Overcome Evil with Good

 ”And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Just then a good-for-nothing named Sheba son of Bicri the Benjaminite blew a blast on the ram’s horn trumpet, calling out, “We’ve got nothing to do with David, there’s no future for us with the son of Jesse! Let’s get out of here, Israel—head for your tents!“  David’s army had just defeated his treacherous son and come back to Jerusalem.  But some people turned against him, who already had an evil intent.  It is the test of leadership to know how to overcome evil and cast out its influence. As leaders, we separate ourselves from the enemies of the Cross and trust God to remove the ungodly.  In the new covenant, Jesus put it so differently, “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend, and hate your enemy.’  I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with prayer, for then you are working out of your God-created selves. This is what God does, He gives His best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, good or bad, nice or nasty. Christ tells us to overcome evil with good.  Amen!

Jesus is the Mediator of the New Testament

 ”and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We have come to Jesus who established a new covenant with His Blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat; Blood that continues to speak from heaven, “forgiveness,” a better message than Abel’s blood that cries from the earth, “justice”.  Jesus is the Spokesman and Arbitrator of the New Testament order.  His Blood signature sanctions mankind’s innocence.  This is a complete new language that communicates better things, in that it is the very substance of what was spoken in the shadow-type message of the blood sacrifice that Abel brought.  Abel’s faith was a prophetic introduction to the sacrificial shadow system of the Old Covenant.  Jesus is the substance of things hoped for!  It was faith that made the difference between the sacrifices of Abel and Cain, and confirmed Abel’s righteousness.  God bore witness to righteousness as a gift rather than a reward!  Even though Abel was murdered, his faith still has a prophetic voice.  The blood of Abel was for only himself but the Blood of Jesus is for all mankind.  Hallelujah!

Honour & Righteousness in exchange of Shame & Dishonour

 ”For all of my father's house were but dead men before my Lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭19‬:‭28‬ ‭KJV

“But my master the king has been like one of God’s angels: he knew what was right and did it. Wasn’t everyone in my father’s house doomed? But you took me in and gave me a place at your table. What more could I ever expect or ask?”  David showed kindness to Mephibosheth, whose name means, ‘from the mouth of shame’.  What a name his parents gave him!  But David gave Mephibosheth honour.  When David returned back to Jerusalem Mephibosheth greeted him, and David restored in part the honour to Mephibosheth.  In the new covenant, Jesus restores our identity in Christ and honours all those who believe in Him.  The sin, shame and dishonour is all wiped away by Jesus’s precious Blood.  In exchange He graces us with righteousness and honour.  For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  How gracious is our God.  Amen!

God Given Faith to Prophesy

 ”By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Faith inspired Joseph and opened his eyes to see into the future, for as he was dying he prophesied about the exodus of Israel out of Egypt, and gave instructions that his bones were to be taken from Egypt with them.  At the end of his life, Joseph prophetically reminded his sons of the exodus.  He had such a firm belief that they would possess the land of promise that he exacted an oath from them: they were not to leave his bones in Egypt.  It is faith that imparts prophetic vision of the future, as it did to Joseph.  The source of faith is the Lord Jesus Christ Whose Name is Faithful and True and it is His faith that is imparted in us who are in Christ.  Let’s build ourselves up this God-given faith by praying in the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

The Obedience of Christ

 ”And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Absalom ran into David’s men, but was out in front of them riding his mule, when the mule ran under the branches of a huge oak tree. Absalom’s head was caught in the oak and he was left dangling between heaven and earth, the mule running right out from under him.  This was the end of Absalom.  The beauty of his hair, that everyone admired so much, was the cause of his death.  Absalom’s disobedience made his end tragic. The law was spoken and confirmed by angels, bringing a just penalty to every disobedient violation.  So how would we expect to escape punishment if we despise the very truths that give us life?  This at the first spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.  Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  Let’s learn to cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  Our disobedience and rebellion when brought under the Blood of Jesus and the obedience of Christ will give us the victory.  Amen!

