The Four Stages of Manhood – The Age of the Patriarch – Leave a Legacy

The Four Stages of Manhood – The Age of the Patriarch

pa·tri·arch (pātrēˌärk/) noun

noun: patriarch; plural noun: patriarchs.

a.The male head of a family or tribe.

a man who is the oldest or most venerable of a group.

Eg.”Hollywood’s reigning patriarch rose to speak”

b. person or thing that is regarded as the founder of something.

“the patriarch of all spin doctors”

2.Any of those biblical figures regarded as fathers of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their forefathers, or the sons of Jacob.

 

 

There is the wonderful season in Jesus, where the children are grown, we have been faithful to the Lord, and we have learned much through our life experiences, as we and our families have grown. As we have sought the Lord over the years, He has given us visionary assignments, specific directions for our lives and our families, and now, as this next season of life is upon us, we consecrate afresh to His leading, determined to both fully complete our mandate, and to train successors to our work, that the work of God through us grow and prosper in succeeding generations. Now, we live fully for the honor and glory of God, determined to see His mind spoken, His agenda promoted, His truth established in our families, communities, states, provinces, and nations of the earth.

 

We have been looking at:

The Four Stages of Manhood

This is the final teaching on manhood, and the four stages that I see from the Word of God, we grow through, both naturally and spiritually. These four stages are:

Boyhood

Manhood

Fatherhood

The Age of the Patriarch

Today we are going to talk about the age of the Patriarch

A Patriarch, is one that is head of his home, his family, his tribe. Speaking Spiritually here, he is expected to exhibit the character of spiritual adulthood, that is:

1.Esteeming Earthly Things Lightly.

2.Deadness to Censure or Praise.

3.Ability to Recognize God at Work.

 

In a perfect world, in a Christian home where the Holy Spirit was at work and the Word of God was being both submitted to and taught, one would hope that a person would grow both spiritually and naturally at roughly the same pace. Obviously, in a fallen world this has not occurred, and even in the church, there are many who hear the word, but they don’t believe it.

 

Hebrews 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

Yet, there are those in Scripture that have gone even beyond Spiritual Adulthood, to become legends of Old, their lives depicted in the pages of God’s Holy Word.

These are what I call spiritual Patriarchs, and it is these that I wish to set before you today, so that by faith, you too will strive to take your place among them in the hall of faith, making headlines in heaven, writing eternity upon this generation.

Leaving a legacy of honour to the glory of God, and before the eyes of man.

 

First lets look at the life of Caleb

 

We see in Numbers 13 that Caleb was a leader, chosen to lead the tribe of Judah by his peers, from the linage that would one day produce Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

 

Numbers 13:30  And Caleb ‘stilled the people’ before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

 

He was a warrior, honoring God and respected among his peers. A man of courage, vision and faith with corresponding action, to change things.

 

Even though the people had a grasshopper mentality, and refused to do what was right and follow he and Joshua into battle, yet with passion he made his case known before them, and God.

 

Numbers 14:6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

 

And God heard his cry and responded

 

Every single other person in the entire nation was sentenced to die without entering the promised land, except Joshua, and you guessed it, Caleb.

 

Forty years the entire nation of Israelites wandered in the desert eating Manna every day. One by one, they died there until a new generation was raised up who knew God, and who knew not Egypt. Even Moses died, and a new man was set in place to lead Israel, Joshua.

 

And Caleb was with him, still a warrior, still full of passion and faith, even though he must have now been in his eighties. Righteous, zealous for the Word of God to come to pass in his life we read:

 

Joshua 14:6 ¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

7  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12  Now therefore GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

Now I need you to see some things here. Caleb could have rested after fighting with the armies of Israel for five years under Joshua. He was eighty-five years old. He could have died leaving a legacy of faith and honor behind him.

Yet, He did not. Why?

He had the heart of a Patriarch.

He had gone past spiritual boyhood decades ago.

He overcame his passions to pass through spiritual childhood.

As a leader, husband, and father, he passed through spiritual adulthood and fatherhood, and now found himself as a Patriarch in the nation of Israel.

He wasn’t called to lead as head of the nation, but you can be sure He and Joshua were tightly knit friends.

The same spirit of faith was in them both.

He could have been like Moses, and not fully accomplished the plan of God.

For God cannot lie, and God’s plan for Moses was that Moses lead His people into the promised land.

Yet, Moses never fully allowed God to deal with his anger, and God judged him severely for it.

He died without seeing the promised land in his earthly life (although the Word of the Lord was fulfilled, I believe, when Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration)

Numbers 20:8  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Numbers 20:11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.:

Romans 14:23

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Reminds me of:

Heb 11: 36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

And Caleb made a decision. He decided that the plan of God and God’s promises to him were more important than even his earthly life, that he would FULLY fulfill all that God had promised Him, refusing to die until he did.

So, if his life is any indication, he probably figured. Well, this world is not my home anyway. I’m going to die sometime, even if it is in battle.

Yet, he knew that darkness and light will never mix. Enemies will remain enemies. Even though there might be an apparent end to hostilities at present, he knew what would happen. If left alone, the children of Anak would multiply, and the day of reckoning deferred today would only rise up again in future generations. Anak would attack or defile either his children or his grandchildren.

Join me if you will in an imaginary journey into the thought life of Caleb at this time. Could it be that he reasoned, “Well, I could die, and leave things as they are. Israel is established in this land, and I don’t really need Horeb. I’m well respected in the community, my family is fine. Who cares about Anak?”

Yet notice Caleb. He was determined not to die before all the plan of God for His life was fulfilled.

God had promised him Horeb, and he was going to take it!

To whom much is given, much is required.

And Caleb went to war, determined to see the Word of God fulfilled or die trying!

 

And the Word of God came to pass, and he lived victorious.

Read with me Josh 15:

¹³ And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

¹⁴ And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

¹⁵ And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.

¹⁶ And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

¹⁷ And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. ¹⁸ And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

¹⁹ Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

So then, a godly patriarch leaves a legacy for the next generation, and refuses to die, before his time is up!

 Psalms 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Let go of your fears, and live your dreams, do the impossible!

 

Hebrews 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

If you are a Christian you need never fear death or the whimsical temporal approval of man.

 

Believe God, and change your nation or perhaps go as a missionary somewhere.

 

There are enemies in the land Patriarchs: same sex marriages that threaten the family unit. Unprecedented divorce rates and destruction of the family unit. Legalization of Marijuana, Abortion, Child Pornography. Islam, the homosexual agenda, child-sex trafficking, corruption in government to name a few.

As young David said when considering fighting Goliath – IS THERE NOT A CAUSE!

These are: Enemies of honor, enemies of the Word of God, enemies of freedom, enemies of God.

 

As a patriarch, you have a position of influence in the community, that others do not. People of influence will listen to you because of your age, that others will not.

Reminds me of a story: When we were missionaries, living in Val des Monts, Quebec, Canada, I shared this message with our neighbor, who was clearly the patriarch in our community. Though I was pastoring a small Bible study there , ,but as an English speaking evangelical pastor in a French community, I was tolerated at best. Yet I told him that in order for evil to triumph over good, good people do nothing. That God could use him, to quietly have lunch with one of his old friends, and more could be accomplished for the kingdom of God, than I could work in a lifetime.

He was very quiet, but very thoughtful, yet I was pleasantly surprised, when several weeks later, he called me over to talk. Seems he had taken this message to heart, and had lunch with the local judge. The word was that this particular judge would sentence guys arrested for drinking and driving to 30 days in jail, and community service, yet, when one of his own relatives appeared before him, he was pardoning them, and tension was rising in our small town, because of this.

Proverbs 21:3

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice

He spoke to his old friend about it, and his friend saw the error of his ways. The following week, one of his nephews appeared before Him, and received prison time, and the community rejoiced.

