The necessity for good works.

At Leng Kwang Baptist Church, Bukit Timah, Singapore, on Sun. 30Nov14.

Reading Titus chapters 2 and 3.

At the beginning of this epistle, Titus was urged not to heed Jewish fables and the commandments of men. These man-made traditions formed the bulk of rabinnical traditions until today, from lighting candles to elaborate washing rites to numerous rules about what constituted work on Sabbath. Such man-made commands and traditions are akin to various "works" observed in traditional Christian Churches today e.g. Christmas Trees, Easter eggs and bunnies, sign of the cross, veneration of the dead saints and prayers to Virgin Mary etc.

The apostle goes on to declare in Chapter 3 that the kindness and love of God has appeared to mankind. This, he writes, is achieved not by works of righteousness that we have done but instead by His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the holy Spirit. (Titus3:5).

Notwithstanding the implied futility of our "works of righteousness" in the above declaration, the apostle emphasises repeatedly throughout chapters 2 and 3 of this epistle that it is absolutely necessary for disciples of the Messiah to do good works in their lives.

There are four verses in Titus chapters 2 and 3 in particular that tell the disciples to do good works.

Firstly, disciples are to be a pattern of good works.

In 2:7, Titus was urged to show himself a pattern of good works.

Secondly, disciples are to be ready for good works.

In 3:1, the dosciples are reminded to be ready for every good work.

Thirdly, disciples are to be careful to maintain good works.

In 3:8, we are called to affirm constantly that those who have believed in God should be careful in maintaining good works in our lives. This call is reiterated in 3:14 where we are told that we should learn to maintain good works.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us do good works all the time. Our Lord Yeshua the Messiah taught us in his sermon on the mount:

Matthew 5: 16 KJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Paradox of Israel: the Torah keeping sinner

The Paradox of Israel: the Torah keeping sinner.

(cf Paul's teaching on the works of the Law)

This note was recorded on Sun 21.7.13

Reading from Isaiah 1:1 - 2:5

(1) the Conduct of Israel: they performed WORKS of the Torah.

Isaiah 1:11 they offered sacrifices of sheep, bulls and fine animals.

Isaiah 1:13 they observed new moon festivals and sabbaths

Isaiah 1:15 they lifted their hands in prayer.

[ but their hearts were not perfect]

Cf Hebrews 9:10,

". . . Those offerings and sacrifices cannot make worshippers hearts perfect - they involve only food, drinks and purification ceremonies . . ."

(2) The Condition of Israel: they have rebelled against YHWH.

They have rebelled against Him (1:2)

They have turned their backs on Him (1:4)

They have become completely bad:

"From head to foot, there is no healthy spot" (1:6) !

(3) The Condemnation of Israel: they are doomed.

They are doomed like Sodom and Gomorrah (1:9, 10)

Their hands are covered with blood (1:15)

The prophet Isaiah used severe words to describe Israel:

"murderers" (1:21)

"rebels and friends of thieves" (1:23)

Conclusion: In what way has Israel rebelled against YHWH?

The answer lies in verses 23 and 29.

They have refused to defend orphans and widows (1:23)

They have worshipped trees and sacred gardens (1:29)

What really matters is repentance from evil doings like injustice, oppression and neglect of orphans and widows. (Isaiah 1:16, 17) Otherwise, sacrifices are futile. Incense is an abomination. New moons, Sabbaths and holy convocations would be hated by God. Even prayers would not be heard by Him! (Isaiah 1: 12-15)

All these outward works of the Torah, the incense, the holy days and prayers are rejected by God because the people's hands are "full of blood" (1:15). In fact, such people are trampling His courts. (1:12).

Cf The Master Yeshua's rebuke against Pharisees who broaden their phylacteries (tefillin?) and say long prayers publicly at street corners.

Matthew 23:5 KJV

But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

When He ascended on high

When He ascended on high.

(This note was written on 11-9-14)

The discrepancy between Ephesians 4:8 vs Psalm 68:18, gave or received gifts?

Eph 4:8 

"When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and GAVE gifts to men"

Ps 68:18 (both MT and LXX) has,

" . . . RECEIVED gifts among men, even from the rebellious." 

(Check LXX again)

This problem is resolved only when Aramaic Peshitta is referred to. Peshitta uses "gave". I found a quote from the Syrian Peshitta as follows:

"You ascended on high; and you led captivity captive; and you *gave* gifts to the sons of men."

Source:  http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-hebrew/2001-March/010083.html

Were Paul and the early disciples using the Peshitta in their days?

Three little whiles: Where, How and What.

This not was written on Sun 3-8-14 (5m-9d)

John 13:13
Jesus told the disciples, calling them little children, that he would by with them a little while longer. On hearing this, Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?"

John 14:19
Jesus told the disciples that a little while longer, the world would see him no more. The disciples, however, would see him. And he would manifest himself to those who loved him. Judas (not Iscariot) asked him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world.

John 16:16
Jesus told the disciples that in a little while they would not see him anymore, and again in a little while they would see him again: because he was going to the Father. Some of his disciples said among themselves, (not asking Jesus directly), "What is this he says? . . . We do not know what he is saying."

In that day.

This note was written on Friday 1-8-14 (5m-7d)

John 16: 16 - 29 KJV

Jesus, as usual, spoke in "proverbs" to his disciples (v.25).

John 16:16
A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while ye shall see me again, because I go to the Father.

And just like before, his disciples did not understand him (v17 - 19).

In v.22ff, Jesus explained his "little while" proverb, and went on further to tell of the future, "in that day".

In that day, ye shall ask me nothing (v.23)

cf v.26, At that day . . . I say not unto you, I will pray the Father for you.

Meaning: in that day, the day spoken of in v22 when Jesus will see them again, when their sorrow will turn into joy, the disciples will be able to ask from the Father directly without having to ask Jesus to pray for them. See also 16:23, 24.

John 16: 23 - 24
What soever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you.

In that day, this can happen for the disciples believed that Jesus came forth from God (v27)

See v.28, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world and go to the Father.

