NEPHILIM PART 1

    The Nephilims are a mystery to us to this day. We know such little about them. To investigate this race my approach will be a little different from the previous blogs. I want to look at what we know, what we think we know and what it can mean for today. This would be covered in three parts. In this first part I will explore:

• the name
• the separation
• facing a giant

I will propose a theory of separation and I will show that the Nephilims are different to the giants.

We first learn about them in Genesis 6:1-4; 

Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.

So the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days shall be 120 years.”

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.

THE NAME

The word itself is הַנְּפִלִ֞ים (han·nə·p̄i·lîm) in Hebrew meaning giants. It is a people spoken of before the flood and after the flood. Some scholars believe they are the children of the sons of God and daughters of men. While others say they existed around the same time when fallen angels slept with women. 

Nephilim comes from the root word naphal meaning to fall. This supports the theory that the Nephilim are the fallen angels. But There are those suggesting that the fallen here is that they fall on others hurting others. I have another theory to share with you. I am not disagreeing with other theorists or theologians, my purpose is to expand the conversation.

SEPARATION

I am proposing there is a possible relationship to the word nifal.  נִפְרְד֞וּ (nip̄·rə·ḏū) Nifal means to spread, breakthrough or to separate as used in Genesis 10:5. I have not read any commentaries on this relationship with the name nephilim. I think this is new and I think that it is important. There are only two times the word is used in the Bible, hence why I think it is important. It is within the same chapter, Genesis 10: 5 and 32. Here is how I see it.

Separate from Man

God speaks to us in many levels and over many periods. God is never speaking to us with a literal meaning only. Psalm 82 shows us that there is a lot in the heavenly and spiritual worlds that we do not know. While some would use this Psalm to refer to judges on the earth I have a different understanding: 

God stands in the congregation of the mighty;

He judges among the gods.

How long will you judge unjustly,

And show partiality to the wicked? Selah

Defend the poor and fatherless;

Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Deliver the poor and needy;

Free them from the hand of the wicked.

They do not know, nor do they understand;

They walk about in darkness;

All the foundations of the earth are unstable.

I said, “You are gods,

And all of you are children of the Most High.

But you shall die like men,

And fall like one of the princes.”

Arise, O God, judge the earth;

For You shall inherit all nations.

There is a spiritual or heavenly meaning to the passage. Psalm 82:1 refers to smaller gods or being with supernatural ability or the sons of God who are in heaven. You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High. Similar to Genesis 6, the time of the Nephilim, who were the sons of God. God here is The Almighty God. The difference between the common letter and the capital letter G.

Job 38:4-7, Ephesians 3:8-10 and Jude 1:6 all speak of a whole different existence of beings who live parallel to that of mankind on earth. Remember the rich man who died and was in purgatory (Luke 16)? Heaven and hell exist alongside the earth. 

Separate to the Heavenly Hosts 

The nephilims are separate from the hosts of heaven because they pursue immorality. In Genesis 6 the nephilims or fallen angels pursue after the women of the earth. The idea of separate existence is referenced again in Jude. They are judged and chained in hell:

And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:6-7

Here again we learn that there are domains and there are rules that go with the domains. The Nephilim did not stay within their domain. After Jude speaks of the domains he speaks of sexual immorality and the pursuit of strange flesh similar to Genesis 6. This suggests cause and effect. The sin is caused by breaking the rules of the domains. The separation is that they are no longer in heaven, but kept in hell.

Separate by Sin 

The return of the nephilim is noted after the flood. Think of it like this, in Genesis 6 the Nephilims were angelic but due to sin the children became more physical. The same way God reduces the lifespan of man in Genesis 6, He holds court in Psalm 82 and informs the heavenly beings they too will die. 

In Psalm 82, God who is supreme says that they will die like men. However, with a relationship with the verb nifal, I can suggest that with separation from God, there is death. The wages of sin is death. This can be why they are able to die. Separation from God and being chained in hell will lead to death. However, David kills Goliath. The first nephilims are chained in hell. This indicates a distinction between the giants and the original nephilims.  

Separate to the Nephilim

I have already established that the nephilims are chained in hell, yet giants continued on the earth. The giants only came after the nephilims. The giants are always mentioned as being different or separate from the tribes. Sort of like a race of their own. 

