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¹¹ So Lot CHOSE FOR HIMSELF the whole plain of the Jordan and set out towards the east. The two men parted company: ¹² Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Genesis 13

Abram offered his younger nephew the choice of where he would go after they separated. Abram was the senior man, but he was prepared to forego that right and give Lot his choice. Lot chose the well watered plain of the Jordan river. How many times do people choose based on the promise of a better income, or a promotion to a better position or a chance for a business of their own, yet all these things may come at a high price!

¹³ Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord. Genesis 13

Rarely does anyone facing a decision which may determine their whole future and that of their spouse and family think to ask what is the spiritual atmosphere of the place where we would be living. (I read somewhere that cities are places where good and evil are both magnified – Good can be very Good and Evil can be very Evil.) In the end it proved to be a bad choice for Lot and his family, but Lot never left Sodom until the Lord destroyed it. He remained in the place he’d chosen until disaster was staring him in the face.

¹⁴ The Lord said to Abram AFTER LOT HAD PARTED FROM HIM, ‘Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. ¹⁵ ALL THIS LAND I WILL GIVE TO YOU AND YOUR OFFSPRING FOR EVER. 

There may be things that God will only reveal to us after we have separated ourselves, even from family and close friends. The weight of blessing on Abram and Lot necessitated their parting. Sometimes it may be good things that cause people to move on, but it still may be every bit as needful to make the break.

Abram didn’t CHOOSE, but God met him and blessed him soon after the separation. The blessing was an eternal blessing to him and the offspring coming after him. Prophet Kim Clement, while leading tours of the Holy Land, had the believers chant, ‘ISRAEL IS FOREVER!’ God promised Abram that He had given it to him and his seed and nothing can change His Word.

²⁷ ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6

May we all know and walk in the fullest blessings of God for our lives, now and forever. Amen

 

^{13 ‘}SAY YOU ARE MY SISTER, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.’ Genesis 12

Abram (means exalted father) had a Covenant with God that the whole earth would be blessed through him, yet because of famine he was going down to live in Egypt. (Was he a forerunner for the same thing happening to Israel in the future? Abram also received from the wealth of Egypt because of his wife, Sarai) Abram misled the Egyptians into believing Sarai was his sister and she was subsequently taken into Pharaoh’s palace. Things immediately started to go badly for Pharaoh and his household.

Abram WAS AFRAID of what the Pharaoh of Egypt (a type of this world system, including SLAVERY) would do to him because of his beautiful wife. We read of a similar situation in Genesis 20, Abraham (means father of many, through Sarai) was again afraid and misled Abimelech, King of Gerar, by saying Sarai was his sister, with the same results.

Abram, later Abraham, was afraid of two powerful rulers but as soon as they touched something sacred to God, his wife Sarai, both were immediately chastened by God Himself. In the face of these powerful earthly rulers Abraham was of little account, but they in turn were nothing before the God of Abraham. Both rulers were all to glad to be rid of Abraham and Sarai, to have their households released from God’s judgement.

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Romans 8

There is a power operating in this world and it’s much stronger than us as individuals or even in communities, but that power, though it likes to boast and impose itself, is nothing before our God. Twice they gave back Abraham’s wife and paid him compensation for the insult. The scripture in Romans 8 is powerful and gives believers Heaven’s perspective of the children of God’s position on this earth today. We are called to exercise Christ’s authority through our own lives, even over rulers of this world system. We are coming to and are in the time of the the Reign of the Kingdom of God here ‘on earth as in heaven’.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, our God is with us.

 

Do we need to establish some times to draw aside, some CONSTANTS to be with God in 2024?

⁷ The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring(seed) I will give this land.’ SO HE BUILT AN ALTAR THERE TO THE LORD, who had appeared to him. 

⁸ From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. THERE HE BUILT AN ALTAR TO THE LORD AND CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD. (PROBABLY THE ONLY PLACE ON EARTH WHERE GOD WAS TRULY WORSHIPPED!) Genesis 12

Abram left Haran and set out for the land of Canaan as God told him. He built two altars on the land to God and worshipped him. Abram drew aside from the busyness of daily life to worship God on the land promised to him. I’ve heard it said that in building these altars Abram was drawing the land of Canaan into the Covenant with God.

