The Wine & The Bread are only part of the feast called to be partaken of the LORD Our God, but these are the most intimate elements. As we look deeper into an understanding of the nature and purpose of not only the feasts and elements regarding them, but to gain a better understanding of our God and King and the depth of His love and devotion.

Prior to The Law given to Moses (Moshe) the Servant of YHWH we find an account with the patriarch Abraham (Abram) returning from battle and he has an encounter with a very unique character, Melchizedek (Melech – KING/Tezdeq – RIGHTEOUSNESS) king of Salem (Shalom – PEACE), this figure has been a point of intrigue and mystery and debate as to who he was, but for this posting I just would like to bring our attention to the elements that this individual brought out to Abram. The account reads as follows; Genesis (Beginning) 14:18-20;

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out “bread and wine” and he blessed Abram…Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

This is the first example of not only the tithe or principal of the tenth, but also the sharing of “The Wine & The Bread” in an act of Blessing and an exchange of fondness, honor, and respect for one another- a – “fellowship” (koinonia).

These symbols are found throughout the entirety of God’s WORD and ordinances for the priesthood. They are significant and carry rich and deeper meanings and treasures.

Deuteronomy 14:23-29 depicts the calling for the gathering for the tithe, an annual occasion, in which all God’s people were to bring a tenth of their increase of the land, their flocks and herds, and from their vineyards. The three primary ordained feasts; Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles, offer similar ordinances and observances in regards to how they were to Celebrate the Feasts as well as daily sacrifices and offerings listed in The Book of Leviticus, all of which include these “Intimate” elements. For clarity in the point in which we are heading let us look at verse 26 of the above mentioned scripture. The people of God were instructed to bring to “The Dwelling Place for His NAME” (Ha Shem) and there with their family and friends in His Holy Presence partake of the feast with the food and fermented drink and REJOICE!

When considering the phrase to “Wine and Dine” many might often relate this to a man courting or trying to win the affection of a woman, as is often the case. In its very concept is the idea of relationship and furthermore and more to the point an “intimate” relationship. I would like to take a look at this from a Biblical perspective and apply it to what the Church calls the Communion elements, and what Judaism might call the Fellowship and Drink Offering.

Note the elements of wine and a grain (bread) offering.

The Two shall become One flesh (bread/body). Genesis (Beginning) . The Apostle Paul spiritualized and likened this UNION to Christ and His Ecclesia “the Church”.

On the night when Jesus was to be betrayed he was with his closest of friends, a time of intimacy, it is mentioned in the Gospel that a disciple was leaning upon Jesus’ bosom while they reclined at the table. This is the most profound picture I can call upon to convey this message. The Lord Jesus himself created an “Atmosphere of Intimacy” just prior to partaking of “The Wine & The Bread” with His -disciples, His -friends. Jesus stated to His disciples that He would not drink again of the “fruit of the vine” with them until He drinks it anew in The Kingdom of Heaven.

Now to avoid controversy regarding whether this wine is “grape juice” or a fermented wine it simply does not matter. Just as it was instructed to Moses regarding the Feasts and the Tithe offerings that was to be brought forth crops, animals, and fermented beverage was included. God is not trying to get us drunk in excess, but rather to draw us nearer to Him to be Filled by and with Him with Joyfulness, Gladness, and with Heartfelt Fellowship.

The main point for all this “Gathering Together” with The LORD, was to draw near to Him, to have a close and Intimate Personal relationship with Him (koinonia), as the wine (fruit of the vine) represents a blood covering or covenant, it is exactly the same concept in the consummation of a marriage. The breaking of the hymen, of a pure bride. As well as the bread (threshed and finely ground wheat) mingled with oil (symbol of His Holy Spirit) as a broken crushed body given to make us whole. Without offering ourselves as broken and contrite (to become vulnerable) we will never fully enter into an “Atmosphere of Intimacy“.

These three elements or stages; the Courting or Ordained betrothal , the Ceremony and the Consummation, validated a marriage in the culture of both the Old and New Testament era’s. This can also seen in various types in the gospels (Bridegroom -Christ/Bride – Church). These three stages: first, there was the betrothal stage; the courting, or the wooing, it is the Demonstration of Love and Devotion and The Promise of everlasting an Love and Faithfulness. Then, secondly at the right time, there was the presentation stage of the bride to the bridegroom, who would come for his bride – for The Wedding Ceremony followed then by a time of celebration and feasting at the Father’s House (The Wedding Super of The Lamb). Thirdly, following the Ceremony and celebratory feasting of the bride to the groom, they were to go immediately into their prepared place and Consummation stage of the marriage through sexual intercourse, to “know” one another were we get the phrase -carnal knowledge- in an “Atmosphere of Intimacy“.

