"Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span." - 1 Samuel 17:1-4 ESV
Goliath was a giant from a nation that reveled in war and all things warlike. War was a sport to them. Goliath was just out looking for a few more notches on his belt and basking in all the fear and shame he could produce in other people.
Fears are mighty foes and fear mongers capitalize on fear. They push anything that looks unstable and try to make it fall. It is emotional pyromania.
One of the healthiest things we can do is face our fears but to be honest who wants to go against Goliath? He has chewed up and spit out many men. It is what he does for sport.
"And the Philistine said to David, 'Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, 'Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.'
Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.'
When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." - 1 Samuel 17:43-48 ESV
Oh, It make you want to cheer inside doesn't it?
If fear is motivating us then we will just cower on our side of the mountain as the enemy amasses force on the other side. Goliath was just a stalling tactic. All that bologna about champion versus champion just a ploy to play on their honor to bring an easy victory. The Philistines wanted to shame the people to make them easier to fight. They never had any intentions of serving Israel.
It is easy to live a life of avoidance isn't it. To just cross unto the other side of the street face forward and just not get involved.
David wasn't a servant of Saul. He was on no man's leash. He was an arrow in the quiver of God. He was a free man.
Grace defies fear because it declares that God has given favor to a person. It is favor that no person or event can take away or diminish. It isn't foolish but it also doesn't back down.
David's speech was for the armies of Israel and for himself. His words made this contest a contest against God and His favor.
Go ahead and speak to that looming cloud that tries to cast it's shadow over your life. Rally your troops. A man or woman who serves The King of Kings needs never cower in fear.
We live in a victory that has already been won when we say, 'The battle is The Lord's!'
--
Monday, February 9, 2015
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Some Thoughts From The Bible Study / Birthday Party Last Night
"He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.' " (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.)" - John 4:3-8 ESV
God gave me this passage on the way to the party last night. A strange passage for such an occasion. But when you think about it birthdays are stops on our trip from here to there.
The Spirit of God gives John, the writer of this book, awareness of the landmarks in that area. Those details are given to us. We are not the first to go from here to there.
On the way God gives us redemptive appointments. The disciples left to get provisions but Jesus was confident that God would supply the 'meat and drink' and that is where He meets the woman at the well.
That birthday party was my well last night. There was nourishment there. I didn't have the equipment to get the water out myself. I brought the little that I had and so did everyone else and God multiplied the provision.
We didn't leave thirsty or hungry. Jacob's well is my well. It hasn't run dry nor will it ever run dry.
---
God gave me this passage on the way to the party last night. A strange passage for such an occasion. But when you think about it birthdays are stops on our trip from here to there.
The Spirit of God gives John, the writer of this book, awareness of the landmarks in that area. Those details are given to us. We are not the first to go from here to there.
On the way God gives us redemptive appointments. The disciples left to get provisions but Jesus was confident that God would supply the 'meat and drink' and that is where He meets the woman at the well.
That birthday party was my well last night. There was nourishment there. I didn't have the equipment to get the water out myself. I brought the little that I had and so did everyone else and God multiplied the provision.
We didn't leave thirsty or hungry. Jacob's well is my well. It hasn't run dry nor will it ever run dry.
---
Friday, February 6, 2015
Hesitation
"We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open." - 2 Corinthians 6:11 ESV
"...how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." - Acts 20:20-21 ESV
Last night I heard a very instructive program talking about hesitation in speech. It always amazes me that there are people who seem to specialize in the study of these very specific things. The program focused on 'uh' and 'umm' and played all these clips of famous people speaking many different languages and how universal the use of 'uh' was.
It seems that 'uh' is a hesitation of interruption where 'umm' is usually followed by a deeper or more explanatory statement.
One of the things that is different about writing versus speaking are the pauses. Writing can seem so direct and deliberate. You don't hear the edits or the pauses in the process quite like you do when some one is speaking. Pauses are accomplished with commas, periods and other punctuation unless the 'um' is added as some kind of dialog.
Our love is often expressed with many pauses isn't it? We want to impart what our heart feels. We want to say what our mind thinks and knows but at the same time we hesitate for many different reasons.
God's heart is wide open to us. Communication flows more easily when two people have open hearts. But, Often one must do it first so that the other person can follow suit.
Like a door with many locks it can take a minute to even open the passage to someone who is welcome because all those locks need to be deactivated first.
The cross is the representation of God's open heart. The Gospel is Him opening His mouth. When we hear it and receive it we begin to unlock our souls. It can be like a flower opening to respond to the light.
