Stones of testimony, part 4

I’ve found eight stones of testimony. We will be looking at them in chronological sequence and comparing them to the eight ascents and descents of Moses on Mt. Sinai and the eight resurrections.–JW

Exodus 34:10-28 The two tablets replaced
Place: Mt. Sinai
Anointing: The Ten Commandments
Declaration: “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.
“Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. . .”

Moses’ ascent (Ex 20:18-21) and descent (Ex 24:3)
Son of the widow of Nain (Lk 7:11-18)

Exodus 21:5-6
“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.

Theme: Ordering time, domestic life.
Dominant posture: Out of love, choose servitude and give your master your ear.

God orchestrated the funeral party meeting Jesus and His companions at the city gates–a confrontation of the spirit of death with the Lord of Life.

Israel

Isaiah 59:19-20 (ESV)
So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the LORD drives.
“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

Lord Jesus,
You are the Redeemer, Faithful and True. In righteousness You judge and make war. Your eyes are like a flame of fire, and on Your head are many diadems. You are sovereign in every dimension and in every realm over Zion, seen and unseen. You are clothed in a robe dipped in blood. You are The Word of God.
Like a rushing stream, come now to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression. Come, King of kings and Lord of lords. Come. Amen.
Revelation 19:11-16

Acts 15:6-29

Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? (Acts 15:6-10)
      Holy Spirit, show us where we are putting any needless yoke on new (or old) believers who come to Jesus. It is by grace that we have been saved and not by how perfectly we keep the law. (See Ephesians 2:5)

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” (Acts 15:11)
       [Grace is getting the good we don't deserve; mercy is not getting the bad we do deserve.] Thank you, Jesus, that at the foot of your cross the ground is level — we all come to you needing your grace and mercy.

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. (Acts 15:12)
      Father, please help us share with one another the miracles and wonders you have worked among us.

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:13-21)
      Jesus, thank you for the wisdom you gave James in this matter. Anoint and guide Bishop Bill, Bishop Dan and Bishop David, and all your apostolic witnesses who come among us.

Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. They wrote this, letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law”–to whom we gave no such commandment–it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. (Acts 15:22-29)
      Holy Spirit, please help us keep the moral law and commandments. Thank you for setting us free from the burden of the ritual law. Thank you.

A word received: Don’t be afraid. I AM with you.

Wednesday: 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30 * 119:121-144; 1 Samuel 7:2-17 Acts 6:1-15 Luke 22:14-23
Thursday: 105:1-22 * 105:23-45; 1 Samuel 8:1-22 Acts 6:15-7:16 Luke 22:24-30

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Check out this seatbelt commercial: http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/video-the-most-beautiful-seatbelt-advocacy-commercial-ever/

Albany Intercessor