Distorted view of the Father

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost and is found. And they began to be merry.  ~ Luke 15:24

What a beautiful description Luke 15:24 is of the Father’s love for us.  Truly His heartbeat is restoration and His response to our being restored to Him is to celebrate over us!! 

luke 15

Zephaniah 3:17 in God’s Word Translation says “The LORD your God is with you. He is a Hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.”  I love that.  

Psalm 91:15 He says He will rescue us and then throw us a party.  

The more I meditate on His goodness, the more I see Him in this light…. rejoicing over me, renewing me with His love, celebrating over me and throwing me a party!!  I begin to see Him as Love… extravagant, lavish, outpouring, overflowing Love towards me!  This is the picture of the Father that Jesus is showing us in this parable… a picture of a Good, Good, Daddy.. full of chesed (Covenant Love) toward us (for more on chesed see my post Goodness and Grace).. a love that just won’t let us go!!

BOTH SONS HAD A DISTORTED VIEW OF THEIR FATHER

Both sons had a distorted view of their father and therefore a distorted view of themselves…. this identity problem made them unable to walk in the fullness of their positions as “sons” and enjoy the benefits of their inheritance.  They couldn’t see themselves the way their father saw them… accepted, loved and favored.

The Greek word for son is ‘huios’ and means son… a son having the nature of the father; a son representing the father — this is a word of position.  As opposed to the Greek word ‘teknos’ which means child…  meaning one not fully grown or mature, still needing to be under tutors and governors (Galatians 4:2).

God has called us as sons…. Ephesians 1:5  Having predestinated  (in Greek: proorizo…determined our destiny) us unto the adoption (in Greek:  huiosthasia… declaration of sonship) of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”.  How awesome and powerful is that truth!!  Before the foundations of the world, He determined and established our destiny as His sons… being conformed to the image of the Firstborn Son.  

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons.  ~Luke 15:9

He had 2 sons… both were huios.  We are first introduced to the elder son as a huios (Luke 15:25)…  again meaning having the nature of the father; one representing the father — it’s a word of position.  But his distorted identity was based on works… on what he did for the father instead of who he was.  Verse 29 gives us a glimpse of how this son saw himself.  “But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.”  The word served is douleuo which means “to serve as a slave” — slave is “doulos”.  This was the distorted the view the son had of himself.  

He was a son, not a slave but he saw himself serving as a slave…. not as a son!  And the rest of the verse gives his distorted view of the father… not as an extravagant, generous father but someone withholding from him — even something as small as a goat to celebrate.  

The younger son is introduced in verse 12 also as a huios…. again meaning having the nature of the father; one representing the father — this is a word of position.  His distorted view of his identity was based on his inheritance.. what he would possess at his father’s death —  his priority was on his inheritance instead of relationship.  Although even after he leaves with the inheritance, he is still called a “son” (huios).  His position hadn’t changed even though he walked away from it.  

Later in the story, he comes to his senses and realizes he has sinned against heaven and against his father and decides to tell his father he is no longer worthy to be called “a son” but instead a hired hand (with no inheritance).  But the father’s response is one of love and although the son no longer sees himself as a son but a servant, the father sees him the way he always has… as a son… his son. 

HE ALWAYS MAKES GRACE AVAILABLE FOR US

Redemptive grace was offered to both sons to see themselves as they truly were and to see the father as he truly was.  While we know the younger brother repented (changed his mind to align with the father’s) and began to see clearly who he was, sadly we never know if the elder brother repented, if his heart was healed and if he embraced his sonship.  But we do get a glimpse of the condition of his heart in looking further into how the father referred to him.  In verse 31 the father calls him son but the Greek word used is teknos instead of huios;  Teknos means child — a member born into the family but immature; not yet transformed into mature sons who are able to represent the father and administer the father’s house and his belongings.

We are sons of God.  And our Father is a good Daddy to us.  Ask Abba Father today to reveal this truth to you…. begin to see yourself in Christ… as joint heirs with Him, carriers of His glory, made in His image and as a representative on earth of all that He is and all that He is… and then begin releasing that to those who have lost their way!

~Robin  

Following in the wrong footsteps….

In our last post (Tammuz 5776 (2016) we learned that Reuben took his eyes off the prize (Phil 3:14).  The sad thing is his descendants also followed in his footsteps… the tribe of Reuben also lost their inheritance.  Wrong vision can cost you your inheritance.

inheritance

As they were about to enter into the Promise land… the tribe of Reuben chose not to cross over.  They stayed on the east side of the Jordan.  They made a choice not to move towards their inheritance.  After 40 years in the wilderness, Israel was getting close to the Promise Land.  But they had to cross through Amorite territory in order to get there

They were attacked by two Amorite warlords named Sihon and Og (Numbers 21:21-35).  

The Amorites were most likely the largest of the 7 enemy nations in Canaan.  They were large and powerful and controlled much of the Promise Land.  Their center of power was Cheshbon which means “reasoning”.  The Amorites were a warlike tribe and their name means to “say or speak” from a root word meaning to speak against or boast of self…. it includes all evil speaking, boasting, slander, boasting, murmuring, complaining, grumbling, blaming God, etc.  This translates as “a talker and a slayer.”

This enemy uses his words to reason with you and cause you to doubt what God has promised you or to settle for something less based on natural reasoning…. which is exactly what the tribes of Reuben, Gad and 1/2 the tribe of Manasseh did.  

King Sihon refused to allow the Israelites to pass through their land.  Sihon means tempestuous and also means warrior.  He gathered all his people together and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.  Jahaz is from a root meaning to stomp.  It was here Sihon and his men fully intended to stomp out the Israelites but instead, the Israelites defeated them with the edge of a sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok.  Arnon comes from a root word meaning a ringing cry, or joy.  Jabbok comes from a root meaning luxuriant or abundant… to pour forth.  

