Royal Air Maroc one-way Flight ticket to London for family of four available for sale

Details as follows:

Departure---MMA Lagos
Date-----25th Dec 2022
Time---5:30am
Arrival-----3 hrs stop at Casablanca
Arrive London 5pm same day.
Family of 4.
Amount----1.1m
Contact----08020700350 or 08121421471 for further details

Racism, tribalism, nepotism and all the other forms of negative human relational isms are a disease inhabiting the dirty crevices of the human soul. They are often symptomised by absurd stereotypes, fuelled by ignorance and thriving in the mind of the mentally, morally and spiritually stunted regardless of whether such predisposition is found in an illiterate person or an Emeritus professor. As Nigerians we need not look too far afield for a demonstration of its unfortunate effects, it's right here in our homes, in religious and educational institutions, and in governance. And until we shed this contemptible cloak of immaturity, we are going no where as a country. Jide Olubiyi , Research Center Julich, Germany .

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Our entire culture and subcultures have been founded on this tribal divisioning, how hyprocritical of us to stand against neo-apartheid in different countries around the world. Hardly would an unfortunate incident affecting most of the tribes in the country occur in some parts of the country and certain tribes not cry out that it's nothing short of a conspiratorial cleansing of their tribe. I allude to Boko Haram's murderous campaign that has seen countless Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos and other tribes and aliens slain, and yet some tribe fuelled by a tribal paranoia keep alleging it's an attempt by Nigeria to expunge them. This in their case is a a peculiar manifestation of the same tribalistic outlook. I have been to different parts of Nigeria, and also to several countries around the world, and everywhere I have noticed that human beings are essentially the same, with both kind aspects and at the same time with a predisposition to maltreating other races and tribes of men. On a lighter side now, an Italian- American had once asked me in Philadelphia if there were actual houses in Nigeria. I suppose she thought we were living on some trees or inside some caves. Such stereotypical view as this, is usually not an evidence of a defect in the victim of such view, but on the other hand it is nothing short of a demonstration her shocking and shameful ignorance. And yes, that was just two years ago, not two centuries ago. I have heard Yorubas who have never been to Northern Nigeria tell me things about the Hausas. The Igbos do the same, the same thing the Hausas. The sad thing is that such stereotypical and entirely ignorant branding of other tribes is not aways caused by illiteracy. When I was a kid I had been made to believe that education should liberate a people, in our case it seems to drive us further down the path of bondage. Let's for a minute consider how it has affected every splinter of our national experience. Do you need me to write about the politics of blood and greed, where each tribe sees the privilege to serve the nation as no more than a golden opportunity to divert the nation's bleeding wealth to his own part of the country? And as a result of the competitive scramble for loot, no one cares that the nation remains stagnant, once the misguided politician is from your tribe. How many politicians do we have that can claim exemption to this? It has become a status behaviour for them to establish a university, a hospital , or any other such structures in their own states and villages once elected. And we all look away from the fact that such institutions could have better served Nigerians in some other parts of the country. What of sport? Some weeks ago the whole world gathered in London to watch the open shame of Nigeria, the self-acclaimed giant of African (too sad being merely numerous isn't enough to merit such description). I am sure not many Nigerians were disappointed or shocked by the outcome, that we didn't leave London with a tiny medal. Had they included copper, or wood in the awarded medals I am not so sure we would have come home with enough wood to light our frozen national heart. One would then ask, how come such a country with so many people could not lift a single medal? Well, we are from a country where the last time we heard of merit spoken of was in the fairy tales told by our parents, in turn told them by their own parents. Instead, in the name of being faithful to some spurious Federal character, we ended up enlisting athletes who were below average. Should it really matter which tribe the athletes come from as long as they are the best the country could find? If for instance we have 15 slots to fill on a football team, and out of all the interviewd candidates 12 Igbos (or Hausas or Yorubas) possess performance superior to every other person, one should think it makes more sense to choose those ones rather than to push in members of the other tribes who have no competing chance, not even within our own country. The educational sector and the principle, for instance, of catchment area scores. I wish I could laugh at this policy's silliness, but that it's a very sad phenomenon. That smarter candidates are turned away from an institution just because they are from different states: Then we go ahead and lower the pass mark for the indigenes of our own states. The sad thing is, that poor boy from another state who probably gave his best to writing the exam, is turned away empty-handed. And if such individual has no such institution in his own state, he though being a Nigerian becomes an education-destitute in his own country. But then you'd ask, shouldn't the state be able to actively enhance the education of its indigenes? By all means, it must. But then should it be by lowering the standard and thus prematuredly aborting the surviving notion of merit? Certainly not. Lowering the pass mark (catchment score it is called) for the state is analogous to Britain deciding its own sprinters would only need to run half track to qualify for a medal. But instead of adopting the Nigerian model, it spent billions of pounds in training its citizens so they had more chance of qualifying without having to selectively beat down the pass mark for the Britons. Any serious state interested in enhancing its indigenes education should be read invest in infrastructure acquisition and students' training especially at the the primary and secondary school levels. If a state invests in hiring exceptional teachers and in equipping the education at these indicated levels, it can then be expected that its indigines will have no problem meeting a unified entry qualification into the higher institutions. In addition, the state can also (and should) give worthy scholarships to exceptional and hardworking indigenous students, which should directly stimulate and motivate their interest in knowledge education. To round this paragraph off, I must say University of llorin is about the worst in terms of ambushing university education (a Federal university at that) for its own indigenes. Perhaps there are other universities like this within the country, and one only needs to interview more students to find this out.

It was my first time in Europe, London to be precise, and I had gone to check this apartment that was advertised in the Loot weekly. At that time I was still living with a relation, and I was quite happy that the advertised apartment was no more than 100m from where I was staying. So, I walked up to the indicated address, rang the doorbell and waited for a response. After a few seconds the door opened and a male Caucasian appeared. I'm never going to forget the look on his face after he discovered that an African had come to rent the room. He didn't beat about the bush in informing the room had been taken the next day I had called as agreed. Well I had expected something like this from my encounter with him the previous day. I never quite realised I was Black until that particular evening. Being a first experience I wasn't sure whether to be angry, sad, indifferent or simply laugh it off. I could have gone ahead to brand the whole White race as racists, but then I would have to account for the countless kindness and friendship I had met in many Caucasians that I have come across. A similar incident occurred about two years ago in Germany, when I had gone to (again) look up an apartment for rent. I had this time gone with my colleague and friend, an Indian, and the German owner bluntly stated she could not rent the apartment to foreigners. I live in Europe, and issues like these boardering on racism are not far-fetched. And expectedly, I had received calls from friends in Nigeria wanting to know how I had coped with such. And in my quiet moments of reflection I have found it outrightly dishonest to put forth life within the Nigerian boarders as devoid of similar attitudes from fellow Nigerians. That is, being Nigerian and living within Nigeria is likely to expose you to similar treatment from other human beings who generally consider you as less deserving of certain considerations for no other reason than you belong to a different tribe. Or a different religion. I considered our national politics, where the Northerners famously claimed power belonged to them. Or should one now consider the Igbos and the Yorubas who, among others, would in many cases not give out their children to marry members of the other tribes? This might appear trivial, but then it's in context: during my undergraduate education at Ife an Igbo boy had blantantly refused to sell an extra bedspace of his to a non-Igbo student. A Yoruba person close to me had also jokingly raised an objection to my having an Igbo female friend. How about cases where only individuals from particular families are allowed to monopolise certain political offices? We find the same pattern in corporate bodies, in sport, in education, in health,... in fact, in the entire social structure we've come to know as Nigeria. What right do I have then to blame a Caucasian, an Indian, or a Chinese for discriminating against me for being African? And historically speaking, what right do we have as a nation for speaking and standing against apartheid of South Africa? In my opinion I think we've spent so long discriminating against fellow Nigerians on the basis of tribe and religion that this pervertion has come to be viewed as normal in the Nigerian context. The picture becomes more deplorable when we consider that this tribalistic tendencies are daily being fuelled by the parents, and other respected members of our societies. How many Nigerians can confidently say their parents and persons close to them have never made malicious comments about members of the other tribes? And when they do this, do we not join in in laughing against the Hausas, Yorubas,and Igbos, as the case maybe?

