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John 21:15-19
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"
And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."
All of John, chapter 21, takes place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, (known as the Sea of Tiberius at this time), and the picture this gives us is that of Resurrection Life with Jesus Christ as the safe haven, with believers experiencing all the peace, joy and love that is His nature.
And after the joy of meeting with Jesus after thinking that He was lost to them, the disciples found the peace they sought and had always found in His Presence. They realise that His presence is still with them, despite the death on the Cross, and with the joy and the peace, they again know His love. The conversation between Jesus and Simon Peter reveals the nature of both in their use of the word ‘love’
The love spoken of by Jesus is God-centric, pure and holy, selfless and unconditional love — agape, from the Greek – ‘determining your will for another's good’ – ‘dying to yourself so that another might flourish’ — ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ [John 15:13]
The other types of love mentioned in Scripture are eros – physical, sensual love between a husband and wife; philia – close friendship, or brotherly love; and storge – family love, the close bond between parents and children, and vice versa.
We can see that aspects of love are interwoven into these verses from John 21, described in the New King James Version of The Bible as ‘Jesus restores Peter.’ When Jesus speaks to Peter He uses agapeo, but when Peter replies he uses phileo. Indeed, Peter uses phileo in answer to all three occasions Jesus asks him. Jesus speaks agapeo on the first and second time, but phileo on the third. What are we to understand from this, and how does this help us in our relationship with Jesus?
It seems that Peter does not understand the idea of love that Jesus talks of. Peter understands ‘brotherly love’, but has yet to grasp the notion of laying down your life for the sake of another. However, Jesus accepts where Peter is at this time and calls him to ‘feed my sheep’ — in other words ‘raise up my flock. Be a good shepherd in my stead.’
What we can see is that Jesus is gauging where Peter’s heart lies. The Lord knows His man, and by repeating His instruction to feed or shepherd His lambs and sheep, He is imparting the love of God and a nurturing heart to Peter. The threefold instruction gives the message the full weight of The Lord’s conviction to this. There can be no other way. The agape love of God can only be grown and matured in followers of Christ by coming alongside in a phileo relationship.
Jesus practises what He preaches and in speaking to Peter, He reveals the method by which others will be shown the Way, the Truth and the Life by Peter and by any who follow Jesus. Despite denying Jesus three times, Peter is revitalised and restored to his place with our Lord.
And after the joy of meeting with Jesus after thinking that He was lost to them, the disciples found the peace they sought and had always found in His Presence. They realise that His presence is still with them, despite the death on the Cross, and with the joy and the peace, they again know His love. The conversation between Jesus and Simon Peter reveals the nature of both in their use of the word ‘love’
The love spoken of by Jesus is God-centric, pure and holy, selfless and unconditional love — agape, from the Greek – ‘determining your will for another's good’ – ‘dying to yourself so that another might flourish’ — ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ [John 15:13]
The other types of love mentioned in Scripture are eros – physical, sensual love between a husband and wife; philia – close friendship, or brotherly love; and storge – family love, the close bond between parents and children, and vice versa.
We can see that aspects of love are interwoven into these verses from John 21, described in the New King James Version of The Bible as ‘Jesus restores Peter.’ When Jesus speaks to Peter He uses agapeo, but when Peter replies he uses phileo. Indeed, Peter uses phileo in answer to all three occasions Jesus asks him. Jesus speaks agapeo on the first and second time, but phileo on the third. What are we to understand from this, and how does this help us in our relationship with Jesus?
It seems that Peter does not understand the idea of love that Jesus talks of. Peter understands ‘brotherly love’, but has yet to grasp the notion of laying down your life for the sake of another. However, Jesus accepts where Peter is at this time and calls him to ‘feed my sheep’ — in other words ‘raise up my flock. Be a good shepherd in my stead.’
What we can see is that Jesus is gauging where Peter’s heart lies. The Lord knows His man, and by repeating His instruction to feed or shepherd His lambs and sheep, He is imparting the love of God and a nurturing heart to Peter. The threefold instruction gives the message the full weight of The Lord’s conviction to this. There can be no other way. The agape love of God can only be grown and matured in followers of Christ by coming alongside in a phileo relationship.
Jesus practises what He preaches and in speaking to Peter, He reveals the method by which others will be shown the Way, the Truth and the Life by Peter and by any who follow Jesus. Despite denying Jesus three times, Peter is revitalised and restored to his place with our Lord.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
1 JOHN 3:1-3
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children 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.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Beloved, now we are children 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.