Leadership is influence, and you can use your position to work righteousness for the kingdom of God, by affecting people in positions of authority, quietly, sometimes behind closed doors.

Galatians 2:2

I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel [declaring to them that] which I preach among the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter] privately before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference] that I was not running or had not run in vain [guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done].

Sometimes a quiet, simple coffee with a key leader will do more than all the public protests and clanging noise…

Yet in this culture: The disrespect exhibited for the elderly is appalling.

 

Leviticus 19:32  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

 

While we pastored in Canada, before God moved in the Inuit, elderly people were considered excesses, and were told to go out upon the ice and die. Now, since Holy Spirit has moved in the North, elders are again respected, revered, and are set in place to help govern this new territory Nunavet.

 

It is said in Africa, “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”

Patriarchs and Matriarchs we need you to guide us with righteousness in this hour.

 

Phil 1: 21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Dying is easy. Living takes faith. So the children have grown, and the grandchildren have come.

Live for God!

Ps 91: 14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Surely you are not satisfied that you have run your race through yet, finished your course for Jesus!

You need a vision from heaven!

Pr 29:1 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

If you get alone with God, and fill yourself with His Word, and seek Him faithfully in prayer, He will give you vision for your life, to make headlines in heaven, to have eternal impact. There is always someone to love, to pray for, to support, to teach, to help in some way….

Don’t retire, refire!

And don’t let the devil tell you that you are getting weaker, nor that you must be sick!

^{Psalm 103 1} Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ³ who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ⁴ who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; ⁵ who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

As you get older, you do not need to get sicker. You can still execise, and eat healthily, and He will renew your youth.

I close with this word:

 

‘With long life will I satisfy him’

 

Are you satisfied that you have fully obeyed God, and done everything you can for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

If not, get involved in a prayer group. Seek God for His plan. Stop Abortion. Picket the courts until just laws reflecting righteousness prevail. Leave a legacy that reaps eternal rewards.

 

Go on with God.

Let’s Pray: “Father God in heaven, Creator of all life, renew my youth, my passion, my fire, my vision, my creativity, my health, my strength, my courage, and give me grace to live for Jesus, with fire and intensity and purpose today, and for the rest of my life, AMEN!’

 

Some great articles and videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjljqReu1Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7_X-Gu51xs

http://www.revivalthoughts.org/Recent%20Articles%202013/Serving%20God%20in%20the%20Sunset%20Years.htm

http://www.wholesomewords.org/etexts/troester/elderly.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaihOIVVQ98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjW3zv2A1s

Need Prayer:

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

 

 

 

Unity – A Cry of Jesus Heart

 

Unity

The Word of the Lord, come to the tribes, through and from the elders  is ‘unity’. Convergence…

These are the host peoples of this land, and for those of us in the US, we need to have ears to hear, and eyes to see, what God is speaking and revealing…. https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/07/03/the-first-nations-mandate/

Genesis 11:6

And the Lord said, Behold, they are one people and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do, and now nothing they have imagined they can do will be impossible for them.

From the beginning of time, there has been spiritual power generated, when people work together in unity.

“On the concept of unity- “Thatʼs right-Jesusʼ most pressing concern before
leaving the earth was our unity. He was looking ahead, to every generation of
believer. And as he prayed, he made it clear that our witness as his body in this
fractured , messed-up, chaotic world would depend on our love for another.”
― Ed Galisewski, A Simpler Faith: Hope For Those Who Struggle With Church    

Jesus said if only two of us might agree in prayer, as touching anything, it would be done for us

Matt18: 19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [g]everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.

20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.

When Jesus, King of the Universe shows up, things happen!

Deuteronomy 32:30

How could one have chased a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had delivered them up?

There is great spiritual power released, when people come together in prayer, in Jesus, in purpose….

In Oklahoma, Governer Haskell, in his inaugural address over the state said:

“where the original owners of the state had not yet been conquered, but had joined with their white neighbors in forming a new commonwealth, and he found in the red and white stripes of the American flag, a new symbolism, of the red man and the white man united under the azure sky.”

This is indeed our prayer in Oklahoma, as we see the history of broken treaties, promises, hearts, we cry unto God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth:‘Father in heaven, Creator, do a miracle here, and across America, where indeed, you might heal; the relationships between the red and white man, united under Your azure sky. Only You can do this thing, for the history and wounds are very deep, but the depths of the cross of Jesus, Yeshua, are deeper. Make it happen, do a miracle, for our eyes are on You, AMEN!’

Now, here in Oklahoma, we have every tongue, every tribe (39 tribes!), and every nation represented, as international businesses and ministries have been raised up here from this red soil.

Yet, wherever you are, unity is worth fighting for. Not unity of language, culture, nor over tradition. No, Godly unity, is unity through diversity.

God has given our unique destinies, languages, cultures, for He will have a witness, from every nation of the earth before His throne.

Revelation 1:7

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall gaze upon Him and beat their breasts and mourn and lament over Him. Even so [must it be]. Amen (so be it).

Revelation 5:9

And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Revelation 7:9

After this I looked and a vast host appeared which no one could count, [gathered out] of every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne and before the Lamb; they were attired in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.

Unity, can come, in Jesus, Yeshua, between Jew and Gentile, Indian and white man, red and yellow black and white, we are all precious in His sight. The culture of heaven supercedes every earthly culture, the rule and reign of Jesus love, greater than the government of any tribe or nation!

So, I rewrote a prayer of Unity, that still speaks to me today, and is a battle cry of heaven…

Prayer for Unity

Been thinking about David Ruis song: Break Dividing Walls, as
prophetic key to revival in regions and this nation:.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qRtltD2ysg

John 17: 11 ¶ And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

17 ¶ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

20 ¶ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Ps 133:1 ¶ «A Song of degrees of David.» Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the
blessing, even life for evermore.

Unity produces God’s commanded blessing!

Let’s Pray:

Father, I join in the prayer of Jesus, asking You, for unity in the Body of Christ in my people, tribe, city, state, and this nation.

Reveal the glory that you have given us Jesus, that sanctifies us and cleanses us of our foolish ways. May truth be spoken in love that is revealed to us deep within, that cleanses us of our own ways and
agendas, that we may take our place before You Father, Creator of Heaven and earth, in the Body of Christ, bringing our particular gift and supply of Holy Spirit, that we may all work together for the harvest, the increase of your kingdom and Body, as we grow together in love.

Warrior God, King of Heaven’s armies, burn with passion and zeal in me, to see my people find the peace, love, healing, provision, and joy, that only comes from You, and You alone, as I walk before You with clean hands, purity of heart, and clear eyes to see….

Help me to be a peacemaker to my people, my family, my tribe and council, to each other, and to this city and region, a bridge builder causing people, families, ministries, governments, businesses, organizations, and our communities to work together in love and one accord, sharing resources that You so richly provide to us, generously, to get needs of people met, that You be glorified.

Father help us as leaders to stand strong for people, programs, ministries, administrative processes, ordained of You, constantly growing and refining them to bear much fruit for You. Those agendas that are of our own making, or that have outlived their usefulness to you and your specific calling upon our lives, please prune and remove them, by Your own hand.

Help us to be pliable in your hand, flowing together with other peoples, ministries, and leaders here in our community, city and land, as You grant us supernatural wisdom, to avoid strife and discord as far as it remains with us.

Help to remain humble, teachable, and make your servant heart of aggressive growth continue to burn bright in and through us, that the world may see your love.

In your authority, I break dividing walls between family members, community factions, clans, tribes, ministries, governments,denominations, and congregations, loosing reconciliation, revelation, love, and understanding between us. I command all judgment, haughtiness, bitterness, pride, arrogancy, unforgiveness, religion, offence, tradition, racism: MOVE, in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There, we enforce your kingdom in righteousness, peace, and joy, in power, anointing, and commanded blessing, in the love of God and name and authority of King Jesus! Amen!

