Wonders in the Heavens

 

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Visions, Signs, Wonders & Miracles-Shekinah: Wonders in the Wilderness

Though the word Shekinah does not exist in the Bible, it’s concept that God chooses sacred places to dwell and display His Glory shows up extensively in the Holy Scriptures. God’s Presence and Glory still manifests itself in spectacularly similar ways today.

As the Israelites fled Egypt, they were led by God as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night (ref. Genesis 13: 21-22). This allowed them to travel continuously, but possibly also provided cool cover against the oppressive desert heat and light for their travels through the darkness, comfort against the cold desert nights, and protection from attacks from wild animals.

When the Israelites reached the banks of the sea, they were confronted by Pharaoh and his entire chariot fleet, which had been pursuing them. As the Egyptian military marched towards the people who were pinned against the water, the Israelites cried out to Moses asking why he would lead them out of Egypt, just to die in the Wilderness. Moses was not afraid, and calmed their fears explaining that The Lord’s Salvation would be seen that day and the Egyptian military would be miraculously defeated by God’s Hand (ref. Exodus 14: 1-13)

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still!”

God instructed Moses to lift his rod and stretch his hand over the sea, which caused a strong wind to divide the waters into walls on either side of the dry land, that the Israelites could safely walk across, with the pillar of fire and of cloud now trailing them and standing as a barrier between them and the Egyptian chariots throughout the night (Exodus 14: 14-20).

Despite the awesome sight of God’s Glory manifesting as a pillar of fire and cloud standing guard against them, the Egyptian military still pursued the Israelites into the midst of the sea. In the morning, He looked on the Egyptians and caused confusion in their camps, tore the wheels from their chariots, and handicapped the technologies they took their greatest pride in. They recognized that all their vehicles and weapons of war could not stand against God and shouted amongst the chaos “Let us get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!” (ref. Exodus 14: 21-25).

But, it was too late, Moses again raised his hand and the sea collapsed upon them and “saved Israel that day out of the hands of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore… and the people feared and believed the Lord and His Servant Moses” (ref. Exodus 14: 26-31)

While they were wandering the Wilderness, they came across Mount Sinai and made camp at the base of the mountain. The Lord told Moses that he wanted Israel to be “My Kingdom of Priests and My Holy Nation” and would visit them in three days, giving them instructions to clean and consecrate themselves before God presented Himself (ref. Exodus 19: 5-11).

And on the third day, in the morning, because the Lord descended on the mountain as fire, Mount Sinai was enveloped by thunder and lightning and a thick cloud, like the smoke from a furnace. The sound of a loud trumpet pierced the air as the whole mountain shook violently, causing all the people in the camp to shudder and tremble (ref. Exodus 19:16-19). This thundering, lightning, sound of the trumpet and smoke coming from the mountain terrified the people and they stood far away, asking Moses to speak to them, fearing that if God spoke directly to them, they would die. But Moses explained that God did not intend to hurt them, but only test them so they would respect His Power and prevent them from sinning (ref. Exodus 20: 18-20).

On the first day of the first month, the Israelites erected the Tabernacle but Moses was not able to enter because a cloud covered the tent of congregation and the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. When God’s Presence was manifested as His Cloud of Smoke by day and Fire by night over His Tabernacle, the House of Israel took it as a sign that that was where they should stay and camp, but when the Cloud was removed from that place they were to follow it to their new location (ref. Exodus 40: 34-38).

As the Israelites escaped out of Egypt, God not only gave them direction, but actively delivered them comfort and protection as a pillar of smoke providing them shade from the scorching sun and as a pillar of fire granting them light in the darkness, warmth from the cold, and security from the beasts of the desert. When Pharaoh continued to pursue them, God even manifested Himself between the charging military and His People, creating a barrier so they could not harm the Israelites.

The fleeing Israelites were not prepared to confront the pursuing Egyptian chariots, but it was God’s intention that they rely on Him to provide protection against the World’s fiercest military force. God’s Power to bring the most powerful nation to its knees had been demonstrated throughout the Ten Plagues and God broke their plans, their spirits, and their weaponry to further cement the fact that no one can hurt those under His Providence.

The same great displays of Glory which are meant to stand as a testament to God’s enemies that He is All-Powerful, serve as a reminder to His People that we are to love and respect Him and not sin against Him.

We must also be sensitive to His Presence and constantly mindful of where and how His Power is manifesting. Even if we are comfortable where we are currently, we must move to where He is directing us if we desire to experience the fullness of His Blessings and Glory.

