Roughly 600 years later, David makes a passing reference to him in Psalm 110 where, prophesying about the Messiah, David says, "The Lord has sworn: You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." Certain passages of the OT were understood, even before the time of Jesus, to be messianic in nature. In Matthew 2:1-6, we see that the Pharisees knew the Messiah was supposed to be born in Bethlehem; they regarded Micah 5:2 as a prophecy. Psalm 110, the one that mentions Melchizedek, is another of those passages that everyone knew to be messianic prophecy. Jesus quotes it in Matthew 22:41-45, and the Pharisees unquestioningly accept him because they agreed that it was messianic. What's really crucial to note is that Jesus was quoting that psalm to refer to himself, to claim the things that were written in it, which include being a priest in the order of Melchizedek.
All of this brings us to the book of Hebrews, a book that was written to (as the title might suggest) Jewish people, who were having some questions about how to move from the old covenant of the OT law to the new covenant of grace. The writer's main point beginning in 4:14 is that we have no more need for an earthly priesthood like the one practiced in the OT because Jesus is now our high priest, the intercessor between us and God. (This is one of many reasons why the Mormons and Catholics get it wrong; Jesus abolished the priesthood, so any sect that reestablishes one is taking a step in completely the wrong direction.) However, this idea of Jesus being a high priest would have caused some problems for the Jews, because they knew that the OT law restricted the priesthood to only those people who were Levites descended from Aaron. Jesus, in accordance with prophecy, came from the line of David and the tribe of Judah. Therefore he wasn't qualified to be a priest under the OT law.
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
Showing posts with label bible studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bible studies. Show all posts
Friday, November 5, 2010
Melchizedek (1)
Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7 make reference to this odd figure called Melchizedek. If you've ever read one of those three passages and been totally bewildered, you've come to the right place for clarity. First I want to discuss who he actually was, according to Genesis, and then I want to discuss what he means for us in the New Covenant, according to Hebrews.
The man first shows up in Genesis 14, quite out of the blue, where he's abruptly introduced as the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a priest of God. To show that this man is the real deal, Abraham tithes to him (before the Biblical law about tithing had even been given) and accepts a blessing from him. Then the guy disappears, never to be heard from again.
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
The man first shows up in Genesis 14, quite out of the blue, where he's abruptly introduced as the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and a priest of God. To show that this man is the real deal, Abraham tithes to him (before the Biblical law about tithing had even been given) and accepts a blessing from him. Then the guy disappears, never to be heard from again.
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
Friday, October 29, 2010
To Ignore The Past Is To Repeat It
Obama needs to read the Bible. Lets look at a situation that occurred in the past that is very similar to America and what is happening today.
"1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem where all Israel had gathered to inaugurate him as king. 2 Jeroboam had been in Egypt, where he had taken asylum from King Solomon; when he got the report of Solomon's death he had come back. 3 Rehoboam assembled Jeroboam and all the people. They said to Rehoboam, 4 "Your father made life hard for us - worked our fingers to the bone. Give us a break; lighten up on us and we'll willingly serve you." 5 "Give me three days to think it over, then come back," Rehoboam said. 6 King Rehoboam talked it over with the elders who had advised his father when he was alive: "What's your counsel? How do you suggest that I answer the people?" 7 They said, "If you will be a servant to this people, be considerate of their needs and respond with compassion, work things out with them, they'll end up doing anything for you." 8 But he rejected the counsel of the elders and asked the young men he'd grown up with who were now currying his favor, 9 "What do you think? What should I say to these people who are saying, 'Give us a break from your father's harsh ways - lighten up on us'?" 10 The young turks he'd grown up with said, "These people who complain, 'Your father was too hard on us; lighten up' - well, tell them this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!'" 12 Three days later Jeroboam and the people showed up, just as Rehoboam had directed when he said, "Give me three days to think it over, then come back." 13 The king's answer was harsh and rude. He spurned the counsel of the elders 14 and went with the advice of the younger set, "If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!" 15 Rehoboam turned a deaf ear to the people. God was behind all this, confirming the message that he had given to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah of Shiloh. (1 Kings 12:1-14 msg)"
Here we see a new leader, taking advice from people that had a lack of experience, and ignoring those who had a lifetime of experience. Pretty much what is happening today. The people wanted one thing, and the leader wanted another thing all together. Sound familiar? The people said enough was enough and "So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day." 1 Kings 12:19 (ASV) That may be the only course we have left to us. We are coming to a crossroads that will determine our destiny. Will we live for Christ in obedience to His word? Or will we continue to use reason to determine what we will do?
