God’s Word Reigns Supreme

 “whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

All seven stood before the apostles, who laid their hands on them and prayed for them, commissioning them to this ministry. God’s word reigned supreme and kept spreading. The number of Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem quickly grew and increased by the day. Even a great number of Jewish priests became believers and were obedient to the faith!  The practice of laying on of hands indicates approval, importation of authority, commissioning and ordaining.  In the new covenant apostles laid their hands on men and women and appointed them to ministry.  That’s how God’s Word reigned supreme and the Gospel spread and followers grew and increased by the day.  Let’s follow the Bible way of spreading the Gospel in this world.  Amen!

Nothing Should Diminish our Joy in Christ

 “and there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Life in Christ is a lot of rejoicing, joy and gladness, that’s what our God wants for all His children.  God repeatedly called His people with all their family members, to rejoice in His Presence, to eat and be merry with Him.  The new covenant far exceeds in blessings and privileges, when Jesus brought great joy to all people.  Not only is there joy in His Presence, but we enjoy being part of His family.  We enjoy our work as the Holy Spirit, the Oil of gladness comes upon us and helps us in our work.  We enjoy giving generously to bless others and bring joy in their lives.  We rejoice in God’s vindication.  God’s servants are persecuted in many parts of the world and God’s enemies are gloating over the Body of Christ.  Moses sang this song, “Rejoice with Him, you heavens, and let all of God’s angels worship Him.  Rejoice with His people, you Gentiles, and let all the angels be strengthened in Him. For He will avenge the blood of His children; He will take revenge against His enemies. He will repay those who hate Him and cleanse His people’s land.”  Let nothing around us diminish our joy as we rejoice.  Amen!

God’s Almighty Power Overshadows Christ’s Disciples

 “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In fact, when people knew Peter was going to walk by, they carried the sick out to the streets and laid them down on cots and mats, knowing the incredible power emanating from him would overshadow them and heal them.  This word “overshadowing” is exclusively used for the power of the Almighty “overshadowing”, such as with Mary who conceived a Child supernaturally by God; and also for the cloud that overshadowed Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.  This was not a natural shadow created by the light of the sun, but the supernatural overshadowing of God’s power coming upon the sick to bring healing.  May we, in Christ, walk in the Spirit in the overshadowing of the cloud of God’s power to bring healing and blessings wherever we go.  Amen!

All Authority in the Church to Bless

 “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, that I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The whole world revolves around the elect of God.  In Christ, all curses were totally reversed, even on nature and creation.  All authority has been given to the elect to bless as God blesses - the earth, nature and all peoples on this planet.  Old covenant saints exercised authority over nature and nations, even when all authority wasn’t given to them.  In Christ, all authority has been given through the Cross, for you to release it.  Christ transferred His authority to His spiritual Body, the Church, after His resurrection.  All creation is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God, so as new creation in Christ, bless with prosperity and to multiply God’s goodness.  Amen!

The Gospel of Christ, the Only Hope of the World

 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As they prayed the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness.  There was an earthquake to make the earth shake, but also a spiritual earthquake when each one spoke everything on their mind with no restraint, flowing from their heart with confidence, frankly, honestly and courageously speaking the truth into the ears of others.  This was the hope filled Gospel openly revealing Christ before everyone‘s eyes.  This is our mandate to preach Christ crucified for those who have been chosen to follow Christ, for He is God’s mighty power, God’s true wisdom, and our Messiah.  Hallelujah!

Christ our Restorer, Rebuilder, Remaker

 “At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God rewrites and remakes what we break in our lives as He did with Moses breaking the first tablets of commandments.  The first man Adam, created in the image and likeness of God, lost it when sin came. The first man was from the dust of the earth; the second Man is Yahweh, from the realm of heaven. The first one, made from dust, has a race of people just like him, who are also made from dust. The One sent from heaven has a race of heavenly people who are just like him.  In Christ, God recreated and remade you once again in His own image and likeness.  He is a Restorer, Rebuilder, Remaker!  God restored much more in the recreated, born of the Spirit beings.  Although God rewrote His laws on Moses’ stone tablets, in Christ He has made your heart His tablet and wrote His laws right into your heart through His Spirit.  In Christ the Holy Spirit constantly transforms you into Jesus’s image, from glory to glory.  Christ in you is the hope of glory.  Hallelujah!

