How about adding a new word to your vocabulary? Would you like to try ‘Shechinah’? It means ‘presence’ or ‘residence.’ Sound insignificant? Maybe, but knowing it can mean stability and comfort for any trial or crisis you experience in life.
Let me explain. When the Israelites were stomping around in the wilderness they had a strange leader. No, I’m not talking about Moses, I’m talking about the Pillar. A pillar of cloud during the day and the pillar of fire during the night to lead and protect them was called the Shechinah Glory and signified the presence or residence of God.
This pillar provided guidance and protection for them while wandering in the wilderness. The Israelites moved when the pillar move. When it stopped, they stopped. When the Israelites were threatened from the back, the pillar moved to the rear to protect them. When something stopped them from moving forward, God took it out of the way or stood between them and the danger. When they were hungry, God fed them. When thirsty, He gave them drink. God was always there. His residence, the Shechinah, was always in their midst.
Did you know we have something better than the Israelites did? Something much, much better! The Shechinah Glory was in their midst, or external from them. Through Christ the believers have the Shechinah Glory dwelling within. God dwells within the believer to give protection, guidance, and sustenance with the same power He demonstrated for the Israelites. Therein lies the difference between ‘them’ and ‘us’ (Heb. 11:40). They were used by God as a picture of His residence but now we are the reality, the substance. And, WOW, is it ever a BIG difference!
They had to follow only by the use of their physical eyes, by their physical senses. They saw with their eyes the power of God in guiding and protecting them. Unfortunately, they saw only to the end of their noses. God had performed many miracles in their midst but when it came to trusting Him to provide further for them, the end of their noses stopped and they could see no further for they were still in the flesh. This is what it is to trust only that which we can see with our physical eyes.
God brought them out of Egypt in order to being them to the Promised land but because they were only in the physical, the old Adam, they could not trust Him to do so and that whole generation perished in the wilderness. Only two of the old generation actually could see with spiritual eyes and entered the land. As external guidance didn’t get the Israelites into the promised land, external guidance will get us nowhere near the spiritual land.
For us, since Christ, we have the Shechinah glory dwelling with us. It is guiding and protecting from inside of us instead of external from us. When we are regenerated (conception) by the sovereign power of God He gives our dead ‘in Adam’ spirits newness of life. Because we have that new spiritual life then when we hear the Gospel, the Good News, that Christ died for our sins we become believers (conversion). When that happens we start living in the spiritual promised land. We begin seeing with spiritual eyes rather than physical eyes.
(Eph 1:11-14 KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,) which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
We can now see with spiritual eyes and know that the inheritance is ours. When our past pops up to condemn us the Shechinah glory within us stands between us and our past because Christ died for all our sins. When thoughts of the future brings fear the Shechinah glory stands between us and the fear of the future because we are already seated in Christ in the heavenly promised land. “ (Eph 2:4-7 KJV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” When we see through spiritual eyes and not according to the eyes of the flesh we can see that He brought us out of Egypt (picture of our sins) and has brought us into the promised land (picture of eternal life). We have something much, much better than the Israelites did stomping around in this wilderness place called earth. Now all we have to do is learn daily to see and trust the Lord through seeing with spiritual eyes the very Presence (Shechinah) of Him dwelling within us as He has taken up His residence within us and know that He is faithful to guide and protect.
Know that the Shechinah Glory has taken up His residence within you to sustain and guide. Nothing from your past can condemn you because the Shechinah is between you and your past. Nothing in the future can threated you because the Shechinah is before and has already cleared the way. Not only has he cleared the way, He has already taken us beyond our physical future. Eph. 2:1-7, Col. 2:1-3
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Of Faith Toward God
(Heb 6:1 KJV) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 6:1 contains a phrase which is probably the most difficult phrase in the Bible to comprehend. I have read and heard volumes on the rest of the list in Heb 6:1-4 but nothing on the phrase "leaving.....faith toward God". I have read every commentary I can get my hands on concerning this passage but NONE of them have had any comment on this phrase. Since every word of scripture (in original) is inspired by God they are all important. This phrase has been put here for a reason but it seems no one wants to look it in the face and attempt to understand what it means.
There have been many times I have brought up this phrase in debates and conversations about the scripture with the question, “What does this mean?” No one has of yet given an answer and most ignore it or try to dance around it with meaningless gibber. I have my ideas and will share them here. Whether it be right or wrong – God knows, but at least I have not run away from the phrase but have looked it in the face to attempt to gain understanding, to gain awareness of what God is telling us through His inspired word.
I am not a psychologist but I have worked with children and families. I know that it is a bad sign when a child clings to his mother. This is a sign that they are insecure and will not leave mom's side because of fear of abandonment or receiving conditional love based upon the child’s actions. The child’s action is what determines whether or not the mother loves him. When the actions are bad, love is withheld, when good, it is given. This conditional love creates a life long conditioning and sets in motion the addiction to approval and acceptance.
