From Gary.... I wonder, I wonder...

My granddaughter, Elizabeth, sent me this picture of one of their dogs (I forget which one this is..) some time ago and I kept it because of the look of wondering on its face. Today, as I look at my computer screen and think about recent events in the Ukraine, I too, wonder. Will it lead to a war? What about all those nuclear bombers recently assembled by Russia. And those Emergency Action Messages to our ships in the area? I wonder, and wonder some more...  And then there is the prophet Habakkuk...

Habakkuk, Chapter 1

1 The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.  2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?  3 Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up.  4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted. 

  5  “Look among the nations, watch, and wonder marvelously; for I am working a work in your days, which you will not believe though it is told you.

God works at both the individual and national level.  He established and removes nations. Habakkuk is the prophet - not me, so I can't tell you what is going to happen in the Ukraine.  This I do know, because I see it; the world seems to be changing very rapidly - and not for the better!!!  But, eventually, what God wants to happen, will happen.  It is not wrong to wonder and for that matter, ask God WHY THERE IS SO MUCH EVIL OUT THERE, but we must remember verse five above and have faith.  Even if the absolute worst happens, well, there is always heaven. And if you have to wonder about going there, perhaps you should use your time wisely and investigate what you have to do to get there? I wonder, I wonder - what will you DO....???

From Gary... Bible Reading March 10

Bible Reading  

March 10

The World English Bible

Mar. 10

Exodus 20

Exo 20:1 God spoke all these words, saying,

Exo 20:2 "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exo 20:3 You shall have no other gods before me.

Exo 20:4 "You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Exo 20:5 you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,

Exo 20:6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Exo 20:7 "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Exo 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Exo 20:9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work,

Exo 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates;

Exo 20:11 for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.

Exo 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

Exo 20:13 "You shall not murder.

Exo 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery.

Exo 20:15 "You shall not steal.

Exo 20:16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Exo 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Exo 20:18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance.

Exo 20:19 They said to Moses, "Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don't let God speak with us, lest we die."

Exo 20:20 Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin."

Exo 20:21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Exo 20:22 Yahweh said to Moses, "This is what you shall tell the children of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

Exo 20:23 You shall most certainly not make alongside of me gods of silver, or gods of gold for yourselves.

Exo 20:24 You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you.

Exo 20:25 If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.

Exo 20:26 Neither shall you go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.'

From Mark Copeland... The Significance Of Christ's Priesthood (Hebrews 7:11-19)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

           The Significance Of Christ's Priesthood (7:11-19)

INTRODUCTION

1. A major theme in "The Epistle To The Hebrews" is the priesthood of
   Jesus Christ...
   a. His humanity prepared Him to be "a merciful and faithful High
      Priest" - He 2:17
   b. He is the "High Priest of our confession" - He 3:1
   c. He is "a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens" 
      - He 4:14
   d. He is a sympathetic High Priest, for He "was in all points 
      tempted as we are, yet without sin" - He 4:15
   e. His calling as High Priest came from God Himself - He 5:5-6

2. His is a unique priesthood, however...
   a. It is NOT according to the "Levitical priesthood"
      1) He is a not priest in the order of Aaron
      2) A priesthood that began with the giving of the Law through 
         Moses at Mt. Sinai
   b. His priesthood is "according to the order of Melchizedek" - He 5:
      9-10
      1) Melchizedek was a priest "of God Most High" who met Abram 
         - Gen 14:14-20
      2) And God swore that the Messiah would be a priest like 
         Melchizedek - Ps 110:4

3. In our previous study, we saw Melchizedek was superior in that...
   a. He received tithes from Abraham - He 7:4-6a
   b. He blessed Abraham - He 7:6b-7
   c. Even Levi, in the loins of his ancestor Abraham, paid tithes to
      Melchizedek - He 7:9-10
   -- All of this proving that the priesthood of Christ, which is after
      the order of Melchizedek, is superior to the Levitical priesthood

4. That Jesus would come to serve as a priest after the order the
   Melchizedek is not without significance and major implications...
   a. Regarding the efficacy of the Levitical priesthood
   b. Regarding the law of Moses itself!

