Author: missionspaul

Lent Day 5: Who is Judah?

Luke 3: 30 “the son of Judah”

The name in Hebrew is Yadah and it means ‘God/Yahweh be praised.’

Alongside ‘to praise’ it also means ‘to revere or worship with extended hands’ or ‘to give thanks’.

Judah is the key to changing your environment.

Judah is what attracts the presence of God to us.

Judah is the pathway on which God will lead us through even immense difficulty.

No one knows who this Judah actually was, there is another one coming up later in the genealogy and that is the most popular one. But wherever this man went praise to God was sounding out in every situation. It would be very hard to be defeated, afraid, silent, grumbling or worse with a name like Judah!

In the last few days of Lent we will have thoughts about Jesus’ last meal, the Passover, with his disciples. Let us remind ourselves now that during that meal Jesus sang. He and his disciples sang a hymn (Mark 14:26). Traditionally during the Passover meal the Hallel would be sung, it was the whole of the Psalms 113-118, praise to God for his salvation from Egypt and He being the eternal Saviour.

So, hours before Jesus’ most dreadful and terrifying moment, the crucifixion and death, he sings!

Yesterday my friend in Pakistan told 150 Pastors and leaders that persecution was not an enemy but a friend because of what it produced. It was a powerful presentation. How do the saints walk through such death? It is praise. It always has been.

John Huss, 1369-1415, a Czech theologian, was burned at the stake after having the crown of his head shaven with shears because he held to the Bible as the final authority and not the Church. As the fire was burning him he sang in a loud voice, “Jesus Christ! The Son of the Living God! Have mercy upon me!” There are countless stories like this.

The blessing of praise is this:

“Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies” Genesis 49:8

“May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands, to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters, their nobles with shackles of iron, to carry out the sentence written against them— this is the glory of all his faithful people.” Psalm 149:6-8

We don’t fight flesh and blood but principalities …

Every time we praise we are declaring to the spiritual powers that our hands are on the neck of an already defeated enemy. That because of Jesus’ victory on the cross where satan was stripped of power and authority over us then I will praise my God and squeeze some more victory out of you that is rightfully mine.

If you haven’t already noticed there is a father of lies who is against you, trying to steal, kill and destroy you and JUDAH is your greatest defence.

Those who don’t understand JUDAH are in fear of what the enemy can do as a “roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But there is another LION, a far greater LION and people who JUDAH live in trust of the LION of the TRIBE OF JUDAH! (Revelation 5:8).

The Lion of the tribe of Praise has defeated and won every battle. We are called to press in and clear up and take back what belongs to us. JUDAH!

Lent Day 4: Who is Simeon?

Luke 3 “the son of Simeon”

His name means, ’God has heard.’

An old man goes to the doctor. He complains that his wife can’t hear.
“You need to test your wife. Stand far behind her and ask her a question. Then, start going closer to her. You will see how close you’ll get when she hears you.”
The old man is happy that he can help his wife. He runs home. He sees that his wife is making dinner.
“Honey!” the man says standing 20 feet away.
“What are we having for dinner?” he asks.
The wife doesn’t reply. The man tries again. He stands 15 feet away, but there is no answer.  He stands 10 feet away and asks again. No answer.
Finally, he is 5 feet away, “Honey, what are we having for dinner?”
“I’ve told you four times! Lasagne!”

We all want to be heard and at times we all struggle to hear. But does God hear? Does God struggle?

Today Simeon calls to us: God does hear!

With us journeying through the Lenten season, I am purposely changing the application of these names so that we focus on Jesus. Here is a great verse to memorise:

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7

Did Jesus live a life of prayer? YES.

Did Jesus struggle in the place of prayer? YES.

Did Jesus become emotional in prayer? YES.

Was Jesus asking to be saved from death? YES.

Did the Father hear Jesus? YES.

Was Jesus saved from death? NO.

So does prayer work? YES.

