Ezekiel 1:25-2:1; Revelation 1:9-17

While these types of experiences seem rare, they can occur today, not only to great prophets but those that consider themselves ordinary believers. They are especially crafted by God to produce “Awe”, or what we call the “Fear of the Lord” which is a foundational experience (Proverb 1:7, 9:10) which aids the believer to develop “Compassionate wisdom.” This type of experience usually induced by either theophany or angelic appearance can be shocking to the surprised recipient but it is given to produce awe of God. This experience prepares the believer for a very challenging call and mission. This type of experience can also resolve the subtle evil of becoming “over-familiar” with God: all daddy and no Lord; which may lead to a primarily egocentric relationship, where God becomes an easy broker or a soft touch: Remember that in the Lord’s prayer “your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” come before Give us today our daily bread etc. God has for all of us His will to be done on earth and sometimes it is so challenging that He gives such shocking experiences. It helps produce awe, respect, reverence for God that surpasses the normal human responses like fear because of the difficult call and challenge to their faith. And as in Paul’s life, God given radical manifestation began his ministry and continued throughout his ministry (Acts 9:23:11; 27:23)

Our key passages (Ephesians 1:25-2:1; Revelation 1:9-17) Continue to illustrate the humanly uncomfortable manifestations for God’s prophets’ but what begins as a shock ends with wisdom, confidence in God and His plan.

1. Usually these shocking manifestation of God occur when God’s macro/major plans are revealed: Other examples are easy to locate in Scripture.
2. Abraham’s call in Genesis 12:3 “Where he fell face down” before God’s revelation.
3. Moses Burning Bush experience in Exodus 3, The whole chapter records Moses shock and human reticence
4. Isaiah’s reaction in Isaiah 6:1-5 especially verse 5, “woe to me!” I am ruined… because eyes have seen the king, the Lord almighty” Remember also Job 42:1-5)
5. Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel, Luke 1:29-30 “... Mary was greatly troubled and confused at the angel’s words’
6. The disciples at Jesus’s transfiguration (Matthew 17:6 “When the disciples heard the voice of the Lord, declaring Jesus as His son, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified!

While these experiences themselves seem to be far from a blessing they all lead to a great respect for God and HIs personal call in their lives, an “Awe” and confidence that He who calls us is able to empower us to get it done (Philippians 1:6) a shock experience that leads to glory.

1. Finally these experiences can be distinguished from an Ananias and Sapphira type of experience. Which illustrates a judgment from God. John the revelator’s “falling at the risen Jesus’s feet”, as though dead that produced great fear” was only a prelude to His call that produced great awe before God: John was “awestruck” before Jesus and His great Revelation. He received an experience while in prison at the island of Patmos, to encourage him to continue to see and write God’s final Revelation. John still had a purpose for the Kingdom & God had not abandoned him, even in prison.

Amen

Read 1 Samuel 24 (See also a second similar experience in 1 Samuel 26); Romans 12:9-21 (See also Hebrews 10:30-31)

David, pursued by a spiritually declining King Saul, who lost his throne because of disobedience to God (1 Samuel 15) hid with his small band of misfits in the cave of Adullam: In Chapter 26 a similar experience of pursuit is detailed where as in Chapter 24 by divine design Saul was given information as to David’s general whereabouts: “The desert of Enged,” (24:1); yet not an exact location. In chapter 24 it is assured that God in His providence led Saul to David’s exact cave, where he and his men were hiding. Saul entered this cave alone to relive himself. How convenient for David to be alone with Saul undetected in the cave. David was given by God a golden opportunity for revenge against his very real enemy and God’s rebellious king; wouldn’t he be doing himself and God a favor in killing him? And doesn’t he have a biblical right, although he wasn’t an official judge or jury, according to the Torah(e.g. Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20: Deuteronomy 19:21, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, wouldn’t it be justice to enact his personal revenge? The answer according to David’s Inaction (verses 3-7) and the N.T. (Matthew 5:38-48 and Romans 12:9-21, is No! According to the concept of progressive revelation and in the shadow of Jesus' revelation concerning His teachers against personal retribution: it’s not allowed except for self-defense. Only God the creative sustainer and atoner remains the ultimate Judge. This is especially clear in the N.T. but not absent in O.T, for note David’s “stricken conscience,”(24:5) and a God supported reaction of mercy again paralleling N.T. teaching on the topic of judgment (again note Romans 12:9-21). Saul was still King, although a very backslidden royal, was still the anointed of God and David respects that. David even regretted cutting off a small corner of Saul’s robe, to demonstrate what he could have done to Saul. And it seems in Saul’s reaction, what looked like the possible reconciliation between David and Saul; and through Saul’s conciliatory words a possible peace between Him and God.

