Tuesday, 24 January 2017

A Labourer Like Enoch

Enoch was a little one who became a thousand and a small one who became a strong nation in Noah, his great-grandson, thereby fulfilling the Word of God:

Isaiah 60:22 (KJV)
“A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.”

Zechariah 4:6(KJV) 
“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Who is this man called Enoch, who was the only one before and after his generation that did not die? God took him without much story about his life in the Bible.

Why him?
Why did God take him
Why did he not die like the others?
What sort of person was he?

These are questions we will seek answers to, as we learn from Enoch as a kingdom labourer. The Bible did not say much about him, unlike Moses and Elijah, except that God took him away. He did not see death. Let us search the Scriptures to see what we can so we can learn from him; then go to God in prayers.


Genesis 4:1-4, 25-26 (KJV)
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.... And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

From the Scripture, we can see three things:
  • I have gotten a man from the Lord (“I”  i.e. SELF at work).
  • The Lord had respect unto Abel (a person).
  • The Lord had respect to his offering.

Verse 25:And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.

From the Scripture, we can see three things:
  • “For God, said she”, (no more “I” i.e SELF) hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel.
  • “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son”. Seth did not live away from his parents who were worshipers of God; but followed their God with his family.
  • “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord” (Just like we are doing).

Genesis 5:10-32 (KJV)  
And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: verse 19 And Jared lived after he begat ENOCH eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.21 And ENOCH lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: 22 And ENOCH walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:  verse 24 AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD: AND HE WAS NOT; FOR GOD TOOK HIM. Verse 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 28 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. Verse 31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

From the Scripture, we can see two things:
  • Every person after men started calling upon the name of the LORD, lived and died. Their DEVOTION to God was not mentioned because it was not EXCEPTIONAL.
  • ENOCH had an exceptional walk with God; that he did not die but God took him. WHY?

Hebrews 11:1-6 (KJV) 
Now FAITH is the substance of things HOPED FOR, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.5 By faith ENOCH was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that HE PLEASED GOD.6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

From the Scripture, we can see these things:
  • FAITH is the substance of things HOPED FOR, the evidence of things not seen.
  • Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
  • For by it the elders obtained a GOOD REPORT.
  • By faith, ENOCH was translated that he should not see death.
  • For before his translation he had this testimony, that HE PLEASED GOD.
  • He that cometh to God, must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Jude 14-16 (KJV) 
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

From the Scriptures above, we can see the following about ENOCH:
  • ENOCH was a LITTLE ONE who stood and walked with God to stand against things that God hates mentioned above Jude 14-16.
  • By FAITH he was translated that he should not see death because he had a testimony, that HE PLEASED GOD.
  • By faith, he had a GOOD REPORT & HOPE for his generation and generations ahead of him.
  • He understood that THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN WERE NOT MADE OF THINGS WHICH DO APPEAR (we work/walk by faith not by sight; calling those things that be not as though they are).
  • His reward? A STRONG NATION in Noah his great – grandson.
  • He was A SMALL ONE whom God found righteousness/ right standing with and made a strong nation out of him through his great grandson Noah after God had destroyed the Earth from their unrighteousness.
  • He was a loyal, obedient follower of God, TOLD THE TRUTH despite opposition and ridicules.
  • He was a man of faith who became the FAVOURITE mouth-piece of God in his time.
  • He was an intercessor like Noah warning the people of the wrath of God to come.
  • He was A LITTLE KINGDOM LABOURER indeed who SATISFIED GOD in his kingdom Labour while on Earth and a strong nation with the HEART OF GOD seeking UNITY and ONENESS on Earth. This was brought forth through Noah his great grandson in Genesis 11.
 This is what God expects from us as Kingdom Labourers that He desires to reward. For this to be our testimony, we need to pray.

Deuteronomy 11:22-23 (KJV) 
For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; 23 Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.

SONG
Let my life be a picture of You (2ce)
Let me be a letter written by Your hand.
For the world TO READ and TO SEE and TO FEEL and TO KNOW
You live, live in me.


PRAYERS
  • Let my life, O Lord, be a picture of You; let me be a letter written by Your hand for the world to read and to see and to feel and to know You live, live in me.
  • Lord of light create in me a reflection of Yourself, so that You can freely work and truly shine through me, shine through me.
  • Holy Spirit, grant in me the fruit of love, joy, patience, self-control, the life of Christ in me, Christ in me.

Wednesday, 11 January 2017

Behold Your Servant


Luke 1:26-38
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Joshua 5:14
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

Psalms 110:3
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. 
  • Lord, thank You for choosing me. Thank You for Your investment into my life. Lord, You have been fashioning my life for a time like this, for service in Your army. Thank You for Your grace at work in my life. I acknowledge Your work in my life. 
  • Thank You Father, for Your precious promises to me in this season. I remain in awe of Your and Your word of promise. Luke 1:45 - Lord, I believe. I believe that there will be a performance of those things You have promised. 
The Commander of Your army has come now! He has come to command an army not a bunch of babies! You are looking for soldiers, battle-ready servants. 

Lord, here I am. I am stepping forward, I am laying it all down for Your service. Holy Spirit, quicken faith in me so that I can arise in faith and shine as the Lord has commanded. Help me to take my eyes off myself – off my inadequacies, my littleness, inabilities and limitations. Help me to keep my eyes on Your Holy Spirit now so that I can arise in faith.

Luke 1:38
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” And then the angel disappeared. (TLB)
And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me  just as you say. Then the angel left her. (MSG) 
  • Lord, behold, Your maidservant. I am Your servant, Lord and I am ready to serve. I am willing to do whatever You want. Do with me what You must. Send me where You will when You will.  

Psalm 110:3 - Lord, I will be willing in this day of Your power. As I am fuelled by Your Spirit, I will not be sluggish anymore.

All the way, I’ll follow Thee, Lord
Come what may, what ere betides
While I live and when I’m dying;
I am Thine forever more



Wednesday, 4 January 2017

Our Commander Has Come


Joshua 5:13-15 (NKJV)
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” 14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.

As I stand at the beginning of this new year, considering it, wondering how it is going to be –
God, by His Holy Spirit, is standing already READY! His sword is drawn ready for action! He has come to do His own work, His own way and using whosoever He wills.

Prayer
Lord, help me to be conscious of Your presence this year. Help me to behold You and see You in all Your readiness to act.

Joshua 5:13b  “…Are you for us or for our adversaries?” Joshua being a seasoned warrior first mistook the Lord for someone who has come to help in the battle to take Jericho. He saw him only in the capacity of an ordinary soldier/warrior. In fact, Joshua being the commander of Israel’s army did not even see need to reverence this Man.

Prayer:

Lord, help me this year not to take Your presence for granted. Do not let me look narrowly on Your Holy Spirit.

Lord, please do not allow me to reduce Your Holy Spirit’s presence to something familiar or ordinary. Let me see and behold You for who You are.

Joshua 5:14   No. As the Commander of the army of the LORD I have come.” The Holy Spirit has come! Amen. The Holy Spirit has come to accomplish God’s purposes on earth in 2017. He has not come to be on my side. He has not come to fight my battles. He has not come to command the army of men – He is here to command the  LORD’s army! The question for me is – am I in His army?

Prayer:

Lord, help me to abandon ‘my own side’, my own army’, whatever that may be. Help me to dismantle quickly any personal ideas, things that I call ‘my own’ that I’m planning to ‘use’ You to accomplish.

Lord, help me to understand why the Holy Spirit has come in this season so that I can align myself with Him and not misuse His presence.

Joshua 5:14b   “And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”

Prayer:

Lord, I worship You. I stand in awe of YOU. I bow down in YOUR Holy presence in awe-filled worship. Lord, keep me in a position of awe-filled worship as I behold You this year. Let Your Word, Your promise and Your presence prompt a continual posture of reverent worship.

Lord, let me be ready to deliberately and consciously seek Your instructions for everything this year. Don’t let me become so confident that I do anything without seeking Your instructions for life and labour.

Joshua 5:15  Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.” The Lord was setting the tone for things to come in the battles that Joshua would fight. The first thing this year will not be to receive strategy but to be in submission to the Lord. Also, I must be ready to obey quickly and promptly whatever He commands me to do.

Prayer:

Lord, bring me to a posture of total submission to Your Holy Spirit in the coming days.

Ps 147:10 – Lord, I lay down every experience, every knowledge, every effort and ability. I depend on Your mercy and Your Holy Spirit completely.

Lord, give me the grace to walk in total obedience to ALL of Your instructions.

Isaiah 60:22 (KJV)
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.

Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Holy are You, Lord,
All creation calls You God,
Worthy is Your Name,
I worship Your Majesty,
Awesome God! How great Thou Art!
You are God, mighty are Your miracles,
I stand in awe of Your Holy Name,
Lord, I bow and worship You.