Missions Paul

Lent Day 8: Who is Eliakim?

Luke 3: 30 “the son of Eliakim”

His name means ‘whom God will raise up’.

Here is a Lentern passage to memorise:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Ephesians 1: 18-21

We are people who believe that ‘all things work together for good to them who love him and are called according to his purpose.’ (Rom 8:28). We are people who believe that what man ‘intended for harm, God intended for good’ (Gen 50:20)

We may journey for a period of time in joyful release or painful struggle, yet we know we always arrive on a certain day where it may start out in desperation but it will end revealing a God whose best work is reserved for the day of Satan’s worst.

The same power that God exerted towards Jesus.

The same power that raised Jesus.

The same power that seated Jesus far above all any other.

The very same power can be known by us.

Whatever around you that looks like it is over, it isn’t.

We will never be in a moment when it is over even if it looks like it is so.

Why? Because of Eliakim!

God is still at work. Behind the scenes, away from you and the situation … God! So don’t give up, hang in there, it is God who gives life and ends life. It is God who says when it is over, no one else. God never finishes He raises!

Lent Day 7: Who is Jonam?

Luke 3: 30 “the son of Jonam”

Nothing is known about Jonam except his name means gift or grace of God.

Have you noticed how angry and hateful the world is becoming?

Here is today’s Lentern verses: “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  John 1: 16-17

Grace covers identity: Grace exposes the dark side of our lives, it is for Judas and Peter to say “yes I did that” but one of them could not accept that they had done such a thing and made things worse; the other accepted it and found their identity in grace. To live by grace means you are not denying or trying to forget the dark side of your life, but by allowing grace to expose it you find who you really are.

Grace opposes self-pity: Not that we end up depressed and whipping ourselves in a frenzy of guilt and shame over our sinful lives. Self-pity will never motivate you. Self-pity will not move you to grace any more than the victories, visions, successes and miracles will. Self-pity will keep you locked in failure, away from your home. Grace calls you to keep coming back to Jesus, let Jesus bind up the wounds, don’t let your self do it.

Grace is honesty: An honesty that says we keep breaking the rules. An honesty that says “I am cautious to say God told me … Because I could be wrong.” An honesty that displays character and silences the tongue. An honesty that says I may never be the person I want or should be but God loves me now as I am.

You can have the Law of Moses or the Grace of Jesus Christ. The measure you use will be measured to you.

Grace is for those who have offended you. Grace is to reach out to your enemy as if they were your friend. Grace offends your friends because they don’t like your enemy receiving from you what is not rightfully theirs. But grace turns the tables on all that and sees through the eyes of the mission of Jesus. Filtered through those eyes gives a whole different perspective.

The Rwandan genocide in 1994 only lasted 100 days. But during that time 800,000 citizens were brutalised and murdered by their own neighbours.  Though Hutu and Tutsi tribes are the same ethnic group, share the same language, lived and worked together, shared the same religion (mainly catholic), Tutsis and supportive Hutus were slaughtered by people they had co-existed peacefully with for generations. Even from school age Tutsis became dehumanised. They were called snakes and cockroaches. The killings were horrific and sadistic. Here is a story of a mother whose son was killed in that genocide. The woman had nursed bitterness, grievance and thoughts of vengeance; she just wanted to find her son’s killer and bring due punishment. But one night she had a dream and in the dream she was going down the street and saw a house and she knew it was a house of her enemy. And she heard God say, “Go into the house”.  She said “I don’t want to go into the house” She went into the house and God led her through many rooms and then up the stairs. And He said “I want you to go up the stairs” She said “I don’t want to go any further in this house” “I want you to go up the stairs” She went up the stairs, opened the door at the top, and found it led into heaven. And she had a revelation. That the path to heaven goes through the house of her enemy. Two days later there was a knock on her door. A young man is standing there at the door and he is shaking.

He says to her, “I am the man who killed your son. I place my life in your hands, whatever you want to do with me, I accept it. I have had no peace since I did what I did. And I will accept whatever. If you want to kill me, you can kill me. If you want to turn me in to the authorities turn me into the authorities. Whatever you want, my life is in your hands. And because she had a revelation from God, she said “I will not do any of this. But I do have one request. You must now become my son.”  She took him in and fed him at the table where she fed her son. He’s the same size so he wore his clothes. He actually moved in and became a son to her, because heaven passes through the house of her enemy.

Who is your enemy? Who is the person that hurt you? Would you believe that heaven goes through their house? The reality is that you cannot love that person unless God does something in you first. What God does is Jonam, it is grace upon grace, the gift of God.

Do you need more grace today?

Lent Day 6: Who is Joseph (again)?

Luke 3: 30 “the son of Joseph”

I recently saw a picture on social media of a church worshipping in a building in Africa. There were 15 people in the picture and the title said “We are possessing the nation”. I checked the population of that nation and it is 29 million. I marvelled at their faith and I realised that they needed God to add His presence for them to possess their hearts desire.

We already know that Joseph’s name means ‘may God add’ and we are served a reminder today that we continually need the added presence of God.

The fable of the elephant and the mouse helps. The mouse crossed the bridge over a deep ravine with an elephant. As they crossed over the bridge shook. When they reached the other side, the mouse said to the elephant, “Boy, we really shook that bridge, didn’t we?”

As followers of Jesus journeying through this Lent period let us be reminded of what He promised us:

Jesus will add rest to those who are weary from carrying burdens, Matthew 11: 28-30.

Jesus will add understanding to a time of darkness when you cannot see what to do, John 8:12.

Jesus will add resurrection to whatever appears to be dying, John 11:25.

Jesus will add provision for our needs whilst we put Him first, Matthew 6:33.

Jesus will add the ability to produce, John 15:5.

Jesus will add His presence as we go, Matthew 28:20.

Jesus will add peace, John 14: 27-28.

Let’s shout out JOSEPH today, MAY GOD ADD.

May He add rest, understanding, resurrection, provision, ability, presence and His peace to our lives!

May these be days of increase because of all God will do!

So we pray:

Add blessing so my influence is enlarged, 1 Chronicles 4:10.

Add protection so that my enemies are driven from my influence, Exodus 34:24.

Add the power of increase to the harvest, 2 Corinthians 9:10.

And as He does then maybe we will shake that bridge and possess our nation!

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.