"The ELIMINATION of the MIDDLE MAN in the BOC!"

I know we all remember the game as a kid in grade school when the teacher would whisper something in the ear of one of our classmates and then tell that kid to "pass it along" to the next person. As you know, by the time the message traveled around the room to the last person it had little or no resemblance to the "original message."

When the teacher told us what the "original message" was, we all laughed in disbelief trying to figure out which one of the 25 miniature "middle men" misinterpreted the message. We can learn a few things from this childhood exercise:

1. All people "hear" things differently.
2. Everything is subject to "personal interpretation",
3. Messages can be easily manipulated when using an "intermediary," and,
4. You can never truly know the "intent of the heart" of the messenger (except Christ).

In many instances, a "middle man" can be an unreliable witness. There are far too many variables that can effect one's life that can corrupt their personal message to another individual or group. As a "Believer," God has given us "unfettered access" to the Throne of Grace. 

The Word of God says, "Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..." (Matt. 27:51a)

The "veil" represents uninterrupted "access" to an intimate fellowship with God. You see, the Old Testament temple had two veils or curtains; one in front of the "Holy Place" and the other separating the Holy Place from the "Most Holy Place." It was the second of these veils that was torn, which demonstrated that God had opened up access to Himself through the "blood sacrifice" of Jesus Christ at Calvary (Heb 6:19; 10:19-22). "ONLY GOD" could have torn the veil from the TOP!

As a result, there was no longer a need for a priest (middle man) to go before the Lord to "represent" you or me. We no longer have to trust that the behavior of others would be upright so that our lives would be spared. Most importantly, the tearing of the veil introduced the paradigm of "FAITH" in real-time which afforded us the opportunity to relinquish "FEAR" and freed us from the shackles of the enemy.

The modern day example of this is that believers DO NOT have to wait until Sunday morning or Wednesday evening to encounter the Lord. He made the incredible "deposit" of His Spirit in EVERY BELIEVER! You also have the "mind of Christ" (which is His Word)!

It is imperative that men and women of faith seek the Lord God for themselves and NOT rely on any man or woman exclusively (pastors, prophets, apostles or bishops) to convey the message of the gospel to them without being sure to "test the spirits (1 John 4:1)."  That is not to say that we cannot learn from others or strengthen one another as iron sharpens iron, but rather, be "intentional" about your fellowship with God and take the time to study the Word and meditate on its precepts for yourself in order to "show yourself approved "(qualified to enter into the Presence of God, receive His instructions and then GO into the marketplace to complete your assignment by serving God's people in need). 

Selah...