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PropheZine Newsletter #129
September 1, 2001
Bob Lally Publisher/Senior Editor
Bob Ippolito Asst. Editor
To Subscribe, Unsubscribe or Change email addresses see notice at the bottom
of this newsletter.
Disclaimer: PropheZine publishes articles by many authors and may not
necessarily agree in total with each authors belief's (timing of the
rapture, etc...)
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IN THIS ISSUE
----GREETING FROM BOB LALLY
----ARTICLES
International Prophecy Conference - Branson Missouri
Bob Lally
SONSHIP
Oliver Peng
Making Today Count For Eternity - Part 3
Kent Crockett
Rosh Hashanah: Season of the Messiah
Bruce Scott
----SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
----SUBSCRIBE and UNSUBSCRIBE
----PRIVACY NOTICE
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GREETINGS FROM BOB LALLY
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Hi Everyone!
Sometimes God works quickly but often times too slowly for "our" schedule.
Often times I just smile and shake my head side to side in amazement...As
you are aware about 3 1/2 weeks ago I announced that PropheZine.com was up
for sale. We had about 15 people ask for additional information. Sherlock
Bally Ministries called the next morning and immediately offered to purchase
the site for the asking price. Praise God that He acted quickly! They also
flew me to the Summit in Branson Missouri on an all expense paid trip. A
deposit was received.
I knew of Sherlock and in fact had met him at a conference in Orlando. Not
only have I heard him speak in public but we have many of his audio messages
on the site. Sherlock and I agree on almost every doctrinal issue which is
why I allowed him to purchase the site.
Therefore, let me formally announce at this time that Sherlock Bally
Ministries of Tulsa Oklahoma has purchased the PropheZine.com web site
effective mid October 2001. This is an exciting time for PropheZine as
Sherlock Bally Ministries has the financial resources to take the site to
the next level.
In addition, I will be placed on retainer to continue to manage the site!
Praise God! So, I will still be managing day-to-day operations of the site,
creating Newsletters...
There have also been other developments that could lead to full time
employment but I am unable to announce them at this time. But, I continue
to fast and pray until I receive an answer from the Lord.
Enjoy this issue.
Bob Lally
and the staff of PropheZine.com
bob@...
Donations to support PropheZine.com may be sent to:
PropheZine.com
Bob Lally
503 Acre Drive
Schenectady, NY 12303
USA
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The Great Dream The first contemporary book to announce, describe and
denounce the present apostasy. Available to read or download for FREE
on-line. Also available from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Borders Books,
Armageddon Books and various independent distributors all over the world.
472 pages; fully indexed.
Go to http://www.apostasynow.com to read THE GREAT DREAM and many other
unique and provocative articles on many subjects.
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International Prophecy Summit - Review
Bob Lally
bob@...
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A Fantastic Time...
I left Albany Monday morning and flew to St. Louis. I met Steve Terry, son
of Preacher E.L. Terry, and we drove to Branson. I arrived in the hotel
about 12 hours into my trip and was really tired.
The next day I arrived at the Chateau where the summit was being held. What
a place! The room was huge - seating for 2,000. And beautiful. I found
Joe Vieira who heads Sherlock's ministry. He planned all the conferences
for God's News while he was in Tampa and before they terminated all their
staff 1 1/2 years ago.
Joe was very excited - nervous excitement. The problem with these
conferences is that they cost so much more than the ticket price covers.
This is why an offering is taken on each day. For instance, a conference of
this magnitude may cost $225,000 minimum but ticket sales may only bring in
$125,000 or less.
The quality of the speakers was 100%. The Wednesday evening Discussion
Panel included the 4 Israeli speakers. For this, the room was packed with
about 1,700 people. Standing ovations were the norm as was a roar of
clapping of hands as a sign of solidarity. It was incredible. Each time a
speaker mentioned that Jerusalem would not be divided - ever, the crowd
stood to their feet with tremendous applause. Over and over. At the end of
the evening an offering was taken for the nation of Israel and although I
know the exact figure I will only say that a 5 figure sum was collected and
sent to Israel.
On Thursday one of the speakers mentioned that they were flabbergasted to
see such a positive attitude towards Israel from the Christians at the
summit. He could not believe the level of support for the Nation of Israel.
I could go on and on but suffice it to say that the conference was a huge
success. Sherlock Bally ministries is planning on having a conference every
2 months someplace in the US - including Hawaii. So stay tuned!
Hi to all the friends I made in Branson. Hi Jim from Liechtenstein! I was
truly amazed at the number of people that visit PropheZine daily, weekly,
monthly. One gent I had dinner with, when we were introduced, said that
PropheZine is his FAVORITE site!
See, the hard work does pay off.....
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SONSHIP - AS GLEANED FROM JUDGES 10 & 11
Oliver Peng
bro.oliverpeng@...
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Scripture reading: Judges 10:1,3,4, "Now after Abimelech died, Tola the son
of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel; and he
lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim....And after him, Jair the
Gileadite arose and judged Israel twenty-two years. And he had thirty sons
who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities in the land of Gilead
that are called Havvoth-jair to this day".
One of the most impressive yet seldom considered topics in the Bible might
be the topic of "sonship". The word "son" occurred in the Old Testament
alone some 5,000 times and is laden with spiritual significance. It
represents the very embodiment of God's eternal purpose. Its connection
with full maturity, with kingdom, and with glory is both profound and
provocative. More commonly, however, the connection is made merely with
the Son's redemptive aspect of salvation rather than the full scope of
sonship that includes reigning, kingdom, and glory. The fact that God gave
us His "only begotten Son" is wonderful indeed, but God never intended for
us to stop only at the point of believing and receiving the Son, He also
desires that we mature and become His "many sons being led into glory".
