Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV): Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The word 'weight' here is 'ogkos' in Greek, which means 'burden, hindrance', whereas the word 'ensnares' here is 'euperistatos' in Greek, meaning 'beset, afflict, discourage'. People of God, you and I are living in dangerous, stressful, and uncertain times. The Global Uncertainty Index reached a record level this year, and the recent Gallup's Global Emotions Report states that people around the world are becoming more and more angry, stressed, and worried in life. According to Gallup's new global survey for the year 2019, of some 150,000 people interviewed in over 140 countries, one third suffer from stress, and one in five persons suffer sadness and anger. That's a lot of people!
With the recent spate of hate crimes and terrorism, and adding to these, climate change, general economic and political uncertainties, and even persecutions in some countries, the verses in Hebrews 12:1-2 are definitely encouraging, in that you and I are not alone in facing all these, because we are 'surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses'. These are the saints who have gone before us, listed in Hebrews chapter 11, who have walked the walk of faith, and who are testimonies of God's faithfulness that He is a God who would see us through all the vicissitudes of life.
How about those loved ones who have gone before us, and even the heavenly angels? Just imagine yourself running a marathon race, and the crowd around you cheering you on, as you continue running with endurance the race that is set before you!
I like the way New Living Translation (NLT) translate the verses in Hebrews 12:1-2, and Hebrews 12:3 as well, 'Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up'.
Question: How do we keep running this race with endurance in spite of all that we see in this world?
Answer: Notice the expression in the above verse 'We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus'.
People of God, indeed, there's no other hope but to look unto Him, the One who begins your faith, and the One who completes your faith. Not looking at the troubles around you, not looking at the negative news around you, and of course not looking at whatever that burdens or discourages you, but looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. This is a very important time to stay strong and positive no matter what. He is more than enough for you, and His grace (i.e. ability, supply) is sufficient for you. In fact, you will rise up even higher than before, and you will triumph! Therefore, let's declare by faith that 'your latter days are going to be greater than your former days'! These are the words I was led by the Spirit to proclaim when I prayed for some people recently. Let it be so for you too!
I end this article with Hebrews 12:12-13 (NKJV) that says, 'Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed', and with Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) that says, 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things'. Amen!
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Saturday, April 20, 2019
Sound out the ram's horn!
Matthew 27:50 (NKJV): And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Leading up to Jesus' death on the cross, here's what Matthew 27:45-46 say, 'Now from the sixth hour (12 pm) until the ninth hour (3 pm) there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour JESUS CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"... Matthew 27:50 then says, 'And JESUS CRIED OUT AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE, and yielded up His spirit'.
Interestingly, at the time Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit, the sound of ram's horn was also heard from the temple not far away! For the record, the ninth hour was an important time in Jerusalem, because it was the time for evening sacrifice. As it was also the Passover week, the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple as well.
Therefore, these happened at the SAME time:
- the Passover lambs being sacrificed in the temple;
- the Lamb of God (Jesus) being sacrificed on the cross!
What then is the significance of blowing the ram's horn?
Jesus crying out with a loud voice is synonymous with the blowing of the ram's horn! On the cross some two thousand years ago, JESUS CRIED OUT IN AGONY (and the ram's horn sounded); but when He comes again, HE WILL CRY OUT IN VICTORY (and the ram's horn will sound again)! (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
The ram (male sheep) is a 'picture' of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, the ram has to be killed in order to get the horn. There's no other way around it. In other words, the ram has to die. 'Horn', by the way, is a symbol of 'strength and power', and Jesus is the strength of our lives. Psalm 73:26 says, 'My flesh and my heart may fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (i.e. mine forever)'.
On the cross, He (who is the strength of our lives) laid down His life for us, and carried all our sins, cross, and shame with Him. He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), hence became weak and died; so that we might become the righteousness of God through Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), hence become strong and alive! You see, sin always weakens; whereas righteousness always strengthens! Jesus (who is strong and mighty) gave Himself up for our sake, so that we can have the forgiveness of sins and a new life! (Ephesians 1:7)
Now, let's look at the Old Testament parallel in the book of Joshua. Joshua 6:2-5 says, 'And the Lord said to Joshua: "See! I have given Jericho into your hand... You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him."
