People of God,
Hope you are well and have had a week full of victory, as I have.
Well, this blog, Reflections , is focused on empowering you to live the victorious life God destined you to live in Christ.
We are called to be atmosphere changers, transformers.In this capacity, believe we should fight to take back territory, atmospheres and bloodlines which the enemy has ruled us in and robbed us of.Rev 12 Talks about such a war, and like it or not, you are involved.
The following blog was excerpted from a Chuck Pierce's book that I have been ruminating on,the Future War of The Church.
Child of God, be equipped, in Jesus name.
Enjoy:
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A change in the Air
Do we really understand this war that is being fought? A better way to approach this may be from an understanding of the atmosphere. According to the American Dictionary of the English Language, the atmosphere is "the whole mass of fluid, consisting of air, aqueous and other vapors, that surrounds the Earth." The word is rooted in the interaction between vapor and the Earth's sphere. Vapor consists of the fumes, moist floating substance or invisible elastic fluid that encompasses the Earth's sphere. The Bible even refers to this in Psalm 39:5 when it says, "Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor." Yet when most of us speak of "the atmosphere," we're referring to a generic sense of an airborne aura surrounding us.
What does the atmosphere have to do with a war over God's presence? Actually, everything. We have an atmosphere about us that affects the way the earth operates. The atmosphere we carry affects the land we walk on. The more we are in union with God and His purpose for the earth, the more we create a right atmosphere around us.
To usher in God's presence requires a change in the atmosphere, and we are assigned the task of bringing this about!
The Bible establishes that Satan is the god of this world, the "prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). Yet how is this so if Psalm 24:1 says, "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness"? First, we must understand the terms used in those two verses. The Greek word for "earth" is topos, while the word for "world" is cosmos. This means that any structure that protrudes or is above the topos is subject to warfare. Second, we must realize the Bible establishes that there are three heavens. God and all His heavenly beings dwell in the third heaven. Satan, as the ruler of the air, attempts to rule from the second heaven to illegally legislate in the first heaven—that place where we physically stand above the earth.
Apostle Kim Daniels, in her book Give it Back, explains it this way:
"Ephesians 2:2 describes the assignment of the prince of the power of the air. One name for the Greek god of the second heaven is Zeus. The second heaven is the demonic headquarters that is strategically set up to control people like puppets on a string. In the spirit, that is exactly how it looks—like a puppet show! Every human being is connected to either the second or third heaven. People who are bound by second heaven activity are connected to the second heaven by demonic stings. The hydra is the god of recurring curses and is also seated in the heavens. It is one of the constellations or groups of stars that abide in the heavens. The power of the air (or unconscious cycles) is a subliminal bondage, which is controlled from the air. This spirit hides behind the cover of natural habits, and its victims never suspect that they are under its control. Before people are delivered from addictions and habits, demonic strings must be cut in the spirit to sever their alliances with the second heaven. After this, ground-level deliverance can take place.2"
We must determine who is in charge of our atmosphere. Are we going to legislate God's rule in our atmosphere or will our enemy control it? This is one of our greatest warfare dynamics to understand. In Authority in Prayer, Dutch Sheets writes:
"Where God and Satan are concerned, the issue has never been power, including control of the earth. God is all-powerful . . . it is always a question of authority. The same is true with us and our struggle with the kingdom of darkness. Satan didn't gain any power at the Fall and didn't lose any at the cross. His power or ability didn't change at either event. His authority, or the right to use his power, did. In fact, though Christians often state otherwise, Scripture nowhere says that Christ delivered us from or dealt with Satan's power at Calvary. He dealt with Satan's authority."
We must learn to legislate within our realm of authority, while understanding that it is not the same thing as power.Our realm of authority includes both heaven and earth. That is what makes up our atmosphere. Jesus broke Satan's headship and removed his legal authority at the cross. He then overcame death, hell and the grave. He liberated the captives. However, we must keep Satan's power neutralized and defeated in the place in the earth where God has called us to be His stewards. That is what Elijah did when he commanded the heavens to withhold rain for three and a half years (see 1 Kings 17). Then, knowing it was God's perfect time for rain, he birthed a cloud into his atmosphere. The atmosphere was then filled with rain.
Is a Curse Working in Your Midst?
Satan has a million different ways in which he tries to extend his dominion of the air. This chapter is not dedicated to identifying all those opposing tactics, but I do feel it necessary to highlight one in particular: curses. Passed down through time, curses work with iniquitous patterns that have developed in our bloodline. Let's look at how curses play a major role in our reclaiming the atmosphere around us.
Though it seems almost too simple, one of the ways that you can detect a curse is by recognizing the absence of God's glory or presence. According to The Encyclopedia of Jewish Myth, Magic and Mysticism, a curse is a "verbal invocation to bring harm, evil or detriment on another. More than a threat or a wish, a curse is assumed to have the power to make the desired harm a reality."4 Curses result from not hearing God's voice or receiving another voice that is contrary to God's plan for your life. Curses will agree with internal deficiencies within us such as rebellion, lust or any other sin of the flesh. Derek Prince wrote a wonderful book called Blessings or Curses: You Can Choose. In his analysis of Deuteronomy 28, he says there are seven main categories that curses deal with.
They are:
1. Mental and/or emotional breakdown
2. Repeated or chronic sicknesses (especially if hereditary)
3. Barrenness, a tendency to miscarry or related female problems
4. Breakdown of marriage or family alienation
5. Continuing financial insufficiency
6. Being "accident-prone"
7. A history of suicides and unnatural or untimely deaths5
Because I teach so much on breaking old cycles, I want to be sure that you recognize that curses can be timed and sequenced so that they reoccur from generation to generation. This will continue to take place until the iniquitous pattern in a bloodline or the iniquitous violation on a piece of land has been addressed. I have much experience with both of these patterns. In fact, my wife jokes that I'm qualified to teach on demonic powers all over the world because my family had all of them in operation! Many of those curses operated on the land that we owned. I won't tell all of those stories here, but I will say this: The Lord took me through a 30-year process going back and forth to places where iniquitous defilements occurred in our family. He then would have me repent and release His presence to replace the working of evil. I read many books on cleansing the land and discovered that there are four major areas of iniquity that cause curses to have a right to operate in a land: covenant breaking, idolatry or blood sacrifice, illegal bloodshed and sexual immorality.
Many Christian leaders make light of the concept of curses. I do not want to do that. I do believe that curses are conditional. I am well aware that they can come through words, timing and astrological influences, or magical incantations and actions. More importantly, however, curses can be broken.
A man once approached me who was from a denominational background. The group he worked with had bought a new piece of land to build a school and ministry on. When he and some of his coworkers were walking on the land, they got to a place where everyone immediately sensed a change in the atmosphere. Every hair on his body seemed to stand up. He asked me what that meant.
"When that happens, it means you have discerned a presence of evil," I answered. "It is the Holy Spirit manifesting in you with the gift of discerning evil spirits." He then asked me what he should do and how he should pray. I said, "Well, first of all, you pray until all the hair on your body goes down! That means you have commanded the presence of evil to let go of the place where you are standing and the atmosphere has been cleansed." The group later found several places where satanic sacrifices had been made on their land.
Planning for the Presence
Many of us need to reclaim territories just like this group did. While this can certainly involve claiming victory over the dark history behind a piece of physical land, more often than not it involves cleaning out areas of our lives in which God's glory is not fully seen. We must become people of His presence, consumed with His habitation throughout every inch of our atmosphere.
King David was such a person. Despite making some major mistakes during his reign, David loved the presence of God and had a heart that was turned after God. He was always willing to rely on God to salvage his failures and restore him.
In 2 Samuel 6, we find an account of how David first attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, where he lived. His desire was pure: He wanted the presence of God to surround his life. Yet his execution was flawed and left one of his men dead. As a result, David feared transporting the Ark to his house and instead left it at the home of Obed-Edom. Scripture says, "And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household," and this was relayed to David.