In that day, the Lord Jesus no longer spoke to them in proverbs. (v29)

On hearing that, the disciples realised that "that day" is very near because they could see that Jesus has begun to speak plainly to them, and no longer in proverbs

John 16: 30
 . . . by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Worship Him Who Sits on the Throne, the Lord God Almighty.

This note was written on Sunday 14th April 2013, in Wesley Methodist Church Kampar.

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Revelations 1: 5 - 6 NASB
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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Verses 5 and 6 above tells us that our Lord Jesus is the faithful witness, the first to be raised from the death, and made the ruler of the kings of the earth. He made us a kingdom of priests to His God and His Father. To God be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

Note verse 8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Brothers and Sisters, let us worship God alone. He is the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus the Christ.

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Revelations 4: 8 - 11 NASB
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”

9 And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

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Revelations 5: 9 - 12 NASB
9 And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

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Note from verses 9 to 11 above that Our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to open the seals of the scroll, that he was killed and by his death he bought people from every tribe, language, nation and race as a people for God. Verse 10, in repeating Rev 1:6, says that Our Lord has made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, and they shall rule the earth. 

Finally in verse 11, we read that Our Lord Jesus is the Lamb that was killed, and he is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honour and praise. Compare this affirmation with the words in Rev.3: 21, where Our Lord Jesus himself declares, " He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

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Revelations 5: 13 - 14
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying,

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

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Revelations 19: 3 - 4
3 And a second time they said, “Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!”

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Revelations 19: 5 - 6
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying,

“Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.” 6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying,

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

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Prayers and Good Deeds of God's People

Noted on Sunday 14th April 2013, in Wesley Methodist Church Kampar.

When the seventh seal is opened, the prayers of God's people are offered to God with a lot of incense on the golden altar, as seen in the verse below:

Revelations 8: 3, 4 NKJV
Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

---

The good deeds (righteous acts) of God's people are shown by clean shining linen worn by the bride, as follows:

Revelations 19: 6 - 8 NKJV
And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us, as the saints of God, persevere in much prayer and in righteous acts.

The Keys of the Kingdom.

This note was written on Fri 22Nov13

Matthew 16: 16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

What the Lord Jesus said in reply to Simon Peter in Matthew 16: 17 - 19

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

In verse, 17, the Hebrew word for peter or rock is "eben" sounding somewhat similar to the Malay word "ubin" for tile (a type of rock, if you like). Also the Hebrew for build is "ebeneh", again similar to the Malay word "bina", to build. Thus, if one were to this verse in Hebrew, a kind of rhyme or parallelism between eben and ebeneh would appear i.e.

"Thou art eben, and upon this eben I will ebeneh my assembly, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it . . ."

If we try saying it in Malay, it would be similarly poetic:

"Engkaulah ubin, di atas ubin inilah aku akan bina jemaah ku . . ."

Further on in verse 18, we read that our Lord gave the "keys" of the Kingdom to Peter, such that Peter would have the authority to govern the assembly that the Lord would build. It wasn't an absolute conferment of absolute power, but rather a delegation of agency, for Peter to act as an agent on behalf of his Lord. For the Lord Jesus was later described in Revelations 3:7 as the one " that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

This delegation of authority to govern God's people can be seen in the Old Testament example of Eliakim (also known as Azariah) son of Hilkiah, who was described as "over the household" of King Hezekiah.

Isaiah 22:22 (concerning Eliakim ben Hilkiah)
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder;
so he shall open, and none shall shut;
and he shall shut, and none shall open.

A commentary on the symbolic meaning of laying a key upon one's shoulder is given in

http://understanding-ministries.co.uk/eliakim-a-type-of-the-lord-jesus-christ.html

"The reference is either (according to some) to the keys of the temple or, more likely, the keys to the king’s treasury; Jewish Targums imply both meanings. Officials holding keys often had them hanging down on sashes from the shoulder as a mark of their office in both Jewish and Greek cultures, as some magistrates do today. However, a literal key may not be implied, being figuratively spoken as the power of office. The one with the key makes the decisions; he opens the door for new officers and shuts out those who are rejected, he controls the treasury and allows admission to the palace. It suggests high political authority.

The shoulder is symbolic of human power or strength and the one carrying the key is hereby symbolically declared as being strong enough to carry out the tasks required. Access (the power of the keys) rested with him. For Eliakim this responsibility meant control over the kings chambers and resources, and also the decision as to who was responsible in the king’s service."

The Apostle Paul wrote in Parallels.

These observations were made back in 7th July 2013

The words of the Apostle Paul were written parallels, as shown in the following instances from Galatians 6: 1 - 6 (the lectionary for this Sunday in Wesley Methodist Church, Kampar)

When he wrote in v2, "Bear one another's burden", he was writing in parallel to v1 where he taught that those who are spiritual should set aright him who is caught in wrong-doing.

Also, his words in v3, "If anyone thinks he is somebody when he is nobody, is only deceiving himself" is in parallel to v1b telling his readers to "keep an eye" on themselves so that they will not be tempted.

Similarly, v7 "god is not mocked, a person reaps what he sows" is a parallel of v4 where Paul called on each one to judge his own conduct without comparing with what another person has done. This teaching provides the context for v5, "Everyone has to carry his own load (bear his own burden)".

Likewise, the exhortation in v9, "Be not weary of well doing - we will reap in due time if we do not give up" and the call in v10 to do good to everyone, particularly to the household of faith, is parallel to the teaching of v8 that those who sow in the spirit will from the spirit reap the harvest of eternal life.

Finally, Paul's boast in v14, "Only in the cross (death, suffering) of our Master Yeshua the Messiah" is a parallel to those who boast in the submission of the Galatians to physical circumcision (v13). Note from v13 that that the latter do NOT obey the Torah.

Arm yourself: with the same mind as Messiah

This note was written sometime last year.

