Fill Up The Life
Preface: In the last 8 years of my teaching career I have had to remember over 1,000 students' names.
What Does Your Child’s Name Mean?
I mean, what does it mean to you? Do you tear-up sometimes even now over the preciousness of what that name (and that child) means to you. It's only a word, though. A word perhaps that you’ve only known now for thirty years since you first heard it, or, in a couple of cases of people in this church, who just ‘invented’ their baby’s name just several months ago.
Another thing which can emphasize this importance of what names mean: when someone even slightly tries to mispronounce our baby’s name we are almost indignant with our quick correction. [1,000 student names] We even tell them the meaning because we know that the meaning will help them remember the correct pronunciation.
Well, every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God is precious to God, since he invented them; not just because of that, but in words is found the secret of his power. Hab. 3.4.
The spirit and life is the meaning of the word. [I’ll repeat that again because its worth enjoying.]
When God gives a command or promise, in that promise is exemplified the verse: ‘not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit’ Words is how he created the heavens; words is how he shall save his people and others.
So also, we may dishonor our father by not paying attention to the meaning of his words. As Jesus said, “but ye omit the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith.” Omit= "to not pick up, to not collect or gather. For surely as God sits with us in the way, he is talking about his words, and these words come from guardian angels, plants, the heavenly cosmos, the scriptures, and ministers. They are for our good, and we will do well to fill up the life with them and especially with their meanings. And parenthetically, Love is the biggest word of all. (As we shall glimpse below)
Results Of Filling Up the Life With Words?
“Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven. Jesus declares, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you." [JOHN 6:53.] And he explains himself by saying, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." [JOHN 6:63.] Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink; and as in the natural economy, so in the spiritual economy, it is what we meditate upon that will give tone and strength to our spiritual nature.” {CE 57.1, Book: Christian Education.}
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presences of mine enemies…my cup runneth over.” [His flesh on the tables of a covenant, his promises which have his very life in them, and the anointing of his spirit which makes our cup of life run into overflow.]
[What makes his words spirit and life? They have true meaning, meaning that they come from him, have his very nature, his eternal life.]
“The spirit of Christ makes us sons.”
Gal 4.6 -And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Rom 8.15-16 - For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.…
1Peter 1.11-12 - Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Heart= Inner man, mind
[Let us ask whether we should point to the heart or to the head when we say verses like: I accepted Jesus into my heart, or even as above: Fill up the whole heart with the words of God.
And a second question: which pointing rightly divides these words of truth?
Some Thoughts; Some Answers
Moses came down from the mountain and his face shone after communing face to face with God for such a long time. Were his thoughts in his head?
In the last days the saints will go from house to house with their faces lit up. Are their thoughts, their messages in their head, mind.
The seal is given or accepted into the forehead. The settling into the truth is an experience of the head not the cardiac.
We shall see Him faces to face in the new earth.
When we light a candle do we put it under a bushel; no we put it on top of a hill. And concurrently, Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” That candle’s flame is on top of each man’s hill. Moses' candle was quite lit after so long a time of communion, prayer, and following God on the mountain.
The head of the church is Christ. Christ is the spirit and life of the church.
John 18:5 “They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.” Jesus’s face did shine.
In the Revelation, Christ’s face: “His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance..” A candle on a hill, as it were.
Daniel 9:17 - Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate…
Daniel 10:6 - His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.]
Thirst= I thirst for, desire earnestly.
Speak= (I talk, chatter in classical Greek, but in NT a more dignified word) I speak, say. Contextually: to teach [to build in]
Spirit= the spirit is that which animates and gives life, the body is of no profit (for the spirit imparts life to it, not the body in turn to the spirit)
Life= the Spirit, the repository and imparter of life, and which is received by those united to Christ
Meditate= to care for, attend to carefully, practice
“The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite love and mercy of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, calls for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of him who came to save his people from their sins.” {CE 57}
Science= properly, love (and pursuit) of wisdom; used in the Greek writings of either zeal for or skill in any art or science
Song= not merely sung about (for) God but to God from a Spirit-filled heart [Let me repeat that it is worth the enjoying.]
Love= (Too big for this talk: but just a few details: Love = Law, Love = righteousness, Love = light, Love = eternal life, Love = faith (its twin), Love = will, Love = mercy—just a few, okay.)
