This comes under many common names and a few methods, but no matter the name nor the method used it ALL comes from Eastern MAN -MADE religions. In other words to put it plain religions chasing strange gods.
Most of the "Practitioners" know this name "Spiritual Formation," and it's stated goal by the practitioners, is to empty oneself, to a state of "Nothingness" including especially including God and His Christ!
I hope DEAR READER, that YOU are wise enough to know that anyone who teaches you to become empty of thoughts, is NOT FROM GOD, or even teaching YOU about God. We know that an mind in such a state, is very open to Satan and his demons, and that is their goal!
True, the Roman church has been using this since their "Dessert Fathers", as their ancient mystics, but is in reality leading all Protestants back to Rome and their Eastern Mysticism. Under many names, but all began from a single point, Rome!
Why can any be so sure?
If you've read all my blogs you'll have read this:
" Pope {Latin for Father again call no man Father but your Father which is in Heaven {GOD the Father} PIUS IX "I alone an the successor of the apostles, The Vicar of Jesus Christ. I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE."
Here's Jesus' words: John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
So what's the answer?
2 Thessalonians 2:3-5 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"
This church's leaders call their Pope, "Our Lord God, The Pope" !
Daniel 7:25 "And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time."
This passage b y Daniel, was written about 500 years BEFORE Christ! Do these Popes not speak great WORDS against the most High?
Common Names used:
The Emerging Church, Reformation, Renoare', Rethink, New Think, Emerging Spirituality.
Terms you will find therein are:
Payer Stations {please do NOT assume that all prayers are directed to God of His Christ} Breath Prayers, Lectio Divina [a Latin term] Taize [ from Hinduism] The Silence, Sacred Space, Ancient Prayer Practices, A Thin Space [as in nothing remember?] Spiritual Direction, Ingnation Contemplation [names after Ignacio Loyola founder of the Jesuits thus proving Rome origins], Contemplative, Centering, Centering Prayer, Divine Center, [sorry there is nothing divine about it, it's all Satanic, and allows you to be possessed] Inner Light, Mantra, Beyond Words, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Payer Labyrinths [these are the circular spirals, a occult symbol] Prayer Rooms, Journeying and Sacred Icons [ Eastern Orthodoxy]
SIGNIFICANT LEADERS AND WRITERS.
RENOVARE' [pronounced ren-o-var-ay Latin meaning, "to make new spiritually"]
Founded by Richard J. Foster and with William L. Vaswig, a Lutheran minister whose experience in the religious disciplines was gained through the SHALEM INSTITUTE for SPIRITUAL FORMATION in Washington D.C. in now a popular speaker in many church gatherings.
Also busy, are these Renovare' devotees are, Lloyd John Ogilvie, Jack Hayford, G. Raymond Carlson [who was/is ? the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God] Jamie Buckingham, Tony Campolo, j.i. Packer, John Wimber, David and Karen Mqins, and C. Peter Wagner [of the Fuller Theological Seminary] Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, Thomas Merton, Rick Warren,[ yes of the Mega-Church of So. Cal fame the "Purpose Driven church, he's the one who said a prayer at Obama's first inaugural] Ruth Haley Barton, Thomas Keating, A.W. Tozer, Eugene Peterson and Martin Sanders.
Renovare' various spiritual formation groups are patterned after those found at Catholic spiritual centers which blend ancient rituals with Christianity to produce a hybrid form of spiritual enlightenment. These practitioners do read their devotional materials, but never does this include the Holy Bible!
Jeremiah 5:19 "And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours."
Note: As did so the Hebrews, God had them be conquered by Babylon and place in exile for 70 years!
Speaking of Foster, of the infamous Renovare', he even wrote his own "bible" for the devotees to read and study! Perhaps you may have read his book "from 1978 "Celebration of Discipline: The Path to
Spiritual Growth", is the "text book' and passages are often quoted during his many church speaking tours. All this makes him one of the top "Banana" in this devilish games Satan plays on us all.
