Author: olabumblebee55

In one of my discipleship classes, we read about Abigail in 1 Samuel 25 vs 23 “When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. ²⁴ She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. ²⁵ Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.”

So, our pastor was saying Abigail was sounding patronizing to David and making herself available to David. In my mind, I said I see nothing wrong with that. He went on to say Abigail called her husband a fool. And I am like we all think he is wicked as for the fool it is arguable that he is, you can’t take care of pasture and you hire someone stronger to handle it for you then start insulting him. Arguably, you are FOOL. And a fool is seldom wicked. Let’s not forget Abigail was Bethrowed to Nabal as an arranged marriage, more like Ned and Regina. She now sees another man whose destiny is better than Abigail says “Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. ²⁹ Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. ³⁰ When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing, he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, ³¹ my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”

And men are upset, I’m like why? if it’s you, will you stay married to a rich, wicked fool. It was probably condition that forced her into the marriage. As far as honor is concerned, you can’t honor someone you don’t love, why do you think the pharisees where calling Jesus, the lord of Beelzebub, if they can’t honor God is it man they will honor. Another thing is above, here from 29 – 30. Where Abigail was hailing David, calling the sugar in my tea, the lord brings you success and praying for him and all. You think she was stupid, if I want something from you wouldn’t I be nice, I Samuel 25: 2 the bible didn’t call her intelligent and beautiful woman for nothing, plus David did not correct her not to call her husband a FOOL, he was eyeing her too. Another thing is if Nabal could provoke a righteous man like David to anger imagine what Abigail had been dealing with all this while. Someone who could protect his pasture. In all ramifications, if a man cannot tolerate his fellow man, why should a woman tolerate it? Is it fair. So, when Abigail saw Davids’s destiny, she laid up her plan and it’s not like David resisted it, because he knew Abigails husband at this time was very much alive.

Yet David coveted. In life it takes two to tangle. Even Potiphar’s wife when she saw Josephs destiny, she was being nice to him, come to my room and all. Was because she saw his glory and star was good, you think women are stupid. When a man cannot help me spiritually what is his use to me. But David did his play on advantage.

Matthew 15: 11 -20

It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that makes him unclean and defiled, but what comes out of the mouth; this makes a man unclean and defiles [him].

So, things we eat can be unclean or defiled but:

Jeremiah 15:16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

Jeremiah ate the word of God. So, back to David and Nabal’s wife story. When Abigail knew she didn’t obey her husband, she went on to tell him the truth, when he was drunk, which consequently led to his death see verse 36 – 38

³⁶ When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So, she told him nothing at all until daybreak. ³⁷ Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him, and he became like a stone. ³⁸ About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

And this man said Abigail killed Nabal to be with David. I am like why put it on the woman’s head, since when is telling the truth a SIN. Anyway, he called for Nabal’s wife after Nabal’s death. see verse 39 – 40 and she came and married him. Happily, ever after you would think? But Abigail was joined to a wicked man, who was unmerciful and became joined to man, who was potentially covetous but righteous and the lord hand was on.

So, David this time repeat what Abigail did to Nabal on Uriah and Bathsheba. It almost, seem like the nature of Abigail was transferred to David. He was already covetous but didn’t harm Nabal. But this time, he harms Uriah. The pastor says it’s probably because Abigail killed Nabal. So, it’s only fair to think David could harm Uriah being joined to a woman like Abigail in marriage has its pecks it seems.

So, what we eat can be Gods word, food, the kind of women we choose, the kinds of people we meet and it’s not just an apple in the garden of Eden, that is good or evil, it is when we go against Gods command in our hearts. whether Nabal’s wrongdoing was on his own head as the scriptures suggest. There are things better left unsaid. But you can’t ask a woman to stay with a man who has sold his destiny. When you as a man cannot stand that same man as a man. A woman in distress is a damsel in distress, but a woman married to man she thinks is a fool and everyone knows is a fool, is even more dangerous. Money doesn’t buy honor. It’s on the grounds of love marriage is formed and honor breaks out from there.

But God reward every man according to his way, if a man defiles another man’s wife or looks at a woman adulterously in Jesus voice it is sin. So, every man mouth will be shut he brings us all to humility. It’s what David in Abigail that consumed him. And we think Adam is the biggest fool who ate wrongly.

So, its whatever a man decides to call unclean that becomes unclean to him, David decided to call Nabal’s wife clean and even it defiled him later, his faith could carry it, Afterall he was righteous in the sight of God. But Joseph, would not let Potiphar defile him, his faith could not take it. So, he did not eat. One thing is for sure, the eye of man is never satisfied. Proverbs 27: 20. Deductively, it could be argued that Nabal being a wicked man transferred his wicked nature to his wife after all the two have become one flesh. And she wanted someone more noble than him, David imparted his righteousness to her and well, we can’t say but he chooses. Abraham gave Melchizedek and

Genesis 14: 18 – 20

¹⁸ And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

¹⁹ And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

²⁰ And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

So, Abigail gave David and preserved him from murder. It’s only fair she shows kindness to one the lord favors… the way of this world is not straight afterall.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1: 30

As I breeze through the scriptures, and then study them – One of the big things in writings is you see the struggles of the writer even without the writer specifically telling us about them.