The careful readers of the Bible have observed that the "only begotten Son"
in the gospels has become the "first-born Son" in the epistles (Rom. 8:29;
Col. 1:15, 18; Heb. 1:6). This transition is so profound, it demands our
careful considerations, for it unveils a full range of God's purpose and His
way of achieving it. The "only begotten Son" emphasizes the aspect of the
Son's incarnation, while the "first-born Son" denotes the aspect of the
Son's resurrection. The fact that the vast majority of Christians are well
acquainted with the "only begotten Son", but are only vaguely familiar with
the "first-born Son" indicates a woeful inadequacy in our spiritual pursuit
and understanding of His eternal purpose.
In the Old Testament, the sons had to undergo rigorous training before they
were qualified to receive the inheritance. Does this not tell us of our
need for much preparation before we are fit to reign with Him in the
kingdom? If it was fitting "for Him...to make the captain of our salvation
perfect through sufferings", how much more fitting it is for us to be
prepared by the cross? If He, being a Son had to "learn obedience from the
things which He suffered", how much more we need to learn our lessons of
brokenness to be designated "many sons" and to be led "into glory"? While a
great deal more can be said about "sonship" in general, we must turn to our
subject at hand, namely, sonship as revealed in Judges 10 & 11.
Judges 10 opens with two judges in a row, Tola and Jair. Nothing is said
about what they exactly did except, "Tola...arose to save Israel" and,
"Jair... arose and judged Israel". The only other thing mentioned about
Tola is a clear and precise listing of his lineage: "Tola, the son of Puah,
the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar"; and the strangely interesting thing
recorded about Jair is that he had thirty sons, and all of them "rode on
thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities in the land of Gilead". Why did
the Holy Spirit omit the things that could make headlines such as, how they
heroically "saved Israel", and how they "judged Israel"? Instead, the Holy
Spirit chose to put emphasis on Tola's lineage and Jair's almost comical
"thirty sons riding on thirty donkeys"! Strange, isn't it? Was this
intended to be a bit of the divine humor? Or was there a serious lesson in
it somewhere?
Tola came from a line of sons suggesting, first of all, there is something
definite about sonship. God is never vague or ambiguous about what He is
after-Christ, who is the "Son over His house whose house we are" (Heb.
3:6a). Yes, God does desire to have "many sons" in His house, but He leaves
no doubt as to who is over His house: the Son. In God's eyes, He only sees
His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. The centrality and supremacy of
His Son is in every page of the divine Word and in every breath of the All
Mighty!
Sadly though, Christians tend to choose to be definite about issues rather
than sonship: many are definite about the issue of "abortion", some about
the issue of "gun control", others about the issues of "homosexuality, death
penalty, welfare...." Not that these issues are unimportant, or we should
not have strong feelings about them, but when the world sees us, does it see
the Son, or does it see issues? Are we Christians because of the Son, or
are we Christians because of issues? Are we Christ-driven, or
crisis-driven? O, that we would be definite about the Son!
Secondly, this line is unbroken-"for whatever promises of God there are, in
Him is the yes, wherefore also through Him is the amen...." His purpose
cannot be broken; when men proved to be unfaithful and prone to failure,
God's purpose has never been deterred. Even In the darkest hour of human
history, God has always preserved an unbroken line of sons to perpetuate His
purpose. Whether it is the apostasy of Israel or the degradation of the
Church, His sons, the remnant, are always standing in the gap to keep the
testimony going forward. In light of the declension that pervades the
Church today, the question of the hour is: "are we perpetuating an unbroken
line of religious system, or are we perpetuating an unbroken line of the
testimony of His Son Jesus"? When Joshua led the people of Israel to the
edge of the Good Land, it was the priests who stood in the river while an
unbroken line of people crossed into their full sonship--the inheritance of
the rich portion of the land.
Likewise, in order for sonship to become a New Testament reality, there
needs to be a people who are willing to assume their priesthood and step
into the death waters (the crucified life), with the Ark (the testimony of
Jesus) on their shoulders; and by doing so they usher God's people into
their experiences of the fullness of Christ. Only when we experience the
reality of "death works in me, but life in you", can we perpetuate the line
of sonship and keep the line of the testimony unbroken.
Thirdly, this line is traceable. Throughout Church history, the real
testimony of God is almost always hidden yet traceable. The meek and the
lowly character of the Lamb is hardly found in gigantic cathedrals or amidst
pomp and circumstance; but the fragrance of Christ is always transmitted
from the broken and contrite, the lowly and hidden ones. These ones have
allowed the cross of Christ to operate deeply in their lives to produce the
precious ointment for the house. The sons therefore, are not the
high-profiled, high-powered attention seekers; nor are they the blind
followers of men or pharisaical keepers of status quo. In every generation,
in every age, the real testimony is always in the hands of the sons, a
people rejected by religion, a people outside the camp.
Whether recorded or not, almost all the spiritual figures in the Bible have
a hidden history before the Lord. Most Christians are familiar with the
formation of precious stones-that it takes heat and pressure over time.
But, one important detail is often left out: the formation of precious
stones takes place in the dark. Whether or not we have a hidden history
with the Lord determines the measure of our sonship. The depth of our
hidden history, not our gifts, not our zeal, not our ability, not our
eloquence, not even our sufferings, determines the strength of our
testimony. We all must go through the fiery trials of heat and pressure, but
most of us display our sufferings in full view of men to win sympathy and
respect. The sons are the ones who have learned to bring their scars to
Jesus in the inner chamber. The sons therefore are the Lord's hidden
ones-hidden, but traceable. They are traceable because their broken
alabaster boxes have left a trail of fragrance. Dear saints, in your
journeys through life are you leaving a trail of fragrance behind? Or are
you merely leaving a trail of broken, but empty alabaster bottles?
