20/01/10

Inheritance and portions of the Lord

Ezekiel 48:29 - This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.


The Israelites were promised by the Lord the land beyond the river Jordan as a Promised Land. And elaborate details were given by many Prophets about what their share would be and how things would be. The scripture of the day is from the book of Ezekiel who existed during the time of Israel's rule by Nebuchadnezzar and was one of the 10,000 taken to Babylon. Most of Ezekiel's book deals with restoring the Promised Land unto Israel and with the Temple.

Some of the prophesies of the Old Testament concerning Israel have come true in the lives of the Jews but many have not. If one notes in many places Judah is spoken to as a separate entity from Israel and some places so also the Levis are; but in the book of Revelation concerning end days they all are considered as part of one tribe.

If one really understands the Old Testament like Paul did it is just the shadow of the real. A shadow gives us the outline, the shape but never the dimensions unless one knows the distance from the source and of the light. Since the exact time of the end days when man enters Heaven (source) is not revealed in the Bible but just the season has been revealed; we can be aware of the approximate time but not the exact day or time, nor do we know God perfectly (light).

If one reads a few scriptures ahead and following today's scripture, it talks about having a share of the promise land to each tribe and of their twelve gates to that land. If one reads the book of Revelation the Heavenly Jerusalem also has twelve gates named after the twelve tribes.

Is Heaven a resort or land that it needs gates?

I can not go much in details in our daily message but can briefly tell you the Promised Land is a shadow of the true Promised Land - Heaven and the journey of Israelites from Egypt to the river Jordan (in Hebrew means 'descender' or descendant - sonship) is a shadow of man's journey from the time of Jesus on earth. We now are nearing the times Israelites approached the river Jordan.

There is an inheritance awaiting us in Heaven which is far greater than all the wealth or pleasures here on earth. So while we live in this flesh on earth let us live soberly with our eyes focused on the promises in Heaven.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, we thank You for making us sons of the Almighty God by your sacrificial Blood and your Spirit. Your Spirit works in us and confirms our names unto our inheritance. Holy Spirit help us realize the true value of the things set fourth for us so the truth brings joy and strengthens us as we live our days here on earth...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Hebrews 8:3-5
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.
4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.
5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary; for when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain."

Hebrew 10:1a
1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities...

Revelations 21:10-14
10 And in the Spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed;
13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.
14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

1 Thessalonians 5:3-10
3 When people say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape.
4 But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
5 For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
7 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him

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