I equate the thermostat to spiritual passion. Passion, also known as zeal, is an essential spiritual force inside of every professing Christian. Passion can be defined as an extraordinary concern, an intense heat, a jealously for the things of God, an enduring enthusiasm, a fervent mind and spirit, an indignation for all other things, an excitement of the mind, and a spiritual fierceness. Without passion, there is no capacity to entertain, know, or experience the presence of God. Without passion there is no ability to excel, change, or deepen your spirituality. Passion is a primary driving force to seek God, to praise God, to give to God, to become like God, to be born again of God, and to win others to God. Without a personal spiritual passion – praise is reduced to senseless motions (2Sam 6:20-23, Acts 2:11-13), prayer is reduced to empty words (Mat 6:5, 6:7, 7:6), the miraculous becomes seemingly impossible (Mat 13:58, 17:19-20, Mark 6:5-6, 9:23-24, 16:14, Heb 3:12), and experiencing a personal touch from God’s Spirit becomes increasingly unimportant (Acts 7:51). But possessing passion sets the spiritual thermostat higher; allowing the atmosphere to heat up. It opens a door for the miraculous, for revival, and for a manifestation of God (Exo 40:34-35, 2Chron 5:13-14, 7:1-2).

Where is your thermostat set at? Do you have a burning passion for God? When is the last time you prayed with such hunger and desperation that it drove you to tears? When is the last time you worshiped God with all of your body, heart, soul, and mind? How often are you willing to skip church and miss meeting with God? How radical are you about growing the church, winning souls, teaching bible studies, praying for the unsaved? How many days of the week do you read your bible? How many days do you pray? How many people have you intentionally invited to church, shared your testimony with, or shared Acts 2:38/John 3:5 with this week? Are you content to go through a service without really touching God, really being changed, seeing someone baptized, seeing someone receive the Holy Spirit, hearing God speak to you, or receiving a miracle? Might the deficit between where we are and where we ought to be, be derived by setting our spiritual thermostats too low? We should aim to settle for nothing less than a passionate, red-hot, spirit-filled, anointed, miraculous, & vibrant walk with God. We ought not justify our inactivity, complacency, apathy, and contentment – but we ought to stir up a passion for God (2Tim 1:6, Psa 35:23, Exo 36:2, Hag 1:14).

Rev 3:15-16  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Here, in the book of Revelation, God gives a firm warning to a church filled with the “lukewarm.” These were not atheists, they had done good in the past, they knew the truth, and they were still church-goers. However, these had let their passions grow dim. Perhaps by laziness, perhaps by cause of their human concerns, or perhaps by the many busy distractions of their day, they straddled the fence between possessing true passion for God and total spiritual inactivity. This represents the most dangerous population of Christendom, to whom the Spirit has already spoken to and challenged to do more, to excel, to respond, to preach, to pray, to grow – and yet they remain motionless, passionless, liturgical, full in their mind and empty in their hearts. Entire churches can be composed of the lukewarm, where miracles are rare, gifts of the Spirit are unheard of, and the infilling power of the Holy Spirit goes unexperienced. Many believers go their entire lives without winning a single soul, teaching a bible study, giving to God, improving their character, deepening their Holiness, or really praising God. The spiritual danger in this is due to the failure to respond, not by cause of ignorance, but by cause of apathy (James 4:17, Luk 12:48, Luke 12:47, Ezek 33:8-9).

Rev 3:17,19  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [...] (19)  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

We need to realize our need of God. He has preserved this passage in Revelation as a wake up call. An invitation to return to what should be our first love and focus, Him. We need to stir that passion, we need to set our thermostats, we need to be filled with that fire (Mat 3:11). God cannot stand the ambivalent; those that ride the fence between spiritual activity and dormancy (Rev 3:15-16), those that live between consecration and sin (Mat 6:24), and those that are “in” His house but don’t invest themselves fully “to” his house (Acts 5:1-5). What is the response then, which the lukewarm are expected to heed:

Jos 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. (15) And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

The invitation is simple “choose this day whom you will serve.” Get off the fence, turn up your thermostat, stir up your passion for God, and abandon every-other distraction. I have used the term “apathy” several times. “Apathy” comes from two Greek words. The first is the “a-” prefix, which means “without.” This is a common prefix. For instance, medically, when someone is running a fever they called are “febrile,” but to be “without a fever” they are referred to as “afebrile.” Thus, “apathy” refers to a lack of “pathy.” This second word, “pathy,” is defined as “passion, love, and emotion.” Such apathy grips Christianity today. A passionless, ambivalent, indifferent, unconcerned, emotionless, halfhearted, lukewarm, and monotonous spirituality is considered “the norm.” Wake-up from your slumber, arise from spiritual dormancy, and let your walk with God be more passionately hot than that! You may not be able to change the world, but resolve this day, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Regardless of what others will do, I will pray, I will be at church, I will know the Word, I will become like-Christ, I will go deeper in God, I will love the Lord, I will win souls, and I will be on fire for God.

