Spiritual

THE BLESSING – Part IV – “Speaking the Blessing”


sPIRITUAL blog - Blessings

Numbers 6:22-27 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them:  24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”  NKJV

 

As we continue this fascinating journey in looking at COVENANT and THE BLESSING of Covenant we come to a very important element.  To the Hebrew this was not just “words”, not just a “benediction”, not just a “ritual”, and certainly not just something that was said as a meaningless part of a time of worship.  It was life and death.  It was success and failure.  It was a vital aspect of their lives and something that understood and comprehended its importance and impact on their lives and the lives of those around them.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

The Priests were to Bless the people.  We are talking about human beings and this is where, for me, it gets “very exciting”!  Human beings have been appointed and commissioned by God to be the vehicles or channels through with ALL the He is shall actually be TRANSMITTED and PLACED upon people.

“The Lord” – YAHWEH is the key here.  It was repeated three times.  The priests were to say:  “Yahweh Bless You.  Yahweh, cause His Face to shine upon you.  Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you….”

PLEASE UNDERSTAND:

“Grammatically” in the Hebrew, you do not have to do that!  The second/third Yahweh is not necessary, grammatically speaking.  Therefore, they are saying this for EMPHASIS!  It is to “emphasize” that it is GOD who is “Blessing You”.  It is His initiative that He will Shine His Face upon you!  It is His CHOICE and DESIRE to do this for you a human being!

I want to be very clear – – Human beings are doing this!  Human beings are saying this!  BUT in their saying it, they are saying it “Wholly from God”.  We simply the “channels” through which this flows!  We are not “witchdoctors” who have concocted some spell.   We are those who are saying:  “It is the God of Heaven – – YAHWEH who will bless you!”  It is here that I stand in absolute awe!  By nothing, I have done.  By nothing, I will ever do.  Only because God “wills” to do it – – HE BLESSED AND BLESSES US!

Ephesians One – – Sadly, much of the church have taken this and made it a theological study about election and predestination and as a result have made it drier than last year’s corn shucks.

BUT, when Paul wrote Ephesians One – – He was prostrate before God “weeping” before the King of the Universe saying, “I can’t believe it!  I can’t believe it!  That He of His own Free Will…. For no reason found in whatsoever…. With no answer as to why…. God has BLESSED US!  Let that sink in and get in your spirit!  It will begin to “transform” your entire outlook on life and the things of God.  Think about it!  God has decided of His Own Free Will to LAVISH upon us His Kindness.  I BLESS you, but I say it three times because I want you to fully understand that it is GOD who is blessing!

THE WORD BLESS:

Is a remarkable word and well worthy of consideration!  It is one of the smallest words in the Bible and yet one of the most frequently used by believers.  Yet, it is one of the biggest words in the Hebrew language, in terms of what it means!

BLESS – – The root foundation means “to bow the knee”.  It was used in Hebrew to describe the kneeling of a camel when it received its burdens.

I HOPE YOU ARE FOLLOWING ME!  That’s the idea of the word – – to “kneel down”, but not to grovel as a slave!  It is “bowing down” before a person because you recognize that this person is of “Great Worth”, “Value”, and “Significance”.  It means that ONLY “valuable”, “worthy”, “significant” people are to be BLESSED.  It means that you have been “designated” by God as a valuable, worthy, significant person and are to be BLESSED!  As I type my spirit is leaping inside of me with rejoicing at this very thought and the overwhelming love God has for His people!  I hope that you can begin to receive this into your spirit and realize that no matter what has happened in your life.  No matter what your failures may have been.  No matter what you have been told or how you may have been abused.  God sees you, through the BLOOD OF JESUS as valuable, worthy, and significant and His desire is to BLESS you!  If that doesn’t make you shout then I probably should just stop here and say no more!

We must put the next part on hold until tomorrow due to space!  It is my genuine desire that you begin to realize that The Father considered you worth the Blood of Jesus!  Can you comprehend what that means?  May your day be smooth sailing and may every obstacle placed in your path encounter the divine power of the Spirit of God as He fights for you and guides you into all truth!

I Bless you in the Name of the Lord!

