Thought some would like this

[micah7:9]

On Sunday morning just before worship service, I was washing my hands and thinking about what I was supposed to minister on. I was considering the fact that we only had a few in church that morning because of sickness or being out of town, and I thought , "Why am I doing this?" Suddenly these words echoed in my mine; OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHIM.
I went into the sanctuary and during the worship service I wrote down the words to the song and God began to speak their message to me.
OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHIM,
All over the world there are small groups of people who have stood faithful as a little flock , they have borne the heat of the day and stood strong in faith, waiting for the promise of the Father; A manifestation of life, revealed through a Word, heard in the fire of Spiritual visitation . These small groups of people are assembled in Bethlehem, a birth is about to take place.
Galatians 4:19 (KJV)
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
The word formed means: To fashion, through the idea of adjustment of parts.
Christ is being formed in us, and soon to be manifested in us.
HOW STILL , WE SEE THEE LIE
The world is watching these small groups of churches, and because they judge by the sight of the religious mind set, they think nothing is happening in our midst, we are still, there seems to be no movement and nothing accomplished in God.
ABOVE THY DEEP AND DREAMLESS SLEEP, THE SILENT STARS GO BY.
Because they see no movement, we are considered to be asleep and have no vision. We are labeled as silent stars, with nothing to say .
YET IN THY DARK STREETS SHINETH, THE EVERLASTING LIGHT.
The world sees our way as being a dark street , because they are looking at the outward appearance, not being aware that within this people there shines and everlasting light that will shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day!
THE HOPES AND FEARS OF ALL THE YEARS, ARE MET IN THEE TONIGHT.
We are compassed about with a great cloud of witnesses that have waited through centuries of time for this day. A people who hoped against hope, believing the plan and purpose of the Father would come to its conclusion in a people ordained to appear in the likeness and image of their Father.
This song
quickened by the Spirit, spoke to me, and I believe God is telling me, that the hopes and fears of all the years, shall be met in small groups of people across the land. They have seen His star and have assembled themselves in Bethlehem to witness His Birth.
The manifestation of the SONS OF GOD! AMEN.
　alyce mcpherson

[Molly]

O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight


Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love
O morning stars together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIokMInmfA

[redhotmagma]

I thought it was house of bread  :dontknow:

[Molly]

I thought it was house of bread  :dontknow:

oops, you're right  Must be a typo in E-sword.  I'll remove that post.

Bethlehem
H1035
בּית לחם
bêyth lechem
bayth leh'-khem
From H1004 and H3899; house of bread; Beth-Lechem, a place in Palestine: - Beth-lehem.

[eaglesway]

House of Bread. How beautiful. This is my body. O man, what a wondrous thing koinonea is. Lord Jesus, let us eat, and rejoice!

[Nathan]

I'd heard once that "Bethel" which later became "El Bethel" which is "house of God" and then "God of the house of God" later became Bethlehem which is house of bread . . .anyone have anything on that?

[redhotmagma]

I'd heard once that "Bethel" which later became "El Bethel" which is "house of God" and then "God of the house of God" later became Bethlehem which is house of bread . . .anyone have anything on that?

Gen 35 we just read it last night (in the message :winkgrin:) as a family.

Ephrath is Bethlehem, they were leaving Bethel.  Benjamin was born between the two cities

[Molly]

And the angel of God spoke unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
--Gen 31:11

I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get you out from this land, and return unto the land of your kindred.
--Gen 31:13


I am

the God of Beth-el
el beyth-el
the God of the house of God

[Molly]

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
--Micah 5:2

"Ephratah"

fruitfulness



Could we say 'house of fruitful bread'?   Or 'house of the bread of life'?

[Molly]

Another interesting thing:

Ephraim comes from the name Ephratah which is the other name for the town of Bethlehem.

Ephraim means double fruit.

Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph who received the lineage blessing instead of his older brother Manasseh because Jacob switched his hands before he gave the blessing, putting his right hand on Ephraim.  The tribe of Joseph receives a double blessing,--double fruit- through the line of Ephraim [and Manasseh].

