The Rod Of God

One can read in the book of Exodus in the scriptures, that he gives Moses various ways in order to persuade the Israelites showing that God was on their side. Prior to the 10 plagues, God gave Moses the ability to make the Nile red when he poured it on land, to make his hand leprous when he took it out of his cloak, and to turn a snake into a staff. The staff became known as the Rod of God. Basically, the Rod of God was the means or sign whereby God was working through Moses and shown to all. It was a visible sign (or spirit) that works for the good of the believer and against transgressors. "I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord." Ezekiel 20:36-38. A sign from an invisible or unseen God, who works by and with his servants having an active faith in him. Jesus appeared to the eleven (As Judas hung himself on a tree and died prior to this). Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. In Acts 2:14-37 we see that Peter as spokesman with the other disciples agreeing, preached the gospel to a representative from every nation under heaven in these verses. Verse 16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Acts 2:38-41 Peter and the others baptized the repentant believers who already asked him how to be saved in the name of Jesus. Verse 17-18. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Paul in Acts 19:11-13 did the following to confirm these signs. And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. Also in Acts 28:3-6 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. One must remember that doctrines of devils not based on the word of God are spiritual deadly weapons of the enemy. But though we're exposed to them, by our active faith and true grace that we feel no effects nor desire to accept nor trade the truth for a lie. New tongues also means filth is removed from our language. Though new tongues is often interpreted as other and unknown tongues and it is, the Gift of the Holy Ghost is never commanded for salvation purposes within the word of God. No doubt many will speak with tongues but faith is what saves us and gives us the victory over the world. Baptism is a commandment by Jesus but the Gift of the Holy Ghost is simply that, a gift. 1 John 5:2-4 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Verse 19. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. God is a spirit (Singular). Spirits have no hands. Therefore we read in Mark 14:62 this: And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. And right hand represents power as most people are right handed. Verse 20. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. In Romans 10:8-17 we read that the word of God was preached to the whole world to save it. Only

those who believed and confessed Jesus with all and were baptized in his precious name. Acts 8:26-40 The Eunuch was preached to by Philip and believed confessing Jesus Christ with his mouth and believing in his heart, being was baptized in the name of God. Zechariah 14:9 And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. In Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Acts 10:36 Jesus is Lord of all. Thereby, Jesus is the one name of both the Lord God and his whole family according to Ephesians 3:15, John 5:43/14:26, and Matthew 1:21. If anyone has an issue with what has been written, then let them ask God in faith and doubting not and they will receive an answer. James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Paul himself called upon the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation. He prayed, fasted, and believed God and finally a servant sent from God gave him one in Acts 22:16. And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Paul also baptized that way (John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me). You can read that in Acts 16:15/33, 18:8, and 19 :1-5. God today still indwells in his servants hearts and lives. And he speaks to them with that still small voice. 1 Kings 19:11-12: And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. They receive dreams and visions as promised by God. Joel 2:28-29 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. All believers possess the Holy Spirit that speaks to them. The Holy Spirit lives inside the Christian and guides believers by empowering them believer to do regular and extraordinary acts of faith for God. Being filled with the Spirit involves transforming our minds by focusing on Christ Jesus and not the things of the world. Walking in the Spirit leads us to peace, love, and joy. All acts of disobedience lead to a loss of infilling by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30: And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Instead of being drunk with wine, we are instead told to be filled with the Holy Spirit of the one true God who is without divisions. Ephesians 5:18: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. Also in Acts 13:52 we read the Apostles "And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." Once we rise in the likeness of Christ (Matthew 3:12-17, Romans 6:1-4, and Colossians 2:12) from the watery grave, then one can read the word of God with a new understanding or spiritual enlightenment. You will feel another presence inside. This spirit is from God. It will train and teach you until the day you leave this earth. God will then be closer to you than a brother. He will inspire you to do good deeds and witness to others by various means. The old desires of the flesh will conflict with new imparted spirit inside you at times. For instance, if before you were a drunkard then your old friends (who will certainly try to turn you back to the lusts and pride of this present world,) will marvel at the transformation in both of your words and deeds. They will never truly have you back even if you return to them; as there always will be a different feel and spirit in you, than in them. You will see the devices of the enemy and discern them. There will be greater spiritual battles and victories. And you will have the same spirit that Christ held while on the earth and all of his disciples. The most important aspect of all this is not the power to cast out Satan, heal, or work wonders in Jesus name; but rather having your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Eternal life will be

yours and nobody except yourself can take it away. God purchased you with the price of the Cross of Calvary and has power over all the enemy and elements. Romans 8:28-39 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yet, he gave us all the freedom to choose or refuse him in all things. And actions do speak much louder than words. Go forth and lift up Christ Jesus to a lost and dying world. When we commit all things into his hands then the results will according to his will, and no matter what they are, you will have his peace that passes all understanding inside your heart and life. The kingdom of the spirit of God will be inside you. Luke 17:21: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. And one day it will be made manifest for all to see and know it to be true. This is the truth and eternal hope that we have through Christ Jesus our Lord, Savior, and Master. May God give you wisdom in all matters concerning his word and will.