The Perfection of Redemption

 “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation is that Christ our Passover Lamb has already been sacrificed once and for all, so the old leaven of sin-consciousness, which was upheld by the law, has already been thoroughly removed.  On that basis alone, we are now able to permanently rid ourselves of the old leaven mindset of tolerating sin, which was our reasoning under the law-system!  The new covenant is the new lump of dough without a trace of the leaven of the old system that was done away with in Christ.  In the very repetition of these ritual sacrifices the awareness of guilt is reinforced rather than removed.  The testimony of God is my only persuasion that Jesus Christ died my death on the Cross!  The perfection of the redemption Christ secured needs no further sacrifice.  The only sacrifice is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His Name.  This is our constant gratitude!  Thank You Jesus!

New Covenant Triumph

 “Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭36:1‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah prophesied in the reign of Hezekiah.  In the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them.  Sennacherib wanted to take possession of Jerusalem by threats and intimidation but was unsuccessful.  Hezekiah means ‘strengthened by Yah, captured by Yah, power of Yah’. He was considered to be a godly king releasing the greatest period of restoration in Israel’s history.  Sennacherib means ‘the thorn laid waste’.  Hezekiah experienced the power of the Lord Yahweh in the old covenant.  Sennacherib retreated from trying to take Jerusalem and was killed by his own sons when he returned back.  How much more in the new covenant by which Jesus, the King of kings destroyed all the works of the devil, do we His covenant people, might walk in victory manifesting the triumph of the Cross of Calvary!  Hallelujah!

Son-ship to be Christ-like

 “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul writes to the church at Corinth that he has sent his beloved son Timothy to them who is rock-solid in his faith.  Timothy will remind them of Paul and reinforce Paul’s specific message and emphasis in every place and church Paul had visited.  Paul’s emphasis is unique in the way he teaches the “in Christ” and the “Christ in you”, and Christ’s finished work Gospel.  There is no other Gospel in spite of the many so-called Christian products branded ‘Gospel’.  If any hint of the law remains, it is not good news but merely religious people’s ideas, distracting from the Gospel of Christ.  Let’s remain true to the Gospel of grace, this glorious mystery of Christ to the nations.  To be a Christian is to be Christ-like - the sonship given to all mankind through faith in the finished work of Christ!  Hallelujah!

The Last-Days Church Rising

 “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭35:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah’s beautiful prophecy of the last-days Church rising up out of the wilderness to shine in all the radiance of its glory.  It is the restoration of the Kingdom realm of God bringing hope to the weak and struggling.  The wilderness and dry land will be joyously glad!  The desert will blossom like a rose and rejoice!  Every dry and barren place will burst forth with abundant blossoms, dancing and whirling with delight.  Lebanon’s lush splendour covers it, the magnificent beauty of Carmel and Sharon.  God’s people will see the awesome glory of Yahweh, the beautiful grandeur of our God.  God’s people in the last days will break forth and blossom with beauty and glory as saints of the Most High, those redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb!  To God be all the glory!

God Gives Us Increase

 “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s revelation was that if all he succeeded to do was to attach others to him as individuals, then he has failed them; the one who plants is not more important than the one who waters; it is not about any church or denomination or ministry, but it is about us realising God’s work within us.  The authentic ministry’s one objective is to reveal Christ in us! It is about discovering the full extent of our own salvation: it is God working in us both to will and to do!  This “working out our own salvation” has nothing in common with the guilt, willpower-restricted law of works system.  It is discovering His working in us, energising us with both the desire and the capacity to give expression to Him.  Let’s surrender ourselves to Him to give us the increase to work in and through us!  Amen!

The Supreme Sacrifice

 “The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭34:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Isaiah prophesied, the Lord Yahweh has a judgment-sword dripping with blood.  It is smeared with fat, dripping with the blood of lambs and goats, and covered with the fat of ram’s kidneys.  Lord Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.  Bozrah was the capital of Edom and means ‘sheepfold’.  It is Busaira in Jordan which was Idumea in Jesus’s life on earth.  The sacrifice the Lord offered in the sheepfold points to the supreme sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God.  No sacrifice can compare to this.  Let’s thank God that we can approach boldly to the Almighty God’s throne based on this supreme sacrifice.  Amen!

Unveiling the Mystery of God’s Wisdom

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Paul reveals, the Spirit proceeding from God unveils the gifts of His generosity.  He has graced us with understanding so that we may know what He has always had in mind for us; this is so unlike the secular spirit of the wisdom of the world where everything has a price tag!  Christ is the unveiling of the mystery of God’s wisdom - now we know how God redeemed our righteousness and our wholeness in Christ.  Mankind is God’s design when we are in Christ, associated in oneness with Him.  Our wisdom, righteousness, holiness are sourced in this union.  Secular religion is the product of the spirit of this world where everything is performance based, only the heroes of the moment are acclaimed, the rest are reduced to spectators and audience.  But thanks be to God that in Christ we are redeemed completely.  This He has freely given us.  Let’s believe it and receive it.  Hallelujah!

On Zion the King of Glory

 “he shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies of the righteous King and those who are seated with Him.  They will live safely on the heights and make their safe place the mountain strongholds, with bread in steady supply and water assured.  This is in Zion for those who are in Christ, that supremely privileged place in the heavenly realm who receive a supernatural supply of revelation-bread and living water.  Our eyes are fixed on our beautiful King, not on ourselves or our ministries.  In this high place, our eyes will see the King in His stunning beauty and gaze upon His broad domain.  No earthly king is in view here, only the King of Glory, the King of kings!  Glory to God!

Jesus Christ represents Us

 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that of God’s doing are we in Christ.  He is both the genesis and genius of our wisdom; a wisdom that reveals how righteous, sanctified and redeemed we already are in Him.  Mankind’s association in Jesus is God’s doing.  In God’s economy, Jesus Christ represents us - what mankind could never achieve through personal discipline and willpower, as taught in every religion, God’s faith accomplished in Christ.  Of His design we are in Christ, associated in oneness with Him.  Our wisdom is sourced in Him and our righteousness and holiness originate from Him.  Holiness equals wholeness and harmony of a person’s spirit, soul and body.  Our redemption is sanctioned in Him.  He redeemed our identity, our sanity, our health, our joy, our peace, our innocence and our complete well-being!  Let’s glory only in our God.  Amen!

Gift of Righteousness

 “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭32:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied the outpouring of the Spirit of God because of the finished work of the Cross.  This is the work of righteousness which gives us peace and the result of righteousness is quietness and confidence forever.  This peace comes from God’s righteousness given to us who are in Christ by grace and is not from the works of man.  God’s people will live free from worry in secure homes and quiet resting places.  Jesus is the quiet resting place for every lover of God who is in Christ.  Thank You Jesus for giving us by Your grace, righteousness as a gift, to You be the glory!

Greater Grace Dimension

 “And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The other disciples dragged the net full of fish with a little boat.  They were only 100 yards from the shore.  John, in this final chapter, beautifully highlights a significant parallel reflecting on the first encounter with Jesus and His disciples.  In the first, James, John and Peter had toiled the whole night with nothing to show for their efforts.  Now when Peter decides to go back to fishing with the others following him, Jesus reveals the greater grace dimension that eclipses their best efforts and intentions, their highs and lows in their familiar world.  In that first encounter, Peter had recognised Jesus as the coming Christ.  In this encounter, Peter recognises Jesus as the resurrected Christ.  This revelation is the rock foundation on which the Church is built.  This is the revelation where the risen Christ offers us friendship and asks us if we love Him inspite of whether we denied Him earlier.  While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  What amazing love is this.  Believe it and receive it!  Amen!

The Lion of Judah has Prevailed!

 “For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭31:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah exhorted the Jews to trust in the Lord Yahweh.  This is what Yahweh said to Isaiah, “When a lion, the great beast, growls over his prey, and when the shepherds band together against him, the lion is neither terrified by their shouts nor disturbed by all the noise they make.  So will Yahweh, the Commander of Angel Armies, shield Jerusalem.  He will protect her, deliver her, spare her, and rescue her!”  The mighty Lion of Judah’s tribe, the root of David—He has prevailed and conquered! He is the worthy One, Jesus Christ to Whom we belong!  Whether Jew or non-Jew, He is the God of all mankind.  Let’s put our complete confidence and trust in Him Who is worthy!  Hallelujah!

The Basis of True Forgiveness is the Cross of Jesus Christ

 “whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20:23‬ ‭KJV

Jesus after His resurrection showed Himself to the frightened disciples hiding in a room together and spoke peace to them saying that if they forgive someone’s sins, they are gone and forgotten and if they don’t let go, then they are stuck with them.  The basis of true forgiveness is the death and closure that Jesus brought on the Cross, to whatever it was that testified against us.  His glorious resurrection and the companionship of the Holy Spirit as the very breath of our zoe-life, are the essence and authority of our commission which is to announce mankind’s redeemed innocence!  The Holy Spirit seals and confirms our joint-resurrection with Jesus to be celebrated and endorsed by us!  Glory to God!

Celebrating the Victory - Jesus is Alive!

 “And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah saw prophetically the winning of the victorious battle when the Messiah was punished on each individual’s behalf and satisfied the Lord Yahweh’s justice.  Every stroke of Yahweh’s punishing rod will be to the sound of cymbals and strumming harps.  God Himself fights them in battle with dancing!  This is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Christ from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places! He is risen indeed, Hallelujah!

It is Finished

 “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19:30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Jesus had taken the vinegar He said, “It is finished!”  He then bowed His head and handed over the spirit.  The Greek word ‘tetelestai’ communicates the final consummation of all things; everything is now concluded!  Nothing that happens in time could possibly intercept this act of God’s redemptive genius.  The only possible way we can delay the glory that follows the Cross is by underestimating what happened there when Jesus cried: “It is finished”, and died.  There is no eschatology of anyone’s guess or definition that carries more weight than God’s ‘eschatos’ (final) word that He spoke to us in Sonship - in the One Who bears the very stamp of His nature and radiates the Father’s Being.  We can make Jesus’s word on the Cross, “It is finished” our complete and final focus - an ocean of meaning in a drop of language!  Let’s believe in the finished work of the Cross!  Amen!

The Potter & the Clay

 “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah was prophesying against the decadence of the Jews, saying woe to you who think you can hide your plan from the Lord Yahweh.  Ha! Do you actually think your secret schemes are so hidden that you say, ‘Who sees us doing this?  No one knows what we’re doing!’  Oh, how great is your perversion!  Who is more intelligent - the potter or the clay?  Should a created thing say to its creator, ‘You didn’t make me’?  Should a clay pot say to the potter, ‘You don’t understand’?  The Lord Yahweh forms, fashions, frames, makes us but before that He imagined us.  When Yahweh formed man from the dust of the ground, He imagined us.  The arrogance of man opposed God then and even now certain world systems of governance defy God.  Some believe that after having deposed all present world rulers, they will ascend into heaven and force God Himself from His Throne!  But thank Yahweh Who said of Jesus, “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten thee.”  We, through faith, are begotten in Christ to eternal sonship.  What wonder!  What glory!

Mission Fulfilled

 “that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18:32‬ ‭KJV

When Pilate gave permission for the Jews to judge Jesus according to their law, they said they were not allowed the death sentence.  This was also to confirm what Jesus said about His manner of death, when He said He would be lifted up.  Crucifixion was a Roman and not a Jewish punishment; the Jews considered it a curse for a man to hang on a tree.  John said that they had witnessed with their own eyes how, in the unveiling of the prophetic word, when Jesus was lifted up upon the Cross as the Lamb of God, He lifted up our sins and broke its dominion and rule over us!  This was the very essence of the mission of Jesus.  Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!  Glory to God!

Christ is Strong & Mighty

 “Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭28:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied to behold!  The Lord has One Who is strong and mighty, and He will come like a hailstorm and like a destroying wind!  With a storm of massive, flooding waters, His mighty power will knock it to the ground.  The immediate fulfilment of this prophecy was the Assyrian army coming to invade the northern kingdom of Israel.  The distant fulfilment was the advent of Jesus, the Mighty One, Whom the Father sent with the sword of truth to demolish the lies and pride of man.  The future fulfilment will be the appearing of the overcomers who follow the Lamb as dread champions and who overturn the tables of religion and the arrogance of man.  Every child of God overcomes the world, for our faith is the victorious power that triumphs over the world.  Let’s be triumphant in our faith in what Christ accomplished on the Cross!  Amen!

Glorify Your Son

 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Having said these things, Jesus lifted up His eyes into the heavenly sphere and spoke, “Father, the hour has come; this is the culmination of time!  Glorify Your Son; endorse Your opinion of Your Son so that the Son May mirror His opinion of You and cause Your dignity and worth to be made renowned and rendered illustrious in order to become manifest and acknowledged throughout!  Here there is no conflict of interest - only glory repeated in the other!  And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together!  Within the mirror reflection of glory You co-echo every nook and cranny of flesh on exhibit in the Son’s authority of the I AM!  In order that every detailed aspect of what it takes to live life in the flesh may be endued with the life of the ages, which is simply knowing You.  May we know the Father and His Son Jesus!  Hallelujah!

Christ Disarmed the Serpent

 “In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭27:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah saw in that day of the Lord Yahweh, that He will mercilessly wield His massive, mighty sword and punish Leviathan, the swift, slithering serpent.  He will slay the dragon of the sea - Leviathan, the twisting serpent.  This crooked serpent is a serpent of confusion.  Satan always twists and distorts the words of God to deceive humanity.  As the serpent beguiled Eve, so he subtly corrupts the minds from the simplicity that is in Christ.  But the sword of the Lord is merciless to the enemies of Christ.  The massive, mighty sword of the Lord is the message of the Cross.  It is mighty to save and will thwart every principality and power.  This is the power of the Cross that not only did Christ die, and was buried but that He rose again from the tomb disarming all powers and principalities and making an open shame of them.  Hosanna! Hallelujah to the Lamb!

The Great Companion’s Conviction

 “of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16:9-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John explains God’s tremendous care for all mankind, that the Holy Spirit in us will persuade them concerning their sin.  Sin is to live out of context with the blueprint of one’s design, and out of tune with God’s original harmony.  In this union with us, the great Companion will also convince the world of righteousness because in disappearing out of sight, to be face to face with the Father, the Spirit of Truth will interpret the conclusion of Jesus’s mission which is mankind’s association in Christ and our redeemed innocence.  The intimate union with the Father that Jesus displayed while present in His physical body, will be made visible in us!  Then the world will be convinced that the judgment that was their due, was accomplished when the ruler of this world system was judged.  Just like Jesus and the Father, the Holy Spirit will not condemn the world but rather convince the world!  In Jesus dying mankind’s death, closure was brought to the system of the law of works and performance as dictating and defining human life.  Conviction comes in mankind’s co-crucifixion and joint-descent in Jesus into their hell; and in their co-resurrection and co-elevation to be seated together with Him in heavenly places!  Glory to God!

Let Our Mind be Consumed with Christ

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies about the day that is coming when perfect, absolute peace surrounds those whose imaginations are consumed with the Lord our Salvation - Yeshua - in Whom they confidently trust.  Our imagination frames up our reality.  It is unfortunate that many today have rejected the God-created imagination that each of us possesses.  Our imagination must be set apart for God and continually made holy.  For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Since our imagination has been sanctified by the Holy Spirit through the Blood of the Cross, we think on Jesus and discipline our imagination to be in alignment with the Word of God.  We are then in perfect peace.  Amen!

Being Fruitful in Prayer

 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15:4, 8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John recalls how Jesus explains that our seamless union of Christ in me and I in Christ, is pictured in the vine: the shoot cannot bear fruit outside of this union.  In its abiding in the vine, fruit happens naturally - as with our abiding in Christ.  These union-inspired desires bear the very fruit that endorses the Father’s glory!  This is where true discipleship is born.  The Father’s glory is realised in the perfect union of the believer’s will with Christ’s.  Let’s have a perfect union relationship with Christ where our will is completely united with His Will and His Word finds voice in us.  Then our conversation is inspired by His words abiding in us and all our prayers will bear fruit!  Hallelujah!

Endless Victory

 “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied that the gloom of death will be swallowed up in victory forever by the Lord Yahweh!  And God will wipe away every tear from every face.  He will remove every trace of disgrace that His people have suffered throughout the world, for the Lord Yahweh has promised it!  The gloom of death is like a shroud over every life.  The curse of death is defeated in Christ so that all may come to the rich, joyous, feast of the Lord.  Jesus’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension have brought an endless victory, endless life, and the conquest of every enemy.  Now He waits for His sons and daughters to arise and become the second witness to His eternal victory.  Our expectation is only from the Lord Jesus and not from our parents, our spouse, our children, our extended family and loved ones or friends, mentors or life coaches.  Christ is our sufficiency!  Hallelujah!

Our Eternal Companion

 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John writes about Jesus’s last intimate conversation with His disciples who stayed with Him till then.  Jesus says that in His prayerful engagement with the Father, He will give another close Companion to be with His disciples - in such an intimate way that His immediate Presence will continue to be inseparably one with us in timeless ages to come!  He is the Spirit of Truth, our Eternal Companion, Whom those trapped in the sense ruled world, just cannot get to grips with!  Their visual horizon is veiled, and they are unable to understand what they cannot see.  But in our intimacy with Jesus, we are familiar with this seamless union and the Spirit’s continued Presence within us.  He is inseparably in us to remind us of our true identity in Christ.  In the Incarnate Word, the spirit dimension is not a foreign place, neither is the Spirit a foreign Person to us.  Let’s walk in the Spirit!  Amen!

Belonging in the Kingdom of God

 “Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭24:1, 4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies here all that is revealed in John’s Revelation many hundreds of years later.  Behold!  The Lord Yahweh is about to devastate the earth and make it desolate.  He will mar its surface and scatter the inhabitants.  The ground itself mourns and withers; the soil languishes over the sins of its people, and the wealthy elite wither and languish.  Indeed the ground mourns over the sin of its inhabitants and dries up with drought.  That’s why Jesus had to come and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.  You cannot enter into the Kingdom of God unless you are born of the water and of the Spirit.  When the whole world is reeling in chaos, we who belong to the Kingdom of God are preserved by the might of God’s power.  Let’s be those who prosper in the midst of famine like Isaac did, for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power, and we are heirs of this Kingdom where Christ rules as King of kings and Lord of lords.  Hallelujah!

Washed by the Word

 “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13:11, 27-28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John here recounting Jesus’s last time with His twelve disciples tells of how Jesus knew who would betray Him - that is why He said, “you are not all equally clean.”  Not all of Jesus’s disciples even today, give the Word the same opportunity to wash their minds!  According to Jewish culture, the guest was supposed to bathe before coming to a feast, and so only the feet had to be washed on removing the sandals.  As Jesus gave the morsel of bread dipped in broth to Judas, wrapped up in that was the opportunity for satan to now fully engage the mind of Judas.  Then Jesus said to Judas, “Do what you’ve got to do and get it over and done with.”  Even now the other disciples did not suspect Judas in the least.  Amazing how Jesus never treated Judas any differently even though He knew that Judas was stealing money from them.  What a loving Redeemer we have, Who gives us every opportunity to turn to Him and away from our wicked ways!  Let’s be those who allow His Word to wash and cleanse us.  Amen!

Raise Up Sons & Daughters

 “Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies concerning Tyre, a Phoenician port on the Meditteranean sea and Sidon, a coastal town now in Lebanon, but at that time a symbol of power, commerce and trafficking - wealthy, influential and evil. Sidon, be ashamed, for the sea, the stronghold of the sea, declares, “I have never gone into labour to give birth to children, nor have I raised up sons or daughters.”  Here the sea is personified as childless.  There are churches today that are “childless”, without evangelism outreach, and don’t “raise up sons and daughters”, training and equipping them for ministry.  Let’s have the obedience to believe the resurrected Jesus when He says to “go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”  Amen!

Jesus Draws Mankind to Himself

 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John recalls that Jesus said when He is lifted up from the earth, He will draw all mankind and every definition of judgment to Himself.  The Jews’ punishment for their culprits was stoning to death but the Roman judgment was for the culprit to be lifted up and crucified.  Jesus would be lifted up on the Cross, descend into the depths of our hell, the according to the prophetic word, after two days, the entire human race He represents, will be co-quickened and on the third day, be co-raised, out of the lowest parts of the earth and elevated to the highest heavens!  The judgment of the ruler of this world and the world system would be cast out, the serpent’s head crushed!  This is what the Holy Spirit will convince the world of.  Sin’s dominion and rule over mankind will be forever broken as we behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!  Let’s believe in what Jesus has done for us.  Hallelujah!

Christ-Life in Us

 “Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭22:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah receives instruction from the Lord Yahweh, the Commander of Hosts, saying to go to Shebna, the treasurer of the palace, and say to him, “What right do you have to be here, and who gave you permission?  And why do you chisel out a tomb for yourself here, carving out your burial place, a dwelling place in the rock?..”. Shebna becomes a picture of the Adam-life, which is the spirit of anti-Christ that seeks self-promotion and rests in oneself.  But God has replaced our Shebna with the Christ-life within us where we rest in Christ.  Shebna having carved out his tomb was a gross display of self-promotion.  The principle of replacement is found all throughout Scripture - Isaac for Ishmael, David for Saul, Esther for Vashti, Samuel for Eli, Matthias for Judas etc.  Let’s be those who are crucified with Christ allowing the risen Christ to live through us by His faith and His love.  Amen!