Everyone knows children flourish under love and will have healthy lives which mature at the rate they should. Those nurtured with unconditional love will never question their parents love for them and are free to be themselves, to learn from their mistakes and become responsible for those mistakes. They are able to leave mom's side and go off and play or work, whatever, all the while knowing mom always loves and accepts them for who they are and not because of what they do. They are able to experience life to the fullest. The spirit of unconditional love gives life.
Those who are under strict laws and punishment which sometimes leads to abuse may grow up looking like they are successful, etc, but much of their life is motivated by fear and guilt which was instilled in them by their rigid parents. Some live their entire lives trying to please their parents and earn love by being good. Sometimes those parents control the children even from their graves and the adult children never do become free from the demanding influence of the parents. Then they begin demanding compliance to their control and power hunger and distributing or withholding love based on the actions of those around them. This is done to the same strictness they were under and it goes on and on and on, throughout generations. Legalistic conditions on loving are the result of one thing - the thirst for power and control. The spirit of conditional love through the law of power and control kills and creates tyrants and dictators.
Any child psychologist will tell you that when a child is insecure in his parents love he will constantly be clinging to them, hoovering around them wanting to gain approval. In the long run he becomes addicted to approval and lives a big part of his life needing approval in order to be happy - to get his fix. Part of that 'fix' is power and control. Either that or they will go to the opposite end and become involved in rebellion which includes abuses of all types – from drug abuse to people abuse. This rebellion is often interpreted as rebellion against God when in reality it is rebellion against their parents for not loving them unconditionally and inwardly killing them with the poison of their parents addiction to power and control.
A child who is secure in his parents love and have been given freedom from which he learns responsibility is not clingy because he knows they will not abandon him. Does he screw up? Of course, he is a child but wise parents will discipline him with love not demand obedience to their false perceived control issues of power.
However, on the other hand, the feelings of conditional love might be in the mind only of the child and not a reality. It may be the child is receiving unconditional love but misinterprets that love as being conditional. However, this is usually not the case.
How does this example show us a picture of God's unconditional love for us?
The sacrificial system in the OT led to insecurity and feeling of abandonment by God. "If" they sacrificed like they should and always did what was right, God would accept them. If they didn't, He wouldn't. The Hebrews to whom this book was written had just been told in the previous 5 chapters about Jesus Christ. Heb. 1 - God's FINAL revelation of Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Heb. 2 - Instruction to GIVE HEED to what God is really like as He shows Himself through His Son. Heb 3 - Jesus as our High Priest, a priest not like the humans priests of the Old Cov but as a Son who died for our sins which is the complete, final picture of unconditional love and represents us before His Father. Heb 4 - The rest we can have if we believe the final revelation of God through His Son. Heb 5 - Jesus the high Priest who became perfect through suffering and IS the source of eternal life and freedom from trying to gain acceptance from God through our actions.
It is through this knowledge and trust of Him who is the final revelation of God and who gave His life for us that we can leave (stop clinging to) God because He loves us unconditionally. We don't have to remain insecure in temporary sacrifices or fear of not always doing the right thing for we have the One and Only sacrifice in Christ who kept the Law perfectly as our representative before God. We can go forth in the freedom of that and treat others the same way God through Christ Jesus has treated us and not insist on having to have power plays and controlling others. We don’t have to become addicted to power and control in order to gain approval and acceptance from God because as believers we already have it in Jesus Christ who laid His life down and died for all our sins. KNOWING this gives us the freedom to leave God as Christ left His godhood for us and laid His life down for us, to do that for others, to accept others, to love others because we know we are loved by God. We cannot do this if we are not secure in God's love for us displayed in Jesus Christ. If we refuse this we are dead in sin and in bondage to sin and death. To refuse this knowledge of God in Christ makes us turn 1 Jn. 4:19 around making it say God will love us IF we love instead of the truth that “we love BECAUSE He first loved us.”
(1 John 4:18 KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:19 KJV) We love him, because he first loved us.
To understand is life, truth, and freedom.
(John 8:32 KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Hebrews 6:1 contains a phrase which is probably the most difficult phrase in the Bible to comprehend. I have read and heard volumes on the rest of the list in Heb 6:1-4 but nothing on the phrase "leaving.....faith toward God". I have read every commentary I can get my hands on concerning this passage but NONE of them have had any comment on this phrase. Since every word of scripture (in original) is inspired by God they are all important. This phrase has been put here for a reason but it seems no one wants to look it in the face and attempt to understand what it means.
