Jesus forms the way of discipleship

[~Zao~]

Hebrews 6:18-20
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 9:2-4
2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;
3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,
4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded (signifying life within), and the tablets of the covenant;
Hebrews 10:19-23
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful


Psalms 119:25-30 ד
25 My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
26 I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.
28 My soul melts from heaviness;
Strengthen me according to Your word.
29 Remove from me the way of lying,
And grant me Your law graciously.
30 I have chosen the way of truth;
Your judgments I have laid before me.

The veil of His flesh becomes the WAY to the Father. When we walk there enough times it becomes the path, the way of life, the correct aim so as not to come short of the mark.
The veil lifts so that living water can be drawn from life. Just like to the woman at the well Christ says to everyone “If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” And like her the asking and receiving are like a two-leaf gate that swings open when spirit and truth are budding with the life-giving Spirit. He is the pathway to enter in. Therefore:
'let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.’ Praise Him for His loving kindness and tender mercies because that is where He dwells!​

 

[~Zao~]

I’d been thinking about the doorway into the Holiest Place were our Great High Priest dwells, knowing that only His righteousness and tender mercies could possibly have brought us to such a high level of acceptance. It can only be as we abide in Him and Him in us that such a privilege can be granted. That’s not to say that we’re unable to come boldly to the throne of grace at any time to receive His help in times of need. He is the mediator of our souls and His blood is always available to cleanse the conscience so that with a clean slate we can begin anew every time. Grace renews and it’s available at the throne as we are subject to confess and to bring thoughts captive to Christ. I think that’s our outward expression of being in Christ, while the Holy Spirit has grace being built into us to sustain our Christian life within. I do believe that those are givens.

But here’s the thing … obedience. It was the one thing that Jesus had to learn. It was the thing that brought Him to the position of High Priest so that He could effect that perfection into us. That’s the other part of the doorway to salvation Hebrews 5:8-9 We’re on that same path to learning obedience. It’s our new and better way too. His perfection was that which was revealed in His own life, thru the trials that He endured. It perfected Him forevermore. Hebrews 7:28

He came so as to restore to us the life of God that we had lost. That alone is our salvation. The Father wrought out in the Son the perfect human character that fully united the human will with the divine nature. Think about that! He spent His lifetime perfecting it! So when He had been perfected, in humility, submission and surrender to God alone, which is mankind’s duty and blessedness, He became the author of eternal salvation to all those who now obey Him. In His perfect human nature, which He now could communicate to each one of us, He could now lift us in spiritual reality, into God’s will, fellowship and presence. The way in which He was perfected thru obedience was the living way in which He is to lead us.

The path that Christ found, and opened up to us and in which He walked, was the path of obedience as the path to God. That’s the thing to animate us, with God’s own Spirit, to do it too. That’s why He, the perfected one, can alone be our salvation. Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 12:2 His death was our death, but His life is our life too. Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 13:21

 

[~Zao~]

I really am thankful that when Jesus said to come learn from Him that He added that His burden is light

 

[~Zao~]

But, you know what, that perfection that God wrought into Jesus, that’s the DNA of the new creation. It’s the life of God contained within the blood of Jesus. No wonder that His blood can wash away all our sins! Being saved by believing in Him gives us everything that He has, because we are saved by the blood of Jesus! We have His DNA! He merely has to wrought all that the Father has given Him into us as He leads us into perfection as well. Bless His Holy Name for He is exceedingly good! Let the fruit of the Spirit bring you on to maturity, against which there is no law. Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:1 so that that which brought us together can do it’s perfecting work Hebrews 11:40 Press on past the elementary things Hebrews 5:14; Hebrews 6:1 to live in peace with God. Hebrews 13:20-21 Amen, so be it Lord.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

Our faith"s hope, being anchored in God's promises, gives us a safe hold on salvation in these latter days' storms. Our soul's anchor is imbedded in God's presence, in the heavens.

The Holies' Holy was the Temple's innermost shrine, into which the high priest entered once a year, in the nation's name. Thus Christ has been exalted into God's presence, in our behalf.

He has entered there, to become our Advocate with God, to intercede for us, with a continual reference to his atonement's work.

Christ it's in whom we trust, in whom we believe. By his resurrection he secured for us the power to enter into heaven's mansions, to follow where he has shown the way, when he became a priest throughout eternity after Melchizedek's order.

If we Christians place our salvation's hope on God, then our hope's anchored in God. So languidness must be cast aside as we apply God’s promises to ourselves and so become surer of our redemption.