Mercy= Loving Kindness
Reflection= [think of letting a thought bounce back and forth off the meanings you have for that thought or passage] meditation
Character= What is left after trial, approved character. [The thoughts and the feelings combined make up the moral character. –HP 164, Heavenly Places, 5T 310.]
(More on the parenthetical of love mentioned above)
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6. {FLB 109.1}
“Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and "God is love." 1 John 4:16. It is conformity to the law of God, for "all thy commandments are righteousness" (Ps. 119:172), and "love is the fulfilling of the law" (Rom. 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him.” {FLB 109.2}
“The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life in God's word. Christ says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." John 5:24. In every command and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God.” {COL 38.1}
“As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in his power to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him.” {CE 57.2}
As we meditate upon the perfections of the Saviour, we shall desire to be wholly transformed, and renewed in the image of his purity. There will be a hungering and thirsting of soul to become like him whom we adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak of him to others, and represent him to the world. {CE 57.3}
Perfections of the Saviour
Perfect (Webster) = finished, completed, ready. Perfections = (concordances) To thoroughly make or do; the things God is making or doing as Saviour.
Psalm 27:4:
New Living Bible: The one thing I ask of the LORD— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
King James Version: One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
Beauty= That which exalts
Will= wish, choice: Choose God’s Choices -- John 7.17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”
Contemplate= to consider attentively, fix one's eyes or mind upon, make an account of.
Faith= (Genuine faith is life, DA)
Love= (Righteousness is love and love is the light and life of God, TMB, The Faith I Live By, 109.)
Intelligent= (Prov. 18.15, the intelligent mind seeks wisdom) be intelligent, discreet, discerning, have understanding
Fervent= (lit: I boil, am boiling), I burn (in spirit), am fervent.
Testify = to affirm that one has seen or heard or experienced something [Or to bear in ones body the meanings of the words, and to tell the words to others. I’ll repeat that again because it worth enjoying.]
Save= I save, heal, preserve, rescue.
Meditate= to care for, attend to carefully, practice
Represent= "an older, venerated person" – properly, to be elderly or mature, "to be the elder, to act as an ambassador"
Proverbs 16.16 “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”
Understand= Old English understandan "comprehend, grasp the idea of," probably literally "stand in the midst of," Let it surround you.
My Supervisor/Your Supervisor
I have lost faith in my supervisor = I no longer get life from my supervisor = I no longer understand what my supervisor says, what he means by his instructions = I find no comfort in his words = no spirit or life in his words = no Pentecost comforter = no refreshing, as it were, former or latter rain = No meanings, no life, just empty words.
# # #
Let us prayer: God, all of us have had a supervisor, been a parent, leader, teacher at one time or another. If we have failed to have your meanings for the words we have taught to others, forgive us for that, and we plead that you will fill up our life with your words until our cup runneth over.
Addendum
"The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life in God's word. Christ says, "The words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." John 5:24. In every command and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God. {COL 38.1}
Further Explorations of the main thought of this talk:
If we look into just the last chapter of the bible (not to mention looking into the whole of Revelation) we will see how much the above theme is exemplified. Nine times, in this one chapter alone, there is clear reference to the importants of getting the meanings of words right, and to the evil ones attempts to change the meanings either by dumbing down those meanings or just by plain-out making up lies.
Rev. 22: 2 Leaves as His flesh. “This sustains the nourishment, to keep the soul in health. The neglect of the word means starvation to the soul. The word describes the blessed man as one meditating day and night upon the truths of God's word. We all are to feast upon the word of God. The relation of the word to the believer is a vital matter. Appropriating the word to our spiritual necessities is the eating of the leaves of the tree of life that are for the healing of the nations. Study the word, and practice the word, for it is your life.” {CSW 43.2}
Appropriate = "take possession of, take exclusively," "to make one's own," from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + propriare "take as one's own," [It becomes meaningful. Our children we take as our own are very meaningful.]
Five of the Nine are Explored Here:
Rev. 22: 10 As in don’t cover the meanings of these words, or prevent their disclosure—they are a revelation. The meanings are meant to be known.
Rev. 22: 14 Those who make lies twist the true meanings of words and add or take away meanings to suit their deception.
