|
1/29/2022 1 Comment The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.. whose image are you reflecting? Written February, 2013 by Annette O. Brown. Central Park, New York is one of my favorite places. The reflection of this building was captured during one of my visits. ~A.O. Brown. The Veil over their hearts The temple (Solomon’s temple built for God to inhabit) had a very large veil that separated the rest of the temple from the Holy of Holies. The High Priest entered once a year to make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 9 v 7) At the culmination of the torturous crucifixion Christ cried out “it is finished!” Soon after, the veil in the temple was ripped from top to bottom. This tearing of the veil symbolized the removal of separation in our communication with God. Jesus made atonement for our sin. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death, sin no longer has the power to separate us from our Creator. Christ provides us with access and we can “come boldly to the throne of God.” by ourselves in prayer and communication with God.. Christ has taken on the role of the High Priest in our lives. Jesus is our Savior, redeemer, counselor and friend. The Light In Exodus 34 the veil, that Moses covered his face with as he spoke to the Israelites, can be interpreted as symbolic of separation from the light of relationship and knowledge of God. “The children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished….their minds were blinded even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart…Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. " 2 Corinthians v13-16 (KJV).. “Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3 v 17 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord provides freedom and liberty through the knowledge of who we are in Christ. This knowledge comes when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. The connection we can have in Christ is highlighted in the following scripture: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3 v 18 ( KJV). As a reflection This is a powerful revelation. We who have a relationship with Christ can behold the glory of God through Christ. In fact we can be changed into that same image of Christ by the Spirit of the Lord and this is our journey as Christians. We need to become more and more like Christ going from glory to glory, a bright shining reflection of His image. In contrast, the attributes of an individual with a lack of connection with Christ is once again highlighted in Corinthians 3 v 3-4. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ , who is the image of God.” Here we can gain insight into the life of those who are believers in comparison to those who are not believers of Jesus the Christ. Jesus the light of the world, who is the image of God, will shine on those who believe, like Moses. (Moses’ face was so bright after being in the presence of God that he was led to cover his face). In contrast it is said that those who do not believe …they will remain in a darkness that the god of this world has blinded them with. As believers who chose to enter a relationship with Christ, we can all remember the transition from a dulled knowledge of God to a wonderful intimate relationship. Later in this passage a very significant statement is made. This statement really sums up a Christian's relationship and role in Christ. As Christians we do not just reflect God’s image to others, Christ actually works in us and through us. Through Christ or better still in Christ we are able to do and be exceedingly more, if we allow Christ to work through us. What awesome greater works we will do. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us…” 2 Corinthians 4 v7. (KJV). © 2018-2022, Annette O. Brown Creations, Media. All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured by the author.
1 Comment
1/16/2022 0 Comments "Write The Vision" - Written by inspiration. Annette Olivia Brown, author. #writethevision #inspiration #Habakuk #MLK2022 Image resource: http://www.notetop.co.uk/benefits-of-putting-pen-to-paper/ “And the Lord answered me “Write the vision, make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits it’s appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2 v2-v3. (ESV). “And the Lord answered me.” A major shift and event occurred. The Lord responded to the prophet Habakkuk’s second prayer and instructed him to record the vision given to him. He was instructed to make a concrete representation of the abstract ideas and thoughts. The vision was not to remain just in Habakkuk’s mind, the vision was to be made tangible to those who read the vision. Interaction and understanding was inherent to this answer. “Let them, let the reader, run in response to the vision! Another version unfolds the understanding of this message as: “Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it.” (HCSB). Dr Martin Luther King wrote and shared visions the Lord gave to him throughout his legacy Thousands have “run” in response to their interaction with his visions. Dr. King described one of the visions given to him as a dream. The dream, that he boldly declared or rather announced into reality, was before it’s time, yet soon after the vision became a manifested reality. Children were born the year the vision was announced, and like the vision, they took form developed and moved forward unapologetically into their purpose. Dr. King and hundreds of other political activists and freedom fighters paved the way with their lives, their actions. Freedom rung out from Dr. King’s speech that day. Like a persistent bell, on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream reverberated within the nation of America and far beyond the walls of this country into the world. “When we let freedom ring when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jew and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old spiritual, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” Dr. Martin Luther King. If a vision is given from God himself, can anything hinder it? Dreams and visions given by God to us today need to be written, declared, announced so that the reader can “run” and prosper in response to the message. As people of faith we are to announce the present and the future into being. Any type of faith, whether in something positive and true or negative and false, can be manifested. Let’s usher in awesome, God led and kingdom building manifestations that will benefit all humanity. God’s plan is the best plan and I want to align with it. “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." Joel 2 v28 (NIV). Let us allow ourselves to write down the dreams and visions given to us by our Creator, God. The Lord’s word, which is faithful and true, will accomplish what He has planned for it to do. © 2018-2022, Annette O. Brown Creations, Media. All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured by the author. |
AuthorAnnette Brown embarked on a life journey of Christianity, over 20 years ago. A reflective educator and avid constructivist - reflection has been a part of her daily work and a tool for personal growth and assessment. Birthed out of this practice is reflection connected to divinely inspired insight and revelation . Her first book "Encounters and Reflections - Can you hear me now" encompasses these perspectives through a lens of story telling and photographic images. Archives
September 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
© 2018-2024 Annette O. Brown Creations, Media. All rights reserved. Written permission must be secured by the author.