What is interesting is that this Hebrew word for blessed is barak, which at its root means "to kneel." Jeff A. Benner, on his Ancient Hebrew Research Center website, gives an understanding of this word as, "Yahweh (he who exists) will kneel before you presenting gifts."6 The Ark was only with Obed-Edom for three months, yet there was a discernible change in his situation that caused others to recognize that he was being blessed, that Yahweh was presenting him with gifts—all because of the presence of the Ark!
The mistake wasn't in David's heart or in his lack of preparation. David had already built a site for the Ark. He had established a special place for God's presence to dwell. No, the lesson David learned was simply this: How we invite the presence of God and how we honor His presence is very important. David serves as a wonderful example because although he made a great mistake, he discovered how to properly bring the Ark to the City of David. He then entered a "series of conquests which greatly extended and strengthened his kingdom (2 Sam. 8). In a few years, the whole territory from the Euphrates to the river of Egypt, and from Gaza on the west to Thapsacus on the east, was under his sway (2 Sam. 8:3-13; 10)."
According to Leen and Kathleen Ritmeyer in From Sinai to Jerusalem: The Wanderings of the Holy Ark, the Ark was placed right next to David's palace, in his yard. Living on his property, in his backyard, was the God who brought him gifts! The Tabernacle of David would have remained there for about 30 years. I believe this is what gave David great credibility in war. What an incredible principle! When we have the presence of God in our homes, the gifts of God are bestowed abundantly on our lives and we are successful in war.
However, I also believe this is why David was judged so severely when he didn't go to war and fell into passivity, lust, manipulation and murder after coveting Bathsheba. When we commit open sin while in God's presence, our problems escalate. This is why it is more disastrous when a minister hides a lifestyle of sin than for an everyday Christian to do so. Obviously, sin is sin, but the influence that we have from the presence of God in our midst is not to be taken lightly. I believe we are more accountable when we are aware of God's presence in our midst and we do not act accordingly.
John Dickson, a fellow minister and friend of mine who co-authored The Worship Warrior with me, writes the following about David:
What was unique about the Tabernacle of David was that it was a heavenly paradigm in an earthly setting. When David brought in the Ark, there was already a Tabernacle specifically designed to house it: The tabernacle of Moses was just down the road in Gibeon (see 2 Chron. 1:4-5). But God said of David that He would "carry out My program fully" (Acts 13:22, AMP) and so we find David setting up a different kind of tent on Zion's hill with no brazen altar, no laver, no lampstand, no altar of incense, no table of show bread and—most importantly—no veil. The worshippers entered the very presence of God face-to-face, just like they did in heaven. The way they worshipped was also just like in heaven: With no forms or rituals, they sang and danced and prophesied and warred before the Lord as the minions of heaven are seen doing in the book of Revelation.
There in that Tabernacle on Zion's hill, God enthroned Himself on their praises (see Ps. 22:3) and from that throne He stretched forth His scepter (see Ps. 110:1-3), issued His commands (see Ps. 133:3), declared His blessings (see Ps. 128:5; 134:3), heard the prayers of the destitute (see Ps. 102:17) and punished His enemies (see Isa. 66:6). That word enthroned implies in the Hebrew that God not only came to sit as judge, but also to stay or to dwell—even to marry. God was not going to leave once His "work" was done. He had found a suitable dwelling place for His presence to continually dwell on earth. Psalm 132 says "For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it" (Ps. 132:13-14, NASB). In David's Tabernacle, God was in the midst of continual praises. It was just like His holy hill, by the same name, in heaven. As a matter of fact, Psalm 78 says that God built His sanctuary on Mount Zion "like the heights" (Ps. 78:67-69) or just like it was built in heaven. God's presence, which was continually manifested in heaven, was now continually manifested on the earth. His people could come into that small tent and experience that presence just like the inhabitants of heaven. How wonderful!9
Throughout the Bible, we see that God is enthroned in praise. We glorify Him through our worship. That is why praise and worship are essential to experiencing God's glory. Praise is that element of celebration that can transport us into the throne room of God. Once we are in the throne room at His feet, the only suitable response is to worship and adore Him. As we worship Him in that intimate place, He begins to reveal His glory to us. God is looking for true worshipers who will worship "in spirit and truth" (John 4:24), and as He finds those worshipers, they are able to experience the reality of heaven, which is God's glory.
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Hope it was worth your time,
Shalom.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
RECOGNITION OF THE ENEMY GOD WILL USE TO PROMOTE YOU
Hi people!
Hope you had a wonderful week, as I did.
I thank God for friends and family, they are God’s gift to us in times of trouble and difficulty. The proverb rings true, ”A friend is made for all times, and a brother born for adversity.” A toast to them!
Before I begin, let me celebrate you. Thank you for taking the time to come” listen” to my musing… it’s the audience that makes the artist. Thank you!
I am currently reviewing Robert Greene’s The Art of Seduction: 24 Laws of Persuasion, (I have to catch my breath, what a book!) I was tempted to blog it first, but, in keeping with my emphasis in the last blog (the Shepherd preparing a table before you in the presence of your enemies), allow me to share with you some of the insight I gained from a chapter on the same from Mike Murdock’s The Law of Recognition.
I chose to share this chapter (and that on the Recognition of your Dominant Weakness- to be posted later) with the understanding that life can be a battle field, and in this season of war, the best intelligence mechanisms demand that you know the roles each character is playing in the theatre of your life and adjust accordingly, lest you be caught unawares.
Btw, this blog is pretty long…
Hope you will enjoy:
Baraka:
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Even Jesus had enemies, he always had enemies. An uncommon achiever must recognize an adversary:
The common resent the uncommon
The impure despise the pure
The unholy despise the holy
The lazy despise the diligent.
THREE FACTS JESUS REVEALED ABOUT ENEMIES:
1.Jesus expected his disciples to stir enemies: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake.” (Matt 22) “The disciple is not above his master, nor is the servant above his lord. It enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they called the master of the House of Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household?” (Matt 10:24, 25)
2.Jesus instructed his disciples to anticipate enemies. Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Mat 10:16)
3.Jesus warned his disciples ahead of time that men would become their enemies: “But beware of men, for they will deliver you to councils and they will scourge you in their synagogues: and ye shall be brought before governors for my sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles (Mat 10;17-18) Jesus did not merely warn them of the devil, he warned them of men.
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES:
1.You will always have an enemy (Mat 22)
2.Your enemy is someone who tries to sabotage the assignment God has for you (Gal 5:7-9, Deut 13:6,8,9)
3.Your enemy is any person who resents your desire for increase and the reward it brings. (1 Sam 17:28)
4.Your enemy is anyone unhappy about your progress. Nehemiah faced this, Ezra faced this. They had accusations and letters written against them.
5.Your enemy is anyone who increases or strengthens a personal weakness God is attempting to remove from your life. A Delilah, perhaps (Judges 16)
6.Your enemy is anyone attempting to kill the faith God is birthing within you. God may be birthing your ministry. Your vision may be exploding. Your enemy is any person who makes any attempt to abort the emergence of your dream, calling or assignment.
7.Your enemy is anyone who would discuss your past rather than your future. Yesterday is in the tomb,(Isaiah 43:18-19) tomorrow is in the womb.
8.Your enemy is someone who weakens your passion for your future and your dream. The ten spies were used by the enemy to weaken the resolve of Moses to enter Canaan. The crowd instructed the blind man to be quiet.
9.Your enemy is anyone who attacks the weak around you. Some people in your life are too weak to discern a trap. They are blinded by personality, looks or even blessing.