The Union of “The two shall become one” is the culmination of love a “Common Union” (communion) coupled together through a covenant bond. This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.

STRONGS G2842: Communion = koinonia
κοινωνία, κοινωνίας, ἡ ( κοινωνός), fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse

Through an “Atmosphere of Intimacy: The Wine & The Bread” The Word again becomes Flesh. The Living God becomes incarnate and dwells in and among men though His people The Ecclesia.

So I hope we all will take a little deeper longer moment when we enter into this Holy of Holies, this place of “Intimacy” with The Lord Our God and have true koinonia with Him, to rejoice and share in His GREAT Love, and allow Him to create something New in each one of us.

Jesus instructed His followers “do this in remembrance of me” the word remembrance here in the Greek is the word “anamnesis” = remembrance, which is from the Greek word “anamimnesko” which is it itself a compound word of “ana” = repetition, intensity and “mimnesko” = to recall to mind. In Hebrew it would be “zakar” = to mark, to remember, think on, to burn incense -a scent or fragrance, even referring to that which identifies one as being male. So as we partake, we should do so often and frequently with intensity and a purposeful heart, intentionally calling to mind the Great Love and Sacrifice of The only begotten Son of God he as the Bridegroom we as the bride. It is like renewing a vow, reflecting on your marriage covenant.

“An Atmosphere of Intimacy: The Wine & The Bread”

I pray The sweet fragrance and aroma of The Holy Spirit fill the atmosphere right now as it did with the High Priest as he entered The Holy of Holies with his incense bowl filled with coals form the altar of God. An offering made by fire, and aroma pleasing to to YHWH.

Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone invites me in, with him I will come in and sup…fellowship…have koinonia!

The Lord Bless You

This post is the first in a long while and has been a year long in completing. I believe it is a WORD God has burdened me to fulfill in writing and completing. This is His Message to you.

What arouses The LORD God, YHWH – Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah), to action. To take notice of in an instance in time? He sits enthroned between the cherubim in a high and lofty place, yet his eyes see even a sparrow that falls to the ground unseen by man. God is above ALL His creation and yet He still “watches” over it, to see it unfold, to fulfill what He has declared for it. So what moves Him, what causes Him to take note, to take action. Let us take a closer look at The Jealousy of The Living and Loving God.

Jealousy here is not be be confused with the notion of covetousness, The Lord our God is not “jealous” of anything that someone may think they own or possess. He declares “the cattle on a thousand hills are mine”. Everything we see He created, all the gold all the silver all the things man desires to acquire, are in fact His. The Commandment states Though Shall not Covet what is Thy Neighbors, meaning what another person has we are not to think it should belong to us, this concept is contrary to the nature of The Living and Holy God. So He lists this Command as we are to be like Him. So jealousy here must mean something entirely different.

The First Commandment given “You SHALL have NO other god before me!” God in His Majesty and Splendor, and Unequaled Power, and Might does NOT share His Glory with anyone. Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Isaiah42:8

His NAME is Jealous (Ex34:14) and is synonymous with His Glory and the ONLY thing He equates to His NAME is His WORD, so in a sense we can say His Glory, His Name, and His WORD He is Jealous for. So in regards they are HIM and THEY ARE HOLY. So that they are “set apart” from that which is common or “unclean” Psalms 138:2, Deut. 4:24 For the LORD your GOD is A Consuming Fire, a Jealous GOD. (Dt. 6:15)

So what then is God jealous for? In numerous Old Testament accounts God The LORD indicates that His people stir Him to jealousy (Dt. 32:21) It is important at this point to make a clear distinction for whether it is New Testament or Old Testament, The Eternal God, The EVERLASTING ONE changes not, the Covenants that we enter into with Him change NOT, it is therefore important to make it clearly known that it is the people that BELONG to God that he is Jealous for. And it is that devotion of whole hearted love and faithfulness He stands ready to contend for. (Ezekiel 16:38,42 23:25, 36:6; Zec. 1:14, 8:2; Na 1:2, Joel 2:18)

His Glory and Holiness demands a devotion, to which He will not share or compromise. We as His Bride MUST be fully wholly devoted in Spirit and in Truth.

