tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77156976122327414522024-03-13T05:04:03.389-07:00The Seven Spirits of GodIhab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715697612232741452.post-72312489807832659672014-03-12T12:21:00.000-07:002014-03-12T12:21:47.425-07:00The Fire
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Although John the Baptist saw the Spirit descending like a <i>dove</i>
upon Jesus, yet, when he prophesied the essence of the baptism with the Holy
Spirit the church shall receive from Jesus, he mentioned that it shall be
associated with </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“fire”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span></i>(Luk 3:16). Indeed, in the day of
Pentecost, the Holy Spirit revealed His presence in the church in the form of </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“<i>tongues of
fire”</i></span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> that sat upon each of<u> </u>them (Act 2:3). This indicates
that the essence of the work of the Holy Spirit in the church differs from His
work in Jesus life. While the </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“dove”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> symbolizes meekness, the </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“fire”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">
in the bible indicates:</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Holiness<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Fire mentioned associated with God’s holiness several times in
the bible. An example, when the flame of fire appeared out of the midst of the
thorn bush, the place became a holy ground (Exo 3:5). Another example, when the
Lord came down upon the mountain of Sinai in fire, the mountain became
sanctified (Exo 19:23).</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">But what is holiness? Holiness is <i>influential righteousness</i>.
Righteousness alone is to love good and hate evil, but holiness is
righteousness that influences the others. It makes the good shines and rises;
as well, it exposes the evil and condemns it. When righteousness is combined
with that influential power, it’s called <i>holiness</i>.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When your heart is full of love of others, this is
righteousness, but when your love exposes the hatred exist in the others hearts
and condemns it, that is holiness. When sin cannot settle in your heart, this
is righteousness, but when it cannot settle in the sphere surrounding you
because your purity exposes it, that is holiness.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Holiness
and Fire<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Holiness effect on people is similar to fire effect on
substances. The fire tests any material placed in it. It purifies metals and
classifies them, and it burns other materials like wood, hay and stubble.
Things cannot remain the same after passing through the fire, and you cannot
remain the same when you are exposed to God’s holiness. Some matters will burn,
others will change and others will shine.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">If Moses wishes to come unto the holy ground, he must pull
off his sandals. He ought to get rid of the objects which are in touch with the cursed
earth. Once Isaiah presented in the presence of the “Holy”, immediately the
unclean matters in his life were exposed and burnt by a live coal from the
altar (Isa 6:3-7). He who desires to go up into the hill of the Lord and stands
in His holy place must have clean hands and a pure heart (Psa 24:3-4). You
cannot come to God’s holiness and keep an iniquity hiding in your heart.
Holiness is like fire, tests everything; it commends good matters and purifies
them, and exposes the evil ones and condemns them.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Holiness
and Meekness<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Meekness then appears to contradict holiness. While meekness
gives others the chance to express themselves and disclose their hearts without
fear, holiness condemns the evil hidden in their heart and gives it no chance
to survive.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Meekness does not storm into man. In contrary, it encourages
him to determine his will. But holiness -once man is exposed to it- examines
his depths and brings it out to the light. Man cannot stifle it.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">However, there’s no contradiction at all between the
different manifestations of the Spirit. Each one is essential for God’s work.
God chose to work in man first with meekness, through the life of the Lord and
His ministry to give him a chance to understand and repent. But that will not
remain forever. One day man will face God’s holiness. At that moment there will
be no more chances but a prompt judgement.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Parable of the Wheat and the Darnel<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">God’s justice always works through two stages; first, sowing,
and second, harvesting. His justice will not examine man for a matter that man
didn’t learn, or judges a sin without exposing it under the light first. God
does not demand harvest out of what the grace hasn’t already sown, because He
knows that man has nothing to offer but his sins. Holiness reaps what meekness
has sown. And what we have learnt from the spirit of meekness ascends before
God like fragrant incense by the spirit of holiness.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">In the parable of the wheat and the darnel, the Lord
explains that the kingdom of Heaven is established through two phases, sowing
then harvesting (Mat 13:24-30). </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">In the sowing phase two things were planted in the field, <i>wheat</i>
by the owner of the field, and <i>darnel</i> by his enemy. The wheat flourished
and produced grains; the darnel also grew to the size and the shape of the
wheat but had no fruits. That mix cannot stay forever. At the time of harvest,
the two crops will be separated and the difference between them will be
revealed to everyone, useful wheat, and useless darnel.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Sowing is a phase of meekness and endurance; meekness that
let the enemy sow his seed in the field; meekness that gave the darnel a chance
to grow as well as the wheat; meekness that endured a weed which is fitted to
burning. Harvesting is a time for judgement. The darnel must be burnt, and the
wheat must be gathered into the granary. That’s how the fire tests, it burns
the filthy, and approves the precious.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Baptist’s Prophecy<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">John the Baptist prophesied how the Spirit works in Jesus
life through those two phases. He prophesied the sowing phase, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Behold the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 1:29,
MKJV). </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The term </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“the Lamb”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">indicates meekness and
endurance which are the essence of the sowing phase. First, the grain of wheat
must fall into the ground and die to bring forth much fruits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">But John also prophesied Jesus in the
harvesting phase, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Whose fan is in His hand, and He will cleanse His floor and gather
His <b>wheat into the storehouse</b>; but He will burn up the <b>chaff with
unquenchable fire</b>”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 3:12, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Again, we see the harvest as a time for
separation and judgement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Apparently, the Baptist fiery mission made him
too excited about the harvest in a manner overlooked the sowing phase which he
himself prophesied and saw it manifested in the form of a dove. He got offended
in the Lord when he waited for the act of fire to take place, but nothing
happened. He sent men to Jesus asking if He is He who should come or they
should look for another. The Lord answered him that He is still sowing; behold
the blind sees and the lame walks. Jesus lightens people’s eyes before judging
them for living in darkness. He cures the lames before condemning them for not
walking His path. He opens the deaf ears before charging them for not
listening. Sowing first, then harvesting. Although the Lord endured the sowing
phase with pain, humiliation and blood, yet it was essential for the
satisfaction of God’s justice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Time of Harvest<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When the time of sowing was over, the wheat had already
grown out of the death of the divine grain of wheat. The Pentecost day came; it
was also the Jew’s harvest feast (Deu 16:9-10). In that day, the Holy Spirit
manifested Himself in the form of “<i>tongues of fire”</i>, announcing the
beginning of the harvest. Christ, through the church, turned the world upside
down (Act 17:6). That was the act of the </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“fan”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> which handles the corps in the same manner to
separate the grains from the chaff as the Baptist prophesied (Mat 3:12). Then,
the wheat was gathered into the storehouse (Act 4:32), and the darnel was bound
in bundles (Act 4:27). Around the wheat, there was a sphere of good fruits such
as peace, grace and healing. On the mean while the darnel camp had nothing but
hatred, envy and intrigues. It was just a few decades before <i>the</i> <i>fire</i>
burns the darnel. The Roman Emperor, Titus, seized Jerusalem and burnt it with
fire. That was the fate of a city rejected the gospel of grace and did not know
the time of her visitation.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">At
the Garden of Eden<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When God created man, He gave him everything abundantly.
Before creating him, He prepared everything needed for a joyful life; abundant
garden, and earth and heaven full of all sorts of creatures. Before God demanded
man to honour His rights, He gave man all his rights (presuming that man has
any right before God). God gave man to indulge all the trees in the garden. He
gave him to rule all other creatures. He gave him the company and support by
creating them male and female. He gave him a free will to choose, as obedience
cannot be expected from a tied will.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Isn’t it the meekness we were talking about that gives
everyone their rights? What right man did not get; or should we say what good
thing man was not granted by God? When God requires something from man, He
requires what He previously has given him. Man is required to love as a mere
reaction of God’s perfect love. Man is expected to obey at least as an
appreciation to the freedom and glory which God has crowned him with.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">But the spirit of meekness was not just towards man, but
also towards the crafty serpent. The Lord gave it the chance to accuse God. How
amazing was the meekness that hemmed the Garden of Eden! Even man’s attempt to
sin against God wouldn’t be suppressed. But undoubtedly, after the work of the
spirit of meekness is finished, another spirit will follow:</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Spirit of Judgement<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">After man got his opportunity and exercised all the rights
God granted him, it’s now time for God to demand His rights and exercise His
sovereignty. The Lord came to the Garden of Eden, but this time with the spirit
of judgement to condemn sin. He charged Adam, Eve and the serpent each
according to their sin. Notice that none of them objected to His judgement or
requested a softer charge. They knew they had no excuses. They have been given
everything they needed, yet deliberately chose to sin. Notice also that the
spirit of judgement was symbolized in a powerful expressive figure which is:</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">A
Flaming Sword<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“And He placed cherubs at the east of the garden of Eden, and <b>a
flaming sword</b> which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Gen 3:24,
MKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The first time we see the fire in the Bible was when God
placed a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of
life. The fire was combined with the sword to express a dual truth which is
God’s holiness (the fire) demands death (the sword) as a judgement of sin.
God’s holiness and His judgement are keeping man apart from life now. Man
wouldn’t have eternal life. He doesn’t dare to approach the <i>tree of life</i>
because he would have to pass through the flame of God’s holiness and the sword
of His justice. Since in man no good things dwell, perish is certain to anyone
approaches the flaming sword. Passing through the fire of God’s holiness will
burn him entirely; nothing of him will remain to pass to life.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Until came the man who could pass the flaming sword and
remains alive. <i>The</i> <i>fire</i> of God’s holiness struck Him, smelting
His heart like wax in the midst of His bowls (Psa 22:14). <i>The</i> <i>sword</i>
of judgment was awakened against Him striking Him to death (Zec 13:7) (The
sword was asleep since Adam’s exile from the Garden of Eden, because nobody
dared to approach it). After passing the flaming sword carrying our sins and
representing us, Christ was raised from death in the fullness of life. His life
did not end at the flames of God’s holiness, but paid the wage of sin and
remained. While bearing our sins on His body facing the penalty of death, He
carried within a pure nature that pleases the Father. For this reason, it was
not possible that He should be held by the power of death (Act 2:24). He passed
the flaming sword to the tree of life, and made the road open to those who have
been united with Christ and hid in Him (Rev 2:7). They will not be hurt by the
flaming sword, because </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ
Jesus”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">
(Rom 8:1, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Only for them, the flames were quenched by
the blood of the Saviour, and the sword was halted by His body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Work of the Dove and the Fire in the Israelites<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">In the past, God began His working in the people of Israel
with the spirit of grace and meekness that gives man generously and
unconditionally. He gave them to be a free self-determined people after their
slavery. He gave them a homeland after they were strangers.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Later, they were given the law to live according to God’s
holiness. Again, we see the spirit of meekness gives man all his rights before
the spirit of holiness demands God’s right. God did not give the Israelites the
law in the land of bondage where they were bound to others, but after they were
given the right of a free will and free deeds. The law was the requirements of
God’s holiness from a man who enjoyed his freedom; it was the harvest that God
wanted from the land of the man in whom the grace worked generously.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Because the law reflects the requirements of God’s holiness,
we saw the fire when Moses was receiving the tablets of the testimony, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“And Mount
Sinai was smoking, all of it, because Jehovah came down upon it in fire”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Exo 19:18,
MKJV).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Another
Failure<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Just as Adam failed to offer a satisfactory harvest to God
despite the good sowing God has done in his field, the people of Israel also
failed to revere God’s holiness in their life despite all His beneficence to
them. That’s because man’s heart is wicked; it turns away from God easily. What
Adam has done in the Garden of Eden became a natural inclination for all
mankind.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The repetitive failure of man was expected. That’s why the
law included a ritual legislated to deal with sin. That ritual was another
revelation of the position of God’s holiness towards sin. The ritual was
called:</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Sin Offering<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">If a man sinned, he must bring a sacrifice to the priest at
the door of the tabernacle or at the entrance of the outer court. The sacrifice
is burnt on the bronze altar; another image of death accompanied with fire
indicates that God’s holiness judges sin with death. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">And as the flaming sword restricted man from approaching the
tree of life, here, we see the bronze altar restricts him from proceeding
inside the tabernacle. In both cases, the meaning is the same; God’s holiness
and justice restrain man from having a fellowship with God (who symbolically is
present in the Holy of Holies).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The bronze altar was the first thing man meets as he comes
to the tabernacle. It was also the last thing he dares to approach. Everyone
brings their sacrifice to the bronze alter, then they turn around and leave.
The people were not allowed to pass the altar and step into the Holy Place.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">God’s
Purpose<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The purpose of that repeatedly symbolic ritual of sacrifice
was to emphasize that God’s holiness does not reconcile or live with sin.
Anyone who dares to proceed to the presence of God will certainly die. Because
God loves man, He allowed him to substitute himself with an animal sacrifice.
