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Thank you Chopper. This is something I wanted to touch on. Moses saw the burning bush on the mountainside, and said I must turn aside and see this thing for himself. When Moses was on the mountain for 40 days in the presence of the Glory of the Lord, his face shown with the glory, and he had to put a vail (veil) over his face. I would point out though that the glory that Moses bore at the time was a reflective glory; it was the Glory of the Lord burned into his skin. But there is something to keep in mind, When he appears in His Glory, and we are changed into the same, then how shall the Glory of the son's appear in that day. (In son's, I am thinking of the Romans 8:19 and the manifestation of the sons of God).


Chopper, being that you are a student of the old testament, would you kindly share how the Glory of the Lord showed Himself at the dedication of Solomon's temple?

There is nothing I'd rather do, my good friend ezrider, than write about the absolute one of a kind Glory of YHWH our Elohim. Thank you so very much for honoring me to join in your super important thread. I hope this thread never ends because of it's importance to all who read and study your thoughts on the Glory of our Lord, Elohim.

1Kings 8:9 "There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.
8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD."

I can only imagine that awesome event, when the priests were so taken back by the very rare appearance of the Glory of the Lord Elohim in that holy cloud that filled Solomon's Temple. I would have hit the floor in absolute awe and reverence, praise and worship.

Exodus 33:17 "And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen."


I will write some more after I've prayed to Abba Father for what He wants me to add to this awesome thread. Until then, I'd like to say something about you, my friend ezrider. I believe that the Spirit of Yahweh nudged me when I read...."thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." That's you Mr. Rider. You certainly have posted some very deep teachings about our Lord and His ways. You have found GRACE in the LORD's (Master) sight and He knows you by name. This is not vain flattery, it's the Truth! Yahshua (Jesus) is the Way, Truth, and the Life. Keep living it my friend, we all need you!
 
33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee...

John 17:4-8
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 17:20-26
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
 
33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

1 Corinthians 10:1-5
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.


When my glory passeth by, then I will put the in the clift of the rock...... Make me think of the vision Elijah had in the cave of the Mountain of the Lord.

1 Kings 19:9-12
And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

The glory of the Lord passed by in a great and might wind, the glory of the Lord passed by in an earthquake, the glory of the Lord passed by in a fire. As the Glory of the Lord passed by, he was hidden in the clift of the Rock so he might listen to the still small voice.
 
Psalms 17:6-10
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God:
incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee
from those that rise up against them.
Keep me as the apple of the eye,
hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

From the wicked that oppress me,
from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
They are inclosed in their own fat:
with their mouth they speak proudly.

Psalms 27:4-6
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
 
Isaiah 2:10-12
Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust,
for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled,
and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty,
and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:


Enter into the Rock, and hide thee in the dust: We are hidden in Christ, we are hidden the dust of our flesh.

2 Corinthians 4:3-8
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
 
As we continue in this study of the scriptures on the Glory of the Lord in the hope for more revelation in the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, I must point out something that we should pay attention to so as to not create any confusion on the subject. I believe it was for_his_glory and another who made a reference to the Glory of the Lord in the context of 2 Cor 4:7. And while it is important that we can share with one another the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord that has been revealed to ourselves in the face of Christ, we should not be remiss to recognized that there is also a Glory of the Lord witnessed in a physical presence. In Exodus, we see this presence in a cloud and a fire and a tempest.

The subject of the thread is the Glory of the Lord, so any discussion on the subject is welcome. The knowledge of the Glory of the Lord in the face of Christ is required to stay hidden in the clift of the Rock as the Glory of the Lord passes by, for the still small voice of the Lord is found in that knowledge, in the hidden manna. But at this time, my focus is what is revealed about the Glory of the Lord as He passes by; when the Son of man returns in the Glory of His Father. The presence of the Glory of the Lord in a Cloud of Fire, as it descended upon the mount, and as it filled the Temple of the Lord.
 
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Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Deuteronomy 32:1-4
Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak;
and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
My doctrine shall drop as the rain,
my speech shall distil as the dew,
as the small rain upon the tender herb,

and as the showers upon the grass:
Because I will publish the name of the Lord:
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the Rock, his work is perfect:
for all his ways are judgment:
a God of truth and without iniquity,
just and right is he.

