Living The Divine Life

Living The Divine Life

Have you ever dreamed about living a miraculous life? Living a life that is not so encumbered by the limitations of this world, a life not so guided by the everyday conundrum of the mundane?

Take a look at the following text

(Luke 1:26) In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town inGalilee,

(Luke 1:27) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

(Luke 1:28) The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

(Luke 1:29) Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

(Luke 1:30) But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

(Luke 1:31) You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

(Luke 1:32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

(Luke 1:33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."

(Luke 1:34) "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

(Luke 1:35) The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[3] the Son of God.

(Luke 1:36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

(Luke 1:37) For nothing is impossible with God."

(Luke 1:38) "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

This is the Christmas season… and around us we see lights, and Christmas trees, Christmas shopping, sales and wrapping and so on… There are so many things associated with this season… from presents, cantatas to dinners, and shopping, oh man there is so much shopping!! But the season also houses in it, the theme and the possibility of the miraculous…

There is so much that is miraculous about Christmas – so much divinity in this event! And to be honest we should take notice – because of the individuals involved are – People like Joseph, Elizabeth and even Mary – are nothing more than people, humans just like you and I, they are nothing more than normal everyday people – whom were touched by, and encountered by and engaged with divinity.

I want to talk to you about what it takes:

· To live in the miracle

· to live connected to divinity

· to live a life susceptible to phenomenon, susceptible to the supernatural… susceptible to the celestial

And this brings me to my first thought – WE ARE NOT ALONE…

We are not without traveling companions,

We are not without the assistance of divine fellow servants

We do not travel these life highways alone

We do not face trials alone

We do not face life decisions alone

Instead it is true to state and to say that the celestial are among us, divinity is with us… it surrounds us, communicates to us, and moves us

look at Luke chapter 1

(Luke 1:26) In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town inGalilee,

(Luke 1:27) to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

(Luke 1:28) The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

Notice the occurrences here:

· angels on the earth

· The celestial interacting with humanity

· Talking with humanity

· Moving humanity

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Luke 2:9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[1] the Lord.

Luke 2:12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

· Joseph was not alone

· Mary was not alone

· Daniel in the book of Daniel was not alone

· John the revelator talked with an angel he was not alone

· Even lowly shepherds in the field had an encounter with what the bible calls heavenly hosts!

You my dear friend are not alone –

· You are connected to divinity

· You are surrounded by divinity

· You are loved by divinity

you encounter it everyday – many times completely unaware

(Hebrews 13:2) Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.¹

You see that we are not alone – we are surrounded and encirculed and connected to the divine – to God – ALL DAY LONG!

We need to be come – conscious of it- Aware of HIS presence

CHRISTMAS SPEAKS THIS TO US WE ARE NOT ALONE

My next thought is With this touch of divinity, with God - Nothing Is Impossible

There is a point where Jesus is teaching his disciples about salvation and they are stating that what Jesus is telling them is a hard thing and they wonder who can do what Jesus is telling them

And Jesus replies

(Matthew 19:26) But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

You see what he is saying here is so true – so many of the things that we do are connected only to ourselves

So many of the things that we attempt, we attempt all by ourselves

You will find repeatedly in the bible men attempting a task while not connected to divinity and they fail - Yet those same men when connected to God and while operating with God succeed at this exact same task

When we connect to God we connect to success

When we connect to God we connect to power

When we connect to God we connect to might

When we connect to God we connect to victory

There is no failure in God

There is no lack in God

There are no deficiencies in God

When we connect to the power of God

When we connect to the might of God

When we connect to the anointing of God

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

(Luke 1:34) "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

(Luke 1:35) The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[3] the Son of God.

(Luke 1:36) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

(Luke 1:37) For nothing is impossible with God."

Mary knows what the angel has said is not physically possible

It is beyond her to conceive a child without knowing a man

She looks at this and says “How will this be?”

How many of us look at the task before us and wonder – How will this be?

I can’t do this

I can’t afford this

I cannot achieve this

HOW WILL THIS HAPPEN?

GOD of course is the answer God does miracles through humanity – He did amazing things through

Mary, Moses, Daniel, or Paul… to name few! There are a long list of humans who said – How? But The answer was and is GOD!

