I’m sure you know toxic people and maybe even some that are like the Corpse flower. You know, that rare plant that only blooms every 7-10 years, and when it does, it smells like rotting flesh. The fragrance of it and people like it is far from sweet.
Click on the video for some tools to help you determine what smell it is that you are filling the room with.
Cheers to you,
Debbie
To be clear- this is not about outdoor camping, political affiliations, or social justice causes. This is about what I recently heard the Lord speak to me while reading His Word, when He said, “Under what banner are you camping?”.
This question, although posed to me, I understood to be for you too. In fact, I believe it to be one of the priority questions of the Spirit in this current season that we all must grapple with.
Hang with me as I explain, you’ll be glad you do.
The children of Israel had just escaped Egypt and were in the wilderness of Sinai where the Lord is speaking to them. And here is the seed bed for our topic and question-
“ The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their father’s houses.”
Numbers 2:1-2 ESV
Here’s the thing- God was directing the entire nation, and calling for each individual to camp by their own standard, under their family banner.
You see, back then, each tribe had their own standard, (Judah/ Issachar/Zebulun, Reuben/Simeon/Gad, Ephraim/Manasseh/Benjamin, Dan/Asher/Napthali); each family within each tribe had their own banner; and each triad of tribes had their own standard. (The triad is a group of 3 tribes that camped together around the tabernacle in the wilderness)
The point here is – everyone was to camp around their own family banner & their tribe’s standard. Where they camped had to do with their family flag, and the standard under which they lived.
The Hebrew word “standard” here is taken from a root word that means – “to flaunt, to raise a flag, to be conspicuous – set up a banner”. (H1713) What we can glean from this is, the banner under which they lived is what made them stand out, be conspicuous. Or perhaps even, they stood out and were conspicuous based upon the standard under which they lived and identified.
But each individual was also linked to a family, not just a tribe. And they were to camp under the banner of their father’s house as well. Take a look at what “banner” means.
” sign, pledges, signs – miracles, memorial stones of their father’s houses.”
H226
Translation… family signs (sins, tendencies, weaknesses), turned to miracles, became the banner of identification for every individual, who then became part of a larger group (triad) who marched together conspicously, flaunting their standard of victory.
But here’s the question, under what banner are YOU camping? What are the obvious signs on your life? What does your life point to, stand out for?
We all have a family, and each family looks different. Family in this text means all of these things in fact –
“house, palace, prison, temple – house containing a family”
H1004
Families have problems, let’s face it. But every family has problems and every family since time has begun has had problems. Even the problems of biblical families are not hidden. For example-
God set up families as His first institution to teach us about human interactions. It is within this context that we realize family tendencies, weaknesses, strengths and values, right? It is within this framework that we see “generational sins”. These are weaknesses or tendencies handed down to us through generations via our parents. They include behavioral patterns and ways of thinking.
In my biological family, I see family traits that have been passed down, anger, impatience, pride, judgment, lying, bitterness, drunkenness, demeaning, and cursing, to name a few. What are yours? Cuz we all have them.
But even tho’ these are signs, sins, (of my family) that doesn’t mean I have to camp under that banner. I am not a victim of those generational sins. I can choose to live differently and under another banner. Jesus has freed me and I am responsibile for my own sin and not the sins of my forefathers. Ezkiel 18:30-32 I can pray like David, “do not remember the sins of my forefathers.” Psa. 79:8-9
Even though Issac lied about his wife just like his dad Abraham did, and Jacob with his mom decieved Esau, we do not have to camp under the banner of our families generational sins. But without intentional, personal confession & repentance we will fall prey to those “sins that so easily beset us”, those unspiritual family traits, whatever they may be.
You see, generational sins have a tendency to multiply among family members, and given opportunity to reign to 4 generations become a “stronghold” in the family. These become stumbling blocks that must be dealt with through prayer, confession & repentance as we mentioned. At it’s core, generational sins are about disobeying God’s commands and we must realign ourselves with God, His will, His grace, mercy, forgiveness and love. He truly is a “good, good father”.
That then puts us under the banner of LOVE (Song of Solomom 2:4). Now, The Lord has become our banner, and The Lord is the banner that we camp under. His miracles in our life, His signs of setting us free from family sins, and the memorials we set up to remind ourselves of His forgiveness and deliverance for us.
AND, for the record, “THE LORD OUR BANNER” is one of the names of God that He gave to Moses when Amalek attacked the children of Israel in the wilderness. The story is important for us, in this context because Amalek was the first nation to attack the Jews and God told them that they would have war with him from “generation to generation”. Exodus 17:16 (That means, us!)
Amalek was the grandson of Esau. He grew up in Esau’s house feeding on the hatred of his Granddad for Jacob. Isn’t that what generational sins do? Grow up, unchecked in households like festering wounds, producing swelling and infection. That is why God promised that Amalek would be completely destroyed and remembered no more. Exodus 17:14
And how?
Moses shows us in Exodus 17 – While Moses and Aaron’s hands were lifted, Joshua was victorious in battle over Amalek, if their hands were lowered, Amalek won the battle. As their hands remained lifted, Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword. THAT my friend, is effective, fervent prayer and praise!
It was in THAT battle, that Moses called God by the name, “The Lord Is My Banner”. The banner that wins us victory over Amalek (our generational sins, weaknesses and tendencies) is The Lord. The Lord Our Banner is The banner under which we need to park ourselves. Not the banner of our family sins, addictions or shortcomings.
When we find ourselves (and our family) camped under The Lord Our Banner, it is only fitting to then look up and find that we are aligned with the standard of our victorious tribe- The Bride of Christ. Remember, it is under the standard that we become conspicious – flaunting even.
When we experience the victory of The Lord in our life over our generational, family sins, we share it, tell others, and become conspicuous to others in our freedom. It is not out of pride or gloating that we flaunt our freedom from family sins, but out of a heart of humble, gratitude that we can’t help but show others that freedom is possible. They too could be free to camp under The Lord Our Banner, and the miracles and signs He will do.
Your battle with Amalek is guaranteed, but your victory over Amalek and those family sins is your responsibility. “For each person will camp by his own standard, with the banner of his father’s house.”
The question that remains then is, under what banner are you camping?
Let’s get to the business of freeing ourselves and our families.
Debbie
PS – I believe that God is preparing His people to march forward in mighty victory as His Ekklesia, but before that can happen, we must be free of anything that entangles us and binds us. Just as with the Jew’s, God spoke for them to realign under their standards and banners – BEFORE He released them to march forward. It’s time to realign, get things settled, and get ourselves out from under generational bondage.
So, my friend, let’s get to it. It’s almost time to move out.
As Christian’s we are in a spiritual battle and we must be spiritually equipped and protected by the spiritual armor of God. It’s time to gear up, soldier.
Blessings to you,
Debbie
Fathers are so essential, and their priority so foundational, that in both the Hebrew and Aramaic languages, the first word, is “Ab” = father. You will find it first, literally the number 1, in your lexicons and concordances. (Go ahead, pull out your Strong’s concordance & see.) But fathers are not only essential in languages, fathers are essential to healthy, functioning societies.
According to the research, from birth, even prenatal birth, involved fathers are shown to produce emotionally secure children. (1) Active and nurturing fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functions and academic achievements. (2) In a majority of studies, there is no question that involved fathers do play a crucial role in cognitive, behavioral, and general health and well being areas of a child’s life. (3)
It should come then, as no surprise to us that God’s design for dad’s influence in their family is one of his highest priorities. And yet, as I was recently reading in the first chapter of the book of Numbers (the 4th book in the Bible), I was surprised to find a whopping 17 times (in only 45 verses) the phrase – “by their father’s houses”. Let me show you how the whole book and chapter 1 begins-
” The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai…saying…”
Numbers 1:1 ESV
The book starts with GOD SPEAKING (in the wilderness) and telling (Moses) something. My friend, when God speaks, we would be wise to listen, every single time. So God is speaking… what is He saying?
“Take a census.. by their father’s houses…every father and male… head to head…”
Numbers 1:2,5,18,20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34, 36,38,40,42,44,45
God is counting the fathers. God is counting on fathers.
He is counting the father’s households. He wants every father counted, and every male in each father’s family counted. Now I know that this is a military census, but do you really believe that is all it is? For as I read and reread this chapter, I heard God clearly say I AM COUNTING THE FATHERS. I am holding fathers to account.
You see, in God’s eyes, it all begins with the fathers. God’s priority is on fathers, families, and fatherlessness. Why? Because God is our EVERLASTING FATHER, and the father of all the families of the Earth. He is Our Father in heaven.
Do you think it is a coincidence that fatherhood and male identities and role models are under attack? Positive, male, role models develop positive gender-role characteristics. (4) The casting off of those positive, male characteristics and fatherhood identities erode all civilizations that succomb to them.
The erasing of male identity and fatherhood is a blatant attempt to erase Our Heavenly Father‘s imprint on humanity. It is a spiritual and demonic strategy.
Fathers matter. Fathers impact their children’s well-being. Just look at what the data shows:
Fathers are essential for America as a nation and every other nation for that matter.
