Billowing glory...

If you have a lit room and you open the door to the dark outside light billows out, darkness doesn't come in.

As Jesus Christ gave up His life on the cross for us all the heavy veil that covered the Most Holy place in the temple in Jerusalem was torn in two. It was torn as Jesus entered in to the presence of God on our account, and in His entering made us who believe acceptable, righteous and holy, by His blood.
With the way open and the destination acceptable - we are the acceptable destination - the presence of God - GLORY - billowed out.
It cannot be otherwise - how can God be contained when the way is open? We might hesitate at an open door but Light does not, it just billows out and darkness flees away!

(Now, I am certain that man hastily repaired the torn veil for it satisfied his pride (that old problem that first reared its head in the garden of Eden) to be the means of gaining favour with God, and Pharisees and scribes were very proud of their law keeping, and so the actions of the veil repairer meant that even though grace had come in the finished work of Jesus - "It is finished" - mankind determined that for 40 or so years an interim period prevailed where law and grace co-existed. This was ended when the perilous times of Matthew 24 was unleashed and the Romans tore the temple down and burnt it in 70 AD. As the temple burnt the old covenant ceased and the new covenant dawned in all its glory.)
I believe it is true that as glory billowed out heaven - where God dwells- and earth - where man is - became one. New heaven and new earth. Revelation 21.
Now, it is not my intention to dramatically and drastically challenge your belief. I do not ask you to believe me, just consider the glory. That's all. Please receive that.
But I have to say this, because my thoughts and meditations sit around this today; I cannot believe that glory that billowed out as the veil was destroyed now must wait 2000+ years for the Lord to come to impact lives, and my life in particular.
I see the glory of the Lord (God is Love) as the essential, underlying bedrock that enables us to be all we are called to be. It is the only way, in fact. If we try to apply our effort to this task it is just law - it can only be that a face to face meeting with the Lord will bring the transformation that answers the John 17: 22 - 26 prayer of Jesus. Face to face.
2 Corinthians 3 : 14 says this - '...for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted.' Moses' face radiated glory as he came down from meeting with God, such was the glory he encountered, and he only saw God's back. But his glory filled face was a fading glory, and the writer asks, 'how shall the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation (the law - 'letters engraved on stones' [2 Corinthians 3: 7]) has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses it.' [2 Corinthians 3: 8 - 10] The glory of the new covenant is of such glory that the glory of the old has no glory at all! And receive this - as the veil was torn and then removed, in Christ glory could emerge because the new dwelling place was acceptable, and more glorious, because the glory was more glorious. And the emerging glory met us, not to see His back, but face to face. Understand?
What am I saying? The temple fell and God moved into His new dwelling place as He met with us, He met us face to face. Jacob met with God face to face in Genesis 32 and emerged with a new name, and a new walk!
And then we go on in 2 Corinthians 3: 15 - 18 and read this, '...to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.' But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.' (Now don't misunderstand - this was being written to the Corinthians before the temple was destroyed and we must apply that. Moses was still being read - and that veil was lifted when the temple fell. But also today that veil remains when we seek our own effort rather than resting in grace.)
A lifted veil equals an obsolete covenant of law, and face to face is receiving the new, face to face. A face to face with God will certainly transform you, how can it not? Moses radiated glory, and the glory that billowed out through the removed veil transcends the glory of Moses to such an extent that it makes his glory nothing.
Now this is my thought and the challenge to me. The disciples observed the ascension of Jesus, and two men in white asked them why they were looking into the sky, saying, 'this Jesus will come as you have seen Him go.' My thought is that today many are looking into the sky, seeking the glory of His coming as the moment of transformation when He has already come for a face to face, but to see Him we need to take our eyes from the sky and look into His face.
You know, forgive me, but I see little point in debating the future, the truth is our future is set and certain for we are in Christ - our boat will not sink with Jesus in our boat so we may as well just rest our head down on the cushion with Jesus [Mark 4: 35 - 41] - just rest in His glory for we have been caught up to the air - the heavenly places - and are already seated with Him [Ephesians 2: 6], the problem is many of us are too busy looking at the sky to take our seat in our rightful place.
The clouds have cleared as the altar of incense was destroyed and He has emerged in all His glory and we need to look into His face, unveiled (law gone), as we would look into a mirror - face to face - and the transformation to glory will be now. We can be transfigured, as He was, now by a face to face with billowing glory. A meeting with the come Messiah.
Our transformation will be from an obsolete glory to an infinitely more glorious glory, as we look into the 'radiance of His glory' [Hebrews 1: 3] and looking there it will not be possible for us to not radiate His glory, and radiating glory will have an impact that will transform this world.
I'm not waiting any longer for glory from the sky, I want His glory now, and billowing glory in me (my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; Christ is in me, the hope of glory) will mean all that the Lord has shown me will be. It cannot be otherwise. In His glory, to His glory, by His glory, for His glory.
It is only by His glory that WTL will have a ministry van; it is only by His glory that we will have our land and build the grace gospel launching pad - the WTL Grace House. It is only by His glory that we will take this world with the gospel of Grace; it is only by His glory that we will 'stand up, and go our way, made whole' [Luke 17: 19]; it is only by His glory that we will see 'more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women,...constantly added to (our) number' [Acts 5: 14]; it is only by His glory that we will preach His glory - 'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son...' [John 3: 16] I don't want to debate comings, all I want is to preach the love of God, His glory, because that is the only thing that will transform this world, a face to face with the billowing glory - the love of God.
That's all.
He has billowed out to you. Turn from sky looking and believe He has come already - 'where the Spirit is there is LIBERTY' - and have a face to face - renew your mind by right believing which brings right living, and be transformed by a face to face with a come Messiah - 'He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high' [Hebrews 1: 3] - and He sat you right there with Him. [Ephesians 2: 6].
Blessings to you.