Solomon, it seems struggled with adulterous women, his writings are full of advice on this as well as fornication see his writings Proverbs 2: 16, Proverb 5, Proverb 6: 20 – 35, Prov 7: 5, 10 -27. It mostly dealt with Solomon it seems.

With Paul, it clear that through his writings he had issues with conceit, hence the scripture to keep him from being in pride a messenger of satan was given to him to keep him from being boastful. 2 Corinthian 12 vs 1, 5, 6. He was very cautious of boasting like it afflicted him 2 Cor 12 vs 7, 9. 2 Corinthians 11 vs 16, 17; 2 Cor 10 vs 8, 14, 15, 2 Corinthians 9: 2, 2 Cor 8: 24, 2 Cor 7: 14, 2 Cor 5 vs 12, 1 Cor 15: 3. In general, Paul struggled with conceit, and it was all over his writings, both good and bad boasting, pride, he was aware of it seems and tried to be cautious since it was his weakness. Daniel, it seems had weak faith around the things given to foreigners and given to him, he had presumptuous sins (See Daniel for more details), he was also cautious of it.

Reading these writing made me realize, David though he had many wives, didn’t have issues with adulterous women except Bathsheba, and Solomon was born from an adulterous woman; and struggled with adultery and fornication. No matter the advice, his mother given to him by his mother; it seems that Solomon could not help himself and sin begat sin, till he died spiritually. God ceased to speak with Solomon. Where sin gives birth to sin, it multiplies sadly.

Elizabeth and Zechariah were priestly, yet during Elizabeth pregnancy Zechariah could not speak, because he wanted to speak unbelief and so he became dumb for a while. Despite, having a priestly heritage, he still had the same doubt as his father, when he asked Jesus are you the savior who is to come. Matthew 11: 3. He baptized Jesus, preached the kingdom of God and still doubted Jesus was the Saviour. The same doubt and unbelief his father showed upon his conception. THE LAW IS HARD.

We are under grace, but we are lost without God. Even hopeless, because the law is perfect and reveals our weaknesses.

Job 28: 28 And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’

Proverbs 8: 13 to fear the lord is to HATE what is evil.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding has all they that do his commandments: his praise endure forever.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 3: 3

Let love and faithfulness never leave you.
    bind them around your neck,
    write them on the tablet of your heart.

The writing on the wall

“The writing on the wall“, or “the handwriting on the wall”, or “the writing is on the wall” or “Mene Mene“, is an idiom for “the future is predetermined” and is generally implied that a bad event is imminent.

Summary

Sometimes, people think I post because I like to stress myself to write, am I that selfless? If not for the love of God, would I write, so, I would take my time to write for free and give free knowledge because of popularity, or fame? an irony. The natural me, does not care if you are ignorant forever. 1) Because people hate the truth and 2) you are judging me right now saying how can God use you and how can you say that? so, you are no better than me. So, judge its God judgement I fear not yours. If God tells me feed my sheep, you think it’s because of fame, I am writing. I know very well that I am not ok and there’s is madness in my heart according to Solomon.

In 1 Corinthians 9 vs 13

 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. ¹⁶ For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul right to discharge the truth required a reward as his right but he did not insist on it. I Corinthians 9 vs 19, 23

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

So as the spirit says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³ They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 1 Timothy 4: 1-3.

So as people abandon their faith, and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. They forbid people to marry by causing them to abstain from certain food (like I said uncleanliness is ascribed to food and people see 1 Acts 10: 13- 17) when it is said ” For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. ” But under the law there are:

Psalm 51:17 what the lord requires: the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

1 Corinthians 9 vs 1

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? ² Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely, I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Footnotes

Songs

Before, the church there was fellowship, evangelism, and when the COVID vaccine 19 came where the majority of the church agreed to comply with the government commands to close the church. Some religious churches were more concerned about the buildings closing than the people getting their spiritual means met. When Jesus was chased out of the synagogue, he started preaching at the mountain. (So, gathering is fulfilled). When the COVID 19 came and they told ministers to not open, my pastor told people to sit out in open space and preached like a crusade. If you worry about building being closed than people being fed the purpose is defeated.

• Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit 31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. – Luke 4: 31 – 34
• Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Matthew 10: 1

We see hear Jesus had Authority over anything that was not clean as he was. Over unclean spirits.

We see this Authority given back to Man at first (not power, he returns power to govern self-back to man when he died).

Paul further states “He assures them that he’s not ashamed of the authority the Lord gave him to build them up, not tear them down. Paul warns against those who commend themselves and measure themselves by one another, labelling such behavior as lacking understanding.” – 2 Corinthians 10:7-12

So most, time when we see authority we see cleanliness next. Romans 13 talks about authority and submission to government, then Romans 14 talks about what make us weak and strong from the standpoint of what we eat i.e. what we consider clean or unclean. Romans 14: 14.

