NATIONS COMING TO DESTROY ISRAEL

 

A Psalms Where Nations Coming to Destroy Israel

This psalm is titled A Psalm of Asaph. 

Some commentators connect this psalm with 2 Chronicles 20:1-37 and the victory won in Jehoshaphat’s time. Others see the collection of 10 enemies set against Israel as not referring to one specific occasion, but to the constant danger of extermination Israel lived under – relevant in both the ancient and modern world.

The Psalms span a time frame of about  a 1000 years. Most of the Psalms were written between 1010 and 930 BC during the time of David and his son Solomon.

1. (1-4) Asking God to take action against those set on destroying Israel.

Psalms 83  Do not keep silent, O God!
Do not hold Your peace,
And do not be still, O God!
² For behold, Your enemies make a tumult;
And those who hate You have lifted up their head.
³ They have taken crafty counsel against Your people,
And consulted together against Your sheltered ones.
⁴ They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation,
That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You:

⁶ The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites;
Moab and the Hagrites;
⁷ Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek;
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
⁸ Assyria also has joined with them;
They have helped the children of Lot. Selah

GOG AND MAGOG  -  Ezekiel 38:1-16

  14 “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? 15 You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. 16 You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.

 “Here the prophet saw the final manifestation of antagonism to Jehovah and His people. He saw it gathering itself in terrific force, the mightiest alliance that had ever acted against Israel.” (Morgan) 

“These verses create the impression that Gog is an imperial power with vast military resources.” (Block) They are coming with missiles, deadly bombs and latest Technology equipment today ever invented.  This battle may happen before the beginning of the last seven-year period of human government, before the glorious return of Jesus Christ. It may in some way usher in the dominance of the final world leader and his government. It can happen during the pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation or end of tribulation. 

The prophecies of Ezekiel occurred from about 593–571 BC, some scholars—who are in a minority—have argued that the book was written during widely divergent periods, such as in the 7th century and even as late as the 2nd century BC.

THE POWER OF HIS BODY AND BLOOD

 

EXPLAINING THE WORD

1 Corinthians 11:29 - New King James Version

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Do you CLEARLY DISCERN THE BODY OF CHRIST that you are partaking? This verse is talking about the positive side of partaking the Holy Communion. That means the attitude or action of partaking – your faith in Jesus body. This judgment is concerning the body not eternal judgment.

Someone wrote: If you are still sick, weak, malfunctioning, aging and dying, then you have not CLEARLY DISCERN THE BODY OF CHRIST YET!

The BODY OF CHRIST is...

PERFECT

INFINITE

SPIRITUAL

DIVINE

IMMORTAL

IMPERSONAL

UNIVERSAL!

If you have clearly discerned that the very Body you are living in is the BODY OF CHRIST then all discords, diseases and disharmony in it will instantly and utterly dissolve into nothingness! That is the power of the blood of Christ that brings blessing to us not judgment. So eat it with positive faith.

How much more we are drinking His blood. The woman in the bible touched Jesus garment and was made whole. Today we are drinking His blood into our body. We sang the song “There is power in the blood” so be it.

THE CALL AND MINISTRY OF EZEKIEL 

Date of Writing:  The Book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 B.C. during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews.

Purpose of Writing:  Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. By means of his prophetic ministry he attempted to bring them to immediate repentance and to confidence in the distant future. He taught that: (1) God works through human messengers; (2) Even in defeat and despair God’s people need to affirm God’s sovereignty; (3) God’s Word never fails; (4) God is present and can be worshiped anywhere; (5) People must obey God if they expect to receive blessings; and (6) God’s Kingdom will come.

2) Ezekiel’s Work and Ministry

Key Verses: Ezekiel 2:3-6, "He said: 'son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have been in revolt against me to this very day.

The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, "This is what the Sovereign LORD says." And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.'"

3) The Call of Ezekiel

A) Ezekiel Preparation for Service

1. The Vision Seen by Ezekiel – Vision of God  – Ezek. 1:1, 26

  A Man (front) Speaks of - Sympathy, intelligence – corresponding to the Gospel of Luke.

  A Lion (right) - Majesty, power – corresponding to the Gospel of Matthew.

  An Ox (left) -  Perseverance in service – corresponding to the Gospel of Mark.

