DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
A few weeks ago I overheard my co-workers talking about a letter Beyonce wrote to Michelle Obama and the fact that many people including radio personalities were ripping Beyonce a new one for her grammar.
Grammar? Yes, grammar. Forget the fact that she opened herself up and wrote a letter to Michelle Obama, instead of focusing on that, people were ripping into her about her grammar! This is a Grammy award winning, successful multi-millionaire with multiple businesses, a family, and a list of firsts. So why get caught up on something so insignificant that it has not real value? Does it really matter?
My thought to my co-worker or what I said to her was, this woman is a millionaire, she is a boss, she is an employer not an employee, I don’t think grammar is an issue in her life. If writing, spelling, and speaking properly made one wealthy there would be more wealthy people in the world. Don’t get me wrong, I went to school I wrote 15 page papers in high school. Heck I write this blog on a regular basis so I feel it is great to know how to speak and write well however, it is NOT, I REPEAT NOT a criteria for success.
Richard Branson heads the Virgin Group and he is dyslexic. He had sense enough to hire people that were capable and able to execute his ideas and their own well, he runs a successful business. I think about how God used Moses. When God called Moses to free the Israelites, Moses’ response was something to the effect of why me Lord, I am not well spoken, why not my brother? Nevertheless God let Moses know that he was the one to free the Israelites and through the power, protection and provision of the Most High he could indeed do it. Being well spoken wasn’t a criteria needed and any words that Moses may have stumbled with, the Most High was right there to make them all sound great. In all things we have to always consider the God-factor!
In the bible it says that the last will be first and the first will be last. In the bible God used many people that were the “least” in the eyes of their peers why because He is God! Yahweh knows that there isn’t much that we can do in our own strength and with our own capabilities. If we could do things on our own we wouldn’t need Him. We would then walk around like those who felt they were the “greatest” with the belief that we did it all on our own forgetting about the GRACE of Yahweh.
Too many times we focus on the outside and things that don’t really matter. This falls in line with the looks can be deceiving blog. There are people that assume because they speak “proper English”, write a certain way, graduated from certain schools and grew up in certain neighborhoods etc. that they are BETTER than others. There are those who don’t speak, write “right”, didn’t graduate from anywhere, and grew up in the ghetto that think they are less than others. Then there are the sons of Yahweh that know who they are and who their Father is, I AM. They know that the earth and the fullness there of belongs to their Father. They also know that they are ONE with their Father. They know they are Kings/Queens, they are of a royal priesthood a chosen people and that with Yahweh all things are possible!
So what is it that matters in this life? The only thing that matters in life is how you feel, think, and what you believe about yourself when it comes to your potential, what you have and what you can do. This AM Pastor Winston said the devil is able to deceive us because we don’t know who we are. Eve was deceived by Satan, he told her she would be more like Yahweh, unfortunately Eve was already like Yahweh she was just on earth however, she didn’t know it and she was deceived.
Once we are deceived, we become distracted. We get distracted by all the things that don’t matter. We fall into the trap of superiority and inferiority. We fall into the trap of classism, racism, sexism, and all the other isms that one can think of. Worried about what people will think or say, how we will look instead of keeping our focus on the Most High. As long as you are worried about other people you aren’t truly living for Yahweh and you have yet to go as far and radical as you can in and with your FAITH.
To get to that point; It is important to get in the Word, mediate over it and determine what really matters in the Kingdom of Yahweh. It is also important to stop going with the status quo when it comes to gossiping. The Word says that the POWER of LIFE AND DEATH lie in the tongue. This isn’t a green light to speak well of yourself and those closest to you and badly about others. In all things you should be uplifting all those whom you come in contact with. If you see a prostitute on the street, a girl dressed scantily, a young boy on the corner with his pants sagging, a young mother with multiple children, PRAY FOR THEM! SPEAK WORDS OF LIFE OVER THEM! We shall be held accountable for every idle word that we speak.
Whenever something comes up and you are tempted to give your opinion on a subject matter ask yourself…
Does it Really Matter?
