LIVING BEYOND THE CAVE

 LIVING BEYOND THE CAVE -FUGITIVE OR REFUGEE?

 In this study I want to talk about three caves, places of refuge that our antecedents retreated to and encountered God in a different way so that they could move further into their destiny. 

1) The Cleft in the Rock - Exodus 33:20  But it is not possible for you to see my face, for no man may see me and still go on living 21  And the Lord said, See, there is a place near me, and you may take your place on the rock: 22  And when my glory goes by, I will put you in a hole in the rock, covering you with my hand till I have gone past: 23  Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back: but my face is not to be seen. 

- the people were told that the Presence of God that they had known for 40 yrs would not go into the land. Ex 33:1-3

-Moses' request was not selfish but borne out of a desire to see the fullness of God other than the pillar of Fire/Smoke

- Seeing God's face and dying sound pretty good to Moses.

- Moses was aREFUGEE, seeking a place where he and His people could find a home

2)Adullam - when David was fleeing Saul he found refuge in this cave. 1Sa 22:1  When David escaped from the town of Gath, he went to Adullam Cave. His brothers and the rest of his family found out where he was, and they followed him there. :2  A lot of other people joined him too. Some were in trouble, others were angry or in debt, and David was soon the leader of four hundred men. 

- fearing for his life, David wanted to protect his own life, that of His family, and the destiny that had been laid upon him.

- DAVID WAS A FUGITIVE FROM SAUL, THE WARLORD OF GIBEAH

2) Elijah's Cave - Elijah retreats to this cave at Horeb

  Ki 19:8  So Elijah sat up and ate and drank. The food and water made him strong enough to walk forty more days. At last, he reached Mount Sinai, the mountain of God, 9  and he spent the night there in a cave. While Elijah was on Mount Sinai, the LORD asked, "Elijah, why are you here?" 10  He answered, "LORD God All-Powerful, I've always done my best to obey you. But your people have broken their solemn promise to you. They have torn down your altars and killed all your prophets, except me. And now they are even trying to kill me!" 

- ELIJAH WAS A FUGITIVE FROM AHAB USURPER

AAA) Jesus' Burial Tomb - from the defeat of the Cross, Christ's body is laid in this cave.

Mark 15:46  <Jesus' body was>  wrapped in the cloth,  put it in a tomb that had been cut into solid rock. Then he rolled a big stone against the entrance to the tomb.

- Jesus wasn't escaping death but sealed into a tomb when he was dead TO FULFILL HIS DESTINY.

- Jesus is the Refuge of the Homeless and the Place of Justice for the Fugitive

Adullam means. Refuge, The Justice Of The People

From (1) the verb עדל ('dl), either to flee or to be just, and (2) possibly the noun עם ('am), people.

>> David fled from Saul for his own sake but those who flee personal injustice will attract others who need refuge. 

Ps 34:  Is one of the psalms that David composed at the time.  It is not one of despair and complaint but of resting and finding refuge in God.  Verse 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

A Study In 1 Peter: Breathless Intro

A Study in Peter: A Breathless Introduction

The first 9 verses of the book are only 3 sentences. Peter majestically voices a hymn of praise to his audience/congregation.

1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1) Sojourner = resident alien;] Psa 39:12 "Listen, LORD, to my prayer! My eyes are flooded with tears, as I pray to you. I am merely a stranger visiting in your home as my ancestors did.

>> When we accept Christ, and become part of the Kingdom of Heaven, we come strangers to the systems of this world... our earthly citizenship is revoked! We have all the rights and responsibilities of the Kingdom of Heaven

>> As the Kingdom expands and exerts its influence, we are pushing out into the domains of this world... and they shall object. Let us look at one of Peter's early conflicts with the system of his day. Act 4:23 As soon as Peter and John had been set free, they went back and told the others everything that the chief priests and the leaders had said to them. 24 When the rest of the Lord's followers heard this, they prayed together and said: Master, you created heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

Act 4:25 And by the Holy Spirit you spoke to our ancestor David. He was your servant, and you told him to say: "Why are all the Gentiles so furious? Why do people make foolish plans?

Act 4:26 The kings of earth prepare for war, and the rulers join together against the Lord and his Messiah." [from Ps 2:1,2 which was written when David took Jerusalem, as these apostles had taken Jerusalem]

Act 4:27 Here in Jerusalem, Herod and Pontius Pilate got together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Then they turned against your holy Servant Jesus, your chosen Messiah.

Act 4:28 They did what you in your power and wisdom had already decided would happen.

Act 4:29 Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. 30 Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant Jesus. >> thus conquer for the Kingdom.

Act 4:31 After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled [totally consumed; overflowing] with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message.

>> this is how we 'strangers' must behave in this world. They are also referred to as “The sojourners of the Dispersion”. Is that how we feel sometimes.

