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Threshing Floors, Separation, and Christmas

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Genesis 50:5, 10, 13 My father made me swear, saying, I am about to die; in my tomb which I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me. So now let me go up, I pray you, and bury my father, and I will come again.…And they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond [west of] the Jordan, and there they mourned with a great lamentation and extreme demonstrations of sorrow [according to Egyptian custom]; and [Joseph] made a mourning for his father seven days....For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, east of Mamre, which Abraham bought, along with the field, for a possession as a burying place from Ephron the Hittite.

2 Samuel 6:6 And when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled and shook it.

2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

I am often amazed at the symbolic patterns which are hidden within seemingly, insignificant verses. The reoccurring topic of the threshing floor is one that yields rich treasures of wisdom and truth. Consider again the story of Ruth which on the surface should be the last Scripture a pastor chooses for Christmas – but here we must arrive. Ruth 3:2 And now is not Boaz, with whose maidens you were, our relative? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.

Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rachel, Jacob, Leah, Boaz, Ruth, and David – all have one thing in common: the significance of the threshing floor. Why does this topic appear throughout the narrative? Threshing floors were used for one thing: separating. Separating through threshing (crushing), and separating through winnowing (tossing grain and chaff in the air).

In the Gospel of John Jesus refers to Himself as the Temple, and the Old Testament informs us that the Temple was built on a threshing floor. Thus the “rock” on which Jesus stands is the place of threshing and winnowing. It was the foundation of His life, and the path His feet walked. The threshing floor of Jesus is the foundation of the who’s who of the Hall of Faith. It is what Christmas is all about. John 3:19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. His Light has entered our darkness. That by itself is separation. Are you cooperating with His process of threshing and winnowing the grains of His Word to rise in your life into Living Bread? Are you becoming living bread?

Is Ignorance Innocence?

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Robert Browning once wrote “Ignorance is not innocence but sin.“

In the book of Nehemiah an incident is recorded regarding the ignorance of the children of Israel and the Feast of Tabernacles. A remnant of Jews had returned to the Promised Land of Israel after being in Babylonian captivity only to discover that they had ignored the commandments, instructions, and teachings of the Lord. Once Ezra, the priest, began reading from the Law – the first five books of Moses (meaning instruction, or teaching) – and its hearers understood, they immediately responded in compliance and obedience. Ignorance did not imply innocence, nor excuse their guilt and sin. The good news was that 70 years of exile had done its work in changing the way they thought about sin. The bad news? Many died in Babylonian captivity never having changed their minds, or lifestyle.

Nehemiah 8:13-18 Now on the second day the heads of the fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe, in order to understand the words of the Law. And they found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, and that they should announce and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and bring olive branches, branches of oil trees, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” Then the people went out and brought them and made themselves booths, each one on the roof of his house, or in their courtyards or the courts of the house of God, and in the open square of the Water Gate and in the open square of the Gate of Ephraim. So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day until the last day, he read from the Book of the Law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a sacred assembly, according to the prescribed manner.

In a song titled “The Lumber Song,” by Eli, the lyrics describe a man who had lived his life in ignorance finally dying and arriving in Heaven for his eternal reward. Peter guides the newly arrived citizen of heaven to his “mansion” only to discover it is a shack. The man replies, “How can this be?” and Peter replies, “That’s all the lumber you sent.”

The symbolic meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles is clear, What materials are you using that are of eternal value? Ignorance is not innocence – it is sin (missing the mark). Is your life missing the mark or are you learning to fix your mind on things above, not on the things of this earth?

The Pharaoh, Akhenaten, led Egypt in Religious revolution, when he proposed there was only one God. During his spiritual reform he wrote: True wisdom is less presuming than folly. The wise man doubteth often, and changeth his mind; the fool is obstinate, and doubteth not; he knoweth all things but his own ignorance.

Happy Sukkot (Tabernacles)

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Throughout the years of ministry I have sought to teach followers of Jesus their Hebraic roots and their relevance for today. Often, and ignorantly, I will hear statements like, “We are not under the Jewish Law.” or “Are you trying to “Judaize” us?” or “Are you trying to make us Jewish?” Their comments expose an ignorance of God’s Word and the inadequacy of their partnership with the Spirit. (He really is our Teacher)

