Archive for July, 2019

The Great Sifting

Saturday, July 13th, 2019

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 17:

26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;

29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.

32 Remember Lot’s wife.

33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.

35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”

Unrighteousness continues to increase and people’s indifference to Our Heavenly Father is also increasing.  However, the Sons and Daughters are focused on full maturity toward complete righteousness in their walk with FATHER.  They have no interest in looking back.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 6:

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Those of us who are passionate about our maturing into the perfection of Sonship, understand the treasures in Heaven.  We also understand the temporary aspect of treasures on earth.  Every morning I delight in spending time with FATHER and hearing HIS instruction.  Every day is a beautiful day no matter what we see in the physical realm.  I am truly grateful that FATHER has seen fit to include me as HIS vessel to spread the Living Word to those with ears to hear.  Once we realize what the true treasures are, our interest in what the world values diminishes.  This is why I have no reluctance to be a cheerful giver.  How better to show the world the Love of Christ than to give to those in need.  Isn’t this a fabulous way to spread The Gospel!

On the other hand, the world is in the midst of a major sifting process.  The Truth is going to be revealed as It is being separated from the lies.  People’s perceptions of their past leaders will be sifted and the chaff will be revealed on a global scale.  The words of people who have supported the “chaff” will come back to haunt them.  Those who have justified and promoted the lewdness and perverted acts will be exposed and judged.  I believe FATHER is preparing us for a major sifting so let us embrace the refining process.

Being Sifted

Friday, July 12th, 2019

Jesus spoke to Simon Peter in Luke chapter 22:

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter objected by restating his confession of faith:

33 And he said to Him, “Lord, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!”

34 And He said, “I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

A similar situation is found in Job 1:6-12, where Satan challenged God about the faith of Job. Job was then tested, or sifted as wheat, to see if his faith was real or simulated.

Jesus said that He had prayed on behalf of Peter, ensuring that Peter’s faith would not fail in the end. In fact, that victory would strengthen Peter so that he would, in turn, strengthen his brothers. A similar result is seen in the story of Job, for after he learned of the sovereignty of God on a deeper level and emerged victorious, he was able to pray for those friends who had given him wrong advice that came through their misperceptions of the character of God. In Job 42:

10 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

Job prospered under his previous level of faith, but when he learned the sovereignty of GOD, his prosperity doubled. His prosperity included physical wealth and reaffirmed his faith in FATHER.

Peter was to undergo a test of faith. Though he would fail the test at first, he would overcome in the end. As with Job, the failures humbled Peter, and when he remembered the prophecy later, he was able to take heart, knowing that his failure would work to his advantage and to the advantage of his brothers who might undergo similar trials of faith.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Amos 9:

8 “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are on the sinful kingdom [Israel], and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; nevertheless, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord.

9 For behold, I am commanding, and I will shake the house of Israel among all nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, but not a kernel will fall to the ground.

The KJV says, “as corn is sifted in a sieve.” We see, then, that Israel would be sifted as grain. Even these two names (Jacob and Israel) are part of the sifting, because their captivity was designed to sift and separate chaff from wheat, flesh from spirit.

The term satan means an adversary and signifies one who causes or stirs up strife and opposition in order to create breaches. On the other hand, Jesus was a healer of breaches.

Peter’s denial of Christ shows that Satan was successful in sifting Peter as wheat. But ultimately, Jesus had changed Peter’s name to Simon, which means “hearing with acceptance.” He was destined in the end to hear FATHER’S voice and be obedient.

The work of sifting was to separate wheat from chaff, that is, to separate the spiritual from the fleshly. Sifting separates chaff from wheat so the chaff can be discarded and burned. Satan desired to sift Peter, thinking he would be discarded as chaff. But God’s purpose was to allow Satan to sift Peter in order to remove his “chaff,” so that Peter might be changed from fleshly to spiritual.

The old man is the chaff that must be separated so that the New Creation Man might be the real YOU. In other words, Satan sifts to destroy, but FATHER’S purpose is to destroy the flesh, so that the spiritual man might be saved.

Not only would Peter deny knowing Jesus, but all of the disciples would fall away. Jesus knew this from Zech. 13:7, which he quoted. That entire chapter was about the crucifixion of Christ and the divine purpose. He does not speak of it as a “sifting,” which is an agricultural theme, but as a “refining,” which is about testing metals.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Zech. 13:

9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God’.”

