Jesus and Elisha

 

Dear Readers

When studying the Bible always keep these scriptures in the forefront of your mind:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

1 Corinthians 10:11 (AMP)

Now these things happened to them (Old Testament Israel) as an example and warning [to us]; they were written for our (New Testament Church) instruction [to admonish and equip us (New Testament Church)], upon whom the ends of the ages have come (the end times).

(Underlined brackets are the Author’s insertion)

Jesus and Elisha

So now, My Dear Readers, before I delve into the spiritual correlations and connection between Jesus and Elisha in 2 Kings 4, let’s first take a very brief look at who Elisha was.

Elisha was the son of a man called Shaphat who was a wealthy landowner from Abel Meholah, a town close to the River Jordan in the Jordan Valley. We know Shaphat was a wealthy man because when Elijah found Elisha, he was one of twelve ploughmen ploughing a field. Twelve yoke of oxen is 24 oxen altogether which was a sign of a man’s significant wealth in those days!

Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation" became a faithful and committed disciple of Elijah and was the man God chose to succeed Elijah in the role of the prophet in Israel. His name is the first indication of his close corelation with Jesus. His name indicates very strongly that he came from a Godly family.

In the below two verses the Lord specifically instructs the prophet Elijah to anoint three people, Hazael to be king of Syria, Nimshi to be king of Israel and Elisha to succeed him (Elijah) as prophet!

1 Kings 19:15-16 (NKJV)

15 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Elisha was called to follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19-21, and he spent several years as Elijah’s protégé until Elijah was taken into heaven in a chariot of fire. Elisha then started his ministry, which lasted roughly 60 years during the reigns of the kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash.

1 Kings 19:19-21 (NKJV)

19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.”

And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Elisha responded immediately to the calling of God and left his family and his inheritance to follow Elijah. Following Jesus always carries a cost, but the end reward is far greater than the loss – everlasting life!

Dear Readers, God has called each one of us to follow Him and Him alone! Are you prepared to give up everything to follow Him, after all He gave up everything to reconcile you with God and receive everlasting life!

Another important fact about Elisha is that he carried a double portion of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that Elijah had, this fact was also recognised by the sons of the prophets of Jericho. We read about this in the below verses.

2 Kings 2:9-15 (NKJV)

9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

Now, from this Biblical background to who this man Elisha was, we can draw the following factual spiritual truths:

1. He was called by God.

2. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfil his calling as a prophet.

3. He left all his family and material things to follow God’s calling.

4. He submitted to Elijah to be his servant.

5. He was mentored by Elijah – a Holy Spirit filled man of God.

6. He was himself filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit. He received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing!

7. He took up the mantle of his calling and recognised that he was called by God.

Now keeping these facts in mind let’s examine 2 Kings 4 to see how Elisha was fully aligned with and in relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

Elisha’s Miracles – 2 Kings 4 (ESV)

2 Kings 4:1-7 - Elisha and the Widow's Oil.
1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

John 2:1-11 (ESV) – Jesus turns water into wine.
1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

In 2 Kings 4:1-7 we are told of Elisha’s first miracle after assuming the mantle of prophet from Elijah.

When I look at what took place here, I am struck by the similarities there are in it to the first miracle that Jesus performed at the wedding feast in Cana in John 2:1-11. Turning water into wine.

Let’s have a look at these similarities.

Elisha 2 Kings 4:1-7	Jesus John 2:1-11
·         He responded to a need. ·         Multiplied oil to fill many jars. ·         His first miracle after being anointed. ·         The widow’s and her family’s needs were fully met by selling the oil.	·         He responded to a need. ·         Turned water into wine to fill many jars. ·         His first miracle of after being anointed. ·         The needs of the family and their wedding guests were fully met.

The table above shows the similarities between the two miracles but what it also shows is the common factor that empowered both Elisha and Jesus to perform their miracles - The Holy Spirit.

Elisha was filled with the Holy Spirit when he received a double portion of Elijah’s anointing – 2 Kings 2:9-15 above.

Jesus (as a man) received the full anointing of the Holy Spirit directly after his water baptism by John the Baptist and not only this he received God’s full blessing and endorsement as His only son.

Luke 3:21-22 (ESV)

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

God will make a way when there seems to be no way! These are words from a well-known song we used to sing but they ring true throughout the ages – His Holy Spirit is the Waymaker, the Miracle worker and the author of the Signs and Wonders that men do in Christ Jesus! God will meet all our needs and will use us to help others and to build each other up and edify each other in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:19 (ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Kings 4:8-17 - Elisha and the Shunammite Woman.
8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”

11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.

In the above verses we read of how Elisha prophetically declares to the Shunamite woman that she will give birth to a son even though her husband is old. This prophecy came true, and she miraculously conceived and gave birth to a son the following year. This was her reward from God for the hospitality, love and care shown to Elisha and his servant Gehazi whenever they passed her way.

The prophetic word spoken by Elisha in the power of the Holy Spirit came true just as it did for Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 21:1-2) and Hannah and Elkanah who were in similar situations, read the full story of Hannah and Elkanah in 1 Samuel 1.

