THE MEASURE and THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE
Monday – December 19, 2016
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ from Eastern Gate Ministries International and The Three Minute Word publications. God is so good, He has given us His Word so we do not need to stumble in the dark. Makes one wonder why so many stumble in darkness both in and out of the Church. Perhaps it is willful rebellion, and I want to do it my way attitude, followed by a progressive hardening of the heart and subsequent inability to see the light. Oh, that we would all be granted mercy and lovingkindness by the Lord.
Back to our text from the Book of Ephesians. Ephesians is the tenth book of the New Testament. The number ten (10) has to do with testimony and responsibility. So we should expect this Book to be a testimony to us or might we say an example and instruction manual of what we are to do. This Book also reflects our responsibilities in the Kingdom of God.
Ephesians 4:7-8 (KJV)
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Today I will focus on “grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” from Ephesians 4:7. Let me remind us all that grace here in this passage should be capitalized since it is referring to a facet or function of the Holy Spirit known as Grace or the Grace of God. This word from the Greek to English is also commonly translated as favor. In order to receive a favor, there must be a favor giver and He is the Holy Spirit, in this function known as Grace. The Holy Spirit, Grace, functions in our lives according to the gift or gifts of Christ given us with unlimited potential within that gift. If we decide we like another gift we will operate in that gift on the carnal, natural, level only, it will be hard and burdensome. The Grace of God will entice people around us who might otherwise be hostile choose to be favorable to us. The Grace of God given us not only causes things to go our way (His way) but empowers us for our assignment in the supernatural realm simultaneously teaching us about our gifting’s facilitating our maturity.
To facilitate our understanding I want to present a couple of passages of Scripture which will illustrate the variance in gifts given and the diligence of the one to whom the gifts are given. First let’s consider the parable of the talents found in Matthew chapter twenty-five. To one person the employer gave five talents, to another two talents, and to the third one talent according to their abilities. Let me insert here that the abilities of a person are determined by spiritual and physical inheritance and the person themselves. When the employer returned the one given five now had ten, the one given two now had four, and the person given one still had the one. The one who gained five and the one who gained two both entered into the joy of the Lord. When we are obedient to the Lord this gives Him great joy and opens the windows of Heaven in our behalf. More on this in a moment.
Matthew 25:21 (KJV)
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Remember our strength is in the joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10). Notice the Biblical Numerology of this Nehemiah reference. Nehemiah is the sixteenth book of the Old Testament and sixteen is the number of love (love is God and us performing the Word of God). Eight is the number of new beginnings and ten is the number of responsibility. There is never a question of God’s willingness to exercise His love toward us which is a performance of His Word. The question is, are we willing to love God by performing His Word? Their love of God that day required those people (and us) to do the Word of God giving them a new start. Our willing obedience to the Word of God brings joy to the heart of the Father and puts us in a position for Him to move in our lives. Now let’s see what happened to unproductive servant.
Matthew 25:30 (KJV)
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Let me just say right off the bat, that does not sound good to me and I am determined that my Lord will not find me unprofitable.
Next, let’s consider the parable of the pounds in Luke 19:11-27. In this case a certain nobleman called his servants and gave to each ten pounds and told them to do business until he returned. When the nobleman returned one had gained ten more pounds, one had gained five more pounds, and one had gained none. First let’s look at those who gained or were productive.
Luke 19:17-19 (KJV)
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
In this case you see that they were all given the same number of pounds and the reward was proportional to the productivity of the individual. All had the same opportunity. Now the fate of the unproductive servant.
Luke 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Here again, I don’t want anything to do with this outcome. So what is the takeaway from all of this? God gives opportunity and it is our responsibility to exploit those opportunities to the fullest for the Kingdom of God for the glory of our God, our Lord. There are no limits on us in the Kingdom of God. For example the person given the ten pounds or the five talents was not restrained in attaining even a greater amount. Productivity is directly related to willingness, diligence, and obedience. Our reward is directly proportional to our productivity (directly related to obedience). Our productivity in the Kingdom of God (which we cannot always measure in this life) produces joy in the Lord and this frees Him to bless us further.
Let us all determine our gift or gifts and commit ourselves to do them with our full heart asking the Holy Spirit (Grace) to teach us all things. We do this with our focus on Jesus and the Kingdom of God that we may enter into the joy of the Lord and attain to the highest level possible pleasing Him.
I want to take a moment to speak about the meeting of the Electoral College which is occurring today.
ELECTORAL COLLEGE
The Electoral College was established in the Federal Constitution by Article Two, and in the Twelfth Amendment to this same Constitution. It is also explained and defended by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Paper No. 68. At the time of each Presidential election each state has a process whereby a slate of electors are chosen according to the number of Senators and Representatives to the Federal Government. There are a total of 538 electors apportioned among the states. As a result of the election on the 8th of November 2016, the popular vote state by state, Hillary Clinton is entitled to 232 electoral votes and Donald Trump is entitled to 306 electoral votes. A majority or 270 votes is necessary to elect the next President of the United States. If the electors fail to follow the will of the people there are mechanism that are contained in the same passages of the Constitution to select the next President.
The law varies state by state so although these electors are pledged to vote for the will of the people in each state they are not legally required to do so. If you have been following this process you know that there is a move to deny Donald Trump the Presidency through the use of the Electoral College, which is getting pledged electors to break faith with the party and people of the state and vote for another. Let me assure you that there may be much tumult between now and the 20th of January 2017 but Barak Obama is leaving the White House and Donald Trump is entering the White House. Listen to what the Lord has to say.
Psalm 2:1-6 (KJV)
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psalm 37:11-15 (KJV)
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Psalm 59:6-9 (KJV)
6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.
I do not believe that any of you with ears to hear or eyes to see will have any trouble seeing the events of this day in the Scriptures presented by the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Remember Mr. Trump is not a solution by himself, he is an opportunity for the Church to stand and make America great again. God will make America great again on the wings of the earnest prayers of righteous men and women.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
