This miracle is sandwiched between the true transformation of the Holy Spirit in the heart producing the applied life of Christ; Ch 2 v44 ‘And all who believed were together and had all things common’ & Ch4 v32 ‘Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common’.
As the transformation is the work of the Spirit and Lord, how could those who had believed, not have all things common. This is central to the narrative, all had been beggars and all stood by faith in his name.
This man was laid daily at the gate of the temple.
The healing of this man at this juncture in scripture, after the cross and immediately after the day of Pentecost, must have relevancy to the entire message of the gospel. It is a narrative concerning entrance to the temple and at the very hour of prayer – now that God has sent his Spirit what change is evoked upon this entrance!
This man had been lame from birth, he had never walked. Akin to the stone structure of the temple, he could not move from that spot and be sustained! This man was intrinsically associated to that temple and to the heart of the nation. He lived dependent upon the charity of those entering the temple, and those who carried him to the temple.
If other people had viewed their tithes and offerings to God as singular unto God only, this man would not have been sustained. This man depended upon the hearts of the people ‘Seeing’ an association between the temple that could not move and his condition as a man who had never walked.
While sustained by the charity of the people, the message was clear, you were born this way and this is the status quo. Now this status quo was a universal status quo, it was at the very heart of the nation – and it was a great misrepresentation of the heart beat of God.
David had desired to build a dwelling place for God, but Davids trajectory had always been that which was fuelled by the Word of God, and it flew through the air to bring down a giant who heralded the mantra of natural selection – that we are what we are born, ‘purity’ not even found with the Gods, ‘as I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field’, the giants curses and offerings at one with his world view – repentance not found in his vocabulary!
Therefore the man to whom God, temporarily for a dispensation, allowed to build him a dwelling place, was permitted because his heart was after Gods own, a King who leaped and praised as the ark entered Jerusalem again, a King whose heart called for the lame son of his enemy to be provided for as royalty.
And how did his journey to Jerusalem start? Keeping watch over his fathers sheep by night, the song and joy of heavens laughter, thundering over new birth, the original mandate to men the blessing of Gods Word shared and multiplied. Sent by his father to share 22 litres of parched grain,10 loaves of bread and 10 cheeses.
So the spiritual principle of dwelling in one accord with Gods heart is that of ‘sharing’.
Communion is sharing. And all of those items David was sent with represent a direct association with the Word of God: Unless a corn of wheat lives to be shared, daily bread & the sincerity of Gods word the natural passage of healthy nutrients from the heart of maturity to the lips of the infants. The umbilical cord may have been severed after birth, but life in God is progressive and so as Seth learned, the ‘cry’ for Gods likeness and image is the start of Gods callings and gifts, the sharing of the Lords nature by which we start to grow, to walk (Enoch) and to live in (Noah).
When Jesse sends his youngest son David, it is not just an ordinary instruction, their is an emphasis on carry them quickly! As a Father Jesse in the Spirit was sending the anointing to the battle line for the sake of all his sons and the nation, for the preservation and fulfilment of the covenant promises. In type, that which Jesse sent David with, was the manna required, that which had been lacking in the ranks!
This speaks to us not of the natural but of the Spiritual, and in that respect the outer form of the old testament is speaking into the victory that comes to the camp through the Spiritual man to come; and did not Jesus in the wilderness by the leading of the Spirit overcome the temptations through the Word of God, and as Christians the fruits of the Spirit are our inheritance.
The Word of God is what Adam abdicated in the garden, and through obedience to the Word and the subsequent fruits we experience victory over the uncircumcised man, the man of the flesh.
Jesse, follows the instruction with a return message! And in this their is much leverage. The Word cannot return void, thus, it must have fellowship in its every root. God is a triune being of; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a glorious truth! It is why God having made man in his image said it was not good that man should live alone.
And it also draws our attention to the avenue of attack in the garden of fruits abundant. The enemy had to deceive and lie concerning the nature (name of the Lord) of God, to elicit the disobedience to the plural commandment that brings life: Do not seek to live outside the fellowship of all Gods provision, all creation made by the Father through his Son. This is a commandment that is a law of the Spirit of life and more abundant, this is the dynamic truth that utterly and totally transformed the apostle Paul from a blind servant of the temple made with mans hands to a living epistle of love for all nations, enabled to effectively communicate the victory of an ascended Christ, of our inheritance in Him, of our adoption into his family: Being made sons of God, and able to cry the authentic notes of ‘Father’ – the Word not having returned void.
How can their be life in living without praise and leaping for the life that is created and sustained by the rising of the Sun. It is indeed to live in darkness and to be dead spiritually to live a life that denies all Gods provision. And here we see the reason why that which is unnatural to the design of the body and not good for society and family is directly associated with the embracing of a known lie – knowingly broadcasting a lie, Romans Ch 1 v25.
This is a Word of great comfort, of times of refreshing through the presence of the Lord, a word that speaks into the heart ache and longings of parents for their children. A word for children longing to have been tended and pastored by parents – Malachi Ch 4 v6 the very last word spoken prophetically prior to the birthing of the fellowship among men. Pentecost and Acts Ch3 and Ch4 are the fruitfulness of that word not returning to the Father void, multiplication of the life that overcomes and which gave himself a ransom for many, the grain of wheat.
