On Friday, at noon, we contemplated what Jesus did for us on the cross. His death was gruesome! The most horrible form of execution is crucifixion. It came after a scourging that opened every pain cell in the person's body. Naked, Jesus was nailed to the crossbeam of the cross. The cross was raised up and positioned so that Jesus could look down at those who mocked and insulted Him. Death was slow and agonizing. It came about through the loss of blood circulation followed by coronary failure or through the collapse of the lungs, causing suffocation. For six hours Jesus’ body suffered this torture.
Jesus knew what was to come while he walked the earth. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He got real with Father God. "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39) He prayed again. "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done." (Matthew 26:42) Scripture records that He prayed a third time. "So, He left them (the disciples) and prayed a third time, saying the same thing." (Matthew 26:44) The worst part of the agony that Jesus would have to endure was His alienation from God after He took our sins upon Himself when He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) Before Christ's death and resurrection our sins separated us from God. This separation is a form of death that we cannot change alone. Because Jesus is the Son of God and never sinned, only He can be the bridge that reconnects us to Father God. Our penalty should have been death, but Jesus offered His life for ours. He redeemed us from the curse that is produced through sin by becoming a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13) He took on Himself all our sin--past, present, and future. Because of this, all our wrong doings are forgiven, and we are reconciled to God. How do we know that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was acceptable to God? It was His resurrection from the dead that lets us know we are forgiven and redeemed. In Romans 4 we are told that Abraham was credited with righteousness because he believed God. "The words 'It was credited to him,' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness for us who believed in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and also raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:23-25) This is why we rejoice and give praise for this resurrection today. I am interested in how the earth responded to the death and resurrection of Jesus. At both events, there was an earthquake that was so violent that “the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:51 – NKJV) The Creator of the world took charge and prepared the earth for a new day. It was the third day, the day set aside for Jesus to rise from the dead. Since the Bible says we were crucified with Him and raised with Him, we should live the rest of our lives in the power of this truth. We now live in newness of life. (Romans 6:4-5, Colossians 2:11-12) Hallelujah! The Church calls today Palm Sunday in remembrance of how the Jews spread their garments and palm branches on the road before Jesus as He entered Jerusalem riding on a colt. The day that he entered the city was one on which God's followers brought their lambs to the Temple to be inspected by the priests. The law was clear: "The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect..." (Exodus 12:5) Those lambs were to be sacrificed for the celebration of Passover on the 14th day of Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew calendar.
The prophet Zechariah had told of the day when Jesus would enter Jerusalem as a hero. "Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9) As the people waved their palm branches, they demonstrated their belief that Jesus was the Messiah. But they were expecting a different kind of king, one who would overthrow the Romans and lead them in a military victory. The Kingdom of Christ looked unlike what the children of Israel expected. The crowd of people had seen how Jesus brought Lazarus to life from the tomb. Certain a Rabbi who could raise someone from the dead could overcome a Roman army! Jesus wept over Jerusalem for the way they misunderstood His mission. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you. How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you; you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Luke 13:34-35) At a final Seder meal, when Jesus was betrayed, He washed His disciples’ feet and then spoke His last words to them. His teaching focused on preparing them for the time when He would physically depart from the world. He wanted them to understand how to follow the Holy Spirit. They would not be able to see, hear, or touch their new Leader as they did Jesus. He tells the disciples, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--The Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17) I have learned from Rick Renner's book, Paid in Full, that in Greek, the word "another" that appears in John 14:16 is "allos," which means "one of the very same kind and character." When He walked on earth, Jesus was the image of our Father. And now, Holy Spirit was to be the representation of Jesus. The message that was spoken to the disciples can still be applied to our lives today. Just as they had to learn to communicate with the Holy Spirit, so do we. Let's be comforted by the truth that Holy Spirit is "one of the very same kind" as Jesus. He is waiting to empower us in every endeavor of our lives. Holy Spirit is so important that Jesus told His disciples, "...It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 14:7) May we experience His empowerment as we enter Holy Week and for the rest of our days In a spiritual warfare battle, the tongue is the most critical weapon. Scripture tells us, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." (Proverbs 18:21 - NKJV) When we face situations that defy the will of God, we must speak God's truth to overcome the forces of the enemy. I can think of no better example than when Jesus identified Himself to the Roman soldiers who came to arrest Him. Rich Renner writes about this in his book titled, Paid in Full.