In numbers 13:33, which is after the flood they are descendants from Anak or Anakim. Some scholars say that they are not part of the tribe but are among them. 

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size. “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:31-33

In the land of Canaan there were always very tall people. The people in Canaan were referenced due to geography in the Bible but the Hittites, Amorites, and Jebusites were also in the land. The name Canaan, suggests a relationship with Noah. Genesis 10:6 shows us that the Canaanites descended from Ham. Moses's son. 

There are many who believe the the nephilim will return and in part 2 and 3 of this topic I suggest how this can come to pass. But it can simply be the bloodline. When I speak of giants I am speaking of the bloodline of the nephilim. It is suggested that the giant seed or DNA continued through Ham's wife. After the flood they are only associated with physical beings although they are described as giants. No mention of angels. This is expected as those fallen angels are chained in hell.

Further to this I suggest that they were referred to separately because the tradition is to record the descendants from the man. If the giant came through the DNA of a woman then it is possible that the writers maintain the distinction for this reason. 

Were they fallen? By keeping the distinction between the nephilim and the giant I can explain the reputation and confusion with the meaning as fallen. Fallen to be fallen angels and fallen to mean tyrannical can be explained. It basically comes down to: 

1. The nephilim had fallen from grace. They did not uphold the rules and therefore fell short of expectations. 
2. The nephilim fell to the earth. They did not stay within their domain and therefore came down to earth. 
3. Both nephilim and giant fell upon mankind and were stronger.

You and I do not have to be concerned for the nephilim, they are in hell. The giants existed in Canaan and were part of the Philistine people as well. But they are said to be wiped out. If the Philistines were wiped out then so too were the giants among them. 

FACING A GIANT

In the past these giants would fight for their people and would build up a reputation. Same as Goliath and his brother had a reputation that made others fearful. Today any giant that bleeds can be fought. The Israelis did it 3200 years ago sometimes they did not even have metal tools or weapons.

Could there have been a gentle giant? In those days strength and might was a defining character for men. Because of size they were expected to be warlike. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown Genesis 6:4. 

The mighty men of old refers to their age and the length of time. They had a reputation. There are scholars who argue that they were warriors and did great things while others argue they were tyrants. I think that there is a simple explanation.

For the Israelites this was not good, hence the not so good reputation. For the Philistines they would be of renown. There were some giants who became leaders. King Og was a giant who slept in a bed 13 feet long made of iron, Deuteronomy 3:11. 

 

What is important for us is that the giants were referred to separately although it is acknowledged there could be a link between the tribes and the giants. The return of the giants among the original Canaanites and Philistines can be the blood relationship. Establishing the bloodline or the blood descent from man justifies my suggestion that nifal is related to giants and then related to nephilim. It is curious to me to see that the tribe of Canaan who were cursed by Noah are the ones that the bloodline turns up in. More curious is that they become the enemies of Israel past.

When Caleb reported to Moses he showed faith. The others saw giants in the land. Caleb saw the victory and promise of God. 

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30

David did not let any giant intimidate him. In fact, he kept the perspective of God. We learn giants can fall. Also, we learn that with Jesus on our side, giants have to fall. Both Caleb and David were from the tribe of Judah. Jesus is the lion of Judah. Praise God.

I pray that you are excited about God and things of God. I pray that you see the fall of the giants who fight against you in Jesus name. 

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.

GOD IS PERFECT

    There is always a cause that needs funding and volunteers. Today's modern societies are founded on the pursuit of rights and recognition for many people and many issues. Non-profit organisations are plentiful in practically every country. They form part of civil society. Their existence gives hope to many who are disadvantaged and forgotten. The same can be said for movements. But are they as hopeful and righteous as they sound?

It is easy to get caught up with movements and causes. There are so many crying out for justice in this world. It seems that we as a human race have not really achieved anything for human kind. As soon as we make a breakthrough in medicine we create another situation. 

I have done my share of volunteerism at the community level. It can drain your resources and your energy if you are not careful. It is important to balance and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus not your own efforts. Give of yourself where you feel God wants you to.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 

Living in the United Kingdom for a short while taught me a few things. One that will stay with me, is the real reason why some people volunteer and join movements. 

