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2008: Year of New Beginnings	Bulletin 2008-01

In the above image 8 represents the symbol of infinity intersecting the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The two Hebrew letters at the very top of the circle are "Aleph" on the left and "Tav" on its right. Aleph is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet as Alpha is in the Greek. Tav is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet as Omega is in the Greek. Together the two letters Aleph and Tav create the word "Oat" meaning sign... from beginning to end.

 

This expression in Hebrew is in alignment with the Greek in the words of our Lord at Revelation 1:8 -

"I am the Alpha and the Omega" says the Lord God,
"who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

For those interested in biblical numerology, the Hebrew year has also recently changed from 5767 to 5768 and the number of God's name in Hebrew (YHWH) also add up to 8, indicating new beginnings in Christ. And isn't it one of the very best things about being a Christian - that at any point in time God offers us a new start:

 

Matt 7:7  "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matt 7:8  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

 

Praise the Lord, for his love endures forever!

 

God has also embedded the idea of new beginnings (represented by 8) when he instigated his covenants with:

• Noah - God saves him from the flood in Gen 7 and re-establishes him on dry land in Gen 8. There were 8 people on the ark to re-populate the world in new relationship with God.

• Abraham - the covenant to bless the world through him is marked by circumcision when a child is 8 days old (Gen 17:12).

• Moses - God nearly killed him for not circumcising his child in accordance with the Abrahamic covenant (Ex 4:24).

• David - there are 8 key promises in God's covenant with David as listed at 2 Sam 7:8 and the following 8 verses.

• The Feast of Tabernacles is the only Hebraic festival to which gentiles may be invited. The festival runs for 7 days followed on the 8th day by a sacred assembly. This festival was given to Moses at Lev 23:33 and celebrated by Solomon at the dedication of the Temple at 2 Chron 7:8. Jesus also went to the Feast of Tabernacles, starting at John 7:8.

• Today we who believe in Christ are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19) and God has put the New Covenant in writing for us at Hebrews 8:8.

What is the point of these numeric patterns? Many will just dismiss them as trivia or coincidence. But others believe we are dealing with a body of systematic facts and truths that show the operation of spiritual laws. They see that God has embedded his signature in the body of the scriptures in a way that man could not have invented. Seen in this light it raises our confidence in the scriptures as the Word of God that reveals the purpose of life across the six millennia of Judeo-Christian history.

 

This is summarised in the above image where the figure 8 is a vertical representation of the symbol of infinity or eternity intersecting our lives from beginning (Aleph) to end (Tav) as a sign (Oat) of his eternal plan of redemption.

 

Whatever way we choose to read the numbers, 2008 represents new opportunities for us in the Christian life. Let us therefore invite God to pervade every aspect of our lives and let us wholeheartedly seek to serve him in everything we do.

 

John the Baptist brought this home to roost when he prevailed upon a crowd, including business and professional people, to produce good fruit (Luke 3:9-14). "What should we do then? the crowd asked."  John replied in earthy terms:

 

Act with:

• generosity

• care for the poor

• honesty

• justice

• integrity and

• contentedness with your pay.

This represents a raw check list for the way we live and do business. How does this sit with your priorities as we launch into this new year?  With these foundations 2008 will have a raft of exciting new opportunities as we allow the Holy Spirit to integrate the wisdom and ways of Jesus into everything we do.

 

In the coming year let's agree to integrate our belief + behaviour as we go forward in our world (per John 17:18). For if our behaviour doesn't reflect our beliefs, why would anyone believe our beliefs?

 

Here's a guy who made separation of belief from behaviour an art form:

 

 

 

As with the wizard of Id, the outcome of segregating belief from behaviour is not neutral. If our behaviour doesn't reflect our belief... we will de-evangelise our sphere of influence!

 

So here is a great calling to make 2008 a year of:

• joining God the worker by integrating his ways into our work

• enjoying his favour in all we do according to his will

• engaging in areas of new beginnings and extended opportunities to advance the Kingdom where we are

• being 'doers' of the word of God...

 

 

 

Have a wonderful 2008,

 

Peter

Peter Kentley
airborne340@gmail.com

 

PS: for your diary - planning is under way for a special Christian assembly in Canberra on 08.08.08.

 

 

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