  An Eagle (back) -  Keenness of Vision – corresponding to the Gospel of John.

2. The Voice Heard – Telling the prophet vs 28

        the People to whom he must go - Ezek. 2:3

‘And He said to me: "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day.’

        the Purpose for which he is sent -  Ezek. 2:7

7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

        the Power behind him as he goes.-  Ezek.2:8

But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

3. The Volume (Word) Eaten –

Hearing and Heeding the Word of God – Ezek. 3:1,2

 Ezekiel’s Roll – 3:1-17 was to him what the Bible should be to us.

 a. Intellectually he had to ‘eat it’ – get it into his head – Ezek. 3:2

 b. Experientally he had to ‘digest it’ – get it into his heart – Ezek. 3:10

 c. Practically he was a watchman to give warning – he had ‘to proclaim it’ with his lips – Ezek. 3:17

4. The Victim Ezekiel Yielded – Ezekiel had to bear the sin and yield to God’s command.

 the Astonished Victim – Ezek. 3:15

 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

 the Enchained Victim -  Ezek. 3:23-25

 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them.

 the Prostrate Victim – Ezek. 4:4

“Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.

 the Nauseated Victim – Ezek. 4:15

“Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.”

B) EZEKIEL AS A WATCHMAN - Ezek. 3:17

In Ezekiel 3, we learn about his special assignment from God: “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:17). “Watchman” refers to the person whose job was to stand out on a tower and look out to warn of coming danger.

THE DUTY - The special duty of the watchman or guardian, as here explained, concerns the treatment of the wicked. More particularly it is for him

(1) to warn the wicked;

(2) to assure the inattentive and impenitent that the punishment of death awaits him;

(3) to admonish him to repent.

C) EZEKIEL AS HE WALKS THROUGH WATER 

Ezek. 47 – This is a symbolic of the River of God that is full of water. (Ps. 65:9)

There are rivers of God in Eden – Gen.2;10 and In the Paradise of God above – Rev. 22:1,2  - From Genesis to Revelation the River of God is flowing into us.

Ezekiel walked to the river.

Waters came to the Ankles vs.3 – “Walk in the Spirit” Gal. 5:16

Waters came to the Knees vs. 4 – “Praying in the Spirit” Eph. 6:18

Waters came to the Loins vs. 4 – “Serving in the Spirit” Acts 20:19

Waters to Swim in vs. 5 – “Living a Spirit-filling life” Eph. 5:18

D) EZEKIEL EATING THE WORD (SCROLL) – Ezek. 2:8

God’s Word is Our Spiritual Food’

God’s Words are good for us to eat: we need to eat the Word of God as our food as Ezekiel did.

Matt. 4:4 But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God.“

Ezekiel was asked by God to take the scroll and eat it, then speak the word of God (Ezek. 2:8-3:4); as believers in Christ we need to eat the word of God, digest them, assimilate them into our being, and then speak the word of God.

SAMSON THE MIGHTY FALLEN MAN

 (CONTINUATION)

B) Samson The Mighty Fallen Man

Samson fell when “the Lord had departed from him.”  - Judges 16:20

Samson lost four areas spiritually:

1.   He Lost his Strength – “weak like other men” vs. 17

2.   He Lost his Sight – “the Philistines put out his eyes” – vs. 21

3.   He Lost his Liberty – “in the prison house” vs. 21

4.   He Lost his Dignity – “he did grind” vs. 21

 

1. He Lost his Strength – “weak like other men” vs. 17

Samson fell and lost his strength. He was betrayed by a Philistine girl who he wanted to marry her.

Judges  16:17 “that he told her all his heart, and said to her, “No razor has ever come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.”

Jesus Was Betrayed

Jesus was betrayed also by his close friend, someone who had close to Him for three and a half years.  Judas Iscariot want to the Garden of Gethsemane and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. A kiss was a sign of affection, a sign of love.

Psalms 41:9 – “Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.”

2. He Lost his Sight – “the Philistines put out his eyes” – vs. 21

“Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven.”

Matthew 13:16 Jesus said unto his disciples, “but blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.” (NASB) In the preceding verse 11 Jesus told his disciples “to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” (NASB) Our spiritual eyes are blessed to see and our spiritual ears are blessed to hear.

Samson’s words to his parents: “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes” (14:3). This phrase captures more than Samson’s attraction; it reveals the condition of his heart. Several verses later, the phrase is again repeated: “He went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes” (14:7).

  It is written in John 16:13 “but when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (NASB)

3. He Lost his Liberty – “in the prison house” vs. 21

“They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison”   The opposite is:

Isaiah 61:1 - “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

4. He Lost his Dignity – “he did grind” vs. 21

PROVERBS 31:25-31

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. 28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:   29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Conclusion

Though Samson spent his life pursuing other gods, in the end he at last acknowledged the source of his strength: “God . . . please strengthen me,” and he became strong again (Judge 16:28).

Thus, Samson is named in Hebrews as an example of those who “through faith . . . were made strong out of weakness” (Heb. 11:33–34).

In the same way, all those who acknowledge their weakness and put their hope in Jesus will be saved, and will find their strength restored.

Benediction

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF SAMSON

 

THE LIFE & MINISTRY OF SAMSON

Introduction: Samson was the last major judge in Israel. In the story of Samson, the mighty judge did great exploits against the Philistines, who at that time ruled Israel for forty years. He was a type of our Lord Jesus Christ in some aspect.

When we study the character and works of Samson we know he was a man full of weaknesses (ordinary man) who fell in the flesh and needed help from God from time to time.

The birth of Samson - Judges 13:1-3, 24

“Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.”

Vs 24 “So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.”

A) Samson – The Strong Man of God

Samson had :

1.       A Wonderful Parents – Judges 13, 3,4, 19

2.       A Wonderful Name – meaning “Serving as the sun” – Judges 13:24

3.       A Wonderful Calling – “a Nazirite to God” – Judges 13:7

4.       A Wonderful Work to do – “begin to deliver Israel” – Judges 13:5

5.       A Wonderful Power to use – “the Spirit of the Lord upon him”  

             - Judges 13:25

1. A Wonderful Parents – Judges 13, 3,4, 19

 3 And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

2. A Wonderful Name – meaning “Serving as the sun” – Judges 13:24

Samson means “sunshine” which speaks to us of the glory that comes from light. Samson’s name means in Hebrew “Shimshown” meaning “the strength of the sun” – his strength was tied to the strength and power of God.  Yet he was tempted as we are and yet God used him.

As the church cries out today for God’s power, God is going to release His strength and His Exceeding Grace to deliver many broken and empty people.

Likewise Samson like Jesus in the Gospel of John 1:14 says: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

3. A Wonderful Calling – “a Nazirite to God” – Judges 13:7

Samson was born a Nazirite to God from the womb and was instructed not to eat or drink anything unclean or from the vine. Samson was going to be a consecrated person right from his conception. He was going to be a holy Nazarite from the womb.

A Nazirite is one who separate himself to the Lord. He shall separate from wine and strong drink. He cannot shave off his hair but let it grow.

Sanctification means “to be made holy” in Hebrew. So holiness is not what you are, holiness is who you belong to. You are a holy people. You belong to God! So it is one thing to be made holy and it is another to walk in holiness.

Samson was a type of Christ, who was also holy from the moment he was conceived.

Likewise Christ in Luke 1:35

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” Jesus was holy from the womb.

4. A Wonderful Work to do – “begin to deliver Israel” Judges 13:5

5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

5. A Wonderful Power to use – “the Spirit of the Lord upon him” – Judges 13:25

Samson was the mightiest and strongest of all judges of Israel. He had supernatural power with signs and wonders following his work as a judge. None of other judges had the supernatural strength that rested upon Samson.

Judges 14:6 – “And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.”

So the life of Samson was accompanied by many signs and wonders. The same can be said of the ministry of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 4:23,24

23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed.

Conclusion: Though Samson spent his life pursuing other gods, in the end he at last acknowledged the source of his strength: “God . . . please strengthen me,” and he became strong again (Judg. 16:28).

Samson a man so weak in his flesh yet can be used by God so mighty to defeat the enemies in his days. Samson can be represented as the Church today! Jesus grace is sufficient when we are weak then God made us strong.

THE 3RD DAY RESURRECTED BELIEVER

 

THE 3RD DAY RESURRECTED BELIEVER

I believe the answer to the greatest need in your life is about to break through the Spirit of the Breaker – Jesus Christ. From the time of Christ’s birth to 999 A.D. was the first day.  From 1000 A.D. to 1999 was the second day.  And with the advent of 2000, we have prophetically entered into the third day. 

