by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Well, we begin to see some Rules of the Universe here at work, don’t we? You know the ones about “As you sow, so shall you reap?” Or “By the measure you mete, it shall be meted unto you?”
The name Jacob means “deceiver” or “supplanter.” And he lived up to his name when he deceived his father and Esau. Now he’s eating the fruit of his deception. Laban tricked him into marrying the wrong daughter.
One time I heard John Kilpatrick talk about Rachel and Leah. Rachel was the one Jacob desired. She was beautiful to behold, and he loved her. But he got Leah.
The interesting thing about it is that God had a greater blessing for Leah. She was more fruitful. Rachel was actually barren at first, and Leah bore four sons in a row. Further, one of her sons was Levi, who brought forth all of the priesthood for Israel. Another of her sons was Judah, whose descendant was David – and eventually Jesus Christ. What a blessing to her!
Pastor Kilpatrick emphasized the fact that very often the more fruitful callings we have are not that “desirable” in the natural. We want something that looks good; appealing to our carnal nature. But sometimes God calls us to something which is not that “showy,” but extremely fruitful. (And sometimes only God Himself sees the fruit).
If we want to look good to other men, we want Rachel. If we want to do the will of God, sometimes we will have a Leah as our call. The important thing is to trust God and just continue in the path He sets before us. Our true reward is from HIm.
One interesting note is that when Jacob was dying, he gave instructions to his sons about where he wanted to be buried. He was in Egypt, but he charged them to take him back to Canaan so that he could be buried with his father and grandfather. He said, “There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, and there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah.”(Genesis 49:31)
I believe that over the years his love for Leah grew. He “fell” in love with Rachel. But he “grew” to love Leah, and she was the one he chose to be buried next to. He knew that she had been a blessing to him.
Matthew 10:1-20
This gets really good! So far we have just seen Jesus perform the miracles; now He is sharing the gifts.
So He calls His disciples to follow Him, and then He sends them out to do the things He has been doing. They are to “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received. now freely give.”
I wonder if they are ready for that! They have been seeing Jesus do those things – performing miracles. Now He is telling them to do the same things! Would you like to have seen the looks on their faces? I would. I’m sure that as they were following Him, they didn’t realize that He was going to empower them to do the same.
You know the saying, “What would Jesus do?” When people say that sometimes it seems that they are implying that “Jesus would bake a pie for that person, or Jesus would say something sweet.”
I’m not knocking those natural acts of kindness, for they are truly necessary. But what Jesus would do is what we see in this passage. Jesus would “heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, etc.” Are we ready to really do what He would do?
Unfortunately, the gospel has been watered down by “precepts of men,” so that many people do not even know that God’s power is still available today. When I first realized that it was, I felt like I was entering a new world. (Actually I had entered a new world. I had entered the Kingdom of God).
I pray that as we continue to discover the truths of God that our eyes will be opened to see more of what He has for us. As I have continued in my walk with Him, I have come to believe that no one – not even the greatest ministers around – have completely tapped into all that God desires for us.
I want more of Him! I want to continue to press toward the higher mark He has for us! Don’t you?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
I hope you are enjoying your reading as much as I am. The Bible is so amazing. Even stories you have read many times, take on new meaning every time you read them.
Genesis 25-28
Sarah and then Abraham have died, and we move to the next generation. Isaac, the son of promise is now the patriarch, the inheritor of the mission from God. His life is not quite as eventful as Abraham’s, but we see some similarities.
Once again we encounter a barren wife. Isaac’s wife could bear no children until Isaac prays and God answers. Then she becomes pregnant with twins – Esau and Jacob. God prophesies over Rebekah that there are two nations in her womb and that the older will serve the younger.
As we continue through the story of Esau and Jacob, be sure you have your spiritual eyes open. Throughout the rest of the Bible, Esau and Jacob will be referred to many times, and its clear that Esau, the first born, represents the “flesh” of man and that Jacob represents the “spirit.” The older will serve the younger. First the natural man, and then the born-again man.
Esau is impulsive and just lives day to day, with his appetites unbridled. You can see this in the fact that when he is hungry, he is willing to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew. Here he is, the grandson of Abraham, and in line to be God’s heir, but his inheritance from God is not worth any more than a bowl of stew. Obviously, he discredits himself from being the disciplined heir God needs to lead this family into His powerful plan.
Now Jacob, representing the spirit, not only honors the birthright, he has a great desire for it. The deceit he shows is not spiritual, but Esau has given his birthright away and Jacob takes him at his word.
Now once again we see the importance of words. When Isaac speaks his blessing over Jacob, it cannot be taken back. Those words of blessing are recorded for eternity.
