Yah's word made flesh

Matthew 26:42 
He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, your will be done.”

Every day, we learn something new and one of them is “obedience through what we suffer” is submission to the cross. so, Jesus became the eternal source to ALL who obey him. Jesus himself obeyed likewise asked the church to obey. Unlike some men. So, 3 scriptures have been popping up to me.

The first scripture is 1 Chronicles 28: 12

12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. 
1 Chronicles 28: 19
“All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the LORD’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.”

So, God gave David the plan for the temple of the lord, but Solomon his son and God’s son executed it. Solomon was typically a man with many women having drinking problems too. A wise king with discernment he lost through women and subsequently hardened his heart to hearing God voice – I wonder if we know someone like that! So, the Lord hand was on David to do the writing and understand the plan to give it to Solomon his son.

The Second Scripture is Acts 9 and 10:

13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9: 13 - 19

In my life, people have often questioned why I would have mercy, and I am like in this case because he is a chosen instrument, and he will eventually suffer more for Christ name. So, it will give me good pleasure to hand over power graciously like Ananias and Paul as the baton has changed hands, from David to Solomon, Saul to Paul. It strikes me that Ananias means Yah’s grace, which is my English name. So, I will gladly forgive as I know when he knows as much as I know to build a house for the lord, he will suffer more than I have to relinquish power is not bad, if it serves for the greater good of God kingdom. But the kingdom of God from the time of John the Baptist suffereth violence and the violent taketh it by force. David, a king who knew the art of spiritual warfare would tell his son how to destroy his enemy without fighting. It took Ananias 3 days to get to Paul.

Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’” - 2 Kings 20 vs 2 - 6

Hezekiah was already ill, and 15 years was added to his life and there was peace and prosperity in his lifetime until his remnant were taken as Eunuch to Babylon as predicted by prophet Isaiah. Which we see in Daniel. Who know how long we have here on earth. And yes, we have to apply wisdom to our heart to number our days. Doing Gods will. The heart of a king as Hezekiah is to do Gods will.

Sometimes, it not that all things are not possible is that there are cups we have to drink, and his blood is what we share. Afterall, Nehemiah was also the cup bearer of the King. And I think this what surrender is. All things are lawful unto me but all things but not expedient, and I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12.

A wise king who lost discernment…A prodigal son who returns to the father. To whom much is given much is expected as they say. I had thought I had wrestled with God and prevailed (as Jacob) without realizing to really give God the victory would require submission to his plan.

Songs:

It’s wise to know you can’t touch Gods anointed. David wont and advisably one shouldn’t.

Thus, the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.  Joshua 21: 43 

Booker T. Washington describes meetings an ex-slave from Virginia in his book UP from Slavery: “I found that this man had made a contract with his master, 2 or 3 years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased. Finding he could secure a better wage in Ohio, he went there. When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master of some 300 dollars. Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, this man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands. In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken. He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom until he had fulfilled his promise.”

In our passage, God proves faithful in fulfilling every promise. He had made to the children of Israel: to give them the land of Canaan (Genesis 12: 1-7, 15:18); to give them rest (Exodus 33: 14) and to give them dominion over all their enemies (Deuteronomy 7:24). All were fulfilled to the letter (Joshua 21: 45)

Those of us who are beneficiaries of the grace of God purchased through Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary now enjoy better covenant based upon better promise from God. Christ has secured us victory over our enemies – sin, sickness, diseases, failures, poverty etc.

The promises of God are sure, dependable and unfailing. If we trust him, we shall not be ashamed nor confounded (Isaiah 45: 17)

It is impossible for God to fail, only humans fail.

Songs:

As I said, I have been doing readings relating to marriage. I really don’t know why this felt like it was a warning from God to me. I had heard people say in my previous place of work that only a MAN could initiate divorce not the woman. Yesterday, my eyes opened again. My previous manager was talking to me about divorce and had me look at 1 Corinthians 7: 10 -11. As usual men in our country seek out scripture that they can use to subjugate women almost 95% of the time. Why this fear is beyond me, but as my usual self I threw the fear back to him.

