"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49

Knowing He was about to depart, Jesus left His disciples with a final command: stay in Jerusalem, and wait...for the promise. Of the thousands who had witnessed His miraculous ministry and heard His amazing teaching and the hundreds that had actually seen Him after the resurrection, we read in Acts that only 120 stayed and tarried until the promise arrived. But these 120 were steadfast. They waited the full term... What would have happened if they had left after the 4th day? Or the 6th day? Or the 9th day? They would have missed the promise and the amazing blessing that came with it. But those 120 believers stayed - they stayed and pressed in until the Holy Spirit came! Brothers & Sisters, do you want the fullness of the Spirit in your life? Continue pressing in. Wait with relentless faith and patience. Perseverance is often the critical factor in receiving the promises of God. Our Lord will fulfill every good promise in His perfect time. FOLLOW THROUGH!

"We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents," 1 Corinthians 10:9; "And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died." Numbers 21:5-6

Here we have a stark word. Here we see the Lord testing Israel: "He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you." [Deuteronomy 8:16]. Yet Paul says that they put Him to the test. A great irony occurs when God is testing us, and we despise His discipline, thereby testing Him. The children of Israel once again complained about their physical needs -- despising His provision -- and calling manna "worthless bread!" This behavior crossed a line and stands as a serious warning. God's tests are not without purpose. "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." [Deuteronomy 8:3] Where have we heard that before? What greater life-changing lesson? Israel was the one nation which received the greatest revelation of God's election, His love, and His miraculous power. This election, however, came with commensurate responsibility. God had revealed Himself in massive, and mighty acts, but it was not for entertainment or just to write a great story. It was to shape a nation into people of great character, patience, endurance, and faithfulness. These characteristics belong to God Himself and they are not optional for His people. He will have a people who exemplifies them. For this reason, the discipline of God is necessarily severe when He is put to the test -- whereby He sent serpents to strike the children of Israel for their sin. And many of them died. Yet even this terrible object lesson brought greater revelation to Israel, and to all of us as well, as the Lord instructed Moses to erect a serpent on a pole -- so that whoever looked upon it was healed from the serpent's bite! This we now know was a pre-figuration of the cross of Messiah (Jesus). Brothers & Sisters, so, how much complaining will our Lord endure? In the beginning, when we are starting out with Him, and because He is patient, probably a lot. Yet, as we grow and He continues to show us His love and faithful care, His expectations of us will increase and His tests will be more stringent. We should cultivate an attitude of patient endurance when He is testing us, lest we find ourselves turning around in bitterness and testing Him. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." [Hebrews 12:11] DON'T TEST YOUR LIMITS!

"And did all eat the same spiritual meat;" 1 Corinthians 10:3 ; "and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not." Exodus 16:3-4

Is there something about miracles that makes them forgettable? Or is the problem with us? After journeying for a season the children of Israel were faced with hunger -- another test. This time, naturally faced with starvation, they murmured against the Lord, AGAIN! You'd think they might begin to put it together that God truly wanted them to trust Him. Apparently not yet. The dire circumstances attacked their mass cerebral cortex (memory) and once again they went into attack mode, bitterly complaining in unbelief. The Ten Plagues, the pillar of fire, the Red Sea walk, the Egyptian chariot soup, none of these connected to the present hunger pangs. Nature trumped super-nature, and sadly, God Himself. But "God, God Elohim, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness", what did He do? He poured "angel's food" down upon them (Psalms 78:25); once again providing supernaturally! Jesus the Messiah, representing our Heavenly Father, exhorted us similarly: "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? Jesus said to seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness -- and He promised that all of these things will be added unto you!" Brothers & Sisters, lack of food can and very well may be a test for us in the coming days, and it is one of humanity's greatest fears. Hunger may test us during this uncertain season. Will we meet it with faith? I am certain, myself, that the Lord's word concerning provision is and will remain sure: that if I will seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will not fail to feed me. WILL YOU PASS THE HUNGER TEST?

“Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15

This unique passage in Revelation has a warning and a blessing. The first part of this verse was a warning about the suddenness of the Lord's return as He is coming as a thief to the world not anticipating His return. The second part of this passage was in reference to the duties of the priesthood in the days of the Temple. The Levities were in charge of keeping the Temple holy, day and night. Throughout the evening, the captain of the guard would make his rounds to make sure that those who were assigned watched attentively so that no one would defile the Temple during the night. If a watchman was found sleeping, he was beaten and his garments were set on fire so that he had to return home naked in his shame! It's hard to imagine any believer sleeping at this hour! We are seeing events unfold with such clarity, there is a sense of urgency as the days grow darker. Let us seize this time, and recognize the great opportunity we have to share the gospel to a world more ready to receive it. To even the most hardened person ... they can clearly see that the world has radically changed in ways like never before. Brothers & Sisters, you are one of today's watchmen! As the world gets darker ... continue to shine His light -- in His love, for you shall truly reap if you faint not! So be blessed ... as you continue to watch! KEEP YOUR CLOTHES!

"Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." Numbers 14:9

Last Month, we learned the root-related Hebrew words for "bread" (lechem), "fight" (lehilachem), and "war" (milchama); three words which share the same Hebrew letters, "Lamed", "Chet", and "Mem". When the twelve spies were sent out by Moses into the land of Canaan, ten came back with a bad report. Joshua and Caleb, however, returned with a good report, saying in essence, "If God is for us -- then who can be against us?" The two courageous spies expressed their confidence in a way that was quite cool: "Do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us." [Numbers 14:9] Now recall the "literal" connection in Hebrew between BREAD, FIGHT, and WAR. Joshua and Caleb were using the Hebrew language to utterly assure the Israelites of God's power to give them victory in battle. In modern language one could say, "Don't worry guys, we're going to eat them up in this fight, we'll make mince meat out of them!" Whether they grasped this linguistic encouragement and the spirit behind it or not, the Israelites allowed fear to paralyze them -- and ended up sacrificing an entire generation 40 years in the wilderness. Let's not make the same mistake, but rather, listen to the clues of the faithful. There is almost a lightheartedness in the language and attitude of those who really trust their God. Fear is alien to them. "We'll eat them for breakfast!" is their battle cry. "Our enemies are our 'bread' and the "war" has already been won!" Brothers & Sisters, the nations rage, the rulers take counsel together against God and against His Messiah. God sits in the Heavens and laughs, before He derides, vexes, and finally dashes them to pieces.[Psalm 2] If we're walking closely with Him there is an authority in our faith because "the righteous are bold as a lion." [Proverbs 28:1] God has truly provided in every way -- our substance, our victory, and our protection. So, do not fear them. DO NOT FEAR THEM!

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;" 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 ; "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness." And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace." Exodus 14:12-14

The Apostle Paul's discourse in 1 Corinthians 10 recalls the great miracles God performed for the children of Israel during the time of the Exodus. Delivered from Egypt and Pharaoh's slavery, they were dismayed to discover his maniacal rage pursuing them anew, driving them into a deadly corner and imminent destruction. Humanly speaking, their terror and panic was understandable. With their eyes, they could only see the wrath of Egypt succeeding, at last, to utterly destroy them. In that state of mind, how might they have remembered the consecutive miracles God had wrought against Egypt which had brought them to this very place? Panic has a way of spreading through a crowd, and as it did, the children of Israel bitterly complained to Moses against the Lord. Yet in that desperate moment, with His people full of terror and miserable unbelief, the Lord spoke through His servant Moses declaring His faithfulness and mighty power to save. Stand still! – and see the salvation of God! Nothing to do but stand and be delivered by the mighty Hand...... But then, miraculously separated by fire from their enemies, the children of Israel also needed to walk, to walk by faith on a seabed with walls of water towering on both sides, trusting that the Red Sea would not come rushing down upon them! Truly they were in His hands – beholding once again, the miracles of the Lord! Brothers & Sisters, we are standing now on the cusp of eternity, and we too, like the Israelites, are facing our test. The world seems to be teetering on the edge of disaster; so much evil surrounding us, as we wonder how and when can we be delivered from this rising tide of demonic threats? Can we learn from Israel's moment of panic? Or will we succumb to the rampant fear all around us? Will we have the presence of mind, the discipline, and the faith to remember the miracles God has performed in the past? These words must speak to us: "Do not fear – stand still – and see the salvation of our God, for the Lord shall fight for us – and we shall be at peace!" Those words in our minds and hearts will inspire us to walk through this dangerous world with faith, marveling at His power to protect and bring us to safety. JUST TRUST AND WALK!

"Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household." Exodus 12:3 ; "Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal." Joshua 4:19 ; "And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest." Matthew 21:8-9

The Temple Institute in the Old City of Jerusalem has been preparing temple articles, priestly garments and studying for years to prepare a priesthood for service in a proposed rebuilt temple on the Temple Mount. A recent news article reported that training had begun for the preparation of the Passover sacrifice. The day for the training was the 10th of Nisan, the day designated in the Old Testament for choosing the Passover lamb. Since the eyes of the Jewish people are still partially blinded to the true identity of their Messiah, most of them don't know that the ultimate Passover Lamb was already sacrificed 2000 years ago. The 10th of Nissan was an historic day in the history of our faith. Not only was it the day the Passover Lamb was chosen and brought into the houses of the Israelites in Egypt – it was also the very day that the children of Israel, freed from slavery, finally crossed into Jordan entering the "Promised Land" for the first time. And one other significant event happened on this day: Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus, called Christ) entered Jerusalem on a donkey, just as the prophet Zechariah had said He would [Zech. 9:9] as crowds of Israelites shouted "Hosanna!" or "Save now!" to Him, confidently identifying Him as their savior and Messiah. In effect, the entire nation was choosing their "Passover lamb" who was to deliver them from sin and death! But the leaders of the nation rejected Him... ...and so modern Israel is still waiting for the Messiah, even in in the Promised Land, while He continues to be revealed as the Savior of the world in the Gentile nations. There is a remnant of Jews who have discovered Him, who have chosen their Passover Lamb carefully and who know He is without blemish, and a growing number have also come to live in Israel in fulfillment of God's promise to restore the nation in the latter days. But for most, Messiah's coming is still in the future... Brothers & Sisters, there is a "Promised Land" for every soul who carefully chooses his Passover Lamb, Jesus the Messiah, whether Jew or Gentile. It is the promise of deliverance from sin, death, and Hell, into eternal life in a New Heavens and a New Earth. Our Passover Lamb, Jesus, is the only way of entry into this Land. Choosing Him has made us "priests" who offer spiritual sacrifices of prayer that His salvation will be known all over the world, and finally, once again, in Israel. CHOOSE YOUR PASSOVER LAMB!