Fourthly, the names mentioned in this line are all "sons". Instead of going
from fathers to sons, the lineage identifies them all as sons. In other
words, there is an identification in sonship. All of men's works that are
connected to God's eternal purpose are identifiable by the Holy Spirit,
because the ones involved in His work have all been conformed to the image
of the Son both in nature, in character, and in calling. Church historians
such as Andrew Miller (Miller's Church History), Edmund Broadbent (The
Pilgrim Church), and John W. Kennedy (The Torch of The Testimony) each made
significant contributions in terms of identifying those men and women (yes,
female sons) who yielded to the Holy Spirit's dealings to form the character
of the Son in them; and they were ushered into the calling of God's eternal
purpose in differing measures at different times.
Additionally, a point needs to be made about God's identification versus
men's identification: Men identify with "greatness", God identifies with His
Son. Men look for "fathers"-the "Father of Electricity", "the Father of
Thermal Dynamics", "the Father of Jazz Music", "the Father of Impressionist
Painting".... God looks for His humble Son. If we are serious about the
Lord's eternal purpose, it behooves us to find the right spiritual
identification with His Son. That's why it is also important to choose our
fellowship groups, because the groups we are identified with usually
influence our spiritual pursuit and our knowledge of the Lord. The group's
vision can become our vision, but the group's bias can also become our bias.
Historically, there were some extremist groups that went over the deep ends;
and the majority of the so-called "Mainstream Christianity" was (and still
is) plagued by traditionalism and formalism. But there has always been a
remnant in every generation that the Lord preserved to carry on the line of
sonship. May the Lord give us the desire and the discernment to make the
right identifications.
Fifthly, the line of sonship shows diversity in homogeneity: each son is
unique and different yet belonging to the same family. Likewise, in God's
family all the children are different, yet they possess the same life and
the same Spirit. God's wisdom in Christian unity is seen in variety, not in
uniformity. Sadly, some have attempted to gain Christian unity by
preaching and enforcing an outward conformity which put the human spirit in
bondage and resulted in a lifeless, robotic uniformity. The real "oneness
of the faith" (Eph. 4:13) is only achieved by our oneness with Him first
(Jn. 17:21). When our vertical oneness with the Godhead is usurped and
replaced by men or by a system, we have no more oneness than the United
Nations!
As each son maintains an intimate and vertical oneness with the Lord, the
resulting horizontal fellowship amongst the sons gives the Holy Spirit a
chance to speak to us and to enlighten our eyes with respect to the Son,
thus leading us to the "oneness of the faith".
Last but not least, this line which traces upward to its source implies
headship. In any sort of Christian experience or spiritual ministry, the
most important thing is to link up with the head, Christ, is it not? If our
source is other than Christ, if our ministry does not issue from our holding
fast the Head, regardless of the intention or the outcome, we are in the
firm grip of the Enemy, and all our toil, fruits, ministries and work are
entirely rubbish! Blessed is he who maintains a vertical relationship with
our risen Lord and holds fast the headship of our exalted Christ. Only the
work that comes out of a vertical holding fast of the headship of Christ has
any value.
While all Christians and churches claim to honor the headship of Christ,
most in reality are holding onto either a leader, a preacher, a
congregation, a set of doctrines and traditions, or worse, a lifeless
building! When pastors, workers, and church members obligate themselves to
defending the "sacred establishment" and the unscriptural teachings and
practices of their assemblies, are they still holding fast the headship of
Christ? When Christians denominate themselves by doctrines, by leaders, by
practices, by races, cultures and languages, they unwittingly subject
themselves to abiding by the expectations and the rules (spoken or unspoken)
of the denominations or groups which make it difficult, if not altogether
impossible, to hold fast the headship of Christ! May the Lord grant us
vision in this most important element of our sonship-the headship of Christ.
May the Lord grant us mercy that we would not sell our birthright--sonship,
for a bowl of soup.
Furthermore, something must be said about the name Tola, for it means "a
worm", but it is no ordinary worm. It is a scarlet worm the body fluid of
which, when pressed, is collected to dye clothes red in ancient times. It
is the same word used in Psalm 22:6, "But I am a worm (tola), and not a
man...." By all accounts, Psalm 22 describes the suffering and agony of
Jesus as He hung on the cross, and David, under the influence of the Spirit
felt the pain of his Savior, prophetically uttered these words. So what is
sonship but that which is birthed out of the travails of the cross?
Concerning this point perhaps Paul puts it best: "For we know that the whole
creation groans in travail together until now. And not only this, but we
ourselves also, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan and travail within ourselves, waiting eagerly for sonship, the
redemption of our body." (Rom. 8:22, 23). The mark of sonship is the mark
of the cross. The effectual working of the cross is the termination of
anything natural. Not just anything bad. But secretly we harbor this
thought: only our bad self needs dealings of the cross; our good self can be
put to good use for the Lord. Well, perish the thought. Perish the self!
Sonship can only be attained through the deep and slow process of the cross.
If the Son is only designated the first-born Son in resurrection (Acts
13:33), how can we drag our old creation into sonship? So, shall we learn
the lesson from Tola trusting the work of the Spirit to lead us through the
cross onto resurrection ground? And as the Captain of our salvation who is
made perfect through sufferings, likewise we shall be brought forth as the
"many sons" being led into glory through much afflictions. This takes us to
our next person in Judges 10-Jair who had many sons.
Unlike Tola who descended from a line of sons, no genealogy was attributed
to Jair except he had "thirty sons". So the emphasis with Jair is not in
the vertical relationship but in the horizontal relationship. Vertical
relationship must come first, then the horizontal one. This order is
essential; for without a direct and personal relationship with the Lord
first, our fellowship and relationship with the saints will always lead us
into confusion and a false sense of spirituality. Once a normal and
intimate relationship with the Lord is established, we should spontaneously
desire fellowship with the saints. No Christian can have a normal Christian
life without fellowship with other believers. There are Christians who try
to project themselves as being spiritual by staying aloof--the mystics seem
to be so intimate with the Lord that they are enshrouded in a mystical fog
of impenetrable mist. Others, who have no first-hand subjective experience
and knowledge of the Lord, rely solely on the teachings and guidance of the
leaders and commit similar errors. How we need a proper order and a proper
balance!