Like Sihon, we have a violent, raging enemy that opposes us, desiring to stomp us out.  He attempts to target our thoughts and reason with us…..”Has God really said?”  

Just like the Israelites defeated their enemy with the edge of the sword, so can we.  The word edge in Hebrew is mouth.  Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.  By using our mouths to wield the sword against this enemy we will defeat him and take possession of territory that he has illegally stolen from us.  Not listening to his evil words but declaring the promises of God as yes and amen in Christ.  We will regain our joy and abundance.

Then Og, king of Bashan, went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei (meaning might or strength).  Deuteronomy 3:11 describes King Og of Bashan (meaning fruitful) as ‘the last of the remnant of the Rephaim’ and notes that his iron bed measured 13.5 ft by 6 ft.   Most likely, Og is not a personal name but a title given to the Canaanite king meaning man of valor.  God told Moses not to fear Og because He has delivered him into their hands.  Israel fought Og and conquered their land.  No matter how big or strong the enemy appears to be he is a defeated foe… stripped of all his power (Col 2:15).  Declare your victory over him and take back your fruitfulness and strength.

The Amorite territory was never part of the Promise Land. Israel had told the Amorites that they did not want to possess their land and asked permission to cross over.  But Reuben looked around and said “We’ll take this for our land”  They chose the territory of Sihon and Og (Num 32:33) over the Promise Land God had chosen for them.

Because of this, they had continual trouble:

  • They were attacked by their pagan neighbors
  • They were drawn into the idolatry of their neighbors
  • One of the first tribes to be taken into captivity

Why did the tribe of Reuben settle for a land that was not the Promise Land?

“The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock”  Numbers 32:1

They reasoned based on their natural vision, forsaking the vision God had for them.  The land of Gilead is lush and fertile; they saw that and thought, Why should we go any further? They saw something…. it looked good, and they were willing to stop short of what God had promised to them in order to have it.  What they saw was beautiful and bountiful…..however, what they saw was not the Blessing that God had for them.

In this decision, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh divided the nation. They separated themselves from the Blessing of the land of Canaan. As a result they were farther from the tabernacle and much closer to the influence of the pagan nations that surrounded them.

God has promises for us that He desires we step into.   But to make this shift will require that we be willing to lay aside all natural reasoning… stop looking at things in the natural and step into faith….. like the children of Israel to go to a new place where we’ve never gone before.  

What has God promised you?…. health, healing, prosperity, etc?  Don’t settle for anything less!  In a time of transitioning not everyone will be willing to move forward with you. Be willing to leave behind the familiar to cling to God’s promises even if it’s unfamiliar territory for you.

~ Robin

 

Tammuz

Every month in Biblical times had a different meaning and purpose… it was a new prophetic season.  

keep eyes on prize    Jews in Biblical times had a special celebration at the beginning of every month, it was a time to put God first and seek direction for the new month.  It was called Rosh Chodesh (Head of the Month).   They came together to praise God, to give their first fruit offerings and to hear what God was saying for the month….to gain direction for the month ahead.  They were only able to hear Him by listening to the prophets…..we, however, hear Him face to face.  He abides in us and speaks directly to us. 

Tammuz is the 4th month of the Hebrew Biblical calendar and the 10th month of the Jewish civil calendar.  By looking at these Hebrew months in the Bible, we learn to think like God thinks.   Romans 15:4 says For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us.  Tammuz is a month that teaches us to worship and stay faithful. Each month was associated with a tribe and Tammuz was associated with the tribe of Reuben. By looking at Reuben we learn this month to wait on God and to choose to trust Him.

Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, and as such he was born into a position of great privilege.  

In Genesis 49:3,4 Jacob prophesies over Reuben that “he is my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.”  This was Reuben’s position… firstborn son of Jacob.  He was destined to inherit the double portion. He was to be the leader of the tribe as well as the priest of the family.  But like his Uncle Esau, Reuben lightly esteemed his birthright…. he acted so disgracefully that he forfeited his birthright – Gen 35:22.

This incident changed the course of his life.  The double portion was taken away and given to Joseph.  His leadership as a tribe was taken away and given to Judah.  His priesthood as a tribe was taken away and given to the tribe of Levi.  When Jacob blessed the other sons he pronounced a curse on Reuben – telling him he would not excel.

Why did Reuben do this?  As we look at Reuben’s family life, we see that their family had been through a traumatic period…..

  • They had fled from Laban who had chased them down and would have killed Jacob if God had not intervened.
  • Escaping Laban then they faced a confrontation with Esau who also tried to kill Jacob
  • Entering Canaan their sister Dinah was raped at Shechem and two of her brothers massacred all the men of the city in retaliation.  Canaanites were outraged.
  • Fleeing Shechem, Rebekah’s nurse Deborah died and was buried at “The Oak of Weeping”  Then Rachel went into labor and died giving birth to Benjamin.
  • Still, they journeyed on until they came to the tower of Eder where they finally stopped.

So the whole family had gone through a time of tremendous upheaval, violence, and loss.  They had to just keep moving through all of it.  Not until they stopped at the tower of Eder could they even begin to process what they had just gone through!

That’s when Reuben went in and found solace with Bilhah.  He wasn’t even thinking about the Blessing that lay ahead in his future…. he wasn’t thinking about all he could lose because of this choice.  He simply wanted comfort and he wanted it NOW!

He was desperate for comfort and security and sought them outside of God.  

The biblical tower of Eder was built near Hebron as a watchtower that shepherds watched their flocks from. Eder became a symbol of God’s watchfulness over His people. It was a place of refuge.  That’s where Reuben went to Bilhah.  It was here that he should’ve sought refuge in God.  Allowing Abba Father to refresh his soul… a soul that had been through a series of traumatic events.  Doing that would have restored his vision and helped him walk out his prophetic destiny.