My Next thought is - The Willing & Surrendering Spirit SAYS “Do with Me as you will”

This is a very critical point – Mary works with the divine will of God, she allows it to overshadow her, she follows its flow where ever it goes and she flows with it. How strange a thing this is that we often fail to recognize the move of God, and fail to get on board with the plan of God!

The greatest hindrance to a miraculous existence, to a celestial experience, to divine life is our insistence on our own way.

Moses operated in the miraculous – because he was in the plan of God

Think of Shadrach – Meshach and Abednego – the Hebrew men who did not die in the fiery furnace. These men were not immune to fire, They did not have a genetic disposition that gave them the ability to withstand flames, heat and fire. So how did the miraculous happen, or this amazing event transpire? Simple Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were operating in the flow of GOD!

Connected to the divine current of God – to the way God was moving, created a new realm of possibilities, an absolutely powerful avenue of the divine… functioning, operating and performing the miraculous!

Listen to the book of James

Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

Jas 4:2 You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

Jas 4:4 You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble."

Jas 4:7 So let God work his will in you

Where does the breakdown happen… In selfishness, our personal desires, our fleshy or selfish wants!

There is great power in disconnecting from self so we can follow God, disconnecting from what we want, disconnecting from our selfish desires, disconnecting from our own will our own current or flow which is full of limitations and full of impossibilities…

Paul called addressed this disconnect in (1 Corinthians 15:31) I die daily.

And again in the book of Galatians

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

Paul is saying “this is not about what I want” or “This is not about my ego, or my self image” -This is not about my own selfish desires… This is about what GOD is doing and my connection and life in him

(Luke 17:33) People who try to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them.

There is a section of scripture that I always found so intriguing and it is in the book of Acts… notice this

(Acts 16:6) Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.

(Acts 16:7) After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit^[a] did not permit them.

Notice that Paul has a desire, and even attempts to fulfill it… but when this does not work, for whatever reason, the writer says the Spirit, the divine, did not permit them to go… How unique is this? How incredible that there is no blame on the world, or the devil or some force of evil… but instead He accepts what is happening stating that God is in charge!

Our job is just to recognize and cooperate with that divine guidance. To stop letting life be a struggle, and, instead, begin to flow with effortless ease in the direction that God guides…

The Miraculous life is found in those that trust in God, obey and flow with God… connect with Him… Surrender to God… Accept the fact that God is with us… that in Him we move, we live, we breath and we have our being(Acts 17:28)

The Easy Encounter With God

So what’s wrong with the world today, what’s wrong with the church? Why are people so embittered against the church, and why is it so hard to get them connected, why are we frustrated, why are ministers leaving the ministry?

These are a few of the questions that loom among the believers today and I am sure there are a million opinions on this issue, I have one too… I don’t think that my opinion is of any more validity than any one else’s, but hey it’s my blog and I’ll blog if I want too!

My personal opinion is this – years of self righteous, self serving, self pinning, egotistical, religious, hypocritical, self defined virtue have taken its toll. So much so that we don’t even know what church is suppose to look like, or feel like! We don’t know how to respond to one another, to respond to the call of Christ or to the world without!

Who to love, how to love, what to love and what is love seem to be the most evasive answers to our “Christian society” today.

We are stuck between the manufactured image of our modern Christ, and the frustration that product produces.

It has so many of us feeling lost and uncertain.

Let’s face it we are tired and frustrated… tired of trying to play the part and look the image… saying the “Christian thing” in the Christian way, feeling frustrated that God did not “show up” or did not respond the way the televangelist said he would and wondering where in the world we are!

So many are tired of the right song at the right moment followed by the manufactured right words – it has become nauseating and all the while– there He is, Jesus, consistent, persistent, loving and waiting by that same ole well… The same well that he waited by for the Samaritan woman – Who like us was not worthy, who like us was frustrated, who like us was totally and utterly confused, who like us needed an encounter with the real Jesus! (John 4)

Interestingly enough Jesus seemed happy to oblige, happy to wait for this woman – in fact the encounter was His idea and… I like that… a God who looks for the opportunity to have an encounter with me, with you… a God who looks for the moment to clear it all up a bit… a God who takes the time to wait in a place where he knows I will show up… just to encounter me… Wow – can I fathom being “God –Chased!”

Encountering God may not be the maze we once propagated it to be… Could it be that God wants to expose us to His love, His grace and His power?(Luke 13:35) (John 1:14-17) Could it be this seeming chase to find Him, this elusive game of His presence being just out of our reach that all this has been a sham? A rouse, even perhaps a tool to keep us in line?