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com

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Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I am a five-fold ministry gift and office – this is my life – I pray, I hear, I write, and wonderful things happen. You have your job description, I have mine – this is mine….

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!

The Four Stages of Manhood – The Age of the Patriarch

pa·tri·arch (pātrēˌärk/) noun

noun: patriarch; plural noun: patriarchs.

a.The male head of a family or tribe.

a man who is the oldest or most venerable of a group.

Eg.”Hollywood’s reigning patriarch rose to speak”

b. person or thing that is regarded as the founder of something.

“the patriarch of all spin doctors”

2.Any of those biblical figures regarded as fathers of the human race, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their forefathers, or the sons of Jacob.

 

 

There is the wonderful season in Jesus, where the children are grown, we have been faithful to the Lord, and we have learned much through our life experiences, as we and our families have grown. As we have sought the Lord over the years, He has given us visionary assignments, specific directions for our lives and our families, and now, as this next season of life is upon us, we consecrate afresh to His leading, determined to both fully complete our mandate, and to train successors to our work, that the work of God through us grow and prosper in succeeding generations. Now, we live fully for the honor and glory of God, determined to see His mind spoken, His agenda promoted, His truth established in our families, communities, states, provinces, and nations of the earth.

 

We have been looking at:

The Four Stages of Manhood

This is the final teaching on manhood, and the four stages that I see from the Word of God, we grow through, both naturally and spiritually. These four stages are:

Boyhood

Manhood

Fatherhood

The Age of the Patriarch

Today we are going to talk about the age of the Patriarch

A Patriarch, is one that is head of his home, his family, his tribe. Speaking Spiritually here, he is expected to exhibit the character of spiritual adulthood, that is:

1.Esteeming Earthly Things Lightly.

2.Deadness to Censure or Praise.

3.Ability to Recognize God at Work.

 

In a perfect world, in a Christian home where the Holy Spirit was at work and the Word of God was being both submitted to and taught, one would hope that a person would grow both spiritually and naturally at roughly the same pace. Obviously, in a fallen world this has not occurred, and even in the church, there are many who hear the word, but they don’t believe it.

 

Hebrews 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

Yet, there are those in Scripture that have gone even beyond Spiritual Adulthood, to become legends of Old, their lives depicted in the pages of God’s Holy Word.

 

These are what I call spiritual Patriarchs, and it is these that I wish to set before you today, so that by faith, you too will strive to take your place among them in the hall of faith, making headlines in heaven, writing eternity upon this generation.

Leaving a legacy of honour to the glory of God, and before the eyes of man.

 

First lets look at the life of Caleb

 

We see in Numbers 13 that Caleb was a leader, chosen to lead the tribe of Judah by his peers, from the linage that would one day produce Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

 

Numbers 13:30  And Caleb ‘stilled the people’ before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

 

He was a warrior, honoring God and respected among his peers. A man of courage, vision and faith with corresponding action, to change things.

 

Even though the people had a grasshopper mentality, and refused to do what was right and follow he and Joshua into battle, yet with passion he made his case known before them, and God.

 

Numbers 14:6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

 

And God heard his cry and responded

 

Every single other person in the entire nation was sentenced to die without entering the promised land, except Joshua, and you guessed it, Caleb.

 

Forty years the entire nation of Israelites wandered in the desert eating Manna every day. One by one, they died there until a new generation was raised up who knew God, and who knew not Egypt. Even Moses died, and a new man was set in place to lead Israel, Joshua.

 

And Caleb was with him, still a warrior, still full of passion and faith, even though he must have now been in his eighties. Righteous, zealous for the Word of God to come to pass in his life we read:

 

Joshua 14:6 ¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

7  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12  Now therefore GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

Now I need you to see some things here. Caleb could have rested after fighting with the armies of Israel for five years under Joshua. He was eighty-five years old. He could have died leaving a legacy of faith and honor behind him.

Yet, He did not. Why?

He had the heart of a Patriarch.

He had gone past spiritual boyhood decades ago.

He overcame his passions to pass through spiritual childhood.

As a leader, husband, and father, he passed through spiritual adulthood and fatherhood, and now found himself as a Patriarch in the nation of Israel.

He wasn’t called to lead as head of the nation, but you can be sure He and Joshua were tightly knit friends.

The same spirit of faith was in them both.

He could have been like Moses, and not fully accomplished the plan of God.

For God cannot lie, and God’s plan for Moses was that Moses lead His people into the promised land.

Yet, Moses never fully allowed God to deal with his anger, and God judged him severely for it.

He died without seeing the promised land in his earthly life (although the Word of the Lord was fulfilled, I believe, when Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration)

Numbers 20:8  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Numbers 20:11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.:

Romans 14:23

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Reminds me of:

Heb 11: 36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

And Caleb made a decision. He decided that the plan of God and God’s promises to him were more important than even his earthly life, that he would FULLY fulfill all that God had promised Him, refusing to die until he did.

So, if his life is any indication, he probably figured. Well, this world is not my home anyway. I’m going to die sometime, even if it is in battle.

Yet, he knew that darkness and light will never mix. Enemies will remain enemies. Even though there might be an apparent end to hostilities at present, he knew what would happen. If left alone, the children of Anak would multiply, and the day of reckoning deferred today would only rise up again in future generations. Anak would attack or defile either his children or his grandchildren.

Join me if you will in an imaginary journey into the thought life of Caleb at this time. Could it be that he reasoned, “Well, I could die, and leave things as they are. Israel is established in this land, and I don’t really need Horeb. I’m well respected in the community, my family is fine. Who cares about Anak?”

Yet notice Caleb. He was determined not to die before all the plan of God for His life was fulfilled.

God had promised him Horeb, and he was going to take it!

To whom much is given, much is required.

And Caleb went to war, determined to see the Word of God fulfilled or die trying!

 

And the Word of God came to pass, and he lived victorious.

Read with me Josh 15:

¹³ And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

¹⁴ And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

¹⁵ And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.

¹⁶ And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

¹⁷ And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. ¹⁸ And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

¹⁹ Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

So then, a godly patriarch leaves a legacy for the next generation, and refuses to die, before his time is up!

 Psalms 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Let go of your fears, and live your dreams, do the impossible!

 

Hebrews 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

If you are a Christian you need never fear death or the whimsical temporal approval of man.

 

Believe God, and change your nation or perhaps go as a missionary somewhere.

 

There are enemies in the land Patriarchs: same sex marriages that threaten the family unit. Unprecedented divorce rates and destruction of the family unit. Legalization of Marijuana, Abortion, Child Pornography. Islam, the homosexual agenda, child-sex trafficking, corruption in government to name a few.

As young David said when considering fighting Goliath – IS THERE NOT A CAUSE!

These are: Enemies of honor, enemies of the Word of God, enemies of freedom, enemies of God.

 

As a patriarch, you have a position of influence in the community, that others do not. People of influence will listen to you because of your age, that others will not.

Reminds me of a story: When we were missionaries, living in Val des Monts, Quebec, Canada, I shared this message with our neighbor, who was clearly the patriarch in our community. Though I was pastoring a small Bible study there , ,but as an English speaking evangelical pastor in a French community, I was tolerated at best. Yet I told him that in order for evil to triumph over good, good people do nothing. That God could use him, to quietly have lunch with one of his old friends, and more could be accomplished for the kingdom of God, than I could work in a lifetime.

He was very quiet, but very thoughtful, yet I was pleasantly surprised, when several weeks later, he called me over to talk. Seems he had taken this message to heart, and had lunch with the local judge. The word was that this particular judge would sentence guys arrested for drinking and driving to 30 days in jail, and community service, yet, when one of his own relatives appeared before him, he was pardoning them, and tension was rising in our small town, because of this.

Proverbs 21:3

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice

He spoke to his old friend about it, and his friend saw the error of his ways. The following week, one of his nephews appeared before Him, and received prison time, and the community rejoiced.

