Monthly Archive for September, 2008

One New Man

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Recently a new prime number was discovered after 12 years which is 13 million digits long.

“The prime that Smith and his team at UCLA found was 12,978,189 digits long. It’s such a large number that if you printed it out, it would run 30 miles long, according to Smith, who said he believes that if you tried to read it out loud, you couldn’t finish it during your lifetime.”

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_number

In mathematics, a prime number (or a prime) is a natural number which has exactly two distinct natural number divisors: 1 and itself. An infinitude of prime numbers exists, as demonstrated by Euclid around 300 BC.

I am going to go out on a limb and say God created this unique number that I can’t even read it aloud in my lifetime. This number is incomparable to His glory.

I read Ephesians 2:15 the other day,

“having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace”

and Ephesians 4:4-6,

“[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.”

and Ephesians 5:31-32,

“”For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (called out ones).”"

In marriage, man & woman are one flesh. My t.v. or any of my electronics would not work if I did not have a male power cord and female outlet connection. Two male or two female connectors are not designed to work together. I also think of a hitch on a truck. I sure there are other examples of things created. These male and female creations become one to fulfill the purpose of the design by the Architect or Designer.

I see oneness in nature. One solar system. Not one planetary system. Typically, planets revolve around star. After some digging, I discovered there may be evidence of binary star systems in which two stars act as one in a binary solar system. One of the stars is the primary star. So, really the system orbits the one star along with the other star.

The Greek word for “new” is kainos. It occurs 44 times in the Authorized KJV of the bible from Matthew through Revelation.

Kainos means:

  1. new
      a) as respects form
  2. recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn
      a) as respects substance
  3. of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of

Things that are Kainos in their oneness and uniqueness are:

Biblically - One New Man, One New Covenant, One Spirit, one Body, one Head, One God, One Father, One Son, new creation in Christ, one faith, one hope, one baptism, one rest, one death, one life, one resurrection.

Nature - seeds, people, brain chemistry every morning, molecules, atoms, blades of grass, planets, stars, galaxies, strand of hair, trees, plants, flowers, animals, rocks, mountains, clouds, rain drops, snow flakes, ocean waves, fruit, vegetables, each loaf of baked bread, rivers, and canyons.

I’m sure the list goes on, but that will do.

Colossians 1:16 says,

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”

Only with a God in His fullness can He leave His eternal fingerprint on things He has created. I believe all the things aforementioned possess the design of their Creator like the brush strokes of an artist. These brush strokes are eternal strokes with the deepest shades of blues and the painting has no end. I believe this is what the Psalmist saw and wrote about in the Psalms and other related scriptures.

Romans 1:20 says,

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

This One New Man lives in me and actually died for me because He loved me.

Dream about being in a turkey shoot

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Had a dream last night that I vaguely recall.

In the dream, I am with a few dozen people at a ranch of some sort. This ranch is deep in the country with surrounding rivers, mountains and lakes. I am with these people in an underground recreation area of some sort. It has bowling alleys and a bar. It reminded me of the “Union” under the University of Texas campus. People are talking and joking. These men (ranchers?) come into this recreation area with rifles and tell us something to the affect of, “Now go outside, run and hide. We are going to hunt you down.” I saw one of the men’s eyes. His stare was very cold and serious. I got the impression the hunt was not to find us and let us go.

I immediately see myself running through the woods with the ‘ranchers’ in the corner of my eye. I get ahead of them to a river and loose my tracks in the river. They seem to loose me. I eventually end up in a remote town and I befriend a little girl. She seemed abandoned and transient about 5-6 years old. She goes with me trying to get back to my home.

Here is my interpretation of the dream.

I believe these men are men in authority who led others into what they think is recreation and it ends up becoming a spiritual slaughter by legalism. To me, the guns are symbolic of the law that kills us, Rom. 7:11. Being hunted is the nature of the law upon the old nature. Judgment is inevitable, inescapable and unavoidable. All have fallen short and are under sin, Rom. 3:9, 23. The ranch is not a home. It is a false sense of security and refuge. It appears like Disneyland, but in actuality is a spiritual human turkey shoot.

