(71) Names of God, Revisited

One of the most read lesson on this site is  http://ideasoftimbible.blogspot.com/2010/01/31-names-of-god.html.  It explores the meanings of some of the names of God that we see from the Bible.  Some of those names mentioned were these:

• El Shaddai- God Almighty
• El Elyon- God Most High
• El Roi- God that sees
• El Olam- The Eternal God
• YHWH Jireh- God provides
• YHWH Rophi- God that heals
• YHWH Nissi- God is our banner
• YHWH Shalom- God of peace

But there is something that kept coming to mind that was missing about these names.  It wasn't in the differences between Latin and Hebrew versions.  It wasn't in the name actually at all but it is in the verb that stands with the name.  These verbs are present tense.  They are not past or future, but present.  That means that God is not the God of the past.  We can thank Him for what He has done of course but He is not the God of the past.  He is not the God of the future.  This is not to say that He has nothing to do with the future or that we don't have to care about our future eternal life.  He is the God of the present.  We live in the present.  He cares about us now.

 

The best name for God is the one He gave Moses.  I AM.  Notice it is not "I was" or "I will be", but I AM.  Sure, this also means He transcends all time and that time is meaningless to Him.  But, with God there are always two meanings, one spiritual and one physical.  This also means He is here with us now.  So, when we say His name as Jehovah Jireh, we are not saying God will provide.  We are saying God is providing!  God will not heal, God is healing!  God will not give us peace, God is peace!  When Isaiah said that by His stripes we are healed it is not saying that we will be healed. It says we are! God provides our daily bread. God sets us at peace every morning because His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).  If we believe then we receive.

 

Too many times we pray God if you will, when we should be saying thank you God for what you are doing.  This is why Jesus told us to pray as though you have already received it (Mark 11:24).  He is doing it now.  This may show why sometimes things happen at once and others take time.  We are in the process of receiving these promises that God will not forsake us.  We live day by day.  Our faith grows day by day.  Our faith struggles if we have to wait for the results.  The strongest of faith knows it is already done.  But sometimes our faith goes through hard times so we can see the glory of God when time reveals.  This is hard to do since we live in a physical world and our senses deceive us.  We rely to many times on what we see, but we are not suppose to walk by sight but by faith.  Faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

 

Jesus' name is also Y'shua Ha Mashiach which means Jesus the Messiah, the Savior.  When does He save?  Now!  Forever.  With each day that comes, God provides, heals, sees, saves, and waves His banner of love over us (Exodus 17:15).  We are forever His.  The Great I AM is here, now, waiting for us to accept His promises and then watch your faith work.

(70) The Books of John

The books of fellowship.

Perhaps the same man who wrote a gospel and the man who wrote the book of Revelation also wrote these three small letters.  Some think it may have been a different John since he refers to himself as an elder not an Apostle.  But as a technicality, the two terms could be used interchangeably given the right circumstance.  These were written between 85-95 AD from the city of Ephesus.  Although they are grouped together they tend to talk about three different themes and probably were not meant to be grouped together.

The first letter deals with our fellowship with God Himself.  This letter has two themes throughout:  light versus dark and love versus hate.  The second letter deals with our fellowship with false teachers.  The third letter deals with our fellowship with other believers.  Fellowship is our bond between each other.  Bond does not necessarily mean a good thing.  The second and third letters are the shortest books in the Bible

John at this time was not the same man he was during the time of his fellowship with Jesus the man.  He had stayed in Jerusalem unlike the other Apostles.  He stayed because Jesus had told him at the cross to take care of Mary (John 19:25-27).  Although he had a few appearances in Acts (all of them with Peter), he is never heard of again after the 8th chapter.  That is approximately 35 AD.  Paul mentions him in Galatians (49 AD).  Peter and James, the other two of the inner circle, had problems.  James was martyred in 42 AD and Peter was consistently thrown into prison.  John had the duty to take care of Mary on his own.  Assumable after Mary had died John then goes on to Ephesus once Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans and Nero.  Tradition says that John dies of old age, perhaps the only one of the 12 that did so.  Other books are credited as John but not accepted by the Church.