I don’t even know if I want to answer that, all I know is the God defined by scripture seems to be hunting continually for us… I find Him calling men, (Mark 1: 16, 17, 18) seeking them in the cool of the day,(Genesis 3:8) seeking them under trees,(1 Kings 19:5) in a manger at some dirty stable(Luke 2:1-14) in upper rooms(John 20:24-29), and walking along roads( Luke 24:13-32) and even through burning bushes and MOST PROMINANTLY ON A CROSS…

And so the question is – WHO ARE YOU GOD? - The God who abides ever elusively or are you the one who continually calls to man, even hunts for him? The one who has broken every barrier to get to us, the one who circumvented the spirit/flesh barrier, the life/death barrier – even the sin barrier to reach us, to get into our presence, and to bring us into yours?

This seems to be You? All that I can say to this is “Thank you”

Thank you Jesus because I am so lost sometimes and what I really need is for you to come find me… and you do(Matthew18:12-14)

Thank you God because I get so depleted and what I really need to know is that you love me, and you promise me that you do (Jeremiah 31:3)

Thank you Jesus because sometimes I get weary and I need a friend and you are…(John 15:15)

Be the self defined God of my life… Set me free of my illusions and let me see you through your own description of who you are!

Because you are magnificent, glorious and great! The God who went through ALL THE TROUBLE OF SENDING HIS OWN SON - and for what?!?

For you and for me... Can you accept that today? Can you receive that today? That God has chased you... Called you... Wants you? He does you know... He loves you... and you can't change that... Thank God - For He has loved us with an everlasting, unending, unfathomable love(John 3:16)

Without Spot!

With anger Janice threw her purse to the table, she could not believe what happened today; she was furious, frustrated and offended! She reached for the phone and called her best friend “Sarah” Janice started “you won’t believe what happened today, I am furious” Sarah sensing Janice’s rage she quickly asked Janice “What in the world happened?” “Well, you wont believe it” Janice quipped “Do you remember James, the man I work with, you know the one I have been witnessing too – well today he literally had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to have an affair!” Janice heatedly lamented. “I mean me, a Christian – How could he?”
Sarah sensing the obvious pain and frustration tried to intervene, but Janice was already starting the next wave of her tirade – “I don’t get it, I was kind, I smiled, I showed interest and care – I even ate lunch with him once – all the things that Jesus did! I even…” before she could go on Sarah interrupted “Janice –in all your WWJDing did you ever actually tell James about Jesus? Did you make it clear that you where a sold out, born again, spirit filled Christian?” silence dominated the cell waves for a moment – Janice had forgotten the most important element in propagating Christianity – was actually being a Christian.

In our attempts to become relevant and reachable to an unchurched world, I watch as the lines of distinction between the church and the world really have begun to blur and not to our credit – I am not talking about musical styles or apparel, but plain ole common ethics – ethics are merely a system of moral principles governing the appropriate conduct for a person or group – I am amazed as the masses compromise these elements when they seem to suit them and uphold them in an attempt to manipulate others…

For instance Christian musical groups seem to find creative ways to hide their faith in their lyrics, witnessing techniques set at hiding our truest views in relevant words, and of course the “post modern language and behavior approach” whose motive is “to win them you have to be like them” mentality.


Certainly we could dive much further and all the more offensive if we so chose; one would merely need to address improper relationships in the church, conservatives voting liberal instead of God’s values - I am still dying to figure that one out, particularly in pertinent in the coming days – I mean the erosion of common sense holiness is apparent! In fact in an ethics class recently the instructor had to tell the class “When you pastor a church don’t invite the secretary to ride with you to the bank or to look at new carpet or anywhere else!” another stated “If you have a problem with internet pornography get help – and stop doing it” More than once I have seen praise teams, worship bands and church members whose apparel allowed me to see… more – actually much more than I should see.