The answer is the gospel. Timothy Keller in his great book on Prayer says, “God will answer us when we call because one terrible day he did not answer Jesus when he called … Jesus’ prayers were given the rejection that we sinners merit so that our prayers could have the reception that he merits … Jesus got the scorpion and the snake so that we could have food at the Father’s table.” (Luke 11:11-12)

Can you see this incredible gospel?

God heard but He didn’t answer because He had a higher plan and purpose for us.

God hears you today.

Don’t stop praying.

Keep struggling in prayer.

Learn tears.

Make your petitions clear.

The answer may be YES and the answer may be NO but you will be answered.

God hears you today: Simeon.

Lent Day 3: Who is this Levi?

Luke 3: 29 “the son of Levi”

Our second Levi in this genealogy of Jesus. Each of these men had a son named Matthat.

We have already discovered that Levi means ‘to join’.

With us journeying through the Lenten season, I am purposely changing the application of these names so that we focus on Jesus. Here is a great verse to memorise:

But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17

We are joined with Jesus in His death and resurrection. His death is our death and we stand in His resurrection with the same power of the Spirit. That last sentence is worth meditating on.

The early Church understood this. It was their foundational belief that they were joined with Christ, one with Him. Look what Paul says:

We are sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:2.

We are in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:30.

We are called into fellowship with the Son Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:9.

We are a new creation in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

We have been made alive with Christ, Ephesians 2:5.

We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, Ephesians 2:6.

We are found in Christ with a righteousness that is not ours but from God, Philippians 3:9.

Your discipleship is not following a set of religious rules and doctrines, it is not developing knowledge and it is more than trying to be like Jesus. It is to be a Levi!

Discipleship is union with Christ Jesus where we are truly joined together to the crucified, resurrected person of Christ incarnated into the world we live in.

There isn’t anything more important than this!

Pause for a moment right now. Breathe in once again this profound truth. He is in you! You are joined with Him! And because of this joining:

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

The Message says, “That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”

How good is that?!! Thank God for Levi!

Lent day 2: Who is this Matthat?

Luke 3: 29 “the son of Matthat”

 

This is the second Matthat whose father is Levi. The first in verse 24 named his son ‘God is high’ and this Matthat named his son ‘God is exalted’ or ‘whom God has exalted’.

When your name means ‘gift of God’ then perhaps whatever generation you are living in your eyes are not on the earthy temporal things. You are a person who sings the songs of ascents, the pilgrim songs for the journey of life (Psalm 120-134).

Yesterday many Christians began in various forms a journey through Lent. It was Ash Wednesday where the ashes come from the palm branches of last year’s enthusiasm. We need our first love of enthusiasm to be restored.

Today we journey forward and we lift up our eyes like Matthat and we model our lives on Jesus who daily walked with his Father in prayer. He built His life on looking to the hills to see where his help came from (Psalm 121).

Today we give thanks to God for His indescribably gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Today we know it is by grace we are saved, through faith—and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

Today we fan into flame the gift of God. 2 Timothy 1:6

Jesus is the indescribable gift.

Yesterday a Pastor spoke with joy to me of how he had led someone to experience salvation, this gracious gift, in his office.

Our responsibility is to keep His presence, the gift, alive and flourishing in our lives.

Let us lift our eyes today to the gift of God.

 

Who is Jorim?

Luke 3: 29 “the son of Jorim”

His name means ‘whom Jehovah has exalted’.

29 generations later Mary would declare, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble” (1 v 52).

Let me tell you 3 things I have believed for many years regarding being lifted up by God.

1. Jorim, who God has exalted: The only way to get a bigger stage is to be humble on the stage you are on now.

Jesus said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

Maybe you are longing to be noticed because you know there is a greater capacity within you to be and do more. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Our job is to humble ourselves and it is God’s role to exalt us. ”In due time” and this means we have to patiently serve on the smaller stage of life now.

 

2. Jorim, who God has exalted: If God permits for you to be taken down then it must be because He plans to resurrect you.

