What’s Next?

I think the message of God’s promises and HOPE is what the LORD really wants us to “hear” and “understand” as we enter 2012 because this pass Sabbath (Dec.31, 2011), our Russian Messianic pastor/teacher gave a sermon on the very same theme and it was powerful. His messages are always revelatory, simple and profound but this one even more so because I know the Ruach knew we needed affirmation in this area of our lives.

In a nutshell, he focussed on Abram. Here was a man whose name meant “exalted father” but he had no children. In that culture, your name defined who you were, yet God was telling Abram, through his name, to keep waiting, hoping and believing. Then, the Lord tells Abram that his name will become Abraham (father of many nations; Gen.17:5) which realistically would seem even more ridiculous in the natural realm. Yet at 100, Abraham becomes a daddy (Gen. 21:5). So what probably seems to be waiting for eternity for Abraham and doubting Sarai is not. God’s promises eventually come into being. God is always the Master of perfect timing.

Abraham DID lose hope during the process like we all would in that circumstance. Romans 4:18-21 (Amplified) — [For Abraham, human reason for — the rationalizing mind that is operative here] HOPE BEING GONE, HOPED ON IN FAITH that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been PROMISED, So [numberless] shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the utter impotence of his own body…NO UNBELIEF or DISTRUST made him waver or doubtingly question concerning the PROMISE of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith as he gave PRAISE and GLORY to God. FULLY SATISFIED and ASSURED that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He PROMISED.” (Capitalized words and one side comment on the “rationalizing mind” are mine).

Our Russian Messianic pastor/ teacher said, “In God’s eyes, Abraham became a father the minute he fully believed, not when Isaac, physically came.” When you receive anything in full faith, to God it is as it has happened and it will happen. That is the true reality and if we lived with that full understanding of what faith and belief truly is, our lives would change dramatically. True FAITH in the identity of whom God has called you to be and do produces amazing fruits.

The pastor asked us, “Do you have enough faith to believe that because of what Yeshua did through His sacrifice, that you are holy and blameless and that this is your identity in Him? Do you have the faith to accept you are holy and the ability to receive that you are blameless such that when you fall into sin through temptation and/or trials, you can get immediately back on the path of your true identity through the HOPE and PROMISE of what God has determined you to be? OR do you look at yourself through the eyes of your family members, neighbors, church friends or other peoples’ eyes and let them define your reality for you?

Abraham was human like us and warred with the two realities — the one God told him was really real and the other one that his senses made him ‘feel’ was real. When we authentically and steadfastly walk in the true reality of what God tells us about ourselves, and genuinely accept them as fact and not as some ethereal concept that will happen when the fullness of the Kingdom comes or up in heaven (as most Christians like to think), then they become immediately operative as far as He is concerned. It’s as if our full BELIEF, FAITH, TRUST and HOPE in His Word, ignites and things start moving in the heavenlies.

You then read and “hear” scriptures like Luke 1:37 with far different eyes and ears. “For with God nothing is every impossible, and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.”

Right now, we are told that we are seated in the heavenly places. Typically, you could “see” it from this perspective. “You are here on earth but by faith you are in the heavenly places.” OR “You are there in the heavenly places but by faith you are here on earth.”

Unfortunately, we battle daily with what God just says “IS,” but if we lived as if God’s love is really real, His security is really secure, His protection really protects, His resources are really available…then this world would be turned upside down.

My father, Benjamin, is 83-yrs old now and not a believer YET. He has Multiple Myeloma (what oncologists say is incurable). I told my dad that in God’s vocabulary, the word “incurable” does not exist. I told him a few days ago, before my parents’ home, that his name Binyamin (in Hebrew) means “son of the father’s right hand.” The “n” or “noon” means “fish” (original Phoenician preceding Hebrew) or life. The “m” or “mem” is related to water…and the transliteration goes on.

So I told him that his name had incredible significance when it came to his true identity and destiny. The Lord was impressing me to tell him, “You are one who is considered a son of the father’s right hand, whereby the rivers of Heaven will pour through to refresh your soul so you can stand straight and tall in the resurrection of life now and in the life to come.” He is Chinese and a friend gave him the name Benjamin early on in his life. It was a God-thing.

At present, my father is down to 150 lbs, weak and tired from the chemo/steroids etc. but I believe in the true reality of what his specially ordained name means and I pray for his unbelief to become belief so that he can receive all that the Lord has destined him to be, that was established before the foundations of this world. Slowly, he’s responding. As with all life situations of this manner, it’s not just about my dad faith but about ALL those involved as well (family, friends etc.). God wasn’t just working with Abraham, he was working with Sarai’s faith and others in the community.

God’s Spirit revealed to me these things to claim and say to my father, knowing His divine promises and nature. So I was obedient despite the fact I felt awkward and inadequate at the time. But I, in faith, deposited in boldness what the Lord told me to speak forth to my dad. The awesome thing is a few days later, after I fly back to my home in Seattle, I hear this awesome Sabbath sermon confirming what I did in the Spirit and then I read Skip’s TW on this very issue this morning. I did by FAITH and HOPE beyond HOPE of what the Lord told me to do with my dad on December 28 and the Lord gives me confirmation a few days later. Just like with Abraham. God is too awesome.

In 2012, in true faith and hope, let us all walk in the REAL reality of what God’s Promises says are true about us and others. The Rabbi Hillel once said, “If not now, then when?”

Truly! Waiting is a test of patience, but how rewarding to have that fruit of patience, then no matter what happens, we would not lose our cool.
Excellent word, thank you.

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up
With wings like Eagles”

Isaiah 40:31

The Wings of Eagles 1957
Directed by John Ford. Starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara
– One of my mother’s favorite war movies

On Wings like Eagles 1978
– Assigned to teach Isaiah to select group of teaching assistants in Humanities Department at UCSD

On Wings of Eagles 1983
Written by Ken Follett
This is the real-life story of a Green Beret colonel, who came out of retirement to lead a secret raid, and Ross Perot, the Texas industrialist, who would not abandon two Americans in an Iranian jail.
– Worked at EDS under Ross Perot with an ex-Marine who was in Iran for the raid
– At EDS the most difficult projects were referred to as “death marches”
– At EDS “survivors” of death marches were referred to as “Eagles”

On Wings of Eagles
Scorpio: OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 22
In Antiquity, the symbol of the eagle was always associated with Scorpio
The eagle is the king of birds, because it is capable of flying above the clouds as it seeks the Sun
– A Scorpio seeks perfection and has a strong sense of own worth
– A Scorpio disdains mediocrity