Working Excellently when Falsely Accused

 “for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭40:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Joseph could interpret dreams as God had given him the ability.  This is what Joseph told Pharaoh’s cupbearer in prison.  Joseph said that he had been kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and he had done nothing in Egypt to deserve being thrown into that dungeon.  Jesus was falsely accused, maligned and crucified between two thieves at Calvary.  Like the cupbearer, the one listening to Jesus entered Paradise and the other went into perdition (like the baker who was killed).  Joseph could prophesy the release of another, but not himself.  Often, revelation and prophetic gifts are for others to bless others than for self-consumption.  We need others to come for our need.  The inner strength of loving and serving in painful circumstances made Joseph’s soul as strong as iron.  He learned to serve and to rule over himself first, before God released him to rule over others.  Joseph kept his faith in God through all those years of being forgotten.  God always brings His plans to pass at the appointed time.  Let’s keep the faith!  Amen!

God’s Goodness

 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is asking pertinent questions from us!  Do the riches of God’s extraordinary kindness make us take Him for granted and despise Him?  Haven’t we experienced how kind and understanding He has been to us?  Let’s not mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do we realise that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt our heart and lead us into repentance?  How can we underestimate God’s kindness.  The wealth of His benevolence and His resolute refusal to let go of us is because He continues to hear the echo of His likeness in us!  Thus His patient passion is to shepherd everyone into a radical mind shift.  It is the revelation of God’s goodness that leads us to repentance; it is not our repentance that leads to God’s goodness.  Thank You Jesus for revealing God’s goodness to all mankind!  Amen!

Doing Everything as unto the LORD

 “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.  Potiphar his master realised that Yahweh’s Presence was with Joseph and caused everything he did to prosper, since Joseph excelled in everything.  God’s Presence and favour do more for us than our skill, intelligence, and cleverness could achieve.  God had His Hand in everything that happened to Joseph and because of being in Christ, that can happen to you and me.  Yahweh was continually on Joseph’s lips and Potiphar noticed that Joseph did everything as unto God and gave Him the glory.  There is something trustworthy about a person with no agenda other than to give God glory in everything.  Let’s learn to excel in everything we put our hand to with the sole agenda of giving glory to God because in Christ God’s Presence and favour are with us.  Amen!

Righteousness of God Revealed

 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the Scripture means when it says: “We are right with God through life-giving faith!”  This is the secret of the Gospel; there is no good news in it until the righteousness of God is revealed!  The dynamic of the Gospel is the revelation of God’s faith as the only valid basis for our belief.  The prophets wrote that “they shall declare His righteousness to a people that shall yet be born; that He has done it.”  The Gospel is the revelation of the righteousness of God and unveils how the Father, Son and Spirit succeeded to put mankind right with Themselves.  It is about what God did right, not what Adam did wrong.  No human can justify ourselves, only God can justify mankind. Let’s bow down in humble adoration before our God Who in Christ has made us righteous by faith!  Amen!

The Robe of Righteousness

 “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 off his ornamented robe, his beautiful full-length robe, and threw him into the dry, empty pit.  Joseph’s life is a series of three robes: the ‘robe of favour’ given to him by his father 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 of Israel.  Joseph’s life depict’s Christ’s.  Jesus has covered us who believe in His death, burial and resurrection, with the robe of righteousness.  It is a royal robe of favour to reign as Kingdom of God royals.  Don’t let the enemy rip it off with false accusations.  Let’s be faithful even in betrayal as we wear the robe of righteousness with Christ’s grace and reign in life!  Amen!

The True Light

 “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John recorded that the perfect Light of Truth was coming into the world to shine upon everyone.  A new day for mankind had come.  The authentic Light of Life that illuminates everyone was about to dawn in the world!  The image of God became visible in human form.  In Christ Who is the blueprint of our lives, there is more than enough Light to displace the darkness in every human life.  He is not the created light when God said, “let there be light” and there was light.  He is the “I Am” Light, for He said, “I Am the Light to the world, and those who embrace Me will experience Life-giving Light, and they will never walk in darkness.”  He is the True Light that enlightens everyone!  Let’s walk in Christ’s Light of His Word because the entrance of His Word brings Light, the True Light! Amen!