God’s Glory provides guidance and protection to His People, vengeance against those who wish to do us evil, reminds us of why we lovingly serve him, and leads us throughout our travels to continue to do His Will. We are excited to see how He will manifest and show His Glory.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Signs are Pieces to God’s Puzzle

 

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Visions, Signs, Wonders & Miracles: Signs of Things to Come

The signs God gave to Moses through the Burning Bush, and later to the Israelites, were forerunners to the Ten Plagues and freedom from slavery in Egypt. Likewise, God sends signs to prepare His Followers, before He begins to move.

While Moses was tending his father-in-law, Jethro’s flocks on the far side of the wilderness, Moses came across Horeb, the Mountain of God, where he first saw the renowned Burning Bush. But, desert shrubs that had caught on fire due to the extreme heat was not a rare occurrence in that region. The fact that the bush was not consumed, despite being engulfed by flames, was such a curious and strange sight, that Moses chose to investigate it.

As Moses approached closer, God called out to him from within the bush, imploring him to take off his sandals as he was standing on holy ground. After introducing Himself as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob”, Moses hid his face, terrified to look at God. The Lord explained how He had heard the Israelites pleas and prayers and was preparing to take them out of Egypt and bring them to the Promised Land, and Moses was going to lead this mission.

Moses had spent the past forty years tending sheep in the land of Midian, which had humbled him from the man who took justice into his own hands and murdered an Egyptian slave driver who was beating a fellow Hebrew (ref. Exodus 2: 11-12). Even after fleeing Egypt, Moses valiantly came to the rescue of the priest of Midian’s daughters, when they had been chased away from the well by some rough shepherds. Once a champion for the Hebrews and those in distress, Moses questioned “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).

God explained that He would be with Moses when he confronted Pharaoh, and established that when the people had been brought out of Egypt, that they would worship God on the mountain. This would be the sign to Moses that it was God who had sent him.

Though Moses had received a sign of God through the burning bush, he doubted whether the Israelite people would trust his story, asking “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

The Lord instructed Moses to throw the staff in his hand on the ground, which became a snake that Moses ran away from. The Lord further instructed Moses to reach out his hand and take the snake by the tail, and it turned back into a staff in his hand. “This,” God illuminated, “is so they will believe that the Lord, the God of their Fathers-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-had appeared to you.”

Moses was further directed to place his hand into his cloak and when he took it out, the skin had become leprous and white as snow. God told Moses to place his hand in his cloak again, and after pulling his hand out, it was restored.

God informed Moses that if the people did not believe him or “hearken the voice of the first sign”, they would “believe the voice of the latter sign”.

If they would still not believe after these first two signs, then Moses was to take water from the river and pour it upon dry land and the water would become blood.

Moses still did not feel as though he was qualified for such an important role and cried out “I am not eloquent; but am slow of speech and slow of tongue. Please pardon your servant and send someone else.”

Though His anger was kindled against Moses, God allowed for Moses’ brother Aaron to serve as his spokesman. God told Aaron to go into the wilderness to meet Moses at the Mount of God, where Moses told Aaron everything the Lord had instructed him to say and all the signs he was to do. They gathered all the elders of the Children of Israel together and Aaron spoke the words God had revealed to Moses and performed the signs and they believed (ref. Exodus 4).

God often decides to present His Signs through those who seem unworthy due to their low status, past mistakes, or lack of natural abilities. Moses was slow of speech, a murderer, and now a lowly shepherd, who had fallen from the heights of an Egyptian prince. But these obstacles perfectly direct people towards God rather than the messenger.

God demonstrated His unlimited Creativity and Power through His Signs to Moses. God took a typical event and made it extraordinary as seen with the burning bush not being consumed by the flames. God’s signs can be terrifying and cause terror in observers’ hearts as Moses ran from his staff which had been transformed into a snake. God’s signs can even affect his messengers and their lives, but God will restore them if it gives Him Glory as demonstrated with Moses’ hand becoming leprous and then being healed. God can bend the rules of nature in any way He desires as seen through the ultimatum sign of the water cast on land being turned into blood.

God understands that many people need multiple signs before they will believe and provides accordingly. Pharaoh would later require ten plagues to truly recognize God’s Greatness and most of the Pharisees and Sadducees ignored and overlook hundreds if not thousands of Christ’s miracles.

Because He is eternal, He even provides signs for us to look forward to, just like the future signal to Moses that God had sent him, when the Israelites would worship on the same mount after they had been freed from Egypt.

While God spoke directly to Moses, it was through the Voice of His Signs, that God spoke to His People.

