Authority is Fundamental

Moses, the Teacher of Israel, Photo by Maria Laura Catalogna on Pexels.com

I agree with ThePreachersWord when the Reverend Ken Weliever says [the triune] God’s opinion is the only one that counts. Here’s why.

The LGBTQIA2S+ demographic is re-interpreting Scripture Passages they claim are “clobber” passages to change people’s opinions about “who can sleep with who” and when and how. This demographic says the Heterosexual demographic has been unkind and inhospitable to people such as them who God created in God’s own image and likeness.

The argument is: The Heterosexual demographic who adhere to Scripture define sexual immorality as any behaviour that does not promote the ideal that God spoke in the beginning, saying it is not good for Man to live alone. Then they conclude that it is God’s opinion that it is right for a man to leave his parents and unite with his wife and become one flesh.

Countering the Heterosexual demographic argument, the LGBTQIA2S+ demographic maintain that a wife can be another man. That seems reasonable for it is not good for human beings to live alone. Human beings should have companionship and the ability to increase that number.

However, within this growing demographic is the opinion that extra-marital relations with a consensual woman while married to (or cohabitating with) another man is okay with God. The linch pin of this argument comes from the widely held belief that Jesus never married. Although the Rabbi known as the forerunner, claimed Christ was the “bride belonging to the bridegroom” (John 3:28-29) and when Jesus was asked for a sign. Jesus replied. “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 12:39).

The Great Commission as reported in Matthew (28:13) speaks to the guards paid by the chief priests and the elders to say that the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus out of the tomb while those on watch were sleeping.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Is Jesus sleeping in heaven? Why then do Christians every Easter say Jesus is risen or more accurately, Christ is Risen, He is risen indeed? And what is meant with the Orthodox Chant?

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and those in the tombs, bestowing life!

When a man leaves his parents and unites with his wife, the two become one flesh (Genesis 2:24; Ephesians 5:32). A single kernel of wheat dies (John 12:24). The two die to their “single” lives and begin again as one new man, one new human family–even if they are old and past the child bearing age!

In keeping with the Forerunner’s Testimony, Christ is the Bride who belongs to the Bridegroom (John 28:29). At a Wedding, the family is born again and all in attendance who are awake and watching and waiting for the Bride and her chosen Bridegroom “belonging” to her and only to her to come and declare his eternal love for her. It is extremely hard for the Bride and all those waiting with her to wait for the HOUR when the Bridegroom is ready to declare his love for his chosen Bride.

Their witness and testimony will then invite those who were indeed asleep when the Rock sealing the Tomb, the heart of the Earth, rolls away and the body of Christ, rises, comes more and more alive as the Light of the Sun shines on the Bride belonging with her chosen Bridegroom and around them. Their JOY like that of the Rabbi known as the Forerunner aka John aka the Teacher of Israel [aka Moses born again], becomes complete, when the Bride’s chosen Bridegroom aka her Lord says…you know everything, you know that I love you!

Stop fishing in the dark. Proclaim your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ boldly. Stop denying the Rabbi’s testimony. He is not the long awaited Messiah. But he is Jesus the forerunner Paul testifies to in Hebrews 6:20), For he said. “‘You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him. The Bride belongs with the Bridegroom [the Rock of Israel (Isaiah 30:29)]. Stop your doubting and fishing in the dark while Jesus the Light of the World (John 8:12) is clearly trying to heed the Forerunner’s call to repentance, to go and sin no more (John 8:11), and wake up those fishing in the dark to help them realize the Joy of Eternal Love that brings and sustains everlasting life on earth as it is in heaven!

Open your heart and remember how John’s Gospel reminds believers that Simon bar Jonah did not remain fishing in the dark. He declared his eternal love for Jesus, his Bride, the Woman Jesus called the Magdalene η Μαγδαληνή aka the Fish numbering 153 (John 21:11;17).

The “Jesus fish” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthys
Authority is Fundamental

“Honour your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise)

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In a letter to the ancient Ephesians, St. Paul wrote

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”

In John’s Gospel, two teachers meet under the cover of darkness. One says to the other.

Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again

The other the narrator of John calls Nicodemus, [whose greek name means Victory of the People] responds.

How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”

Patriarchal grammar makes it seem like a mother’s womb only produces male offspring. People down through the ages before and after these two teachers met assumed Jesus and the Teacher of Israel were both male. To think otherwise would make both Teachers guilty of adultery and would beg the question. How can a woman and a man caught in the very act of adultery bring honour and glory to their Father and their Mother?

Tradition denies the truth and side steps this question, by making both Teachers male. Later in John’s Gospel, Nicodemus, the Teacher of Israel and member of the Assembly, comes to the defence of the other Teacher lay members of the Assembly identify as the Christ. Thus Nicodemus asks:

Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?