While I do not believe that holiness has completely faded into oblivion I do believe it has taken a back seat or has been removed from the center stage – common ethics are no longer givens – the next generation has to be told about potential dangers, from leaders because they never learned them as basic ethics 101 - which perhaps could be the reason accusations are becoming more and more common! Interestingly enough Paul stated in (Romans 2:24) As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

The notion was that the sins of God’s people where in some ways tarnishing the image of God among the heathen… Have you considered how failures not only affect the church but those outside the church as well? I was not serving the Lord when Jimmy Swaggert fell – but I well remember it: he bashed Rock and Roll it seemed every Sunday, sending all us rockers to hell in his sermons… when news of his fall hit my ears – I confess it was damaging, when ministers fall, marriages fail, and churches split – make no mistake friends the world is watching, and yet another brick wall is built, another excuse supplied and another reason is gained to stay away from Jesus and the hypocrites that follow Him.

Over the next few weeks and days I’d like to deal with a few controversial topics relating to Godly principles. Certainly feathers will be ruffled and toes stepped on – and you (yes I am talking to you) may even disagree with my personal assessment. Few are as avid against the destruction of legalism as am I, but we must equally understand that the ruse of covert Christianity is not consistent with the faith of our forefathers: Peter, James or Paul, nor is it is not consistent with the spread of our faith all around the world… Hugs are good, grace is glorious, but there’s value in an ole fashioned altar call from time to time…

Change Christianity from its original ingredients, and sooner than later its really not Christianity any more – I was once served meat loaf with and interesting twist, and honey I can tell you just because you call it meat loaf – that does not make it meat loaf – “I’ve had Meat Loaf, and this dear lady aint no Meat Loaf”

I remember

Did the red seem a little more vibrant, the blue a little more precious, and the stars somehow more majestic on the US flag today?

They did for me, as I passed by the flag at Carbondale park flying at half mast this morning, and I admit it – tears formed in my eyes – it is a beautiful flag. I love my country so much, and as I reflected on the September 11^th that tragically unfolded seven years ago… I realized it still hurts a little, and I am still a little upset over the whole thing… and still a little angry.

I am moved at the Twin Towers, on our soil, burning in the New York skyline, the people leaping from burning structures, on our soil, our US brothers and sisters, jumping to their death, and others who gave their lives in the hopes of saving some: fireman, policemen and ambulatory services succumbing to death all at the means of terrorists, and on our soil.

• I have not forgotten them
• I have not forgotten the killers who sinned against them, and us.
• I have not forgotten the images of destruction, death and ruin.
• I have not forgotten the threats, and cheers of Muslim extremists.
• I have not forgotten the tears I cried on that day.
• I have not forgotten the stories of those who lost family, those who survived, and the lives of children who lost their parents.
• I have not forgotten the messages on answering machines of those who stated their last goodbyes
• I have not forgotten the plane in the pentagon
• I have not forgotten the plane in the field
• I have not forgotten 9/11 and I hope I NEVER do.

I hope time does not dull the senses, time does not dull the resolve, time does not dull the memory of transgressors murdering innocent Americans… I hope time does not dull the feeling of my honored citizenship on that day when we as a country where one, we where honored, we where proud and patriotic! I hope time does not dull the reality of evil that exists in this world, and resolve that good must persevere!

I contend that 9/11 is the most significant event to occur in my life time… and perhaps the history of this nation, and though life continues, business is usual, and the world turns – I am today emotional; emotional over the date, emotional over the memory and emotional over the event… and today I remember! To the victims, the hero’s to dead, and to terrorists – I REMEMBER YOU!

September 11, 2001 ever ingrained in my spirit; I remember where I was, the station that was playing, and the spot in the road. I remember the scenes from the television, the call home and the days that followed…

Today take a moment to look at the flag, today take a moment to say a prayer for the fatherless, the widowed and the hurting, today take a moment to pray for our leaders… today take a moment to remember

My Review of "The Shack"

Okay – well here goes my spin on the book "The Shack". There has been a lot of buzz about the book. Some good some bad, some fair and some just down right rude!
The Shack is a novel by William P. Young, and the book has made quite a few waves in Christian circles. It has been on the New York Times best sellers list and at the time of this opine it is among the top ten at Amazon .com as well!

So what’s the deal - a whole host of reviewers have labeled the book as poorly written, while others have even called it “heresy” to the opposite extreme the highly respected Eugene Peterson, who is responsible for the Message Bible, stated:

"When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!"

Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus Of Spiritual Theology,
Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

Other churches claim to be giving the book away by the box loads, because it is so good… So who is right?
What do I think?

Well I read the book in a weekend and I loved it! I laughed and, admittedly, I cried, and felt the presence of God. I think the book is absolutely fantastic! It is the most unconventional, weird and outside the box Christian book I have ever read, and it made a profound impact on me! I cannot recommend it enough! READ THIS BOOK!