Human Government and God's Government prt 2.
At this point we should also note that God requires His children to remain submissive to government leaders. That is, they are to remain submissive up to the point where it would lead to a separation from the "light of life" found in God's kingdom. We have a duty to obey the laws of the land wherever God has placed us. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matt. 22: 21) We also need to come to grips with the fact that God places some of His children in lands that have governments that are quite different than the democracy found in America. And if our form of Christianity only fits in America, it is not real Christianity. The teachings of Christ fit in with every government, even if they are as wrong as the Roman government in the time of Christ or the Japanese government of World War Two. Of course, while we remain submissive, we never attach our loyalty to these corrupt human governments. Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Rom. 13: 1-2) Some Christians can expect to be placed under governments that are much more corrupt than others. But it is irrelevant. As we live as pilgrims and strangers in this world, we can still show forth the glory of God wherever we live. If we are placed within a country that is very corrupt, there is still a need to show forth the light of God and draw poor lost sinners into His eternal Kingdom-life before it is too late. In fact, the more severe the circumstances and the greater the persecution, the more clearly Christ's eternal Kingdom-life can be revealed in our daily walk. It was after the Centurion had witnessed all that Christ went through on His way to the cross that this member of the Roman government began to recognize the light of eternal life in Him. Similarly, the first century church was most effective in the work of spreading the true gospel of the kingdom of God when persecution was the greatest. While submitting to the laws of this world, let us also remember that we cannot "serve" two masters. (Matt. 6: 24) Jesus was very specific about this truth. There are only two basic systems of government. Since the governments of this world are in basic conflict with life in the kingdom of God, Christ will soon destroy them. We therefore need to choose today which one we will serve. Since God expects to receive "all" glory, we must avoid becoming involved in an idolatrous worship of human governments. Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight… But now My kingdom is not from here. (John 18: 36) And in the days of these kings {these human governments} the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms , and it shall stand forever. (Dan. 2: 44) Christ comes to "break in pieces and consume" every other loyalty when He truly establishes His undivided kingdom within the heart. God becomes "all in all" wherever He reigns without rival. This is the true "heart purity" that makes it possible to consistently know the conscious presence of Christ's Kingdom-life within the soul. "Blessed are the pure in heart {who have allowed Christ to "break in pieces and consume" every other loyalty}, for they shall see God {as an inner revelation of holy love}." (Matt. 5: Most Christians have not yet come to personally "know" this inward kingdom of God within the heart. That is why they still become so emotionally excited over human governments. We can even find them exalting these governments in the very worship services that should be exclusively devoted to God, who is the "All in All." Much to God's displeasure, His called-out people have always had a desire to have some other king over them. He has granted their requests because there is a need for some form of government to control their self-willed and their self-originated way of life. But we are now living in the age of fulfillment when we need to permit Him to establish His undivided kingdom within our heart, before it is too late. His reigning Presence will make the heart pure. And true "heart purity" does away with all other loyalties. We are not implying that it would be disloyal to Christ to have employment within a human government, or to even make use of these human governments. We are to live and work in the world, and we are to honor the employers and the governments that have authority over us. Again, we are expected to pray for these leaders and be submissive to their laws, even when they are evil. What we need to realize is that we are ambassadors of Christ in a foreign land. While we must honor the laws of the land, our one true citizenship is in the eternal kingdom of God. Our only purpose for remaining here is to represent Christ and to turn individual souls from the kingdoms of this world to His eternal kingdom, before their souls are lost forever . It is because these governments are functioning "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air" that they will eventually need to be destroyed. (Eph. 2: 2) While they have been appointed by God as a means to restrain the worst outbreaks of human selfishness, they still remain under the sway of the devil. Let us therefore choose to die to the world and find our life from Christ alone. We know that we are of God {because we have overcome this world}, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (1 John 5: 19) Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ {because they refuse to die to the world and its self-originated form of life}…who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven … (Phil. 3: 17-20) If then you were raised with Christ {and you have changed your citizenship}, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, at the right hand of God {on His throne in His heavenly Kingdom}. Set your mind on things above {where Christ reigns}, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col. 3: 1-3) Where is your citizenship? Worldly governments are for the spiritually dead. That is why we need to overcome the world and find the eternal Kingdom-life before leaving this world. The spiritually dead, who still have their loyalty to the governments of a foreign world, cannot enter into the eternal kingdom of God. Christ's governmental system is far above the systems of this world. In fact, it is so strange to earthly thought processes that no one could understand what Jesus was speaking about when He first came to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Even His first disciples remained confused during their three years of intensive instruction. We also find them still confused after His resurrection and an additional forty days of instruction, with the Spirit dwelling within them. (John 20: 21-22; Acts 1: 3, 6) It was not until He had established His Kingdom-life within their hearts that they could begin to understand what it was all about. And it is for this same reason that people of the world will not fully understand us when we begin telling them about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. …Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him {since we have our citizenship in another world}… And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3: 1, 3) All human governments naturally create division. It is not possible for all Christians to be "perfect in one" while loyalties to human governments exist within their heart. (John 17: 22-23) The people of every country will have their differing opinions about who has the best government. These various opinions and earthly loyalties naturally lead to "envy, strife and divisions." And because it results in "partiality," it also results in a breaking of the fundamental laws of the kingdom of God. (Jam. 2: 9-10) It reveals how the people are still living like "mere men" under the power of a carnal nature. (1 Cor. 3:3) "For there is no partiality with God." (Rom. 2: 11) We will acknowledge that Christ Himself has come to cause a division between light and darkness. He intends to separate people from this world system and to draw them into His eternal kingdom where everyone becomes perfect in one. But He cannot do this while people remain attached to the ways of this world. Nothing reveals this carnality more than patriotism. If a member of another government finds himself in the middle of a lustful call to patriotism, which is a gross display of "partiality," he will inevitably sense that he is no longer "one" with the group--even if it takes place in a church setting! May God help everyone to see how feeding the psuche life on the evil food of partiality strengthens the "pride of life." The God-given truth that has been incorporated into laws will never pass away. However, the way of living by law, including the Old Testament governmental system, must pass away before it is possible to find the heavenly life that makes everyone "perfect in one." The presence of this Kingdom-life within our eternal soul is our only hope for revealing the true glory of God, and proving to the world that Christ is the only true Savior . For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect… (Heb. 7: 18-19) And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one {sharing in the same Kingdom-life of holy love}, and that the world may know that You have sent Me {as the true Messiah, who has the power to set people free from the world--with all of its self-sufficient ways, the flesh--with all of its opinions, and the devil--with all his lies}… (John 17: 22-23)
Taken from Steve Bray's e-book The Inadequacy of Law

