tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62125790991748111972024-03-05T02:15:45.889-08:00a lifetime walk...my journey as a lifetime student of the LORD in AfricaNathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-19652122106441157972015-04-13T08:42:00.001-07:002015-04-13T08:42:41.742-07:00Martin Luther - the Reformer<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #660000;">It is fitting to briefly take a glance at history at arguably the
greatest Reformer, Martin Luther, who firmly stood by “Scripture alone”, and preached
“faith alone” as the means of salvation. His testimony is both a relevant challenge
and encouragement to us today to stand by the “Five Solas” amidst hostility against
pure Christian doctrine from within and without the church.</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“The term 'Reformation' is used by
historians and theologians to refer to the western European movement
[1517-1648], centering upon individuals such as Martin Luther, Huldrych
Zwingli, and John Calvin, concerned with moral, theological, and institutional
reform of the Christian church in that region.” (McGrath, 1998:156). “Martin
Luther... is one of the few men of whom it may be said that the history of the
world was profoundly altered by his work... Whether honored or opposed, none
can deny his preeminent place in the history of the church.” (Walker,
1959:302). “Other men and women felt deeply the need for reform but none
matched the burly German” (Shelley, 1982:256).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Early in the 20<sup>th</sup>
century, Ernst Troeltsch defined Protestantism as a “modification of
Catholicism” in which Catholic problems remain, but different solutions given
(Shelley, 1982:256). The four Catholic concerns that Protestantism answered in
a new way are: How is a person saved? Where does religious authority lie? What
is the Church? And what is the essence of Christian living? It is Luther that
finally offered biblical solutions that have stood the test of time to these
questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther before the Reformation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther was born in Eisleben,
Germany on 10<sup>th</sup> November 1483. His father was a poor Saxon miner.
His parents had high hopes for him academically, desiring that he become a lawyer.
He obtained free education at Eisenach School. “His father valued education and
made it possible, through hard work in the mining industry, for Martin to
attend college in Erfurt. The University of Erfurt was the most celebrated in
all Germany.” (Murrell, 1998:15). He proved to be a brilliant law student, and
obtained an MA degree by 1505. While at university, John Wesel, a Christian
humanist greatly influenced him. It was also at university that he got
introduced to the Bible when, to his amazement, he discovered a copy of the
then rare document in the library while browsing the books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On a certain day in 1505, as he
was returning to Erfurt from a visit to his parents at Mansfeldt, Luther was
caught up in a thunderstorm. He was struck by a bolt of lightning, knocking him
to the ground. In fear, he called out to the Roman Catholic's patroness of
miners crying, “St. Anne, save me! And I'll become a monk.” (Shelley,
1982:256). Luther had every intention of becoming a lawyer according to his
parents' wishes. But two weeks after his lightning experience, consumed by
guilt, Luther kept his vow to St. Anne by joining the Augustinian monastery at
Erfurt. His parents were disappointed as their hopes of Luther becoming a
lawyer went down the drain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He was ordained a priest in 1507
after studying theology. And in 1508 he got a teaching position at the
University of Wittenberg, where he also earned his Bachelor of Bible degree in
theology. After a year at Wittenburg, he was transferred to Erfurt, where he
earned his second theology degree, and taught the Sentences of Peter Lombard,
the standard text of theology then (Murrell, 1998:16). He would later receive
his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1512 while he continued to teach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther was a very dedicated monk.
The Pelagian teaching that surrounded him taught him to save himself through
good works. “In the monastery he lived a life of strict asceticism... He
cheerfully performed the humblest tasks. He prayed and chastised himself even
beyond the strictest monastic rules. He wasted away till he looked like a
skeleton. His cell, even in the severest cold of winter, was unheated. He often
spent the night in vigils and only occasionally slept on a mat.” (Kuiper,
1964:162). He would recall years later that, “I kept the rule so strictly that
I may say that if ever a monk got to heaven by his sheer monkery, it was I. If
I had kept on any longer, I should have killed myself with vigils, prayers,
reading and other work” (Shelley, 1982:256). “And yet, despite all of his
efforts, Luther was still burdened with a sense of shame and guilt. His soul
was in the deepest depths of despair because, no matter how hard he tried, he
knew he had not done enough to merit salvation” (Murrell, 1998:17).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 1515, while pondering Paul's
epistle to the Romans, He came across the words in chapter one verse 17 that
read: “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
in it <i>the </i>righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is
written, ‘But the righteous <i>man </i>shall live by faith’” (NASB). Luther
later recalled, “Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between
the justice of God and the statement that 'the just shall live by his faith.'
Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into
paradise.” (Shelley, 1982:257). Luther now clearly understood that man only got
saved by grace through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross, and not by
any personal merit. This clashed with what he had previously known as the Roman
Catholic Church's doctrine of justification by faith and good works. Luther would
later argue that: “Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good
works.” (Shelley, 1982:260).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Beginning
of the Reformation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Renaissance, spanning the 14<sup>th</sup>
to 17<sup>th</sup> centuries, was a cultural revolution in Europe that inspired
the exploration of the literal and arts classics. Scholars in this era were
known as humanists, to which Desiderius Erasmus is reputed as the greatest of
them. Though many of the greatest Christian humanists died Roman Catholic, such
as Erasmus, “it would be impossible to exaggerate their importance as
precursors to the Reformation.” (Renwick & Harman, 1999:106, 107). With a
return to the classics, the Renaissance led people back to original Greek and
Hebrew Scriptural documents, looking beyond the Latin Vulgate and other
patristic translations. Erasmus himself produced an invaluable Greek
translation of the New Testament, the first in print. It was against this
background that Luther “launched the most gigantic revolution in the history of
the Christian Church” (Walker, 1959:302).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The sale of indulgences,
introduced during the Crusades, was a great source of income for the pope.
Roman Catholicism taught that payment of indulgences (contributions to a worthy
cause) absolved the individual from partial or even full punishment for sins
that had already been confessed and forgiven. So with the discovery that
justification is by faith alone, Luther began to attack the theology behind
indulgences in his sermons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But it is a particular incident
that heightened Luther’s fury with the issue of indulgences. The Dominican
monk, John Tetzel, was preaching throughout Germany raising funds on behalf of
the pope to complete the construction of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Tetzel
alleged that indulgences paid for this cause would even free souls from
purgatory, claiming that, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul
from purgatory springs” (Shelley, 1982:258). Duke Frederick, prince of Saxony,
forbade the sale of these indulgences in his territory. But his Wittenberg citizenry
traveled to other towns to buy the indulgences. It is this act that prompted
Luther's response against indulgences (Vos, 1960:79).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther drew up 95 propositions
(theses) for theological debate on 31<sup>st</sup> October 1517. On All Saints'
Day, he posted them on the Castle Church door at Wittenberg in accordance with
the university custom of proposing a debate. Among other things, the 95 Theses
argued that “indulgences cannot remove guilt, do not apply to purgatory, and
are harmful because they induce a false sense of security in the donor.” That
was the spark that ignited the Reformation (Shelley, 1982:258). Within four
weeks, the theses, originally in Latin, were translated into several languages
and distributed to every country in Western Europe (Murrell, 1998:18).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Dominicans immediately
reported Luther to Rome as a man guilty of preaching “dangerous doctrines”. The
pope summoned him to Rome in July 1518 but Luther snubbed the invitation
because honoring it would have led him to his execution (Renwick & Harman,
1999:110).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther insisted on Scriptural
proof that he was wrong. During an 18-day debate in July 1519 with theologian
John Eck in a highly charged atmosphere at Leipzig, Luther said, “A council may
sometimes err. Neither the church nor the pope can establish articles of faith.
These must come from Scripture.” (Shelley, 1982:259). Luther henceforth
denounced papal authority and took on Scriptural authority to govern him
instead. After the debate, Eck lobbied for Luther to be declared a heretic. But
Luther sought audience with the German people by publishing a series of
pamphlets. Three of the most famous pamphlets produced in 1520 are: <i>'To the Nobility of the German Nation'</i>, <i>'On the Babylonish Captivity of the Church'</i>,
and <i>'Concerning Christian Liberty'</i>
(Renwick & Harman, 1999:111). Issues he addressed through the pamphlets
included: the church's wealth and political power, and the invalidity of the
seven sacraments (Luther recognized Baptism and the Lord's Supper only as the
two ordinances instituted by Christ).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther also became a
controversialist. “He insisted that people either side entirely with him –
because of what he saw as the great danger of the church of Rome and the papacy
– or else get away from him and become his enemies” (Olson, 1999:378). In his
expository series of the Gospel of John in 1538, he began one of his sermons by
stating: “Although we must always expect the best from man, especially from the
believers, we remember that they may err and go astray. If this truth had been
observed in Christendom, we would have had neither the pope nor all the filth
and stench of his anti-Christian doctrine with which the Christian Church was
later seduced” (Murray, 1965:30).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Luther's Excommunication<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On 15<sup>th</sup> June 1520, Pope
Leo X issued a Bull (a papal document named after its seal) condemning 41 of
Luther's beliefs as “heretical, or scandalous, or false, or offensive to pious
ears, or seductive of simple minds, or repugnant to Catholic truths.” (Shelley,
1982:255). The bull called upon him and his followers to recant within 60 days,
and also ordered for his works to be burned. But in response, on 10<sup>th</sup>
December 1520, Luther instead publicly burned the Bull condemning him, the
Canon Law, and forged Decretals (decisions of popes and general councils) in a
bonfire outside Wittenberg (Renwick & Harman, 1999:111).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In January 1521 the pope declared
him a heretic and excommunicated him from the church. In the same year, Emperor
Charles V summoned Luther to the Diet (a national meeting of princes and powerful
leaders) at Worms to account for his writings.