Some of the main points are:

1. What you do in the dark always come out in the light. (1 John 1:6-10)
2. Jesus being our advocate is the only way to God (1 John 2:1-2)
3. Being children of God has more in store for us than we can comprehend (1 John 3:1-2)
4. Love is an action verb (1 John 3:16-18)
5. Love is a command (2 John v 5-6)
6. Good deeds are a sign of a true believer (3 John v 11)

These books were written to reassure that faith is a real thing.  Faith is part of the truth we hold onto and love is part of that faith.  There are some side themes in the 3rd letter that talk about hospitality,  John was stressing how Christians must walk in the light if we have fellowship.  One of the main important ideas written in this set is that truth and love need to go together.  Truth without love leads to harshness, yet love without truth leads to insincerity.  A Christian should not be alone.  We are here for each other.  Unfortunately it is also said that Christians are the only army that shoot heir wounded.  How can we show love to the world if we do not show love towards one another?  Nowhere in history is so much said in so little words.  The books of John say it all.

(69) The Book of Jude

The man who explains how to stand firm.

 

Jude is a shortened form of Judah, or in Hebrew Y'hudah which can be translated as "praise Yahweh".  It is also a form of Judas.  There were six men associated with New Testament times named one of the three ways.  Judas Iscariot; but this is 100% sure he did not write this book since he hung himself even before Jesus gave up His spirit.  There was Judas of Galilee who led a revolt during the time of Christ but died in it in 6 AD (Acts 5:37).  There was Judas, the man who Paul went to go see on Straight Street that remains a possibility.  There was a man named Judas Barsabbas who was a traveler with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:22) which is a possibility.  Thaddeus was also known as Judas.  And then there is the most widely accepted author of Judas, the brother of Jesus (Mark 6:3).  It says in Jude that he was also a brother of James (who was also a brother of Jesus).  It was written in 65 AD but no one is really sure from where.

 

Jude is the only NT book with a direct reference to the Apocryphal books.  It says that Michael and satan argued over what to do with Moses' body, a reference only found in the book called the Assumption of Moses.  Because of this reference it was hard for many in the early church to accept its authenticity.  It also references a book called Enoch.  The number three pops up all over the letter; many of his examples are in groups of three.  Ex)  To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:  Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.  The book tends to take on a prophetic feel to it, making it a perfect lead into the book of Revelation.

 

As mentioned earlier Jude was a brother (half) of Jesus and full brother of James, the leader of the Church in Jerusalem.  Jude was not a believer at first (John 7:5), but as we can see he eventually became a trusted brother IN Christ and not just OF Him.

 

Main point of this book is:

1. Persevere (vs 17-22).

Just from this one context we get what the whole book is about.  In the future the Church needs to stay strong in their faith because in the end there will be many false teachings that will steer many away.  Many will be divided by earthly ideas and follow their natural instincts like animals instead of following their spirit like humans should.  One of the shortest books in the whole Bible but perhaps one with the most truth to it.  Even today the Church itself seems to follow earthly ideas and live amongst the culture instead of trying to change it.  PC will destroy the Church.

(68) The Books of Peter

Expecting Grace through suffering!

 

Peter was originally known as Simon bar Jona, or Simon the son of John.  In Hebrew it is Shim'on which can be translated as "listen intently" or in some cases as "little hyena".  Simon's new name is Kefa in Hebrew.  In Greek it is Petra and Cephus.  All three mean the same thing; rock.  So when Jesus changed Simon's name he said:  "Listen intently you little hyena you are a rock".  It's no wonder Peter was confused all the time.  His books were written separately.  The first was written around 63 AD about 5 years before his death.  The second one was written right before his death in 68 AD.  Both were written in Rome, although the first book does mention the term Babylon.  Perhaps it was used a analogy of evil.  Both places had Jews living in captivity for their beliefs.  Oddly enough the second book was written around the same time Paul was in prison in Rome as well (2 Peter 3:13-16).  If that is the case both Peter and Paul were executed nearly the same time by the same Roman leader, Nero.

 

First Peter is filled with analogies that are based on the way Christ talked to him such  as using the terms stones and rock.  Silas actually helped him write the letter.  The book focuses on external opposition to the Church and all the suffering the Body must or will go through.  The second book focuses on the internal opposition of the Church.  It tells Christians what to look out for and not to be part of the world.  Christians need to discern right from wrong compare to what the world tells you and what Christ tells us.  This book is the most argued over it's authenticity of authorship because of the different writing style it has with 1st Peter.  But since Silas wrote the first one then the argument should be settled.  In today's canonical Bible it was the last one to be accepted as valid.

