The Jesus Army

I cannot remember how I discovered them. One day, a couple of years ago, I came across a phrase that intrigued me, Modern Jesus Army. Maybe because I recall the Jesus Movement, with Jesus People and Jesus Freaks. Anyway, I began to look into this Jesus Army, which is based in England. I was impressed with what I found.

This is from the About Us section of their web site:
The Jesus Fellowship Church, which is also known as the Jesus Army and includes the New Creation Christian Community, upholds the historic Christian faith, being reformed, evangelical and charismatic. It practises believer’s baptism and the New Testament reality of Christ’s Church; believing in Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; in the full divinity, atoning death and bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ; in the Bible as God’s word, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit.

This Church desires to witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ over and in His Church; and, by holy character, righteous society and evangelical testimony to declare that Jesus Christ, Son of God, the only Saviour, is the way, the truth and the life, and through Him alone can we find and enter the kingdom of God.

This church proclaims free grace, justification by faith in Christ and the sealing and sanctifying baptism in the Holy Spirit.

The Jesus Fellowship upholds the historic creeds of the Christian faith: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed.

I then downloaded their book, Fire In Our Hearts (which you can read or download here), which tells the story of their early years as a pretty old, small, traditional Baptist church in a town called Bugbrooke. In 1969 this little Baptist church was mightily impacted by the charismatic renewal and (over the years) grew into the Modern Jesus Army!

Since then I have begun to follow them on facebook and to follow several of their blogs. I have even become fb friends with one of their big-wigs (he’s humble and denies he is a big wig!)

What do I find so impressive about the Jesus Fellowship Church?

† They “uphold the historic creeds of the Christian faith: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed.” If you have read very many of my posts you know this is really important to me.

† They are very evangelistic and reach out to all people

† They are for the kingdom of God and stand against the current, corrupt culture. Against the everybody does it and we have always done it this way kind of living. When the culture does not line up with the kingdom, they attack it! As one of their pastors expressed it:

“Living for Jesus is about the never-seen-before, not the always-been-there; it’s a journey of discovery into what’s on its way, what’s coming in, what is destined to be.
It’s about the new, not the old.”

† They are truly charismatic. They have not gone the way of so much of the charismatic renewal here in the States, I mean this prosperity teaching. It is so refreshing and challenging to read about believers who expect and experience great things from God!

† They emphasize intentional Christian Community. I saw their most recent introductory video and in it they say that one fourth of their members live in community. This means, several people live together in one house and I think that means pretty much pooling their resources. A modified form of a commune. They have all things common. I have often thought about that and wondered if I could do this. They come just short of saying this is the only way to go, the truly best way to go, but they do emphasize this was the original way to go. But they are so far removed from the materialism of western culture and even, of western Christians. This is challenging and refreshing.

† They also emphasize and promote celibacy. Naturally, they strongly encourage those who take the vow of celibacy (Yes, a vow!) to live in community. They are not making monks or monasteries, but encouraging complete devotion to the Lord and service to people. Many years ago I began teaching single believers to know their gift, married or celibate, but they are the first non-Catholic group I have come across who has successfully promoted this.
I follow a blog from right here in the States that says it is “Bringing focus to the single years.” Again, I’m not sure how I found them or why I signed up to follow them (or why I continue to follow). But I have noticed, they are in constant angst over their single status and always wondering/worrying about dating and if they will ever find someone to marry. In stark contrast to this is the celibacy emphasis of the Jesus Fellowship Church. You can read about it here. I tell you, this is powerful!

I will admit, I only know them from afar. I see their best side, that which they want me to see. I’ve not heard any of their preaching or teaching. After all, they are in England and I am not! Once or twice I have read something that concerns me. Nevertheless, I really like what I see and read.

I like the Jesus Fellowship Church of England and I yearn for something like that here where I live.