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
"1 Rehoboam traveled to Shechem where all Israel had gathered to inaugurate him as king. 2 Jeroboam had been in Egypt, where he had taken asylum from King Solomon; when he got the report of Solomon's death he had come back. 3 Rehoboam assembled Jeroboam and all the people. They said to Rehoboam, 4 "Your father made life hard for us - worked our fingers to the bone. Give us a break; lighten up on us and we'll willingly serve you." 5 "Give me three days to think it over, then come back," Rehoboam said. 6 King Rehoboam talked it over with the elders who had advised his father when he was alive: "What's your counsel? How do you suggest that I answer the people?" 7 They said, "If you will be a servant to this people, be considerate of their needs and respond with compassion, work things out with them, they'll end up doing anything for you." 8 But he rejected the counsel of the elders and asked the young men he'd grown up with who were now currying his favor, 9 "What do you think? What should I say to these people who are saying, 'Give us a break from your father's harsh ways - lighten up on us'?" 10 The young turks he'd grown up with said, "These people who complain, 'Your father was too hard on us; lighten up' - well, tell them this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!'" 12 Three days later Jeroboam and the people showed up, just as Rehoboam had directed when he said, "Give me three days to think it over, then come back." 13 The king's answer was harsh and rude. He spurned the counsel of the elders 14 and went with the advice of the younger set, "If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I'll beat you bloody with chains!" 15 Rehoboam turned a deaf ear to the people. God was behind all this, confirming the message that he had given to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah of Shiloh. (1 Kings 12:1-14 msg)"
Here we see a new leader, taking advice from people that had a lack of experience, and ignoring those who had a lifetime of experience. Pretty much what is happening today. The people wanted one thing, and the leader wanted another thing all together. Sound familiar? The people said enough was enough and "So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day." 1 Kings 12:19 (ASV) That may be the only course we have left to us. We are coming to a crossroads that will determine our destiny. Will we live for Christ in obedience to His word? Or will we continue to use reason to determine what we will do?
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
What is The Spirit Of A Human Being
Our Spirit; A Third Of Our Makeup
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spirit, Soul, Body
The Role of Our Spirit
Our spirit and our bodies have predetermined destinations when we leave this earth:
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Our spirit is our life force and when it is gone we no longer hold residence on this earth.
Luke 8:53 ,54 ,55 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
Our Spirit - The Gift of Life
The "Breath of Life"
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Soul & Spirit Are Extremely Close In Relationship
Soul is Associated With Breath (By Definition)
Spirit is Associated With Life (By Definition)
The Life In Gods Breath Forms Our Spirit
Breath From The Life of God Forms Our Soul
Connection Between Breath and Spirit
Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Job 34:13,14,15 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Connection Between Spirit and Life
God Gives Life and Breath To All Humans. From Genesis 2:7 We Understand The "Breath of Life" Ushered Man Into Existence.
Acts 17:25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Why Might It Be That We Receive A Spirit When God Breathed The " Breath of Life"?
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Because God Is A Spirit And Life Is In Him, It Makes Sense We Would Receive These Attributes.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
God Is Self Generating And Human Beings Are Not. In Other Words, The Life In Us Is Given As A Gift.
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spirit, Soul, Body
The Role of Our Spirit
Our spirit and our bodies have predetermined destinations when we leave this earth:
Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Our spirit is our life force and when it is gone we no longer hold residence on this earth.
Luke 8:53 ,54 ,55 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
Our Spirit - The Gift of Life
The "Breath of Life"
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Soul & Spirit Are Extremely Close In Relationship
Soul is Associated With Breath (By Definition)
Spirit is Associated With Life (By Definition)
The Life In Gods Breath Forms Our Spirit
Breath From The Life of God Forms Our Soul
Connection Between Breath and Spirit
Job 27:3 All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;
Job 34:13,14,15 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
Connection Between Spirit and Life
God Gives Life and Breath To All Humans. From Genesis 2:7 We Understand The "Breath of Life" Ushered Man Into Existence.
