An art project arose in our house this week and out of the mouths of a babe arose a decisive proclamation...of all the choices, "I want to do a shield". It comes with much understanding to put on the armor, the armor of God. The shield of faith serves to quench every fiery dart of the wicked one. It's a seriousness poured thick with an anointing of grace; very rich.
An aligned and a highly worthy few verses to share here are these...Romans 10:1-13...foundationally blessed words.Trust and belief.
So, here we go...Romans 8:15 says...For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by who we cry out "Abba Father". This as much mimics this...You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind, says 2 Timothy 1:7. Do you know that the issues of this life in the struggle against good and evil are the battlefield of the mind? It's the pushing (figuratively, but more spiritually) all the wisdom of God lent to you pressed down deeply into your spirit that the overflow take place; the running over! Oh glory and amen! It clears the old decor off the walls of the mind, as I wrote some years ago, and moves into a complete redesign...a redesign of the heart and mind and of the Spirit. Essentially it receives all you are in and of the only one powerful enough to have given it to you. The heavenly gift that is perfect as James writes to us, for every perfect gift is from above. There isn't one less necessary than another.
You are given no choice in this...You must believe in the miracle working power of the one called the Almighty. It's the answer to our needs, desires, wants, callings and above all...the circumstances that try as they might to hold it all back. I say this...lift the words off the page; whether words of the bible written here or the word of God that you read on your own. You will have what you say. It's your faith and coupled with the word of God. You are not mistaken. You are right on target and this in and of itself is mighty for pulling down strongholds. The knowing. When the circumstance that blocks your way as an obstacle sets itself up, take it down with the word. It's like a wallpaper remover only not as abrasive ; ) Find your promises. Speak them out. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your family. Deuteronomy says to write in on the doorposts also saying to teach the word of God diligently to your children, talking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up...says, Deuteronomy 6:7. This is a wide portion of armor but think of it...You learn the most when you share. This is a prime target in the enemies strategy to get you to the place of not loving any longer or worse; accepting the defeat never meant for you in the first place. It comes to me to say this...Sometimes to overcome the defeat is simply to repent. It only hurts on the way down, but when you stand the realization comes of the real truth in who you are and who you really belong to, which is the one and only Almighty Healer that gives you the power and giftedness to do the same. Christ is the power and wisdom of God.
It came to me to do a "High Lighting" session in the word and the treasures I found all over again to share are nothing but priceless. Ah yes, it says...Come buy and eat without money without price. The feast of the spiritual word of God will lend you more than ever thought possible.
1 Corinthians 2:12 says...Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The little "s" is likened to the world in this verse and the big "S" signifies what is given to us by God. Our spirit man is nothing without Him. There is no condemnation only a sharing of what is for each of us to have. Ask for the "discerning of spirits" from 1 Corinthians 12. Should doubt have overtaken you before this, allow the gift to operate in you that you might rightly spiritually discern by the Spirit of God residing in you. This equates often to a spiritual prayer that is divinely supernatural. Go deep in prayer. You will receive.
2 Corinthians 10:3 says this...For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. We know that the war is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers and the rulers of the darkness in the heavenly places...says Ephesians 6:12. Where is the heavenly places? In the realms of the Spirit. More than once of late it has come to me like this...It's corporate, in the corporate worship and in the corporate setting. Why? The enemy has access to take captive those ceasing meeting together from the household of faith. There is nothing for him when we assemble. Its unity and the enemy now presses to the place of offense. Its the only tactic left. If he can break apart and break down the church...its his last attempt at a victory that he is already aware of that is long since lost. Look at this that reads in Ephesians 2:18 that expels the lie...For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. This is unity. It happens together. And again in Ephesians 3:12 says...in whom we have boldness and access with confidence though faith in Him. The way to stay free of offense is love. This looks like simple communication most often. Confessing to one another, carrying forgiveness and putting on the oil of joy. Ephesians 3:19 says this...to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. The single root that needs the most weeding in your garden is offense. It is wretched. It hides. It is divisive and when you find it you will find a straying love walk if you step off the path. Offense is the hindrance to your prayers and what brings your ailing circumstances of which behind these that truly hold your blessing. It harms relationship of every kind. Offense is a joy stealer. Boldly shut off this lie and smother all with the truth in love.