Now that being said is it the most theologically sound book on the market? No it is not, nor is that the intention of the author. The author’s intention is to show the love of God, and those who criticize the book based on its theological stumblings didn’t "get it" to begin with…

The book is not a discourse of doctrine; it is instead a journey through the soul of a broken man, who experiences the love of God. It is unconventional to be certain… but it is a beautiful exchange that shows a God who is not impressed, nor desires, for humanity to live in guilt, condemnation, and shame… With the constant nagging of "I’m not doing enough" Well: Hip Hip Hooray! It explores on an emotional level the acceptance of completion in Christ – a main theme of the apostle Paul by the way – which in a world of witch trials, seed- faith (sowing seeds for miracles) and other barterings with God – I further applaud- again "Hip Hip Hooray!"

For certain there are some portions of the book that are not absolutely 100% concrete correct, but the book challenges the Pharisee resident in all of us, it challenges us to instead of simply seeing, and abiding by the rules of the bible the book pushes us to the spirit of the law, instead of the regulations we are pushed to relationship – The relationship between God and man, and man and man… (one more time now all together "HIP HIP HOORAY")

Once again- I never said the book was perfect nor am I ready to trade in the ole KJV and inquire about the leather bound – gold leaf version of "The Shack" to astutly stuff under my arm on a Sunday morning! But my goodness I will contend my heart was enlightened, my spirit was lifted and my soul did rejoice!

Few books make a profound impact on me, in fact it is rare that I finish one, this one I finished, and it has left its mark. If you’re looking for the next series of Doctrinal Discourses on the Trinity, or The Finite Understandings of the Symbolism on the book of Revelation Accurately Explained – the book is certain to disappoint – if however you can open your mind and let your heart take a ride with a God who possibly loves us so much more than we imagined – I think you’ll enjoy the book (gee just for old times sake “HIP HIP HOORAY”)

A few concerns
To be fair in the latter chapters a discourse gives ever so slightly the appearance of universalism and the discerning eye will raise its brow– it does later however talk of the need for repentance and relationship with Jesus Christ…

The Trinity aspect is sometimes unique – and not always consistent – but lets say this word out loud together "FICTION"

Finally the subject recently came up in our discussion on Wednesday evening about God first appearing to Mack (the main character) as an overweight black woman, and how odd that was… to which came the quick rebuttal “But you don’t mind Him as a talking burning bush?”

God Bless you and I hope you enjoy the read!
Craig

Did Jesus Tell Us To Use His Name At Baptism?

The existence of the Apostolic Oneness Pentecostal belief system typically centers around one central verse: Acts 2:38, of which they interpret the entire Word of God through this one verse. This style of biblical interpretation causes great error, of which is clearly evident in their theology.
As time allows over the next few weeks I am going to deal with each "Oneness Pentecostal Misunderstanding" at a time and try and better clarify the true meaning of the verse and verses they have through the years distorted and abused for personal gain...

The assessment of the Oneness Pentecostal is that the Apostle Peter's wording in Acts 2:38 is that “JESUS” is the one name subscribed to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

Apostolic believe that that Jesus spoke a cryptic mysterious riddle and the apostles understood the cryptic message of Jesus, that they where not to invoke the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Ghost at baptism as Jesus said, but instead – this was a coded message to use the actual name "Jesus"!

Okay one issue at a time

1) Did Jesus ever speak in this code prior to this?

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mark 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

We can see that Jesus uses freely “my name” in the above texts to indicate that we are to use His actual name - so why now at such a crucial point of salvation does Jesus “mix it up” a bit? Why not be forthwith with it? Why all the code?


2) Is the name of the Father, JESUS?

Here is the crux of the matter – What we really have to determine is this one issue. Is the name of "Jesus" the name of the Father? It is critical because this is where the doctrine stands or falls. Jesus Name people/Oneness Pentecostals state JESUS is the one name of GOD revealed to humanity by which to call – Hence the name of the Father is JESUS, and the Holy Spirit is JESUS, and of course Jesus is JESUS.

The problematic scene we have – is biblically we do not see such a reality, the bible never tells us the name of Jesus is the one name of God

This causes us a problem with the Oneness interpretation of Acts 2:38.

