Jeff Maness of Element Church in Cheyenne, WY begins day two of his One Prayer by teaching out of Matthew. But what a sausage job. Instead of just teaching the text, Maness jumps into the piranha infested waters of Charismania’s Loon Lagoon, offering up his readers as a large helping of
chum(ps).
He says:
How does God reveal Himself through Jesus in chapter 2?
Remember the song by Tesla in 1990 called signs? (Random fact: It was originally sang by “Five Man Electrical Band” in the 70’s) The lyrics said “Signs, signs everywhere there’s signs” When I read chapter 2, that song goes through my head. In Matthew 2 I think we see God is a REVEALER. He gives us ALL the signs that we need to point us to Christ.
Daniel 2:47 says “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and the revealer of mysteries”. He is just that. A revealer.
Here in chapter 2 ALL the signs were given to point the Jewish leaders to THE MESSIAH, but they missed it and some “wise men” found Him instead.
In Matthew 2:3-6 King Herod asks the Jewish leaders where Jesus was to be born and they said “In Bethlehem of Judea”. Sign #1 MISSED.
Matthew 2:11 says that the Magi give Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. A direct prophecy from Psalm 72:10 Sign #2 MISSED.
Matthew 2:18 after Herod ordered all boys 2 years old and younger in Bethlehem to be killed another prophecy is fulfilled. Sign #3 MISSED.
One chapter, 3 signs, ALL missed by those God was trying to reach. The Jewish people. Now you might say “Well, we have the gift of hindsight and Scripture.” I truly believe, God had given them EVERYTHING they needed to KNOW that this was the Messiah. Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs!
God is a REVEALER. He won’t let us go on in the dark. He is faithful to give us the signs we need to point us in the right direction. It is up to us to be diligent in seeking out the TRUTH in those signs. What signs is God giving you that you’re failing to see? What signs do you KNOW He is using to point you in the right direction and you refuse to take them?
Watching for signs,
Jeff
I responded:
First off, they didn’t miss the signs given the wise men. The Jewish leaders were never shown the star or any other signs. Second, when they read the Book, as you should do, they did see what it said about Messiah. But even at that, much like you, they didn’t comprehend it clearly. For had they known what the Word really meant, they would not have fulfilled what they did. It was in fact their blindness that God uses for his purposes, a blindness that he instituted and maintains, even to the point of blinding some of them so that they would crucify his Son.
Psalm 72:10? You’re kidding right?
Interesting since Sheba and Seba constitute the lands of Ham to the southwest of Jerusalem, and Tarshish and the coastlands to the west, northwest. The wise men came from the east.
And since when does God try to give “signs” and those he intends to receive them don’t?
“It is up to us to be diligent in seeking out the TRUTH in those signs.”
False. It is up to us to seek the truth in the Word, where Jesus has prayed for us that we will without doubt find it. You yourself have taught out of John 17. Don’t you believe Jesus’ prayer was answered? Do you reject the gift of the Holy Spirit who has come to the believer and does lead him into all truth?
“I truly believe, God had given them EVERYTHING they needed to KNOW that this was the Messiah.”
Jesus didn’t say that. He in fact said that they were not given it. He also said that only some are. So who are you lying to? Jesus said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” This in the same book that you are falsely teaching says the opposite.
“What signs do you KNOW He is using to point you in the right direction and you refuse to take them?”
Even the Prophets could not refuse to take the sign’s direction for them, or have you not read of Jonah, Moses, Elijah?
If you have eaten anything that Jeff has served up, stick your finger down your throat and emit it post haste. It is deadly.
