THE TWO COMMISSIONS

“However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual”
(1 Corinthians 15:46 NET).

I am continually astonished that most of Christendom today spurns the very first words God spoke to man, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion . . . " God's plans and purposes for mankind cannot be fully implemented without fulfilling this first commission.

There are many who say that God is not interested so much in natural children any more, but only spiritual children. But how can God have spiritual children if there are no natural children? God has a BIG heart. He loves fruitfulness. He loves increase. He wants to fill the earth with people so He can fill eternity with people.

Reading the genealogies in the Old Testament I often notice the phrase "many sons." For example, 1 Chronicles 8:40 says: "And the sons of Ulam had MANY SONS, and sons' sons, 150." Again, in 1 Chronicles 28:5 David says: "The Lord has given me MANY SONS." We find reference to 19 sons of David in the Bible, although some Bible scholars say there could be 20 or more.

Because every theme of the Old Testament is reiterated in the New, we come to Hebrews 2:10 and read: "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing MANY SONS UNTO GLORY, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

This is the vision of God’s heart from Genesis to Revelation. God begins in Genesis 1:28 with His vision to fill the earth to overflowing with many sons and daughters and then we go to the end of the Bible and read John's vision: "I beheld, and, lo, a GREAT MULTITUDE, WHICH NO MAN COULD NUMBER, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, say, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9-10).

Each one of this great multitude could not be around the throne of God if some mother had not opened her heart and her womb to bring them forth into the world.

Why does God want us to bring forth children? Just for the sake of doing it? No. It is all for God. It is to fill God's eternal kingdom with sons and daughters who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Every child we bring forth into this world and lead to salvation will be part of the innumerable company and live forever and ever. This is the purpose of the first commission and the second great commission.

For too long we have listened to humanist and feminist lies to limit the number of children we have. This is not Bible doctrine. It is not Bible language. It belongs to the humanists. Why do God's people listen to humanist indoctrination rather than the living Word of God? Have we put aside the Bible for the vain ideas of man? It's time we took notice of Isaiah 2:22: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?"

We have the great privilege and responsibility of fulfilling the two commissions. We have a two-fold anointing. We can bring forth natural children AND spiritual children. Plus, as we lead our children in the ways of God and encourage them to speak the gospel message, our natural children will grow up to bring forth spiritual children.

The more natural children we have, the more spiritual children we can have.

All our children are serving the Lord and have taken the gospel to countries to which I have never visited. I have influenced thousands for the kingdom in this nation and countries I have never been to through my children, which would not have happened if they had not come into the world.

The more children we have, the more possibility of impacting the world for God. The less of the godly seed in the land, the less revelation of God. The more godly seed in the land, the more revelation of God--more righteousness, more influence against evil, and more preaching of the gospel.

The big question is: are we going to get in line with God's plan? Or continue the way of the world? God’s heart is not only satisfied with fruitfulness, but MORE fruitfulness. But even more. He longs for MUCH fruitfulness—in the natural and the spiritual (John 15:2, 8).

Love and blessings to you today, Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“I thank you, dear Father, that You are a God of fruitfulness. You love fruitfulness in every area of our lives—in the natural and in the spiritual. Please help me to have Your heart and Your vision. Please give me a BIG HEART to embrace natural children and spiritual children. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I want to live a life of fruitfulness in the natural and the spiritual!

COSTLY GARMENTS

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer”
(Psalm 19:14).

In last week’s devotion, we talked about the angel of the LORD coming to Joshua the high priest. Not only did God come, but Satan came too. Let’s continue the story.

Zechariah 3:3: “Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” Who was clothed in filthy garments? A wicked unbeliever? No, it was the high priest.

Not one of us are exempt from getting our clothes contaminated as we walk in this evil world. Unless we keep short accounts with the Lord, we can often be unaware that we are wearing filthy clothes that grieve the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (I am speaking spiritually, but of course it could apply physically).

However, as we come into the light of God’s presence, He exposes the darkness and the things that displease Him (Psalm 19:14). And He waits to clothe us again with His garments of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10 says: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Praise God, He doesn’t give us a skimpy outfit to wear, but a mantle! Through the power of His blood, He completely covers us with a ROBE of righteousness.

Zechariah 3:4 continues: “And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” The WEB version, plus many others, say that God gave him “rich clothing.” The YLT98 and ISR98 translate it “costly robes.”

Our garments of salvation are costly garments. We receive them through the sacrificial blood of Christ shed for us upon the cross. Let’s embrace these costly garments and wear them each day in our home. Let’s not negate the power of the cross of Christ. How blessed we are to put on fresh, new, clean garments each new day (Ephesians 4:23, 24).

Not only do we receive costly garments, but a head piece. Zechariah 3:5 says: “And I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with the garments.” The word “fair” means “clean and pure.” God wants us to have a pure mind. He wants to take away from us all our unclean, unbelieving, doubting, bitter, and impure thoughts with which Satan tries to fill our minds and exchange them for His mind.

Will you allow the Lord to purify your mind today? Let Him come into your mind with the searchlight of His holiness. As we confess ours sins, He forgives and clothes us with a pure turban of clean, wholesome, and faith-filled thoughts (Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5).

Wear your beautiful garments in your home today, given to you at the great cost of the precious blood of Jesus. 1 Peter 1:18-20 says: “Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

I thank you, dear Father, that I don’t have to walk around with dirty thoughts and dirty clothes. You gave up your life and poured out your precious blood to save me from wickedness. You have given me a turban of purity and a mantle of righteousness. I want to wear them every day. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Through the blood of Jesus and the robe of righteousness He gives to me, I have complete protection from the power of the enemy.

SUBMIT TO THE RIGHT AUTHORITY

“And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan;
even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee”
(Zechariah 3:2).

