THE RED HEIFER - Numbers 19:1-10.
God's command to Moses concerning purification from uncleanness and sin.
This involved the killing of a Red Heifer and using its ashes for the water of Purification. It speaks of Christ and the work on the Cross.
The Heifer had to be perfect, without any defect and not having been used for any kind of work.
Christ, in His perfect sinless life, dedicated to God, was killed by unlawful men to bear the sin of mankind and bring cleansing and forgiveness from sin-1 Peter 1:18-19.
The heifer was wholly burned outside the camp and its ashes stored in a clean place outside the camp. In the same way, Christ suffered outside the city gate, a total sacrifice for sin. His sacrifice was not contaminated by anything sinful. His blood was kept pure.
Previous to the burning of the heifer its blood was used to sprinkle the way to enter the Tabernacle, indicating the sanctifying effect upon the way to Heaven. We enter Heaven sanctified by the Blood of the Cross without carrying any load of worldly uncleanness. We enter not by any worthy works of our own but because of the sacrifice on the Cross. No other way-Heb.9:24.
Into the burning animal pyre was thrown Cedar Wood, Hyssop and Scarlet. The purification element contained three vital things:
Cedar Wood-Speaks of Christ's humanity. Cedar being a majestic tree of a strong wood.
Hyssop-A humble, moss type little plant used for sprinkling. Nothing of its own strength or beauty
brings the cleansing.
Scarlet-Represents the Blood for remission of sins.
The water for purification was applied against sin and any kind of contamination from dead bodies,
the Law for all generations. It speaks of the Word of God that stands forever. It never degenerates.
The ashes were stored and used for the occasion when purification was needed.
The Blood was shed on the Cross but its power for remission of sin avails forever. The sinner can call upon it for cleansing anytime-1 John 1:8-9. 
Why a Red Heifer? A special kind of animal, not often found. In the same way, Christ's life stands out as a Special Person. He came direct from God. He is God who took the form of a servant. He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. He came as a sinless, spotless human being for the exclusive purpose of dying on the Cross-John 1:1-14.
We may admire the person of Christ and His teaching but that will not get us into Heaven-only the Blood will.
Why Ashes? Dissolved in water they become a cleansing solution for many uses, e.g. washing clothes - a natural organic agent. So is the Word of God. Not manufactured by human method,
but sent from Heaven by God - Jeremiah 23:29.

H Προσευχη του Κυριου (Λουκ.11:1-4)
Συνεχιζουμε τη μελετη μας με τα επομενα λογια της προσευχης, 'ας ερθει η Βασιλεια σου'.
Το θελημα του Θεου για μας ειναι να προσευχομαστε να ιδρυθει η Βασιλεια του Θεου ατη γη. Τι ομως εννοουμε με τον ορο 'η Βασιλει του Θεου'; Εκει που ο Θεος κυβερνα απολυτα, οπου η εξουσια Του δεν αμφισβητειτε και ο λογος Του ειναι νομος. Εκει ειναι η Βασιλεια του Θεου.
