LESSONS FROM THE GRAPEVINE

THE CULTIVATED VINE

Jesus said, “I am the True Vine and my Father is the Vinedresser”. – John 15:1

A cultivated grapevine is carefully tended by a gardener who takes pains to make sure that the vine has everything it needs to produce the best fruit. It is usually fenced in to protect it from enemies and the gardener removes all stones and other debris that could inhibit growth. He often builds posts or fences which are used to provide support to the growing vine.

Like the natural grapevine, God the Father puts a hedge of protection around us 

to keep us from the clutches of the enemy. 

He too, does all He can to ensure that our fruit – love, joy, peace etc. – 

is of the highest quality.

When a branch on a cultivated grapevine is producing fruit the gardener will prune it – cutting back branches and leaving it looking almost bare. This seems cruel, but it causes the branch to draw more life-giving sap from the vine. This eventually results in even greater growth, and yields fruit of excellent quality.

Our Father does the same with us. 

When we are in union with Jesus, the True Vine, the Father will periodically “prune us” 

in areas that have been quite productive. 

To the undiscerning this could feel like punishment or unfair treatment. 

However, this dry spell is the loving Father’s way of drawing us 

even closer to the Vine, Jesus, 

so that our fruit-character more greatly reflects Him.

THE WILD VINE

I planted you as 
a choice vine of seed 
fully tested and true. 

How did you degenerate into a wild vine for me? – Jeremiah 2:21

On the other hand a wild vine is not kept by a gardener, but grows at its own pace, sometimes rapidly. Its fruit are small, sour and inferior in quality. The wild vine cannot support itself, so it may wind itself around a tree until it gets to the top. Eventually it covers the top of the tree, and because the tree’s leaves can no longer receive enough sunlight, the tree begins to die.

The fact that an assembly is growing rapidly, is increasingly visible in the media 

and seems to be advancing is not necessarily an indication that it is connected to the True Vine. 

Jesus warned us saying, “Take heed that you not be deceived. 

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, 

‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.” – Luke 21:8

Paul warns us about “false apostles, deceitful workers, 

transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” – 2 Cor. 11:13-15

DON’T BE DECEIVED

Let us be diligent in testing each spirit to ensure that it is of God. Not every Christian program, book, CD, event or assembly is one that promotes intimacy with Jesus Christ.  Too many, like the wild vine, are on a mission to milk unsuspecting believers of their resources. They focus on their own ministries’ survival and personal ambition instead of the purposes of God. Eventually, because of lack of direct contact with the SON, those connected to them could suffer the same fate as the tree engulfed by the parasitic wild vine.

Which vine are you attached to?

“…by their fruits you will know them. 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 

but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; 
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – Matthew 7:20-23

THRONE OF PRAISE

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/QP83wz3-bqs

FISH OUT OF WATER

“Look Dad, it’s still swimming!” Five year old Roger stared in amazement as he watched his father place the struggling fish he had just caught into a nearby bucket. But his excitement turned to horror as he saw the fish gradually go limp. “Daddy! Put it back! Make it swim again!” “I can’t son,” his dad responded. “It’s been out of the water for too long. It’s dead now.”
 

A fish, when it is first taken out of water, continues to move in a swimming motion for a while. It is doing the right actions, but because it is in the wrong environment eventually it dies.

God spoke to the earth and commanded it to bring forth herbs, grasses and trees. Likewise He brought forth fish from the waters. If you uproot a plant from the earth it will die, unless you replant it into the ground which sustains its life. If you remove a marine animal from the sea it will die, unless you place it back into a body of water to keep it alive. 

The same principle applies to us, both physically and spiritually. Deprive a man of air for too long and he will eventually go limp and die.

At the beginning of creation God, who is Spirit, said, “Let’s US make man in Our own image.” – Genesis 1:26

Jesus said, “I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me, and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown off like a (broken off) branch and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire and they are burned.” – John 15: 5-6 (Amplified Bible).