Born-again, followers of Jesus believe the Bible is God’s Inspired, Authoritative Word. It is the bedrock, and foundation of the things we believe and practice. With that in mind, we hold the tension between no longer being bound by the Old Testament Law – and our freedom purchased from it by Jesus’ sacrificial, Blood. Yet, though we have been set free from the keeping of the feasts, festivals, sacrificial law, and dietary restrictions – there are principles contained in its teachings that still apply. (The Ten Commandments are part of the Law. Yet, we still practice their teachings) Case in point, true, born-again, followers of Jesus believe He is returning to earth to reign a 1000 years. We believe this because Jesus taught it, and Old Testament prophets affirmed its inevitability. Regarding this time the prophet Zechariah wrote: Zechariah 14:16-19 And everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths.17 And it shall be that whoso of the families of the earth shall not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up to Jerusalem and present themselves, upon them there shall be no rain, but there shall be the plague with which the Lord will smite the nations that go not up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.19 This shall be the consequent punishment of the sin of Egypt and the consequent punishment of the sin of all the nations that do not go up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

During the Millennial (1000) Year Reign we will observe and keep the Feast of Sukkot, (Tabernacles, or Booths) and make pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of Hosts. (All followers of Jesus look forward to that wonderful day) During the month of September or October, a sukkah, or temporary shelter is erected in front of the entrance to our church. And over the years, Crystal Brown, and others have gone about the business of decorating it – for all to see. We do this as a testimony of our belief that Jesus is returning to earth – to tabernacle, or make His permanent home with us. John alludes to this in his gospel account: And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. John 1:14 AMPC

In 2022 The Pew Research Group survey of Americans revealed a surprising 55% of adults, including three quarters of Christians, say Jesus is returning. Pew Research observed: Respondents who said they believe Jesus will return to Earth were also asked how certain they are that this will happen during their lifetime. One-in-ten Americans say they believe the second coming of Jesus will definitely or probably occur during their lifetime, 27% are not sure if Jesus will return in their lifetime, and 19% say the return of Jesus will definitely or probably not occur during their lifetime. That’s a considerable amount of people. Sadly, of those Christian respondents, how many are actually cognizant of the Old Testament prophecies that testify to the fact that we will celebrate this Biblical Feast with Jesus? Are you ready?

Were You There?

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At the heart of the city of London is Charing Cross. All distances across the city are measured from its central point. Locals refer to it simply as “the cross.” One day a child became lost in the bustling metropolis.  A city police officer (A “bobby,” as they are referred to in London) came to the child’s aid to try and help him return to his family. The bobby asked the child a variety of questions in an attempt to discover where the boy lived, to no avail. Finally, with tears streaming down the boy’s face, he said, “If you will take me to the cross I think I can find my way from there.” What an apt description of the Christian life. The cross is both the starting place of our new life in Christ, but also the place we must return to, time and again, to keep our bearings in life. – Stuart Strachan Jr.

Today marks the day of all days, called “Good Friday” by believers around the world. At approximately 7AM, Roman governor of Judea, Marcus Pontius Pilatus, sentenced Jesus to die by crucifixion. At approximately 8AM, the patibulum, or cross beam was affixed to Jesus’ shoulders through ropes, as a soldier tied a rope around His waist and led Him through the streets of Jerusalem for all to see what happens when someone defies the power of Rome. The cross beam would have weighed approximately 50-60 pounds. Around His neck was hung the titulus crucis, a sign to be nailed to the top of Jesus’ cross declaring His crime: “King of the Jews”, written in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. The site of Jesus’ sentencing is believed to have been the Antonia Fortress built by Herod the Great, and called the Praetorium by Pilate. From that site to Golgotha would have been approximately .5 miles. The weather at that time would have been hot, and dry while the road would have been unpaved, and bumpy studded with scores of crevices made by carts and beasts of burden. As one approached the outside walls of the city the road would have begun to slope upward leading to the hill of Golgotha, or Calvary (the Skull). Fluid accumulated around Jesus’ lungs, as His body was almost numb from severe exhaustion, severe mental and physical sufferings, the flogging, and the nerve-racking, and lancinating pains from the crown of thorns. Jesus fell more than once as He journeyed to the Hill, and the final fall led the accompanying soldier, the exactor mortis, to enlist Simon of Cyrene to carry His cross the rest of the way. Jesus’ robe was literally glued to His Body by the clotted blood which was ripped from His body before His crucifixion. Nailing His hands first to the cross beam, the median nerve (we know it as the “funny bone”) was pierced sending bolts of pain searing through Jesus’ arms. Several soldiers were enlisted to lift Him up to the stipes, or upright post, that was mortised at the top, allowing the soldiers to simply lift and drop the cross beam onto it. Next the soldiers affixed Jesus’ feet either to the sides or the face of the cross, and rather than placing a nail through both feet, archaeological and forensic experts, have surmised that both feet were nailed independently of one another. If the feet were nailed to the face of the cross the median nerve would have also been pierced sending shooting pain up through Jesus’ legs.