Human Governments and God's Government by Steve Bray (1950-2003) The fallen world needs a system of laws to maintain some degree of order. People who still live by their own will need something to restrain their selfish nature. God has therefore provided law, along with human governments, to restrain the evil that naturally rises out of people who live for themselves. "Knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person {those who walk by the Spirit in holy love}, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners." (1 Tim 1: 9) In other words, the law is needed to restrain people who are still living by the flesh. Written laws are needed until Christ is able to establish His heavenly Kingdom-life of perfect love within the heart. Once the heart has become "one" with God in His life of love, there is a new divine nature that naturally fulfills His spiritual and moral laws. (Rom. 13: 10) The anointing with the Holy Spirit teaches the believer everything he needs to know to remain in an abiding relationship with Christ's heavenly life. (1 John 2: 27) It is the Presence of Christ that actually produces the new life of "true righteousness and holiness." (Eph. 4: 24) " But if you are led by the Spirit {and living under His anointing}, you are not under law. " (Gal. 5: 18) "He will guide you into all truth." (John 16: 13) "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. " Eph. 5:9) God will one day do away with the human governments that He has used to maintain order in a carnal world. These human means are incapable of producing the perfect order that is required in God's heavenly kingdom. The only governmental system that can produce perfect order is Christ's Kingdom-life, which needs to be established within the heart. (John 17: 22-23) Once He is reigning without rival on His throne within the heart, His "rivers" of heavenly life flow from under the throne and well up into a constant supply of "righteousness {perfect love} and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Rev. 22: 1) Many Christians, because they are still living by law, have a natural tendency to place their hope in human governments. They assume that better laws will make sinners into better people. And while these laws can be used to help restrain some forms of sin, these efforts do not change the inner nature of man. Turning people away from certain sinful actions, and even leading them to live by high moral standards, does not produce the eternal Kingdom-life within the heart. It actually misleads them into thinking they are righteous. And yet, because they are not walking by the Spirit, they remain "sinners" on their way to hell. (Rom. 8: 13-14) As we have said, even if there is a tendency to still show partiality, it reveals a fallen nature that will continue to break the foundational laws of the kingdom of God. (Jam. 2: 8-10) Full salvation entails changing the inward nature. Because the people of the world are spiritually dead, and laws themselves are unable to change their inner nature, Jesus specifically sent His disciples into the world to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. Only when His Kingdom-life has been fully established within the heart can a person live as God truly requires. …Jesus came…preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand…" (Mark 1: 14-15) The law and the prophets {the means for constraining sin by written laws} were until John {the Baptist}. Since that time {since the end of the Old Testament dispensation} the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. (Luke 16: 16) . . . Let the dead {those who follow the systems of this world} bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God . (Luke 9: 60) . . . There arises another Priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life… For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect {in holy love}… (Heb. 7: 15-16, 18-19) Therefore you shall be perfect {in holy love}, just as your Father is perfect. (Matt. 5: 48) And the glory {the life of perfect love} which You {the Father} gave Me {the Son} I have given them, that they may be one {living as one in the Kingdom-life of holy love} just as We are one {in life and nature}: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one…that the love with which You loved me {perfect love} may be in them, and I in them. (John 17: 22-23, 26) Even the American government, which did incorporate some godly principles within its constitution, is totally incapable of spreading the true kingdom of God. Even if it had adopted every moral law of the Old Testament, it would still need to be destroyed when Christ comes to establish His kingdom in the world. Its foundation, and the resulting structure, has been wrong from the very beginning. There are also religions, such as the Muslim religion, which have incorporated laws from God's word. But because they are also mixed with other beliefs that are in conflict with God's perfect law of love, they remain in conflict with God. Even the best system of laws cannot produce the way of life in God's kingdom. While there is nothing wrong with the godly laws these various systems incorporate to correct human behavior, they do not result in a manifestation of Christ's eternal Kingdom-life. The American government has never emphasized the "gospel of the kingdom of God." It knows nothing of the righteousness that comes from God by faith. Instead of teaching people to deny themselves and to lose their psuche life so they may find Christ's zoe life in the heavenly realms, it encourages people to pursue happiness by developing a worldly form of life. It is therefore in direct conflict with God's truth. It also promotes universalism by giving approval to many different religions. Jesus clearly spoke of being the only way into eternal life with the Father. But the American government has never insisted that Christ is the only way. Like the government that Paul confronted in Athens, the American government has legalized the worship of many different gods.

God gave Moses a song that would be sung in witness against
Israel when they finally would disobey God and reject Him.
Deuteronomy 31:30-32 And Moses spake in the ears of all
the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they
were ended. Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and
hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall
drop as the rain , my speech shall distil as the dew , as the
small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon
the grass:



32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou
art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with
fatness ; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly
esteemed the Rock of his salvation .
This was foretelling the rejection of Jesus Christ!
In the latter days.
In that evil generation.
Deuteronomy 32:19-20 And when the LORD saw it , he abhorred
them , because of the provoking of his sons, and of his
daughters. And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see
what their end shall be : for they are a very froward generation,
children in whom is no faith.
This is the same thought as is "untoward generation," spoken by
Peter.
Notice the stress upon the lack of faith.
The New Testament is completely about faith.
Deuteronomy 32:21 They have moved me to jealousy with that
which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their
vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are
not a people ; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Paul proves to us that this is speaking about the days of the
Church, and not far off in our future, when he quotes these words
and says they are already fulfilled.
Romans 11:11-14 I say then, Have they stumbled that they
should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall
salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to
jealousy . Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world,
and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how
much more their fulness? For I speak to you Gentiles,
inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify
mine office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation
them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Paul is showing us that all of Deuteronomy is fulfilled.
The blessings that were promised are spiritual blessings of the
rain of doctrine and Spirit.
The curses would come upon Israel because they rejected
Christ.
Deuteronomy 32:28-29 For they are a nation void of counsel,
neither is there any understanding in them . O that they were
wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their
latter end !
Paul also referred to this state of ignorance in Israel.
Romans 10:2-3 For I bear them record that they have a zeal
of God, but not according to knowledge . For they being
ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted
themselves unto the righteousness of God .
Notice that all the references in these words under Law are referred
to in the New Testament.
What is the knowledge that God is concerned with?
Isaiah 28:9-12 Whom shall he teach knowledge ? and whom
shall he make to understand doctrine ? them that are
weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For
precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line
upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For
with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to
this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye
may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet
they would not hear.
This speaks of the Holy Ghost!
Deuteronomy 30:1-3 And it shall come to pass, when all
these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the
curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them
to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God
hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD thy God,
and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command
thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and
with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy
captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return
and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy
God hath scattered thee .
So many propose that this is still yet in our future.
They say that Israel is destined to return to their land in
Palestine.
Everyone is watching the Middle East.
But if we keep reading, we find it was already fulfilled.
It all points to Jesus.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 For this commandment which I
command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it
far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall
go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it,
and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say,
Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we
may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in
thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it .
What is this particular commandment that would accomplish all of
this?
It would bring the blessings and the rain.
Paul refers to this very scripture as being fulfilled!
Romans 10:6-8 But the righteousness which is of faith
speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend
into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above Or, Who
shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again
from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even
in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which
we preach ;
Paul said that the commandment, or the word which Moses referred
to, was the word of faith that the Apostles preached!
This means that the commandment that God required them to
obey that He might bless the people with rain and return them
from captivity to gather them into the land of Promise!
And people have been putting this ahead into our future!
Let us look to see what the Promised Land really is, according to
this and other scriptures.
Isaiah 49:1-3 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye
people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb;
from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my
name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword ; in
the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a
polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; And said unto
me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be
glorified .
Who is this child who was called Israel?
Isaiah 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou
shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob , and
to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a
light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto
the end of the earth .
He is the light to the gentiles!
He is salvation to the ends of the earth.
Acts 13:46-47 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said,
It was necessary that the word of God should first have been
spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge
yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the
Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying , I have
set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for
salvation unto the ends of the earth .
Paul said that this was fulfilled in the preaching of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 49:8-9 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time
have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped
thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant
of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the
desolate heritages; That thou mayest say to the prisoners,
Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves.
They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in
all high places.
Paul put this in his day as being fulfilled also.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with him,
beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain . (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted,
and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold,
now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation. )
The Apostles say this referred to their day.
And it referred to the Lord being "Israel".
Let us return to Isaiah 49.
Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the
heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall
lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them .
Revelation refers to those days in symbolic speech as follows.
Revelation 7:15-17 Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth
on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no
more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on
them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living
fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes .
Back to Isaiah.
Isaiah 49:18-22 Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold:
all these gather themselves together, and come to thee . As
I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with
them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a
bride doeth. For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the
land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by
reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up
shall be far away. The children which thou shalt have, after
thou hast lost the other , shall say again in thine ears, The
place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me
these, seeing I have lost my children , and am desolate, a
captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up
these ? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they
been ? Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine
hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people:
and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy
daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
Notice we read that the people would gather to Jesus!
In these scriptures we see reference to the Gentiles coming in
after the Jews rejected Him
Jesus is the Promised Land!
The Middle East holds no place in God's plans for the future.
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a
lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him
shall the gathering of the people be.
God will not gather nor has gathered Israel to the Middle East.
He only said the He would do so if they hearkened to His word.
And the Jews in Palestine have not hearkened to God's Word.
Jesus is the Promised Land!
All the promises about a regathering to a land continue to read
about New Testament details.
John 12:32-33 And I , if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw
all men unto me . This he said, signifying what death he should
die.
It all points back to Christ and the cross.


