Zad,
Heb 7:25
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
(KJV)there are no
last petitions
Isa 9:6
6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (KJV)Language is a wonderful thing isn’t it? For instance: it is said of these glorious names in Isaiah that His name (singular) shall (definite article) be called all of these marvelous names (plural). For the remainder of my response to your posts I shall call Him “Prince of Peace”. (since your post was initially, and in places is, addressing unity and peace). Further more I think I will shorten the title to the three-letter acronym PoP (Prince of Peace). I like it because it reminds me of Pop, one of our English endearments for “father”. (this son shall be called “The everlasting Father”) and there is of course Gal
4:6: “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” What a glorious adoption it is! The Spirit of The Son is one with my spirit and we are crying “abba” together. Praise His name(s). It seems both Paul, in his writing, and The Spirit of The Son, in His crying, have by-passed the name “YAH” at this juncture.
ABBA
abba ^5^ is an Aramaic word, found in <Mark 14:36; Rom. 8:15> and <Gal. 4:6>. In the Gemara (a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishna, the traditional teaching of the Jews) it is stated that slaves were forbidden to address the head of the family by this title. It approximates to a personal name, in contrast to "Father," with which it is always joined in the NT. This is probably due to the fact that, abba having practically become a proper name, Greek-speaking Jews added the Greek word pater, "father," from the language they used. Abba is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; "father" expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child.
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
(Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)This word Abba, in other words, amounts to a personal term of endearment…like “Pop”. So I think I’m right on the Kini Pono (as they say in Hawaii) using my little acronym PoP. All this said, I’m sure you, PoP, and any readers will Know whom I refer to.
I Share your consternation over the divided and opinion-infested landscape of Christianity. I do however hold as true, the words of PoP when He said: “…I will build My Church”. He will have a Glorious and spotless bride. The fulfilling of this pronouncement is inevitable.
As the body of my response, I will briefly refer to four scriptural passages for your loving consideration:
Matt 7:22-23
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(KJV)This has always been an alarming word to me. prophesied in thy name, in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works. These can be none other than “Christians”! The real clincher for me is: “I never knew you”. My own personal, most ardent prayer is “Lord Know me”. The obvious and direly critical issue is intimacy with Him. My study, searching, prayer and quest are regarding this matter. Paul expresses a similar passion “That I may
know Him and the power of His resurrection”. PoP prayed: “and this is eternal life: that they may
know you and (PoP) whom you sent”.
Where did these workers of iniquity (lawlessness) go wrong? I believe that too many well meaning Christians have embraced the “go” and missed the “wait”.
Acts 1:4-5
4. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
(KJV) “He is with you and will be in you” Again, oneness and intimacy. We find in acts:13 Paul and the others again “
waiting upon God”. These were “teachers and prophets”, why hadn’t they just formed a missions board and gotten on with it? Because they were given to waiting for that fresh and unmistakable
“The Holy Spirit said”Finally:
1 Cor 2:4
4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (KJV)
1 Cor 4:20
20. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. (KJV)Brother Zad, I urge you to seek this intimacy. We are all in need of a conversion like Peter’s, and his infilling at Pentecost, so that we may also say “such as I have give I thee”. Peter who had walked on water, healed the sick, witnessed the transfiguration and made his confident boast of allegiance, had yet to be converted! I believe his “conversion” took root in the going out and weeping bitterly over having seen whom he still was (and was not). Then at Pentecost He was ready to be “Known”. May we all drink into this glorious Spirit, in which we are baptized into His death and raised to newness in His Life.
As Paul said: “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” It is by PoP’s own hand, by the power of The Builder that this New covenant, largely gentile bride will be brought to Glory. It is not probable that God will send a firey Jewish prophet to verbally pummel us all into line, but you would be a likely candidate
Agape (the way Paul used it)
Bairn
Author