Understanding the 3 questions asked in Matthew 24

 

My last post was an invite to our end time bible studies, I was hoping to see some of you there but alas... :-) Anyhow we've been running them now -10 lessons strong - all by The Lord's grace and mercy.
 

How did these lessons come about? I realised that I was pretty ignorant on bible facts surrounding the end times, so I called my dear small papa - Pastor Patrick and he made a great suggestion which was instead of him teaching just me, that we extend our studies to other members of In God's Company as well as other children of God that would like to attend.

 

 

I used to find Matthew 24 difficult to understand and now I realise why, I had failed to distinguish that there were in fact 3 distinct questions asked the Lord by the disciples, and that his subsequent responses were in regards to these 3 questions.

Therefore one of the main keys for understanding Matthew 24 is that the reader understand that Our Lord Jesus was responding to 3 different questions. When we look at the answers he gave and the questions that were asked, it is important that we bear that in mind, this will allow us to avoid ascribing the right answer to the wrong question. We will also be looking at Luke 21 in conjunction with Matthew 24 to identify, understand and trace back the answers to each question.

Matthew 24 vs 3 "Later , Jesus sat on the Mount Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, Tell us, when will this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world? (Life Application Study Bible)

The questions can be broken down as follows:

1. When would the destruction of the Temple be? This refers to the actual physical Jewish Temple which was located in Jerusalem.
2. What would be the signs/trends that will help us identify the season or generation of His return or that we are close to His return?
3. What would signal the end of the world?

Now let's look at each question.

Q1: The Destruction of the Temple

 

In verse 1 of Matthew 24, the disciples had been showing the Lord the temple and it's buildings - also directly translated as to-exhibit the structures of the temple - no doubt a grand structure and they must have been fascinated by it. Luke 21 vs 5 says "Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of The Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls"

But the Lord in turn responded as recorded in both Matthew 24 and Luke 21 that the entire building would be demolished completely. This was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans destroyed the temple, this is recorded in history.

Luke 21 from verse 20 -24 we see the answer to question no.1

And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. For those will be days of God's vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end. (LASB Version)

 

Likewise in Matthew 24 from verse 16 to 20

Historic accounts:
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/jewishtemple.htm

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(AD_70)

 

It is said that Christians who heeded the advise of the Lord fled Jerusalem before the destruction, I would surmise that those of them who had been watching and listening to the  Holy Spirit, careful to bear in mind what the Lord had already said would have probably started to make their migration out of Jerusalem AD66 when the city was surrounded by Roman soldiers who were sent to quell the Jewish revolt. And if they did n't quite get it in AD66, once the city was surrounded a second time by soldiers in AD70, they would have understood it was time to leave without hesitation as forewarned by The Lord or risk getting caught in the resulting outcome.

 

 

Q2: Signs that signal the nearing of the Lord's return

 

Luke 21 vs 8-12 gives the answer to this

 

"And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake."

 

Pastor P gave us an assignment where we looked at the trends of wars, earthquakes, famines & pestilences; for all of the items we were able to source statistics on, we saw a rise in these events. We also know that Christians have been greatly persecuted just as The Lord said we would, most of the apostles as history records were martyred, when we look through the book of Acts we know they were delivered to synagogues (Stephen in Acts 6), brought before kings (Paul was brought before King Agrippa - Acts 25) and it was all for preaching in the Lord's name just as He said. Persecution started happening from the time of the Apostles and after which wars, pestilences continued to intensify upon the earth and we will see more of it as the world enters the time of great tribulation and through the tribulation.

 

Let's take a look at the seven seals in Revelation 5 and 6 in conjuction. Pls read these two chapters in order to be able to follow the discussion. In Revelations 5, we see a book which has 7 seals which could only be opened by the Lamb, the bible describes this book as being written on at the back and within (Reference Rev 5:1). In Revelations 6, we see that as the lamb breaks the seals certain events begin to unfold, these events include: wars, famines, death etc. We see 4 riders released when the first 4 seals were broken, these were given power to run through the earth and create these events, they are operating now and their operations will be intensified as we enter the last-last days. The reason I believe that the events described are not only reserved for the end but have already begun (though not in full measure) is because the Book of Revelation is careful to tell us that the book was written on it's back and within. I felt the Holy spirit confirm to me that this means these things will hapen through time (in some measure through time and in full measure at the end of time).