As man watches the animal dies and burns with fire, this truth abides in his
conscience; for anyone to enjoy the presence of God, he must pass the fire of
His justice first. Since nobody could pass that fire and survive, the path to
the Holy Place remained closed until the Saviour comes.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Altar of Incense<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">There were two locations flaming with fire at the
tabernacle, the bronze altar, and the altar of incense. The fire must remain
aflame continuously on the two altars. The bronze altar, where sacrifice is
slain, symbolizes the holiness of God avenging transgression.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The good news was there is another altar that gives hope to
entering into the Holy Place. That altar is made of wood overlaid with gold. It
is placed <i>in</i> the Holy Place before the veil which leads to the Holy of
Holies. On that altar fire is seen continuously not to burn a slain animal, but
to light the incense, and ascend a sweet savour before God.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Two Acts of the Fire<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The fire had two acts at the tabernacle, to burn the
sacrifice for atonement, and to burn the incense for a sweet savour before God.
That indicates the dual work of the spirit of fire, it avenges sin exist in
man, and approves any righteousness and raises it before God.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">God’s holiness does not just work in a negative way, but in
a positive way too. While fire burns hay, it purifies gold making it brighter
and more valuable. It’s the same meaning demonstrated earlier when harvest and
fire<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>came related to each other, where
the wheat was gathered into the granary and the darnel was burnt with fire.
While the bronze altar is stained with blood and ash, the altar of incense
emits pleasant fragrance. And while the bronze altar locates outside the Holy
Place, the altar of incense locates in the Holy Place right before the Holy of
Holies. The meaning behind these symbols is sin keeps man away from God, and
righteousness brings him to His presence.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The altar of incense added a new dimension to the picture.
There is a hope for man to enter the Holy Place in one case; to have the man
who can pass through the fire of God’s holiness without being consumed, but
rather generates savour that pleases God. Only then man will not be halted at
the entrance of the tabernacle, but rather will continue to the altar of
incense before the throne of God.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">In
whom I am well pleased<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Since nobody was able to do so, the practice of that ritual
remained until Lord Jesus came to put forth His soul as a sin offering (Isa
53:10), and also bring forth pleasure to the Father (Mat 3:17). He offered a
perfect life pleases the Father and bore a complete death for the atonement of
our sins. His life did not end at the fire of the cross, but was approved,
brightened, and risen from among the dead. He ascended to the Father a sweet
savour forever.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The ritual is now ceased. The veil was torn and the temple
was destroyed. The full truth behind those symbols is now available to us; the
way to the Holy of Holies is open for those who are united with Christ.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Church<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The judgement work of the Holy Spirit was represented by
fire several times in the Bible, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“by <b>the spirit of</b> <b>judgment</b>, and by the <b>spirit of</b>
<b>burning</b>”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Isa 4:4, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. We saw that fire in the rituals of the Old
Testament. But the work of the Holy Spirit cannot be briefed in symbols. The
Spirit has longed for a live being in which He may dwell and exercises His
judgment work on earth, because the fire of the bronze altar cannot burn the
sin in people’s heart. The Spirit longed for a big body with many members
capable of receiving different gifts. Through that body the Spirit shall reveal
the truth to the world in different manners. That body is the church. The
judgement will start first in that body, because the judgment must begin from
the house of God (1Pe 4:17).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The Lord Jesus prepared that body. He cleansed
them through the word He has spoken to them (Joh 15:3); He bore their sins on
the cross for atonement; they are now a consecrated dwelling for the Holy
Spirit forever (Joh 14:16). The Holy Spirit will convict the world (Joh 16:8)
through them, not through the flaming sword seen at the east of the Garden of
Eden.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The church is the dwelling and the resting
place of the Holy Spirit in an ungodly world. A world that does not know Him
nor it can receive Him (Joh 14:17); a world chose uncleanness as a method, sin
as a way, and the devil as a god. Holiness is not recognized or welcomed in
that world. The church is the only entity which not just bears the fire of
God’s holiness, but also loves it. The church is the only entity that accepts
and rejoices God’s judgement. It’s the only bush that was burned with fire but
hasn’t been burnt up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The fragrance ascending out of the gold altar
did not satisfy God, because indeed He desired human being through whom the
Spirit can raise a true worship.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The Holy Spirit announced His satisfaction with
that being on the day of Pentecost. His presence was manifested in the form of <i>tongues
of fire</i> sat upon each member (Act 2:3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The scene revealed that the Spirit dwells in these people is the One
whom the fire of the altars which has been aflame all along the Old Testament
indicated. And that the work He is going to do in them and through them is what
the symbolic altars and fires could not do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Mutual
Bestowal<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">While the Father prepared a body for the Son to come to the
world (Heb 10:5), the Son prepared a dwelling for the Holy Spirit in the world
which is the church. The Holy Spirit is preparing that church to be a bride for
the Son (Rev 21:2), and, on the other hand, to be the tabernacle of God with
men (Rev 21:3).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mutual love and
bestowal of the Persons of God are beyond our imagination. But what we can
assert is that those members of the truly church of God are unimaginably blessed
and fortunate.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Absence of the Fire<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Despite the apparent religious culture which reveres the one
God, the Jewish nation did not significantly differ in her evil and uncleanness
than the other pagan nations. The only difference was, pagans were doing the
evil bluntly and publicly, but the Jews were doing the evil secretly while
maintaining their religious look. The more the dead men’s bones stink inside,
the more they whitewash the outside. As inequity grows inside the dish, they
diligently clean the outside to make it shiny. And as defilement increases in
their heart, they enlarge the borders of their garment (Mat 23: 5-26).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The gentiles worshiped idols in large temples seen by
everyone; the Jews worshiped the same idols but in the dark, in the chamber of
their imagery (Eze 8:12).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">They did not maintain their religious outer shell because
they loved holiness, but rather because they wanted to keep their proud with
the distinction of being the people of God. A distinction they enjoyed at the
beginning when the Lord of glory dwelled among them. When they lost the
presence of God because of their sins, their pride led them to deny the
situation. They vainly continued to claim supremacy among the nations.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">How could a society live like that? How could uncleanness
hides behind that holy appearance? How could people practise both iniquity and
solemn meeting (Isa 1:13) at the same time? The answer is the absence of fire
makes that possible.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The spirit of fire strips the sin and condemns it. In the
absence of that spirit, sin can hide in the heart for long time without getting
seen by anyone. Moreover, man may depict a reverent image for himself and wins
people’s applause. But the most dangerous situation is when the sinful heart
itself loses every sense of iniquity and believes the reverent image it created.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">When
the Fire Comes<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When the spirit of fire comes, hiding becomes impossible.
The evilness of the Jews was stripped by the righteousness manifested in the
church by the Spirit. Their pride and cruelty erupted like a volcano when faced
by the meekness of the disciples. When love hemmed the church of God, hatred
and envy burst out of the hearts of the priests and the leaders of the people.
The truthfulness of the disciples exposed the priest’s delusion. The leaders of
the Jews can no longer preserve their reverent image; they started to act like
criminals (Act 23:15).</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Judgement
Begins from the House of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The fire does not distinguish between a sin exist in the
Jewish nation and one that exists in the church. In fact, judgement always
begins from inside the house of God (1Pe 4:17). It’s a divine principle to
cleanse the inside before the outside (Mat 23:26). Joining the people of God is
not a permit for a charge-free sinful life, but in contrary, puts us at the
front line before judgement.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">(Of course the author is not
talking here about the judgement before the great white throne from which
believers have been redeemed. He talks about God chastening His children for
not self-judging their sins </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“For if we would judge ourselves, we
would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that
we should not be condemned with the world”</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(1Co 11:31-32, MKJV) </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">(The
interpreter)).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Ananias
and Sapphira<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When the Holy Spirit poured out on the church, He manifested
God’s righteousness in His followers. Spontaneously, they lived the Lord’s
words, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“It’s
more blessed to give than to receive”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Act 20:35, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Many of the owners of lands or houses sold
their property and laid the price at the apostle’s feet (Act 4:34). Barnabas
was a good example of the liberality that hemmed the church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">In this sacred sphere, the enemy moved to seed
darnel in the field. Darnel looks like wheat in shape but fruitless. The
essence of that darnel was not about giving but about taking; about gaining
others’ attention and praise. With that intention, Ananias and Sapphira sold
their field and brought a portion of the price at the apostle’s feet. Their act
appeared similar to that of Barnabas and others. But the fire aflame in the
midst of the congregation examines the essence of the deeds and judges them.
Once the fire detected falsity in the couple’s behaviour, the judgement came
instantly, before that lethal poison of hypocrisy spread out in the sphere.
Ananias and Sapphira fell down expired at the feet of the apostles and were
carried out. The Holy Spirit did His judgement work <i>in the house of God</i>,
before judging the rebellious nation outside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">In Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians we
learn that the Spirit judges any sin in the believers by strikes begins with
weakness and rises up to death (1Co 11:30), or even by delivering the believer
to the hands of Satan (1Co 5:5).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">If we don’t learn to judge ourselves, reject
our faults, and live a life befits our holy God, we will be judged and
chastened by the Lord so that we shall not be condemned with the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Fear of God<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The fire created a fear of God in the church (Act 5:11). A
sacred fear results from continuous consciousness of being in the presence of
the Lord, the </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“righteous
Judge”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. That fear keeps our heart clean, our mind pure and our walk
straight. That fear should pass along with us all the time of our earthly
residence (1Pe 1:17), and cultivate our salvation (Php 2:12).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;">We don’t see that sacred fear these days. It leaked out of
the church and replaced by carelessness. Undermining holiness became horribly a
commonplace among believers. Secret and disclosed sins spread out shockingly.
Selfness bluntly discloses itself seeking power in the church of God. When we
look around and cannot see God’s judgement restoring things, then we must
shout:</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Send
Your Fire, O Lord<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why
are you silent, O Lord? Why did you let the darnel dominate until we lived in a
sphere of falsity, deception, and counterfeit? There is no longer separation
between what is precious and what is filthy. Why do you let selfness controls
the church on which your name is called? Is that your judgement on us? The
harshest judgement we can ever face is that you leave us to our own. The
fire of your presence is far more bearable than the fire of your absence. The
sacred fear your presence creates is gracious, while the fear created by your
absence is horrible. Oh that you pour out your Spirit on your church, the
Spirit of fire. We are desperate to you, O Lord.</span>Ihab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715697612232741452.post-50371322357728897592014-02-09T12:29:00.000-08:002014-02-09T12:42:24.474-08:00The Dove<br />
<div style="border-color: currentColor currentColor rgb(79, 129, 189); border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4pt;">
<h2 align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;">The Dove</span></h2>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“And Jesus, when He had been baptized, went up immediately out of
the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw <b>the Spirit of
God descending like a dove</b> and lighting upon Him”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Mat 3:16,
MKJV)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8is5cCvMho/UvfmndUQE2I/AAAAAAAAAEg/80X0tT-gaFI/s1600/Dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i8is5cCvMho/UvfmndUQE2I/AAAAAAAAAEg/80X0tT-gaFI/s1600/Dove.jpg" height="200" width="185" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When the time for Jesus’ public ministry came, He
went to John the Baptist to be baptized. In this ceremony, everyone was
descending the river of Jordan driven by one motive, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“to flee from
the wrath to come”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Mat 3:7, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. As for that unique Son of Man, He had a
completely different motive to descend the Jordan, which is </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“<i>to fulfill
all righteousness”</i></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Mat 3:15, MKJV)</span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">. That’s why the Spirit found no resting place
for Himself except in that Man. There was a complete harmony between them. The
Spirit carries all God’s righteousness and works to accomplish on earth, and
here is Jesus offers His life and H</span>is body to <i>fulfill all
righteousness</i>. The Spirit manifested His pleasure for finding an ultimate
resting place for Himself on the land of man. The heavens were opened, and the
Spirit descended like a dove and lighted upon Jesus.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">O Holy Spirit, Would you find a footstool in my life? Do you
find my heart in harmony with yours? Please give me the strength to seek
accomplishing all righteousness? This is my prayer. Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why
the Dove?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The Spirit was going to baptize the life of Jesus with
specific baptism. Through Jesus, the special purpose of God will be
accomplished. This purpose has never been accomplished before, because there
was no human vessel qualified to accomplish it. The characteristics of that
baptism are broad and various, but if we are to find one symbol indicates all
its contents, we won’t find better than the “dove” to describe the unique life
of Jesus.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">When we mention <i>“dove”</i>, immediately characters like
meekness, peace, love, simplicity and, purity pop up in our mind. These are the
characters appeared in Jesus’ life and ministry.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Before we contemplate these characters, it’s important to
emphasize that the descending of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ baptism was not the
beginning of the fellowship between the Christ and the Holy Spirit. God forbid.
