Food You Know Not Of
by Priscilla van Sutphin
June 10, 2004
I sent out someone's tirade on bible colleges.
We get hung up in terms a lot & he himself is wanting
a school for training. I believe in discipleship training
schools. Years ago, as a clinical nurse specialist, &
teacher of nursing students, I was part of a method
that has been used for centuries in training doctors
& nurses, & Jesus Himself used in training His own
disciples. First you give the background for why you
are doing things, you establish a foundation of learning
principles or truth, then you demonstrate them.
Then you have them DO it with you, then you let them
try it while you watch, then once they’ve learned you give them more practice to do it on your own. THIS is how schools impart knowledge needed in the medical field and in the nursing field, and in pharmacology. You always get practice in the field, or the clinical area you are going into, before being let loose on your own. You get to do it with someone before being shoved out to do it yourself. You have a chance in nursing to try IV’s for example on each other, and on dummies, before going to do it on actual patients. All of this is with the SAFETY of the clients in mind.
John 4:32-38 NKJV
32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"
34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors."
Jesus says something very profound here, that the disciples were finding hard to understand. They are going by what they can see, and wondering, where is the food ? But Jesus is giving them a paradigm SHIFT. He is saying, I don’t live for food that perishes, but I live for doing only what the Father says to Me. And He is also saying re: the harvest, I am not just here for you. But I am here for the whole world. I am looking for harvest. You are living for this moment, for the food that I can give you physically, but I have a principle I am trying to show you ! You have all been living for food, and things, but I came to restore to you, what was lost in the garden ! I have a rest for you, if you will only “get it”. I came to restore relationship – see ?
I only DO what the Father wants Me to do. We communicate, then I do in obedience, what He asks of Me. THAT is My food ! THAT is what I live for ! I live for HIM. “I don’t do anything of My own will”, He also said elsewhere. If WE will learn this then we will also be in REST. We will only have to worry about the day’s needs, and live in constant communion with Him. In order to get more revelation, God is looking for us to do or enact what he has already told us to do ! Any prophet will tell you if they don’t obey what they were last told, then God may withhold His voice for a time. I desire obedience, not sacrifice, obedience, not works, not good deeds in place of what HE wants ! HE is the BREAD OF LIFE. His words to us now, are our MANNA; rhema and logos.
Matt 22:1-14 NKJV The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:15-24)
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:
2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
Listening to this passage the other day, I suddenly got another revelation about how God is ALWAYS setting a table before us. He has made the way into the inner court through the BLOOD of Jesus. So we always have available to us, the table of food He has ready for us to impart and give to us. But often on a day to day basis, we are just too busy. We are busy going about our days, and planning OUR days. And we don’t realize, He is there, always with a table set with good food on it. We don’t have to wait, because we have been invited and have come, and can come every day to a fully set table of wisdom and revelation and wine on the lees.
Isa 25:6 NKJV And in this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people. A feast of choice pieces, A feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees.
His wine represents His love poured out in us, through what Jesus did and the words He has spoken and now speaks. A feast He sets before us of wine, and of FAT things…OIL of the Holy Spirit…, then says again well-refined wines on the lees.
Fat:
OT:8081 shemen (sheh'-men); from OT:8080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness: KJV - anointing, fat (things), fruitful, oil ([-ed]), ointment, olive, pine.
OT:8080 shaman (shaw-man'); a primitive root; to shine, i.e. (by analogy) be (causatively, make) oily or gross: KJV - become (make, wax) fat.
Wine on the lees:
OT:8105 shemer (sheh'-mer); from OT:8104; something preserved, i.e. the settlings (plural only) of wine: KJV - dregs, (wines on the) lees.
OT:8104 shamar (shaw-mar'); a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.: KJV - beward, be circumspect, take heed (toself), keep (-erself,), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man)
THEN HE SAYS :
Isa 25:7-8 NKJV And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken.
Back to Matthew 22:
6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
We see from the second part of this scripture above that even when we do hear from God and have this communion, not all will receive it. In fact they want to kill us - Look how they are treated. So when HIS WORDS are rejected through His people, then He will go and seek out those who WILL come in to this communion and feast with Him.