Ezekiel: Invitation to a discussion

I recently finished reading the prophet Ezekiel. What a wonderful book! It’s so easy to be put off by the wheels and living creatures of the opening chapters and to see only the words of judgment, but the book really ends with a bang! I want to post a summary of how I interpret chapters 33-48 and invite discussion. I know I have the advantage, having just read it, but I am really interested in your input.
I will say at the beginning, that I see these prophecies fulfilled in Christ. I know that in the context, they are all spoken to and of Israel, but, as you will see, I believe they are fulfilled in us through Christ. So here goes:

Chapter 33:1-20 The Watchman
A very powerful section! What a word for the watchman AND for his audience. And one we need to heed (and preach) today. I have often heard this passage applied to every believer. While I’m sure there is some application, I noticed:
7  So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
Not every one in Israel was a watchman. A watchman was a set and called person.

And for those who think the Old Testament was just about judgment etc
33:11  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 
Amen! What a wonderful and passionate plea!

Chapter 34 The Good Shepherd
This chapter is a prophecy against the shepherds of Israel. It seems that they had utterly and completely failed in their duties. Therefore, in 11-16, the Lord GOD, Yahweh Himself, says He will be the Shepherd of Israel. I believe this is the background for Jesus’ teaching on the good shepherd in John 10. This prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus. And therefore says a lot about who Jesus of Nazareth is!

Then, in 22-31, we find specifics on the good shepherd. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. I do not believe He is speaking of the literal David, but of Messiah, and the angel speaks of this in the announcement to Mary in Luke. But what about
25  And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
Is this a separate covenant? Perhaps coming after the new covenant of Jeremiah? I admit this is difficult, but I have no problem seeing this fulfilled in Christ and in the new covenant we enjoy today. I say this in part because I am persuaded that God is giving through Ezekiel a timeline in chapters 33-48, and at this point we are still reading of events covered by the first advent.

Chapter 36 Sprinkle you with water, give you a new heart and my spirit
This chapter contains a wonderful and amazing prophecy of a work of grace. In verses 23-36, and especially 25-27, He describes this work of grace
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Has this been fulfilled? Does this refer to a work God will yet do for the nation Israel? However we answer these questions, I have to say, this sure sounds like the New Testament here. Even the order: water & cleansed; new heart; my spirit. Whatever else we conclude, I am fully persuaded that this describes the work God does in us through the gospel.

Chapter 37 The Valley of Dry Bones
When I read this chapter my first response is always, Wow! Such a description of resurrection! I know this could be a wonderfully descriptive way to refer to the restoration from captivity, but he says so clearly
12  ...Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves . . .

This is probably a good time to share my guiding interpretive principle for these chapters. I believe the book of Revelation is based in large part on these chapters in Ezekiel. And in Revelation we find this timeline:
19 Jesus comes in power and glory
20 the resurrection of the saints and the millennial kingdom.
That would make this chapter refer to the resurrection that accompanies the second coming. And in 24-28 we find the kingdom, characterized by David (Messiah) as King, the covenant of peace, my sanctuary/tabernacle in their midst. I believe we are the heirs of these promises.

Chapters 38-39 Gog and Magog
Two very interesting and detailed chapters. They have given birth to a tremendous amount of speculation on the identity of the peoples mentioned, as well as when this will take place. I don’t have the space (or inclination) to enter into a detailed discussion of this. I refer back to my guiding principle stated above: the book of Revelation provides the timeline and fulfillment of these chapters. Again, if I am correct, then this takes place after the millennial kingdom. We read in Revelation 20:7-9
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
This is followed by the great white throne judgment. Thus far we have seen the first advent and the glorious work of the gospel, the second advent, the first resurrection, the kingdom, and the general judgment.

Chapters 40-48 The New Jerusalem
Ezekiel ends with another Wow! The New Jerusalem described in great detail. He describes the city, the temple, the dedication of the temple, the duties of the priests, the sacrifices, the division of the land, and a river of living water. And in 43:1-4, he tells us that the glory of the Lord will fill this house. Amen!

Now, how are we to understand this? Is Israel to be a separate people? with a renewed priesthood and animal sacrifices? I cannot believe that. Again, the book of Revelation, chapter 21:
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 
9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.  10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,  11 Having the glory of God . . .

Where is Israel in this New Jerusalem of Revelation?
21:12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel . . .  14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
The people of God, brought together into one people, one bride, by Christ.

