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The Memorial – A Case for Mary of Bethany

April 29, 2011 by insolomonsporch

The Memorial

A Case for Mary of Bethany

 

          Amazing!  During His incarnation on the earth, Jesus only established one explicit memorial.  As that’s the case, we know it must be important!  Webster’s Dictionary defines a memorial as “serving to help people remember some person or event.”  Strong’s Greek word for memorial is #3422: a reminder i.e. record, memorial.  This is the word that was used in Mt 26:13, Mk 14:9, and also in Acts 10:4.  In the first two of these Scriptures, Jesus is speaking:

                   “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  Mt 26:13 NKJV

 

                   He says the exact words in Mark as well:

 

                   “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  Mk 14:9

          From the above definitions and Jesus’ words, we see that His intent is not just to recognize an event where He was being anointed for burial, but it was to recognize and remember the person who performed this act.  It only stands as a memorial to her if her actual identity is known.  In the Acts Scripture above, Cornelius’ alms and prayers came up as a memorial to God – same word use.  They were tied specifically to Cornelius in God’s eyes – not to anyone else.  Thus, because Jesus wanted a record as a memorial to this woman – it then stands to reason that we must be able to recognize and know this woman’s identity from Scripture.  That is in fact the case.  Let us examine the Scriptures to uncover the case for Mary of Bethany.

We begin by looking at the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John: Mt 26:1-13; Mk 14:1-9; and Jn 12:1-8 — three similar accounts of the anointing of Jesus before the Passover.  Both Matthew and Mark record the time-frame as roughly two days before the Passover –so we know it is the same event even though they are from different gospels.

Matthew 26:6-13 says Jesus was at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany.  A woman (unnamed) comes before Him with an alabaster flask of costly fragrant oil.  She pours it on His head as He sat at the table.  The disciples were indignant and complained of the waste.  They said it should have been used for the poor.  Then Jesus responds to them not to trouble the woman.  He says she has done a good work for Him.  Important for later — He also says, “you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not always have.”

Now let’s look in Mark 14:1-9.  Again we see it is in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper.  The account is very similar.  The woman, still un-named, comes in with an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.  She breaks it and pours it on His head.  Now however it says that “some” were indignant rather than the “disciples” of the previous account.  The issue of waste is addressed just as before.  Jesus again tells them to leave the woman alone.  The poor are also spoken of in the same manner, and it concludes very similar to the Matthew account.

Now let’s look at John 12:1.  John recounts that it is six days before the Passover (a minor difference although still in same time ballpark as the others).  It is also in Bethany, although John does not disclose whose house Jesus is at.  Here, however, much more detail is given.  We see Martha is serving the dinner and Lazarus is in attendance.  It says that Lazarus had already been raised from the dead by this time.  This is very important!

In verse three we see that some “Mary,” takes a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, and anoints the feet of Jesus, and wipes His feet with her hair.  As you look at the text you see Martha is serving, and Lazarus is present.  He has already been raised from the dead.  The previous accounts record she anointed His head – but here it is His feet.  We might be tempted to dismiss this as a different event, but then it continues in a similar vein as the previous ones.  Now, however, just one of the disciples – Judas — complains about the waste.  But it clarifies that he complained not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and was stealing from the money box. Jesus clinches the event as being the same by commanding them (as in the other accounts) to let her alone, for she has done this for His burial.  Also, He refers to the poor in the same way.  So even with John’s additional reporting on Judas and minor discrepancies on how many days previous to the Passover this occurred – we can tell this is the same event as reported in both Matthew and Mark.  Here from John’s account we first see that someone named “Mary” is involved, and Martha and Lazarus are also named.

In studying these three accounts from three different gospels, you may wonder why if it wasn’t also addressed in Luke.  Indeed it does not occur at all in Luke — at least not the same anointing event.  However, there is another anointing account which occurs earlier in time, and we should look at that before we come to the clincher on why it is Mary of Bethany who is the “Mary” referred to.

Turn over to Luke 7:37.  This is another dinner event, but it is at the home of Simon the Pharisee (not the leper).  It takes place in the city of Nain, not in Bethany.  Nain is up north, just southwest of the Sea of Galilee.  Bethany is far south, near Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the northern tip of the Dead Sea.  It is roughly two years earlier than the burial anointing described in the three gospels.  This is approximately 28 AD.  A woman from the city of Nain has heard that Jesus is dining with Simon the Pharisee.  She brings an alabaster flask, she stands behind Him weeping.  Then she begins to wash His feet with her tears, and kisses His feet and anoints them with the oil.  Jesus discusses this situation with Simon.  Jesus tells the woman that she is forgiven and her faith has saved her.  Simon comments to himself that if Jesus were a prophet he would know what manner of woman this was who was touching Him.  Apparently, Jesus knew exactly what manner of woman she was, and spoke to Simon explaining the concepts of indebtedness and forgiveness, and love.  Now hold this event in Luke uppermost in your thinking.  All will be revealed shortly, but let us go back to the gospel of John, chapter 11.