Though we are often excitedly waiting for miracles, God always provides precursors through His Signs to let us know what to expect. The signs to the Israelites were meant to prepare the hearts and mind of His People to know that God had heard their prayers and was fulfilling His Promise to bring them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. We are grateful for the signs God has already provided us regarding the future Campus, and are carefully watching for His future signs as He prepares His People to do His Will

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Supporting the Vision

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Visions, Signs, Wonders & Miracles: Dovecote-Vision of the Tabernacle

The precise construction of the Tabernacle was so significant that its description and dimensions were explained multiple times to Moses and those building it. The Tabernacle was a complex project which required Prophet Moses and Chief Architect Bazelel to follow God’s exact specifications, a principle we must continue as God directs our steps during this new move.

After giving the Israelites a list of required materials to build the Tabernacle (ref. Exodus 25:1-7), God instructed Moses to “have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” insisting that they “make this Tabernacle and all its furnishing exactly like the pattern I will show you” (Exodus 25:8-9).

Bazelel, Chief Architect of the Tabernacle, was also referred to as “Shobal” meaning “builder of the Dovecote”. Dovecotes were typically tall circular often domed structures, which were built to house pigeons and doves, which is fitting since “The Dovecote” was a common synonym for The Tabernacle, which housed the Holy Spirit. It is not a coincidence that the Holy Spirit manifested as a dove during Christ’s Baptism.

The inner covering of the Tabernacle was made up of ten finely woven linen curtains. Five curtains were interlaced with one another to form one half of the tent covering which were connected by loops to the other half which also consisted of five interlaced curtains. These inner curtains were intricately embroidered with cherubim. Nearly five centuries later, when King Solomon was building the Temple, the equivalent inner court had two large gold hammered cherubim whose wings outstretched and touched each other, possibly also in a circular fashion.

The Tabernacle would have received additional structural support due to a series of 20 “crossbeams” intersecting centralized rings mirroring modern circular trusses. These beams would have run counter to each other, radiating out towards the outer borders of the circular Inner Court.

The Outer Courtyard followed this same “circular” principle. The North, South, West, & East (Entrance) portions collectively had 60 bases which would neatly divide into the 360 degrees of a circle. The total amount of fabric required to line the outer court was 300 cubits of finely twisted linen. This 300 cubits of material multiplied by the 12 tribes equals 3600, another easily dividable multiple of a circle’s 360 degrees. Since the 12 tribes of Israel were camped around the Tabernacle, they would be able to neatly separate their different camp boundaries by the Outer Courtyard bases as well. The Outer Courtyard was described as having a length of 100 cubits and a width of 50 cubits, which could be accurately explained as the diameter of the circular Outer Court being 100 cubits, while the radius was 50 cubits.

This circular structure would also place the Holy of Holies in the center of the Tabernacle, rather than a back corner. After having walked through the circular Outer Courtyard and into the circular Tabernacle, you would have continued to move towards the center where the Arc of the Covenant was kept behind a blue, purple, and scarlet veil of finely twined linen with even more beautifully crafted cherubim weaved within the fabric (ref. Exodus 26:31).

As you moved from the Outer Court filled with the copper sacrificial alter, copper joists, and copper water basin, all representing Judgement, you would proceed into the Inner court filled with both silver and gold laden furniture, utensils, and structural supports. The silver items were a reminder of the redemption that Christ would provide for us as an intermediary between God’s Righteousness and the defiled World. It was only after entering the Holy of Holies, within the center of the entire Tabernacle, that you would be surrounded entirely by pure gold, symbolizing God’s Full Glory behind the linen veil, where the Arc of the Covenant and Mercy Seat could only be interacted with on the Day of Atonement.

Prophet Kent Simpson’s vision of the Tabernacle, which God showed him in 1991 as a round building, conflicted with that time period’s understanding of the Old Testament’s Tabernacle as a long rectangular building. Fittingly, the absolute center of the Tabernacle was no longer kept behind a veil, but was open and available so all could experience God’s Glory. The outer segments, likewise, would have more interaction with the world, the further you stepped out.

Though the true shape of the Old Testament Tabernacle is an exciting revelation, the more important characteristic to recognize was the fact that Moses exactly followed the instructions given to him by God. As we move even closer to beginning construction, we recognize that just as construction of the Temple was different from the layout of the Tabernacle, so too will the project we are entrusted with be unique and according to God’s Plans and Designs. We are excited to see what great signs, wonders, and miracles will occur within the Tabernacle and how the Holy Spirit will manifest in today’s age.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues

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Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Baptized by Water & Fire

While the impartation of the Holy Spirit was an uncommon event in the Old Testament, reserved for those fulfilling a specific role to accomplish His Will, God told His Prophets of an Age when His Spirit would come upon all Mankind.