http://mikeblume.com/feb1101p.htm

Jesus is the Promised Land
Exodus 3:1-4 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush : and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire , and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside , and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush , and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. Revelation 1:10-13 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice , as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks ; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. Exodus 19:16-18 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly . Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices : and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount , and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither , and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. Israel was bound in the slavery of Egypt when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush. The churches were suffering persecution when John saw a vision of Jesus in the burning candlesticks shaped like a tree. God wanted to take Israel into the Promised Land to be free of bondage. We are going to show you tonight that the Word of God teaches that the true Promised land is Jesus Christ. When we study the Finished Work of the Cross, there is something that begins to manifest very clearly in the Bible. The work is completed and God will do nothing else in this world besides that which He did to initiate the New Testament. Many are speaking about natural Israel returning to the Promised Land in the Middle East. I am going to show you that Jesus is the only Promised Land into which God will lead anybody! Let us go back to the Promises of God given to Moses while they were on their way into the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 11:13-14 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. Above we see God promising Moses that in the land of Promise He would send rain in due season as a blessing if the people heed His word. They would be blessed with corn and wine and oil. They would receive the early and the latter rain. Look at what we read about these things in Joel. Joel 2:19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil , and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: It sounds a lot like the words to Moses. But as we continue to read, notice the language used. Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month . Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. This begins to sound a whole lot like New Testament talk! In fact, Peter said this was fulfilled in his day! Acts 2:16-18 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: This was fulfilled when the 120 in the upper room were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues! Peter was inspired by the Holy Ghost and said that Joel's prophecy was fulfilled in the day of Acts 2! The early and the latter rain is the Spirit of God poured out like rain in the upper room. Back to Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 11:15-17 And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you. These were blessings that would be experienced in the Promised Land. The grass would grow bountifully due to the rain. We already saw that the true rain is the downpour of the Holy Spirit. These words were contained in the books of Law. And Law pointed ahead to the time of Jesus. Jesus said, "Moses wrote of me." When Jesus came, the people who were meant to accept Him were to leave Law and continue onward with Him. Law was a schoolmaster to bring the Jews to Christ. And once they had Christ they would be no longer beneath a schoolmaster. Galatians 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. I declare to you today that the Church has the blessings that were foretold in Deuteronomy. We accepted Jesus. And many of the Jews in Christ's day rejected Him. These blessings are spiritual in nature. 1Corinthians 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The true rain that God wanted to give is the Spirit. Deuteronomy 31:28-29 Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves , and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days ; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. Moses was told that Israel would indeed reject God's word. This would occur in the "latter days." And God said that judgment would fall. Peter said that Joel's reference to the "last days" was speaking about that day in Acts 2. Acts 2:16-17 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days , Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds ; Hebrews also called those early church days "these last days." As God told Moses, Jesus came and they rejected His words. The days when Israel rejected Christ were "the last days" in the writings of the Apostles.

OLAADEGBU:
Why is following Christ so difficult? Why are there so many obstacles to following Christ? Why do we often find following Jesus to be hard? Isn't the Gospel supposed to be simple?

The Gospel is never simple brother. Following Christ according to the Gospel requires daily carrying your cross and dying daily to sin.
It requires overcoming self. It takes one to suffer with Christ. It takes working out one's salvation and overcoming temptation everyday.

laurenziz6:
Nice write up But e too long na

if It's edifying, Then It's worth it.

