From the desk of Steve Shultz:
We are upon the "greater works" that Jesus performed in His day... and how we need to pour them out to a world desperately in need of the true Savior. This latest word by Sandie Freed will help equip you to forge ahead in all Jesus accomplished through the finished work of the Cross.
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Sandie Freed:
Forging Ahead through Uncharted Waters
Precious Believers, it is always my original intent to encourage the Body of Christ and empower each of you to walk in complete freedom and experience victory in every area of life. I began this year in complete awe of His divine goodness and each time I sought His face, I would experience the light of His truth and more downloads of revelation which I will continue to share with you as we journey this year together.
It seemed ever more important to hear God's voice because it is clear to me, and we are Scripturally encouraged to do so, that we are having to take a firm stand. Standing firmly while being full of His faith to forge ahead is an absolute necessity in this season. The uncharted waters and territories we face today are similar to the waters and wilderness that challenged Moses, Joshua and the Israelites in the Old Testament times. Moses faced the Red Sea and, as you know, Joshua confronted challenges as he crossed over Jordan. Both of them had to overcome fear of the unknown, accept godly responsibility to lead and, then, demonstrate God's power through trust and obedience. Yes, it was up to them and their trust in God to hear God's directives at the time of crossing over and their forging forward to fulfill divine destiny.
Moses, the Red Sea, and the Power of the Blood
Think on this for a moment: Moses had never seen the Red Sea part, but he had also never experienced an anointing to part that Red Sea either! However, I'm sure Moses drew confidence from the previous miracles he witnessed – such as the burning bush, God turning his staff into a snake, God using the staff again to turn the Nile into blood, etc. However, the completed release of Israel occurred after the blood sacrifice of a lamb which God commanded.
I have my new book in print now concerning the power of the blood sacrifice. It is entitled The Power in the Blood: Claiming Your Spiritual Inheritance, and I believe it will benefit you greatly as you read it because you will become empowered with a life-giving anointing to experience your full inheritance in Christ. All of us have an inheritance through Him, but coupled with that is our need to fully understand the power in the Blood of Jesus so to be positioned to receive that inheritance.
I discuss hindrances and opposition that arises to derail us from receiving all that God has for us. And, dear ones, you can bet that the enemy continually seeks ways to seduce us away from our rightful inheritances as sons and daughters of the King. Again, this is discussed more fully in my book. For now, let's look at what was required of Moses before the crossing over of the Red Sea and the ultimate requirement of God for Him to release His children from slavery. Read on!
If you recall, before Israel's exodus from Egypt, every family had to offer one sacrificial lamb (one per family) and then sprinkle its blood on the doorpost of each house. Millions of lambs had to be sacrificed to protect them from the spirit of death, the final plague, that was sent to destroy Egypt's firstborn – both men and animals. Each lamb had to be completely spotless and without blemish.
If you recall the story in Exodus, the death angel would pass by every household in the land and if there was no sprinkled blood on the doorpost of that home, then the result was the first born would die. Yes, the death angel took the breath of every first born in the land if there was no blood sacrifice or blood on the doorposts. Let me just provide additional insight here concerning the necessity of Israel applying blood to the door posts and lintel. Though Israel did this out of complete obedience and not fully understanding the significance, it was a type and shadow of the Blood of Jesus applied to the door posts of our hearts.
Many theologians, and myself now included in this thought: the door posts and lintel were later recognized as a family altar before Moses' instituted sacrifice at a communal altar under the lawful understanding of the purpose of how the blood was sprinkled (painted) in the form of a cross. This picture of the blood forming a cross foreshadowed the blood on the head and hands of Jesus, omitting the placement of any blood on His feet. If blood were applied to the threshold, again foreshadowing His feet, it would have caused the Israelites to trample underfoot the blood of the sacrifice. To not honor the blood sacrifice and all that Christ died for (especially receiving His gift of righteousness; meaning we are not righteous due to our deeds, efforts or religious performance) is considered Scripturally as "trampling underfoot" His shed Blood to redeem us.
Therefore, today we can look back with understanding that this sacrifice and the shedding of the blood foreshadowed a greater sacrifice from the Lamb of God. Again, all of this points to Jesus, our true sacrifice. Our true Passover Lamb was slain for each of us and our families to be saved, sanctifying the unsaved spouse or even children (1 Corinthians 7:14). Wow, there really is Power in the Blood!
