Jesus, Our Manna from Heaven

And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness [there lay] a small round thing, [as] small as the hoar frost on the ground. And when the children of Israel saw [it], they said one to another, It [is] manna: for they wist not what it [was]. And Moses said unto them, This [is] the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it [was] like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it [was] like wafers [made] with honey. Exodus 16:14-15, 31.

I learned something today in my Bible study that I had never seen before in the Word of God. Of course, I am aware that Jesus is our Manna from Heaven, meaning our daily spiritual and earthly sustenance and provision, our very life, comes from Him and Him alone--which is why He tells us He is the bread that came down from Heaven. (John 6:41). However, I was not aware that when Manna was first introduced to Israel in the wilderness, it was pure white and tasted like wafers made with honey. I think of it being like miniature sweet cookies that melted in the mouth, giving all the sustenance needed for the day. No wonder medical science tells us that sweet is the first taste a baby recognizes and craves (and many of us never get over that craving!), because sweetness is a picture of Jesus.

But something happened later on in the wilderness that changed the color, texture, and taste of this Manna. In Numbers 11:4-9, the mixed multitude that had come out of Egypt with Israel began to lust over the things they had eaten while in Egypt. They grumbled and complained, saying "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul [is] dried away: [there is] nothing at all, beside this manna, [before] our eyes." Numbers 11:5-6.

The sweet, honey-tasting Manna wasn't enough for them--the spiritual food of angels rained down from Heaven wasn't enough. They despised what God offered and desired the sustenance of the world--the rich, spicy, strong-tasting food of Egypt that the flesh craves. Immediately, we see that the description of the Manna changed. Numbers 11:7-8 says, And the manna [was] as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium. [And] the people went about, and gathered [it], and ground [it] in mills, or beat [it] in a mortar, and baked [it] in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. 

Despite their grumbling, the Lord was merciful and continued to rain down Manna every day. But now the color was no longer white, but pearl-colored, and it was hard and had to be ground, beaten, and baked to be edible. And instead of tasting of honey, it tasted bland, like fresh oil. What does this mean? Why this change?

Well, I believe this is a picture of the church allowing the desires of the world into their hearts, convincing them that the sweet, honey-taste of their Savior isn't enough for all their needs. The church has been deceived into believing they must mix the world's spicy food into their palette, which ironically makes the Savior bland and tasteless. Basically, when God's people look to the world and lust after all it offers, the power of Jesus, the sweetness of His resurrection, seems to disappear and a mixture law/grace gospel is presented to the world. It is a gospel that says Jesus isn't enough and that what He did on the cross isn't sufficient to be right with God. It is a gospel that says we are still sinners even though we are born again, new creations in Christ Jesus--that we must grind, beat, bake, work, toil to receive anything from our heavenly Father, and then what we do receive from Him is devoid of power. It says we can't expect healing, prosperity, supernatural deliverance and miracles in our lives. It tells us that all this power passed away with the first century church. 

I say, "Nonsense!" I have had to repent and remove the lusts of the world and Egypt from my life, acknowledging that Jesus and His sweetness is enough to sustain me, day by day. The power of His resurrection is sufficient for me to do all things He calls me to do. The power of His resurrection says "Yes" and "Amen" to all His promises. (2 Corinthians 1:20).

As the Old Testament reveals, eventually a new generation of Israelites entered the promised land under Joshua's leadership and ate from the fat of the land. The Lord has no problem with any of His children eating from the fat of the land He gives them, but He wants us to acknowledge and remember that we enjoy this goodness only because of Jesus, our savior, our true Manna from Heaven, and all He has done for us. It is not because of any works on our part--it is all because of Him! 

Praise God for our Manna from Heaven! In that Manna is everything we need!

Praying Against the Storms in Life

Here is a great teaching from Brother Kenneth Copeland about declaring and praying God's Word in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, especially with all these crazy storms wreaking havoc on our nation. It's a great reminder of how the Kingdom of God operates. It's all about the works of the Heavenly Father done in the name of Jesus Christ. We need to have faith in God's Word, keep our eyes on it, meditate on its Truths, and declare those Truths out of our mouth.

Enjoy this teaching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr7Lmao51eM&feature=youtu.be&utm_campaign=KC-Partner-Letter&utm_content=20130523&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Emailvision

Rest in Me

This is a lovely poem written by my dear friend, which she received from the Lord while praying. I feel like this has come from the heart of King Solomon when he wrote Song of Songs - an intimate look at the Savior's passionate love for the church.

My Beautiful Bride,

You are the one that I love the most. I love you more than anything in the world.

I was there the day you were born. I suffered with you when you were so hurt. Things were spoken over you, and I mourned.

But when you found me, I rejoiced. My beautiful lover that was lost has been found!. I can finally take my bride home.

