THE LORD'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

 
As we enter the second term of Obama's presidency, it seemed good to remember that we who are Yeshua's are of another Kingdom. For this reason, I thought it might be good to come above for a few moments to see what the condition of the Kingdom is at this time. So imagine that the Lord is holding a State of the Union address in order to give an account of what is happening in the Kingdom of God presently. While this painting above is of Yeshua holding court when He was on earth, in heaven the glory and power of His presence would be far above all we who are also on earth can begin to imagine. But let's try, shall we, and see what He might be saying if we were there. Listen! 

From all over the heavens those who are the Lord's excitedly gather together in a huge chamber large enough for multitudes upon multitudes. Levels upon levels of balconies rise high into the heavens. As this is a governmental meeting, only those who have been elected – those who are of “the elect” (Matthew 24:31; Romans 8:33) may attend, except for the angels, some interspersed throughout the crowd, while other stand in poised attention as aides along the walls. The place is alive with activity as we greet one another with rejoicing. Then suddenly, a trumpet is blown and Gabriel (Luke 1:19) comes through the enormous chamber doors that open automatically as he approaches them. All attention turns toward him as he steps into the chamber. Expectant silence fills the chamber. Then with a thunderous rumble that rolls up the balconies he announces, “BEHOLD THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH!” (Daniel 5:23; Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21; Acts 17:24). All immediately stand to their feet.

As Messiah Yeshua comes through the doors, He is majestic in splendor! (Psalm 8:1). Thunderous applause erupts, causing vibrations throughout creation as praise leaps from every heart in grateful adoration of this One in Whom all things “exist” and “hold together” (1 Cor. 11:18; Colossians. 1:17). He walks purposefully through the crowd of thousands upon thousands, looking into the eyes of each one and calling everyone He touches by name (John 10:3). Time does not matter in His presence so there is no schedule to keep, except what He sets.

He ascends to the podium, “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 52:13), yet we each see Him as being “near” (Phil.4:5) to us, even to the farthest balcony. He begins to speak. To the members of the elect “His voice is like the sound of many waters” (Rev. 1:15), like a mighty waterfall, or a pounding surf. Yet, it is the voice which each of us has known so intimately, so personally, even while commanding the utmost respect and honor. His words are those of exquisitely tender love laced with unchallengeable authority, neither without the other. Every human and angel listens with rapt attention, nothing else dares to vie for their attention.  

"As this is a State of the Union address, the first issue is that of union, first with Him, and then with each other."

One by one, He addresses the issues. As this is a State of the Union address, the first issue is that of union, first with Him, and then with each other. He affirms that we all may “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) to the Father. We have been given one mind (Acts 2:46; Phil 1:27) to know His Mind, and pure hearts (Psalm 24:4; 1 Tim 1:5), so that we are able to fulfill the will of God, in obedience to Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been given the “mind of Messiah” (1 Cor 2:16), He goes on to tell us, so that He can share with us His inner most thoughts and desires for His people. This causes us to lean slightly forward in anticipation of what He will yet share with us, not wanting to miss a word He says, intent on being conformed to His every intention for us. He sweeps His arm through the air to emphasize He means all who are His without exception and a celestial shower of stars shoot out from His hand. We can feel the anointing He’s just sent to us that enables us to now understand as He tells us of “secret things that belong to the Lord our God” which now “belong to us…forever” (Deut. 29:29).

His words penetrate our very being so that we are changed more into His image in our inner most being by His Words. He goes on to tell us of how the Torah and the Prophets speak of Him (Luke 24:44) in ways we had not seen before. This is a season of great promise, He affirms to us. This is a time when great revelation will come forth and things that have been hidden until now will be revealed to those “who have ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15; Luke 8:8) and who stay alert to what the Spirit is doing in this time of God's redemptive history. Our experiential union with Him will increase as we have eyes for Him and no one or nothing else.

He then goes on to speak of how we are entirely in union with one another. He states that “He has made us all into one” (Eph. 2:14) by faith so that “we have fellowship with one another as His Blood cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) It is sin that separates, He emphasizes. But we have been made to live in a loving, fully accepting relationship with one another, in which we “bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things” (1 Cor. 13:7) of one another, even to protecting the honor of one another. His eyes flash with light, His voice ringing with joy as He says, “The glory which…I have given you” makes you one, “even as the Father and I are one” (John 17:22).

A moment passes and He is quiet. A change comes over Him. He drops His head for a moment, eyes looking down. His Body language sends a shock of alertness through the body of people. Then He speaks and there is sadness in His voice. There are still divisions among you, He says. Do you not know yet that “every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand?” (Matthew 12:25) He pauses for a moment while each of us in stunned silence becomes aware of where we have contributed to dishonoring other persons, not regarding them with the same love He has for them as He has for us. Then He continues. We are entering days in which “the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). It shall not be so for those who are Mine, He says emphatically. “Whoever keeps (My) word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected”(1 John 2:5). Remember, dear ones, He says, joy returning to His face, that you are to be servants of one another, even of those who are outside the Kingdom as I have served you. Do not be as those who endeavor to be served or to be known. Be content in the place I have put you. Aspire to do all things unto Me and you will receive your just rewards in time. Keep in mind that “indeed, some (who) are last who will be first and some (who) are first who will be last." (Luke 13:30). 

"There is no dichotomy of perspectives in His presence, there is only Him; there is only His truth."

There is a mixture of joy, hopeful expectation and sobriety in the chamber. There are no divisions now in the room before Him, such as in the world’s State of the Union addresses, where people with differing views on either side of a wide aisle stand and applaud while the others sit silent in obvious disagreement. There is no dichotomy of perspectives in His presence, there is only Him; there is only His truth, His will, and His way. We are to remember, He exhorts us, that we are to love one another so the world will recognize us as His, even when the world turns against us. Even your enemies are to be given water in My name, He tell us with intensity. “I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44), He says. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God…has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). We are called, He reminds us, to be as He is, even to the laying down of our lives for our friends (John 15:13).

Then He smiles and light bounces from His eyes and showers each person with His love as He says, “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another” (1 Peter 4:8). His own love for us saturates the chamber, even to the furthest point, so that every person and every angel now bows before Him, and on their lips they whisper together, like the hush of a Holy rushing Wind, “Yeshua, Atah Adonai -- You are Lord” (1Cor. 12:3).

His own eyes are now closed, enjoying the love poured out toward Him in response to His own for us. Then He begins again. Person and angel resume their listening position. The well-being, the shalom of the kingdom, He declares, is sound and “immovable” (1 Cor 15:58). We are invincible in Him! Even “the gates of Hell will not overpower” (Matthew 16:18) the people of God, He assures us. We need only to obey what He has told us to do, to keep the attitudes of our hearts clean and to trust Him with all else. Be careful not to allow “your minds (to) be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion” to Me (2 Cor. 11:3), He says, gazing around the room, catching the eyes of each person for a moment throughout the multitude, looking into each heart. Some slump to the floor, or cover their heads with their arms, unable to bear His holiness even though they are His. 

In this coming season, He continues, Kingdom influence will expand as you move in tandem with the Spirit Who rests upon each one of you, just as He rested upon Me “ — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2) are yours. Use this power I have given you in My name for godly and Kingdom purposes so that the Kingdom of God will fill the earth with “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Applause bursts forth spontaneously. We rise to our feet in joyous confirmation of His will being accomplished.

Just a few words, He says, about the economy in the Kingdom. I have overheard rumors that there is cause for fear of lack for My people. As you love one another and trust in Me, it will be “done unto you as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) and I assure you there is no lack in heaven. As you receive, give! (Matthew 10:8). There is only abundance in the Kingdom. “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). So ask believing! (Matthew 21:22) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) when the world tries to give you reasons not to trust me. They are lies from the evil one. Look into My Word and see what I am doing. I will tell you. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). And there is nothing you really need outside the Kingdom.

As for plans for this coming season, we will be exporting the goods and services of the Kingdom to those in need of them elsewhere. The fruit of the Spirit is much needed in many places where it is too dark for people to grow their own. We will be sending people with gifts of the Spirit to people in need of healing and freedom. Keys are going to be distributed that will unlock prison doors so that multitudes will be set free. And for those who dwell in darkness, lamp stands and lamps will be distributed for people to gather around until they are capable of carrying the light themselves which they will then take to others. This coming season promises to be our finest hour. 

The time is approaching. The Kingdom is at hand when “I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations…. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord…when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight” (Ezekiel 36:23). 
Applause and praise reverberates once again throughout the chamber, even throughout the furthest heavens. The State of the Kingdom Union is completed. Yeshua lifts His Hands, which still bare the marks of His death, where we are “inscribed on the palms of His hands” (Isaiah 49:16), as He releases the blessing His Father gave to Aaron upon us: The LORD bless thee, and keep thee. The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace (Numbers 6:24-26). And for the first time, the revelation of what it truly means that “His Name is upon us” brings everything else He has ever said to us into holy reality. In unison we all say, “Amen.”

