Master Problem-Solver

Olai Ramos Espiritu January 6 at 7:48pm Reply

All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader…. – 1 Samuel 22:2
God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God’s anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive?" I am the next king of Israel. Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him. Others began to hear of David’s successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn’t the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army — and an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David’s men into "mighty men of valor" (see 1 Chron. 11:10).
God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.
The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God’s way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God’s Kingdom — if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman

The Meaning of Communion

Jesus showed His authority by instituting major changes to the Passover service. He celebrated the Passover with His disciples but dared to change the ceremony. For the Christian it is very much simpler. Christ taught us thereby the true meaning of Passover. We must grasp this to enter in fully to our inheritance.

Jesus said He wanted earnestly to celebrate Passover. This is so He can explain it and bring the disciple’s into covenant blessings.

God instituded the Passover ceremony to remind of the deliverance of a nation from slavery in Egypt. This ceremony is the earliest of the Mosaic ceremonies. There was yet no Tabernacle No ten commandments no priesthood. It was simple enough. It was done in haste. Moses announced the judgement of the first born. From that moment there was need to hurry. That night the angel of death would come and judge every firstborn. This was just because we all come into the world condemned because of the sin of Adam. We soon ratify that with our own sins. So every one without exception was guilty and culpable. The only escape was by mercy and grace. God said they must sacrifice a lamb, put its blood on the door post. then roast it so they could eat it..

There was need for haste. The lamb must be slain and roasted. It must be eaten with bread and wine. Bread takes time to rise. The yeast has to ferment. Therefore the yeast was left out. The yeast also stood for sin. Jesus was unleavened bread that is sinless.( So the virgin birth is essent). ialJesus takes this ceremony and gives it a new twist when He applies it to Himself. He is saying He is about to die and that death is planned. It is essential because it completes the sacrifices of the Old Covenant. He says this wine is for a New Covenant . He is the sacrifice and the High Priest of this renewed religion.

The bread and wine are marvelously simple symbols but so full of meaning. The New Testament church celebrated daily the last supper or communion. This focuses our minds on the central issue. We need forgiveness of sins We need our iniquity dealt with thoroughly deep in our hearts. We need our bodies to be healed. We need our lives to be made prosperous . We need protection from enemies. All this was promised under Abraham’s covenant and carried through into the Deuteronomic Covenant given by Moses to Israel in the wilderness. All this is carried forward into the communion. The ceremony is not magic but it is powerful to create faith in the believer’s heart . That faith brings down the Grace of God to the believer. There are 613 commands. They become impossible for us but they are credited to us instead. Christ was made sin for us and cursed on the tree. Faith is accounted as righteousness. This is like the High Priest with filthy garments being given new clean clothes. So we become friends of God.

The genious of communion is that the elements, the bread and wine were readily available in homes. They were everday food. Remember if you want to celebrate this at home that there were in Egypt at the first Passover no priests yet. They were appointed later. So no special consecration of the bread and wine by priests is needed only reverence and faith from the believer. There is in the NT for this reason no emphasis on the bread being without yeast.

It is so important that we are positive in face of life’s difficulties and trials. The breaking of bread is a powerful picture for faith to lay hold of. To live victoriously and to achieve great things for God we must look unto Jesus. We must believe for all that the Word tells us is ours in Him. The Holy Spirit will open our understanding if our attitude is right before God. A channel of blessing will be opened with heaven. We are all priests if we have believed. We are all highly favoured by pure grace.

Matt 26

The Passover with the Disciples

⁷ Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

⁸ He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’"

⁹ And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

0 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.

1 And as they were eating, he said, "Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me."

2 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?"

3 He answered, "He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.

4 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

5 Judas, who would betray him, answered, "Is it I, Rabbi?" He said to him, "You have said so."

Institution of the Lord’s Supper

6 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."

7 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you,

8 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

9 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom."

Deuteronomy 28: Blessings for Obedience

"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

"The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

⁰ And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.

¹ And the LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

² The LORD will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

³ And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them,

Exodus 12: The Passover

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,

"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.

Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.

And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,

and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

"Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts.

⁰ And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.

¹ In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover.

² For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.

³ The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

⁴ "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

James 2

3 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.

Zechariah 3: A Vision of Joshua the High Priest

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

And the LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?"

Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.

And the angel said to those who were standing before him, "Remove the filthy garments from him." And to him he said, "Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments."

And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD was standing by.

And the angel of the LORD solemnly assured Joshua,

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.

No rhema word from God shall be without power Luke 1 :37

Ron Philips translation

With this the NIV agrees. I have checked the Greek in eSword (below)

The commoner translation that Nothing is impossible with God is a paraphrase. That is reasonable and good but loses the precision of the literal. Nothing is impossible with God that is true but specifically here there is the word RHEMA

Thayer

Luke 1:37

With God nothing shall be impossible (σὐκ ἀδυνατήσει παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ πᾶν ῥῆμα)

Ῥῆμα, word, as distinguished from λόγος, word, in classical Greek, signifies a constituent part of a speech or

The Rev. rendering of this passage is, therefore, right, though a little stilted: No word of God shall be void of power;

The statement is, Every (πᾶν) word of God shall not (οὐκ) be powerless.

The Holy Spirit speaks into our hearts a verse so we have spiritual understanding. That world glows for us and inspires us. Then we can be confident that it will infallibly come to pass in our lives.

Harvest Time International

WHEN GOD SPEAKS

There are two Greek words translated as "word" in the Bible. The Greek words are

"logos" and "rhema." "Logos" refers to the written Word of God. "Rhema" refers to the

living or life-giving Word of God. It was said of believers in the city of Berea:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the

word (rhema) with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures (logos)

daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)

This verse illustrates the relationship of the "logos" and "rhema" word. The "logos" or

written Word always agrees with the "rhema" or spoken, life-giving Word. This is how

you can know the voice you hear is from the Lord. A "rhema" Word from God usually

applies to a specific situation, meets a personal need, and provides individual guidance.

Because you recognize the Word as applying to a specific need or situation in your life, it

becomes a life-giving Word to you.

A "rhema" Word may be communicated through a sermon or a verse from the Bible

which suddenly strikes you with great meaning. It may be spoken to you by God through

the use of spiritual gifts. It may also be spoken in your inner spirit by the Lord. (You

will learn more about how God speaks through spiritual gifts and in your spirit in later

chapters.)

But remember: The "rhema" Word will always agree with the written Word of God. The

written Word of God is complete. Nothing is to be added to it or taken from it

(Revelation 22:18-19). When God speaks through the "rhema" Word it will always be in

harmony with His written Word.

Conclusion

The Xmas message is powerful. God does the impossible and marry is pregnant whilst still a virgin. Our religion is supernatural from the beginning. That’s good to know when the worlds system has failed. In New York the effect of the Credit Crunch is the children go without food. Feed the Children deliver food there to long queues.

God’s Word has creative power. The Angel speaks it and the miracle is done. There are many passages where we are taught to speak aloud God’s Word and hearing it produces faith which has the power of miracle because God has restored dominion to the son’s of our Second Adam, Jesus. That is what is taught in this Christmas verse. No word of God shall be void of power;

No one has had it as bad as this.

That’s how we feel in trial isn’t it. We feel alone and forsaken, But is that really true? Look at the psalmist’s experience. He is in the Valley of Tears (Baca).

The psalmist has gone through tough circumstances and this has given Him a desperate longing for revival. The form of religion can satisfy if life is easy but when you need answers to your prayers only the Living God will do. Most of us will be satisfied with believing in miracles in the Bible and not bother ourselves why they have stopped but when the going gets tough it is a different matter.

The writer of the psalm does not tell us exactly what the trouble was but clearly he had been weeping a great deal and felt very, very threatened. He even envied the sparrows nesting in the temple courts. He was not going to be satisfied with pious sentiment he wanted the fire of the real presence of God. He was praying for miraculous deliverance and it seems he got it. When we get real with God He gets real with us. He had a deep experience of God which is always the essential for miraculous deliverance. What God is about is our growth and deepening in our walk with Him. A trial is not a judgement for a child of God. As surely as pruning a rose makes it grow better so is a Christian’s trials.

Psalms 84:

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.

Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.

Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

0 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

1 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

2 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

NET

Psalms 84: For the music director; according to the gittith style; written by the Korahites, a psalm.

How lovely is the place where you live, O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL!