10.Your enemy is someone of your own household “And a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. (Matt 14:36)
11.Your enemy should not be feared. “And fear not them, which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both the body and soul in hell. (Matt 10:28)
12.The perfect will of God is your deliverance from your enemy. “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for not all have the faith” (2 Thes 3:2)
13.The Holy Spirit will provide answers concerning the enemy. “The Holy Spirit will tell you what to speak” (Mat 10:28)
14.Your enemy is often discerned ahead of time by your mentor (Luke 22:31-32)
15.Your fasting can move the hand of God in destroying your enemy (Joel 2:15, 19, 20)
16.God will fight against your enemy. “The LORD your God will fight for you, you need only be still” (Deut 20:9)
17. Your enemy is not all that (i just had to throw that in...)
18.Your enemy will not be allowed by God to win. (Psalms 118:6) The LORD is on my side, I do not fear. What can man do to me?
19.Your enemy is a natural and necessary part of your life. (John 15:19-21)
20.Satan is your eternal enemy, (Eph 6:12) we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, and world rulers of this present darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
21.You cannot defeat your enemy with your own strength. (2 Corinthians 3:5) “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves, our sufficiency is of God…”
22.God expects you to prepare your defense against your enemy (Eph 6:10, 11) finally brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the evil day, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…”
23.Overcoming your enemy is key to your rewards (Rev 3:5, 12)
24.The spoils of war, not your enemy, must remain your focus. (Rev 3:21, I Peter 4:13-14)
25.You will always have a warfare companion during every battle with your enemy (Isaiah 43:1-2) “I will be with you…”
26.Your enemy provides God an opportunity to reveal his commitment to you (2 Cor 12:9, 10) My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness…”
27.The wisdom of conquering your enemy will be imparted to you in the place of prayer (Psalms 27:5, 6)
28.You should never disclose in public the amount of damage done by your enemy. (Prov 29:11) “A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it till afterwards…”
29.An uncommon enemy will require uncommon wisdom. James 1:5” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God who gives liberally and without reproach…” (Psalm 119:98) “Through thy commandments, thou has made me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.”
30.You should never reveal your strategy against the enemy to those uncommitted to you or to your cause. (Prov 29: 11)” A fool uttereth all his mind…”
31.Your warfare with the enemy is always seasonal (Ecc 3:1,3,8) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to love, a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace.”
32.Your greatest weapon against the enemy is the Word of God (Eph 6;17) And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
33.The Holy Spirit will teach you the principles of warfare against your enemy. Blessed be the LORD, my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight (Psalms 144:1)
34.You must enter every battle against your enemy for purposes of bringing glory to God. (1 Sam 17;45, 46,47)
35.You should expect to win every battle against the enemy (1 Sam 17:46) “Then David said to the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand: and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee: and I will give the carcasses of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”
36. Your enemy is still not all that...
37.Your enemy will be opposed by God even when you are unable to defend yourself. (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17) The LORD is a man of war, the LORD of hosts is his name (Exodus 15:13)
38.Your enemy is often ignorant of your past victories which makes them vulnerable and unprepared for you. Goliath did not know that David had fought the lion and the bear.
39.Your enemy, when aware of your past victories, becomes more fearful of you. Remember what Rahab said about the children of Israel when they came to spy Jericho.
40.The Holy Spirit will reveal any snare prepared by your enemy (2 Cor 2:11) “Lest satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
41.The Holy Spirit is more powerful than any enemy you will ever face (1 John 1:14) “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”
42.Your enemies will never discern the protective wall of angels surrounding you in battle (Psalms 34:7)
43.Your enemy can not withstand the weapon of praise during times of battle (Psalms 34:7)
44.Your enemy reveals by his attacks that he is fully persuaded by your ability to obtain your goal. (Phil 4:13)
45.Your enemy will attack you at the birth of any significant season of your life (Mat 4, Luke 4, Daniel 9)
46.Jesus instructed his disciples to sow seeds of love, prayer and acts of kindness into the enemy (Mat 5:44, 45)
47.Loving your enemies will create a great reward. (Mat 5:46, Luke 6:35)
48.Any legal entanglement with your enemy should be avoided whenever possible (Matt 5:25,26)
49.An enemy causes movement in your life. Without Pharaoh, the Israelites would have adapted to Egypt.
50.When God has used up the benefits of your present season, he assigns the enemy to become your exit from that season.
51.Your enemy is an announcement form God that your present season has come to a conclusion. Goliath marked David’s shift from being a shepherd boy to a valiant warrior king.
52.Your enemy unleashes your imagination. When Pharaoh increased the pain and the burden on the Israelites, they began to picture the future, where they wanted to be. The Promised Land became a new target, Pain in your present is necessary to give birth to the dream God is developing.
53.Your enemy exposes your weakness. Awareness of your weakness births humility. Humility is a magnet that attracts God and his angels.
54.Your enemy reveals your limitations. When you realize your limitations, begin looking for the solution in those near you. Whatever you lack, God has carefully stored it in someone near you.When your enemy comes, he often exhausts your strength, your creativity and your ideas. This usually launches a search to find heavenly treasure stored in an earthen vessel near you. Remember, love is the secret code for that treasure.
55.Your enemy unifies your friends.
56.The Holy Spirit will often bring conviction to your enemies “who will have all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim 2:4, Acts 16:29, 30, 2 Peter 3:9)
57. Your enemy is still not all that!
58.Your enemy today could possibly become your greatest ally tomorrow. Remember Saul the Persecutor turned to Paul the Apostle (Acts 9:13, 15)
59.Your enemy may be suddenly confronted by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:3-5)
60.Your enemy might experience a sudden change of heart. (Acts 9:6)
61.Your enemy may completely turn around because of a tragedy or crisis (Acts 9:8,9)
62.Your enemy is a door, not a wall, to your next season. It happened to Esther. It happened to Daniel. It happened to job. It can happen for your elevation and increase.
63.The only true difference between a nobody and somebody is the enemy they decide to conquer (1 Sam 18:6, 7)
64.Your enemy is the difference between obscurity and significance. ( 1 Sam 18, 6,7)
65.The size of your enemy determines the size of your rewards (1 Sam 17:4-7, 25)
66.Your enemy forces any Judas in your life to reveal himself. Judas is not your enemy. Everybody has a Judas. Judas are intimidated by you. They work undercover. They betray you behind your back. Judas resents the love and loyalty expressed by others toward you. A Judas is someone who believes your enemy has a right to be heard. A Judas plays both parts: in your presence, a friend, in their presence a friend. When your enemy enters, he will bond with the Judas in your circle of confidants. Your Judas will be exposed quickly when your enemy bonds with them. (BTW: Do not be afraid when your Judas will be revealed, the sacrifice will be swift and in three days, you will resurrect with power!)
67.Anything good will always have an enemy: Evil despises righteousness, fear despises faith, and weakness despises strength. Jesus was the very Son of God, yet the religious crowd despised them.
68.You will only be remembered for the enemy you destroy- or the enemy who destroys you. Samson is remembered coz Delilah destroyed him. David is remembered for the Goliath he killed.
69.Your enemy can not abort your future- he is merely an announcement that your future is being birthed. When goliath roared his challenge, David was receiving his announcement that his shepherd days are over, and that his kingship was being born!
70.Your enemy is as necessary as your friend.(Think about that...) Your friend gives you comfort, your enemy gives you future.
71.Your enemy is your opportunity to highlight your difference from others. The brothers of David were angry, fearful and intimidated. Nobody would have discerned the difference in David…without Goliath. Your enemy is an opportunity to reveal what you believe.
72.When you discover your assignment, you will discover your enemy. Demonic warfare is a sign that the enemy has discovered the intentions God has for you. Demons are not omnipresent; they cannot be everywhere simultaneously. They receive geographical assignments. It took 21 days for Daniels reply to reach him (Daniel 10:12) Question: where do you assign a security guard? Fifty miles from a bank vault? Of course not! He is assigned where the treasure us located. So when you feel demonic pressure around you, get excited. Satan is anticipating a miracle package arriving your way. Warfare is an attempt to break your focus and abort the interest in the miracle.
