You and Your House

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 “You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.”

We are now in the Fall of the year. In some areas of the USA it is hard to tell because it is still very warm during some parts of the day but the evening and the night is becoming cooler. During this time of year in scripture the nation of Israel was celebrating Sukkot or the Feast of the Lord called Tabernacles or the Feast of Shelters. During this time the Jews and those who traveled with them in the Exodus built shelters (tents) and lived in them celebrating that God had tabernacled or abided with them in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. If you visited Israel today you would see small temporary shelters built by observing Jews to commemorate this time; some might be in yards; some on roof tops.

The Feasts of the Lord have significance to us as Christians as well. The Feasts parallel and give a prophetic picture of Jesus and the prophetic events surrounding Him. The significance for Christians in The Feast of Tabernacles is that Jesus came as the Word made flesh and dwelt among us. He became our Shelter but also that He is coming again and will tabernacle on earth again. This is exciting for those of us who believe and who have received salvation. We believe Christ Jesus’ blood was shed for us; his body given for us that we might have eternal life. But in the joy of our salvation we have concerns for the salvation of those that we know and love. Our concern is what I would like to address now. We pray for the salvation of our loved ones. We long for their salvation. Sometime it can be discouraging when it seems as if nothing is happening to show that those loved ones are moving toward the kingdom of God but it is God’s plan that they do. It is proven that God is excellent at working His plan.

To reach the Feast of Tabernacles (Shelters) there first had to be a Feast of Passover. The Feast of Shelters is the last of the seven Feasts of the Lord. It and the other Feasts are referred to many times in the Old and New Testaments. The First Feast is the Feast of Passover. This Feast of Passover correlates and foretells the death of Jesus on the cross sacrificed as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. John the Baptist identified Jesus as that Lamb in John chapter 1:29-36. John pointed toward Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb.” To add further clarification and understanding to the significance of John’s words it is good to know that in those ancient times when the Jewish people went to the Temple to offer sacrifice the head of the household would often choose a lamb from those that were kept at the temple for that purpose. The head of the house chose a lamb for the sacrifice. A priest affirmed the choice by pointing to the chosen lamb and saying “behold, the lamb.” The people that John was speaking to understood this analogy. John is indicating that Jesus is the Lamb of Sacrifice that has been chosen by the Father to be the once and for all sacrifice for the sins of the world. The sacrificial lamb chosen at the temple by the head of the household was for the sins of the whole family. Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb chosen by our Heavenly Father is for the whole family, the household; for His whole family, and for our whole family, our household.

In Exodus 12:3 at the time of Passover, God instructed the Jews to kill a lamb and place the blood of that lamb on their door post. The death angel that was being sent to Egypt to kill the first born of the Egyptian households would see the blood and “pass over” them. The Jews would be kept safe. This lamb’s blood was for the salvation of the whole household. This theme of the salvation of the whole household by God continued when God told Noah to build an ark. God uses that ark to save Noah and all of Noah’s household. (Gen. 7:1) In the book of Joshua (2:18) we see that Rahab’s faithfulness to display the scarlet thread kept her safe, and her household. When Cornelius received salvation through his faith in Christ, it also resulted in the salvation of his whole household. (Acts 10:24; 44). This is God’s plan; that we be saved and our household.

We can rest in the shelter of His plan. We can hide in His plan and rejoice in Him there. He wants our loved ones, our household to receive salvation even more than we do. It was His idea. He made the provision just as all of these scriptures indicate. He is faithful just as all of these scriptures record. Paul said to the Philipian jailer “Believe on the Lord, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31) Be encouraged. Believe on the Lord and you will be saved. You and your household! The Lamb has been provided and was slain. His blood is on the doorposts of your household. He is the ark that keeps you and your household safe. He is the scarlet thread displayed. You have received salvation through your faith in Christ Jesus paving the way for God to move in your family even greater for the salvation of your household. The obedience of the Jews affected their safety. Noah’s faith and obedience affected the saving of his household. Rahab’s faith affected the salvation of her household. Cornelius’ daring to believe affected the life and salvation of his whole household. Our faith in Christ affects the safety and salvation of our households, too. We have cooperated with God just as all of these did. We have believed.

Behold the Lamb! Behold the soon coming King! Dwell in the Shelter of the Most High!

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 “You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust. For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday. Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.”

Amen!!

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Re-Alignment

We are in a unique time in history. We are seeing many changes in the Church and watching as many make decisions that carry them out of Biblical truth. We are watching the events in the Middle East, which the scriptures have told us, will take place. The Jewish people are observing the fall feasts of the Lord. The Ten Days of Awe are being observed leading up to Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles after having celebrated Rosh Hashanah these past two days. All of these things are type and shadow of Christ Jesus. Pray during this time that your Jewish friends and the rest of Israel and the Jewish people will experience visitations by their Messiah Jesus and that their eyes will be opened. As Christians we do not have to be concerned if our names are written in the Book of Life for another year because our names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life for eternity. The spring and fall feasts of the Lord tell of the two comings of Jesus the Messiah. On the prophetic time line the spring feasts of the Lord (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, Pentecost) fulfilled Jesus’ first coming and the events surrounding that event. The fall feasts tell of Jesus’ second coming.

It is imperative that both Jews and Gentiles know the Messiah. We know that Jesus teaches us that salvation is of the Jews and the Good News was presented first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. Many Jews came to Jesus during his walk on earth and after his ascension through the work of the Apostles. They turned the world “upside-down.” We as Gentiles have been grafted into the vine. Ephesians 2:14-15 tells us that through Jesus’ own body he broke down the partition between Jews and Gentiles with the purpose that they would become “one new man.” He has prayed that we all be “one.” As Gentiles we are to make the Jews “jealous” because of our faith and relationship with the Messiah. When the Jews believe then there will be a great blessing to the Gentiles as scripture teaches as if “raised from the dead.”

Interestingly enough the Muslin Islamic nations are now celebrating Ramadan. During this period of time Muslims try to be especially “good.” They attempt to be more benevolent during this time so let’s pray that these “sons of Ishmael” would also have visitations from Jesus and come to know him as Savior laying aside their Islamic belief of works for the false god Allah. God’s intervention in the hearts of men and women will resolve conflicts quicker than any other method.

So you can see there is an opportunity for much realignment to take place as choices are being made by people and people groups. Every decision that we make leads somewhere. The next step we take takes us closer to our God and his destiny or away from it. Let us use this time as the seasons change to examine ourselves and ask the Lord to remove old cycles, old insecurities and ways of thinking that may not be pleasing to him and shift us into the new beginnings that he has for our ministries and us. Let’s be where Jesus desires us to be to receive the blessings of his grace during this exciting time as we look to his second coming and a major revival worldwide. He is Awesome! Let us be the generation that again turns the world “upside-down!”

His kingdom come! His will be done!

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Not Unless He Goes

The Lord bless you today!

Exodus 33:15
Acts 3:19
Psalm 42:1

I received a brief email from a fellow minister that caused me to think how so many times in our hectic day we assume that we are going in the right direction. Exodus 33:15 "Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here." In this verse Moses does not assume that his direction is right. Moses wants to know if he is going in the direction that the Lord desires for then he knows his direction will be right and that whatever he encounters the Lord’s presence will be with him. He can turn to him quickly and ask of him what is needed. Whether things go wrong or things go right the Lord’s presence is there.

Often it is said “I have to spend time with the Lord soon. I have to find time to spend with the Lord.” Often we are tired with the busyness of our days and often that tiredness comes from the “doing” of God’s work so that spending time with the Lord becomes like just one more thing to get done but listen to what Acts 3:19 has to say, "So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord." (Amplified Bible) Notice where this clearing away, this reviving and refreshing comes from. It is from the Presence of the Lord. This is where we are made new. This is where we are refreshed and revived. This time is not necessarily a time of study though it can be; if that is the direction He leads us in. This time is not necessarily a time of prayer; though it can be if that is what He desires and shares with us. This time may not be a time of talking but rather a time of listening. A time of quieting ourselves and letting Him move over and through us. We may fall asleep. “Well that’s my lack of discipline that I can’t stay awake to be with the Lord” or “That’s the devil trying to keep me from God.” I’ve heard people say both and it could possibly be either. But, if this sleep is His rest then it is time with Him also because He says He “gives His beloved rest (sleep).” The way to know is found in His Presence. He will give discernment to let us know what is and is not of Him. He will show us by His Holy Spirit if we have areas that we need to work on to produce more of His fruit in our lives. All we have to do is ask and sometimes He just shows us without our asking because He answers us before we call.

How many times a day do we become physically thirsty and stop for water, a cup of coffee, a glass of iced tea or a coke. Our physical need prompts us to drink and satisfy our thirst. King David wrote: “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee, O God”. (Psalm 42:1) Our soul longs for God. We must be careful not to quiet or push away this longing until it no longer exists but dies under the weight of not drinking from God. David learned about thirst in the fields watching his father’s sheep. This deer in Ps. 42 may be in a dry land looking for water or this deer may be fleeing danger with panic stricken eyes looking for the waterbrook, pushing to get there so that the deer’s scent will be hidden from his enemies in its flowing waters. Maybe David observed this while he was alone with God in the fields and later applied it to his own life as he sought refuge and safety at Engedi or dealt with his own sin and loss of a son conceived with Bathsheba, or as he tried to unravel all of the dysfunction that existed in his family, sought wisdom as God’s chosen leader and king of Israel, or as he headed for the battle field. Time in the Presence of God also produced the worship and rejoicing in God for David that some people such as Michal, his own wife, hated.

In the Presence of the Lord there is clearing, refreshing, and reviving. Jesus-don’t go anywhere without him and by all means run to him with expectancy to spend time with him. Cultivate, as Bro. Lawrence said, “Practice the Presence of God.” "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it." ... Brother Lawrence

God bless you.
God go with you.
God be with you.

Amen!