11/17/2010

                   “Naked before God”

      Sundays and I think Wednesdays,  Our Pastor has been looking at the book of 1st Samuel. So I decided to start reading it on my own.

              A couple weeks ago I got into a conversation with a fellow congregant  about King David who was despised by his wife Michal when he danced in the street  with the Ark of the Covenant. This congregant thought that David was Naked, but I told her no, he wore an ephod, or basically his underwear,  However when Jesus was Crucified , it was likely that he was naked.( despite of Paintings to the contrary. )

         A few days later  I was reading 1 Samuel 19:24  .  King Saul was pursuing David to have him Killed, when they came upon a company of Prophets, the Spirit of God came upon Saul ,  so he was prophesying  and he stripped off his clothes  and was prophesying before Samuel  laying down naked all day and night.

           I find it interesting that when the Spirit of God came upon Saul , he stripped naked.   Some modern  preachers would claim that it couldn’t have been the “HOLY SPIRIT”  that came upon him, because the Spirit of God wouldn’t  cause him to do something Lewd like strip; instead he’d cover up with baggy clothing,( or suit and tie ) and get his hair cut .

                 Anyway I started thinking and praying about the  spiritual meaning or message behind this Idea of being “Naked before God.” ( “And MAN”  one might add )

            If one is to talk about being “Naked before God”  the place to begin is in the Beginning with Adam and EVE.  ( Genesis 2:25)   both were naked and were not ashamed.  They were pure, they had nothing to hide, that is until they ate of the forbidden fruit.  Then  first thing they realized they were naked, and made loin  coverings  to cover themselves. Then they hid from God because they knew they were naked.

         Being Naked is often associated with “Shame”, because we are exposed.  Being in God’s presence Exposes us .   We see our own sin much clearer the closer we are to God. HE reveals the truth about us.

          When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit they knew that their sin would be exposed, so they tried to hide themselves from God.

      King Saul was basically living in Rebellion to God and his purposes. Keep in mind that Saul was in a sense not living a life that was totally honest. At first when God pronounced Judgment on him for his disobedience. Then in his dealings with David.  He knew David was to be God’s anointed King, yet he kept trying to Kill David  and thwart God’s purposes. But when he was filled with the Spirit he was Laid Bare.  ( I wonder what he was actually prophesying while laying there day and night  ??)

           I’m reminded of a silent film from 1917 called HYPOCRITES  which had a number of different stories…and each of these stories had a situation,  in which a “spirit” like character  called “the nakedness of truth” entered   and when the Character entered the scene the film showed the TRUTH behind each person or situation.  Not long after I first saw the film, I read an article, or saw some show about the 1960’s  Stage play  “HAIR”   and in the play they had a scene where the actors come on stage NAKED to represent “the Naked Truth”.

          So what is the” NAKED TRUTH”  ? 

The Naked Truth means there is no pretense.  To be a “Hypocrite “ means to be an Actor. Which Basically means you are pretending to be someone who you are NOT. One might say you’re  “wearing a mask”  or your are covering up who you really are.  The Naked truth Strips away that covering. One could say it’s “transparency”.

 JESUS said ,”I AM The way ,the TRUTH and the LIFE;  No one comes to the Father , but  through  Me” . ( John 14:6)

What is the Truth?

 

    The TRUTH is REALITY. The Truth are The FACTS, nothing but THE FACTS. ( as seen from God’s perfect perspective)

     The Truth is “WHAT IS”.  Which reminds me of God Calling himself, “I AM"  . He is the God “that IS”   as opposed to the lies in and of the World, and Satan, the father of lies.

The Apostle Paul told us to “Speak truth one to another” (Ephesians 4:15 &4:25)

   

     Other Scriptures on truth>>>  Psalm 51:6   “he desires Truth in our innermost being”

Joshua 24:14   “Serve him in sincerity and Truth”

1Samuel 12:24  “Serve him in Truth with all of your 

                   heart”

1 Kings 2:4  “ Walk before me in truth with all of

                their heart”

Jeremiah 23:28
"The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth What does straw have in common with grain?" declares the LORD.

Zechariah 8:16
'These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates.

           One could also compare the “Naked Truth” to  the difference between Darkness and Light. The Bible tells us that people do their evil deeds under the covering of Darkness,  but we are to be Children of the Light.