>> This was Peter stepping into his role as the leader of the Church from Jerusalem.

>> By the time he wrote his letter, it was to the churches in an unreached region of NE Turkey

2. 1Pe 1:2 God the Father decided to choose you as his people, and his Spirit has made you holy. You have obeyed Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood. I pray that God will be kind to you and will keep on giving you peace!
   >> The trinity is affirmed, the fullness of heaven is released on earth. This is why we are strangers! We have entered fully into the heavenly realm because of the activity of God in our lives.
   >> the Father CHOSE you>> the Spirit MADE us Holy>> Jesus' Blood CLEANSES. Note the order, we have taken no action. God has done it all in His three aspects Creator, Sanctifier, Redeemer. We can't earn out position, our only action is to allow our will to turn to God.

1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1Pe 1:4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [Inheritance=brought by the a death, based on your identity as a son, revealed at the 'reading of the will]. The last Will & Testament,

1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials, 7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Get Yoked

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:30 NASB

- Christ's yoke is easy but the yoke of the oppressor (eg. Pharaoh, the Babylonians) meant that you were toiling in fields that are not your own

Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14 CSB

- the common understanding of this has to do with marriage, but we must widen our understanding of partnering with non-believers when we are trying to find our destiny.

Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.

Philippians 4:3 LEB

- Paul refers to a yokefellow, a term of encouragement, an strong ox of faith, (in Greek Syntychus)

BEYOND YONDER

BEYOND YONDER: FROM OBEDIENCE TO FAITH

AfricanAbbott Rebooted

Sunday, July 24, 2016
Going YONDER!
YONDER:FROM GETHSEMANE TO GOLGOTHA TO ARMAGEDDON
This is a lesson in "Biblical Geography".  Since I was a student I developed a fascination with the subject of geography, moreso as I became a student of the Bible.
NOW I SHOULD GET ON WITH MY OWN TEACHING.... OUR JOURNEY INTO POWER AND AUTHORITY!!

  As our Lord Jesus aligned His will to the Father at Gethsemane so he could then go to Golgotha and, laying down his own life, took authority over all sin. At Armageddon we will see the Power to Heal and Deliver the entire world. We cannot walk in our authority until we lay down our will and align to the Father's will [a process of intimate prayer]. Authority must be established before power is released.
Mat_26:36 Then comes Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder...
['Yonder'] is a place sacrificial worship, as Abe went to Moriah]. >> 'Yonder' is a place on both sides of the Kidron Valley, Moriah and Gethsemane. See Gen 22:1-5  where Abraham obeys when God instructs him to lay down his son Isaac. In vs 5 he tells his servants “Wait here while I go Yonder to Worship.
After Christ and his OT shadow-type Isaac went yonder to worship and fulfill the Father's will we go to the next stop on our journey:
Mat 27:33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Joh_19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
>> 'skull' the place of 'dead heads'.  If we are to have the 'mind of Christ' then we must die to our own mental constructs.
Rev_16:16 And he [the Returned Christ] gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
>> Megid'do. (place of crowns). Armageddon is the 'hill of Megiddo'.
Before we talk about the release of power at Armageddon, I need to talk about the 3rd 'Yonder' found in Matt 17:20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
>>Yes, this third 'yonder' is one of Mountain moving faith. When we are aligned in obedience to the Father's will, we will release supernatural power. Obstacles will be removed so that you can receive the fullness of God's promises in your life.
>> We are going 'yonder' to the hill of crowns [crown represents your authority , to release power against the forces of evil.
>> From the place of 'dead heads' to 'place of crowned heads'!!
There are places that we must go to and thru as we carry our cross. It may happen in different ways with individuals and churches. Let us look at three places and some prophetic meaning for them.