Chapter 47 speaks of the river of life, which we find in Revelation 22.

Ezekiel ends on this note: 48:35, and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. Yahweh shammah. Is there anything in Revelation that corresponds to this?? Oh yeah, Revelation 22:3-4, the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. Amen!

That’s how I see it. What do you think?

All in all forever,

Jesus will I sing;

Everything in Jesus,

And Jesus everything.

Observations from behind the counter – Thursday Night

A few stories from my Thursday night.

A man came in and asked for a box of Newports. I grabbed one and said, “That will be $5.53.”
He said, “That’s a lot more than I expected.”
“So, you usually pay less than this?” (See how quick I am?)
He replied, “I don’t smoke. These aren’t for me.”
“Oh, so this is a lot more than you are used to paying! I don’t see how people afford to smoke.”
He said, “I wouldn’t pay this much for something that’s just going to ruin my body.”
“I hear ya, man!”


A little later a man came in talking on the cell phone. This happens all the time. And, this happens fairly often as well - in an effort not to be rude to the person he was talking to, he whispers to me and uses hand gestures to communicate what kind of cigarettes he wanted.
The cell phone has rapidly gained nearly idol status in these here parts. Rare is the person who, when coming to the counter to transact business, tells the person at the other end of the call, “Hold on for a moment.” I admit, this irritates me and I often react to them as if they were talking to me! I’ll answer their questions and respond to their statements, as in: “That’s ridiculous!” And I’ll object, “Me??” Just having fun in the middle of the night!


There are people who drink a LOT of beer. I mean, an 18 pack every night, or every other night.


Between 12:30 and 1:00 a man came in wearing a Shell uniform. There is a Shell station across the street. He was Indian (and I found out later, on his 3rd trip, his uncle owns the store and he is a recent arrival to the US). He asked me if we had a Yellow Pages phone book he could look at. I gave it to him. After a while, he asked if he could borrow it. You see, when they were closing the store the keys got stuck in the lock and they needed a locksmith. He said, “I’ll bring it back in just a few minutes.”
I thought about it and said, “That’s an odd request . . .  but go ahead.”
He said, “You want me to give you something?”
I looked at him and said, “You gave me your word, right?”
He smiled and said, “Yes. That’s good.”
He brought the phone book back. Oh, turns out the locksmith was unable to get the keys out of the lock! So he came back and bought some WD-40.


This guy came in wearing gray pants and shirt. The shirt had a logo, RHPD (Rock Hill Police Department). I jokingly said, “Oh, they didn’t give you the whole uniform, just an RHPD.” He played along, “Yeah, they couldn’t afford the whole uniform.” Then he told me he was a detention officer at the Rock Hill jail. We talked about that for a moment and as he was leaving I said, “Please don’t take offense at this, but I’m doing my best to NEVER visit you at your work!” He smiled and said, “Yes, you do that!”


Around  2:30 a woman came in and said, “Do I know you?”
“I don’t think so.”
She pressed on, “You look familiar. You work anywhere else?”
I didn’t know her and knew that I had never seen her anywhere I have worked so I said, “No, ma’am. Just here.”
“Just here?? You look familiar.”
On the way to the counter I said, “I sure feel sorry about that fellow who looks like me!”


And then the best thing that happened to me all night, at 3:00 am my relief showed up and I could go home! So, I finished up and home I came!!

I had a dream this morning

I had a dream this morning. The intensity woke me up.

I was scheduled to sing the Star Spangled Banner for the opening of a grocery store. We had one run through planned. When I was about to start singing, there was a change in the organist – from an old man to a middle aged woman. When the new organist was ready, she began to play and I must’ve missed my cue because she had to start again. Then, I started to sing. Oh, I had such a rich baritone voice!

But there was this fellow beside me who was jabbering away. I got confused and repeated a line, the wrong line. So we stopped. I turned to him and ‘lit into him.’ I pushed him up against a stack of cans (cans were falling all around him) and essentially told him, “When I’m through with this, I’m gonna meet you outside...” (There were actual words spoken, but I cannot remember them.) He got scared and took off.