Does it Line up with the Word?
Will I want to hear these words repeated to me on Judgment Day?
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
A blog created to E-nspire, E-ncourage, E-ngage, E-nform, and E-mpower!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
I’m sure many have heard the saying, ‘what looks good to you isn’t always good for you’. This is so, very true. However we seem to live in a society that is all about appearances. We are wrapped up in what someone looks like, what they are wearing, the type of car they drive, the home they live in, more so than we are concerned with the condition of their heart. To judge someone by anything other than their heart and their words/actions is superficial.
Nevertheless we are sold on things that are appeasing to the eyes. That is why companies and advertisers take so much time to market to us using bright, bold colors, graphics, flashing lights; you know the bells and whistles. They put on a good dog and pony show and for the most part we buy into it.
It is dangerous, very dangerous to go by what you see especially if you are a believer. Why? Because scripture clearly tells us that we should walk by faith and not by sight. All things in the physical could look and appear to confirm something that is true when in all actuality it can be completely false. For example, someone is driving a nice car and lives in a big house; some might assume this person is well-off; only to find out they are living check to check hand to mouth trying to maintain a lifestyle of appearances. They live large but their bank account is non-existent.
For a more biblical example although there are many, Ezekiel 37:1-14 moved me:
Walking by faith is something that we are to live by. Not just practice here and there, it should be an everyday part of our lives. The supernatural and miracles should be natural everyday occurrences in our lives. Despite what it looks like, we should be able to enter into a wasteland and it becomes abundantly filled. Why? Because we are children of the Most High and all things belong to Him and we are His heirs so they belong to us as well. What the Lord did for those dry bones He can do to anything for there is nothing that is too hard for Him. We have to take our eyes off of our circumstances and look to the Most High ONLY!!!!!
Lot was deceived by what looked good in the bible and ended up in Sodom & Gomorrah. He was also being greedy or in the mindset that he was getting a better deal than Abraham. However, Abraham being a man of God allowed Lot to choose what appeared to be the “better” place to live. If you don’t know what happened in Sodom & Gomorrah, read Genesis 13. Abraham was ok with Lot taking the “better” place because Abraham knew that the blessing of the Lord was on his life.
We are Abraham’s heir so the blessing is on our lives. It is time for us to start walking, talking, and living in our blessing. There is no need for us to be discouraged when someone is promoted over us, if we don’t get a job, if we lose a job, no need to be discouraged about anything. Scripture tells us in all things to give thanks. Scripture tells us that praise should continually be in our mouths.
It is time to examine your thoughts, words and actions. There is no need to hate on anybody that has anything that you want or think that you should have. Scripture says if we delight in the Lord he will give us the desires of our heart. Scripture says that the Lord supplies all of our needs according to His glorious riches; the Lord is our shepherd we shall not want; He knows what we need before we even ask Him in prayer. So what we need to be is walking blessings, we need to start believing, receiving and claiming what is ours, knowing that what Yahweh has for you and I is only for us and no one else can have it. Our job is to believe, walk by faith, live by faith, and receive!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
I’m sure many have heard the saying, ‘what looks good to you isn’t always good for you’. This is so, very true. However we seem to live in a society that is all about appearances. We are wrapped up in what someone looks like, what they are wearing, the type of car they drive, the home they live in, more so than we are concerned with the condition of their heart. To judge someone by anything other than their heart and their words/actions is superficial.
Nevertheless we are sold on things that are appeasing to the eyes. That is why companies and advertisers take so much time to market to us using bright, bold colors, graphics, flashing lights; you know the bells and whistles. They put on a good dog and pony show and for the most part we buy into it.
It is dangerous, very dangerous to go by what you see especially if you are a believer. Why? Because scripture clearly tells us that we should walk by faith and not by sight. All things in the physical could look and appear to confirm something that is true when in all actuality it can be completely false. For example, someone is driving a nice car and lives in a big house; some might assume this person is well-off; only to find out they are living check to check hand to mouth trying to maintain a lifestyle of appearances. They live large but their bank account is non-existent.
