The Moses bird

At the edges of the river and ponds a lovely Great Egret stands. This bird is the symbol of the Audubon society, and in the nineteenth century it became almost extinct because it's plumes were used in women's fashions. They became a protected bird and so now they are plentiful. It lurks quietly and catches fish by spearing them with it's long sharp beak. A friend called these birds Moses birds because they were always standing before the water, reminding her of Moses standing before the Red Sea. The white reminded her of Jesus, but there is only one Jesus in his white apparel, and he is not a bird or an angel; he is God the Son. We do not worship the creation, but we do worship the Creator who made this lovely bird for us to enjoy.

The Egret is so perfect for it's environment. Just look at his big feet for wading in the mud. Tiny feet may get stuck in the mud, but not these wide pitchfork toes.

Psa 40:1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 

Psa 40:2  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

Psa 40:3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 

Psa 40:4  Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 

Psa 40:5  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 

He watches for fish motionless his white making him invisible against the bright sky. His neck is coiled like a snake, ready to spring forward.

Mar 13:35  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 

Mar 13:36  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 

Mar 13:37  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. 

I watched as he thrust his spear beak in the water.

 These birds do not let you get close to them. I was fifty yards from it behind a tree. I wanted a closer view so I moved to thirty yards from him behind another tree, but it was too close. Effortlessly the enormous fan like wings lift it into the air. For such a large bird it just lifted into the air from a dead start, with feet straight behind him.

Exo 19:4  Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 

He glides across the river, perhaps saying a prayer? Thank you LORD for making me so special.

Ch 29:11  Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. 

1Ch 29:12  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 

1Ch 29:13  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. 

Eaglewings Ministries

Meeting God in darkness

When I read Exodus 20:21 where it said that Moses " drew near unto the thick darkness where God was." I thought to myself, does God dwell in darkness? God is light and truth, no darkness in him. I had to go back to Exodus 19 and read more. God appeared in a cloud, the glory cloud of God. I have seen dark clouds, full of rain; then there was fire on the mountain and smoke. In the natural I thought of a volcano with dense smoke, but this was more than a natural occurrence. God was there, in the darkness. All the people feared at his presence and would not come near because they were unclean and lacking in faith. Moses went into the cloud and the darkness of smoke on the mountain to speak with the angel of God. 

Exo 19:9  And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. 
Exo 19:10  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 
Exo 19:11  And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 
Exo 19:12  And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: 
Exo 19:13  There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. 
Exo 19:14  And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 
Exo 19:15  And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives. 
Exo 19:16  And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 
Exo 19:17  And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 
Exo 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 
Exo 19:19  And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 
Exo 19:20  And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 
Exo 19:21  And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 

Exo 20:18  And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 
Exo 20:19  And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 
Exo 20:20  And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 
Exo 20:21  And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 

The people were not able to touch the holy mountain when God's presence was there. Moses had gone up and he had received the law. Moses spoke to the people that God was proving or testing them, for they had little faith. Because they were lacking in faith God gave Moses laws to guide them until faith was formed in their hearts. As believers by faith in Jesus Christ we will be tested. Darkness will come to us, but God is in the darkness to show us something. He is there with us to bring us through. Sanctify yourselves, cleanse yourself by confessing your sins and stay close to the presence of God. It is a good thing to fear God, but by being in Jesus we may come boldly into his presence.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Legalistic Error

From the 2001 Eaglewings Daily Bible lessons, The Book of Acts.

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

These were the Judaizers, insisting that new converts first keep the Jewish old testament covenant, including circumcision. Paul addresses this in the Epistle to the Galatians. We are not to be put back under the law.

Gal 5:12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Acts 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Paul probably more then anyone new the law and grace. He knew that the law was not to be imposed on the new believers, but that by grace ye are saved.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
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This morning thinking about legalism I see some churches that claim to be more spiritual as being full of legalistic teachings. The denominations are divided because of differences. All true Christian churches say that Jesus Christ is Lord. Salvation is through his finished work on the cross; grace received by faith in Jesus. We can get along so long as Jesus is the way of salvation. To add any other requirement is legalism. Churches differ, the Pastors have different visions and purposes. Find a church and grow in the word of God. Jesus is Lord, let people have liberty to grow in him and give room for minor differences. 

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 
Rom 14:3  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 
Rom 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. 
Rom 14:5  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. 
Rom 14:6  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. 
Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 
Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 
Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 
Rom 14:10  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 
Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 
Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 
Rom 14:13  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. 
Rom 14:14  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 
Rom 14:15  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 
Rom 14:16  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: 
Rom 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
Rom 14:18  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 
Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

Marsh Reeds

Moses was placed in a woven reed basket, pitched 

and placed in the river Nile. 

Exo 2:10  And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. 

And she called his name Moses: and she said, 

Because I drew him out of the water. 

Rom 5:14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 

Rom 5:15  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 

Where there is water the reeds grow. They become the habitat for birds and animals. 

Job spoke of an animal among the reeds called Behemoth. 

