(12/11/2016) GOD’s Peculiar People

 

Today, topics include access to divinity, acceptable animals for food and worship, and prohibitions against eating pork.   What began as the specific provisions to nourish life upon the earth would be reconfigured to serve as a mechanism to repair the relationship of oneness without sameness between the Creator and the created.  Inseparable aspects of the spirit content within the full GODhead would be imparted to indwell and transform mankind such as faith, forbearance, forgiveness, holiness, joy, love, purity, and truth.  Confirmed believers are to maintain themselves as fit and ready to receive, now, the emblems of bread and wine that transmit the sacred blood and body of Jesus Christ, and, later, to receive the Savior at his appearing (we say, the Advent, the harvest, the Rapture, the Second Coming).  The writer at “Yahoo! 7 Answers (Australia) using the ID “William” (Level 1 with 1 point, a member since November 08, 2016) posted the following:

 

Can gentiles eat pork? but its only forbidden for Jews and musslims?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.  But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:  the LORD will hear when I call unto him.  Stand in awe, and sin not:  commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.  (Psalms 4:  2-5, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Material Things in Heaven? (11/10/2016); Become Like Jesus Christ? (10/27/2016); More Than Food and Drink? (04/12/2016); Pork, A Stumblingblock? (03/06/2015); To Drink Holy Blood? (02/16/2015); Denying GOD by Eating Shrimp? (11/17/2013); The Dead in Christ? (11/18/2013)

 

“William”, it has been found that worms may be transmitted through pork as food, through the bare feet, through the eyes, and in other ways that are epidemic.  Even so, mature Christian believers generally hold that the Bible disciplines, laws, and teachings on diets and food have all been established in new light through the ministry of Jesus Christ:  The spirit content of a person must become recognizable as an appearance of inseparable substance from GOD (e.g., faith, holiness, longsuffering, lovingkindness, wisdom, wrath against sin).  At Creation, all living were to be nourished through the soil by grains, herbs, plants, seeds, and the fruit from trees.  Following the sin of the first pair, Adam, a divine curse was placed upon the ground in order to benefit mankind.  Later, when Noah entered the ark, he did so as a priest (one anointed to make offerings to GOD, such as praise, prayer, atoning blood), a prophet or spokesperson of GOD, and a vessel to preserve divine law, not merely as a fugitive from the flood.  Two classes of animals were identified, those that could be brought to the altar as offerings and sacrifices (the clean, fit) and those that should never be used in sacred service (the unclean, unfit).  After the flood, the eating of animals was permitted, as was the lawful killing of those who would murder.  Men would also be separated for service on the basis of their fitness and purity; and through the covenant of Moses, a detailed tradition of Levitical law would emerge on maintaining ones fitness and readiness for sacred service.  Even such things were addressed as correctly recognizing leprosy infections, the menstrual cycle of women, nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) among men, differences for restoring women to the congregation following the birth of female and male children, and quarantine for those displaying discharge, mucus, and pus from sexually transmitted diseases.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Deuteronomy 14:  1-7, King James Version (KJV):  1 Ye are the children of the LORD your God:  ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.  2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.  3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.  4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat:  the ox, the sheep, and the goat,  5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.  6 And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.  7 Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney:  for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.

(2.)  1st Peter 2:  6-10, KJV:  6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:  and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:  but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient:  whereunto also they were appointed.  9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:  which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (3.)  Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(12/16/2014) The Covenant of Noah?

