PROPHETIC CHAMBER
According to the Word of God, to the influence of sin in the form of negative speech or slander is related leprosy. Miriam, the sister of Moses, who was also a prophetess and under the leadership of Moses, was struck with leprosy by God because of her wrong behavior against Moses (cf. Numbers 12:10).
 
Numbers 12:10:
10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous – it became as white as snow. Aaron turned towards her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, …
 
Leprosy and its Spiritual Root
 
Speaking in a prophetic context, leprosy has a spiritual root that is expressed in arrogance or proud heart attitude.
 
Prophets possess a high spiritual responsibility in the communication of God’s words. They are in a certain way a vehicle of God’s communication when He desires them to speak. Therefore, it is of high importance that their communication is pure.
 
In this, it is no coincidence that Miriam was to be treated as a person spit in the face by her father. The result for Miriam was having to stay outside the camp for seven days (cf. Numbers 12:14).
 
Numbers 12:14:
14 The Lord replied to Moses, ‘If her father had spat in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Confine her outside the camp for seven days; after that she can be brought back.’
 
Based on this, it shows us clearly that God’s standard of pure or holy communication is like the sound of many waters (cf. Ezekiel 1:24a i.c.w. Revelation 1:15b).
 
Ezekiel 1:24a:
24a When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, …
 
Revelation 1:15b:
…, 15b and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
 
However, when we move out of this divine standard, it does not fail that we are separated from the mouth of the LORD by His ‘spitting’ in order to come to repentance through godly sorrow (cf. Revelation 3:16 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 7:10a).
 
Revelation 3:16:
16 So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
 
2 Corinthians 7:10a:
10a Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, …
 
It is the uncompromised communication of God that includes right sight, right hearing, and right communication (cf. Mark 7:33-35; Mark 8:23-25).
 
Mark 7:33-35:
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spat and touched the man’s tongue.
34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means ‘Be opened!’).
35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosed and he began to speak plainly.
 
Mark 8:23-25:
23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spat on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, ‘Do you see anything?’
24 He looked up and said, ‘I see people; they look like trees walking around.’
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
 
As we walk in it, we recognize His prophetic revelations, hear the words of God breathed into us to pass them on unadulterated at God’s right time.
 
The Captain Naaman and the Pure Communication of God
 
Using the captain Naaman of the king of Aram, who had many soldiers under his command and was sick with leprosy, we can see the cause of arrogance and lacking self-control in communication.
 
This can only be remedied by humility because Naaman listened to the young Israeli girl who served in captivity in the house of Naaman. She drew his attention to the pure divine communication in Israel represented by the prophet Elisha (cf. 2 Kings 5:1-3).
 
2 Kings 5:1-3:
1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.
3 She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’
 
The young Israelite maid’s instruction resulted in king Aram sending Naaman and his retinue with a letter and blessings to the king of Israel requesting healing, whereupon the king of Israel tore his clothes, indicating a humble heart attitude.
 
2 Kings 5:4-7:
4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.
5 ‘By all means, go,’ the king of Aram replied. ‘I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.
6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: ‘With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.’
7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!’
 
Hearing of this conversation and the tearing of the king of Israel’s garments, the prophet Elisha asked the king of Israel to have Naaman come to him to reveal to him the realm of divine and pure communication (cf. 2 Kings 5:8).
 
2 Kings 5:8:
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: ‘Why have you torn your robes? Make the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.’
 
Naaman set out with his retinue at the prophet’s command and stopped at the door of Elisha the prophet, who sent his servant out to him with instructions on healing to wash or immerse himself seven times in the Jordan.
 
2 Kings 5:9-10:
9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house.
10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’
 
Tested in Humility and the Seven Times of Dipping
 
At this moment Naaman was again tested in humility to break with arrogance and anger in his life, as Elisha sent his servant out to Naaman and told him to wash in the waters of the Jordan.
 
Praise be to God that Naaman’s servants acted positively on him, so that he did not act from his own expectation and conclusion, but listened to the advice of his servants, so that he was healed (cf. 2 Kings 5:11-14).
 