FEED MY SHEEP — Don Francisco
PRAYER requires OBEDIENCE
WE DISCERN SPIRITUAL truth not by intellectual curiosity or research, but by entreating the favour of the Lord, that is, by prayer and by no other way, not even by obedience, because obedience is apt to have an idea of merit.
[from ‘He Shall Glorify Me’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘He Shall Glorify Me’ by Oswald Chambers]
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John 21:7-14
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." (“Come and dine” KJV) Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." (“Come and dine” KJV) Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"—knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. His new life appearances on Earth are now complete and eternal in God, and Jesus is saying to them and us Come and eat breakfast; Come and dine with Me; let us share an everlasting sustaining, one with another.
See the picture that Jesus has created for us here, it is a vision of eternal life at the right hand of God; life in the Kingdom of Heaven:
This is a message of such uplifting encouraging hope for each follower and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Come and dine.
See the picture that Jesus has created for us here, it is a vision of eternal life at the right hand of God; life in the Kingdom of Heaven:
- We have been called by Him to the shore — for we have recognised Him as our Lord and we see Him in the place where He now dwells. So we put on our covering and come to Him as we are and as He has nurtured in us.
- We come to Him by faith, no matter how we get there, for we have risen out of the waters of the mass of unredeemed mankind and have chosen to live in the fishing boat of the Church of Jesus Christ.
- When we come to that shore, we find a perfect welcome into The Lord’s House awaits us. The Redeemer’s fire burns brightly and there is food ready prepared.
- We see Christ’s invitation to ‘Come and dine’ as His guiding into the Holiest of All in His temple. Jesus Himself — as ‘The Light of The World’ — reveals the Candlestick in The Holy Place; the bread is The Table of Showbread, and the fish are the purified offering of our souls in the fire of the Altar of Incense.
- Simon Peter, as the rock on which Jesus is building His church, brings His unbroken net of the souls to whom He has revealed the life in Christ, to lay before Him — to fulfil the Lord’s working in us that He will make us fishers of men.
- These living souls brought before Christ number one hundred and fifty-three, revealing ‘the children of the harvest’ (100) perfected and resurrected by the fullness and grace of the Holy Spirit (53, as 50+3).
- Jesus invites us to come and dine — to be a part in His completing and everlasting work — to breakfast with Him, from a line of meaning back to the root word ‘to elevate; raise up; lift or draw up (a fish).
- This eating breakfast also suggests the time of day. It is the first and best meal of the day, strengthening after the night hours fasting, and just as the new day is dawning and the light is revealing a new beginning.
This is a message of such uplifting encouraging hope for each follower and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Come and dine.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
REVELATION 3:20-21
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
COME AND DINE — sung by Gary Chapman
PRAYER requires OBEDIENCE
THE REASON FOR intercession is not that God answers prayer, but that God tells us to pray.
[from ‘Disciples Indeed’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘Disciples Indeed’ by Oswald Chambers]
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John 21:1-6
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."
And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.
Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."
And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
John chapter 21 feels like an afterthought, or more, an expression of what life hearing from the Holy Spirit will be or now is. After Jesus’ death on the cross and His subsequent Resurrection, the disciples appear to have returned to their former lives, until this moment. They seem to have lost their way somewhat.
They have yet to understand that knowing Jesus means that their lives are forever changed, that they cannot continue the life they once knew. Even if we turn away, He stands near us, ever present, watching and waiting for our attention to return to Him; waiting to restore life and joy and peace.
Maybe the disciples were grieving in this moment. Hard to think that they were not. The message here is that the disciples were fishing — looking for their provision, for that which they had taken for granted since they had come to know Him, but had now found dissipated with the death of Jesus. And then — when they had found nothing; when their efforts to do it all themselves had come to nought — Jesus appeared on the shore -- from the safety of dry land — and said Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.
The ‘right side’ is the place of honour — seated at the right hand of God -- hearing from the Holy Spirit, for only then will you find, and find abundantly. That is The Lord’s way. Follow ye in it.
They have yet to understand that knowing Jesus means that their lives are forever changed, that they cannot continue the life they once knew. Even if we turn away, He stands near us, ever present, watching and waiting for our attention to return to Him; waiting to restore life and joy and peace.
Maybe the disciples were grieving in this moment. Hard to think that they were not. The message here is that the disciples were fishing — looking for their provision, for that which they had taken for granted since they had come to know Him, but had now found dissipated with the death of Jesus. And then — when they had found nothing; when their efforts to do it all themselves had come to nought — Jesus appeared on the shore -- from the safety of dry land — and said Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.
