Our Substitute

 “Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my Lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭44‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So, please let me take the place of the boy, and I will remain here as a slave to you, my lord.  Please let the boy go back with his brothers.  How could I return to my father without the boy?  I don’t want to witness the woe and grief that would overtake my father.  Judah spoke for his brothers and did not justify himself or pass the blame to Benjamin.  Judah had changed greatly from being the chief conspirator to sell his brother into slavery.  Now he offers himself to be a slave and substitute for Benjamin.  The Lion of the tribe of Judah came as a substitute and He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  As the psalmist said, “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: Then I restored that which I took not away.”  Jesus Christ became Man to restore that which He took not away - righteousness in Christ - our right standing before God.  Amen!

Being in Christ is Being Free from Sin

 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To discover one’s authentic sonship in God, is to discover true freedom from sin.  We are born of Him and His seed remains in us; this is the only possible reference to sober up the mind from the intoxicating influence of deception.  The incorruptible seed of our Father carries the exact pattern of the authentic life of our design!  Jesus calls the devil, the father of lies.  When he lies, he speaks from his own distorted opinion; for he is a liar and the father of lies.  His intention was to kill mankind’s awareness of their god-identity.  Let’s live our life from who we are in Christ for this Truth has set us free and those whom the Son sets free are free indeed!  Grace beats living our life from who we are in Adam, which is the law of works from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  We are in Christ from the fruit of the Tree of Life.  Hallelujah!

God Yearns for Mankind

 “And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭43‬:‭30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joseph hastily left the room, for he was overwhelmed with feelings of love for his brother and on the verge of tears.  He went into a private room and sobbed, as tears ran down his cheeks.  The word used for love is the same as God’s compassionate, merciful love for us.  All of a sudden, this world leader, this captain over millions, collapsed inside.  It was beginning to make sense to him - all the loneliness, those dark days in prison, the misunderstanding, the pain of rejection.  A family shattered for over two decades was being reunited.  This took great discipline for Joseph to keep his secret from them.  Joseph’s heart moved him to tears - tears of tenderness and affection for his younger brother and his long lost family.  Like a little boy, Joseph missed his daddy when he was betrayed and forsaken.  Jesus was betrayed by His own disciple and forsaken by His Father when He took the sin of all humanity upon Himself.  It took great discipline to be nailed to the Cross but it was His love for mankind that kept Him there.  Thank You Jesus, You alone are worthy!

Knowing the Truth

 “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To merely claim that you know Him, based on your own academic or even sentimental interpretation of Him, and not upon the conclusion of His prophetic purpose unveiled in a heart that treasures His truth, is to continue to live a life of pretence!  We once knew Christ from a human point of view but we no longer know Him like that!  God is radiant Light and in Him there exists not even a trace of obscurity or darkness at all.  This is the real deal!  To live a life of pretence is such a waste!  The Truth has no competition.  Light is not threatened by darkness!  Why say something with darkness as your reference?  We are invited to explore the dimensions of this same Light that engulfs God; when we see the Light in His Light, fellowship ignites!  In His Light we understand how the Blood of Jesus Christ is the removal of every stain of sin!  The success of the Cross celebrates our redeemed innocence!  Let’s not ignore this Truth but walk in the Light!  Hallelujah!

Mercy Triumphed Over Judgment at the Cross

 “And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭42‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Deeply affected by what he heard, Joseph began to weep and hurriedly left their presence.  After he had composed himself, he returned to them, and pointing to Simeon, said, “This one will remain here.”  Then he had him tied and bound while they all watched. Joseph did this to ensure that his brothers would return to Egypt.  Simeon’s name means he who hears.  By keeping Simeon, Joseph is showing them that they lost their hearing.  Also, Joseph was testing them to see if they would abandon Simeon as they had done to him.  While in prison, Simeon would have lots of time on his hands to listen - and discern.  Simeon was known for his cruelty and he possibly was the one that led the way in their persecution of Joseph.  But Joseph was wise in testing his brothers and forgave them completely for he did not act in revenge.  Joseph is a type of Jesus, Who forgave all who were cruel to Him when He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they’re doing.”  Mercy always triumphs over judgment! Amen!

God’s Life Manifested in Christ

 “(for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV

The same life that was face to face with the Father from the beginning, has now dawned on  us!  The infinite life of the Father became visible before our eyes in a human person!  Suddenly the invisible eternal Word takes on visible form!  The Word became a human being; we are His address, He resides in us and captivates our gaze!  The glory that Adam lost, returns in fullness!  Only grace can communicate truth in such complete context!  He is the official authority qualified to reveal God.  Thank You Jesus!  Glory to God!

Interpreting Dreams

 “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After hearing this, Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph.  They rushed him out of the dungeon to prepare him to meet the king.  When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came and stood before Pharaoh.  Joseph’s dreams landed him in a pit and later in a prison.  It was Joseph’s gift for interpreting dreams that brought him out from the prison to stand before Pharaoh.  When we are helpless to save ourselves, the Saviour steps in.  Joseph did not immediately beg to be released from prison.  He approaches the mighty Pharaoh with dignity and respect.  Joseph quickly acknowledged that only God has the power to interpret dreams, for He is the One Who gives them.  Like the Lord Jesus, Joseph did only what the Father revealed to him.   Let’s surrender to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to give understanding of the dreams that come to us.  Thank You Lord, Amen!

New Heaven & a New Earth

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But as we wait, we trust in God’s royal proclamation to be fulfilled. There are coming heavens new in quality, and an earth new in quality, where righteousness will be fully at home.  The Aramaic for promise is royal proclamation.  There is coming a day when all will live according as God’s perfect will for our lives and righteousness will be at home on earth and in every heart.  This will be the day when justice reigns on earth.  We expect from His promise a new sky and a new earth in which the virtuous people will dwell.  For all those who believe in Jesus Christ as the only Way, God says, “behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”  Amen!

Learn to Serve

 “And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭40‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The captain of the guard placed them under Joseph’s charge, and they remained in custody for some time.  Joseph was a type of Christ.  Jesus was falsely accused, maligned and crucified between two thieves at Calvary.  The one next to Jesus was released to enter Paradise, and the other killed.  So it was with the two men imprisoned with Joseph, three days after they were released!  Christ was rejected by His brothers, sold by one of His own and then cast into the prison of death.  The inner strength of loving and serving in painful circumstances made Joseph’s soul as strong as iron.  He learned to serve and rule over himself first, before God released him to rule over others.  The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.  That is why He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Hallelujah!

Believe in Jesus

 “and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV

And don’t forget that He reduced to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemning them to ruin and destruction.  God appointed them to be examples as to what is coming to the ungodly.  After seeing these three examples of fallen angels, people who lived at the time of the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah - it is difficult to believe that anyone will be saved.  There is a doom that awaits the ungodly - those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind.  All the more reason for the Church to preach the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, in season and out of season, exalting His sinless Blood sacrifice on the Cross, and in the demonstration of the mighty Holy Spirit!  Amen

God’s Presence

 “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yahweh’s Presence was with Joseph and he became successful while living in the house of his Egyptian master.  His master realised that Yahweh’s Presence was with Joseph and caused everything he did to prosper.  Joseph excelled in everything.  God’s Presence and favour do more for us than our skill, intelligence, and cleverness could ever achieve.  God had His Hand on everything that happened to Joseph.  We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.  Jewish translation says that “Yahweh was continually on Joseph’s lips”.  In other words, Potiphar noted that Joseph did everything as unto God and gave Him the glory.  Jesus has caused the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us.  Let’s be those who do everything as unto the Lord, giving glory to Him with our lips.  Amen!