In John 11:1 we see Lazarus is now sick – but he has not yet died!  John 11:2 is quite clear:  “It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.”  Please get this!  Lazarus is identified as the brother of the “Mary” who anointed the Lord’s feet and wiped His feet with her hair.  This is identifying Mary (sister of Lazarus) as the one who anointed the Lord in Luke 7:37 that we just looked at – in the city of Nain, far from Bethany two years prior to the burial.  It cannot obviously be referring to the event still to come in Jn 12:3 (where John records that Mary anointed and wiped Jesus’ feet) – because Lazarus is still only ill.  He has not yet been raised which is spoken of in Jn 12:1.  So Mary of Bethany was the especially wicked sinner of Luke 7:37 — probably a prostitute, who anointed Jesus’ feet at Simon the Pharisee’s house.  It was there that she was forgiven for her sinful life. She cried and kissed His feet and then anointed them.  This was not for Jesus’ burial though! 

Sometime afterward, her life now greatly changed by Jesus, Mary returns to the family home where Lazarus now lies ill (Jn 11:1).  Jesus is sent for but has not yet come.  Pay close attention now.

Look across the page to John 12:3.  We examined this passage earlier as well.  Mary now anoints Jesus for His burial.  Recall this event is the same as in Matthew 26:7, and Mk 14:3.  But in a striking departure from parallel design, in John’s recounting he does not include a Scripture passage of Jesus calling for a memorial to remember this woman and her service.  Why this difference from the other two Gospels which mention the memorial?  Because here– in John’s account — the identity of the woman Mary is given.  In John 12:3, which is the same event as Matthew 26:7 and Mk 14:3, the woman is indeed identified as Mary of Bethany. 

What we must understand is that this is a memorial specifically to Mary of Bethany because of her service to the Lord.  It is not just that it was done – it was that she did it.  To lose or ignore her identity loses the power of a testimony of a life transformed.  She was previously an especially wicked sinner – know for her lifestyle of sinning in Nain.  In hiding or outcast from her family home, she was able to earn a good enough income as a prostitute to afford the spikenard to anoint Jesus’ feet.  By the time she attends Jesus for His burial anointing, her life is completely changed.

Examine how far she came!  Much farther than the geographic distance from Nain to Bethany!  In Christ she came the distance from sinner to saint.  Now she is a woman restored in the Lord and a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. More than that, Mary is honored to anoint Jesus for His burial.  This very same Mary who was once scolded (Luke 10:40-41) by her sister Martha for failing to help serve Jesus, is now being elevated for what she did.  And what she did was to sit at Jesus’ feet.  The greatest affirmation possible was given to her by Jesus when he told Martha that Mary has chosen the “better portion which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus — was her better portion, as opposed to the busy service of Martha, and she lived that out as a life of worship before Him.  No cost was too great to sacrifice for Him, no other service could draw her away from Him.  And yet it is in her remaining at His feet that she was qualified to anoint Him for His burial.  Thus, Jesus gave to her – Mary of Bethany — the tribute of the only memorial which He ever bestowed.  Remember her!  But all that Jesus did for Mary of Bethany, He has already accomplished at the cross for you and I as well.  That is the full power of her memorial.

©2011 Sandra Gilloth

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Day Sixteen

April 9, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Sixteen

Hungering for Habitation

“… in whom [ye] also are built together for a habitation of God in [the] Spirit.”  Eph 2:22 (Darby)

When we talk about the presence of God — His abiding presence that no longer lifts from us – we are talking about “habitation.”  At once this seems both the most heavenly of all things, but also perhaps unreachable.  To consider it brings both questions, and requirements.  We want to examine this habitation over the course of several devotional days – addressing the facts through Scripture in bite-size portions.  While Eph 2:22 is one of the few New Testament Scriptures that actually uses the word “habitation”, the concept is also addressed in 1Cor 3:9-17.  We’ll begin there.

Having recently been under a Chiropractic “hand” of treatment, you will have to forgive this influence on my manner of expression.  However it is not a “stretch” to say that as Paul opens in 1st Corinthians, Chapter Three, he is indeed making an adjustment to the spiritual posture of Corinthian believers.   He is showing them that they have been carnal, they have behaved after a human standard in preferring one person over another, and they have failed to apprehend that they are God’s building (vs. 9).