I was shocked to hear people say that they give to charity and volunteer because God is not real. Often I heard, what kind of God would let people suffer? It made no sense trying to explain that it is our quest to move away from the true and living God that causes the problems in the world. 

As I urged you on my departure to Macedonia, you should stay on at Ephesus to instruct certain men not to teach false doctrines or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4

How should Christians respond? Firstly, movements and charities are sometimes founded on the basis that they can make a difference. If that difference is to prove that man can and God cannot help someone, then walk away. Your blessing will come when your work is for the Kingdom. If the concept is not Kingdom minded then your effort will not be blessed.

Secondly, make sure you understand the agenda for the objective of the organisation. I will give two examples. The work can be to ensure the rights of a child. But the agenda can be to ultimately cause parents to have less rights to teach the child about Christian values.

I recently heard a government minister in another country speaking about having four parents when there is a father in a family. The reasoning offered is that the man is a dominant figure and to balance that, there should be three parents who are not males, two of whom would be assigned by the state. Voters were not told this. Voters saw an individual working for equal rights.

In my own country I heard a politician saying that once elected he would stop parents from teaching their religion to their children. Children will not have to go to church, temple, or mosque with their parents. Of course there are others who want to lower the age of consent for sex with young people. Movements and volunteer groups tend to move people away from God.

Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, Nor do they consider the work of His hands. 

Therefore My people go into exile for their lack of knowledge;

And their honorable men are famished, And their multitude is parched with thirst. 

Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry and the jubilant within her, descend into it. Isaiah 5:12-14

Let me point out that in this scripture and often in criticisms of the Jews or Jerusalem it is directed at the leaders such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. For this reason, I chose to give political examples. Many of the activists end up promoting particular politicians or political parties.

Jesus is the solution to the problems of this world. It is our job as Christians to demonstrate that in our lives, in our life of prayer and our conversation. 

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:8-10

God did not create the problems, it started with sin in the garden of Eden. How many times did God have mercy on man's disobedience? He even sent His only Son to take our sins so we can by grace enter into heaven.

I pray you are strengthened in Christ. I pray the joy of The Lord is your strength and you keep your eyes on Jesus in Jesus name.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.

EXTREMISM AND YOU

    If ever there is a time to speak out and let the world hear your voice its now. There will be no more time in this free world until Jesus comes again or we are taken up to heaven. Climate change, spread of extremisms, pandemic, alien attack, will all drive the world towards something that is unrecognisable. This world is not getting better. What can we do?

Extremism is spreading like a fungus. In the Middle East the centre of that fungus is supported by the Iranian regime. Destabilising the Middle East, holding the world hostage to a nuclear weapons development programme, creating a land bridge to Israel while using hate speech. 

Extremism affects Christians. Already there are millions of Christians buried alive and beheaded in the ancient christian communities. Many christian villages wiped out in Nigeria, christians tortured and imprisoned in North Korea. Daesh is only one form of it, the Ayatollah regime is another. The Christian populations in some countries are maintained at around 1.1%. 

It is easy to hate but Jesus is love. When in doubt as to the will of God, remember it is God's will that all man be saved. But if it is fear that keeps you silent then you are accepting guilt. Silence is participating in the crime. Christians have to show the love of Christ.

You might think that you are only one person and you might think that you don't know enough, not smart enough but you can pray. You can support missions to these nations. You can spread the truth, not just the scripture. The scripture and the information. God is not a liar, whatever the news, look at what the Bible says and use that.

Prayer makes a difference. If all you can do is pray then pray with fervour. The burden in my heart is for the salvation of those in the Middle East. I have been praying for years and often feel such a weight with all the news I hear about the region. It appears that Iran is facing a revolution. But many are dead as the government uses live bullets against its people.

A military tanker on fire. It was sent to deter protestors. 

 Protests for waterspread in Iran

 The people in south of Iran, Ahvaz lift their own flag.

 Warning graphic video: Dozens dead in one night of protests

The extreme circumstances that many people live in can become discouraging for us as Christians. We pray but cannot see the immediate response. That is okay. We have to do as Jesus teaches us to be. Pray, Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10. 