Ο Ιησους Χριστος οταν ρωτηθηκε για το ποτε ερχεται η Βασιλεια του Θεου απαντησε,  'η Βασιλεια του Θεου ειναι μεσα σας' (Λουκ17:21). Αυτο μας δειχνει οτι στη ζωη του αναγεννημενου πιστου ειναι θεμελιωμενη η Βασιλεια του Θεου. Ο τελικος ομως σκοπος του Θεου ειναι να εγκαθιδρυσει τη παγκοσμια Βασιλεια Του. Βλεπου ομως οτι αυτο δεν εχει εκπληρωθει προς το παρον γι' αυτο και καθε πιστος πρεπει να ζη με αυτη την οραση και σκοπο. Ενας γνησιος πιστος προσευχεται για την εκπληρωση αυτου του οραματισμου. Η Βιβλος διδασκει οτι, 'Του Κυριου ειναι η γη και το πλρωμα της, και οσοι κατοικουν σ' αυτη' Ψαλ.24:1. Το ερωτημα λοιπον που προκυπτει ειναι, 'αφου η γη και ολα οσα ειναι σ'αυτην ανηκουν στο Θεο, γιατι πρεπει να προσευχομαστε να ερθει η Βασιλεια Του;'
Στι κατα Λουκ.4:5-7, οταν ο διαβολος πειραζε τον Κυριο μας, του ειπε σχετικα με την οικουμενη, 'σε σενα θα δωσω ολοκληρη αυτη την εξουσια και τη δοξα τους, επειδη σε μενα ειναι παραδομενη, και τη δινω σε οποιο θελω'. Πως λοιπον κατεληξε ο διαβολος να ισχυριζεται οτι ολη η οικουμενη ανηκει σ' αυτον;
Στο βιβλιο της Γενεσης 2:19-20, παρατηρουμε οτι οταν ο Θεος ολοκληρωσε την δημιουργια Του παρεδωσε την εξουσια ολης της γης και ολα οσα ηταν σ' αυτην στα χερια του ανθρωπου. Οταν ομως ο ανθρωπος παρεβηκε τις εντολες του Θεου, μπαζοντας την αμαρτια στον κοσμο, εγινε πια παιδι του διαβολου με αποτελεσμα η εξουσια που του δοθηκε απο τον Θεο να σφετεριστει απο τον διαβολο. Αυτο που δημιουρησε ο Θεος για οφελος και χρηση του ανθρωπου το οικειοποιηθηκε ο διαβολος με δολο. Δεν ανηκει σ' αυτον. Λογω της παρακοης του ο αμαρτωλος ανθρωπος υποταχθηκε στη βασιλεια του σκοτους, αλλα κατα την ωρα της αναγεννησης και της σωτηριας του αυτη η κασταση μεταστρεφεται. Μεταφερομαστε απο τη βασιλεια του σκοτους στη βασιλεια του φωτος, Κολ.1:15. Μια μερα ο Θεος θα αποκαταστησει παλι τη βασιλεια στον δικαιουχο και κληρονομο, Ιησου Χριστο-Αποκ.11:5.
Οι πιστοι πρεπει να ειναι ενεργα μελη αυτου του σκοπου γιατι ειτε το αισθανομαστε η οχι ειμαστε μπλεγμενοι σ' ενα διαρκη πολεμο μεταξυ των δυναμεων του σκοτους και των στρατιων του Ουρανου. Αυτος ο ενεργος ρολος που διαδραματιζουμε πρεπει να δειχνει την επιθυμια μας για την ελευση του Ιησου Χριστου και της Βασιλειας Του. Κατα την διαρκεια της επιγειας διακονιας Του ο Ιησους Χριστος μιλησε εκτεταμενα για τη Βασιλεια του Θεου, ιδιαιτερα στις παραβολες.
Η Βασιλεια του Θεου πρεπει να αποτελει κυρια προτεραιοτητα στη ζωη του πιστου γιατι η βασιλεια αποτελει πρωτο βημα για την αιωνιοτητα. Ο Θεος ανταμοιβει αυτους  που τον βαζουν στην πρωτη θεση μεσα στη ζωη τους, 'Ζητατε τη Βασιλεια του Θεου και ολα αυτα θα σας προστεθουν' Λουκ.12:31. Ειναι ομως αλλο να γνωριζουμε για τη Βασιλεια του Θεου και αλλο να ειμαστε μεσα. Πολλοι θελουν την Βασιλεια αλλα ολοι δεν ειναι προθυμοι να πληρωσουν την τιμη. Στο Λουκ18, διαβαζουμε για τον πλουσιο αρχοντα που ηθελε να κλυρονομησει την αιωνια ζωη αλλα αγαπουσε τα πλυτη του πιο πολυ απο τη σωτηρια της ψυχης του. Μιαν αλλη φορα ο Κυριος Ιησους Χριστος παρομοιασε τη Βασιλεια με εναν ανθρωπο που βρηκε θησαυρο σ' ενα χωραφι και για να το αποκτησει πουλησε οσα ειχε.                       (Συνεχιζεται)

2 Kings 3:1-20
A STRANGE ALLIANCE. Three Kings joined together against Moab.