Genesis 21:1-2 (ESV)

The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

1 Samuel 1:2b (ESV)

And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

1 Samuel 1:10-11 (ESV)

10 She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:20 (ESV)

And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.

From Hannah and Elkanah plus the Holy Spirit, we have the birth of the last and arguably the greatest of Israel’s judges who was also a great prophet - Samuel!

2 Kings 4: 18-37 - Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son from the dead.
18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 26 Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.” 27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 29 He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Elisha 2 Kings 4:18-37	Jesus
·         Elisha raises the Shunamite woman’s son from the dead.	·         Jesus raises the dead son of a widow – Luke 7:11-16. ·         Jesus raises Jairus’ (a synagogue ruler) daughter from the dead – Luke 8:40-42 and 49-56. ·         Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead – John 11:38-44. Please read the whole of Chapter 11.

Now, Dear Readers, let’s examine the dynamics that were at work in the miracles described in the table above, all of which involved raising the dead.

Let’s take Elisha first:

• The Shunamite woman’s son had died after complaining of a headache.

• The woman knew who could help her – she had faith in the man of God to perform a miracle. This was the same man who had prophesied that would give birth to a son even though her husband was in his old age. She laid her son on the man of God’s bed.

• She remained proactive and went to fetch Elisha (the man of God) who was at Mount Carmel.

• When she was asked if her son was well, even though he had died, she had the faith to continue to believe that God would provide a miracle.

• Elisha sent his servant ahead of him when he decides to return to the woman’s house and tells Gehazi to lay his staff on the child’s face.

• When Elisha arrives at the woman’s house, he enters the child’s room alone and prays to God – the power of prayer when asking God’s guidance!

• He then lies on top of the boy and the boy’s body becomes warm.

• Elisha gets off the boy and walks around the house praying some more.

• He then goes back to the boy and lies on him a second time.

• The boy sneezes seven times and comes fully awake.

 Now let’s look at the three miracles of Jesus shown in the table above.

In the case of the widow’s only son – Luke 7:11-16.

• ·   Jesus is driven by deep compassion for the widow to raise him from the dead.

In the case of Jairus’s daughter - Luke 8:40-42 and 49-56:

•     Jairus had the faith to seek out Jesus – verses 41-42.

•     After Jesus had heard the news that Jairus’ daughter was dead, His response to Jairus was, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” – verse 50.

•     At the touch and verbal command of Jesus the girl’s spirit returned and she came alive! – verses 51-55.

In the case of Lazurus – John 11:38-44:

• Lazurus was a much loved man by his sisters and many other Jews. When Jesus saw the pain and sorrow of those who were weeping and mourning, He was deeply moved.

John 11:33 (AMP)

When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled,

• In verse 40, Jesus reminds Martha that he had already told to just believe and she would see the glory of God.

John 11:40 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

 

• ·    In verses 41-42 Jesus audibly gives thanks to God so that those who were around Him would hear Him and believe that God had sent Him!

Luke 11:41-42 (ESV)

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

•  At the voice and command of Jesus death is rebuked and Lazarus is restored to life and to his loved ones! – verses 43-44.

Luke 11:43-44 (ESV)

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

 

In all these miracles both Jesus and Elisha were driven and motivated by love for others. These miracles were performed in the power of the Holy Spirit using the gifts of the Spirit and in this same manner we, the Church today, can do the same things when stirred by Christ’s love for others that lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul urges us to follow the way of love and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:1 (AMP)

Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

 

Paul also urges us to do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (AMP)

Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew – Death is removed from the Pot.

³⁸ And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” ³⁹ One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. ⁴⁰ And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. ⁴¹ He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.

• When I look at verses 38-41 above, I see a number of spiritual “happenings” taking place that speak across a period of 800 years to the ministry of Jesus the Messiah in Israel.

• The sons of the prophets were sitting before Elisha which suggests to me that he was probably teaching and mentoring them in the same way that Jesus taught and mentored His disciples.

• Elisha instructs his servant to get a pot ready to make a stew to feed the sons of the prophets and one of them went out into the fields to collect wild herbs for the stew. Elisha was concerned for the welfare of his followers just as Jesus is with us – He is not only interested in feeding us physically but spiritually as well!

• But when the stew was cooked, they were unable to eat it as they tasted poison in the stew, “there is death in the pot.” This says to me that there was some demonic interference taking place in this situation! He was trying to get rid of a group of God’s young prophets!
•  Then Elisha told them to put flour in the pot and when they did this the poison was rendered harmless. Elisha, led by the Holy Spirit, instructed flour to be put in the pot.

To me this speaks of Jesus who is the bread of life and flour being the main ingredient of bread. Jesus changes us from being dead in the world to alive in the Spirit – man being restored and reconciled to God through the blood of Christ! The poison in the pot from the devil is rendered null and void by Jesus the bread of life!

1 John 1:7-10 (ESV)

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

John 6:33-35 (ESV)

33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

The Miraculous Feeding of the 100 Men.

⁴² A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” ⁴³ But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” ⁴⁴ So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.

 

In verses 42-44 above we have the same miracle taking place for Elisha under the guidance of and obedience to the Holy Spirit as we have in the New Testament with Jesus in Matthew 14:17-21 and Matthew 15:32-38. The Holy Spirit’s multiplying of food to feed many more than the physical provision should have provided for and having leftovers as well!