You may do the right things – give to charitable causes, volunteer in your community and live a good moral life. You may even attend church and be part of a ministry. But without a Divine connection and intimate spiritual relationship with the True Vine, Jesus the Christ, you eventually will suffer the same fate as an uprooted plant or a fish out of water.

IN SEARCH OF HIS BRIDE

If you were asked, “What are you looking for in a husband/wife?”, you would probably respond with a list of qualities that you think would be ideal in the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.

Do you know that Jesus has done the same thing? He has a list of qualities that He is looking for in His Bride. With this in mind let us look at a Scripture that may seem unusual for this topic at first.

You see, with God everything is “black and white” with no grey areas. The reality is that you and I will either spend eternity with Jesus or forever separated from Him. To live with Him forever means that you will be a part of His Bride. Those who spend eternity in hell, separated from Him and heaven, will have done so by the choices they had made.

Rev. 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This verse lists those who will spend eternity apart from Jesus, having disqualified themselves from being a part of the Bride of Christ. We can therefore discern the characteristics that Jesus seeks in His Bride by identifying the opposite of each quality.

1. Fearful – Those who easily give in to intimidation from the enemy of the Gospel

The Warrior Bride of Christ

Jesus’ Bride – FEARLESS

• knows that Jesus always protects His own
• courageously spreads the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
• does not water down the Gospel because of pressure from detractors

2. Unbelieving – literally those who are unfaithful; cannot be trusted

Jesus’ Bride – TRUSTWORTHY

• Faithful to do the will of the Lord
• Can be trusted to obey His directions, even when they don’t seem to make sense

3. Abominable – those who do things that are disgusting, distasteful and loathsome in the eyes of God

Jesus’ Bride – DELIGHTFUL

• Lifestyle is pleasing to the Lord
• Practices Philippians 4:8 – thinks on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy

4. Murderers – those who kill physically and/or with their tongue – by speaking ill against brothers and sisters

Jesus’ Bride – HONORS OTHERS

• Forgives those who offend
• encourages those who are weak
• corrects those who have fallen – in a spirit of humility and love

5. Whoremongers – those who engage in illicit sexual behavior

Jesus’ Bride – PURE

• If married – faithful to his/her earthly spouse
• If unmarried – faithful to the Lord

6. Sorcerers – engaging in witchcraft and false prophecy; seeking answers from spirits other than the Holy Spirit

Jesus’ Bride – GUIDED BY HIS WORD

• in constant communication with Him
• spirit is sensitive to His voice

7. Idolaters – those who put people or things before God in order of importance

Jesus’ Bride – PUTS JESUS FIRST

• Jesus is the first love
• Everyone and everything else is secondary

8. Liars – those who practice deceit and hypocrisy; say one thing but do another

Jesus’ Bride – TRUTHFUL

• Consistently truthful in communicating with Him
• Not hiding anything from the Lord or pretending about anything
• Everything is out in the open before Him

 Rev. 19:7-8 (Amplified Bible)

Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! 

Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor,

 for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, 

and His bride has prepared herself.

She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white–

for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people).

Do you qualify to be part of the Bride of Christ?

GOD’S UNEXPECTED GIFT

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed…”

Luke 1:46-48

This is the season when people are excited about opening those festive looking packages to see what special gift has been selected and wrapped just for them. It’s a time when gift giving and receiving is on just about everyone’s mind. There are some, however – the ones that God gives – that often don’t look like good gifts to the natural eye, because they don’t come in beautiful wrapping. God’s gifts are often intangible, and He covers His special presents in ways that are most unusual.

At this time of year the world sets a stage for us that often does not match what we are experiencing in our own lives. We are bombarded by commercials and shows about people having wonderful gatherings and other festivities. All the while some of us look forward to yet another time alone. Even if we are in the company of family and friends, we can feel alone and lonely. Depression is high during this season.

But this feeling of aloneness is one of God’s most precious gifts. Oftentimes He Himself will orchestrate those solitary times. Why? Our Father, in His love and wisdom, knows that the greatest gift that we could have is a close relationship with Him. Times of aloneness and loneliness are opportunities for us to draw ever closer to Him…to reach out to Him for the kind of comfort, love and support that no human could possibly give to us.