To be “Christian,” is to be “Christ-like.” And there might be nothing more Christ-like, than the possession of compassion. Jesus was referred to as being compassionate multiple times (Mat 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 18:27, 20:34, Mark 1:41, 5:19, 6:34, 8:2, Luk 7:13, 15:20, Rom 9:15, etc). Compassion is another two word conjunction, and is the antonym of apathy. “Com” is a prefix meaning “with,” and this is simply followed by the word “passion.” God was filled with a passion for us; a passion for the lost, a passion for the sick, and a passion to redeem us. It was the passion of God for us, that drove him to step out of heaven and to die on a cross for us. And it is a passion for God that drives us out of our comforts and concerns, to seek Him fervently. There are only a few that will heed the call to be passionate, but you can be among them that truly embody being “Christ-like.”

Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Luk 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him[...]

God didn’t come and die for a passionless, prayerless, worshipless, miracleless, unfaithful, empty, quiet, and cold church. Titus 2:14 says “[He] gave himself for us,that he might redeem us from all iniquity,& purify unto himself a peculiar people, [passionate] of good works.” What does a true passion filled heart sound like? Consider the writings of David:

Psa 119:139 My [passion] hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
Psa 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.  (5)  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.  (6)  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.
Psa 84:1-2, 4, 10 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  (2)  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God[...](4) Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee[...](10)  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Passion is said by Webster’s to denote “a strong emotion that has an overwhelming or compelling effect.” This emotion, this spirit, this mentality, and this attitude is essential of Christians. Simply put, you must be passionate for God, for the house of God, for the things of God, and towards the cause of God. After all, passion was first possessed and exhibited by God.

John 2:13-17  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (14)  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:  (15)  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;  (16)  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.  (17)  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The [passion] of thine house hath eaten me up.

He, so wildly and passionately, desired to move in their lives he could not passively go through the service and let their focus be drawn away to other cares. But literally and physically shook them from their frozen spirituality. As to awaken their spirit and activate an internal realization of spiritual dormancy, initiating a return to refocused spiritual passion. As tables were turned over, hearts were turning back to God. As money fell to the ground, walls that dammed back spiritual passion fell with them. The people would emerge convicted, but invigorated by a realization of their need for God.

God places a high premium on passion. Few there be that have sufficient care and passion to shake off the concerns of this life. Get ahold of a red-hot spiritual passion that drives you to pray, drives you to praise, drive you to attend church faithfully, drives you to reach the lost, and drives you to excel in God. Get serious enough to turn tables over in your life, in your home, and in your spirit. Take a moment to earnestly/objectively stop and consider where your spiritual thermostat is set. And consider, if you really got a true passion for God, what could it change in your life? Where could you be in another month, year, ten years, and in eternity? What in heaven would be constrained from you in this life or in the next? Truly, I know not a thing!

References:

• Zeal/Passion: Isa 59:17, Eccl 9:10, 2Kings 10:16, Psa 119:2,139, John 2:17, Rom 10:2, Col 4:13, 2Tim 1:6, 2Pet 1:13, Psa 119:139, Num 25:11, Jer 29:13, Joel 2:12, Luke 8:39, Acts 18:25, 21:20, 1Cor 14:12, Tit 2:14, Rev 3:19

Other Resources:

• Click Here for an article, titled “Are We A Passionless Church,” by Bro. C.M.Wright.
• Click Here to download a message, titled “A Zeal For Thine House,” by Bro. B.C.Andersen
• Click Here to download a message, titled “Spiritual Ambition,” by Bro. B.C.Andersen 

In my daily bible reading/devotional, I just came across an interesting scripture:

2Sam 18:32-33 And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. (33) And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

In this passage, David received news of his son’s death and was extremely grieved. His statement resonates the embodiment of a father’s love, in the Contemporary English Version, saying “I wish I could have died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!” (2Sam 18:33). Interestingly, this is not the response we would expect David to make. Without getting into much detail, the context of this death should have been positive, at least partially, to David. Absalom had committed great sin and was trying to overthrow and murder his father. The following Absalom developed was significant enough to make King David afraid and push him into hiding. Yet, when a father received news of his son’s death, all of the iniquity he committed became forgivable.

David’s grief testified to the enduring and self-sacrificing love of a father. The dead son’s faults, sin, and shortcomings were immediately forgotten. The father instead saw the rebellious headstrong child as what they once were – innocent, pure, and loving. The prodigal is still a son. The love of a father is immortal and was not dissuaded by faults. The father was even willing to die for and to spare the disobedient child. Such a “father’s love” and deep affection resides in human hearts. However, take a moment to reflect on how much more love our heavenly father has for us. One author said it this way, “May we not see in this disclosure of David’s paternal love, stripping it of its faults and excess, some dim shadow of the greater love of God for His prodigals, – a love which cannot be dammed back or turned away by any sin, and which has found a way to fulfill David’s impossible wish in that it has been given Jesus Christ to die for His rebellious children?”

