Machaira With Apostle Bennie

Category: Hope

EPISODE 330 – JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE (With Imperfect Vessels 1) 3

CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

The Love-Life Agency

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Tuesday 19th December, 2023
JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE
(With Imperfect Vessels 1) 3
“And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.”
John 2:6-7 (KJV)
The Book of John is a rich book with refreshing revelatory symbolism.
A Theologian once said, “John writes like Picasso Paints”. His writings are as the work of a skillful painter. He creates mental images for in-depth assimilation.
All through the scriptures, symbols are used to whisper rich realities of the Spirit to the readers.
We see John the Baptist first referring to Jesus as “the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Even before that, just in the first few verses of the first Chapter of John, he writes as a master poet, using light to describe the function and impact of the divine life.
In addressing the Samaritan at the well (John 4) and the people at the last great feast (John 7), John takes interest in how Jesus used water to communicate the refreshing flow of the unendling Spirit-life.
Jesus was revealed as the bread of life, the vine, the good shepherd etc.
The book of John doesn’t just provide historical details of Jesus. It is a book that focuses on the revelation of Jesus beyond time and space.
These symbolisms beat the book into a unique distinctive shape of illumination for the reader.
You don’t read the book of John looking for what happened in history, but to behold the glory of God manifested in the flesh.
The miracles outlined in the book of John are not to only showcase the power of Jesus. They represent the variegated richness of His PERSON. They are prophetic-revelatory tokens which give us the forensic understanding of Jesus’ DIVINITY.
In John, each miracle is a sign that points to the divinity of Jesus.
“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” John 2:11 (NLT)
Feeding the multitudes affirms the image He’s painted as the bread of life. The raising of Lazarus affirms the reality that He is the resurrection and the life.
We can’t just walk away from this miraculous sign at the wedding event. I have previously explained how Jesus turning water into wine, was a demonstration of the reality that, He is the Lord of time and space.
He serves the best wine!
Before we get into the revelatory distinction of the old and new covenants in that miracle, I want us to appreciate another truth of Christ. Each miracle of Jesus in the gospel of John is pregnant with refreshing verities.
Whenever you pick your Bible to read, know that God doesn’t waste words.
He is economical with His words. Every thought in scripture has its unique meaning. Appreciating each word will bring you into a better understanding of God’s message.
John could have said, “…there were waterpots, and Jesus asked them to fill it.”. In a literal sense, you may think there was no need to mention six waterpots. Because it doesn’t make any difference. But because John was a detailed prophetic-revelatory writer, he was inspired to serve his readers with every reality. In the scriptures, people, figures, places, objects, numbers and shapes have their unique meanings.
According to the revelation of scriptures, the number six is the number of man and also means imperfection. (There are some who downplay such facts, however a consistent look at these usage of numbers, names, places and symbols in scriptures, strips bare the facts that they have deeper meanings than what they are literally).
I will give a few examples in the next post.
Now the waterpots are vessels for keeping water used for the Jewish rites of purification.
For Jesus to work the miracle, He asked the servants to fill the waterpots to the brim. He didn’t ask them to pour out the already used water. He also asked them to fill waterpots (or vessels) with the same water available in the house (and seen as common). He made them draw out the water from the six water pots (which also represent imperfect vessels.)
The best wine Jesus produced didn’t come out of golden vessels with extraordinary water. He used the imperfect vessels and the ordinary common water.
To think that you are imperfect and ordinary doesn’t change the reality that, Jesus will produce an extraordinary impact out of you when He comes in contact with you.
The things which seem common will be used by the Lord to achieve great uncommon results.
Jesus being God, brings the best out of the formless and void. Just as He did in creation. (Genesis 1:2-3; John 1:1-4).
Whiles everyone saw imperfect water pots and ordinary water for Jewish rites; Jesus saw perfect vessels for the best wine.
He commanded light out of darkness.
Allow the Lord through His word to bless the world with His best wine in you. Yours is to walk in the obedience of His word.
Hallelujah!

DIG DEEPER
(2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 1:28; Psalm 104:14-15; Psalm 34:8; Judges 9:13; Luke 11:28)

WE PRAY
That from what seems to be our imperfection and ordinary, the Lord will cause His best to gush forth to bless and satisfy the nations.

In the name of Jesus.

BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Revelation 18

DECLARE THESE WORDS:
– I walk in obedience to the word of God.

– I dish out the best of God in me to bless and satisfy the nations.

– It doesn’t matter what may seem to be an imperfection or ordinary in my life, I remain conscious of this certainty that out of me flows the best wine.

– The best of God is seen and experienced through me.

– I am a blessing to my world.

– I shine the light of God in dark places.

Oh! Thank you Lord Jesus!

