Walk & Live in the Spirit

 “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬

He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.” Then Elisha prayed, “O God, open his eyes and let him see.” The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!  There is the whole spiritual realm around about us and for the lovers of Christ, every spiritual blessing in heavenly places is ours.  Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus our Lord, the mighty Holy Spirit has come to dwell in us.  So if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  For as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. Thank You Holy Spirit. Amen!

Pursuing the Promises of God

 “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then I saw another extremely powerful messenger coming out of heaven, robed in a cloud. There was a halo over his head like a rainbow; his face shined bright like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.  This super strong celestial messenger descends out of the heavenly realm clothed in a cloud, his head crowned in a rainbow, his face shining like the sun and his legs as pillars of fire.  The rainbow immediately reminds us of the promise of God to Noah, “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.”  Jesus is the fulfilment of every promise.  Let’s learn to be steadfast in pursuing the promises of God, while we are on earth awaiting the Lord Jesus Christ.  For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.  Amen!

God has Chosen You to Worship Him

 “And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Naaman, the general of the king of Aram’s army, then went back to the Holy Man, Elisha, he and his entourage, stood before him, and said, “I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no God anywhere on earth other than the God of Israel. In gratitude let me give you a gift.”  Naaman had not grown up in Israel where he had learned what Yahweh says, heaven’s Creator, Who alone is God. He created the earth, shaped it, and established it all by Himself. He made it fit and orderly and beautiful for its inhabitants.  *He says: “I Am Yahweh, and there is no other god.”*  God chooses even the gentiles to show His power.  Jesus said, “have you not considered that the prophet Elisha healed only Naaman, the Syrian, rather than one of the many Jewish lepers living in the land?”  It was a young servant maid who told Naaman’s wife about Elisha.  God chooses even the weak and the meek for His power to be manifest.  Let’s not be backward in allowing God to use us to manifest God’s power to a world desperate to know the true and living God.  Idols are nothing in this world, there is no other God but One.  Through Christ He has chosen you to worship Him.  Amen!

Jesus Conquered Death and Hades

 “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that fell from heaven to earth, and he was handed the key to the shaft leading down to the pit of the deep.  Jesus is the One Who holds the keys of death and Hades, for He unlocked both and walked out triumphantly in resurrection power.  Many things are opened in Revelation - heaven, doors, books - with the purpose of releasing a new understanding.  There is a deep place in the human heart, like a pit, that Jesus opens so that we can see what has been there inside us.  Jesus gave this revelation to John the beloved disciple who witnessed Jesus on the Cross, at the receiving end of the depth of the evil of the human heart, when He died.  But thanks be to God that He rose victorious having conquered death and Hades and every depravity of the human heart.  Hallelujah!

God’s Care & Protection on Orphans & Widows

 “Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The wife of a man from the guild of prophets called out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead. You well know what a good man he was, devoted to God. And now the man to whom he was in debt is on his way to collect by taking my two children as slaves.” Elisha said, “..Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Nothing,” she said. “Well, I do have a little oil.”  The widow knew to come to the prophet Elisha for help.  The children of Israel knew that He is a father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. The Lord relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. This widow and her fatherless sons came out of bondage with God’s grace and power.  That is the heart of our Father in heaven Whom the Lord Jesus revealed, and for us to show this love in the Body of Christ by the pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father: by visiting orphans and widows in their trouble.  Amen!

The Time is Near When Mankind Bows to Christ

 “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭8‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then the angel filled the golden incense burner with coals of fire from the altar and hurled it onto the earth, releasing great peals of thunder, voices, lightning flashes, and an earthquake.  As our prayers, mixed with the intercession of our High Priest, Jesus, ascend in the Spirit the very coals of fire from the altar, are cast into the earth, which releases mighty power.  The voices carry the Word of the Lord.  The thunder manifests God’s power.  The lightening strikes illuminate divine truth as a great earthquake shakes the kingdoms of men in their foundations.  These are not only acts of judgment, but purification.  The altar is central in the vision of the Lamb that was slain - the triumph of the Cross is unveiled, in redeeming mankind’s innocence.  The fire from the altar is the judgment that the Lamb faced as scapegoat of the human race.  The earthquake takes place because of fault lines - a great shifting is taking place along the fault-lines of people’s thinking.  Let’s believe that the time is near when all mankind acknowledges and bows before our LORD and Saviour - Jesus Christ.  Hallelujah!

Worship Brings God’s Power

 “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Elisha said, “bring me a minstrel.” (When a minstrel played, the power of God came on Elisha.). He had learned well from Elijah the power of worship and from king David who knew the secret of worship well, especially as he served king Saul who was troubled by the evil spirit.  Whenever this spirit came upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.  David wrote in the psalms, “Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.”  Nehemiah also knew when the walls of Jerusalem had been built that he called the priests, Levites and the people to sing with instruments to worship God and there was great joy.  John saw in Revelation, the heavenly host having harps of God and singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!”  There is power in worship and may we be true worshippers of the Living God, even on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen!

Sealed with the Mind of Christ

 “And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying,”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ KJV‬‬

Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God.  The east, where the sun rises is associated with blessings, the place from where God appears.  The messenger was not descending from the east but ascending.  The star of Jesus was rising in the east.  This sealing messenger represents the living God and points to Christ, Who is rising in His people, bringing the light of the new day and the seal of God on them.  The seal is the mind of Christ on the forehead (thoughts) of His people (until they have His mind, they are incapable of discerning properly).  Partaking of Christ’s mind empowers the people of God to be righteous judges, righteous kings and righteous priests.  This seal Is more than a seal of protection from the coming judgments, but a seal that qualifies them to bring the righteous judgments of God to the earth.  This is the nature of God being written upon the foreheads and minds of Christ’s holy ones.  Let’s be people who are sealed with the mind of Christ.  Amen!