2 Kings 5:11-14:
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’ So he turned and went off in a rage.
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, “Wash and be cleansed”!’
14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
 
Through Naaman’s dipping seven times, his skin began to renew itself, which included sanctified, pure, and humble communication.
At this, Naaman entered the following different spiritual levels:
 
  1. the love of the Father (cf. John 3:16),
  2. the fellowship with the Father (cf. Galatians 4:6),
  3. a humble heart attitude for the right to access (cf. 1 Peter 5:5b),
  4. the right of access through the Father (cf. John 10:9),
  5. the dimension of life in the spirit (cf. John 6:53a; Galatians 5:16a),
  6. self-denial (cf. Galatians 2:20),
  7. the spirit-filled communication through the Word of God (cf. John 6:63 i.c.w. 2 Corinthians 3:6).
 
The reasoning is because the seven spiritual attributes in the context of God’s communication are the following seven Hebrew letters:
 
  1. Aleph – bull, indicating fatherhood
  2. Beth – house, indicating community
  3. Gimel – camel, indicating humility and access
  4. Dalet – open tent door, indicating access to the realm of favor/grace
  5. Hey – breath, wind, spirit, indicating the spiritual dimension
  6. Vav – nail, indicating the cross and sacrifice
  7. Zayin – a crowned sword coming from above.
 
When Naaman emerged from the water for the seventh time, his skin was completely renewed, namely like that of a child. Moreover, by doing so, he established a spirit-filled atmosphere of the Word of God from heaven, much like when the Father’s voice was heard at Jesus’ baptism while the Holy Spirit revealed himself as a dove (cf. Matthew 3:16-17).
 
Matthew 3:16-17:
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’
 
The Enwrapping of the Pure Communication of God
 
From this it is clear that the captain Naaman was enwrapped by the pure communication of God when he emerged from the waters of the Jordan for the seventh time. The result of this was that Elisha met him personally face to face and talked with him. Through the healing, which at the same time involved a renewal of Naaman’s mind, he recognized the only true God of Israel and renounced his idolatry toward Rimmon.
 
In addition, Naaman received an understanding of the spiritual inheritance in the ground, as shown by his taking it in the form of the double burden from the earth of the place (cf. 2 Kings 5:15-19a).
 
2 Kings 5:15-19a:
15 Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’
16 The prophet answered, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.’ And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
17 ‘If you will not,’ said Naaman, ‘please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord.
18 But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: when my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also – when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.’
19a ‘Go in peace,’ Elisha said. …
 
Naaman’s compliance to the prophetic instruction, as well as his bowing in humility before God, resulted in complete renewal in his life and walk in childlike faith. The childlike faith in the form of the renewed skin of the captain provides the framework for the Holy Spirit to work effectively in us (cf. Mark 2:22).
 
Mark 2:22:
22 And no-one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.’
 
Moreover, God intervened in the house of Elisha by revealing the heart of his servant Gehazi, who was regrettably corrupt or arrogant, so that he ended up as a leper (cf. 2 Kings 5:19b-27).
 
2 Kings 5:19b-27:
… 19b After Naaman had travelled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, ‘My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.’
21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running towards him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. ‘Is everything all right?’ he asked.
22 ‘Everything is all right,’ Gehazi answered. ‘My master sent me to say, “Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.” ’
23 ‘By all means, take two talents,’ said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi.
24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.
25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, ‘Where have you been, Gehazi?’ ‘Your servant didn’t go anywhere,’ Gehazi answered.
26 But Elisha said to him, ‘Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes – or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?
27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants for ever.’ Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous – it had become as white as snow.
 
Let us go forward in humility and purity of heart in Christ Jesus, doing His will on earth (cf. Proverbs 22:11 i.c.w. Matthew 5:8).
 
Proverbs 22:11:
11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.
 
Matthew 5:8:
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 
This message is especially directed to all ministering saints in the body of Christ who, especially in prophetic ministry, can get provoked by some events associated with news or reports, which can quickly lead to judgmental or negative communication.
 
Only when we gain a biblical understanding of God’s holy nature will we be able to lead ourselves and others in reverence to refrain from using words that are not beneficial or sanctified. God wants to reveal Himself to us as His people, but this will always require our own devotion and humility, which we are called to watch over.
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm

PROPHETIC CHAMBER
Some time ago, my wife was awakened three times at night in her sleep by the Holy Spirit saying, ‘Who has believed our message?’ At this, the Lord placed emphasis on the Bible passage from Isaiah 53:1, where the prophet spoke as a messenger to the people of God.
 
Isaiah 53:1:
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
 
It is no coincidence that this reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah is omitted and not regularly read by the Jewish Orthodox people. Based on this, it becomes clear that it hides a mystery of the Gospel, of which the Apostle Paul spoke (cf. Ephesians 6:19).
 
Ephesians 6:19:
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, …
 
The Mystery of the Gospel and Spiritual Weakness
 
It is significant that we, as God’s redeemed people through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, understand this mystery, which comes with a certain state of weakness that God has allowed in order to reveal His power (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9).
 
2 Corinthians 12:9:
9 But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
 
This weakness does not include a carnal weakness, that is, of the nature to sin, but it is weakness of the Spirit that reveals the arm of God. The revelation of the arm of God involves the awesome power and majesty of God (cf. Psalm 118:15b-16 i.c.w. Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 50:2c; Isaiah 51:5; Isaiah 52:10).
 
Psalm 118:15b-16:
… 15b ‘The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high; the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!’
 
Isaiah 40:10:
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
 
Isaiah 50:2c:
… 2c Was my arm too short to deliver you? …
 
Isaiah 51:5:
5 My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.
 
Isaiah 52:10:
10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
 
Joseph and the Phase of Adversity
 
Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob, was also not spared a path of adversity due to his vocation, which was predestined for him by God. He had to experience betrayal, be thrown into a pit in humiliation, encounter cultures that were unfamiliar to him (Note: Ishmaelites/Midianites, Egyptians), experience captivity, be forgotten, to be brought to honor much later (cf. Genesis 37:23-36; Genesis 39:7-23; Genesis 40:14.23; Genesis 41:9-14.37-45).
 
Since Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, it can be said that Joseph was a phase of transition, leading through challenges into exaltation according to God’s plan. For it is said that Joseph entered the process of exaltation by going in search of his brothers on behalf of his father Israel. In his search, he encountered a man who was not named and is an indication of God’s instruction leading into the depth or challenge to ultimately enter into exaltation (cf. Genesis 37:12-17).
 
Genesis 37:12-17:
12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, ‘As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.’ ‘Very well,’ he replied.
14 So he said to him, ‘Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.’ Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’
16 He replied, ‘I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?’
17 ‘They have moved on from here,’ the man answered. ‘I heard them say, “Let’s go to Dothan.” ’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan.
 
What is striking in the life of Joseph is that ‘mantles’ that were given to him were used for deception. First, the mantle of favor given to him by his father Israel (Note: Jacob) was soaked in the blood of a goat by his brothers to feign Joseph’s death to their common father.
 
In this, Joseph’s brothers operated in collective falsehood and allowed their father to live in the pain of loss for many years (cf. Genesis 37:3.31-34).
 
Genesis 37:3.31-34:
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate [Note: multicolored] robe for him. …
31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, ‘We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.’
33 He recognised it and said, ‘It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.’
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
 
Furthermore, the wife of Potiphar, Pharaoh’s court official, abused Joseph’s mantle to frame him for attempted rape or sexual molestation, after he honorably refused her and for which he was innocently imprisoned (cf. Genesis 39:7-8.10-18).
 
Genesis 39:7-8.10-18:
… 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’
8 But he refused. ‘With me in charge,’ he told her, ‘my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. …
10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even to be with her.
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside.
12 She caught him by his cloak and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. ‘Look,’ she said to them, ‘this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed.
15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.’
16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home.
17 Then she told him this story: ‘That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me.
18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.’
 
The deception of Joseph’s brothers resulted in this mantle dipped in blood as well as the deception by Potiphar’s wife concealed Joseph’s career into governmental rule.
 
From this it is evident that the kingship in Christ can be preceded by betrayal and denial, just as Jesus was betrayed and denied to ultimately reign as King of kings and LORD of lords for eternity (cf. Luke 22:48, Matthew 26:34 i.c.w. 1 Peter 3:22).

Luke 22:48:
… 48 but Jesus asked him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’

Matthew 26:34:
34 ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times.’
 
1 Peter 3:22:
… 22 who [Note: Jesus Christ] has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
 
Vigilance in Challenging Circumstances
 
In our lives, we may encounter circumstances that we, as saints in Christ, do not always understand or can explain. In these moments, our experiences seem to run contrary to the truth of God’s Word, which is a temptation of the enemy to draw us away from God or to encourage us to accuse God.
 