Jesus life was hemmed by the Spirit from the moment He was brought forth into
Mary’s womb. He has always been led by the Spirit (Luk 4:1). Also, the pleasure
of the Father did not happen instantly at the moment of baptism. His pleasure
was just revealed at that moment in an audible statement for the people to
learn the divine endorsement of Jesus’ ministry.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Spirit of Meekness<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of
Jerusalem; behold, your King comes to you. He is righteous and victorious, <b>meek</b>
and riding on an ass, even on a colt, the son of an ass”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Zec 9:9)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Nearly five hundred years before the coming of Christ,
Zechariah prophesied that He will be <i>meek</i>. The prophecy was fulfilled at
the fullness of the time. Perfect meekness has been manifested in Jesus. As
stated earlier, He alone had <i>the seven spirits of God</i>. All the workings
and the characters of the Spirit have perfectly been manifested in Him.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Meekness is a broad character influences all life activities
and relationships with self, with others, and with God. Meekness is not like
many people think equals to passivity, weakness, subservience, and appeasement.
It’s a strong spirit; when manifested perfectly in Jesus, it was able to defeat
the devil and his kingdom when they drove the whole nation against Him. That’s
why Zechariah combines meekness with victory in his prophecy. Many people
cannot comprehend combining the two characters together, because they think
that meekness is the opposite of strength and triumph. That led some scholars
to conclude that the prophecy describes two events. The first one is the Lord’s
first coming when He is meek and riding on an ass, and the second one is His
second coming when He is victorious. I can’t see why we can’t believe that
Jesus first coming was victorious; as well, His second coming will be meek as
much as it is victorious. All we need is a good perception of meekness.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
is Meekness?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">A meek is a man who fears God, so that he appreciates everyone’s
right without excess or lack, therefore:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h4 style="margin: 10pt 0cm 4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Appreciates
God’s Right<o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">He judges nobody, because he knows that God is the only
“Judge” who has the right to condemn. He accepts the circumstances that God
allows to his life, because he knows that God is a “Master”, and He has the
right to lead our life according to His will. He will not attempt to rise above
others, because he knows that the Lord alone is exalted “Head” above all. As a
minister, he never attempts to attract people to follow him, because he knows
that Christ alone is the “Bridegroom” whom all hearts should follow.</span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin: 10pt 0cm 4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Appreciates
his own Right<o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing who he is, he doesn’t increase himself. He accepts
the truth about himself, no matter how painful this truth is. He measures
himself with God’s scale; therefore, he doesn’t accept a glory that is not his.
He knows his domain and never tries to expand it at the expense of the others.</span> </span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="margin: 10pt 0cm 4pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Appreciates
Others’ Right<o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">He respects the other’s right of freedom, therefore, never
imposes his opinion or belief onto them. He always gives the others the
opportunity to express themselves even if their speech is against him. He
doesn’t give anyone a hurting look, but a compassionate and an appreciating
one. His appreciation encourages others to disclose their hearts and express
themselves freely. He wishes everyone goodness and success, even if their
success exceeded his own. Many times, he recedes to give others opportunity to
proceed, or remain silent to let others express themselves. He always rejoices
with the truth; he doesn’t rejoice with inequity. He is a peace maker; his love
covers others’ sins.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meekness
and Lowliness<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The word of God often combines meekness and lowliness. They
are the two sides of the same coin. While meekness mainly determines man’s
position towards God and towards others, Lowliness keeps man’s self-evaluation
in its true level without increase. In other words, a lowly does not give his
self what does not belong to her, while a meek does not seize from others what
belongs to them.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Anyway, these are just theoretical definitions; they don’t
help our growth too much. Let’s just keep them in mind while tracing the Lord’s
steps in His life, so that we can learn the spirit of meekness and its thriving
power to accomplish God’s purpose. May the Lord open our hearts to learn how to
be meek and lowly in heart.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">As stated earlier, meekness applies in three directions;
towards God, towards self and towards others. Let’s begin with meekness towards
God, and learn how Jesus’ life reflected it:</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="color: #365f91;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Relationship with the Father<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Man was created to be subject to God’s sovereignty. His
obedience to God was his ultimate goal. Serving God was the essence of his
existence and his glory. The sovereignty of God is not derived from cruelty or
any passion for power; the essence of God’s sovereignty is love and bestowment.
Sovereignty is also an absolute divine right because God has created man, and
all man’s life belongs to Him; also, because God knows best what is good and
what is bad for man. Therefore, worshiping God is a matter of abiding in the
truth, and standing on the right position.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">At the first test, Adam failed to abide in the truth. He
rebelled against God’s good will, and refused to keep His commandment.
Therefore, he moved from life to death.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When the first man broke the yoke of submission to God, he
did not enjoy the promised freedom. He was dominated by others and became a
slave to the devil. He became a slave to his pleasures, lusts and sins (Joh
8:34). Man also became a slave to another man. The history witnessed long eras
where man exercised lordship over others with violence and brutality; </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“The kings of
the nations exercise lordship over them. And they who exercise authority on
them are called benefactors”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Luk 22:25, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. While God’s lordship is truth-based, people’s
lordship has nothing to do with truth. It’s based on false claim and passion
for power. While God’s dominion saves man’s freedom and leads him to a life
full of blessings, people’s dominion crushes man’s personality and humiliates him.
That’s why the yoke of the slavery to God is easy and His burden is light (Mat
11:30), while the yoke of slavery to man is cruel. So, Man rejected God’s
dominion on his life to become a slave to many other rulers (Isa 26:13).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every generation left a heavy legacy of slavery
to the next one; explicit slavery or implicit slavery. God decided to break
this stygian chain:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Perfect Servant<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of
rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied himself, <b>taking a
bondman's form</b>, taking his place in the likeness of men”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Php 2:6-7,
Darby)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the fullness of time, God sent His Son to
the world with a definitive mission, to bring man back to its original
obedience to God. Jesus will be the firstfruit of a new creation that will
succeed in what Adam and his seed failed. To achieve that, Jesus took the form
of a man. Being in that form, He lived in absolute submission to God, no matter
how violent the resistance of the other self-proclaimed “rulers” is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Despite the fact that Christ is equal to God,
He chose to take the form of a </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“bondman”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> and to be in the likeness of men to take their
position before God. Acting as </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“the second man from Heaven”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (1Cor 15:47)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">,
He accomplished what the </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“first man out of the earth”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> failed in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus had to take the position of a bondman. A
bondman is someone who cannot claim any right. All his rights are in his
master’s hand. He cannot decide anything independent from his master’s will. In
other word, a bondman is someone who willingly lives according to the will of
someone else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus came to the world armed with the
willingness to suffer in meekness. From one hand, He knew He will suffer from
“rulers” who want to stop His subjection to God and capture Him in subjection
to them; Jesus faced them with the willingness to suffer, and won (1Pe 4:1).
From the other hand, His meekness declared God’s absolute right to determine
everything for Him. Jesus submitted to God’s will and walked the route God
intended for Him. He followed that route to an extent made Him appears to
others like a lamb brought to the slaughter, or a sheep dumb before its
shearers (Isa 53:7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s why the dove was the best manifestation
to the type of the ministry of that perfect servant; that man who came not to live
like a master, but like a servant (Luk 22:27); and not to be served, but to
serve (Mat 20:28). Our meek Lord prevailed. He finished the job successfully.
From one hand, His death destroyed that who had the power of death (Heb 2:14).
On the other hand, He satisfied the Father with a meek spirit that willingly
subjects to Him. The work of Jesus was a victory for the mankind. It opened the
door to a new born people that will glorify God. This people are the church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<h4 style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Ultimate Goal<o:p></o:p></span></span></h4>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">It’s fault to think that the redemption of man was the
ultimate goal for which the Lord came in a flesh. The truth is the pleasure of
the Father and the reclamation of His reign over man was Jesus first and
ultimate goal of ministry. The redemption happened as a result of the Father’s
satisfaction. That satisfaction gave Jesus’ sacrifice its power of atonement
and intercession for sinners.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The intent of all the Old Testament’s sacrifices was to
satisfy God by taking the right position towards Him. Some of the sacrifices
indicated confession, repentance and acknowledgement of God’s judgement on sin;
others expressed dedication and thanksgiving. Nevertheless, none of these
sacrifices pleased God, because the actual life of their givers never reflected
those meanings. Only one one-time sacrifice pleased God:</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 78.15pt 12pt 70.9pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Therefore when He comes into the world, He says, "Sacrifice
and offering You did not desire, but You have prepared a body for Me. In burnt
offerings and sacrifices for sin You have had no pleasure. Then I said, Lo, I
come.... <b>to do Your will</b>, O God."</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Heb 10:5-7, MKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0.2pt 12pt 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because God’s will and His
pleasure were not accomplished by that ritual of sacrifices, He prepared a body
for the Son to come to the world with a definitive mission, “to do God’s will”.
A body abides in obedience and subjection to God’s will. A body that loves
God’s will more than life itself. A body at which all the waves of resistance,
skepticism, temptation, and intimidation break down. A body whose life pleases
the Father; and finally, a body that will be torn like the veil to bring many
children to His glory (Heb 10:20).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Meekness
includes all Aspects of Life<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The meekness of Jesus accomplished the mission entirely. It
declared the absolute rights of God over man. In Lev 1:13, the knife had to
reach the inward parts of the sacrifice. The inward parts, then, are burnt on
the altar, a sweet fragrance to Jehovah. Similarly, God’s sovereignty on Jesus
life reached His very depths; He was burnt on the cross, a sweet fragrance to
God.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Some people were able to obey God at certain aspects of
their lives, but the Spirit of God have always been hovering over the face of
the earth, not finding a resting-place; not until Jesus came. The dove finally
found a resting-place for the sole of her foot (Gen 8:9). Jesus did not just
like to know God’s will, He wanted to be occupied in His father’s business (Luk
2:49).</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Powerful Sacrifice<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The power of Jesus’ sacrifice was not in the process of
crucifixion, but in the satisfaction of God with that pure life offered on the
altar of the cross. We are sometimes miss that point by focusing on the
distress of the crucifixion thinking that the brutality of the foes, the
betrayal of a friend, and the physical soreness gave the Christ’s sacrifice its
power. But the truth is the eternal power of the Christ’s sacrifice was gained
by the satisfaction of the Father with the perfect life that was offered. The
cruel circumstances of the event were just a normal result of a man’s realm
full of cruelty, envy and avenger.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Meekness
towards the Devil<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be
tempted by the Devil”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 4:1, MKJV)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first thing the Spirit did after descending
on Jesus in a visible form of a dove was leading Jesus into the wilderness to
be tempted by the Devil. Notice that the Spirit was the one who sought that
confrontation with the Devil in the wilderness, the devil’s resting place (Mat
12:43). The Holy Spirit does not react; He always initiates the events, even in
the war with the devil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">As spoken earlier, meekness is appreciating
everyone’s position. We see here another view of Jesus meekness, which is His
meekness towards the devil. Since the Devil -until that moment- was the prince
of the world (Joh 12:31), Jesus –led by the Spirit- gave him the chance to
tempt Him. The same Spirit who manifested the Father’s sovereignty on Jesus
gave the devil the chance to resist and reject the way Jesus lived. The Spirit
did not lead Jesus to an outreaching ministry before spending forty days in the
wilderness, and until </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“the Devil had ended every temptation” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Luk 4:13)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.
Needless to mention that the devil wouldn’t have the power to tempt the Lord
unless the Lord Himself has given him to do so. O how great you are, my Lord,
in your meekness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Authentic Dedication: In Secret<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The dedication of the Lord to the Father was not that kind
of dedication we hear in bombastic slogans and hollow speeches. His devotion
was not that shallow devotion we get excited about after listening to a
passionate sermon. His dedication was an inward secret submission that is
revealed and shines under pressure and in the face of opposition. Far there, in
the <i>wilderness</i> where nobody sees Him except the Father, the Lord
expressed His absolute submission to His Father’s will. Who was there to see
that battle and acclaim or reward Him? Nobody. None of what Jesus did was to
please man. His inside was fully occupied by one desire, to please the Father.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Authentic Dedication: Under Distress<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards
hungry” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Mat 4:2, MKJV)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">After forty days of fasting, the Lord afterwards hungered.
His physical strength faded, and He was under distress. In a moment like that,
man’s resistance diminishes. The instinct of hunger is intensely overwhelming.
When seethes, it drives man to do whatsoever to assuage his hunger. The devil
always picks such a moment to shoot his fiery darts, knowing that their
effectiveness at that time is devastating. His first attack onto the Lord
targeted His instinctive need for food. As usual, the devil dipped the poison
in the honey. His real purpose was not to fill the Lord’s hunger, but to push
Him into an action out of the Father’s plan, therefore, breaks His commitment
to be in His Father’s business (Luk 2:49).; How many times people forsook their
faith and their devotion, and breached their promises under the pressure of an
instinctive need. The devil thought it will work this time, too</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">No way. The dedication of the Lord is not like ours,
vanishes soon under pressure. With a body feeble to death, Jesus was
strengthened in the spirit and showed no interest in doing something the Father
did not plan for Him; even if that thing is crucial for life. That is because
for Jesus, life is not provided by bread alone, but by every word proceeds out
of the mouth of God. He can’t do anything without a word from the mouth of God.
