In The Old Testament the people who were anointed were kings, priests and prophets.
We are anointed as kings to administer justice, as priests to mediate between God and the lost and as prophets to preach the gospel.
As the Spirit of the Lord was on Jesus, the Spirit of the lord is on us, because as he anointed Jesus he has he has anointed us to preach good news to the poor. He has sent us to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour
By this it would appear that we are anointed for a practical purpose. If a meeting only attended by Christians none of which are poor, in bondage, blind etc is called anointed, what is the anointing in that instance for?
2 Corinthians 1:21
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
By this it would appear that he has anointed us and makes us stand firm in Christ. He doesn’t anoint us and have us fall over or do windmills.
1 John 2:20
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth
1 John 2:27
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
By this verse it would appear that the anointing teaches us how to do what we are anointed to do.
It would appear that Ali is indeed on to something and that ’anointed’ is a word we use in the charismatic church to describe stuff that moves or inspires us emotionally that may have nothing to do with the anointing.
By this I believe that what is often called ’the anointing’ is a heightened awareness of Gods presence brought about by God in us. Which I just happen to have right now while writing this! Glory!
Thursday, 24 September 2009
What It Is To Be A Baptised Christian
Romans 6 says that we have been buried with Christ in baptism and risen to new life in him. As we have been buried with Christ we have also been crucified with Christ. Therefore our world view is that of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5says that Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Therefore to be a baptised Christian is to be one who no longer lives for ones self but for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5 goes on to say the consequence of be one who no longer lives for ones self but for Christ saying that from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
As we regard no one from a worldly point of view, we regard them from Christ’s point of view. Because of what Christ has done, with Gods help we can fulfil our baptism vows.
With Gods help we are able to continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in breaking of the bread, and in prayers as the first century Christians did (Acts 2:41-43 ) If we still had a worldly point of view we wouldn’t want to do this. To be a baptised Christian is to be in communion with other Christians.
With Gods help we are able to persevere in resisting evil and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord (James 4:7, 1 John 1:9) If we still had a worldly point of view we would be more likely to blame God like Adam did or The Devil like Eve did. To be a baptised Christian is to be responsible for ones own actions.
With Gods help we are able to proclaim by word a and example the good news of God in Christ. (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19) If we still had a worldly point of view we would be unconcerned about proclaiming the good news. We would not be interested in how Christ looked but how we looked.
With Gods help we to serve Christ in others and love our neighbours as ourselves ( Leviticus 19:18 Matthew 19:19,Matthew 22:39,Mark 12:33,Luke 10:27,Romans 13:9, James 2:8) With a worldly point of view this would be impossible. Jesus said that if one sins against us seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to us and says, 'I repent,' we are to forgive them. Forgiveness of ours is contrary to the worldly point of view. The world wants to get even rather than turn the other cheek. So to be a baptised Christian is to go against the grain of the world and be Christ like.
With Gods help we are able to acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and it’s leaders, by defending the weak, and seeking peace and justice. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 Philippians 2:11, Philippians 4:6-7,Isaiah 1:17)
As we are able to do these things with Gods help, being rooted and established in love we bring forth the fruit of The Spirit.
In short, to be a baptised Christian is to be unlike the world and making the world a better place by not being like it. We are the salt of the Earth.
2 Corinthians 5says that Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. Therefore to be a baptised Christian is to be one who no longer lives for ones self but for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5 goes on to say the consequence of be one who no longer lives for ones self but for Christ saying that from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
As we regard no one from a worldly point of view, we regard them from Christ’s point of view. Because of what Christ has done, with Gods help we can fulfil our baptism vows.
With Gods help we are able to continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in breaking of the bread, and in prayers as the first century Christians did (Acts 2:41-43 ) If we still had a worldly point of view we wouldn’t want to do this. To be a baptised Christian is to be in communion with other Christians.
With Gods help we are able to persevere in resisting evil and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord (James 4:7, 1 John 1:9) If we still had a worldly point of view we would be more likely to blame God like Adam did or The Devil like Eve did. To be a baptised Christian is to be responsible for ones own actions.