It is not a co-incidence that Tola came before Jair; the vertical must
precede the horizontal. I'll say again, if our relationship with the Lord
(vertical) is proper, we should have burden for "thirty sons" (horizontal).
We should be burdened that many others also come into the reality of sonship
so that all the "one-talented" members would rise up to pursue the Lord and
function in the church. Starting from a burden for the gospel-that sinners
would repent and become children of God, we must continue until travailing
takes place so that children mature into sons.
One of the saddest things in Christendom is the shallow and distorted
understanding of the gospel. The much-trumpeted "Great Commission" only
emphasizes the initial salvation with no vision what so ever about God's
eternal plan and purpose, not to mention sonship, kingdom, reigning and
glory! Small wonder that Christian churches everywhere look for great
leaders, because the gospel they preach and receive does not foster sonship;
and since the church is full of infants, they naturally need a strong leader
to hold up the tent and feed them milk. This is how "Clergy-Laity System"
comes into being. No, I am not saying the church can only be consisted of
strong Christians. Every church has her share of stronger and weaker
saints. But I am saying the spiritual responsibilities and functions of the
church should NOT rest in the hands of the clergy or "full-time workers".
Neither should the services of the church be made into a "program" handed
down from the Pastor's Office. As long as the "Clergy" is in place, there
could hardly be the "thirty sons". When the churches are known for their
preachers, not to mention some that are even named after the preachers,
sonship will be illusive, and God's eternal purpose a far cry.
The Lord Jesus was not just the "only begotten Son", He was also the
"first-born Son" indicating many more to come. He is "leading many sons
into glory", and "we have come...to the church of the first-born ones" (Heb.
12:23, literal). So what is the church? The church is where the
"first-born ones" gather. The church is where everyone is burdened to be a
son and burdened that everyone else also becomes a son. Thirty sons, we
need thirty sons! The church is where thirty sons come forth. Dear saints,
is there a fellowship of "thirty sons" where you assemble? Or is the
emphasis only on the "pulpit ministry"? Dear Lord, burden us for "thirty
sons"!
Now the comical part: "thirty sons riding on thirty donkeys". What does it
mean? In typology, donkey symbolizes human flesh: "Ishmael is like a wild
donkey". Ishmael is a product of the flesh. Our flesh is like a wild
donkey! But when our flesh is being dealt with by the cross, and we are
learning to be led by the Spirit, the formation of sonship takes place.
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God"
(Rom. 8:14). The entire chapter 7 of Romans is a warfare between flesh and
spirit. But thank God, in chapter 8 we see the "thirty sons riding on
thirty donkeys" because the flesh has been subdued and sonship emerges.
"For what the law could not do weak as it was through the flesh, God did:
sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for
sin, He condemned sin in the flesh". Since the Son condemned sin in the
flesh, we can claim the power over sin in our flesh and start to ride on
these "donkeys". Yes, ride on! Way to go, sons! In Jesus' so-called
"triumphal entry" into Jerusalem, what did He ride on? A donkey! This
picture of Jesus riding into Jerusalem while people spread their garments
and palm branches on the road shouting, "Hosanna", is a preview of kingdom,
reigning and glory. We are that donkey that has been subdued and made into
an instrument to uphold the glory of God. What honor! What glory! Oh,
that the wild, untamed, stubborn, foolish and filthy beastly nature of man
can be transformed into an upholder of the glory of God! The Son rides on a
donkey. Thirty sons ride on thirty donkeys. Is the Lord not trying to tell
us that sonship is very much connected to kingdom? The Lord is interested
in gaining many sons who are learning to subdue the flesh by the cross so
that the kingdom can be ushered in.
In Luke 19:11-26 Jesus told His disciples who were waiting for the kingdom a
parable: a nobleman went to a far country to receive a kingdom...and he gave
the one who gained ten more minas, authority to rule over ten cities (in the
kingdom), and the one who gained five more minas, to rule over five cities
(in the kingdom). Now here in Judges 10:4 the thirty sons who rode on
thirty donkeys ruled over thirty cities! When sonship is possessed and the
flesh (donkey) is under subjection of the spirit, the ruling (kingdom) is at
once a reality. How can anyone despise sonship? How can anyone continue to
preach a shallow gospel which only produces infants with no provision for
sonship and no entrance into the kingdom? How can anyone not take sonship
which is our portion seriously?
Lastly, we come to Jephthah who is the "son of a harlot" (Judges 11:1). In
a period of tremendous degradation and declension, the ones who should be
sons, who have all the "right stuff" to be sons, who are seemingly connected
to sonship, who can boast of the line of orthodoxy, end up persecuting the
ones who are not and do not have the "right stuff". Jephthah, stripped of
his dignity and sonship, was forced to flee from his brothers with a band of
"worthless fellows" into the eastern desert until Israel was afflicted by
the Ammonites; and Jephthah was invited back to deliver God's people from
the enemy.
As a parallel story, when David was hiding from Saul in the cave of Addulam,
a band of poor, indebted, lame and halt gathered around him. Were they not
also the "worthless fellows"? In the same way, Jesus made Himself poor and
of ill-repute, a friend of sinners and prostitutes for our sake. We, the
real worthless fellows must also follow Him outside the camp. Dear saints,
have you been despised, evil-spoken of, persecuted, and stripped of sonship?
Do not despair, for so they also persecuted the Lord. Let us also follow
Him into the eastern desert. It was not known what Jephthah did or how long
he stayed in the land of Tob. We can only empathize what pain he must have
suffered there. When the Lord fashions a vessel unto honor, does He not
humble him and take him through fiery trials first?