First Corinthians emphasizes the lack of need for “PROFESSIONALS” in His service. See His food is available to ALL PEOPLE if they are willing to come and to SIT AT HIS TABLE that He has prepared !
1 Cor 1:19-31 AMP
19 For it is written, I will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. [Isa 29:14.]
20 Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world's wisdom?
21 For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [ salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him ], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him).
22 For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom,
23 We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense.
24 But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.
25 [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men.
26 For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [ of you were considered to be ] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.
27 [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.
28 And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are,
29 So that no mortal man should [ have pretense for glorying and ] boast in the presence of God. 30 But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [ revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as ] our Righteousness [ thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [ making us pure and holy ], and our Redemption
[ providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]. 31 So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord. [Jer 9:24.]
We have a greater school in the school of the Holy Spirit to learn from. Yes, I taught in colleges, and have a degree, but it is NOTHING, because I have left all that, to learn from HIM, at His feet. And that is no credit to me, as He had to strip me to do that. He made me weak, that I would have time to get healed of all the pain in my life, and to SIT at His feet learning of Him, so I could learn to EAT FROM HIS TABLE. He has rich food, for those who are willing to just COME ! He is beckoning to us to come up higher…meaning to come and eat more from HIM, than of the world and all it’s vain philosophies, or the vain philosophies even that have crept into the church and seminaries of this nation. HE is our TEACHER.
Matt 23:8-12 NKJV
8 But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
All this is not to say we shouldn’t listen to others teach. But when we come together, one has a song, one has a word, one has a teaching…we are to SHARE what God is teaching us and together we learn. And the interesting thing is that as we share here, God has been confirming through others, and
all participating, what He is saying to the whole body. We are to be interdependent as a body in the natural is, not independent, nor dependent, but interdependent on each other and DEPENDENT on GOD.
Part II
John 5:39-40 NKJV You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
The scriptures are given to us for our edification and encouragement and comfort, but if we don’t seek the AUTHOR of the Word, then, we only have
Relationship with the words, and not THE WORD Himself. Reading scripture and meditating on it builds our spiritual IMMUNE system. We fight the enemy with the Word, so if we don’t get it into us, we have nothing to fight with. We absolutely need the Holy Spirit to help us to understand the Word anyway, so it is a wise thing to ask Him to help us even as we pick it up to read, to show us meaning for our lives in it. I have found that I can remember scriptures more when the Lord illuminates them ! As you ponder the scriptures, He can give light to them and you will understand them better, and this way apply them to your own life.
Ps 23:5 NKJV You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Even in the midst of attacks from the enemy, and in the midst of turmoil, the Lord will set before you, His illumination of scriptures, that you will be able to be encouraged and to rest in His arms. He will anoint you with the oil of GLADNESS and you will overflow with anointing to give to others.
Matt 22:29 NKJV Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
See He was chastising them that although they thought they knew the scriptures, they really did not know them, because they did not know God’s heart or Him. Relationship is two ways, not just us speaking to Him, but He speaking to us, if we will stop and rest in His presence and not withdraw from it too soon to hear. Quietness seems a hard thing for westerners to adapt to. To just sit and relax, and meditate on Him. We feel guilty for not DOING something. But it is in the quietness and rest that RESTORATION comes, and often the REVELATION also of so many things He wants to show us. That is where we get our DIRECTION. Psalm 23 says, Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me ! The rod and staff are His direction and guidance.
Job 6:6 NKJV Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
What does salt represent ? Incorruptibility, covenant, preservation from corruption, that which endures.
Job 23:12 NKJV I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
We must grow to treasure the words of His mouth more than food. I remember that Smith Wigglesworth would read the bible before each meal he ate, thinking to fill his soul with the word , as much as his body with regular food. I’m not saying we have to do what he did. Just that we should love the WORDS of the Lord, Rhema or Logos. And we need to fill ourselves with them as much as with natural food. Our Spirit needs strength to fight also, so we should seek Him for all that our body and soul and spirit need in order to be whole.
Job 12:11 NKJV Does not the ear test words and the mouth taste its food?
