The Land of Promises

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."Deut:6:10-12

As the people of Israel  came near to the land Canaan that had been promised to their Fathers Abraham, Issac and Jacob  by the Lord , Moses,   the one who led Israel and bore with them from the slave pits of Egypt to the Red Sea crossing and the years in the Wilderness now looks out upon a land that had so many advantages prepared for them by the Lord God, yet,  Moses himself would  not enter in,  at best he could gaze out and see from a distance the land that awaited beyond the River Jordan.

 A Land Prepared

This land held so much for them and it was their's  for the having.

"When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."Deut:6:10-12

This land  had homes and agriculture, and abundant access to fresh water.  The Promised Land  had an abundance of advantages all for Israel, it was a land prepared for them,  the Lord only cautioned them to remember that it was Him  who accomplished all this for them.

Joshua even at the end of his life  recalls the same admonition to the people .

‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ Josh:24:11-13

Israel was to remember just who it was that gave them so great a blessing and not to forget their God.

The Land of Promises 

These admonishments  to Israel,  to walk  fully within the Promised land , with their hearts always inclined toward to the Lord God ,  this speak to  us Christians today as well. We Christians walk not in a Promised Land but rather a Land of Promises prepared for each and all who would but freely receive them.

This is the land that many of the Old Testament personalities truly sought to see, yet,  like Moses could only view them from afar off as they peered down the ages beyond their time and ultimately on into Eternity,  under the inspiration of the Great God.

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Heb:11:13-16

This "county"  which they knew was out there, maybe not fully  grasping how the Lord would accomplish it ,yet ,  they sought it and believed that in the end they would walk within this "country" .

Just  Glimpses of It

From the very beginning with the promises to the Patriarchs, and the establishment of Israel , from the Priesthood and the Throne of David ,to the words of the Prophets all these things looked ahead and to the coming of Jesus, the very one who takes us and guides us to the land of Promises.

Yet all who came before us, just caught glimpses of this realty, that Jesus was and is come.They wanted to understand but never were given this blessing fully as we who are Christians. We are able to walk in the land of Salvation.

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care," 1Ptr:1:10

In This Life as Well

We are even now able to experience so much of what the Lord has for us, this is for us even now not just in the the eternity to come. We do not have to sit and gaze upon this land at a distance we are invited into it even now where we can walk the eternal breath of its limitless boundaries. We can clime to the hill tops  and reap form the abundance of the vineyards and fields and drink from the deep wells. This truth that all that our Lord has for us is already ours and will be ours fully in the eternity to come, this is what Theologians call the  Inaugurated Eschatology . 

 

All of this all because of Jesus.

When we are led to this land of Promises , so much of it is for us even now. The Apostle Peter asking our Lord regarding the reward of being a follower of Jesus , receives an answer that encompasses this life upon the Earth and into the Kingdom.

"Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first" Mk:10:28-31

This encouragement speaks to us that , even here, "in this present age"   we can partake in blessings that are our's in our Lord Jesus Christ. These blessing of the promises are far more than just material, that is wealth, bricks and mortar , position, titles , or fame.

What our Lord has for each of us goes beyond the material, that is  the things that will waste away. He is talking about  about a relationship which is far more than we could ever hope for.

Our Lord  wants each of us to walk fully in the Promises that He has for us, but above them all He wants us to know Him. All eternal life is summed up in Jesus in terms of relationship, that is knowing Him.

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."Jhn:17:3

In and by Jesus we find more than we can even begin to understand. In Jesus we find that land of Promises opened to each and all through faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone or as it is said in the Latin
solus per gratiam per fidem in Christum,

 Homes Prepared

Before the people of Israel were towns and villages with homes built for them, prepared and waiting for them to occupy and dwell with in.

"cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide" 

Theses dwelling were theirs. In the same way our Lord has is providing a home for all who will receive it awaiting each of us, this home is filled with eternal blessing, as the towns were for Israel.

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am".Jhn:14:1-3

  Jesus is, even now preparing this place for us to spend eternity in with Him, an extended community of  fellowship and worship without end were we are want loved and included, this very community is pictured ultimately in the New Jerusalem that is in preparation.

