The Spirit of Knowledge

God will give us knowledge, skill, learning, wisdom and understanding in visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17) As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

In the early morning I saw myself eating the word "KNOWLEDGE".  I asked the Holy Spirit the meaning and then began searching for the meaning of the vision through scripture.  I also found this website which explained the meaning of a word of knowledge and would like to share it with you.

A word of knowledge is a definite conviction, impression, or knowing that comes to you in a similitude (a mental picture), a dream, through a vision, or by a Scripture that is quickened to you. It is supernatural insight or understanding of circumstances, situations, problems, or a body of facts by revelation; that is, without assistance by any human resource but solely by divine aid. 

Furthermore, the gift of the word of knowledge is the transcendental revelation of the divine will and plan of God. It involves moral wisdom for right living and relationships, requires objective understanding concerning divine things in human duties, and refers to knowledge of God or of the things that belong to God, as related in the Gospel.

The gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge function together; knowledge is raw material and wisdom builds on it. 

The Spirit of Knowledge (Daath - Oida) 

The Spirit of Knowledge means "experiential" knowledge. It means something you know through "living experience" of it working in your life. Some people understand the Bible backwards and forwards, and yet, they still do not have this kind of intimate knowledge of God-they don't know His Life as their own. 

The Greek word for intimate knowledge is oida. Oida knowledge of God means that God's Life has come forth from our hearts and is now flooding our souls. It means that His Agape Love has become our Love, His supernatural Thoughts have become our thoughts and His Power, our power. In other words, we have exchanged lives with Him. We have given God our own life (our own thoughts, emotions and desires that are contrary to His), and in return, He has given us His. This is intimate knowledge of God. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) 

Two Ways to Know God 

See, there are really two ways we can "know" God: 

1) Oida knowledge, which means intimate knowledge of God; or, 

2) We can simply know Christ as Savior. And the Greek word for this kind of knowledge is ginosko, which means impartial, objective knowledge that we gain from reading books about God or from what we hear others say. I like to call ginosko knowledge "beginning knowledge" or knowledge with lots of self effort (or "works"). It's simply knowing Christ after the flesh. This is where many Christians spend most of their spiritual life. 

The Hebrew word for "beginning knowledge" is yada. And yada in the Old Testament often refers to the marriage act. It's interesting because we can be married to someone and even have sex with them for years, and yet never actually experience that intimacy that God designed for each of us to have. We are simply "going through the act." The physical act alone is not what gives us intimacy. Intimacy occurs when our hearts, souls and bodies become one. 

And it's the same thing with our relationship with Jesus. We can know Him as Savior and yet still be totally consumed with ourselves and thus conformed to this world. God says the result of this way of thinking is captivity, imprisonment, and total bondage to the flesh. "My people are destroyed for lack of (intimate) knowledge...." (Hosea 4:6)

Knowing God Intimately

 

Oida knowledge is a mingling of two things - a union- like a marriage relationship. We not only have become one heart with God as a result of our born again experience, but we have also become one will and one life with Him. This is what Matthew 22:37 means when it says we are to "love God" (agapao) - we are to so bind ourselves with Him that we actually become one. 

Oida comes from the root word, eidon, which means "to see." To "intimately know" Jesus means to see Him in everything. In every circumstance of our lives, good or bad, we see His face, His handprint, and His Love. 

Remember the Old Testament saints, who "endured" because "they saw Him Who was invisible." (Hebrews 11:27) And Job, who exclaimed, "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear (beginning knowledge); but now mine eye seeth Thee (intimate knowledge)." (Job 42:5)

The purpose of all of our lives as Christians is to intimately know the Lord of the Universe, not only as our Savior, our Lord, our Master, our Friend, and our Counselor, but as our very life itself. Like Paul, we should be able to say, "For me to live is Christ...." (Philippians 1:21) 

Intimate knowledge of Christ is the climax of our relationship with Him. We have finally let go of "self-life" and have been filled with His Life. 

As Philippians 3:8,10 says, "...I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ." (emphasis added) "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." 

Knowing Christ as our very Life itself-becoming one with Him-is a completely different kind of knowledge than many of us have ever experienced. This is the type of knowledge that the Mind of Christ brings us.

"Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established: and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."
Proverbs 24:3-4

~Bits and Pieces of Seven Fold Spirit of God The Mind Of Christ and The Word of Knowlege - Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Jesus Prays for Unity

God will set up divine appointments through visions (Acts 10:17,19)Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

I had a dream where I was traveling, uncontrollably, on a ice-snow roller coaster.   When I finally stopped I saw my sister and cousin and we were linked with a sign like the Christian Unity picture above.  God is in control and I love it when he takes the wheel. ~Debi Perry
  
UNITY:  JOHN 17:20-26 (NLT)  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.   Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!  “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.   I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

John 17 is a prayer of three sections:

· verses 1-5 Jesus prays for Himself.

· verses 6-19 He prays for that immediate group of eleven disciples gathered around Him.

· verses 20-26, He prays for all believers yet to come.

Beyond His death, Jesus expected a dynamic and growing church that would last throughout the ages.

· When Jesus looked at the face of Peter in that circle of eleven, He saw behind Peter the whole of Pentecost and thousands more behind them.

· When He looked at the face of John, He saw the church of Ephesus and all the churches of Asia Minor.

· And when He saw the gap where Judas Iscariot had been, surely he thought of the face of Paul and all of the churches of Europe.

· And crossing generations and oceans, right down to this very day, He said I pray for every one of them who will believe through the Word of that original eleven.

He moved beyond the eleven and prayed for the generations to come. In verse 21, what He prayed for them, He then prayed for all believers.

Jesus prayed just one thing. He prayed for believers unity, so that the unity of Christians would make such an impact that the world would believe He had sent Jesus the Son.

We need to note here that Jesus asked God to give us unity as a request. That means that unity is given and not achieved. It is indeed received, or Jesus wouldn’t have urged the disciples to "be one." Rather, He looked to the Father and said grant to them the gift of unity. The unity of God’s people can never be fabricated by man … it must be generated by the Spirit of God. It can never be organized by the church it must be vitalized by the Spirit of God.

Jesus prays that the present church on earth and the future church in heaven will see His glory. "Glory" is the visible manifestation of all the divine attributes. It is what we see when we look at God.

Christ has already revealed all the glory we can comprehend on earth below. In verse 22 Jesus says, "I have given them the glory that you gave me." We see in the divine manhood of Jesus Christ all the glory that our eyes are capable of seeing below. Verse 22 continues saying that the purpose of showing us His glory was that "they may be one." Even now, when we get our eyes off of one another and contemplate the revealed glory of God in Christ, we are one. That glory transforms us even now. Paul told the church in Corinth: "We...are being transformed into His likeness with an ever-increasing glory."

Christ will fully reveal all of His glory in heaven: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory (:24a). There is more to come. We will be perfectly one when we perfectly see his glory. The final object of believers’ thought will be on the exalted Jesus Christ. The more we look at Him, the more we will see forever. The more we see, the more we will become one forever.

That glory is the outward, visible expression of love between the Father and the Son. The last part of verse 24 states: "the glory You have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." We will spend eternity meditating on the love between the Father and Son!

~Bits and Pieces of sermon by Bobby Gilstrap

Testing Our Spiritual Foundation

Plants and buildings are both biblical metaphors for discipleship.  Consequently, roots and foundations are the corresponding metaphors for solid grounding and endurance.  The best way to understand the power of being rooted in love, in faith, or in the Word of God is to think about other kinds of “rootedness.” People who have a root of bitterness, lust, greed, or fear find that their perceptions, attitudes, and action are constantly controlled by what has been growing in their lives for years.  Anger and revenge fueled by a root of bitterness is very difficult to stop.  In other words, it is hard to backslide from living out what is rooted in you.

Mike Bickle, referring to the testing of the house’s foundation, says there are three types of storms.  Two we will all face; some will face all three.  The first storm is the defining trial of your life.  It’s not just a bad day or a bad month.  It is the ultimate test of your life.  The second trial is at the end of the age, a tribulation so bad that if not cut short, the human race would not survive.  The third storm is when we stand before Christ as He judges every event, action, word, thought, and intention of the heart.  Whether our house stands or falls depends on how deeply the roots of God’s Word and God’s Spirit have grown down into out lives.  Foundations or “rootedness” is not 13-week class but a life-long pursuit.

