20/08/12

Justus - The Just rejected!!

Acts 1:23 - And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed [nicknamed] Justus, and Matthias.


When the twelve disciples selected by Jesus saw that there was 1 less between them, after Judas Iscariot killed himself for betraying Jesus. To fulfil scriptures they decided to select another to fill his place.

Among the two purposed by them was Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed (nicknamed) Justus and Matthias.

Like in the other cases we saw since Joseph was a common name this person was called Barsabas which means son of Sabas or Tsaba. But in this case we see he was given a nickname Justus even though they already called him by another name. The nickname Justus which they gave him means 'the just'. This nickname was because of his nature or characteristic of being righteous that showed prominent in him. The same was the case of Simon who was nicknamed Peter because he was overzealous always thinking he had the answer or solution to things even though he had little knowledge of it (the term Peter means 'pebble' which symbolizes little truth).

We see even though Barsabas was a righteous man appreciated by everyone yet we find he was not selected by the Holy Spirit to be one of the Twelve! Was the Holy Spirit selecting the better of the two? That is not the case for all were unworthy and were made worthy by the Lord, leaving for Judas for his end was written. Like Saul became Paul similarly each one were similar to Saul in their lives before they were selected by the Lord, trained by Jesus and given the Holy Spirit to become what we know them as.

To understand why, we need to first understand the concept of Twelve.

The 'twelve' count was a statute to understand the things which Heaven is made of. The selected twelve Apostles of Jesus by fulfilling scriptures continued the statute so that one day we understand the thing which was hidden. Paul was at least equal if not a greater Apostle than the selected twelve Apostles they did not add Paul later to make thirteen nor was Paul given less respect than any one among them. The Lord also had done this 'twelve' business with the twelve tribes of Israel, when He counted the Levi tribe unto Himself, so from the eleven He split the tribe of Joseph into two so as to keep the count to twelve. The link to the twelve understanding lies in the understanding of the twelve stones which represented the twelve tribes and are the same stones (some are called by their other names) of which Heaven is made of. The foundation of Heaven is another scripture is stated as based on twelve pillars with the names/reference of the twelve Apostles, it has twelve gates and twelve Angels to guard the twelve gates to enter Heaven. These numbers are symbolic to explain things which are hidden from the understanding of earthly man.

For example if one really understands Heaven, one will realize there cannot be gates to this spirit world, Heaven has no boundary for what would be beyond the gate if earth, grave and hell (lower Heavens) is not found, as recorded in the book of Revelation (Rev 20:11)? Even if anyone disputes that scripture, can anyone size Heaven where God dwells and put gates to it?

Barsabas was as dear to the Lord as Matthias was, but the Lord had purpose for Matthias to be part of the twelve and Barsabas for some other.

The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11 the plans He has for us is to bring out the fullness of us and these plans are good and not evil.

The Lord is telling each one of us today. We may look at others at different places and ask the Lord 'why I am not there' or 'why was I not given that chance'? The Lord telling us He has us in the palm of His Hand and is in control of us. Even when we go haywire He turns that event too around for our good. So let us just surrender unto Him and know of His plans for us in our communication with Him (prayer).


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord there are many times we look at others and hope we were in their shoes or are depressed for things that have not happen in our lives. Lord You are the Potter and You alone know what best can be made of which clay. You alone know the shape and size that can be given to a vessel without breaking it. Lord, help us surrender to You and trust in You to lead us in our walk of life. We also pray Lord You reveal to us your plans that w may not struggle and loose on our harvest...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Colossians 4:10-11
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellow workers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

Exodus 28:15-21
15 And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.
16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.
17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the
first row.
18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their in closings.
21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

Revelation 22:9-27
9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, "Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit 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 were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls.
16 The city lies foursquare; its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal.
17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.
18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, clear as glass.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, transparent as glass.
22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
25 and its gates will never be shut by day預nd there will be no night there.
26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.
27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Matthew 19:28 - And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Revelation 20:11 - And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven (lower Heavens) fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

John 17:12 - While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: which thou gavest me I kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

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