And so, clothe yourself in the armor. Don't leave home or ready your day without this cloak of righteousness. Amen, out of the mouths of babes. Otherwise the enemy will work overtime at twisting, torturing, scheming, being divisive, causing each of us tears unnecessary. The word says...in 1 Peter 5:8, Be sober. Be vigiliant; because your adversary the devil walk about LIKE a roaring lion seeking whom he MAY devour. Like; when it comes down to it truly the enemy is far less than a roaring lion. Another version says "as" a roaring lion. May; well I say this..."like" and "as" are like "if". Those words carry doubt. So don't think he won't try to devour you, especially if you don't get ahold of this. Take yourself purposefully off the menu. The enemy only has access to you if you give him the authority. Make your identity in God your mighty stronghold rather. I want to point something out that I know has daunted the hearts of a few. The word "sober" means to abstain from wine; figuratively means to be discreet and watchful. Right here lay a fear of being full of the Holy Spirit of which we are told to be because we reason for ourselves that if we let our guard down and be drunk of the spirit that we will be blindsided by the enemy. Being full of spiritual wine; and I speak from experience and not of a place of simply knowledge and I actually haven't studied this but know that there is an exceedingly great charisma gift that offers divine gratuity in a miraculous kind way that is unexplainable until it is experienced for one's self that is "the safe place" in this. I know that I know that I know this! You don't always have to have the equation to have the answer. I can attest all over the place to this. And the answers do not always lay about on the surface. In this place the miraculous sheilds all of the offense headed your way. Why? Because the Spirit of God acts like a sheild that the enemy cannot come near. You are now a repellent. Ha!
Galatians 4:6 says...And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts crying out, "Abba Father!". I love it when the word of God says something important twice. Look back at Romans 8:15. So precious. Amen and take a look at John 14:13-14. Now that dear one is SHOUTING GROUND ON HOLY GROUND!
Do not cease to pray and ask that you may be filled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding....says Colossians 1:9. This "may" is dependant on the asker. He gives richly and always. Plead the blood as in Colossians 3:20 over everything that comes against your worship; your life. Because Lamentations 3:22-23 says...Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. That looks like to me a highly praise filled Sunday morning! I heard it like this.... There is more power and glory in a drop of blood to cleanse your every ail. Plead the blood over everything. I wrote that like this once...Plead the blood all over the house. It was done for you so use it. Have you ever witnessed your children on Christmas morning say and do something like this?..."Oh, I don't want to get up. It's only Christmas. It can wait till later." Likely not. They bolt from the bed to see what gifts they have and rush to open them. There is power, power wonderworking power in the blood....Plead it over your body, your mind, your life, your family, your friends, your church, your spirit, the unsaved, your voice, your worship even. Access your healing. Just last week I slipped on a toy and fell down the steps and sprang my ankle and it is counted healed by the blood. The devil can't touch that ever. Access denied! I'm healed. It's a done deal; completed. Your attitude of gratitude must include tenacity that doesn't forsake what is yours. In all of this you will find a joy unspeakable when you let the logos word become rhema word or spoken word in your life. If you keep still the enemy will trod right by and take everything that every belonged to you. The lie- fear. Bind it up in Jesus Name. And loose truth in Jesus name. Testimony rocks the foundations of hell. It's no longer about old sin. It is now "His righteousness in you". And right behind that is joy unspeakable. Yes, it puts off all that hinders with that new joy.
Galatians 3:1 asks...Who has bewitched you? This means 'maligned you or fascinated you by false representation'. There is a difference between bewitching and befriending and the enemy is pulling you while you are pressing in toward what is good. I will liken it to this...when you are pressing into the place of prayer and you sense all hell is coming against you and you see the employer of the one harkened against you, you will know. And the answer is still the same. Love. It's the builder of trust and belief.
Your confidence holds your great reward...yours and mine. What do you need? What do you desire? Don't you know how much you are loved?!
Drawing water from a wellspring of life, I will show you like this.... A few weeks ago a demonstration was given me in a picture as I was praying and to somehow best explain rather than discuss. I think it is and was to bring light to what I wrote above. However this might have looked demonstrated in the sanctuary with any kind of humble explanation, I recalled it again today so here I will put it. I am no artist and many readers already know that I have likely only once successfully painted what my spirit was trying to say onto a canvas. I have attempted this outline. So, here I will attempt to draw it with simplicity to bring understanding because I think there is something in it for everyone. I will explain below. Perhaps you see more in it.
We'll call this "Identity Demonstration". Purpose: To know who you are in the Lord. First, invision the love in the picture however that looks to you.
I'll say that the large circle with x's all around the circle represent the church...the people in the church. I saw during intercession a few more weeks prior the entire church was assembled in a circle during communion time. It was a binding together. There was a heaviness of love in the vision that it nearly took my breath in that moment of being so overwelmed. Tears overtook me in a mixture of joy of the Spirit. I knew it was from heaven.
Ok, so moving on...I want to tell you first the stage in this picture hasn't any worship team but that is because I am not an artist. I am not even too much of a stick figure artist. Know that they are there! : )
So, here we go. The numbers I recall did not matter but the first thing I saw was (if you are looking toward the stage) is many people aligned along the window toward the right beginning at the table. These began as babes in the Lord, no matter their age. They represented young to old and every place in a person's walk with the Lord....from the new in the Lord to what you might call a veteran of many years. Let me disclaim this quickly here. In a moment's notice you can be delivered into a place of absolute understanding miraculously or knowledge can be gained over much time because we know that time is in His hands. A day can be like a thousand years or a thousand years a day. This is how destiny is formed as it seems. The people along the right window represented each individually a teachable spirit in learning their way toward life in God. The arrows point the way. And collectively they mentored each other towards one anothers walk toward knowing Him as well. One represented a worshiper, one a mother, one an artist, another a designer, another an inventor, another a worker, another an evangelist, another an intercessor, another an administrator, another a dancer, another a missionary, another a gardner....do you get the just of what I am saying? They all are learning and growing together and from one another but all going in the same direction toward the same God.
Ok, so the center chair had a single person sitting in it; likened to any speaker, pastor, preacher, teacher but representing the Christ in each of us. The tiny x's all around this center seat had children sitting all around and a few tiny children on the lap. It was noisy and disarrayed one might say. No small child is quiet usually and I am certain there was delight to be in His presence. It was a free kind of setting and it was simply taking place with giggling and giddiness. Sweet to watch.
Singers were brought out of the crowd to a smaller circle being projected toward Jesus (we all have Christ in us; but likened toward the central chair) They were focused on Him and began singing a melody that was repetitive in lyrics; very worshipful....the song that holds the lyrics "All my days I worship and adore You, Healer of my Heart". As this was going on those aligned along the window slowly (only for the purpose of explanation) began to walk toward Jesus and suddenly the whole scene became very purposed and the Holy Spirit settled on this scene. There was a heaviness that permeated the room. This is why I knew to share it somehow. Confirmed. They were instructed to acknowledge him in whatever way they purposed to, whether it was a simple gesture, ask him a long awaited question, to stop and chat a moment, give him a hug, sit at his feet for a minute...whatever came to them to do to acknowledge him. They each are individually different and gifted in many different ways so it should be to them how they wanted to show reverence or to share time once they got in this close to him. Once in his presence there was no fear at all. They were all made aware of this before hand. There was all fullness and wholenes. All the while the whole church and this circle of singers are singing toward his direction.
Along the other side of the sanctuary there was another line formed of several moving about in the same manner but these you might call more of the veterans in their walk, through no part in the area they were located but they had walked a long time and through much with the Lord. They still held the same kinds of gifts the others do from the other line. And they were all like the others worshiping and growing and moving toward Him in reverance. There was no division.
Affront of them were called a circle of intercessors focused toward Him but praying toward him and for the church as they grew and walked toward him and with him. They were also reverencing him in prayer as well. This side held a lot of tough circumstance that tried to hinder their walk. There was greater offenses coming at these veterans because they knew their adversary well and because there was a definite call and a great pressing into grace. There is no condemnation. There is no distinction being made but I am trying to point out that the fight was tough. This verse came to me to share as to the offenses toward these....Galatians 5:12-13 that says...I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve on another.
The scriptures that came to me to share with all was these...John 1:12-13 that says...But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Studied up, prayed up and now going up. To end this days' writing it comes back to love and it all comes back to a worshipful spirit and there is victory in it. I dreamt about 6 months ago a very odd dream that begged a lot of questions and as late as this week has answered even more. It contained a message that there was confusion coming to the people in the dream but all turned into victory. I have often over the past month been reminded of these verses and how it relates to the victory that looked in my dream to be in a sort of valley. Oh but there is victory and spoil to be returned! I have been told about this much of late as much as I am believing for you and for me and my own family as well to get the blessing. One thing I know for sure ...when there is victory for one, there is victory for many. Read this and enjoy it for all its intended purpose.
2 Chronicles 20:20-27 (NLT) says this...
20 Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.”
21 After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang:
“Give thanks to the Lord;
his faithful love endures forever!”
22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 23 The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 24 So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.
25 King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing, and other valuables—more than they could carry. There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all! 26 On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there. It is still called the Valley of Blessing today.
27 Then all the men returned to Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat leading them, overjoyed that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies. 28 They marched into Jerusalem to the music of harps, lyres, and trumpets, and they proceeded to the Temple of the Lord.
Worship God! Its in the Speech of a Love Song!
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