Mature in the Spirit

 ”Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul said, “Beloved ones, with promises like these, and because of our deepest respect and worship of God, we must remove everything from our lives that contaminates body and spirit, and continue to complete the development of holiness within us. Again, I urge you, make room for us in your hearts, for we have wronged no one, corrupted no one, and taken advantage of no one.“  Believers today must take an active approach to spiritual maturity and living holy lives.  Grace never removes our responsibility to be faithful to God but empowers to do what pleases Him.  Every minister must set for his or her calling: to do no wrong to another, nor “hate” anyone; to not corrupt or lead anyone astray; to never use his or her authority to take advantage of anyone by cheating for personal gain.  Paul had a blameless record in his ministry.  Let’s be mature and disciplined to follow Paul’s example.  Amen!

The Spring of Comfort and Restoration

 ”But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭15‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV

So God answered Samson’s prayer and split open the rock basin under Lehi, and water gushed out!  Samson drank and his spirit revived.  He named that place “The Spring for the One Who Cried” and it is still there in Lehi to this day.  There is a hidden spring called En Hakkore.  God has a hidden spring reserved for those who cry.  In Samson’s time, the Spirit of God came and went but thanks be to God for the new covenant when the Spirit of God dwells in believers.  If tears have streaked your face and grief has torn your heart, there is a spring of restoration that God has for you.  Drink of this living spring of water and He will comfort and restore you.  Jesus said, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”  Let the comfort of God, restore us today.  Amen!

Christ Came to Serve

 ”as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We may suffer, yet in every season we are always found rejoicing. We may be poor, yet we bestow great riches on many. We seem to have nothing, yet in reality we possess all things.   What an amazing list of characteristics of true apostolic ministry.  These are the virtues that endeared Paul and his ministry companions to the churches and validated his authority as an example to them of God’s true servant.  Christ came to serve and not to be served.  For all who are in Christ, we learn from Paul to be true servants and be transparent about our inner feelings not being hypocritical or self righteous with hidden motives.  Let’s be true to Christ.  Amen!

The Riddle of Life

 ”And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭14‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then suddenly the Spirit of Yahweh rushed upon Samson, infusing him with power!  He went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men.  He stripped them of their linen tunics and their robes and gave them in payment to those who had explained the riddle.  Then in blazing fury, he returned to his father’s house.  This was a wedding feast and riddles were common as a source of entertainment in ancient times.  There was revelation hidden within this riddle for the Church, today, as the Bride of Christ pledged to our true Husband.  Linen was used for the garment of a priest.  Thirty is the number of a mature priesthood, for men could only become priests at the age of thirty.  Seven days they feasted trying to solve the riddle.  We are in the seventh day from Adam and we are about to unravel the riddle of life.  The ones who solve the riddle receive new garments: costly festive wedding garments of linen which signifies the righteousness of God in us and therefore immortality.  We are the righteousness of God in Christ.  Amen!

The Judgment Seat of God

 ”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on his throne so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, whether good or worthless.  The judgment seat of Christ is His Throne.  The judgment for our sins done in the body, fell upon Christ upon the Cross, and the believer will never be judged for his or her sins.  Now this judgment is  for rewards.  There will be different levels of reward given to believers after death.  For some, there will be no reward, yet they will still be saved.  Why do we need to condemn another believer? Why do we look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”  Because we have a relationship with the Living God, there is no fear in His love for His perfect love casts out fear, as fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  Let’s surrender ourselves to the mighty Holy Spirit Who perfects us in our life here on earth.  Amen!

The Wonder of Christ’s Sacrifice, Resurrection & Ascension

 ”And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭13‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Angel of Yahweh replied, “Why ask for my name? It is ‘Wonderfully Hidden!’”  So Manoah got the young goat and his grain offering and took them to the rock to offer them up for Yahweh, the wonder-working God.  While Manoah and his wife watched, flames burst from the rock and ascended upward to heaven from the altar.  The Angel of Yahweh, wrapped in the flames of fire, ascended into the sky.  Dazed Manoah and his wife fell facedown to the ground in worship.  The Angel of Yahweh was God in human form and means “wonderful” or “beyond understanding”.  The burnt offering signified Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross and the grain offering, Jesus’s resurrection and ascension into heaven.  May we all be in awe of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross and His resurrection and ascension, and bow down and worship Him Who is worthy of all praise.  Hallelujah!