As a preface to Paul’s upcoming exposition on habitation these points are very important.  Why?  Paul is diagnosing their spiritual condition and how it is both inadequate and incompatible with being “God’s building.”  While on one hand he is showing them that they cannot be nonspiritual/carnal/ men of the flesh and also be the habitation of God, on the other hand he is drawing them to hunger for that very habitation!  He is running out the sail to capture before them the full wind of God’s wondrous design for them as His Spiritual Home and all that that portends!

We know from the Word that our flesh conveys no benefit concerning eternal things.  Jesus condemned the Pharisees for judging according to the flesh (by what they see) and yet this is how the Corinthians were behaving towards Paul and Apollos.  Essentially they were aligning themselves to one leader over another in the church because of outward appearance.  They were acting as ordinary men, unchanged and unspiritual.  They were looking at things with natural eyesight.  These tendencies were indicative of their spiritual condition – they were fleshly, not spiritual.  Before anything else could be revealed, this problem had to be addressed.

So it is with us today!  Before we can begin to experience the habitation of God, we must examine our spiritual disposition.  Are we like Corinthians — our carnal nature predominating? We must change!  Are we still infants in our new life with Christ — only able to take milk in teaching?  Are we ruled by our ordinary impulses (ones we were naturally born with)?  Do we find ourselves embroiled in wrangling, factions, and behaving after a human standard?  These are prime warning signs that our flesh is in action and control, not the spiritual man.  If we want the habitation of God, then our spiritual nature must be in charge, not our flesh!   Believe it!

Be-loved.

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Day Fifteen

April 5, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Fifteen

Only Two Sources

(The World or the Father)

“Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.”  1Jn 2:15


Since the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, two grand competing tracks of provision and sourcing have run dually along the timeline of man.  They are two exclusive systems which not only are completely different, but they are adversarial to each other.  That is they are diametrically opposed to each other – and yet chronologically they both run from the fall to the end times.  Only one is destined to remain forever – that is the line of provision and sourcing from the Father.  1Jn 2:17 (Amp.) indicates that: “ …the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.”

Not only are there just two systems, but each one has unique qualities that are “of it.”  The world track has forbidden cravings and lusts.  The Father track has the will and blessing of the Father and eternal life.

Not only will the provision and sourcing that is from the Father remain forever – but those who rely on it and have their needs met in it – they too remain forever.

The question you and I must face is twofold.  Which track do we think we rely on:  the world and its provision, or the Father?  Secondly, which track are we really running on and living our life according to?  This is a matter of grave import!

I was first provoked by this when I was reading 1Jn 2:16.  You probably know it well – but it says that all that is in the world can be categorized as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  These things do not come from the Father it says but are from the world!  You see God told Adam that the ground (earth) was under a curse because he gave heed to the leading of Eve and ate the fruit in disregard to the Father’s instruction.  From that time forward Adam was going to eat the fruit of the earth all the days of his life.  This fruit is not just a literal product of toil – but is also what we reap when we sow to the track of the world by trusting in it and running upon it!  These fruits are the very lusts spoken of above!  Making the world your provision means succumbing to its draw and living by your fleshly appetites for physically sensual things, the longings of your mind, and the assurance and trust in your own resources (from the earth/flesh) and the stability of those things to continue on.  A dependence on the things of the world/flesh is diametrically opposed to putting your trust in the Lord.  It was this very decision that caused the fall in the Garden.  It can do no better today!

When we choose instead to run on the Father track (and make a deliberate choice to depend only on Jesus, to follow Him and trust in His resources, and to surrender all that we are into His hands) — we are truly freed from the curse of the Garden and the world’s hold.  In Him we can now bear fruit for righteousness that endures with us forever.  Before we could only derive from the world the temporal fruits of the earth (the lust of the eyes, etc.) that confirmed our ultimate destruction.  As we continue in reliance on Christ and we do the Father’s will (which is to follow and believe on Christ and remain in Him), then we abide forever!

Now we know the enemy, Satan, is a great deceiver.  He can present himself as an angel of light.  The greatest travesty would be for a believer to think his dependence was on the Father and His track when his choices and life reveal he was really trusting in the world!  If we love the world and trust in its offerings the love of the Father is not in us.  As we sow to the world track we are ruled by the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life.  Throughout our life, all that we can reap is destruction and eternal judgment.

Be wise in this and not deceived.  What track do you trust in?  What track is your life running on?  Is it of the world or the Father?  They have very different destinations!

Be-loved!