[Some of the significance and implications of Christ's priesthood is 
described in He 7:11-19.  As we consider "The Significance Of Christ's
Priesthood", we note first that ...]

I. THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD WAS LACKING (11)

   A. IT DID NOT BRING "PERFECTION"...
      1. Otherwise there would not have been another priest to arise
         like Melchizedek
      2. That one was foretold (Ps 110:4) and has come proves the 
         order of Aaron was lacking

   B. THE MEANING OF "PERFECTION"...
      1. Perfection means "completeness" and in this context it speaks
         of making men acceptable to God (Believers' Study Bible)
      2. The Old Law with its priesthood could never fully reconcile 
         man back to God
         a. Animal sacrifices could not make one "perfect" - He 10:1
         b. They could not cleanse the sinner's conscience - He 10:2-3;
            cf. 9:9
         c. They could not take away sin - He 10:4; cf. 10:11

[Jesus coming as a priest after the order of Melchizedek implies that
the Levitical priesthood, while having served the purpose for which it
was intended (to foreshadow the sacrifice of Christ), was not able to
provide man what he really needs.  

The priesthood of Christ also signifies...]

II. THE LAW HAS BEEN ANNULLED (12-18)

   A. A CHANGE IN THE PRIESTHOOD SIGNIFIES A CHANGE IN THE LAW...
      1. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, not Levi - He 7:13-14;
         cf. Mt 1:1-2
      2. Moses had not authorized anyone from Judah to serve as priest;
         indeed, God specifically forbid anyone other than a descendant
         of Aaron - cf. Num 16:40
      3. For Christ to serve as priest, then, a change must have 
         occurred - He 7:14
      4. Especially for one who serves "according to the power of an 
         endless life" - He 7:15-17
         a. The Levitical priests were "mortal men", whose service 
            ended at death
         b. But Jesus is a priest "forever", His priesthood is 
            therefore unchangeable - He 7:24

   B. WITH THE CHANGE IN PRIESTHOOD, THE LAW IS NOW ANNULLED...
      1. "Annulled" means "to declare as void, to invalidate, to 
         abrogate" (Lightfoot)
      2. The "former commandment" (as the Law is called) has therefore
         been set aside - He 7:18-19a
         a. Because it was weak and unprofitable
         b. In the sense of making us "perfect" (acceptable to God) 
            - cf. He 10:1
      3. That the Law has been done away should not surprise us...
         a. God foretold this would happen - cf. He 8:7-13
         b. Jesus implied that the Law would be done away once it was 
            fulfilled - Mt 5:17-18
            1) One "jot" or "tittle" would not pass from the law until
               it was fulfilled
            2) If the priesthood has changed, then it must have been
               fulfilled and done away!
         c. Paul described how Jesus abolished it in His death on the 
            cross
            1) To the Ephesians - Ep 2:14-16
            2) To the Colossians - Col 2:14-16

[This significance of Christ's priesthood has powerful implications. 
With the Law annulled, it is folly to seek justification by the Law 
(cf. Ga 5:4); it also explains why we should not go to the Old Law to
find our authority for the work, worship, and organization of the 
church!

Finally, there is that significance of Christ's priesthood which should
be most precious to us...]

III. THERE IS NOW A BETTER HOPE (19)

   A. THROUGH WHICH WE CAN DRAW NEAR TO GOD...
      1. As seen earlier, the Levitical priesthood did not offer 
         "perfection"
         a. Its sacrifices could not make one "perfect" regarding:
            1) Consciousness of sins, for sacrifices were "year by 
               year" - He 10:1-3
            2) Actual forgiveness of sins, for "it is not possible 
               that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins"
               - He 10:4
         b. Thus the Law, because of its "weakness and 
            unprofitableness", "made nothing perfect" - He 7:18-19
      2. But now we have in Christ "a better hope"
         a. Here we find the keyword of this epistle:  "better"
            1) First used in comparing Jesus to angels - He 1:4
            2) Used later in contrasting the new covenant and its 
               promises with the old covenant - He 7:22; 8:6
         b. Our hope in drawing near to God is now "better" than 
            before!