For a more biblical example although there are many, Ezekiel 37:1-14 moved me:
The Valley of Dry Bones
1The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign LORD, you alone know.”
4Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath[a]enter you, and you will come to life. 6I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”
Walking by faith is something that we are to live by. Not just practice here and there, it should be an everyday part of our lives. The supernatural and miracles should be natural everyday occurrences in our lives. Despite what it looks like, we should be able to enter into a wasteland and it becomes abundantly filled. Why? Because we are children of the Most High and all things belong to Him and we are His heirs so they belong to us as well. What the Lord did for those dry bones He can do to anything for there is nothing that is too hard for Him. We have to take our eyes off of our circumstances and look to the Most High ONLY!!!!!
Lot was deceived by what looked good in the bible and ended up in Sodom & Gomorrah. He was also being greedy or in the mindset that he was getting a better deal than Abraham. However, Abraham being a man of God allowed Lot to choose what appeared to be the “better” place to live. If you don’t know what happened in Sodom & Gomorrah, read Genesis 13. Abraham was ok with Lot taking the “better” place because Abraham knew that the blessing of the Lord was on his life.
We are Abraham’s heir so the blessing is on our lives. It is time for us to start walking, talking, and living in our blessing. There is no need for us to be discouraged when someone is promoted over us, if we don’t get a job, if we lose a job, no need to be discouraged about anything. Scripture tells us in all things to give thanks. Scripture tells us that praise should continually be in our mouths.
It is time to examine your thoughts, words and actions. There is no need to hate on anybody that has anything that you want or think that you should have. Scripture says if we delight in the Lord he will give us the desires of our heart. Scripture says that the Lord supplies all of our needs according to His glorious riches; the Lord is our shepherd we shall not want; He knows what we need before we even ask Him in prayer. So what we need to be is walking blessings, we need to start believing, receiving and claiming what is ours, knowing that what Yahweh has for you and I is only for us and no one else can have it. Our job is to believe, walk by faith, live by faith, and receive!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Friday, April 13, 2012
FAULTY EVIDENCE
FAULTY EVIDENCE!
Many of us need proof or evidence. I think of the saying “the proof is in the pudding” or “seeing is believing.” Today I had a total complete mind shift in an instant thanks to the Word of Yahweh with some help from Bill Winston. This morning he said that the devil will provide you with “faulty evidence” that appears to be real but it is not. The point of the message, always believe Yahweh and trust in His Word.
When Joseph brought Jacob and his brothers into Egypt, Pharoah asked Jacob how old he was. Jacob was a bit embarrassed to tell Pharoah as he had not reached the age of his forefathers yet he looked older than he was. (Genesis 47:8-9) Bill Winston’s point was Jacob looked older than he was because of his worry and pain over the “death” of Joseph. Now this I can completely understand there are many people I see and they tell me their age and I say wow you look good. There are others that tell their age and I think to myself oh my they must have had a bad life.
Joseph was mourning because of FAULTY EVIDENCE. For those who may not know the story here it goes. Joseph was the youngest of his brothers, Joseph had a dream that one day his brothers would bow down to him, this angered his brothers so they sold him into slavery in Egypt and then they killed a goat dipped his robe in the blood and took it to their father, Jacob, as evidence that Joseph was dead. FAULTY EVIDENCE!!!!!
Gensesis 31- 35 31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
While everything looked, appeared and seemed to prove that Joseph was dead, the devil provided Jacob with faulty evidence. Now you may say, no it was his sons. Well the word says we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers…(Ephesians 6:12).
Now I ask if there have been times you were provided with faulty evidence? Times where everything seemed to be against you in the natural? Times where if you took into consideration your 5 senses, “the proof was in the pudding?” Was it really proof or was it faulty evidence? I think about my post from yesterday, Edison tried 10,000 times before success. He could have looked at the first 5 failures as proof he should have given up but he had a passion and faith that he was on the right track. He had tunnel vision, he focused all of his energies on one goal and didn’t stop until he reached that goal.
More of us need to have that same tunnel vision. So what you’ve tried time and time again and it didn’t work. Were you solely going off of your senses and your own abilities or were you trusting in Yahweh, speaking, believing, eating, sleeping, and meditating over His Word? For the Word says let God be true and let every man be a lie!!!!!
Saints, we have to get radical about our faith and Yahweh and trust in His abilities realizing that all things are possible to those whom believe.
Another example of Faulty Evidence in the bible is Lazarus (John 11). Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that the one he loved had died. Jesus waited 2 days before he went to where Lazarus was. On the way to Judea when close to Lazarus’ home Martha ran to Jesus and told him Lord, had you been here earlier my brother would not have died. Jesus replied to Martha that her brother would rise again. Martha thought Jesus meant at the resurrection but Jesus replied to her I AM! We must never forget the I AM Factor, the God Factor. Yahweh is alpha and omega!!!!!
Lazarus had been placed in a tomb, wrapped in grave clothes and his body had begun to decompose and there was a bad odor. ALL OF THIS I REPEAT ALL OF THIS WAS FAULTY EVIDENCE! Jesus walked up to where Lazarus lay asleep and said Lazarus come out. Lazarus rose and came forth, then Jesus told him to take off his grave clothes.
There are things that seem dead in your life or the lives of those around you but it could simply be faulty evidence. Always believe Yahweh! All evidence in the natural pointed to Lazarus being dead until the resurrection. Well, Jesus is the I AM he was the resurrection and he could do all things with the Power of his Father and the Holy spirit and so can you and I.
While examining evidence and situations watch what you say. Never once did Jesus say that Lazarus was dead. The power of life and death are in the tongue.
It may seem that I am saying the same things over and over again but I have to say them, hear them, and read them until it is so engrained in my own subconscious that I become so radical about my Creator and His goodness that I am so overcome by His Word and I live it so that my light truly shines and so that I am the salt of the earth.
So there has been faulty evidence about your life, your marriage, your children, your family, your friends, your job, your business, your education, your bank account, your finances, anything, have you succumb to it and spoke what your 5 senses perceived? Or did you go to the Word of Yahweh, find scriptures and passages for your situations and speak, pray, and meditate over the Word until your very surroundings came into submission of the Word?
Yes we can do that with the Power of Yahweh and the Holy Spirit we can cause a change in the atmosphere that surrounds us. First we start with ourselves, then our homes, then our communities, then our cities, state and the nation. Yahweh is waiting on us, He wants His people whom He calls by His name to humble themselves and pray then He will lift us up. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
IN SHORT….ALWAYS BELIEVE YAHWEH, ONLY BELIEVE HIS WORD, WITH YAHWEH ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Many of us need proof or evidence. I think of the saying “the proof is in the pudding” or “seeing is believing.” Today I had a total complete mind shift in an instant thanks to the Word of Yahweh with some help from Bill Winston. This morning he said that the devil will provide you with “faulty evidence” that appears to be real but it is not. The point of the message, always believe Yahweh and trust in His Word.
When Joseph brought Jacob and his brothers into Egypt, Pharoah asked Jacob how old he was. Jacob was a bit embarrassed to tell Pharoah as he had not reached the age of his forefathers yet he looked older than he was. (Genesis 47:8-9) Bill Winston’s point was Jacob looked older than he was because of his worry and pain over the “death” of Joseph. Now this I can completely understand there are many people I see and they tell me their age and I say wow you look good. There are others that tell their age and I think to myself oh my they must have had a bad life.
Joseph was mourning because of FAULTY EVIDENCE. For those who may not know the story here it goes. Joseph was the youngest of his brothers, Joseph had a dream that one day his brothers would bow down to him, this angered his brothers so they sold him into slavery in Egypt and then they killed a goat dipped his robe in the blood and took it to their father, Jacob, as evidence that Joseph was dead. FAULTY EVIDENCE!!!!!
Gensesis 31- 35 31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.
While everything looked, appeared and seemed to prove that Joseph was dead, the devil provided Jacob with faulty evidence. Now you may say, no it was his sons. Well the word says we wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers…(Ephesians 6:12).
Now I ask if there have been times you were provided with faulty evidence? Times where everything seemed to be against you in the natural? Times where if you took into consideration your 5 senses, “the proof was in the pudding?” Was it really proof or was it faulty evidence? I think about my post from yesterday, Edison tried 10,000 times before success. He could have looked at the first 5 failures as proof he should have given up but he had a passion and faith that he was on the right track. He had tunnel vision, he focused all of his energies on one goal and didn’t stop until he reached that goal.
More of us need to have that same tunnel vision. So what you’ve tried time and time again and it didn’t work. Were you solely going off of your senses and your own abilities or were you trusting in Yahweh, speaking, believing, eating, sleeping, and meditating over His Word? For the Word says let God be true and let every man be a lie!!!!!
Saints, we have to get radical about our faith and Yahweh and trust in His abilities realizing that all things are possible to those whom believe.
Another example of Faulty Evidence in the bible is Lazarus (John 11). Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that the one he loved had died. Jesus waited 2 days before he went to where Lazarus was. On the way to Judea when close to Lazarus’ home Martha ran to Jesus and told him Lord, had you been here earlier my brother would not have died. Jesus replied to Martha that her brother would rise again. Martha thought Jesus meant at the resurrection but Jesus replied to her I AM! We must never forget the I AM Factor, the God Factor. Yahweh is alpha and omega!!!!!
Lazarus had been placed in a tomb, wrapped in grave clothes and his body had begun to decompose and there was a bad odor. ALL OF THIS I REPEAT ALL OF THIS WAS FAULTY EVIDENCE! Jesus walked up to where Lazarus lay asleep and said Lazarus come out. Lazarus rose and came forth, then Jesus told him to take off his grave clothes.
There are things that seem dead in your life or the lives of those around you but it could simply be faulty evidence. Always believe Yahweh! All evidence in the natural pointed to Lazarus being dead until the resurrection. Well, Jesus is the I AM he was the resurrection and he could do all things with the Power of his Father and the Holy spirit and so can you and I.
While examining evidence and situations watch what you say. Never once did Jesus say that Lazarus was dead. The power of life and death are in the tongue.
It may seem that I am saying the same things over and over again but I have to say them, hear them, and read them until it is so engrained in my own subconscious that I become so radical about my Creator and His goodness that I am so overcome by His Word and I live it so that my light truly shines and so that I am the salt of the earth.
So there has been faulty evidence about your life, your marriage, your children, your family, your friends, your job, your business, your education, your bank account, your finances, anything, have you succumb to it and spoke what your 5 senses perceived? Or did you go to the Word of Yahweh, find scriptures and passages for your situations and speak, pray, and meditate over the Word until your very surroundings came into submission of the Word?
Yes we can do that with the Power of Yahweh and the Holy Spirit we can cause a change in the atmosphere that surrounds us. First we start with ourselves, then our homes, then our communities, then our cities, state and the nation. Yahweh is waiting on us, He wants His people whom He calls by His name to humble themselves and pray then He will lift us up. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
IN SHORT….ALWAYS BELIEVE YAHWEH, ONLY BELIEVE HIS WORD, WITH YAHWEH ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK & HONEY
A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK & HONEY
In your dreams you’ve seen your life and it is prosperous, you are living in a land of abundance flowing with milk and honey. However, when you awake you are still in the same bed, in the same place you were, in your mind possibly trapped in the desert. So, you set out with faith and boldness full speed ahead determined to make your dreams a reality. You are on the right track suddenly you are faced with challenges, mountains, and adversity. Do you press on full speed ahead or do you take that as a sign that you are on the wrong course?
