At His Feet
The Ark of God is the manifested presence of God. It is something tangible for Israelites to attach
faith to. God had given specific ways of carrying it. And only the levites were supposed to carry it.
During the time of Eli, the priest, the philistines captured Israel and took the Ark of God. Very soon,
they were unable to withstand the power of God working against them, they sent it off to
Bethshemesh and from there it was sent to the house of Abinadab in kiriath-jearim. It was there for
20 years but the Israelites who were living in the status quo were just ignorant of its importance.
Many a time we see or listen about churches fully furnished and equipped but the manifestation on
God's presence is found missing. Why? Because they are accustomed to their traditions, programs,
events and so on. The bible says in John 10:10 that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. Many a
time, more than killing or destroying, satan tries to steal. He loves to make the active ones become
passive Christians.
Saul the first king of Israel was anointed but he live did not live according to God's heart. He seemed
not bothered about the Ark. But his successor, David was so passionate about God and was
determined to bring the Ark into the city (2 Sam 6:4). With great pomp and praise, David along with
is 30000 men placed the Ark on a new cart and started taking to the city. As they were on the way,
the oxen stumbled and immediately, Uzzah, the son of Abinadab touched the Ark to keep it from
falling. And immediately the Lord struck him and he died and David was sore afraid.
David's intention of bringing the Ark into the city was right but the way was wrong. It's good to have
passion to do something. But many fall short as they don't use the right method. The Ark was to be
borne on shoulders. It requires sacrificial and personal involvement. David sent the Ark to Obed-
Edom's house. It was with them for three months and the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom.
The reason, they revered the presence of God. When we revere the presence of God, He blesses us.
Wherever the Ark of God (God's manifested presence) is, there is power, provision, abundance and
more.
May the Lord bless you abundantly as you desire for His manifested presence loving and revering it.
It is not uncommon in the streets of India that people, especially kids come and touch or fall at our feet in order to express their needy condition. This is their way of insisting people to give them alms. The Bible talks about the importance and the privilege of being at the feet of God.
Sleeping at His feet: Let us ponder on the truth about Ruth. Naomi, her mother -in-law advised her to wash herself, anoint, and adorn herself with best garments and go quietly to the house of Boaz and lay down at his feet for he was the near kinsman. She was also advised her to be careful enough not to be seen by anyone. Ruth did exactly as Naomi said. Later that night, Boaz was surprised to find her lying down at his feet. She told him the cause and He blessed her and promised to help her. He did not send her back empty. (Ruth 3)
As we eye on this incident in spiritual terms, we end up learning some powerful truths. Sleeping at the feet symbolizes sheer submission. In the present days, we find many advertise largely about their prayer meetings, worship services and fasting prayers and more. But Jesus clearly mentioned the opposite. When you pray, lock yourself in the room and lie down at his feet. And God won't send you back empty. Whatever is done in secret will be rewarded publicly.
Crying at His feet: In the Old Testament, we find Hannah, the wife of Elkanah was sobbing in the temple so rigorously that the Priest, Eli mistook her to have drunken a lot. When she explained Eli about her situation, and then Eli blessed her (1 Samuel 1:1-17). In the New Testament, we find a woman who found Jesus in a Pharisee's home, standing behind Him, wetting His feet with her tears, and then wiping His feet with her hair, and then anointing His feet by breaking the most expensive alabaster jar. Responding to the bothered Pharisee and his guests, Jesus said that because of her great love, she was greatly forgiven. (Luke 7:36-50)
When we pour our hearts out at his feet, He honors it showing His immense love towards us and by witnessing on behalf of us as He did in the house of the Pharisee. When we cry at His feet, people may misunderstand us, even the spiritual leaders might not understand. But, As He answered Hannah's plea, God is ever ready to answer our pleas as we shed tears of heart in His presence.
Sitting at His feet: Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus invited Jesus to her house. And she made herself busy with many things while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what He was saying. This frustrated Martha so much so that she directly questioned Jesus regarding her sister who is not helping her in anything but just sitting at His feet. Then Jesus answered her saying that she was worried about many things but Mary had chosen the right thing (Luke 10:38-42)
We get busy doing many things for the Kingdom of God, organizing many meetings and programs. As our passion stirs us up to work for God, we strive hard to please God and achieve progress in the ministries. All this is good. But we tend to forget the thing that Jesus looks for. It is sitting at His feet. It is listening to His voice. It is spending time reading the Word. When we sit at His feet, he reveals mysteries of the Kingdom that enlighten us to be a blessing to many.
As we lie down at the feet of Jesus, we never go empty handed and are rewarded publicly. As we cry at the feet of Jesus, He himself stands as our behalf witnessing about us. As we sit at the feet of Jesus, He reveals mysteries of the Kingdom. May the Holy Spirit stir you up and encourage you to spend time at the feet of Jesus.
