Blog Archives - The REAL You!

From Strength to Strength

12/31/2016

There is an ongoing debate over whether or not 2016 was the worst year ever. Significant influencers have raised their voices including the Smithsonian Magazine, CNN.com, the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Let’s face it, this year many national and international incidents have resulted in a great deal of terror, loss, grief and dismay, yet another voice can be heard which presents an elevated, alternative Kingdom perspective. It is mandatory for Christians to use the word of God as a standard to judge other viewpoints. God's word, as a light to one's path, guides the believer’s posture and aids in establishing a firm foundation on the truths found in the scriptures. Psalm 84:4-7, though referencing the difficult and dangerous pilgrimage to Zion, highlights the joy of dwelling in God’s presence and states that those who dwell in His house and place their strength in Him go from strength to strength (Psalm 84:4,5, 7).

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion. (Psa 84:7 NIV)

Strength in the Hebrew is חָ֑יִל (chayil) and is translated as power, strength, wealth, army, might, valor and more. It is an all inclusive term, rendering the possessor of such a force to be reckoned with. Interestingly enough, chayil is also translated as force. It is a military term, having most of its translations linked to war like host, troops, elite army and retinue. Among others, it is applied to King David, the warrior king (1 Samuel 16:18), his mighty men, King Saul, and the Proverbs 31 woman (verse 10). While noble, capable and excellent are translations of chayil, virtuous is not on the list of Hebrew translations for chayil. Hence, Proverbs 31:10 would more accurately be read as: “Who can find a woman of valor or warrior woman? Her value is far above rubies!”

Chayil warriors may form a company, however, they are highly capable and self-sufficient like David, who single-handedly slew the giant Goliath, and Benaiah one of his mighty men, who slew two lionlike men, a lion in a snowy pit and an Egyptian giant all by himself (1 Chronicles 11:22, 23). Likewise, as individuals, we are often called upon as beacons of light and presented with opportunities to make a difference right where we are stationed, as modern day chayil agents representing the God of hope. God is our strength!

In the darkest of times, God’s people have a distinguishable hope! Worst is defined as the most corrupt, bad, evil or most unfavorable, difficult, unpleasant and painful. It is the highest degree of inferior quality. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of ‘worst’ when the distressed Israelites returned from exile and God's Light and Glory were proclaimed to those who bore His name. What a strain it must have been to align one’s natural, earthly perception, laced with despair, with an upward divine call to ARISE!

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), and I submit, that neither is the power that we have received. As we close 2016 and prepare for a year of new mercies, there is a Kingdom demand that Christians sing a different song. We must draw what we need from the Source, which consistently prompts promotion from strength to strength, until our divine missions are accomplished!

Onward and upward!

The Gift of LIGHT!

12/26/2016

This Holiday Season prompts a meditation in Isaiah 9:6, which some view as a foreshadowing of God’s plan to sacrifice His only Son for the redemption of mankind. The impact of this Old Testament Son-gift is depicted in John 1 as the Light of Men, or the Gift of LIGHT to all humanity, crucial to one’s ability to “prosper and have good success” in a scriptural sense!

John 1 NLT
1. In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He existed in the beginning with God. 3. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

LIGHT
The biblical concept of Light is a multifaceted, consistent theme from Genesis at Creation, “Let there be Light,” as seen in 1 John 1:5, “God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all,” also in Revelations 21:23, And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” So what is Light? Light is a powerful illumination resulting as a bright and clear dawning! It stimulates sight and enhances vision! It is capable of producing understanding and serves to ignite one’s passion for purpose! Light cultivates the perception of a peculiar newness of life, the hope and promise of change, for the better, in conjunction with God’s will, which is good, pleasing and perfect. Light’s strong magnetic force draws and attracts, demanding attention! Light is the only force known to cancel darkness! God is Light!

Isaiah 60:1 wonderfully portrays a vast contrast between light and dark, as the Glory of the Lord is placed on his people who are immersed in darkness. The richness of the Hebrew text reveals a remarkable transformation! Those who receive the Light actually become the Light! a direct Hebrew translation
Arise! Stand! You have become light! A light came in and the weight of YHWH upon you appears!

The Glory of the Lord is His abundance, heaviness, weight, honor and splendor! What an awesome gift, which results in people receiving the Light of Men and experiencing the transforming power of the weight, abundance, splendor and heaviness of God! These in turn become His ambassadors whose mission is to bring Light to others! Isaiah 60:2 portrays God’s penetration and impact in the earth, by the power of Light through His people, who are to cancel the darkness, that which opposes God’s redemption in the lives of all who are attracted to and receive the Light!

"See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you.” ( Is 60:2 NIV)

To receive the Gift of LIGHT, Jesus Christ, as the Light of men, is to participate in God’s plan for humanity! It is activating a supernatural source in mere human beings, resulting in the ability to rise above the shock and pressure of life’s harshest blows to a stance of security, peace and perseverance, without losing the focus and resolve to live out one’s divine life-assignment! It is never losing hope and being compelled to share that hope with others!

For this reason the celebration of the Son-gift never ends! May you receive God’s greatest Gift and all that He affords! May you display His weight, heaviness, honor and splendor as a carrier of His presence! May this illumination spark within you an insatiable desire to serve the King’s agenda as a canceler of darkness, so that others might know Him! May the Truth make you free! Darkness will NEVER overcome the Light!