His teachings are filled with Buddhism, Yoga, T.M. [transcendental meditation], the exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, Eastern Religions, and extremely spiritual, destructive practices. All designated to promote the opening of persons to the demonic influences, in order for devotees to "FEEL" something they think id GODLY in origin, but it all comes from the Dark side. Yet Foster says that he's all about "THE FORMATION OF CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTERS IN PEOPLE"
Now I ask you YES YOU, dear reader, "How can he do this by patting people into the the powers of Satan? What has the Light and Truth, have to do with Dark and evil lies?
Yet, it was named in 2010 as one of the Top Ten books by Christianity Today! {Talk about being deceived}
No, none of this is new, it the some old garbage, with a new wrapping and a ribbon to boot. As most of the New Agers know very well, all this is nearly as old as humanity itself. The New Age people focus on the "Silence of the Universe", Foster calls this "the re-creating silence". but this also is a New Age term.
SO, HOW IS THIS DONE?
In the most basic of terms it is a form of self-hypnosis, by getting self into a comfortable position, and softly repeating a word a phrase, any words, softly over and over for as much as it takes for your mind to became without thoughts. {Practice I understand always makes perfection] but in this case, contacting Satan is not without dangers}
Few speak about it, but look at all the entertainment stars, that became instantly famous, and where are most of the now? Many are dead, by their own hand, many others turn to drugs, to escape, still many others take their own lives, by their own hands!
You see reader, Satan is hate, he cared not not the slightest whit about anyone other than self, plus he no longer has a conscience anymore, and YES he can give you earthly wealth, as he has done to many a past celebrity, but he always extracts a very high price, one' eternal life!
This only God can give and bestow on us, but He'll not do so while we chase Satan and his ways, agree?
So what then is the ultimate goal?
Revelation 13:3-4 "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
So who is this dragon?
Revelation 12:3-5 "And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."
Revelation 12:7-9 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
What has this got to do with the powers that be in Rome?
Revelation 17:3 "So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns."
Biblical Prophecy a woman is symbolic of the church, Revelation 12:1-2 "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered."
This woman in white, is the Pure church, while the other woman in scarlet is the apostate church...
Revelation 18:2-4 "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
Note: Babylon is NOT a place, rather a condition, for it means to babel, to confuse, confusions (s) .
Revelation 17:5-7 "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."
Note: Which power was in total and full control during the persecutions of the dark Ages of W.Europe, but Rome who became at one with the ten Kings, this Church and Government were one! This IS History and millions were killed because they refuse to worship Rome, and choosing the Bible ways instead!
Besides, do YOU know which organization has the very best and up-to-date information? No not the CIA, nor NSA, Nor Russia, but the Vatican! Think all those "Confessional Booths", around the world, and why they set them up, when the Bible says we are to confess and repent to God in Christ's name?
CONTROL!
NEXT Mandatory Sunday Law, Rev.13 can't buy nor sell, unless one has the mark of the beast, SUNDAY WORSHIP! That what Revelation is all about, our worship when and to whom!
Revelation 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Commandments? All 10 Exodus 20: 1-17 and Testimony of Jesus Christ? The Holy Bible, and not as Rome says The Holy Universal [Catholic] Church's Traditions over the Bible!
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
THE REAL JESUS BY Vanessa Pizuto in Dec.'13 Signs of the Times pp.18-21.
Many thanks for the words of V. Pizuto in this magazine.
YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION, "GENTLE JESUS, MEEK AND MILD," WHILE THIS IS TRUE V. PIZUTO SHOWS US ANOTHER SIDE OF HIM (from HIS WORD John 1:1-1-3,14. j.b.)
Images of the Baby Jesus, are commonplace during Christmas time--- a tiny, defenseless Infant lying in a makeshift crib in a manger, surrounded by kind, gentle animals.
Even as an adult, Jesus is often portrayed as an ever-smiling Messiah who never raised His voice or even got frustrated.. In fact, this super nice Jesus who was never confrontational and always turned the other cheek is the Model that we often encouraged to follow.