Whether it is portrayed as sifting or refining, the basic meaning is the same. There will be trials, but in the end the New Covenant will prevail, for FATHER will cause the people to “call on MY Name”.

In Mark 14 Peter again proclaimed his willingness to die rather than to deny Him:

31 But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

When a person or people are sifted, they discover their weakness and are strengthened through that experience. Their heart idols were overthrown by this exposure, and all things worked together for good, for they are strengthened by this temporary failure.

Let us embrace any sifting which needs to occur.  Some of us have already experienced this sifting/cleansing process.  Yes, it may be painful but the maturing process requires us to become spotless as His Bride.

Fear Not!

Thursday, July 11th, 2019

FATHER spoke in Isaiah chapter 41:

10 ​​‘Fear not, for I am with you;

​​Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

​​I will strengthen you,

​​Yes, I will help you,

​​I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

We need not be anxious about what lies ahead for Our Heavenly Father Loves us and will strengthen us no matter what events take place.  FATHER gives us warnings in order to alert us and urge us to keep pressing in to HIS fullness.

Jesus was not reluctant to deal with the adversaries as He fulfilled His ministry and neither should we.  It is written by THE SPIRIT in Acts chapter 4:

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

​‘​Why did the nations rage,

​​And the people plot vain things?

26 ​​The kings of the earth took their stand,

​​And the rulers were gathered together

​​Against the LORD and against His Christ.’

The disciples were being threatened by the status quo of the time.  They were walking according to the mandate of Our Lord Jesus Christ Who spoke the exact Divine Intent of FATHER.  Jesus is the Word made flesh and represents our perfect example to follow.  These Scriptures are given to us as a guide and reference for our own individual callings and are meant to encourage us when challenges arrive at our doorstep.  They lifted up their voice in one accord which can truly only occur when they are in unity with the revelation of Agape Love.

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

We should expect nothing less!  FATHER awaits our requests and is not hesitant to respond.  Let us not be hesitant to pray for the same empowerment as we fulfill our own purpose.

When we embrace HIS peace, we will fear not.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 4:

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

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I began to experience and walk in this “surpassing” peace when I was told I had I had only days to live but FATHER ministered HIS peace to me when HE said “You will live and not die.”  Once that happens, you quit sweating the small stuff and you are no longer intimidated by what man says or does.  This same level of peace is available to all HIS Sons and Daughters so let us not be anxious of what lies ahead.  Fear not!

Another Warning

Wednesday, July 10th, 2019

What is FATHER’S Grand Plan?  Isn’t it to bring forth HIS Kingdom on earth?  Yet many have sought a different plan to enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.  Sin and lawlessness have increased to the point where it is not a stretch of the imagination to see how Sodom and Gomorrah came into being. 

The world financial system has become debt-based and central banks have defied FATHER’S Law of “equal weights and measures”.  Do you think FATHER is unaware of what is happening?  What is FATHER doing about this worldwide lawlessness and rampant sin, especially against our children?  Don’t you realize that HE is preparing HIS Sons and Daughters (aka The Remnant) to deploy when the fullness of time has come?

Consider this, FATHER orchestrated my own history of finance, economics, and technology so that I would focus that last thirteen years on Agape Love?  The revelation of Love is absolutely required for what lies ahead.  Would HE have me spend thirteen years and write over 2,200 posts on Agape Love if I were simply to minister to friends and loved ones?  Would HE spare me from death five times if there was not something noteworthy ahead attached to my purpose? 

FATHER selected each position I held in my professional life.  It was HIS Divine Intent that I learn banking inside out.  It was HIS Divine Intent for me to work at IBM.  I took each new position in response to HIS Divine Intent.  Why provide you with this detail?  It isn’t to impress you but to explain how FATHER leads each of us to this particular point in history in preparation to fulfill HIS purpose.  I did not plan any aspect of my business career thus I take no credit for any of my successes.  It is by FATHER’S great grace and mercy that I am even here to write and encourage my brethren.

FATHER is long-term oriented and we should realize this when we respond to HIS calling.  We think in days and months while HIS plans exceed years, decades, and centuries.  Let patience have its perfect work.