Psalms 91:1 declares, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Eph. 3:8 speaks of the “unsearchable riches of Christ.”

The river is the secret place of the Most High in which are the unsearchable riches of Christ. Grace supersedes the Law. Love fulfills all the Law! The judgment and penalty of the law have no power over death. Being immersed, baptized or drowned in Christ, I am dead to the law and its judgment. I am crucified with Christ, Gal. 2:20.

I believe the little girl is the Church under the law in its infancy, Eph. 4:4, Heb. 5:12-14, 6:1-2.

Home is the purpose of the Church, Eph. 3:11.

Another six degrees of separation experience

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I’ve notice this happen in my life ever so often. The theory of ‘six degrees of separation‘ is:

The idea that, if a person is one step away from each person they know and two steps away from each person who is known by one of the people they know, then everyone is an average of six “steps” away from each person on Earth.

Six Degrees of Separation

So, I went to the hot tub at the YMCA today. I met a man in the hot tub whose name is Joey. Joey is 52 years old. I am almost 36 years old. When I got in the hot tub I mentioned, “Man, this is just what I needed.” His back was turned and I think I may have caught him slightly off guard. He looked at me and asked, “Do you teach the kids here?” I laughed and said, “No, but I have two sons at home whom I teach sometimes.” Then that is when he told me about his 20+ year old children. It seems he thought I was younger than 36. The teachers in aquatics that I see are either teens or early twenties and I am close to being bald as an eagle.

One thing I do know is that prior to going to the YMCA I had quickened Word in me. He later asked if I was a teacher at all in a specific field and I said, “I guess you could say that.” He replied, “Yeah, you did mention your sons.” I guess he thought I was referring to parenting as teaching which it is.

Another time, I went to another YMCA and another man asked if I was a cop? I wrote about my experience with him in “Pushing peanuts with your nose.”

So far, I have been asked if I was a:

  • Police officer
  • Courier
  • Teacher

This is going somewhere. I believe they are all inked to my identity in Christ. The following verses speak of Christ in me:

  • Police officer reminds me of 1 Peter 5:2-3, John 7:16, 29.
  • Courier reminds me of John 13:16, 20. 1 Tim. 2:7 (NIV), herald.
  • Teacher reminds me of 2 Tim. 1:11.

As we were leaving, He told me he taught the yoga class. I mentioned my wife periodically teaches the Pilates class. He asked what is her name? I said, “Gracey.” He said, “I’ve substituted for her before and know her.” I said, “Small world.”

Partly Cloudy

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Galatians 3:23, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.”

Prior to the faith of Christ in me by grace, I was fenced in all around by the law. A fence can be many things.

  • It can be protection or a boundary.
  • It can also limit how far you can grow.
  • The farthest distance I can see is at the edge of the fence. I believe this is what the prophets saw, 1 Peter 1:10. Hebrews 10:1, the law is seen as an outline or shadow. Detail cannot be seen in a shadow, but the body is Christ, Col. 2:17. If I can see a body then I can see what makes the shadow.

The law to me, a Gentile, was what I was told by my parents, Catholicism, or what my conscience told me was right or wrong.

At one point in my life, my conscience was seared by the word of religion (1 Tim. 4:2), but now, in Christ, my conscience is sanctified, perfected and made whole, Hebrews 9:9, 9:14, 10:2.

Now, I live my life by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me! His life is ever-growing in me and He is living His life in and through me. This is totally opposite to living according to “what my parents told me, Catholic dogma, or even the witness of what my conscience approved!

He is more than what I think is right or wrong.

By knowledge of the truth according to the Word and not what I suppose truth is, not what I think the truth is, not a hunch, not speculation, not a bet, gamble, or chance,

I know by faith,

1 Cor. 6:12, ““Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be mastered by anything.”

1 Cor. 10:23, ““Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive (or edifying).”

The truth does not change. It resides everywhere in every dimension, universe, or possible creation. It is immutable. Its longevity is eternal.