Don’t let the word “man” deceive you. For the Teacher of Israel aka John identified as the “Forerunner” in John 3:28-29 and Hebrews 6:20 has this to say about the identity of Christ.

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. 

Denying the Truth is tantamount to bearing false witness and lying. Some will argue but we have to veil or cover up the truth to protect the children and new converts to the Faith. Lay people and new believers will lose faith in Jesus if they know that Jesus was the Woman caught in Adultery and her co-respondent was Jesus the Forerunner aka Nicodemus?

Many people will simply stop up their ears and cover their eyes and refuse to believe Jesus was ever married or committed any sin. Do you insist Jesus was sinless because he alone was perfect and never sinned? If so you will miss the opportunity to see Jesus as the “sinner” (Luke 7: 35-50) who after disclosing the truth tearfully repents, is forgiven, and shows the disciples the way to love much (Luke 7:47) and honour their Mother, their Father and claim the promise of the Fourth Commandment (Exodus 20:12) given to the Teacher of Israel on Mount Sinai.

In Luke’s Gospel chapter 7, the Sinner Woman anoints the feet of Jesus the Prophet with the oil from her Alabaster Jar and her tears. Simon the Father of the Law and Oral Tradition objects. He thinks to himself…if this man were truly a prophet, he would know that this woman is a sinner. In other words he would acknowledge that he is her adulterous co-respondent. He would come clean and admit that he is the Teacher and Prophet of Israel who met with her under the cover of darkness (John 3: 1-21) and encountered her on the road to Jericho and said. I must stay at your house today (Luke 19: 1-10).

However, until the Rooster crowed and the Truth was revealed, darkness reigned supreme. The Sinner Woman was celebrated as someone who loved much because her many sins have been forgiven. Yet, until the Rooster admitted he was her co-respondent, how could she go and sin no more? How could the demons possessing the Woman Jesus called Mary and the new born Christian in her alabaster arms be cast out? How could she the Bride of Christ ever experience the Joy of John’s testimony…hearing the Bridegroom’s voice as her divinely promised and hoped for Husbandman, the Rock and Anchor of her soul (Hebrews 6:20).

The first Mother’s Day in 1914 in the United States offered an opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and hard work of mothers. More importantly it was an opportunity to honour Godly mothers who put the needs of the family first over their own personal needs and wants.

Now that women have won the right to vote, to become Senators, run for President or Prime Minister, and have the freedom to bear children or not, and assume the role of the High Priest given to Jesus the Forerunner forever (Hebrews 6:20), do you claim this hope (of the Fourth Commandment) as a promise and an anchor for the soul, firm and secure?

Or, has Mother’s Day become an opportunity for you to claim and celebrate the freedom you now have to live out your life as you want and a great occasion to buy gifts and flowers to celebrate modern times and love the one you’re with?

Why The Founder of Mother’s Day Turned Against It

Cultural Values are challenging Christian Values

The Christians, faith by Library of Congress is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Church Language is difficult to understand in a culture that prides itself on progressive social values. Patriarchal language and culture that is expressed with Paul’s letters are falling on deaf ears and “houses [of worship] are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged” (Isaiah 6:11).

For example Paul says. “…a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

Cultural Christians are rejecting this mystery as an “old fashioned” value that has “dragged” people out of their homes and imprisoned them in marriages where the Husband ruled over his wife–instead of uniting them in marriages where Husband and Wife served each other in love. 

The LGBTQ+ demographic is progressive and is challenging Paul’s teaching and that of the Forerunner’s Testimony in John 3:28-29. Many in this LGBTQ+ demographic claim Christ the Bride who belongs with the Bridegroom is no longer relevant today because it excludes them as beloved children of God. In churches wanting to include the LGBTQ+ demographic and those exploring their gender identity, worship leaders quote Galatians 3:28 believing Christ came to proclaim and reveal God the Father to worshippers as the Genderless Spirit of Truth and Love (John 4:23-24).

Paul does say “now there is no longer male, nor female, nor Jew, nor Gentile, nor Slave or Free, for we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). Yet Paul says this there is also a profound mystery about Christ and the church…likening this mystery to “the same way that a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife (Ephesians 5:32).

So did this Teaching make a Father out of Paul the Mother of Christianity( 1 Corinthians 4:14-15) Or was it Patriarchal culture and or misogyny that blinded worshippers and Biblical editors to the Truth and to the Gender of the Holy Spirit? If so, is this misogyny and the inequity it brought still working today even in our “progressive” culture. For in 1 Corinthians 4: 14-15) Paul warns readers as one who has begotten them as beloved children. Yet editors have “assumed” Paul is male and a father. More over, Patriarchal grammar uses the pronoun “he” whenever Paul is spoken of.