73. It hasn't changed; Your enemy is STILL NOT all that...
74.The favorite entry point used by your enemy will usually be through someone you have chosen to trust. Your future depends on the weakness of the people you have chosen to trust. (Selah)Everybody trusts somebody- and that someone you are trusting usually trusts someone you would not think of trusting. Adam’s trust in Eve opened the door for the serpent. Samson trusted Delilah (And look at what that brought him- a new definition of the saying “love is blind...”) Your enemy will ALWAYS use someone you have chosen to trust.
75.The enemy you fail to destroy will eventually destroy you. The prophet Samuel instructed King Saul to annihilate the Amalekites. He refused and spared the best of the sheep, their women (they were real hotties, I presume, or that dude took a crazy risk for nothing) and their King Agag (watch who you call your brother- just because they are in the same class as you are does not mean you’r e tight- Reserve the term brother for those whom you are bound by covenant to) Let’s just say, there happened to be an Amalekite handy to finish off the suicide he had attempted, the very Amalekite he had the chance to destroy. (Moral of the story: when God sends you on a seek-and- destroy mission, please, take no captives…)
76.You will never outgrow your enemy; you simply have to learn to fight! Many people think that they will outgrow their desire to sin. Not gonna happen. The desire to sin will forever (within the scope of time) be available. You must simply learn how to fight back.
77.Struggle is the proof that you have not yet conquered by the enemy. You will be tired of fighting. Battle may weary you, but struggle is proof that your enemy has not won.
78.Your enemy must be destroyed, not understood. Conversation is often the door of annihilation. It happened in the Garden of Eden. Satan moved Eve to the negotiation table to prepare them for alienation. Moral of the story: Negotiate with friends, destroy your enemy.
79.Your enemy will not seek to understand you, but to discredit you. This especially applies to when you are dealing with the media. So do not comment unless they promise you in writing to publish exactly what you say and they hand you an unedited copy of the interview’s recordings-it may sound a bit too harsh…but hey, a good name is better: its your responsibility to guard it.
80.When God completes a season in your life, he will always harden the heart of an enemy toward you. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened towards the children of Israel. What you think is an enemy trying to stop you is God’s way of boot kicking you into the next season.
81.Your enemy causes good people to find you. Many times, ministers have become unnoticed and unrecognized. But during a season of attack, people who discerned the truth became aware of them and bonded with them. Bad times always bring good people together.
82.Your enemy causes unused and dormant gift to emerge. Adversity will expose hidden greatness within you. The brothers of David were totally blind to his difference from them.
83.Any uncontested enemy will flourish. Ignoring an enemy does not remove him. Hoping your enemy will leave does not remove him. You must contest your enemy. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you. (James 4;7)
84.Your enemy will often vary the weapons and strategy he uses against you. What he uses when you are a teenager will vary from when you are older.
85.The reaction of your enemy is proof of your progress. When your enemy is anxious he knows that his time is limited.
86.Any move you make in the right direction will be instantly addressed by the enemy.
87. He is still not all that.
88.Your enemy will ultimately reveal the greatness of God to you. Your hear may doubt, your mind may be confused, but in a crisis, God will expose his power and love toward you. An enemy gives him the opportunity to do so.
89.Your enemy may enter your life under the guise of friendship. An enemy who uses this avenue will come in quietly and begin to waken your life like termites to a wooden building.
90.An enemy will often ignore protocol and an established chain of authority. Rebellion is at the hear of an enemy. He despises the order of God. Aggressiveness, by the way, is not always proof of desire. Respect protocol where you find it…
91.Your enemy must be exposed. When there is a liar in your circle, expose them. You owe that to those under your protection. However, a word of caution: you are responsible for every person you destroy. You are also responsible for every person you permit to be destroyed.
92.Your enemy will attempt to involve you in unnecessary battles which promise little or no reward. Battles drain your energy. They break your focus and empty your resources.(Child of God, develop a battle assessment tool- a way of determining the cost and the benefit of each and every battle you would engage in so as to determine whether it is worth your while, Sometimes, it is better to sue for peace while preparing war. Always engage when you are absolutely sure you will win, and when the rewards will outweigh the cost, not just break even.)
93.Your enemy should be confronted in the timing of the Spirit with the right spiritual weaponry
94.An uncommon enemy can be defeated through uncommon endurance. Child of God learn how to stick it out in the long haul. Dig in, build and plant yourself there until your assignment is accomplished. God requires endurance. “And ye shall be hated by men for my names sake, but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt 10:22)
95.It is wise to avoid confrontation with your enemy when possible. Jesus did and advised us to do this. “But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another” (Mat 10;23) Fleeing does not demonstrate fear, but wisdom to sustain your life and ministry and retain your focus.
96.It is wise to make peace with your enemy when possible. “But I say to you, resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man sue thee at law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee ton go with him one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of thee, and from them that would borrow from thee turn not away (Mat 5:39)
Never use a tank to kill a mosquito.
Always remember, enemies are bridges, not barricades.
Recognition of the enemy God uses to promote you will prevent destruction and increase the protection of those you love.
(I know this has been a Methuselah (to mean long) type of blog. I pray you will be able to pick one or two things that will not only change your rules of engagement, but ensure more clear cut and glorious victories in your life.)
The LORD be with you….
Shalom.
Hope you had a wonderful week, as I did.
I thank God for friends and family, they are God’s gift to us in times of trouble and difficulty. The proverb rings true, ”A friend is made for all times, and a brother born for adversity.” A toast to them!
Before I begin, let me celebrate you. Thank you for taking the time to come” listen” to my musing… it’s the audience that makes the artist. Thank you!
I am currently reviewing Robert Greene’s The Art of Seduction: 24 Laws of Persuasion, (I have to catch my breath, what a book!) I was tempted to blog it first, but, in keeping with my emphasis in the last blog (the Shepherd preparing a table before you in the presence of your enemies), allow me to share with you some of the insight I gained from a chapter on the same from Mike Murdock’s The Law of Recognition.
I chose to share this chapter (and that on the Recognition of your Dominant Weakness- to be posted later) with the understanding that life can be a battle field, and in this season of war, the best intelligence mechanisms demand that you know the roles each character is playing in the theatre of your life and adjust accordingly, lest you be caught unawares.
Btw, this blog is pretty long…
Hope you will enjoy:
Baraka:
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Even Jesus had enemies, he always had enemies. An uncommon achiever must recognize an adversary:
The common resent the uncommon
The impure despise the pure
The unholy despise the holy
The lazy despise the diligent.
THREE FACTS JESUS REVEALED ABOUT ENEMIES:
1.Jesus expected his disciples to stir enemies: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake.” (Matt 22) “The disciple is not above his master, nor is the servant above his lord. It enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they called the master of the House of Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household?” (Matt 10:24, 25)
2.Jesus instructed his disciples to anticipate enemies. Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves, be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. (Mat 10:16)
3.Jesus warned his disciples ahead of time that men would become their enemies: “But beware of men, for they will deliver you to councils and they will scourge you in their synagogues: and ye shall be brought before governors for my sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles (Mat 10;17-18) Jesus did not merely warn them of the devil, he warned them of men.
FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES:
1.You will always have an enemy (Mat 22)
2.Your enemy is someone who tries to sabotage the assignment God has for you (Gal 5:7-9, Deut 13:6,8,9)
3.Your enemy is any person who resents your desire for increase and the reward it brings. (1 Sam 17:28)
4.Your enemy is anyone unhappy about your progress. Nehemiah faced this, Ezra faced this. They had accusations and letters written against them.
5.Your enemy is anyone who increases or strengthens a personal weakness God is attempting to remove from your life. A Delilah, perhaps (Judges 16)
6.Your enemy is anyone attempting to kill the faith God is birthing within you. God may be birthing your ministry. Your vision may be exploding. Your enemy is any person who makes any attempt to abort the emergence of your dream, calling or assignment.
7.Your enemy is anyone who would discuss your past rather than your future. Yesterday is in the tomb,(Isaiah 43:18-19) tomorrow is in the womb.
8.Your enemy is someone who weakens your passion for your future and your dream. The ten spies were used by the enemy to weaken the resolve of Moses to enter Canaan. The crowd instructed the blind man to be quiet.
9.Your enemy is anyone who attacks the weak around you. Some people in your life are too weak to discern a trap. They are blinded by personality, looks or even blessing.
10.Your enemy is someone of your own household “And a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. (Matt 14:36)
11.Your enemy should not be feared. “And fear not them, which can kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both the body and soul in hell. (Matt 10:28)
12.The perfect will of God is your deliverance from your enemy. “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for not all have the faith” (2 Thes 3:2)
13.The Holy Spirit will provide answers concerning the enemy. “The Holy Spirit will tell you what to speak” (Mat 10:28)
14.Your enemy is often discerned ahead of time by your mentor (Luke 22:31-32)
15.Your fasting can move the hand of God in destroying your enemy (Joel 2:15, 19, 20)
16.God will fight against your enemy. “The LORD your God will fight for you, you need only be still” (Deut 20:9)
17. Your enemy is not all that (i just had to throw that in...)
18.Your enemy will not be allowed by God to win. (Psalms 118:6) The LORD is on my side, I do not fear. What can man do to me?
19.Your enemy is a natural and necessary part of your life. (John 15:19-21)
20.Satan is your eternal enemy, (Eph 6:12) we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, and world rulers of this present darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
21.You cannot defeat your enemy with your own strength. (2 Corinthians 3:5) “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves, our sufficiency is of God…”
22.God expects you to prepare your defense against your enemy (Eph 6:10, 11) finally brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the evil day, having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…”
23.Overcoming your enemy is key to your rewards (Rev 3:5, 12)
24.The spoils of war, not your enemy, must remain your focus. (Rev 3:21, I Peter 4:13-14)
25.You will always have a warfare companion during every battle with your enemy (Isaiah 43:1-2) “I will be with you…”
26.Your enemy provides God an opportunity to reveal his commitment to you (2 Cor 12:9, 10) My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in your weakness…”
27.The wisdom of conquering your enemy will be imparted to you in the place of prayer (Psalms 27:5, 6)
28.You should never disclose in public the amount of damage done by your enemy. (Prov 29:11) “A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it till afterwards…”
29.An uncommon enemy will require uncommon wisdom. James 1:5” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God who gives liberally and without reproach…” (Psalm 119:98) “Through thy commandments, thou has made me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.”
30.You should never reveal your strategy against the enemy to those uncommitted to you or to your cause. (Prov 29: 11)” A fool uttereth all his mind…”
31.Your warfare with the enemy is always seasonal (Ecc 3:1,3,8) To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…a time to love, a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace.”
32.Your greatest weapon against the enemy is the Word of God (Eph 6;17) And take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
33.The Holy Spirit will teach you the principles of warfare against your enemy. Blessed be the LORD, my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight (Psalms 144:1)
34.You must enter every battle against your enemy for purposes of bringing glory to God. (1 Sam 17;45, 46,47)
35.You should expect to win every battle against the enemy (1 Sam 17:46) “Then David said to the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into mine hand: and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee: and I will give the carcasses of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”
36. Your enemy is still not all that...
37.Your enemy will be opposed by God even when you are unable to defend yourself. (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17) The LORD is a man of war, the LORD of hosts is his name (Exodus 15:13)
38.Your enemy is often ignorant of your past victories which makes them vulnerable and unprepared for you. Goliath did not know that David had fought the lion and the bear.
39.Your enemy, when aware of your past victories, becomes more fearful of you. Remember what Rahab said about the children of Israel when they came to spy Jericho.
40.The Holy Spirit will reveal any snare prepared by your enemy (2 Cor 2:11) “Lest satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
41.The Holy Spirit is more powerful than any enemy you will ever face (1 John 1:14) “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”
42.Your enemies will never discern the protective wall of angels surrounding you in battle (Psalms 34:7)
43.Your enemy can not withstand the weapon of praise during times of battle (Psalms 34:7)
44.Your enemy reveals by his attacks that he is fully persuaded by your ability to obtain your goal. (Phil 4:13)
45.Your enemy will attack you at the birth of any significant season of your life (Mat 4, Luke 4, Daniel 9)
46.Jesus instructed his disciples to sow seeds of love, prayer and acts of kindness into the enemy (Mat 5:44, 45)
47.Loving your enemies will create a great reward. (Mat 5:46, Luke 6:35)
48.Any legal entanglement with your enemy should be avoided whenever possible (Matt 5:25,26)
49.An enemy causes movement in your life. Without Pharaoh, the Israelites would have adapted to Egypt.
50.When God has used up the benefits of your present season, he assigns the enemy to become your exit from that season.
51.Your enemy is an announcement form God that your present season has come to a conclusion. Goliath marked David’s shift from being a shepherd boy to a valiant warrior king.
52.Your enemy unleashes your imagination. When Pharaoh increased the pain and the burden on the Israelites, they began to picture the future, where they wanted to be. The Promised Land became a new target, Pain in your present is necessary to give birth to the dream God is developing.
53.Your enemy exposes your weakness. Awareness of your weakness births humility. Humility is a magnet that attracts God and his angels.
54.Your enemy reveals your limitations. When you realize your limitations, begin looking for the solution in those near you. Whatever you lack, God has carefully stored it in someone near you.When your enemy comes, he often exhausts your strength, your creativity and your ideas. This usually launches a search to find heavenly treasure stored in an earthen vessel near you. Remember, love is the secret code for that treasure.
55.Your enemy unifies your friends.
56.The Holy Spirit will often bring conviction to your enemies “who will have all men saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Tim 2:4, Acts 16:29, 30, 2 Peter 3:9)
57. Your enemy is still not all that!
58.Your enemy today could possibly become your greatest ally tomorrow. Remember Saul the Persecutor turned to Paul the Apostle (Acts 9:13, 15)
59.Your enemy may be suddenly confronted by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:3-5)
60.Your enemy might experience a sudden change of heart. (Acts 9:6)
61.Your enemy may completely turn around because of a tragedy or crisis (Acts 9:8,9)
62.Your enemy is a door, not a wall, to your next season. It happened to Esther. It happened to Daniel. It happened to job. It can happen for your elevation and increase.
63.The only true difference between a nobody and somebody is the enemy they decide to conquer (1 Sam 18:6, 7)
64.Your enemy is the difference between obscurity and significance. ( 1 Sam 18, 6,7)
65.The size of your enemy determines the size of your rewards (1 Sam 17:4-7, 25)
66.Your enemy forces any Judas in your life to reveal himself. Judas is not your enemy. Everybody has a Judas. Judas are intimidated by you. They work undercover. They betray you behind your back. Judas resents the love and loyalty expressed by others toward you. A Judas is someone who believes your enemy has a right to be heard. A Judas plays both parts: in your presence, a friend, in their presence a friend. When your enemy enters, he will bond with the Judas in your circle of confidants. Your Judas will be exposed quickly when your enemy bonds with them. (BTW: Do not be afraid when your Judas will be revealed, the sacrifice will be swift and in three days, you will resurrect with power!)
67.Anything good will always have an enemy: Evil despises righteousness, fear despises faith, and weakness despises strength. Jesus was the very Son of God, yet the religious crowd despised them.
68.You will only be remembered for the enemy you destroy- or the enemy who destroys you. Samson is remembered coz Delilah destroyed him. David is remembered for the Goliath he killed.
69.Your enemy can not abort your future- he is merely an announcement that your future is being birthed. When goliath roared his challenge, David was receiving his announcement that his shepherd days are over, and that his kingship was being born!
70.Your enemy is as necessary as your friend.(Think about that...) Your friend gives you comfort, your enemy gives you future.
71.Your enemy is your opportunity to highlight your difference from others. The brothers of David were angry, fearful and intimidated. Nobody would have discerned the difference in David…without Goliath. Your enemy is an opportunity to reveal what you believe.