   B. CHRIST'S SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD IS THE BASIS OF THAT HOPE...
      1. Because Jesus is "a priest forever according to the order of 
         Melchizedek", our hope for drawing near to God is much 
         better:
         a. As we've seen, Melchizedek is superior to Abraham and Levi
         b. Therefore his priesthood is superior to the Levitical
            priesthood
         -- Making Jesus' own priesthood superior
      2. More evidence of superiority will be considered shortly (cf. 
         He 7:24-28), but for now note again how the greatness of 
         Jesus' priesthood should strengthen our hope in drawing near 
         to God:
         a. Our High Priest has "passed through the heavens" - He 4:14
         b. Our High Priest can "sympathize with our weaknesses"
            - He 4:15
         c. Our High Priest makes it possible to "come boldly to the
            throne of grace" and "obtain mercy and find grace to help
            in time of need" - He 4:16
      -- Can we see how His service as our High Priest provides "a
         better hope, through which we draw near to God"?

CONCLUSION

1. More is yet to come regarding Christ's Priesthood, but perhaps we 
   can appreciate how...
   a. The Levitical priesthood does not provide what man really needs
      (access to God)
   b. There has been a change in the Law; indeed, it has been replaced
      with a new covenant
   c. In Jesus, our hope in drawing near to God is much better than 
      ever before!

2. In view of such things...
   a. Why would the Hebrew Christians ever want to leave Jesus and 
      return to the Law?
   b. Why would people today seek to use the Law to justify religious 
      practices, as many do when they turn to the Old Testament to 
      establish authority for such things as a separate priesthood 
      (clergy), burning of incense, or even instrumental music?

Jesus is the only way to God (cf. Jn 14:6).  Are you willing to come 
to the Father through Him?  Let us be sure to serve God through Him 
only! - cf. Ga 5:4-6

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... A MIDSUMMER KNIGHT

A MIDSUMMER KNIGHT

It makes perfect sense for those who’ve been given a wondrous gift to be grateful for it and, all things being equal, for them to think highly of the one who gave it to them. It’s no surprise that they will praise the generosity of the giver and the costliness of the gift. But it would distasteful if the giver went on and on and on about how much it cost him and how good it was of him to make the gesture.

Can you imagine being invited to a sumptuous meal of the tastiest and most nutritious things in the nicest of company and having to listen to the host explain it minute detail—not once but over and over again—how much trouble and how much expense she had to go to to produce the grand spread? (Could you enjoy a meal, however fine it is, under such circumstances?) Everyone knows that such matters should be left to the guests to winkle out of the reluctant host who is all the while saying things like, “Really, it was nothing!” “Honestly, it was no trouble.” Such a host isn’t lying; she’s simply expressing her pleasure at having the opportunity to go out of her way to please and it is precisely because she will not make a big thing of it that the guests think so much of her and her efforts.

There is something Christ-like in that spirit. We have no record of Jesus setting his disciples down and telling them how good it is of him to do for them and others what he is doing and going to do. “If only you could know how much this is all costing me, but, alas, no one can appreciate the depths to which I have descended. If I could only make you understand…” None of that. That others do some of that is no surprise, but even they are sparing in how they deal with that aspect of the Lord’s sacrifice and we aren’t left to feel so overwhelmed by his trouble that we can’t enjoy the gift of life he gives us to enjoy and express. Now that we’ve come to know him it’s the kind of thing we expect from him.