The Spirit who led Him to fast in the wilderness has not yet arranged food for
Him. Jesus, in complete submission to the Spirit, will not do something out of
the Spirit’s plan. That’s why He was the perfect servant by whom the Father was
well pleased.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Self-Glory<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">When the first attack failed, the devil tried
another one. The first attack targeted man’s instinctive need; this time he is
going to touch a sensitive nerve inside everyone which is self-glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Natural man’s ego sits on the throne of his
heart. She possesses his love and submission. All his work is motivated by her
and aiming her satisfaction. Since the day the devil seeded in man’s heart the
notion of being </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“as God”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Gen 3:5)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">, man has always been struggling to achieve
that. He still believes that hoax until today. His desire is to gain the glory
for himself <i>as God</i>. He wants to be the centre of others attention <i>as
God</i>. He is willing to go anywhere and adopt any principle if it makes him
eminent or gives him some glory, even if it’s a faked glory. He uses anything
in hand to reach that self-glory. Even spiritual matters and God’s word are not
immune from being exploited for that purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ego is everyone’s point of weakness in. It’s
the cause of man’s fall. The devil decided to launch his second attack
targeting that point. But he will not go straight forward; a trick must be
plotted. The snare must be hidden and the bait must be magnificent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Why
the Temple?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Then the Devil took Him up into the holy city and set Him upon a
pinnacle of the Temple. And he said to Him, If you are the Son of God, cast
yourself down. For it is written, "He shall give His angels charge
concerning You, and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You
dash Your foot against a stone” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Mat 4:5-6, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">If indeed the purpose of that challenge was for
Jesus to cast Himself over an elevated point to see the angels bearing Him up,
the ideal place would be the wilderness where there are cliffs to cast Himself
down and a lot of stones against which His feet may dash. But since the devil
took Him up into the holy city, Jerusalem, and set Him upon a pinnacle of the
Temple where everyone can see, here lays the real purpose of the temptation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil was tempting Jesus to do a miracle
in front of the people before starting His mission, to gain a quick and easy
glory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">To hide the trap well, the devil used a
legitimate cover. He was not scared of picking a verse from the Bible (Psa 91:11-12)
and presented it to Jesus to persuade Him to follow the devil’s advice with a
satisfied conscience. The outward of his proposal is to exercise what <i>is
written</i>, but the inward was to gain people’s praise. The devil is very
plausible. He uses God’s word in irrelative situations to deceive the
inexperienced believers and causes a lot of confusions and falls.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh, how many people fell before the temptation
of self-glory! How many blessed ministries were destroyed by pride! How many
great missions decayed when selfness invaded them! How many times we rode on
sacred matters to gain eminence! How many times we tried to use God Himself to
make name for ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Any young adult would probably weakened before
plaudits and celebrity. Who can detect the poison in that honey? What spirit
can discern a devil’s deception covered by the word of God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Meekness
Dispels Exaltation<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Only a meek soul withstands the temptation of self-glory,
because it gives all glory to God. It doesn’t seek any for itself. It cannot be
influenced by the glory of men. Jesus came to glorify the Father. He did not
accept honour from men (Joh 5:41). He was not satisfied with any glory, except
the one given to Him by the Father; His own legitimate glory which He has had
before the world was made (Joh 17:5).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">As for what <i>“is written”,</i> Jesus knew that God’s
promises were given for our security and not for testing God. We can’t dictate
the timing or the mean by which God fulfills His promise. God’s promises are
true. God fulfills them at His time for His purpose, not at our time or for our
purposes. That’s why Jesus remained steadfast; He answered, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“It is written
again, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God."”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 4:7, Deu
6:16)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Again, the devil retreated away from the victorious spirit of
meekness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Motive of Gain and Loss<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed
Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 4:8,
MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the devil’s names is “Beelzebub” (Mat
12:24), which means “Baal of the flies” or the “flies’ God”. Probably the
reason for this name is that every time you eject him, he comes back
persistently without any tedium or exhaustion. After two defeats, here he is
back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Everyone is obsessed by his own profit. You can observe that
obsession in people from as early as their infancy. Look how infants tend to
collect toys, pile them up, and keep them at their hands. As an infant grows,
their lust of possession evolutes to different forms. Those forms start from
start from possessing materials to possessing people. That lust is never
satisfied. It has no end or limits. Jesus did not exaggerate when He said, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“What shall it
profit a man if he shall gain the whole world...” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Mar 8:36, MKJV)</span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">;
man indeed has a desire to possess everything in the world.</span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Euphemia; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Euphemia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trade, marketing, and advertisements rely
basically on stirring the lust of possession in consumers, driving them to buy
products they didn’t really need. We often buy things not because we needed
them, but because we loved to possess them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The desire of gain is behind most of our works.
Once man feels there is no more profit of what he is doing, he loses the
motivation to work and delegate. Man cannot put too much effort doing something
when he expects nothing in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">That same desire is also behind a lot of our
ministries and our position towards God. Many times we approach God because we
think it will be beneficial to us. Moreover, some preachers try to attract
people to God playing on that desire of gain. The souls that really love God
regardless of any profit are rare. The Lord who tries the heart of man briefs
this situation in one verse, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“their heart goes after their unjust gain”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Eze 33:31,
MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">A
Quick and Easy Gain<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“And the Devil said to Him, All this power I will give you, and the
glory of them; for it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whomever I
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore if you will worship me,
all shall be yours.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Luk 4:6-7, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">What was the devil’s intention behind that
offer?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">First, the devil always trys to prove that man
worships God aiming to profit in return, and if man can get greater profits
from another, he will turn away from God and worship even the devil himself.
The devil is trying to prove that there is no </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“true worshipers”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">
to the Father.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Second, he wanted to end Jesus’ ministry before
it begins. If Jesus is coming to reclaim the kingdoms of the world, here they
are offered to Him. Now, His ministry is no longer needed; He should just
abandon it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Third, he wanted to shake Jesus by a comparison
between the price of pleasing God and the price of pleasing the devil. The
devil knew from Psalm 2:8 that the Father will give the Son all the nations for
His inheritance after a tough journey of agony, crushing and, depression. The
devil proposed an easier plan which is, the same inheritance will be given to
Jesus momentarily if He worships the devil. The path of pleasing God is harsh
and the cost is vast, while the devil’s alternative path is simple, easy, and
doesn’t cost too much. Why walking the road of crucifixion and death when all
the glory and the power will be given to you by the devil supposedly free? Why
worshiping God if the devil will give you what you want at no cost?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Fourth, the devil is jealous to see God
receives such obedience and dedication from Jesus. In the past, the devil tried
to grab power and lordship like God and he fell (Isa 14:14-15). All the
obedience he receives from the world now does not satisfy him, because it is
gained by deception. It’s not a real obedience. He ruled the world by deception
and his influence continues by deception. If he ever stopped deceiving man, he
will lose all his power. That’s why he was willing to give away </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“all this
power....and the glory of them”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> to Jesus to get a real
worship in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Kingdoms of the World Are Whose?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">A question would pop up here, “Were the
kingdoms of the world really delivered to the devil, or he was lying when he
claimed so?” In fact, he was not completely truthful or completely liar when he
made that claim. He was tricky. The truth is to tell pure true facts; the lie
is to tell something untrue. Preparing a blend of truths and lies, or facts and
hoaxes is called <i>deception;</i> and that’s the devil’s most common weapon.
He starts his talk with true facts, then, he builds up assumptions and false
interpretations to end up with a conclusion that’s contrary to the truth to
deceive the inexperienced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">It’s biblically true that the devil is
currently </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“the ruler of this world”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Jesus mentioned that a few
times (Joh 12:31, 14:30, 16:11). Yet, that’s not all the truth. The devil put
it in a passive form </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“has been delivered to me”.</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> He didn’t tell who delivered
that power to him, and why, how, or until when that power is given to him. The
comprehensive truth is that the earth and the fullness of it is Jehovah’s (Psa
24:1). He is the only legitimate creator and owner. He appointed man to
dominate it (Gen 1:28, Psa 115:16). As a result of his sin, man fell under the
power of the devil. The earth, consequently, was subjected to the devil, not
willingly but forcefully (Rom 8:20). This inappropriate situation is
temporarily until the redemption of man in fully accomplished (including the
redemption of his body) (Rom 8:23). When that takes place, the creation shall
be delivered from the bondage of corruption (Rom 8:21), and the kingdoms of
this world will </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Rev 11:15,
MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Therefore, the earth belongs to the Lord legitimately, to man as
His steward and to the devil by subjection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The devil presented just that portion of the
truth, that he is the current ruler of the earth; therefore, he is to be
worshiped. That trick could not have deceived Jesus who knows the whole truth.
No matter how long the usurper holds his power, he remains just a thief under condemnation.
No matter how long God endures, one day He will reclaim His creation. The
usurper will face retribution with all those who worshiped him and tied
themselves to his fate (Rev 20:10). Woe to those who worship a thief, and bind
themselves to a temporarily god for whom the blackness of darkness has been
kept forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Is
It So That God Has Said?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Using his artful way of confusing, the devil approached Eve
with a claim, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“<b>you
shall be as God</b>, knowing good and evil” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Gen 3:5, MKJV)</span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. The fact
that by eating from the tree Adam and Eve will know good and evil like God is
true and recognized by the Lord Himself (Gen 3:22). But, does that knowledge
make man equivalent to God? Absolutely not; as we can see man remained man and
God remained the exalted God as He has been. In contrary, the gap between man
and God was widened. God’s knowledge to good and evil is absolute and it
controls of the universe with all its good and evil (Isa 45:7), while man’s
knowledge is limited and detrimental.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The truth is that God’s love was behind the commandment of
not eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God wanted man to live
every day by the life springing out of God’s heart, and not by man’s own
knowledge of good and evil. To live by the law of the spirit of life that
connects man to God and provide him with regenerated life, not with the
knowledge of good and evil that puts man under the law of commandments and
prohibitions which man fails to keep. Man’s knowledge of good and evil has not
benefited him, because he knew the good but could not do it, and he knew the
evil but could not avoid it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">A partial knowledge of the truth cannot win a spiritual war.
Any ignorant area in our mind will be an open door for the devil to launch an
attack and causes damages. Eve ought to know not just the commandment, but also
the good will of God behind that commandment. Her ignorance of God’s good will
gave the devil an opportunity to propose false motives behind God’s commandment
like cruelty and selfishness. That’s why Jesus promised His disciples that the
Holy Spirit </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“will
guide you into <u>all</u> truth”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 16:13, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. We have a crucial need to learn <i>all truth</i>
to fortify our life against the wiles of the devil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">One
God<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">"You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall
serve."</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 4:10)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s now leave the devil with all his gloom
and deception, and turn our eyes onto that golden heart at which all the fiery
darts are quenched. This heart never desired possession of anything. He knew
that everything is God’s. The meek heart seeks no honour, but yearns to see all
glory and praise given to God. The Lord came to the world to bring back the
kingdom of God on earth. He came to manifest the absolute sovereignty of God
over man and over matters. He revealed that in His life, His deeds, and His
words. He taught people to pray:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Thine
is the Kingdom<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many people repeat that phrase in (Mat 6:13,
KJV) routinely without a thoroughly understanding of its meaning. This
statement thwarts the lust of possession from penetrating our hearts. It
declares God as the only owner of everything and everyone. Man cannot possess
anything unless it is given to him by God. Therefore, man is not an <i>owner</i>
but a <i>steward</i>. A steward cannot get excited with the money he manages no
matter how abundant that money is, because he understands it isn’t his. He
doesn’t have an absolute right to spend it on his whims. He has to be a
faithful steward to his lord. Stewardship is not everlasting or permanent, but
temporarily and conditional. It is subject to be taken away from him, and he is
subject to be taken away from it at any moment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When man achieves wealth, he tends to be too
proud. Foolishly, people think that wealth provides them with security, and
assures their future, therefore, gives them the power to determine their
destiny. The Lord calls that delusive sense of confidence, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“The deceit of
riches”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 13:22, MKJV). </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The statement </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“<i>Thine is the kingdom”</i></span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;">dispels
that deceit. The assurance provided by money is very uncertain. A wise man
would build his assurance on the owner and the giver of everything, not on the
mortal things. Paul expressed that when he said </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Enjoin on
those rich in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to trust on the
uncertainty of riches; but in the God who affords us all things richly for our
enjoyment”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (1Ti 6:17, Darby)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Has that truth dwelled richly in you? Did it
deal with your obsession with possessions? The devil uses that lust to exhaust
people by panting after what they don’t have. Many people bow before that deceitful
lord, and subject themselves to worldly principles to earn more things. Jesus
refused to worship the devil for all the kingdoms of the world, but we,
sometimes, kneel for a minimal consideration, and other times for no
consideration at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">How
Do We Worship?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Worship is not an outward action, but an inward status. The
essence of worship is love, fear, and surrender to the One who has the power
over my life. Kneeling reflects that status in a physical fashion. If you
believe that the world has the power to give you life and joy, your heart will
switch to worship the world unconsciously. If you believe that the devil has
the power to make you prosperous, your heart will switch to worship him, even
if your lips deny that. Man’s heart naturally worships the one who controls its
welfare. If you believe that only God gives you life, breath, and everything
(Act 17:25), then the commandment to worship the Lord your God becomes a
natural response.</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">And
Him Only You Shall Serve<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">"<span style="font-size: large;">You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall
serve."</span></span></i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mat 4:10, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. That was Jesus’ firm answer to Satan. He
didn’t just say it; He lived it as well. He never bowed before Satan, because
He never hoped anything from him. He didn’t hope anything from anyone, so He’s
never tried to please anyone. Have we learnt from Him? Has His meek spirit
dwelled in us, or we still hiding idolatry in our heart?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">After He finished His battle on the devil’s
field, Jesus moved on to start His ministry in man’s field. He dealt with
people in every city and village with the same meek spirit that stood against
the devil on the mountain. His absolute submission to God was the key of His
attitude among people just as it was the key of His victory over the devil.