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Day Fourteen

April 1, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Fourteen

The Value of One

“What man of you, if he has a hundred sheep and should lose one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” Lk 15:4

We are moved today in the world by the notion that more is better, faster is better, and getting a bigger bang for the buck is good.  This thinking even spills over into our strategies for the Kingdom of God, though I don’t see this in the heart of the Father or Jesus.  In fact, what I see from the word is a continual reiteration of the great value of just one individual from Jesus’ perspective.  He constantly connected to people, individually, mano a mano, wherever He was at.

For instance, when the woman with the issue of blood was pressing through the crowd seeking only to touch the hem of His garment to receive healing – He recognized her touch as He felt the virtue of power leave although He was surrounded and hemmed in by crowds who were also touching Him.  Even when talking to groups of Pharisees He was able to discern their thoughts individually, and to recognize them as belonging to each person.  He also is able to discern when just two or three are gathered in His name – and He assigns value and power to that gathering for having their prayers answered.  Also, every deliverance, every healing, every salvation – Jesus accomplished one by one.  Mark 6:56 tells us that “as many as touched Him were restored to health.”  You could be part of a group that was touching Him and getting healed – but unless you touched Him yourself, you could not receive healing.  He deals with us individually.  Each of us is distinctly unique and important individually to the Lord!

This value of you – your value to the Lord is something that settles your heart as to your importance in His eyes, becomes a platform of strength against temptation and sin, and fortifies you in your place and role in the Kingdom.  The only way we can know this value, however, is to have revelation of it from the Lord through His word as we sit before Him.  He communicates it to us!  He begins to personalize the truth of His word for us.  It has our name on it as His love letter!  He says to us: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jer 31:3)  “I have loved you to the last and highest degree.” (Jn 13:1)  “My Father has loved you even as He has loved Me.” (Jn 17:23)  But this value of one is not just for us alone!  The Father desires that none should perish, but that all would come to repentance – hence He would have us communicate His love and value to others so that they may know Him.

Each of us has people within our sphere of influence (people we know and interact with) who are in a sense “lost sheep” or struggling.  Jesus values these people!  He would leave 99 of His saints to go pursue the one that is lost.  He would have us care and notice the needs of these people.  The question is:  Will we?  Would you and I have His heart concerning these people?  Are we willing to reach out in caring for the one He wants to recover?  Are we willing to put aside our pursuits and pursue what and who He wants?

The problem is we want evangelists in stadiums to do our work for us.  We want people to come to a church service and find Jesus.  But Jesus is saying to us – as the Father sent Me, now I send you!  He is waiting for us to hear Him.  He is waiting for us to gain His heart that each  “one” is vitally important – because everyday of every life – He works through one at a time – changing families through one child – changing churches through one life on fire for Him….. We cascade forth into the world as His living water – one person at a time!  Are you willing to go for Him – to pray with Him — to seek and save in His name – the “one” that is lost?  He is waiting to hear from you – His “one”.

Be-loved.

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Day Thirteen

March 30, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Thirteen

Held Together- Transferring Your Confidence

“And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).”  Col 1:17

It is my hope that one day we will see the truth of things so clearly – that we will be amazed that we could ever have doubted… Him, or the fact that He has held all things.  1Cor 13:9-12 speaks of how we now see in a mirror dimly, but when perfection comes we will see clearly and with completeness.  I believe this is saying when Jesus manifestly returns we will actually “see” visually with completeness – for perfection will be before us.  But for now, I believe the saints have the capacity in Christ to grasp with fingers of faith a level of “spiritual vision” that can perceive perfectly.  We have already been brought out of darkness and into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (Col 1:13). When we see with eyes of faith we will see the truth and the truth will set us free.  Free from what?  Having confidence in the temporal over the eternal, sight over faith, natural over supernatural, etc. etc.

We can find hints of this in certain observations.  Take water for instance.  There is a scientific principle called cohesion (which is derivative from cohere in the Scripture above).  Try this!  Spill a bit of water on a waterproof table surface and also put a substantial drop of water nearby that spill, then trace a line of water from the drop to the spill.  The water from the drop will be drawn into the water mass of the spill.  This is cohesion.  They are united because of molecular likeness, and the greater body always draws the smaller.

As believers, we are like the water drop placed in proximity to the life and reality of Jesus Christ.  We are drawn to Him, we become more and more like Him — which draws us even closer to Him!  He draws us with the cords of man!  The more of Him we have, the more fully we cohere to Him– because of this property of cohesion.  He is our head spiritually, but He is also our center.  We are always moving closer to Him in intimacy.  In Him we cohere and are held together! We are most definitely “stuck” (in the very best sense) on Him!

