23/04/13

The Lord roars out of Zion

Joel 3:16 - The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.


It sometime pains me when I see people follow the Bible without understanding. Some days back I had a heated argument with a brother who insisted the Gospel should be simple and we should not complicate it by getting into deep study of it.

People do not know the difference between Gospel and Word of God. The Gospel is indeed very simple but the Word of God isn't. Jesus instructed us to go to the whole world and preach the Gospel and those who accept the Gospel, to baptise them and those who are baptize to them we teach the Word of God.

One needs to understand no one can understand the Word of God without being baptized. This baptism does not mean only baptism in Jesus Christ means both baptism of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Without believing in Jesus we cannot receive the Holy Spirit and without our baptism in Holy Spirit we will not be able to understand the Word of God. Initially we may need a person to guide them in the foundation and the ways in which to study the Word since we start to learn to communicate with the Holy Spirit but then it ultimately is the Holy Spirit and no one else who can teach us the correct way to understand scripture.

Jesus taught His disciples; even though there is no human teacher better than Jesus yet the disciples could not understand Him. They came to really understand Him only when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Giving the Gospel is feeding the lambs (we), when we gets baptised in the Holy Spirit is the time we start to mature in Christ and that time the sheep (we) needs tending and then later comes feeding the sheep. (John 21:15-17)

Baptism also does not mean we receive the full Holy Spirit. Other than Christ none of us have the complete of the Holy Spirit. Bible states the 7 Spirits and what we all receive when believe in Jesus Christ, is the promise of the Holy Spirit. It is only when we claim the promise by surrendering to the Holy Spirit we are baptised in the Holy Spirit and we receive a token of the Spirit of Truth. The Spirit of Truth starts working in us and opening scriptures to our understanding. It is then we start to grow in the Holy Spirit and start to get more of the Spirit of Truth and also the other Spirits.

We see many Christians foolishly project Jesus Christ as lion and some go to the extent to claim He would come as an actual lion to rule the world. It sometimes sounds Christian have started become like some of the oriental religions which believe in animal spirits.

Let us look at today's scripture it talks of the Lord will roar from Zion but His voice will be heard from Jerusalem. We have many scriptures (like the very next) which also show Zion is a mountain.

If one looks up the Bible Zion was the name David gave to Jerusalem when he invaded it. Zion means fortified city and the interesting part is at that time Jerusalem did not have the wall around it. It was later Solomon build the wall around Jerusalem. For David the city was already walled for the Lord was the wall of the city. Solomon was bless with wisdom but yet lacked understanding of spiritual things which David possessed.

Similarly Jesus Christ s / Lord is called the Lion of Judah not because the lion is a fearless creature. I tell people think such things how lions fears hyenas and wild dogs or even wild buffaloes. It is only when we understand the symbolism of the Lion we understand why the Lord is called Lion of Judah.

Lion symbolizes Righteousness and the Lord Jesus Christ is the Righteousness of the His people who come to Him. However good we may be still we all lack before God and our righteousness is like rags before Him yet we are all saved and by faith called righteous because after judgement where Jesus checks if the Truth is in us, He will cover us with His Righteousness. That means it will no longer be our works or doing that saves us but what Christ did that saves us. We receive the Truth by the working of the Holy Spirit and Righteousness (which is also symbolized by Blood) from the Son. Righteousness and Truth are the Fruits of the Holy Spirit which Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden and due to which they (all of us who were in them) became corrupt and were hence thrown out. It is by our receiving these lost Fruits of the Holy Spirit that we are able to return to the Garden of Eden / Paradise.

Zion, Jerusalem, Judah, Israel, Samaria, Egypt etc. are symbolic representations of the various spiritual stages we go through. We grow from hope to faith and from faith to authority. Jesus came to give authority to those who hope in Him and have faith in Him. Authority is the fullness of faith, for it does not mean just having faith but means exercising it.

Zion is the city where the people of God who have authority dwell. It is the city where people who are of fullness of faith dwell. From these people the Lord says He will roar. The word translated as roar symbolizes conquer. This world will become the Lord's when we come in fullness of faith and become people of authority.

Let us glorify God and bring His Kingdom in glory here on earth by building each other in faith so that one day some among us will have authority in God. That the Lord will roar through them and the world will tremble before Him.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You came as man and died as a sacrifice to wash away our sins although knowing that we would still continue to sin for the sin nature is still in us. But your sacrifice was not in vain. By your sacrifice You made available to us your Holy Spirit. It is by the working of the Holy Spirit we overcome the sin nature and grow in Him and become Sons (Princes) of God having authority in You our King. Lord, help all those who believe in You and are not baptized in the Holy Spirit to be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. We pray Lord your Spirit works in them and help them grow in You. That they may one day grow to have authority in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
2 Samuel 5:7 - Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

1 Chronicles 11:5 - And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.

Joel 3:17-21
17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.
21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Galatians 3:14 - That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Colossians 1:19 - For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Ephesians 1:13 - In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

John 21:15-17
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed <1006> my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed [tend] <4165> my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed <1006> my sheep.

John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

1 John 2:27 - But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Ephesians 3:5 - Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

1 Corinthians 13:9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

John 16:13-15
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9 - (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness [Holiness which we get from the Father] and righteousness [from the Son] and truth [from the Holy Spirit];)

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)