72.When you discover your assignment, you will discover your enemy. Demonic warfare is a sign that the enemy has discovered the intentions God has for you. Demons are not omnipresent; they cannot be everywhere simultaneously. They receive geographical assignments. It took 21 days for Daniels reply to reach him (Daniel 10:12) Question: where do you assign a security guard? Fifty miles from a bank vault? Of course not! He is assigned where the treasure us located. So when you feel demonic pressure around you, get excited. Satan is anticipating a miracle package arriving your way. Warfare is an attempt to break your focus and abort the interest in the miracle.
73. It hasn't changed; Your enemy is STILL NOT all that...
74.The favorite entry point used by your enemy will usually be through someone you have chosen to trust. Your future depends on the weakness of the people you have chosen to trust. (Selah)Everybody trusts somebody- and that someone you are trusting usually trusts someone you would not think of trusting. Adam’s trust in Eve opened the door for the serpent. Samson trusted Delilah (And look at what that brought him- a new definition of the saying “love is blind...”) Your enemy will ALWAYS use someone you have chosen to trust.
75.The enemy you fail to destroy will eventually destroy you. The prophet Samuel instructed King Saul to annihilate the Amalekites. He refused and spared the best of the sheep, their women (they were real hotties, I presume, or that dude took a crazy risk for nothing) and their King Agag (watch who you call your brother- just because they are in the same class as you are does not mean you’r e tight- Reserve the term brother for those whom you are bound by covenant to) Let’s just say, there happened to be an Amalekite handy to finish off the suicide he had attempted, the very Amalekite he had the chance to destroy. (Moral of the story: when God sends you on a seek-and- destroy mission, please, take no captives…)
76.You will never outgrow your enemy; you simply have to learn to fight! Many people think that they will outgrow their desire to sin. Not gonna happen. The desire to sin will forever (within the scope of time) be available. You must simply learn how to fight back.
77.Struggle is the proof that you have not yet conquered by the enemy. You will be tired of fighting. Battle may weary you, but struggle is proof that your enemy has not won.
78.Your enemy must be destroyed, not understood. Conversation is often the door of annihilation. It happened in the Garden of Eden. Satan moved Eve to the negotiation table to prepare them for alienation. Moral of the story: Negotiate with friends, destroy your enemy.
79.Your enemy will not seek to understand you, but to discredit you. This especially applies to when you are dealing with the media. So do not comment unless they promise you in writing to publish exactly what you say and they hand you an unedited copy of the interview’s recordings-it may sound a bit too harsh…but hey, a good name is better: its your responsibility to guard it.
80.When God completes a season in your life, he will always harden the heart of an enemy toward you. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened towards the children of Israel. What you think is an enemy trying to stop you is God’s way of boot kicking you into the next season.
81.Your enemy causes good people to find you. Many times, ministers have become unnoticed and unrecognized. But during a season of attack, people who discerned the truth became aware of them and bonded with them. Bad times always bring good people together.
82.Your enemy causes unused and dormant gift to emerge. Adversity will expose hidden greatness within you. The brothers of David were totally blind to his difference from them.
83.Any uncontested enemy will flourish. Ignoring an enemy does not remove him. Hoping your enemy will leave does not remove him. You must contest your enemy. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you. (James 4;7)
84.Your enemy will often vary the weapons and strategy he uses against you. What he uses when you are a teenager will vary from when you are older.
85.The reaction of your enemy is proof of your progress. When your enemy is anxious he knows that his time is limited.
86.Any move you make in the right direction will be instantly addressed by the enemy.
87. He is still not all that.
88.Your enemy will ultimately reveal the greatness of God to you. Your hear may doubt, your mind may be confused, but in a crisis, God will expose his power and love toward you. An enemy gives him the opportunity to do so.
89.Your enemy may enter your life under the guise of friendship. An enemy who uses this avenue will come in quietly and begin to waken your life like termites to a wooden building.
90.An enemy will often ignore protocol and an established chain of authority. Rebellion is at the hear of an enemy. He despises the order of God. Aggressiveness, by the way, is not always proof of desire. Respect protocol where you find it…
91.Your enemy must be exposed. When there is a liar in your circle, expose them. You owe that to those under your protection. However, a word of caution: you are responsible for every person you destroy. You are also responsible for every person you permit to be destroyed.
92.Your enemy will attempt to involve you in unnecessary battles which promise little or no reward. Battles drain your energy. They break your focus and empty your resources.(Child of God, develop a battle assessment tool- a way of determining the cost and the benefit of each and every battle you would engage in so as to determine whether it is worth your while, Sometimes, it is better to sue for peace while preparing war. Always engage when you are absolutely sure you will win, and when the rewards will outweigh the cost, not just break even.)
93.Your enemy should be confronted in the timing of the Spirit with the right spiritual weaponry
94.An uncommon enemy can be defeated through uncommon endurance. Child of God learn how to stick it out in the long haul. Dig in, build and plant yourself there until your assignment is accomplished. God requires endurance. “And ye shall be hated by men for my names sake, but he that endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt 10:22)
95.It is wise to avoid confrontation with your enemy when possible. Jesus did and advised us to do this. “But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another” (Mat 10;23) Fleeing does not demonstrate fear, but wisdom to sustain your life and ministry and retain your focus.
96.It is wise to make peace with your enemy when possible. “But I say to you, resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man sue thee at law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee ton go with him one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of thee, and from them that would borrow from thee turn not away (Mat 5:39)
Never use a tank to kill a mosquito.
Always remember, enemies are bridges, not barricades.
Recognition of the enemy God uses to promote you will prevent destruction and increase the protection of those you love.
(I know this has been a Methuselah (to mean long) type of blog. I pray you will be able to pick one or two things that will not only change your rules of engagement, but ensure more clear cut and glorious victories in your life.)
The LORD be with you….
Shalom.
Monday, May 9, 2011
How to Work in A Hostile Environment- Bishop T.D. Jakes
Hope you have had a wonderful week, as I have.I'm still buzzin...
How many people are at work? Well Bishop T.D. Jakes once preached a sermon series on how to work in a hostile environment, have you ever watched it?
Well, here are the main points:
Don’t expect to be appreciated. Your only expectation is to get a paycheck. Don’t come to work to have personal relationships. Don’t allow what you do to affect who you are.
Do your mission well, but remember your mission. God put you there to be Salt and Light.
Seek opportunities to change the atmosphere without commenting on the problems. You have a God to talk to. You are on assignment. In quietness and competence shall be your strength.
Don’t let your environment get inside you. You should influence it, not let it influence you. Stop going to work to be fed; you didn’t come to receive, you came to give.
Increase your capacity to work with different personalities. God will often bless you through people you don’t even like!
Remember where you are does not define where you are going. This will deliver you from your frustration. God has a plan for your life. Keep your eye on the prize. When Peter did this he was able to walk on what other people sank in.
Get the optimum results with minimum confusion. Be effective without making your environment worse.
Do not be associated by a group or a clique. Labels limit your usefulness, God wants you to work with everybody and be labeled by nobody. Use all your gifts.
Always keep your song near you. Keep a consecrated place in your soul. Hold on to your peace.
Understand that God anoints you for trouble. Put on the whole armor of God.
Be responsible for all your past mistakes, but use it to make a better future.
Now that you have the basic flow, hope you will be more productive in your place of work.
All the best!
Shalom.
How to Work in A Hostile Environment- Bishop T.D. Jakes
Hope you have had a wonderful week, as I have.I'm still buzzin...
How many people are at work? Well Bishop T.D. Jakes once preached a sermon series on how to work in a hostile environment, have you ever watched it?
Well, here are the main points:
Don’t expect to be appreciated. Your only expectation is to get a paycheck. Don’t come to work to have personal relationships. Don’t allow what you do to affect who you are.
Do your mission well, but remember your mission. God put you there to be Salt and Light.