I looked at the clock, it was few minutes before 8 and I was to sing at 8. (Interestingly, the clock was a face clock, not one of these digital ones.) On the shelf right before me were several hymnbooks, so I began desperately looking through them for the song so I could recall the words, but none of them had the song! None of them had the song! What was I to do?

Wake up, I suppose!! I can still hear that rich deep voice I had!! Now I'm off to walk around in the snow.

On Friday I went to the zoo

Several days ago Mary K called and asked if we wanted to go to the zoo with them on Friday.  I told her I would ask Mary about her schedule and that I would find out mine on Tuesday night. Turns out Mary had to work Thursday night and had already told Sarah she would watch her children after school on Friday, but I wold be off. I told Mary K it would just be me, but if that was acceptable, I could come. It was fine and we had a date for the zoo.

Then it began. I wanted to go, but several times a day, I would come up with reasons NOT to go. You see, I’m a home-body. And there is this thing that runs in my family, “Stay home, don't go anywhere.” So I knew I had to go. After several days of this struggle, I went. It was good that I did and I had a great time with Mary K and her family.

Thursday night I worked 11 pm until 3 am. Somewhere between 4 and 4:30 I laid down and went to sleep. I had hoped to sleep until nearly 10. Instead, I woke up at 8:30. Got things ready, including 2 Pepsis in a cooler and my mp3 player, and headed down to Columbia.

We planned to meet at Rush’s for lunch. I got there first and texted Mary K to find out where they were. Almost there. Then I got the text of the year, Lucca: DC, we’re gonna meet Granddaddy. He’s very handsome.

After a good lunch we headed to the zoo. What a shock when we arrived. The parking lot was full. We cruised around for a while before finding parking spots. There were buses and vans and groups of people in the parking lot. ALL of them headed toward the entrance.

At the entrance itself, there was a line of people all the way to the parking lot! Turns out, it was Free Friday for residents of Richland and Lexington counties.

Felt like everybody in both counties was indeed at the zoo.

I am definitely NOT a crowds person, nevertheless, I enjoyed being with the Colemans.

Now, a word about the zoo. All the animals were either sleeping or positioned as far from the people as possible. Daniel and I conjectured they could sense all the people and were stressed. As I beheld the different animals, I had the impression that they were depressed. And seeing their living conditions, and always being on display, who wouldn’t be depressed?

We stopped for a while at the elephants. They hardly moved. Two were stationed at some gate. Our guess was that it must be close to feeding time. The only movement one made was to reposition his trunk. I made the comment to Mary K that elephants stink! Then I had quite the insight: I know why their trunks are so long, they have a huge filter in them!

When we went to see the birds, at first I was impressed at how much singing they were doing. Then I noticed the speakers! The birds were rather active, but I wondered if they were bothered by the constant bird songs. They never said.

After the penguins I said I was done. Said my good-byes and headed back to Rock Hill. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them and I loved seeing Lucca and DC.

When I got home Isabelle and Jack were still here. Then Sarah called with distressing news. She came and picked up the children and at 5:30 pm we went back to bed (Mary had only 1 hour of sleep after working all night and I not much more). We set the alarm for 9 pm. It went off, we turned it off, and went back to sleep. Slept until 2:30 am! Now I’m up and I know my Saturday will be messed up. But it’s ok, I’m off. It’s 5 am, I’m awake and I’ve finished this post, I think I’ll have a fire. Wish I had a cigar!

Observations from behind the counter

Let me grouse for a moment and then offer a couple of anecdotes.

Grouses

After a while I begin to strongly dislike $20 bills. You get them for everything. Everything. And then folks come in and just want change for a $20...

And $100 bills. They carry them because it must make them feel good to have one and then want to buy a pack of cigarettes or a cup of coffee with a hundred, really just trying to break it into manageable bills. I don’t know a sales associate who is impressed when someone presents a hundred dollar bill….

I cannot tell you how much I do not like the lottery. Let me just say it, I hate it!

