Asher

Asher

“And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher.” (Gen. 30:12, 13)

We as Christians sometimes look amazingly at the Jews for the cultural offerings they bring to the church when they become Christians and how traditions, and customs, and religious practices have new meanings for a Jewish person when he or she comes to Christ. They become fulfilled Jews when they realize their messiah has come. Many of their customs come to life when they accept Jesus as their messiah. “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” (Matt. 13:52). The gentile church is multi cultured and brings with it many customs and colors. This is reflected in the life of Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah. Asher is the last child given birth by concubinage and he reflects how there is multi cultural fruition through the gentile church.

Early American missionaries made mistakes teaching other cultures to be both Christian and American. This was no more evident than among Native American tribes in North America where there was preached a Euro American gospel among the tribes of the Indian Nations.

Many times my wife and I would minister on the Indian reservations among the Lakota or Navajo Indians and we would find in their churches old upright pianos shoved into a corner that nobody knew how to play. But when we would come to worship the Lord with simple acoustics, hand drums, and flutes, time and again we would watch tears flow down the faces of the first nation people, because they were hearing praise with instruments they were familiar with from their own culture. The church in a maligned mission thought becoming a Christian meant ceasing to be an Indian. Early missionaries throughout the world have done damage to many cultures by preaching a Euro/American gospel.

The gentile Church is blessed to be a multi-cultured Church. The foundations of the New Jerusalem are multi colored with diverse precious stones. Like the rainbow around the throne of God. Every culture brings something unique to the kingdom. The wealth of the nations were brought to Jerusalem and laid at the feet of King Solomon. So will offerings from every tribe and nation be brought to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (Rev. 21: 24)

Zilpah conceived and brought forth her last son, Aher. Leah declares that she is happy and that she will be called blessed. Now this is a play on words. In the Hebrew text she says that the child will be called Osher and that she will be called asher. The word for being blessed in the Hebrew means to be happy. The name Asher means “happy”.

The Holy Spirit has birthed in the Church happiness and the pure joy of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of laughter has broken out on whole congregations. Happiness that is purely born in the Holy Spirit, that is not associated with circumstance or conditions. David said, “In your presence is fullness of joy.” (Psa. 16:11) He was saying in your presence is gladness and mirth. You make me happy!

Much of our present happiness is based on favorable conditions, but God is bringing the joy of the Holy Spirit to the Church and happiness that transcends the conditions of your life. If no one has ever made commentary on the joy that is in your life, you may be missing the point.

Fallen Countenance

Some time ago there was a young man attending the Christian academy in our Church. He was always in a foul mood. He walked around sulking and constantly in a bad temperament. One day I confronted him and asked him if he was a Christian. He retorted that he was. Then I said, “I don’t think you’re doing it right. Maybe you ought to try some other religion because this one isn’t working for you.” He was taken back and couldn’t believe I said this to him. But if walking with Christ doesn’t truly make you happy maybe you’re not truly walking with Him or maybe you’re doing it wrong. There is a true evidence of joy in the life of the believer who is in fellowship with Him.

When God did not regard the sacrifice of Cain as He did Abel’s, one of the first observations that God made was that Cain’s countenance had fallen. God confronted Cain and asked, “Why is your countenance fallen?” One of the most basic signs in a believer’s life that something is not right is a “fallen countenance.” The absence of joy is one of the most basic roads for the enemy’s access into your life. As God told Cain, “Sin lies at the door.” As a pastor I have observed this trademark in Christians who were struggling with disobedience in their life.

In ancient cultures it was unlawful for servants to appear in the presence of a king with a fallen countenance (Neh. 2:1, 2). Even the Queen was hesitant to appear before the King down trodden in spirit.

David said, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation,” “Then I will teach transgressors they ways” (Psa. 51:11, 12). The restoration of joy and the ability to show transgressors the ways of God are connected. Smith Wigglesworth would pray every morning and would not leave his house until his soul was happy in the Lord.

