📌 Today's Readings are from the Book of 1 Chronicles 5–6 | Ephesians 5 📌 👇 Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading) 👇 1 Chronicles 5 Faith, Failure, and the God Who Gives Victory 1 Chronicles 5 records the genealogies and history of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. These tribes settled east of the Jordan River because the land was suitable for their livestock. Although the chapter contains many names, it presents a clear spiritual contrast between trusting God in battle and later abandoning Him through idolatry. The chapter begins with Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son. Because of his sin, however, the privileges of the firstborn were divided among others. Joseph received the birthright, while Judah became the tribe from which the ruler would come. This reveals that spiritual privilege carries responsibility. Position alone cannot replace obedience and godly character. The mention of Judah’s leadership is especially important. Although the chapter focuses on the eastern tribes, it reminds readers that the promised ruler would come from Judah. God was already directing Israel’s history toward David and ultimately toward the Messiah. The tribes east of the Jordan became strong and numerous. When they faced powerful enemies, they cried out to God during the battle. The Lord answered them because they trusted Him. Their victory did not come merely from their military skill, organization, or numbers. God gave the enemy into their hands because the battle belonged to Him. This moment demonstrates the power of dependence upon the Lord. These warriors prepared responsibly, but their confidence was ultimately placed in God. Faith did not eliminate action; it directed their action and gave them confidence that the Lord was fighting on their behalf. Sadly, the chapter does not end with victory. Over time, these same tribes became unfaithful to the God of their fathers and pursued the false gods of the surrounding nations. The people who once cried out to God in dependence gradually turned away from Him in compromise. As a result, the Lord allowed foreign kings to carry them into exile. Their military strength could not protect them once they abandoned the God who had given them victory. The chapter shows that past faithfulness does not guarantee future faithfulness. Every generation must continue walking with the Lord. Theologically, 1 Chronicles 5 reveals that victory comes through faith and dependence upon God, while spiritual compromise eventually leads to loss. The Lord responds to those who cry out to Him, but He also disciplines His people when they persistently abandon His covenant. This chapter points to Christ, the promised Ruler from the tribe of Judah. Unlike Israel’s earthly warriors, Jesus won the ultimate battle through perfect obedience to the Father. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated sin, death, and every spiritual enemy. All who trust in Him share in His victory. For believers today, 1 Chronicles 5 reminds us not to rely upon past victories, spiritual heritage, or personal strength. We must continue trusting the Lord in every battle and guarding our hearts against compromise. In Christ, we have a victorious King who hears us when we call upon Him and gives us strength to remain faithful. The battle belongs to the Lord, but we are called to walk in continual dependence, obedience, and trust. 1 Chronicles 6 Called to Worship and Serve in God’s Presence 1 Chronicles 6 focuses on the tribe of Levi, the family appointed by God to serve in connection with the tabernacle, the temple, the priesthood, and the worship of Israel. While the previous chapters trace royal and tribal lines, this chapter emphasizes the spiritual leadership that God established among His people. The genealogy traces the priestly line from Levi through Aaron and eventually to those who served before and after the exile. These records confirm that priestly service was not based upon personal ambition or human appointment. God called and established those who would minister before Him. Aaron’s descendants carried the responsibility of offering sacrifices and ministering at the altar. Their service reminded Israel that sinful people could not approach a holy God casually. Sacrifice, cleansing, mediation, and obedience were necessary because God is holy. The chapter also gives attention to the Levites who served through music and worship. David appointed singers to minister before the Lord, and their service became an important part of Israel’s spiritual life. Worship was not treated as an afterthought. It was organized, intentional, and centered upon the greatness of God. Different Levite families received different responsibilities. Some served as priests, others as singers, gatekeepers, assistants, or caretakers of sacred things. No single family performed every task. God distributed responsibilities so that His people would serve together in unity. This reveals that ministry is both spiritual and practical. Public worship depends upon many faithful servants fulfilling responsibilities that others may never notice. God values every role when it is performed with humility and faithfulness. The chapter also records the cities assigned to the Levites throughout Israel. Rather than receiving one large territory, the Levites were scattered among the tribes. Their presence reminded the entire nation of God’s Word, worship, and covenant. Spiritual instruction was intended to influence every part of Israel’s life. Yet the priesthood and sacrificial system were never the final answer to humanity’s sin. The priests themselves were imperfect and needed sacrifices for their own sins. Their ministry pointed beyond itself toward a greater Priest who would provide a complete and lasting sacrifice. Theologically, 1 Chronicles 6 reveals God’s holiness and His gracious provision for worship. He appoints priests, establishes sacrifice, orders