The sixth son of Jacob listed in Exodus 1:5 – Zebulun. The meaning for number 6 is imperfection, fall short, incompleteness. But praise God, for He has made known a righteousness, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
I share knowledge of God and His Word and our human condition, we need incite! And, there will be a few surprising things discovered. Like those learned behaviors and tendencies to practice self – deception – to deny and avoid, rationalize and shift-blame, probably done without thought, but what irritates annoyance and bitterness, shame and resentment will surely be felt. When issues are not confronted, control and order can become so disheveled emotional reactions can erupt and spew over like molten lava.
There are many things lying dormant in a heart. Some speak to offense, remorse, low self-esteem, failed attempts to control or to maneuver someone or something to our satisfaction. Within its chambers we have also stored a unique set of rules that are governed by the moral and ethical standards of our preference. As evidenced by the violence on our streets, when it is deemed something within our complex and personal system of beliefs has been disrespected, more than emotional triggers are being squeezed.
But how awesome our God from the Tree of Life a precious Oil flows. A fragrant aroma this Oil anointing with glory the Light of The World. For through Jesus God demonstrated His justice, His mercy, His compassion when He presented the Son of Man as a sacrifice of atonement. And, those who trust Him, who have faith in the blood of the Lamb of God are justified and redeemed by the grace our heavenly Father bestows through His precious Son (Romans 3:22-26).
Yes, it was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect Person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, Jesus did everything that needed to be done so everyone, not some but everyone, could receive the grace God bestows so sin would no longer exert dominion – influence, mastery, power, death grip – over us. Sadly, though God extends grace to all people everywhere, not everyone will receive the anointing Oil of Gladness, for it is Holy Spirit Who brings knowledge of the love of Christ, and leads us into personal experiences with God as we train and discipline ourselves to walk in love (Ephesians 5:20) in honor and respect and obedience to His Word. Holy Spirit confirms:
“This new plan I’m making with My people isn’t going to be written on paper, isn’t
going to be chiseled in stone: This time I’m writing out the plan in them
carving it on the lining of their hearts. I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.”
Beloved by the Lord, without hesitation we can walk right up to God, into “The Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of His sacrifice, acting as our Priest before God. The “Curtain” into our heavenly Father’s presence is His body (Hebrews 10:14-21 Message) that was once mutilated and slain for all our trespasses – usurping God’s will with our own – and our sins everything we do that elevates fear or hatred or the idolatry of faith in self instead of faith in God and His Word.
Scripture tells us our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). But when the complete and perfect comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away. But Love, and God is Love (1 John 4:16), will never fail – never fade out or become obsolete or come to an end (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 AMP).
Isaiah asked, “Lord, who has believed our Message?” This Good News accepted through faith. Faith that comes from hearing the Message. The Message that is heard through the Word of God (Romans 10:16-17). Oh, to be numbered among the armies of heaven. Those who will follow the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, the One Who ensures we remain in the everlasting presence of Love.
The One with eyes of blazing fire. Upon His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. Dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God (Revelation 19:12-16). The Message sent by God to make foolish the wisdom of the world that does not know Christ crucified nor the power of His cross (1 Corinthians 1:17).
Not the word of men, the Word of God alive and working in those who believe
(1 Thessalonians 2:13), who thirst for righteousness – Honesty, Justice, Goodness. Who take the free gift of the Water of Life, and drink in the teaching, the encouragement, the comfort, the revelation of Holy Spirit, Who through the Word of God cleanses our soul, clothing us with the Life of new thinking established on the Truth, the only Way for a spring of water to well up – to wash over, engulf, to flush away thoughts of gratifying self and exalting sin (Roman 13:14),
How many times I’ve told the Lord “I trust You.” With all my heart I meant it, but where was my trust in the Word of God, Christ Jesus, when I professed fear instead of faith. “And everything that does not come from faith is sin!” Romans 14:23. I have no doubt in the love we each profess for Jesus, what is obvious to the world the lack of committed faith and trust for God’s Word.