1 John 4: 3b "and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world"

 

We see in 2 Thessalonians 2 vs 7 -8a the bible says "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  And then shall that Wicked be revealed..." The spirit of the antichrist is already at work and after the Church is raptured, the man antichrist (666 - the no of a man -see Rev 13:18, man was made on the 6th day) will be revealed and he will be authorised then to do these things in full measure with the false prophet and satan their master as they aim to form a false trinity 666. For now, the Spirit of God upon the Church of God is the hand that restrains them from unleashing themselves in full measure and because they are not authorised yet to operate, as we have been given the authority over them.

See Luke 10:19-20 " I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”." Yes, these spirits are subject to us. If you notice they were given power but we have authority but when the True Church of God is taken away, then they will have license - authorized to operate in the 7 years of tribulation.

Any activity they are running now is illegal and we are the ones expected to restrain them. Which is why Christians must engage in battle against these and shine the light of Christ everywhere they go. If we look at the message of The Lord Jesus to messages to the churches Revelations 2 through 3 - the recurring theme was: he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death and shall be given power over the nations and shall be clothed in white raiment - meaning there is something to overcome! I hope I will be able to share on the power to the nations when we talk about the millennium rule of the Lord Jesus, what you do now will determine where you will be placed then. I realised during this bible study that in the light of the 1000 year rule of the Lord on the earth and eternity afterwards, this life is like a pebble against a mighty ocean, it makes whatever we go through for His name sake so well worth it! 

 

 

Q3: Signs that signal the end of the world

 

Luke 21 vs 25 - 28 provides the answer to this

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Matthew 24: 29 - 31

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

This describes the end of the great tribulation (which will last for 7 years as I understand it from studies) when the Lord will come and rule on the earth for a 1000 years after which we continue with Him and The Father for Eternity!

I would like to expand a little bit on the above, before I do I must let you know that there is more than one school of thought on if the church will be raptured before the great tribulation or if the church is expected to go through the great tribulation. I am of the former view as you may have surmised however there are others who hold the view that the Church will not be taken before the great tribulation - this view is held by some whom I deeply respect their ministry and who love the Lord. However my studies and understanding of scripture point me to believing and understanding that the faithful church will be taken off the earth before the great tribulation occurs and it is on that premise which I will be teaching and you may have already gathered from my answers in question 2.

The church that will be taken, will be those found faithful, I pray that you and I will be one of those.
 

I hope I can continue from here in my next post...

 

More Details on the End Times Bible Study starting 23rd July mentioned in previous blog post

Rev Patrick Odigie will be taking us through bible study on the end times to cover the following areas:

• The 3 distinct questions the disciples asked the Lord in Matthew 24, recognising the distinction between these 3, understanding the answers He gave to each and distinguishing & tracing back which answer refers to each specific question
• The events which occurred in AD 70 in Jerusalem
• The Rapture
• The false trinity
• The Great Tribulation of 7 years - the first 3.5 years and the second 3.5 years what events will distinguish one half from another
• The Return of the raptured saints with the Lord Jesus and the resurrection of the saints martyred during the great tribulation
• The glorified bodies of the saints
• The end of the antichrist and the false prophet
• The reign of the Lord administering through His saints through out the earth for 1000 years and the binding of satan for that time & then his release for a time
• The Armageddon
• The new heaven and new earth

We ask that you pls review the following Bible passages ahead of the meeting:

• Matthew 24
• 1 Thessalonians 5 through to 2 Thessalonians 2
• Revelations 14
• Revelations 19

End Times Bible Study - Teleconference

In God's Company invites you to a Teleconference Bible Studies on the END TIMES with Rev Patrick Odigie.

The first set of classes will run from Thursday 23rd to Friday 24th, July 2015
Starting at 8.30PM GMT/3.30PM EST

We invite you to dial in and participate in this crucial interactive Bible study of the end times. Sessions will be interactive where we will study the word and take questions & answers.

Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about the various sequences of events? 
The Rapture? The Great Tribulation? The Return of the Lord Jesus with the raptured saints? Glorified bodies? The Lord's reign of a thousand years on the earth? The activities of the redeemed during that time? The final battle before lucifer - satan and his cohorts are consumed by fire? 