1 Corinthians 7:10–11 provides guidance on marriage and separation:
A wife is not to depart from her husband.
But if she does depart, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband.
A husband is not to divorce his wife

His argument to me was purely because I was Christian, he clearly God meant the wife was not to separate from her husband to reduce pollution. That she cannot initiate a divorce according to him, she could only SEPARATE and if she does this, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. Only the husband according to him could divorce the wife. A broken man he was but he was saying the TRUTH, apparently divorce makes men wiser carnally.

As I scanned through Matthew 19; and how God talked about marriage that it is possible for hearts to be hardened in marriage; Matthew 19:9 popped out to me ” And I say unto you, whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Apparently, the whoever Jesus was talking about was men (meaning only the man can put away or divorce his wife). Nothing was said about the womans right to divorce. Biblically she only could separate but not initiate divorce.

At this point, I started seeing how God is good and has been good to me over the years. at the point we surrender our lives to Jesus or submit to him. He has been looking out for us, protects us, shield us from bad situations, strengthens us when we are weak, gently corrects us. I once had the notion that covering my head in church meant I was giving my glory to men in the church, so I never covered it, until I saw this verse:

For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth.
6 The Lord will call you back
    as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
    only to be rejected,” says you - Isaiah 54: 5

I realized he was talking about unmarried women and deserted wives. Apparently, they are married and unmarried women are the rejects of societies, and the lord is their husband. Apparently, Isaiah 54: 1 “Sing, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child.
burst into song, shout for joy,
    you who were never in labor.
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.

Spoke that God is our glory while we are unmarried, and I started making effort to cover my hair as it simply meant I did not take the glory, but God does, he is the glory and the lifter of my head. If one was married that typically went to the man. He is a gentle teacher with no condemnation, we can always depend on God, and he will always be there for us:

Everyone pales in comparison to who Jesus is to me. while men fear for physical things, God seeks a woman who will serve him selflessly. One governed by fear and the other governed by love. I cannot wait to see Jesus and David. So, I say be it unto me according to your word for I am absolutely in love with Jesus. I am a man under authority after all and with God there are no male or female but on earth it exists as this.

While marriage is not bad, one would submit to God rather than men and well the affection of a woman would be for her husband (leading to insecurity and vulnerability; probably 50:50 for a godly woman), her glory goes to the man, and he obtains favor too from God too, as a married woman your image is that of your husband but if you are single your image is that of Jesus directly. I enjoy using Jesus’ strength, his spirit and his very power. In marriage, the man assumes the woman gives him strength, but all a godly woman can give a man is power through his spirit. Except you find a woman who has taken the strength from a man Proverbs 31:3-4 and if that strength is not polluted, because strength is only gotten through suffering. Women get strength from men and men get wisdom from women- as wisdom has two sides (godly and worldly wisdom) and if the woman is godly, she gives power. But suffering is how a man develop strength.

Thats why in our country men have power but no strength because strength comes with discipline; and clearly there are little or no men with strength here. Discipline takes training, practice and pain a thing most weak men can’t do.

Songs

1 Chronicles 28:19-20 “All this,” David said, “I have in writing as a result of the LORD’s hand on me, and he enabled me to understand all the details of the plan.” David also said to Solomon his son.

Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon. And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. -Ruth 4:9, 10

I have been bumping into marriages or courtships lately. And so, the next two writings will be about them. During World War II, a German businessman, Oskar Schindler, saved the lives of more than a 1000 Jewish refugees by employing them in his factories. Schindler initially employed Jewish workers as a way to save money and increase his profits, but he eventually became deeply involved in their welfare and safety. He spent his money and risked his life to protect these helpless Jews from being sent to the Concentration Camp. When Schindler died in October 1974, many of those whose survival he facilitated – and their descendants – lobbied for and financed the transfer of his body for burial in Israel.

Recently, it’s been a wave within me, right some decisions have to be made and well a dive into Gods perspective was needed. I had a job in my city and 2 come outside with the ones outside and I sought the lord whether I should go, and he said not. I should decline the offer. So, a new offer for a training came in today. Sometimes it feels like someone walking on traps, careful where one places their feet.

Our passage reveals how Ruth worked in the fields of a wealthy landowner named Boaz, who showed her kindness and care as a stranger, not knowing at the time who she was, Meanwhile, when the mother-in-law got to know that it was Boaz, a near family member of Elimelech, her late husband, she was pleased and instructed Ruth on how to approach Boaz to become the kinsman-redeemer for them. Boaz eventually bought them out of their debt and took Ruth as his wife, acting upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem an impoverished relative from his or her circumstances. (Leviticus 25: 47 – 49)

In Christ, we are all one family sent to relieve one when one is weak as Mahlon translate to mean man of weakness, the to be a new husband of quickness (Boaz) who is the pillar before the temple.