The ‘right side’ is the place of honour — seated at the right hand of God -- hearing from the Holy Spirit, for only then will you find, and find abundantly. That is The Lord’s way. Follow ye in it.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
1 PETER 2:21-25
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
"Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE — The Inspirations
PRAYER requires OBEDIENCE
JESUS DID NOT say, "Go into the field," He said, "therefore pray the Lord of the harvest . .." That does not so much mean that the harvest is the world, it means that there are innumerable people who have reached crises in their lives and are "already white for harvest." We find them everywhere, not only in foreign countries, but in the houses next door to us. The way we discern is not by intellect, not by suggestions, but by prayer.
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘If Ye Shall Ask’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT … #505 BY THE SEA 2: COME AND DINE
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Revelation 18:1-4
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.
And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
In Revelation 18, Babylon is portrayed as the ultimate enemy of God, and in verse 4, we read of the heavenly voice calling to God’s people, warning of the dire consequences should they/we fail to come out of her. If we are hearing from the Holy Spirit — in whatever way that He chooses to show us — He will teach us to spurn the darkness and walk in the light.
For we have been called out — out of captivity, out of bondage and out of darkness. Jesus announced His purpose in Isaiah’ words as "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
In these words we can recognise Jesus’ mission to call out His people, the calling out meaning to heal; and this setting free — breaking the ties that bind — is salvation. His name translates as ‘Jehovah is salvation’, that is who He is.
“Come out of her” is a command, not a request. There is no equivocation in these words, and so it becomes part of the ‘hear and obey’ of The Lord’s economy. This way or no way. If we have chosen to follow Jesus then we — as ‘His called out ones’ — must follow through in our commitment to give our utmost for His Highest.
For we have been called out — out of captivity, out of bondage and out of darkness. Jesus announced His purpose in Isaiah’ words as "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
In these words we can recognise Jesus’ mission to call out His people, the calling out meaning to heal; and this setting free — breaking the ties that bind — is salvation. His name translates as ‘Jehovah is salvation’, that is who He is.
“Come out of her” is a command, not a request. There is no equivocation in these words, and so it becomes part of the ‘hear and obey’ of The Lord’s economy. This way or no way. If we have chosen to follow Jesus then we — as ‘His called out ones’ — must follow through in our commitment to give our utmost for His Highest.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
1 PETER 2:6-9
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS — written by John Newton,
performed by Chris Bowater
performed by Chris Bowater
PRAYER requires HONESTY
NOTHING IS MORE difficult than asking. We long and desire and crave and suffer, but not until we are at the extreme limit will we ask. A sense of unreality makes us ask. We cannot bring ourselves up against spiritual reality when we like — all at once the staggering realization dawns that we are destitute of the Holy Spirit, ignorant of all that the Lord Jesus stands for.
The first result of being brought up against reality is this realization of poverty, of the lack of wisdom, lack of the Holy Spirit, lack of power, lack of a grip of God. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God."
[from ‘Our Brilliant Heritage’ by Oswald Chambers]
The first result of being brought up against reality is this realization of poverty, of the lack of wisdom, lack of the Holy Spirit, lack of power, lack of a grip of God. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God."
[from ‘Our Brilliant Heritage’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT — #504 BY THE SEA 1: ON THE RIGHT SIDE
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1 Samuel 16:7+11-13
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep."
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep."
And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here."
So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!"
Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
At The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Chrism oil which will be used to anoint The King at the Coronation in May, has been consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum.
The oil has been created using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and the Monastery of the Ascension. The Monastery of Mary Magdalene is the burial place of His Majesty's grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece.
The Coronation oil is based on the oil used at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth Il, the formula of which has been used for hundreds of years. It will also be used for the anointing of Her Majesty The Queen Consort.
BBC NEWS
We may think that much spoken of in Scripture is dead and gone, and that past traditions and practices have no relevance in the modern world. Certainly many in the world would like to believe so — indeed many believe in no belief, thus confounding themselves twice over. However, anointing is of relevance to all believers.
The coronation of a king is of great significance, and resonates even if you are a republican by conviction. A previous King Charles — Charles I — was a strong proponent of ‘the divine right of kings’; that as an anointed king, he had been empowered by Almighty God to rule and reign in this temporal realm, and the practice of the King’s Anointing derives from ancient times. And Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, or President of presidents and Ruler of rulers for that matter.