Join us and let us learn together!

Participant PIN: 362366

Time: 8.30PM BST(GMT) - 3.30PM EST - 9.30PM CET

Pls find your dial in nos relevant to your location:
England 0330 336 3080

Country & City Dial-In Number
Argentina Buenos Aires 011 5258 2375
Australia Adelaide 08 7123 2361
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Australia Canberra 02 6108 4316
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Australia Melbourne 03 9001 6668
Australia Newcastle 02 4013 4043
Australia Perth 08 6365 4490
Australia Sydney 02 9037 2747
Austria National 0720 8800 09
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Chile Santiago de Chile 22 938 1500
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Cyprus* Nicosia 22 022 684
Czech Republic Prague 2 4601 9210
Denmark National 77 34 57 09
El Salvador National 2113 1752
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Finland Helsinki 09 4259 8663
France Paris 01 76 60 71 86
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Greece Athens 211 176 8240
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Israel Tel Aviv 03 915 5823
Italy Rome 06 99 268 290
Japan Tokyo 03 4520 9471
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Romania Botosani 031 810 7968
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South Africa Pretoria 012 004 4334
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The GOD WHO answers prayers!

'He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.' 1 Kings 19: 4b-5

That was a prayer request made by Elijah. We were looking at prayers and answers in today's bible study at my local church and we looked at this verse. It's interesting to note that this is a prayer request that was not granted as asked, as we all know Elijah was caught up into glory and did not die.

But did God hear him? Yes He did and we have proof:

'All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. 1 Kings 19:7-9

Who do we think sent the angel? It was God of course.

And Jesus our Lord said: "I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." John 11:42

God hears all our heartfelt prayers, In Jeremiah 29:13, He says:
'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart' (NIV)
'If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me' (NLT)

Therefore now let us always pray with this confidence, God hears us always, the answers may not come at the time we want it or in the way we want because God's aim is to give the best response, the best gift and at the best time.

Rather than letting Elijah die as requested, he sent him refreshment and strength. Dying was not the best answer for Elijah and God gave him a greater gift than dying, the man who asked to die, never did die but was eventually taken up to heaven in the most dramatic and beautiful way, after going on to fulfil his assignment in God. That's God! Always better than we could ever fathom, ask or think.

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind 2 Kings 2:11

I believe in miracles

I did mention that I would share my testimony on the Lord sending help to me in supernatural way.

God is living and active in our every day lives. He cares about the details... He cares about you & I!

I will post the testimony in pretty much the same format in which I sent it to members of our ministry In God's Company and a few other friends.

"Dear All, I have a testimony.

It brings tears to my eyes of God's caring nature. I just want to thank Him, also to ask you to help me adore & glorify His name.

It's been a very busy period for me, non stop since the start of this year. In the run up to the wedding more so. I was quite run down, my immunity low with mouth sores and I ached all over. I would typically wake up tired most days, I started having back with side pain in addition

Anyhow, I went to bed yesterday after 2 days in a row of 4hr daily work commute. Yes 4hours!

I had a dream in which it seemed again I had a dream within a dream, someone came and laid next to me. Even as I was falling drifting into the sleep, I was aware of a physical presence next to me on my bed. In the dream someone rubbed all over my back like they were soothing my pain.

Incidentally, I had been talking to God that night about having supernatural experiences and experiencing a greater dimension of spiritual vision.

I woke up this morning so refreshed, I am on my way back from a meet up after work and still not having pains all over my body despite carrying a very heavy bag around town. That is unusual for me.

What touches me most is the care of God and that He saw me. Jeohovah El-Roi the one who sees. God sent His help to rub my back and relieve me of aches - pls help me bless Him!!!!!!!!

Many people around me, even nearest and dearest did not know how very stretched I was but the Lord saw it and came in a special way to help me."

He was my greatest help through the wedding, Oh How I love Him so.

When it was time to save mankind, He came Himself; so it's not a surprise that He would do this for me.




 

I got married!

"When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken." Deuteronomy 24:5

Well, the above is kind of what I did... Hence I haven't really written on the blog this year.

I got married last Saturday! Well, one of our many wedding ceremonies :-) we'd already been to the registry in Oct, got joined before the Lord in the US over the summer, with two meet-the-family ceremonies in between but we finally had the big wedding celebration last Thursday & Saturday where friends and family came in from all over to celebrate with us.