The Lord does desire that all His children assume the sonship and reach full
maturity. But the problem is, when we acquire a little experience of the
cross which results in brokenness and spirituality and leads to a little
taste of fullness and maturity, and we come into a measure of the reality of
His eternal purpose, we become proud. We despise and reject the ones who do
not possess sonship. A brief glance of Church history reveals that many
Christians and groups have been brought into sonship, the inheritance of the
fullness of Christ, but soon afterwards pride came in and the testimony was
ruined. Even today, one does not have to look far to see persecution and
backbiting among God's people. On the one hand we are awed to see the ones
who have been shown God's full purpose in sonship, on the other hand we are
saddened by the attitude of superiority and the elitism that eclipse the
effulgence of the testimony. And the Lord's reaction to men's pride is to
raise up a "son of a harlot". He will use the foolish things to shame the
wise, the weak things to shame the strong, the things that are not to bring
to naught the things that are. What sobering thought!
May we not be those who, having come so far, fall so low. May we deal with
the Lord about His desire in sonship. May we ask the Lord for a vision of
sonship. May we learn to embrace the travails of the cross which produce
sonship. Lord, may You raise up many sons. May You grant us the desire for
sonship. Lord, deliver Your people from the Ammonites-raise up many "sons
of harlots"; and may You humble us and subdue us so that the kingdom and the
glory may be the portion of all Your sons. Amen.
Thank you.
Oliver Peng
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MAKING TODAY COUNT FOR ETERNITY - PART 3
By: Kent Crockett
http://www.KentCrockett.com
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The following article is an excerpt from Kent Crockett's newly published
book, "Making Today Count for Eternity" (Multnomah Publishers, 2001), which
explains how your life on earth will impact your eternal destiny in heaven.
REWARDS IN HEAVEN
If heaven had a daily newspaper, the headlines would read quite differently
than our earthly tabloids. The good deeds which dont get credit on earth
would make the front page in heavens newspaper. Take a peek at this edition
of Heavens Headlines.
HEAVENS HEADLINES
Kathy S. Changes 10,000th Diaper
Rod K. Mows Neighbors Grass
Tony P. Gets Saved, Starts Tithing
Max M. Delivers Brownies to Enemy
Gayle H. Takes Meal to Sick Person
Unnamed Widow Puts Last Two Coins in Treasury Box
Changing diapers will be rewarded in heaven? Definitely.
Taking brownies to your enemy? Yep.
Putting in your two cents worth? Yes, if you are a poor widow giving an
offering. No, if your two cents is a prejudiced opinion.
Weve got to start thinking differently about what matters to God. Did you
know that its primarily the little things we do that please Him? That means
that anyone, including you, can make the headlines in heaven. It all depends
on which world you love most. God not only wants to save us from hell, but
also wants to reward us in heaven.
The subject of rewards raises questions. What is the purpose of rewards? Is
it selfish to want them? Hebrews 11:6 says God is a rewarder of those who
seek Him. Rewards are simply Gods way of showing that He is pleased with
our lives.
Its selfish to talk about eternal rewards, some may argue. Thatll only
make you so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good. On the
contrary, we should be heavenly minded in order to be of MORE earthly good.
Jesus was the most heavenly-minded person to ever walk this planet, and He
did more earthly good than anyone in history!
Jesus would not have informed us about heavenly rewards if He didnt want us
to know about them. He could have kept the truth about eternal rewards a big
secret, which would be revealed to all on the day of judgment. Instead, He
specifically told us that some things we do now will be rewarded in the next
life. Why did God give us so much information about rewards? He wants us to
know that another world exists beyond this life and that when we serve Him,
our labor is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58)
WHAT DEEDS WILL GOD REWARD?
Your name may not be recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records for
serving God, but you can have a place in Gods Book of Heavenly Rewards.
Listed below are some Scriptures that tell us what God will reward.
REWARDS FOR BEING PERSECUTED
Jesus said, Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute
you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
Rejoice and be glad, for YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN IS GREAT (Matthew 5:11-12).
Jesus said that if we experience persecution on earth, we will be rewarded
in heaven. In a world filled with hate, distress, and despair, we need the
encouragement that comes from beyond this life. If we have only hoped
Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied (1
Corinthians 15:19). Our hope reaches into eternity, where Christ reigns over
all forever.
Persecution can be anything from being slandered to being tortured. When we
are being persecuted, its tempting to think God doesnt love us anymore.
How could He allow such a thing? Doesnt He care? Of course He does. When
youre persecuted, its not that the Lord has stopped loving us, its just
that the world has started hating us!
Jesus said when we are persecuted we should be glad IN THAT DAY, and leap
for joy, for behold, YOUR REWARD IS GREAT in heaven (Luke 6:23). He
revealed this truth about heavenly rewards to motivate us to keep the proper
attitude when we are attacked for our faith. These rewards will be more
wonderful than we could ever imagine. We should be jumping for joy when we
are mistreated, instead of whining and complaining.
Paul received beatings, stoning, scourging, and imprisonment, but always
kept his eyes fixed on the next world. In spite of these terrible things he
said, For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to
be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). Paul
considered his earthly problems to be insignificant in light of what awaited
him in heaven: For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an
eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Once we understand what is transpiring in heaven, we realize that our
enemies are actually helping us gain eternal rewards. Of course, our
persecutors dont know this secret about Gods way of blessing us eternally.
If they did, they might stop harassing us!
REWARDS FOR GIVING MONEY TO THE LORD
Jesus said, Lay up for yourselves TREASURE IN HEAVEN, where neither moth
nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where
your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:20-21) In
heaven moths cant eat it, rust cant destroy it, thieves cant steal it,
and the IRS cant tax it!
When we cheerfully give our offerings to the Lord, He will repay us forever.
It takes faith to let go of something we can see in order to gain something
that we cant see. But as martyred missionary Jim Elliot said, He is no
fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
What we do with our money reveals what we love the most. If our money could
talk, where would it say it had been? A one dollar bill met a fifty dollar
bill and said, Hey, I havent seen you around here much. Where have you
been? The fifty dollar bill answered, Ive been hanging around at the
casinos, the lottery, went on a cruise and did the rounds of the ship, back
to the United States for a while, went to a couple of pro football games, to
the mall, that kind of stuff. Where have you been? The one dollar bill said,
You know, same old place, church, church, church.