Alcohol sales on Sunday. I sell a fair amount late at night, and strangely, mostly to people who appear to be addicted to it. But there was one humorous incident last Sunday night. A man came in and asked me, “Do y’all sell y’all’s beer on Sunday?” I said “Yes” but I was tempted to say, “No, just Walmart’s!”

Have you ever driven by a Krispy Kreme store when the “Hot Now” sign was on? Well, when I mop the floor I feel like there must a “Hot Now” sign outside! “If you mop it, they will come – with really dirty shoes!!” One night, I must have mopped the floor ten times, no kidding….


Anecdotes

Mary and I went out to Cracker Barrel for supper the other night. A worker standing next to the hostess said, “You look familiar!” I looked up and replied, “Yeah, I work at the Kangaroo and you come in a lot.” She remembered.
Mary said, “This happens all the time, everywhere we go. He knows everybody.”


Whenever I run across an ID from another State I always ask them where in that State they lived, and if it is far away, I ask them how they found Rock Hill. Last night there were two such people.

One guy was from New Jersey. We got to talking about what part of Jersey he was from (the southern, rural part) and how he got here. Turns out they did an internet search for a place with low taxes and cost of living - Rock Hill. His brother and wife came down first, and because they liked it, he and his Dad followed. They like it, although Rock Hill is a bit of a big city for them!

Later on a woman came in to buy cigarettes. I had never seen her before so I asked for her ID. Colorado. “You came all the way from Colorado for cigarettes?”
And she played right along, “Sure did!”
I asked what part and she said Denver.
“How did you wind up in Rock Hill from Denver, Colorado?”
She said her boyfriend was from Gaffney and they moved back here (there is a step or two missing, I’m sure) to open a restaurant.
“What restaurant?”
“Culina. Just up the road.”
I asked, “What do you serve?”
She said, “Global comfort food.”
I was shocked at that, so we talked for a while about the menu. And the size of the store. They have a real definite plan. I told her it was neat that they had such a well thought out plan.
After a while I asked my usual question of people who have come to Rock Hill from a distance, “Do you like it here?”
She said, Yes, and explained that one of the things she liked was the openness and friendliness. She said, “For example, back in Denver, I would never have this conversation. You can small talk there all day, but nothing like this.” She took it as genuine, friendly interest. Which it was.
Turns out, I’m pretty much a Southern boy.
Oh yeah, she invited me to come by Culina and try it out. Global comfort food?? Maybe I could try the Cheer Wine Fried Chicken!


OK, I admit it, sometimes it’s really interesting working here.

The Ways of God - Confidence

Ezekiel prophesies against many of the neighbors of Israel, speaking of their dim future. In chapter 29 he prophesies against Egypt:

3  Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt…
6  And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD…

And what is the prophecy? When you read through verses 8-15 you find that God will make Egypt desolate for 40 years, and then they will be restored into their own land and will become a base kingdom, which will no more rule over the nations.

This is an encouragement for confidence in the Word of God – What is Egypt’s status today?

But how does this reveal the ways of God that apply to me today? The reason given by the Lord for this judgment on Egypt is:

6  And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I [am] the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7 When they took hold of you with the hand, You broke and tore all their shoulders; When they leaned on you, You broke and made all their loins to shake..

Israel had a history of looking to Egypt for help and rescue. When trouble arose, someone bigger and more powerful that Israel, to whom did they flee for refuge and help? Egypt. Rather than trust the Lord, they placed their confidence in Egypt. Isaiah speaks of this. Jeremiah also. And sadly, they were burned every time – you broke and tore all their shoulders.

And yet there is an even deeper purpose behind this:

14  And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
15  It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
16  And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel…

This is what I see that applies to me: God wants me to trust in Him, make Him my confidence, my stronghold, my present help in time of need. And when I make something else my confidence, he will allow that to fail, so that I will learn not to trust it.

What is it I trust and depend on? I remember when we were first married. I would testify that the Lord was my confidence for all our financial needs. I still remember the day God shook my foundations when he revealed to me that I trusted the Lord to supply all my need as long as I had at least $100 in the bank! He spoke to me, “You don’t trust Me, you trust the $100.”

