The Diplomat
1/1/10
1/1/10
Diplomats are official representatives sent from one nation's government to another nation. It takes high-level social skills and a good working knowledge of history, politics and international relations to be a successful diplomat.
When a diplomat is assigned to represent one country in another country where he lives for the term of his appointment, he is known as an ambassador. (This title remains with him even after his term ends.) The official residence of an ambassador in the host country is the embassy, and the ambassador's office is the chancery. When an ambassador lives in a city that is not the capital of the host country, the place is called a diplomatic mission.
Function
Diplomatic missions and embassies have seven important functions. They have to represent their own nation in another nation. This means that the diplomats will attend important state events in the name of their own nation. They have to guard their own nation's political, military, economic and other interests. Since they are on site in the host country, they will be able to respond to issues quickly. Diplomats negotiate agreements on behalf of their own government with the government of the host country. They watch and report about things that are happening in the host country. This can tip off the other government about potential problems or opportunities. Diplomats work to keep friendly relations between their country and the host county. They develop new relations that may result in business and trade opportunities. They also handle requests for documents like visas and passports.
Considerations
Diplomats and their family members living in a host country are exempt from criminal and civil prosecution in that country. This is called "diplomatic immunity." If a diplomat abuses the laws of the host country so much that that nation wishes to banish him, the host country assigns the unsavoury diplomat the title of "persona non grata." A persona non grata is kicked out of the host country and cannot return.
“Ambassadors are the highest ranking government officials and representatives of a kingdom.” God’s ambassadors are envoys. We have a special service before the Lord
Many are called but few are recruited. Our aim is to bring the unseen into the seen [scene] so that people can see the practicality of the Kingdom Message. We are selected delegates and we must practice diplomacy. We have been given authority in Jesus NAME and we have been authorized to represent the will and plan of God
“Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Revelation 15:3-4
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
The Governor of Heaven and Colonization
It started in Heaven. It moved to a garden and the ultimate aim was to colonize earth with Heaven’s ways. The ecclesia [church] extends the ‘thought’ (plan) of the Lord. The Government of Heaven has sent a Governor to assist its citizens. The Governor makes the territory (earth) like its original place (Heaven).The Garden represents the thought of God the Father and He has allowed His Sons to extend His ‘thought’ (plan) with the Help of the Governor (Holy Spirit).
Caesar sent Pilate to govern Palestine. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to GOVERN earth. Colonization occurs whenever any one or more species populates a new area. Colonization is normal for any country or company. Today the “Nike” company has colonized a large percentage of the world. Their aim was that everyone will wear their shoes. However, there are those who reject their shoes—The Kingdom of God is no different—
Jesus likened the process of colonization to the way yeast leavens bread:
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough [Matthew 13:33].
…Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev 1:5-6 NIV)
1. A Confident Kingdom
The kingdom of heaven has a culture [the way people live]. One of the distinctive characteristics of the kingdom of heaven is its absolute confidence. Kingdom culture will prevail over every other culture.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19
A. Yeast is inactive when it is sealed in the package. It cannot do its work until it
is released into the dough. It is the same way with us. We were also released in the dough of the world and the FATHER of JESUS guarantees the growth of HIS KINGDOM.
“Truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” Numbers 14:21
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the
water cover the sea” Habakkuk 2:14
The Song of Moses and Mariam [Exodus 15]
(1-5) First stanza: The Lord is a man of war.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
"I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is a man of war;
The Lord is His name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them;
They sank to the bottom like a stone."
When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. We will sing because of the victory won by the great strength of the Lord. We will have a "singing joy" in our life because His strength will not let us down.
He has become my salvation: This is a glorious phrase. It recognizes that we cannot save ourselves, but God must become our salvation.
2. A Kingdom of Power
The Kingdom of Heaven is a Kingdom of power. The Kingdom of Heaven is more durable than the kingdoms of the earth. God’s Kingdom stands forever. We are part of a culture that never gives up. The Kingdom of God demands endurance. Jesus has pre-eminence over all things. We are diplomats sent to represent the King and His Kingdom.