We need to get two facts straight: Satan is our accuser (Revelation 12:10), but Jesus is our advocate (1 John 2:1).

We see a picture of this in Zechariah’s vision. He sees “Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan stand standing at his right hand to resist him” (Zechariah 3:1). Joshua wasn’t a heathen who didn’t believe in God. He was the high priest, the one who had the most privileged and honored position before God.

No one is exempt from Satan’s buffetings and accusations, even the most ardent believer. Maybe the adversary (1 Peter 5;8, 9) is getting at you today, He whispers his accusations, lies, and deceptions into your ears. That’s where Satan likes to be--right next to you, at your right hand.

But you must know the truth. This is not his place. The right hand is the place of power and authority. The only One who deserves this place is Jesus Christ who defeated Satan at the cross and now sits at the right hand of the Father. The adversary acts as though he has authority, but it has been wiped from under his feet through the power of the blood of Jesus when He died upon the cross. At the cross, Jesus defeated the devil and the power of death.

But the devil doesn’t give up. When he comes to your right hand and speaks his lying thoughts into your mind, do not receive them.

Most translations say that Satan was at the right hand of the angel of the LORD. The NCV says he was “standing by Joshua’s right hand to accuse him.” Either way, he has no permission to take this place. He is usurping his authority that does not belong to him. It only belongs to Jesus. Give Jesus the authority in your life, not the devil.

How wonderful that we have an advocate who resists Satan on our behalf. Listen to these words: “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee.” The NCV translates it: “The LORD said to Satan, The LORD says no to you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem says no to you!”

I am sure there are thousands of times when our Advocate has said No to the accuser when he has come to trip us up. Often, we are unaware of the intercession on our behalf by our Savior, Jesus Christ who continually intercedes for us. But there are also many times when He wants us to resist the devil too. God fights for us, but we must also fight. We must take up our authority through the powerful name of Jesus and resist the devil, send him kicking, and say No to his deceiving, lying, and accusing thoughts.

Remember dear mother, you do not belong to Satan. When you become a child of God, you belong to Jesus Christ. He has all power and authority at the right hand of the Father and He also wants to come to your right hand with all His mighty power to enable you to live in victory and push back the devil.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

Thank you, dear Jesus, that You intercede for my continually at the right hand of the Father. I thank You that You are my advocate against the adversary. I thank You that You have all power over the enemy. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will not listen to the lies of the enemy that he speaks into my ear. I rebuke them in the powerful name of Jesus, the name that is above every name.

IT’S ELIMINATED!

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth”
(Ephesians 6:14).

Each one of us know that to counteract the onslaughts of the enemy, we must daily put on our armor. Do you remember the first piece of armor that is mentioned?

Yes, it is truth. What area of our bodies do we cover with truth? The King James Bible says it is “the loins.” I’ll type it again: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth.”

The Greek word for loins in this Scripture is osphus meaning “the hips (reproductive area), the strength of a man, the procreative power, the seat of generative power.” The Bible talks about future progeny coming forth from the loins (c.f. Acts 2:30 and Hebrews 7:5, 9, 10). It was most important that soldiers protected their loins (their procreative power) as they went out to war.

The military girdle was a defense. The phrase, “to smite the loins” refers to a fatal blow, forever ending anything that would come from the slain.

However, I am confused. Most modern translations do not even mention the word loins. A typical translation is “Tighten the belt of truth around your waist.” The word “waist” is not mentioned in the original Greek. Nor do I find the word “belt.” I will concede that often the clothing covering the loins is attached to a belt to hold it tightly in place. So, they’ve got something there.

Men wore long robes in those days. When they did physical work, or readied themselves for action they “girded up their loins.” They picked up their robes to the knees or just above the knees and tucked them in their belt. Therefore, they could be using this metaphor.

But they eliminate the most important word, “loins.” No soldier would go to war without protecting his loins. A belt is not enough. In fact, it is a shame to have the loins uncovered. When prisoners were taken captive, they often shamed them by shaving their heads and uncovering their loins!

The Bible says the loins are to be protected with truth. Are modern translators victims of the deception this Scripture exposes?

It is a fact that most of Christendom today is ignorant about the power of their loins. They are not protected with the truth of God’s Word. This area of the body has been, and is being, attacked by the enemy. Satan hates life and seeks to eliminate it every way he possibly can. He has fooled God’s people to close their wombs and cut off the power of their loins so they cannot bring forth God’s children. Satan has won a huge victory and God’s army is sorely lacking.

The loins are to be fully girded about. That means they must be protected from abortion, all the modern methods of contraception that eliminate life, and the knife that cuts off procreative power.

Not only have the loins been made lifeless, but they have become prey to sin—fornication and adultery among young people and married couples. It’s time for a revival of strengthening the loins and bringing God’s truth and holiness back to this area of our bodies.

We must teach our young people to gird their loins with truth. It’s interesting that the first three “works of the flesh” mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21(ESV) are “sexual immorality, impurity, and sensuality.” And we notice that the first part of the body the Bible says is to be protected is the loins. It is the preparation for all others. If the loins are not kept pure and holy, it’s not much use putting on any other piece of armor.

What conviction does a “belt of truth” give us? It is the loins that must be girded about.

Blessings today from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Holy Father, I pray for a revival of holiness to come to your church, for You have said that without holiness no man will see the Lord. I pray that You will bring mighty conviction to those who do not keep themselves pure and to those who commit fornication. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m putting on the armor of God, beginning with the loins!

P.S. The following versions use the word “loins” which is in the original Greek: King James Version, Revised Standard Version, Darby Version, Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy Bible (which I would expect to use the correct word), Douay-Rheims, Knox, Geneva Bible 1599, 1901 American Standard Version, and New American Standard Bible.