1 Peter 4: 1 - 2

For as much then as Messiah has suffered for us in the flesh,

Arm yourself likewise

With the same mind:

For he that hath suffered in the flesh

Hath ceased from sin:

That he should no longer live the rest of his life in the flesh

To the lusts of men

But to the will of God.

---------------------------------------------

Dear Christian Brother and Sister, this then, is how we arm ourselves against the dark forces of this world - that we have the same mind as our Master Yeshua, the Messiah - to suffer in the flesh and thereby live to the will of God. Amein.

Melchizedek, Priest of the Most High God.

This note was written back in year 2013, Friday November 13th.

Genesis 14:18 - 20

And Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of most high God.

And he blessed him and said,

"Blessed be Abraham of the most high God,

 Possessor of heaven and earth.

 And blessed be the Most High God,

 Which delivered thine enemies unto thy hand"

And he gave him tithes of all.

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In this passage, we read that Abraham, ancestor of the Levitical priests, gave one tenth of his riches to Melchizedek, the non-Levitical priest.

The real meaning of Emmanuel.

John 8:25 - 29  NASB  New American Standard Bible

25 So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning?

26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”

27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.

28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

29 And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”

The real meaning of Emmanuel or "God With Us" can be seen in the words of our Lord Iesus the Anointed in John 8:29, when he declared that the One who sent him is with him.

Who is the One who sent our Lord? Who is "He" who sent the Lord Iesus? Verse 27 says Iesus was speaking to them about the Father, the Only True God (John 17:3).

Yes the One who sent our Lord, who is with him, is our Father in heaven. He is our One True God. Our God is with His Anointed Iesus. When the people saw the Iesus, they saw God with him.

This is the true meaning of Emmanuel, God with us.

Matthew 1:22 - 23  NASB  New American Standard Bible

22 Now all this took place so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled:

23 “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

Isaiah 7:14  NASB  New American Standard Bible

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel.

Moses' unexpected song.

A short note about Deuteronomy 32: 1 - 43

Deuteronomy 32:15-18New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 “But [a]Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—
You are grown fat, thick, and sleek—
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scorned the Rock of his salvation.
16 “They made Him jealous with strange gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
17 “They sacrificed to demons who were not God,
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not dread.
18 “You neglected the Rock who begot you,
And forgot the God who gave you birth.

This is an unexpected song about Israel's impending disobedience. This song of Moses is recorded at the end of his long discourse to the people of Israel, after he had appointed Joshua (Yeshua) to succeed him as the chosen one of Israel.

What does UNTIL mean in this verse?

(This note was written on Sunday 7-7-2013)

Hebrews 9: 8 -10 NASB
The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

The above verses explain to us that the worship arrangements of the OT Tabernable - the "outer" tabernacle - were meant to be an illustration that pointed to the present time.

Those offerings and animal sacrifices cannot make the hearts of worshippers perfect. For example Isaiah prophesied harshly against the sinfulness of Israel in Isaiah 1: 11 - 15, a people who offered sacrifices of sheep, bulls and fine animals (v11), saying that their hands were covered with blood (v15)!

Such sacrifices involve only food, drinks and purification rites. They are outward rules which apply only UNTIL the (present) time when the new order is established by God.

Today, I ponder over the word UNTIL and I wonder what it really means. Does it mean that the food offerings, drink offerings and acts of purification commanded by Moses in scripture no longer have to be observed anymore? Does it also imply that God will no longer meet worshippers in any man-made temple in Jerusalem ever again?

Naaman's washing in the River Jordan.

(These notes were originally written in my note pad on Sunday 7-7-2013)

Text: 2 Kings 5: 1 - 14

Naaman's washing in the River Jordan may be seen as a "type" of baptism in today's kingdom of God. I'd like to find out whether such washing was already a common practice in those ancient days, perhaps not unlike the practice of "mikveh" (baptism) among the Jews.

In 5:11, we read of Naaman's anger at not being treated with more dramatic actions but merely being told to go immerse himself in the River Jordan. This aspect of Naaman's washing can be a type of today's cleansing from sin by mikveh or baptism in water.

Going on to 5:12, Naaman's criticism of the inferiority of the River Jordan compared to "better" rivers like Abanah and Pharpar back home in Damascus typifies today's simple act of calling on the name of Yeshua the Messiah during baptism, without any sensational or dramatic rituals, and without need for any grand building, elaborate vestments nor sacred instruments.

The conclusion to this brief observation amy be seen in 5:13, when Naaman's servants approached him and asked him something like,

"Can't you just wash yourself and be cured?"

Note that Naaman had to immerse himself. Nobody could do it for him. Certainly not Elisha the prophet. Also he had to immerse himself in a seemingly humble river called the Jordan. And furthermore Naaman had to immerse himself no less than seven times. Just a single immersion won't do.

Finally, note the significance of the prophet's name: Elisha. It means My God (Eli) saves (sha). This is typological of the name of our Messiah, Ye - shua or Yeho-sha (Yehovah saves).

Brothers and sisters in the Messiah. Have we washed ourselves in the Name of our Messiah "Yehovah saves"?

Powerful preaching.

A devotion on Acts chapters 4 and 5. I wrote these notes two months ago, on 13-5-14 on a small piece of paper. Thought I should post it here tonight to share with all Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.

The early Apostles preached the resurrection of the Lord Iesous Christos (Yeshua the Messiah) with great power. (Acts 4:33)

Soon after that, in Acts 5: 29-32, Peter and the other apostles testified before the Sanhedrin. They

proclaimed that:

(a) God raised Yeshua from death,

(b) God exalted Yeshua to His right hand as Prince and Saviour,

(c) so that Yeshua may give repentance and forgiveness to the people of Israel.

(d) God has given his Spirit to those who obey him.

Such is the powerful preaching by the Apostles. God has raised the Messiah. God has exalted him to be Prince and Saviour. And last but not least, God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey him.

Brothers and Sisters, let us obey God.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience.

Hebrews 5:8 NASB
"Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered."