Leadership is influence, and you can use your position to work righteousness for the kingdom of God, by affecting people in positions of authority, quietly, sometimes behind closed doors.

Galatians 2:2

I went because it was specially and divinely revealed to me that I should go, and I put before them the Gospel [declaring to them that] which I preach among the Gentiles. However, [I presented the matter] privately before those of repute, [for I wanted to make certain, by thus at first confining my communication to this private conference] that I was not running or had not run in vain [guarding against being discredited either in what I was planning to do or had already done].

Sometimes a quiet, simple coffee with a key leader will do more than all the public protests and clanging noise…

Yet in this culture: The disrespect exhibited for the elderly is appalling.

 

Leviticus 19:32  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

 

While we pastored in Canada, before God moved in the Inuit, elderly people were considered excesses, and were told to go out upon the ice and die. Now, since Holy Spirit has moved in the North, elders are again respected, revered, and are set in place to help govern this new territory Nunavet.

 

It is said in Africa, “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”

Patriarchs and Matriarchs we need you to guide us with righteousness in this hour.

 

Phil 1: 21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Dying is easy. Living takes faith. So the children have grown, and the grandchildren have come.

Live for God!

Ps 91: 14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Surely you are not satisfied that you have run your race through yet, finished your course for Jesus!

You need a vision from heaven!

Pr 29:1 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

If you get alone with God, and fill yourself with His Word, and seek Him faithfully in prayer, He will give you vision for your life, to make headlines in heaven, to have eternal impact. There is always someone to love, to pray for, to support, to teach, to help in some way….

Don’t retire, refire!

And don’t let the devil tell you that you are getting weaker, nor that you must be sick!

^{Psalm 103 1} Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. ² Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ³ who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ⁴ who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; ⁵ who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

As you get older, you do not need to get sicker. You can still execise, and eat healthily, and He will renew your youth.

I close with this word:

 

‘With long life will I satisfy him’

 

Are you satisfied that you have fully obeyed God, and done everything you can for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

If not, get involved in a prayer group. Seek God for His plan. Stop Abortion. Picket the courts until just laws reflecting righteousness prevail. Leave a legacy that reaps eternal rewards.

 

Go on with God.

Let’s Pray: “Father God in heaven, Creator of all life, renew my youth, my passion, my fire, my vision, my creativity, my health, my strength, my courage, and give me grace to live for Jesus, with fire and intensity and purpose today, and for the rest of my life, AMEN!’

 

Some great articles and videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjljqReu1Ihttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7_X-Gu51xs

http://www.revivalthoughts.org/Recent%20Articles%202013/Serving%20God%20in%20the%20Sunset%20Years.htm

http://www.wholesomewords.org/etexts/troester/elderly.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaihOIVVQ98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWjW3zv2A1s

 

 

 

Meditation on Patriarchs – Serving Jesus as an elder

This is my noteset, from a sermon I originally preached in 2006, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

I have learned and seen so much since then, I am praying about how best write on the call of God to elders…

Any thoughts?

 

Spiritual Growth – The Age of the Patriarch

 

For the last several weeks we have been studying the topic of Spiritual Growth. Every Christian who is born-again is born again a baby spiritually.

 

We talked about the responsibility of spiritual adults to care for new Christians, and we showed you from the Word how babies are Innocent, Ignorant, and sometimes, Irritable.

 

We ended by saying that babies are easily distracted, easily hurt, and easily frustrated. God wants us to grow up to the place where we become single minded, not easily hurt, and not so easily frustrated.

 

Next we looked at Spiritual Childhood

 

We looked at how children are Unsteady, Curios, and Talkative.

 

I explained unsteadiness is a lack of good old-fashioned ‘stick-to-it-ness’, becoming disciplined and focused in our goals.

 

I explained that there is godly and not so godly curiosity. Being inquisitive is godly, being nosy and gossiping is not.

 

We began to look at how important our speech is to be.

 

We saw that a devoted prayer life will help us say more to God and less to people. We talked about three main sins of the talkative,

 

Evil speaking, vain speaking, and foolish speaking.

 

Evil Speaking: talking about the faults and failures of one not present.

 

Vain Speaking – always talking about themselves

 

Foolish Speaking: Ephesians 5:4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

 

Always blabbing and joking.

 

I then explained how to grow out of these bad habits by feeding on the Word of God, and recognizing these childish behaviours and growing up.

 

Today we are going to look at spiritual adulthood. Becoming a man or a woman of God.

 

 

1 Corinthians 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

 

2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

• For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Galatians 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

 

Eph 4: 11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

• That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 

 

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 

2 Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

 

Eph 4: 11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

• That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 

Last week we looked at Spiritual Adulthood.

 

There are many attributes of spiritual adulthood described in the Word of God, last week we looked at three of them. They are:

 

1.Esteeming Earthly Things Lightly.

2.Deadness to Censure or Praise.

3.Ability to Recognize God at Work.

 

 

In a perfect world, in a Christian home where the Holy Spirit was at work and the Word of God was being both submitted to and taught, one would hope that a person would grow both spiritually and naturally at roughly the same pace. Obviously, in a fallen world this has not occurred, and even in the church, there are many who hear the word, but they don’t believe it.

 

Hebrews 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

 

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

Turn to your neighbour and say “Do the Word!”

 

Yet, there are those in Scripture that have gone even beyond Spiritual Adulthood, to become legends of Old, their lives depicted in the pages of God’s Holy Word.

 

These are what I call spiritual Patriarchs, and it is these that I wish to set before you today, so that by faith, you too will strive to take your place among them in the hall of faith, making headlines in heaven, writing eternity upon this generation. Leaving a legacy of honour to the glory of God, and before the eyes of man.

 

First lets look at Caleb

 

We see in Numbers 13 that Caleb was a leader, chosen to lead the tribe of Judah by his peers, from the linage that would one day produce Messiah, Jesus our Lord.

 

Numbers 13:30  And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

 

He was a warrior, honouring God and respected among his peers. A man of courage, vision and faith with corresponding action, to change things.

 

Even though the people had a grasshopper mentality, and refused to do what was right and follow he and Joshua into battle, yet with passion he made his case known before God.

 

Numbers 14:6  And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

 

And God heard his cry and responded

 

Every single other person in the entire nation was sentenced to die without entering the promised land, except Joshua, and you guessed it, Caleb.

 

Forty years the entire nation of Israelites wandered in the desert eating Manna every day. One by one, they died there until a new generation was raised up who knew God, and who knew not Egypt. Even Moses died, and a new man was set in place to lead Israel, Joshua.

 

And Caleb was with him, still a warrior, still full of passion and faith, even though he must have now been in his eighties. Righteous, zealous for the Word of God to come to pass in his life we read:

 

Joshua 14:6 ¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

7  Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8  Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9  And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10  And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11  As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12  Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

• And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

• And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

 

Joshua 15:14  And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

15  And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.

16  And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

17  And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

18  And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

19  Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

20 ¶ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

 

Now I need you to see some things here. Caleb could have rested after fighting with the armies of Israel for five years under Joshua. He was eighty-five years old. He could have died leaving a legacy of faith and honour behind him. Yet, He did not. Why? He had the heart of a Patriarch. He had gone past spiritual babyhood decades ago. He overcame his passions to pass through spiritual childhood. As a leader, husband, and father, he passed through spiritual adulthood, and now found himself as a Patriarch in the nation of Israel. He wasn’t called to lead as head of the nation, but you can be sure He and Joshua were tightly knit friends. The same spirit of faith was in them both.

 

He could have been like Moses, and not fully accomplished the plan of God. For God cannot lie, and God’s plan for Moses was that Moses lead His people into the promised land. Yet, Moses never fully allowed God to deal with his anger, and God judged him severly for it. He died without seeing the promised land.

 

Numbers 20:8  Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

 

Numbers 20:11  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

 

To whom much is given, much is required.

 

Yet notice Caleb. He was determined not to die before all the plan of God for His life was fulfilled. God had promised him Horeb, and he was going to take it.

 

Join me if you will in an imaginary journey into the thought life of Caleb at this time. Could it be that he reasoned, “Well, I could die, and leave things as they are. Israel is established in this land, and I don’t really need Horeb. I’m well respected in the community, my family is fine. Who cares about Anak?”

 

Yet, he knew that darkness and light will never mix. Enemies will remain enemies. Even though there might be an apparent end to hostilities at present, he knew what would happen. If left alone, the children of Anak would multiply, and the day of reckoning deferred today would only rise up again in future generations. Anak would attack or defile either his children or his grandchildren.

 

So, if his life is any indication, he probably figured. Well, this world is not my home anyway. I’m going to die sometime, even if it is in battle.

 

And Caleb made a decision. He decided that the plan of God and God’s promises to him were more important than even his earthly life.

 

Reminds me of:

Heb 11: 36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

• And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

 

And Caleb went to war, determined to see the Word of God fulfilled or die trying.

 

And the Word of God came to pass, and he lived victorious.

 

Hebrews 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

If you are a Christian you need never fear death or the whimsical temporal approval of man.

 

Believe God, and change Canada or perhaps go as a missionary somewhere.

 

There are enemies in the land Patriarchs. same sex marriages that threaten the family unit. Legalization of Marijuana, Abortion, Child Pornography. Permits applied for Mosques and Hindu temples in our back yards. Stem-cell research and pornography on the Internet. Enemies of honour, enemies of freedom, enemies of God.

 

The disrespect exhibited for the elderly is appalling.

 

Leviticus 19:32  Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.

 

While we pastured in Canada, before God moved in the Inuit, elderly people were considered excesses, and were told to go out upon the ice and die. Now, since Holy Spirit has moved in the North, elders are again respected, revered, and are set in place to help govern this new territory Nunavet.

 

It is said in Africa, “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”

 

Patriarchs and Matriarchs we need you to guide us with righteousness in this hour.

 

Phil 1: 21 ¶ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

• And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

 

Dying is easy. Living takes faith. So the children have grown, and the grandchildren have come. Live for God.

 

Ps 91: 14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

• With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 

 

‘With long life will I satisfy him’ Are you satisfied that you have fully obeyed God, and done everything you can for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?

 

If not, get involved in a prayer group. Seek God for His plan. Stop Abortion. Picket the courts until just laws reflecting righteousness prevail. Leave a legacy that reaps eternal rewards. Go on with God.

 

I close with this word:

 

Psalms 118:17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

 

Prayer: Repent of disrespect for elderly. Pray Patriarchs and Matriarchs rise up across the land. Pray God send some into our midst.

Strength in Old Age!

Couple years ago, I went through what I call ‘male menopause’. Don’t know much about aging, but after I hit age 50, I ‘felt’ old. Seemed I was out of shape, had a hard hand dealt to me in life, I ‘felt’ weak, and powerless to really change, nor make an impact with my life.

Well, not I’m 53, having lost 45 lbs, working out 4x/week, aiming to bench 315 again before 2014 ends, with my fire, passion and zeal focused upon Jesus!

Ever thought about getting older?

What is old anyway?

Is it an age, or a state of mind?

I like the quote I heard in Africa: ‘When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground!’

I remember hearing the testimony of a dear sister who was 93 who loves to visit seniors in nursing homes and retirement centers to read the Bible with them, tell them about Jesus, and to sing and cheer them up. When asked what she was planning that day, she said she had to pop in and visit a 72 year old sister in the Lord, because ‘she’s old!’.

I saw what she meant. Here she was, 93, and full of joy, vitality, vibrancy, and enthusiasm for what her and Jesus would do together each and every day. Her youth was renewed, as she walks through life in child-like faith, laughing her way towards heaven.

Your gift, your life experiences, your talents are still needed down here! If you are truly satisfied, then go out with a shout, and meet Jesus, for heaven is certainly better than down here, but why not live a long time just to make the devil mad! Heaven doesn’t need ‘another angel’ there, we will all be there soon enough! We need your gift, your wisdom, your voice, and your prayer, here, on the earth. Rest later, now, there is work to be done.

Hear the words of Jesus: Matthew 10:7The Message (MSG)

^5-8 Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:

“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Some, lose vision, hope, get hurt, offended, bitter, and lose their will to live, simply because they do not understand the Word of God, and the heart of God. Jesus still gives life, and life more abundantly!

How are YOU going to finish your life?

Will you quietly slip into the shadows, unobtrusively allowing your life, passion, and strength to wane, as you walk towards the one appointment we will all keep one day: death?

Or, will you get out of yourself, and start deliberately serving, loving, and helping those around you that are hurting and needy, trusting Jesus for strength, help, and grace for each day?

If you choose the latter option, you will quickly discover Jesus to be very alive and active in your life! There can be great joy and power made available to any of us, so that when that final day comes, we can explode through death’s door with a shout, giving Jesus a high five and a hug as we enter heaven’s gates, laughing as we see the great cloud of witnesses who have been watching our live applauding, and joyfully greeting our loved ones who went on before us.

 

If you want to hear a whole lot more about how to live victoriously in your latter years, get ahold of Keith Moore’s teachings on Biblical longevity. He has studied the lives of many people who lived joyfully well past 100, and has figured out their secrets to a long, happy and prosperous life.

Anyway, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Here are a couple of Bible promises, to strengthen your faith for today:

Psalm 91:16 [Full Chapter]

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation

Satisfied that you have done everything Jesus wants you to do down here? Cause if you are not satisfied, there’s much to be done!

Joshua 14:11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

Here, we see a renewed mind and spirit in the life of Caleb, standing bold on the Word of God, in his older years.

Ps 103:that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 1:3

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 92:14

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

Proverbs 3:2

for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

I believe the Spirit of God is putting fire back in my step, my walk, my thoughts, renewing strength, vitality, youthfulness, enthusasim, and a spring in my step! How about you?

Let’s Pray:

‘Father God in heaven, don’t leave me down here to be a burden to others, but make me a blessing! Fill me with strength, passion, vision, joy and a sense of humor to alleviate the darkness and despair in this sin sick world. Forgive me my sin, as today, afresh and anew, I receive You Jesus, Your will, Your plan, Your desires, into my heart, as together we walk throughout eternity, doing life and life more abundantly. Amen’

 

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com

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Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!

 

Every tongue, tribe and nation – A tribute to the Creek Nation

Every Tribe, tongue, and people – A story of the Creek Indian Nation.

Re 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

As I study the Cherokee history course, I find myself learning much about the United States, the five civilized tribes, and the state of Oklahoma.

As many of you know, my heart has been torn to shreds in tears, as I have studied the plight of the North American Indian tribes, the host peoples of this nation we call the United States of America.

I am convinced that the only reason that the Indian tribes have not been totally eradicated from the United States, is because God Himself, has preserved for Himself, a remnant of each tribe, a people of destiny, alive on the earth in this hour, for such a time as this!

As I look at what has happened, as a Christian leader, I am in the face of God in prayer constantly, asking Him for understanding, mercy, and constructive solutions to the plight of my Indian brothers, and I have become convinced of several things:

1. God, the Creator, has been visiting the Indian tribes, for thousands of years before the white man was ‘discovered’ upon their land.

2. That there has been a direct demonic attack on the North American Indian tribes directly, that has occurred in two forms: a. plagues and sickness b. Genocide resulting from a false doctrine taught in the traditional Christian churches of the day, called ‘manifest destiny.’ I further believe that satan did this specifically, and intentionally, because the innate spirituality of the Indian tribes, was a great threat to his work in the earth.

3. That many Indian peoples have been visited personally by Jesus, or had revelation clearly from the Holy Spirit, designed to bless them, and prepare them for the coming gospel, hundreds of years before the first missionaries visited this land.