Being Forgiven

 “And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32:27 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 touched not only his thigh but also his slumbering conscience, when his father Isaac had asked Jacob the same question and he had replied, “I am Esau”.  That time he had got away with taking advantage of his father and brother.  But now Jacob acknowledged by speaking out his name, his nature.  “I am a deceiver, a cheat.  My name is heel grabber.”  The Lord was insisting that His blessings would only begin when Jacob realised the true need of his heart.  Jacob’s confession liberated Jacob and opened the way for inner transformation.  Jacob was forgiven.  We, the redeemed are privileged in Christ to be forgiven and that’s why we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day.  Jacob’s encounter with the living God made him a prince.  Our encounter with the living Christ has made us kings and priests before God!  Hallelujah!

The Tav, the Cross, the Final Word

 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The risen Lord Jesus gave this revelation of Himself to John, His beloved disciple, “I Am the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the ending,” says the Lord God, “Who is, Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.”  The New Testament was written in Greek, hence the Alpha, the first letter in Greek, and the Omega, the last letter in Greek.  In Ancient Hebrew, the first letter of the alphabet is Aleph, an ox’s head signifying strength and power where Jesus says to take His yoke upon us, leading us in His strength and power.  The last letter in Ancient Hebrew is Tav which is the Cross that signifies the finished, final and last work.  The Cross is the Last Word! Jesus is the Lord over all things, He is the past, present and future.  In Christ, we live and move and have our being!  Thank You Jesus, You are the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End!  To You be all the glory!

The Divine Romance

 “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 by himself and draw gallons and gallons of water for her flocks.  One flash of her eyes made Jacob a “superman”.  Jesus rolled away a heavy stone so He could come and meet His Bride.  He drew me to faith in Him, then offered me a drink from the Well of Life!  He is the Lover of my soul!  Glory!

Liberated from Sin-consciousness

 “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yet how much more will the sacred Blood of the Messiah thoroughly cleanse our consciences! For by the power of the Eternal Spirit He has offered Himself to God as the perfect Sacrifice that now liberates us from our dead works to worship and serve the living God.  The Blood of Christ is effective when He presented His own flawless Life through the Eternal Spirit before God, in order to purge our conscience from its frustration under the cul-de-sac rituals of the law.  There is no comparison between a guilt and duty-driven, dead religious system, and the vibrancy of living our life free from sin-consciousness!  This is what the New Covenant priesthood is all about!  Such a dead, religious-routine system, can never compete with the resurrected Christ now realised in us.  Hallelujah!

Grace Blessings

 “And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God tells Jacob, “Never forget, I Am always with you and will protect you wherever you go.  And one day I will bring you back to this land, for I will neither leave you nor fail to fulfil every word I have promised you.”  Shouldn’t God have scolded Jacob for being a crafty deceiver?  God doesn’t rebuke Jacob for his lack of faith but instead reveals Himself to Jacob as the One Who would never leave or forsake him.  The Lord gave these promises to Jacob while he was still unbroken, unreliable, and a deceiver.  This revelation of grace is available to all mankind through Jesus Christ.  No matter what you have done, our God is a confident, capable God Who can subdue and conquer the most difficult of people.  Our transformation may take some time but He is faithful to finish the work of changing us into the image of His Son.  It depends on God’s strength not ours!  Glory to God!

We are God’s Invention

 “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God was delighted to give us birth by the truth of His infallible Word so that we would fulfill His chosen destiny for us and become the favorite ones out of all His creation!  It was according to the Father’s delightful resolve that He birthed us; giving authentic, incarnate expression to the Word.  Just like the first-fruits mirror the harvest, so we mirror the conclusion of His workmanship in the core of our being.  Let’s believe that God has pre-designed and engineered us from the start to be in the same mold and image of His Son according to the exact blueprint of His thought.  We are God’s invention, beloved of the Lord!  Hallelujah!

Come out of Unforgiveness

“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

Isaac had blessed Jacob and now he blesses Esau that he will live by the sword and serve his brother; but when he grows restless, he will break free from his brother’s control.  Esau was a man with his heart attached to the world.  He lived by the sword-principle, always retaliating and unable to forgive.  Many believers today have enough of God to get by, but live with unresolved anger and unforgiveness like Esau.  Esau is described as careless about God’s blessing, and we know that later on when he wanted to inherit his father’s blessing, he was turned away, even though he begged for it with bitter tears, for it was too late then to repent.  Let’s not be careless about God’s blessing on our lives, and know the inheritance of the saints Jesus has won for us.  Instead let our hearts soar with joyful gratitude when we think of how God made us worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light.  Amen!