Today I heard a message by Pastor Jonathan Cahn. It was so encouraging and I will share it with you. He spoke of a taxi driver he hired to take him to the airport. On the way Pastor Cahn started talking to him and learnt that the man was from Iran. 

As a youth the taxi driver saw a book with a cross on it and liked the pattern on the cover. He bought it and took it home. He never read the book because His father told him the book would destroy his life and his family. Later on, he had an encounter with Jesus in a bus. But his wife was saved first then Jesus performed a miracle for him and he was saved. Now he is living in the USA and happily and freely speaking about Jesus.

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:35

God promises His word will bring salvation and He will answer our prayer. Once you speak the word of God into a situation someone will be affected by it. 

I pray that you have a burden for the salvation of others. I pray you can discern the truth in Jesus name. I pray you be encouraged in Jesus.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.

Thank you Behold Israel 

THE KINGDOM AND YOU

    The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are the same. One of the first messages that Jesus taught on was on the Kingdom. The term sometimes refers to the Kingdom as prophesied in the Old Testament. To stay fixed and focused we preach or teach about the Kingdom and the King. Life can get complicated or messed up. It probably is right now for you. Don't get distracted.

We face life threatening situations more and more in modern times. Modern times are supposed to be better with more freedom and opportunity for all equally. Yet, Christians are still dying due to persecution all over the world. Christians are the most persecuted in the world. And extremism has increased although education is more available. 

You can probably relate to John the Baptist who faced a life and death situation when you put on a mask to go outdoors, hear about terrorism in your country or a burglary gone bad. But we learn from John  as he stayed focused on the Kingdom;

 ...and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:2

Was this a man in the wilderness thing? No. The Old Testament referred to the Kingdom and used the same words associated with the Kingdom. If you are made in God's image you are a ruler with dominion. All references to God's reign or rule or even Him as King supports the concept of the Kingdom of God. 

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

It is not just an Old Testament concept either. Forever and ever means it is always a present truth and goes on for all time. In New Testament time and current time. In the time after the return of Jesus;

But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ Daniel 7:18

The message of the Kingdom continued in Jesus. It was foretold to Mary His mother;

“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:31-33

Now, not only did the Kingdom continue in Jesus but Jesus taught on the Kingdom. He announced that the Kingdom was with Him. He is the King of Kings for sure.

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. Luke 16:16

Most everyone want to be part of God's Kingdom. But to be in it you have to be a citizen and do as Jesus did. We try to be Kingdom minded. Tell others about the Kingdom. See things the way God sees it. This guides how we respond to anything coming in our life. Seeking after God and submitting to God's will in our lives;

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

As citizens we act as ambassadors, in love with our King and Kingdom. We tell others about the gospel of the Kingdom.  Remember John the Baptist? John the Baptist preached about the kingdom of heaven knowing that the Messiah was coming.

...and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:2

The disciples were imprisoned, murdered and faced persecution yet they spoke about Jesus. We too have to do this. Instead of seeing that people mock or laugh at our message think of how horrid hell is for anyone to go there. By focusing on the Kingdom we can receive our blessings too. This I think is how we work out our salvation.

Being Kingdom minded teaches us to have a heart for others. We can become selfless. Giving to the Kingdom, to build it in the hearts of others. We become ambassadors ourselves of the Kingdom of God. 

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21 

Like an embassy. You can be a Russian citizen visiting another country. While you in that country you are subject to the laws of that country. But if you go to the Russian embassy in that country you are subject to the laws of Russia in that embassy. It is possible to live in one country but be Kingdom minded. Like John we have opportunity to talk about the coming of Christ. His second coming!

I pray you can see things the way God sees it. I pray you have courage in Christ and hope in His promises in Jesus name. 

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.

GOD IS TRUTH

    Jesus is the way the truth and the life. I want to focus on something that amazes me everyday. I think you and I can agree that there are many things that are blatant lies in the world today. Many lies that we have to accept knowing that it is a lie. It is the way of the world. Yet, 2,000 years ago Jesus declared He is the truth.