The world system is so magnetic that we don’t realize how attracted we can become to it. This can lead to dependence on what we can see, hear, and touch. But God desires that we embrace His kingdom – a kingdom that is not of this world, so He arranges times when the dependence on the world’s trappings is removed, howbeit temporarily, so that we can focus on what is truly important.

Think of Mary on that first Christmas. She was given a precious Gift – being chosen as the mother of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. But her gift came wrapped in isolation, suspicion, gossip and even threats as people in her village found out that she was unwed and pregnant. I am sure that Mary felt alone and lonely during those times, even with Joseph by her side. There was no one else who could identify with what she was going through…no one, that is, but God Himself. Thankfully she embraced that Gift fully and clung to the Father, and we have all benefited from her willingness to do so.

Two thousand years ago, while all of Jerusalem and Bethlehem were preoccupied with the activities of the census, God sent His Greatest Gift – the King of kings – hidden in the strangest of packaging…

• His King-sized bed was a feeding trough for animals
• His birthplace and first throne room was a cave in a field.
• It wasn’t the skilled hands of a doctor or midwife, but the rough, shaky hands of a carpenter that held Him as He took His first breath
• His first visitors were not the elite, but the lowest in society – shepherds who had been tending their flocks

Nothing in the coming of Christ was beautifully wrapped.

Yet this most precious Gift was the Saviour of all mankind!

Has God given you an unexpected and unusual present this season? Has it come in a wrapping of pain, solitude, uncertainty of the future, or loss of a dear one? Will you ask the Lord to help you look beyond the “packaging” so that you can see the treasure that He has given to you?

Have a God-filled Christmas – full of the Father’s eternal gifts of love, peace and joy!

WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING?

Written by Allison Sylvester-Conliffe

As God’s creation, created in His image and His likeness, we have the ability to create, to build, to construct.  That’s just part of our make-up.

Some have the God-given ability, in wisdom and knowledge, to build great buildings with intricate designs and with a craftsmanship that is unique to each particular builder.  It’s the same for those who build ships and aircrafts and rockets.  It becomes natural to them because of the gifting and unique creative power that’s given to each of them by God.

Even though the creativity and mastery of craftsmanship is resident in each builder, and it forms part of them, do you know that the builders would still encounter some measure of difficulty while building or constructing the thing?  That difficulty becomes a sort of stumbling block for them and they must cross that hurdle to make their project a success.

Sometimes the threat could come as some outside force.  For the builder of a great building for example, the threat, while digging the foundation, could be heavy rains or snow, or some other uncontrollable element that was not foreseen when the project commenced.  Steps would now have to be taken to protect the work that had already been completed, until it was safe to proceed with the construction.
 

Sometimes the threat could come from within.  The builders of a project themselves may not have the same mind for the work and that could be a major hindrance, if not dealt with swiftly.

A sudden change in the economy could prompt the builder to abandon the work for fear of not knowing what the future would bring.  The result would then be an unfinished work or an unfinished project – A waste of resources.

Finally, those who do not have a vision for the work, who are not even part of the project, may suddenly appear on the scene, to cast words that are negative, so as to plant  seeds of doubt and confusion among the builders.  Remember they were not even part of the team of builders.

What are you building today?  Is it more faith in God?  Is it a deeper intimacy with the Trinity?  Is it souls for the Kingdom of God?  Whatever you are building for God, know that the enemy of our souls – satan the devil, is out to stop you …. at all costs.  Actually, his job is to steal, kill and to destroy.  God, on the other hand, has put us here on earth to build, to plant, to restore and to reconcile one with another.  He has also put things in place to reconcile man to Himself.

Take a closer look at Nehemiah.  God had given him the desire to restore the wall of Jerusalem.  This was God’s idea placed in the heart of the visionary, Nehemiah – and so Nehemiah was in constant communion with God concerning the work.  This is key.  The first thing that he did before the Lord was to repent for the sins of Israel, not by calling himself righteous, but included himself among those who sinned against God and was in need of forgiveness.