ministry, and gives His people a way to approach His presence. The chapter also demonstrates that every form of service matters within the work of God. This chapter points directly to Jesus Christ, our perfect High Priest. Unlike the descendants of Aaron, Jesus is sinless and serves forever. He did not repeatedly offer animal sacrifices but offered Himself once for all. Through His finished work, believers receive forgiveness and direct access to the Father. For believers today, 1 Chronicles 6 reminds us that worship and service must remain central in our lives. Every believer has been called to serve according to the gifts and responsibilities God provides. Some roles are visible, while others are performed quietly, but every faithful act contributes to the work of God’s kingdom. In Christ, we are brought near to God and made part of a royal priesthood. We no longer depend upon an earthly priest to enter God’s presence on our behalf because Jesus has opened the way. Our response should be lives of worship, holiness, gratitude, and faithful service to the One who has redeemed us. Ephesians 5 — Walking in Love, Light, and Wisdom Through the Christ Ephesians chapter 5 continues Paul's practical instruction by describing what it means to live as those who have been transformed by the Christ, the Son of God. Building upon the call to put off the old way of life, this chapter presents three defining characteristics of Christian living: walking in love, walking in light, and walking in wisdom. Each of these is rooted in the believer's relationship with the Christ and reflects God's redemptive plan at work in everyday life. The chapter begins by calling believers to imitate God as His beloved children. This imitation is seen most clearly in love. The Christ demonstrated perfect love by willingly giving Himself for the salvation of humanity. His sacrificial love becomes both the foundation and the model for Christian living. The redemptive plan is centered on the self-giving love of the Son of God, and believers are called to reflect that same love in their relationships with others. Paul then contrasts this Christlike love with the sinful attitudes and behaviors that belong to the old life. Greed, impurity, selfishness, and corrupt speech are inconsistent with the new identity believers have received in the Christ. Christian living is marked by holiness because the Son of God has called His people to reflect His character. The redemptive plan transforms both the heart and the conduct of those who belong to Him. The chapter next describes believers as children of light. Having been rescued from spiritual darkness through the Christ, they are now called to live in a way that reflects truth, righteousness, and goodness. Light exposes what is hidden and reveals what pleases God. Christian living therefore requires discernment, continually choosing what honors the Son of God rather than conforming to the values of the world. Paul encourages believers to use their time wisely because the days are spiritually challenging. Rather than living carelessly, they are to seek the will of the Lord in every circumstance. The redemptive plan gives purpose to every moment of life. The Christ calls His followers to invest their lives in what has eternal value, recognizing that each day presents opportunities to glorify Him. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Instead of seeking satisfaction in temporary pleasures, believers are called to live under the Spirit's influence. This produces worship, gratitude, encouragement, and joyful obedience. Christian living is sustained by the continual work of the Holy Spirit, who enables believers to reflect the life of the Son of God. Paul then turns to relationships within the home, particularly marriage. He presents marriage as a living picture of the relationship between the Christ and His Church. Husbands are called to love sacrificially, following the example of the Son of God who gave Himself for His people. Wives are called to respond with respect and willing support. This relationship reflects God's redemptive plan by displaying the love, unity, and faithfulness that exist between the Christ and His redeemed people. The chapter concludes by elevating the significance of marriage beyond human companionship. Marriage becomes a testimony to the gospel itself. Just as the Christ lovingly cares for, nourishes, and sanctifies His Church, believers are called to reflect His character in their homes and relationships. Christian living demonstrates the reality of the gospel not only in public ministry but also in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. Throughout Ephesians chapter 5, the Christ remains the perfect example of love, holiness, wisdom, and sacrificial leadership. Every instruction flows from His character and points believers back to His finished work. The redemptive plan transforms every area of life, enabling God's people to walk in a manner worthy of the calling they have received. For believers today, this chapter reminds us that our lives should continually reflect the character of the Christ. Christian living means walking in sacrificial love, shining as children of light, living wisely, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide every decision. Whether in our worship, our relationships, or our daily responsibilities, we are called to display the beauty of the Son of God. As we follow His example and depend upon His grace, our lives become living testimonies of His transforming power and His eternal redemptive plan. #DailyBibleReading #OpenYourBible #StudyTheWord #ScriptureForToday #FaithJourney #GodsWord #BibleTime #WalkWithGod

Omodolapo Ogunye (Amazon Music. Apple podcasts. Audible. Deezer. Spotify) The Kitchen