" I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." Rev:21:2

  

The True Vine

In the cultre of  that time, and in  the nation of Israel,  the idyllic  imagery of the Promised land and the life of

the people was typified and viewed as being under the vine and fig.
Micah the Prophet was inspired to uses this image to present the people of Israel finally experiencing this long sought contentment.

"Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken."Mich:4:4

 
This is contentment and peace being at rest having every need of the whole person met, living without fear.
 For  Christian this is found in the Promises of  and  in Jesus Christ, the true vine that we might sit under and being at rest. It is ours  and for us if we are careful not to neglect what He so freely offers us.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" Jhn:15:1-8

 Deep Wells

As we transverse the land of Promises in Christ we find that  as we live and walk this land and set our hearts and minds upon Jesus the deep wells of the Holy Spirit , wells,  which we did not dig,that is they are for us with out works, that is by grace, here  through revelation about Jesus  thirst is  quenched

The Prophet Isaiah , looking ahead to the offering of the Holy Spirit to all who would receive Him  through Jesus wrote.

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" .Isa:55:1

Standing in the Temple courts Jesus invites us to become outlets for the eternal flow of the Holy Spirit

 "but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jhn:4:14

 The Holy Spirit will touch our lives and speak to us regarding our Lord , disclosing to us all the Promises that are found in Jesus.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." Jhn:16:13-15

We are invited to enter this Land of Promises that is found in Jesus. It is  land of life eternal and without bounds, but not just for some day in the eternity to come , but we can experience it in and by Jesus. Jesus came that we might have a life that is more than we can imagine.

 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."Jhn:10:10b

 Even now as we walk the Earth , we are found in our Lord in the hights of Heaven in the glorified resurrected humanty of Jesus;  in Jesus we share in the Kingdom that is His.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" Eph:1:3

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.' Eph:2:4-7

Yes

The Great God has offered each  and all the opportunity to enter into this land of Promise, He willingly desires us to live in them and affirms them to us in His Son Jesus.

 "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God"  2Corth:1:20

 When we hear the call of God in message of Salvation presented in the Gospel and come to believe in Jesus, we are taking hold of promises that stretch back to the Patriarchs and joining with them to receive them.The very same ones  that they embraced and shared in.
All that the Great God has for them, and we all,  if we will but freely receive them and accept His love freely offered.
We need not be as Moses who viewed the Promise land but did not enter, we can instead enter and wall throughout it.

 "As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable" .Rom:11:29

 Our Lord has prepared this for us and it has awaited us all who will receive it from the very beginning.What we can walk in today is what all who went before long to see and understand.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."Matt:25:34


   It is our Lords' great desire that we enter the  Promises that He has affirmed to us through His Son. Jesus is the ultimate affirmation to us that God's love is to us and for us, that He invites us to enter in and walk the length, breadth and highth of all that His Son has died that we might have,to live in a vibrant relationship with our God, we can have this even now for each and all who will accept it. We enter not a Promised land but a land of Promises in His Son Jesus.Amen    

 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Treaty With Gibeon

"However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us" Josh:9:3-6

As the people  of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Promised Land they began the conquest that was intended to secure Palestine for them as their home land. Israel faces the   Canaanites , some even form an alliance to oppose Israel in their conquest.

The Lord had warned the people of  Israel to remove all the pagan peoples who lived in the Promised Land so that there would nothing to be a problem for them and an impermanent to His people.

"Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel."Josh:9:1-2


As Israel met and defeated each of the challenges that arose against them and after the defeat of the cities of Jericho and Ai, the men of Gibeon heard of the defeats and  , developed a plan by which they hoped would allow them to remain in Canaan and not  driven out by the armies of Israel.

 "However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse:(3)

Gibeon

The region of Gibeon was in central Canaan and lay directly in the path of the people of Israel.  The men of this region using this ruse,  hoped that they would be able to deceive the people of Israel and remain in their land.

They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us"(4-6)

Gibeon sends a delegation to Israel wearing old clothing and with supplies that seemed dated. What they did was to create the appearance and impression that they were from a far off land and bore no threat to Israel. This was done to induce Israel to sign a binding treaty with them under these false pretenses a treaty that unbeknownst to Israel would prevent them from removing the people of Gibeon from the land.

At first the men of Israel are a bit  suspicious and put forth the idea that maybe the delegation is from near by and not from far off as they claim.

