(A Terminus Ad Genesis, Part 7)
Where are we going?
We’re moving on, from acting and reacting in fear, to moving in perfect love.
We’re moving lower to build higher. Digging deeper to grow taller.
Being intentional, expectant and hopeful.
The church I serve in will be celebrating its 45th anniversary this coming September.
Praise God, because as early as now, we have an idea of where we are headed.
The world we live in today is a world that is overstimulated and undernourished. Now, more than ever, the call is to place our trust in the Lord, and to intentionally (key word) find our peace and provision in Christ, the Living Word.
We went through a Strategic Missions crash course recently. I’ve heard of the initiative of our Administrative Pastor, regarding Houses of Prayer and Evangelism (HOPE). What I would like to contribute is a push for us to be grounded in the Word of Life.
It just so happens that I’m part of a technical team in our church council, that is overseeing a major revamp of our Manual of Procedures. What I’m pushing as part of our projection as we turn 45, is the third qualification for members of the said council: They must be personally proficient with the Bible.
Here are the sub-items for this qualification:
- Recognizes and believes all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. (2 Timothy 3:16)
- Reads Scripture primarily from the perspective of Christ and His finished work. (Luke 24:27, 44-45, John 5:39, Romans 10:4)
- Has an individual, intimate narrative and testimony strengthened and directed by the Word of God. (Psalm 107:2, John 9:25)
- Diligent to present themselves approved to God… rightly dividing the word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Able, among other things, to read in context, understand the genre, and to compare and connect Scripture with Scripture.
- Utilizes Scripture for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)
- Able to hold fast the faithful Word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (Titus 1:9)Able to rebuke the ‘insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers’ sharply, that they may be sound in the faith’ (Titus 1:13a), not giving heed to (Jewish) fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. (Titus 1:13b)
For a start I’ve been visiting each worship service here in our fair city at least once a month, and I’m more fixated on the Word each Pastor has been sharing. Moving forward I believe it would be helpful for the council to hold monthly meetings focused on theoretical ‘calibration’.
Yes, this is coming from our JCM (Joint Calibration Meetings) actually conducted weekly during the time I worked as a Quality Analyst. We used to listen to calls that were going on real-time, intervene when necessary, but primarily ensuring that the client and the Quality team are calibrated or on the same board regarding how the call was graded.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I believe we ought to push for there to be a Bible in every household. Or, to be more precise, there should be more Bible studies so that everyone, not just the Board of Trustees, would meet what I think are reasonable standards of proficiency.
It’s all in being intentional. It’s all for and from inspiration and devotion: That is, we intentionally go deeper into the Word, doing devotion as teams, and essentially drawing inspiration from the Most High, bringing us deeper into the Word, doing devotion, drawing inspiration, deeper into the Word, doing devotion, drawing inspiration…
The thing is, these initiatives are good, and we’ll probably push for them to happen, but on the other hand, we wouldn’t want to impede on what is already going on. I believe the methods don’t matter as much as the message. The mindset. And with that, well, in mind, I think we ought to simplify the items for competency more – for portability and for faster, easier consumption.
With all of this in mind, I thought to feed everything I wrote about which comprises of the A Terminus Ad Genesis series into Grok AI. I also threw in our church’s updated Statement of Faith, and our Vision and Mission.
To my surprise, Grok came out with the following scheme, with the following Biblical Foundations:
Campaign Title: “Rooted in Christ: Living the Good News, Advancing the Worldwide Mission”
Supplementary Vision: Living up to our name. Good News Worldwide Mission.
(Good News) To plant our church family deeper in Christ and His Word so that every member thrives in the Father’s grace, walks in the power of the Holy Spirit, and (Worldwide Mission) actively participates in transforming nations and generations with the Gospel.
We are living in a famine of a different kind — not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine “of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11). Truth is being removed, replaced, rejected, and disregarded, while fear, anxiety, deception, and distraction are multiplying. Daniel 12:4 comes to mind — knowledge is increasing, yet many are running to and fro, weary and unsettled.
Many people — even believers — are only surviving. But God is calling us to thrive. As Colossians 2:6-7 declares: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith…”
This theme flows directly out of our Statement of Faith:
- We are Rooted in the trustworthy foundation of the Holy Scripture.
- We are centered on Jesus Christ and His complete, finished work — the heart and climax of redemption.
- We live in the grace of God our Father, adopted as sons and daughters (Romans 8:15).
- We are empowered by the Holy Spirit for victorious and fruitful living.
This is not a new direction. This is us returning to our roots so we can bear much fruit. This is us intentionally abiding in Christ and naturally bearing much fruit.
This is true to our name — Good News Worldwide Mission.
Biblical Foundation
Besides being anchored in our Statement of Faith, our Vision and our Mission, the following Verses shall also serve as mainstays for the campaign:
- As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7
- Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.John 15:4-5
- “…But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.Psalms 1:2-3
- Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
I was surprised to see Grok churn out the word ‘Rooted’, because it just so happened that a good friend of mine, a brother from another mother from Dubai, started a business intent on encouraging the Word of God and the Bible… and, guess what, he called his clothing line, rootd.
Earlier today we went back to our Bible study with him and fellow believers from other sections of the world… and I suppose I will share all my notes here in the same article:
36 years since that big one.
God willing, may our city never be shaken that way ever again.
The Grain Offering
facilitated by Dox
Recap – On Burnt Offerings. Christ’s offering was for all, no matter where they stood in terms of economic standing. The bigger the revelation of Christ, the bigger the size of the offering, the greater the involvement of the one offering. The deeper the revelation of Christ, the greater the involvement and engagement of the believer.
The deeper the believer is rooted, the greater he grows… the greater He grows.
Our salvation is secure, but our enjoyment is limited by our revelation.
Being intentional has its roots in revelation.
Christ is the offering whose aroma is sweet before God.
1 ‘When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it. 2 He shall bring it to Aaron’s sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the frankincense. And the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. 3 The rest of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the LORD made by fire.
4 ‘And if you bring as an offering a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 5 But if your offering is a grain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil. 6 You shall break it in pieces and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.Leviticus 2:1-6
- Fine Flour, Oil, and Frankincense
- Green Heads of Grain
- Voluntary sacrifices of thanksgiving
The grain offering is the only one that doesn’t involve animal sacrifice. An offering without the blood of an animal may seem strange but it does have a purpose.
Leaven represents sin. This unleavened offering represents Christ without sin.
The fine flour is ground from coarse grain, again and again, until there are no lumps. It represents the balance of Christ’s character. Every action of His was ‘fine’ – When He was kind, He was not soft. Flawless. Brilliant.
The cakes were to be mixed with oil. The wafers were soaked with oil. Oil is mixed in, coming from olives pound, again and again. The oil signifies Christ baptized by the Holy Spirit. Christ was the broken wafer, still with no sin, also ‘soaked’ with the oil of the Holy Spirit.
The entire offering was burned on the altar. Verses 4-5 emphasized the unleavened cakes, wafers, and flour. There was no leaven, and note there was no honey – sweetness apart from grace.
The cakes were ‘cooked’ in the oven and on the pan – symbols of Christ’s evident suffering in the Praetorium, etc.
Oil was added to the flour, per God’s instructions. Frankincense symbolizes Christ’s High-Priestly role and representing us before God.
Trees where frankincense comes from are hardy, and can grow literally from rocks. Bark is stripped from the Frankincense tree, for resin to drip down. Christ remained resolute and even thrives in spite of the toughness of the world.
It all points to the perfect, sweet, Spirit-soaked life of Christ, thriving in spite of suffering in this world.
Christ is the Bread of Life. Christ took our leaven, beaten as dough, cooked in the fire.
35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.John 6:35
Real holiness comes from beholding Jesus. Revelation is sure to be received, when it is Christ revealed to us. Christ Himself is a revelation. Meditate on His finished work, on His life; Behold God’s goodness and greatness in Christ!
Discussion:
It’s not ‘if you truly believe‘ more than it is about ‘receiving Christ’s revelation‘
The deeper our roots, the higher the branches.
The work inward, reflects outward. Don’t prioritize the hype. It’ll naturally come out.
Being rooted is abiding in the living Water.
Ptr. Danny, earlier this month: Missions isn’t Jerusalem then Judea then Samaria then the ends of the Earth. It’s all at once.
Inigo – Matthew 6:33 ‘Why are you worrying about everything all at once?‘
Ampoi – Being intentional is being hungry in the Word. Hungry for revelation.
Jopet – Rooted is rested. Not only sustained, not only standing. It’s rested. Even the Frankincense tree on the rock is rested. A rested life is a rooted life. A rooted posture is a rested posture.
I’ve struggled. A good chunk of me is already accepting that she wants nothing to do with me, and it’s possibly manifesting in my mind and body as fever and sickness. I’ve spent a good deal of whatever money I have left saved up on blood tests, meds, doctor’s consultations, and, recently, rabies vaccines, ‘for my peace of mind’.
On top of this there’s the condemnation that’s been getting to me – Would she even want to have anything to do with me now that I barely have anything saved up (versus the money I used to have and earn), I barely get by with paying the bills, I’m staying home at the ready to help my household at any moment, and I could be creating, but I’ve been consuming and doomscrolling so much more and watching a lot of stuff Solomon easily calls, ‘meaningless’? I gained back all the pounds that I lost, my diet isn’t optimal, and, man, there’s just so much I want to buy, so much I’d like to do, but I am, as the writing on the wall spoke to Belshazzar, finding myself wanting!
But I give God all the glory. I thank God for my Mom. For Pastor Danny. For everyone who told me I think too much. For everyone who’s prayed for me.
The Lord has always been faithful to me. I may not have money, I may not have a partner, but I have ALWAYS been blessed by Christ.
I’m probably going to close this chapter now, and start a new series.
But before I close, I’m sharing, for myself, and for everyone who happens to read this:
Be expectant of the grace. Be expectant of the revelation.
Amen.
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