The exchanges are reported to have been hostile as he was questioned
about his writings. Luther again appealed to the authority of Scripture and
stated, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God... I will not recant
anything, for to go against conscience is neither honest nor safe. Here I
stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Shelley,
1982:260). The emperor responded by declaring him an outlaw with the sentence
to fall in 21 days.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But
Duke Frederick, whose territory included Wittenberg, saved him from execution
when he sent troupes to intercept Luther's journey back home by staging a
kidnapping. Disguised as a nobleman with the name Junker George, Luther was
afforded refuge at the Wartburg Castle for almost a year. But this time wasn't
spent without productivity. It is here that he translated the New Testament
into German using Erasmus Desiderius' recent Greek translation. Luther's German
translation was pivotal to the Reformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At the same time, the revolt
against Rome spread. More radical reformers than Luther emerged. Princes, dukes
and electors are among those that gave support to the movement. Younger
humanists also rallied behind him. Luther returned to Wittenberg in March 1522
to this excitement among the people. Upon his return he did away with the
office of bishop, advocating for the pastoral office instead. Monks and nuns
also abandoned celibacy and began to marry, with Luther himself taking a former
nun as his wife in 1525.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Challenges during the Reformation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Both the Nobles' Revolt in 1523
and the Peasants' Revolt in 1525 caused Luther great anguish as he was blamed
for them. In 1524, the German peasants took advantage of the atmosphere of
reform and attempted to extend it to their social and economic ills by
revolting against their lords. When the peasants turned violent, Luther reacted
furiously against them in his pamphlet: <i>'Against
the Thievish and Murderous Hordes of Peasants'</i>, calling on the princes to
crash the revolt. In 1525 the princes did likewise, leaving about 100,000
peasants dead. As a response, surviving peasants labeled Luther a false
prophet, with many returning to Catholicism, while others resorting to more
radical forms of the Reformation </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Shelley, 1982:261). Many of his followers
became Anabaptists. Luther, initially opposed to persecution tactics, would
later recommend the persecution of the Anabaptists in 1530 as the movement grew
rapidly (Renwick & Harman, 1999:116).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charles
V called the first Diet of Speyer in 1526 aimed at inciting action against
Luther's views. But in a rare twist of events, the Diet gave the edict of
toleration, allowing each German state to adhere to the religion of its ruling
prince. The second Diet of Speyer in 1529 ruled that Lutheran districts should
remain Lutheran, and Catholic districts should remain Catholic, but with the
Catholic Church allowed religious freedom in Lutheran territory. The
evangelical minority in attendance protested against the decision, thus the
origin of the term 'Protestant' (Renwick & Harman, 1999:113). After the
Diet, Germany was divided into Protestant and Catholic sections that bitterly
opposed each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In 1530 Reformation leaders
gathered at Augsburg to draft a common statement of faith. Luther was unable to
attend because he was still outlawed. Philip Melanchthon, a young Greek
professor at Wittenburg, and Luther's eventual successor as the leader of the
Reformation, drafted the Augsburg Confession. The Confession was signed by
Lutheran princes and theologians </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Shelley, 1982:263)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite his problems with the law
and the church, at about 1531 Luther began to suffer health problems that
included kidney and bladder stones, arthritis, and eventually angina. He died
in Eisleben, his birthplace, in 1546 after suffering a stroke. He was buried in
the Castle Church in Wittenberg.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Almost
10 years after his death, The Peace of Augsburg (1555), following a civil war
between Charles V and Lutheran princes (1546 -1555), allowed each prince to
decide the religion of its subjects. It also banned all other sects of
Protestantism except Lutheranism. As a result, Lutheranism eventually became a
state religion in large sections of the empire (Shelley, 1982:263). But princes
and bishops who turned Protestant had to surrender their estates.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Despite his brilliance and zeal
for the Lord, by all means Luther was not perfect and earned quite some
warranted criticism along the way. This is seen in some controversial
theological views he held and his
extremist reaction to the peasant revolt and other issues. But it is his
solutions to the four Catholic concerns mentioned above that render his
contribution to the Reformation of the Church as matchless. With submission to
Scriptural authority, Luther answered the concerns as follows: How is a person
saved? Not by works but by faith alone. Where does religious authority lie? Not
in the Roman Catholic Church but in Scripture alone. What is the Church? It is
the community of all Christian believers since all are priests unto God. And
what is the essence of Christian living? Serving God in any useful calling,
whether ordained or lay </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Shelley, 1982:264). Thus his influence lives
on even today.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bibliography<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Kuiper, B. K. 1964. The Church in History. Michigan: Christian
Schools International<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">McGrath, A. E. 1998. Historical Theology: An Introduction to the
History of the Christian Thought. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Murray, I. H. 1965. The Reformation of the Church: A collection of
Reformed and Puritan documents on Church issues. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth
Trust<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Murrell, S. E. 1998. A Glorious Institution: The Church in
History. Parts Three and Four. Pensacola: Mount Zion Publications<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Olson, R. E. 1999. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty
Centuries of Tradition & Reform. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Renwick, A. M. & Harman A. M. 1999. The Story of the Church. 3<sup>rd</sup>
Edition. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Shelley, B. L. 1982. Church History in Plain Language. Dallas.
Word Publishing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Vos, H. F. 1960. Highlights of Church History. Chicago: Moody
Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Walker. W. 1959. A History of the Christian Church. Edinburgh: T.
& T. Clark<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-11822902786781656822013-04-04T06:30:00.000-07:002013-04-04T23:18:07.912-07:00Our resounding Amen!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Unlike Adam I never got to experience the garden,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">But like Adam I’ve wasted opportunities more than golden,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Typical of men to blame it all on the women,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;">So like Adam I never wanted to pay the cost of my burden,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;">Condemned for my sin, with no hope of even a glimpse of
heaven,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;">My yoke is hard my burden heavy, with guilt I’m heavy-laden,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Plagued by the curse of sin, among its victims I’m
bedridden,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;">If I was thrown with the lions, I wouldn’t survive a night
in their den,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;">But Christ the promised Seed, who would save the downtrodden,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #660000;">The promise of salvation from the Judge, to Adam and his
children,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Deliverance from eternal death, I’ll never experience the burning
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Hope of eternal future with Christ, better than the best of Eden,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Can’t wait to be with Christ, thank God the rapture will be
sudden,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">He came and will return for me, in His kingdom we will be brethren,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Coheirs with Christ, eternal victory, our resounding Amen!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><br /></span></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-1159697547066078222013-01-05T01:56:00.000-08:002013-01-05T02:13:48.075-08:00The Holiness of God in Leviticus<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Introduction</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">The main
biblical words for holiness/holy are the Hebrew ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">qados</i>’ and ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">qodes</i>’ in the
Old Testament, expressing ‘separation’ or ‘cutting off’, applied to the
separation of a person or thing to divine use. In the Old Testament holiness is
designated of places, things, seasons, and official persons, in their connection
with the worship of God. Holiness signifies a relation that involves separation
from common use and dedication to a sacred one (DOUGLAS, 1962:530).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">In reference to
God, holiness denotes His separateness from creation and elevation above it. It
thus sets forth His transcendence. </span><span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US">Holiness is a
term for the moral excellence of God and His freedom from all limitation in His
moral perfection (Habakkuk 1:13). </span>The word also denotes relationship, and
signifies God’s determination to preserve His own position relative to all
other free beings. It is His self affirmation; the attribute by which He makes
Himself the absolute standard of Himself (DOUGLAS, 1962:530).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Revelation of God's Holiness</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">The holiness of God was expressed
through such symbols and types as the holy nation, holy land, holy city, holy
place, and holy priesthood (BERKHOF, 1941:74). Holiness is the
one attribute which God would have His people remember Him by more than any
other. Hence it is His image in the entire Old Testament (EVANS, 1949:37, 38). In
Leviticus, the phrases: “I am the LORD” and “I am holy” are used over 50 times.
His holiness is manifested in His Law. The Law forbids sin in all of its
modifications: in its most refined as well as grossest forms, the intent of the
mind as well as the pollution of the body, the secret desire as well as the
overt act (PINK, 1975:42).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">The Law was designed
to impress upon Israel the idea of the holiness of God and the necessity of
leading a holy life. It was revealed in the manner in which the LORD rewarded
the keeping of the Law, and visited transgressors with dire punishments
(BERKHOF, 1941:74). The holiness of God can be revealed in the four sections of
Leviticus as follows:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 90.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">The Sacrificial Offerings (chapters 1:1-7:38)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 90.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">The Consecration of the Priests (chapters 8:1-10:20)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 90.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">The Consecration of the People (chapters 11:1-17:16)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 90.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Guidelines for practical holiness (chapters 18:1-27:34)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The Sacrificial Offerings (1:1-7:38)</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">During the Old
Testament period, sacrifices were emphasized as they were the most important
activity of formal worship. The covenant relationship between God and Israel
was related to sacrifices in three ways: it was a gift; a means of communion or
fellowship; and perhaps the most important, they served to heal violations in
the covenant relationship (LONGMAN III & DILLARD, 2007:85). Without these
offerings man would incur the wrath of God because His holiness and His wrath are
inseparable (TOZER, 1961:106).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">To sanctify
means to ‘make holy’, and is used in the Old Testament with reference to both
the Levitical offerings and to the people to whom the offering applied. It
meant to set apart for a holy purpose (GUTHRIE, 1983:89, 90). Whenever the
covenant relationship was broken, Israel would seek forgiveness from God by
offering sacrifices as substitutions for the penalty for their sin. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">The five types
of sacrifices were: burnt offerings (chapter 1), which served to compensate for
sin; grain offerings (chapters 2), which served as a gift; peace offerings
(chapter 3), which were offered for fellowship; sin offerings (chapter
4:1-5:13), for the removal of sin; and guilt offerings (15:14-6:7), offered for
offences against the things of the LORD.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The Consecration of the Priests (8:1-10:20)</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">God’s holiness
can be seen through His interaction with the priestly office of the Levites. The
priests spend most of their time in the presence of the Holy God; hence during
their ordination they were consecrated (set apart) for holy service as was
evident in their special priestly clothing and anointing with oil (chapter 8).
