Our authority as a believer is tied to rest in the finish work of Christ Jesus. It was on sabbath day at Solomon Colonnade near Bethesda that Jesus healed an invalid 38 years, he told him to take up his mat and walk. But the Jewish leaders raised the law against him carrying his mat; and the man said the man who healed me said to me pick up your mat and walk. Jesus saw him later and said stop sinning or something worse will happen to you. John 5 vs 14.
Jesus healed a lot on sabbath day – Mark 3. A good picture of a life-giving savior, As Jesus died, he was replaced with Barabbas (Son of the father) with the Son of God (Jesus).
The authority of the sons of God, therefore is:
Just as the father is always at his work to this very day, Jesus is always working in us.
we can do nothing of ourselves (it’s not that we are sufficient of ourselves, our sufficiency is from Elohim). As the son of man couldn’t do anything by himself, he can only do what he sees his father do. 2 Corinthians 3:5-11
the father loves his son and shows him all things, because abba father loves us too he shows us all things pertaining to life and Godliness. 2 Peter 1: 3, Ephesians 1: 18 – 19.
The fathers raise the dead and gives them life, so the son gives life to whom he pleases. As believers, giving the life of salvation to the broken hearted and wounded i.e. revival. God made us through his son quickening spirits to save us from eternal damnation.
The Father judges no one; but entrust all judgement to the father. Jesus said haven’t you read that ye are gods and as we in Yeshua and the father, we judge not after appearance but righteous judgement through his spirit in us. Hence, we honor Jesus and thus father.
When we hear the words of God and believe in Jesus; we have eternal life and thus we will not be judged unrighteously as we have crossed over from death to life (salvation) thus who hear the voice of God will live.
Jesus has life in himself, it was granted to him by the father. Therefore, he has authority to judge because he is the son of God and the son of Man. As a man, Jesus can judge as the son of God, Jesus can judge and thus is our great high priest (having the lineage of God and Man).
Time is near when those who have done what is good after hearing will rise to live and those who hear and do evil will rise to condemnation. Jesus can do nothing now, he only judges as he hears, and his judgement are just because he is not self-seeking, he doesn’t seek to please himself but the one who sent him.
Bethlehem Ephrathah- House of Bread that is fruitful – Micah 5: 2
Bethsaida – house of hunting/fishing Acts 18
Bethany – house of figs Acts 18
Bethesda – house of mercy/grace – Acts 18
Bethel – house of God. – Genesis 28:19-21
House of Prayer – Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11, Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17
A house divided against itself cannot stand, Jesus said. Mark 3: 25. A house is often used synonymously with kingdom and bread.
Abner deserts the house of Saul.
Ish Bosheth was a son born to a concubine of Saul. He accused Abner, a devoted ally to the house of Saul of sleeping with Sauls concubine. This accusation made Abner cause Abner to shift his allegiance to the house of David. As the house of David was getting stronger than the house of David, Abner knew God had made a covenant to David to make him the king all over Israel. So, Abner came to David seeking a partnership, but David asked for Michal, the daughter of Saul who was betrothed to him.
But Michal was already married to Paltiel, son of Laish. So, Abner forced her back to her husband (David). Abner starts to work dedicatedly for David to get on his good side, he reveals the plans of the Benjamite’s (Sauls clan), and he attempts to help assist David assemble all of Israel so David would make a covenant with them as God said.
As Abner set out to do this, he was stabbed by Joab. Why? Joab’s brother Asahel was killed by Abner and felt his position was threatened also by Abner (i.e. to be close to the king). Hence, Joab lied to the king, that Abner was a spy that was sent by the Benjamite to be close to the king, to see what he was doing. When David heard this, he acted like Pontious Pilate, he washed his hand saying, himself and his Kingdom were forever innocent of the blood of Abner, as the blood of Abner will fall on the head of Joab and his whole family.
David asked all the men with him to put on sack cloth as well as walk in mourning in front of the body of Abner (apparently it was some Jewish custom, to claim innocence). David did not eat anything else before sunset because Abners death greatly affected him. He wrote a lament to this effect! That the commander and great man had fallen in Israel that day, though he was anointed as king, he is weak, and the sons of Zeruiah were too strong for him, so he left the Lord to repay the evil doers according to their evil deeds. Then the people believed David was innocent concerning what happened to Abner.
Lessons
There are some situations we are powerless to change, but to let God repay.
A simple accusation against Abner could escalate and lead to Abner death.
In a feat to change lanes Abner met his end, may God help us to be steadfast, immovable and abounding in love to the House of God (not to the strong man of the house).
Even Jesus is Anointed as king over the house of God, like David, yet it is not enough to stop, the church rebellious hands against each other.