Yet here is the text in 1 Corinthians to which I refer. [I emphasize the female nature of Paul as the Bride of Christ and the Mother of the Gospel in the brackets].

“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” [as your mother the Bride belonging to the Bridegroom, your one and only Holy Father] (1 Corinthians 4:15)

Yet in a preceding verse Paul claims those beloved children who work for Christ are treated like garbage by the culture in which they have been born (1 Corinthians 4:13). And Paul later admits in 1 Corinthians 15:9 to being the worst sinner of all, claiming to be the one who has persecuted the Church, causing the children of Christ to be martyred… “dragged” from their homes, and thrown into prison!

Think about that! Why would Paul claim to be the worst sinner? Was not Judas the worst sinner? After all Judas betrayed Jesus with a Kiss, and Salome’s dancing got the imprisoned “forerunner’s” head on a platter and entombed (Mark 6:27-29).

So as Ken Weliever and his ThePreachersWord reblogged below asks: Are You a Christian? Or Just a “Cultural Christian?” I encourage you to read his blog and then ask yourself. Are Cultural Values keeping you from embracing the Cross and seeing the Magdalene as the Apostle with an inordinate Love for Jesus the Teacher and his Father, her Bridegroom?

Are You a Christian? Or Just a “Cultural Christian?”

The Faith of our Father

In today’s world, Fathers are often ridiculed and seen as oppressors who keep women from flying like Eagles. And yet, the words of Isaiah who we can no longer see in the flesh, live on. They speak to us. As Paul writes in Hebrews 11:4 and lifted up by Ken Weliever in his blog post reblogged here (in honour of his father who was a man of faith), the sacrifice of Abel was more excellent and more pleasing to God than Cain’s.

The faith and the sacrifice of many of our mothers, loving our fathers, believing in them, working beside them, encouraging them to serve God and watch to make sure God’s word, God’s promise would be accomplished has lifted them up on wings as Eagles (Isaiah 40:31). Yet many people will argue, many of our mothers stayed home and never travelled through the sky on a plane or even on a donkey beyond the kitchen door.

Paul insists the dead do rise. For if the dead do not rise, then neither did Christ (1 Corinthians 15:16). Yet when we get the call that informs us, our Dad has passed on. Grief grips our heart. Our memories of Dad keep him alive for a while and then 30 years later, the stark reality hits us. When we go, how will our children (if we have any) remember a Grandpa they seldom saw or never saw. Now if Dad was a man of great integrity well known in the community or in the local church or synagogue or mosque, his name and legacy of faith will be passed on. But what if like Cain his contribution to the work of God wasn’t as pleasing to God as Abel’s. What then?

Should a would a could a…gives many a dying person a huge burden. Who wants to acknowledge they were the one who said…”crucify” that man, hoping and praying that Jesus would die and stay buried so they would have their proof. Men (people) do not actually come back to life again. It’s only those who are loved, admired and remembered for what they leave behind who live on.

Those who die poor, alone and have nothing to show for a life where their talent or gifts were never seen as pleasing in God’s sight by those who were sure their Gifts were pleasing…what of them? Can a last minute conversion save them? I’d say yes. How about you? Can you let go and cling to the Hope that what Jesus won for you…the Hope of Everlasting life (Hebrews 6:20) full of everlasting LOVE is for those who die believing Jesus endured the pain and the shame of the CROSS, trusting in the Resurrection and the Ascension (Hebrews 12:3).

The CROSS being dead spoke to those who were there and still speaks to those who believe in the testimony of those who were there when they Crucified Christ (John 3:28-29). Like a cursed Amygdala or a cursed fig tree…people looked on from a distance. Many were so sure a cursed and a lifeless stick, stripped of all its branches, would never bloom or grow into a tree loved, admired and appreciated for its beauty, its sweet smelling blossoms and sweet tasting almonds…hammered into a ROCK on a hill resembling a skull!

“He Being Dead Still Speaks”

Servant Leadership

Who then is Apollos? And who is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord has given to each. I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

Paul and Apollos said yes to God’s plan to plant and water an everlasting kingdom. Paul says “we are just servants whom through who you believed.” Acts 18:5 and Acts 18:24-28 sets them apart as Servant Leaders who proved Jesus Christ was alive.

Photo by Aramis Cartam on Pexels.com

Peter aka Cephas lived by the Sea and scripture describes him as being like Jonah who finally says yes to God’s plan…to receive and hold the keys [to the gate] to the kingdom of heaven. People might not see Peter as the foundation stone holding the keys because he denied knowing Jesus 3 times before the Rooster the (greek alektór), crowed. (Matthew 26:33-35).

Peter was an “Ordinary Guy” who loved Jesus. Loving Jesus, Peter came to see the Rooster as his friend, a fellow servant leader in the foundation of the kingdom of heaven. Thus the kingdom of heaven is still growing and crowing because of Ordinary Guys inspired by servant leaders.