Today it’s Resurrection Day. The Third Day when Jesus was resurrected from His grave.  That Jesus who was resurrected from the grave and He broke loose from death and into hell. 

Hosea 6:1 “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

6:2  After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

This Year can be the Breakthrough Resurrection for your life and ministry. God is going to resurrect your life.  Some of you are going to expect the dead bank accounts to come back to life.  Amen!  You are going to expect dead relationships to be rekindled with passion and love.  You are going to expect the lost souls of unsaved loved ones to come to new life in Christ.  You are going to see live miracles after miracles.

Roman 8:11 "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ form the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." 

God is giving life to your bodies in this life.  This is also a quickening life through the power of His Resurrection.  The quickening of the Spirit is giving life to our mortal bodies us in many areas.

Romans 8:11 -KJV "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that DWELLETH IN YOU. The Greek word "quicken" is "zoogoneo" is to endure with life, produce life and preserve life

 God is concerned over our bodies for our bodies are temple of the Holy Spirit.

I believe prophetically and supernaturally, Resurrection day for this year is the third day when that which was all dead is going to live again.  Our congregations are going to be raise in spiritual resurrection for His glory.  I believe it.

Marriages that are withering are about to burst forth with new life.  Diseased bodies are about to receive an impartation of supernatural life.  The church that has been in obscurity is about to step out of the grave and take the grave clothes off.  God is about to announce, “LOOSE THEM AND LET THEM GO!”

This is the 3rd day, we proclaiming and declaring the Breakthrough Harvest of the Lord’s Resurrection and believe God to meet the biggest need in our life?  This is the year of Overtaking, Overthrowing and Overflowing.  So begin to plant your biggest seed to your biggest need.  Why I say this???

Job. 42:10 – Job has the biggest need (all his families, wives, children & property were gone) and he began sow his biggest seed. He prayed for his 3 friends. As he prayed the Lord met and released his double portion blessings.  He had twice as much as before.

Job had a Breakthrough. He overtake, overthrow and there is an overflowing. I encourage you – you can recover all the devil has taken from you.  If God loved Job he loved you church! His body!

May this Easter brings forth Resurrected Glory and Grace in your life and family.

LIVE IN THE ETERNAL NOW

 

LIVE IN THE ETERNAL NOW OF THE ONE WHO HAS PERFECTED ALL THINGS THAT CONCERNS YOU!

Living in the fear of outcomes makes you lose grip of the moment... Live in the NOW and enjoy every moment. Each second is precious. Throw away the fears of "What if it does not work out?", "What if my application fails", "What if my relationship breaks?",  "What if they reject me?", "What if it does not go as planned?"

Live in the Love of the Father. Live in the NOW and know that nothing works against you. No outcome is unfavourable...

Situations do not define you rather, you are the one who defines situations!

The one who sees all end from the beginning says "Behold I make all things beautiful in its time!"

Be thankful always as one who has seen the end from the beginning knowing that it all ended in glory and praise.

Rejoice and be glad as one who has already seen the end of it all... Even in the face of undesired outcomes, rejoice and be glad because it is for your good...

No outcome is unfavourable...The Glory of God is being revealed even in that situation. You are the Life pulsating through every circumstance!

Do not be afraid of what might happen... Be confident that your father upholds you by the Word of His Power!  Know you this day that greater is the one who is in you than any outcome...

You are the actual outcome and how you see it is how it is...

You are not a victim of outcomes. You are the centre that determines all outcomes! God gave you power to will and to do His good pleasures.

Open your creative eyes and see that it is all glorious.  See and declare that it's all beauty and glory and wonder... Whether it looks like that or not, use the elevated eyes to see nothing else but perfection!

By childlike faith, walk upon the waters, not trying to figure out exactly how everything will unfold, just taking each step and enjoying the wonder of watching as each step unveils a new phase, a new wonder, a new altitude... Like a child you stare in wonder...in REST, IN PEACE and TRANQUILITY!

You are not worried about how it will all BE...You are resting in the I AM who has seen the end from the beginning, the ONE who IS is greater than what will BE!

By Judah Giam