THE ROD
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me" - Psalm 23:4
The rod in the hand of Moses was not a walking aid, he used the rod to shepherd the sheep of his father in-law. But that was the same instrument the Lord pointed him to, so he could lead his people out of the land of Egypt. Depending on their disposition, the rod was meant to show them the way, it was also meant for correction, yes - it was the core instrument of power.
As Moses and Aaron had in their hands rods, so the Egyptian magicians had theirs also..there is always an imitation of the kingdom power, don't be surprised that immoral men may perform miracles too, they may gather members, all are imitations of the kingdom.
If there is no rod in a leader's hand, there may not be an instrument of power. The very first asset the Lord pointed out to Moses, was that he is equipped with the rod in his hand. You who say you are a leader with empty hands, what would be your strength. Everything the Lord did with Moses and Aaron were done through the rod of their hands.
Sometimes, the rod will serve as correction aid to put out foolishness from our hearts. The Christian today must know, we must find out the implication of the rod to us. The rod must be there, lest we stray away. Against the enemy, the rod was lifted...the rod must not be used in anger. The rod is to bring comfort to the saints but trouble to the stained!
INSTRUMENT OF POWER
"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." - Isaiah 11:1
For us as children of God in this dispensation, Jesus is the Rod from Jesse, He is the instrument of power and He is the Rod that comforts all men. To those who do not identify with this great Instrument, they will remain powerless. That Rod has come in person of Jesus. The seven Spirit of God are at work in Him and anyone who submits to the rod will contact the power of the Rod.
It is Him who is the Rod that leads us and comforts us on all side, He is the Rod that points us to the Father, He is the Rod that when lifted up in our lives and hearts, victory is assured. Anyone who ignores or despises this Rod of Jesse is a sheep wandering about without a shepherd.
It is at the mention of His name, the Rod that, every knee bow...just as the rod of Aaron swallowed all other rods in Egypt, the Rod Jesus, will swallow up every other power. Even if men are diabolical and use evil to get things done...the Rod of Jesse will swallow them up!
"And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs." - Exo 4:17
Nothing of significance, nothing of eternal value, nothing of edification can be done without the Rod of Jesse, that is Jesus - we will be exposed without the Rod, we will become just like sounding cymbal if we are without the Rod of Jesse.
The scripture tells us that, we are for signs and wonders - but that can only happen if, the Rod is with us. Don't overlook this sacred truth, don't ignore this treasure of the Word - take the Rod with you! You may never be an effective leader without the Rod - you may not even amount to anything in life without the Rod of Jesse.
Extol the stem of Jesse's rod and crown Him Lord of all!
THE BUDDING ROD
"And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you." - Num 17:5
Every family have their Rod, this could represent ancestral gods or a cultural symbol as it was seen in Israel at that time, but it is the budding rod that we must identify with, there has to be a clear demarcation between the rod in your hand and the one others use. You say you are called to lead, but the fruits of the Spirit do not bud in you...you say you use the name of Jesus, yet your character is alien to the life of Jesus - this will only cause rebellion among the sheepfold, as the rod of Aaron that budded, was to serve as warning and to esteem Aaron as the chosen leader.
Dear Christain, if you stay attached to the vine that is Jesus, your fruit will be evident, within twenty-four hours, Aaron's rod had brought forth fresh almonds...it shouldn't take an unbeliever years to see the fruits of the Spirit bud inside of you. Every tree must bear of its own kind...while we put you before the tabernacle, can we prove that His seed is inside of you? Without photosynthesis, in the harshest of conditions, the rod of Aaron budded...as Christians, there are no seasons where the fruits must not be seen. In season and out of season, there must be proves that we have the genuine rod.
O, you rebellious sheep, are you blind to see that God has chosen that leader over you.. In fact, we have become gullible in our time that, it is shepherds without a budding rod we choose to follow. I can imagine how ugly Aaron's rod will look that day, though, beautiful fruits were hanging over it, yet some were undiscerning to know that it was spiritually beautiful!
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4
Dear friend, if you don't stay attached to the vine you will wither, if you are in the vine you will be pruned so as to bear much more fruit. The rod you say you bear must have fruits..you cannot be naming Jesus everywhere and we see a different kind of person. You desperately should want this budding Rod, to validate your ministry.