Truth is real.

In truth,

  • disease is not real,
  • lies are not real,
  • deception is not real,
  • fear is not real,
  • death is not real,
  • unforgiveness is not real,
  • and darkness is not real.

None of these can co-exist, dwell, or live with truth because truth is more real or substantial. Peter says, “INCORRUPTIBLE.” Paul says, “Corruption is clothed incorruptible.” It is more real than “more real.” My vocabulary is limited in describing things that are real.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen.”

One of the definitions of SUBSTANCE is:

  1. That which has actual existence
      • a substance, real being

      Jesus says He is the Truth. Him and everything He has fulfilled and accomplished is parallel with truth. Truth is undeniably real. The reality of faith is in the believer.

      If my conscience is still “partly cloudy”, then so is truth in me. It becomes fainter, more dilute, and weakened at best. Paul says in Gal. 4:19 (paraphrased), “travailing again in birth pains until Christ be formed (again) in you.” Jesus IS at salvation, but “the letter killeth.”

      When I have been under law, legalism, condemnation, or judgment it is very difficult to see truth. Why?

      Because I am too busy groveling in self-judgment, pity, and self-righteousness as Christ sits at the right of the Father saying to me, “It is done. Behold I make all things new.”

      When I have been under law, legalism, condemnation, or judgment revelation and truth seem very far away. The only reason I should “seek God” is if He is hiding. In Christ, I have boldness and access to approach to throne of grace to receive grace and mercy in my time of need. Jesus is not playing hide and go seek.

      Set apart through mental osmossis

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      1 Peter 1:22, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”

      The Greek word for purified is hagnizo which can mean “pure from contamination.” It is also comparable and akin to the Greek word hagiazo or sanctify which means “the state of proper functioning.

      A beautiful definition of SANCTIFICATION I have read I found at http://www.preceptaustin.org/1_peter_12.htm#SANCTIFYING%20HAGIASMOS.

      “The Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology: The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” Example of the use of a pen. Pen is also at rest when it is being a pen because it does not try to be the pen. It can only be what is designed, created, and originally purposed to be before the foundations of the earth.”

      There are a number of key truths to sanctification:

      1. The truth of the Word sanctifies, John 17:17.
      2. Sanctification through faith, Acts 26:18.
      3. The sanctifying work of the Spirit of God, Rom. 15:16.
      4. In Him, we are sanctified, 1 Cor. 1:2.
      5. Sanctification through prayer, 1 Tim. 4:5.
      6. Spiritually purging unto sanctification, 2 Tim. 2:21.
      7. Sanctified by the body of Christ, Heb. 10:10.
      8. Sanctified by His blood, Heb. 13:12.
      9. The sanctifying work of God in our hearts, 1 Pet. 3:15.

      So, In Him, my heart and its purpose are established by His faith through the sanctifying work of the Spirit of Truth by the revelation of Him in me because of the His blood He shed and His body that was crucified for me at Calvary.

      I died at Calvary with Him. He resurrected again in me and gave me a new life, that is His life, to live in and through me, but simultaneously it is me in Him.

      In the Metabolized blog and others I have touch on this, but it is key to walking in Him.

      If I turn 1-9 into a to-do list then this blog is useless. That is why I labeled them ‘truths.’ When the light of truth quickens in me, by hearing and hearing the word of truth, it attaches and bonds with other Word in me and faith GROWS in me! My roots grow deeper eternally in Him. This happens ONLY by revelation of Him and His truth in me by the Spirit of the Living God.

      Keep in mind, Peter, the apostle to the Jews, in 1 Pet. 1:22, is writing to Messianic Jews. According to the flesh, I am a Gentile Christian. I could read verse 22 legal and say to myself, “I gotta obey the truth if I love Him.”