The Book of Revelation confirms that we are each one kings and priests unto God, but to be so there has to be an anointing — it is the one thing that identifies and confers the kingly status on a believer. You and I are unlikely to be anointed with oil consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, but if we accept Jesus Christ as King and Lord over every aspect of our lives, He will anoint us with the oil which is the Holy Spirit, opening heaven’s door that we may enter in to His presence.
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
The coronation of a king is of great significance, and resonates even if you are a republican by conviction. A previous King Charles — Charles I — was a strong proponent of ‘the divine right of kings’; that as an anointed king, he had been empowered by Almighty God to rule and reign in this temporal realm, and the practice of the King’s Anointing derives from ancient times. And Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, or President of presidents and Ruler of rulers for that matter.
The Book of Revelation confirms that we are each one kings and priests unto God, but to be so there has to be an anointing — it is the one thing that identifies and confers the kingly status on a believer. You and I are unlikely to be anointed with oil consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, but if we accept Jesus Christ as King and Lord over every aspect of our lives, He will anoint us with the oil which is the Holy Spirit, opening heaven’s door that we may enter in to His presence.
Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
REVELATION 1:4-6
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. 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.
John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. 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.
KING OF KINGS — Jenn Johnson + Moment
PRAYER requires HONESTY
ASK MEANS BEG. Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are like that spiritually. We will never receive if we ask out of our lust rather than out of our poverty. A pauper who asks from no other reason than the abject panging condition of his poverty is not ashamed to beg. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
[from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘My Utmost For His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT… #503 HIS CALLED OUT ONES
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Matthew 24:9-13
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.
When we heard recently that the First Minister of Scotland was resigning, many I am sure gave the matter only a casual glance. There might be disappointment or pleasure depending on your politics, but what has happened is that — with the reaction to a strongly Christian candidate putting her name forward for the First Minister role — Our Lord has highlighted for all Christians, precisely where present day attitudes are when it comes to Faith, and many, it seems, now positively discriminate against Christian views
Peter Horrobin of Ellel Ministries said this in his blog post, which you may find illuminating…
Peter Horrobin of Ellel Ministries said this in his blog post, which you may find illuminating…
HATED?
“You will be hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9)
In the end-times we will need to get used to the fact that Jesus was right! Believers who remain faithful to Jesus and the Word of God will be under constant attack from the liberal wokery that is now prevalent across society, and which it is so easy for the church to bow down to, in an attempt to make itself acceptable to an unbelieving world. Sadly, compromising on truth only makes the church less noticeable and less relevant, as the borderlines between faith and apostasy become ever more blurred.
This past week the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) stood down as the First Minister of Scotland. Immediately, the race for a successor began and one of the leading contenders is Kate Forbes, a young very committed, born-again believer. A remarkable article in the London Daily Telegraph asked some telling questions, “Is she too Christian to lead a political party? . . . Does her faith debar her from public office? . . . . It’s dangerous now to hold old-fashioned views on marriage, gender and abortion.” A spokesman for the SNP is quoted as saying, “There will be a massive campaign against her, particularly by the woke crowd, because of her religious beliefs.”
Without realizing it, the Telegraph writers were simply recognizing that what Jesus said all those years ago is coming true. The world hates truth and while people will patronize Jesus by saying he was a good man with teaching worth hearing and following, they will not tolerate any intrusion of Biblical truth into the affairs of a world that has not only lost its moral compass, but in which most people seem to have no desire to find it again.
The article also asked another telling question: if it’s OK to have a devout Hindu as the Prime Minister of England, why wouldn’t it be OK to have a devout Christian as the First Minister of Scotland? The difference is simple, real Christian faith is not a religion with a set of steps to appease God, but a relationship in which the price of having a relationship with Him has already been paid by Jesus on the cross. Through ownership of our sin and repentance, we receive new life and have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to overcome it. Jesus said he was THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. The plumbline of truth which hangs from the cross is offensive to those whose lifestyle is challenged by the central tenets of the Christian faith.
Christian truth is not just a system of beliefs, only of relevance to an inner circle of believers and which don’t have any significance for everyone else – the teachings of God’s Word are applicable to the whole world, believers and unbelievers alike. So, when a Christian says what they believe, and those beliefs cut across the liberal secularism of society, there is an instant reaction, prompted by the god of this world, which, in recent years, has cost people their jobs and caused many believers to be dragged through the courts, just because they hold to Biblical truth without compromising what they believe. Our post-Christian, so-called liberal, society breeds hostile intolerance.