4. That many denominational attempts to convert the Indians were erroneous, in that they had no understanding of the ways that God was already at work in the tribes, and no platform or willingness to learn and understand the ways of the red man. In the words of David Stannard in his book ‘The American Holacaust’, he refers to the attitude of European and American historians as ‘stubbornly determined ignorance.’

5. That judgment first begins in the house of the Lord, that the healing and restoration of the tribes, must come from the church, walking in depth of consecration, humility, and increased understanding of the movements of God both historically and presently among the tribes.

6. That the current fate of the United States of America, directly hinges upon this particular ministry, that not only are the eyes of all of heaven upon the North American Indian tribes presently, but that this particular mandate of the church, is the number one priority on the heart of the Father, currently, that will determine the restoration, or destruction of the United States as we know it.

7. That the day of Indian reservations being merely a ministry of humanitarian aid (receiving aid), has ended. That God requires us to deliberately, intentionally, train, equip, recognize, and respond to First Nations leaders as equals. That leaders raised up, be responded to in respect, honor, and equality, that the voice of the red man finally be heard in this critical chapter of US history.

8. Finally, as these host peoples are recognized and responded to, their particular contribution, wisdom, revelation, grace and anointing will release the move of the Holy Spirit in America we have all sought for many years now, and that they hold specific keys of revelation and knowledge, to actually, practically see and know, exactly what must be done, to heal the land.

As I have studied, prayed and meditated upon these thoughts, I read this particular account of a reflection of the native church, among the Creek nation, described by Angie Debo, ‘The Road to Disappearance’ in her book, and it really touched me:

“The native church formed another expression of the Creeks’, community life. During the first hard years after the war the buildings were windowless log huts daubed with clay, with stick fireplaces, earthen floors, and clapboard roofs; but in time frame buildings like those of the white man were erected. In 1878 the Tuskegee congregation near Eufaula, with a technique learned in the old communal fields, planted and tended eight acres of cotton and applied the proceeds to the building fund. On the church grounds were numerous camp houses for the storing of cooking utensils or the use of individual families, and in the summer several large brush arbors were commonly erected for holding the meetings and serving the meals; and there was a tendency to arrange these structures in the familiar form of the town square with the church building forming one side.

There was probably some conformity to denominational requirements, but in practice each congregation selected one of its own members to serve as pastor as long as he lived. Some of the Creeks formed the pleasant habit of rotating their services among four neighboring towns, each town entertaining the other three in its own church once a month. Such services usually lasted for three or four days, and during the summer there were frequent camp meetings lasting for a week or longer and bringing people together from a large area. Careful preparations were made for these meetings, and the members of the local congregation worked together in cutting the weeds, cleaning the grounds, repairing the camp houses and arbors, and sometimes painting the church. The men hunted game and killed beeves and hogs, and the women cooked great pots of food to be distributed among the various camps. The services were almost continuous throughout the day and often during the whole night, and the conduct of the worshippers was reverent and devout. They used the Creek version of the Bible; their sermons were preached in Creek, but sometimes translated into English as a courtesy to visitors; and they sang Creek translations of English hymns and, as one Creek woman expresses it, “other songs about nature; that is, the flowers, etc., that they made up.”
The Creeks had found in Christianity a means of expressing the strong community ties, the moral aspiration, the mystic communion with nature, the deep sense of reverence that had once been expressed by the native ceremonials. Even its forms were native: the arrangement and care of the church grounds, the feasting, the camping, the community labors, the continuous day and night services.”

Why does this account make my heart leap?

1. It was Christianity embraced by the Creek, practiced and lead by their own pastors, elders, traditions, and leaders.
2. Preaching, singing, and teaching, were in their own language.
3. Though I am sure they love white people, and other Christians, they were not asked, nor forced to embrace the white man’s culture, only our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They had Bibles, and songs in their own language and ways.
4. It is a beautiful expression of community, as each village celebrated and worshipped with other villages, in love.
5. They required no financial support from white churches. They planted their own cotton, built their own buildings, and led themselves.

I would have loved to hear a translated message from some of these pastors on topics like: love, respect for elders, community, faith, hearing God in creation, and discerning vision.

As I walk with my son, in his required Oklahoma State History textbook, I find the following account relevant here:

“An example of the movement of the gospel from eastern to western Oklahoma was the activities of men like Reverend John McIntosh, a Creek Indian convert to Christ, who moved we to evangelize the Wichitas and Caddo peoples. He was the son of Creek leader Chilly McIntosh.” (from Oklahoma History in Light of the Cross, Kenneth C.Davis,3rd Ed, p 66)

I’m sure they could teach me a few things.

Red men and women are being visited personally by Jesus, in this generation. Many are having open visions of heaven, the glory of God, and deep revelations as to the times and seasons of America, that we, the traditional church, desperately need to embrace, and walk with them in.

Mt 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mt 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, wash our hearts, unstop our ears, cause the scales to fall from our eyes, that we might truly hear with our ears what You are saying, see Your heart, plan, and purposes You wish us to walk in and unfold, and give us hearts to obey, in humility and love, free from pride that blinds and binds, that we might be agents of healing, restoration, change, reconciliation, wisdom, power, and peacemakers to this generation. We humble ourselves and ask in sincerity and truth, in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Sacred Council Fire

Sacred Fire….

Before the removal of the Cherokees (The trail of tears) there was heated debate in Congress. Senator Edward Everett of Massachusetts fought against the removal of the Cherokees, holding the house in session for two whole days, speaking on Cherokee affairs, sometimes with effective irony, On Feb 21st, 1831 he said:

‘Here, at the center of the nation, beneath the portals of the Capitol, let us solemnly auspicate the new era of violated promises, and tarnished faith. Let us kindle a grand council fire, not of treaties made and ratified, but of treaties annulled and broken. Let us send to our archives for the worthless parchments, and burn them in the face of day. There will be some yearnings of humanity as we perform this solemn act. They were negotiated for valuable considerations; we keep the considerations, and break the bond. One gave peace to our afflicted frontier, another protected our infant settlements; nearly all were at our earnest request. Many were negotiated under the instructions of Washington, of Adams, and of Jefferson-the fathers of our liberty. They are gone, and will not witness the spectacle; but our present Chief magistrate, as he lays them, one by one, on the fire, will see his own name subscribed to a goodly number of them. Sir, they ought to be destroyed as a warning to the Indians to make them no more compacts with us.’

John Ridge (Cherokee) and one of his colleagues sat in the gallery of the House and were deeply moved by Everett’s sonorous words reverberating through the chamber. ‘I happened to be a spectator of this debate,’ wrote the correspondent for The New York Observer. On the second day, towards the close of the long speech, he found it hard to “shield his heart” against the “subduing power” of Everett’s words. “Two of the Cherokees stood immediately behind me and over me. In the midst of Mr. Everett’s peroration, I thought I heard something like a drop of rain fall upon…my cloak, near my ear. I looked up, and the head of one of these Cherokees had fallen upon his hand, and he was endeavoring to conceal his tears.”
Excerpt from the book – The Cherokee Tragedy, – Thurmans Wilkins, p 220,221

The rest of this is history. President Andrew Jackson pressed the vote, overruled the Supreme Court decision upholding the Cherokee treaty rights to their lands against the state of Georgia, and the vote was carried against them, BY ONE VOTE. Sending the Cherokees upon the ‘trail of tears’ where 4600 died in transit, an eternal disgrace upon this nation.

I have more to say on this, how these very broken covenants between the US government and the various host peoples of this land we call the United States of America, are the main contributing factor to the problems we currently face as a nation. God Himself, has heard and seen the plight of the various Indian tribes that have been mistreated by this government, and treacherous white men. As a white man living here, I have wept, until I thought I could weep no more, in prayer before the throne of God, for the plight of the North American Indian. God has heard, and answered, and is moving to bring healing, conviction of sin, and cleansing of this land, as we humble ourselves before Him, in earnest, heartfelt prayer. He will visit the red nations of this land, with power, signs, wonders, and miracles, and as He does, there is a movement in this nation, that I see, and call: RED MAN RISING!’