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THE BLESSING – Part III – “The Name of God”


Spiritual Blog - God

Numbers 6:22-27 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”  NKJV

Picking up where we left off in the last devotional regarding “linking” God’s Name to a human being there are some things that are very germane to our discussion that I want to address here:

In the Bible, the term “name” speaks of the fullness of a Person’s Character.  It is a revelation of “who” they are and “reveals” their character.  This is why we see “name changes” in the Bible because “character” changed.  Here in the Western World, a “name” is just something we call someone to identify them and not necessarily a reflection of “who they are” or their “character”.  We frequently go for novelty, honoring a parent or grandparent or it reflects a particular preference on the part of the parents.

HOPEFULLY, THAT MAKES SENSE!  The “Name” of God means the FULLEST  OR MOST COMPLETE REVELATION of His Character!  It is WHO God is in His essential being!  Thus, to “Bless” is to “put” God Name upon a person.  To “Bless” is to “link” God’s name with human beings!

It is to bring into this Company of People a “revelation” of “Who God Is!”  If you want to know “Who God Is” – – you look at the person who has been “blessed”.  There has been a “revelation” of GOD’S CHARACTER in that person, THEY ARE BLESSED!  They manifest Him!

Therefore, as a result, that person or Company of People have, become the arena in which God plays out “Who He Is”.  THEY ARE BLESSED!  They demonstrate to the world the “Character of God”.  THAT’S BLESSING!

2 Samuel 7:23 – “And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name — and to do for Yourself great and awesome deeds for Your land — before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods?” NKJV

NOW THE QUESTION?  You have heard the expression “make a name for yourself”, right?  That results when a person has won his place in this world.  He has demonstrated his powers, talents, and abilities.  He has a name a reputation!

2 Chronicles 7:14 – – The People of God are called “My people who are called by My Name…” 

We Christians are the People of God who are called by His Name.  I’m not neglecting Israel but I am addressing followers of Jesus Christ!  CAN YOU SEE IT?  When you think of these people you immediately think of their revelation of God’s Character!

Isaiah 63:19 – Those who are not in the People of God are called those who are not called by His Name.

Therefore, we are the Blessed People.  You and I, in Christ Jesus are children of the Most High God through the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross and His shed blood.  We have called on the Revelation of God’s Character that came to us in Jesus Christ.  AND, as we called on His Name – – He placed His Name “in us”.  NOW, there is a revelation in us of what kind of God He really is and who He really is!

We will get to the “speaking” of the Blessing next time, but I hope you will allow what I’ve said thus far sink in.  Mediate on it!  Muse on it!  Examine it!  Evaluate it!  Run in through your grid of understanding in Scripture!  As you go through your day go through it with the knowledge that you are BLESSED and what it means to be BLESSED.  In you is the very character of God.

May your day be filled with glorious opportunities and fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit!

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THE BLESSING – The Understanding….


Spiritual Blog - Blessing

Psalms 129:5-8 – “Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back. 6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up, 7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. 8 Neither let those who pass by them say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD!” NKJV

In our introduction, we opened the door to an incredible study and now it is my desire to dig a little deeper.  It is important to note that the entire Psalm is spoken against the enemies of the People of God.  In verse five we see:  “May all who hate Zion be put to shame.”  To the Hebrews that is the finale of the terrible things that happen to those who oppose the People of God.  There is nothing worse than this, to the Hebrew, in Scripture!

Psalm 129:8 – “Nor do those who pass by say.  The Blessing of the Lord be upon you.                                         We Bless you in the Name of the Lord.”

HEAR THIS CAREFULLY!  To an Israelite that was the pinnacle of being a Person in the People of God.  When you met another person of the People of God, they would respond to you:  “The Blessings of the Lord be upon you.”  We Bless you in the Name of the Lord.”  To the Hebrew, the worst possible thing/state would be to be outside the People of God and no one says:  “The Blessing of the Lord be upon you…”

CONSIDER THIS PLEASE:

 To our Western minds, that doesn’t seem like such a big deal.  So what?  It’s just a greeting.  NO! NO! NO!  It is much more than that.  That is why I find this such a fascinating subject.  My objective is to show you what it means to walk in the Blessings of the Lord!

Numbers 6:22-27 – “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”‘ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”  NKJV

THE BLESSING – – In a very real sense, this is the subject” of Scripture.  Actually, covenant is the subject, but ALWAYS attached to the covenants is THE BLESSING!  The Blessing is where the covenant goes into action!  I am convinced we can receive the Gospel, and enjoy the benefits of the Gospel but we will NEVER understand the Gospel and thereby walk in its fullness UNTIL we understand BLESSING!

