHING for Peter...and if He hadn't prayed this SOMETHING, Peter's faith would end up failing because of Peter. What is this "SOMETHING"?
In order to understand this, we need to review two key topics...
TOPIC #1: SALVATION vs. REWARD
Everything Jesus stated fit under one of two objectives:
1) How to get to Heaven
2) How to have reward here and in Heaven.
Jesus has two messages. The first is salvation. The ultimate way to achieve this is the First Command: love God. The second message is reward. The ultimate way to achieve this is the Second Command: love your neighbor. Notice, both of these messages are made perfect in “love”.
There is a huge danger in not realizing there are two separate and distinct messages being presented by Jesus. It seems that people either ignore one of these messages, try to make them the same message, or use the Ladder of Abstraction to make one or both messages more abstract.
The most obvious and damaging example of this is “legalism”. Basically, legalism is the belief that we are saved by works. Legalism tries to take the reward portion of Jesus’ message and apply it to salvation.
The reward message says justice will equal out our works. If we have good works, then we will get a value. If we have bad works, we will have to pay a value. This is REWARD…to recompense either good or bad.
However, if someone were to make salvation a reward instead of a gift, they would be able to link the reward scriptures to salvation. Once this is done, all of the reward scriptures will be talking about our works resulting in the “reward” of salvation.
Making the two messages into one is VERY simplistic. This technique is favored by the fundamentalists and traditionalists. This technique allows them to put requirements on people to do specific works AND declare whether people are “saved” or not based solely on the outward actions. This is the same as The Law!
Why don’t these people realize they are doing the SAME THING as the Pharisees? In fact, every time these people call others “Pharisees” (or teach about the Pharisees) while making the same mistake, they are proving they are hypocrites…and justice will require a value to equal it all out.
Some people just ignore the reward scriptures. They want so bad to believe we don’t have to do ANYTHING that they ignore the scriptures that clearly speak of doing good works. If they do reference these scriptures, they either say there are translation errors or cultural differences between then and now.
They don’t want to believe that people will have different amounts of reward because they’ve seen the abuse of this belief. Yet, the Bible explains why those instances were abuses and it uses justice to prove it.
If someone does a good work for the sole purpose of getting a value today, they have gotten their reward! Basically, when you do a good work it results in a value that is owed to you through justice. This value can have an upper limit. It can also be lessened. Everything you do that benefits you (as it relates to the good work) results in less value on your part.
Salvation is based on Righteousness. This is God's Righteousness through us. This is grace: the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.
Reward is based on righteousness. This is our righteousness. This righteousness is like filthy rags compared to God's Righteousness. This righteousness CANNOT result in salvation. This righteousness results in reward through Justice.
Justice says everything will eventually equal out EXACTLY. When you do a good work, the value you are owed is equal to the value you gave minus the value you received. We have the option of having that value here or keeping it in Heaven for eternity.
When people sin against God, they need to repay God...through Jesus' blood.
When people sin against people, they need to repay people...through Justice (repentance to that person).
Claiming that Jesus' death pays for the sins you do to other people is a belief in "One Way Justice". Jesus' blood allows you to go to Heaven. It has NO effect on Reward...you will have to pay for everything you do to people.
TOPIC #2: PRAYER
Prayers in the Bible tend to follow a general structure. There are four phases with the first one being praise. We have to recognize God and God’s power through praise. Our focus is on God as the source. Remember, it takes faith to pray and this is the beginning of our building that faith.
The second step is to reference something that proves our faith. Remember, faith comes through understanding and/or experience. This is a continuation of the faith building process. We may reference an experience we had that proves God’s ability or we can reference understanding, usually a Biblical passage that proves God’s ability.
We know the goal is to ask God for a value, which is the fourth and final phase. How can we justly ask God for a value? We need to bring justice into the prayer. The third phase of the prayer focuses on us either showing why someone deserves a value or why someone deserves a punishment. Referencing justice completes the building of faith process. It serves as the final proof to us that we can expect to get a response from God.
Now, we are ready for the part we are all familiar with: asking a value. The final phase of the prayer is to express our will and ask God for a value. This is where we have to be careful.
In the cases where we are requesting a punishment, when we request the value, we can’t pray a specific punishment because that would be witchcraft. We pray for a result. First of all, it is best to pray for a result because God might have a better way than ours to bring about the result.
More importantly, the process of prayer finishes with us turning the situation over to God. So it shouldn’t matter to us how God brings about the result. The decision to turn it over to God must be final and made by faith. When we turn the situation over, we are telling God we won’t try to take justice into our own hands.
God doesn’t move to invoke justice until we assure Him we won’t do it. This shows God’s mercy. If God did invoke justice before we turned it over, it would require us to get a punishment if we ended up taking justice into our own hands at a later date. This is the same as FORGIVENESS!
When people hurt us, God can't equal out Justice until we forgive them. Forgiveness is the statement of the will of the individual that they won't equal out their Justice. When the individual forgives, God is able to equal out Justice. God can give a value to the person who was hurt. God can take a value away from the person who did the hurting.
When we pray, we can choose to have our reward now or for eternity. We can choose to have a reward for ourselves or a value taken away from the offending party. We cannot pray over someone else’s will. Also, if we are praying for someone else, they have to express their will to us in order for us to pray for them and it has to be over something that is within their will.
We saw how these concepts come together to explain an "Elihu-like" verse from Jesus:
Luke 17:3
Luke 17:3 (Part II)
Here are a series of recent links if you want to increase your understanding on the doctrine of prayer:
What is Prayer?
Prayer Overview
Group Prayer
Here are older links on prayer:
Prayer and Witchcraft
Prayer Structure
Prayer Example
Accessing Spiritual Value
Hindering Prayers
Praying For Others To Get Saved
House of Prayer
David's "Wrong Prayer"
Jabez's Prayer
(I realize there are a lot of links in this post. Tomorrow's post is short. Wednesday's post is a year end review. There are no posts until next Monday, so you may want to get deeper into these links between Thursday and Sunday...)
THE BOOK OF JOB
We said this month's topic was the New Testament version of the Book of Job. Let's take what we've learned about prayer and look at the ending of the Book of Job.
"7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job.
10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:7-10, ASV)
God couldn't move on the three friends until Job prayed for them...because the three friends sinned against Job!
Job's prayer was a statement of his will that he forgave them. This, and this ALONE, allowed God to equal things out in THAT moment. It allowed God to Reward Job through Justice (with twice as much) because God was sure Job wouldn't take Justice into his own hands.
The three friends equaled it out by sacrificing seven bullocks and seven rams. NO ONE else could have prayed for the three friends. Remember, Job had some pretty strong words for the three friends. There is no telling what Job wanted to do about this until he stated his will. He could have been like Luke 17:3 and NOT forgiven.
EVERYTIME someone writes about "prayer" they are showing their level of understanding. Look at what the "experts" say about the prayer at the end of the Book of Job. They treat it superficially...like something that needs to be checked off and can be done by anyone. Why? They don't say. When they say abstractly, two more questions will result in a contradiction: Could anyone have prayed for the three friends? What if Job HADN'T prayed for the three friends?
The quickest way to find out if an interpretation of the Book of Job is wrong is to ask questions about the role of prayer in the last chapter of the Book of Job.
The quickest way to find out if a pastor, theologian, teacher, or believer is dangerous is to ask them questions about the role of prayer.
Prayer is a critical doctrine. People know this. However, BECAUSE people know it is critical AND because they can't explain it, they skip over it as fast as possible. The level of misunderstanding that pastors, theologians, and authors demonstrate on the doctrine of prayer ought to keep you up at night...unless you have a non-contradictory understanding of the doctrine of prayer.
PETER
Peter sinned against Jesus personally...not God!
Jesus did the same thing for Peter as Job did for the three friends. However, Jesus prayed for Peter up front...BEFORE Peter confessed and repented. If Jesus hadn't prayed for Peter, God couldn't have equaled things out...and the resulting condemnation and lack of resolution would have led to Peter's faith failing.
Jesus told Peter (and us) that He had prayed for Peter so Peter (and us) could know for sure Peter was forgiven and God would accept his repentance...
Tomorrow, let's look at the difference between the two people who renounced Jesus in this New Testament version of the Book of Job.
Next Post
This month we looked at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job: Satan sifting Peter as wheat. We saw there were seven steps in this sifting process. We finished the seventh step in the previous post. What happens next?
"60 But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:60-62, ASV)
What were the circumstances of Jesus saying to Peter that he would deny Him?
"31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.
33 And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:31-34, ASV)
It would be easy to say that Peter remembered Jesus predicting that Peter would deny Him. However, I believe Peter also remembered that Jesus said he would be sifted as wheat by Satan AND that Jesus had prayed for him so that his faith would not fail. I think it would be a little hard to forget either of these words from the Lord.
Jesus prayed for Peter. This means Jesus is saying that if He hadn't prayed for Peter, Peter's faith would have failed. What specifically did Jesus pray?
Some people have interpreted this passage as Jesus praying specifically for Peter's faith not to fail. Is that possible? Does Jesus have power over other peoples' faith? If He does, why didn't He pray for everyone's faith not to fail, including yours? We have seen that this is actually "witchcraft". Here is an excerpt from that post:
"Prayer is the expression of our will and takes faith. In order for a prayer to be answered, we must express our will when we converse with God. This means, what we express must be something we have control over or it is witchcraft. If we ask God to do things that violate the will of others, then we are practicing witchcraft."
"God cannot violate our will in order to give us a value. (God can take a value from us through justice.) Even Jesus asked what their will was when he healed people. In fact, Jesus’ ability to heal people depended on the person’s will and faith."
When Jesus was unable to heal a person, it was because the faith of the person wasn't enough. If Jesus could specifically pray that peoples' faith would not fail, why didn't Jesus first pray this before He healed people?
The Calvinist puts everything in God's control...so that ultimately everything is God's fault and NOT ours. The Calvinist ultimately will have to admit that our faith failing is God's fault for not giving us all enough faith...and the contradictions with the rest of the Bible abound.