I consider this fact strongly whenever I take communion; partaking of the blood and bread which is symbolic of the Blood of the Lamb and His Body. Today we can recognize the fact that when we also plead the Blood of Jesus on the doorposts of our hearts, every spirit of death attempting to steal life and/or vision has to flee! Dear ones, we are Blood-bought through the finished work of Jesus at the Cross. If we will remember that, we can resist the enemy and he must flee! And, upon taking communion, we can each call to mind that the Blood has not only cleansed us from all sin, but also imparts the fullness of the life of God within us!
Ok. Back to Moses.
Many firstborn died that night, including Pharaoh's firstborn son. After this demonstration of God's power, Pharaoh released Moses and God's children, as you already know.
However, it is important to continue to recall that it was the blood of the lamb that set God's people free and released them to begin to fulfill the destiny that was in the heart of God. When they were released, they left with increase! I believe as we walk forward into 2013 that God has increase planned for us – increase in every area such as finances, job opportunities, commissions, and increase in our own "personal" government. Look at Isaiah 9:6-7, and observe that it is God's desire for us to increase:
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His Kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this. ASV
The Kingdom of God that Jesus taught is here! When Jesus came to earth, He brought His world and His government to ours. In this coming year, I am expecting an increase of God's authority to be manifested in me and you and through all of us who believe! If we know we have power in the Blood of Jesus and truly realize that we are His representatives on earth (His divine ambassadors), we can speak to every mountain of opposition and expect it to be removed.
Forging Ahead in the Finished Work
Forging ahead in faith requires knowing our identity in Christ. Realizing that on the Cross, Jesus shed His Blood and, in doing so, gave us complete salvation. Salvation is the word sozo, and it means more than salvation. Again, it also involves completeness or restoration, healing, forgiveness, fruitfulness, increase, favor, prosperity and everything else we need! Think on this – without His Blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. Dear ones, there is power in the Blood of Jesus!
When Moses instructed the Israelites to place the slain lamb's blood on the doorposts of each home, it was the beginning of release for increase. This is because upon their release, the Egyptians blessed them with jewelry and all different types of wealth! God has the same planned for each of us. However, it will not come through our own power or through our strength. It will come as Isaiah prophesied: the zeal of the Lord will do this (Isaiah 9:7). The word zeal in this passage is the Hebrew word qin'ah (sounds like kin-aw') and is a root word meaning to "erect" as if to "create," "by extension, to procure especially by purchase." Wow! Did you get that?
God's zeal is wrapped up with His desire to erect (resurrect) every creative word over us (this involves possession of every promise). He is procuring, especially by purchasing (this involves our being purchased with the price of the shed Blood of Jesus!). This word goes on to imply that for our "sake" and due to God's "jealousy" over us, He is determined to save us, protect us, increase us, etc. Now that's a promise to hold onto as we forge ahead, right? Though we may not see on the other side of the waters, or be able to see our entire future clearly, we can trust in the zeal of God which desires that we be safe from harm and be increased with abundant blessings. This, again, is promised through the shed Blood of Jesus!
Dear ones, please realize once again that it is not by our own strength that this is accomplished. Our strength comes from the Lord and we can fully trust Him to open doors that have never been opened to us before – all because He has promised increase and blessing. We can cycle out of the bondage of Egypt this year and forge ahead due to the power in the Blood and His finished work at the Cross.
Allow me to pray for you: Father, we are so grateful and thankful that we have ears to hear and obedient hearts to follow You and Your directives for the season ahead. Though we walk through uncharted territories and cross over uncharted waters, we trust in You. Thank You for giving Your only Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for our sin. We believe there is power in the Blood of Jesus which not only cleanses us from sin, but also empowers us to walk in increase and victory. Thank You that You are jealous over us and that You will watch over Your Word concerning us. We pray for boldness to continue to decree and declare Your divine goodness and to remain a light that shines forth in darkness. And, we especially thank You for Your divine grace which empowers us to accomplish our divine destiny as we continue to establish Your Kingdom on this earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
Sandie Freed co-labors with her husband, Mickey Freed, doing the work of the Lord as a ministry team. In addition, Sandie is the Founder and Director of the School of the Prophets and Apostolic Training Center in Bedford, Texas. With a strong anointing of discerning of spirits, Sandie has been known to discern territorial strongholds and release churches and regions from spiritual assignments that withhold finances, deliverances, and breakthroughs. Prophetess Sandie and Apostle Mickey are ordained with Christian International Ministries, serving on their Board of Governors and the Board of Directors. Together they serve as the Mid-Southern Regional Directors of the Christian International Network of Churches, which is the Prophetic-Apostolic oversight for Texas and Oklahoma regions, as well as several other states and regions. They have been married since 1973, and have one daughter, Kim Putman.
