For many, Easter is a time for reflection on the agony and suffering of Christ, for others it is a part of religious tradition with many symbols, some completely unrelated to the real meaning of events in the Bible. Through Exodus 12, we are reminded how the Passover is a foreshadowing of a present reality, so  that Easter,  Pesach in Hebrew is not just a memorial of suffering but a reminder of the complete work of Christ. In Exodus 12:28-30 we see how in the definitive moment of departure, Israelites obey the divine instructions and in the dark of the night, the grip of Egypt is powerfully broken. Today, therefore, this Good Friday, we are being reminded that Pesach is not just tradition but a declaration of our new reality in Christ.

This analysis examines three interconnected motifs depicted through symbols in Passover, the fourth point a call to action, but first the reading. 

Instruction: Exodus 12:21-23 
Exodus 12: 21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel together and said to them, “Go, pick out a lamb or young goat for each of your families, and slaughter the Passover animal. 22 Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through the land to strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit his death angel to enter your house and strike you down. 

Event: Exodus 12:29-30
29 And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the people of Egypt woke up during the night, and loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt. There was not a single house where someone had not died. 

1.   The Lamb representing “The Lamb of God”, the ultimate sacrifice —1 Cor5:7  

Exodus 12:3 Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice… 5 The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects. 

In the 10th plague, the sacrifice of a lamb is the substitute, a life given for the salvation of the community of Israelites 

The lamb foreshadows Jesus the perfect “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

The lamb represents the efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ for forgiveness and help in all our struggles  

Jesus wasn’t just a victim of Roman execution He was the sacrificial lamb to enable us “to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires” (2 Peter 1:4)

 Paul sums this up in his lament about the powerlessness of the law and struggles with human nature, with a powerful resolution in the end, “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ the Lamb of God]—our Lord

2.  Blood represents the ultimate protection/cover—"under the blood”

The blood applied on the doorposts created a boundary that death could not cross.“But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt." — Exodus 12:13.

The "Blood of the Lamb" is our spiritual protection. 

  3.  The saving of the firstborn son representing our Redemption

Exodus 12: 29 And that night at midnight,

Today we go deeper on the ‘Power of Prayer’. We will look at prayer in the context of Kingdom Authority and Stewardship. 

Reading 

Colossians 1:13 (AMPC) [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Matthew 6:10 (KJV) Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

In Colossians Paul uses the word “transfer” (from the Greek methistēmi) which implies more than just a change of heart; it describes a complete change of jurisdiction, identity, and citizenship. That is what happened when you and I believed.  Through salvation, we have been transferred from the dominion and tyranny of the dark world of evil to citizenship of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is a settled spiritual reality. This verse uses the imagery where a conqueror won a war and physically moved an entire population to a new territory to give them a new life under a new king (e.g. the exile from Israel to Babylon). The word for “power” in “power of darkness” is exousia, which means that the power from which we are translated is delegated as opposed to the “Kingdom” (basileia) of Light which speaks of a rightful sovereignty.

In Mathew 6, the Lord provides a model for prayer for Kingdom citizens, that’s who we are. In the specific verse, He presents prayer as an appeal for a specific action to take place, an act of “calling down” the reality of the Kingdom of Light into the physical realm. Prayer is not asking God to change His mind but rather asking for His “jurisdiction” to be manifested. Thus, prayer is not just a mechanism for just asking or begging but a powerful declaration and proclamation by which a persons transferred or to the Kingdom of Light, steward and direct the power and authority for the “will” of that Kingdom to displace the “power of darkness” in their immediate environment. Let us remember that at the helm of that Kingdom is Our Father in heaven, the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth!

Lord, grant me the revelation and knowledge of the power of prayer; teach me to pray more effectively each day. 

Melphon Mayaka 

POWER OF PRAYER 

Prayer is powerful. The “earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16, NLT). Individuals’ lives have been transformed; families and communities have been changed; destinies of nations have been influenced through prayer. John Knox, an influential, “fiery leader of the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, was known for his uncompromising stance and his legendary clashes with Mary, Queen of Scots”— famously quoted as saying: “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe”. Knox is said to have spent nights in agonizing prayer” and to have been heard crying out: “Give me Scotland, or I die!”  Today’s message shows how, through prayer, individuals can powerfully influence affairs in the spiritual realm, which is accessible to both the angels of God and spiritual powers of darkness or evil (various hierarchies of evil creatures and spirits—Ephesians 6:12).