The first time God identified Himself He was speaking to Moses on Mount Horeb or Sinai. "God replied to Moses, 'I Am Who I Am.'" (Exodus 3:14 - NLT) By using the name "I Am," God was describing His eternal power and unchanging character. He identified Himself as the ever-existing God. Jesus was to use these words several times, and they are record in the book of John. In John 8 we read of an encounter that Jesus had with the religious leaders. They ask Him a pointed question in verse 53. "'Who do you think you are?' Jesus replies, 'Your Father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; He saw it and was glad.'" (Verse 56) They responded, "You are not yet 50 years old, and you have seen Abraham!" (Verse 57) Jesus blows them away with His response: "Very truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!" (Verse 58) The leaders picked up stones to stone Jesus, but He slipped away because His time to die had not yet come. "I Am" is the Greek words "Ego Eimi." John recorded several statements of who God made Him to be: "I am the bread of life." (6:35) "I am the light of the world." (8:12) "I am the gate for the sheep." (10:7) "I am the good Shepherd." (10:11) "I am the resurrection and the life." (11:25) "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (14:6) "I am the vine and my Father is the gardener." (15:1) Each of these images gives us a partial picture of who Jesus is. At The Last Supper, Jesus was speaking to His disciples and said, "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am." (John 13:19) After this statement, He tells the disciples that one of them will betray Him. Jesus was to identify Himself this way again when Judas came to betray Him with a band of Roman soldiers. The disciples were with Jesus in the olive grove called Gethsemane when He was confronted by the armed soldiers. Judas greeted Him with a kiss, which was to be the sign that He was the one to be taken away. The story continued: "Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, 'Who is it you want?' 'Jesus of Nazareth,' they replied. 'I Am,' Jesus said...When Jesus said, 'I Am,' they drew back and fell to the ground." (John 18:4-5) The words Jesus spoke were "Ego Eimi," "I Am," the very words that God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. The soldiers were to learn that by a mere word, Jesus could overpower them. Jesus made it clear to them that He could not be taken by force. After this, He willingly surrendered to the troops as they were picking themselves up from the ground. Jesus is for us The Great "I Am." His promises come with power. The problems we face can be knocked to the ground, like the soldiers, through the mighty promises of God. We must boldly affirm who we are in Christ. Speaking the truth of God's Word brings the Lord's power and authority into every situation. How blessed we are to have founding Fathers whose prayers helped establish America. Since our President’s Day celebration just passed, I thought it would be fitting to honor our first president, George Washington. Breaking Christian News did so by quoting from Eddie Hyatt's book, 1726: The Year that Defined America. Hyatt is an historian, Bible teacher, and revivalist who has tracked America's leaders and recorded their sayings as they pertain to God and the Bible. He floats the theory that the only reason the American troops were able to defeat the British was because of prayer. Washington was given a seemingly impossible task to challenge the British militia with his band of rag-tag soldiers. In his book, Hyatt says "Washington knew his only hope lay in a profound conviction in the hearts and daily actions of all his men that what they did, they did for God, and under God's protection." (Hyatt, pg. 114)
The American soldiers were united around the altar of prayer daily. In fact, Washington issued an order stating that each day would begin with prayer led by the officers. Again, I quote Hyatt: "Every soldier was to observe a punctual attendance of Divine services, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means for our safety and public defense." Apparently, Washington was insistent that every soldier attend daily prayer but also, they were forbidden the following: profanity, swearing, gambling, and drunkenness. His rational for this is written about by Hyatt: "We can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms if we insult Him by our impiety and folly. Every officer and man will endeavor so as to live and act as becomes a Christian soldier." When Washington and his men had their long, cold, tiring winter at Valley Forge, they were visited by Rev. Henry Muhlenberg, the pastor of a nearby Lutheran Church. Muhlenberg noted that Washington "admonished" his men "to fear God." He goes on: "This gentleman does not belong to the so-called world of society, for he respects God's Word, believes in the atonement through Christ, and bears himself in humility and gentleness. It appears that the Lord God has singularly, yea marvelously, preserved him from harm in the midst of countless peril...and hath hitherto graciously held him in His hand as His chosen vessel." (Hyatt, pg. 115) Visitors to Washington's camps confirmed that he made a habit of going into the woods for a time of prayer with the Almighty. It would be good for us to remember that not only did Washington and his troops pray, but when the Continental Congress opened, each of their sessions started with prayer. In addition, proclamations for national days of repentance, and prayer, and fasting were regularly issued. It is God alone who brought victory to the American Troops and brought about the surrender of British General Cornwallis on October 19, 1783. What an example we have to follow through George Washington! How has America fallen so far from the vision of our founding fathers? There are times, when I pray for others, that I point out the following: "You can tell the greatness of the call on their lives by the fierceness of the attack on them." This is true of America, and that God placed a call on our nation to be an example to all the world of what a godly nation should look like. Because of this call, the forces of darkness have targeted us for destruction, and waged a campaign to destroy us. We are in a battle for the very call on our lives. This battle can only be won as we return to God's call on our nation and our godly foundations. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 admonishes us, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." If George Washington won the Revolutionary War through prayer, the Christian community can win the war against the darkness and be reestablished as a saved nation. Let us keep praying for our nation, as prayer is the weapon of our warfare that will transform the world. High in the San Bernadino Mountains their sits a 120'-high Ponderosa Pine. From the top of the tree is a commanding view of the river below and the tree-covered hills that surround it. In the crook of the large branches there sits a huge eagle’s nest that is about 5'6" across and 6' deep. A twelve-year old female, who the locals have named Jackie, has been laying eggs and tending to them with her partner, Shadow, since 2018. Yearly they return to their nest to do some renovations before it is egg-laying time. This year the couple is sitting on three eggs: one laid on January 25, one on January 28, and one on January 31. Scientists tell us that the first egg may hatch on February 29, Leap Day.
Early in the month, the snowstorm that hit the San Bernadino area presented quite a challenge to Jackie. Those who constantly watch the Cam pointed to the nest show us that she rose to the occasion. For 62 hours, Jackie never left the nest. Periodically, Shadow brought her a fish from the river below. We are told that an eagle has about 7,000 outer feathers plus down under them. This combination is what keeps Jackie's body and the eggs she sits on warm and protected. After the eggs hatch, the babies will remain in the nest for about three months. At this point, the mother will nudge the babies out of the nest and teach them how to soar on the wind currents and catch food. The mother is instrumental in teaching the eagles how to fly and hunt. She will hover over the nest to show them what they were created to do. The mother eagles' demonstration is meant to encourage her young ones in their God-given abilities. We, like the eaglets, have also been made by God for a specific role in life. In addition, for us to fulfill our potential while we are on the earth, we must know our identity in Christ. One of the most well-known Scriptures about eagles comes from Isaiah 40. Verses 29 through 31 in the Passion Translation says, "He empowers the feeble and infuses the powerless with increasing strength. Even young people faint and get exhausted; athletic ones may stumble and fall. But those who entwine their hearts with Yahweh (wait on Yahweh), will experience divine strength. They will rise up on soaring wings, and fly like eagles, run their race without growing weary, and walk through life without giving up.” Just as the eagle was created by God to soar in the heavens, so are we. Think about the fact that eagles were created to soar above the storms. Likewise, God wants us to have a heavenly perspective on the storms of life. He wants us to draw near to Him to look at the events of life through His eyes. Psalm 103 talks about the benefits God gives to us so that our "youth is renewed like the eagles." (Verse 5) Renewed means to make new or restore. John 10:10b nails it down for us. "...I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." God is always directing us to go higher with Him. That is where the waiting comes in. As we wait upon Him, He comes to be closer to us. Like the mother eagle, Jackie, God will go do extraordinary lengths to protect us and grow us up in His image. We must see every situation in our lives through His perspective. As we mount up to draw closer to the Lord, He will impart fresh vision and strength. The third chapter of James in the New Testament gives us pictures of the power of our tongues. The Passion Translation is very descriptive. "Horses have bits and bridles in their mouths so that we can control and guide their large body. And the same with mighty ships, though they are massive and driven by fierce winds, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder at the direction of the person at the helm. And so, the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it carries great power! (The Aramaic can be translated, "The tongue has dominion.") Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! It can be compared to the sum total of wickedness, and is the most dangerous part of our human body. It corrupts the entire body and is a hellish flame! It releases a fire that can burn throughout the course of human existence." (James 3:3-6)