Matt 3: Jesus healed lots of times on Sabbath day, yet in verse 25 they accused him of having demons, and Jesus said ” if a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. Hence, as the House of Saul was divided, it could not stand against the House of David. With the exception of Mephiboshek.
Sometimes, a divide in a house, show how far one has fallen away from God. It was evident in the life of Saul then it became evident in the house of Saul.
I started this morning with career buddy sending me an email about how workplace ought to pay people for aptitude tests and exams for over one hour. we the strident working conditions in my country everyone seems to be complaining that “their employers are slave drivers” but no one wants to quit. So, career buddy suggest we vote that applicant be paid to write exams either yes maybe or no. For some reason, I clicked on maybe that is sometimes.
I forgot that as about last week, I got a request for an aptitude test, which I believed was just about excel use until I noticed it had a GRE framework type of question for this interview and I was angry, first because in my previous place of work someone had pestered me to do the exam first I was in no mental mood for dealing with more validating, so I ignored him, also because the situation was sketchy and lastly I just could not catch a break. To realize I had to go down this preparation stage again was not just agonizing plus I am still running another course and application.
Later I opened my daily manna and read this: Not being good enough – Luke 22: 54 – 62
As children, we fear the monsters living in our wardrobes. Then we begged our parents not to turn the lights out. And no matter what we never looked under the bed, just in case one was hiding under there. The feeling of not being good enough is by far the biggest and ugliest MONSTER ONE WILL EVER ENCOUNTER in the YEAR 2024!
We are good enough because God DOES NOT CREATE A “NOBODY.” Did God not use Moses as a murderer? Yes! God used Rahab as an International prostitute! As a young pastor, after resigning from PHARMACY to obey the call of God. It took him a while to realize that this worry was only holding him back from being the best for God! Once again, he let go of his fear and started to believe in GOD’s Grace and his abilities started changing Iin the long run, what matter is that you are doing your best, learning, growing and that you are good enough for now but a work in progress.
And I was like how this concerns my present circumstances. And something reminded me when I started walking with God, how I taught I was mad when I heard his voice and he had to validate me that he is here! I guess that sometimes we need to be reminded that we are his (He told me who I am, I am yours). I then understood that sometimes some people can lose sight of what is good, and God is good because of how bad the world is. And that doubt as Thomas is always welcomed as we have an assurance that Jesus is risen, he rises in us to answer and thus when I remembered the number of times Jesus validates us. It’s hard to not be hard on this people, because well I am not GOD, but I’d like to be as he is. Therefore, even if I am not as good, I have no fear going forward because doing the best, learning and growing is the best I’d put forward and that should be enough. I had stop worrying about the number of things heaping up and do what I can just do.
with God and I it always seems like a wrestle and apparently my second favorite bible character is Jacob, because he wrestled with God and prevailed. I wonder sometimes how managed this feat. In our relationship with God, it always seems like it’s a surrender to self (dying) so Christ will be revealed in US. It is the only time I see what the death of Jesus felt like at the cross. Because when we die to our will, it is Christ that is revealed in US. Only, Jacob managed to wrestle with God and prevailed. Resigning your will to surrender is dying to self and I guess the process never gets easy. Judges 6 – 8 came to my mind the number of times God had to validate Gideon, may God have mercy on us:
Judges 6: 12 When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
Judges 6: 13 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
God validating Gideon: The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
Judges 6: 14 Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
God validating Gideon: The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
Judges 6: 17 “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. 18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”
God validating Gideon: And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.”
When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”
God validate Gideon:
But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”
24 So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
I also understand this happen with Samuel and Eli when Samuel first heard God voice as well as Thomas. So, it’s a common that can happen to anyone as well as has happened to US. I really hate validating anyone, but I guess God is right we all need a nudge from time to time.
Prayer point:
Thank you, Lord! I am worthy because you said I am worthy.
Indeed, I can’t stop negative comments or prevent negative labels, but I choose to not let them hold me back!
Pray over your expectations now! My expectations are from the lord and my expectations will not be cut shut! Proverbs 23: 18
Pray as led today.
2 Samuel 7:18-29 King James Version 18 Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said, Who am I, O Lord God? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come.
As I reflected, I saw this: accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. Hence, I realized people think, ‘Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. So, why do people judge me seeing as they are not holy either. You know you have weak faith, but you see a suffering servant and instead of you to edify you use your power to pull down. You are a WICKED SERVANT and you do not have love even, when you know you are WEAK. If one is weak in wickedness, it is SIN, but to be weak in Christ is strength. There is not much strength in fighting a lost battle so I will relent for God’s sake. Since, we are called to lead a peaceful life and for mutual edification. Is not that I see what you can edify me with than Judgement. So, if eating causes my brother to stumble, even though what I eat is not unclean I will not eat right. Because Blessed am I who does not condemn myself by what I approve, so from henceforth whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Because if we doubt what we eat (the word of God) then we condemn it, and whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.