If we could ever realize the significance of our words and of our blessings upon our children, we would be very careful about what we say, and we would have faith in the power of our words.
Words are incredibly powerful. They are able to change our lives and to change the lives of our children.
We leave these chapters with Jacob having to escape from the wrath of his brother. Rebekah has him sent to her old home country so that he can find a wife.
One more really significant thing happens as Jacob takes a rest on his journey. He falls asleep and dreams of a ladder into heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. God speaks to him, confirming the covenant which He made with Abraham. Isaac’s descendants will be mighty and will come back to inherit this land.
Then Isaac says, “Surely the Lord is in this place…How awesome is this place. This is the house of God and the Gate of Heaven.” In John 1:51, you will see Jesus speak of the same thing. He says, “Most assuredly I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Jacob calls the place Bethel, which means the “House of God.”
Jacob and Jesus are both referring to the church of God. (The House of God and the Gate into Heaven).
When God’s church is working properly, it is like a ladder into Heaven – an outpost of Heaven, where God’s will can be accomplished in the earth. The people there will agree that they want God’s will done – and not their own. They won’t be selling their birthright for a bowl of stew, but they will be honoring their birthright and fulfilling their mission.
It is my desire for our church to be like a Heavenly Embassy, where the laws of Heaven apply. The atmosphere will be like the atmosphere of Heaven. God’s plan can be accomplished from there, because we will represent God and not ourselves. Angels will be ascending and descending into the earth from that spot, doing God’s bidding.
We will truly be ambassadors for Christ.
I know that’s what you want also.
Matthew 9
We see Jesus continuing His earthly ministry as He goes about “teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Verse 35). Notice it says “every sickness and every disease.” Jesus denies no one who comes to Him.
He is demonstrating God’s kingdom and God’s will: for all to be healed and all to be set free.
Years ago, when I came back to the Lord, after a foolish stray into that “other world,” I saw these scriptures with fresh eyes. I hope that you do the same.
People who don’t read the Bible, but think they know what it says, will talk about the limited nature of the Christian experience. But when you read the original and see for yourself, you find that it’s better than they have been talking about.
Again and again, we see Jesus answering people on the level of their faith. The faith that caused Abraham to be chosen of God is the faith that these people demonstrate when they come to Him for healing.
Jesus “sees” the faith of those who bring the paralytic, and we see the faith of the woman with the issue of blood.
In verses 15-17, Jesus speaks of a “new wineskin.” “No one puts new wine into an old wineskin.” He is talking about the new birth. There is a new covenant He is bringing – a true entrance into the Kingdom of God on the earth. Only those who will allow themselves to have a “New wineskin,” or “New birth,” will be able to partake of this Kingdom.
This is bigger than our human minds can understand. I pray that your and my spiritual eyes will be opened to see and understand what Jesus is talking about. There is a power in this new Kingdom!
Blessings,
Suellen Estes
Bird photo taken by Mickey Estes http:www.mickeyestes.com
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Genesis 22-24
Today we encounter one of the toughest stories to understand. I have heard all sorts of ideas about what God was doing when he asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. A lot of them don’t line up with God’s character. God doesn’t “pull tricks” on us. So what was the big idea?
I believe that I have some understanding about this, so I’ll share it and you can see what you think.
In the first place, you know that God was not planning for there to be a human sacrifice to Him. (His own Son, Jesus, would be the only one of those). So what was going on?
God was working on His plan, which would take many years to accomplish – even centuries. It was the biggest plan the world had ever known – to bring His own Son into the world. But first He had to find a human family who would cooperate with the plan. A family who would listen to Him and stay faithful. A family to whom God would show His nature. A family who could righteously handle the Law which he would bring – the “tutor” to lead us to Christ. (Galatians 3:24).
He was looking for a man who was totally sold out to Him; one who would honor and teach his children about God. Abraham was that man, and over the years God had developed a relationship with him. There had been increasing commitment as time went on.
Do you remember a few days ago we talked about the “law of measure?” We determine the level of our experience with God. The more of ourselves we give to Him, the more of Himself he gives back to us? That’s covenant.
Well, I believe that for God to send His Son to die for us, He had to find someone who was willing to do the same.
Now look at what Abraham said. He told his son they were going up to worship. Isaac said, “Where is the lamb?” Abraham said, “My son, God will provide the lamb.” He obviously knew that he was not going to sacrifice his son.
I think that in Genesis 15: 12 -17 when Abraham fell into a deep sleep and God showed him what was to happen to his descendants, God also showed Him the resurrection of Jesus. When God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he thought he had seen his own son’s resurrection. And he thought that even if Isaac died, God would resurrect him.