        Being Naked before God is the same thing as Living in the Light of God’s presence.  His Light shines on our flaws. It is much easier to see the specs or sins in our own lives when we have God’s Light shining on us.

                While Jesus endured the shame of the Cross (Hebrews  12:2) He did not need to feel ashamed of his Nakedness before God, and he was willingly  laid bare before men because he was Sinless and pure. We however, tend to want to hide and cover up our sin. God not only wants us to be transparent with him , he also wants us to be that way with others.  He wants us to be people of INTEGRITY.   People who are the same on the inside as we show on the outside, UNLIKE people who are Hypocrytes.

                 Isaiah 20:2  :   God commanded Isaiah the prophet  to go about Naked for 3 years as he proclaimed God’s Judgment.

            Nakedness in the Bible is often associated with Shame.  In a Scriptural sense we have shame because our sin is uncovered.

                Why do unbelievers often Hate Christians who are living faithfully to God? Because the light of the Christian Witness shows clearly their own sinfulness.

            So WE as Christians ought to live in such a way , that we don’t have to be ashamed of being “Spiritually Naked”.   Another words Living in the Light.

the rich young ruler

The Story of the Rich young Ruler


Matt. 19:16-26, Mark 10:17-27, Luke 18:18-27



I’ve heard numerous teachings on this Biblical Story, but wanted to add a few insights, which I believe are from God.

If you read the passages , a rich young man approaches Jesus, and either say’s to him “Good Teacher what can I do to inherit eternal life, or Teacher What Good thing can I do to inherit eternal life”….depending on which passage your reading.

One : the First thing Jesus say’s to the rich young ruler is “Why do you call me Good? No one is Good except God Alone” That actually sets up the whole rest of the encounter. Hopefully I don’t need to point out that Jesus DID NOT say he wasn’t Good….but it actually points out that IF He WAS Good …it’s because HE WAS GOD. The apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans:3 ( quoted from the Psalms) 10as it is written,

"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,

THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,

THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."



TWO: Jesus Points to the Law. When the young man asks what things he should DO to inherit Eternal life…. Some may infer that by keeping the commands we will inherit Eternal life….but Again Jesus first words are telling….NO ONE KEEPS THE LAW(“NO ONE IS GOOD”) Romans 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

. But notice when Jesus told him the commands at first…he leaves out the MOST IMPORTANT ONE……To love God with all your heart

So When the young ruler claimed to have kept the commands, Jesus told him to SELL ALL his Possessions and give to the poor.( and come follow him)

What Jesus was doing was Pointing out that HE really DID NOT keep the whole law….That the love of money was keeping him from keeping the whole law. It’s like the Pharisee’s who went around Judging others, and thinking they were keepers of the law… The LIGHT and truth of Jesus pointed out their own darkness, and sin. This Young ruler said HE was keeping the Law….but Jesus revealed where He too was failing. He neither loved his neighbor as himself, nor did he love God with all of his heart. 1 John 3:17-18 tells us 17But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

IS JESUS just giving us a HIGHER law to do? OR is he revealing to Us how by the LAW, NONE Of us will be justified?(Romans 3:20)

That’s why by the works of the Law…..( it is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven) “ it’s impossible for men to be saved, but with God ALL THINGS are Possible……………..” ( Matt. 19;26)



WE NEED GODS GRACE, and we Need God’s SPIRIT !!!! Romans 3:21-24 21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

22even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

And verse 28: 28For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Romans 8:3 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

John 3: 3 3Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John 3:16 16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.



I find it interesting that in other Passages Jesus tells us the WHOLE law is based on the two commands….Love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and Love your neighbor as yourself.( Matt. 22:34-40) Why didn’t he just tell this young ruler that instead , of the focusing on the other commands?

One thing that often troubles me , is how easily we ( Christians) toss around the word “love”… in particular saying how we love God. But when you get right down to the nuts and bolts of it….do our actions really back up our words ? In this passage Jesus has a way of getting right down to the heart of the matter. ( which really amounts to Idolatry in God’s eyes , the rich man has another god he cares more about …and that god is Money) Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

Greetings

          Well,  this is my first Blog....so I just wanted to say Hello to anyone out there in cyberspace who may happen upon this here blogspot.  Welcome !!    Now I haven't the time to write anything pertinent ....but hopefully I'll have some things forthcoming.   Hopefully they will be thoughts worth pondering, and enlightening those who venture to read them.

                         until  then........Take care, and God Bless