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12 Tribes of Israel #9 Asher-Bond Servants of God our best day is yet to come so we must watch what we eat!

10/30/2020

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Gen. 49:20
“Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.”
3 John 2
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Genesis 30:12-13.
"And Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, 'Happy am I! For women will call me happy.' So she named him Asher."
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Asher:-Happy-Deals with our health.  We must eat fuel to function.
 
The foods we put in our bodies must be given thought. When we mistreat food or our bodies with food, it is a sin. Emotional eating, over eating, under eating, fattening foods, diets, can all cut our lives short.
 
The land of Asher was known for its olive orchards. Asher produced such large amounts of oil that it became exceedingly wealthy. A big reason for Asher's wealth, coupled with its natural production of olive oil, was its proximity to the markets of Phoenicia. The tribe of Asher became a leader in the olive oil trade in Canaan. Rabbinical Literature, as pointed out by the Jewish Encyclopedia, supports this notion. It is believed that in times of scarcity and during the Rabbinical year, Asher supplied all of Israel with oil.

It was this wealth, however, which many scholars feel attributed to its aloofness.

Asher - The 8th Son of Jacob
Asher was born to Zilpah, Leah's maid. Previously, in verse 9, Scripture records that Leah had stopped bearing children. No reason is given, and any such attempt is pure speculation.
What is stated is that she gave Zilpah to Jacob, and they bore a son named Gad. Immediately following Gad's birth is the birth of Asher.

The implication seems to be Gad and Asher were born rather close apart, with Gad being the older. It is likely, thus, these two were close, though no evidence of such is given in Scripture. In fact, Scripture is silent as to the actions of Asher.

However, he may be implied as being involved in an incident with Joseph. Asher's name, like that of his brother Gad, is akin to happiness.

The tribe of Asher was one of only three tribes mentioned as answering Hezekiah's call. II Chronicles 30:11 records those tribes which choose faithfulness. Nevertheless, some men of Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem."

Once again these are not the actions of a distant and aloof tribe. Asher seems to have been keenly aware of the circumstances involved in the affairs of Israel.

The Northern Kingdom completely fell apart in 723 BC, with a large number of people deported and exiled.

Asher, however, seems to have escaped the brunt of the Assyrian deportation. Their presence in Israel is signified by their response to Hezekiah's call.

They saw the need for redemption and reconciliation, and humbled themselves before coming to Jerusalem. This was an act of faithfulness on the part of the men of Asher.

Despite their association with Phoenicia and Canaanite religion, a portion of Asher still remained true and faithful to God Almighty. As late as Hezekiah the tribe of Asher was still worshiping the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob.

The Tribe of Asher in the New Testament
A fascinating mention of the tribe of Asher is made in the New Testament book of Luke. This instance takes place in Luke 2 and involves a prophetess named Anna. Anna is said to have been the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

Luke 2:36-37 gives an account of Anna.
"And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with a husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. And she never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers."

It just so happened that on this particular day a couple was bringing their young son to the temple to present him to the Lord, in accordance with the Law of Moses. This child happened to be none other than Jesus, with His earthly parents Mary and Joseph.Anna the prophetess was aware of who Jesus was. She, along with a righteous man named Simeon, recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and exclaimed to all of those around this fact. Verse 38 records Anna's response to the Christ-child.

"And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."

The tribe of Asher, thus, maintained its identity into the New Testament era. Many of the other tribes had been lost by this time. The Assyrian and Babylonian Exile had weakened Israelite nationhood.

The mighty Roman Empire was now in control. Yet, the tribe of Asher is represented by this incredible woman; clear indication they retained their tribal identity.

The tribe of Asher is certainly an enigmatic tribe. They are hard to pin down. On one hand, they merged in many respects into Phoenician culture and life. They were chastised by Deborah for their willful refusal to come to the aid of their Israelite brethren.
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Their abundant supply of olive oil led to a wealth which created a self-sufficiency, unique to the other tribes of Israel. Their association with the sea is further evidence they were different than the other tribes of Israel. Indeed, many scholars of today are quick to point these factors out, and claim that Asher remained distant and separate from the other tribes. Though these things are true, the tribe of Asher also provides one with enough evidence to support the theory they were important members of the tribes of Israel. Both Jacob and Moses had positive and encouraging things to say about Asher.

The Asherites supplied oil in times of need to all of the other tribes of Israel. They played a decisive role in Gideon's defeat of the Midianites, killing the two Midianite chiefs. They sent a large number of men to king David in Hebron, in support of his claim to the throne. 