Let’s pray:

‘Father God, Creator, Great One, The Grand Father of us all, we come to You, asking that You, Yourself heal our hearts, rebuild, recreate that which has been destroyed, shattered, by treacherous people, who know You not. Forgive them Creator, have mercy. Forgive us, and heal our hearts, and make us strong again, in the place where no man can see, the deepest part of us. We come to You, knowing we are heard and answered, for we come in Your name Lord Jesus, Yeshua, Amen’

For more understanding, please read:

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/07/03/the-first-nations-mandate/

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/racial-ethnic-and-womens-ministries/gender-and-racial-justice-ministries/doctrine-of-discovery/

Reading the Bible with Red Man’s Eyes…

Reading the Bible through Red Man’s Eyes….

Heal our land…

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

To any of us that have pursued God for our nations well being, this verse is one of our battle cries, where we aggressively kneel before God, humbling ourselves with prayer and often fasting, searching our own hearts, and lifestyles that we might see our sin for what it is, that we might ask God for mercy, and real change, that He might forgive us, and not only forgive us, but clean up the mess we made, and cleanse the lands upon which we live, that the land itself might heal.

By now, many of you know my testimony, of how I came out of a revival meeting, in my suit and tie, crying out to God in prayer, this very verse.

How He spoke to me, and said: ‘I gave that verse to instruct you, not so that you can try and use it to manipulate me, you are in pride, repent!’

So, I was heard of heaven, and about to be answered. I thought ‘Pride?, I just got off my knees in prayer in a revival meeting!’

Yet, over the years, I have learned this about walking with God: Pride is not merely walking around with a strut, chest puffed up, in haughtiness and arrogance. No, it is much more subtle than that, here is my new definition of pride: “Simply having a better idea than God.”

Whenever, Wherever, I decide to do my own thing, something, anything that is contrary to the Word or Spirit of God, I am in pride. Maybe my church, synagogue, or mosque, has always done it that way. Perhaps my father and mother instructed me that way, but the entrance of God’s Word, brings light, and no matter what any person may of taught about a particular topic, if what I am believing is contrary to the Word of God, I’m wrong, and He is right.
And you know, how Holy Spirit led me to attend the 1995 gathering of tribes in Hull, Quebec, Canada, known as ‘The Sacred Assembly’, led by senator Elijah Harper. How in that meeting, when I saw the 1500 or so Indian elders gathered, and I saw the pain in their eyes, I ended up for several hours at the back of the auditorium, in a weeping puddle before God, broken in the core of my being, as I was introduced to the plight of the North American Indian.

And so, now, I am finally beginning to see, to learn, to know, to understand some things about God and His Word, that I could have never seen before. For several years, I walked with the Inuit, and was introduced to the Mohawk and the Cree peoples briefly.

Over the years, I have been introduced in many ways, to the ways of the red man, and have discovered that although their culture, dress, language, and customs are often quite different than ours, there are things there, that we must hear from them. Biblical things, ways of our Creator, that we as whites, in most cases, have at best lost, but more often, never known.

I heard chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahannock people verbalize these thoughts one day, that have challenged my thinking:

She said: ‘In general, our people have an innate ability to walk on to any particular piece of land, and intuitively see, know, perceive things that have happened upon that property, historically, and often also know, exactly what needs to happen there, in order to heal it.’

This lines up with:
Roman 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:20-22
The Voice (VOICE)
20 You see, all of creation has collapsed into emptiness, not by its own choosing, but by God’s. Still He placed within it a deep and abiding hope 21 that creation would one day be liberated from its slavery to corruption and experience the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now.

We see in these verses, how the creation is waiting for us, the manifest sons and daughters of God, to show up, and bring ‘glorious liberty’ to it, literally healing the land as we walk with our Creator, bringing His power to literally recreate that which has been damaged by the atrocities and evil of mankind.

We also see, that the earth has a voice, a voice of groanings….

Many red men and women hear creations voice, and echo her deepest cries, back to God, in heartfelt prayer…

The ground on which we stand is sacred ground. It is the dust and blood of our ancestors.
– Chief Plenty Coups, Crow (1848 – 1932)

When all the trees have been cut down, when all the animals have been hunted, when all the waters are polluted, when all the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.
Cree Prophecy

Yet, I had been taught that aboriginal peoples were generally ‘uneducated heathen’ needing to be ‘civilized’. Yet, I see clearly now, after many years, that God has been walking with Indians for a long time before the white man entered this land, and that many, many of their traditions, sacred gatherings, forms of prayer and worship, and understandings of God and creation, are not only Biblical, but far, far ahead of some of our current understandings.

Now, to read or hear American history from a native perspective, we hear of how in the 1530’s, the Cherokee ‘discovered’ Spanish explorers upon their lands. Many of these early Spaniards brought the Bible, and the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church, and upon the lands governed by the Iroquois confederacy’s constitution and the ‘http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Law_of_Peace’, that these early explorers were protected and spared by the tribes, as long as they came as came in peace.

Yet for thousands of years, the Bible was not in the land.

God still spoke, yet He spoke either directly to the heart of man, or through the creation.

In the tradition and culture of the Indian tribes I have walked with, there has always been a deep relationship and respect for, the earth, the land that God created.

Only to the white man was nature a wilderness and only to him was the land ‘infested’ with ‘wild’ animals and ‘savage’ people. To us it was tame, Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.
– Black Elk, Oglala Lakota Sioux (1863-1950)

The time will soon be here when my grandchild will long for the cry of a loon, the flash of a salmon, the whisper of spruce needles, or the screech of an eagle.
But he will not make friends with any of these creatures and when his heart aches with longing, he will curse me.
Have I done all to keep the air fresh?
Have I cared enough about the water?
Have I left the eagle to soar in freedom?
Have I done everything I could to earn my grandchild’s fondness?
– Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh (1899 – 1981)

Rom 1:19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:19-20
The Voice (VOICE)
19 These people are not ignorant about what can be known of God, because He has shown it to them with great clarity. 20 From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people

This year, as I read through the Bible again, it is as if I am reading it, for the first time, through red man’s eyes.

The first man, Adam, was a red man. (http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/emagazine/001.html)
He was red, created from the red earth…

As I look at the way the Indian walked with God, suddenly, I see in the Scriptures, passages that until now, have been hidden to me:

In the next passage, I see words that could have been spoken from the heart of the honorable Indians that respect God and the land. Perhaps, it is a vocalization, of their view of the white man entering their ancient lands.

Truly, many white men came, sent of God, for the gospel’s sake, yet mixed in these immigrants were brutal, murderous, treacherous people, who knew not God, nor His creation.

Job, in his day, walked as a great chief among his people, in fact, the Bible records:
Job 1:1 ¶ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

Walk with me and imagine: picture with me, in your mind’s eye if you will, a great chief, walking with the Creator, witnessing, the brutishness of white men entering his land. White men with guns as their gods, and conquest, not peace, as their motive.

Job 12:6-12
The Voice (VOICE)
6 Ironically, there is peace inside the tents of the raiders,
and those who upset God seem to live safe and secure;
They carry their gods around in their hands.

Yet, this chief, had made peace with God, His creator, and knows that there is no peace of heart found in no other place, and he cries, that these fools might know the one that made them…

7 However, call on the animals to teach you;
the birds that sail through the air are not afraid to tell you the truth.
8 Engage the earth in conversation; it’s happy to share what it knows.
Even the fish of the sea are wise enough to explain it to you.
9 In fact, which part of creation isn’t aware,
which doesn’t know the Eternal’s hand has done this?
10 His hand cradles the life of every creature on the face of the earth;
His breath fills the nostrils of humans everywhere.