Proverbs 18:21 summarizes the verses of James in one sentence: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." (NAS) Let's say this another way. There are only two kingdoms: The Kingdom of Heaven or Light and the Kingdom of Darkness. When we use our tongues to speak, our words always agree with one kingdom or the other. And our words will determine whether we are blessed or cursed. It is wise for us to remember the truth that we have been made in the image of God, so we have power as He does to bless or curse ourselves or others with our tongues. When God decided to bring judgment on a rebellious nation, He frequently pronounced a curse over them. Yet the foundation of God's throne is righteousness and justice. (Psalm 89:14) He gives us opportunities to come out from under a curse and into blessings. We must also be aware that family members or associates may have pronounced curses over us. Again, God gives us a way to be free of all of them. Derek Prince's book Blessing or Curse - You Can Choose, gives us a seven-step way to move into God's blessings: 1. "Confess faith in Christ and His sacrifice on your behalf. 2. Repent of all your rebellion and your sins. 3. Claim forgiveness of all sin. (This is the greatest barrier that keeps God's blessings from us.) 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' (1 John 1:9) 4. Forgive all other people who have ever harmed or wronged you. 5. Renounce all contact with anything occult or satanic. 6. You are now ready to pray the prayer of release from any curse. Here it is: 'Lord Jesus, I believe that on the cross you took on Yourself every curse that could ever come upon me. So, I ask you now to release me from every curse over my life, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! By faith I now receive my release, and I thank you for it.' 7. Now believe that you have received, and go on in God's blessing!” (Taken from pages 210-217 of Derek's book) God has creative ways to release blessings into our lives. We must accept that He will do so in His way and in His timing. The Lord has a storehouse of blessings for us that will help us to reach our destinies. Derek Prince says, "We must depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide us into our full inheritance and to show us how to appropriate what God has provided for us." (Page 224) In the meantime, we have the responsibility to make positive confessions that will release the ministry of Jesus to help us. Matthew 12:37 says, "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Here is the key to receiving God's blessing according to Derek Prince: Start with proclamation and then proceed to thanksgiving and praise. When we proclaim our faith aloud it draws the Lord into our presence and shakes the demonic forces as truth is being proclaimed. Thanksgiving and praise release God's intervention on our behalf. Romans 10:17 tells us, "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ." (NAS) Proclamation, thanksgiving, and praise help us to express and build our faith in God. Let's take the initiative in doing this. "Call Grandmom!" That is what my girls, Holly and Laura, and I said when we needed prayer. My mom was a prayer warrior. She loved Jesus and truly believed Matthew 7:7. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." She went home to meet the One who answered her prayers on Wednesday night, January 17. I want to honor my mom's life of 100 years and eight months with memories.
You could probably call my mom's ancestors pioneers as they were established in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolutionary War and helped fund a regiment of George Washington's army. English, German, and Irish blood ran through her veins. It is fitting that my mom's parents met at a Brethren Church in Philadelphia. They were a prosperous and generous couple until mom's dad died when she was seven years old. This life event threw my mom, her older brother, and my grandmother into poverty. Even though my grandmother went to work, the family was dependent on assistance from friends at their church. Spam (process meat) was frequently on the menu, and hand-me-down clothes were worn. But these "momentary troubles" did not overcome this hopeful family. My mom was blessed with a high IQ and graduated from Abington Highschool with honors. After attending Peirce School of Business, she worked as the secretary to the President of Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. Later she became the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools at Abington School District. She was recognized for her attention to detail in every endeavor she accomplished and closed out her career as a proofreader of legal advertising for the Montgomery Newspapers. Even recently she was proofreading the programs for the chaplain at the community where she lived. I will be eternally grateful to my parents for the firm foundation they established for our family by raising us in a Christ-centered atmosphere. My brother, Arthur, and sister, Mary Lou, and I, Joan, were secure in the love they poured on us. Mom and Dad were active members of the First Baptist Church of Glenside where mom taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and was active in Women's Fellowship. She was an officer of the Glenside-Weldon PTA and volunteered with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. Most importantly, she was a faithful wife to her husband, Ken Miller, and loving mother of her children. It is my fondest memories of Mom that will sustain me in the future. She was always there for us in a multitude of ways, and the environment in our home helped us prosper. We could count on a nightly family dinner, complete with dessert. We talked about our days around the family table. We expected my dad to greet every person that came to