During the Old Testament, the prophets built physical altars to offer sacrifices to God. “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7). Jacob built an altar in Bethel where God also appeared. “and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother” (Genesis 35:7). Jacob’s descendants ended up in Egypt after a famine and were later enslaved by the Egyptians. Moses was sent by God to deliver them and as they journeyed back to Canaan, God had specific instructions for their journey. He instructed them to tear down the altars built to other gods. Once Isreal entered Canaan, they drove out some of the inhabitants, but allowed others to remain.

They did not fully obey the voice of the Lord, but made covenants with the inhabitants of the land. “and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done” (Judges 2:2)? Due to their disobedience, God promised that the people would become a thorn in the flesh of Isreal. After Joshua died, the people did evil in the sight of the Lord and they served Baal and other gods. God gave them over to plunderers and they were sold out to their surrounding enemies as they could no longer withstand them. God eventually raised up judges to save them from the plunderers who lived around them. “But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them. They did not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways” (Judges 2:19).

Since the people tested God and constantly disobeyed him, he vowed not to drive out the nations that Joshua left when he died. This was to test them to see if they would walk in the way that their fathers did. God raised up Judges including Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah and Barak. Each of these judges served the Lord as prophets and military commanders to lead the people in battle against their enemies. Even after these judges, the people constantly rebelled against God and the Medianites oppressed them. In Judges 6, Gideon was called by God to save Isreal from the hand of Midian. After Gideon had tested God and received a sign that he was with him, God instructed him concerning the altars of Baal. “That night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull, and the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it” (Judges 6:25).

In its place, Gideon was instructed to build an altar to the Lord and to offer a sacrifice. In Christendom, we no longer build physical altars to pray to God, but we do pray, worship and offer sacrifices to God, which represents a spiritual altar. Anything that takes the place and time away from our devotion to God, becomes an idol and has its own spiritual altar. We have to pull down anything in our lives which takes away from our glory to God and replace this with true worship and devotion. It was interesting to see that when Gideon tore down the altar of Baal, he replaced it with an altar to God. We don’t need money to build an altar to God, but our prayers, worship and praise to God represents our sacrifice to him. Offering, tithes and seed sowing all forms part of our sacrificial giving to God, but this should not be demanded from people as payment for prayers or to build a prayer altar.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

A.P.-Y.

Strategic Alignment

Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus to have spiritual strength. He wrote to the church about praying with his knees bowed to God our father. He prayed for the church to be strengthened in our inner spirit, by the Holy Spirit according to the glory of God. This strength would allow Christ to live in our hearts through faith, so that we would know how to live in love. Paul wanted the church to understand the depths of the love of Christ Jesus, which is beyond our human comprehension. This love was what led Christ to die for us on the cross to redeem us to God. He then spoke about God’s ability and desire to do way more for us, than we can even comprehend, more than we can even ask or think of. It’s because of God’s great power that we give him glory as a church from now until eternity.

Our prayers are often limited by what we can see and understand, based on our limited scope and understanding. God is all powerful, all knowing, omnipotent and omniscient. He created us and knows more about us than we even know about ourselves. God knows our beginning and he knows our ending, including the journeys that we will take. Because of God’s all surpassing knowledge, he understands much better than us, what blessings will truly create a meaningful and happy life for us. Many of us desired a thing, only to be disappointed when we gained it, because the happiness that we had attached to it, has not manifested. This is because our wisdom and understanding is limited to the scope of what we can see.

God is not limited and because he knows more than we do, he makes decisions that are best for us. Some of our prayers are delayed, some are not answered at all, because God has something greater in store. God alone knows the end result of a relationship that ended and we continued to grieve. God knows what’s behind a door that was closed and we grieved in disappointment. Trusting God requires childlike faith and confidence that he is a good father. God is not like earthly fathers who are prone to errors or mistakes. Many of us have great fathers, while some of us have fathers who haven’t quite lived up to our expectations. God is a good father and he cannot be tempted to do evil to us. When we trust him, stay in his will and listen to his voice, then he will lead and guide us.

Many children rebel because they don’t quite understand their parent’s instructions, or they view their discipline as harsh. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). None of us enjoyed being disciplined, but if we are honest, we can say that our parents discipline taught us many valuable life lessons. I want to encourage you to trust God today with your next steps. Trust him and do not lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge him and he will make your way straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). God is doing something far greater than your eyes can see or your mind can understand. Trust him, wait patiently for him and believe that he has a good plan in store for you.

A.P.-Y.