Thomas Edison - Edison tried over 10,000 different substances in making the filament of an incadesent lightbulb until he found one material that lasted long enough to make the lightbulb cheap enough to sell and make money off of. He didn’t consider any of those times failures “... I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” -- Thomas Edison
10,000 times, Edison tried 10,000 times before success, TEN THOUSAND TIMES. How many times did you try before giving up? Did you give up because you felt that you were on the wrong path and Yahweh wasn’t with you? Did you give up because others were watching you and you were worried about what they were thinking and what they said to your face or behind your back? What dream have you given up on or placed on a shelf? It may be time to resurrect it. If you are relying on your 5 senses to determine if you should continue on you are NOT in FAITH, BELIEF, or TRUSTING in Yahweh.
That is the most important part of your journey, FAITH, BELIEF, AND TRUST in Yahweh. I will use the Israelites as an example. I read Numbers 13 on Friday, today I re-read chapter 13 and also read chapter 14 and the one thing I walked away with was never doubt Yahweh. I was led to this message based on a message by Bill Winston, The God-Factor!
So a briefing on the story, Yahweh with help from Moses frees the Israelites from Egypt, Yahweh parts the Red Sea, takes them into the desert and feeds them manna daily. Moses goes up to get the 10 commandments comes back and the Israelites have erected a golden calf to worship. Yahweh promises them a land flowing with milk & honey, they send out men to scout out the land and bring back fruit from it. 11 of the 12 sent out come with a bad report, 1 man Caleb has a report that they are well able to possess the land Yahweh will deliver them. The Israelites groan and moan, Yahweh gets upset and wants to kill them all, Moses convinces Yahweh not to do so. Yahweh agrees but vows that everyone who grumbled and complained will not see the land flowing with milk and honey only Joshua and Caleb and anyone under the age of 20.
Numbers 13
Exploring Canaan
1The LORD said to Moses, 2“Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
3So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 4These are their names:
from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;
5from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
6from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
7from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;
8from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;
9from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;
10from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;
11from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;
12from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;
13from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
14from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
15from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
16These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)
17When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
21So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a]they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
Report on the Exploration
26They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
30Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
14 - The People Rebel
1That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
10But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”
13Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, LORD, are with these people and that you, LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16‘The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’
17“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”
20The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, 22not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[a]”
26The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27“How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”
36So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— 37these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. 38Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.
39When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the LORD promised. Surely we have sinned!”
41But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed! 42Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”
44Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
The moral of the story, Yahweh has done so much for you why are you mumbling and complaining? Why is it that you’re doubting him now? What has He delivered you from before? Why don’t you think He won’t do it again? You may be in the desert right now but Jehovah Jireh! If you are relying on your 5 senses, you are not in FAITH. You cannot go by what you see. Caleb and Joshua were the only ones that believed with the Power of Yahweh they would be able to defeat their enemies and possess the land. Just because the majority think otherwise or contrary to what you believe doesn’t mean that you change your mind and go with the majority. Actually, Yahweh is always the majority!!!! And therefore, Caleb and Joshua and a select few were the only ones that inherited the land flowing with milk and honey. Why? Because they always believed Yahweh, they kept their trust in Him and believed in his Power.
ALWAYS BELIEVE YAHWEH, TRUST YAHWEH, PLACE ALL YOUR FAITH IN YAHWEH, PLACE ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, YAHWEH!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS GO FORWARD WITH THE GOD-FACTOR. HEAR THE WORD, SPEAK THE WORD, BELIEVE THE WORD, AND DO WHAT THE WORD SAYS.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
In your dreams you’ve seen your life and it is prosperous, you are living in a land of abundance flowing with milk and honey. However, when you awake you are still in the same bed, in the same place you were, in your mind possibly trapped in the desert. So, you set out with faith and boldness full speed ahead determined to make your dreams a reality. You are on the right track suddenly you are faced with challenges, mountains, and adversity. Do you press on full speed ahead or do you take that as a sign that you are on the wrong course?
