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Archive for the ‘Explanations’ Category

Bread From Heaven

Posted in Bread, Explanations, Jesus, Manna, Satisfaction, tagged on June 18, 2011| 2 Comments »

“Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. [I am] the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” – Jesus (John 6:35b, 49-50)

They all knew about manna — their ancestors were hungry and God nourished them with “bread” from heaven. It was God’s miracle through Moses, so different they called it, “Manna”, which literally means, “What is it?!”

When Jesus’ audience asked him for a miracle like Moses gave, he said he was the miracle itself.

Like manna was given by God to satisfy hunger, Jesus satisfies the gnawing hunger for something more. Unlike Moses’ manna which sustained a short while, eventually going stale, and breading worms, God’s true “living” bread is always fresh, satisfies for ever, and gives unending life.

Of course, they had problems with metaphors.

Sound Bite: Jesus is not the miracle worker, he is the miracle itself.
Prayer: Jesus, don’t just give me bread, be my bread.

– fritz@langgang.com
See also: “What He Is, Not What He Does” – June 9, 2011

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Not All At Once

Posted in Deliverance, Explanations, Symbolism, tagged on June 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. [But] I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. – Exodus 23:28-29

If we take Israel’s Promised Land symbolically as experience of our Spirit filled life in Christ1 then this little verse shows why God doesn’t immediately change everything in our lives, all at once, when we first enter Christ.

God promised to even send hornets ahead of Israel to clear out their land but only as they would be able to occupy, otherwise nature would take over instead. Ever see an unoccupied house, a neglected garden, or someone who bought more home than they could maintain? It’s the same spiritually — God cleans up our lives as we grow and are able to keep it clean.

We may not be able to make some needed changes this year or next but God understands and tenderly leads. He will eventually get to it all when time is right — He is doing the same in those we love, too.

-fritz@langgang.com
1 – Promised Land Symbolism – June 15, 2011

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Promised Land Symbolism

Posted in Experience, Explanations, Faith, Symbolism, tagged on June 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

[Y]e shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. – Joshua 1:11b

Israel’s entry into their “Promised Land” has long been seen as symbolic. The church has many hymns, like “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand“ equating the “Promised Land” with Heaven. But while Heaven is a promise, the “Promised Land” symbolizes something else.

In heaven our fighting will be over but in this life, as in Israel’s Promised Land, there are “giants” to defeat, crops to plant and harvest, successes and failures based on our obedience and partnership with Christ.

Taking over the promised land, driving out the sinful inhabitants, and occupying in faith is the same process of kicking out our old habits and sins, establishing Christ’s rule over our lives, and living for Jesus in the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

See it that way as you read the biblical book of Joshua and it takes on a whole new relevance.

– fritz@langgang.com

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