Reading Daniel 10:1-6, 10-14, NLT)

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. 2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

4 On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, 5 I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6 His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people…

10 Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. 11 And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. 14 Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

The Prophet Daniel is on a 21-day prayer and fast. An angel appears to him in the portion read above and explains how he was dispatched on the day Daniel began to pray but was blocked by a spiritual evil force described as the “spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia” from delivering a heavenly message. However, “Michael, one of the archangels” comes to help and enables the other angel, the messenger to deliver the message to Daniel.

       i.          Life is spiritual—the physical realm is influenced by what happens in the spiritual or heavenly realms 

      ii.          Prayer mobilises heavenly activity 

    iii.          Answers from heaven can and will be resisted by evil powers in the heavenly realms. This is the essence of spiritual warfare—I learnt long ago that the world of darkness fights for domination of human souls and territory.

    iv.          Though this is not directly mentioned in the text, observation shows that continuity and persistence in prayer activates heavenly angelic

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES 

 Today I want to talk about understanding times and seasons. Understand times and seasons is vital in your journey of fruitfulness and productivity, as God develops your and internal virtues and character to glorify Him eternally and be a blessing to others. Time in Greek encapsulates two related concepts Chronos and Kairos. While Chronos tracks the relentless, linear passing of seconds and hours, Kairos captures that singular, opportune moment where timing meets opportunity to create a life-changing turning point. 

Reading

Luke 19:41-44 (NKJV) Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Jeremiah 28: 1-3 And it happened in the same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.

 Jeremiah 29:10-11 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

 i.          WHY YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES

·       God has a plan and purpose; He works with us through times and seasons—through divine providence and the choices we make— Esther 4:14 

Luke 19:41-44 

o   Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they did not know times = WARNING

o   Destroyed 40 years later by Romans 

 Jeremiah 28: 1-3 Jeremiah 29:10-11 

o   False prophecy Hananiah the son of Azur—only in 2 years!

o   Voice of God through Jeremiah—70 years  

·       Time is in His hands, meaning we need wisdom and understanding of times  

Ecclesiastes 3:11

·       Missing God’s timing can harm you and bring disaster in your life; we make mistakes when we operate out of our times and seasons because there is time for everything—Ishmael type mistakes—Genesis 16; Immature end or termination— Sauls’s reign in1 Samuel 13, 1 Samuel 15:22

ii.          IDENTIFYING THE SIGNS SHIFTING SEASONS

·       Sudden changes in environment, relationships—people live-king Uzziah died, Moses left, Elijah is leaving, attitudes change— Jacob in Gen 31:5 “I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed”

·       Confusion and restlessness, dissatisfaction—wildernesses  

·       Call to sacrifice—relocate, material and time—Abraham in Genesis Chapters 12-22  

·       Discernment—Sons of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32:

iii.          WHAT TO DO IN YOUR SEASONS OF WAITING 

·       Watch and pray, seek God—Jer 29:12,13 

YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS AGAIN!

The Gospel is good news. One of the most powerful assurances of the believer is the guarantee of victory although we may not always know what that looks like (Matthew 16:19; Luke 10:19; Roman 8:37; 2 Corinthians 2:14). Our faith challenge is that we do not always believe that God who helped us and gave us victory in the past, however recent, will do it again in a new battle and so are often gripped by fear in the face of an impending fresh battle. In our reading today, God’s people have just defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, but they are now facing a new enemy, King Og of Bashan. Ordinarily, new challenges would cause them to fear and grumble as we have seen throughout the journey from Egypt to the promised land. The Lord assures Moses of yet another victory in this new challenge and it is here we get the lesson on God’s assurance of victory no matter what battle we are facing.  

Reading Numbers 21:31-35 (NLT) 

31 So the people of Israel occupied the territory of the Amorites. 32 After Moses sent men to explore the Jazer area, they captured all the towns in the region and drove out the Amorites who lived there. 33 Then they turned and marched up the road to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and all his people attacked them at Edrei. 34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.” 35 And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land.

What are the lessons?

        i.            God assures you and I victory even before the battle begins—“Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you” 

      ii.            Know that God’s intent and plan is to give you victory, moreover your battle is His—

“for I have handed him over to you” 

    iii.            Do not be afraid, instead believe God—Philippians 4:6 

     iv.            Trust God to give you victory as he did before— “for I have handed him over to you… Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon”

      v.            Take the steps He shows you—1 Samuel 30:8; Psalms 37:23

You will be victorious again.

Lord, I thank you. You are forever faithful. You will show me your grace this one more time and I will be victorious again. 

Melphon Mayaka 

THE DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE 

Today I want to pick an important subject out of the journey from Egypt to Israel. We learn how ingratitude is not only inhibiting but also dangerous in our journey, it can in fact be fatal and terminate the journey to our promise or promised land; or even worse to eternity as it can lead to sin. 

In our reading, Moses sends out spies from Kadesh in the wilderness to scout the promised land. You will know from Moses’s account in his epilogue that this was originally not God’s idea but the people initiative (Deuteronomy 1:22). The scout come back with a mixed report. While all bring a great report of a land truly flowing with “milk and honey”, (with the evidence of fruits it produces which they carry along), the majority or 10 also report of the terror of the people living in the land, among them giants (Anakim). It is this negative report that brings fear and great distress to the people. The people  complain, weeping and crying, wishing they had remained and died in slavery in Egypt or that they could die right there in the desert. Note that in the people’s complaint, they are also unhappy with the current leadership (mainly Moses from previous accounts), which is not unusual. Joshua and Caleb take a contrary stand encouraging, Israel to move forward and take the land, for the Lord is with them. The majority view carries the day and this angers God causing all people, the age of twenty and above to perish in the desert, except Caleb and Joshua. The events and the aftermath have great lessons on how God sees ingratitude and the dangers thereof.  

Reading Numbers 14:1-12 (NLT)

Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. 2 Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. 3 “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!”5 Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel. 6 Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. 7 They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! 8 And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. 9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”10 But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.[a] 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? 12 I will disown them and destroy them with a plague. Then I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are!”

What are the lessons?

        i.            A lack of gratitude and complaint treats God with contempt Romans 1:21; Psalm 106:13, 21)

      ii.            Ingratitude fails to recognise the great things God has done—salvation, above anything else! (Romans 1:21)

    iii.            Ingratitude is a show of discontent and dissatisfaction, both of which are contra to faith and God’s love for us (Philippians 4:11–12; 1 Timothy 6:6–8; Hebrews 13:5; Proverbs 30:8–9)

     iv.            Gratitude is a

YOUR ASSIGNMENT 

 As a child of God you are where you are, family, work, church, institution or location on purpose.  God has a purpose and work for you wherever He places you because He orders the steps of the righteous (Psalms 37:23). It is important, therefore, to prayerfully desire to and discover your assignment. The question, “why am I here?” is an important one as we seek God from time to time because divine assignments may be apparent but not obvious. Today we focus on the book of Esther to learn about our assignments.  

It is called Purim, a celebration which for most of Israel begins at sunset March 2 and ends at nightfall March 3. Purim commemorates the rescue of the children of Israel from impending annihilation by decree of the Medo-Persian King Xerxes during the Babylonian exile. A man name Haman described as “most powerful official in the empire” had made the King issue this decree to kill all Jews occasioned by the fact that Mordecai, a Jewish palace official had, unlike all other officials, refused to bow to this powerful figure in the empire. Haman obtained this decree and, “ Dispatches were sent by swift messengers into all the provinces of the empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. This was scheduled to happen on March 7 of the next year. The property of the Jews would be given to those who killed them” (Esther 3:13, NLT). 

Upon learning about the decree, Mordecai decided to act to save himself and his people by requesting his cousin and adopted daughter, Esther, now queen to act. 

“Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13, 14, NLT).  

Note that in this message Mordecai points out to Esther the dangers of not acting, both to herself and her people. Though she doesn’t mention God here, Mordecai indicates that sovereignly there will be deliverance of God’s people even if she doesn’t act. However, he also notifies her that this could be a moment of destiny, maybe it is for this assignment that she became the queen. We know that in the end Esther acts and rescues the people of God! What lessons do we learn from the story?                                       

        i.            There is God’s plan and purpose, the reason you are where you are 

      ii.            There’s time you must act, God, heaven is counting on you—"who knows, may be you were made…for a time such as this?”

    iii.            God has chosen you, but He can use others—" deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place”

     iv.            His plans are not about saving helping others but for your good—" Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape”

      v.            We see the centrality of prayer in the fulfillment of our assignment—both Esther and Mordecai fasted, Esther asked the people to fast for 3 days. 

     vi.            It is important to seek God to direct your choices of movement and relocation 

Lord, help me to discover my assignment and to be faithful to act when I must!

Melphon Mayaka 

LAST DAYS: PRIORITISING THE KINGDOM IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES

Today I woke up to one of those moments, no specific leading, nothing spectacular as I got to pray. I have learnt not to be anxious in such times but to go before the Lord with an empty vessel: “speak now Lord for thy servant listens”. After a while it was impressed upon me to speak about what is happening now in the world, events that would appear to be a part of what Paul described as “last days” and “very difficult times” (2 Timothy 3:1). 

For those who may not be aware of what is happening in the world, here is summary. Over the last three days, the Middle East has entered a state of unprecedented escalation following a massive, coordinated military strike by the United States and Israel that eliminated Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several high-ranking officials, triggering a wave of retaliatory missile strikes across the region and the effective closure of the world’s most vital energy corridors. Many travelling through the Gulf Region have had to halt plans due to closure of the airspaces of several states.       In context, let’s not forget the words of the Lord himself concerning last days, “you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place…” (Matthew 24:6-). What ought to be our posture, how should we behave as believers in such times? 

Reading 1Timothy 2:1-7)

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

·       Paul emphasises prayer and intercession for all peoples, for rulers 

·       God wants everyone to get saved 

·       He points to the Gospel as kingdom priority 

While this not a comprehensive list, here are suggested elements to incorporate in our lives in these difficult times. 

        i.            Prioritise God, His Kingdom  

33 Seek the Kingdom of God[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:33)

·       Seek God’s will, His purpose

·       Pray for His will and purpose in all things (Matthew 6:10)  

·       Seek fellowship and intimacy with God through prayer and study of His word more than ever before—those who Know God will be strong and overcome very form of attack or temptation and continue do be productive in His kingdom no matter what (Daniel 11:32) 

      ii.            Pray and intercede for others (1Timothy 2:1-7)

·       Remember others are caught right in the middle of war, it is war and lives be lost and people will be maimed and affected.

·       Pray for the less fortunate 

·        Pray for leaders and rulers and all decision they must make in these difficult times 

    iii.            Look after yourself

·       Be informed but don’t let media feed you too much

·        Let

YOUR PRIESTLY ROLE 

Today I want to remind you about your priestly role. Did you know that whatever your role in society, in ministry, work, family or business capacity or status, God’s design for you and I is that we serve bless others.  Moreover, it is through service to others that we earn a living. God chose Abraham (12:2,3) and later the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:5,6) so that through the individual (Abraham) and through the nation (Israel) other families and peoples would be blessed. I focus on the priestly role of the individual, you and I and how God intends to touch and minister to our families, friends, workmates and followers. We learn from the nature of the priestly clothing in Exodus. These have profound meaning about the priestly role, not only of leaders of the church but every Christian as a disciple of Jesus Christ our High Priest (Hebrew 7:26; 9:11). 

Reading 1 Exodus 28:11,12 (NLT)

11 Engrave these names on the two stones in the same way a jeweler engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in settings of gold filigree. 12 Fasten the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod as a reminder that Aaron represents the people of Israel. Aaron will carry these names on his shoulders as a constant reminder whenever he goes before the Lord. 

Reading 2 Exodus 28:29,30(NLT)

29 “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord. 30 Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord.

God gave instructions to Moses about worship, sacrifices and in these scriptures, about the priests, their ministry to the people with very specific and detailed instructions on how they were to dress and why. Each piece of tunic or material had meaning and implications for the priestly role. I explain three points and remind you, as a Christian, that you are part of the royal priesthood and have a priestly role regardless of your position or standing in the church (1 Peter 2:9).  

          i.            Burden carrier— priest carries the burden, the weight of the people upon his shoulder before God v8

        ii.            Carer of hearts—to have a Heart of care, affection, stewardship and gratitude—as he carries the people in is heart before God v29

      iii.            Be holy before a holy God –v36, 42—whether it is the symbolism of the gold medallion, covering on the head or the undergarments, Aaron and the priests had to consecrate themselves to come before a holy God.

Thanks be to God that Christ the High priest laid down His life so that we can boldly approach the throne of God in the Holy Place with confidence. Friend, you are a royal priest, chosen of God to represent Him and present others before Him in His service.

Lord, I thank you for the completed work at the cross. Help me to serve you as apart of the royal priesthood before you the Most High God.

Melphon Mayaka