Recently I have been pondering over the expression "a son" and have called to mind several instances of the use of "son of God" in the scriptures. After some further searching I came across the following list:

(1) Adam is the only person called "son of God" at the end of the long genealogy. (Luke 3:38)

(2) There was a time when "sons of God" married daughters of men and produced offspring of giants called Nephilim. Notice that the Nephilim were not called sons of God. (Genesis 6:2,4)

(3) Satan came along with "Sons of God" came to present themselves before YHWH on several occasions. (Job 1:6, 2:1) In these verses, the LXX renders "sons of God" as angels.

(4) The Psalmist calls on "sons of the mighty" to ascribe to YHWH glory and strength (Psalm 29:1)

(5) In another similar instance, the Psalmist asks who "in the skies" is comparable to YHWH? And who among the "sons of the mighty" is like YHWH? (Psalm 89:6)

(6) After casting three men into the furnace, Nebuchadnezzar was astonished by the appearance of a fourth person like a "son of the Gods" (Daniel 3:25)

I think there are other instances of "sons of God" being used in scripture which I have yet to come across. The list above nevertheless shows us one fact from scripture: that Adam and all the heavenly beings are called sons of God. The only characteristic I think can be attributed to them is that they are created by YHWH himself, in contrast to sons of men who are reproduced by being born (begotten) of human parents.

Whether Adam, or angels, or some other heavenly beings, "sons of God" or "sons of the mighty" appear to be created directly by of YHWH. It may be appropriate to say here that none of the sons of God mentioned in scripture were born or begotten.

Except one: he is Yeshua, a son of God who was brought about by being born (begotten) of a woman, Mary, when the power of the Most High overshadowed her (Luke 1:35).

Hence the term "only begotten" as used in the Gospel according to John.

My conclusion here is that Yeshua is a "son of God" just as Adam, and just as all the heavenly hosts are: including angels, cherubims, winged creatures etc. They are basically created to be "ministers and servants" of YHWH (Psalm 104:4).

The big difference is that Yeshua is the only "begotten" son of YHWH, born of a woman, died to atone for sin and was raised from the dead by YHWH on the third day to sit at His right hand. And, " Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs." (Hebrews 1:4)

With such understanding, the phrase "though he was a son" in Hebrews 5:8 can be understood as "though he was one of God's created beings" (notice the indefinite article "a"), yet Yeshua learned obedience to God by sufferings and thereby he was made perfect.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesous Christos (Yeshua the Messiah), let us keep this word in our hearts:

"In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him [e]from death, and He [f]was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek." (Heb, 5: 7-10)

Joshua son of Nun: type of Yeshua ben Elohim

Reading Joshua Chapter 1

Written in Wesley Methodist Church Kampar, Sunday 11May2014

A comparison of the role and authority of Joshua ben Nun in the Old Testament with that of the Master Yeshua ben Elohim (Iesous, Son of God) in the New Testament

(1) Those who Failed and Some who Remain

Joshua, in his commands to the officers of the people, reminded them of the words of Moshe, that YHWH their God is giving them rest and this land.

Joshua 1:10 - 11 NKJV
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 “Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which YHWH your God is giving you to possess.’”

Joshua 1:12 - 15
And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying,  “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘YHWH your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.’ . . . But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, until YHWH has given your brethren rest, . . .” 

The people of Israel, however, failed to receive nor enter into God's rest because of their disobedience. (See Psalm 95: 7 - 11, explained in Hebrews 3: 7 - 11)

Hebrews 4:6,9 tells us that "those" to whom it was first preached did not enter God's rest because of their disobedience and also it remains that "some" must enter it. Verse 9 says,

"There remains therefore a rest for the people of God"

Hebrews 4:10 goes on the elaborate that anyone (people of God) who have entered His rest will also have ceased from his own works, just as God Himself also rested from His work. (See genesis 2:2, quoted in Hebrews 4:4) on the seventh day of Creation.

Futhermore, Hebrews 4:11 warns us to be diligent to enter that rest (the rest of God) and to beware of falling in the same way of the Israelites who disobeyed.

(2) The commands of Joshua and the commands of Moshe

Joshua ben Nun was given all the authority of Moshe, and YHWH Elohim was to be with Joshua just as He was with Moshe. (see Joshua 1:7). The people of Israel promised to heed Joshua in the same way.

Of utmost importance, perhaps surprisingly, the people of Israel went on to affirm that whoever does not heed the words of Joshua's commands shall be put to death!

Concerning the commands in the Torah (Law), it is noted in Hebrews 10:28 that, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, anyone who rejected "Moshe's Law" dies without mercy.

It is clear from Joshua chapter One that the words of Joshua, like the words of Moshe, when uttered as a Command or Law, were to be obeyed by the people on pain of death.

(3) Obeying Yeshua and Obeying God

Likewise, just as the people of Israel obeyed Moshe, and subsequently Joshua, as prophets who gave commands from YHWH Elohim, and that disobeying them was disobeying God, today we are reminded to obey the commands of another Joshua: our Master Yeshua the Messiah (the Lord Iesous Christos) as the very commands of Elohim himself.

The Lord Iesous himself told his disciples in John 14:1, "you believe in God, believe also in me".

Again in John 14:21, the Lord Iesous said that anyone who keeps His commands will be loved by God his Father. In fact, the imperative, "keep my commandments" is uttered by our Lord Iesous three times in the Gospel according to St John:

John 14:15
If you love me, keep my commandments

John 14:21
He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me . . .

John 15:10
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love

Summary

Joshua ben Nun was the Type (forerunner) of Yeshua ben Elohim (Iesous, Son of God) in the following ways

1.  Joshua ben Nun took over from Moshe. Yeshua likewise takes over the role of being leader, our Messiah (Christos)
2. Joshua ben Nun was given authority as God's prophet. His commands were to be obeyed just as Moshe's commands were obeyed, as God's commands. Likewise, the Master Yeshua's commands are to be obeyed as God's commands.
3. Joshua's mission was to lead Israel into God's rest and into God's promised land. Likewise, Yeshua's ministry is to bring God's people into God's rest.