With Gods help we are able to proclaim by word a and example the good news of God in Christ. (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19) If we still had a worldly point of view we would be unconcerned about proclaiming the good news. We would not be interested in how Christ looked but how we looked.
With Gods help we to serve Christ in others and love our neighbours as ourselves ( Leviticus 19:18 Matthew 19:19,Matthew 22:39,Mark 12:33,Luke 10:27,Romans 13:9, James 2:8) With a worldly point of view this would be impossible. Jesus said that if one sins against us seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to us and says, 'I repent,' we are to forgive them. Forgiveness of ours is contrary to the worldly point of view. The world wants to get even rather than turn the other cheek. So to be a baptised Christian is to go against the grain of the world and be Christ like.
With Gods help we are able to acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and it’s leaders, by defending the weak, and seeking peace and justice. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 Philippians 2:11, Philippians 4:6-7,Isaiah 1:17)
As we are able to do these things with Gods help, being rooted and established in love we bring forth the fruit of The Spirit.
In short, to be a baptised Christian is to be unlike the world and making the world a better place by not being like it. We are the salt of the Earth.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Kicking Against the Pricks.
Evolution is about adaptation in response to environmental factors. Hence Alpine species of willow herbs are smaller than their relatives at lower elevations. The alpine species have the genes for larger size but those genes are redundant. The reason for redundant DNA is evolution.
Through evolution plants have developed defences. Some plants evolved stems that terminate at sharp points (Thorns) Others have evolved to have modified leaves (Spines) some cactus spines are evolutionary remnants of rigid petioles and midribs. Cacti have evolved to photosynthesise through their stems. Others have evolved short woody outgrowths (prickles) We can see how all these defence mechanisms evolved so it is hard for ‘creationists’ to kick against the pricks.
Through evolution plants have developed defences. Some plants evolved stems that terminate at sharp points (Thorns) Others have evolved to have modified leaves (Spines) some cactus spines are evolutionary remnants of rigid petioles and midribs. Cacti have evolved to photosynthesise through their stems. Others have evolved short woody outgrowths (prickles) We can see how all these defence mechanisms evolved so it is hard for ‘creationists’ to kick against the pricks.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
My Thiest Evolution Position
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. God is the source of what is commonly known as The Big Bang It was more of an expansion than an explosion. God was the source off the beginning of The Universe.
Because of the expansion galaxies of different types of stars were formed and round some stars planets were formed.
Some planets developed with atmospheres and others didn’t . one planet that developed an atmosphere was Earth. Life did not appear out of nothing as the Universe did not appear out of nothing. God ids the source of all life as he is the source of all creation.
We know that Gametophytes evolved into Sporophytes and Sporophytes evolved into spermaephytes. Gynimospermae evolved into Angiospermae also known as Magnoliacae. Within Magnoliacea Monocotyledons evolved into Dicotoledons. Within all types of flora above the gametophytes there is redundant DNA. The presence of the same DNA in everything is due to them all having a common ancestor. ‘Creationists’ claim that it is due to having a common designer but as a daffodil has the same designer as the Horse Head Nebula and we can find no similarity other than the presence of chemical elements such a claim is ridiculous.
During the reproductive process of gametophytes the zygote undergoes repeated mitotic divi sions to form a multicellular diploid plant attached to the top of the female gametophyte. Because this new plant is not photosynthetic, it draws nour ishment from the gametophyte during its growth into a slender stalk ter minated by a tiny capsule. Within the capsule, spores are produced by the process of meiosis—haploid spores that, when dispersed by air currents, are ready to repeat the life cycle by growing into new gametophytes.
During the reproductive process of sporaphytes the diploid plant is attached to the gametophyte. There is no practical reason for this union. The reason that in the sporaphytes reproductive process the diploid plant is attached to the gametophyte is because it‘s diploid ancestors were attached to the gametophtye.
Evidence of evolution is often found during the embryonic phase of a species development. A classic example if that of the foetal dolphin having limbs and a nose at the front of its face like it’s land dwelling ancestors had.
Interestingly as evolution occurs by natural selection each generation produces of its own kind as God told everything to do so within the creation myth. ‘Creationists’ would claim that that only occurs within micro-evolution and that macro-evolution has been disproved. But by logic many small changes in a short time over a long time means big change over a long time. Therefore evolution does not mean that a monkey gave birth to an ape but that over successive generation due to small changes monkeys evolved into apes.