Limitless New Covenant Christ Anointing

 “And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so…and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When they reached the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I’m taken from you? Ask anything.” Elisha said, “Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you.” “That’s a hard one!” said Elijah…Then Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him, returned to the shore of the Jordan, and stood there. He took Elijah’s cloak and hit the river with it, saying, “Now where is the God of Elijah?” When he struck the water, the river divided and Elisha walked through.  How powerful was the anointing even in the double portion from Elijah to Elisha to fulfill God’s purpose in the old covenant.  In the new covenant, the Christ anointing is limitless through faith.  This Christ anointing, embedded deeply within us, teaches us the truth on everything we need to know.   Amen!

All Creation See the Glory of God

 “and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Sovereign Lord, holy and dependable, how long before You judge those who live on the earth and vindicate our blood on them?”  These were those who were slain for the Word of God because they had the testimony of the Lamb of God.  The actual word here would be ‘to validate’ and not ‘to avenge’ these souls who are under the altar of Christ’s sacrifice.  Their cry is, that the nature of restored identity of mankind as the new creation born of the Spirit, will bring the glory of God, and these martyrs are asking for this powerful move of God.  That is the validation of the martyrs that all creation may see the glory of God and it is every believer’s desire echoing on earth for the glory of God to be manifest, that all may worship the True and Living God and the Lord Jesus Christ, glorious, majestic and worthy of all worship.  Hallelujah!

Judge Not, but Build Up the Church

 “And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.”

‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The king then sent a third captain with his fifty men. For a third time, a captain with his fifty approached Elijah. This one fell on his knees in supplication: “O Holy Man, have respect for my life and the souls of these fifty men! Twice now lightning from out of the blue has struck and incinerated captains with their fifty men; please, I beg you, respect my life!”  Ahaziah of Israel sent messengers to Baalzebub to consult the god of Ekron for his health.  Elijah, God’s prophet, intercepted the messengers and gave them the message that Ahaziah will not survive his illness.  So Ahaziah sent two bands of soldiers one after another  to talk to Elijah but the fire of God consumed them.  This third band and the captain came in fear and trembling to talk to Elijah.  They survived but the king did not.  Who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?  Let’s not judge but build up those who are anointed but not in God’s will.  Amen!

Reigning as Kings and Priests

 “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They were all singing this new song of praise to the Lamb: “Because You were slaughtered for us, You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. Your Blood was the price paid to redeem us. You purchased us to bring us to God out of every tribe, language, people group, and nation. You have chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a kingdom of priests who reign on the earth.” Belief in Jesus’s Blood is the only way of redemption and the afterlife in eternity.  That’s the value God has paid to purchase all mankind.  How valuable we are to Him.  The reign of believers on earth has already begun.  We have been redeemed to reign as kings and priests, after the order of Melchizedek.  The Christ life rules through us.  Hallelujah!

Being Motivated by Money is Evil

 “Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭48‬-‭49‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jehoshaphat built ocean-going ships to sail to Ophir for gold. But they never made it; they shipwrecked at Ezion Geber. During that time Ahaziah son of Ahab proposed a joint shipping venture, but Jehoshaphat wouldn’t go in with him.  Jehoshaphat's reign appears to have been one of the best, both in following God and in prosperity. He pleased God, and God blessed him but he erred in making alliances with Ahaziah, who was a committed idolator and rebellious against God, like his father Ahab.  Ships of Tharshish were the best in that time and according to the historian Josephus, Ophir was India which at that time was rich in gold. When we agree with those against the Lord Jesus Christ, especially if motivated by the love of gold, we will never succeed.  The Word of God is clear that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  Let’s be motivated only by the love for our Lord Jesus and the obedience of faith.  Amen!

The Sevenfold Spirit of God

 “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Pulsing from the Throne were blinding flashes of lightning, crashes of thunder, and voices. And burning before the Throne were seven blazing torches, which represent the seven Spirits of God.  Lightening is often an emblem of the revelation-word of God breaking forth on the earth as His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles.  This is what dismantles the works of satan.  As God’s Word goes forth, there will always be voices to carry the fresh revelation of heaven.  The seven-fold Spirit of God are the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding, the Spirit of counsel, the Spirit of might, the Spirit of knowledge and the Spirit of the fear of the LORD.  May we yield to the Holy Spirit to walk in the victory of the Cross of Christ, every moment of our life.  Amen!

Hear God’s Voice, Don’t Harden Your Heart

 “But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ahab, pushed by his wife Jezebel and in open defiance of God, set an all-time record in making big business of evil. He indulged in outrageous obscenities in the world of idols, copying the Amorites whom God had earlier kicked out of Israelite territory.  Ahab had coveted Naboth’s property and his wife Jezebel manipulated to have Naboth killed and Ahab took possession of Naboth’s property.  Along with unbridled idolatory, Ahab was consumed by covetousness which is as idolatory.  Ahab and Jezebel were only out for themselves, ready to exploit for their own gain through their cunning arguments. Their condemnation and destruction eventually happened.  They were separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that was in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they surrendered to sensuality, impurity and greed. Those born of God do not sin but keep themselves, and the wicked one does not touch them. Today when we hear God’s voice, let’s not harden our hearts. Amen!

The Key of David

 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The resurrected Christ tells John for the church in Philadelphia, “Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Philadelphia, for these are the solemn words of the Holy One, the True One, Who has David’s key, Who opens doors that none can shut and who closes doors that none can open”.  The key of David unlocks intimacy and prayer.  David was a man who lived in grace centuries before the Gospel of God’s grace was unveiled in the Lord Jesus Christ.  In that sense the key of David allowed him to live in the future and in the grace it would reveal.  This open door is an invitation to come into the fullness of the righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, in the Kingdom of God.  It is also an open door of opportunity to give witness to others of God’s power and grace.  Let’s be those who are so conscious of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that the overflow of gratitude constantly comes forth from our lips.  Amen!