The message of this passage is simple; Absalom was no more worthy of his father’s forgiveness and love than we are of God’s. Yet, God manifested the same self-sacrificial parental love for us “in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). Thus, how can I allow mere sin to separate me from Christ, when such great love spans my every inadequacy? Let not guilt, nor memory of wrongdoings, keep you from God. Rather, like the prodigal son, make the decision that “I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned …” (Luk 15:18). Surely we will be met by the same divine embracing reconciliation wherein: “he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luk 15:20). If you find yourself a “great way off” today, know that there is no irredeemable sin that can ever separate you from the love, compassion, and forgiving embrace of your heavenly Father.

Rom 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [...] (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Knowing the love of God towards us, the only remaining question is what would stop you from seeking such reconciliation from the father today, which you have sinned against? The only escape from sin is by being born again (John 3:5, Acts 2:38), and so the scriptures plead with us, saying: “What are you waiting for? Get up! Be baptized, and wash away your sins” -Act 22:16 CEV. There is no better time to repent than now (Luke 15:10, 1John 1:9), there is no better time to be baptized than today (John 3:5, Mk 16:16, 1Pet 3:21), and there is no better time to receive the Spirit than immediately thereafter (Rom 8:9, John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, 19:6). “…behold, now is the day of salvation” -2Cor 6:2.

Other References: God’s Love: Deut 7:8, Psa 146:8, Jer 31:3, Jn 3:16, 13:1, 15:9,13, 16:27, Rom 5:8, 8:35, Eph 2:4-5, 5:2, 1Jn 3:1,16, 4:9,16, 2Cor 5:14, Gal 2:20

Scriptures on Evangelism

Matthew 4:19 – “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Luke 14:23 – “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

Mark 16:15 – “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”

Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both inJerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

John 4:35-36 – “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal[...]”

Matthew 28:19 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them [...]”

Acts 22:15 – “For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.”

Acts 5:42 – “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 126:6- “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Ezekiel 3:18 - “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Also Ezek 3:20, 33:6, 33:8)

2 Corinthians 5:11 - “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men”

Soul-Winning Quotes

“Have you no wish for others to be saved?  Then you are not saved yourself.  Be sure of that.” -Charles Spurgeon

“A foolish physician he is, and a most unfaithful friend, that will let a sick man die for fear of troubling him; and cruel wretches are we to our friends, that will rather suffer them to go quietly to hell, then we will anger them, or hazard our reputation with them.” -Richard Baxter

“Perhaps if there were more of that intense distress for souls that leads to tears, we should more frequently see the results we desire. Sometimes it may be that while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, the hardness of our own hearts and our feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of ­eternal things may be the true cause of our want of success.” -Hudson Taylor

“I care not where I go or how I live or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts…no amount of scholastic attainment, or able and profound exposition, of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep, impassioned, sympathetic love for human souls.” -David Brainerd

“Some men’s ambition is art, some men’s ambition is fame, some men’s ambition is gold. My ambition is the souls of men.” –William Booth

“Send me to the nearest place to the bottomless pit.” –G. Smith

“ ‘Not called,’ did you say? ‘Not heard the call,’ I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of Hell and hear the damned entreat you to go to their fathers’ houses and bid their brothers and sister and servants and master not to come there. Then look Christ in the face – whose mercy you have professed to obey – and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world.” –William Booth

“If you found a cure for cancer, wouldn’t it be inconceivable to hide it from the rest of mankind? How much more inconceivable to keep silent about the cure from the eternal wages of sin, which is death.” -Dave Davidson

“If we do not catch men, we are in great danger of losing even the desire to catch them. Our purposed activity is in peril of becoming a dream.” -J.H. Jowett

“To every lost soul, Christ says: ‘Come unto me.’ To every redeemed soul, Christ says: ‘Go for me.’ ” -Unknown

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.” –H.Taylor

“Evangelism is not a professional job for a few trained men, but is instead the unrelenting responsibility of every person who belongs to the company of Jesus.” -Elton Trueblood

“We are praying for sinners to come to God; God is pleading with saints to go for sinners.” –Unknown

“There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God’s hands of leading one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of heaven.” -Dwight L. Moody

“I have disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing more I wish I could give to them, and that is the Christian religion. If they had that, and I had not given them one cent, they would be rich. If they have not that, and I had given them the world, they would be poor.” –Patrick Henry

“…the chief duty of every father is to bring his children to God.” –Rufus C. Burleson

“This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on the earth!” -Keith Green

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” -C.T. Studd

“Answering a student’s question, ‘Will the heathen who have not heard the Gospel be saved?’ thus, It is more a question with me whether we, who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not, can be saved.” –Charles Spurgeon

“Evangelism is not a professional job for a few trained men, but is instead the unrelenting responsibility of every person who belongs to the company of Jesus.” -Elton Trueblood

“You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most. It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.” –John Wesley

“Could a mariner sit idle if he heard the drowning cry? Could a doctor sit in comfort and just let his patients die? Could a fireman sit idle, let men burn and give no hand? Can you sit at ease in Zion with the world around you damned?“ –Leonard Ravenhill

“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.  And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay.  If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” -Charles Spurgeon