For those who have embraced the revelation of Agape Love, you have been preparing yourselves for something greater than you have realized.  The world is coming to a time of judgment and the remnant will rise up and minister the Kingdom to the lost.  This will be done in a purity similar to our Elder Brother Jesus.  There will be no selfish motives found among the remnant for we will have totally died to the flesh and live unto righteousness.  Embrace this Truth.

With this being said, another warning:

It is imperative that each of us listen to what The Holy Spirit is directing us to do.  In the end, it is all about Agape Love and ministering life to those who are or will become desperate to the The Word of Life.

Today (7/9/19), the blogger known as “Q” who is closely aligned with President Trump has brought up the return of the gold standard:

Based on the article mentioned:  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-fed-pick-judy-shelton-gold-standard-explained/

It would appear that President Trump is supporting the return to real money which promotes equal weights and measures throughout the earth.

Example of Silver Eagle source:

https://goldsilver.com/buy-online/1-oz-american-silver-eagle-coin-2019/

Example of Gold Eagle source:

https://goldsilver.com/buy-online/1-oz-american-gold-eagle-coin-2019/

The debt-based system is destined to fail.  Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 11:

15 ​​He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,

​​But one who hates being surety is secure.

The current system is “surety-based” and assumes that the citizens of the country will pay the debts that the central bank incurs.  It is now mathematically impossible for the global debts to be paid off.  Only a reset (aka jubilee) can wipe out the global debt.  When that occurs, people will return to an asset-backed system rather than a debt-based system.  Gold and silver have always functioned as assets backing such a system.  Haggai wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 2:

6 “For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;

7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations,[fn] and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.

8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.

9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

Anytime we mention “financial assets” the following is necessary:

Disclaimer:

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The Progression

Tuesday, July 9th, 2019

It is apparent to me that FATHER is guiding us into all Truth in preparation of freeing creation from its enslavement to the “world”. My Beloved Brother Alan wrote:

I take what you wrote to be a fitting witness to the idea that at some point in our journey, we begin to experience the ‘separating’ that starts to reveal to us that there is a ‘change of our nature’ that is happening.  Just as a woman can many times ‘feel’ the conception of new life in her womb, we begin to recognize that there is something going on within us, though many times the ‘happenings’ are very subtle and/or gradual.  But eventually, the ‘separation’ becomes obvious to us, and eventually to others.  I believe this is the ‘subduing’ that you have written about.

I am impressed by the last four articles you have posted to your Blog.  And thanks for sharing the ‘Gad’ writing.  It seems to fit right into your pattern of recent articles; intentional or not.  July 4th:  Only Believe.  July 5th:  We Are The Word.  July 6th: A House Being Divided.  July 7th:  Being Subdued.  I find that a very plausible progression.  And it all begins with “…if thou canst believe”.

While I admit I have some reservations about what is meant in the scriptures about ‘the end times’, I vigorously agree with the idea of the Greek word ‘telos’, translated as ‘the end’ in 1 Corinthian 15:24, which Strong’s designates as #G5056.  This word is used numerous times, not only in the Greek New Testament, but also in the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Old Testament.  Most of the times when this word is used, in this form, in the N.T. it is translated in the KJV as ‘end’.  However, I had never been able to find an acceptable definition of what is to be understood by translating this word as ‘…the end’.  It just never made sense to me.  But when I began searching and investigating many other uses of this root ‘telos’ in its varied compounds,  and looking at how those other compounds were ‘defined’ and translated, the mystery was solved; at least for me.  And the most glaring revelation of this idea for me was in Rom. 10:4.  “For Christ is the end (telos, #5056) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”  That is when I realized that the best understanding of this word ‘telos’ is not “the end”, but rather “…the intended destination”.  “For Christ is the intended destination of the law…” 

The purpose, or intended destination, of the law was to drive us to Christ.  Christ is our intended destination.  Christ is our end.  When I took this understanding, and applied it to all of the N.T. verses where ‘end’ is from the word ‘telos’, the scriptures took on a completely different level of understanding for me; a ‘separating’ (Gad), if you can hear that.  ‘telos’ is not referring to a termination, or ‘end’ as we tend to think of in our English use of the word ‘end’.  But rather, it is the ‘telos’ – intended destination – of one part of the journey, that the next leg of the journey may continue.  It is very much like when you came to the ‘end’ of the first grade in school, but you weren’t through with school, you were simply graduating to a higher level of training and understanding.  And you didn’t leave behind all that you gained in the first grade leg of the journey, but you carried that first grade learning with you to the next level of your training.  And in the second grade, your were not only learning more than you could grasp in the first grade, but you were also now applying the second grade level of learning to what you had learned in the first grade.  And in this context, the ‘grades’ we went through in school were very much synonymous with the ‘ages’ (aion) we experience in Christ. 