The Body of the Word is the Richest Mine of Economic Resources. Join me for 15 minutes everyday in The Kitchen to explore and feed on the contents in the Body of the Word for economic resources to exchange for wealth in the economic environments of nations. Listen to The Kitchen on Amazon Music. Apple podcasts. Audible. Deezer. Spotify https://music.amazon.com/es-us/podcasts/37df4cbf-d46c-44af-9104-77c1a71f3d09/the-kitchen #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #money #worldwide

1. The Father using the Body of the Word to accomplish the purposes of his heart... 2. The Body of the Word is the zeal of the Lord Almighty. 3. The Father has always used the Body of the Word to accomplish his purposes on earth . Listen to The Kitchen on Amazon Music. Apple podcasts. Audible. Deezer. Spotify. https://shows.acast.com/the-kitchen/episodes/6a73011bf75191d0fae34179 #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #words #worldwide #churchonline

https://stream.zeno.fm/gnuuefdohogtv Join Pastor Ivan Hall every weekday morning 4 - 6 for your spiritual breakfast it is an experience you don't want to miss, come for the music stay for the fellowship Gold Radio Jamaica the oasis in the desert.❤️🙏🙏

Guard and Renew Your Mind (Romans 12:2) Your mind is a battlefield. Every day, you are exposed to thousands of messages telling you what to believe, what to desire, what success looks like, what happiness should look like, and what you should value. Social media. Music. Movies. Friends. News. Advertisements. The people you follow. The conversations you have. Even the thoughts you repeatedly tell yourself. Over time, these things can influence the way you think without you even realizing it. That's why the Bible says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Notice the word: Transformed. Following Jesus isn't simply about changing your appearance or using Christian language. Jesus wants to transform the way you think. The way you see yourself. The way you see other people. The way you respond to temptation. The way you handle money. The way you define success. The way you deal with disappointment. The way you make decisions. The way you understand your purpose. The world constantly tells you: “Follow your heart.” But Scripture teaches us to allow God to transform our hearts and minds through His truth. Not every thought you have deserves to be believed. Not every desire should be followed. Not every opinion online deserves your attention. Not every trend deserves your participation. Not every voice deserves influence over your life. You need discernment. Ask yourself: “Is this helping me become more like Christ?” That question can change the way you consume content. Before watching something, ask. Before listening to something repeatedly, ask. Before following someone online, ask. Before joining a conversation, ask. Before accepting a popular opinion, ask: “Does this agree with God's truth?” This doesn't mean you should hide from the world. Jesus called His followers to be lights in the world. But being in the world doesn't mean allowing the world's values to control you. You can use social media without allowing social media to define your worth. You can enjoy entertainment without allowing entertainment to shape your morality. You can learn from people without making people your ultimate authority. You can be aware of culture without becoming controlled by culture. Guard your mind. Because what repeatedly enters your mind eventually influences your heart, your words, and your actions. If you constantly consume negativity, don't be surprised when negativity begins shaping your outlook. If you constantly compare yourself with others, don't be surprised when you become dissatisfied with your own life. If you constantly consume materialism, don't be surprised when you begin believing that possessions determine your value. If you constantly listen to voices that tell you that you're not enough, don't be surprised when insecurity takes root. But the opposite is also true. Fill your mind with God's Word. Fill your mind with truth. Fill your mind with gratitude. Fill your mind with encouragement. Fill your mind with things that strengthen your faith. The more you know God's truth, the easier it becomes to recognize what contradicts it. That's why reading Scripture isn't just a religious routine. It renews your mind. When God's Word says you are created in His image, you don't have to let social media determine your worth. When God's Word says you are loved by God, you don't have to chase everyone's approval. When God's Word says God is with you, you don't have to allow fear to control every decision. When God's Word calls you to forgive, you don't have to allow bitterness to become your identity. When God's Word calls you to purity, you don't have to follow every desire. When God's Word calls you to serve, you don't have to live only for yourself. The battle for your life often begins with the battle for your mind. That's why Proverbs 4:23 tells us: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Be careful what you allow to take root. And when wrong thoughts enter your mind, don't panic. A thought appearing in your mind isn't the same as choosing to embrace it. Bring it to God. Challenge it with Scripture. Replace lies with truth. Replace fear with faith. Replace bitterness with forgiveness. Replace comparison with gratitude. Replace hopelessness with the promises of God. Replace pride with humility. Replace selfishness with love. This is part of spiritual growth. You don't become more like Christ overnight. It happens as God continually transforms you. Day by day. Thought by thought. Decision by decision. So today, take an honest look at what has been influencing your mind. What are you watching? What are you listening to? Who are you following? What conversations are you constantly participating in? What thoughts do you repeatedly tell yourself? Are these things drawing you closer to Christ—or pulling you away from Him? You don't have to keep consuming something simply because everyone else does. You don't have to follow every trend. You don't have to accept every popular opinion. You have permission to say: “This isn't good for my spiritual life.” Then walk away. Your mind is valuable. Your heart is valuable. Your spiritual life is valuable. Protect them. And most importantly, give them to God. Don't allow the world to shape you more than God's Word does. Let Christ transform you from the inside out. Today, choose one unhealthy influence to reduce and one godly influence to increase. Spend more time in Scripture. Pray. Worship. Choose wise friendships. Consume content that strengthens your faith. And ask God to renew your mind. What is one thing you need to remove from your mind or replace with God's truth today? #RenewYourMind #Romans122 #GuardYourHeart #ChristianMindset #GodsWord #FaithInAction #ChristianYouth #BiblicalTruth #FollowJesus #JesusSaves #ShareJesus #DailyFaith #Lordsbook #JMSM #KNKA

