Earth and Heaven

Earth and Heaven

The World We Live In

The World We Live In

The World We Live In

The World We Live In

The World We Live In

The World We Live In

Sometimes unexpected things happens to usSometimes unexpected things happens to us Sometimes obedience results in tribulationSometimes obedience results in tribulation Sometimes something unfortunate Sometimes something unfortunate happens happens

to someone we love to someone we love Sometimes horrible things happen to good Sometimes horrible things happen to good

people.people.

The World We Live In

Sometimes this world doesn’t look Sometimes this world doesn’t look ANYTHINGANYTHING Like the Kingdom of God Like the Kingdom of God

WHY?WHY?

Psalm 24

Earth and Heaven: Earth and Heaven:

A biblical worldview and the A biblical worldview and the struggles we facestruggles we face

This Earth is God’s

This Earth is God’s

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the Lord 's, and everything in 1 The earth is the Lord 's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; it, the world, and all who live in it;

Psalm 24

1 The earth is the Lord 's, and everything in 1 The earth is the Lord 's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; it, the world, and all who live in it;

2 for he founded it on the seas and 2 for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. established it on the waters.

Primeval Waters

Psalm 93Psalm 93

3 The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas 3 The seas have lifted up, Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. up their pounding waves.

4 Mightier than the thunder of the great 4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the seawaters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the Lord on high is mighty. — the Lord on high is mighty.

Primeval Waters

Proverbs 8Proverbs 8

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, deep,

28 when he established the clouds above and fixed 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. marked out the foundations of the earth.

Primeval Waters

Sea=ySea=yaamm

Deep=tDeep=teehomhom

Cosmic Conflict

One prominent combat story has Baal, the chief One prominent combat story has Baal, the chief god in the Canaanite pantheon, battling the sea god in the Canaanite pantheon, battling the sea monster Yamm (yam means sea). Yamm initiates monster Yamm (yam means sea). Yamm initiates the conflict by taking Baal prisoner as a means of the conflict by taking Baal prisoner as a means of establishing his own lordship. With the help of a establishing his own lordship. With the help of a sympathetic craftsman who fashions a weapon sympathetic craftsman who fashions a weapon however, Baal is able to rise up and vanquish however, Baal is able to rise up and vanquish Yamm. He then proclaims, “Sea verily is dead, Yamm. He then proclaims, “Sea verily is dead, Baal rules.” God at War –Greg BoydBaal rules.” God at War –Greg Boyd

Cosmic Conflict

Variations of this story represent Yamm as Variations of this story represent Yamm as Lotan, a twisting serpent of the Lotan, a twisting serpent of the sea(“Leviathan” in the Old Testament) God sea(“Leviathan” in the Old Testament) God at War –Greg Boydat War –Greg Boyd

Cosmic Conflict

Psalm 74Psalm 74

10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? 10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever? Will the foe revile your name forever?

13 It was you who split open the sea by your 13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. waters.

14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan 14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert. and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.

Cosmic Conflict

Job 7Job 7

12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, 12 Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard? that you put me under guard?

Cosmic Conflict

The earth created by GodThe earth created by God

Is set in the midst of a raging sea of evil Is set in the midst of a raging sea of evil spiritual forces.spiritual forces.

The Earth is the Lord’s The Earth is the Lord’s

Established on the seas (Yamm)Established on the seas (Yamm)

Founded on the waters (tFounded on the waters (teehom)hom)

Psalm 24

3 Who may ascend the mountain of the 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

Alignment Determines

Access

Alignment Determines

Access

Psalm 24

4 The one who has clean hands and a pure 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. by a false god.

5 They will receive blessing from the Lord 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. and vindication from God their Savior.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob., him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.,

Obtaining and exercising spiritual power and authority by humans

flows from allegiance, relationship and obedience to whichever master they choose to serve. Either spirit

being can invest people, places and things with power. But each has

certain limits related to the cooperation each receives from his

followers.

…God and Satan ordinarily work in the human realm through

partnerships with humans. These partnerships grant them legal

rights in the persons life.

Then Kraft makes this bold statement…

Hence the Counselor, who they are, and the level of their ability to hear God and cooperate with Him is an essential part of the process of (Healing)Prayer Charles Kraft

Confronting Powerless Christianity, page

150

Clean Hands

4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister, ' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." Gen. 20:4-5

Pure Heart

Matt. 5:8Blessed are the pure in heart, for

they will see God. Psalm 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel, to

those who are pure in heart.

Psalm 24

4 The one who has clean hands and a pure 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. by a false god.

5 They will receive blessing from the Lord 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. and vindication from God their Savior.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob., him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.,

The Heart’s Cry of the RedeemedThe Heart’s Cry of the Redeemed

Psalm 24

7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, 7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. may come in.

8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. battle.

Walled City

The Triumphant King

The Triumphant King

The LORDThe LORDStrong and MightyStrong and MightyThe LORDThe LORDMighty in Battle!Mighty in Battle!

He is Coming!He is Coming!

The LORDThe LORDStrong and MightyStrong and MightyThe LORDThe LORDMighty in Battle!Mighty in Battle!

He is Coming!He is Coming!

Psalm 24

9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory. Almighty — he is the King of glory.

Hosts of God

Psalm 103Psalm 103

21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye 21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. ministers of his, that do his pleasure.

Psalm 148 Psalm 148

2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, 2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. all his hosts.

Psalm 24

9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, 9 Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. come in.

10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty — he is the King of glory. Almighty — he is the King of glory.