We learned in chemistry 101 that cold is simply “the absence of heat.” Heat is generated by moving molecules. It takes energy to produce heat. Cold is the byproduct of the absence of heat or movement. A fallen countenance is the byproduct of the absence of joy.

“The blessings of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (Prov. 10:22). What father does not want his children to be truly happy? Time and time again we have heard fathers say, “I only want you to be happy.” Even when we voiced disapproval of the decisions our children were making. Our desire is for our children to be happy, yet we think less of our Heavenly Father. We think that every aspect of our life is a test and that we are constantly being graded for approval. Your Heavenly Father only wants you to be happy.

We think reaching the world is a heavy burden and it is grave business. The world already has sorrow and pain. Are you able to bring joy to the table? When it comes to reaching the lost there is a boldness that comes naturally from joy. (Neh. 8:10) On the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God fell the men in that place became intoxicated on the Holy Spirit and stumbled into the streets of Jerusalem. Men of different nations heard them offering praises to God in their own languages (15 different languages are mentioned.) As Peter began his opening statements on his Pentecost sermon he said, “These men are not drunk as you suppose.” He did not deny they were drunk, he simply said that they were not drunk as the people thought. Peter preached and three thousand were added to the Church. For almost twenty years the Lord has been restoring intoxicating joy to the Church. As the Song of Solomon says, “He hath brought me into a house of wine.” (SOS 2:4 YLT)

When is the last time “you rejoiced with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (I Pet. 1:8).

Ye know not what manner of spirit

Jesus had set his face to go to Jerusalem the bible says. And as they came to a city of the Samaritans, the Samaritans would not receive Him. So James and John asked the Lord if He wanted them to call fire down from heaven and barbeque the people as Elijah had done. Jesus rebuked them and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the son of man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”(Luke 9:55). Sometimes we don’t know what spirit we are of. We are quick to barbeque our congregations when something has peeved us, but we don’t know what spirit we are of. Ministers ask yourself this, how many times have you had the Holy Spirit come on you just before you stepped into the pulpit and have the Holy Spirit change your countenance and your message? And instead of venting your frustration you ended up ministering life. How many times has God changed your message at the last moment just before you spoke? And you realize that if you had not been obedient and followed the Holy Spirit you would have missed great blessings and the people would have missed great blessings. If you truly consider how many times this has happened, then consider how many times you thought you had the mind of Christ coming into the pulpit with your prepared message only to have God change your mind. Then consider how many times you thought you were representing God in the pulpit but were not. Consider how many times God would have liked to have engaged you before you stood in a pulpit but was unable to because you were completely disengaged from Him and you preached your own mind anyway. And consider the long term effects over a congregation who is constantly subjected to man’s thoughts rather than the mind of God. The spirit of religion and unbelief thrive in these environments where God’s thoughts are superimposed by man’s thoughts. Consider how many times you missed it and you would have sworn you had the mind of Christ but “you did not know what spirit you are of.”

The disciples had biblical precedent for wanting to barbeque the Samaritans. After all Elijah did it not once but twice. Their faith seemed to be running high and they felt they could accomplish this task. And don’t forget that these were Samaritans that were rejecting the Lord. Samaritans for crying out loud, who are they anyway? They should have recognized that they were graced by Jesus and His party just by passing through their parts. Justified anger?

How many times have we functioned under “another spirit” thinking we were doing God service? Religion is so deceitful and very seldom truly represents God. How many times have we gone after another ministry, speaking ill of them all in the name of the Lord thinking we were doing God service. Only to find ourselves like Paul “kicking against the pricks.” When is the last time “you rejoiced with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (I Pet.1:8). When your ministry is defined by what you’re against more than what you are for you are on the wrong side of the spectrum. God wants to make you happy in His presence. Asher has come and has been birthed in the gentile Church and we are blessed.

written by Rusty Owens

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