The AS series focuses on the LoveNorthernRivers Festival artists for September beginning with River Movement, with NM by Valley Worship Aus, Darren Coggan and Toria Grace plus Justin Michael, Rebecca Willis, Phil Spence and Zoe Elliot. Now with 90 songs running over 5 hours, check out the AGR Artists New Music playlist on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3tb3Nt3dbJewVzOWjnGF7O Vote for your favourite(s) below. #AussieGrown #CCM #AussieChristian #ChristianMusic

Guidelines for living. August 31st, 2026 What is a Creed? For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 The industrialist Henry Ford used to say that he knew the Church was a divine institution because, contended Ford, no other organization so poorly organized and run would have survived for 2000 years. Going beyond the satire of what he said, there is a measure of truth in his statement. After the resurrection, the followers of Jesus were left without an organization, with no financial base, and really without an organized plan for survival and growth. They had no buildings, no leader, and no game plan. It was almost fifteen years before Saul - known to history as the Apostle Paul - came on the scene. What held them together? What gave them cohesiveness? John, one of the youngest of the Twelve, partly answered that question at the end of his life. He wrote, "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us" (1 John 1:3). Simply put, two things were the basis of agreement and fellowship: what they had seen, and what they had heard, which began to be passed from generation to generation. One of the challenges confronting the church is this old issue: What brings us together and what keeps us together? Music won't do it anymore; neither will a unified translation of the Bible, though the Bible itself is our age-abiding source of authority and belief. But is there more? Shortly after the resurrection of Christ, men and women from different parts of the world began asking, "What do we really believe?" and "Is it the same everywhere?" The answers to those questions are contained in what are called the creeds of the church. Like you, perhaps, in the early years of my Christian experience, I thought of creeds and statements of faith as things that were rather dull and boring, of a historical nature. I wanted life and liberty. But eventually I came to appreciate the fact that the historical creeds of the church are something like the steel or iron bands that held the staves of an old-fashioned wooden barrel together. Remember the old wooden barrels of bygone years that held cider and apples and that sort of produce? Around the world there are different groups with different cultures and sometimes differing views of the truth of God's Word. They are much like the staves of a barrel, but the concise statements of creeds are like the iron bands that hold it all together. Within is the treasure of what God has revealed in His Word. In an age of diversity and fragmentation, we need to know what is important and why, which means taking a look at what has been believed from the days of the Early Church to the present. The earliest creed or statement of faith was included in Paul's letter to the Corinthians about 56 AD. He wrote, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Pretty simple: Christ died, He was buried, He rose again the third day. Over a period of years, especially when someone came along with strange or heretical beliefs, Christians said, "Whoa! Wait a minute! We don't believe that!" and they called church councils who took a hard look at what was commonly believed to be true, and the statement of faith expanded. Usually, the councils of the church simply recognized what God's Holy Spirit had universally impressed upon people. What do you believe, anyway? It's an issue of tremendous importance, and you need to know. Resource Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

The Story Behind the Hymns. THE STORY BEHIND "MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE COMING OF THE LORD" Some hymns belong to a church while others become part of the history of a people. “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord,” widely known as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” belongs to the second category. Its story is tied to one of the darkest chapters in American history: the Civil War, a conflict that split the United States and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Slavery stood at the centre of the crisis, and the question of whether a nation could call itself free while millions remained enslaved had become impossible to avoid. In 1861, Julia Ward Howe, a writer, poet and abolitionist, was in Washington, D.C., when she encountered Union troops singing “John Brown’s Body,” a marching song already popular among soldiers. The tune stayed with her. Someone suggested that she write new words for it. She did. According to Howe’s own account, the words came to her in the early hours of the morning. She woke with the opening line in her mind and began writing, afraid that the verses would