The next thing that Nehemiah did was that he brought God into remembrance of His own Word concerning the Jews.  Then, he asked for direction or wisdom regarding how to do the work.  This is another key.  As Nehemiah asked God for direction, the Lord began to grant him favour with men.
 
As he strove to do God’s will, and not according to his own plan, the outside forces began to hold a convention about Nehemiah and the work.  They gathered forces together against the builder.  The detractors increased in number as they attempted to disband the work.  But Nehemiah stood his ground in God – fastening his face on the Lord, and God continued to give Nehemiah grace and favour to build as God would have directed him. As the wall was fortified and the work was finished, the opposition was even greater against the builder, Nehemiah.  However, the project was completed successfully, but the war was not yet over.

We are in a war, saints of God.  We are constantly in battle against the world, the flesh and the devil.  But saints, the work has already been completed and the script has been written to the final letter – we have been chosen to play out the scenes.  God has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.  We are already called “conquerors” by the Lord.  We ought just to take the tools given us in the Word of God and use them.

Don’t let fear and the threatening opposition be a deterrent against you completing the job that you have been called to do.  Go forth in Jesus’ Name, and build according to the specifics that He has already revealed to you.  We would never fail if we keep our eyes on the Lord and walk according to the pathway that He has carved for us.  He continues to confound the enemy on our behalf.  Praise the Name of the Lord, Jesus the Christ.

God Bless You.
Allison

GUARD YOUR STRENGTHS AGAINST WEAKNESS

DAVID
David’s strength was his intense passion. He valiantly defended his sheep, killed the giant Goliath and conquered vast armies. He did whatever it took to win. But that same passion, unbridled, caused him to commit adultery with Bathsheba and kill her husband.

• The Result: The Lord spoke through Nathan the prophet, “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.’ 2 Samuel 12:10-12

• The Lesson: Your gifts (spiritual and natural) are given by God. If they are used for your own personal gain the results can be disastrous, with long-term ill effects on you, your family, your church and your community.

SAMSON
God told Samson that he would retain his supernatural physical strength as long as his hair was not cut. He met Delilah, an attractive secret agent for the enemy Philistines and he began to spend a lot of time with her.

Delilah’s singular focus was on getting Samson to disclose the secret of his amazing strength. She questioned him repeatedly, playing on his emotions until he finally relented and told her where his strength lay.

• The Result: And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. Judges 16:20-21

• The Lesson: Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:20. The power of your gifting/anointing should be seen in the fruit that you bear. As tempting as it may be, beware of getting into conversations that focus on you or your gift, rather than on the Giver.

MOSES
Moses had an intimate relationship with God. Exodus 33:11 tells us that the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. The Lord trusted Moses to follow his instructions to the letter, and Moses did so… until one day when the Israelites were thirsty and had no water to drink. This was not the first time it had happened. After all, they were in the desert. The Lord had told Moses in previous times to strike the rock, and when he did water had gushed out freely and abundantly. This time, however, God told Moses to speak to the rock and it would bring forth water. Moses stood before the people, and in his anger he struck the rock with his rod twice.

• The Result: Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” Exodus 33:12

• The Lesson: You are a steward of the strength/gifting that God has given you. Do not fall into the sin of familiarity by taking God or that gift for granted.

MARTHA
Martha was an excellent hostess. I would imagine that she kept a very tidy home, and went out of her way to make sure that her guests were well fed and comfortable. It seems that Martha had the gift of hospitality. One day Jesus came by to visit and Martha got busy making sure that the Lord was served well. She became angry when her sister wouldn’t help, but instead chose to remain at Jesus’ feet listening to His every word.

• The Result: And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

• The Lesson: You may have a full schedule. You may be involved in several ministries at your church. However, if your focus is not on spending quality time in fellowship with the Lord and in studying His Word, your busyness in ministry is fruitless.

