Month: July 2022

A Blessing in the Wilderness

Sitting here, I’ve been attempting to see and sync historical connections and have them make sense. I was wrestling, pondering, & researching until this sense settled on me, “It’s not about history, as much as it is about now,” the Lord spoke clearly. “Ok, what are you saying about now, Lord?”

I have a blessing for my people.

Allow me to go back for a moment.

Over six weeks ago, I began studying the events within the book of Numbers. From the first six chapters, I clearly heard the Lord speak, “This is for today”. Each of those first six chapters of Numbers began with the phrase, “And the Lord spoke…” The word was clear, this is what the Lord is speaking to us today too.

So, seizing that impression of the Spirit, I proceeded to write six Sunday Sermon Blogs, sumizing what the Lord is saying today, to us. They are:

  • June 18, 2022 – Father’s Are Essential
  • June 25, 2022 – Under What Banner Are You Camping?
  • July 2, 2022 – Gardians of the …
  • July 9, 2022 – Calling Out Those Who Are Called to Carry
  • July 16, 2022 – Clean Up in America
  • July 23, 2022 – A Holy Nation

Thinking that I was done, (because chapter 7 begins a different way & goes in a different direction), I paused and reviewed Numbers chapters 1-6. Tucked away, in the last 6 verses of chapter 6 is the one of, if not the most powerful blessings of the Old Testament. “The Priestly Blessing” or the “Aaronic Blessing”.

It reads –

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ” Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: You shall say to them, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.” So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Numbers 6:22-27 ESV

The Lord wasn’t done speaking to me, or them or YOU! He had a blessing yet to be released upon His people – a blessing for us, in our wilderness. For you, in your wilderness.

Let’s look at it more closely.

  1. The Lord – bless & keep you
  2. The Lord – make His face shine on you & be gracious to you
  3. The Lord – lift up His countenance on you & give you peace

Notice, three times The Lord‘s name, Yaweh, is mentioned? This represents emphasis and carries force with it. It also represents the fullness of God and His promises. Three in one Lord – Jesus, God and Holy Spirit. This blessing, the favor of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit is all in all here. Wow.

Each verse then, conveys two concepts of blessing. The Father God, 2 concepts. Jesus, the Son, 2 concepts. And Holy Spirit, 2 as well.

The promise and favor of God is promised to bless you and keep you. An invocation of blessing is being spoken upon you by God and a hedge of protection is being built around you to guard and keep watch over you.

The blessing that flows from the Lord, Jesus is His light breaking into your darkness and bringing His illumination and glory, and as a loving bridegroom, bending down and bestowing kindness, grace & favor upon His beloved.

This blessing from the Holy Spirit brings a lifting up, as the flood lifts up the ark and with it complete contentment, soundness, safety and prosperity.

Look at what is spoken over you by the Lord. Look at what His promise is to you. Look at all He provides to His people, those who listen for and follow His voice. Blest indeed are we.

What more could we possible need? Why do we seek anything else?

We must remember that the Lord is faithful and rewards those who deligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 Their reward is His blessing, favor, protection, peace, illumination, kindness, grace, contentment, prosperity and soundness.

The power of this amazing priestly blessing is for us, not just the Israelites. It is for the fathers, the families, the carriers of His presence, the guardians of His presence, the cleaned up (by repentance) and set apart ones. (mentioned in chapters 1-6) God’s blessing is promised AND spoken upon them, upon Us.

Could it be that the reason the number 1 video, “THE BLESSING”, was circulating in every nation during the 2020 pandemic is because that is what THE LORD was speaking to His people worldwide? The Lord was speaking The Priestly Blessing over His people worldwide. Jesus, our high priest was speaking His blessing, favor and peace upon His people in the midst of their wilderness experience.

The Lord was blessing His people worldwide by setting His name upon them and marking them with His honor, authority and character. I believe it was released worldwide in 2020 and is still settling upon those who choose to follow Him.

God was blessing them in the wilderness in 1440 BC and He is offering that same blessing in our wilderness of 2022.