Ahhh, what really is my confidence? My education? Training? Experience? Strength? Ingenuity? Resources? My ability to make money? My money itself?

What about my future? Is the Lord my confidence or is it my savings? Social Security? My retirement plan?

What about my health? Is the Lord my confidence or is it my doctor? My health insurance?

Israel continually made Egypt their confidence, so God broke Egypt and said, it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel. Why? Because God wanted Israel to trust Him. And God wants me to trust Him, to make Him my confidence.

There are two ways God has of breaking my confidence in something other than Him. First, like Egypt failed Israel every single time, so my confidence fails me. When I have no peace and am filled with fear and trembling, my confidence is NOT God and it has failed me. Second, sometimes God knocks it down and reduces my confidence to the basest of kingdoms. Now, I have nowhere else to look but to Him. And only now am I safe!

O God, grant me grace to have You alone as my confidence.

Isaiah 30:15 (spoken to Israel when they wanted to go to Egypt for help)
For thus saith the Lord GOD,
the Holy One of Israel;
In returning and rest shall ye be saved;
in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:
and ye would not.

Psalm 118:8 
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Proverbs 18:10
0 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Psalm 91:1-2
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,
He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in him will I trust.

The Ways of God - Purging and Consuming

I am currently reading Ezekiel and he has a lot to say about the sins of Israel. But Ezekiel also reveals something about the ways of God.

The Jews were guilty of unspeakable idolatry and indescribable immorality. God had warned them to return to Him (through Jeremiah), but they refused. And, as He had warned, He sent them into captivity in Babylon. But this had very little immediate impact on them - they continued in their sins and idolatry.

But the captivity was not all about judgment and punishment. God revealed that He had a greater purpose for them in this. There are two passages that speak of this:

Ezekiel 20:38
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 22:15
And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee. 

He is speaking to the nation, and to the nation He says, I will remove from among you the rebels and I will consume the filthiness out of you. This is a deep and redeeming work of God. I believe this shows us something of the ways of God in dealing with us. And I don’t think I am stretching this when I apply this to myself.

Is it possible that there is rebellion still in my heart? Maybe unknown to me? or even dressed up and thereby ignored? Yeah. God speaks to me about, urges me to repent of it, yet it lingers. I may wink at it, but does God? Nope. I am persuaded that this reveals one of God’s ways in my life – I will purge out from among you the rebels. This may take some really trying times, difficult times; which are perhaps even the fruit of this rebellion. But God is working in these times to purge this rebellious spirit out of me. Purge is such a strong word. Something done to me, that I cannot do for myself. But the result is such a sweet spirit, a willing spirit.

He also said to them: I will consume thy filthiness out of thee.

Is it possible that there is filthiness in me? Maybe we balk at the word filthiness. Yet that’s how God sees it. Is there sin hiding in my heart? This is especially referring to sexual sin. Is it possible for me to have secret sinful passions, longings, thoughts, etc? Yeah. Again, maybe I don’t recognize them or admit that I have such things. Maybe I know they are there but I hide and excuse them. I wink at them, but does God? Nope.

I believe this reveals another of the ways of God - I will consume thy filthiness out of thee. God will work to reveal this, to bring it out into the open so that it is no longer hidden. That may be ugly. But once exposed, God will consume it out of me. And again, consume is such a strong word. Something done to me, that I cannot do for myself. But the result will be freedom from what God calls filthiness.

These two passages speak of the deep work of God in my life. God was serious when He said He wanted me to be His, when He said Jesus came to save me from my sin. Salvation is not just Jesus forgiving my sins – even though that does make for great songs and testimonies! Salvation is also purging and consuming. We don’t have many (any?) songs about that. Where is God in my trials? tribulations? and failures?? He is right there with me, purging and consuming.

How utterly painful. And altogether comforting! The ways of God.

(There is another of God’s ways revealed in Ezekiel, in the destruction of Egypt, concerning confidence. But that will have to be another post!)

How I read Ezekiel – Chapter 19

In my first post on Ezekiel I set forth the principles that guide my reading of the book. I concluded with, “I’m considering making two more posts on Ezekiel, using two separate chapters to demonstrate how I read them. Then you can see how this works for me and decide whether I’m on a good road or completely derailed!”

