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Tag: If my people who are called by my name

(The power of) An Olive Leaf

Genesis 8:11 reads “And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.” Did you notice the singularity of what was brought back, by the dove, to Noah and his family – it was an olive leaf; one olive leaf (unlike what most images of this account depict, which is an olive branch with many olive leaves in it). Now why is this significant?

First it is interesting to note that it was an Olive leaf (not an apple leaf or a pomegranate leaf or any other kind of leaf). Second, it was one Olive leaf.

Chris Kilham, a well known authority on natural medicine, who focuses on natural remedies worldwide, writes in his article entitled “The healing power of olive leaf”, that was published in the “Nutrition and Fitness” section of Fox News on January 23, 2013, that the olive leaf has tremendous medicinal benefits, from controlling blood pressure, stabilizing blood sugar and controlling diabetes. He writes, that oleuropein, the primary compound in the olive leaf is an excellent medicine to fight internal antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal infections. This compound is also researched to be an antioxidant which inhibits the oxidant of lipids, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, besides being anti-inflammatory, which reduces the likelihood of nervous/degenerative diseases. Additionally, oleuropein is also speculated to increase the production of thermogenin, which is attributed to burning fat efficiently, which could lead to a healthier lifestyle. Furthermore, the olive leaf is an excellent source of apigenin and luteolin, two anti-cancer compounds and cinchonine, which is anti-malarial. So while the olive tree is known for its oil and fruit, it’s leaf is highly valuable for its healing powers.”

Now enough of the botany lesson, lets get back to the Scripture.
First, Ezekiel 47:12 speaks of the leaf as a source of medicine. The very last chapter in the Bible informs us that, in the midst of the street, on either side of the river that flowed from the throne of God, was the tree of life, which produces twelve manner of fruit, every month: and the leaves of this tree was for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1-2).  Jesus is the tree of life and he is the hope (of healing) of all nations (Matthew 12:21). In fact, he is the ONLY hope and source of healing for all nations. If only we, his people, who are called by his name, would humble ourselves and pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways, he will hear from heaven and will come and heal our land (nations), forgiving our sins and spiritually restoring our health (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Second, it was an olive leaf – ONE Olive leaf. There is only one, one name, by which man can be saved, that is given under heaven or earth (Acts 4:12) and that name is Jesus, to which every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that he is Lord (Philippians 2:10).

Points to ponder:
Jesus Christ is The Olive Leaf, that brings healing to all the nations and He is the Only One by whom, you and I can be saved. Have you received This Olive Leaf? Have you humbled yourself and called on the name of the Lord, praying and seeking his face, turning from our wicked ways, so that he can spiritually heal us forgiving our sins and healing our land.

Genesis 8:11 (KJV)
11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.

Revelation 22:1-2 (KJV)
1. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Acts 4:10-13 (KJV)
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Fox News Source: http://fxn.ws/1oR9aex

Playing hide and seek with God

Someone said, “Life is like a game of hide and seek; we are either hiding from God or seeking him.” When we falter and sin, we try to hide our shame, on account of our sins, from God, as did Adam, and fool ourselves into thinking that we can hide from the only One who is not only omnipresent (Psalm 139:8) but also omnipotent (Job 42:2; Luke 1:37) and omniscient (Acts 15:18). There are no hidden (secret) sins with God for every account of our life is laid nakedly bare in front of him (Psalm 90:8). And when we are in dire straits we often seek him, although we must be seeking him first (Matthew 6:33) and at all times and not just at the time of need. Psalm 119:164 records that we must praise him seven times a day implying that we must praise him without ceasing at dawn, morning, brunch, lunch, twilight, evening, night (all day long). The Bible promises that if we seek him we will find him (Matthew 7:7) and let us seek him when he may still be found (Isaiah 55:6-7), now in the time of Grace.

Points to ponder:
Are you/I hiding from God? If you/I are hiding, let us believe in the Lord Jesus and repent of our sins so that he may clean us and clothe us with robes of his righteousness. Are you/I seeking him (all the time)? Remember, one thing is sure, irrespective of whether we seek him or not, he is expectantly yearning for us and seeking us, as did the Father of the prodigal son. Let life not be a game of hide and seek, but a practice of seeking and finding God constantly, for when we seek his face and humble and pray, and turn from our wicked ways (repent), he will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal the land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Note, seeking and repentance bring forgiveness and healing; hiding does not.

Psalm 90:8 (KJV)
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 

Isaiah 55:6-7 (KJV)
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

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