GethseMANE – Lay down our will, our flesh is crushed and the oil of the spirit is released.
Laying down our will is the first step to laying down our life.
it is a place of prayer; and we are invited to pray with our Lord.
- so often the church slumbers at crucial moments.
2. Golgotha – Pick up your cross. Having laid down your life on the Cross, that you may carry your own cross forward.
Christ had already laid down his life to fulfill his Father's purpose.
So too we are crucified in the flesh, to find our own cross
as Christ carried his cross to Golgotha so too must we pick up our cross at the condemnation of the world and religious structures
Armageddon – The final conflict between the Soldiers of the Kingdom and all who oppose the Kingdom.
Rev 16:16  Those armies came together in a place that in Hebrew is called Armagedon.
The mountain gave us a vantage over the struggle of good and evil. Armageddon has become associated with the prophetic fulfillment of the final earthly conflict.
In actual fact it is located on the plain of Esdraelon, which was famous for two great victories, of Barak, over the Canaanites and of Gideon, over the Midianites; and for two great disasters, the deaths of Saul and Josiah.
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Armageddon1 (place of crowns) This valley was a challenge for the chosen people of God to add to their inheritance.
“It had been originally one of the royal cities of the Canaanites Jos_12:21, and was one of those of which the Israelites were unable for a long time to take possession.” [Barnes on Rev 16:16]
Zec 12:10 I, the LORD, will make the descendants of David and the people of Jerusalem feel deep sorrow and pray when they see the one they pierced with a spear. They will mourn and weep for him, as parents weep over the death of their only child or their first-born. 11 On that day the people of Jerusalem will mourn as much as everyone did for Hadad Rimmon on the flatlands near Megiddo.
According to the Popular commentary, the name was “derived from the Hebrew verb signifying to destroy; so that, apart from any particular associations, the simple meaning of the word is ‘the mountain of destruction.’”
It will also become a place of sadness for the “descendants of David” but it will 'turn them to prayer when they see the one pierced with a spear.” [see John 19:37]
We are inheritors of the covenant of David, we will have legacy and an eternal seat. In the same way Armageddon is the place of fulfillment when we shall take our seat.
We however, are have the authority and the ability to take 'our' Armageddon. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

1Compare 2Ch_35:22, where it is said that Josiah “came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.” Megiddo was a town belonging to Manasseh, although within the limits of Issachar, Jos_17:11. 
AfricanAbbott at 2:40 AM
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AfricanAbbottFebruary 24, 2019 at 8:32 AM
Where is your YONDER??

Restoring the Glory

Restoring the Glory: Kabod. (A Study on Biblical Names)

  In a dark era in the history of Israel, a dying woman gave her son a prophetic name. Ichabod, was the grandson of Eli, the son of Phineas, and would inherit the title of High Priest of Israel.
1Sa 4:21  And she gave the child the name of Ichabod, saying, The glory has gone from Israel: because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22  And she said, The glory is gone [departed] from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken.
- she understood her times, not only had her husband died but her father-in-law had literally fallen and broken his neck!
- The glory of God is ever-present, our perception of it as individuals and as a people is dependent on our Faith position.
Glory is PERCEIVED by those whose senses are tuned to it!

כָּבֹד    כָּבוֹד   kâbôd From H3513; properly weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: - glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able). Total KJV occurrences: 200 [Strong's #H3519]
Is departed - Properly, “Is gone into captivity.”
> Putting these two concepts together we can use the phrase, "The weight of God's Presence has been taken into captivity".  How can we understand this concept today?
> Have we allowed The Glory of God to be taken into 'captivity'?
> What can we do to set the Glory of God free in our LIVES??
> This is a heart question: Even as I worship or pray or hear a powerful word, I may limit the glory of God by my own process.  The glory becomes 'captive to my mind'.  The music is off key; the Word is poorly presented, my prayer seems to hit a brass ceiling.
> In each case I AM RESPONSIBLE OF PUTTING GOD'S GLORY IN MY OWN MIND!!
Consider Paul's statement: 2Co_4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
> What Paul observed in his day, and the unnamed mother of Ichabod, we must guard against in our day.
> I find much wisdom in the lyric to song.  'Kabod' is the theme of Paul Wilbur's song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOPPxdb-4GU

1. 
   

Spirit of the Sovereign Lord

Come and make Your presence known
Reveal the glory of the Living God

Let the weight of Your glory cover us
Let the life of Your river flow
Let the truth of Your kingdom reign in us
Let the weight of Your glory
Let the weight of Your glory fall

We do not seek Your hand
We only seek Your face
We want to know You
We want to see You
Reveal Your glory in this place

Let the weight of Your glory
Let the weight of Your glory fall

© 1999 Integrity's Hosanna! Music

Let's give Paul the last word:
Rom_12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Tychicus the Ambassador

  While in prayer with my pastor, I was struck by the final words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

• After Paul shared his wonderful teaching on the Armor of God, the Ephesians would have had a number of questions, indeed, every verse of this letter would have need 'an interpreter'
• Tychicus, whose name is rich in meaning, not only delivered this letter but would have spent some time with the church in Ephesus, not just to report on Paul's state of affairs, but on every aspect of the growing Christian community.
• Tychicus was also the bearer of Paul's letter to the Colossians. Col 4:7 and made was an emissary, perhaps at the same time, to Titus (Titus 3:12)
• An Ambassador, or Emissary, simply means 'One who is sent'. The implication is that they are sent by a governing authority on their behalf to build strong relationships between two governments.  This is the Latin root, in Greek the word would be 'Apostellos' from which we get our word 'Apostle'.
• We know so little but speculation about this man, one thing we need to discover is the meaning behind his name.
• Act_20:4. Paul's companion and fellow laborer in the gospel (Act_20:4); 
• accompanied him in part on his return journey from the third missionary circuit; "of Asia." 
• Trophimus went forward with Paul to Jerusalem (Act_21:29), but Tychicus stayed behind in Asia, perhaps at Miletus (Act_20:15; Act_20:38). 
• With Paul again in his first Roman imprisonment: Col_4:7-8, "a (Greek the, the article marks that Tychicus was well known to them) beloved (in relation to the Christian community) brother and a faithful minister (in missionary services) and fellow servant in the Lord (in serving the same Master)." (from Fausset on 'Tychicus'.