Sometimes hesitation is a form of rejection but sometimes it is just a sign that someone needs time to unlatch the complex system in place that they use as protection. We tell God's love to people 'house' to 'house' but I never want to be discouraged by a seeming lack of response. An 'uh' doesn't always mean 'no'. The thought may very well have been received but the response is just delayed.
I gaze at the cross this morning knowing that it is opening me up. It did something eternal for me that is complete but today it is loosening the flow of my experience.
Walking in the Spirit I am less prone to hesitation because God's open heart has opened my heart.
--
"...how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." - Acts 20:20-21 ESV
Last night I heard a very instructive program talking about hesitation in speech. It always amazes me that there are people who seem to specialize in the study of these very specific things. The program focused on 'uh' and 'umm' and played all these clips of famous people speaking many different languages and how universal the use of 'uh' was.
It seems that 'uh' is a hesitation of interruption where 'umm' is usually followed by a deeper or more explanatory statement.
One of the things that is different about writing versus speaking are the pauses. Writing can seem so direct and deliberate. You don't hear the edits or the pauses in the process quite like you do when some one is speaking. Pauses are accomplished with commas, periods and other punctuation unless the 'um' is added as some kind of dialog.
Our love is often expressed with many pauses isn't it? We want to impart what our heart feels. We want to say what our mind thinks and knows but at the same time we hesitate for many different reasons.
God's heart is wide open to us. Communication flows more easily when two people have open hearts. But, Often one must do it first so that the other person can follow suit.
Like a door with many locks it can take a minute to even open the passage to someone who is welcome because all those locks need to be deactivated first.
The cross is the representation of God's open heart. The Gospel is Him opening His mouth. When we hear it and receive it we begin to unlock our souls. It can be like a flower opening to respond to the light.
Sometimes hesitation is a form of rejection but sometimes it is just a sign that someone needs time to unlatch the complex system in place that they use as protection. We tell God's love to people 'house' to 'house' but I never want to be discouraged by a seeming lack of response. An 'uh' doesn't always mean 'no'. The thought may very well have been received but the response is just delayed.
I gaze at the cross this morning knowing that it is opening me up. It did something eternal for me that is complete but today it is loosening the flow of my experience.
Walking in the Spirit I am less prone to hesitation because God's open heart has opened my heart.
--
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Laughter In The End
"He said, 'I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.' And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, 'After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?' And the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?' 'Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.' Sarah denied it however, saying, 'I did not laugh'; for she was afraid. And He said, 'No, but you did laugh.' " - Genesis 18:10-15 NASB
"Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.' " - Genesis 21:3-7 NASB
A few chapters later Sarah is laughing. Much happened over that year. The incident at Sodom and Gomorrah happened. Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister to King Abimelech. She must have been showing at the time. Very serious things and yet laughter becomes the bookends for these events.
God made Sarah laugh and He makes many others laugh who hear of her situation. During serious times laughter is forming like a child in the womb. A promise from God is manifested as joy in due season.
God didn't tell Abraham to name his child Isaac. Isaac's name basically means 'He will laugh.' When it was all over Abraham and Sarah laughed together. God's joy was born in their life. Sodom and Gomorrah was a smoldering crater of a place. King Abimelech got a confused but personal experience with God. Abraham was a strange somewhat weak representation to this King but the light shone through a cracked clay vessel and healing came to his house. Even so they both laughed and we all laugh with them.
We can say the same.
If we have trusted in Christ we will laugh in the end. The tears will have dried on our face from what has transpired and healing laughter will come. It will come right on schedule.
"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." - John 16:21-22 ESV
How many stories have we heard from mothers who say, 'I thought a knew what love was until I had my child.' This is the kind of joy that awaits all of us that we experience in part in this life. When we see Him our joy will be full.
--
"Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, 'God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.' And she said, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.' " - Genesis 21:3-7 NASB
A few chapters later Sarah is laughing. Much happened over that year. The incident at Sodom and Gomorrah happened. Abraham passed Sarah off as his sister to King Abimelech. She must have been showing at the time. Very serious things and yet laughter becomes the bookends for these events.
God made Sarah laugh and He makes many others laugh who hear of her situation. During serious times laughter is forming like a child in the womb. A promise from God is manifested as joy in due season.
God didn't tell Abraham to name his child Isaac. Isaac's name basically means 'He will laugh.' When it was all over Abraham and Sarah laughed together. God's joy was born in their life. Sodom and Gomorrah was a smoldering crater of a place. King Abimelech got a confused but personal experience with God. Abraham was a strange somewhat weak representation to this King but the light shone through a cracked clay vessel and healing came to his house. Even so they both laughed and we all laugh with them.