And again… Job 34:3 NKJV For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.
This is a lesson in discernment. If we fill ourselves with His word, then also discernment grows, so that when a lie is spoken we recognize it as a lie. If we fill ourselves with TRUTH, then lies become more apparent.
Job 36:31 NKJV For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance.
The food spoken of here is His voice speaking to you through the Word or through His own mouth to your heart and mind.
Job 38:41 NKJV Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?
Ps 78:25 NKJV Men ate angels' food; He sent them food to the full.
John 6:31 NKJV Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
Deut 8:16 NKJV who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end —
Manna represents food in the natural for the stomach, but in the spiritual it represents Jesus, Who is the Bread of LIFE. What comes from His mouth is life to our body and strength to our soul. And we need that LIFE daily !
Rev 2:17 NKJV "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."'
Isaiah also talks about a “new name” which according to Conners symbolizes the releasing of NEW REVELATION…
Isa 62:2-4 NKJV
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name. 3 You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.
Hidden manna is available to those He has close relationship with. We just need to be AVAILABLE. If we quiet our spirits and bodies before Him, He speaks. Hidden manna are things in His word, yet not fully understood. God tells His secrets to you. He reveals. But again, I emphasize, you must be available to hear.
Ps 104:21 NKJV The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
Ps 111:5 NKJV He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
Ps 136:25 NKJV Who gives food to all flesh, For His mercy endures forever.
Ps 145:15-16 NKJV The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. 16 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Look how many scriptures affirm physical food, for those who are His, and
there is an alignment also to spiritual food. God will not leave us comfortless or directionless, though sometimes He seems to restrain His voice and you must make a decision and use your best wisdom. In order to eat food, we wash it, and prepare it, and cook it sometimes, and then eat of it. And when it is digested it gives us energy to perform the normal everyday activities of life. We also must chew on the word to digest it…ponder it, meditate on it. Then it gets into our soul and mind, and we can apply what’s in it.
Josh 1:8-9 NKJV
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Prov 23:2-3 NKJV And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. 3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
Wow, this is a hard saying, yet it is an admonition against idolatry. Do not desire the Kings dainties as it says in Daniel as deceptive food, causes our spirits to be oppressed. Likewise when we eat rich foods, not meant to be taken in or to be the bulk of what we eat, then our bodies suffer toxicity. Gout is one of those diseases.
Prov 30:8-9 NKJV Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches — Feed me with the food allotted to me; 9 Lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.
It is part of our human nature to be satiated with where we are, and in this complacency can develop. So it is better to have what you need and not be given to excesses. God always knows best. The overly fed, often forget where they were, and what they were, and then give in to apathy and complacency.
Ezek 47:11-12 NKJV Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine."
Dan 4:11-12 NKJV The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.
Dan 4:21-22 NKJV whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home — 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
Note the similarities of symbolism in the above scriptures. God aligns trees to men. In Is 61 He calls us TREES of righteousness. So the trees by the river in Ezekial 47 refers to us. This is a promise to those who stay by the river that comes from the throne of God: that our leaves will not wither and our fruitfulness will not fail. “They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine." So our fruitfulness will continue as we stay immersed in Him, abiding in Him, communicating with Him. And that fruitfulness will be food to others who are needy. And our leaves…our prosperity in the midst of abundance or famine will be medicine to the masses. Leaves represent that prosperity amidst any conditions of the world. Prosperity of soul, not money so much as the whole picture of one whose life is immersed in God and is full of His love, His patience, His mercy, His joy, His kindness, His goodness, His self-control. Praise the Lord !
Hag 2:10-14 NKJV The People Are Defiled
On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11 "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, 12 "If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?"'"
Then the priests answered and said, "No."
13 And Haggai said, "If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?" So the priests answered and said, "It shall be unclean." 14 Then Haggai answered and said," 'So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,' says the LORD, 'and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. Here Haggai gives a word from the Lord about separation. It is similar to the parable of the leaven in the New Testament. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. So does our sin affect everyone else in the body. A person who is backsliding does not read the WORD. I remember when I was married, that my ex would be just the best person when he was in the Word of God, but the moment he wasn’t you knew it. His behavior would change, and get looser and looser, more and more rationalizing behavior. Self came back on the throne. And it is true for me as well. It’s just easier to see in others.