 

[mark kennedy]

That's beautiful LorenDD, thanks for sharing. I think this passage is related:

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21-26)
​

Again, here is the concept of atonement, reconciliation and God being both justifier and just. Just a couple of definitions I thought were insightful:

Atonement/Reconciliation (G2643 καταλλαγή katallagē) - 1. exchange; of the business of money-changers, exchanging equivalent values ((Aristotle, others)). Hence, adjustment of a difference, reconciliation, restoration to favor, (from Aeschylus on); in the N. T., of the restoration of the favor of God to sinners that repent and put their trust in the expiatory death of Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:18. (Thayer’s Lexicon)

1Jo 2:2; 4:10, and hilasterion, Rom 3:25; Hbr 9:5, "mercy-seat," the covering of the ark of the covenant. These describe the means (in and through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death on the Cross by the shedding of His blood in His vicarious sacrifice for sin) by which God shows mercy to sinners. (Vine's Expository Dictionary)
​

It's the idea of a debt paid, specifically at the mercy seat in the holy of holies.

 

[~Zao~]

Our faith"s hope, being anchored in God's promises, gives us a safe hold on salvation in these latter days' storms. Our soul's anchor is imbedded in God's presence, in the heavens.

The Holies' Holy was the Temple's innermost shrine, into which the high priest entered once a year, in the nation's name. Thus Christ has been exalted into God's presence, in our behalf.

He has entered there, to become our Advocate with God, to intercede for us, with a continual reference to his atonement's work.

Christ it's in whom we trust, in whom we believe. By his resurrection he secured for us the power to enter into heaven's mansions, to follow where he has shown the way, when he became a priest throughout eternity after Melchizedek's order.

If we Christians place our salvation's hope on God, then our hope's anchored in God. So languidness must be cast aside as we apply God’s promises to ourselves and so become surer of our redemption.

Yes, the anchor to the soul is our hope in Him. Thanks for sharing and caring!

 

[~Zao~]

I have some very old books and I came across something written 150 yrs ago saying that Daniel was the author of Psalms 119. Altho there is no author accredited with writing it I had never heard it accredited to Daniel. Here’s some of the reasons …

Various internal indications may assist us in arriving at a probable conclusion respecting the author. He is a stranger, dwelling in a house of pilgrimage, a dweller in a foreign land. There is no mention of Jerusalem or Zion in the Psalm, nor scenery of the Holy Land. In place of going up to the tabernacle or temple along with rejoicing multitudes who keep Holy Days his portion is to meditate upon the written Word and walk according to its light.

He is distinguished while yet a young man for his acquirements. He has more knowledge than his teachers, more understanding than the ancients because he is taught in the law of the Lord. Not lowly or obscure he has mingled among princes and spoken before kings. He has had enemies among his peers who have laid snares, forged lies, laid traps to bring about his ruin while pouring derision, reproach and contempt on him. And all this in connection with the law of his God.

The opening of the Psalm agrees with the opening information respecting Daniel’s career It opens by pronouncing a blessing on the undefiled way and by telling how a young man may cleanse his way. Daniel was a young Hebrew exile in a heathen court distinguished from the first by high principle and wisdom, rising to the most exalted station, peer of princes, envied and plotted against, giving none occasion to any save in connection with God, maintaining his integrity of heart in the face of all temptation to the contrary.

This is not indeed ‘proof’ that Daniel is the writer of Psalms 119, but to say the least it renders it highly probable and certainly the experience of Daniels life, outward and inward, are such as the psalm might have grown out of.

Here’s a little history of Daniel that throws a light from one upon the other… Daniel was exemplary of a disciple of integrity

Daniel 1:1-21 ”Prove thy servant"
Daniel had a life dedicated and surrendered to God

Daniel 2:20-22 ”He giveth wisdom and knowledge"
Daniel was a light amid the darkness

Daniel 3:17-25 ”whom we serve is able to deliver"
Daniel always triumphed thru his trials

Daniel 5:17 ”revelations of God"
Daniel received the reward of service.