Extreme caution is needed in such situations because God is the God of all ages and eternity, not of temporary time only (cf. Daniel 7:9 i.c.w. Hebrews 13:8).
 
Daniel 7:9:
9 ‘As I looked, ‘thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
 
Hebrews 13:8:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.
 
We as the people of God in Christ Jesus need to remain steadfast in faith in spite of all the challenges that seem to be before us, even when we see few positive results in such circumstances. Eternity will confirm the unshakable truth of God’s Word and finally reveal the fruit of steadfastness!
 
Also, when we find that people turn away from the proclamation of the truth of God’s Word and it seems as if it bears no fruit or does not make any difference, there is the great danger of becoming discouraged (cf. Romans 10:16).
 
Romans 10:16:
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’
 
Based on the above biblical passage according to Isaiah’s prophetic word, it shows that the gospel must not only be believed, but also obeyed. This obedience results in moving forward in discipleship of Christ and entering into greater truth that is always associated with freedom (cf. John 8:31b-32).
 
John 8:31b-32:
… 31b ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’
 
The Guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Truth
 
In times of challenge, it is imperative that we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the truth that the Heavenly Father has for us. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and brings about faith that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life (cf. Ezekiel 36:26-27 i.c.w. John 6:44¸ John 14:6; John 16:8-11.13-15).
 
Ezekiel 36:26-27:
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
 
John 6:44:
44 ‘No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. …’
 
John 14:6:
6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. …’
 
John 16:8-11.13-15:
8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. …
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
 
Without having literally seen Jesus Christ, through faith in Him we have already confessed our sins and acknowledged Him as the Savior given for us by God. And with this faith comes great blessing, just as Jesus said to His disciple Thomas (cf. John 20:29).
 
John 20:29:
29 Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’
 
But there are, unfortunately, people who refuse to believe the message that is proclaimed to them, so that they are unable to recognize the revealed arm of the LORD.
 
Recognizing the Strength of God in Apparent Weakness
 
It is important that in moments of apparent weakness we recognize the strength of God that sits at the right hand of God, which is Jesus Christ Himself. From Him we receive the grace for the particular challenge in our lives.
 
Therefore, the pertinent question arises from Isaiah 53:1: ‘Who has an eye for the revelation of the mighty acts of God, which He has done in and to Jesus Christ?’
 
If this spiritual vantage point is non-existent, one is also not enabled to see the power of God in the suffering and resurrection of Christ from the dead.
 
Such a wrong perspective results in not believing the power of God and cultivating a gospel that denies its power (cf. 2 Timothy 3:5).
 
2 Timothy 3:5:
… 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
 
The apparent godliness associated with this is similar to that of the Emmaus disciples, who had to experience the intervention of Christ as the Risen One from the dead in the form of the Rabbi in order to recognize and believe (cf. Luke 24:21-27).
 
Luke 24:21-27:
… 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.’
25 He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
 
This caused the fire of God to get active in them, so that they urged Jesus to come home with them. Only as Jesus broke bread as the risen Lord did they recognize Him (cf. Luke 24:29-32).
 
Luke 24:29-32:
29 But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32 They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’
 
Despite all the challenges we face in life, let us look to the power of the triumph of Christ, who is the beginner and perfecter of our faith (cf. Hebrews 12:1-3).
 
Hebrews 12:1-3:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
 
Let us hold fast to Him who holds us to go on and follow our destiny as disciples of Christ, in faith - not by sight.
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm



PROPHETIC CHAMBER
Since Jesus Christ is the Word of God, it is helpful to explain how we can grow in the maturity of the Word of God. For this purpose, the different times of maturity of Christ, the Word of God should serve us when he lived on earth in flesh and blood (cf. John 1:1-4.14 i.c.w. Revelation 19:13).
 
John 1:1-4.14:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him (Note: Jesus Christ) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. …
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 
Revelation 19:13:
13 He (Note: Jesus Christ) is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
 
The Different Ages of Jesus and the Mystery of the Gospel
 
Based on the different ages of Jesus Christ as the Word of God, there is a spectrum of principles to be observed.
 
