Turning Your MESS into a MESSAGE

You have done your best. You have heard and obeyed the Lord. You have taken good advice, and you have stepped out in faith! But then it all went wrong and the great victory you expected turned into a sorry defeat.

There is nothing more discouraging, and we've all experienced it! So did Joshua. After Jericho, word spread throughout the land that this new army was invincible. The walls had fallen of their own accord. Clearly the Lord Himself was working with them, and everyone was shrinking in fear.

But then came Ai! (Joshua 7) Joshua had done his homework – it was a small town, and his spies said they’d only need a few to take it. It should have been easy. They sent three thousand, but the men of Ai came out of the town and routed them, chasing them for miles, killing thirty-six men of Israel.

Of course we know the reason – Achan had stolen some of the forbidden, ‘accursed things’, and the Lord was not pleased. Joshua and the Israelite's wept in self-pity, but the Lord rebuked them, ‘Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?’ After they had dealt with the sin, the Lord sent them against Ai again.

But this time Joshua set up an ambush. Some he hid behind the city, while he marched the others to the city as before. They allowed the men of Ai to chase them again, so that the whole city turned out in pursuit. Then those in ambush rose up and torched the empty town, and Ai was defeated.

*But notice what the Lord did with Joshua’s reputation. After the first victory of Jericho, the Canaanites were trembling in fear. His reputation was high. But when little Ai had chased them down it was in tatters. Because the enemy didn't know the real reason for the mess!

Instead, after the second attack the whole country would have been whispering, ‘How brilliant is Joshua! What a great leader! He must have deliberately set up the first attack to lose, so he could later set the ambush and win. Who would have thought of such a great strategy?’ And of course his reputation was now huge. Still today we think of Joshua as a great military leader, but it all began with a disaster that the Lord turned into glory!

We have all messed up, done things we wished we hadn't  and missed other opportunities. But be of good cheer! The Lord is there to turn your mess into a message. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

God had given Joshua specific instructions on how to carry out the campaign. “Be strong and courageous; Be careful to obey; Meditate on the Law; Don’t be afraid!” Then God said He would be with him always, and give him everywhere he set his foot.

The Lord is saying the same to you today!

Don’t worry about your mess. Don’t give up because what you tried didn't work out. The Lord will turn it around and make a great victory out of it, bringing glory to Himself, and even to you too!

We often spoil the Lord’s plans by trying to do them our own way. We think we’ll only need a little effort, or a few people. We think a bit of sin on the side won’t matter too much. We think we can send others instead of going ourselves. These were all mistakes that Joshua made at Ai.

But the Lord is gracious.
Just keep doing what He told you to do.

If there is ‘sin in the camp’ the Holy Spirit will tell you.

If He does, remove it, as He instructs.

Then listen to His next instructions.

Have you tried and failed? The Lord will send you out again, with a strategy that will defeat the enemy and bring a great victory.

“For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity” (Proverbs 24:16).

By John Fergusson   
http://www.gospel.org.nz/

What's Your Description of God

Psalm 145:8-9

The Message (MSG)

 GOD IS all mercy and grace—
    not quick to anger, is rich in love.

GOD IS good to one and all;
    everything He does is suffused with grace.

I Believe In Visions by Kenneth Hagin

While Jesus was talking to me, an evil spirit that looked like a monkey ran between Jesus and me and spread out something that looked like a black cloud or a smoke screen. I couldn't see Jesus anymore.

Then the demon began jumping up and down, waving his arms and legs, and yelling in a shrill voice, "Yakety- yak, yakety-yak, yakety-yak."

I paused for a moment. I could hear the voice of Jesus as He continued to talk to me, but I could not understand the words.

I thought to myself, Doesn't the Lord know I am missing what He is saying? I need to get that - it is important — but I am missing it. I wondered why Jesus didn't command the evil spirit to stop. 

I waited for a few more moments. Jesus continued talking as if He didn't even know the evil spirit was present. I wondered why the Lord didn't cast him out, but He didn't.

Finally, in desperation, I pointed my finger at the evil spirit and said, "I command you to be quiet in the Name of Jesus Christ!" He stopped immediately and fell to the floor. The black smoke screen disappeared and I could see Jesus once again. The spirit lay on the floor whimpering and whining like a whipped pup. I said, "Not only must you be quiet, but get up and get out of here!" He got up and ran away.

I was still wondering why Jesus had not stopped this evil spirit from interfering, and of course Jesus knew what I was thinking. He said, "If you hadn't done something about that, I couldn't have."

"Lord, I know I misunderstood You! You said You couldn't do anything about it, but You really meant that You wouldn't."

"No," He said, "if you hadn't done something about that spirit, I couldn't have."

"But Lord, You can do anything. To say You couldn't is different from anything I've ever heard preached or preached myself. That really upends my theology."

"Sometimes your theology needs upending," the Lord answered.

I said, "Lord, even though I am seeing You with my own eyes, even though I hear your voice speaking to me as plainly as any voice I have ever heard, I cannot accept that unless You prove it to me by the Word of God. For the Word says, '.. .In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Cor. 13:1). I will not accept any vision, I will not accept any revelation, if it cannot be proved by the Bible."

Instead of becoming angry with me for saying this, Jesus smiled sweetly and said, "I will give you not just two or three witnesses; I will give you four witnesses."

I said, "I have read through the New Testament 150 times and many portions of it more than that. If that is in there, I don't know about it."

"Son, there is a lot in there you don't know," the Lord pointed out.

 "There is not a single place in the New Testament where believers are ever told to pray against the devil and I will do anything about him. There is not one instance in any of the epistles written to the churches that said to tell God to rebuke the devil or do something about the devil. If they do, they 're wasting their time. God has done all He is going to do about the devil for the time being until the angel comes down from heaven, takes the chain and binds him, and puts him into the bottomless pit.