The Treasure that Brings Us Victory

 ”But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul says in figurative language, “We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours.”  He says that we are common clay jars created from dust and yet we possess the brilliant light of God’s glory, Jesus Christ, and carry Him as treasure in our being.  The outward vessel is not as important as the glorious treasure within.  Like when Gideon hid the torches when he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers. They won that battle.  Today Christ has caused us to triumph by putting in us, jars of clay, the treasure of the fire of the mighty Holy Spirit.  We always have the victory.  Hallelujah!

Bringing God’s Kingdom on Earth with Power

 ”And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years“.

‭‭Judges‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After Elon, Yahweh raised up Abdon son of Hillel, a champion deliverer from Pirathon, to rule Israel.  He had forty sons and thirty nephews, who road on seventy donkeys.  Abdon led Israel for eight years.  Abdon, of the tribe of Ephraim, was the eleventh champion deliverer and his name means ‘worker’ or ‘service’.  His father’s name was Hillel, which means ‘high praise’.  High praises in Christ, produces a servant spirit of Christ.  Abdon’s sons and nephews had each their own donkey, which in today’s terms means they each had their own home, denoting affluence.  Seventy was also the number of apostles Jesus sent to heal, preach and deliver, and denotes God’s people in motion, expanding into their purpose, with perfect spiritual order, carried out with power.  The Body of Christ, the Church is God’s people in perfect spiritual order carrying out with power to bring God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen!

We Reflect God’s Glory

 ”But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”. 2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18 KJV

We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.  Paul declares the triumph of Christ over every power of darkness and it diffuses the fragrant aroma of Christ everywhere.  We cannot water down the Word of God because it is the living Word producing transformation.  The Word of God is not based on the clever abilities of men but the Holy Spirit’s  empowering Presence which imparts God’s Life flowing from Him and God’s righteousness.  This Word of resurrection Life contains greater glory than the law and brings the transfiguration of us believers into greater levels of glory.  Hallelujah!

The Faith of Jephthah

 ”Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yahweh raised up a brave, fearless champion from Gilead to deliver Israel.  His name was Jephthah, and he was the son of a prostitute.  His father Gilead had other sons by his wife, and when they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home.  They said to him, “You will inherit nothing of our father’s  wealth because you are the son of another woman.”  Jephthah means ‘he opens up’.  He was the eighth deliverer who had a questionable past, like many of God’s champions today.  God will include even a person  with a social stigma in God’s honour roll of faith.  This is God’s grace.  The honour roll of faith recorded the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality!  God can choose even the worst questionable past and transform the person into a champion by the power of His Blood sacrifice.  Hallelujah!

The Word and the Spirit Agree

 ”For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is communicating again to the church at Corinth, “For unlike so many, we are not peddlers of God’s Word who water down the message. We are those sent from God with pure motives, who speak in the sight of God from our union with Christ.”  Paul states that his ministry of teaching and preaching happened while he was in the Presence of God.  Paul’s eyes were set on God, not on the people’s response.  Teachers and preachers of the Gospel would do well to heed this example that Paul set.  Set your eyes on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit because of your deep intimate relationship with God.  Don’t fix your focus on the majority opinion polls or in what people say.  To be in the Presence of God is to agree with His Word while abiding in it.  The leading of the Holy Spirit is the depth of your intimacy with Him as a result of your prayer life.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One.  Amen!

Worship the Resurrected Christ

 ”And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Israelites again did evil in the sight of Yahweh, worshipping the Baals and the Ashtaroths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab and Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines.  Because Israel entirely abandoned the worship of Yahweh.  Israel turned away from the living God and to gods and goddesses like Astartes or Ishtar, a fertility goddess of the ancient Near East; also to the chief gods of Aram - Haddad and Rimmon; to Chemosh the chief god of Moab; to Molech of Ammon; and to Dagon and Baal-Zebub, the gods of the Philistines. Where are these gods and goddesses today?  At that time about three and a half thousand years ago, Israel came under oppression time and time again, because they turned away from Him.  Each time Yahweh delivered the Israelites because of His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Jesus came that He might destroy the works of the devil and turn all the world to Him because He loves human beings more than His Life. Let’s worship the resurrected Christ with thanksgiving in our hearts for His everlasting love and salvation!  Amen

The Spirit of Life

 ”who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.“

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He knows we are His since He has also stamped His seal of love over our hearts and has given us the Holy Spirit like an engagement ring is given to a bride—a down payment of the blessings to come!  God has sealed believers with the seal: of security, being kept secure in God’s love; of authentication that marks us as God’s very own; of certifying genuineness; of ownership; of approval; of righteousness; of a promise to be fulfilled.  Jesus, our Bridegroom seals our hearts with a passionate fire that burns continually.  We are born of the Spirit, sealed with the Spirit, indwelt by the Spirit, baptised in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, made one with the Spirit, given gifts of the Spirit and ministries by the Spirit.  He is a promise, a seal and a guarantee of our full inheritance.  Thank You, Holy Spirit! Amen