Daniel 6:10-24 ”no manner of hurt found"
Daniel exhibited prayer and confidence in God

Daniel 9:3-19 “understanding of truth"
Daniel went to the Lord to confess and entreat

Daniel 12:3 ” shine as bright as stars"
Daniel found the wisdom of winning souls

 

[~Zao~]

Revelation 2:7 The 1st thing that the Risen Lord said in relation to His full church is to caution them not to leave their first love. My mind goes immediately to the hymn ‘Prone to wander Lord, prone to leave the one I love’ and how much I can identify. Even while feeling very much in service to Him I know it to be true. Falling away from the 1st love would mean becoming dull of hearing. Continuing to merely abide still needs deepening in intensity that strength may not fail. Yet we know that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ being more than conquerors through Him that loves us. Holding fast to the hope set before us. Psalms 23:2,6

Our heart of flesh is one of God’s greatest accomplishments and certainly one of His greatest treasures. Nothing could be more endearing to Him than a heart that matches His heart in persuing and wooing. We find shelter in His heart especially when we share our hearts with Him.

But often the world has placed a fear of sharing our hearts upon us. I know for me that the slightest indication of bad memories can send me running for the hills. Often I find that I wrongly apply that to His discipline, even tho I know I shouldn’t. And it takes digging up many bitter roots before being rid of the flies in the ointment. Then up comes the deeper ones. So I keep plugging away. I’m sure my efforts will be rewarded.

I know there’s a certain orthodox antipathy to ‘rewards’ having forbidden glances cast at it that leaves a chilling effect upon obedience. But I know that He wills my sanctification, rejoices over it, not only shielding it, but as an exceeding great reward.

The doctrine of reward is really a further disclosure of the infinite generosity of Christ and is what captivated my heart to begin with. That hope!

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help I've come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Oh, that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in the blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

 

[~Zao~]

From the base of Hope ~ Psalms 71~

John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy
Hebrews 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
Psalms 119:76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.

Psalms 71 shows us how to pray ~ with increasing and continual hope when trouble strikes. It’s a prayer of lamentations like Jeremiah would pray ~ a prayer request. And this one was written by one of old age and beyond what others deemed of use and therefore easy prey.

One of the finer points of the psalm is to look back so that looking forward becomes easier. At different times it our lives it becomes expedient for us to come to a plateau where the only way of climbing further is to look down and to bring our experiences from the last plateau to reach our new standing. Owning our strengths and acknowledging the remaining weaknesses. Every stage seems to demand some kind of adjustment. Our only plumb line of measurement is found in His character and deeds.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.

 

[~Zao~]

Christ’s kingdom is not of this world; it’s not a rule over external conditions but over our spirit. When He cast out evil spirits He bore witness that He was holding converse with the human spirit, that with the pride, lust and hatred, the powers of spiritual darkness that have enslaved us, He was carrying on His great controversy. Here in this region, rooted in our inner being, He is still subduing His enemies, He is conducting His mysterious education.

The time of the conflict is now, the time of Christ’s victory is now. We’re not dealing with human progress in culture, but with the divine conversion of our spirit from which all culture arises.

The kingdom of God begins within, but it is to make itself manifest without. It is to penetrate the feelings, habits, thoughts, words, and acts of us who are subject to it. At last it is to penetrate our whole social existence ( in each Christian life )

The kingdom of God is transformed culture because it’s first of all the conversion of the human spirit from faithlessness and self service to the knowledge and service of God.

This kingdom is real, for if God didn’t rule nothing would exist, and if He had not heard the prayer for the coming kingdom the world of mankind would long ago become a den of robbers.



In every moment we are dealing with God.



Psalms 23:5, Isaiah 44:3, Luke 4:18, Acts of the Apostles 10:38



Mark 1:24, Acts of the Apostles 3:14



John 10:4-5



1 John 2:20



( I had written this in the back of a bible a long time ago. Where it came from I know not whence. )

 

[~Zao~]

What is the word to the individual believer? The Word gives the believer the sense of overcoming according to the Psalm we’re looking at. That overcoming is placed before persecution even begins.

Psalms 119
42 Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.
46 I will also speak of your decrees before kings,
and shall not be put to shame;

The principle from Psalms 119:1-3 is that of whole-hearted obedience. Happiness is found in doing so. Another translation of the old Hebrew for blessed is ‘fire upon head’ and is reminiscent of Pentecost power in the overcoming.

The consciousness of the abiding of the soul is the only true happiness and blessedness. Being delivered from self-will Isaiah 53:6 is indeed deliverance.

Having the soul’s desire set on observing His Way ~~ seeing fulfilment realized in one’s life ~~ is a work of divine grace. The meeting of God’s testimony in agreement with the testimony of the believer is one in which the awakened conscience is in response to. The sign of responsibility toward God.

