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My God, the Stomach?

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Php. 3:18-20 For there are many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, who walk (live) as enemies of the cross of Christ (the Anointed One). They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery (perdition); their god is their stomach (their appetites, their sensuality) and they glory in their shame, siding with earthly things and being of their party. But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,…AMPC

We are all familiar with Genesis 3 and how Adam and Eve got distracted by forbidden fruit. It didn’t matter that they were allowed to eat from all the other trees in the Garden – they had to have the forbidden fruit. In Genesis 3:19 Adam is cursed to continue eating food but under one condition: his food will be supplied through the sweat of his brow, or his own self-efforts. In Genesis 25 we discover the older brother of Jacob hungry for some red lentil stew. The price of the soup? The birthright of the firstborn.

According to Paul the enemies of the Cross of Christ (Anointed One of the Spirit) are those whose stomach comes first – their appetites, and sensuality. Sensuality is simply defined as the condition of being pleasing or fulfilling to the senses. What’s truly amazing? Is that throughout the Bible God meets us in our sensuality to redeem us from the curse it brings. You find His offers of redemption from the story of Ruth of Bethlehem, to the announcement of His birth to lowly shepherds. Ruth is gathering barley to feed her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Shepherds are grazing sheep near the House of Bread – Bethlehem – overseeing sheep who do what they do best: eat. All are hungry for more not realizing the Bread of Life is the only thing that is ever going to truly satisfy them. We’ve all gone to the cafeterias, potlucks, and family reunions where our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. We piled our plates with food and desert, gorging on what our eyes delighted. Moments later we find ourselves feeling over stuffed and miserable. Which raises some interesting questions: Do you eat more physical food than spiritual? What qualifies as spiritual food? and Is there some spiritual food that is actually bad for you?

We have an idiom in our culture that expresses a profound truth: What’s eating you? Which is another way of saying, What are you worried or concerned about? But taking into account our previous discussion we can use that expression as a way of asking, Are the desires of my senses actually devouring my life? Are my desires being fueled by my senses or by eternal things?

Thanksgiving and Rainy Day Bells

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Isaiah 55:8-9 states For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Recently Paula Harkey sent me the following e-mail. I’ve gotten her permission to share this Thanksgiving story with you: About 4 months or so ago I found a gold chain in an unpacked box.  It was a rope chain 20 inches,  14  K gold. It was heavy and I didn’t wear it much. I must have missed it when I sold my other jewelry. I didn’t miss it, God tucked it away for me to use at another date. When I had to get another phone because mine died it took some of my extra money. But I had an incredible peace. I decided to take my chain to a jewelry store this morning and I ask if this was worth anything.  He took it and came back with a price. I had prayed for just enough to meet my bills. He said I’ll give you 8.65 dollars and I repeated 8.65. He said no, $865.00.  The tears and praise broke out and another lady and I praised our Lord together. I’m still crying with thankfulness.   

Paula reminds us that in the midst of the hardest of times, God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Holidays can be hard on a grieving widow or family. But Scripture reminds us that although our tears are precious to God we are encouraged to give thanks through, and in spite of the circumstances. There’s an old doo top song written by Neil Sedaka, and sung by the Globetrotters in 1970. The lyrics are just as applicable today as they were 54 years ago: Rainy day bells ring in the chapel, telling the people there’s going to be sunshine, Rainy day bells played by the raindrops sing out a message, Don’t be afraid of the storm. Somewhere the sun is shining through a silver lining, wait and see, say the rainy day bells….don’t let the rain make you unhappy, in just a moment we’re going to be walking in the sun, little gray clouds will cheer up, they’re going to smile and clear up, when they hear those rainy day bells.

Significance of Sukkot (Tabernacles)

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Deuteronomy 16:16 states: Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread,(Passover) at the Feast of Weeks, (Pentecost) and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

Exodus 23:14–17 Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to Me.15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.16 Also you shall keep the Feast of Harvest [Pentecost], [acknowledging] the first fruits of your toil, of what you sow in the field. And [third] you shall keep the Feast of Ingathering [Booths or Tabernacles] at the end of the year, when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field.17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. 

