Our little fellowship is continuing it's weekly gathering via Facebook. A bit of a learning curve at first, but it is very profitable and encouraging. We are studying Joshua on Sunday mornings and Revelation on Wednesday nights. Our dear Brother Kevin has been the "facilitator" of our Joshua study. Actually, "kickstarter" might be more appropriate for whoever leads our little group. Introduce the text, and we're off and running! He doesn't even have to touch the accelerator! There is bound to be a few curves and undoubtedly some rabbit trails that are richly rewarding. The only problem with this group, sometimes it's hard to find the brake!! For you see, it is a wonderful group made up of sinners saved by Grace alone, who are desperately seeking to know and fellowship with the Father in heaven through His Beloved Son. See 1 John 1:1-4!
This week Kevin announced the text as Joshua 13:22-33, and then proceeded to testify to the Spirit focusing his attention upon our inheritance, which led him to Hebrews 9:15, "And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgression that were under the first testament, that they which are called might receive the promise of Eternal Inheritance." I had been drawn by the Spirit in the same Joshua 13 context to vs 14 and also vs 33 where, in the division of the promised land, the tribe of Levi received no earthly land promise. In vs 14 we read, "the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said unto them." And again, in vs 33 we read, "the LORD God of Israel was there inheritance, as he said unto them."
And this led me to, what I hope and pray is a Glory trail, the similarities and the differences in inheritance between the Levitical priesthood and new testament kingdom of priests and their (our) inheritance. I quickly saw that my initial thought of a simple post was absurd as the Spirit (I believe) began flooding my mind with scriptures that "flesh out" this truth. Therefore, this intro is just the first of several. Please check back as I add to this theme.
But first, a bit about how to approach Old Testament themes, shadows & types, in the light of the New Covenant. We do not dare to come to this study with our mere mortal minds, lay out our commentaries and lexicons and get at it! The best posture for approaching anything in the Word of God, is on our knees. At least on the knees of our heart, but often on our physical knees before our God. Secondly, We dare not come to the Word of God for mere knowledge. John makes it plain that the Apostles wrote what they did, "that you may also have fellowship with us: and truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. True, doctrine is for reproof, correction, and instruction in Righteousness, but the reason it is for that is that our fellowship with our God may be complete, dependent, and uninterrupted by our unrighteous flirtations.
Thirdly, John, at the end of his first epistle says, "And we know that the Son of God has come and given us an Understanding, THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM THAT IS TRUE, and we are IN HIM that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ." And take note, "This is the True God, and Eternal Life." That Understanding is the Holy Spirit Who Jesus said Is the Spirit of Truth Who will "Lead you into all Truth.......He shall Glorify Me. Paul makes it plain that, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Fourthly, over and over again in Revelation 2 & 3, in speaking to the churches, we read, "He that hath an ear, let Him HEAR what the Spirit saith unto the churches." A hearing ear, a spiritual ear, not deafened by false motives, not deafened by the tinnitus of the many voices trying to sell us the wares of their interpretation, but the ears of Bereans, searching the Scriptures with hungry, yet Spiritually dependent hearts.
Hear the words of our Lord to the Pharisees in John 5:37-40. "The Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither HEARD HIS VOICE at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His Word abiding in you: for Whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; AND THEY ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY (SPEAK) OF ME. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life."
As we look at our Glorious Melchizedekian Inheritance, may we HEAR the Word of the Lord. Remember, "God Who at various times and sundry ways spoke in time past unto the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." Hebrews 1:1-2
This week Kevin announced the text as Joshua 13:22-33, and then proceeded to testify to the Spirit focusing his attention upon our inheritance, which led him to Hebrews 9:15, "And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgression that were under the first testament, that they which are called might receive the promise of Eternal Inheritance." I had been drawn by the Spirit in the same Joshua 13 context to vs 14 and also vs 33 where, in the division of the promised land, the tribe of Levi received no earthly land promise. In vs 14 we read, "the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said unto them." And again, in vs 33 we read, "the LORD God of Israel was there inheritance, as he said unto them."
And this led me to, what I hope and pray is a Glory trail, the similarities and the differences in inheritance between the Levitical priesthood and new testament kingdom of priests and their (our) inheritance. I quickly saw that my initial thought of a simple post was absurd as the Spirit (I believe) began flooding my mind with scriptures that "flesh out" this truth. Therefore, this intro is just the first of several. Please check back as I add to this theme.
But first, a bit about how to approach Old Testament themes, shadows & types, in the light of the New Covenant. We do not dare to come to this study with our mere mortal minds, lay out our commentaries and lexicons and get at it! The best posture for approaching anything in the Word of God, is on our knees. At least on the knees of our heart, but often on our physical knees before our God. Secondly, We dare not come to the Word of God for mere knowledge. John makes it plain that the Apostles wrote what they did, "that you may also have fellowship with us: and truly, our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. True, doctrine is for reproof, correction, and instruction in Righteousness, but the reason it is for that is that our fellowship with our God may be complete, dependent, and uninterrupted by our unrighteous flirtations.
Thirdly, John, at the end of his first epistle says, "And we know that the Son of God has come and given us an Understanding, THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM THAT IS TRUE, and we are IN HIM that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ." And take note, "This is the True God, and Eternal Life." That Understanding is the Holy Spirit Who Jesus said Is the Spirit of Truth Who will "Lead you into all Truth.......He shall Glorify Me. Paul makes it plain that, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Fourthly, over and over again in Revelation 2 & 3, in speaking to the churches, we read, "He that hath an ear, let Him HEAR what the Spirit saith unto the churches." A hearing ear, a spiritual ear, not deafened by false motives, not deafened by the tinnitus of the many voices trying to sell us the wares of their interpretation, but the ears of Bereans, searching the Scriptures with hungry, yet Spiritually dependent hearts.
Hear the words of our Lord to the Pharisees in John 5:37-40. "The Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of Me. Ye have neither HEARD HIS VOICE at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not His Word abiding in you: for Whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; AND THEY ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY (SPEAK) OF ME. And ye will not come to me that ye might have life."
As we look at our Glorious Melchizedekian Inheritance, may we HEAR the Word of the Lord. Remember, "God Who at various times and sundry ways spoke in time past unto the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son." Hebrews 1:1-2
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