Discerning God’s Voice through Prophecy

 “And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭20‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭KJV‬‬

At that, the man ripped the bandage off his eyes and the king recognized who he was—one of the prophets! The man said to the king, “God’s word: Because you let a man go who was under sentence by God, it’s now your life for his, your people for his.”  Those who follow the ways of the world will have unbelief in their hearts to receive the voice of God spoken through the prophets even today.  Jesus was the Prophet Moses spoke about saying, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear”.  Jesus said He will send us the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and through His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit came to empower us to prophecy and to discern spirits, through His gifts to the Body of Christ.  Paul told the Church, of the ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, to build and strengthen the Body of Christ - the Church.  Let’s dwell in God’s Word to recognise God’s Voice and discern the prophetic Word given to us, and not to despise prophesies.  Amen!

Passion for Christ

 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus spoke to the Church at Ephesus, “But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for Me at the beginning. Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place of influence if you do not repent.”  Jesus refers to the exclusive love that has first place in our hearts above all else.  Repentance means to turn from the fallen mindset of error and returning to the mind of Christ which is the Word of God.  Let’s learn to return to our passion for Christ that motivated us first and meditate in His Word with that intimacy of relationship He has invited us to.  Amen!

Serving Others is the Hallmark of Christ’s Disciples

 “So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Elijah went straight out and found Elisha son of Shaphat in a field where there were twelve pairs of yoked oxen at work plowing; Elisha was in charge of the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak over him.  Twelve yoke of oxen means there were twenty-four oxen. Elisha gave up a stable and secure life for the volatile world as a prophet of God being trained by Elijah.  An ox represents servitude. Elisha, a wealthy and secure individual surrendered himself to a life of service.  Elijah obeyed God and Elisha obeyed Elijah, accepting the mantle.  The Lord Jesus, the Creator, obeyed His Father when He chose to come as the Son of Man.  He said, “..the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Jesus went on to say, “Anyone who leaves his home behind and chooses Me over children, parents, family, and possessions, all for the sake of the Gospel, it will come back to him a hundred times as much in this lifetime..and in the age to come, he will inherit eternal life.”  Followers of Christ lead a life of humility and service to bless others with the Lord Jesus as our Master.  Amen!

Every Human is Appointed to Die Once - No Cycle of Repeated Lives

 “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus said, “I Am the Living One! I was dead, but now look—I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys that unlock death and the unseen world.”  Through the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection, He now holds the keys of death and the unseen world.  There is nothing to fear because Christ holds all authority.  Hades is identified with “the place of the dead” in Greek.  There is no cycle of life of coming to live again and again ad infinitum in different forms.  Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment. But when we die we will be face-to-face with Christ, the One who experienced death once for all to bear the sins of many! And now to those who eagerly await Him, He will appear a second time; not to deal with sin, but to bring us the fullness of salvation.  Amen!

Every Knee Will Bow to Christ

 “And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18‬:‭39‬ ‭KJV‬‬

All the people saw it happen and fell on their faces in awed worship, exclaiming, “God is the true God! God is the true God!”  When Elijah asked the fire of God to consume the sacrifice, God sent the fire.  Fear of God, awe and reverence filled all the people, whether Baal worshippers or YHWH worshippers.  Moses had told the children of Israel that “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”  Yet they went after other gods.  Isaiah prophesied about God, “Let all the world look to Me for salvation! For I Am God; there is no other. I have sworn by My Own Name ; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on My Word: Every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to Me.”  Paul said about Jesus, “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.”  This is our lifestyle to lift up Jesus so He draws all men to Him.  Amen!

Set Our Affections Above Where Christ Is

 “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

How terrible it is for them! For they have followed in the steps of Cain. They have abandoned themselves to Balaam’s error because of their greedy pursuit of financial gain. And since they have rebelled like Korah rebelled, they will experience the same fate of Korah and likewise perish.  It is terrible because there is a curse on them.  The way of Cain was to reject the blood sacrifice that God desired and instead offer the fruit of his own labours (works).  False teachers will insist on adding something to the Gospel, polluting it with human works. Balaam’s error was an abuse of the prophetic gift for financial gain.  Korah led 250 men in rebellion against the leadership of Moses.  The earth opened up and swallowed Korah alive.  In a similar way, the “things of this earth” these false teachers and they will be “swallowed up” by their greed for what this world can offer.  These three instances of wicked men, Cain, Balaam and Korah, show they did as they pleased and suffered greatly.  If then we were raised with Christ, let’s seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Let’s set our mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Amen!

The Power of Goodness and Grace

 “Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.”

‭‭1 Kings 17:9 KJV

Then God spoke to him: “Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I’ve instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you.”  An unknown widow in Sidon, a territory against Israel, was miraculously nourished by God through the prophet Elijah in the time of great famine.  When Jesus was being denigrated by the Pharisees in His hometown Nazareth, He answered, “Isn’t it true that many widows lived in the land of Israel during the days of the prophet Elijah when he locked up the heavens for three and a half years and brought a devastating famine over all the land? But he wasn’t sent to any of the widows living in that region. Instead, he was sent to a foreign place, to a widow in Zarephath of Sidon.”  God knows to take care of anyone, whose attitude is a cry to the Living LORD God for help.  Even when the widow’s son died, Elijah prayed to the Living LORD God and the son was raised from the dead.  God accomplished His purpose by the power of His goodness and the prophetic word spoken through Elijah the prophet.  He is the same God today and through the Cross, the power of His goodness in the time of trouble is available to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.  Amen!

In Christ, Love is not Controlling

“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.”

‭‭3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

John, the beloved disciple said to Gaius his friend, that he had already written  once about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be in charge and recognized as first among the church, does not acknowledge their authority. Diotrephes loved being in charge, denigrated John’s counsel. When John came, he would hold Diotrephes to account for spreading vicious rumors about them.  Diotrephes refused hospitality to traveling Christians and tried to stop others from welcoming them and instead threw them out.  Obviously, Diotrephes saw himself as the most important one pushing himself forward with a controlling leadership style.  Leaders must view other leaders not as threats but as coworkers.  Love is not controlling or tyrannical.  The local church needs a God-appointed ministry in the congregation from pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelists and apostles.  In addition are itinerant ministers (proven to be authentic), who are to be received by the local church authorities and given both opportunities to minister, as well as generous gifts to send them on their way.  This was the local church in the beginning and this still continues in these end times.  Amen!

Be Not Deceived

 “And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.”

‭‭1 Kings 16:31 KJV

Ahab son of Omri did even more open evil before God than anyone yet—a new champion in evil! It wasn’t enough for him to copy the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat; no, he went all out, first by marrying Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then by serving and worshiping the god Baal.  Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked queen, was immoral and practiced idolatry.  She released into Israel a spirit of darkness that hindered God’s faithful ones by attempting to mix the worship of Baal with the worship of the true God.  She became a symbol of a spirit of tolerance and compromise, which teaches that God’s servants can sin and not experience any consequence.  Accepting Christ as one more god in a pantheon of gods is not tolerated by the True and Living LORD God.  Let’s be careful that we are not deceived in this.  Amen!

Jesus Christ is LORD

 “And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

‭‭2 John‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This love means living in obedience to whatever God commands us. For to walk in love toward one another is the unifying commandment we’ve heard from the beginning. Numerous deceivers have surfaced from among us and gone out into the world, people who will not acknowledge Jesus Christ coming as a man. These deceivers are antichrists!  In the context of live, John mentions false teachers, which shows that love is the safeguard against error.  The more that love flows through us as we honour God’s commands, the more we are kept from deception.  Our unity, produced by love, enables us to recognise and resist false teachers. Love means following His commandments, and His unifying commandment is that we conduct our lives in love. This is the first thing we heard, and nothing has changed. There are a lot of smooth-talking con artists loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: deceiver and antichrist!  Let’s move in love.  Amen!

Seek First the Kingdom of God & Christ’s Righteousness

 “And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV

Asa spared nothing and no one; he went so far as to remove his mother, Queen Maacah from her position because she had built a shockingly obscene memorial to the whore goddess Asherah. Asa tore it down and burned it up in the Kidron Valley. Unfortunately, he didn’t get rid of the local sex-and-religion shrines. But he was well-intentioned—his heart was in the right place, in tune with God.  Throughout human history the fingerprints of God have been upon mankind, yet we refused to honor Him as God or even be thankful for His kindness. Instead, we entertained corrupt and foolish thoughts about what God is like. This left us with nothing but misguided hearts, steeped in moral darkness, trading the unfading splendour of the immortal God to worship the fading image of other humans, idols like people, animals, birds, and even creeping reptiles!  Let’s realise that those who do this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.  Let’s not fool ourselves. Instead, seek first the Kingdom of God and Christ’s righteousness and all will be added to us.  Amen!

Faith Celebrating Victory in Christ

 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

True love for God means obeying His commands, and His commands don’t weigh us down as heavy burdens.  God’s grace empowers us to love, which makes His commands a delight instead of a duty.  The spontaneity of love is never crushed by the commands of a loving God.  For the love of God is realised in the way we evaluate His precepts; if love’s triumph is the conclusion of every prophetic pointer, how can this be interpreted as an unbearable burden?  Whoever is born of God is destined to triumph over the world system.  Our faith celebrates a victory that is already accomplished.  Hallelujah!

The Boundaries God Has Set

 “For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They set new records in sin, surpassing anything their ancestors had done. They built Asherah sex-and-religion shrines and set up sacred stones all over the place..worse, they had male sacred prostitutes, polluting the land outrageously.  There are consequences of rebellion against God Who has set boundaries for the human race.  This is reflected in the two greatest commandments which a seeker of the truth quoted to Jesus saying, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ Jesus said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Living God Who cannot be worshipped in lifeless idols.  The LORD God has made the human race in His image and likeness, to be fruitful and multiply as a man and a woman.  Humans have no authority to change these boundaries.  There are consequences to any rebellion against God Who is eternal and forever.  Amen!

Discerning Truth & Deceit

 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But we belong to God, and whoever truly knows God listens to us. Those who refuse to listen to us do not belong to God. That is how we can know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.  We belong and originate in God and our revelation is that Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh.  He is the One Who as the Son of God, mirrors and redeems the image and likeness of God in human form.  He declares God as the Only legitimate Father of the human race.  Because the Word is Christ, we can discern true prophets from false ones.  True prophets will: confess that Christ has come in bodily form; they do not come in the spirit of this world, but listen to the truth; the Spirit of Truth is in them as they demonstrate love, they remain true to the written Word of God; they are overcomers as the greater One lives in them; and they have a commitment to the Body of Christ.  Let’s not operate in the spirit of error but in the Spirit of Truth.  Amen!

The Obedience of Christ

 “And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭13‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the prophet who had gotten him off track heard it, he said, “It’s the holy man who disobeyed God’s strict orders. God turned him over to the lion who knocked him around and killed him, just as God had told him.”  Disobedience to God in the old covenant had terrible consequences for this prophet of God.  In the new covenant, it is all about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Because though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Through Him grace cascaded into us, empowering us with the gift of apostleship, so that we can win people from every nation into the obedience that comes from faith, to bring honor to His name.   So now we can 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.  That’s how we walk in victory, overcoming the world through the obedience of Christ.  Amen!