John the Baptist had been told by God, that He would recognize the Messiah when he saw the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him. While John baptized with water, Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (ref. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1: 32-33).

Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, recognized that Christ’s ability to teach and perform miracles came from God, but failed to understand what was required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ explained that it was impossible, except a man be born again through both the baptism of water and of the Holy Spirit (ref. John 3:1-6). After this confrontation with Nicodemus, Christ took His Disciples to Judea and they began baptizing.

Though the Apostles had already been baptized in water by John (ref. John 1:35-37, 3:23) and walked with Christ for years during His Ministry, it was not until after His Crucifixion and Resurrection that they had the opportunity to baptized with the Holy Spirit (ref. Acts 1:4-5). A few days after Christ’s Ascension, His Disciples were all gathered together during the required Feast of Pentecost, when suddenly there came from Heaven a violent rushing wind and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in Tongues.

The tens of thousands of men which came from all over the known world to Jerusalem to attend Pentecost were amazed and astounded that they heard their foreign languages being spoken by the newly Spirit-filled Disciples. Peter explained that this was the fulfillment of Joel’s Prophecy (ref. Joel 2:28-29) that God would pour out His Spirit on All Flesh; that sons and daughters would begin to prophesy, old men would dream dreams, and young men would see visions, and that even the male and female slaves would also prophesy (ref. Acts 2:6-18).

When the people listening to Peter recognized that they had witnessed or been party to Christ’s torture and crucifixion, when they had all gathered in Jerusalem to observe the Passover, they were overcome with a great mourning and distress over their actions and sought to receive the Spirit of Grace and Mercy God had promised the House of David and the city of Jerusalem (ref. Zechariah 12:10). Peter explained that they must “Repent, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins and they would receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit”.

Though God promised that He would first pour out His Spirit and Blessing upon Jacob’s offspring (ref. Isaiah 44:1-3), which was fulfilled with the 3,000 circumcised converts at Pentecost, this baptism by Fire and the Holy Spirit was not limited to the Jews. Later, while Peter was preaching to a large group of Gentiles informing them that the Gospel would now be preached to all nations, the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard his message and they too began to speak in foreign tongues and praising the name of the Lord before being baptized by water.

Paul resounded the need for both the baptisms of water and fire/Holy Spirit when he came across some of John the Baptist’s disciples. They were only aware of the Baptism of Repentance that John taught, but Paul insisted they be baptized in the Name of Lord Jesus and when he laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul stressed the fact that just as Christ’s Spiritual Kingdom was made up of peoples of many different nations, both Jew and Gentile, members of the Body of Christ would also operate in many different giftings as well. But it was by one Spirit that they were all baptized when they received their spiritual gifts and from this same Spirit they all drank of.

This baptism by both water and fire not only ensures our Eternal Life in Heaven, but also bestows us with at least one spiritual gift to develop and use during our physical time on Earth.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Discerning of Spirits

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Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: The Second Civil War & the Righteous Rebel

The Old Testament has many instances of the Holy Spirit coming upon great, honorable men of God with positions such as prophets, judges, kings, architects, & high priests. But, the Holy Spirit also chose a traitor to his family, his tribe, and his king.

After the Holy Spirit abandoned King Saul, but before David could claim his rightful place as King of Israel, the country spit in two, between the Northern Kingdom, which supported the Benjamite Saul of Gibeah, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah, the family tribe of David of Bethlehem.

A similar civil war had erupted during the time of the Judges.

A Levite had a concubine, who had been unfaithful, and fled to her father’s house in the town of Bethlehem in Judah. Four months later, the Levite went to bring his concubine back home and during their journey, decided to rest in the Benjamite city of Gibeah. The Levite and his concubine were provided shelter by a local man from the same region (Mount Ephraim) that the Levite was from, but, during the night, a group of men stormed the house demanding that the Levite be turned over so they could sexually assault him! Instead, his unfaithful concubine was given to the mob, who abused her throughout the night. She was found at the door’s threshold the next morning and the Levite took her body home and cut it into twelve pieces, which were sent to the twelve tribes of Israel (ref. Judges 19).

Men throughout the country rose up against the City of Gibeah, demanding that the men who had committed the treachery be brought out to be executed, but the Benjamites refused and instead made war against the other tribes of Israel. After two major losses, the men of Israel enacted a plan that tricked and routed the Benjamite soldiers who were defending the city. After Gibeah was burned to the ground, the Israelite soldiers went through the Benjamite territory, wiping out the towns and cities which had not stood up against their fellow Benjamites to enact justice.

