It was all in the cheering section, once watching a movie that the tiniest part jumped out at me - impacted my life in such a magnetic way. The movie probably wasn't made the best; no grand effects. I don't watch much t.v. really so this matters not to me and it'd take a greatly promised movie for me to attend a movie theater. The movie - "Facing the Giants". The title speaks large to my heart. I have had many giants to overcome in my life and every one of them dealt with through the all-precious word and I expect nothing less.
I don't like watching sports on t.v. but used to play football with a bunch of friends when I was young. There wasn't a cheering section then; just all of us together, in a big field, about 15-20 of us.... whoever wanted to play on whatever given day. Fun times. But when you think of walking through this life without a cheering section, likened to a tough game, weak odds with a bleak view of the end, with no less the rough travel (as so we often think until Victory), well, it'd be tough. Such an odd movie for me to attach a message to but it really spoke to me personally and I know it will speak to you as you run right out and pick up a copy cause you can't recall seeing this one : )
Go with me for a moment to the cheering section! The coach looks up. Game is down to mere seconds on the clock. (Once it was told to me...It's simply, a matter of time) Injuries and the like throughout the team pulling the numbers down (which all can be healed by the way : ) A poor kicker, smallest of odds for the team...ha. I love it!...God always shows up in our weaknesses. He looks up again but unto the stands for edification. He lifts his head high. He looks to his coach in the stands for a split second. His coach beckons, I believe, to let him know he was there for him. At this point, the first time I saw this I poured myself onto the floor without a further thought, wailing in prayer and tears of how glorious this was to me. It was likened to support from on high. It was grandiose encouragement. It was a Pastor's heart. He threw a life preserver of love down onto that field with simple acknowlegement. It was encouragement. It was love. It was the go-ahead. It was the answer. The Father's love. The game was won. The crowd went wild. The cheering section spoke and the game was won. It was a quietly spoken edification that shouted a loud cheer. It sang a song of love to a heart that needed to hear it. Healing came.
It was never revealed in words before that night but I knew I was that cheerleader. To be to those looking for answers. Love has been cultivated by the Holy Spirit within. Harvest time. Somehow I have endured watching much pain and it becomes your heart to love those without it. You move towards loving the many and there is no turning back when it's real.
The problem begins when the enemy wants to do the best to tape the mouth of a cheerleader. Ha. Ha. Lifetime of lessons learned. Can you see what I see? I'm in the game...wrapped up in His love, crying out, shouting a song with a heart filled of joy to give it away, and the enemy lines full of deceitful players who act as angels of light in the dark playing field just across the white line. Everyone - line up. Victory on this side is certain. The line is white. This should have been the tip off of defeat to the other side ( at this point many on the other side have a choice to make; repent or continue in sin) There is no passage to this side if your going to continue on that side.
What is churning in my stomach is how the many in the stands are cheering for these lights to win that are not light at all. "Sit down", I say! You have nothing to give including your deceptive light. Love loves and you have not learned this lesson yet. You must first give your life, love and heart to the Lord. In word and deed. Spirit and truth. Life and love. Not dead works or words that lift another falsely.
Oh dearest loved ones, test the spirits in the moment of need. If a word comes whispering, secret, overtly excited without much heartiness in it, or in an excitement that moves off into a different direction quickly...take note... it's not real. It wants to drag you off into sin. And it is not of God. It is a quest for power, not love. Please, I beg you, don't be associated with such sin.
Colossian 2:2-8 says...that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
1 John 4:1-4 says...Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Esther walked in this kind of love. She took on deep and enduring love of the people to go the distance, to do the right thing, to call forth the wrong spirit that all might see and give their lives to the one true living God that they no longer be harmed. Done. So much awaits to be poured upon those that carry the love of the Lord with them or do not know of Him but desiring to know Him above all else. Gifts to be poured out. More than drinking. It's the pouring of the oil of gladness and joy onto the church. What a day to celebrate! Be fully animated in the Holy Ghost.
Galatians 5:16 says it all...My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?
Just love the people and be on the right team.
