The New Naos

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1^st Cor. 6:19-20 (NIV)

There are two words in biblical Greek for ‘temple.’ The first is hieron. It is the word Matthew uses when the disciples of Jesus pointed out its magnificence to Him (Matt. 24:1). It is the entire precinct or facility. The second Greek word is naos, which Paul uses. This word is from the root naio, to dwell.

Within the heiron was the naos, a separate room, also known as the Holy of Holies. This was where the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, once sat, and the presence of God dwelt. According to the writings of the Maccabees the ark was supposedly removed and hidden by the prophet Jeremiah for its protection from foreign invaders. To this day its whereabouts remain unknown.

A huge curtain veiled the temple naos to separate the awesome Glory of the Infinite from the fallen and finite. Only the high priest was allowed to enter that room, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement to make penance for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16:2). Entering into the presence of the Living God was a fearsome task not for the fainthearted or careless. The high priest had to follow God’s instruction to the letter. Any deviation of doing anything his way would result in his death as it did with the two sons of Aaron (Lev. 10:1-2).

From the cross Jesus was heard saying that the work of salvation was finished (Jn. 19:30). This is when you, as a believer, were bought with a price, purchased at a cost of unbelievable sacrifice on God’s part. Darkness covered the land from noon to three in the afternoon with a rock rending earthquake tearing the temple veil from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51, Lk. 23:44). In tearing that curtain open God was showing humanity they could now come boldly into a new relationship with Him, obtaining grace and mercy through His Son Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:16).

Now, for all who accept the redemptive work of the perfect Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29, Rev. 12:11) the presence of the Holy Spirit has moved from the heiron into a new temple, or naos, not made with hands.  What can contain Him? Heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool (Acts 7:48-49). Living without He can live relationally within. When you believed, the Holy Spirit indwelt you and you became the new naos. You are now the Holy of Holies.

This is your promise and security. You are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of full redemption either through the resurrection from the dead or in the sudden gathering of the Bride of Christ to Himself, that is to come (1^st Thessalonians 4:14-18).

Meanwhile we walk in the light of Christ and in that light we do not stumble in sinful choices, honoring God with our bodies. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live within being our comforter, advocate, guide, and teacher, to forever remain with us (Jn. 14:15-17).

Before the finished work of God’s perfect sacrifice in His Son, the people had to journey to the temple to deal with their sin. Now the temple walks among the people, offering mercy and forgiveness. We are His light bearers, the naos that presents the opening through the veil to a people it once separated.

As the new naos, you are revealing God’s grace, acceptance, and peace to a weary world that is now open and available to all (Matt. 5:16). May your light so shine that the many see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven!

Maranatha,

Ken

When Jesus Loves Us Anyway

You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

What does the word “perfection” do to you? Recall too many past failures? Never being able to measure up no matter how hard you try? For years this word scared the daylights out of me. Perfection always expected me to clear the bar and brought me to shame when I always caught it with my foot.

Our English equivalent of the word has a very different meaning from the Greek (teleios). The English means flawless while this Greek word means to join-together, prepare, and restore. A huge difference from what we normally think perfection means.

For years I labored under the misconception I could not be a true servant of God unless I matched His perfection, but how can anyone do that? As Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick” (Lk. 5:31). That is why we are in need of a Savior. That is why God sent His only Beloved Son to us (John 3:16). So, I stumbled along in my imperfection, torturing myself by believing the lie that my acceptability to Him was based upon walking in sinless perfection in a nature that was depraved by sin (Rom. 3:10).

When I understood Paul’s anthem that the just shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17, Gal.3:11), I understood that if God in Christ loved me so much that He would die for me in my imperfection (Rom. 5:6-9), how much more would He accept me clothed in His righteousness? He never expects any believer to walk in sinless perfection, for only He is eternally perfect.

Because Jesus is your perfection He continually repairs and restores you. When you put your trust in Him, He polishes you to His brightness and clothes you in His perfection. In doing that He not only lifts an impossible burden from mind and heart but sets upon you His lighter yoke of genuine acceptance and love that brings rest to the soul (Matt. 11:29).