Clearly, our faith is in our power to lose or grow. Don't fall for the Calvinists' trap.
Prayer is a critical doctrine! However, how many people do you know who can explain this critical doctrine?
If you think you know someone who understands the doctrine of prayer, ask them these questions and see if their answers are abstract and/or contradictory:
-What is prayer?
-Why do we have to pray? (Can't God just give us what we need?)
-Can we change God's Will?
-Can we change God's Mind?
-What determines whether God does or doesn't answer a prayer?
-Are there limits to what we can pray about?
We have seen that a Calvinist (Matt Chandler) answers the question "Why do Calvinists pray?" with a question: "Do you think you can change God's Mind?" Calvinists cannot explain the doctrine of prayer...neither can traditionalists and post-moderns.
Doesn't it bother you that we can't get a non-contradictory explanation for the doctrine of prayer from pastors and theologians?
Let me be clear:
Jesus did NOT participate in witchcraft. Jesus did NOT pray against the will of people. Jesus prayed SOMETHING for Peter...and if He hadn't prayed this SOMETHING, Peter's faith would end up failing because of Peter. What is this "SOMETHING"?
In order to understand this, we need to review two key topics...
TOPIC #1: SALVATION vs. REWARD
Everything Jesus stated fit under one of two objectives:
1) How to get to Heaven
2) How to have reward here and in Heaven.
Jesus has two messages. The first is salvation. The ultimate way to achieve this is the First Command: love God. The second message is reward. The ultimate way to achieve this is the Second Command: love your neighbor. Notice, both of these messages are made perfect in “love”.
There is a huge danger in not realizing there are two separate and distinct messages being presented by Jesus. It seems that people either ignore one of these messages, try to make them the same message, or use the Ladder of Abstraction to make one or both messages more abstract.
The most obvious and damaging example of this is “legalism”. Basically, legalism is the belief that we are saved by works. Legalism tries to take the reward portion of Jesus’ message and apply it to salvation.
The reward message says justice will equal out our works. If we have good works, then we will get a value. If we have bad works, we will have to pay a value. This is REWARD…to recompense either good or bad.
However, if someone were to make salvation a reward instead of a gift, they would be able to link the reward scriptures to salvation. Once this is done, all of the reward scriptures will be talking about our works resulting in the “reward” of salvation.
Making the two messages into one is VERY simplistic. This technique is favored by the fundamentalists and traditionalists. This technique allows them to put requirements on people to do specific works AND declare whether people are “saved” or not based solely on the outward actions. This is the same as The Law!
Why don’t these people realize they are doing the SAME THING as the Pharisees? In fact, every time these people call others “Pharisees” (or teach about the Pharisees) while making the same mistake, they are proving they are hypocrites…and justice will require a value to equal it all out.
Some people just ignore the reward scriptures. They want so bad to believe we don’t have to do ANYTHING that they ignore the scriptures that clearly speak of doing good works. If they do reference these scriptures, they either say there are translation errors or cultural differences between then and now.
They don’t want to believe that people will have different amounts of reward because they’ve seen the abuse of this belief. Yet, the Bible explains why those instances were abuses and it uses justice to prove it.
If someone does a good work for the sole purpose of getting a value today, they have gotten their reward! Basically, when you do a good work it results in a value that is owed to you through justice. This value can have an upper limit. It can also be lessened. Everything you do that benefits you (as it relates to the good work) results in less value on your part.
Salvation is based on Righteousness. This is God's Righteousness through us. This is grace: the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.
Reward is based on righteousness. This is our righteousness. This righteousness is like filthy rags compared to God's Righteousness. This righteousness CANNOT result in salvation. This righteousness results in reward through Justice.
Justice says everything will eventually equal out EXACTLY. When you do a good work, the value you are owed is equal to the value you gave minus the value you received. We have the option of having that value here or keeping it in Heaven for eternity.
When people sin against God, they need to repay God...through Jesus' blood.
When people sin against people, they need to repay people...through Justice (repentance to that person).
Claiming that Jesus' death pays for the sins you do to other people is a belief in "One Way Justice". Jesus' blood allows you to go to Heaven. It has NO effect on Reward...you will have to pay for everything you do to people.
TOPIC #2: PRAYER
Prayers in the Bible tend to follow a general structure. There are four phases with the first one being praise. We have to recognize God and God’s power through praise. Our focus is on God as the source. Remember, it takes faith to pray and this is the beginning of our building that faith.
The second step is to reference something that proves our faith. Remember, faith comes through understanding and/or experience. This is a continuation of the faith building process. We may reference an experience we had that proves God’s ability or we can reference understanding, usually a Biblical passage that proves God’s ability.
We know the goal is to ask God for a value, which is the fourth and final phase. How can we justly ask God for a value? We need to bring justice into the prayer. The third phase of the prayer focuses on us either showing why someone deserves a value or why someone deserves a punishment. Referencing justice completes the building of faith process. It serves as the final proof to us that we can expect to get a response from God.
Now, we are ready for the part we are all familiar with: asking a value. The final phase of the prayer is to express our will and ask God for a value. This is where we have to be careful.
In the cases where we are requesting a punishment, when we request the value, we can’t pray a specific punishment because that would be witchcraft. We pray for a result. First of all, it is best to pray for a result because God might have a better way than ours to bring about the result.
More importantly, the process of prayer finishes with us turning the situation over to God. So it shouldn’t matter to us how God brings about the result. The decision to turn it over to God must be final and made by faith. When we turn the situation over, we are telling God we won’t try to take justice into our own hands.
God doesn’t move to invoke justice until we assure Him we won’t do it. This shows God’s mercy. If God did invoke justice before we turned it over, it would require us to get a punishment if we ended up taking justice into our own hands at a later date. This is the same as FORGIVENESS!
When people hurt us, God can't equal out Justice until we forgive them. Forgiveness is the statement of the will of the individual that they won't equal out their Justice. When the individual forgives, God is able to equal out Justice. God can give a value to the person who was hurt. God can take a value away from the person who did the hurting.
When we pray, we can choose to have our reward now or for eternity. We can choose to have a reward for ourselves or a value taken away from the offending party. We cannot pray over someone else’s will. Also, if we are praying for someone else, they have to express their will to us in order for us to pray for them and it has to be over something that is within their will.
We saw how these concepts come together to explain an "Elihu-like" verse from Jesus:
Luke 17:3
Luke 17:3 (Part II)
Here are a series of recent links if you want to increase your understanding on the doctrine of prayer:
What is Prayer?
Prayer Overview
Group Prayer
Here are older links on prayer:
Prayer and Witchcraft
Prayer Structure
Prayer Example
Accessing Spiritual Value
Hindering Prayers
Praying For Others To Get Saved
House of Prayer
David's "Wrong Prayer"
Jabez's Prayer
(I realize there are a lot of links in this post. Tomorrow's post is short. Wednesday's post is a year end review. There are no posts until next Monday, so you may want to get deeper into these links between Thursday and Sunday...)
THE BOOK OF JOB
We said this month's topic was the New Testament version of the Book of Job. Let's take what we've learned about prayer and look at the ending of the Book of Job.
"7 And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
8 Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job.
10 And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before." (Job 42:7-10, ASV)
God couldn't move on the three friends until Job prayed for them...because the three friends sinned against Job!
Job's prayer was a statement of his will that he forgave them. This, and this ALONE, allowed God to equal things out in THAT moment. It allowed God to Reward Job through Justice (with twice as much) because God was sure Job wouldn't take Justice into his own hands.
The three friends equaled it out by sacrificing seven bullocks and seven rams. NO ONE else could have prayed for the three friends. Remember, Job had some pretty strong words for the three friends. There is no telling what Job wanted to do about this until he stated his will. He could have been like Luke 17:3 and NOT forgiven.
EVERYTIME someone writes about "prayer" they are showing their level of understanding. Look at what the "experts" say about the prayer at the end of the Book of Job. They treat it superficially...like something that needs to be checked off and can be done by anyone. Why? They don't say. When they say abstractly, two more questions will result in a contradiction: Could anyone have prayed for the three friends? What if Job HADN'T prayed for the three friends?
The quickest way to find out if an interpretation of the Book of Job is wrong is to ask questions about the role of prayer in the last chapter of the Book of Job.
The quickest way to find out if a pastor, theologian, teacher, or believer is dangerous is to ask them questions about the role of prayer.
Prayer is a critical doctrine. People know this. However, BECAUSE people know it is critical AND because they can't explain it, they skip over it as fast as possible. The level of misunderstanding that pastors, theologians, and authors demonstrate on the doctrine of prayer ought to keep you up at night...unless you have a non-contradictory understanding of the doctrine of prayer.
PETER
Peter sinned against Jesus personally...not God!
Jesus did the same thing for Peter as Job did for the three friends. However, Jesus prayed for Peter up front...BEFORE Peter confessed and repented. If Jesus hadn't prayed for Peter, God couldn't have equaled things out...and the resulting condemnation and lack of resolution would have led to Peter's faith failing.
Jesus told Peter (and us) that He had prayed for Peter so Peter (and us) could know for sure Peter was forgiven and God would accept his repentance...
Tomorrow, let's look at the difference between the two people who renounced Jesus in this New Testament version of the Book of Job.
Next Post
Friday, December 26, 2008
Sifting Process: Step Seven
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
We have covered the first six steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
4) Getting one's feelings hurt...being offended (also known as stumbling or entrapped).
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position. As we saw in the series on the Book of Job, God cannot move on a person who is LUKEWARM. Simon is now completely on his own until he goes COLD.
5) Sitting Idle
The first four steps of the sifting process got Simon to be LUKEWARM. Now, the ONLY thing Simon can do is be idle!
Remember, God moves IN RESPONSE to Justice. This means God can bless someone because they went HOT OR God can warn because someone went COLD. Being LUKEWARM doesn't affect Justice...which means God can't move. We began the series on the Book of Job with this HUGE point. More specifically, we have seen the Bible proves that God moves in response to Justice in this post: God is Outside of Time.
6) Deny God
Satan has only one goal: destruction. Satan's Process is: Disconnection.