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December 19, 2023
EPISODE 329 – JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE 2

CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

The Love-Life Agency

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Monday 18th December, 2023
JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE 2
“and told him, “Everyone serves the best wine first, and the cheap kind when people are drunk. But you have kept the best wine until now!”
John 2:10 (ISV)
The process of making a good and quality wine in ancient Israel takes about 20 to 30 years.
To produce the wine, grapes were pressed in the winepress and left in a collection keg for some days, as it goes through a fermentation process.
Yet at the wedding in Cana, Jesus produces the best quality wine just within a few minutes.
This was a compression of time.
Consider the season of planting and harvesting grapes, all through the process of extracting wine from the grapes to the fermentation process. And it wasn’t a burden for the Lord Jesus.
Just instructing the servants to fill the water jars, He made the best wine.
“And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
John 2:3-10 (KJV)
The text tells us the tradition at Jewish weddings: they’d first serve their guests with the best wine, then when that wine is gone, the inferior wine is served.
This means, at this particular wedding, the best wine was already served. This was the best wine which has been produced through the labour of men over the years. And yet after Jesus had produced His wine (through the miraculous compression of time and space), even the master or governor of the banquet affirmed that the latter wine he was served, was better than the best wine earlier served.
The best of man will always not be at the level of what comes out of God through faith.
Does it look like you are at the end of yourself and you think there is no way out of the situation you are in?
It doesn’t matter how bad your condition is, JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE.
In the previous episode, I explained that one of the significance of wine is to depict gladness or a joyful life.
For Mary to say “They have no wine” also means, “They have no joy“.
Which situation has taken out joy in your home or family?
Which situation has taken away joy in your academics or work?
Which situation has taken out your joy in serving the Lord?
Jesus serves the best wine without stress, TRUST HIM.
In the first part of this discussion, I shared two basic items you need, to experience the miraculous.
Always acknowledge the presence of Jesus in your life. The Lord is in your life to bring divine satisfaction. Don’t allow your challenges to break you. Don’t allow certain delays in your life to distract you. Remain focused on the Lord.
Jesus will turn that situation around unto the glory of God.
When Jesus turned the water into wine, His glory was seen.
The Lord is causing His glory to be seen in your Life. He is going to satisfy you with the best of Himself.
Hallelujah!

DIG DEEPER
(Psalm 104:14-15; Psalm 34:8; Judges 9:13; Luke 11:28)

WE PRAY
That through His favor and supply of grace we shall experience great results, even with limited time and resources.
In the name of Jesus.

BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Malachi 4
Revelation 17

DECLARE THESE WORDS:
– I achieve great results with limited resources and time.

– The Lord supplies into my life beautiful testimonies of gladness.

– My life is full of joy.

– I experience the joy and gladness every day of my life.

– I remain obedient to the word of God.

Thank you Lord Jesus!! !

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December 18, 2023
EPISODE 328 – JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE 1

CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

The Love-Life Agency

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Sunday 17th December, 2023

JESUS SERVES THE BEST WINE 1

“and told him, “Everyone serves the best wine first, and the cheap kind when people are drunk. But you have kept the best wine until now!”
John 2:10 (ISV)

Wine has a great meaning among the ancient Jews. The relevance of wine is not just what it represents or is used for during events or occasions. Wine also had symbolic meaning in the lives of the Jews.

“People prepare a meal for enjoyment, wine makes life joyful, and money is the answer to everything.” Ecclesiastes 10:11 (New American Standard Bible).

From this verse, you will notice one of the symbolic relevance of wine.
Wine is a symbol of gladness or a joyful life.
During the wedding at Cana, there was a point where they had no wine. Meanwhile, Jesus, his mother and his disciples were present.

This was becoming an embarrassment.

How can there be a wedding without wine?

Weddings were recognised as one of the best ceremonies in the Jewish culture. And such a ceremony without wine will be a huge dishonor to the guests and a disgrace to the host or the couples as they fail to provide basic hospitality.
Having no wine at a wedding is like having a life without fulfilment of joy.
This is the summary of the story:

“And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:1-11 (KJV).

Until Jesus’ mother got Him into the situation, it seemed there was not going to be any solution.

The situation at this Jewish wedding depicts the state of many lives.

You may be born again, with the presence of God in your life and still not experience joy and happiness.

You look into the mirror and you find no wine (joy or happiness). You may look into your year and still not recount any outstanding testimony or moment of joy and happiness from the beginning of the year till now.

This might have been the situation for the last, 5 years, 10 years or even 20 years of your life. You simply can’t recall any season of joy.

If you have received Jesus into your life, CHEER UP!
As a born again you have the best winemaker, He is JESUS!
Make a decision that as you have Jesus in your life you will experience answers and joyous news.

