My One Question

Arbitariness

Ed — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:59:04 +0000

I have been thinking about what has happened in our economy from the so-called “Bailouts” and the money involved.

First, I beileve they were/are uncalled for, immoral, and wrong thinking.

But I believe there is a greater danger than just the money that was unwisely spent. That is the issue of being “Arbitary”. There is nothing that kills production (of every kind) by having arbitary behavior. Let me give you an example. Suppose I was a local official in a community and I spent my spare time in saving the community several hundred thousand dollars on a road project. Then in a matter of a week, congress votes to arbitrarily bailout an industry, with tax dollars that I or my progeny will have to pay. The money spent on that bailout makes my effort in savings look like nothing. Do you think I would spend my spare time doing that again? Hardly.

I read a quote the other day: “The ability to plan is crusial to production”. I think that this is the real issue in this whole problem. No one knows where to make an investment because there is no stability. Who knows what arbitrary law Congress will make, or what changes in the tax code that they will put in place. By the way, we have a term for this type of action: Facism, which is the philosophy that one does whatever is necessary, without regard to principles. Without principles, no one knows what is happening in the future, therefore there is no ability to plan, and no production.

…Or rather to be known (Part 1)

Ed — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:08:24 +0000

I continue to look for things in the scripture as I read that arrest me in my thinking. Too many people read the scriptures to afirm their beliefs, which is ok, but one should also be looking for things in the scriptures to change, refine, and sharpen your beliefs. None of us have a perfect model of how everything is, everyone needs to twik their understanding of doctrines and issues.

I had been meditating on Matthew 7,

22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Mt 7:22-23). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

This scripture caught me, because I never weighted Jesus’ statements. We tend to have commonly used phrases come up in our minds when we read things (our models of the world trigger these things off in our minds). For this particular scripture, the common phrase that came up was “you need to really get to know Jesus”. But wait that is not what he said.

When I looked at it, the analogy of a celebrity came to my thinking. We can know a lot about that celebrity through the magazines. Millions of people know more about our pop and movie stars than they would probably like them to know about them: what they like, their mannerisms etc. But, this does not get you invited to their parties. It is only when the celebrity knows you, that you get invited to their parties.

Jesus said in this verse, “I never knew you”. That really is the crux of this scripture. Stop and think about this. The people in this verse were doing what they thought was fulfilling their callings, casting out demons, etc. In fact, I would probably not be reading too much into this scripture saying that they knew a lot about Jesus to pull those things off. Jesus’ stark statement was this is not what is going to get you through. God needs to know you.

Paul makes an interesting statement in Galations 4:

8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Ga 4:8-9). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

His statement was, that you know God and that you are known by God. I almost get a sense of progression there. First we know God, then we come to be known by Him. I don’t want to minimize the fact that we must know God.

There are a lot more scriptures in the New Testament about knowing God than being Known by him. Here is one (John 17:3):

3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (Jn 17:3). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

There is no getting around our needing to know God. But Jesus said it was because He did not know them, that he cast them out. Ok, so how do we participate in him knowing us? Isn’t that really the question here?

In the next part of this blog we will examine the scriptures that specifically talk about what we can do to be known by God.

Giving and the increase of the Harvest of your Righteousness

Ed — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:35:07 +0000

(this blog is a topic in a book I am writing called “New Testament Giving”… or something like that… look for it at your newsstands )
copyright 2009 G. Edward Roberts (g.edward.roberts@gmail.com)

When I moved and came to the church I am presently in about two and a half years ago, I started praying with a group that prayed early (for me) every morning. I have always found that praying in the spirit for that much time always leads to me being able to receive revelation from the Lord. That is how things tend to come to me, not in tongues and interpretation, not in prophecy, but all of a sudden I see a revelation in the word I have never seen before; I probably get things that way because of my calling as a teacher.

