Gideon - Great Warrior! (Part 2)

Part 2

.....We left off in Part 1 where Gideon is appointed and empowered by God to free His people. Let us continue on in this study from Judges 6: 25-35.

1. Gideon's first task was to tear down Baal’s altar, which it seems was his father's, either for his own house or perhaps for the whole town. We can clearly see the power of God’s grace, to take the weakest of the weak, and raise up a deliverer, out of the family of one that was a ring-leader in Idolatry. God showed Gideon that it was not enough just to worship at that altar, which we hope he had not done, but he must tear it down; not consecrating the same altar to God , but utterly demolish it. God always commands us to tear down the monuments of superstition, and unbelief, to then empower us to His own service.

2. Gideon was then commanded to erect an altar to God, to Jehovah, his God, or Israel’s. It would have been an improper thing for him to build an altar, even to the God of Israel, especially for a burnt-offering and sacrifice, and it would have been construed as contempt, if God had not bidden him to do it. But now it was his duty and honor to be the one employed to do it. God directs him to the place where he should build it, on the top of the rock, a place to designate their overcoming, perhaps in the same place in which the angel had appeared to him.

The word here used for the rock, on which the altar was to be built signifies a fortress, or strong-hold, erected, to secure them from the Midianites; like a defeated King with the victorious king's foot on his throat, declaring victory before all. The wood, that was to be used for the offering, was to be from the image of Baal that was cut down, represented Humanity. God's victory over Humanity. The location represents for us today the place of victory, a point of no return, where God's enemies have been made a footstool for the Lord . Jesus spoke prophetically when He said, "Upon this Rock, (meaning Revelation,) I shall build this Kingdom, My Kingdom, (My Church.)"

.....On this altar, Gideon was to offer sacrifice. Two bullocks he must offer: his father’s young bullock, and the second bullock of seven years old. The former, we may suppose, he was to offer for himself, the latter for the sins of the people whom he was to deliver. It was requisite he should thus make peace with God, before he made war on Midian. Till sin be pardoned through the great sacrifice, The Finished Work of the Cross. These bullocks, it is supposed, were intended for sacrifices on the altar of Baal, but were now converted to a better use. Thus, when the strong man armed is overcome and dispossessed, the stronger than he divides the spoil, seizes that for himself which was prepared for Baal. Let him come whose right it is, and give it to him.

.....The image of Baal or whatever it was, that was the sanctity or beauty of the previous altar, must not only be burnt, but must be used as fuel for God’s altar, to signify not only that whatever sets up itself in opposition to God shall be destroyed, but also that the justice of God will be glorified in its destruction. God ordered Gideon to do this. Gideon had no zeal for religion, which made it was necessary for him to give proof of before he took the field, showing his valor there. It is by these same steps and degree that we embark upon our own callings today, towards the Church's Reformation, and Transformation, preparing the way for the Kingdom of God to be established here on this Earth.

.....Sin, which was the cause of all their troubles, must be taken away, else how should the trouble, and its effects, come to an end? This has already taken place for us today, but the people of God have forgotten and must be reminded of what has already taken place, renewing their minds to what is already true of them in Christ. And it might be hoped that by this example of Gideon’s, who was now shortly to appear so great a man, would be followed by the rest of the cities and tribes, and the destruction of this one altar of Baal would be the destruction of many.

.....Gideon was obedient to the heavenly vision, v. 27. He that was to command Israel, for God, and must be subject to God, without disputing, and, as a type of Christ, must first save his people from their sins, and then save them from their enemies.

Four things appear evident concerning the deployment of his mission.

1. He had servants of his own, whom he could confide in, who, we may suppose, like him, had kept their integrity, and had not bowed their knee to Baal, and therefore were allowed to assist him in destroying the altar of Baal.

2. He did not contemplate taking his father’s bullock and offering it to God without his father’s consent, because God, who expressly commanded him to do so, had a better title to it than his father had, and it was the greatest real kindness he could do to his father to atone for his sin.

3. He expected to incur the displeasure of his father’s household by it, and the ill-will of his neighbors, yet he did it. And, while he was sure of the favor of God, he feared the anger of men.

4. Though he feared not their resentment when it was done, to prevent their resistance in the doing of it, he prudently chose to do it by night, that he might not be disturbed in these sacred actions. And some think it was the same night in which God spoke to him to do it, and it is probable that he did it as soon as he had received the orders, immediately applying himself to the execution of them, and finished before morning.

Then, he was brought into peril of his life for doing it, v. 28–30, through the next series of events.

1. Gideon, when he had gone through with the mission, did not desire the concealment of it, nor could it be hid, for the men of the city rose early in the morning, as it should seem, to pay homage to Baal, which was the way many of them began their day with their god. It was and still is a shame to those who knew of the true God at one time, as their God, and yet, in the morning, directed no prayer to Him, nor looked up.

2. They all saw the destruction of Baal’s altar. It was soon discovered who had done it. Strict inquiry was made. Gideon was known to be disaffected to the worship of Baal, which brought him into suspicion, and positive proof immediately came against him: "Gideon, no doubt, has done this thing.’’