When life storms or trials occur, the greatest damage occurs if we fail to remain stuck on Him, and instead put our trust in something else.  Our substance is not of “medical-likeness”, or “money-likeness.”  It is not of “world-likeness” or “man’s wisdom-likeness.”  It is of Christ-likeness!  So we must stick with the right thing – or rather the right One.  Nothing else has the inherent power to hold us together like Jesus.  Everything else is just a cheap imitation.  Stick with the Genuine, hold to the True.  No matter what — He’s got it all-together!

Be-loved.

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Day Twelve, Under-the-Influence

March 26, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Twelve

Forego Hasty or Premature Judgments!

“…He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts…” 1Cor4:5

We know from the book of John that Jesus was the Word incarnate – He was the Word made flesh.  Previously He had been known as the “Logos” – the Word God spoke, and thus it was through this Word that everything that has been created was created!

In the gospel of John we see that Jesus gave and spoke to us every word that the Father gave Him.  He didn’t exceed this with words of His own making, nor exclude anything that the Father gave Him.  So there is perfect agreement between what the Father charged Jesus to do and say, and what Jesus gave or manifested to us.  He is the standard of perfect obedience!  So when we think of the word as a double-edged sword, or as living and active (as in Hebrews 4:12), exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart – we know that we are talking about the very essence of the nature of Christ here.   Jesus is the revealer of the thoughts and hearts of men!

Even Mary the mother of Jesus was to experience this “revelation” as she was told in Luke 2:35 that a sword would pierce her own soul and that the thoughts and purposes of many hearts may be brought out and exposed.  This is a specific property of the word of God.  Like H2O is the essence of the property of water — this is the very nature of Jesus, and from this distinct nature come all of His revelatory gifts such as words of knowledge or wisdom.  On his own, man does not have this ability.  It is only available through God as He provides the insight.  Man likes to figure things out by logic and reason, but this is very different and childlike compared to the truth that is known through God’s revelation.

Hence it is no wonder that we are told to not make hasty or premature judgments until Jesus “shows up”.  Our judgments are at best inaccurate observations, or based on faulty logic and analysis.  They are fraught with error!  Only the word that is living and active can disclose and expose the secret motives and purposes of the heart.  Unless the Lord provides this insight through the Holy Spirit to us, we are only seeing things on the surface.  We are walking by sight – only.  We might think we “know” something because we believe we have good intelligence, or we know it firsthand (we saw this).  But we do not have all the truth.  That only is available “when the Lord comes.”

He may show up manifestly for a moment, or He may send revelation through the Holy Spirit, or it might have to wait until His second coming.  But unless there has been a manifesting of His presence and truth in power, there is only a shadow of the truth available.  He is the revealer of the thoughts and hearts – and we must wait upon Him to cast light upon things that are hidden.

Thus we hold in abeyance the solidifying of an opinion that He has not precipitated nor confirmed!  Until the Lord discloses something, it is truly not yet known.  And if something is required to be known for pending action, we best be about the business of seeking His face and His truth.  Until that happens, we are just casting our own shadows on the wall – and those are all subject to change.

Let us realize our own limits to logically assess truth, and recognize our dependence on Him.  There is no getting around this fact — there is only counterfeiting it.

Be-loved!

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The Razor

March 24, 2011 by insolomonsporch

The Razor


There is a principle in life,

A law that each can see.

Requiring constant vigilance,

Against this entropy.


We see it every morning,

The harvest of the flesh.

What once was smooth and silken,

Now tender touch arrests.


With hyssop lay the lather,

Against the flesh each morn.

And with the two-edged sword,

Expose a heart reborn!


©1996 Sandra Gilloth

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Day Eleven, Under-the-Influence

March 23, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Eleven

Dealing with Hard Days

“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.” Prov 16:32

The idea of ruling our own spirit is initially foreign to us.  Even as believers we don’t often know what this means.  It is saying that as an act of your will (your soul), you are choosing to allow the Lord and His Life to rule in your regenerated spirit.  Your re-awakened spirit is then allowed to ascend to a place of rule over your soul and your physical body.  This ascended life is in charge.  Thus, the Kingdom of God actually begins to rule over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and works through the agency of the Holy Spirit in your own spirit.