Seek opportunities to change the atmosphere without commenting on the problems. You have a God to talk to. You are on assignment. In quietness and competence shall be your strength.
Don’t let your environment get inside you. You should influence it, not let it influence you. Stop going to work to be fed; you didn’t come to receive, you came to give.
Increase your capacity to work with different personalities. God will often bless you through people you don’t even like!
Remember where you are does not define where you are going. This will deliver you from your frustration. God has a plan for your life. Keep your eye on the prize. When Peter did this he was able to walk on what other people sank in.
Get the optimum results with minimum confusion. Be effective without making your environment worse.
Do not be associated by a group or a clique. Labels limit your usefulness, god wants you to work with everybody and be labeled by nobody. Use all your gifts.
Always keep your song near you. Keep a consecrated place in your soul. Hold on to your peace.
Understand that God anoints you for trouble. Put on the whole armor of God.
Be responsible for all your past mistakes, but use it to make a better future.
Now that you have the basic flow, hope you will be more productive in your place of work.
All the best!
Shalom.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Seven Churches of Revelation
Hi!
Hope y'all doing great.
Allow me to share with you an excerpt from Chuck Pierce's book The Future War of the Church, from the chapter, The Presence and Glory War.
I need not say an understanding of this is key, need i?
Enjoy:
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The Lord has given us keys to victory during these times of darkness. I believe one of those keys is found in Revelation 1. There, the apostle John sees a vision of seven golden lampstands. In context, I believe these are seven menorahs, that is, these are seven "seven-branched" lampstands. The Lord then tells John that these seven lampstands represent seven churches.
What are these seven churches? First, we know that they were literal churches. John lists seven of the churches that existed in his day in the Roman province of Asia. But it's clear that these churches are more than just seven churches chosen at random. They are called the seven churches—in some way, these seven churches represent all of the Church! Some have suggested that these seven churches represent seven eras of Church history, that each of the seven churches pictures a different historical time period, beginning with Ephesus as the Early Church and ending with lukewarm Laodicea as the Church today. The problem with that interpretation is that it doesn't work.
The "eras of Church history" interpretation might sound convincing to Christians living in America, where many churches match the description of the lukewarm Laodiceans. But the American church is only a fraction of the Church worldwide. In places such as China or Africa, major segments of the Church today are filled with life and power in the midst of severe persecution. The fact is, the majority of the Church today worldwide is not Laodicean.
I believe a better explanation of these seven churches is that they represent seven kinds of churches. These church types exist in every age of history, although at certain times and in certain places, each tends to be more representative than the others. That means that every church—and every Christian—is to be found somewhere among these seven churches. In these seven churches, we see all the different strategies Satan uses to keep God's people from fulfilling their call. But in each we also hear a word from Jesus. He is walking among the lampstands, tending to each one, and offering instructions to each church for how to become a brightly burning lampstand.
I am fortunate enough to minister with Robert Heidler, one of the most profoundly straightforward theologians I know. I believe Robert's incredible teaching on the seven churches of Revelation is vital for us today if we are to continue to pray for transformation in our regions. The seven churches represent regions—they are lampstands in a region, the menorah lights of a region. Each has an array of characteristics—some good, some bad. That is why the Lord commended each church and then revealed any weak point that needed to be addressed for these churches. Below is an analysis of each church, compiled from Robert's audio series, How Is Your Lampstand Burning: Understanding the Seven Churches of Revelation. Review your region and see how the lamp of God is burning.
Ephesus: The Church That Lost Its Fervent Love
The first church is the church at Ephesus, which represents the church that has departed from its first love. Ephesus had been a brightly burning lampstand. Jesus commended those in the Ephesian church for seven things.
· Their living faith (their deeds)
· Their diligence (their toil)
· Their standards (they did not tolerate evil)
· Their discernment (they tested apostles to see who was true)
· Their perseverance (they kept going despite opposition)
· Their endurance (they were in it for the long haul)
· Their strength (they had not grown weary)
But the Ephesian church had a problem: Somehow, in the midst of all their work, they had lost the love of God they had once known. They still did a lot of good things, but the fervent love that once motivated them was no longer there. The result was that their lampstand had begun to go out! Because of this, Jesus gave them a warning: "Repent! . . . Or I will come and remove your lampstand out of its place." All the work in the world counts for nothing if you've lost your love!
Jesus then showed them the path to restoration. To regain what they had lost, they needed to do three things:
1. Remember from where they had fallen.
2. Repent to change their direction.
3. Do the deeds they did at first.
Smyrna: The Persecuted Church
Smyrna was a large and prosperous city, a seat of learning and culture. The Smyrnans were proud of their city and had a fanatical loyalty to Rome. Within this culture, the highest form of worship was worshiping the Roman Emperor, and the Smyrnans had no tolerance for those who would not worship the Emperor. As a result, the church there suffered for its faith. In Mark 10:29-30, Jesus promised that along with many blessings, we would receive persecutions. The church at Smyrna had experienced that persecution and was about to go through more.
But Jesus had a promise for His persecuted church: "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. . . . He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death" (Rev. 2:10-11). Jesus assured them that while they may face suffering and even physical death, they had eternal life. Essentially, His message to Smyrna was, "In the midst of persecution, be faithful!" Jesus identified Himself to them as the One "who was dead, and came to life" (v. 8). He was reminding them that death is not the end—if you are faithful, you will receive a victor's crown! Even if you suffer in this life, it's worth it to follow Jesus. Even if you die for your faith, you still have won!
Pergamos: The Unfaithful Church
Pergamos was a center of paganism. On the hill above the city was the Pergamos acropolis, crowded with pagan temples. The most striking feature of the acropolis was a huge temple, shaped like a giant throne. It was the altar to Zeus, ruler of all the Greek gods.
Jesus' message to the church in Pergamos began with: "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is" (v. 13). False gods are demons, which means the worship of false gods is the worship of demons. Zeus, as the ruler of false gods, represented the head of all demons, Satan—which means that above the city of Pergamos was a huge throne dedicated to the devil! Jesus later added that their city was "where Satan dwells." As the worship of God brings God's presence, so the worship of Zeus had caused Pergamos to be a place where Satan's presence dwelt in a discernable way. This church was called to stand in a hard place, and Jesus immediately acknowledged that they had held fast to His Name.
Unfortunately for them, Jesus also had some issues with their current state. He told them that they had fallen into the trap of the Nicolaitans. These were false teachers who perverted the idea of freedom in Christ. They taught that since we are free in Christ, why should we invite persecution by being legalistic? Their view was, "Pagan gods are nothing! They don't exist! It doesn't hurt to eat at a pagan feast. It doesn't hurt to put incense on an altar."
The Christians at Pergamos had been seduced by this teaching. They compromised with the pagan world, even joining in feasts given to honor demons! Jesus compared this to the trap set for Israel by Balaam (see Num. 22–24). If joining in pagan feasts was the equivalent of fornication, to be seduced by the world is adultery. As a result, Jesus gave this church a harsh warning: "Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (v. 16). Thankfully, Jesus also promised a reward to those who would repent.
Thyatira: The Church Invaded by a Religious Spirit
Thyatira was a city known for its purple dye and fabrics. It was home to corporate guilds of potters, tanners, weavers, dyers and robe makers. To hold membership in these guilds it was necessary to feast at the temple of Apollo. Guild business dinners were held there and were usually followed by orgies. Obviously, this made it difficult for Christians to prosper in Thyatira.
Jesus' issue with the church was this: "You allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols" (v. 20). The main problem at Thyatira was that the church tolerated the teachings of a false prophetess. An influential woman in the church had identified herself as a prophet and justified the practice of fornication, idol worship and eating of meat sacrificed to idols. We can presume this false teaching was welcomed because it allowed church members to join the guilds. Yet it is interesting that Jesus never said exactly what this woman's teaching was, He simply identified the spirit behind it—that of Jezebel!