My husband's name is Wale Olutunbi and he is a great saxophonist for Jesus, he also plays the piano and used to sing in the choir as boy, he's still got that singing voice, so he's a very musical man; but above all, he loves the Lord and loves me:-)

I'll try to tell you a bit about how we met and the journey thus far someday, if it will encourage someone else along the way and describe the faithfulness of My Father.

It's time now for me to get back to ministry full on. My Father has been so kind as to let me get on with the business of marrying but He did let me know I was to get back to it as soon as we were done with the wedding. He expressly said so to me, I do love Him for His attention to detail, His heart because He knew I needed the time off so He let me have it and supported me ALL THE WAY!

I'll tell you one day in detail about the miracle that happened on a day I was very tired during all of the hustle and bustle of this year, the Lord actually sent an angel to rub my back! How marvellous is that, this was love, such love, indeed I have known the Father's love for me!

Both my personal life and work life have been extremely busy this year, work sent me to a few places this year including Asia - gorgeous Singapore, though I was stuck in the office most of the time covering 2 time zones :-) and I also did considerable travelling on the personal side.

I tell you , it is unbelievable how much planning goes into a single day and I had 2 big events, 1 mini one and 2 other little ones - 3 of which involved considerable planning.

So friends, it's been a busy year but the most important thing all through this year is this:

I have known the Father's love for me...

The Lord would take me through a no of schools, when I was young and immature, not that I have attained now, I used to say to Him: won't you cut me some slack? and throw childish tantrums ~ when I was a child I thought like a child, I spoke like a child - that sort of thing.

I remember working in a job I hated once and couldn't get another - I turned to the Lord one day and said please just let me go! I knew it was Him keeping me there... but u c He had to, there are some schools you will need to go through so that you can be built up to be able to fulfil the purpose of God in your life. Schools required to attain some level of maturity, character formation, tenacity. I am still very much a work in progress and am constantly in school! My small papa Pastor Patrick Odigie said something "character is required to sustain the gift".

In the same vein that we go through schools where hard lessons are taught, there are seasons where like any good Father, the Lord Himself will celebrate you. Remember, He will always fulfil His promises for your life. You may not know how or when but you must know Him that He never fails, His love never fails and that He is indeed a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Fall in love with Jesus, it's the best thing I have ever done.

Lara Olutunbi :-)

 