How Priceless We Are to Christ

 ”let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We come closer to God and approach Him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from Him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with Blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps His promises!” We present our bodies as a living sacrifice as our true worship when we draw near Him.  We are free to approach God with absolute confidence, fully persuaded in our hearts that nothing can any longer separate us.  We are invited to draw near now, thoroughly cleansed inside out, with no trace of sin’s stains on our conscience or conduct.  The sprinkled Blood purges our inner thought-patterns; our bodies also are bathed in clean water.  We do not own our life, we are bought and paid for. All of us is His!  We live our life conscious of how priceless we are to Him.  His faithfulness backs His promises.  Amen!

Receiving God’s Grace Gifts with Humility

 ”And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Ahithophel realized that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and left for his hometown. After making out his will and putting his house in order, he hanged himself and died. He was buried in the family tomb.  Ahithophel was known for his sagacious counsel as having divine access to the wisdom imparted by the Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately this gift made him proud and he failed to show gratitude to God for it.  He sided with Absalom against David.  He went against the Lord’s anointed as his pride blinded him.  This is Yahweh’s counsel: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight”.  Let’s learn to receive God’s grace gifts with humility.  Amen!

Invited Into God’s Very Presence

 ”For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For the Messiah did not enter into the earthly tabernacle made by men, which was but an echo of the true sanctuary, but He entered into heaven itself to appear before the Face of God in our place.  The Presence of God means that we come before His Face.  In Christ we have so much more than a type, reflected in the tabernacle of holy places which was set up by human hands.  He entered into the heavenly sphere itself, where He personally exhibits us face to face with God as in a mirror.  We have been invited into the very Presence of God, face-to-face with Him.  We come closer to God and approach Him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from Him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with Blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out!  Let’s take His invitation seriously with faith.  Amen!

Loving Even When Betrayed

 ”Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do. And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then Absalom spoke to Ahithophel, “Are you ready to give counsel? What do we do next?” Ahithophel told Absalom, “Go and sleep with your father’s concubines, the ones he left to tend to the palace. Everyone will hear that you have openly disgraced your father, and the morale of everyone on your side will be strengthened.”  Ahithophel was a trusted counsellor to king David.  David wrote in his anguish, ”For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me..but it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together..he has broken his covenant.“ Jesus knew the betrayal of a close friend, yet continued to love Judas.  It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.  The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, in the new covenant, for all who believe in the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  We win every time we obey Him.  Amen!

God -Conscious Not Sin-Conscious

 ”For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For I will demonstrate my mercy to them and will forgive their evil deeds, and never remember again their sins. This proves that by establishing this new covenant the first is now obsolete, ready to expire, and about to disappear.  God makes atonement for humanity’s evil.  This refers to our old life and old ways of pleasing flesh, the sinful disposition of our hearts. This knowledge of God will never again be based on sin-consciousness.  His act of mercy, extended in Christ as the New Covenant has removed every possible definition of sin from memory!  God announces the new dispensation to confirm that the old shadow system has been rendered redundant.   Amen!

Surrender Your Will to God’s Will

 ”And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation: but if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then the king ordered Zadok, “Take the Ark back to the city. If I get back in God’s good graces, He’ll bring me back and show me where the Ark has been set down. But if He says, ‘I’m not pleased with you’—well, He can then do with me whatever He pleases.”  David learned to surrender to God’s will.  This is a foreshadow of when Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane and said, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”  When our God given gift of free-will surrenders to God’s will, we come to the place of fruitfulness that glorifies God, our Father.  David returned to Jerusalem and to the Ark, the Presence of God, he so loved.  Jesus surrendered to God’s will to win all mankind by His Blood Sacrifice and those who believe become new creatures in Christ.  Former things have passed away, behold all things are new.  Hallelujah!

Kings & Priests to God in Christ

 ”who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchisedec.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This King-Priest did not arise because of a genealogical right under the law to be a priest, but by the power of an indestructible, resurrection life! For it says in the Psalms, “You are like Melchizedek, a King-Priest forever!” This new office is not based on the law of precepts constrained by the frailty of the flesh, but by the authority of an indestructible life as demonstrated in His resurrection.  Thus Scripture confirms His perpetual Priesthood exactly according to the pattern of Melchizedek, the King of Peace and the King of Righteousness.  That is why we, the believers, are made kings and priests to God in Christ.  Amen!

