RECIPES FOR SUCCESS WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL
This Week's issue:20/01/22
TOPIC:Part 3.
When God appears to be in waiting mode whilst we are running out of Patience😓😨😰😣!!
Joshua 6 Tree of Life Version First read Joshua 6:6-11 or Click to read online
REFLECTION BASED ON SCRIPTURE:
🏹Last week I made a connection between the waiting period in our journey of faith and our understanding of the ways of God. I also raised the question of why Adonai, the Lord God of Israel, did not lead His chosen people straight to possess the land He had promised them. This would no doubt have made more sense to natural human reasoning.
We know from the account of this scriptural event and others that God can appear to prefer an option that sounds illogical to our finite thinking! Please click on the link for another example
Remember the Scripture verse Joshua 6 Tree of Life Version First read Joshua 6:6-11 or Click to read online
Question: What connection do we have with the three million Israelite immigrants spoken about in the above Old Testament passages? How are we a group of mostly gentile individuals, living in the contemporary 21st Century connected with them?
💭As an individual or family or local church or Christian community we face dilemmas whilst experiencing a season of waiting in our faith journey. That season can often appear to be unfairly extended and unrewarded even though we are faithfully walking in obedience to godly principles!
One aspect of His nature revealed is forever enduring mercies, His loving kindness, His compassion. Psalm 136:1-3(English Heritage Version)
He does not simply dismiss our challenges. When we face obstacles in our walk of faith, those circumstances become an opportunity through which He continues revealing and shining the Light of His glory.
As commonly said the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
Adonai, the Lord God almighty creator of Heaven and Earth has manifested Himself throughout scripture.
In both the Old Testament and in the New Testament.
In many ways, His revelation is still unfolding!
We can appreciate therefore His ways were very much still mysterious to the children of Israel who lived under the Old Covenant of the Bible.
The gentile or Jewish believer in Yeshua(Jesus), Ben Elohim(The Son of God) can embrace with gratitude that all the mysteries of God are embodied and fulfilled Yeshua. The message of the New Testament is this: Yeshua the Messiah(Jesus Christ) is the manifestation of God.Colossians 2:2-9
Today as we continue in our quest to find out why God makes us wait it will be helpful to share insights in the bible about the nature of Adonai, Our Lord God Almighty. I have done some research on various clues Adonai has given us within Scriptures that He is carefully orchestrating events.
Understanding the significance of the numbers of each of the days the Israelites spent encircling the walls of Jericho provides us some important insights.
Adonai's strategy was disguised within a six-day waiting period just as He created the World within a 6 day period. In that event, He reveals Himself as the Creator God of the Universe I hope in our individual lives and in our season of waiting we will recognize that He is reinforcing the same pattern He used in Genesis. This in a nutshell is my aim for highlighting such a scriptural pattern and I hope you my family and friend find it helpful:
💬Even when it has not been so obvious, to human thinking or logic Adonai, our Lord has certainly been at work! My objective is not to encourage numerical evaluation of the phase in which we are! The number of Phases is mainly symbolic. They are representative of something more valuable and profound than the actual figure 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 13!
💬Let's be assured Adonai, our Lord God almighty has a carefully mapped-out strategy that only makes sense when He reveals this to us in our due season, Amen!
💬The current period in our faith journey could be the season when our commitment to fully trusting in Adonai is being Tested!
💬There is wisdom in completing God's process of maturity and character development which is always uniquely tailored to equip us for handling the responsibility associated with His blessings. It is the essential induction process we are required to undergo before receiving the blessing of God! Because this is the best way of sustaining that blessing😇.
💬Even when our waiting season may appear meaningless, without purpose, like a journey that leads nowhere. In those moments of discouragement, let's take inspiration from the Joshua generation! BUT YOU NEED TO ENDEAVOUR TO STAY THE COURSE! PLEASE PERSEVERE!Don't give up! Your miracle is on the way!🙌🙌
NOW FOR THE DIVINE WITNESS OF NUMERICAL PATTERNS WITHIN SCRIPTURE!