The Power of Christ’s Resurrected Life

 “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now that God raised up His Son, He has chosen to send Him first to you that He might bless you by turning each one of you from your wickedness.  The book of Acts mentions the followers of Christ preaching His resurrection many, many times.  The power and virtue of the Cross can never be diminished, but it is the resurrection of Christ that became the apostolic centre of their preaching.  The injunction was always to repent from evil ways.  This helps us to have the response of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Let’s believe in the power of Christ’s resurrected life.  Amen!

Christ’s Righteousness in Us

 “Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭9‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Righteousness runs like a red thread throughout the whole Bible.  Here, God made it very clear that it was not because of Israel’s own righteousness that He gave them victory but in spite of their stiff-necked nature.  In Christ is a life of God’s righteousness.  God’s law though holy could never make mankind righteous.  Thank God for Jesus Who fulfilled every law and became God’s righteousness for mankind.  Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us.  We practice Christ’s gift of righteousness and the abundance of grace every day to reign in life. Amen!

The Birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ

 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them.  This was the pillar of fire that led Israel from bondage into the promised land.  The same pillar of fire manifested here to initiate a new beginning from dead religious structures into the powerful life of the Spirit.  Each believer received an overpowering flame of fire, signified by the shaft of light that engulfed them.  It was as though each one received his/her own personal pillar of fire that would empower each one to be led throughout life.  This was the promise Jesus gave to His disciples that “One like Me” would be sent by the Father and never leave them.  Today every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ.  This was the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ.  Amen!

God, Our Provider in Everything

 “lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant...”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭13‬, ‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬

Under the old covenant, God promised to heap enormous wealth upon His people.  It is God’s perfect will, in the clear teaching of God’s Word for us to be rich and wealthy.  In the new covenant, God said to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness and all things shall be added to us.  God is the Provider of all riches because He is the Sole Owner of this earth and its fullness.  God provides the power to get wealth, the ability, ideas and strategies to create wealth come from Him.  In Christ everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by His divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing Him Who has called us by name and invited us to come to Him through a glorious manifestation of His goodness.  Let’s depend on God the Holy Spirit for prosperity, and be accountable to Him for stewarding His wealth for the advancement of His Kingdom.  Amen!

They Repented and Believed

 “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Arriving there, they went into a large second-floor room to pray. Those present were Peter, John, Jacob, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Jacob (the son of Alpheus), Simon (the zealot), Judas (the son of Jacob), and a number of women, including Mary, Jesus’ mother. His brothers were there as well. All of them were united in prayer, gripped with one passion, interceding night and day.  This was the upper room of the Last Supper with Jesus.  Mark’s Gospel says that after Christ’s ascension the disciples preached; in Luke’s Gospel they praised God; and here in Acts they prayed with one soul.  Jesus’s four brothers, Jacob (James), Joses (Joseph), Simon and Jude (Judas), had not believed in Jesus earlier but obviously by now they repented and received the revelation of the resurrected Christ, their own brother, and believed in Him.  Let’s believe in the risen Christ.  Amen!

In Christ We Are Above All

 “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Life in Christ is far above all people of this world, this is true for all new covenant people.  We are above all in holiness because Christ sanctified us with His Blood.  We’re above all in selection because He chose us.  We’re above all in speciality because we are a peculiar treasure to Him, we’re extraordinary.  We’re above all in blessing because He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in  heavenly places in Christ.  We’re above all in His delight because He sees Jesus in us.  He sacrificed Himself for us that He might purchase our freedom from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people who are His very own, passionate to do what is beautiful in His eyes.  Let’s see ourselves as God sees us.  Amen!