True Worship

 “and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In worship you will find a genuine fondness for others.  At the heart of everything that faith unfolds is the agapé love of God.  Worship and devotion includes esteeming people and honouring friendship - the same voice that magnifies God cannot insult a person made in God’s image.  True worship is to touch someone’s life with the same devotion and care you would touch Jesus Himself, even if the other person seems a most unlikely candidate.  The word agapé comes from leading like a Shepherd besides still waters and restoring our soul to remember what our identity is!  In Christ we can worship in spirit and in truth the One Who is Worthy.  Worthy is the Lamb!

Put On the Lord Jesus Christ

 “And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭38‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Judah recognised them as his and said, “She is more righteous than I, for I never gave my son Shelah to marry her.”  And he let her go free and never slept with her again.  Judah did not have sex with Tamar again. The following story is that of the lust that Potiphar’s wife had for young Joseph.  These are accounts of lust and the evil it spawns.  Why did God include these stories in His inspired Word?  One reason is that these stories show the contrast between Judah’s unwise choices and immorality with Joseph’s righteous character.  It is good to walk in the Spirit, and not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  Because of the finished work of the Cross we now put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.  Amen!

Our Shepherd-King Crowns Us with Glory

 “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And when the Shepherd-King appears, you will win the victor’s crown of glory that never fades away.  The Latin translation to English of shepherd is pastor.  The true shepherds who are under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus, are those who understand that they serve God’s flock not their own.  They lovingly guide and care for God’s people.  These pastors take responsibilities of oversight willingly, being eager to serve, not eager for financial gain.  Pastors under the leadership of the Shepherd-King, feed and nurture God’s people, rejecting a domineering leadership model - they lead by examples of godliness and humility.  If we know of those that have taken on the mantle of pastorship under the Chief Shepherd, let’s believe for them that they will win the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.  Amen!

Favour Garment of Righteousness on Us

“And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Joseph finally caught up with his brothers, they seized him, stripped him of his ornamental robe, his beautiful full length robe, and threw him into the dry, empty pit.  If we remain faithful in a time of betrayal, we will be restored and wear the favour-garment once again.  Joseph’s life is a series of three robes - the “robe of favour” given to him by Jacob and taken by his jealous brothers.  The “stolen robe” that the false accusations of Potiphar’s wife ripped from him, and the “royal robe” of reigning in Egypt as God’s saviour for Israel.  Let’s allow our Lord to remove any robe that is a hindrance and when we wear the garment of salvation, Jesus puts on us the robe of His righteousness which He won for us through the Cross, so that we may reign with Him!  Thank You Jesus! 

God Speaks Through You His Word

 “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Peter explains how to serve God and bring glory to Him.  If you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking his words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.  In context to the preceding verses, Peter tells five ways to be intimate with God - be given to prayer; be devoted to loving our fellow believers; be compassionate to the stranger and foreigner; use spiritual gifts to serve one another; give glory to God in all things.  Let’s surrender to the Lord truly acknowledging that Jesus Christ is Lord in our hearts by obeying in these five ways for a closer walk with the Lord.  Hallelujah!

Personal Relationship with God

 “And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭36‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from the city of Bozrah succeeded.  There is an ancient Jewish tradition that equates Jobab with the biblical figure of Job.  Bozrah is identified as the modern city of Buseirah.  God Himself commended Job when the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”  Job had a personal relationship with Yahweh.  This relationship was not intellectual.  When Job went through trials, he spoke his heart to Yahweh without holding anything back, because he knew Yahweh to be just and fair.  Job’s endurance is commended by Jacob, the Lord’s brother, who said, “We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.”  In our relationship with Almighty God, let’s not depend on intellectual knowledge but in our experience of the living God based on the Word of God.  Amen!

Proclaim the True Gospel of Grace

 “which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

His audience included all who died in unbelief, in the days of Noah when he built the Ark!  Jesus is the extension of the patience of God, Who waited for mankind at a time when only 8 survived the flood!  There is now a new baptism!  Immersed in Jesus’s death and co-quickened in His resurrection, mankind once dead and drowned are now made alive and crowned!  This points prophetically to our new life in Christ where the law of love is inscribed in our inner consciousness, through the True Bread from heaven.  Thus we find favour in the eyes of the Lord just as Noah did.  Noah means rest and the Hebrew letters when reversed mean grace/favour.  Jesus has already emptied hell when He led captivity captive and took the keys of hell and death and ascended to the highest place in heaven.  That’s the Gospel!  Let’s not preach that Christ has yet to do that!  Let’s proclaim the true Gospel of grace.  Thank You, Jesus!

Put On Christ

 “Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭35‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of every foreign god you have, purify yourselves, and change your clothes..”. Our old clothes speak of our old life that must be laid aside as we put on Christ.  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.  Changing our garments is to change our manner of life and put on a new man.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.  Let’s change our filthy rags and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, He is our only Hope.  Glory!

Christ our Chief Cornerstone

 “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is central to the prophetic theme of Scripture: as voiced by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, the exact and precise reference to the authentic thought of God; the One Who exhibits the perfect idea of human life indwelt by God.  This makes Him most precious and desirable; He will not disappoint anyone’s belief that He is indeed the Messiah, the Saviour of the world!  He exhibits human life as the true temple of God.  The cornerstone is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation.  All other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.  When Solomon’s temple was built, not a sound of a hammer or chisel was heard, every stone was perfectly cut in the quarry (the Cross), to exactly mirror the pattern of the chief cornerstone!  Our lives now give tangible definition to the spiritual structure, having been built into it by God upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles.  Jesus Christ Himself is the Chief Cornerstone.  Amen!

Better Covenant

 “And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭34‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Jacob found out, he said to Simeon and Levi, “What have you done?  You have ruined my name, and made me stink, and now the Canaanites and Perizzites and all the people of this land will hate me!  My men are so few that if they unite against me and attack, I and all my household will be destroyed!”  But they answered him, “Why should they treat our sister like a whore?”  Abraham’s children were not perfect and faced moral failures and ethical dilemmas.  Today, because of the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus, we have God the Holy Spirit in us, we have the Word of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  Thank You for the leading of the Holy Spirit to make the right choices in life because of the better covenant.  Amen!

The Scandal of the Cross

 “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But you were redeemed with the priceless Blood of Christ.  He is the ultimate Sacrifice; and without blemish.  Jesus completes the prophetic picture!  In Christ, God speaks the most radical scapegoat language of the law of judgment and brings final closure to a dead and redundant system!  God in the Psalms clearly stated that He does not require sacrifices or offerings! Jesus is the Lamb of God!  He is victorious over the futile and constant sacrificial system made to the pseudo, moody, monster gods of our imagination!  This is the scandal of the Cross! God does not demand a sacrifice that would change the way He thinks about mankind; He provides the Sacrifice Himself in Christ, in order to forever eradicate sin-consciousness from our minds and radically change the way we think about our Maker, one another and ourselves!  Thank You Jesus for sacrificing Yourself for me.  Amen!

How Sweet is Forgiveness

 “And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭33‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jacob replied, “No, please.  If I have found favour in your eyes, please take the gifts.  For truly, seeing your face after all these years, it’s like looking upon the face of God!  Since you have received me so warmly, please accept the blessing I have brought to you, for God has poured His grace over me, and I have everything I want!”  So Jacob urged him, and Esau accepted the gifts.  Jacob sees again that same glorious face of God when he wrestled with Him, through the mending of his relationship with his brother.  How sweet is forgiveness, how pleasant to the soul when we are made one again with those we love!  It is like gazing on the face of God.  We see God clearly as we touch mercy and forgiveness.  Jacob also offered to share the blessing he took away from Esau many years earlier.  In this season of peace and goodwill, there may be someone that needs to see the face of God in our countenance, let’s show them!  Amen!