#BringBackOurGirls ~ and then some

In God's Company Conference Call Thursday 8th of May 2014

Participant PIN: 362366

Time: 8.30PM BST(GMT) - 3.30PM EST - 9.30PM CET

Pls find your dial in nos relevant to your location:
England London 020 3398 3300
England Slough 01753 304 570
CountryCountry City Dial-In Number Country City Dial-In Number
Argentina Buenos Aires 011 5258 2375
Australia Adelaide 08 7123 2361
Australia Alice Springs 08 8921 4109
Australia Brisbane 07 3123 5124
Australia Canberra 02 6108 4316
Australia Darwin 08 8986 7038
Australia Launceston 03 6349 1222
Australia Melbourne 03 9001 6668
Australia Newcastle 02 4013 4043
Australia Perth 08 6365 4490
Australia Sydney 02 9037 2747
Austria National 0720 8800 09
Bahrain National 1619 9041
Belgium Brussels 02 808 0369
Brazil Sao Paulo 11 3323 2331
Bulgaria Sofia 02 491 7031
Canada Calgary 1 403 775 1284
Canada Edmonton 1 780 669 5289
Canada Halifax 1 902 982 3028
Canada Montreal 1 514 667 0321
Canada Ottawa 1 613 686 3845
Canada Quebec City 1 418 907 2242
Canada St. John's 1 709 757 5710
Canada Toronto 1 416 800 1274
Canada Vancouver 1 604 484 1683
Canada Winnipeg 1 204 272 2356
Chile Santiago de Chile 22 938 1500
Croatia Zagreb 017 776 113
Cyprus* Nicosia 22 022 684
Czech Republic Prague 2 4601 9210
Denmark National 77 34 57 09
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo de Guzm8á2n9 951 3038
El Salvador National 2113 1752
Estonia National 668 1329
Finland Helsinki 09 4259 8663
France Paris 01 76 60 71 86
Georgia Tbilisi 7 0677 7315
Germany Munich 089 12 140 2318
Greece Athens 211 176 8240
Guatemala* Guatemala City 2 229 6342
Hong Kong SAR China Victoria City 5808 0118
Hungary Budapest 06 1 778 9429
Ireland Cork 021 601 7951
Ireland Dublin 01 903 6715
Israel Tel Aviv 03 915 5823
Italy Rome 06 99 268 290
Japan Tokyo 03 4520 9471
Latvia Riga 0676 61099
Lithuania Vilnius 052 66 58 12
Luxembourg National 2020 2414
Malta Valletta 027 780 210
Mexico Mexico City 01 55 2789 5465
Netherlands Amsterdam 020 262 9645
New Zealand Auckland 09 909 7814
New Zealand Wellington 04 974 9405
Norway Oslo 2 154 7857
Panama Ciudad de Panamá 0836 5399
Peru Lima 017 085 313
Poland Warsaw 22 398 8490
Portugal Lisbon 0308 800 567
Puerto Rico San Juan 1 787 905 7171
Romania Botosani 031 810 7968
Singapore National 3158 1023
Slovakia Bratislava 02 3300 6537
Slovenia Ljubljana 016 002 714
South Africa Cape Town 021 300 4334
South Africa Durban 031 100 4334
South Africa Johannesburg 010 500 4334
South Africa Pretoria 012 004 4334
South Africa Pretoria 087 550 0378
Spain Madrid 911 876 433
Sweden Stockholm 08 4030 9923
Switzerland Zürich 043 500 4156
United Kingdom London 020 3398 3300
United Kingdom Slough 01753 304 570
United States Atlanta 1 678 954 0539
United States Baltimore 1 443 692 1837
United States Boston 1 617 334 7122
United States Chicago 1 312 253 4866
United States Cleveland 1 216 744 1000
United States Dallas 1 214 377 1210
United States Denver 1 303 330 0432
United States Detroit 1 313 879 6548
United States Houston 1 713 366 8100
United States Los Angeles 1 213 221 3529
United States Miami 1 305 808 3277
United States Minneapolis 1 612 844 0008
United States New York 1 917 464 3045
United States Philadelphia 1 215 207 0230
United States Phoenix 1 602 354 9200
United States Pittsburgh 1 412 360 7848
United States Portland 1 503 206 0211
United States Saint Louis 1 314 244 3579
United States San Diego 1 619 330 9637
United States San Francisco 1 415 422 9300
United States Santa Clara 1 408 531 6619
United States Seattle 1 206 691 8202
United States Tampa 1 813 864 6296
United States Washington, D.C. 1 202 379 1388

YOOHOO! I am still here! #BringBackOurGirls

Happy New Year Everybody!

I apologize for being away for so long, it's been one busy year!

I have missed this blog, I do hope somebody somewhere missed my being on here, that you haven't all run away and still have me on your googlereader and mailing lists.

I am just going to repost something I posted on my facebook page. It was an invite sent out to all and I do hope that you - yes you :-) reading this will be one of the respondents.

"In God's Company Ministry invites you to join us on our prayer line tomorrow Thursday at BST (GMT) 8.30PM. We are inviting all Christians and also non Christians who desire to encounter the power of the True and Living God.

We will be interceding for the safe return of the 234 girls kidnapped in Chibok, Nigeria. We will be praying to the God of all the Heavens and the God of the whole earth to flush out Boko Haram completely from Nigeria. We will also be carrying on with our usual order of the day to intercede for the Bride of Christ.

Last Thursday on the conference line, we prayed for the girls from Chibok. There were just 4 of us on the line & I heard my best friend cry as she poured her heart out to God, it cut me - I was cut to my core and in that instant I knew that I heard her heart, I heard her soul and that the God of all the Heaven and the earth heard it too - that I was only a bystander in a heavenly exchange between a daughter and Her Father. He wanted me to hear her soul, He wanted me to know how precious her cry was to Him, I knew that if she had moved me, she had moved God who is so full of compassion much more than I can ever hope to be. The depth to which her cry cut my soul, I knew that it had touched Heaven. Because I too have the Spirit of God in me, it was His Spirit bearing witness with mine that she had touched Him.

