In the Word of God, it is spoken of the righteous in terms of trees planted near the river with their roots stretched out to the water to ensure fruitfulness (cf. Psalm 1:1-3 i.c.w. Jeremiah 17:7-8; Revelation 22:1-2).
Psalm 1:1-3:
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
Jeremiah 17:7-8:
7 ‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’
7 ‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’
Revelation 22:1-2:
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
This shows the importance of closeness to the Word of God in the form of His instruction and the continual delight in it which has fruitfulness to rejoice, even when there are challenging times, what we would call desert times or even hard times.
The Power of the Torah and the Rain
Using the Hebrew root word ‘jārāh’ from which the word ‘tôrāh’ is derived, the dynamics of God’s instruction become clear in how it positively impacts and hits its target on all levels (Note: spirit, soul and body) of our lives.
The root word means, among other things, ‘the shooting of arrows, the casting of lots, moistening, watering, raining, instructing, teaching, showing, to help younger people become fit for life.’ (Note: part excerpt from the Elberfleder Study Bible on the Hebrew word ‘jārāh’ with word key numbers: 3455, 3456*, 3457).
The root word means, among other things, ‘the shooting of arrows, the casting of lots, moistening, watering, raining, instructing, teaching, showing, to help younger people become fit for life.’ (Note: part excerpt from the Elberfleder Study Bible on the Hebrew word ‘jārāh’ with word key numbers: 3455, 3456*, 3457).
Moses also used the allegorical connection between his ‘teaching’ and the ‘rain’ (cf. Deuteronomy 32:2).
Deuteronomy 32:2:
2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
When we consider the substance of rain, we find that it is water. Water is associated in the Hebrew language with the Hebrew letter ‘Mem’, which carries the numerical value ‘40’. The Hebrew word for ‘water’ used in the Word of God is ‘Majim’ and is used exclusively in the plural form. It begins with the Hebrew letter ‘Mem’ and concludes with it at the same time, where the letter is written open (note: מ) at the beginning of the word and closed (note: ם) at the end of the word. (Note: part excerpt from the Elberfelder Study Bible on the word ‘Majim – water’ with the word key number 4542).
This letter in its various forms of writing reveals to us the principle of openness and readiness for the Word of God as well as keeping His instruction in our hearts (cf. Psalm 40:8).
Psalm 40:8:
8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.’
8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.’
As we demonstrate a willingness to receive God’s instruction into our lives with a heart attitude of longing and joy, we should expect the hand of God to come upon us like a cloud in order to lead us into a greater dynamic of His Word and instruction, much like Elijah experienced it with his servant as they sojourned on Mount Carmel (cf. 1 Kings 18:43-45).
1 Kings 18:43-45:
43 ‘Go and look towards the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’
44 The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, “Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.” ’
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rainstorm came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.
43 ‘Go and look towards the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’
44 The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, “Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.” ’
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rainstorm came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.
We should continually be aware that the Word of God always hits the intended target and accomplishes that for which it is sent (cf. Isaiah 55:10-11).
Isaiah 55:10-11:
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
At this point it is necessary to note that the servant of the prophet Elijah was instructed by him seven times to go to the top of the mountain, wherein is revealed, among other things, the principle of the ‘Sabbath’, which includes the governmental rest in Christ Jesus (cf. Genesis 2:2-3).
Genesis 2:2-3:
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.
3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Governmental rest means living in the state of a higher level of faith and triumph of Christ.
Continuous ‘abiding’ in this place of rest presupposes that we have previously passed through various levels of personal breakthroughs (Note: from the soul realm to the spiritual realm) and have let go of our own ideas. This enables us as disciples to reign in Christ in challenging circumstances.
Furthermore, governmental rest is a level of resting in the Father in the Sonship of Christ with the understanding that He is the ruler over all things and has assigned or delegated to us the freedom to govern together with Him, so that we live in the dimension of deep trust and peace – shalom in the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, governmental rest is a level of resting in the Father in the Sonship of Christ with the understanding that He is the ruler over all things and has assigned or delegated to us the freedom to govern together with Him, so that we live in the dimension of deep trust and peace – shalom in the Holy Spirit.
It is no coincidence that Paul also stayed in the city of Philippi for several days with his recently adopted spiritual son Timothy, who was the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, and on one Sabbath he went with Timothy through the gate of the city in order to enter the realm of spiritual intercession. There they met Lydia from Thyatira and the women gathered by a river (cf. Acts 16:12-15).
Acts 16:12-15:
12 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
15 When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.
12 From there we travelled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
15 When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.
The apostles were looking for a place of prayer (Note: place of a spiritual birth), passed through the city gate of the leading city ‘Philippi – horse friend’ as an indication of the quality of the ministry of angels and met at the river the gathering of these women led by Lydia. In this context, she is symbol of the Ekklēsia.
This encounter led the apostles for the period of their stay in the city of Philippi, a city of the first district of Macedonia as a reference to the special position of the city in the form of a first fruit as well as representative of the measure of supernatural instruction through the ministry of angels on behalf of God (cf. Hebrews 1:14).
Hebrews 1:14:
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
This was meant for them to implement the revelatory knowledge gained from it in the life of Lydia and that of her community.
Lydia, the Pupur Merchant from Thyatira
Based on the origin of Lydia, who came from Thyatira and was familiar with the colour ‘purple’ because she was a purple merchant, we can see in a prophetic context the quality as well as instruction of God for us as Ekklēsia in the present time.
Purple is associated with the face of the lion and the spirit of the fear of the LORD, which is the beginning of wisdom, as well as being in the seventh position according to Isaiah 11:2 (cf. Proverbs 9:10a).
Proverbs 9:10a:
10a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, …
10a The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, …
Isaiah 11:2:
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord – …
Furthermore, the instruction of Christ to the Ekklēsia in the region of Thyatira has a special meaning, concerning the following points of revelation:
Attributes of Christ:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has eyes like flames of fire and legs like fiery brass => dimension of sonship and the influence of the omniscient God, as well as His eternal existence and holy walk
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has eyes like flames of fire and legs like fiery brass => dimension of sonship and the influence of the omniscient God, as well as His eternal existence and holy walk
Praise:
For their walk in love, faith, ministry and patience
For their walk in love, faith, ministry and patience
Exhortation:
Allowing of the spirit of Jezebel, that is, the influence of the ‘depths of Satan’ in the form of manipulation and witchcraft, spiritual corruption, abuse of power and fornication
Allowing of the spirit of Jezebel, that is, the influence of the ‘depths of Satan’ in the form of manipulation and witchcraft, spiritual corruption, abuse of power and fornication
Encouragement:
Holding fast to the truth of God until Jesus comes
Holding fast to the truth of God until Jesus comes
Promise:
Assigned power over the nations as well as the presence of the morning star, which also announces the new time or day and is accompanied by the power of the prophetic word (cf. 2 Peter 1:19)
Assigned power over the nations as well as the presence of the morning star, which also announces the new time or day and is accompanied by the power of the prophetic word (cf. 2 Peter 1:19)
Thus, in the encounter of Paul and Timothy with Lydia and the women by the river, an apostolic spiritual fathering occurred in the will of the Heavenly Father and in Christ Jesus. This resulted in Lydia’s life in entering into a greater dimension of the presence and revelatory knowledge of God with her community as well as her household, in order to properly administer spiritual things in the time ahead.
It was the face of the LORD who showed Himself to the women through the apostles in the form of the lion. This community of women who were in the centre of God’s appointed time period which is represented by the river acted as a kind of spiritual womb. It was created to receive the spiritual seed that the LORD released through the apostles. That seed of revelation which God delivered could get planted in their community to bring it forth in the power of ‘travailing prayer’ at the right time.
It was the face of the LORD who showed Himself to the women through the apostles in the form of the lion. This community of women who were in the centre of God’s appointed time period which is represented by the river acted as a kind of spiritual womb. It was created to receive the spiritual seed that the LORD released through the apostles. That seed of revelation which God delivered could get planted in their community to bring it forth in the power of ‘travailing prayer’ at the right time.
The apostle, as the first-named minister in the Ekklēsia, is associated with royalty, which is why this office can be compared to the face of the lion (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:28a i.c.w. Ephesians 4:11).
1 Corinthians 12:28a:
28a And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, …
Ephesians 4:11:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, …
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, …
Spiritual Fatherhood and Sonship and the Circumcision of the Heart
With the example of Paul, the dimension of the Heavenly Father becomes apparent, whereas Timothy points to the sonship in Christ Jesus.
Since Timothy was called by Paul to the apostolic succession and the latter was still uncircumcised as well as the son of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, it shows us that it is necessary at the point to break with the Greek mindset (Note: Timothy’s father). We should leave it behind where it is still present in our lives, in order to go forward in the Biblical and Hebrew mindset (Note: Timothy’s Jewish mother) with enlightened eyes of our heart (cf. Acts 16:1-3).
Acts 16:1-3:
1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.
2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.
2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.
3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
For us as saints from the Gentile nations, it is more crucial than ever that we get circumcised in heart to go forward with enlightened eyes of the heart by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in Christ Jesus (cf. Ephesians 1:17-20).
Ephesians 1:17-20:
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,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, …
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,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, …
Where we recognize that the ‘foreskin’ of the Greek mindset has covered part of our spiritual eyes, we should allow the Holy Spirit to remove that cover up with the revelatory truth of God’s Word (cf. Deuteronomy 30:6 i.c.w. Romans 2:29; Colossians 2:11).
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.
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.
Romans 2:29:
29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
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, …
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, …
It requires our willingness to centre our lives in the Father’s will within the Son, so that we can meet those whom God has already predestined in the places He has appointed and bring them into contact with His new strength.
Briefly explained, the Greek mindset encompasses a human certainty that explains everything intellectually with the mind as well as human reasoning ability accordingly and goes about according to certain logical processes.
For a Greek mindset, human reasoning (Note: humanistic) is crucial and, consequently, it will not accept the incomprehensible.
Those who want to move forward with God must accept some things that are incomprehensible because God challenges the mind to test the intention in our heart. Which also means that God does or will do things that are not assumed or comprehensible, just to see if you love Him and trust Him anyway. Not depending on answers or reasonable explanations.
The Greek mindset, with its current popularity in humanism and resulting humanity as an expression of humanistic ideas, has unfortunately been part of and in the Body of Christ to this day.
The Hebraic mindset, on the other hand, is a biblical mindset where it is not literally necessary to be Jewish to live according to it.
From Romans 12:2 we can see that ‘we are not to be conformed to this world, but to be changed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is the will of God, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.’
Thus, a Hebrew or Biblical mindset is the mind of a person transformed by the truth of God.
If we allow the Holy Spirit to perform a circumcision in the areas of our heart where He wants it, the result is that enlightenment by the revelatory truth occurs in our spirit man, so that our will, feeling and mind are aligned according to the Word of God and His instruction. This means that the soul is subordinated to the spirit or filled by the spirit and we as spirit people are subordinated to the Lord. This results in fruitfulness and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, which brings others into the presence of God.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
