"Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu, Melek ha olam..."
This phrase, above, is often found in Hebrew prayers. "Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the universe."
Our Father is proclaimed King in the scriptures, and His Son is proclaimed "King of kings".
In Psalm 47, the LORD's Kingship is magnified and praised:
"For the LORD Most High is awesome;
He is a great King over all the earth.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is King of all the earth;
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on His holy throne.
v. 2, 6, 7, 8
In the Book of Revelation, Jesus is described:
"And He has written on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, around this same time of year as this is being written, right before His last Passover, before His betrayal, suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection, the crowds lined the street and welcomed Him as King of Israel, as reported in all four Gospel accounts.
This great Kingship doesn't stop there, however. The scriptures teach that He has made us kings as well.
"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen."
and
"... And have redeemed us to God by Your blood...And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."
Rev. 1:5-6, and 5:9-10
There is a special meaning and importance to the position of "king". It can be agreed, that kings are not like regular people. In the scriptures, the position of king, carried a special responsibility, as it has done throughout history since.
The first king in scripture was Adam. His Creator gave him dominion over every living thing that moves on the earth (Gen. 1:28). The English word "dominion" from the Latin root, means: the power to rule, the right to rule, authority, absolute ownership, sovereignty. The Hebrew word used in this same verse, ra-da', means: to dominate, rule, subjugate, to tread (with the feet). There is no doubt from the definitions of the word in both English and Hebrew, that kingly authority was given to Adam. The first Adam, gave away the kingdom. The second Adam, Jesus, bought it back again, and even more, with His own obedience, and with His blood (1 Cor. 15).
What does this say, then, about our kingship? What is expected of us, and what are our responsibilities in this position? Why do we even have to hold a position of "king"? Sometimes, because of their special position, there are situations that only kings can handle. Even presidents and representatives are limited in what they can do. In spiritual terms, the same idea applies. Sometimes it requires a king to deal with certain things. It takes a king, for instance, to deal with other princes. I would like to look at three examples in scripture.
The examples refer to three people who were raised from obscurity to positions of royalty, or royal authority, because they were called and purposed by God to confront royal, or princely, adversaries.
First, Moses was born a Hebrew slave in Egypt. God raised him up miraculously to become an adopted member of the king, Pharaoh's, household. Moses became a prince of Egypt (Ex. 2:10). As an adult, he would one day have to confront Pharaoh and command him, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness." (Ex. 5:1). Who was this man who could walk into Pharaoh's court and make demands? He was a prince of Egypt, just as Pharaoh was.
Secondly, Esther, a young Jewish woman, was elevated by a foreign king to become his queen. From this position, she was able to trap the enemy of the Jews, Haman, and save her people from destruction. Haman was a descendant of the king of the Amalekites, Agag, and was referred to as a prince in this land of Sushan (Est. 3:1). If Esther had not been in the position of queen, she would not have been able to have access to the king, nor to confront Haman. Esther was reluctant to confront the king, her husband, and Naman, but her uncle, Mordecai, told her that it was for this very purpose that she was elevated to royal rank- for the deliverance and relief of the Jews:
"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Esther 4:14
Like Esther, we also have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this. Having been elevated to royalty, we also, must not remain silent.
Finally, there is the story of Joseph. He had been sold into slavery, and served in Egypt. He was falsely accused and placed in prison. His spiritual gift of interpreting dreams brought him to the attention of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. The Pharaoh, valuing Joseph's gift, promoted him, setting him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh put his own signet ring of kingly authority on Joseph's hand. All the people of Egypt were ruled according to Joseph's word. Though he was not officially king, no one in the land was higher than he was except for Pharaoh, himself. Because of this kingly authority given to him, he was able to save not only Egypt, but also Israel (Canaan) in the time of a severe famine. Joseph had the power from Pharaoh, even over the royal princes of the land (Psalm 105:22). He could imprison them, if he chose to. The reason that Joseph was so promoted, was because Pharaoh recognized Joseph's gift for seeing and interpreting secret, hidden things. Proverbs 25:2 describes this gift as a kingly gift from God:
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter (dabar-word),
But the glory of kings to search out a matter (dabar-word)."