Whatever has fallen down God can rebuild. It may because of our doing or just simply the circumstance of life. He rebuilds me and He restores me. And I come forward again, I go again. As a young Pastor I would attend my denominations annual conference and for several years would always think as I arrived, “I made it!” The last 12 months had been a time of ups and downs and maybe a lot of downs, attacks from the enemy of my soul, problems and problems, would I ever come through this? Getting to that conference was a relief. I had got through another year thanks to God’s lifting of my life from mistakes I had made and perhaps what people had done to me. The Apostle Paul said, “God who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us.” 2 Corinthians 7: 4.

God likens the Exodus to Him carrying His people on eagles wings (Exodus 19:4). Look back on the times when the only way you got through that time/event was because He lifted you.

 

3. Jorim, who God has exalted: Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God. William Carey, father of modern missions, 1761-1834.

Lord, lift me up and let me stand

By faith on heaven’s tableland.

A higher plane than I have found

Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

 

This is a high calling. The work of God is at times exhausting and it needs courage and steely determination to accomplish for Him His plans.

There was a man who chose the higher ground. His name was Caleb. (Joshua 14) Forty-five years previously Caleb had spied out the land of Canaan, the land of Promise, bringing back a good report. But his dream never became a reality. But 40 years later something happened to him. He realised he was called for higher ground. “So here I am today, eight five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.”

What was in your sights a few years ago, maybe even 45 years ago?! You never saw it realised. But maybe it’s still in your heart. Maybe the Holy Spirit is exalting vision in you as you read this. Yes you’re older now but still you know you are called for higher ground. You are not called for the foothills, but for the summit. Like Caleb you cry out ‘God give me one chance, grant me the opportunity of higher ground.’

 

Jorim who God has exalted is declared over your life today. As you go down in worship of Him who is above all things He gently and carefully lifts you stage by stage, no matter how this world has affected you, He exalts you and cheers you on to let the exalted King of Kings be seen in your life.

Who is Eliezer?

Luke 3: 29 “the son of Eliezer”

This is a huge estimate but it is likely that Eliezer lived between 976 BC and 597 BC, my point is that this is the time between 2 big events: the dividing of the kingdom of Israel (into a northern and southern kingdom) and the Babylonian captivity of both kingdoms led by Nebuchadnezzar.

The name means ‘My God is help’.

El is God and Ezer is Help. The most famous Eliezer is the son of Moses (Exodus 18:4 “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”) Every time Moses called out his son he would be shouting ‘God is my helper’.

David says “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 33:20.

Luke’s Eliezer is an unknown set between these 2 great events, that of conflict and division and that of enemy attack and capture.

Maybe today you feel you are between a rock and a hard place. Trouble is either side of you.

Is this an Eliezer moment for you?

Or maybe you can look back to the yesterday of your life. You couldn’t see it then but you can surely now. You were stuck in a moment but then had a divine Eliezer experience. You can see now that God was your helper and deliverer.

Be encouraged today whatever the circumstance, to lift up your voice and declare, ‘My God is help’.

Don’t deal with things in your own strength but lean into Him. Be an Eliezer today.

Who is Joshua?

 

Luke 3: 29 “the son of Joshua”

 

This is Joshua son of Eliezer and as is well known his name means, ‘the Lord is salvation’.

This is not the Joshua who led the Israelites over the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. We don’t know of any great things that he did like the famous Joshua, son of Nun. But he carried the name and one of his descendants would also be called by the same name. The name ‘Jesus’ is the original Hebrew name ‘Yeshua’, which is short for yehōshu‘a. It can be translated to ‘Joshua’.

Though his name may actually be Joshua, the name “Jesus” wasn’t born out of creativity but also translation. When Yeshua is translated into Greek, which the New Testament is derived from, it becomes Iēsous, which in English spelling is “Jesus.”

Today, you carry the name above all other names, even if you are not called Joshua.

The Apostle Paul tells us, “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body”. 2 Corinthians 4:10

A Saviour is one who intervenes, who steps in and rescues from either physical or spiritual suffering. We carry His name and His presence in our lives today. We may not have done much in our lives but He has done it all!

Believe that your Saviour can rescue you from your enemies hands: “My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies” Psalm 31:15

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

You carry His name today wherever you go and whatever you do. He can step in at any time because He is with you! Your Saviour is ready to save you.