Your beauty overwhelms me -- creator of the universe bows to you in love. I have held you in my arms and danced with you, kissed you, been intimate with you, let you cry. I have gently placed my hand over your heart and healed it, restored it, and held it.

I have breathed my own creatures into your womb, of whom I love as much as I love you, and of whom I have great plans for.

My love, do not fret and do not fear. I am your guide, your strength, your protection, your provision. I am Lord and I am God. And you, my sweet bride, are mine. I ran to the cross for you - RAN.  My intense love for you wasn't satisfied until you were back in my embrace.

As I wrap my arms around you, do not look around, but look up to Me. I am all that you need and I am right here.

Nothing can separate us. Lean into my chest and believe that my love has done the work.

I am the everlasting God, and my work is complete.  Rest in Me.

The Giants Aren't That Scary!

And she [Rahab] said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard [these things], our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Joshua 2:9-11.

Have you ever faced down the giants in your life who are trying to stop you from fulfilling your God-given dreams and desires, whether it be for a financial blessing, job promotion, spouse or baby, or healing from emotional trauma or disease? They may roar and growl, trying to scare us into believing our Heavenly Father has forsaken us or doesn't love us or wants us to suffer lack and defeat. But then we see the promises in the Word and learn about all our Saviour Jesus Christ did on the cross so that the blessing of Abraham would come upon us and overtake us and so that we might receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Well, you are not alone when you feel the heat of those terrible roars. Know that the enemy isn't the big bad wolf that he thinks he is! He's been declawed and defanged by Jesus Himself 2000 years ago!

Just look at Joshua and the nation of Israel as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Forty years earlier, ten of the twelve spies sent to scout out the land brought back an evil report of giants who couldn't be overcome because of their size and strength. These ten spies turned the peoples' hearts away from the truth, and unfortunately, none of that generation was allowed to enter other than Joshua and Caleb. But ironically, when it was time for the new generation to take the land, Joshua's spies learned something totally different from Rahab the harlot. They learned that the people of Jericho and the giants living there were actually terrified of Israel because they knew the Lord was with them! Isn't that something?

Have you ever considered that Satan and all his demons are terrified of you, a born again child of God, washed by the blood of Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit? Yes he is! Because he knows the Lord is with you and INSIDE you - and he knows you are coming to take the land God has promised you. And if you truly know that and don't shrink back in fear, exercising the authority Christ has given you in HIS NAME, you cannot be defeated, just like Joshua and all of Israel when they took the Promised Land. God had opened the door, and if the Lord opens a door, no man or demon from hell can shut it!

Praise your Heavenly Father that you are victorious! You are more than a conqueror!

Has Your Brook Dried Up?

And Elijah the Tishbite, [who was] of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, [As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that [is] before Jordan. And it shall be, [that] thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that [is] before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.  1 Kings 17:1-7

In the days of the great prophet, Elijah, the Lord directed him to tell evil King Ahab of  Israel that there would be no rain for three years, thus ushering in a severe famine. Why did God do this? To encourage the people to turn their hearts back to Him. Interestingly, during this time, God sent Elijah away to a place called Cherith (which means to cut off), essentially, separating His prophet from the rest of the world. But even though Elijah was tucked away, he was kept safe and provided for with water from the brook, as well as the dead flesh and bread delivered from the talons and beaks of unclean birds. 

It might seem strange that God would use these dark, ominous animals to provide for His righteous servant, but He knows best, clearly superseding the requirements of the law. Under normal circumstances, Elijah would never eat such food, but he obeyed the voice of the Lord, knowing that in His majesty and grace, the flesh and bread was declared clean. Isn't that what Jesus did on the cross--make that which was unclean, clean?

Have you ever been in a similar situation in your walk with the Lord, where you were being provided for (either spiritually, emotionally or financially) by people or circumstances that seem unclean? Perhaps it is a job, boss, relative, friend, a nonbeliever or carnal, religious person who has no real heart for God? There is a purpose in that, even though you might not be able to see it. Perhaps you are being tucked away, hidden from the rest of the world so that God can do a work in you, teaching you to learn from Him and trust Him completely? During this time, you may be uncomfortable, but may be able to see great growth in your spiritual walk. The world will not be able to see it, and may call you a failure, but the fruit of spiritual blessings are undeniable. As ordained as that place may be and as dependant as you might become in that situation, you aren't meant to stay there forever. Eventually, this provision will dry up (just like the Brook Cherith did for Elijah) and you will be called to move on to the next season in your life. 

If you read further in 1 Kings, you will see that the Lord took the prophet to a place of refining (called Zarephath) where he met a widow woman who sustained him supernaturally until rain was restored to the land. After that, he was able to confront Ahab and the prophets of Baal, causing the people to repent and rededicate themselves to the Lord. Rain fell in abundance and restoration came--the prophet had fulfilled his calling from the Lord.