Significant events occurred during two of the three mandatory feast days – of God’s Biblical Calendar: Feast of Unleavened Bread or Passover = Jesus was crucified, and resurrected. Feast of Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks or Pentecost = Jesus Baptized His Followers in the Holy Spirit and Birthed the Church.

What significant event could happen around the Feast of Tabernacles-Sukkot? Like Passover and Pentecost, Sukkot has a dual significance: historical and agricultural. The holiday commemorates the 40 year period the children of Israel wandered in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot also celebrates the harvest, and is sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif, the Festival of Ingathering. During the days of Jesus’ ministry on earth, Sukkot, was celebrated through sacrificing 70 oxen, corresponding to the 70 nations, and praying for peace and harmony among all the nations of the world. As a religious Holy Day – it follows the Feast of Trumpets, 10 Days of Awe, and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). The time of judging yourself, confession of sin and repentance becomes a time of celebration at Sukkot. Lev. 23:42-43 You shall dwell in Sukkot for seven days…So that your future generations shall know that I had the children of Israel live in Sukkot when I brought them out of Egypt. Today the Jewish people around the world build temporary shelters to participate in this Holy Day. During this 7-day event – families will eat and sleep in their sukkah.

Hebrews 11:13-16 states: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. NKJV

Sukkot or Tabernacles reminds us we are only passing through this life. This earth is not our home – Jesus is. All followers of Jesus, are strangers and pilgrims in this land. We are looking forward to a Heavenly City – actually seeking it out, desiring, and longing for it. And why shouldn’t we? Have you ever stopped to think that most of us will be forgotten after just three generations. No one will really know who we were. My Dad has done extensive genealogical research on our family. He has traced our roots all the way back to the highlands of Scotland. He has the names of ancestors going back all the way to the 1600’s. I know many of their names. But guess what? In reality I have no idea who they were. Nobody does – but Jesus. Jesus has our names written in the Palm of His Hand (Isa. 49:16); He has the hairs of our head numbered (Mt. 10:30); He saves our tears in a bottle and records them in a book (Ps. 56:8); He saves our prayers in a bowl (Rev. 5:8); He records in a book when we have conversations about Him (Mal. 3:16) He knew us before we were born (Jer. 1:5). I’ve said it often: What gift do you give a rich man who owns everything in the world? The one thing He doesn’t have: you. You are God’s Treasure, His pearl of great price, and His lost coin. My Mom still has my baby book. If my Mom thinks I am that special to save a scrap book of memories about me – how precious is it that we have a God Who hasn’t just saved our baby footprints and handprints? He has saved every trace of who we are – from beginning to new beginning. Remind yourself of these things during these seven days.

Birthing of the American Camp Meeting and the Cane Ridge Revival

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Pentecost to the Present: Book Two – Reformations and Awakenings, Jeff Oliver: “In 1796, James McGready (1763-1817), a Presbyterian pastor of three small churches in Kentucky, led his congregations to sign a covenant to pray every Saturday and Sunday morning and to devote the third Saturday of each month to prayer and fasting for revival. Three years later, McGready invited some other denominational ministers to join him at their annual Communion gathering at the Red River Church when the power of God came down. The following summer, they returned on the weekend of June 21-23, 1800, when the Presence of the Spirit became so intense the congregation was reduced to tears. On the third and final day of meetings, the Spirit again lingered. John McGee, one of the Methodist ministers started weeping and others soon followed. McGee then stood up and exhorted the crowd. Several women began shouting, and one in particular shouted above the others. McGee left the pulpit to go to her, but several warned him that the Presbyterians liked order. McGee described what happened as he headed toward the pulpit: ‘I turned to go back and was near falling; the Power of God was so strong upon me. I turned again and, losing sight of the fear of man, I went through the house shouting and exhorting with all possible ecstasy and energy, and the floor was soon covered by the slain.’