-
After millions of years of evolution we came to be in his image.
As God exists and he is good and it is obvious by the way human society is that we have fallen, it is obvious that we need a saviour and as God is good the incarnation would have to occur.
The incarnation was God become flesh, the divine logos walking among us, Gods son Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again in three days.
1 Corinthians 15:17-19
17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
‘Creationists’ and most Atheists would have us believe that the debate is between ‘creationism’ and evolution when in fact the debate is between Christ rising from the dead and our faith being futile and us to be pitied more than all men.
As Jesus did indeed rise from the dead our faith is not futile and we are not to be pitied more than all men. For by his resurrection he has made us alive in him.
I also believe in the virgin birth. As it is a scientific fact that parthenogenesis in humans is not impossible then there is no point debating it. Probability doesn’t come into it. The probability of us evolving from apes is staggeringly remote too but that’s what happened. The probability of somebody rising from the dead after going through what Jesus went through is even more staggering but it occurred nevertheless.
Because of the expansion galaxies of different types of stars were formed and round some stars planets were formed.
Some planets developed with atmospheres and others didn’t . one planet that developed an atmosphere was Earth. Life did not appear out of nothing as the Universe did not appear out of nothing. God ids the source of all life as he is the source of all creation.
We know that Gametophytes evolved into Sporophytes and Sporophytes evolved into spermaephytes. Gynimospermae evolved into Angiospermae also known as Magnoliacae. Within Magnoliacea Monocotyledons evolved into Dicotoledons. Within all types of flora above the gametophytes there is redundant DNA. The presence of the same DNA in everything is due to them all having a common ancestor. ‘Creationists’ claim that it is due to having a common designer but as a daffodil has the same designer as the Horse Head Nebula and we can find no similarity other than the presence of chemical elements such a claim is ridiculous.
During the reproductive process of gametophytes the zygote undergoes repeated mitotic divi sions to form a multicellular diploid plant attached to the top of the female gametophyte. Because this new plant is not photosynthetic, it draws nour ishment from the gametophyte during its growth into a slender stalk ter minated by a tiny capsule. Within the capsule, spores are produced by the process of meiosis—haploid spores that, when dispersed by air currents, are ready to repeat the life cycle by growing into new gametophytes.
During the reproductive process of sporaphytes the diploid plant is attached to the gametophyte. There is no practical reason for this union. The reason that in the sporaphytes reproductive process the diploid plant is attached to the gametophyte is because it‘s diploid ancestors were attached to the gametophtye.
Evidence of evolution is often found during the embryonic phase of a species development. A classic example if that of the foetal dolphin having limbs and a nose at the front of its face like it’s land dwelling ancestors had.
Interestingly as evolution occurs by natural selection each generation produces of its own kind as God told everything to do so within the creation myth. ‘Creationists’ would claim that that only occurs within micro-evolution and that macro-evolution has been disproved. But by logic many small changes in a short time over a long time means big change over a long time. Therefore evolution does not mean that a monkey gave birth to an ape but that over successive generation due to small changes monkeys evolved into apes.
-
After millions of years of evolution we came to be in his image.
As God exists and he is good and it is obvious by the way human society is that we have fallen, it is obvious that we need a saviour and as God is good the incarnation would have to occur.
The incarnation was God become flesh, the divine logos walking among us, Gods son Jesus Christ. Jesus died on the cross for us and rose again in three days.
1 Corinthians 15:17-19
17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
‘Creationists’ and most Atheists would have us believe that the debate is between ‘creationism’ and evolution when in fact the debate is between Christ rising from the dead and our faith being futile and us to be pitied more than all men.
As Jesus did indeed rise from the dead our faith is not futile and we are not to be pitied more than all men. For by his resurrection he has made us alive in him.
I also believe in the virgin birth. As it is a scientific fact that parthenogenesis in humans is not impossible then there is no point debating it. Probability doesn’t come into it. The probability of us evolving from apes is staggeringly remote too but that’s what happened. The probability of somebody rising from the dead after going through what Jesus went through is even more staggering but it occurred nevertheless.
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