The whole humanity is enslaved to sin. Jesus Christ, our kinsman – redeemer came, paid the debt on the cross and redeemed us through his blood. If you are willing to accept him as your Lord and Savior, He will redeem you from whatever debt of sin you owe.

Deductions.

Sometimes, Grace to one is the loss of another. Mahlon’s loss was Boaz gain, Christ loss is our gain.

Jesus is our nearer kinsman has paid the price in full.

Ruth was Mahlon’s inheritance and Boaz had to raise up the name of the dead upon his cousin’s inheritance to inherit his inheritance. Sometimes, to get another’s inheritance like Jacob did with Esau one has to either hate their inheritance, the Jews did it and so the gospel moved to the gentiles or die spiritually to lose your inheritance. After all, you cannot bind a strong man. “First bind the strong man” is a phrase from the Bible, specifically Mark 3:27 KJV and Matthew 12:29 KJV. The verse says that “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

We see Mr. Schnider being treated as a Jew because they saw him as a friend. It’s funny that the meaning of Ruth is “compassionate friend”, Boaz is a pillar before the temple (David) meaning quickness and Mahlon means “a man of weakness/sickness) all these were taking place in Elimelech (my God is king).

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”
26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.

The soul is intertwined with the spirit (called heart), so when God says “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” Ezekiel 18: 20. Due to the fact that God said my spirit will not always strive with man: Genesis 6: 3. Therefore, he had to put his spirit in man (the Holy spirit known as the spirit of truth that guides/instruct us in all things, John 16: 13. (so when part of our soul sins and died our soul is in us through the Holy spirit (revival happens)). Because if we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

1st God the father who is spirit and in him there is no variableness James 1: 17. So, God has no distortions. 2nd God also has emotions (used in Judgement) as his body (3) is revealed in the person of Jesus to us John 14:9. God’s presence is called the ark of the lord, Moses – plague, standing in the fire with Daniel and his friend (the 4th man in the fire), Uzza and David (I Samuel 16). So, when judgement; the spirit of God takes the form of fire (Judgement is then revealed, in the New Testament it is called tongues of fire). But his spirit/ presence is called a comforter John 14: 26, here is called holy ghost because as a spirit God judges things like if an offering is pleasing and then consumes it with fire! So, when comforts us it’s as a ghost and not spirit.

As God is spirit, dwells in a body and lives through us in our soul renewal by his spirit. So, if we are made in Gods image, definitely our members and components would be as his. so, if a man’s spirit lives in a body and has a soul; but the soul is also intertwined with the spirit but as man soul sinned in Adam it died. Hence, the spirit of God is to come in as the Holy spirit to quicken the soul & spirit. Jesus as God body revealed to us, the holy spirit as the soul and God the father as the spirit. As the human soul is healed and at rest (the ark of the covenant is at rest), then we are at rest, so our spirit can be revived (peace that passes all understanding, help us see our state spiritually). This is why when the spirit of God is demanding holiness and comes as the holy spirit he can be grieved. He acts as the emotional conductor of God in us, telling us, this desire from that emotion is not good for us or is good for us. He is sad when we do wrong and happy when we do right by purging our dead conscience from dead works. It was the infilling of that JESUS was endued with when he was baptized. He represents the power of God in us. this is why it manifest as tongues of fire and can bring judgement (see Elijah 2 Kings 1:12), so you have two tongues: your natural tongues: language to prophecy and your spiritual tongue: speaking in an unknown tongue. Then we can speak things into existence because the life of God is revealed to us through the spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.