Let us come into the temple, have our true identity spelt out on us, as it was for all the clan of Israel that day, so that there won't be mistaken identity, let us tarry all night bending our knees and crying that the fruit bud in us...maybe it is taking longer, but the Lord can validate your ministry with a supernatural working within a day.
Maybe what you need is a pruning, maybe you are still attached, but you have not surrendered yourself for His pruning. Please submit yourself, leave yourself that you may bear much more fruit. Pruning may be sharp and hurtful, it may be that you think this is your peak and that you need not be pruned, please, you need a constant pruning... Don't fake your identity, take yourself into His arm that your rod may bud.
THE CORRECTING ROD
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him." - Prov 22:15
How we fail to apply the above scripture to our very lives, we ourselves become foolish when we think, the rod spoken of is just for beating an erring child. Though it may be necessary to use the physical rod to help a foolish child, we too must always use the Rod of Jesse, in whom lie the spirit of wisdom to cast out all foolishness.
The world is getting more foolish, atheism is spreading, but the reality of the Rod of Jesse will make the wisdom of the world foolishness. The scripture is meant for rebuke, correction, doctrine -- and I must tell you, we are not using this tool of correction to gain wisdom enough. Every act of foolishness can be confounded through the reality of the Rod of Jesse.
It is he whom the Father loves that He chastise, dear friend chastisement will come with the rod of correction. Though it may not be so convenient, yet because He doesn't want you to be a wrong handler - He will not spare you so you will not be spoilt.
"Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell." - Prov 23:13-14
Most of us have past the stage of physical flogging, but we all need our souls to be delivered from hell. We need to accept the correcting rod as the only measure of helping us. We must not become too soft on the sheep or the sinner, we must tell them the truth, because seeing them in hell will not be rewarding for us, why not try a little discomfort to these sheep, so that they are delivered from hell.
How can we be saved, if the rod is spared from us, while we walk through this valley of the shadow of death, for us not to fear, His rod and staff must bring comfort. This is a tool that cannot be glossed over. Dear friend, some messages may seem harsh and irrational, it may be too extreme for you...but look at the bright side - it is to deliver your soul from hell!
If we are not corrected lovingly but sternly, we should not be deceived that we are loved...let us begin to embrace this rod of correction so that we do not become lost. Let us see that the multipurpose use of the rod is well utilized on us.
WRONG HANDLERS
"Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, 'The child has not awakened.'" - 2Kings 4:31
The problem of Gehazi didn't just start with greed when he collected gifts from Namman the Syrian, just as the problem of Judas did not just start when he betrayed Jesus. There had been red flags all along in the ministry that he lost sight of or overlooked as one of those things. Judas was always stealing the offering. Gehazi's greed was something that he refused to drop from the old sinful man...he loved vanities, he was slave to them, and it broke his consecration.
How can one explain that the the rod, the instrument of power failed in his hand? How can one explain that Gehazi who had always been close to the anointed, took hold of the staff and yet couldn't do anything...O, it is a pity that many will have the privilege to raise the dead and cast out demons, but their sinful life will disgrace them! I weep for that man, when all your outward show cannot produce signs and wonders.
Everyday, I wonder what we do with this Rod of Jesse at our disposal. We say we have Jesus and that He is our all, yet we are scared of scorpions and are afraid of serpents, everything makes the new generation Christain apprehensive and tensed, it could be that your secret sinful life is coming to the fore and making the Rod ineffective in your hands.
"Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe Me, to hollow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.'" - Num 20:11-12
There was water and maybe Moses would have felt like a champion when he struck the rock twice with the rod, but it was at this point he lost it all. It can be funny when men, like Samson of old, are deceived to take performance for fellowship - O brother, God may be using you - but you may just be one foot in hell already! You know yourself, yes you know your error - you must be temperate in all things, lest you lose that crown of glory. And in case, you are already walking in error, repent now before it is too late.
Of course you know how Gehazi brought leprosy upon his generation because of greed, sometimes, the consequences of being a wrong handler of the rod are heavy. The promised land would have been the greatest achievement for Moses, but because he handled the rod wrongly, it ended badly.
Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, would you heed this serious warning now and save your soul, would you disengaged from those little foxes that eat up the vine...would you stop abusing grace and allow that same grace to make you a worthy handler of the Rod.
CONCLUSION: There is a powerful Rod of Jesse available to all believer today for signs and wonders. Make sure your rod buds and that you are not a wrong handler. Embrace the Rod also for correction.
