Tuesday 1st September 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the launch of ‘Take Heed’ Ministries back in 1990. ‘Launch’ is a rather apt word as one of the verses that led me to leave secular employment on 31st October 1989 and eventually establish ‘Take Heed’ was Luke 5:4 where the Lord said to Simon Peter “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch”.
Well, having “launched out” on 31st October 1989 when I left my secular employment the “nets” were well and truly “let down” with the formation of “Take Heed” some 10 months and one day later.
Over those 25 years the Lord has faithfully instructed, guided and provided and he has brought me into contact with countless numbers of supportive fellow believers and fellowships.
The professing ‘Christian’ scene has changed a lot over those years and sadly not for the better. When ‘Take Heed’ first came on the scene most problems would have been outside of professing Christendom – over the past 25 years that scenario has changed radically and today much of professing Christendom is a dangerous place for a true believer to be ‘inhabiting’. In consequence the need for a ministry such as ‘Take Heed’ has not slackened but has in fact increased.
With the Lord’s help I hope to continue to sound the warning against false Christs/ prophets/ gospels and I shall covet greatly your ongoing prayers to be both faithful and effective.
Amongst the many books I have accumulated over the years is one called ‘Biblical Mathematics: Keys to Scripture Numerics’ by the late pastor Ed. F. Vallowe. I have to confess that I have rarely consulted it but on this special occasion I thought I would see what the entry for ‘25’ said and I want to quote now what I read there –
‘TWENTY-FIVE is evidently the number for the FORGIVENESS of sins. Moses prayed for God to forgive the sins of Israel, and not to blot out that nation. He prayed “Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now” (Numbers 14:13-19)
Then God said to Moses “I have pardoned according to my Word” (v 20). This forgiveness took place as the result of the INTERCESSION of Moses and because of God’s mercy or GRACE. It followed the intercessory work of Moses. TWENTY-FOUR stands for the believer’s priesthood. TWENTY-FIVE is the next number after TWENTY-FOUR. FORGIVENESS of sins follows INTERCESSION.
Paul prayed for Israel that they might be saved “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God For Israel is that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1)
The number TWENTY-FIVE is connected with a PARDON for Jehoiachin, King of Judah. Read Jeremiah 52:31-32. Jeremiah states that Jehoiachin’s prison garments were changed and that he did eat bread before him all the days of his life (v 33). Here is a picture of a pardoned sinner. This happened on the TWENTY-FIFTH day of the month. What a beautiful picture of Christ who firgives our sins, changes our garments and feeds us on the bread of life all of our days.
When Ephesians 1:7 is studied in the light of numbers the same thought is brought out.
“In whom we have redemption (v 20) through his blood, The FORGIVENESS of SINS, according to the riches of His GRACE (5)”
This verse contains REDEMPTION, FORGIVENESS of SINS and GRACE. TWENTY has been found to be the number for REDEMPTION, and FIVE the number of GRACE. When these two numbers are added it gives you TWENTY-FIVE for FORGIVENESS of SINS.
The Levites were TWENTY-FIVE years old when they began their service at the TABERNACLE.
“This is it that belongeth to the Levites; From TWENTY-FIVE years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the services of the Tabernacle.” (Numbers 8:24)
We are not ready to do service for God until our SINS have been FORGIVEN. From that time onward we can serve Him
How fitting that on this anniversary the emphasis when considering ‘25’ should be on the gracious saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ and not on any “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
Cecil Andrews – ‘Take Heed’ Ministries – 31st August 2015