There is no scriptural text to validate that the one name of JESUS is the one name ascribed to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. In fact scripture contains distinctions such as those noted in the greetings to the Romans See Romans 1:1-7

(Rom 1:7) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Again in 2 John 3 (2 John 1:3) Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.


Such greetings and statements are VERY problematic for the oneness adherents; in fact in most cases such a greeting would not be welcome among oneness ranks, for its supposed Trinitarian implication.

Typically most of the text that is used to support this view are interpretational errors such as…

(John 5:43) I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states…
John 5:43 - I am come in my Father's name,.... Power and authority; by his consent, with his will, and according to a covenant with him: Christ came not of himself, of his own accord, by a separate power and will of his own, but was called, and sent, and came by mutual agree meat; and brought his credentials with him, doing the works and miracles which his Father gave him to finish:

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible states…
I am come in my Father’s name - With all his influence and authority. Among the rabbins, it was essential to a teacher’s credit that he should be able to support his doctrine by the authority of some eminent persons who had gone before. Hence the form, Coming in the name of another.

The most accurate rendition of this is “I am come in my Father’s authority, power and consent” not that the name of the Father is JESUS. You’ll find few biblical scholars who assume the text to mean anything more than the commentaries above have noted. Much like David stated

(1 Samuel 17:45) Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Meaning the power, authority and might of GOD, David was not implying that the name of the Father was DAVID!!! But under the exegesis of apostolics – we must assume this to be the meaning since they insist the same words spoken by JESUS to mean this very thing.

Another instance is seen here in (John 10:25) Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.


The greek word for “name” according to Strongs is:
G3686 ὄνομα
onoma
on'-om-ah
From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a “name” (literally or figuratively), (authority, character): - called, (+ sur-) name (-d).

”Name” here could be figuratively or literally – but we see the two fold meaning
1) a “name
2) authority, character
It is scholarly assumed to mean: authority, character

Thirdly and one I often heard when I was a Oneness Pentecostal was the poor usage of Zechariah 14:9. Some assume the prophecy of Zechariah 14:9 to be fulfilled by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

It reads

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Insisting this prophecy has been fulfilled and that name is Jesus, oneness adherents often site this verse to establish the validity of their doctrine…

Lets look at the verse in context…

The chapter starts with this prophetic word

(Zechariah 14:2) For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

(Zechariah 14:3) Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

(Zechariah 14:4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown

Zec 14:4 -

… The place of His departure at His ascension shall be the place of His return: and the “manner” of His return also shall be similar (Act_1:11). He shall probably “come from the east”…

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Zec 14:1 - Behold, the day of the Lord cometh,.... Or the day when the Lord will come, both in his spiritual and personal reign; for this is not to be understood of his first coming in the flesh…

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

One Lord, and his name one - There shall be in those blessed days, only one religion, and one form of religion. There shall not be gods many, and lords many. All mankind shall be of one religion, the essence of which is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength; and thy Neighbor as thyself.”

Further the context states

Zec 14:11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Obviously this is a futuristic event and not a current reality! Therefore their use of Zechariah 14:9 is improper.

Oneness adherents have a real problem now, since we do not have the scriptural ability to attribute the name of JESUS CHRIST to the Father! In fact thier entire theology is debunked in this one little article!

Interestingly enough the bible actually tells us that Jesus Himself we receive a new name

(Revelation 3:12) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Oneness proponents for years have insisted that Jesus is the one name discussed in Zechariah and that Jesus spoke cryptically in Matthew 28:19 - the unfortunate reality is the rest of the bible does not support such a premise - Error results in any fringe group when a single verse becomes the cornerstone of their movement, and not the unchanging Word of God - the bible reminds us to take the WHOLE COUNSEL - not just a few pet verses

It Stinks To Be Stuck - PART ONE

Alright it's time to blog again - I have been swamped, and unable to write for a little bit - BUT I'M BACK WITH A VENGEANCE!

This is a five part series about being stuck in life - Based on the Hebrews 40 year adventure in the desert on the way to the promise land!

Enjoy!

(Hebrews 3:12) See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

(Hebrews 3:13) But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

(Hebrews 3:14) We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

(Hebrews 3:15) As has just been said:"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."^[2]

(Hebrews 3:16) Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

(Hebrews 3:17) And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?

(Hebrews 3:18) And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed^[3] ?