Satan wants everyone to be disconnected from God. We saw that this connection to God is called "grace". For 500 years, tradition has changed "grace" from "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life" to "unmerited favor". This is possibly the greatest "work" of the enemy! Satan also wants everyone to be disconnected from each other. We saw that "The Meaning of Life" is the opposite of this!
Simon is completely disconnected from God and people.
The Seventh Step in the sifting process follows naturally...
"73 And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art one of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:73-75, ASV)
The Seventh Step in the sifting process: Deliberate Sin
Peter began to curse and swear. Peter was completely isolated from God and people, so all that was left was to be Unprofitable...to sin deliberately. Peter has hit bottom...Satan has sifted Simon as wheat so that all that is left is Peter.
Remember, from the series on the Book of Job: God is in charge of the animals. God can make the rooster crow when He wants the rooster to crow.
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step resulted in Simon being content to be idle which gives Satan an opportunity to act on him...
The Sixth Step resulted in Simon renouncing Jesus and putting his salvation in question. Satan has completely disconnected Simon from God and believers.
The Seventh Step resulted in Simon being Unprofitable. He deliberately sinned.
Peter has gone through a humbling process in order to remove everything from him that was unprofitable. In the Book of Job series, we saw that Job began perfect and the process he went through revealed to us God's Process. In this New Testament Job example, Peter begins with flaws and the process he went through reveals to us Satan's Process.
In the Book of Job, everything was resolved once Job prayed for his three friends...
Next week we can wrap up this two month series by looking at the role of prayer on Monday and Peter's repentance on Tuesday.
Next Post
We have covered the first six steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
4) Getting one's feelings hurt...being offended (also known as stumbling or entrapped).
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position. As we saw in the series on the Book of Job, God cannot move on a person who is LUKEWARM. Simon is now completely on his own until he goes COLD.
5) Sitting Idle
The first four steps of the sifting process got Simon to be LUKEWARM. Now, the ONLY thing Simon can do is be idle!
Remember, God moves IN RESPONSE to Justice. This means God can bless someone because they went HOT OR God can warn because someone went COLD. Being LUKEWARM doesn't affect Justice...which means God can't move. We began the series on the Book of Job with this HUGE point. More specifically, we have seen the Bible proves that God moves in response to Justice in this post: God is Outside of Time.
6) Deny God
Satan has only one goal: destruction. Satan's Process is: Disconnection.
Satan wants everyone to be disconnected from God. We saw that this connection to God is called "grace". For 500 years, tradition has changed "grace" from "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life" to "unmerited favor". This is possibly the greatest "work" of the enemy! Satan also wants everyone to be disconnected from each other. We saw that "The Meaning of Life" is the opposite of this!
Simon is completely disconnected from God and people.
The Seventh Step in the sifting process follows naturally...
"73 And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art one of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:73-75, ASV)
The Seventh Step in the sifting process: Deliberate Sin
Peter began to curse and swear. Peter was completely isolated from God and people, so all that was left was to be Unprofitable...to sin deliberately. Peter has hit bottom...Satan has sifted Simon as wheat so that all that is left is Peter.
Remember, from the series on the Book of Job: God is in charge of the animals. God can make the rooster crow when He wants the rooster to crow.
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step resulted in Simon being content to be idle which gives Satan an opportunity to act on him...
The Sixth Step resulted in Simon renouncing Jesus and putting his salvation in question. Satan has completely disconnected Simon from God and believers.
The Seventh Step resulted in Simon being Unprofitable. He deliberately sinned.
Peter has gone through a humbling process in order to remove everything from him that was unprofitable. In the Book of Job series, we saw that Job began perfect and the process he went through revealed to us God's Process. In this New Testament Job example, Peter begins with flaws and the process he went through reveals to us Satan's Process.
In the Book of Job, everything was resolved once Job prayed for his three friends...
Next week we can wrap up this two month series by looking at the role of prayer on Monday and Peter's repentance on Tuesday.
Next Post
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sifting Process: Step Six
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
We have covered the first five steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
4) Getting one's feelings hurt...being offended (also known as stumbling or entrapped)
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position. As we saw in the series on the Book of Job, God cannot move on a person who is LUKEWARM. Simon is now completely on his own until he goes COLD.
5) Sitting Idle
The first four steps of the sifting process got Simon to be LUKEWARM. Now, the ONLY thing Simon can do is be idle! Remember, God moves IN RESPONSE to Justice. This means God can bless someone because they went HOT OR God can warn because someone went COLD. Being LUKEWARM doesn't affect Justice...which means God can't move. We began the series on the Book of Job with this HUGE point. More specifically, we have seen the Bible proves that God moves in response to Justice in this post: God is Outside of Time.
The Sixth Step in the sifting process follows naturally...
"69 Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and saith unto them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man." (Matthew 26:69-72, ASV)
The Sixth Step in the sifting process: Denial of God
Peter has officially renounced God!
Remember this "Elihu-like" quote from Jesus in the Book of Matthew?
"32 Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34 Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:32-34, ASV)
Jesus didn't come to make everyone comfortable. Jesus came to encourage us to go HOT or COLD...to make the LUKEWARM people uncomfortable. Jesus came to encourage us to do "God's Process" in the face of the worldly focus on appearance and comfort.
Jesus said that those who deny Him before men will be denied by Jesus before His Father. If Peter had died at this instant, would he have gone to Heaven? Did Peter "lose his salvation"?
Notice that Peter says, "I know not the man". This is also the language Jesus uses when deciding who is going to Heaven. For example, at the end of the parable about the ten virgins, Jesus tells the five foolish virgins:
"12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matthew 25:12, ASV)
We looked at this sifting process because it is the New Testament version of the Book of Job. The entire conflict in the Book of Job centered around Job NOT renouncing God. This conflict centers around a prophecy from Jesus that Peter would renounce Jesus THREE TIMES.
In the Book of Job, Satan is allowed to take all of Job's HAVE and DO, but NOT take his life (ability to repair). Jesus tells Simon that Satan has requested to sift Simon as wheat and Jesus warned Simon it would happen. Notice, it must have been part of the deal that Satan couldn't take Peter's life. That would also be consistent with what God did in the Book of Job.
Notice that Peter's first two "denials" are different.
His first response was to make an excuse why he couldn't answer the question: "I don't know what you are saying." However, this is one of the first of the three denials of Christ that Jesus prophesied...so Jesus considers our EXCUSES at not being able to answer questions as an admission of guilt!
Peter's second denial occurs after he gets up from sitting idle and goes out to the porch. It is then that Peter plainly states he does not know Jesus.
Peter would have avoided the sixth step in the sifting process if he had understood Fellowship. Peter is hanging around worldly people and it is causing him to lie!
Satan has only one goal: Destruction.
Satan's Process is: Disconnection.
Satan wants everyone to be disconnected from God. We saw that this connection to God is called "grace". For 500 years, tradition has changed "grace" from "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life" to "unmerited favor". This is possibly the greatest "work" of the enemy!
Satan wants people to think that their interaction with God is one way and there is nothing they can do about it. Satan doesn't want people to know that God desires Two Way Fellowship with everyone. Consequently, the Book of Job is interpreted that it is wrong to question God...to attempt to have Two Way Fellowship with God. This belief reinforces being LUKEWARM.
(It is Christmas Day. I didn't plan on covering Peter denying Christ on Christmas Day...however, my present to you is for you to check out the grace link above. It is the greatest ability you can possess! Merry Christmas!)
Satan also wants everyone to be disconnected from each other. We saw that "The Meaning of Life" is the opposite of this!
Satan knows what your weaknesses are. Satan's goal is to get you to do that weakness so you will be too embarrassed and in condemnation to be around other people. When you feel like NOT talking with people, THAT is when you NEED to talk to SOMEONE. This is the whole of the battle we see being waged everyday:
We ALL have tradition in us. We ALL have the world in us. We ALL have "dust". That dust is thinking that being perfect and never doing anything wrong is GOOD. We are human. We all make mistakes. We are going to be less than perfect and do things wrong. The ONLY way we can achieve this worldly goal is to APPEAR to be perfect. That is hypocritical. That is justifying self. That is LUKEWARM.
The dust in us believes THAT traditional objective is going to make us happy. Look around...does it?
This year on this blog we have STUMBLED (?!?!) upon an answer: We actually become happier when we admit we aren't perfect AND actively share this fact with others who admit they aren't perfect AND strive together to be what we were meant to be.
Copy that last paragraph and put it somewhere you can see it everyday. THAT is the battle you fight everyday. THAT is the battle the people you are trying to help are losing. There is a lot behind that paragraph. For now, it seems that we OUGHT to understand the importance of Fellowship.
Every friendship you have can be modeled in three areas:
1. Sharing
What level do you share at? What level does your friend share at?
2. Abuse
What instances cause abuse?
Do you know what it means to be Open, Honest, and Vulnerable?
Do you know the difference between Statements and Questions?
Do you know the difference between Projection and Judgment?
Are you Open, Honest, and Vulnerable?
3. Repair
We are still going to hurt each other.
Do you know how to go IN, UP, and THROUGH?
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step resulted in Simon being content to be idle which gives Satan an opportunity to act on him.
The Sixth Step resulted in Simon renouncing Jesus and putting his salvation in question. Satan has completely disconnected Simon from God and people.
The Seventh Step follows naturally...
Next Post
We have covered the first five steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
4) Getting one's feelings hurt...being offended (also known as stumbling or entrapped)
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position. As we saw in the series on the Book of Job, God cannot move on a person who is LUKEWARM. Simon is now completely on his own until he goes COLD.
5) Sitting Idle
The first four steps of the sifting process got Simon to be LUKEWARM. Now, the ONLY thing Simon can do is be idle! Remember, God moves IN RESPONSE to Justice. This means God can bless someone because they went HOT OR God can warn because someone went COLD. Being LUKEWARM doesn't affect Justice...which means God can't move. We began the series on the Book of Job with this HUGE point. More specifically, we have seen the Bible proves that God moves in response to Justice in this post: God is Outside of Time.