I suggest that, whatever our political thinking may be, we should be praying for Kate Forbes. In an interview to the BBC she said, “I believe in the person of Jesus Christ. I believe that he died for me, he saved me and that my calling is to serve and to love him and to serve and love my neighbours.” Wow! Since when have we ever heard a politician in the UK speak such truth to the media! Or, even more significantly, since when have we ever heard the national leaders of our churches, certainly in Britain, share such a clear testimony with the media and the world?
All the nations of the western world, the nations who in recent centuries have been the preservers of Christian truth in their governance of the people, are falling like dominos into a godless hole. The end of the age is closing in, Jesus told us to rejoice and keep watch with prayers that focus on the signs of the times and on those who are prepared to be a light shining in the darkness so that the light will not be put out by the enemies of truth, but will shine ever brighter in a darkening world. As the darkness gets darker so the light of Jesus will shine brighter. If He is lifted up, He will draw all men to Himself.
Another political commentator was even brave enough to say that it would be a dark day for the world if a Christian believer was debarred from office simply because of their faith. Yes, indeed
by PETER HORROBIN
of Ellel Ministries
of Ellel Ministries
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
PSALM 25:18-20
Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
BEGINNING AND END — Eden’s Bridge
PRAYER requires HONESTY
IT IS rarely the big compellings of God that get hold of us in our prayers; instead we tell God what He should do. We tell Him that men are being lost and that He ought to save them. This is a terrific charge against God; it means that He might be asleep. Prayer with us often becomes merely a way of patronizing God.
(from ‘The Psychology of Redemption’ by Oswald Chambers)
(from ‘The Psychology of Redemption’ by Oswald Chambers)
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COMING NEXT… #502 ANOINTED KING
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1 Chronicles 4:41-43
These recorded by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and they attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and utterly destroyed them, as it is to this day. So they dwelt in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks there.
Now some of them, five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir, having as their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
And they defeated the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. They have dwelt there to this day.
Now some of them, five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, went to Mount Seir, having as their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
And they defeated the rest of the Amalekites who had escaped. They have dwelt there to this day.
In the numerology of scripture what does our Lord’s five hundred measure tell us? And does it matter? I believe that it matters if we hope to understand in fullness what The Lord is saying to us. Scripture shows us the Plan of God in a myriad of ways, confirming and reinforcing the truth of what we believe and opening new vistas of revelation. One of these ways is through numbers, and as a dear man of God once told me many years ago, “the numbers always add up.” God’s creation has a base of mathematical perfection.
In Ezekiel 42 (see below) five hundred reveals the outer dimensions of the temple as shown to Ezekiel by God. In 1 Chronicles we are shown Simeon’s five hundred men defeating the Amalekites. So what is the significance of five hundred?
The five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, defeated the Amalekites at Mount Seir, their leaders being four sons of Ishi, whose name means ‘He saves me’. His sons names are all related to this — revealing God gives strength, He heals and delivers His servant. When you know that Simeon means ‘hearing’, we can see the spiritual background to this defeat of the ‘valley-dwelling’ Amalekites, whose hearts’ thus focus earthward instead of heavenward, revealing their antipathy to God.
The five hundred men of the tribe of Simeon who had hearing and understanding triumphed over the Godless Amalekites at the mountain of the satyr. (Mount Seir translates as the high place of the hairy he-goat, from a word meaning rough, devil, goat, satyr, or demon). Following this interpretive line ‘five’ is usually seen as referring to God’s Grace or His Redemption, and ‘hundred’ can be understood to mean ‘children of the promise’, ‘children of the harvest’, or ‘descendants of Abraham’. (See Genesis 17:17) In short, it shows us ‘the church of Jesus Christ.’
So when we look to Ezekiel’s God-given measurements for the outer dimensions of His temple built without hands, we are given the revelation that each side is five hundred by five hundred — four square in any direction, forming a perfect cube — the numbers representing ‘the church of Jesus Christ’, a church where every member was a captive, now redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World.
The Lord is building His church, and we must not be cast down by the state of things that we see around us. Rest assured, our God will have His way. Hallelujah.
In Ezekiel 42 (see below) five hundred reveals the outer dimensions of the temple as shown to Ezekiel by God. In 1 Chronicles we are shown Simeon’s five hundred men defeating the Amalekites. So what is the significance of five hundred?