Because of Jesus, a person who professes to be a Christian has been given a spiritual connection with our heavenly Father. Because of God’s Word, the person who repents, who turns their back to this world of self-indulgence demonstrates the soul-tie they share with God. They think differently! Minds are transformed by the Word of Truth! Conduct changes for the Way gives entrance into an entirely different World of Life, of Integrity, of Glory, of Power, of Grace!
Sadly, when life is governed by self-interest, the absolute worse consequence can occur. We become controlled as slaves by the master of deceit who uses the evil of negativity – criticism and disrespectful judgments, anger and hatred, fear and condemnation, lust and idolatry – to mention just a few, to spin a web until our hopes, our dreams and aspirations and possibly our life is consumed by this enemy of God – Death.
It took two and half years before I asked God the right question. What can we do? He opened my eyes to the post-traumatic stress with which I personally struggled, and to codependency which is a universal struggle. For no one can remain unscathed by the harsh conditioning of our human nature. What develops and occurs as a result of our leaning on, relying on and depending on self and others can vary as uniquely as every face.
I’ll offer this example, for years I could not understand how one remark my father made could have triggered such a desperate reaction to give up on life. God helped me to understand I had made everything about performance. I worked hard to earn love, respect and acceptance only to be left believing something must be wrong with me.
What I didn’t understand within this way of thinking – everything had to be earned – I was giving to prove how deserving I was. If only I had made an effort to know God’s Word so I could learn to believe and trust what God says about me. It was very hard to realize my behavior said to others I will do what you want to be accepted. That is until something I thought outrageous was being asked of me. Who could have known? I surely didn’t.
Turning to the Word of God ensures we always receive Truth, Revelation and Understanding. Although it may not sink in quickly a solid foundation is being laid. For surely God saw our unformed substance. Nothing was hidden from Him when our frame was being intricately and curiously formed in secret. His concern and attention how abounding, how caring, how can we comprehend? For God knows us inside and out, every detail, every thought and feeling intricately and intently inspected.
Yes, the Kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 3:2 AMP), at our fingertips God’s Word of Life, choose Love and Life and Contentment. Jesus is the Word. We can’t just come close to Him with our lips, for didn’t Judas betray Him with a kiss. As children of God let us live up to what we have attained – gained, regained, procured, realized – from God’s Word. The Living Bible translates Philemon 3:15-16 this way, “If you disagree on some point, God will make it plain to you if you fully obey the Truth you have.”
Holy Spirit helps us to mature from a child to a son of God by always leading us to the Truth, to Christ Jesus. He takes from God’s Word and delivers the Message to us. Jesus knows what we have experienced, what we have adopted from this world of vice. But our God, He lifts us out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire of this world of contention. He sets our feet on a solid, stable Rock. He gives us His Word of Truth – a firm, secure foundation for us to stand.
His Word of Life puts a new song in our mouth, a hymn of praise to our God so many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. How very blessed are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not look to a proud heart or turn aside to the false gods of mammon and idolatry.
Instead, the way we live professes our faith, our trust in the Lord, for the many wonders He has accomplished. We conduct ourselves to be as the One Who said, “Here I am, I have come – it is written about Me in the Scroll. I desire to do Your will, Father,” Psalm 40:2-8), “not My own!” John 61:37.
When we seek to grow in knowledge of God, His Word will take us as deeply into the Father’s heart as we desire to go. The meaning of the name Zebulun – to inclose, to reside, to dwell with – when we delve into meanings of Old Testament names we become inclosed within God’s Word of Truth. With this goal: To learn not to be afraid today, tomorrow and on that Day of Judgment. Jesus has demonstrated how much God loves us, and we can choose daily to demonstrate our trust in the love He has revealed to us.
God is Love! And all who live in – dwell in, are settled, occupy, stay, inhabit – Love – reverence, respect, admiration, regard, esteem, enshrined in worship of God, adoration, delighting in – His Word, God lives in us, and our love grows more perfect as our fears are diminished. We can face our heavenly Father today, tomorrow and on that Day of Judgment because we are living like Jesus here in this world of crime and corruption (1 John 4:16-17).