Paul summarized that attitude, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became
<b>obedient unto death</b>, even the death of the cross”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Php 2:8,
MKJV).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Obedient
unto Death<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">The obedience of Jesus to the Father is
distinguished from any obedience we see in ourselves or hear about in saints’
biographies. His obedience was initial and inclusive, not reluctant or partial
like ours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our obedience is reluctant; it begins when God
reveals His will to us. When that will is unappealing, our initial reaction
varies; we bargain its extent, we try to amend it, or we even stay away from
it. When that will chases us until we can escape no more, then we surrender and
obey. That’s not how Jesus obeyed. His obedience to the Father was initial;
prior to any revelation of any mission from the Father. He yielded to the
Father’s will, and willingly decided to do that will with pleasure. That’s why
His life contained the will of God in fullness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Further, our obedience is partial. It’s usually
related to a specific act or mission. The obedience of all saints applied in
specific instances, but they lived according to their wills for several years
without specific missions to be obeyed. Man is exhausted when he lives under
external will continuously, because it demands complete self-denial that
burdens his soul heavily. The Lord who knows our form (Psa 103:14) does not
press us beyond our strength. That’s why even the life of champions of faith
included resting periods, in which their life was driven naturally by their
will, after each stance of obedience that requires intensive self-denial.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Lord’s obedience was not <i>stances of
obedience</i>. It included His entire life. He dismissed the natural human will
and followed His Father’s will no matter how much the path is costly or
humiliating. To get into that, He had to:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Humble
Himself<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">A natural man appreciates himself very much. He likes to
think of himself as gracious. He strives to appear to others in the best
possible image. Instinctively, man fears any situation threatens his image in
people’s sight or in his own sight. That image stifled a lot of men of God when
they were attempting to obey. Obedience is easy when it doesn’t conflict with
the minimum stature we can accept for ourselves. But when God’s will leads us
in a path deteriorates our admiration by others, an inner struggle starts. A
struggle between an ego clings to the minimum acceptable stature and God’s will
which appears to be destructive to that stature. At that moment, obedience
becomes difficult and costly. Every step in the obedience path is now
associated with loss and tears. One cannot live obedient life unless he gives
up the image he thought about himself or wished to be. That’s what is called <i>humbled
himself</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">My Lord humbled himself completely. He didn’t want good
stature neither did he seek a minimum level of acceptance or admiration. That’s
why He never struggled to obey the Father. Obedience was always a spontaneous
action even when it led Him to humiliating and miserable situations. He obeyed
when He was led to be </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“despised and rejected of men”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Isa 53:3, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">,
when He was led to appear with </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“no form nor majesty”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Isa 53:2, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">, when He was led to be </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“whom the
nation hates, the servant of rulers”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Isa 49:7)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> and even when He was led to be </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Sin”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (2Co 5:21)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">
and <i>“</i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">guilt offering” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Isa 53:10)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. He obeyed unto death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Obedience
on Time<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“To every thing there is a season, and <b>a time for every purpose</b>
under the heavens”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Ecc 3:1)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God runs
the world according to determined and ordained seasons and times (Act 17:26)
which cannot be changed by others. Only God has the right to change them (Dan
2:21), because they were set by the Father’s own authority (Act 1:7).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">We get it wrong when we think that life is
going randomly. Satan wants you to believe that there is no purpose of
whatsoever happening around you, to generate carelessness and procrastination
in your heart. But the truth is there’s <i>a time for every purpose under the
heaven;</i> if you don’t redeem the time, the hour will pass and you will miss
the chance to do what you ought to. If you decided to do it afterward, it may
be too late. There’s a time for repentance, a time for seeking the Lord, a time
for salvation, and a time for acceptance. Blessed be the one who prays to God
in a time He may be found (Psa 32:6).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Failing to discern the times squanders great
opportunities and drags us into fatal mistakes. Even though it’s not for us to
know the times and the seasons which the Father has put in His own authority,
yet we ought to see the signs of the times that are related to us. The Lord
rebuked the Pharisees and the Sadducees for not seeing those signs of the times
(Mat 16:3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many people think that obedience is doing a
list of deeds by which we please God. Obedience, therefore, would be obeying a
list of commandments. They obey the law in a slavery manner that does not
require a real communion with God. That’s not how Jesus obeyed. His obedience
was not obedience to commandments but to Someone. It was not an obedience to
execute a list of works, but one that works on the timely manner planned by
God. To be able to live according to God’s time plan, we need to be in real
communion with Him and in harmony with His vision to the seasons and the times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">My
Hour has not yet Come<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When Jesus went to Jerusalem before the Feast of
Tabernacles, it was according to a predetermined time. That’s why when His
brothers told Him to go into Judea, He said </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 7:6)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.
He gave the same answer to Mary when she asked Him to save the wedding of Cana
of Galilee as they lacked wine; Jesus answered, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Woman, what do
I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 2:4).</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">
A natural man manages his time as he wishes; as for the Son of God, He is
moving on God’s time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Hour Has Come<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">More than once, the multitudes attempted to kill Jesus (Luk
4:29), but he passed through the midst of them and went away. No one laid a
hand on Him because </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“His hour had not yet come”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 7:30)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.
Even His death had an ordained pre-appointed hour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">When Jesus knew His hour has come, He lifted up
His eyes to Heaven in absolute submission and said, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Father, the
hour has come”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 17:1)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. He then proceeded to His enemies and surrender,
so that they may seize Him and do what they desired. He is really the unique
servant of God who knew how to live in harmony with God’s time. He ministered
when it was time for ministry, prayed when it was time for prayer, silenced
when it was time for silence and even died when it was time for death. Oh, how
deeply we need to see that kind of obedience in our life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Obedience
Despite Opposition<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Living obedient to God must face furious opposition from the
world. That opposition is known only to those who live loyal to God. People
naturally reject the one who lives in different manner. The legitimacy of
certain behaviour in any society is measured by its commonness regardless of
God’s position on that behaviour. Similarly, its illegitimacy results from its
oddity even if God admires it. For that reason, prophets were always subject to
criticism, rejection, persecution, and even execution from their people (Mat
13:57). Faithfulness typically faces hostility and alienation, because people
cannot accept someone with different principles and thoughts. He whether
abandons his different ways or gets alienated from the herd. That opposition
often works, because man likes to feel welcome, and depends on people’s support
for security.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Religious leaders, especially, deal with their groups with
the “herd” mentality. They think that keeping the troop ignorant benefits them.
They fear that any enlightened thought will scatter the herd and damage their
interests. Their hands are stained with the blood of the prophets as the Lord
pointed out (Mat 23:31,37).<span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family: Euphemia; mso-hansi-font-family: Euphemia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Another
Spirit<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The Jewish society enjoyed an apparent calmness until the
Lord started His ministry. His teaching exposed severe corruption hidden in the
people and their leaders. The society inflamed and divided. Some were
endorsing, others were skeptic, questioning, or opposing. Soon, the leaders
erupted to halt that intruder who disturbed their life and threatened their
interests.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The opposition began with conciliation and scheming; they
attempted to announce Him king, but Jesus withdrew away to the mountain (Joh
6:15). They tried to entangle Him in words (Mat 22:15), but He perceived their
wickedness and exposed it. When all those attempts failed, the leaders intended
to cut Him off out of the land of the living. Using falsehood and deceit, the
“shepherds” led their herd to reject Him and deliver Him to death.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Human spirit usually retreats when it faces such aggressive
and continuous opposition. It fears rejection and isolation, therefore, begins
to appease the others. But the spirit of meekness that filled Jesus’ heart has
never weakened in the battle. It remained obedient and consistent in its
submission to the Father willing to drink the cup that was given by Him.
Indeed, the torrents of Hades could not quench that unique loyalty.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Even
unto Death<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“<span style="font-size: large;">becoming obedient <b>even unto death</b>”</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (Php 2:8,
Darby)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The word “unto” indicates the extent to which obedience can
go. Each of us has their own “unto” after which they can obey no more. They
quit their obedient walk and live on its remembrance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Everyone has their untouchable area which cannot be
compromised. Many times those areas were the dead ends of our obedient walk
with God. This brother obeyed “unto” his money was touched; another obeyed
“unto” his health was endangered. That sister obeyed “unto” her pride was hurt;
another obeyed “unto” her social peace was threatened. The devil bet that at
certain point Jesus obedience will be stuck. He put several obstacles in the
Lord’s way to halt His walk in the Father’s will.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The first aggression faced the Lord was when He preached for
the first time in the synagogue of Nazareth and rejected by His hometown
people. It’s harsh for anyone to lose the acceptance of his closest ones. But
Jesus went on; He left the town where He was raised, and wandered from a city
to another like a stranger who has nowhere to lay his head (Mat 8:20).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">Later on, the loss of dignity and reputation loomed when the
Pharisees alleged that Jesus is doing miracles using the power of Beelzebub,
the prince of demons. Amidst their malice and lies, Jesus went on with a
bleeding soul to complete His mission.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The opposition rose higher to threaten Jesus credibility
among His beloved ones, and to take away every support. The Baptist suspicion,
Jude’s betrayal, Peter’s denial and the disciples’ flee on the day of
crucifixion, a tough series of attacks. The goal was to afflict Jesus with one
message, “All your life and ministry have been in vain”. Not only the Jews and
their leaders outraged against Him, but also the few ones who believed Him
withdrew back to their own business and left Him alone. How harsh the feelings
of failure and loneliness are! How harsh is the feeling that your life has gone
in vain! What else left for a man who lost his relatives, his reputation and his
best friends? It was a horrible disappointing situation at which no one would
have any courage to remain obedient. But my Lord passed through that situation,
as well. He went on amidst all ingratitude, denial, abandonment, and betrayal.
He insisted on drinking the bitter cup to the last droplet (Joh 18:11, Mar
10:38).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">My Lord was stripped of everything except life itself. Here,
the loss of life loomed. The devil threatened Him by death; not just any death
but:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">The
Death of the Cross<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“... and that the death of the cross”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Php 2:8,
Darby)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The death of the cross means death associated with reproach,
humiliation, agony, and defame. One might die, but leaves behind a fragrant
memory among people. But Jesus was threatened by a death associated with
defame. He was about to be remembered by people as a transgressor (Isa 53:12).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">The spirit of meekness in Jesus heart was astonishing. He
did not retreat when faced by that type of death. He was willing to lose
everything to fulfill the will of the Father. He did not slump down under that
cruel injustice or that gloomy fate looming on the horizon. He passed the trial
scene; he went on to Calvary and </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“opened not His mouth”</span></i><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. He appeared to surrender to the
perpetrators, but indeed He surrendered to His Father’s will. His obedience
triumphed and persisted “unto” death, “the death of the cross”. Jesus offered
everything on the altar of obedience. That obedience mingled with perfect love
ascended like sweet incense before the Father. The perfect sacrifice was
approved, and our salvation was purchased.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">O Lord, Let me bow before you with gratitude. Let me ask
myself diffidently, “unto” where do I obey?</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Victory
begins in the Secret Life<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">As noted earlier, the battle of the Lord started in the
wilderness where nobody was watching to condemn any fault or to praise any
righteousness. In the wilderness sin appears to be charge-free and rightfulness
appears to be without reward. That’s why many people fall easily in the
wilderness trial. Only the soul that loves God and yearns to please Him
triumphs. A soul that’s filled with the spirit of meekness, and is determined
to glorify and obey God; it needs no motivation for that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The battle in the wilderness was dense and comprehensive.