O’Henry tells of Gaines, “the man who said he thought New York was the finest summer resort in the country.” While others moaned and melted in the heat, dived for the shade or an electric fan, and wished for the mountains, he mocked the notion of going to the woods to eat canned goods from the city, being wakened in the morning by a million flies, getting soaked to the skin catching the tiniest fish and struggling up perpendicular cliffs. No sir, he preferred to stay at home. If he wanted fish, he’d go to a cool restaurant—home comforts, that’s what he chose, while the fools spent half their summer driving to and from their spartan locations with all the modern inconveniences.

A friend urged him to come with him for two weeks to Beaverkill, where the fish were jumping at anything that even looked like a fly. He said a mutual friend, Harding, had caught a three-pound brown trout—but Gaines was having none of it. “Nonsense!” he’d snort and then off to his office to plunge himself into a mountain of work until late in the afternoon when, with feet up on his desk, he mused to himself: “I wonder what kind of bait Harding used.”

The man who said he thought that New York was the finest summer resort in the country dozed off in the stifling heat, was wakened by his mail-bringing clerk, and decided to take a quick look before he left for the day. A few lines of one of them said:

       My Dear Dear Husband:

Just received your letter ordering us to stay another month...Rita’s cough is almost gone...Johnny has gone wild like a little Indian...it will be the making of both children...work so hard, and I know that your business can hardly afford to keep us here so long...best man that ever...you always pretend that you like the city in summer...trout fishing that you used to be so fond of...and all to keep us well and happy...come to you if it were not doing the babies so much good...I stood last evening on Chimney Rock in exactly the same spot...when you put the wreath of roses on my head...said you would be my true knight...have always been that to me...ever and ever.

The man who said he thought New York was the finest summer resort in the country, on his way home in the sweltering summer heat, dropped into a cafe and had a glass of warm beer under an electric fan. “Wonder what kind of a fly old Harding used,” he murmured to himself.

I love it when those in love sometimes “tell lies” gallantly. They say things no one believes—least of all themselves. They’re forever making sacrifices—some large, some little—to make life easier, finer, lovelier, for those they love. They’re in love and they do what lovers have done in every age down the centuries—they give themselves in whatever ways their love and situation calls for. And they do it without trumpets blowing or affected sweetness and they don’t wear pained expressions. They’d almost convince you that they really did believe that New York City was the finest summer resort in America.

[Quoted from my little book called Let Me Count The Ways with permission from Howard Publishing Company, West Monroe, Louisiana, 2001]

 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... GOD'S INCARNATION AND THE CHURCH

GOD'S INCARNATION AND THE CHURCH

The “doctrine of the Incarnation” is no bad phrase as long as we remember that it is only a shorthand way of affirming that something happened, something actually was done and that it was God who did it. When we reflect on what it is that the Almighty God has actually done we use words to speak about it but we don’t use words as a substitute for what God has done.

The one Christians speak of as “the Lord Jesus” is God being a man. The Lord Jesus is the man that God is being.

But we can’t leave it there for God does not want us to leave it there, won’t permit us to leave it there. We then try to unpack the meaning of it and the divine reasons for it and, in addition, we want to know how it affects us. Or should affect us.

None of us is competent to unpack all the truths that are embedded in God’s eternal purpose to become a human or why he ceaselessly chooses to be a human but as we gain a deeper understanding of the character and purpose of God we gain an enriched understanding of his Incarnation in and as Jesus Christ.

There are social ramifications of all the major doctrines the Bible reveals to us. That is, we aren’t taught these major truths simple to give us correct information—they are truths to live by. For example, Paul affirms the OT doctrine that there is no God but one [see Romans 3:29]; he concludes from that that there must be one Creator and one human family. From that he concludes that God cares for the entire human family and offers them life in and through the 

Lord Jesus [3:30].

He earlier concluded that the entire human family is faithless [3:19, 23] in contrast to God’s faithfulness [3:21-22] but in and through the faithfulness of Jesus God’s maintains his commitment to the human family. Paul insists that humanity knowingly embraced the world spirit that makes itself visible in the principalities and powers and was enslaved and was in need of rescue. Instead of despising humanity and keeping his distance God came nearer than near, became incarnate in and as Jesus, became one of us [see Romans 8:3 and note Hebrews 2:10-11] and came to humanity’s rescue.