"The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”(7)

 To this inquiry the Gibeonites become subtly deceptive so that Israel will lower their guard so Israel  will believe that they are no threat to them, "we are your servants" .

"we are your servants" they said to Joshua" (8)

Joshua presses them for answers  but again they give a vague and distant  answer is given to draw Israel's attention away form the truth. They even add that it because of the "fame of the Lord God" that they have come from their "distant country" wherein they heard of the power of God and all that the Lord had done for Israel. (9-10)

The Gibeonites present a story , that their delegation was dispatched by the "Elders and everyone living in their country" , to come and establish a  diplomatic relationship and  with Israel,  again presenting the notion that they are no threat to Israel "we are your servants" , that is,  we are no problem for you. (11)

As  evidence of their story,  the Gibeonites present the moldy bread and cracked wine skins which they claimed was fresh and new when they departed  and the worn clothing that was upon them . All this was to created the illusion that they have come from a "distant country"  (9).

A Binding Treaty

The men of Israel look at the "evidence" the Gibeonites showed them and  they then proceed to establish a treaty with them , one which would prove to be a burden on the people of Israel. 

This treaty is ratified by the Joshua and leaders of Israel,  and it is unfortunately done without seeking the guidance of the Lord,  and then as if to compound the mistake they establish it with a binding oath.

"The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath".(14-15)

Not So Far Off

Within three days after the establishment of this treaty with Gibeon it is discovered that they are not from far off but are rather are "neighbors" close at hand, that Gibeon  has deceived the people of Israel, but it is too late Israel is now bound by the treaty to allow Gibeon to remain in the midst of the land. They have sworn an oath before the Lord so that Israel can not move against the Gibeonites cities. These cities  are now  a fixed problem for Israel.

"Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel".(16-18)

The problem could have been dealt with and avoided  if Israel had only " inquire of the Lord",  but they did not seek God's input into the matter , had they done so future problem would have been avoided. 

Gibeon Made Slaves

When the truth is discovered, Joshua,  now understand the mistake,  that he, and all of  Israel has made  and the "curse" which they have allowed  and the challenge that is now  before them in the midst of the Land. 

 Israel realizes  that that they have allowed Gebeon to remain protected by Israel's oath.

With the treaty biding and  under compulsion of an oath Israel attempts to cope with the Gibeonite problem through subjugation them to slavery that of being wood cutters and water carriers, but they could not be removed.

Joshua calls the delegation to himself  and bitterly asked why Gibeon has done this, they  explain using the words of God  to remind Joshua that the Lord Himself previously instructed Moses that all inhabitants of Canaan   should be removed before  the people of Israel and that they feared what would happen.(19-26)

Israel Never Whole

Due to the Gibeon cities which was occupying the central regions of  Israel  there arose a feeling of division between the northern and southern provinces  Israel , these cites kept Israel from being "whole" . It created a sectarianism within Israel dividing north from south.They never could be whole with Gibeon in their midst.

As well Israel found  itself bound to protect Gibeon  when they came under attack Joshua:10.
In the years to come King Saul  mistreated of the Gibeonites, and  after killing  seven males  God  sent a famine of the land for three years.2Samuel:21

What Lesson(s) for Christians 

When we come to believe in the person of Jesus Christ  and enter  into the Promises of the Kingdom of God  and the Lord God has set us free from the power of Egypt sin and death,  when we have crossed the River Jordan to that Land of Promises.

  When He has given us great  victories over many adversaries through our Lord Jesus and His work of Salvation for each of us,   we need  to be careful about what may lay within the Canaan of our lives. Though we are forgiven through the Saving work of Jesus we still might encounter a Gibeon within us, that is,  something  that decisive us as Gibeon's  deception convinced Israel. 

We need to see our lives in light of Jesus and the Word of God,  things that may seem a  far off at a great distance from sin,  may like Gibeon be  close at hand. 

If something  comes before us we need to ask ourselves is this something that we need to remove from before us ? Should this be removed from the Canaan of our lives? We can't look at only the face value  as did Israel, this can deceive us, we need to do what Israel should have done and "inquire of the Lord" .  