Clouds...

Recently a brother directed my attention to Acts 1. In verses 9 - 11 we have the ascension of our Lord into glory. It says He was 'lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.'

It then recounts two men in white clothing standing by who ask, 'Why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'
That's what it says.
Now, it could be said, that today many continue to 'look into the sky.' We look to see His coming. We consider ourselves to be 'those who eagerly await Him.' [Hebrews 9: 28]
Let's look at that verse,

'...so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.'

Acts 1: 11 and Hebrews 9: 28 both speak of a second coming and the teaching of the church has, for centuries, been that this is future. So we spend our lives looking into the sky looking for this coming and anticipating that this will be the day we receive His glory. His first coming was a sin bearing coming, we understand that, but, I ask you, can it really make sense that this 'second coming'  that brings the fullness, the wholeness of 'sozo' salvation, without reference to sin because the sin question has been dealt with, really takes 2000 + years to be? Really?

As I have thought on these things my meditation has gone to the tabernacle. I love to consider the tabernacle, it is such a beautiful picture of Christ concealed. When I say tabernacle, I also think temple, because effectively the temple is just a static tabernacle. The tabernacle was the mobile version, the temple the static version.

Now, the tabernacle has many things but I just want to see this. In the Holy place, at the entrance to the Holy of holies stood an altar, the Altar of Incense. On this altar incense was burnt perpetually. It was one of the priest's jobs to burn incense there perpetually. It would have put up quite a cloud of smoke. Before this altar was the veil, through the veil was the Holy of holies and the Ark of the Covenant, which was beneath the mercy seat and over the mercy seat were two cherubim and between their outstretched wings dwelt God. Glory dwelt here.

Now I have a lot to say about the veil but maybe I'll do that another day.
This is about clouds.

Jesus was taken up, and a cloud received Him.
The two men in white asked, 'Why are you looking into the sky?'
They said, 'He will come again as you have seen Him go.'
That is, He will be revealed coming through the cloud. The cloud will part, move aside, whatever, and He will come.
At the crucifixion of Jesus the veil got torn in two. I am certain it was hastily repaired but too late. Glory had come out.
You see, I believe, that while it is true that the torn veil gave us Hebrews 4: 16 access it is eminently more impactful and wonderful that the torn veil released glory.
Glory could now come out and be seen because the sin question had been dealt with. Glory came out to the Holy place, came out to where the priest's served and we are all priests if we believe in Jesus.
It is really interesting that in Revelation 21: 1 as John sees the new heaven and earth there is no sea. You see the tabernacle and temple was basically three sections, outer court, Holy place and Holy of holies. The outer court was also called the Gentiles court.
Glory was released at the torn veil and came out, there is no sea because there is no need for an outer court in the new temple, for in Christ all who believe, Jew and Gentile, become one, 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession...' [1 Peter 2: 9]
So as glory came out a new heaven and new earth was created.