The tribe of Asher, though their overall impact on the history of Israel is debatable, cannot be denied they played important roles at critical times throughout the history of Israel. The tribe is mentioned in Revelation 7, the only list of the tribes in the New Testament. In the days leading up to God's judgement, 12,000 men from the tribe of Asher will be sealed with the "seal of the living God" on their foreheads.

These sealed individuals, 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel, are called the "bond-servants of our God." Asher's most glorious moment, therefore, is yet to come.
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Moses Blessing - Deuteronomy 33:24"And of Asher he said, 'More blessed than sons is Asher; May he be favored by his brothers, and may he dip his foot in oil. Your locks shall be iron and bronze, and according to your days so shall your leisurely walk be."

If the Video does not show up here below click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwrtOL_n2GE
ACTION STEP: Treat your body as the Temple of God that it is! Do not grow weary in well doing.  Beware of money and wealth taking you out. Ask God to deliver you from any spirit of greed or aloofness that would try to destroy you. Look forward to the coming of Jesus our Savior! Be faithful and humble yourself.
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12 Tribes of Isreal #8 Dan-craft and artful management do not always bring about the wonders they pretend to.

10/29/2020

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Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all they getting get understanding.”
Judges 1:34-36
34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley: 35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries. 36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.
 
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:

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If you do not see the video below click here:
​ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA7LRh40wkk
Dan-(A Judge)-This is the part of us that makes judgement calls, governs and pleads causes. It works closely with instinct and your mind to move in a certain direction.
 
This is the part of you that works with your logic or your spirit to strike whilst the iron is hot.
 
This is your wisdom center that God wants to sharpen for His glory.
 
This is the part of us that knows how to use knowledge with wisdom.
 
Proverbs 4:7 “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all they getting get understanding.”
 
Patience teaches us how to mature in this area.
 
Summary: The debased Amorites were a gangrenous limb of the human race.
 
After bearing with them for hundreds of years, God decided that the only solution was amputation. The Israelite tribe of Dan failed to exterminate the pagan inhabitants of their lot.
 
The debased Amorites were a gangrenous limb of the human race. After bearing with them for hundreds of years, God decided that the only solution was amputation.
 
In Dan’s lot He committed the surgery to that tribe. But they failed to obey Him.
 
Here, the name Amorite is synonymous with name Canaanite.
 
The term appears in Assyrian documents as a designation of people from the west (of Mesopotamia). Finally, the chapter ends with the tragic statement that the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain (hill country) and would not even allow them to come down into the valley; probably that is where the chariots of iron were.
 
Thus, the Danites were driven into the hills for protection and safety, and they rarely made excursions from them. (The enemy always attempts to entrap us and isolate us.)
 
This brings to mind how the ancient Britons were driven into the mountains of Wales by the Romans; and the native Indians driven back into the woods by the British settlers in America.
 
Eventually, the Danites were unable to control any of their territory and were forced to migrate far to the north (ch. 18).
 
It is also interesting to note that Samson, the strongest man, came from Dan, the weakest tribe!
 
The fifth son of Jacob, and the first of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. Dan records  are unusually meager. Only one son is attributed to him, Gen. 46:23; but his tribe was, with the exception of Judah, the most numerous of all.
 
In the division of the promised land Dan was the last of the tribes to receive his portion, which was the smallest of the twelve.
 
Joshua. 19:47-48. But notwithstanding its smallness it had eminent natural advantages. 47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
 
On the north and east it was completely embraced by its two brother tribes Ephraim and Benjamin, while on the southeast and south it joined Judah, and was thus surrounded by the three most powerful states of the whole confederacy.
 
It was a rich and fertile district; but the Amorites soon “forced them into the mountain,” Judges 1:34, and they had another portion granted them.
 
Judges 18. In the “security” and “quiet,” Judges 18:7, 10, of their rich northern possession the Danites enjoyed the leisure and repose which had been denied them in their original seat.
 
In the time of David, Dan still kept its place among the tribes. 1 Chron. 12:35. Asher is omitted, but the “prince of the tribe of Dan” is mentioned in the list of 1 Chron. 27:22. But from this time forward the name as applied to the tribe vanishes; it is kept alive only by the northern city. In the genealogies of 1 Chron. 2-12 Dan is omitted entirely.
 
Lastly, Dan is omitted from the list of those who were sealed by the angel in the vision of John. Rev. 7:5-7. 2.
 
The well-known city, as familiar as the most northern landmark of Palestine, in the common expression “from Dan even to Beersheba.”
 