When I moved, I had come out of employment with US Navy, into my own software consulting business. The Lord had spoken a very strong word specifically to me, not audible, but just in my spirit, saying “I will teach you how to operate a business by Grace” and “Part of that understanding will entail New Testament Giving”. I have been contending for the fullness of that statement ever since.

(0ther blogs on these subjects are under the categories of “New Testament Giving” and “Business by Grace”).

One of the first things I started to study and meditate (i.e. think about, mull over, let the Holy Spirit speak to me about) was II Corinthians 9:10

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995

(see blog on the study of II Cor. 9:10 alone).

I was praying to receive a greater revelation of the meaning in that scripture. Notice the “and” (kai in Greek) between “will supply and multiply your seed for sowing” and “increase the harvest of your righteousness”. I started to search to see how people had taught about this last part of the verse. Usually it is taught in the context of prosperity in the sense that our harvest of seed sown is part of our being righteous. But I felt this tug that even though that may be true, it is not the full understanding of the message of this scripture.

This verse says that he will “increase the harvest of your righteousness”, not “increase your righteousness”. You are as righteous as you ever going to be (II Cor 5:17), so this verse is not saying you can (or God can, for that matter) increase your righteousness, only what is produced (harvested) out of that righteousness (assuming that you are born again).

You will also notice that this verse distinctly links giving and righteousness. In the verse before, Paul quotes Psalms 112:9 almost verbatim from the Septuagint,

as it is written,

“He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,

His righteousness abides forever.”

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. 2 Co 9:9

One morning, while we were praying, I heard these things: “would you be willing to give (sow) money and harvest (reap) only out of your righteousness rather than getting some material thing back?”. I said yes Lord if I can understand what you were talking about. The words continued, “both sides of this are for you, you have been having faith for the first part of that scripture, receiving back a harvest of finances from finances sown, but because you have not seen the second part of that verse, you have not been having faith for its fulfillment in your life”. I perked up, and started to ask the Lord for revelation about that second verse and prayed in the spirit so that mysteries could be revealed (I Cor. 14:2). The first part of it came a couple of days later in that early morning time of prayer (the fourth example given below) and subsequently I have been shown three other scriptural passages that pertain to this. I believe there are more He wants to reveal, but I will share with you the four I currently have. These are not the order I received them but the fourth is a bit long to explain, so I put it last.

Scriptures linking Giving and the Harvest of Righteousness

1. Isaiah 58:6-10 Fasting’s relationship to giving

Typically when we read this passage on fasting we focus on verse 6 which says

“Is this not the fast which I choose,

To loosen the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the bands of the yoke,

And to let the oppressed go free

And break every yoke?

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Is. 58:6

We focus on verse 6 because it tells us the results of the fast for the fast-er. But I am not so sure we have read that scripture correctly. It goes on to say:

“Is it not to divide your bread for the hungry

And bring the homeless poor into the house;

When you see the naked, to cover him;

And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S Is. 58:7

My question here is who is getting set free from the fast. Not the fast-er, but those the fast-er is setting free from the produce of the fast. We tend to think that fasting is all about abstaining from food. This one is speaking of fasting in a different way, i.e. one which you fast your possessions and GIVE to someone else. That kind of fast can loose the bonds, take care of the oppressed etc through the fast-er’s giving.

The rewards of the fast-er, rather than in verse 6, come in verse 8:

“Then your light will break out like the dawn,

And your recovery will speedily spring forth;

And your righteousness will go before you;

The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Is 58:8

Notice the word “Then”. This is really setting up a cause and effect clause. Your light, healing, and Righteousness is all activated out of the act of Giving (i.e. fasting of your possessions, in this verse’s parlance). I don’t want to presume on this scripture any more than it is saying, so I am not saying that this is the only way these are being activated or can be activated, but just a way.