(This post is now a continuation after having visited the Natural History Museum in Berlin – photo below, where the author was struck, amidst the agenda driven presumptuous science, that the earth is indeed the third planet in our solar system: thus the triune God who through creation speaks concerning his Godhead (Romans Ch1), shows also that redemption for the earth comes through the principle of the third day, the necessity of the resurrection of the second man, the spiritual man, the repetition of the third day.
In Genesis Ch 1 the third day has repetition within it. God it states spake twice, and the second speaking is concerning the earth being enabled through His word (the second man – called and name JESUS) to return a word not void. A word to be fruitful, reproducing after a characteristic of kindness – sharing from one generation to the next the grace, mercy and truth of the word of resurrection life – who ‘Seeing them about to enter’ – ‘silver and gold the elements prized vainly among men upon the earth I can not offer you, but that which is organic life I am able to give, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk’. And God saw that this was good.
No doubt that Barnabas who closes these passages of scripture and encapsulates the message commissioned to the earth, in giving his entire land to the ministry of encouragement was given eyes to ‘see’ the grace, mercy and truth more clearly. Facilitating the incorporation of the whole land, the gospel mandate to go into all the world, simultaneously necessitating the unveiling of the mystery that had been hidden in Christ! The chief protagonist of the Church, the most fervent of religious Jews, brought into the fold and launched into new missionary ventures as a herald of the mystery – Paul’s ministry unto all the generations of the Church yet to be: Ephesians Ch 1 & 2, the ‘cry’ of Stephen could not return void, as it was rooted to the source where forgiveness of sins has freely flowed – Calvary the ground of our salvation, redemption and restoration.
Silver and Gold have I none. The outer materials, Gold of the very ark of the covenant. Of the first recorded element in the text of scripture, found within the land of Havilah. But this first of miracles represented the breath of the logos that was no longer confined to a seat behind the veil. A man laid outside was able to understand this unveiling, as he had learned to read the body language of people and knew the motives by which and for which they gave. But this day, he knew it was from the heart, and that it was entirely for him, and that it was a gift from God, from Christ ascended – this man didn’t tire of his testimony, like Enoch he walked into eternity knowing that the Son had been given by the Father for Him.
This is a Word of great comfort, of times of refreshing through the presence of the Lord, a word that speaks into the heart ache and longings of parents for their children. A word for children longing to have been tended and pastored by parents
1 Samuel Ch 17 v18 ‘See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them’.
Jesse, the image of the Father, needs a token from his sons that all is well. This is not a small point, this is the central theme of the narrative, it is the purpose and reason that the anointing is sent to the front line of the battle. This is the reason for their being a distinction between the clean and the uncircumcised, of true godliness. The distinction the apostle John declared: 1 John Ch 2 v15.
Family, Gods Divine Order. A man must leave his father and mother to be joined to his wife, that they too may be a repetition of Gods image. We can not choose are family of first birth nor of the second – and while divisions do come due to incorporation into the primacy of being joined to Him, it is never the will of God to isolate and encase an individual through incomplete and partial theology: ‘Lazarus come forth’ & ‘Loose Him’.
Jesus dined with Lazarus, six (number of mankind) days before the passover. Jesus dined with the whole family, no partiality, both sisters. Here, within this home he is prepared & literally anointed for the front line of the Cross, the place where the battle was won. Where the cry of the Son was a token to all generations that God the Father is Merciful. Here his feet are anointed, and it was at Calvary where the door way out of captivity was completed, no blood having sealed the exit from Egypt, but at Calvary the ground was sealed by his blood alone: by the sacrificial lamb of God. And the children of Israel passed over to the other side too, when they saw the giant slain. The giant that says you will never change (Peter lifting up his voice), and that you will never be a man after Gods own heart. The giant that says, you and your family can not go free. But dear Rahab, had already shown that impenetrable fortresses are no match to the breath of God, and that God has always been after the whole family, certainly cousins too. A resident of the first City encountered within the land, and a message of deliverance and blessing to all cities entered and within which the great commission heralded: Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, Berlin, Paris & Liverpool.
‘Bring some token to me’. Jesse was not just concerned for one of his Sons, the one who had already been anointed by the prophet Samuel. He could have taken the position that nothing else mattered as long as David was safe and secure kept back from danger.
‘Bring some token to me’- the fellowship of the Godhead is the complete and total warmth of heart that just wants relationship and open communication channels with those loved. Jesse, was not wanting to control his sons lives nor make their own decisions, but akin to the Father who saw his son a long way of, his heart was naturally full of compassion for his family.
Divisions in families may come, but they are not born of the Spirit of God, as God makes family stronger and fills it with perpetual tokens, the division comes with that which is not at harmony with these cords of love within the Godhead.
Spirituality, is not having no need of tokens.
This bringing of a token, brings the spiritual right into the humanity of natural man! It is indeed the seed of the Immanuel, the critical component for the blessing for every nation and family.