God has committed all things to the Lord (Matthew 11:27). He has given us His Word so we too can do our very best committing all things to His precious Son, Who said:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.
You will find rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-29
For if this is our decision, in peace we will lie down and sleep, for the Lord, God’s Word, alone makes us dwell in safety and confident trust (Psalm 4:8 AMP). Our heavenly Father has given us His Word so we can grow in relationship with the One, Who reveals God is holy and is enthroned in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3 NKJV).
I speak from experience. Several years ago my world imploded in on me. Control was taken from me. Life went on all around me; however, I couldn’t stop or prevent the internal hurts from occurring as I collided day after day with uncertainty and confusion – why weren’t my efforts enough? Why wasn’t my love enough? Why wasn’t I enough?
What I was unable to properly absorb, to comprehend since I had made idols of those I loved, just how beloved – precious and cherished and loved – I am by the One Who time after time, no matter the circumstance, no matter the mess I set before Him is always working for my good.
What an enigma, a head-scratcher – to be told you are more than enough but at the same time feeling not good enough. God has given us His Word so we can bring balance and order into our inner world where turmoil and confusion work to not only bring us down, but to question God’s goodness. This recovery slogan definitely seems to apply: If God feels far away, guess who moved?
Well, it is impossible for us to even imagine everything God our Savior went through to move heaven and earth until the time came for His kindness and love to appear not only in the world in general but specifically in our individual lives. Jesus appeared. Anointed with Holy Spirit and power, He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him (Acts 10:38) and this is what God’s Word continues to do to this very day.
Jesus appeared to save those whom He loved, His own family wasn’t good enough to be saved. Those who understand “only believing” is not enough. The demons believe there is One God so strongly they tremble in terror! Believing is useless without doing what God wants us to do (James 2:19 TLB). Jesus offered this explanation, “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, is My sister, is My mother (Matthew 12:50). Age or gender doesn’t matter. What matters, as the family of God we are greatly loved.
Over the past few podcasts I’ve been sharing the meaning of the names of God’s family who established the nation of Israel. As we turn the pages of the Book of Exodus it is easy to understand without sharing a personal relationship with God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, sin, which I equate to all that encompasses self, blinds us making it impossible for all the goodness of God to be seen. Sadly, even those who because of Jesus share in a relationship with God are blind, unable to see, unable to receive everything our heavenly desires to bestow because of all that encompasses self.
We may have head knowledge, but until we possess heart-felt understanding of Love – the Source of all that is Good – to believe we are more than enough to receive all His love in every way He offers. However, because of Sin – the Source of all that is Evil – we may not feel good enough to receive love, from the One Who can meet and address all our needs.
Yet, whosoever hearkens to the Word of Truth, knows and believes and trusts from God we have our life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom, our Righteousness, our Consecration, and our Redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30), so we can give thanks and dwell in His presence (Psalm 140:13 AMP) securely in quiet, confident trust without fear or dread of evil (Proverbs 2:33 AMP).
Faith in Jesus is trust and love for God’s Word, which I share so the Truth can actually dwell – settle down, abide, make His permanent home – in our heart. God’s Word is always working to root Love deeply within the chambers of our heart so we will be united securely bound to the only Way, to be strengthened by the power of Holy Spirit, so we can apprehend and grasp through experience what is the breadth and length and depth of God’s love. Our heavenly Father would love for everyone to repent so through His Word and Holy Spirit they could find the Way to truly be homeward bound.
That everyone, everywhere would really come to know for themselves the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge – without experience. So, we all may be filled through our entire being with all the fullness of God – to know, to have, to experience the richest measure of the Divine Presence, and to become wholly filled and flooded with God Himself (Ephesians 3:17-19 AMP), Who says:
“Come out from among those in this world of corruption and be separate. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters. I will dwell in you, and walk among you. I will be your God, and you shall be My people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16-18
Let the Word of God dwell in you richly so whatever you do in word or deed will be done in the name of Jesus, giving thanks and all the glory to God the Father through the Lord (Colossians 3:16-17).
Lord, stretch out Your hand to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy servant Jesus
Acts 4:29-30