Acts 10:13-17 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has [ a] cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. ⁹ Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, ¹⁰ but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your^[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”

So, things that are unclean can be food, people or things that are presumptuous from our culture, traditions or laws. The main thing is that anything your faith does not carry then do not pick it up. SIMPLE.

So, when a government, may tell people to take COVID and some people may not have faith to take the vaccine; taking them will make them weak in faith and may cause them to stumble. So, why take it when you fear? After all perfect love casts out fear, when Daniel had resolved eating the king’s meat would defile him, the officials had compassion on him. Compassion is a form or expression of Love in Kindness. Again, a rule of law came from the king (Authority) told them to eat food from the kings table, but Daniel taught it would defile him (Unclean).

So, this is my judgement according to, 2 Corinthians 9 vs 3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink? ⁵ Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas^[a]? ⁶ Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

So here we see Paul demanding for his right to get paid for preaching, but because demanding his right will hinder the gospel or cause others to stumble; he doesn’t insist on it. ^{1 Corinthians 9 vs 7} Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 

So, I am more concerned about individual rights than church rights. I am more concerned about the freedom in Christ being preserved in the gospel, than the merger with government house. Church came from Fellowship and fellowship from discipleship, but it is the people that make up the church that makes Christianity what it is.

Scepter (Authority), Law giver (God) and his gift with tranquility comes with obedience of his people through Yeshua.

Songs

The Authority Jesus had was he came as a man to take back the authority Adam lost, by receiving a judgement that was unjust, so he could be condemned to hades (underground); where demons were to make a show of them, to get back the keys of life and death to restore man from death back to LIFE in Christ; to put in chains demons. Thats, how far Jesus’s love goes for us is, he stripped himself of his authority and power to RESTORE US back to God. Now he stands as an intercessor i.e. both as God and man making intercession to give life to us (a lost and dying world). He bore death through crucifixion for all who want to come to him. No one cometh to the father except through me. John 14: 6

Sometimes, when we have not sacrificed something for God, we may never understand his love.

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:

1. Just as the father is always at his work to this very day, Jesus is always working in us.
2. 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
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.

Songs

the House of Saul – 2 Samuel 3

the house of David – 2 Samuel 3

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

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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.

Siting at the Lord right hand is resting Salem means peace. see Hebrew Word of the Day – Jerusalem – יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (jerusalemprayerteam.org)

Back to 1 Chronicles 28

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.

1 Corinthians 15: 54 – 58 Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord | and ALWAYS giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord, | knowing their labor is not in vain. (why will Elohim say knowing our labor is not in vain, because he knows we may feel our labor for him is in vain).

This was the church sermon today: Anything we do with an act of faith in Elohim whether it is praying, giving, ministering, healing, helping and fasting we ought to do it with steadfastness. Because even in difficult situations Daniel prayed and remained steadfast, trusting in God that he would not bow to the idol. Whatever situation we find ourselves in we can persevere knowing God’s promise and trust in him to deliver us.
Jobs perseverance showed his steadfastness until God came to his rescue, we ought not to be led by the flesh, trusting in what we see how dire our situation saying this person hurt me and I am not coming to church, but we keep trusting in GOD to deliver us.

To be steadfast in tough situation one has to be prayerful, perseverance and trust in God which increases our faith in God, if we come through and do not loose heart.

Galatian 2 vs 9, 6 vs 9 Dorcas took care of widows until her last days, when she was resurrected by Peter. Before the Shummamite woman met Elijah, she encouraged herself in the Lord. 2 kings 4: 8 – 37. The child was brought back to life. These examples are some of the most hopeless situations that seem out of our control.

Reflections

wasn’t the road to gold, or riches but the road to calvary where we carry our cross to follow him (Yeshua). Matthew 16: 24 – 26, if we are to follow him, we have to take up our cross and follow him & when we do if its heavy for us, he still says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. When we are weary from being spat at like him and mocked as him, he takes our yoke and gives us light burdens that’s how merciful he is. And the beauty of our savior – Jesus. How many know for Jesus to carry the cross wasn’t easy, and he still chooses to bear our burdens when we are heavy laden, the beauty of a steadfast savior – abounding, persevering, immovable at the cross and should all be like Simon the Cyrene taking up our cross to follow him.

S – Galatians 5: 1

T – Ephesian 6: 13

E – Psalm 127

A – Psalm 103 : 12

D – James 4: 8

F – John 3: 16

A – Joshua 24: 15

S – Matthew 6 : 33

T – Proverbs 3: 5 -6

when we think about the steadfastness of the lords love towards, don’t we want to be as he is as he is so am I in this world. 1 John 4:17.

Songs

Jim Gilbert- The Steadfast Love Of The Lord (Medley) (Hosanna! Music) (youtube.com)

All The Way to Calvary He Went For Me w lyrics (youtube.com)