Rev. 22: 18 Heareth involves listening to the depth that one knows what the words mean.
Rev. 22: 18 Those who add meanings, or words which alter the direct meanings of the words for deception, laziness, blindness will be held accountable.
Rev. 22: 20 He who has experienced the meanings of these words, he who has eaten what his father has given him tells you that when he come, he comes rapidly.
Revelation Chapter 22 (text):
1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
9Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Addendum 2
The word meaning, here, means math. When we observe a word, or a collection of words, we note how they are arranged, positioned and after meditating on that arrangement with their definitions, one can arrive at the understanding built into the line upon line of words. Remember: math means, to learn.
The meaning may be in an individual word, or it may lie in the sentence and arrangement of the words—context—or it may reside in what the whole paragraph is offering. In the order of written and revealed things, chapters have their meanings and their collective meanings as well.
In the broader scope of things, even the book itself may have its own meaning, or group of meanings, and then a further extension of this correlation is that books viewed together have meanings: i.e. the books of nature and the books of the bible may make up the entire word of God.
All these meanings are to be valued and sought after just as much as their individual word meanings themselves must be read and dug for. The spiritual and living meanings of the words that are being viewed is something which is seen not with the eyes but is spiritually discerned. Flesh and blood does not reveal to us these weightier, math matters of the law; they do not come, however, except by having the habit of desiring such things. Therefore cultivate this one habit to the point of addiction, and ‘the very life of God’ shall be obtained.
Final thought:
If we are Laodicea then the following passage is true of us today as a church:
Acts 28: 26-28:
"Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it."
And So I Became: The 'Wanna Be' Why
And So I Became: The 'Wanna Be' Why
(Revised)
About once every three months on Sunday afternoon, my dad lined the children of our church up on the platform to ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was one of my special times that I paid keen attention because each time he would question them their ‘wanna be’ would sometimes change, or would be new ones I had not heard before—and it was enjoyable to hear their voices amplified by the great mike system we had. I listened especially as my father grilled the older ones on why they wanted to be such and so, and what they thought it would 'cost' them to make it so. As they sang their hopeful songs with words I sometimes didn't know, I got ideas; and those ideas added dimensions forever to my soul.
So, when I turned five years old, I was included in the line for the first time. And by then I had collected quite a few 'wanna be' peoples. There I stood, with the other 12, twenty-five adult steps from the church stained windows, facing west toward the sunset which now vibrated the colors of the glass with warm 'Christian shine'. The older ones answered into the microphone: doctor, lawyer, etc...and when questioned, why they wanted to be that type of person, they spoke forthrightly like older kids, using many words. This they knew would bring sighs and smiles from those sitting in the pews. Then he microphoned the 5 year olds and they answered: doctor, lawyer, nurse, policeman…when he came to me, I raised my chin and spoke in a teacher's loudness, "When I grow up, I want to be a man."
A muzz of expressions followed and I heard some snickering; I even saw some faces with gapes at the bottom. I guess being the youngest of the fivers, and the last person to job interview, my father just never asked for my 'why', and I was denied the time to expelliate from my collection of data. With that, he presented to the congregation Tacoma, Washington's 'future of America’. And as he acclaimed us, and as the subsequent applause and praises rang from the pews, that muzz-of-a-misunderstanding-problem still thugged around in my little mind.
Thirty years later, just two years before my dad's final heart attack, we were talking, one to the other one, over some theological reference. His face shined favor and love back to my face as we kindly reparteed with joy from our well of good words. We would even mix into our conversation other philosophical behaviors of mankind in general: politics. Then it appeared, following a pause that had made its way into the room. My dad's eyes started to bounce back and forth, then he smiled rather big as he told me that he had from time to time gone back to what I had said that day. He went on to explain his slight embarrassment when the en mass chuckling had erupted (the muzz) —wherein, the audience had thought my 'wanna be' was naïve humorous baby-babble coming from the novice. But it wasn't that which he wanted to comment on; no, it was about his change of opinion, for, year by year, he saw me becoming, in the strength of my words, more and more like the manly men which he had preached about all his years; saw that I was, by choice and by purpose, trying to keep to the pattern of what those mighty biblical giants were about. To him, my life demonstrated what I had truly meant, and that I did have an idea of what I was saying. He told me that of all his eight children I was the one who had become what they had announced, and that he was proud of me.