LET’S GO BACK TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN:

What was the first thing that God did when He created man?  He BLESSED him!  That was the first item on God’s agenda when He created Adam.  Likewise, in every covenant, you will find somewhere in that Covenant the appendage of BLESSING!

THAT DEMANDS FURTHER EXPLANATION:

What do we mean?  What are the basics?  Just what do we mean when we use the term BLESSING?  Let me explain what I mean in as much detail as time and space will allow.  I fully believe that if we really understand this – – It will transform our lives in a revolutionary way!

Numbers 6 – – “They shall “invoke” My Name on the Sons of Israel, and then I                                                      will Bless them.”

This is vital!  BECAUSE ONLY GOD CAN BLESS!  The Priests were to bless the People, but God said:  “When you thus Bless, then I will Bless…”  MAN cannot communicate Blessing, in the ultimate sense (that gets into witchcraft).  BUT – Humans do bless other humans!  The Priests are doing that here.  BUT, they can ONLY bless other humans with GOD’S BLESSINGS!  Therefore, God Blesses us and then we can pass that blessing on to others.  BUT, we cannot pass it on to everybody!  We can ONLY pass it on to those who fall in within the scope of “God’s Direction”.  Therefore, we are limited!  Only God can truly Bless!

I HOPE THAT YOU RECEIVING AND COMPREHENDING WHAT I AM ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE!  God started this not man!  Man can pass that blessing on within God’s parameters.  It is a Blessing that comes from God and is ordered by God!

INVOKE – – is used in different versions in different ways.  “Put” [KJV], “Call Down”, “Link My Name”.

DO YOU GET THE IDEA?  The Blessing is the linking of God’s Name to a human being.  It is the calling down of God’s Name upon a Person!  THAT IS IMPORTANT!  If we get this foundational understanding regarding THE BLESSING we will discover our sessions that follow will be much more beneficial and rewarding as well as challenging and enlightening.

I want to pause here and pick this up again tomorrow and consider what the NAME OF GOD means to us with regard to Blessing and Life!  May the Lord guide you through your day and make it a special and blessing filled day for you!

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THE BLESSING – (Continued)…


Spiritual Blog - BLESSINGS

Numbers 6:24-26 – “The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”‘  NKJV

 

This is one of the most powerful passages in the Bible!  When it was spoken upon the people by the priest it was spoken with anticipation of action on the part of God.  It wasn’t worded, as too many Christians use the words “Bless You” without truly anticipating the active participation and action of the Lord.  This was a blessing spoken with the full anticipation that God would, in fact, perform His word and act in a positive manner as this was spoken.  It was spoken in “faith” and “anticipation” that the Holy Spirit would immediately, continually, and actively move to bring it to pass in the lives of those to whom it was spoken.

Sadly, too many in the Christian realm use the words “bless you” without real thought given to it.  We ask people, “How are you doing?” without really wanting to know.  It is something we have grown accustomed to saying, but not so for those speaking these words and those hearing these words.  They fully believed that there was a release of power from God Himself when these words were spoken.

Consider what is being said:

  1. The LORD bless you and keep you. Not just anybody but GOD Himself.  He is the blesser.  He is the only one that can truly initiate a blessing and from Him all blessings flow.  So this is a word spoken to bring enrichment into the lives of the hearers and is, in fact, a prayer as well as a declaration.
  2. The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Again, GOD Himself turning His face toward the hearers and shining upon them.  The picture would be that of a parent who is so proud of their children that their face is literally beaming with pride and joy.  The desire is that God would not only be pleased with His children but extend to them His abundant Grace which is more than unmerited favor it is enduement with the power to accomplish His purposes and deal with whatever situation they are encountering.
  3. The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you Peace. GOD Himself looking for you in the crowd.  God’s eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth desiring to show Himself strong on behalf of His children.  This is the desire here.  Further that He would grant them “Shalom” more than peace but power. 

This is not a casual benediction for a church service but a desire for GOD to move actively on the behalf of the hearer and bring His entire person into their lives and situation.  It is invoking the name of the LORD upon them and all that He is!  It is calling the Divine into the present and expecting the miracles of GOD to be released upon His people.  The saddest thought that a Hebrew could have would be that there would be nobody to say these words to him or her.  So, when I say “The Lord Bless You” I am not saying words, I am expecting GOD to actively move on your behalf and do WHATEVER is needed to bring you that which you need at that moment in time!  It is spoken as a declaration but even more as a prayer that the LORD bring all heaven into your situation and do whatever is required to guide you, guard you, and bring grace to you.  So I conclude by saying – “The LORD Bless you richly on this day!”