We can say the same.
If we have trusted in Christ we will laugh in the end. The tears will have dried on our face from what has transpired and healing laughter will come. It will come right on schedule.
"When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." - John 16:21-22 ESV
How many stories have we heard from mothers who say, 'I thought a knew what love was until I had my child.' This is the kind of joy that awaits all of us that we experience in part in this life. When we see Him our joy will be full.
--
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Importance Of Humor
Just thinking this morning of the joy and release of laughter and how much of a covering it is to have people in charge who have a sense of humor coupled with integrity. When mom and dad can laugh and often do then it is a happy home. When you have a boss that laughs with you (not at you) instead of a humorless overseer it makes for a better workplace.
"A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it." - Proverbs 15:13-16 ESV
Amen.
There is real wisdom there. Understanding and humor are linked.
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." - Proverbs 17:22 ESV
"Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!" - Psalm 144:15 NKJV
God is happy with His people. He covers us with a covering of joy. There is joy in His household. He is fun to be with.
Joyless religion is like a child brooding up in his or her room while mom and dad are tickling each other and having fun making dinner downstairs.
Life is filled with many difficulties and there are times to be sober and serious but we can live under the covering of joy so that our bones are fresh and our minds are flexible in the midst of it all.
In order to be genuinely wise we must have a sanctified sense of humor.
---
"A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it." - Proverbs 15:13-16 ESV
Amen.
There is real wisdom there. Understanding and humor are linked.
"A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." - Proverbs 17:22 ESV
"Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!" - Psalm 144:15 NKJV
God is happy with His people. He covers us with a covering of joy. There is joy in His household. He is fun to be with.
Joyless religion is like a child brooding up in his or her room while mom and dad are tickling each other and having fun making dinner downstairs.
Life is filled with many difficulties and there are times to be sober and serious but we can live under the covering of joy so that our bones are fresh and our minds are flexible in the midst of it all.
In order to be genuinely wise we must have a sanctified sense of humor.
---
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Fellowship In The Gospel
The Gospel is a simple message but it is a deep message. It span the height and breadth of our human experience.
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel," - Colossians 1:1-5 ESV
When the message reaches us it is miraculous. The Apostle Paul was not indifferent to any person who embraced the message. He knew just what it was like to be blinded by God and then have his sight restored. He was blinded in communion and then his vision was restored in fellowship but the Gospel was the center piece of it all.
It is all about Jesus. God reaches past our good or bad behavior because of Jesus. We believe in what Jesus has done and the favor God has for His Son falls on us.
"which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit." - Colossians 1:6-8 ESV
The message reached them through people. One person in particular is named. Even though the experience is individually unique it is not exclusive. The Gospel is bearing fruit all over the world. The message brings increase. When Jesus is lifted up and His work on the cross is revealed all men are drawn unto Him (see John 12:32).
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV
Paul remembered what it was like to live in the zeal of religion thinking that what he knew was right. He knew what it was like to be blinded but finally see truth and then to have God restore his sight using a person who he would have had nothing to do with months before (see Acts 9:18).
This prayer is such a powerful specific prayer. In order to 'walk worthy' we must have Gospel oriented sight restored. The Bible and fellowship (or body life). The knowledge of His will, wisdom and understanding are all Gospel centered. Fellowship is the outward expression of doctrine. It is where doctrine comes to life.
Paul knew the value of truth and time with other people who had that same inheritance. He saw people veer off into error, emotionalism and isolation and the damage it did.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:8-9 ESV
Sometimes I pray 'Lord bless this person.' and I'm convicted of the shallowness of my prayer. Do I just want them to be well, happy, safe and prosperous or is it deeper than that? My best times have been ones of illumination. My precious memories involve fellowship. My hallmark moments are the times when God was revealed in greater clarity.
Let's face it. It takes time to pray longer prayers for people. It takes investment for people to grow. It takes teaching for us to walk worthy. We need the light of truth to illuminate our way.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." - John 3:16-21 ESV
Verse sixteen is so simple yet so profound. It is such a short sentence but it is so much larger than we are. We don't just learn it once and walk away. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding are hidden there. Might and power flow from there. Endurance and patience with joy are possible because of the unchanging nature of the message. This seed results in thanksgiving. It is seed that we sow side by side with other people.
