The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Chapter 8) "Simeon" Simeon was the second son born to Jacob and Leah. His name means `hearing'. In a broader sense it means, `He who hears and obeys what he hears'. There is an experience that will help you to hear what the Spirit is saying. That exprience is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Simeon was given the ability of God to hear, not just with his ears but he has a spiritual ear to hear the voice of the Lord. There came a time in God's plan for Simeon that he was bound in the land of Egypt by his then unrecognized brother, Joseph. There may comes times in God's plan for you that it seems as though you can hear nothing from Him. Be encouraged in times like these because He has everything in control and is just molding your faith and character. Simeon's location during the wilderness travels was on the south side of the Tabernacle between Reuben and Gad. South, in this case, means being on the right hand of a person facing the east. The right hand speaks of power and strength. Simeon was placed in a position of strength even when going through dry and trying places. Those of the Tribe of Simeon will find that they have a special affinity for Reubenites and Gadites during their time of wilderness experiences. They move out under the standard of the Reubenites and sometimes even think that they might be Reubenites. Simeons affinity for Reuben and Gad, however, is only during wilderness experiences. Simeon finds his affinity with Judah when it comes to inheriting that which God has promised him. In Joshua 19:1-9 we read, "The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah....... The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah's portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah." Judah always takes more than he can possess by himself because he has a desire to be a blessing for others who are less fortunate. Simeonites can tell whether they are in the wilderness or in the process of inheriting by whether they are drawn to Rebunites and Gadites or to Judahites.Judah asked Simeon if he would help him fight for his inheritance. In turn, Judah helped Simeon fight for his inheritance. The heart and understanding the voice of the Lord by Simeon joins with the praise and Lion of the Tribe of Judah to drive out the forces seen and unseen that would withstand God's people from inheriting the promises of the Lord. As the forever unfolding plan of the Lord continues we shall understand more clearly how these two tribes complement each other. Those of the Tribe of Simeon not only have the baptism of the Holy Spirit but they have, by much discipline, learned to discern the voice of the Lord. As a result, they recognize the messengers of the Lord and quickly carry out the instructions of the Lord. They will not follow everyone that has a national ministry but will follow only the voice of the Lord. In Genesis 49:5 it says, "Simeon and Levi are brothers: (This is the only good thing said about them) Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not into their secret;unto their assembly, mine honor, be thou not united: For in their anger they slew a man, and in their self will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." Amplified version reads, "Simeon and Levi are brothers (alike,headstrong, deceitful, vindictive and cruel); their swords are weapons of violence. O my soul do come not into their secret council; unto their assembly, my honor, be not united (for I knew nothing in their plot); because in their anger they slew men (an honored man, Shechem and the Shechemites); and in their self will they disabled oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." The Second Gate to the Holy City is 'Hearing which comes with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What happens if I just stop at this second gate and refuse to go any further? You can become violent and unjust and deal with people the wrong way and damage lives and even be false. Notice it says here that they were cruel and that the instruments of their cruelty were in their churches. Not only are they cruel in their churches but when they go home, they are cruel to their wives and children. This shows the danger of stopping at the second gate. Let's take a look at this statement, "Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath,for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." In the book of Numbers they numbered Simeon twice and the second time they numbered him, he had decreased by over fifty percent. This shows me that in every church and every ministry where people stop at the second gate, there will be a decrease in their attendance and growth. As we proclaim this message, people will receive revelation and realize that there is more to this thing than just two gates and they will want to enter into the City and
become crystal clear. People are tired of going into churches where there are envies and cruelties, with people always arguing and quarreling; where everybody wants to be chiefs, and nobody
wants to be Indians. But don't blame the people, it is the ministry's fault for stopping at the second gate, and they get angry at anyone that preaches anything more. They are well aware that they cannot lead anyone where they have not been. You cannot take them beyond the second gate if you haven't gone on yourself. The name Simeon was on the fifth stone of the breastplate. The stone was a sapphire stone. The Song of Solomon 5:14 says, "His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: His belly is as bright ivory overlaid with (hearing) Sapphires" The inner most being of Jesus was set on just one thing; hearing what the Father had to say. Exodus 24:10 says, "And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness." Ezekiel 1:26 says, "And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone..." Only those who can hear are going to rule! Isaiah 54:11 says, "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest and not comforted, behold I will lay thy stones with fair colors and thy foundations with sapphires." This is speaking of the Church as She is being restored, and the very foundation of this restoration is the fact that this Bride can hear what the Spirit is saying to Her generation. Lamentations 4:7 says, "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more
ruddy in body than rubies,
their polishing was of sapphire." God is going to give His Church pastors after His own heart who shall feed His people with knowledge and understanding. He is now polishing them, and this word literally means to cut off or divide. He is doing a work of purification, and I encourage you tonight to present your bodies a living sacrifice and let Him polish you like a sapphire stone. Faith comes by hearing, and when you really start to hear, He will start to polish. The Second Foundation of the Wall around the Holy City is also Sapphire. This sapphire is different from the present day stone that we call a sapphire. This sapphire is a clear blue gem known as lapis-lazuli. This stone is second in hardness only to the diamond. For the first two foundations of this wall there had to be stones that were extremely hard. We have seen that the first foundation of this wall is a jasper stone and that the jasper stone is a diamond. The name of the apostle written on this jasper stone was the apostle Peter. We also learned that the first foundation is repentance. The second foundation is the other side of the first foundation. Just as with the coins we used every day they have two sides. The flip side of the first foundation is FAITH! Faith is something also that will never be out of your life. A careful study of the scriptures will reveal to you the name of the apostle that was written on the second stone. The apostle John is the name written on the second foundation stone. The order always given of the inner circle of the disciples of the Lord is Peter, James and John. In Luke 22:8 we will see that Jesus put Peter and John together. "Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat." What two foundations must you have to qualify you to partake of the Passover. Repentance and faith. Simeon was the second son born to Jacob but was inscribed on the fifth stone of the breastplate. Five is the number of grace.