In seeking Him with our whole heart He is Himself declared. With such all is in accordance with the real nature of things; they do not twist them: “they practise no perversity; they walk in His Ways”. Safe, holy and happy must be “His ways. “


The Numerical Bible ~ The Psalms ~ F.W. Grant ~ circa 1896 (exerts from)

 

[~Zao~]

Praying as your heart leads you to pray
Is the very best way to start and end your day

Have a blessed day!​

 

[Reborn1977]

Praying as your heart leads you to pray
Is the very best way to start and end your day

Have a blessed day!​

"Praying as your heart leads you to pray Is the very best way to start and end your day"
Is the best way to spend your entire day. Prayer is an ongoing conversation with Christ that guides our entire day and life.

 

[~Zao~]

"Praying as your heart leads you to pray Is the very best way to start and end your day"
Is the best way to spend your entire day. Prayer is an ongoing conversation with Christ that guides our entire day and life.

Prayer without ceasing! That is the ideal. Psalms 119:10 has the perfect prayer for that achievement. “With all my whole heart I have sought thee. Let me not wander (or error out of ignorance) from Your commandments.”
Or as Christ exemplified at the Garden of Gethsemane , "Thy desire is My command.”
Safer are we within the protection of God’s grace acknowledged than in the ways of our own. The aleph and omega of the day!

 

[Martyr's Crown]

What is the word to the individual believer? The Word gives the believer the sense of overcoming according to the Psalm we’re looking at. That overcoming is placed before persecution even begins.

Psalms 119
42 Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
for I trust in your word.
46 I will also speak of your decrees before kings,
and shall not be put to shame;

The principle from Psalms 119:1-3 is that of whole-hearted obedience. Happiness is found in doing so. Another translation of the old Hebrew for blessed is ‘fire upon head’ and is reminiscent of Pentecost power in the overcoming.

The consciousness of the abiding of the soul is the only true happiness and blessedness. Being delivered from self-will Isaiah 53:6 is indeed deliverance.

Having the soul’s desire set on observing His Way ~~ seeing fulfilment realized in one’s life ~~ is a work of divine grace. The meeting of God’s testimony in agreement with the testimony of the believer is one in which the awakened conscience is in response to. The sign of responsibility toward God.

In seeking Him with our whole heart He is Himself declared. With such all is in accordance with the real nature of things; they do not twist them: “they practise no perversity; they walk in His Ways”. Safe, holy and happy must be “His ways. “


The Numerical Bible ~ The Psalms ~ F.W. Grant ~ circa 1896 (exerts from)

Good post.

I sometimes think of how children wants to be toward their parents, at a young age they already wants their attention, and desiring for them to being proud of them.

Same way works with us with God. Like children we should long for and seeking for His attention, wanting to being pleasing to Him. The closer we get to Him as well as the more we gain understanding from His Word, the more we will want to obey Him and His commandments. Like David mentioned as well; Psalms 119:97-98

"Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me"

Psalms 40:8-10

"I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly."

Meditating on God's Word as well as sharing from it to others gives you much joy. God's Word in general brings you just much joy as well as it makes you alive, since His Word never returns void where it is sown.

Isaiah 55:11

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

It is just that powerful! And we should also keep in mind that Jesus Christ is also the Word of God.

 

[Martyr's Crown]

........

 

[~Zao~]

Good post.
I sometimes think of how children wants to be toward their parents, at a young age they already wants their attention, and desiring for them to being proud of them.
Same way works with us with God. Like children we should long for and seeking for His attention, wanting to being pleasing to Him. The closer we get to Him as well as the more we gain understanding from His Word, the more we will want to obey Him and His commandments. Like David mentioned as well; Psalms 119:97-98

"Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me"

Psalms 40:8-10

"I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly."

Meditating on God's Word as well as sharing from it to others gives you much joy. God's Word in general brings you just much joy as well as it makes you alive, since His Word never returns void where it is sown.

Isaiah 55:11

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

It is just that powerful! And we should also keep in mind that Jesus Christ is also the Word of God.

Sorry, I haven’t been online for awhile so missed this post. Interesting thoughts CP, I guess that’s why we’re to return as little children to Him, but mature to the world where we don’t seek the world’s attention and to please others. Btw you might find it interesting in another post in this thread where it’s espoused that Daniel is the writer of Psalm 119

 

[~Zao~]

What happens when we overstep that which God has called us to do? For Moses it cost him entrance into the rest in the new land. It was demonstrated in the bible as taking a stick to the rock (that is Christ) instead of just speaking that which God had instructed. IOW, he put his own spin from his own understanding and created confusion (chaos)

Let’s look at another example of where Moses put his own spin on things. The mighty men of renown complained against Moses, declaring that they were all His peculiar people, a Congregation of Holy People.