Now what about clouds?
The veil was repaired. But forty years on all was destroyed. The Romans burnt the temple down. The altar of incense cloud of smoke was removed by fire and intense heat, despite the legal eagles of the day being determined to retain it.

What am I saying? It is this. We spend our days looking into the sky, looking for His coming but I believe great things lie in this truth - He has already come. He has already come as His glory has come through the clouds. As the altar of incense burnt the last vestige of law was made obsolete [Hebrews 8: 13] and He has come to His new dwelling place, no temple required for YOU are His dwelling place, heaven and earth are united perfectly (read John 17: 22 - 26) in YOU.

'Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?' [1 Corinthians 6: 19]

There is one other thing that we need to just consider here. In Matthew 24 Jesus is speaking about things that concern the destruction of the temple. We read these words and apply Jesus' day and future day almost willy nilly. Some parts we place in the future in our teaching, and some we give to the day in which Jesus was speaking but how can that be? Jesus was answering a question from His disciples about the temple as they looked upon it. The things He was saying referred to the temple, and its destruction in AD 70. And remember Jesus Himself said, 'Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.' [Matthew 24: 34] Wow! Interesting, don't you think?

But what is the practical application?

Can you imagine the change if we stopped looking so fervently into the sky for our salvation to come but instead walked in the truth of the glory of Christ in us. What change would this make in our lives? As a more knowledgeable man than me said recently, 'Right believing produces right living.' So, how would our 'living' change if we believed that we already have His glory.

You see, I am convinced that His glory is not some future aspiration but a present possession that we haven't appropriated, so we don't live in its truth.

As I contemplated these immense things I asked the Holy Spirit to show me something that I could see of this and He showed me two things.

'And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number; to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets, and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on any one of these. And also the people in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits; and they were all being healed.' [Acts 5: 14 - 16]

'And God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.' [Acts 19: 11 - 12]

I don't ask you to believe me, convincing you isn't me job, that is the Holy Spirit's job.
But think, and ask Him to show you, glory came out through the cloud.
Imagine that glory appropriated by right believing producing right living...
Oh, what LIVING that would be!
I think I might call that 'abundant life.'

Common sense?

What do you think? Is 'common sense' a pathway to Holy Spirit revelation? Does God deal in 'common sense'? I was reading something the other day and I sensed the Lord say to me, "It's just common sense."
I better give a little bit of context. I am a revelation seeker. There is no greater joy for me than to do a 'Mary', sit at the Lord's feet to hear His words. When we sit my experience is He is more than happy to speak. So lately He has been speaking to me about glory, and new heavens and new earth, but I'm not able to yet share that fully with you.  In fact, I think that it may be that you will have to come to me for that, rather than me go to you. That may not make any sense but that is what I feel.
So, as I meditate on these 'new' things, that are actually old, the Lord says to me, 'It's just common sense...think about it, your thinking doesn't make sense...and right believing leads to right living.'
So...common sense...
Okay, think on this.
In 2 Peter 3: 9 we read a statement that is often used in Gospel preaching. It says this, '...not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.' The old King James Version says it like this, '...not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.' There is much that could be said about the context and audience surrounding Peter's writing but maybe another day.

For now, I am reading this passage and I recognise this statement because I have heard it countless times before, and probably quoted it nearly as many! But my meditation has been about glory and new heavens and new earth, as I already said, and in my meditation the Spirit communes with me as follows, 'All the teaching you have had tells you that you are looking for glory as something you aspire to in your future. And here you have a statement that says that I am not willing that any should perish, an outcome that requires My glory (His glory is the love of God) and yet you believe that you are deficient in glory and that glory is something future.'
'Think about it - I have called you to be emissaries of My Grace - why would I call you to that but not give you the means to accomplish it? It doesn't make sense! If My word is true that I am not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, and it is true, then it only makes sense that I have already given you all that you need - I have poured out My glory upon you. Your body is the dwelling place of My glory - Christ in you, the hope of glory - do you believe it?'