As God's people, He has also called us to be kings, who search out and reveal the hidden things of God - His kings who delve into the deep things of God, of His word, of His Spirit, and are given the authority to reveal the power of those hidden truths to principalities and powers. Like Moses, Esther, and Joseph, we have been lifted from obscurity, and placed in kingly places for the purpose of bringing our Father's sovereign will into the earth. We can go before oppressive princes and say: "Thus says the LORD: Let My people go."
Our Father is a King.
"Awesome"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz8BgLSC24E
"He Reigns"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKTqwBetI1I
"Take Me to the King"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYU5aGQV6j0
Obedience can be a difficult concept for us.We can resent the command for obedience. The very word sometimes seems to stir up a rebellious attitude in us. In spiritual truth, however, obedience is very powerful.
When the Apostle Paul is teaching about spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians, obedience is the key and bottom line in spiritual weaponry:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Cor. 10:3-6
Our spiritual warfare is against things, including thoughts and arguments, that are in disobedience to God. Disobedience continually tries to exalt itself over God. Our victory in spiritual warfare comes in and through our own obedience. We are battling rebellion and disobedience by the example of our obedience. Our obedience becomes a weapon against the most evil in man and devil.
I would like to look at a couple of examples of this principle in scripture.
We are familiar with Malachi 3 as being an exhortation by the LORD in teaching of the tithe. We have heard v. 8-10 as a powerful lesson in the truth of tithing. However, when we look at the verses in context, we see that the obedience in tithing that the LORD is teaching is really a weapon against powerful strongholds.
First of all, Malachi is prophesying to the priests of the LORD. Chapter 3 begins with the announcement that the LORD is coming to His Temple. He is sending a special Messenger to prepare His people. This is about the impending judgment of the LORD. The LORD is talking about purifying and refining His priests as this time approaches. He says about this special Messenger: "But who can endure the day of His coming, and who can stand when He appears?" The result of the visitation of this Messenger is to teach the people to offer a righteous offering to the LORD. Malachi is telling the priesthood that the nation has robbed God. This robbery, or disobedience in the tithes and offerings, has allowed a stronghold to be established over the nation. Not only have the people withheld their offerings, but even those who are giving, do not give with the correct attitude or understanding. Even the priests who receive the offerings must be purged and purified of their rebellion, doubt, unbelief and lack of understanding of the power of the obedience of giving unto God (Mal. 3:3). On the other hand, their obedience in tithes and offerings (not only in fact, but in attitude), will destroy the stronghold, and cause the fruits of obedience to bless the whole nation:
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the LORD of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the LORD of hosts." Mal. 3:10-12
The result of the pure and righteous offerings of God's people will pull down the strongholds of sorcery, adultery, perjurers economic exploiters, the uncharitable (Mal. 3:5), and cause a blessing not only to themselves, but to the whole nation. This blessing is so large and encompassing that all nations will recognize that the LORD has released this blessing.
Strongholds have exalted themselves against the knowledge of God in our own nation, in this present time, perhaps, because the people of God, the priests of God, have not been obedient in tithes and offerings, and other truths of the Word of God. If we truly want our nation to be once again, a nation called blessed of God, a good first step will be the obedience of God's people in understanding the truth of the power in obedience in tithes and offerings.
Another example of obedience, or lack of it, in establishing spiritual strongholds is in 1 Sam. 15.
The prophet Samuel brings the word of the LORD to King Saul. Saul is to utterly destroy the nation of Amalek. Their destruction is coming to them because they ambushed the Israelites as they came up from Egypt generations before. The LORD has prophesied His judgment of Amalek, and even their king Agag, since the Books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers. Saul is instructed by the prophet to leave nothing alive, neither animal nor human. This sounds very harsh indeed, but there is a necessity here that man could not know at the time.