In Jacob’s blessing, Judah is compared to a lion, Dan to a serpent; now observe how Judah with his lion-like courage prospered and prevailed, but Dan with all his serpenting subtlety could get any ground; craft and artful management do not always bring about the wonders they pretend to.
 
What Dan came short of doing, it seems his neighbors the Ephraimites in part did for him; they put the Amorites under tribute.
 
The Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres—perhaps they agreed to dwell in the mountainous country, because they were unable to sustain themselves on the plain, and yet were so powerful that the Danites could not totally expel them; they were, however, forced to pay tribute, and thus the house of Joseph would rule over them.
 
A city in the Shephelah, the lowlands west of Jerusalem. It belonged to the tribe of Dan (Josh. 19:42) and was assigned to the Kohathite Levites. The area surrounding Aijalon was the scene of the famous battle between Joshua and the five Amorite kings. This was the battle where Joshua made the sun stand still, while the Israelites destroyed their enemies
 
Concerning the matter of expelling the Canaanites from the Promised Land to make room for themselves it appears that the people of Israel were generally very careless both of their duty and interest in getting it done; they did not do what they should have done.
 
I can give four reasons for why they did not get it done:
 
 1. It was on account of their slothfulness and cowardice. They would not put themselves through the struggle and perhaps the pain necessary to complete their conquests.
 
2. It was owing to their covetousness; the Canaanites’ labor and money would do them more good (so they thought) than their blood, and therefore they were willing to let them live among them, so that they might make a good use of them.
 
3. They did not have that dread and loathing for idolatry which they ought to have had; they thought it a pity to put these Canaanites to the sword, though the measure of their iniquity was full, they thought it would do them no harm to let them live among them, and that they would be in no danger from them.
 
4. The same thing that kept their fathers out of Canaan for forty years, kept them from taking full possession of it, and that was unbelief. Distrust of the power and promises of God lost them their advantages, and they ran.
 
Jg. 18.1) “In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.” This chapter begins by noting that there was no king in Israel, reminding us that much of the spiritual and political confusion of this time was due to a lack of unified leadership in the nation.
 
According to Numbers 26:43, the tribe of Dan had sixty-four thousand men. However, they were still unable to occupy the territory that was allotted to them because of the oppression of the Amorites and the Philistines.
 
It should be remembered that the Samson narrative also relates to the tribe of Dan. Samson, the strongest man, came from Dan, the weakest tribe! The difficulties in the conquest and settlement of the land had caused a lack of precision regarding intertribal boundaries.
ACTION STEP: Keep yourself from a spirit of lying or anger. Anger blinds us and darkens our minds. Pray for God to forgive you for past lying and anger and ask Him for grace to be cleansed from this wickedness; so you can achieve your Godly inheritance and obtain a good reward. Finish what God called you to do! Starting is not obedience--finishing is!
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12 Tribes of Israel-#7 Issachar

10/28/2020

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1 Chronicles 12:32
"from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;"
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​Issachar-“There is a recompense/reward”-Issachar is your instinct. This is the part of us that deals with our acute awareness of the times and seasons and how to act and not act, when to strike and when to lay low. The major component of the Issachar anointing is to have a servant’s heart and ears. This is the Ecclesiastes 3 anointing that Mary had when she knew exactly when Jesus was ready for the first miracles and told the servants to do as Jesus told them. This is the gifted awareness in us that just has this knowing on the inside of us. His father describes him as a strong Donkey, an animal that is a beast of burden used symbolically by Jesus as a sign for a season shift. (The Donkey carrying Mary, Jesus before he is born. The Donkey Jesus rides on Palm Sunday showing it was time for another season shift-the ultimate sacrifice.)  
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The maturity of the Issachar in us will bring peace and contentment but not complacency; as we go through the different seasons of life and therefore a natural surrender to keep in step with God, instead of going ahead of Him.
 
There are many who know their dreams-(Joseph’s) but miss their opportunity because their Issachar had not been developed.
 
The story of the 10 virgins is a perfect example about instinct/Issachar had them prepare enough oil if the bridegroom tarried. The five wise ones operated in Instinct (and were rewarded) and the five foolish missed their opportunity.
ACTION STEP: If the video doesn't show up here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1DCmhpFRho Each week I have attached a video but unless you watch it in your browser it will not show up. Stay tuned as I finish the 12 Tribes of Israel and how they affect you and I today and the world in which we live.
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12 Tribes of Israel-#6 Zebulun

10/27/2020

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Genesis 49:13
“Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.”
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Zebulun's name means “Exalted." Zebulun descended from Jacob. Born born to Leah. Called Zebulun because Leah said, “God has presented me with a precious gift. This time my husband will treat me with honor, because I have borne him six sons”(genesis 30:20) Zebulun means “dwelling” or “honor”.