The Greek word ‘aion’, Strong’s #165, is referring to the levels of Spiritual understanding we experience on our journey from ‘adam’ to Christ. And, it is also referring to when we, as believers, enter into the many levels of understanding in our Christ awareness.  This word ‘aion’ is translated as ‘age’, ‘world’, ‘for ever’, etc.  The word ‘aion’ is a perfect word to describe all of the many ‘ages’, or ‘dispensations’ as religion likes to think of these ages; or generations; or grades; or phases’’; or legs of the journey.  Christ is the foundation upon which every ‘age’ is established.  Heb. 1:2 “…has in these last days spoken to us ‘in’ Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom he also made the ‘worlds’ (aion; ages);”  The ‘subject matter’ of every age, or dispensation, has always been Christ.  Christ has always, and will continue, to rule and reign supreme.  Christ has always been our intended ‘destination’; our end goal.  And to this idea, I am completely bound.

Abortion

Monday, July 8th, 2019

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm 139:

13 ​​For You formed my inward parts;

​​You covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 ​​I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

​​Marvelous are Your works,

​​And that my soul knows very well.

15 ​​My frame was not hidden from You,

​​When I was made in secret,

​​And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 ​​Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

​​And in Your book they all were written,

​​The days fashioned for me,

​​When as yet there were none of them.

It is further written in by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah 44:

24 ​​Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,

​​And He who formed you from the womb:

​​“I am the LORD, who makes all things,

​​Who stretches out the heavens all alone,

​​Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

25 ​​Who frustrates the signs of the babblers,

​​And drives diviners mad;

​​Who turns wise men backward,

​​And makes their knowledge foolishness;

Every single person on earth was Divinely formed in the womb by FATHER… without exception.  What does this mean?  No woman has the “right” to abort what FATHER has Divinely expressed and manifested.

The argument for women’s “rights” today focuses on the result of having sexual intercourse rather than on the initial act itself.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 5:

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Fornication (G4202) is defined in Scripture as: illicit sexual intercourse; adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.  Clearly, the lust of the flesh is what motivates a person to commit the sexual act.  The desire to satisfy the lust of the flesh becomes so strong that the person is willing to participate in perverted acts to temporarily satisfy the flesh.  These acts directly go against FATHER’S Divine Intent for the person who participates in such acts.

The man is also accountable when an abortion occurs.  After all, it is his sperm that impregnated the woman’s egg.  Based on Scripture, neither a man nor a woman has a “right” to an abortion.  It is also clear that life began for the child when FATHER expressed HIS Divine Intent to form the child in the womb.  Does a woman’s “right” supersede FATHER’S Divine Intent?  How ridiculous!

Paul further wrote in Galatians chapter 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control.

Let’s face it, if either the man or woman had self-control, there would be no abortion issue.  If men are walking by the fruit of THE SPRIT, there would be no intercourse and no baby.

Abortion does not end the child’s life, it only ends the child’s opportunity to experience physical life on the earth.  The child is with Our Heavenly Father and matures outside the normal physical means.

What do you do if you have had an abortion?  Repent and know that FATHER’S Great Grace and Mercy is sufficient to forgive you.

The political system in the U.S. is effectively endorsing sin (works of the flesh) and death by promoting women’s rights to have an abortion.  Do we think FATHER is unaware of the degradation of the morals of the country?  Do we think there will be no ramification to the path the country has taken?  Do we think there will be no physical manifestation and consequence attached to HIS righteous judgment?

The prophetess was instructed to warn us of the impending judgment on America and think not that it only applies to the U.S. alone.  Those of us who have purposed to walk according to “The Way” will be protected just as the children of Israel were protected by the Blood during Egypt’s judgment.

However when FATHER’S judgment manifests, we will not be caught unaware because we have been forewarned.  Let us be fully led by THE SPIRIT and prepare in whatever manner THE SPIRIT instructs us.

Earthquake Prophecy

Sunday, July 7th, 2019

It is reported that California statistically has 17% of all abortions performed in the U.S. (Source: Google) It appears that New York is 2nd in total number of abortions.

Being Subdued

Sunday, July 7th, 2019

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 15:

22   For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23   But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

24   Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25   For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26   The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27   For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28   And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The “firstfruits” company includes those who are fully embracing being “subdued” in this day and hour.  There are a multitude of observers who are standing on the sideline of uncommitment, erroneously expecting to somehow be included without dying to the flesh.  Those Sons and Daughters who know the process of being included, are fully committed to the process of being subdued by FATHER.  They are embracing the full removal of any and all “worldliness” which will result in a radiant purity beyond comparison.

The following words by George D. Watson will help us see the unsurpassable beauty and majesty of what it really means to be SUBDUED UNTO GOD:

“Before God can launch us out into the breadth and sweetness of His service, and entrust to us great things for Himself, we must be perfectly subdued in every part of our nature to His will and the disposition of His mind. We must be subdued in our hearts, in our wills, in our words, in our tempers, in our manners; subdued through and through so thoroughly that we will be flexible to all His purposes and plans. We must be subdued so that harshness, severity, criticism, sluggishness, laziness, impetuosity, and all wanting our way, even in religious matters, must be subdued out of us. Conversion will not finish this work.

             “We must be subdued, not merely in our opinion, not merely think ourselves subdued, not only subdued in the esteem of our friends and fellow workers, but subdued so perfectly that the all-seeing eye of God can look us through, and the omniscient One knows that we are subdued. God must conquer the man that He can trust with His great thoughts and plans. The Holy Ghost must saturate us with a divine conquest, before He can use us to conquer other souls. The Lord will begin to subdue us with gentle means; and if we sink lovingly and promptly into His mind, the work will be done; but if we have flint or iron in our nature, and it is necessary, He will use heroic means and put us between the millstones and grind us to powder, until He can mold us without any resistance to His purpose. We must be so subdued that we can hold our tongues, and walk softly with God, keep our eyes upon Jesus, attend to our own work, and do God’s will promptly and lovingly, glad to have a place in His Kingdom.

             “Oh! it is grand to be absolutely conquered by the Holy Ghost, and swing out a thousand miles from everybody and everything into the ocean of God’s presence. When we are subdued in the sight of God, He will work miracles in us, and power in experience, in healing, in finance, in service, in gentleness, and in sweetness of the inner heart life; miracles of grace that will astonish us and surprise our friends, and utterly amaze our enemies, when they come to know the magnitude of what God has wrought. Let us get subdued in every way, in everything!” — end quote.

Let us dwell on the Truth contained in this quote throughout the day!

Gad; A House Being Divided

Saturday, July 6th, 2019

Our Beloved Brother Alan has added a new installment to his study of the sons of Jacob:

As the story of Jacob, as revealed through the names of his sons, continues to unfold we see a continuing saga of chaos, disharmony and turmoil.  We read of the ongoing patterns that reveal the painful growth of a family that is experiencing all of the symptoms of dysfunction and crisis that many of us can recognize in our own family histories.  These inevitable malfunctions are the predictable events that are insured by a household consisting of one husband, two wives that are competitive sisters, and two concubines that are under the authoritative management of the individual sisters.  A lifestyle of this making is destined for trouble, and as the crescendo increases, also increases the likelihood of a major disruption, or split.  Jacob’s family troubles are getting worse, and can only go downhill from here. This broken and splintered family that is developing is indeed the beginnings of ‘Jacob’s trouble’ that Jeremiah wrote about, which all began to spin out of control when Jacob was willing to access the birthright by deception and deceit.  “Oh, what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive”.

We left off following this saga with the birthing of Naphtali to Bilhah, the handmaid to Rachel.  Bilhah, as you remember, was given to Rachel as handmaid by her father Laban when she married Jacob.  When Leah was conceiving and birthing sons to Jacob, and Rachel could not conceive, Rachel gave her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob as a wife.  Jacob dutifully sired two sons with Bilhah, whom Rachel named Dan and Naphtali.  Leah also received a handmaid as gift from her father Laban.  The handmaid to Leah was Zilpah, and when Leah realized that she was no longer getting pregnant, she gave her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob as wife, and Jacob, nice guy that he was, dutifully impregnated Zilpah.  Zilpah bore a son to Jacob, and Leah named the child Gad.  This is where this narrative of the sons of Jacob takes a conspicuous twist.  Keep in mind that a major motivation of this series of articles about the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel is to show a distinct parallel of the progression of the names of these sons of Jacob with our own personal individual experiences on our journey from ‘adam’ to Christ.Jacob’s journey to an identity as Israel is synonymous with our own journey from ‘adam’ to Christ.  The parallels are unmistakable.  And just as Jeremiah prophesied about Jacob being saved ‘out from’ his troubles (Jeremiah 30:7), so shall all receive their ‘saving’ in Christ.