      In Christ, Jew or Gentile, Romans 1:5 says, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith…” Romans 1:16 and Ephesians 1:19 both speak of POWER towards those who BELIEVE. I believe because I know by understanding, Heb. 11:3. Faith gives me understanding.

      Paul desires and prays for spiritual understanding in 1 Cor. 14:20, Eph. 1:18, Col. 1:9, Col. 2:2, 2 Tim. 2:7.

      This faith is His faith in me.

      The knowledge of Him is passive, but explodes, lives in me, and lives itself out in me.

      The Light of the Truth shines more than a nuclear explosion in the dwelling place of my heart and mind. It apprehends everything in me slowing osmosing me into His Glory according to the Last Adamic pattern. He is the First and Last.

      I am being absorbed into Him and His fullness and He is love.

      This is contrary to works.

      Him we preach

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      Col. 1:28 says, “Him we preach…

      In Acts 8:5 it says, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

      Philip, the Evangelist, preached Christ. What is so significant about this?

      It doesn’t say Philip said, “You’re going to Hell, Sheol, Hades, or Gehenna if you don’t accept Christ in your heart.” This is what I hear today.

      Philip also moved in the gifts of miracles and healing, and casted out unclean spirits. Then the Word says in verse 8, “There was great joy in the city.” In verse 12, they ‘believed’ and were baptized. Believing tells me they accepted Christ as Lord and Savior in their hearts, Romans 10:9. I also can’t see people getting baptized because they don’t believe.

      My question is then, when did preaching Christ and Him alone not become enough? He is not just ‘enough.’ He is more than that. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him bodily. By Him, all things all held together. He is before all things. He is the First and the Last. The little English word ‘enough’ and all other words in every conceivable language are not ‘enough’ to give Him praise or attribute to Him.

      When I accepted the Lord, I asked Him, “If you are who John says you are then show me.” Later in my walk, I was introduced to a doctrine based on fear of going to hell. I believe if my motive of accepting Christ is to avoid going to hell then that is a very selfish motive. I question the authenticity of the salvation.

      The reason I do because He is more than enough and accepting Him based on a hell-bent doctrine could be viewed upon as coercive. It also is a selfish motive. It limits the one receiving salvation to only think that is ALL there is to salvation! This is not true. There is so much more. The initial experience of receiving Christ in my heart was only the beginning. Truly, just about everyday He reveals something new which expands, compounds, reinforces, and creates more Life in me. Then He reveals Himself around me as well. What I mean is the effect He has had and is having on me effects others. That is another blog in the works. I guess it is like the nature of light when it reflects. Reminds me of Luke 8 which I previously wrote about.

      I have recently discovered that salvation is a continuing experience over a life time. It is not walking a tight rope, but flowing with a mighty, rushing current river and going where the river flows. Rivers have transformed the Grand Canyon. Commerce is near rivers. Cities reside near rivers. Life teems in rivers.

      Walking a tight rope one mile high IS NOT the Good News. That is works, self-performance and condemnation. And you will fall off the rope and die or will be a very good circus entertainer yet miserable in your heart with a diluted, very limited salvation based on another gospel really, 2 Cor. 11:4, Gal. 1:6-7.

      Anarchism in the church - pseudo-godliness

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      2 Timothy 3:5 (NIV) says, “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

      I believe when Adam fell he created anarchism.

      The definition of anarchy is:

      1. a state of society without government or law.
      2. political and social disorder due to the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was followed by a year of anarchy.
      3. a theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principal mode of organized society.
      4. confusion; chaos; disorder: Intellectual and moral anarchy followed his loss of faith.

      [Origin: 1530–40; (< MF anarchie or ML anarchia) < Gk, anarchía lawlessness, lit., lack of a leader, equiv. to ánarch(os) leaderless (an- an-1 + arch(ós) leader + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -y3]

      For the record, I do not condone bullet 3 which describes the false teaching of anarchism.

      The root of the word is actually a Greek word, anarchia, or lawlessness. If I have no law or am not under a law then the only law I have is “a law unto myself.” I believe this is the core of anarchism.