Practice the Presence of the Lord

 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My friends, if you are the ones abused, remain passionate about the Presence of the Lord.  Consider how the farmer lays hold of the harvest by patiently letting the early and latter rain do its work in the soil to prepare its precious yield.  The Greek word translated as the coming of the Lord is actually the Presence of the Lord.  Religion thrives on two lies, distance and delay!  Immanuel cancelled both in Christ!  Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘there are yet four months then comes the harvest’.  Yet you are looking at the wrong harvest.  Lift up your eyes, look away from your own labour and see the harvest that is already ripe”.  Let’s practice the Presence of the Lord now and obey Him in winning souls as labourers worthy of Him hiring us, rather than waiting for Him to come.  He is already in us!  Hallelujah!

Acknowledging our True Nature

 “And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“What is your name?” asked the Man.  “Jacob” he replied.  “Not anymore,” the Man said to him.  “Your new name is Israel, for you have struggled both with God and with people and have overcome.”  This was a strange question because God knew his name.  God not only touched his thigh but his slumbering conscience.  Jacob remembered how twenty years ago his father had asked him the same question and he had said, “I am Esau”, and got away with it!  Jacob acknowledged that he had grabbed Esau’s heel and supplanted him.  As Jacob confessed his true nature as a deceiver, cheat and heel grabber, it liberated Jacob and opened the way for inner transformation.  Jacob was forgiven.  Let’s not give up.  For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day.  Israel means the one who struggled with God and became a prince.  Let us thank God for the Lord Jesus Who through the Cross forgave us.  We confess our true nature and trust Him to forgive us, inwardly transform us and make a prince out of us! Amen

God is the Origin & Source of Wisdom

 “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You allow your heart to become so consumed with longing for something until you are ready to kill for it.  Then you are still not satisfied.  What you want keeps evading you; you quarrel and strive, and you just can’t get it.  If you are desperately unfulfilled, why don’t you simply ask God to give you what you need?  This is such a contrast to the wisdom from above which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  The only thing you could possibly lack is wisdom (one might sometimes feel challenged beyond the point of sanity); however, make your request in such a way that you draw directly from the Source (not filtered through other opinions).  God is the Origin and Author of wisdom.  He intertwines your thoughts with good judgment.  His gifts are available to all, without regret.  Let’s always take the help of our Helper for any choice we have to make.  Amen!

Jesus, our Peace

 “and Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭31‬:‭49‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Laban called it Witness Heap and Watchpost, for he declared, “May Yahweh keep His eyes on us when we are absent from each other..”. Mizpah means Watchpost, or the one who looks out for our peace.  Jesus is our Mizpah.  Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! He has made Jew and non-Jew one in Christ. By dying as our sacrifice, He has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ.  Jacob, the father of Israelites, and Laban, a Gentile, find peace at Mizpah.  The sacrifice of Jesus is for all humanity, whether Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Sikh, Parsi, Jain, Buddhist, Atheist, Agnostic, Secular, Animist, Tribal -  every wall of separation has been removed to unite us to Almighty God, through Christ Jesus.  Amen!

Yield Your Tongue to God

 “but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yet no one can tame a tongue; no one can restrain the evil in its fatal venom.  We can say beautiful things about God the Father but with the same mouth curse a fellow human made in His mirror likeness.  My friends, a blessing and a curse cannot originate from the same source.  The law of works operated by willpower cannot match the effect of the law of perfect liberty!  Mirror likeness ignites true freedom to utter that which is precious!  The point is not what the person did to deserve the insult, but that people are image and likeness bearers of God by design!  True worship is to touch someone’s life with the same devotion and care you would touch Jesus Himself, even if the other person seems a most unlikely candidate.  Discovering our true source brings true freedom.  Amen!

Gaze Upon the Resurrected Christ

 “And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭39‬ ‭KJV

For they mated when they came to the water troughs, and as they lowered their heads to drink, they saw the stripped branches in front of their eyes.  Miraculously they gave birth to streaked, speckled and spotted young.  This was not simply principles of animal husbandry, but a divine miracle revealed to Jacob through a dream.  God always has unique and puzzling methods to perform a miracle.  He may require bathing seven times in the Jordan river, parting the Red Sea, or having the Sun stand still.  God displayed His creative power through the birth of these multi-coloured young goats.  We learn that what we gaze upon, impregnates us with the object of our vision, for we determine what we conceive by what we behold.  God’s greatest power is revealed in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  As we gaze upon the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him our vision, we reflect this great and awesome resurrection power given to us by faith.  Hallelujah!

Love Union Fellowship

 “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Judgment showed no mercy to those who do not walk in mercy, but mercy triumphs over judgment.  Those who walk in mercy walk in the law of liberty.  There is no law against love.  While judgment threatens condemnation, mercy interposes and prevails over judgment.  So, even if our hearts would condemn us for not being true to ourselves, God is greater than our hearts and He has the full picture!  His knowledge of us is not compromised.  When we know what God knows to be true about us, then instead of condemning us, our hearts will endorse our innocence and free our conversation before God.  Fear cannot co-exist in this love realm - the perfect love union expels fear.  Fear torments us with an expectation of crisis, judgment and due punishment.  But when we realise the mercy of God in inviting us into this love union fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit, it completes us and we bow in humble adoration before Him.  Glory to God!

Love at First Sight

 “And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As soon as Jacob took one good look at Rachel, the beautiful daughter of his uncle Laban, he quickly went over to the mouth of the well and single-handedly rolled away the stone and watered all the flock of his uncle Laban!  Immediately he walked up to Rachel and kissed her!  Unable to hold back his tears, Jacob wept aloud.  At the sight of the lovely Rachel, Jacob’s soul is so moved that he gains the strength to roll away the stone all by himself.  One flash of her eyes made him a momentary “superman “.  After he moved the heavy stone, Jacob drew gallons and gallons of water for her flock.  Then he kisses her and lifts up his voice with passionate tears.  Jesus’s resurrection rolled away the heavy stone so that He could meet you to draw you in faith to Him and then offered you a drink from the well of Life!  Hallelujah!

Be Not Deceived

 “Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

James, the half-brother of Jesus writes - “My dear friends, do not go wandering off into deception.”  By giving credit to temptation, you may possibly think this is God’s way of speaking to you!  So what about the Lord’s Prayer - “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”?  This sounds like God had temptation on today’s agenda for you, but if you pray this prayer, then maybe He will change His mind!  In Greek ‘to lead’ means to reach inward and within; and ‘temptation’ means to test through piercing and examine closely to determine the hidden value of something.  But earlier James clearly pointed out that no man should say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts He any man - God is not in the teasing business.  He is not the source of good and evil!  God delivers us from our propensity to align ourselves to the law of works where we give evil a foothold.  Let’s pray, “Father, You know me inside out.  Free me thoroughly from any hidden alliance with the old system of performance based living!  Remove any trace of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  In Jesus’s Name”. Amen!

Jesus Christ the Stairway

 “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jacob had a dream of a stairway securely fixed on the earth and reaching into heaven.  In his dream, messengers of God were ascending and descending on the stairway.  The steps of this stairway go up into the heavenly realm where our true riches are found.  Each step is a progressive revelation of God’s purpose for our lives found in Jesus Christ.  The stairway goes both ways, touching heaven and touching earth.  Jesus Christ is the Stairway that reaches earth (His human nature) to heaven (His heavenly nature).  Jesus spoke to Nathaniel about this.  Jesus is the only valid entry into the spirit realm, the true way into the heavenly realm.  The intercessors and promise-claimers prayers are taken by the angels up, and we ascend in the spirit up the Stairway.  We are in Christ and God has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!