I chose chapters 2 and 19. How did I choose them? I cast lots for them! My last post was on chapter 2. This time I will look at chapter 19.

Here is my disclaimer: I’m not attempting to provide a commentary on the chapters. No, just a brief overview demonstrating how I read / understand them, applying the principles set forth in that original post.

Ezekiel 19
I will admit right at the beginning, chapter 19 is probably one of the reasons people have difficulties with the Old Testament! I mean, what is he talking about?? First the chapter itself:

1  Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
2  And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
3  And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
4  The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
5  Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
6  And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
7  And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
8  Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
9  And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
10  Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
11  And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
12  But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
13  And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
14  And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. 
This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Clearly, this is not to be taken literally. He is not really talking about lions and vines. So, are we free to make of this anything we want? You know, based on the behavior of lions, develop some incredible sounding spiritual truths? Or, following the other image, pursue similar things using the vine? No. He was saying something specific and the hearers knew what it was. And as you read the chapter you can see that this is about their captivity in Babylon and the attempt by some of the Jewish leaders to find help from Egypt. In other words, even though it is not to be understood literally, he was saying something definite and specific about and to the Jews of his day.

I freely admit, if I was teaching through Ezekiel, I would not spend much time on 19.

So, is there any personal and spiritual application from this chapter?
How about:

† This is one reason why people stopped casting lots to make decisions!

† Man, Chapter 18 sure was good!

And on a more serious note,

† Be sure your sin will find you out. This reinforces an idea that runs all through Ezekiel: They sinned and now is the time for them to face the judgment of God. And there is no escaping the judgment / chastisement / discipline of God.

This is how the grammatical / historical hermeneutic works for me. Not everything is to be taken literally and the context makes it plain just how you are to take it. As you can see, I’m fairly simple and I don’t believe in developing what I consider to be hyper-spiritual thoughts from the images we find here. And I am firmly convinced that there is direct application to my life from nearly every chapter in Ezekiel.

Thus ends my posts on Ezekiel. Well, planned posts. I am only at chapter 20 of some 48 chapters and there is a lot of good stuff here!

How I read Ezekiel – Chapter 2

In my last post, I set forth the principles that guide my reading of the book of Ezekiel. I concluded with, “I’m considering making two more posts on Ezekiel, using two separate chapters to demonstrate how I read them. Then you can see how this works for me and decide whether I’m on a good road or completely derailed!”

The two chapters I will use are chapters 2 and 19. How did I arrive at these two chapters? Trust me, it was a totally biblical manner – I cast lots for them!

And now a disclaimer, I’m not attempting to provide a commentary on the chapters. No, just a brief overview demonstrating how I read / understand them, applying the principles set forth in that original post

Ezekiel 2
It is just as hard to read chapter 2 without reading chapter 1 as it is to read chapter 1 without going on to chapter 2. The first chapter ends:

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.

Well, what did He say? THAT’s chapter 2!

Ezekiel himself describes what happened to him as, I saw visions of God. So I suppose it is safe to say he saw all this in a vision. But what he saw, what he heard, his commission, and the crowd he would minister to – this is all literal. God literally spoke to him, literally told him to go and prophesy to the children of Israel, who were literally a rebellious nation. In fact, everything seems quite literal, with a couple of exceptions, which I note in the chapter.

1  And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
2  And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
3  And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, unto this very day.
4  For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
5  And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
6  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
It is possible that the briers, thorns, and scorpions are literally things he might encounter. But it seems more likely, since it is sandwiched between be not afraid, that this refers to the reaction of the people he is prophesying to. Uh, not nice!

7  And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
8  But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
9  And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein;
10  And he spread it before me; and it [was] written within and without: and [there was] written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. He is to eat a scroll containing the words he will speak to Israel. And in chapter 3 we read, So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. I believe he saw and ate a scroll in his vision, and that the Word of God is sweet. But clearly this is symbolic and the meaning is also given in chapter 3, Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. And go, get thee to them of the captivity… and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.  And notice, after it was sweet to the taste, he went away in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit because of the message he had to bring.