May this day find you basking in the warmth of His Love and Favor.  Have a Fantastic Sunday in Him!

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THE BLESSING….. Incredible Truth For All Believers.


Spiritual Blog - The Blessings

Psalms 129 – “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth, “Let Israel now say —  2 “Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth; Yet they have not prevailed against me. 3 The plowers plowed on my back; They made their furrows long.” 4 The LORD is righteous; He has cut in pieces the cords of the wicked. 5 Let all those who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned back. 6 Let them be as the grass on the housetops, Which withers before it grows up, 7 With which the reaper does not fill his hand, Nor he who binds sheaves, his arms. 8 Neither let those who pass by them say, “The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD!”  NKJV

Blood Covenant as taught in Scripture is one of the most powerful and eye-opening studies I have ever done.  I can honestly say that the years I have spent studying this subject has transformed my life, my view of relationships, and deepened my desire to “walk” in COMPLETE HARMONY with GOD.  I want my life to be “Spirit-led” in all that I do and all that I say.  It is more than a desire it is a passion and a life-long pursuit.

We face, what I believe is the most critical time in human history and from that perspective, it is my deep conviction that it is not just important but “vital” that believers reach the place that they “see”, “understand”, and “walk in” Covenant!  It is crystal clear to me that the Church that Jesus is coming back for is a fully mature, fully developed, fully equipped, and fully committed body of believers.  Therefore, “if” the Church, the Body of Christ is ever going to “be” what Jesus called us to be, we MUST become “Covenant People.”

PLEASE KNOW THIS:

I am not talking about God becoming our Santa Claus, candy store, mail order catalog, or wish provider – a Genie!  I am talking about TOTAL CHRISTIANITY!  I am talking about being “completely complete” and “fully mature” believers who are MANIFESTING Jesus here on Earth!  I believe that is “only” realized through COVENANT!  It is God on His Throne in our lives and in His universe and man “totally” submitted (out of genuine love) to His divine will and purpose IN ALL THINGS!  It is life in the “supernatural” as the “natural.” 

NOTE:

I embark on this study at the request of several people and say upfront that everyone may not agree.  I also want you to understand that it is impossible to cover this subject in a few posts.  It will take some time.  So hopefully you will be touched, ministered to, and blessed by this study and stay with me through its entirety.  Therefore, in order to give you something beneficial which will, I pray, whet your appetite and spur you on to some serious study – – I will address the “key” to Covenant Living.  THE BLESSING!

It is my genuine desire to identify the vehicle that puts God’s Covenant in motion and action in our lives and I believe that vehicle is THE BLESSING!  For me, this has been one of the most incredible journeys I have ever taken spiritually.  I believe that if “truly grasped” it will, TRANSFORM you completely!  If you “see” this – – truly “see” it with your spiritual eyes you will NEVER be the same.  It will “compel” and “propel” you to walk in God’s fullness, demonstrating His power, manifesting His love, and perpetuating His Kingdom like never before.  Your life will become a living Bible and you will enter a spiritual dimension you never dreamed was truly possible.

I am firmly convinced, from Scripture that it is God’s Great Desire to BLESS US!  However, in order to fully accomplish this, there has to be an introduction to and participation in what I would call the “Jeremiah Ministry”.  That is there will be a “tearing down” and then a “building up.”  God leads us out so He can bring us in and too frequently we resist the “leading out” and fail to “enter in” to what He wants to do in its entirety.

That is my introduction to the subject.  I hope you are, at least, a little interested and willing to give me a few posts to see if you can and will hang on with me.  May God richly bless you as you go through your day and week!  You are truly a “treasured treasure” to Him and I value you highly as well.

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WHY DID GOD LEAVE ENEMIES IN THE LAND??? [Part II]


Spiritual Blog - Promises

Judges 3:1-4 – “Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; 2 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly). 3 These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses.”  NASU

 

We stopped in the last devotional with several questions regarding why God would leave enemies in the land that Israel was given as the Promised Land.  Let’s continue that journey.

CONSIDER THIS – If God has designed our Possession of the Land to be little by little, how do you suppose the enemy infiltrate the land?  It is largely through counterfeit, deception, and confusion.  The devil is a master at using LEGITIMATE NEEDS in our lives in order to launch his attacks and carry out his schemes.  How many Legitimate Needs do you have?  Can you Name Them?  Everyone has a need for Security, Provision, Acceptance, and a Desire to be Loved.  For every need, there is a Legitimate and Illegitimate way to meet that need.  A very important question is, “Do you believe that it is God’s desire to meet your Legitimate needs?”  Another question worthy of asking is, “Do you believe that He knows your Legitimate needs?”  The insinuation of the devil is that He does not care or that He is an absentee landlord and does not involve Himself in our daily lives.

IS THERE A MEANS WHEREBY WE CAN KNOW THAT GOD UNDERSTANDS?  Do you realize that for every Legitimate Need, God has set a guard on those needs?  Do you realize where those safeguards are found?  Let me surprise some of you – THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.  Every Commandment of God is a Guard to Protect a Legitimate Need in your life.  Let me offer something for you to dig a little deeper into and study more extensively:

Exodus 33:12-16 – The Need is IDENTITY & PURPOSE.

Exodus 33:16-34:1 – The Need SIGNIFICANCE, VALUE, and WORTH. [Significance Is a word of comparison by which you receive value and your sense of worth]

For every Commandment, there is a Legitimate need for which that Commandment Guards.  The Illegitimate method of meeting Legitimate needs does not meet the need but rather moves us into deception and it is a work of the flesh and the devil.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS:

  • Exodus 20:3 – NO OTHER GODS. This guards our need for identity and all our self-worth is hinged here.  We are informed in Colossians 2:10 that we are “complete in Christ.” And in Hebrews 6:1 we are instructed to press on to maturity.  The word maturity is the same words as complete in Colossians 2.
  • Exodus 20:4 – NO IDOLS. This guards the Legitimate need for Standards and all idolatry is a substitute.  Isaiah declared “you have to carry your idols but my God carries me.”  The person following a False Standard has to do what?  Bear the burden of carrying that load and strive to achieve a position and condition that is a Gift of God.  Performance demands a Standard that we can accomplish.  WHY?  Because if we do not achieve that Standard we are, in our eyes and the eyes of others, a Failure and lose our Identity.  What happens in this is that rather than running to God in Repentance and Receiving His Grace we Adjust the Standard so we can make it achievable.  NO OTHER GODS and NO IDOLS.
  • Exodus 20:7 – DO NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN. This guards the need for Authority. In the Garden of Eden God gave man the Authority to Rule & Reign.  That’s what God made us for – Rulership.  We have an innate need for the Rulership of God to be released in and through us.  Thus, not taking the Name (Authority) of God in vain.  You and I as believers bear the Name of our Lord.  We are visible expressions of His Lordship and Authority.
  • Exodus 20:8 – REMEMBER THE SABBATH. This guards the need for Rest!  Not just physical but spiritual rest.  It speaks of Rest from Performance and Unrealistic Expectations.  It allows us to embrace the reality that God is walking out His Life in our human bodies, hearts, and minds.
  • Exodus 20:12 – HONOR FATHER & MOTHER. This guards the need of man to be under authority.  This provides the balance and need to release authority.

I have not attempted to detail every commandment but the Reason God Left Enemies in the Land and why we face enemies in this life is both to train us for War and teach us Dependence.

Embrace your battles.  By that I mean rather than complain that you have difficulties and problems look for the ways that God is making your Stronger and bringing you to a new level of Maturity.  Rejoice, as James said, “when you encounter trials” because of what is happening in you.  You are moving from faith to faith and victory to victory.  You are BECOMING that which God said you were! 

God bless you richly as you enjoy this day in Him!

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WHY DID GOD LEAVE ENEMIES IN THE LAND???


Spiritual Blog - Let God Arise

Judges 3:1-4 – “Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to test Israel by them (that is, all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; 2 only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it formerly). 3 These nations are: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. 4 They were for testing Israel, to find out if they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers through Moses.”  NASU

 

I have often wondered about many things in Scripture and in the history of mankind, the nation of Israel, and the Church.  My title question is one that I have studied at length and I wish I could say that I have a fully exhaustive conclusion to offer.  I do not, but I do have some thoughts that I believe are based on Scripture.  The Bible tells us definitively some of the reason and among those was to ‘Teach them to War.’  In this passage, we are also informed that the enemies were allowed to remain to TEST ISRAEL.  One of their purposes was to test them to see if they would obey the Commandments of God.  Now, I personally believe that God knew the answer but was allowing an object lesson for the people and successive generations to see both the benefits and dangers of failure to OBEY.

