(12/09/2018) Hezekiah Called For Judgment

 

Today, reply is on the character and content of prayer requesting life when one is approaching the time of their own death. To pray for the health of ones own body, mind, and spirit becomes selfish by having its origin in exaggerated desires for pleasure, idolatry, excessive pride, and lawlessness. Many of us have had to pray to GOD for strength to endure congenital sickness in our offspring, the incurable illness of a parent or spouse, and a diagnosis foretelling our own death. It is not an offense to GOD that men affirm the divine purpose and putting forth of life; however, throughout our being in relationship with GOD by the death of his son Jesus Christ, there must be correct recognition that obedience to sacred law is not sufficient either to justify or provide all our needs from GOD; that there must be willing submission to the sentence of divine law that rebukes and warns against sin; and there must be the firm, unshakable acknowledgment of resurrection, final judgment, and the second death. The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” public forum on Religion and Spirituality who uses the ID “MeMe MeMe tikle” (Level 7 with 50,810 points, a member since July 31, 2012) posted the following:

 

Is it wrong to pray for God to extend someone’s life like Hezekiah did?

Update: God knows what is best for us and we must accept His will concerning the length of our lives?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5: 13-18, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Believers Must Receive Gifts (09/30/2018); Christian Beliefs Are Forward-looking (09/23/2018); Doctrine, Dropsy, and Sin (09/07/2018); Sacred Operations By GOD (04/12/2018); Conditions Set By Covenant? (09/13/2017); Holy Writings and Spirit? (12/16/2016); The Forms of Prophecy? (04/26/2016); About The End Of The World (08/30/2015)

 

“MeMe MeMe tikle” among mature Christian believers, prayer may communicate and give expression to the divine spirit within a collective body (e.g., a congregation; a family; a nation), or provide intimate expression from a single individual. Only divinity may lawfully assess or assign (judge) the content, meaning, and value of praise and prayer, for those appeals, expressions, and petitions must be directed exclusively to GOD. Hezekiah did not fast, pray for, and receive the blessing poured forth at Pentecost. Hezekiah acted in response to a fresh prophetic exhortation, Get your house in order; yet, the sentence that mankind should be mortal already had been spoken and was in effect against the living on earth since the time of Adam. Acknowledging the prayer of Solomon in the dedication of the first Temple, Hezekiah turned to pray toward Jerusalem and the Temple wall. Hezekiah did not appear before GOD “empty-handed” having no offering of (1) acknowledgment of the Spirit of Prophecy (we also say, the Comforter; the Holy Ghost; the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Truth); (2) acknowledgment that Isaiah was a true prophet and spokesperson sent from GOD; (3) fervor (some would say, passion; tears; heartfelt truth); and (4) works of obedience to sacred law. Even so, Hezekiah acted in ignorance not understanding the distinction that healing is not the same as a sacred event (we say, miracle); and the dying king required a sign that would authenticate the integrity of the prophet’s words. Hezekiah’s prayer was heard and answered, however, the divine response should be seen as more than duration, longsuffering, more time, and one man’s survival. Hezekiah could obtain compassion from those of the kingdom, favor, and respect as GOD’s anointed without entering into final judgment; however, it is in sacred judgment that mercy toward those who are guilty and lacking appears most clearly as divine prerogative, eternal purpose, righteousness, and the sovereign will of GOD. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

1. 2^nd Kings 20: 1-3, King James Version (KJV): 1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, 3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

2. 2^nd Kings 20: 8-11, KJV: 8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? 9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? 10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. 11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

3. Romans 8: 22-27, KJV: 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 4. Romans 8: 3-9, KJV: 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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

(04/02/2015) Human, Yet Not Selfish?

The human condition following the Advent (the Second Coming) of Christ is in view, today.  The living must endure change, growth, learning and transformation to become permanently perfected.  Correctly understood, all things that now exist as possibilities for expression of the animal, human or divine nature residing within mankind can only be finite and flawed.  Included are affection, beauty, family, intellect, logic, marriage, peace, praise, prayer, romantic love, science, sexuality, trust, truth-speaking, worship, and our visions of the future that merely reproduce life on the earth upon Mars, or some other planet.  In addition to the first and second resurrection for the completion of divine judgment, the Revelation from GOD given to Jesus Christ that is being shared among those accepting the Lord as their savior, also provides a description of life in heaven and the earth made new.  A writer at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Cool Man” (Level 1 with 95 points, a member since April 01, 2015) posted the following:

 

In Heaven We Can’t be Selfish and we put God Before Ourselves in Heaven Right?

Because Being Selfish is a Mortal Thing

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry:  behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:  Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.  And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen:  for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:  That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth:  and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create:  for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people:  and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days:  for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat:  for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock:  and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.  (Isaiah 65:  13-25, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  What Is Life? (02/06/2015); The Idea of Perfection? (01/20/2015); Able to Become Gods? (01/11/2014); The Storm-battered City? (03/29/2014); The Image of GOD? (10/10/2013); Embodied Afterlife? (10/11/2013); Commandments in the Light of Christ? (10/12/2013); The Place for Eternal Life? (01/06/2013); Therefore There Was Trust (01/07/2013)

 

“Cool Man”, here are a few points in line with what Christian believers have been encouraged to maintain as their sacred hope (i.e., expectation):

(1.)  The Creation that includes mankind upon the earth and the angels of heaven will have become perfected and transformed following the judgment against all sin completed by what is called “the second death.”  Presently, only the three persons appearing as the GODhead (we say, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are immortal.  Jesus Christ will return to the earth receiving as its harvest those who are mature (we say, prepared, ready, ripe).  As they are lifted up into the air to be with the Lord, his believers and followers will be permanently made immortal and incorruptible.

(2.)  Through water and fire baptism, those who accept Jesus Christ as their savior are “born again” through operations carried out by the Holy Spirit that complete the death of their inborn spirit, and bestows rebirth.  Those born again receive the same divine content that resided in Christ.  Included are inseparable aspects of Deity such as faith, forgiveness, gratitude, holiness, joy, longsuffering, love, wisdom, and wrath against sin.  Even so, born again believers must continue to “grow again” and “mature again” while living upon the earth.  They must meet the same life challenges that will complete their mortality as all others.

(3.)  Believers are to maintain a life style that centers in expression of sacred process, divine truth, and eternal purpose.  While in the earth, all will be imperfect, yet, their covenant for salvation through Jesus Christ will be secure and unchanging.  We say, where any believer errs or sins, there are provisions through Christ who is our Advocate.  Included are atonement, confession, praise, prayer, repentance, and sanctification.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually understood.  For example, (4.)  Humans will live in heaven only for a while.  They will assist in the work of preparing judgment for the wicked, cleansing and purifying the Temple and other areas soiled by sin, serving as witnesses to the righteousness of judgment against sin, and completing the judgment of their works for reward.   The earth cleansed and renewed is to be the place for the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, that is now being prepared in heaven.  The City always will be the center for life and worship, and the people are to overspread the earth.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC