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Mountain of Salvation
No one Rested Until Everyone Rested
Num 32:5-6
5 They said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan."
6 But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?
NASU
God's intention was for all of Israel to be engaged in the war for the promised land. Though the battles for the inheritances of the tribes of Gad and Reuben had been won. There was a war to be fought still. Moses rebuked them. They responded.
Num 32:16-18
16 Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 " We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.
NASU
They displayed the right spirit. They understood the need, and the times they were in. Moses responded.
Num 32:20-23
20 So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for the war,
21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,
22 and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the Lord and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the Lord.
23 "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
NASU
Notice in verse 21 Moses reveals that this was God's fight against His enemies for His land to be possessed by His people.
Num 32:25-27
25 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do just as my lord commands.
26 " Our little ones, our wives, our livestock and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead;
27 while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over in the presence of the Lord to battle, just as my lord says."
NASU
Num 32:33
33 So Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half-tribe of Joseph's son Manasseh, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the land with its cities with their territories, the cities of the surrounding land.
NASU
Jesus himself was faithful to the end. He put it this way:
John 6:38-40
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
NKJV
The apostle Paul this way:
2 Tim 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
NKJV
Let's emulate them. Our citizenship is in heaven. No one rests here until everyone rests there.
5 They said, "If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants as a possession; do not take us across the Jordan."
6 But Moses said to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben, "Shall your brothers go to war while you yourselves sit here?
NASU
God's intention was for all of Israel to be engaged in the war for the promised land. Though the battles for the inheritances of the tribes of Gad and Reuben had been won. There was a war to be fought still. Moses rebuked them. They responded.
Num 32:16-18
16 Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones;
17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.
18 " We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance.
NASU
They displayed the right spirit. They understood the need, and the times they were in. Moses responded.
Num 32:20-23
20 So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for the war,
21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from before Him,
22 and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the Lord and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the Lord.
23 "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
NASU
Notice in verse 21 Moses reveals that this was God's fight against His enemies for His land to be possessed by His people.
Num 32:25-27
25 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do just as my lord commands.
26 " Our little ones, our wives, our livestock and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead;
27 while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over in the presence of the Lord to battle, just as my lord says."
NASU
Num 32:33
33 So Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half-tribe of Joseph's son Manasseh, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the land with its cities with their territories, the cities of the surrounding land.
NASU
Jesus himself was faithful to the end. He put it this way:
John 6:38-40
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
NKJV
The apostle Paul this way:
2 Tim 4:7
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
NKJV
Let's emulate them. Our citizenship is in heaven. No one rests here until everyone rests there.
Washington D.C. Update
Ann Marie and I traveled to Washington D.C. the week of the vote on the health care bill in The U.S. House of Representatives. We arrived on Thurs. March 18. For the next 3 days we walked the House office buildings halls urging Congressmen to vote no on the health care bill. We visited approximately 50 offices of Congressmen who were undecided or leaning yes or no. We spoke with their staff urging the Congressmen to vote no primarily because of the corruption in the process of developing the bill and the egregious offense of requiring taxpayers to fund abortion. We made return visits to approximately 25 offices for a total of, around 75 office visits. In addition, we spoke with around 30 Congressmen. We prayed with and for several of those. We had a special time of prayer early Sunday morning with Congressman Steve King from Iowa and later in the morning with Congressman Jerry Moran from Kansas.
I had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Bart Stupak on Sunday, the day of the vote. I reminded him of prayer meetings we had both attended in the past and thanked him for standing strong. He obviously did not continue to do so.
On one visit to Congressman Stupak's office, we found his office locked. A news crew from ABC news asked if I would be interviewed in front of his office. I agreed. I told the interviewer we were there to urge the Congressman to stand strong and vote no on the health care bill because of the corruption of the bill and the subsidizing of abortion.
After the interview, a local pastor Pat Mahoney, asked if we would join him in a prayer meeting on the west terrace of the Capitol building. We did. During the prayer meeting, I noticed Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia on the Capitol steps. We had met and prayed together previously in Nov. 09. I asked him to join us in the prayer meeting. He agreed. Pastor Mahoney recognized him and gave him the microphone. Congressman Broun spoke powerfully and eloquently on taking back our freedom and liberty by repealing the bill. He then prayed powerfully over the meeting.
We met many special people during the trip. Citizens like ourselves who are concerned for our country and were engaged in meeting members of congress and voicing their strong concerns. Please pray for us and contact us if you are interested in working with us to establish a prophetic presence on Capitol Hill. Our country needs you.
I had the opportunity to speak with Congressman Bart Stupak on Sunday, the day of the vote. I reminded him of prayer meetings we had both attended in the past and thanked him for standing strong. He obviously did not continue to do so.
On one visit to Congressman Stupak's office, we found his office locked. A news crew from ABC news asked if I would be interviewed in front of his office. I agreed. I told the interviewer we were there to urge the Congressman to stand strong and vote no on the health care bill because of the corruption of the bill and the subsidizing of abortion.
After the interview, a local pastor Pat Mahoney, asked if we would join him in a prayer meeting on the west terrace of the Capitol building. We did. During the prayer meeting, I noticed Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia on the Capitol steps. We had met and prayed together previously in Nov. 09. I asked him to join us in the prayer meeting. He agreed. Pastor Mahoney recognized him and gave him the microphone. Congressman Broun spoke powerfully and eloquently on taking back our freedom and liberty by repealing the bill. He then prayed powerfully over the meeting.
We met many special people during the trip. Citizens like ourselves who are concerned for our country and were engaged in meeting members of congress and voicing their strong concerns. Please pray for us and contact us if you are interested in working with us to establish a prophetic presence on Capitol Hill. Our country needs you.
The spirit of burning
Ps 51:6
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
NKJV
We know that our God is a consuming fire. We know that every man's work will be tried by fire.
1 Cor 3:11-17
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
NKJV
Today, let us welcome the refining fire of God into our hearts to test us in the inward parts. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. He is also manifested in us as the spirit of burning.
Isa 4:4-6
4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.
NKJV
If we would judge ourselves by welcoming Gods searchlight into our hearts to test us and examine us and our motives, then He will do the purging and cleansing that only He is able to do. Lord Jesus make us to know truth from the inside out. Send the healing work of the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire into our hearts now, today. The prophet Jeremiah said that our hearts are deceitful. The apostle Paul said that he did the things that he didn't want to do and that didn't do the things he wanted to do. Sound familiar? All true disciples of Christ find this principle, eventually. Repentance and the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus is the double cure. He not only forgives sin, He breaks the power of canceled sin. How precious it truly is to have a living savior who is the great physician. We can receive out patient treatment 24/7. He is always on call for those who cry out from a sincere heart. He still makes house calls. He has a 100% cure rate. He has never lost a patient. His medicine is eternal life. Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth, receive the Glory due your name.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
NKJV
We know that our God is a consuming fire. We know that every man's work will be tried by fire.
1 Cor 3:11-17
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
NKJV
Today, let us welcome the refining fire of God into our hearts to test us in the inward parts. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth. He is also manifested in us as the spirit of burning.
Isa 4:4-6
4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering.
NKJV
If we would judge ourselves by welcoming Gods searchlight into our hearts to test us and examine us and our motives, then He will do the purging and cleansing that only He is able to do. Lord Jesus make us to know truth from the inside out. Send the healing work of the Holy Spirit as a consuming fire into our hearts now, today. The prophet Jeremiah said that our hearts are deceitful. The apostle Paul said that he did the things that he didn't want to do and that didn't do the things he wanted to do. Sound familiar? All true disciples of Christ find this principle, eventually. Repentance and the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus is the double cure. He not only forgives sin, He breaks the power of canceled sin. How precious it truly is to have a living savior who is the great physician. We can receive out patient treatment 24/7. He is always on call for those who cry out from a sincere heart. He still makes house calls. He has a 100% cure rate. He has never lost a patient. His medicine is eternal life. Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth, receive the Glory due your name.
The Shaking
Heb 12:26
6 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."
NASU
I believe we are now in a time and season of God's shaking. Those who are sensitive to His works in the church world and in the secular world will see His Hand at work. I believe He is shaking two things in particular. Illegitimate authority and unfaithful stewardship.
Ps 75:6-7
For exaltation comes neither from the east
Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another.
NKJV
God allows kings and rulers to ascend into authority. He can remove them at will.
Isa 22:16-21
16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
17 Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.
19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
KJV
God requires faithfulness of ministers. He grants them stewardship in matters concerning His church. He requires an accounting of that stewardship.We will see a new shaking in the worlds of secular and church government. In fact, it began in 2007.
Heb 12:27-29
27 This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
NASU
6 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."
NASU
I believe we are now in a time and season of God's shaking. Those who are sensitive to His works in the church world and in the secular world will see His Hand at work. I believe He is shaking two things in particular. Illegitimate authority and unfaithful stewardship.
Ps 75:6-7
For exaltation comes neither from the east
Nor from the west nor from the south.
7 But God is the Judge:
He puts down one,
And exalts another.
NKJV
God allows kings and rulers to ascend into authority. He can remove them at will.
Isa 22:16-21
16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
17 Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.
19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
KJV
God requires faithfulness of ministers. He grants them stewardship in matters concerning His church. He requires an accounting of that stewardship.We will see a new shaking in the worlds of secular and church government. In fact, it began in 2007.
Heb 12:27-29
27 This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
NASU
A Proper Perspective
Ps 30:7
7 O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong;
NASU
The author, David, understood the importance and necessity of proper perspective in his relationship to God. God first. Humility helps us to not only deflect attention away from ourselves but toward God. Notice the Divine order in the above verse, written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. O Lord: a cry from the heart reflecting liberty in his love for God. By your favor: the action motivating God's power on behalf of David is God's undeserved love for him. You have made: all credit ascribed to God. My mountain to stand strong: lastly, that which pertains to our need is provided by God to whom this psalm of praise is directed.
7 O Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain to stand strong;
NASU
The author, David, understood the importance and necessity of proper perspective in his relationship to God. God first. Humility helps us to not only deflect attention away from ourselves but toward God. Notice the Divine order in the above verse, written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. O Lord: a cry from the heart reflecting liberty in his love for God. By your favor: the action motivating God's power on behalf of David is God's undeserved love for him. You have made: all credit ascribed to God. My mountain to stand strong: lastly, that which pertains to our need is provided by God to whom this psalm of praise is directed.
Truth
In his notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson wrote. "It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."
We live in an age in which men often agree with Pontius Pilate. He asked the question of Jesus, what is truth? This attempt to excuse ourselves from accountability is very predictable and easily dismissed. Our need of a savior drives us to the truth. Jesus is the truth. We have need of truth for the very salvation of our souls.
Jesus said:
John 3:19-21
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 " For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
NASU
May our Lord Jesus Christ be merciful to us and our nation. May He awaken the souls of men and women of the United States of America to our compelling need of His saving grace. May we know the Truth and may He make us free.
Ex 34:10
10 And He said: "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
NKJV
We live in an age in which men often agree with Pontius Pilate. He asked the question of Jesus, what is truth? This attempt to excuse ourselves from accountability is very predictable and easily dismissed. Our need of a savior drives us to the truth. Jesus is the truth. We have need of truth for the very salvation of our souls.
Jesus said:
John 3:19-21
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 " For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."
NASU
May our Lord Jesus Christ be merciful to us and our nation. May He awaken the souls of men and women of the United States of America to our compelling need of His saving grace. May we know the Truth and may He make us free.
Ex 34:10
10 And He said: "Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.
NKJV
Fuel the Fire, Lord
Isa 9:5
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
NASU
Saints of God: The weapons that the enemy of your soul has formed against you will be discovered to be the fuel that feeds the celebration fire of his defeat. A manifestation of that victory that God has wrought for you will be as evident as the light and heat given off by a large bonfire.
Look at the next two verses.
Isa 9:6-7
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
NASU
In the last sentence of the above verse we see God referred to as the Lord of hosts. This name refers to God as the commander of angel armies. May we see this Son, Jesus, given to us, as a mighty warrior; moved at the cry of His people. He is mighty to save. That weapon which the enemy has formed against us will fuel the fire of our victory celebration.
Isa 54:17
7 " No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord.
NASU
Eph 6:10-12
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
5 For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
NASU
Saints of God: The weapons that the enemy of your soul has formed against you will be discovered to be the fuel that feeds the celebration fire of his defeat. A manifestation of that victory that God has wrought for you will be as evident as the light and heat given off by a large bonfire.
Look at the next two verses.
Isa 9:6-7
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
NASU
In the last sentence of the above verse we see God referred to as the Lord of hosts. This name refers to God as the commander of angel armies. May we see this Son, Jesus, given to us, as a mighty warrior; moved at the cry of His people. He is mighty to save. That weapon which the enemy has formed against us will fuel the fire of our victory celebration.
Isa 54:17
7 " No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord.
NASU
Eph 6:10-12
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
The Transformer
2 Cor 3:18
18 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.
NKJV
A secret of the Christian life is living in the presence of God. When we go into our closet to pray, we desire to see Jesus. To have an audience with Him. We learn to enter into His presence with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We learn to hunger and thirst after Him. In time we begin to recognize His presence. As we behold Him, we are transformed, or changed, into His image. This process of transformation is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to us, His words are spirit and they are truth. They have the same effect on us as the miracles He performed when He walked the earth. They change us. Let's look at one example.
John 2:1-11
2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him
NKJV
The very nature and substance that was in the waterpots was changed into something else; something new. Note verse 11. This miracle manifested His glory. We are manifestations of His glory as we behold Him and are transformed from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. When He speaks His word to us by the Spirit and we hear, receive by faith, and obey, we are transformed.
May we receive the precious Holy Spirit, and every word, and manifestation of His power. May we be constantly changed; from grace to grace; glory to glory; and victory to victory.
18 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.
NKJV
A secret of the Christian life is living in the presence of God. When we go into our closet to pray, we desire to see Jesus. To have an audience with Him. We learn to enter into His presence with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We learn to hunger and thirst after Him. In time we begin to recognize His presence. As we behold Him, we are transformed, or changed, into His image. This process of transformation is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to us, His words are spirit and they are truth. They have the same effect on us as the miracles He performed when He walked the earth. They change us. Let's look at one example.
John 2:1-11
2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."
4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7 Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. 9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him
NKJV
The very nature and substance that was in the waterpots was changed into something else; something new. Note verse 11. This miracle manifested His glory. We are manifestations of His glory as we behold Him and are transformed from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit. When He speaks His word to us by the Spirit and we hear, receive by faith, and obey, we are transformed.
May we receive the precious Holy Spirit, and every word, and manifestation of His power. May we be constantly changed; from grace to grace; glory to glory; and victory to victory.
Exposing the unfruitful works of darkness
Hab 2:16
16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
KJV
Lies, deception, greed, bribery. Business as usual. God is exposing. Now. The veil of secrecy that covers the deeds of the unholy and unjust. God is exposing now. God is merciful. He is not willing that any perish. So, He calls all men, everywhere, to repent. God is just. He is calling His church to Holiness and He is calling this nation to righteousness. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant. To expose the foreskin means God is revealing those in leadership in the church who are not walking in covenant relationship with Him. Walking in unholiness. Those in civil government who are engaged in lies, deception, and bribery in order to acquire and retain political power; God is unmasking. That which they have done in order to hold and wield power will become their very shame. The shameful spewing on their glory.
Isa 10:1
10 1 Woe to those who enact unjust decrees
and draft oppressive legislation
CJB
Today is the day of salvation. Let us seek The Lord while He may be found. Let us ask for mercy. Embrace repentance. God hears the cry of the humble. God resists the proud, self righteous, and unrepentant.
Intercessors; rejoice! Cry out. Spare not. The Lion of the tribe of Judah hears you.
Eph 5:11-14
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."
NKJV
16 Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the Lord's right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
KJV
Lies, deception, greed, bribery. Business as usual. God is exposing. Now. The veil of secrecy that covers the deeds of the unholy and unjust. God is exposing now. God is merciful. He is not willing that any perish. So, He calls all men, everywhere, to repent. God is just. He is calling His church to Holiness and He is calling this nation to righteousness. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant. To expose the foreskin means God is revealing those in leadership in the church who are not walking in covenant relationship with Him. Walking in unholiness. Those in civil government who are engaged in lies, deception, and bribery in order to acquire and retain political power; God is unmasking. That which they have done in order to hold and wield power will become their very shame. The shameful spewing on their glory.
Isa 10:1
10 1 Woe to those who enact unjust decrees
and draft oppressive legislation
CJB
Today is the day of salvation. Let us seek The Lord while He may be found. Let us ask for mercy. Embrace repentance. God hears the cry of the humble. God resists the proud, self righteous, and unrepentant.
Intercessors; rejoice! Cry out. Spare not. The Lion of the tribe of Judah hears you.
Eph 5:11-14
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."
NKJV
Light in the Darkness
Jesus said:
John 3:19-20
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
NKJ.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He said:
Luke 22:53
53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
NKJV
For true believers, at that hour, Jesus triumphed over the power of darkness.
Col 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NKJV
I would like to look at another kind of darkness. A place where God revealed Himself.
Gen 15:12-13
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram...
NKJV
God was speaking to Abraham about His covenant with Abraham, the father of faith. There was great darkness.
When God was giving the commandments of the old covenant to Moses, there was darkness.
Ex 20:21-22
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses...
KJV
God was in the thick darkness.
Matt 27:45-55
45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49 But the rest of them said, " Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
NASU
See the New Covenant being birthed at the death of Jesus, in the midst of the darkness. Truly this was the Son of God.
God reveals himself in a darkness that is different from the darkness of sin. It is different from the darkness of deception and rebellion. It is a place that He will bring His chosen instruments into, in order to reveal Himself to them. He reveals His covenant to them. He ratifies it. He always glorifies His son, Jesus, in this place. Jesus is the light of the world. Look here for a moment, and consider the privilege of preaching Jesus Christ's gospel to this lost and dying world. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 4:12-17
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
15 "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES —
16 "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
NASU
Some have been in a place like the darkness of the dungeons of Joseph, Peter, Paul, and Silas. Some have been in a place of darkness like the cave of Elijah. God is making known to you the power of his covenant. You will come out with a fresh revelation of Jesus and His power. A new commissioning is coming. You will be sent to people bound in the darkness of sin and Satan's power. God will send you with the message of deliverance from sin, hell, sickness, and demonic bondage.
Isa 60:1-3
60 " Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 " Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
NASU
Lord Jesus, make us flames of fire. Cause us to burn with the revelation that you are the Light of the world.
John 3:19-20
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
NKJ.
On the night Jesus was betrayed, He said:
Luke 22:53
53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
NKJV
For true believers, at that hour, Jesus triumphed over the power of darkness.
Col 1:13-14
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NKJV
I would like to look at another kind of darkness. A place where God revealed Himself.
Gen 15:12-13
12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram...
NKJV
God was speaking to Abraham about His covenant with Abraham, the father of faith. There was great darkness.
When God was giving the commandments of the old covenant to Moses, there was darkness.
Ex 20:21-22
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the Lord said unto Moses...
KJV
God was in the thick darkness.
Matt 27:45-55
45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" 47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." 48 Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. 49 But the rest of them said, " Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
NASU
See the New Covenant being birthed at the death of Jesus, in the midst of the darkness. Truly this was the Son of God.
God reveals himself in a darkness that is different from the darkness of sin. It is different from the darkness of deception and rebellion. It is a place that He will bring His chosen instruments into, in order to reveal Himself to them. He reveals His covenant to them. He ratifies it. He always glorifies His son, Jesus, in this place. Jesus is the light of the world. Look here for a moment, and consider the privilege of preaching Jesus Christ's gospel to this lost and dying world. The gospel of the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 4:12-17
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
15 "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI,
BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES —
16 "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, " Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
NASU
Some have been in a place like the darkness of the dungeons of Joseph, Peter, Paul, and Silas. Some have been in a place of darkness like the cave of Elijah. God is making known to you the power of his covenant. You will come out with a fresh revelation of Jesus and His power. A new commissioning is coming. You will be sent to people bound in the darkness of sin and Satan's power. God will send you with the message of deliverance from sin, hell, sickness, and demonic bondage.
Isa 60:1-3
60 " Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the Lord will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
3 " Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
NASU
Lord Jesus, make us flames of fire. Cause us to burn with the revelation that you are the Light of the world.