I feel that it is true that we have been like the disciples standing looking into the sky in Acts 1. For 2000 years we have been looking into the sky waiting for a coming Lord who will give us glory, and in the looking we have missed His coming. I believe there was a significant event in AD 70 that we overlook. The temple was destroyed; the last vestige of law removed and the veil which was undoubtedly repaired following the crucifixion of Jesus completely destroyed. Oh, don't think that the work of Jesus was somehow diminished by the repair of the veil, but the point is that glory came out. Glory came out and heaven, where God dwells, and earth, where man is priest, were united - heaven and earth became one as God's dwelling place was destroyed, and so He came out to dwell in you, and me - our bodies became the temple of the Holy Spirit.
So why do we continue to look into the sky? Glory has already come but we just fail to believe it. Now, I'm not asking you to believe me, you believe what you like but as I meditate the discloser of Jesus suggests to me common sense does not allow for our teaching that glory is future; common sense must say that we already have His glory - and the only hindrance is we fail to believe it. We are called to make disciples of all nations - common sense must say that God has given us everything we require to achieve His desire that none perish but that all come to repentance, and yet we operate believing that our glory is a future aspiration.
Let me close with a question - let's just say that you are filled with His glory and you believe it, how would that transform your life?
I believe Peter, and Paul, carried His glory and Peter's shadow fell on people and they were healed, and Paul sent his hankerchief to someone far away and they were healed!
You carry His glory too. It is a life transforming truth. Let's stop looking into the sky and live in the truth of Christ in us - wow! - life will never be the same.

Do you want fullness of God?

‘For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them… “I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God? ” [John 5: 18 – 19, 41 – 44]

Often when we pray we ask the Lord to bless our endeavour, or our ministry, or our service, that God may be glorified in it. I am not saying that such a prayer is not worthy because I am sure our God understands our intent for He sees our heart. However, here Jesus, speaking to Pharisees who prided themselves in their ‘service’, says that He does not receive glory from men so, in light of that, our prayer, perhaps, misses the mark. I have been contemplating this for two or three days because I have many times prayed that prayer.

For months now I have been meditating on glory. If you have followed my ramblings then you will know that. In Mark 4: 35 - 41 Jesus suggests to the disciples that they go over to the other side and they invite Jesus into their boat to cross over. A storm rises up and Jesus sleeps; they awaken Him and He calms the storm and they fear greatly. In Luke 17: 11 – 19 ten lepers are cleansed but one returns to give glory to God and is made whole. What is God’s glory? What was it that compelled the cleansed leper to return to give glory? Why did he do so? The Holy Spirit’s answer was simple, “Because He saw the glory of God.” But, what is His glory? What did the leper see?

I have shared this before. In the boat, in the storm, Jesus slept. How was it that He could sleep in the middle of a raging storm? The Holy Spirit gave the answer, “Because His head rested on the cushion.” What was the cushion? It was His Father’s love for Him. The Holy Spirit then said to me, “You, too, can rest your head there.”

Is His glory His love? This was my question. He then brings me to the scripture I have quoted above. Jesus said, ‘I do not receive glory from men.’ Wow! And we all thought that our effort on behalf of the kingdom was the thing that brought Him glory! But, not so. I contemplated this. The fact is He has inestimable glory, how can my feeble endeavours add anything to it? So how can I give Him glory? By seeing and receiving His glory. But what is it? And then came His confirmation; He said to the Jews, ‘…but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.’ His glory is His love.

Our God has glory that we cannot comprehend. At best we can scratch its surface to release just an aroma of its wonder, like scratching the surface of a tree to release the beautiful perfume. Walk into the bush and take a breath; you will know what I mean.

What does God desire of me? How does He want to be glorified in me? Oh, yes He loves our response to Him in ministry but is it this that brings Him glory? No, I don’t think so. So, then, how does He want us to bring Him glory? Jesus tells us, ‘I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God?’ We receive glory from one another willingly but we do not seek the glory that is from the only God. We fail to see and fail to pursue and fail to receive the fullness of the glory that is expressed in the coming of Jesus, who came in the Father’s name. It is important that I see that it is in the Father’s name that He came, not in God’s name. Why is this important? It is essentially important because the introduction of God as Father is the realisation of the absolute truth that ‘God is love.’