The Holy Spirit gives comfort to us in sorrow and grief, this is why guilt offering were made in the Old Testament. Our emotions can die (similarly, the Holy spirit can be grieved and remain quiet). Because it is his spirit that corrects man, and that is why we struggle to do what is right even when we know what the spirit is leading us to do even with confirmation of his word (hence the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak and thus striving with God as in Genesis 6:3). Emotion is the seat of the soul; it can be volatile, happy, sad, angry, sober and calm, moody and glad. Thus, the spirit of God manifests in our spirit (that is weak in sin) and speaks to our soul which if it obeys the body overcomes sin. The body being Jesus (we see and share of him through communion), soul -> the Holy ghost as Ghost is linked with the soul of man as it grieves or is sorrowful and then the spirit of God searches the condition of the heart. so, it is called Holy ghost when the spirit searches the man to see what aileth the man. We see this with the prophet Elisha and the children he cursed because they laughed at him in the Old Testament, since he was under the anointing of the Holy spirit and spoke and judgement preceded next but in the New Testament, he endues us with power so we can cast out demon i.e. command authority. Remember the Mark 17: 19-21 Jesus could cast out demons, but his disciples could not: why Jeus had received the spirit of God during his baptism and his disciples had not. Secondly, he fasted and prayed to starve his flesh. Similarly, Noah enactment on his son Ham. He spoke through his emotions in anger and judgement because he had consumed the wrong kinds or drinks/spirit. He was sober but not from the spirit of God but spirit in drinks, so he spoke through his emotions wrongly.

The large rock on which the levities set the ark of the LORD is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh. (The rock is Jesus, the ark of the Lord (the holy spirit)) astute representation of God the father in symbols (I Samuel 6 vs 18). 70 of the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh were struck because they looked into the ark of the lord, Uzzah was struck because he touched the ark of Covenant of God, and 5000 men died when Moses came down from mount Sinai to see them worshipping the golden calf? You may ask every time some hurts our emotions, it is like someone touching our inner self; every time tries to read our emotions or minds; we become defensive or hurt us emotionally it’s like touching our hearts, the same goes with God’s feelings are expressed differently.

I have heard of couples whose spouse killed the other because one of the spouses cheated. Deuteronomy 22:22-23. God also has emotions that’s why the holy spirit acts as his emotions; and we say we don’t understand God; but do you understand the feelings of everyone and thus yourself. Thus, there is no searching of Gods ways. when we do not listen to the Holy spirit, we can grieve him, and he won’t forgive. Matthew 12: 31 because he is a helper with our weaknesses and saying harmful words to those who help you makes the person sad. Just imagine, someone’s helping you, but you continuously use harsh words/ blame words on them at some point you will grieve them. It’s because the Holy spirit acts as the emotion of God in us helping us in our weaknesses.

This is also why God says I am a Jealous God, Exodus 20: 5 after he saw the Israelites bowing to the golden calf. He got Jealous and 5,000 people died that day in mount Sinai under the law. However, grace covers us now until we wear it thin, and the law is enacted by continuous sin. Hence, the law: You shall have no other gods but me; this is why in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 22 said if another man steals another man’s wife, the wrath of God will be revealed on the other man and God will help the innocent man enact the judgement on the other man (laws). But this shows you not just the emotion of God but his dislike for sin as it wounds the human conscience both ways (guilt in one person and betrayal in the other). But we are under grace, so we leave God to judge or follow his instructions. This is why people say under ministration that somebody touch their soul; but physically a song cannot touch you it moves us close to God, but we say it touches us why? or you hear people say “Just a touch from God” how?

Here’s why Uzzah touched the ark of the covenant with his bare hands, it killed him instantly. Though it was not intentionally done by Uzzah, they were instructed to hold it with their shoulders and under the law instant disobedience meant instant judgement. This is why when you offend someone without grace or mercy they will retaliate because they are under the law not grace. Hence, Jesus says to whom has receives little love (from God) loves little. The fear of God entered David that day. Lastly, at Beth Shemesh they peeked into the ark of the covenant (most people want to see how being in the presence of God is like without being holy) and God struck 70 of them. As we as humans know how it feels like when someone uninvited see through our emotions or as they say now vulnerabilities; this is what the people of Beth Shemesh were doing.

Just as David took the ark of the covenant to Obededum house, the ark of God to Kiriath Jearim (the men there) the consecrated Eleazar son to guard the ark of God. (It was there 20 years as it was there 3 months Obededum place) when we see the emotions of God, man runs/ dies (fear or judgement due to us realizing our sins or we are committing sin boldly). Hence, the people of Israel turned back to the Lord.

This is why the first place Gods spirit is revealed (not felt as with Noah’s ark) as a HELP as Jesus called the Holy Spirit a HELPER (John 16: 26) as with woman (I guess they say that women are emotional and are continual droppings. Proverbs 27: 4). 1 Peter 3:7 if the woman is not considered the man’s prayer is not answered, similarly if you grieve the Holy spirit, it as good as gone. And they are called HELPERS and work as emotional support that comforts. In I Samuel 7: 12 between Mizphah and Shen, Ebenezer, the lord has helped us. They had sinned and only by understanding God’s emotion can we understand ours.

Samuel knew how to call on God as his HELPER. And typically, all the days of his life he never married but he held the courts for ISRAEL AND built an altar to the Lord. In the lifetime, the hand of the lord (helped) him against the Philistine.

Deductions

Some men see the face of God but when the hand of God is revealed in a man life help is seen. This is why we say the Lord hand has helped me (EBENEZER). The very position of the woman in the church is 3 (Jesus, the man, the woman) and it is the position of the Holy spirit in the trinity. This is why women do exactly what the Holy spirit does “When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me;  about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

My pastor once said men feel like orphan once they leave home and I’m like you don’t know how right you are ” John 14:16-30 ERV. Once the hand of God is revealed in a man’s life as its the hand that made the woman a helper is seen. Also, why women talk more as the spirit of God has tongues.

Songs:

Memory verse: Proverbs 1: 8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

This why many women teach (known as teachers) and not preachers. SELAH!

Nehemiah 9:20
“You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them,
Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth,
And You gave them water for their thirst.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/The-Holy-Spirit-As-Teacher

At 16, environmental activist Jada “Molai” Payeng saw hundreds of dead snakes, the victims of a major drought occurring on Majuli Reserve – the world’s largest river island located in the Brahmaputra River in India.

Horns of Manoa, Set Apart but Yet connected to the Rock at the base.

Even at such a young age he knew that someone had to do something. So, in 1979, at 16 – years old, he started planting a tree sapling a day in the barren soil. Now over 40 years later, his forest covers 1,390 acres – approximately the size of 15 football stadiums. Jadav left behind his formal education to give all his attention to the forest. His consecration “I will plant till my last breath” saw it all.

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24: 15

The kind of exemplary consecration to a worthy cause, which will always make a difference in life and ministry is what we find in the life of Joshua. In this passage, the children of Israel were excited at the time, having defeated all their enemies and settled in the Promise Land. But it was also a tempting time for them, given the possibility of forgetting God and adopting the idolatrous lifestyles of their Canaan Neighbours. Hence, Joshua called them to ponder on God’s faithfulness right from the Patriarchs’ time and confronted them to either choose to serve God exclusively or the gods of the Amorites while declaring his own personal resolve to serve the Lord with his household. Their promise to cleave unto the Lord made Joshua to make Joshua to make a covenant with the people that day.

It is often very easy for people to make promises to serve God, only to renege and return to their old ways due to challenges. Are you fully ways due to challenges. Are you fully persuaded about your decision to follow the Lord to the end? Our commitment to serve God should be for our lifetime, with no strings attached.

A wholesome consecration is one that can stand the test of time. We simply cannot live through our desires concerning the things of the spirit. Our desires are tired to our emotions, what we want, not what God wants.

Summary

Love died alone (consecrated) to give us life’, so that we can die on the ground alone (to sin) John 12: 24, to produce seed or works of righteousness we have to die to self, that the power of God will be revealed in us (as the power of God raised Jesus from the dead). Hence, the scriptures buried in weakness and raised in strength.

1 Corinthians 15: 43

Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.

The sin we commit is in the flesh, as 1 Corinthians 15: 43, hence, it affects the soul “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” – Leviticus 17: 11, Hence, the soul that sinneth it dies spiritually (Ezekiel 18: 20). But the Good news is through consecration, due to Romans 8:3-4″ for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

We repeatedly, live in the spirit like Romans 8 says and die as the song implies. Now some Christians have removed dying, because as Jesus said to the pharisees they are prepared to die in their sins. (Ezekiel 3: 19 – 21, John 8: 24 – 32).

 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” - Judges 11: 30, 31

As the wealthy oil tycoon lay on his death bed, his pastor talked of God’s healing power. “Pastor.” he gasped, “if God heals me, I will give the church a million dollars. Miraculously, the man got revived. When we come to God like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22. we are faced with the things we have to give up for the sake of God. Wealth, we have built by our strength, by theft, by lies as Habakkuk 2: 18 – 20 says:

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.
19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver.
    there is no breath in it.”
20 The Lord is in his holy temple.
    let all the earth be silent before him.

