A quiver full to set free of ashes

Just a couple of excerpts from a book I'm currently reading from Beth Moore, called "Breaking Free" that I found particularly touching:

One of the primary reasons God sent His Son to this earth was to bring tender salve and relief to those whose hearts have been broken. I believe that only God can truly and completely heal shattered hearts. He uses different methods; but according to Isaiah 61:1, one of His greatest priorities is binding up the brokenhearted.

Let's take an in-depth look at this wonderful part of the ministry He assigned to His Son in Isaiah 61:1. I pray that you will be as blessed as I am over the original meanings God led me to discover in Isaiah 61:1. Don't proceed quickly. Take in the following truths slowly. Meditate on them and feel vastly loved. Take notice of the second active verb in the verse: "He has sent me." The Hebrew word for "sent" is shalack, meaning "to shoot (forth)".

Psalm 127:3-4 says that "sons are a heritage from the LORD, / ...like arrows in the hands of a warrior." We know from John 3:16 that Jesus is God's only begotten Son. John 3:17 tells us God gave His Son for the salvation of people by sending Him into the world.

You see, God only had one arrow in His quiver. The most perfect arrow ever to exist, a masterpiece, priceless to Him. Cherished far above all the hosts of heaven. Nothing could compare. His only heritage. His only Son. But as God looked on a lost world - desperate and needy and in the clutches of the enemy - His heart was overwhelmed. Though they had sinned miserably against Him and few sought Him, God had created them in love and could not love them less.

Love reached sacrificially into the quiver and pulled forth the solitary arrow. The quiver would now be empty, His cherished arrow in the hands of hateful men. Yes, God so loved the world; but God also loved His only begotten Son with inexpressible, divine affection. The divine dilemma: two loves. And one would demand the sacrifice of the other. He positioned the weapon, pulled back the bow, steadied His grip, aimed straight for the heart: "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger" (Luke 2:7 KJV).

pp.110

This moved me so to tears. We hear John 3:16 so often that I feel it's lost it's meaning, it's impact. The way she words it here is so careful and illustrative...I had to stop reading for a moment.

----

Before the next part, I'll paint the picture of what actually happened to Tamar. In 2nd Samuel 13:1-22, we read about her. She was the daughter of King David, and one of her half brothers, Amnon was infatuated with her, for she was very beautiful. One day he pretended to be sick, and had their father send her to him to tend to his illness. When she came close to feed him, he grabbed her.

"Don't, my brother!" she said to him. "Don't force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don't do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you." But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her."

-2 Samuel 13:12-14

Afterward, he demanded she leave his chambers, angered by his guilt. He commanded a servant to shut the doors after her, a subtle ploy to inform the servant and further her shame, for servants talk. She rent her clothes and covered her head in ashes (in those days this was an expression of great grief). When her brother found out, he told her to be quiet and get over it, and when her father found out, he did nothing. After all this, this beautiful girl lived out her days as a "desolate woman".

In a chapter about the bridegroom, Moore opens with a fictional ending to Tamar's story to illustrate what could have happened for her and can happen for any woman once she gives her grief over to Christ and chooses to heal:

Imagine Tamar: grief-stricken, sobbing, ashes on her head. Her body in a heap on the cold floor. Soot covers her beautiful face and smears the rich colors of her torn robe. Her outward appearance echoes the cavernous darkness in her soul. Hopelessness and death well up in her. She is nothing but a tomb.

The door of her room slowly creaks open. A stream of cloudy sunlight pours through the door. A figure of a man takes form within it. Not Absalom. No, she would recognize Absalom anywhere. Her heart jumps with sickening terror, then the figure steps through the door and His visage becomes clear. Tamar has never seen Him before, yet He looks so familiar. Not frightening. And she should be frightened. No man should be entering her chamber. She should run, but she cannot seem to move.

She glances down at the hands that seem paralyzed on her lap, suddenly shamefully aware of her ash-covered appearance. Wretchedness sears her heart. She is certain her violated estate is obvious. She despises herself.

"Tamar," the man speaks gently and with warm familiarity.

Her heart sobs, "She is dead!" A slave of shame has taken her place.

He approaches and takes her face in His hands. No one has ever done that before. The overwhelming intimacy turns her face crimson, not with shame but with vulnerability. His thumbs sweep over her cheeks and wipe the tears from her face. As He takes His hands from her face and places them on her head, her throat aches with fresh cries as she sees the filth on His hands. Her filth. He draws back His hands, and she senses something on her head. Perhaps in His mercy He has hooded her disgrace.