“If we claim to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we are not actively engaged in sharing the gospel with those with whom we come in contact, we are sinning against Him and are without excuse.” -Tony Miano

“It is not our business to make the message acceptable, but to make it available.  We are not to see that they like it, but that they get it.” -Dr. Vance Havner

“How shall I feel at the judgment, if multitudes of missed opportunities pass before me in full review, and all my excuses prove to be disguises of my cowardice and pride.” -Dr. W. E. Sangster

“Oh my friends, we are loaded with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected.” -Oswald J. Smith

“If you are not concerned about your neighbor’s salvation, then I am concerned for yours.” -Ray Comfort

“Evangelism is the cure to the disease of church boredom.” -Todd P. McCollum

“How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?“  -Penn Jillette (Atheist comedian/magician/filmmaker)

“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” -C. S. Lewis

“If your Gospel isn’t touching others, it hasn’t touched you!“ -Curry R. Blake

“As long as there are millions destitute of the Word of God and knowledge of Jesus Christ, it will be impossible for me to devote time and energy to those who have both.” -J. L. Ewen

“Sympathy is no substitute for action.” -David Livingstone

Other References

Witnessing & Outreach – Isa 60:5, Eccl 11:6, Jdg 18:9, Prov 11:30, 13:4, 20:4, 21:25, Psa 2:8, 96:3, 126:6, Ezk 33:1-9, Mat 4:19, 5:14-15, 9:37, 10:5-42, 21:28-30, 25:24-30,40-46, 28:19, Mk 12:28-31, 16:15, Lk 9:2,60, 10:1-3, 14:16-24, 15:4-10, 24:47-48, Jn 1:7,41-42,45, 4:35-36, 9:4, Acts 1:8, 2:14-39, 4:13,29,31, 5:19-20,40-42, 8:4-5,12,29-40, 9:22,27, 10:42, 11:20-26, 13:43, 14:3, 16:23-33, 17:13,17, 18:4,13, 19:1-2,8,26, 20:7, 22:15, 26:28, 28:23,31, Rom 10:1,14-17, 11:14, Gal 6:9, Heb 6:10-12, 1Cor 3:6-9, 9:16-27, 2Cor 5:9-11, Jud 22-23, Jas 5:20, 2Tim 2:25, 4:2-5

Food For Thought

Jesus said “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt 4:19), if you aren’t fishing for men, who are you following? According to Prov 11:30 “He that win[s] souls is wise,” so what is he that doesn’t? When Jesus said “Go,” in Matt 8:32, the demons submitted & moved into pigs. Yet many, after Jesus has said to “Go” in evangelism (Mat 28:19), won’t move to win souls. Are we less submitted than the demons?

Evangelism is not the calling of a few hyperactive Christians, rather it is a calling to activity for all Christians. While the Spirit offers many benefits (Fruit-Gal 5:22-23, Gifts-1Cor 12:9-10, etc), the intended purpose of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to give you the power to witness (Acts 1:8). Are you using that power or denying it (2 Ti 3:5)? Have you received the Spirit but neglected its evangelistic purpose on a daily basis? When is the last time you personally won a soul, went on outreach, taught a bible study? Do you excuse away evangelism by age, position, business, personality, or involvement in other ministries? From the licensed minister to the busy school age youth, to the meek career driven saint, to the elderly – we all are personally charged to reach the lost.

There’s at least one way the Bible that shows, that we can directly cause God to have “joy.” Consider the following: Luke 15:10 – “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Many have interpreted this to mean that “the angels” rejoice over a sinner on the road to conversion. However, look again, the text says there is joy “in the presence of the angels.” Who is in the presence of the angels? God is! It gives God joy when one of his children are reached with the Gospel and are on the road to salvation (Acts 2:38)!

God answers many prayer requests for us but He has one that we can answer! The only prayer request of God is recorded in Mat 9:37-38, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Thus, we can answer the only prayer request, and perhaps the only “need” of Jesus, by becoming laborers with God (1Cor 3:9) in the harvest of souls.

Many have said, to be “Christian” is to be “Christ-like.” Is there anything more “Christ-like” than to “seek and save the lost” (Luk 19:10)? God has already commanded us to “Go” (Luk 14:23). Lets be doers of the word (James 1:22), exhibit our love for Him (John 14:15), give Him joy (Luk 15:10), and align ourselves with the purpose of Christ (Luk 19:10) by reaching a lost world. What are you waiting for? If not now, when? If not you, who? Go, preach to, teach to, invite, compel, persuade, and win souls!

Several quotes reproduced from the amazing “Understanding Soul Winning” book, by Bro. Tim Downs. It is available for purchase in book form HERE or electronic form HERE

Old Testament Examples

2Ch 5:13-14 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; (14) So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Psa 150:1-6 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. (2) Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. (3) Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. (4) Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. (5) Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. (6) Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Jos 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

2Sa 6:14-16,20-23 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. (15) So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. (16) And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. [...] (20) Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! (21) And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. (22) And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. (23) Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

New Testament Examples

Acts 16:25-26 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

Acts 3:2-9 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple [...] (6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (7) And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. (9) And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Acts 14:9-10 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, (10) Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Acts 2:4-33 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. [...] (6) Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. [...] (13) Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (14) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, [...] (33)  having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see [(Praise)] and hear [(Speaking in Tongues)]

Why do we Worship Like This?