The change to eating flesh and other conditions for mankind upon the earth following the fall and the flood are considered today.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers Canada” using the ID “Gisher John” (Level 3 with 1,548 points a member since September 02, 2008) posted the following:

 

In The Bible, when did people start eating meat? In the time of Adam and Eve, it was only fruits and veggies correct?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.  But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.  And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.  Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed:  for in the image of God made he man.  And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.  And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,  And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;  And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.  (Genesis 9:  1-10, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Sin and the Great Flood (11/03/2014); Remembering Lot’s Wife? (11/04/2014); Denying GOD by Eating Shrimp? (11/17/2013); The Dead in Christ? (11/18/2013); Animals Do Not Sin? (09/29/2013); GOD is Acknowledging (09/30/2013); Destroyed in Noah’s Flood? (04/28/2013); Both Born Holy? (04/29/2013); Why Blood? (04/13/2013); Time Before the Sun? (04/14/2013)

 

“Gisher John”, here are a few points based upon the Scriptures that have been helpful for many Christian believers:

(1.)  Before the disobedience of Adam (we say, the fall), the makeup and substance of all created beings and living creatures upon the earth was to be maintained through the eating of “every green herb for meat” (we say, vegetables for food).  Eating fruit from certain of the trees had been forbidden, and death was introduced as a consequence for behavior contrary to the law (i.e., the expressed will of GOD).  The Lord came to the Garden, seeking fallen man.

(2.)  Through their error, the Garden of Eden was no longer an acceptable setting for the pair; and life experience and process for the entire earth would have to be changed, not so much as punishment as “for man’s sake” (instruction, preparation, survival, transformation).  Priesthood was established upon the earth to maintain atonement for sin.

(3.)  Longevity for the patriarchs (hereditary and spiritual heads of families) was not merely based upon their diet.  The earth was not yet defiled and polluted as we find in the present-day.  Adam (930 years), Seth (912 years), Enosh (905 years) and others served as an unbroken line of oral historians, priests (those authorized to offer blood sacrifice) living witnesses and spokespersons (we say, prophets) continuing relationship with divinity.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (4.)  Following the flood that was to purge (we say, clean both inside and out) the earth that was in ruin through sin, GOD established a new covenant for Creation with Noah and his family.  The conditions and terms for mankind would continue divine law and eternal purpose, and establish penalties against those who kill.  The use of animals for food would be allowed; and men would be required to shed blood to execute divine judgment.)  I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(11/14/2013) Hierarchy

A few points are shared, today, that focus on hierarchy and order as tools within the church founded by Jesus Christ.  Also, there is more on the earth made new, and life following judgment.  John Michael Talbot, the Franciscan monk and motivational minister, with whom I feel a strong bond after many years of embracing his music ministry, shared an article through the Facebook Internet site that provoked in me a powerful pulse of Protestant sentiment, and feeling against an office of Pope to rule over the body of believers.  Specifically, I reacted when I read the following that was posted by the itinerant pastor:

 

Christ the Lord passed on to his apostles the task he had received from the Father: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations. He wanted the apostles as a body to be intimately bound together, first by the inner tie of the same faith and love which flows into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and, second, by the external tie of authority exercised by one apostle over the others. For this he assigned the primacy to Peter, the source and visible basis of their unity for all time. So that the unity and agreement among them would endure, God wisely stamped them, one might say, with the mark of holiness and martyrdom.  (From an excerpt of the Encyclical Letter Ecclesiam Dei by Pope Pius XI  (AAS 15 [1923], 573-582)

 

THE BATTLE AXE:  (11/13/2013) The Earth Made New—The soil and waters of the earth made new will be fertile and pure, without blood, without bones, having power for life, and containing no dead things.  Mankind will be fed with the yield of the earth as at the beginning; fruits and green herbs of the field will grace every table.  There will be nations, however, cities as we have now will not exist.  Every family will live and work in their own lands as independent artisans, craft workers, and farmers.  Learning and scholarship will continue in the home and larger community assemblies as will devotion, prayer, spiritual studies, and worship.  There will be no economy of borrowing, lending and indebtedness.  The giving of gifts, offerings, tithes and sacrifices to appease GOD will not appear.  Yet, like the praise of the twenty-and four elders who cast their crowns to Christ, tears of joy with tokens of gratitude and love will be continue to be brought before the Almighty throughout all eternity.  There will be access to GOD at all times, and all seasons.  See Genesis 8:  20-22, Isaiah 66:  22-23, Isaiah 65:  17-25; Revelation 21:  21-27, King James Version.

