(11/06/2012) To See With New Eyes

      Today, I expand upon some ideas (see below) shared at thoughts.com in a reply to a comment from Southern_Grace re (11/03/2012) The “Lake of Mercy.” As developing believers we do not always display the balance, consistency and stability that identify mature faith. We must become rooted and secure in the divine perspective we call “the mind of Christ.”

Be encouraged. Believers have a tendency to embrace the contradiction. We say “GOD is love” and add “GOD is hate” for GOD is all things (?!!?*). Careful (i.e., prayerful) reflection cautions us to be consistent (i.e., mature). Once we agree “mercy” is not a feeling and emotion, we see its place in judgment a different way. We see with new eyes.

THE BATTLE AXE: A Partnership? (11/05/2012)—Curiously, what appears to mankind as a bitter conflict between GOD and Satan does not emerge so much from anger and malice as from insurmountable disparities between corruption and divine intent, sacred person and created being, or self-will and divine will. It has more to do with imperatives of being and existence than choice and volition. Thus, relative to mankind, Satan and his followers function as having no other purpose than to exercise authority and power in heaven and earth. Relative to Almighty GOD, the limits upon the angels may be spoken of as ignorance, lack of understanding, and simplicity. Through the exaggeration of self-will, what would otherwise appear as innocence becomes seen, instead, as deliberate disobedience, iniquity and rebellion. Christ and his church are to be a demonstration from the earth even to those of the heaven, and a more complete revealing of divine love, holiness, and sovereign majesty (Ephesians 3: 10-12, KJV). The partnership to recover both heaven and earth from sin—we may say “the series of covenants”—is not with Satan; the partnership is with mankind, and is directed to eternal life, forgiveness, repentance and salvation, rather to than punishment.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2nd Corinthians 5: 17-20, King James Version)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Childlike Faith (10/18/2012); Why Did The Judges Fight? (10/19/2012); Double Standard (10/12/2012); Family and Romance (10/13/2012); Contradictions (09/21/2012); The Spirit by Measure (09/22/2012); Begotten not Made (09/08/2012); Beer in My Milk? (09/07/2012); About Conversion (09/03/2012)

      Believers in Jesus Christ “see with new eyes” where they consistently apply the frameworks and truths from the Gospel to recognize, understand and value experience and spiritual truth. When the Gospel is used to provide definition and meaning in making life choices and decisions, the foundations of logic and reason shift to maintain clarity and consistency for the things given to mankind through GOD incarnate as Jesus. The Gospel along with the full content of Scripture determines ones perspective, and resolves all questions regarding whether events and ideas are canonical/apocryphal, good/bad, false/true, holy/unholy, real/unreal, right/wrong and righteous/unrighteous.

      Believers come to know GOD as their human nature is transformed, as their sacred knowledge is expanded, and as they take on divine attitudes, goals, purposes and perspective. The conscience, mind and self-will of those who submit to the influence of Jesus are cleansed, purified and revived. The endowment of divine substance imparted at Creation is increased through the imparted, indwelling spirit, the Holy Ghost. Thereby, mankind becomes capable of operating through sacred proclamation, promise, and prophecy that speak to things that have been, are now, and are yet to unfold. (See Isaiah 42: 5-9, Isaiah 43: 18-20, King James Version).

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, the ongoing revelation of divinity to created beings and living creatures is an eternal process, and has no close or end. Along with the damage and weakness resulting from sin, the various limitations established with the initial deposits of sacred substance now require such divine operations as death, rebirth, repentance, and sanctification whereby the consciousness and makeup of all living are repeatedly reconfigured, and raised to higher levels.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX Washington, DC

(11/05/2012) A Partnership?

      The old idea of an alliance between GOD and the devil to punish sinners, and more on spiritual seeking and being spiritually sought are examined, today. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Charles” (Level 2 with 265 points, a member since September 10, 2012) posted the following:

Christians, is the devil allies with God since the devil is still going to punish the sinners in hell too?

THE BATTLE AXE: Seeking and Being Sought (11/04/2012)—There are many features of the earth that prevent the exercise of dominion by any created being or living creature apart from Almighty GOD. Divine process within the earth goes forward through frameworks of time and space. Life for mankind, therefore, is not continuous, and goes forward by activity that does not endure, and that is by episodes, discrete events, and occurrences with frequent interruptions. Various limitations identify mankind including frailty (that bones break), mortality, muscular exhaustion that demands rest and refreshing, the cycle of sleeping and waking along with disease and sickness. What we call “sovereign rule” by GOD, in fact, is the imparting of life, awareness, and both actual and potential being. All things that exist do not also have life; the living are endowed with spirit content that appears through such features as consciousness, person, and self-will. The operation of the imparted, indwelling Spirit is the government by Almighty GOD that generates (1) obedience to divine law (2) acknowledgment and worship (3) expression of divine person within and by the created as well as (4) union and a continuing bond to the Creator. Saying this another way: One exists only as an emanation from divine will, and the sacred person of GOD. Those living in the earth need make no search for GOD as if he is lost, and must be recovered. Men need only function, fulfill their purpose, complete their mortality, and correctly occupy their given place in divine order. What men are forced to seek is assurance, certainty and confidence in what is otherwise invisible and unknowable to themselves. Mankind must embrace the continuous revelation of GOD through activity, behavior, commitment, experience, social interaction, and spiritual purification.

THE GOLDEN ARROW: And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. (Revelation 12: 7-12, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Spirit Matter (10/21/2012); Sin Unknown? (10/10/2012); The Spirit by Measure (09/22/2012); Coveting the Throne (03/07/2012); A New Earth (02/14/2012); On Being Careful (02/13/2012); Girdle 32: Worship GOD (12/17/2011); Binder 18: Eternal Life (10/15/2011)

      Mature believers who have had to answer this question for the sake of their own faith and understanding generally agree the Lord wants them and his church to share the following:

      The Devil is not now or ever will be an independent being who rules over mankind in the heaven, in the earth, under the earth, or in the seas. While the beginnings of the Adversary (as he is called) were as a prince and ruler in heaven, he has lost authority, estate, and legitimate place there through sin. The devil continues as a finite being, who is not endowed with either mortality or immortality. More than this, he and those who support and surround him are not endowed with all knowledge, with the human ability to increase knowledge by growing and learning through experience, or with the ability to foresee and create the future. The full measure of knowledge they would use throughout their functioning and service was supplied to them at their creation; and in that sense, the angels are complete, finished and sealed.

      The angels were not given a knowledge of sin, or an ability to repent from sin through the operation of an imparted, indwelling spirit from GOD as we see granted to mankind by the ministries of Jesus Christ. The angels all continue to have their being as a dispensation of GOD. The holy scriptures do not describe the angels as having any agenda to interact with mankind except at the direct command of GOD. Their legitimate service includes visitation as divine messengers as well appearing as destroyers who enforce sacred law and divine judgment against sin. Heavenly beings in rebellion against the divine will for mankind generally do so through the manipulation of humans promoting corruption, deceit, disobedience, fear, ignorance, lies, unbelief, and violence.

      There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, hell is not a place where created beings and living creatures are alive, and continue to have the abilities and features of divine endowment that made them what they formerly were (e.g., angels, animals, humans). Those that enter the lake of fire do so merely as rubbish, and only continue there until the fire goes out—when everything to fuel it is completely burned up.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC