We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

An additional impetus to our unity among diversity is that of the projected makeup of the future kingdom. It is glorious in its admixture of those from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev. 5:11). We cannot, must not, live contrary to our final convergence in Christ. In the ugly old slavery of early America, the schizophrenia about this was incredible. There were blacks and whites who would not dream of worshipping as equals (though they were sometimes in the same building), yet at the same time would hold the doctrinal verity that all colors would be in heaven together some day. This was entirely incongruous. We are called to experience in this life as much of the spirit that will characterize us in the new earth as is possible. The ideal of heaven is always to be the pursuit of earthbound believers. “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). We cannot pray for the Kingdom to come and not relish what that coming Kingdom means. Our community of believers is to be a living demonstration of the power of the cross and also of the purified Bride who awaits the wedding. We are denying our future calling to fail in this area. We are smearing our reputation and throwing dirt on our bridal gown.
Jim Elliff

If you receive blanket acceptance, you need no repentance. You just accept it. It fills you without humbling you. It relaxes you without upsetting you about yourself – or thrilling you about Christ. It lets you relax without reckoning with the anguish of Jesus on the cross. It is easy and undemanding. It does not insist on, or work at, changing you. It deceives you about both God and yourself. We can do better. God does not accept me just as I am; He loves me despite how I am. He loves me just as Jesus is; He loves me enough to devote my life to renewing me in the image of Jesus.
David Powlison

    • FEAST of Pentecost

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    This entry is part 5 of 9 in the series Feasts

    Feasts

    FEAST of Pentecost

    FEAST of Pentecost, The

    1. Held fiftieth day after offering first sheaf of barley harvest # Le 23:15,16 De 16:9
    2. CALLED THE 2a) Feast of harvest

      # Ex 23:16

    2b) Feast of weeks # Ex 34:22 De 16:10 2c) Day of the first fruits # Nu 28:26 2d) Day of Pentecost # Ac 2:1 3) To be perpetually observed # Le 23:21 4) All males to attend # Ex 23:16,17 De 16:16 5) A holy convocation # Le 23:21 Nu 28:26 6) A time of holy rejoicing # De 16:11,12 7) The first fruits of bread presented at # Le 23:17 De 16:10 8) Sacrifices at # Le 23:18,19 Nu 28:27-31 9) The law given from Mount Sinai upon # Ex 12:6,12 19:1,11 10) The Holy Spirit given to apostles at # Ac 2:1-3 11) Observed by the church # Ac 20:16 1Co 16:8

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