The Life Giving Calvary Tree

 ”And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But the vine answered, ‘What? Give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?’  To follow Christ, only one tree is the key, and it’s not the Christmas tree!   Christ paid the full price to set us free from the curse of the law when He absorbed the curse completely as He became a curse in our place. For it is written: “Everyone who is hung upon a tree is cursed.” Jesus Christ dissolved the curse from our lives, when He hung on the tree at Calvary, so that in Him all the blessings of Abraham can be poured out upon gentiles. And now through faith we receive the promised Holy Spirit Who lives in us.  The three trees mentioned in the parable in this chapter are the olive tree representing the oil of anointing of the Holy Spirit; the fig tree which is the goodness and sweetness of Christ’s love; and the vine which is the joy and cheer that Jesus brings to our lives.  All these benefit us when we make our divine exchange with Christ on the Calvary tree.  Let’s celebrate the freedom that Christ has given us.  Amen!

Serving Christ in the Unity of the Spirit

 ”As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.“

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul says, ”As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.“  Now we are the Body of Christ and each one has a part in it.  We are empowered by the same Spirit Who apportions to each one individually as He wills.  We are given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good of the Body of Christ and we don’t seek our own but rather each other’s well being.  As every one has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  Paul taught us that by example when he referred to Apollos coming to minister in the church at Corinth.  We do not compete with one another in the Body of Christ, the Church, we all serve Christ in the unity of the Spirit.  Amen!

Flee from Idolatry

 ”And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”

Judges‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Gideon used all this plunder to make a sacred golden ephod.  He put it on display in his hometown, Ophrah, and all Israel strayed from Yahweh and gave over their hearts to the golden ephod.  It was a seducing snare for Gideon and his family.  The ephod was a decorated priestly almost full length apron like vestment.  It was used to discern God’s will.  Gideon’s ephod became an idol to the people as they would come to seek oracles before it.  The Ark of the Covenant and the tabernacle stood at Shiloh at this time, the place that Yahweh had chosen as the place of worship for Israel.  Instead, Gideon’s ephod turned their hearts  away from the true worship of Yahweh.  Gideon refused kingship because he wanted priesthood.  Today, in Christ, all believers are made kings and priests to our God as He has chosen us, the Church, to serve Him and formed us into a kingdom of priests who reign on the earth.  Let’s remove any idol in our heart and replace it with Christ, our All Sufficient God.  Thank You Jesus.  Amen!

Jesus Christ, Our Living God

 ”and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.“

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Then He appeared to Peter the Rock and to the twelve apostles. He also appeared to more than five hundred of His followers at the same time, most of whom are still alive as I write this, though a few have passed away.” Paul includes the bodily appearance of Jesus to His followers as part of the Gospel to be believed.  What Paul states as the heart of the Gospel is Christ’s death; the fulfilment of prophecies; Christ’s burial; Christ’s resurrection; Christ supernaturally manifested to His followers.  More than 515 followers of Jesus saw Him after His resurrection, including those mentioned by Paul, and Mary in the garden tomb.  This was part of an early creed of the apostles on which our Christian faith is based.  It is imperative that we proclaim the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ today, that He is the Living God.  Amen!

Always Victorious through Christ’s Cross

 ”And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The barley loaf symbolised Israel’s army that would invade and conquer the Midianites.  The Body of Christ is also that one loaf, rolling down Mount Zion destroying the tents of wickedness (kingdoms of this world).  Jesus multiplied five barley loaves to feed more than five thousand people!  The tumbling barley loaf symbolises Christ in us, Who multiplies His resurrection life and power in believers today.  It is fascinating that Gideon overheard the Midianite dream interpreter speaking his name and the name of his father.  Not only does God know your name, but so does the enemy, for you are a son or daughter of God!  God always brings victory by the Cross of Christ.  Amen!

God’s Presence Brings Order

 ”And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.“

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  The prophets are accountable for their prophecies.  Paul corrected the Corinthian church who were speaking in tongues and prophesying without regard for others in the Body, who also had prophetic words to share a tongue and an interpretation.  This caused disorder and confusion in the church meetings with people speaking up and giving their opinions about what was spoken.  God’s Presence brings order, not instability.  All things need to be done sensibly and with unity in church meetings so that people are edified and God is glorified.  Let’s follow the pattern of Jesus Who was and is always patient and caring towards each one of us and we are encouraged and edified with confidence, led by the Holy Spirit, to speak at the right moment or be silent.  Amen!

Transformed from a Coward to a Hero

 ”And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Angel of Yahweh came to the village of Ophrah and sat down under the oak tree that belonged to Joash, a man of the clan of Abiezer.  His son Gideon was secretly threshing some wheat in a winepress so that the Midianites would not see him.  Gideon means warrior and God changed his destiny from a timid, cowardly man to the champion-deliverer of Israel.  Wheat is not threshed in a winepress but on an open elevated place where wind blows the chaff away.  Gideon made excuses for himself and his family.  What Gideon was doing to the wheat, God did to his heart, threshing out the unbelief from his true identity.  God called Gideon to be a hero who rescued a nation.  In Christ, the Blood of Jesus threshes out all our unbelief and the Holy Spirit empowers us to be winners of souls into the Kingdom of God.  Let’s come out of unbelief and cowardice and courageously bring souls to Christ.  Amen!

God’s Unconditional Commitment to Love His People

 ”Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.“

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing. This love is the highest form of love, a burning, fiery love, coming from the inner depths of the heart as an eternal energy, an active power of bonding hearts and lives in secure relationships.  This is the endless, loyal, unconditional love that God has for His people, that must be demonstrated with acts of kindness and benevolence.  This love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit and is greater than faith that removes mountains.  May we release God’s love in us to a loveless world.  Amen!

Songs of Victory to the Lamb

 “Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise ye the LORD For the avenging of Israel, When the people willingly offered themselves.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this victory song, “Blessings be to Yahweh, Who gave us victory today!  For the people answered the call, and Israel threw off what once held us back..”  Deborah composed this song and she and Barak sang it.  It has brilliant imagery and forceful expression.  When leaders cast off restraint, the people come under bondage.  God took a mother in Israel to lead them in the power of the Spirit into God’s victories.  In Christ, the finished work of the Cross is our final victory and through it we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.  May we sing in worship, our songs of victories as we extol the Lamb of God. Worthy is Christ the Lamb Who was slaughtered to receive great power and might, wealth and wisdom, and honor, glory, and praise!  Hallelujah!

Spiritual Gifts Imparted to Every Believer

 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” 

1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Each believer is given continuous revelation by the Holy Spirit to benefit not just himself but all.  God the Father, the Son and the Spirit, delight to give spiritual gifts to His people, the Bride of Christ.  These gifts are imparted by God to every believer upon conversion as the Holy Spirit chooses.  The Triune God confirms the Word of God and expands His Kingdom.  Spiritual gifts can be neglected or misused, but they remain the divine power source of Christ’s Body on the earth.  Through teaching, evangelising, prophesying and demonstrating the miraculous, God uses His people to expand His Kingdom and to establish righteousness on the earth through the proper use of the gifts He has given.  These gifts have never been taken away from the Body of Christ.  The Church moves forward through these divine gifts.  Spiritual gifts do not replace the Word of God but the Word of God will spread and flourish as the fully equipped Body of Christ operates in the wise use of God’s enabling power.  Amen!

Let God Raise You Up

 “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God raised up Deborah to lead Israel as a champion-deliverer.  She was a prophetess and a fiery woman.  She presided as Israel’s judge under the Palm of Deborah, a certain palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came to her for wise decisions.  Deborah means “orderly motion” or “bee” because of its systemic instincts.  The root of this word is “the oracle”.  Deborah was a passionate woman who in the male oriented culture was raised up by Yahweh to bring victory to Israel.  The palm tree denotes joyful victory which branches were used in Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  Deborah ruled as a prophetess while sitting under the realm of victory and prophetic revelation.  In Christ, we are speaking the oracle of the Word of God under the realm of victory when we preach the Gospel.  God can raise you up even if you are a shy and retiring person, provided you have a passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Attitude of Reverence in Public Worship

 “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is not about marriage or the role of women in the Church, but on proper attitudes of reverence and conduct in public worship.  Paul’s discussion here would have made obvious sense within the cultural standards of the Corinthians.  It’s a continuation of Paul’s teaching that if our conduct offends and divides the Church, we are to change our ways in order to promote unity among the believers.  Paul, in fact, affirms the right of women to pray and prophesy in public worship services.  In Corinth the common practice was for prostitutes to have their hair cut off.  For the public worship of that era, a woman would have long hair braided and covered up so she would not be mistaken as a cult priestess of Isis or Dionysus.  Christ has responsibility over all men, as the husband has responsibility for his wife, and God the Father has responsibility over Christ.  Let’s not be gender biased but rather promote unity in the Body of Christ.  Amen!

Christ our Champion-Deliverer

 “And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Yahweh raised up a champion-deliverer to rescue the repentant Israelites - Othniel.  And the Spirit of Yahweh was upon him and empowered him to liberate Israel from bondage.  He became Israel’s champion and went out to war, and Yahweh delivered into his hands Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia.  The Spirit of Prophecy came upon Othniel signifying a sudden and pronounced power of God’s Spirit that transcended human strength or ability.  The supernatural strength, wisdom, boldness, valour and ecstasy of a prophet would manifest when the Spirit of God came upon him.    The Israelites obeyed Othniel who won the victory with a small band of courageous men who surprised the king’s bodyguards, overpowered them, and killed the king. Christ Jesus, our  Champion-Deliverer has forever won the victory over the enemy of our soul.  We are in Christ and Christ is in us! Amen!

The New Covenant of Christ

 “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is explaining the vital importance of partaking of communion with the right attitude. “For when we pray for the blessing of the communion cup, isn’t this our co-participation with the Blood of Jesus? And the Bread that we distribute, isn’t this the Bread of our co-participation with the body of Christ?”  It is the presence of the Blood of Jesus by faith, that makes this communion of the highest value.    It is the presence of the Body of Christ as the Living Bread that brings this communion with our God to be the ultimate.  Jesus said, “For my Body is real food for your spirit and my Blood is real drink. The one who eats My Body and drinks My Blood lives in Me and I live in him.”  Let’s examine our attitude when we partake of this new covenant with Christ.  Amen!

Remember God’s Miracles and Tell it to the Next Generation

 “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬

Eventually, after that entire generation died and was buried, the next generation forgot Yahweh and all that He had done for Israel.  They forgot the wonders in the wilderness, the manna, the split-open rock that gave them water.  Then later, they failed to remember the Jordan miraculously parting, the walls of Jericho falling down, the sun standing still, the empowerment of God conquering their foes, and the many miracles of Yahweh under Joshua’s leadership.  How easy it is for the second generation of any movement to forget the truth and power of the first generation.  We enshrine the memories of the past but fail to apply the power present today to advance in the ways of God.  Many, today, may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!  Let’s remember the miracles God does for us in Christ and move in the power of God today and tell it to the next generation also.  Amen!

Jesus Christ, the Only Way to Salvation

 “And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV

Paul’s says his motivation for the Gospel was, “I’ve done all this so that I would become God’s partner for the sake of the Gospel.”  This Paul declares confidently to the Corinthian church.  His principles for his ministry were that he always started by finding common ground with those he wanted to reach.  Paul avoided projecting to others that he was a know-it-all and accepted everyone regardless of his or her issues.  We learn from Paul that he was sensitive to the culture of others but used every opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people.  Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring His Kingdom on earth was Paul’s foremost mission and that is our goal too, today, for those who have accepted that all of us need salvation and there is no other way except through the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone.  Amen!

In Christ We Give Our Father Pleasure

 “And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.”

‭‭Judges‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV

Adoni-Bezek confessed, “I once had seventy kings picking up scraps under my table with their thumbs and big toes cut off.  Now God has paid me back for what I did to them!”  They took him captive to Jerusalem, where he died.  Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.  Adoni-Bezek means lord of lightening and is a picture of satan.  Seventy kings were under Adoni-Bezek.  Jesus sent seventy disciples to bring the Kingdom of God to the nations.  Jesus saw satan fall like lightening from heaven and in Jerusalem when Jesus died, that was the ultimate victory over satan who was defeated in Jerusalem and stripped of his ability to conquer us all because of the Cross of Jesus.  For by His sacrifice Christ died to sin’s power once and for all, but He now lives continuously for the Father’s pleasure.  We are in Christ and that’s why we give pleasure to our Father.  Hallelujah!

God’s Love is in Us to Build Others Up

 “Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV

Paul tells the Corinthians, “Now let me address the issue of food offered in sacrifice to idols. It seems that everyone believes his own opinion is right on this matter. How easily we get puffed up over our opinions! But love builds up the structure of our new life.”  We all have knowledge.  Knowledge may make a person look important, but it is only through love that we reach our full maturity.  Simply put, “Love builds up.”  It builds up our lives, our churches, our families, and others.  Love is the most powerful substance for building what will last forever.  God is the source of love.  God is love.  This is the endless love of God that has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us!  Let’s release God’s love from within our hearts to those around us.  Amen!