THe Missing Row; Missing Jewels

The mysteries relating to the Ark of the Covenant and the tabernacle that God asked Moses to build in the desert are so cool and are worth expounding. Thousands of scholars over the ages have studied them and keep unraveling the awesome things God had shown Moses and the children of Israel as a fore-shadow of the coming Christ, the Temple and the heavenly Jerusalem. The Tabernacle was the place where the Glory of God would descend upon in the travels of this Semitic race of nomads that God had chosen to reveal His purposes. When the cloud of glory lifted they moved and when it stayed put they camped. While encamping God gave them different rules, regulations and the laws that the children of Israel had to follow. There were descriptions for the building of the tabernacle, the way sacrifices were to be offered and how the priests and High Priests were to be dressed. Today I want to talk about one particular piece in the descriptions of the adornments of the High Priest – ‘The Breastplate’. God gives specific instructions about the breastplate and the precious stones that are to be overlaid on this important accessory of the High Priest’s garments. The description in Exodus 28 goes like this:

16: Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 17: 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. 18: And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19: And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20: And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings. 21: And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.

So each stone is associated for each of the tribes of Israel. There are other mysteries here in relation to these stones which is beyond the scope of this discussion (e.g. with the 12 gates of heaven and how each gate is carved out of the types of stone mentioned on the Aaron’s breastplate).There is another description of the breastplate in Ezekiel 28 which belonged to chief worshipper and highest angel in heaven. So this is how the description about Lucifer or Satan’s breastplate goes:

12: Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13: Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14: Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15: Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16: By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17: Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18: Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

If you followed the description closely we see exactly one row missing. It is difficult to ascertain what stones belong to what tribe but scholars have given some clues. The missing row in Satan’s breastplate are the stones ligure, agate and amethyst. Now if we examine the blessings of the patriarch Jacob on his 12 sons Genesis 49 records:

14: Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: 15: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. 19: Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. 20: Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties

The jewel of Issacar is missing because Satan is never a burden bearer. Jesus took all our burdens and sins. The jewel of Gad is missing because his troop will overcome, Jesus is the commander of the armies of heaven, He is the Lord of Hosts and Satan will not be able to gain the final victory and his final punishment is assured. Lastly, the jewel of Asher is missing in Satan’s breastplate because Jesus is the Royal King of Kings and Satan will never produce a royal seed nor attain the royal status.

This immensely blessed me because God in His foreknowledge had already placed limitiations on the chief worshipper of heaven before he fell with his angels.

Blessings & Shalom

Sam Kurien

Be Bold And Be Courageous

A few days ago as I was reading the word of God in the book of Exodus, I was really blessed by the story of Moses. The scene is Joshua is out with the army of Israel fighting the Amalekites. As he is in the battle grounds, Moses, Aaron and Hur have climbed up a mountain to pray to the most High God.  Moses the friend of God has lifted his hands towards heaven and as the morning stretches out into noon, his hands become tired. Interestingly, the scriptures record as his hands are lifted up the battle goes in Israel's favor and  his hands lower down the battle swings back into the favor of the Amalekites. The man is exhausted holding his hands up, Aaron and Hur help him out by allowing him to sit on a rock and hold his hands up for him . An interesting point to remember here is the Amalekites are one of the races of people among the people groups that inhabited Canaan. From ancient times they were a people group that had the Nephilim (Giants), a race that had come to be from the fallen angels and the daughters of men. You might also remember that when Moses send spies to the land, ten of them report that they had seen giants in the land, the report was accurate indeed, but Joshua and Caleb knew that they could take them down because God was with them.

Anyway; trailing back to the prayer scene on the mountain, as Moses's hands are held up by the prayer warriors Aaron and Hur, Joshua is able to overcome the Amalekites in battle. The Lord then comes up on the mountain and  as recorded in Exodus 17:4 it says: Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it because I will completely blot out hte memory of the Amalek from under heaven" 

This is the part that blessed me the most God has already planted a young man called Joshua to be the next leader of His people, he knows he has many more battles to fight so when the Lord tells Moses to record this incident for the generations to know, he adds an emphasis "make sure"your servant Joshua hears about it and this is what the Lord is going to do - I will blot out the Amalekites from the face of the earth.  I love it because God wants to Joshua to know his intentions. He wants to make sure Joshua knows His word, His promises and what He is going to do.

Later on, we see when Moses has passed away and Joshua is standing on the fringes of the Holy Land that is to be possessed, knowing he has many more battles to fight, the Lord comes again and promises him "Be Bold and Be courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go". (1 Joshua 1:9)

Amen - Amen & Blessings,

Sam Kurien

Interesting Times

In the "Chronicles of Narnia" Lucy the little girl is talking to the Beaver and in the course of their conversation she asks questions about Aslan the Lion, the King of Narnia and of different worlds. She points a pivotal question "If he is a lion is he safe?". The Beaver replies: "Safe..of course not..He is very dangerous but He is good". Friends, those who take refuge in Him, when the enemy of our soul attacks the Lion of Judah comes and roars over His children not only confusing the enemy but paralyzing them with utmost fear. Remember He just has to roar...