Why do I say that? In Hebrews 11: 17-19, it talks about this episode. (Remember, the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed). It mentions that Abraham knew that God had promised through Isaac all of the nations would be blessed. And it goes on to say that Abraham believed God would raise his son from the dead, if necessary – “from which he also received him in a figure ( or type, or similitude).”
I believe that Abraham saw a vision of someone being raised from the dead. (That was the “figure”). He had come to trust God so completely that he knew that Isaac would be just fine while he was obeying God.
Whew!! Heavy stuff, but so significant.
So many today are running around, calling themselves Christians, but without any understanding of their God. He wants more – and He is looking for those who want more of Him. We get to decide how big our covenant will be.
I want to have a covenant as big and complete as it can be. I want to have a life that is “all in.”” Don’t you?
Matthew 8: 18-33
Well, here is Jesus taking us into deeper water also.
In the first few verses, Jesus says some interesting things. When someone says that they “will follow Him wherever He goes,” He pokes them a little. Jesus knows that it’s really easy to “say” what you are going to do. “Doing it,” on the other hand can be hard. But that’s what’s important.
My husband and I have pastored for 20 years, and over the years, there have been quite a few people who have made mighty statements about what they were going to do for God. Sometimes, that statement was the last of it. They said it, but never did anything much.
Then there have been others who have made commitments and kept them. That’s who God is looking for. Those who will do what they say.
Next Jesus admonishes his disciples for being afraid of the storm. When they were in the boat and a strong gale came up, they awoke Jesus to calm the storm.
What did He say? Did He say, “Oh you poor people. I’m sure that was frightful?” No. He said, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?”
Are you going through a storm in some area of your life? I have had seasons when I felt like my entire life was a rocky boat in the middle of a big storm. You may have, too.
When these times come, think about these verses. Let our hearts be in tune with Him, and let us speak what He speaks, knowing that the storm will subside as we speak what He says. And as we do what he says.
Fear is never from God. Faith is. Throughout the Gospels, you will see Jesus over and over “marvel” at the fear or unbelief of His disciples. Those things were foreign to Jesus. He was full of faith – always – regardless of the circumstances.
What would Jesus do? That’s what He would do. He would have faith.
Blessings. Hope your day is great. We have a lot to chew on, don’t we?
Suellen
Photo by Mickey Estes Photography http:www.mickeyestes.com
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Genesis 19-21
Chapter 19 opens with God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember in the last chapter God had promised Abraham that if He could find 10 men who were righteous he wouldn’t destroy the cities. But He couldn’t find 10 righteous.
Two angels, which obviously looked like humans, came to visit Lot. All the men of the city gathered around the house and demanded that Lot send these two men out so that they could rape them. They didn’t know who they were dealing with.
Lot and his family were asked to leave, and the cities were destroyed.
When you read these early stories of the Bible, Satan was not mentioned. It might appear that everything was done on a human level. However that’s not the case.
From the beginning there was a war going on in the earth to capture the hearts of men. Satan was always trying to destroy God’s creation. God was working His plan to preserve it. From time to time, Satan would gain such a stronghold that the entire earth was in danger, so God would intervene to protect His creation from destruction.
God is Almighty, Creator of all things, and a God of Love. He could have left man, including you and me, to have eternal death because of man’s sin. But His love continued to work His plan so that Jesus could eventually come into the earth and deliver us from ourselves.
Abraham, Abraham, you did it again! This is the second time Old Abe let his wife go into a harem to save his own skin. Not very chivalrous. We don’t hear much about Sarah’s faith in these chapters, but I’m sure she was praying. (I Peter 3:5 says that she was submissive to Abraham, but her hope was in God. So she must have been praying). Anyway, God once again supernaturally worked her release from the king.
Then Isaac was finally born. After all those years, when it was totally impossible for Sarah and Abraham to have a child, it happened.
Doesn’t that stimulate your faith? Are there things which God promised you years ago?Things which haven’t happened yet and seem impossible? Don’t stop believing!!
Matthew 8:1-17
Jesus shows us that healing is truly part of His plan of salvation.
When the leper comes and says, “Lord, if you are willing, make me clean.” Jesus quickly responds, “I am willing.” and the leper is made clean. And he continues to heal the centurion’s servant and Peter’s mother.
Then many are brought to Him and he heals them all.
As we are going through the four gospel books (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), I want you to notice something with me. I know of no time when Jesus refused to heal people. Everyone who came to Him for healing received it. In verse 16 we just read that when people brought all of their sick, He healed them all.
You might say, well why then today are not all healed?