 

Matthew 14:17-21 (ESV)

17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 15:32-38 (ESV)

32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” 33 And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?” 34 And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 38 Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

 When God provides, He often gives us even more than we are expecting or have asked for. He gives to us in abundance in accordance with His riches and glory!

Philippians 4:19-20 (ESV)

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

The same Holy Spirit that was in Jesus and Elisha lives and works in you!

Now, my Dear Readers, in the lives of Elisha and Jesus our Saviour, we see in both of them, in the miracles that I have described in this article, the Holy Spirit working in them and through them to touch others.

In Romans 11:8 the apostle Paul tells us that the same Spirit who resurrected Jesus, lives and works in us and through us. We are able to do the things that Jesus did and even greater things! This is scriptural fact!

John 14:12 (ESV)

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

When Jesus went to be with the Father at His ascension, he asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to live in us and to guide us in all truth with the proviso that we love Him and keep His commands!

John 14:15-17 (ESV)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Now Elisha was filled with the same Holy Spirit. The Old Testament prophets, judges, certain Kings like David and other Old Testament leaders all carried God’s anointing to complete their God given calling and God given tasks. This anointing was the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

1 Chronicles 16:22 (ESV)

saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,

do my prophets no harm!”

Psalm 18:50 (ESV)

Great salvation he brings to his king,

and shows steadfast love to his anointed,

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules

Exodus 31:1-6 (ESV)

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. 6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you:

Judges 3:9-10 (ESV)

9 But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 The Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. And his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.

There are many other verses in both the Old and New Testament that speak of the anointing of God and God putting His Spirit on certain individuals, I encourage you to search them out and study them for yourselves.

Today we are freely given the Holy Spirit from the Father through Jesus and we can continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:52 (ESV)

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesian 5:18 (AMP)

Do not get drunk with wine, for that is wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be filled with the [Holy] Spirit and constantly guided by Him.

The Bible exhorts and encourages us to be imitators of Christ and to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Come on, Church, let’s do this!

Live life in the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh!

Galatians 5:16-25 (ESV)

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to put you first in everything I do. Help me to read and study your Word daily and help me to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the reverent fear of God that I may glorify Jesus. Help me Lord to remain humble before you and put the needs of others before my own. Lord help me not neglect my relationship with you in order to fulfil my own wants and needs in my own strength and worldly ways. Help me Lord to be an imitator of Christ and to be a doer of the Word and not just a reader. Help me to do great things in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring glory to you and to touch the world with Jesus!
Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

The Book of Haggai: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!

 

My Dear Readers
In this article I will attempt to bring some kind of perspective of how the Old Testament book of Haggai and its message was not only relevant to the Jews of the time but is also significantly relevant to us today as born again Christians and also significant to us on the “Day of the Lord” in the end times in the New Jerusalem – A new heaven and a new earth – Revelation 21:1-8!

Brief background information to the Book of Haggai.
The Book of Haggai forms part of the Hebrew Bible which the Jews call the Tanakh. The Tanakh is the foundational text and teaching of Judaism. The word “Tanakh” is an acronym of its three parts:

1. The Torah which consists of the Five Books of Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These five books are also commonly known as the Pentateuch.

2. The Nevi’im, pronounced ‘nih-vih-eem’ is the plural of the word ‘navi’ and means ‘Prophets’.

3. The Ketuvim, pronounced ‘ke-tu-veem’ and means ‘writings’. It contains stories, law, poetry, and teachings about God and His relationship with humanity.

The Book of Haggai is found in Part 2 of the Tanakh, the ‘Nevi’im and Haggai himself is considered to be one of the minor prophets.

One interesting fact about the minor prophets from Hosea through to Malachi, is that they were originally compiled as a single book called ‘The Twelve’. Haggai being the 10th book of The Twelve.

Who Was Haggai and What Is the Book of Haggai About?
When Assyria and Babylon rise to power there was nothing and no one to stop them becoming global superpowers. Assyria takes over the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Babylon sacks the Southern Kingdom of Israel. Israel spends 70 years in captivity before they return to Jerusalem. Haggai steps onto the scene when they return to Jerusalem after the exile in Babylon. His book contains hopeful messages from God about Israel's and ultimately the Church's future.

Haggai was a prophet who lived during the time of the rebuilding of the second temple. For context, the Israelites had turned away from the Lord and had neglected the rebuilding of the temple and were rather concentrating on building their own homes and establishing their careers in their own strength. They were not obeying the Word of God!

Not much is known about Haggai as a person as the Bible gives no familial knowledge about him and his lineage, but his name means, ‘let’s celebrate the Lord.’

His prophetic ministry lasted for just less than four months. The Lord gives five messages to Haggai between August 29, 520 BC, and December 18, 520 BC. We know this as Haggai records each precise date with the messages themselves.

The shortness of Haggai’s prophetic ministry time would indicate that the Lord wanted the Jewish leaders to act almost immediately.

Haggai’s message was directed at the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem after 70 years exile in Babylon. The leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem at the time of the return from exile were Zerubbabel who was a descendant of King David through Solomon and Jeconiah and the High priest was Joshua the son of Jehozadak.