• We pray together aloud because in the Bible we read, “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord” – Acts 4:24
• We lift our hands in praise because in the Bible we read, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord” – Psalm 134:2
• We sing with all our hearts because in the Bible we read, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth:  make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise” – Psalm 98:4
• We play musical instruments because in the Bible we read, “And all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments” – 2 Samuel 6:5
• We clap and shout unto God because in the Bible we read, “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph” – Psalm 47:1
• We dance before the LORD because in the Bible we read, “Praise Him with the timbrel and dance:  praise Him with stringed instruments and organs” – Psalm 150:4
• We testify publicly because in the Bible we read, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee” – Psalm 22:22
• We anoint with oil for divine healing because in the Bible we read, “Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” – James 5:14
• We allow the operation of the spiritual gifts because in the Bible we read, “When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation” – 1 Corinthians 14:26

Other References

• General References (Praise/Worship) - Gen 22:5, Exo 34:14, 2Sam 6:5, Ps 2:12, 29:2, 47:1, 98:4, 134:2, 150:1-6, Matt 2:2, 4:10, Jn 4:24, Acts 4:24, 1Cor 12:1-11,31, 14:1-30, Phil 3:3
• Praise, Bowing in - Ps 95:6, 72:9, Exo 34:8, 1Chr 29:20, 2Chr 7:3, Neh 8:6, Isa 44:23, Rom 14:11, Eph 3:14, Php 2:10
• Praise, Clapping in - Ps 47:1, 98:8, Isa 55:12
• Praise, Crying in - Ps 5:2, 9:12, 17:1, 18:6, 28:1-2, 34:6,15-17, 39:12, 40:1, 55:17, 56:9, 57:2, 61:1-2, 66:17, 86:3, 88:2, 107:19,28, 119:145,169, 141:1, 142:6, 145:19, Prov 8:1, Isa 12:6, 19:20, 24:14, 54:1, 58:1,9, Joe 1:14, Zech 1:14, Mat 14:30, 15:22, 20:30-31, Mark 10:47-48, Lk 18:7, Lk 19:40, Gal 4:27
• Praise, Dancing in - Ex 15:20, Ps 149:3, 150:4, 2Sam 6:14, Eccl 3:4, Jer 31:13
• Praise, Instrument used to - 2Sam 6:5, 1Chr 15:16, 16:42, 2Chr 5:13, 7:6, 29:27, 30:21, Psa 33:2, 68:25-26, 87:1-2, 6-7, 92:3, 144:9, 150:1-6, Isa 38:20, Mt 5:16-18, Lk 15:11-25, 24:44-45
• Praise, Lifting Hands in - Ps 28:2, 63:4, 134:2, 119:48, 134:2, 141:2, 1Kin 8:22-23, Lam 2:19, 3:41, Neh 8:6, 1Tim 2:8, Heb 12:12
• Praise, Shouting in - Ps 5:11, 32:11, 35:27, 47:1, 132:9,16, Lev 9:24, Jos 6:5-20, 1Sam 4:5-6, 2Sam 6:15, 1Chr 15:28, 2Chr 13:15, 15:14, Ezr 3:11-13, Isa 12:6, 42:11, 44:23, Jer 20:16, 31:7, Zep 3:14, Zec 9:9
• Praise, Singing in - Ps 7:17, 9:2,11, 28:2, 34:17, 145:19, 1 Chr 6:32, 2Chr 5:13, 23:18, Ezr 3:11, Isa 38:20, Rom 15:9, 1Cor 14:15, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Heb 2:12, James 5:13

Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Sometimes the simplest instructions are the hardest to obey. In this passage Jesus is delivering the “Sermon on the Mount” (Mat 5:1-2). By the end of which, his audience was “astonished at his doctrine” (Mat 7:28) and the authority commanded by his teachings (Mat 7:29). I can’t help but wonder if such astonishment was partially derived from a profound revelation of the Mat 6:33 and its implications. This passage requires a radical framework of prioritization for all Christians.