Isaiah 42:6 “I, The LORD, have called YOU in Righteousness; I will take hold of your hand (betrothed). I will keep you and will make you a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles

It says in Proverbs 6:34 “for A jealousy arouses a husbands fury…”

So as those who belong to God, or as the Betrothed to The Son of God Most High. As a promised bride, we have been set apart, sanctified, made Holy and as such we should conduct ourselves in All areas of Our lives in the reverence of His Eternal Glory that awaits us. To share in it as our inheritance. When we allow ourselves to become fooled, deceived, or led astray as an adulterous wife, God in His fierce jealousy will arise to confront both the wayward believer (wife) as well as the entity behind the deception.

He has a burning passionate love for those he calls His Bride. After Jesus ascended and was “seated” at the right hand of The Father. Psalms 110:1 The LORD said to My LORD: Sit at My Right Hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.

We read in the Book of Acts chapter 6:8 thru 8:1; one of His own, a man – full of Grace and Power, a man Full of Faith and of The Spirit, was confronted by a mob led by another named Saul, as they began to slay Stephen by stoning him, he declared I see “The Son of Man, “STANDING” at the Right hand of The Father”. Did you see what happened, the persecution of the first martyr for Christ Jesus, Stephen caused Our LORD and King Jesus to RISE UP! To Stand Up in a Holy demonstration of the Fiery, Passionate, Jealous LOVE He has for His Bride.

As the Church, the ecclesia, that is to say the Body of Christ, readies and prepares herself for the days of persecution that are to come, and they are coming. We MUST be of sober minds and a clear conscience, fully devoted and steadfast, unwavering to the left or the right in our convictions and our commitment to Christ Jesus, knowing full well and convinced that nothing can separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD and King, for let our anthem ring out. “They OVERCAME by The Blood of The Lamb and the WORD of their Testimony. Also, They loved NOT their Lives unto death!”

In the Book of Hosea we see the Faithful Enduring Love of God mixed with His Divine Jealousy for His Glory, His Holy Nature. Again the comparison is made as one of a prostitute as an unfaithful wife as it equates to God’s people when departing from God’s standards and devotion.

Gods people, it matters not if OT or NT are considered His bride, we have entered into a “Covenant” with Him it is likened as Paul describes it in, that “the two shall become one” first mentioned in Genesis regarding the marriage union between Adam and his wife Eve. God’s jealous Love for That which He calls His own reveals to us the intensity and power to which He not only encircles himself but surrounds His betrothed in. This LOVE was manifest when His only begotten Son set aside His Eternal throne and Glory and came in the flesh to be The Passover Lamb, the eternal sacrifice for those that would believe and call on His Name.

In the days ahead, IF we will remain Faithful and Steadfast in Our Trust and Sanctification, pursuing The Kingdom of God and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, unwavering as we pass through the Water and the Fire, for the persecution that forges a glorious bride without Spot or Wrinkle will raise us in His Triumphant Victory. His Jealous Love will stir the Fathers Heart and send forth His Son to retrieve His blood bought bride, to bring her to the place He has prepared for her.

Nothing can separate us from Gods love, DO NOT FEAR, but be of a strong courage. All He asks of us is to remain Faithful, to put our faith in action, so that our unspoken and truthful testimony would stand firm in its moment of trial.

So we see it is the persecution of that Which Belongs to Him that moves Him to Jealousy. So, we can as His beloved be calm and confident in the midst of trials and tribulations knowing His Love IS GREATER than anything we can face. Abide and Trust in HIM!

God, The LORD of all creation loves you with an unimaginable kind of LOVE. He has spared nothing in His pursuit of captivating your heart. His Spirit knocks at the door, would you invite Him in? Experience Him first hand for yourself, you’ll never want to be far from Him again. Let Him wrap His Loving, Jealous arms around you today, He promises to NEVER leave or forsake you.

Come Lord Jesus, I believe in Your Great Name, and in Your Great Love for me.

Amen

Have any of you ever wondered how, considering the current condition of the World and the glaring obvious decay of morality and exaltation of iniquity on a global scale, can we not only as a Nation survive, let alone turn the tide has evil triumphed? As we peer into the looking glass of scripture as our guide for an answer, we must remember this, it surpasses time and space. It is Divinely inspired and is rightly referred to as The WORD of GOD, meaning it is Breathed by The Holy Spirit of God, and as such must be read with His breathing upon us as we read it for it encompasses past, present, and future. For Our God is The One Who Was, and Who IS, and Who Is to Come.

We will look into the Books of Jude, Timothy, Romans, and a few others as we navigate our way through to a better understanding of discerning the times and the dispensation in which we as Followers of Christ find ourselves living in. For such a time as this, God has ordained that we are to Be His Ambassadors of Light in this ever growing darkness.