Christ Dissolved All Curses on the Cross

 ”But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This Absalom! There wasn’t a man in all Israel talked about so much for his handsome good looks—and not a blemish on him from head to toe!  For all his beauty, Absalom brought curses upon himself.  He dishonoured his father in spite of the law which said to honour your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.  He had relations with his father's concubines which bring curses according to the law given to Moses which says ”Cursed is the one who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.  And all the people shall say, Amen!”  It did not go well with Absalom.  Thank God that we live in the new covenant where Jesus was punished for our curses. Christ paid the full price to set us free from the curse of the law. 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, so that in Him all the blessings be poured out upon all who believe. Now through faith we receive the promised Holy Spirit who lives in us.  Our God is an awesome God!  Amen!

The Perfection of Christ in Us

 ”Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now is the time for us to progress beyond the basic message of Christ, to the Word in the beginning, and advance into perfection. The foundation has already been laid for us to build upon: turning away from our dead works to embrace faith in God..  These dead works are useless deeds as attempts of people to please God through religion, keeping religious laws and traditions, and serving others to gain influence with God.  There was one “work” that brings light to all, that was the work of Christ on the Cross.  All mankind is required to do is believe in faith, on the finished work of the Cross and know that the mighty Holy Spirit is working in us the perfection of Jesus.  Hallelujah!

Being Unleavened for Christ Our Passover

 ”But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years. And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭37‬-‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Absalom fled, he went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. He was there three years. The king finally gave up trying to get back at Absalom.  David was not able to raise his children with the values he learned and the relationship he had with God when he young.  Pride and disrespect led to Absalom’s tragic death when he rose against his own father.  In Jesus’s time, Herod under the Roman Empire ruled over Judæa and the Pharisees were the learned who taught the common people.  But Jesus said to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”  Pride, disrespect and hypocrisy is like leaven and unacceptable to God.  In the new covenant, Paul taught, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us”. Let’s be unleavened for Christ is our Sacrifice.  Amen!

Our Brave and Awesome Saviour

 ”Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

During Christ’s days on earth He pleaded with God, praying with passion and with tearful agony that God would spare Him from death. And because of His perfect devotion His prayer was answered and He was delivered.  During the days when Christ wore flesh, He prayed in the garden to be spared from death that night as He sweat drops of Blood.  What death since Jesus gave His life for us on the Cross?  Jesus prayed to be spared from death that night and live long enough to die on the Cross, and not prematurely die in the garden.  The “cup” that Jesus was asking to let pass Him was the cup of premature death in the garden, not the death He would experience the next day on the Cross.  The prophecies had to be fulfilled of being pierced on the Cross for our transgressions.  God answered His cry and He lived through the agony of Gethsemane so He could be our sacrifice for sin on Calvary.  Later on when the soldiers came to arrest Him and Peter tried to attack, Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”  Our great and awesome Saviour.  Amen!

We Are God’s Beloved & Have God’s Peace In Us

 ”And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David went and comforted his wife Bathsheba. And when he slept with her, they conceived a son. When he was born they named him Solomon. God had a special love for him and sent word by Nathan the prophet that God wanted him named Jedidiah (God’s Beloved).  David comforted himself by worshipping Yahweh, after the loss of his first son with Bathsheba, and God gave him and Bathsheba another son.  David named the baby Solomon, meaning ‘peace’ and God named him ‘beloved’.  The Lord Jesus Christ is “peace” when He said, ”Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”  Also, God called Jesus, “This is My beloved Son..”. We who are in Christ, and have Christ in us through faith, are God’s beloved and have His peace in us, whatever our situation may be.  Amen!

The Powerful Two-edged Sword

 ”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.  God speaks His Word, then we, in agreement, also speak His Word and it becomes a “two-mouthed sword”.  Soul and spirit are the immaterial parts of every person that makes us who we are, joint and marrow are the physical aspects of our existence.  All of this combined, forms our humanity.  God’s Word has the ability to uncover our hidden aspects and make them known.  The moment we cease from our own efforts to justify ourselves, by yielding to the integrity of the Word that declares the success of the Cross, God’s Word triggers into action.  What God spoke to us in our sonship, radiates His image and likeness in our redeemed innocence.  The Word powerfully penetrates and impacts our whole being - body, soul and spirit.  Amen!