Who is Er?

 

Luke 3: 28 “the son of Er”

 

It means ‘watcher’ or ‘protector’.

 

In ancient Biblical cities, built into the walls were huge watchtowers and watchmen were posted day and night to protect the population.

In the same way God has always had ‘watchers’. “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.” Ezekiel 3:17

Jesus appointed ‘watchers’, “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt 26:40-41

 

They called Australian retired salesman Don Ritchie “the watchman.” Each day, he sat in his favourite chair at his cliffside home, he would look up and scan the precipice that took the lives of approximately 50 suicide jumpers each year, trying to discern the intentions of visitors.

When somebody seemed to be lingering too long at the cliff, he walked out to talk to him.

“You can’t just sit there and watch them, you gotta try and save them. It’s pretty simple.”

According to official estimates, Ritchie and his wife Moya saved 160 lives during the 45 years they lived near the Gap Park, a famous cliff frequented by sightseers that affords a beautiful view of the Sydney Harbour. However, the unofficial tally is closer to 400, according to newspaper reports.

Although he occasionally used force over the years, his usual approach was friendliness and persuasion, which often ended in an invitation to join himself and his wife at their home for a cup of tea. A former salesman, he saw himself in a different line of sales at the Gap.

“I used to sell kitchen scales and bacon cutters, then I was state manager of a life insurance company,” he told a reporter. “At the Gap I’m trying to sell people life.” Ritchie didn’t pry or preach, but rather smiled and listened, a technique that often worked, though not always. He lost many to the cliff, but saved more than he lost, and didn’t suffer feelings of guilt for his failures. “You can’t do much about it,” he said.

Although it was difficult for him to remember all of the faces he had seen at the cliff during his decades of residency there, he often recalled a woman who had taken off her shoes and had scaled the small fence bordering the ledge, where she sat with a look of confusion on her face. After talking to her and inviting her in for tea, the woman explained that she suffered from depression, and that the medication she had been given was not working. Ritchie and his wife suggested that she ask for a second opinion. Months later, she sent them a bottle of French champagne, and then a Christmas card thanking them for their help.

For his decades of effort to prevent suicides, Ritchie was awarded the Order of Australia, which is the country’s second highest honour, in 2006, and he and his wife were named citizens of the year by the local city council.

Dianne Gaddin, an anti-suicide activist whose daughter killed herself at the cliff in 2005, thought Ritchie may have talked her daughter out of previous attempts and told a reporter, “It takes an enormous amount of courage just to go up to a person who is going to jump. Don has a charisma about him. He makes people feel safe, secure, and calm. I really think he is one special man.”

 

Now that is a ‘watcher’!

 

Don carried on being ‘The Watchman’ until his death in May 2012.

 

Where is the watchmen now I wonder?

 

Where are the ER people?

You may not be living on a cliff-face, but where you are right now is the appointed place and all around you are people who God loves and is trying to reach.

 

So what is the role of ER, the watcher people?

1. To pray.

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth. Isaiah 62: 6-7

 

2. To pray and not give up.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up… And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? Luke 18: 1,7

 

3. To pray with listening.

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Habbakuk 2:1

 

4. To pray with an awareness of what is around you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5: 8

 

5. To pray with action

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Revelation 3: 2.

 

We are all called to be ER people. To be faithful watchers of God and those around us.

May we rise and take those appointed positions today.

Who is Emaldam?

Luke 3: 28 “the son of Elmadam”

His name means “God of measure”.

God doesn’t just give enough, He gives more, is lavish, generous and gracious.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things. Romans 8:32

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7: 11

He is lavish in His love for you, me and others. He is not tight-fisted. He freely gives.

It doesn’t matter what it is, God will always out give you.