The popular and oft overused acronym W.W.J.D. (What would Jesus do?), can encourage us to focus on the meek side of Jesus. But, in the process, we tend to forget the the {SAME } Jesus who called the Pharisees hypocrites and expelled vendors from the Temple. Instead we expect Christians to stick only to His sunny side, ignoring those aspects of His character that we find disturbing.
POLITICALLY INCORRECT?
BUT does this image of Jesus match the Jesus of the Bible? How can we reconcile passages in which Jesus appears tough and bold, with this so-called "meeker" side? Are there any spiritual risks to ignoring the "politically incorrect" verses that portray this other side of Jesus?
Even the most casual glance at the stories of Jesus recorded by Matthew, Mark Luke and John reveals that He showed a full scope of emotions. He was not always "nice".
For instance He rebuked His disciple Peter as demonic.....
Mark 8:33. "But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
Then a few days latter.....
Mark 11:15-18. "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine."
NOTE (j.b.) is it so remote, to think the the chief priests were getting a "cut-of-the-action"? As one reason for their hate for Him?
Nor did Jesus mince His words, either. "a brood of vipers"?
Matthew 12:34-35. "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."
Or calling His own disciples.....
Mark 3:17. "And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:" [Boanerges means disorder]
He dared to call King Herod- the ruling tyrant who wanted to kill Him-- a "fox" Luke 13:32.
And that's not all! Jesus also showed a disregard for the meaningless traditions [(j.b.) of men] and the hypocritical displays of the priests. In fact He openly denounced them in....
Matthew 15:1-7. "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias (Grk for Elisha) prophesy of you, saying,"
He challenged their narrow religious views, at the cost of making them His enemies....
Matthew 12:1-8. "At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."
Yet He also expressed frustration....
Mark 10:13-14. "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
Many of His teachings were politically incorrect....
Luke 20:45-47. "Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation." John 5:41-47. "I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 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. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"
Jesus kept challenging the status quo regardless of the consequences....
Matthew 15:12-13. "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."
NOTHING BUT AN IDOL?
IT'S easy to overlook Jesus' action that challenge our concept of what the perfect human should be. But God doesn't want us to use the Bible the way we would a buffet at a restaurant, choosing only the bits and pieces that suit our preconceived ideas. In fact, when we systematically omit "troublesome " passages of the Bible that show a radical Messiah in favor of politically correct One, we risk turning the Lion of Judah into harmless kitten....Revelation 5:5. "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
Eugene Peterson, pastor, scholar, and, author of "The Message Bible", puts it plainly: "When evangelism is retooled as recruitment, then marketing strategies for making Jesus attractive to consumer spirituality begin to proliferate. Words or aspects of Jesus that carry unwelcome connotations are suppressed. We emasculate Jesus." He becomes subject to our control complying with our standards. Mark Galli, author of "Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God." , calls this kind of god, "nothing but an idol."
Often confrontational, Jesus was anything but a people pleaser. In fact, the Pharisees hated Him because He was constantly revealing the truth about them and their motives. Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders, "looked for a way to arrest Him because they knew He had spoken the parable against them/"......
Mark 12:1-12. "And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way."
Jesus knew perfectly well what tough love meant, He showed it whenever necessary, and He did it unapologetic. He was not afraid of what other people might think of Him. People called Him mad, demon-possessed, a fraud, and worse. But none of this stopped Him, because Jesus was neither weak nor a people pleaser.
A TIME TO SUBMIT.
THERE is definitely some truth to our traditional perception of Jesus. He truly was meek. HE did not lack power, HE surrendered it. He did so in order to bring glory to the Father. On the night He was arrested [(j.b.) and tried seven times, enduring 7 trails in total] , He told Peter to put away his sword, saying......
Matthew 26:52-54. "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Jesus did not lay down His rights in every circumstance. During His trails, instead of offering His other cheek......
Matthew 5:39. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Instead He asked......