Our Bad Record is Wiped Out by Christ’s Blood

 ”And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭KJV‬

When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she grieved for her husband. When the time of mourning was over, David sent someone to bring her to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son.  But God was not at all pleased with what David had done.  The tragic consequence to this was that strife didn’t depart from David’s family.  His own son committed treason against him.  But David repented before God and cried, ”Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record…I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. You’re the One I’ve violated..”  In Christ today, we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.  Our bad record is wiped out by His Blood, when we turn to Christ in repentance and begin walking worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God.  All this, with the help of the Holy Spirit.  What an awesome God!  Hallelujah!

Christ Our King-Priest

 ”Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬

Dear brothers and sisters, you are now made holy, and each of you is invited to the feast of your heavenly calling. So fasten your thoughts fully onto Jesus, whom we embrace as our Apostle and King-Priest.  To partake in our heavenly calling is to share in the life of heaven, for which the Messiah has made a legally binding agreement with us.  God joins the apostolic and priestly ministries together in Christ.  An apostle will always release God’s people into their priestly calling of entering into the holy of holies without going through a system, a church or a person.  The word is King-Priest and not a high priest as Jesus was not born in the Levitical order as a descendant of Aaron, but was from the tribe of Judah.  That is why Christ Jesus is the King-Priest in the order of Melchizedek, Whom we profess and Who intercedes for us.  Let’s agree with His intercession for us and bring heaven down to earth.  Amen!

Power in Christ’s Love Makes Us Victorious

 ”And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭10‬:‭19 KJV

The Ammonites took the help of the Syrians to defeat Israel but they just couldn’t, inspite of the weaponry and the numbers of their army which were more than David’s army.  When all the kings who were vassals of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they made peace and became Israel’s vassals. The Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites ever again.  David knew that as long as he sought the LORD, he would be victorious.  In the new covenant, through Jesus Christ, our LORD, we are called to be victorious through the power of the love of God.  With God on our side like this, how can we lose? Who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love? No way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, nor the worst sins.  None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.  Nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus has embraced us.  It is this power in Christ that gives us the victory to be more than conquerors.  Amen!

Jesus Tasted Death for Every Human

 ”But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

We see Jesus, who as a man, lived for a short time lower than the angels and has now been crowned with glorious honor because of what He suffered in His death. For it was by God’s grace that He experienced death’s bitterness on behalf of everyone!  Jesus, as the Son of Man, apart and separated from God, experienced death only in His humanity and not in His divinity. He redeems humanity and restores creation to His original plan.  Through the doorway of death, Jesus descended into our hellish darkness.  The Lord Jesus, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the Name which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!  Amen!

Our Covenant-Keeping God of Grace

 ”And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David found out that Jonathan had a son, Mephibosheth, lame in both his feet, and had him brought to Jerusalem to his palace.  David told Mephibosheth, ”Don’t be frightened, I’d like to do something special for you in memory of your father Jonathan. To begin with, I’m returning to you all the properties of your grandfather Saul. Furthermore, from now on you’ll take all your meals at my table.”  David knew and foreshadowed Jesus’s covenant-keeping mercy and grace.  Jonathan, Saul’s son, had made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.  So now David kept the covenant after Jonathan’s death and showed mercy and grace to Jonathan’s son.  Now God says, “I give you a new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.  In this new covenant, God’s marvellous grace is evident in that He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  What an awesome covenant keeping God!  Hallelujah!

The Joy of Being in Christ

 ”But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God has never said this to any of His angels: “Take Your seat next to Me at My right hand until I force Your whispering enemies to be a rug under Your feet.” What role then, do the angels have? The angels are spirit-messengers sent by God to serve those who are going to be saved.  It was not to these angels, these prophetic messengers God had in mind when He said, “You are the extension of My right hand; My executive authority; take Your position and witness how I make Your enemies a place upon which You may rest Your feet.  Placing the feet on a defeated enemy was a gesture of triumph.    Are these prophetic messengers not all Spirit-employed and commissioned on behalf of everyone who was about to become heirs of salvation.  The angels are glad to minister to us, for they see us in Christ.  Amen!

Receive God’s Grace in Christ

 ”then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So he sent his son Joram to King David to greet and congratulate him for fighting and defeating them, for Toi and Hadadezer were old enemies. He brought with him gifts of silver, gold, and bronze. King David consecrated these along with the silver and gold from all the nations he had conquered..  David’s heart for God was unparalleled in the old covenant.  After Yahweh said He would build the house of David, David was overwhelmed.  Yahweh helped him win wars against all his enemies.  From all the spoil he collected, David brought it all and consecrated the gold and silver to God.  David was generous and cheerful in his giving, not holding anything back because he understood the grace nature of God which was to be revealed through Jesus Christ.  For we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might become rich.  Let’s receive this grace.  Amen!

Forgiving Love & Restoring Relationships

 ”Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.“

‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What a difficult letter Paul wrote, all about forgiving love, “and so does Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my companions in this ministry. May the unconditional love of the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, be with your spirit!“  Paul showed with his actions what he told Philemon to do, by forgiving Onesimus and accepting him with love.  Paul had done that with Mark, who was now his companion when earlier their relationship had fallen apart.  John Mark was fully restored in his relationship with the apostle Paul.  Since Mark’s death was in Alexandria in 62 AD, this epistle to  Philemon was obviously written before then.  This is the only place that records Mark and Luke being in the same place.  Paul had two Gospel writers who travelled with him.  When we walk the talk, when the Word of God is not just a theoretical study for preaching, but it becomes life for us when we come into an intimate relationship with the Living God, we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  Let’s not be hearers of the Word but doers also, walking in forgiving love.  Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ - my Cornerstone

 ”Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel…and  have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth..and the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭7‬:‭8‬-‭9‬, ‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: “I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel….And I Myself will build you a house!”  Our God is gracious.  David knew where he came from to where he was as king of all Israel, and he loved God’s Presence so much that he wanted to build a house for the Ark of the Testimony that signified God’s Presence.  But instead, God said He will build for him the house of David through which the Son of David was born.  This was the shadow of the real thing we have in the new covenant where we are rising like the perfectly fitted stones of the temple; and our lives have been built up together upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, and best of all, we are connected to the Head Cornerstone of the building, the Anointed One, Jesus Christ Himself!  Amen!

Made Completely New by the Holy Spirit

 ”But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;“

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul guides Titus, ”When the extraordinary compassion of God our Savior and His overpowering love suddenly appeared in Person, as the brightness of a dawning day, He came to save us. Not because of any virtuous deed that we have done but only because of His extravagant mercy. He saved us, resurrecting us through the washing of rebirth. We are made completely new by the Holy Spirit, Whom He splashed over us richly by Jesus, the Messiah, our Life Giver.“  It was the generosity of God and His fondness for mankind, that dawned on us when the light of salvation shone on us.  God rescued the human race!  Salvation is not a reward for good behaviour, God’s mercy alone saved us. When we heard the glad announcement of salvation, the Holy Spirit cleansed and re-booted us into newness of life and made us realise that we are co-included, co-crucified, co-raised, and now co-seated together with Christ in heavenly places.  Hallelujah!

The Presence of God in Us

 ”And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David became fearful of God that day and said, “This Chest is too dangerous to handle. How can I ever get it back to the City of David?”  The Ark of the Covenant signified the Presence of God, among God’s people in the old covenant.  David so loved God’s Presence that he disregarded God’s holiness, and making common through familiarity that which is sacred, led to the death of the man who touched the Ark.  In the new covenant, the Presence of God, through the Holy Spirit, has come into those of us who believe in the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on our personal behalf.  Do we not know that we are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in us?  We are set apart to God to fulfil His purpose in our life.  Let’s not be familiar making the Presence of God in us as commonplace.  Let’s be in awe and wonder that we carry the Presence of God in us.  Amen!

Living in Love is Living in God

 ”who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.“

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul instructs Titus, ”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”.  We are a people encircled by God Himself, like a dot within a circle.  As the circle surrounds the dot, so God is around each one of His saints.  The circle has the dot all to itself.  So God has His very own all to Himself.  We are unique in that we belong only to Him.  Uniquely His, we are monopolised by God, taken into Himself by grace through faith and surrounded by His love. God is love! Those who are living in love are living in God, and God lives through them. Hallelujah!