   Now let us make this practical, is there a 'Tychicus' call on your life?

• Are you able to go on a mission for the purpose of sharing news of an 'apostolic' nature?
• Are you in close relationship with an apostolic father such that you  could be entrusted with such a mission?
• Does this passage speak to you about the Advance of the Kingdom and the spread of the Good News of the One True God?
• What are the supporting roles to such a call? [look at Ephesians 6:18-20]

  As ever this blog is intended to stir discussion... hope it fosters some interesting dialogue.

Called by Grace to Repentance

Called by Grace into Repentance¹:

2Pe 3:9 The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because He wants everyone to turn from sin [repent] and no one to be lost.

Repent means “to change” [metanoia]²

To change the way we think;

To change the way we choose;

To change the way we respond to situations.

Turning from the bondage which has developed in our own soul.

- We are called to repentance, not the Latin concept of penance, outward acts that symbolize how sorry you are but a change of your mind, your will, and your emotions.

It signifies the turning from one thing, and unto another. In this case, it is the turning away from the bondage of sin unto the liberty of Christ’s kingdom. Thus John says, “for the Kingdom of God is at hand!³ In other words — you can turn from sin to God because His ruling authority has now over-ruled all other claims to your soul.

There is no title, nor deed, nor any papers of authorization clutched in greedy hands, that surpass the unyielding power of the Lord’s decree that you be free. [What bondage holds us back from our destiny as sons and our inheritance??]

And free you are, despite all lies to the contrary. Now, you may indeed not be walking in your freedom; but that does not mean it is not yours. It just means you need to repent – that is, you need to change. You can now 'change' because the power of God is present to help you. You are called to change!

So if we are 'called away' from our bondage to sin, then we are 'called near' to the Sin-Breaker. From this we are 'called out' to call others to freedom. Thus the Trinity of our Calling!

Paul wrote to the Freed Slaves of Corinth several times... here is how he opened one of his letters.

1Co 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours...

So having changed from our Sin mentality, to our son mentality we can effect change around us!

We are not only free from sin, but we are free from legalism; a system that says you must EARN your freedom, so that God would approve of you. To be legalistic is to put your own protocols on salvation, this is neither a good idea nor God's idea

Rom_2:4 [KJV] Or do you despise God's goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God lead thee to repentance?

Now let us see how the Mirror translation comments on this:

We are called through our patience and perseverance, as James comments.

Jas 5:7 My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the spring and summer rains to make their valuable crops grow. 8 Be patient like those farmers and don't give up. The Lord will soon be here! Jas 5:9 Don't grumble about each other or you will be judged, and the judge is right outside the door. 10 My friends, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They were patient, even when they had to suffer.

The Mechanics of an Unrepented Life

I know that much of my suffering is due to my own 'warped head', that is my 'unrepented thinking'. As I move through life my mind focusses on that which I PERCEIVE to be causing me discomfort, distraction and disgust! This “warped head thinking” causes my whole system to overheat, and I lurch along. Ryle puts it this way, when his mechanic told him his new vehicle was behaving badly:

When we are warped in our thinking – nothing good can happen. And to make matter worse, we get all hot and bothered when something good doesn’t happen. And when things go bad or wrong – we blow our lids. That’s the trouble with a warped head.

The Lord wants to set our minds right. And as He does so, the seal will hold and there will be no blown gaskets, nor any loss of power.

Have you “blown your lid” lately? Finding yourself over-heating and losing your cool? Take heart — the Lord is expert at fixing a warped head! Next time you find yourself over-heating and getting ready to pop – just pull over to the side and ask the Lord to straighten out your thinking; to check the seals, and make sure your “oil level” is fine. Cool down, and only then proceed along the high way.

Now I am a good driver but the mechanics of my vehicle is limited. I am glad that Jesus, among other things, is The Perfect Mechanic for my vehicle which gets me through life.

Just in case you wanted to know more about warped heads in an actual engine, here is a diagram. Now if you have had your life-vehicle have mechanical difficulties, let me share some wisdom.

1. Over-heating caused by pushing your engine too hard.
2. Over-heating caused by being stuck in traffic.
3. Over-heating caused by internal fluids being exposed to other hot surfaces.

1Much of this is taken from Ryle's Devotions.

2 μετανοέω metanoeō From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent. KJV occurrences: 34

3 This was the core of John's message. Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.