Pursued Relentlessly by Christ

 “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV

So Peter waded into the water and helped pull the net to shore. It was full of many large fish, exactly one hundred and fifty-three, but even with so many fish, the net was not torn.  This large catch speaks of the great redemption of Christ for all nations and all people.  One hundred and fifty-three large fish points to a mighty harvest from among the people groups of the world.  This great catch of fish begins the process of inner healing for Peter and the guilt of his denial of Christ.  Peter first began to follow Jesus because of a great catch of fish, so now Jesus repeats that miracle, inviting Peter to begin to follow Him again.  This is our Jesus Who pursues us relentlessly, no matter the guilt and shame, until we acknowledge that He alone can redeem us.  Let’s believe in Jesus’s great redemption for us personally.  Amen!

Word-Soaked Life

 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Life in Christ finds delight in acting on God’s Word.  No wonder, our Saviour took every Word from  Deuteronomy, when He confronted satan in the wilderness.  When Jesus spoke the Word in the synagogue, the Jewish leaders were astonished by what He taught and said, “How did this Man acquire such knowledge? He wasn’t trained in our schools—who taught Him?”  Let’s allow the Word of God to take supreme place in our daily lives as we live a Word-soaked life.  We live in a day when the Holy Bible is being changed to suit people’s level of morality and culture.  God commanded His people to keep His Word in their heart.  Let’s absorb the Word and give top priority to being a Word person.  Let’s observe and obey every Word from God’s mouth and act on it by faith, being doers of the Word not hearers only!  It will cost us but the rewards are too great, surpassing our imagination!  As we treasure the Word in our heart, we’ll not only obey the Word but think and speak the Word in our conversation.  Let’s imagine the Word, dream the Word, possess the Word, proclaim the Word, today! Amen!

Proclaim the Gospel

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

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is what Jesus told His disciples when first He rose from the dead, “I send you to preach the forgiveness of sins—and people’s sins will be forgiven. But if you don’t proclaim the forgiveness of their sins, they will remain guilty.”  Jesus was not giving absolute authority to forgive the guilt of sins for God alone has that right.  Jesus was saying that if the apostles forgive someone for their sins, their sins will be discharged, but if they retain their sins, their sins will be retained.  The apostles at no time assumed that authority.  What Jesus gives the apostles (the sent ones), is the authority to proclaim the Gospel to the nations.  If the apostles refuse to go and preach the good news, then people will have no opportunity to believe it.  “Through this Jesus, the forgiveness of sins is offered to you. Everyone who believes in Him is set free from sin and guilt..”.   May we heed Jesus and be obedient to proclaim the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins for all.  Amen!

Obedience to God’s Word

 “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭5‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ever since the fall of man, mankind’s heart became dull and rebellious to respond to God.  That’s why sin and destruction are running rampant in humanity.  The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the complete remedy by giving a heart transplant in Christ!  This is God’s heart cry for humanity in the old covenant as He desired a new heart that would fear Him and always keep His commandments.  God commanded that His people would circumcise the foreskin of their heart and be stiff-necked no longer!  Thank God that Jesus came as the Son of Man and through the Gospel of Christ fulfilled the age-old longing of God’s heart.  In Christ, now, we have the Spirit of the fear of the Lord that delights in the fear of the Lord and causes in us to walk in the reverential love-produced fear of God.  Now our new heart transplant has taken place and we have obedience to His Word.  We are now the blessed of the Lord, and blessing all those around us.  Now we are free to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, mind and strength.  We won’t depart from the Lord because we are in Christ.  Amen!