John 18:22-23. "And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
Yet He accepted the cross and its excruciatingly painful and shameful death, with perfect submission.[(j.b.) we always see these pictures as having covered loins, but they were fully naked, and bowels and bladders emptied]
BECAUSE, He was permanently connected to His Father, Jesus knew when to submit and when to stand up, when to bless, and when to curse. His insight was so keen that His enemies were intimidated from questioning Him further.
NO CONTRADICTION.
THE conclusion is that Jesus is both meek and mighty. [ (j.b.) just as He is both human and Divine, but never used His divine powers for His own use, always to heal others. that's the reason for this......
Philippians 2:6. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" ] There is no contradiction in this idea. We all need both aspects of His personality and or character. If we teach only Jesus' niceness, we create a fragile Christian, who wi9ll be afraid to make a stand for fear of offending someone. Paul Coughlin, author of "No More Christian Nice Guy," says that such Christians hide behind, "a distorted image of God to give their fear a spiritual glimmer."
But a true understanding of Jesus' character allows for neither cowardice nor a victim mentality. Rather, the truth about Jesus sets u8s free to glorify Him with a strong character that chooses when to be submissive and when to stand our ground.
WE need the gently Jesus, meek and mild, yes, but we also need the Jesus who is bold and strong.
Thanks to the words by Vanessa Pizuto in Signs of the Times Dec. 2013 issue.
Need to learn more? Visit your Seventh day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath @ 9:15 A.M.
You just might be very glads that you did learn that we are NOT a cult! But a Remnant . Rev.12:17
Thanking you Dear Reader, for your time
Chose Christ means to chose life, neutral or rejection means death , both shall be eternal, what will YOU chose?
Questions?........................Comments?
www.servant@frontier.com
Yours-- john b.
www.blbn.org
YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION, "GENTLE JESUS, MEEK AND MILD," WHILE THIS IS TRUE V. PIZUTO SHOWS US ANOTHER SIDE OF HIM (from HIS WORD John 1:1-1-3,14. j.b.)
Images of the Baby Jesus, are commonplace during Christmas time--- a tiny, defenseless Infant lying in a makeshift crib in a manger, surrounded by kind, gentle animals.
Even as an adult, Jesus is often portrayed as an ever-smiling Messiah who never raised His voice or even got frustrated.. In fact, this super nice Jesus who was never confrontational and always turned the other cheek is the Model that we often encouraged to follow.
The popular and oft overused acronym W.W.J.D. (What would Jesus do?), can encourage us to focus on the meek side of Jesus. But, in the process, we tend to forget the the {SAME } Jesus who called the Pharisees hypocrites and expelled vendors from the Temple. Instead we expect Christians to stick only to His sunny side, ignoring those aspects of His character that we find disturbing.
POLITICALLY INCORRECT?
BUT does this image of Jesus match the Jesus of the Bible? How can we reconcile passages in which Jesus appears tough and bold, with this so-called "meeker" side? Are there any spiritual risks to ignoring the "politically incorrect" verses that portray this other side of Jesus?
Even the most casual glance at the stories of Jesus recorded by Matthew, Mark Luke and John reveals that He showed a full scope of emotions. He was not always "nice".
For instance He rebuked His disciple Peter as demonic.....
Mark 8:33. "But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."
Then a few days latter.....
Mark 11:15-18. "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine."
NOTE (j.b.) is it so remote, to think the the chief priests were getting a "cut-of-the-action"? As one reason for their hate for Him?
Nor did Jesus mince His words, either. "a brood of vipers"?
Matthew 12:34-35. "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."
Or calling His own disciples.....
Mark 3:17. "And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:" [Boanerges means disorder]
He dared to call King Herod- the ruling tyrant who wanted to kill Him-- a "fox" Luke 13:32.
And that's not all! Jesus also showed a disregard for the meaningless traditions [(j.b.) of men] and the hypocritical displays of the priests. In fact He openly denounced them in....
Matthew 15:1-7. "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias (Grk for Elisha) prophesy of you, saying,"
He challenged their narrow religious views, at the cost of making them His enemies....
Matthew 12:1-8. "At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day."
Yet He also expressed frustration....