escape her if she waited for daylight. “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord…” What followed was not a conventional hymn of comfort. Howe wrote with the language of the Old Testament prophets — judgment, wrath, righteousness and redemption. The battlefield became the setting for a larger moral argument. “He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” The line was stark and so was the time in which it was written. The hymn was published in the Atlantic Monthly in February 1862. It quickly found an audience among Union supporters and soldiers, giving words to a cause that many believed demanded more than military victory. The fight, in the hymn’s telling, was bound to a moral reckoning. Then came the line that would outlive the war: “His truth is marching on.” Those five words helped turn a Civil War song into an enduring hymn. For soldiers heading into battle, the words could sound like a declaration of faith. For abolitionists, they carried the promise that slavery would not have the final word. For families waiting at home, the hymn gave voice to the uncertainty, grief and conviction that defined the period. Its reach did not end when the guns fell silent. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” went on to become one of the most recognisable songs in American religious and public life. It has been heard in churches, at memorials, political gatherings, military ceremonies and historic moments across generations. Its power however, lies in more than its stirring melody. It was born at a time when America was asking whether freedom could survive its own contradictions. Julia Ward Howe answered with a poem that placed justice at the centre of the national struggle. More than a century and a half later, the words remain remarkably direct. They remind us that history is not always changed in grand halls or on battlefields. Sometimes it begins in the early hours of the morning, with a writer reaching for a pen before the words disappear. Julia Ward Howe picked up that pen and what she wrote became a song that generations would sing long after the war that inspired it had passed into history. “His truth is marching on.” That is the line that remains. Not simply as music but as a declaration.

The Kitchen Newsletter Good day, Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God. Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word. The Word Is More Than Written Letters John's experience on the island of Patmos gives us a remarkable starting point. He turned to see the voice speaking to him, and what he saw was not merely a written sentence or an abstract idea. He saw Jesus Christ—the living Word of God—in the appearance of a man, with a body. John describes His head and hair, His eyes, His feet, His voice, His right hand, His mouth and His face. “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.” Revelation 1:12–17 This is important. The Word of God is not merely letters printed on pages. The Word is a living Person. And the Body of this living Word is the image of the invisible God. Hebrews tells us: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3 Paul similarly describes Christ as: “the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 So when we look at the Body of the Word, we are looking at the revelation of the invisible God. The invisible God cannot be seen with ordinary physical eyes. But He has made Himself known through the Body of the Word. That is why Paul says that God has caused light to shine in our hearts: “to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 The face represents the person. The body gives us the detailed descriptions through which the Person of the Word is revealed. God Is Speaking From the Body of the Word There is another dimension here that I find particularly striking. Jesus does not merely want His Church to know about Him. He wants His Church to know Him. After John saw these things, Jesus said: “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” Revelation 1:19 And Isaiah declares: “The hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants.” Isaiah 66:14 The Scriptures testify about the Person of the Word. Jesus Himself said: “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” John 5:39 Therefore, when Scripture gives us a description of the head, hair, eyes, face, hands, feet or mouth of the Word, we should not dismiss those descriptions as insignificant details. They are invitations to look deeper. The details of the Body of the Word become doors into the knowledge of God. This is why the Holy Spirit is so important. Jesus said concerning the Spirit of Truth: “.....He will take from what is mine and make known to you.” John 16:13–15 And Revelation repeatedly gives us this instruction: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7 The Spirit takes from Christ and makes Christ known. So the revelation of Scripture concerning the Body of the Word is not merely information. It is what the Spirit is saying to the churches. THE BODY OF THE WORD IS WHITE LIKE WOOL AND SNOW Now let us look at one particular description. John says: “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow.” Revelation 1:14 Notice that John is describing the head and hair, but the revelation does not have to stop at the head and hair. The description points us toward the description of the whole Person. Daniel saw something remarkably similar: “His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.” Daniel 7:9 Then the Song of Solomon gives us another description: “His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.” Song of Solomon 5:15 Lebanon was known for its majestic mountain ranges and snow. The Scriptures are therefore giving us a consistent picture: whiteness, wool, snow, purity. Isaiah makes the meaning of this imagery particularly clear: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 White like snow. White like wool. The picture is purity. Cleanliness. Freedom