Author	Thread: The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry
Admin	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 8 Nov, 2011 02:56 PM The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Some in the Reformed tradition tend to overemphasize the earthly life and ministry of Christ and to de�emphasize His heavenly life and ministry. For example, they often teach that the Sermon on the Mount is the "Magna Carta" of Christian living. John MacArthur's teaching is typical of this approach when he insists that the Sermon on the Mount�s "primary message is for Christians" and must be considered "truth for today." [The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 27 footnote. MacArthur is critical of those who want to consign this Sermon to another age (see p. 214). It is important to understand that this Sermon was given at a time when the kingdom was announced as being "at hand."] We fully recognize the value of "all Scripture" (2 Tim. 3:16). Certainly the Gospels are profitable to us and of immense value to the believing heart. The Sermon on the Mount is Rich with Truth and Applications and Lessons for the Child of God. But to find God�s Revelation, which was Directly given to the CHURCH, we must go to the Epistles, not to the Gospels. May we Not Neglect the very Books which were given to the Churches. It is there that we find our heavenly Lord, Ascended and Glorified and Seated, and we find ourselves seated with Him there. Carefully consider the words of Paul: "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more" (2 Cor. 5:16). The Epistles were given, not so that we would know Christ after the flesh, but so we would know our Great High Priest who having finished His perfect work on the cross is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. If you read through the New Testament beginning with Acts, continuing through all the Epistles and ending with Revelation, you will find the following: 183 verses speak of Christ�s death. 97 verses speak of Christ�s resurrection. 162 verses speak of Christ�s heavenly life and ministry. 203 verses speak of Christ�s return (as King, as Judge, etc.). ONLY 10 PASSAGES SPEAK OF HIS EARTHLY LIFE AND MINISTRY! These ten passages are as follows: 1~ Acts 2:22, which speaks of our Lord�s earthly ministry and miracles. 2~ Acts 10:38, which summarizes His earthly ministry. 3~ Acts 20:35, where Paul mentions one of the sayings of Christ. 4~1 Timothy 3:16, where the life and witness of the Lord Jesus forms a pattern for the life and witness of the church. 5~ 1 Timothy 6:13, which speaks of Christ before Pilate prior to His death. 6~ 2 Peter 1:15�18, which speaks of the transfiguration (which was really a preview of the kingdom and could be listed under the category of the second coming). 7~ 1 Peter 2:21-23, the example of Christ's life, especially in suffering. 8~ Hebrews 4:15, which speaks of Christ having been tempted (see also 2:18), yet without sin. However, the emphasis of the passage is upon His High Priestly ministry. 9~ Hebrews 5:7, which speaks of His agony in the garden prior to His death. 10~ 1 John 2:6, the manner in which Christ walked as an example for believers. Other possible references might be Hebrews 12:3 and 1 Peter 4:1. If the reader is aware of any other passage in Acts or the Epistles which speaks of His earthly life and ministry, please contact me so that we can all be aware of this. In the New Testament Epistles the great emphasis is upon the Heavenly life and Ministry of our exalted Lord, the Head of the Church, the Life of the body, the Vine of the branches. Indeed God has given us an entire book, one of the longest Epistles (Hebrews), which has as its main theme our Lord�s present ministry in heaven on our behalf. May we never forget that our Lord Jesus is on the Resurrection side of the Cross. He is Risen, Ascended and Glorified and Exalted. A careful and prayerful reading of John chapter 17 shows that the great emphasis of this prayer is upon our Lord in heaven ("I have finished the work" ; "I am no more in the world" ; "I come to Thee"). "If ye then be Risen with Christ, SEEK those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1�2). xo Post Reply
View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 8 Nov, 2011 03:25 PM Wow! There are some very wierd things being passed around as "doctrine" in the world today, and this has to be at the top of the list. "Neglect"! That is a word that in no way respects the glory of God in His Sovereignty. It make Him appear confused; for that is the foundation of neglect: it is confusion. The heavenly ministry is never neglected, and for you to state such a thing, is to say that God is not wise, Sovereign, and "working all things together for good to them that love Him, to them that are the called according to His purpose." In fact, in order for you to state that the heavenly ministry is being neglected, you are saying He is weak and cannot certainly cause all that He has decreed, to come to pass.. This is a very strange and, to me, worthless post. This in no way encourages men to view God as GOD, but a confused Being with a world beyond His control. In closing, there is not ONE passage or scripture in all the Holy Writ that speak of danger in regards to neglecting a heavenly ministry, and there is nothing at all in the scripture regarding a heavenly ministry. There is no need to minister in heaven! awm Post Reply
View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 8 Nov, 2011 03:44 PM There is nothing worthless about warning others about Reformed Theology, it is a Christian's responsibility Post Reply
View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 8 Nov, 2011 03:46 PM In fact, in order for you to state that the heavenly ministry is being neglected, you are saying He is weak and cannot certainly cause all that He has decreed, to come to pass.. *** That is not what the post or myself is saying�God is never weak�people are�and please don't be puttin more Words into what is simply posted here�xo Post Reply
View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 8 Nov, 2011 04:21 PM There is nothing any more wrong with reformed(of whom i have met, and read from MANY wonderfull brothers and sissters in JESUS) Anymore then there is wrong with Armenian, or pelagian...or what ever THEY ARE ALL MAN MADE DOCTRINE and STILL MISS the LOVE(AGAPE) OF JESUS and the TRUE righteosuenss, and selflessness we need to walk in. Men REALLY need to stop defending DOCTRINE and instead humble themsleves and SEEK JESUS, seek HIS wisdom, adn HIS knowledge, and HIS TRUTH... Then you can be able to decern CHRIST in others, and instead of DEEPENING the division and heresy, and faction in the BODY you can SEE the UNIFYING FACTOR of JESUS adn then work to Edify and build each other up in TRUTH and LOVE sprinkled with salt. Nothing wrong with this post, And Reformers are just another MANS doctrine having lots of truth, but also missing LOTS of truth, as is EVERY DENOMIANTION(divsion) AND DOCTRINE(Teaching) Taht is not the BODY of JESUS, There is the TRUE BODY in each denomination and REALLY we need to work on UNITY and what we HAVE in common and work to teach each other in love...and NOT work on diveding further... or maybe im just a :dancingp: Post Reply
elishabroadway View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 8 Nov, 2011 06:45 PM RK is right!! there are true Christians in many different denominations, I think a lot of the people Donna and PJ and Bahira and JUDE AND ANGEL for sure really love the Lord it hurts my heart so so much when I see posts that say " you hate God" or " you hate Gods word" no they dont the love him too and its very bad to make those acusations we must ask god to search our hearts, but God must do the searching it is not up to us to search the hearts of men, and we certainly dont know whats in the hearts of men, THAT IS JUGMENT and we arent equiped to juge other men God is the Juge.. and I know for sure Ilove the lord I also know I talk to him and he talks to my heart, we just dont really understand each other but we dont understand all of the word either and by brothers and sisters if you think you understand the word completly your in big trouble and if you think your understanding is better than someone elses then you are on shakey ground.. I ask questions because I am trying to see where these people are coming from, but I see the acusations of herrasy and hatred for God and his word and they are acustaions and WHO IS THE ACUSER OF THE BRETHREN???? SATAN THATS WHO.. so when you are throwing names and acussations of hatred then you better figure out who is pulling your strings... I have said some things I regret saying I never told a lie as Bahira acused me of but I had to ask God to check me and search my heart and he showed me that just becasue one person does not have the clearest understanding you think you may have that doesnt mean they dont love the Lord and if you are saying that to someone then shame on you .. there are people who just want to show off how much they know and how super spiritual they are and shame on you too cause you know who you are and so does God Post Reply
dljrn04 View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 9 Nov, 2011 02:01 PM your god must be weak if he can't save you, and you have to save yourself. Post Reply
elishabroadway View Profile History	The Danger of Neglecting the Heavenly Ministry Posted : 9 Nov, 2011 05:04 PM @Donna sometimes you say really mean things, nobody ever said we saved our self, our God wants us to love him, not because he forces us to, Your God must have self esteem problems if he feels the need to force himself on you.. How Childish of you to say something like that, that was uncalled for.. I am gonna pray for you that you quit letting the devil yank your chain so that you say such hateful things Post Reply