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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus Reigns

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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus Reigns                                        

Evening Lectionary – Daniel 7: 1-18. Luke 6: 17-31.
Anglican Nun Sister Irene Mary would say to me, “Dorothy pray for God’s kingdom to come,” referring to an actual kingdom on the earth.  (picture taken 1995 at lake Windermere after Sister’s group visit to Rydal Hall in the Lake District)

The link between the two readings: Daniel 7: 18 “The saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever and ever.”  And in Luke 6 Jesus was preparing his disciples for the coming in of God’s Kingdom, which had been prophesied by most of the prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah.                                                                                         
Therefore the news of the kingdom being established was not unexpected. John the Baptist and Jesus preached a baptism of repentance in preparation of the coming in of God’s kingdom. “The time is fulfilled,” he said. “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1: 15.
In our reading the prophetic word was directed at his disciples Jesus spoke of the changes that his teaching would bring:
They would be blessed for coming to him in their poverty, poverty of spirit, under law they did not know God in a personal way, but through having faith in Jesus they would know Jesus as Lord and be with him in his kingdom.

They would be blessed for coming to him being fed from his expounding of the Hebrew Scriptures and they would become rich in spiritual riches taking out the Kingdom message, as they brought people to faith in him, with signs following his word.
Jesus prophesied that the message would fall on deaf ears; many of the Pharisees were sceptical. An example when Jesus healed the man who had been born blind, the Pharisee disputed that the man had been blind at all. John 9: 2.
(God had allowed this man to be born blind. God allowed Job to be tempted by Satan)
The other week I heard of a lady who was healed of her blindness by prayer. Her optician who later examined her eyes confirmed her healing, but he was amazed as he saw behind the eye the scarring of glaucoma that should have still prevented her seeing anything at all, but she could see perfectly.
The Pharisee wanted evidence from the man’s parents. In the interaction that followed, in verse 22, “His parents said this because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess him to be the Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.”                          
So we learn from this that those who followed Jesus believing that he was the Christ were excluded from the synagogue as Jesus had predicted.
Luke records that Jesus said to love your enemies; this was contrary to Jewish rules then, as it still is today. The Law “an eye for an eye” to mean to replicate what has been dealt out to them as a punishment.  Whereas, under the New Covenant. Luke 6: 31 “As you would wish that men would do to you, do so to them.” 
God knew that the only way for this to happen to treat others as you would want them to treat you was through the renewing of the heart. Through a person repenting in accepting Jesus dying for their sin and all that stands between us and God on the cross, as a result knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour.                                                    
We have the assurance of the Biblical prophesies concerning the kingdom of God coming true, without them being dependant on us.
One day all will recognise Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. 
Daniel, Zechariah and Apostle John’s Revelation prophesied that the Messiah would establish the kingdom of God. 

3 Views on the Reign of the Messiah. Revelation 20: 
Eyre & Spottiswoode Bible page 1884  1-15

Post Millennium
Holds that the millennium is a period of world history in which the reign of Christ has been established through His church which is destined to conquer the world with the gospel, and at the end of this golden age Christ will personally return to earth and inaugurate a new heaven and a new earth.
A – Millennium
A – Millennialist denies that there will ever be a literal earth-rule of a thousand years, either before or after Christ’s return. By some the thousand years are taken to be simply symbolic of eternity (although verse 5 poses a serious problem for this view), and the only reign spoken in this passage is an eternal heavenly reign. Christ’s return to earth will simply usher in the “new heaven and the new earth” and His only eschatological rule will be celestial, not in this world. By others the one thousand years of Christ’s reign are taken to be the period between the first and second comings of Christ.
Pre-Millennium
Looks for the return of Christ to earth at the beginning of a literal, thousand year reign upon the earth when “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea” and all the nations of mankind will be completely subservient to the Lord Jesus. At the end of this period Satan will be released again in order to stir up the secretly rebellious portion of mankind to a final open revolt against God (verses 7 – 9). After a second “Armageddon” the new heavens and the new earth will be ushered in.

I take the Pre-Millennium View 

Jesus reigns on the earth Revelation 11:15-19. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” 

Zechariah 14: 4 Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives., verse 5 “And the Lord shall come with his saints” verse 9 “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth, in that day there shall be one Lord and one name.”                                            
Daniel 7: 13. ”I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the son of man and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.” And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him.
In Revelation 19: 13-16. When Jesus returns with his heavenly armies, he will rule the nations with a rod of iron.
Psalm 2: 4- 11 says this: He who sits in heaven laughs; the Lord has them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,” I have set on my king on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, with trembling kiss his feet, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
According to John in Revelation all the people living on the earth will serve him he reigns for a thousand years and then Satan is let loose for a period of time, before the final judgement at the White throne by God the Ancient of days.                                 