The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant was central in crossing the river.
Firstly, let us make some general remarks about the Ark of the Covenant. The word ark (of covenant) is related to a
Hebrew word which is a common name for a coffin or chest (Genesis 50:26; 2 Kings 12:9-10 ). However the addition to
the word ark is the following: “ark of God” ( 1 Samuel 3:3 ), “ark of the covenant” (Joshua 3:6; Hebrews 9:4 ), “ark of
testimony” ( Exodus 25:22 ), and the “ark” in connection with “glory” ( 1 Samuel 4:21, 22 ).
The ark was made of acacia or shittim wood and covered with the purest gold. Note that in Joshua 3:1 the nation set out
from Shittim, which is also called “Abel-Shittim” (Numbers 33:49 ). It was the same places from which Joshua sent two
spies secretly to view the land (Joshua 2:1 ). To enter the land, is first to study and spy the land.
The upper surface or lid of the ark, the mercy-seat, was surrounded with a rim of gold, and on each of the two sides were
two gold rings, in which were placed two gold-covered poles by which the ark could be carried (Numbers 7:9; 10:21;
4:5, 19-20; 1 Kings 8:3,6 ). At each end, there were two cherubim over the ark, with their faces turned toward each other
( Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 7:89 ). Their outspread wings over the top of the ark formed the throne of God, while the ark
itself was his footstool (Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9 ). The ark was deposited in the “holy of holies”, and was placed so
that one end of the carrying poles touched the veil that separated the two sections of the tabernacle ( 1 Kings 8:8 ).
Stored in the ark were the ten commandments on two tablets of stone, which were the testimony or evidence of God’s
covenant with the people ( Deuteronomy 31:26 ), the pot of “manna” (Exodus 16:33 ), and Aaron’s rod that budded
( Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 9:4 ).
After Israel settled in the land, the ark remained in the tabernacle at Gilgal for a while. It was then moved to Shiloh till
the time of Eli, between 300 and 400 years ( Jeremiah 7:12 ), when it was carried into the field of battle in an attempt to
guarantee victory. However, it was taken by the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 4:3-11 ), who returned it after seven months when
they realized it was bringing a curse on them (1 Samuel 5:7-8 ). The ark then remained at Kirjath-jearim (7:1-2 ) until the
time of David (twenty years), who wished to move it to Jerusalem; but because they did not move it in the proper way,
Uzzah was killed for putting “forth his hand to the ark of God.” Therefore, the ark was left in the house of Obed-Edom in
Gath-Rimmon for three months (2 Samuel 6:1-11 ), after which David moved it in a grand procession to Jerusalem,
where it was kept till a place was prepared for it (chaps. 12-19 ).
Solomon later deposited the ark in the great temple he built (1 Kings 8:6-9 ). When the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem
and plundered the temple, the ark disappeared. Some believe it was taken away by Nebuchadnezzar and was destroyed
at some point. No definite later trace of it has ever been found.
In crossing the Jordan, the ark went ahead with 2,000 cubits of spaces between the it and the crowd. The number 2,000
in general refers in Scripture to something sufficient, in this case a sufficient and safe distance (cp. Joshua 7:3; 1
Samuel 13:2; 2 Kings 18:23 ).
The ark represented both the presence, nature, and purpose of the Lord . And because all purposes of God are bound up
with/in Christ, the Ark of the Covenant is also a type of Christ Himself. In realizing the salvation of the soul, we receive
participation in the presence, nature, and purpose of the Lord. To be a co-heir with Christ is to participate in Christ and
His millennial reign. It is to participate in the nature of the Lord, which can be seen in the budded rod of the Aaron. This
rod speaks of resurrection life.
Twelve stones were taken to the Promised Land, and twelve stones were laid in the middle of the Jordan. Before the
judgment seat the overcomer will hear: “Well done, good and faithful slave ”, which will be a powerful motivation in our
present spiritual walk and a remembrance to the overcomers during the whole of the millennium. The non-overcomers
will also have a remembrance: the “ weeping and gnashing of teeth .” To have, during the millennium, a greater part in the
presence, the nature, and the purpose of God in connection with the glory of God is the essence of the salvation of the
soul.
The aim of this study is to lay a foundation for one to see that the Jordan is a type of the saving of the soul through the
subjective application of the cross. This type should become just as familiar to us as the Red Sea is a type of baptism.
A closer look should be taken at the three items in the Ark of the Covenant. Stored in the ark were the ten
commandments on two tablets of stone, which were the testimony or evidence of God’s covenant with the people
( Deuteronomy 31:26 ), the pot of “manna” (Exodus 16:33 ), and Aaron’s rod that budded (Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 9:4 ).
The Two Tablets of Stone
The two tablets of stone set forth God’s mind and His will for us. Dispensationally the Christian has nothing to do with
the Law of Moses. Yet as a type, 2 Corinthians 3:3 shows us that we are letters of Christ, written not with ink but with
the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of our human hearts. The context of the whole chapter
has to do with the metamorphosis from a carnal to a Spirit-led state, which takes place in the Christian’s life upon his
digestion of the “meat” of God’s Word.
The Budded Rod of Aaron
The budded rod points to resurrection, to the power of His resurrection. In Philippians 3:10,11 we read:
“ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His
death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. ”
A fellowship of the sufferings of Christ, a crucified life, which makes room for the life of Christ and the power of His
resurrection, through which we come to know Him, is the whole process of our spiritual growth, which will ultimately
lead to the out-resurrection from the dead. And that’s exactly what the type in Joshua 3 and 4 teaches.
The Pot of Manna
The manna points to the heavenly provision in our Christian life. The manna deals with the matter of food for the
Christian. In John 6:53-56 the Lord taught that we abide in Christ by eating His flesh and drinking His blood:
“So Jesus said to them , ‘ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you
have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last
day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I
in him’.”
What does it mean to eat His flesh and to drink His blood? That’s also what the Jews argued about: “How can this man
give us His flesh to eat? ” (vs. 52 ). Of course we cannot literally eat His flesh and drink His blood. The answer is to be
found in 1 Corinthians 1:30 where Christ became everything to us, not pieces and without permanent satisfaction as with
the feeding of the 5,000. Christ is everything to us; He is the great “I am”:
· I am the bread of life ( John 6:35, 48 ).
· I am the light of the world (John 8:12 ).
· I am the door of the sheep ( John 10:7 ).
· I am the good Shepherd (John 10:10 ).
· I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25 ).
· I am the way, de truth and the life ( John 14:6 ).
· I am the true vine (John 15:1, 5 ).
Taking all these three items together: 1) spiritual food, 2) the metamorphosis, and 3) the power of Christ’s resurrection;
we see that the “salvation of the soul” (its realization) deals with these three issues. The power of Christ’s resurrection
emanates from the application of the cross from day to day. The natural life will then be set aside and Christ, our
spiritual food, will become our life.
This will effect the metamorphosis in our lives. We cannot say that the mere study of Scripture will effect the
metamorphosis. This will only occur in connection with the application of the cross in our lives, simply because the
Spirit of God always works on basis of the cross. The cross leads to the Spirit and the Spirit leads to the cross. That is
the typical meaning of the Jordan.
What is the salvation of the soul? It is nothing less than reaching the end or outcome of our faith ( 1 Peter 1:9 ), which
means to receive an inheritance reserved for us in heaven (1 Peter 1:5 ). It means to be part of the bride of Christ. This
bride will be in an intimate relationship with the Bridegroom and will have part in His work through eternity. This is
really a gospel to the believer. Nothing can be compared to this, and there is nothing in this world that can be viewed as
worthy of competing with this. We should never separate the salvation of the soul from a deep passion to our Lord.
Teachings surrounding the salvation of the soul can, if one is not watchful, easily become another doctrine in itself –
i.e., just another doctrine among many within one’s own thinking. But advance in the Christian life is far more than just
advance in doctrine. The most attractive Christian is one who is strong in the knowledge of the Scriptures and who is
rich in resurrection life with our Lord. The fullness that springs up from our inheritance has to do with the very purpose
of our existence: the exaltation of the Son of God to the throne. This is our vocation and it involves our deep, personal
relationship with our Lord, borne out of His deep dealings and involvement with us.
Therefore, the Christian life is above all a personal relationship with the Lord. But this personal relationship will ever
show the insurmountable difference between the Lord and us. He is so different, so spiritual, that we always can be in
despair to know Him fully. In fact, we will need eternity to come into a complete and full practical knowledge of Him.
The salvation of the soul requires the living of a crucified life (our present salvation) in order to share in Christ’s coming
glory during the coming Messianic kingdom of a thousand years (our future salvation). To be in a position to rule and
reign with our Lord then, there has to be a present training in which we move from the natural to the spiritual through
the subjective work of the cross of Christ. The whole matter of the salvation of the soul, which emanates from living a
crucified life, involves our present salvation in view of our future salvation. The Jordan River is a type of it. Our heavenly
food (the written Word and Living Word), the power of Christ’s resurrection, and the metamorphosis, can be summarized
as the antitype of the Jordan River.