Saul destroyed everything that he considered to be without value, but he kept the king of Amalek, Agag, alive, as well as sparing the best of the sheep, oxen, and lambs.
The LORD tells Samuel that Saul has not been obedient to the word of the LORD, and Samuel goes to investigate. Saul justifies his disobedience by saying that the people wanted the plunder to sacrifice to the LORD at Gilgal. It is interesting that Saul refers to the LORD as the LORD your God to Samuel, rather than the LORD my God. In any case, Samuel indicts the king for his disobedience with the great verse:
"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (divination), and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."
1 Sam. 15:22-23
Samuel had to kill Agag himself, that day, because of Saul's disobedience. Saul lost his kingdom, and the history of Israel was changed from that day forward because of Saul's rebellion.
Why was it so important that all life be destroyed that day in Amalek? We may not ever know the whole story, but we do know this: that later in time, that great enemy of the Jewish people, Haman, from the Book of Esther, was an Agagite, a descendant of the king that Saul had spared. So those who escaped that day because of Saul, ended up causing great sorrow to Israel later in history.
However, the LORD gave a great teaching that day. While we learned earlier in 2 Cor. 10, and Mal. 3, that the obedience of God's people destroys strongholds, by the same token, the disobedience of God's people, in this case by Saul, establishes and exalts the strongholds of witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry.
In our nation, and especially in the region in which I live, there are many satanist and witchcraft groups. Iniquity. above, means not just sin, but perversion, depravity, and was used to describe the condition of Sodom. Today, we can see clearly that our nation is struggling under the stronghold of iniquity. The obedience of God's called people is a powerful weapon against these strongholds.
Our obedience is a fruit of our faith. As it says in Heb. 11:8, "By faith, Abraham obeyed...". If we say we have faith, then our obedience should flow from the love, faith and trust we have in our Father. We don't desire to obey Him because we are paid servants. Our desire to obey Him lies in the fact that we are sons, and sons have a desire to please their father.
Even the Son of God learned obedience:
"...though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him."
Heb. 5:8-9
The result of Jesus' obedience to His Father is told to us in Phil. 2:8-11:
"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
All principalities and powers, both human, and angelic, must bow because of the obedience of Christ.
The scriptures in Phil. 2 also tell us that we should have the same mind which was also in Christ Jesus. We also should obey, and work out our salvation in these terms. We are God's vessels, Who works in us His will and good pleasure (v. 5, 12-13). Our obedience, like Jesus', must be birthed in a character of humility. Spiritual pride will always struggle against obedience.
In 1 Peter 1:1-2 we are told that we have been elected by God, and sanctified in the Holy Spirit for obedience, and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Our obedience is part of our purpose in having been created by God.
Since we are like Christ in the earth, and Christ is as His Father, we can conclude that our Father, the Most High God, is also obedient! What could He be obedient to? He is obedient to His Word:
"I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name."
Psalm 138:1-2
The great God has made Himself obedient, has put Himself under, His word. And King David uses this knowledge to testify before the gods (angels, false gods). Again, even the obedience of the Father is a spiritual weapon against principalities and strongholds, as His word says in 2 Cor. 10:3-6, where we started this entry.
Our Father is obedient.
"I Will Obey" (Prophetic Song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMkIzCJyZxw
"I Bow My Knee"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvWkuq9F0jM
In the original Star Trek series, there were instances when the spaceship and crew would end up thrown into a past time. It was always a rule that the crew would understand that they could not dare change anything that happens while they are in the past, otherwise it would change the future to which they hoped to return. It is an interesting concept that changing the past will change the present and the future. What would we change in the past, in order to make a better today or tomorrow?
Scripture has some very interesting verses that, I think, touching on this very concept. If we think that this could not be possible, understanding that God is eternal, and not bound by our limitation of time and space, makes this concept very possible indeed! God existed before time, He exists within time, and He will exist when time ceases. The following verses are very interesting in regard to this concept:
"And Elisha said to him, "Take a bow and some arrows." So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow." So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands.