"Every writer of the New Testament in writing to the Church always told the believer to do something about the devil. The believer has to have authority over the devil, or the Bible wouldn't tell him to do something about the devil:

MATTHEW 28:18-20

‘All power [or authority] is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go YOU therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded YOU: and, lo, I am with YOU always, even unto the end of the world.’

"You might say, 'But you could have done something about that spirit because this Scripture says you have all power and authority in heaven and in earth.' However, I have delegated my authority on the earth to YOU, the Church:

MARK 16:15-18

‘Go YOU into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow (YOU) them that believe; In my name shall (YOU) they cast out devils; (YOU) they shall speak with new tongues; (YOU) They shall take up serpents; and if (YOU) they drink any dead ly thing, it shall not hurt (YOU) them; (YOU) they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’

"One of the first signs mentioned as following believers is that they should cast out devils. That means that in my Name they will exercise authority over the devil. I delegated my authority over the devil to (YOU) the Church, and I can work only through the Church, for I am the Head of the Church.

James 4:7

"In writing to believers, James said, '. . .(YOU) Resist the devil, and he will flee from YOU'. James didn't say to get God to resist the devil for you. He said, 'YOU resist the devil and he will flee from YOU.' "

I looked up the word "flee" in the dictionary later and saw that one definition is "to run from as in terror. " As I read that, I remembered how the evil spirits in the vision had fled when I had rebuked them. And since then I have seen them quake and quiver in fear as I exercised my God- given authority over them. They were not afraid of me, but rather of Jesus, whom I represent.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Jesus continued, "Peter said, 'Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour'. 

What are you going to do: Throw up your hands and say, 'I am whipped'? No, a thousand times no! We read in verse nine, 'Whom resist steadfast in the faith.... ' YOU couldn't resist the devil if YOU didn't have authority over him. But YOU do have authority over him, and that is why YOU can resist him.

Eph. 4:27

"Paul said in his writings to the Church at Ephesus, 'Neither give place to the devil'. This means YOU are not to give the devil any place in YOU. He cannot take any place unless YOU give him permission to do so. And YOU would have to have authority over him or this wouldn't be true!"

Then Jesus said to me, "Here are your four witnesses: I am the first, James is the second, Peter is the third, and Paul is the fourth. These are the four witnesses I told you I would give instead of just two or three. This establishes the fact that the believer has authority on earth, for I have delegated my authority over the devil to YOU on the earth. If YOU don't do anything about it, then nothing will be done, and that is why many times nothing is done."

Then I said, "Lord, You have told me about only three categories of evil spirits: the rulers of the darkness of this world, the powers, and the principalities. What about the wicked spirits in the heavenlies?"

He said, "You take care of the ones on earth. I will take care of those in the heavenlies."

Jesus exhorted me to be faithful, saying, "Fulfill your ministry. Be faithful, for the time is short." Then He disappeared.

I realized that I was still on my knees in the kitchen of that parsonage, and about an hour and a half had passed while I was caught up in this vision.

Excerpt from Kenneth Hagin book: I Believe In Visions. 

http://www.rhema.org/store/i-believe-in-visions-book.html

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus 
There's just something about THAT NAME
Master, Savior, Jesus 
Like the fragrance after the rain 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus 
Let all heaven and earth proclaim 

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away 
But there's just something about THAT NAME!

Don't Take It Lightly

 
As I reflect on many of the events I've encountered in this last year, I am convinced more than ever how REAL SPIRITUAL WARFARE is in the life of a child of God.

I am also convinced that we take it too lightly - in the sense that when we deal with it (meaning that after we've struggled with Satan introducing temptation, fear, doubt, anxiety, etc. and we have been pretty much beat to a pulp emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually because we've dealt with it too much on our own through the 'flesh') . . . we do not handle it according to the Word.

We tend to complicate the simple, yet  profound steps:  First, we are to make sure we are not cross-way with anything we 'know' that God requires of us (because He will not operate in us with known sin being tolerated) and then, second, we can stand firmly on the power of His promises to us to be everything that we need to win the battle with Satan.

Eph. 6:13-14
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,

I am convinced that of this:

SPIRITUAL WARFARE is an invisible war; 

that is WAGED in the spiritual realm; 

WITH emotional, physical, mental and spiritual implications;
           

that can only be WON by Jesus Christ in us, 

WHO has the power to do so.

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Charles C. Ryrie (a Christian writer and theologian) summed it up pretty well in his book A Survey of Bible Doctrine  regarding our defense against Satan.

WHAT IS THE BELIEVER’S DEFENSE
AGAINST SATAN?

(1) Twice in the New Testament we are told that the Lord lives in heaven to make intercession for His people.

Romans 8:34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.


(2) The believer should also realize that on occasion God may use Satan to teach a particular lesson.

2 Cor. 12:7-10 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.


(3) It is also necessary to have the proper attitude toward Satan.  Though we have the power of God on our side, it is never wise to assume that victory is automatically guaranteed.  Learn not to speak contemptuously of Satan’s power but rather to depend on the Lord for victory.

Jude 1:8-9  Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”


(4) The believer should be informed and thereby alert to Satan’s attacks.

1Peter 5:8-9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.


(5) Taking a decisive stand is also required.

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.


(6) God has provided armor for our defense

Ephesians 6:11-18 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

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So it seems that if we are on the battlefield for Truth and Right with the intentions of fulfilling God's purpose for our lives for the Kingdom we are bound to get hit by a barrage of relentless enemy fire. 

My prayer is that we will be able to identify the enemy attack quicker, speak the Truth of God’s Word in correctness and power, and, then, be able to take a firm stand on that Truth and walk in the victory we were promised!

Each new day is a blessing!