But according to 24:16-24 Saul’s words of seeming repentance lasted only a moment and not long lasting as to Saul’s further behaviors in chapter 26 indicate and also 24:25, David was not counting on Saul’s rehabilitation.

Saul’s further spiritual decline is recorded in his consultation with the medium/ witch of Endor, since God was no-longer speaking to him and Samuel was dead, in chapter 28; and his ignominious death, with his sons, even Jonathan, in chapter 31. But, what can we as N.T. believers be reminded of David's inaction?

1. As answer to the question: If God chose David to replace Saul for valid reasons as King, why allow Saul to pursue David? He loves David, chose him and is almighty, could He not put an end to Saul before the pursuit?
   1. Possible answer: David was also being tested by God to learn something about himself: would he continue to trust God in this seeming paradoxical situation? Even Jesus, in His humanity was tested (Matthew 4, Luke 4) tempted and had to learn something about humanity, “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) James 1:2-4 underlines God’s use of tests to further our growth in developing the mind of Christ.
   2. David as chosen king expressed the correct, divinely approved behavior in regards to Saul. But, David was far from perfect as the rest of his monarchy demonstrates(remember David and Bathsheba 2 Samuel 11; but he proved to be a great repenter not a rationalizer, see Psalm 51.)
2. Since it was God, working behind the scenes that brought Saul to David's doorstep in Chapter 24 & 26, so that David could wax N.T. How can we know when God is orchestrating a personal test to gauge our trust in Him in paradoxical situations? The answer is, as in

Luke 10:38-42 (Verse 42) Matthew 6:32-33; Matthew 6:19-21, 24 (Treasures in Heaven)

This brief text underlines two main points: first, that Jesus looks to both men and women to be dedicated disciples; Second, that in our physical, societal lives our goals and priorities are more easily earthly, the heavenly goals are more difficult and ethereal. This is part of our fallen human nature and it’s focus that’s why the Gospels present such episodes our text where earthly practiced good duties are considered important but we should also include and make room for the spiritual and as difficult as it may be for us fallen humans, Christ’s Kingdom and calling should be prioritized not only by full-time ministers, but for every believer and as I emphasized many times before, God promises to provide needed help( Matthew 6:32-33; Luke 11:3) This brief episode in Mary and Martha’s (Lazarus sisters), lives demonstrates that what can distract us from our expected devotion to Christ, His calling and Kingdom are good, practical earthly things, in this case a cultural expectations for honorable women to prepare a feast for an honored rabbi; what would be wrong with this? But, this text interprets this good thing being done as a distraction(verse 40) in contrast to Mary’s adoration of Jesus “... (sitting at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said(His word)? While Martha was covering all the basis of societal, cultural expectations for such an event Mary seemed to not be doing her part for the honored guest and this bothered Martha. And she demanded that He command Martha to “help me”. Jesus' response to Martha is culturally counter intuitive in that society. Martha Martha… you are worried about many good things but compared to them there are more important things, summarized as only “a few or even one.” Mary has come up short for the expected societal demand, but has chosen what is better and even if the soup prepared gets cold, her taking time to worship Jesus will be accepted. This does not mean that Martha, Mary don’t also have good earthly duties beyond hospitality and even more important societal responsibilities to family, careers, comfort, upward mobility, but these come also because they are not easily detectable distractions as to our calling from Christ. While we strive to not commit clear heinous sins that are obvious to all, there exist other demons behind the so-called respectable actions that take up too much of our time and energies and they then become a distraction to our relationship with God and our service to Him. Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4, Luke 4) included some good practical earthly suggestions for a fasting, starving Jesus: “Jesus turn the stones to bread, for you are physically hungry, this would be a good thing, even a good thing to do, but Jesus said No! (“It is written, humans and even Jesus, shall not live on bread alone (Luke 4:4).” It would have been a good thing but Jesus taking this road would have led to a distraction from His mission. Other stories of women ministry to Jesus make similar points: first, a sinful woman anoints Jesus feet with tears, even pouring expensive perfume on them in the supper at the Pharisee’s house. Jesus becomes a display of repentance but for the Pharisee, this was a distraction from holiness and proof that Jesus may not be a true prophet. After all and possibly a waste of something very expensive. Second, possibly the same event in Mark 14:3-9 Jesus becomes was rebuked by those present as a waste of a years wages that could have been sold and given to the poor; but to Jesus it was a “beautiful thing she did to prepare for His burial,” as out of worship, their seeming reasonableness in this situation became a distraction. Judas Iscariot was one of the critics who shortly after the betrayal of Jesus (verses 10-11). Third, a similar strong reprisal in Matthew 26:6-13 Jesus' indignant audience spiritually could not see beyond their legalistic no