Many think Ephraim and Manasseh are today's Christians of the West, Europe and the USA.


14And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

15And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

17And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.

18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

19And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

--Genesis 48



"a multitude of nations"

the fulness of the Gentiles





For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.  Rom 11:25

[Molly]

Here you go, WW.  I have to admit, this made me smile.   :icon_king:



What is the "Double Portion Inheritance"?

During the summer of 2007, while I was in a season of intense prayer and fasting, I was shown through scripture and through divine revelation, that the "Double Portion" anointing which rested upon the prophet Elisha, is that of Elijah & Moses.

This is the very same anointing which rested on YaHuW'shuwa himself, which is why he was seen at the Mount of Transfiguration with both Moshe & Elijah as seen in Matthew 17:3-4.

With these two "anointings" of Moses & Elijah comes the perfect balance and harmony of Law & Prophets, Spirit & Truth, Wisdom & Revelation, Mercy & Judgment.

The "Double Portion" is the inheritance handed down from Jacob/Israel to his son Joseph (who was a type of Messiah) in Genesis 48. Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. But it was Ephraim, (the younger of the two) which is metaphorically and prophetically symbolized as the "Gentile" Christian believers in YaHuW'shuwa. Because Ephraim was raised by an Egyptian mother under paganism, he thought that he was a Gentile or a "stranger." But because Ephraim had the blood of his Hebrew father Joseph in his veins, he was an heir to the covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) his grandfather.

In the same way, those who are born again believers in YaHuW'shuwa, who have been raised in a heathen society dictated by pagan customs, are considered "Gentiles" yet because of their faith in YaHuW'shuwa the Messiah, they actually possess in them the blood/life of the Jewish Messiah and this means that these born again Gentiles are "Jewish" by the blood of YaHuW'shuwa (Romans 2:28-29).

Ephraim thought he was an Egyptian, because he and his brother Manasseh were raised as an Egyptians. But when their grandfather Jacob/Israel prayed the blessing over them he declared "Let my name be named upon them" and this is when they realized that their true inheritance was with Israel!

Jacob/Israel also gave a portion of his blessing to his son Judah (Yahuw'dah), who later became a tribe which we today call "Jews" or Yahuw'dim in Hebrew. (Genesis 49:8-10)

To his favorite son Joseph, Jacob/Israel gave the "Double Portion Blessing" (Genesis 48:22) and this represents the ministry of YaHuW'shuwa the Messiah. YaHuW'shuwa, like Joseph has inherited the tribe of Ephraim through his marriage to the Christian Gentile Church and he has also inherited the house of Judah his brother (Jews) by virtue of the Heavenly Father's marriage to Rachel (Jews). And so YaHuW'shuwa inherits both houses: Ephraim & Judah. In other words, the remnant of the Christians in the Church who come out of Mystery Babylon (Revelation 18:4) and realize their inheritance with Israel make up the "stick of Ephraim" (10 Northern Tribes of Israel). And then the Jews who end up finding YaHuW'shuwa as their Messiah make up the "stick of Judah" (2 Southern Tribes of Israel). And together these two "sticks" become ONE STICK IN THE HAND OF YaHuWaH (Ezekiel 37:16-17)

These two tribes of Ephraim & Judah make up the distinct 12 tribes of Israel.

In Ezekiel 37:16-17, we are given a prophecy about these two tribes Judah & Ephraim coming together and becoming "one stick" in the hand of YaHuWaH.

What brings these two tribes together?

In Ephesians 2:15, the Apostle Paul (Shaul) tells us that YaHuW'shuwa has abolished this man-made ordinance by the Rabbis which prevented the Gentiles from coming near the outer court of the temple. By the blood of YaHuW'shuwa, Gentiles who were once alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, have now been brought near to the temple because he has broken down the middle wall of partition which divided Jew & Gentile, so as to make of the "Two Tribes" (Judah & Ephraim) ONE NEW MAN!

YaHuW'shuwa is now building us together into "One New Man" in the Olive Tree (Romans 11:17-21) natural branches (Jews) and the wild branches (Gentiles) are now being called by the Holy Spirit to form a "corporate" army of end time prophets who will preach an uncompromising Apostolic message in these last days that will shake the world and turn it upside down!

The "two witnesses" of Revelation 11:4 are "the two candlesticks" and the "two olive trees." These "two candlesticks" are shown to us in Revelation 1:20 as the overcoming churches, which are Smyrna & Philadelphia. The two olive trees, are the "wild & natural" branches or in other words these two divided kingdoms of Israel (10 Northern Tribes & 2 Southern Tribes) which are the tribes of Ephraim & Judah (Jew & Gentile Believers in YaHuW'shuwa) who come together carrying the anointing of Moses & Elijah (Revelation 11:6).

The Messianic Believers who have the Law of Moses (Torah) bring the element of the anointing of Moses, and the Gentile Believers who flow more freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit carry the anointing of Elijah (Spirit). When these two groups come together in "Spirit & Truth" bringing together the elements of "Law & Prophets" it will bring with it the most powerful anointing and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the history of mankind!

In order for believers to walk in the "Double Portion Anointing," we must have both of these elements working in perfect harmony in YaHuW'shuwa the Messiah.

The 1st Century Jewish Apostles had this double portion anointing, and we read about it in the book of Acts. They moved in signs, wonders and the miraculous, but they also taught from the Law of Moses (Torah) every Sabbath day.

Contrary to popular belief, the Apostles did not teach that the Law of Moses was abolished, but rather they taught that the Law of Moses has now been written upon our hearts and minds on the Day of Pentecost (called Shabuoth), with the Baptism in Fire & the Holy Spirit.

The Law "contained in ordinances" which were the man-made decrees by the Rabbis were "abolished" (Ephesians 2:14-15). And the Levitical Priesthood is now superceded by a heavenly Priesthood called the "Zadok" (Tzadiq) or righteous priesthood. This is the same order of priests which all born again believers are called to be a part of. YaHuW'shuwa has now brought in a new "administration" (2nd Corinthians 3) after the order of Melchizedek "Malki-Tzadiq" (meaning King of righteousness, Hebrews 7). Every born again believer is called to be part of this royal priesthood under our High Priest, YaHuW'shuwa (1st Peter 2, Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 20:6).

http://www.doubleportioninheritance.com/fr_home.cfm

[micah7:9]

Another interesting thing:

Ephraim comes from the name Ephratah which is the other name for the town of Bethlehem.

Ephraim means double fruit.

Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph who received the lineage blessing instead of his older brother Manasseh because Jacob switched his hands before he gave the blessing, putting his right hand on Ephraim.  The tribe of Joseph receives a double blessing,--double fruit- through the line of Ephraim [and Manasseh].

Many think Ephraim and Manasseh are today's Christians of the West, Europe and the USA.


14And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

15And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

16The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

17And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.

18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

19And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

20And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

--Genesis 48



"a multitude of nations"

the fulness of the Gentiles





For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.  Rom 11:25

Very good Molly.

[jabcat]

The article from Maria Merola is one person's individual experience and belief, and she may be 100% correct.

However, I don't see where this is instructing anyone who's a Gentile, "of the nations", to go back into observances that were handed down to the nation of Israel under the era of temple worship.  I also don't see where that negates anything Paul said about those things being a shadow, and that the reality of Christ has come - and telling them no one was to sit in judgment of them as they chose to not participate in those things. 

As I've said, I still believe if anyone feels led to do it, if they feel it fits a ministry somehow, etc., then there's also no judging there - one way or the other. 

If God sees fit to bring those two groups of people together somehow to bring about His will, that's great and it's His doing.  I said in an earlier post that God could change my mind in the next age [if He chooses to do things differently somehow].  But for now, as a gentile this side of the cross, who never received instruction to partcipate in Jewish holy days, etc., i.e., a New Testament believer, I don't believe those observances necessarily apply to me.  I don't believe anybody's personal opinion on how they think is "best", personal wishes, or desires, take away the words of the Apostle Paul.

What do the scriptures say? 

Colossians 2 - having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross...   16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you...taking his stand on visions he has seen...  20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees...in accordance with the teachings of men?  23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.

[micah7:9]

Hey Jabcat, just a thought, (the Bible does a lot of bringing up thoughts); but were we not all under the law before Jesus found us and called us? Not talking about all the festivals and celebrations, but were we not all under the law whether we adhered to its commandments or not?

[jabcat]

before i saw your post, i took that part out because i thought it might be controversial and didn't want it seized upon to distract from my main points.

that's a matter of debate which i didn't wish to derail. some (such as Zender) argue it was handed down to the Jews only - but spiritually, i think in some sense, yes we were under it - if in no other way, it revealed our sin.

my main point is, with the progressive revelation of Paul's ministry, i believe he clearly taught we were not obligated to observe days, ordinances, festivals, etc.   Paul and Peter even "argued" about some of that, with Peter being (mostly) dispatched to the Jews, while Paul was dispatched to "us", the gentiles/nations.  but hey, if anyone wishes or feels led to do those things, gets blessed by it, etc., no big argument from me.  I just resist it being touted as "a better way", or something that is necessarily a "good thing" for all - when the Bible says otherwise.

[Molly]

What interests me is the prophecy about it, the idea of bringing the twelve tribes back together [the northern ten tribes of Israel and the southern two tribes of Judah] and holding them in his hand as ONE STICK.   That makes so much sense to me, but I'm not sure what it would look like.

Did you guys study that in Sunday school?

He says he has broken down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile to create one new man.  What does that new man look like?  Wouldn't look like [pagan] Gentile and wouldn't look like talmudic Jew.  He would be something new and diferent from both by virtue of the synergy in Christ.

I am now firmly convinced in my own mind, that all believers in Christ come from these twelve tribes [ten of them were lost to history] although not all members of these tribes are believers in Christ as we see in our own families.  But that is the prophecy--I will make of you a multitude of nations and in your seed they will bless all the families of the world.

Also this idea of the double portion--the law through Judah and the Spirit through the Gentiles [Joseph/Ephraim,] or what Cardinal would call flesh and bones.

But, I don't believe the law is to be a burden to us Gentiles--he is writing it on our [new] hearts [of flesh].  It would be something that would come naturally, that we would desire.

I wish I knew more about the early church, because I do agree with her that this will be the model. 

It couldn't have been too elaborate, since they were mostly carrying on in secret.

I guess I have to study the Book of Acts.

[Molly]

Another thing--

The Jews have kept themselves set apart, very much so, from the Gentile world.  Gentiles are 'other' to them.  And, I think we sense that, the way things are now.

And, I can't see myself rocking and kissing the wailing wall.

So this would require some kind of huge change on both sides.

[micah7:9]

before i saw your post, i took that part out because i thought it might be controversial and didn't want it seized upon to distract from my main points.

that's a matter of debate which i didn't wish to derail. some (such as Zender) argue it was handed down to the Jews only - but spiritually, i think in some sense, yes we were under it - if in no other way, it revealed our sin.

my main point is, with the progressive revelation of Paul's ministry, i believe he clearly taught we were not obligated to observe days, ordinances, festivals, etc.   Paul and Peter even "argued" about some of that, with Peter being (mostly) dispatched to the Jews, while Paul was dispatched to "us", the gentiles/nations.  but hey, if anyone wishes or feels led to do those things, gets blessed by it, etc., no big argument from me.  I just resist it being touted as "a better way", or something that is necessarily a "good thing" for all - when the Bible says otherwise.

First, those words were from alyce mcphperson, not me. I believe that we were all under the law whether we knew about it or not, before Jesus found us by the preaching of Christ crucified. In fact I don't really know what the Gentiles(nations) did religiously, I have not looked into it, its not what I have been led to do, accept it sure was not knowing Jesus Christ. Peter did hold on to ministering to the Jews, we can only wonder why, Paul was sent directly to the nations(Gentiles) to preach Jesus Christ crucified. I do believe that should man continue to recognize and celebrate festivals and rituals not taught by what the Bible through Jesus Christ, are not yet mature.
Heb 5:12  For, even when ye ought to be teachers, by reason of the time, again, have ye, need, that one be teaching, you, what are the first principles of the oracles of God, and have become such as have, need, of milk, not, of strong food;
Heb 5:13  For, every one partaking of milk, is unskilled in discourse of righteousness, for he is, a babe;
Heb 5:14  But, to such as are mature, pertaineth, the strong food, to them who, by reason of habit, have their organs of perception well trained for discriminating both good and evil.

Anyway that was sister mcpherson's offering of how she felt. I now perhaps should not have posted it.

[jabcat]

nah, it's ok micah!  I was just a little slow getting it out of there :laughing7: because I recognized it as a potential "whole other discussion".  It's probably a good one.  Start a thread on it!

Molly, before reading your post, I was just thinking about the "one new man", and as you say, what that really "should" look like.  Because I believe much of what people do are cultural, and I wonder what God's perfect will is (and will end up being and looking like in the next age). 

I believe Paul was talking to a mix of spiritually reborn Jews and spiritually reborn gentiles, when he was telling them it was "OK" to not observe the days, festivals, etc.    However, some in the early church apparently did, as evidenced by Peter and James' ministry.  As I said earlier, they were even insisting to be a true believer one must still get circumcised, but Paul didn't, uh, agree with that so much.   :laughing7:   But then in one place, he did agree to circumcise someone.  So again, how much of that was cultural, and even "being all things to all men", etc.?  I'm not sure.  The writer you posted mentioned about the early church meeting on the sabbath.  Well, apparently some of them did, but again, is that because they were "supposed" to, or because they hadn't as yet moved away from some of their traditions, culture, what they thought was still pleasing to God?  In Paul's famous Colossians "don't any man judge you" passage, the sabbath is one of the things he mentioned.  So IMO, to use their keeping the sabbath as a litmus test or example to necessarily follow, is to me questionable, since Paul later addressed it as he did.

I don't want to have an ongoing  battle of articles  :drama:, but this article I found says SO MUCH of the way I personally believe - not just about this issue, but also about MANY things about rightly dividing the Word that I think are SO important and we/I often miss.  I want to post it, then I'll work on getting out of this discussion and let others carry on.

[jabcat]

In Colossians, the "you" is those born again of God's holy spirit, for whom no such holiday observance is ever prescribed. In fact, the above verses are saying that there is no such thing that is relevant to the Church, the Body of Christ, Christians. Do the Church Epistles say that Christians should get together with others and celebrate, sing, praise, worship, pray, minister, hear the Word—and eat? Absolutely. But there is no prescribed day—or way.

Consider this: if Christians are to keep the feasts of Judaism, should they not keep the whole Law? In Galatians 5:3, Paul says just that, substituting "circumcision" as the part of the Law in question. Take a good look at verses 1-15 in order to get the whole context, and to see what Paul (writing by revelation from Jesus Christ) thinks about Christians being put under any part of the old Mosaic Law. If we are to keep the feasts, what about animal sacrifices to worship God? No, Christians are not required to keep these laws.

The epistle to the Hebrews is one of the earlier epistles, and was written primarily to ex-Jewish Christians, many of whom were still clinging to their old ways. In Hebrews 7-10, God works hard to show them that the ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic Law were no longer applicable. For example: (7:18 and 19) "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless, (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God;" (9:9 and 10) "[The Tabernacle was] an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order;" (10:1) "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—and not the realities themselves..." Amen.

Some Christians who do not understand the administrations in Scripture, and who thus believe we should observe the Jewish feasts, etc., cite Matthew 5:17-19, where Jesus said that he had not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. First, to whom was he speaking? Jews. The Mosaic Law never did have anything to do with Christians. A key phrase in what Jesus said in Matthew 5:18 is that nothing would disappear from the Law "until everything is accomplished." Jesus did accomplish everything he needed to relative to the Levitical Law, and that is why it is no longer in effect. Today, we have no Temple, no Levites, no Aaronite priests, no animal sacrifices, etc. For both Jews and Gentiles, adhering to Romans 10:9 is the only way to salvation. When either does so, he is then "neither Jew nor Gentile" (Gal. 3:28), but a Christian, a member of the Body of Christ.

Remember Hebrews 10:1 (above)? The Law was not the reality to which God looked forward. Then remember what Colossians 2:17 said about the festivals and holidays? "These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." In that light, consider the following verses:

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 (NKJV)
(6) Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
(7) Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
(8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

What's the point? That because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, and his giving the gift of holy spirit on the Day of Pentecost, believers today ("Christians") are unique in the annals of spiritual history. If.. you are born again of God's spirit .. in Christ, you have been cleansed of sin from the inside out. The Redeemer to whom the Old Testament feasts and rituals pointed now lives in your heart. There is no ritual or work you need to do in order to stand approved before your heavenly Father. Knowing your standing as a son of God should make every day worth celebrating! - truthortradition.com

[jabcat]

And, I can't see myself rocking and kissing the wailing wall.

:laugh2: 

the change would definitely need to be from God, cause we'd mess it all up like we've messed up "church" with the thousands of denominations... :mblush:

[micah7:9]

"I am now firmly convinced in my own mind, that all believers in Christ come from these twelve tribes [ten of them were lost to history] although not all members of these tribes are believers in Christ as we see in our own families.  But that is the prophecy--I will make of you a multitude of nations and in your seed they will bless all the families of the world.

Also this idea of the double portion--the law through Judah and the Spirit through the Gentiles [Joseph/Ephraim,] or what Cardinal would call flesh and bones."

Well I don't walk in that vein. Isa 43:19  Behold me! doing a new thing, Now, shall it spring forth, Will ye not take note thereof? Surely I will set In the desert, a way, In a desolate land, rivers:
We can "spiritually" discern the "double portion," or flesh and bones, but I wonder why there is nothing taught about a double portion in the NT?

Just what do we think the word NEW means?  For me it means
2Co 5:17  so that if any one is in Christ-- he is a new creature; the old things did pass away, lo, become new have the all things.
Gal 6:15  for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation;

"the change would definitely need to be from God, cause we'd mess it all up like we've messed up "church" with the thousands of denominations... " Jabcat
Now I like that especially the last part! :mshock:

[jabcat]

I wonder why there is nothing taught about a double portion in the NT?

That's a really good question!  I'm going to need to explore that a bit.

That's really sort of what the article I posted is getting at too, "what/who/when is being told what".   :2c:

[Molly]

Yes, that makes sense JAB.  So if you are in Christ, for instance, every day is the Sabbath because he is Lord of the Sabbath and we have entered into his rest.

But, I think it is important to know that--to know the commandment--to keep it holy--wow that means every day is holy.

In like manner, all the feasts are experienced internally.  The big laws are written on our hearts, so we would only desire to keep them.

And, we would move about the Temple, as priests do, but it would all be spiritual.




Isaiah 45:25 But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.


Jer 33
7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

8And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

9And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.


Jer 33

14Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah

15 In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: 'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.'

[Molly]

I wonder why there is nothing taught about a double portion in the NT?

That's a really good question!  I'm going to need to explore that a bit.

That's really sort of what the article I posted is getting at too, "what/who/when is being told what".   :2c:

It is in the NT.

For one off the top of my head, you see in Revelation both Joseph and Ephraim listed amog the twelve tribes.  [Dan is gone.]

Also, the transfiguration with Moses and Elijah standing on either side of Jesus.