God bless you and I love you.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
The rod in the hand of Moses was not a walking aid, he used the rod to shepherd the sheep of his father in-law. But that was the same instrument the Lord pointed him to, so he could lead his people out of the land of Egypt. Depending on their disposition, the rod was meant to show them the way, it was also meant for correction, yes - it was the core instrument of power.
As Moses and Aaron had in their hands rods, so the Egyptian magicians had theirs also..there is always an imitation of the kingdom power, don't be surprised that immoral men may perform miracles too, they may gather members, all are imitations of the kingdom.
If there is no rod in a leader's hand, there may not be an instrument of power. The very first asset the Lord pointed out to Moses, was that he is equipped with the rod in his hand. You who say you are a leader with empty hands, what would be your strength. Everything the Lord did with Moses and Aaron were done through the rod of their hands.
Sometimes, the rod will serve as correction aid to put out foolishness from our hearts. The Christian today must know, we must find out the implication of the rod to us. The rod must be there, lest we stray away. Against the enemy, the rod was lifted...the rod must not be used in anger. The rod is to bring comfort to the saints but trouble to the stained!
INSTRUMENT OF POWER
"There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." - Isaiah 11:1
For us as children of God in this dispensation, Jesus is the Rod from Jesse, He is the instrument of power and He is the Rod that comforts all men. To those who do not identify with this great Instrument, they will remain powerless. That Rod has come in person of Jesus. The seven Spirit of God are at work in Him and anyone who submits to the rod will contact the power of the Rod.
It is Him who is the Rod that leads us and comforts us on all side, He is the Rod that points us to the Father, He is the Rod that when lifted up in our lives and hearts, victory is assured. Anyone who ignores or despises this Rod of Jesse is a sheep wandering about without a shepherd.
It is at the mention of His name, the Rod that, every knee bow...just as the rod of Aaron swallowed all other rods in Egypt, the Rod Jesus, will swallow up every other power. Even if men are diabolical and use evil to get things done...the Rod of Jesse will swallow them up!
"And you shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs." - Exo 4:17
Nothing of significance, nothing of eternal value, nothing of edification can be done without the Rod of Jesse, that is Jesus - we will be exposed without the Rod, we will become just like sounding cymbal if we are without the Rod of Jesse.
The scripture tells us that, we are for signs and wonders - but that can only happen if, the Rod is with us. Don't overlook this sacred truth, don't ignore this treasure of the Word - take the Rod with you! You may never be an effective leader without the Rod - you may not even amount to anything in life without the Rod of Jesse.
Extol the stem of Jesse's rod and crown Him Lord of all!
THE BUDDING ROD
"And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you." - Num 17:5
Every family have their Rod, this could represent ancestral gods or a cultural symbol as it was seen in Israel at that time, but it is the budding rod that we must identify with, there has to be a clear demarcation between the rod in your hand and the one others use. You say you are called to lead, but the fruits of the Spirit do not bud in you...you say you use the name of Jesus, yet your character is alien to the life of Jesus - this will only cause rebellion among the sheepfold, as the rod of Aaron that budded, was to serve as warning and to esteem Aaron as the chosen leader.
Dear Christain, if you stay attached to the vine that is Jesus, your fruit will be evident, within twenty-four hours, Aaron's rod had brought forth fresh almonds...it shouldn't take an unbeliever years to see the fruits of the Spirit bud inside of you. Every tree must bear of its own kind...while we put you before the tabernacle, can we prove that His seed is inside of you? Without photosynthesis, in the harshest of conditions, the rod of Aaron budded...as Christians, there are no seasons where the fruits must not be seen. In season and out of season, there must be proves that we have the genuine rod.
O, you rebellious sheep, are you blind to see that God has chosen that leader over you.. In fact, we have become gullible in our time that, it is shepherds without a budding rod we choose to follow. I can imagine how ugly Aaron's rod will look that day, though, beautiful fruits were hanging over it, yet some were undiscerning to know that it was spiritually beautiful!
"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." - John 15:4
Dear friend, if you don't stay attached to the vine you will wither, if you are in the vine you will be pruned so as to bear much more fruit. The rod you say you bear must have fruits..you cannot be naming Jesus everywhere and we see a different kind of person. You desperately should want this budding Rod, to validate your ministry.