Mark 10:13-14. "And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
Many of His teachings were politically incorrect....
Luke 20:45-47. "Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation." John 5:41-47. "I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 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. How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?"
Jesus kept challenging the status quo regardless of the consequences....
Matthew 15:12-13. "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up."
NOTHING BUT AN IDOL?
IT'S easy to overlook Jesus' action that challenge our concept of what the perfect human should be. But God doesn't want us to use the Bible the way we would a buffet at a restaurant, choosing only the bits and pieces that suit our preconceived ideas. In fact, when we systematically omit "troublesome " passages of the Bible that show a radical Messiah in favor of politically correct One, we risk turning the Lion of Judah into harmless kitten....Revelation 5:5. "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
Eugene Peterson, pastor, scholar, and, author of "The Message Bible", puts it plainly: "When evangelism is retooled as recruitment, then marketing strategies for making Jesus attractive to consumer spirituality begin to proliferate. Words or aspects of Jesus that carry unwelcome connotations are suppressed. We emasculate Jesus." He becomes subject to our control complying with our standards. Mark Galli, author of "Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God." , calls this kind of god, "nothing but an idol."
Often confrontational, Jesus was anything but a people pleaser. In fact, the Pharisees hated Him because He was constantly revealing the truth about them and their motives. Then the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders, "looked for a way to arrest Him because they knew He had spoken the parable against them/"......
Mark 12:1-12. "And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country. And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled. And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some. Having yet therefore one son, his well beloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son. But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours. And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way."
Jesus knew perfectly well what tough love meant, He showed it whenever necessary, and He did it unapologetic. He was not afraid of what other people might think of Him. People called Him mad, demon-possessed, a fraud, and worse. But none of this stopped Him, because Jesus was neither weak nor a people pleaser.
A TIME TO SUBMIT.
THERE is definitely some truth to our traditional perception of Jesus. He truly was meek. HE did not lack power, HE surrendered it. He did so in order to bring glory to the Father. On the night He was arrested [(j.b.) and tried seven times, enduring 7 trails in total] , He told Peter to put away his sword, saying......
Matthew 26:52-54. "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Jesus did not lay down His rights in every circumstance. During His trails, instead of offering His other cheek......
Matthew 5:39. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Instead He asked......
John 18:22-23. "And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
Yet He accepted the cross and its excruciatingly painful and shameful death, with perfect submission.[(j.b.) we always see these pictures as having covered loins, but they were fully naked, and bowels and bladders emptied]
BECAUSE, He was permanently connected to His Father, Jesus knew when to submit and when to stand up, when to bless, and when to curse. His insight was so keen that His enemies were intimidated from questioning Him further.
NO CONTRADICTION.
THE conclusion is that Jesus is both meek and mighty. [ (j.b.) just as He is both human and Divine, but never used His divine powers for His own use, always to heal others. that's the reason for this......
Philippians 2:6. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" ] There is no contradiction in this idea. We all need both aspects of His personality and or character. If we teach only Jesus' niceness, we create a fragile Christian, who wi9ll be afraid to make a stand for fear of offending someone. Paul Coughlin, author of "No More Christian Nice Guy," says that such Christians hide behind, "a distorted image of God to give their fear a spiritual glimmer."
But a true understanding of Jesus' character allows for neither cowardice nor a victim mentality. Rather, the truth about Jesus sets u8s free to glorify Him with a strong character that chooses when to be submissive and when to stand our ground.
WE need the gently Jesus, meek and mild, yes, but we also need the Jesus who is bold and strong.
Thanks to the words by Vanessa Pizuto in Signs of the Times Dec. 2013 issue.
Need to learn more? Visit your Seventh day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath @ 9:15 A.M.
You just might be very glads that you did learn that we are NOT a cult! But a Remnant . Rev.12:17
Thanking you Dear Reader, for your time
Chose Christ means to chose life, neutral or rejection means death , both shall be eternal, what will YOU chose?
Questions?........................Comments?
www.servant@frontier.com
Yours-- john b.
www.blbn.org
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