“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and adds no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10:22

Let’s open ourselves up and fully receive it. Let’s walk in the blessing of the Lord in our wilderness.

THIS is the only place that we will find true unity and brotherhood. In the blessing of the Lord – worldwide.

Receive right now, your blessing in the wilderness.

Debbie

A Holy Nation

It is no secret that “a holy nation” has been the desire of God since ancient times. From Exodus to 1 Peter, we see-

…you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9

So it really didn’t surprise me in my study of Numbers, to find that the 6th and final topic “the Lord spoke to Moses” in the wilderness about was holiness.

Holiness, is the the 6th time “the Lord spoke”… do you remember the other five?

  • Fathers Numbers 1
  • Standards Numbers 2
  • Guarding Numbers 3
  • Carrying Numbers 4
  • Cleansing Numbers 5
  • Holiness Numbers 6

Let’s begin by establishing the difference between cleansing and holiness. ( 5 & 6) Cleansing is the removal of dirt. Holiness is to not play in or near the dirt. Cleansing is a repeated act as needed. Holiness calls for intentional separation.

God is more than faithful to forgive and cleanse our sin, yet His heart longs for a people, a nation if you will, who choose to separate themselves to Him in holiness. Because He is holy. Leviticus 11:44-45;19:2; 20:26; 20:7; 21:8; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Deuteronomy 23:14

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow of a Nazarite, to separate himself to the Lord, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink… All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head… he shall not go near a dead body. All the days of his separation, he is holy to the Lord.

Numbers 6:1-8 ESV

In His quest for a holy nation, there is a opportunity given to any man or woman to voluntarily submit themselves to the “Vow of the Nazarite”. The length of this vow was up to the individual, but what it involved was specifically outlined in Numbers 6 :

  • The individual was to separate themself to the Lord
  • The individual was to separate from wine & grape products
  • The individual was to separate by not cutting their hair
  • The individual was to separate from dead bodies

There are two separations to holiness revealed here and they both still apply.

  1. Separate to the Lordmotivated by an inner call to holiness and devotion to the Lord, these men and women set themselves apart FOR THE LORD. “They choose to distinguish themselves, by going beyond their own power and become extraordinary with wonderful acts in judgment and redemption. They choose to do a difficult thing by the surpassing power of God”. (This sentence uses the full Hebrew word meanings)
  2. Separate from – this second separation involved holding off or abstaining from certain things. They were:
    1. wine & vine products = represents the inner strength to stand against social pressures
    2. not cutting hair = hair, a symbol of intimacy and covering of the Lord. A growing reminder of one’s time spent with God. Intimacy with Him. Relationship with Him.
    3. dead bodies = represents purity and the desire to be free from contamimation that comes from dead works and things

These Old Testament men and women voluntarily choose to be separated to the Lord in a visible and marked way. Their vows were public and respected by the community. Their choices fulfilled their holy vow, and their length of separation was entirely up to them. This was a personal decision with national consequences.

So too, is the choice we have. It is a willing choice we make, to walk in holiness.

Do we choose to stand against social pressures? Is our intimate relationship with Him growing, uncut and unhindered? Is our lifestyle one of purity, free of contaminating dead works?

Paul echos these questions as he writes to the believers in Corinth. He calls out these mismatched alliances – 1 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 TPT

  • righteousness verses rebellion
  • light verses darkness
  • Christ verses satan
  • believer verses unbeliever
  • God’s temple verses demons

He calls believers to stand out in society and be separate, the exact same call to the Numbers 6, Nazarite vow volunteers.

He even uses the same words when he exhorts them to ” touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you…”

1 Coringthians 6:17 ESV

In these days, is there a distinction on those who have allied themselves with a life of separation to the Lord. There should be! Not only not touching unclean things, (cleansing), but voluntarily signing up to live a life separated to Him and abstaing from worldly contaminates. (holiness)

Where are those who will accept the invitation to share in His holiness. Hebrews 12:10 And run swiftly toward holiness. Hebrews 12:14 Those who will come closer to God with an open heart, fully convinced nothing will keep them at a distance from Him. Hebrews 10:22

Will you join the ranks of Sampson, Samuel, John the Baptist, and even the Apostle Paul in the Nazarite vow of dedication to the Lord? He’s not looking for Nazarites, He is looking for holiness, those who will separate themselves to Him. Those who will abandon everything morally impure. James 1:22

You decide. This is a personal, decision. But remember, it has national consequences.