The Sixth Step in the sifting process follows naturally...
"69 Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and saith unto them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man." (Matthew 26:69-72, ASV)
The Sixth Step in the sifting process: Denial of God
Peter has officially renounced God!
Remember this "Elihu-like" quote from Jesus in the Book of Matthew?
"32 Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
34 Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:32-34, ASV)
Jesus didn't come to make everyone comfortable. Jesus came to encourage us to go HOT or COLD...to make the LUKEWARM people uncomfortable. Jesus came to encourage us to do "God's Process" in the face of the worldly focus on appearance and comfort.
Jesus said that those who deny Him before men will be denied by Jesus before His Father. If Peter had died at this instant, would he have gone to Heaven? Did Peter "lose his salvation"?
Notice that Peter says, "I know not the man". This is also the language Jesus uses when deciding who is going to Heaven. For example, at the end of the parable about the ten virgins, Jesus tells the five foolish virgins:
"12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not." (Matthew 25:12, ASV)
We looked at this sifting process because it is the New Testament version of the Book of Job. The entire conflict in the Book of Job centered around Job NOT renouncing God. This conflict centers around a prophecy from Jesus that Peter would renounce Jesus THREE TIMES.
In the Book of Job, Satan is allowed to take all of Job's HAVE and DO, but NOT take his life (ability to repair). Jesus tells Simon that Satan has requested to sift Simon as wheat and Jesus warned Simon it would happen. Notice, it must have been part of the deal that Satan couldn't take Peter's life. That would also be consistent with what God did in the Book of Job.
Notice that Peter's first two "denials" are different.
His first response was to make an excuse why he couldn't answer the question: "I don't know what you are saying." However, this is one of the first of the three denials of Christ that Jesus prophesied...so Jesus considers our EXCUSES at not being able to answer questions as an admission of guilt!
Peter's second denial occurs after he gets up from sitting idle and goes out to the porch. It is then that Peter plainly states he does not know Jesus.
Peter would have avoided the sixth step in the sifting process if he had understood Fellowship. Peter is hanging around worldly people and it is causing him to lie!
Satan has only one goal: Destruction.
Satan's Process is: Disconnection.
Satan wants everyone to be disconnected from God. We saw that this connection to God is called "grace". For 500 years, tradition has changed "grace" from "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life" to "unmerited favor". This is possibly the greatest "work" of the enemy!
Satan wants people to think that their interaction with God is one way and there is nothing they can do about it. Satan doesn't want people to know that God desires Two Way Fellowship with everyone. Consequently, the Book of Job is interpreted that it is wrong to question God...to attempt to have Two Way Fellowship with God. This belief reinforces being LUKEWARM.
(It is Christmas Day. I didn't plan on covering Peter denying Christ on Christmas Day...however, my present to you is for you to check out the grace link above. It is the greatest ability you can possess! Merry Christmas!)
Satan also wants everyone to be disconnected from each other. We saw that "The Meaning of Life" is the opposite of this!
Satan knows what your weaknesses are. Satan's goal is to get you to do that weakness so you will be too embarrassed and in condemnation to be around other people. When you feel like NOT talking with people, THAT is when you NEED to talk to SOMEONE. This is the whole of the battle we see being waged everyday:
We ALL have tradition in us. We ALL have the world in us. We ALL have "dust". That dust is thinking that being perfect and never doing anything wrong is GOOD. We are human. We all make mistakes. We are going to be less than perfect and do things wrong. The ONLY way we can achieve this worldly goal is to APPEAR to be perfect. That is hypocritical. That is justifying self. That is LUKEWARM.
The dust in us believes THAT traditional objective is going to make us happy. Look around...does it?
This year on this blog we have STUMBLED (?!?!) upon an answer: We actually become happier when we admit we aren't perfect AND actively share this fact with others who admit they aren't perfect AND strive together to be what we were meant to be.
Copy that last paragraph and put it somewhere you can see it everyday. THAT is the battle you fight everyday. THAT is the battle the people you are trying to help are losing. There is a lot behind that paragraph. For now, it seems that we OUGHT to understand the importance of Fellowship.
Every friendship you have can be modeled in three areas:
1. Sharing
What level do you share at? What level does your friend share at?
2. Abuse
What instances cause abuse?
Do you know what it means to be Open, Honest, and Vulnerable?
Do you know the difference between Statements and Questions?
Do you know the difference between Projection and Judgment?
Are you Open, Honest, and Vulnerable?
3. Repair
We are still going to hurt each other.
Do you know how to go IN, UP, and THROUGH?
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step resulted in Simon being content to be idle which gives Satan an opportunity to act on him.
The Sixth Step resulted in Simon renouncing Jesus and putting his salvation in question. Satan has completely disconnected Simon from God and people.
The Seventh Step follows naturally...
Next Post
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sifting Process: Step Five
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
We have covered the first four steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
4) Getting one's feelings hurt...being offended (also known as stumbling or entrapped).
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position. As we saw in the series on the Book of Job, God cannot move on a person who is LUKEWARM. Simon is now completely on his own until he goes COLD or HOT.
Remember, God moves IN RESPONSE to Justice. This means God can bless someone because they went HOT OR God can warn because someone went COLD. Being LUKEWARM doesn't affect Justice...which means God can't move. We began the series on the Book of Job with this HUGE point. More specifically, we have seen the Bible proves that God moves in response to Justice in this post: God is Outside of Time.
Simon is LUKEWARM. The Fifth Step in the sifting process follows naturally...
The passage in the previous post ended with:
"58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end." (Matthew 26:58, ASV)
Peter sits and watches. What is he watching? What will he do? Will he go HOT or COLD?
"59 Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60 and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,
61 and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:
66 what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?" (Matthew 26:59-68, ASV)
What is Peter's response to Jesus taking a physical beating?
"69 Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean." (Matthew 26:69, ASV)
He did NOTHING!
Fifth Step in the sifting process: Sitting Idle
The first four steps of the sifting process got Peter to be LUKEWARM. Now, the ONLY thing Peter can do is be idle!
Peter would have avoided the Fifth Step of the sifting process if he had pursued growth...if he avoided being comfortable and strived to do something intentionally uncomfortable: to take action, check with God, and repair if he was COLD. From the series on the Book of Job we learned this is "God's Process". Instead, he sat idle and got comfortable.
How many "Christians" do you know who rationalize doing nothing? Before you answer that question, think about those who tell you to let God do everything, that God meant for it to happen, be patient, demonstrate longsuffering, and/or have faith. If any of these platitudes result in you doing nothing, then this is really a rationalization to sit idle. This is a dangerous place to be...
"13 And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:
15 for already some are turned aside after Satan." (I Timothy 5:13-15, ASV)
Actually, all of these platitudes are actually ACTIVE according to the Bible. Having faith means we ought to actively grow in understanding and/or experience during this time. We ought to grow in grace: push into God more and try to hear His Voice better. Patience and longsuffering aren't about waiting. They are about your attitude while you are waiting...you are going to wait whether you have a good attitude or a bad attitude. Even the word "waiting" when it is used in the Bible is active:
"17 And I will wait for Jehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him." (Isaiah 8:17, ASV)
"wait" is Strong's #2442 chakah - "[appar. akin to 2707 through the idea of piercing]; prop. to adhere to;"
Strong's #2707 chaqah - "to carve"
Is Peter piercing into God? Is he carving his way through to growth?
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step resulted in Simon being content to be idle which gives Satan an opportunity to act on him...
The Sixth Step follows naturally...
Next Post
We have covered the first four steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
4) Getting one's feelings hurt...being offended (also known as stumbling or entrapped).
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position. As we saw in the series on the Book of Job, God cannot move on a person who is LUKEWARM. Simon is now completely on his own until he goes COLD or HOT.
Remember, God moves IN RESPONSE to Justice. This means God can bless someone because they went HOT OR God can warn because someone went COLD. Being LUKEWARM doesn't affect Justice...which means God can't move. We began the series on the Book of Job with this HUGE point. More specifically, we have seen the Bible proves that God moves in response to Justice in this post: God is Outside of Time.
Simon is LUKEWARM. The Fifth Step in the sifting process follows naturally...
The passage in the previous post ended with:
"58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end." (Matthew 26:58, ASV)
Peter sits and watches. What is he watching? What will he do? Will he go HOT or COLD?
"59 Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60 and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,
61 and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62 And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.
64 Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:
66 what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?" (Matthew 26:59-68, ASV)
What is Peter's response to Jesus taking a physical beating?
"69 Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean." (Matthew 26:69, ASV)
He did NOTHING!
Fifth Step in the sifting process: Sitting Idle
The first four steps of the sifting process got Peter to be LUKEWARM. Now, the ONLY thing Peter can do is be idle!
Peter would have avoided the Fifth Step of the sifting process if he had pursued growth...if he avoided being comfortable and strived to do something intentionally uncomfortable: to take action, check with God, and repair if he was COLD. From the series on the Book of Job we learned this is "God's Process". Instead, he sat idle and got comfortable.
How many "Christians" do you know who rationalize doing nothing? Before you answer that question, think about those who tell you to let God do everything, that God meant for it to happen, be patient, demonstrate longsuffering, and/or have faith. If any of these platitudes result in you doing nothing, then this is really a rationalization to sit idle. This is a dangerous place to be...
"13 And withal they learn also to be idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:
15 for already some are turned aside after Satan." (I Timothy 5:13-15, ASV)
Actually, all of these platitudes are actually ACTIVE according to the Bible. Having faith means we ought to actively grow in understanding and/or experience during this time. We ought to grow in grace: push into God more and try to hear His Voice better. Patience and longsuffering aren't about waiting. They are about your attitude while you are waiting...you are going to wait whether you have a good attitude or a bad attitude. Even the word "waiting" when it is used in the Bible is active:
"17 And I will wait for Jehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him." (Isaiah 8:17, ASV)
"wait" is Strong's #2442 chakah - "[appar. akin to 2707 through the idea of piercing]; prop. to adhere to;"
Strong's #2707 chaqah - "to carve"
Is Peter piercing into God? Is he carving his way through to growth?