And he said, "Open the east window"; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot"; and he shot.
And he said, "The arrow of the LORD's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them."
2 Kings 13:15-17
Elisha was a great prophet in Israel. He was the prophet who received a double-portion of the anointing that had been on the prophet Elijah's life (2 Kings 2:9). A prophet speaks into the present and into the future, according to how the LORD reveals it to him to speak.
In the scriptures above, we see the prophet laying his hands over the king's hands as the king shoots the arrow from the bow. The anointing of the prophet for the present and the future is being applied to that arrow. The word "arrow" means to divide, or cut off. It is associated with lightning, as well. We can visualize how a bolt of lightning splits through, and divides, the darkness of the night.
This arrow is being shot through an open window. The window, according to its meaning, pierces through a wall. It is an opening into something that otherwise would not be open to us. Just as the piercing of Jesus opened something for us. It opened His vessel, or body, that His blood might poor out in one direction, but it also allowed something to be opened to us that we would be able to enter into something we would not otherwise have been able to access: that supernatural piercing of a wall of separation between us and our Father caused by our sin.
In the above verses, the arrow is being shot into an eastward direction through that open window. The word for "eastward" is the word kedeem in Hebrew, and it is a powerful word. It means antiquity, that which is before, ancient time, earliest time. The root meaning is to go before, to be in front. This arrow, spoken of above, is going through that open window and back into an ancient time, back into even the earliest time.
This arrow is called the arrow of the LORD's deliverance. It is an arrow of liberation and victory. It is an arrow of opulence and ample space. That arrow carries the shout of the LORD with it into the past, to confront something that existed from the earliest time.
The effect of that confrontation in the past, will have effects on the present and the future for Israel.
Israel is threatened by an enemy, Syria, even as it is in our times and current events. The word "Syria" means to exalt oneself. It means to be a fortress on a high place. This is a spirit that desires to enclose and oppress God's people - then and now.
The place where the king of Israel is told he will confront Syria in his present time is called "Aphek". "Aphek" also means a strong enclosure, a fortified city. It was located in Lebanon, and it was famous for being the location of a temple to the goddess Venus. Venus also carries many strong spiritual meanings, both as a planet, and in mythology.
As a planet, Venus is also known as the Morning Star, and as the Evening Star, because it shines the brightest after the moon, in the night sky. Venus is a sister planet to the earth meaning that in size it is very similar. However, Venus is so toxic, that it cannot support life. It's atmosphere is composed of sulfuric acid. It is hostile to life in every way. In mythology, Venus, although associated with beauty, fertility and love, those qualities are corrupted to be spiritually hostile to man. Venus is associated with enticement and seduction. The Latin root of the name Venus is venenum, meaning "poison". Venus is the goddess of prostitutes. Venus "absorbs and tempers the male essence", according to the words of one source. Enough said about Venus!
So, going back to the verses, the LORD's arrow of deliverance goes back into the earliest time in the past to deal with spiritual strongholds that affect the present and future condition of man.
The reach of the LORD is not limited. Powers and Principalities that existed from the earliest times, cannot escape His reach. His arrow of deliverance changes the past, present and future.
Our Father is Timeless.
"The Timeless Christ"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeyRoqdUPSU
"The LORD is my strength and song,
and He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will exalt Him."
The Song of Moses, Ex. 15:2
"Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation."
Isa. 12:2
The beautiful verses above teach us the concept that God, our Father has become a song to us. He becomes a song because He has become our "Yeshuwah", our salvation. The root of the word "song" refers to the white woolen fleece of sheep. This should have special meaning to all who know Christ.
There is a Book in the Bible called "Song of Songs", and it is attributed to King Solomon. The term "Song of Songs" means that it is the greatest song of all. It is read during Passover, when the blood of the Lamb became the salvation for Israel during the final plague of death, and ultimately, their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt.