I believe holiness will retore a conscience to society. Holiness will restore a moral conscience to our decadent culture. Holiness will restore the presence of God to our nation, because that is where He lives, in holiness.

May millions arise who will join with saints of old in not only cleansing ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, but also in bringing holiness to completion in the fear of the Lord. 1Corinthians 7:1 ESV

May you and I be a part of an emerging holy nation revolution, a counter culture that carries God’s manifest presence. I can think of nothing more exciting or challenging, but I’m in.

Sign me up!

Debbie

Clean Up in America

Sitting for 5 minutes with my phone, clicking through the local headlines, I listed the following topics that need cleaning up in America.

  • murder
  • assalut
  • theft
  • robbery
  • drug sales
  • violence
  • rioting
  • human trafficking
  • division
  • hatred
  • corruption
  • lies
  • big pharma
  • big tech

I bet we would agree too, that this is not a complete list. What would you add to it?

One of the things the Lord showed me a few weeks back was that we need cleansing. As a nation we need cleansing and as individuals, we need cleansing – a good scrubbing clean.

In fact, He was commanding us to get clean – to remove uncleanness from our life and nation. Here’s what He said,

The Lord spoke…Command the people……”

Numbers 5:1-2 ESV

Not often do we hear of the Lord COMMANDING his people, but this is one of them. He is ordering us, charging us, commissioning us to be cleansed. Now, not later. Let’s look at what we are to be rid of.

Command the people that they are to put out of the camp everyone who is leprous or has a discharge and everyone who is unclean through contact with the dead.”

Numbers 5:2- ESV

Three uncleannesses were to be put out of the camp.

  1. the leprous
  2. the one with a discharge, an issue
  3. those who come in contact with the dead

In this biblical context, the ones who “quaified” in those categories were sent away from the camp where God was and sent away from the army. They were let loose from the encampment so their uncleanness wouldn’t contaminate the whole camp.

I believe that the Lord is speaking that to you and me in these days. He is calling us to a personal and national season of cleaning/cleansing. That involves removing from our camp (our family, our life) these things and then praying for their removal and cleasning from our nation. So what do these three represent?

The leprous

the leprous

Leprosy is an attack on the nerve endings & loss of ability to feel pain. It has a long incubation period and when it arises, it shows as specks on the eyelids, palms and gradually spreads, bleaching the hair white with sores and swelling appearing. It casues bodily harm because of the loss of the pain mechanism by the nerve endings being attacked. And contrary to what we’ve heard, it is NOT easily contagious – but rather is caught by close, repeated contact with someone untreaded. It ends up eating inward to the bone, eventually rotting the whole body. Therefore, it has come to represent an outward and visible sign of a innermost spiritual corruption.

For the leprous, they have become desensitized, barely able feel pain anymore. Nerves shattered, and the ability to see clearly spotted by leprous specks that have found their way beyond vision to everything they do. Swollen with pride and sore with callousness, and dullness of feelings, their hearts and souls have become bleached out, dry and numb.

You will become like them, through close, repeated contact. And that is why God is commanding you and me to remove the leprous from our camp. Remember too, it’s not them. The cleansing the Lord is commanding is for us first. How have we become desensitized to what is happening in our world? Are we feeling the deep pain of the Father’s heart for our sick and dying world? Have our eyes become spotted and blinded to God’s Truth and Justice? Are our actions those of world changers or couch potatos?

Remove every bit of leprosy from your camp, from your life life. Confess, repent, seek His healing and restoration. Now is the time for a clean up in America, starting with us. He is commanding us to.