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step resulted in Simon being content to be idle which gives Satan an opportunity to act on him...
The Sixth Step follows naturally...
Next Post
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sifting Process: Step Four
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
We have covered the first three steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
The fourth step follows naturally...
In yesterday's post, we saw the passage ended with Jesus warning Simon in front of everyone. Jesus tells Simon to put his sword away.
Remember, Jesus had told the disciples earlier:
"31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matthew 26:31, ASV)
It was this disagreement with Jesus and the Scriptures that caused Jesus to tell Simon he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus said that the disciples would be offended and scatter.
Let's look at the last verse from yesterday's post and the subsequent two verses:
"56 But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end." (Matthew 26:56-58, ASV)
Jesus said that the disciples would scatter and be offended. I believe these three verses show this prophecy came true. The disciples scattered and Simon got offended.
Fourth Step in sifting process: Simon got his feelings hurt...he got "offended".
Simon followed "afar off"...notice, if he was done with Jesus he would be gone. If he was supporting Jesus, he would be in the middle of everything...participating. Instead, he is following afar off...to see the end...almost as if to say, "If you don't want to do this my way, let's see how you handle it."
"Christians" who disconnect themselves from spiritual power are going to attack during a crisis because they are relying on themselves. Then when someone out of love tries to warn them, they are going to get their feelings hurt.
If they left, it would be going COLD. If they confessed and repented, it would be going HOT. From the series on the Book of Job, we called this "God's Process": take a definite position, check with God, and repent if you are wrong. Job repented once he understood what he did wrong. Some people agree with the three friends and think Job should have faked repentance...repent without confessing what his sin was!
I can't tell you how many times I have seen a "Christian" get offended when someone tried to warn them. It goes something like this: "Hey, you really need to watch how much you drink. I'm not telling you that you can't drink, but do you think God wanted you to spend an hour last night throwing up from drinking?" The response options?
COLD: hang up
HOT: "That was wrong and I'm going to work to never do that again". OR "Thank you for being concerned about me. I can see how that looked wrong, but I don't think I threw up from drinking."
LUKEWARM: "Who do you think you are telling me what to do? You acting like you are so much better than me is really offensive. You are the one who needs to talk to God about how you are handling this conversation."
Notice, the "offended" person appears to be willing to consider the comment (HOT), yet plays the victim in order not to be able to be prevented from addressing the comment.
The Bible is very clear about how a person's response to a warning proves if they are wise or not...if the person is doing "God's Process" or not:
"8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee." (Proverbs 9:8, ASV)
"10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool." (Proverbs 17:10, ASV)
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is: appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position.
Watch "Christians" who get offended when you warn them for their benefit. They are justifying themselves. They want to feel and appear right. Remember that we first ought to focus on understanding instead of agreement. Focusing on agreement usually ends with someone's feelings getting hurt.
Simon would have avoided the Fourth Step of the sifting process if he had been contrastive...if he was able to consider he was wrong. Instead, he justified himself and got offended.
In a previous post, I stated that I first saw Rev. Gerald Davis give a sermon on the steps in the sifting process almost twenty years ago. During that sermon, he made a huge point that has helped me ever since. He asked the congregation if they would like to never get offended again. Then he told them how:
"165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165, KJV)
In the almost twenty years since I heard this, I can't tell you the number of times I've heard "Christians" tell me they are offended or apologize in case they have offended me. I always respond, "You can't offend me. Only I have the power to get offended...and since I love God's law, there is nothing you can do or say that is going to offend me."
We've also seen with the two month series on thinking, that we are responsible for Keeping Our Heart. Again, we are in control of being offended or taking offense.
Finally, we saw during the series on the Book of Job, that one of the tactics the three friends used was to get offended. Unfortunately, I have too much experience with Pastors who, rather than admit they are wrong, will say they are "more hurt than angry". They play the victim and avoid the issue. They are LOOKING to get offended.
ANYONE who attempts to rationalize their right to get offended has gone through the first three steps in the sifting process. they are justifying themselves, disconnected from a spiritual perspective, and convinced they need to handle spiritual matters in a physical (fleshly) manner.
When I looked up the "nothing shall offend" verse in the ASV, it read this way:
"165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling." (Psalm 119:165, ASV)
What does the word "offend" mean in the KJV Psalms passage?
"offend" is Strong's #4383 mikshowl - "a stumbling-block"
What does the word "offended" mean in the ASV Matthew passage?
"offended" is Strong's #4624 skandalizo - "to entrap, i.e. trip up (fig. stumble [trans.] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure)"
While the word "offended" used by Jesus doesn't specifically address getting one's feelings hurt, I believe that an effect of stumbling is to get one's feelings hurt and play the victim...to go LUKEWARM.
When we are LUKEWARM there is nothing God can do about it. That is why God would rather us be COLD or HOT...because we learned from the Book of Job series, that when we are COLD, God ALWAYS speaks to us for our Long Term benefit...and THAT is a good thing. When we are LUKEWARM, God can't warn us because we are under mercy...we haven't stated our will. However, Satan can work on us to make our lives more miserable...which ought to cause us to focus inside on God (grace). Again, we see the similarity between this account and the Book of Job...both men are getting attacked by Satan on the outside in order to see how they focus on God on the inside.
We saw that:
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step follows naturally...
Next Post
We have covered the first three steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
3) Responding to a spiritual matter in a physical (fleshly) manner
Simon has disconnected himself completely from spiritual power, so all he can use to respond with is the physical...the flesh.
The fourth step follows naturally...
In yesterday's post, we saw the passage ended with Jesus warning Simon in front of everyone. Jesus tells Simon to put his sword away.
Remember, Jesus had told the disciples earlier:
"31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." (Matthew 26:31, ASV)
It was this disagreement with Jesus and the Scriptures that caused Jesus to tell Simon he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Jesus said that the disciples would be offended and scatter.
Let's look at the last verse from yesterday's post and the subsequent two verses:
"56 But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled.
57 And they that had taken Jesus led him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58 But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end." (Matthew 26:56-58, ASV)
Jesus said that the disciples would scatter and be offended. I believe these three verses show this prophecy came true. The disciples scattered and Simon got offended.
Fourth Step in sifting process: Simon got his feelings hurt...he got "offended".
Simon followed "afar off"...notice, if he was done with Jesus he would be gone. If he was supporting Jesus, he would be in the middle of everything...participating. Instead, he is following afar off...to see the end...almost as if to say, "If you don't want to do this my way, let's see how you handle it."
"Christians" who disconnect themselves from spiritual power are going to attack during a crisis because they are relying on themselves. Then when someone out of love tries to warn them, they are going to get their feelings hurt.
If they left, it would be going COLD. If they confessed and repented, it would be going HOT. From the series on the Book of Job, we called this "God's Process": take a definite position, check with God, and repent if you are wrong. Job repented once he understood what he did wrong. Some people agree with the three friends and think Job should have faked repentance...repent without confessing what his sin was!
I can't tell you how many times I have seen a "Christian" get offended when someone tried to warn them. It goes something like this: "Hey, you really need to watch how much you drink. I'm not telling you that you can't drink, but do you think God wanted you to spend an hour last night throwing up from drinking?" The response options?
COLD: hang up
HOT: "That was wrong and I'm going to work to never do that again". OR "Thank you for being concerned about me. I can see how that looked wrong, but I don't think I threw up from drinking."
LUKEWARM: "Who do you think you are telling me what to do? You acting like you are so much better than me is really offensive. You are the one who needs to talk to God about how you are handling this conversation."
Notice, the "offended" person appears to be willing to consider the comment (HOT), yet plays the victim in order not to be able to be prevented from addressing the comment.
The Bible is very clear about how a person's response to a warning proves if they are wise or not...if the person is doing "God's Process" or not:
"8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee." (Proverbs 9:8, ASV)
"10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool." (Proverbs 17:10, ASV)
Jesus warned Simon and he responded in a LUKEWARM fashion, which is: appearing to be supportive but actually watching to see the other person fail. The LUKEWARM person is NOT taking a definite position.
Watch "Christians" who get offended when you warn them for their benefit. They are justifying themselves. They want to feel and appear right. Remember that we first ought to focus on understanding instead of agreement. Focusing on agreement usually ends with someone's feelings getting hurt.
Simon would have avoided the Fourth Step of the sifting process if he had been contrastive...if he was able to consider he was wrong. Instead, he justified himself and got offended.
In a previous post, I stated that I first saw Rev. Gerald Davis give a sermon on the steps in the sifting process almost twenty years ago. During that sermon, he made a huge point that has helped me ever since. He asked the congregation if they would like to never get offended again. Then he told them how:
"165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165, KJV)
In the almost twenty years since I heard this, I can't tell you the number of times I've heard "Christians" tell me they are offended or apologize in case they have offended me. I always respond, "You can't offend me. Only I have the power to get offended...and since I love God's law, there is nothing you can do or say that is going to offend me."
We've also seen with the two month series on thinking, that we are responsible for Keeping Our Heart. Again, we are in control of being offended or taking offense.
Finally, we saw during the series on the Book of Job, that one of the tactics the three friends used was to get offended. Unfortunately, I have too much experience with Pastors who, rather than admit they are wrong, will say they are "more hurt than angry". They play the victim and avoid the issue. They are LOOKING to get offended.
ANYONE who attempts to rationalize their right to get offended has gone through the first three steps in the sifting process. they are justifying themselves, disconnected from a spiritual perspective, and convinced they need to handle spiritual matters in a physical (fleshly) manner.
When I looked up the "nothing shall offend" verse in the ASV, it read this way:
"165 Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling." (Psalm 119:165, ASV)
What does the word "offend" mean in the KJV Psalms passage?
"offend" is Strong's #4383 mikshowl - "a stumbling-block"
What does the word "offended" mean in the ASV Matthew passage?
"offended" is Strong's #4624 skandalizo - "to entrap, i.e. trip up (fig. stumble [trans.] or entice to sin, apostasy or displeasure)"
While the word "offended" used by Jesus doesn't specifically address getting one's feelings hurt, I believe that an effect of stumbling is to get one's feelings hurt and play the victim...to go LUKEWARM.