The five hundred men of the sons of Simeon, defeated the Amalekites at Mount Seir, their leaders being four sons of Ishi, whose name means ‘He saves me’. His sons names are all related to this — revealing God gives strength, He heals and delivers His servant. When you know that Simeon means ‘hearing’, we can see the spiritual background to this defeat of the ‘valley-dwelling’ Amalekites, whose hearts’ thus focus earthward instead of heavenward, revealing their antipathy to God.
The five hundred men of the tribe of Simeon who had hearing and understanding triumphed over the Godless Amalekites at the mountain of the satyr. (Mount Seir translates as the high place of the hairy he-goat, from a word meaning rough, devil, goat, satyr, or demon). Following this interpretive line ‘five’ is usually seen as referring to God’s Grace or His Redemption, and ‘hundred’ can be understood to mean ‘children of the promise’, ‘children of the harvest’, or ‘descendants of Abraham’. (See Genesis 17:17) In short, it shows us ‘the church of Jesus Christ.’
So when we look to Ezekiel’s God-given measurements for the outer dimensions of His temple built without hands, we are given the revelation that each side is five hundred by five hundred — four square in any direction, forming a perfect cube — the numbers representing ‘the church of Jesus Christ’, a church where every member was a captive, now redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the World.
The Lord is building His church, and we must not be cast down by the state of things that we see around us. Rest assured, our God will have His way. Hallelujah.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
EZEKIEL 42:15-20
Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around.
He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.
Now when he had finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that faces toward the east, and measured it all around.
He measured the east side with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
He measured the north side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod all around.
He measured the south side, five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
He came around to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
He measured it on the four sides; it had a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to separate the holy areas from the common.
NO LONGER SLAVES — Jonathan David and Melissa Helser.
PRAYER requires HONESTY
TO BE CONSCIOUSLY desirous of anything but that one thing is to be off the main track. The Holy Spirit is transparent honesty.
[from ‘He Shall Glorify Me’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘He Shall Glorify Me’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT … #501 INTOLERANCE
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Revelation 22:1-2
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Jesus said “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” [John 4:13-14 NLT] The New King James Version uses the expression a fountain of water springing up instead of a fresh bubbling spring. A week ago, Milady said that The Lord had given her the words ‘Fresh Water’, and we felt to look at this in our Gathering.
The Holy Spirit presence in our meeting was palpable, with that fresh bubbling spring leading us to examine scripture verses in a variety of chapters, revealing the repeated result of the fresh water of the Holy Spirit was the outpouring of the fruit of that Spirit.
We can see from Ezekiel’s chapter on the Healing River (below), that this fresh water always flows from the sanctuary bringing forth abundance in all kinds of trees. What we have to recognise in this Spirit Word — drinking from ‘the water of the Word’ — is that these trees represent souls filled with the Holy Spirit, who then spread forth His Presence and Gospel message, bringing others to know The Lord’s covering and restoration, which is the spiritual fruit of His provision and feeding, and His protective covering for restorative healing.
When we look at the dreadful state of the world in these times, it is the easiest thing to become downcast. We must remember that ‘it was ever thus’, and that our well-being — both natural and spiritual — cannot depend on what is outside of us and beyond our control. The only real control we have is to care for the inside of us by choosing to take fresh water from the Eternal Fountain — our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit presence in our meeting was palpable, with that fresh bubbling spring leading us to examine scripture verses in a variety of chapters, revealing the repeated result of the fresh water of the Holy Spirit was the outpouring of the fruit of that Spirit.
We can see from Ezekiel’s chapter on the Healing River (below), that this fresh water always flows from the sanctuary bringing forth abundance in all kinds of trees. What we have to recognise in this Spirit Word — drinking from ‘the water of the Word’ — is that these trees represent souls filled with the Holy Spirit, who then spread forth His Presence and Gospel message, bringing others to know The Lord’s covering and restoration, which is the spiritual fruit of His provision and feeding, and His protective covering for restorative healing.
When we look at the dreadful state of the world in these times, it is the easiest thing to become downcast. We must remember that ‘it was ever thus’, and that our well-being — both natural and spiritual — cannot depend on what is outside of us and beyond our control. The only real control we have is to care for the inside of us by choosing to take fresh water from the Eternal Fountain — our Lord Jesus Christ.
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
EZEKIEL 47:10-12
It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En (fountain) Gedi (of a young goat, from a word meaning to cut through by a stream, a river bank) to En (fountain) Eglaim (of two calves, from a word for frisking around); they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.