Conclusion

Brothers and Sisters, let us be diligent today, let us strive to enter the Rest ordained by God our Father in Heaven by keeping the commandments of our Master Yeshua the Messiah, (our Lord Iesous Christos).

The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Saturday, 19-4-2014, at Starbucks Station 18 Ipoh, (continued)

Reading Mark 2: 1-2; 3-12; 23-28 NKJV

Mark 2: 1 - 2 NKJV
And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.

The Master Yeshua the Messiah (the Lord Iesous Christos) entered the city of Capernaum on the northern side of the Sea of Galilee after some days. Verse 2 records that Iesous "preached the word" to those who crowded into his house, so much so that there was no room even at the door.

What was this "word" that our Master Yeshua preached in verse 2b? We can get a better understanding from Mark 1:15, where Yeshua put it in a few words, saying,

Mark 1: 15 NKJV
The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent and believe in the gospel.

This "word" is further explained by Yeshua telling the multitudes about the significance of the ministry of John the Baptist in Matthew chapter 11 where he explained that the Torah and the Neviim prophesied (were given) until John only, i.e. no more prophecies would be added to the Law and the prophets after that. In
other words, the scripture has been completed, one might perhaps even say "sealed" and no more new prophecies will be recorded in them from that time onwards.

Instead, Yeshua the Messiah (the Lord Iesous Christos) declares that, beginning from the days of John the Baptist, the Kingdom of God is "taken violently".

Matthew 11:12, 13 NKJV
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

A similar statement is recorded in Luke chapter 16, where Yeshua told the people that everyone is "pressing" into the kingdom of God.

Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time, the kingdom of God has been preached and everyone is pressing into it.

What did our Master Yeshua mean when he said that the kingdom of God is taken by violent force? In what way is God's kingdom suffering violence? There are some who think that Yeshua (Iesous Christos) is alluding to the prophecy written in Micah 2: 12-13 which likens the remnant of Israel to a flock of sheep breaking through the gate of their sheep pen, with their King ahead of them.

Micah 2: 12 - 13 NKJV
“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.
The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;
    they will break through the gate and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
    the Lord at their head.”

Yes, this is the "word" that our Master Yeshua the Messiah (Iesous Christos) preached. He is telling us that, starting from the times of John the Baptist, the kingdom of God is at hand, and that many are returning to God in repentance, and are pressing into the gates of the kingdom with great force.

Let us join the remnant of Israel. Like a flock of sheep. let us break through the gate with our Messiah ahead of us.

God satisfies the longing soul.

Saturday, 19-4-2014, at Starbucks, Aeon Station 18 Ipoh.

Psalm 107: 1 - 3 NKJV
Oh, give thanks to YHWH, for he is good!
    For His mercies endure forever.
Let the redeemed of YHWH say so,
    Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.
And gathered out of the lands,
    From the east and from the west,
    From the north and from the south.

Psalm 107: 8 - 9 NKJV
Oh that men would give thanks to YHWH for His goodness,
    And for His wonderful works to the children of men.
For He satisfies the longing soul,
    And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

These passages from Psalm 107, entitled "Thanksgiving to YHWH for His great works", reminds and urges us to be always thankful to God for His mercies and His goodness.

Verse 1 gives the most fundamental reason why we, the redeemed people of YHWH, should give thanks: simply because "He is good".

Verses 8 and 9 goes on to tell us to thank YHWH for His wonderful works and for satisfying the souls of those who long for Him. Yes, the hungry and longing soul is filled with the goodness of YHWH!

This reminds us of a verse in an earlier psalm, in Psalm 37:4 where King David writes that YHWH shall give us what our hearts desire, i.e. our hunger and our longing, when we delight ourselves in YHWH.

Psalm 34:7 NKJV
Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

The same truth is taught by our Lord Iesous Christos (Yeshua the Messiah) in Matthew chapter 6, when he opened his mouth and taught the disciples and the multitudes on a mountain:

Matthew 6: 6 NKJV
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.

Brothers and Sisters in Christos, what are we longing for today? What are we hungry for? And what are we thirsting over?

Let us long for our God, the God and Father of our Lord Iesous Christos, Yeshua the Messiah.

The Unlikely King: YHWH does not see as man sees.

1 Samuel 16:7
(Samuel thought Eliab must be the one chosen to succeed King Saul)
But YHWH said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For YHWH does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but YHWH looks at the heart.

Eventually it was not any of the strong, able-bodied sons of Jesses that was chosen by YHWH, but instead the son who was "ruddy, bright-eyed and good-looking". It was the youngest and perhaps greenest looking of all the sons of Jesse. He was hardly military material, yet it was him, David, who was chosen by God.

1 Samuel 16:13 records for us that Samuel proceeded to anoint this young man David with oil.

And the Spirit of YHWH came upon David.

This choosing of a most unlikely candidate to be God's Anointed King over Israel is typological of how God would choose his Messiah (Christos) to rule over the world in the days to come. We find later in the prophecy of Zechariah, written as follows:

Zechariah 9:9,10 NKJV
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
- -  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
- - He is just and having salvation.
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
- - A colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
- -  And the horse from Jerusalem.
The battle bow shall be cut off
- - He shall speak peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be "from sea to sea"
- - And from the River to the ends of the earth.

Yes, like David, God's future Anointed King would be a most unlikely candidate. He would not be a mighty, nor powerful military leader. Instead he would be lowly and riding on a donkey. He would not bring war but would instead bring announcements of peace, when battle bows shall be cut off and He speaks peace to the nations (Gentiles).

Yet this unlikely King, Yeshua our Master, shall rule "from sea to sea", from the River to the ends of the earth.

Lift Jesus higher?

Last week, the song leader in church led the congregation to sing exuberantly, clapping, tapping and swaying along:

"Lift Jesus higher!
Lift Jesus higher!
Lift him up for the world to see!"

What did the Lord Jesus mean when he said "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (John12:32,33)? Is it appropriate to sing such a song?