We need to look to the word of God and if what we find  there is contrary to His revealed word, then  it should be removed and no "treaty"  be made with it, that is allow it to remain. If we do , these Gibeonite cities will become a curse to us.

We are to do as Paul wrote "mortify the works of the flesh" Rm:8:13

We can not make peace with anything  that would prevent us from walking fully in all that God has for us in His Son. If we make a "treaty" with these things in our lives we will find that will suffer from an internal division or who we are in Christ. Like Israel we will be a divided land, never completely experiencing the whole that is our in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

We may even find our selves expending  time and resources coming to our sins defense, as Israel did when they were forced to protect Gibeon. 

We may even realizing  our mistake in allowing a  sinful behavior to remain and then  attempt to relegate sin to our submission as Gibeon was forced to "cut wood and carry water" ,but in the end it will be curse and bring a famine upon us as Gibeon was to Israel.  Our Christian lives will never beas full as our Lord intends for us.

 What ever it is that might before us if it is something that will hinder us from being whole,  from walking in the Christian life it must be removed so that we can be whole as Israel never was able to be with Gibeon in the midst of the land. 

 Our Christian lives will never be full as our Lord intends for us  if we make a "treaty"  with the sin of Gibeon to remain in our lives. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Cleansing The Temple

"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not permit that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying to them, Is it not written, "My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?"  but you have made it a den of thieves." Mark:11:15-17

When  Jesus and His Disciples came to Jerusalem at the time of the Passover   they entered the Temple of God the very center of Israel relationship with the Great God . Here in this place which was meant to be Holy  they find instead that many were capitalizing and merchandizing the people   for their own gain.
 Jesus is moved by the sight to confront and drive out those who were using God house for their own gain.

The zeal of God burned within Jesus and aggressively confront the merchandize and those who used their position to get where they wanted to go.

Placed Early in John's Gospel

When we look at what Jesus did here at the Temple it speaks to us about the very reason that our lord has come. If we turn to the Gospel of John's account  in John:2:13-22, we see , that unlike the other accounts it is placed at the very onset of Jesus' ministry rather  then at the end as is recorded in MK:11:15-17, Mtt:21:12-13; Lk:19:45-46.  Many have wondered if these accounts describe one or two different events.

Now some Biblical Scholars, view John's account ,  as John,  by way of a literary device,  that of placing the Cleansing of the Temple at the onset of his account  , as  providing us a glimpse  into the whole mission of our Lord. For John , it is not important when the event occurred but rather what it means to us.  That is John is telling us what Jesus'  whole ministry and mission was and and continues to be, that of Cleaning the Temple courts of our lives, restoring us by Grace into a right relationship with God.

 In the Outer Courts 

What did Jesus do? The Temple at Jerusalem was the focus of Israel's relationship with God. This relationship was being used by some for their own gain and in doing so  others were being kept out. They had turned religion into a business.

John tells us that this event occurs at the time of the Passover, the commemoration of the people of Israel being set free from bondage. A time when the people should have been reverently worshiping the Great God born out of a right  relationship with Him.

"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover" Jhn:2:13

Jesus finds in the courts of the Temple  men who were engaged in the buying and selling of sacrificial animals.  This religious "market place"  was found in the very outer courts of the temple  which were  the Court of the Gentiles the only place that Gentiles were permitted to pray at,  which was sectioned off by a barricade from the other courts   and the Court of Woman. These two groups were given only limited access to the Temple under this system.

These two courts  were the furthest away from the Sanctuary, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Gentiles and woman were not permitted to go any closer to the inner courts.
 
 " In the temple courts Jesus  found people selling cattle, sheep and doves"(14a)

Consider, what the effect having livestock penned up would have. Animals produce waist,  the smell of dung would be in the air. It would have created a rather offensive situation and would have diminished the sacntaty of the Temple and what it was intended to be and would keep others way because of the stench.
 
Jesus also witness men who had set up tables and were engaged in exchanging the legal  money for the Temple coinage that had no value outside of the courts. The rule was that only Temple Coins could be given in the Temple offering pots, the legal coins needed to be exchanged,  in the process there was deflated value, people would trade in valued currency for near worthless coins.

" and others sitting at tables exchanging money."(14b)

 The only ones who profited were the money changers and their religious host who authorized the exchange.