The Throne of Grace which is the Mercy Seat

 “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Whenever our heart makes us feel guilty and reminds us of our failures, we know that God is much greater and more merciful than our conscience, and He knows everything there is to know about us.  There is a higher courtroom for the human heart: it is where grace is enthroned.  The very worst that is in us is known by God  and He still showers mercy, love and acceptance upon us.  This is the greatness of God’s grace.  He sees beyond the sin of the moment and sees the holy affections of love in those who refuse to turn away from Him.  So, even if our own hearts would accuse us of not really being true to ourselves, God is greater than our hearts and He has the full picture!  His knowledge of us is not compromised.  We have laid aside our old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise. Now we have acquired new creation life which is continually being renewed into the likeness of the One who created us; giving us the full revelation of God.  Amen!

Christ, Our Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification & Redemption

 “And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV

The king’s answer was harsh and rude. He spurned the counsel of the elders and went with the advice of the younger set, “If you think life under my father was hard, you haven’t seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I’ll beat you bloody with chains!”  All the favour and wisdom that Solomon had, came to nothing with his son Rehoboam.  The result of foolish counsel was division and strife.  It was Solomon who spoke these wise words, “People lose their way without wise leadership, but a nation succeeds and stands in victory when it has many good counselors to guide it.”  In the new covenant God the Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom needed for our situations when we believe in the finished work of Christ that He is the solution to all our problems. For it is not from man that we draw our life but from God as we are being joined to Jesus, the Anointed One.  Now He is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption.  Hallelujah!

This World Order is Passing Away, Christ is Eternal

 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance —none of these things come from the Father but from the world. This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever.  If anyone persists in loving the world, there is no love of the Father in him.  These three areas is what the devil used in the garden against Adam and Eve, to pull them away from the Father; even the devil used these three areas to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.  The devil is an expert at using these cravings to dilute our love for the Father and cause us to turn our affections to the things of this life.  The values of the Kingdom of God are setting our affections on things above, living in the fruit of the Spirit (self control) and humility, which always waits for God’s timing for promotion.  This world system and the desire to be in a world system that leaves God out, is disappearing.  Planet earth is not fading away, but the systems, structure and world order are.  May we set our affections on Christ alone.   Hallelujah!

There is No God but Our Living LORD God

 “And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God was furious with Solomon for abandoning the God of Israel, the God Who had twice appeared to him and had so clearly commanded him not to fool around with other gods. Solomon faithlessly disobeyed God’s orders.  However much the LORD God had blessed Solomon, he still entered into deception by turning away from the Living LORD God to lifeless idols. When John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus the Christ, he said, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  Thank the LORD God for the new covenant, through which we have been blessed with the Almighty LORD God’s Presence in us, for those who have believed and received Christ.  The Living LORD God chooses to dwell in us who have a passion for His Presence.    May we never restrain or put out the fire of the Holy Spirit in us to serve the Living LORD God.  Amen!

Sin’s Defilement Cleansed by Christ’s Blood Alone

 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But if we freely admit our sins when His light uncovers them, He is faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Confession of sin is the way to find restoration and fellowship with God.  It cleanses the conscience removing every obstacle from communion with Christ.  Confession does not gain God’s acceptance, for that was won for us forever by the Sacrifice of Christ.  God is always faithful to restore our first-love passion for Him.  There is no need to confess the same sins over and over, for that is ignoring the Blood of Jesus that cleanses us.  All of our sins were paid for on the Cross and we can do nothing to remove them.   ‘Unrighteousness’ means the sins we are not aware of.  Confession cleanses us from all known sin and restores intimacy with God and unknown sins are removed because of His faithfulness in seeing Christ as our Sin-Bearer.  When we confess our sins, God demonstrates His faithful love;  justice in counting our sins paid for by Christ; forgiveness for every sin; continuing a deeper work of cleansing from all aspects of sin’s defilement.  Amen!

Judgment - Our Personal Choice of Confronting Christ’s Cross

 “And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The queen of Sheba said to King Solomon, “It’s all true..I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself…Such wisdom and elegance—far more than I could ever have imagined..”. She was quite undone by the wisdom and prosperity of king Solomon and knew that the God of heaven had blessed the king over and above all  of what was told to her.  When Jesus talked to the crowds, they saw power go out of Him to heal and restore, they blessed Him.  But the Jewish scholars and Pharisees asked Jesus for a miraculous sign.  Amazed by their unbelief Jesus said, “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.”  When we are confronted by the finished work of the Cross on a personal level, we either accept that in Christ we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins; or we harden our heart through unbelief and reject this grace gift extended to humanity.  The choice is ours. Amen!

The Importance of the Church

 “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

While we anticipate and help to speed up the coming of the day of God, when the atmosphere will be set on fire and the heavenly bodies consumed in a blaze. But as we wait, we trust in God’s royal proclamation to be fulfilled. There are coming heavens new in quality, and an earth new in quality, where righteousness will be fully at home.  Peter is teaching us that the Church has the ability to speed (or slow down), the coming of the day of God.  The closer we get to Christ, the closer will be His coming.  The “day of God” and the “the day of the LORD” are the same.  There is coming a day when all will live according to God’s perfect will for their lives and righteousness will be at home on earth and in every heart.  This will be the day when justice reigns on earth.  It is God’s promise that there is a new sky and a new earth in which the virtuous people will dwell.  Let’s seek God’s perfect will for our lives daily by being led by the mighty Holy Spirit so that we are ready for the day of God any time.  Amen!