Exodus 16:13-15
And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat.


The children of Israel did not receive the hidden manna, the dew that lay upon the ground. The children of Israel gathered what was visible, they gathered the residue left after the morning dew had lifted; it was the residue they called manna. Those who labor in the field yet trying to prove themselves before the Lord, they wait to gather the manna they can see after the morning dew is gone. But to those who overcome, I will give to eat of the hidden manna, for my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb: Because I will publish the name of the Lord.


.
 
Psalms 27:4-6
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion:
in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me;
he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy;
I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.



Isaiah 26:19-21
Thy dead men shall live,
together with my dead body shall they arise.

Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust:
for thy dew is as the dew of herbs,

and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers,
and shut thy doors about thee:
hide thyself as it were for a little moment,
until the indignation be overpast.

For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place
to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:
the earth also shall disclose her blood,
and shall no more cover her slain.
 
Isaiah 58:1-5
Cry aloud, spare not,
lift up thy voice like a trumpet,
and shew my people their transgression,
and the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek me daily,
and delight to know my ways,
as a nation that did righteousness,
and forsook not the ordinance of their God:
they ask of me the ordinances of justice;
they take delight in approaching to God.
Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?
wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?
Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure,
and exact all your labours.
Behold, ye fast for strife and debate,
and to smite with the fist of wickedness:

ye shall not fast as ye do this day,
to make your voice to be heard on high.
Is it such a fast that I have chosen?
a day for a man to afflict his soul?
is it to bow down his head as a bulrush,
and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
wilt thou call this a fast,
and an acceptable day to the Lord?

Isaiah 58:6-11
Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
to loose the bands of wickedness,
to undo the heavy burdens,
and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?
when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him;
and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning,
and thine health shall spring forth speedily:
and thy righteousness shall go before thee;
the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.

If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke,
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry,
and satisfy the afflicted soul;
then shall thy light rise in obscurity,
and thy darkness be as the noonday:
And the Lord shall guide thee continually,
and satisfy thy soul in drought,
and make fat thy bones:
and thou shalt be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
 
One thing about the glory of the Lord is that He will never leave us or forsake us even though many have walked away at times like I have many times in the past. In Gods longsuffering and patience, 2 Peter 3:9, 10, He sits with a loving heart just waiting for all to turn back to Him, but many will not see the glory of the Lord until they stand in judgement at His throne and then will be turned away.
 
There is nothing I'd rather do, my good friend ezrider, than write about the absolute one of a kind Glory of YHWH our Elohim. Thank you so very much for honoring me to join in your super important thread. I hope this thread never ends because of it's importance to all who read and study your thoughts on the Glory of our Lord, Elohim.

Chopper, I am heading out of town for the holidays. I will post more when I can, and I have much more to add. I have held back this topic for some time now, but felt I could hold back no longer. I have only just begun and there is much of the dedication of Solomon's temple that I would like to look at, not just the filling of the temple, but the days of feast and sacrifice. I will explain more when I feel it is appropriate, but until then I wanted to thank you for the excitement you have shown for this subject.

But if I might leave you with something to think about, maybe you can explain it to me, because I just don't understand. On a website that is Christian in nature, why are there so few who seek the understanding of the Glory of the Lord, or are willing to discuss it in this format? In the CE&P forum there is a thread over 8 pages deep questioning the racism of plexiglass. In this forum there is thread on sinning no more that has seen far more participation. Is it because they would rather still glory in sin? What is it they seek if it's not the Glory of the Lord? I fear for them, for without the hidden manna and the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, then how shall they be hidden in the clift of the Rock on the day of the Lord? Will they find themselves on the outside saying lord, lord, have we not done all these things in your name? Depart from me, for I never knew you...

