Christ’s Breath of Life & the Power of the Holy Spirit

 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then, taking a deep breath, Jesus blew on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. I send you to preach the forgiveness of sins—and people’s sins will be forgiven. But if you don’t proclaim the forgiveness of their sins, they will remain guilty.”  The word for ‘breathed’ is the same word for God breathing into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life.  The beginning of new creation came from the breath of Jesus.  The mighty wind of the Holy Spirit in the upper room was for power and the breath that Jesus breathed into His disciples was for life.  Jesus went on to say that if they forgave someone for their sins, their sins will be discharged, but if they retain someone’s sins, their sins will be retained.  Jesus was not giving absolute authority to forgive the guilt of sins, for God alone has that right.  The apostles at no point assumed that authority.  What He gave them is the authority of being His sent ones to proclaim the Gospel to the nations.  If they refuse to go and preach the good news, then people will have no opportunity to believe it.  Let’s be His disciples and give the Gospel to everyone.  Amen!

Servant Leadership in Christ

 “Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

From the time King Artaxerxes appointed me as their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of his reign, twelve years—neither I nor my brothers used the governor’s food allowance. Governors who had preceded me had oppressed the people by taxing them forty shekels of silver a day for food and wine while their underlings bullied the people unmercifully. But out of fear of God I did none of that.  Nehemiah as governor had a heart for the Jews under him and interceded for them.  In Christ leaders are to shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor lording over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  When the Chief Shepherd appears, you’ll be crowned with unfading glory.  Amen!

Commit Your Way to God & Trust Him

 “And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cæsar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cæsar.”

‭‭John‬ ‭19‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV

From then on Pilate tried to find a way out of the situation and to set Jesus free, but the Jewish authorities shouted him down: “If you let this Man go, you’re no friend of Caesar! Anyone who declares Himself a king is an enemy of the emperor!”  In essence, these words were a form of blackmail as the Jewish authorities were reminding Pilate that it would ruin his career if he pardoned Jesus.  Pilate’s position was a political appointment due to his being a member of the elite class of Romans who took an oath of loyalty to Caesar.  The Jewish authorities were, in effect, threatening to inform Rome that Pilate was allowing treason in Caesar’s empire.  This blackmail would finish Pilate’s career and even his life.  This overruled Pilate’s desire to set Jesus free and he went on to condemn Jesus to His death.  To place your career over Jesus is never wise.  Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.  Amen!

Fulfill God’s Purposes

 “But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem were going so well—that the breaks in the wall were being fixed—they were absolutely furious. They put their heads together and decided to fight against Jerusalem and create as much trouble as they could.  When you come into faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and follow and serve Him, troubles come.  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  He also said “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  When we fulfill God’s purposes the enemy will have to stop.  We thank God that the devil is a defeated foe.  Amen!

The Great I AM

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

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV

The moment Jesus spoke the words, “I Am He,” the mob fell backward to the ground!”  This was a stunning event as the great I Am spoke His Name before those who sought to seize Him.  They were not tripping over each other in surprise, for every one of these strong men fell backward to the ground by the power of God.  Jesus was in charge that night as the Captain of the host of the Lord.  They could not seize Him unless He permitted them to do so.  What a wonderful Saviour Who willingly submitted to the hands of cruel men to bring us the gift of salvation.  When God named Himself to Moses, He said, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’”  Jesus is the great I AM!  Hallelujah!

Cooperating with God as He Builds His Church

 “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests were up and at it: They went to work on the Sheep Gate; they repaired it and hung its doors, continuing on as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel.  Nehemiah got the Jews together to start the work on rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.  He divided them into  groups according to their tribes, and they each took responsibility for a part of the wall to rebuild it.  Everyone took their responsibility well and did it inspite of the threats and intimidation.  They succeeded in building the wall of Jerusalem.  In the new covenant, God is building His Church, the new Jerusalem; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. So then, let us aim for harmony in the Church and try to build each other up. The finished work of the Cross fully equips and perfects the saints, God’s people, for works of service, to build up the Body of Christ, the Church.  As new creatures in Christ, we have come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides - the invisible Jerusalem; we’ve come to Jesus.  Amen!

The Fullness of Christ in Unity of Faith

 “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus prayed, “So with deep love, I pray for my disciples. I’m not asking on behalf of the unbelieving world, but for those who belong to you, those you have given me.”  How could it be that Jesus loves the world and gave Himself for the sin of the world, yet emphasises that He is praying for His disciples and not praying for the world?  Jesus coming into the world brings life to those who believe and judgment to those who do not.  The implication is that the key to reaching the world is the life, maturity, unity and the love of the disciples.  This does not mean that Jesus doesn’t love the world, but that the world will be reached when the disciples come into the fullness of Christ and in unity of the faith.  This is what consumes the heart of Jesus as He prays for them before the Cross.  As disciples, let’s come into the fullness of Christ with His life, love and unity of faith as we allow Him to manifest through us.  Amen!

Commit Your Way to God & Trust Him

 “Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The king then asked me, “So what do you want?” Praying under my breath to the God-of-Heaven, I said, “If it please the king, and if the king thinks well of me, send me to Judah, to the city where my family is buried, so that I can rebuild it.”  Nehemiah was in a place of influence with king Artaxerxes but yet he prayed to the LORD God Almighty for wisdom to place his request before the king.  Nehemiah was diligent being a cupbearer to the king so he had the king’s ear.  When Nehemiah prayed to God, the king's heart became like a stream of water directed by the Lord. Artaxerxes gave favour to Nehemiah’s request.  Even the thoughts and decisions of kings are influenced by God.  God directs the hearts of rulers according to His divine purposes, reminding us that earthly power is not autonomous. All things are of God, Who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and given us the ministry of reconciliation; to also pray for kings or anyone in high places.  Let’s pray for those in authority over our nation as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Christ Became Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification & Redemption for Us

 “of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬

Jesus said, “‘Sin,’ because they refuse to believe in who I am. “God’s ‘righteousness,’ because I’m going back to join the Father and you’ll see me no longer. “And ‘judgment’ because the ruler of this dark world has already received his sentence.”  Sin, righteousness and judgment are related to three persons.  Sin is related to Adam, for it is was through him sin came to humanity. When Adam sinned, the entire world was affected. Sin entered human experience, and death was the result. And so death followed this sin, casting its shadow over all humanity, because all have sinned.  Righteousness is related to Christ because it comes through Him and He has become our righteousness. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, Who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.  Judgment is related to satan, for the pure works of Christ bring judgment to the work of satan.  If we do not embrace Christ’s righteousness, we will share satan’s judgment.  Let’s believe that we who believe in Christ’s finished work on the Cross, are the righteousness of God in Christ.  Amen!

Effective Intercession

 “and said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.”

‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬ 

Nehemiah prayed, “God-of-Heaven, the great and awesome God, loyal to His covenant and faithful to those who love Him and obey His commands: Pay attention to this prayer of Your servant that I’m praying day and night in intercession for Your servants, confessing their sins. I’m including myself, I and my ancestors, among those who have sinned against You.”  True intercession is identifying with sin, and repenting and confessing it.  Jesus on the Cross divided the spoil with the strong, as He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors as He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.  In the new covenant, the Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to intercede through us.  Amen!

Fruitful Branches of the Vine

 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭12‬ ‭KJV‬

So this is My command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you.  Because we are all branches in one Vine, if we don’t love one another, it means that our fellowship with the Vine has been cut off.  To bear fruit must come from loving each other, for the same Christ-life lives within every believer.  We are not branches of many trees, but of one Vine.  Jesus said, “I Am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  The Branch of the Lord is Christ living in His people branching out through them.  The Church is now His lampstand with seven branches.    The prophet Isaiah had already prophesied, “In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped.”  Let’s be Christ’s fruitful branches on this earth.  Amen!

God’s Love - Our Perfect Bond of Unity

 “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Now get up, Ezra. Take charge—we’re behind you. Don’t back down.”  God helped Ezra get unity to do the work God had called him to do.  Getting the support to bring unity in the work God has called His people to do is also a key part in being fruitful.  This cooperation was accomplished by the finished work of the Cross.  Our reconciling “Peace” is Jesus! By dying as our sacrifice, He has broken down every wall of prejudice that separated us and has now made us equal through our union with Christ. Ethnic hatred has been dissolved by the crucifixion of His precious Body on the Cross.  That’s why, in the Body of Christ, we put aside our differences and agree to work together in the Lord.  Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!  It takes God’s love so let’s put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Amen!

The Dwelling Place of Our God

 “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬

Jesus comforts His disciples, “My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you.”  Jesus is saying there are many homes in His Father’s dwelling place.  On earth, the Church, the Body of Christ, the believers, are His dwelling place.  There is ample room for people from every nation and ethnicity in this dwelling place of God on earth.  Jesus said He has to “go”, and it was first to the Cross to die, and then to be resurrected, and then to ascend to the Father’s right hand.  Let’s come and be His “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God, His very dwelling place.  Amen!

Godly Sorrow Brings Repentance

 “O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭9‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ezra prayed to God when he found out that the exiled Jews now returning had intermingled marriages, “You are the righteous God of Israel. We are, right now, a small band of escapees. Look at us, openly standing here, guilty before you. No one can last long like this.”  Ezra knew the fear of God for who may stand in YHWH’s Presence When once He is angry?  But when we repent we long for the True God who lives and we can stand before Him and feel His comfort.  God’s judgement is to be feared but His mercy is for those who repent.  Ezra interceded with repentance and God was merciful to the exiled Jews who returned. Jesus asked forgiveness on behalf of all mankind on the Cross.  That’s why God responds every time one lost sinner repents and turns to Him, He says to all his angels, ‘Let’s have a joyous celebration, for the one who was lost, I have found!’  For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. Let’s choose to repent and receive God’s forgiveness.  Amen!

New Covenant Inheritance

 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand yet the meaning of what I’m doing, but soon it will be clear to you.” Peter looked at Jesus and said, “You’ll never wash my dirty feet—never!” “But Peter, if you don’t allow Me to wash your feet,” Jesus responded, “then you will not be able to share life with Me”.  By removing their sandals and washing their feet, Jesus was showing them that He was granting them a new inheritance  - His own.  The sandal is often used in covenants of inheritance in Hebrew culture.  Every defilement would be removed so that they could “place the sole of their feet” upon the new covenant inheritance.  God told Moses to remove his sandals, for he was about to receive a new inheritance - the holiness of God  and the authority that came with it.  Likewise God told Joshua, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses”.  Let’s enjoy our new covenant inheritance and with boldness, the holiness and authority that come with it.  Amen!

Giving Sacrificially to God

 “Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬ ‭KJV

When they arrived, the exiles, now returned from captivity, offered Whole-Burnt-Offerings to the God of Israel: 12 bulls, 96 rams 77 lambs 12 he-goats as a Whole-Burnt-Offering to God.  These were exiled Jews returning to Jerusalem who could not possibly have got much.  Yet out of their lack, they offered burnt offerings to the LORD.  They had confidence that God would be their Provider, YHWH YIREH!  When Jesus saw the widow who dropped in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny, He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given a larger offering than any of the wealthy. For the rich only gave out of their surplus, but she sacrificed out of her poverty and gave to God all that she had to live on, which was everything she had.”  Jesus would identify with our poverty at the Cross.  For we have experienced the extravagant grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was infinitely rich, He impoverished Himself for our sake, so that by His poverty, we become rich beyond measure.  Thank You, Jesus!

The Costly Incense of the Prayers of God’s Lovers

 “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Mary picked up an alabaster jar filled with nearly a liter of extremely rare and costly perfume—the purest extract of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped them dry with her long hair. And the fragrance of the costly oil filled the house.  Nard is an extremely expensive perfume taken from the root and spike of the nard plant found in northern India.  The Shulamite spoke this in the Song of Solomon, “As the king surrounded me at his table, the sweet fragrance of spikenard awakened the night.. spikenard so sweet”.  This fragrance, usually associated with a king, was found upon Jesus’s feet with a nail.  It is possible they would all have smelled the fragrance of this costly perfume.  It is also possible that this rare and expensive perfume taken could have been her family’s treasure or her inheritance.  John recorded in the revelation he wrote in the island of Patmos, “… the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures saw the Lamb..and they fell facedown at the feet of the Lamb…and their prayers were like bowls full of sweet fragrant incense—the prayers of God’s holy lovers.”  Let’s worship the Lamb with the costly incense of our prayers.  Amen!

Highest Value to the Word of God

 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

‭‭Ezra‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬

Ezra had committed himself to studying the Revelation of God, to living it, and to teaching Israel to live its truths and ways.   Because Ezra had placed the highest value in studying the Word of God, he asked Artaxerxes, the king of Persia for permission to return to Jerusalem with the other exiled Jews, and he was given it.  This is the power of the Word of God in us.  It places us in positions of honour and influence and leadership to accomplish the will of our heavenly Father.  Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  There is power in the word of God for it is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Jesus said that the word of God will never fail and blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.  He empowers us to speak the word of God freely and courageously, because He is the Word of God.  Let’s commit ourselves to abide in the Word and speak it.  Amen!