The "Song of Songs" is about the beautiful relationship between a bride, referred to a The Shulamite, and her Beloved. To believers, it is a portrait of a believer's relationship with Jesus, our bridegroom. The word "Shulamite" used for the bride means, "the perfect, the peaceful" from a root that means "to be in a covenant of peace, to be compete, to be finished". How much this meaning reflects what the Bride of Christ has been ordained to be!
The bridegroom (Beloved) says of her:
"You have ravished my heart,
My sister, my spouse;
You have ravished my heart
With one look of your eyes,
With one link of your necklace.
How fair is your love,
My sister, my spouse!
How much better than wine is your love,
And the scent of your perfumes
Than all spices."
Song 4:9-10
In addition the Bridegroom sings:
"A garden enclosed
Is my sister, my spouse,
A spring shut up,
A fountain sealed.
Spikenard and saffron,
Calamus and cinnamon,
With all trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes,
With all the chief spices-
A fountain of gardens
A well of living waters,
And streams from Lebanon."
Song 4:12,14
Biblical brides wore special adornments, including necklaces (see v. 9, above) made of the finest, most precious materials the family could afford. It would be part of her "bride-price" or dowry. It was a most precious, and important thing to a prospective bride. It symbolized her status, and value as a bride.
The Bridegroom refers to his bride as being a sister and a spouse. The term sister refers to one born of the same parents, and to have a resemblance to another. We, who have been born again, have been born not by the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but by the will of God (Jn. 1:13). Our birth is from our Father, as Jesus was birthed into the natural realm supernaturally by the will of the Father (Mt. 1:20, Lk. 1:35). We are called to have a resemblance to Jesus: "...as He is, so are we in this world." (1 Jn. 3:2, 4:17).
The term "spouse" used by the Bridegroom means again "to complete, to perfect", as we are to be perfect, without spot or blemish.
The fragrance of the Bride, according to v. 14 above, is made up of many precious spices and aromas. Many of these same precious spices were used to compose the priests' holy anointing oil of the Tabernacle. The King referred to in Psalm 45:7-8 has His garments scented with these same spices. Christ's sacrifice carries a sweet-smelling aroma, pleasing to God (Eph. 5:2).
If this is the aroma of Christ, why is the Bride covered in this same aroma?
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us to triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are saved and among those who are perishing."
2 Cor. 2:14-15
The Song of Songs is a beautiful gift from our Father to the Bridegroom, Jesus, and His Bride, saved by His sacrifice.
Our Father has become our song.
"Song of Solomon"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2urjlelpuM
"Holy Spirit (Your Presence)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diPBK5fsZyE
"I Surrender"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSgn-nmBpNY
One of the most mysterious positions in scripture is that of priest. We don't know much about this mystery, yet the Father has called us to manifest in these end times as priests and kings. Peter says that we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus is our "great High Priest", in Heb. 4:14, and we have been called to walk in His image and likeness, His ministry, in the earth. But, in short, we just don't get it. We don't realize what a wondrous work we are in the earth, in this time. Let us look into 1 Peter Chapter 1 for some understanding:
Peter calls us in v. 2, the "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:"
Peter addresses us as pilgrims, or sojourners, strangers, or temporary residents. We are a people who are temporarily in earth, but our home is elsewhere. He says we are the elect.To be "elect" means to be picked or chosen for oneself (in this case, for God the Father), to be chosen for an office, to be chosen one out of many, to call by name. We were chosen and called by name in the foreknowledge of God, known by God, but not yet manifested. We were conceived in the knowledge of God. The Holy Spirit, Himself, sanctified and consecrated us. His anointing separated us from profane things, even as the priests separated themselves from the profane. This sanctification makes us "a most holy thing, purified and dedicated to God", according to the definition of the word. This sanctification comes from a root word that means "to cherish with tender love, to warm, to keep warm". We have been brought close to our Father by the Holy Spirit in a loving and cherishing manner. The holiness connected with the Holy Spirit anointing is so powerful, that Aaron and his sons were warned not to go out into the profane people still covered in the anointing oil of their Tabernacle service. If the priests did so, they would die (Lev. 10:7). That anointing set them apart, and they had to wash it off before they left the Tabernacle.