I must confess I still have days I need to return to Paul’s admonition that I am always justified in Christ and not my perfection. I live my life by faith through His redemptive work (Gal. 2:20). It is a life that is burnished to a shiny luster, and perfectly made new every morning. He reminds me that only He is without blemish or error, and I am perfect in Him despite the judgments of others. When I believed in Him, I became perfect in God’s estimation and esteem.

Restoration in Christ Jesus comes only through His perfection and mercies and those mercies never come to an end. In His grace you do not have to come to Him clean, you just need to come to Him in belief (Acts 16:31) and He does the cleanup and restoration. His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23), and that is where true perfection always lies.

Maranatha,

Ken

 

 

Jesus Was Not a Christian

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham begat Isaac, Issac begat Jacob, and Jacob begat Judah and his brothers, From the Gospel of Matthew 1:1-2 (New King James Version)

If you are Jewish and on the fence about who Jesus is, then perhaps this may be a pivotal moment for your world view. Israeli born Jew and President of One for Israel, Dr. Erez Soref, says Yeshua, Jesus, as Israel’s promised messiah, is the best kept secret from the Jewish people. He says, “The kindest thing you could ever do for a Jewish person is to share Jesus with them.”

When many Jews read the genealogy of Jesus, a Jew who was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, they are very surprised if not shocked. Matthew, a fellow Jew, and personal disciple of Yeshua, was one of four who documented in their gospels the life, works and words, of the Jewish rabbi who revealed Himself as Israel’s promised messiah through many infallible proofs.

Three of the four men that wrote the gospels were Jewish, all born and raised in Israel. The fourth (Luke) was a Gentile physician who became a proselyte to Yeshua. Luke was a historian of the highest caliber and carefully documented the many witnessed accounts of Jesus’ life possibly from those still living at the time who had known Him personally. Luke’s quest for empirical evidence traced the Jewish genealogy of Yeshua from Joseph (Jesus’ supposed father), back through Joseph’s father, Heli, through King David, ending at the beginning of Creation with Adam (Gospel of Luke 3:23-38).

The surprise in hearing the responses of the many Jews who learned of the semitic roots of Yeshua is always interesting. They thought he was a catholic, the pope, or a Christian leader who wrote the New Testament as a guidebook to persecute and slaughter Jews. Listen to their testimonials of shock and wonder for yourself at ‘oneforisrael.com.’

When I do present the gospel to a Jewish person, I encourage them to read only the first two verses of Matthew’s gospel in the New Testament. "Wait, What? Really? This isn't what I've been told." It is enough to pique the interest of most to read further.

 Jesus was not a catholic, or a pope. He was not even a Christian. Christians are those who revere and follow His teachings. The term Christian was a cheap-shot moniker pinned on Jewish believers in Yeshua by Antiochian society around AD 40. It was originally meant to be a slur but it suited believers and was soon adapted by them as a sign of regard and reverence to Christ.

If you are interested in this person, Jesus, yet remain hesitant, let me offer a suggestion that can reveal understanding or at least the first glimmer of that spiritual sunrise you’ve been waiting for. Just ask Him. 

It’s OK.  Just pray, “Jesus, I’m not sure that you are who people say you are or if you are even real. I am asking you to reveal to me that you are real and the chosen messiah of Israel. Please show me. That is all I ask.”

You will not lose your Jewish roots and identity when you believe in Yeshua. You will find you become more Jewish, for Yeshua said, “Salvation is of (or comes from) the Jews,” (Gospel of John 4:22).

Jesus is not a Christian in the sense of the guy who shows up for Sunday morning church with Bible in hand. The only ‘bible’ Jesus had was the Tanach. He taught from the writings of Moses and all the prophets and said they foretold His coming (Gospel of Luke 24:22-27). He’s thoroughly Jewish and He is thoroughly wanting to reveal Himself to you.

As I heard one brother’s challenge to an atheist, “Why not trust Jesus? What have you got to lose?” you can do the same right now. Perhaps this devotional blog is that very answer and sign you have been asking for. It is no accident you are reading this. Today is your day of salvation.

 The challenged atheist I spoke of did ask, and Jesus showed him who He really is. This man believed and God was faithful to meet him where he lived. He went from rage to peace and has been a friend and brother in Christ to me for over 50 years. Whether Jew or Gentile I offer that same challenge. Just ask Him. Really, what do you have to lose?

Maranatha,

Ken

If you believe Yeshua, Jesus, is the promised Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world and want to know Him, you can pray this prayer from your heart and He will hear it: “Jesus, I believe you are the Promised One of Israel. I believe You came to bring us freedom from the tyranny of Satan and sin and will one day restore Israel to its rightful place with You. I want to honor and serve You now and I ask you into my heart and to forgive and pardon all my sin. Lead and guide me by Your Holy Spirit. Amen” 

Now, if you prayed that prayer and want to move further in your relationship with Yeshua, I encourage you to read the Gospel of John in the New Testament, then look for a fellowship that teaches the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. If you are Jewish and wish to join a Messianic fellowship, there is more than likely one near you and would welcome you. Get involved with other believers in Yeshua! It is a good beginning. This Jewish Jesus, Yeshua, is real and alive. May He grant you insight and understanding in Himself as your relationship grows. Grace and Peace to you.

When God Moves Behind You

Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Exodus 14:19-20 (NIV)

The stories in Scripture are so written as to see the miraculous without the mythological. In Creation God was already there (Gen 1:1), as were the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2) and the Son (Prov. 30:4, Col. 1:16). Yahweh did not struggle against chaotic forces or have to battle other gods to rearrange pre-existent matter into the cosmos. In ultimate power He spoke it into being out of nothing, easily explained and easily understood.

After God broke Israel’s bondage and moved them out of Egypt Pharaoh and his officials realized the economic catastrophe their nation would face by the Israelite slaves’ departure. He ordered his army to mobilize and bring them back (Ex. 14:5-6).

In leading the children of Israel out of Egypt God could have brought them through the Philistine country which was a shorter route but with the very real threat of having to fight the Philistines. He said, “If they face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt” (Exodus 13:17). 

He led them instead around a desert road to the Red Sea and into seeming disaster. In bringing Israel into a place that is every military commander’s nightmare, God was not guilty of poor strategy. He brought them into what seemed a trap saying, “I will gain glory for Myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD (Ex. 14:4).

When the Egyptians arrived, panic ensued in the Israeli encampment. They turned on Moses accusing him of first-degree malfeasance leading them into the desert to die (Ex. 14:11-12), but when God has a plan, no other plan can stand. The angel of the LORD who was leading them (possibly a pre-incarnate Christ theophany) immediately moved to their rear, followed by the pillar of cloud. The angel and the cloud stood between the Egyptians and the Israeli camp, protecting them from Pharaoh’s army.

Throughout the night the pillar of cloud brought darkness to the Egyptians and light to the Israeli side (14:19-20). It may have been the same kind of debilitating darkness the LORD brought on Egypt in the 9^th plague-a darkness that could be felt-as Moses recorded in Exodus 10:21-29. In that plague of darkness, no Egyptian could see or move about for three days, yet all the Israelites had light in every place they lived. The power of the Living God stopped Pharaoh’s forces in their tracks.

The LORD ordered Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea to divide the waters and brought a hard wind from the east that blew all night, parting the sea to allow Israel to escape through it on dry ground. When the Israelis had all gotten through the Egyptians rushed into the ocean pathway in pursuit. God caused the great walls of water (Ex. 14:29) to close on them so that every Egyptian in the sea path drowned. Any surviving Egyptians on the shore, perhaps Pharaoh himself, who witnessed it knew the power and glory of Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews.