There are also times when God just has us laid out with a carving knife and sometimes in those times, all you can read is Psalms. So it is not definitive, but I have seen so many who proclaim to be Christian and do not walk accordingly and you find out that they are not reading the Word, nor they worshipping in intimacy with Our Lord. It seems to be a barometer sometimes. The WORD is LIFE.
Prov 3:8 NKJV It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
Prov 3:18-19 NIV She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;
Prov 4:20-22 NIV …listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Part III
Matt 3:4 AMP This same John's garments were made of camel's hair, and he wore a leather girdle about his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. [Lev 11:22; 2 Kings 1:8; Zech 13:4.]
Lev 11:22 AMP Of these you may eat: the whole species of locust, of bald
locust, of cricket, and of grasshopper. [Matt 3:4.]
2 Kings 1:8 AMP They answered, He was a hairy man with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.
Zech 13:4 AMP And in that day the [false] prophets shall each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, nor will he wear a hairy or rough garment to
deceive,
LOCUST
NT:200 akris (ak-rece'); apparently from the same as NT:206; a locust (as pointed, or as lightning on the top of vegetation): KJV - locust.
NT:206 akron (ak'-ron); neuter of an adj. probably akin to the base of NT:188; the
extremity: KJV - one end ... other, tip, top, uttermost participle
NT:188 akmen (ak-mane'); accusative case of a noun ("acme") akin to ake (a point) b and meaning the same; adverbially, just now, i.e. still: KJV - yet.
HONEY
meli NT:3192 occurs with the adjective agrios, "wild," in Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6; in Rev 10:9,10, as an example of sweetness. As "honey" is liable to ferment, it was precluded from offerings to God, [Lev 2:11.] The liquid "honey" mentioned in Ps 19:10 and Prov 16:24 is regarded as the best; a cruse of it was part of the present brought to Ahijah by Jeroboam's wife, 1 Kings 14:3. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
WILD - agrios NT:66 denotes (a) "of or in fields" (agros, "a field"), hence, "not domestic," said of honey, Matt 3:4; Mark 1:6; (b) "savage, fierce," Jude 13, RV, metaphorically, "wild (waves)," KJV, "raging." It is used in the papyri of a malignant wound. Note: In Rev 6:8 the RV renders therion (plural) "wild beasts" (KJV, "beasts").
If I had to depend on eating locusts and wild honey, guess I could do it, but
I might starve if it depended on me putting my hand into a beehive to retrieve the honey. And I’d have to roast the locust - sounds too crunchy for my taste. But you can do what you have to do. So you might ask WHY did John live this way. Was he lazy ? Why did he live dependent on God, and not on his own prowess and ability to gain money ? Wasn’t it to PREPARE the way of the Lord ? And wasn’t it that to be prepared, he like the apostles needed to spend time with GOD, learning His word, learning His ways ? He prayed for his nation. After all, he seemed a healthy fellow for just eating locusts and honey. He wouldn’t do well in today’s society that is so dependent on their own skills and have no need of depending on God for anything. And if he lived in LA, they’d probably shoot him or kill him for being homeless, or RELOCATE him somehow ! I know one thing, the church wouldn’t listen a bit to his prophecies if he came RANTING into them with the kinds of things John spoke ! They’d have ushers haul him away immediately in the many “successful” big churches, as he might reek or disturb the all too fine ladies around him.
It is interesting that the same description is made of ELIJAH as is made of John, since later Jesus refers to John the Baptist as the Elijah that was to come ! There are many people today that are disqualified from having a say in the body because of their looks. She’s fat, he’s homeless, she’s sickly, so you know she must be in sin. He is poor, and wears tattered clothes so he must be in sin. While the church gentry wears their finest and some even boast that Jesus’ clothes were not poor, but wealthy, and so we should also wear our best. And anyone who doesn’t isn’t showing respect to God ! Yet Jesus said, Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie his head ! We have a lot of things backwards in the western church. God so loves those who love to spend time with HIM. He is not ashamed of how they look. Nor does HE judge the way men and women judge by the outward appearances.