The Blessing of Being an “Ordinary Guy” Instead of the World’s Greatest General

The King of Kings

For certain. God is powerful and Big when people of faith put their trust in God’s power. So why is it that people look to the powerful and the famous for evidence of God’s might? Arnold Palmer and the King of Saudi Arabia have been blessed with wealth and power. But what about the poor children of the world who have naught.

The dictionary defines naughty children as children who do not do what they are told to do. What an assumption! 

How does God the all powerful King of Kings provide for children who have naught? 

Christians believe Christ is the building block of all life. Is not Christ also the Rock of those who have naught? Does this Rock of Ages we call Christ, not sustain acres of green grass, trees and fruit trees, and bushes for the have naughts as well as the Kings and the famous? 

Surely, there is a balm in Gilead…

To make the wounded whole;There’s power enough in heaven,To cure a sin-sick soul.

Once we believe Carbon is the building block of all life and get it through our thick skulls. 23% of Christ’s body and ours is made up of Carbon and 61% of our bodies is Oxygen. 

When the Prophet Isaiah’s Temple was full of smoke, a seraphim brought a live coal from the alter and kissed Isaiah’s lips with this hot live coal. With this kiss, Isaiah’s iniquity was removed and his sin was atoned for. (Isaiah 6:6-7). Isaiah then said…here I am, send me. Let me go and tell your people to turn back to you Lord and be healed.

But God’s people refused to pay attention [to this “little” kiss that cleansed Isaiah] and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped up their ears that they might not hear Isaiah 6:10).

Isaiah then asked. “How long will their ears be unable to hear and their eyes unable to see before they will turn and be healed. The Lord replied. “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged.” (Isaiah 6:10-11). 

2000 years ago Christ came to earth in human form to show nations the way living breathing people with this stuff called carbon and oxygen inside their bodies can live forever. Christians, as was Isaiah and John the Baptist were, are called to turn the heads and hearts of the powerful to heal and restore the desolate and ravaged land.

Such poor nations of the world who have naught are standing up to rich and powerful nations. Poor nations believe they can rely upon Coal and CO2 to heal and restore their land…so that their children and those of rich powerful nations will be forever in the presence of the King of Kings, thinking, learning, and growing BIG. 

Other nations are saying…if we don’t turn away from Coal and turn to Solar and renewables now, our cities will be ruined and the land will be ravaged. Others are saying Carbon Capture, Storage and Utilization (CCUS) is expensive but it will offset and even redeem the emissions of poorer nations. We should stop thinking small.

So Ken Weliever the Preacherman asks. “Is Your God Too Small? Because as the Preacheman reminds believers. “When you’re in the presence of the King ask for something big. Don’t ask for something small.”

Jesus put it this way.  “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Is Your God Too Small?

Are You Shaken?

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The Name of Jesus matters and the Name of Jesus filled and fills believers with Jesus the Holy Spirit. Way back in Jeremiah’s day, God called Jeremiah saying:

See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.” And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied. “You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.” (Jeremiah 1:10-12)

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31)

The Word Almond in Hebrew is Shaken…and in Greek the Word Almond is Amygdala. The amazing thing about the Amygdala is she loves much. Simon aka the Rock and John aka the Forerunner are questioned (Acts 4: 5-31) by the authorities of their day because of the healing of a Lame Man. In Acts 3:6, they stand in front of the Gate named Beautiful. A Lame man has been Lame from birth. He can’t enter into God’s Holy Temple because he has no money. So the man is dependent upon the charity of others and is looking for a hand out, thinking this will open the Beautiful Gate and he’ll be in heaven. Not so. For the Rock says…I have no silver or gold…pay attention to us, pointing to himself and John standing in front of the Gate named Beautiful.  “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

Now in Acts 4:31, the disciples were so shaken by the fulfillment of their prayers with the testimony of Peter and John who stood in front of the Gate called Beautiful because Jesus had said. I am the Gate (John 10:9) and boldly stated that “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Thus hearing and seeing Peter and John speaking up, they too were filled like Peter and John with the Holy Spirit when their prayers confirmed the joyful news that God’s Word had been accomplished. So shaken they were of one mind and heart and thought they truly should “own” nothing and share all that they had and this would make God and themselves happy.

There is more to the story and it doesn’t stop there. The disciples need to put on the heart and mind of Christ the Bride who belongs to the Bridegroom (John 3:28-29) and use the gifts of God for the good of all–even if this means keeping the Gate of Heaven locked until the disciples are shaken. So shaken the disciples like Jeremiah see the Amygdala come to life and smell the perfume from the blossoms and drink the milk she brings to the disciples she calls–with the letters written in her name– some say is beautiful and others display every time they don a shawl to pray.

Acts 4:5-31