When we were praying last week, it looked so bleak but now the whole world is at attention, we know that we were one of many. Many inspired us, there is one of you here who decided to go off facebook except to post things related to the girls because she said if it was her child, she didn't think she could carry on on facebook, that was inspiring!

I will be posting the dial in nos and pin in my next post, join us tomorrow as we pray. We are simple folk, a ministry of intercessors whom God loves and have the privilege of loving Him too, we are not sophisticated, we just know JESUS!"

Cultivating intimacy with God - Mike Bickle - One Thing Conference 2006

 

The sons of Isaachar

Isaachar first appears in Genesis 30 vs 17. He is the 5th biological son of Leah. He came into her life when it was thought she was past bearing children, perhaps she thought God was done with her; the later part of Genesis 29 vs 35 says 'Then she stopped having children'. What I found most interesting about vs 17a is that it says 'He is listening Elohim to Leah', that is the literal translation but I did not find anywhere where Leah directly prayed to God recorded in that Chapter or the one before, In chapter 29 it says that the Lord saw that she was not loved and He opened her womb. He is the God of all comfort. God saw her struggles, He saw how she fought to be noticed, He saw that she was ignored, she went as far bargaining vegetables to get a night with Jacob, she used her maid as means to gain more ground in the family home.

I do feel that God was calling Leah, He was trying to pull her to Himself, all through her struggles.

When she named her son Levi which means attached, she hoped her husband would become attached to her. Well, he didn't really become attached to her but you know what God did with Levi - He attached Levi to Himself instead. Levi was the tribe chosen to serve as priests before God in Israel.

God was always pulling Leah to look up, but as we get a glimpse to her background we see that she came from a family where they mixed and matched things up, so she couldn't really see. Rachel had hidden her father's household gods when they left his house, they were still dealing at the level of household gods - idolatry, dependence on other things for help or divination, that was the kind of environment they came from, there was some fear of God but they were not thorough in their ways with God, they were not sold out completely to God, we see how Laban changed Jacob's pay 10 times and how he substituted one sister for another which created the dysfunction and polygamy in Jacob's home.

Issachar was a gift from God, same way Issachar is a gift to the body of Christ, Issachar will always be a vessel through which God will lend Himself to a people, to a nation, to a season, to a time. In Issachar we see God pulling Leah up and saying come to me, look up to me...

Genesis 49 vs 14-15: Issachar is a raw boned donkey lying down among the sheep pens. When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labour.

The literal translation is as follows: Issachar donkey of rib reclining between the hearthstones and he is seeing the resting place that it is good and the land that she is pleasant and he shall stretch out shoulder blades of him to bear the burden of and he shall become to tribute of one serving.

When Jacob called his sons together he said I will tell you what will happen to you in the days to come. He gave each son the blessing appropriate to him. See Gen 49 vs 1 & 28

Issachar is a discerner, he may be a nobody, he may just be reclining when God gives him the Spirit of discernment to recognise that where he is reclining - is good & the land is pleasant

II Kings 2 vs 19 "Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren" These were discerners, they didn't just give up on the city, they saw it's potential.

What does Issachar do: He bends his shoulders to bear the burden and becomes a gift of service - a gift through service...

What does Elisha do: 'And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.' 2 Kings 2 vs 22-23

1 Chronicles 12 vs 32: of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;

There is one thing to understand times and there is another to know what to do. Issachar knew how to do both. 1 Chronicles 12 verse 1 records that David was still a fugitive but they knew that it was time for David to be king and it was the right thing to do to come to fight and make him king.

We see the tribe of Issachar again in Judges 5 vs 15 "And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak sent into the valley under his command"

The princes of Issachar again, they did not leave the work to the lower ranks, at all times their chiefs & princes were present & got involved - rolled up their sleeves and got busy bearing the burden of service. The place of service is not always glamorous, the position of travailing prayer is not always easy. Our Lord Himself says 'A woman, when she is in labour, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.'

Some background is given in Judges 4 about the oppression of Israel under the hands of the king of Canaan for 20 years and Israel's cry out to God, I find in Judges 4 that a lot of the natural detail is given whilst in Judges 5 the spiritual detail is given. I find Judges 5 so rich, it is rich indeed in detail - we can only draw on a few aspects of it in this post as there is so much in there.