In each case the God-given strength became a weakness when the focus was turned inward to satisfy self. Take a moment to assess your own strengths and giftings, both natural and spiritual.

• Are you in full time ministry? Don’t aim at being a star in the eyes of men. Man-made “stars” fall eventually. Focus on being a humble servant to Almighty God.
• Are you a good organizer? Detail oriented? Able to multi-task well? Beware of a judgmental and critical attitude.
• Are you a leader? Don’t use your position to control or manipulate those whom you have been entrusted to lead.
• Are you multi-gifted or multi-talented? Resist the temptation to pump up your own ego. Those gifts and talents are God’s …..on loan to you.
• Have you been in ministry or service for a long time? Beware of a stubborn, unyielding attitude.
• Do you have an intimate relationship with the Lord? Never take your relationship with God for granted.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 

1 Corinthians 10:12

MOSES’ TABERNACLE – A PATTERN FOR INTIMACY: PT. 10

THE HOLY OF HOLIES

God often works in three’s, and your journey of intimacy through Moses’ Tabernacle reflects this.

You enter through three portals

1. The Gate to the Tabernacle shows that Jesus is the only Way to the Father
2. The Door to the Holy Place leads you into the Truth of who Jesus is and who you are in Him
3. The Veil that once separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies is now open for you to have true divine Life in Christ.

You have three different experiences

1. In the outer court you present your body as a living sacrifice
2. In the Holy Place your soul communes with Christ, and you learn of Him and grow in intimacy with Him.
3. In the Holy of Holies it is no longer you who live, but your spirit is alive in Christ.

Three Lights

1. In the outer court there was the light of the sun – signifying the emphasis on things that are natural
2. In the Holy Place there is the light from the Lampstand – here your inner light is ignited by Jesus who is the Light of the world
3. In the Holy of Holies the only light is the glory of the Father Himself

Your journey through Moses’ Tabernacle also symbolizes

1. Death to self – outer court
2. Burial in Christ. Your life, your thoughts exchanged for His – Holy Place
3. Resurrection to new life in Christ– Holy of Holies

THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The Ark was the only piece of furniture in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. It was made of that now familiar acacia wood and overlaid with gold – signifying humanity overshadowed with Divinity.

Today many search for the Ark of old, not realizing that we are now the spiritual Ark of the Lord, carrying His presence and power in us as we rest, remain and abide in that secret place in Him.

Inside the Ark of old were three items. Each is symbolic of your life of intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and each shows an attribute of Jesus the Christ.

1. The Ten Commandments. The law is now written on your heart.

– For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death – Romans 8:2
– And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us – John 1:14a

2. The Pot of Manna. God is your ever present Source and Supply

– “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you – Matthew 6:31, 33
– Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world – John 6:32

3. Aaron’s rod that budded. In a place of intimacy with Him the Father can resurrect the dead areas of your life.

– Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life – Romans 6:4
– Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” – John 11:25

The Mercy Seat
The Mercy Seat formed the cover of the Ark. Two cherubim of gold stood on each end, wings outstretched and touching and faces looking down toward the Mercy Seat.

It was there that God manifested Himself to Moses.
– And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony – Exodus 25:22

When the high priest came into the Holy of Holies he would cover the Mercy Seat with a cloud of incense. Incense, as we discussed earlier, represents your prayer and praise. So when you come into that secret place in the Lord, when you offer praise and worship to Him in spirit and in truth, He manifests Himself!

What a glorious picture of intimacy Moses’ Tabernacle is!

I pray that you will go deeper and higher as you continue on this exciting journey,

and that you will be determined to remain one with 

The Father, Jesus the Son and The Precious Holy Spirit.

MOSES’ TABERNACLE – A PATTERN FOR INTIMACY: PART 9

THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

Just in front of the veil that separates the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies stands the Altar of Incense. Like the Table of Showbread it is made of acacia wood and overlaid with pure gold, symbolizing Jesus – all man yet all God.