Coming into Focus
"When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem." - Luke 9: 49-55.
Jesus knew the purpose He was sent for. He had focus. Inspite of threats from the priests, He set His face. Many on us fail due to lack of focus. Many are unable to fulfill their purpose because they are either off-focused or wrong-focused. Wrong focus is the shift of focus to other thing apart from the priority or the purpose. If we have the focus, then the human spirit is hard for the death to take us. If our human spirit is so powerful, then think what the Holy Spirit can do when we have the focus!
Consider a magnifying glass! It brings all the sun rays that are scattered and brings to one focus point and gathers all the heat on one spot and it catches fire. Yes we are on fire when we focus. Many a time, we pray about many things without being unable to focus on one thing.
The more you begin to focus, the closer you get to your destiny. In-spite of opposition, in-spite of resistance, Jesus focused towards his destiny. The greatest resistance always comes when we are near the greatest opportunity. In order to get the greatest opportunity, we need to fight the greatest resistance. And for us to fight it, we need to have the greatest focus.
We can clearly see how Jesus was never out of focus in His lifetime. He displayed immense maturity. Lets us learn the different stages or different seasons He has been through.
Stage of Miracles: Jesus started going in a season of miracles. In the wedding at Cana, when Mary, His mother asks Him to do something as the wine was completed before being served to all, He responds saying that His time has not come. This shows Jesus went by schedule. Then He miraculously made the water into wine. Now people are drawn to Him. Yes people are drawn to us in this stage. They will love you. But He showed the next stage soon
Stage of Message:He started on the mountain top teaching beatitudes. He started His message with blessings. But as it went on, it got tough. He came to the point of saying "You cannot be a part of the Kingdom until you eat my flesh and drink my blood." Some of them started moving away as they could not bear the discipline and the commitment Jesus was talking about. Yes, the immature ones or the ones who come only for miracles fade off.
Stage of moment: Now some people love the miracles and they love the sermons too. But only those who have consecration enough can be strong in this stage. This is what many of the church goers don't like to be committed to because they are not consecrated enough to have the moments with God. The disciples had moments and that's why they were ready to suffer with Him. In order to have the moments with God, we need to pay the price. It's not how many years we live, it's about how many moments we have.
Stage of Mission: This is where the congregation seldom goes. Its seems like we go to church we are never involved in. Think of the few who come before time to set up for the service! Think of that lor who rehearse all week long to set the platform. They have a mission. In order to be on a mission, we need to set our focus; we need to be on discipline. Jesus didn't ask us to pray for souls; He asked us to pray for laborers for the harvest is plenty and the laborers are few.
Let us set our faces towards the goal and let us be on a mission as Jesus was. Let us come into focus.
Contending for the Presence of God
Every Sunday we experience the presence of God. Our hearts are enlightened and our burdens are lightened. In every special event we would be all the more joyous as we are stirred up in our inner being and we find Jesus. But from Monday to Saturday, things would be so routine that many rise up with a fundamental but a needed question 'Where can I find Jesus?'
We can find Jesus in the word of God: John 14:21,23 - One who loves Jesus loves His commandments and accepts them. To the ones who meditate His word, He will manifest Himself and He loves to dwell with them.
We can find Jesus in the Holy Spirit: John 15:26 - the Comforter will testify about Jesus. In other words, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, every moment we find Jesus because the Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus in everything
We can find Jesus by Loving People: Luke 24:28-29 - the two disciples unknowingly invited Jesus to tarry with them because it was too late. They expressed their love towards a stranger. Yes! When we find Jesus with us when we care for people, comfort and help them in time of need.
We can find Jesus as we assemble together: Luke 24:30-31 - the two understood that the stranger was Jesus when they assembled together. Matt 18:20 - where two or three gather in His name, He promised to be with them.
Now you may say, I know all these four and I have already observed all these but still it's tough to find His presence. The KEY is PUSH. Persist Until Something Happens.
To pray persistently, Jesus told His disciples a parable. (Luke 18:1-8). A judge who is not God fearing changed His heart when a widow who sought justice often came to His court and persistently pleaded him. Every time she went to the judge, she went expecting justice. 7v - Would not God pick up pace to answer His own elect? He will.
The Greek word used for the presence of God is 'Parousia'. This word is used to describe two things.
Firstly, it describes the mysterious presence of God. When we pray persistently, He comes with His mysterious presence. Secondly, it describes the visitation or arrival of a royal or an important person. When we pray persistently, Jesus hastens to answer. He comes with His royalty with mysterious presence to fill us
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