In 1 John 3:8 we read, “…the Son of God appeared so that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  John 16:11 informs us that when the Holy Spirit came, His ministry would be to bring CONVICTION.  That conviction was three-pronged it addressed SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and JUDGMENT.  It is important to note that Jesus spoke this in the ‘perfect tense’ BEFORE He went to the Cross.  Let me ask, “is TIME a spirit world or a sense world commodity?”  Hebrews 2:14-15 informs us that Jesus rendered powerless, the one who had the power of death, the devil.  Who did Jesus render POWERLESS?  The devil.

Colossians 2:8-10 reveals that people are taken captive through philosophy, empty deception, the traditions of men, and the elementary principles of this world.  WOW!  The apostle Paul identified, in Ephesians 6, the RULERS & AUTHORITIES are not those in the natural realm but in the spirit realm.  Jesus stripped the demonic powers and the devil of authority and power. I suggest that you read Colossians 2:11-15 and focus on the truth that Jesus, our Lord, and Savior, DISARMED the rulers and authorities and made a public display of them.  THAT IS POWERFUL!  In the Book of Revelation Chapter 12, we realize that believers OVERCOME through the Blood of Jesus and the Word of their testimony.  We do that because of the work of Jesus on the Cross.  He said in John 19:30, “IT IS FINISHED!”  

Based on what I have just said and quoted it would appear that the purpose and intent of God were to Drive out All Enemies and Give Rest from War.  However, in Exodus 23:29-31 we find that God informed them that He would not drive out the enemies in a single year because if he did the beasts of the field would become so numerous they would overrun the land.  God’s Promise was “little by little” He would drive out the enemy.  Wait?  Didn’t God say He would go before them and drive out the enemy?  YES, He did.  There is no contradiction because God did drive out the enemies but He did it in a way that taught them obedience and instilled confidence and faith.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9 we are told that we (believers) are God’s Field.  That is incredibly interesting and demands the question, “How do you Possess the Field or Land of God little by little, under the Plan & Power of God?”   Lack of Information can lead to deception and deception can lead to advantage being taken of us.  Paul addressed the importance of not being ignorant of the devices and schemes of the devil in 2 Corinthians 2:11. Are you Ignorant of the Schemes of the devil in your own land, your life, your family, your ministry?  Do you know the strategies he employs?  Do you comprehend how he is attempting to steal from and defraud you?  What is your greatest area of weakness?  How is he keeping you weak?

We will discuss those questions in the next devotional but until then may the Lord bless you richly and keep you safe and walking in the Full Victory of God’s Abundant Living.

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YOU MUST DISPOSSESS TO POSSESS… [Part Two]


Spiritual Blog - Promise

Deuteronomy 12:1-3 – “These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth. 2 “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 ” You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place.”  NASU

Yesterday we embarked on this journey of understanding the requirement to Dispossess in order to Possess our Promises in God.  We discussed some of the principles and truths involved and beginning there I wish to press into this discovery and truth a bit more.

It is imperative that we realize that our DISPOSSESSING will involve Kingdoms, Locals, and Individual enemies.  God gives us a Promise.  He gives us the Anointing and Grace.  Yet there is a Process that requires us to go beyond Prayers to Action.  What is involved in the Process and Action of Dispossession?

  • We Must DISCERN – – We Mark the Enemy.
  1. We must Study the Enemy and Understand His Tactics and Purposes.
  2. We must study the Scripture to Learn our Legal Claim and their Legal Defeat.
  • We must DISDAIN – – Despise our Enemies Reject Them.
  1. We Reject what they stand for and what they do.
  2. We Remind them of their Eventual State or Future through the Promises of God.
  • We must DISCLOSE – – Uncover, Expose, and Reveal the Enemy.

We bring them to the Light of God and Expose them through God’s Truth.

  • We must DISCOMFORT the Enemy.

We bring them into a state of confusion, cause consternation in their hearts and minds, and bring terror to their hearts through the Word and Power of God.  Remember the Spies in Jericho and what Rahab the Harlot said to the Spies?  When we heard our hearts melted.

  • We must DISINHERIT – – We seize Possession of the Promise.
  1. We serve an Eviction Notice on the Enemy and Kick Them Out and Off the Promise.
  2. We Occupy the Place of Promise by Faith.
  3. We then set up guards and defenses to Keep Them

I am totally convinced that when we really understand what Jesus has accomplished for us at the Cross and in the Resurrection, we move toward total victory.  When we know that Jesus, as us and for us, TOTALLY Defeated the devil we have a new sense of faith and courage arise within.  Consider the truth that IF Jesus did it “as me” and “for me”, then the Authority He has, I have!  He is the Head and we are the Body.  The authority of the head is experienced and enforced by the body.

Every demon you encounter has already been defeated at the Cross.  They saw the defeat!  You may never have considered that but there are no new demons.  Demons don’t have babies.  You are not battling a new, reinforced set of demons.  Jesus defeated the ALL at the Cross!   He has given us AUTHORITY over all the Power and Authority of the forces of hell.  Through His Word, we have the Authority, through His Spirit the Anointing, and through His Blood the Power and Grace to STAND VICTORIOUSLY.  The demons must obey us just as they had to obey Him.  Let me give you five things, steps, or parts of the process that are vital and valuable:

  1. Identify the Enemy and Your Inheritance.
  2. Reject their Deceit and Intimidation. [Intimidate them not them intimidate you.]
  3. Bring them to the Light of God’s Word and Expose their Lies and Illegitimacy.
  4. Move them out of their Fortified Positions or Strongholds through the Word of God. [You Unsettle them].
  5. Take from them the Territory they have ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED. [Dispossess them and then Possess the Promise.]

We must Enforce the Victory Jesus Won at the Cross.  How do we do that?  BY FAITH!  We have to realize, believe, and act upon His declaration, “the works that I do, greater works shall you do.”

I conclude with this passage, Colossians 2:8-17 – “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. 16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day —  17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”  NASU

If you are not now POSSESSING your Place of Promise examine the situation and discover if there are ILLEGAL squatters occupying your Promise.  If they are, take the Spiritual Weapons of Warfare through the Word and Prayer and EVICT them, then once you have DISPOSSESSED them, POSSESS your Promise.  God Promised you ABUNDANT LIFE and declared you to be MORE THAN A CONQUEROR.   Be what God has declared you to be!

God bless you richly as you embark on this new journey of Faith and Spiritual Freedom!

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YOU MUST DISPOSSESS TO POSSESS…


Spiritual Blog - Promised Land

Deuteronomy 12:1-3 – “These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth. 2 “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3 ” You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place.”  NASU

 

It is a fascinating study of Scripture to view the Bible as One Book.  I view the Bible as a “progression” not an Old Testament (Book of Law and History) and a New Testament (Book of New Law and Grace).  It is ONE BOOK, progressively revealing the Heart and Purpose of God.  That makes it a fascinating book.

In our Christian history, we have achieved some understanding that everything that happened to Israel happened for our understanding.  The principle, “first the natural and then the spiritual” is never more apparent than in the study of the history of God’s People in the Nation of Israel.  Therefore, each event, pattern, practices, etc. in the natural in Old Testament Israel has a spiritual fulfillment in the New Testament Believer and Church.

The declaration of God that they were to POSSESS the Land is important.  Too often we become obsessed with the geographical land and miss the larger picture and message.  I am convinced that this obsession has, at times, robbed the Christian Church of position, promise, and power.  I believe that God wants His Church, His Body to enter into the fullness of His Promises and fulfill His Purposes in this generation.  That, in my view, is sometimes hindered in our failure to understand the term LAND.

Think with me a moment about the term LAND.  Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the Earth.”  What is the Earth but the Land?  The word in Hebrew and its equivalent always means “The Place of Promise.”  It is our ‘anakali’ or Inheritance.  It is not earned, deserved but inherited.  We enter into citizenship in the Land by birth (the new birth).  However, for it to be fully enjoyed it must be POSSESSED.  The Hebrew word is (yeash) and the implication is “You drive out the tenants who are ILLEGALLY squatting on your inheritance.”  Simply, it is up to you and me to DISPOSSESS them in order to fully POSSESS what has been legally given to us by God Himself.

THE PROCESS is twofold and simple yet complex:

  1. We Respond to God by Faith – – HE IS.
  2. We Begin the Process of Dispossessing the Enemy by Faith – More than Conquerors through Jesus.

When we consider types in Scripture we find that Mountains refer to Kingdoms.  Hills refer to Families of the Land and Green Trees usually refer to People.