Vs 7 & 8: village life in Israel ceased, until Deborah arose - a mother in Israel. A mother to birth the purposes of God, she got up with the princes and willing volunteers.

Vs 15: they sing that Issachar was with Barak (and I don't mean Barack Obama :-), they sing again that Issachar rushed after him into the valley and in vs 18: they tell again that the people of Zebulum risked their own lives

Vs 15b & 16: they sing about Reuben, Gilead, Dan & Asher and this is not a song of praise or tribute but one of rebuke. They are described as ones with 'great investigations of heart' they want to "think" about it 'ones who shuffle their feet' 'who seat on their bums' and the song enquiry goes 'what were you waiting behind to hear - the bleating of sheep?'

Vs 19: the kings came and they fought and they took no gain of money. These are people who did not come to fight for financial gain or reward.

Hebrews 11 vs 16 'But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is NOT ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them'

There is a time when God is looking for people to act, people who will rise up, who will not care about rank, who will not act for gain or reward but who will simply be motivated by their love and passion for the purposes of God, who will say 'here I am send me', who will see a resting place and recognise that it is good, this is a place God could use, discern that this is a place God wants to use and say Lord how do we bring Your sanity back to this place? That time is now.

Deuteronomy 33 vs 18 -19 'Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents. They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.'

God is calling us to be a part of a heavenly fight, As I said earlier Judges 5 is so rich in detail

Vs 20 says 'They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera'

When Deborah rose up knowing what needed to be done, Barak and those with him including the sons of Issachar, they knew that there was a battle before them and they needed to fight it. As they mobilised and fought it on the earth. Heaven fought above for them and we know that heaven never looses a fight! The stars describe the angelic host.

I have been trying to write about Issachar for a long time and I knew then in my spirit that it wasn't quite ready until today. I had thought I would write something generic (about discernment, times & seasons) but I realise God wants to be very specific today.

At beginning of this year, God began to speak to me about His Church - His bride, as mentioned in an earlier post I shared this with In God's Company and we responded by standing in the gap for the Church. There were times like Elijah and Jonah - I wondered if we should abandon it through the course of the year BUT you have to remember what God said to you and set your face like a flint and keep going.

The church may not be looking like all she has been called to be right now, neither can we see yet the harvest that a no of us are looking to see in the greater public, just like when Issachar came to David, he was still a fugitive. It is time to push for the glorious bride of Christ to be revealed from her hiding place and for harvest to come. It is time to push for revival. There is so much darkness but that is when the light must shine brighter and brighter, and the darkness will not comprehend her.

We have come to the time in the Church where God is looking for mothers to birth the purposes of God, He is looking for valiant men, leaders & nobodies who will put their hand to the plough and not look back. The heavens belong to God and the earth He has given to the sons of men. God is looking for people who will stand in the gap to push for revival here on earth and as we push, heaven will back us up, people who will stand in the gap for the bride of Christ and pray the prayer of repentance like Daniel, like Nehemiah, like Ezra. He is looking for Peters and Pauls who will preach the gospel, Philips and Stephens who will evangelise the world.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4

Some of the prayers that we need to pray at this time are prayers of warfare. To disarm principalities and powers blinding people's minds from seeing the light of the gospel and also to pray for the church to rise up & take her rightful place as SALT & LIGHT of the earth. We need to cry out and ask God to intervene as A MAN OF WAR.

The Lord is a Man of War, The Lord is His name Exodus 15:3
Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle Psalm 144 vs 1
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze Psalm 18 vs 34

Ephesians 6 vs 19-20 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Acts 12 vs 5 'Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church' vs 10-11 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

Acts 4 vs 31 'And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.'

God is looking for intercessors that will pray for the Church, that will pray for the gospel to be spread and that will go forth and preach same gospel amongst the lost.

A beautiful young lady called Praise wrote and I copy her post: Before we are SENT out by God, we are CALLED by Him. Our tendency is to skip the "called" part. And we get burnt out in our mission fields, because we haven't gathered the strength, and the wisdom from the quiet place. How is God calling you today? Is He beckoning you to spend time in His word? In worship? In prayer? In reflection?

Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

This is the time that God is calling the Church to His feet in prayer, worship & fasting so that we can be sent out in power and for the Church to take her rightful place in the world.

I believed; therefore I have spoken