The Proverbs Scripture is providing a comparison of strengths.  It is revealing that a person ruled by their spirit (and by extension the Holy Spirit) is much greater in strength than the one who possesses massive physical force.  Why is this?  Natural strength is good, but it can only take you so far.  You might even conquer a city with it, but that is unsubstantial compared to your own heart and mind being ruled over by the Kingdom of God.  It is there, in that place of service and submission under the rule of the spirit that miracles can occur!  It is there – with the very life of Jesus ruling in us – that we can do greater works for the Kingdom!  This is why we are also instructed that physical conditioning is of some value, but the training and disciplining of our spiritual life is of much greater profit! (1Tim 4:8)

However, this place of greater works is also a place of complete dependence on the Holy Spirit and His leading in us.  It is a place of obedience to the word of God, and to the authority of Jesus Christ!  For this reason, the enemy (Satan) tries with great effort and strategy to derail this kind of spiritual growth.  The capacity that we have as well-ruled spirits to do great works for the Kingdom drives the enemy to fight tooth and nail to sabotage this kind of life.  He brings every difficulty he can to make our days hard and our heart weary in well-doing.  His goal is to keep us on the run and caught up in our fleshly lives and thinking so that we lose the position of abiding in the spirit and having it rule over us.

When you embark on this path of life in the spirit, the enemy will target you.  When you approach increasing maturity in it – the enemy will try and pull out every stop.  It may look like he is winning.  But do not believe it!  Continue on in the spirit, and leave no room to indulge the flesh whatsoever!  Do not look at yourself, but continue to see only the face of Christ!  The enemy will learn that his tactics are only helping to perfect you in Christ’s likeness.  As you submit to God, and resist every tactic of the enemy, he will flee from you.  Be-loved.

 

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Chapter 6, “The Bride is…Without Veil”, Imagine the Bride

March 21, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Chapter Six

The Bride is…Without Veil

“But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.” 2Cor3:16

 

We have been looking at various characteristics of the Bride of Christ all in an effort to clearly and with accuracy – “Imagine the Bride.”  We have seen how she has a focus which is different from the church.  We have looked at the profit of breaking in her life.  We have seen how she practices being un-offended.  We have explored how she is like a “dance at Mahanaim.”  And in the previous chapter – how she “is a wall.”  Now in this chapter we will examine the distinct likelihood that contrary to custom, and unlike tradition — the future Bride of Christ will be without a wedding veil.  Not that she will have committed a fashion blunder – and forgotten her veil.  Nor will she recklessly break with bridal protocol and choose to forgo wearing a veil.  No, I believe that that Bride will not wear a veil because she cannot.  Thus, just as Jesus himself often came in a line of Truth that clashed with established precedent – when it comes to wearing a bridal veil, I believe the Bride will be just as unconventional as the Lord.

Before launching into the full discussion consider this additional point which establishes the importance of this issue – because it is about more than simply fashion, or protocol, or an outward statement.  Recall in Mt 22:11-14  Jesus is teaching the Pharisees concerning attire at the future wedding feast.  Jesus reveals that a man has slipped into the celebration without having on the appropriate wedding garment.  Jesus addresses the man kindly, calling him “Friend.”  He asks him how he came to be there without the proper attire, but that man is unable to respond.  The man is then gagged and tied up, and thrown into the darkness outside.  In the heavenly realm it appears that there is a great correlation between our spiritual state and what we get to wear at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  This is further validated by Rev 19:8, where the Bride’s fine linen and her right to wear it – is because of her righteous deeds and godly living while on the earth.

Hence, what we are and do here on earth is knitting a future wardrobe for us in heaven, and there will be no falsity in that process!  It is imperative that we recognize this fact now, and chose a course today which will store for us treasure in heaven, even bridal wear!  So then, onto the discussion at hand – why won’t the Bride wear a veil?

 

 

Divine Trouble-making and Destruction of Tradition

 

Jesus came to upset the order of things as a prelude to deliverance and freedom.  He upset ideas about what could properly be done on the Sabbath.  He literally over-turned and upset tables where temple priests were selling animals for sacrifice, thus terminating their practices and traditions of commerce in the outer courts. He upset the people over washing practices, and forever destroyed misconceptions that external rigors or oblations perfected or protected anyone from being defiled.   He taught that what defiles comes from within – well beyond where we can scrub clean.  He blasted ideas about monies promised to the synagogue being a legitimate excuse for anyone to not take care of their families.  It goes on and on.

Jesus came to upset the old order, and to usher in a higher, more perfect order.  Yet He is very clear in Mt 5:17.  He did not come to undo the law, but to fulfill and complete it!  Jesus’ very nature was to upset the old older – and yet fulfill all aspects of the law.  That is why it is not difficult for me to believe that at the future marriage supper of the Lamb, the Bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords – will be without veil!  Against every general bridal protocol and custom practiced historically and today – I believe there will be a great departure ahead.  To understand the significance of this we must investigate history concerning the veil and what is to come.  Let us begin our exploration in the Old Testament.