So, when we raise idols built by our hands i.e. mammoth, that teaches us to lie to gain wealth, we will seek guidance from inmate things because it builds your image (how you see yourself) BECAUSE your trust is in its creation (man, man’s voice and what man creates). When we build idols from ourselves, from things other than Gods hands it will lead or guide us to sin through pride. Hence the scripture, if the lord doesn’t build a house the laborers labor in vain. Psalm 127: 1. Everyman has a builder (God, himself or other things) and he builds based on what builds him. If wealth builds you, you will build others by wealth.

 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.  Hebrews 3:4-6

Jesus came and saw the temple made/built with precious stones, he said I will tear down this building and in 3 days I will rebuild it. Do you have buildings you have to tear down. So, the lord will rebuild you. John 2:19, Do precious stones build you, does bloodshed build you, Habakkuk 2: 12, Nehemiah was a rebuilder of walls and Jerusalem. Who build you, is it what builds your city? or is it the cornerstone that was rejected that build you, or will you say like the men in Genesis 11: 4 Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. What builds you creates your image; would you destroy the image that speaks lies and ask God to rebuild you?

Sometimes, people hide their broken images behind precious stones, some money, some lies and others Jesus.

Back to the story, Miraculously, the man who was revived as some believers when they fall out of sin, was out of the hospital. One day, several month later, he and the pastor chatted on the sidewalk in front of a hardware store. “You know,” the Pastor said, “when you were in the hospital dying, you promised to give the church a million dollars if you got well. We haven’t got it yet. “Did I say that?” the tycoon asked. “I guess that goes to show how sick I really was!”.

In our passage, we are confronted with the story of Jephthah, who vowed that if he defeated the Ammonites, he would sacrifice the first thing that came out of his house to God when he returned home. His daughter, who was his only child, was the one who greeted him on his return. This was highly regrettable to Jephthah, as his only daughter remained unmarried and knew no man till her death.

Today, there are many people who in the heat of emotion or personal challenges have made hasty promises to God, which they later found difficult to fulfill. However, once they get what they want, they forget or pile up excuses why they would not be able to keep their vows.

It is instructive to note that though the vow was difficult for Jephthah, but as a man of integrity, he fulfilled his vow. God is them. We must not make rows we find difficult to keep (Deuteronomy 23: 21; Ecclesiastics 5: 4). Always be thoughtful and patient before you open your mouth before the Lord. Avoid making rash vows based on emotions.

We are only as Good as our words and our words are to be built in God. So, our builder can build us.

Matthew 7:24-29, Psalm 9, Psalm 13-18: So, today I ask as with Galatians 1 who builds you? whose voice do you hear? where do Gods word ring when in doubt, worry and fear creeps in? See more scriptures relating to building here: 15 Bible verses about Builders (knowing-jesus.com)

When God chooses people, from the face of the earth as he treasured possession. you are the children of the Lord, your God. Deuteronomy 7: 6-11.

This tells us that when we are to be clean based on:

1. separation decided by God: when he said what was clean and what was unclean Deuteronomy 14: 11, hooves that are separate; God decides which animal with hooves are clean. Then he calls what is ceremonially unclean, what you eat that is unclean, Deuteronomy 14:21, but if what you want

Set apart by God makes us clean as we do his will. Romans 14:2 clearly tells us that ‘One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.’ So, Daniel 1: 8 – 11 “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.”

 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ¹² “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” we see here two things from Romans 13 and conclude on one. The conclusion is Romans 14: 14 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. the two things we see is that according to Romans 14: 2 Daniels faith was probably weak because he wanted to eat vegetable. Secondly, the scriptures say in our second observation Romans 14: 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. So, if one decides something/someone is clean i.e. all things God created are clean but if in eating it, causes someone else to stumble then don’t eat? why because it is not eating in faith. The idea of segregation is like a calf hoof (the split of it) spoken about in Number to denote separation or consecrations for the work of God. Not because it one hoof was bad, and the other was good. It simply meant God had to make something or someone better for his use.