Driven Out Over Turned 

Jesus' reaction is one of righteous indignation and He acts upon it, He chases them and scatters their coins declaring that for the sake of profit they have distorted the relationship that They were to have with God.

 "So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” ^(15-17)

 Jesus is not just being "theatrical"  but Jesus is  showing that a change is now to come. The whole system ,which was a distortion of the Covenant that God had made with Israel , which  was in place,  was to come to an end.
The religious establishment "abused" the system for their own good at the expenses of the very people,whom they were to be serving.

 Mark adds to the account giving us a better understand, he tells us that some where using the Temple as a shot cut to get where they wanted to go. If we walk in courts of the Temple it should be for the purpose of worship not our own advancement to "get where we want to go".

 "Jesus would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts". Mk:11:16

Jesus does not want anyone using Temple  as a short cut to get to where ever they want to go.

That selfish distortion of "performance"  based religion,   stank as did the dung of the animals penned up in the courts. That tells us that when we have this type of "religion" it stinks and keeps people away. Keeps them in the "outer courts", far from the Holy of Holies,  or worse keeps them out of the Church which is the Temple its self altogether,that is ,  our actions  can turn people off.  

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?"1Corinth:3:16

 Church the Temple

We are to be a Holy Temple , where no stench of  of dung and exchange   of money is found. We are to be walking in the Grace of God,  and that is,  the  same Grace that is shown to us should be shown others, that there is nothing keeping any from drawing near to the Holy of Holies.  They should not be kept away by "merchandising activity" that is selfishness,  in the Court of our hearts, they should see pure hearts transformed by God's place in out lives. 

 Our lives should proclaim that Jesus has entered the courts of our lives and cleansed the Temple of our hearts,  that we are washed clean and have experienced the forgiveness that He has for any and all.

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."Matt:26:28

Jesus' sacrifice sets us free to walk in forgiveness. We can live under the New Covenant , that New relationship that is for all people not just Israel, this New Covenant is for people all nations. There is no receding courts that limit any from coming near , no boundary  that admits only a few  select ones. But God has opened the way through Jesus, and His death on the Cross none need stand afar off.

   "And as Jesus taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations" Mk:11:17

 Jesus was in so many word "truing over the tables of the covenant"  , so that none be limited of prevented from knowing the great God but come to Him.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,  by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, "Eph:2:13-15

 Jesus did this by His perfect sacrifice  and His following resurrection. Jesus speaks of this in response to the religious leaders inquire as to by what authority He acted in the Temple . Jesus has authority  to bring any and all near to stand within His courts of His Temple of His church and worship, to have the money changers of our natures driven out , forgiven washed clean by His blood.

"The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken"  Jhn:2:18-22

Jesus' resurrection is the evidence that He has come to cleanse the Temple court of our lives and dispose of  an abused system of religion, and restore us to a proper relationship with the Great God bringing  any and all near to Him that we might be a Cleansed Temple in which the Lord God is worshiped and honored now and forever. Amen.

 Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

The Great God

"I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me."Isaiah:46:9b

 Some years ago J.B.Phillips a well known Canon of the Anglican Church, author & Bible translator wrote a short but very powerful work entitled

 “Your God is Too Small”  in it Rev. Phillips  presents the argument that,  the “god” most worship is diminished & small.

How Great is our God?

Yet,  the Bible presents a far different view of God.  It presents a God who is unequaled, & indescribable, a God whose greatness is beyond anything we can even begin to imagine. A God who is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient God who is , Eternal, with life inherent, without limitations, a God that is ruled by no power, rule, or compulsion, a God who is God alone, None before Him, None beside Him, None after Him. 

 Rev. Phillips book speaks to us all,  that we tend to allow circumstances and situations to eclipse the God Who is more than able to deliver us from any and all challenges, but the idea of God being diminished by way of a "theology" is a different matter. 

Yet a god, who is basically a “glorified human being”,  is being preached. This diminishing of the God of Scripture is happening in some pulpits even up to this very hour . Not as Jesus is glorified in His Resurrection, but one that diminishes His deity  while augmenting His humanity, when this occurs there will be a form of legalism that develops to compensate either. 