In certain church circles, the term "Jezebel" is tossed around frequently nowadays. The problem is, many believers do not accurately understand the Jezebel spirit. A Jezebel spirit is not a "female" spirit—in fact, many men have a Jezebel spirit. It does not always work behind the scenes. What actually characterizes a Jezebel spirit is that it is always religious. A Jezebel spirit seeks a position of influence among God's people so that it can promote a false system of religion. Here are some characteristics:
· A Jezebel spirit seeks to draw God's people into false religion—any kind!
· It operates through control, false teaching, manipulation and intimidation.
· It often identifies itself as a defender of the faith and promotes false prophets.
· It opposes the Holy Spirit and all of His manifestations.
· It hates the true prophetic word and persecutes God's prophets.
A Jezebel spirit is a mean spirit. It shows no mercy. In this passage, Jesus personally decreed judgment on Jezebel. To those who had not followed her, He had a word of encouragement: "Hold fast until I come!" Thyatira was a good church. It did not have a lot of problems—apart from Jezebel! Simply put, Jesus was saying, "Deal with her and you'll do great! Keep moving forward!"
Sardis: The Comfortable Church
Sardis was one of the most pleasant places to live in the ancient world. It was a center of worldwide trade and one of most affluent cities in the world. Life was easy in Sardis. Even in the pagan world, Sardis had a reputation for materialism and decadence. The pagans there were extremely accepting and didn't care if you worshipped their gods or not—they just wanted to make money and have a good time.
The church in Sardis was also comfortable. There is no mention of persecution or opposition whatsoever, no issue of false teaching or heresy. They were contented and well-off—yet Jesus had nothing good to say about this church! He told them, "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead" (3:1). Ouch! In other words, Jesus was saying, "You have an appearance of life, you look good. You are doing lots of good things—but there's no life!"
The church at Sardis was the Church of the Living Dead. They had become too attached to the world. They loved all the luxuries Sardis had to offer and their hearts were captured by the affluence of the city. Jesus' exhortation to the church at Sardis was to wake up! (Sardis was not all dead, but it was losing strength fast.)
"Strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God" (v. 2). He then told the people, "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent" (v. 3). They didn't need a new message; they needed to hold on to what they received, turn back and get on the right path.
Jesus warned the Sardites that He would come to examine His church. The word He used actually suggests an audit. If they would stay as they were, they would forfeit their destiny. But if they woke up and overcame, they would take their part in ministry among His priests, and He would confess them before the Father and all the angels.
Philadelphia: The Church of God's Favor
Philadelphia was located on the Royal Road, the main east-west trade route into the interior of Asia. Because of this, it was built as a missionary city. It was designed as a showplace for Greek civilization in Asia to spread Greek language, culture and religion to the barbarians of the East. In fact, it had so many temples it was known as "little Athens."
In ad 17, a massive earthquake struck and the city was literally destroyed overnight. Emperor Tiberius rebuilt the city and restored its beauty, but massive aftershocks continued to hit the city for decades. The result was that the majority of its people lived in the surrounding countryside. Few were brave enough to live in the shaky city.
The Philadelphia church had experienced shaking also. They had been through seasons of persecution. They had been through a hard season, and they felt weakened. But Jesus had a word for them—the most positive word given to any of seven churches. He told them: "You have suffered for your faith, but you persevered . . . and that's something very important to God. You kept My Word and did not deny My Name. You endured patiently. And because you have remained steadfast, God has opened up a door for you that no one can close." In short, Philadelphia had passed the test and, as a result, now had a golden opportunity.
For the Philadelphians this included an open door to their city. They had been falsely accused, and their reputation in the city had been tarnished. Yet Jesus promised vindication. He said that even their enemies would acknowledge that God was with them. Their open door was also one to the entire world. Philadelphia was called to be a missionary city. Through the Church, Philadelphia would begin to fulfill its destiny as a gateway to the world.
Philadelphia indeed became a gateway city for the gospel. We know from history that missionaries went out on the Royal Road that ran through Philadelphia and established thriving churches in Persia, India and even as far as China.
Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church
Laodicea was a major trade center and banking capital. It was built on the crossroads of several trade routes, and its banking system and the many caravans that came through made it a wealthy city. It was also an important medical center. Built at the foot of a volcanic mountain known for its hot mineral springs, the city had many health spas where the sick came for treatment. Jesus described His relationship with this church in Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
That's probably the most famous verse in Revelation. We frequently talk about Jesus "knocking on the door" of an unbeliever's heart. Yet few Christians really understand this verse. In its context, Jesus wasn't knocking on an unbeliever's heart—He was knocking on the door of His Church! It's important that we understand this picture. The second and third chapters of Revelation show Jesus moving from church to church. He is tending His lamps to keep them burning brightly. He comes to each one to correct and encourage—but when he comes to Laodicea, He can't get in!
Other churches had problems, but Laodicea had gone a step further. Something about the church at Laodicea shut the door against Jesus coming into their church. Jesus described the problem in Laodicea with one word: lukewarm.
If anyone understood what it meant to be lukewarm, it was the Laodiceans. The hot springs up on the mountain were wonderful for the health spas, but by the time the hot water flowed through the aqueducts to the city, it cooled off. The city's water was lukewarm mineral water, and it was considered almost undrinkable. In fact, it was nauseating! Jesus said to the believers of Laodicea, "Your church is like your water!" He then added a surprising twist: "I wish you were cold or hot."
To be cold is to reject Jesus, yet Jesus can deal with rejection. If you are cold to Him, it just means you have never known His love. The truth is, there is great hope for those who are cold. When they see who He really is, they can quickly change from cold to hot. On the other extreme, to be hot is to be on fire for Jesus. Madly and passionately in love. That's what Jesus is looking for! That's what He deserves! He gave Himself completely for us, and He wants us to give our hearts completely to Him.
The Laodiceans were neither cold nor hot. They were lukewarm—about as middle-of-the-road as you can get. They didn't oppose Jesus, but they weren't excited about Him either. They were indifferent to the One who gave His life for them.
To that attitude, Jesus' response was harsher than any of His others to the churches: "I will vomit you out of My mouth" (3:16). Vomiting is a violent involuntary reaction to something that is totally unpalatable. It is a knee-jerk, natural response that requires no thinking. And here Jesus is saying, "Lukewarm Christianity makes me want to puke!" That's what kept the door closed for Jesus. He couldn't come into a church like that.
But Jesus did not give up on Laodicea. He was still knocking at the door, calling out for someone to open it. In fact, the Lord had high hopes for it: "If you will open the door, I will come in!" Their solution was to gain a new perspective on life. They thought they were rich and needed nothing. Jesus' response? "[You] do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (vv. 17-18).
Jesus wanted the Laodiceans to see their need and come to Him as their source. He promised that if they would open the door to His presence, He would be faithful to come in. They would feast with Him! Not only would they feast with Him, Revelation 3:21 guarantees that if they would overcome in the battle before them, they would gain a place on His throne.
Jesus' word to Laodicea was simply this: "It's a battle to break out of the lukewarm. But if you overcome, You will gain great authority in the earth. You will reign with Me!"12
When I cannot hear God or revelation seems to be blocked, I have learned to do two things. First, I always ask God what I should give. I find that if I obey God in giving after the pattern He created for us in redemption, then things around me will begin to move in a new way. Faith will begin to rise, and I will see what I need to see.
Second, I read John's Revelation of the seven churches and I ask God, "What church am I?" If I am in intercession, then I ask, "What church am I dealing with?" This always points me to my lampstand first to see if it is burning brightly. Remember: Jesus said that before we deal with our brother's sin, we must first examine our own shortcomings (see Matt. 7:3). So it is when we search for a reason behind the absence of His voice or revelation. This also allows me to see how powerful the fire is burning in the atmosphere of the group with which I am worshiping. I always feel that the group or ministry where I have been assigned reflects one of the churches mentioned above. This gives me great insight for how to pray.
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Hope you got a thing or two...
Shalom!
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