Today there are lies that people celebrate and make into a religion. Today a religious group is celebrating the sacrifice of Abraham's son. His willingness to obey God. It sounds good but they celebrate the sacrifice of Ishmael not Isaac. Yet many times in the Bible it says, God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How did God know that this would be the lie to cover the earth today? 

The repetition of the declaration The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a motif in the Bible. It is a unifying symbol used among the many writers. Today it identifies a people. Jews and Christians identify with this declaration.

In Acts 3:1-11, Peter and John heal a lame man and says it is the presence of the power of The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who is responsible for the healing miracle. A testimony of Jesus whom they follow as the true and living God, the Prince of Life. He has the power over life and death;

So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. Acts 3:12-15

In Genesis 12 we learn that Abram (he became Abraham after), would be blessed and would be a blessing to others. 

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you

And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. Genesis 12:2

God speaks of the promise in Genesis 13

And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.  Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” Genesis 13:14-17

This was passed on to his son Isaac, Genesis 17:7. 

And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

In Genesis 22 Abraham's obedience in being willing to sacrifice his son as commanded, proves God is sufficient. All he asks of us is obedience and trust. Isaac was obedient to his father as well. Trusting him in his faith in God. Isaac responds the same as his father to God and he too is favoured. 

God stays true to the terms of his covenant with Abraham, and his son Isaac. However, we learn that it is because Abraham obeyed Him. Obedience is putting to action the instructions given. It is a noun for compliance to the terms. 

Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; ...; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Genesis 26: 3-5

God became the God of Abraham and Isaac. Jacob the son of Isaac, had an intimate relationship with God in Genesis 35. His name was changed and he became Israel. Right after God did that, He renews the covenant with Israel who was Jacob. 

The Abrahamic Covenant is associated with the formulaic pattern. When God declares Himself to Moses, He reminds Moses of the Abrahamic Covenant and He says I AM THAT I AM. Hallelujah! I cannot hold it in I have to exclaim it, glory to God in the Highest! 

In one way God is saying he was the same in Abraham's time, the same in Isaac's time and the same in Israel's time. In context it was at the time when God was about to deliver the people from slavery. 

God is saying He is a promise keeper. God identifies Himself as The I AM. God is specific He says the children of Israel. This is very significant. Not everyone can claim to be the children of Israel.

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’ Exodus 3:14-15

Moses was pumped up and reassured. Despite the stammer and shyness, Moses would have a show down with the Pharaoh and his sorcerers. The people did not understand that God as The Lord had specific meaning. 

The Lord was used 162 times in Genesis but the people did not grasp what the name meant until this point. With The Lord, the power of God would be used through Moses.

Jesus as The Lord, enables the indwelling of God, The Holy Spirit in us. God comes even closer in relationship with us. He becomes more intimate with us. He authorises us to use the power of God. He is still keeping His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Israel. 

According to Peter by denying Jesus, you deny the power of God as a testimony in your life. You deny God being able to identify with you as your Saviour and Deliverer. 

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, ... But you denied the Holy One and the Just, ..., and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. Acts 3: 13-15

In Luke it is explained how Abraham received God's favour. Here is how the formula works out. 

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James 2:18-24 

I have to point out that when the rebuke against the Jews for denying Christ is made in the Bible it is in translation to mean the leaders in Jerusalem, who would be the Sadducees, Scribes and the Pharisees. What we see here is that God has faith in Himself to keep His promise. God is self sufficient. 

God shows us time and time again that He has kept His promise. We as believers have to have faith in who God is as He has identified Himself to us. This way we prove Him to be true. 

By doing works in faith we prove Him real and truthful as a covenant keeping God. Our life must be a witness to whom God is. The devil is the liar master of deception. God is true and Jesus is truth, the existence of Jesus His Son proves God is true. 

I pray God is real in your life. I pray that in your relationship with Him you learn many truths. I pray that the Abrahamic Covenant is extended to you in faith and works in Jesus name.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.

YOUR NEXT MOVE

    The Christian is always in battle. From the time we accept Christ as our Saviour we become a target. Every step is a fight. But the word of God says we have the victory. We fight for self, for our ministry work in Christ, for our family, other Christians, church community, neighbours, country, other nations.  

In our personal life there are so many needs and situations we can find to pray about. The biggest problem of course is to be disciplined enough and faithful enough to pray. Every time I think I have control of it something happens to break up my plan of action.