After Jesus descended to people to start His ministry, the trials from the
devil did not differ in their essence as there was nothing else the devil
didn’t try in the wilderness. The only difference was that these trials have
been dispensed over day-to-day incidents in Jesus life. For example, the Lord
experienced extreme hunger once in the wilderness as a trial for His
anxiousness about His basic needs, while during His ministry tens of times He
must have been tempted to give His body a little more rest, pay more attention
to Himself or stop giving Himself for others. An incident of that is when Peter
rebuked Him once to prevent Him from giving His life for others. Since the Lord
defeated the temptation of self-caring attitude when it came extensively and
overwhelmingly in the wilderness, it was simply certain that He overcomes it
when it comes repeatedly through different human vessels.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">The same principle applies to our life. The battle starts in
our secret life. The devil intensifies his attacks on our points of weakness.
In secret, the genuine loyalty to God is tested where nobody is watching to
praise our diligence. If the soul overcame that dense course of trials, victory
becomes spontaneous in day-to-day life. The opposite is also true; failure in
the secret life, where one falls before temptation, will eventually be revealed
in a conduct which everyone sees. He who triumphs when only God can see, will
once be glorified publicly; and he who fails when only God can see, will
certainly fall in front of others eventually.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">My friend, is your secret life victorious?</span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Others’
Rights<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">As stated earlier, a meek knows to respect everyone’s right.
It’s fault to conceive that honouring God and submitting to Him conflict with
submissions to others whom we owe proper submission.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Euphemia; font-size: large;">We know that obedience and worship are God’s right. How
about man; what are men’s rights? Well, there are rights we owe everyone for
being humans and other rights we owe particular people.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">There are people who possess social authority such as
parents and church leaders. Others possess civil authority such as rulers and
government representatives. Paul clearly advocates, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“<b>Give to all their dues</b>; to
the one due tax, the tax; tribute to whom tribute is due, fear to whom fear is
due, and honor to whom honor is due”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Rom 13:7, MKJV)</span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. Also Peter states, </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“be in
obedience to every ordinance of men, because of the Lord, whether to a king
.... or to governors .... <b>Honor all</b>. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.
Honor the king”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (1Pe 2:13-17, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">. And these advocacies comprehends the famous
principle the Lord set, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the
things that are God's”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Mar 12:17, MKJV)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">In His life, Jesus rendered to those particular
individuals their dues. In His childhood, He was subject to His parents (Luk
51:2). During His ministry, He was subject to civil authorities and taught His
disciples to subject to them despite His dissuasion with the rightfulness of
the collected tribute (Mat 17:24-27). At the end of His wonderful life, He told
Pilate, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“You could have no authority against Me unless it were given to you
from above”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Joh 19:11). </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Jesus subjection to Pilate and his unjust
verdict was not because of any fear or constraint, but </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“because of the
Lord”</span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> as Peter put it (1Pe 2:13). That means it’s because of the Lord
who gave Pilate the power to release that verdict. Paul affirms that notion
saying, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“For <b>there is no authority but of God</b>; the authorities that
exist are ordained by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that the
one resisting the authority resists the ordinance of God”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Rom 13:1-2).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Paul was a disciple of Jesus in his meekness.
He apologized to the high priest for harshly rebuking him, </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“for it is
written, "You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people."”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;"> (Act 23:5)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">
despite the fact that this ruler does not comply with God’s law. Since God
ordained him in that position, he is to be respected. We emphasize that to
those who think that their spiritual growth gives them the right to scorn
authorities and bypass them. That’s not the mind of Christ Jesus who rendered
to everyone their dues as well as He rendered to God His dues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<h1 align="center" style="margin: 24pt 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #365f91;">Submission
is to Authorities not to Principles<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></h1>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">It is important to understand that submission to authorities
is one thing, and submission to principles is a completely different thing. The
Bible doesn’t teach us to submit to the mind of the leaders when it contradicts
that of God. Obviously, Jesus did not subject to Pilate’s mind, but just to his
edict of crucifixion. The disciples also have never submitted to the mind of
chief priests, because </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">“We ought to obey God rather than men” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi;">(Act 5:29,
MKJV).</span><span style="font-family: Euphemia;"> However, they didn’t resist their edict to imprison the
disciples. Paul also never yielded in subjection to the mind of the leaders nor
ever did he try to please them. But when they charged him with imprisonment and
death, he surrendered without changing the doctrine he is teaching everywhere
even from inside the prison. Rulers may thrust Paul into the inner prison and
secure his feet to the stocks, but they have no power to stop his prayers and
worship. Paul’s body was subject to the power of the ruler, but his heart and
mind were subject to God alone. No power on earth is able to stop the heart of
a believer from its constancy in God. The era of martyrdom testifies that fact.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi;"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">Subjecting to wrongful mind of a leader,
whether to avoid their outrage or to gain their acceptance is not meekness but
appeasement. Our subjection to the leaders doesn’t necessarily mean we accept
all their thoughts. We only do so when their thought complies with the mind of
Christ. We must bring </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“into
captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (2Co 10:5, Darby)</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Euphemia;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Ihab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715697612232741452.post-72317705509254953272014-02-06T07:56:00.000-08:002014-02-07T08:44:54.374-08:00The Water<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h2 align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Water</span></h2>
</div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“And
in the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If
anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the
Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow<b> rivers of living water</b>.
But He spoke this about <b>the Spirit</b>, which they who believed on Him
should receive”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Bimini","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Joh 7:37-39, MKJV)</span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In this passage the Lord depicts a fabulous picture describing the Holy
Spirit as flowing refreshing fresh water. Like a river flowing over dry lands
and thirsty souls, delivering life and prosperity to everything in its way.
Here, the Lord reveals one of the works of the Holy Spirit, which is:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">The Life
Giving</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Water is the basic
component of tissues for all living organisms. Blood, which is the fluid of
life for our body, consists mostly of water. Our body consumes a daily amount
of water to perform its biological functions, and consumes another amount to withstand
some external conditions like heat and drought. That’s why we need a certain
amount of water every day to compensate for that consumption. If one could not
make up their body loss of water, they feel thirsty, which is a harsh feeling
that nobody can ignore or postpone. If the water loss continued without
compensation, the body cells lose their ability to function; they shrink, they
get dehydrated, and eventually die. Within a few days, the body fades up and
ceases.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Our Spirits
Thirst Too</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That image teaches us
that our spirits need God as much as our bodies need water. Our spirit
originates from God. They cannot live without Him. The presence of God is
crucial to the spirit to remain alive. Man cannot spiritually function unless
he has a daily and continuous relationship with God Himself. If God’s presence
absents from man’s life, man’s spirit dries up and weakens. If the absence of
God in man’s life continued, man dies. That’s what God meant when He said to
Adam, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For
in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”</span></i> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Gen 2:17, MKJV)</span>.
The death of Adam after eating from the tree was not a punishment for his sin
as much as it was a natural result of his separation from God. Dryness and
death invaded his spirit, because she cannot live without relationship with
God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">As the Hart
Pants</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The psalm
writer used the same image when he said, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As the hart
pants after the water brooks, so my soul pants after You, O God. <b>My soul
thirsts for God</b>, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before
God?”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Bimini","sans-serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: Andalus;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Psa 42:1-2, MKJV)</span>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The writer felt himself like a hart; the
animal that lives in desert. Because of the hot and dry conditions, the hart
consumes water very fast. That’s why it needs not just a spill of water, but <i>brooks</i>
of water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Life challenges and the resistance we face
in the wilderness of the world consume our spiritual energy. That’s why we have
a daily need not just to words, sermons or rituals but to God Himself. Not to a
few drops of water but to rivers of living water. This is the work of the
Water, the life-giving Spirit. That God the psalm writer indicates is the
Spirit that Lord Jesus indicates too. He is the water to our thirsty spirits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">In the
Beginning</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When the earth was
waste and empty under the deep, and darkness was on the face of the deep, we
saw the spirit of life hovering over that waste (Gen 1:2). He generated life.
He was the one who carried God’s will to create life on that waste earth. With
the Spirit hovering, the life-giving command echoed in each corner of the
creation. The darkness vanished, the light shined, the deep retreated, and the
earth flourished. The waste earth is now inhabited by all kind of beautiful
creatures. Dark heavens are now decorated with fabulous lights; great light for
the day and small light for the night. That’s no surprise, because where the
Spirit of life works, wilderness turns into gardens, darkness into light, waste
land into habitat, and death into life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">And Death
by Sin</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The beautiful picture
did not last. When sin entered the world, it separated man from God who is the
source of life. It opened the door to the spirits of destruction and death to
come to the world. The work of those spirits is contrary to the work of the
life-giving Spirit. They spread death, dry up man’s soul, and turn his life
into severe drought. They leave him behind consumed and living in a waste land
under dark sky. Worries and fears then dominate every day of his life until he
is delivered to the grave and eternal death. They are the spirits of he who <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“was a murderer from the beginning”</span></i> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Joh 8:44, MKJV)</span>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The activities of
these spirits vary, but they all have the same effect which is draining life
out of man. There is a spirit of fear who engulfs one’s heart, taking away his
sense of security and hinders any progress in life. There is a spirit of grief
who destroys one’s feelings. There are spirits of jealousy, anger, envy and
greed; they destroy the relationships between people, generating struggles,
wars and enmities. There are the spirits of passion, lust and uncleanness; they
destroy man’s dignity and bring him down to akin an animal. There’re a
countless number of spirits. They all oppose the work of the Spirit of life,
attempting to bring the creation back to its first waste status.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Individuals
Attempts</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At all ages, there
were individuals who sensed the death besetting them. They were thirsty to the
Spirit of water, the life-giving Spirit. They had the spiritual consciousness
to break through the darkness back to God. The Holy Spirit’s touches and
revelations interacted with mankind through them. These revelations were like
droplets of fresh water in the midst of a dry desert. Many generations lived on
these droplets which gave them the strength amid the assailing spirits of
death. However, those attempts were rare through the history of mankind that
was drowning in a spiritual darkness.
The revelation resulted from those efforts were relying on the godly
individuals who sought the Lord for themselves and for their people. Once those
individuals die, the vision fades and the darkness hems the scene again. The
way to the Holy of Holies was not yet open, and the spirit of water shall not
pour out -in a general manner- upon a rebellious earth; not until the
redemption is accomplished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">I am
Thirsty</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">At the fullness of
time, the blessed Redeemer came. He bore our sins in His own body. On the cross, His greenness dissipated, and
drought engulfed his wounded heart. Listen to Him saying, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">My strength is <b>dried up</b> like a potsherd, and My tongue
clings to My jaws”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Psa 22:15, MKJV)</span>. Also, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“I am weary from my crying; my
throat is <b>dried</b>; my eyes fail while I wait for my God” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Psa 69:3)</span>.
Dryness is a figurative expression reflects the agony of the Christ on the
cross. He had to walk our same land, bear our own sin and face our own
judgement. Surprisingly, the only feeling He expressed on the cross was not
pain, sadness or injustice; It was <i>thirst</i>. He suffered thirst so that we
may have water. His strength was dried up, so that we have inner strength. He
suffered the drought and the death of our realm to give us His life and His
glory. All glory and praise be to Him forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">The
Fountain and the Cistern</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the
<b>Fountain of living waters</b>, to hew out <b>cisterns</b> for themselves,
broken cisterns that can hold no water”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Jer 2:13, MKJV)</span>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fountain and cistern were two sources of water
in ancient Israel. The difference between them is significant. The fountain is
running (living) waters burst out of the earth. The cistern is a deep man-made
hole on the ground stores rain waters during the rains season. Therefore, the
cistern water is still and not regenerated which makes it subject to all kind
of contaminants. It’s also seasonal not continuous; the cistern is filled in
the rains season, and then it dries up by the beginning of the summer. The
worst type of cisterns is the one with cracked sides. It cannot hold water for
too long, as the water leaks out of the cracks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Me, the Fountain of Living Waters</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In this passage, the Lord describes Himself as the source of
the continuous running waters, to fill His people. Shockingly, His people turn
away from Him and seek other means of fulfilling. Since his falling, man has
always been panting after his fleshly lusts attempting to attain satisfaction
and joy. Money, sex, and power became gods whom man worships and serves hoping
to gain moments of pleasure and comfort. For the sake of those gods, man
forsakes the real God; the only one who can give man authentic satisfaction and
living water. Ultimately, man discovers that those strange gods are nothing but
<i>broken cisterns that can hold no water.</i> Comparing the fountain water to
the cistern water in this passage reminds how the fullness of God differs from
the pleasures of the world in the following manners:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 12pt 17.85pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -17.85pt;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Internal not External</b>:
The Spirit of God dwells in the spirit of the believer, therefore, provides him
with deep internal fulfillment. That fulfillment is independent from any
external conditions. It helps the believer to rise above his conditions instead
of getting overwhelmed by them. Even when afflictions surround him and he is
perplexed with multitude of thoughts within him, the comfort of the Lord
delights him (Psa 94:19). The world always promises to provide satisfaction
from external sources. People believe that if they possessed this thing or
that, they will be happy. Therefore, they spend their life in continuous race
to possess those sources of happiness. Soon, one finds himself enslaved. He may
own a lot of things, but does not own his own soul. He is now bonded by
ruthless worldly lusts. Because man worships whoever gives him happiness, he
becomes a slave to those external sources of happiness.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Continuous not Seasonal:</b>
The spirit of God permanently lives in the believer. His fellowship continues
day and night, in health and in sickness, in strength and in weakness. Even
when the believer falls, He doesn’t abandon him, but rather reproves and
correct him. His water is a “living water” springing up into everlasting life
(Joh 4:14). In contrary to the Spirit’s gifts, the worldly joy is for a moment
(Job 20:5). When man gains it, he works hard to keep it for as long as
possible. Soon, it leaks between his fingers, leaving him with nothing but
chasing the wind.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God-Made not Man-Made:</b><b><span dir="RTL" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> </span></b> The living water of the Spirit springs up in
the believer’s heart without any human contribution. It’s based on God’s love
and grace. Unlike the grace, worldly joy consumes the entire energy of man to
obtain it and then to keep it.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Clean not Contaminated:</b>
The comfort of the Spirit is clean, pure and accompanied with good fruits. In
contrary, the worldly joy is always subject to impurities, and full of
selfness, greed and defilement.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No
wonder the Lord told Heaven to astonish and shudder because His people forsook
the internal for the external, the continuous for the seasonal, the God-made
for the man-made and the pure for the contaminated. <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Be astonished, ye heavens, at this,
and shudder; be amazed very much, saith Jehovah. For my people have committed
two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, to hew them
out cisterns, broken cisterns that hold no water”</span></i> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Jer 2:12-13,
Darby)</span>. How evil and foolish man’s heart is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">My friend, what is your source of joy? Is it the world or
the Lord?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Eternal
Life</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Talking
to the Samaritan woman, Jesus said, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Every one who drinks of this water shall thirst again; but
whosoever drinks of the water which I shall give him shall never thirst for
ever, but the water which I shall give him shall become in him <b>a fountain of
water, springing up into eternal life</b>”</span></i> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Joh 4:13-14,
Darby)</span>. Again, the Lord mentions the fountain water indicating the gift
of the Spirit. This time he adds that this fountain of water “<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">springing up
for eternal life</span></i>”. Eternal life means not only a life of
infinite duration, but also of infinite depth; sinners also will live
infinitely in hell. Eternal life means life that connects the depths of God to
that of the man. It is a communion with God unlimited in its range and depth.