In Moses’ time the high priest had to tend to this Altar twice per day – morning and evening. As with everything else in the Tabernacle, God was very specific with His instructions concerning the Altar.

Hot coals had to be taken from the Brazen Altar and used as a catalyst to burn the incense on the Altar. Anything else would be considered by God to be strange fire. The incense had to burn continually as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. There is much symbolism here that relates to us and our intimate walk with Christ today.

This Altar of Incense is a picture of your prayers as they rise to the Lord.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8

Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Revelation 8:3-4

The coals had to come from the Brazen Altar which is symbolic of Christ’s sacrificial death on Calvary. This shows the connection between prayer and the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Many today pray to God without acknowledging His completed work. That is like the strange fire that Aaron’s two sons offered up to the Lord.

Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. Leviticus 10:1

These two men had the right incense – the correct ingredients – but the wrong agent. It is only because of Jesus’ shed Blood on the Cross that we can come to the Father in prayer.

Jesus is our Great High Priest, and He intercedes for you and me continuously.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Romans 8:34

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25

Your communion with God in prayer is to be ongoing. It builds intimacy.

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1

Pray truthfully. Be brutally honest with the Lord as you would with your best friend. After all He is your Best Friend. Are you His?

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven. Luke 11:2

Pray believing that He has heard and has answered.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. …The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:15, 16b

Dear friend, pray without ceasing. 

1 Timothy 5:17

Please visit this previous article which also details prayer: Abiding in Him – Continuous Communion

MOSES’ TABERNACLE – A PATTERN FOR INTIMACY: PART 8

THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD

Now that the Golden Lampstand is lit, walk with me to the opposite side of the Holy Place to the Table of Showbread. It is made of the same material that we have become familiar with since starting this study – shittim wood overlaid with pure gold. The shittim, or acacia wood, because of its durability, symbolizes Jesus’ indestructible body while the gold symbolizes His divinity. He was all Man yet all God!

TWELVE

On the Table are twelve loaves of bread – flat cakes set in two rows of six each. This bread is also called the bread of the Presence or the bread of faces. There is much symbolism here, so let’s stop awhile, for here you will have another divine encounter with our Saviour.

This pattern of two rows of six is repeated in the garments of the high priest. On his shoulders were two onyx stones and on each stone the names of six of the tribes of Israel were engraved.
“And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial.” – Exodus 28:12. The high priest was a representative of the presence of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus in this way..

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The number twelve represents governmental perfection. There were twelve tribes of Israel, twelve disciples, twelve foundations in the New Jerusalem which had twelve gates and twelve pearls. The high priest bore the names of the twelve tribes on his shoulders.

Jesus, our Great High Priest, bears you and me on His shoulder. He is the Good Shepherd, carrying you when you are weak, or straying. He is your Husband-Redeemer. Lay your head on His shoulder and be comforted. He bore your sins, and bids you to give your burdens to Him. What a Saviour!

BREAD

The priests were commanded by God to eat the bread on that Table. “And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in a holy place…” – Leviticus 24:9

When you eat something it becomes a part of you. You can no longer separate the thing eaten from your being. In other words, there is an intimate bond that develops between you and the food.

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.“ – John 6:53-56

Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is the Showbread on the Table!

Now consider this…

“And He (Jesus) took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” – Luke 22:19

The next time you receive communion, eat the bread knowing that you are receiving the power that is in the Body of Christ Jesus – the Body that bore all your sins. Drink the wine/grape juice knowing that you are receiving everything that the Blood of Jesus always did from the beginning – the Blood that never loses its power; the Blood that cleanses, heals and restores. Now mind you – I’m not talking about a religious ritual that produces no power. I’m speaking of an intense spiritual encounter – one that I have experienced personally – that can manifest in physical, emotional and spiritual healing. Eat His Body, drink His Blood, and watch what happens as that supernatural Body and Blood become one with you!!

The Table of Showbread in Moses’ Tabernacle is an awesome picture of the divine intimate communion that you and I can enjoy with our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ today!!

to be continued…