Where are you today? Worried about any situation you or loved one’s face? God knows and achieves His purposes for the welfare of those who love and serve Him. He sees your Red Sea moment, days, or years, and is handling your burden and already knows what you need before you even ask (Matt. 6:8). For whatever you are facing, if you are trusting the Lord to handle it, you will see Him move behind you to stand between you and the Devourer.

It is hard to see what the Lord is doing when He is behind you, but He is fighting for you. The enemy is thrashing around in darkness while you stand in the Light of Life (Jn 8:12). The anticipation of how He will do it should be delicious. It is icing on the cake. When the Lord moves behind you just taste and see how good He is.

Maranatha,

Ken

To a Thousand Generations

Know therefore that the LORD your God, he is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

I believe it is safe to say we have all wondered what God is like, while overlooking the witness of those who saw Him. Jesus was more than just a good man or some kind of exalted prophet. He was 100% man and 100% God. When His disciple Philip asked Him to show them God the Father, Jesus replied, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’” (Jn. 14:9). What was with that statement? Was Jesus lying? Was He insanely deluded? Or was Jesus who He claimed to be? All of our belief systems fall into one of these categories.

Despite those who deny it, Jesus Christ often, and at times openly, declared His deity throughout His ministry, but many Jews saw Him as a deceiver and blasphemer (Matt. 27:63, 26:65). They understood His meaning of saying He was God and wanted to put Him to death for it (Jn. 10:30-33).

God is Spirit (Jn 4:24), yet a real, sentient Being, able to not only perceive and understand but have feelings and emotions. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit can be moved with love, compassion, and intercession for us (Psalm 18:6, Matt. 9:36. Rom. 8:26). As He could have always existed only in Spirit it was for us, He chose to reveal Himself in a very understandable way of our own human flesh.

David proved God’s goodness to him in his personal witness to the end of his life. He speaks of the LORD making firm the steps of those who delight in Him and added, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread (Ps. 37:25).

Does God answer every need as we wish? No, not in every instance but it has been my experience that He thankfully answers in His wisdom and perfect timing. 

While there have been stressful times in my own life when He was silent, He was repainting doors and oiling hinges on portals He planned on opening for me. I have even found He opened doorways for me for things I had not even asked for or expected, yet I found how perfectly that doorway had been for that situation. If things had never worked out in my estimation, I realized He had remained faithfully by my side through it.

God is gracious and loving to the thousandth generation of those who love and choose to follow His commandments. He is not limited to just a thousand generations. That number just gives a bit of perspective to His unlimited and compassionate love. His loving kindness for you will continue throughout eternity, into a world without end.

For those hungry for Him the Father gives the Bread of Life in His Son, Christ Jesus (Jn. 6:35). For those dying of thirst in the world’s desert of doubt and despair He gives the Water of Eternal Life so we will have no need to thirst after those things any longer (Jn. 4:13, 7:37-38). He loves you in all His glorious attributes. They are so vast they cannot all be named. He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider, providing your needs and not necessarily your wants, keeping His loving covenant to you to the thousandth generation and beyond.

Maranatha,  

Ken

The Shame of Little Jess

We love because he first loved us 1^st John 4:19

In the 1956 movie version of Friendly Persuasion, Little Jess Birdwell does not know exactly what to say during a Sunday morning meeting of the Friends, and during a moment of contemplation blurts out “GOD IS LOVE!” Little Jess is immediately stared down by a speechless elder Purdy, as the lad hides his face in shame. Jess’s outburst held a core truth. God surely is love (1^st John 4:8). But what does that really mean? Is it just some kind of religious feel-good slogan or a free ride to heaven? If the sovereignty of God is perhaps His most abused attribute, then His attribute of love seems the most misquoted and misapplied.  

While the Greek has at least 8 definitions of the noun love, Our English has one. The English dictionary definition is ‘an intense feeling of deep affection.'  We can say we love our mates, we love our children, we love our pets, and we can even say we love that can of toffee peanuts by the chair. In the modern vernacular they can both be found factually affectionate and fully unfortunate. Love for many in both the secular and religious realms has become a license to do whatever people wish even if it goes against God’s character.