They also offered sacrifices for their own sins, and in this way, they stayed
holy as well.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">After ordination
the priests were charged with maintaining holiness in the camp through
sacrifices (Leviticus 1-7, 9). They themselves were to adhere to a very strict
conduct. An example is when Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu offered ‘strange
fire’ before the LORD and were immediately consumed (10:1, 2). Moses reminded
Aaron that, “By those who come near Me (the LORD) I will be treated as holy,
and before all people I will be honored (10:3).”</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">Many of the laws
in Leviticus were directed toward the priests so that they might preserve their
holiness (Leviticus 21-22). It was also part of their duty to teach the
Israelites the Law so that they could protect God’s holiness in the camp (Leviticus
10:11). Thus the main function of the priesthood in Leviticus was to protect
the holiness of God (LONGMAN III & DILLARD, 2007:85).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">The Consecration of the People (11:1-17:16)</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">God’s people must
be seen to be distinctive in their way of life, and as free as possible from
any evil pollution of body or spirit (HARRISON, 1980:132, 133). The Israeli
camp had to be kept pure (clean) because God was present among them. At the
center of the camp stood the tabernacle in which the ark, the primary symbol of
God’s holy presence, dwelt. From this spot different levels of holiness were
represented.</span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">Only the current high priest could enter the most holy place; only
Levitical priests from Aaron’s family were allowed within the tabernacle; the
rest of the Levites formed a perimeter around the tabernacle; the other Israeli
tribes were spread within the camp surrounding the tabernacle; and lastly,
unclean individuals and Gentiles stayed outside the camp. This shows that there
was a clear distinction between the clean and unclean, and further that God by
His holy nature commanded who could come close, and how close they could come,
to the tabernacle.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">The priests were
delegated the responsibility of declaring who could be within the camp or not
by determining who was clean or not in order to avoid offending Gdo. In
commanding cleanness, God regulated matters such as: 1) Food, by prescribing
the animals they could and could not eat (chapter 11); 2) Child birth, by declaring
the number of days a woman was to be unclean after birth, and that the child if
male, should be circumcised on the eighth day (chapter 12); 3) Skin diseases, by
giving the conditions of how the infected should be treated and declared clean
(13-14), and 4) How a man was to be cleansed after discharge (15), among
others.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Day of Atonement</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Also significant
in this section of consecrating the people was the annual Day of Atonement
(chapter 16). ‘Atonement’ means ‘a making one’, and points to a process of bringing
those who are estranged into a unity (DOUGLAS, 1962:107). On the tenth day of
the seventh month (Tishri, October/September), Israel observed its most solemn
holy day. All work was forbidden and a strict fast was commanded upon the entire
nation. The Day of Atonement served as a reminder that the daily, weekly, and
monthly sacrifices made at the altar of burnt offering were not sufficient to
atone for sin. Even at the altar of burnt offering, the worshippers stood afar
off, unable to approach the Holy presence of God who was manifest between the
cherubim in the Holy Place. Atoning blood was brought into the Holy Place by
the high priest as the representative of the people (DOUGLAS, 1962:110).</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Also, in Leviticus 17:11 the
principle of substitutionary atonement is outlined, that is, atonement is made
by a victim that takes the place of a sinner that sheds its blood in the
sinner’s stead (TIDBALL, 2005:213). In the verse God states, “<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">For the life of a
creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for
yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life</span>.”</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span></b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Guidelines for Practical Holiness (18:1-27:34)</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">Justification is
an act of God about the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">state</i> of a
man’s person; but sanctification is the work of God about the nature of a man
(RYLE, 2001:166). And it is these guidelines on practical holiness that were
given for man’s sanctification. Alderson (1986:20) wrote, “The Moral Law
reflects God’s own essential attributes. Since God is holy, His Law is holy.”</span></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">Such laws
included guidelines on: sexual relations (18); social order (19); the
priesthood (21, 22); the Sabbath and feasts (23); Sabbatical and Jubilee years
(25); penalty for idol worship, cursing parents, sexual sin (20), and blasphemy
(24); redemption of gifts devoted to God (27); and the blessings and curses of
obedience and disobedience respectively (26).</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Conclusion</span></b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">As seen in Leviticus, because Israel was in a covenant relationship with the holy God, they were challenged to live holy lives on earth as they worship Him. Thus the
meditation of J. C. Ryle (2002:53), arguably the Church of England’s last
Puritan, suffices, “Suppose for a moment you were allowed to enter heaven
without holiness. What would you do? What possible enjoyment could you feel
there? To which of the saints would you join yourself, and by whose side would
you sit down? Their pleasures are not your pleasures, their tastes not your
tastes, their character not your character. How could you possibly be happy, if
you had not been holy on earth?” </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">Bibliography</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">ALDERSON, R. 1986. No Holiness, No Heaven! Edinburgh: The
Banner of Truth Trust</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">BERKHOF, L. 1941. Systematic Theology. Michigan: Wm. B.
Eerdmans Publishing Co.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">DOUGLAS, J.D. 1962. The New Bible Dictionary. Leicester:
Inter-Varsity Press</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">EVANS, W. 1949. The Great Doctrine of the Bible. Chicago: The
Moody Bible Institute</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">GUTHRIE, D. 1983. Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In_</i>Morris, L. ed. Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">HARRISON, R.K. 1980. Leviticus: An Introduction and Commentary.
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In_</i>Wiseman, D.J., ed. Tyndale
Old Testament Commentaries. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">LONGMAN III, T. & DILLARD, R.B. 2007. An Introduction to
the Old Testament. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity Press</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">PINK, A.W. 175. The Attributes of God. Michigan: Baker Book
House</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">RYLE, J.C. 2001. Holiness: Part II – Its nature, hindrances,
difficulties, and roots. Pensacola: Mount Zion Publications</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">RYLE, J.C. 2002. Holiness: Its nature, hindrances,
difficulties, and roots. Idaho: Charles Nolan Publishers</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">TIDBALL, D. 2005. Leviticus. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In_</i>Motyer, J.A., ed. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester:
Inter-Varsity Press)</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span lang="EN-US">TOZER, A.W. 1961. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York:
HarperCollins Publishers</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span>Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-59238565446213574012012-12-28T10:01:00.000-08:002012-12-28T10:02:10.201-08:00A Biblical Look at Prophecy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Introduction</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
prophecy refers to the oral or written message of a prophet. Biblically, a
prophet is “one who is divinely inspired to communicate God’s will to His
people and to disclose the future to them” (Unger, 1988:1040). “Prophecy should
not be essentially defined as a foretelling of the future. Instead, it is the
forthtelling [sic] of a revelation from God which on occasion also may involve
the prediction of future events.” (Robertson, 1993:4). The three modes God used
to communicate prophecy are: visions, dreams and direct communication.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prophecy
is purely an act of God as the Apostle Peter confirmed: “No prophecy of
Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever
produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along
by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21). In this passage Peter also confirms
that prophecy is the gift chosen by God for producing Scripture, hence our look
at prophecy in both the Old and New Testaments.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prophecy
in the Old Testament</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
importance of prophecy in Scripture cannot be overemphasized, seeing that
prophetic literature constitutes about a quarter of the canon (Walvoord,
1998:vii). But from the Old Testament, we also see that prophets can either be
cultic (such as a diviner), false, or God-sent. Hence stun warning is given to
the people of God to steer clear of cultic and false prophets and prophecy, a
practice punishable by death (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; cf. 18:20). </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
we study the Old Testament and especially sections on prophetic literature, two
main themes stand out: judgment and salvation. The people, not only Israel but
world nations as well, are judged for their sin, while at the same time, there
is the presentation of hope through the promise of the Messiah (e.g. Ezekiel
34). Thus the prime purpose of prophecy as seen throughout Scripture is the
progressive revelation of Christ. “Christ is the central figure and focus of
all history and prophecy” (Tan, 1974:104). The dual theme of judgment and
salvation with Christ as the centre can be traced as early as Genesis 3 where
God judges man for his sin, but also gives him the first promise of a Redeemer through
the seed of the woman (verse 15). Hence “Scripture not only presents the
prophetic word as a demonstration of God’s power and wisdom, but it presents
His response to man’s need [for a Saviour]” (Unger, 1988:1040).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prophecy
in the New Testament</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While
prophecy in the Old Testament predicted the future coming of the Messiah,
prophecy in the New Testament confirmed the fulfilment of His coming. “Prophecy
in the New Testament is seen as both a continuation of Old Testament prophecy
as well as its fulfilment. For New Testament authors, the correct
interpretation of Old Testament prophecy is that it speaks <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in toto</i> of Christ.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2009:<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">"Prophecy"). </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the New Testament </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christ Himself confirmed that He is the theme of the Old
Testament on at least five different occasions (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27; Luke
24:44; John 5:39; Hebrews 10:7) (Jensen, 1978:45). Further, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">the
Gospel accounts record John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament
prophets, as bearing witness to the fact that the prophecy of the Messiah was
fulfilled in Christ (John 1:29, 36; cf. Mark 1:1-8). Not only does the New
Testament confirm the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies, it also details
prophecies concerning His Second Coming. This is most explicitly read in the
book of Revelation.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 18.0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Prophecy
Today</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
where does prophecy stand in the Church today? Do we still need divine
revelation from God? Well, with the major purpose of prophecy being the advent
of Christ there negates the need for prophecy today after Christ’s incarnation.
Hebrews 1 states that, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to
our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His
Son” (verses 1, 2). “The story of divine revelation is a story of progression
up to Christ, but there is no progression beyond Him” (Bruce, 1990:46). We only
await His return as revealed in Revelation. And even in Revelation, John the
apostle was warned against editing the prophetic book by adding to or removing
from the content (Revelation 22:18, 19).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Today,
Scripture, as recorded in the Old and New Testaments, is enough for us to know
the revelation of God through Christ. Paul confirmed that all Scripture is
inspired by God and sufficient for us (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). Hence the work
prophets did in the past is done through Scripture today. The Old Testament
prophesied Christ’s coming, while the New Testament confirmed His coming and prophesied
His imminent return.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Conclusion</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thus
all prophecy necessary for revelation concerning Christ has already been given,
whether on His first or second coming. “Scripture alone!” is hence the biblical
assertion of the Church today in terms of access to special revelation.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bibliography</span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bruce,
F. F. 1990. Hebrews. New International Commentary on the New Testament
(NICNT). Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Encyclopaedia
Britannica. 2009. Article on <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">"Prophecy."<b>
</b></span>Encyclopaedia Britannica Deluxe Edition.
Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jensen,
I. L. 1978. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jensen’s Survey of the Old
Testament.</span> Chicago: Moody Bible Institute</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Robertson,
O. P. 1993. The Final Word: A Biblical Response to the Case for Tongues
and Prophecy Today. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tan,
P. L. 1974. The Interpretation of Prophecy. Indiana: BMH Books</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unger,
M. F. 1988. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Bible
Institute</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Walvoord,
J. F. 1998. End Times: Understanding Today’s World Events in Biblical
Prophecy (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In_</i>Swindoll, C. R.,
ed., Understanding the Basic Precepts of Our Faith. Nashville: Word
Publishing)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;">
</span>Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-33746121610803877362012-11-13T09:10:00.000-08:002012-11-13T20:08:49.004-08:00Salvation from the fiery lake<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-42824080759266372142012-11-08T12:54:00.000-08:002012-11-13T20:11:07.458-08:00Issues on Africa: Do ancestral spirits really exist?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As it so happens in our beloved continent of Africa, wonders never cease!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few months ago when
I visited my home country, Kenya, I was amused to watch on the local news that an
elderly man, who had passed on, had left behind specific instructions to be carried out
by his relatives upon his death. He commanded that he should be buried with a
live calf next to his coffin lest he returns to haunt his kin. This instruction,
rather threat, was allegedly issued because years back, one of the cows en route
to him as bride price died on the way. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And as years passed by,
seeing that there was no sign of the dead cow being replaced by a live one,
he warned that when he dies, he should be buried with a live cow lest he returns
to give his people sleepless nights. So to honour his wish, he was indeed
buried with the poor calf. As his relatives shovelled the soil back into the
grave, the cow mooed, rather cried, in dismay. The cow’s cries were actually a
welcome sign to the mourners because the deceased had said that the cries of
the cow would be a sign that he was pleased with the offering. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At that point, amazed
by the event, I thought of my own death and concluded that: because I love
chicken so much, maybe I’ll threaten my relatives at my deathbed to bury me
with some KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), lest I return to haunt them... It’s
less trouble than a whole cow anyway.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But on a more serious
note, such astonishing acts of ancestral fear and worship are quite frequent in
Africa even today. This just happened to be one of the few cases that made the headlines.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reason sane and even
intellectual people would be driven to such acts is because of the traditional
African belief in ancestral spirits, that the departed exercise control in
the spiritual realm and have the power to influence the affairs of mankind on earth.