Jesus will Return
We have the assurance of the Biblical prophesies coming true, without them being dependant on us to bring them about. 
                        —————————–
Continuing with more evidence in scripture of the ruling rod of iron.
The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.

In 1996 I was having my afternoon cup of tea when I was rocked in the chair. My thoughts were on the pottery orders that I was preparing. I put transfers of flowers, Biblical texts on china beakers and then fired them in my kiln. The words that came to mind, ‘The disciples were setting up the kingdom of God at the beginning of Acts.” Two weeks later I woke up with the words, ‘Jesus could only be received as the Messiah after his death, resurrection and Ascension.’ The two words came together The disciples were setting up the kingdom of God in anticipation of Jesus’ return with the angels of God. The calling of the Messiah was a national calling. I had never heard of this before, I had been brought up to believe that the time for the Jewish people to receive Jesus as their Messiah was before he was crucified. 

The Ruling Rod of Iron of the kingdom of God 
On the evening of the Day of Jesus’ resurrection Jesus came into the house, the room where his disciples were gathered and he breathed on them the Holy Spirit and gave them his authority to forgive or retain the sins of people, this was the ruling rod of iron in association with setting up the kingdom in preparation for Jesus’ return, and was fulfilled in Acts 5 Annanias and Sapphira lied over the proceeds from the sale of their land to Peter and both in turn fell down dead at Peter’s feet.
Jesus had told them in several parables that he was about to leave them and they were left to be about their master’s business until he returned. Parable of the talents.Matthew 25. 15. The nobleman who went away. Luke 19:11-27

The disciples were expecting Jesus to return soon after Pentecost. 
Peter spoke to the crowd at Solomon’s Gate, ” I know that you acted in ignorance as did your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. Moses said, “’The Lord will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. And all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days.”Acts 3: 17 end
The Jewish leaders and people had acted in ignorance when they handed Jesus over to the Romans with the charge of blasphemy and making himself a king. The prophets had prophesied the suffering and death of the Messiah. If they would repent and turn to Jesus accepting him as their Messiah he would return and bring in the times of refreshing the restoration of the throne and land of King David and Abraham.   Moses had prophesied the Messiah would be a prophet who had the ruling authority to lead and make judgements over the nation. Jesus himself hoped to return soon after his ascension when he said, “There are some standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom  of God has come with power.” Mark 9: 1. 
Jesus will return and establish his kingdom on the earth.
We have the assurance of the Biblical prophesies coming true, without them being dependant on us to bring them about. 
                                                                                                    
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The Messiah’s Secret – Baptism of Tears

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The Messiah’s Secret –  Baptism of Tears
 On the 19th January Gwen Carlisle shared with us how God had called her to become a missionary. She left home to live and work in a church school in Paraguay. 
In our reading Abram (Abraham) was called by God to leave the security of what he knew to a new land. Genesis 12: 1-4. 
The writer of Hebrews points out that Abraham set out for the Promised Land not knowing where he was to go, he looked for a heavenly city whose builder and maker was God and his descendants were looking for God’s promise to Abraham to be fulfilled. “These all died in faith, not receiving what was promised . . . They had seen it from afar, a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” Hebrews 11: 8-9. 
David the shepherd and court musician a descendant of Abraham was favoured by the people and as a result due to the jealousy of King Saul was pursued by him throughout Israel. 1 Samuel 18: 28 – 30. 
 “Hear my prayer O Lord and give ear to my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears! For I am thy passing guest, a sojourner, like all my fathers.” Psalm 39: 12.  David looked for the coming of God’s kingdom.
Later when David was King, God gave a prophecy to Nathan for David, ”When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-17
This prophecy telling him that one of his descendants would be the Messiah and would established on the earth Abraham’s Promised Land, God’s eternal kingdom, and throne of King David. A King has a Kingdom.
 
The people at the time of Jesus were in expectation of the coming of the Messiah.
John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance in preparation of the coming in of the kingdom. And Jesus proclaimed, “The times is fulfilled the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Mark 1:15
(It was generally taught of there being only one Messiah.  The kingdom of God and Kingdom of heaven both refer to God’s kingdom)
Nicodemus a member of the Sanhedrin came from the security of what he knew to speak with Jesus.  John 3: 1-17         
He referred to Jesus as a teacher, “We know that you are a teacher come from God,” he probably had heard some of Jesus’ parables referring to the kingdom of God, but was not able to understand them. These parables were puzzling statements not meant to be understood by the people, only the disciples were given privately the understanding of them. “And he said to them, ”To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand.” Mark 4: 10-12 Many of the parables begin with ‘The kingdom of God’.
“And he said, “The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts it to the sickle, because the harvest has come.”  Mark 4: 26-29.
The mystery of how the Kingdom of God would develop here in this parable: By the seeds of faith being sown and by grace people becoming children of God and enter into the kingdom of God.
The parables about the kingdom of God were meant to be kept a mystery, the reason why is because the Kingdom of God could not be brought in until after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension and after the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world. 
 
The disciples were proclaimingat and after Pentecost for the first time that Jesus was Christ, the Messiah proving from the scriptures Jesus had fulfilled prophesies that related to his death, resurrection, ascension and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
Peter proclaimed that it was in the foreknowledge of God that he was crucified. “This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.” Acts 2: 23.
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus who you crucified.” Acts 2: 29-36.           
 
At the Gate Beautiful Peter proclaimed that they had acted in ignorance, the prophesies of his suffering and death had been fulfilled and if they repented God would send the appointed Christ for you, Jesus.
The call to Israel’s leaders to accept and bring the people to repentance preceded Jesus bringing in the times of refreshing the restoration of the throne and land of King David. The promise to Abraham of a heavenly kingdom on earth.  Relating to the Ascension, “Whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.” Acts 3: 17-21
Peter proclaimed that Joel’s prophecy the coming of the Holy Spirit has been fulfilled. “And in the last days it shall be, God declares,that i will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.” Joel 2: 28-32. Acts 2: 14-17.
 
Jesus in conversation with Nicodemus informed him that he needed to be born anew to see the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus’ response, “How can I be born again into my mothers’ womb?”
Jesus answered “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.”
The flesh –  like discerning of the movement of the wind,  the human nature we are born with, finds it hard to understand and discern the words of scripture.  
Nicodemus a teacher of Israel could not understand Jesus’ words about being born anew.  (Ezekiel 36: 26-28. 37: 12-14.New heart.)
 
The Spirit – The Holy Spirit reveals the understanding of scripture, especially in connection with Jesus. Some of the gifts of the Spirit  are used to communicate the understanding and discernment of the words of scripture. Romans 10 Faith comes by hearing the words of the gospel.                                                                                             .
           
Jesus spoke of Being born of water and Spirit, we link water and Spirit with water baptism.    
Coming to Jesus from the security of what we know to believe and except Jesus as our Saviour we say sorry to God for the sins against God and for some Christians they experience a baptism of tears. 

Tears of repentance & Forgiveness of sins

 “I came to cast a fire upon the earth: and would that it was kindled! ! have a baptism to be baptized with and how I am constrained until it is accomplished.” Luke 12 : 49, 50
Here Jesus spoke of the baptism of his death before he would bring in the Kingdom .
As Jesus made his way down from the Mount of Olives he looked towards the city and wept.  I wonder did his tears reflected, the baptism of his suffering and death that he knew he was to endure. Love bearing the pain of sin against God, dying to redeem us by his sinless life.

                                                                                                                     

The conviction of sin may bring tears to our eyes, tears of repentance and the release from sin may be followed by tears of joy as our spirit is quickened(made alive in God) with the Holy Spirit, transforming our nature by the power of Almighty God. 
The Psalmist wrote “ May those who sow in tears, reap with shouts of joy!”

Professor Rendell Short in his book ‘Wonderfully Made’ writes, “Why emotion should stimulate the lachrymal glands is not clear.” It is not understood why we cry. 
    
One of the Holy Spirit’s gifts is the gift of tears.
John Richard writes about the gift of tears, “The Holy Spirit’s movement upon the heart touching the emotions as part of a loving response to God’s love. It is not associated with human passions but with the experience of God. Tears that flow without strain or effort as our heart cries out to God” www.helpforchristians.co.uk 

 A lady I know received the gift of tears at a Quiet Morning. She said, that tears began to flow and she could not understand the reason why. 

God tells us in his word that he keeps our tears in a bottle. 
The Psalmist wrote: “Thou hast kept count of my tossings (concerns) put thou my tears in a bottle! Are they not in your book?” Psalm 56: 8 So precious are our tears that God remembers them, makes a note of them. 

St Paul’s gift of tears: in his second letter to the Corinthians.
 “For I wrote you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”  2 Corinthians 2:4   
St Paul making it known in his love for them he was moved to tears in his prayers, before God. 

Jeremiah’s gift of tears 
“But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock have been taken captive.”  Jeremiah 13: 17. In his prayers he was moved to tears as he prayed for the people who at the time were going through a period of prosperity but were turning away from God. 

My prayer is that the Lord would pour out his tears through his people, the church, to feel a compassionate love for the people on our road, avenue, street, in our town and in our nation, tears for those whose heart the Lord longs to touch, who do not yet know him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ.
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The Messiah’s Secret – Jesus the King of Kings

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The early English Jury system.

The Bible was used in court when a person took the oath to tell the truth, the whole truth. It made the person accountable under God, the supreme judge.
The Jury were made up of people who knew either the defendant or the accused. The reasoning behind it was that they knew the character of the people involved in the trial and that would help them to come to a just decision.
The Judge offered his advice in accordance with the law which guided the jury in coming to their verdict.
The system has changed. Just as in did in the latter days of Samuel’s life. 1 Samuel 8: 4 – 20

Role of a Judge
In the Bible when Joshua died, a great number of the people of Israel turned away from the law and sought other gods so the Lord raised up Judges.
“Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the power of those who plundered them.

Hebrew Judge – leadership in government as well as in legal cases. It was Gods theocratic government, were God was sovereign over judges.(Eyre & Spottiswoode Revised Standard Version notes page 402)
Theocratic – constitution of a state in which the Almighty is regarded as the sole sovereign and the laws of the realm as divine commands rather than human ordinances – the priesthood necessarily becoming officers of an invisible ruler. (Chambers Dictionary)

Judge Deborah
We have an example in Deborah, prophetess, who was judge over Israel. The people came to her to judge their case. Also as the appointed leader she was used by God to lead them to victory over their enemies. Judges 4: 4 – 10

God was sovereign over judges
Samuel was a judge as well as a being a prophet and priest. In his old age he decided to install his sons as judges but the people didn’t want them, they were seen as those who perverted Justice.
At an elders meeting they asked Samuel if they could have a king.

Embracing change
It was difficult for Samuel to embrace change he felt rejected, but God consoled him by pointing out that it was himself, their King, they were rejecting.
When change comes our first reaction is to come against it, but as we let go or let our heart felt worries be known, we can move on from that place and seek the Lord’s direction through prayer.
Samuel discussed it first with God and then put forward Godly reasons why they should retain God as their King and the judges.

God was their King.

Turning away from the Judges meant that Israel was turning their back on God as their King.
The nation of Israel was established under Moses and God was their king. He defended them against their enemies: God brought them out from slavery in Egypt. The lambs blood brushed on to the doorposts and lintels of their homes saved them from the death of the first born man and beast as the angel of death passed over their homes in Egypt. Moses lifted the rod and stretched out his hand God parted the Red Sea, so they were able to cross over on dry ground safely.
God provided for their needs: When Moses struck the rock with the rod; water flowed out from it. He gave them bread to eat, the Manna found on the ground every morning for six days and he gave them quail for fresh meat.

Making a man their King
Samuel warned them that they would be subject to authoritarian rule: they would have to enlist in the king’s army. Become his servants in his house, in the fields and make weapons of war. He would take ownership of their servants, orchards and vineyards and give them to his friends. Also he would take a tenth of their grain, grapes, flocks and they would become his slaves.
But the people insisted they wanted a king like the other nations, a man who would go before them and fight their battles.
Samuel spoke to God in prayer about their request for a man to be made their King. The Lord’s response was that they could have a king. The first King was Saul and the second was David the shepherd.

The Hebrew prophets longed to see the kingdom of God fill the whole earth, where God would cleanse the world of all wickedness and sin, hatred, bitterness, revenge ad wars. Where human beings would know God and have the nature of God.

Jesus the King of Kings. John 18: 33 – 37
Approximately a thousand years later Herod was King of the Jews when Jesus was born.
The wise men asked King Herod “Where is he who is born King of the Jews.”
Jesus was born a King, the King of the Jews.

A King has a kingdom
Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus’ response, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
Jesus gives us insight as to where he came from.
Jesus prayed from his position of the second person of the Trinity, (Son of God) from where he had come from before the foundation of the world.
“I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, glorify thou me in thine own presence with the glory which I had with thee, Father before the world was made.” John 17: 4, 5.
Jesus spoke of his Father’s kingdom and implied that he had been sent from that kingdom to complete a work for God.
Jesus came to the earth to fulfil God’s plan of reconciliation in uniting all things in heaven and on the earth, through his death, resurrection and ascension.

Jesus is the King of the Jews the same King, God himself, who in Samuael’s day the Jews had rejected.
God sent his Son Jesus to be the King over the Jewish nation.
Nathan’s prophecy to King David from David’s descendant God would establish his eternal throne and kingdom. 2 Samuel 7: 16

At Pentecost Peter was standing with the eleven disciples and he confirmed that Jesus is the Christ through the prophecy given by Nathan to King David. He said, “Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ. . . . Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. Acts 2: 29, 36

Jesus is the King of the Jews and also the King of Kings, as he is King over the Gentiles
God has revealed himself through his Son Jesus that he is sovereign over all the earth. There is no other name, by which we can be saved and through Jesus’ name we come to know God in a personal way.

Jesus is our King
When we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are born into the kingdom of God and Jesus is the king of the kingdom.
These three scriptures below are promises from Jesus that are for us today to receive through faith.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16
“If a person loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14: 23
Jesus said, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, so they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou has sent me.” John 17: 20

The Spirit of God bears witness to the life of Christ dwelling within us.
As we are under the authority of the King we are equipped to witness about Jesus and the kingdom. This scripture in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is truly amazing as we are entitled to its fulfilment in our lives today.
“Even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.”
So when we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are born into the kingdom of God.

My uncle John immigrated to America he had dual citizenship of America and the UK. We have received a Passport into the Kingdom of God we are citizens of world and also the Kingdom of God. In the world we are ambassadors for Christ.

In John’s gospel Chapter 17: 11, 15 In his prayer Jesus asked God to protect and defend his disciples. Jesus’prayer also for Christians today.
Marie Monsen found out that her attackers saw the Lord’s army.
“A Norwegian missionary, Marie Monsen, in China in the early 20th century, testified to the intervention of angels when Christians were in great danger. They had taken refuge in the mission compound only to be surrounded by looting soldiers and they were astonished to find that they were left in peace. A few days later the hostile men explained that they were ready to break the flimsy wall when they noticed tall soldiers with shining faces on a high roof in the compound. Marie Monsen wrote, “The heathen saw them, it was a testimony to them, but they were invisible to us.”
“A Barrel of Fun” by J John &Mark Stibbe.Monach Books.

The King’s provision for our needs
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Ephesians 1: 3,4. 2: 3 – 7
We are loved and doted upon by our heavenly Father with an abundance of blessings, I do most of my shopping at Tesco’s I receive money vouchers from their points system. It would be foolish if I didn’t cash them in.
When we ask the Lord in prayer we will freely receive, seek and we will find, knock and the door will be opened for us to receive. It is also as we walk with the Lord that the heavenly blessings are given to us to witness our faith in Jesus.

A Famous true story
“Things looked bleak for the children of George Muller’s orphanage at Ashley Down in England. It was time for breakfast and there was no food.
A small girl who’s father was a close friend of Muller was visiting the home. Muller took her hand and said, “Come and see what our Father will do.”
In the dining room, long tables were set with empty plates and empty mugs. Not only was there no food in the kitchen, but there was no money in the home’s account. Muller prayed,” Dear Father, we thank thee for what thou art going to give us to eat.”
Immediately, they heard a knock at the door. When they opened it, there stood the local baker.
“Mr Muller,” he said, “I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt that you had no bread for breakfast, so I got up at two o’clock and baked fresh bread. Here it is.”
Muller thanked him and gave praise to God. Soon, a second knock was heard. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. He said he would like to give the children the milk so he could empty the cart to repair it.”
Taken from the book “A Bundle of Laughs” by J John &Mark Stibbe.Monarch Books.

Jesus the King of KingsThrough this study I’ve made that connection with the God and King of the Old Testament with my faith in Jesus the King, the same sovereign king that Samuel knew.
God is sovereign over the Jewish people, defending and providing for their needs. The same God is sovereign over his church with lots more blessings than those given to Israel, because we are already citizens of his heavenly kingdom.