It was a simple desire, a common one that didn’t require a college degree: Samuel had none, Elijah had none—Martha, Peter, and Mary had none…and Jesus. It was a growable want that required only diligent observations of other beings in sight, and many quiet thought-sessions: ‘alone with cosmic eggs, being terse.’ And spread out in between these moments were the trials, mistakes, and love-joys of varying kinds—plus the not-forgetting to keep God in the mix. This was not too dissimilar, at all, to what is read about the biographical men of the Bible, who grew up to be humans not just of power, but of domain during the time of their youth; during the time of adversity; during their time of listening to the God who made them. These were the same ‘everythings I needed to know’ which I learned from my dad’s sermons while I was still in kindergarten: that these she-and-he heroes were not just doing the actions of men: doctors, mothers, lawyers, goliath killers, prophets, leaders, lambs —they were 'being' those things, whether they had gone through the schools of the Pharisees or not.
It was then, at five—after hearing my father sing-out the details about these great heroes amidst his great sweat-wiping pauses— that I came to realize that the being part was the most desirable part. So, that day, in front of all those people, that part had become my 'wanna be' why.
As with all children, my first coming into being came when the breath of life entered into me before I was born, before I became one of the many Samuels that have published a write-out into the world. This Sam, like all children, has spent time in the smallest room of humanity, after which, to become a man-child delivered from the life of a woman. Even though I cannot remember whose hands under-cradled my nakedness when it was my time to be scissored and swaddled away, this man-child has kept desire of life in the sight of a father’s favor; and this wanted child, God and Jesus willing, still wants to grow up and be a man.
—Dumas fils
(Revised)
About once every three months on Sunday afternoon, my dad lined the children of our church up on the platform to ask them what they wanted to be when they grew up. It was one of my special times that I paid keen attention because each time he would question them their ‘wanna be’ would sometimes change, or would be new ones I had not heard before—and it was enjoyable to hear their voices amplified by the great mike system we had. I listened especially as my father grilled the older ones on why they wanted to be such and so, and what they thought it would 'cost' them to make it so. As they sang their hopeful songs with words I sometimes didn't know, I got ideas; and those ideas added dimensions forever to my soul.
So, when I turned five years old, I was included in the line for the first time. And by then I had collected quite a few 'wanna be' peoples. There I stood, with the other 12, twenty-five adult steps from the church stained windows, facing west toward the sunset which now vibrated the colors of the glass with warm 'Christian shine'. The older ones answered into the microphone: doctor, lawyer, etc...and when questioned, why they wanted to be that type of person, they spoke forthrightly like older kids, using many words. This they knew would bring sighs and smiles from those sitting in the pews. Then he microphoned the 5 year olds and they answered: doctor, lawyer, nurse, policeman…when he came to me, I raised my chin and spoke in a teacher's loudness, "When I grow up, I want to be a man."
A muzz of expressions followed and I heard some snickering; I even saw some faces with gapes at the bottom. I guess being the youngest of the fivers, and the last person to job interview, my father just never asked for my 'why', and I was denied the time to expelliate from my collection of data. With that, he presented to the congregation Tacoma, Washington's 'future of America’. And as he acclaimed us, and as the subsequent applause and praises rang from the pews, that muzz-of-a-misunderstanding-problem still thugged around in my little mind.
Thirty years later, just two years before my dad's final heart attack, we were talking, one to the other one, over some theological reference. His face shined favor and love back to my face as we kindly reparteed with joy from our well of good words. We would even mix into our conversation other philosophical behaviors of mankind in general: politics. Then it appeared, following a pause that had made its way into the room. My dad's eyes started to bounce back and forth, then he smiled rather big as he told me that he had from time to time gone back to what I had said that day. He went on to explain his slight embarrassment when the en mass chuckling had erupted (the muzz) —wherein, the audience had thought my 'wanna be' was naïve humorous baby-babble coming from the novice. But it wasn't that which he wanted to comment on; no, it was about his change of opinion, for, year by year, he saw me becoming, in the strength of my words, more and more like the manly men which he had preached about all his years; saw that I was, by choice and by purpose, trying to keep to the pattern of what those mighty biblical giants were about. To him, my life demonstrated what I had truly meant, and that I did have an idea of what I was saying. He told me that of all his eight children I was the one who had become what they had announced, and that he was proud of me.