Mary the mother of Jesus, showed how one can experience continuous miracles.

1. She first turned to Jesus to make intercession. (John 2:3) She didn’t deny the challenge, however, she recognised the greater solution. Her focus was the reality that Jesus shall supply fresh wine, not the absence of wine at the wedding.
Is Jesus bigger than your challenge?
Or do you still think your challenge is bigger than Jesus?

2. She told the servants, “Whatever He tells you to do, DO IT”. (John 2:5).

This is one of the most powerful secrets to the miraculous.

OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF THE LORD.
No matter the situation, just obey the words of Jesus.
He will turn that dry season into a celebration.

He will transform your sorrow into gladness. It only requires your obedience to His word.

Sometimes it may seem you have endured a lot of bad seasons and days, beloved, Jesus has prepared the BEST WINE FOR THE LAST.
Don’t be discouraged, don’t compare yourself with those who have gone ahead of you. You are about to enjoy the best wine.
Hallelujah!

DIG DEEPER
(Psalm 104:14-15; Psalm 34:8; Judges 9:13; Luke 11:28)

WE PRAY
That the Lord shall supply into our lives beautiful testimonies of gladness.

In the name of Jesus.

BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Malachi 3
Revelation 16

DECLARE THESE WORDS:
– The Lord supplies into my life beautiful testimonies of gladness.

– My life is full of joy.

– I experience the joy and gladness every day of my life.

– I remain obedient to the word of God.

Thank you Lord Jesus!! !

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December 17, 2023
EPISODE 327 – EXPECT DIVINE EXALTATION 2

CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

The Love-Life Agency

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Saturday 16th December, 2023

EXPECT DIVINE EXALTATION 2

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6 – 7 (NKJV)

The Lord does not forsake His own. The scriptures are divine scripts which outline your beautiful future. There is nothing about your destiny which is not prophetically illustrated in the scriptures.
Your life may seem to be a mystery in the natural, but scripturally it is decoded.
Don’t allow the limitations of your senses and experiences define your life. Sink your thoughts in the word of God.

The more you pay attention to your challenges, the more you distract yourself from what God is doing with you.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV).

There is an expected end the Lord has for you. And you must make that your focus.
One of the expectations you must have as you humble yourself to make the Lord your focus, is EXALTATION.
Don’t spend time feeding your mind with doubts. When the doubts come, cast it off. Learn to doubt your doubts.

If you have questions similar to the ones I listed in the previous post, know that the adversary is sowing in your heart seeds of enmity and pride towards God. Which is a big trap of the devil.

Your humility before the Lord is the secret to enjoy divine exaltation. It is not that God demands your humility before He exalts you. It is because, humility is a principle of faith which produces exaltation.

To humble yourself before the Lord is explained in the opening verse.

“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” I Peter 5: 7 (NKJV)
To humble yourself under the mighty hand of God is basically to cast all your cares upon Him; with the conviction of heart that He cares for you.
When you don’t humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, you have exalted yourself above the mighty hand of God.

What you are saying is, you don’t need the mighty hand of God to lift you and sustain you. You rather want to trust in your own strength.

You don’t need God’s supernatural help. You trust in your own ability than the ability of God.

It is as simple as that!

But come to think of it, what more can your strength achieve?

Begin to train your heart to exercise absolute confidence in God by acknowledging the glorious things He has done.

“Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us–none can compare to You–if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.” (Psalm 40:5)

Instead of counting your failures which will make you turn away from God, consider His goodness according to His power. It will cause you to humble yourself patiently under His mighty hand for your exaltation.

Beloved, what are the things troubling your heart?
Cast all your cares unto the Lord and patiently stay under His mighty hand with humility. For the Lord shall exalt you in due season.
Do you know the goodnews?

The due season is already here! That is why you are reading today’s Machaira with Apostle Bennie.

REMAIN EXPECTANT FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

Shalom Aleichem.

Hallelujah!

DIG DEEPER
(Proverbs 24:14; Psalm 37:37; Jeremiah 29:11; James 4:10; Job 36:22)

WE PRAY
Thanking the Lord for the wisdom to stay humble under the mighty hand of the Lord and for this glorious new season of exaltation.

In the name of Jesus.

BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Malachi 2
Revelation 15

DECLARE THESE WORDS:
– This is my time of exaltation and I don’t permit any distraction from the adversary.

– I refuse to doubt God, I hold on strongly to what God has said.

– No challenge is big enough to move me away from God.

– I don’t permit any voice to distract me from the sure word of God.

– I imbue focus to maintain absolute confidence in God.

– Through prayer and the study of the word I build more absolute confidence in God.

– I don’t give my mind to the negative situations around me, I make the word of God my focus.