The Temple Veil

 

The veil within the Temple created a division between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, and as such served to both protect and separate.  It kept even the priests out of the Holy of Holies except for just one day of the year – the Day of Atonement.  In position, the veil hung immediately before the Mercy Seat, which was upon the Ark of Testimony.  Upon this Mercy Seat the cloud of God’s presence would appear and rest.  This Mercy Seat is where the Lord would receive the praise of His people.  It is also where He would manifest His Presence – the Shekinah Glory.  So the veil was a separator (of legal and protective importance) from the all-powerful presence of the most holy God.

Now however, you and me, believers in Christ Jesus – we are the very temple of God.  We are told in 1Cor 6:19 that our body is the very temple of the Holy Spirit – it is His sanctuary.  We were bought with a price, we are no longer our own.  When did this happen – this movement from a temple of stone and mortar to one of flesh and blood that is in-dwelt by the most-high God?  It happened at the Cross, when Jesus laid down His life to purchase us as His own.  Stay with me here now – this gets exciting!

Immediately after Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross, the curtain of the temple (also known as the veil) was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth also shook at this time, and rocks were split open.  Tombs opened and many bodies of saints who were dead were raised to life and walked around the city of Jerusalem.  But focusing on the veil – it was torn from top to bottom.  This was not something any man could do.  This veil was immense and very thick.  It was only the hand of God, of Jesus Himself, making a way and opening up what previously was shut to us.  Only He could perform such a feat!  He made a way before us – that is open forever!  Our access to God the Father will never again be for one day a year, but His Son has made a way for continual, open access.  You and I have freedom of access to the God and Creator of the Universe that can never be taken away or diminished!  You must get this – the veil blocked our freedom to come before God!  The veil then stood as a proponent of slavery or bondage under the law and opposition to freedom.  This shall become clearer as we proceed.

Two Covenants:Types and Shadows of Slavery & Freedom

 

In the book of Galatians, chapter four, Paul sets up a profound and striking parallel.  He revisits the story of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis (especially Gen 22:17), and re-acquaints us with both of Abraham’s sons.  Abraham’s first son, Ishmael, is the progeny of his union with his wife’s maid Hagar — who is a slave or bond-maid.  Abraham’s second son, Isaac, is the offspring of his union with his wife Sarah — who is a free-woman.  Paul explains that this is an allegory.  Hagar and Sarah actually represent two different covenants, two different lineages.  One covenant had its foundation in the law given from Mt Sinai and concerns children destined for slavery.  This first covenant (Hagar) also corresponds to present day Jerusalem, for she is still in bondage/slavery with her children to the law.  The second covenant (Sarah) has its foundations in the Jerusalem that is above (the Messianic Kingdom of Christ) which is free, and she is the mother of free children – in Christ Jesus.

So there are two covenants and two lineages in operation and force today that we must recognize because they have great bearing on the discussion of the veil.  The children of the first covenant (from Hagar who was a slave) and even the present Jerusalem, remain under slavery even today.  They are of natural, physical decent; they have had an ordinary physical birth.  Hence they remain under the first covenant law – that which was brought by Moses.

The children of the second covenant (from the Jerusalem above/the Messianic Kingdom of Christ) are all free.  They have had a second birth, beyond natural decent – in fact supernatural!  They owe their freedom (and being born again) to the second covenant, brought by Jesus, Who came to make us children of promise – like Isaac!

Now carefully follow the path we are about to take.  Don’t wander off!  This is very profound because of the promise the Father gave Abraham back in Genesis.  Remember, God, as a Theophany (the pre-incarnate Christ) visited Abraham and Sarah and promised them a son – Isaac. Again – Isaac was the son of promise.  He was the son who had a miraculous birth because Sarah and Abraham were well beyond child bearing years.  It was God’s creative miracle that made it possible for them to bear Isaac.  But listen!  This promise to Abraham was given (Paul says in Gal 3:17) 430 years before the law was given by Moses!  Therefore, the promise of freedom and son-ship was given way before the Mosaic Law was ever established!  While the covenant of promise to Abraham could bring new life (Isaac), the covenant of the Law could only produce children from Mt. Sinai (of natural birth, bond-servants)!  However the covenant of Law can never supersede the covenant of promise because the promise was given first.

What does this have to do with a veil?  Look at 2Cor 3:16:  “…whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.” Everyone who has come to Jesus and confessed Him as their Savior has had the veil stripped away!  The Bride is devoted and follows Jesus.  She is born again of a supernatural birth!  Jesus stripped her veil away when she came to repentance! She would not now go back and put that veil on again!  It would be like reverting to the Law as if it was the supreme arbeiter! This is why the Bride cannot wear a veil. You cannot be supernaturally birthed as a child of promise and then return to a natural birth.  You cannot be freed as a child of promise and return then to slavery.  You cannot put your hand to the plow and then look backward and remain fit for the Kingdom of God!

