more fire

The psalmist wrote, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” There is power in a name and the many names of God in the Bible further reveal his nature and his plan of salvation. I’ve recently been doing a study of the names of God and want to share with you the meanings of some of God’s names.

Elohim is translated “God” in the Bible. It is the first name found in the Bible. The prefix “El” signifies “one who is great, mighty, dreadful.” It is a plural word that suggests the fact that God is a a trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It signifies his creative powers and the name is related to swearing an oath or making a covenant.

El Shaddai is translated “God Almighty.” “El” means “mighty” and “Shaddai” means to nurture and to provide sustenance. Thus, El Shaddai is the God who has the strength to nurture and provide sustenance.

Adonai is translated “Lord.” It suggests Lordship and ownership. Like the name “Elohim” it is a plural word. When God calls Himself by this name his focus is on the truth that God owns and rules over all that exists.

Yahweh is translated “LORD.” It is the most frequently used name for God. It is also translated “Jehovah.” The word literally means “I Am.”

Here are some of the compound names of Jehovah and the verse where these names are first found in the Bible:

• Jehovah-Jireh - the Lord provides (Genesis 22:14)
• Jehovah-Raphe - the Lord heals (Exodus 15:26)
• Jehovah-Nissi - the Lord is our banner/victory (Exodus 17:15)
• Jehovah-M’Kaddesh - the Lord sanctifies (Leviticus 20:8)
• Jehovah-Shalom - the Lord is our peace (Judges 6:24)
• Jehovah-Tsidkenu - the Lord is our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
• Jehovah-Shammah - the Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35)
• Jehovah-Rohi - the Lord is my shepherd. (Psalm 23)

The compound names of Jehovah are both comforting for the believer and prophetic of his plan to redeem his creation. Jehovah-Jireh reveals that God has provided the sacrificial lamb of our redemption. He gave Abraham a lamb on Mount Moriah and he gave Christ, the Lamb of God, on Calvary so that we might be redeemed. Jehovah-Raphe reveals God as the healer of our sickness and sorrows. The Lord gave Moses a piece of wood to toss into the bitter waters of Marah to turn the water sweet so the Israelites might quench their thirst. Centuries later, he gave the world the cross of the crucifixion so that we might turn from our bitterness to drink from the living waters of Christ forever.

Jehovah-Nissi reveals God as the standard of our victory in life’s conflicts. Moses held the staff as a symbol of God’s strength in order for the Israelites to defeat the Amalekites in their first battle as a nation. Today believers look to the resurrected Christ as the source of our strength and our victory. Jehovah-M’Kaddesh reveals God as the one who sets his people apart for his possession and to his holy service. Jehovah-Shalom reveals God as the source of our peace. Jehovah-Tsidkenu reveals that God is that righteousness to his people which is the basis of our justification and acceptance. Jeremiah is prophesying specifically of Christ, the branch of David, who is our righteouness. Jehovah-Rohi reveals God as the shepherd who seeks to reclaim the lost shop, lead his flock and feed them with good pasture. Jehovah-Shammah reveals that God is there. The place of God’s full and glorious presence finds its most sublime expression in Revelation 21:1-3,

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”

When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge “the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Why were they suddenly ashamed of being naked? What were they trying to hide? When God made man and woman in his image he didn’t mention creating clothes as part of that image. When they were in their state of innocent nakedness, God called his creation “very good.” Moreover, Adam and Eve walked around the garden conversing with one another and with God in that innocent nakedness. After they had eaten the fruit God observed their shame and their attempt to cover their bodies and made garments for them to clothe themselves.

Here’s my question: Is nudity sinful? Furthermore, should missionaries tell indigenous people to cover their nakedness after they confess Christ as Lord?

Men in America are failing. Godly masculinity has been replaced by macho posturing. And sex has become a means to attaining temporary satisfaction rather than being an intimate expression of deep, committed love. This is nothing new nor is it isolated to America only. This failing began with the fall. It has been evident in every culture in every nation since Adam chose to satisfy his desire instead of choosing to remain obedient to God’s will.

People often try to blame the fall of man on Eve, but it was Adam to whom God called in the garden, “Where are you?” Having eaten from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil Adam knew that what he had done was evil and hoped to place the blame on Eve. “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree,” said Adam. When God asked Eve what she had done she put the blame on the serpent. “The serpent deceived me, and I ate,” said Eve. God judged the man, woman and serpent guilty.

The man is the head and should have sought to protect the woman from the serpent’s advances. Today many men have become possessed by the serpent. They prey on women in an effort to decieve them so that they might have their way. Man looks upon woman with lust in his heart. And the woman often lets the man know her (i.e. in the Biblical sense) although they are not married. Sexual attraction is perfectly natural. It is even ordained by God. The problem is when men and women prioritize their sexual desires over the place of God in their lives.

I confessed Christ as my Lord at the age of 19, but quickly strayed. I had several serious (and not-so-serious) relationships throughout my twenties. At the age of 27 I met a woman and we moved in together. About a year into our relationship I had what you might call a spiritual awakening. I longed to have God in my life. My girlfriend and I started attending a church and soon thereafter she confessed Christ as Lord and was baptized. Before (and even for awhile after) her confession and baptism we struggled with sexual temptation.

I was willing to surrender everything to God, except for sexual satisfaction. We were both convicted that we were living outside of God’s will whenever we allowed our desire to take over. I moved to another apartment a few blocks away, which significantly helped. I also told her that if I start to make any sexual advances she should start praying and not just silent prayers, but fervent, outloud, calling-upon-the-Name-of God prayers. Through prayer and a repositioning of our lives we moved closer to the Lord and closer to one another. I’m now 29, we’ve abstained for about a year, and next month we’re getting married. We regularly study the Bible together and are active in ministry at our church. Most importantly, we continue to lift each other up in prayer.

I thank God for reclaiming me. I praise him for giving me a vision of what it means to be a man and for enabling me to attain the vision he set before me. Above all, I thank him for giving me a woman so willing to conform to the image of God and thus help me to live a more godly life. Praise and glory to the Most High God!

• Related post: An intimate engagement

What’s the deal with U2 and Christians? It seems that everywhere I turn believers are fawning over the iconic Irish rock band. There are entire Christian blogs dedicated to the band and Relevant Magazine covers them almost as rabidly as they tout Sufjan Stevens. Admittedly, U2 made some great songs, but so have Sting and Phil Collins. And, like Sting and Phil Collins, U2 hit its musical peak in the late ’80s.

So why do Christians flock to U2? Is it because three of the four band members profess to be Christians? Is it because they are socially active? Chuck Norris is a Christian, should believers make Delta Force their favorite movie? Jane Fonda is also a Christian and a social activist. Maybe we should start jazzercising to her aerobics videos.

Perhaps the answer lies in their relevancy. While, arguably, U2 hasn’t made a decent record in more than a decade they (well, at least Bono) seem to be on top of social issues. Or perhaps the reason Christians are drawn to U2 is that believers identify with the themes of spiritual searching in the band’s lyrics. I admit that I’m at a loss for an answer. I enjoy U2 on occasion, but I think that they are over-hyped, especially by the Christian community. Well, I wish I had more time to write, but I gotta go. TNT is broadcasting a Walker Texas Ranger marathon!

• Related post: Emerging from fundamentalism

“Earth is crammed with heaven,
and every common bush is on fire with God;
but only he who sees takes off his shoes;
the rest sit around it and pluck blackberries.”

                - Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I recently asked a Christian sister if she believed that Christ is the exclusive way to receive salvation. She confidently said yes. I then asked her if an unsaved person dies in this world are they doomed to eternal damnation. She considered the question for a moment and then said no. I was confused. She explained that between Christ’s death and resurrection he descended into Hades where he preached the Gospel. She said that even though Christ was resurrected on the third day the other souls are still in Hades awaiting resurrection on Judgment Day.

After doing a bit of research I learned that the early Christians used the Greek word Hades as a translation from the Hebrew word sheol. The translators of the King James Version took the liberty of translating sheol to hell in many places of scripture. Early Christians and Jews believed that the dead wait in sheol until the resurrection on Judgment Day. The story of the Rich Man and Lazarus shows that sheol was not necessarily a place of torment, although suffering does occur there.

The doctrine of Hades still exists in its original Christian form in the Eastern Orthodox Church. They believe that those who abide in Hades enjoy or suffer a foretaste of their future dispositions. In Western Christianity it is generally believed that after death the soul immediately goes to either heaven or hell. Catholicism throws purgatory into the mix.

What do you believe happens immediately after death?

• Here’s an interesting article I found related to the topic of Jesus in Hades.

Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign. This occurred soon after Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying loaves and fish for the thousands of people who had gathered to hear him speak. Matthew 16:1-4,

Jesus replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away.

In the 1st century it was people who confessed faith in God who asked for a sign from Christ. Today it is the skeptics, atheists and agnostics who seek a sign. What is a sign? A sign is that which points a person toward their desired destination. Sadly, the desired destination of these accusing Pharisees was to disprove that Jesus is the Messiah and to ultimately cruficify him. When a professed atheist asks a believer to prove that God exists they are oftentimes not trying to have an encounter with the true and living God. The staunch atheist is usually hoping to further establish their disbelief.

Jesus acknowledged that the Pharisees had an understanding of the natural sciences and could interpret such things as weather patterns. They were esteemed members of their society and had a thorough knowledge of their law, yet they were blind to see that Jesus Christ is the one promised as the fulfillment of the law, the one pointed to by the prophets. After Jesus fed the thousands he got into a boat and left. The crowd followed after him and when they found him they then asked him for a sign. John 6:25-27,

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

A major issue to calling others to Christ in our pluralistic world is that even after a person comes to acknowledge the existence of a Higher Power they are usually not drawn toward a saving knowledge in Christ. This is in part due to the smorgaboard of relgions presented before them. Most people would rather sample from the various world religions and create a self-stylized belief system with their ego at the center rather than the Most High God.

People spend money on self-help books and seminars to boost self-confidence when it is God who should be esteemed and exalted. There are entire sections of bookstores dedicated to self-realization and self-actualization. This is where the disconnect happens. People want joy and inner peace and they believe it comes from their self when in fact salvation comes from God. God must be first, not the ego. A person who genuinely hopes to know God must make God their desired destination. It is then that the signs will lead towards salvation. Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Many people are not even looking for signs. They do not have a desired destination. They follow the passions of their flesh. If they are hungry they eat, if they are bored they watch TV, if they want to celebrate they drink and party. It is the Christians who need to be a sign to the many people who are wandering through life aimlessly. Christians are called to be a light to the darkness, yet many Christians are hording the light. Believers need to live by their faith and let their life be a proclamation of the hope that is Jesus Christ. We must live a life that will encourage others to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Related posts:

• Conversation on Atheism
• Break and be whole

“It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come,” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the trinity. As the Father and Son are persons, so the Spirit is also a person. If we want to learn about a person we must study what they are about, where they are from, what they have done and what they are able to do, but if we want to know a person we must do more than study, we must experience and spend time in that person’s presence.

The only way we can live the way God wants us to is by the power of His Spirit. John the Baptizer said about Jesus: “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,” Matthew 3:11. Fire penetrates to the inner most being, it consumes quickly, it destroys and ignites. It comes like a prairie fire burning old growth so that new life may grow.

There are no references in scripture of Jesus baptizing anyone in water. Rather, Jesus introduces us to the person of the Spirit. Scripture proves that water baptism and fire baptism are both ordained by God. The disciples of Jesus were not changed merely by his teachings. It took fire baptism to transform them. Anthropologists say when man discovered fire their life changed drastically. This is true today. When a person discovers the fire of the Holy Spirit their life is transformed. It is by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ that we are saved and it is by the Spirit that we are given power.

Blood symbolizes the redemptive act of Jesus on the cross. Oil, wind and fire are symbols of the Spirit. Thus we are cleansed by the blood and anointed with oil. Yet many Christians believe that a confession of faith and water baptism will suffice for their salvation. Sadly, their lack in earnestness and zeal is the shame of many Christians. Once we confess Christ as Lord we must continue to pray to be covered in the life-giving blood. We must continue to receive fresh anointings of the Spirit. We must pray, come Holy Spirit, burn all that is within me! We must pray for more fire.

“And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness,” Malachi 3:3.

Reread that verse from 1 Corinthians at the top of this post. He “put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit.” I interpret that to mean that Spirit-filled people live from the heart. Salvation is more than mental affirmation of proper doctrine. It is seeking God in earnestness and humility. When we submit ourselves to God he casts a blazing fire around us and in us. “‘I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within,’” Zechariah 2:5.

Related posts:

• Pray for fire
• Heresy
• Holy Spirit Fire

“They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.” Hosea 11:10.

אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה יֵלְכוּ, כְּאַרְיֵה יִשְׁאָג: כִּי-הוּא יִשְׁאַג, וְיֶחֶרְדוּ
בָנִים מִיָּם.