A pastor, a preacher, an evangelist ought to be men and women who live for tokens! Tokens that the sheep are feeding on pasture that all is well. And that is why Davids preparations as a shepherd of sheep was perfect for his Fathers commandment to go check on his brethren.
David was sent by commandment to the front line. Hence his brothers anger was entirely incorrect. David was under authority, but it was not in service to a man they choose to be King, rather he was under the primary commandment to honour his Father and Mother, and that is why he is a bridge into the New Testament King of Kings and and why his anointing to be king was a Spiritual one before the natural – akin to Him who was born a King, not through natural selection. Jesus also used David so often as his context because he was a type of himself, not focussed on the outward religious form but the heart & why Jesus brought the issue of honouring Father and Mother to the religious hypocrites who had the ‘token’ unto God completely wrong.
1 Samuel Ch 17 v29: And David said, ‘What have I done now? Was it not but a word’?
David was there because his Father had commanded him to be there, and his commission was a good report, and a good report can not be obtained if the Word is relegated or neglected. What was missing from the armies of Israel was the Word, faith in the promises and covenants of God. Had God not commanded them to go in and posses the land. And had it not been promised to Abraham, and had God failed to part the Red Sea, or to stop the flow from Adam.
That which the Father sent him to the front line with were all symbols of the Word, Eliab, tragically followed the natural and consequently he warred against the Spiritual. And hear the voice of the spiritual, it doesn’t exalt itself, is not puffed up, delights not in evil etc. Was it not just a word? The power/strength is not the man and no chest needs to be puffed out in retaliation and defence of ones self.
The word is the good report and we are commissioned to go and spread it to the ends of the world. The Good News, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
David immediately continued to repeat the word in exactly the same manner! He did not change his message, despite his eldest brothers reproach and accusation. The true gospel can not be watered down as it is the power of God unto salvation. We don’t omit Romans Ch 1 & 2 from being the Word of God due to Philistines who threaten prosperity, especially when the Philistine (Eliab) stands labelled among ones own ranks.
(typed prior to return to Liverpool and a return to having wifi connection, since being in the German countryside for wedding).
Seeing Peter and John about to enter the temple, asked to receive an alms. This man is transformed from seeing other men enter into being the very heart of the message, Acts Ch4 v14. What had been done was so clearly a demonstration of the torn veil, between that which separated divinity from humanity, that it could only have been bridged by the Immanuel: The transition of a beggar to one equal to the apostles. In fact this beggar was the catalyst of a further infilling of the Holy Spirit and boldness being imparted to the Church. When the beggar stood healed with the apostles, the fruit of the Word, it could not be opposed, no religious practices, mantra or dogma could find any angle, avenue or ledge to hang an argument against this.
The apostles had ‘shared’ what they themselves had been given. The impact of this fellowship with God, the unveiling of Gods kindness, the truth that God in Christ has shared the victory of his Son, is the primary mandate and launch pad of the covenant promises: Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel: unto the Jews, Gentiles and Kings too.
Stephen ‘Saw Jesus standing’, and the Word returned not void with Paul’s eyes being opened to the ascended and risen Christ.
N.B. ‘Bring some token’, this speaks to me that family is greater than theology, or rather that good theology does not prohibit nor hinder the revelation of the fellowship of the Godhead.
Bring some token – the lame man was healed instantly. And so the armies of Israel rose as one new man after David had slain the giant. This man was born lame, and new birth is an instantaneous entering into his victorious life. The prodigal was given all three items he required to become an ambassador of the good news: The covering of the lambs perfect flesh life, union with virginity – the gold ring of purity of heart and shoes to share the truth concerning his Fathers heart.
Bring some token – has also spoken into some areas of my own skewered theology that has viewed the ‘death of self’ and new birth etc as placing man on a plain higher than God ever intended. Pastorally, I view it as a critical bridge of ministry into family and the original design of mans humanity.
Bring some token is the fellowship that preceded, the creation of this world, it is the communion that agreed to say together: For this my Son was dead! The lamb slain before the foundations of this World – the prophets only proclaimed the character of Him they dimly saw, until one saw a man coming unto him to be baptised.
Last Tuesdays prayer meeting my prayer was centred on the Father, and I recognise it was due to the token. The prayer of others not returning void, the fellowship of; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.
Having visited various museums during visit to Berlin it was enhancing to see that antiquity always affirms the biblical narrative. Having seen the ‘Ischar gate’ (Daniel and Co having walked through them) of Babylon, Egyptian and Assyrian history too. Even Germany’s more recent history, had my thoughts centred upon the Cross being the only remedy and intersection of redemption.
It was a blessed time away, and while family situations needing miracles are numerous, God was exceeding good to us all.
This post was close to a form of competition on Saturday, but I have taken an illustration out, deeming it as wisdom gained and now obtained from not including it. However, one feels that it does not bring out as it ought the links between 1 Samuel Ch17 and Acts Ch 2 &3. They gathered together daily to break bread and to share the Word – The fellowship of sharing is the ministry of ‘just a Word’, its the assured victory procured by Him who defeated are enemies at Calvary: Arise for your light has come: Babylon, Egypt, London, Berlin or Pakistan – fellowship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirt.
eternalrays 