Here’s what Jesus said about the importance of spiritual foundations:

Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the
streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it
did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  (MATT 7:24,25)

LOVE

Love is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  The greatest commandment for us to follow is to love God with all our heart and to love others as we love ourselves.  Our hearts must be filled with divine love for God and people.  If we lack this love all our spiritual activities will be in vain.  This love will produce godly qualities in our life such as patience, kindness, humility, etc.  We must understand the fullness of God’s love for us.  This will fill us with great inner strength especially when we deal with unloving people.  The Apostle Paul was deeply rooted in the love of Christ and he was certain that nothing could separate him from the love of Christ. 

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Matthew 22 : 35-40 ; Romans 13 : 8-10 ; Ephesians 3:14-19; Romans 8:35-39; I Corinthians 13 : 1-13.

FAITH

Faith is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  We can accomplish great things through our faith in God.  We can get answers to our prayers when we pray in faith.  We live by faith and we would lose great blessings if we lose our faith.  We cannot please God without faith.  We must be strong in faith even before we see the manifestation of the promises of God because we walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is the shield which protects us from the fiery attacks of the devil.  We must be strong in faith to overcome the attacks of the enemy and inherit the promises of God in our life .

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Mark 9:23 ; Mark 11 : 23-24 ; Hebrews 10 : 35 , 38; Hebrews 11:1, 6 ; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 6 : 12 ; Hebrews 6 : 12 ;James 1: 6-7 ; Ephesians 6 : 16.

WISDOM

Wisdom is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  Wisdom helps us to make the right choices in our life.  Wisdom helps us to escape the snares and dangers of this evil world.  Wisdom helps us to enjoy the blessings of God and avoid needless suffering we can bring upon ourselves by our own foolishness.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  When we obey the words of Jesus we are like the wise man who built his house upon the rock which withstood all the storms that came upon it. The divine wisdom that comes from God is very different from the cunning and deceitful wisdom of Satan.  We need spiritual enlightenment to know the riches of the inheritance that we have in Christ and the great power that is available for us.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Proverbs 4:7; Proverbs 9 : 10 ; Proverbs 24 : 3 ; Matthew 7 : 24-27; James 3 : 13-18; Ephesians 1:15-23; Colossians 1:9-12.

GRACE

Grace is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  The Grace of God brings us blessings that we do not even deserve .  We receive Salvation by Grace.  The Grace of God brings us favor in sight of God and man.  It enables us to accomplish great things for God which we cannot do in our own strength.  It can lift us from a low state to great heights.  Joseph, Daniel , Esther, David, Paul are examples of what the Grace of God can do in the life of a person.  Jesus was constantly increasing in favor with God and man.  The grace of God is a great protection and a shield in our lives to protect us from the dangers of this world.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Genesis 39 : 21 ; Esther 2 : 15 , 17 ; Luke 2 : 40 , 52 ; Daniel 1: 9; Daniel 6 : 3; I Corinthians 15 : 10; Psalm 5:12.

HOLINESS

Holiness is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  Without holiness no man can see God. God wants us to be holy even as He is holy.  Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and must be kept holy.  Our body has been bought by Christ and does not belong to us.  Therefore we must glorify God in our bodies.  All our great works for God will not help us on the day of Judgement if we have lived a sinful life.  The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our sins when we repent sincerely and ask the Lord to forgive us.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Hebrews 12 : 14 ; I Peter 1 : 15-16; I Corinthians 6:9-10 ,19-20; Matthew 7:22-23; Matthew 7 : 21.

WILL OF GOD

The will of God is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  We are called to fulfill God’s plan and purpose for our life .  We cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven if we do not fulfill the will of God in our lives.  We must strive to fulfill the purpose for which God has chosen us.  Our thoughts and ways are much different from the thoughts and ways of God.  We must submit our ways to God and allow Him to form us as a potter forms the clay into the vessel of his choice.  Each one of us has a unique role to play in the body of Christ and we need not compare ourselves with others.  We need not feel inferior or jealous if anybody is given a different responsibility.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  I Corinthians 12 : 12 - 26; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Isaiah 55: 8-9; Philippians 3:12-14; John 15:16; Matthew 26:39; Matthew 7 : 21.

HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is a very important foundation of a strong spiritual life.  Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we cannot be witnesses for Christ.  The Holy Spirit develops our Christian character to help us produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.  He imparts spiritual gifts to us to serve God powerfully.  He reveals truths to us and guides into divine revelations.  He is our comforter and a constant source of encouragement in our Christian walk especially when we face trials and tribulations.  We enjoy great blessings when we have a close fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:  Acts 1: 8; Acts 2:17-18; I Corinthians 12 :7-11; Galatians 5 : 22-23; Romans 5:5; John 16 : 7-14.

~Bits and Pieces of sermon by Dr. Stanley Vasu

JESUS THE LION OF JUDAH

We are to watch to see what God will say to us (Habakkuk 2:1) I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

The End of this Age or The Last Days

This is the showdown days of the two lions. We as Christians know the out come of this showdown and The Lion of Judah will end the rein of Satan the devouring lion. The devouring lion will become the one who is devoured by The Lion of Judah. This is foretold in the last book of the Bible, Revelation, and the Lion of Judah vanquishes all His enemies and all of us who belong to Him come with Him. He sets up His Kingdom on earth for a thousand years and after that to rein forever and we with Him.

It is interesting that the Scriptures in many places speak of the last days and in every case where the Scriptures speak of the last days, you find that it is a precise description of the day and the age in which we live. The Bible is filled with prophecies of the last days just before the Lion of Judah releases the power of heaven on Satan the devouring lion and all those who have rejected Jesus, The Lion of Judah. These days are called the tribulations, the day of the Lord or the wrath of God on the earth. Whereas all those who have received Jesus as their deliverer and savior will be kept from those days. We will be taken out of the world by Jesus and taken to a wonderful and safe place in heaven and we will all receive our immortals and glorified bodies and forever be with Jesus.

As stated before, Jesus came into the world as fully a man and fully as God. He came as a lamb to be slaughtered for the sins of all mankind, because a just God can only accept the blood of a sinless man for the atonement of sins of man. Jesus was that man, completely sinless even though He was tempted just like any other man. He had to suffer the cross and the shedding of His own blood in many ways to fulfill the requirements of God for the forgiveness of all of our sins that separated us from God. Jesus chose this death willingly because He loved us so much. He did this so no one has to be separated from God and spend eternal torment apart from God, but instead enjoy being in the presence of God in heaven having an eternal life with Him.

Isaiah 53 describes the life of Jesus while on earth as a man. This was Jesus’ first coming to earth and we now await His return (the second coming) to earth to rule and reign over all the earth. His first coming was as the Lamb for slaughter, He died on the cross but He was resurrected on the third day as the Lion. Take a look at what the scriptures have to say about that resurrection day. All four of the Gospels are in agreement in reporting the facts of the resurrection. These details vary with each Gospel, they do not contradict each other, but when they are all taken together they give a broad picture of the events of that day.

How Do We Know We Are In The Last Days?

If you watch the news of the day many say that December 21, 2012 was to be the end of the world or the Apocalypse of the world according to the Mayan calendar and other cultures that make Mysticism part of their religion. According to the Bible quoted in Matthew no man knows the day or hour. The world was not going to end on December 21, 2012.

With that being said, just what does the Bible say about the Last Days? According to the Bible there are periods of time called dispensations when certain events took place that identified that period of time as different from any other time. These Biblical Dispensations are broken down as follows.

Age of Innocence – The creation of the earth – Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 3:19 - This time was marked by Creation (God created a perfect world without sin), Obedience to God’s word, Disobedience to God’s word (enter the serpent, Satan the devouring lion) and the beginning of the Curse and Death of mankind. Remember that Jesus the Lion of Judah is Jehovah (Yahweh) of the Old Testament. In John 1, John testifies to this fact; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Age of Conscience – The fall of man – Genesis 3 through 7 - This time was marked by the beginning of the blood sacrifice for the atonement of the sin of man, Wickedness entered the world when Cane killed Able and all kinds of abominations toward God took place by man and the fallen angels (these angels mixed their DNA with the DNA of women resulting in giants in the world). This was followed by the Flood of Noah’s day. The world had become so evil and so many “hybrid” giants so filled with evil that God could do nothing but destroy them to preserve the few “pure” people left on earth.

