INTRODUCTION
The previous message in this series explained the traits of the Gad brethren, who are held captive by ‘troops’ (i.e., evil spirits); and how Gadite ‘troops’ may be cast out. Access previous messages at https://childrenofgraceministries.international
This message presents the traits of the Asher brethren as possessing ‘fat bread’. Asherites are endowed with spiritual gifts and peculiar abilities with which they serve people and rulers, to bring Glory to God. It illustrates the nature of the divine gifts, including the ‘bread of grace’, and shows how one may avoid polluting them.
1. ‘BREAD’ OUT OF ASHER
Jacob prophesy of the Asher brethren saying: “Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties”. (Genesis 49:20). The Holy scriptures uses ‘bread’ mainly as a synonym for ‘food’ or ‘knowledge’; and it distinguishes spiritual ‘bread’ that is of God, from ‘bread’ that is worldly and physical. (Matthew 6:11, 26; John 6:48-58; Luke 9:16-17; Deuteronomy 8:33; Proverbs 9:5). It is “The LORD [that] giveth wisdom: [and] out of his mouth come knowledge and understanding”. (Proverbs 2:6).
‘Bread out of Asher’ refers to the spiritual gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and the peculiar skills and abilities that God endows on the Asherites, with which to serve his people, kings and rulers.
For example, “… God gave [Daniel and his friends] knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:6-7 & 17). Also, “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much… For he was wiser than all men…” (1 Kings 4:29-31).
2. ASHER’S ‘FAT’ BREAD
The ‘bread’ or ‘knowledge’ that comes out of the Asher people shall be “fat…”. (Genesis 49:20). “Fat bread” out of Asher describes the variety , measure and quality of spiritual gifts the Asherites may possess; and these derive wholly from reliance on the teaching, guidance and counsel of the Spirit of the Almighty God.
“Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his…he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding : he revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him” Hallelujah. (Daniel 2:20-22)
3. THE NATURE OF ASHER’S ‘FAT BREAD’
Asherites ‘fat bread’, is “bread” that is good, rich and unpolluted. It includes the “bread” which Christ gives by salvation, that does not perish, but endures unto everlasting life. (John 6:27).
The Prophet Isaiah warns us not to “spend money for that which is not bread”; but “to hearken diligently and eat [the bread] which is good, and let [our] soul delight itself in fatness”. (Isaiah 55:2). God also endows his priests with such “fatness” for his people to enjoy his “goodness”. (Jeremiah 31:14).
3.1. ASHERITES FEAR THE LORD
Brethren, the peculiar disposition of the Asher people who are gifted with ‘fat bread,’ is their “fear of the Lord”, the “knowledge of the Holy” and the “understanding” the have to “depart from evil”. (Proverbs 9:10; Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10).
They are “children in whom [is] no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as [have] ability in them to stand in the king’s palace…” They are of “excellent spirit”, “light and understanding”. (Daniel 1:4; 5:11-12 & 14).
3.2. ASHERITE ‘FAT BREAD’ CATERS FOR EVERY HUMAN NEED
Asher,s wisdom and peculiar skills and abilities is informed only by the “Spirit of the LORD”; and covers all matters of the spiritual and the physical realm, to address every human need upon the earth. (Isaiah 40:13; 1 Corinthians 12).
For example, “[God] filled [Bezaleel and Hiram] with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship…” (Exodus 31:3-6; 1 Kings 7:13-14.). Moses “was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds”. (Acts 7:22). Pharoah said of Joseph: “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?… there is none so discreet and wise as thou art”. (Genesis 41:39). And Solomon was gifted with wisdom, in proverbs, in songs, knowledge of trees, beasts, fowls, and of creeping things, and of fishes. “And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom”.(1 Kings 4:32-34).
3.3. ASHERS ‘BREAD’ IS NOT WORLDLY
Asher’s wisdom is of the “Spirit of God” and therefore not worldly. It is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy. (James 3:17).
The wisdom and knowledge from sorcerers, soothsayers, witchcrafts or other satanic devices, cannot compare to the Asherites God-given talents. (Daniel 5: 11-15).
For example, “in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that king [Nebuchadnezzar] enquired of [Daniel and his friends], he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm”. (Daniel 1:19-20; Ecclesiastes 7:19). In fact, Daniel was made head of all the magicians, soothsayers and astrologers in the kingdom. (Daniel 5:11).
3.4. “FAT BREAD” YIELDS ‘ROYAL DAINTIES’
According to Jacob’s prophecy, Asher”s ‘Fat bread’ “shall yield royal dainties”. (Genesis 49:20). Brethren, it is God that removes kings and set up kings and gives them power to rule. (Daniel 2:21-23; Psalm 62:11; Matthew 6:13). He assures their reign through the operation of the “fat bread’ out of Asher. For by it, they guide and assist kings and rulers to discern and achieve God’s will and his purpose in matters of governance; and thereby to ensure a god-fearing, peaceful, and prosperous reign. This is the “royal dainties” in every reign!
Brethren, several kings and rulers in the Bible relied on the Asher “fat bread” for guidance to help them avoid national problems and build prosperous societies.
For example, King Pharoah trusted Joseph’s wise counsel and said:” according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled”. And Joseph used his spiritual abilities to avoid the imminent famine over Egypt; and consequently saved God’s people – the children of Israel. (Genesis 40:40; 45:18-20).