from stain. No defect. No blemish. No corruption. So when we see the Body of the Word described as white like wool and white as snow, we are being brought into a revelation of the purity and holiness of God. The Body of the Word Is the Standard of Purity This has a very practical implication. How do we understand God's standard of purity? We look at the Body of the Word. How do we understand God's holiness? We look at the Body of the Word. How do we understand what it means for something to be clean before God? We look at the Body of the Word. The Body of the Word gives us the picture. The standard is not created by culture. It is not determined by popular opinion. It is not defined by whatever happens to be socially acceptable at the moment. The standard is the Body of the Word. This is why the revelation of the Body of the Word is not merely an interesting theological subject. It confronts the way we think, the way we live, the way we build, the way we govern and even the way we define what is acceptable. If Christ is the image of the invisible God, then our understanding of God must ultimately be brought into alignment with the Body of the Word. The Body of the Word is the purity of God. The Body of the Word is the holiness of God. And pursuing the revelation of the Body of the Word is therefore a pursuit of the holiness of God. The Psalmist says: “Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” Psalm 96:9 But There Is Something Even More Provocative The same Body that is pure is also food. Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” John 6:35 And again: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven......and this bread is my flesh” John 6:51 Then He makes the statement even more direct: “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” John 6:55 This gives us an extraordinary picture. The Body of the Word is not merely something God wants us to observe. It is food. And if the Body of the Word is white like wool and white as snow, then we can describe it as clean food. The delicacies of God are found in the revelation knowledge of the Body of the Word. The Body of the Word is the food. The detailed descriptions of the Body are the delicacies. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher. And the delicacies of the Father bring us into a deeper knowledge of the Father. The Table of God There is an intriguing Old Testament picture here. God instructed Israel: “Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” Exodus 25:30 Jesus identifies Himself as the Bread that came down from heaven. The connection is profound: God's table points us toward the Body of the Word as God's food. Even the language of the Song of Solomon gives us another picture: “And at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you.” Song of Solomon 7:13 There are dimensions of Christ that we have not yet adequately explored. There are descriptions that we have read without necessarily understanding. There are Scriptures we have quoted without asking what Person they are revealing. And this is where the unfolding of the Word becomes important. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 The Body of the Word can be read. The Body of the Word can be unfolded. And when unfolded, light comes. Not merely intellectual information. Revelation. The knowledge of the Father. The Clean Food of God This also helps us understand the Old Testament distinction between clean and unclean food. Leviticus 11 records God's instructions concerning clean and unclean animals. The animals were not simply a collection of arbitrary dietary regulations. Within the larger biblical pattern, they also point toward deeper realities that find their fulfillment in Christ. The clean animals—including lambs, sheep, goats and bulls—were repeatedly associated with sacrifice and worship. The ultimate reality, however, is Christ - his Body. John the Baptist identifies Him as: “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 And Jesus declares: “My flesh is real food.” John 6:55 So the shadow points toward the substance. The symbol points toward the Person. The animal points toward the Lamb. The bread points toward the Bread of Life. The descriptions point toward the Body of the Word. The Body of the Word is the clean food of God. And the delicacies contained within that Body are the detailed revelations through which God makes Himself known. What Are We Eating? Perhaps this is the question we should leave with today. What are you feeding your understanding of God with? Opinions? Traditions? Culture? Personal assumptions? Or are you allowing the Scriptures to introduce you to the Person of the Word? Jesus said the Scriptures testify about Him (John 5:39). The Holy Spirit takes what belongs to Christ and makes it known (John 16:13–15). The unfolding of the Word gives light (Psalm 119:130). And Christ is the exact representation of the invisible God (Hebrews 1:3). Therefore, there is a profound invitation before us: Come and feed on the Body of the Word. Look. Read. Unfold. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the Body of the Word to you. Look at the Body of the Word. Look at the descriptions. Look at its purity. Look at its holiness. Look at its beauty. Look at its members. Look at the delicacies contained within it. And perhaps what we have called ordinary words are carrying revelations of the Person of Christ that we have not yet tasted. The Father wants to make Himself known. And He has given us the Body of the Word. The Body of the Word is the image of the invisible God. The Body of the Word is pure. The Body of the Word is holy. The Body of the Word is clean food. And the revelation of that Body is a delicacy prepared for those who are willing to come to the table. Listen to The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word. celebrating the Body of the Word #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #moneymarket #worldwide #churchonline