Shekhinah; The Glory Of The LORD

God has placed it upon my heart to write this blog about the word Shekhinah; the supernatural light or cloud; that appeared on the mercy-seat of the Ark of the Covenant; that was housed in the Holy of Holies, of the Tabernacle of Israel.  God’s presence was always with the Israelites as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years.  Appearing as a pillar of fire at night and a cloud by day; the cloud would enter the Tabernacle and fill it with the glory of the LORD.  The Almighty God inhabited and dwelled in the Tabernacle and was ever present with the Congregation of Israel, the Church of the Wilderness.  The LORD led Israel through the cloud.  When the cloud moved, Israel broke camp and followed the cloud.

Exodus 13:21-22 KJV And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:  (22) He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

When the LORD would come down and enter the Tabernacle through the cloud; His presence was so powerful that no man was to enter the Tabernacle while the LORD was there; to do so would be death!

Leviticus 16:2 ESV and the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

The Shekhinah of the LORD is literally the all enveloping glory of the presence of Almighty God as He inhabited the Tabernacle in the wilderness with Moses.

Exodus 40:35 ESV And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

God’s presence also filled the Holy of Holies of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 7:1-2 ESV   As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.  (2)  And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.

That same Shekhinah illuminated in Jesus Christ; the light of the world and was passed on to the Apostles with the Holy Ghost.  That glory and presence of the LORD falls upon His people today in anointed worship with the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  The events of the birth of the Christian Church on the Day of Pentecost in 31 A.D.; continue on in our present day as promised by Peter.

Acts 2:38-39 ESV And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (39) For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."

We are the continuation of that church; those “who are a far off” in time from that day.  Jesus called his disciples the light of the world.     

Matthew 5:14 ESV You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

We live in a world where the forces of evil work in darkness and hate the light.  On my visit to Aachen Germany in 1984; a seemingly upper class neighbor became a “Red Light” district of every unspeakable perversion during the time we entered a restaurant for dinner and a couple of hours later when we came out.  That was twenty five years ago.  On my 1986 trip to Amsterdam, Holland, such activities were done in the open during the day time. 

This sin sick world needs the presence of the LORD.  Christ called his disciples the salt of the earth.  Salt preserves.  Christians are the preserving agent of our society.  The light of Christ shines in us and we hold salvation; offering Christ to the world.  We are the temple of the Holy Ghost; the presence of the LORD lives in us.  Now is the time to allow Christ to be magnified in you!  Let the Shekhinah fall as never before!

Anointings is a sponsored ministry of

Crystal Lake United Pentecostal Church

Lake in the Hills Illinois 60156

CLUPC.Org

Bro. Thomas C. Blake

CareMinister.Org
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Copyright © 2011

This page is produced and maintained by

http://www.pathway2020.com

Declaring the end from the beginning

Challenging times come upon all people.  We as Christians need to accept this with an even greater reality; because the forces of both evil and good are especially at work on us continually.  The enemy wants to destroy us and the Kingdom of God.  Our LORD wants to stretch us and build us up to be everlasting pillars in His Kingdom which shall endure for ever; but we must overcome.

Revelation 3:12 KJV   Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

We are called to a life of transformation and overcoming.  This is a daily battle and a race; it requires us to never give up; but endure to the end.  Life will not always be easy; in fact; we are guaranteed a struggle.

Matthew 10:22 KJV And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The world will hate us and all that we stand for because this world lives in darkness and loves the evil that they can get away with in the shadows of the dark.  We carry the light of Christ and men love the darkness.

John 3:19 KJV And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Enduring does not mean merely waiting and existing.  This scares people with regards to thoughts of eternity because they believe that they will merely exist, doing nothing in boredom forever.  God does not merely exist; but lives and works in vibrant life!

John 5:17 KJV But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 

If we look with human eyes; our vision will be limited to physical sight; but if we look with the Holy Ghost living inside of us, our vision will be magnified to see the unlimited eternity of the spiritual realm.  The following was sent to me in an email and the words ring true:

Never regret a day in your life.

            Good days give you Happiness.

            Bad days give you Experiences.

            Both are essential to life.

            Keep going...

            Happiness keeps you Sweet,

            Trials keep you Strong,

            Sorrows keep you Human,

            Failures keep you Humble,

            Success keeps You Glowing,

            But Only God keeps You Going!

God’s WORD tells us not to lean on our own understanding, but to trust the LORD in all things.  It is so hard to do this because we, by nature, want to be independent.  We think that we are here for ourselves; to pursue our own desires; make our own plans and function for our own prosperity and comfort in this flesh.  This earthly existence is so temporal that it would seem natural for people to be in quest of something more than these few 70, plus or minus years.  History records events over at least 6,000 years.  What is 70 years in comparison?  It is barely ten percent and not all reach 70 or more years! 