When we are LUKEWARM there is nothing God can do about it. That is why God would rather us be COLD or HOT...because we learned from the Book of Job series, that when we are COLD, God ALWAYS speaks to us for our Long Term benefit...and THAT is a good thing. When we are LUKEWARM, God can't warn us because we are under mercy...we haven't stated our will. However, Satan can work on us to make our lives more miserable...which ought to cause us to focus inside on God (grace). Again, we see the similarity between this account and the Book of Job...both men are getting attacked by Satan on the outside in order to see how they focus on God on the inside.
We saw that:
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Fourth Step resulted in Simon stumbling and there is nothing Jesus can do about it. Simon is LUKEWARM and entrapped.
The Fifth Step follows naturally...
Next Post
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sifting Process: Step Three
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
We have covered the first two steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
Simon is disconnected from the spiritual perspective...the next step will naturally fall in place.
The passage that immediately follows the Second Step in the sifting process begins with Jesus saying:
"46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
49 And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.
52 Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?
55 In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not.
56 But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled." (Matthew 26:46-56, ASV)
Notice, Judas returns with a mob made up of people from the chief priest and elders. Basically, a "spiritual" group comes to take Jesus by physical force.
One of the disciples drew HIS sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus tells the disciple to put his sword away because getting physical just leads to destruction. Then Jesus gives a reason and a value: Jesus is not going to resist them in order to bring about the fulfillment of the scriptures.
The last sentence of the passage says that all the disciples left Jesus and fled!
Let's look at a couple of implications:
- Jesus was correct when He quoted the scripture that said the shepherd would be smited and the sheep of the flock would scatter.
- How do you cut off someone's ear? The answer: you try to kill them and miss. The disciple that used his sword was trying to murder the servant of the high priest.
- The "spiritual" group resorted to physical means. The disciple responded with physical means. Jesus responded with spiritual means in order to bring about a spiritual value.
Who was the disciple who had a sword and tried to commit murder?
Matthew doesn't say. However, John gives more details:
"10 Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus.
11 Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:10,11, ASV)
John says the servant's name was Malchus and he got his right ear cut off. John also tells us the disciple was Simon Peter.
Third Step in the sifting process: Respond to spiritual issues in a physical/fleshly manner.
Simon Peter has NO spiritual power. He justified himself and disconnected from God. ALL he has to rely on is the physical. So, when a spiritual crises occurs, he responds according to the flesh.
Ever seen a "Christian" justify their retaliation? Watch how they do it...they basically rely on themselves by denying God the opportunity to equal it out. If they will discuss the situation, you will notice they didn't think...they didn't use their faculties. If you want to see if they had a spiritual connection, ask them if God told them to retaliate. "Christians" who get their own justice are exhibiting the Third Step in the sifting process.
Notice, while Job justified himself (First Step), he strived to stay connected mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Job didn't do the Second Step of the sifting process...consequently he didn't respond in a physical manner (Third Step).
Responding to a spiritual issue in a fleshly manner is a classic example of contradiction. Why would a physical response be able to handle a spiritual manner?
If Simon Peter had understood non-contradiction, he would have avoided acting physically. However, in three simple steps, Satan has Simon being "Unprofitable". However, look at Luke's account:
"50 And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him." (Luke 22:50-51, ASV)
Jesus restores the unprofitability of Simon's actions...He heals the servant!
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Good News: even if we have done three of the sifting steps, Jesus is able to restore the unprofitability we cause.
The Bad News: there are four more steps and it is only going to get worse.
Simon trusts himself, won't watch and pray, and is committed to responding in a physical manner...the fourth step will naturally fall in place.
Next Post
We have covered the first two steps in the sifting process:
1) Misplaced Confidence.
Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
2) Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themselves and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
Simon is disconnected from the spiritual perspective...the next step will naturally fall in place.
The passage that immediately follows the Second Step in the sifting process begins with Jesus saying:
"46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.
49 And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, do that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.
52 Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?
55 In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not.
56 But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled." (Matthew 26:46-56, ASV)
Notice, Judas returns with a mob made up of people from the chief priest and elders. Basically, a "spiritual" group comes to take Jesus by physical force.
One of the disciples drew HIS sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. Jesus tells the disciple to put his sword away because getting physical just leads to destruction. Then Jesus gives a reason and a value: Jesus is not going to resist them in order to bring about the fulfillment of the scriptures.
The last sentence of the passage says that all the disciples left Jesus and fled!
Let's look at a couple of implications:
- Jesus was correct when He quoted the scripture that said the shepherd would be smited and the sheep of the flock would scatter.
- How do you cut off someone's ear? The answer: you try to kill them and miss. The disciple that used his sword was trying to murder the servant of the high priest.
- The "spiritual" group resorted to physical means. The disciple responded with physical means. Jesus responded with spiritual means in order to bring about a spiritual value.
Who was the disciple who had a sword and tried to commit murder?
Matthew doesn't say. However, John gives more details:
"10 Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus.
11 Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" (John 18:10,11, ASV)
John says the servant's name was Malchus and he got his right ear cut off. John also tells us the disciple was Simon Peter.
Third Step in the sifting process: Respond to spiritual issues in a physical/fleshly manner.
Simon Peter has NO spiritual power. He justified himself and disconnected from God. ALL he has to rely on is the physical. So, when a spiritual crises occurs, he responds according to the flesh.
Ever seen a "Christian" justify their retaliation? Watch how they do it...they basically rely on themselves by denying God the opportunity to equal it out. If they will discuss the situation, you will notice they didn't think...they didn't use their faculties. If you want to see if they had a spiritual connection, ask them if God told them to retaliate. "Christians" who get their own justice are exhibiting the Third Step in the sifting process.
Notice, while Job justified himself (First Step), he strived to stay connected mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Job didn't do the Second Step of the sifting process...consequently he didn't respond in a physical manner (Third Step).
Responding to a spiritual issue in a fleshly manner is a classic example of contradiction. Why would a physical response be able to handle a spiritual manner?
If Simon Peter had understood non-contradiction, he would have avoided acting physically. However, in three simple steps, Satan has Simon being "Unprofitable". However, look at Luke's account:
"50 And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him." (Luke 22:50-51, ASV)
Jesus restores the unprofitability of Simon's actions...He heals the servant!
The First Step resulted in Simon losing his ability to be profitable by trusting in himself instead of God.
The Second Step resulted in Simon denying the ONLY way left to be profitable...using his faculties and connecting with God.
The Third Step resulted in Simon being unprofitable...but Jesus made the situation "Not Unprofitable".
The Good News: even if we have done three of the sifting steps, Jesus is able to restore the unprofitability we cause.
The Bad News: there are four more steps and it is only going to get worse.
Simon trusts himself, won't watch and pray, and is committed to responding in a physical manner...the fourth step will naturally fall in place.
Next Post
Friday, December 19, 2008
Sifting Process: Step Two
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
Yesterday we covered the First Step in the sifting process: Misplaced Confidence. Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
The passage that immediately follows the First Step in the sifting process begins:
"36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:36-41, ASV)
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John further than the rest of the disciples. Jesus asks them to "watch with me". Jesus prays to God for a way FOR Him to avoid the path that He now knows He will walk. However, He ends with surrendering His Will to God's Will. Jesus then comes back to find the three disciples sleeping. Notice, Jesus addresses Peter!
Jesus asks Peter why he couldn't watch with Jesus for one hour? What does this word "watch" mean?
"gregoreuo" Strong's #1127 - "from 1453, to keep awake, i.e. watch (lit. or fig.): - be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful)" (Notice, the name "Gregory" means "watcher".)
"egeiro" Strong's #1453 - "prob. akin to the base of 58 (through the idea of collecting one's faculties)" (58 is "agora" - "to gather")
The second half of verse 41 is often quoted...but don't miss the beginning of the verse. Jesus told Peter to "watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation".
Jesus is saying there are TWO things Peter OUGHT to be doing: watching and praying. They are both equally important. Watching means to collect all of your faculties...to be clear in your senses. Praying means to be clear in your spirit. Notice, we need to DO BOTH in order to avoid temptation...
It is NOT enough to pray all the time...we have to also use all our faculties in order to intentionally identify temptation BEFORE it is upon us.
I have counseled a lot of people in my personal life and solved a lot of problems in my professional life. Very rarely does anyone tell me they saw the problem coming. If they did, it wouldn't be as bad as it is and they wouldn't need anyone else's help.
Did this warning from Jesus work?
"42 Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy." (Matthew 26:42-43, ASV)
This time Jesus prays AGAINST the path He has to walk. Notice this prayer is contrastive with the first prayer. Jesus is covering through BOTH prayers all the possible ways around what is coming. Jesus is definitely an example to us of "watch and pray"...He is using all of His faculties. However, Peter is sleeping again. What does Jesus do now?
"44 And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.
45 Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me." (Matthew 26:44-46, ASV)
Jesus warned Peter once. Jesus actually tried to help Peter avoid the sifting process! However, even Jesus knew it wasn't going to help to wake Peter again. What would be the objective?
If Jesus had woken Peter again, it would be to show He was right and Peter was wrong. This wouldn't be love...this wouldn't give Peter a value. Watch people who warn you more than once. The first warning is for you. With every subsequent warning it becomes increasingly more for the warner's conscience...
Verse 45 is Jesus essentially saying, "It is too late to do anything so you might as well sleep." Jesus is saying it is too late to change the effects of the causes they have exhibited. This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible...when we don't watch and pray, it is too late for even Jesus to help us avoid the temptation coming our way.
The Second Step in the sifting process: Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themself and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
If Peter had understood causality, he would know that his actions ("NOT watching and NOT praying") were the inexorable effect of the causes (Misplaced Confidence) he already exhibited.
Peter is COMPLETELY disconnected from the spiritual perspective...the next step will naturally fall in place.
Next Post
Yesterday we covered the First Step in the sifting process: Misplaced Confidence. Simon justified himself...He put confidence in his own ability instead of God's ability. Simon told Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
The passage that immediately follows the First Step in the sifting process begins:
"36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.