church on Sunday and would eventually hear Mom's warning as we waited to go home: "Ken, the roast is going to burn!" Mom and Dad led by example, being kind and generous to anyone in need. My mom's intellect served her well when she was helping us with homework or as she taught Bible studies. Our family vacations to Stone Harbor, NJ, were something we anticipated yearly. Our shore adventures were fun and memorable. One of our biggest family treats was our visit to the SPCA to get a puppy. Frisky, our puppy, came home with a virus. Mom nursed him back to health with her homemade chicken broth. Twenty-eight years ago, my parents moved to an Acts Community for senior living called Springhouse Estates where they participated in many of the activities provided. Mom was known for her sharp mind up until her death. She was also noticed for the stylish way in which she dressed and had a collection of shoes that would be the envy of any fashion designer. Mom was organized to a fault, and we discovered that she wrote her own obituary. She also left us some writings that she would like us to read at our family gathering to remember her. They include The Lord's Prayer, Psalm 23, and a poem written by Ellen Brenneman called "His Journey's Just Begun." In part, it says, "Don't think of him as gone away. His journey's just begun. Life holds so many facets; this earth is only one...And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched...for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much." My family received a gift from God in that we were able to celebrate 100 years of a life well lived with Mom on May 18, 2023. Her two great grandsons, Jack and Ben, joined the party. For them and all of us, she left a magnificent legacy. May we also leave an exceptional legacy for those who will follow us. A new year on the Gregorian calendar is beginning, 2024. On the Hebrew calendar the new civil year of 5784 began in September. You will notice that the last number of the year on each calendar are the same. Those who understand Hebrew numerology pay particular attention to this number because it can help them determine what could be in store for us in the year to come.
The Hebrew word for four is Dalet, which is a picture of a door. Thus, prophets have been declaring that this is the year of the open door. They believe that the door is being opened for us to have a deeper relationship with the Lord and a deeper understanding of His Word. Of particular interest to me is Isaiah 22:20-24. "In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David: What he opens no one can shut and what he shuts no one can open. I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will be a seat of honor for the house of his father. All the glory of his family will be hung on him..." We should delve deeper into the picture that this scripture paints. First of all, Eliakim means "raised up by God," and he is a picture of Jesus who was raised up by the power of God to rule over His house. Hilkiah means "my portion is Yahweh." It is Jesus who has unlimited control that has been given to Him by His Father. According to the footnote for Isaiah 22 in The Passion Translation, the doors that are being opened (loosed) are doors of "revelation, treasure, favor, and opportunity. When He closes (binds) those doors, no amount of human striving can open them." The key to the house of David is a Kingdom key. The Church of Philadelphia received a letter that repeated the prophetic words from Isaiah 22. "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your needs. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut..." (Revelation 3:6-8) Also, we should note that Jesus used similar words to illustrate the authority He was given by God that He will transfer to His disciples. "I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19) Keys represent spiritual authority and power. They are needed to open doors. Just as Jesus gave His disciples this authority to preach the Gospel and bring others into His Kingdom, He gives these keys to His Church. The key to the house of David would be a heart of worship that overcomes the things of this world. It is worship that unlocks truth. As Believers in Jesus, the Church has a responsibility to unlock truth by using the keys we have been given. He has tasked us with bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and has empowered us with Spiritual authority to carry out His mandates. 2024 brings us new opportunities. We must look for the doors that God is opening and closing in our lives, and strategically position ourselves to walk through the openings. He has a unique part for each of us to play in His Kingdom work. He is ready to equip us with the wisdom and knowledge we will need to conduct His plans for this season. In addition, as we walk through the open doors that the Lord is presenting; we will be coming into the fulfillment of our destinies Prophecies abound in the Old Testament about Christ's birth, life, and death. One that stands out is Psalm 22, because it blends predictions of both of Messiah's comings. It reminds us of His birth and that the birth of Yeshua, our Savior, was a precursor to His death. It gives a detailed description of the horrific death of Jesus on the Cross. Footnotes in The Passion Translation of the Bible tell us that 33 prophecies from Psalm 22 were fulfilled when Jesus was on the Cross. I find this particularly fascinating as Jesus lived on the earth for 33 years. Finally, it prophecies the birth of sons and daughters of the Lord, spiritual seed who will serve the Lord.