A young person coming straight out of High School, will devote their entire life’s energy for seven to ten years of education; preparation and internship; to achieve a professional career as a lawyer, doctor, professor or executive to work in their field of expertise for maybe 30-40 years.  Tragedy can cut that short at any time!  Few will reach retirement with enough good health and financial resources to enjoy the “Golden Years.”  What are 40 or even 50 years of an exciting career compared to a 1000 years and beyond into eternity of excitement and abundance? 

John 10:10 KJV The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This human life was not meant to be an end in itself.  It is not even the beginning; but merely a preface to the beginning.  It is a preparation time to life.  To gain all in this short, temporal life and lose out on the eternal life of abundance; living in a spiritual existence; is truly a tragedy. 

Matthew 16:26 KJV For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

When life presses down upon us with trials and tribulations; we need the faith that only comes from God to trust in the promises of the WORD!   God knows the end from the beginning.  We are limited to see only the physical present; unless we are filled with the Holy Ghost and can see through the divine eyes of faith that gives substance and evidence of the things hoped for in Christ.

Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Romans 8:37 KJV Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

No one would ever walk away from a challenge and give up if they were guaranteed victory.  We have been guaranteed the victory; a life so spectacular that nothing in this world could even compare.  The prize must burn in our hearts as a reality that is greater than any momentary discomfort, sickness or trial.  Life ahead is beyond description; beyond our imaginations; if we would trust God’s WORD and capture the vision of victory; the end from the beginning! 

Anointings is a sponsored ministry of

Crystal Lake United Pentecostal Church

Lake in the Hills Illinois 60156

CLUPC.Org

Bro. Thomas C. Blake

CareMinister.Org
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Copyright © 2011

This page is produced and maintained by

http://www.pathway2020.com

Jesus said; "Come Follow Me"

Over the past 52 years of my life, Christian churches have gone through some major transitions.  The catalyst for change was my generation; the Baby Boomer generation.  Unlike previous generations that followed traditions; the Baby Boomers shop for the right church that meets their lifestyle.  Those who made the Christian Church strong are now very elderly. 

The working generation of women has taken it s toll on women’s prayer circles and church women’s organizations who organized fellowship pot lucks and funeral luncheons.  Liberalism is replacing tradition.  Ties and loyalty to a particular church or denomination have been severed by the Baby Boomers and younger generations attend even less.

Liberalism has fostered apathy and has lowered faith and belief in the Bible and its teachings.  Christendom of the twenty first century is not following Christ as the original disciples did.  Materialism and the quest for the latest technology has captured our societies attention and electronics consumes the time once spent as a family and spent in church.

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Today we live with an affluence that makes it hard to give up anything.  In the American work place; people strive to earn more money for less time on the job.  Leisure time is coveted more than money.  Churches today, find it easier to raise cash funds than to recruit volunteers.  With the climbing cost of living and skyrocketing gasoline prices; people have neither the time; or money to give.  Jesus is only getting the leftovers if anything at all.  The young rich man in Luke 18 could not bear to part with his abundance; many others don’t believe that they can afford to give.  Yet the first 10% of our wages belongs to God as well as the best part of our day; our time.  When ever you feel most wide awake and alert; that is when you need to pray, study the Bible and meditate.  Make that the beginning of your day.  It might be lunch time or right after work.  Declare that your fresh start every day; live day to day by that starting time.  Too many try to pray first thing upon waking up and are to sleepy to pray effectively.  Like wise late at night may not be a good time.  Jesus should get the first fruits of our time; the best that we have to give.  Giving what it owed to God of both our time and our money will bless us beyond what we can contain.  God says prove Him!

Malachi 3:8-12 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings (offerings includes gifts of many forms, including our volunteer service).  (9)  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.  (10)  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.  (11)  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  (12)  And all nations (all people, our coworker and neighbors) shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

We need to put Jesus Christ first in all things.  He comes before our jobs, our spouses and our families.  Jesus commands to be No. 1 in our lives!

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

We are here for God.  If we live for ourselves and neglect God, then we will never see the Kingdom of God.  Everything belongs to God and He is not going to take second place to anyone or any thing.  He became like us so that we could become like Him; Jesus Christ; Emanuel; God with us.  He suffered so that we could be healed by His stripes.  He died so that we could be reconciled to Him in order to be fit for His Kingdom; saved by His abundant grace.  If we have accepted Jesus; then we are bought with a price.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

To follow Christ means to put Him first and take responsibility for our calling.  We do this by inviting Him into our lives and allowing His Holy Spirit to transform us and bring us into a deep and abiding relationship with Him.  It also means to be about His business of the Gospel which requires both our time and our money.  Now is the time to invest in eternity.  Put Jesus Christ first!  Start following Him today!