“They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.” “Psalm 145:12
“To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.”Deuteronomy 10:14
B. Yeast by itself looks helpless and insignificant. Once released, however, its
influence far exceeds its initial outward appearance. As yeast we need not be loud, flashy, and flamboyant, but quiet and unassuming, yet faithfully, consistently, and steadily living and promoting the Kingdom day by day. The beautiful Holy Spirit will live in us and express The Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom engages. The Kingdom of Heaven is not afraid of evil. The Kingdom of Heaven confronts any kingdom.
“Everything under heaven belongs to me.”Job 41:11b
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Matthew 28:18
(6-10) Second stanza: You have overthrown those who rose against You.
"Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.
And with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'
You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters."
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces: Moses and the people described what God did to the Egyptians, and they gloried in the defeat of God's enemies. If we really love the Lord, we should glory in the defeat of God's enemies.
The right hand was thought to be the hand of skill and power. When God works with His right hand, it is a work of skill and power.
Obviously, this is the use of anthropomorphism, understanding something about God by using a human figure of speech, even though it does not literally apply.
This idea of the right hand is used in the Scriptures more than fifty times, including these passages:
Psalm 45:4: God's right hand teaches us
Psalm 48:10: God's right hand is full of righteousness
Psalm 77:10: Remembrance of the years of the right hand of the Most High
Psalm 110:1: The Father invites the Son to sit at His right hand
Habakkuk 2:16: The cup of God's judgment is held in His right hand Ephesians 1:20: Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father
3. An Everlasting Kingdom
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.” Psalms 145:13
“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” 1 Corinthians 15:24
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14)
The future cannot stop the Kingdom of Jesus. The Kingdom of God can never be overthrown and will never pass away. We enforce this principle by influencing our environment with the help of the Holy Spirit. “Everything under heaven belongs to me.” Job 41:11
C. Yeast is not intimidated by the size of the dough. It does not matter where God puts us or how tough our situation looks. As Kingdom Citizens we have a GOVERNOR to assist us. The Holy Spirit transforms the surrounding by bringing the influence of the Lord God Almighty. Yeast will affect dough. You don’t have to fast for it or practice a certain ritual for it. Yeast will do its Job so it is with the Kingdom of God.
(11-13) Third stanza: Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
"Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation."
If the people of Egypt still did not know who the Lord was, the people of Israel did. They knew the Lord was not like any of the false gods of Egypt or Canaan. Worship should proclaim the superiority of the Lord God over anything else that claims to be god. Israel soon and often forgot this, but we can remember it. There is no ONE like the LORD.
4. A Kingdom of Love
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
“For God did not send his Son in to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”John 3:17
Jesus didn’t leave the kingdom of God in heaven when HE came to Earth. He brought it with him. We are in the Kingdom now because of Jesus. The promise of God is, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance’’ Psalm 2:8
God wants to influence the nations. God’s love is powerful; it reaches out and saves the lives of people.
D. Yeast is not influenced by the dough, but the dough is influenced by the yeast. Yeast never becomes dough, but dough becomes yeast. The Kingdom never becomes the world but the world becomes the Kingdom.
(14-18) Fourth and fifth stanza: The people will hear and be afraid.
"The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.
Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.
You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever."
Some forty years later Rahab the prostitute from Jericho told the Israeli spies: For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt (Joshua 2:10). The people of Canaan did hear of what God did for Israel and some responded with godly fear.
5. A Kingdom of Opportunity
Whenever one door closes, another one opens.” These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Revelation 3:7
The Lord is opening doors of creativity and productivity. Let us take the Kingdom into the marketplace and Impact our society for the glory of God, the Father. God is expanding His Kingdom on earth. This was His original plan to bring the unseen into the seen (earth scene). He is busy turning the world upside down and it is glorious to know that we are His instruments. The Kingdom is being expanded aggressively! Let us assist our Great God and Heavenly Father who doesn’t really need our help but has given us the privilege of declaring the principles of His His Kingdom on this earth.
E. Yeast changes the condition of the dough. The longer yeast has to
work, the greater the transformation of the dough. In the same way, the longer our influence is in a place, the more that place should become like the Kingdom of Heaven
(19-21) Miriam, Moses' sister, leads the women in worship.
For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them:
"Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"
This is the first mention of Miriam by name, and she is described as the sister of Aaron, so she is therefore also the sister of Moses (Exodus 4:14).
Numbers 26:59 seems to indicate that Moses had only one sister. We do know that it was his sister who supervised the launching of the basket onto the Nile River to preserve his life (Exodus 2:14) and arranged the hiring of Moses' mother as his nurse. Based on Numbers 26:59, we can say this was probably - almost certainly - Miriam. She was the older sister of Moses. God will find a way!
“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” Psalm 24:1
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
The Governor of Heaven and Colonization
It started in Heaven. It moved to a garden and the ultimate aim was to colonize earth with Heaven’s ways. The ecclesia [church] extends the ‘thought’ (plan) of the Lord. The Government of Heaven has sent a Governor to assist its citizens. The Governor makes the territory (earth) like its original place (Heaven).The Garden represents the thought of God the Father and He has allowed His Sons to extend His ‘thought’ (plan) with the Help of the Governor (Holy Spirit).
Caesar sent Pilate to govern Palestine. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to GOVERN earth. Colonization occurs whenever any one or more species populates a new area. Colonization is normal for any country or company. Today the “Nike” company has colonized a large percentage of the world. Their aim was that everyone will wear their shoes. However, there are those who reject their shoes—The Kingdom of God is no different—
Jesus likened the process of colonization to the way yeast leavens bread:
The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough [Matthew 13:33].
…Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Rev 1:5-6 NIV)
1. A Confident Kingdom
The kingdom of heaven has a culture [the way people live]. One of the distinctive characteristics of the kingdom of heaven is its absolute confidence. Kingdom culture will prevail over every other culture.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19
A. Yeast is inactive when it is sealed in the package. It cannot do its work until it
is released into the dough. It is the same way with us. We were also released in the dough of the world and the FATHER of JESUS guarantees the growth of HIS KINGDOM.
“Truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord” Numbers 14:21
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the
water cover the sea” Habakkuk 2:14
The Song of Moses and Mariam [Exodus 15]
(1-5) First stanza: The Lord is a man of war.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
"I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is a man of war;
The Lord is His name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them;
They sank to the bottom like a stone."
When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. We will sing because of the victory won by the great strength of the Lord. We will have a "singing joy" in our life because His strength will not let us down.
He has become my salvation: This is a glorious phrase. It recognizes that we cannot save ourselves, but God must become our salvation.
2. A Kingdom of Power
The Kingdom of Heaven is a Kingdom of power. The Kingdom of Heaven is more durable than the kingdoms of the earth. God’s Kingdom stands forever. We are part of a culture that never gives up. The Kingdom of God demands endurance. Jesus has pre-eminence over all things. We are diplomats sent to represent the King and His Kingdom.
“They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.” “Psalm 145:12
“To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.”Deuteronomy 10:14
B. Yeast by itself looks helpless and insignificant. Once released, however, its
influence far exceeds its initial outward appearance. As yeast we need not be loud, flashy, and flamboyant, but quiet and unassuming, yet faithfully, consistently, and steadily living and promoting the Kingdom day by day. The beautiful Holy Spirit will live in us and express The Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom engages. The Kingdom of Heaven is not afraid of evil. The Kingdom of Heaven confronts any kingdom.
“Everything under heaven belongs to me.”Job 41:11b
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” Matthew 28:18
(6-10) Second stanza: You have overthrown those who rose against You.
"Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.
And with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'
You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters."
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces: Moses and the people described what God did to the Egyptians, and they gloried in the defeat of God's enemies. If we really love the Lord, we should glory in the defeat of God's enemies.
The right hand was thought to be the hand of skill and power. When God works with His right hand, it is a work of skill and power.
Obviously, this is the use of anthropomorphism, understanding something about God by using a human figure of speech, even though it does not literally apply.
This idea of the right hand is used in the Scriptures more than fifty times, including these passages:
Psalm 45:4: God's right hand teaches us
Psalm 48:10: God's right hand is full of righteousness
Psalm 77:10: Remembrance of the years of the right hand of the Most High
Psalm 110:1: The Father invites the Son to sit at His right hand
Habakkuk 2:16: The cup of God's judgment is held in His right hand Ephesians 1:20: Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father
3. An Everlasting Kingdom
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.” Psalms 145:13
“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” 1 Corinthians 15:24
"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14)
The future cannot stop the Kingdom of Jesus. The Kingdom of God can never be overthrown and will never pass away. We enforce this principle by influencing our environment with the help of the Holy Spirit. “Everything under heaven belongs to me.” Job 41:11
C. Yeast is not intimidated by the size of the dough. It does not matter where God puts us or how tough our situation looks. As Kingdom Citizens we have a GOVERNOR to assist us. The Holy Spirit transforms the surrounding by bringing the influence of the Lord God Almighty. Yeast will affect dough. You don’t have to fast for it or practice a certain ritual for it. Yeast will do its Job so it is with the Kingdom of God.
(11-13) Third stanza: Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
"Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation."
If the people of Egypt still did not know who the Lord was, the people of Israel did. They knew the Lord was not like any of the false gods of Egypt or Canaan. Worship should proclaim the superiority of the Lord God over anything else that claims to be god. Israel soon and often forgot this, but we can remember it. There is no ONE like the LORD.
4. A Kingdom of Love
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
“For God did not send his Son in to the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”John 3:17
Jesus didn’t leave the kingdom of God in heaven when HE came to Earth. He brought it with him. We are in the Kingdom now because of Jesus. The promise of God is, “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance’’ Psalm 2:8
God wants to influence the nations. God’s love is powerful; it reaches out and saves the lives of people.
D. Yeast is not influenced by the dough, but the dough is influenced by the yeast. Yeast never becomes dough, but dough becomes yeast. The Kingdom never becomes the world but the world becomes the Kingdom.
(14-18) Fourth and fifth stanza: The people will hear and be afraid.
"The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.
Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.
You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever."
Some forty years later Rahab the prostitute from Jericho told the Israeli spies: For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt (Joshua 2:10). The people of Canaan did hear of what God did for Israel and some responded with godly fear.
5. A Kingdom of Opportunity
Whenever one door closes, another one opens.” These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.” Revelation 3:7
The Lord is opening doors of creativity and productivity. Let us take the Kingdom into the marketplace and Impact our society for the glory of God, the Father. God is expanding His Kingdom on earth. This was His original plan to bring the unseen into the seen (earth scene). He is busy turning the world upside down and it is glorious to know that we are His instruments. The Kingdom is being expanded aggressively! Let us assist our Great God and Heavenly Father who doesn’t really need our help but has given us the privilege of declaring the principles of His His Kingdom on this earth.
E. Yeast changes the condition of the dough. The longer yeast has to
work, the greater the transformation of the dough. In the same way, the longer our influence is in a place, the more that place should become like the Kingdom of Heaven
(19-21) Miriam, Moses' sister, leads the women in worship.
For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them:
"Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"
This is the first mention of Miriam by name, and she is described as the sister of Aaron, so she is therefore also the sister of Moses (Exodus 4:14).
Numbers 26:59 seems to indicate that Moses had only one sister. We do know that it was his sister who supervised the launching of the basket onto the Nile River to preserve his life (Exodus 2:14) and arranged the hiring of Moses' mother as his nurse. Based on Numbers 26:59, we can say this was probably - almost certainly - Miriam. She was the older sister of Moses. God will find a way!
6. A Kingdom with Heavenly Citizenship
We were sent here for a purpose. We have Christian refugees on this planet.They are scatted everywhere in many places of the world. They cannot return to their homeland and they are not yet at the place that they would like to be. Some of their conditions are miserable by the standards of the world yet they have chosen it above what they had before.
We have dual citizenship in Christ Jesus. We are not of this world but we are in this world. We are here to represent our Government and His Principles. We are citizens of our country but we are also Citizens of Heaven and our citizenship in Heaven makes all the difference.
Paul was a Roman Citizen. Roman citizenship in the time of Jesus was a valuable commodity. Only about five million of the over fifty million inhabitants of the empire at that time were free and full Roman citizens. Citizenship in a kingdom is a privilege. Citizens are chose by the King and are beneficiaries of the King’s pleasure and promises.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21)
F. Yeast works quietly. It does not force anything; it just goes to work. We go to work quietly, steadily and consistently. We set a solid kingdom example day in and day out. We are there to infect.
(22) Three days into the wilderness.
So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Moses brought Israel . . . they went out into the Wilderness of Shur: God's man led them, but he led them an unusual way. Into the Wilderness of Shur was outside the major trade route along the sea. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water: Three days is not a very long time. But it is long enough to forget the great victory and power of God. Now Israel faced a long trip through difficult and dry desert.
7. An Irresistible Kingdom
God literally has all the time in the universe to fulfill His Plan. The influence of God is irresistible. Someday everyone will acknowledge the reality, authority and absolute supremacy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Paul said,’’ at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11)
…The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough (Matt. 13:33).
G. Yeast is one of the most powerful influencing agents in the world and it exist for
one reason: to infect whatever it is mixed into with its presence and influence. Yeast is not about giving up or giving in. It is about taking over. Yeast never becomes dough. Dough becomes yeast. The dough takes on the characteristics of the yeast. Yeast has not finished its job until it has “worked all through the dough.”
All yeast has to do in order to work is show up. You don’t have to tell yeast what to do. All you have to do is to release it and let it work. The Holy Spirit will release Himself and work in and through us.
(23-25a) Bitter waters made sweet at Marah.
Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them.
By following God's direction, Moses made the waters drinkable and Israel found water in the wilderness. Even though the waters were now drinkable, there was still a significant magnesium and calcium content in the water. The laxative effect of this would clean out the digestive systems of the children of Israel, cleansing them of common Egyptian ailments such as amoebic dysentery and bilharzia, a weakening disease common among Egyptian peasants. In addition, calcium and magnesium together form the basis of a drug called dolomite - used by some athletes as a performance enhancer in hot weather conditions. At Marah, God provided the right medicine to both clean out their systems, and prepare them for a long, hot march to Sinai. We can say that God was not only interested in getting the children of Israel out of Egypt; He also wanted to get Egypt out of the children of Israel - both physically and spiritually.
Praying for what the early ECCLESIA prayed for:
1. Pray that God would exalt his name in the world.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Matthew 6:9
2. Pray that God would extend his kingdom in the world.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6: 10
3. Pray that the Gospel would speed ahead and be honoured.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honoured, as happened among you. 2 Thessalonians 3:1
4. Pray that God would save unbelievers.
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. Romans 10:1
5. Pray for boldness in proclamation.
Praying at all times in the Spirit…and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:18-19
6. Pray for strategic wisdom.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
7. Pray that God would send out reinforcements.
Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:38
8. Pray for a mind of discernment.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-10
9. Pray for knowledge of his will.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:9
10. Pray to know God better.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17
11. Pray for power to comprehend the love of Christ.
…may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- Ephesians 3:18-19
12. Pray that you may not fall into temptation.
Lead us not into temptation. Matthew 6:13
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. Matthew 26:41
13. Pray that you would do good works.
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10
14. Pray for the forgiveness of your sins.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12
15. Pray for the protection from the enemy.
Deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:13
16. Pray that God would direct the use of the sword.
And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests: With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18
The Government of Heaven operates on earth.
We contact our Headquarters in order to bring the WILL of God to earth.
We have His NAME and we simply spread HIS FAME.
Through prayer we mirror the Ageless plan of God.
We pray that His Kingdom will expand on planet earth
The power of prayer lies not in how much we pray
But how much of our prayers are in agreement with His will.
The Bible’s prayers are predominantly short.
This will be a good pattern to follow.
“...for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” Ps.138:2b
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