It was a simple desire, a common one that didn’t require a college degree: Samuel had none, Elijah had none—Martha, Peter, and Mary had none…and Jesus. It was a growable want that required only diligent observations of other beings in sight, and many quiet thought-sessions: ‘alone with cosmic eggs, being terse.’ And spread out in between these moments were the trials, mistakes, and love-joys of varying kinds—plus the not-forgetting to keep God in the mix. This was not too dissimilar, at all, to what is read about the biographical men of the Bible, who grew up to be humans not just of power, but of domain during the time of their youth; during the time of adversity; during their time of listening to the God who made them. These were the same ‘everythings I needed to know’ which I learned from my dad’s sermons while I was still in kindergarten: that these she-and-he heroes were not just doing the actions of men: doctors, mothers, lawyers, goliath killers, prophets, leaders, lambs —they were 'being' those things, whether they had gone through the schools of the Pharisees or not.
It was then, at five—after hearing my father sing-out the details about these great heroes amidst his great sweat-wiping pauses— that I came to realize that the being part was the most desirable part. So, that day, in front of all those people, that part had become my 'wanna be' why.
As with all children, my first coming into being came when the breath of life entered into me before I was born, before I became one of the many Samuels that have published a write-out into the world. This Sam, like all children, has spent time in the smallest room of humanity, after which, to become a man-child delivered from the life of a woman. Even though I cannot remember whose hands under-cradled my nakedness when it was my time to be scissored and swaddled away, this man-child has kept desire of life in the sight of a father’s favor; and this wanted child, God and Jesus willing, still wants to grow up and be a man.
—Dumas fils
Not Exactly...
Oct 6, 2020, A Morning Paper Special Edition
Not Exactly....
Because this was very difficult to unravel in the short time of a lesson study,
I thought it would be better to look at it later. I have not forgotten about it.
I think it was about three years ago that I had said the words 'nooot, exactly...' when we were talking about the statement 'Prayer does not bring God down to us, but us up to him."
At that time I was not sure how best to delineate the details, and owing to good etiquette I deferred further explanation: it was just not appropriate to change topic and go into some of the details I had researched out. But now that we have another Covid, and I have some time...maybe I can give some of my thoughts.
(There are only two statements as far as I know which apply directly to this thought. There may be others, but let us look into these two at this time because they show most directly things about this dichotomy. Later, if we desire, we can dialogue into other enjoyable asides.
In order to keep this Morning Paper short, and because the two statements are somewhat well known, I have pared them down to their minimums; find in addendum 1 the more fuller quotes.)
"Prayer does not bring God down to us, but...."
"Prayer brings Jesus to our side..."
Thoughts on the first statement:
Because of the Eternal Cross, when believers from Adam onward pray to the Father, all of the prayers go through Jesus Christ. These prayers are attached with his incense (prayers) and then are passed on to the Father. The act of prayer does not bring the Father down to us. However, when each prayer is addressed by the Father, our advocate's job is to return to us (by way of the censer, for example) those workings (wills), responses, or things that have been granted by the Father. This process can be looked on as Jacob's Ladder. Jesus Christ is the ladder, and resides at once in the heavens and at the same time permanently attached to the earth. The angels ascend and descend freely, and in a more hurried fashion now that the Cross has occurred, and that time is short.
In chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation, God the Father is in his Holy Temple, and from our reference point we see that he has already brought souls up to Him. These twenty eight humans reside near and in His throne. By his loving mercy he has brought them there.
Thoughts on the second statement:
There is something which we in our time can enjoy that is similar to what Adam and Eve enjoyed at the beginning, even before the Fall. It must have been great joy for the God to come down every night and visit with his two children in the garden. This would seem something he initiated, and did as part of his design for himself and humanity. But come down he did to their side to strengthen and know them, and vice versa. And it is obvious that no ladder was needed. Because sin had not yet entered, time on earth was eternal and pure; a ladder was not needed for humanity.