Just to bring it home, the next two verses say:

“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you remove the yoke from your midst,

The sending out of the finger and speaking wickedness,

And if you furnish yourself to the hungry

And satisfy the soul of the afflicted,

Then your light will rise in darkness

And your gloom will become like midday.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Is 58:9-10

So it says if you remove the yoke from your midst. Who is doing this? you are. That is why I think verse 6 is not talking about the results of the fast for the fast-er but for the benefactor of the fasted possessions. Also it says, “don’t send out the finger” (i.e. point it) and “speak wickedness”. It is talking about how we treat the poor in our midst. If we give to eliviate this in our midst, we will see the reults of Righteousness.

In our “Word of Faith” camp, our Motto “Our reason for accumulation is for distribution”, must be understood along this context of fasting our possessions (i.e. Giving) brings with it an increase in the harvest of Righteousness.

I also want you to notice what the fasting went to: the poor, oppressed, homeless, naked, etc. This is going to be important in our next example.

2. Acts 10 The Story of Cornelius

I want to focus in this story in two scriptures:

And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Ac 10:4-5

The word I want to focus in on is “alms”, ἐλεημοσύνη in greek. It come from a root word for mercy but it means specifically an act of mercy, whereas the greek word οἰκτιρμός (which is not in this passage) is a word that means to be merciful in character. Alms is something you give to the poor, and Jesus said you do it secretly (Mt. 6:1-4). I want you to notice what happens to Cornelius (an unborn again gentile); he reaps righteousness. How,? Well I don’t know any more righteous reaping one can get than being born again. And this is exactly what his giving put into motion by having Peter come and preach the gospel to he and his group.

I want to go back to the scripture I mentioned that Jesus said about giving in secret:

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Mt 6:1-4

I want to point out two things here. First, the greek word for give is again the one specifically for alms. This is talking about specifically giving to the needy (don’t draw attention to yourself when you do this). The second is the statement Jesus said, “When you practice your righteousness”. Notice that this was spoken in context of giving of alms (again the connection between giving and righteousness). We see in II Cor 9, that the concept of giving and righteousness was firmly connected in Paul’s mind, since he was using the scripture from Ps 112:4.

I belive that we really need to go back and look at the whole context of II Cor 8-9 to really understand the importance of this scripture. We tend to take these chapters and teach them in the abstract without their context and build a doctrine of sowing and reaping in the abstract.

(see blog on the study of the doctrine of sowing and reaping).

II Cor 8-9 was written because the Christians in Jerusalem were in a crisis. These chapters are essentially dealing with giving to the poor (albeit Christian Brethern). What we can derive doctrinally from these scriptures in terms of the abstract (i.e. abstracted from the context of giving to the poor) is to be a subject of another blog. But given this context, one can see the Old Testament support Paul had in his statements in II Cor. 9:10. One can even see perhaps his thinking a little farther with this example and Jesus words above, that giving to the poor was considered a practice of righteousness, so that increase comes with both the seed and a return on seed sown, and the Practice of Righteousness sowning that seed to the poor, and an increase in the harvest of that righteousness.

I believe all this comes into a lot clearer view when one views II Cor 8-9 in the context of giving to the poor.

3. Luke 7:1-10, Matt. 8:5-13 The Centurion

When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Lk 7:4-5

This third example, perhaps not as cut and dry as the first two, but still illustrates a point, that giving makes a way for healing. The Jewish Elders said “his giving has made a way for this healing to be granted”. Now one could argue that this was just unelightened elders thinking in a worldly way. Something I find interesting is that unlike the The Syrophoenician Womans Daughter, Jesus did not say to this man, I came for only the house of Israel. These are the only two gentile healings I see (mind you, I have not studied this in depth yet) in the gospels. The slave could have been Jewish. Ponder it.