At the sixth hour, or noon, darkness covered the land. This lasted 3 hours. One teacher aptly said, If God the Father had to turn His back on His Son, no one else was going to be able to look at Him. Some would see this darkness as a sign of coming judgment. One ancient writer recorded: “When the sun is obscured, it is an evil sign to the nations….when the moon is obscured, it is an evil sign to Israel, because Israel reckons according to the moon, the nations of the world according to the sun.” It was into this darkness Jesus entered into the deepest depths of suffering, as body, soul, and spirit enter a separation between Heaven and earth, God and mankind. It was here Jesus was suspended making a way for us to leave this earth and ascend into His Presence.

At the highest point of His agony, and the filling full of all of histories sins, Jesus stretched forth and shouted in Aramaic, “Ho Mashalam!” Which is one word in the Greek: “Tetelestai!” Our English equivalent is a phrase, “IT IS FINISHED!” And as Scripture records, “He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.” Those who owed so much that they never could repay – had their debt canceled by He Who owed nothing. He paid our debt through His sufferings, “cancelling the written code that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Col. 2:14) This is the GIFT! You can’t pay for it, or earn it. You don’t deserve it, nor can you escape it. His cross, His death, His cry, echoes through the universe as a testimony that can never be reversed.

In relation to this event thousands, and tens of thousands, have identified with their suffering Messiah declaring, along with the Apostle Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me!” (Gal. 2:20). We are reminded of the old hymn which asks, “Were You There”? This African-American spiritual probably predated the Civil War, asking the obvious question, placing each person who hears the question on the witness stand. The slaves who authored this song could readily relate to the sufferings of Christ, and the brutality of slavery. In the book titled, “Stories Behind the Traditions of Easter,” the author states: “Maybe the fact that spirituals were the joint cries and shouts of Christians looking for the freedom that only God could bring gives the message of this song much more impact. None of us were there in body when Christ died, but all of us need to go there in spirit. To understand the gift of salvation, each sinner must realize that he or she is a slave to the world: only then does seeing Christ on the cross make the impact all the more real.”

Prepare the Way

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Yad Vashem (“a memorial and a name”) is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need. The name “Yad Vashem” is taken from a verse in the Book of Isaiah: “[To] them will I give in my house and within my walls a [memorial] and a [name], better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting [name], that shall not be cut off [from memory]. Outside of the Holocaust museum and memorial is a plaque which reads: Let me prepare the way for Thee, remove each stone that might hinder Thee to make Thy coming sure and soon. These words express both the hope and faith of the Jewish people for the coming Messiah. These words were taken from the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted
and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(chapters 40:3-5)

Interestingly enough the Holocaust Museum is found in a village south-west of Jerusalem called Ein Kerem. Traditionally, Christians have longed believe that this was where John the Baptist was born. If the plaque remains at the Second Coming of Jesus, and John the Baptist happens to stroll by there, he will most likely chuckle to himself as he understands the prophetic implications behind these words. You see every stone was removed; the last and most important stone being the one which covered Christ’s Tomb. As Jesus stated at His triumphal entry: “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Lk. 19:40) The stone of His empty stone has been crying out for 2000 years up until this present day.

Which raises some interesting questions: What stone(s) need to be removed in your life? How can you prepare the way of the Lord? What stone is hindering the coming of Jesus into your place of hiddenness? Keep praying and praising Him till the rocks roll away.

Merry Christmas!

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All of the staff here at Bethany: John David and Charlotte, Teresa, Deanna, Jerry, Mary, Alma and Jackie and myself want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May this Christmas be a blessing for you and your loved ones.

I also wanted to let you know that we have exceeded our goal for foreign missions. Our total giving towards the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering now stands at $1,160! Yeaaaaa!

If you still haven’t had a chance to give towards our foreign missions goal this Sunday will be the last Sunday. Also it’s not too late to sign up for our mission trip to Nicaragua.

One more thing: Please be in prayer for which affinity group you will commit to pray, give, and go too. What’s an affinity group? The International Mission board has divided up the globe into 9 sections: American Peoples, Central Asian Peoples, East Asian Peoples, European Peoples, Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples, South Asian Peoples, Southeast Asian Peoples, Deaf Peoples, and the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. This year alone we have reached four of the nine affinity groups. Who has the Lord called you to go to specifically? We know that we are commanded to go to our Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria – but let us not forget the ends of the world. Be in prayer about who you are to be on mission too and may we not forget our neighbors.