"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance... The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:5, 7 ESV
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another..." - 1 John 1:7a ESV
---
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel," - Colossians 1:1-5 ESV
When the message reaches us it is miraculous. The Apostle Paul was not indifferent to any person who embraced the message. He knew just what it was like to be blinded by God and then have his sight restored. He was blinded in communion and then his vision was restored in fellowship but the Gospel was the center piece of it all.
It is all about Jesus. God reaches past our good or bad behavior because of Jesus. We believe in what Jesus has done and the favor God has for His Son falls on us.
"which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing - as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit." - Colossians 1:6-8 ESV
The message reached them through people. One person in particular is named. Even though the experience is individually unique it is not exclusive. The Gospel is bearing fruit all over the world. The message brings increase. When Jesus is lifted up and His work on the cross is revealed all men are drawn unto Him (see John 12:32).
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:9-14 ESV
Paul remembered what it was like to live in the zeal of religion thinking that what he knew was right. He knew what it was like to be blinded but finally see truth and then to have God restore his sight using a person who he would have had nothing to do with months before (see Acts 9:18).
This prayer is such a powerful specific prayer. In order to 'walk worthy' we must have Gospel oriented sight restored. The Bible and fellowship (or body life). The knowledge of His will, wisdom and understanding are all Gospel centered. Fellowship is the outward expression of doctrine. It is where doctrine comes to life.
Paul knew the value of truth and time with other people who had that same inheritance. He saw people veer off into error, emotionalism and isolation and the damage it did.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:8-9 ESV
Sometimes I pray 'Lord bless this person.' and I'm convicted of the shallowness of my prayer. Do I just want them to be well, happy, safe and prosperous or is it deeper than that? My best times have been ones of illumination. My precious memories involve fellowship. My hallmark moments are the times when God was revealed in greater clarity.
Let's face it. It takes time to pray longer prayers for people. It takes investment for people to grow. It takes teaching for us to walk worthy. We need the light of truth to illuminate our way.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." - John 3:16-21 ESV
Verse sixteen is so simple yet so profound. It is such a short sentence but it is so much larger than we are. We don't just learn it once and walk away. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding are hidden there. Might and power flow from there. Endurance and patience with joy are possible because of the unchanging nature of the message. This seed results in thanksgiving. It is seed that we sow side by side with other people.
"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance... The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." - Proverbs 1:5, 7 ESV
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another..." - 1 John 1:7a ESV
---
Monday, February 2, 2015
Blessing The Second Son
"Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. For, he said, 'God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.' The name of the second he called Ephraim, 'For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.' " - Genesis 41:51-52 ESV
Just look at the names. The first name is Joseph relating to the past and the second son's name is Joseph relating to the present and the future.
"Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons, whom God has given me here.' And he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them." Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.'... And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn)... When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, 'Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.' So he blessed them that day, saying, 'By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.' Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh." - Genesis 48:9-11, 14, 17-20 ESV
Naturally speaking our firstborn is our past. It is gone but not quite forgotten. The grace blessing always falls on the second son.
"Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-50 ESV
Our past has no inheritance. As believers we live in the present reality of the quickening spirit who is Heavenly.
We can learn from the past but the right handed blessing is always on the present. Our identity is a present and future tense identity. It may look like the wrong order to us. We may think we are the product of what we have suffered and come out from but in truth we are the product of grace.
"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:11 ESV
"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:19 ESV
We are in the world but not of the world. Our identity can not be a world oriented identity. God sees us according to the name He has given us in Heaven. Our residence is in Heaven and our time on Earth is just a business trip. Our true blessing waits for us at home and travels with us because we bring our Heavenly identity with us.
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Just look at the names. The first name is Joseph relating to the past and the second son's name is Joseph relating to the present and the future.
"Joseph said to his father, 'They are my sons, whom God has given me here.' And he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them." Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. And Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.'... And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn)... When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, 'Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.' So he blessed them that day, saying, 'By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.' Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh." - Genesis 48:9-11, 14, 17-20 ESV
Naturally speaking our firstborn is our past. It is gone but not quite forgotten. The grace blessing always falls on the second son.
"Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-50 ESV
Our past has no inheritance. As believers we live in the present reality of the quickening spirit who is Heavenly.
We can learn from the past but the right handed blessing is always on the present. Our identity is a present and future tense identity. It may look like the wrong order to us. We may think we are the product of what we have suffered and come out from but in truth we are the product of grace.
"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:11 ESV
"If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:19 ESV
We are in the world but not of the world. Our identity can not be a world oriented identity. God sees us according to the name He has given us in Heaven. Our residence is in Heaven and our time on Earth is just a business trip. Our true blessing waits for us at home and travels with us because we bring our Heavenly identity with us.
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