In the end, only six-hundred Benjamite men survived.

Since no Benjamite women were left, the town of Jabesh-Gilead, which had refused to send men to fight against the City of Gibeah, was destroyed and Gadite maidens were given to the surviving Benjamites as wives. It was from these six-hundred spared Benjamites and their Gadite wives that Saul claimed his heritage(ref. Judges 20).

After David’s many victories following the defeat of Goliath the Philistine giant, King Saul became jealous of the nation’s love for David. Recognizing that his political power was threatened, Saul repeatedly attacked and had his men chase after David, forcing him to flee the country and seek refuge amongst the Philistines whom he’d previously warred against.

During his banishment to Ziklag, a Judean city on the edge of Philistine territory, David and his men prepared to fight alongside the Philistines to launch attacks against Saul’s army, but the town was raided by the Amalekites. After tracking down the raiders and getting the prisoners and goods that were stolen back and looting the attacker’s encampment, David divided the spoils of war amongst all the men, rather than just those who had fought, and sent gifts to the towns throughout Judah which had previously provided them food, water, and shelter when they had been pursued by Saul.

These gifts and heroic acts earned David much support amongst his fellow tribesmen within the region of Judah. But his most important support came from outside his tribal ties.

After hearing stories of his exploits and recognizing that David was the rightful king of Israel, military men began to defect to David’s side. But these men were not the societal outcasts and criminals which David’s army was currently composed of, but skilled men of war. They were “brave warriors, ready for battle and able to handle the shield and spear. Their faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles in the mountains”. They were “armed with bows and were able to shoot arrows and sling bows using either their right or left hand”, who’s weakest member could challenge one hundred men singlehandedly. These men forded the overflowing Jordan River during the flooding season and their presence sent all who looked upon them fleeing in terror.

While these men were great fighters and military commanders, the most impressive aspect about them was the fact that they came from the tribes of Benjamin and Gad. These men who joined David were from the same tribes that the current King Saul hailed from, and were among the warriors who had previously helped King Saul in battle and were even relatives of him. Their Benjamite and Gadite forefathers did not rise against the evil men of Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, who had done unbelievable evil to the concubine from Bethlehem, David’s birthplace, but these men chose to align themselves with the Lord.

When David saw the group approaching his stronghold and inquired of their intentions, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Amasai, the Chief of the Thirty who declared “We are yours, David! We are with you, son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” This heroic act and prophetic word manifested in the Nation of Israel’s heart being moved and hundreds of thousands of men from all the other tribes gathered to turn Saul’s kingdom over to David, as the Lord had said.

Amasai, the Chief of the Thirty, whom the Spirit of the Lord came upon, was the first to pledge allegiance to David, but in doing so, he also marked himself a traitor to his relative Saul, abandoned his Tribe of Benjamin, and committed treason against the crown. But unlike their forefathers who put their bloodline, heritage, and regional and political alliances as their top priority, Amasai and the Benjamites and Gadites who joined David chose to desert their previous ranks to fight on behalf of God’s Will.

We need to be brave and not allow tradition, regional, religious, and political affiliations, cloud and misdirect our spiritual walks. As members of His Spiritual Kingdom, we must always discern and orient ourselves to ensure we are fighting to advance the cause of Christ. The institutions of men’s design will fall and fail so as wise Spirit-filled followers we should place Him as King of our lives.

Working of Miracles

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Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: King Without His Crown

The Holy Spirit not only blesses us with unique spiritual gifts, but also gives us opportunities to exercise these gifts in different positions of power to carry out God’s Will. Saul was the first king of Israel, but, after he ascended to the throne, his humble nature was replaced with one of pride and fittingly, he was replaced as king.

Saul learned of his destiny to become king of Israel after seeking out Prophet Samuel for information about his father’s lost herd of donkeys. Though Saul is described as very handsome, coming from a prominent family, stranding a foot taller than anyone else, and the most promising man in all of Israel, he questioned Prophet Samuel’s declaration that Saul would own all the wealth of Israel as king, challenging that he was not deserving of such an honor since he came from the smallest family, of the smallest tribe (1 Samuel 9:1-21).

Samuel anointed Saul with holy oil and after coming across a band of prophets playing instruments, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he prophesied amongst the musicians. When Saul returned home, he told his family that Samuel had informed them that the donkeys had been found, but he did not to talk about his experiences with the prophets, nor Samuel’s prophecy that he would become king (ref. 1 Samuel 10:1-16).