The man offers her His hands, still covered with soot, and she takes them. Suddenly she is standing. Trembling. He leads her to the brass mirror hung on the wall. She turns her face away. He lifts her chin. She gives the mirror only a glance. Her heart is startled. She begins to stare. Her face is creamy white. Her cheeks are blushed with beauty. Her eyes are clear and bright. A crown sits on her head, and a veil flows from its jewels to her shoulders. Her torn coat is gone. A garment of fine white linen graces her neck and adorns her frame. The King's daughter, pure and undefiled. Beauty from ashes.

- pp. 145-146.

Sigh, isn't that beautiful? And that is what happens in the Spirit when He heals us!

"I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
-Isaiah 61:10

Meaning In The Spirit of Some Common Terms

Neck - the will

Song - a revelation

Dust - flesh

Bricks - man-made effort

Stones - God-made - members of the Body of Christ

Birds - evil spirits [with exceptions]

Milk - initial receiving of the new life provisions


Right Hand - power; authority

Left Hand - praise


North / Winter - dealings, trials

South / Summer - blessings abounding

East / Spring - new expressions of...

West / Fall [Autumn] - rest, achievement

This outline compiled by R.K.Knight

Gems, Precious Stones - Meanings

JASPER (E) (R)

Translucent stone of various colors, especially of fire. A red glow. The loosing of fleshly burdens. Is 58:6-8

SAPPHIRE (E) (R)

Blue hard stone. The established anointing. I John 2:27

CHALCEDONY (R)

1st green - found deep in the earth. His new life needs to be shown. Ps 139:23,24

EMERALD (E) (R)

2nd green - light green - transparent. New Testimonies. II Cor 3:2

SARDONYX (R)

Red and white. Righteousness. John 3:30

SARDIUS (E) (R)

Red - like a flame. Chastening. Heb 12:6, 10

CHRYSOLYTE (R)

Golden. God's Holy nature in us by the operation of the Holy Spirit. Col 1:27

BERYL (E) (R)

3rd green - sea green. New visions achieved. Prov 29:18

TOPAZ (E) (R)

Gk=to seek. yellow, when heated by friction or directly, produces electricity. Desire for power. Acts 1:8

CHRYSOPROSUS (R)

Golden-green. Our new life showing more of God's love. Lam 3:23

JACINTH (E) (R)

[OR LIGURE] Dark blue. Mature anointing - covering. I Cor 11:1-3

AMETHYST (E) (R)

Gk=not drunk. wine color. II Peter 1:12

CARBUNCLE (E)

Hb=lightning. Wisdom. I Peter 3:15

DIAMOND (E)

Translucent - hard. Steadfast, unmovable. I Cor 15:58

AGATE (E)

Translucent - hard: has to be split and polished to be used. I Cor 11:24 and John 14:12

ONYX (E)

Hb=to shine with lustre of fire. Humility. Jas 4:10

E=Exodus 28
R = Revelations 21


Note: I worked for a long time to make a really pretty organized table for this, but discovered that Blogger really does NOT like tables and formatting. At all. So this is what you get.

This outline compiled by R.K.Knight

Meanings of Colors & Materials In Scripture

Materials

Gold = God's incorruptible nature; God manifesting Himself
Silver = redemption; God's redemptive nature
Brass = judgment
Iron = strength
Stone = death
Earth = man
Wood = humanity; human nature
Linen = righteousness
Wool = man's effort

Colors

White = purity; righteousness
Blue = the anointing; Jesus nature manifested
Purple = royalty
Black = sin; self
Red = Blood - death for sin; death to self
Green = new expressions of life
Gold & Silver = as above

Specials

Wine = revelation
Water = the anointed Word of God
Fire = God's presence
Honey = enlightenment
Cherubim = presence of God
Head = control; covering
Crown = authority [in action]
Horn = power
Horse = strength; speed