Is there any way this can be applied to me? Yes.

- Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house – even though I might be surrounded by rebellious and disobedient people, that is no excuse for me.

- If I receive a ministry from the Lord, my message needs to be, Thus saith the Lord; my prayer needs to be that God will confirm it (they shall know that there hath been a prophet among them); and I should not be afraid of them or their words.

- Success is measured differently with God. Success with God is being faithful to do what He tells me to do. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them. This does not sound like Ezekiel gained a following, but he did what God told him to do and that is a successful ministry.

- I need to feed on the Word of God: all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.

Anyway, that’s how I read chapter 2, I pretty much take it literally. Next chapter is 19. What a different story!

How I read Ezekiel

In the past couple of years, I’ve had conversations with a variety of people about how to interpret the Scriptures. I’ve even written a post or two about these. I’m currently reading the prophet Ezekiel and I thought I would write down my approach to this Old Testament book – How I read Ezekiel. I do not mean for this to be viewed as instruction, or correction, or an insinuation that no one else is reading it this way - this is simply how I am approaching this book.

1) I come to Ezekiel as the Word of God. Doesn’t everyone? I can remember when I was the custodian for Audubon Park Baptist Church in Memphis. The Minister of Music was given the task of teaching Ezekiel to some group in the church. As he was preparing for this study he said me, “I believe Ezekiel was insane.” He certainly didn’t approach it as the Word of God! But I do, and I believe the following verses are true of it:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

I not only believe this to be the Word of God and potentially profitable, I also believe that as I read it, God is speaking to me through it. There is an old David Ingles chorus that reflects my approach to the Bible:

The Word is working mightily in me 2x

No matter what the circumstances

What I feel or see

The Word is working mightily in me

2) I read it in what is known as the historical/grammatical manner. That is, as I read the text, I realize that some parts are literal and some are figurative. And I believe the context makes this clear. And unless there is some indication in the passage that indicates it is to be understood in a figurative sense, I read it in a straight-forward manner. My guide is, "If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense." And even when the passage is clearly using symbolism, the context usually gives a clue as to the meaning. In other words, I am fairly simple and don’t try to hyper-spiritualize to find some hidden, secret meaning.

3) I am asking the following questions of the text:

† What is Ezekiel saying? How would those who first heard him have understood these words? I admit, this can sometimes be challenging, because I think there are times when his original audience was as confused as I am! And other times he refers to something they knew about but of which I have no idea (such as Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes – I am not afraid to say it, I have no idea!). In those instances, I “zoom out” and attempt to get the bigger picture to learn what he is saying.

† What does this tell me about God? We can learn a lot about the Lord and His ways from Ezekiel. This is exciting! We see attributes of God that we don’t hear much about these days. We see a LOT of God. Amen!

† What does this tell me about what God expects of me? And let me tell you, there’s plenty of reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness in Ezekiel! Yes!

† How does this apply to me / to us today? I believe the Apostolic hermeneutic (rule of interpretation) is that the promises, warnings, reproof and instruction found in the Old Testament are for me. And for the Church. So this applies to my life:

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope.

† Does this speak of Jesus? Is it really realistic to expect to find Jesus in Ezekiel?? Yes!

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

In the very first chapter, when he saw the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh - he saw the Son, the Word. Amen! Jesus is in the first chapter!

† In the prophetic sections: What does this tell me about Messiah? About God’s plan and program for the ages? Does this prophecy speak of the blessings of the Gospel?

4) And finally, I am reading Ezekiel with New Testament glasses. I am unabashedly approaching it from the perspective of New Testament truth. I believe the Lord, through the Apostles, gave us The Faith and also gave us permission and encouragement and the right to apply the template of The Faith to the Old Testament - to Ezekiel. So I read it almost like an epistle of one of the Apostles!

I’m excited as I'm reading Ezekiel, and being blessed as I do so. I’m considering making two more posts on Ezekiel, using two separate chapters to demonstrate how I read them. Then you can see how this works for me and decide whether I’m on a good road or completely derailed!

The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest