Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Bible Doctrine Series-Jehovah-Shammah

Jehovah-Shammah—“the Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35). The Hebrew word shammah is defined as “there, in that place, therein.” Jehovah-shammah means “The Lord is there.” This was the name given in description of the New Jerusalem envisioned by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 48:35). This city will be measured and built meticulously; being apportioned and assigned for the people of God. In the book of John, Jesus culminated His talk with His disciples during His final Passover feast. He had told them of His upcoming betrayal, the necessity of His leaving them, and their need to love one another as He had loved them. To encourage their troubled hearts and give them an eternal view toward which to hope, He left them (and us) with this promise: John 14:2-3 “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare as place for you. And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” When Jesus left His disciples, He told them He was going to prepare as place for them in order that they may, at a later time, join Him. During the interim, all of us as His disciples must be prepared through the work of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17 sheds this light “But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” As believers we have been born-again with a new spirit, birthed by His spirit, sinless and unable to sin. Now He is in the process of saving our souls—teaching us to renew our mind, working in us to will and to do His good pleasure. He is educating us on how to correctly use our emotions, just as we might learn to read the gauges and lights on our car to alert us to any problems in the making. He will make evident what He has accomplished in our inner man by saving our body, eventually transforming it into a flawless, spiritual dwelling place. This salvation process is not just individual, it is collective. We are not independent of one another. We are parts of a whole, essential to each other; our own well being depends upon the health of every other member in the body of Christ. Because He is holy, his bride must also be holy. He gave Himself for His bride to save her, sanctifying and cleansing her with His Word, so He might receive her unto Himself without spot or wrinkle. At the marriage supper of the Lamb, His bride, the Church, will be clothed in fine linen, which is the righteous acts of the saints. Jehovah-shammah is the God who is there; He delights to be where His people are. When the marriage feast is over the millennial honeymoon is complete; when the enemy, his armies and followers have been judged and sentenced, God will make a new heaven and a new earth. This is the consummation of God’s timeless plan for us. Dr. Ken Copley is available for counseling, conferences, and local church meetings.

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