This rescue work continues in “the body of Christ” [that is, the Church, the NT covenant People] in which Jesus dwells as and by the Holy Spirit

[see Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 2:22; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Acts 16:7]. The Church is in a real way an “extension” of the Lord’s incarnation.

It would be strange, then, if the corporate body of the Lord Jesus were to despise humanity, would it not?

It won’t do for us to say that humans are terrible sinners and that we are to distance ourselves from them if we are to be good people and, more to the point, if we are the body of Christ. It won’t do because God who knows better than anyone how sinful the human family is and who is goodness in perfection refuses to distance himself from us and chooses to be one of us so that he might rescue us.

We cannot make our moral uprightness a reason to distance ourselves from sinful humans when God would not do it. As Bonhoeffer has taught us, we can’t despise humans if God has so loved them that he became one of them to rescue them. If we despise humans we despise what God has become in Jesus and in despising God’s choice to be one of us we despise God himself.

However we are to engage with our fellow-humans it mustn’t be out of contempt for them but always with the purpose to rescue them [however doubtful we might be about the effectiveness of our attempt]. While we’re at it we are to remember who we are and what we have been though now we may be more morally upright then many of them [see Titus 3:2-7].

The Church that [however it goes about its business] is not and refuses to be in the business of rescue is not the NT Church; it is not the Body of Christ.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Greatness Of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-10)

                  "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                 The Greatness Of Melchizedek (7:1-10)

INTRODUCTION

1. Thus far in our study, we have seen the writer mention
   Melchizedek...
   a. That Jesus is a priest "after the order of Melchizedek"-He 5:9-10; 6:20
   b. It has only been a brief mention, for the dullness of the readers
      required a necessary digression - cf. He 5:11-6:20

2. But now the writer returns to his theme concerning Melchizedek, in 
   which he...
   a. Establishes the greatness of Melchizedek - He 7:1-10
   b. Shows the significance of Melchizedek's priesthood - He 7:11-19
   c. Thereby illustrating the greatness of Christ's priesthood - He 7:20-28

3. Since this subject is "meat" compared to the "milk" of the Word (cf.
   He 5:10-12)...
   a. We want to approach it slowly and carefully
   b. Allowing ourselves to slowly "digest" what is said in this 
      seventh chapter of Hebrews

[For this reason, this lesson will limit itself to the first ten 
verses, in which we read of "The Greatness Of Melchizedek". To 
appreciate his greatness, we must be aware of...]

I. THE HISTORY OF MELCHIZEDEK (1-3)

   A. THE HISTORICAL RECORD AS FOUND IN GENESIS 14...
      1. We first read of "The Battle Of The Kings" - Gen 14:1-11
      2. In which Lot is captured, and then rescued by Abram (Abraham)
         - Gen 14:12-17
      3. Upon his return, Abram is met by Melchizedek - Gen 14:18
         a. Who is "king of Salem" (thought to be later known as
            Jerusalem)
         b. Who is also "the priest of God Most High"
      4. In this meeting, two things happen...
         a. Melchizedek blesses Abram (Abraham) - Gen 14:19
         b. Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek - Gen 14:20b

   B. IN REFERRING TO MELCHIZEDEK, THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS...
      1. Summarizes the events in He 7:1-2
         a. How Melchizedek met Abraham and blessed him
         b. How Abraham gave "a tenth part of all" (i.e., tithes) to 
            Melchizedek
      2. Explains the meaning of his name and title - He 7:2
         a. The name "Melchizedek" means "king of righteousness"
         b. The title "king of Salem" means "king of peace"
      3. Makes some intriguing statements about Melchizedek...
         a. "without father, without mother, without genealogy"
         b. "having neither beginning of days nor end of life"
         c. "made like the Son of God"
         d. "remains a priest continually"