Through scriptural research on the patterns of God's dealing with the nation of Israel, I have identified 8 phases within any waiting season. I believe these phases have a practical life relevance for many of us. In todays' Recipe for Success, I will mainly discuss the initial three and outline the other five.
In subsequent reflections, I will also highlight the manner in which Adonai, our Lord God reveals Himself to us within these individual phases in our season of waiting.
Adonai has manifested His Presence in different ways throughout History
❇️Phase 1: This is the phase of darkness and Confusion and purposelessness or meaninglessness within our season of waiting.A period when we are mainly in the dark about why we are in a season of waiting.
The darkness may be an unresolved situation that appears to defy our best efforts at prayer or one that does not respond to our best conventional Spiritual efforts. Pastors and Christian Spiritual counselors will probably attest to more than 50% of those they provide guidance to asking the question 'why?': 'Why am I still single at 45?', 'Why are we still childless after 25 years of marriage?', 'Why have I not received my healing although I have been praying and fasting?','Why am I broke even though I have paid my tithe?' and the list goes on.
Number 1, Scriptural pattern: This is the equivalent of day 1 in Scripture. On day 1 after God had created Heaven and Earth, God responded to the darkness by commanding light into beingGenesis 1:1-5. In the New Testament Gospel of St John, the same is evident. light of God comes into the world to dispel the darkness.Yeshua(Jesus) the Son of God(Ben Elohim) is the Light of the World.
Phase 1 of Our Waiting Season: God always manifests His presence within an environment of darkness in our lives. The darkness is in the form of an unresolved situation that appears to defy prayer or does not respond to conventional Spiritual efforts. His light comes in the form of a 'word' of specific guidance that shines enough light in our dark situation to move us forward to another Phase!
He does not often end our waiting by shining the light of total clarity in our darkness or unresolved situation. Instead, He provides enough direction so we can move from Phase 1 day 1 to the Next Phase of waiting. Joshua 6:11 So he had the ark of Adonai go around the city, circling it once. Then they came into the camp and spent the night there.
Genesis 1:5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” So there was evening and there was morning—one day.
WHILST WE REMAIN STUCK IN PHASE 1:
It could occur to the most 'Spiritual' among us. Perhaps we do not appreciate a word of direction from the Lord, He may have released a word which is a 'Lamp unto our feet and a light unto their Path'.Psalm 119:105 TLV
Maybe we would have preferred to see all the way to our destination before making a start!! That clarity certainly didn't occur to us as 'hidden' within the word He gave us. Remember Naaman in the Bible? When Prophet Elisha, asked him to wash seven times in the Jordan, he underestimated the Word from the Lord2 Kings 5:9-15
Sometimes like Naaman the Syrian general we are sincerely seeking God but get stuck in a familiar sentimental routine. We'd rather God responds to us in a culturally familiar way than an unfamiliar way. I have learned this first hand, due to having received significant blessings in my Christian life via Christian brethren from different cultural groups.
IF WE REMAIN IN PHASE 1, ALL WE ARE EVER GOING TO RECEIVE FROM ADONAI, OUR LORD IS THAT INITIAL WORD TO GIVE US ENOUGH LIGHT TO BEGIN A MOVEMENT AWAY FROM OUR CURRENT SITUATION!!
We certainly are not going to receive all the detailed answers to our unresolved questions in phase 1 day 1 of waiting. Only enough guidance from the Holy Spirit to move us from Phase 1 and Day 1 of encircling our Jericho wall to Phase 2 and Day 2 in our Season of waiting.
Number 2, Scriptural pattern: This is the phase of separation from darkness in response to God's word beaming light in our circumstances. It is also Separation from the familiar and our comfort zone to an unknown destiny or promise in God. On Day 2 of creation, God separated the volume of water covering the surface of the earth by the creation of the skies Genesis 1:6-8; This gave clarity and prepared the way for the introduction of new species that were land creatures.
