2018-12-07
Good Morning Dear Ones,
We are commanded to continue providing supporting Scriptures to the book of Colossians. COL 2: 18, “Do not allow yourselves to be condemned by anyone who claims to be superior because of special visions and who insists on false humility and the worship of angels.” This directive from Paul is a direct criticism of the practices of Gnosticism. When faced with an enemy, it makes sense to know what the enemy believes and to provide an alternative to this human-crafted philosophy. Such rules and regulations could have been about how and when to celebrate the High Holy Days (Rosh Hashana-Jewish New Year; 10 Days of Awe-a time of contemplation; Yom Kippur-Day of Atonement), a moon festival or any Jewish custom or practice. Since the devout practice of Judaism is already legalistic, it would have been very easy for human rules and regulations to be added to it. That is what happened when the 1st to 3rd century rabbis began the Oral Torah (Midrash, Talmud, and Mishnah). God was making it clear, through Paul, this was not okay with Him or the Son. COL 2: 19-20, “They aren’t in Christ, Who is the Head of the body. Under Christ, the body is nourished and grows together as He wants. You have died with Christ and are set free from ruling spirits of the universe. Why live as though you belong to the world? Why believe in human-crafted rules?” How can one help not thinking of the statement, “I am in the world, but not of the world?”
This important paragraph on dying and living with Christ goes on to say, in COL 2: 23, “Of course such rules appear to be based on wisdom in their forced worship of angels, false humility, and severe treatment of the body; but they have no real value in controlling physical passions.” COL 3: 3-4 concludes, “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with Him and share His glory!”
Our Lord has been wholly consistent in these teachings, as evidenced by the vision Daniel had by the Tigris River, in DN 10. After many days of intense prayer, a Being appeared described as “Someone Who was wearing linen clothes and a belt of gold. His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning and His eyes blazed like fire. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and His voice sounded like the roar of a great crowd” [DN 10: 5-6]. Daniel’s strength left him, and he dropped to the ground unconscious, laying there face downward. Then the Apparition’s hand pulled Daniel to his feet, even though Daniel was trembling. The Angel said to him, in DN 10: 12, “Daniel, God holds you in high esteem. Listen carefully, and don’t be afraid. I have been sent with this message, “Michael has been delayed by having to fight the angel prince of the kingdom of Persia. I have heard your prayers, ever since you decided to humble yourself to gain understanding.” We’re not told outright whether this is the Lord Jesus or the messenger angel, Gabriel, except to say that a similar description of Him is given in REV 1: 13-17. Getting back to Daniel’s vision, the human-like Man proceeded to give Daniel a vision about the future [DN 10: 7-11: 2]. One message is clear: that Daniel was not to worship an angel! To my knowledge, this is the only place in the Bible, outside of the three parenthetic interruptions of the chronological layout of events in the book of REV, where we get a look at the future clearly and at the hidden world of angelic warfare. As for the archangel, Michael, he is the lead-angel and the guardian angel of Israel.
The forced humility and Asceticism, as practiced by Medieval monks whipping themselves with knotted ropes in their cells and by Gnostics, were also abhorrent to our Lord Jesus. With the recent revelation of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and its cover-up dishonors Christ’s teaching and His ethics. The “Me Too” movement was long in coming, and it too, arising out of refusal to believe the claims of sexual misbehavior by men in their lives, is also against Christian values. In RO 1: 18-20, we are clearly told that God’s truth is suppressed and has been, ever since God can be seen in the things He creates, and in the God-consciousness we have innately. We have no excuse to worship the things God has made (including angels) or any kind of idol. Moreover, doing this kind of worship angers God against this evil sinning. What pleases God is us keeping our minds on the things of heaven, where our Lord Jesus sits on the right of God, and not only on earthly things [COL 3: 1-2].
PRAYER: O Lord, none of knows how we would react, if we had a vision like Daniel’s. We pray that You will give us the wisdom and discernment that we would need to understand what and who we were seeing [PS 51: 6 and PS 119: 125]. We understand how important it is that we obey Your commands, open our hearts and minds to the Lord Jesus’ teaching, and to believe with all we have in Him. On the way to Damascus, Your Son appeared to Saul of Tarsus, a devoutly Jewish man, whom You chose to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ as no other had before him. By means of Your great power, You changed Saul, including his name to Paul, by “transforming him by the complete renewal of his mind” [AC 9: 3-19; RO 12: 2]. We acknowledge that idolatry in any form is the sin You hate the most. Under the circumstances, we appeal to You to help us avoid such practices in our earthly adulthood and take responsibility for the sins we commit. This responsibility includes working to reveal even the most- subtle of sins we commit and confessing them before Your mighty throne. You have told us, in EPH 3: 12, that we can approach You with freedom and confidence. We believe that and will try to remember to approach You first when at a crossroads. We also know that You want a bright and happy eternal life for each of us, and we will seek You out with all of our hearts [JER 29: 11-13]. You are to be thanked and praised for Your lovingkindness. In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: More supporting Scriptures for the book of Colossians will be presented, in response to the commands of the Holy Spirit. As a Messianic Jew, one who has accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior, I am also a “completed Jew.” I’m on the road to learning to acknowledge that the Lord has me in His sights 27/7. I do not feel that as an extraordinary pressure or anything but a blessing. I can’t testify to ever having a vision, as many in the Bible have, e.g. Elijah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, John, Peter, or Paul have. However, I will say that at a time of needing to make a crucial, life-changing decision, I did hear Him speak to me with advice on which way to go. It only happened once, but it really made a difference for good. We need to quiet our human spirits (and mine is very talkative J) so that we can hear the Lord speak to us in answer to prayer. Prayer is a frequent practice in my life, because I know that I need the Lord’s help to live my earthly life successfully. He has blessed me with many, many friends who are also believers. I’m grateful for that, because the examples they set for me make me a better believer. It’s my personal opinion that we can’t have good earthly lives, if we don’t think in eternal terms when making decisions, choosing how to interact with others, and obeying Christ’s commands. God’s mystery revealed really is Christ in us, opening us to the wisdom and knowledge of the Father. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2018. All Rights Reserved.
<-- Back to Archives