But is this really true?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If dead people have
control over the spiritual realm and can influence the affairs of mankind, then
where does that leave God the Creator and His sovereign will? It would imply
that men, and in this case, dead ones, have control over the world, and not
God. Even logically, before perusing the Scriptures, this doesn’t make sense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But what does the Bible
have to say? Scripture is very clear that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“it
<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">is appointed for men to die
once and after this comes judgment</span>”</i> (Hebrews 9:27). So if what
awaits man after his death is judgment from God, how can he then turn and at his
death, become a judge over the affairs of mankind on earth? It is impossible!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Further, as Christ died
on the cross, He assured the repentant thief on His side that, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Truly I say to you, today you shall be with
Me in Paradise”</i> (Luke 23:43). Christ never left room for the repentant thief
to become an ancestral spirit upon his death and return to haunt those who put him on
the cross.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thus it is clear from
Scripture that when man dies, he immediately either goes to heaven to be with the Lord if
he is a believer, or if he isn’t a believer, he unfortunately winds up in hell as
he awaits final and eternal judgment when Christ returns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So what then do we call
the supernatural manifestations and threats that we experience in our families
from time to time in the name of ancestral visits? Well, biblically, there’s a clear answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But before we ponder
upon the biblical response, it is also worth pondering a logical one. Mostly,
when a so-called ‘ancestor’ manifests, it is almost always to threaten that if
the individual or entire family doesn’t carry out his demands, they will pay
the consequences. Well, if ancestors are people known to us and in most cases,
our departed loved ones, why do they always seem to operate with threats and
not love? For example, if my father dies and allegedly appears to me as an
ancestor with a certain instruction, shouldn’t I expect that he comes in the
name of love and not a threat that causes fear? Why should my own loved one
threaten me? The only logical answer is that he is probably not my dearly
departed kin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But now to a biblical
answer. Paul made it clear to the Corinthian church that, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">What do I mean
then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is
anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they
sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in
demons.</span>”</i> (<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">1
Corinthians 10:19</span>, 20). Paul was simply making a statement that when you
worship and make sacrifices to spiritual beings other than the one true God, it
doesn’t matter what you call that being; whether you call it an ‘idol’ or an ‘ancestor’,
the being you are sacrificing to is simply a demon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Paul was confirming that
in the spiritual realm, there are only two entities that man can interact with:
either God or demons. The Gentiles at the time of Paul offered sacrifices to
idols thinking they were offering sacrifices to real gods. But Paul quashed
that notion in this passage by rhetorically renouncing that an idol isn’t anything
but a demon. In the same way, as Africans, when we perform rituals in the name
of appeasing ancestral spirits, what we are doing is nothing but worshipping
demons. We should not be quick to forget that the Bible warns that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“even Satan disguises himself as an angel of
light”</i> (2 Corinthians 11:14). And if he can do this, then what prevents him from disguising himself as a mere human being, and in this case,
as your ancestor?</span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But then you may ask:
‘How do I deal with the demons that have been running rampant in my family for
generations?’ Well, it starts with knowing Christ, the only true God, and His
saving work on the cross; because no one in the history of mankind has ever demonstrated
genuine and absolute authority over the demonic world as He did (Mark 1:27).</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-73367711417442023042012-10-02T11:07:00.000-07:002012-11-13T20:11:22.993-08:00A Brief Biblical Look at Miracles<div style="text-align: justify;">
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: #990000;"><i>It's interesting that recently, I've been hit a few times with questions relevant to signs and wonders (miracles). Thus it seems the church is becoming more increasingly aware of and desiring to know the biblical teaching on miraculous gifts. So I thought I'd post a brief on it... And maybe I'll follow up with some more research if the questions keep coming.</i></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Introduction</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Miracles
may be defined as “supernatural manifestations of divine power in the external
world, in themselves special revelations of the presence and power of God”
(Unger, 1988:872). Other biblical terms for miracles include: “signs”,
“wonders” and “powers”. The act of creation is undoubtedly the first historical
account of God's great miraculous acts. But this study explores God's
miraculous acts through human agents. Whenever God used human agents to perform
miracles, His purpose was twofold: to authenticate the message, and the
messenger. “God's prophets were accredited by “signs and wonders” (cf. Deut.
13:1-3) with the sole purpose of validating the messenger and the message-that
both were truly from God” (Kaiser, 1990:325). It is also important to note that
“miracles did not happen at random throughout Scripture but occurred in three
major periods: in the days of Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Christ
and the apostles. There were select miracles outside that scope of time, but
not many” (Enns, 1989:271).</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">1. Miracles during the time of Moses and Joshua</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">God
had promised Abraham that his descendants would be foreigners for 400 years
before they could occupy the Promised Land (Genesis 15). After the 400 years,
God appeared to Moses as his chosen instrument to deliver the people from
Egypt. God did not just send Moses with His word, but with “wonders” (miracles)
as well (Exodus 3:19, 20) to authenticate both Moses as the messenger and his
message as authoritative from God (cf. 4:5). Joshua would later succeed Moses
and such miraculous activity as the tumbling of the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6)
and the sun standing still (Joshua 10:12-14) characterized his leadership.</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">2. Miracles during the time of Elijah and Elisha</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">In
the idolatrous reign of King Ahab, God used miraculous signs to distinguish Him
from powerless pagan idols such as Baal. An example is when Elijah challenged
the prophets of Baal to offer sacrifices to their god, and Elijah would do
likewise to the God of Israel. Only the God of Israel responded by consuming
the sacrifice by fire (1 Kings 18:20-40). “The interest in 'miracles' here must
be compared with their special occurrence at other times of national crisis
such as the period of the Exodus and, for the church, the period of Christ's
birth, death and resurrection and the subsequent birth of the church” (Wiseman,
1993:163). Elijah was taken up into heaven in chariots of fire but left behind
his ministry mantle to Elisha (2 Kings 2:11-13).</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">3. Miracles during the time of Christ and the Apostles</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">When
the time came to fulfill the prophecy about the Messiah's eventual coming,
miraculous signs such as His virgin birth followed (Matthew 1:18). And during
His earthly ministry, He proved that He is the Son of God with the power to
forgive sin through the miracles He performed (e.g. Mark 2:10, 11). “The
healing of the paralytic [in Mark 2] was more than a display of mercy to a
wretched man. The announcement and presentation of radical healing to a man in
his entire person was a sign of the Kingdom of God drawn near.” (Lane,
1974:99). And when He rose from the death on the third day after His
crucifixion (another great miraculous display), He ascended into heaven.
Leaving behind His apostles, He empowered them with miraculous signs that
accompanied the preaching of the Gospel in order to establish the Church (Acts
1:8; cf. Hebrews 2:3, 4).</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Miracles today</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Miracles
themselves do not necessarily lead to repentance. In all three cases above, not
all who witnessed them responded to God in saving faith. In the time of Moses,
despite the outstanding miraculous evidence, Pharaoh continued to harden his
heart. In the time of Elijah, King Ahab and the nation as a whole still did not
turn back to God. And in the time of Christ, the Jews, to whom He was sent,
crucified Him and later persecuted the Church. Further, miracles to such a magnitude
ceased immediately after these three eras. </span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">So
should we not expect miracles today? Well, in His providence God continues to
influence the day to day affairs of man as He pleases. But miraculous signs to
such a degree as in the three periods above, and the use of human agents to
display them, is not to be expected today. “The necessity for miracles no
longer exists... The promise of miraculous power... was completely fulfilled in
the early period of the church, when such power was needed for the establishment
of Christianity” (Unger, 1988:875). “With the completion of the canon of
Scripture the need for miracles as a validating sign disappeared; the authority
of the Word of God was sufficient to validate the messenger's word.” (Enns,
1989:272).</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Miracles in the future</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Concerning
miracles in the future, great signs and wonders will characterize the end of
time when the Lord returns. An example is in the resurrection of the saints
into glorified bodies (1 Corinthians 15), and the creation of a new heaven and
earth (Revelation 21:1-5). And in using human agents once again, during the
Great Tribulation period, two witnesses from God will boast miraculous power
(Revelation 11). But interesting to note is that eschatologically, Christ
warned that “false christs and false prophets will arise” and their ministries
will be characterized by performance of “great signs and wonders” (Matthew
24:24). “'Miraculous' activity is, in the Bible, by no means always the work of
God (cf. Dt. 13:1-3...). In such a situation <i>the elect</i> need to be
forewarned... if they are not to be <i>led astray</i>...” (France, 1985:342).
If miraculous signs were to continue to characterize God’s messengers after the
time of Christ and the apostles, then surely Christ would have used another
distinction to identify false prophets in future.</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Conclusion</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Today,
the only authority from God validating His message and His messenger is His
Word as revealed in the Bible accompanied by its proper interpretation and
practice thereof. If any miraculous signs are to be anticipated, then it should
be in Christ’s Second Coming as is consistent with His Word. This however, does
not limit God in His providence, to affect the affairs of mankind in a
supernatural way as He may please today.</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US">Bibliography</span></b></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Enns, P. P. 1989. The Moody
Handbook of Theology. Chicago: Moody Press</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">France, R. T. 1985. Matthew.
(Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press)</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Kaiser, W. C. 1990. Exodus. (<i>In_</i>Gaebelein,
F. E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 2. Michigan: Zondervan
Publishing House)</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Lane, W. L. 1974. Mark. (<i>In</i>_Bruce,
F. F., ed., New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT).
Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company)</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Unger, M. F. 1988. The New
Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute</span></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Wiseman, D. J. 1993. 1 & 2
Kings. (<i>In_</i>Wiseman, D. J., ed., Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.
Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-90564603984194831622012-05-07T22:29:00.001-07:002012-11-13T20:12:12.537-08:00Even the kids are persevering...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">When ministering to kids, they can easily get distracted
sometimes that one might be tempted to think they are not teachable. When
conducting small groups, one of the kids in my group often subconsciously turns
his back to me, or looks up and around during the interaction, not necessarily
being rude, but just succumbing to distractions around him. And when we had
‘Burger Bash’ a couple of months ago, I conducted my small group outside, thus
causing even more distractions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Behind him was someone flipping burgers, and in front of him
was an A4-size poster at the church door advertising the ‘Burger Bash’. This
posed quite a challenge because whenever he was distracted by the one preparing
the burgers, I would have him turn back to face me, only for him to be
distracted by the poster. He even asked, with his mouth already watering, if
the burger he would buy would be as large as the one covering the entire A4-size
poster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">He was sandwiched between two distractions he couldn’t
overcome. If he turned away from one, another was waiting to face him in the opposite
direction. So it is easy for one charged with teaching or raising such little
ones to resign to the idea that maybe these kids are too preoccupied to be teachable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">But this is not so. Come the next week and we were
interacting within the small groups again. Their curiosity about heaven led
them to ask several questions. You’d expect that as is natural with kids, their
longing for and excitement about heaven are the great blessings in store. When
speaking about his itinerary when he finally gets to heaven, one of them
expressed the joy of being able to play soccer eternally without ever getting
tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">But the kid who had been distracted the previous week had a
different response. He had just one desire on his list. He said that the reason
he longed for heaven so much is that there will be no more sin! I was tempted
to think that this may have been a fluke of an answer. But when I asked him to
pray at the end of the small group session, he reiterated the same thing and
even thanked God that there would be no more sin in heaven. Such a conviction is
undoubtedly rare, even among confessing adults.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Of all the joys and pleasures he could have focused on, he narrowed
down to the eternal absence of sin. It is noteworthy that a kid who could
barely sit still and focus for two minutes when distracted by his surroundings,
was conscious of his own sin and more than anything longed for an eternity
without it. Indeed even the kids are persevering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">But should this response from such a young one come as a
surprise? In Deuteronomy 6:7 when Moses was preaching to the nation of Israel
about God’s commandments, he turned to the parents and instructed them, <span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">“You shall teach [God’s commands] diligently
to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you
walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.</span>” Moses was
simply stressing that, “Always be by your kids teaching them about God, because
they too need to persevere to the end!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Doesn’t it naturally follow that if God commands parents to
teach their kids about Him that by His Spirit He is able to illuminate His word
in them? Why else would He ask this of parents? Kids may be distracted all
around by various worldly enticements, but as long as they are taught about God
and His salvation through Christ, they will always look forward to one day being
in the place where there is no more sin, even though at present their mouths
seem to be watering at the unrealistic idea of buying an A4-size burger for
just R15.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;">With God’s word hidden in their little hearts, they are bound
to persevere!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-48440327264650769012011-12-21T03:49:00.000-08:002012-11-13T20:12:47.584-08:00What is the final chapter in your story? [edited]<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">One of my seminary professors once made a thought-provoking statement; that if the book of 2 Timothy was to be written today, no Christian publisher would dare send it to print as an example of success in ministry. This is because it is a letter filled with very painful experiences by the Apostle Paul in the final chapter of his life and close of his ministry. Writing to his spiritual son, Timothy, Paul was very frank that “in the last days difficult times will come” (2 Tim 3:1). He reminded Timothy of numerous persecutions he underwent at the various places he preached the Gospel, but still urged the young man to follow in his footsteps despite the perils that lay ahead (3:10, 11).</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">This was Paul’s last known letter, and at the time of writing, he was in his second and last Roman imprisonment (1:16; 2:9) having been arrested for preaching the Gospel. With no hope of release, he made reference to his impending execution (4:1). Further, close ministry associates had deserted him in his last days. He lamented that, “All who are in Asia turned away from me” (1:15), “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me” (4:10), and “at my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me” (4:16). Such an outcome would have been unexpected considering Paul was arguably the spiritual father of believers in that entire region.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">In his last days he was also impoverished. He urged Timothy to hurry to visit him before winter (4:21) because among other things he expected him to bring along the coat he had left in Troas (4:13) that he may keep warm during winter. He undoubtedly could not afford even a secondhand piece of clothing at the time. And it is because of such predicaments that Timothy himself, to whom Paul sought to hand over his ministry mantle, was tempted to be ashamed of the Gospel. Hence Paul had to exhort him saying, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner” (1:8).</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">It is ironic that during the last days of the ministry of such a great apostle, he was deserted by all and in significant need. This is a period we would expect him to have an unrivaled following and numerous accolades from years of tireless service to Christ. But his biography contrasted that despite sacrificing your life to know and serve the Lord, you will be abandoned by virtually all those close to you, will be persecuted and imprisoned for your faith, will succumb to poverty and suffer need, and that your Christian life will eventually wind up with your execution because of the Gospel you believe and preach.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">And that was the story of Paul. When he weighed every form of earthly gain against knowing and pursuing Christ, he considered the former to be worthless. He had earlier recounted to the Philippian church, a church he identified as one of those that suffered “deep poverty” (2 Cor 8:2), that:</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0.5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0;">“</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0;">Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0;">and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own… but that which is through faith in Christ.</span></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0;">” (Phil 3:7-9)</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">For Paul, the value of life was no longer about personal gain but rather forgoing it for the sake of knowing Christ, and now even more that he was about to lose his life for Him. In his own confession, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).</span> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">Hence God Himself published the material in 2 Timothy, and has maintained its circulation for 2000 years that we may continue to read and learn from it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">But the life story of Paul is not to be confused as the testimony of a man who deserves Christianity’s lifetime achievement award, nor is it advocating a vow of poverty for Christians, for it is God Himself who blesses materially. Rather, the life of Paul is more of a testimony about God Himself. It is the testimony that outside of knowing God and having a relationship with Him through the work of His Son Jesus Christ when He died on the cross for our sins, there is no real value in life and its pursuits, especially considering the eternal implications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">The eternal implications are such that, just as the Lord maintained a sound record of Paul’s life, He is equally maintaining written records of our lives in books that He will use as the basis for eternal judgment upon unrepentant sinners. In Revelation, the Apostle John confirmed that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #7030a0;">“I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it… And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened… and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds</span><span style="color: #7030a0;"> (Rev 20:11-12).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #222222;">If such a book was published concerning your life today, how would the final chapter read? Would it conclude with the account of an unrepentant life filled with pursuit of personal gain at the expense of knowing and following Christ; or like Paul, a truly repentant life of faith that has found value in Christ, the only source of true gain? Depending on which ending you ascribe to, eternity will either be spent in a new perfect beginning with the Lord, or in punishment for sin in the lake of fire (Rev 20:13-21:8).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-11816052505797684042011-12-21T03:47:00.000-08:002012-11-13T20:13:05.640-08:00End of My Story<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">“Thus says the Lord”, to me was empty theory</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">“To live for myself is gain”, was my philosophy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Entangled in sin, my life sold to spiritual slavery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">So eternity in hell, with the wicked I would bury</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">But while I was yet a sinner, Christ rewrote my story</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">When God became man, to hang on a cross at Calvary</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">For my sin He paid in full, in Him I found victory</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Christ not a tale, but Author of redemptive history</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">His image in me restored, His blood the refinery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">A new nature in Christ, revealing His master pottery</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">For me “to live is Christ”, I now change my theology</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Revealed in His word, so you don’t need a day in seminary</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">One day the saints, to heaven He will carry </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">His bride to be, the Church He will marry</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Blessed is he, who will share in His glory</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">I now look forward, to the end of my story</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Do not be fooled, because Christ seems to tarry</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">You may be counting years, but He resides in eternity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Soon He returns to judge, and head the grand jury</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: purple;">Will He award you eternal life, or death in His fury?</span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-70022944465671692062011-09-20T01:12:00.001-07:002012-11-13T20:14:22.913-08:00The Unquestionable Sovereignty of God<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e36c0a;"><i><i><span style="color: #943634;">The sovereignty of God refers to God’s exercise of power over His creation (GRUDEM, 1994:217). God did not only create the universe; in His providence, He is directly and continuously involved in its existence and maintenance, and also governs it in such a way that every occurrence in history is directed towards fulfilling His intended purposes. Nothing is out of His control; neither does anything happen by chance. Truly “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all”</span> (Psalm 103:19). In the Old Testament God mainly deals with the nation of Israel, His chosen people. His sovereignty is experienced in delivering them from Egypt, and eventual occupation of the Promised Land. But His sovereignty is not limited to a specific locale or people group, and is better viewed through His dealings with the nations of the world as well. Several passages support this: Job 12:23, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">He makes the nations great, then destroys them; He enlarges the nations, then leads them away.”</span> Psalm 22:28, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">For the kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations.” </span>“The God of Israel is not the God of a single nation. The power of His word is not confined within the borders of Israel; His word effects His will at any time or place it is addressed. He orders the history of nations.” (CRAIGIE, 1976:440). Below is an example of how God displayed His sovereignty at a time when Babylon, under its mighty king Nebuchadnezzar, was the global superpower and seemingly sovereign of all nations. <o:p></o:p></span></i></i></span></div>
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Because of Israel's history of rebellion against God, He sent them a series of prophets to warn them of impending judgment. The Israeli kingdom had long been split into two after Solomon died in 970 BC. The northern kingdom, Israel, with its capital in Samaria, was ultimately judged by God when they were taken into Assyrian captivity in 722 BC. The southern kingdom, Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem, would later be taken into captivity in three rounds of deportation under Babylon, the kingdom that eventually took over as world super power from Assyria early in the seventh century BC. Daniel was one of the deportees from Judah taken in the first round of Babylonian captivity under Nebuchadnezzar in 605 BC. After the second (597 BC) and third (586 BC) rounds of captivity that led to the destruction and of the temple and city of Jerusalem, the inevitable question arose: “Who, indeed, is sovereign – Nebuchadnezzar… or the God of Israel who had either allowed [the judgment] to happen or was powerless to prevent it?” (MERRILL, 1991:387). God was faithful to give an irrefutable answer.</div>
