Know Your Enemy

In light of our recent discussions, there's something important I feel like we should focus on for a moment. We've gained some clarity about the types of seasons we go through as Christian believers so now let's go a step further. Does it ever feel like your season will never change? Your situation always the same ole struggle? There's a reason for that.

Genesis 24 tells us the story about a man named Laban, who was the brother of Rebekah. She had been chosen of God to be the wife of Issac, and look at the reaction of her brother. "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed."(Gen.24:50) Well, it sounds good so far. But when they were prepared to leave the next morning, Laban and Rebekah's mom said "Let the girl remain with us ten days or so; then you may go." (24:55) Uh oh..."Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master." (24:56)

Thank God for a servant that knew when it was time to go! Look back at Laban here. He KNOWS there is no need in going against God's ultimate plan for his sister so he agrees this is from the Lord. However...he decides to just stall the process a bit. He is a tool of the enemy. He does not have the authority to stop the plan of God but he tries to persuade God's servant that it will be fine to stay there for a while longer instead of following hard after the things God has spoken. That is such familiar territory. Satan knows if he can get us to get deeper into the struggle of our current season, then he can stall our progress towards our final victory. And guess what else? He will bring reinforcements and very compelling ones.

We must remember these seasons we walk through are meant from the Lord to be a good thing...a stepping stone for us into a higher place. They are not meant to be a place of dwelling. It is not a place for us to settle down in. We have come to this place only for a time of learning/testing and now it is time to move on. Don't allow the enemy to keep you here longer than God intended. Know who your enemy is and be aware of his tactics or he will continue to compel you to stay where God is trying to lead you out. You can overcome him...but not just by the blood of Christ on your life. It takes the word of your testimony as well. YOU tell the enemy he can not detain you. Enough is enough! This season is over. The Master is waiting for you and I to come up higher!

Clarity

In the last few blogs we've talked about struggles and how they make us feel. Its not always our problem with God and why He does some things for us and not other things; I'm finding it has alot to do with my lack of understanding and my limited faith. Last night I visited a church to hear a wonderful minister share the Word and it was right on target for me. I wrote notes as fast as I could and want to include a highlight of Clint Brown's sermon for you. If you find yourself described in any of these scriptures, I pray you gain the clarity, the understanding, and the faith to move forward.

Six Types of People in the Church- (Habakkuk 3:17)

Though the fig tree does not bud...Fig leaves were used as a covering. Many Christians are coming to church week after week feeling like they have no covering. They are walking under the weight of past sins and not experiencing the liberty of Christ's love. Yes there has been sin but if we've been forgiven, then we are assured that Christ's love covers a multitude of sin. We don't have to remain weighed down with guilt, shame, and embarrassment any longer.

and there are no grapes on the vines...Grapes were crushed for wine to use during special ceremonies, especially communion. Too many people in church are feeling hurt and alone. They don't seem to have any understanding from the brothers, no covenant with one another, no one to connect with, to share their heart with. That's a problem for too many people including church leadership. If there is no connection, there is no evangelism, no discipleship, no moving forward.

though the olive crop fails...Olives are used to make anointing oil, which is used to pray for healing. There is a shortage of oil; none being poured on wounds to minister healing to the hurting. Jesus showed his scars first to those that had doubt and uncertainty. He does not want us to hang our heads in shame because of past sins and hurts. It will cause us to miss out on extending the healing oil to someone else that needs it desperately. We can use our experiences to help someone else.

and the fields produce no food...There are also those of us that have planted the right things in the kingdom but instead of getting a great harvest, we received issues in return. We have yet to receive the good we've sown. Oh I'm soo there! Yes we've been spoiled. And by none other than the Lord himself. He loves us so much and blesses us with all kinds of blessings so when He changes the direction of his hands over our lives for a little refining, we overreact and immediately think we've done something wrong.

though there are no sheep in the pen...This person finds that people you thought were trustworthy are not always as trusting as you thought. They've always been there for you! Until now. If you plan to move forward with the Lord, realize you will have to disengage yourself with people that refuse to move higher in God.

and no cattle in the stalls...No excess, no abundance to fall back on. No bail out for this situation. There is no possible way out of this as far as you can see so only God can make it happen. You no longer have any answers.

Vrs 18,19- yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.
Even though you may feel some or all of these ways described above, I hope you choose to rejoice in the Lord. Oh I pray you can bring yourself to do this. You won't regret it! The Lord will use our rejoicing to take us higher...to see over our situations and issues to where He has planned for us in the distance. When all the supports we've depended on go away and we're left to simply trust AND OBEY, that's where we will find the higher places in God. Its not about our situations, its about our understanding and how that understanding affects our faith. You are not a wimp! YOU ARE A WARRIOR!

When There's No One

Are your words falling on deaf ears? Do you seem to be invisible to people around you? No one there to pick up the mantle and run the next part of the course with you? No one seem interested in hearing what you have to say and no intention of following your suggestions?

One encouraging thought is knowing we are not traveling this road alone. Joseph traveled it long before we did and he was victorious. This guy was literally thrown away, left to die...by his own brothers! From being thrown in the cistern, sold into slavery, faced with sexual temptation, a victim of lies, thrown into jail and punished for doing the right thing, ignored and forgotten by those that benefited from his wisdom, and finally to Pharaoh's palace; he endured a lot of pain and frustration for several years before seeing any real substance come from all his efforts. During this time as God patiently worked on Joseph's pride issues, Joseph remained positive to those around him. And it won him great favor with God. In every single situation, God caused him to prosper in one way or another. Even though Joseph had not reached the divine place God had appointed for him, the Lord remained faithful to Joseph and blessed him everywhere he went.

How can we say God's not good to us? How dare we think such a thing! He has blessed us so much, we are spoiled. We think if life is hard in any manner, we have been forsaken. That is not the case. We are being tested. We are being refined for a greater day, an hour of divine appointment we've not yet reached. Sometimes I wonder if I'll EVER get there...feeling like I'm spinning my wheels in the same place. I imagine Joseph felt the same way too, but God wants warriors and warriors need training. SO WHAT if no one wants to listen. Joseph kept talking...he didn't stop advising. His personal integrity made the difference and when God finished chiseling that pride, he had just enough confidence to make the kind of decisions that would help an entire nation survive and prosper. Don't you imagine he had days when he felt like he had no one to lead, yet he knew from his childhood that he was born to do great things, to be a great leader. The dreams of his youth were not some silly fantasy. They were of a spiritual birth and a confirmation that God indeed had plans for this man's life.

For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(Jeremiah 29:11) God does have a plan for you. He might be on the last round of chiseling and about to turn you around so quick, all the heartache will become a blur. The hardships made Joseph a better man. I'm in the same boat with you in feeling like enough is enough with all the hardships, but if it leads me to be the person God intended, so be it. With Jesus I can take it, with Him I know I can stand. No matter what may come my way, my life is in your hands.

Personal Prayers

I really desire your prayers. I've been deeply stirred in my spirit about some things I've wanted to do for years and haven't felt the avenues open to do them. I need direction from the Lord. I'm left with the feeling of being close to the end of a pregnancy and not knowing what to expect. No real answers...just anticipation, wonder and uncertainty. Faith walking is hard...not sometimes, always. My flesh fights it with more gusto than I knew I possessed. Its funny how things work with our christian walk. You think you're ready to do something so great for God and it doesn't happen (at least not the way you imagined). So you put those dreams aside, thinking its not meant to be. Then suddenly years later, something happens to awaken those dreams and you realize they haven't gone anywhere. They've just been buried, or maybe not even buried..maybe in a cocoon or womb. And now that they've been awakened, I'm uncertain about the dreams altogether. I wonder if I'm really ready or if I'm just on some unseen trip that leads back to the womb. Oh I hope you understand my dilemma. If not, then you KNOW to pray! If you do understand, you also KNOW to pray!