Family of God is the House of God

 “…Solomon had finished the building the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do, that the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

After Solomon had completed building the Temple of God and his own palace, all the projects he had set his heart on doing, God appeared to Solomon again.  In the old covenant God saw Solomon’s attitude of building the house of God, the thoughts of his heart and the resulting outward behaviour and He was pleased and blessed Solomon in untold ways.  In the new covenant, God Himself has built His House in us who are the Body of Christ.  So now we are the whole family in heaven and earth as part of the House of God and He grants us , according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in our inner man; that Christ dwell in our heart by faith; and we are rooted and grounded in love, able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, length, depth, and height; to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, so we are filled with all the fulness of God. To Him Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him  be glory in the Church, the House of God,  by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!

Righteousness Wins Always

 “and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God did not spare the former world in the days of Noah when He sent a flood to destroy a depraved world (although He protected Noah, the preacher of righteousness, along with seven members of his family). And don’t forget that He reduced to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemning them to ruin and destruction. God appointed them to be examples as to what is coming to the ungodly, because of their disobedience of long ago. For during the time of Noah God patiently waited while the ark was being prepared, but only a few were brought safely through the floodwaters: a total of eight souls.  After seeing these three examples of - the fallen angels; people who lived in the time of the flood; Sodom and Gomorrah,  it is difficult to believe that everyone will be saved.  There is a doom that awaits the ungodly who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour.  Amen!

The Glory of the LORD

 “And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled The Temple of God. The priests couldn’t carry out their priestly duties because of the cloud—the glory of God filled The Temple of God!  The glory of the LORD came to Moses and the children of Israel. When Solomon had dedicated the Temple of God, the glory of the LORD came so that the priests could not stand to minister.  Isaiah saw the glory of the LORD and was undone.  One seraphim cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”  When Christ was born, an angel of the Lord stood before the shepherds in the field, and the glory of the LORD shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Today in the new covenant, because of the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus, we are being changed to shine with the glory of the LORD.  Isaiah prophesied, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.” But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  Hallelujah!

God’s Magnificent Promises Bring Us His Divine Nature

 “whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As a result of this, He has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises we can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which we have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.  Through a glorious manifestation of His goodness, He has imparted in us His magnificent promises, and by claiming them as our own by faith, the power of the Word of God is released in us.  We participate as a partner as we fellowship with His divine nature.  It’s a great mystery of the Gospel that God should choose to share His nature with us.  We are given birth by the Holy Spirit to be God’s true sons and daughters, and every father imparts his DNA and his “nature” to his children.  Christ lives in us and transforms us into His very own likeness.  In Christ we share with Him the divine nature.  We will all bear the image of the Man from heaven, Jesus Christ. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Amen!

We are the Temple of God

 “And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

He set the pillars up in the entrance porch to The Temple; the pillar to the south he named Security (Jachin) and the pillar to the north Stability (Boaz).  Jachin, (the south pillar), in Hebrew means ‘God will establish’ and Boaz, (the north pillar), in Hebrew means ‘in God is strength’.  These pillars were 27 feet tall with 8 feet tall capitals over them; and these pillars were 6 feet thick.  This first temple made in Solomon’s time, was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and these pillars were broken and taken to Babylon, piece by piece.  This was a shadow of the Temple that the Lord Jesus Christ would build.  When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to prove that He was the Messiah, Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the Temple of His Body.”  In the new covenant, for all those who believe in the finished work of the Cross, we have become the Temple of the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us, we are the Body of Christ and can never be destroyed.  Amen!

Our Shepherd King

 “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the Shepherd-King appears, you will win the victor’s crown of glory that never fades away.  The Chief Shepherd is the Lord of the shepherds.  Under His headship, the true shepherds serve as elders for the flock. They understand that they serve God’s flock, not their own.  They lovingly guide and care for God’s people and take responsibilities for oversight willingly.  They are eager to serve, not eager for financial gain and feed and nurture God’s people.  They reject a domineering leadership model and lead by examples of godliness and humility.  When shepherds allow Jesus to be revealed through them, the flock is healthy.  The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us.  That’s how we are crowned with glory.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for shepherds who are surrendered to You and who reflect the King-Shepherd with power and love.  Amen!

The Presence of God in Us

 ”And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD”.

1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Inner Sanctuary within The Temple was for housing the Ark of the Covenant of God which was the Presence of Yahweh.  The Ark was made in the year that Moses brought the Israelites from the Egyptian bondage.  Four hundred and eighty years later Solomon ruled in Jerusalem and he took seven years to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem.  The most holy place, or the inner sanctuary housed the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD which was the Presence of Yahweh.  Everything in the most holy place was gold plated and everywhere you looked there was pure gold, it was dazzling.  The high priest only went once a year to atone for Israel’s sins on the day of atonement.  The Lord Jesus Christ made the way, through His Blood Sacrifice to atone for the sins of mankind.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own Blood He entered the most holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.  Now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the Blood of Jesus, and He welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary to the very Presence of Yahweh in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation.  Thank You Lord Jesus that through You, we come to the Presence of Yahweh.  Amen!

Let’s Love & Serve One Another

 ”If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For example, if you have a speaking gift, speak as though God were speaking His words through you. If you have the gift of serving, do it passionately with the strength God gives you, so that in everything God alone will be glorified through Jesus Christ. For to Him belong the power and the glory forever throughout all ages! Amen.  Speaking God’s word includes preaching, teaching and prophesying.  The one who provides finances, depends on the strength of God Who supplies all things.  In these times approaching the coming of Christ, let’s be given more to prayer; be devoted to loving our fellow believers.  Let’s be compassionate to the stranger and foreigner.  Let’s use spiritual gifts to serve one another and give God the glory in all things for to Him belongs all dominion, praise and glory. Amen!

Christ Chose Us to be His Dwelling Place

 ”And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Following the king Solomon’s orders, they quarried huge blocks of the best stone—dressed stone for the foundation of The Temple. Solomon and Hiram’s construction workers, cut and prepared the timber and stone for building The Temple.  The best was selected to build the excellent temple of God in Jerusalem.  In His Blood, Christ has made us to be His “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God. For now we serve as holy priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices that He readily accepts through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture: Look! I lay a cornerstone in Zion, a chosen and priceless stone! And whoever believes in Him will certainly not be disappointed.  God offered the most precious and priceless Gift to us that by faith we become the sanctuary of God. Our body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in us.  We don’t belong to ourselves any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside us.  Hallelujah!

Characteristics of the Disciples of Christ

 ”Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now, this is the goal: to live in harmony with one another and demonstrate affectionate love, sympathy, and kindness toward other believers. Let humility describe who you are as you dearly love one another. Never retaliate when someone treats you wrongly, nor insult those who insult you, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing over them—because a blessing is what God promised to give you.  Every believer is blessed by God.  Our fellowship as believers who follow Christ is to have sublime harmony, demonstrating an affectionate brotherly love; having sympathy and kindness with humility; this fervent love never retaliates evil for evil or insult for insult but instead speaks blessings over those who mistreat us.  Relationship with the Holy Spirit helps us to walk in love that characterises our fellowship as disciples of Christ.  Amen!

To Christ be Glory & Dominion Forever & Ever

 ”For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬ ‭KJV‬

Solomon was sovereign over everything, countries and kings, west of the River Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza. Peace reigned everywhere.  It was through peace that Solomon had dominion over Israel, a shadow of the reality of God’s dominion.  We connect dominion with domination.  But as Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way when at the end of the time he lifted his eyes to heaven, and his understanding returned to him; and he “blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His Kingdom is from generation to generation.”  God’s will is that we believe in Jesus Christ, the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!

The Word of God - Our Nourishment

 ”as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, we must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this “milk” will cause us to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life — especially now that we have had a taste of the goodness of Yahweh and have experienced His kindness. So let’s keep coming to Him Who is the Living Stone —though He was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight.  The “pure spiritual milk” is the sustaining power of God’s Word coming from His very breast, as it were, to nourish and strengthen our inner being.  Let’s approach the Scriptures with an attitude of a newborn babe, drawing milk from the mother.  The Word of God is our necessity and our delight - He is the Seed, the Word, the Milk, the Lord and the Living Stone.  The Church is built on Christ, “the Living Stone”.  He is our sure foundation.  Amen!

Wisdom Greater than Solomon’s

 ”And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

God said to Solomon, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after.  God kept His Word, till He Himself came!  Then and today, He will never force anyone to believe in Him, it is mankind’s free will choice to have faith in Him.  Jesus told those who argued, “On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’”  Today, in the new covenant, to those who are called, the greater than Solomon, Who is Christ, is the power of God, the wisdom of God for all who believe.  Amen!

Bought by the Precious Blood of Christ

 ”forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:“

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For we know that our lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom payment of silver and gold, which eventually perishes, but the precious Blood of Christ—Who like a spotless, unblemished Lamb was sacrificed for us.  We were ransomed from the futile, fallen mindset that we inherited from our fathers.  This was not concluded by our own labour represented by the fluctuating values of gold and silver and the economy of our religious efforts;  but we are redeemed with the priceless Blood of Christ.  He is the ultimate Sacrifice; spotless and without blemish.  Jesus completes the prophetic picture.  Deity clothed in human skin, as the Son; the Lion of Judah becoming the Lamb of God in order to free our minds to rediscover His image and likeness in our skin!  Hallelujah!

The Kingdom of Our God

 ”Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV 

Solomon took over on the throne of his father David; he had a firm grip on the kingdom.  Then Solomon dealt with all those who stood against his father, one by one.  Yahweh fulfilled the prophetic word to the house of David.  For eighteen generations David’s descendants ruled from Jerusalem till they were taken over by the Babylonians.  Then at the right moment the priest Zechariah who was struck dumb for nine months, for his unbelief, found his mouth opened as he prophesied, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David”.  The Messiah was born to save and redeem His people through His sacrifice and by His resurrection He rules in the hearts of all those who receive forgiveness from Him.  His Throne is established forever and the kingdoms of the world will soon become the Kingdom of our God and of His Anointed One! He will reign supreme for an eternity of eternities!  Hallelujah!

Let Jesus Be Real to Us

 ”Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.“

‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Meanwhile, brothers and sisters, we must be patient and filled with expectation as we wait for the appearing of the Lord. Think about the farmer who has to patiently wait for the earth’s harvest as it ripens because of the early and latter rains.  Let’s be passionate about the Presence of the LORD because He is Immanuel, God with us.  For us His proximity is real and will be visible to all, in the same way as the farmer waits patiently for his harvest letting the early and latter rains to do its work for the precious yield.  Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to make Jesus real to us every moment.  Amen!

Train Up Your Children in the Way They Grow

 ”And she said unto him, My Lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.“

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“My master,” she said, “you promised me in God’s name, ‘Your son Solomon will be king after me and sit on my throne.’  Here was another one of David’s sons, Adonijah, ready to snatch the kingship even while David was alive.  The prophetic word from God had come for Solomon to succeed David.  Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, rushed to remind David when she saw how the throne of David was being manoeuvred away from Solomon.  The prophetic words are God’s promises to us from the One Who is a covenant keeping God.  Mothers and fathers are to protect the prophetic word of God over their children.  It is a God-given responsibility.  Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.  God asks us to dedicate our children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from us will be with them for life.  Then our children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of our children.  They will honour their father and mother so that all will go well with them.  Let’s allow the prophetic word of God in our children to be fruitful.  Amen!

Being Low Before the LORD

 ”Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.“

‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Be willing to be made low before the LORD and He will exalt you!  Put down your own efforts to fight for your rights, Let Him lift you up to the dignity of His Presence.  When we do that we gaze face to face with Him as in a mirror. Let’s see our face reflected in His - there is no higher elevation to engage in! Amen!

Christ's Sacrifice Once & For All

 ”And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭24‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But the king said to Araunah, “No. I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice”.  So David bought the threshing floor and the ox, paying out fifty shekels of silver. He built an altar to God there and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. God was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster.  David knew the cost of sacrifice in his relationship with Yahweh, which is why God gave him the amazing revelation a thousand years before, of Christ’s Blood sacrifice on the Cross in the psalm that Jesus spoke, ”My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Jesus paid the price of the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity’s sins.  Let’s believe and receive His forgiveness.  Amen!

Divine Wisdom is from Above

 ”But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.“

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form.  This wisdom is holy and corrects with ease, ready to convince and willing to yield to others.  This wisdom is merciful and never wears a mask.  The wisdom that originates from above sets the pace in innocence; it loves peace; it’s always appropriate; persuaded about that which is good; filled with compassion; its fruits are pure goodness and without discrimination.  Let’s depend upon this wisdom from above given to us by the Holy Spirit, available to all who trust in the finished work of the Cross and who know to lift up Jesus Christ in our daily life.  Amen!

Jesus, Our King & LORD Forever

 ”The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, And his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV

God’s Spirit spoke through me, his words took shape on my tongue. The God of Israel spoke to me, Israel’s Rock-Mountain said, “Whoever governs fairly and well, rules in the Fear-of-God..” These are the last words of David, the king of Israel who knew that through the anointing he received before he became king, that the Spirit of God spoke through him.  God called David to be just in ruling, with the fear of the Lord.  The God Whom we worship knows all, does all: He changes the seasons and guides history, He raises up kings and also brings them down, he provides both intelligence and discernment, He opens up the depths, tells secrets, sees in the dark—light spills out of him!  The God Who anointed David came down in human form as the Lord Jesus Christ and through His Blood Sacrifice has made the way for all humanity to come to Him.  Today, He rules in the heart of all those who have received Him as their Lord and King, Lord of lords and King of kings.  Hallelujah!

The Royal Law of Love

 ”If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.“

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Your calling is to fulfill the royal law of love as given to us in this Scripture: “You must love and value your neighbor as you love and value yourself!” For keeping this law is the noble way to live. But when you show prejudice, you commit sin and you violate this royal law of love!  It is a royal law because it is given by our King, but since He has made us kings and priests, it becomes the royal law of love given to His royal sons and daughters who are heirs with Him.  Scripture confirms that the law of the Kingdom of God Is fulfilled in us realising the same value in our neighbour as we see in ourself; this is what doing the Word is all about!  To judge anyone on outward appearance is a sin.  This violates the law of liberty and revives condemnation and guilt.  Let’s not forget what manner of person we are, mirroring Christ’s image through us.  That way, we will not forget what manner of person our neighbour is, for whom Christ shed His Blood, to restore Christ’s image in him.  Amen!

Salvation, Glory & Power are God’s Forever

 ”Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, And I will sing praises unto thy name. He is the tower of salvation for his king: And sheweth mercy to his anointed, Unto David, and to his seed for evermore.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭50‬-‭51 KJV

That’s why I’m thanking you, God, all over the world. That’s why I’m singing songs that rhyme your name. God’s king takes the trophy; God’s chosen is beloved. I mean David and all his children— always.  David wrote this psalm when he was surrounded by enemies and God set things right for him and shut up the people who talked back. He rescued David from enemy anger. God pulled him from the grip of upstarts and saved him from the bullies.   God was his salvation because David trusted in Him.  In the new covenant when our enemy is sent into eternal damnation, all in God’s Presence sing, Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power are God’s— His judgments true, His judgments just. This is the forever song of worship of those in whom God has set eternity in our hearts, washed by the Blood of the Lamb.  Let’s have a lifestyle of worship to our God from now and forever to Whom belongs salvation, glory, honour and power. Hallelujah!

Our Father of Lights

 ”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.“

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.  It’s a legacy from God which is complete and wholesome, abundant and sufficient, enough and perfect!  Jesus Who is Light, has already called us the light of the world and shining lights.  We are born again as shining lights from above, from the Father of lights.  The more we know Him, the more we realize how beautiful and holy He is, there is no shadow of turning in Him.  Without exception God’s gifts are only good and are from above, proceeding like light rays from its source, the Father of lights.  Let’s be those who do the truth as we are in the light, that our deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.  As we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all the darkness and stain of every sin.  Hallelujah!

We are the In Christ Victors

 ”These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭21‬:‭22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

These four were descended from Rapha in Gath. And they all were killed by David and his soldiers.  David and his soldiers killed the giants of Gath, which David had started the trend of as a young lad when he slayed Goliath, the giant from Gath!  In the new covenant, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The reason the Son of God was revealed was to undo and destroy the works of the devil.  All those who are made innocent by the Blood Sacrifice of Jesus, are by faith in the right standing to be in Christ, and are the Church, His Body. This is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, that according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. This is our victory.  Amen!

Jesus is Always the Same

 ”Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.“

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus, the Anointed One, is always the same—yesterday, today, and forever.  Let’s take our lead from Jesus.  He is our reference to the most complete life.  In Him yesterday is confirmed today and today mirrors tomorrow.  What God spoke to us in Christ is as relevant now as it was in the prophetic past and will always be in the eternal future!  There is a history in our salvation that carries more authority and relevance than anything that happened in our past, or anything present in time or still to happen in the future. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us.  In His death He faced our judgment; in His resurrection He declares our innocence; the implications cannot be undone!  He now occupies the highest seat of authority as the executive of our redemption in the Throne Room of God.  The heavens declare His glory, night to night exhibits the giant solar testimony that is mathematically precise, revealing that God knew before time was, the exact moment He would enter our history as a Man, and the exact moment the Messiah would expire on the Cross and be raised again from the dead!  Hallelujah!

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!