But first let’s look at the cornerstone of creating, forming and doing. Creation is from nothing. Forming is giving potential to the created, still hidden from view, while doing is the completion of what has been formed; the healing or removing of that which is not inherently in the nature of that which is created. (The potter working the clay to bring out all the clay’s potential for instance)

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create hardship; I the Lord do all these things. 43:7 Even everyone who is called by my name; for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him and I have made him. 42:5 Thus says the Lord God, who created the heavens and stretched them out, He who spread forth the earth and all that is in it, He who ‘gives’ breath (understanding) to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk therein​

God has saved us to be His witnesses but only when there is no strange god to contend with, Christ being truth Isaiah 43:10-13 Truth was standing in front of Pilate and the nation that stubbornly refused Him. Matthew 13:35, Jeremiah 33:3, Isaiah 6:9-10 They had closed their eyes to the truth. Their hearts were darkened …. if they would but return to Him then He would heal Ephesians 4:17-24

False witness abounds and we can learn a lesson from Moses as to what prohibits our entrance into the courts of God, where only praise can be heard.

This is an interesting sidetone along the way

The Journey from head to heart is a “3 day” journey but it’s the journey from death to ascension.
“Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God”
The sacrifice is praise. Finding that place of worship may be a bleak journey where spiritual water is scarce found.
“Then Moses led Israel to journey away from the Red Sea. They went out to the wilderness of Shur, walked for three days into the wilderness, and found no water. “
Yet the rock spoken to followed them into and beyond the promised land.
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days”
Praise was heard in the temple again.
Knowledge of that which is there for an example, when examined to bring forth praise, is a wise endeavour. God knows.
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.“
No one said it would be easy. The bible just says it will be worth it.
In Scripture the number three signifies completeness or perfection and points to what is solid, real, and substantial.
Worship is the reason that God brought them forth from out of Egypt to follow Him.
We too ought to endeavour to get beyond the blindness. Seeing Jesus as He is … has been known to produce that effect. The effect that Paul experienced prompted most of the epistles so lots to glean from there also as another example to move forward with. Praise God!​

In witnessing only that which is good for His Name’s sake is acceptable to be a righteous witness. Jesus gave only the gift of the pure word. Matthew 13:11 VS Leviticus 19:14-15, Exodus 23:1-3,6 But we are at that stage where to expect anything less is too trivial to mention.

Moses had learned that He was deputy authority in the wilderness wanderings because he met with God face-to-face rather than as just a prophet of dreams etc. Jesus counteracted that notion when God placed Him over everything ‘Listen to Him’ while the priests had to declare clean what could only be performed miraculously. It is written.

But Moses, struck the rock twice. The mighty men of renown complained against Moses, declaring that they were all His peculiar people, a Congregation of Holy People. Numbers 16:2-3 Moses brought them to a challenge by telling them to come up so the Lord would show who is boss.

This is what the Lord said “Keep away from their tents” IOW, do not be unequally yoked with those who attempt to oppose the Lord. How much scripture can we find to support that truth! “Depart from the tents of these sinful men and touch nothing of theirs” “Lest you be consumed with the same sin” Numbers 16:23-26 SPEAK TO THE ROCK! Sanctify yourselves! Numbers 16:26

Let’s look at what Moses added to that ~~~ claiming not to have done anything from his own mind no less ~~~

Numbers 16:28-30
28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. 29 If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”​

When I read that I just said “wow”

Which is pretty much what the congregation said too!

Numbers 16:41
41 On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.”​

Does God have anyone but Christ as truth that we are to listen to? Read Hebrews 1 (not written by Paul imho) We are here as witnesses. Whether we be false or true is really up to us. We are neither blinded nor veiled.
Isaiah 55:4, Isaiah 43:10-13

 

[Dave-W]

For Moses it cost him entrance into the rest in the new land. It was demonstrated in the bible as taking a stick to the rock (that is Christ) instead of just speaking that which God had instructed.

Moses was already excluded from entry into The Promised Land. It happened years earlier when God said only Joshua and Caleb would be allowed to enter. (Of those over age 20 at the time)