One day our money will talk, because we will give an account to God for what
we did with it. Although we cant see inside a persons heart, we can see
where his treasure goes. When we look at our treasure, we will find our
hearts right in the middle of it.
Jesus told us to invest in the futures market, so to speak, so that our
hearts would be interested in the eternal rather than the temporal. He once
told a wealthy man, Go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and
YOU SHALL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN; and come, follow Me (Mark 10:21). He
wanted the wealthy man to trade up-to exchange his earthly treasure for
heavenly treasure. Because the man was earthly-minded instead of
heavenly-minded, he went away grieved.
Giving isnt hard if we love the object of our gift. But if we dont love
the recipient of the gift, then giving is extremely difficult. Although we
can give without loving, we cannot love without giving. Giving our money to
the Lord is one proof we love Him more than the things we could have bought
with it. Our offering needs to be an act of worship from our hearts. If our
offering means nothing to us, then it means nothing to God.
The dollar amount we give on earth is not directly proportional to the
amount well receive in heaven. Jesus once watched many rich people as they
put large amounts of money in the treasury. After they gave, a poor widow
put two small copper coins into the treasury box. Jesus then told His
disciples, Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the
contributors to the treasury (Mark 12:43).
How can less be more? The widow only gave two small coins, but she gave a
fortune according to heavens bookkeeping system. Heavens accountants
calculate our giving differently than the literal figure we have
contributed. God doesnt measure our generosity by how much we give, but by
how much is left over after we give. Do you give to the Lords work? Are you
giving with a joyful heart?
REWARDS FOR LOVING YOUR ENEMIES
Do you have a hard time loving those who despise you? Its difficult because
hateful actions can wound us emotionally. How is it possible to love our
enemies? We can start the process by praying for them.
In 1994, Cindy Hartman of Conway, Arkansas came home and found a burglar in
her house. She dropped to her knees and asked the robber if she could pray
for him. I want you to know that God loves you and I forgive you. The
burglar came under conviction and apologized for breaking into her home. He
then yelled to his accomplice in a truck outside, Weve got to unload all
of this. This is a Christian family. We cant do this to them. As Hartman
remained on her knees praying for him, the thief returned the furniture he
had taken from the home, took the bullets out of his gun, handed the gun to
Hartman, and walked out the door. She literally disarmed her enemy by
praying for him.
Loving our enemies isnt a natural reaction, but a supernatural action.
Jesus commanded us to love those who hate us. He never commanded us to do
something that we arent capable of doing with His enabling. He also
promised to reward us for it. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend,
expecting nothing in return; and YOUR REWARD WILL BE GREAT (Luke 6:35). We
can only love our enemies if we view them from heavens point of view and
access heavens power.
Corrie Ten Boom was a prisoner in a German concentration camp during WWII.
Years later, speaking in a church in Munich, she spotted in the congregation
a former SS soldier who stood guard at the shower room door at Ravensbruck.
When the church was dismissed, the former Nazi came up to her and said, How
grateful I am for your message, Fraulein. To think that Jesus has washed my
sins away! He then reached out to shake her hand.
Corrie kept her hand by her side as vengeful thoughts boiled within her.
Here she stood, face to face with the man who had been so cruel to her. She
quickly prayed, Lord Jesus, forgive me for hating him and help me to
forgive him. She tried to smile and struggled to raise her hand, but couldn
t. Again she prayed, Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your
forgiveness. As she slowly lifted her hand and grabbed his, an incredible
thing happened. She said, Into my heart sprang a love for this stranger
that almost overwhelmed me. And so I discovered that it is not on our own
forgiveness that the worlds healing hinges. When He tells us to love our
enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.
When we love our enemies, we are rewarded both in this life and in the life
to come. On the day when the saints are rewarded, will you receive a reward
for loving your enemies?
REWARDS FOR FAITHFULLY WORKING AT YOUR JOB
Do you realize how important your job is in Gods eyes? Did you know that
God will reward you in heaven for faithfully working at your job? It makes
sense that God would have a divine purpose for your professional life since
you will spend approximately one third of your life working.
I believe your earthly occupation serves a double purpose: to provide your
earthly needs and to determine your job assignment in heaven. God is
preparing your eternal reward, in part based upon your faithfulness with
your work on earth. William Carey traveled to India in 1793 to start a new
work as a pioneer missionary in India. He knew no one there. He had no
knowledge of the language. When he died forty years later, he had translated
the Bible into three major Indian languages, founded what has become the
largest newspaper in India, established the Baptist Union in India, started
what has become the largest seminary in India, and did more than any
individual to bring the message of Christ to that subcontinent. William
Carey was faithful to his calling.
Although you might not be called to the mission field, you are called to be
faithful at your place of employment. Be faithful to Gods call, whatever it
is. Paul said, Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on
earth, not with external service as those who merely please men, but with
sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work
heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord
YOU WILL RECEIVE THE REWARD of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom
you serve. (Colossians 3:22-24)
Slaves were the lowest class of people in Roman society. In mens eyes, they
had no rights. Isnt it amazing that Jesus pointed to the slave as the
premier role model for us? He said, Whoever wishes to be first among you
shall be slave of all (Mark 10:44). Although slaves had the most
insignificant of all jobs, God promised to reward them in heaven if they
would work for Him rather than for men.
Do you realized the significance of this? If you think your life doesnt
count, think again. If slaves can be rewarded for doing lowly tasks for God
s glory, then the same principle applies to every believer in Christ. Martin
Luther once wrote: The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God
just as much as the monk who prays. The Christian shoemaker does his
Christian duty-not by putting little crosses on shoes, but by making good
shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.
The Christian mother who changes her babys diapers will be rewarded forever
for performing that duty. Dont you believe that having clean diapers is God
s will for a newborn? Of course it is. That means that changing diapers is
doing Gods will. And anything that is Gods will has eternal significance.