NKJ Genesis 30:9-11;“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife.And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son.Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad.

Of all of these ‘names’ of the sons of Jacob that have been investigated to this point, this ‘name’ of Gad was the most difficult to understand; at least for me.  But if these ‘names’ of the sons of Jacob, birthed by these different women, are of any Spiritual benefit to our own understanding, we must recognize the spiritual implications of these individual ‘names’.  These names have proven to reveal a progression to this point, so we must assume that Gad will also reveal a progression of spiritual illumination; once we plumb the mystery of what these names are revealing to us.

“Then Lead said, ‘A troop (gad) comes’!”  Could it be that Leah is offering a prophecy, maybe even unwittingly, about the coming troubles of this tribal family that is to later be referred to as ‘Israel’?

The name ‘Gad’ has been loosely translated into English as ‘troop’.  While this name may have some relevance to the quantity that this family is becoming, describing ‘gad’ as a troop does very little to reveal the spiritual chaos and dysfunction that this family is becoming.  The name ‘Gad’ comes from the three-letter root verb of ‘gadad’, Strong’s # H1413 and #1414.  This verb, ‘gadad’, is recognized as a cutting process; as the cutting down or felling of trees, and the cutting of stalks of grain into sheaves for harvesting.  This verb also refers to the cutting into the skin of people.  Many warrior cultures have a legacy of cutting into their skin to mark and scar themselves as a means of making themselves distinct from other peoples.  Sometimes this is done to send terror and fear to the opposition.  But it is also used as a means of motivating the ones cutting themselves into a more intense fighting mode, as if cutting into yourself will make you a more fierce antagonist.  This process of cutting into skin is referred to as ‘gah-dude’, Strong’s # H1416, and is used many times throughout the Old Testament language.

There are scriptural references to this activity of cutting into self, and most of these are warnings to avoid this type behavior, for it is not becoming of the sons of God.  Deut. 14:1, 1Kings 18:28 and Jeremiah 16:6 are all references to this process of marking one’s self by cutting into the skin.  However, the most prevalent use of this word is in the idea of groups of people ‘cutting off’, or separating into bands or ‘troops’, for the purpose of distancing themselves from identity with others.  This latter form as ‘separation’ became the most prevalent use of this word ‘gadad’, in all of its numerous forms.  The most recognizable idea of the word ‘gadad’, Strong’s # H1413, was when it was used to refer to those of the family of Jacob that had ‘cut themselves off’, or separated themselves into bands or ‘troops’ to distinguish that they did not continue to identify with, nor have comradery with, their previous tribal family. Psalm 94:21, Jeremiah 5:7 and Jeremiah 47:5 are examples of this ‘separation’ by cutting off.  And Micah 5:1 uses this word three times in one verse.  This word is also used in Joshua 3:15 and 4:18 and Isaiah 8:7, which Strong’s designates as #H1415, where it is translated as ‘banks’, as in the banks of a river, to indicate where the rivers water ceases, and the land begins.  Isaiah 8:7 is a metaphorical reference to the might of the king of Assyria coming up over his ‘banks’, describing the recognized limitations of the king of Assyria, to punish the apostate ‘people of the LORD’.

So, why would this word ‘gadad’ be used as a name for one of the sons of Jacob?  What was Leah seeing, spiritually, that caused her to call this child Gad?  What division or cutting off or separations did Leah sense in the birth of this son that compelled her to name him Gad?  Many, in their religious musings, have described this word ‘gad’ as referring to a troop that abounds in blessing and benevolent prosperity.  But if this were so, why is the most prevalent use of this verb form referring to separation, isolation and/or division?  Something is wrong with the ‘theology’ that ascribes ‘gad’ to an abundance of prosperity and success.  However, if we recognize that the word ‘gadad’ is referring to a time, or set of circumstances, that impel or compel an individual separation from familiar identities, then this word makes perfect spiritual sense.  I believe Leah was prophesying of a coming ‘separation’ within the mindset of the descendants of Jacob, all experiencing their own individual journeys to Christ.  And that ‘coming separation’ would require that the individual sojourner ‘gadad’, or separate and cut themselves off, from the domination of their previous familial identity, in order to take their destiny into another direction; a direction that eventually leads them to the Cross of Calvary, and to resurrection out from among the dead.  For this is just what was prophesied in Jeremiah 30:7. In this scenario of thought, naming the ‘seventh’ son of Jacob ‘Gad’ speaks volumes.