The Executive of our Redemption

 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Take your lead from Jesus.  He is your reference to the most complete life.  In Him yesterday is confirmed today and today mirrors tomorrow.  What God spoke to us in Christ is as relevant now as it was in the prophetic past and will always be in the eternal future!  There is a history to our salvation that carries more authority and relevance than anything that ever happened in our past, or anything present in time or still to happen in the future.  Imagine the enormity of eternity in His sameness before time was; and we were there in Him all along!  What further ground can there possibly be to condemn mankind?  In His death He faced our judgment; in His resurrection He declares our innocence; the implications cannot be undone!  He now occupies the highest seat of authority as the Executive of our redemption in the Throne Room of God.  The heavens declare His glory, night to night exhibits the giant solar testimony that is mathematically precise, revealing that God knew before time was the exact moment He would enter our history as a Man, and the exact moment the Messiah would expire on the Cross and be raised again from the dead!  Glory and honour and power and praise belong to our God!

Embrace God’s Blessing with Gratitude

 “And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; And it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, That thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭27‬:‭40‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Isaac blessed Esau, he said that Esau will live by the sword and serve his brother; but when he grows restless, Esau will break free from his brother’s control.  Esau would be given all the provisions he would need in life.  Isaac blessed Jacob with the fatness of earth but now reverses the order and Esau would be a man with his heart attached to the world.  He would live by the sword-principle, always retaliating and unable to forgive.  Many who believe in Christ today have enough of God to get by, but live with unresolved anger and unforgiveness like Esau.  Esau is described as someone who was careless about God’s blessing.  The descendants of Esau, the Edomites were a violent people who raided caravans and pillaged cities.  During David’s reign, Israel dominated the Edomites but a few hundred years later they revolted.  Our God Who is our Father, has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ.  Let’s not be careless about it or let unresolved anger and unforgiveness block God’s exceeding great blessings on us.  Amen!

Mediator of the New Covenant

 “and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus is the Spokesman and Arbitrator of the New Testament order.  His Blood signature sanctions mankind’s innocence.  This is a complete new language that communicates better things, in that it is the very substance of what was spoken in the shadow-type message of the blood sacrifice that Abel brought.  Abel’s faith was a prophetic introduction to the sacrificial shadow system of the old covenant.  Jesus is the substance of things hoped for!  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.  It was faith that made the difference between the sacrifices of Abel and Cain, and confirmed Abel’s righteousness.  God bore witness to righteousness as a gift rather than a reward!  Even though he was murdered, Abel’s faith still has a most relevant prophetic voice directing us to the Blood Sacrifice of the Lamb of God!  Glory to God!

Sow Generously & Reap Exceedingly Abundantly

 “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaac planted crops in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold harvest, for Yahweh greatly blessed him!  Isaac grew greater and greater until he was extremely wealthy.  God transformed a land of famine into a land of abundant harvest. Those who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty, springing up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity! Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you have more than enough of everything —every moment and in every way. He makes you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.  Because you sow extravagantly and given to the poor, your kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten. This generous God who supplies abundant seed for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals, is even more extravagant toward you. First He supplies every need, plus more. Then He multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity will grow. You are abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion, for when your gifts are given to those in need, it causes many to give thanks to God.  Amen!

Blessing of Righteousness by Faith

 “Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Faith brought into reality an offspring beyond calculation; from one as good as dead, children would be born more numerous than the stars and as impossible to count as the grains of sand on every distant seashore.  The uttermost parts of the earth, bordered by the seashore, will know the blessing of righteousness by faith which is the blessing of Abraham, meant for the entire world.  Let us celebrate God with articulate acclaim!  He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  According to His matchless mercy and tender compassions, He birthed us again when Jesus was raised from the dead.  Now we are alive to witness the expectation of the ages unfold.  What a Living Hope we have in Christ!  Amen!

Our Birthright in Christ

 “And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Yes, but first you must trade me your birthright,” Jacob replied.  The birthright refers to the right of the firstborn to inherit from the father a double portion - twice as much as the younger siblings inherit.  Jacob now rightfully possesses the rights and blessings of the firstborn, which included authority, headship, double portion inheritance, and the right to be the priest of the family.  God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The God of Abraham is God of Promises Fulfilled.  The God of Isaac is the God of Inheritance and Miracles.  The God of Jacob is the God of Transformation, for Jacob becomes Israel, a prince with God.  God gives us the promise, but the promise requires a miracle to perform it.  This miracle-promise releases true transformation within the heart of man.  This is the revelation of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, available to all mankind through faith in the Blood poured at the Cross of Christ.  Amen!

God is not Far from Each One of Us

 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We are urged not to relinquish our confident conversation.  Persuasion in God’s achievement in Christ, redefines the idea of reward and confirms what grace reveals.  Jesus Christ defines God’s faith - He is Immanuel - the substance as well as the evidence of all that God believes.  Let’s understand that righteousness is revealed by faith as a gift and not as a reward for keeping the law; because faith pleases God, not good or bad behaviour.  Just love living in the awareness and full persuasion of the closeness of God.  As Paul told those idol-worshipping Greek philosophers in Athens on Mars Hill, that God is not far from each one of us.  Even in our ignorance, indifference or hostility to Him, He successfully reconciled the human race to Himself in Christ!  The Incarnation celebrates that Immanuel means that God has no desire to be without us!  Hallelujah!

The Church is the Bride

 “And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So, the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to carry out his wishes.  We can see a picture here of the Father releasing the Holy Spirit to seek out a Bride for His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is the Father that brings the Bride to Jesus as His love gift to the Son - a gathering of a Bridal-partner for Jesus from the nations of the earth.  The Church is the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife.  His ministers are “friends of the bridegroom” who are sent to awaken bridal love in the nations as they persuade souls to espouse their heart to Him.  Only the trusted Servant, the Holy Spirit, is capable of drawing hearts to the Son, imparting endless love for Him.  He desires a willing Bride, willing to leave all to follow the Holy Spirit to be led to her Bridegroom.  Let’s be willing to leave all and follow Him, led by the Holy Spirit.  Glory to God!

God Himself became the Sacrifice in Christ

 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Thus, according to the law, all purging was by means of blood; forgiveness was specifically associated with the shedding of blood.  It is clear to see that we were ransomed from the futile, fallen mindset that we inherited from our fathers, not by the currency of our own labour represented by the fluctuating values of gold and silver, and the economy of our religious efforts; but we were redeemed with the priceless Blood of Christ - He is the ultimate Sacrifice, spotless and without blemish.  God does not demand a sacrifice that would change the way He thinks about mankind.  He provides the Sacrifice of Himself in Christ, in order to forever eradicate sin-consciousness from our minds and radically change the way we think about our Maker, one another and ourselves!  Worthy is the Lamb of God!

New Covenant of Life

 “that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭23‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV

“..to sell me the cave he owns at Machpelah on the edge of his land.  Let him sell it to me publicly and at full price, so that I may own it for a burial site.”  Machpelah means “double” and everyone buried in this cave would be as one of a couple: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah.  Death for the patriarchs was a gateway into the resurrection.  This tomb was more an altar than a grave, to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Who is not a God of the dead but of the living.  Jewish tradition believes that Adam and Eve were also buried in this cave.  At the resurrection of Christ, there was a huge earthquake and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared to many.  Thank God that we died with Christ and are now alive in Christ - His new covenant is a covenant of Life and not of death.  Amen!

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV

This knowledge of me will never again be based on sin-consciousness.  My act of mercy, extended in Christ as the new covenant, has removed every possible definition of sin from memory!  God’s memory of our sins was not what needed to be addressed in the redemption of our innocence.  God did not have a problem with sin-consciousness, we had!  He wasn’t hiding from Adam and Eve in the garden - they were hiding from Him!  What needed to be addressed was our perceptions of a judgmental God, which was the inevitable fruit of partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  This was the loss of our identity and the ensuing crises till Jesus restored it by taking every judgment of the fruit of the good and evil knowledge by becoming the tree of life on the Cross for mankind.  Thus sin has been removed and righteousness restored.  Let’s be forever thankful of God’s mercy triumphing over judgment in Christ!  Hallelujah!