Phase 2 Of Our Waiting Season:
In Joshua, it is the season of waiting where the Israelites are asked to consecrate themselves for tomorrow God says He will do wondrous things among them. During this phase, some 'mindset' and 'attitude' adjustments are still required! Although we are clearly appreciative of the light of God that got us to see our path clearly out of darkness our mindset is still forged by our history. So it is still easy for us to self-sabotage by resisting the process of transformation.
Sometimes we don't give the process of dying to self a chance! Perhaps we permit disappointment because of unfulfilled expectations, to set us back.
This can happen to individual Christian believers even with impressive 'credentials'(Such as mature and very spiritual) within the Christian community! Don't forget essentially we are all reliant on the grace of God without which none of us will be anything! So even if we may have been converted for decades a little self-examination is ALWAYS healthy.
So I need to evaluate whether I have gotten stuck to phase 1(to a certain degree at least)I am stuck i.e. in some aspects of my spiritual life, even if I am a spiritual giant in other respects! I may have indulged in some pet habits associated with my culture! Perhaps they are not glaring sins but are a hindrance to my spiritual maturity and growth. Perhaps within my culture dealing with an emotional illness such as chronic depression is overly indulged! To the degree that it becomes an excuse for not addressing the root causes! There might be unresolved relationship hurts and various kinds of trauma at the root of emotional ill-health. So we all need to reevaluate things that may be hindering us from moving on and growing in Spiritual maturity.
Every one of us has a separate issue because that is what the light of Yeshua points to in our walk: A separation is a symbolic tool, but Yeshua effectively needs us to respond to the light which was introduced to the darkness of our circumstances!! It is not enough that I seek divine guidance in phase 1 of my waiting period. It is important that I respond to the divine guidance I receive from Adonai, in this Phase of my Waiting Season!!
Yes, Trust is involved but unless I am prepared to take even some 'baby steps' in trust I wouldn't get unstuck from the issue I am dealing with! Adonai. the Lord's part is to shine His light into my circumstances so I recognize the response type required of me! But my part is to trust Him enough to exercise my will and trust in Him to at least begin those 'baby steps towards obedience. Leave the Comfort zone of my familiar circumstances.
Sadly, even when we recognize that our old ways are not serving us well, yet are unprepared to let go fully or trust in Adonai enough to completely surrender our insecurity to Him, WE ARE GOING TO GET STUCK IN PHASE 2 OF OUR WAITING SEASON! WHEN WE DO, PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE BECOMES A FRUITLESS RITUAL.....WE WON'T GET UNSTUCK UNTIL WE LET GO AND LET ADONAI GOD TAKE CONTROL OF ALL OUR PET HURTS, PET OFFENSES, PET STUFF THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH OUR PREVIOUS IDENTITY!
Some find this process too 'intense' and others find it 'too traumatic; so they give up! But Adonai is very patient and will keep us there for as long as we need Him to.
Some Christians have stopped at the stage of the last person who hurt them, others have gotten stuck over their last big mistake in life! Others over the loss of someone dear to them!
Phase 2 is definitely a tough season that mustn't be underestimated. Eventually, when we separate from the Old and are no longer sustaining or nourishing our former ways of conducting life we finally begin the steps of Separation. It brings about clarity and prepares us for a resurrected new phase within our season of waiting! Amen!
Number 3, Scriptural pattern: In the book of Joshua, Day 3 symbolizes movement forward from Shittim.the place of remorse and grieving and repentance. In the middle of all grieving, the light of God's presence shines(as happened in Phase 1).
If our attitude is one of godly sorrow and true remorse kinds, it leads to repentance. Such an attitude is rewarded by God because He manifests in a miraculous demonstration of His Power. He transforms us, and we are reborn. God then can come and tabernacle in us(as New Testament believers) or set up a tent among their nation as He did under the Old Covenant: There was a Tent of the Presence of God among them.