Zerubbabel was a governor of the Achaemenid Empire's province of Yehud and was the grandson of Jeconiah, the penultimate king of Judah. Zerubbabel led the first group of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from the Babylonian captivity in the first year of Cyrus the Great, the king of the Achaemenid Empire – this empire is sometimes known as the First Persian Empire and its territory is now known as modern day Iran. The date is generally thought to have been between 538 and 520 BC. Zerubbabel also laid the foundation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem soon after the return of the exiles to Jerusalem.

Haggai’s prophetic ministry was a very short ministry and lasted just less than four months in circa 520 BC. His message begins with a rather stern rebuke of the Jews because they were only focused on themselves by establishing homes for themselves and forgetting about serving God and building the second temple – the Lord’s House! Their priorities were sadly misplaced!

Note: in the body on this article the verses from Haggai are in italics, the explanation of the verse/s follows in straight text with additional scriptures shown in bold italics.

Chapter 1 (NKJV)

The Command to Build God’s House

1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,

In verse 1 Haggai pinpoints the exact date that he received his prophetic message from the Lord. This would make the exact date in our calendar today as 1 September 520BC.

2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”

In verse 2 Haggai tells the Jews that his message comes directly from the Lord, “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts…..” He lets the people know that God knows that they are deliberately putting off building the second temple in order to feather their own nests. God knows that the Jews have got their priorities wrong and are not putting Him first which is displeasing to Him.

3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your panelled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

In verses 3-5 God’s message to the Jews through Haggai is a rebuke! The gist of the rebuke is that they’ve made fine houses for themselves and have left His house in ruins! He goes on to sternly tell then to, “Consider your ways.” This is a call for them to repent and get on with building the second temple. Putting God first is our FIRST priority!

6 “You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

In verse 6 God tells the Jews and His church today, exactly why our own efforts and works outside of Christ yield little or no reward not only in the flesh but in spiritual reward as well. When we focus on ourselves, as the Jews were doing, we are never satisfied and what we have is wasted. But when we focus on God our every need is catered for, both physically and spiritually. Our works of the flesh (our works outside of Christ Jesus) are like filthy rags to God – he sees them as unclean!

Failing to put God first in everything is a sin!

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)

But we are all like an unclean thing,

And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

We all fade as a leaf,

And our iniquities, like the wind,

Have taken us away.

7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

In verse 7 God tells His people to, “Consider your ways!” This is an instruction to them to repent of their wicked ways and not to fall into the same trap as their ancestors that resulted in the temple being destroyed and them led off into captivity.

This call to repentance rings out to us today. We, those of us who are born again, are His Church (the Temple) and God wants us to repent of not putting Him first in all our ways. As individual children and corporately as His Church we will never be able to walk in the fulness of Christ and in the power of His Holy Spirit if we do not put Him first in everything we do!

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.

In verse 8 there is a very clear command from God telling the Jews to go and get the materials they need to build the temple so that He can take pleasure in it and be glorified!

This command still stands today! As His Church (Temple) each of us are required to build ourselves up in the most holy faith. Faith in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, faith in Word as it instructs us in righteousness and faith in the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us in all truth! In this way God takes pleasure in us as we glorify Jesus!

All the material we need to build our “temple” is found in the Bible, but we have to read it (fetch the material) ourselves and become doers of the Word and not just hearers and listeners! We need to live life in the Spirit!

Jude 1:20-21 (AMP)

20 But you, beloved, build yourselves up on [the foundation of] your most holy faith [continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], pray in the Holy Spirit, 21 and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ [which will bring you] to eternal life.

Luke 11:28 (NIV)

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

James 1:22 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

John 16:13-14 (NKJV)

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

In verses 9-11 Haggai’s message to the Jews further explains that because they have neglected God in not rebuilding the temple, they have brought the covenant curses of disobedience from Deuteronomy 28:22-40 (I encourage you to read this passage!) upon themselves once again. The labour of their hands has become fruitless, and they gain nothing but hardship and heartache.

Now, how are these verses relevant for today’s Church? Well, using the reference point of the Church being individually and collectively the temple of God, we need to put God first in all we do and say! If we don’t then we are wilfully walking in disobedience to the Word and are thus walking in sin and as such we will be unable to walk in the fulness of Christ unless we repent and turn to walking in full obedience.

As the in the Mosaic Covenant the Jews were free to choose between good and evil, so today we, as born-again Christians, have the freedom to choose between obeying God’s Word or not. When we choose not to and remain unrepentant of not putting God first in everything, we hinder ourselves from walking in the fulness of Christ Jesus, which is living life in the Spirit.

Galatians 6:16-17 (NKJV)

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

The People’s Obedience

12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.” 14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.

In verses 12-15 we’re told that Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the remnant of Israel were provoked (stirred up in their spirits) by Haggai’s message and were motivated to start rebuilding the temple. They were stirred up into obedience and a reverent fear of the Lord overwhelmed them and galvanised them into action. Wisdom came upon them!

Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

When we walk in obedience to the teachings of the Bible, we store up for ourselves treasures in heaven where they will not be corrupted. Disobedience of the Word leads only to heartache and pain and to a corrupt soul!

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)

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.

Let your heart always be for the things of God first and foremost. God will supply all your needs when He has first place in your heart.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Chapter 2 (NKJV)

In the second section of Haggai’s message, which follows about a month after the first, Haggai addresses the problem of disappointment, low morale and shattered expectations among the people. The temple they are rebuilding doesn’t come anywhere near as grand and impressive as the first temple that Solomon built some 500 years before!

In verses 1-9 Haggai gives the Jews an encouraging pep talk by reminding them of the great prophetic promises of God’s future Kingdom in the new Jerusalem as spoken of by the preceding prophets and in particular Isaiah and Micah.

He tells them that the new Jerusalem will be the place from which God will redeem the world and that all nations will come and participate in worshipping in God’s future Kingdom which will result in peace for all (Isaiah 9, 60-62; Micah 4-5).

So, the temple plays a key role in God’s plans not only for the Jews of the time, but for all the future generations, and the temple the Jews are now rebuilding is a shadow of what is to come. Haggai calls on the people to work in hope and faith, standing on God’s prophetic promises for the future, despite the current disappointing circumstances.

The Coming Glory of God’s House

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

In verses 1-5 the Word that God gives to Haggai for the Jews is one of encouragement. The Lord tells them not to make comparisons between the glory of Solomon’s temple and the one they are now building. He exhorts the people to be strong and to continue working on restoring the temple for He is with them as He was with Israel when they were released from Egypt – His covenant promises to them are still with them. He tells them not to fear because His Spirit is still with them.

For today’s Church we need always remember that God is a promise keeper, and he never changes. He is the same yesterday today and always. We too can take encouragement from Haggai’s message when things don’t seem to be going right for us or we have experienced profound loss in our lives. God was good to His children yesterday, He is good to them today and He will be good to us tomorrow and beyond into eternity because we belong to Him through the blood sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

In verses 6-9 Haggai’s message to the Jews from God changes tack from the present day hardship to one of His future glory, not only for the Jews but for all nations – The New Jerusalem with His temple, God and His Lamb will be the new temple, His dwelling place, filled with His glory!

Revelation 21:1-3 (NKJV)

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Revelation 21:22-24 (NKJV)

22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

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;

In verse 6 Haggai tells us that God at some time in the future, will once again shake the heaven and earth.

Revelation 21:1 (NKJV)

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

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

In verse 7 God tells us that at this future time He will shake all nations and they shall come to the “Desire of All Nations.” There is some controversy surrounding what is meant by this phrase, but I am of the opinion that it refers to Jesus based on the fact that every knee shall bow before him. The desire of every born again Christian should be to bow before King Jesus, the Lamb of God, Lord of lords and King of kings!

Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)

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.

Revelation 7:9-11 (NKJV)

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

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

The Jews had become despondent about the temple they were building not shaping up to the glory of Solomon’s temple. But God says to them in verse 8 that all the silver and gold in the world is His anyway to do what He likes with. God is not interested in material richness He is interested in spiritual richness which includes obedience. All He required from the Jews was to rebuild the temple as He had instructed, instead they were only intent on gaining material wealth for themselves.

God is not interested in our material possessions and wealth! He is interested in our relationship with Him. He is interested in our full obedience to His Word and allowing ourselves to be led and guided by His Holy Spirit. He is interested in us loving our neighbours as ourselves. In this way the Church will bring glory to Jesus!

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.”

In verse 9 Haggai gives a prophetic reference to a future event. This event is the New Jerusalem as mentioned in Revelation 21:1 quoted above. This temple is Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church. The New Jerusalem filled with the glory of God. The Church are His temple, in the New Jerusalem His glory will shine in and through us. The Church, the Bride of Christ, will be far greater than any of the former temples built by the hands of men!

The People Are Defiled

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’ ”

Then the priests answered and said, “No.”

13 And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?”

So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”

14 Then Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

In verses 10-14 Haggai delivers a strong word to the people, he tells them that God considers them to be unclean or defiled before Him because they have neglected His instruction and have turned back to their idolatrous ways.

Haggai engages with the priests in a conversation about ritual purity. If someone touches a dead body and becomes ritually impure or marked by death and then goes to touch some food, does it become impure too? The priests say, “Yes.”

Haggai tells them it is the same with the people of Israel because they have defiled themselves in disobedience and selfishness and what they’re putting their hands to is thus also defiled (the works of their hands in their own strength) and they are unable to receive God’s blessings.

For the Church today we have a similar situation, many in the Church are not putting God first in everything and are only seeking self-gain. Many Christians have turned the things of the world into idols and are worshipping them. If this current generation doesn’t humble themselves and turn from this idolatry, apathy and self-indulgence, then whatever they do with their hands outside of Christ Jesus, including themselves as a temple of God, will become impure before Him!

Promised Blessing

15 ‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord— 16 since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord. 18 ‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid—consider it: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’ ”

In verses 15-19 Haggai encourages the people to repent of their wicked ways and turn back to putting God first and heeding His instruction to rebuild the temple. He tells them that when they do this, from that very moment forward, God will bless them, and they will live in the fulness of His love and provision! What they put their hands to will no longer be eaten up by blight, mildew and hail -when they put God first and are obedient to His Word!

It will be the same for God’s people today, His Church, we will be able to live in His full blessing and provision if we repent of not putting Him first in all we do and humble ourselves before Him so that he can lift us up to live in harmony with Him and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We will be able to live together in the unity of the Spirit and bring glory to Jesus.

James 4:10 (NKJV)

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Psalm 133:1 (NKJV)

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Zerubbabel Chosen as a Signet

20 And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:

‘I will shake heaven and earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;
I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.
I will overthrow the chariots
And those who ride in them;
The horses and their riders shall come down,
Every one by the sword of his brother.

23 ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

In verses 20-23 Haggai delivers a personal message to from God to Zerubbabel after telling the people that God will defeat all His enemies and destroy all the kingdoms of the Gentiles. He will shake the whole earth and overthrow any kingdom and ruler that stands against Him – in that age as well as the ages to come and in particular the “last days!” No weapon that comes against Israel or His Church will succeed!

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV)

No weapon formed against you shall prosper,

And every tongue which rises against you in judgment

You shall condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And their righteousness is from Me,”

Says the Lord.

The personal message to Zerubbabel is that God will make him like a signet ring for he is God’s chosen one.

Zerubbabel was to become symbolically a “signet ring.” The “Signet ring” in those days was usually worn by the first son in a Jewish family and was engraved with the father’s name and a design to identify the son's authority in the name of the ring’s owner. 

It was also used to attest to the authority of royal messengers who carried papers stamped by the image on the ring (see 1 Kings 21:8). It was also used to mark precious articles. It proved ownership. It proved that Zerubbabel belonged to God!

For us today, all born again believers – His true Church, we carry God’s signet ring! We are chosen ones as well – when we become born again we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We belong to God the Father. The devil has no hold on us, and we will receive God’s protection and covering here on earth until the Lord returns for us. We are God’s royal priesthood in the name of Jesus.

John 15:16 (NKJV)

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (AMP)

13 In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God]. 14 The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit in every born again believer is God’s signet ring and seal of approval and authority on us in Christ Jesus!

NO WORD FROM GOD WILL EVER FAIL!

Luke 1:37 (NIV)

For no word from God will ever fail.”

Prayer
Dear Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to put you first in everything I do. Help me to read and study your Word daily and help me to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the reverent fear of God that I may glorify Jesus. Help me Lord to remain humble before you and put the needs of others before my own. Lord help me not neglect my relationship with the you in order to fulfil my own wants and needs in my own strength and worldly ways.

Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

What is Holiness?

 

What is holiness?

In the verses below we can see that it has always been God’s intention for His people to be holy because He is holy. In Leviticus 11, God tells us to consecrate ourselves and be holy because He is holy.

And the Apostle Peter confirms that this scripture still applies to the Church today when he quotes it in 1 Peter 1:15-16! 

And the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 1:9 says a similar thing when he tells us that God has called us with a holy calling for His own purpose and grace.

To consecrate oneself means to dedicate oneself to a higher purpose, for a Christian today this means our purpose is to dedicate ourselves to God through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Hebrew word for consecrate in Leviticus 11:44 is "qadash" pronounced "kaw-dash" and means to be set apart or to be consecrated as holy. (Strong's 6942).

The Apostle Peter quoted this scripture in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and thus we know without a shadow of doubt that this instruction still applies to Christians today!

Lev 11:44a (NIV)

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

2 Timothy 1:9 (NKJV)

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Holiness is a characteristic of who God is, and as such holiness should be of paramount importance to us as believers and something we should be earnestly seeking, because without it no one will ever see the Lord!

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Before we can look at what the Bible teaches on being holy, let’s first understand what the word means from the original Greek text of the New Testament.

Holiness in the verse above is from the Greek word ‘hagiotes’ meaning holiness or sanctity. Hagiotes is derived from the Greek adjective ‘hagios’ which means set apart (for God) for the specific purpose of being holy and sacred.

From this we can safely conclude that God expects us, as Christians, to set ourselves apart to be holy to Him. In fact, Hebrews 12:14 above states quite emphatically that the we won’t see the Lord unless we pursue holiness.

Also, as we endeavour to pursue holiness, setting ourselves apart to Him for sanctification, we will experience a measure of pain as He chastises us for our own good when we go astray, through the sanctifying process of dying to self. As John the Baptist says: "He must become greater I must become less."

John 3:30 (AMP)

 He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.

Nevertheless, this chastising process will yield within us the peaceable fruit of holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus. We are trained by God's sanctification and chastening process in Christ Jesus!

Hebrew 12:9-11 (NKJV)

9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

In other words, that which is holy belongs to God, and conversely whatever belongs to God is holy. We are sanctified and "set apart for a holy use or purpose" by God, and to find out what our use and purpose is in Christ Jesus we need to live life in the Spirit.

As God's children we are called to be holy and we must clothe ourselves appropriately in order to show ourselves holy and set apart from the world. The character of the true child of God should look like this:

Colossians 3:12-17 (NKJV)

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

We are God's elect and He has chosen us to be His children and to serve others as Jesus came to serve, and He has called us to come out of this world, to be different and separate from the rest of the world - to be holy! To love others as He loves us! We are a royal priesthood, a chosen generation and it is our responsibility to reflect this to the world.

