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ARE YOU READY;
IS YOUR LAMP FULL OF OIL? (Part 2)
By Oleg |
In yesterday’s newsletter I did a short commentary on Ezekiel 30 and the future of America, ending it with a question from Matthew 25:1-13. I was going to continue with part 2 in regards to this question today until Oleg with his comment did my work for me, now that’s team work, Thank-you. Here is his reply.
Thank you, Brother Chris! I wonder why is that, that we don't have much oil in our lamps, the mind of Christ in our heads. I think because we don't want it, because if we do, it gets us into a trouble. My little son Gregory has a T-shirt that reads: "All my great ideas get me into a trouble."
That's right. All the great ideas get us into a trouble, because it betrays, who we are. If you are a Christian, you have His ideas; you do as He would do. And that's one thing this world will not have, neither from you, nor from anybody else, not even from the Son of God. You have to give up and to give in to survive. John 7 deals with Jesus' brother’s disbelief and misunderstanding. There are many things that the good brothers don't understand. Jesus was hardly ever alone, yet, He was lonely. People were playing roles. People were thinking all wrong. They couldn't see right from wrong. They were blind.
There's the whole "blind culture", whole blind world. But those folks know they are blind and they want to see. But there's whole blind culture and whole blind world around us. And as we live in this world we oftentimes have to pretend. Pretend that we don't see certain things, pretend we see things the way we are told they are, not the way we see them in the light of His lamp that He's given to us, providing us with the oil of the Holy Spirit. And we kill the light. We have no desire to have the mind of Christ and to walk in the light, because it brings us into trouble.
I'll give you an example or two, from my own life, of course. I go shopping and see a mother pouring M&M's candies into her baby's mouth, one bag after another, and the boy's already big. And she smiles at me, and I smile back, and I say, what a cute little boy. And he's cute, he's beautiful, a wonderful creature, but in the wrong hands. And I say nothing, and I can do nothing.
Or else my friend is telling me a joke, and I don't think it's funny, but I laugh anyways. And then my lamp is getting dimmer and dimmer.
I don't suggest we become busybodies. But something needs to be done to keep our lamps up and burning.
Imagine the disciples. They've got things to do. And here He comes and tells them to leave it all behind and go and follow Him. Some of those who were called did go, some did not. Some of those that first followed, later on abandoned Him. Now, I'm not going to ask you why, I'm not going to teach you some five or six principles on who's right and who's wrong. I only want to ask you this question: if you were there, would you follow Him? And let me put it this way: if you knew who He was, would you go?
I hope the answer is 'yes', and that it's a sincere answer. And you can still do it. You can still put all your worries far behind you, and follow Him. He'll gladly send you the Guide, the Heavenly Ghost, Who will go with you, and who will teach you, not at once, but as Jesus was teaching His disciples. He'll give you some divine oil into your lamp.
We underestimate the fact that Jesus is alive. When you are at your car, going your regular way, doing your regular business, why don't you think that Jesus is near you? He is. Why don't you talk to Him, instead of listening to the radio? Why don't you look around and see the world the way Jesus would see it - if He were in your car. It's easy to look at the world through Jesus' eyes if you invite Him into your car, into your life.
You can drive places He wants you to drive. You can do things He wants you to do. You can do things with His power. You'll have courage to say things and to do things, and you'll have a wisdom to do them right. He's got an unlimited supply of oil. Just stay close to Him.
By Oleg
A Beginners Guide to Celebrating Hanukkah by En Punto
THE HANUKKAH STORY part 2
SACK OF JERUSALEM
At the appointed time he will return and come into the South, but this last time it will not turn out the way it did before. For ships of Kittim will come against him; therefore he will be disheartened, and will return and become enraged at the holy covenant and take action; so he will come back and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. (Daniel 11:29-30)
In 169 BCE Antiochus's army suffered a humiliating defeat in their Egyptian campaign when Roman intervention (ships from Kittim) put a halt to their advance. Shamed and angry, Antiochus turned his army back north to return through the land of Israel. When news reached him of civil unrest in Jerusalem, however, he sacked the city indiscriminately and slaughtered thousands of citizens. During this siege, he entered the Holy Temple and stole the gold and silver, including the incense altar, the table, and the menorah.
After Antiochus had defeated Egypt in the year one hundred and forty-three (circa 170 BCE), he returned and went up to Israel and to Jerusalem with a strong force. He insolently invaded the sanctuary and took away the golden altar, the lamp stand for the light with all its fixtures, the offering table, the cups and the bowls, the golden censers, the curtain, the crowns, and the golden ornament on the facade of the temple. He stripped off everything, and took away the gold and silver and the precious vessels; he also took all the hidden treasures he could find. Taking all this, he went back to his own country, after he had spoken with great arrogance and shed much blood. And there was great mourning for Israel, in every place where they dwelt. (1 Maccabees 1:20-25)
This was just the beginning.
ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION
And forces from him will arise, desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And they will set up the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)
Not long after, Antiochus issued orders that all nations under his power were to immediately relinquish their various religions and cultures and embrace Greek culture and faith. This was especially problematic for the Torah-based culture and religion of Judea. In fact, the edicts were specifically aimed at the Jews.
The daily sacrifices were discontinued. The Jerusalem Temple was converted into a Temple to Zeus. On the 15th day of kislev an image of Zeus was erected in the Temple (the abomination of desolation). Ten days later, they began to sacrifice swine to the idol upon the altar of ADONAI.
Antiochus also issued orders forbidding circumcision, Sabbath observance, kosher diets, and the study of Torah. The text of Maccabees records that those who attempted to live out the Torah paid with their lives.
On the fifteenth day of the month kislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five (168 BCE), the king erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of holocausts, and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burnt incense at the doors of houses and in the streets.
Any Torah scrolls which they found they tore up and burnt. Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the Torah was condemned to death by royal decree. So they used their power against Israel, against those who were caught, each month, in the cities. On the twenty-fifth day of each month they sacrificed on the altar erected over the altar of holocausts. Women who had their children circumcised were put to death, in keeping with the decree, with the babies hung from their necks; their families also and those who had circumcised them were killed.
But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was upon Israel. (1 Maccabees 1:54-64)
To be continued with THOSE ZEALOUS FOR THE TORAH
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS HANUKKAH AND THE DISCIPLES OF YAHSHUA: A FIRST FRUITS OF ZION ANTHOLOGY
Today's Devotional Commentary by Charlotte_Irene
Psalm 133…Tuesday December 13th, 2011
THE JOY OF HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIPS
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity
It is like precious oil poured on the head running down on the beard,
Running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion
For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore
Psalm 133
David stated that unity is pleasant and precious.
Unfortunately, unity does not abound in the church as it should.
People disagree and cause division over unimportant issues.
Some delight in causing tension by discrediting others
Unity is important because
1…it makes the church a positive example to the world and helps draw others to us
2…it helps us cooperate as a body of believers as God meant us to giving us a foretaste of heaven
3…it renews and revitalizes ministry because there is less tension to sap our energy
Living in unity does not mean that we will agree on everything there will be many opinions just as there are many notes in a musical chord.
But we must agree on our purpose in life
To work together for God
Our outward expression of unity will reflect our inward unity of purpose
Psalm 133:1-3
Expensive oil was used by Moses to anoint Aaron as the first high priest of Israel
Exodus 29:7
And to dedicate all the priests to God’s service.
Brotherly unity, like the anointing oil, shows that we are dedicated to serving God wholeheartedly
Psalm 133:2
Mount Hermon is the tallest mountain in Palestine located northeast of the Sea of Galilee
Psalm 133:3
THE LORD HAS COMMANDED HIS BLESSINGS GIVING LIFE EVERLASTING AND ETERNAL JOY
There is a joy of brethren literally sitting together in unity with the aroma of the Lord’s presence refreshing one and all
Psalm 133:1-3
We are called to be one with Christ
Amos 3:3
THE LOVE of GOD’S PEOPLE BECOMES EVIDENT
Relational life is the heart of our spiritual life
BE QUICK TO FORGIVE
and
CAREFUL IN ONES RESPONSES
HAVE A HEARING EAR and a RESPONSIVE HEART
with
THE LORD’S WISDOM BEING THUS EVIDENT
releases the joy of the Lord’s presence
Study by Charlotte…December 2011
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