Verse 2 also tells us that we were manifested and set aside in this manner as the elect, for the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, even as the priests are consecrated by the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice. The whole God-head participated in our creation. There must be a special purpose for this creation.
In verse 5, Peter tells us that we are kept by the power of God. This word means that we are before the eyes of God, guarded and protected by military guard to prevent hostile invasion. Once we were manifested out of the knowledge of the Father, He made sure that we were preserved and protected from evil. We were kept to be "ready" for something in this verse, and that "to be revealed in the last time". We are a manifestation connected to the last times. If you are not sure if we are living in the last times, just look in the mirror. You and I are proof that we are in the last times. This creation, whom we are, brings praise, honor and glory at the revealing of Jesus Christ, both as He is revealed now, in us, and as He is revealed upon His return. The joy of this creation is supposed to be so great and glory-filled that it cannot even be expressed. Where is that joy? It is the definition of who we are. Where is it in us? Do others see it in us?
In verses 9-12, Peter tells us that this God-head creation and manifestation of us, the saints, was seen by the prophets, who wondered if it was for their time. They studied and meditated to discover the how and when of this wondrous thing. They found out it was not for their time, but for a later time. It was not for them and their people, but they were prophesying to us, for our benefit.
In verse 12, Peter tells us that this thing is so powerful, and so earth-shaking, that angels "desire to look into" it. We have a quaint picture on our minds of angels bowing down to peek into the wonders of human salvation, in order to try to understand it. But this is not the meaning of the words in Greek. First of all, the angels were the ones to announce this wonderful salvation to the shepherds when Jesus was born. They were rejoicing so greatly, the heavens opened, and they declared the fulness of salvation to all men. The angels therefore, seem to be fully acquainted with the glory of our salvation. But the word "desire" used in this verse has a darker meaning. It means to be so filled and overtaken with such an inflaming lust and covetousness for something that it drives you to the very edge of sanity. I would suggest that this may really mean that demons are enraged and tormented by this accomplishment of God in us, by this miraculous manifestation in the last times.
The sanctification that Peter talks to us about, is like the consecration, or setting apart, of the priesthood. If we are indeed to be royal priests, and priests in the likeness and image of Christ, we need to look more closely at the ministry of the priest. The Word of God has much to say about the priesthood. The holy priesthood of the Old Testament is described in one commentary as the ministry of reconciliation between Jehovah and His people by the sprinkling of atoning blood. We also have been called to the ministry of reconciliation:
"Now all things are of God, who has reconcoled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us, the word of reconciliation."
2 Cor. 5:18-19
After washing himself, and donning the clothing of priesthood, the priest entered the Holy of Holies wearing the names of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD (Ex. 28:29-30). He carried with him coals and holy incense to create a cloud of incense over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. Over the mercy seat was where the glory of God appeared. Our prayers before God rise to Him as the incense of the priests (Rev. 5:8, 8:3-4).
In the Holy of Holies, the priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice over the mercy seat for the atonement of himself, the tabernacle, and the people, even as we have been sprinkled with the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:2).
Part of our ministry of reconciliation is to present ourselves before the mercy seat of the Father, and apply the sprinkling of the blood of the Lamb on behalf of ourselves and the people we represent before Him. Hebrews instructs us:
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
Heb. 10:19-22
We are commanded to enter the Holiest place for a reason. That reason is not just for ourselves, but for the forgiveness of others, as well.
Though some may think that forgiveness of sins is a matter only for God, it is, in fact, a ministry that has been commissioned to us by Jesus, Himself. We have been entrusted with His precious blood of atonement, not only to cleanse ourselves, but to carry others over our hearts, into His presence, as a priestly duty.