3. Gideon being found guilty of the fact, the Israelites arrived at the conclusion that he must die for what he did, and required his own father (who, by compromising to their idolatry, had given them too much cause to expect that he would comply with them,) to deliver him up. They requested his father to: Bring out thy son, that he may die. Be astonished, O heavens! How soon will idolaters become our persecutors!

.....He was rescued out of the hands of his persecutors by his own father, v. 31. There were those that stood against Gideon, that not only appeared at the first to make a demand, but insisted on it, and would have him put to death. Notwithstanding the heavy judgments they were facing themselves at this time for their own idolatry, they hated to be reformed, and walked contrary to God even when He was walking contrary to them. Yet, Joash stood up for Gideon and God; he was one of the chief men of the city. Those that have power today, may do a great deal for the protection of an honest man and an honest cause, and when they so use their power, they are ministers of God for good.

.....Joash had patronized Baal’s altar, yet now protects the one that had destroyed it. Why? Perhaps it was a particular esteem for him as a virtuous, valiant, and valuable man, who was never the worse for not joining with him in the worship of Baal. Today, there are many that have not the courage enough to keep their integrity themselves, yet still have a conscience left that makes them love and esteem those that do.

.....Maybe Joash, out of conviction, realized that Gideon had done well. His son, perhaps, had reasoned with him, or God, who has all hearts in his hands, had secretly and effectually influenced him to appear thus against the advocates for Baal, though he had complied with them formerly in the worship of Baal. Note, It is good to appear for God when we are called to it, though there be few or none to second us, because God can incline the hearts of those to stand by us from whom we little expect assistance.

There were two things Joash urges:

1. That it was absurd for them to plead for Baal. "Will you that are Israelites, the worshipers of the one and only living and true God, plead for Baal, a false god? Will you be so senseless? Those whose fathers’ god Baal was, and who never knew any other, are more excusable in pleading for him than you are. You are the ones that are supposed to be in covenant with Jehovah, and have been trained up in the knowledge of Him. You that have brought about all this mischief and calamity upon yourselves by your Idolatry, will you yet plead for Baal?’’ Note, It is bad to commit sin, but it is an even greater wickedness indeed to plead for it, especially to plead for Baal, that idol, whatever it is, which possesses the room in your heart which God should have.

2. That it was needless for them to plead for Baal. If he were not a god, as was pretended, they could have nothing to say for him; if he were, he was able to plead for himself, as the God of Israel had often done by fire from heaven, or some other judgment against those who put contempt upon Him. Here is a fair challenge to Baal to do either good or evil. The result of which would convince his worshipers of their folly in praying to one to help them that could not even avenge himself. After this, Gideon remarkably prospered, and thereby it appeared how unable Baal was to maintain his own cause.

.....But during this time, Gideon’s father gave him a new name, v. 32; he called him Jerubbaal: "Let Baal plead; let him plead against him if he can." They literally cursed him. And from that point, a challenge was issued to see if Baal had anything to say for himself against his destroyer, Gideon, who was empowered by Jehovah, the true and living God. They concluded by stating,"Now that Gideon is taking up arms against the Midianites that worship Baal, let him defend his worshipers if he can.’’

Stay tuned for the conclusion of Gideon,The Great Warrior, in Part 3.

..

Gideon - Great Warrior! (Part 1)

Part 1

.....There are many great men spoken about in the Bible, but there is only one that God called a "Great Warrior," and that was Gideon. Let's find out why through the study of Judges 6: 1-35.

.....We begin our study with the children of Israel who find themselves in bondage again, impoverished, and distraught, for 7 years, needing deliverance, because of their Idolatry, which was considered evil in the sight of the Lord. They had forgotten that the Lord had delivered them out of the hand of all who had oppressed them. And so in their misery, they cried out to the Lord, who had heard their cry and answered their plea, calling, commissioning, and empowering Gideon, through an Angel of the Lord, to take upon himself, the command of their forces against the Midianites, (which means Strife, or a brawling and contentious people), and the Amalekites, (which means Sorrowful and Wicked). Guideon's father was now living, but he was passed by, and this honor was put upon the son, for the father kept up in his own family the worship of Baal (v. 25), which we may suppose this son, as far as was in his power, witnessed against. He was of the half tribe of Manasseh, (which means Causing to Forget) that lay in Canaan, (which means Lowland, to be brought into subjection, or humble). The Angel of the Lord that gave him the commission said, "I will be with thee." This divine messenger appeared here to Gideon, who considered himself the lowest of the low, yet was the perfect choice by God for this mission. But Why?

(1.) He was retired—all alone. God often manifests Himself to His people when they are out of the noise and hurry of this world. Silence and solitude befriend our communion with God.

(2.) He was employed in threshing wheat, with a staff or rod (so the word signifies), such as they used in beating out fitches and cummin (Isa. 28:27), but now used for wheat, probably because he had but little to thresh, he needed not the oxen to tread it out. It was not then looked upon as any diminution to him, though he was a person of some account and a mighty man of valour, to lay his hand to the business of the husbandman. He had many servants (v. 27), and yet would not himself live in idleness. We put ourselves in the way of divine visits when we employ ourselves in honest business.