Do you desire to fully possess the promises of God and enter into the Abundant Life that Jesus Promised and came to provide?  I know you do, so I ask that you carefully examine your heart and ask the Holy Spirit to bring to you enlightenment, embolden you, and empower you to STAND and PRESS INTO THE LAND – Your Place of Promise!  We will address this more tomorrow.

God bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

 

 

 

 

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LIVING STONES…


SPIRITUAL BLOG - Church

1 Peter 2:5 – “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  NASU

 

Frequently, I broach the subject of our being a ‘Spiritual House’ or ‘Stone Pile’.  Today, I desire to delve a little deeper into that.  I truly believe that this is a Word from the Lord and a matter that is of extreme importance.  It is my hope that you will hear what is presented, evaluate it, pray about it, examine it, and then render a decision as to how it applies to you and your local fellowship.

Sometimes there is a ‘new word’ not because it is NEW but new because it has not been heard or considered fully.  I believe that there is a spiritually dynamic life to be had in the Body of Christ beyond what has been enjoyed by most Christians and Churches.  Sometimes to move into a new area or phase in God there has to be a ‘leap of faith’ and a ‘change in our concept’ of the function of the church and the individual.  That being said, I want you to consider a ‘problem’ which prevents this and I believe as you see the problem you will be willing to invest yourselves in finding and implementing the solution.

Here in the text, we find the mention of ‘living stones’ and a ‘spiritual house’ for the purpose of a Holy Priesthood.  That is not talking about those who carry the title of ‘minister’ or ‘preacher’ but Christians.  Peter, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, offers a ‘natural picture’ to help us understand a ‘spiritual truth’.  Natural stones produce natural houses and spiritual stones produce spiritual houses.

  • These are LIVING STONES – – [lively zoes].

Stones, building blocks, but building blocks that are alive.

  • There is a PROCESS – – Being built up.

Constructing or forming is taking place and it involves time.  It is not instantaneous!

  • There is an OBJECTIVE – – A Spiritual house.

Fully functioning spiritual house which is a body, a family, and a unit.

Imagine living building blocks!  Wouldn’t that be a wonderful reality in today’s church?  I do believe that it is becoming a reality in many locals, but sadly in much of the church world, it is more of a whimsical fantasy and a theoretical dream than a reality.  A significant portion of organized religion is far from being a SPIRITUAL HOUSE either locally or universally.  What we see much of the time is a ‘pile of bricks’.  No question they are living stones with incredible potential but not functional because they have never BEEN FORMED into a Spiritual House.  There is a vast difference between a SPIRITUAL HOUSE and a STONE PILE.

There are several contributing factors to the dilemma.  First, often there is little or no understanding of the Kingdom, biblical church government and function.  Second, frequently our new found freedom in Christ encourages us to run everywhere and do everything with no real spiritual submission to authority and without proper training.  [Equipping – Ephesians 4].  This equipping, according to the Scripture is done under the oversight of the Wise Master Builders or God’s under-shepherds and the gifts in the Church.

It is possible to have a ‘system of government’ that is biblical in theory but not in practice.  It is possible to have ‘elders & deacons’ in name, who do not have the calling, anointing, or function of true elders or deacons.  It is possible to have a ‘team concept’ of ministry but not practice it truly.  It is possible to have ‘home cell groups’ without having the ‘gift people’ in the right place or function.  It all looks good, sounds good, and the desire is good but it doesn’t produce life because it has not been ‘fitly framed’ together so it can be more than a PILE OF STONES!

To be a SPIRITUAL HOUSE, the stones/bricks MUST be ‘fitted together’ with design, foresight, and planning.  According to the Bible, each member of a congregation is a ‘living stone’ a building block.  Most churches spend an enormous amount of money and energy trying to amass stones and in the view of the world the more stones you have the more successful you are.  The number of stones is equated with success so everyone is focusing on gathering stones but not fitting them into a SPIRITUAL HOUSE.  It is stones, stones, stones!  Let’s get more stones!  Well, you might as well ‘get stoned’ if that’s all you have it will do you about as much good.

If we are to impact this world as Jesus commissioned and commanded us it is imperative that we become SPIRITUAL HOUSES not STONE PILES.  Make this a commitment of your heart and seek to become ‘fitly framed together’ into a Spiritual House for a Holy Priesthood.  The lost need it.  The saved need it.  God desires it!

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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