Satan’s mode of operating has been the same in his millenniums-long war against God, to reverse and twist God’s perfect design. If God says men and women should not have sexual love for the same sex, or that men and women be sexually abstinent outside the marriage commitment, Satan says, “God is lying to keep you from finding true fulfilment” (Gen. 3:4-5). After all what is wrong with love? God is love. It says it in the Bible! If God is love, how can it be wrong?” It eventually comes down to creating a god of love who is in essence, a dementia-addled grandfather who smiles and winks at what we do in the name of love because he is love, even when He says certain things are an abomination to His character.

Paul wrote to Timothy that a time would come when people would no longer want to adhere to sound doctrine. Their spiritual ears will itch to suit their own desires and turn away from listening to the truth, turning to myths (2^nd Timothy 4:3-4), the greatest being that God overlooks what His character demands!

We are living in that age right now, a time when people willingly have turned from the God of the Bible to a love-myth that is perverse. They have made love into a god of the imagination. If it is possible to love anything, then it is also possible to love outside the parameters of God’s character. To be clear, not everything we hold in affection is sin. For those who seriously want to grow in their walk in Christ, knowing the character of God is paramount to knowing love’s true purpose. I do my best not to scratch any ears that itch for license or reason to sin.

God's love and commandments always bring ultimate satisfaction when we trust His healthy design for us. From before the beginning of time God’s love was never specifically all feel-good or existed to tickle ears, it was sacrificial and always within the boundaries and character of the Triune-God (Gen 1:26, Titus1:2).

Let us study God's character to be approved by Him. Paul tells us to make the effort to be prompt and earnest to present ourselves worthy unto God, and after being examined by Him and found without shame, to rightly cut the word of God straight and correctly (to distinguish) in its meaning (2^nd Tim. 2:15). It is good to love and at its best when done within the attribute of God’s true character.

We love because He first loved us with a pre-Creation love that was fully demonstrated at the cross. Jesus said there is no greater love than this (John 15:13). Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death and witnessed resurrection from the dead He invites us to rest in Him and learn from Him (Matt 11:29). When we do, we will always find a fulfillment that is godly and stays within the boundaries of His perfection. Instead of blurting out the world’s diatribe of love, when we say God is love it will be with the fullest understanding. It will be without shame.

Maranatha,

Ken

Omnipresent-Always There, Ever Aware

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:7, 8 (NIV)

God is everywhere present at the same moment, whether it is in our timeline, dimensionally (Jn. 1:18), or existing outside of it transcendently (Is. 57:15). He is both within the universe and outside it. Omnipresence is one of those difficult perceptions of God’s Being, closer to how someone could have always existed. How is it possible? It is probable that in our coming glorified position as a royal priesthood (Rev 1:6, 5:10) we may have a greater understanding of such things.

Satan as a created being cannot be everywhere at once. If he is spreading chaos in the Middle East right now and wants to do so in America, he will have to move himself to America. God is always everywhere present and never needs to relocate.

Always running parallel to God’s omnipresence is His attribute of omniscience. He sees all things and knows all things, even to what a person goes to great lengths to hide. Jesus told Nicodemus people seek to do their evil deeds in darkness, but God who is always present always sees everything thing done in the darkness as in the light (John 3:19).

Christ consoles us in our heavenly Father’s attribute of omniscience, reminding us that the Father is presently aware of even the death of a single sparrow. It is a reminder of how He always sees us, and how much more worth we are than many sparrows (Matt 10:29-31).

He is as close as your skin, and more thoroughly through your body, soul, and mind than anyone can be. Jesus says He is your completeness and will never forsake you (Matt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5).

When He says, “Do not be afraid,” He speaks with the greatest comfort and authority in time and outside of it. Wherever you are, God is. He is the God of our time and understanding and the Transcendent God beyond it, always aware and always there.

Maranatha,

Ken