Just as a Veil hides the spiritual – eternal realm from this natural – temporal plane of existence. God has veiled his plan in plain sight, So that we cannot always “see” with our eyes or lean on our own understanding. He has called us to Watch and Observe, to discern the Times and Seasons He has set and determined. God has had a plan from the very beginning.

So how can God grow His Kingdom at the same time Satan seems to be growing his, this is The GREAT Dichotomy. I would like to start out at the end rather than the beginning, and then re-trace our steps through His Word to encourage and strengthen your Faith, and your Hope as well as to inspire US ALL to action in Love.

In The Book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ in chapters 12-13 The Apostle John tells us of a future scenario of the world; starting in 12:12b…[“But WOE to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”] Here now we find the enemy of our souls engaged in an age long struggle to destroy as many souls and lives as he can by any means in his arsenal. Lies, Deceptions, manipulated Truth, chaos and confusion all so that He might not only lead people astray, but also because he desires above all things to be worshipped as God. Moving forward to Chapter 13 we find his plan for global supremacy unfolding with the help of world governments (beast) and false prophets (religions). In 13:16 we can find his so called Utopia on earth, “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.”

So we see Satan, the devil, the beast or Anti-Christ as he is often referred to, is also the same beast that ascends from the Abyss in Revelations chapter 9 his name is Abaddon in Hebrew or Apollyon in Greek his name means Chaos, and from the chaos he brings he institutes his One world system, government, religion, economy (see Nimrod Rising and Spirit of Rebellion). In Chapter 13:10b the Word of God encourages us in this regard “This calls for Patient Endurance and Faithfulness on the part of the saints.” Now many might find this speculative in nature regarding these events. As I stated above I want to peer into the looking glass of Gods Word to rightly divide and to discern the Word of Truth. The GREAT Dichotomy as Satan is undeniably advancing his dark New World Order/Old World Agenda, all hope is not lost. Lets look a little closer at prophetic declarations and see where we might find ourselves presently.

Jude 17-23a admonishes us as such, ” But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of Our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you [“In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural (carnal) instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most Holy Faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; SNATCH others from the FIRE and SAVE them…”

2Timothy 3:1-13 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…so also these men oppose the truth–men of depraved minds,…In fact everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Romans 1:18-32 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen Because of this God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

We would be right in our thinking that this IS the days we are living in. God’s WORD is TRUTH and it is everlasting, they are Eternal. So what is God doing in the midst of the spread of iniquity? He is not idle nor is He slack in accomplishing His Great Commission “To GO into All the world” to teach and make Disciples and Baptize in The Name (HaShem) of The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit Three in ONE. As mentioned above in Revelation and in Jude; we as disciples of Christ must possess a Patient Endurance, and we must be willing to stand firm and in boldness be willing to Snatch some from the fire of eternal damnation, meaning we must build ourselves up in our Most Holy Faith to be fully equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit to rescue, restore, and redeem as many as would be saved. As Jesus told His disciples in the Book of Acts 1:8 “But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and YOU WILL be My witnesses.” He has given us the greatest tool in which to Evangelize the world around us, our homes, our market places, and communities.

God is moving across the globe right now and the gates of hell are not prevailing (contrary to popular perception) , as multitudes are coming to Christ, believing and being baptized in His GREAT Name. The GREAT Dichotomy is this; were sin abounds GRACE does MUCH MORE abound Romans 5:20; a great harvest of souls is sweeping across planet earth, soon and very soon a Trumpet blast will sound for that harvest to be gathered into God’s storehouse. This rapture as it is known is our gathering together to meet with Christ in the air, while the world in its depravity is given over to the Father of Lies, for a short period of time. As this Dispensation of Grace (time of the Gentiles) comes to a conclusion; Let us urge one another on in the Love of God, He demonstrated through Christ Jesus showing for us as an example to reach out to a lost and desperate dying world, to save some.

In closing, Romans 10:13-15 charges us “for Everyone who calls on the Name of The Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard ? And how can they hear without someone preaching (declaring, witnessing, testifying) to them? And how can they preach if they are not sent? Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ , that is The Testimony that Jesus is the Christ, The Messiah and we all have an Anointing to make Him known.

Let us Keep Our Eyes fixed steadfastly upon Him Who IS the Author and Perfecter of Our FAITH.

We have all been hearing ALOT about the so called “Insurrection” of January 6th, 2022. In our hearing ALOT of this, it seems that we always only get one side of the story. As numerous conflicting reports arise, there is in fact as of today “Political Prisoners” within the United States of America. Those that are being held contrary to legitimate due process of the law. While the Progressive Liberals and the complicit MSM for four years, decried Russian collusion that somehow, although FALSE, that The 45th President of the United States was not legally and lawfully elected as if somehow the election was “rigged”. Funny how that goes to the flip side when a sitting President receives the MOST votes in History for his re-election and “losses” amidst numerous, proven, and visual evidence of voter tampering and fraud, yet we hear it was “The most secure-election” in history, because A Puppet President was inserted by the same Progressive Liberal-MSM Globalist Complex. Any oppositional view is squelched with government agency coercion and social-media bias censorship. We hear from this crowd that on January 6th “Our great democracy” was threatened. And that The former President should be found guilty of “treason”. I don’t believe it is so much they fear DJT, as much as they fear who supports him, “We the People”.

Remember when Speaker of The House, Nancy Pelosi, RIPPED up the Historical document “State of The Union” speech after the 45th President finished declaring it live, yet we are to believe she is supportive of this so-called democracy. Let me remind some of you, we DO NOT Now nor have we ever been as a Nation a “Democracy” no dear friend we have ALWAYS been since its Founding a Constitutional Republic with Democratic Representation. To summarize for you the difference; the mantra of the left “democracy” is all about Mob rules; that is to say we have the votes that’s the way it goes, period! A Constitutional Republic with democratic representation allows us to elect our Representatives, by mob rule or more appropriately majority of votes. Nowhere does it imply that by a simple majority of voters that the Laws (to include The Bill of Rights) specified in The Constitution of The United States (COTUS) be simply voted out as no longer needed and outdated. They are the FOUNDATIONS -“The Founding Documents” are the very bedrock of Our society. They are in fact an Essential core of The Law of The Land.

In light of recent rulings by The Supreme Court (SCOTUS), many egregious “bad” laws that are Contrary to The COTUS, have been ruled Un-Constitutional, as they should have been. Now we see these same frantic politicians who really appear to be the true treasonous entities within the body politic, these who took an Oath to protect and defend The COTUS, not a “democracy” screaming, on camera…as Maxine Waters “To Hell with The Supreme Court, we won’t listen” in response to Roe v. Wade, or The President of The United States (POTUS)- aka “Puppet President Joe -Beijing- Biden” they got it wrong in regards to a Second amendment ruling by The Supreme Court. Issues like The Second Amendment to The COTUS, is pretty basic in its verbiage, the current legal “Constitutional-Lawyers” politicians of the left do not care about it, they study it to find ways to circumvent it, or use cunning crafty semantics to twist and pervert it. Yet it is IN The COTUS, period. Another issue at hand is regarding an issue of “aborting babies, while in the womb, and even after being delivered – birthed”. Nowhere in The COTUS is this a concept, Oh besides a right to Life, Liberty , and the pursuit of happiness. However what is plainly stated in The COTUS is that whatever is “NOT specifically addressed in The COTUS is relinquished to The Sovereignty of each State.” Some of you may not even be aware that each and every State has its own Constitution and has entered into covenant, an agreed upon allegiance to The COTUS, as its abiding authority. It is how and why we as a nation are called “THE UNITED STATES of America”. “I pledge ALLEGIANCE to the flag of The United States of America and TO THE REPUBLIC for which it stands”.

Some of you may be asking why am I writing about such things when typically I write about things pertaining to The Lord God and The Bible. Let me shed some Eternal Light and Truth to my previous screed. It declares in The wisdom writings of Proverbs 28:4-5, 12, 28 the following; “Those who forsake The Law praise the wicked, but those who keep the Law resist them. Evil men do not understand Justice, but those who SEEK The LORD understand it fully. When the Righteous Triumph, there is GREAT elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding. When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.” NIV

To illustrate these verses we can look to a historical narrative found in 2 Kings 8-11. I do not have space or time to expound the entirety of these few chapters but wish to highlight some key verses. In chapter 11 we find a woman named Athaliah, who in true political power hungry madness, murders and destroys her competition and their offspring so that she may continue in power to rule and reign. Unknown to her is that her plan did not fully succeed as there remained a Seed of Truth, A Remnant, and with the aid of other Righteous men they uncovered her wickedness. These men made a Covenant and swore an Oath, lets call them Oath Keepers, to bring a little current events to mind. Upon the revelation of The TRUTH she cried out “TREASON, TREASON”. Let me diverge from the narrative to mention how incredibly familiar this all sounds, be it a Hillary Clinton or a Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer or any of the other Progressive-Liberal mouth pieces, now back to the biblical narrative. Not only was this venomous snake of a person destroyed but the spiritual ideology behind her wickedness was exposed and razed to the ground. 11:18 “ALL the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down, they smashed the altars and idols to pieces and and killed the priests of Baal”. When the Rightful King took his place All the land rejoiced.”

Now to be clear I am NOT calling for or condoning any act of violence, however I am stating the wickedness and demonic influence that fills our sacred halls of Freedom and Liberty must be called out, confronted, eradicated, and destroyed. The worship of Baalism often included child sacrifice, we changed the semantics and call it a much nicer phrase “abortion” for the aborted fetus, the killing of the innocent and wish to simply say its a matter of choice.

Lord we CRY Out to You, bring Justice, Truth, and Righteousness to the Land of Liberty. Let Freedom Ring, because many of us Do Care, for the next generation.

The Olive Tree, The Branch, and The Root have been symbolic throughout the scriptures. The Garden of Gethsemane was, at the time of Christ an Olive Orchard. In a previous post I attempted to shed light on the symbolisms above as they pertained to Messiah (Christ) Jesus. I would now like to take a little closer look at the fruit of the Tree, The Olive, and the Oil for which it was harvested.

As the Olives were harvested, and gathered for processing into oil. How might this apply, like so many other agricultural symbols in The Word of God to Jesus Christ, that is, as the Suffering Servant.

Bags of olives were laid on top of each other and then placed under the pressing part of the olive press. This particular press had 3 large stones. The first stone (closest to the fulcrum of the press) was used to squeeze virgin olive oil from the bags. This was collected in a basin under the bags and a new basin was used to catch the oil when the second weight was added to the lever. A third basin was used to collect the oil when the third weight was added. The First Pressing– is from the one-stone weight, pressed and collected it was used to make the Holy Anointing Oil to Anoint the heads of Kings and Priests, and other articles in the Tabernacle/Temple . The Second Pressing– is with two stones and the oil was collected and used for consumption and cooking. The Third Pressing– is when all three weights were applied to the sacks of pressed olives, the oil was collected and used for fueling the lamps, squeezed for the last drops of oil. Three Pressings in total, the pulp was then collected and used as fire starters.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus on the night He was betrayed had asked his disciples to “Tarry” with him One hour. Let us take a look at the Gospel story again and find some significance in His examples, In His Pressings.

Mt. 26:36-46, Mk. 14:32-42, Lk. 22:40-46, Jn. 18:1 (A combined perspective)

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Tarry here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed. “My Father if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look the hour is near and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise let us go! Here comes my betrayer.” [Gospel of Mathew]

“ABBA Father…everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” “Simon…are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing the flesh is weak.” Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Loo, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” [Gospel of Mark]

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stones throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” [Gospel of Luke]

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. [Gospel of John]

Three times he went to “pray” alone, Three Pressings as it were, the cup of which he was about to drink is of course not only his encounters with Ciaphas the High Priest, the Sanhedrin Court, and of course Pilate. Where he would be abused, flogged, and sentenced to death on a tree. But in fact The Cup of Wrath or Judgement of His Father God.

What can we attribute to this deeply troubling time for Jesus of Nazareth and his three times he went to “pray”?

*First Pressing- Holy Anointing Oil- Anointed as both King and a Priest– The Order of Melchizedek ; King of Righteousness, Priest of Salem -“Peace”. This first pressing that Jesus endured and submitted his will to, He lays the foundation to fulfill both these Titles and prophecies. (Gen. 14:18, Psalms 110:4, Hebrews 7:1-2)

* Second Pressing-Consumed- The Communion Cup, this cup of judgement was his to drink. His sweat, as His blood, dripped in great drops. Cup of the new Covenant and the Koinonia of Fellowship of his suffering, . (Gen. 14:18-20, Mat. 26:26-28, 39, 1Cor. 10:16, 11:23-32, Phi. 3:10-14)

*Third Pressing-Oil for The Lamp – Light of The World- in this final pressing Jesus establishes he is ready to be a Light unto ALL the world and will be the one to pour out the oil of The Holy Spirit, to Jew and Gentile alike. (Jn. 8:12, 2Cor. 4:4, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2)

Three Pressings, three times he saw the weakness of his disciples, three times He endured what only He could. He ALONE now is READY to drink the Cup of His Fathers Judgement FOR ALL OF MANKIND. He is READY for His Scourging and Beatings, He is READY for the Ridicule and Shame. HE IS READY FOR THE CROSS!

He emptied himself of his will, and endured The Pressings to squeeze out the Holy Spirit so that as a man he would face judgement, submitting to God The Father’s will and plan of salvation for the redemption of mankind.

Where after His death was confirmed His lifeless body, the pulp, as it were, was placed in an empty tomb, ready to Ignite A FIRE.

John the Baptizer testified to this account of the Messiah, Christ Jesus …”one will come after me who WILL Baptize you with The Holy Spirit AND with FIRE“!!! (Mat. 3:11)

All that remained was to wait and see if God The Father would find His Son Jesus’ obedience as an Offering of Himself, an acceptable and Worthy Sacrifice, “an offering made by Fire a Sweet Aroma Pleasing unto The LORD.” Leviticus 1-4

The whole of heaven sat in silence, his disciples in darkness, for Three days Pending the Final verdict…

Psalms 115:2. WHY do the nations say “Where is THEIR GOD?”

For millennia people have asked that question and declared, in their ignorance “God is dead.”

Many people, especially in this modern age of instant gratification and entitlement find it very difficult, almost crippling of the need to tarry or wait, which is to be patient and more importantly how to abide. Many, even “church” folks have lost the discipline to Trust in The Lord and to Lean not upon our own understanding. In our current world situation and the increase of hostility towards Semites and Followers of The Way, we hear the same old statements identified above. Be rest assured GOD is NOT Dead, nor is He slow.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (His coming and His Judgement), as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Meaning in His INFINITE Love for humanity God the Father (Abba) is not eagerly awaiting to carry out the sentence ALREADY imposed upon the whole of a fallen and rebellious world. The exception is for those that have put their trust, hope, their confession of FAITH in His Son and Redeemer Jesus of Nazareth the Christ (Messiah). A CONFIDENCE not only in the Promises of The Almighty, but more appropriately the faithfulness and trustworthiness He is to His WORD. It is the only thing God equates to His GREAT NAME (HaShem). His WORD (Logos/Rhema) the written and the declared spoken WORD of God. It is eternal and everlasting , it alone is the standard by which mankind is guided, instructed, and warned about the impending Judgement.

HE is The helper and The Shield to those that FEAR and TRUST in HIM. (Ps 115:11, 13)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise him. Psalms 28:7

A Shield of FAITH Ephesians 6:16, our faith isn’t in some man-made perishable shield, NO it is in the personhood of the triune Godhead of the Bible for both the Messianic Jewish and Gentile believers. Psalms 91 likens it to a dwelling place, “He who dwells IN the Shelter (booth/tabernacle) of The Most High will rest IN the shadow of The Almighty! I WILL say of The LORD He is my refuge and my fortress.” Oh to be found IN HIM when those moments and that day arrives.

Jesus makes a very peculiar comment, “When The Son of Man returns will He find FAITH in the earth….Luke 18:8b. When He does return, and HE Is! What will He find? A steadfast, courageous, and persistent ecclesia or a frightened, submitted, conquered, and frail bride that only sits in compliance with the injustice committed amongst mankind?

He IS Faith! Not only is it Faith In Him, and only those that remain and walk in an “abiding” FAITH, will be helped and justice delivered for. Once FAITH as a Mustard seed is sown into your soul, it must be watered, nourished, given everything it needs to thrive. He is that Seed of Faith! The Seed of Messiah which is The Anointed One.

Arise O Mighty Warrior, you Captain of the Host of Heaven! Ps. 24:7-9, Joshua 5:13-15

An ABODE is by definition an abiding place, where one dwells or resides, a habitation. It is to be the place where we “live”.

As Jesus (Yeshua) testifies in John 15:1-8 that we are to “remain” (NIV) that is to “ABIDE” (KJV) IN Him. Just as He and The Father are One as they abide and remain IN one another.

In 1 John 2:24,27,28 he writes to us “See that what you have heard from the beginning “REMAINS” -ABIDES in you. If it does, you will also “REMAIN-ABIDE” in the Son and in The Father. As for you, the Anointing you received from HIM “Remains-Abides” in you…that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, “Remain-Abide” IN HIM. And now, dear children, CONTINUE “Remain-Abide” IN HIM, so that when He appears we may be Confident and unashamed at His coming.” Furthermore in 1 Jn 3:24 “Those who obey His commands “LIVE-ABIDE” in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He “Lives-Abides” in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.” The Spirit IS the Anointing!

Psalms 91:1 KJV invites us again. “He who “DWELLETH- ABIDES” IN the secret place of MOST HIGH shall “ABIDE” under the shadow of The ALMIGHTY.”