Mary, of Bethany, is recorded at the feet of Jesus three times in scripture. Once in Luke 10: 39 as she ‘was listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet’; once in John 11: 32 as she ‘fell at His feet’ to receive His love and consolation, and the miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus, Mary’s brother; and finally in John 12: 1 – 8 when Mary ‘took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.’ Mary was criticised for her anointing and it was said that the perfume could have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor but the one who said this failed to smell the perfume of the anointed One, as the perfume filled the whole house. It makes me laugh that we bother ourselves with the gathering of the cost of a pound of pure nard, costly though it undoubtedly was, but miss the fact, and miss the aroma, of the One who is seated there – who is this One? He is the declaration of the love of God. He is ‘God is love’ in the flesh. He is fullness, He is the riches of God, He is God manifest in flesh.

Let me ask a question? Do you want fullness of God? Can I answer for myself? There is nothing I want more. I want fullness of God. Fullness of God is His glory. I want His glory!

How am I filled up to all the fullness of God? The answer; by being rooted and grounded in love…by comprehending what is the breadth and length and height and depth…of what?...to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. [Ephesians 3: 14 – 21]

I am in such a quandary at present. How do I attain? How do I declare? What is there to say?

In John 6: 15 - 21 the disciples get into a boat and a storm rises up. Jesus comes walking by on the water and they fear. When He says, “It is I, do not be afraid” they invite Him into the boat and they are immediately at the other side. They received Him into their boat! Think about it. They received the expression of the Father’s love and they are immediately at the other side. He didn’t calm the storm, they just arrived immediately.

Think about the Mark 4 story of the boat and the storm. Jesus was in the boat and was sleeping in His Father’s love. The Holy Spirit says that we can also rest our head there. Do you think they boat was going down with Jesus in the boat? No way! Yes, when the disciples cried out to Him He was gracious and calmed the storm but consider this; if they had all laid their heads of the cushion they would have immediately arrived at the other side. We ask the Lord to calm our storms constantly but what He most desires is for us to lay our heads on the cushion of the Father’s bosom.

I’ve written enough. My only purpose in writing is because I like to do it but also that it might lead you into your own place of revelation because your God wants to show His glory to you also. Do you want fullness of God? I sure do. I want to ‘know’ His glory, His fullness, His love – just a scratch of the surface will do but the whole house filled with His aroma would be better! And it comes with a great promise…

'…we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ [Romans 8: 37 – 39]

Storms and tents...

There was a day when I went to the front of a church and said to God that I was available.
I don't regret that walk, but it has not been easy. Storms abound.
I have been wondering if the storms get bigger and more intense the closer you get to the other side?
Personally, I am at present, greatly challenged by the storm.

For months now I have been contemplating the story of Jesus, the disciples, and the storm in Mark 4. It is also found in Matthew 8.
This morning I have been reminded again by this event and the question I feel that I have been asked is this?
As the storm raged...

What did Jesus do?...and what did the disciples do?...and which one am I?

What did Jesus do? He was sleeping on 'the cushion.' I have often said that there is no misplaced word in the Bible. Even allowing for 'difficulties' in translation, no word is misplaced, and my attention is drawn to the small fact that it wasn't 'a cushion' that Jesus slept on but it was 'the cushion.'
Some weeks ago I was contemplating this story and I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me and ask me about this cushion. He said to me, "Do you remember when Jesus was in the boat and He was asleep on the cushion? How could He sleep when the storm was raging? On what did He sleep?" I did not comprehend the answer and so He said, "His cushion was the love of His Father. He rested in the truth of Jeremiah 31: 3. You, too, can rest your head there and sleep, even while the storm rages."
The cushion - not just a cushion but the resting place in the Father's bosom [John 1: 18] and this was what Jesus did as the storm raged.

What did the disciples do?
They, I guess, battled the storm for a time and when their efforts were not enough they then came to Jesus and asked Him if He cared. The bottom line, I assume, was that they wanted the storm to stop. Jesus rebuked the wind and He hushed the sea and they were amazed and afraid. I wonder of which they were more afraid, the storm or of the Storm Calmer? I think they were more afraid of the Storm Calmer because it says 'they became very much afraid.' [Mark 4: 41] It begs the question, which do we 'fear' more? The storm, or the Storm Calmer?

Now, what about me?
Here's a couple more questions to consider. If Jesus didn't calm the storm would they have made it to the other side? Was the boat going to go down with Jesus on board? And, do I want the storm calmed or can I rest my head where Jesus rested His? What do you think?