      Romans 2:15 says, “Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)”

      When I read this it tells me I was created to have some sort of law always written in my heart. Either one I independently suppose or one written my heart by the Spirit of the Living God by His grace and power!

      2 Cor. 3:3 says, “[Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

      Also, speaking of the New Covenant, the writer of Hebrews 8:10 says, ” For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”

      I believe when law or legalism is put on a believer (read “How to make a zombie?“) in Christ this enlivens the old nature that is inherently anarchistic. Is anarachistic a word? Yes, just confirmed at dictionary.com. I wasn’t sure. Now, I am.

      So, the old nature is enlivened. Big deal. If you go to that church or are in leadership it is a big deal. It also someone’s life that Christ has redeemed. The sinful or old man is predicated on the law. This old man was NAILED to the cross with Christ and killed! He or she is dead! That dead person is then resurrected with Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and High Priest in the order of Melchisedec (Heb. 5:10) to newness of life. A life that never previously existed, but now exists only supernaturally by the revelation of Christ in the believer. The unveiled knowledge of Who He is growing everyday in Him, all the time, forever!

      Essentially, what happens when law brings the old nature to life is spiritual anarchy in church. Sounds very familiar to what Paul dealt with over and over again with each of the churches he ministered to. He says in all his epistles, “Grace and peace unto you from God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.” Grace to enable you to walk and live in Christ and His peace from the judgment and penalty of the law.

      To me, a doctrine that enables the old nature is one that ministers works. This doctrine can manifest in different forms that “has a form of godliness”, but no power. When push comes to shove that doctrine becomes a foundation of sand to stand on and not bed rock. Matt. 7:25-26.

      I remember I used to rebel so hard to the law of religion and the law of expectations I put upon myself and I thought I was rebelling against the Lord. Some of it was rebellion, but that got old quick. I was rebelling against religion and would go ‘back in the flesh’ under grace, but into things not beneficial for me or my family. This confused me so much and God is not a God of confusion, but order.

      Looking back, I realize I was chasing my tail and fulfilling Gal. 2:18. I was building again the things (dead works) which were annihilated in Christ at the cross, Col. 2:14. I was sewing the fig leaf of whatever I thought seemed right. In doing so, I was becoming pseudo-godly like a frog in a pot of slow boiling water. This reminds me of Rev. 3:16. I loved the Lord, but my walk was like the stock market at best, UP and DOWN. How could this be if Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8)? I believe because I was mixing another gospel which really wasn’t another gospel into my life, 2 Cor. 11:4, Gal. 1:6-7.

      Jesus said in Matthew 9:16, “No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.”

      As I have said in the “about revelator” link I have come to realize Christ is my LORD and Savior.

      And now, I want to serve Him truly because I want to. He has made me new and changed me. Now, I possess godliness and acknowledge the source. I am growing more in Him and His godliness through grace and epignosis, 2 Peter 3:18.

      What do you hear?

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      I read Luke 8:16-18. I am of the opinion that each of the parables of Christ have various meanings with infinite depth. Recently, I read this chapter in Luke cross referencing Heb. 4:12. I believe in Luke 8:16 Christ could be speaking of once being enlightened by the gospel of grace it is unnatural to go back under the law. There’s more there, but I will stop to shorten this blog. Verse 17 speaks of God’s omniscience which harmonizes with Heb. 4:13.

      In Luke 8:18 (NIV) Christ says, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

      It also reminds me of 1 Cor. 14:6-8 speaking of the sound of a trumpet. When I hear the sound of a trumpet I can tell if the trumpet is just making noise or music. I believe Paul is speaking of the voice of grace to the hearer.

      It makes sense when the Lord says, “Consider carefully how you listen.” It seems according to how I spiritually listen, either to law or grace, I will be given more! Or even what I think I have will be taken from me. To me, this implies I need to KNOW what I have. Hebrews 11:3 says I have understanding by faith. Faith gives me hope. Hope is an eternal anchor in my soul. Faith, hope and love eternally remain and never go away.