There is a word in the Hebrew language that is given to this place that the believers in God are called to ABIDE in. It is His Presence, His Glory, The Place where His Name is to Dwell-ABIDE.

It is in The Holy of Holies, between the cherubim, His throne; the Mercy Seat.

We learn of this “place of habitation” first from Moses (Moshe) in Exodus 33 , it is called the KABOD.

KaBod- Strong’s #3519/#3513 kaw-bode; it is the heavy weighty manifested presence of The Living Holy God, His Glory, His PRESENCE.

So as not to confuse the reader with the other word associated with God’s GLORY as in the “Shekinah” Glory which was manifested in the glowing radiant face of Moses (Moshe) as noted in Exodus 34:29, in which the children of Israel required him (Moses) to wear a “veil” as it frightened them. Gods Glory and Presence will ALWAYS cause fear and trembling to our carnal nature (the flesh). Yet it remains that He calls us in to it and to ABIDE there. In Exodus 20:19 the people of God did not desire a personal relationship that is a true encounter with the living God and they requested Moses alone speak to God and then let them know what He spoke, as they were afraid to die.

In the Book of Ezekiel chapter 10, in one of his visions he is writing in regard to the departure of the Glory (kabod) of His Presence; it departed out of the East Gate. In 1 Samuel 4:21 a name is given to a child, shall be called Ichabod. For The GLORY has departed. Because the Arc of the Covenant (Arc of His Presence) was captured.

So Let us put off that which so easily besets us and cling to Him, to make our ABODE in His KABOD, so that we also may not be known as an Ichabod generation.

In closing, going back to Moses encounter on the Mountain he makes this petition to The MOST HIGH GOD, may your PRESENCE go with us, because if your Presence (GLORY) does not go with us we will be NO different than the nations (people) around us in the land you are sending us. He changes NOT so we MUST be found dwelling IN HIM. We are called Ambassadors of Christ and we are to be the people that carry His Presence wherever we go.

This HUMBLE ABODE is not so humble, but we enter in through humility, and ABIDE in HIS GLORY (KABOD)! HIS PRESENCE!!!

_{LORD GOD I ask you to meet and encounter each and every person who reads these words. May they come to Know you through the gift of Messiah, Your Son, Jesus Our Lord and Savior. And fill our CUP with the Oil of your Spirit}

Amen

We look to things that we can have confidence in and often times we look in the wrong places or more correctly at the wrong “things” in which we place our valued confidence. If we do not have confidence then we truly will be like a ship tossed about on the stormy sea of life.

By confidence we trust in our ability to walk, run, and leap. When that confidence is shattered we can become gripped with fear that harm may befall us. This is just an illustration of carnal confidence that is to say trust in our fleshly ability. I would like to take a moment to discuss the Confidence we are to have IN a Covenant KEEPING GOD!

Throughout the Bible God has revealed himself to mankind, to specific individuals, groups, and peoples. He has himself established certain Covenants, that is Contracts, with these afore mentioned entities. We can find very precise promises from God in these Covenants and scripture reveals His faithfulness in holding Himself alone accountable to His Promised Word.

If you have entered into contract with The Most High God, you have in fact entered into Covenant with Him, all the promises, all of the blessings therein apply to you in HIM, who is the Covenant Keeping God.

Other words associated with confidence are trust, faith, belief, reliance, and dependence. We live in a world that, like in the opening paragraph, is tossed about like a ship by every wind of doctrine, the church has placed its confidence Not IN the Covenants of God but rather it has placed its misguided trust in the world and the prince of this world. Tossed that is to say confused and ungrounded with no certainty of Truth.

We must separate ourselves from trusting in the things of this world, and return to a solid Rock foundation, and place our firm Confidence IN Covenant with the only Covenant keeping God there is. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. and there is none like Him in all of heaven and earth, this world may try to intimidate by fear and force. But as our heroes of Faith testify Greater is He who is IN me, than he that is in the world.

For such a time as this O LORD GOD, strengthen the feeble hands and feet of those that are called by your Great Name, place within us a Holy conviction that above ALL else we would place with a full heart, mind, spirit, soul, and body a fresh new Confidence IN Covenant and allegiance with you.

Revelations 12:11 declares this for those that have their Confidence IN The Covenant Keeping God. “They overcame him by the blood of The Lamb and by the Word of their testimony; they loved NOT their lives even unto death”. Therefore FEAR not child of The Most High God, determine in your most holy place that at all costs we will not waiver from our Confidence IN His Covenants.

I am His and He is Mine, abide therefore and cling to The Vine that IS The Tree of Life!