bibleone.net/print_tbs138.html

In the Old Testament, beginning with Genesis chapter one , God has set forth numerous word pictures to teach about the
person and work of Christ — past, present, and future.
A foundational type is laid down in the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt and their subsequent journey to the
promised land of their inheritance. This type is nearly inexhaustible in its teaching concerning both Israel and
Christians. This type covers the whole journey from Egypt to Canaan, as it also describes the future redemption of the
nation of Israel. But the type is also applicable to the Christian. The events in Egypt describe the aspects surrounding
our eternal salvation, through the death and shed blood of an innocent other. The Red Sea points to baptism all in view
of a promised heavenly land.
However, there is one significant event in this important type — namely, the typical meaning of the Jordan — which is
rarely accorded proper emphasis, though it is of great importance. Christians would greatly profit if they were as familiar
with the typical meaning of the Jordan as they are with the typical meaning of the Red Sea.
The Jordan as a type shows that the promised land could not be entered without crossing the Jordan:
“ For you are about to cross the Jordan to go in to possess the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall
possess it and live in it, ” (cf. Deuteronomy 11:31 ).
When you cross the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest
from all your enemies around you so that you live in security, ” (cf. Deuteronomy 12:10 ).
“ So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land that the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up
for yourself large stones and coat them with lime ” (cf. Deuteronomy 27:2 ).
The means of entering the Promised Land was by crossing the Jordan. Just as the Israelites couldn’t leave Egypt, except
by passing through the Red Sea, Scripture does not provide a way to enter the Promised Land apart from crossing the
Jordan. And what is true in the “type,” must also be true in the “antitype.” The Christian cannot enter the kingdom of the
heavens without crossing the “Jordan” in its true, correct typical meaning. And it is this typical meaning that we shall
deal with in this study.
First-mention of the “Jordan”
“ Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere — this was before the
LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah — like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot
chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other” (cf.
Genesis 13:10, 11 ).
Genesis 13:10, 11 provides a first-mention of the “Jordan” from the east. The text associates the Jordan and its valley
with fruitfulness. A distinction is also made between the east side, the west side, and their separation. This distinction
had to do with Lot – the man of flesh – and Abraham – the spiritual man. For one to enter the Promised Land he was to
cross the Jordan to the west side. But the Ruebenites, who lost their rights of the firstborn, had to stay, along with the
Gadites on the east side of the river.
The first-mention of the “Jordan” immediately shows its typical meaning. It has to do with matters of flesh and spirit.
For the Christian, the matters of the flesh and spirit have to do with what the New Testament calls the “salvation of the
soul” (cf . Matthew 16:25; John 12:25; James 1:21 ).
All of God’s dealings with Christians (allowing us to realize the salvation of our souls) will, typically, begin to occur only
after passing through the Red Sea, on the east side of Jordan. And only a continuing, on-going process having to do
with the saving of the
soul in one’s life, will allow us to cross the Jordan from the east to the west side of the river.
The Geography of the Jordan
The Jordan depression has unique geographical features. It runs its course from its multiple river sources from Mount
Hermon to Lake Huleh. From Lake Huleh to the Sea of Galilee is about 10 miles (16 kilometres), and the Sea of Galilee to
the Dead Sea is about 65 miles (105 kilometres). From its beginning in the north to its terminus at the Dead Sea, the
river drops tremendously – a drop of about 2,380 feet (393 meters). Due to its winding course, the river itself, actually
measures nearly 200 miles (325 kilometres), over twice its direct distance.
The name “Jordan” (Hebrews yarden יַרְדֵן ) aptly means “the descender”. The name is connected with the Hebrew verb
yarad ( יָרַד ) , which means “to come or go down”. The verb is very common in Hebrew, such as in Exodus 32:1 : “…when
Moses came down from mount Sinai ”. But in its typical meaning – dealing with matters of flesh and spirit – we see the
same word used:
“ And I have trodden down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my fury; and their blood have I brought
down to the earth ” (cf. Isaiah 63:6 ).
“ Therefore thus says the Lord God: An adversary! — even round about the land! And he shall bring down your strength
from you, and your palaces shall be pillaged” (Amos 3:11 ).
“ A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust” (Proverbs 21:22 ).
In all these three verses, we see that “bringing down” is associated with bringing down the strength of man. This is
illustrated even more through the names of two perennial streams on the east side of the Jordan: the Jabbok and the
Cherith, east of the Jordan. The Jabbok appears 7 times in the Old Testament (cf. Genesis 32:22; Numbers 21:24;
Deuteronomy 2:37; 3:16; Joshua 12:2; Judges 11:13, 22 ), and the Cherith two times (cf. 1 Kings 17:3, 5 ).
The word “Jabbok” means “emptying”. The word is derived from the Hebrew verb baqaq (בָּקַק ), which means “to empty”.
It refers to the fact that the Jabbok empties into the Jordan from the east.
The word “Cherith” means “cutting”. The word is derived from the Hebrew verb karat ( כָּרַת ), which means “to cut off, to
cut down”.
When we link these meanings, the Jordan, the “Descender”, bringing down one’s strength, in connection with
“emptying” and “cutting”, we can see very clearly that experiences surrounding the crossing of the Jordan are
specifically typical, with a view of one day realizing, the salvation of the soul.
First-mention of the “Jabbok”
The Jabbok is first mentioned in Genesis 32:22 :
“ Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford
of the Jabbok . ”
Genesis 32:22-32 deals with the wrestling of Jacob with the Lord. The natural strength of Jacob was broken, and Jacob
was renamed Israel. Again we see that the Jordan of its perennial streams point to the breaking, the emptying and the
cutting down of the natural man, which has everything to do with the salvation of the soul.
First-mention of the Brook “Cherith”
The Cherith is first mentioned in 1 Kings 17:3 :
“ Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith , which is east of the Jordan ”
The context of this verses deals with Elijah, also in connection with an “emptying” and a “cutting”.
The Red Sea and the Jordan as Types
It is very important to see that there is a difference in typical meaning between the Red Sea and the Jordan. Both types
commonly share the fact that they are two sides of one cross. Both symbolize the spiritual death and resurrection of the
believer, but the Jordan carries it into another realm. It is of the utmost importance to understand this distinction.
The Red Sea points to the substitutionary death and the positional identification of the believer in Christ’s death and
resurrection. The wilderness is the revelation of the need for the Jordan, the experiential identification with Christ in His
death and resurrection.
The Jordan points to the practical application of deliverance from the self-life. When the Israelites crossed the Jordan,
they left a monument of twelve stones, typifying the Israelites themselves, buried in the bed of the river, indicating the
practical ending of the self-life. And then another memorial of twelve stones was taken from the bed of the river and
placed on the shore of Canaan, typifying, not only the newness of life through resurrection, but also to an everlasting and
practical separation by burial.
Newness of life is always received in resurrection, which is typified by the Israelites rising from the Red Sea. But there is
a sense in which Israel, even when they were out of Egypt, were not out. They constantly longed to go back to Egypt;
Egypt was in their hearts. Not until they passed through the Jordan, were they really out of Egypt. The Jordan typifies the
cross that dealt with the Israelites in an inward way. The Red Sea represented what God did for the Israelites, while the
Jordan was a type of a work consummated in them. When a Christian comes to knowledge of the Word of the Kingdom
and starts to apply this knowledge, he in fact has crossed the Jordan. This type of Christian has decided to loose his
soul in order to save it, which means nothing less than the decision to apply the cross in a subjective way. This also
shows that the Word of the Cross is a part of the Word of the Kingdom.
After we have come to the blessings of the substitutionary work of Christ, sooner or later we will learn how wide the gap
is between the old creation and the new creation, between the natural life and the spiritual life. At the Jordan the Lord