Anointings is a sponsored ministry of

Crystal Lake United Pentecostal Church

Lake in the Hills Illinois 60156

CLUPC.Org

Bro. Thomas C. Blake

CareMinister.Org
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Copyright © 2011

This page is produced and maintained by

http://www.pathway2020.com

Salvation Revealed In The Old Testament: Part 2 – The Significance of God’s Festivals

The world of Christendom embraces holidays that are built on non-Christian traditions.  Yet the Bible reveals the entire plan of the saving grace of Jesus Christ in the Festivals of God that were given to Israel when they left Egypt.  Let’s first identify these days and then look to the Christian events of which they were a foreshadow.

SEVEN ANNUAL FESTIVALS

1.  PASSOVER Leviticus 23:4-5 ESV "These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them.  (5)  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD's Passover. 

2.  FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

Leviticus 23:6  And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.  (7)  On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 

3.  FEAST OF PENTECOST ALSO CALLED THE FEAST OF WEEKS (COUNT 50)

Leviticus 23:15-16 ESV  "You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering.  (16)  You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD.

4.  FEAST OF TRUMPETS (Jews call it Rosh Hashanah)

Leviticus 23:24 ESV "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation.

5. DAY OF ATONEMENT (Jews call it Yom Kippur)

Leviticus 23:27-28 ESV "Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD.  (28)  And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God.

6.  FEAST OF TABERNACLES (Jews call it Sukkot)

Leviticus 23:34 KJV Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

7.  THE LAST GREAT DAY (Jews call it Shemini Atzeret: The Last Great Day

Leviticus 23:36 KJV Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

It was on this Festival Day that Jesus stood up and proclaimed…

John 7:37-38 KJV In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  (38)   He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Within the seven annual Festivals, there are seven annual Sabbaths or days of convocation; holy days.

SEVEN ANNUAL SABBATHS OR HOLY DAYS (Days of Convocation or Meeting)

1.  1^st Day of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:7)

2.  7^th Day of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:8)

3.  Pentecost or Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-22)

4.  Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24)

5.  Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27)

6.  1^st Day of The Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-35)

7.  The Last Great Day (Leviticus 23:36)

THE SEVEN ANNUAL FESTIVALS PICTURE GOD’S COMPLETE PLAN FOR SALVATION

Just before Israel left Egypt, God told Moses that this month is the beginning of the year.  Passover would mark this month in the future and tell us today when that month is.

Exodus 12:2-3, 6-7, 11 KJV This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.  (3)  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: (6)  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. (7)  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. (11) And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

1.  Passover pictures the death and burial of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.  It also pictures our baptism when we die to sin and come under the redeeming and reconciling blood of Jesus.  Our sins our passed over and we are saved from the penalty of sin.  STEP ONE FOR A CHRISTIAN IS REPENTANCE, STEP TWO IS BAPTISM. SEE PENTECOST UNDER No. 3 & Acts 2:38

2.  Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the Christian putting sin out of their life and taking on holiness or righteous behavior.  Paul calls holiness, the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

  1 Corinthians 5:8 KJV Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

3.  Feast of Pentecost pictures the start of the Christian Church and receiving the Holy Ghost; both of which, every Christian needs in order to be able to walk in holiness (the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth).   The Christian Church was started on the Feast of Pentecost about 31 A.D. 

Acts 2:1 KJV And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

STEP THREE IS RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST (NECESSARY TO LIVE IN HOLINESS & FOR SALVATION AND ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD’S KINGDOM)

4.  Feast of Trumpets pictures the resurrection of the Saints at/and the return of Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 15:52 KJV In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Revelation 11:15 KJV And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

THE RESURRECTION WILL BE THE COMPLETION OF THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE THAT STARTED WITH BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST AND CULMINATES AT CHRIST’S RETURN AND THE CHANGING OF OUR BODIES INTO SPIRIT AT THE RESURRECTION

5.  Atonement pictures Satan the Devil being bound for a thousand years and all sin being placed on its originator’s head; the fallen Lucifer/Satan/The Devil/Adversary.

Revelation 20:1-2 KJV And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.  (2)  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

6.  Feast of Tabernacles pictures the millennial rule of the Saints with Christ for 1000 years.

Revelation 20:4 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

7.  The Last Great Day pictures the White Throne Judgment and the completion of the plan of salvation; which is salvation for the righteous and damnation for the wicked.

Revelation 20:11-15 KJV And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The LORD is an on time God.  He has a plan that is mapped out in His WORD.  The entire plan of salvation was foreshadowed by His Festivals given to ancient Israel.  It all began with Abraham.  God has placed a significance; on certain numbers like 3, 7 and 12.  We need to know God’s WORD.

Anointings is a sponsored ministry of

Crystal Lake United Pentecostal Church

Lake in the Hills Illinois 60156

CLUPC.Org

Bro. Thomas C. Blake

CareMinister.Org
Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

Copyright © 2011

This page is produced and maintained by

http://www.pathway2020.com