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.  (Matthew 20:  25-28, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Utterance is Spirit (09/08/2013); The “Jesus Way”? (05/17/2013); When GOD Controls (04/22/2013); The Divine Use of a Human Life? (04/23/2013); Confessing Only to GOD? (04/08/2013); Evidence of the Unseen Spirit? (04/09/2013); On Titles and Respect (03/15/2013); On Producing Atheists (03/16/2013); My Sheep Hear My Voice (03/08/2013); Wanting To Have Our Way (03/09/2013); Why A “Spokesperson”? (01/14/2013); No Contradictions (01/15/2013)

 

The related issues of authority and primacy of the apostles must also be viewed through the framework for prophecy as distinct from priesthood.  Both priesthood and prophecy are first recorded in the Bible when the Scriptures speak of Adam’s disobedience and the divine provisions for mankind’s recovery from death (see Genesis 3:  1-24, Romans 5:  12-21 and 1st Corinthians 15:  21-23, KJV).  Hierarchy may be seen introduced where the first male and female are commanded by the Creator to exercise dominion over the earth as caretakers (a mother and a father) to maintain the Garden of Eden.

All believers and followers of Jesus Christ should understand that divine authority and governance have always been revealed and made visible through divisions of labor, diversity, the scope of ones spiritual anointing and endowment, and varying levels of inclusion for sacred events.  Ranks for administration are in place among the holy angels in heaven as well as upon the earth through dominions, thrones, and principalities.  Even so, the angels have no line authority over men in the ministry of Jesus to mankind (see Colossians 1:  16, Romans 8:  34-39 and Revelation 19:  9-10, KJV).

Those who left Egypt with Moses, repeatedly challenged, yet could not counterfeit or manipulate, the office of prophet as they did the office of priest filled by Aaron, his brother.  As demonstrated by Moses, the office of prophet continued the personal relationships of GOD with mankind seen with Adam, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham (called, the Friend of GOD).  Moses presented GOD through the imparted, indwelling Spirit of Prophecy (also called the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth) as the only authority over any prophet.  Even so, students of Scripture are often surprised to see, in addition to reports of prophets chastising kings, prophets condemning corruption practiced by the priesthood, and teachings against false prophets, reports of conflicts among prophets are also recorded (for examples, see 1st Samuel 2:  27-35, 1st Kings 13:  1-34, 1st Kings 22:  1-28, and Malachi 1:  6-14, KJV).

As was done by Moses, Jesus also proclaimed a personal relationship with GOD, and was vigorously opposed by the priesthood at Jerusalem, and those in the Temple traditions.  Jesus acknowledged his place as Master, and instructed his disciples to exalt no man upon the earth above GOD as sovereign and spiritual Father (see Matthew 23:  1-12 and John 13:  13, KJV).

The early church received the tradition as prophets from Jesus Christ; and the office of apostle displayed a personal relationship with GOD through Christ that those of the Temple refused to endorse.  Believers in Jesus have been challenged by the writings of the Apostle Paul to accept offices and rankings within the church.  Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, prophecy as a gift, not as an office, appeared throughout the early church.  For many, the appointment of a presbytery of bishops (also called elders) and deacons was more in line with management tools used by the world that do not establish or operate as does a hierarchy described by spiritual gifts (see 1st Corinthians 12:  27-31 and Ephesians 4:  11-13, KJV).  Much of the confusion regarding the singularity of the Pope may be traced to the need for broader awareness regarding the Spirit of Prophecy, divine authority through the Spirit, and the appearing and proper place of the Holy Spirit within the church, today (see Revelation 22:  8-13, KJV).

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood.  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.  Jesus is coming soon, and whatever our level of participation in ministry and service may be, all who receive his salvation are to continue in humility, and to grow in grace until that very hour.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC