SHILOH Part1

"The scepter shall not depart from Judah
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people" Genesis 49:10

Jacob is one-hundred and forty-seven years old now. He has fathered the twelve men who would themselves father the twelve tribes of Israel. God had placed His love upon him and Jacob was priviledged to have had the Almighty tell him, "in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed".

Now, old and full of days, Jacob is about to die. He has gathered his twelve sons before him that he might tell them what would befall them and their offspring in the latter days. God the Holy Spirit was with him as he spoke.

Now, it was time to address Judah and his descendants. The gracious words that were to proceed out of Jacob's mouth are among the earliest prophecies in scripture of That coming One. What was to come out of Jacob's mouth served to ignite the hopes and desires of many in the thousands of years to come. From that time forward the Jewish people would be looking for the coming of a great King. Evidence of this was seen when Jesus told His disciples: "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it".

Yes, people at the time of Jesus' birth, centuries after Jacob had uttered that wonderful prophecy - those like Anna the prophetess and Simeon, and all those many others who looked for redemption in Jerusalem, these all were in anticipation of the fulfillment; and they had joined those in the centuries before them, like King David, Isaiah and Micah, and yes, all the prophets who looked forward to the coming Anointed One.

This amazing prophecy speaks of One to Whom the scepter belongs. It speaks of a Lawgiver to Whom belongs the obedience of the people. And The Holy Spirit through Jacob gives this coming One a name that would define His ministry; would define God's desire for way-ward mankind...

Here, He is called "Shiloh".

Shiloh. The very definition of that name can be found throughout scripture...
"And His name shall be called...Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end...Is. 9:6-7.

Elsewhere, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men!" Luke 2:14.

Through this One called Shiloh, God reaches out to a race that has become hostile toward Him. In love God calls out to humanity and shows them THE way of salvation...of reconciliation...the Way of peace with Him.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God". II Cor 5:20.

Jesus is "Shiloh". He is the only way to the Father. He bore God the Father's wrath for our sins so that we can have peace with God, without fear of His wrath.

Jesus is MY peace. I trust in Him as my ONLY hope of salvation. I have peace with God through Him.

Dear reader, do you know Him? Do you know That Only One through Whom we can have peace with God. I call out to you if you do not Know Him. Come to Him Who alone bore the wrath of God for sins. Take your refuge in Him from the coming wrath upon this earth. Look to Jesus alone for your salvation. You cannot save yourselves no matter how good you think you are. Flee to Christ! Believe that He is your only hope of peace with God. Your works and your belief in other gods will only lead you to experience God's coming wrath. Look to Jesus!

THE LORD'S CHRIST

Simon Peter answered and said,
''You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'' -Matthew 16:16

She said to Him, ''Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, who is to come into the world.'' -John 11:27

It had been several thousand years since the promise was made of the One who would come to bruise the serpent's head. The Nation of Israel, yea the whole human race, is in need of that One Who would break the power of sin and to deliver them and all of us from the power of darkness. Yes, as was true of Israel so it is with the whole human race - it is a slave to sin and is hostile to God. We all have chosen to throw off His yoke, and to disregard his word.

It had been two thousand years since Job spoke of a redeemer Who would one day stand upon the earth. Like Job, the fallen human race is ravaged by the ''prince of darkness''. Our suffering is the result of being separated from our Creator, in Whose presence alone is fullness of joy; and only at His right hand, are pleasures forever more.

Yes, it has been now one thousand years since king David was promised that his house and his kingdom would be established forever, God telling him, ''Your throne shall be establish forever''. Ah, yes, mankind is in need of that One Who would rule in the hearts of men; that One who would lead us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Seven-hundred years had past since the Lord had promised humanity that One upon Whom He would lay the iniquity of us all; By Whose knowledge many would be justified.

The human race is wasting away in its separation from God, and is reaping corruption. Wars, hatred, and selfishness are now the rule. Pain and suffering are the result.

Such hopelessness...

Then, after a four-hundred year silence, suddenly He appears in a manger. There He is, that One Who would save His people from their sins. Ah yes, God has remembered...
''For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that who ever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life...''

Praise be to God, that He is a merciful God. He IS love. He IS gracious. He has not dealt with us according to OUR sins. He has provided His own Son to pay the penalty for OUR sin's. ...Now THAT IS LOVE!

Jesus is ''THE LORD'S CHRIST''
There, lying in a manger is that One Who would rule in the hearts of men. He would show us how to walk in God's ways. He would be the One to destroy the works of the devil, and free us from our slavery to sin. He is the One who would sit on king David's throne, Both in our hearts now, and in Heavenly Jerusalem in the future.

What a wonderful Christ. For He alone is OUR Savior.

There, lying in the manger is our only Hope.

PREACH CHRIST CRUCIFIED

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures...1Cor. 15:3-4...That is THE GOSPEL!

REPENTANCE

Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the LORD,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6-7

Thus it is written,
and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24:46-47

but now [God] commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. Act 17:30-31

We are a race that has rejected our Creator and His Christ. We have set ourselves against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.

Where He has said to love Him with all of our heart, all of our soul, and with all of our strength; and, also, that we should live by every word that proceeds from His mouth we have, instead, turned our back to Him.

As it is written in His word "All we like sheep have gone astray, every one, to his own way" or, as Paul strings together some quotes from the Old Testament: "There is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one".

Yes, we are a race that is "dead in tresspasses and sins"...we "Walk according to the prince of the power of the air...we are, by nature children of wrath."

But our Creator is rich in mercy. In love He speaks to the world through His Son; "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Ah, now THERE is good news! There is the very definition of repentance. As we look to the Savior and come to Him we leave our way-ward life-styles behind. We submit to His placing His yoke upon us and we take up learning of Him. He takes the reigns of our hearts and leads us in the ways He would have us to go.

Now that is salvation and abundant living!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

ALL EYES UPON JESUS!

Moses spoke of Him in prophecy over 1400 years earlier -" The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear... I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and I will put My words in His mouth,and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whosoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him" Deut. 18:15,18-19

Isaiah did the same over 700 years before He came- "Behold! My Servant Whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles...He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law." Is.42:1,4

 And now "... there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon...waiting for the Consolation of Israel... it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ... And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus...he took Him up in his arms and said: Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared for all peoples, A Light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel". Luke 2:25-32

Ah, Simeon, In your arms you hold that One around Whom time itself revolves. There He is, in your embrace,that very One in Whom God the Father delights. Your eyes gaze upon the Consolation of Israel. What an honor as the very glory of Israel is cradled next to your heart. Yes, even the Gentiles long for His justice; the coastlands His law.

You can die in peace now. Your whole life has been spent, consumed even, waiting to see Him. You've longed for Him because of your intense love for His Father. There He is, your dreams, your heart's longings, your very reason to exist. Your soul is flooded with Thanksgivings and joy.

Simeon, rest in peace now my friend.

Ah, church, What can we learn from Simeon?

ALL EYES UPON JESUS pt.one

I recently observed two of my new friends in the blogosphere discussing unity in the body of Christ. One asked the other how it would be possible to bring such unity about.

There are Dispensationalists, Covenantalists and New Covenantalists. There are Calvinists and Arminnians; Cessationists and Charismatics; Pre-Tribers, Mid-Tribers and Post-Tribers. Also, there are Pre-Mills, Post-Mills and A-Mills. So much diversity. There are Credo Baptists and Peado Baptists and plenty of annimosity between the two.

Over the certuries debates, persecutions, yes, even hatred and martyrdom has occurred because of these diverse opinions.

How wrong. How sad!

I must confess that over the years, as a Calvinist, I have had plenty of disdain for Arminnians. I was consumed with rage against them.

I repent.

Yes, I still hold to the "Doctrines of Grace" and I am quite capable of defending my position. But, though I can and will defend my position I will now do so without the rage and disgust.

I can recall plenty of non-Calvinist preachers over the years who have blessed me and noursihed me up in the Word. Men like CHuck Smith, David Rosalis, and Dr. R.A. Cook were very strong infludences in my early walk with Christ.

While I do not look at my position in the Calvinist debate as a cause of division, I do see my attitude as such.

Is it not interesting that, though they disagreed at times on this issue, Wesley and Whitefield were co-laborers in the "Great Awakening". How about the partnership between Arminian G. Campbell Morgan and Cavinist D. Martin LLoyd Jones. They loved one another in the Lord. They served side by side. They acknowledged one another's position in Christ.

They were brothers in Christ!

What about the admonition to "look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith". Is not Jesus the One Who would bruise Satan's head? (Gen 3:15). Is it not written that Abraham rejoiced to see His day (2000 years earliers), he saw it and was glad? John 8:56. Did not Job say "For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth"? Job 19:25.

Is it not recorded that Jesus told His disciples "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it"? Luke 10:24. Is it not written that the LORD laid on Him the iniquity of us all and that He made Jesus' soul an offering for sin. Isn't it by the knowledge of Jesus alone that many are justified? Was it not He alone Who bore our inquities? Isaiah 53:6,10,11. Was not His ministry written about in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms? Luke 24:44. Is not Jesus the only one to be able to claim that "He who has seen Me has seen the Father"? John 14:9. Is not Jesus the One through Whom the Father speaks to the world in these last times? He alone is the image of the invisible God. All things were created through Him. He is the Head of the church. "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell". Col 1:17,18,19. Grace and Truth came to us through Christ alone.

to be continued...