Derek Prince and his wife travelled a great deal in serving the Lord, sometimes they ministered for months at a time. This meant they lived in different cultures, with different people, eating different food and hearing many languages. Part of their daily routine during prolonged Ministry trips was to share Communion together every morning, it was the Constant in their ever changing lives. They tried to keep God at the centre and give Him a place early (before Ministry engagements) in their lives. Continually giving out to others without rest and building our own inner strength is a sure way to burnout.

William Wilberforce, sometimes called God’s Politician, (he led the battle to abolish slavery in Britain) was in line for a cabinet post and by his own admission he had ‘risings of ambition,’ and it crippling his soul.

‘But there was a disciplined check and balance in Wilberforce’s life and in this particular situation that routine became indispensable. As biographer Gareth Lean says, “Sunday brought the cure.” For there came a regular time in Wilberforce’s private world every week when he rested.’ (Ordering your private world, by Gordon MacDonald)

“Blessed be to God for the day of rest and religious occupation wherein earthly things assume their true size. Ambition is stunted.” Wilberforce’s private journal

I have noticed in my own life that when I step away from focusing directly on a task, that many times the answer drops into my conscious mind. Stepping aside from daily life can bring a level of peace when the solution we’re seeking can manifest. God ordained times of rest to reflect on Him and the truly important things of life.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

12 The Lord had said to Abram, ‘GO FROM YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD to the land I will show you.‘ Genesis 12:1

Following God’s Call may well involve Separation (Country, People or Family) and also Sacrifice (Cost). Abram wasn’t told where he was TO GO, he was just told to get up and set out, perhaps in a general direction. God’s Call may seem ludicrous to those around us because we don’t have any details, (which is walking by sight) just the strong urge to step out in obedience. God’s Call should be progressive and may come at any season of our lives. We all have free will and often His Call may not be picked up. (Apparently Reinhard Bonnke was the Lord’s third choice as a missionary to the continent of Africa and he committed his life to evangelising it’s people for the Lord.)

²⁷ This is the account of Terah’s family line.

Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. ²⁸ While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. Genesis 11

Terah, the father of Abram had three sons, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeas, the land of his birth. He never left the physical place of his birth. Abram and Nahor accompanied their father to Haran.

³¹ Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.

³² Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. Genesis 11

Abram’s father moved the family in the direction of Canaan, the eventual place of God’s inheritance for Abram and his offspring. Our family may have moved ‘part of the way’ God has for us, but when the time comes God may ask and insist that we complete the journey to His final destination. Once again, others may not understand that we have been called to go further than previous generations. Being willing to step out and go further than the rest of our family may be a very difficult step for those who are committed to following the Lord.

Finally, Abram’s own call did come and he set out with his nephew Lot and his wife Sarai whose beauty almost caused him a lot of trouble. There is no doubt that God blessed Lot along with Abram, but eventually they did come to a place of separation. We also may walk closely with people for a time or a season, but God may not permit others to be with us (even family) when we finally step into the centre of God’s Call upon our lives. Separation may not be pleasant, but it may be necessary.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

¹² Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
¹³ NOW, OUR GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS,
    AND PRAISE YOUR GLORIOUS NAME. 1 Chronicles 29

This was the FIRST SCRIPTURE God gave me after I’d asked Him to come into my life as Saviour and Lord. To be honest I was probably more impressed with verse 12 at the time, the promise that God could powerfully bless His children excited and encouraged me. Many years later, God has been faithful and yet I believe that He has more for all of us and I’m still expectant to see His blessings in my lifetime.

These verses are part of David’s Prayer as Israel made provision for the building of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem. The reigns of King David and King Solomon are regarded by Jewish people as the high point of their nation’s history. David conquered their enemies and greatly weakened them. Solomon enjoyed wealth and wisdom like few other rulers on earth.

⁸ Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. ⁹ THE PEOPLE REJOICED AT THE WILLING RESPONSE OF THEIR LEADERS, FOR THEY HAD GIVEN FREELY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THE LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 16

Part of the reason why the people rejoiced was that their leaders had led the way in the giving and they had given onto the Lord. Many prophetic words today are announcing the Justice of Yahweh (J.O.Y.) coming to corrupt leaders, in Government and the Church. In the days of David the people knew that the leadership of the nation stood with them and rejoiced in the praise of God.

¹⁴ “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? EVERYTHING COMES FROM YOU AND WE HAVE GIVEN ONLY WHAT COMES FROM YOUR HAND. ¹⁵ We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow …”

David knew that everything that had been given for the building of the Temple came from God Himself. Men seem to have forgotten this today, we are only granted things for a short time here on earth. If we can see it with our eyes, then it’s temporary. 2 Corinthians 4:18

¹⁶ Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. ¹⁷ I KNOW, MY GOD, THAT YOU TEST THE HEART AND ARE PLEASED WITH INTEGRITY. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 1 Chronicles 16

God was about to open a door for His People to worship Him in Jerusalem, in a way that had never happened before on earth. We may be standing on the threshold of something even more momentous now. The manifest presence of God across the whole earth with mighty demonstrations of power. However, when God is present in power there will need to be corresponding integrity of heart.

In this year I want to focus more on 1 Chronicles 29:13, that God spoke to me so many years ago.

¹³ NOW, OUR GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS,
    AND PRAISE YOUR GLORIOUS NAME. 1 Chronicles 29

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

⁴¹ ‘Now arise, Lord God, and come to your resting place,
        you and the ark of your might.
May your priests, Lord God, be clothed with salvation,
        may your faithful people rejoice IN YOUR GOODNESS. 2 Chronicles 6

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication ends with an invitation to the Almighty God to come and reside in the Temple built for Him by His people in Jerusalem and the God who created the whole Universe came down – Amazing! Much later the Lord Himself came as a man, without His Glory, to the very same place.

Amanda Grace shared on Elijahstreams that someone had asked her why Almighty God hadn’t just removed the devil after he’d tricked Eve and Adam in the garden. She said that she’d been given an answer to the question, ‘Because man would have been separated from God forever, without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross!’ There has been great suffering in the world and God is often wrongly blamed for it, but we have to believe that our all wise and loving Father continues to work for the restoration of Christ’s Kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven’. That’s the only true hope for this world and it’s people.

¹³ The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud, ¹⁴ and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God. 2 Chronicles 5

Worship brought down the Presence of God so powerfully that the priests could no longer minister before Him in the Temple. This was repeated after Solomon’s prayer. We must hold on to the truth that we serve a GOOD GOD, who wants the best for His children in this fallen world. We know that we will face trials in the coming year, but God is with us in every situation and will bring us through and bless us as we walk with Him.

³ When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

 

²⁷ Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, … ²⁹ Why do you  scorn my sacrifice and offering that I prescribed for my dwelling? Why do you honour your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choice parts of every offering made by my people Israel?’ 1 Samuel 2

MISPLACED LOYALTY can rob us of our future and our Destiny.

Misplaced loyalty (or mistaken loyalty, misguided loyalty or misplaced trust) is loyalty placed in other persons or organisations where that loyalty is not acknowledged, is not respected, is betrayed, or is taken advantage of. It can also mean loyalty to a malignant or misguided cause. (Quote from Wikipedia, describing the negative side of Loyalty)

A HEALTHY LOYALTY IS NOT PASSIVE AND COMPLACENT, BUT ACTIVE AND CRITICAL. Loyalty is a fine quality, but in excess it fills political graveyards. (Quote from Forbes)

Don’t let a MISPLACED sense of obligation or loyalty KEEP YOU BOUND TO PEOPLE who don’t support you. ‪(Cherylhunter)

We have crossed over into the New Year of 2024, but perhaps we need to consider and assess what we’re bringing with us. There may be relationships and situations that have not been working well for us in the past year and it may be time to move forward into something new. Change is usually Challenging, but if the Lord is in it, then it will be for the best, no matter how difficult the step.

God had chosen Eli’s forefathers when they were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt and given them a position of honour to serve Him, but now they abused their position and dishonoured Him. Our walk through this year and throughout our time in this world is never static, but always in a state of flux (the action or process of flowing or continuous change). There will be longer seasons when things will remain settled, but eventually circumstances will change.

¹⁸ At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. ¹⁹ When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. ²⁰ Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. Numbers 9

When we feel a dissatisfaction in our souls, God may be saying it’s time to move on. Sometimes through a prophetic word, or by circumstances or perhaps a scripture, better still by all of them. The important thing is to ‘Follow the Cloud of God’s Spirit’ and never be stuck in a rut! When it’s time to move on with God, then we must move or remain to our own detriment.

God bless and keep you today and throughout this Year. Hallelujah

 

²⁰ Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, ²¹ that they should celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar ²² as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month WHEN THEIR SORROW WAS TURNED INTO JOY AND THEIR MOURNING INTO CELEBRATION. He wrote to them to observe the days as AS DAYS OF FEASTING AND JOY AND GIVING PRESENTS OF FOOD TO ONE ANOTHER AND GIFTS TO THE POOR. Esther 9

The Jews keep Purim to this day (Evening of Sat, 23 Mar 2024 – Sun, 24 Mar 2024) and they celebrate their deliverance from their enemies, in much the same way as we celebrate the coming of Messiah at Christmas. Christ brought an even greater deliverance for all people everywhere, so we have much for which to give thanks to the Lord.

⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: YOU WILL FIND A BABE WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHS, LYING IN A MANGER.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

Divine Connections and Kingdom Relationships, now is the time to begin to build for the future.

I believe that God has significant relationships that He wants to establish in His Body for the year ahead. Esther became Queen in place of Vashti and gained access to the King of the Babylonian empire. That relationship was crucial for all that lay ahead for herself and her people. God used her position to rescue the Jews but also to greatly bless them.

¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, (Faith Speaks) but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your ROYAL POSITION FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?’ Esther 4

Esther in turn opened the door for Mordecai to also enter the King’s presence and become the ruler of the Babylonian empire.

8 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai CAME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE KING, FOR ESTHER TOLD HOW HE WAS RELATED TO HER. ² The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. Esther 8

I was listening to a talk by Derek Prince recently, entitled, ‘The path to leading is serving’. A younger man had come to him and asked to be allowed to serve him, which he initially felt to decline. However God spoke to him and said something like, ‘If you refuse to allow him to serve, you’ll block his path to promotion, for the only way to lead is to serve’!  He gave two Scriptural examples, Joshua served Moses before he became leader of Israel and led them into Canaan. Elisha ‘poured water’ on the hands of Elijah before he in turn became Israel’s prophet. Derek Prince said that we should value highly anyone whom God has given to be a mentor to us. The Celtic Christians in Ireland had a lovely expression, Anam Cara, which means Soul Friend.

I believe people often have more to give than we realise, Life Experience and also walking for some time with the Lord has deposited a wealth of spiritual wisdom and maturity in many. We may have learned something in a way that is exactly what someone else needs, we’re all uniquely taught by the Spirit. We must be willing to share our lives with those people God brings alongside us. Neither Esther nor Mordecai knew how important the relationship God had set in place was to be, nor do we.

May God bring the people into our lives whom He would have us to walk with in the year ahead and may the relationships bear much fruit that will last.

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.

 

¹⁵ When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was WEARING ROYAL GARMENTS of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen.  ¹⁶ For the Jews it was A TIME OF HAPPINESS AND JOY, GLADNESS AND HONOUR. (God will do this again for His people) Esther 8

We said yesterday that Mordecai came out from the King’s presence dressed as a different man, wearing the robes of a nobleman and a large golden crown. When God’s people gain access to His Presence things will change like never before. The Jews rejoiced at their change of fortune, now they were the ones to take revenge on their enemies.

⁵ The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. ⁶ In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. ⁷ They also killed  … ¹⁰ the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder. Esther 9

The city of Susa, centre of Government for the Babylonian empire and the place where the plot was hatched to destroy the people of God took longer to clear out the enemy.

¹² The king said to Queen Esther, ‘The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.’

¹³ ‘If it pleases the king,’ Esther answered, ‘give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, … Esther 9

Strongholds of Control established during many years of enemy rule may also require longer to clear in these days. The King decreed on behalf of the Queen and her wishes were carried out.

The Jews took revenge on their enemies and then feasted and rejoiced in their deliverance. They moved from fasting and mourning to feasting and rejoicing, true climate change.

THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE EMPIRE CHANGED FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. GREAT CHANGE IS COMING ONCE AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD. HALLELUJAH

God bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.