(3.) He was distressed; he was threshing his wheat, not in the threshing-floor, the proper place, but by the wine-press, in some private unsuspected corner, for fear of the Midianites. He himself shared in the common calamity, and now the Angel came to him against Midian when he himself could speak so feelingly of the heaviness of their yoke. The day of the greatest distress is God’s time to appear for His people’s relief.

.....Let us now see what passed between the Angel and Gideon, who considered himself the lowest of the low, and knew not with certainty, till after He was gone, that He was an Angel, but supposed He was a prophet.

.....The Angel appeared to him with respect, and assured him of the presence of God with him, (v. 12). He calls him a mighty man of valour, perhaps because he observed how he threshed his wheat with all his might; a man diligent in his business. Gideon was a man of a brave active spirit, and yet buried alive in obscurity, through the iniquity of the times; yet here in his presence is this Angel, or Messenger of God, empowering him to undertake something great.

.....By this word, the Angel gives him his commission. If we have God’s presence with us, this will justify us and bear us out in our undertakings. He then inspires him with all necessary qualifications for the execution of his commission. "The Lord is with thee to guide and strengthen thee, and support thee.’’ And last, He assures him of success; for, if God be for us, who can prevail against us? If He be with us, nothing can be wanting to us. The presence of God with us is all in all to our prosperity, and in whatever we do.

.....Gideon was a mighty man of valour, and yet he could bring nothing to pass without the presence of God, and that presence is enough to make any man mighty in valour, and to give a man courage at any time. Gideon questioned God by saying, "O my Lord! if the Lord be with us, why then has all this befallen us? " All this trouble and distress from the Midianites’ incursions, which force me to thresh wheat here by the wine-press—all this loss, and grief, and fright; and "where are all the miracles which our fathers told us of?"

.....Gideon, as if not conscious to himself of any thing great or encouraging in his own spirit, fastens only on the assurance the Angel had given him of God’s presence, opening up the way to put the plans and desires of God into execution.

.....More questions are raised by Gideon concerning the delay of their deliverance: "Where are all the miracles which our fathers told us of? Why does not the same power which delivered our fathers from the yoke of the Egyptians deliver us out of the hands of the Midianites?’’ As if because God did not immediately work miracles for their deliverance, though they had by their own sins forfeited His favour and help, Gideon questioned whether God had wrought the miracles which their fathers told them of, or whether He had now the same wisdom, power, and good-will toward His people, that He had had formerly. This was the people's weakness. Forgetting what God has done.

We must not expect that the miracles which were wrought when the Church was first formed in the New Testament to continue to the same degree, when we as the Body of Christ have not kept close to Him, having revolted through our own religious traditions, losing our focus of the completed, and finished work of the Cross and Christ.

Gideon finds himself in the same spot that many of us who are called and chosen by God today.

.....He desires to have his faith confirmed concerning this commission; so he fleeces God to satisfy himself of his authority, and would be able to give satisfaction to others as to Him who gave him that authority. He therefore humbly begs of this Angel, to give him a sign, (v. 17). And, the commission is then confirmed by some act of God out of the common course of nature. "Show me a sign to assure me of the truth of this concerning which thou talkest with me, that it is something more than talk, and that thou art in earnest.’’ Now, under the dispensation of the Spirit, we are not to expect signs before our eyes, such as Gideon here desired, but must earnestly pray to God that, if we have found grace in His sight, He would show us a sign in our heart, by the powerful operations of His Spirit there, fulfilling the work of faith, and perfecting what is lacking in it. But the Angel accepted the request, and so gave him a further and longer opportunity of conversation with Him, (v. 18). Those who know what it is to have communion with God desire the continuance of it.

.....Gideon desired in courting the Angel to stay, that he might bring out some provision of meat for Him. He did not take Him into the house to entertain Him there, because he desired still to be in private and to converse with Him alone, (therefore he calls not for a servant to bring the provision, but fetches it himself). Upon the Angel’s promise to stay and dine with him, he hastened to bring out a kid, which, it is likely, was already boiled for his own dinner, so that in making it ready he had nothing to do but to put it in the basket and the broth in a vessel, and so he presented it, (v. 19). Establishing a Covenant. His present, a meat offering. For what we offer to God for His glory, and in token of our gratitude to Him, will be made by the grace of God to turn to our own comfort and satisfaction.

.....The Angel ordered him to take the flesh and bread out of the basket, and lay it upon a hard and cold rock, and to pour out the broth upon it, (A Perfect Picture of the Body and Blood of Christ), for which the Angel used the meat as an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto God, showing hereby that He was not a man who needed meat, but the Son of God who was to be served and honoured by sacrifice, and who in the fullness of time was to make Himself a sacrifice. Christ. He brought fire out of the rock, to consume this sacrifice, summoning it, not by striking the rock, as we strike fire out of a flint, but by a gentle touch given to the offering with the end of His staff, (v. 21). Hereby giving Gideon a sign that he had found grace in His sight, for God testified His acceptance of sacrifices by kindling them, in public, with fire from heaven, as with Moses and Elijah, in private, as this, with fire out of the earth, which was equivalent: both were the effect of divine power; and this acceptance of his sacrifice evidenced the acceptance of his person, confirmed his commission, and perhaps was intended to signify his success in the execution of it, that he and his army should be a surprising terror and consumption to the Midianites, like this fire out of the rock.

.....The Angel then departed out of his sight immediately, did not walk off as a man, but vanished and disappeared as a Spirit. Here was as much of a sign as he could wish. Gideon, though no doubt he was confirmed in his faith by the indications given of the divinity of the person who had spoken to him, yet for the present was put into a great fright by it, till God graciously pacified him and removed his fears, by speaking to him, (v. 23). It might have been fatal to him, but He assures him it is not. The Lord had then departed out of his sight, (v. 21). Gideon could no longer walk by sight, he now had to live by faith, that faith which comes by hearing; for the Lord said to him, "Peace be unto thee, all is well, and be thou satisfied that it is so. Fear not; He that came to employ thee did not intend to slay thee; (But to Empower Thee), thou shalt not die.’’

God is always ready to revive the hearts of those that tremble at His word and presence, and to give those that stand in awe of His majesty, the assurance of His mercy, and grace, empowering them for their calling!

..

Our Christian Walk - As Eagle Saints!

.....Isaiah 40: 31 says, " Those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like Eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

.....An Eagle is a large, strong, bird of prey, known for its sharp vision, and powerful wings. It has the natural ability to soar higher than any other, face any storm, locking its wings, and rise up above it. An Eagle's vision is keen, and can see for miles. If it's vision gets dim, it will fly through a waterfall to clear their eyes. When their beak gets tough and worn down, they will beat it against a rock, so a new one can come through. Their existence and design gives them the ability to swoop down on a serpent, and snatch it up in their talons. The main diet of the Eagle is fish and small animals, but they also eat dead carcasses, according to Mathew 24: 28. I wish to explain the aspect of dead carcasses from the Bible in type and meaning for us as Eagle Saints today.

.....As Eagle Saints, we must feed on a fresh Revelation of the Death of Christ. Jesus said, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you," John 6: 53. An Eagle Saint, or believer, seeking maturity, goes through suffering and adversity in his Christian walk throughout his lifetime. The suffering occurs mostly when we have to change the way we think after receiving Truth or Revelation. The adversity comes in the form of persecutions, lost friendships, and trials that also come with that new Revelation. Most painful is being alienated from those who we were once close with, being misunderstood for what God is doing in our lives.

.....So what we must do today is keep soaring to new heights, over the storms of life, and know that the wind of the Spirit is beneath our wings. This is in the understanding that "Spiritual Strength" only comes from waiting, ( A Point and Position Of Rest), on the Lord. He is the one lifting us towards our higher calling in Christ. Philippians 3: 12-14 says, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize, (Evidence of you in God, and God in you), of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." This yearning for perfection is not, and can never be, in Human perfection. But to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, and let us be of the same mind, the mind of Christ, till the Salvation, (or Victory), of the Soul is reached.

.....So in your Christian walk today, understand that God has begun the work of grace in your life, and He will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on Him, help themselves. In the Revelation, Wisdom, and Knowledge, of Divine Grace, our souls shall ascend above the world. We shall run the way of God's commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus.
..

..

The Shepherd And The Sheep!

.....There are two types of references made in the New Testament concerning our Christian Walk, and maturity level today. They are as SHEEP, and EAGLES. I wish to discuss the aspect of "The Shepherd" in relationship to "The Sheep" with you this day.

.....First of all, there is the Sheep, defenseless, follows the crowd, and has no independent thought from the flock. Those that are easily lost and distracted, but costly. They need a Shepherd to watch over them, and their every move. They have an instinctive hunger and thirst within themselves to know their Master's Voice. Yet, a Sheep is all about what He or She is facing at the moment. They are temporal, and can see no further than their surroundings.

.....Jesus speaks about social outcasts in a parable, called "The Lost Sheep", to the sinners, and the religious people, in Luke 15: 4-7 saying, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

.....When a sheep gets lost, a lot of times, they will lie down helplessly and refuse to budge. And when a shepherd finds it, a lot of times he will break one of the sheep's legs. Then, he will apply a splint to the leg of the sheep an place the sheep on his shoulders. The sheep is then completely helpless, and requires the complete support of the shepherd to survive. Over the next few weeks, or months, the sheep hears the shepherd's voice, and the praising and rejoicing of the people around him, clearly, being taken care of, and provided for in every way during the time of his healing. A bond is formed, and when the sheep is released back to the fold, you will find him right along the side of his shepherd, because he has clear sense of hearing his master's voice. A truly devoted sheep, to the shepherd, that will never stray again.

.....The heart of the Shepherd, and purpose, can be found in the Book of Ezekiel, which means "God Strengthens", and is referring to a "Royal Priesthood" that will "Rise Up", because of the need, and manifest itself, taking care of their own people. It starts in Ezekiel 34, as a warning to the Shepherds, and says...

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2 Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the flocks be fed by the shepherds? Shepherds... That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes.
3 You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed.
4 The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand.
5 And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.
6 My sheep have wandered in every mountain, and in every high hill: and my flocks were scattered upon the face of the earth, and there was none that sought them, there was none, I say, that sought them.
7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
8 As I live, saith the Lord God, for as much as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks:

9 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
10 Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself come upon the shepherds, I will require my flock at their hand, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the flock any more, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock from their mouth, and it shall no more be meat for them.

11 For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.
12 As the shepherd seeks out his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land.
14 I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel.
15 I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
16 I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve, and I will feed them in judgment.
17 And as for you, O my flocks, thus saith the Lord God: Behold I judge between cattle and cattle, of rams and of goats.
18 Was it not enough for you to feed upon good pastures? but you must also tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures: and when you drank the clearest water, you troubled the rest with your feet.
19 And my sheep were fed with that which you had trodden with your feet: and they drank what your feet had troubled.
20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God to you: Behold, I myself will judge between the fat cattle and the lean.
21 Because you pushed with sides and shoulders, and struck all the weak cattle with your horns, till they were scattered abroad:
22 I will save my flock, and it shall be no more a spoil, and I will judge between cattle and cattle.

23 And I WILL SET UP ONE SHEPHERD OVER THEM, and he shall feed them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. David... Christ, who is of the house of David.
24 And I the Lord will be their God: and my servant David the prince in the midst of them: I the Lord have spoken it.
25 And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they that dwell in the wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests.
26 And I will make them a blessing round about my hill: and I will send down the rain in its season, there shall be showers of blessing.
27 And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be in their land without fear: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have broken the bonds of their yoke, and shall have delivered them out of the hand of those that rule over them.
28 And they shall be no more for a spoil to the nations, neither shall the beasts of the earth devour them: but they shall dwell securely without any terror.
29 And I will raise up for them a bud of renown: and they shall be no more consumed with famine in the land, neither shall they bear any more the reproach of the Gentiles. A bud of renown... "The Royal Priesthood," Who speaks of Christ our Lord, the illustrious bud of the house of David, renowned over all the earth. See Jeremias 33:15.
30 And they shall know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they are my people the house of Israel: saith the Lord God.
31 And you my flocks, the flocks of my pasture are men: and I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord God.

The Harvest is plentiful, and the Workers are few!

This is the Prophetic Calling, and Purpose of this Ministry!
Finding and Reaching the Lost Sheep.

..

Can You Help Support This Ministry?

Letter of Inquiry

To My Brothers and Sisters In Christ:

.....My name is Pastor Ed Hajj, and I am writing to you on behalf of the Board of Directors for Freedom In Christ Ministries, Inc. A 501 (c) (3), Internal Revenue Services - recognized Faith-based nonprofit corporation, in Rockford, Michigan. Our ministry was formed in 2002, for the purpose of providing a solution, (A Christian Discipleship Program) to address the problems of society concerning drugs, alcohol, crime, prostitution, depression, homelessness, and poverty. To date the ministry has taken the time to develop from the gathering of research and collection of data over the years to create a new and innovative way to deal with these issues. This Faith-based ministry has gone to great lengths to assess the project, mission, and goals of addressing life-controlling issues. Also, a forward an exciting way to reach out to our community at-large through our services. Our ultimate goal is to create more of these programs using this one as the model by which to impact the Nation and the World.

.....This letter invites you to have an impact and partnership in helping your community, and a personal stake in many lives being changed, forever. Our ministry is seeking your help in the way of being a stakeholder in Freedom In Christ Ministries future. Our board members would ask you to review our Blog-site and Ministry Website, and prayerfully consider partnering with our Ministry, and adopting this Ministry as a Home Mission's Project, enabling our mission and vision to continue as a Blessing to those in need. We have applied for Federal grant money in January of 2009 and are currently looking for other Churches, Ministries, and Businesses to partner with. We believe in networking organizations, and would like you to consider this opportunity with our Faith-based Ministry. We ask you and your organization, for your consideration of donating a monthly monetary amount, Planting a Seed, between $50 - $250, that would help out the many aspects of this Christian Discipleship Program. And in return, we would like to offer you a link for free advertising as a Supporter or Partner on our Blog-site that is seen and followed by many throughout our community and the world. We would also like to offer our services to you from our Vocational Training Program, and Outreach Program, should a need ever arise for you concerning any type of construction or remodeling in your organization. Our Ministry would love to help. Your organization can and will play an important part in the function of this Ministry, changing many lives, today, and in the future. So we ask you to please sew a seed in furthering God's Kingdom, and in the lives of all the people that will come into contact with this Ministry.

.....I thank you in advance for taking the time and reviewing our proposal. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Please contact me with any questions or ideas you have. I am personally free to meet with you or your organization to share the vision, or bring a word to your organization, speaking before them, sharing the Wisdom, Revelation, and Knowledge of God through Christ Jesus, should you allow it. Again, I thank you for your consideration in becoming a financial partner with us. If you're unable to become a financial partner at this time, would you be willing to provide us with any other potential funders? Your assistance will be greatly appreciated. Feel free to continue to visit and be ministered to from our blog-site and website at:

http://www.freedominchristministries.blogspot.com

http://www.freedominchristministries.synthasite.com

Best regards and may peace always be with you.

God Bless,

Pastor Edward R. Hajj

Ambassador for Christ

Executive Director – Freedom In Christ Ministries, Inc.

6615 Courtland Dr. NE

Rockford, Mi. 49341

616-874-8105

..

The 23rd Psalm - Explained!

I pray this day that what is revealed to you after reading this will open the eyes of your understanding, or at least let you look at this in a different light.

The Lord is my Shepherd - That is Relationship!

I shall not want - That is Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - That is Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters - That is Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul - That is Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - That is Guidance!

For His name sake - That is Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - That is Testing!

I will fear no evil - That is Protection!

For thou art with me - That is Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me - That is Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies - That is Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil - That is Consecration!

My cup runneth over - That is Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life - That is Blessing!

And I dwell in the house of the Lord - That is Security!

Forever - That is Eternity!

Let's Face It... The Lord is crazy about you.

What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but who we have in our lives.

..

The Mystery Of Faith! - Part 2

.....We have been using our Faith more for temporal things than for Spiritual things. Like driving down the road for instance. We apply our Faith by driving within the lines laid out on the roads everyday, expecting others coming in the other direction, to do the same. We have also used it to measure our life by quality and quantity. Society, as well as the church in general, judges others in this same manner. If they are lacking something in the physical or in their possessions, they say that they are lacking Faith or that there is some kind of sin in their life. They couldn't be further from the truth. In Philippians 4: 11-13, Paul said that he knew what it was like to be abased, and abound, to be full, and to be hungry, to abound, and to suffer need. But the revelation he had after stating that was that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He also learned to be content in whatever state he was currently in. For another example, just go back and read about Job, and what happened to him, and all that he went through. He may have questioned God, but he did not lack Faith.

.....Paul says to look toward the things unseen. His possessions were to get to know God, and find his purpose in life. He was referring to Relationship. A union secured by Faith, in a gift, given by God, according to His Promise, as stated in Romans 4: 13 and Romans 5: 17, "A Promise of Righteousness," being in right standing with God, through Jesus Christ.

Faith puts our trust in God and not in ourselves.

.....An example of this is our Salvation. Our Faith began with Jesus, continues with Jesus, and shall end with Jesus, who is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the end, the first, and the last.

Faith comes by way of Revelation.

.....Faith initially was designed to respond to God according to "His Divine Will and Purpose" for our life. First, to come to Christ, and second, for completing His Will in our life, establishing the order of God here on this Earth. Revelation of the Truth in us from the Holy Spirit, will always change the natural. Filling us with the fullness of God, taking us, and changing us from Glory to Glory, Ephesians 3: 17-19.

.....God wants us to live out His dream. And that is why He gives us, His children, visions. Acts 2: 17, says that God gives old men dreams, and young ones visions. An example of this is in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 17 and Chapter 22, with David and his son, Solomon, concerning the building of the temple of God. And through the Mystery of Faith, we are to pursue that unseen place in the natural, and make it manifest for all to see on this Earth, bringing Glory to God, who gave us that vision.
..
...

The Mystery Of Faith!

.....The Mystery of Faith can only be revealed from the Spirit, concerning God, and "His Plans" for each of our lives. It cannot be seen with physical eyes, and can only be seen through the imagination of the soul, which is the mind, will, and emotions. We can gain a lot of revelation from the Book of Hebrews, which means "Crossing Over," concerning Faith. It was written to the natural Jews, who crossed over into "Christianity," and have been "Born Again." Specifically, Hebrews 11 speaks of Faith as a "Heavenly Substance," an assurance from God, and "Hope," an earnest and intense expectation by His people. All of the people spoken about in this chapter had the picture of that unseen place, and remained in pursuit of it.

There are 3 types, or Foundations to Faith.

Imparted Faith - Hebrews 11: 3
Saving Faith - Hebrews 11: 7
Active Faith - Hebrews 11: 13-16

Faith is Man's grip on God.
Redemption is God's grip on Man.

.....Our understanding of Righteousness allows Faith to open up the imagination, to see more of God. Who we are in Christ, and our position in God's Kingdom. Allowing us to see the bigger picture. The same way Abraham did. Without Redemption, there is no Faith under the Law. The Curse always resulted in Death.

Faith is Responsibility.
Our Response to God's ability.

.....Faith was designed to respond to God. It was also to develop an attitude of trust and confidence in Him. A gift from God, not to be stored away like money in the bank, but a constant process of daily renewing our trust, and sharing it with others about Jesus, and "The Finished Work of the Cross."

Doubt is in the Head.
Faith is in the Heart.

.....Peter experienced this when he walked on water. His Faith helped him to imagine himself walking on water as Jesus did. That Faith, released "The Power" to experience the supernatural on this Earth. That is why Faith, even the size of a mustard seed, can remove any mountain in our life.

.....It is only in a close relationship with God that keeps us not feeling at home in our earthly surroundings, and looking to Him, longing for something better. God's design or ways. As His people, we need to be seeking His design for us, in the Kingdom, and in His Righteousness. This will cause us to be "Person Driven," not "Purpose Driven."

.....John 20: 24-29, speaks of this perfectly, "Surrendering to Certainty," and shows us that when a man fights his way through his doubts to the conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord, he has attained a certainty that the man who unthinkingly accepts things can never reach. That is where we shift from "Word" people to "Jesus" people. From His Works to His Ways, as in Psalm 95:11. We must stop just knowing His Word, (Works), and learn His Ways. The perfect Law of Liberty. This is what makes us blessed. Faith, having not physically seen, yet having believed.

..

The Lion And The Lamb

.....I was asked by my "Spiritual Mom" about the subject of Jesus being referred to as a "Lion," and a "Lamb." I wish to impart it to you today. I thank you Mom for asking me, and thank the Lord for the Revelation, Wisdom, and Knowledge concerning this. I hope that you are blessed and share the blessing I received from this study with others in my absence. Let's start with the aspect of Jesus being spoken of as a Lamb. Revelation 6: 1, "The Lamb," (Arnion, which is pronounced Ar-nee-on), is the title of the exalted Christ. The Lamb that was slain, but still living, and showing that He has overcome. I am going to show you what now can be revealed, and what has been accomplished today through Christ.

.....First of all, a lamb is a young sheep, representing a person of innocence, something loved and dear. In the Bible, a lamb was used in direct contrast to the beast. The beast was and is savage, cruel, hostile, and destructive. Our Lord is a lamb, gentle, compassionate, loving, kind, innocently suffering, and dying to atone for our sins.

.....In the book of The Revelation of Jesus, the Lion and the Lamb combine the two elements of Majesty, and Meekness.

Majesty is the dignity or power of a Sovereign God.

Meekness is one that is full of patients, mild, gentle, and kind; not inclined to anger or resentment.

The Lamb represents the First Coming, Victorious Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.

.....In Genesis 22:7, the lamb was originally a burnt offering, a sacrifice, which belonged entirely to God. Jesus was the Lamb referred to in Isaiah 53: 6-8, our substitute, and voluntarily accepted our guilt and punishment, the iniquity of us all, laid upon Him.

.....In John 1: 29, John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the "Lamb Of God," who justifies us, and takes away sin.

.....1 Peter 1: 18-19 says, that we were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, aimless tradition received from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.

.....Revelation 5: 6, and 12, is a picture and a "Proclamation In Heaven," to what is already true about the Lamb being slain, and when someone comes to the "Throne of Grace," he will find a sacrifice already there, (Christ), provided for him to offer to God. And the Lamb slain, in Revelation 13: 8, is what gets us in the "Book Of Life."

Revelation 12: 11 is a key scripture that I wish to explain to you in detail.

.....It says, "They overcame him, (The Enemy), by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."


.... First of all, it speaks of the ongoing warfare on this Earth. It also speaks of the overcoming ability of the redeemed, and the basis of their triumph, the "Blood Of The Lamb," which is our Salvation, and source of overcoming victory, (The Authority Of God's Word), and our testimony, (Testifying To The Truth). The Holy Spirit is preparing us today in our own faith, and faithfulness, releasing the wisdom to embrace "The Cross," for the full manifestation of God's Kingdom here on this Earth. How you may ask, is He going to do this?

Through our focus and Revelation on The Lamb...The Lion will manifest itself.

There are not a lot of scriptures about "The Lion," so let me explain.

(This is where the Revelation comes in.)

.....A lion is a large powerful cat, considered king of the beasts, representing a person of great courage, strength, and significance. And a Lion's share represents the whole thing, or the biggest and best portion. Jesus is referred to as "The Lion", and His share is us in Him, and God's Kingdom.

.....Jesus is The Lion from the Tribe of Judah. Now understand that Judah means "The Praised." This is the key and Revelational aspect of the Lion. He is coming from a Praise in His people rising up. A catching away or elevated consciousness of who we are in Christ, (which is in a state of mind or being), as in 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17, which says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel (A Messenger), and with the trumpet, (A Clear Sounding Word), of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, (A High Place), to meet the Lord in the air, ( a new dimension, The Spirit Realm). Through this we are transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, perfected, and complete as in the example we have with passage of scripture on the Mount of Transfiguration in Mathew 17:1-13. The Salvation of the Soul taking place.

.....This is the new song of "Praise," referred to in Revelation 5: 9 saying, "You are worthy to take the scroll, and open the seals, For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the Earth." Through the Revelation of the Finished Work, we will have come up, or are elevated with who we are in Christ. The Lion, Christ, will claim His Lion's share, which are His people, and peace and tranquility will stem from the fullness of God's Kingdom fully establishing itself on the Earth as stated in Isaiah 11: 6-9. Blessed are those called, ( For Fellowship and Eternal Blessedness) to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Revelation 19:9. For within the Lamb, the Lion will appear.
..

7 Places Jesus Bled!

.....There are 7 places that Jesus bled from according to the Bible. We know that the number 7 represents completion, or Divine Perfection. Let's take a look at them, and God's perfect work today.

1. Luke 22: 42 - He sweat great drops of blood, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Taking on the pressures of Life in the world, and accepting God's will for His Life.

2. Mathew 27: 26 - He bled when He was scourged, whipped, and beaten, for our sickness and disease. See also Isaiah 53: 4-5

3. Mathew 27: 29 - He bled when they placed a crown of thorns upon Him, taking upon Himself our chastisement, and leaving us His peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding.

4. Mathew 27: 30 - He bled from His face being beaten till He was unrecognizable, so that we may have His countenance, and be recognized by God.

5. His hands at the Crucifixion, to reach us and others from the Cross.

6. His feet at the Crucifixion, so that we may walk free.

7. John 19: 34 - His side, blood and water, from a bursting heart, taking our broken heart, and giving us a pure heart.

.....All of this was done to reestablish our relationship and right standing with God, restoring our authority and dominion on this Earth, (Full Restoration), from which we were originally created to have, and lost through the force of sin being unleashed. Jesus Christ was and is God's perfect solution to all our problems. He was the Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World.

Let us give Him Thanks and Praise today.

..

Unifying The Church - The Body Of Christ!

.....I come to you today as an Ambassador for God through Christ, to speak to YOU as a trumpet, and also as a prophetic voice, detached from things that mean nothing, and attached to God's things, that mean everything, preparing the way. A clear sounding word, used in the Old Testament as a signaling of God's presence, a calling of the assemblies, announcing a Feast, and a gathering of the Nation of Israel. As an Ambassador, it is my job to be a peacemaker. A peacemaker does not evade issues. He faces them, deals with them, and conquers them. He has no passive acceptance of things, but actively faces things, making peace, even when the way to peace is through struggle. The Church is to be the conscience of the Nation, and the conscience of Society, establishing peace, which is for the most part, to experience F.R.E.E.D.O.M. - Fully Renouncing Every Evil Dominion Over Man, from all trouble, and the enjoyment of all good. A conviction brought about by loyalty and living for Christ today.

.....I wish to address this day, the subject of Unifying the Church - The Body of Christ. Jesus is coming again, and is returning for 1 Bride, without spot, or blemish. Yet, the body of Christ is still not picking up on this. The true power of the Church will not manifest itself today until we come together as one.

.....I am about to show you a physical picture of a Spiritual Truth concerning this. Christianity was meant to be seen. We are to be a guide to make clear the way as an example, and also a warning light to others, concerning our duties to the world. I wish to start with Mathew 5: 14-16 which says, "You are the light (One Light) of the world. A city, (The New Jerusalem), that is set on a hill, (A High Place For Everyone To See), and cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house, (The World). Let your light so shine before men, (Visible To All), that they may see your good works, (Attracting Them To God), and glorify your Father in Heaven."

Follow me now to the book of "The Revelation Of Jesus Christ."

.....In Revelation 1: 10-13 it says, "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and what you see, write to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the seven lamp stands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band."

.....Note that there are seven lights revealing Christ, in His fullness, standing there in the midst of the light. And as I said earlier, we are the Light. But why are we not there yet?

.....Chapters 2 and 3 in the book of Revelation of Jesus contains seven messages to seven churches. The number 7 in the bible represents Completion, or Divine Perfection. God is trying to reveal to us how the unity of the body of Christ is to come about. The perfecting of the Church. A physical picture of a Spiritual Truth. Each message contains a praise, and a rebuke from the Lord, then a correction to be made in the body, and then a reward for that correction. I have listed them below in part for this study.

The Church of Ephesus

Commendation- Rejects evil, perseveres, has patience.
Criticism- Love for Christ no longer fervent.
Correction- Do the works you did at first.
Promise- The tree of Life.

The Church of Smyrna

Commendation- Gracefully bears suffering.
Criticism- None.
Correction- Be faithful until death.
Promise- The crown of Life.

The Church of Pergamos

Commendation- Keeps the faith of Christ.
Criticism- Tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies.
Correction- Repent.
Promise- Hidden manna, and a stone with a new name.

The Church of Thyatira

Commendation- Love, service, faith, patience is greater than at first.
Criticism- Tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality.
Correction- Judgement coming, keep the faith.
Promise- Rule over nations and receive the morning star.

The Church of Sardis

Commendation- Some have kept the faith.
Criticism- A dead church
Correction- Repent, strengthen what remains.
Promise- Faithful honored and clothed in white.

The Church of Philadelphia

Commendation- Perseveres in the faith.
Criticism- None.
Correction- Keep the faith.
Promise- A place in God's presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem.

The Church of Laodicea

Commendation- None.
Criticism- Indifferent.
Correction- Be zealous and repent.
Promise- Share Christ's throne.

Now picture with me how this all works:

Imagine we, the church, are in a dark room, (The World), and as a correction is made in our lives, a light is lit on a Menorah, (Jesus is the Golden Candlestick, and YOU are the Light of the World). The light reveals an aspect of Truth, about Christ, and you in Christ. A promise revealed and received. Now we know through the study of scripture that light always dispels darkness. And also no amount of darkness can ever put out that light, (Truth), once it is lit, (Within You). That is Revelation. So as we, the Body of Christ, continue to make these 7 corrections within the Church, more and more lights are then lit, revealing more of Him and less of us, until all that we see is Him. These corrections are in the correct order according to the word of God, and will manifest the fullness of Christ, restoring the power within the Church, unifying the body, creating a bride, (1 Bride), without spot or blemish for Him to receive. God gave us the perfect example of this when He created Adam and Eve. God first made Adam, and then Eve for him, his help-mate, 1 bride, was made from a part of him. In this same way, God made Christ, and His Bride, the Church is to also be made from Him. That can only be manifested stage by stage through these 7 corrections for perfection. So Church, let's start making these corrections. How you might ask? Through the Six Steps to the Throne of God, which I will reveal to you later.
..