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**Check out our special at the bottom!
"Embracing
the Abundance of God's Kindness"
A Look at Genesis 24
By Catherine Brown
Web: www.gatekeepers.org.uk
Email: catherine@gatekeepers.org.uk
 RELEASING
HEAVEN'S RESOURCES - THE ABUNDANCE OF KINDNESS
Kindness is a subject that has been much on my heart of late and I feel
it is something the Lord wants to stir in each one of us...learning to be
kind to others and learning (or re-learning ) how to be kind to ourselves.
During the last couple of months, we've looked at prioritizing relationship
with Christ, flowing out of intimacy with Him into fruitfulness (John 15)
and waiting patiently until the word of the Lord comes with release and
fulfillment of our Kingdom destiny (Philippians). Today's teaching from
Genesis 24 is a continuation of this journey through Scripture and encourages
us to embrace God's kindness.
THE COMMISSIONING
"Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord has blessed
him in every way. He said to the chief servant in his household, the one
in charge of all he had...go to my country and my relatives and get
a wife for my son Isaac." Genesis 24:1-2, 4
The story of Abraham's servant is a wonderful encouragement to us today
as servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like Abraham's servant was, we
are entrusted with an ambassadorial anointing from heaven to step out and
fulfill the Great Commission. When it's time to move on a faith promise,
the Lord lets us know by His Spirit.
BUT "WHAT IF…?"
Abraham's servant was an obedient man, but nonetheless still had questions
and some doubts and anxieties as to the success of his mission. He asked
his master, "What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me?"
(Genesis 24:5) but
quickly received a profound word of holy hope. Abraham gave his servant
an incredible promise of success for the journey he was about to undertake
in faith - he was to have angelic accompaniment! An unseen protector, one
sent from heaven, would assist this mere mortal to complete the task set
before him.
"He will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife
for my son from there." Genesis 24:7
Likewise today, the Lord releases his ministering
angels to assist those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
Having questions is ok! It's what you do with them that counts. Holy people
are honest people. Holy people have a whole and healed heart. The remedy
to worry is to put God at the center of whatever concerns you. Once He is
rightly established at the core of the issue, all our anxieties melt away
in His loving embrace. Abraham's servant did just that and was able to move
on to the next stage of his journey.
THE BLESSING OF COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
Buoyed up in his faith, the servant then entered into a covenant agreement
with his master and swore an oath to him concerning this matter (v. 9). As
New Testament believers, we have entered into a covenant relationship of
grace with our Lord Jesus Christ. He is faithful to provide for us and to
protect us. Covenant brings many benefits including grace, mercy, forgiveness,
and a renewed relationship with God. Through Holy Spirit we may experience
an inward transformation and walk in the freedom of those who have been
released from condemnation through Christ's sacrifice (Romans 8:1-2). Christ is
our mediator and sanctifies us through His blood.
Content and securely anchored in his covenant relationship, the servant
then left to fulfill his mission, taking with him all kinds of good things
(v. 11). As his master's representative, he was entrusted with considerable
wealth and resources. We, likewise, have been given every good gift in God
(Ephesians 1). Heaven's resources are poured into us and through us by God's kindness
in order that we might be a blessing. God longs for his bride to take up
her royal inheritance. Perhaps you need to ask the Lord today for your inheritance?
TRUSTING IN GOD'S FAVOR AND HIS KINDNESS
"Then he prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today,
and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring
and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it
be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have
a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' - let her
be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that
you have shown kindness to my master." Genesis 24:12-15
Trusting and believing in God's kindness, the servant laid a prayer fleece
before the Lord and God moved in power.
"Before he had finished praying,
Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder." (v. 15)
God responded with a
Kingdom "suddenly" and gave the servant the God-given desire of his heart.
Similarly, we too may believe for God's "suddenly" in our lives as we learn
to trust and obey Him and rejoice as we see our hopes and dreams
fulfilled in Christ. I have found that God's "suddenlies" are usually preceded by
much soul searching, patient waiting, and pursuing Him in prayer. Then comes
the breakthrough, bringing with it much joy and favor. Waiting, then…whoosh!
Obedience to God brings blessing and favor. Being in favor with God often
means we are shown favor with man. This is not favoritism, nor is it manipulation.
Rather, it is the outworking of God looking kindly upon a person and treating
them with tender regard.
BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART
Rebekah, the bride-to-be, is described as being very beautiful and she was
a virgin (v. 16). Her beauty, purity, and virtue of heart reflect a picture
of the Bride of Christ perfected by our Lord's sacrifice at Calvary. Jesus
taught his disciples that only the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5:8).
We can rest in the truth that the Righteousness the Kingdom demands is the
same Righteousness that God gifts in grace to every believer. Holiness is
not about striving or legalism. We are holy because Christ is holy. We are
a chosen people, a royal nation and a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9).
Hurrying to meet Rebekah, the servant requested that she give him a little
water from her jar. It takes humility to know when and how to make a request
and make your needs known. It also requires humility to receive another's
act of servant hood on our behalf. Jesus graciously washed His disciples
feet, setting an example both for them and us as believers. It was because
of His security in relationship with His Father that Christ was able to
be perform such a meek act of service. Christ came as the Servant-King and
taught us to model perfect love and compassion. Moreover, Jesus also taught
that if we do this (i.e. live lives of humility and show kindness) that
we will be blessed (John 13:17). We are encouraged to be like Christ, who
made Himself nothing that we might have life eternal (Philippians 2:7).