He leads and we follow, The distancing from the ark is to observe the protocol of this new life. Joshua 3:1-5
John 1:12 As many as are LED by the Spirit of God they shall be called children of God( Be able to perform as Children of God)
Phase 3 of Our Waiting Season: Many Pastors and Christian Spiritual Counsellor can attest to this I am sure: There is a spiritual exercise that is required usually on the part of the individual seeker, to address certain unresolved issues. This applies even in cases that have been identified as longstanding or even chronic!
One such effort is Consecration. True Consecration involves an inward acknowledgment that is directed vertically to Adonai, our Lord. In many cases, we have done life as per our own plan and this is oftentimes in conflict with His. We may have mentally assented to Adonai, Our Lord's purposes but failed to really invite Him as Lord God: to take over the reins of our lives, Other times Adonai, only requires that in our best plans we let Him shine the light of His presence there. Each individual person and need may vary but phase 3 in our waiting seasons is about a new beginning! It is about moving forward from the separation phase and burial of the Old into a new season. That is new not based on the tradition of our forbears or family but based on our Divine destiny.
Next week we will resume with Phases 4,5,6 and then subsequently phases 7 and 8. That is when we will explore the Symbolism of the number 13. Yes, there is something special about encircling Jericho 13 times in silence)!
PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES FROM TODAY'S LESSON
My aim in sharing the above scriptural patterns, in a nutshell, is this: Even when it is not so obvious, to human thinking/logic Adonai, our Lord is certainly at work! My objective is not to encourage numerical evaluation of the phase in which we are! The number of Phases is mainly symbolic. They are representative of something more valuable and profound than the actual figures 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 13
💭Even whilst our season of waiting Sole reliance on our critical thoughts about our situation sometimes results in a failure to consider that God may have our welfare at heart.
💭When we are discouraged we must reflect on the situation of the generation of Hebrews who failed to enter their inheritance. That generation relied mainly on their critical reasoning. and failed to consider that based on His track record Adonai, their God had their welfare at heart. As a result, they slid into an irretrievable form of pessimism! THEN THEY WENT ON A COLLISION COURSE AGAINST GOD-REBELLION!!!
💭They saw the season of waiting as a futile exercise in which God was intentionally leading them to breaking point in order to destroy them. Sadly they failed to inherit the land of promise and instead ended up making the Sinai desert their graveyard.
🌎🙏🏻😇I hope you have enjoyed reading what I have shared about Parallels drawn from God's creation: God's nature is revealed in how He restores creation and institutes divine order within our lives. Like Clay in the hands of the skillful Potter, Adonai is molding us within a strategy that is disguised within a symbolic 'six-day' waiting period!
Could it be just as He created the World within a 6 day period our 'extended waiting season' is being addressed once more through His divine pattern? What is this divine pattern? There are clues in His written word; Deuteronomy 30;11-19
💬It is my hope that by reviewing our individual circumstances through the lens of God's word you have been encouraged to persevere. Perhaps you can identify with one of the above phases within your season of waiting.
In conclusion, just like the generation of emancipated Hebrews led by Joshua were required to persevere until the wall collapsed, a response is also required of us. the pattern revealed through scripture for us to follow is one involving collaboration with Adonai. We become so once we enter into a Covenant relationship with Him. In view, of overwhelming examples from scripture we know those who choose to walk away from Adonai, miss out, The logical conclusion is to embrace the Covenant pathway set before us. Again like the Joshua Generation before us, whose obedience set an example for posterity, Let's also remember whilst doing so that ours is a privilege: because we've been adopted from a race of gentiles, outside the commonwealth of Israel. We are partakers only due to the wealth of Adonai's mercies! So we end with thanksgiving: To Adonai forever be all honor and glory, Amen🙌🙌.
God bless you
John
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