Age of Human Government – Post flood – Genesis 8 through Genesis 11 – Noah’s three sons multiplied went out throughout the earth – Nimrod and the Tower of Babel – Nimrod was a type or shadow of the anti-Christ to come at the end of the age. At this time there was only one language and they all followed and worked together for Nimrod and evil again began to beset the earth. So God confused the people by giving the people many different languages to confuse and scatter them so they were no longer one people and they could no longer work together.

The next two dispensations are grouped under Israel. These two represent the beginning of God’s promise to Abraham that he would be a great nation forever. Even though these two dispensations end at the beginning of the church age this is not the end of Israel but only a brake in their promise. Israel is destined to be a nation under God for all eternity.

Age of Promise – Abraham is called by God to leave his father and native land and receive the promise of God for his life and his descendants forever. God promises Abraham and his descendants that he will be given a land to dwell in forever. Here we see four generations from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s twelve sons, who become the twelve tribes of Israel. Through his seed will come the messiah, Jesus Christ, The Lion of Judah, The Savior of the world. His descendants’ go to Egypt and become slaves in that land.

Age of Law – Moses leads the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and they receive the Ten Commandments during their forty years in the wilderness. The Israelites enter the promise land. They rebel against God and are scattered through out the world. At the end of this age we find Israel under Roman rule.

Church Age – Jesus, the Messiah, is born in Israel and at about age 30 He begins His ministry, but most of the Jews reject Him as their Messiah. Jesus dies on the cross for the sin of all man kind, past, present and future and He is raised back to life on the third day. By His death on the cross and His resurrection He has reconciled man to Father God once again. Jesus has twelve disciples who carry on His work and brings His message to the world. Jesus’ testimony has gone around the world up to this very day. Because for the most part the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, the good news that Jesus brought was taken to the gentile people to make the Jew jealous. God’s attention was given to the gentiles in this age, but at the end of this age it will once again be on the Jewish people. This time is called the great tribulations and the return of Jesus to earth to rule for a thousand years and after that forever. This is the age that we live in and we are at the end of that age. How do we know that these are the days that we live in the end of the church age? By the Word of God, the Bible, in this book all of mankind’s history is laid out in prophecies found though out the scriptures and by Jesus himself in His own words found in the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the New Testament.

Before you think I'm all about doom-and-gloom there are a few statements I need to make. These statements are the simple truths of God.

• You are living in the greatest days that any generation has ever lived.

• You were born for this time and this place; you were destined to live in these days from the foundation of the world.

• You will witness things from God that no other generation has ever seen.

• You will do things that no other generation has ever done.

• You are greatly LOVED and FAVORED by God.

• No other generation has been given such an assignment from God as this generation. (I will explain this as we look at the last days.)

• You live in a day when the Lord’s Peace is the only peace in the world.

• You live in a day that is filled with the GRACE and Mercy of the Lord for all that call and believe on HIS name.

• You live in a day where you will see the supernatural provision of the Lord poured out on His people.

• You live in a day where the GLORY OF THE LORD will be all around you and you will feel the weight of that GLORY.

In Hebrew, the word for glory is "kavod," it also means weight. The glory of God is a tangible thing, sometimes you can see it as mist or fog or it my manifest it’s self as a heaviness pressing down on you. God's glory is coming and is on His children in these last days because God is shaking everything, but with His glory upon you, you will not be shaken.

The Lord is exposing His true remnant of believers to the world. These are men and women who have endured the necessary shaking and training by the Holy Spirit and have allowed the glory of God to give them the required substance and weight they need to present the true gospel of Jesus Christ, The Lion of Judah in this last hour. Others will see them standing and will marvel that they are not moved by what is going on all around them. They will be at peace and have all the provisions they need, while other around them live in fear and are in great need. Then they will want to know what causes them to remain secure and steadfast in their faith in a world of ever-increasing volatility and uncertainty.

Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Hebrews 12:27)

Jesus is coming first like the lamb, but as the King and Bridegroom for His Bride, the Church. This is everyone who belongs to Him and are ready to meet Him in the clouds. He is taking His bride out of the way before He releases His Roar as the Lion of Judah on those who have rejected Him and have worked against Him and His Kingdom. You see, all that belongs to Him have nothing to fear of the future; He is taking care and protecting His own just as a Lion protects His Pride...Jesus will come for His church, His Bride, and take her out of this world to a place that He has prepared for her during the time of the judgment of the earth called the great tribulations...When this comes about "The Lion of Judah" will unleash His wrath upon the earth as described in the book of Revelation. The LORD will roar from Zion. This will bring about an end to the world government of Satan and men in one great last battle called Armageddon and usher in the rein of Jesus Christ for a thousand years.

These are truly spectacular days to be alive in Christ. To be an eye witness to the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy, that was given over 5000 years and now is coming to pass right before our eyes.

This is truly a time to raise your voice in praise and worship to our King Jesus, The Lion of Judah.

Hallelujah and Amen !!!!!!

~Bits and Pieces of Freedom for all Ministries

THE BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

God will hear our prayer and reveal the secret in a night vision (Dan 2:19) Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

In a dream I saw the stones of the Breastplate of the High Priest, but they each were very, very large.  The Lord said, he heard my prayers for Vincent and He is taking care of him.  Then I heard music and had the knowing this was Vincent's talent for the Lord.  It was a very humbling experience and a joyful one.  Thank You, Lord.

THE BREASTPLATE OF THE HIGH PRIEST

The breastplate was clearly designed with the idea that the names of the twelve tribes engraved on the stones should be brought before God "as a continual memorial," and that Aaron should "bear them upon his heart, when he went into the most holy place." (Exodus xxviii. 12, 29). When we look at the breastplate as we use in our ritual, we find it to be made of metal with 12 gems. However, in reality, according to the Bible, the breastplate, or, as it is further named, the breastplate of judgment was, like the inner curtains of the Tabernacle, of "cunning work," which means that it was the work of a skilled weaver. The material with which it was woven consisted of threads of gold and blue, purple and scarlet linen threads. The number of the threads and the order of the colors were, according to the "Targums" one of gold, six of blue, six of purple, and six of scarlet.

"And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart when he goeth in unto the holy place for a memorial before the Lord continually" [Exodus 28.29]

Aaron was the first high priest and was Moses' brother. After Aaron died, subsequent high priests were his descendants, known as the sons of Aaron. The High Priest was the most glorious Jewish position. His representative dress was said to be "for glory and for beauty." It was made according to the design given by God to Moses. Only certain special people were allowed to make the garment as the following verse indicates:

"And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him that he may minister unto me in the priest's office" [v. 3].

The role of the breastplate becomes clear in the following text: 

"Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually"

Why is the Breastplate so important?:

The breastplate was of great importance because by means of it, God revealed his Divine will to His chosen people. It was designed by God Himself and the directions as to how it was to be made were given to Moses as illustrated in Exodus xxviii. 15, 20.

The King James Authorized Version of the Bible (1769) translated the Hebrew work "chosen" as breastplate, but this obscures some of its meaning. In the Septuagint it is written by the Greek word "logeion," which means a speaking-place. This describes exactly what the breastplate really was---the oracle or means by which God spoke to, i.e., answered the inquires of, the high-priest.

What did the Breastplate look like?

The breastplate was clearly designed with the idea that the names of the twelve tribes engraved on the stones should be brought before God "as a continual memorial," and that Aaron should "bear them upon his heart, when he went into the most holy place." (Exodus xxviii. 12, 29). When we look at the breastplate as we use in our ritual, we find it to be made of metal with 12 gems. However, in reality, according to the Bible, the breastplate, or, as it is further named, the breastplate of judgment was, like the inner curtains of the Tabernacle, of "cunning work," which means that it was the work of a skilled weaver. The material with which it was woven consisted of threads of gold and blue, purple and scarlet linen threads. The number of the threads and the  order of the colors were, according to the "Targums" one of gold, six of blue, six of purple, and six of scarlet.

The Urim and Thummim:

The breastplate was actually made of two pieces, which formed a sort of  purse, or bag, in which also was kept the two sacred stones, named the Urim (representing light and excellence) and the Thummim (representing perfection and completion). These stones were some divinely appointed instruments by which the High Priest inquired of God about matters concerning the welfare of the Children of Israel. The Bible makes several  references to these miraculous stones, but not anything physical, like the shape or size. 

Which stones were on the breastplate?:

Upon the breastplate were set four rows of precious stones, three in each row, and upon them were engraved the names of the twelve tribes, and as the great Jewish historian Josephus adds, "in the order of their birth", but we are not told which stone to which tribe. So which stones were used? This is a 2,000 year old question. Although the Hebrew names of the 12 stones are not in question, their translation is, and despite numerous attempts, the various translators cannot, to date, agree to a single translation. G. W. Kunz in "The Curious Lore of Precious Stones" says "In the Midrash Bemidbar, the Rabbinical commentary on numbers, the tribes are given in their order, with the stones appropriate to each and the color of the tribal standard pitched in the desert camp, this color corresponding in each case with that of the tribal stone."

In general, however, the following composite is most accepted:

Judah Sardius (Red)

Issachar Topaz (Pale green)

Zebulon Carbuncle (Deep red)

Reuben Emerald (Green)

Simeon Sapphire (Deep blue)

Gad Diamond (Transparent)

Ephraim Ligure (Dull red)

Manasseh Agate (Gray)

Benjamin Amethyst (Purple)

Dan Beryl (bluish green)

Asher Onyx (Bluish white)

Naphtali Jasper (Green)

For in the Bible we learn that:

"And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold in their enclosings.

And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings on a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes....

And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgement upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually."

The Dress of the High Priest:

The awesome responsibility of the high Priest required a sanctified person (Exodus 29), dressed in "holy garments". The uppermost holy garment is apron-like and is called the Ephod. On top of the Ephod there is the square breastplate, with the twelve precious stones. On each shoulder-piece of the Ephod was a precious stone. Six names were written on each of the stones, altogether naming the twelve tribes of Israel. Every time the high priest went before God at the Golden Incense Altar, the names of all the people of God were upon His shoulders.

The blue garment is called the robe, under which the high priest wore a white fine linen woven tunic. On his head is the white fine linen turban. Round the base of the turban is the crown of gold, with the inscription "HOLY TO THE LORD". This dress passed to his successor at his death. 

The Foundation of Your Times

Isa 33:5-6 … Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, he will make Jerusalem his home of justice and righteousness. In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. NLT

God sent Isaiah to warn the people to do neither. The key to their salvation was to trust in the Lord, not man. The Lord would provide the stability they needed, when all seemed lost

In Isa 33:5-6 we find one such exhortation to put their trust in the Lord. Scripture speaks of wisdom and knowledge of the Lord as "the foundation of your times"

Though we are removed from the days of Isaiah by thousands of years. The counsel given by him still rings true! In troubled times, the Lord provides "The Foundation Of Your Times"!

I. THE UNSTABLE CONDITIONS OF TODAY

A. WE FACE MANY DISTURBING THINGS IN LIFE...Many are common in every age
(Job 14:1) "Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.  (Sickness, Death, Natural disasters)  Some may be peculiar to our day and age. (Threat of biological war, environmental pollution, inflation, recession, unemployment, AIDS, cancer, heart disease, terrorism)

B. THE AFFECT SUCH THINGS CAN HAVE... For some, there is anxiety and fear. Others react with depression.   Even Christians can be affected as we murmur and complain or simply exist in a state of "joylessness"

C. YET SOME ARE NOT DISTURBED … Even though they experience the same things which devastate others The same financial crises, diseases, uncertainties…Somehow they still find cause for great joy and stability in their lives!

It is the LORD who provides our foundation for troubled times!

II. THE FOUNDATION BY THE LORD COMES THROUGH WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE... "Wisdom and knowledge will be the foundation of your times"

A. WISDOM will also guide and protect you from the pitfalls of life.
Prov 2:1-7… My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; Wisdom will provide comfort and confidence in times of turmoil

Prov 3:21-26… Keep sound wisdom and discretion; So they will be life to your soul And grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way,  And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid;  Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;  For the LORD will be your confidence,   God is willing to provide such wisdom to those willing to look to Him! –

James 1:5-8… If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

B. Our stability of the times also comes through SALVATION...Salvation is a clear issue frond in scripture but we tend to be like the "Frank and Ernest" cartoon in which:   A lawyer and his client are sitting in the law office and the client says to him, "The question of right and wrong is very clear. I want you to cloud it up for me."

The salvation of the Lord can help us face DEATH
If we know the Lord will save us in eternity, we can better face the adverse circumstances of this life.
Consider the example of Paul:

1) He had a strong hope

(2 Cor 5:1,5-8)  For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

2) His attitude because of that hope

(2 Cor 4:16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(Rom 8:31-39) What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 

YES, the wisdom, knowledge, and salvation found only in the Lord provides the foundation we need for our times! 

III. THE KEY TO THIS FOUNDATION IS "THE FEAR OF THE LORD"

(Prov 1:7)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. NKJV

(Prov 9:10)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

Why is the fear of the lord so necessary...

1. "...by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil."
(Prov 16:6)  By loving kindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,  And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.

The fear of the Lord is a reverence for God and His righteous judgments This fear becomes an effective motivation to depart from evil and turn to God!

"In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence...a place of refuge."

(Prov 14:26)  He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.

When we turn to God, the fear of the Lord becomes a source of great blessings!

(Ps 33:18-34:1)  But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
Such as wisdom, knowledge, salvation, confidence, refuge;  indeed "the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life"!

(Prov 14:27)  The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.
~Bits and pieces of Sermon by Larry Elder

WORD WEALTH (NSFLB)

Isaiah 33:6 (times) 'et (eht); Storng's #6256:  A particular time; season, age, occasion, or some period of time;  current times.  Unlike 'olam, which refers to a vast expanse of  time, 'et is used to describe a small space of time.  'Et can be a season, such as Passover season, rainy season, harvest season (see 2 Chr. 35:17; Jer. 51:33; Zech. 10:1).  It may refer to a portion of a lifetime, "time of old age" (Ps. 71:9).   (See also "time of trouble," "time of love," and "evil time." Ps. 37:39; Exek. 16:8; Amos 5:13.)  'Et occurs 290 times.  The present reference speaks of the stabilizing force God will provide to the believers, even in the midst of the uncertain times of the present age.

PRAYER:  Godly Wisdom in the Affairs of Life

Father, You said if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of You, Who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Therefore, I ask in faith, nothing wavering, to be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Today I incline my ear unto wisdom, and I apply my heart to understanding so that I might receive that which has been freely given unto me.  In the name of Jesus, I receive skill and godly wisdom and instruction. I discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight. I receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity. Prudence, knowledge, discretion, and discernment are given to me. I increase in knowledge. As a person of understanding, I acquire skill and attain to sound counsels [so that I may be able to steer my course rightly].  Wisdom will keep, defend, and protect me; I love her and she guards me. I prize Wisdom highly and exalt her; she will bring me to honor because I embrace her. She gives to my head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to me. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.  Jesus has been made unto me wisdom, and in Him are all the treasures of [divine] wisdom, [of comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. God has hidden away sound and godly wisdom and stored it up for me, for I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore, I will walk in paths of uprightness. When I walk, my steps shall not be hampered — my path will be clear and open; and when I run, I shall not stumble. I take fast hold of instruction and do not let her go; I guard her, for she is my life. I let my eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and my gaze is straight before me. I consider well the path of my feet, and I let all my ways be established and ordered aright.  Father, in the name of Jesus, I look carefully to how I walk! I live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as a wise — sensible, intelligent — person, making the very most of my time — buying up every opportunity. Amen. 

Scripture References: James 1:5,6 1 Corinthians 1:30
Colossians 1:9 Colossians 2:3 AMP
Proverbs 2:2 Proverbs 2:7 AMP
Proverbs 1:2-5 AMP 2 Corinthians 5:21
Proverbs 4:6,8,9 AMP Proverbs 4:11-13,25,26 AMP
Proverbs 3:16 AMP Ephesians 5:15,16 AMP

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