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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life Issue 745 March 1, 2003 - Under Cover I was walking home from the drugstore yesterday, and freezing rain mixed with snow was falling. It wasn't raining or snowing hard, just enough to be uncomfortable. A friend was driving by and offered me a lift home. I gratefully accepted the ride even though I was nearly home. It was nice to be covered in and protected from the elements. There are many times in life when being under cover is important. Protection from the elements is one. A hunter will quickly share with you the benefits of being under cover when hunting. A soldier understands the importance of being under cover. As children we're under the cover of our parent's protection. As citizens we should be under the cover of our country's legislation. There are a number of delightful examples of being under cover in Scripture. When the floods came Noah was under the cover of the ark. Noah built the ark as commanded by God, but it was God who closed it up and left Noah and his family in protective custody. On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in. Genesis 7:13-16 NIV Noah and his family were under God's protective cover for the duration of the flood. The Ark of the Testimony had an atonement cover, protected by two cherubim. It was there that God met with Moses. Make an atonement cover of pure gold--two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites. Exodus 25:17-22 NIV The Ark of the Testimony was placed in the Holy of Holies and shielded behind a curtain. Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place Exodus 26:31-34 NIV The curtain provided cover for people in the tabernacle. Only the high priest was allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place, anyone else who did so would die. After Christ came, was crucified and resurrected, our sins were washed away and hidden under the cover of Jesus' blood This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:5-7 NIV As God's children, we're under a cover of protection against the enemy. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 NIV Whatever you are facing today, remember that you are under the cover of God's mighty and merciful hand. Until next time, rejoice in being safely undercover. Be blessed Hallelu Yah (Praise God)! Kevin YOU ARE Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you can live in victory. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. Are you tired of fighting the world on your own? Are you feeling battered and discouraged? Perhaps it is time for you to get under the cover of God's protective hand. You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your heart, admitting you need God's help, and saying a prayer along the lines of: Jesus: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with you. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports email us If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page . You can write to us at Gleanings From The Word Ministries International 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2003 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministisries International - All Rights Reserved
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