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)