But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.
Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En (fountain) Gedi (of a young goat, from a word meaning to cut through by a stream, a river bank) to En (fountain) Eglaim (of two calves, from a word for frisking around); they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many.
But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt.
Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
LIVING WATERS — Keith and Kristyn Getty
PRAYER requires FAITH
GOD PUTS US in circumstances where He can answer the prayer of His Son
and the prayer of the Holy Spirit.
[from ‘Disciples Indeed’ by Oswald Chambers]
and the prayer of the Holy Spirit.
[from ‘Disciples Indeed’ by Oswald Chambers]
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COMING NEXT… #500 GOD’S FIVE HUNDRED MEASURE
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Malachi 3:17-18
"They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts,
"On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him."
Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
"On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him."
Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
The Lord is making up His jewels – and ‘jewels’ are ‘special possessions’. We have been purchased at a price to be those Special Possessions, – and that makes us ‘Precious Stones’ and ‘Privileged People’ —and as ‘pearl[s] of great price’, we are being prepared to be set into His crown – to rule and reign with Christ. And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts...
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [1 Peter 3:4] That is what The LORD desires to see – a meek and quiet spirit – precious in His sight. Scripture has so much to say about jewels and precious stones – we can only skim the surface of that rich treasure here.
Being a ‘Precious Stone’ in the King’s regalia is more than the opportunity to accept a privileged position at the King’s court. The crown is having the ‘mind’ of the King, while the Sceptre is a symbol of the king’s authority or government — of righteousness and of Christ. In Exodus 28:17-21 we see twelve jewels set into the ephod, or chest adornment, of the High Priest – remembering that Jesus is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, and therefore our source of all heavenly authority. This ephod was placed to govern the heart. The twelve stones speak, not only of the heart and qualities of God’s chosen, but of the life and truth in the heart of God, as revealed to us by Jesus Christ.
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [1 Peter 3:4] That is what The LORD desires to see – a meek and quiet spirit – precious in His sight. Scripture has so much to say about jewels and precious stones – we can only skim the surface of that rich treasure here.
Being a ‘Precious Stone’ in the King’s regalia is more than the opportunity to accept a privileged position at the King’s court. The crown is having the ‘mind’ of the King, while the Sceptre is a symbol of the king’s authority or government — of righteousness and of Christ. In Exodus 28:17-21 we see twelve jewels set into the ephod, or chest adornment, of the High Priest – remembering that Jesus is our Great High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, and therefore our source of all heavenly authority. This ephod was placed to govern the heart. The twelve stones speak, not only of the heart and qualities of God’s chosen, but of the life and truth in the heart of God, as revealed to us by Jesus Christ.
You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
[Ezekiel 28:13]
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
[Ezekiel 28:13]
Not only are we jewels for our Lord, but that precious stone nature has been ‘prepared in [us], on the day [we] were created’ – all that is needed is for Jesus Christ’s nature to be awakened in us for that to grow. ‘Every precious stone was [our] covering’. But as subsequent verses make clear, we must remain under that covering – under that government.*
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
1 PETER 2:4-6
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."
* Briefly the meaning of the twelve jewels in the ephod are (as described in Exodus 39:17-20):
And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings. [Exodus 39:17-20]
And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be set in gold settings. [Exodus 39:17-20]
- Sardius — of the tribe of Judah is sometimes described as a ruby. Judah means ‘praise’, and is the tribe into which Jesus was born.
- Topaz — of the tribe of Issachar means ‘bearer of burdens / discerning the times’ – and you can see that in following The LORD we need that spirit of discernment – to see and know [with crystal clarity] as The LORD sees. It also brings those qualities of prophecy and vision, of leadership and understanding – and these are all burdens.
- Emerald — (perhaps a garnet) — of Reuben speaks of the first-born son nature. [The inheritor?].
- Turquoise — (perhaps an emerald, or a carbuncle) — of the tribe of Zebulon reveals His dwelling-place [abiding in Him, and He in us].
- Sapphire — of Simeon brings a hearing ear [understanding].
- Diamond — of the tribe of Gad is a company of overcomers. Diamond is an extremely hard mineral, not easily crushed.
- Jacinth — of the tribe of Ephraim makes Doubly Fruitful.
- Agate — of Manasseh shows forgetting. Our sins are not only forgiven, but forgotten by His great mercy.