For If Jesus is not fully both deity and humanity , then that leaves a need to be filled,  and is left up to the  of the individual to preform up to some stranded, or do something, or not do something or  to knowing, or have some sort of experience to demonstrate  their faith in Jesus.

Forms of Legalism 

Understand , that the legalistic person has only has two options; either to over evaluate their performance which manifest itself as self righteousness, or to undervalue their performance which manifest itself as self condemnation.

 Either way  , legalism is the root , but if we can see that Jesus is who Scripture presents him  as  then we can rest in Him; we do not need to "add" anything, only but accept and to say "yes"  to the salvation offered so freely to us by Grace through Jesus Christ.

There are generally five types of legalism, which are additions to the Grace of God which some believe  need to be added to accomplish salvation;

Ergonomical-Grace- That is Works coupled with Grace produces salvation.

Ascetic-Grace-That is Self  Denial coupled with Grace produces salvation.

Esoteric-Grace-That is Secret Knowledge coupled with Grace produces salvation. 

Sacerdotal-Grace- That is Participation in a Sacred function coupled with Grace produces salvation.

Ecstatical-Grace- That is , having an Experience coupled with Grace produces salvation.

All forms of legalism arise from a distorted view of our Lord Jesus Christ , either His deity is diminished or His humanity  is augmented. The result is the same!

A message that actually augments and exult humanity to God’s level and diminishes God to humanities level, to the point where God needs us . 

This is a message that is being put forth by some in certain circles of  Christianity.  Many are hearing this message, yet,  not realizing what  "theology" truly is behind it and supporting it   , or where this "theology" came from.

New Thought

 Where did this "theology" arise from? It is impossible to give a full explanation and history , but basically,  it emerges out of what was called the "New Thought" movement ,  that was found in the New England States here in America. It arrived here,  from European cult "societies" that embraced "magic" and other "mind expanding practices".  

These cult "socialites" also taught and sought direction from "spirits"   and contact with the dead.  It is notable that, some in Christian circles who embrace this "theology",  have claimed to have conversed with departed "saints" receiving direction from them.  

The "New Thought" movement  taught   that all humanity is part of the "divine" . There is ,however, a difference in the Biblical Teaching that we are "in Christ" due to His acts of Salvation on our behalf  . This  belief of  "Pantheism" meaning "all is god".  

As being "god",  humanity could learn to utilize the resident power housed in the creation. That is, if you want something just say it and and it will be yours....just like "magic", this is being taught to some Christians. 

They heap guilt upon those who might be sick or have limited resources. This mind set that  of,   how much one has or has not ,is not a Biblical barometer to a persons spiritual condition,or a measure of God's pleasure or displeasure, yet,   some of the greatest Christians who ever lived  have been sick and poor, yet their lives still are impacting us today.

This "theology" during the early part  of the twentieth century was embraced by some well known Christians ministers , and it has found lodgement and merger with the Christian message and is perpetuated still. 

 It in particular found embrace by those who wanted to see a display of "power" . Those who teach according to this line will often talk of "power" and scoff at those who do not.

 For a greater and fuller explanation of this "theology"  I would encourage our readers to read two books,  both by Mr. Hank Hanegraff  "Counterfeit Revival" and "Christianity in Crisis".

 God is Great and Awesome

 This "theology"  teaches that God lives on a planet of which the Earth is only a materiel copy .   Scripture tells us that God fills the Heavens and Earth that nether can contain Him.  Yet,  the diminished deity that is being preached by some   is not the Great God of the scripture!  
This "theology"  says that God learns.  If that would be true , that means there are things that God does not know, yet the Bible tells us that God knows everything.
The God that speaks from the Bible tells us that He encompasses  all that there is ever to know. 

The Prophet Nehemiah in his prayer address God as  "The Lord,The God of Heaven,The Great and Awesome God" Neh:1:5  . 

 Isaiah wrote of God and  speaks of  a God without limitations   with out equal with out peers.  A God Who is above and  beyond the comprehension of the minds of all humanity.  

 "Before him all the nations are as nothing;They are regarded by Him as worthless and less than nothing. With whom,then will you compare Him? Isa:40:17-18

 God Caught Off Guard?

There are some,  even from the pulpit,  that are declaring that God, this limitless God,   was somehow  "caught off guard", at the very beginning of creation when our first parents chose the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" ,  that God was only able to recover His plan on a "technicality". 

