Category Archives: John’s Journal

September 17, 2019 · 7:37 pm

09/17/19 The Divine Equation

As I was walking today, I was unfocused, distracted, and concerned with the affairs of the day. I asked God to come to me and to reveal himself to me. Now, I recognized that I must ask such a thing in humility and not expect God to be at my beck and call. To think such is the first and greatest sin – pride. However, God has said in many passages that if we will seek Him, He will be found. (See Proverbs 8:17.) John Piper elaborates,

Seeking the Lord means seeking his presence. “Presence” is a common translation of the Hebrew word “face.” Literally, we are to seek his “face.” But this is the Hebraic way of having access to God. To be before his face is to be in his presence. 

Piper continues,

The great promise to those who seek the Lord is that he will be found. “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9). And when he is found, there is great reward. “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

When I called out this morning to God, He came back to me in a mathematical equation that is set out hereinbelow. This is highly unusual because math is not my best subject. Yet, the equation sets out a great truth.

[(If you will believe x{times} X) + (that I AM3)] + [that I AM3 (more powerful than youn)] + [that I AM3 holds (you x 4) (secure x Y) in the palm of MY hand];

 Then you will [know ME as (I AM3)] + [(worship x Z) ME as (I AM3)] + [do what (I AM3) commands.] 

In that equation exists the Alpha and Omega; Darkness v. Light, life v. death, Heaven v. Hell, existence v. annihilation, longing v. fulfillment, and joy and sorrow, n.

To explain for those as mathematically challenged as I, God gave to me in triplets an if/then equation with each side expressed in three clauses. The first clause says that I must believe that God exists. On the “if” side, if I would believe that He, the triune God, is or exists, (see Hebrews 11:6) where “believe” is subject to being multiplied by the first variable “X” representing the set all words signifying “believe” and its synonyms; plus

The second clause tells me that I must believe that He, the triune God, is more powerful than I to the “nth” power representing infinity; (See,  inter alia,  Psalm 8:3-4 and 147:5; Job 26:14; Isaiah 40:28 and 55:8-9; and Luke 12:7  plus

The third clause that commands me to believe that the Triune God holds me in the palm of His hand. The multiplier of four indicates that He holds my past, present, future, and afterlife. The second variable, “Y” indicates the set of all words signifying “secure” and its synonyms. See Deuteronomy 32:11; Psalm 91:11 -12; and Isaiah 1:31, 40:11, 41:13, 46:4, and 63:9.)

The “then” side of the equations states that If I will perform the “if” side, then God will bring about the following. First, I will know the triune God as He as He is. (See Philippians 3:10.)

Secondly, I will worship him. The third variable, “Z” stands for the set of all words signifying “worship” and its synonyms.

Lastly, I will do what the Triune God commands. (See John 14:15.)

God gave me an assignment, homework if you will. He said that I was to research and “flesh” this out cognitively, to believe the truth of it spiritually, and to act accordingly physically. (Note the three parts of each of us, soul, spirit, and body.)

The first two commands, I can accomplish in one post in one day’s entry to accomplish intellectually. The last, however, will acquire the rest of my life to accomplish physically.

So let it be written, so let it be done.

 

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September 17, 2019 · 12:29 am

08/05/19 Supplemental – “The Prophet”

Walking today, I listened to the Book of John. Early in the book, I came across the question asked of John the Baptist if he were “The Prophet.” Note, not “a prophet.” See John 1:21. I found that in Deuteronomy 18:15, Moses refers to an unnamed prophet who would be “like Him” and would come after him. Moses declares,

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.

Apparently, the identity of “The Prophet” has been a source of rabbinical discussion, but Rabbi Baruch states that there is a rabbinical consensus that “The Prophet” refers to Messiah.

I speculated that perhaps, Moses was directly referring to Joshua, and that may well have been what was in his mind. However, even if that is what Moses thought, Joshua, though his successor and a great leader, especially in battle, did not fit the description of “The Prophet.” Deuteronomy 34:10-12 says:

Since then [the time of Moses,] no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land.  For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

The Encyclopedia Britannica records that the Book of Deuteronomy, though passed done in various form orally, was not completed ion writing until about the 7th Century BC. Many of the great prophets of Israel did not live before that time. Even those who did, i.e. Elijah and Elisha, did not fully meet all the qualification that Moses stipulated, supra.

The last of the Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist was asked if he were “The Prophet.” He was correct in denying that he was “The Prophet.” I have heard it stated that John the Baptist never claimed to be a prophet. That’s not entirely accurate. John never said that he was not a prophet, he just never claimed to be “The Prophet” or any particular prophet redivivo, Elijah was suggested by John’s questioners. In Matthew 11:7-10, Jesus proclaimed John to be a prophet – and much more.

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John [the Baptist]: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”

Jesus, Himself, is the only one who meets and surpasses the comparison with Moses.

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September 15, 2019 · 11:21 pm

08/05/19 John’s Journal – First Entry Beginning Again

God has made changes in my life. Recently, I felt impressed to step away from active ministry for at least a “season.” I am “called” to spend the “doing” time in “being” time. With God’s help. I plan to spend time getting to know Him rather than getting to know about Him. I’ll be working on finding a plan to follow which will be more than reading a daily devotional and saying a few prayers. I want to really get to know God.
That is a scary thought. What if it doesn’t work? What if I do get to know Him and discover that He is not what I expected? What if He is actually real?
It follows that if I’m going to honestly get to know Him, I have to let Him get to know me – the real me. (I realize even contemplating that He doesn’t already know everything about me is merely an exercise in sophistry, but I suspect we’ve all played the game that if we don’t tell God something, like hiding a secret from our parents when we were a kid, He won’t know.) I any of you have never played that game, please put your story in the comments. We’d all like to meet such a person – if such exists.
My plan thus far is to spend about 45 minutes to an hour walking and listening to the scriptures or sometimes to worship music. When I come in, I plan to sit and contemplate whatever God has for me on the day. I suspect that this contemplation will lead to God expecting something from me. In his Biblical letter, James at Chapter 2 verses 14-16 concludes that “faith without works is dead.” I want a vibrant faith, not a dead one – not a “couch-potato” faith.
Finding the balance will be difficult, but I suspect that God will show me the way.

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