We are now stepping into the year 2012, the "12th day" of the millennium which is the third day in God's eyes. Incidentally, this is also the 12th years of my walk with the Lord. For the first 3 years, I was not walking with the Lord; I was working for the Lord then… The revelation of His grace awakened me and enabled me to walk with Him again. He is concerned with our walk with Him, like Adam walking with in the cool of the evening… not our work for Him.
Because of the year 2012, the number twelve brought forth a new revelation in my heart. I want to declare that 2012 is going to be yet another fine year for our blessing is not in the year but in Christ! Those who settled for destruction in 2012 are preaching from Hollywood's point of view. As for me and my household, the year 2012 is going to be jolly good because we have the "Holy Word". The path of the righteous shines ever brighter and brighter until the noon day's sun!
Here is my revelation on the number 12 in respect of the year 2012.
The number 12 represents divine authority and appointment, as well as governmental foundation and perfection, and shows completeness. In the Bible, we find 12 sons of Jacob which formed the 12 tribes in Israel; the Lord appointed 12 disciples, there are 12 elders representing the Old Covenant and 12 elders representing the New Covenant in the Book of Revelation. There were 12 Zodiac signs proclaiming the gospel story to Abraham in the night sky of the wilderness and etc. On top of that, there are 12 months in a year and 12 hours to divide a day from day and night…
God called Abram on the 12th Chapter of Genesis, asking him to get out of his country, his people and his father’s house. By referring to Colossians 2:8 and apply this instruction in our walk with the Lord, we see that God was actually asking Abram to leave the basic principle of his country, the tradition of his people and the teaching of his father as these conducts and teachings are against the calling of God as Abram was righteous by faith not by work. Incidentally, God also brought the Israelites out of Egypt on the 12th Chapter of the Book of Exodus.
When Elijah called Elisha, Elisha was ploughing with the 12th pair of oxen when Elijah called him by throwing his cloak (picture of righteousness) on him. Elisha then responded by leaving his father’s house, killing his oxen for food and burning his ploughing equipment. This reminds me of Abram leaving his country, his people and his father's household and the Israelites leaving Egypt. These responses are the act of faith for those whom God credited righteousness.
We are like Abraham, righteous by faith. Through the finished work of our Lord at the cross, we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3) even all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). With this revelation, we have to start talking about things that we already have in Christ. We cannot keep on talking about what we are going to have or what we do not have. We already have everything because what were His were already ours and what were ours were already His! This divine exchange had taken place at the cross two thousand years ago.
However, if we are still unable to believe... there is no revelation… therefore, we are yet to see the manifestation of our blessings! The reason of not able to believe is that we do not see the way God sees things. We do not see the Word through His heart! In His eyes and His prospective, Jesus' righteousness is the foundation of all blessings (Matthews 6:33). That is why He credits righteousness to those who believe in Him. We have been blinded by the world for not appreciating His righteousness.
Are you enjoying what you are supposed to have in Christ? Although you might have been sitting under the ministry of grace preaching for awhile, are you still struggling in your walk with Him where you find yourself lacking in many areas of your life? You might not experience the abundant life that He promised in His word. Are you not witnessing the manifestation of His blessings in your life…? If that is the case, let us go to another account recorded in the Bible in respect of the number 12. It is none other than the woman who was subjected to bleeding for 12 years. Her bleeding condition is a picture of self-righteousness and self-righteousness is contradicting and against the flow of His grace and righteousness…
If a woman is subjected to bleeding, her life is not productive at all. Her condition is a destruction to her health and wealth. For the case of the woman recorded in the Books of Gospel, her decision to acknowledge the righteousness of God turned her situation around. When she touched the hem of Jesus’ cloak, she was immediate healed of her condition. That was before the cross, and as for us, we are much better than that woman because we are now clothed with Jesus’ righteousness.
Colossians 2
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power,
To tell you the truth, it is the basic principle of this world, our human tradition and our (earthly) father's teaching that hinder us to walk in the blessing that we already have. Therefore, in God prospective, His righteousness is the foundation of all blessings. That is why before He was crucified, He leave behind His garments and tunic on this earth for the world. After He cried out, "It is finished!" at the cross, everyone who believe in Him are saved… and God call this faith as "righteous by faith"!
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power,
We are righteous by faith just like Abraham. Abraham was a king in his dispensation and he is a believing Abraham (Galatians 3:9) . This means: a righteous man believes and continue to believe all the time. Jesus said the work of God is that we believe on Him whom He has sent. Our work in God's eye is to believe in Jesus. And if that is the case, are we working very hard in His eye?
For this New Year, let this revelation helps you in your walk with the Lord. We are already blessed and do not let any unbelieving word come out from your mouth.
For this New Year, let this revelation helps you in your walk with the Lord. We are already blessed and do not let any unbelieving word come out from your mouth.
Mark 4
24 And He said to them, Take heed what you hear. With that measure which you measure, it shall be measured to you. And to you who hear, more shall be given.
25 For he who has, more shall be given to him; and he who has not, from him shall be taken even that which he has.
We are already blessed to be a blessing!