Oh Hallelujah, Gloreeeey!!!

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December 16, 2023
EPISODE 326 – EXPECT DIVINE EXALTATION 1

CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

The Love-Life Agency

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Friday 15th December, 2023
EXPECT DIVINE EXALTATION 1
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6 – 7 (NKJV)
With just some few days for the year to end, you may probably be taking records of your life already. You may be feeling distressed or discouraged about how things have not gone in the direction you expected.
You may even be quick to think this year has so far been your most disappointing year. You really don’t think there is something great you can achieve, and you are losing your confidence in God.
In fact, you are even beginning to feel or think God is not caring and the promises of the scriptures are not true.
VOILA!
This is where the adversary wants you to be. His goal is to force or push you to a level where you become angry with God.
He wants you to deny the reality of God’s kindness in your heart. He keeps reminding you of your failures and the negative experiences you’ve had, though you have been serving the Lord.
He keeps sowing thoughts of doubts or posing doubtful questions in your mind.
For example:
“After you gave that amount to the Kingdom gospel, has your life become better?”
“You had hoped to see your dad or mum healed of that infirmity, what has happened?” “And you think the healing power of God is real?”
“Do you even think the Gospel message of Jesus is real?”
“Don’t you think these things are mere lies or fables?”
“Look at your family, your siblings; do you remember your friend who also lost the parents?”, “How about your uncle who served God but has lost everything?”
“Don’t you think the stories of the Bible are mere friction?”
“You don’t need God to be better, take your own life into your own hands. And forget about this God”
Listen, when the adversary comes after your faith and exaltation, he tries to hit you hard at your weakest state. He will shamelessly and persistently inject more questions and thoughts to break you down.
Have you had questions like these also:
“Where was God when you failed your exams?” “Where was God when you got raped?” “Where was God when you were robbed?” “Where was God when you lost that money?” “Where was God when everyone left you?” “Where was God when you were abused, maltreated, cheated, scammed?” “Where was God when the lady or gentleman you loved left you or abandoned you?” etc
These questions are targeted by the adversary at you to establish enmity between you and God.
All of a sudden you forget the goodness of God. You forget your testimonies and you continue to brood over these thoughts of the devil.
You even begin to forget that, the very air you breathe is a gift from God.
You suddenly become so arrogant and proud before the Lord.
Get this, such thoughts are attacks of the devil, to build strongholds of pride in your heart. Such thoughts are programmed by the adversary to make you doubt God’s help and to shipwreck your faith.
Such thoughts become stronger when you are really close to your season of exaltation.
The adversary knows the more you humble yourself before the Lord, the more you increase in faith to receive of the Lord.
He knows the more you submit to the power of the word of God, the stronger your expectation for your miracle and exaltation.
“Surely there is a future [and a reward], And your hope and expectation will not be cut off” Proverbs 23:18 (Amplified Bible).
He doesn’t want you to have any expectation or hope in the Lord. He makes you think you can’t predict or expect anything glorious.
That is a lie!
Beloved, you have to maintain your expectation in God. Your season of exaltation is here. Don’t allow your past to distract you.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward” Hebrews 10:35
A life lived by the word of God is predictable. When you live by the word you can have expectations of glory.
There is nothing like uncertainty in the word of God. This doesn’t mean you will not face opposition. You may face the worst of challenges. But the counsel of the Lord for your life shall stand.
Joseph, who was a promised child, was sold into slavery by his own brothers and he was taken to prison by his master Potipher (whose house prospered because of Joseph, Genesis 39:2-5). He chose to honor God, and he was imprisoned
What?
Where was God?
Listen, the Lord was with Joseph all through. Though those seasons were challenging times for Joseph, everything was playing out perfectly for him. The slave who became a prisoner rose to become the Prime Minister.
Beloved, don’t give up, refuse the doubts and remain humble before the Lord, for the season of your exaltation is here!
Hallelujah!

DIG DEEPER
(Proverbs 24:14; Psalm 37:37; Jeremiah 29:11; James 4:10; Job 36:22)

WE PRAY
That our confidence expectation in God shall not be cast away, no matter the opposition.
In the name of Jesus.

BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
Malachi 1
Revelation 14

DECLARE THESE WORDS:
– This is my time of exaltation and I don’t permit any distraction from the adversary.

– I refuse to doubt God, I hold on strongly to what God has said.

– No challenge is big enough to move me away from God.

– I don’t permit any voice to distract me from the sure word of God.

– I imbue focus to maintain absolute confidence in God.

– Through prayer and the study of the word I build more absolute confidence in God.

– I don’t give my mind to the negative situations around me, I make the word of God my focus.

Oh Hallelujah, Gloreeeey!!!

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December 15, 2023