Yesterday we explored how fear can open a door, for the enemy to operate in the lives of people. Today we will look at the antidotes of fear, which is the perfect love of God and the truth of his word. John stated clearly that there is no fear in love and when we are perfected in love, it drives our fear. We fear when we do not fully understand the love of God and his love has not been perfected in us. Fear stems from the idea that God wants to punish us. Some major anxieties stem from the fear that may be God will not answer our prayers. The devil will whisper to someone who is depressed and say that God has forgotten them or does not love them. The spirit and the voice of condemnation comes from the devil and not from God.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The understanding that God does not condemn us brings us freedom. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). What Paul is saying is that a relationship with Christ and our understanding of who we are in him, sets us free from the fear of death. We have to know and understand the truth of the word in order to be set free from fear.

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). No one who spends enough time reading and understanding the truth of God’s word can be continuously bound by fear. When we read the word, understand the word and allow the truth of the word to sink into our hearts, then it will be hard for the devil to keep us bound by fear. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). It is the darkness of misunderstanding that keeps people in fear. We cannot allow the devil to keep us in the darkness of fear.

Let us study the word to understand the love of Jesus Christ. If God did not spare his only son, but sent him into the world to die for us, this shows his everlasting love for us. No mistakes that we have made can keep us from the love of God. We don’t have to earn the love of God and if we understand just how much the father loves us, then we know that we have absolutely nothing to fear. “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans‬ ‭5:5‬).

A.P.-Y.

In Joshua 3, the time finally came for the Jews to cross over the Jordan and start their entry into the promised land. Their entry was delayed by forty years, due to the disobedience and rebellion of their parents. They journeyed until one generation were completely wiped out, (except Joshua and Caleb) and Moses died and was gathered to be with God. They paused to grieve for Moses and then they prepared and embarked on their journey. After setting out, they camped there for three days, which signified completion. After the three days, the Priest were instructed to go ahead of the people, about 200 cubits or 18 inches ahead. This was because the ark of God is holy and the people were not allowed to touch it or to come near. The Levitical Priest who were consecrated and appointed, were assigned to carry the ark or the presence of God on their shoulders.

The people were told to consecrate themselves ahead of this next great move of God. As the Priests took the ark and moved ahead of the people, God spoke a promise to Joshua. “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 3:7). Joshua was anointed and set apart among the people to lead and stand in place of Moses. The priest were instructed to stand still, as they came to the entrance of the Jordan River. “And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap” (Joshua 3:13). As the Priests set out, the Jordan river obeyed the command of God and the waters piled up so that the people could cross over.

The Priests remained standing in the river until all of the people, of the twelve tribes crossed over safely to the other side. Now what was interesting about the time when the people crossed over, was that is was during the harvest season. It was during this season when the river overflowed its banks. The overflow also cleared the river’s path of wild animals or any potential threats to the people. There is mention of this later in 1 Chronicles when soldiers travelled to Ziglag to meet David. “These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west” (1 Chronicles 12:15). The harvest season began towards the end of Spring, towards the end of April when the ice from the winter season was melting.

The harvest season would continue during May-July, after the spring crops had been planted and given time to come to maturity. The timing of their crossing also meant that the river was more treacherous, as the tide had risen. Nevertheless, God is not limited by times and seasons and he was able to stop the flow of the river in order to allow his children to cross over. Saints, we are entering our season of harvest and God is making a way for us to cross over. No one will be able to stand against us and not even the elements, the times or seasons will affect our advancement. Once the presence of God goes before us, we will cross over. Consecrate yourself so that the presence of God will go ahead of you, to guarantee victory and then move forward. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

A.P.-Y.

The bible makes reference to different seasons that governs what God is doing in the earth. God makes mention in Genesis of seed time and harvest (…

New Beginnings

Overcoming Rejection

In 2 Samuel 21, Isreal experienced famine for three years during David’s reign. David sought the face of God to understand the cause of the famine. God revealed that the famine was as a result of bloodguilt on Saul and his household, because he had put the Gibeonites to death. Now the Gibeonites were the people who had tricked Joshua and the elders of Isreal, into thinking that they had travelled from far to meet with them. They got them to sign a covenant that they would not kill them, but allow them to live among them as their servants. Despite Isreal’s error, this contract was spiritually binding. However, during Saul’s reign, he tried to kill them in his zeal for the people of Judah. Once God revealed to David the current cause of their calamity, he called the Gibeonites to ask them what he could do to make atonement.