Tony Campolo was travelling through Hawaii. He wandered into a diner at 3 in the morning for something to eat. At that time of the morning the only other people there were a group of prostitutes about to go home for the night, one of whom was a lady called Agnes who mentioned that the next day was her birthday. When they left Tony Campolo found out from the owner that these women came every night. He asked the guy if he could throw a birthday party the next night for Agnes as a surprise. The owner said yes as long as the diner could make the cake. Here is the story of what happened in the words of Tony Campolo: At 2:30 the next morning, I was back at the diner. I had picked up some crepe-paper decorations at the store and had made a sign out of big pieces of cardboard that read ‘Happy Birthday, Agnes!’ The woman who did the cooking must have gotten the word out on the street, because by 3:15 every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. It was wall-to-wall prostitutes … and me! At 3:30 the door of the diner swung open and in came Agnes and her friend. I had everybody ready, and when they came in we all screamed “Happy Birthday” Never have I seen a person so flabbergasted. Her mouth fell open, and her legs buckled. When we finished singing, her eyes moistened: when the cake was carried out, she started to cry. Harry (the owner) mumbled, “Blow out the candles, Agnes. Come on! If you don’t blow out the candles, I’m gonna’ have to blow out the candles.” Finally, he did. The cutting of the cake took even longer. “Cut the cake, Agnes. We all want some cake.” “Look, Harry, is it OK if I keep the cake a little while; if we don’t eat it right away?” “Sure. If you want to keep it, keep it. Take the cake home if you want.” “Can I?” Then looking at me: “I just live down the street. I want to take the cake home, OK? I’ll be right back.” She carried that cake out that door like it was the Holy Grail. We stood there motionless, a stunned silence in the place. Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying: “What do you say we pray?” Looking back on it now, it seems more than strange for a sociologist to be leading a prayer meeting with w bunch of prostitutes in a diner in Honolulu at 3:30 in the morning. But then it just felt like the right thing to do. I prayed for Agnes; for her salvation, that her life would be changed. That God would be good to her. When I finished, Harry leaned over the counter and said with a trace of irritation. “Hey, you never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?” In one of those moments when just the right words come, I answered, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.” Harry waited for a moment, and almost sneered as he answered, “No, you don’t. There’s no church like that. If there was, I’d join it.” Wouldn’t we all? Wouldn’t we all love to join a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning?

 

That’s the kind of church Jesus came to create. I don’t know where we got the other one that’s so prim and proper. But anyone who reads the New Testament knows Jesus loved to lavish grace on the left-out and the used-up and the put-down. The sinners loved him because he partied with them. The lepers of society found in him someone they could eat and drink with. His measure is measureless!

This is the church that should be. A group of people who came from nothing and received the lavishness of God’s love when they didn’t deserve it and who now give to others what they have received. We are on the giving team and we belong to a great giver. He’s more than enough. Don’t waste what He gives.

If there are Surpassing great revelations (2 Cor 12:7); Incomparable great power (Eph 1: 19); Great joy and encouragement (Philemon 1: 7); A great priest (Hebrews 10:21); Great mercy (1 Peter 1: 3); Great love (1 John 3:1)

Then surely we ASK for great things?!

Surely the God of measure needs to be sought after.

“Measureless God measure out your greatness over my life!”

I want to be known as Emaldam!

 

Who is Cosam?

Luke 3: 28 “the son of Cosam”

It means ‘diviner’.

How unusual! Of course we are surmising that Cosam was an actual diviner but his name certainly wasn’t changed if he wasn’t. As we know by now the names characterised who they were or becoming.

A diviner was an explorer of spiritual things through anything like sorcery, the occult, astrology and spiritualism. The world over have their ‘diviners’ on nearly every street corner whether it be Gypsy Lee in her hut reading palms at a seaside UK resort, the local witchdoctor offering healing potions for money or the Church Prophet who seems to be drawing more attention to themselves than to God.

The Bible is full of warnings regarding those who practice divination:

Deuteronomy 18; 1 Samuel 15:23; 2 Kings 7:17; Jeremiah 14:14; Acts 16: 16-24.

And yet … here he is, Cosam, diviner, in the ancestry of Jesus.

The story of God weaves through the least of people. Even the most unfaithful can be used by the faithful God for His overall plan. Not even Cosam’s are rejected.