As I was becoming an RN, I learned many frameworks of prioritization. These guide all emergent clinical decisions and dramatically increase the odds of practioners to save the lives of their patients. For instance, all medical personal are taught “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” where physiological needs must be met first, before all other needs. In my ACLS/TNCC emergency training, other methods of prioritization are taught such as “save a life over saving a limb,” “acute problems before chronic problems,” and “actual problems before potential problems.” There is even a step by step “A-B-C” abbreviation to remind practioners of the proper order to prioritize life-saving care: “Airway-Breathing-Circulation.” Needless to say, without proper prioritization death would be the outcome of nearly every high acuity case. Why? Imagine, you ingest something you are seriously allergic to. Your eyes begin to water, you become itchy all over, and then all of a sudden your throat begins to constrict. You are finding it increasing hard to swallow and breathe. You rush to the hospital. As you arrive at the ER your airway completely constricts and you are unable to pass any air in or out, you have seconds left to live without intervention. What if, at that moment, the ER staff decided to do a lengthy collection of insurance information before taking you into a room? What if the first thing the doctor did was ask for a list of the medications you are on? What if the nurse wanted to take your vital signs before notifying the physician of your arrival? At this time, we all would expect that the staff would recognize that restoring the airway is the FIRST and ONLY real priority. Though this comical scenario is luckily removed from anything we would expect to happen, it’s important to note that any deviation from proper prioritization is deadly.Spiritual mis-prioritization is as spiritually deadly as mis-prioritization physically is in an Emergency Room. That’s why, in the center of one of the most important “sermons” of Jesus, God tells us that He must always come first. In the world we live in there are many other things vying for our attention, energy, time, affection, and dare I say “finances.” In light of all the things in your life (career, education, finances, family, friends, sports, hobbies, events, etc) what is your FIRST priority? As you study the subject, the bible consistently shows that mis-prioritization results in spiritual death.

Objectors of speaking in tongues rely predominately on a small selection of scripture. After reading over 30 published books/articles criticizing the subject, meeting with several denominations of theologians/pastors, and attending doctrinal university classes of a liturgical faith – the argument against tongues is consistently and solely based off of an interpretation of 1Cor 13:8.

1Cor 13:8 KJV Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

An isolated focus of this text, reading “tongues, they shall cease,” has led many to believe that speaking in tongues is no longer available to New Testament believers. This view, known as Cessationism, submits that the entirety of the gifts and manifestation of the Holy Spirit has “ceased” since the era of the Apostles (speaking in tongues, prophecy, miracles of healing, etc).  Thus, proponents of this view believe that any remaining spiritual manifestation, namely speaking in tongues, is either a falsification by the speaker or a demonic counterfeit.

Before discussing this viewpoint we need to establish the full context of the passage in question. Interestingly, the context will provide us with a specific time-frame for when tongues will in fact cease.

1Cor 13:8-10 KJV Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. [...] (12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The bible indicates that immediately after ”perfection” comes, speaking in tongues will cease (and presumably other miraculous manifestations). Some have purposed that this “perfection” was the complete canonization of the Bible or the end of the lives of the apostles. However, the word translated “perfection” is the Greek word “teleios,” which is exclusively used in reference to only one event and specifically only one individual. This individual we will be able to see as face-to-face. A question raised by one scripture does not overturn answers given by another. Thus, it will be easy to distinguish what event will mark the authentic ceasing of tongues, when we see the other uses of this Greek term through the bible:

Mat 24:14-15 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end (=”teleios”) come. (15) When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet [...]

The identical term is used in reference to the second coming of Christ which will precede the abomination of desolation, millennial reign, and the end of the World. Clearly, we have not reached this “teleios” (the “end”) yet! Consider yet another two biblical uses of the same root word:

1Cor 1:7-8 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end(=”teleios”), that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect(=”teleios”) tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

Again, the word “teleios” is strictly referred to the second coming of Christ. Nearly unanimously the Christian community agrees that this event has not yet occurred (1Thess 4:16-17). Therefore, speaking in tongues has not yet ceased and is available to all believers still. Why then do some resist and deny the operation of the Holy Spirit today? The bible illustrates several other misguided groups similar to this:

Acts 2:4,13 GNB “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak. [...] (13) But others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”

Acts 7:51 KJV Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Isaiah 28:11-12 KJV & 1Cor 14:21 KJV “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear”

There is no indication from the scriptures that speaking in tongues has ceased. Any teaching to that effect is a post-biblical (Rev 22:18) creation/tradition of man (Col 2:8) and should then be considered false (Gal 1:8-9). Rather, quite to the contrary, the bible clearly teaches that the uniform initial evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues and it is available to all believers (until the “end” when Christ comes again and the church is raptured).

To some this seems “too miraculous” to be true, but considering the frequency in which the Spirit fell in the New Testament, it should be nothing foreign to God’s true church.

Acts 1:5, 1:13-15, 2:4 KJV For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. [...] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. (14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.[...](15) (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) [...] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 8:14-17 KJV Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:44-46 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. [...]

Acts 19:1-2, 6 [...] Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.[...] (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Thousands received the Spirit in the bible and spoke in tongues. Every time someone receives the Holy Spirit for the first time there will be an identifiable sound (John 3:5-8) and it will be speaking in tongues. It functions as a sign to the unbeliever of God miraculous power (1Co 14:22), and serves as an evidence to the recipient that they have indeed been born of the Spirit (John 3:8). Today, you are encouraged to receive (Rom 8:9)  and promised (below) the same miraculous experience!

 Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Mark 16:16-17 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues

Finally, I have recently heard stipulated by many atheists (and some Cessationists) that speaking in tongues could be of another origin. Specifically that the experience is:

1. “Nonsensical gibberish” produced by the speaker,
2. Due to mental health disorders, or perhaps
3. Due to either externally or internally induced hypnosis.

1Kings 17:1 (KJV) And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead [...]

Thus, Elijah was dropped into the scriptures suddenly, proclaiming only that he was “the Tishbite.” The significance of this is profound. It is a city never mentioned previously in the bible. There had yet been no note-worthy prophets, leaders, men, or women that had ever come from here. It is a city, where many theologians submit, that was full of laborers who were un-kept, leather skinned, hairy, and un-educated. Therefore, the expectation surrounding this “Tishbite,” Elijah, was poised to achieve an equal insignificance. Simply put, no-one would expect much out of this insignificant man, from an insignificant family, in an insignificant city.

I believe the origin of Elijah was divinely intended. If we were to honestly and transparently reflect within ourselves (especially in our sinful condition), we would realize that we too are men and women poised for failure. Who am I to even entertain the hope of becoming or having “more,” in light of my sinful past? Who truly has a pedigree, education, or lineage that immediately demands and inherits the blessing of God? Honestly, we are all guilty of sin (Rom 3:23) and deserve the lowly reputation and life of a “Tishbite.” The Bible even prompts us to notice this similarity we have with the Elijah saying,

James 5:17 (KJV) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are[...]

In the same verse, the ISV translation reads “Elijah was a man just like us”. The CEV says, “Elijah was just as human as we are.” We are people in whom situation, history, and lineage don’t destine success. However, God intended to take this “no-body” and show something applicable to every-body. Within chapter 17 of 1 Kings, Elijah was immediately used by God, despite his background.

- In verse 1, he prophesied accurately about a drought,
- In verse 2, he heard the voice and direction of the Lord,
- In verse 6, he was provided food by God during the drought,
- In verse 8, he directly heard from the Lord again,
- In verse 15, God used a widow to provide for him.
- In verse 22, God “heard the voice of Elijah” and raised the woman’s son from the dead.

By the end of this chapter, Elijah had been used mightily by God. The humble “Tishbite” – expected to be a man of no great effect – had heard the voice of the Lord directly, been used in prophesy, had experienced miracles of provision from God, and was used to raise a woman’s child from the dead. The simple words that would follow, identify one of the greatest transformations of seemingly insignificant individuals.

1Kings 17:24 (KJV) And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

No more was this a man seen for his humble beginnings. No more was he plagued with the remembrance of who he was, where he came from, or what was expected of him. His walked with God transformed him into being now known as Elijah the “man of God.”

The significance of this is simple: who we are doesn’t have to dictate what we become. If the Word of God is true, then Elijah was the same manner of man that we are (James 5:17). Thus, we are capable of the same measure of greatness he is. You may have come from a lifestyle of sin, a city that’s no-one has heard of, a family that didn’t know God – but you can end this life a man or woman of God! The bible says that “God is no respector of persons” (Acts 10:34). So any perceived limitation we have with God (whether it be due to our past or present), is really of our own creation and will be our own self-fulfilling prophesy. Instead, let us understand that there is no limit to the depths in God we can reach if we follow him. You can become an anointed and blessed man or woman of God.

Elijah wasn’t content to live at the level of the expectation others had for him. He found the will of God for his life (the expectation of God for his life) and lived at that level. Likewise, we ought to never settle for mediocrity when we are capable of greatness. God didn’t call you to be a “Tishbite” – to look like a Tishbite, talk like a Tishbite, act like a Tishbite, or live like a Tishbite. He called you to be a man/woman of God!

I close with this thought, knowing the capacity you have to excel in God, what would stop you from becoming that man or woman of God today? What would stop you from getting serious about your faith? What would stop you from getting serious about church? What would stop you from repenting, getting baptized in Jesus’s name, and letting God fill you with His Spirit? (Acts 2:38, John 3:5).

God is ready to change you from and insignificant ”Tishbite” into a significant Spirit-filled man or woman of God that turns the known world up-side down! God has a greater calling, plan, and purpose for you (Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 29:11).

they must confront and negotiate with Pharaoh to secure the release of their people. On the other, Moses and Aaron must also convince the Jews to accept them as leaders and reliable bearers of God’s word.

When God appoints Moses and Aaron to lead the Jews’ exodus from Egypt, the brothersare charged with a dual responsibility. On one hand,

Mixed Messages
Rather than rely only on oration or logical persuasion to accomplish their goals, Moses and Aaron perform miracles as well. An interesting contrast between one of the miracles performed sheds light on the very different nature of the message being transmitted to the Jews from that being communicated to their Egyptian captors.

God appears to Moses and appoints him as the individual to lead the Jews out of slavery. In a lengthy dialogue, Moses protests that he is not suited for the task, while God maintains that Moses is destined for leadership. Among his many concerns, Moses expresses doubt as to whether the Jews will believe that God has appeared to him and appointed him to lead them out of Egypt. God responds by equipping Moses with several “signs” (miracles) to convince the Jews of his divine approval.