   C. WHO IS THIS "MELCHIZEDEK"?
      1. Some have suggested that he was:
         a. An angel (Origen, Didymus)
         b. Enoch (Husius, Calmet)
         c. Shem (Jerome, Luther)
      2. Others have taken the statements in v.3 to suggest that 
         Melchizedek was a "theophany" (a pre-incarnate appearance of 
         Christ), for the following reasons:
         a. The name Melchizedek, meaning "king of righteousness" (v.2)
         b. The designation "king of peace" (v.2)
         c. The possibility that the lack of recorded genealogy
            mentioned in v.3 is due to actual lack of ancestors, rather
            than the mere absence of historical record
         d. He is said to remain "a priest continually" (v.3c)
         e. He is contrasted with "mortal men" (v.8a)
         f. Of him "it is witnessed that he lives" (v.8b)
      3. Most take that he was simply a man (note v.4), but because he
         appears suddenly in Scripture as a priest...
         a. With no mention of parentage or genealogy
         b. With no mention of his birth or death
         c. With only a mention of him as a priest of "God Most High"
         ...that he is a "type" of Christ, and what His priesthood 
            would be like

[While the true identity of Melchizedek may remain a mystery because of
the brevity of scriptural information, his importance as it relates to
the superiority of Christ's priesthood becomes very clear as we 
consider...]

II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MELCHIZEDEK (4-10)

   A. MELCHIZEDEK RECEIVED TITHES FROM ABRAHAM (4-6a)
      1. Abraham paid a tenth to Melchizedek
      2. Just as the nation of Israel would later pay a tenth to the 
         sons of Levi
      -- Thus Abraham, great as he was, showed his deference to 
         Melchizedek

   B. MELCHIZEDEK BLESSED ABRAHAM (6b-7)
      1. Melchizedek blessed him "who had the promises" (Abraham)
      2. There is no dispute that "the lesser is blessed by the better"
      -- Thus Melchizedek is clearly "better" than Abraham

   C. MELCHIZEDEK'S SERVICE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY DEATH (8)
      1. In the priesthood under the Jewish system (i.e., the Levitical
         or Aaronic priesthood), tithes were received by "mortal men"
         (whose service ended at death)
      2. But it has been witnessed that Melchizedek "lives"("remains a
         priest continually" - He 7:3)
      3. How he lives and remains a priest continually, the Bible does
         not say
      -- But in this way Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical 
         priests (a point made concerning Jesus later in the chapter)

   D. EVEN LEVI PAID TITHES TO MELCHIZEDEK (9-10)
      1. Levi was "in the loins of his father" Abraham when 
         Melchizedek met him
      2. Thus Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes "through Abraham,
         so to speak"
      -- Again illustrating the greatness of Melchizedek, as one 
         greater than Levi!

CONCLUSION

1. There is a lot more I wish I knew about Melchizedek...
   a. Was he a "theophany", a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ?
   b. Was he is an angel?  Enoch? Shem?
   c. Was he simply a man?
      1) One whose Biblical record is such that he serves as a "type" 
         of Christ
      2) If so, I would love to know where he came from, and how he 
         came to be "priest of God Most High"
   d. And how does he remain a priest continually?

2. But what I do know is this...
   a. Jesus is "a priest forever according to the order of 
      Melchizedek", as God swore He would be in Ps 110:4
   b. And that Melchizedek is clearly presented to be greater than 
      Abraham and Levi!

Understanding "The Greatness Of Melchizedek" helps prepare us to 
appreciate the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Levitical
(Aaronic) priesthood, which we will consider later...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Bible Reading March 9

Bible Reading 

March 9

The World English Bible

Mar. 9

Exodus 19

Exo 19:1 In the third month after the children of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.

Exo 19:2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.

Exo 19:3 Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:

Exo 19:4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to myself.

Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine;

Exo 19:6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."

