dailywordofdestiny

Righteousness

Then He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.  The LORD said to Satan; ‘The LORD rebuke you, Satan!  May the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!  Isn’t this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’   Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the Angel.  So He spoke to those standing before Him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes!’  Then He said  to him, ‘See, I have removed your guilt from you, and I will clothe you with splendid robes.’  Then I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’  So a clean turban was put on his head, and they clothed him in garments while the Angel of the LORD was standing nearby.  Then the Angel of the LORD charged Joshua:  ‘This is what the LORD of Hosts says:  If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, you will both rule My house and take care of My courts; I will also grant you access among these who are standing here.  Listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your collegues sitting before you; indeed these men are a sign that I am about to bring My Servant, the Branch.  Notice the stone I have set before Joshua; on that stone are seven eyes. I will engrave an inscription on it’ — the declaration of the Lord of Hosts — ‘and I will take away the guilt of this land in a single day.  On that day, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under His Vine and His Fig Tree.  This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts”  (Zechariah 3:  1-10).

As I was writing this passage I felt that no one really needs to read too far without realizing Who we are reading about. Yet, I will expand as Holy Spirit directs. As I was once right here in Joshua’s position, let me use myself as a testimony of God’s Truth.

I leave each of you with Paul’s words and they echo my own: “Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Don’t stifle the Spirit. Don’t despise prophecies, but test all things. Hold onto what is good. Stay away from every form of evil. May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-23). Amen and amen.

Morning Watch

As I read God’s word, I read many passages that speak of the break of day.  I think one of my favorites is  2 Peter 1: 16-19,  “…we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  For when He (Jesus) received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory:   ‘This IS My beloved Son.  I take delight in Him.’  And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain.  So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed.  YOU will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the DAY DAWNS and the MORNING STAR ARISES IN YOUR HEARTS.” 

There are many people who read these messages who do not have access to a Bible, so I choose to write out the words from the Lord, so all may hear from Him directly.  Faith arises in hearts through HEARING about Christ  (Romans 10: 17).  In my morning devotions I am stuck in the wonderful book of Exodus and as I read and study Exodus, I am often drawn into the book that appears to run parallel to it, Revelation.  Exodus and Revelation hold many wonderful truths about our Sovereign God and as I read the verses, my faith rises up and I have let out a WHOOP of JOY many times during a single reading!  

Today I want to look at the story of Israel’s escape through the Red Sea (Exodus 14: 15-31).  I pray that you will HEAR God in it and that you will see what His personal message to you might be.   

The Israelites have escaped from Egypt and have come to the edge of the Red Sea.  Then they saw that Pharaoh and his army had pursued them, in fact, were now right behind them and they grew very fearful for they believed they were caught!  They cried out to the LORD God and to Moses to “Do something!”  Moses tried to reassure them and said, ‘Don’t be afraid.  Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you; you must be quiet.”  Do you see any thing in your own life that looks similar to this? 

The Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me?  Tell the Israelites to break camp.  As for you, lift up your staff, stretch your hand over the sea, and divide it so that the Israelites can go through on dry ground.  I am going to HARDEN the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them, and I will receive glory by means of Pharaoh,  all his army,  and his chariots and horsemen.  The Egyptians will know that I AM THE LORD when I receive glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen”  (see also Psalm 20: 6-9).  The Lord’s works will always receive glory when they are works that man can not do in his own strength.  When we come to the end of ourselves and our abilities and nothing looks possible… stand FIRM in FAITH and trust the Lord to move against your enemies on your behalf.  He will receive glory by means of the enemy!   Hallelujah!  

Then the Angel of God, who was going in front  of the Isarelite forces, moved and went behind them.  The pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and stood behind them.  It came between the Egyptian and Israelite forces.  The cloud was there in the darkness, YET it lit up the night!  So neither group came near the other all night long.   Isn’t that wonderful news?  God has His angels encamped about His children; the angels do His bidding and they are standing at the ready to move in your behalf.  Oh what assurance and peace that should give you! 

Then Moses stretched his hand over the sea.  The LORD DROVE THE SEA BACK with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land.  the waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.  Can you imagine this?  Would you not be CONVINCED God is real when this mighty miracle took place? 

The Egyptians set out in pursuit–all Pharoah’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen–and went into the sea after them.  THEN, during the morning watch, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian forces from the PILLAR of FIRE and cloud, and HE threw them into confusion.  HE caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty.  So many times in our lives we will blame Satan for things that are happening around us.  I want to assure you right now, that our God IS Sovereign and NOTHING happens that He doesn’t allow or do in order to have His plans for you be fulfilled…to bring glory to HIS name!  He also is more than able to ‘turn the table’ on the enemy as we now read, “Let’s get away from Israel,”  the Egyptians said, “because the LORD IS FIGHTING FOR THEM AGAINST EGYPT!”  🙂 

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.”  So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth.  Here we see FAITH in action; Moses heard the LORD, he immediately trusted and he obeyed and God DID!  Praise the Lord!  We all need to stand in faith but then when we hear the Lord, act on our faith for then God can move.  While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, the LORD OVERTHREW THEM IN THE SEA.  The waters came back and covered the chariots and the horsemen, the entire army of Pharaoh, that had gone into the sea.  None of them survived.   

God reveals specific distinction between those who follow after Him and those who do not (see also 2 Corinthians 6: 17).  But the Israelites had walked through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.  That day the LORD saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  When Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and His servant Moses.  The LORD received all the glory as He had said He would right from the beginning.  

Nothing has changed; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13: 8).  He desires that we walk in victory through KNOWING Him,  HEARING Him,  TRUSTING Him,  OBEYING Him, and GIVING Him all the glory due His most holy Name.   He has given us His Son as our Savior and in and through Jesus Christ we have AUTHORITY over the enemy.  The enemy has many strategies to bring about our personal defeat; yet never forget God raised you up with Jesus and seated you with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2: 5-7) and He has given you the ability to see daybreak every single day and in ever single circumstance!   God bless you as you daily seek His face.

Lights in the World

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God.  He was with God in the beginning, all things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.  Life was in Him (Jesus), and that life was the LIGHT of men.  That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it  (John 1: 1-5).   … God is light and there is absolutely no darkness in Him… If we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1: 5-7).   You are the light of the world.  A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven  (Matthew 5: 14-16).” 

Have you ever entered an unfamiliar house in the darkness of the night?  You will take very cautious steps as you are feeling (as a blind man) for the light switch which is usually somewhere on either side of the entrance.  I have been in such a place and it can be frightening because you cannot see anything ahead, beside, or behind you.  You can’t even see your hand when you put it right in front of your face!   You must move slowly forward for there may be something on the floor right in front of you, or perhaps there is someone coming up behind you, or maybe there are bats that are ready to take flight and get tangled in your hair, or there could be rabid dogs, or hungry rats hanging about; silently watching you and waiting for the opportunity to  attack!  This sounds ridiculous in the light of day, but our thoughts really can and often do run in all directions when we are faced with the unknown (darkness).  

But think about when your fingers feel the light switch and you quickly flip the switch and behold, there is LIGHT and with it comes the ability to see all about you.  There is a relief that washes over you as you look at the room you are in; the bookshelves lined with books, a cozy sofa in front of a ready-to-light fireplace, and there on the table is a covered plate of cookies and a note of welcome.  You smile and put your fears onto the back burner of your mind as warmth and peace floods over you!  

Being blind (in darkness) to the truth (light) is discussed in 2 Corinthians 4, ” But if, in fact, our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  Regarding them:  the god of this age (the devil) has BLINDED THE  MINDS of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (4).  To live in darkness may quite easily suggest that these people must live in constant FEAR for they cannot see any good ahead, beside, or behind them.  This world and all that lives within it is very temporary; there is only death ahead; so basically, these people are searching for the light switch.  