And when you spend that time with HIM, you become His friend. Just how many friends would you have if you never have time for them ? Jesus tells His secrets to His friends ! John the Baptist was the friend of God, and tasted of HIS HONEY, not only the earthly kind, but the heavenly honey, the manna that comes down from above. The sweetness of God is for Him to share His secrets and His love. Locusts are plentiful this year in northern Africa. I wonder if they will figure out that it is a plague coming from the hand of the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob ? Locusts would seem good to eat since they eat the crops of man. Seems a good thing to get rid of. I pray in the midst of their hardships, that the north of Africa which is covered by ISLAM will turn to the TRUE GOD and turn from Islam.
Matt 6:25 NKJV Do Not Worry (Luke 12:22-31)
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
1 Cor 3:2-4 NKJV I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
So it would seem from this that the carnal Christian is not mature in the WORD of the Lord, yes ? So the food that Jesus offers to eat is important to our growth in Him. His food brings life.
1 Cor 10:3-5 NKJV all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
In the wilderness the people of Israel complained a lot. That is our carnal nature. In the wilderness we tend to complain instead of Praise and soak in the Word. The wilderness is a time when you can lean on the ROCK that is higher. It is a time of great closeness and tenderness in having ability to feed from His table. Sickness, and restrictions can be opportunities that come like no other to be close to Him, and to eat of His food, and learn things we never knew.
John 6:35-38 NKJV And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:47-51 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."
NT:740 artos (ar'-tos); from NT:142; bread (as raised) or a loaf: KJV –
(shew-) bread, loaf.
NT:142 airo (ah'-ee-ro); a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebraism [compare OT:5375] to expiate sin: KJV - away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).
OT:5375 nasa' (naw-saw'); or nacah (Ps 4:6 [OT:7]) (naw-saw'); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows): KJV - accept, advance, arise, (able to, [armor], suffer to) bear (-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, swear, take (away, up), utterly, wear, yield.
NT:2222 zoe (dzo-ay'); from NT:2198; life (literally or figuratively):
KJV - life (-time). Compare NT:5590.
NT:2198 zao (dzah'-o); a primary verb; to live (literally or figuratively):
KJV - life (-time), (a-) live (-ly), quick.
psuche NT:5590, the soul, or life, is rendered "heart" in Eph 6:6 (marg.,
"soul"), "doing the will of God from the heart." In Col 3:23, a form of the
word psuche preceded by ek, from, lit., "from (the) soul," is rendered
"heartily."
So Jesus is saying I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE: I am the SHEWBREAD that brings ZOE – life to your soul. The word for soul is also used for HEART.
[ Also note that some of us have been seeing the numbers 2222 and the above Zoe – is strongs 2222.]
Ps 104:15 NKJV And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man's heart.
Ps 4:7 NIV You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
Jer 31:34 NKJV No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
This is part of a covenant relating to Israel. It is spoken to those He has already made covenant with: Israel. So God is yet to pour out His love on Jews everywhere who are marked for salvation. We have access to the throne room to hear His voice and ask of Him whatever we like. Jesus made the way so that there would no longer be a partition between God and us. And the verse above says that bread is good for the heart, even as His manna daily is sustaining to our hearts !
Mic 3:11-12 NKJV Her heads judge for a bribe, Her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us." 12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the temple Like the bare hills of the forest.
Ps 119:33 NKJV Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Ps 119:64 NKJV The earth, O LORD, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
Ps 119:66 NKJV Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments.
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Comforter once we are born again. But we must spend time with him to gain access to that wisdom and understanding. I used to have to wait till late at night once my children were in bed, and husband and I had gone to bed to have my quiet times. I’d get up after he fell asleep and then have my time with God. And often He would wake me in the middle of the night when all was very quiet, and I could hear better without any distractions. Being a wife and mother makes it a bit difficult to have time to yourself, but with God all things are possible. I would take my boom-box out to the laundry room with me and praise Him, no matter what I was doing, it helped the work go faster, and several times I got songs while in the laundry room from the presence of the Lord !
Luke 11:13 NKJV If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
Luke 12:11-12 NKJV "Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
John 14:26-27 NKJV But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Often times when I’ve been overseas, I haven’t a clue what the Spirit wants me to say till I stand up in front of the crowd. I may have prayed and asked, but it isn’t till up there that sometimes I would hear the still small voice telling me what to speak on, and not only that, but helping me with HOW to say it, to make it understandable to illiterates, and farmers. Many of the older villagers are unlearned. And the Holy Spirit would give me an analogy to farming they could understand or relate to. He is the Source for all we need.
1 Cor 2:1-5 AMP
1 AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom;
2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified.
3 And I was in ( passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.
4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], 5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
In other words, Paul did not come with a prepared message like an orator in the theatre. He came dependent on the Holy Spirit to show him what to say,
and in Holy Spirit power, leaning on His wisdom. He even admits to fear and dread. I have been there. A few years back I spoke at a conference and I was very anxious. I’d never spoken before a group of prophets before. But God had opened up the word and I knew as I delivered the talk on Pride and Humility, that I was just as accountable, and I FELT that same fear and dread, because it was so important for them to hear and understand what the Lord wanted. Could have heard a pin drop. But I have not yet attained to the measure of Paul by any means, but at that moment this exact scripture came to mind and I felt a bit of what He must have felt.
Acts 1:8 NKJV But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Acts 4:31 NKJV And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Boldness comes from impartation of the Spirit of MIGHT mentioned in Isaiah 11 - the seven fold Spirit of God. If you want boldness to preach, to share the gospel, to share His love, ask for the Spirit of MIGHT to increase in you. Note that when they prayed in UNITY, the place was shaken. That also happened to us in a women’s group one night after 9-11. We all felt led to pray in the time we had together, though we had been studying Songs. And suddenly the earth was shaking. God is increasing signs and wonders in our time. We need to expect Him to do mighty things.
Acts 7:51-52 NKJV Israel Resists the Holy Spirit
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,
The WISDOM of man resists the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:1-3 NKJV As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
The apostles were dependent on the food that the Holy Spirit gave them daily also. Having fasted and prayed and been in the word, the Holy Spirit gave them instructions then for how to proceed in the work HE had given them to do. This is why the apostles were to spend time in the Word, and not waiting tables too. They needed discernment and to hear from God. To hear from God you need to be in the Word, prayer, worship, meditation and listening.
1 Cor 2:13-14 AMP And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. 14 But the natural, non-spiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.
2 Cor 6:7 AMP By [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend];
The Word is our defense system ! See how he says for the right hand to ATTACK [ with the Word ] and for the left hand to DEFEND ! The Word of God IN US, is our immune system. So the more we get in us, we can use it to defend ourselves from the enemy, and to attack the enemy, taking back the land he has stolen in the lives of others.
1 Thess 1:5 AMP For our [preaching of the] glad tidings (the Gospel) came to you not only in word, but also in [its own inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction and absolute certainty [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved [ourselves] to be among you for your good.
The WORD has power ! The Word is LIFE to our bones and health to our body. Here Paul is also sharing it has power to convict and to bring life to others if we will use it.
John 14:16-17 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:26 KJV
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26 AMP But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
When I was a new Christian, I thought I must memorize scripture, but I had a hard time in school memorizing. It’s a miracle I made it through nursing school and grad school ! I’d have to read something 30 times to memorize it fully, like literature. Did you ever have to memorize Chaucer or Shakespeare ? So I could see my ex-husband could memorize so easily. I would use him to figure out where something was that came to my memory. I’d say “ where does it say this ?” And then the Lord told me, that I didn’t have to worry, because it says in the above verse, HE is able to cause you to recall ! If I would just eat the Word, then He could call it to remembrance, which took a big load off my back.
John 16:8 AMP And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment:
Eph 1:17-21 NKJV that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
That power that raised Christ from the dead is in us as we believe the WORD of God and use it for His glory !
Gal 5:18 NKJV But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Phil 3:3 AMP For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.