Our family is in interesting times and as I look back I thank God how He has been preparing my heart almost a month in advance. Prophetically I just knew...God reveals things to His friends even before they happen. As I wait to see what happens (and believe me I am going to blog this here as I know a testimony is going to come out here for God's mighty works for his servant) and as I go through these interesting times...here are some words that God has laid on my heart:


Psalm 31: 7-8 "I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy. For you have considered my trouble; You have know my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy. You have set my feet in a wide place."

Romans 10: 11 For the scriptures says "Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame"

Another word He gave me was: "The children of Israel not only took the wealth of Egypt and plundered them but struck fear in the heart of the Egyptians." Secular history tells us though Egypt has been a power many a times in history never have they enslaved a nation or a race of people. For the Lord God of Israel did His wonders in Egypt. I have also been praying Psalm 91 and new revelations come to me from it. I pen down some verses here:

Psalm 91: 2 "I will say of the Lord "He is my refuged and my fortress; My God in Him I will trust."
Psalm 91:3 Surely He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence , He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge. 
Psalm91:11-12 "For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands. Lest you dash your foot against a stone. 
Psalm 91:13 -16 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra. The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me Therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he as known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Lord I wait for your salvation. "You said I am your shield and strength. I will go with you wherever you go".  So I will say.."With you I can run against a troop be it a thousand or ten thousand." When an enemy threatens a child of God. The Lion of Judah roars.

Shalom & Blessings,

Sam Kurien

Made For His Pleasure

In the book 'The Purpose Driven Life' Rick Warren quotes C.S. Lewis observation 'The  more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become - because He made us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be....It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first being to have a real personality of my own."

What I learnt today from my readings is you don't bring glory or pleasure to God by hiding your abilities or trying to be someone else. Most of my life I have often struggled by rejecting who I am, my background, or the lack of something or the other be it money, time, abilities or resources or not being at the right place at the right time and have argued or bickered with God about this or that. Being frank and authentic is good but I do realize and learn anytime I reject any part of myself, I am rejecting God's infinite wisdom and sovereignty. He created me for His pleasure.

Rick goes on to quote in his famous book the example of Eric Liddell the 1924 British Olympic gold medalist and missionary to China of how he argued with his sister the purpose of his running, Liddell says "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast, and when I run, I feel God's pleasure. To give up running would be to hold him in contempt."

Though I love those lines from the film -  'Chariots of Fire' (We all remember that great soundtrack of all times..don't we?) brought out something more amazing and special. Eric Liddell wouldn't run his race on a Sunday as he chose to honor God more than the king's mandate to win an Olympic gold for his country. The newspapers of that time ran headlines quoting 'God before King' praising Eric Lidell's stand not to run on a sunday. Opposition loomed from country, coaches and team mates but through that hard situation Eric Liddell chose to bring glory to God. History shows us God made a way through Eric's friend who gave up his race for Eric to compete, though not trained for the 400m event Eric goes on to win the Olympic gold medal.  Enjoy this cool clip here:



Where does the power come from to see the race to its end;  it comes from within, it comes from God. Just before the race an American athlete (from the rival team) hands Erics a note  which says "He that honors me I will honor".

Blessings & Sar Shalom be with you all,

Enjoy the famous tune from 'Chariots of Fire'

Through Heaven's Eyes

The clip below is taken from 'The Prince of Egypt' and the song is 'Through Heaven's Eyes', the lyrics are really cool and thought provoking. We are all searching for significance and throughout this blog I have reiterated many times our significance cannot be known or reached to its full potential till we know who God is and start looking at our life from an eternal perspective. Some of the lines in the song are worth pondering, and I pen what I learn from this beautiful composition.

'a single thread in the tapestry though it shines so bright can never see its purpose in the pattern of the grand design, and the stone that sits on the very top on the mountain's might face doesn't think it's more important than the ones that form the base,'

Jethro the Midianite priest is teaching Moses through this song what is worth honoring and how are we to measure a life's real worth. (Though in real history there is no mention of Jethro doing this ...the dramatic adaption is praiseworthy in the composition of the song and its screenplay). God's grand story telling involves everybody, He invites us into our parts and roles, it is our choice to play that part and purpose or choose to rebel. Sometimes (or many a times) in life's rut we may not know what our part is in the grand design like that of a single thread in a gleaming carpet and think our life is not worth much but we will only understand this if we start seeing and seeking our life through heaven's eyes.

'a lake of gold in the desert sand is less than cool fresh spring and to one lost sheep a shepherd boy is greater than the richest king' -

These metaphors are amazing to me as what will you do if you have the greatest riches and not have the source for refreshing life or rich relationships that surround you and give your life a meaning. Jesus said 'What will you do if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul'.

The next line starts with question followed with an answer, and those who look at their lives through heaven's eyes its always a new beginning, they lose nothing because they have learnt to live their life looking at things eternally and looking at life through heaven's eyes.

'If a man loses everything he owns has he truly lost everything he is worth? or is it a beginning of new and brighter birth'

The last few lines are the coolest because its poses questions and attempts to answer those hard questions by saying answers come to those who try to understand that their true worth comes from looking at their life through heaven's eyes and though we don't know all the steps of the dance we should join in the dance.

Blessings and Shalom

Be Merciful to me; As your Custom is toward those who love Your Name

I had an awesome time with the Lord. I went for a drive and swung by the World Prayer Center for a time of worship and prayer, while driving the Lord was impressing on me “I am growing your faith” and deep down it meant that I need to surrender my dreams, desires and plans at His feet, so in due time He will fulfill the dreams and desires that He has given. A couple of verses came to my mind as I thought about this.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Habbakuk 1:5 “ Look among the nations and watch —Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.

Mathew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

I read through Psalm 119 and was again amazed by the number of times the Psalmist seeks and entreats for the Lord to the merciful and teach him His statues. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 199:132 which says

“Look upon me and be merciful to me,
 As Your custom is toward those who love Your name.”

I love this verse because it takes the focus of myself and praises God reminding Him of his custom and His nature towards those who love His Name. My Prayer this morning is:  "Oh Lord I come to thy throne of grace seeking your face, turning from the wicked ways for you to hear from heaven and forgive my sin and heal this land. As your word says in Habbakuk you will do utterly astounding things and believing I will ask boldly from the King of the Universe these wonderful things, I seek you and your face and I will receive and see your mercy as is your custom toward those who love your name. "

Blessings and may Sar Shalom (Prince of Peace) be with you.

Another Word - 'Anointing'

Sarah got another word last night for me while praying and it even comes from some of the beautiful stories I love in the Bible.  The passage is from I Samuel 16.

2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." 4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." 11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down [a] until he arrives." 12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Sam, I saw you covered from head to toe in the anointing oil of God’s favor. He impressed on me that, like David was seen as just a shepherd boy but God had chosen him for something far greater, so, God has a path for you far more than what you are doing now. Others around may not see it yet and may not expect it, but God will raise up who He will. Just as He would not allow Samuel to anoint any of David’s older brothers, so God will not allow His favor and will to pass you by. Be at peace and do not fear, for even when you are not present, God will uphold your cause to those in authority.

Christmas Gift

This year...actually I should say last year now my sister-in-law send me a gift which was a prophetic word that she got. I archive this digitally here for the future as I think it is for 2010 and beyond.

Sam - I see a bed of embers, they are glowing organge. You have a fire in your belly, and that fire is the spirit within you. The time is coming for that fire to ignite all the areas of your life. It won't remain in a bed of embers anymore, although that is the core, IGNITE.  That word keeps going through my mind. You will ignite your workplace, you will ignite your home. You will ignite your church. The embers will set fire to everything they touch. This is the Spirit in you. When you stretch out your hand to touch someone, you can imagine the glowing embers of the Spirit touching that person, igniting that person. It's not a feeling, although you will feel it more and more, it is a spiritual reality, which is more solid than your physical reality, the unseen will become more real to you than the visible. Expect it.

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you" Romans 8:11

The same spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. Not a similar spirit, but actually the same one. He was there when Jesus was resurrected - you have that experience living within you. He was there when 3000 people got saved at pentecost - you have that experience living within you. He was there at the creation of the world - you have that experience living within you. Wow. Grasp this, and you will becomea living fire, igniting all around you.

• Your First Love. The passion and promises of your beloved will come to pass. He has not forgotten the things whispered in secret chambers of intimacy with you. He says "I am your Dream."
• Joy is healer. Laughter is  medicine, waste time giggling at the little things, singing one more song, enjoying the small sweetness of life. Do it at the expense of work and deadlines and external expectations. Without thinking about it, you will find fuller wholeness has come to your heart and body and mind.

Thanks Kris for the word. I will try to remember in the days ahead.

Blessings,

2010 is here!

Last night we had an awesome time with Mike and Cindy praying in the New year. The gathering of believers and submitting and surrendering to God is a unique edifying experience strengthening each other and prophesying over each other. Mike left with a prophetic blessing from Zephaniah 3: 17 I record here so I can remembers the goodness of the Lord.

Zephaniah 3:17 " 17 The LORD your God is with you,  he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."