Father of Faith

 “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the young men.  “Isaac and I will go up and worship; then we will return to you.”  This is the first instance of worship in the Bible.  Abraham freely offered his beloved son to God and called it worship.  True worship always involves a sacrifice.  The first reference of the New Testament to worship is found with men bowing down before a Child and offering sacrificial gifts to Jesus - gold, frankincense and myrrh.  The Biblical concept of worship includes freely bowing down before God bringing our gifts (sacrifices of praise) to honour and adore Him.  Abraham is the father of faith because he knew that God, if He had to, would resurrect Isaac so that both Isaac and his father would return to where they left the servants.  This gift of faith has come to all those who are in Christ and have the blessing of being the seed of Abraham through Christ.  Amen!

New Covenant Laws

 “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If there is a new order of priesthood, there must obviously be a new law.  Melchizedek reveals a new basis of righteousness, related not to a person’s effort to keep the law by their own willpower, but based upon the perfect work of Christ.  The new law is called the law of faith - Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.  Also the law of perfect liberty - But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he or she does.  Even the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.  Let’s walk according to the new covenant laws under the order of the Melchizedek priesthood where we all are priests; and according to the perfect and finished work of Christ!  Hallelujah!

Love Not the World

 “And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree, in Beersheba and there he worshipped Yahweh, the everlasting God.  When Abraham planted the tree he was revealing his faith of endurance until the time of fruitfulness.  God Eternal El Olam is the God over Eternity.  Abraham’s heart and focus were turning to the God of Eternity.  The things of the earth were growing meaningless to him.  El Olam was preparing Abraham to yield his greatest treasure, his son.  Only one whose heart is fixed on eternity can ever make sacrifices pleasing to God.  When we see the Eternal One, we can let go of temporary things.  Abraham touched eternal life as he dwelt by the tree and the well.  This was his true preparation for giving up Isaac.  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides for ever.  Amen!

God’s Immutable Promise

 “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In the same context we are confronted with God’s eagerness to go to the last extreme in His dealing with us as heirs of His promise, and to cancel out all possible grounds for doubt or dispute.  In order to persuade us of the unalterable character and finality of His resolve, He confined Himself to an oath.  The promise which already belongs to us by heritage, is now also confirmed under oath.  In the Incarnation, God has positioned Himself in the midst of His creation.  The Mosaic law spoke the language of the fallen mindset, and required mediators, the Levitical priesthood, because mankind had a part to obey God’s commandments and God’s part was to bless.  God’s covenant with Abraham was a grace covenant pointing to the Man Jesus Christ, in Whom God Himself would fulfil mankind’s part and therefore needed no mediator apart from Himself.  Mankind was not redeemed from the devil, a thief never becomes an owner!  Neither did Jesus do what He did to change His Father’s mind about us, it was our minds that needed persuasion.  God was not to be reconciled to His creation - God was in Christ when He reconciled the world to Himself!  Hallelujah!

Passionate Prayer of those Righteous in Christ

 “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech!  He also healed Abimelech’s wife and female servants of their infertility and they began to have babies again.  Considering that Abraham’s wife had never given him a child, it was an amazing miracle for Abraham to pray for someone else to give birth!  The very first healing in the Bible was through the prayer of a childless man, Abraham.  He had no confidence in himself as he prayed this prayer of faith.  He could pray in total confidence that it had to be God doing the miracle.  He prayed for the very thing he had not yet received.  Isaac’s conception happened shortly after as a result of Abraham’s prayer for another person with the same need.  Because of the new covenant through Jesus, we too must learn to pray when tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a righteous person in Christ!  Amen!

Meditate on Christ’s Finished Work

 “For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The revelation of righteousness is the meat of God’s Word.  Babes live on milk (the prophetic shadow of the real, which was to come); so does everyone who is not pierced in the ear of his/her heart by the revelation of Christ.  God’s act of righteousness in Christ restored mankind to blameless innocence.  This is the nourishment of the mature.  They are those who have their faculties of perception trained as by gymnastic precision, to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant.  The mature are those who know the difference between the shadow and the substance; between the futility of the law of works and willpower to work righteousness, and righteousness revealed by the faith of God in the finished work of Christ.  Let’s be the ones who meditate on Christ’s finished work of the Cross even more!  Amen!

The Hope we have in Christ

 “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭19‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And Yahweh’s fire from heaven fell upon Sodom and Gomorrah.  He completely destroyed the cities of the plain, and all their inhabitants and whatever grew in the valley.  Jesus made it clear that if the miracles He did in Israel, had been seen in Sodom, the people of Sodom would have repented.  Therefore, it will be more tolerable for them in the Day of Judgment than for the cities of Galilee.  Knowing how God will soon judge the corrupt world, it is vital that we live holy lives.  Since all these things are on the verge of being dismantled, don’t you see how vital it is to live a holy life? We must be consumed with godliness while we anticipate and help to speed up the coming of the day of God, when the atmosphere will be set on fire and the heavenly bodies consumed in a blaze. There are coming heavens new in quality, and an earth new in quality, where righteousness will be fully at home. With all that you have to look forward to, may you be eager to live pure lives when you come into His Presence, without blemish and filled with peace. Our Lord’s extraordinary patience simply means more opportunity for salvation!  Amen!

Radiate His Image

 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The message God spoke to us in Christ, is the most life giving and dynamic influence in us, cutting like a surgeon’s scalpel, sharper than a soldier’s sword, piercing to the deepest core of human conscience, to the dividing of soul and spirit; ending the dominance of the sense realm and its neutralising effect on the human spirit.  In this way a person’s spirit is freed to become the ruling influence again in the thoughts and intentions of their heart.  The scrutiny of this Living Sword-Logos detects every possible disease, discerning the body’s deepest secrets where joint and bone-marrow meet.  The moment we cease from our own efforts to justify ourselves, by yielding to the integrity of the message that announces the success of the Cross, God’s Word is triggered into action.  What God spoke to us in our sonship (the Incarnation of Christ in us), radiates His image and likeness in our redeemed innocence.  This Word powerfully penetrates and impacts our whole being: body, soul and spirit.  Hallelujah!

Christ’s Blood has a Greater Voice

“And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yahweh explained to Abraham, The outcry for justice against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant..  The outrage against the people of Sodom and their indictment against them was because the sin of Sodom was blatant and outrageous.  The voices that cry out would literally include those suffering the abuses of those in power in their homes and cities.  Sin has a voice that cries out for justice, but the Blood of Jesus has a greater voice!  Let’s depend fully on Jesus’s Blood.  Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, and His Blood speaks better than that of Abel.  Glory to God!

Unbelief

 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Make sure that none of you tolerates the poison of unbelief in your hearts, allowing callousness to distract and distance you from the living God.  Unbelief is believing a lie about yourself and your salvation.  The children of Israel thought they were grasshoppers in their own eyes!  Unbelief exchanges the living God for a dead god of our own imagination.  A calloused heart is a mind dominated by the senses.  Lets make everyday count as we remind ourselves of our true identity in Christ - which is our ultimate conclusion - our union with Christ.  Hallelujah!

A Generational Transfer

 “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yahweh said to Abram, “You will no longer be named Abram because I am changing your name to Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.  I will make you abundantly fruitful, more than you expect.  I will make nations out of you, and kings will trace their lineage back to you.”  Abram means exalted father and Abraham means father of a multitude.  The Church today does not need exalted fathers, but rather fathers who will multiply themselves to their sons and daughters.  A generational transfer is in the heart of God and is here revealed to Abraham.  Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Hezekiah were leaders and kings who came forth from Abraham’s blessed relationship with Yahweh.  He has likewise made you and me, who are in Christ, kings and priests to Him.  Amen!