37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.
38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.
39 And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:36-41, ASV)
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John further than the rest of the disciples. Jesus asks them to "watch with me". Jesus prays to God for a way FOR Him to avoid the path that He now knows He will walk. However, He ends with surrendering His Will to God's Will. Jesus then comes back to find the three disciples sleeping. Notice, Jesus addresses Peter!
Jesus asks Peter why he couldn't watch with Jesus for one hour? What does this word "watch" mean?
"gregoreuo" Strong's #1127 - "from 1453, to keep awake, i.e. watch (lit. or fig.): - be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful)" (Notice, the name "Gregory" means "watcher".)
"egeiro" Strong's #1453 - "prob. akin to the base of 58 (through the idea of collecting one's faculties)" (58 is "agora" - "to gather")
The second half of verse 41 is often quoted...but don't miss the beginning of the verse. Jesus told Peter to "watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation".
Jesus is saying there are TWO things Peter OUGHT to be doing: watching and praying. They are both equally important. Watching means to collect all of your faculties...to be clear in your senses. Praying means to be clear in your spirit. Notice, we need to DO BOTH in order to avoid temptation...
It is NOT enough to pray all the time...we have to also use all our faculties in order to intentionally identify temptation BEFORE it is upon us.
I have counseled a lot of people in my personal life and solved a lot of problems in my professional life. Very rarely does anyone tell me they saw the problem coming. If they did, it wouldn't be as bad as it is and they wouldn't need anyone else's help.
Did this warning from Jesus work?
"42 Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy." (Matthew 26:42-43, ASV)
This time Jesus prays AGAINST the path He has to walk. Notice this prayer is contrastive with the first prayer. Jesus is covering through BOTH prayers all the possible ways around what is coming. Jesus is definitely an example to us of "watch and pray"...He is using all of His faculties. However, Peter is sleeping again. What does Jesus do now?
"44 And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.
45 Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me." (Matthew 26:44-46, ASV)
Jesus warned Peter once. Jesus actually tried to help Peter avoid the sifting process! However, even Jesus knew it wasn't going to help to wake Peter again. What would be the objective?
If Jesus had woken Peter again, it would be to show He was right and Peter was wrong. This wouldn't be love...this wouldn't give Peter a value. Watch people who warn you more than once. The first warning is for you. With every subsequent warning it becomes increasingly more for the warner's conscience...
Verse 45 is Jesus essentially saying, "It is too late to do anything so you might as well sleep." Jesus is saying it is too late to change the effects of the causes they have exhibited. This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible...when we don't watch and pray, it is too late for even Jesus to help us avoid the temptation coming our way.
The Second Step in the sifting process: Failure to watch and pray.
When a person justifies themself and purposes to handle everything in their own strength, then there is no reason to watch and pray. Watching will just put them in fear. Praying would be admitting that the person needs God...which the First Step eliminated as an option.
If Peter had understood causality, he would know that his actions ("NOT watching and NOT praying") were the inexorable effect of the causes (Misplaced Confidence) he already exhibited.
Peter is COMPLETELY disconnected from the spiritual perspective...the next step will naturally fall in place.
Next Post
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sifting Process: Step One
This month we are looking at a New Testament application of the revelation we got from our series on the Book of Job. (First Job Post in the series.)
In the Old Testament, God identified a person who kept the Law and was perfect (Job). That was the goal of the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, God identifies a person who is not perfect, so that everything that is unprofitable is going to be removed in order to result in a person who is "perfect". That is the goal of the New Testament.
Why do people still think that our goal is appearance and keeping laws instead of repair/life?
Yesterday, we saw that Jesus tells Simon that Satan has asked to have Simon so he can sift him as wheat. Today, we will cover the first step in this sifting process.
(There are seven steps in all. I first heard of these seven steps in the sifting process from a sermon by Rev. Gerald Davis that I saw him deliver in 1989.)
The verses that immediately follow the passage where Jesus tells Simon he will be sifted as wheat are:
"33 And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:33-34, ASV)
We covered how Jesus could state this prophetically in a post titled, "Simple Prophecy". Basically, we said that Simon already exhibited the causes that would lead Jesus to conclude the effects He stated. Here is the passage that shows the causes:
"5 Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." (John 13:5-10, ASV)
Notice, Simon tells Jesus that He will NEVER wash his feet...then IMMEDIATELY changes his mind with one sentence from Jesus. Simon is showing he is in the flesh. He is proving that he is justifying himself! He is telling Jesus He is wrong to His Face! Jesus knows that this frame of mind will eventually lead to denying Jesus. Remember, from the Book of Job series, God is in control of the rooster crowing...so God can hold off the rooster until Simon denies Him three times.
Remember also from the Book of Job series: Elihu tells Job that Job would have been able to answer his own question if he had focused on justifying God instead of justifying himself. Simon is doing the same thing. In fact, in Matthew's version, it is even worse. The following passage can be placed immediately after Jesus tells Simon that Satan has asked to have him:
"31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:31-35, ASV)
Take a good look and notice what just happened...
Not only did Peter tell Jesus that He was wrong...Peter told Jesus that the Scriptures were wrong!
The Word Himself quoted the Word of God ("it is written") to Peter's face, and Peter responded by telling Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
Step One in the sifting process: Misplaced Confidence
Peter put his own ability above God's. God is telling Peter that he is going to be offended. Now, once Peter disagrees, the ONLY place for Peter to get the ability to NOT be offended is from himself. This is focusing on effects and works.
The danger with preaching effects and works is that people are putting their confidence in themselves...in the physical. They think they can stop unprofitable behavior by just stopping it. The best you can do in your own strength is be "Not Unprofitable" in the short-term. However, you will eventually get worn out and fail...the Long Term result is always "Unprofitable".
You have to say ONE THING for Peter...he is NOT LUKEWARM. Peter does God's Process that we learned in the Book of Job. Peter goes HOT/COLD and then checks with God...and then repairs/repents. Peter did it during the exchange with Jesus over washing his feet!
God knows Peter's heart. God knows he is the perfect person to have sifted BECAUSE he will go all out AND repair/repent when he is wrong. This is why he is referred to as Peter in this passage...this is his spiritual nature. This is a GREAT attribute to possess! Peter doing God's Process is an example to us!
Peter says he will not deny Jesus...the conflict in the Book of Job centered around whether Job would renounce God to His Face.
Peter has placed his confidence in himself...the second step will naturally fall into place.
Next Post
In the Old Testament, God identified a person who kept the Law and was perfect (Job). That was the goal of the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, God identifies a person who is not perfect, so that everything that is unprofitable is going to be removed in order to result in a person who is "perfect". That is the goal of the New Testament.
Why do people still think that our goal is appearance and keeping laws instead of repair/life?
Yesterday, we saw that Jesus tells Simon that Satan has asked to have Simon so he can sift him as wheat. Today, we will cover the first step in this sifting process.
(There are seven steps in all. I first heard of these seven steps in the sifting process from a sermon by Rev. Gerald Davis that I saw him deliver in 1989.)
The verses that immediately follow the passage where Jesus tells Simon he will be sifted as wheat are:
"33 And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.
34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me." (Luke 22:33-34, ASV)
We covered how Jesus could state this prophetically in a post titled, "Simple Prophecy". Basically, we said that Simon already exhibited the causes that would lead Jesus to conclude the effects He stated. Here is the passage that shows the causes:
"5 Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all." (John 13:5-10, ASV)
Notice, Simon tells Jesus that He will NEVER wash his feet...then IMMEDIATELY changes his mind with one sentence from Jesus. Simon is showing he is in the flesh. He is proving that he is justifying himself! He is telling Jesus He is wrong to His Face! Jesus knows that this frame of mind will eventually lead to denying Jesus. Remember, from the Book of Job series, God is in control of the rooster crowing...so God can hold off the rooster until Simon denies Him three times.
Remember also from the Book of Job series: Elihu tells Job that Job would have been able to answer his own question if he had focused on justifying God instead of justifying himself. Simon is doing the same thing. In fact, in Matthew's version, it is even worse. The following passage can be placed immediately after Jesus tells Simon that Satan has asked to have him:
"31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended.
34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples." (Matthew 26:31-35, ASV)
Take a good look and notice what just happened...
Not only did Peter tell Jesus that He was wrong...Peter told Jesus that the Scriptures were wrong!
The Word Himself quoted the Word of God ("it is written") to Peter's face, and Peter responded by telling Jesus that He AND the Scriptures were wrong!
Step One in the sifting process: Misplaced Confidence
Peter put his own ability above God's. God is telling Peter that he is going to be offended. Now, once Peter disagrees, the ONLY place for Peter to get the ability to NOT be offended is from himself. This is focusing on effects and works.
The danger with preaching effects and works is that people are putting their confidence in themselves...in the physical. They think they can stop unprofitable behavior by just stopping it. The best you can do in your own strength is be "Not Unprofitable" in the short-term. However, you will eventually get worn out and fail...the Long Term result is always "Unprofitable".
You have to say ONE THING for Peter...he is NOT LUKEWARM. Peter does God's Process that we learned in the Book of Job. Peter goes HOT/COLD and then checks with God...and then repairs/repents. Peter did it during the exchange with Jesus over washing his feet!
God knows Peter's heart. God knows he is the perfect person to have sifted BECAUSE he will go all out AND repair/repent when he is wrong. This is why he is referred to as Peter in this passage...this is his spiritual nature. This is a GREAT attribute to possess! Peter doing God's Process is an example to us!
Peter says he will not deny Jesus...the conflict in the Book of Job centered around whether Job would renounce God to His Face.
Peter has placed his confidence in himself...the second step will naturally fall into place.
Next Post
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Introduction: The New Testament Job
Last month we began a series on the Book of Job. We discovered a revelatory, non-contradictory interpretation that could benefit the world. (First Job Post in the series.)
This month we have seen how this revelation helps us understand Jesus' words and how God dealt with the first three kings of Israel (Saul, David, and Solomon). For the rest of this month, we will look at a New Testament application of this revelation.