There have been many times I have brought up this phrase in debates and conversations about the scripture with the question, “What does this mean?” No one has of yet given an answer and most ignore it or try to dance around it with meaningless gibber. I have my ideas and will share them here. Whether it be right or wrong – God knows, but at least I have not run away from the phrase but have looked it in the face to attempt to gain understanding, to gain awareness of what God is telling us through His inspired word.
I am not a psychologist but I have worked with children and families. I know that it is a bad sign when a child clings to his mother. This is a sign that they are insecure and will not leave mom's side because of fear of abandonment or receiving conditional love based upon the child’s actions. The child’s action is what determines whether or not the mother loves him. When the actions are bad, love is withheld, when good, it is given. This conditional love creates a life long conditioning and sets in motion the addiction to approval and acceptance.
Everyone knows children flourish under love and will have healthy lives which mature at the rate they should. Those nurtured with unconditional love will never question their parents love for them and are free to be themselves, to learn from their mistakes and become responsible for those mistakes. They are able to leave mom's side and go off and play or work, whatever, all the while knowing mom always loves and accepts them for who they are and not because of what they do. They are able to experience life to the fullest. The spirit of unconditional love gives life.
Those who are under strict laws and punishment which sometimes leads to abuse may grow up looking like they are successful, etc, but much of their life is motivated by fear and guilt which was instilled in them by their rigid parents. Some live their entire lives trying to please their parents and earn love by being good. Sometimes those parents control the children even from their graves and the adult children never do become free from the demanding influence of the parents. Then they begin demanding compliance to their control and power hunger and distributing or withholding love based on the actions of those around them. This is done to the same strictness they were under and it goes on and on and on, throughout generations. Legalistic conditions on loving are the result of one thing - the thirst for power and control. The spirit of conditional love through the law of power and control kills and creates tyrants and dictators.
Any child psychologist will tell you that when a child is insecure in his parents love he will constantly be clinging to them, hoovering around them wanting to gain approval. In the long run he becomes addicted to approval and lives a big part of his life needing approval in order to be happy - to get his fix. Part of that 'fix' is power and control. Either that or they will go to the opposite end and become involved in rebellion which includes abuses of all types – from drug abuse to people abuse. This rebellion is often interpreted as rebellion against God when in reality it is rebellion against their parents for not loving them unconditionally and inwardly killing them with the poison of their parents addiction to power and control.
A child who is secure in his parents love and have been given freedom from which he learns responsibility is not clingy because he knows they will not abandon him. Does he screw up? Of course, he is a child but wise parents will discipline him with love not demand obedience to their false perceived control issues of power.
However, on the other hand, the feelings of conditional love might be in the mind only of the child and not a reality. It may be the child is receiving unconditional love but misinterprets that love as being conditional. However, this is usually not the case.
How does this example show us a picture of God's unconditional love for us?
The sacrificial system in the OT led to insecurity and feeling of abandonment by God. "If" they sacrificed like they should and always did what was right, God would accept them. If they didn't, He wouldn't. The Hebrews to whom this book was written had just been told in the previous 5 chapters about Jesus Christ. Heb. 1 - God's FINAL revelation of Himself in His Son, Jesus Christ. Heb. 2 - Instruction to GIVE HEED to what God is really like as He shows Himself through His Son. Heb 3 - Jesus as our High Priest, a priest not like the humans priests of the Old Cov but as a Son who died for our sins which is the complete, final picture of unconditional love and represents us before His Father. Heb 4 - The rest we can have if we believe the final revelation of God through His Son. Heb 5 - Jesus the high Priest who became perfect through suffering and IS the source of eternal life and freedom from trying to gain acceptance from God through our actions.
It is through this knowledge and trust of Him who is the final revelation of God and who gave His life for us that we can leave (stop clinging to) God because He loves us unconditionally. We don't have to remain insecure in temporary sacrifices or fear of not always doing the right thing for we have the One and Only sacrifice in Christ who kept the Law perfectly as our representative before God. We can go forth in the freedom of that and treat others the same way God through Christ Jesus has treated us and not insist on having to have power plays and controlling others. We don’t have to become addicted to power and control in order to gain approval and acceptance from God because as believers we already have it in Jesus Christ who laid His life down and died for all our sins. KNOWING this gives us the freedom to leave God as Christ left His godhood for us and laid His life down for us, to do that for others, to accept others, to love others because we know we are loved by God. We cannot do this if we are not secure in God's love for us displayed in Jesus Christ. If we refuse this we are dead in sin and in bondage to sin and death. To refuse this knowledge of God in Christ makes us turn 1 Jn. 4:19 around making it say God will love us IF we love instead of the truth that “we love BECAUSE He first loved us.”
(1 John 4:18 KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:19 KJV) We love him, because he first loved us.
To understand is life, truth, and freedom.
(John 8:32 KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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