This outline compiled by R.K.Knight

Meaning of Numbers In Scripture

1 = unity; oneness; union
2 = witness
3 = complete; divine perfection
4 = creation; world
5 = grace; hand of God (5-fold ministry)
6 = carnal man; flesh
7 = perfection; conclusion (obtained completeness)
8 = new beginning; resurrection
9 = finality; unchangeable
10 = testing; trial
11 = disorder
12 = divine order; government
13 = sin; rebellion; satan
14 = salvation; generations
15 = spiritual rest; law fulfilled
16 = love
17 = victory
18 = bondage
19 = faith
20 = redemption
21 = degredation of sin
22 = light
23 = death
24 = priesthood
25 = forgiveness
28 = eternal life
29 = departure
30 = maturity
33 = promise
37 = the Word of God
38 = slavery to the flesh
39 = disease
40 = probation
42 = achievement
50 = Holy Spirit; anointing; jubilee
60 = pride; man's judgement
70 = God's judgement
100 = liberty; promises obtained
120 = end of all flesh
144 = spirit-filled life
153 = the sons of God
200 = insufficiency with what one has
300 = complete deliverance
600 = warfare
666 = beast; beast nature
1000 = glory of God; fullness of God

This outline compiled by R.K.Knight

Baptism

Baptism is a very important part of your Christian walk. Despite what many think, merely sprinkling water on the forehead is useless. All you do is get a sinner's hair wet. Complete submersion is necessary, as you will soon understand. Also, doing it to an infant is equally useless. They are too young to be accountable for sin, and for that matter are too young to even have committed any sins.

Nobody should be baptized without understanding what is going on. All that happens otherwise is you go down a dry sinner and come up a wet one. Many churches offer courses spanning anywhere from an evening to several weeks on the subject. If not you may have someone you can go to that can sit down with you and go over the details of what goes on in a baptism. No matter where you go, just understand that you should not waste your time being baptized until you have the understanding. Any church or leader that puts you under without requiring this is not, in my mind, worth his salt, as he clearly does not understand it himself.

There is a lot to say on the matter, but I will make this as to the point as I can. That said, let's cover exactly what happens.

Rom 6:1-11:

¹What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

⁷For he that is dead is freed from sin.

⁸Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

⁹Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

¹⁰For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

¹¹Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So what can we gather from this statement? When you decide to live for Christ, you also decide to die to sin. However, this is more than just a conscious choice. You must bury what we in our house refer to as the Old Man. The person you once were, the sins you committed, that is your Old Self. Once you are baptized, that old man is buried underwater, and you rise a new creation.

This is where you are truly born again. All of those things that once bound you to earth and death are put down when you go under. They should stay there ever after, and you are no longer held to them, because they are no longer a part of who you are. This event is symbolic of when Christ died on the cross. As he died, we die, and just as he rose again, we rise again from the water, newly born into the kingdom of heaven.

So, you are a new creation, a new person with a new beginning, a new history to write. Just remember what it says in Galations 5:1:

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Now that you are free of it, don't allow yourself to be burdened again by the bondage you lived under before. When you hear the enemy whisper in your ear, judging you for past transgressions, or someone tries to bring sin consciousness to you, don't allow it. That is no longer who you are. When you are tempted to go back to your old ways, remember that those ways no longer bind you and don't allow yourself to fall victim once again, or what was it all for?

Communion

We take communion for many reasons. We should do it at least once a month, to forgive each other of any transgressions. If you have any issue with another and still hold them in judgment for it, that is counted as sin against you. Remember, judge as you would be judged. So examine yourself before you begin to identify any bitterness, resentment, anger, unforgiveness, or anything else against yourself or another.

I Cor 11:23-33:

²³For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

²⁴And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

²⁵After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

²⁷Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

²⁸But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

²⁹For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

³³Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

Armor of God

We are fighting an ongoing battle, one that has been raging since the beginning of time. It is a supernatural battle being fought on several different planes. The most important arena, however, is that of our minds. As it says in II Cor 10:3-5:

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

⁴(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Joyce Meyer has written an entire book on the subject, called Battlefield of the Mind, which I strongly recommend you pick up and read. However, all things must be rooted in scripture as well. The armor we are to equip ourselves with is written down in Eph 6:13-17:

¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

¹⁵And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

So let's break each of these down briefly to understand exactly what each piece is for.

Helmet of Salvation - You get this just by being saved. This protects the mind.

Breastplate of Righteousness - This means that you are standing uprightly. Righteousness is light, which dispels the darkness. Righteousness merits an entire study on its own, which I am currently working on. A hint to get you started on your own study: Notice the "Right" in Righteousness. Just as we have a Bill of Rights as Americans, when we become a part of the Body of Christ, we have a new set of rights to claim.

Loins Girded by Truth - Refers to your spiritual loins. Loins are the reproductive system. Spiritual loins produce spiritual things.

Shod with Preparation of Peace - This refers to your walk.

Shield of Faith - Protects you from the wicked darts of the adversary. Back in ancient times, when the Romans fought with sword and shield, the shields would often be covered with a thick leather hide and doused with water before a battle. This would nullify the fiery darts of the enemy, dispelling the flames as they struck the shield.

Faith is a huge subject with many aspects, another which I am working on. For now, refer to Heb 11:1, Rom 10:17, and II Cor 5:7 for a quick idea of how Faith might be defined.

Sword of the Spirit - Sword of God. The Word is the Spirit. If you're going to use it, it needs to be bathed in the Holy Ghost (spirit filled - ref. Mat 3:11). You also need to learn how to effectively wield it. Someone could hand me a sword today and tell me to go fight someone. I could jab the thing out there uselessly, but a weapon is useless unless it is sharp and you are well trained in its use.

Hopefully this gives you an idea of what it is you need to build on for each area that needs protection.

Where to begin?

Many new Christians go out and buy a bible (or have one gifted to them), and they sit down at home and quickly become overwhelmed. The bible is huge - 66 books in one! Where on earth does one start? The obvious answer for many is to crack it open to the first book, Genesis, and have at it. For a new Christian, this will seem very dry and will often quickly discourage them to put the book down and go read some fascinating inspirational book, and stick with those forever after.

These books are good and useful study tools and guides to practical application, but in our family we refer to them as "miracle grow". That is to say, they may cause one to blossom fast with quick apparent result. You may rush out and want to share it with everyone in the honeymoon phases of your relationship with God, all full of hope and optimism.

There is nothing wrong with these feelings, however they are not the most important part of being a Christian. In order to realize your full potential and truly understand the Word and build that relationship with Christ, your roots must go down deep, into the earthy soil of the Word of God. What I am saying is there is NO substitution for reading your Bible! What good is it if I pop a plant down on cement, spray it with miracle grow and walk away? There is no way for the roots to reach down and drink of the nourishment of the earth and water. No way for it to grow strong and hale. The Bible gives us those roots.

That emphasis made, I have a recommended order of reading the books to begin with. Once you are done thoroughly reading and understanding these, it will be easier to decide on your own (with God, of course) how your path continues.

• John - Gives the way to Salvation. Full of the seeds that need to be planted (seeds=basics).
• Romans - A different set of principles. Shows you how to operate under them.
• Acts - Puts Romans into action. See how the principles of Romans are applied. This book is focused largely on the works of the Holy Spirit, including moving in the gifts and the command to speak in Tongues.
• Matthew, Mark, Luke - The synoptics, these are the confirmation of what Jesus was doing. Firsthand accounts of his life and teachings from different perspectives with different emphasis found in each.

Once one is finished with these, they may wish to continue with the Epistles of I and II Corinthians. I would also recommend a good, thorough study of Ephesians.

After that, it would be a good idea to go ahead and read the rest of the New Testament so you can understand and begin to apply his Word to your life.

However, do not take this to mean one should neglect the Old Testament. To understand who we are, we need to understand where we came from. The OT tells the stories of many great men of Christ, and we will find many parallels to our own lives in these books. There is a wealth of information to discover here, though much of it will have to be illuminated to each person on an individual basis.

Remember, Rom 10:17 says Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. That second hearing actually means "understanding". So this statement actually means that your Faith is built by hearing what God has to say to you personally, and in order to recognize His voice you must read and understand his Word (the Bible). Therefore, the more you read, the more you will understand, the more familiar you will become with his voice, the more you can build that direct relationship!

The Roman's Road

An important tool, the Roman's Road is what you present to someone when they have finally decided to say the Prayer. Nothing important in life should be done without a firm understanding of what it is you are doing and why, and that includes the most important day of your life - the day you are Saved and reborn to a new life in Christ.

Some people choose to simply list the scriptures on a separate sheet of paper they keep in their bible at the first verse. Others (myself included) have highlighted each of these verses in every bible they own, and write each successive verse after the current one, so they can follow along with the new Christian down the Road. You may have another approach. Whatever works best! Just remember as you go through each of these to explain what each verse means.

The Roman's Road

Rom 3:10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one

Rom 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

Rom 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

Rom 5:12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

Rom 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

Rom 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

Rom 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

Rev 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me

Rom 10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Guess I kinda wanna start doing something here.

NT