If your brook has dried up and the ravens in your life are no longer providing food, then it is clear a change has taken place. More than likely, God is behind that change, and it would be best for you not to fight Him. He's urging you to move forward into the next season He has established for your life, just like He planned for Elijah. Yes, it may be scary and uncomfortable, as change always is, but it will always be better than where you are now. Be obedient to what the Lord is telling you and move! Like Elijah, leave your sheltered, sequestered place and dependency on unclean people and circumstances, and press into God. Lean into Him and believe His word and all will be well!  

Prayers for Boston

Currently, I am going through an indepth study on the book of Revelation. I have also been reading and listening to several testimonies of people who have gone to heaven and come back to give the church and the world a report. I believe the church is being prepared for Jesus' return--to begin thinking of our heavenly home instead of the things of this earth, just as Colossians 3:1 suggests.

When I see what happened in Boston, it supports Scriptures that tell us darkness will prevail in the last days before Christ's return. My heart goes out to the people who have lost family members and to those who lost limbs and were seriously injured. Others witnessed the carnage and are haunted with fear. The city itself is choked with terror. This should not be! I have to confess, I've been so wrapped up in my own little life, that I wasn't really available to the Lord to pray and intercede like I've done in the past. I know there have been times I've prayed over storms, Jerusalem, and a week before the tsunami in Sri Lanka, I had a dream about tidal waves. It's a reminder to many of us, especially intercessory prayer-ors, to be more sensitive to the Lord's promptings and pray. I believe many of the enemy's plans are thwarted because of the prayers of the saints pulling down strongholds.

I pray for miracle healings and shalom peace in the hearts of these precious people who are suffering unimaginable tragedy right now. Lord Jesus, thank you in advance for continued protection of this nation and the opportunity and power of your body to pray in your holy Name!

Heaven is a place!

Some of the best selling books these days are stories of people who died, went to heaven, and came back to give the church and the world a glimpse of heaven. These books give people a lot of encouragement and hope in these dark times.

There is some description of heaven and the new, heavenly Jerusalem in the book of Revelation, but not as much detail as many of us would like. For example, we see a picture of the throne room of God, what Jesus looks like, and the dimensions, foundation, and outer appearance of the city gates, as well as the appearance of certain angels and cherubim. But what about the mansions in heaven, streets of gold, and marriage supper of the lamb? Will we be working, eating, learning? Singing and worshipping only, or will we have jobs and assignments? Who will live in these mansions with us? There are so many questions that remain unanswered.

For some, heaven is symbolic and not a real place--or if it is real, it's an esoteric, ethereal existence where we believers just float around like spirits playing harps and existing for no particular purpose. But no, the Bible says something different. The actual dimensions of the city are laid out in Revelation 21 as a cube whose length, breadth, and height are 12000 furlongs or approximately 1500 miles each, equaling 14 billion cubic miles of square footage! Esoteric, ethereal places can not be measured that way, so God wants us to believe heaven is a real PLACE!

I am discovering that more people have been to heaven, seen this city, and returned to earth to give witness than we are aware. It seems the enemy has kept this from the church and the world, because it is so very encouraging to the heart, especially if a loved one has passed on. Women who have had miscarriages and abortions have been comforted to know they will be reunited with those children--I have heard this account from several testimonies. Thankfully, the Internet has made much of this available to us as a blessing and encouragement. Remember, the apostle Paul went to heaven, as did John the revelator, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Enoch, and Elijah. Chapters 11 and 12 of the book of Hebrews tell the believer this new Jerusalem is our REAL home! Even the Jewish people believe there is a heavenly city which will appear in the new age. I actually saw a painting of this in a local synagogue! I wanted to shout out, " It's Revelation 21, it's Revelation 21!"

One such testimony is from the Evangelist/preacher, Dr. Gary Wood, of Sugarland, Texas. Gary died in a car wreck in 1966 when he was 18 and went to heaven. He saw AMAZING things while there, much of which is described in the Scripture. He even heard angels singing songs that weren't heard here on earth until years later! You can go to google and find his testimony on Sid Roth, billyebrim.org and the link below. He came back from the dead and was miraculously healed of a C1,  C2, and C3 vertebrae break (same as Christopher Reeve), cut vocal chords, and a crushed larynx. The medical prognosis was quadriplegic and inability to speak again--ever. Well, God has the last word, because Jesus came into his hospital room, touched his vocal chords, and he was miraculously healed! The nurse was so astonished, she dropped her tray and ran out of the room calling for the doctors! Praise God, Dr. Jesus had made His rounds that night!

This was the message Gary received from the Lord Jesus: Believe the word and receive, just as Mark 11:23-24 states. Pray the word of God and declare it so, as if it is finished. Do not accept condemnation from the enemy. Know you are loved, highly favored, and worthy of the blessings! That's all good news that lines up with the Gospel of grace, the same Gospel Paul preached!

Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9UBBAT-keQ

Also, his book is entitled A Place Called Heaven.

Take a look and listen and be blessed!