One  pastor declared that God is a failure,   that God was caught off guard in the garden of Eden.  That Adam, who some are teaching , was an exacted duplicate of God Himself,  equal to God in every way,  able to rule all things as a god ,  and the events that ensued , they all were  unprepared for . 

The god of this "theology" was  nearly out flanked by an adversary who is his equal in every way. This  amounts to nothing  but the pagan teaching of   dualism,  where there are two opposite, yet equal powers , resident in creation which are locked forever in cosmic battle  that ether might finally  win.

This is not the teaching of the Holy Bible.   Isa: 45:5-10- tells us that God is in  complete control of all thing, all time and eternity,there is none who can out flank or   Him or defeat Him.

 "God declares the end from the beginning" Isa:46:10 . He is in full control of all time and eternity. The God of Bible can not be out witted or defeated. His will ultimately is done even in the face of random chance and of free will that He has bestowed.

God Rules

Yet ,it is proclaimed brashly that God can do nothing with out us that God needs humanity to complete his purpose.  That He is somehow "needy" . 

Though it is so that God has chosen not to be without us,  that does not means that God "needs" us , rather He wants us. 

Dan: 4:34-35- God Rules over all, none which  can hinder the God of the Bible 

Job: 25:2- Dominion & awe belong to God

Ps: 47:7- God is King over all the Earth

You Are "god"

There are some  who are influenced by the New Thought Movement,   who are preaching that we are "little gods" , this idea, of godhood has crept into the some pulpits . 
 Not through adoption provided by the Cross and  Resurrection of Jesus but by virtue,  as they learn,  by faith,   to utilize the same power that God "learned to use", and they can learn to direct its power and have anything that they want just by speaking it. 

Where then does this idea come from?....... It is the same old deception that was from the very beginning. That same spirit cited above. This spirit that seeks expression though any willing conduit .

“You’ll be like God”Gen:3:4  .

The same old deception from the eternity past now being  foisted off on humanity and in some places and it is being done in the name of Jesus.

He is God Alone

There is a voice that speaks even from the ancient times, a voice of lust and jealousy who wanted to to be God . One that wanted power and sought to take it.

 Speaking of a king that sought undue honor, but, not just to the human instrumentality , but to the spirit that move him.  A spirit who wanted to be exulted himself above the very God of Heaven.

"How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth,

you who once laid low the nations!You said in your heart,“I will ascend to the heavens;I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;I will make myself like the Most High.”

But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,to the depths of the pit." Isa:14:12-15

When any take on the idea that they are or can be God they will be in the end  brought down .  Ezekiel address the king of Tyre, but through this prophecy the Prophet spoke to that spirit that want for power found expression through this King.This spirit look upon its own appearance, an appearance that the God of Heaven created , and believed in vanity that  it could assert its self above the Great God. This vain thought brought this spirit down to destruction and it will do so to any who attempt to take what belongs only to God. Ezk:28:1-19

God's Glory belongs only to God for e alone is God.

 "You Alone are God" Isa:37:16

"No God Before Me" Isa:43:10 

 "No Other God but Me", "Isa:44:6

 “The One”

 

This is the God Who has came in the Pearson of Jesus Christ who is revealed perfectly completely in the very Son of God. The very One Who brought in to being all things that determines the out come history, the One Who is like no other.

 All The Fullness in Jesus of God is met in Jesus, Cols:2:9.

  
God, the Word,  Who created and then joined that creation in  the  Incarnation Jhn:1:1,14

Jesus  from eternity past is God, with the Father and in glory  and is one with Him and the Holy Spirit .Jhn:17:1-6,20-21 .  

There is but One God Who has revealed Himself and offers us to come to know Him and live for eternity in eternal  fellowship. This God has reached out to us He is great than we can ever know,  In Jesus we meet our the Great God Who is above all things.  

Through Jesus God has blessed us to be coheirs as children of God sharing in all the blessing that are our Lord's . Rom:8:17, 1Jhn:3:2.

This is not just some  materialism for the here and now , things which will fade away,  as gold and silver, titles, or mansions and estates , but ever lasting blessing found in and by our Lord Jesus ,Who of all humanity,  is God. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com