Those who are hidden in the clift of the Rock, and those who have come into the secret of his tabernacle, hidden in the chambers during the time of trouble and set upon a rock, they shall not see the second death; for they are written in the Lamb's book of Life.
 
ezrider, it is odd that only a handful are discussing this as I would think there would be a greater input, but I guess it's a topic that can not be debated, argued or tore apart and put under a microscope. I would love to know others "Glory of the Lord" experiences, but could it be possible many have never experienced Gods full glory :shrug.

God bless your travels ezrider :)
 
O ez, it grieves me terribly that when I share revelation with this crowd, only a handful of folk will say something positive. Quite a few folk respect my position here and I suppose their just being polite. Unfortunately my valued friend ezrider, there is an untold myriad of folk that profess to believe in Yahshua, but do not possess true Salvation as to keep on the narrow road.

I fully believe that 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 is very true, although many say I'm wrong....
1Corinthians 15:1 "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."


Those little words "if" appear many times in regarding being "born from above" (not born again)....So to answer you're question, when expecting a serious conversation with a supposed believer in Yahshua, there are way to many that fit into John Chapter 20....
John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.
2:24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
2:25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man."


Enjoy your time away my friend. Jesus was born October 15th, but have a happy Christmas anyway.
 
Those little words "if" appear many times in regarding being "born from above" (not born again)

You have hit the nail on the head with this statement. We talk about being Spiritually born again as written in John 3:5-7, but many do not understand that it is from above that we are risen with Christ as we now seek those things from above where Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, Colossians 3:1-4.
 
Enjoy your time away my friend. Jesus was born October 15th, but have a happy Christmas anyway.


Thank you Chopper. I would not say with certainty the Jesus was born on October 15th, but I do not believe it to be December 25th either. I believe no matter what day we would declare as being the birth of Jesus that mankind would only choose to worship the day more than they wish to honor their creator. I am not sure where you come up with October 15th from, but it only make sense to me that the birth would have occurred at the time of the feast of tabernacles, which if I'm not mistake was on the 15th day of the 7th month.

I can't say for certain how enjoyable tonight was. I haven't driven in snow for years, yet alone heavy blinding snow. I was slip sliding all over the place. At least the antilock brakes worked, well, that was if I started braking a 1/4 mile from the intersection. It was an adventure to say the least. Didn't mind it when I was young, but now? Not so much,

Have a wonderful holiday season.
 
ezrider, it is odd that only a handful are discussing this as I would think there would be a greater input, but I guess it's a topic that can not be debated, argued or tore apart and put under a microscope. I would love to know others "Glory of the Lord" experiences, but could it be possible many have never experienced Gods full glory :shrug.

God bless your travels ezrider :)


Thank you for_his_glory. I aprreciate the fact that you took the time to answer one of my questions concerning our works as being our offerings. When we can ask and answer question like that, then we can all take something away from the study. They scripture says where two or three are gathered.... Well if two or three can come together to have and honest discussion without having to prove or debate to topic, then maybe more would join in or at least take something positive from it.

You made the statement that you would love to know other's glory of the Lord experience, and I just wonder if that experience is better suited for the testimonial forum rather than a Bible study format. I am just not sure what may be edifying about a personal experience when they don't even believe the words of the book they hold up. I have had a dream where I was carrried way in the glory of the Lord and set down in a field of a scorched earth. I have seen my Gospel armor stripped from me piece by piece until I was left naked and vulnerable before the Lord, before receiving a new garment that was not made of many pieces, but a garment of one. I have had a vision of a burning flame that was no fire that quite honestly freaked me out. But what does any of it mean?

Now I must say that your last statement made me cringe just a bit when you said it could be possible many have never experienced God's full Glory. I am trying to do a study on the Gory of the Lord, but I don't think I could bring myself to make that type of statement, and I don't think I could muster enough phony humility on my part to even mask it. Until that DAY when the Glory of the Lord shall appear, as long as we remain in this vessel of flesh, I don't think it is even possible to know the "full" glory of the Lord. As Paul said, we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. The important thing to recognize first is whether or not they are looking through the dark glass. Many are not even looking, as it is evident that they would rather seek the things of the world and glory in sin rather than seeking the Knowldege of Christ and the Glory of the Lord.