But instead, he sought out Bilhah. Bilhah means terror or trouble.  It also means worn out…. something so worn out that it serves no purpose.  Another possible definition means foolish.  These definitions sum up for us what Reuben was experiencing when he slept with Bilhah.  His action was foolish…Ps 14:1 – a fool says there is no God… a better translation is a fool says in his heart “no God!”.  Reuben by yielding to sin was saying no to God… no to His promises, no to His destiny for Reuben, no to trusting God to see him through this terrible time in his life.  He was so worn out in life that he ended up losing sight of his purpose in God.

Reuben’s name means “behold a son”.  Behold means to see…. see a son!  It’s important in this season that we begin to see ourselves as “sons”.  Sonship is our destiny that was marked out for us in love by God (Eph 1:5).  Having correct vision… seeing ourselves as God sees us, in a position of sonship… will keep us from forfeiting our spiritual inheritance.

God wants to awaken us to the revelation of “Sonship” in our lives in this season.  

Psalms 2:7-8 tells us that we are to declare/decree our position as sons.  Gal 4:1-7 tells us that it is time to claim our inheritance as sons because we are no longer slaves.  And Romans 8:14-17 tells us that as sons & daughters we are endowed with authority in His kingdom.  This is a time to displace, to cast off  an “orphan spirit” and embrace the spirit of sonship that is ours, with all of the rights, privileges, and responsibilities (John 5:19).

Because of Reuben’s lack of vision, his birthright was forfeit.  The wonderful inheritance… the prophetic destiny… God intended for him was lost.  Reuben took his eyes off the prize (Phil 3:14).  When you lose sight of the goal you are always in danger of not fulfilling your destiny.  Wrong vision will cost you your inheritance. The sad thing is his descendants followed in his footsteps… the tribe of Reuben also lost their inheritance.

Next time we’ll look at how Reuben’s descendants followed in his footsteps……

~ Robin

Cancer GONE!

Two days ago my next door neighbor Lanette asked me to come over and pray for a friend of hers that was just diagnosed with a cancerous mass on her ovary.  I told her absolutely, set it up and I’ll be right over.  Just a few weeks ago, Lanette herself had also been diagnosed with uterine cancer and she had been resigned to “suffer” for Jesus and die if that was His will for her.  Her husband and daughters convinced her to call me and see if I would pray for her.  They had heard that 1 few weeks prior I had prayed for a woman in our church with breast cancer and she was healed.

So my husband and I went over to Lanette’s house. I spent a few minutes with her prior to praying just teaching her about what the Bible says about healing and that it is always God’s will to heal.  We prayed for her and in addition to receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues (Acts 2:2), she received her miraculous healing… the next morning the cramping and bleeding had stopped.  

The doctor gave her his pathology findings a couple of weeks later that said this was indeed a miracle because the cancer was now GONE and there would be no need for chemotherapy.  Lanette is such a beautiful woman of God and was willing to go through whatever God wanted her to… including cancer and going home to heaven early.  All she needed for her faith to grab ahold of her healing was to know that cancer and ALL sickness and disease is never God’s will.  That what God wants her (and all of us) to have is abundant life.  She just needed to be taught what the Word says about God always being a Healer.

healing

When her friend Danielle (who had just been diagnosed with cancer) heard about her healing she asked if I would be willing to pray for her.  I went over to Lanette’s two days ago and got to pray with Danielle.  Before I prayed for her though I listened to what her thoughts were… where her mind was at.  First, because a member of her family had been diagnosed with cancer, her doctors were proactive in testing her and her sisters often to make sure she didn’t get cancer.  Second, while she believed that the enemy attacks us with sickness, she believed that God allows it.  And finally, she was only asking God to shrink the tumor (not completely remove it).  She didn’t want to ask for too much from God…. just a tiny touch… a partial healing was more than enough in her thinking.

I began to teach her what the Word says about healing… dealing with those 3 issues above.

I explained to her that 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that once we are in Christ and have become a new creation.. the old has passed away and all things have become new.  I told her that one translation of John 1:13 says we are children born “out from the natural and corrupt DNA  and into the incorruptible DNA of the Father”…. we received the genetic code of the Father and that superior genetic code recodes the human spirit.  I told her that she isn’t bound to her family genetics because the DNA of Jesus is in her.  I explained to her that sickness cannot live in her body because Jesus lives inside of her!

Then I told her that God doesn’t allow Satan to attack us…. the book of Job was written pre-Christ.  Jesus came and destroyed the works of the devil (Col 2:15; 1 John 3:8) and He gave us all power over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We have the legal right as co-heirs with Jesus to be gatekeepers of our body and soul and are able to say NO to the enemy when he brings something against us that is contrary to God’s Word… contrary to what Jesus purchased for us at Calvary and through His resurrection.  

Finally, I taught her that God is the Healer and He heals completely… not partially!!  He doesn’t want to just shrink a tumor and leave it there as a benign tumor.  God’s desire is to heal her completely…. removing ALL cancer and tumors and anything else misaligned in her body.

Then the most beautiful thing happened… as I was teaching her I watched shackles of unbelief and wrong teaching fall off of her.  As she grabbed hold of the TRUTH that God is the Healer and of who she is IN CHRIST…..she lifted her hands high declaring, “I am no longer limited to just believing for shrinking (of the tumor), I am HEALED. I say no to the devil (to his attacks of sickness and disease) because now I am equipped.  I am the gatekeeper of my body!”  Her faith grabbed ahold of the healing that Jesus already had made available to her 2000 years ago and that wholeness that was already hers manifested in her physical body!

She then also got baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:2).  Yesterday she messaged me that she went in for her ultrasound and told the technician “I’m looking for my miracle today… Jesus is in me.”

THE RESULTS:  The ultrasound showed no tumor (not a shrinking but a total absence of it!)……. Cancer GONE!

I love being a co-laborer with God (1 Cor 3:9).  I love laying hands on the sick and watching them recover just as God said they would.  AND I REALLY LOVE teaching the Word of God.  I love watching minds get renewed….shackles coming off…. seeing someone’s eyes light up because they just received the revelation on the inside that they are FREE and have always been free!

Free from all sickness, disease, poverty, sin, and death… free from the curse of the law because Jesus became the curse for us (Gal 3:13).  

BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE GOD DOESN’T ANSWER PRAYERS

I was rejoicing on Facebook about these two miracles and a dear, sweet friend of mine commented that she wished prayer had worked for her (I know that some of her family members had been diagnosed in the past with cancer and died).  That broke my heart.  I didn’t know what to say to her to comfort her.   I know that sometimes people die even after we pray for them.  I don’t know why… I don’t have an answer for that.  What I do know is that when something doesn’t happen the way I thought it should… when it SEEMS like God didn’t hear my prayers…. when if FEELS like God doesn’t care about my situation…. I know to fall back on what I do know…to fall back on TRUTH…instead of what my circumstances are screaming at me.

FALL BACK ON WHAT YOU KNOW TO BE TRUE

I know that God is the Healer and that it is ALWAYS His will… His desire… for us to be healed. And not only to be healed but to walk in divine health ALL the days of our life.  Jesus took sickness and disease on His body so that we don’t have to….. so that we could walk sickness free… disease free.  

I know that when I pray His will He ALWAYS hears me (1 John 5:14).  I know He ALWAYS cares about me – He promised to NEVER leave me nor forsake me (Heb 13:5).

I know that He said to pray unceasingly….. to pray even when circumstances look like prayer isn’t working.

I know that as hard as death is to understand… and much as we may miss someone…. I know that the pain and grief of death will not conquer.. will not overpower us (Ps 91:10).

All I know to say to my friend is to KEEP PRAYING… KEEP BELIEVING GOD…. KEEP HOPING…KEEP WALKING IN THE TRUTH OF HIS WORD…. AND KEEP FELLOWSHIPPING WITH YOUR FATHER.  

AND ALLOW HIM TO TRANSFORM YOU

I haven’t always had my prayers answered either.  But I’ve found that as I continue to grow in the Word… continue to know Him more intimately… to share in the fellowship of His sufferings by learning what His death laid hold of for me… to know Him in the power of His resurrection…. understanding our oneness (our co-union)….. AS I BEHOLD HIM.. that I am continually being renewed in understanding who I am.  That as He is so am I in this world.  That causes me to pray with His boldness, with His authority, and with His faith….. and as a result, my prayers are being answered more often.

I no longer pray “hit and miss” prayers… I’m learning to say what my Father says and do what my does… to pray what I hear Him saying and see Him doing.  I’m learning to pray what the word says… to pray from my position of IN CHRIST… to release through my prayers what He purchased for me.  

I am no longer asking or pleading with God to do what He has already done through Jesus.  But rather declaring with all boldness what already belongs to me IN CHRIST.

I don’t pray “my fears” or the problem, but I pray “in faith” the answer to whatever the problem is…. not asking mountains to move… not hoping they move… but COMMANDING them to move.

~ Robin

SaveSave

Sivan – 5777 (2017)

 sivan

Sivan is the month of Pentecost (or Shavuot as it’s called in Hebrew). Pentecost is God’s 2nd yearly feast (Ex 23:14-17)….. the first is Passover (Pesach), then Pentecost (Shavuot) and finally Sukkoth (Tabernacles).  Pentecost is the feast of harvest or weeks.  It is a celebration of provision.  It initially marked the ingathering of the wheat harvest.  Wheat ready to harvest marked a new season.  The provision from previous seasons could no longer sustain them in a new season.  Pentecost on Mt Sinai God provided the revelation they needed to walk with Him and understand His ways — it marked a new season for them.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.  And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.  ~ Acts 2:1-4

Pentecost (Shavuot) was not a new thing to the disciples… they celebrated it every year.  In Acts 2 the church was born… marking a new season.  A time to go into all the world with the gospel… the provision of the last season wouldn’t sustain them… so at Pentecost, God poured out His Spirit and released His miraculous gifts. It marked the beginning of the “one-new-man” — the new humanity empowered to do God’s works.  Pentecost represents the release from Heaven of God’s provision in every area of our life.  God uses it to equip us with the new provision needed for a new season.  When we celebrate Pentecost it actually unlocks and releases God’s provision for this new season.  

This month expect God to open doors of provision that will equip you in a new season in your life.  

BUT SIVAN IS MORE THAN JUST PENTECOST — SIVAN IS A MONTH OF RECEIVING NEW BOUNDARIES

At Sinai God began to set boundaries for His people.  Boundaries help to define your identity… When God set boundaries for Israel He was defining them as a nation.  Eph 1:5 says we are predestined for adoption as sons.  The Rotherham translation says “in love marking us out beforehand unto sonship.”  

Predestined means to establish boundaries.. in dealing with people it means to determine their destiny.  Our destinies were determined.. marked out in sonship.  This is the position IN CHRIST that He planned for us to walk in!   

This is a month to press into the revelation of the boundary He set for us in the position of sonship.  Ask Him to extend your borders… to extend your territories as you walk as a son releasing the Kingdom.  

ENLARGE MY TERRITORY…….

The tribe associated with Sivan is Zebulon.  Zebulon was a tribe faithful to the Lord.  Deuteronomy 33:18-19 Moses prophesies over Zebulon that they will partake of the abundance of the seas and of treasures hidden in the sand.  In  Genesis 49:13 Jacob prophesied that Zebulon would dwell by the haven of the sea.  Their prophetic destiny was to engage in trade and become wealthy through commerce on the sea — their symbol is a ship….they are tied to the sea.  

In Joshua 19 when Israel entered the Promise Land, Zebulon was assigned a rich territory that was bordered by Asher, Naphtali, Issachar, and Manasseh.  It was a great land but it left Zebulon with a problem… their prophetic destiny involved the sea… and here they were landlocked!  How could they walk out their prophetic destiny where they were at??

GOD HAD PROMISED THEM A DESTINY BY THE SEA — BUT IN THEIR CURRENT SITUATION, THEY HAD NO ACCESS TO THE SEA!
What they did have was a wonderful trade route… the main east-west highway connecting the seas went through Zebulon.  So they had no seaport but they did have an opportunity to begin moving toward one’s destiny in trade…..and that’s exactly what they did!
As the tribe of Zebulon was faithful to press into it’s prophetic destiny something happened — God shifted Zebulon’s boundaries.  As Zebulon traded with those along the sea of Galilee, members of Zebulon settled in Naphtali and the 2 tribes intermingled.  The land became known as the land of Zebulon and Naphtali (Mt 4:13).  As Zebulon continued to be faithful to pursue their destiny right where they were, the same thing happened on the west with the tribe of Manasseh and the Mediterranean sea — God again shifted their borders.  
By the 1st century, the Jewish historian Josephus said the territory of Zebulun reached all the way from the Mediterranean sea to the sea of Galilee….. the Mediterranean sea that was originally portioned to Manasseh and the Sea of Galilee that was portioned to Naphtali.  Because they faithfully pursued God’s promise they gained seaports on two seas!
PURSUE YOUR PROPHETIC DESTINY WITH FAITHFULNESS!
Sometimes this happens with our lives.  We have received a prophetic promise of our destiny and it feels as if we’re landlocked so to speak…. like we are so far from walking in and fulfilling that promise.  Our present boundaries seem too narrow and not at all what God had promised us.  But don’t respond to the promise in unbelief….pursue your call with faithfulness.  Like Zebulon, work with what you presently have… they had a trade route and linked up with the tribes of Naphtali and Manasseh.  
Naphtali means “pleasant words” and Manasseh means “cause me to forget” because Joseph was able to forget his past troubles and hardships.  Apostle Paul in Philippians said “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.”  We need to say the same thing.
 
In order for God to enlarge our territory we need to be faithful in what we presently have and where we presently are…. by speak words of faith – declaring His prophetic promises over our lives.… and forgetting those things that are behind us — looking forward and pressing into our inheritance and the things purchased for us by Jesus at the Cross and Resurrection.  
Our boundary that God marked out for us is sonship (Eph 1:5)…. let’s ask God to enlarge our territory in this new season…. for a larger territory for us to release His Kingdom and be a light to the nations.
~ Robin

 

Iyar — 5776 (2016)

Jehovah rophe necklace    Last night we entered into the Hebrew month of Iyar.  This is one of the three Spring months…. Remember that each month is a progressive blessing of revelation – the blessing of the Spring months are:

  1. Reconfirm your covenant with God at Passover in the first month (Nissan)
  2. So that, He can reveal secrets of His covenant in this second month (Iyar)
  3. And then He will bring you into a whole new level of Pentecost in the third month (Sivan)

Spring is a time to plant…. as you sow this month declare that your harvest is being secured and that every seed will prosper.  Biblically it is the “New year of Kings”… a time of counting the years of the reigns of kings in ancient Israel.  It is also the month when kings go to war (2 Sam 10:1)… This is a time to reign as kings and to use your authority…. to war for your covenant promises.  Zech 10:1 tells us to ask the Lord for rain in the springtime…. this month is a time to ask for the rain of His presence.  

After coming out of Egypt, Iyar was the transition month between Egypt and Mt Sinai.  It was a transition to a new level in their relationship with Him from being one of deliverance to one of covenant.  The rabbis have traditionally taught that this new level was actually a marriage covenant between the Lord and Israel… He became their Husband. During this transition time, He began revealing His covenant secrets to them in the Wilderness.

In Ex 15:26 He revealed Himself to them as their Healer, Jehovah Rophe.  In fact, Iyar is actually an acronym meaning Ani Yahweh Rophe.  In Hebrew, it is spelled:  Aleph, Yud, Yud, Resh….. “Ani Yahweh Rofecha.  Aleph – stands for Ani,  Yud – 2 yud’s next to each other always represent God’s name and Reish – stands for Rofecha.

In Ex 16:12 He revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh, the Lord their Provider as He sent in quail in the evening and rained down Manna (angel’s food) from Heaven.  Another covenant secret He taught them was the Sabbath (Ex 16:26)… He was trying to teach them to rest in Him, that He would provide everything they would ever need.  His provision was given even in their grumbling (Ex 16:2).  In Ex 17 He revealed Himself as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord their Banner after their victorious battle against the Amalekites.  This battle was only victorious because He was their banner and fought for them…. later after the report of the spies and they are judged to wander in the Wilderness for 40 years, they realize their sin and decide to go up and take the land against Moses’ counsel and are badly defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.

In Ex 17 He revealed Himself as Jehovah Nissi, the Lord their Banner after their victorious battle against the Amalekites.  This battle was only victorious because He was their banner and fought for them…. later after the report of the spies and they are judged to wander in the Wilderness for 40 years, they realize their sin and decide to go up and take the land against Moses’ counsel and are badly defeated by the Amalekites and Canaanites.  Our victories are only guaranteed IN CHRIST… Psalm 108:13; Psalm 60:12;   How do we learn His secrets?  Simply when we ask!  Dan 2:21-22, Mt 13:11, James 1:5.

 Iyar is often called the month of Ziv, meaning radiance.  It is linked with light or increased revelation.  It is the opposite of darkness….Isaiah 60:1-3.  This is also the month the disciples were taught many things about the Kingdom by Jesus during the 40 days after His death and when they waited in the upper room to receive the promise from on High.  Just like every year before, as tradition dictated, they spent the night before Shavuot (Pentecost) first taking an offering to the temple and then staying up all night studying the Word.

But this particular year on Shavuot, He fulfilled the prophecy in Joel 2.  He poured out His Spirit upon them and they became changed men and women who went forth changing the world.  This month we are still in the period of what is called counting the Omer.  Omer in the Hebrew is to form and utter speech!  This is a time to speak out the promises of God… releasing words that will help propel us into our destiny and transition us successfully into this new season!

Remember that this is the month of transition for them through the wilderness before Mt Sinai.  In the wilderness they received grace – the word encampments translates “grace was available”.  

This month walk in the abundance of grace that is yours IN CHRIST as you move towards the month of Sivan.  This month begin to learn the ways of God….the secrets of His covenant.  

The tribe associated with Iyar is “Issachar”, this is probably one of my favorite tribes.  Jacob prophesied over Issachar in Gen 49:14-15 and Moses prophesied over them in Deut 33:18-19.   Issachar was the 5th son of Leah…..five represents grace, goodness, and the favor of God.  Issachar was a man of strength that would not hold back from hard work to establish a secure place to rest.  He was a burden bearer… this links the anointing to intercession.  

Men of Issachar were also prophetic people…. they not only had an understanding of the times and seasons but they also knew what Israel should do in those times and seasons… 1 Chron 12:40.  Deut 27:12 reveals that an Issachar anointing understands the timing of God and the government of God, carries the burden of the Lord, and releases the blessing of God into the earth realm at the crossroads of every season.

IN CHRIST we have this same anointing….. to understand the timing of God and of His government…. to carry His burdens in prophetic intercession…. and to release His Blessing into the earth and to everyone we come in contact with.  This month walk in the revelation of the Issachar anointing.  

~Robin

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy”  ~  Psalm 107:2

I kept hearing this scripture all day in my spirit!  Such a timely scripture since we just entered into the Hebrew month of Nisan a week ago and one of the key things about Nisan is it’s a month of redemption.

blessing 3

Psalm 107:2 “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”  One translation says “let the redeemed tell their story” and the NLT says “Has the Lord redeemed you?  Then speak out!!”  I did just that as I went for my afternoon walk.  I began speaking forth what His redemption purchased for me.

SLAVES SET FREE

What does it mean to be redeemed?  What does it mean to be slaves set free!

Slavery was a common institution in the ancient world… a man might be born into slavery,  he might be captured by an invading army and placed into slavery, or he might have fallen into debt with no way to pay and therefore sold into slavery.  Once a slave, he could gain his freedom again… but it was very costly.  

There are 3 Greek words for redemption…

  • agorazo which means a purchase made in the market place
  • peripoieo which means to acquire or purchase for oneself
  • lutroo which means liberated… the ransom price paid for loosing captives from their bonds and setting them at liberty.

When Jesus redeemed us, we were not just purchased from the market place of sin and death (agorazo).. or even purchased for Himself (peripoieo)…. we were purchased and our bonds were loosed, we were set free and given liberty in Him (lutroo)!!  We were redeemed by His blood (1 Cor 6:19-20; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Revelations 5:9).  He paid the ransom and declared “it is finished (John 19:30).”

IT IS FINISHED — PAID IN FULL

It is finished… or “teletesta” in Greek can also be translated “paid in full”.  It does not mean just to complete a task but to carry it out fully, to perfection.  His work of redemption is fully complete and nothing needs to be or can be added to it.   

Tetelesta was a legal term.  When a Roman prisoner had finished serving his sentence, the judge would inscribe the word “tetelesta” on the release paper which guaranteed his deliverance and liberty.  The charges for those crimes could never be brought against him again.   When Jesus cried “TETELESTAI” on the cross, He was saying that anyone who places his trust in His sacrificial death, receives in essence a “certificate of debt” with the inscription of “tetelestai”, indicating that all their “crimes” (past, present and future) against God have been PAID FOR IN FULL!

Christ has utterly wiped out or completely obliterated the condemning evidence of broken laws and commandments which always hung over our heads, and has completely annulled it by nailing it over His own head on the Cross.

And then He disarmed the powers against us, He publicly exposed them, shattered, shamed, emptied and defeated, completely stripped them of all power – Col 2:14-15

LAW OF FIRST MENTION — REDEEMED

Redeem is first mentioned in Gen 48:16 next to the names  of Jacob’s grandson’s Manasseh and Ephraim as Jacob is blessing them after he has adopted them.  The adoption of them by Jacob, made them sons with full inheritance rights equal to Joseph…. we have become sons with full inheritance rights equal to that of Jesus.  

We have been redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13).  The scripture does not say Christ has redeemed us from the law, as if to say the law is a curse. No, the law of God is not a curse, the law is holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12). What Christ has redeemed us from is the curse of the law.. the penalty or punishment of disobedience!  ALL the curses!!

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 is a list of the curses.  He has redeemed us from sickness, pain, sorrow, depression, poverty and even death that came as a result for disobeying God.  We were redeemed from the curse so that the blessing of Abraham (Gen 12:2-3) might come upon us….. the Gentiles, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Gal 3:14)

He didn’t just redeem us and leave us to fend for ourselves in our new found freedom.  He redeemed us from the dominion of darkness and redeemed us (transferred us) into the Kingdom of His dear Son.

2 Peter 1:3 tells us that His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.  Below are some of the things His redemption purchased for us – this is not an exhaustive list.. definitely do your own study 

  • Col 1:19-22 – we were reconciled to God in Him and presented holy, blameless and without reproach; made righteous.
  • Col 2:13-15 – we were made alive with Him, forgiven our trespasses, canceled the record of debt with it’s legal demands, and completely stripped the enemy’s power over us.
  • 1 Thes 5:9-10 – we obtained salvation… Sozo: forgiveness of sins, healing, deliverance, and prosperity… made whole, complete, lacking nothing.
  • 1 Pe 2:24 – we are dead to sin, alive to righteousness, healed
  • Rom 6:6 – we are no longer slaves to sin
  • Galatians 4:5 – we received adoptions as sons
  • Isaiah 44:22 – our transgressions are blotted out
  • Romans 6:4 – we walk in newness of life
  • Ephesians 1:1-23 – we have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places
  • Rev 1:6 – we are made kings and priests
  • Titus 2:14 – we have become pure
  • Galatians 3:14 – we received the promise of the Spirit

When you know you are fully, completely redeemed, your walk with God will change.

You’ll see yourself in a brand new light. You will know God has placed such great value on you because He purchased you through the precious blood of His dear Son.  And you will tell others your story of redemption…. declaring that the Redeemer lives in you and that it is for freedom He set you free, never again to be subject to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1)!

~ Robin

He has given us a new heart

“……God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”  Romans 5:5

Recently I heard a church leader at a church I attended quote the scripture Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  I didn’t think much of it at the time… it’s not a scripture I quote over myself so I let it go in one ear and out the other so to speak.  Then I heard a couple of people in the same church begin parroting that same scripture.  When I heard it for the 3rd time later that week during a prayer meeting, I thought to myself “my heart is not deceitful and desperately wicked” and  Holy Spirit spoke Romans 5:5 to my heart… “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

love

Jeremiah 17:9 in a few translations says our hearts are wicked beyond cure or incurable!  Sometimes we quote things out of context from the Old Testament… without the revelation of the blood of Jesus and what His death, burial and resurrection purchased for us.  We forget to put on our Jesus glasses while we read the Old Testament.  This keeps us sin conscious instead of son conscious….. or righteousness conscious.  And it heaps condemnation upon us.  And condemnation is a life killer!

 So let’s look at Jeremiah 17:9 in context.

Jeremiah 17 is talking about a people who had turned away from God and had fallen into idolatry.  Verse 4 says that God will make them a slave to their enemies. And verse 5 says “cursed is he who trusts in man and makes mere flesh his strength, and turns his thoughts from the Lord.”

In Deuteronomy 28 being a slave to our enemies is listed under the curse of the Law.  Galatians 3:13 tells us that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law… being made a curse for us.  So, Jeremiah 17:9 can’t possibly apply to us.

Also, Hebrews 10:22 says that our hearts have been made clean from an evil conscience.  Yes, at one time men thought that their hearts were deceitful and desperately wicked… but Jesus cleansed our hearts from that distorted way of thinking about ourselves!

Instead of confessing Jeremiah 17:9 over ourselves, let’s look at a few verses about our hearts.  And let’s start confessing these things instead…..

  • our hearts are pure as a result of being born again (and Peter says we were born again through the resurrection of Jesus! )
  • our hearts are full of  good treasure (Luke 6:45)
  • our hearts have rivers of living water flowing from them (John 7:38-39)
  • our hearts have been cleansed (Acts 15:9)
  • our hearts are filled with the love of God (Romans 5:5)
  • our hearts listen… we have hearing hearts (Rom 6:17)
  • God’s light shines in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6)
  • the Spirit of God’s Son dwells in our hearts (Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 3:17)
  • our hearts are guarded by the peace of God (Philippians 4:7)
  • our hearts have God’s laws written on them (Hebrews 8:10)
  • our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22)
  • our hearts are continually strengthened by grace (Hebrews 13:9)

Ezekiel 36:26–27 is a prophetic promise of God giving us a NEW heart… and Jesus fulfilled that prophecy for us through His death, burial, and resurrection. The word new  in this verse is chadash, meaning renewed, restored, rebuilt.

Back in chapter 13, Jeremiah said this……….

Jeremiah 13:23 (KJV): Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
The NIV and the NLT, as well as a few other translations, have this verse saying “neither can you do good who are accustomed (or who have always) done evil.
Wow! What a negative, hope-less translation the KJV is!!
  • The Hebrew doesn’t say “neither can you!” It doesn’t even say “may you also do good.”
  • The word translated may is yakol meaning to be able; to have power! It’s an imperfect verb – a present or future tense.
  • In other words, you have power! You are able!! Continually, and NOW! That is not only positive and full of hope but it EMPOWERS! You have the power and the ability to do good!
  • Good is tov and means functions the way God designed you to function. You have the power, you are able to be ALL that God designed you to be and to do ALL that He designed you to do.

You have the power and the ability to function in your original design… image and likeness of God! This verse says that our skin, our make up… OUR NATURE is GOOD! And like the Ethiopian and the leopard we could never change that! Mankind’s nature has never been evil but we were taught and learned evil. 1 Peter 1:18: knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct RECEIVED BY TRADITION from your fathers. Evil was a learned behavior NOT inherent!! Men thought their hearts were wicked or evil, because it was a belief that had been passed down generation to generation.

~ Robin

Nisan – 5776 (2016)

Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.  ~ Exodus 12:1-2

barley yeshua

Last year as we entered into the Hebrew month of Nisan I woke up to a song in my heart and on my lips… “it’s a new season, it’s a new day….a fresh anointing is flowing my way…a season of power and prosperity…..it’s a new season coming my way.”  And in prayer, I kept hearing God say “new day, new day!!”  Then He led me to Joshua 1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.”   All of this happened in the Hebrew month of Nisan.  A new day had come for the children of Israel…  the old way of living (in the Wilderness) was over and it was now time to cross over into the Promise Land and receive all that God had promised them.

On this past Friday evening we entered into Nisan… on Saturday morning I woke up with an expectancy of something new.  It felt as if something in the atmosphere had shifted.  Saturday was also the day of Azusa Now in Los Angeles (which marked 110 years anniversary of the Azusa Street Revival) as well as United Cry DC in Washington DC.   East coast and West coast worshipping together and crying out to God on the same day for revival in our land!  A day of unity in the Body of Christ.

I believe we have entered into a new day… Saturday marked a day that everything changed… an historic day for us!  For our nation!  And not coincidentally it happened as we entered into the Hebrew month of Nisan.  The month of Passover… a time of liberation, personal change, going from slavery to freedom, and the emerging out of the old.

Saturday I believe we “passed over” into a new season… a season that has shifted us and positioned us for the next Great Awakening.  Rev. William Seymour, the leader of the Azusa Street Awakening, prophesied that in 100 years there would be an outpouring of God’s Spirit and His Shekinah Glory that would be greater and more far reaching than what was experienced at Azusa.

REVIVAL — A TIME OF GREAT AWAKENING IS UPON US!

Revival is defined as to live again, to receive again a life which has almost expired; to rekindle into a flame the vital spark which was nearly extinguished.  Another great definition I read is “The Spirit of God working through the Word of God, in the lives of the people of God.”

Passover (which is in Nisan) is a time of revival and spiritual renewal, a restoration of the Power and Glory….a renewed interest in God!  In Nisan the children of Israel shifted into a new season… a season of liberation as they followed Moses, the revivalist, out of Egypt.  The children of Israel had been enslaved for 430 years and in Exodus 6 God told Moses that He heard their groanings….and He responded to their prayerful cries and to the hearts of His people… there was a revival of His covenant with Abraham.

Zech 10:1 tells us to ask the Lord for rain in the springtime…. this month is a time to ask for the rain of His presence.  I loved that on Saturday the 8th (Azusa now and United Cry DC) it rained here in California and also in DC…. in fact my Facebook post that morning was Hosea 6:3 “He comes like the rain”.  That day on Facebook I saw two different photos of rainbows… one over the colosseum in LA and two double rainbows a few days before over the Washington monument and the US capital.

It is also the month that the King had favor on Nehemiah and granted him permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall.  This was another time of revival for Israel…. in Nehemiah chapter 8 the people gather as Ezra reads the Word of God.  They stood listening to the Word for about 6 hours!! Then they began weeping, because they realized how much they had sinned against God…. they were repentant…  and worshipping God after it was read…. their hearts were revived and turned back to God.    Again, this happened in the month of Nisan.

It is also month to watch your speech.. be aware of what your confessions are.    Your Word confessions should “grab the wind” and change the atmosphere. Speak forth revival… in your life, your families, your city and your nation!  

 

~ Robin

 

No Hebrew word for obey

I was reading an article by Rabbi Daniel Lapin, and he said that there is no Hebrew word for “obey.”  I always just assumed the actual word ‘obey’ was in the Hebrew Bible….it’s translated in our English Bibles, and it’s definitely in most sermons that are preached.   I did some further research, and sure enough, there is no word in Hebrew for our English word ‘obey.’  The word translated obey in our Bibles is the Hebrew word “shema.”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against obedience, and I’m definitely not advocating for disobedience.  I am one of those people that obedience just comes naturally to.  I was an extremely obedient kid… to the point of losing a cat once… but that’s another story for another blog!  I also like rules…truthfully I LOVE following rules and setting them.  In fact, my kids and husband call me the rule maker! I’m sure they mean it as a term of endearment… right??

Just as there is no Hebrew word meaning “obey,” there also is no English word for shema.  While this Hebrew verb translates as “hear” it means much more than just hearing or listening. The King James Bible chose the verb ‘to hearken’ rather than hear. But now, nobody hearkens anymore so the English translators of the Bible didn’t know what to do with this verb. So they translated it as ‘obey’.

keys bible

But “obey” poses a problem…before we obey we usually go through a 3 part process.

  1. We hear what God says
  2. we evaluate the command based on our understanding
  3. we make a choice to obey based on our evaluation.

That’s a Greek mindset to understand first then obey.  But God doesn’t give us instructions in order that we might understand Him!  He gives His instructions to us that we might live life well…  Proverbs 10:17 “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life.”

There are 613 commandments in the Old Testament and 1050 commandments in the New Testament.  With so many “commandments” you would naturally assume that obedience is what God is requiring.  But He’s not looking for obedience from us the way we understand obedience.

Webster’s Dictionary defines obey as to do what someone tells you to do or what a rule, law, etc., says you must do.  Some synonyms are to submit, to keep, to comply, to be governed by, bow to, do one’s bidding, do what is expected, do as told, to take orders.  Lots of English synonyms for a word that’s not even in the Hebrew language.

IF NOT OBEDIENCE — WHAT IS GOD LOOKING FOR?

So, what does God require from us?  He’s looking for shema levot….for hearing hearts.  A hearing heart is a heart that is intent on… or committed to… doing whatever God commands… whatever He asks from us.  And most importantly a hearing heart is rooted in love (Deut 11:1; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3).

The first time “shema” appears in Scripture is in Genesis 3:8. “And they heard (shema) the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”

Adam and Eve had just sinned and eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  This scripture shows us God’s response to them in spite of their sin… in spite of them not following their hearing hearts and doing what God required of them. God came walking through His garden in the cool of the day.

The word walk is halak; it has the idea of moving or going as opposed to just sitting there.  The term “cool of the day” wasn’t just added as a poetic phrase, the word cool is the word ruach which is the word for spirit.  

Immediately following their disobedience they “heard”(shema) the Spirit of the Lord in the Garden ready to walk with them… eager to enjoy fellowshipping Spirit to spirit with them. They heard His Spirit come into the garden desiring to be with them like always.

To hear (shema) is hearing with understanding, attention, and with a response.  Response to what?  To come to Him and walk with His Spirit as usual.  Allowing the wind of His Spirit to blow over them and make things right.

Our translations then tell us that God said “where are you?”  Actually, in the Hebrew it is a Semitic idiomatic expression meaning “he is nowhere.”  God wasn’t asking a question; He wasn’t asking where Adam was.  He was crying out “Adam is nowhere in My heart.”

This is not a picture of an angry God who is looking for Adam so that he can punish his “disobedience”… this first look at sin for us is a picture of a caring Father so sad that His son left His heart.

Today let’s have hearing hearts, let’s respond to Him, walk with His Spirit, committed to doing whatever He asks.  Today let’s be hearers and doers.

~Robin