Inspired by the words of his dying father, Michael Oxentenko committed his life to Jesus Christ at an early age. He holds a B.A. degree in Religion from Southern College,
Tennessee, USA, and a Masters in Divinity. For over fifteen years, Pastor Mike has pastored churches in Tennessee, Michigan, and Maryland, helping to grow his congregations along multi-ethnic
lines.
4/25/2010 8:34 AM
Jay Neil Jr wrote:
I understand Israel's refusal to come "into" the mountain at Sinai prevented them from receiving the Holy Spirit / Pentecost fire "on their faces"; spoken about previously in the sermon "Strange Fire".
And today, "The Kingdom Harvest" seems to imply that it was God's plan to write the covenant into stone (OT) first, then later (NT) into the heart by the Holy Spirit. Yet it seems to me that God wanted to write this Everlasting / eternal / perpetual / Sabbath covenant into Israel's hearts at Sinai by the Holy Spirit as Plan A from the beginning (rather than stone - Plan ; but had to wait till Pentecost for the fuller manifestation of the Holy Spirit (return to Plan A). This is alluded to in Isaiah 63: 11,12.
Yet, because of Israel's hardness of heart alone, God had to go to plan B, writing the covenant in stone. That is why Moses was called back into Mt. Sinai a 2nd time - to receive the Decalogue during round 2, rather than the entire encampment receiving it as "fire on their faces" such as Moses had received during their collective round one visit to God's presence on Sinai - where the congregation remained 'at the base'.
So they refused the 'Spirit / new covenant'- type of dispensation. This was due to Israel's refusal, not God's plan. God's plan has always been & always will be to sanctify all (not two plans: law vs. grace) by the power of the in-dwelling Spirit, a Faith that works by love and purifies the soul. aka "The Faith of Jesus".
This also helps me understand why Moses was held to so high a standard of conduct when striking the rock twice... for he had already had the Spirit of God burned within his soul on Sinai. Thus was given to him a conscience made exquisitely tender to the moment by moment commands / voice of the Spirit "This is the way, walk / strike the Rock once"...
Blessings on you, your family, and your ministry. The Lord blesses me richly through these Bible based sermons. And I also spread these Bible teachings to my own church here in Northern New England. Reply to this
I understand Israel's refusal to come "into" the mountain at Sinai prevented them from receiving the Holy Spirit / Pentecost fire "on their faces"; spoken about previously in the sermon "Strange Fire".
And today, "The Kingdom Harvest" seems to imply that it was God's plan to write the covenant into stone (OT) first, then later (NT) into the heart by the Holy Spirit. Yet it seems to me that God wanted to write this Everlasting / eternal / perpetual / Sabbath covenant into Israel's hearts at Sinai by the Holy Spirit as Plan A from the beginning (rather than stone - Plan
Yet, because of Israel's hardness of heart alone, God had to go to plan B, writing the covenant in stone. That is why Moses was called back into Mt. Sinai a 2nd time - to receive the Decalogue during round 2, rather than the entire encampment receiving it as "fire on their faces" such as Moses had received during their collective round one visit to God's presence on Sinai - where the congregation remained 'at the base'.
So they refused the 'Spirit / new covenant'- type of dispensation. This was due to Israel's refusal, not God's plan. God's plan has always been & always will be to sanctify all (not two plans: law vs. grace) by the power of the in-dwelling Spirit, a Faith that works by love and purifies the soul. aka "The Faith of Jesus".
This also helps me understand why Moses was held to so high a standard of conduct when striking the rock twice... for he had already had the Spirit of God burned within his soul on Sinai. Thus was given to him a conscience made exquisitely tender to the moment by moment commands / voice of the Spirit "This is the way, walk / strike the Rock once"...
Blessings on you, your family, and your ministry. The Lord blesses me richly through these Bible based sermons. And I also spread these Bible teachings to my own church here in Northern New England.
Reply to this