I desperately want to be in the courts of the LORD’s temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.

Even the birds find a home there, and the swallow builds a nest, where she can protect her young near your altars, O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL, my king and my God.

How blessed are those who live in your temple and praise you continually! ( Selah)

How blessed are those who find their strength in you, and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!

As they pass through the Baca Valley, he provides a spring for them. The rain even covers it with pools of water.

They are sustained as they travel along; each one appears before God in Zion.

O LORD, sovereign God, hear my prayer! Listen, O God of Jacob! ( Selah)

O God, take notice of our shield! Show concern for your chosen king!

0 Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.

1 For the LORD God is our sovereign protector. The LORD bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.

2 O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL, how blessed are those who trust in you!

Do you want an example from Scripture of a situation where the believer was praising God because they trusted to be delivered from a severe trial. In other words a NT example of this OT text? Here it is. Paul and Silas are in prison and in danger of much worse punishment even though they do not deserve it. Their knowledge of God is real and empowering so they don’t cower but praise. And the…..?

^{ACTS 16}

5 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them.

6 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose.

7 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he assumed the prisoners had escaped.

8 But Paul called out loudly, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"

9 Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas.

⁰ Then he brought them outside and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

¹ They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household."

^{Can an Army Win Without Weapons?}

^{Faith moves mountains our Saviour taught. Is that really true? Lets look at the dilemma facing Israel in Saul’s time. The Philistines were dominant. They made sure to keep things that way. In the days of swords and spears you needed a black smith. The Philistines not only removed there enemies weapons but also the means to make replacements. They removed blacksmiths. Pretty good strategic planning.}

^{So can faith handle this situation? There is a fierce enemy but no weapons to fight him. Incredibly we see Jonathan with faith for the hour. He declares boldly that God can still give the victory. Only Jonathan and Saul have weapons and Saul is never keen to fight.}

^{Jonathan boldly announces his faith to his armour bearer and they go alone against the enemy army. This is written to inspire us and is God’s promise for the toughest experiences. We know as Christians we are called up to fight for God. We will face some tough scenarios in His service. So be inspired. You face an impossible situation. God knows, He loves, He cares and you will win with Him. Courage in God won the day for Jonathan and Israel. So it will for us.}

^{! Sam 13}

22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

1 Samuel 14:

Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I-chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.

The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

HOW TO LEAD A CHURCH

Before the Tabernacle was made Moses worshipped face to face with God in a tent. His servant stayed there all the time. This is a good way for and apprentice. It made a huge difference to be mentored by Moses. God showed His glory to Moses on the Mountain of God and His face shone. It is noteworthy that because of this training Josuah could believe the impossible when call to conquer the promised land by faith. Every one was afraid but at least Caleb cought that same fearless confidence in GOD from Joshua.

Moses prayer life consisted of worship and adoration. In those times He listened to God speaking to Him. He also interceded for Israel on the basis of glorifying God. He clearly had an encounter with the power and presence of the Almighty by grace. We would now call that revival. A religion even Christianity without POWER is dead but with GOD it comes alive so that Christians worship and intercede. They love God with a passion and miracles accompany them.

MARK 16

The Great Commission

⁴ Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

⁵ And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand

Moses was not the High Priest Aaran was. Moses set up the tabernacle at God’s command. It is said of him that God spoke to him in the Holy of Holies. Prior to completion of the Tabernacle Moses had met with God in a tent. It was a simple quiet place but one filled with the Pillar of Cloud. Moses devotion was a witness to his people and led to their worship of Jehovah. WE should live as close to God as this. It is possible. I have been reading of Smith Wrigglesworth. His very touch brought salvation restoration and healing even raising the dead. This should not surprise us because it is promised. Why do we fight against it. Is it not because we have blocked our sabiour from healing the iniquity in our hearts?

Numbers 7

9 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

EXODUS 33

Moses Meets with the LORD

Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.

So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle.

And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

⁰ All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door.

¹ So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle

.

² And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

³ Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

⁴ And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

⁵ And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

⁶ For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

⁷ And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

⁸ And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

⁹ And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

A Leader should seek the GLORY OF GOD. It is only as He experiences something of that he can be used to lead men and women to God.That Glory is revealed in prayer.

away.

COR 3

⁷ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

⁷ This Lord is the Spirit. Wherever the Lord’s Spirit is, there is freedom.

⁸ As all of us reflect the Lord’s glory with faces that are not covered with veils, we are being changed into his image with ever-increasing glory. This comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

God’s Word

Communion with God changes us. Communion with God makes us what we should be. That is attractive. Souls are saved that way. This is not a better technique. We are made better people . That is tougher but better.

The Devil’s finest Hour

Or so he thought.

When Jesus was crucified the devil thought he had won.

Judas thought by betrayal he would push Jesus into being a military messiah, the High Priest thought they had done away with their biggest problem their main competitor.

Herod was happy and so was the Roman governor. Many who had been uncomfortable with Christ’s uncompromising opposition to sin were relieved that he was out of the way.

His followers were in despair and so were good people who were attracted to the goodness of Jesus.

But that was not the end. What happened next showed that fortunes were reversed.

Christ could not be stopped from rising from the dead. By that act He demonstrated He was not defeated on the contrary He was victorious

Matthew 27

⁵⁴ Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Matthew 28

² And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Not only that the open door revealed an empty tomb! Christ had risen. It was not long before the frightened disciples became bold. They were transformed by there resurrected Lord. Finally they understood his mission and boldly proclaimed it in the face of fierce opposition.

Jesus at the last supper instituted a ceremony full of power and significance. It was the Passover feast. That had inaugurated the Covenant with the Nation Israel. A lamb was slain and the blood smeared on the door post. The angel of death executed all first born who were not in a house with the blood covering. This set free all the Jews from slavery to a new life.That Covenant promised not only spiritual salvation but healing and prosperity with God as their defender.

^{Matt 26}

²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

²⁷ And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

²⁹ But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

³⁰ And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

By eating and drinking we affirm our faith and dependence on God’s grace at Calvary. We are allowing Him control in every area of our lives and will experience our covenantal birth right of forgiveness, healing prosperity and the presence and power of God in all our lives.

^1Cor11

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."

²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

³¹ But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.

³² But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

³³ So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another—

³⁴ if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come

Paul explained that some were missing out on the blessings of Communion because they did not come with the right attitude. It will make us reverent when we realize the benefits we have in Christ.

God gave me faith in His promises when I understood this text

^{Matt 26:24} The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

The victory of Christ in the face of these enemies is sure. Why is that? It is because “It is written”. God’s word is an expression of His will. He has decreed and He is in control and it will happen as He decided. Praise God. That makes it easy to receive by faith. He does not lie. His promise is solid. It is His decree will be. So as we extend our faith we can be sure because He loves us because it includes us. It is written so it will happen. Praying for healing? It will happen. Praying for finances? It will happen.

^{Exodus 25}

There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

Numbers 7

9 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him.

Samuel 4

So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Samuel 6

And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.

Chronicles 13

And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim.

Chronicles 5

Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.

The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles.

Psalms 80

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.

Psalms 99

The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Isaiah 37

"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

The Expression “enthroned on the Cherubim” in the above texts is pregnant with meaning.

In the original tabernacle the place where God spoke to Moses was from the Mercy Seat(top of the Ark). There was a tent in which there were three rooms and several items of furniture. The Ark was in the most sacred place the Holy of Holies. The ark was a wooden box covered in gold. It had these cherubim on top covering it. There was more than imagery of religion here. God was especially present there. They were not assured of being able to address God anywhere else.

These passages speak of God as the great creator who sovereignly controls the world and all events. God is to be feared by the nations but Israel is Shepherded by Him.

The Cherubim speak of the power and glory of God. They appear at the most auspicious times. The mercy seat speaks of how our relationship is governed by God. God instructs about His commands which make us realize our shortcomings. The Mercy Seat shouts loudly to us not to fear His wrath on our sins. God has allowed animals to be sacrificed in our stead. In the Old Testament this was a foreshadowing of Calvary. Jesus our High Priest and Lamb of Sacrifice now replaces those of the Tabernacle

So when it says God is enthroned between the Cherubim it means He is a gracious and merciful Saviour. It also means the God of Creation is Sovereign and will because of His Covenant with us protect us and provide. He does all a shepherd will do for His sheep. Now we have God in us and do not need an Ark but all that it stood for is ours. We can pray now with confidence

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