So why then did Daniel believe eating the meat would defile him. The Israelite under the law had many ceremonial laws. In Nehemiah 5: 14-15 “Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year—twelve years—neither I nor my brothers ATE the FOOD allotted to the governor. ¹⁵ But the earlier governors—those preceding me—placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels^[a] of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.”

The Jews at the time were making an outcry that their leaders were selling their people out as slaves (Nehemiah 5 vs 8), they were asking King Artaxerxes to charge their people more interest and tax leading to the Jews having to sell vineyards, field and homes during famine. Therefore, they had no food this would lead to heavy burden being placed on the poor. so, Nehemiah would not eat the food nor wine because it was from heavy burdens of people where they lorded it over the people. He believed it would defile him and out of reverence for God he did not eat from the king’s food.

In verse 18 of Nehemiah 5, he says this “Each day one ox, six choice sheep and some poultry were prepared for me, and every ten days an abundant supply of wine of all kinds. In spite of all this, I never demanded the food allotted to the governor, because the demands were heavy on these people.” The long and short of the story is he made the Jewish leaders to take an oath not to sell their people.

Romans 14: 23 tells us what is clean and unclean, “But 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.” why you may ask because of the way we consider things. Romans 14: 6 tells one person may considers eating certain food (my friend used to say its sexual appetite because its food, but I tell him as long as its according to Gods will) as bad and another doesn’t. (perspectives). Someone may consider one day more sacred than another, and someone will consider every day alike. Also, Romans 14: 13 passing judgments on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister, can change one’s perspective. The devil did this he cast doubt on what God said to Eve, telling her if she ate, she would not die (the example has a negative connotation on what clean and unclean is) but it shows the effect of doubt. Even Judas doubted Jesus. So, there is an unhealthy doubt and healthy doubt but when it causes one to stumble when its healthy (what one eats and drinks Colossians 2: 16) it’s not good as it causes someone to fear and SIN, but when it’s an unhealthy doubt as with Satan asking eve to eat and disobey God, it caused her to stumble. The long and short of the story, God gave Eve an instruction not to eat the apple because it was not good for her, and she would die. It is only God who tells us what is good and what is not Good. This is why he gave the same ceremonial laws to the Israel because he was trying to test their obedience (Deuteronomy 14) for outward cleanliness (see Hebrew 9). However, if you don’t hear God say its unclean then it is not unclean, and we see this in Acts 10: 13 – 17. God said the wild beast is clean.

Excerpts:

God’s word is truth. Grace and truth appeared to all men and that truth is Jesus. the works he brought to us by the cross is GRACE. The voice of truth is the word of God made flesh in the person of Jesus Christ; the truth does not cause us to stumble it preserves us. The word became flesh and dwell amongst men, the truth preserves the work Jesus wrought for us and preserves us but telling people what to align with; what to choose brings condemnation, this is why the scripture says let no man insult you in what you eat or drink. so, when something is aligned with the truth of God’s word that all things is good and not unclean but brings condemnation to that person (stumbling) it is sin on the other person’s end. However, if it’s aligned with God instruction or words, it preserves the person. Doubt not confounded in truth leads to a lie and thus stumbling. This is why Thomas doubt had to be verified by the one who is true, and that truth is Jesus. So, he did not stumble but believed. I guess no one is as clean or should we say as holy as the lord, therefore one decides who is clean or unclean but the lord. For he is the Lord who sanctifies – Jehovah Mekoddishkem.

SONGS:

W.F Kumuyi

Deuteronomy 34: 10 Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

Catherine Millard wrote, ‘The Inner Courtroom of the US Supreme Court shows four marble bas-relief panels beneath the ceiling on each of the four walls. (much like the inner court of the temple called the sanctuary, where our conscience judges or convicts us) Each has particular story to tell. The pane directly above the bench where the Chief Justice and the eight Associate Justices are seated depicts “The Power of Government” and “The Majesty of the Law”. Between these two allegorical figures, the Ten commandments stand out in a position of prominence. ‘Justice, the Guardian of Liberty. ‘Is the title of the East pediment of the building, a stark reminder of the origin and basis for our American legal system is depicted in the central figure of Moses holding the two tables of the Old Testament Law, one in either hand. “A relief plaque of Moses is in the Chamber of the United States House of Representatives. It is one of twenty-three marble plaques placed there during the remodeling in 1949 – 1950.