I could talk a lot around those questions but not today.

Now something about tents.
I am greatly challenged at present. The thought crosses my mind to give this Christian thing away. It's just too hard! Recently someone said to me that for some time the Lord has been driving me deeper in Him and now it is time to go wider. I have thought about this and my mind goes to tents. In Isaiah 54: 2 - 3 it says, 'Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess nations, and they will resettle the desolate cities.'
Which is easier? Going deeper in Him? Or going wider? It reminds me of the cross, an up and down bit - vertical - going deeper in Him, and a side to side bit - horizontal - going wider.
Enlarge the place; stretch out the curtains, spare not, lengthen your cords, strengthen your pegs...what does it all mean?

I'm sure He has more to say on this but I'll leave it there. If you take the time to read this I hope it might help you.

Graeme.

What about Benjamin?...

Benjamin was the second son of Jacob and Rachel. His older brother was Joseph. Benjamin's mother died in childbirth and 'as her soul was departing' [Genesis 35: 18] she named him Ben-oni, which means 'the son of my sorrow' but Jacob named him Benjamin, which means 'the son of the right hand.' Rachel's name means 'lamb.' Benjamin was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, with only he and Joseph being born to Rachel. The remaining ten were either born to Leah, Rachel's older sister, or to Bilhah or Zilpah, the hand-maiden's of Rachel and Leah. Leah's name means 'weary.' The story of Benjamin as a person is very interesting, as is the story of Benjamin, the tribe.

Many avoid the Old Testament believing a different God is seen there to the one seen in the New Testament. This is not true, our God is 'the same yesterday and today and forever.' [Hebrews 13: 8]
When you read the Old Testament you must read it searching for one thing, JESUS. The Old Testament is Jesus concealed, the New Testament is Jesus revealed. You must ask the revealing Holy Spirit to show you Jesus, and to show you the truth about Jesus, found in the Old Testament. He is everywhere because He is, always has been, and always will be the complete centre of the expression of God. He came to 'explain God.' [John 1: 18]

So what about Benjamin?

Firstly, we all have the same Father, you know who He is!
But we don't all have the same mother.
Some have Leah as their mother. Leah is a type of the Law. Leah worked hard to impress Jacob, but was never able to achieve it. Her name means 'weary' and it is a wearying path to try to impress our Father by keeping the Law, but many try to do it. Sadly, many are 'saved by grace' and then try to live by Law - what a sad alloy! Lukewarmness! An impossible and frustrating path that makes God sick! [Revelation 3: 16]

Rachel is a type of Grace. Her name means 'lamb.' She represents the truth that Jesus, our Lamb of God, is everything. He is fullness, and in Him alone are we complete. [Colossians 2: 9 - 10] She died giving life to Benjamin; Grace died giving life to you! She named Benjamin 'the son of her sorrow' but his father named him Benjamin, 'the son of the right hand.' Our 'man of sorrows' died, He was 'acquainted with grief', he was 'despised and forsaken' but in Him, our Father, names us 'the sons of THE right hand.'

Maybe we should briefly define 'Grace.' Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favour of God. Jesus announced it in Luke 4: 18 - 19. He said that 'today this Scripture has been fulfilled...' [Luke 4: 21] He was meaning that He is Grace. Grace here is not a theory, or a doctrine, not a theology, not even a fruit of the Spirit but a person - His name is JESUS. He is fulfillment of the anointing, preaching, releasing, sight recovering, liberty giving, favourable year of the Lord.

We have a choice about our mother. Unlike your natural birth where you had no choice, in your spiritual birth you have a choice, you get to choose who your mother is. Choose Grace!

I said earlier that many have an apprehension about the Old Testament, believing that a God of wrath lives there, not a God of grace. Let me show His grace, even in the Old Testament.  Leah, a type of law, had sons hoping to please Jacob. But Jacob loved Rachel, he was tricked into having Leah! Leah was never going to make Jacob happy. But even Leah found grace! I love these wonderful gems hidden away waiting to be found out! Leah gave birth to Reuben, to Simeon, to Levi hoping that Jacob would love her and become attached to her, see Genesis 29: 32 - 34. But it didn't work. How sad. Following Law will never curry favour with God either, favour is found in Jesus alone, He is our favour. But then Leah had Judah. She said, "This time I will praise the Lord," as she bore Judah. A change! She received and praised rather than worked for acceptance. And do you know what? Jesus is of the tribe of Judah! Isn't that amazing? God blessed Leah in giving His Favour from the tribe of Judah. I am encouraged! We might be enveloped in Law, but even the most bound can be set free in Grace. I think this is amazing - a picture of the boundless grace of God, Jesus expressed.

Back to Benjamin.

Benjamin had an older brother. His name was Joseph. Joseph is a complete subject in himself but he is a type of Jesus. He went down into Egypt and was the means of our salvation. I can't get started on Joseph or this blog will be very long! We have any older brother. His name is Jesus. If we believe in Him then God is our Father. If we choose Grace as mother then we truly have Jesus as brother. We are heirs with Him, we are sons as He is the Son. Another complete subject in itself.

So what of Benjamin?
With Joseph gone, Jacob loved Benjamin like no other. And Joseph loved him too. If you read the story of the brothers coming to Egypt to buy food and their interaction with the all-powerful 2IC to Pharoah, who they didn't know was their brother Joseph, then you will see an amazing thing. You will see Grace. He was grace to all but to the one who was the son of Grace, special favour fell. There is much I could say but can I just point you to one verse?

'And he (that is Joseph) took portions to them (that is the sons of Jacob, and Benjamin) from his own table; but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely with him.' [Genesis 43: 34]

Are you astounded?

These are last days and we see evidence everywhere. I see many posts on Facebook bemoaning the decision's of today's decision makers as the things of 'holiness' are set aside. I don't disagree with the sentiments expressed but I have no intention of discussing any of them because that is not our role in this world. Why are we worrying? Jesus said all these things would come to pass. They have not come for us to worry about then, discuss them at great length, even think about them. Worrying will not add one day to our lives, our stature is not increased by worrying; in fact the reverse applies! Set these things aside.
How can I explain it? When I am in my hometown of Dorrigo I love to walk outside in the darkness before the dawn on a clear, moonless night and look at the sky. The darkness is tangible, but what is the result? The morning star just shines that much brighter! That is what I see! We can look and see the darkness but the darker it gets the brighter our Light shines! Do you get it?

What has this got to do with Benjamin?
Today is the day of Benjamin. We have the same Father and we can choose the same mother. We can choose to receive Grace. We can turn back and see the glory of our Father, expressed in the person of Jesus; His glory is HIS LOVE, and we can give Him glory and, just like the one leper of Luke 17, we will receive wholeness; not just cleansing; all the other nine lepers where cleansed but only one received wholeness. As we turn back we take our seat at the right hand as we are seated with Jesus [Ephesians 2: 6] to receive His lovingkindness; as we turn back we sent on into wholeness; as we turn back we step into our generation, the Benjamin generation. The Benjamin generation receives the LOVE of their Father and as we receive His love then blessing chases us, five times more than our brothers.

I have expressed in this blog deep, great and marvellous truths. There is so much more to share but I probably have written enough now.

Who is your mother? Of what generation are you? You might be of Reuben wondering whether the Father loves you [Genesis 29: 32]; you might be of Simeon believing you are unloved [Genesis 29: 33]; you might be of Levi desiring that your Father becomes attached to you [Genesis 29: 34] but today you can 'praise the Lord' and choose the lion of the tribe of Judah, JESUS and He will become your brother and you can take your place in the generation of Benjamin, the generation of favour, the generation of the Loved, the generation who are chased by blessing, five times more than your brothers.

The Benjamin generation.

Blessings.

Graeme Shephard
www.cambodiawtl.org.au
graemeshephard@cambodiawtl.org.au

The Grace House

I want to share something with you all.

I first began this blog post some months ago, but only wrote the first line, but the Lord has goaded me today to remind me that it is time to write for He is removing the obstacles .

This morning I shared in my (almost) daily Facebook post this scripture.

' "...But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and will possess My holy mountain." And it will be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of My people." For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy...' [Isaiah 57: 13 -15]

The Lord is removing the obstacles and one of those obstacles has been me!
This is very important and I respectfully request that you read and then pray.

What I share is something that has sat in me for a long time and I believe the time is right to loudly proclaim it.
I believe that the Lord requires me to open my mouth and proclaim the things He has promised.
He desires that His promise be lifted up because lifted up all men will be drawn to Him. [John 12: 32]
Jesus is the promise and 'He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.' [Colossians 1: 17] Another version says that all things consist in Him, things that have no substance, yet, already CONSIST in Him.