Also, Daniel was renowned in providing spiritual guidance to the Babylon and Persian royals. (Daniel 1:21). Recognising his abilities, Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel “a great man… and ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon”. (Daniel 2:48-49).
Similarly, King Belshazzar, proclaimed Daniel to be the third ruler in his kingdom. And later King Darius, made him “first” among his three presidents; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm (Daniel 5:29; 6:1-3). Also, king Uzziah of Judah, sought counsel of the prophet Zechariah who had understanding in the visions of God, and God made him to prosper. (2 Chronicles 26:5) .
Brethren those , kings and rulers who seek and heed the Asherites divine guidance will walk in the counsel of the godly. They “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season… and whatsoever, [they do] shall prosper”. (Psalm 1:1-3).
3.5. ASHERITES MUST AVOID POLLUTED BREAD
Brethren, since the Asher “fat bread” is of God to serve divine purposes, Ashrites have a responsibility to walk in righteousness and avoid polluting their ‘bread’. They should not seek after worldly lust or strange doctrines, if they must avoid polluting their spiritual gifts. And they should delight themselves in the word of God.
For instance, Joseph remained faithful to his Asherites spiritual abilities to walk righteously. He refused to pollute his spirit when Potiphar’s’ wife seduced him. But Solomon polluted his ‘fat bread’ by indulging in “strange women” who turned his heart away from God. (Genesis 39:10; 1 Kings 11: 1-2, 5-8).
Also, Daniel and his friends avoided defiling themselves, by refusing King Nebuchadnezzar’s three years course of diet on his “meat” and the “wine”, which would have exposed them to pagan leanings and tongue. Instead, they fed on “pulse” and “water” and this rendered their countenances to be “fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat”. (Daniel 1:13-16).
Let Asherites beware !!! Let them consider diligently what is before them and “be not desirous of [rulers’] dainties: for they are deceitful meat”. (Proverbs 23:3-3). “Bread of deceit” is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel”. (Proverbs 20:17).
They should also remember, that spiritual gifts will always be coveted by the “evil eyes” who trade by worldly wisdom. And they may be exposed to envy and jealousy. (Daniel 6; Luke 11:49).
Opponents will offer Asherites “deceitful bread” in order to compromise their ability; and the many who may benefit from their gift of the “fat bread”, may perish. (Daniel 11:25-26; Psalm 16:4-5).
4. GIFTED “BREAD’ BY GRACE
Brethren, Jesus’ embodies God’s ‘Fat bread of Grace and he demonstrated this wisdom in his earthly ministry. “Unto them which are called… Christ [is] the power of God and the Wisdom of God…”. (1 Corinthians 1:24-26, 30; Colossians 2:3; Luke 7:35; Isaiah 11:2-3; John 7:15).
Under the dispensation of the Grace of Jesus Christ, “Fat bread” manifests in diverse spiritual gifts. The gifts are accessible by confessing that “JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND SAVIOUR’; and submitting to be led by the “Spirit of God”, and no longer to be led by “dumb idols” (Ephesians 2:5-10,18 & 22; 1 Corinthians 12:1-3).
Those who are “born again” of the “Spirit of God” and sealed with the Holy Spirit by the faith of Jesus Christ enjoy the special grace to possess the diverse spiritual gifts. (John 1:12-13; Romans 12:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:33,38-39).
The spuritual gifts include: the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, might, faith, healing, helps, governments, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment, diverse kinds of tongues and interpretations, ministry, teaching, ruling with diligence, exhortation, showing mercy etc.,
All the spiritual gifts are of the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God which works all the gifts. These gifts manifest the promise of God to “make unto all people a feast of fat things, …full of marrow, well refined”. (Isaiah 11:2-3; 1Corinthians 12: 4-10-11 & 28; Romans 12:6-8; Isaiah 25:6).
5. ASHER ‘FAT BREAD’ GLORIFY GOD
Brethren, a peculiar trait of the manifestation of the Asher “fat bread” is that, it brings Glory to God. For example, when Daniel interpreted King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, he praised God saying: “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets…” (Daniel 2:47).
Also, when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego escaped death in fiery furnace, the King glorified saying : the God who “…delivered his servants that trusted in him … that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God”. He then decreed that no one should speak anything against their God. (Daniel 3:28-29; 4:34-37).
King Darius also decreed that throughout his kingdom, men should fear the God of Daniel saying: “for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end”. (Daniel 6:26).
And after the dispensation of the spiritual gifts of Grace, the apostles performed signs and worders that brought praise to God. (Acts 2:43; 3:2-9)
Finally, brethren, consider that our Asherites are invaluable to mankind, especially to help nations and their leaders walk within the will of God towards building a more godly, peaceful and prospetou society.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, I thank you for your word.
We praise you Father for the ‘Asher fat bread’ and the ‘bread of Grace, for the benefit of your people.
Dear Lord, bless our Asher brethren who continue to use your spiritual talents in all works, to meet the diverse human needs. Protect them from envy and jealousy as they fulfil your purpose; and increase the measure of their skills and abilities and their willingness to serve.
Loving Father, we pray that you inspire kings and rulers to seek more of Asherites “fat bread” over worldly or ungodly counsel as they govern you people that they perish not.
Gracious Lord, send your light upon your Children and lead them unto Christ that they may inherit your ‘fat-bread’ by Grace and be led by the Spirit of God.
I make this prayer in JESUS NAME.
Have a blessed week and a fruitful month.
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG)
04 September 2022.