Jesus’s Special Love for Children

 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Seeing what was happening, Jesus called for the parents, the children, and His disciples to come and listen to Him. Then He told them, “Never hinder a child from coming to Me but let them all come, for God’s kingdom belongs to them as much as it does to anyone else. These children demonstrate to you what faith is all about.”  Children own God’s Kingdom instinctively, their minds are not cluttered with religious perceptions of performance related requirements and identity issues.  They revel in their innocence and childlike confidence!  Jesus said, Whosoever shall receive this child in My Name receives Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receives Him that sent Me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.  Let’s be like little children when we relate to God and call Him our Father!  Let’s discover our identity in the Zoe-life, redeemed by the Lamb!  Amen!

Prophesying Destiny

 “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yahweh’s Angel suddenly appeared to Gideon and said, “Yahweh’s Presence goes with you, man of fearless courage!”  God prophesied destiny over Gideon.  He would become a fearless warrior.  God speaks things that are not visible and brings them into reality.  God called Abraham a father of multitude before he even had a child.  God called Gideon a brave warrior before he even went into battle.  Let’s operate in the faith of God that calls those things that are not as though they are, and be rescued from unbelief!  In the New Covenant made in Christ, God has given us His power of faith to call out things we hope for as the evidence of things not seen!  Hallelujah!

Discerning the Lord’s Body

 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul gives the revelation about the Lord’s Body in our attitude towards communion when he says that anyone who partakes of this meal in an indifferent manner, either because of religious sentiment or merely being blasé about the meaning of the meal, eats and drinks judgment upon themselves!  The Human Body of Jesus represents the judgment of every single human life; to fail to acknowledge this is to deliberately exclude yourself from the blessing of the New Covenant. Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.  No one can afford to underestimate what happened to us on the Cross!  To discern the Lord’s Body is to grasp what God’s faith saw when Jesus died!  Glory to God!

The Servant Heart of the Bride

 “and let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭24:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Abraham’s servant asked a sign from Yahweh that as he says to one of the girls come to fetch water from the well that she please lower her jar and give him to drink, that she would be the girl chosen to be Isaac’s wife.  The girl should reply to Abraham’s servant to drink and she would draw water for his camels too.  By this sign the servant would know that Yahweh has shown His gracious love for Abraham, his master.  This is what happened when Rebekah came to the well.  The woman’s willingness to serve ten thirsty camels from the well showed she had a true servant-spirit.  Each camel could drink 20 gallons each so Rebekah would have lowered her bucket many times till it was dark after she was done.  She is a picture of the servant-bride of Jesus Christ.  One act of humble service will affect the world and bring promotion to our own life.  Let’s not live a life of entitlement waiting for things to be suitably perfect for us before we step into service, but let’s humbly cooperate with the Holy Spirit to fulfil our purpose in life in sweet surrender.  Amen!

Foolishness of God

 “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It seems so foolish that God should die mankind’s death on the Cross; it seems so weak of God to suffer such insult; yet their wisest schemes and most powerful display of genius cannot even begin to comprehend or compete with God in His weakest moment on the Cross.  There was never a time where God’s royal rule was in question.  In giving Himself as a scapegoat to be murdered by His own creatures assumes a weakness that doesn’t compromise His authority at all!  In the genius of His wisdom He defeats the entire system of judgment under the law of performance governing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  The seeming frailty of the slain Lamb never compromised the authority of the Lion of Judah!  Hallelujah to the Lamb!

Hidden in Christ

 “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭91:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Through this Psalm we are reminded to be safe and secure in Christ, because now we are in the new covenant.  We will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against us.  We don’t fear a thing!  Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble us, nor will the powers of evil that are launched against us.  This is not just pestilence and natural dangers but the realm of spiritual darkness that comes against God’s servants.  These spirits are “arrows that fly in daytime” or “a pestilence that walks” in the darkness.  God’s sheltered ones are kept from the harm that could come from natural sources or supernatural sources.  What a wonderful place to hide in and be secure!  Thank You Father that because we are in Christ we are hidden under the shadow of El Shaddai!