 

Peter was a successful married fisherman.  In Mark 1:29-31 it states that Peter had a mother-in law and in Luke he had hired employees for his occupation.  But he was not an educated man like Paul.  he was just an ordinary person (Acts 4:13).  He may not have been able to write very well which would explain the difference between the two books that bear his name.  Peter was a very rash and  outspoken person (Mark 8:27-33).  He often spoke his mind before thinking about it and that made him very inconsistent with his ideas and words, compare (Mark 14:27-31).  Jesus had to rebuke him and set him straight a couple of times.  Even Paul apparently had to talk to him (Galatians 2:11-21).  But nevertheless Peter was used by Jesus as a force to be reckoned with.  Peter being the strong-willed type could stand up and give his speech without any fear of repercussions.  Jesus in the end restores his character flawed ways to what Catholics believe to be the first Pope.  Tradition says that he was crucified but told the Romans to put him upside down so he would not die the same way Jesus did.

 

Some of the main points are:

1. God's mercy gives birth to hope (1 Pet 1:3)
2. The prophets hope of the OT became our reality (1 Pet 1:10-12)
3. Living by the example of Christ gives us hope and the grace that is promised (1 Pet 2:21)
4. We need to manage our spiritual gifts and use them (1 Pet 4:10-11)
5. Although we will suffer, we will still have grace (1 Pet 5:8-9)
6. Through our trials, God has escape routes for us (2 Pet 1:3-4)
7. Beware of false prophets (2 Pet 2)
8. Live a Godly life, there is a judgment (2 Pet 3:9-13)

These books were written to offer encouragement to those who are suffering based on their beliefs and to warn us not to fall away based on false teachings in the world.  Knowing the truth is the best way to fight the lies.  Unfortunately in today's world the lie seems better.  It's been said over and over again, the truth will set you free.  Perhaps people like to live in prison instead or they just can't accept the truth because the truth hurts.

More about Peter: http://ideasoftimbible.blogspot.com/2009/01/9-peter.html

(67) The Book of James

The man who brings the harsh practicality to life.

The name James is derived from Jacob.  The Hebrew version is Ya'akov which means to grasp or to cheat.  The first "Jacob" is probably who most Hebrew men named James or Jacob were named after.  This is the third major James mentioned in the just the New testament alone.  The other two were James, the brother of John, son of Zebedee and James known as the less, son of Alphaeus.  This James is actually a brother of Jesus, (Mark 6:3).  It was written between 40-45 AD, perhaps the first New Testament book written.  Some think it was written later near his death but with so many Jewish undertones it is more likely that is was written before or around the time he wrote a letter to Jews in Acts 15.  It was written in Jerusalem.

This book is basically a manual for applying faith as opposed to Hebrews that is a dictionary of faith.  You can tell it was heavily influenced by Proverbs and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount since half the book is "to do" statements.  The verse of without works faith is dead is the most criticized verse in the Bible.  The language used in the book is the most straight forward and in your face teachings than the rest.

This James was the non-believing brother of Jesus who was converted after the Resurrection (John 7:1-5, Acts 1:14).  He had become the leader of the church of Jerusalem probably around the time that Peter started on his missions.  Both Peter and Paul listened to him for advice.  James is the one who wrote letter to Jews to tell them to accept people as brothers even though they had not converted to Judaism first in Acts.  The book of Galatians calls him an Apostle (Emissary).  But not the kind that is sent to other places, more like the one who is charged with church leadership.  Tradition has it that James was martyred in 65 AD by being thrown off the temple by Ananus the high priest.  Another story has him being stoned after refusing to denounce Jesus.  A bystander came by and clubbed him in the head.  The bystander said the last words by James were "forgive them for they don't know what they are doing".

Some of the main points are:

1. Having temptations and knowing how to defeat them builds character.  This character makes you who you are (1:2-4)
2. Bad character brings death, good character brings life (1:12-18)
3. There is no favoritism in God's eyes, so we should not do it (2:1-4)
4. Faith needs action if it is going to have any value (2:26)
5. The power of the prayer of faith (5:13-16)

At this time Christians were starting to become targets.  It was not widely accepted yet, especially in Rome.  Claudius had banned Christianity and the first of three major persecutions had started.  Some had even been scattered due to the persecution and were having "faith" but not doing anything about it but running.  This book was written to warn Christians that faith is more than just believing.  True faith is expressed in all situations.  Faith is not just believing in something.  Faith is also a verb and sometimes using faith will cause disruption.  Go back to Hebrews to study more.

(66) The Book of Hebrews

The power of faith.

No one knows exactly who wrote this book.  Some suspects are Apollos, Priscilla, Philip, Barnabas, Silas, Clement, Paul, even Luke.  All we know is that the writer knew who Timothy was (13:23).  It was written somewhere between 60-70 AD and was probably written from Italy, or at least the writer knew people in Italy.  Most would say it was not of Paul due to the way it opens because it is not in the same manner.  This is the only book of the Bible that is a complete mystery of who the author is.  It is also written in Hebrew and not Greek like the rest of the NT was written.  We do know it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome since it talks about the Temple in present tense.  The destruction of Jerusalem was in 70 AD.

The OT is mentioned over 80.  And because it pretty much tells the main stories of people and their faith it is considered a "mini Bible".  Some scholars think this was actually a sermon instead of a letter written to anyone in particular.  But the common thought is that the audience meant to hear this was either Messianic Jews who were reverting back to the Law due to persecution or Gentile Christians who were in the midst of being persecuted.  The persecutions mentioned were done in one of the following time periods:  Claudius who outlawed Christianity in Rome, Nero who fed the Christians to the lions, or Domitian who burned all Christians opposed to him.  Nero being the most commonly accepted person of rule.

Some of the main points are:

1. How superior is Jesus?  Try reading this passage.  (1:3-4)
2. God sent a piece of Himself, in the form of Jesus, to become like us and showed death will be conquered (2:14-31)
3. Jesus is the Great High Priest (4:14-5:3)
4. What Jesus did, He did it ONCE for ALL (9:23-28)
5. The Faith chapter (11)
6. Discipline is love (12:7-8)

The persecution during this time period must have really been bad enough that someone felt the need to address staying strong and faithful while it lasted.  It is also stressed that the law of Christ far outweighs or is superior to the law of the OT.  The common theme of who Christ is in this book is that he is the Great High Priest.  This book shows you how important it is to have faith. Sometimes faith is not popular with the world.  It will get you scorned.  It will get you ridiculed.  It will get you angry with friends and family.  But for those who hold fast in their faith; justice, peace, and reward is theirs.  Unfortunately, faith is hard to find today.

(65) The Akedah Coincidence

What is faith?   Hebrews tell us it is the assurance of things hoped for, and convinced of things not seen.  Another way of looking at faith is instead of living by what we know, feel, and want, we live by trust, believing, and sometimes sacrifice.   Lesson 64 mentions it requires action.   God tells us to pray, worship, care for the sick, turn the other cheek, tithe, baptize, take communion and many other things.   We don’t do these things to gain salvation.   We do these things because our faith is made up of these things.   We do these things because our faith tells us they are the right thing to do.   And if we do anything outside of our faith, that is called living by the flesh.   When we live by the flesh; sin enters and the promises of God are put on hold.

But how do you get faith?  By hearing the word of God.   And you do that by listening to speakers of God, by reading the Word; getting interested in God’s word by sharing things together.

Have you ever heard the weird connections between Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy?

1. One was elected in 1860, the other in 1960.
2. Both had a vice president named Johnson, one was born in 1809 the other in 1909.
3. Both were assassinated.
4. Both assassins had three names John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald, both have 15 letters in them.
5. Lincoln was killed at Ford’s theater; Kennedy was in a Ford (Lincoln) when he was shot.
6. Booth shot Lincoln in a theater and ran into a warehouse. Oswald shot Kennedy in a warehouse and ran to a theater.

As strange as that is there are more similarities between Isaac and Jesus than Lincoln and Kennedy.