Christ’s Preeminence & Prominence

 “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Christ towers in conspicuous prominence far above all things.  He is both their Author and their Conclusion.  All things exist in Him and through Him.  He now, triumphantly leads the sons of glory through a perfect salvation.  The extent of the suffering He bore, is the measure of the perfection of the salvation over which He presides.  In Him the image and likeness of God is made visible in human form in order that everyone may recognise their true origin in Him.  What darkness veiled from us, He unveiled.  In Him we clearly see the mirror reflection of our original life.  The Son of His love gives accurate evidence of His image in human form.  The Incarnation means that God can never again be invisible!  Hallelujah!

God Who Sees

 “And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After her encounter with Yahweh, Hagar called Him by a special Name, “You are the God of my Seeing”, for she said, “Oh my, did I just see God and live to talk about it?”  This encounter at the well reminds us of a later time when Jesus would journey to a well to meet a woman who had a history of running from God.  At this well of Jacob, the Living One again sees into the heart of a woman and speaks mercy to her.  At Jesus’s encounter with the woman at Jacob’s well, “God saw” into her heart, and she saw into God’s.  This is the sacred place where God sees into our hearts, inspite of our hidden motives, and speaks mercy and grace to us.  Let’s be those who are able to receive mercy and grace because of Christ’s unconditional love shown at the Cross for us, and be those who speak mercy and grace to others.  We live in the age where mercy triumphs over judgment.  Let’s allow God’s unconditional love to flow through us to every person we meet, and give glory to Jesus through our lives!

The Incarnate Word Mirrored Us

 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Throughout ancient times God spoke in many fragments and glimpses of prophetic thought to our fathers.  Now, this entire conversation has finally dawned in sonship.  Suddenly, what seemed to be an ancient language falls fresh and new like dew on the tender grass!  He is the sum total of every utterance of God.  He is Whom the prophets pointed to and we are His immediate audience! In the Son, God declares the Incarnate Word to be the Heir of all things.  He is after all the Author of the ages.  We have forgotten what manner of people we are - we have forgotten the face of our birth!  Jesus successfully rescued the real you, not the pseudo, make-believe you!  God has never believed less of you than what He was able to communicate in the Sonship that Jesus mirrored and redeemed.  The beginning declares the destiny of the Word, image and likeness would be mirrored and redeemed in incarnate human form!  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.  Sonship endorses heirship!  Let’s believe in the sonship we have in Christ.  Hallelujah!

Faithful Shield and Abundant Reward

 “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Afterwards, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision and said, “Abram, don’t yield to fear, for I am your Faithful Shield and your Abundant Reward,”. Yahweh assured Abram to protect him from any retaliation by the kings he had conquered.  Abram chose to be hidden behind Yahweh’s Shield than to take refuge in what the world could give him.  Because of what Abram had done by rescuing Lot and refusing to take financial reward for his noble acts, Yahweh Himself became Abram’s reward.  This new, intimate relationship with God exceeded any financial loss Abram experienced.  Because of the finished work of the Cross, we can now make the choice to choose the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our life, instead of the worldly pleasures.  That’s when we come into that new intimacy with God.  Let’s have that relationship with Almighty God in Christ.  Amen!

Forgiving Love

 “whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:”

‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is demonstrating forgiving love with grace and tact to Philemon, to receive Onesimus, Philemon’s once run-away slave as a dear brother in Christ.  Paul says that Onesimus is his very heart and been sent back to Philemon with this letter.  Paul would have preferred to keep Onesimus at his side so that he could take Philemon’s place as Paul’s helper during his imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel.  It would be hard to imagine a more powerful way to describe the affection between Paul and his spiritual son, Onesimus.  The one who gave us the love chapter of love holding no record of wrongs, demonstrated that love in his relationships, even with those who were much younger than he.  May we be led by the Holy Spirit to think good of every person and walk in forgiving love, in all our relationships.  Amen!

Overcoming Any Impossibility

 “And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭14‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been taken captive by the four kings, he mobilized all the men in his camp, 318 in all who had been born and trained in his own household, and he pursued the invaders as far north as Dan.  These were not only warriors but also disciples and trained ones of Abram.  It was God Who supernaturally won this battle, for Abram was facing fierce and numerous tribal warriors.  Abram realised that the battle would be won with God’s help.  Abram was a noble man, he could have easily left Lot, who chose to live in Sodom, in the hands of his captors.  Because of the blessing of Abraham upon our lives through Christ, in the New Covenant, we can overcome any impossible situation by faith.  With God’s help, no challenge is insurmountable.  For we are trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And we find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses us to conquer every difficulty.  Hallelujah!

Our Innocence Vindicated

 “that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV

The Lord Jesus’s grace vindicates our innocence.  We have also become heirs to the life that we have always longed for, the life of the ages.  God’s gift has restored our relationship with Him and given us back our lives.  This is the life of the ages that was anticipated for generations; the life of our original design announced by the infallible resolve of God before time or space existed.  This life was made certain before eternal time.  Mankind’s union with God is the original thought that inspired creation.  We are joint-heirs with Christ and partake of the riches of the  glory of His inheritance in the saints.  Hallelujah!

Walking in God’s Presence

 “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Lot lifted his eyes and carefully surveyed the land around him all the way to Zoar.  He noticed that the Jordan Valley was fertile and well-watered (this was before Yahweh had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah).  It looked beautiful, like the garden of Yahweh, or like Egypt.  When Abram offered the choice to Lot, he should have known that God is with Abram and left his choice to his uncle.  Lot missed the will of God by separating from the one who was called by God.  Our flesh would rather “do it on our own” but God’s way is to walk in fellowship with called ones.  The secret tug of the world drew Lot away from the place of blessing.  Compromise was a way of life for him.  He chose what would please him without considering the consequences.  Lot’s possessions were eventually burned in the fires of judgment, and he ended up living in a cave.   Like Abram, let’s learn to walk in God’s Presence according to His will which as Jesus said was, “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou loved Me before the foundation of the world.”  Amen!

Transformation by Redemption Realities

 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul tells Titus to instruct the elderly women also to exhibit a consecrated character in all their conduct.  To encourage them not to slander, or to get intoxicated with wine; their example makes beauty irresistibly attractive.  They are to radiate a conversation that flows from a mind radically transformed by redemption realities.  Their instruction should inspire young women to treat their husbands and children with tender affection.  False accusing is the work of Satan.  The devil and the fall of mankind are no longer our reference in conversation!  Gossip (to be double-minded about someone) is a form of intoxication to be avoided at all costs!  Replace that with fond affection for their husbands and children reflecting the fondness of God for mankind that persuaded our hearts! Let’s have our home reflecting the love of God inside and out!  Amen!

The Blessing of Abraham

 “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now Yahweh said to Abram: Leave it all behind - your native land, your people, your father’s household, and go to the land that I will show you.  The God of Glory appeared to Abram and spoke with him.  God’s appearance to Abram was sudden and without warning.  The same voice of creation now proclaims a message of hope and blessing to all the world.  Abram had no burning bush to inspire him, no tablets of stone to guide him, and no ark of the covenant as a centrepiece of worship.  Neither did Abram have a Temple to worship in, a Bible to read, nor a priest to counsel him.  Nor did Abram have a pastor to pray for him, nor a prophet to prophesy to him.  But Abram had a divine encounter.  God tells Abram to not only leave the country but also his own will behind in order to enter God’s plan, and his ideas of how God will work.  God was calling Abram out from more than just his relatives, but from specific deity worship connected to nations, clans and ancestors.  Leaving all that is familiar was an incredible act of faith by Abram, but resulted in the seven-fold blessing of the next verses.  Through Jesus Christ, these blessings have come to us - that the blessing of Abraham might come on us through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  Hallelujah!

Compassionate Authority to Build Up Faith

 “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul and his team had preached the Gospel among the Cretans and found that their own prophets or enlightened leaders had called them phony, lazy gluttons, and savage brutes.  This gives all the more reason that they needed distinguished leaders who were capable of rebuking such behaviour sharply and to establish them in robust faith.  We are not here to comment on people’s behavioural trends; we are here to declare people free to live the life of their redeemed design!  Faith sees that old life co-crucified with Christ and the new resurrected life emerge victoriously.  Faith is not a “mickey-mouse” cover-up for sin; faith defeats sin.  Spirit-led leaders in our churches need to have a revelation of the finished work of the Cross to manifest this compassionate authority that the victory of what Jesus already did for us, has done and to establish true faith in the Body of Christ.  Amen!

God’s Temple made of Lively Stones

 “And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They said to one another, “Come, let’s unite together and make bricks of clay and burn them until they become hard.”  So, they piled up the bricks they made to serve as stones and collected tar for mortar.  God’s building never includes bricks, only stones.  Man makes bricks; God is the Maker of stones.  The New Jerusalem will not be made from bricks but from precious stones.  Pharaoh made his treasure cities out of bricks; God raises up His temple using living stones.  To Whom coming, as to a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but Chosen of God, and precious, we also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Amen!

A Bold Declaration of Joy

 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul says, “So here I am, my life is poured out as a wine offering on the altar of ministry; I am ready to go!”  Paul is imprisoned before he is martyred.  He was in prison even when he wrote to the church in Philippians when he said, “I want you to see my ministry to you as wine poured out upon the altar of your faith.  I rejoice in the thought that we drink from the same Source and therefore celebrate a mutual joy!  Whatever you may suffer only concludes in joy!”  Joy is a bold declaration, in the face of severe danger and suffering - that contradiction does not define us or have the final say in our lives.  We know that whether we live or die, our message is unstoppable and that it is conquering the world!  Hallelujah!

The Gospel to all Nations

 “Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is the story of the descendants of Noah’s three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  After the great flood, they fathered many children.  This is an incredibly important generation account to understand human history.  This “Table of Nations” account is the earliest ethnological table found in the literature of the ancient world.  Almost all the names included here have been verified and found in archeological sites over the past one hundred years.  There are seventy names mentioned in the verses following this, in this chapter.  Seventy followers of Jesus were sent out as a testimony that the Gospel of His Kingdom is meant for all people.  God alone determines the boundaries of nations and seasons of history.  Let’s take this glorious Gospel to every creature we meet, so that Jesus comes soon.  Maranatha!

The Word of God is the Breath of God

 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV

Jesus Christ and His work of salvation is the theme of Scripture.  The value of Scripture in its complete context is always found in God’s prophetic voice inspiring a thorough education in the revelation of righteousness!  This is what carries the Breath of God and gives substance and proof to accurately gauge what is being taught.  Mankind’s righteousness lost in Adam is redeemed in Christ.  The Breath of God, (meaning the words that proceed from His mouth), educates us in the understanding of our original identity, likeness and innocence.   Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to Me; yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life.”  God speaks in Messianic language, revealing His resolve to redeem His image and likeness in human form.  Jesus said before ascending, “these are My words which I spoke to you, while I was with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled”…then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.  Open our minds Lord to understand Your Word.  Amen!

All Are Included in Christ’s Blessings

 “God shall enlarge Japheth, And he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; And Canaan shall be his servant.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

May God enlarge Japheth’s family and increase his territory.  May he share in the blessing of Shem, and his descendants make their homes among the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave also.  Noah’s cursing and blessing his sons illustrates the power of a father’s words over his children (and grandchildren) and how those words create the reality of their future.  Descendants of each of Noah’s sons were present at the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus.  The Jewish religious leaders who conspired to kill the Messiah, were Shem’s descendants.  The Romans who crucified the Lord Jesus were descendants of Japheth.  Simon of Cyrene who bore the cross of Christ in servitude, was a descendant of Ham.  After the Lord Jesus ascended, the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul who became Paul, and Cornelius the centurion, were descendants of Ham, Shem and Japheth.  Because Shem and Japheth both honoured their father, they shared the blessing of prosperity among them.  All are included in the blessings of the finished work of the Messiah and every curse reversed.  There is no caste or segregation or division in God’s love for all mankind shown through the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Thank You Father!

Christ’s Love Leads Us

 “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The best way to consistently escape the snare and distractions of youthful lusts, which are often typified by an all-consuming longing for forbidden pleasures, is to pursue and engage your life actively in everything that celebrates your redeemed oneness.  Instead of a sin-consciousness, cultivate a righteousness-consciousness.  This is a faith-righteousness and not a fake righteousness based on make-belief and self-effort.  Become addicted to the adventures of faith; let the agapé-love of God romance you into His rest where you cease from striving and bask in completeness.  Feast on peace; celebrate your joint togetherness with everyone who has mutually discovered their original identity in the Lord.  Live your life from this place of innocence, from your heart.  Pursuing a greater value and pleasure is the most effective way to flee temptation.  It is Christ’s love that leads us to rest, like the Good Shepherd, and brings us into the full realisation of His finished work!  Agapé is Psalm 23 in one word!  Glory to God!

Rest in the Ark of our Salvation

 “And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And on the 17th day of the 7th month, the ark came to rest on the highest peak in Ararat.  Noah’s name means rest.  At the Feast of Passover, the Lord made the 7th month into the first month and on the 14th day of the month.  Three days later would be the 17th day of the month, the very day when Jesus rose from the dead.  The final resting place of our Ark of Salvation was the top of the mountain - Jesus was raised on high, seated at the right hand of the Most High.  Ararat means the curse is reversed.  The resting place of God’s sons and daughters is where the curse is reversed (the Cross and the empty tomb).  We rest in Christ seated with Him in the heavenly realm.  What inspiration lies within the Bible!  Hallelujah!

Grace Life in Christ

 “who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Christ rescued the integrity of our original design and revealed that we have always been His own from the beginning, even before time was.  This has nothing to do with anything we did to qualify or disqualify ourselves.  We are not talking religious good works or karma here.  Jesus unveils grace to be the eternal intent of God!  Grace celebrates our pre-creation innocence and now declares our redeemed union with God in Christ Jesus.  This is the life of the ages that was anticipated for generations; the life of our original design announced by the infallible resolve of God before time or space existed.  Mankind’s union with God is the original thought that inspired creation.  There exists a greater dimension to eternity than what we are capable of defining within the confines of space and time!  God’s faith anticipated the exact moment of our redeemed union with Him for all eternity!  This life was made certain before eternal time.  Jesus took death out of the equation and re-defined life - this is good news indeed.  Jesus is what grace reveals!  Amen!

The Importance of Righteousness by Faith

 “And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

All life on earth was blotted out - all that He had made, animals large and small, wild and domesticated, birds and reptiles, including humanity - was wiped off the face of the earth.  Only Noah was left behind, and those who were in the ark with him.  In the days of Noah, the wicked were taken away, swept off the earth by the flood.  It was the righteous who were left behind to inherit the earth.  Jesus mentioned this when He said, “For it will be like it was in the days of Noah when the Son of Man appears. Before the flood, people lived their lives eating, drinking, marrying, and having children. They didn’t realize the end was near until Noah entered the ark, and then suddenly, the flood came and took them all away in judgment.”  How important righteousness is for us to receive it and be in Christ.  But now, the righteousness of God is tangible and brought to light through Jesus, the Anointed One. This is the righteousness that the Scriptures prophesied would come. It is God’s righteousness made visible through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And now all who believe in him receive that gift.  Amen!