What I want to share with you is the Grace House.
It was the 29th April 2005; ten years ago.
I was in Cambodia. It was night and I was sleeping.
As I slept the Lord showed me something.
When I awoke I recorded it in my journal as follows.
It came like a bullet-point presentation from God.
This is what I wrote in 2005.

'The Lord gave me a vision. A parcel of land. An orphanage. An old people's home. A hospital. A school. A church. The gospel is preached. People are gathered in. The connections are being prepared. My role? To administer Jesus.'

The next night the Lord showed me the building. In plan view as it lay on the ground it was in the shape of a cross; a crucifix lying on the ground. It was surrounded by a wall. The main gate had an arch over the gateway. Written on the arch were the words of Jesus, 'Upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.' Within the walls were gardens where people walked and children played. The gardens had the beautiful sugar palm, so indicative of Cambodia, but also flowers and trees, with places to sit in the shade.The elderly shared their wisdom with the children, the sick recovered and were ministered to, children received education and the place was a haven of rest. The sick were ministered to in the hospital. The elderly with no-where to go had a place to live and meet together. Disadvantaged and abandoned children, some orphans, lived and played. A school provided education and future for the residents but also for the street children who came to receive the goodness of the Lord. The centre of the crucifix was a church, not a place of religion but a place dispensing grace. All will gather there, released prisoners will come, members of the armed forces will come, families will come, the elderly and the children, the rich and the poor, the important and the humble - all will come and all will be welcome. All will find the only answer worth finding, and they will find ministry to their needs and desire. Everybody who comes to the Grace House will receive good news of Life - His name is JESUS. Please understand this - WTL have no interest in establishing religion in Cambodia, our only interest is to bring LIFE and the Grace House is a kingdom-building, life-giving, grace-providing place that will be seen not only in Cambodia but will be a beacon of Hope to the world for from this place Jesus will be administered to the world. A flag will be raised here that respects Cambodia and her people but declares that 'JESUS is LORD.'

The building itself showed respect to the tradition of Cambodian buildings in its design. I was in Cambodia in 2006 and I drove past a building and my heart skipped a beat because it was much as I had seen, even the colouring was the same. I had to take a photo of it. Here it is.

And then, a year or two ago I was driving in Phnom Penh and I saw a wall and over the wall was a tree. The wall enclosed a large block of vacant land in Phnom Penh. I have no idea who owns the land, or what it is for, but it is unusual to see large vacant land in PP and I felt my spirit quicken as I saw it because I thought 'here is our land.' I mentioned a tree; I could see a tree over the wall. WTL has a logo, it is the tree of Life. It is watered by the spring of the Holy Spirit, that never-ending flow of God - LIFE. WTL means 'Way, Truth, Life' for the centre of all we are is Him, the Way, the Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ our Lord. [John 14: 6]

I could write at great length for I have 'seen' this building in my heart for ten years now. When I received the vision I asked the Lord what my role would be and His reply was, "YOU WILL ADMINISTER JESUS."
The Mission Statement of WTL is to 'show the love of Christ in word and deed' - www.cambodiawtl.org.au and to 'Bring freedom to the people through radical Grace.' - www.wtlcambodia.com and this building will be the 'doing' of those things but if you want a 'reason' for this building then the only one I can give you here is just this - to 'administer JESUS.' From this place Jesus will be administered to the world. They said of Jesus 'can any good thing come out of Nazareth?' They may say of Cambodia 'can any good thing come out of Cambodia' but the Lord has shown us that this little Asian country, that has seen so much death, from it will come LIFE, real life and it will be a light to the world in the darkness of last days before the Lord comes. He is the answer.

So how will this happen? I do not know but the Lord tells me that this is not my question to ask. That question is His. The cost to build this building is beyond me but it is not beyond the 'riches in glory in Christ Jesus [Philippians 4: 19] so I place that question there for I do know this that He has already provided all that is required and it is out there...it is provided in you.
If you would like to chat more about this I am always ready to hear from you. My contact is via the website or you can email me at graemeshephard@cambodiawtl.org.au.

Blessings,
Graeme Shephard
14th May, 2015