Thomas Edison - Edison tried over 10,000 different substances in making the filament of an incadesent lightbulb until he found one material that lasted long enough to make the lightbulb cheap enough to sell and make money off of. He didn’t consider any of those times failures “... I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” -- Thomas Edison
10,000 times, Edison tried 10,000 times before success, TEN THOUSAND TIMES. How many times did you try before giving up? Did you give up because you felt that you were on the wrong path and Yahweh wasn’t with you? Did you give up because others were watching you and you were worried about what they were thinking and what they said to your face or behind your back? What dream have you given up on or placed on a shelf? It may be time to resurrect it. If you are relying on your 5 senses to determine if you should continue on you are NOT in FAITH, BELIEF, or TRUSTING in Yahweh.
That is the most important part of your journey, FAITH, BELIEF, AND TRUST in Yahweh. I will use the Israelites as an example. I read Numbers 13 on Friday, today I re-read chapter 13 and also read chapter 14 and the one thing I walked away with was never doubt Yahweh. I was led to this message based on a message by Bill Winston, The God-Factor!
So a briefing on the story, Yahweh with help from Moses frees the Israelites from Egypt, Yahweh parts the Red Sea, takes them into the desert and feeds them manna daily. Moses goes up to get the 10 commandments comes back and the Israelites have erected a golden calf to worship. Yahweh promises them a land flowing with milk & honey, they send out men to scout out the land and bring back fruit from it. 11 of the 12 sent out come with a bad report, 1 man Caleb has a report that they are well able to possess the land Yahweh will deliver them. The Israelites groan and moan, Yahweh gets upset and wants to kill them all, Moses convinces Yahweh not to do so. Yahweh agrees but vows that everyone who grumbled and complained will not see the land flowing with milk and honey only Joshua and Caleb and anyone under the age of 20.
Numbers 13
Exploring Canaan
1The LORD said to Moses, 2“Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
3So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites. 4These are their names:
from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;
5from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;
6from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
7from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;
8from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;
9from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;
10from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;
11from the tribe of Manasseh (a tribe of Joseph), Gaddi son of Susi;
12from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;
13from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;
14from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;
15from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.
16These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.)
17When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. 18See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. 19What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? 20How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)
21So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo Hamath. 22They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,[a]they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. 24That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. 25At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land.
Report on the Exploration
26They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
30Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
31But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” 32And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
14 - The People Rebel
1That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
5Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
10But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11The LORD said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.”
13Moses said to the LORD, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them. 14And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, LORD, are with these people and that you, LORD, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 15If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, 16‘The LORD was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’
17“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: 18‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”
20The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, 22not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. 25Since the Amalekites and the Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.[a]”
26The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27“How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: 29In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. 33Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 34For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ 35I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”
36So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it— 37these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD. 38Of the men who went to explore the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.
39When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly. 40Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the LORD promised. Surely we have sinned!”
41But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed! 42Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies, 43for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword.”
44Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD’s covenant moved from the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.
The moral of the story, Yahweh has done so much for you why are you mumbling and complaining? Why is it that you’re doubting him now? What has He delivered you from before? Why don’t you think He won’t do it again? You may be in the desert right now but Jehovah Jireh! If you are relying on your 5 senses, you are not in FAITH. You cannot go by what you see. Caleb and Joshua were the only ones that believed with the Power of Yahweh they would be able to defeat their enemies and possess the land. Just because the majority think otherwise or contrary to what you believe doesn’t mean that you change your mind and go with the majority. Actually, Yahweh is always the majority!!!! And therefore, Caleb and Joshua and a select few were the only ones that inherited the land flowing with milk and honey. Why? Because they always believed Yahweh, they kept their trust in Him and believed in his Power.
ALWAYS BELIEVE YAHWEH, TRUST YAHWEH, PLACE ALL YOUR FAITH IN YAHWEH, PLACE ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET, YAHWEH!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS GO FORWARD WITH THE GOD-FACTOR. HEAR THE WORD, SPEAK THE WORD, BELIEVE THE WORD, AND DO WHAT THE WORD SAYS.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
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