John 15:16-17 (NKJV)

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV)

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

The heavenly host sing of God's holiness to the 3rd degree. We are called to be holy in a fallen world as this reveals God's glory to the whole world!

Isaiah 6:1-3 (NKJV)

 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!”

Revelation 4:8 (NKJV)

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!”

Jesus reminds us that we are not of this world,

John 17:14-16 (NIV)

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

The Christian must live in this present evil world, but his life must he different from the lives of the other people that are in the world – who are not born-again, who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In other words, our lives and the way and manner in which we live, must reflect God’s holiness in Christ Jesus!

We, as born again believers in Christ Jesus, must come out from any of this world's ways that are sinful and evil out from the religious and spiritual "Babylon" that is this whole world.

Revelation 18:4 (NIV)

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her (the world), my people,’[Jer 51:45)

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

Making such a distinction and living by it is one of the many ways that God's true children and servants are different from the rest of the world.

Instead of being immersed in the lawless and sinful ways of the world, we should put our thoughts on better and higher things:

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This scripture makes is very clear that we should avoid filling our minds with entertainment that is sinful: void of (God’s) love, lustful, sexually illicit or that is filled with murder, hatred, evil and all other such things.

We often justify our sinful actions by saying things like: "It’s only a song" — "it's only make-believe", "it's only a movie" or "that’s who I am."

On the contrary, the Bible says this:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and continue to walk in the ways of the world – we must walk in the way of the Spirit (be holy)! Christians need to be different from the rest of this world — to say no to sin, to evil and to wrong things as it is written:

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We will continue to be holy if we live a life of holiness in the reverent fear of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit and to the glory of Jesus. That is the way of obedience and conformity with God's ways and His Word. This is living life in the Spirit.

God wants a glorious Church without spot or blemish. Jesus gave his life for the Church in order to make her holy and blameless:

Ephesians 5:26-27 (NIV)

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless

My dear Readers, if we are not reading and study the Bible for ourselves, how on earth can we become washed and cleansed by it and know how to pursue holiness!

Prayer

Dear Father

In the name of Jesus I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to be holy just as you are holy. Help me to read and study your Word daily and help me to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the reverent fear of God that I may glorify Jesus.  Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

Offenses Will Come

In Matthew 18:6-7 and Luke 17:1-2, Jesus warns us (His Church) that we will be subject to offenses coming our way. These offenses will happen, and we must learn how to deal with them without letting ourselves become trapped by the sin of unforgiveness and remain in it to fester and become a root of bitterness in our lives!

Matthew 18:6-7 (NIV)

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!

Luke 17:1-2 (AMP)

Jesus said to His disciples, “Stumbling blocks [temptations and traps set to lure one to sin] are sure to come, but woe (judgment is coming) to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone [as large as one turned by a donkey] were hung around his neck and he were hurled into the sea, than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble [in sin and lose faith].

In the above verses Matthew and Luke give their account of the same teaching that the Lord had given to his disciples and other followers.

The Lord gives this teaching to the disciples not long after they had asked Him, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of God?” The Lord’s response to this question was:

Matthew 18:3-5 (NIV)

3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

In Matthew 18:3 and 18:6 the Lord refers to His followers as ‘little children” and “little ones’ and qualifies this statement by telling us that by this term, He is referring to ‘those that believe in me (Him).” This tells us that He is not referring to actual children but to His disciples and other adult followers! Those that are in the Lord.

The inference from these verses is that we need to believe in the Lord as little children believe, without the encumbrance of our worldly knowledge, self-opinions and other such negative influences!

The Meaning of Stumble?
Now, in both Matthew and Luke’s account of this event they make use of the word “stumble” or “stumbling blocks”. Let’s examine this word “stumble” in a little more detail so that we can get a better picture of what the Lord is saying.

In Matthew 18:6 the original Greek word for ‘stumble’ is ‘skandalizó’ (pronounced: skan-dal-id'-zo) which is a verb, a doing word and its expanded meaning and application is: to put a snare (in the way of), to cause to stumble, to give offense to, to cause to sin, to cause to become indignant, to shock and to offend.

And in Luke 17:1 the Greek word for ‘stumbling block’ is ‘skandalon’ (pronounced: skan'-dal-on) which is a noun, a naming word and its expanded meaning and application is: a stick of a bait trap (the stick - the skandalon - is pulled away and the trap falls on whatever you are wanting to trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense, a cause for error.

Both ‘skandalizo’ and ‘skandalon’ carry the same meaning, the only difference being that ‘skandalizo’ is a verb, what we do to someone or something – to stumble, and ‘skandalon’ is a noun, what we name something that is done to someone that causes them to falter or to knock them off track – become a stumbling block.

As a matter of interest, we derive our English word ‘scandal’ from the Greek word ‘skandalon.’ A scandal is an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage and individual humiliation.

So, my dear Readers, from our examination of the word stumble we can deduce that something that can cause us to stumble or falter in our Christian faith can be taken as an offense and a stumbling block is something that can cause us to be tripped up (stumbled) or offended in our Christian walk!

Being stumbled by something or someone in our Christian walk is not a good thing! How do we know this?

We know this because of the seriousness in which God views anyone who causes one of His children to stumble. Look what Jesus says in Matthew 18:6-7 and Luke 17:1-2 above – it would be better for them to have a millstone tied to their neck and be thrown into the sea.

So, on the one side of the “offense” coin we have a consequence for the perpetrator of the offense. They will be dealt with very severely by God unless they turn to Him in repentance and ask forgiveness! The “millstone” bit!

On the other side of the “offense” coin, we have the one who has taken offense and refuses to forgive and let go of the offense. These people cause spiritual problems for themselves through holding unforgiveness and bitterness in their hearts.

The true follower of Christ will be ever forgiving when asked to forgive and will constantly develop, in Christ Jesus and led by the Holy Spirit, a pure and humble heart.

How many times must I forgive?

Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Always be quick to forgive others as God forgives us!

How do offenses come?
Offenses come through the words and actions of other people. These words and actions can be directed at us or at someone who we hold dear and we take offense for them.

But how does the taking of offense happen? What actually happens to us when we take offense?

The taking of offense, or feeling offended, often occurs when we have a negative emotional experience or reaction to something that has been said or done to us or to someone else which conflicts with what we expect and believe to be right and appropriate behaviour. Our personal, moral compass has been knocked off balance! Our pride and our flesh rears its ugly head. Who do they thing they are? How dare they? Don't they know who I am? 

Feeling offended is deeply rooted in the expectations we have of others that govern our daily moral standing in life. These expectations are usually so high that nobody could ever possibly comply with them even if they knew what they were!

Taking offense at what someone else says or does is a choice – we can choose to take offense, or we can choose not to. Just like we can chose to sin or we can chose not to sin!

Taking offense can have a profound effect on our Christian walk, both in our mental feeling of well-being and on our own self-worth and self-esteem.

An offense can not only change how we see ourselves but how we see and interact with others. This change in a Christian affects our outlook in a negative way and hampers not only our relationship with others, but even more seriously our, personal  relationship with Jesus – we start to withdraw from Him! Unforgiveness and bitterness puts a self-made and often impenetrable barrier between God and the offended one!

This taking on of an offense can lead to conflict with others and to us withdrawing from interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ and to holding on to unforgiveness in one’s heart and to allowing bitterness to overcome ones life. And just as bad, it can lead to those around us whom we love, to tread lightly around us, walking on eggshells. This can really dampen our relationship with our loved ones and the ones dearest to us and of course to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Proverbs 17:9 (AMP)

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,

But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.

Proverbs 19:11 (AMP)

Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger,

And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].

Holding on to offenses leads to emotional conflict within oneself and manifests outwardly by causing conflict with others and destroys the peace that we have available to us in Christ Jesus.

The apostle James warns us about this in the below scriptures:

Hebrews 12:14-15 (NKJV)

14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Always taking things personally and becoming offended can lead to a low self-esteem. By constantly putting yourself in the position of feeling offended, you may start to create a sense of paranoia about how others view you.

It indicates a high level of self-absorption to hear what someone says and immediately assume they are being offensive to you. To hold on to offenses is a sin and needs to be repented from as it will not only defile you but will also defile those around you, even those that you love and that love you the most!

Jesus Himself warns us that our Christian walk will not be trouble free and that offenses will come, but when they do, to keep our eyes on Him alone! In Christ Jesus we have the victory for He has overcome the world!

John 16:33 (AMP)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

How do we overcome the offenses we are holding on to?
As born again Christians we are so fortunate to have a Lord and Saviour who sets us the perfect example in overcoming this world, including the offenses that come our way. The Bible exhorts and encourages us to follow him in all His ways.

Luke 23:34-35 (NKJV)

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”

Jesus suffered and died for you and me. He was humiliated, sworn at, spat on whipped and beaten and killed for us – how offensive is that? Yet He chose not to be offended – He chose to forgive – no sin was found in Him – He let go of all human pride and emotions and chose to forgive.

1 John 3:5-6 (NIV)

5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

Dear Readers, let’s be like Jesus and let go of the sin of offenses and pride before a root of bitterness sets in! Let’s choose to forgive others from the heart as Christ did, so that our sins can be forgiven!

Matthew 6:14-15 (AMP)

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:35 (AMP)

My heavenly Father will also do the same to [every one of] you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

If we hold on to offenses and hold unforgiveness in our hearts, how can our heavenly Father forgive us?

Let’s make it our mission to repent of the offenses we hold on to and ask God to forgive us in Christ Jesus and to make peace with others so that we can move on in our Christian walk to maturity.

Let’s chose to let go of our earthly baggage and allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us! Our Christian walk to maturity will be a much lighter load when we let go of offenses!

Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus, the Name above all names!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father
I pray in Jesus name that you Lord, forgive me for not letting go of my pride and the offenses that I have held on to in my heart. I pray that by the power of your Holy Spirit that you would help me to let go of all my pride and the offenses and unforgiveness that I am holding on to and deliver me from the root of bitterness. Amen.

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!