I couldn't join in the lusty and vibrant singing but instead stood quietly with sadness, with regret and with some disgust. I was disheartened.

This is because the expression "to be lifted up" as used in the NT times was a common way to refer to being crucified, i.e. to be lifted and hung high up on a stake / cross.

This expression is used at least three times in the Gospel according to John,

John 3:14, 15 NKJV
(Jesus speaking to Nicodemus, referring to Numbers 21:9)
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 8:28 NKJV
(Jesus replying the Pharisees)
When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself, but as My Father taught me, I speak these things.

John 12:32,33 NKJV
(Jesus speaking in public)
". . . And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to myself." This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

If only the song-leader and the congregation realised this morning the meaning of "lifted up", if only they knew the solemn situation conveyed by and signified by this expression, yes, if only they knew. Then they wouldn't be tapping their feet, swaying their bodies and clapping hands to the catchy tune and lyrics of this song.

For in doing so, the members of the congregation were calling on one another to crucify the Anointed One all over again on an even higher stake or cross - higher and higher!

What the congregation thought was a powerful proclamation of Jesus the Christ turned out actually to be a call for painful punishment of Jesus all over again.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One. Let us not call one another to crucify our Master all over again. Instead, let us call one another to a life of obedience to the teachings of our Master.

Galatians 3:27 NASB
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

A Warning to Judah: on keeping the Sabbath.

Sunday 9-3-14 Devotion at Tanjung Tualang, (continued)

Reading from Jeremiah 17:20-27

A warning to Judah about the Sabbath.

(1) It was a warning to ALL Judah.
Just as the gates of Jerusalem was used by both King and commoner alike, this warning from God was given to both the Kings of Judah as well as to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem who enter by these gates (v.20)

(2) Take heed, hear and receive (v.21-23)
Take heed:

• bear no burden out of the house on Sabbath Day.
• do no work
• hallow (sanctify) the day, as YHWH commanded their fathers

But their fathers did not obey YHWH. They did not hear. And they did not receive instruction (v.23)

(3) The warning comes with a promise (v.24-26)
Kings and princes will pass through the gates of Jerusalem.
They shall sit on the throne of David:

• on horses
• in chariots
• accompanied by the people of Jerusalem.

Their city will remain forever.

(4) The Warning of Punishment.
If the people do not heed YHWH

• to hallow the Sabbath Day
• to refrain from carrying burdens through the gates of Jerusalem

Then YHWH will burn the gates and will devour the palaces with unquenchable fire.

Written in the heart: a warning to Judah

Sunday, 9-3-14, these are notes taken during my personal devotion at my in-laws home in Tanjung Tualang.

Reading from Jeremiah 17:1 - 10

(1) Written in the heart
Just like the expression used in Jeremiah 31:31ff where YHWH promised to put his Torah into our hearts, here Jeremiah 17:1,2 tells us that Judah's sin is written in their hearts:

• with an iron pen
• with a diamond point
• engraved on the tablet of their heart and on the horn of their altars.

(2) The Curse before the Blessing
YHWH tells Judah of the Cursed Man (v.5,6) first, before He tells of the Blessed Man (v.7,8). This appears to be a solemn warning to Judah

(3) The Cursed Man (v 5,6)
He trusts in man and makes flesh his arm.
His heart departs from YHWH
He is like a shrub in the desert:

• he does not see good coming
• he inhabits parched places

(4) The Blessed Man (v 7,8)
He trusts in YHWH.
He puts his hope in YHWH.
He is like a tree planted by the waters, with its roots spread out:

• he does not fear heat coming
• he has green leaf
• he will not be anxious in times of drought
• he will not cease to yield fruit

(5) The Deceitful Heart (v 9,10)
It is deceitful above all things.

• desperately wicked.

None can understand it.
Only YHWH searches the heart (see Psalm 139:23,24, where David asks God to search his heart)
and tests the mind.
YHWH rewards every man

• according to his ways
• according to his doings (fruits)

Only God can see our hearts and minds while we order and amend our ways and deeds.

Peter Explains How David Understood His Prophecy.

(Bible Reading)
Peter Explains How David Understood His Prophecy.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In my previous post, I posed several questions about the apparent of failure of God's promise in King David's reign and that of his successors. The sworn promise of an everlasting kingdom stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River is yet to materialise until today.

Where is David's kingdom today? And who is his chosen seed?

The answer is found in the testimony of Peter on the Day of Pentecost as he addressed a large crowd of Jews from various regions around the Mediterranean.

Read Acts 2: 29 - 36 (NASB and LXX Brenton will be used in this article).

Let us look closely at Peter's testimony.

In verse 29, Peter addressed the Jews, his fellow countrymen, as "brothers", saying that he wanted to speak to them plainly about their ancestor King David. Peter began by drawing attention to the significance of the following facts about the renowned King David:

King David had died.
King David was buried.
And his grave was with them to that very day.

Peter than pointed out that David was not only a king. He was also a prophet! (verse 30). As such, David knew exactly what God had promised him - alluding to the prophecies recorded in 2 Samuel 7: 12-13 and Psalm 132:11.

Psalm 132:11, 12 NASB
The Lord has sworn to David
A truth from which He will not turn back:
“Of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne.
“If your sons will keep My covenant
And My testimony which I will teach them,
Their sons also shall sit upon your throne forever.”

Psalm 132:11 LXX
11 The Lord sware in truth to David, and he will not annul it, saying, Of the fruit of thy body will I set a king upon thy throne.
12 If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them, their children also shall sit upon thy throne for ever.

2 Samuel 7:12-13 NASB
When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

2 Samuel 7:12-13 LXX
And it shall come to pass when thy days shall have been fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, even thine own issue, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build for me a house to my name, and I will set up his throne even for ever.

A survey of the first passage shows us that:
God has made a solemn promise, He has sworn, and He will not turn back from it.
God swore that He will make on of David's sons as King. (Psalm 132:11).
David's dynasty will continue forever if his successors remain faithful to God's covenant. (Psalm 132:12)

Similarly, in  2 Samuel 7: 12-16, God promised to make sure that David's dynasty will continue forever.

2 Samuel 7:16 NASB
Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever;
your throne shall be established forever.

2 Samuel 7:16 LXX
And his house shall be made sure, and his kingdom for ever before me,
and his throne shall be set up for ever.

Coming back to the passage in Acts chapter 2, Peter explains in verse 30b that David, being a prophet, understood this sworn promise as something that God was going to do in the distant future rather than something that would happen immediately after his own reign. See verse 31a.

It is because of David's prophetic understanding of this Messianic promise in 2 Samuel 7, later recorded in Psalm 132, he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah in Psalm 16.

Psalm 16:10 LXX
because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell,
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(Quoted by Peter in Acts 2: 27 and 31)

In other words, David's prophetic, messianic understanding of God's solemn promise of a son who would reign after him and whose kingdom would last forever is expressed in his prophetic statement in Psalm 16:10 that this successor is the everlasting Messiah whose body would not be left to rot in the grave.

Now, Peter points out, neither King David nor any of his descendants lived forever. Remember Acts 2: 29b which was stated earlier, that David's corrupted body remained in the grave until that very day. Clearly, the prophecy of the everlasting Messiah was not fulfilled in David's life.

Instead, this prophecy was fulfilled by the Jesus (Yeshua). Peter testifies in verses 32-33 that God had raised Jesus from death and this was witnessed by the apostles themselves.

Not only that, Peter also added one more point: after God had raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus had ascended to the right hand of God. (verse 33). Yes, the Messiah sits at the right hand of YHWH today.

In verses 34-35, referring to one more messianic promise from Psalm 110, Peter stressed the fact that it was not King David who ascended to God's right hand in heaven. Instead, David wrote of another, one whom David himself called Adoni (my Master).

Psalm 110:1 NASB
The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Psalm 110:1 LXX
The LORD said to my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Who is David's master (Lord)? Which descendant of David sits at the right hand of God Almighty today?

Peter gives the answer emphatically in Acts 2: 36 (NASB):

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."

Questions for Critics of Yeshua the Messiah

Reading from Psalm 89 (NASB, with LXX Brenton)

Psalm 89:3-4 NASB
3 I have made a covenant with My chosen;
I have sworn to David My servant,
4 I will establish your seed forever
And build up your throne to all generations.

Psalm 89:3,4 LXX
3 I made a covenant with my chosen ones, I sware unto David my servant.
4 I will establish thy seed for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.

Verses 3 and 4 the above psalm by Ethan the Ezrahite says God has promised that a descendant of David will always be king and that David's dynasty (seed) will be preserved forever. (The term "dynasty" is used in the GNT).

Question 1: Where is this everlasting seed today?

For the last 2,000 years why was there no king over Israel? Even after the nation of Israel was formed in 1948, why wasn't David's dynasty restored? And why is Israel today governed by a secular government instead of one that governs according to the Torah of Moshe?

Next, in Psalm 89: 20 - 25, we read that King David was supposed to be anointed by God and that God would empower him to defeat all his enemies, extending his kingdom from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River.(see GNT version)

Psalm 89: 20-25 NASB
20 “I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him,
21 With whom My hand will be established; My arm also will strengthen him.
22 “The enemy will not deceive him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
23 “But I shall crush his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him.
24 “My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him, And in My name his horn will be exalted.
25 “I shall also set his hand on the sea And his right hand on the rivers.

Psalm 89:20-25 LXX
20 I have found David my servant; I have anointed him by my holy mercy.
21 For my hand shall support him; and mine arm shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall have no advantage against him; and the son of transgression shall not hurt him again.
23 And I will hew down his foes before him, and put to flight those that hate him.
24 But my truth and my mercy shall be with him; and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 And I will set his hand in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

Question 2: Where is this anointed king today?

Did King David become that all-powerful invincible King promised in the psalm above? Was David himself really that anointed, chosen One?

Furthermore, it is written in Psalm 89: 26 - 29 that God will make King David his first-born son the greatest of all kings.

Psalm 89:26-29NASB
26 “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
27 “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
28 “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him.
29 “So I will establish his descendants forever And his throne as the days of heaven.

Psalm 89:26-29LXX
26 He shall call upon me, saying, Thou art my Father, my God, and the helper of my salvation.
27 And I will make him my first-born, higher than the kings of the earth.
28 I will keep my mercy for him for ever, and my covenant shall be firm with him.
29 And I will establish his seed for ever and ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

Verse 29 reiterates the assertion made earlier in verse 4, that David's seed and his throne would be as permanent as the days of heaven, being established forever.

Question 3: Did David's seed persist?

King David had only one son who reigned after him, Solomon, who ruled over all 12 tribes of Israel for only a brief 40 years. (2 Chronicles 9:30-31). No sooner had Solomon's son Rehoboam ascended to the throne that Jeroboam ben Nebat led the 10 northern tribes to break away as "Israel", leaving Rehoboam with only the southern territory of Judah.

2 Chronicles 10:19 puts it alarming in a nutshell, "So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day."!

If David's descendant Rehoboam ben Solomon could not even hold dominion over the northern 10 tribes of Israel, how then can one call him him the first-born son, the greatest of all kings? (Psalm 89:26-29)

And how can we claim that King David has vanquished all his enemies? (Psalm 89:20-25)

Likewise, Israel today can't even take back control over the whole city of Jerusalem for herself, how can we say that King David has set his hand in the sea and his right hand in the river, alluding to his kingdom stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River?

Where is David's kingdom today? And who is his seed? The answer to these questions can be found in the testimony of the Apostle Peter to a large audience of Jews on the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2:29-36. I shall explore this answer in my next post.

Just believe, and you will receive?