Then the God, in his son, redeemed the believers of all ages. Once again the visitation that was enjoyed in the Garden can and does continue in our probationary time. He has, he is, and he will come to us and visit us. Our need of an advocate in the final judgment at the end of probationary time is the reason why he has promised to come to us. Promises aside, he comes down and stands at our side—particularly, when one pleads and is asking for his help.
At his ascension, he promised to be with his people till the end; he promised that he would never leave us, nor forsake us (divorce, leave his first love, let believers spiritually die); promised that he would come to us—his church. He has loved us as his people for more than 6000 years. He announced his loving mercy to our Grandparents in Eden, then he came down to their side. This groaning of creation, and this desire of all ages brought him down to our side and the cross. Lo, he still comes to us throughout our individual probationary time. He fulfills his loving mercy to his bride by all these types of visitations. He is brought to our side by our desire, by our need, and by our prayers.
John, the Revelator, in chapter 5 showed that he desired the second coming and cried bitterly in the presence of the God, the king of the universe (a 'no no'); but the Lord knew why John was distressed so and that it was because of the long years that John had waited and served. So, when John saw that no acceptable one was found to manage the book that was being offered, he may have thought there would yet be another delay. Later in the book though, a strong angel comes down in the cloud in the 10th chapter, and announces, 'there shall be no more delay." This book is about things which will quickly come to pass.
At the end of time when the saints are overcome and worn out by beasts and dragon tails, he will come to our prison cell or cave, and in those dark, damp, and excremented places, light up our lives. At that time he will be finally finished with the hearing and doing of prayers: the Atonement will be finished. It will be time for the parousia; he will come to our side of the universe, and get us. The second coming will be the most dazzling and vociferous display of any of his coming downs. But even so, thus shall all the living enemies of God see the saved at his side, up in the air flying toward eternity.
This second statement is saying that when we pray Jesus comes to our side. Jesus is God, and has always been God. Jesus is the Christ who pleads our causes in the heavenly sanctuary while he officiates other details of his sacrifice. At the same time he also dwells with us 24/7. He is God. He is also the ladder; when we pray, he comes to our side. When we pray, because of the establishment of the ladder, he also sends angels to our side. This lovely, divine transport, this great provision was made possible at infinite cost, and is a supreme example of the way that he loves.
I think we can conclude that the children-in-learning story of Jacob's ladder is larger and more prophetically extended than when we first heard it in kindergarten. We can also see that our Jacob's Ladder is a two way 'via dolorosa': one that is bringing us up to God, the Father, and one that now (legally, rightfully) brings Jesus, the paracletos, down to our side.
Paracletos= paráklētos (from pará, "from close-beside" and kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment call because close enough to the situation. paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper")
.
Advocate= to call (as witness or adviser), summon, invite; call to aid
Comforter= one who consoles or supports in distress
Addendum 1
Sources quotes:
"Prayer unites us with one another and with God. Prayer brings Jesus to our side, and gives to the fainting, perplexed soul new strength to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Prayer turns aside the attacks of Satan."—(Christ's Object Lessons, 250.)
"Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him." (Steps to Christ, Pg. 93)
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Not Exactly....
Because this was very difficult to unravel in the short time of a lesson study,
I thought it would be better to look at it later. I have not forgotten about it.
I think it was about three years ago that I had said the words 'nooot, exactly...' when we were talking about the statement 'Prayer does not bring God down to us, but us up to him."
At that time I was not sure how best to delineate the details, and owing to good etiquette I deferred further explanation: it was just not appropriate to change topic and go into some of the details I had researched out. But now that we have another Covid, and I have some time...maybe I can give some of my thoughts.
(There are only two statements as far as I know which apply directly to this thought. There may be others, but let us look into these two at this time because they show most directly things about this dichotomy. Later, if we desire, we can dialogue into other enjoyable asides.
In order to keep this Morning Paper short, and because the two statements are somewhat well known, I have pared them down to their minimums; find in addendum 1 the more fuller quotes.)
"Prayer does not bring God down to us, but...."
"Prayer brings Jesus to our side..."