God the Saviour Bled to Death for You

 “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Pilate had them post a sign over the Cross, which was written in three languages—Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. Many of the people of Jerusalem read the sign, for He was crucified near the city. The sign stated: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Aramaic was the language of the common people as Hebrew had ceased after the Babylonian invasion to be the spoken language.  Latin was the official Roman Empire language and Greek was for the Alexandrian Jews in Jerusalem for the Passover.  The words were, “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews” which read Y-H-W-H   Y’shua Hanozri Wumelech a Yehudim - YHWH.  This is the sacred Name “Yahweh” as written by the Jews.  That’s why the chief priests were so offended by this sign and insisted that Pilate changed it.  This was a sign given to Israel, for over Jesus’s Head on the Cross was written Y-H-W-H God, the Saviour, bled to death for you.  Amen!

Word-Baby Born of His Incorruptible Word

 “Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬

Life in Christ is life in the Word.  Jesus Himself is the Word incarnated.  Living and enjoying life by the Word is what  Deuteronomy is about.  A Christ-filled life is totally a Word-filled life.  The new life we received came through God’s Seed, His Word, making us a Word-baby!  As new creation in Christ, we continually live and grow by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  All the riches and blessings of heaven are lavished on us by the Word.  The revelation of God’s Word brings light and we gain wisdom and understanding which help us solve the challenges of everyday life.  It is the Spirit Who gives Life; the flesh profits nothing. The Word that Jesus speaks to us is Spirit, and Life.   Let’s abide in His Word and relate to Him through His Word.  Amen!

Jesus Willingly Submitted to the Father

 “As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus not only went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, but to be captured.  He knew full well the Father’s plan.  Just as Adam fell in the garden of paradise, Jesus stood faithful in the garden of betrayal. When they came to take Him, at the moment Jesus spoke the words, “I AM He”, the mob fell backward to the ground!”  This is a stunning event, as the great I AM spoke His Name before those who sought to seize Him.  It is obvious that the mob didn’t trip over each other in surprise, but instead every one of these strong men fell backward in the ground by the power of God.  Jesus was in charge that night, as the captain of the hosts of the Lord.  They could not seize Him unless He permitted them to do so.  What a wonderful Saviour Who willingly submitted to the hands of cruel men to bring us the gift of salvation.  Thank You Jesus!

God’s High Calling on Your Life

 “Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here is a “Fear not” spoken to the budding leader Joshua.  Every leader whom God called into leadership showed panic and fear for the responsibility God gave them.  In the natural,  we fear to accept huge responsibilities, but life in Christ happily assumes God-given responsibilities without fear.  God imparts extraordinary courage for extraordinary missions.  Believe in God’s training in your life when He calls you because He never heaps responsibilities on untrained, feeble shoulders.  Believe in God’s accomplishments through others along with you, when He builds a great team to fulfill His purposes.  Believe in God’s honour.  Jesus said if we serve Him, the Father will honour us.  Believe in God’s strength because His strength abounds in our weakness.  Trust God to work effectively to help fulfill our responsibilities.  Believe in God’s calling and grace when He assigns us His divine mission.  Believe in God’s faithfulness, He helps us finish the race and when He began a work, He is faithful to complete it.  Jesus died and rose again to give us His anointing to fulfill our responsibilities with delight and dignity as His yoke is always easy and light.  Accept God’s high calling for your life without fear.  Amen!

Jesus Imparted God’s Glory to Us

 “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus’s prayer as our High Priest, “For the very glory You have given to Me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that We enjoy.”  It is important to note that the key to unity among believers is experiencing the glory of God that Jesus has imparted to us.  How imperative it is for the true Church, the Body of Christ, to understand and receive the glory of God, in this unity of faith in the Spirit, in the bond of peace.  In the climate of the world system we live in today, only the true Church is able to bring peace, not as the world gives but as Jesus gives.  As one with God through faith in Christ, He shares His glory with us, since we are not “another”, but have been made one with the Triune God through the Blood of Jesus.  Isaiah had already prophesied it, “I Am the LORD: that is My Name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.”  Hallelujah!