Saul’s humbleness was seen again when Samuel gathers all the tribes of Israel so that a king can be appointed over them. After being chosen as supreme leader, Saul does not take the stage and arrogantly claim he deserved the position because he was head and shoulder above all men (ref. 1 Samuel 9: 2; 10:23). Instead, Saul was found hiding amongst the military munitions (1 Samuel 10:22).

Before Saul was anointed King over Israel, Prophet Samuel informed the newly crowned Saul that there would come a time that he would have a need for Samuel to offer sacrifices on his behalf at Gilgal, one of the sacred locations on Samuel’s circuit. When this time came, King Saul was to stay at that location for seven days, until Samuel arrived to perform the sacrifice (1 Samuel 10: 7-8).

Two years into his reign, before a major battle with the Philistines, King Saul gathered his men at Gilgal and waited for seven days as Prophet Samuel had instructed him. Since Samuel had not arrived by the beginning of the seventh day, Saul’s army became afraid, since they were greatly outnumbered and many abandoned him. In frustration, King Saul took it upon himself to kill the animal for sacrifice and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. When questioned why he directly disobeyed God’s command, Saul reasoned that Samuel had taken too long, too many troops had already left, and if a sacrifice wasn’t made soon, the Philistines would attack him there. This impertinence cost Saul his family lineage as kings over Israel.

Later, when Samuel instructs Saul that he is to lead an army to utterly destroy the Amalekites who had attacked the Israelites, after they had escaped Egypt, Samuel made it extremely clear that all humans and animal were to be slaughtered. Rather than follow this command, King Saul listened to his men and spared the Amalekite leader, King Agog, and took the best sheep and cattle as booty. When Prophet Samuel confronted King Saul as to why he rebelled and didn’t follow God’s command, Saul admitted that he feared the army and listened to them instead, making the excuse that the captured King Agog and the best sheep and cattle could be used as a sacrifice to God.

After his victory over the Amalekites, Saul set up a monument in his honor in Carmel (1 Samuel 15: 12), a literal sign of his arrogance. Saul’s self-worship is also displayed when he talked to Samuel concerning offering sacrifices to Samuel’s God, failing to claim the Creator as his own focus of praise (ref. 1 Samuel 15:15, 21, 30). Even after being told through Samuel that, due to his disobedience, he would no longer be king and that his position would be given to a better man, Saul dismisses his sin and is more concerned with Samuel honoring him before the elders of his tribe and the nation of Israel.

Saul was initially chosen by God because Saul did not want to be king. He didn’t think his family was prestigious enough for the honor and though he was physically above all the other men, when given established power over his countrymen, he shrunk himself away. But the pride that came from being king swelled him up and he became more concerned with his military men no longer following him, rather than following the instructions the Lord gave him. When told to totally annihilate the tribe that attacked the Israelites when they had fled from Egypt, Saul kept the spoils of war and paraded the captured enemy leader before building a statue to himself. Even when told the kingship would be taken from him for his disobedience, Saul was focused on maintaining the praise of men, rather than the approval of God.

Saul’s fall is still relevant to modern Christians in our current Age, since we are not chosen by God because of how tall we stand, but because of how humbly we bow before Him. Any offerings and sacrifices pale in comparison to obedience to His Voice. By maintaining the humble serving hearts we had when He promoted us, He will continue to give us more responsibilities, opportunities, and positions within His Spiritual Kingdom.

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

Spiritual Gift of Healing

 

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Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Breaking the Nazarite Vow

The Holy Spirit is the source of our deepest connections with our Creator and empowers us to fully experience His Presence and operate in our spiritual gifts. We must be mindful of this great privilege and honor and not take the Holy Spirit for granted. Though destined to serve as a powerful Judge on behalf of Israel against the Philistines, mighty Samson instead tried to live on his own behalf and failed to recognize the ultimate role that the Holy Spirit played in his heroic feats, and lost everything, including his life, in the process.

Judge Samson’s birth was announced to his barren mother by the Angel of the Lord, instructing her to not imbibe any wine or strong drink, and to avoid any unclean things while pregnant. These restrictions, which included never drinking alcohol, touching unclean animals or the dead, or ever shaving his hair, would continue throughout Samson’s own life as a Nazarite, dedicated to the service of God. Despite knowing his obligations to abide by these restrictions, Samson broke them repeatedly to fulfill his personal desires.

