Elijah's miserable run

There is nothing we can do on our own to ensure the outcome of our lives. Nothing we can do to secure our salvation into everlasting life. Nothing we can do by ourselves to secure power, authority ... or even signs and wonders ... not even walking in the prophetic ... not even abstinence or spiritual warfare or compliance or non compliance.

There is only one Way.

One Life!

I have a few favourite stories pointing straight to Jesus, Yah'shua Himself. One of them happens to be the story of Elijah, the guy whose name means Elohim is Yahveh or God is YHVH.

Today I share this incredible story of this great prophet on the run.

Jesus, the dog and the children

In most cultures calling someone a dog is the ultimate insult.

Similarly, calling someone a child or childish, offends that person maximally. 

However, in the economy of Jesus this is not true and we may even find that the exact opposite is appropriate.

There is this cool, prophetic history in the book of Numbers (13 and 14) which resulted in Joshua and Caleb being the only ones from their generation to enter the promised land - Joshua and the dog ... and the children from the younger generation.

How is this significant?

HalleluYAH, the picture ...

If ever there was one Hebrew word that we all use all over the world all of the time, it is the word Hallelujah ... or, as I like use it - HalleluYAH!

We use it all the time. 

Even non-Christians and people in all kinds of religions use it.

And we don't find the time to stop and see what it is that we are saying ...

So, let's do!

The Shepherd bowing down to the rebellious

The Old Covenant is deeply intertwined with the prophecies that speak of the glorious reality of Jesus Christ.

Today, I’m diving into Psalm 78, a powerful reflection by Asaph, whose very name means "gatherer" or "receiver." Asaph, the psalmist, gathers and receives divine truth, then delivers it to us.

This isn't just an ancient poem; it’s a living word that speaks directly to us, revealing God’s unwavering kindness even in the face of human rebellion. It recounts the turbulent history of Israel, from their miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, highlighting how, time and again, they "did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation [Yah’shû‛âh]" (verse 22). In the same sense it speaks to us today.

... enters the wolf in sheep clothing...

I tend to be very focused on what the Holy Spirit teaches me during my early morning or late afternoon jogging - alone time ... One-to-one. 

And so, I was asked about the wolf in sheep's clothing ... 

I thought I was through with teachings about the sheep ... and that I knew this thing about wolves dressing up as sheep ...

... wonderful surprise!

Mindful of the Shepherd and sheep ... again!

Just as I thought I had the whole idea of the Shepherd and the sheep (see here and here), the Holy Spirit serves up a fresh message that totally lines up with the first two ...

Once again I am stunned!

Sheep - hook onto the power of life

In my post on "The Highest Reveals Grace - רעה Shepherd," I promised to say something about the sheep (the flock)? Surely, if the revelation regarding the Good Shepherd is so powerful and awesome, there must be something equally profound about the sheep as well?

Well, here goes...

Some will know the Mystery ... others not ...

There is a Mystery.

When Jesus spoke to the multitudes He always spoke in parables. 

Even today when reading what Jesus said to the multitudes, we are reading a parable.

Matthew 13:34 says: All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them

We need to search, read and comprehend with a holy understanding that is freely available from the Holy Spirit, the One Jesus sent to teach us all things.

Again ... there is a  Mystery and It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Pro 25:2 Remember this post?

Better translated this proverb says that Father God hides (conceal or sathar) carefully a matter (dabar -His Word) [also to hide one self] in order that kings (us) may seek out (chaqar - to examine intimately) that matter (dabar - his Word, Jesus) - in the new testament we are kings, prophets and priests. We can seek it (Him) out.

So what's with the Mystery?

Jesus tells the parable of the sower in Mark 4 and how the Gospel would fall away amongst some who hear it, except where it falls in good (worthy or admirable) ground (occupants of land). 

He then explains to the disciples afterwards in Mark 4:11 that ... Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables, AND QUOTING ISAIAH 6:9 HE GOES ON FURTHER: so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest they should turn (epistrephō - turn to God), and their sins be forgiven them (aphiēmi - actually means, in the intensive form, to accept that their sins had been totally annihilated or sent away). That's the Gospel!

Jesus then explains that the parable of the sower is a key-parable to understand other parables.

So, again what is all this about the Mystery?

Jesus is the Mystery!

The Word Mystery or mustērion (from the Greek root word muo, conveys the idea that those who experience a situation (True Grace - Jesus) will be left completely speechless,  dumbstruck and to be utterly astonished (over His goodness and kindness and love and mercy). The word mustērion occurs 27 times in the New Testament, the bulk of which refers to Jesus Himself.

Let's have a look at some mustērion:

Eph 3:3 - How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery ...

1Co 2:7 - But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory

Rom 16:25 - ... Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began

Eph 1:9 - Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself

Eph 5:32 - This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church

Col 1:26 - Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints

Col 4:3 - ... praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ

He is the Mystery Lover ready to be discovered by the beloved ...

He is the Mystery Pursuer of those who wander in lost condemnation ...

He is the Mystery Contact to those of double-minded confusion ...

He is the Mystery, very present Comfort in the time of need ...

... our Healer ...

... our Redeemer ...

... our Restorer ...

... our Perfect Gift ...

... our every Need ...

... our Friend and Lover ...

Indeed, it is the honour of kings to search out the King of kings, the Great Mystery, Who reveals Himself openly in His Word By His Spirit!

HalleluYAH!

The Highest reveals Grace רעה Shepherd

Jesus makes a lot of effort when He explains Himself as being both the shepherd and the door.

What is this all about?

Why the analogy?

The whole of the old covenant is full of prophets an prophecies showing Israel as a nation (sheep) scattered upon the hills having no Shepherd (Numbers 27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 18:16, etc.) 

... until David reveals:

 "יהוה is my shepherd; I do not lack." Psa 23:1

There are two key words here we should take note of. It is going to totally blow us away:

Life secured by the Shepherd of Grace

Ready for some really loaded verses?

The Gospel is everywhere concealed in the old covenant and clearly revealed by Grace Himself (the new Covenant Himself).

The pictographs (in brackets), as the Spirit of God revealed them to me, just absolutely took my breath away.

Reading Psalm 106 verses 1 to 5 with picture analysis from the ancient Hebrew text and letters:

Praise ye יהוה. O give thanks unto יהוה; for he is good [ṭôb or טוב with pictograph: surround the secured house]: for his mercy [goodness or chêsêd or חסד with pictograph: bondage broken down to freedom] endureth for ever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of יהוה? who can shew forth all his praise? [The answer comes in the next verse ...]

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. [Those that behold the judgement of Jesus over evil and He (Jesus) who does righteousness always]

Remember me, O יהוה, with the favour [râtsôn רצן, or pleasures, delight, acceptance with pictograph: the Highest captures you in life] that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation [yeshû‛âh];

That I may see the good [ṭôb] of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance [nachălâh or נחלה with pictograph (get this): life secured by the Shepherd of Grace]. Psa 106:1-5

...

... breathless!