 This article was first published on Messianic Vision, www.sidroth.org, 2010. 

   

The Shield of Favor in the Presence of Evil

Few of us have enemies in our lives the way David did. This sculpting could represent David deep in thought. Perhaps he's wrestling with his emotions before God. We could say he's being naked before God with his feelings. Situations come up that cause us also to wrestle with our own emotions before God. Sometimes we too are faced with great opposition. Presently, most of you who are reading this are living in safety. I pray it remains so. But even if we are not personally faced with evil, we hear about it taking place around the world. And we are prone to get emotionally involved, drawing conclusions and forming opinions about people on one side of the issues or another. Perhaps David can be of help in showing us what our godly responses should be when evil may seem to triumph. 

I am often reminded that the armor of God includes “having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). Why is this about our feet? And why does it say “preparation”?  It would seem that in order to be sure that when something threatening in some way comes up suddenly or unexpectedly, if we’re not prepared, we might react rather than respond. We might be tempted to justify ourselves and attack back or resort to something we would regret later. God has told us to walk (therefore, feet) in peace with everyone we meet:  “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves….” (Romans 12:18, 19).  That just might take some “prep” ahead of time so that we’re not vulnerable to being antagonized should something come up. This could mean personally or it could mean something happening on a larger scale, such as politically or socially. How are we going to respond if things go awry in our personal world? Hopefully, it will never happen. But just in case, it might be wise to consider now how to process our thoughts should such an event come up. 

It’s always good to look to someone who’s already been there and done that when seeking for wisdom and insight, preferably someone who hasn’t lost the t-shirt in the ordeal.  Perhaps that’s why God told us so many stories in the Bible, of how people handled things, both righteously and unrighteously, so we could learn from them.  David certainly was one who knew what it was to have people coming against him, even members of his own family – even his own son!  How do you handle that kind of heart ache?  Through all David went through, he learned how to hide himself in God.  No matter what was going on, even in his own sin, he found comfort, solace and release from God. 

In Psalm 5 David is processing with God his own thoughts about the evil going on around him and directed toward him.  He is talking to God about the ways of men, good and evil, and their ultimate destinies.  The fact is, he is surrounded by evil.  The word for evil here in Hebrew is resha, which refers to evil as that which is just plain wrong, especially morally wrong. It denotes the kind of life that is antithetic to the very character of God. It includes dishonesty, fraud, lawlessness, injustice, unlawful gain, wickedness and godlessness. These are the kind of persons who are coming against David. But then, one kind of evil seems to breed all the other kinds of evil. They often go together. The plight of one who pursues these kinds of moral wrongs, David is assured before God, will be destroyed by Him.  They may look like they are gaining the victory today, but their ultimate demise is sure.  

David knows from Torah that no wickedness dwells with God. There is nothing wicked, evil, morally wrong, unjust, dishonest, or unfair in God. There is nothing unloving or unmerciful in God or that can dwell with God. He is altogether good!  Nor is there is any chance, apart from true repentance, that any person involved in intentionally causing pain or unhappiness to others, or who acts unethically or immorally, or has a negative attitude toward God, will have any part with God – for God will have no part with them. There is no place for them in God because they are entirely unlike God. This should draw a clear line that going forward in a meeting to “accept the Lord” at one time or having “prayed the sinners prayer” yet without true heart-felt repentance for sin or change in someone’s life for godliness, does not save one who continues in ungodly behavior. The fruit will reveal the root. 

According to Psalm 5, this exclusion from God’s presence includes the braggart or the boastful. The Hebrew word there is hallel, from which we get the word Hallelujah which means praise to Yah. Hallel literally means to be bright, brilliant or splendid; to glorify, to celebrate, to be famous and to be praised.  The braggarts or boastful are those who are self-praising.  Oh dear. It is so subtle the way we garner recognition for ourselves, isn’t it? Those who seek praise for themselves, the psalm is saying, will not stand before God to whom all praise is due.  It is a rare exception that any man is given praise in the Scriptures. Rather praise is used only pertaining to God.  We are so used to the acclaims of men and giving people praise as if they accomplished something on their own without God’s help, that we don’t even realize that praise is that which is meant for God, not mankind.  Sure, tell someone you appreciate them or are thankful for them in some way, but give God the praise. Tell them they are a blessing to you and you can see God in them. That would seem to be the highest praise we can give one another.  