Let us come into the temple, have our true identity spelt out on us, as it was for all the clan of Israel that day, so that there won't be mistaken identity, let us tarry all night bending our knees and crying that the fruit bud in us...maybe it is taking longer, but the Lord can validate your ministry with a supernatural working within a day.
Maybe what you need is a pruning, maybe you are still attached, but you have not surrendered yourself for His pruning. Please submit yourself, leave yourself that you may bear much more fruit. Pruning may be sharp and hurtful, it may be that you think this is your peak and that you need not be pruned, please, you need a constant pruning... Don't fake your identity, take yourself into His arm that your rod may bud.
THE CORRECTING ROD
"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him." - Prov 22:15
How we fail to apply the above scripture to our very lives, we ourselves become foolish when we think, the rod spoken of is just for beating an erring child. Though it may be necessary to use the physical rod to help a foolish child, we too must always use the Rod of Jesse, in whom lie the spirit of wisdom to cast out all foolishness.
The world is getting more foolish, atheism is spreading, but the reality of the Rod of Jesse will make the wisdom of the world foolishness. The scripture is meant for rebuke, correction, doctrine -- and I must tell you, we are not using this tool of correction to gain wisdom enough. Every act of foolishness can be confounded through the reality of the Rod of Jesse.
It is he whom the Father loves that He chastise, dear friend chastisement will come with the rod of correction. Though it may not be so convenient, yet because He doesn't want you to be a wrong handler - He will not spare you so you will not be spoilt.
"Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell." - Prov 23:13-14
Most of us have past the stage of physical flogging, but we all need our souls to be delivered from hell. We need to accept the correcting rod as the only measure of helping us. We must not become too soft on the sheep or the sinner, we must tell them the truth, because seeing them in hell will not be rewarding for us, why not try a little discomfort to these sheep, so that they are delivered from hell.
How can we be saved, if the rod is spared from us, while we walk through this valley of the shadow of death, for us not to fear, His rod and staff must bring comfort. This is a tool that cannot be glossed over. Dear friend, some messages may seem harsh and irrational, it may be too extreme for you...but look at the bright side - it is to deliver your soul from hell!
If we are not corrected lovingly but sternly, we should not be deceived that we are loved...let us begin to embrace this rod of correction so that we do not become lost. Let us see that the multipurpose use of the rod is well utilized on us.
WRONG HANDLERS
"Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, 'The child has not awakened.'" - 2Kings 4:31
The problem of Gehazi didn't just start with greed when he collected gifts from Namman the Syrian, just as the problem of Judas did not just start when he betrayed Jesus. There had been red flags all along in the ministry that he lost sight of or overlooked as one of those things. Judas was always stealing the offering. Gehazi's greed was something that he refused to drop from the old sinful man...he loved vanities, he was slave to them, and it broke his consecration.
How can one explain that the the rod, the instrument of power failed in his hand? How can one explain that Gehazi who had always been close to the anointed, took hold of the staff and yet couldn't do anything...O, it is a pity that many will have the privilege to raise the dead and cast out demons, but their sinful life will disgrace them! I weep for that man, when all your outward show cannot produce signs and wonders.
Everyday, I wonder what we do with this Rod of Jesse at our disposal. We say we have Jesus and that He is our all, yet we are scared of scorpions and are afraid of serpents, everything makes the new generation Christain apprehensive and tensed, it could be that your secret sinful life is coming to the fore and making the Rod ineffective in your hands.
"Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe Me, to hollow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.'" - Num 20:11-12
There was water and maybe Moses would have felt like a champion when he struck the rock twice with the rod, but it was at this point he lost it all. It can be funny when men, like Samson of old, are deceived to take performance for fellowship - O brother, God may be using you - but you may just be one foot in hell already! You know yourself, yes you know your error - you must be temperate in all things, lest you lose that crown of glory. And in case, you are already walking in error, repent now before it is too late.
Of course you know how Gehazi brought leprosy upon his generation because of greed, sometimes, the consequences of being a wrong handler of the rod are heavy. The promised land would have been the greatest achievement for Moses, but because he handled the rod wrongly, it ended badly.
Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, depart from iniquity, would you heed this serious warning now and save your soul, would you disengaged from those little foxes that eat up the vine...would you stop abusing grace and allow that same grace to make you a worthy handler of the Rod.
CONCLUSION: There is a powerful Rod of Jesse available to all believer today for signs and wonders. Make sure your rod buds and that you are not a wrong handler. Embrace the Rod also for correction.
God bless you and I love you.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
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