Someone had to change Jesus diapers, after all-Im sure those swaddling
clothes got a little messy at times. God was pleased when Mary put clean
Pampers on her baby.
The greatest in Gods kingdom is the servant of all, which includes serving
infants. Babies cant change their own diapers, so they must depend upon
someone else to do it. True religion is to care for orphans and widows-those
who need help (James 1:27).
The Christian mechanic who honestly repairs vehicles, the farmer who spends
long hours in the field, the butcher who works hard in the beef packing
plant, the clerk at the store who diligently waits on people, and the
hard-working office secretary are all performing significant work in the
kingdom of God. How do I know? Because Abraham raised cattle for a living.
Jacob raised sheep. They spent many days taking care of livestock in rural
areas. And God was pleased with their lives, even though no one knew who
they were at the time.
Get a new perspective on your earthly occupation. Your vocation is a part of
your calling in the kingdom of God. So whatever your job may be, start
considering God as your primary boss and you will find eternal significance
in your occupation.
REWARDS FOR SUPPORTING MINISTRIES
Jesus said, He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet SHALL
RECEIVE A PROPHETS REWARD
And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to
one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to
you, he shall not lose his reward (Mark 10:40-42). When we support churches
and ministries that are spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will also
share in their reward. God will even reward something as insignificant as
giving a cup of cold water in His name.
REWARDS FOR DOING GOOD
With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that
whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord,
whether slave or free (Ephesians 6:7-8). God makes an incredible promise in
this passage. He will personally reward us for every good deed we perform
after we are born again. Thats phenomenal, isnt it? Whenever we help
someone, speak a kind word, or go out of our way to meet a need or bless
someone, God will reward us for each deed.
God gave us this information for a reason. Can you see how having this
knowledge could change the way we treat people? If you knew that God was
creating your eternal assignments based on your actions and reactions toward
others, wouldnt it inspire you to be kind instead of rude? This promise
helps us understand that our earthly actions have eternal purposes.
A SUMMARY LIST OF REWARDS
Here is a list of some things God will reward on the judgment day, if these
deeds are performed with love, kindness, and a pure heart toward God.
Witnessing to someone about Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:16-17)
Leading someone to salvation (Proverbs 11:30)
Being martyred for Christ (Hebrews 11:37)
Seeking God diligently (Hebrews 11:6)
Giving money for Gods work (Matthew 6:3-4, 19-20)
Praying (Matthew 6:6)
Fasting (Matthew 6:17-18)
Budgeting money wisely (Luke 16:11-12)
Faithfully serving the Lord in ministry (Luke 19:17, 1 Corinthians 15:58)
Helping others (Luke 6:35)
Loving those who dont love in return (Matthew 5:46)
Treating others with honor (Matthew 10:41)
Being a godly spouse and parent (1 Peter 3:3-7)
Faithfulness in earthly jobs (Colossians 3:22-24)
Doing good deeds (Ephesians 6:7-8)
Submitting with respect to unreasonable employers (1 Peter 2:18-20)
Being persecuted for His names sake (Luke 6:22-23)
Having a servants attitude (Mark 10:43-45)
Humbling ourselves (Matthew 18:4)
Doing little things for others (Matthew 10:42)
Helping the poor (Proverbs 19:17)
Visiting widows and orphans in their distress (James 1:27)
Living righteously(Proverbs 11:31)
You probably wont make any headlines in earths newspapers if you do the
things listed above. But thats okay. Earths newspapers are used to wrap
dead fish. Heavens Headlines will be remembered forever
[Excerpt from Making Today Count for Eternity (Multnomah Publishers, 2001)
by
Kent Crockett: http://www.KentCrockett.com
AuthorTalk: http://www.authortalk.com/Authorpages/Crockett/Crockett.html
===================================================
Rosh Hashanah: Season of the Messiah
By: Bruce Scott
===================================================
The festival of Rosh Hashanah was instituted by God and given to the nation
of Israel (Numbers 29:1-6). Together with Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah is part
of the high holidays of Judaism. Both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are
referred to as the Days of Awe because during this time an individuals
fate is inscribed (on Rosh Hashanah) and sealed (on Yom Kippur) for the
coming year. The ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur inclusively are
considered Ten Days of Penitence, during which people are admonished to
repent of their sins and perform good deeds in order to merit an inscription
in the Book of Life.
On the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah opens the New Year. However, there are
actually four Jewish New Years Days. Nisan 1 begins the religious New Year.
Elul 1 was used in ancient times to determine the tithing of animals. Shevat
15 was used to determine the tithing of fruit. Tishri 1, Rosh Hashanah,
starts the civil New Year.
Rosh Hashanah (meaning Head or Beginning of the Year) is also known by three
other names: The Day of Judgment, the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar (ram
s horn), and the Day of Remembrance. Although not taught in Scripture, it
is believed that on Rosh Hashanah God sits in judgment of the whole
universe. Like sheep passing before a shepherd, who decides which ones will
live and which ones will be slaughtered, on this Day of Judgment God
evaluates the merits of the people and nations. He decrees which individuals
will have good fortune and which will suffer calamity; which will prosper
and which will experience poverty and want; which will live for another year
and which will die. This theme of Gods judgment is emphasized more than any
other on Rosh Hashanah.
The judgment on Rosh Hashanah does not decide a persons eternal destiny.
Rosh Hashanah is for judgment concerning earthly matters. The judgment
handed down on that day, with its subsequent recording in the Book of Life,
decides a persons fate in his life for the coming year. That is not to say
that peoples actions do not impact the final judgment of their souls after
they die, but on Rosh Hashanah their behavior is judged only for the here
and now and not for the hereafter.
The verdict is settled by opening three books: one listing the righteous,
one listing the wicked, one listing those somewhere in between. Those in the
first book are immediately inscribed for life; those in the second book for
death; and those in the third book are given ten days to repent and perform
enough good deeds to outweigh their bad deeds.