The one with a discharge, an issue

a twelve year issue

The discharge here in Numbers means “to flow freely, like water; to gush, flow away”. To waste away.” It may be referring to the STD gonorrhea, or female menses. But it reminds me of the woman in the Gospels who, for 12 years had an issue of blood. This issue for years had bled her dry of hope, money and options. All she had, had wasted away with her issue, she had no hope or help.

Jesus is capable of handling and healing all of our issues. Whatever be the issue that has caused us to waste away years… He wants to touch, cleanse and heal it. WIthout the Master’s touch, our issues will remove us from the camp where the presence of the Lord is. Our issue, will remove us from His presence.

Our nation has issues that can only be healed as we, His Body are healed, cleansed and restored. Now is time for a clean up in America, starting with us. He is commanding us to.

Those who come in contact with the dead

contacting the dead

Old Testament law did not permit the Jews to touch anything dead. There are very specific regulations involving contact with and cleansing from touching dead things. So this charge is not aimed that direction, for it is already covered. Its aim however, is at those who contact the dead through mediums, seances, phychics, & witches. It is those involved with witchcraft and the like that are to be removed from the camp, so as to not allow their evil influences to affect the nation.

My friend, there is no power greater than that of the Almighty God, Jehovah, the great I AM. To meddle with the evil spirits who war against God, is to war with God Himslef. To seek tarot cards, a daily reading, a deceased loved one or the full on dark powers of magic and sorcery, to cast spells or try incantations, all of these, we are commanded to be cleansed from. Run all them evil spirits, books, signs, and sins out of your camp. Confess your sin, repent of it, ask forgiveness and be cleansed from everything having to do with the dead and their dry, old, dead spirits. Now is the time for a clean up in Ameica, starting with us. He is commanding us to.

Lest you think these ideas are far fetched for New Testament believers, the New Testament is clear that we are to cleanse ourselves for every form of impurity and sin. Cleansing is a new testament concept.

  • 1 Cor. 5:7 – cleanse out all the old leaven…
  • 2 Cor. 7:1 – let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness
  • Jas. 4:8 – cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded
  • Mat. 8:3 – immediately his leprosy was cleansed
  • Acts 15:9 – having cleansed our hearts by faith
  • 2 Pet. 1:9 – …having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins…

Cleasning is for now. Is needed now. In my life. In your life. In the nation.

Webster says that “cleanse” means = clean, especially to be rid of impurities by washing. Remove toxins from body. Purge, purify, sanctify.

If we are to see our nation rid of murder, assalut, theft, violence and the others we listed earlier, it starts with us. It starts in me. It starts in you.

I am asking you to consider joining me and others in a personal prayer of cleansing and repentance. Evaluate and rid your life from any –

  • leprosy – anything that has numbed your senses to God’s heart. Blinded your eyes to His truth & justice. Anything that has eaten away at your spiritual condition. Those things that have worn away at your ability to feel completely and even experience pain
  • issues – that have run for years through your life and bled you dry of hope, healing, and faith. Issues that represent wasted years.
  • contact with the dead – renounce all associations with witchcraft, mediums, the supernatural, evil spirits, and walk as one covered by the Blood of Jesus, whose death overcame all forms of darkness, and by whose death you are victorious over them all

Here’s how –

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13 – he who confesses and forsakes them (his sin) will obtain mercy.

Psalms 32:5 – I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my inquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the inquity of my sin.

I believe the Lord is calling us all to put out of the camp everything that is unclean. Including these that we have discussed. He is calling for us to be purified, cleansed, forgiven and empowered. I don’t know what lies ahead for us in America, but I do know that He is up to something amazing and is looking for clean vessels that He can use.

That’s why your prayer of cleansing and my prayer of cleansing is the start of a clean up in America.

Amen!

Debbie

Calling Out Those Who are Called to Carry

This message is really one in a series of messages the Lord highlighted to me while reading the book of Numbers. In the first six chapters there, each chapter begins with this phrase –

The Lord spoke to Moses…”

Numbers 1:1; 2:1; 3:1; 4:1; 5:1; 6:1 ESV

So I thought, if the Lord is speaking, what is He saying here and how can it be for us too? We better listen up and get on board. (Don’t you talk to yourself that way when you read the Bible? :-))

So here’s the deal.