Election in God

 “knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:4-5‬ ‭KJV

Paul encourages the Church in Thessalonika that they are dearly loved by God and Paul knew that He has chosen them to be His very own. For Paul’s preaching of the Gospel came to them not merely in the form of words but in mighty power infused with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. Surely they remember how Paul and his companions lived their lives transparently before them to encourage them.  They are God’s beloved friends who have come to understand that they are God’s idea to begin with!  The Gospel Paul preached birthed in the Thessalonian Church so much more than intellectual reasoning; their encounter bore witness to the dynamic of the Holy Spirit as they became thoroughly permeated with the well done announcement and perceived within themselves the full impact of their immediate influence.  Let’s not generalise the Gospel but personalise this glorious news in our relationship with the Almighty God through Christ.  Thank You Holy Spirit for helping us in intimacy with Jesus, our Beloved!

Interceding for the Unrighteous

 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. 17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭20:7, 17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Sarah was taken by Abimelech into his harem because Abraham told him that she was Abraham’s sister! But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream and told him to return Abraham’s wife, and Abraham, a prophet, would intercede on Abimelech’s behalf so that he would live.  But if he didn’t give Sarah back, he and his entire household would certainly die.  Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham along with sheep, cattle, and both male and female servants.  When Abraham prayed, God healed Abimelech’s wife and female servants and they began to have babies again.  God speaks in dreams not only to the righteous but also to the lost and shares His Heart with them.  Considering that Abraham had never had a child through Sarah, God asked Abraham to pray for someone else to give birth!  Abraham had no confidence in himself as he prayed this prayer of faith but had total confidence that it had to be God doing the miracle.  Today, in the new covenant, God requires us as prophets to intercede for the lost that Jesus would appear to them in a dream and they would receive new birth in Christ.  Amen!

Reflecting Christ

 “and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus is telling the leaders in the synagogue that those in the graves will hear God’s voice and they will come out of their graves! Those who have done what is good will experience a resurrection to eternal life. And those who have practiced evil will taste the resurrection of judgment!  Those who have reflected Christ in their life and engaged in that which is beneficial will have a resurrection to life and those who have reflected what is not Christ and have done that which is worthless to a resurrection of judgment.  It is in the now that we draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.  Glory to God!

Our Good Shepherd

 “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34:23‬ ‭KJV

This is the prophecy Ezekiel received six hundred years before the Messiah that God will designate One Shepherd over the entire flock - His faithful Servant David.  He will watch over them and care for them.  He will be their Shepherd.  This was fulfilled by Jesus Who said “I am the Good Shepherd Who lays down My life as a sacrifice for the sheep…I alone am the Good Shepherd, and I know those whose hearts are Mine, for they recognize Me and know Me”.  Let’s be those who recognise our Good Shepherd, recognising and knowing Him.  Thank You, Jesus for laying down Your Life as a sacrifice for us so we would know You and be known by You.  Amen!

God’s Love makes us Perfect

 “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

By living in God, love has been brought to its full expression in us so that we may fearlessly face the day of judgment, because all that Jesus now is, so are we in this world.  So now, with us awakening to our full inclusion in this love union, everything is perfect.  There is no contradiction in its completeness.  Even in the face of crisis, we have confident fellowship with Him, because as He is, so are we in this world - our lives are mirrored in Him.  We are as blameless in this life as Jesus is!  This perfect love union with Jesus is the source of our confidence whenever we face crisis.  Fear has no place in this perfect love union!  Glory to God!

Winning Souls

 “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:3, 9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God tells Joshua that every part of the land where he marches, God will give him, as God promised Moses.  God commands Joshua to be strong and brave, and not to yield to fear or be discouraged, for the Lord is Yahweh his God, and will be with Joshua wherever he goes.  To place the sole of your foot upon the land or upon your enemies was a metaphor for military victory.  God promised Joshua that he would possess a vast territory; no one would be able to defeat him; God would be with him as He was with Moses; God would never fail him, nor abandon him and he would enjoy prosperity and success; that God would be with him wherever he went.  What God promised Joshua, He promises us for these promises are fulfilled in the new covenant in the better Joshua - Jesus, in Whom all the promises are Yes and Amen.  Today, it is not territory, but the hearts of all people that we are fighting for as we intercede for them to receive Christ as Lord.  But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!  Hallelujah!

The Greater Reality

 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our encouragement is to see ourselves co-raised with Christ!  Let our mind dwell on our co-inclusion in Christ and let’s relocate ourselves mentally!  Let’s engage our thoughts with Throne Room realities where we are co-seated with Christ in the executive authority of God’s Right Hand.  As we become affectionately acquainted with Throne Room thoughts, we will be kept from being distracted again by the earthly realm.  Whatever we face in our daily lives, let’s acquaint ourselves with the greater reality - the things that are above! Let’s not engage the energy of the things that are below!  Because we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.  A renewed mind conquers the space previously occupied by worthless pursuits and habits.  Let’s occupy ourselves with this new order of life!  Amen!

Cleaving to God

 “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭KJV

When they heard Naomi’s words, Orpah and Ruth wailed and sobbed again.  Then Orpah embraced and kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and went back to Moab but Ruth clung tightly to Naomi and refused to let go of her.  Ruth cleaved in a sense of permanent bonding.  In the Bible, this signifies a covenantal devotion or clinging to God - it is a major term for spiritual cleaving to God.  Ruth was entering into a covenant with Naomi.  The Jewess Naomi is a type of Israel and the Gentile Ruth is a type of the Church.  As Ruth stayed connected to Naomi (Israel), Naomi would lead her to Boaz (a type of our Kinsman-Redeemer, Yeshua).  The old Ruth died as we too have been crucified with Christ.  His Cross is our cross.  Nevertheless we live for Christ lives in us as the life that we live in the flesh, we live by the faith of the Son of God, our Kinsman-Redeemer, Who loves us and gave His life for us.  Hallelujah!

The Greatest Opportunity

 “Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus spoke eschatology to His disciples as He told them that there will be upheavals of every kind. Nations will go to war against each other, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be terrible earthquakes and seismic events of epic proportion that result in famines in one place after another. There will be horrible plagues and epidemics, cataclysmic storms on the earth, and astonishing signs and cosmic disturbances in the heavens.  Every man-made system will be challenged to the core as nation will arise against and kingdom against kingdom.  There will be massive earthquakes in various places and famines and plagues.  Also, terrors and ominous signs in the heavens.  Everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  This is the greatest golden opportunity for the Church to move in power to bring in the harvest of souls.  Let’s get ready for it! Amen!

Christ our Wisdom

 “Get wisdom, get understanding: Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: Love her, and she shall keep thee.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Solomon’s sound advice to make wisdom our quest— search for the revelation of life’s meaning.  Solomon says to not let what he says go in one ear and out the other and to stick with wisdom and she will stick to us, protecting us throughout our days. She will rescue all those who passionately listen to her voice.  The lessons of wisdom are meant to be passed on from parents to children.  It is not enough to acquire wisdom; we must love her and listen wholeheartedly to her instruction.  Wisdom will correct us and adjust our hearts to discipline.  We must embrace the corrections of wisdom in order to mature spiritually.  In the new covenant of grace, there is One greater than Solomon - Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Glory to God!

Eternal Redemption for Mankind

 “neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As High Priest, Christ’s permission to enter the Holy Place was not secured by the blood of beasts.  By His Own Blood He obtained access on behalf of the human race.  Only one act was needed for Him to enter the most sacred place of grace and there to institute a ransom of perpetual consequence.  The perfection of redemption He secured needs no further sacrifice.  There is nothing we need do to add weight to what He accomplished once and for all.  The only possible priesthood activity we can now engage in is to continually bring a sacrifice of the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name - no blood, just fruit - even our acts of self-sacrifice, giving of time and money etc. are all just the fruit of our constant gratitude!  Let’s be constantly giving thanks to Him Who secured our perfect redemption and opened the way for us to give thanks in the Most Holy Place as priests under our High Priest!  Hallelujah!

A New Thing

 “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.”

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Habakkuk, a prophet is having a dialogue with God when he asks God how long must he get no answer from Him when there is wickedness, disaster, violence, conflict and controversy all around.  The Lord replies, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” When we see the godless nations we feel powerless as did the prophet Habakkuk.  But the Lord encourages us and gives us hope.  The new thing the Lord is doing this year is about to take place and we’re going to find it hard to believe.  Let’s be sensitive to the mighty Holy Spirit to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church, lest we miss it and fall by the wayside.  Let’s co-labour with God Almighty to accomplish the free course of the glorious Gospel of Christ to all the nations.  Let’s make ourselves available to God to fulfill His purpose through our surrendered lives.  Amen!