(Hebrews 3:19) So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Heb 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

Heb 4:2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.^[1]

Heb 4:3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' "^[2]

Heb 4:4 And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."^[3]

Heb 4:5 And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest."

Heb 4:6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.

The bible tells us that the Hebrews Children where headed for the promise land… they where headed for that place where the land of milk and honey flowed .

That land of blessing…

The promise that God had procured for them. It was approx an 8 day trip….. However it took them 40 years! Talk about going the long way around! Shee

40 years they wandered through the desert
40 years they wasted time going around in circles…

40 years of the same scenery

How frustrating it must have been to be so close… yet never reaching their destination…

Do you ever feel that way? Like you're so close but just not quite there? Like you have been looking at the same ole scenery for way to long?

I want to talk to you about reaching the promise land, because perhaps you have left Egypt(so to speak)… You have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, you have accepted the Lord as your king – you’re a follower of HIM… There has been powerful changes in your life, but yet, you feel stuck

You're stuck in the desert, you feel stuck, you act stuck, why, you look stuck!

Maybe you came from a family that is stuck, and they passed their "stuckness" on to you and you... well if things don't change you may pass your "stuckness"(Yes, I know that's not a word) onto your kids!

You don’t want to be stuck, you don’t like to be stuck, but still you are stuck, and you feel like you just might die stuck.

You feel like: I'm gonna die stuck in this place, I’m gonna die stuck with this face, I’m gonna die stuck!

and I don't have to tell you: it stinks to be stuck

I want us to look at the things that keep us stuck

Cuz the same things that kept them stuck in the desert, are the same things that keep us stuck today. We'll look at one element that keeps us stuck per article and work our way through

#1 Murmering

(Exodus 14:11) They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?

(Exodus 14:12) Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"

(Exodus 14:13) Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.

(Exodus 14:14) The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

They had already seen God move in mighty ways – yet they have become grumblers, complainers and murmers

In case you don't know – nobody, including God, likes a complainer

Complaining is bad

Complaining and grumbling keeps you stuck!

Some people all they do is complain. They have and maintain a poor out look on life, all they can see is the bad, and are quick to share how rough they have got it! It is poor me the moment they awake and they stay that way day after day after day.

When you murmur and complain you are in effect telling God

• Your plan and your work in my life is not satisfactory!
• I don’t care for your way of doing things!

When we complain, we focus only on what’s wrong. Things may be mostly fine but complainers only talk about the problems, annoyances and peeves they perceive are ruining their lives!

The problem with being a complainer is your perception of the situation will look a lot worse than it really is. You'll actually retard or impair your ability to correctly view your life, and the challenges that come your way.

Another very serious issue is science has discovered that complaining is actually habit forming. You actually training your mind to look at the negative. Listen to that for a moment. It is a proven fact that the mind forms its own habits, it own cycle of thought.

Now we can break these cycles of thought but it takes purposed thinking to do so, it is not the immediate subconscious tendency(praise God - we can form good God like habits of subconscious thought too) I said all that to say this - the more you complain the more subconscious habits your are creating - this means your thought tendency will be that of depression, frustration and defeat!

That’s why Paul tells us to think about the good things

(Philippians 4:8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

My favorite section of this verse is "if anything is excellent or praiseworthy"

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy - it gives me the impression that even if we have to dig down for something that is praiseworthy... scrape the bottom of the barrel for something praiseworthy, if there is "anything" at all- we need to think about that one thing!

(Exodus 16:2) In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

(Exodus 16:3) The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."

In Jude the Bible talks about wickedness and it says:

(Jude 1:16) These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

How ironic that grumbling and fault finding is listed among wicked deeds - further more we are reminded again in Philippians

Ph'p:2:14: Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Psychologist Martin Seligman showed the world in his research that people who see the world in a positive light have a long list of advantages - let me name a few :

• They live longer

• They’re healthier

• They have more friends and better social lives

• They enjoy life more

• They’re more successful at work

All this just by thinking positive! How much more should we than world have the ability to THINK POSITIVE?

Tired of being stuck - I want to challenge you this week to refrain from grumbling and complaining - When the tendency arises - SHOOT IT DOWN with the power of the Spirit - whose tendency is life, love and faith...

Time to get "unstuck" one chain link at a time and from this day forward - you no longer grumble - you no longer complain - in fact you need to be the grateful and positive person you know~