KJV Genesis 30:11 And Leah said, A troop (separation) cometh: and she called his name Gad.

If Leah was prophesying of a coming separation, an individual coming separation that could and would apply to us all as individuals, that ‘prophecy’ should be confirmed somewhere in the scriptures.  I believe that confirmation is revealed in Gen. 49:19.  Many recognize that Genesis 49 is the prophetic vision of Jacob, near the end of his life, where he reveals his own vision of the ‘Sons of Jacob’, the twelve sons that will eventually be recognized as Israel.  In this narrative, Jacob speaks the vision he has for his own twelve sons, a vision that only a father in his old age could reveal.  When Jacob gets to his vision of Gad, the surprise of the millennia is revealed. 

KJV Genesis 49:19 “Gad (gadad), a troop (gadad) shall overcome (gadad) him: but he shall overcome (gadad) at the last”.  All of these words in brackets are from the root verb ‘gadad’.  Remember, this word ‘gadad’ is referring to ‘separation’.

Allow me to translate this verse in my own South Carolina Hebrew descriptions. 

“Gad (separated); a troop (separation) shall overcome (separate) him: but, he shall overcome (separate himself) at the last.”  The wonderful surprise of this verse is revealed in the words translated as “…at the last.”   For the words “…at the last” in this verse are translated from one Hebrew word; the word from which we get the name ‘Jacob’.  WoW!!!  For thousands of years this verse has concealed this mystery: the phrase “…at the last” meant that eventually Gad would overcome by separating himself from his Jacob identity.  For ‘Jacob’, as an identity, has to die to self before ‘Israel’ can be realized and expressed.  Jacob gives us one sentence to declare about the future manifestation of the legacy of Gad.  And in that one brief sentence, Jacob describes the entirety of the message of the Gospel; we must die to self to recognize our Christ Identity.  And some say there is no God!  Tell that to Gad.

To be continued: ?

We Are The Word

Friday, July 5th, 2019

In the beginning was The Word.  A word is a single distinct meaningful element of speech that conveys a thought from one to another.  It is written by THE SPIRIT in Hebrews chapter 1:

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Words contain power and the Words of Jesus contain the power from On High.  His Words reign supreme over Heaven and earth.  His Words are greater than angels or any other messenger sent to us thus we must never attempt to depreciate His Words given to direct and instruct us.

As we embrace the Words of Jesus, His power grows inside of us, preparing us to rule and reign with Him and in the same manner as He ruled when He walked the earth.  Was He ever subjected to the wiles of the devil?  Not in any manner whatsoever.

We must watch our words as we interact with others and not allow ourselves to speak anything but Love and express faith IN HIM.  The world wants us to enter into debate and argument in various areas but we must not allow ourselves to be enticed by the subtle attempts to draw us away from our purpose on earth.

Why compromise our inheritance by allowing ourselves to drift away and enter into the world’s rhetoric which promotes division among family and friends?  It is better to remain silent than to participate in the divisive discussions initiated by men’s egos.

The Beloved Disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in John chapter 14:

7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

As we come into full maturity as Sons and Daughters of Our Heavenly Father, we too will speak in like manner and testify “The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”  We will no longer have any hesitancy to speak such Words because we no longer have the flesh impacting our walk.  We will have the same full confidence as Our Elder Brother when we testify of our Sonship and we will have the same confirming works as Jesus.

In our full maturity, we too will become The Word made flesh and dwell among the people.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 2:

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

As we become fully mature Sons and Daughters, we are to embrace the same rich inheritance as Jesus.  We will walk in the same equality as Our Elder Brother because Our Heavenly Father initiated HIS Divine Plan to have full and complete fellowship with those who fully embrace Agape Love and desire to be One with HIM.  Let our words come to express our inheritance and the power associated with such inheritance!