Christmas is a reminder that Jesus came on a “mission trip” to our world leaving a perfect Heaven in order to raise up other missionaries like Himself. Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year! We love you all!

Pray for John David and Uganda

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This morning I woke up around 2 A.M. to brush my teeth, get dressed and make the drive over to Waxhaw to pick up John David, and his friend James. They are flying to Uganda for a short term mission trip to save lives – physically and eternally. After dropping them off at the airport terminal – which is nearly deserted at 3:30 in the morning – I had a time of prayer for them and thanksgiving to the Lord. Driving along, praying, and giving thanks I began to think of the ways that we need to be in prayer for them. Having traveled on many a mission trip several things come to mind in regard to prayer needs: that their luggage and mosquito nets make the many transfers from Charlotte, to New York, to Kenya and to Uganda. Pray for their protection, and their families protection while they’re traveling to and from the country. Pray specifically for the protection of Charlotte, Reagan, Stella and Linda. Pray that lives would be touched, hearts changed, and souls saved as a result of the gift of the mosquito nets. Pray that a door and doors would be opened for partnerships between our church and the local missionaries, pastors and churches in that region. Pray that God would call and raise up missionary laborers from our church who would be willing to go to Uganda and make disciples for Jesus. Pray for their protection from the internal bugs, and parasites that can be obtained from mosquitoes, eating the food or drinking the water. Pray that John David and James’ lives would be changed forever by the things they experience while there. And pray that they will be filled with the Holy Spirit overflowing Jesus’ love to all they meet and encounter. On a practical note pray that they will make the transition to a new time zone and being able to sleep when it’s time, and stay awake when it’s time. On a more somber note pray for the people of Uganda. For example, were you aware that Uganda is the epicenter of the AIDS crisis that swept Africa years ago and is still wreaking havoc today? Were you aware that witchcraft is practiced and is believed in so strongly that child sacrifice is on the rise to insure the “gods” (demonic spirits) respond to their prayers, and spells?

There’s a reason Jesus said to Go! It’s a command empowered by grateful hearts compelled to share the Love Jesus has shared with us. A Love so great that a million lifetimes of “thank you’s” would never suffice. Jesus’ strategy was quite simple and clear cut. In Acts 1:8 He stated: “But you will receive Power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

We owe a debt of gratitude to the people of Israel and Lord willing one day we will visit those lands with the Gospel, but on a more practical note we need to be asking: What is our Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. Before Thanksgiving I was grateful for all who drove out in the pouring rain and delivered thanksgiving meals to needy families in Union County. I was encouraged as I listened to Mary Quinn, and Kristy Whittington share how they went to Common Heart to go through the Literacy Orientation and training to help those who can’t read – right here in our own backyard. They reminded me of the desire I had to participate in this same program. So last night I attended orientation from 6:30 – 8:15. All of this came as a result of one family – the Pooveys – who have faithfully served alongside the ministry of Common Heart for years delivering food to needy families and sharing Jesus’ love. Their example paved the way for the Wagenmaker’s to participate in the delivery of food and the annual food drive which opened the door to invite the leadership of Common Heart to speak at our church and present their challenge.

Many of our people are actively involved on the front lines of the cultural battle to save the lives of the unborn. Lisa Drogan, Sam Nunemaker, and others are sacrificing their Saturday mornings to go out to the largest abortion center in the southeast to pray, to serve, and to offer parents of unborn children alternative options away from our culture of death.

Our church’s purpose is to glorify Jesus through a wedding of the Spirit and the Word; watching and learning how to be students of Jesus; walking it out in love to the ends of the earth. If there has been a wedding of the Spirit and the Word then there will be a desire to watch and learn how to be students of Jesus – to join Jesus where He is working. When you see what Jesus has done and is doing, and you are His student, you are going to walk it out in love to the very ends of the earth.

God has given us a task to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s every student of Jesus’ job. There are no excuses. Our church’s goal is to reach the nine major affinity groups of the world with the Gospel, developing partnerships with missionaries, pastors, and churches. In one year we have already been to four of those affinity groups: the American Peoples – in Nicaragua, Central America; the Northern Africa and Middle Eastern Peoples – in Ethiopia; the Sub-Saharan African peoples – in Tanzania, and Uganda; and the Southeast Asian Peoples – in Indonesia. How powerful and amazing is that?

Jesus gave us a mission and we are a people on mission with Him. Praise and thank the Lord for what He has done in 2019 with our little church. Pray for John David, James, and their families. And please pray about which affinity group God would call you to be a missionary to, partner with, pray for, and give too. God bless you precious people of God!