I fully understand that we are “under Grace” and the New Covenant of Jesus blood and redemption. I understand that Jesus fulfilled all the law. I get it. But I also understand that there are truths for us, within these seemingly obscure Old Testament stories, practices, laws and observances. So hear me out.

A quick backstory of Numbers 4. In this chapter, the Kohathites, one of the three sons of Levi (the priest & therefore his family were all priests) are being assigned their priestly duties. Their job was to cover and carry the “most holy things”.

this is the service of the sons of Kohath: the most holy things.”

Numbers 4:4

After listing everything that they were to cover and expressly how to cover it, it says this –

…the sons of Kohath shall come to carry (1) these… These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry (2).”

Numbers 4:15
Kohathites carrying the Ark of the Covenant

Ok, so they’re s’pose to carry furniture, big deal, so what, you may be thinking.

In fact, they are not just carrying furniture, and the most holy furniture at that. There are two different words for “carry” used in that last verse. Stay with me.

In the first usage, it means “to lift, accept, advance, aid. Burden bearer, honor.” (H5375) So it is clear that the Kohath family of priests were to literally, physically lift and carry the most holy pieces of furniture as the nation hiked through the desert.

In the second usage of “carry” it is an entirely different word, and yet is still translated “carry”. Take a look –

H4853 = “massa” = a burden in the form of a prophetic utterance. A tribute. An utterance, chiefly doom, especially singing; carring away, prophecy. Prophetic utterance, oracle.”

Strongs Concordance; Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon

Here, it expressly states that the Kohathites are to bear the burden of carrying the prophetic words and songs from God. Their service of carrying the holy things and bearing the holy, prophetic burden is so important, verse 17 says this, “let not the tribe of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites.” (Of course, carrying the most holy things was a risky endeavor if not done right, too, and could cost a life. Think- Uzzah..)

The whole chapter of Numbers 4 closes with this statement –

… each one (of the sons of Levi) with the task of serving or carrying…”

Numbers 4:48 ESV

Do you see it? Not only were there to be those who valued, honored and carried the Most Holy things, but they also carried the burden for the prophetic utterance and prophecy in the nation. Each one with the task of carrying the prophetic voice of God in the camp, in the nation.

…they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.”

Numbers 7:9 ESV

This responsibility of carrying the holy things, of carrying the prophectc burden was carried on their shoulders. It was their responsibility, their honor, their duty for all generations. They were not to be destroyed, or disappear, ever, is what God said and intended.

One last note, before I wrap up.

“Kohath” actually means in the Hebrew – “to ally oneself; allied.” H6955

The point here is this – I believe that the Lord is calling out to those who are called to carry the burden of the holy things and the weight of His prophetic words. It’s that simple.

The call is for those who will align themselves with Him and what He is doing and saying. To those in alignment, who are allied with God, He will speak and their words will be in alignment with His will.

As mentioned last week, we are a royal priesthood. (1Peter 2:9) Today, I add – who have been called to carry the burden of the presence and prophetic voice of the Lord for our nation.

I am Calling Out Those Who are Called to Carry the burden of the holy things and His prophetic word.

Are you one? Will you respond?

Debbie

Guardians of the …

What pops into your mind?

If it’s the 2014 Oscar nominated, multi-award winning, $773 million dollar grossing, blockbuster film, staring Chris Pratt – you might be close. If it’s the simple word – “galaxy”, you’d be even closer.

spiral galaxy

Although I would enjoy drawing parallels from the Guardians, whose goal it is to combat evil and create a orderly universe, utilizing their mechanized police force – “The Manhunters”, who sought to eradicate organic life starting in Sector 666 (and left survivors of the massacre called “demons”, who banded together to form a nation called “Empire of Tears”), I will leave that for another time. (1)

Guardians of the Galaxy

What I would like to add to the list of things that could pop into your mind is this: We humans have indeed been selected to be guardians. It’s true. You, me, and every human on the planet, are intended to follow in the steps of Adam, our father and be guardians or “watchmen” over God’s creation – His garden.

That garden first starts within us (Song of Sol. 1:6) and then extends to our planet. Why? Because there is a snake in the garden, and we are to watch, guard and keep the snake out. Man’s role is protector, keeper, and watchman (2) … of the galaxy (if you will) – to keep the snake out!

Yahweh-God took the man and placed him in the graden of Eden to work and watch over it.”

Genesis 2:15 TPT

I believe this is where so many who champion the “Green” philosophy of planet conservation and all, get their mandate. It is valid. We are to take care of “Mother Earth”, and watch out for her for the sake of continued life on the planet. We are to be earth’s stewards.

But there is more to our guardianship of this galaxy, and planet… and it still has to do with keeping the snake out and watching for its encroachments.

A clear example and model of this can be found in the selection (by God) of the tribe of Levi, to guard the sanctuary and presence of God. This family of priests, one of twelve families, was chosen to be guardians of the Tent of Meeting as they traveled through the wilderness and entered into their promised land. Their job involved, guarding the sanctuary, guarding the priesthood, guarding the furnishings, guarding the people, guarding the coverings, screens, and the most sacred ark. Numbers chapter 3 tells of it all.

It is interesting to note that Levi had three sons (Gershon, Kohath, and Merarai) and to each son, along with their family was given the responsibility for a specific part of the Tabernacle. Here’s the interseting part – look at this verse about Kohath (and his family):

Let not the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from the Levites…”

Numbers 4:17 ESV

In other words, take careful heed to see to it that there are always Kohathites (Levites – priests) guarding, watching, keeping and protecting. You see, as 1 Peter 2:5 tells us, WE ARE TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, offering spiritual sacrifices. What sacrifices? Guard duty, watching for snakes!

Where?

Yes, in the sactuary/assembly. We do watch for snakes in church, we keep guard for actions, attitudes and allurements from the serpent. We identify them. We rally in prayer around them. We bind them. We keep the garden free from the whiles of the enemy.

But also, we keep watch personally and corporately. In our own lives and then in the national life stream. Where there is any evidence of a slithering snake, its poison and deception, we crush it’s head, under our feet. Romans 16:19

In our nation, it is easy to identify the imprint of the snake. Whatever is contrary to The Word, is from the snake. Use the Sword then, to cut it’s head off. Keep it out, protect against its lies and heresy.

I could (and maybe even should) spend another whole blog on the absolute imperative we have to guard liberty. My friend, America’s liberty must be guarded. It is given to us, to safeguard, protect, and defend the liberties our great nation was founded upon and to raise up others who will do the same. “Give me liberty or give me death” is still the revolutionary call.

In our personal lives too, we guard against the lurings of the snake to doubt what God has said, to believe He is holding something back from us and doesn’t want us to be happy and fulfilled. But most importantly, our guard is to be for the keeping of His presence. Let me explain.

The Levites were to guard the presence of the Lord. The ark. They were to keep watch for anything out of line with what God had directed. Their charge was to be watchmen for the presence and to keep the snake out!

We too are to guard the presence of God in our life, in our church, in our nation, in our family. It is all about the presence – God’s presence. Keeping it, guarding it. In fact, being guardians of His presence.

The snake seeks to divert us, distract us, and destroy anything that leads us to the presence of God or experiencing the full presence of God. The holy, awesome, powerful presence of God is the snake’s demise. That is why we are called to be guardians of the presence. Watchmen for His presence and walkers in it, in Him. Seeking to protect it at all costs, through all generations. Cherishing, revering, and guarding His presence is what we have been commission to do.

We are on guard duty. Watchmen on the wall. Guardians of His presence. Keepers of our garden, on the look out for the snake.

So, now, what pops into your mind?

Guardians of the …

Cheers to you,

Debbie

  1. Wikipedia; Guardians of the Galaxy (film)
  2. The Book of Genesis; The Passion Translation, Brian Simmons; notes Genesis 2:15