Doctrine of Godliness

 “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul instructs Timothy and this who believe, that if anyone spreads false teaching that does not agree with the healthy instruction of our Lord Jesus, teaching others that holy awe of God is not important, then they prove they know nothing at all! It’s obvious they don’t value or hold dear the healing words of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The doctrine or instruction here is the “fear of the Lord”. As Isaiah said that the spirit of the fear of the Lord is one of the seven spirits of God.  The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD.  To teach that there is no fear of God would be leading people away from the Holy Spirit.  The fear of God is more than simply loving and respecting God.  It is being in awe of I AM THAT I AM - His power, might, majesty, splendour, glory - that causes even angels to cover their face with their wings, in His Presence.    Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!

Exceeding Greatness of Christ’s Power

 “There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:4 KJV

Back then, and later, there were giants on the earth, who were born as a result of the unholy union of heavenly beings with the human daughters.  They were the mighty ones of old, warriors of renown.  The Hebrew word for giants is Nephilim, also used for fallen ones.  Offspring of divine beings and women, they were monsters of iniquity, meant to corrupt the earth and destroy the godly seed.  There were two ways in the old covenant to kill giants - like David, prophesy their downfall, run straight toward them, knock them down and cut off their head.  Or like Caleb and Joshua, conquer them, see them as “bread” to strengthen us.  Intimidation never worked when facing giants.  The Lord Jesus destroyed all the works of the enemy at the Cross, including giants.  In the new covenant, for those of us who are in Christ, we know the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named…and has put all things under His feet.  Glory to God!

The Only Supernatural Knowledge is the Lord Jesus Christ

“And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭KJV

Paul is writing for the Body of Christ - the Church - though mainly pertaining to widows but it applies to men and women who spend their time speaking negatively about others.  Here, widows who go around from house to house as busybodies are only learning to be lazy, making their situation even worse by talking too much, gossiping, and speaking things they shouldn’t. They become far too obsessed with empty things that will not bear good fruit.  Sometimes it is in the garb of prayer meetings where they offer to pray for others!  Sometimes such conversation can delve into the dangerous territory of gaining illegal knowledge of the supernatural.  The only knowledge of the supernatural that is available is through the Lord Jesus Christ Who explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.”  This is our supernatural knowledge, to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means we might attain to the resurrection of the dead.  Amen!

Mature Sons of God

 “and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭5:23-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Enoch and God walked together as intimate friends; then God took him to Himself, and he was seen no more.  The life span of Enoch was three hundred and sixty five years.  Enoch means dedicated one and he was seventh from Adam.  Enoch show us what mature sonship could be.  Luke included Enoch in the genealogy of the Son of God.  Enoch was a man who walked in faith and was translated from earth to heaven without dying.  His life was pleasing to God and he prophesied about the coming of Christ with myriads of holy ones.  Ancient Jewish writings refer to him as one who possessed the secrets of heaven.  God wants us to become mature sons of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but we have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  Let’s choose to mature in faith for God has called us to be His sons.  Thank You Father!

Testify of the Risen Christ

 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Holy Spirit has explicitly revealed: At the end of this age, many will depart from the true faith one after another, devoting themselves to spirits of deception and following demon-inspired revelations and theories.  God’s Spirit still speaks to His people today through gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues, and in many other forms.  To distinguish deceiving prophecies from what the Spirit is saying, we heed what Jesus said, “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me”.  The Holy Spirit always testifies of the risen Christ.  Whether an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher of the Word of God, if they are not speaking of the finished work of the Cross and the risen Lord Jesus, let’s be cautious to receive what is being spoken, and pray for them.  Let’s abide in the Word of God now more than ever, to lead successful and victorious lives in Christ.  Amen!

The Blood of Christ Speaks

 “And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭KJV

Yahweh said, Listen, the voice of your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!  What have you done?  Blood crying is a symbol of the soul crying out for the right to live, demanding for the punishment of the murderer.  Bloodguilt calls for justice, even from the ground, defiling the ground, and staining the conscience.  It is as if the face of the earth blushed as it becomes stained by blood.  Blood spilled outside the body is always plural.  Here Abel’s blood speaks of the descendants that could have lived, their blood too, cries out against Cain.  The blood of Abel cries out for vengeance, but the Blood of Christ cries out for mercy and pardon.  Therefore the Blood of Christ speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.  May we bow before the Blood of Christ, the finished work of the Cross, to receive mercy from any guilt consciousness in our lives.  Forgiveness of sins is the greatest freedom mankind has.  Worthy is the Lamb!

Mystery of Righteousness

 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For the mystery of righteousness is beyond all question! He was revealed as a human being, and as our great High Priest in the Spirit! Angels gazed upon him as a man and the glorious message of his kingly rulership is being preached to the nations! Many have believed in him and he has been taken back to heaven, and has ascended into the place of exalted glory in the heavenly realm. Yes, great is this mystery of righteousness!  In Greek it says “justified in the Spirit” but the Aramaic says “righteousness” which indicates Jesus as the High Priest of our faith.  This whole verse is a deep and beautiful poem.  It reveals hidden truths not only of Jesus’s High Priesthood but also His kingly righteousness, called of God after the order of Melchizedek!  Truly great is this mystery!  Let’s go deep into God’s Word with hunger, humility and a teachable heart to receive the revelation directly from the Holy Spirit!  Thank You Lord!

Did You Hear God Call You?

 “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Yahweh-God called Adam’s name and asked, “Where are you?”  When Adam first sinned, he should have gone immediately to God to beg for mercy and forgiveness.  Instead he did just what millions are doing today: he ran and hid from God so that God had to come and look for him.  God knew where Adam was hiding but wanted him to admit his shame.  The first question God asks in the Bible: “Where are you?” shows that we belong to God.  He longs for each person to examine our lives, be honest with Him, and come out of hiding.  The first question of the New Testament is, “Where is the child born King of the Jews?”  And the first question Jesus asks is, “What do you seek?”  Our answers to these three questions hold the keys to understanding the need of our heart, our life’s passion, and God’s plan for our lives.  Let’s be eager to present ourselves before God, acknowledge Jesus’s Lordship over our lives and seek to fulfil His purpose for our lives.  Amen!

Pray for All

 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is writing that most of all he encourages us to pray with gratitude to God.  Let’s pray for all men with all forms of prayers and requests as we intercede with intense passion.  And let’s pray for every political leader and representative, so that we would be able to live tranquil, undisturbed lives, as we worship the awe-inspiring God with pure hearts.  It is pleasing to our Saviour God to pray for them.  He longs for everyone to embrace His Life and return to the full knowledge of the Truth.  If we think that prayer is a waste of time, that is unbelief indicating an evil heart, and never gets us anywhere.  But if the Church understands its responsibility to intercede selflessly for others who don’t know the good news of Christ,  and with the spirit of sonship in Christ, the gates of hell will not prevail against it and the victory of Christ will be released!  Praise the Lord!

Eden - The Land of Delight

 “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Yahweh-God planted a lush garden paradise in the East, in the Land of Delight; and there He placed the man He had formed.  The Lord wanted to plant Himself in the dust of Adam and become life within Him.  As the tree was to receive nourishment from the soil, so Adam was to draw life and sustenance from his Maker.  Life for Adam depended on what he did with the “Tree.”  Life for you and me depends on what we do with the Tree on which Jesus died.  Jesus Christ is now the Tree of Life and is accessible to all who come by faith.  Man began in a garden, sinned in a garden, and was driven out of a garden.  Then Jesus came.  He went into a garden called Gethsemane as the Perfect Man and tasted the fruits of our suffering and pain.  He was then laid in a garden tomb that we might become the garden of His delight.  Eden means delight and bliss.  Eden is the realm of glory, bliss and delight that God wants to unveil to the believer.  Let’s enjoy the bliss and delight that God has for us in Christ.  Glory to God!