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Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which none of his diviners could interpret (Dan 2:27) so he ordered their destruction (2:12). But “the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision” (2:19). He confirmed to the king that though his diviners had failed, “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (2:28, 29). This is a remarkable display of God’s sovereignty even over knowledge and wisdom. Man has no ability within himself to acquire revelation outside of God exposing it. To Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams” (1:17).</span> Further, in “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">every matter of wisdom” and “understanding”, the king “found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in [his entire] realm</span>” (1:20). Such was the intelligence of Daniel that he served even the Persian government when they took over Babylon (1:21). Only God could and had done this. “Nebuchadnezzar and all Babylon were therefore to be confronted with unanswerable proof that only Israel’s God was real, sovereign, and limitless in His power.” (ARCHER, 1985:43). And after Daniel interpreted the king’s dream Nebuchadnezzar himself acknowledged that, “Surely your God is the God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries” (2:47).<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Concerning the king’s dream, Daniel confirmed to him that due to his power he was indeed “king of kings”, but it is “the God of heaven” who had given him “the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory” (2:37). So his dominance was a divine act under God’s control, and not his own. To demonstrate this further, an inferior kingdom to his mighty one would rise as the next super power (the Medo-Persians) (2:39). So clearly it was within God’s ability, and not man’s, to enthrone and dethrone world rulers; and in this example, he did not need a militarily superior entity such as Babylon or Assyria to accomplish this. </div>
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But the pagan king quickly forgot his own confession that the Lord is “a God of gods and a Lord of kings” (2:47). He set up an image to be worshipped by all nations (3:1-7). He became enraged when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to worship it, and threatened to throw them into “a furnace of blazing fire” and retorted that, “What god is there who can deliver you out of my hand?” (3:13-15). But the three confessed that God was able to deliver them from the fire, and even if He did not, they would not worship the image (3:16-18). Here is an often overlooked revelation on God’s sovereignty. God’s sovereignty doesn’t always dictate that His control and protection over His people would be such that no harm would ever befall them. Everything indeed will work out together for their good (Rom 8:28), but not necessarily that everything that happens to them will be good. The three understood this very well. So they were prepared to face any trial because they knew that the sovereign God would never allow a trial beyond what they could handle (1 Cor 10:13). The Lord eventually delivered them from the furnace that was heated up seven times more than normal (3:19). This left the king “astounded” (3:24) such that he confessed “there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way” (3:29).</div>
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The king had another dream which only Daniel could interpret. In the interpretation, the king would “be driven away from mankind and [his] dwelling place be with the beasts of the field… until [he] recognize[s] that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes” (4:25); “it is Heaven that rules” (4:26). “All this eventually happened to Nebuchadnezzar” (4:28) when in pride he sung his own praises instead of God’s (v30). A voice came from heaven and declared to him that, “sovereignty has been removed from you” (v31). Not only was his kingdom taken away from him, but his human dignity as well. God created man in His image, distinct from the rest of creation (Gen 1:26). But this was taken away from Nebuchadnezzar when his reasoning capacity was withdrawn and “he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle” (4:33). In contrast, after his judgment period was over he was restored and “surpassing greatness was added to [him]” (v36). So he acknowledged that God “is able to humble those who walk in pride” (v37). After this experience, he fully understood and acknowledged God’s sovereignty, such that he personally gave one of the most profound descriptions of it in Scripture. Contrasting his pagan and prideful background, he confessed that, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (4:34, 35).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-13256170632699430412011-04-08T03:53:00.000-07:002012-11-13T20:19:39.844-08:00What is the teenager listening to you writing?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I had the privilege of attending evening service
for two consecutive Sundays at a Bible-believing and teaching church, a rare
sight today, but the highlight was not necessarily the faithful preaching of
and edification by God’s Word, as much as that was indeed a great blessing on
both occasions, but the highlight was the fact that both times, I sat next to
the same person, a 14 year old teenager.</div>
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In both Sundays, he did the same thing, which
reminded me more of my early days when I initially got saved. He would open his
now half-filled note book and faithfully wrote down as much as he could of what
the preacher said, and especially the key points and important facts that were
emphasized. In both cases, during most of the sermon his head was often bowed
down, writing what he heard from the preacher. And even after he finished
writing, he went over what he had written with his pen, slowly rewriting over
each letter, this time darkening his initial writing, a practice we can identify
with when we were younger. He was careful to capture and ponder over all that
the preacher had said.</div>
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But the preacher never knew there was such a
person in his audience. In the same way in our lives, we have teenage and
younger audiences we know nothing about observing our lives. Like this 14 year
old teenager listening keenly to the preacher, they watch us very closely, and
ponder over all we do and say, whether they are our children living with us or
those around our society. Teenagers are almost always surrounded by adults whom
they observe consciously and subconsciously, and end up imitating in life. For
example, we are quick to blame them for watching too much TV and picking bad
habits from the programs, but overlook the fact that when they turn on the TV,
it is mostly adults that they see, not fellow teenagers. Even when they go to
school, it is adults that teach. Any book, newspaper, or other written material
they may pick to read, is always written by an adult. When they surf the
internet, chances are that probably all the websites they will visit have been
developed by adults.</div>
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It is because of this that when the Lord gave the
commandment that has been famously labelled the ‘Shema’, He attached certain
relevant conditions to it. ‘Shema’ is a Hebrew word meaning ‘to hear’. The
commandment is termed the ‘Shema’ because of its opening remark that states,
“Hear, O Israel”. The ‘Shema’ is found in Deuteronomy chapter six. Verses 4 to
9 read as follows:</div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #7030a0;">Hear, O
Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #7030a0;">You
shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your might. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #7030a0;">These
words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #7030a0;">You
shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise
up. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #7030a0;">You
shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your
forehead. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #7030a0;">You
shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.</span></div>
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The command in its simplicity, admonished Israel
to totally love the Lord with all their being, and it is this commandment that
Christ repeated in the New Testament and confirmed that it was the Greatest
Commandment of all (Matthew 22:37). The relevant conditions then follow, that
these words not only be in their hearts, but that they should “<u>teach them</u>
diligently” to their sons; they should <u>talk of them</u> when they sit, walk,
lie down, and rise up; <u>bind them</u> on various parts of their body, and <u>write
them</u> around certain areas of their houses. With these conditions, God not
only required His people to teach the ‘Shema’ to their children, but He ensured
that even more, their lifestyles would be wholly devoted to living it out; at
home or away, sitting or walking, asleep or awake. This is because He knew that
beyond verbally teaching their children the command, it would make more impact
if they modelled it as well, because by default, children are always surrounded
by adults whom they consciously and subconsciously observe and emulate.</div>
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The simple question hence arises, what are the
children and teenagers around you observing? Are they seeing you live out the
‘Shema’, or are they seeing you ascribe to contrasting beliefs and practices,
beliefs and practices that you would condemn if you saw them in their lives? We
may accuse the teenagers and children of this generation for taking sin to a
whole new level, but in honest truth, they have just been replaying the tape
and rereading the books they’ve been recording from hearing and watching us
rehearse life.</div>
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So, what is the teenager listening to you today
writing for use in his future tomorrow?</div>
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<![endif]-->Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-62384565705475813412011-04-07T23:48:00.000-07:002012-11-13T20:22:48.613-08:00Are you running a ‘children’s home’ or a ‘feeding lot’?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I recently attended a
men's conference by a renowned preacher who focuses on men's ministry. During
one of the sessions on love, he made some really convicting statements and gave
testimonies on genuine love and motive for serving God. The question kept
ringing in my mind, ‘Much as you are a believer, what are your motives for
serving God? Is it a quest for personal glory and reward, or a genuine love and
heart after God’s glory and the good of His people?’</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Common preaching today
when it comes to serving God, is centred on stewardship, and the fact that in
stewardship, God will judge us for how much we accomplished with what He gave
us (this is mostly depicted from the parable in Matthew 25:14-30 on the
talents). So the result is that we have Christians running around hastily
trying to do as much as they can ‘for God’ so that they may be found to be
‘good and faithful servants’ when our Lord returns. The more works we do in His
name the merrier it would seem…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But during the
conference, the preacher posed a very interesting thought to us. In one of his
testimonies, he mentioned how the Lord had enabled him to take care of about 27
orphans on his farm. He provides them with every basic need and education. So
one time a friend and fellow Christian serving God visited him; and on seeing
that the preacher was taking care of 27 children, he saw it fit to mention that
on his part, he was taking care of a much larger figure of 300 children. So
ideally, with his 300, he would have been found to be a more faithful servant
than the preacher when the Lord returns.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But interesting to note
was his choice of words when he described his 300, he referred to his project
as a ‘feeding lot’, to which the preacher was quick to respond that on the
other hand, he was running a ‘children’s home’, and not a ‘feeding lot’. While
the preacher’s friend measured his ministry in terms of facts and figures, he
measured his in terms of love – the children and love for them was more
important than their number or feeding program…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His friend was using
secular standards of success that are tied to quantity instead of godly
standards that are tied to love according to the Greatest Commandment to love
God and one another (Mark 12:29-31). So instead of running a children’s home,
he was running a feeding lot, where the children indeed knew his hand that
provided, but couldn’t put a face that truly cares to the hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This poses a
challenging question to us, in your service to God, which is more visible, your
busy hand, or your loving face? What is your motive for serving God, personal
gain or a genuine love for God and His people? What can your service be equated
to, a ‘children’s home’, or a ‘feeding lot’?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<![endif]-->Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-70255362853433008412011-04-07T09:44:00.000-07:002012-11-14T00:44:09.173-08:00The Humanity of Christ<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.3in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #548dd4; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The humanity of Christ, the fact that He actually took on the human nature and was fully man (as He was fully God) when He walked the earth has always been a contentious issue since centuries past. So I thought I’d share a brief article I wrote on the subject. I hope it will be helpful in understanding the incarnation of Christ, and be useful in Bible study as well. Interesting also to ponder is the fact that as Christ is now in heaven, He is in a physical human body, but one that if perfect, one that is glorified, a body similar to the one that those who believe in Him will enjoy in eternal life after we resurrect on His Second Coming…</span></span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">INTRODUCTION</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Philippians 2:7 confirms that Christ “<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”</span> This verse outlines the incarnation of Christ, in that He took on full humanity and lived a fully human life (John 1:14). He did not lose His divine nature in any way but continued to be fully God (GRENZ, GURETZKI & NORDLING, 1999:65). Best (1975:48) confirms that, “He did not surrender His Divine nature, but He took a human nature. Thus, we have an unfallen (sic) human nature united to the Divine nature in one indivisible Person – the impeccable Christ.” This is referred to as the Hypostatic union.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. HUMAN BIRTH AND GENEALOGY</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew begins his Gospel by identifying Jesus as a descendant of Abraham and David (Matthew 1:1), hence He had human ancestors. After giving His genealogy, Matthew confirms that Christ was born of Mary, before she and Joseph, her husband, “came together” (1:18). Hence Christ was born through natural birth. Mary being a virgin, made it possible to unite full deity (God's divine nature) and full humanity in one person, it also showed that salvation ultimately comes from God, and ensured that Christ did not inherit the original sin from Adam (GRUDEM, 1994:530). John 1:14 states that the Word “became” flesh, involving a change in state. This is the basic statement of the incarnation, for Christ entered into a new dimension of existence through human birth (TENNEY, 1981:33).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christ experienced natural growth as a child. Luke 2:41, 42 highlights a rare record of His childhood as a 12 year old boy visiting Jerusalem with His parents for the Passover Feast. Luke further records that, “Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature” (2:52). Hence He experienced spiritual and mental growth as well. These verses portray Christ “in His perfection, physically and spiritually, as Child and later on as grown-up Man” (GELDENHUYS, 1951:130).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. HUMAN LIMITATIONS AND EMOTIONS</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In John 1:14 we read that “the Word became flesh.” Milne (1993:46) commented that, “John deliberately bypasses (the use of the term) ‘man’ or ‘a body’. ‘Flesh’ stands for the whole person; it refers to human existence in its frailty and vulnerability… Jesus made our creaturely weakness His very own form and being.” Indeed our Lord experienced human frailty as severally outlined in Scripture. Such instances include: “being wearied from His journey” (John 4:6) and being thirsty (v7); becoming hungry (Matthew 21:18), and eating (Matthew 11:19); experiencing intense agony (Mark 14:33-36; Matthew 26:37); expressing joy (Luke 10:21), love (John 11:5) and compassion for people (Matthew 9:36); and even anger (Mark 3:5).