It must have been very large, perhaps a dinosaur. 

The purpose of Job was to show the power of God.

Job 40:21  He lieth under the shady trees, 

in the covert of the reed, and fens. 

Job 40:22  The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. 

Job 40:23  Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up

 Jordan into his mouth. 

Job 40:24  He taketh it with his eyes:

his nose pierceth through snares. 

These reeds are bent like shepherds crooks. 

Sometimes people will turn to idols and false shepherds
because of careless ease.

Israel did this long ago and made God angry. 

1Kings 14:15  For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, 

and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers,

 and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves,  provoking the LORD to anger. 

The LORD loves his people and sent John the Baptist

 to make the way for the Messiah to forgive their sins. 

Many went into the Jordan wilderness to be baptized by him.

Mat 11:8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

Mat 11:9  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 

Mat 11:10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

The reeds mature to make rods with seeds called cattails. 
These are older cattails glowing from the back light. Jesus was struck with reeds and given a cattail as a scepter, being mocked as a humiliated king. They were foolish, for
all people will bow before Jesus as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! 
Mat 27:30  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. 
Mat 27:31  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 

A turn of the head and this reed picture looks like a "Z". I remember the movie the mark of Zorro, 
where a sword was used to carve a Z.  Jesus came to us as a gentle Shepherd and he is the Living Word; the word of God is sharper than a two edged sword.

Mat 12:19  He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 
Mat 12:20  A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 
Mat 12:21  And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. 

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

Heb 4:13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

The Spy

I picked a persimmon that looked like a cartoon spy.

There are good spies and bad spies.

Num 13:17  And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain: 

Num 13:18  And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many; 

A spy should be "cut out" for his job.

Num 13:30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. 

Spies must not fall apart , nor be fearful.

Num 13:31  But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 

Num 13:32  And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 

Num 13:33  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Who knows, there may be a spy around us. In communist countries the government had spies and even children accused their parents. It will be this way in the end times.

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

We all may be be put to the heat. Will we be faithful?

1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

If we survive the heat and are true, 

we shall come forth as gold. 

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 1:8  Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 

Walk with Faye

Faye went with me on an afternoon walk.

 It was a cool and windy walk, but refreshing.

 I pushed her in her wheelchair around the main trail.

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

A man greeted us and following him at a distance was this little puppy. Dogs are supposed to be leashed, but I did not fear this little guy.

Mat 15:26  But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 

Mat 15:27  And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 

 Do you see the ant eater? They eat insects and bugs.

Mark 1:6  And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 

Mark 1:7  And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 

Mark 1:8  I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 

 From the pond a coot has caught his lunch with small legs hanging down from his beak; 

 it must be a frog. He swallowed it down whole.

Exo 8:5  And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. 

Exo 8:6  And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt. 

The wind blew hard on the river making patterns of blue. There is an Indian casino calling itself the

 Win River," things are better on the river". . . In reality it is located on a creek. I suppose "up the creek" did not sound as good as a slogan for a gambling casino.

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 

Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 

Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

The blackberry leaves form a wreath  of thorns near the river shouting that Fall is here. Fall brings death to the leaves but new life comes in the Spring.

John 19:1  Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. 

John 19:2  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, 

John 19:3  And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. 

Mat 28:5  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 

Mat 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 

Ezra Reads the Book of Moses

The exiles had returned to Jerusalem, Neh 7:66  The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, They were safe within the walls of the city. The doors were hung. Ezra the priest was about to read the book of the law for the first time, in their Holy City.

Neh 8:1  And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.
Neh 8:2  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Neh 8:3  And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Neh 8:4  And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Neh 8:5  And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
Neh 8:6  And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Neh 8:7  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
Neh 8:8  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
Neh 8:9  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

They stood for the reading of God's laws, from daybreak until noon. Ezra blessed the LORD and the people raised their hands with their heads down. The Law was read and it was made clear to them, by the teaching priests as to the meanings. They were given the understanding of what was read, for they did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. This was a special time for them and they were all filled with tears. Tears of joy and tears of the conviction of sins, for without the law their is no knowledge of sin. Be assured that the law cannot save you.

James 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Rom 5:13  (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Sin and idolatry had brought judgement and ruin to the the nation. Now, by faith in God and the understanding of his laws they would be saved by faith. The law shows us our sin.  Faith in the promises of God would save them.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Gal 5:18  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

I am saying these verses about faith, because we are not saved by attempting to keep the laws. We are saved by faith in Jesus who has redeemed us from the curse of death for our sins. Within the books of the law was the story of Abraham who obeyed God by faith in his promises. The law of Moses shows that Abraham obeyed God by faith. It was the lack of faith that caused most of the children of Israel to fail in their journey from bondage in Egypt to their promised land. Faith is the way we are to live for God. Faith and obedience. The law condemns but faith leads us to the promised salvation of God. Faith brings us to Jesus, the Salvation of God. We cannot come to our resting place without faith. Where Jesus leads us is our peace. He will bring us to be with him, by faith.