Leading up to Jesus' death on the cross, here's what Matthew 27:45-46 say, 'Now from the sixth hour (12 pm) until the ninth hour (3 pm) there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour JESUS CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"... Matthew 27:50 then says, 'And JESUS CRIED OUT AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE, and yielded up His spirit'.
Interestingly, at the time Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit, the sound of ram's horn was also heard from the temple not far away! For the record, the ninth hour was an important time in Jerusalem, because it was the time for evening sacrifice. As it was also the Passover week, the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple as well.
Therefore, these happened at the SAME time:
- the Passover lambs being sacrificed in the temple;
- the Lamb of God (Jesus) being sacrificed on the cross!
What then is the significance of blowing the ram's horn?
Jesus crying out with a loud voice is synonymous with the blowing of the ram's horn! On the cross some two thousand years ago, JESUS CRIED OUT IN AGONY (and the ram's horn sounded); but when He comes again, HE WILL CRY OUT IN VICTORY (and the ram's horn will sound again)! (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
The ram (male sheep) is a 'picture' of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, the ram has to be killed in order to get the horn. There's no other way around it. In other words, the ram has to die. 'Horn', by the way, is a symbol of 'strength and power', and Jesus is the strength of our lives. Psalm 73:26 says, 'My flesh and my heart may fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (i.e. mine forever)'.
On the cross, He (who is the strength of our lives) laid down His life for us, and carried all our sins, cross, and shame with Him. He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), hence became weak and died; so that we might become the righteousness of God through Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), hence become strong and alive! You see, sin always weakens; whereas righteousness always strengthens! Jesus (who is strong and mighty) gave Himself up for our sake, so that we can have the forgiveness of sins and a new life! (Ephesians 1:7)
And you know what? When this happened on the cross, the veil that separated us from God was TORN! Matthew 27:51-54 says, 'Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"'
'Joshua' ('Yehowshua' in Hebrew, meaning 'YHWH saved') is a 'type' of our Lord Jesus Christ. How about 'Jericho'? This city was known those days as 'the city of palm trees', and 'palm trees' symbolize 'triumph, victory, prosperity, peace, and eternal life'.
When the ram's horn was blown, and with a great shout from all the people, the wall (that separated God's people from entering 'the city of palm trees') crumbled! In other words, the wall that separated God's people from walking in triumph, victory, prosperity, peace, and eternal life was BROKEN; just as the veil in the temple was torn!
On the third day after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:1-10 says, 'Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and ROLLED BACK THE STONE from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for HE IS RISEN, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that HE IS RISEN from the dead, and He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word'.
People of God, as we celebrate the life and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, this is your time to shout out aloud, and declare that HE IS RISEN, HE IS ALIVE, EVERY STONE HAS BEEN ROLLED AWAY, and YOU TOO HAVE BEGUN WALKING IN TRIUMPH, VICTORY, PROSPERITY, PEACE, AND OF COURSE, ETERNAL LIFE! AMEN!
Friday, April 12, 2019
Being carriers of God's glory
1 Kings 8:10-11 (NKJV): And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
The word 'glory' here is 'kabowd' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'splendor, magnificence, honor, or weight'. That is to say the glory of the Lord is real, is present, and is tangible. You can experience it, and you can be filled (and saturated) with it. It is the very presence of the Lord and people can actually sense and see the glory of the Lord in you! (Isaiah 60:1-3)
When this glory of the Lord filled the temple that Solomon built, even the priests could not continue ministering. Nothing of the flesh mattered anymore. The Lord took over entirely, and from then on, it's all about Him (and none about the works of man). What Solomon could do at that time was simply saying, "The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever".
Solomon then turned around and released blessing to the whole assembly of Israel, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it..."
Today, as believers in the New Covenant, you and I have become this temple (not made of stones). 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, 'Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own'.
The Lord spoke these words recently: "Prepare yourselves, for My glory is coming, even in ways you have not imagined possible! I have begun raising up a people who will be carriers of My glory, and the world will see it! Just as in the days of Solomon when the temple was prepared, get ready My people, for My glory is coming, and My Spirit is taking over! Nothing of the flesh matters anymore!"
People of God, when the glory of the Lord is with you, two things happen.