I don't believe in the "rapture" of the church, but if I did, I would tell them that it is happening right now, but because they are caught up politics, religion and the doctrines and tradition of men, then they are not looking for Christ and the things of the Spirit. Jesus said you can't serve God and mammon both, because the mammon of this world will keep you blinded to the things of the Spirit. It is easy to believe in Sin, because we can see it, touch it and experience it for ourselves. But the things of the Spirit are received through Faith; they can not be seen nor can they be touched, but it may certainly be experienced.
 
O ez, it grieves me terribly that when I share revelation with this crowd, only a handful of folk will say something positive. Quite a few folk respect my position here and I suppose their just being polite. Unfortunately my valued friend ezrider, there is an untold myriad of folk that profess to believe in Yahshua, but do not possess true Salvation as to keep on the narrow road.

I fully believe that 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 is very true, although many say I'm wrong....
1Corinthians 15:1 "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,
15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."


1 Corinthians 1:20-31
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
 
Thank you for_his_glory. I aprreciate the fact that you took the time to answer one of my questions concerning our works as being our offerings. When we can ask and answer question like that, then we can all take something away from the study. They scripture says where two or three are gathered.... Well if two or three can come together to have and honest discussion without having to prove or debate to topic, then maybe more would join in or at least take something positive from it.

You made the statement that you would love to know other's glory of the Lord experience, and I just wonder if that experience is better suited for the testimonial forum rather than a Bible study format. I am just not sure what may be edifying about a personal experience when they don't even believe the words of the book they hold up. I have had a dream where I was carrried way in the glory of the Lord and set down in a field of a scorched earth. I have seen my Gospel armor stripped from me piece by piece until I was left naked and vulnerable before the Lord, before receiving a new garment that was not made of many pieces, but a garment of one. I have had a vision of a burning flame that was no fire that quite honestly freaked me out. But what does any of it mean?

Now I must say that your last statement made me cringe just a bit when you said it could be possible many have never experienced God's full Glory. I am trying to do a study on the Gory of the Lord, but I don't think I could bring myself to make that type of statement, and I don't think I could muster enough phony humility on my part to even mask it. Until that DAY when the Glory of the Lord shall appear, as long as we remain in this vessel of flesh, I don't think it is even possible to know the "full" glory of the Lord. As Paul said, we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. The important thing to recognize first is whether or not they are looking through the dark glass. Many are not even looking, as it is evident that they would rather seek the things of the world and glory in sin rather than seeking the Knowldege of Christ and the Glory of the Lord.

I don't believe in the "rapture" of the church, but if I did, I would tell them that it is happening right now, but because they are caught up politics, religion and the doctrines and tradition of men, then they are not looking for Christ and the things of the Spirit. Jesus said you can't serve God and mammon both, because the mammon of this world will keep you blinded to the things of the Spirit. It is easy to believe in Sin, because we can see it, touch it and experience it for ourselves. But the things of the Spirit are received through Faith; they can not be seen nor can they be touched, but it may certainly be experienced.

I should explain a bit about what I meant about Gods full glory. I'm not talking about actually seeing God face to face as no one can see His face and live, Exodus 33:20. What I am talking about is the fullness of the indwelling Holy Spirit you feel inside of you. It's like in a sense being in the realm of what I like to call the Holy of Holies. To me its a spiritual place within myself just immersing myself by being totally filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. It's a place of a higher worship, praise and rejoicing in the Lord. It's a place where there is no conscience of a physical surrounding as it is being caught up in the Spirit right where you are (not a pretrib rapture as I don't believe in that). It's a place within yourself of the greatest warmth, light, sounds and emotional feelings of the greatest love you could ever experience. This is what I meant by many never experiencing Gods full glory.
 
I found myself within the seas, drowning amidst the waters with others, cast about as the waves swelled up and down. And as I grew lost and frightened I called unto the Lord; But it was not the Lord whom I saw pass by and cast me a rope, it was one of his servants. Now I was weak, and try as I might I could not climb the rope thrown to me. So another servant came and saw me struggling and he too cast his rope to me, pleading for me to grab on; and because I could not climb the first rope, I grabbed a hold of the second, and again I was unable to climb it. So then a third servant passed by, and a fourth, all casting their ropes for me to grab onto. I soon found myself holding on to four different ropes, from four different servants, all with good intentions; but as they each tried to pull me up, I found myself being pulled in four different directions, which was worse than the waves that sought to drown me, and so I finally let go and accepted my fate; I stopped fighting and accepted my own death.