While on their journey to arrange Samson’s marriage to a Philistine woman, which his parents objected to, a young lion roared against him, which he tore apart with his bare hands, after the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. Samson didn’t tell his parents; if they had seen this carnage, they would have chastised him for breaking the restriction of touching an unclean animal. After meeting with the woman he intended to marry, Samson came across the carcass of the lion he had killed and saw that a swarm of bees had formed in it. Samson again broke his Nazarite vow and reached into the carcass and grabbed the honey comb, which he ate and shared with his parents, but didn’t tell them where he had gotten it (ref. Judges 14:5-9).

During the wedding ceremony, it is heavily implied that Samson broke the restriction on drinking alcohol, since the word used for feast is mishteh, whose root shalthah means “drink” (Judges 14:10). Amongst their other drinking games, Samson issued a riddle with the reward of thirty sets of clothes and sheets. After having nagged him for the answer, Samson’s wife told the men at the feast how to solve the question, and in his rage at her betrayal, Samson went to the nearby Philistine city and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him and he killed thirty men and looted their corpses to pay the reward (ref. Judges 14:11-19).

After his wife was given to his best man (Judges 14:20), in a fit of vengeance, Samson caught 300 foxes, yet another unclean animal, bound pairs of foxes’ tails together with a flaming torch between them and released them into the Philistine’s grain stores, fields, orchards, vineyards, and olive groves, which were ready for harvest, setting everything ablaze. The ensuing destruction intensely crippled their economy and food production. In revenge, the Philistines killed Samson’s wife and father-in-law with fire, but Samson retaliated and viciously slaughtered many Philistines, tearing them apart limb from limb (ref. Judges 15:1-8).

The Tribe of Judah calmly captured Samson to ransom a peace treaty with the Philistines, but again the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him and Samson broke through the ropes that bound him, as they approached the camp. Though he had just enacted a terrible defeat against the Philistines empowered only by the Spirit, Samson grabbed the fresh jawbone from a donkey skeleton, another unclean dead animal, and killed 1,000 men, while using it as a weapon (ref. Judges 15:9-16).

Samson broke his final restriction against cutting his hair after the devious Delilah convinced him to tell her the secret to his immense strength. Since he had already touched many unclean animals and their corpses and the bodies of dead men, and drank alcohol, he reasoned that his strength had always been in his hair, since it had never been shorn. After being bound while sleeping and having his hair shaved, Samson was unable to break the ropes that restricted him, not realizing that God had departed from him (ref. Judges 16:15-20).

After his capture, Samson had his eyes gouged out and was ironically forced to do the work of donkeys by treading out grain while imprisoned. He was flaunted as a war prize during the Philistine’s religious ceremony, where in his final moments, Samson pushed the pillars of their temple apart, killing over 3,000 of the Philistines’ societal leaders and himself in the process (ref. Judges 16:21-30).

Though Samson had been physically blinded by his Philistine captors, it was his inability to see how his strength was reliant on the Spirit of the Lord and keeping his Nazarite vow that truly disabled him. Likewise, we cannot expect to walk in the full grace, promises, and blessings God intends for us if we do not obey His Word, honor the Holy Spirit, or try to fulfill the purpose He has for our lives.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

Spiritual Gift of Faith

 

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Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: Equipping the Saints

Before the Holy Spirit became available to all those who were baptized by fire, prophetic signs foreshadowed the Spirit-filled Era we live in today. Moses desired that all of Israel could have the Spirit upon them, prophesy, and heed the Voice of the Lord. Likewise, Christ equipped His Followers to go before Him and also continue His Work after He Ascended.

While Moses was leading the Israelites through the Wilderness, they continually found new reasons to moan and grumble. The constant barrage of complaints and critiques overwhelmed Moses to the point that he cried out to God “I am not able to carry all these people alone; the burden is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). God heard Moses’ pleas and replied “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the Tent of Meeting, and have them take their place there with you. I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.” (Numbers 11:15-16).

After the seventy elders consecrated themselves and went to the Tent of Meeting, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to prophesy. When two elders, Eldad and Medad, also received the Spirit and began prophesying in the camp, a young boy ran to the Tent of Meeting to inform Moses and the other elders. Joshua, the Helper of Moses and future leader of the Israelites, became afraid, since the men prophesying in the camp were not ordained under Moses in the Tent of Meeting, which Joshua feared would lead to people challenging Moses’ exclusive leadership. Moses did not want sole responsibility over the Israelites and expressly desired “that all the Lord’s People were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” (ref. Numbers 11:24-29).

Prophet Joel predicted the era when God would pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh; and sons and daughters would prophecy, old men would dream dreams, and young men would see visions and His Spirit would even be poured out on the least of them (ref. Joel 2:28-29).