“The Gibeonites said to him, “It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” And he said, “What do you say that I shall do for you”” (2 Samuel 21:4)? The Gibeonites requested that seven of the sons of Saul, be killed to make atonement for the sins done to them. David spared Mephiobsheth because of the oath that he made with Johnathan. He handed over seven of the sons of Saul to the Gibeonites and they killed them. One of the mothers of Saul’s sons, Rizpah put sackloth on the rock where the bodies of the men were slain. She did this to prevent birds from eating their bodies. David heard about her actions and got men to collect all the bones of Saul and his sons and buried them in the tomb of Saul’s father.

Once all of these actions were completed, God responded to the plea of the land and restored them from the famine. The story above is quite a gruesome one and we may not require death and hanging as atonement for sin in our times. That being said, many countries still implement the death penalty as payment for murder. It could be said that the law would have considered the death of seven men, as just punishment for the near genocide of a nation of people. Whatever our conviction, we can see that Isreal experienced famine as a result of the sins of Saul. Although he was dead, he was king and leader of Isreal and his actions had a direct impact on the people. The land was now in famine for over three years and it was David’s knowledge of God, which led him to seek answers.

The promises of God for Isreal was that he would always send rain, to water their crops and cause them to have a good harvest. Once they were experiencing famine for such a long period, David knew that something was out of alignment. He was a king who operated as a priest and we are not told that he consulted with one of the prophets. He sought God for an answer and then did what was necessary to make atonement and bring restoration to Isreal. There are some calamities that we experience, that may have roots in things done by us out of ignorance. It does not hurt to seek the face of God, to ask him to reveal the source of a problem. Sometimes the condition may be through no fault of our own and can represent redemptive suffering. Either way, having revelation and understanding of what we are experiencing will help us to know how to respond.

“He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom” (Job 12:22).

A.P.-Y.

During Jesus’s time on earth, he took on the nature of mankind, in order to demonstrate to us his understanding of our every day struggles. The bible said that we do not have a high priest (Jesus), who cannot be touched or who cannot relate to our infirmities (weaknesses), but experienced temptations in the same way that we did, yet he did not sin. As a result of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection, we have access to the throne of grace. In fact, we can approach God with boldness, to find mercy and help in times of need (Hebrews 4:15-16). As part of his demonstration to us, Jesus showed us how to walk in authority and how to trust God to meet our needs. Jest before the Passover, Jesus needed a donkey for his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

He sent his disciples into a nearby village and told them where to find a colt, that had not been ridden. They were told to respond that the Lord needed it, if they were challenged about taking the colt. They responded as Jesus instructed and the colt was released to him. In another example, Jesus needed to prepare for the Passover meal and again he sent his disciples to find a place. “He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples’”” (Matthew 26:18). The scriptures do not mention that the disciples experienced any opposition, however, the story progressed to them having the Passover meal. This meal traditionally consisted of a sacrificial lamb, with bread, wine and herbs.

The venue, the wine, the bread and the lamb would have been provided for Jesus and his twelve disciples to eat and be full. I never saw Jesus express any worry concerning where provision would come from for either himself, his disciples or followers. There’s another story when Jesus needed to pay taxes for he and Peter. He sent Peter to go fishing and to open the mouth of the first fish that he caught. Within the fish’s mouth, was enough money to pay the taxes for both Peter and Jesus. He was demonstrating to his disciples and to us that our help comes from God. Before we had a need, God had a way of meeting that need and provision is waiting if we have the faith to receive it. Help also comes in the form of angelic assistance and when Peter struck off the ear of the soldiers, Jesus reminded Peter of the power available to him.

“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)? The reminder to Peter was that, we do not need to lean on our own strength nor rely on our own human understanding. It’s not by our power or might, but by the strength of the Lord, that we gain wealth and provision and we overcome the devil. Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth and God wants to meet our needs when we learn to pray, wait on him and have faith. “And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes”” (Mark 9:23). Like the father in this story, many times we have to pray against doubt, fear and unbelief. God is willing and able to help us and send us help in times of need.

A.P.-Y.

Waters will burst out and overflow the dam, that has been stopped in order to deny my people of their supply. I saw an image of a dam which was stopped to prevent the water flowing through to the people of God. They are in a valley, weary, dry and faint, while the wicked revel in excesses. They laugh like jackals, they drink, revel and bathe in the excess water that they have stopped and prevented from flowing. They perceive that they can stop God’s children from being refreshed. Still there is a steady stream that flows from under the rocks to keep God’s people from being parched. Yet, there is a shaking. Tectonic plates are shifting slowly and there is a shaking and shifting. It’s small shifts that have created small cracks that are being stoped up again. Wait and see, because the dam will break. Within a few months time, there will be an explosion and the water will burst out and spring forth violently, so that God’s people will be revived, refreshed and restored. This breaking forth will be so violent that many of the wicked will not survive. It’s coming!

“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).

A.P.-Y.