Matthew 21: 18 - 21 NIV
18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

This morning, I posted a critical review of Joel Osteen's book, "Break Out", that points out significant twisting and misquoting of scripture and some serious false teachings. A brother who probably felt uncomfortable with the review asked me what was so wrong about Joel's teachings, particularly the one about believing and receiving. He referred to the account in Matthew chapter 21 above and pointed out to me the simple lesson:

If you have faith ---> No doubt ---> Say --->it will be done.

I have read the passage from Matthew 21 many times over the last 30 years, and I have always wondered what our Lord Jesus meant in 21:21, "If you have faith, and not doubt, you can do what was done to the fig tree . . ."

A similar verse is found in Mark 11:24, ". . . whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

I'd like to point out several observations about this verse:

Firstly, this was the only incident recorded in the Gospels ( Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14 and 11:20-25) where our Lord commanded a fig tree never to bear fruit again. He did not go everywhere commanding other trees, mountains, rivers, rocks, to wither, move into the sea, dry up or break open etc throughout the three years of His ministry. It was only that one particular single special incident and I think this special incident was done to teach the disciples one single unique lesson.

Secondly, this unique lesson is found in the last verse of the passage, Matt.21:22 and also in Mark 11: 24. Both of these verses DO NOT say

"If you have faith, say it, it will be done". 

Instead, the verses say,

"If you believe, ask for it in prayer, you will  receive it" 

Many people read this passage and ignore the "prayer" part. Our believing must be carried out as part of our praying, not just believing alone.

Thirdly, there is one more part to this special lesson for the disciples which is not recorded in Matthew 21:22 but is recorded in Mark 11:24, 25. Please let me quote below:

Mark 11: 24, 25
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Yes, believing alone is not enough. We must also forgive others who have done wrong against us. If not, our Heavenly Father will not forgive us. And if God does not forgive us, He will not answer our prayers. In that case our believing will be no use at all.

Fourthly, a similar teaching is also found in the letter of Hebrews. In Hebrews 11:6, we read that anyone who comes to God must believe that God IS (i.e. God exists) and that God rewards those who seek Him earnestly.

From this verse, we can see the complete meaning of Jesus' words in Matt. 21:22, "If you believe . . .". It means our believing is not just about something we want to see happen. Instead, it is about our genuine, honest, sincere trust in God our Father. We Christians are powerful people because we trust in the Only True God who really exists and who really rewards us when we seek him with all our hearts.

Finally, in the letter of James, the brother of our Lord Jesus, we can learn one more teaching that helps us understand Matt.21:21 better. It is the teaching that we must not boast about what we plan to do.

James 4: 13-16 NIV
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Here, we see that we must be careful not to boast about tomorrow. We must not say "I believe my business will expand, I believe my money will increase, I believe, I believe . . ." After all, our Lord Jesus did not go around believing and saying various things to all kinds of trees, mountains, rivers, stones or sea! He commanded only ONE fig tree to stop bearing fruit in all his years of ministry.

Conclusion:
Our Lord Jesus' teaching in Matthew 21:18-22 is a single special lesson to teach his disciples to believe God when they pray. This believing in prayer can only be carried out if we are willing to forgive others, so that God will also forgive us of our sins. It also requires believing that God really exists, that God really rewards us when we seek him.

Furthermore, we must be careful not to boast about tomorrow. Instead, we must say in our believing hearts, "If it is the will of the LORD, then I will . . ."

Yes, if it is the will of God our Father, then we can move mountains into the sea. Perhaps in our lifetime of 50, 60 or 70 years we may move only one small mountain, or maybe none at all.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, let us believe God when we pray.

The King and the Needy

(These notes were first written on 19Dec13, and expanded upon today)

Psalm 72, entitled, "A Prayer for the King", is the last Psalm in the second book of Psalms (Ps.42 - 72)

This Psalm closes with the words, "This is the end of the prayers of David son of Jesse" (GNT)

Two themes are seen in this Psalm:

• The King
• The Poor and Needy

The King:

He is  worshipped (bowed down to) by his enemies, and by those who are in the wilderness.

verse 9
The peoples of the desert will bow down before him;
his enemies will throw themselves to the ground.

He receives gifts from the King of Sheba in the south and the King of Seba across the Red Sea.

verse 10
The kings of Spain and of the islands will offer him gifts;
the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him offerings.

In fact, all kings will fall down before him and all the nations will serve him

verse 11
All kings will bow down before him;
all nations will serve him.

Such a powerful king. He must be the wealthiest and the most feared of all kings on earth. One would expect such an absolute monarch to spend all his time ensuring that he maintains his hold on power and that his enemies will always be kept under his rule.

Would such a king be concerned with his poor and needy subjects?

The answer surprisingly is Yes.

The Needy

The word "poor" occurs three times in the GNT of this psalm, viz. verses 4, 12 and 13. The first two of these instances also carry the word "needy", as seen below:

4 May the king judge the poor fairly;
    may he help the needy
    and defeat their oppressors.

12 He rescues the poor who call to him,
    and those who are needy and neglected.

13 He has pity on the weak and poor;
    he saves the lives of those in need.

Such a powerful king, yet kind merciful to the needy. It is fitting therefore for him to receive the benediction in verse 15:

May the king's name never be forgotten;
may his fame last as long as the sun.
May all nations ask God to bless them
as he has blessed the king.

Finally, it is necessary to note that the successful reign of the King is made possible by the hand of God Almighty Himself:

verse 18, 19
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel!
He alone does these wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever!
May his glory fill the whole world.
Amen! Amen!

Now, who is this king, so powerful that all other kings will bow before him, and that all nations on earth will serve him? We know that King David did not accomplish such power. He did not rule over all the other peoples, nor did he have dominion over all other kings on earth.

Such a king must be the Anointed One, the chosen King of the Most High. Psalm 72 is a prophetic psalm about the Messiah, who will one day come and judge both the living and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1)

Acts 10:42 ESV
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Brothers and Sisters, let us heed the words of the ancient prophets and apostles. Let us watch and pray. Let us prepare ourselves for the coming King who rescues the poor and help the needy. He is coming to rule over all the nations of the earth.