After Christ’s Transfiguration on the Mount of Olives, He appointed seventy of His Followers and sent them two by two before Him into every city and home He was going to visit and He gave them the power to heal the sick, preach the Gospel, and have command over demons (ref. Luke 10:1-20). A little while later, Apostle John informed Christ that they “saw someone driving out demons in His Name and told him to stop, because he was not one of the [70 Followers]”. Christ enlightened His Disciples that “No one who does a miracle in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for Us. Do not stop him” (ref. Mark 9:38-40).

Apostle John mirrored the same fears Joshua expressed hundreds of years earlier, that the 70 Followers would not have exclusive access to Christ’s Power. But Apostle Paul understood Moses’ and Christ’s desires that all should prophesy and develop spiritual gifts which would build up the Church (ref. 1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 12).

The responsibility of leading the Israelites was so great that Moses could not handle it on his own, so God provided a way for His Spirit to overflow onto others so they could help carry the obligation of governance. When Christ began preparing His Disciples before His Crucifixion and Ascension, and the roles they would have in leading the New Testament Church, He ensured they understood that many others not ordained during His Earthly Ministry would be working alongside them doing His Will. During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fulfilled the prophecy that God’s Spirit would come upon ALL flesh.

Though Christ is the Ultimate Leader of His Church, we all share a responsibility within His Spiritual Kingdom. After our baptism by fire and being filled with the Holy Spirit, we were equipped with a spiritual gift to fulfill our distinctive roles in our ministries. God does not desire that we be overburdened, but has given us the Holy Spirit as a Helper and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ to assist us as we mature in our gifts and walk with Christ and work together to build, edify, and govern the Body.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator

 

The Word of Knowledge

 

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Holy Spirit & Spiritual Gifts: All Who are Skillful & Wise-hearted

Bazelel was the first person specifically mentioned by God as having been filled with His Spirit. Bazelel was also granted a myriad of gifts and skills to fulfill his role as Chief Architect of the Tabernacle. But, he did not complete this work alone, and was blessed with a godly assistant and many talented artisans to work beside him. Even today, the Church cannot be built up but a few, but by the many hands, talents, and contributions of the Body of Christ.

Before construction of the Tabernacle began, God commanded Moses to take contributions from all those who had a “willing heart”. The necessary materials included valuable metals, dyes, skins, weaving material, wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. Every one whose heart stirred him, and whose spirit made him willing, brought their freewill offerings (ref. Exodus 35:4-29). There was such an outpouring of generously donated materials that the people had to be restrained from giving more (ref. Exodus 36:5-7).

God instructed Moses to appoint Bezalel, as Chief Architect, over the construction of the Tabernacle. He was filled with the Spirit of God, in Wisdom, in Understanding, in Knowledge, and was a master craftsman in carpentry, metalworking, weaving, stone cutting, dying, and incense blending. His Deputy Architect, Oholiab, was also a skilled artisan, but most importantly, both he and Bazelel were blessed with hearts filled with the desire to teach.

Though there was undoubtedly other talented workers amongst the Israelites, it would be the previous brick makers, imbued with wise hearts desiring to give additional gifts of their work to the construction of the Tabernacle who would be taught the skills of “the engraver, and the cunning workman, the embroiderer, in blue, purple, and scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, to work in gold, silver, and copper, cutting and setting of stones, carving of wood, and of any of those that devise cunning and artistic works” (Exodus 35:32-35).

Bazelel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whom the Lord put Wisdom and Understanding to know how to do skilled work, and every one whose heart was stirred to come help with construction, worked together to build the Tabernacle’s structure, the holy furniture and instruments, the priestly robes, the oil and incense for offerings, amongst all the other things God had instructed them to craft (Exodus 36:1-2).

After the assembly was completed on the first day, of the first month, the Glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle (ref. Exodus 40: 34-35). The Tabernacle was constructed by the freely given gifts and talents of the people of Israel and served as a physical space for God’s Glory to dwell. Likewise, the Church Body must be built up by our spiritual gifts so the Holy Spirit can dwell amongst us.

Just as there was a variety of materials and artisanal talents required to construct the Tabernacle, “there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Each one is a manifestation of the Spirit and given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

Though Bazelel was an extremely impressive and gifted man and filled with the Holy Spirit, it took donations of physical materials and artisanal skills from all God’s People to construct the Tabernacle. Today, each member of the Body of Christ, whom should all be filled with the Holy Spirit, must contribute to His Kingdom through the application of our individual spiritual gifts. It is only then, that our families, ministries, and communities can fully experience the Glory of the Lord.

 

Prepared by, Kent Simpson, Apostolic Prophet & Eric Sepulveda, PMT Administrator