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. HUMAN TEMPTATION</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hebrews 4:15 confirms that Christ was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” This underscores the fact that just like us, He was tempted by sin, but unlike us, He overcame sin! Biblical examples of temptation and triumph include an encounter with Satan himself when He was fasting (Matthew 4:1-11), and even one of His close disciples, Peter, when He revealed that He would suffer and be killed (Mark 8:31-33). Such was the intensity of the temptation leading up to His redemptive work on the cross that “an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him” while “His sweat became like drops of blood” as He was “praying very fervently” (Luke 22:43, 44). Commenting on this, Milne (1998:165) wrote, “as truly man He endured the weight and pull of temptation to a degree we shall never experience.”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. HUMAN DEATH AND RESURRECTION</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The physical pain Christ underwent (e.g. Luke 22:63) that led to His death is the prime demonstration of His humanity; that He, like all of us, was subject to natural death. Even when the soldiers came to break His bones that He may die faster, they found that He was already dead (John 19:33). And like other men, He was buried according to Jewish customs (John 19:38-40). But He rose again as promised (Luke 24:6, 7)! And His resurrection body is a model of the glorified body all believers will have after their resurrection. Hence He is rightly called “the firstborn of the dead” (Revelation 1:5). Walvoord (1969:130) wrote, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the crucial events in His life on earth upon which the significance of His entire life and death hangs. It is the first step in a series in the exaltation of Christ.”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CONCLUSION</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The humanity of Christ confirms that He is indeed a High Priest taken from among the people (Hebrews 5:1) and genuinely sympathizes with us in our human weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) despite being God. This greatly assures believers that they can endure all temptations and trials in life through Christ, because He Himself walked on earth like one of us and was tempted in all things and triumphed.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BIBLIOGRAPHY</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">BEST, W.E. 1975. Studies in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Houston: W.E. Best Book Missionary Trust</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GELDENHUYS, N. 1951. Luke. New International Commentary on the New Testament (NICNT). Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GRENZ, S.J., GURETZKI, D., & NORDLING, C.F. 1999. Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">GRUDEM, W. 1994. Systematic Theology. Michigan: Zondervan</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MILNE, B. 1993. John (In_Stott, J.R.W., ed. The Bible Speaks Today. Leicester: Inter Varsity Press)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">MILNE, B. 1998. Know the Truth: a handbook of Christian belief. Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TENNEY, M.C. 1981. John (In_Gaebelein, F.E., ed. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WALVOORD, J.F. 1969.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Christ Our Lord. Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute</span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-67213125034733495362011-03-30T11:07:00.000-07:002011-03-30T13:20:07.369-07:00Published!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of my professors made a very interesting comment, that if the book of 2 Timothy were to be written today, no Christian publisher would dare publish it. This is because it is a letter filled with painful ministry experiences by Paul, an apostle of Christ whose ministry on earth was now winding up, to Timothy, his spiritual son. Paul was very frank that “in the last days difficult times will come” (3:1). He reminded Timothy of the various persecutions he endured at various places he went to preach the Gospel, and still urged the young man to follow suit in his footsteps despite the perils that lay ahead (3:10, 11).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was Paul’s last known letter, and at the time of writing, he was in his second and last Roman imprisonment (1:16; 2:9) having been arrested for preaching the Gospel and with no hope of release; he even made reference to his impending execution because of the Gospel he preached (4:1). Further, people close to him had deserted him in these last days. He stated that “all who are in Asia turned away from me” (1:15), “Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me” (4:10), and that “at my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me” (4:16). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In these last days he was also very poor and suffered great need. He even urged Timothy to hurry to visit him before winter (4:21) because among other things he expected him to bring his coat that he had left in Troas (4:13) to cover himself during the winter cold. He was so poor he couldn’t afford even a second hand one. And it is because of such predicaments that even Timothy himself, his spiritual son whom he sought to hand over the mantle to, was tempted to be ashamed of the Gospel; hence Paul had to urge him that, “Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner” (1:8).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is indeed ironic that during the last days of Paul’s ministry, a period which people evaluate success in ministry by the number of people and resources one has accumulated, Paul was deserted by all and was quite broke. So surely, who would dare publish such a book; a book that contrasted the norm by stating that in ministry, you will be abandoned by virtually all those close to you, you will be persecuted and imprisoned for your faith, you will be very poor and suffer need, and that your ministry will eventually wind up with your execution.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But this was more than a testimony of Paul, it was a testimony of God; of the transforming work that He had done in Paul's life, such that Paul even confessed that, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). When he measured up every form of worldly gain against Christ, he counted all as worthless for the sake of gaining Christ. He confirmed that:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.8in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: white; color: #7030a0; mso-highlight: white;">But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ</span><span style="color: #7030a0;">, <span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paul’s testimony was simple, ministry for him was not about how he could personally gain from serving Christ, but rather how he was prepared to lose everything for the sake of serving Christ, and now even more that he was about to lose his life. True, no man would have dared publish this material by Paul, but interesting to ponder is the fact that God Himself got him published in His eternal canon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, with God being the eternal Editor of our lives, what story would you seek Him to publish concerning your life, one that is filled with pursuit of God for personal gain, or one that is filled with pursuit of God at the expense of personal gain?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.2in 10pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-37123117176099926852011-03-21T00:17:00.000-07:002012-11-14T00:45:08.515-08:00Lost and found<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much as I confess to be saved, the Bible and conviction in my heart always reminds me that I, and all mankind actually deserve hell! Think about it, all of us are actually in hell, until Christ by His saving mercy through His shed blood on the cross and resurrection victory plucks us out of the pit with the revelation of the true Gospel as it is accurately proclaimed by His witnesses. </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what a dilemma if we reject the Gospel as millions have! The Bible itself confirms that “How shall we escape (judgment) if we neglect so great a salvation…?” (Hebrews 2:3; c.f. Hebrews 12:25). The destination is nowhere else but hell, an eternal abode made for the devil and his fallen angels (demons) (2 Peter 2:4), but doubtless one that he will share with those of mankind that are unrepentant.</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the most interesting and miraculous thing to ponder, such that cannot be described with words, is that when Satan and his angels rebelled and sinned against God, they were not offered an opportunity to repent and be forgiven; such an idea wasn’t even floated in heaven! But oh! When man, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26), rebelled and sinned against God, not only was such an opportunity to repent and be forgiven presented to Him by God, but the Bible reveals to us that such an opportunity was made possible for mankind even before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8)! Surely such a display of love is beyond imagination and human description!</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is even more miraculous and unfathomable when we think of what it took to save mankind… that Jesus Himself, the Second Person of the Godhead and Holy Trinity, humbled Himself and took the form of mankind, human flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14), and endured death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8), that He may redeem those who have faith in Him (Romans 3:28)! </span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And even more to think about, throughout history for a time spanning 1,500 years He used about 40 writers to pen and compile 66 books totaling over three-quarter million words into what is now called the Bible, a compilation that has been attested by historians as undeniably genuine and accurate and matchless in preservation in all of literary history. And He did all this just to ensure that through its pages, we would always find irrefutable substance of the things we had hoped for (promise of eternal life with Him), and overwhelming evidence of the things we had not seen (His progressive redemptive plan throughout history) (Hebrews 11:1).</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So surely… how can we deny so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:3)?</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We call you “Lord! Lord!”, but “we” know You not,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coz we strive with the Potter, yet we’re a broken pot,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You made hell for the devil, but in sin we asked for a spot,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coz You are our Maker, but your image in us we distort,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All our blind ways lead us, to where the fire is hot,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coz our false wisdom guides us, to fatal paths of the lost,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In our futile pursuits, we only gather worthless worldly rot,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coz only You bear the treasures, that carry eternal worth,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So forgive us our sin, we confess and repent our fault,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coz we believe for our sin, you paid the eternal cost,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the price of Your shed blood, our salvation you bought,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coz with everlasting love, You found sheep that were lost!</span></span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-31753631206536012092011-03-21T00:05:00.000-07:002012-11-14T00:45:22.259-08:00Count your own buttons first<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I went to church on Sunday, I got a most extraordinary but yet the simplest of insights of what Christ once taught, not from the direct preaching of the pastor, but rather from what he wore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As is normal with many pastors when they preach, they often move around the pulpit and sometimes draw within inches of their audience. This was the case today. As the pastor preached, he slowly advanced towards his listeners such that he was at arm’s length from those in the front row. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was an unusual Sunday for me as I usually occupied the corner seat in the last row every Sunday. But today I sat on the third row from the front because I had arrived quite early and gave in to the usher’s beckoning to occupy and fill the front rows first. And now, during the preaching, I was so close to the pastor that I could pick out every detail of his attire. Suddenly, one particular item caught my attention – one of the buttons on his coat was broken…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought, “Oh my! This is Sunday! Everybody’s here, including visitors! Furthermore, he is video recording the message! Surely with all his array of pleasant attires to choose from, he could have done better, couldn’t he?” I was in disbelief.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But as the service went on the pastor quoted a certain Scripture, so I had to bow my head to follow the reference in my Bible. Then suddenly, once again, something else caught my attention, but this time twice as much! As I bowed my head, I realized that my shirt was missing a button… But this wasn’t the fact that struck me. I fully knew I had been missing a button. What hit me was the fact that I had reprimanded my pastor for just a broken button, yet I was missing an entire one. Even worse, I had worn the same shirt in the same condition the previous Sunday when I attended another church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was concerned about the pastor’s broken button oblivious to the fact that I had a bigger problem, I lacked an entire one. I was quick to spot his fault because I was quicker at forgetting my own unattended one. My sinful conscious was so numb that I had not only momentarily forgotten I was missing a button, but that I had repeatedly worn the shirt knowingly, and yet criticized someone for just a broken button.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This reminded me of a section in the classic Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:3-5, where Christ cautioned His listeners about judging others, He said, </span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: red; mso-highlight: white;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background: white; color: red; mso-highlight: white;">“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”</span><span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notice the term Christ uses to describe such a person, He plainly calls him a “hypocrite”! So today, besides the sermon the pastor preached, I learned that I should be careful to count my own missing buttons first, before I ever think about subtracting fractions from other people’s broken ones. I suggest you do the same, lest Christ calls you names….