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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| Greek (Western) |
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 In Greek culture, there was a multiplicity of gods who, although residing in heavenly places, took on the characteristics of men. No one god was capable of reflecting the great diversity of man.
Gods were seen as acting in the human image, exhibiting human emotions such as love and hate, good and evil, rage and happiness. But no single god was capable of encompassing all of these.
Additionally, the god's behaviour, their morality, changed over time, as determined by the democratic decisions of the majority of the people at the time. There were no godly behavioral absolutes. Therefore the people governed themselves by what they thought to be right at the time.
This process can be seen in action today, both in the world and in the church.
In the world, man has effectively set himself up as the supreme ruler, being guided and developed by the gods of education and science. There are no moral absolutes. Morality is developed to suit the desires of the people of the time and place.
In the church too, we have subtly changed from 'knowing God' to 'knowing about God', through our emphasis on theological education. Christianity has gradually absorbed many of the ideas of the world, from a fetish about prosperity, to a major battleground of today, the place of homosexuality within the church. And many, many, others.
Salvation has become an intellectual pursuit, reflected in structured creeds, rather than a relationship with the person Jesus, the unchanging reflection of God upon the earth.
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| Eastern (Hebrew) |
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 In the Hebrew, there is only one, unique God. There is no other like Him. He is the ultimate source of life, and all life begins with Him.
This is reflected in the Old Testament, again.....
Deuteronomy 6:4-8
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 In the Western world we view God as evolving and changing in a linear fashion. This is entirely different to the Jewish way, where God is considered in a cyclical way, illustrated in the natural by the repeated phases of the moon. Biblically, this is reflected in the seasonal 'Feasts of the Lord' which are repeated year after year in a continuous, unchanging pattern, as illustrated in Leviticus 23.....
The Sabbath..... The Passover and Unleavened Bread..... Firstfruits..... Feast of Weeks..... Feast of Trumpets..... Day of Atonement..... Feast of Tabernacles
God is the one and only 'I AM', who remains constant and unchanged, from generation to generation.....
Exodus 3:14-15
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| SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY |
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1. We are to become one with Jesus through personal relationship with Him.
2. Knowing about Jesus is not a substitute for knowing Jesus.
3. We need to stand firm on Biblical principles, not being swayed by the changing morality of the day in the world.
4. We must make Jesus the lord of our life, and live for Him, irrespective of the cost.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues..... |
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 ..... looking at SPIRITUALITY.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 'I Am who I Am'
The most amazing statement of God's awesomeness in the Bible!
May we never forget!
IMAGES AND ART: Jerusalem
Mt. Zion
Also known as Mount Sion, the Upper City, the Southwestern Hill
Dormitian Abbey
Crowning the summit of the modern Mt. Zion is Dormitian Abbey. Commemorating the rest that Mary entered into, this complex was constructed by Kaiser Wilhelm II beginning in 1900. The church was built in response to a request to have a German Catholic church in the city following the Kaiser's support for the construction of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in 1898.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
739. - 809. God has shown me that...
... God is God, is God.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
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and again..... 
Again in the New..... 
and again..... 
May we never forget.