Our Victory in Christ

 “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭2‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The conquest of Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og, king of Bashan, was celebrated as a historic victory for the Israelites.  Today, as new covenant believers, we thank God our victory was bought at the Cross.  There is no conquest without a conflict, so we claim what is ours by right (Christ’s righteousness gifted to us) and command Satan to take his hands off our rights and privileges.  The greater our victory, the greater our booty, because victory over the enemy includes all his possessions!  The earth and all its fullness belongs to our God.  Since the church is not daring to claim its rights, sinful and wicked people possess and rule the land.  Let’s remember that when we possess it, we share with the entire Body of Christ.  We establish God’s Kingdom on earth by owning it for God not ourselves.  Let’s claim possessions, win the lost, build Christ’s Church, challenge the challenges, laugh at impossibilities!  Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Sin, Righteousness & Judgment

 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 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 ‭16‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus explained what the Holy Spirit has come to earth for, “And when He comes, He will expose sin and prove that the world is wrong about God’s righteousness and His judgments. ‘Sin,’ because they refuse to believe in Who I Am.  God’s ‘righteousness,’ because I’m going back to join the Father and you’ll see Me no longer. And ‘judgment’ because the ruler of this dark world has already received his sentence.”  Sin, righteousness and judgment are related to three persons.  Sin is related to Adam by whom it entered humanity.  Righteousness is related to Christ by Whom alone righteousness has come to humanity.  Judgment is related to Satan, for the pure works of Christ bring judgment to the works of Satan.  If we do not embrace Christ’s righteousness, we will share Satan’s judgment.  It is the personal application of Christ’s righteousness that matters, not just a superficial knowledge.  Amen!

The Principles of the Law for Those In Christ

 “These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness…..on this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬, ‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The focus of Deuteronomy is to prepare God’s covenant people for life in the new land He was about to give them.  The old generation was dead and gone, Moses’ death was nearing and the Israelites were on the verge of entering their promised land.  So Moses gave his passionate farewell message, reminding the people of all that God had done for them, and warning them of the dangers of disobedience.  There are depths of revelation in this book as we delve into it, to live our new covenant life in Christ victoriously.  In this better covenant in Christ, as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name - all the blessings of sonship are ours: prosperity, health, long life, family harmony and so much more, are our inheritance as a new creation in Christ, just by believing His Word.  The principles of the law through Moses, seen from the light of the Gospel, helps us know the heart of God to receive forgiveness of sins which the law exposes.  It makes us thankful for the grace that is in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Let’s cling to Christ, love and obey Him to live a happy, victorious life in Christ.  Amen!

Our Heavenly Father Cares for Us

 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus is teaching His disciples about His Father, “He cares for the branches connected to Me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest.”  God takes up to Himself every fruitless branch, He doesn’t remove the branches.  As the wise and loving Farmer, He lifts them up off the ground to enhance their growth.  Christ’s endless love for His disciples on the last night of His life on earth, seems to emphasise God’s love even for those who fail and disappoint Him.  Peter’s denial didn’t bring rejection from Jesus.  These teachings that Jesus spoke cleansed or pruned the disciples as they do today when we keep on abiding in God’s Word.  Let’s be those who know how to relate to Him through abiding in His Word.  Amen!

We are One with Christ

 “These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭36‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Even the daughters of Zelophehad were important for their position among the children of Israel, and these were the commands and regulations that God commanded through the authority of Moses to the People of Israel on the Plains of Moab at Jordan-Jericho, in this last chapter in Numbers.  In the new covenant women are important to our God for the Body of Christ.  For He said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy.”  We don’t have to fight for women’s rights, or be feminist about it, as it is in the world system.  But our Father through our Lord Jesus Christ cares for women because in the Body of Christ we no longer see each other in our former state—Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female—because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ.  Let’s believe we are one with Christ.  Amen!