Jesus was baptized, which signifies that He didn’t start His ministry out of Himself, but out of the Father.
And what happened then? The heavens opened and the Spirit descended. Everything was by the Spirit. The Lord Jesus
stepped into His public ministry after (only subsequent to) the Jordan, where He accepted the cross as the basis of His
ministry.
The first issue in His public ministry was the temptation of the devil in the wilderness, just as the first issue of the
Israelites after applying the cross was a confrontation with the inhabitants of the Promised Land. A person’s personal
spiritual conflict is in exact proportion to his apprehension of the cross.
The secret of our Lord’s walk lies in the fact that in the Jordan He had entered the real meaning of the cross, and was
able to say, “Not My will ” ( Luke 22:42 ). Everything personal was set aside. This is the way of our Lord, and this is the
way for us as His servants. It is of the utmost importance to see that the Jordan is not a repeated and extended type of
the Red Sea. The difference between the Red Sea and the Jordan as types is as vast as the difference between the
objective side and the subjective side of the cross.
It is also important to see that the second generation of Jews who enter the promised land were already looked upon as
being delivered from Egypt: “ for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from
the house of bondage, and who did these great signs in our sight and preserved us through all the way in which we went
and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed ” (Joshua 24:17 ).
Joshua 24:17 is interesting, because it shows that not only the Lord looked upon the first generation as delivered from
Egypt, but also the second generation. So there is really no need to look upon the Jordan as a renewed Red Sea because
this second generation didn’t cross the water of the Red Sea personally. The Red Sea is the Red Sea and the Jordan is
the Jordan. So there is really no problem in seeing the second generation as having gone all the way, in type, as the first
generation (deliverance from slavery, the Paschal Lamb, the journey through the wilderness up to Kadesh-Barnea). All
through the Old Testament Israel — all its generations — is seen as delivered from Egypt (cp. Micah 6:4 ).
The logical conclusion would be that the first generation could never have entered the land except by crossing the
Jordan. Likewise, a Christian cannot enter the Promised Land solely on basis of the objective death of Christ. Even
though the first generation had received the Law and had the Tabernacle, this never guarantied the entrance into the
Promised Land. There is only one thing that will ever link us to our inheritance and that’s the personal and collective
application of the cross. There is no other way.
If the first generation was to ever enter the land, they had to pass the Jordan, in spite of the fact that they had already
passed through the Red Sea. The objective never guaranties the subjective. The first generation didn’t enter the land
because it refused to apply the cross in a subjective and practical way. The first generation under Moses was not in a
position to enter the land at Kadesh-Barnea, because they had not accepted the cross as the Lord had accepted the
cross at the Jordan. Hence the Lord didn’t allow the Israelites to cross the Jordan.
The second generation – seen by the Lord as having crossed the Red Sea – are looked upon as being in a position
willing to apply the cross. They entered the land, not because they had the tabernacle in an objective way, but because
they were willing to apply the typical meaning of the Ark of the Covenant in a personal way. In the wilderness the pattern
of the tabernacle was given. In the land the pattern is worked out subjectively. In the wilderness Christ is set before us
as the pattern and the basis of life.
Once we have crossed the Jordan and have entered the land, an immense change takes place. The pattern is replaced
by the reality and the subjective ads to the objective. Before we cross the Jordan we may emphasize teaching and
understanding of Scripture, though it may all be in an objective way. But once we cross the Jordan it will dawn upon us
that the reality of all Bible teaching is to become the embodiment of the Scriptures.
That will change our attitude to the Scriptures for ever. It will also be a change from the earthly to the heavenly. The
heavenly life with Christ is to know the resurrection life in Christ. The Lord challenges us to know the Scriptures, but we
also have to know the power of God, the power of His resurrection (cp. Matthew 22:29 ).
The Promised Land as Type
As soon as the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, the Israelites were circumcised at Gilgal. The big difference between
Israel in the wilderness and Israel in the land is the difference between Israel in a carnal state and Israel in a conquest
and victorious state, because the flesh had been cut off in the Jordan and set aside at Gilgal. They were now a people in
the Spirit, just as the Lord had received the Spirit at the Jordan.
It is important to see that the book of Joshua parallels the letters of Paul to the Ephesians and Colossians. These letters
don’t describe a present millennial entrance in to the kingdom of the heavens, but a present spiritual warfare with the
powers of darkness.
What is the purpose of these letters? Well, it is the purpose of crossing the Jordan, which is a type of our subjective
identification with Christ in death, burial and resurrection.
The Red Sea says: “Christ died for you and you died with Him ” ( Romans 6 ). The Jordan says: “Because you died with
Him, let sin no longer reign in your mortal bodies ”. The great purpose of crossing the Jordan is Ephesians 4:13 : “…
fulness of Christ”
The Promised Land provides a dual type. The land of Canaan presents a type of the present warfare of the Christian and
a type of the coming millennial kingdom. So this land represents a type of the kingdom of the heavens from which the
powers of darkness presently operate. It presents a type of the heavenly Promised Land that a Christian can inherit
during the millennium. Our warfare is against the inhabitants of the land, which can’t be fought, as seen in Ephesians 6,
from the wilderness. Note that the inheritance has to be preceded by the battle. And some will not realize this
inheritance, though in the land, with the opposition at hand. A Christian can be overcome rather than to overcome. An
example in the type would be the battle of Ai. It is God’s purpose that we stay in the wilderness as short as possible and
cross the Jordan as soon as possible. Unfortunately, most Christians today are in no position to enter into the land and
battle the giants. They are someplace in the wilderness short of Kadesh-Barnea.
The Jordan River: a Type of the Salvation of the Soul
Joshua 3 and 4 give an account of the nation of Israel crossing the Jordan, as a type of the saving of the soul, a type of
the subjective application of the cross of Christ.
In advance of crossing the Jordan, Joshua rose early in the morning ( Joshua 3:1 ), pointing to his readiness and
watchfulness to cross the Jordan. In Scripture, men of God were, without exception, early risers in order to meet God
before they met men. We should be saturated with the Lord’s presence before the Lord can bless others with what He
has worked in us.
At the end of three days the time had come to cross the Jordan, and the process was as follows. The priests, carrying
the ark of the covenant, would step into the Jordan. When the soles of the feet of the priests would rest in the waters, the
waters of the Jordan would be cut off, and the water flowing down from above would stand in one heap (Joshua 3:13 ).
The priests would walk up to the middle of the river to stand there firm on the dry ground, until the nation finished
crossing the river ( Joshua 3:17 ). After the people had crossed the Jordan, twelve stones had to be taken from the
middle of the river, where the priests stood, to taken with them as a remembrance of crossing the river (Joshua 4:3 ).
Joshua also put twelve stones on the place where the priests had stood, also as a remembrance. The twelve stones
taken with them, were set up in Gilgal (Joshua 4:20 ).
The events around the Jordan and the Ark of the Covenant in particular are the elements that form a basic type of the
salvation of the soul in the Old Testament. The salvation of the soul points to a future saving of the soul in connection
with a present denial of the soul life or natural life. It implies a present determination to reject the carnal life. It
happened so when Israel passed through the Jordan, and forever parted with the carnal life.
The Jordan in type spoke of death in Christ to the carnal life, which was so predominant in the wilderness. The Jordan
drew the line between the Israelites carnally and their life spiritually. And now they typically were on spiritual ground.
Achan contradicts that when the carnal life broke out again, but the result was a quick and radical judgement. Things
once done in the flesh were not tolerated anymore. The events around the Jordan and the Ark of the Covenant in
particular are the elements that form a basic type of the salvation of the soul in the Old Testament.