      It is His faith.

      He is the Hope of Glory.

      He is Love.

      I know because of the unction given to me by Christ, 1 John 2:20. Christ the Hope of Glory has made His home in me! Paul says in Gal. 1:16, “To reveal his Son in me!” It is the trumpet of Christ who came full of grace and truth, John 1:14.

      Supporting the Levitcal Priesthood

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      Get your tomatoes ready. Hopefully, the readers of this blog will still be interested in this site after reading.

      Disclaimer: The following is solely reflective of my opinion I have based on scripture, experience, and conviction. I take full responsibility for writing the following.

      Tithing is a controversial topic I come across from time to time. Here are some questions I ask myself concerning tithing that I biblically answer back to myself.

      If I am judging someone for not tithing then would this be biblically considered “walking in the Spirit?” Can I walk in the Spirit and keep the law simultaneously? Gal. 2:16-21

      If I judge a brother or sister for not tithing (could be something else besides tithing), then am I saying Christ’s death is insufficient? According to scripture, His death on the cross makes me righteous. Rom. 1:17, 3:21-22, 25-26, 4:3, 5-6, 11, 13, 22, 5:19, Gal. 3:11.

      Am I saying His redemption is not enough or complete because I didn’t tithe or give 10% of my gross income of my paycheck? He redeems me from the curse of the law, Gal. 3:13. If His redemption hinges on anything I do (including tithing, fasting, bible college, speaking in tongues, healing, etc.), then His redemption is limited and finite. It is not redemption. It is not substantial if its worth, value or essence can be affected by what I do. His redemption is eternal. Something eternal is not just substantial, but more. The New Covenant is an everlasting, eternal covenant.

      Is God waiting on His throne with a whip ready to judge me if I don’t tithe? Rom. 8:34. The only person who could judge or condemn me actually became the curse of the law for me and took the penalty of sin according to the law for me. I obtain mercy and grace from His throne, Heb. 4:16.

      Has the Lord called Levites back into the into the New Covenant Church, Heb. 7:11? This was one of the primary reasons for tithing under the Old Covenant. Tithing was not a part of the Abrahamic covenant, but a part of the Aaronic priesthood. According to 2 Cor. 3:6 we are ministers of the New Covenant.

      Hebrews 8:13 (NIV) says, “The first one (Old Covenant) is obsolete.” So, why do I have to keep any Jewish law or should be judged by the rules of Aaronic Priesthood according to the Mosaic law if I am under a New Covenant of grace? I don’t. Jesus was judged and condemned for me on the cross.

      Why should I condemn myself for not tithing if there is no condemnation in Christ by His grace? Rom. 8:1. If I condemn myself for not obeying the Old Covenant is that God’s will?

      Am I saying His grace that justifies me is dependent on my material giving?

      When Abraham gave the “tithe” of the “spoils from war” (and not even his actual possessions) to Melchizedek before the Law did he do it grudgingly or willingly? Since he gave prior to the law and I am under grace then what judges me if I give any amount that is in my heart because I want to from my own possessions and not from a war?

      Did Abraham give a tithe of his own possessions or spoils from war? Why does it matter? It matters to me because in the past I have been told to “tithe” from my possessions and that I am robbing God and am under a curse if I don’t. This is not good news. 2 Cor. 3:6 says, “The letter killeth.” The law judges me if I don’t.

      In Christ, according to His faith in me, grace enables me to give whatever I desire to give as I have purposed in my heart, 2 Cor. 9:7. I believe this applies to any type of giving such as money, time, material possessions, etc.

      This means I can give .0001%, 11.5%, 99.9%, or 100% of money, cows, goats, crops, time, or whatever else I can give. I am not judged for any of the aforementioned percentages if I am truly under grace.