But then my Lord passed by in a fishing boat, and he said climb aboard, but I could not climb in on my own, so he reached down and picked me up out of the water and placed me in his boat. He strengthened me and nourished me and gave to me the water of life to drink. He brought me to a place of still waters, and did sit me down under my own vine and under my own fig tree, and told me to rest. My Lord passed by his garden often, and I did speak with him and he did teach me many things.

Years had passed by when a visitor happened upon my vineyard. He was famished and acting a bit delusional, so I offered to him some of the figs in my garden to eat, but he spit it out complaining it was too bitter; So I offered him some of the grapes from my vine, and he declined, saying grapes of the vine can make you drunk, and my lord said you shall not get drunk. So he said no thanks and left, assuring me he would find his lord the along the way.

Now this visitor made me think about my own experience, when I was in the waters drowning. How I cried to the Lord, and he sent a servant to throw a rope. And when I cried again, he sent another servant, and then another servant, and yet another, until I had finally given up and accepted my own death. So when my Lord did visit with me, I talked with him about it; I asked him why his servants could not save me? For they each carried a rope, and they threw their ropes to me, but why could none save me?

And so he explained it to me. He said my servants were once slaves, and the ropes they carry were the ropes that once kept them in bondage. They could not save you with the ropes, because they don't know how to use those ropes, because those ropes were the ropes that bound them. They could not free themselves from those ropes until I came along and cut them loose; But the ropes are what they know, and being yet free, they still hold fast to them. For it is not possible for you to climb to a position of everlasting life using a rope that once bound someone to death. It was not the job of my servants to save you, only to pull you to position of safety. But you didn't find safety in one rope, so you grabbed for another, and then another, and yet another. Then he explained to me, that none of his servants could pull me to safety on their own, because each being free yet carried their own rope, the ropes that once bound them to death; But they do not know how to use that rope, nor do they yet understand how to work together.

And then he continued by saying in reaching out and grabbing the first rope, you showed me you were willing. When you cried again, it showed me you wanted to live. When you cried the third time, it showed me you were determined. When you grabbed a hold of the fourth, I saw you fight, being stretched and pulled in all different directions. But then he said to me, it was when you gave up and let go of all those ropes of bondage and finally accepted your fate, did you realize that I was sitting there in that lifeboat all along. And he said unto me, did you not learn how to swim? Did you not get stronger by holding on? And in your weakness, did you not find me?

And then I said unto my Lord, but what of the others who are drowning, should I not go and help pull them out? And he said unto me, no, for now just sit under your vine and under your fig tree in my Father’s Garden and rest. I will continue to send my servants, as I did for you. They may not yet understand how to use the rope they have been set free from, but they are faithful servants in throwing that rope out to someone in need. Maybe one day you will be able to join me upon the waters and look for those who have let go. And I said why not now? But he said, do you really think you have enough faith to walk upon the waters with me? And I was silent and said okay Lord, it is sufficient that I sit at rest under my vine and under my fig tree in the Garden of my Lord and share my fruits with any visitor that should pass along my way.

But then I asked of my Lord: What of all those who are in the waters drowning? Or those who are too far out to reach the ropes of your servants, or those who have given up but cling to a piece of seaweed? What of them? And he said unto me; What of Them??? Am I not the creator of the heavens and the earth? Do you think that I can not pluck out of the waters whom I shall choose? Do you not think that I could command the waters to be removed, and they would not obey? And in the day of their calamity, if they should happen to drown, do you not think that I could revive them? And so I said thank you Lord, I understand. For if the the fruit that I offer still seems a little bitter, then perhaps it sufficient that I continue sit at rest under my vine and under my fig tree until my fruit has become sweeter to the lips. But the wellspring that is in the midst of the Garden of my Lord is open to any who thirst.
 
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