This represents in us, the ability to manage finances with peace and generosity, and to teach others to do the same. Sharpening your Zebulun begins with embracing the knowledge that God promises to give us power to obtain wealth. 

How you and I handle our finances is something that God cares about and wants to perfect in us as well. We must allow patience to have her perfect work and way in our finances. As we submit our finances to the Lord and allow Christ to tell us how to handle our finances we mature (perfect). 

The tribe was the fourth largest tribes. This tribe was one of the many tribes that had trouble getting rid of the native population in the land of Canaan. Though Judges 1:30 does record that they eventually succeeded in conscripting the native inhabitants to force labor, which is not the same thing.
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The exact boundaries are unclear because as where this passage in Joshua does a good job of laying it all out. We are not sure where all these places are. We have educated guesses but the sands of time and in many cases the literal sand has devoured the land markers. The sites of Kattath, Nahalal, Idalah, an d Eth kazin not only are hard to pronounce but they are unknown at this time.
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In the old testament the area does not play a large role in wider biblical history. Judges 4:4-10 records that troops from Zebulun fought under Deborah and Barak agains Sisera the commander. Jonah was a a Zebulunite from Gath Hepher (2 Kings 14:25) So there is that. Jonah is a famous prophet especially today. Most people know the story of Jonah and the great fish.

Click here if the Video does not show up:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_oTub-9nPs&t=236s​
ACTION STEP:  ​Allow God to be the Lord of your finances. The first thing to do is tithe 10% of your income off the gross. This tells God, I want to be in covenant with you and I want to honor You for what you have given me. I trust that when I am in covenant with You that You will honor Your promises to me. You will rebuke the devourer for my sake. You will protect me. Check out all the scriptures regarding the tithe. Zebulun’s history reminds us that God is always present when we return to HIm. No matter how battered or bruised we may be or how ashamed we may feel about past transgressions, God can still use us, and use us He does! 
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12 Tribes of Israel-#5 Judah.

10/26/2020

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Gen. 37:26-27
“Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?  Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelite's and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” 
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Judah-(Strongs H30360-means Praised)-The Spirit of Drunkenness.
4th son of Jacob and not so favorite wife Leah.

Leah at this point had stopped performing for love from Jacob and purposed to praise God for blessing her with her 4th son.

Judah represents in us our spirit made with the sole purpose to praise and worship God. This is the part of us, that when we are saved it is the part of us that lives in heavenly places and tabernacles with God in eternity.

When we first find Judah it’s in Gen. 37:26-27 “Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelite's and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.”

We see him showing leadership abilities. Judah continues to mature and is given Reuben’s title of firstborn. He ends up offering himself to be punished by his father if Benjamin in not returned safely to hi when they visit Egypt.
 
As you and I’s dream is being perfected, so is you're praise.
 
We learn how to praise when God takes your Joseph to protect it. Joseph is enslaved and Judah is maturing. When the promise is imprisoned and praise is growing.
 
The promise is hidden while praise is perfected.
 
This must happen so that true worship is developed in us.
 
Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego we choose to worship even when there is a possibility that God may not rescue us from the battle.
 
Praise is important because it has an inbuilt power and success. It unlocks doors that can’t be opened by other means.
 
While our dreams are being perfected in the classroom of a dungeon, Judah is being transformed.
 
Judah disliked Joseph with a passion, but loved him enough to spare his life.
 
Little did he know how important Joseph as to his survival: that Joseph was chosen to sustain and nourish him, so that the Messiah, Jesus Christ would come from Judah’s line.
 
Judah is an immature worshipper at this point and this is dangerous.
 
Immature worshippers speak death to their salvation, to their Kairos and to their household.
 
When praise is self-seeking instead of God-focused, it behaves unwisely, entangled with unnecessary things, deceitful, lustful, and judgemental.
 
An immature worshipper is dangerous. Even in seed form the Lord God refuses it. The offering of Cain was rejected. When praise matures it produces exceptional seed.
 