      According to Heb. 8:13, the Old Covenant is obsolete. If it is, and in spite that, I desire to keep any part of the law such as “tithing” then I must keep ALL THE LAW and not one law. Paul the apostle to the Gentiles, a former Pharisee and Hebrew of Hebrews, says in Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Paul was no longer a law keeper, but one who walked in the Spirit by the faith of Christ in him through grace.

      If perfect love casts out fear, 1 John 4:8, and I am fearful because I do not tithe, am I fearful because of what the Old Covenant says or the New Covenant? Which one? Which Covenant is the current one? The current covenant is the one that was put into effect by a testator, Heb. 9:16-17.

      Also, am I fearful because of what I think of myself? Would this be considered thinking highly of myself? Rom. 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Whose faith has God dealt to each man? Gal. 2:20, Phil. 3:9 (KJV). I also have the mind of Christ, 1 Cor. 2:16.

      1 Cor. 16:2 (NIV), 1 Cor. 16:2 (NKJV), “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

      Did Paul say lay a “tithe” aside? No, he said, “Storing up as he may prosper” or “each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.”

      How much did Paul ask them to give? 2 Cor. 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

      I did a little research on the internet and found many articles on those who agree with me and those who do not. Here is one that agrees. It was written by a man who is a Seventh-Day Adventist. I am not a Seventh-Day Adventist, but his usage of scripture in this context was very good. He even emailed a Rabbi in Jerusalem who said,

      There is no longer an obligation to support the Levites and Priests as they are no longer working in the Temple. Rabbis are normally supported by the contributions of their congregants through their Synagogue membership.” http://www.truthorfables.com/Tithing.htm

      I am all for giving. Personally, I desire to give not a percentage of anything, but only what purely, sincerely, authentically comes from my heart without absolutely any inhibition. I believe this is why Abraham gave to the High Priest Melchizedek only because he wanted to from his heart because of the effect of the Lord revealing Himself to him. This also sounds similar to faith.

      Did Peter’s shadow heal people?

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      This is referring to Acts 5:15 (NIV), “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

      NKJV says, “that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.”

      NLT says, “so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.”

      None of these or other translations say Peter’s shadow actually healed the people whom his shadow fell on. Is it possible? Mark 9:23.

      Acts 5:11 says great great fear came on the church after Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead as a door nail after lying to the Holy Spirit. This too is still possible. God does not change nor does His power. In verse 12, it says signs and wonders occurred through the hands of the apostles. So, the Church was growing and moving in explosive, life changing power.

      I believe the fear that came upon the church in verse 11 was not necessarily godly fear, but possibly a mix with the fear of man. This fear of man lead to idolatry or soulishness. Remember, the apostles were spiritually young Messianic Jews still growing in grace and knowledge of Christ. They had just recently received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Even Jesus grew, Luke 2:52 (NIV). So, the church under a new covenant was in it’s early developmental stages.

      Back to Peter. Why did Paul have to publicly oppose Peter to his face? Gal. 2:11. Why did Peter not understand the vision of the of the vessel of different types of animals for food? Acts 10:17. Why did Jesus ask Peter three times if he loved Him? John 21:17. All of these situations reflected Peter’s spiritual growth at one point in his walk.

      Paul addresses this carnal favoritism in 1 Cor. 1:12, 3:4. Partiality creates divisions and strife in churches. According to dictionary.com, partiality is also prejudice. I believe partiality or prejudice is carnal and could be a type of ‘law keeping’ to one’s self, or self-justification or self-righteousness. This ‘law keeping’ of partiality is based on insecurity, ignorance and fear. God’s truth and perfect love casts out fear. Truth gives liberty or sets free. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

      Another note, is that Peter was the apostle to the Jews not the Gentiles. This is significant. Jews grew up under the old covenant and Mosaic Law their whole life. Gentiles did not. Gentiles are the ‘wild olive shoot’, Rom. 11:17.

      Now, in Christ, there is no longer Jew or Gentile, but a new creation. A New Man who was created from two. This New Man, baptized by the Spirit of the Living God, lives in the believer now by daily bread of revelation.



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