- Amethyst — of Benjamin is the Son of The Right Hand – when we are in Jesus nature we are seated at The Right Hand of God. (the Benjamites were predominantly left-handed.)
- Beryl — of the tribe of Dan brings judgement -–not something to fear if we are found in Him.
- Onyx — of the tribe of Asher will reveal happiness and Blessings.
- Jasper — of the tribe of Naphtali. Naphtali means wrestling. We have much to wrestle with in our lives, not least our own natures. We tend to the nature of Jacob and like to wrestle with angels, but Genesis 30:8 says ‘I wrestled with my sister and I have prevailed’ about the birth of Naphtali the man. I believe it speaks of overcoming, of victory in the LORD, but I have also heard mention that this is a type of the true church – the true church and the man-made church being ‘sisters’, which would suggest the true church prevailing over the man-made one. Still a type for the overcoming nature.
PRECIOUS MOMENTS (Instrumental) — written by Fanny J Crosby
PRAYER requires FAITH
OUR LORD, IN instructing the disciples in regard to prayer, presented them with three pictures (see Luke 11:1-13 and 18:1-8), and strangely puzzling pictures they are until we understand their meaning. They are the pictures of an unkind friend, an unnatural father, and an unjust judge. Like many of our Lord's answers, these pictures seem no answer at all at first; they seem evasions, but we find that in answering our inarticulate questions our Lord presents His answer to the reality discernible to conscience, and not to logic.
[from ‘Christian Discipline, Vol 2’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘Christian Discipline, Vol 2’ by Oswald Chambers]
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Below is a pdf (for download) of the original word brought to ‘Living Stones Christian Centre’ in June 2009, which we intend to edit and publish on www.write-the-vision.com.
Some of today’s meditation is taken from this talk.
COMING NEXT… #499 FRESH WATER
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Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
"And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'
But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
I feel the imperative to write on these verses. In the last few days — indeed on the same day — I read two anointed devotions which took Matthew 25 as their source, and then found that it was my daily Bible reading also. It was one of those occasions when you feel strongly that The Lord is trying to get your attention — and indeed this is without doubt a message for our times.
Scripture repeatedly calls us to stand watch, to be aware and discern the times, to know what is happening spiritually in the world, so that we can pray. We must be alert at all times, with oil in our lamps. The oil is a type of the Holy Spirit, and the lamp represents the light of our Lord. If we are in a battle — and there is no doubt that we are — then we must be constantly aware lest we be deceived by the enemy’s wiles.
Study the difference between the foolish and the wise virgins, but note first of all that these were virgins — that is they were pure and undefiled. The difference between them was wisdom or the lack of it. All these virgins were faithful, but five were careless with what they had, and thus lost their most precious gift. The difference was that five were prepared and five were not. Five cherished and valued their heavenly anointing, while the others took it for granted.
The Lord has immeasurably blessed us with the amazing gift of His Kingdom, of dwelling eternally with Him, yet we can often treat this gift so casually. Lifting and laying to suit ourselves. We can be with the wise one minute and with the foolish the next. Watch therefore!
Scripture repeatedly calls us to stand watch, to be aware and discern the times, to know what is happening spiritually in the world, so that we can pray. We must be alert at all times, with oil in our lamps. The oil is a type of the Holy Spirit, and the lamp represents the light of our Lord. If we are in a battle — and there is no doubt that we are — then we must be constantly aware lest we be deceived by the enemy’s wiles.
Study the difference between the foolish and the wise virgins, but note first of all that these were virgins — that is they were pure and undefiled. The difference between them was wisdom or the lack of it. All these virgins were faithful, but five were careless with what they had, and thus lost their most precious gift. The difference was that five were prepared and five were not. Five cherished and valued their heavenly anointing, while the others took it for granted.
The Lord has immeasurably blessed us with the amazing gift of His Kingdom, of dwelling eternally with Him, yet we can often treat this gift so casually. Lifting and laying to suit ourselves. We can be with the wise one minute and with the foolish the next. Watch therefore!
MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS
HABAKKUK 2:1
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
GIVE ME OIL IN MY LAMP
(A predictable choice of song for sure … but why not?)
(A predictable choice of song for sure … but why not?)
PRAYER requires FAITH
PRAYER IS THE supreme activity of all that is noblest in our personality and the essential nature of prayer is faith.
[from ‘Not Knowing Whither’ by Oswald Chambers]
[from ‘Not Knowing Whither’ by Oswald Chambers]