Let’s look at the contrast between Immature and Mature Praise:
 
Immature Praise:
  • Will be exposed so it can grow
  • Has no boundaries
  • Is highly judgmental
  • Makes unwise dangerous contracts not expecting consequences
  • Easily parts with valuables based on lust
  • Does not keep its word.
  • Doesn’t operate in love.
Mature Praise:
  • Has learned the sovereignty of God and humbles himself; Jesus was and is the King of Kings and King of humility.
  • Esteems others higher than himself; Reuben offers his sons and Judah offers himself.  (Gen. 42:37 “37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”
Gen. 43:9  "I myself will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.”

When backed up into a dangerous corner, he doesn’t attack, but speaks in truth, authority, love and confidence. (Gen. 44:18-34) "Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother? And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father."

  • Has a character that points to Christ. Gen. 4:10 “And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”
  • Has the nature of a lion king: He is a force to be reckoned with; a lion, king of the jungle, majestic and triumphant with power for there is a power in praise.
  • He presents Jesus: restorer, forgiver, strength, kindness and humility.
  • Raises you up to always be the head and not the tail, always the leader God created you to be. 1 Chron. 5:2 “For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:
  • He lives a joyful life, no matter the circumstances because praise to God makes the heart glad. Gen. 49:11-12 “Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.” and Ps. 104:15 “And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
 
Tomorrow, we talk about Zebulun. Genesis 49:13 “Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.”
ACTION STEP: If you have a problem praise your way out of it! If it is not for you to become entangled with stay out of it. Hang onto the Joseph (Dream) in your life and allow God to fully mature you. Keep your flesh crucified by staying in the word of God daily.
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12 Tribes of Israel Part 4-Levi

10/23/2020

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Romans 12:1-2 TPT
“… encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”
Today, we learn about Levi. Levi represents your actual physical body, primarily your hands and feet. 

We are called to be one with the Spirit of the Lord and to do the work of the Lord.
We are NOT to join Simeon-the flesh, or live under the influence of Reuben-the soul.
The Body-Levi is designed to join to a leader that needs a physical form in order to express itself.

This is why the devil likes to come to church. He needs a body in which to express himself.

This is why Simeon took Levi with him to attack Shechem.
Jacob cursed their unity and anger because it was a dangerous union.
Our bodies must be vessels used for the glory of God-ONLY!
Not joined with a need to be heard, or a spirit of envy, guiltless and mind driven, that enjoys sin and thrives to do evil- (Simeon).

Levi- Strongs #H3878  (Joined to) Spirit of Idolatry.
Their only job as a tribe was to tend to the temple or tabernacle day and night.
 
Meaning. "attached", "joining" Levi is a masculine given name. Again Levi was the son or Jacob and Leah. Not Rachel or a handmaid.
 
According to the Bible, the Tribe of Levi is one of the tribes of Israel, traditionally descended from Levi, son of Jacob. The descendants of Aaron, who was the first kohen gadol (high priest) of Israel, were designated as the priestly class, the Kohanim.
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God has a job for us to do. Idolatry or anything we join ourselves to besides the Lord can keep us from fulfilling our God given assignments. The work of the Lord must be accomplished. We must detach ourself from anything or anyone that controls our bodies--specifically our hands (work) and our feet (where we go.)

All the various forms of modern idolatry have one thing at their core: self. We no longer bow down to idols and images. Instead we worship at the altar of the god of self. This brand of modern idolatry takes various forms.

First, we worship at the altar of materialism which feeds our need to build our egos through the acquisition of more “stuff.” Our homes are filled with all manner of possessions. We build bigger and bigger houses with more closets and storage space in order to house all the things we buy, much of which we haven’t even paid for yet. Most of our stuff has “planned obsolescence” built into it, making it useless in no time, and so we consign it to the garage or other storage space. Then we rush out to buy the newest item, garment or gadget and the whole process starts over. This insatiable desire for more, better, and newer stuff is nothing more than covetousness. The tenth commandment tells us not to fall victim to coveting: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17). God doesn’t just want to rain on our buying sprees. He knows we will never be happy indulging our materialistic desires because it is Satan’s trap to keep our focus on ourselves and not on Him.

Second, we worship at the altar of our own pride and ego. This often takes the form of obsession with careers and jobs. Millions of men—and increasingly more women—spend 60-80 hours a week working. Even on the weekends and during vacations, our laptops are humming and our minds are whirling with thoughts of how to make our businesses more successful, how to get that promotion, how to get the next raise, how to close the next deal. In the meantime, our children are starving for attention and love. We fool ourselves into thinking we are doing it for them, to give them a better life. But the truth is we are doing it for ourselves, to increase our self-esteem by appearing more successful in the eyes of the world. This is folly. All our labors and accomplishments will be of no use to us after we die, nor will the admiration of the world, because these things have no eternal value. As King Solomon put it, “For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:21-23).