Therefore, we enjoy that eternal life while we are still on this mortal earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">God
has set eternity in man’s heart (Ecc 3:11). That eternity constitutes hunger
inside man for everlasting matters. Food and drink suffice an animal, but as
for man, he shall not live with the bread alone. The breath of God within him
drives him to seek everlasting fellowship with God; a fellowship that fills all
his depths and satisfies them. Man needs <i>everlasting love</i> (Jer 31:3), <i>everlasting
joy</i> (Iss 61:7) and <i>everlasting security</i> (Deu 33:27). That’s why all
human feelings and social relationships fail to satisfy that eternal dimension
in man’s heart. That’s what the Lord explained to the Samaritan woman who tried
several intimate relationships, yet remained thirsty. No man was able to
satisfy her eternal heart. Satisfaction is a need only the Spirit of water can
fill, because He springs up into the eternal heart of man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Have
you tasted that eternal fill or you are still seeking other kinds of waters?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Overflowing
Fill</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the last day of the great feast, Jesus stood and cried
out, saying, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“If
anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes on Me, as the
Scripture has said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Joh 7:37-38,
MKJV). </span>The Lord spoke this about the Spirit, which they who believed on
Him should receive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In this passage, the Lord goes that the fill of
the Spirit is not just up to one’s need; it is overflowing. It fills one’s
inside, and then flows out like rivers to fill others as well. Because love and
liberality are intrinsic essence of the Spirit, once He found a resting place
in someone, He overflows to the other people surrounding that one. Look at Lord
Jesus, when He was on earth, everyone came close to him was healed. The Spirit,
by whom Jesus was full, overflew to people. Look at the disciples after the
Pentecost day and you can see the same overflow. The shadow of Peter and the
handkerchiefs of Paul gave healing to people everywhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We don’t see that tendency of outreaching in
the worldly pleasures, which are dominated by selfishness. To reach those
pleasures, we sometimes have to trample others in our way. When we reach those
pleasures, we can’t share them with others, lest they decrease. Only the gift
of the Holy Spirit <i>increases</i> when we share it with others. Didn’t the
scripture say, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“he who waters shall also be watered himself”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Pro 11:25)</span>.
The more water you pass onto others, the more your water rise and overflows
like rivers. If you tried to keep it just for yourself, the flow stops. A good
example of that is the miracle of the widow and the pot of oil (2Ki 4:3-6). The
more empty vessels were brought, the more the pot of oil overflew to fill them
all. When there were no more empty vessels, the overflow stopped. Do people
around you enjoy that overflow coming out of you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">The
Spirits of Dryness</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through <b>dry
places seeking rest</b>, and finds none” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Mat 12:43)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The evil spirits seek rest where there is no
water. They can only dwell where there is no working of the Holy Spirit. That’s
because the working of these spirits is opposite to the working of the Holy
Spirit. They dry up the resources of man’s life, leaving him in dryness and
thirst. Everything these spirits touch turns into dryness. Social relationships
are supposed to be a comfort zone; instead, they turn them into sources of
oppression and depression. Possessions which are supposed to provide man with
joy turn into causes of worry and fear of loss under the ascendancy of the evil
spirits. That’s how man’s life turn into a dry land.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When Lot left Abraham’s humbled tent, he also
left behind Abraham’s sacred altar. Lot chose to dwell in a fertile land like
the garden of Jehovah (Gen 13:10) aiming for a more comfortable and prosperous
life. Because evil spirits dominated the people of the land, that very land
ended up to be the cause of pain, torment and loss for the rest of Lot’s life.
Instead of being “the garden of Jehovah”, it turned into “hell”, and seared his
house, his children and his pride. At the same time, Abraham was enjoying
internal watering under the reign of the Spirit of water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When a man fall under the power of evil
spirits, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“he is withering away”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Mar 9:18, Darby)</span>. Even when the Lord of glory was circled by
these spirits on the cross, His strength was dried up like a potsherd (Psa
22:12-15), and His sap turned into the drought of the summer (Psa 32:4).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Woe to the wretches who fall under the power of
those spirits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Invitation
for Watering</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The poor and needy seek water, and there is none; their tongue
fails for thirst, I Jehovah will hear them .... I will open rivers in high
places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a
pool of water, and the dry land springs of water”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Isa 41:17-18,
MKJV)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For the wretches who fell under the power of evil
spirits, the Lord provides an invitation for watering. If you put your life
under the reign of God, He will make your dry land springs of water; a green
oasis. The evil spirits will be cast out of your life because they cannot live
in places where there is water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We often think that if we hadn’t passed through
these hardships, we would have been in a better position today; happier and
more comfortable. But in this passage, the Lord offers us a promise that in
these high places (hardships) we will be watered. The rivers will run through
the wilderness. This is the power of God and that’s His promise if we submit
our dried life with all its agony to Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mary and Martha thought it’s better if their
brother didn’t die. Yet as the Lord presented, He turned that death into a
matter of joy and comfort. Sarah thought her ageing is a terrible obstacle to
have children, but the Lord turned it into a memorable miracle. Joseph thought
his slavery and his imprisonment are barren period in his life, but he
discovered that God was able to use that period for Joseph’s maturity and
glory.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Do you accept the Lord’s invitation for
watering? Do you put your life under His dominion?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif"; font-size: large;">Warning</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus so that he may
dip the tip of his finger in <b>water</b> and cool my tongue, for I am
tormented in this flame”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Luk 16:24)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Those who ignore the Lord’s invitation for
watering, will -one day- pine for a droplet of water but they won’t find it.
They will yearn for one word from God, but it will be too late. Oh that you
redeem the time and submit your life in God’s hands before it’s too late.</span></div>
Ihab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715697612232741452.post-61239800903867317692014-02-05T08:12:00.002-08:002014-02-06T07:58:32.709-08:00The Seven Spirits of God<div style="border-bottom: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0cm 0cm 4.0pt 0cm;">
<h2 align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The Seven Spirits of
God</span></h2>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is
coming; and from <b>the seven spirits</b> which are before His throne”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Rev 1:4, MKJV)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“He who has <b>the seven Spirits of God</b> and the seven stars”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Rev 3:1, MKJV)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The work of the Spirit of God is one of the greatest aspects
in the spiritual realm; it controls the universe. The Holy Spirit acts continuously.
His act ranges from the depths of the almighty God (1Co 2:10) to the depths of
the mortal man (Psalm 139:7,15-16); it sweeps through time from the beginning
of the creation and the void earth (Gen 1:1) to the new heaven and the new
earth (Rev 21:1). He is almighty. He carries grace and peace to us.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">In many occasions in the bible, the scripture used different
images to indicate the Holy Spirit. It indicates Him using images like dove,
fire, flowing water, wind...etc, to describe the variety and the diversity of
His works. That’s why we see Him in Revelation as <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“the seven Spirits of God”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Rev 3:1),</span>
indicating His various works in their perfection. Let’s therefore proceed
humbly to the Holy Spirit to see the glory and the perfection of His work in our
life. Let’s explore what’s in His heart for us.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The first account of <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“the seven spirits”</span></i> is <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“which are before His throne”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Rev 1:4, MKJV)</span>. Needless to say that spiritual realm has no
physical thrones or dimensions. Therefore, there’s no “before” or “behind” over
there; the entire heaven is God’s throne as Lord Jesus said (Mat 5:34). The
phrase <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“before His throne”</span></i>, therefore, has a figurative meaning. What’s that?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The existence of the
Holy Spirit “before” the throne means that nothing is sent out of the throne, or
brought onto the throne except through Him. In other words, the Holy Spirit
brings God’s will to the creation, and brings the creation’s will to God.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">He Carries
God’s Will</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit
accomplishes God’s will in all His creation. He searches the depths of God
(1Cor 2:10) and reveals it on earth. In this manner, His act is similar to the
act of the “light”. That’s why as we go further in Revelation, we read another
account of the Spirit, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And <b>seven lamps of fire</b> were
burning in front of the throne, which are <b>the seven spirits of God</b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Rev 4:5, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MKJV</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">)</span>. The light of God’s will illuminates each
corner of His creation by the Spirit. That’s why we hear the Lord saying, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself,
but whatever He hears, He shall speak”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Joh 16:13,
MKJV)</span>. He is always before
the throne to bring every truth He hears about God’s will to us. Blessed be His
name.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">He Carries the Creation’s Will</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On the other hand, the Spirit carries the depths of the creation.
He hovers over every spot in God’s creation, even when it’s waste and empty
(Gen 1:2, Darby). He knows our depths
more than we do. When He sees us incapable of expressing our depths properly,
He does that on our behalf; he carries our deep things and brings them out to
God (Rom 8:26). In this manner, He acts like an “eye”, that’s why the scripture
also indicates the Spirit as <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“</span></i><b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">seven eyes</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">, which are <b>the
seven Spirits of God</b> sent forth into all the earth” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Rev 5:6, MKJV)</span>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Try the spirits</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In contrary to the Spirit of God, who illuminates the
creation with God’s will, there are spirits of darkness. They carry their own
wills, and work hard to achieve them. Each spirit is orbiting its own will.
They do not present <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“before His throne”</span></i>.
They are neither interested in receiving God’s will, nor they are
willing to accomplish it. Those are the fallen spirits for whom the <i>blackness
of darkness</i> is reserved forever (2Pe 2:17). They chose the darkness of
selfness; therefore, they live away from God’s light. It’s the kingdom of the
devil and his fallen angels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But the spirits of the darkness exist also in man’s realm.
When man lives separated from God, his spirit dims up until it turns into
darkness. It’s not able, and it does not desire to draw near before God’s
throne.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Amidst all black darkness, the Spirit of God remains the
only source of light in the creation. He is always present “before” the throne
of God to carry God’s will and fulfills it. Blessed is His name.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Are you able to discern the spirits? Are you able to
recognize when you are dealing with the Spirit of God and when dealing with
another spirit? If you are dealing with the spirit of God, He will certainly
lead you to <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“before
His throne”</span></i>. He will teach you to love, and will fill you with
passion to accomplish God’s will even when it costs you to sacrifice your own
will. He will discipline you to accept God’s will and present yourself as a
living, holy sacrifice. He will teach you to receive and to offer before the
throne of God. Any spirit leads you to selfness, or renders you to orbit your
“self” is a spirit of deceit no matter how decent it attempts to look.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">O Spirit of God, encompass me. Take my hand and lead me to
always present before the throne. Enlighten my spirit with the will of God.
Help me to accomplish that will. Teach me to give Him the glory He deserves.