Our Glorious God

 “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

Jesus said, “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, Who will be to you a Friend just like Me - and He will never leave you. The world won’t receive Him because they can’t see Him or know Him. But you know Him intimately because He remains with you and will live inside you.”  The Holy Spirit is not just the Counsellor, Comforter, Encourager, Intercessor, Helper, Advocate, but much more than that.  He protects, defends and saves us from our self and our enemies and keeps us whole and healed.  He is the One Who guides and defends, comforts and consoles because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, our Saviour. He comes to end the work of the curse of sin in our lives and to save us from its every effect - He brings the work of redemption into effect in our life.  What a glorious God - Hallelujah!

Be Generous

 “Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭35‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The priests and Levites had not received inheritance with Israel because the LORD Himself was their inheritance.  All Israelites were commanded by God to support the Levites from their inheritance.  New covenant believers need to support all those who are preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, because we are all kings and priests to God.  Every time we new covenant believers prosper, we share with those who minister in the Word and in the Spirit.  This is our responsibility!  When we fail to provide for their needs, we walk in disobedience and invite unnecessary financial loss.  Let’s not be a debtor to those who minister to us.  Life in Christ is one of generosity since Christ shared His anointing and gifts with us, giving His all to us who believe.  Paul adjures us in his letter to the church in Galatia, “And those who are taught the Word must share all good things with their teacher.”  Let’s walk in obedience to the Word.  Amen!

Our Inheritance in the New Covenant

 “After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Lord Jesus asked His disciples to remove their sandals so He would wash their feet.  By removing their sandals and washing their feet, He was showing them that He was granting them a new inheritance - His own.  The sandal is often used in covenants of inheritance in Hebrew culture.  Every defilement would be removed so that they could “place the sole of their feet” upon the new covenant inheritance.  God had told Moses to remove his sandals when he was going to lead the children of Israel into their inheritance.  God told Joshua, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given to you, as I said to Moses.”  Even Ruth’s kinsman, closer than Boaz, had to remove his sandal in front of the elders, to renounce his claim on the inheritance.  Through the new covenant that Jesus makes with all His followers, then and down the ages to now, we receive a new inheritance, with the holiness of God and the authority that comes with it.  Thank You, Jesus, Amen!

Our Inheritance is Christ

 “These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.”

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭34‬:‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The LORD gave the inheritance of the land to the children of Israel, laying the exact boundaries.  Over the period of history, the Jews were dispersed from their land and went to far off places across the globe.  People thought the Word of God is just mythology and not going to happen, that God had made some mistakes.  Then, after the Second World War, the Jews were given the land of Israel, once again, and Jews are continuing to come back to their God given inheritance since 1948.  The nations surrounding Israel are hostile to them, but God’s Word is continuing to come to pass.  When Jesus was crucified in that horrendous death on the Cross, people thought how can anyone believe in someone Who claims to be God and cannot even save Himself.  Yet Jesus Christ conquered death to fulfill what God said earlier, “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”  To those of us, who have experienced faith in the living and resurrected Christ, Who forgave us our sins, we are confident of our inheritance as joint heirs with Him.  Hallelujah!

Christ Lifted Up on the Ctoss

 “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus answered, “From this moment on, everything in this world is about to change, for the ruler of this dark world will be overthrown. And I will do this when I am lifted up off the ground and when I draw the hearts of people to gather them to Me.”  From the moment of Jesus’s crucifixion, the time of judging the world system has come.  The judging of the world is the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness.  The preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is passing a sentence of judgment on this fallen world and declaring treason in the kingdom of darkness.  The ruler of darkness is an obvious reference to Satan who through the Cross has been driven into exile.  When Jesus said about being “lifted up”, He was saying, “lifted up in crucifixion”.    When He said, “I will draw all men unto Me”, He was saying that He will bundle everyone/everything next to Himself.  Jesus drew all our judgment to Himself, when He died for our sins.  The Judge became the payment for the guilty.  Everything changes because of the Cross - the hinge of history.  Hallelujah!