Sometimes our pride may get in the way of our needs being met and we may
not ask for help at all. At other times we may ask for help, but perhaps
we ask with wrong intent in our hearts. The apostle James teaches:
"You
do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive,
because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your
pleasures." James 4:2-3
God wants to bless His children. He especially wants to gift us with Holy
Spirit and He has already seeded the heavenly places with every blessing
as our inheritance. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need, because the
Lord knows every hair on your head and cares infinitely more for you than
you can ever ask or imagine. He longs to pour out Holy Spirit on every single
believer (Luke 11:13).
CHILD OF GOD - DRINK FROM HIS PRESENCE!
Rebekah responded to the servant thus:
"'Drink, my lord,' she said, and quickly
lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. After she had given
him a drink, she said, 'I'll draw water for your camels too, until they
have finished drinking.' So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough,
ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels."
Genesis 24:18-20
God is gracious to refresh His children and to give us His life-giving water,
meeting all our spiritual, emotional, physical, and practical needs. Jesus
Himself, stood up on the last and greatest day of the feast and proclaimed
that if anyone was thirsty they should come to Him and drink from the life-giving waters of Holy Spirit. Beloved, if you are feeling worn out, wounded,
weary or dry, drink from the well of joy and salvation of Jesus Christ today.
Rebekah displayed a willingness to serve, and in her humility was used by
God. All the Lord is looking for is our availability. We don't have to
qualify. Jesus qualified us in Grace when He poured Himself out as a love
offering on the Cross, canceling the power and the penalty of sin and death.
Take Christ's kindness to your own heart and don't be afraid to ask for
a double portion. God wants to tenderly bless YOU His child.
Catherine Brown
Web: www.gatekeepers.org.uk
Email: catherine@gatekeepers.org.uk
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"THE NORMAL THE DEEP AND THE CRAZY"
By Catherine Brown
$11.95 Book
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Now for a Limited Time, Order "The Normal, The Deep and The Crazy" and
receive
a Teaching CD from Catherine entitled "Principles for Harvest" for absolutely
No_Charge!
This book is a testimony of Catherine's journey of healing with Jesus,
from childhood abuse, domestic violence, alcohol, rape as a
young adult, and deliverance from the occult, into the miracle of
freedom in Christ. Jim Goll has the following to say in the
foreword:
 "Written in an amazingly transparent style, Catherine Brown's book
The
Normal, The Deep and The Crazy adds a much needed gem to the prayer
and prophetic movements in these days. I have had the joy of interacting
with Catherine over the Internet over the past few years and meeting
her in person. I appreciate immensely her humility and genuine heart
for Jesus.
"Having been in the prayer and prophetic movement for several years myself,
I look for clear voices that attempt to bring forth a word that honors
the Lord and edifies and challenges the body of Christ. This is what
I found in the ministry of Jesus through this clay vessel. Catherine
Brown is a quick learner and humble servant. She is one of the new breed;
a faceless generation of Esthers, Daniels, Josephs, and Deborahs whom
the Lord is raising up to influence this Impact Generation.
"With a whole heart I gladly endorse the content of this inspiring book.
I trust it will do for you what it did for me. After reading The
Normal, The Deep and The Crazy, I found myself more in love with
our Father God who desires to see restoration happen in the
lives of countless numbers of warriors in waiting. I sense the
Holy Spirit saying, 'Come out of your caves! I will embrace you!
I will restore you! I will revive you! The best is yet ahead of
you! Just as I have done in the life of this broken vessel - so
I will do for you!'
"To you, the reader, I commend these telling truths from a pilgrim of
faith. May the Lord impart to you the spirit of encouragement that all
things are possible to those who believe! To you, Catherine, blessings,
and thank you." -
Jim W Goll,
Co-founder of Ministry to the Nations, Franklin, TN
www.ministrytothenations.com
Remember, Now for a Limited Time,
Order "The Normal, The Deep and The Crazy" and receive a Teaching
CD from Catherine entitled "Principles for Harvest" for absolutely
No_Charge! To learn more, read below!
Feel free to
order
online
OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1273
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Principles for
Harvest -
Rejoicing in the Winter Seasons
By Catherine Brown
Teaching CD Available only with the purchase of,
"The Normal, The Deep, and The Crazy" |
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This CD is an EXCELLENT companion to this word! Every time I hear Catherine
speak on compassion and mercy, I literally get "choked up" inside. God has
truly touched this woman!
In this teaching, Catherine speaks of the pruning seasons that we all go
through as we reach our destiny. It's not always comfortable, in fact it
can be downright painful, but the pruning enables us to yield a richer harvest.
You don't want to miss this!
This CD is only
available with the purchase of, "The Normal, The Deep, and The Crazy."
Available only for
a limited time with the purchase of "The Normal, The Deep, and The
Crazy" by Catherine Brown (above)! Order now to get this CD for
NO_CHARGE!
Feel free
to order
online
OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1273
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To donate by regular mail,
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Thank you and blessings,
Steve Shultz, Publisher, The Elijah List
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The
Normal, The Deep, The Crazy