When we put ourselves back under the law with striving, we open ourselves up to vulnerability to the wicked prayers of men and women. It is not by our strength that we have been saved, but HE is the One Who drew us. And it is not by our strength that we can do what we must do, but drawing on HIS strength. He is our strength. One problem people have who’ve been raised with perfectionism like I was is to TRY HARD TO DO EVERYTHING so that we won’t make a mistake. BUT TRYING HARD is striving and brings us back to the LAW; and under the curse ! Don’t want to go there!
Eph 4:22-24 NKJV and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
We are renewed in our minds by the washing of the WORD. THIS is how we keep our minds stayed on Him as well. Peace that surpasses all understanding is ours.
Eph 6:19 AMP And [pray] also for me, that [freedom of] utterance may be given me, that I may open my mouth to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news (the Gospel),
It is the HOLY SPIRIT that empowers us to be witnesses for Him.
It is HE Who gives us the wisdom, words of knowledge and wisdom we need to do what He has called us to do.
1 Thess 5:19 AMP Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;
1 Tim 4:1-2 AMP BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, 2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized),
We can see this being done before our eyes now. Men with seared consciences have approved homosexuality in some parts of the church, as if it was not a sin. We are to love the homosexual. And to treat them with respect anyone deserves. But the sin is not something God condoned, anymore than lying, cheating, greed, pride and arrogance that is in the churched. And daily it seems now we are seeing compromises made.
1 John 4:6 AMP We are [children] of God. Whoever is learning to know God [progressively to perceive, recognize, and understand God by observation and experience, and to get an ever-clearer knowledge of Him] listens to us; and he who is not of God does not listen or pay attention to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
Those who love HIM, will listen to us. Those who are called to love Him, will listen to the TRUTH. Those who reject the truth, are already condemned, he said. John 3:18
1 John 5:6-7 AMP This is He Who came by (with) water and blood [His baptism and His death], Jesus Christ (the Messiah)--not by (in) the water only, but by (in) the water and the blood. And it is the [Holy] Spirit Who bears witness, because the [Holy] Spirit is the Truth. 7 So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one;
Jude 19 AMP It is these who are [agitators] setting up distinctions and causing divisions--merely sensual [creatures, carnal, worldly-minded people], devoid of the [Holy] Spirit and destitute of any higher spiritual life.
Watch out for the dogs Paul warned us - those devoid of the Holy Spirit cannot receive the things of the Spirit, and are carnally minded. This is part of the problem with the compromise. Those compromising are not being led of the Spirit, but out of fear and out of the flesh, and unsanctified mercy. Whatever we speak needs to be led of the Holy Spirit, otherwise it is of no effect.
Rev 2:7 AMP He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. [Gen 2:9; 3:24.]
Rev 2:17 AMP He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it. [Ps 78:24; Isa 62:2.]
What is the hidden manna ? It is the rhema Words that God gives to you and the illumination of scripture that helps us UNDERSTAND what is being said, the application of that scripture. When the Lord says He’ll give you a new name, it means He is imparting REVELATION to you; A deeper intimacy of revealing His secrets.
Rev 22:17 AMP The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost. [Isa 55:1.]
We don’t have to PAY to hear the Word of God, and we don’t have to PAY to get revelation of Him. It is a harlot church that participates in costly conferences that cater to the elite and rich, instead of sharing what was given them free. What can the poor do ? Think of it. Everyday the poor cannot afford CD’s, books, etc that teach them or bless them. Yet we cater to those who have money. As if that was the motive behind the conferences and meetings in the first place. GREED has overtaken much of the church. There needs to be repentance for all the decisions motivated by making money. God wants a spotless bride who cares for the least of these like JESUS DID ! Free will offerings used to be the method that some used, of walking in trust with GOD. For years God would not allow me to do anything for money. If I taught classes, they had to be free, or swimming lessons, they had to be free. If
I gave out clothes and other things, I couldn’t sell them even at a cut rate. He wouldn’t let me take any money for doing it. It’s a test of our hearts to do all kinds of things for free, willingly serving others. Jesus no doubt received blessing from others for His work, as the bible mentions women who helped Him and His disciples.
But you never see Him doing anything for money, like the Pharisees.