Luke 18:1-8 (See also Luke 11:5-8)

Ephesians 6:10-13

When we are born from above we begin our training to become a child of heaven, but most of the time He keeps us in this fallen world. He permits us to be opposed in many areas of our lives, even our prayer. We are not only temples of the Holy Spirit, but also retain our fallen nature or flesh. So there exists opposition from within and without in many areas of our lives and Christian walk. This parable as well as the accompanying passages illustrates these difficulties in praying, even if we are filled with the Spirit (Romans 8:26-28). Our main passage illustrates this by addressing an unfair balance of power: The powerless, weak widow (considered the least in a Patriarchal society) and the most powerful, an unjust judge. This judge illustrated here, neither feared God or cared for people, especially a poor, powerless widow. He didn’t even care as to how he was perceived by society(verse 2). And it goes without saying, no lawyer would touch her case. But, the one characteristic this widow had that eventually the judge acquiesced to was her “importunity” or “bold” persistence”: She kept coming and coming with her plea, “grant me justice against my adversary”(verse 3) This stubborn, unjust, uncaring judge for sometime(long time) refused to hear her. Finally gave in for a very self-centered reason (verses 4-5). The NIV version implies that in his eyes she looked unbalanced: This self-centered, unjust, uncaring judge could only think of himself.

The widow depicts, I think, the believer who is engaged in oppositional prayer, who has to persevere in order to finally get justice. But, what gives us hope from this parable and supports it’s main theme or lesson i n Luke 18:1 is that the antagonist and judge is replaced by a supremely caring God and sustaining God(John 3:16) Who is eager to provide all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19) but what He doesn’t do is eliminate all opposition to our prayer existing in this fallen world(Ephesians 6:10-13).

God is characterized in this parable as the total opposite of the unjust judge (note verses 6-8) But because we still pray in a fallen oppositional environment we still have to pray with a similar importunity and even desperation “crying out to HIm day and night” and it seems that “He also keeps putting them off”(Verse 7) but he’s not, although He remains sovereign and He sets the time and manner of His responses to our prayers. Also He permits His children to be opposed by the world (Ephesians 6:100-13) These points require us to show boldness, perseverance and faith.

1)This parable “Especially applicable to the Parousia: The 2nd coming, victory and judgments etc. This will be the greatest event in human history(Verse 8) But the lesson of this parable(See verse 1) can apply to other needs and events in our lives: while opposition will continue in our praying, God promises to provide what we need, in His time and manner but only if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9) It almost seems at times that God is opposing us: Seems opposite to reality for the wordsays (Philippians 4:19), He is our provider and sustainer, but in His time and manner.

2) But while God is the opposite of the unjust judge, He still permits us to be engaged in this sinful world full of unjust judges and by a similar importunity of the poor widow is needed, by us to face the oppositions from the devil, demons, and our sinful flesh: Ephesians 6. Consider again (Galatians 6:9) “if we faint or give up, because God is committed to meet all our needs and accomplish His goals for our lives, but there remains a straining required of us, against the world, the flesh and the devil. Read Philippians 3:12-14.

3) And most importantly God promises to help us in our praying against these oppositional forces(note Romans 2:26-28; Hebrews 4:4-16)

… He is

Acts. 10:23-48, note especially verses 44-46. [Read in the context of Luke 24:49 & Acts 2:1-4, The Jewish Pentecost].