I can’t speak for everyone, but I can for myself. I know that there have been times in my walk with God when my faith has been high, and I have experienced noteworthy, quick healings. And there have been times when my faith was compromised, and I didn’t.
Our society is so intellect-conscious, we want to reason everything out. We want to look around and develop our doctrine from what we see. If we see a wonderful Christian who meets an early death from disease, then we want to believe that was God’s plan.
I personally want to develop a faith which is beyond reason and “looking around.” I want to look at God’s Word and let that be my light. If my life is not measuring up to what I see in the Word, then I want to be corrected – not try to correct the Word.
I’ve tried to be an intellectual (in my early adult years) and I’ve tried to be a believer. I’ve found that being a believer is better!
So I salute the believer in all of us!
Blessings,
Suellen
PS Bird photography is by Mickey Estes https://www.mickeyestes.com
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Genesis 16-18
Uh-oh!! There’s about to be trouble in Canaan!
Abram acted just like we do sometimes. Have you ever had a promise from God and then tried to “force it to happen” by your own planning? I have. And it doesn’t work that way. When God says he is going to do something, He is perfectly capable of bringing it to pass.
Abram knew that God had said he was going to have an heir, but he thought that Sarai couldn’t conceive. So he took his wife’s advice and decided to have a son by her maid, Hagar. Big mistake. That’s not what God meant.
So Abram had Ishmael and created contention between Sarai and Hagar. God still protected Hagar and her son. Then He said something which may seem strange, but if you think about it, you will recognize that spirit in the middle east today. God said that Ishmael will be a “wild man; his hand shall be against every man and every man’s hand against him.”(Gen. 16:12). Think about that.
Another 13 years went by, and Abram was 99 years old. Once again, God appears to Abram and offers a covenant. If Abram will walk with God and continue to be faithful, there will be great blessings upon him. He will have many descendants – and His covenant will continue throughout Abram’s lineage.
Then God up’s the ante. He says for Abram to circumcise himself, his children, and every male of his household as a sign of the covenant. So God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “Father of Many Nations.” And He changed Sarai’s name to Sarah, which means “Beautiful Princess.”
As this special covenant continues to develop, God finds it necessary to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Their evil had increased to epic proportions. (In all of these dealings, remember that God’s intentions were not to destroy, but to save his righteous people. The influence of evil can destroy the world, so God judged them for the sake of His people.
Since He is in covenant with Abraham, God tells him His plan. Then Abraham tries to intercede for the city where his nephew Lot lives. He says, “Would you destroy it if you find fifty righteous?” God says, “No.” Then Abraham continues to wind down to 10. And God said He would not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if He found 10 righteous people.
Think what a close walk Abraham had with God. It had been 25 years since God had called him to leave his homeland. There had been promises many times, and the covenant had been developing over the years. Abraham wasn’t perfect (no man is), but to the best of his ability, he remained faithful to God and their relationship increased as time went on.
Do you see yourself in these pages? I hope so.
Matthew 7
Jesus is still introducing this new Kingdom to the people, and boy, does it sound strange to many. Yet they were hanging on every word. There was really something unusual about this Man.
One of the most significant principles of the new Kingdom is that we decide our outcome. “With the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”(7:2) There is a law of God which says that we decide “how much we receive back.” My husband calls this the Law of Measure. You want a teaspoonful of love? Give out a teaspoonful. Do you want a truckload? Give a truckload.
This doesn’t necessarily happen the next day, but over a lifetime, you will see patterns. You will see certain people who seem to have great favor. Take a look at what they have given out.
Then Jesus takes this a step further. He says what you continue to seek, you will find. If you continue to ask, seek, and knock for a closer walk with God, it will be given unto you.
Do you want to be really close to God? You will be in the minority. Don’t look for the path everyone is walking down; look for the way God is showing you. If you really want a close walk, you can’t just let the crowd persuade you, you have to have your own conviction about your life. It may seem hard sometimes, but the reward is tremendous!
When my son was a little boy, he had a t- shirt which I loved. On the front were some colorful fish swimming upward. And on the back it said, “Any Dead Fish Can Float Down Stream. Go Against The Flow.” Sometimes we do have to do just that if we are to walk closely with God.
The chapter winds up with another admonition. It’s not enough to “hear the word.” We have to “do it.” Many people may listen. They may memorize scripture and be able to recite it on the spot. However, if they are not “doing” what they know, they are not truly disciples of the Lord.
The stakes are high, aren’t they? He is looking for people who are truly His. I want to be in that crowd, and I know that you do too!
Blessings,
Suellen
P.S. This photograph was taken by Mickey Estes Photography https://www.mickeyestes.com