Moses is honored in death. He is remembered as a prophet ‘whom the Lord knew face to face’. Of Importance also is his gentleness, humility and authenticity. God sent him to do unique signs and wonders in Egypt and before all Israel.

Also, Moses and Elijah were the two Old Testament figures who appeared with Christ on the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1-6). ‘The song of the Lamb’ (Revelation 15: 3). Notably, a plaque honoring Moses is placed conspicuously in the chambers of the US Supreme Court and the House of Representatives. What more incredible honor could there be? Your life is an open book to others who will read of your impact long after you have departed. You will be remembered for what you have done. The best honor is the one that lasts for all eternity, which God gives to his faithful servants in heaven.

Honour is earned and not imposed!

“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”  Romans 13:7

To see a typical example of honor imposed we look at the life of Paul in Act 23:

 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”  (it seems today is conscience day as a pointer to guilt or to God, first David was conscience (2 Samuel 24) stricken and Paul fulfilled his in good conscience). Then the high priest, Ananias commanded that Paul be stricken on the mouth. Paul then says to him ” God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”.

They were violating the law and judging Paul by it! Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!” then Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’^[a]”

Noteworthy, while respect physical laws, we honor spiritual laws and stand on it. Because the spiritual laws supercede the physical laws. Spiritual laws are bounded by love and so set us free in Christ however physical laws keeps us in chained as they are bounded in reasoning, we know but cannot do. The story of the bond woman and the free woman. Galatians 4:23-31, Romans 8 for more information.

Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, descended from Pharisees. I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷ When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸ (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.)

we see the religious leaders were asking Paul to honor the position of the high priest; however, Paul referenced the scriptures that said one is not to speak evil about their ruler and apologized thereafter. Paul honored the scriptures not the position however they wanted him to do the opposite.

Songs:

By W.F Kumuyi

And he gave some Apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers.  Ephesians 4:11

The telegraph, a British newspaper, reported that a flock of over 1,300 sheep “had to be rounded up by police in the Spanish city of Huesca after their shepherd fell asleep. According to city authorities, the police were alerted to the huge flock attempting to negotiate the streets in the center of Huesca at around 4.30 am on a Tuesday when a resident dialed Spain’s 112 emergency number. The police eventually found the herder, who was still peacefully slumbering. Together, the embarrassed shepherd and police officers finally extracted the sheep from the city and returned them to their pastures.

The duties of church shepherds are fully outlined in the scriptures. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are responsible for maturing the flock of Christ. They are to guide them, away from the danger of false teachers and their false doctrines, increase the congregation through evangelism and teach them the way of God.

The duties of church leaders require a lot of sacrifice. Shepherds do not give birth to sheep but provide the best pasture and nourishment, encouraging them to give birth, multiply and increase. Jesus’ command is ‘feed my sheep’, not ‘feed on my sheep’, as some ministers do today. The job of pastoring is not for the one with the best credentials but the one with the best character.

A lot must be done to keep the flock of Christ clean, pure and becoming more and more hostile to the flock. Thus, those who are charged with this sacred duty of caring for the flock must wake up from their slumber to serve the Master with utmost zeal and commitment.

Lazy men cannot do the work of shepherds.

So, we go to the story of David to see a shepherd who did not leave his sheep: 2 Samuel 24

God’s anger burned against Israel, we do not know why, so he incited King David to do a census count of the fighting men and enroll more from Dan to Beersheba. So, JOAB decides to ask David, why he is doing this but relents by praying that the lord their God multiply their troops a hundred times over, and that the eyes of the king would see it.

Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.” verse 17

So, David made an altar at Araunah the Jebusites threshing floor to stop the plagues. The key thing to note is David did not desert his sheep even though they were being punished by God. Why because from 2 Samuel 24: 1- 3 God was clearly angry with Israel, so he incited David, so Israel would be punished. Every shepherd God chooses never deserts the sheep; more like Jesus who says:

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  John 10:11-13

David did not leave his sheep, Jesus did not leave his ship, Moses did not leave his sheep; they all came back for them. All Shepherd including Jesus who is specifically a good shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep did not leave his sheep. David did not lay his life down for his sheep; he just did not desert them. So, he is a shepherd but not a good shepherd like Jesus. No shepherd leaves his sheep, and Jesus is the model example of a good shepherd we can all emulate.

Songs: