Are you looking thru eyes of the curse, or the eyes of the Cross?

Below is a guest blog from Liz Sutter.  Get a cup of coffee and read each word. It's the truth that we KNOW that brings freedom, not the truth we speed read or glance over. Let the Word settle in so you'll know it and live free like your Savior intended.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in the God of my Savior,

The Lord God is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.

These circumstances, or situations as stated above in vs. 17 portrays a very hopeless, desolate, defeated existence. The Hebrew further words give further definition painting the picture of no signs of life, not even a sprout, the land not yielding produce/food, no rain, laborious press/demand, dead works with no fruit/oil, no meat or nourishment at mealtime, no brightness/joy, picturing sheep cut off from the flock/fold as with Israel wandering in their sin in the wilderness/Israel without a Shepard, exhausted of weeping, strained at looking for relief or refreshment.  Cut off from completeness, fulfillment, accomplishment, prosperity. TO BE CUT OFF  FROM WHAT HAS BEEN FINISHED. 

What we are looking at is a picture of ground that has been cursed.  Man was created on the sixth day.  In  vs. 17 there are specifically six sentences listed of lack.  Six is the number of man’s labor, as distinct from God’s true rest. It is the number connected then with human labor and sorrow.  It marks all that is not of God.  It is also 5 plus 1, the number of Grace of God made of no effect by mans addition to it, or corruption of it.  It is also 7 – 1, coming short of the spiritual perfection, thus the number of imperfection.   Six is the human number, the man destitute of God, without God, without Christ.  Doesn’t this explanation shed light on what is going on in this “type” of ground? It is life without God…without the thought of God, without hope, without meaning. 

In vs. 18 Habakkuk then sees something different and says something different. He is now rejoicing in the Lord. The Hebrew states he is Triumphing, Jumping for joy, Dancing, Leaping for Joy, declaring The God of My Help, speaking of The mighty deeds of His Right Hand, Delighting in Jehovah’s bestowed benefits, in His salvation, in His rescue, In His victory.

A.     Habakkuk has had a change of perspective and a change of speech.

Instead of looking at the cursed ground, he is now looking thru the eyes of the cross.  He sees the mighty deeds of Christ who is at the Father’s right hand, he sees the Victory won for himself and his people, he sees His salvation! What could make him happier, that he could now declare to His people, God’s people, that their freedom has come, their Hope has risen, and their life eternally rescued from the grips of their enemies?!? This is what causes him to dance in delight and leap for joy.  He is now recognizing that on the other side of trial, defeat, and hopelessness, there is triumph through the work of the cross!! On the other side of Trial, there is Triumph for those who chose to believe.

He declares the Lord God is my strength!!

The Hebrew picks this up with multiple meanings of the word strength:

 An army, warrior, wealth, prosperity, capability, my force, my captain of the host, my leader of the army.  The Hebrew language here creates the picture that in the day of your warfare, It will be the day of the sending of the ROD of the Messiah's strength out of Zion.  The mountain of Zion is where He rules in the mist of His enemies, and strikes through the enemy’s kings in the day of his wrath.  

For us in the new covenant promises of God, we are now kings and priests of God bestowed with the authority of Christ, symbolized in this passage with the ROD of the Messiah.  This Rod for us today is the Name of Jesus, that through that name all must submit.  It is the ultimate weapon that has been given to us by the finished work.  This passage highlights God through Christ ruled in the mist of His enemies so we could Rule in the mist of our enemies, and that no power of darkness would be able to conquer us.  That by this authority now given to us miracles happen, devils are defeated, and we reign in Life.  Now  faith through Grace and His Rod of authority  comes on the scene and that which was impossible with man, is now possible with God through the finished work. 

The writer speaks of feet that are like the feet of the deer…. feet symbolizing the response of man to God’s direction.

The Hind of deer are the most surefooted of all mountain animals.  They hold their head high and don’t look down as they are moving towards their goals.  Their legs are well suited for running, chasing, and evading danger.  They leap effortlessly over obstacles and are always looking for pasture (rest), and longing for water (the Holy Spirit).  So God is saying to us through Christ, we are:

1.     Spiritually Strong - The Lord being our strength (giving us the transfer of authority to reign in this life) Even in the presence our weakness, and shortcomings, He sees us Strong because we are in Jesus!

2.     Spiritually Swift for the race.  Able to tread upon mountains and evade danger. The Bible says we are not ignorant of the devices of the enemy and we can command mountains into the sea.

3.     Spiritually Successful - surefooted and confident that we are righteous in Christ.  What a sure foundation for success.  Because Christ has triumphed, I triumph. Even as He is in this world, so am I.  His underserved favor and blessings cause me to be prosperous in whatever endeavor I put my hand to.

Then Habakkuk states that God will make him to walk the heights. In the Hebrew, this walking theme is further unfolded to mean treading , marching, trampling, overtaking, subduing the enemy.  That we are bow benders, we bend the bow(the assaults of the enemy). This same scripture is repeated in 2 Samuel 22:34 says the God causes him to stand on the heights.  This idea of standing includes:  to Arise, to stand up against, to hold your position, to endure, persist, remain, to have a fixed look, to make a servant/to stand over, have charge over, to takes ones stand in covenant, and to restore waste places.

 These ideas of standing are very clearly on the offensive as a believer.  It depicts that we are to take what is our rightful inheritance because it was bought for us by the blood of our Savior! We have an assigned seat in the new covenant, the seat of blessing.   All the cursed ground that looks desolate when given into the hands of the master, can become places where He can show forth His restoration power.  He can bring the power of His finished work to the things we see as “cut off from being finished.”

The word “heights” has the Hebrew meaning of bama -the battlefield or mountainous places, a place where the fight is going on.  God has said we have the feet of the deer to go upon top of the high place/or that we are on top of the battle. Even as He was, when He was crucified on the mountain of Golgotha, the place of the skull.  Skull symbolizing death.  Jesus was reigning over Death in all forms, and He took our place, now we take His place of Victory over Death, over the battle, over the mountain stronghold in our lives.  The enemy is under our feet as it was under His feet as He finished His work. Thank God today we stand on the top and not the bottom, that we are the head and not the tail, that we above and not beneath, that we are blessed, not cursed.

This high place above the battle, is a place of elevation - as we are seated with Christ in Heavenly realms far above every principality and power.  It is a place of where our problems cannot unsettle us, a resting.

A place where the problem is not seen through the eyes of the curse, but the eyes of the cross.  Where instead of considering the places where “the work is cut off from being finished, we consider the work that was finished.  Reality for the believer is the cursed ground, although factual, is not the truth of the situation.  It is not the whole picture for the believer. There is another side.   God is the Alpha and Omega, He has the final say, the final word in the circumstances in our lives when we believe in Him, and He says to us that the truth of the cross has changed everything.  The truth is we have the promises of Abraham that are covenanted to us by faith, not through the law, or our own efforts.

B.     Habakkuk believed the promise of the finished work , the works of Gods mighty Right Hand.

By believing the Lord was His strength, His victory, His triumph.. He received His provision.

C.      Habakkuk received his provision.  He was restored His inheritance.  The Hebrew states that Habakkuk came into his promised land.

So he changed his Perspective, believed the Promise and received his Provision.  I believe this is what God wants us to do today as well to fully come into our inheritance of all the blessings, promises and benefits of the finished work.  Why settle for the “cursed ground” when Jesus paid the price for our disease, lack, and sin. The curse has been reversed for the believer.

I Surrender All...aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!

“I Surrender All”.  Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh…STOP!  I can only guess what has already run through your mind. Growing up, it seemed this song was always used as a guilt trip of sorts. It was used at youth rallies, consecration services – you get the picture.  The connotation was that people were holding back from giving their all to God and it was time to get to it. I used to think that if I gave it all to God, He might send me to Africa (a dream for some, not my cup of tea) or life would have lots of horrible things and I would have to be ok with that because I had surrendered all to God.  The sense was almost like, “you selfish person you – surrender to God because He wants you to and you’d better not wish for a wonderful life because God is sovereign and does as He sees fit”.  I’m sure the people leading had great intentions, but wow – it was stressful to me and I always felt guilty like I had not surrendered properly and God was tapping His foot just waiting for me to fully surrender.

Stick with me here and see surrendering all in a brand new light.

We were in our Sunday morning worship service today and I was remembering a few dear people who were sick and the enemy was also supplying other distressing thoughts of lack, need, etc.  Almost reminding me of how it appeared that God had not come through and worry was necessary on my part in order to properly process the situations.

The worship leader started singing “I Surrender All” and BAM! The Holy Spirit spoke in my heart. He encouraged me to surrender all, but not what you’d think.

He encouraged me to surrender the worry, the concern, the condemnation, every thought from the enemy, every picture of defeat – surrender all of it to Him.

And I did.

What a relief!

I sang those words in a whole new light. The song that had always brought guilt was now a song of FREEDOM! Jesus was asking if I would choose to surrender all the yuck to Him so I could be free and I agreed!  He was asking to me rest so He could work.  Surrender is a place of rest.

So from now on – I surrender ALL!  Every time the enemy brings up things beyond my control, or flashes images of untoward circumstances or any other concern…

All to thee my precious Savior, I SURRENDER ALL!

Throw stones - no really, throw stones!

If you've been following this blog for any length of time you have read about the five smooth stones we use to slay ANY giant in our land. We use the sling of our mouth to give thanksgiving, praise, pray in the Spirit and it is also how we show we have a merry heart and love. If you've missed the blogs explaining the five smooth stones just hop over in the archives to 2011 (March through November).

We throw stones via the words of our mouth and we choose if they are good or bad.  We can choose the five smooth stones that slay giants OR we can choose ones supplied by our enemy used against those around us (and maybe even against ourselves).

How does this happen?

The enemy is limited in what he can do. We see this in Eden when he suggested thoughts to Eve and she took them as her own, acted on them and got the results of that obedience. The enemy didn't show up as a tiger and force her into eating the fruit. No, by the words of his mouth in her ear he worked the angle of Eve's thoughts.

The enemy tries the same thing with us.  The battlefield is in our minds so he strategically suggests thoughts at just the right time to try and get us to act according to his desires.  According to what he wants to be carried out in our lives.

It can be something as small as discontent or second-guessing or worry. Something you might have thought for years was YOU, but if you step back and look at it - that thought trail ALWAYS leads you somewhere you don't want to go.  (Flashing lights and dinging sounds) - that is your enemy. He's gotten you to take those thoughts as your own and act on them. Thankfully the Holy Spirit is our Helper who can teach us how to overcome - how to get out of the rut of those thoughts and form new, good habits.

Back to the stones - the enemy provides thoughts and you give them life via your words / actions. For example: the enemy supplies thoughts of fear. You're already tired, hungry, angry, lonely, stressed or experiencing sorrow (HALTS, another blog). So he's targeting you at an opportune time (sounds a lot like when he targeted Jesus). He slides in a rapid succession of fearful images or thoughts and before you know it, you feel anxious and upset. It's like you're now looking at the situation through a different lens. You begin talking about it - acting on the fear. Where the enemy had no ground before, now he is starting to gain some because you are believing him - taking into account his report.

DON'T WORRY!

You can turn this thing back on your enemy in a New York minute! The moment you recognize what's going on, you change your mind. You recognize what the enemy has supplied and turn your mind to the Truth.  Rubber to the road: fear thoughts come up, you feel anxious, it persists for a bit and then...you recognize it. You grin because you realize it's not you - it's your enemy. Thank the Holy Spirit for helping you overcome. Sing a line to your favorite praise song or say, "Thank you Jesus I'm free!".  It may take a minute for your feelings to change, but keep with it. Be brave, stand strong 5 minutes longer (thank you Lisa Bevere for that one). See yourself differently than what the enemy has suggested via thoughts. Let your God-given imagination be used for your good instead of allowing the enemy to use it against you.

Remember, it actually is darkest before the dawn.  The enemy tries to get you to use the words of your mouth for destruction right before the change you've been praying for breaks on the scene. You ARE free, God has already won - the enemy would like you to think and act otherwise because it ONLY benefits him.

When the enemy supplies those thoughts that he wants to turn into words to sling with your mouth, do the opposite INSTEAD.  When he brings those thoughts, sling the powerful, giant-slaying stones of thanksgiving, praise, praying in the Spirit, having a merry heart and loving. 

Throw those stones - wide open spaces await!

It pays to remember

Remember back with me to a few blogs ago about the goodwill of God (peace on earth goodwill towards men). If you haven’t read it, I recommend you read that piece first so it will set you in the right frame of mind to receive the revelation below.

Rom 2:12

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Don’t glaze over – hold on – yes, we’ve heard countless messages on this passage, but there is a GEM in here. Even as I type, I’m still amazed.

Here’s the breakdown so it sits properly in your mind:

No to conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to) to this period of time, BUT change into another form, to transform, to transfigure by a renewal, renovation, complete change for the better the mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving and understanding and those of feeling, judging, determining AND a particular mode of thinking and judging, i.e thoughts, feelings, purposes, desires to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy what God wishes or has determined shall be done, the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ and it is God’s will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure (remember from the other blog). God’s good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, well pleasing, acceptable and perfect will.

Phew – you made it through that big hunk of meat! You guessed it.  That was the actual definition of each word as it translates in the Greek. So here’s a shorter one from the ARV (the Arin Rentz Version):

No to conform one’s self to this period of time, but choose a complete change for the better the mind, your particular mode of thinking, feeling, desiring so that you may deem worthy God’s determination to bless mankind through Christ – God’s good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, well pleasing, acceptable and perfect will.

Here’s the last piece to be covered that caused me to get out of bed while the kids were still sleeping on a holiday – you KNOW this has to be good!

The word “perfect” here is the Greek word teleios.  Why is this important? Because it is the last word Jesus spoke on the cross, “It IS finished!”  “It is teleios!” God’s determination to bless mankind through Christ was finished.  God’s will – God’s goodwill towards men had just been finished.

The trading of places had been made. 

Jesus bore in His own body you sickness and disease (Isa 53: 4- look at it in the YLT translation),.

Jesus bore every curse so you could live curse free. Generational curse free, law of sin and death curse free when He hung on the cross and when He wore the crown of thorns (picture of the curse).

Jesus’ flesh was actually torn to pieces so that your well-being could be whole (Isa 53:4, 5).

Jesus took on Himself our sin so we could take on His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus took our condemnation so we could and would not be condemnable (Rom 8:1).

Jesus took the judgment for our transgressions and sin so that we would be able to take His blessing (many references).

Jesus took our unworthiness so that we would be forever worthy (many references).

Jesus defeated EVERY work of darkness so that we would not live defeated by them (Col 2:15)

That, dear reader, is the finished work.  That is teleios.

Paul is telling us to choose to change our minds – choose to remember God’s goodwill. Change your mind from what your physical eyes see and remember INSTEAD God’s goodwill towards you – Christ’s finished work for you.

The enemy comes A LOT with upset. Being a human on this planet comes with daily things to overcome, but we have the opportunity to choose to completely change our mind for the better in remembering the finished work.

Jesus told us that He came so we might have an abundant life. A life that reflects His abundance, His goodness towards men. Your enemy wants just the opposite. He wants you to live out your days not understanding what Christ did for you in His finished work. The enemy wants you to live like the provision to trade places has not been made. The enemy wants you functioning in a "not-redeemed" state (redeemed means to be set back above in the place of authority)..

Why?

Because it means LIFE to YOU and God's good will in your life! It means DEATH to the enemy's plans for your life.  The enemy know it means not just life for you, but ABUNDANT LIFE.

When things are rough (some days it seems to be all day!), take 10 seconds and remember that Jesus switched places with you. Say it out loud if you can. Call a friend who believes the same and tell them again what the finished work has done.

Open up your mouth with thanksgiving and say, “Thank you Jesus for switching places with me – thank you for bearing all my sickness and disease in your body so I am every wit whole. Thank you Jesus that every curse fell on your head so I live curse free. Thank you Jesus that you gave me your peace – you were chastised so I could have total wellbeing (that’s another blog).  Thank you Jesus that the Scriptures tell me (2 Cor 8:9) that you were made poor so that I would be made rich.  Thank you Jesus I AM REDEEMED! (set back above in the place of authority) Thank you Jesus I am free!  Thank you Jesus for your finished work on my behalf – I believe it today – I receive it on my behalf today.”

And when the enemy comes seconds later to steal the joy or bring condemnation, let at least one more, “Thank you Jesus I’m free!” cross your lips.

You are effortlessly transformed by remembering Jesus’ finished work.

Your mind is made better by remembering the finished work.  He does the transforming – the Scripture doesn’t say to transform yourself. It says to change your mind for the better by remembering God’s goodwill, the finished work of His Son and you will be transformed.

I’m so glad He does it because I have tried and come up with less than stellar results. I’m guessing you’ve experienced the same thing too.  Sometimes it is a little hard for me to rest and let Him work…I’m working at resting – ha!

Thank you God for your goodwill towards us – thank you Jesus for finishing the work.  Help us Holy Spirit to remember it.  Amen.

Guest blog by Arin Rentz.

Happy Thanksgiving - take a bite of encouragement with you!

Hello!

I'm sure you are preparing for your Thanksgiving celebration.  I'd like to give you one preparation that will better the flavor of your celebration.

We know from Romans 5:17 that those who receive of the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life by the one Christ Jesus. Grace brings abundance into our lives - abundant life, abundant peace, abundant wisdom.  The key word is "receive".

The Word tells us we receive with thanksgiving so I am encouraging you to receive grace by giving thanks.  Don't reject or resist the grace He is so amply supplying by allowing an ungrateful, self-centered attitude.  Instead focus your attention on Christ and others by giving thanks.  You may not feel grateful or feel like giving, you may feel spent and worn out. However, the very choice to give thanks - to be grateful - is the empowerment, the energy that you need.

Receive grace by giving thanks!

Grace and gratitude are inseparable.  One makes way for another.  Thanksgiving is the hand that opens the door to grace and grace brings abundance.

So give God thanks, give people thanks and watch the flow of energy come into you - His abundance flowing to you.

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Table of Grace

The blog below is something Elizabeth Sutter shared with us in a Thursday Bible study in November. Read and take courage!

"So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, ‘Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him’.”

Mark 14:14 “Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples’?”

As it reads in Greek:

“And wherever if he might enter, say to the master of the house, The teacher says, ‘Where is the guestroom of me, where the Passover with the disciples of me, I might eat’?”

Breaking down from Greek:

Say:  lay it to rest, bring the message to closure, advise

Owner of house/Goodman: head of house

Roots indicate: a dwelling, family, church, race, nation where God is present, one’s entire property. All persons forming one family/household, family of God, Christian church. The house where God is regarded as present.

Authority figure who exercises complete jurisdiction, Lord, master, prince, correlated of a slave where despot (someone) has complete ownership and uncontrolled power.

Further roots: a man who is bound, tied fastened, imprisoned, put or thrown into chains, prisoner, b bound, captive, madman, bound hand and feet with grave cloths, put under obligation, law, duty.

In the Old Testament (Hebrew form of the word) it means the husband is not at home.

Say: lay it to rest, bring message to closure

Where: in what place (Do I lay it to rest)

Guestroom: lodging place, eating room, speaking of the breaking up of a journey.

Roots: to break up, , unharness, loosen thoroughly, to put up for the night, to halt for the night, to remove the straps and packs of beasts of burden, to unbound and take off. To set free, on that has been bound or swathed in bandages, bound with chains, in prison, discharged from prison and let go, to be free, bondage of disease(one held by Satan) by restoration of health, to release one bound by sin, to break up laws having a binding force, to destroy the bonds of death, to deprive of authority, to loose one bound (equals freedom).

To unyoke, tear down, overthrow, destroy, unleash, put end to, loose, untie, release, unbind so that something no longer holds together, to release bandages of feet.

Further roots: to come down from so that it flows down from his head, reaching down into the depth of extreme poverty, place where you join yourself to one thing and separate yourself from another.

To look or lie towards a goal, eye on goal

You are before the face of/in the presence of, before the eyes of Jesus

The idea of putting under denoting victory or rule over

Down from, higher to lower place

Passover:  accustomed to be offered for the peoples deliverance of old from Egypt.  In preparing to depart, Christ’s crucifixion is likened to the slain lamb over the dwelling to destruction passes over.

I might eat

To eat meat, live, feed, use,

Roots: to give one something to eat, to bring one something to eat, to dine, to feast in company of one

With one providing the meal at his house, to enjoy the blessings of salvation procured by Christ likened to a banquet with the people full of joy and reveling.

 

Insight:

The Holy Spirit orchestrates each word of the Bible - it all has meaning.  We see in Mark 14:13 that there are two disciples that he is speaking to and he tells them to follow the man carrying a jar of water.

The two is symbolic meaning “the matter is established as truth”, then we see a man carrying water. Water being symbolic of the Spirit. Then we see in vs. 14 that wherever he enters (the man carrying the water) you are to speak to the owner of the house.  The two disciples sent were said in the historical records that I referenced earlier to be Peter and John. Symbolically speaking of the exchange Peter meaning stone or the law and John meaning Grace.

In Mark 14, we see the master of the house being addressed.  This word has great depth in the Greek.

Jesus is showing us that this owner of the house represents many things. From the master of a dwelling place to nation, anywhere one has fixed his residence, one’s settled abode—any place where God is regarded as present. This is important because wherever the Holy Spirit enters is regarded as the place where God is present. So God is addressing the “goodman” and in studying the roots of this word, it refers to the fact that the Holy Spirit/God the Father/Jesus the Son as King may not have entirely established dominion over all his land due to the fact that the actual transforming work of the Spirit at any given moment is limited by our choice, thus we can withdraw ourselves from it. The roots of good man refer to a man who is still bound/ (reference to the definition). He is still under obligation and duty of the law.

The Old Testament form of the word means “the husband is not at home”!  . He is our total provider and He wants to provide for us in the areas of our needs/lacks/weaknesses.  He is provision. As we take the communion bread we recognize that at that point of our lack, He has what we need even if we do not yet experience it in our reality.  We are agreeing with this truth of provision by Faith, seeing and believing with eyes of Faith, calling it into manifestation with words of Faith.

The Holy Spirit leads us (all that call on His name as believers) into the guestchamber.

So as we follow along, Jesus is saying:    which means Laying it to rest, bring the message to a closure.

Where:     is the place (of rest).  I believe as Jesus sees us in those places of being bound, or those we are believing for being bound that He calls us to this guestchamber. “Where” is the place you are or others around you are in need/lack/sick.  He wants to bring us to this lodging place or guest room. Where we eat with him face to face, eye to eye, our audience of one, an intimate place with the Master.

The definition of guestroom (refer to definition).  This word again has great depth. It is the place where Christ has finished the work on cross procuring all our benefits in sonship /securing our inheritance. The guestroom is an open invitation, as is the cross for wholeness if we will receive and believe.  It is a place of rest for the believer, and it is where the exchange happens. 

When Adam and Eve were in the garden and Eve ate of the fruit, she did so based on the lie of Satan that God was withholding something good for her.  That partaking of the lie resulted in death for us all in spirit, soul and body,  Just as the fruit represented death, and the lie that God withholds good from us, causing us to doubt his goodness.

There is a correlation that when we partake of his “finished work” through the bread and the wine, we partake of the truth of life and that God withholds nothing from us. Rom 8:32  “ He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him graciously give us all things?” Believing this truth affects us spirit, soul, and body and a lamb for a household, as we pray and believe on behalf of others that they would receive of this truth.  Its all about the exchange, the exchange of the bound man (goodman-where the husband [source of provision] is not home) to the man who rests in the freedom of the finished work and is fully provided for.  AMEN!!!

I might eat:  I see Jesus giving us something to eat, bringing us something to eat often, serving us with Himself – wow!!!! Jesus is bringing us food, His food.  He is Provision, Deliverance, Salvation. His intention is that we feed on Him / take from Him as He is Life - that we put to use the food and provision.  That it brings us satisfaction (of our hunger and thirst) and that we are completely provided for when we feast in the company of One.  And what a place of feasting - what a place for celebration, when we recognize that the work is complete, all our needs/lack met. That would be the cause for rejoicing.  That every manifestation of death is swallowed up in His Victory!  1Cor 15:54. Swallowed in the Greek “to drink down, be devoured, destroyed, consumed. As we swallow the blood of Jesus, while taking communion, we are celebrating the victory that Christ won as every enemy has been consumed, or swallowed in Victory!!

The final symbolism for me was found in the reference of Mark 14:14. Biblically the numbers point to a double cycle of completion. The complete destruction and disarming of our enemies, and the complete and total freedom and wholeness we have when we have Christ!! I believe it is not by chance that these numbers are arranged like this, the Holy Spirit was making His point clear!!

So take communion today with the understanding that you are feasting with an audience of One who already provided for your every need.  Your very act of partaking His provision shouts the truth you have believed –  God withholds nothing good from us – and you have come to receive from Him.

God's Will is ALWAYS good towards me!

I encourage you to read EVERY word, every definition - it will change your perspective.

Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Or literally "good will towards men").

Peace in the Greek is (eirēnē), but remember who the angels were talking to! It was not Greek-speaking shepherds. It was Hebrew-speaking shepherds. So when the angels proclaimed to the shepherds peace – it was the Hebrew word "shalom".

Peace – shalom, shalwom

1.    completeness, soundness, welfare, peace

1.    completeness (in number)

2.    safety, soundness (in body)

3.    welfare, health, prosperity

4.    peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment

5.    peace, friendship

1.    of human relationships

2.    with God especially in covenant relationship

6.    peace (from war)

7.    peace (as adjective)

So the angels were saying there was now Peace on earth (a person).

They were also saying because of this event (God made flesh, what was going to transpire, the good will of God that had just kicked off) there is now peace / shalom on earth because that IS God’s will towards men.

It doesn’t stop there!

What did Jesus do right before his death?  What did He leave to us here on earth?

His peace – His shalom.

John 14:27

“Peace (eirēnē) I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

So what came to earth with Him did not leave earth with Him.

And remember again, Jesus is speaking Hebrew, not Greek to those listening so the word spoken was "shalom". God made a point to let us know that peace/shalom was now bestowed here on earth and Jesus made a point to let us know that peace was staying because He was leaving it with us.

How? Keep reading in John 14 just a few verses down.

John 14:31

“…but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.”

What was that command Jesus is talking about? To carry out God’s will. To carry out God’s good will.  Hold onto your hat…it’s about to take off.

Remember back to Luke 2, peace – shalom was the first part and then is the good will.

Good will in this portion means just what we think:

1.    will, choice

1.    good will, kindly intent, benevolence

2.    delight, pleasure, satisfaction

3.    desire

But remember again – it would have been proclaimed by the angels in Hebrew. We see an almost identical definition for good will in Isaiah 53.

Isa 53:10

"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand."

"Pleased"

1.    to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with, be pleased to do, to bend down.

"Bruise"

1.    to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken, to allow oneself to be crushed.

"Put him to grief"

1.    to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry

So in putting Luke 2:14, John 14:27 and Isa 53:10 together it looks like this:

It was God’s good will towards men to send His Son to be crushed, contrite, broken. It was God’s good will towards men to cause His Son to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry. Jesus knew He came to carry out God’s good will towards men.

Did you just take that in?

God’s good will towards you was to have His Son trade places with you so that you have completeness, soundness, welfare, peace and Jesus could become weak, sick, diseased, grieved, sorry, broken, crushed and contrite.

Jesus traded places with you! Say it out loud right now, “Jesus traded places with me!”.

Your enemy would have you think otherwise. He would have you believe that God’s will is NOT good towards you. Or believe that His will is good towards you based on your performance. Or believe that His will can change towards you.

Guess what?!? That’s a LIE. Look at the scriptures again. Look at the truth. Let it sink in. Let that new pathway in your brain be formed. 

GOD’S WILL IS ALWAYS GOOD TOWARDS ME.

Post it somewhere, tattoo it somewhere if need be – this is LIFE to you. Don’t allow your enemy to suck it from you. Don’t let him lie you out of it. Don’t let him condemn you out of it. It’s yours for the taking. It’s yours for the believing. It’s yours to hope in. It is literally your life.

Guest blog by Arin Rentz.