The Lord saw fit to provide us with lightning during the day for July 4th!
Matthew 19:24-26
"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Empires. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Constantine. You hear the same pop culture inform you of Constantine’s jaded use of Christianity.
Today we are going to follow this Incredible Change of the Roman Empire with some pop culture.
"MIB" K said, "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it! 1,500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow."
We aren't salmon, we are meant to be unique with unique opinions. There is more to Constantine than "Constantine used Christianity to promote his promotion to Emperor."
The History of our United States Congress was being used as a Presbyterian Church on Sunday for most of its years. Only stopping in the 1950s.
So compare the Congress and Constantine. Constantine has something Pop Culture wisdom – SEVERELY OVERLOOKS.
Constantine, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire had something in common...When the events surround a man are beyond his imagination, he looks to see what force is behind him greater than himself.
This is called “Discerning and Wisdom."
What is behind us? What is in front of us? What force is greater than ourselves? People said Truman was the last surprise President. Constantine knew he wanted out of war. Smart man.
Constantine was a potential emperor in the future prisoner of Diocletian to prevent political uprising, Emperors did that with competition. Nonetheless Constantine was a prominent member of the court: Bishop Eusebius was eye witness of Constantine's journey to torture Jesus Christ’s nephew descendants to repent of Jesus. They all refused and upon torture and promises, died for Him. Constantine was a tolerant and politically skilled man who had mixed with pagans and Christians in the reign prior to Diocletian. Events there in Nazareth changed him.
Constant power struggles suppressed Constantine from coming into his position as his father's son. Constantine began to look to soothsayers recommendations,for favorable omens. Constantine, was with a spirit that left a deep impression on his followers, inspiring some to believe that he had some form of supernatural guidance. Constantine's army arrived at the battle the seers of Rome declared to be a final battle. His soldier's shields were bearing an unfamiliar symbols. According to Lactantius, Constantine was visited by a dream the night before the battle, wherein he was advised "to mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers ... by means of a slanted letter X with the top of its head bent round, he marked Christ on their shields." Eusebius describes another version, where, while marching at midday, "he saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, In Hoc Signo Vinces or "with this sign, you will conquer", Constantine had a dream the following night, in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign, and told him to make a standard, the labarum, for his army in that form.
Constantine was to look to another Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia to be his baptizer as he was about to die. He had hoped to be baptized in the River Jordan. This was not to be. But Constantine had changed the Empire and called the Council of Nicaea - to resolve with the Bishops, who would dare to travel, what the Holy Spirit would call as His Word.
Alexander the Great did something similar Josephus said in his History: Alexander had visited Jerusalem after his conquest of Egypt and that the High Priest in all his splendor had come out to receive him. When Alexander bowed down before the High Priest, he was asked why he did so. He said in reply that he was actually bowing to God, of whom the High Priest was the representative, and that while still in Macedonia he had had a dream of this meeting. Then the King "was shown from the book of Daniel the passage where it says that a certain Greek will come to destroy the whole Persian empire", and Alexander is said to have guessed that it referred to him.
The Talmud relates that when Alexander the Great and his conquering legions advanced upon Jerusalem, they were met by a delegation of elders, led by the High Priest Shimon Ha Tzaddik (Simon the Righteous). When Alexander saw Shimon approaching, he dismounted and prostrated himself before the Jewish Sage.
To his astonished men, Alexander explained that each time he went into battle, he would see a vision in the likeness of this High Priest leading the Greek troops to victory. In gratitude, and out of profound respect for the spiritual power of the Jews, Alexander was a kind and generous ruler. He canceled the Jewish taxes during Sabbatical years, and even offered animals to be sacrificed on his behalf in the Temple.
Two different historical accounts tell us Alexander believed God was part of his life.
Why would God include Alexander an Ivan the Terrible of me me me conquest? God created this world to deal with only one type of human being.
1 Kings 8:46
They sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin)
Jesus is said to have delighted in mankind during Creation and that includes the parts of Genesis where He had to realize we have flaws. Jesus decided to wade into life bigger than Constantine, Alexander and Nebuchadnezzar.
God reached out to that Alexander the Great.
Romans 8
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youa free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
And so did Nebuchadnezzar believe radically in God. Nebuchadnezzar believed Isaiah's 14th Chapter was written about him. Nebuchadnezzar gave Ezekiel, now a slave, a house. Nebuchadnezzar had attempted to work with Judea and the Temple of God. He continued to allow the Jews freedom to gather and worship. This is why the exiles were promised a return from Babylon.
Problems? At least we are not howling. Nebuchadnezzar did some of this. Nebuchadnezzar gave us an example God taught us.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
The work of Salvation is God's. When mankind become entangled with God, they begin to look to Him. The choices of men. It's always our choice how we want our stories to continue with Him. Jesus forgave Pilate. Pilate, according to known history, chose a more desperate path, as did Herod, in the convenience of life. Constantine chose to embrace the Lord even if it was not until his death that he was baptized. I'd far prefer to be Constantine in History than Herod or Pilate.
We should always consider the Word of God to be powerful enough to allow Him to be Supreme in our lives and giving Him the path forward. God is Sovereign. He tells us so.
Every 500 years there is something amazing and we live in amazing times. God tells us it's not the Words of belief, it is the obedience to His commands. Jesus added the Eleventh Commandment.
John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
So we wandered all over.
Diocletian, Constantine, Creation, Jesus' great great nephews. Nebuchadnezzar - proud hero, inconsistent protector. Alexander the Great going to God to bow down. Congress. Presbyterian Church 1793-1950 housed in Congress.The Eleventh Commandment. And we even will include Micah's 6th Chapter. And, of course, July 4th. All want the blessings of God and are interested in His continued favor. Which, of course, we want for our Nation.
This one aspect of God wraps all the obedience, mercy, holiness, faith, forgiveness, determination of His will and the goodness of His plan.
This is obedience to God. Living in ways to please God. Going firmly in the direction of goodness. Dwelling there. Being unique in doing what God would care about. Giving Justice with Mercy. Being humble to allow God as God. Paul wrote he knew he always was a sinner, he just wasn't sure in which aspect just then. Paul just believed God is God.
John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (rules and logistics) but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Father God,
We pray this July 4th for an increase in the Holy Spirit. A rising up of God's Love. We love this Nation and ask for God to bless us, please.
The ability to put anger down. To let compassion exist without need for gain or immediate gratification. An idea God does prevail.
Our Daily prayers, being alive with curiosity to find what God is doing with Prayer.
In Jesus Christ, we make our request. Amen in Jesus. And in Jesus we are covered!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment