Obedience like Christ

 “According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭39‬:‭42‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So the people of Israel followed all of the Lord’s instructions to Moses.  This reminds us why we spend time in God's Word. We abide in His Word, and then walk in obedience to His commandments by His grace. That's only possible by His grace. Not just individually, but as the Church, the people of God doing all that God called us to do together.  Jesus showed us how because though He is a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered.  Jesus’s obedience was perfect and as followers of Christ, we follow Him in His obedience.  Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by Himself. He does only what He sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”  Let’s be obedient children of God.  Amen!

Great Privilege to the Church

 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus explains to His disciples to receive this truth: Whatever they forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever they release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven.  This is the awesome privilege God has given to the Body of Christ, the Church, to operate at this level of supernatural power so that God in Christ is glorified and the Kingdom of God increases on earth.  By the preaching of the Gospel, the enemy of the Cross is defeated.  But if our Gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  Let’s ask for God to use us, the Church, to allow the light of the Gospel to shine on them and remove the powers of darkness to deliver them.  Amen!

The True Church

 “This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭38‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is an inventory of The Dwelling that housed The Testimony drawn up by order of Moses for the work of the Levites under Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest.  In the wilderness, the best material and the best craftsmanship were got, to build the Ark of the Covenant.  Every bit of it was a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ.  All this is in the old covenant but in the new covenant, through the Blood of the Lord Jesus, God’s image has been restored in mankind through faith and He has come to tabernacle in us who believe.  We are His holy habitation!  The best has been used to restore us - the Blood of Jesus our God.  Now we don’t need to build elaborate buildings or temples!  We are the Body of Christ, the true Church.  “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them” said Jesus.  Hallelujah!

The Price of Redemption Christ Paid

 “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus told Peter, “But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out your hook, and the first fish that rises up will have a coin in its mouth. It will be the exact amount you need to pay the temple tax for both of us.”  This miracle is a picture of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The depth of the sea is the depth of the suffering Jesus passed through for us on the Cross.  The fish rose to the surface on its own, it was not caught.  In the mouth of our Lord Jesus is the full price of our debt, for He declared the work of redemption finished and the “tax” paid in full.  Although Peter told the tax collectors that Jesus pays His taxes without checking first, Jesus backed up Peter’s statement by performing this miracle.  Jesus let Peter off the hook by getting the exact amount of the tax for Peter and Himself!  It is the faith in the finished work of the Cross we release with our mouth, that Jesus backs up with miracles.  Let’s not depend on our own works but on the work of Christ’s redemption for us at the Cross.  Amen!

The Anointing of the Holy Spirit

 “And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭37‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then he made the sacred anointing oil and the fragrant incense, using the techniques of a skilled incense maker.  In the old covenant this anointing oil and pure incense of sweet spices, was meant for the priests and kings and never to be used by outsiders or in a common way.  This oil and spices consisted of myrrh, cinnamon, calamus, cassia and olive oil.  Anointing was Messiah in Hebrew and Christos in Greek.  God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.  In the new covenant, we have been anointed by the same Holy Spirit, the oil of gladness to proclaim Jesus Who has made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Christ Our Rock

 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus said, “I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this rock will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build My church—My legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it!”  It is Peter’s revelation from God as he acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of the living God, that confession of faith in this unshakable truth, that is the Rock on which He builds His Church, the foundation for the Church.  This Rock is the Lord Jesus Christ.  Ekklesia is the classical Greek for church and is really a group of people who have been summoned and gathered together to govern.  For Jesus to use this term means He is giving the keys of governmental authority in His Kingdom to the Church for His Kingdom to come on earth and His will to be done as it is in heaven.  No power of the enemy has stopped Church down the ages and it continues to increase.  Thank You Jesus!

Foundations & Pillars

 “and the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭36‬:‭38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And he made the five pillars of it with their hooks, and overlaid their ornamental tops and joinings with gold, but their five sockets were of bronze.  This was the tabernacle in the wilderness.  Now we are the holy habitation of our God, wherein our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, in the new covenant that the Lord Jesus Christ cut with us by His own Blood.  These pillars are grace, truth, mercy, peace and love and that is Who our God is.  Jesus embodies grace, truth, mercy, peace and love.  For the Church to release this, our five foundations are prayer, praise and worship, preaching and teaching the Word of God which is the glorious Gospel, the flow of the Holy Spirit, and fellowship with other believers.  Let’s be the pillars that our God wants us to be, fulfilling His purpose in our lives.  Amen!

True Worship

 “And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬, ‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus encountered there a Canaanite woman who shouted out to him, “Lord, Son of David, show mercy to me! My daughter is horribly afflicted by a demon that torments her.”  Canaan included the region of modern-day Lebanon and a Canaanite referred to a non-Jewish person living in that region.  It was in this very region that Queen Jezebel established Baal worship.  Because of the woman’s faith Jesus brings healing and into the true worship of God, blessed be His Holy Name.  Then Jesus answered her, “Dear woman, your faith is strong! What you desire will be done for you.” And at that very moment, her daughter was instantly set free from demonic torment.  Jesus has given His authority to His Church and in His Name we even today bring people healing and into the true worship of the living God.  Amen!

Cheerfully Give for the work of the Lord

 “The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭35‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So the people of Israel—every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses—brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord.  This was the shadow of how the Lord desires the Church to function.  He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He has dispersed abroad; He has given to the poor: His righteousness remains for ever. Now He that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiplies your seed sown, and increases the fruits of your righteousness;) being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causes through us thanksgiving to God.  Let’s obey the Lord and especially in giving cheerfully.  Amen!

The Church & thePower of God

 “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭33‬, ‭36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Jesus calmed the storm and got into the boat, all the disciples bowed down before him and worshiped Jesus. They said in adoration, “You are truly the Son of God!” All the people of that region  recognised who Jesus was and they brought Him all their sick, begging Him to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And everyone who touched it was instantly healed!  All followers of Jesus know who He is and worship Him by bowing down and kissing Him and paying homage to Him.  The power of God exuding from Jesus was so incredible that merely touching His prayer shawl would bring instant healing.  This same power is available to the Church today, for Christ the Healer, lives in every believer.  Amen!

Passionate Love

 “for thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV

God told Moses, “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”  El Quanna is Jealous God in Hebrew and means a consuming fire.  Jesus prayed for all mankind “which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.”  For this Jesus became sin on the Cross for all, and the consuming fire of God obliterated the sin of mankind, reconciling us in union with the Holy El Quanna.  This is the jealousy with which God loves us.  Let’s believe in the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus with all our heart and love Him with passionate jealousy.  Amen!

Mysteries Revealed

 “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden mysteries of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not.”  These mysteries are secrets revealed to close intimate friends as spiritual insights into the ways and nature of God.  Jesus Christ can only be understood by the spirit, not just the intellect of man.  That’s why Jesus taught in parables to go beyond intellectual abilities and engage the spirit.  The hearer having a hunger to learn with an open, teachable heart, heard Jesus’ words and received life and understanding.  Let’s not allow our opinions and traditions to block the insights that Jesus teaches and all that He did.  As Solomon said, “For the froward is abomination to the LORD: But His secret is with the righteous.”  Amen!

Hid in Christ our Rock!

 “And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses longed to see God’s glory in totality and saw God’s back only, which was a glimpse of the glory to be revealed in Christ!  See what we have in Christ!  For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.  Christ is our Rock and as new creatures in Christ because of the finished work of the Cross, we have received God’s glory.  The Spirit of glory is on us.  Glory to God!

Jesus Christ is Lord

 “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus clearly told them that there is One here who is even greater than the temple. If only they could learn the meaning of the words ‘I want compassion more than a sacrifice,’ they wouldn’t be condemning His innocent disciples. For the Son of Man exercises His Lordship over the Sabbath.  These three startling statements stunned the hearers.  First He said that He is greater than the Temple; then that God didn’t want sacrifices but mercy; and finally that He the Messiah was the Lord of the Sabbath.  Even today Jesus stuns those who hear Him with truth that is outside the understanding.  Let’s be teachable and stand corrected to allow God’s truth to govern our life.  Amen!

Intercede like the Lord Jesus Christ

 “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Moses reminded the Lord God of His covenant with His servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God bound Himself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.”  This is true intercession, to remind God of His new covenant with us in Christ and the judgment that should have come on mankind came on Jesus.  That’s why Jesus said to remember His death and the new covenant in His Blood.   The Church must bring back the power of intercession as we allow Jesus to intercede through us.  Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Christ, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them.  Hallelujah!

Passionate Faith

 “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV

Jesus declared that from the moment John stepped onto the scene until then, the realm of heaven’s Kingdom burst forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.  This was prophetically revealed through the prophets of old that God will get the people of His Kingdom together in one place— like sheep in a fold, like cattle in a corral— a milling throng of homebound people! God will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They’ll follow their King. God will be out in front leading them.  Jesus always leads from the front and He fulfilled it by His violent death on the Cross to free us and allow us to take hold of His Kingdom forcefully.  Amen!

The Same Spirit

 “and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭31‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God told Moses in the wilderness to choose a person whom He has filled with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs.  This was under the law of Moses.  For those of us who are born again, born of the Spirit, the same Spirit of God is in us, thanks to the Blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  But now we are in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in us.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.  The anointing which we have received of Him, abides in us.  This makes us skilled with know-how and expertise in our chosen field.  Let’s excel in this so that through us our heavenly Father is glorified.  Amen!

Travel Light in Christ

 “nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus tells His disciples to travel light, and not even to pack an extra change of clothes in their backpack.  We are to trust God for everything, because the one who works for Him deserves to be provided for.  The reason Jesus told His disciples to leave their things behind is that they already had what was most important.  Our “money” or wealth is in the Kingdom realm of God.  Our “clothing” is the garment of righteousness we wear in Christ.  Our “backpack” points to our past testimonies of God’s goodness which we carry, but not our past which we don’t have in Christ.  Our “shoes” is the good news we walk in as we experience the continual peace of Christ in us.  Our “staff” is the authority we have in Christ.  Christ is our sufficiency and He that is in us is greater than he that is in and of the world.  Amen!

Veil Removed Forever

 “And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Place the Altar in front of the veil that hides the Ark of The Testimony, in front of the Atonement-Cover that is over The Testimony where I will meet you.  These were God’s instructions to Moses in the old covenant for the temporary removal of sins.  The glorious Lord Jesus Christ, Who left His glory for a season to become Man, was to die in place of all mankind to permanently remove sin, that through His resurrection, our glorious God would come to dwell in us, not just meet with us!  This happened on the Cross when Jesus cried with a loud voice and died, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks rent.  The Testimony became Jesus’ Blood which covered humanity’s sins forever and opened the way for God to come and be enthroned in our hearts.  This is the glorious Gospel which when preached, removes the veil from the hearts of the people to believe and receive Christ in their hearts.  It’s the only way, there is no other.  Let every veil be removed from hearts which are dull, so that they are revived.  Thank You, Jesus!

The Twice Born Company

 “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Who would pour fresh, new wine into an old wineskin? Eventually the wine will ferment and make the wineskin burst, losing everything—the wine is spilled and the wineskin ruined. Instead, new wine is always poured into a new wineskin so that both are preserved.  Jesus’s teaching is new wine.  What He taught cannot hold in the old religious system or contained in a wineskins of worn-out traditions.  It is new, exhilarating and powerful.  It must be poured into a heart made new.  The new and the old cannot be together.  Jesus makes all things new.  He didn’t come to reform Judaism, but to form a twice-born company of people.  Hallelujah!

Purity in Life

 “Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭29‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This was an act of consecration of Aaron and his sons in the wilderness by Moses for the purity of the priest before God’s Presence as a mediator between the people and God.  The fully consecrated must be pure in words and actions and in life; for words are judged by hearing (right ear), the hand (right thumb) is the symbol of action, and the foot (right toe) of the pilgrimage of life. For this cause Christ is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, we who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  Christ the Sacrifice, Christ the Mediator, Christ our High Priest, Christ the Redeemer of mankind, Christ our Life.  Amen!

Jesus, the Highest Name

 “And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The demons screamed at Jesus, shouting, “Son of God, what do you want with us? Leave us alone! Have you come to torment us before the appointed time?”  The demons immediately sensed the true identity of Jesus and knew a day of judgment was coming for them.  Sadly, many people today have yet to realise Who Jesus is and that there is a coming day of judgment.  The demons asked Jesus to send them to the herd of pigs and Jesus answered the request, how much more will He answer humans’ prayers.  This astonishing miracle demonstrated Jesus’s authority and power that the Son of God has over the principality of that region that confronted Him the moment He came into their region.  Through the resurrection Jesus is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.  This authority Christ has given the Body of Christ to release His power over the regions where we are and bring it under the Lordship of the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Hallelujah!

Priests under Christ our High Priest

 “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭28‬:‭2‬, ‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The special garment made for God’s priests was to show his authority and leadership.  The garment consisted of a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, an embroidered tunic, a turban and a sash, giving the priests beauty, honour and dignity.  The ephod vest  of blue, purple and red wool, decorated with gold had two shoulder straps of onyx attached, with the name of twelve tribes engraved on the two onyx stones.  So the high priest carried this into the Presence of God.  The breastplate had twelve precious stones on it.  Today, in the new covenant, we are all priests before God and clothed in Christ, our most special Garment.  Christ, our High Priest, carries us in His Heart into God’s Presence at all times.  We as the Body of Christ carry one another’s burdens in prayer as our blessed service.  Let’s make our intercession lively, vital and life-giving for the Body of Christ.  Amen!

Persistence

 “for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV

For every persistent one will get what he asks for.  Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for.  And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.  This is the Truth of the Cross of Christ in the new covenant.  When you seek, do not cease till you find, and in finding you will marvel, and having marvelled, you will reign, and having reigned you will rest.  This is the great personal love for which Christ laid down His life for you to free you from your sins and that’s the Truth.  When Jesus spoke these words, such glory and power emanated from Him that it was like thunderbolts into the listeners’ hearts.  May we hear His words in the same way today and receive His so great love.  Amen!

We are the Temple of God

 “And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭27‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Our body signifies the outer court of the Tabernacle with its five senses which plays a major role in releasing God’s glory.  The glory cloud rises in our spirit, moves through our soul and fills our entire body.  The outer court contained the laver and the altar, both made with bronze.  The inner and the most holy place contained articles made of gold.  God’s priority is always spirit, soul and body - our spirit and soul is more precious than our body.  The bronze laver in the outer court was for washing hands, feet and the sacrifices to be burned and tells us that we must constantly wash ourselves by the water of the Word of God to be a purified.  The altar was to sacrifice by fire and all that touched the altar was made holy.  In Christ, we present our bodies as a living sacrifice.  Let’s allow God’s glory to flow through us, letting the world see His glory through us.  We are a new creation in Christ and the only hope for a lost world.  Thank You Lord!

Spiritual Perception

 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The eyes of your spirit allow revelation light to enter into your being.  If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in!  But if your eyes are focussed on money, the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place.  How profound will be the darkness within you if the light of truth cannot enter!  The teachings of Jesus are revelation light and that your eyes can see the need of people around you to make you generous in your giving.  The eye is a metaphor for spiritual perception.  An evil eye is associated with being stingy and greedy and therefore cannot allow light to enter your body.  Let’s be those who allow Jesus’s teachings to flood our bodies and allow His Kingdom to come and His will to be done!  Hallelujah!

Living in the Spirit

 “And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭26‬:‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As God’s Tabernacle, if we are born of the Spirit, our spirit man is the Most Holy Place.  In our spirit dwells the Presence of God and with Christ’s anointing, out of our belly flow rivers of living waters.  We are now spirit beings, not human beings!  It’s in our spirit that we shine with God’s glory and receive all the guidance we need.  Christ’s nature and all the gifts of the Spirit are manifested in our spirit.  Our victorious life in Christ comes from our spirit.  We live by our spirit, we love by our spirit, we serve by our spirit, we relate to others by our spirit, we pray and praise by our spirit, we give offerings by our spirit, we believe and receive by our spirit.  Everything we do is by our spirit, anything else is unacceptable to God.  So it is important to feed our spirit with the Word of God; to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit because we are one spirit with the Holy Spirit.  Let’s heed the Spirit of God, our Helper, Who roots out unwanted fleshly and soulish weeds in us.  Let the Shekinah glory flow through us.  Amen!

The More Superior Way

 “and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus taught what is commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount - this is the Constitution of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus taught the superior way to live than the law of Moses.  This is the superior version of all that God expects and provides for those who yield to Him.  Jesus gives us more than laws; He gives us promises of power to fulfill all that He asks of us.  The emphasis is not on outward duty but on the inward transformation of our hearts by grace.  God’s Kingdom is offered to those who will learn the ways of Christ and offer themselves to Him in full surrender.  Amen!

Carriers of God’s Glory

 “According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭25‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The very purpose of the Tabernacle is to show God’s desire to dwell among His people.  Every new creation in Christ carries God’s Presence as a mobile Tabernacle.  He lives in us by His Spirit, what a privilege and what power!  The Tabernacle plan was given to Moses as revelation from God to manifest God’s glory.  In Christ, we are totally God’s idea and revelation to be His glory carrier.   Everything in the Tabernacle was supplied by God.  In Christ, we are God’s most precious possession for Him to give His Beloved Son to make us a worthy Tabernacle containing God’s glory.  It was necessary for all the earthly symbols of the heavenly realities to be purified with animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required a superior sacrifice than these.  Christ paid for us to be His New Covenant partner with His own Blood.  Worthy is the Lamb!

We Live by God’s Word

 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every Word, which constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.”  The Son of Man will not live by bread alone.  God had not given Jesus permission to turn stones into bread, and Jesus would not be pushed into prematurely demonstrating His power.  He was content with the timing of His Father.  He refused to turn stones into bread to feed Himself, but He multiplied bread for His hungry followers.  Today, He is still turning hearts of stone into Living Bread that will feed the nations with Truth.  Let’s do what God has called us to do in the Church, to turn hearts of stone to the Living Bread by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant

 “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭24‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Sprinkling of the blood by Moses ratified the covenant after he read out the law and the children of Israel promised to obey it.  In Christ, we have come to Jesus, the One Who mediates the New Covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled Blood of Jesus Himself, which speaks of forgiveness.  Christ Jesus shed His own Blood to ratify His Covenant with mankind - He is the Mediator of the New Covenant interceding for us.  God made this eternal, irrevocable, unbreakable Covenant with the Church and Christ’s Blood activates it.  The old covenant blessings depended on the obedience to the law written on stone tablets and the sins were covered and forgiven for a time.  The New Covenant blessings depend on our faith in the finished work of the Cross, written in our spirit and the Blood of Jesus cleanses our conscience completely, removing our sins forever.  The old was a shadow of the reality of Christ freely made available to us today.  We rejoice in You, Lord Jesus!