The rest of 2 Corinthians 4 has a directive to those who know Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, as their personal Savior.  “For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your (the blinded) slaves because of Jesus.  For God, Who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness’ — He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ” (vs. 5, 6).  We are the Light Switch to the revealing of God’s glory through Jesus Christ!   Hallelujah!  Jesus Christ is LIGHT and He is the HOPE and PEACE for all mankind who choose to believe the reality of who He is.  We are under the same directive as Jesus gave to Saul (aka. Paul), “… I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26: 15-18). 

The picture I have used today is a map of the world with many lights scattered throughout.  It is a representation of where each of us who know and love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind live right now.  We represent the LIGHT OF CHRIST through His indwelling Presence in each of our lives.  It is in His Presence that we have access to the necessary power (Holy Spirit) that causes our light to shine brightly in the darkness and reveal Jesus in His reality here on earth.  Where there is LIGHT, no darkness can exist.  As all of us increase our time in His Presence, the power within us grows exponentially until…the WHOLE EARTH IS FILLED WITH HIS GLORY!  Wow… the very BRIGHT and undeniable LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST that is and will bring peace to those who were once in darkness!    LET THERE BE LIGHT is my heart cry!   Praise the Lord!

Shekinah Glory

Then the cloud (the Shekinah, God’s visible Presence) covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle! … For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel. … In the year that King Uzziah died, (in a vision) I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the (Most Holy part of the) temple. …And one cried to another and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.” … As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud with a fire enveloping it and flashing continually; a brightness was about it and out of the midst of it there seemed to glow amber metal, out of the midst of the fire. … And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne in appearance like a sapphire stone, and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with the appearance of a Man.  From what had the appearance of His waist upward, I saw a lustre as it were glowing metal with the appearance of fire enclosed round about within it; and from the appearance of His waist downward, I saw as were the appearance of fire, and there was a brightness (of a halo) round about Him (Exodus 40: 34; Isaiah 6: 1-3; Ezekiel 1: 4, 26, 27). 

 Do you realize that this is a very special day in history and that this particular day or year will never occur again (as far as I know).  Take a look at the numbers representing this point in time:  1 – 1 – 13 and then look with me at the numbers and what they symbolize from a Biblical viewpoint (Robert Johnson:  Numbers in the Bible). 

 ONE  usually deals with the beginnings of things (Genesis 1: 1).  ONE speaks of a sufficiency which needs no other; and an independency which admits no other.  Deuteronomy 6: 4 says, “The Lord our God is ONE Lord.”  In Ephesians 4: 4-6 we read, “There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as you are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”   There is a seven-fold affirmation of real and abiding unity in the Body because in the center of all is the “ONE Lord.”

 THREE  is the symbol of completeness.  In  measurement there are three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness and they go into making up a solid; therefore, THREE speaks of solidity.  Solidity and completeness suggest the TRIUNE God, so  THREE denotes Divine testimony or manifestation.  There are THREE attributes of God; He sees all, He is all-powerful, and He is present everywhere at any given time.  The concept of “fullness” is employed THREE times; the fullness of God (Epheisans 3: 19), the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4: 13), and the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2: 9).  THREE times, too, are believers on the Lord Jesus Christ called to “walk worthy” of Him:  “I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called” (Ephesians 4: 1); “That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing” (Colossians 1: 10); and “That you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2: 12). 

 The complete manifestation of evil is seen in the THREE-fold enemy of the believer; the world, the flesh, and Satan; while the completeness of temptation is recorded in 1 John 2: 16:  “The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”  The Divinely perfect witness to the GRACE of God on earth is given in the same epistle:  “There are THREE that bear witness on the earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood” (5: 8).  The completeness of the APOSTASY of men is summed up in Jude 11:  “Woe unto them!  For they have gone the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”

 Today’s date (still in USA) 1-1-13 reveals THREE ONE’s and a THREE; therefore I see today the “Beginning of the fullness of God manifesting everywhere on earth in ALL of His power.  I also see a corresponding evil manifesting parallel to what God is going to do.  However, the Scriptures above speak of a GLORY so great; far greater than most of us have witnessed in our entire lives that will touch the earth!   I BELIEVE that this is already beginning to happen.  The CLOUD is the manifested PRESENCE of Almighty God and the FIRE is His GLORY.  His GLORY was manifested to Moses as a burning bush…the fire burned but did not consume.  I believe the fire consumes anything NOT of God in the lives of believers; it is a refining fire that purifies us to be as silver and gold (Malachi 3: 3). 

 I have a sister in Christ who has been in the third heaven and God has revealed some of what is to take place in the coming days.  She describes it as follows.“The Cloud was the most excited and exceedingly exalted.  Mighty power and all kinds of rays and emanations were upon all sides.  I cannot describe what He was like in the Cloud.  There came out from Him in a huge wave something that appeared to be His very own self in mighty glory and in the Cloud yet He did not leave His high place in the heavens either, yet He did.  He was in so much activity and moved about over the heavens that opened below Him.  The great wave of Himself in the Cloud also descended with tens of thousands of mighty angels down towards the earth.  It did not descend slowly or softly but in great haste and speedy activity.  When it was some distance from the earth it hovered there for a while suspended over the heads of the people but they did not see it nor did they know it was there.  And there it rested.  After a while this other Cloud that was Himself ; so much so that it seemed that He had partly left the heavens; became again very active and then another speedy movement and it descended again.  This time it went clear down to the earth and covered it from my view.  Then He spoke saying, “This which you see will not take My loving sons by surprise because they are waiting for it to take place.  They are already knowing and have been advised and are waiting for Me to come to them in love, for they will love My appearing.”

 I BELIEVE there will be a SUPER/natural OUTPOURING of God’s Glory over His sons and daughters in this coming year.  It has started in some places in the world already , but it is going to be such an exceedingly abundant outpouring that it will seem to be a MOUNTAIN of fire covering the earth.  Great shades of darkness will gather together more and more until they form into a terrible force of darkness which will unite to make war against the firey mountain.  As they antagonistically rise up in fury and draw near to the mountain, they will be consumed instantly by the firey brilliance of the flames which will not even rise up against them.  They will go right on burning gloriously in a wondrous beauty in the likeness of His fires in the great Cloud.  I am ready; are you?

Tipping of the Scales

I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it.  And God does it so that men will reverently fear Him (revere and worship Him, knowing that He is).  That which is now already has been, and that which is to be already has been; and God seeks that which has passed by (so that history repeats itself).  Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice there was wickedness, and that in the place of righteousness wickedness was there also.  I said in my heart,  God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time (appointed) for every matter and purpose and for every work.  I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men,  God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see themselves (under the sun, without God) they are but beasts.  For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even in the end one thing befalls them both.  As one dies, the other dies  (Ecclesiastes 3: 14-19).

On December 5, 6, and 8, 2012, God aroused me from sleep at the very strange hour of 11: 10 PM on each of these nights. On December 8th He also sent an OWL to fly over my head during a walk I took; it was 11: 50 AM. It surprised me for the owl is usually a night predator. God has grabbed my attention like this before and it is usually to tell me something of importance. I spent some time pondering what the numbers would mean and the first place I go is to God’s Word.

I went to every book in the Bible and looked up Chapter 11: 10.  In most cases I read a few verses before and after verse 10 to get better understanding of what was happening.  For example in Genesis 11: 10 it talks about Shem who served the Lord and in Exodus 11: 10 we see that the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not let Israel go.  After reading all the chapters (11) with a verse 10,  I found that there were 16 that spoke of obedience to God’s standards and 16 that spoke of rebellion against God. The only two books in the Bible that had a chapter 11: 50 were Luke and John.

I used a book written by Robert D. Johnston called, “Bible Numbers” to get a meaning for the numbers 1, 3, 5, 10, and 11:

ONE:   is the source of all other numbers, so marks the “beginning.”  It means Divine unity, supremacy, and independence which admits no other; it is the origin, “In the beginning God.”   God is the Giver and Sustainer of Life in all its forms.

THREE:  speaks of solidity and is a symbol of completeness.  Solidity and completeness suggest the Tri-une God; therefore it denotes Divine testimony or manifestation in the resurrection of things moral, physical, and spiritual.  The three embracing attributes of God are that He is Omniscient (all-knowing), Omnipotent (all-powerful), and Omnipresent (everywhere- past, present, future).

FIVE:  denotes man as responsible under the government of God.  Five declares God’s works in redemption and it symbolizes “grace.”  But, grace is favor shown to the unworthy; so it also speaks of man’s unworthiness or weakness.  Jesus is our Advocate (1 John 2: 1) and He is the expressed and perfect grace of our God; meeting us in our helplessness, that we may not sin, and the assurance we have an Advocate for us if we do sin.

TEN: denotes the perfection of Divine order.  It addresses man’s responsibility toward God.  Man has 10 fingers and 10 toes, speaking of his capacity for action;  capacity implies responsibility and with responsibility there is corresponding judgment or reward.

ELEVEN:  appears only 38 times in Scripture.  It is a number that is MORE than 10 (Divine order) and LESS than 12 (Divine government).  Eleven signifies ‘disorder,’ ‘imperfection,’  and ‘incompleteness of earthly government.’  

Holy Spirit directed me to the above passage in Ecclesiastes just this evening and within the verses evolves a prophetic word for God’s people.

Ecclesiastes is the book of the natural man whose interests are confined to the unstable, vanishing pleasures and empty satisfactions of those who live merely “under the sun.”  The natural man is not aware that all the affirmative answers to life are to be found in Him Who is above, not “under” the sun.  The natural man grovels in the dust, while the spiritual man may soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40: 31) above all that is futile and disappointing, and may live in the consciousness of God’s companionship, favor, and incomparable and lasting rewards. The Lord reminds us that the reign of Solomon as king began under the most promising conditions: he “loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father.  All Israel feared King Solomon, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment” (1 Kings 3: 3, 28).  However, if you remember the story, soon Solomon’s own “wisdom” was guiding him. He openly affronted God by taking many wives, including even heathen women. They seduced him into tolerating and even practicing idolatry (1 Kings 11: 1).

The owl I saw was a symbol for wisdom. The “wisdom” we read about in Proverbs is Godlike, but the wisdom we see in Ecclesiastes is usually human. Natural (human) wisdom is very limited and can only end in a “miserable business” and in vexation of spirit until it finds “the wisdom that is from above” (James 3: 17), “the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” (1 Corinthians 2: 7).

The Lord points his finger to what His people have allowed to happen over the years and He is reminding us that He is Just and Righteous and He holds each of us responsible for how we live out His truth in all areas that affect our personal life, the life of our family, community, and nation. The Lord has given us guidelines (Wisdom from above) in how He expects us to live, just as He did Solomon.  He reminds us through His judgment of Solomon what He will do, “Because you are doing this and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely rend the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant” (1 Kings 11: 10, 11).

2015 will be a year of great disorder in earthly government on all levels.  God will do what He must to draw our gaze back from man’s natural wisdom, so prevalent today, to look unto Him and draw from His wisdom.  We already see that He is shaking the very foundations of what we believe to be unshakeable. The Lord is calling His people to be ready to stand firm in these times that are to come; for it is in our weaknesses and helplessness that His GRACE will be made available to all who have need and in increasing measure.   He reminds us that He IS eternal and nothing escapes His notice.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty, the Ruler of all. These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, the Origin and the Beginning and Author of God’s creation.”

The SEED Planted

The Seed

“The kingdom of God is like this,” He said, “A man scatters seed on the ground; he sleeps and rises –night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows– he doesn’t know how. The soil produces a crop by itself–first the blade, and then the head, and then the ripe grain on the head. But as soon as the crop is ready, he sends for the sickle, because harvest has come” (Mark 4: 30-32).