A godly King, a backslid-den king and a heathen king. All three make an alliance to fight the Moabites. For seven days they go on without a thought for God or prayer until suddenly they are brought to a halt for lack of water. When a problem like that came they decided to seek the council of the Prophet of God. They inquired, 'Is there a prophet of God',
and they go to find Elisha. They were told to dig trenches.
The water here could represent a beautiful type of the Holy Spirit of God. They had no water and despite all their resources could not produce any, so they had to turn to God. There was no shortage as far as God was concerned. The shortage was on earth.
There is no limit to what God can send. It matters not the barrenness or the desert. If they had dug 100 time more they would be filled. There is no limit as to the time or to what God can do.
We have some very dry places here today as well and the moving of the Spirit is needed. The hardness of the people or the churches does not matter. God is able to send water to the hardest place. His arm is not waxed short. We cannot fabricate or work it up. Only God can send it.
The reason why they did not have any water.
A strange alliance. Jehoshaphat was a godly king. He inquired about the prophet, yet he was in the same trouble as the backslidden king of Israel and the heathen king. Jehoshaphat was in trouble because of his foolishness. Had he kept away from them he would have had plenty of water.
It was not the first time he had done that-2 Chron.18:14. What did God think of that alliance. In 2 Chron.19:1-3, we read 'Should you help the ungodly?'. In spite of that he does the same thing again. He went with Jehoram and because of that he came into a dry patch. God had already warned him. Contrast Ezra 4:3. No alliance with the ungodly, even if they took offence. In Ezra 6:14, 21, they built and prospered with the help of God, 'Separated themselves from the filthiness....' You cannot link up with darkness, be it in business, etc. No fellowship with the unfruitful work of darkness.
Jehoshaphat went along, did not even bother to pray. Had there been any water they would have continued along in their own way. God brought them to a circumstance where they were compelled
to seek God. So many in their prosperity think they can go along without God. Thank God for any circumstance that brings you back to Him.
About Jehoram: 'He did evil but not like his father...'. In vs 13-14, we have what God thinks of a double minded person. God knew exactly where he stood. 'Measures of evil', i.e not like his father.
Laodicean Christians: What God thinks of half- hearted Christians. Professing Christianity but not in the heart.
2 Kings 17:31-34. Fearing God but serving other Gods in the heart - No one can serve two masters.
Elisha said, 'I would not even look at you' i.e no Word from God for you if it were not for Jehoshaphat - he was foolish but not sinful.
Let us not be Laodicean Christians. There is enough danger outside (Moab), let alone fighting on the inside. We cannot defeat the Moabites unless we have the water first. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. We need the Spirit. They had no prayer or anything. God could have given water straight away but He did nothing till they sought Him. They had to seek Him because they could not bring the supply alone.
When Elijah prayed after the drought rain came, but they could not have otherwise done anything about it.
Jesus said, 'If any man thirst let him come to Me'. We cannot work it out. It comes down from above. Some Christians try to work it out with music, shouting, etc. It is God's prerogative. We need the Spirit. Some say we manage. The prodigal son managed. The blind man managed somehow. We managed without electricity and you may have managed for many years, but you can manage better with it than without it. How much more can we manage better with the Spirit.
The three kings had to humble themselves. They had to learn the power of God, they could not do it alone. They journeyed for seven days and when they met a crisis then they had to come to the Word of God. Before they could get the water they had to get the Word of God. They had to do something before water came, they had to dig ditches. There might be something you have to do before the filling you need.
God said dig ditches, in other words-make room. He could fill all the ditches they could dig. It is not that God is limited. We are so full up of things, we have no place, no time, no room for Christ.
We need to open up our hearts, our lives, our pockets, etc. for God that He will pour His blessing.
God does not always come as we think. No wind, no rain, He comes His own way. We like to have noise, manifestations, etc, but God works His own way.
It was Jehoshaphat who said, 'Is there a Prophet?'. Jehoram never thought of it and the heathen king would never suggest it. We may be surrounded by heathen or backslidden people who are not bothered about Revival. If we are not going to bother about it, who is going to? If Jehoshaphat had not suggested it there would not have been any defeat of the Moabites. There would not have been any Word of God nor any water.