Exo 19:7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Yahweh commanded him.

Exo 19:8 All the people answered together, and said, "All that Yahweh has spoken we will do." Moses reported the words of the people to Yahweh.

Exo 19:9 Yahweh said to Moses, "Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.

Exo 19:10 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments,

Exo 19:11 and be ready against the third day; for on the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai.

Exo 19:12 You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, 'Be careful that you don't go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death.

Exo 19:13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain."

Exo 19:14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

Exo 19:15 He said to the people, "Be ready by the third day. Don't have sexual relations with a woman."

Exo 19:16 It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Exo 19:17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.

Exo 19:18 Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

Exo 19:19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

Exo 19:20 Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Exo 19:21 Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to gaze, and many of them perish.

Exo 19:22 Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break forth on them."

Exo 19:23 Moses said to Yahweh, "The people can't come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, 'Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.' "

Exo 19:24 Yahweh said to him, "Go down and you shall bring Aaron up with you, but don't let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest he break forth on them."

Exo 19:25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them. 

 

Mar. 9, 10

Mark 7

Mar 7:1 Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem.

Mar 7:2 Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.

Mar 7:3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, don't eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.

Mar 7:4 They don't eat when they come from the marketplace, unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)

Mar 7:5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"

Mar 7:6 He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Mar 7:7 But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

Mar 7:8 "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men-the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."

Mar 7:9 He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

Mar 7:10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.'

Mar 7:11 But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban, that is to say, given to God;" '

Mar 7:12 then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother,

Mar 7:13 making void the word of God by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do many things like this."

Mar 7:14 He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand.

Mar 7:15 There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.

Mar 7:16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Mar 7:17 When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable.

Mar 7:18 He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can't defile him,

Mar 7:19 because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus making all foods clean?"

Mar 7:20 He said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man.

Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts,

Mar 7:22 covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.

Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

Mar 7:24 From there he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. He entered into a house, and didn't want anyone to know it, but he couldn't escape notice.

Mar 7:25 For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.

Mar 7:26 Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. She begged him that he would cast the demon out of her daughter.

Mar 7:27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not appropriate to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

Mar 7:28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

Mar 7:29 He said to her, "For this saying, go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter."

Mar 7:30 She went away to her house, and found the child having been laid on the bed, with the demon gone out.

Mar 7:31 Again he departed from the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and came to the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the region of Decapolis.

Mar 7:32 They brought to him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech. They begged him to lay his hand on him.

Mar 7:33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.

Mar 7:34 Looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" that is, "Be opened!"

Mar 7:35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was released, and he spoke clearly.

Mar 7:36 He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.

Mar 7:37 They were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes even the deaf hear, and the mute speak!"

From Gary... Understand, be understood, be blessed!!!

Every human being I have ever met is unique. Different appearance, demeanor, capabilities, intelligence, etc.. And I find it what this child has to say very interesting. As far as he is concerned physically experienced understanding is all there REALLY is!!!  Study and feeling are subordinate systems of understanding to him. Someday, he will grow up and know things intuitively and also by intense study- and that is a very good thing.  As I was thinking about this, I remember the following Scripture and make no mistake- IT IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!...

Matthew, Chapter 7

21  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.   22  Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’   23  Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’ 

To be known by God for the things you do and to be held in high enough regard to be allowed to enter the heavenly realms for fellowship with the Almighty; NOW, THERE IS A CONCEPT THAT I CAN WARM UP TO VERY, VERY, QUICKLY!!!!  Understand what God wants for you- to be right and to do right!!!  Follow His word with mental appreciation and feeling and do what HE wants you to do with a good attitude and you will be glad you did!!!!  Then, there is this "Jesus thing". This thing where you actually have to obey someone (Jesus) without being forced to. It begins by understanding who he is and what he wants you to do (Matt. 16:16-18; Matt. 28:18-20; Rev. 2:10) and keep on doing it!!!!  I promise you- it won't leave a bad taste in your mouth--- EVER!!!!