Rosh Hashanah is also know as the Day of the Sounding of the Shofar or the
Feast of Trumpets. God directed Moses in Numbers 10:1-10 to fashion two
silver trumpets to be used to assemble the children of Israel, to announce
the moving of the camps, to sound an alarm in battle, and to be used during
the sacrificial offerings performed on festival days. Along with these two
silver trumpets, a shofar (rams horn) was blown on Rosh Hashanah. The
shofar became the more prominent instrument on this day.
There is no reason given in Scripture for blowing the trumpets, other than
as a memorial or reminder (Leviticus 23:24). But reminder to whom? Israel
blew the two silver trumpets in battle and on festival days to be
remembered before the Lord [their] God (Numbers 10:9-10). Most likely that
was also why they were blown on Rosh Hashanah so that God would remember
His covenant relationship with Israel and the promises He had made to them.
Jewish tradition, however, views blowing the shofar as more of a reminder to
Israel than to God. On Rosh Hashanah the shofar reminds the Jewish people of
two things.
First, it reminds them to offer their lives to God. The account of the
offering of Isaac plays a major role on Rosh Hashanah and is highly
regarded. Not only is it believed that the offering of Isaac occurred on
Rosh Hashanah, but Isaacs willingness to be bound and put to death is seen
as the greatest example for Jewish martyrdom their readiness to be
sacrificed for their beliefs. Also, when Israel remembers the offering of
Isaac on Rosh Hashanah, as well as the merits of all of the patriarchs
(Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), God grants them mercy on this day of judgment.
It is said that when He hears the sound of the shofar, God is moved to leave
His seat of judgment and go to His seat of mercy and forgiveness. As
expressed in one of the prayers on Rosh Hashanah, Do Thou heed from heaven
s heights the Shofar-blast, and leave Thy throne of stern justice for Thy
seat of mercy. Remember Isaac who was bound on the altar, and for his sake,
grant his offspring mercy.
Second, it reminds them to have faith in the future coming of the Messiah
and the regathering of Israel back to their homeland (Isaiah 27:13). As the
high holiday prayer book states, Our God and God of our fathers, sound the
great Shofar for our freedom, set up the banner to gather our exiles,
assemble our scattered ones from among the nations, and gather our dispersed
from the utter most parts of the earth.
All of these reminders for God and Israel show why Rosh Hashanah is also
known as the Day of Remembrance.
Prophecy and Rosh Hashanah
On Wednesday, June 7, 1967, at the height of the Six-Day War, Israeli forces
pushed into Jerusalem and recaptured the Temple Mount. After two thousand
years, the Jewish peoples holiest place was once again in their possession.
At the Western Wall, the last vestige of the walls that once surrounded the
ancient Temple, hardened soldiers wept openly in joy. Others gently embraced
the rough stones that towered above them. The Chief Army Chaplain, Rabbi
Schlomo Goren, then performed a very significant act: He sounded the shofar.
People familiar with the prophetic designs of the Feast of Rosh Hashanah
immediately recognized the intent of Rabbi Goren. By blowing the shofar, he
symbolically announced to the world Israels return to the home of their
forefathers. This is the prophetic message of Rosh Hashanah the future
return, restoration, or regathering of the people of Israel back to the land
God has given them.
In the Book of Deuteronomy Moses delivered his final charge to the people of
Israel. They were told that if they disobeyed Gods commands, the result
would be global dispersion. A survey of Israels history shows that God has
been true to His Word. The nation did rebel against God and therefore
suffered the terrible consequence of dispersion. As a result of the
scattering in 70 A.D. by the Roman army, followed by another dispersion in
135 A.D., Jewish people were scattered to the four corners of the earth.
Today Jewish people can be found in almost every country of the world.
In spite of their displacement from the land of promise, God has given the
people of Israel His pledge that one day He will bring them back home.
And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the
blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call
them to mind among all the nations, to which the Lord thy God hath driven
thee, And shalt return unto the Lord they God, and shalt obey his voice
according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with
all thine heart, and with all thy soul, That then the Lord thy God will turn
thy captivity, and have gather thee from all the nations where the Lord thy
God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost
parts of heaven, from there will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from
there will he fetch thee. And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land
which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee
good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the Lord thy God will
circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live
(Deuteronomy 30:1-6).
There are three main elements in this passage: Israels repentance, Israels
regathering, and Israels revival. These three components are also
reiterated in numerous other prophetic texts. The order of end-time events
in relationship to the nation of Israel can therefore be outlined as
follows:
1. A partial return to the land in unbelief
2. Israels repentance brought about by the Tribulation period and the
revelation of Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 4:30); Zechariah 12:10).
3. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Zechariah 14:3-4).
4. The supernatural regathering of Israel, accompanied by the sound of the
shofar (Matthew 24:31).
5. The judgment of Israel to purge out those who still refuse to believe in
Jesus Christ (Ezekiel 20:33-38).
6. The return of Israel to the land of promise (Ezekiel 36-24; also
foreshadowed by the Feast of Rosh Hashanah).
7. The cleansing of Israel and the gift of a new heart and a new spirit to
all Jewish people (Yom Kippur).
8. Israel will receive and enjoy the Kingdom blessings (Ezekiel 36:33-38;
Daniel 9:24 [Sukkot]).
As with some of the other festivals, there is no clear indication in
Scripture that Rosh Hashanah will be celebrated during the millennial reign
of the Messiah Jesus. Because blowing the trumpets was to serve as a
memorial or reminder to God of His covenant promises to Israel, there would
be no reason to continue that reminder once the covenant promises are
fulfilled. But it is also possible that Rosh Hashanah could be one of the
feasts listed in Ezekiel 45:17 that will be observed during the Millennium.
If so, it would most likely be to memorialize Gods faithfulness in keeping
His covenant promises.
From: The Feasts of Israel: Seasons of the Messiah, by Bruce Scott
======================================================
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