Acts 17:25 Neither is worshiped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Why Might It Be That We Receive A Spirit When God Breathed The " Breath of Life"?
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Because God Is A Spirit And Life Is In Him, It Makes Sense We Would Receive These Attributes.
John 5:26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
God Is Self Generating And Human Beings Are Not. In Other Words, The Life In Us Is Given As A Gift.
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
God Gently Convicts and Corrects Us
Can we think of times in our lives when we have been corrected, humiliated and shamed? I am sure we call can. Then there are those times when we have been "called to task" by someone who was firm but able to do the job in a gentle and loving way so we ended up feeling we could do it and we would do it the correct way in the future.
God always whispers to our hearts His gentle rebuke and correction while convicting us or our wrong:
Child, child, you have not grieved me so much by your absence into busyness as much as you have robbed yourself of My Closeness and strength and renewal of your mind. You haven't been still then you overload. You sense out workings of that and it isn't what you'd choose, is it? Be still and KNOW - that I AM God. I still love you, of course. Selah.
The Lord is gentle yet makes His point. He can make you understand where your choices are taking you but give you hope. He shows you his heart in the whole situation and gives you a remedy. He makes you feel like a toddler who tripped, stumbled and maybe even fell but was picked up by his/her daddy. Picked up and brushed off and encouraged to try and try again.
Faithreaders website.
God always whispers to our hearts His gentle rebuke and correction while convicting us or our wrong:
Child, child, you have not grieved me so much by your absence into busyness as much as you have robbed yourself of My Closeness and strength and renewal of your mind. You haven't been still then you overload. You sense out workings of that and it isn't what you'd choose, is it? Be still and KNOW - that I AM God. I still love you, of course. Selah.
The Lord is gentle yet makes His point. He can make you understand where your choices are taking you but give you hope. He shows you his heart in the whole situation and gives you a remedy. He makes you feel like a toddler who tripped, stumbled and maybe even fell but was picked up by his/her daddy. Picked up and brushed off and encouraged to try and try again.
Faithreaders website.
God Gently Convicts and Corrects Us (2)
The enemy is great at condemnation, taking the truth and rubbing our nose in it so to speak. He is not beyond stealing, lying, killing and doing all that lead to destruction ours.
Satan speaks with condemnation and condescension in his attitude and voice:
You sure have messed up not having your quiet times lately God is walking away and leaving you right where you want to be without him.
Satan makes you feel hopeless, condemned; like the lights were turned off and no one paid the electric bill. He makes you feel unworthy (and though we are, we have Jesus who can, will and does forgive if we but ask) Satan makes us feel we are in an unredeemable position. Satan is the accuser of the brethren the liar the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy.
SO next time you hear a little voice, pray, and discern where it is coming from. If it is the Lord you have hope and can be forgiven. If it is the other guy, you can tell him to go where the Lord Jesus Christ said he should go.
Below are some scriptures relating to this which you can always hold close and use when you have times of struggle, when the enemy comes to condemn or when you need the forgiveness of God.
1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.(NKJV)
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
If what you hear is full of condemnation, leaving you with no hope there is also a remedy.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NIV)
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
About Self
Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
Satan speaks with condemnation and condescension in his attitude and voice:
You sure have messed up not having your quiet times lately God is walking away and leaving you right where you want to be without him.
Satan makes you feel hopeless, condemned; like the lights were turned off and no one paid the electric bill. He makes you feel unworthy (and though we are, we have Jesus who can, will and does forgive if we but ask) Satan makes us feel we are in an unredeemable position. Satan is the accuser of the brethren the liar the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy.
SO next time you hear a little voice, pray, and discern where it is coming from. If it is the Lord you have hope and can be forgiven. If it is the other guy, you can tell him to go where the Lord Jesus Christ said he should go.
Below are some scriptures relating to this which you can always hold close and use when you have times of struggle, when the enemy comes to condemn or when you need the forgiveness of God.
1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.(NKJV)
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)
If what you hear is full of condemnation, leaving you with no hope there is also a remedy.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (NIV)
(C) Marijo Phelps all rights reserved. Use with proper credits.
About Self
Saved by His grace in 1974, from 9 years of professing atheism into His loving arms. RN for 23 years, missionary with YWAM then statistical analyst for Every Home for Christ over 9 years. Living with my husband in the middle of a mountain meadow. GRIN! Wanting to spread the good news
Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)