10 Dec Looking for that blessed hope
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15)
Israel was murmuring and complaining again during their wilderness journey, and God sent fiery serpents among the people, correctional chastening. Then Moses was instructed to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole, and whomever a serpent bit, when he looked at the brazen serpent, he lived. So also Christ was lifted up on a pole (cross), and now whosoever looks to Him, believes in Him, shall live.
Jesus foretold in the latter days, “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth”, (Luke 21:26). This looking at the negative conditions is devastating. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,” (Matt. 24:12). To see natural conditions – wars and rumors of wars, famines earthquakes floods, fires, is hard enough to cope with, but when combined with the abounding of iniquity the view is enough to cause ‘heart failure’.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER VIEW, and Jude writes, verse 21, of “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life”. And Jesus instructed that “when these things begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS; FOR YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH”, (Luke 21:31).
One can see all the evil abounding and become despondent and afraid, or they can look “unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith”, and LIVE. Paul joyously proclaimed, “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”, (Rom. 5:20). Therefore, we look for new manifestations of His grace to super-abound and counter-balance all negative expressions. Looking for His mercy, looking for His grace, looking for the redemption drawing nigh.
GRA family and friends, look up, look up wide into God’s horizons, can you count the stars? OUR ULTIMATE REDEMTION IS HERE IN JESUS NAME. We refuse to look at all the abounding that brings despondency and fear rather we are looking “unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith,” and WE’LL LIVE WITH HIS LIFE IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL. Paul joyously proclaimed, “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”, (Rom. 5:20). Therefore, we look for new manifestations of His grace to super-abound and counter-balance all negative expressions.
Ten has been a significant number in all historical ages. This is a number of TESTIMONY. 10 stands for RESPONSIBILITY. God gave 10 commandments to man for him to bear the testimony before God and man. This number is made up of the sum of four and six (4 universal, 6 man, 4+6). We can also have double grace (5+5) or (the sum of perfection and completion, 3+7).
Man has 10 digits on his hands and feet. There were 10 patriarchs before the flood, Noah being the tenth who found grace in the eyes of God, a preacher of righteousness and a builder of the ark of safety and preservation (Gen 5). There were 10 plagues upon Egypt and Pharaoh during the days of Moses. Our never changing God will release these 10 plagues upon every Egypt and Pharaoh that might be holding you down in Jesus name – Ex 7: 12, and He will cause you to triumph gloriously.
Abraham prayed for 10 righteous people within the wicked city of Sodom. He wanted a testimony for God. There were 10 virgins in the parable of Jesus. There were 10 servants to whom were entrusted 10 pounds TO OCCUPY UNTIL HE COMES, and one was rewarded by being given authority over 10 cities (your season of an overflowing reward is finally here, you will begin to take absolute authority over circumstances in Jesus name. You will occupy, no more joblessness, redundancy and wastefulness through God’s given grace to OCCUPY – Luke 19: 13,17)
Most importantly, ten powers become powerless against the LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. (Romans 8:38)
“For I am persuaded, that (1) neither death (2) nor life (3) nor angels (4) nor principalities (5) nor powers (6) nor things present (7) not things to come (8) nor height (9) nor depth (10) nor any other creature, shall be ABLE TO SEPARATE us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
Remember the Tithe is a “10th” of our earnings belonging to God – This day belong to God and let THE LOVE OF GOD (which is like the shining and burning fire of the Lord) render these 10 powers powerless in your life.
Apprehended for the price of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus,
Dr. ‘Tayo Emmanuel