I have struggled with this very often. It is difficult to stick to a scheduled time. Sometimes it is my unwillingness to spend the time in prayer. Sometimes it is my guilt for something I did and I cannot face God. Then God gave me a dream. 

In that dream I saw ordinary people in line formations like an army ready to advance. All in rows close to each other. The leader who was my pastor was standing outside but close to them. Before they could take a step forward a scripture is read.

By using God's word we can find the root cause of every problem and stay focussed on God's will. 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

We can be more precise in our fight and strategise. For example, before a meeting;

Lord your word says, you will not keep a good thing from us. I pray that you will give me favour in this meeting that I have success. It will not take me away from the time I spend with you because I will give this victory to you in Jesus name. It will position me to do more for you or to tell more people about your son Jesus. I thank you for this. Let your will be done in this in Jesus name. 

Our life should revolve around our prayer life. But we do the opposite. We string our prayer life around depending on our timing. It is better to live a life of prayer than to have a prayer life. If we can practise this, we can learn to stay in the presence of God.

Keep working on it. Never give up the presence of God. I am now using a schedule of pray points for each day of the week. I leave time open for anything else that comes up and I use praise and worship to help me to keep my mind focussed on Christ. During the day I am able to listen to a message from any of my favourite preachers or teachers.

But if The Lord draws my attention to a situation I pay attention. Sometimes I am reading an article and I have a burden for something in my heart. I drop what I am doing and I spend time in prayer on the situation. Your heart must be fervent and you must seek the righteousness of God in your prayer so you can be righteous; 

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

I pray that you can have the strength to go before God. I pray that you can feel His presence in your life every day. I pray that you can speak to God about everything in Jesus name.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.

THE DISTRACTORS

As I grew up I understood that every family has a black sheep. My uncle was supposed to be the one. To my young eyes, he was always quarrelling about something. Later I learnt that one of those reasons was because he was feeling left behind and misunderstood. But he was not the only one. There was always an upset in my family. You know what they say, every family has it problems.

I remember having to talk to my aunt about my other aunt. I was at the age of 12 years trying to negotiate peace. If she did this... would you talk to her? Then I will take the response over to the other. I would go back and forth until it was all worked out. I joked with my friends that I could negotiate peace in the Middle East with the type of training I got at home.

I grew up with my grandmother and all my uncles and aunts. My cousins meant the same to me as my brothers and sister. I could hardly recover from one argument in the family when another started. Then I would have to reorganise my play life, my whole social interaction based on who is talking to whom. Having a Muslim father, I was not allowed to play with friends outside of school. 

There was not a three month period in which everything went okay. When I became saved I was very upset about this. I prayed and asked God about that. He showed me the answer in a dream. I will not tell you the dream but I will tell you what it meant. It is like a demonic spirit sent to cause confusion.

Ever heard of a monster that was so bad, everyone was afraid at the mention of the name? That is how it operated. It is based on reputation and fear. The whole family was constantly distracted by the fear of the next upset. The whole family was focused on the black sheep but the person who was supposed to be the black sheep was not really the problem. The problem is what created the black sheep.

The distraction is keep the family from living a fulfilling life. To keep them in bondage and despair. The family did not have time for healing and forgiveness. It was too much. The family would be more aware of the mood of the black sheep they would not hear God. Pretty soon a whole mess of things would spiral out of control and the family breaks up.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

God wants us to have abundant life. He paid the price for us to have that opportunity. Abundant life like sheep in the pasture in the safety of the shepherd watching over them.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:11

Jesus had just healed the blind man in John 9. Sometimes we are caught up with the pain and hurts that we cannot enjoy life. We become blinded. The thief is the strongman or demonic spirit that keeps you enjoying your life the way Jesus wants you to. In full appreciation of the power of God to create and build a relationship with you.  

The devil steals your joy, your time and energy. It remains like an open wound and then your hope dies. Your dreams are destroyed.  But Jesus wants to give you peace.  

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

I pray you have peace in your heart. I pray that you have peace in your family in Jesus name.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour you may say this prayer;

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be, in Jesus name I pray. Thank you.