Thoughts on the first statement:
Because of the Eternal Cross, when believers from Adam onward pray to the Father, all of the prayers go through Jesus Christ. These prayers are attached with his incense (prayers) and then are passed on to the Father. The act of prayer does not bring the Father down to us. However, when each prayer is addressed by the Father, our advocate's job is to return to us (by way of the censer, for example) those workings (wills), responses, or things that have been granted by the Father. This process can be looked on as Jacob's Ladder. Jesus Christ is the ladder, and resides at once in the heavens and at the same time permanently attached to the earth. The angels ascend and descend freely, and in a more hurried fashion now that the Cross has occurred, and that time is short.
In chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation, God the Father is in his Holy Temple, and from our reference point we see that he has already brought souls up to Him. These twenty eight humans reside near and in His throne. By his loving mercy he has brought them there.
Thoughts on the second statement:
There is something which we in our time can enjoy that is similar to what Adam and Eve enjoyed at the beginning, even before the Fall. It must have been great joy for the God to come down every night and visit with his two children in the garden. This would seem something he initiated, and did as part of his design for himself and humanity. But come down he did to their side to strengthen and know them, and vice versa. And it is obvious that no ladder was needed. Because sin had not yet entered, time on earth was eternal and pure; a ladder was not needed for humanity.
Then the God, in his son, redeemed the believers of all ages. Once again the visitation that was enjoyed in the Garden can and does continue in our probationary time. He has, he is, and he will come to us and visit us. Our need of an advocate in the final judgment at the end of probationary time is the reason why he has promised to come to us. Promises aside, he comes down and stands at our side—particularly, when one pleads and is asking for his help.
At his ascension, he promised to be with his people till the end; he promised that he would never leave us, nor forsake us (divorce, leave his first love, let believers spiritually die); promised that he would come to us—his church. He has loved us as his people for more than 6000 years. He announced his loving mercy to our Grandparents in Eden, then he came down to their side. This groaning of creation, and this desire of all ages brought him down to our side and the cross. Lo, he still comes to us throughout our individual probationary time. He fulfills his loving mercy to his bride by all these types of visitations. He is brought to our side by our desire, by our need, and by our prayers.
John, the Revelator, in chapter 5 showed that he desired the second coming and cried bitterly in the presence of the God, the king of the universe (a 'no no'); but the Lord knew why John was distressed so and that it was because of the long years that John had waited and served. So, when John saw that no acceptable one was found to manage the book that was being offered, he may have thought there would yet be another delay. Later in the book though, a strong angel comes down in the cloud in the 10th chapter, and announces, 'there shall be no more delay." This book is about things which will quickly come to pass.
At the end of time when the saints are overcome and worn out by beasts and dragon tails, he will come to our prison cell or cave, and in those dark, damp, and excremented places, light up our lives. At that time he will be finally finished with the hearing and doing of prayers: the Atonement will be finished. It will be time for the parousia; he will come to our side of the universe, and get us. The second coming will be the most dazzling and vociferous display of any of his coming downs. But even so, thus shall all the living enemies of God see the saved at his side, up in the air flying toward eternity.
This second statement is saying that when we pray Jesus comes to our side. Jesus is God, and has always been God. Jesus is the Christ who pleads our causes in the heavenly sanctuary while he officiates other details of his sacrifice. At the same time he also dwells with us 24/7. He is God. He is also the ladder; when we pray, he comes to our side. When we pray, because of the establishment of the ladder, he also sends angels to our side. This lovely, divine transport, this great provision was made possible at infinite cost, and is a supreme example of the way that he loves.
I think we can conclude that the children-in-learning story of Jacob's ladder is larger and more prophetically extended than when we first heard it in kindergarten. We can also see that our Jacob's Ladder is a two way 'via dolorosa': one that is bringing us up to God, the Father, and one that now (legally, rightfully) brings Jesus, the paracletos, down to our side.
Paracletos= paráklētos (from pará, "from close-beside" and kaléō, "make a call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment call because close enough to the situation. paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper")
.
Advocate= to call (as witness or adviser), summon, invite; call to aid
Comforter= one who consoles or supports in distress
Addendum 1
Sources quotes:
"Prayer unites us with one another and with God. Prayer brings Jesus to our side, and gives to the fainting, perplexed soul new strength to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Prayer turns aside the attacks of Satan."—(Christ's Object Lessons, 250.)
"Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him." (Steps to Christ, Pg. 93)
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