4. Mal 3: 3-5 The Fulfilled Prophecy

This fourth example was the first one the Lord gave me. When I saw it, I was astonished; I think maybe you will be as well. Several days after the Lord spoke to my heart about not having the faith for righteousness that comes with giving, I was in the early morning prayer and asking the Lord for revelation. The only other scripture I could think of was Malachi 3:3

“He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Mal 3:3

One notices here the connection between offerings and their presentation to the Lord in righteousness. I was meditating on that verse and also the next two:

“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Mal 3:4-5

So immediately I saw an if-then clause (I am a software developer after all ), he says that he will purify the sons of of Levi so that they can bring an offering to the Lord in righteousness. Then he will draw near in judgement against:

1. Sorcerers
2. Adulterers
3. Those who swear falsely
4. Those who oppress the wage earner in his wages
5. The widow and orphan
6. those who turn aside the alien
(7. those who do not fear me – this could be one on its own, connected with all 6 of the above, or with item 6 those who turn aside the alien. Not sure grammatically which choice is best)

The Lord spoke in my heart, is this a prophet and is this a prophecy? I said “yes”. He said, then where is its fulfillment? “Well”, I said, “It had to be in Acts somewhere because it says my servant will suddenly come into his temple and will purify Levi. That has to be post resurrection. The only story I know in Acts that would even fit is Annanias and Saphira, who bore false witness”. The Lord said to me, “Do you know what happened before Annanias and Saphira?”. I said “no”, he said “go take a look”.

Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update. LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S. Ac 4:36-37

Now there is was, a Levite, Joseph, who we call Barnabas, having been purified (he was born again), was offering a gift in righteousness to the needy (see the verses just above this one). He is the first Levite called out in Acts after the resurrection. Here was the fulfillment of that prophecy. Let me explain a few of the items. Why do I know this is an offering and not say a tithe? Tithes for people were given to the Levites. Tithes for Levites were given to the priests. And this is much too early in the development of the church for them to have substituted the Apostles for the priests, it took them a fairly long time to develop a doctrine about what to do with their Jewish teachings (see Acts 15). Secondly, tithes were from the produce from the land, plants and animals (I have a whole other blog coming on that subject). Barnabas could not even be giving a piece of land as a tithe, it was not allowed in the Law that way. This definitely had to be an offering.

I think many have not really understood the beginning of the church at this time. The Law said that every male must appear before the Lord in the place he has choosen (Jerusalem) three times a year. Once at passover, once at pentacost, and once at tabernacles (Deut. 16:16). This is why these times were so crowded with people (consider that Jesus was probably born on the feast of Tabernacles, and why there was no room at the inn – another blog). Now say you have just been born again and the apostles were teaching every day in the temple. Would you go home? Probably not. So there was a huge influx of people in the church, and they had to provide for them. You see then everyone sharing. There has been a lot of debate over whether “all things in common” should be a normal state of affairs for the church. I don’t think so, I think it follows from understanding the context of all these people staying behind after pentacost to hear the gospel being preached. But that is debatable.

So we have a Righteous Levite giving a gift, and what did God say he would do? He would swiftly judge those who bear false witness. So you have Acts 5 and the story of Anannias and Sapharia. What else did he say he would do? Take care of the oppression of the Widows and orphans (fatherless). When we read in Acts 6, we see that happening. The Sorcerer we find in Acts 8:9f with the story of Simon. Also in Acts 8, We find the ministry to the alien in the preaching to the samaritians and Phillip with the Ethiopian Eunich. In this case, there was no judgement because the church was righteousness in this area.

Since I can not prove that this is the fulfillment, you need to decide whether I was hearing the Lord or not. But I do see the fulfillment of Malachi 3 in the Acts account and whats more the incredible power of giving to the needy in bringing righteousness to the church.

What is the end of all this. I believe that:

1. Giving (alms) is strongly tied to harvesting our Righteousness,

2. That we have little understanding of how powerful our giving can be in bringing righteousness to our lives and the church.

What is your One Question?

Ed — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:07:08 +0000

Welcome to the One Question Blog.

This site is dedicated to research and discovery of biblical truths. Every one of us has at least one biblical question which has never been answered. We are here to help you find your answer!