As we contemplate the birth of our Savior and rejoice in HIs coming during this season, we must remember what the Lord sacrificed in the humility of coming to earth as a baby. At his birth He was wrapped in cloths like the lambs who would be sacrificed at the Temple. Afterward He was laid in a manger (a feeding trough). I wonder about the level of consciousness that Jesus had while lying in the manger. Was He contemplating what would happen to Him in 33 years? Jesus would be moved from the manger to a cross. Later He would remember His Father's care for Him as a baby. "Lord, you delivered me safely from my mother's womb. You are the one who cared for me since I was a baby. Since the day I was born, I've been placed in your custody. You've cradled me throughout my days. I've trusted in you, and you've always been my God. So don't leave me now; stay close to me! For trouble is all around me, and there's no one else to help me." (Psalm 22:9-11 - TPT) The description of the horrors perpetrated against Jesus are not for the faint of heart. Our minds cannot comprehend the torture He endured. Jesus cried out, "But look at me now; I am like a woeful worm, crushed, and I'm bleeding crimson. I don't even look like a man anymore. I've been abused, despised, and scorned by everyone..." (Psalm 22 6,7 - TPT) That peaceful manger scene we look at during the Christmas season would change as the devil plotted to destroy the Son of God through cruel and calculated means. There is hope revealed in the prophecy of Psalm 22. Between verses 21 and 22 the powers of darkness have been defeated and the glorious resurrection of Jesus took place. "Save me from all the power of the enemy, from this roaring lion raging against me and the power of his dark horde. I will praise your name before all my brothers; as my people (The Church) gather I will praise you in their midst." (Psalm 22:21, 22 - TPT) The Lord's desire for intimacy with the individuals He created was accomplished as He brought Jesus from the cradle to the Cross. We, His spiritual children, are included in the prophecy: "From the four corners of the earth, the people of the world will remember and return to the Lord. Every nation will come and worship Him. For the Lord is King of all, who takes charge of all the nations...They will come and worship this worthy King! His spiritual seed shall serve Him. Future generations will hear from us about the wonders of the Sovereign Lord. His generation yet to be born will glorify Him. And they will all declare, 'It is finished!'" (Psalm 22:27-31 - TPT) We are His spiritual seed! Our celebration of the birth of Christ must include the celebration of His death and resurrection. Our responsibility as His seed is to be rooted and established in His love and to grow in that love so that we can spread it throughout our communities. We must understand that the manger of His love will lead us to our own cross that brings with it death and resurrection life. During this season, may God pour out His abundant love on us so that we are filled with wonder and awe at the plan of God for our salvation. According to Romans 11, the Church has been grafted into the Olive tree. (representing Israel) Thus, we "share in the nourishing sap from the olive root." (Romans 11:17) It is the root of this olive tree that supports us. This being the truth, would it not follow that when Israel is at war, the Church must also be at war? Ephesians 2:13-15, 18 explains: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace...For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."
It is a fact that Satan hates what God loves. He stations demonic principalities over every region. Since Israel and the Church are one, what impacts one impacts the other. As I awoke on Saturday morning, Holy Spirit placed a song on my mind" "Onward, Christian Soldiers." It was written by Sabine Baring-Gould, a Church of England minister who was inspired to write this song so that the children of his church could sing it while marching from village to village. He writes that the entire song came to him within 15 minutes. The text for this hymn became an inspiration to Christians around the world. It is one to use while taking on our responsibilities of advancing the cause of Christ. It is a battle cry for the Church and Israel. Verse 1: "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before! Christ the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see His banner go!" Refrain: "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!" Verse 2: "Like a mighty army moves the Church of God; brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we—One in hope and doctrine, one in charity." (Refrain) Verse 3: "Onward, then, ye people, join our happy throng; blend with ours your voices in the triumph song. Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King—This thru countless ages men and angels sing." (Refrain) During this season, we must "Be alert and of sober mind. Our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because we know that the family of Believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering." (1 Peter 5:8, 9) Our battle tools are two-fold: Prayer and Worship. Let us use them on behalf of Israel and the Church. Victory has already been won at the Cross of Christ. Our job is to manifest it. |
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