Different Images of Moses and the Snake
In one of these miracles, Moses is commanded to throw down his staff, and when he does so, it turns into a snake (nachash). God then tells Moses to grab the snake by the tail, and when he does so the snake reverts back into a staff. This miracle, along with two others, is used to convince the Jews that Moses is the legitimate messenger of God.

Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh, bearing God’s command that the Jews be set free. Not surprisingly, their request meets with cynicism and rejection. However, to demonstrate that they have, in fact, been sent by God, Aaron is commanded to throw down his staff, which turns into a serpent (tanin).

Unimpressed by this display, Pharaoh calls on his magicians, who also turn their staffs into serpents. However, Aaron’s staff devours those of the Egyptians. (The medieval commentator Rashi notes that the verse says that the staff of Aaron devours the staffs of the Egyptians, rather than saying that the serpent of Aaron devoured the serpent of the Egyptians. According to Rashi, this is a “miracle within a miracle,” because somehow the devouring took place after the respective serpents turned back into staffs.)

Thus, we see that similar miracles are used to convince the Jews and the Egyptians. Yet, the miracles are not identical. For the Jews, Moses’ staff turns into a snake (nachash), while for the Egyptians, Aaron’s staff turns into a serpent (tanin). What does this difference signify?

Interpretation
For an answer, we might look to another place in the Torah where we find snakes and serpents. In the beginning of Genesis, there are two different accounts of creation. The first chapter of Genesis provides a “macro” view of creation.
Beginning from nothingness, the narrative follows the process of God creating light and darkness; the separating of the “upper waters” from the “lower waters;” forming the land, celestial bodies, and flora; and the creating of living creatures, culminating in man. Each step is initiated by God’s “intention,” and culminates with God’s “approval.”

The Account of the Fifth Day of Creation
In this account, on the fifth day of Creation, when God “decides” to create living creatures, we read:

“And the Lord (Elo-him) created the great taninim (serpents), as well as every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly…and every winged bird…” (Genesis 1:21).

This verse begins with the creation of the tanin, exactly the symbol that Aaron’s staff became in the court of Pharaoh.

In the second chapter of Genesis, we read of creation from a different perspective. In this version, only relatively little attention is given to the creation of the physical and animal worlds. The major focus, rather, is on the creation of man and woman, their placement in the Garden of Eden, God’s commandments to them, and their eventual downfall at the hand of the nachash.

While the first account of creation is from a cosmic perspective, the second account is very much from an anthropocentric perspective. And thus, while God is, of course, behind every step of each account of Creation, God is portrayed differently in each version. In Genesis I, God is portrayed as the Master of the Universe, the cosmic orchestrator. By way of contrast, in Genesis II, God is portrayed in a more immanent, intimate light, as the parent of Creation in general, and of man and woman in particular.

How does the appearance of the nachash and the tanin in Scriptures relate to the use of the nachash and tanin in the text of Exodus 14?

These symbols reflect the distinct messages that Moses and Aaron were communicating. For the Egyptians, who did not recognize God’s complete mastery and control over the world, Moses and Aaron utilize the imagery of Genesis I, where God’s cosmic rulership is demonstrated.

The Snake as Tanin
Moreover, because the Egyptian culture deified certain animals the symbol of the tanin, the first creature God created, effectively conveys God’s complete mastery over the world. Note that Aaron’s tanin, which might be called a “tanin of belief” devours the Egyptians’ “taninim of disbelief,” thus asserting the validity of the message that Moses and Aaron represent.

Yet while Moses and Aaron must “educate” the Egyptians about God’s existence and grandeur, they face a very different task with the Jewish people.
The Jews, enslaved for more than 200 years, and strangers in a foreign land for even longer, have predictably been influenced by their surroundings and grown distant from God.

When Moses returns to Egypt to lead the Jewish people, he must do more than establish his own legitimacy. He must rekindle the people’s flame of belief and faith in God. Thus, one of the symbols that he presents to the people is that of the nachash, hearkening back to Genesis II and its portrayal of the intimate, parent-progeny relationship between God and man.

At first glance, however, it seems strange to resort to this symbol, because the nachash was blamed for causing the sin of Adam and Eve, and thus it created distance between man and God. Why, then, would Moses evoke this symbol?

Perhaps the answer is that, whereas the Torah does not detail how Aaron converted the tanin back into a staff, it explicitly states that God commanded Moses to grab the nachash by its tail, and then it would turn back into a staff (Exodus 4:4). Thus, Moses demonstrates mastery over the very creature that once brought distance between man and God. Moses’ message is that it is time for the Jews to re-enter into an intimate relationship with God.

Recognizing the Meaning of the Exodus
This analysis of the dual messages borne by Moses and Aaron help us more clearly understand not only the details of the miracles they performed, but also the very purpose behind the entire Exodus. The Jews were not freed from Egypt simply to restore their human rights. Rather, they were liberated with the purpose of fulfilling God’s word–to enter into a close relationship, or covenant, with God.

Similarly, the punishments inflicted on Egypt were not due only as retribution for their maltreatment of the Jews. Rather, the process of the 10 plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea were to establish, beyond the shadow of a doubt, God’s dominion over the entire world.