The Jewish believers in Jerusalem, after the resurrection of Jesus, were admonished to be in quasi hiding which refer to as an “”upper room” (1:4, 2:1).. They were told to not go anywhere until they received “power from on high”” (Luke 24:49) or baptized, immersed, bathed in the Holy Spirit’s power: only then go out in His direction and power(1:4). They were not told when this would happen or that it would happen in 50 days later, at the Jewish feast of Pentecost: note the word “suddenly”(2:1). The Spirit came in His time and manner and in grand fashion(read 2:1-4, The primary sign was “Other tongues”(Verse 4), not also verse 3, “Tongues of fire”. Tongues have to do with communication, Supernatural Communication. It’s not just the words of the gospel preached but the anointing or power of the Spirit behind them even in their praying (1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:1-2).

The time and manner for the Gentiles Spirit Baptism comes a little later in Acts 10 where God uses the Jewish believer, Peter, to reach out to the nations predicted in the Old Testament(Isaiah 49:6). Peter was not very opened minded so God had to give him a vision, or to open his religious mind; That Christ sacrificed is the cleansing, atoning for all people: 10:15 “...Don’t call anything impure that God has made clean “(repeated 3x - he’s a little stubborn). At this point the centurion’s men came to beckon Peter: God thought their devotion to the Jewish God deserved the progressive revelation to them, Peter was doing a pretty comprehensive job(10:23-43), but spoke too long according to the Spirit who was eager to empower the gentiles, so He interrupted Peter - (See verse 43) and similar to Acts 2:1-4, the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on them (verses 44-46)

Notice that their experience was exactly like the Jewish Pentecost. Peter and his circumcised entourage were “astonished” and pleased when they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God just like them (see 2:1-4; also Galatians 3:26-29)

The Spirit is depicted here as being very eager to Baptize them, but He couldn’t wait for Peter to finish his verbal dissertation in the Gospel. Peter was convinced(note verses 47-48) at least for a time:consider the confrontation Paul had with him in Galatians 2:11-21. Peter’s openness seems to have suffered a set-back in Galatia. He and we need to keep growing in our liberality towards those different from us.

What can we today learn from this powerful story in Acts 10:

1)That God Prepares His people for further experiences in His Holy Spirit: a time of prayer and preparation (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8; Peter and all involved had to be prepared.

Peter had to experience divine trance, or vision unrequested by him. He had to experience it; ex. To get him ready and be willing to go preach to the gentiles. Cornelius’s household were devout and clearly open Acts. 10:1-7. More prepared than Peter pre-vision.

II. God expects His people to be obedient even if what He asks of them is challenging. And He is willing to do His part, by His Spirit, to gift them to action: He did this to the early Spirit filled Jewish believers; He did it to Peter by His visions. THe promise of Luke:24:49 and Acts 2 is enacted through the book of Acts and Christian history by the Spirit’s power we also need in our day in His time and manner.

III. God is eager, is His time, to extend His call to the Gentile that He interrupts, even Peter’s eloquent sermon. It’s not only about his or our words, dogmas etc. it’s by His Spirit(read Zechariah 4:4:6… Not by [human] might [only] but by my Spirit, says the Lord.

Read also Acts 1:8

Amen

1 Corinthians 11

Are Now Saved by Grace Not by Works of The Law!
(Isn’t All Forgiven)
Main Scriptures: 1 Peter 4:12-19; 2 Corinthians 5:10

Peter in this passage is following the O.T. pattern that God, while judging and
punishing the nations, also disciplines His children, Israel(for example, the Babylonian captivity for 70 years for their gross idolatries, see also the book of Habakkuk etc.) The purpose of these painful, tragic events was to restore His children to the right relationship with Him, but they never stopped being His children. The word “Judgment” used in 1 Peter 17 really, in context = “discipline” for the purpose of cleansing or restoration. Peter concludes that the contrast to those pagans (ungodly, sinners) who refuse to believe is great, even incomparable(verse 18) There is also a warning message from Peter to believers as to their ongoing behaviors as believers. Even though Christians are saved by grace and faith there is a faith walk for followers and they will be evaluated by the Spirit, the word and their final judgment; and while it does not affect their salvation it somehow affects their final divine evaluation (See both 2 Corinthians 5:10... receive what is “due us”; 1 Corinthians 3:15 a believer may “suffer loss”, as to their reward). Therefore not everything at the believers evaluation will be pleasant(note the judgment seat of Christ; 2 Corinthians 5:10, is different than the Great
White Throne of Judgment at the last days, for those who continually refused and who rebelled against Christ’s rule after His Millennial Reign(Revelation 20:11-15)