Amen.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">The spirits of God</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The essence of God’s will is always constant. It always
applies truth, justice, and righteousness. But the way that will is revealed to
man varies from age to age and from one individual to another according to
man’s changing need and his capability of receiving that will. Because this
revelation comes from the Spirit, He reaches out man in various ways. Because
of this variation, an outer look at His works would make you think that they
belong to different spirits. That’s why the scripture indicated Him, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“the seven
Spirits of God”</span></i> (Rev 4:5).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Let us take an example of the various acts of the Spirit at
different times in the history of the Israelites:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Two Contrasting Examples</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When the people of Israel were enslaved and oppressed in
Egypt, God approached them with compassion. He had a plan to save them. He
chose the suitable vessel. When the Spirit hemmed Moses, He filled him with
compassion and love to his people, which rendered him to reject the treasures
of Egypt and to suffer affiliation along with the people of God. The Spirit
filled Moses with a spirit of meekness and endurance beyond man’s nature
enabled him to endure that rebellious stiff-necked people.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As we move on to another era of the history of the
Israelites during king Ahab reign, we see an apostate nation. People of Israel
abandoned God and worshiped Baal. At that time, wrath and judgement were in
God’s heart. Again, the Spirit carried God’s will and found another vessel
through whom He will accomplish God’s will. He appointed Elijah the Tishbite
and prepared him for the mission. When the Spirit hemmed Elijah, he was filled
with anger toward people’s perversity. His words delivered warnings and
judgement. His ministry brought fire and blood.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The spirit of meekness and endurance we saw in Moses is
absolutely different from the spirit of judgement and condemnation appeared on
Elijah. A superficial look at each spirit would not believe they are both acts
of the same Spirit. Not until we see the two men side-by-side on the mountain
overshadowed by the same cloud (Luk 9:30-34).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But the diverse of the acts of the Spirit are not only from
era to another, but also:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">From Vessel to another</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">John
the Baptist was contemporary to Jesus. However, the nature of each one’s
ministry was characterized by different spirit. While John was isolated from
the people and lived different lifestyle than anyone else (even in the way he
ate and dressed), Jesus came very close to the people. He showed deep
compassion. He shared them joy and grief. In other word, as the Lord made this
remark, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“John
came neither eating nor drinking ... Son of Man came eating and drinking”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Mat 11:18-19,
MKJV)</span>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There was an obvious contrast between the
ministries of John and Jesus. That contrast offended many people including John
himself (Luk 5:33, 7:19), but in fact, both were acts of the same Spirit. Each
minister was fulfilling God’s will as revealed to him, and was baptized with
the baptism that has been determined for him. The good vessel accepts God’s
commission, and discerns the way the Spirit is working in him regardless of how
the Spirit is working in others.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Of What Spirit You Are?</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The
incident in (Luk 9: 51-56) can shed more light on this article. When James and
John wanted the Lord to command fire to come down from Heaven and consumes a
village of the Samaritans, they actually wanted something Elijah has done in
the past. The act itself was not false. The fault was that they were trying to
reincarnate the spirit of Elijah, while the spirit of their Master at that
moment was far different from the spirit of Elijah. They failed to discern the
spirit characterizes that phase of their Master’s ministry. The Lord corrected
them, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“You
do not know of what spirit you are. For the Son of Man has not come to destroy
men's lives, but to save” </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">(Luk 9:55, MKJV)</span>.
They needed to be baptized with the baptism of Jesus (Mat 20:22) not with the
baptism of Elijah. The spirit of Elijah was good for his ministry but had no
role in Jesus’ ministry.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">How important it is to discern of what
spirit we ought to be. The Spirit has a special purpose for you, your church
and your country. Do not try to simulate someone else, reincarnate another
spirit, or be baptized with another minister’s baptism. Strive to know what
spirit God wants to fill you with, and by what baptism He wants to baptize your
ministry. Any attempt to put the Spirit’s work in a box assuming that He must
deal with you in a certain manner, will lead to failure. The Spirit has been
and will always be free to work in people in various ways.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">He Who has the Seven Spirits of God</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because of the limitation of our human vessel, every man is
appointed by the Spirit to carry just a small portion of God’s will. Among all
mankind, there has only been one man that’s capable of carrying and fulfilling
God’s will to its entirety. He brought that will to man’s realm. In spite of
His absolute humanity, He was able to offer himself as a landing ground to the
Spirit. His perfect life presented <i>the seven spirits of God</i>. That’s why
He was worthy to be titled <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“He who has the seven Spirits of God”</span></i> (Rev 3:1).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus, as the son of man, came into being out of a woman; He
has come under Law (Gal 4:4). He was made like His brothers (Heb 2:17). He was
tempted in every way just as we are (Heb 4:15). Yet, He submitted Himself
entirely to the Father’s will since His childhood (Luk 2:49). He loved that
will passionately, so He was capable of receiving more of it than anyone else
(Heb 1:9). It was the food by which He lives (Joh 4:34, Mat 4:4). The scripture
truly describes His attitude with these words, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“<i>I delight to do Your will, O My God; and Your Law is within My
heart</i>” (Psa 40:8)</span>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Because Jesus
humbled Himself under God in such manner, The Holy Spirit worked freely through
His life. The Spirit filled Him with all the aspects and the full depth of God’s
will. After God spoke at many times and in many ways to the fathers, He ultimately
had everything He wanted to say in one person, the Lord Jesus Christ. He never
disobeyed the Father; He never turned His back to His will. His life was broad
enough to show the two distant aspects; God’s love which is willing to
sacrifice for man’s salvation, and God’s justice which condemns man’s evil. In
Him, the dove found a landing ground (Luk 3:22) and the fire found a burnt
offering (Heb 10:5-7).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Jesus did not
favour particular aspects of God’s will and rejected others. He loved God’s
will entirely as it is and sacrificed His life to accomplish it. He is the only
man that was able to perfectly and comprehensively please the Father. When
Peter thought of Jesus as a man of God equals to Moses or Elijah, the Father’s
declaration clarified, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“This is My beloved Son in whom I am<b> well pleased</b>, hear Him”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Mat 17:5,
MKJV)</span>. The Father wanted to
make it clear to the disciples that Jesus is far beyond being just a prophet.
He is the only man that pleased God at all times and He is the one that ought
to be heard. Moses carried a portion of God’s will and Elijah carried another
portion, but only in Jesus that all aspects of God’s will have been met. <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Mercy and
truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Psa 85:10,
MKJV)</span>. That’s why the
presence of the Spirit in His life was complete and rich, not just a limited
anointment as it was with all the precedent men of God. That’s why the
scripture says <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above
Your fellows”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Heb 1:9, MKJV)</span>.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">The Stature of the Fullness of
Christ</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The fullness of Godhead dwelled in Jesus while He is in a
human body (Col 2:9), because it pleased the Father that in Jesus all fullness
should dwell (Col 1:19). When Jesus finished His sacrificial work, God raised
Him from the dead. He gave Him to be Head to a people whom He trusts to carry
His will to the world. That people is the church (Eph 1:19-23). Every member of
that church ought to abide in the Head and receive grace for grace out of His
fullness (Joh 1:16).</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Holy Spirit who filled the Christ, is the same Spirit
working in our life. He gives us out of the Christ’s fullness as He desires
(1Co 12:11). The Spirit longs to apply God’s will in the members as it is in
the Head, the Christ. He wants us to come into the stature of the fullness of
Christ (Eph 4:13). Only then, the church will be up to its position in Christ
and able to accomplish His ministry and glorify His name.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">To summarize, we say that the more we progress in the
knowledge of <i>the seven spirits of God</i>, the closer we come to the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every time we approach the Spirit to learn God’s
will, He presents the image of the Christ, because Christ is the only one who
has <i>the seven spirits of God</i>. He is the only one who carried God’s will
entirely, and accomplished it on earth. Oh, that we love the will of God and
open our hearts to it as our Lord did.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">The Link between God and Man</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even though the Christ held the will of God entirely, He
also held the human nature entirely. He stepped down to the depths of man and
bore all man’s weakness and sin. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bringing together the holiness of God’s will and the
blackness of man’s darkness is undoubtedly impossible. That’s why any attempt
to bring them together, shall tear the mediator apart. That’s the essence of
the reconciliation that Jesus made with His blood. His perfection enabled Him
to please the Father, and his humanity made Him so close to man. If He only
possessed the fullness of God’s will, He wouldn’t have been so close to us. It
would have been impossible for us to draw near Him. But sharing our humanity
made Him someone we can proceed to without fear, and thrive in receiving the
fullness of God that’s in Him. Therefore, He became the link between <i>the
seven spirits of God</i> and our fallen souls. Using the Revelation metaphor,
we would say that Jesus divinity gave Him <i>the seven spirits of God</i> while
His humanity gave Him:</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">The Seven Stars</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“And He had <b>seven stars</b> in His right hand”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> (Rev 1:16,
MKJV)</span>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The seven stars are
the angels of the seven churches (Rev 1:20). This indicates the church at all
its spiritual and historical phases. As we pointed before, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“the seven
spirits of God”</span></i> does not
indicate a number of spirits but rather the perfection and the diversity of the
works of the Holy Spirit. Similarly, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“the seven stars”</span></i>
does not indicate a number of churches but rather the diversity and the totality
of the phases of the church from the day of Pentecost to the day of rapture.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The image of the
Lord holding the seven stars in His right hand indicates that the Lord has an
absolute sovereignty over individual believers and over the church. As well, it
indicates that He guarantees to suffice the church at all phases from the
beginning to the end. He possessed that authority by humbling Himself down to
man’s realm and paying the wage of his sins before God. He freed His people
from the grip of the devil and brought them before God’s throne justified and
blameless.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<h3 align="center" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">The Dual Truth</span></span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In the messages to the seven churches (Rev 2, 3), we find a
dual truth. That is, Jesus knows man’s depths; and Jesus knows the Spirit’s
depths.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">First, Jesus knows man’s depths. He starts His message with <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“<b>I know</b>
your works”</span></i>. He knows the believers depths not as an observer, but
as a redeemer. He went down to these souls and brought them to God. He redeemed
them with His blood. Now, He has the right to bring them out to the light, and
examines and judges any impurity in them.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Second, Jesus knows the Spirit depths. He finishes each
message with, <i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“he
who has an ear, let him hear <b>what the Spirit says</b> to the churches”</span></i>.
Although it is Jesus who speaks, yet, he asserts that what He says is exactly
what the Spirit wants to tell the churches.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This introductory was essential before we proceed farther in
learning the seven Spirits of God, because we ought to remember that we
wouldn’t know the Spirit without Jesus. We wouldn’t comprehend His works if we
didn’t see them first in Jesus. We cannot be filled with the Spirit except by
Jesus’ intercession and through our communion with Him. Let’s then submit our
souls to His hand as the seven stars. He will guide us to live God’s will to its
fullness.</span></div>
Ihab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715697612232741452.post-67098835649346865972014-02-05T07:16:00.001-08:002014-02-09T12:35:12.164-08:00Table of Contents<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Euphemia","sans-serif";">Contents</span></h1>
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<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://the-seven-spirits.blogspot.ca/2014/02/preface.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Preface </span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://the-seven-spirits.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-seven-spirits-of-god.html">1. The Seven Spirits of God</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://the-seven-spirits.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-water.html">2. The Water</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://the-seven-spirits.blogspot.ca/2014/02/the-dove.html">3. The Dove</a> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">4. The Fire </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">5. The Wind </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">6. The Oil </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">7. The Wine </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8. The Lamp and the Eye </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">9. Final Word</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span></div>
Ihab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7715697612232741452.post-73626422536793393942014-02-04T19:40:00.000-08:002014-02-05T07:43:10.226-08:00Introduction<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: red;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReEuD3owAYA/UvJUBBb2iAI/AAAAAAAAAEA/eHcV7__EP8Y/s1600/Cover+Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReEuD3owAYA/UvJUBBb2iAI/AAAAAAAAAEA/eHcV7__EP8Y/s1600/Cover+Page.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">"The Seven Spirits of God" is a long series
of articles published in a Christian Egyptian monthly magazine called "The
message of salvation".</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">I read this series in 2010, and it was such a blessing
to me. In the summer of 2013, I decided to translate it into English so that it
can be shared with more people.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The author, "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fakhry.karam?fref=ts&ref=br_tf">Fakhry Karam</a>" is a
dedicated Christian who is literally sold to God since his teenage. He allowed me to post these articles here, for which I am grateful.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The series focuses on the scripture addressing
the various ways by which the Holy Spirit works in our lives, and the different metaphors used in the scripture to indicate Him. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The series targets the spiritual maturity of Christians. It directs your attention to the Holy Spirit who <i>"shall teach you all things"</i> (Joh 14:26), and <i>"guide you into all truth"</i> (Joh 16:13). Whether you are a new Christian or a Christian councellor, you will find it interesting. It's both inspirational and scholastical.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">May the Lord touches your life through these words.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The grace be with your spirit,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Ihab</span></span></span></div>
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<![endif]--></span></span></span>Ihab Mickailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08244884234931517820noreply@blogger.com0