Lucifer was the angel in charge of praise of God in heaven. But he sought to co-opt it for himself. Since he can’t do that in an obvious manner, he must divert it from God by deceit which he does by “inspiring” mankind to praise or idolize each other, or at least certain individuals, in one form or another.  Consider how the world has celebrated kings, conquerors and celebrities. How we idolize superficial beauty or regard highly those with worldly power while giving no or little thought to their true moral character.  If we aren’t worshipping God, we will be worshipping  someone  or something else. Humans were created by God to be worshippers – of Him, so that He would  bring us into His sheltering and glorious presence, to bask in the wonder of Who He is with overflowing hearts that are responding to His love for us.  That’s what praise is meant for!   

David is reminding himself that even though there are those who are coming against him, and though he has enemies and he is surrounded by evil, God will declare them guilty. He will judge them. His enemies' intentions toward him will not determine the outcome. They will not be his enemies forever. They will fall because of their own schemes. Those who speak falsehood, or use flattery to gain the favor of men, or those who lie and seek to deceive others with untruths, are really seeking to set up some form of idolatry which is an alternative to revering God.  That would seem to be the work of the father of lies, would it not? Their eventual end will be that God will ultimately banish them, just as the father of lies has been banished. The sense in these words is that they will be thrust out of His presence. Can we even imagine the force behind that?  Words like that make me tremble. I can think of no more horrible fate than to be banished from Him. If you’ve read this far, I’m sure you feel the same way. 

Can you imagine that one day when every human being stands before Yeshua in all His glory and authority, that there will be some  who see His beauty, perfection and goodness and realize they have lived a life of rebellion and self-will and all they have boasted of is entirely futile, and having seen Him for Who He truly is, they will then be thrust out of His presence –forever!   Such will be their eternal destiny.  Thank God He is merciful and there is ample opportunity for true repentance in this lifetime.  It is for this reason we are to pray for our enemies. God Himself does not wish that any would perish. Nor should we.  After all, He died for us while we were still His enemies.   

But David, who himself has repented of evil (of adultery, intentional murder and deceit) knows full well God’s forgiveness and that those who take refuge in God will find cause to rejoice, and that there is great rejoicing for the person who finds refuge for his sin and weakness in God.  By God’s lovingkindness, by His mercy and grace, those who look to Him are able to reverently and gratefully enter into His presence.  While evildoers are far from God, having no concept of His goodness, we who find shelter in Him are awed by His benevolent goodness to us and His ultimate protection over us. 

David knows his dependence upon God to lead him in righteousness, to make His path straight before him. He knows his dependence is upon God to keep him in righteousness – in tzdaqah.  Tzdaqah is a word used widely to mean such as rightness, virtue, mercy, generosity, faithfulness, piety, justice and rectitude. It also speaks of the godly relationship between God and His people, and between person to person in ways of fairness.  Tzdaqah in all of its many meanings stands in total opposition to the ways of those who have rebelled against God. 

You may remember that Naomi upon returning to Israel said not to call her Naomi anymore but to call her Marah. ”She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Marah, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (Ruth 1:19-21). 

That name or word Marah has several meanings. It can mean a heart crushing experience of family turmoil, which gives us deeper insight into Naomi’s emotional state. In this sense, it refers to personal suffering and hardship, grief or disillusionment. But it can also refer to the Lord’s judgment against those who deliberately disobey Him, who resist, despise, dispute or quarrel with Him in bitterness against Him. 

In opposition to people with that kind of attitude are those who seek refuge in Him, who flee to Him for protection, who confide in Him, hope in Him and put their trust in Him. Naomi came to that place, but it wasn’t how she was feeling when she returned to Israel.  She found that God’s faithfulness overcame her sense of grief and disillusionment. 

It is those who love His name who come to know His goodness toward them. This word love in Hebrew is ahav, which here has to do with the tendermercies of God in His covenant relationship with His people, which we see evidenced in God’s restoration of Naomi. It is the love of God above all else, though it can also be extended to friendship or ties between those who know His love and can extend it to one another.  It is those whom God will surround with favor as a shield, meaning He will close off evil or harm by encircling them with His goodness. What a wonderful picture. The favor of God surrounds us as a shield against wickedness and evil when our trust is in Him.

Even if wickedness appears to triumph for a season, we have the confidence that righteousness will triumph and evil will fail. The wicked ones will be thrust from His presence but we will remain in His protective grace forever.  Yes, we must pray for our enemies, with merciful intent that they will repent, having the same heart for redemption that God has in Messiah Yeshua.  But the message of Psalm 5 is one that should strengthen us to look to God for the ultimate end of righteousness to be ours.  No matter what comes or what evil may appear to triumph, as we put our trust in God to keep us always on His path of righteousness, He will shelter us with His favor and keep us in His presence, now and forever.