Third, we idolize mankind through naturalism and the power of science. We cling to the illusion that we are lords of our world and build our self-esteem to godlike proportions. We reject God’s Word and His description of how He created the heavens and the earth, and we accept the nonsense of atheistic evolution and naturalism. We embrace the goddess of environmentalism and fool ourselves into thinking we can preserve the earth indefinitely when God has declared that this current age will have an end: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:10–13). As this passage states, our focus should not be on worshiping the environment but on living holy lives as we wait eagerly for the return of our Lord and Savior. He alone deserves worship.

Finally, and perhaps most destructively, we worship at the altar of self-aggrandizement or the fulfillment of the self to the exclusion of all others and their needs and desires. This manifests itself in self-indulgence through alcohol, drugs, and food. Those in affluent countries have unlimited access to alcohol, drugs (prescription drug use is at an all-time high, even among children), and food. Obesity rates in the U.S. have skyrocketed, and childhood diabetes brought on by overeating is epidemic. The self-control we so desperately need is spurned in our insatiable desire to eat, drink, and medicate more and more. We resist any effort to get us to curb our appetites, and we are determined to make ourselves the god of our lives. This has its origin in the Garden of Eden where Satan tempted Eve to eat of the tree with the words “you will be like God” (Genesis 3:5). This has been man’s desire ever since—to be god and, as we have seen, the worship of self is the basis of all modern idolatry.

All idolatry of self has at its core the three lusts found in 1 John 2:16: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” If we are to escape modern idolatry, we have to admit that it is rampant and reject it in all its forms. It is not of God, but of Satan, and in it we will never find fulfillment. This is the great lie and the same one Satan has been telling since he first lied to Adam and Eve. Sadly, we are still falling for it. Even more sadly, many churches are propagating it in the preaching of the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel built on the idol of self-esteem. But we will never find happiness focusing on ourselves. Our hearts and minds must be centered on God and on others. This is why when asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). When we love the Lord and others with everything that is in us, there will be no room in our hearts for idolatry.

If the video below does not show up here click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIk5Tbdwl2s​

Recommended Resource: No Gods But God: Confronting Our Modern-Day Idolatry by Dennis Newkirk
ACTION STEP: Enjoy the You tube above. As always remember I am not endorsing anyone when I post a video. I do not own it and do not make any revenue from it. I simply pass on what I am learning right along with you. What has been handed down from the sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that war on the inside of you. What has got your body, specifically your hands (your do) and your feet (your go)?

I will continue our series on Monday. Have a great weekend and find your place in the house of God this week. Use that Body of yours to praise the Lord. 
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The 12 Tribes of Israel-Part 3 Simeon

10/22/2020

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Tribe of Simeon-The Spirit of Envy. His name means heard.
Simeon represents the flesh in us. Not flesh as in the sense of tissue of your physical body, but the rotten sinful nature in us that enjoys sin. Whenever given the chance it thrives to do evil with its mind driving it forward, with the desperate desire to be heard. It leads us down paths of unrighteousness and becomes silent when the consequences appear. This is the part of us that will keep us separated from our dream (Joseph). It will kill the very thing that will one day feed us and provide for us. We must not let envy kill the dream.
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"Leah soon became pregnant again and had another son. She named him Simeon, for she said, "The LORD heard that I was unloved and has given me another son." Genesis 29:33 (NLT) Leah still jealous and envious of Rachel births envy. We birth what we are, what's inside of us comes out.

In Genesis 29:33 Leah conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son.
Leah said, “Because the Lord heard that I was not loved he gave me this one too.”
She name him Simeon, which means “one who hears.”

Simeon had one of the smallest territories. In fact, notice that he is completely surrounded by the Tribe of Judah if you look at the map of the 12 tribes of  Israel.The land of Judah was considered too large for that one tribe alone and so Simeon was assigned a portion within the land of Judah instead of having its own territory in the newly conquered land.

Jacob says the of Tribe of Simeon and Levi who are the next two sons born of Leah to Jacob, "Simeon and Levi are two of a kind-- men of violence. "O my soul, stay away from them. May I never be a party to their wicked plans."

I’m not going to talk here about the tribe of Levi, but it is important to note that the Tribe of Levi later becomes the priestly Tribe after the order of the High Priest Aaron. I will share on Levi this coming Monday right here on RPMDaily.net.