"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Jn, 20:22-23
Jesus told the people that the power and authority to forgive sins is very much tied into the power and authority to heal and deliver those who suffer (Lk. 5:21-25).
We have been commissioned with the ministry of the priest, which is also the ministry of reconciliation. As mankind, in these last days, falls deeper and deeper into the condition, darkness and bondage of sin, this priestly ministry, manifested into the earth specifically for this last time, can no longer be neglected.
The study of the priesthood is too large for a blog entry, but we need to find out more, and pray about walking in this vital ministry.
Our Father is a priest.
"Take Me in"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuziDS_4EBI
"Holy of Holies"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXCFrtXJQV4
"Holy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwXHnbt9prc
In Matthew 2, an event is reported in regard to the birth of Jesus. Very special men come from the East, because they had seen an unusual sign in the heavens. They noticed a star that had not been observed before. They believed that this star designates the birth of a very special king.
These men are very unusual. Being noted that they are from the East, it is very likely that they are Gentiles. The notation that they are "wise men" or magoi, means that they could fit into any or all of the following descriptions: teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers (astronomers), scientists, seers, interpreters of dreams. The implication is that they are spiritually gifted in a certain manner. These men come from "the East". This means in the natural, Chaldea, Media, Persia, etc. The root meaning of the word "East" used here means "a rising (of the sun, moon and stars), direction of the sun's rising, to cause to arise as of the earth to bring forth plants". The root can also mean "into the midst of the end". So these men were very mysterious, and their appearance should draw our attention. These men were important enough for King Herod to invite them before him, even though for his own purposes.
As the wise men discover that the scriptures prophesy that the Messiah, the king, whom they seek, would be born in Bethlehem, they head in that direction. They immediately notice the star moving before them and guiding them in a specific direction. They are amazed as the star rests over the place where the Christ child was. They were rejoicing with great joy, the scripture says, having been supernaturally guided to whom they so desired to find.
As the wise men entered the house marked by the star, they found Mary and her son. These men of honor and reputation, these men of science and spiritual gifting, bowed down in worship before the child. They had found the King. They worshiped Him with their bodies, and they worshiped Him with their substance. They had not come looking for this King empty-handed, but came prepared to give Him gifts. They broke open their treasuries to bring forth these gifts. The gifts were gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Gold symbolizes God's might and power in creating, preserving His creation, judging His creation, and controlling the destinies of men.
Frankincense is a white resin burned as incense. It comes from a tree. The white ash that remains after burning symbolizes something that has been purified by fire.
Myrrh is a costly perfume made from a bitter gum gathered from incisions made into the bark of a tree. It is an antiseptic, and was often used in treating the dead body before burial. The root meaning of the word "myrrh" is to be spread or stretched out, to break in pieces.
There is a prophecy in Isa. 60:6 that could very well apply to this special visit of the Magoi:
"The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense."
What do the gifts of the Magoi teach us about our own worship of the King of Kings this Christmas and always? The gifts that the wise men brought reflected the nature of the child they came to see. The gifts honored His position in the God-head, the purification of men by the blood of Christ, and His being an antiseptic against the condition of death, the corruption of the body of man.
As we worship and honor the birth of Christ, we break open our treasuries and bring forth gifts that are reflective of Christ's purpose in the earth, in us. Let us seek Him diligently, as the wise men did, and having found Him, let us show Him honor and glory with gifts worthy of His title of King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And with these gifts let us proclaim:
"How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who proclaims peace,
Who brings glad tidings of good things,
Who proclaims salvation,
Who says to Zion,
Your God reigns!" Isa. 52:7
To the heavens and the earth we proclaim this good news. To every person we proclaim this good news.
Our God reigns.
"We Three Kings of Orient Are"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8mjRxkMBkE
"What Can I bring"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzPBZzKEPog
Genuine or counterfeit? That is a question we have to ask many times today as we buy and sell. The market is flooded with questionable goods. The government uses every measure possible to try to ensure that our currency is not easily counterfeited, yet counterfeiters try every day to introduce fake money into the economy.