We can see from the Word of God that Jesus Christ, as an infant of eight days, was brought by His parents to be circumcised in the temple according to the ordinance of the Torah, as well as publicly called by name (cf. Luke 2:21-24.39-40).
 
Luke 2:21-24.39-40:
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’. …
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
 
The period before the circumcision could be called a phase of the mystery of the Gospel because Jesus was not publicly given His name until the eighth day after the circumcision, as communicated by the angel Gabriel on God’s behalf to Mary (cf. Luke 1:30-31).
 
Luke 1:30-31:
30 But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God.
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
 
The realm of the mystery of the Gospel relates to a spiritual battle, just as the apostle Paul said, speaking about being bound as well as the spiritual warfare he had to fight for the sake of the mystery of the Gospel (cf. Ephesians 6:18-20 i.c.w. Colossians 4:3-4).
 
Ephesians 6:18-20:
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
 
Colossians 4:3-4:
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.
 
Since, according to the Word of God, the angels, are assigned to the little ones and see the face of the Father every day, and since Jesus also pointed out the importance of the children being allowed to draw near to His presence, it shows that this is a higher spiritual level (cf. Matthew 18:10-11 i.c.w. Matthew 19:14).
 
Matthew 18:10-11:
10-11 ‘See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
 
Matthew 19:14:
14 Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’
 
Moreover, it is said that God has prepared for Himself praise from the mouths of children and infants (cf. Psalm 8:2 i.c.w. Matthew 21:16b).
 
Psalm 8:2:
2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
 
Matthew 21:16b:
… 16b ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, ‘ “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise”?’
 
Jesus’ young age of eight days reveals to us the importance of obedience, because at that time He was under the authority of Joseph and Mary, who respected the Word of God and its instructions in order to assist in the fulfilment of the Torah in Jesus’ life.
 
The Maturation of Truth and the Childlike Communication of the Word of God
 
It is said that Jesus, from His infancy, matured, became strong, was full of wisdom, and grace accompanied Him (cf. Luke 2:40).
 
Luke 2:40:
40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
 
It is important that we pay attention to the childlike communication of the Word of God, because in it we get to a higher spiritual level through our childlike faith to see the things that the LORD reveals (cf. Matthew 18:3).
 
Matthew 18:3:
3 And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. …’
 
Related to this is the nourishment of the Word of God in the form of pure milk, which springs from the nature of God in the facet of ‘El-Shaddai, the Almighty’ (cf. 1 Peter 2:2).
 
1 Peter 2:2:
2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, …
 
=> The dimension of ‘El-Shaddai’ relates to the character of the Provider. This name is associated with fruitfulness, the first part of His name representing the abundance of His abundance. The second part reveals His person, His will, and His provision for His people.
 
The name ‘Shaddai’ is derived from a Hebrew word meaning ‘mother’s breast’.
Applied to God, it has the meaning, ‘He is the One who cherishes.’ This leads to the conclusion of speaking of God’s motherly love.
 
‘El Shaddai’ is the most used name, expressing God’s relationship with His children. The mother is everything and enough for the infant. He nestles at her breast, knows himself safe there and is provided for. There he receives everything he needs. The name ‘El Shaddai’ is a vivid image of God’s caring and protecting love.
 
The presence of ‘El Shaddai’ behaves similarly to a cow, which has several teats on her udder and thus can feed several of her calves with milk at the same time. <=
(Note: The word explanation put in ‘=>’ to the name ‘El Shaddai’ is partly taken from the book ‘Names of the Eternal’ by Dr. Abraham Meister, word number: 112, page 141-145).
 
To attain the pure milk, spiritual closeness to God in the facet of ‘El Shaddai’ is required.
 
Since God is Spirit (cf. John 4:24a), it is necessary that we approach the LORD in full confidence as His children or sons and encounter His inner being. This results in that we internalize the truth available to us from Him and gain substance in it.
 
Obedience and the Circumcision of the Heart
 
Occasionally it happens that the Lord demands from us a step of obedience, even if we don’t always understand it. It may even involve a painful learning process that helps us to a greater and clearer spiritual vision.
 
Such a learning process is tantamount to circumcision of the heart, which is designed to help us, with the eyes of our heart enlightened by the power of wisdom and revelation, to see our calling in Christ Jesus more clearly (cf. Deuteronomy. 30:6 i.c.w. Colossians 2:11; Ephesians 1:17-18).
 
Deuteronomy 30:6:
6 The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
 
Colossians 2:11:
11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, …
 
Ephesians 1:17-18:
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, …
 
When we, as God’s people, submit through obedience to the mighty hand of God, we mature in strength and wisdom, so that His grace brings us into deeper maturity (cf. 1 Peter 5:6).
 
1 Peter 5:6:
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
 
This is related to the meaning of His times, which is based on His sacrifice, that is, His love, which He has for us as Father, so that in the sonship of Christ we abide in the presence of the Father.
 
The Twelve-Year-Old Jesus
 
This becomes clear with the help of Jesus, the Word of God at the age of twelve, who at Passover representing the expression of God’s love (cf. Exodus 12:1ff. i.c.w. John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 5:7) went up to Jerusalem together with His parents and family members and dwelt in the presence of the Heavenly Father. Meanwhile, His earthly parents were already leaving Jerusalem with the family, which may represent a traditional heart attitude at this point.
 
In a spiritual context, they were already a day’s journey away from Jerusalem, they began to look for Jesus, the Word of God, without finding Him. Because of this, they returned to Jerusalem and searched for ‘the truth of the Word of God’ for another three days. Finally, Joseph and Mary found Jesus, the Word of God in the temple. There they got introduced by Jesus to the truth about the temple, which was the Father’s house (cf. Luke 2:41-50).
 
Luke 2:41-50:
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.
42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.
43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
44 Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’
49 ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’
50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
 
True Relationship versus Tradition
 
Based on the search for the twelve-year-old Jesus, it becomes clear that God, the Heavenly Father, is not after our actions out of tradition or a religious attitude in relation to His times and feast times. He is only interested in our hearts being filled with the knowledge of His love for us in giving His Son represented by the lamb at Passover (cf. John 3:16 i.c.w. 1 Corinthians 5:7).
 
John 3:16:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
 
1 Corinthians 5:7:
7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch – as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
 
As we walk through the biblical times from the redemptive work of Jesus, His power of grace is present, leading us into deeper spiritual realms about the knowledge of our position in the Heavenly Father.
 
If we come to a time in our faith life where we have a sense that the Lord is not present with His presence, it may be an indication that the Holy Spirit wants to lead us into a greater truth in Christ Jesus that we need at this time for the time to come.
 
This requires that we should not cling narrowly to our experiences but be willing to have our minds and spirits renewed by the Holy Spirit as well as be led by Him to the place where the Word of God speaks to us (cf. Ephesians 4:23-24).
 
Ephesians 4:23-24:
… 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
 
It is always advisable to examine ourselves to see if we have submitted ourselves to the mighty hand of God by respecting the saints in our life whom the LORD has superiorly assigned to us by grace for a season. Then we increase in wisdom, maturity, and grace with God and with men, so that at the appointed time we can stand and act in the anointing assigned by the Heavenly Father with the spiritual maturity we have already grown in the truth of God’s Word (cf. Luke 2:51-52 i.c.w. Luke 3:23a).
 
Luke 2:51-52
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
 
Luke 3:23a:
23a Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. …
 
The Youth of Jesus and the Principle of the Maturity of the Word of God
 
Since we cannot glean much about the youth of Jesus from the Word of God, a phase of the mystery of the gospel can be discerned in this as well. It is a phase that doesn’t contain youthful rebellion, lust, focus on desire, etc. but a purity of heart and perfect submission to the will of the Heavenly Father, to know and do His will alone (cf. John 5:19).
 
John 5:19:
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. …’
 
The prophet Daniel also understood this principle of the maturity of the Word of God and studied in it while in captivity in Babylon. He studied the scroll of Jeremiah and paid attention to the statement made by God to Jeremiah in the past, which had already matured for some time. As Daniel studied over the revelation of Jeremiah the prophet, he discerned the time of the freedom of the people of Israel and thus attained to revelatory truth (cf. Daniel 9:2).
 
Daniel 9:2:
… 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.
 
Accordingly, we are wise to carry the words of God in our hearts like Mary until life is breathed in by the Spirit of God, which involves the release of truth at the right moment. Everything needs a corresponding maturity for the fulfillment of time, agreement and the purpose of God, which we recognize in the maturity development of Jesus as the Word of God to apply it to our personal life in Christ.
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm



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