The word says in 2Cor 3:13, “Nor [do we act] like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the vanishing [splendor which had been upon it].”  The best the Law can ever do for you is bring a splendor that vanishes;  it can only be a ministry of doom (decline).  The glory and splendor that abides and remains is the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ!  This is a surpassing glory that never diminishes.  No veil could compete with it – nor is the veil needed anymore to protect or separate!  But even to this day, when the law is read to the Israelites, it affirms and fortifies the veil that still lies [on their hearts].  It has not been yet lifted [to reveal] that in Christ it is made void and done away with. (2Cor 3:10-15)

The final point is this.  Christ has made us free!  Through His sacrifice He has made us like Isaac — children of promise.  We are told to stand fast in that liberty, and to not be hampered and ensnared ever again and submit to a yoke of slavery which has been put off! (Gal 5:1)  The Bride will stand fast in this way.  She will never again submit to a yoke of slavery, for her Lord has made her free.  No veil (denoting slavery to the law) will ever cover or hide or obscure her again!  May we in Christ embrace this fact! To the Lord be the glory!

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Day Ten, Under-the-Influence

March 16, 2011 by insolomonsporch

Day Ten

Heed the Call to Simplicity

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”  NKJV 2Cor 11:3

In the Garden of Eden, Satan baited Eve to doubt and disbelieve God’s intentions by posing questions to her.  Watchman Nee describes with great detail this attack in The Spiritual Man, and how this tactic was used to cause Eve to employ her mind to answer his questions.  Though we may not see it, the attack was a malicious and deliberate attempt to get Eve to stir up her soul (specifically her mind), so her soul would expand in its efforts of thinking and depart from under the rule of the spirit within her.  The spirit was the part of her, and Adam, that could commune with God.  To destroy the rule of their spirits was to destroy this fellowship with God.

Now, here, the Apostle Paul presents a warning so that a similar evil will be averted today by believers who possess a regenerated spirit in Christ.  He is warning that our minds may lead us into the very same corruption as Eve experienced, a corruption characterized by fleshly thinking and doing, and a dependence on our soul vice the spirit as it is moved and led by Christ.

If you are a believer in Christ you actually have two minds.  You have your natural mind that you were born with.  But through your regenerated spirit you also have the mind of Christ.  Romans chapter eight discusses this duality, especially verses 1-18.  May you study them and receive revelation!  But in very simple terms, imagine you are a dog-sled and that there are two different dogs that like to lead you (the sled).  One dog is the flesh dog, one is the spirit dog.  Depending on which dog is allowed to lead – that is the nature of the things he pursues.  The flesh dog pursues the things of the flesh and seeks to gratify those desires.  The spirit dog seeks those things of the spirit and seeks to gratify the desires of the spirit.

So essentially Paul is warning us to let the spirit dog always be the lead dog, and let the flesh dog die of boredom and non-use!  The importance of this is not to be minimized!  Your flesh dog – can never please God (Rom 8:8), and it will always lead you astray.  The profoundness of this notion is underscored by the meaning of “simplicity” in 2Cor 11:3.

This word simplicity is haplotes (#572) in the Strong’s Greek.  It means singleness, without dissimilation or self-seeking.  The word is also derived from (#573) haplous, which adds the aspect of a particle of union, and being folded together.

Our flesh is “self-seeking.”  Our spirit is Christ-seeking.  Paul’s admonition to pursue simplicity in effect means never be self-seeking, thus never flesh-led!  Further, to have union in Christ – to be folded together implies we seek the same things, have similar perspective, and have the same goal as Christ Jesus – thus be spirit-led, following the dictates of the spirit.  This is having the simplicity in Christ Jesus!  It is singular devotion that is pure and of one substance with Him.  It is uncorrupted.

The point is – once the enemy finds a strategy that works, he generally keeps running with it.  Getting Eve to rely on her mind (flesh) rather than remain dependent on the spirit worked in the Garden – so he sees no reason to change his playbook.  He believes it will cause you also to fall.  But for you – hear the words of Paul and do not allow the enemy’s tactics to succeed again!  Let the flesh dog die – surrender and renounce the use of your flesh.  Reckon yourselves as being dead to sin but alive to Him.  And yield/offer “yourselves” (all of your faculties and members – all of your soul) to Him as instruments of righteousness (Rom 6:13).  Be-loved …

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