First, you will begin walking in greater blessings. You will know, and the world will also see this in you. Jesus is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory. After all, He is the glory of God manifested!
When evening came, and the people were hungry, His disciples had wanted to send the multitudes away. But Jesus said, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." But they said to Him, "We only have five loaves and two fish." Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. They were all filled, and had even twelve baskets full of leftover. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children (see Matthew 14:15-21).
Second, the evil one cannot have a hold on you, or 'touch' you. You will have divine protection, and no matter how the 'enemies' try to pull you down, they will not succeed. Let's look at Jesus again, because He is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory.
When those in the synagogue jumped up, mobbed Him and tried to push Him off a cliff, Jesus somehow passed right through the crowd and went on His way (see Luke 4:28-30). And right before His arrest, when Judas the betrayer (accompanied by the Roman soldiers and temple guards) came over, Jesus stood up and asked, "Who are you looking for?" They replied, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus then said, "I AM HE." And as He said, "I AM HE", they all drew back and fell to the ground! (see John 18:1-6) Speaking of God's power at play! You see, no one could 'touch' Him unless He willingly give Himself up!
The keys to being a carrier of God's glory:
1. Full of the Word
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
2. Full of the Spirit
And when they (the disciples of Christ) had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 NKJV)
3. Worship & surrender
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him (Romans 12:1 NLT)
4. Truthfulness, honesty & integrity
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom (Psalm 51:6 NKJV)
5. Holiness & purity
Therefore, having these promises (being a temple of Holy Spirit), beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV)
The word 'glory' here is 'kabowd' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'splendor, magnificence, honor, or weight'. That is to say the glory of the Lord is real, is present, and is tangible. You can experience it, and you can be filled (and saturated) with it. It is the very presence of the Lord and people can actually sense and see the glory of the Lord in you! (Isaiah 60:1-3)
When this glory of the Lord filled the temple that Solomon built, even the priests could not continue ministering. Nothing of the flesh mattered anymore. The Lord took over entirely, and from then on, it's all about Him (and none about the works of man). What Solomon could do at that time was simply saying, "The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever".
Solomon then turned around and released blessing to the whole assembly of Israel, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it..."
Today, as believers in the New Covenant, you and I have become this temple (not made of stones). 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, 'Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own'.
The Lord spoke these words recently: "Prepare yourselves, for My glory is coming, even in ways you have not imagined possible! I have begun raising up a people who will be carriers of My glory, and the world will see it! Just as in the days of Solomon when the temple was prepared, get ready My people, for My glory is coming, and My Spirit is taking over! Nothing of the flesh matters anymore!"
People of God, when the glory of the Lord is with you, two things happen.
First, you will begin walking in greater blessings. You will know, and the world will also see this in you. Jesus is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory. After all, He is the glory of God manifested!
When evening came, and the people were hungry, His disciples had wanted to send the multitudes away. But Jesus said, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." But they said to Him, "We only have five loaves and two fish." Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. They were all filled, and had even twelve baskets full of leftover. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children (see Matthew 14:15-21).
Second, the evil one cannot have a hold on you, or 'touch' you. You will have divine protection, and no matter how the 'enemies' try to pull you down, they will not succeed. Let's look at Jesus again, because He is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory.
When those in the synagogue jumped up, mobbed Him and tried to push Him off a cliff, Jesus somehow passed right through the crowd and went on His way (see Luke 4:28-30). And right before His arrest, when Judas the betrayer (accompanied by the Roman soldiers and temple guards) came over, Jesus stood up and asked, "Who are you looking for?" They replied, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus then said, "I AM HE." And as He said, "I AM HE", they all drew back and fell to the ground! (see John 18:1-6) Speaking of God's power at play! You see, no one could 'touch' Him unless He willingly give Himself up!
The keys to being a carrier of God's glory:
1. Full of the Word
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
2. Full of the Spirit
And when they (the disciples of Christ) had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 NKJV)
3. Worship & surrender
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him (Romans 12:1 NLT)
4. Truthfulness, honesty & integrity
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom (Psalm 51:6 NKJV)
5. Holiness & purity
Therefore, having these promises (being a temple of Holy Spirit), beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV)
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