January 17^th

WITH THE LORD

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

Come again means to come anew, and its root means to wrestle.   This root meaning is only found in Ephesians 6:12 which reads,“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].”  The word depicts a contest between two in which each endeavors to throw the other, and which is decided when the victor is able to hold his opponent down with his hand upon his neck. That is a very interesting meaning since the neck speaks to the will of man. There was a wrestling match in the Old Testament that teaches us an important truth as spiritual Israel.

Israel, which means God prevails, is the name God gave Jacob after he wrestled with a man at Peniel (Genesis 32:24). Isaiah 9:8 reads, “The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.” This verse allows the believer to see an example of the power of God in action through His Son. Jesus Christ is the Word made Flesh. God sent His creating, powerful Word into Jacob. Jacob’s name represents that which speaks of something or someone having taken the place of another especially through force or plotting.   Supplanter! No person or situation can remain the same once the Word is sent into it by God. Jacob’s nature goes all the way back to the beginning when the deceiver had a plot in mind; however, God is in full control of His creation. The Word lighted or fell upon Israel. The action of the Word speaks to the power or Spirit of the Word. The letter killed that which was not like Christ and the Spirit of the same Word gave Life (2 Corinthians 3:6). The Word lighted or fell upon Israel just as on the day of Pentecost when fire sat upon each of them (Acts 2).   Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). The Spirit of the Word gives the very life of Christ, and that is why we must be able ministers not of the letter of death but the Word of Life.

“I will receive you unto myself.  Receivemeans to join to or take to one’s self.  “He that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Cor 6:17