Iykolysis:


You opinion seems to confuse between being filled with the Holy Ghost and manifesting the GIFTS. You need to receive the Holy Ghost 1st with an evidence of speaking in tongues before manifesting ANY of those gifts you mentioned. Kindly be guided.

And which portion of the Scriptures told you that speaking in tongues is the evidence of holyghost baptism?

please op, What does the 'locust army' symbolize in the Scripture as I Am Not comfortable with that name

please opinion, What does the 'locust army' symbolize in the Scripture as I Am Not comfortable with that name

OLAADEGBU:
Why will the nations need healing in the New Jerusalem? If the New Earth is perfect, without sin and death, what will be the purpose of the tree of life?

The answer the question is quite simple.
The Christians still living on earth are part of the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrew 12:22-23.
The nations that needs healing in that passage of the Scripture are the saints living on earth. We are also part of the heavenly jerusalem.
The healing referred to here is Not a healing from physical disease But from spiritual disease called the old man or old nature. Ephesians 4:22-31
The healing process is called sanctification. 1 Thessalonian 3-4
The tree in that passage is simply the word of God, or the glory(face of God) or Jesus Christ. John 17:17. 1corinthians 1:30.
We undergo healing in oder to be glorified or to attain to perfection and be presented spotless and blameless before the throne of God when we leave this world. 2 Peter 3:14

OLAADEGBU:
Why will the nations need healing in the New Jerusalem? If the New Earth is perfect, without sin and death, what will be the purpose of the tree of life?

The answer the question is quite simple.
The Christians still living on earth are part of the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrew 12:22-23.
The nations that needs healing in that passage of the Scripture are the saints living on earth. We are also part of the heavenly jerusalem.
The healing referred to here is Not a healing from physical disease But from spiritual disease called the old man or old nature. Ephesians 4:22-31
The healing process is called sanctification. 1 Thessalonian 3-4
The tree in that passage is simply the word of God, or the glory(face of God) or Jesus Christ. John 17:17. 1corinthians 1:30.
We undergo healing in oder to be glorified or to attain to perfection and be presented spotless and blameless before the throne of God when we leave this work. 2 Peter 3:14.

OLAADEGBU:
Why will the nations need healing in the New Jerusalem? If the New Earth is perfect, without sin and death, what will be the purpose of the tree of life?

The answer the question is quite simple.
The Christians still living on earth are part of the heavenly Jerusalem. Hebrew 12:22-23.
The nations that needs healing in that passage of the Scripture are the saints living on earth. We are also part of the heavenly jerusalem.
The healing revered to here is Not a healing from physical disease But from spiritual disease called the old man or old nature. Ephesians 4:22-31
The healing process is called sanctification. 1 Thessalonian 3-4
The tree in that passage is simply the word of God, or the glory(face of God) or Jesus Christ. John 17:17. 1corinthians 1:30.
We undergo healing in oder to be glorified or to attain to perfection and be presented spotless and blameless before the throne of God when we leave this work. 2 Peter 3:14.

jaybee3:
I can bet this story was drafted at a beer parlour

Haba.... 2 Trillion naira!

Dude did you say cooked up?
I ran into a group of women fighting over the money givibg to them to vote for jk in the last governorship election and after listening to these wonen for like 5min, i realize each got atleast 2k each. Am talking of wonen that are mere road side traders. This happened in ibeshe area of ikorodu. If a voter gets 2k to vote for jk, how much will a 100,000 voters get at atleast 2k each?
We have not even talked about the money these campaign managers sat on or the money that was used to buy gifts to woo voters.
This is purely a generation of wasters. GEJ and his PDP does not know that one good turn deserves another. Nonsense!

eleojo23:
He may be right on the failure of the Igbo to join hands together and speak with one voice.
But greed is not exclusively an Igbo thing. Greed is what has robbed Nigeria of meaningful progress. Every tribe has greedy people.

You right my dear. Greed has eaten Nigeria too deep.

AKPOSbaba:

SOURCE..http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/buharill-reduce-petrol-to-n40l-david-west/

Emphasis shouldn't be placed on reducing price of petrol to N40 per litre. Emphasis should be on uninterrupted power supply.

iyatrustee:
We would be fighting for these people that are friends behind the scene or how would you explain that they all seem to have each others phone number?

Gej calls GMB
Ramalan calls Elrufai
Ameachi calls wike
Agbaje calls Ambode etc

Lesson for our youth and political thugs, your death means nothing to politicians!

confirm!

KwoiZabo:
One day Tifnubu will field a goat and it will win. I pity us for Lagos. political slavery

If Tunubu is a thief, what will you call GEJ and Dezieni madueke weh don empty our
external reserve?

bunmioguns:

BREAKING NEWS.:
Agbaje in early lead in onitsha, enugu,aba,otuoke,abakaleke, idemili south,akposhe north.........
(make una laugh small jare)

Lol! Jk for governor in Aba.

ORACLE1975:
The whole nigerians give goodlock shue but he decided to us the shue against the power that vote him,now u said he has done what pls let nigerians be we are UPDATED now and 4ever never again will south south rule this nation the only thing thy knew is to keep treatin nigerians with oil pls never forget it was coaco and granut money nigeria use to develop u then how.........time shall judge.

You shouldn't be making comments like this. God can put anybody from any part of the country to lead this country.
Am not a PDP faithful neither do i appaise the tenure of GEJ as the president of this country but thats not to say the south south don't have credible people that can truly serve this nation.

When the price of crude oil is falling day by day and Nigeria has lost its market share in US, loosing its market share in Asia and will likely start loosing its market share in europe. The only thing our leaders know to do is to looth the funds needed to plan for the day of scarcity. Hmnn! When you put greedy and senseless people to manage your resources, this is all you get.

Jwonder:
APC and Buhari should remember all their promises! We don't want excuse ooh!!!!!

1: Stabilize world Oil Prize

2: Make 1$ equal One Naira

3: Eradicate Corruption

4: Eradicate Boko Haram

We don't want to hear story after four years oh! Cause Jonathan was only given 4years too so better start looking for how to fulfill all your promises

Stabilize world oil prixe and make $1 equal N1.
How possible is that.
Does any country deternines the price of oil in the world?
$1 to N1. Not in your wildest imagination.

Texcoco:
hate is a very strong word,we don't hate yorubas,we just have mutual distrust with them and watch out, the drama isn't over yet. Because Buhari will be impressed with the staunch loyalty of SE/SS to GEJ and could seek to secure his base dumping thieffnubu before courting SE/SS...Only Enugu knocked out diferences of Ogun,Oyo,Ondo even Lagos combined,any northern political rival like Atiku or Kwankaso will take keen notice.

You people should get a life.
educated but tribalistic.
A youruba man put jonathan there didn't he?

sammyj:
How are the mighty fallen, PDP has now become the opposition and this is now the other way round for the APC. With the card readers used in almost in all parts of Lagos, PDP has no grounds or moral to go to court if compared to what they did is SS and SE, they will LOOSE BIG TIME. However, they should stop crying over spilled milk and go back to the drawing board and try again in 2019.

[b]Eko oni baje ooo !!!!

SAI Change !!!

SAI GMB/PYO

How did PDP manage so much votes in just five LGA's? don't agree with that figure.

[quote author=sammyj post=32196094]How are the mighty fallen, PDP has now become the opposition and this is now the other way round for the APC. With the card readers used in almost in all parts of Lagos, PDP has no grounds or moral to go to court if compared to what they did is SS and SE, they will LOOSE BIG TIME. However, they should stop crying over spilled milk and go back to the drawing board and try again in 2019.

[b]Eko oni baje ooo !!!!

SAI Change !!!

SAI GMB/PYO
How did PDP manage so much votes in just five LGA's? don't agree with that figure.