The currency that we use is no longer "authentic" in value. Our coins used to be silver, gold and copper. Now there is very little of the genuine metals in our coins. Our paper dollars used to be supported by a corresponding value in gold, but that is no longer the case. The money we use today in America has almost no value of itself whatsoever. The coins have been mixed with other cheaper metals until they are worthless.
What does this have to do with our faith?
The Apostle Paul tells us to examine ourselves before we partake of communion in 1 Cor. 11:28-29:
"But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
There are two words that I have underlined in the above verse. One of the words is "examine". The meaning of this word deals with currency, and coins. In Paul's era, coins used to be struck, or pressed, out of precious and semi-precious metals. After the striking, the coins would have rough edges of excess that would be filed off. The coin would bear the image of the king to attest to its authenticity. Those coins would have to weigh an exact amount. If they did not weigh the true amount, it meant that the coin had been mixed with another metal, and not genuine. Moneychangers would sometimes cheat people by filing even more off the coin and keeping the filings, so that you were not getting the true value of the coin. Jesus overturned the tables of moneychangers in the Temple saying that they had made God's house of prayer into a den of thieves, so widespread was the cheating on currency (Mt. 21:13).
The word "examine" is used again in 2 Cor 13:5:
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - except ye be reprobates (not standing the test used used to examine metals and coins)"
So using this imagery, Paul is instructing us to examine whether our faith is genuine. Have we mixed the gold and silver of our faith with the more base metals of this world? Have we "filed off" value from our faith, not giving our Father the service, trust, love, honor, and glory that He deserves from our lives?
The word "unworthy" in 1 Cor 11:29, means "unfit for a thing, not worth as much, not having the weight of another thing of like value". Again, the imagery used is of the weight of a coin, showing its authenticity. The Jesus Christ in us is purified gold. Do our lives show this gold, or a more base metal, a lesser metal, a mixed metal?
1 Cor 11 tells us that there is a serious cost for not recognizing and showing an authentic, genuine faith of purified gold of the Christ in us. When we have chosen not to be "genuine" in the faith, when we have allowed the unauthentic to be mixed into the purity of Christ, it causes sickness and even death. We have mixed Jesus with other things, and the coin of our faith is lacking. It doesn't test out to be authentic. It doesn't weigh out enough in worth on the scales, when compared to the genuine. When we have examined ourselves, on the other hand, and determined that we wish to walk in the authentic and pure faith of the Son of God, it brings glory and honor to the Father and to us:
"...you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 1:6-7
Trials come to each of us, as we are purified and strengthened in our faith. When we truly examine ourselves for the genuine, the false has no opportunity:
"But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot has held fast to His steps;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."
Job 23:10-12
"Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart." Psalm 26:2
Our Father tests, or assays, our faith to purify it, to strengthen it, to discover what it is, or is not, genuine. If we do not examine ourselves, He will continue to test it.
"For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined." Psalm 66:10
"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts:
Behold, I will refine them and test them;
For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?
Their tongue is an arrow shot out;
It speaks deceit;
One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth,
but in his heart he lies in wait." Jer. 9:7-8
"I will bring the one-third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, "This is My people";
And each one will say, "The LORD is my God." Zech. 13:9
When we partake of the communion elements, being obedient to examine ourselves, we remember Christ's death in the earth until He returns. As we examine ourselves, we partake of His death: death to self, death to sin, death to idolatry in all of its forms, death to worldly ideas and doctrines. In order to discern The Body, we start first by discerning ourselves, our soul, our spirit. And the end result of this?
"Beloved, now we are the sons of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 Jn. 3:2-3
Genuine or counterfeit? Let a man examine himself.
Our Father is genuine.
"Communion"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x6khRQFlOc
"I Shall Come Forth as Gold"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOmdL81jHeI