</span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-90009450256821996152011-02-10T03:02:00.000-08:002012-11-14T00:45:38.009-08:00My Mama<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">For years now I have been thinking about how the typical African man, being highly conservative in matters of affection, expresses love for his mother; not because of any interest in the behavioral patterns of the typical African man, but because with each passing year, my mother continues to be a great inspiration in my life with consistency beyond description. So I tried, but with very pale comparison, to use words to describe her…</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">Struggling to express my love for her, coz I’m trapped in the traditions of an African,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">To say I love her and hug her, would be considered as too much of a Western,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">So I’ll hide behind a pen and paper, to give due credit to this superwoman,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">They may say a woman’s weaker, but she broke her back to raise this strong man,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">She was patient enough to watch me grow, and fit into the name Nathan,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">I confess there was some spanking, but it was part of her perfect rearing plan,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">Not perfect in English, but she speaks love better than anybody under the sun,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">Coz she still prays for me to own a car, even though I wrecked her only one,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">I walk tall and proud, but humbled to know I came from this woman,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">Coz we’re so many at home, but she makes us all feel like the firstborn son,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">Dad a lifetime banker, with keys to the safe full of priceless bullion,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">But never counted enough money, to match mama’s worth in his lifespan,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">So I can’t wait for the day I’ll introduce her, to my first daughter or son,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">Coz in her I saw Christ, before I ever saw Him in any confessing Christian.</span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-40012385613061810972011-02-04T06:16:00.000-08:002012-11-14T00:45:53.741-08:00He gave for a slave<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif";">A few days ago, a dear friend confessed that 2010 was the worst year of her life. This reminded me of my diverse experiences that probably qualify 2010 as one of my worst years as well. But then I also remembered the Apostle Paul’s testimony in Philippians chapter 4 of how he had learned to live under any and all circumstances no matter how severe the affliction. This he confirmed was enabled by the strength he drew from Christ. I hence discovered that in this life, there are no guarantees of a smooth journey; but an even better guarantee is the strength we draw from Christ through salvation in Him. My friend may have had her worst year, but I can’t overlook the fact that she made it through, and all this is accredited to Christ. Below is a piece I wrote last year (2010), deep into the darkness of one of my trials…</span></i></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Outside the tide of life is too high, so I can’t handle the wave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Inside the light for life is too low, coz I always hide in a cave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Like the proud lion leading the pack, majestic in public I behave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">But I wish they knew when I’m alone, I’m barely half as brave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">It doesn’t help that for everyone around me, life seems so suave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Everyone seems satisfied, I’m the only one left with a crave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Can’t help but wonder if my freedom, will only be found in the grave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">If my tears could run beyond my face, an entire city’s highway they would pave…</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">But quickly I remember my Savior, and why He rose from the grave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">He suffered the entire cost, so the penalty for my sins He could waive,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">He secured life in abundance, for you and me when He came to save,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Power that conquered the grave lives inside me, so I’m no longer a slave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">I now renew my cry, that only His deserved praises I may rave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">If I had a song in my mouth, His endless mercy would fill the octave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">If I had room to dance, I would ‘shake it’ like the Bible’s King Dave,</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #984806; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Coz His perfect life to save my wretched one, in perfect love He gave!</span><span style="color: #984806; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-11073718551705351852011-01-31T13:40:00.000-08:002012-11-14T00:47:06.481-08:00No matter...<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is a sad day today. A dear friend of mine, who is also my roommate at seminary, housemate away from home here in South Africa, and country-mate from Kenya, lost his father, whom he hadn't seen since he was thirteen; and below is what I saw in his eyes...</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter what number I call, U won’t be there to answer,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how much I write, U won’t receive the letter,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how much I cry, U won’t see even a tear,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how much I achieve, U won’t be there to cheer,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how many kids I have, they won’t see their grandfather,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter who I look up to, U can’t be replaced even by my pastor,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how much I seek, I won’t locate U anywhere,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how much we drifted, I still hoped our paths would draw nearer,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how long we’d been apart, I still hoped to see U each New Year,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">No matter how long it takes, I’ll still cry for my father,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">Coz no matter how much I long to see U, it seems we’ll never meet forever,</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4f6228; font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;">Coz no matter how much I pray, I can’t deny U didn’t receive Christ as Savior….</span><span style="color: #4f6228; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 128;"></span></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-43684246125604917052010-12-26T02:01:00.000-08:002012-11-14T00:47:40.472-08:00Commander-in-Chief<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In ancient biblical times, when a king went to war, his highest definition of victory was that his enemies die brutally whether in the intensity of battle or in surrender to his superior forces. But Christ went to battle with a different strategy. He attained victory in the opposite way, by instead laying down His life in surrender to His enemies. This was not to be assumed that He commanded an inferior army to any possible threat that would arise against Him. His surrender was not one of weakness. He made it clear that, “<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">No one takes it (His life) from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18).</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even during His arrest, Christ confirmed the capacity of the military potential at His disposal. He retorted, “<span style="background: white; mso-highlight: white;">Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matthew 26:53). A Roman legion was composed of 6,000 soldiers hence for 12 legions Christ was referring to </span>more than 72,000 angels. It is interesting to ponder the might of such an army considering that in 2Kings 19:35, a single angel killed more than 185,000 men in a single night. Christ was simply pointing out that He was the ‘Lord of Hosts’ (the familiar Old Testament title that refers to Christ as the commander-in-chief of the heavenly army of angels) who could never lose a battle of any nature! His supernatural artillery was simply beyond human comprehension. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, in very pale and sharply contrasting comparison, Judas, His disciple who eventually betrayed Him, had “received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, [and] came there [where Jesus was] with their lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:3). A Roman cohort normally comprised only about 600 troops, and in this case, mere men (with lanterns, torches and manmade weapons), unlike Christ who had multitudes of angels with unmatched supernatural ability at His ready command.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet Christ surrendered to the cohort, because in His words, “How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:54). But more than fulfillment of the Scriptures, this was one of the greatest displays of Christ’s extraordinary humility and submission; that the all-powerful willingly stooped low and surrendered to the all-powerless. He surrendered because according to His words, “This charge I received from the Father” (John 10:18). His surrender was influenced by His submission to GOD the Father’s will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ironically, it is through surrender and not attack that Christ achieved the greatest ever victory for mankind that no man before or after him, wielding any or all forms of power known to man, ever could - eternal life through salvation by faith in Him alone. Beyond the irony, what a glorious moment it will be when He finally returns for those who believe in Him according to His promise that, “The Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him” (Matthew 25:31). With this assurance, we anxiously await the Second Coming of our eternal and victorious Commander-in-Chief, with His heavenly army marching behind Him.</span></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-15070093738489165732010-12-11T14:52:00.000-08:002012-11-14T00:47:52.681-08:00He defiled Himself... for me<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0.5in 10pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The encounter with the Samaritan woman was one of the most significant incidents in Christ’s earthly ministry (TASKER, 1960:80). It best illustrates the depths that Christ stooped to accept us and save our souls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is interesting that on His way to Galilee, Jesus, being a Jew, traveled through Samaria (John 4:4), despite the fact that any contact a Jew had with a Samaritan was considered defiling under Jewish Law (TENNEY, 1981:54). Further, Samaritans were historical enemies of the Jews because during the time of Nehemiah they opposed the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall (Nehemiah 4:1-2).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As if these two factors weren’t bad enough, Jesus, widely regarded as a Teacher of impeccable integrity, stopped along the way to have a one-on-one chat with a woman, which was taboo; even worse, the woman was a Samaritan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It still gets worse, the woman was sexually immoral, the type of woman whom King Solomon, the wisest man ever on earth, warned us to avoid like the plague because of her sting (Proverbs 5:1-8). In fact the only reason this woman went to the well alone to fetch water at noon in the scorching sun instead of the morning with other women is probably because she was censured due to immorality. So under the Jewish microscope, Jesus couldn’t have defiled Himself worse than this, even if He tried!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But such is the love of Christ. He touched or was touched by the ‘unclean’ (YANLEY, 1995:153). He even became “[the sacrifice for] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him“ (2 Corinthians 5:21). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What power this love has in its effect on our lives, enabling us to bear fruit to His glory (OWEN, 2006:32); because it is by tapping a Samaritan woman who had been through five husbands, that Jesus led a spiritual revival (YANLEY, 1995:154). Through this woman, Christ singlehandedly evangelized an entire city. A city filled with people who had stigmatized her, yet when she had come to the saving knowledge of Christ, she couldn’t hold her experience back, not even from those she would have considered her enemies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is undoubtedly amazing grace that the type of woman Solomon warned could bring <u>death</u> to a man, is the same type of woman Christ touched to bring <u>life</u> to an entire city! It is no wonder that here for the first time in His earthly ministry, and ironically among the Gentiles (non-Jews), that Christ is hailed as the “Savior of the World” (John 4:42).</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bibliography</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">OWEN, J. 2006. The Glory of Christ. London: Grace Publication Trust</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TASKER, R.V.G. 1960. John. An Introduction and Commentary. Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans, (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">TENNEY, M.C. 1981. John. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In_</i>Gaebelein, F.E., ed. The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 9. Michigan: Zondervan)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">YANLEY, P. 1995. The Jesus I Never Knew. Michigan: Zondervan</span></div>
Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6212579099174811197.post-37468276814873146442010-12-07T01:45:00.000-08:002011-03-21T02:03:15.008-07:00When Duty Calls<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for a better world,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will empty this one of its sorrow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for a better day,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will fight in this one for a better tomorrow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for a better brother,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will set an example for this one to follow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for a better job,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will dare apply for this one to avoid a go-slow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for a better church,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will preach Christ in this one to the lonely at the over-flow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for better security,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will stand for this weak one and shield him with his elbow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for better light,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will shine in this darkness and leave an after-glow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If I could wish for greener pasture,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then who will cultivate Africa for our children to grow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">If we continue to live in ignorance,</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #17365d; font-family: ""sans-serif"", "serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;">Then surely… who will leave behind knowledge our children can borrow?</span><span style="color: #17365d; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themeshade: 191;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><br />
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</div>Nathan Odedehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07344358980637691177noreply@blogger.com0