Why? Because Peter is addressing the possible difficulties that Christians
may experience in this fallen world. At times living the Christian life or certain
circumstances can be “very hard” (1 Peter 4:18, also verses 12-16) and Peter
wants to encourage them to persevere and not become saintly in their
confessions but worldly in their behaviors because salvation is solidly based on
faith and grace. The quality of our living or works, our Spirit inspired faith walk will
affect our reception in heaven(1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 3:15; II Corinthians
5:10) Remember also the book of James emphasis in 3:14-26, especially 17, “...
faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action/works is dead”; also Paul’s

admonition in Romans 8:4, not to live according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit: both are still within us and our behaviors will still be adjudicated(2
Corinthians 5:10) even when we are still saved (1 Corinthians 3:15)

Conclusion

I) Salvation comes entirely by grace through faith in Christ(John 3:16-18;
Ephesians 1:7; 2:9; even 1 Corinthians 3:15 admits this”... how you and I build
our lives in Christ, will count in our ultimate evaluation and even if we “suffer loss,
as to our reward, we will be saved.
II) Although God has no expectations that our walk will be perfect as
saints (1 John 1:8-2:2) He does expect to put forth our best faith effort as to our
living.
III) Walk and live in Christ in the context that God remains our father,
Jesus remains our advocate, when we do sin, and the Spirit remains our
counselor and Power behind God’s mercy and forgiveness, and witness
And although sometimes it’s hard even for His adopted children to trust in
His love and mercy even with the Holy Spirit within us, the Word to inform
us and community of faith to encourage us, He promises to never leave us
and forsake us and continue to apply His forgiveness to us as we
approach Him in humility, honesty and hunger.
Amen

Re-read 1 Peter 4:17-19 especially verse 19

Genesis 28:10-22

Jacob and Esau, twin sons of Isaac, struggled for dominance even from the
womb, but it was Jacob, who by deceptive means, steals the firstborn birthright from Esau, with their mother’s help: What a soap opera story(See Genesis 27). Jacob, whose name means “Deceiver or supplanter” is then forced to escape to Haran the birthplace of his grandfather Abraham. It was during this fleeing for sin committed that God manifests His grace via a supernatural dream, in a most unexpected place: a “certain(ordinary desert) place”(28:10). Jacob was not described as seeking God, or praying, lamenting to God, asking for forgiveness, he was just escaping a bad situation he and his mother caused. He was not looking for a calling from God but only to survive Esau’s wrath.. Here in a nondescript place, with no religious significance, no sacred altars around (Compare to Isaiah’s call while in the temple Isaiah 6:1-13) God encounters Jacob: a Theophany. In fact as stated in Romans 8:28, God worked all that happens for His purposes and the benefit of Jacob. Jacob’s unbeknownst to the other characters in this narrative, was chosen by God, not Esau, to be the last patriarch father to the future 12 tribes of Israel(See also Romans 9:13 “Jacob I loved, I chose for a
particular service, Esau I hated = I preferred Jacob) Why? Since his name means “Deceiver, supplanter”, None of our business, God
is sovereign! What can we learn from this story?
I) God came in a context of duplicity: no goodness here (See Genesis 27) To
attract God’s Involvement. But God in many ways intervenes where He is not called upon because He is Sovereign. Circumstances don’t have to be perfect for Him to intervene: (John 3:16; Romans 5:8 etc)
II) God came unexpectedly in a very ordinary place: during a rest-stage
(28:10-11); “Just a certain place”, but in God’s chosen time and manner. There were no altars around or during a prayer meeting etc. And there was nothing that Jacob did to prepare or to earn this revelation.

III) God came in a special revelation via the use of dream but not any ordinary
dream but a revelatory dream with a message: In 28:12 The text presents what Jacob saw and what the Lord said 28:13-15. A vision for Jacob in his present situation and beyond his time. This was only the beginning of his transformation, finalized by a 2nd theophany in chapter 32, where he wrestles with God and as a result his name was
changed, from Jacob to Israel (he struggled with God and was transformed: but no
perfect IV) God came, his transformation process begins 28:16-22
God came sovereignly, Jacob was unaware that He was in that place
(28:16)

A new fear and awe for the Lord verse 17
He commits himself with a vow verse 19
He prays to return victories to his father’s house, after his journey, and he
does (Chapter 32) But all of the above was not without hardship and wrestling with God.

Amen