1. Both Isaac and Jesus were long awaited promised sons.  Isaac was promised to Abraham when he was 75 years old but the promise did not come true until he was 100.  Jesus had been promised to the Jewish nation since man had fallen in the Garden.
2. Both births were questioned by their mother.  Sarah laughed when she heard she would become pregnant.  Mary did not understand how this could happen to her.  Why?  Read the next point.
3. Both mothers were of weird ages.  Sarah was 90 when she had Isaac.  Mary, while unknown the exact age, was a virgin and since women married young in these days we can assume she was somewhere between 12 and 15.
4. Both were made alive after their death.  Even though Isaac was not actually sacrificed in the flesh, to Abraham he was already dead.  God had told him to do it.  Abraham believed God would provide for him somehow to keep Isaac or get him back after the sacrifice.  Isaac was symbolically dead.  Jesus of course was physically raised from the dead after really being sacrificed.
5. They both carried the wood they would be sacrificed on.  Isaac had the wood for the altar placed upon his back by Abraham.  Jesus carried his execution stake up and down the streets of Jerusalem.
6. The mountain is the same mountain or at least the same area (Salem).  Abraham was led to the region of Moriah and was shown the mount to sacrifice Isaac.  This place was known at the time of Salem, later to be known as Jerusalem, the place Jesus would be sacrificed.
7. Both births were at a given point in time by God alone.  God had told Abraham the time Isaac would be born.  There was an appointed time for his birth.  Jesus had been appointed since the fall of man.
8. Both were the only begotten son of their father (spiritually speaking).  Although Abraham had two sons and Isaac was the second one born, he was the first one born of faith.  Ishmael who was Abraham's first son was born out of the flesh.  Abraham used his own means to get a son.  But God had a different plan and gave him Isaac out of faithfulness.  Jesus was Joseph's son but not from the flesh.  He was God's son and Joseph raised him.
9. Jesus becomes the lamb that the bush had in it.  Isaac was saved by the hand of an angel.  God had provided another way out since Abraham was faithful.  Jesus is that other way out for us.
10. On the third day they both were resurrected.  The time it took Abraham and Isaac to reach the place God had appointed for the sacrifice was three days.  All this time Isaac was symbolically dead.  Jesus was in the tomb for three days.  After three days both were no longer dead.
11. They both have Jewish family but married gentiles.  This one is a little play on words but still works.  Abraham was considered the first Jew.  So Isaac and his immediate family and descendants were Jewish.  Isaac married his cousin, not a Jew.  Jesus was raised Jewish but married the church and since Judaism does not accept Jesus then the Church could be considered gentile.
12. Both are given up by their father.  The most important point is this one.  Both were given up by their father to serve as a sacrifice.  Both were loved dearly by their fathers but knew this had to be done.  Both were innocent.  Isaac was young and perhaps had not yet reached the age of accountability that allows us to understand the difference between sin and righteousness.  Jesus never sinned.  Both were spotless and the father knew their blood would set things right.

When we read this we can start to know that God has a plan. We may not understand the plan like Abraham.  http://ideasoftimbible.blogspot.com/2010/03/34-abrahams-lie.html Sometimes we seem like we can’t find God like Jacob. http://ideasoftimbible.blogspot.com/2008/12/6-wrestling-with-god-genesis-25-34.html But in the end if we have faith God will provide the lamb a substitute lamb like he did for Isaac, and of course that is Jesus.

 

Here is the difference between the two scenarios:  the link between Lincoln and Kennedy is a coincidence, the link between Isaac and Jesus is what a great pastor from southwest Ohio calls a God-incident.  The connection between Lincoln and Kennedy can basically be found many times through out history and perhaps really have nothing to do with each other. http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp  But no one can break the connection between Jesus and Isaac.  This is prophecy.  This is fact.  This is from God.  This allows faith to become stronger because we can see the works of God.

 

We live in a world that is losing its faith. We live in a world that has no idea what faith is or who God is. True story:  A teacher got a complaint from the administrator that said a parent did not like the military attitude and "forgery of swords" quote that was in the email to him.  What the person did not know is that the line he did not appreciate was part of the signature the teacher uses in all of his emails.  And the line actually says "as iron sharpens iron, so man should sharpen man".  The person had no idea that the line was an encouragement for people to help each other, yet he misunderstood it as though his flesh was being challenged by a sword.  What a pathetic world we live in.

You have to hold on to faith. You have to follow your faith.  Don’t let anything replace your faith, don’t let your head replace your faith, don’t let the world tell you to get rid of your faith. Faith is what gives us the promise of eternal life. Faith gives us hope. Faith gives us reason to keep living when all else seems useless. Without faith we are nothing.