Student Connect

Satan always has a counterfeit, and he will always be the usurper of power and authority. The Epic of Gilgamesh, for example, shows that.

Mbi Obed Anthony Oben,

I think you have given a great response to this topic.

I appreciate that you have given an exegetical analysis of this topic looking to the culture AND the needs engaged--and you have mentioned the attitude that goes along with the action.

This is very well done and is highly informative.

I don't know that my thoughts have changed from reading your post BUT, my thoughts have been strengthened.

Dr. Jim Garrett

Milk. Honey. Grapes. These were some of the imagery Moses presented to Israel symbolising the blessings of abundance and prosperity that would accrue to Israel on possession of the promised land. But without compliance with the conditions attached, the fulfilment of the promises was delayed, voided or, worse still, reversed into curses. A whole generation of Israelites were unable to make it into Canaan because of unbelief. And those who did, had to prove their mettle through trust and obedience.

As followers of Christ, we have blessings that automatically become ours when we confess our faith and receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus. Conversely, there certainly are some rewards that we get to enjoy only by actively adhering to spiritual precepts.

One unconditional foretaste of our future blessing is that we instantly become citizens of the kingdom of God at our salvation. (John 3:5; Colossians1:13) We do not wait until we pass through death or the second coming of Christ to obtain our citizenship.  We immediately belong; we are part of a large fellowship of Christian believers that worship an omnipotent King together. With that privilege, we can then begin to dispense God’s standards within our immediate spheres – long before Jesus, the King of kings, returns to take complete control. As kingdom people, we have authority on the earth to extend heaven’s influence pending the millennial. However, exercising such authority effectively can only occur as we mature in the knowledge of Christ’s will as his faithful servants. It is the extent of our faithful obedience today that qualifies us to be ‘rulers over cities’ in the future. Thus, while citizenship is not, our level of authority is a conditional blessing.

An integral part of our salvation experience is when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us as a downpayment on eternal life. This indwelling presence of the Godhead marks all Christians on conversion and is an unconditional blessing, a preview of what will come: God with us forever (Revelations 21:3). The Holy Spirit’s role is to help by providing us with guidance, wisdom, comfort and strength.  However, we must tap into these additional blessings by consciously giving ourselves over to Him through prayer, study of the word and fellowship with other growing believers. (1Thessalonians 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrew 10:25). The further we engage in these spiritual disciplines, the more we grow. The consistency of our obedience then leads to the blessings of spiritual fruitfulness: we have peace, unspeakable joy, self-control - in a tumultuous world. Furthermore, while the various gifts of the Spirit are not earned, there are guidelines for activation and utilisation. But they are only a shadow of things to come. In heaven, we will know all things fully; we will not need them. (1Corinthians 13: 9-10)

We have the additional benefit of approaching God as our heavenly father and asking for our needs to be met. It is a significant blessing to receive answers to our prayers from a loving, caring parent. We can ask for healing for our sicknesses, provision in times of need and relief from distress. All of these are foretastes of our heavenly destination, a place devoid of disease or lack. There, we will experience a complete sufficiency in God’s glory. (Revelations 21:4-7) Even as the Bible encourages us to present our requests to God, there are clear prerequisites that indicate that our conduct is a factor in obtaining a desirable response. Without our obedience, our prayers are hindered. (John 15:7; 1 Peter 3:7-12).

In his sovereignty, God extends mercy to whomever he wants to. Notwithstanding, the foretaste of blessings that Christians enjoy in the modern world come primarily by knowing and doing the will of God. The mode of access to these blessings is through the agency of our faith. Saving faith is a gift from God; thereafter, we generally require our own faith, expressed in our obedience, grasp eternal blessings.

Hello Everyone

The purpose of the Pentateuch was to prepare Israel for faithful service to God in the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. How can you apply this to your present life and ministry

When I look at the Pentateuch, I do not just see history. I see a divine blueprint for preparation. God was not just bringing Israel out of Egypt. He was taking Egypt out of them. Before they could inherit the promise, they had to be made into a people who knew how to walk with God. That hits me deeply in this season of my life and ministry. As I lead Miracles of Zion, I understand now more than ever that God does not release promise to the unprepared. He builds leaders in the wilderness. He trains warriors through obedience.

Deuteronomy 8:2 reminds us that God led the Israelites through the wilderness to humble them and test their hearts to see if they would obey. That speaks directly to me. In March of this year, I felt as if my church was staggered. I felt pressure on every side. It seemed like everything was slowing down. But just like Moses and the people, I realized that the wilderness is not abandonment. It is alignment. God was teaching me how to trust him beyond feelings and beyond visible results. He was reminding me, as he did in Exodus 13:17, that sometimes he does not take us the shortest way because he knows we are not ready for battle.

My leadership has shifted because of that. I do not despise the delays anymore. I have stopped questioning the pace. Now I recognize that the Pentateuch is a testimony that God prepares before he releases. Numbers 9:17 tells how Israel only moved when the cloud moved. That is my posture now. I move when the Spirit leads. I pause when God is silent. And I build only what he breathes on.

This journey has shown me that suffering and stillness are sometimes the very tools God uses to deepen trust. Leviticus 11:44 says, “Be holy, for I am holy.” Holiness is not just moral purity. It is surrender. It is obedience. It is the willingness to wait when every part of you wants to run. As I minister, I carry that now. I teach it. I live it.

The Pentateuch is more than law. It is a call to become. It is God forming a people who will reflect his heart, carry his word, and steward his glory. And just like Israel, I am being shaped day by day to possess what cannot be shaken. The promise is real, but so is the process. And I no longer fear it. I embrace it. Because I know now that the fire never comes to burn me. It comes to prepare me for the glory that is on the other side.