Jacob sees a tribe who is full of wrath and known for its cruelty. "Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; cursed be their wrath, for it is cruel. Therefore, I will scatter their descendants throughout the nation of Israel." This is exactly what happened. Notice as with all the tribes, the words their Father spoke over them came to pass.

Genesis 34 tells the story of the fall of Simeon and Levi.

Their sister Dinah went to visit some young women who lived in the land of the Hivites. There a man named Shechem son of Hamor saw Dinah and raped her. Shechem declared his love for Dinah was strong, and he tried to win her affection. He even spoke to his father about it. "Get this girl for me," he demanded. "I want to marry her." But, when word reached Jacob that his daughter had been defiled, his sons Simeon and Levi were out in the fields herding cattle so he did nothing until they returned.

Meanwhile, Hamor, Shechem’s father, came out to discuss the matter with Jacob. He arrived just as Jacob’s sons were coming in from the fields. Of course Simeon and Levi were shocked and furious that their sister had been raped. Just as any brother we be angry at hearing the news that their sister had been raped.

Shechem had done a disgraceful thing against Jacob’s family, a thing that should never have been done.

Hamor pleaded to let Shechem marry Dinah. He even offered land and a dowry as trade for the marriage of Dinah. Hamor begged and pleaded, "No matter what dowry or gift you demand, I will pay it--only give me the girl to be my son’s wife."

But Dinah’s brothers deceived Shechem and Hamor because of what Shechem had done to their sister. They said to them, "We couldn’t possibly allow this, because you aren’t circumcised. It would be a disgrace for her to marry a man like you! But here is a solution. If every man among you will be circumcised like we are, we will intermarry with you and live here and unite with you to become one people. Otherwise we will take her and be on our way."

Hamor and Shechem gladly agreed, But while the men of the Hivites were still healing from their wounds of circumcision of the flesh Simeon and Levi, took their swords, entered the town without and slaughtered every man there, including Hamor and Shechem.

They also plundered the city to ground having no regard for child or animal. They returned with Dinah their sister to their own camp of Jacob.

Now, it is only natural to feel the anger of revenge at such a tragedy as the rape of a sister. We know that there are over 200,000 rapes reported every year in America…Sexual abuse and child abuse…, rip at the heart of countless homes. Nearly a 100,000 new cases of child abuse are reported in Kentucky every year. It is likely that you, yourself, or someone you know has suffered from some time of sexual exploitation.

The actions of Simeon were that of revenge, and his revenge caused him to lie and deceive the Hivites. They stole and plundered in acts of barbarianism that had far-reaching consequences.

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Romans 12:19 (KJV)

"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." Romans 12:20 (KJV)

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21 (KJV)

When someone has raped your sister…
When someone has wronged you….
The temptation is the get even…
But Christ teaches us to turn the other cheek…
(Turning the other cheek is often easier said than done…)

One way to practice turning the other cheek is to make each day your master piece.
God gives us a new white canvas every morning.
Every thought.
Every deed.
Every action is what we paint.
What picture do you end up with at the end of the day?

You can change the pictures of brokenness, and bitterness, but only if change how you paint your new day.

The Tribe of Simeon did not receive a blessing, instead Jacob pronounces a curse upon them: The Tribe of Simeon was "divided and scattered" according to the prediction in Gen. 49:5-7.
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Moses pronounces no blessing on this tribe. They gradually dwindled in number, and sank into a position of insignificance among the other tribes. They decreased in the wilderness by about two-thirds (Num. 1:23; 26:14).

If the video does not show up below click this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSJurYWGPSk​
​For the most part the Tribe of Simeon is passed by in silence (Deut. 33).
ACTION STEP: Learn this Lesson: Simeon tried to take revenge into his own hands. Our flesh loves revenge. It loves a platform. This is why Paul encourages us to mutilate and crucify the flesh daily. Put the Simeon (Envy), in you in check before it mutilates you. Silence Simeon (Envy), with the Judah (Praise) in you. The flesh cannot be allowed to make decisions. It is not trustworthy. Put the flesh in the dungeon it cannot thrive there only the dreamer (Joseph) can endure there.
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12 Tribes of Israel and what it has to do with you and I. Part #2

10/21/2020

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God wanted a flagship nation that was an example to the world—not of how they behave, but of how He behaves. We are that flagship to the world today. We are to show the world how God behaves. We can see the do's and don'ts in the character and lives of the twelve sons of Jacob.
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We will look at each of 12 sons-parts/areas that we cannot ignore about ourselves. We can focus on the Joseph part of us (the dreamer) and ignore the other facets of who we are and what is in us. But, if we look at each of these sons we can see that there is a part of each one of them that needs to die in us. We can understand better the war of the flesh that rages inside of us. We are all descendants of Abraham. When we look back at the DNA of our fallen nature we can shine the light on why we and others do the things they do. We understand more the Pit, the Palace, the Dungeon and finally ruling and reigning as God has planned for us.