Compare this with the words of the Arapaho: When we show our respect for other living things, they respond with respect for us. – Arapaho

Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children. – Tribe Unknown

Job 12:11 Listen! Aren’t we made to be discriminating:
our ears testing wisdom, our mouths tasting food?

The beauty of the trees,
the softness of the air,
the fragrance of the grass,
speaks to me.
The summit of the mountain,
the thunder of the sky,
the rhythm of the sea,
speaks to me.
The strength of the fire,
the taste of salmon,
the trail of the sun,
and the life that never goes away,
they speak to me.
And my heart soars.
– Chief Dan George, Tsleil-Waututh (1899 – 1981)

Shouldn’t wisdom come with old age? Not necessarily. Only God has wisdom; we merely fool ourselves into thinking we are wise.

12 But you tell me, “With age comes wisdom,
and a long life grants understanding.”

In Native American culture and tradition, elders are to be respected.

American Indian elder
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In American Indian education, within each tribe elders, “are repositories of cultural and philosophical knowledge and are the transmitters of such information,”[1] including, “basic beliefs and teachings, encouraging…faith in the Great Spirit, the Creator”.[2] “The fact acknowledged in most Indian societies: Certain individuals, by virtue of qualifications and knowledge, are recognized by the Indian communities as the ultimately qualified reservoirs of aboriginal skills.”[3] The role of elder is featured within and without classrooms, conferences, ceremonies, and homes.

https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/may-our-elders-be-wise/

So we read, of the supposed wise friends of Job, those who seek to be his comforters…

As I read of the history of the great tribes, I read of the great orators, that would speak great words, and the council of elders, would weigh their words, ever listening for the voice of the Creator, to come from the heart of His servants.

As Job’s ‘counselors’ speak their words in his pain, he rebukes them, for they do not speak from God:
Job: 16: All the things from you sound the same.
You are all terrible as comforters!
3 Have we reached the end of your windy words,
or are you sick with something that compels you to argue with me?
4 If we were to trade places,
I could rattle on as you do.
I could compose eloquent speeches as you do
and shake my head smugly at you and your problems.
5 But I believe I would use my words to encourage you;
my lips would move only to offer you relief.
6 And yet, I am not you, you are not me,
and my words are of no real use:

For generations, these words given by God through Job so many years, have been the plight of the red man in America.

Truthfully, their voice, their wisdom, has not been heard, and we have all suffered for it.

I am a Christian. I have studied the history of the United States, and I am convinced of this one thing. The mind of God for this nation, historically, has been for America to be a place of freedom to worship God. This freedom is supposed to be found in the gospel, the only way to heaven, Jesus.

I am all convinced that Columbus sailed both to find a homeland for the Jews, God’s people, and to bring the gospel, to a people he had not yet seen. These people, are the host peoples of North America, the First Nations peoples, the indians…

Peter Marshall, in his book: The Light and the glory, has discovered actually journal entries from Columbus, where God spoke to him directly, for many years, about His plans and purposes for America, His plan included the host peoples, and in honoring them, and bringing the gospel and Bible to them. Columbus began with noble motives, but when he was shown the riches of the land, and gold, he became a mercenary, a butcher, and committed horrible acts against God and the host peoples who in large measure, received him in love, peace, and honor. And so has gone history, supposed ‘Christians’ bringing their form of murder and mayhem to the land, incredibly, in the name of JESUS! The greatest message the earth has ever heard, backed by the Lord of Heaven Himself, perverted, corrupted, by the pride, greed, and murder of men! As I read the pages of native history, my eyes blur with tears, as I see the horrendous acts whites and Spaniards have committed, usually in the name of Jesus! Like my Lord, I can only weep, as a white man, I can only hang my head in shame….

Yet, what has come to America and out of her, is a mixture of deep faith, and equally deep wickedness, treachery and sin.

Freedom, is not free.

It cost Jesus His life upon the cross, when He willingly died as a sacrifice for our sins. Yet, the grave could not hold an innocent man, and on the third day, He rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven, at the right hand of God, the Creator, our Father.

Jesus is the prince of peace, and there will be no true peace, either in our hearts, or in the land, until we give ourselves to Him, and bow our knees, willingly, in surrender to Him as King and Lord.

There is understanding, wisdom, and great knowledge given to the red men, and the wisdom of God in them, must be embraced, meditated upon, and through prayer, applied, to bring healing to the earth.

I am convinced, that there is a strong church here in America, but also convinced that we will never be able to become all we all created to be, until we truly embrace the God given wisdom of the Red man.

I am also convinced that right now, during this slice of time, that the plight and voice of the red man is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN AMERICA!

On God’s agenda, His priority list, I believe the plight, voice, and restoration of the red man is THE NUMBER ONE ITEM ON HIS LIST!

This is heart of the Father, for America, now.

I am convinced that America desperately needs healing and direction, and that healing, revival, and move of God, that will recreate this land strong, and free again, will come as the hearts of the red man, heals, and again, their voice is heard in this great land.

America’s strength is this: not that we have always done right, but when we see that we have been wrong, we make things right.

Yet, for you and I, there is only one true healing and peace that we can know. That only comes with a relationship with our Creator, through His Son, Jesus, Yeshua, Messiah.

Whether red or white, black, yellow, or any mixture of race and culture, Jesus is the answer to every human heart, and His wisdom, power and love, can fix anything, if, and only if, we cry out to Him, and ask…

There is no other way back to our Creator, but through Him. Though we may hear the voice of God, we cannot make peace with Him on our own terms, for each of us, in our own way, have sinned, and cannot be cleansed by our good works, ceremonies, prayer vigils, or our cultures and traditions. Only Jesus shed blood can wash us, there is no other way…

God is moving deeply, presently, in the First Nations host peoples of the United States, and there are many prophecies given to the great chiefs of old, of a seventh generation of warriors that will arise upon this land, to bring healing and truth to it, that we might heal together.

Hear his words:
Crazy Horse had a vision he shared with sitting bull during a pipe ceremony just days before he was murdered. He said, “Upon suffering beyond suffering, the red nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for the sick world. A world filed with broken promises, selfishness and separations. A world longing for light again. I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again. In that day, those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come, to those of my people to ask for wisdom. I salute the light within their eyes where the whole universe dwells, for when you are at the center within you and I am at the at place within me, we are as one.” – Crazy Horse from James Medicine Tree http://ancientprophecyrevealed.blogspot.com/2007/12/crazy-horse-not-so-crazy.html

Elders have kept record of the generations, and it is said, that this current generation, is the seventh generation, arising with healing in their hearts, and the fire of the Eternal in their eyes, with great wisdom, to bring to this nation, and any that would open their hearts to hear and receive it.

I am one of them, hearing, praying, studying, learning, and watching our great Creator, do, what no man has ever been able to do. Heal hearts, lives, vision, and create pathways of purpose by His Spirit in the earth, that truly change this generation…

I am priviledged to be seeing these words come to pass, all across America, Red Men are arising in Jesus, embracing their God given mandates, responsibilites, callings, destinies, and their voices are again being heard in this land!

Wisdom comes only when you stop looking for it and start living the life the Creator intended for you. – Hopi

Would you join us on the journey?

It begins, with an open heart, and prayer:

‘Father, Creator, Great Spirit, Great One, I come to you right now, asking that you forgive me, and reveal Yourself, and Your plan for my life, to me. Lord Jesus, I choose to believe that You came, You walked this earth, that You died, and rose from the dead. I ask You, to come into my heart, my life, my thoughts, dreams, and visions, and reveal truth, that heals and sets free. I choose to walk your path, from now and forever, Amen.’

Traditionally, there have been great warriors from each tribe, that have risen up to defend their people. I hear our Creator calling upon you again to fight. Hear these words from my Mohawk friend, Jonathon Maracle: Warrior, come on an ride the wind! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aEJU-cp7bY