A Double Anointing

  

2 Ki 2:8  And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
2 Ki 2:9  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
2 Ki 2:10  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
2 Ki 2:11  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
2 Ki 2:12  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
2 Ki 2:13  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
2 Ki 2:14  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

 

Enoch was another man of God that was taken to Paradise by angels. 

Gen 5:24  And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

 

Elias followed Elijah closely and he followed God closely. He was given the gift of prophecy as he followed Elijah. He fulfilled all the requirements, being diligent in seeking to be like Elijah, his spiritual father. God rewarded him with Elijah's anointing and authority and he was given his own anointing from God, a double anointing. The evidence was shown to the 50 prophets who watched. He smote the waters with Elijah's mantle or cloak, a hairy garment of goats hair. (Elijah was called a hairy man, as John the Baptist would be called hairy with his camel hair garment and beard) and the waters parted.

 

One miracle that showed that God was with a leader, is the parting of the waters. Moses had the anointing as the Red Sea was parted at his command. Joshua followed Moses closely and even stayed in the presence of  the Ark in worship longer than did Moses. Joshua was given the anointing of Moses as he spoke and the Jordan parted as the priests carried the Ark across. Jesus didn't need to open the waters, he walked on the water, but Jesus being God had the anointing of God, he opened the way for those who believe in him to cross over to the eternal inheritance that we have with him. We truly receive an anointing from Jesus by following him closely and his inheritance of eternal life and all that he has. That is the greatest of blessings.

 

A final thought or two...If you want a double anointing, you must follow Jesus very diligently, in his word, his actions, his prayer life. You must want more of God then of the world. We cannot be involved in carnal things and expect the anointing of God. If we do not read his word, do not expect some holy man to give you a double anointing as a preacher of the word. You may receive a gift from God that is confirmed by the laying on of hands. If called, then we
must be diligent. The anointing of God is for all Saints. Are you really seeking a double anointing? I believe it requires a total commitment and the favor of God for HIS purpose.

Crossing Jordan

Josh 4:14  On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

Josh 4:15  And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
Josh 4:16  Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
Josh 4:17  Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
Josh 4:18  And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

Josh 5:1 When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear. (NLT)

This was an important event for Israel, it showed that God was still with them and that they had a new commander to replace Moses, a commander who was a prophet who heard from God and who spoke for God and as an intermediary, he was able to plead for his  people when necessary. Only Moses had been spirit filled as the go between for God and Israel. Now God showed that he was still with Israel by parting the Jordan river as he had parted the Red Sea. Joshua was the new commander, the spokesman between God and man.

They had to obey the laws to be blessed. Always before it was Moses, the law and the prophets. Jesus said that it was from these two ways that God spoke to them.

Luke 16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 16:17  And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

John 1:45  Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Jesus now is the intermediary between God and his people. When Jesus was raised from the dead and returned again to God the father, he left the Holy Spirit with his believers. Now each Spirit filled person has access to the throne room of God.

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21  And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Jesus intercedes for us concerning our failure to keep all the laws, for we are no longer under the penalty of the law, but we are given grace. Each man may pray to God and he forgives them through Jesus our Lord and savior.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

No longer is it a Moses or a Joshua or just one spirit filled man on earth who hears and speaks for God; all Spirit filled believers have this right. We are to fear and obey God and not fear what man can do to us. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are to hear from God and speak to him as the children of God interceding for others and our nation. We are God's miracle people filled with the power of God and when we pass the spiritual Jordan to the promised home of God we will not be alone. We will be with all those who are saved by the blood of the Lamb and who love and worship God.

Ask the rock

Num 20:5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
Num 20:6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Num 20:7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
Num 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
Num 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Num 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Num 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Num 20:13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Most of the faithless generation had died in the wilderness, but now their children were complaining. Moses was close to finishing his 40 year trek that had begun when he was 80 years old. Forty years of hearing the complaints and faithfully following God. Now, he makes a transgression of God's command. Why was it so important to just speak to the rock? Moses was told to speak to the rock this time, not to strike it. When he struck the rock twice, God was still merciful and the water came out, but Moses was told that he would not be going into the promise land. The rock in the old covenant story was a symbol for Jesus. Jesus was struck down once on the cross, never to be stricken again. Now we are to speak to the rock. We are to pray to the Rock of ages. We may ask the Rock for his blessings in God's will. Jesus is the Rock and as I meditated on this story a scripture passage came to mind that perfectly illustrates the command to speak to the Rock that was a type of, or an illustration of Jesus. In this New Testament story, Jesus made a side trip through Samaria to speak to an outcast woman at the well. Again water is the subject.

Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Joh 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

We are to ask Jesus for the water, the Living water, the Holy Spirit.

Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Jesus, the Rock is one with God the Father. We may ask Jesus and we may ask our Heavenly Father for the Living Water. Ye must be born again of his Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Ask him to remove your sins and to make you a child of God. Let the Living Water flow from your innermost being.