In this journey we also understand Leah better as a side trip. Producing for the approval of man and then learning that the only approval that matters is the approval that comes from God.

Here is a chart of Jacobs descendants noting which wife the son's were birthed.

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We begin with the father of each of these twelve sons, Jacob when he was old and his health was rapidly failing him. He called for his sons to gather around his bed side. He began to tell them one by one, a glimpse of what the future would hold for each of them. From this we can see the power of words that we speak over our children and what is the responsibility of being a father.

I found it interesting that someone has put on You Tube, the last words of all the 12 tribes (Sons of Jacob), when they were about to die. You can check it out for yourself by doing a search. Here is a link of the first one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1GdAHhN0Tw​
ACTION STEP: As you watch the video above I pray it blesses you and entices you to go through all twelve of these videos. I have not researched the author or the ministry that produced these. I will say that I enjoyed them. I encourage you to chew up the meat and spit out the fat, as we old timers use to say. 

Also, I began this series in September and then picked it back up this month and will continue the teaching the entire month of October every Wednesday night at 7PM and you can watch live on Facebook and in the archives at RCI Media on You Tube.
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It's not the rock, it's the thought.

10/20/2020

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I know, I know, I am in the middle of the teaching on the 12 Tribes of Israel. But, sometimes you just have to stop what you're doing and remind yourself that you are loved by God. God is excited to spend time with you and He desires you, to give Him what's in your hands. I invite you to walk with me today through my yesterday. 

Two little men came to visit me yesterday. No, not my grandsons...well I guess they would be my spiritual grandsons. So anyways, they were so full of wonder. My big house--very big compared to their tiny little bodies, a huge garage with almost nothing in it, trains, pinball machines, stairs, big stools and a cup of chocolate milk and chocolate chip cookies, what could be better? A rock. A little tiny brown rock that the oldest one found on our walk. That rock was so important we had to turn around and wait on him to pick it up, and then what did he do? He brought the rock to me. He looked up at me and smiled, like he'd given me his last $100.00 bill. I melted. Here is a picture of my little rock giver. He is King of the Mountain.
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After their visit I found the rock in my pocket. Just a brown rock. The earth is covered with these little things. As I held it in my hand though, I thought about that little boys hands. I thought about my hands. I thought about God's hands. We spend our entire lives picking up worthless little rocks and offering them to God. God...well His heart grows. My heart grew. Not because we gave Him something, He could get plenty of rocks for Himself with just a word from His mouth. But, when we choose to give what was in our hand, to Him, we are thinking of Him first. 
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ACTION STEPS: Take a few minutes and let this song minister to you and remind you that you are loved. Embrace the world with the eyes of a child today. Go ahead pick up a rock and give it to someone you love. It's not the rock it's the thought!
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12 Tribes of Israel and what that has to do with us? #1

10/19/2020

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I have so many books I am not sure I will ever get through them all, howbeit I am trying. One of the books I am reading is, "The Joseph Anointing." The sub-title is, "Transforming Jacob to Israel in you." As I am learning about each of the sons and their characteristics and attributes, I can see the war each of us fight. The fight of the Body, Soul and Spirit. The author Victoria Scott encourages us as children of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, that God calls forth the Israel in each of us. God never gives up on us. She also though it is not her intent, at least I don't think it is--shows the importance of prophecy, or better yet, the words we speak over our children.
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No matter how each of us has already or will mess up, if we truly love God and are called according to His purposes, will be used for the glory of God. In studying each of the sons of Jacob, we can see characteristics of each of them that were detrimental to their future; as well as buried treasures that God would mine to fulfill His purposes on this earth. There is hope for each of us. 
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ACTION STEP: ​I highly encourage you to get a copy of this book. I do not get any proceeds from her book and do not know her personally, (although I do have a signed copy). I have worn this book out and am currently teaching a series from it on Wednesday nights at 7PM. See below for part one or click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmNxiSQa5ZA​
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    Rena Perozich is a wife, mother, nonna, mentor, author, and encourager. Her life's purpose is to become all God has called her to be and to encourage others to do the same. Learn more. 

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