Yet, 1 in 4 children live without a biological, step or adoptive father in the home. That’s enough kids to fill NYC once or LA 4 times! Plus, there are millions more who live in homes where Dad is physically present, but emotionally absent. If classified as a disease, fatherlessness would be an epidemic and natonal emergency. (14)
In my generation, 87.7% grew up with 2 biological parents. Today, that number is 68.1%.
Again, is it any wonder why fathers are so important to God – our Heavenly Father? They are number 1 to Him because they are the building blocks of strong families and thereby strong and healthy society.
That Hebrew word “Ab” that we opened with, the number 1 word in the lexicon, means this:
“Ab – H1 = father, head of a household, patron of a family. Human or spiritual father. A familial relationship represented by the word father.”
Strong’s Concordance
Male role models are vital for families. They teach relationsips, reactions and responses. They set models for marriages and teach important life lessons. Without these good & positive influences we have countless families suffering through the absence of their father, because of his bad influence. And we too often mourn the lessons NOT learned, because of the image of Dad as a shadowdy, angry, booming presence. (and often harmful) The experiences we have with our dad powerfully linger in our emotions. For good or bad.
Today, I hear the call of The Spirit, to Fathers.
More than ever, this generation needs father figures and teachers. God is calling spiritual fathers to rise up. He is calling for earthly fathers to wake up. He is calling role models to step up. We have an epidemic of fatherlessness that OUR FATHER in heaven is crying to heal and fill. He is crying out for the fatherless.
This society badly needs the foundations that a father brings –
God is speaking, in our wilderness…. where are the Fathers? I am looking for them, I am counting on them.
How can you help?
Father’s are essential
In the Father’s love,
Debbie
Works Cited
Forgiveness will change your world and shift your focus as you learn to release it to others. Dive into this brief teaching.
Blessings to you,
Debbie
That’s how this story starts – with the people of the land. These citizens, in groups of categorized people and by various means have (after a considerable delay) spotted an opportunity. So they rally together, create their case, and call for the leader in charge to do something! They call on him to break them loose from their religious & political confines, to unbind them from their past restrctions and to release them to enjoy unrestrained “freedoms”.
And that is exactly what their leader does. He calls for the embellishments on their ears to be removed and given to him. With their hearing now affected, he fashions an image that will retune their focus and shift their vision. He willingly fashions this new image for them and the people willingly accept it.
This story, is none other than the acount of the Israelites encounter with Aaron when Moses was on the top of Mount Sinai with God. We find it in Exodus 32.
“When the people saw that Moses was delayed… the people gathered themselves together to Aaron… and said make us gods…So Aaron said, take off the gold that is in the ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters…so the people brought them to him… and he received the gold…and fashioned it… and made a golden calf…Aaron built an altar… They said, these are our gods… The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And when Moses saw that that people had broken loose (for Aaron had let them break loose), Moses stood at the gate…”
Exodus 32:1-7; 25 ESV
Check out some of the meanings of these words and phrases from Exodus 32. It is chilling with respect to its application for our days.
In this group of citizens, there arose a domineering voice. (We are told that Israel at this time probably numbered near 2 million people, including women and children.) This voice was one seeking to unleash action in the absence of apparent inaction. This voice coalesced around Aaron and his newfound leadership power. And this voice persuaded Aaron to take these corrupt actions.
Do you see any parallels here with our government in America, it’s leadership, and a group of its people?
It is crystal clear that the American people have “broken loose” and our leadership let them “break loose”. Never wasting an opportunity….
Scripture tells us that,
“Where there is no prophetic vision the people will cast off restraint.”
Proverbs 29:18 ESV
When the vision of God for a people, nation, or individual is cast off, all restraint is let go and all hell breaks loose. God looks at these people as corrupted, having turned away from Him and choosing their own images of worship, rather than Him.
But I would like to suggest to you that the loud voice of this first group was not the only group around the bottom of the mountain that day. Yes, those people did speak loudly and unified themselves around Aaron, but there was another group.
There were (at least) two groups that day. This first one saw:
The other, we find in this passage –
” Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him, “Thus says, the Lord God of Israel, “Put your sword on your side, each of you…”
Exodus 32:26-27 ESV
Here’s the 2nd group in the crowd that day and what brought them together:
This group was categorized by their desire to please the Lord and obey His will. These Levites, were in the crowd at the foot of Sinai and saw what was going on, the debauchery, and not yielding to it. When the call came – WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE, they seized the opportunity to stand on the Lord’s side. They strapped on their sword and went to work.
People, of the many and varied groups that we find ourselves divided into these days, we are united as citizens. We are the people of the land. And like those citizens amassed at Sinai, we find ourselves seeing the breaking loose and casting off of all restraints of moral, justice, education and religious values. And our leaders not only allow it but promote it.
It is important to note the end of Exodus chapter 32. For in verse 35, it says, “And the Lord sent a plague on the people because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made.”
The leaders of this land will be held accountable for their actions. The people of the land will be held accountable for their actions. And the Lord will indeed judge our land for her actions. Let’s not fool ourselves.
But today, we the people… with which group do ally?
Casting off restraint or strapping on a sword?
The clarion call is being trumpted, “Who is on the Lord’s side?”
We, people of the land, it’s time to strap on your Sword.
Go with God,
Debbie
This is one of the most important decisions you will face in this life.
If you’d like a copy of the notes for your own study, you can find them on the Bible Study page of the Spiritual How-to’s page .
Cheers to your growth,
Debbie
You’ve probably seen the movie of shipwrecked men who are left drifting aimlessly on the ocean in a lifeboat. As the days pass under the scorching sun, their rations and fresh water finally give out. These men grow deliriously thirsty. Finally, one night while the others are asleep, one man ignores all previous warnings and gulps down some salt water. He quickly dies.
Ocean water contains seven times more salt than the human body can safely ingest. Drinking it, a person dehydrates because his kidneys demand extra water to flush the overload of salt. The more salt water someone drinks, the thirstier he gets. He actually dies of thirst. (1)
We can die of thrist by drinking too much of the wrong thing (saltwater), or not enough of the right thing (water/dehydration). We can die from lack of thirst or from excessive thirst. Both can signal disease, a medical condition or mental disorder. Thirst tells our body we need more fluids, so we should drink more if we are thirsty, but it also tells our body to be sure to maintain adequate fluid levels each day even if we’re not thirsty. (2)
We are living in a dry and thirsty land.
And I don’t just mean here in California, where we are facing the driest winter in over 100 years and where all 58 counties are in a drought emergency proclamation. Even though CADrought Action declares these times, “the driest conditions in recorded history”, I believe they speak to both the physical conditions of the land and the spiritual conditions of the land that are dry and thirsty.
Who of us has not had the sensation of dryness in our mouth and throat in these past two years? Who of us would deny the major changes in patterns of what we have thristed for? Are there those of you who have craved vehemently for justice, or understanding or truth lately?
Those symptoms are the very definitions of thirst as provided by the dictionary and medical professionals.
What do we do about it? What do we do when we are thirsty? We better drink, right, and the correct fluid, too.
“… is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink. Drink freely of the Water of Life.”
Revelation 22:17 MSG
I find it noteworthy, that near the very last verse of the Bible (verse 21 is the last one in Rev. 22), we have a standing invitation to COME and quench our thirst. COME and drink freely. COME one, COME all. Whoever is gripped with a spiritual thirst for more than the dry, ole, stale drought of the past 2 years, COME and drink freely from the Water of Life. Whoever craves fresh, vibrant, refreshing, cool, life-giving water, COME and rehydrate yourself.
“Come everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come buy and eat! Come buy milk and wine without money and without price.”
Isaiah 55:1 ESV
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground.”
Isaiah 44:3 ESV
Let me repeat, you and I have a standing invititation to COME and drink when we are thirsty.
We offer standing invitations to come into our homes (and perhaps even stay) only to our closest friends and family. They are always welcome, anytime and always embraced, enjoyed, and provided for, right? THAT is the offer that Jesus extends to YOU – COME. You are always welcome and will always be embraced, enjoyed and provided for.
Jesus said,
” If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” John 7:37
From Jesus we receive fresh, refreshing water, that will renew and spiritually rehydrate us. The problem is, we often pass up His standing invitation and drink from that salty water that will only make us more thirsty until we eventually die of thirst.
I love what Hosea says, “I cared for you… in the land of drought…” Hosea 13:5
In this dry and thristy land, in the dryness of our soul and in our parched wanderings, it is the standing offer of the Lord to COME and drink that booms forth to you today. His invitation and your response to it will change your wilderness into a pool of water with springs of water flowing. Psalm 107:35
Could it be that we are living in the driest conditions in history because God is offering the most massive downpour of refreshing that the world has ever seen?
Are you thirsty? Will you accept His standing invitation for you to COME and drink or will you die of your thirst?
Cheers to you,
Debbie
Grab a snack, and seat and see what good things we have to share with you today. It’ll bring you closer to God.
Cheers to you,
Debbie
Under Debra’s Palm 