It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me. every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[b]
So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister[a]? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
Reflections: Everyone is subject under Gods authority and what we consider clean is what we choose to accept either by law or by grace. Whether clean or unclean if it causes our brother or sister to stumble then we should desist from this. We are not to judge and put away deeds of darkness to put on the armor of light. God should help us to know what is good, so we do not speak of them as evil. Sanballat and Tobiah, regarded the rebuilding of the temple as not good so then, they did not partake in the blessings when the temple was rebuilt. Nehemiah was the kings cup bearer, who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem to take away the shame and disgrace from Jerusalem. As we ought to rebuild one’s walls than tear down. To treat ones suffering while they do the work of God is contempt. Even if they are identified as the kings cup bearer or not.
In the voice of Nehemiah, Lord grants us success as we build the walls. I find that God is Kind and Stern at the same time. He is Austere and as he is so I on this earth. Romans 8: 22, Luke 19: 21
According to 1 Chronicles 28 s 2 the house of God is a place of rest which is the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
House of God = place of rest (for the ark of the covenant of God) = Footstool of God.
New Testament is the House of God = place for the new covenant = Footstool.
when we look at the description of the footstool from the bible:
Isaiah 66 vs 1 “Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” Matthew 5: 35 “or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. “ Psalm 110 vs 1 “The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
So, footstool connotates a place of rest, where God moves for us. We understand Jesus built his own temple as well not made with house and put in temple the holy spirit and says:
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
So, we know the spirit of God dwells in us as a gentle dove and speak to in a still small voice and comforts us to give us peace. So the place of rest is to be the house of God and the temple of God which is his footstool because it carries the peace of God not surprisingly “Jerusalem translates to ” God presence and Peace” when peace comes in our inside we find rest from all our labor, so outwardly people may say we are lazy but inwardly we know we are at peace ( a place of rest) for the ark of the covenant.
God begins to tell David he cannot build a house for him because he had shed blood. In the Old Testament, God had to punish sin by death and even at mount Sinai we see 5000 people dying instantly because Judgement was enacted almost speedily; see Eli and his sons as reference. So, we see a picture of Gods wrath as well as his righteous judgement as see in the life of David, who destroyed his enemies mercilessly. But then because of this David could not build a house for the Lord because of this. So, then God chooses Solomon, David’s son to build the house of the Lord, but the plan and details for the House was given to David. Similarly, God sent his son (Yeshua) to come with the design and plan to build a temple not made with hands. John 6:38-46, Luke 22:42.
So, we see Jesus say a greater than Solomon is here Matthew 12:42, because he tore the physical temple in 3 days of his death and built another not made with hands. John 2 : 19.
So, Solomon followed the instructions by his father David and Jesus followed the father’s instruction even until death to build a temple not made with hands. we see this in verse 9 where David asks his son to have a devotion and a willing mind to do the work for the house of the lord. Similarly, Jesus resigned his will (gave a willing mind to build the temple of the Lord). verse 13 says “He gave him instructions for the divisions of the priests and Levites, and for all the work of serving in the temple of the Lord, as well as for all the articles to be used in its service.” and we Jesus leaving his disciples to serve and do the work of God while he is not there.
1 Chronicles 28: 20 ends with David telling Solomon “David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is FINISHED.21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing person skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.”
When Jesus completed the work at the cross of calvary he said, “it is finished” John 19:30 King James Version 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is FINISHED: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Assuredly, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Because the veil tore “we have direct access to the father” because the veil was a barrier that kept God and those outside the temple at a safe distance. Think of it like a curtain that shield our eyes from seeing the light of his glory as Hebrew saying because to see God, we must be holy (Hebrew 12: 14). It was the blood shed by his son that purifies us and makes us (whole) holy so we can see God. Jerusalem signifies wholeness and completeness which bring the peace of God not as the world gives. (See Why Does the Temple Curtain Tear When Jesus Dies? – Topical Studies (biblestudytools.com) )
Prayer:
May Elohim grant us a willing and devoted heart to serve him. (the division and priest & Levites left to serve in the house of the lord is the body of Christ).
May the veil be torn from our hearts that we may see him. for it is with the mouth confession is made and with the heart man believes.
John 12: 32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” – Who is a footstool for our lord to draw all men unto him, whose house is in Jerusalem, who wall is salvation, and gates is praise. Who IS OUR MIGHTY warrior who goes before us to give us peace and fight for us.