"31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32, ASV)
First, this quote from Jesus takes place towards the end of the Last Supper. Next year, we will spend an entire month on the Last Supper. It is a pivotal event that not only culminates the Law and foreshadows eternity, it also gives us doctrine on HOW we OUGHT to have community today. It will be another revelatory study...
Second, take a moment and look at these two verses...there is a lot of meat to be digested:
-Jesus used the name "Simon".
Jesus renamed Simon to Peter after his confession that Jesus is the Christ. This is a tremendously misunderstood passage.
"15 He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:15-18, ASV)
"Peter" in this verse is Strong's #4074 Petros - "a (piece of) rock"
"Rock" in this verse is Strong's #4073 petra - "a (mass of) rock"
In modern slang, Jesus is renaming Simon to "Rocky" because of the confession on which Jesus will build HIS church: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Some people say this means Jesus is building HIS church on Peter. Some people say this means Jesus is building HIS church on people. Both of these are incredibly misguided and egotistical...did Jesus REALLY think that HIS church was going to be built on PEOPLE? The Bible repeatedly states that people are not that reliable.
Notice, Jesus doesn't even credit Simon for knowing the answer! Jesus gives the credit to God the Father. Also, it is four verses later that Jesus is calling Peter "Satan". In that link, we see it was BECAUSE Peter was the MOST excellent that Jesus treated him the toughest. Talk about an "Elihu-like" doctrine. Today, our culture believes that we ought to treat our leaders like they are LESS excellent...like they can't handle tough situations or criticism.
Jesus renamed Peter after this confession as both a reminder to everyone of a key doctrine AND to let everyone know this disciple, formerly known as "Simon", was now a spiritual example...a Leader. "Peter" represents his spiritual nature. "Simon" represents the old man. Jesus is specifically speaking to the old man...
-Jesus says "Simon, Simon"
One of the signs that a Heavenly Being is speaking, is they repeat the name twice. God begins Samuel's ministry with "Samuel, Samuel" (I Samuel 3:10). God calls "Abraham, Abraham" when stopping his sacrifice of Isaac. (Genesis 22:11) Jesus is announcing that revelation from Heaven is being delivered...something epic is going to happen.
-Satan asked to have you
I don't know about you, but this phrase gives me chills. Imagine Jesus speaking to your old man and stating that Satan himself has specifically ASKED to HAVE you. If you read the series on the Book of Job, you are probably getting that deja vu feeling...haven't we seen this movie?
Apparently there has been a discussion in Heaven. Apparently it resulted in Satan asking if he could have access to Simon.
In the Book of Job, God initiated the exchange with Satan by asking a question. This led to Satan making a causality statement about Job that could only be proven contrastively. God did this to reveal to us information that could benefit the world.
Satan asked God if he could HAVE Job...if he could take all of Job's HAVE and DO in order to prove that Job would renounce God. In that Book, God knew Job was perfect. God knew Job's heart. God knew that taking everything Job had and could do wouldn't result in Job renouncing God. Job retains his name throughout the Book of Job.
Now we have another version of a conflict between God and Satan. Something must have been stated that caused Satan to ask if he could have access to Simon. What is the reason for all of this?
-That he might sift you as wheat
Ouch! Satan wants to sift Simon as wheat. What does that mean?
When wheat is harvested the first step is to grind it so that the wheat and chaff are separated. The next step is to winnow this mixture of good (wheat) and bad (chaff). The mixture is thrown in the air and the lighter, useless chaff is carried away by the breeze. However, in order to get every last part of the chaff out, the remaining mixture is passed through a sifter. Everything that passes through is good and can be used to make bread.
We have already covered the breaking process. It appears that Peter is going through additional steps...he is going to have EVERYTHING that is useless completely removed. The result is going to be perfect person.
Taking this entire verse together, Jesus is speaking to the old man and saying that Satan has asked to break him down and completely remove ALL of the old man...Satan literally wants to bring out the worst in Simon! Talk about a contrastive process!
Would Jesus allow this to happen? Why would Jesus agree to this?
-Jesus agrees and encourages Simon to do the process!
The Bad News: Jesus says Satan's request has been granted.
The Good News: Peter is going to survive this. Jesus is saying WHEN, not IF. Like in the Book of Job, God knows Peter's heart. God knows Peter will be converted.
In fact, Jesus says that WHEN Peter is converted he needs to strengthen his brethren...Peter will be the Leader.
It appears that God is going to use Satan to remove the worst from Simon in order to have a leader whom will be known as "Peter".
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCTION
In the Old Testament, God identified a person who kept the Law and was perfect (Job). That was the goal of the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, God identifies a person who is not perfect, so that everything that is unprofitable is going to be removed in order to result in a person who is "perfect". That is the goal of the New Testament.
Why do people still think that our goal is appearance and keeping laws instead of repair/life?
In the following posts, we are going to cover the steps Satan uses to bring out the worst in Simon. We are going to see that we encounter these same steps...
Next Post
This month we have seen how this revelation helps us understand Jesus' words and how God dealt with the first three kings of Israel (Saul, David, and Solomon). For the rest of this month, we will look at a New Testament application of this revelation.
"31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:
32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren." (Luke 22:31-32, ASV)
First, this quote from Jesus takes place towards the end of the Last Supper. Next year, we will spend an entire month on the Last Supper. It is a pivotal event that not only culminates the Law and foreshadows eternity, it also gives us doctrine on HOW we OUGHT to have community today. It will be another revelatory study...
Second, take a moment and look at these two verses...there is a lot of meat to be digested:
-Jesus used the name "Simon".
Jesus renamed Simon to Peter after his confession that Jesus is the Christ. This is a tremendously misunderstood passage.
"15 He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:15-18, ASV)
"Peter" in this verse is Strong's #4074 Petros - "a (piece of) rock"
"Rock" in this verse is Strong's #4073 petra - "a (mass of) rock"
In modern slang, Jesus is renaming Simon to "Rocky" because of the confession on which Jesus will build HIS church: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Some people say this means Jesus is building HIS church on Peter. Some people say this means Jesus is building HIS church on people. Both of these are incredibly misguided and egotistical...did Jesus REALLY think that HIS church was going to be built on PEOPLE? The Bible repeatedly states that people are not that reliable.
Notice, Jesus doesn't even credit Simon for knowing the answer! Jesus gives the credit to God the Father. Also, it is four verses later that Jesus is calling Peter "Satan". In that link, we see it was BECAUSE Peter was the MOST excellent that Jesus treated him the toughest. Talk about an "Elihu-like" doctrine. Today, our culture believes that we ought to treat our leaders like they are LESS excellent...like they can't handle tough situations or criticism.
Jesus renamed Peter after this confession as both a reminder to everyone of a key doctrine AND to let everyone know this disciple, formerly known as "Simon", was now a spiritual example...a Leader. "Peter" represents his spiritual nature. "Simon" represents the old man. Jesus is specifically speaking to the old man...
-Jesus says "Simon, Simon"
One of the signs that a Heavenly Being is speaking, is they repeat the name twice. God begins Samuel's ministry with "Samuel, Samuel" (I Samuel 3:10). God calls "Abraham, Abraham" when stopping his sacrifice of Isaac. (Genesis 22:11) Jesus is announcing that revelation from Heaven is being delivered...something epic is going to happen.
-Satan asked to have you
I don't know about you, but this phrase gives me chills. Imagine Jesus speaking to your old man and stating that Satan himself has specifically ASKED to HAVE you. If you read the series on the Book of Job, you are probably getting that deja vu feeling...haven't we seen this movie?
Apparently there has been a discussion in Heaven. Apparently it resulted in Satan asking if he could have access to Simon.
In the Book of Job, God initiated the exchange with Satan by asking a question. This led to Satan making a causality statement about Job that could only be proven contrastively. God did this to reveal to us information that could benefit the world.
Satan asked God if he could HAVE Job...if he could take all of Job's HAVE and DO in order to prove that Job would renounce God. In that Book, God knew Job was perfect. God knew Job's heart. God knew that taking everything Job had and could do wouldn't result in Job renouncing God. Job retains his name throughout the Book of Job.
Now we have another version of a conflict between God and Satan. Something must have been stated that caused Satan to ask if he could have access to Simon. What is the reason for all of this?
-That he might sift you as wheat
Ouch! Satan wants to sift Simon as wheat. What does that mean?
When wheat is harvested the first step is to grind it so that the wheat and chaff are separated. The next step is to winnow this mixture of good (wheat) and bad (chaff). The mixture is thrown in the air and the lighter, useless chaff is carried away by the breeze. However, in order to get every last part of the chaff out, the remaining mixture is passed through a sifter. Everything that passes through is good and can be used to make bread.
We have already covered the breaking process. It appears that Peter is going through additional steps...he is going to have EVERYTHING that is useless completely removed. The result is going to be perfect person.
Taking this entire verse together, Jesus is speaking to the old man and saying that Satan has asked to break him down and completely remove ALL of the old man...Satan literally wants to bring out the worst in Simon! Talk about a contrastive process!
Would Jesus allow this to happen? Why would Jesus agree to this?
-Jesus agrees and encourages Simon to do the process!
The Bad News: Jesus says Satan's request has been granted.
The Good News: Peter is going to survive this. Jesus is saying WHEN, not IF. Like in the Book of Job, God knows Peter's heart. God knows Peter will be converted.
In fact, Jesus says that WHEN Peter is converted he needs to strengthen his brethren...Peter will be the Leader.
It appears that God is going to use Satan to remove the worst from Simon in order to have a leader whom will be known as "Peter".
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCTION
In the Old Testament, God identified a person who kept the Law and was perfect (Job). That was the goal of the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, God identifies a person who is not perfect, so that everything that is unprofitable is going to be removed in order to result in a person who is "perfect". That is the goal of the New Testament.
Why do people still think that our goal is appearance and keeping laws instead of repair/life?
In the following posts, we are going to cover the steps Satan uses to bring out the worst in Simon. We are going to see that we encounter these same steps...
Next Post
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