When the enemy is messing, God is blessing

Psalm 23:5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over

I believe we many times miss to see the blessings of God, because we are too busy focusing on the enemy. We are too busy focusing on the battle, so we don’t see the Table he has prepared for us. But right there, in the midst of the battle, in the midst of our enemies, God prepares a table of blessing. That tells me that when the enemy is at the closest, Gods blessings is also at its closest. So next time you feel the battle is hard, and next time you feel the presence of the enemy, you need to lift up your head, and look around you. Somewhere close, there is a table of blessing for you. Just take a timeout from the heat, and sit down with your Master and fellowship. It is almost as God is saying, I didn’t intend for you to stay in the enemy’s presence. I have called you, and intended for you to stay and walk in my presence. 

One of the things the enemy will try to do, is make you focus so much on the storm, and on the wave so you don’t see the one standing right by you to bless you. Don’t allow your storm to steal your blessing. Lift up your head and look around you. He is there to strengthen you. He is there to bless you.

When the enemy is messing, God is blessing 

Fear not

Luk 1:30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

The Christmas story in the Bible is full of the phrase ”Fear not”. First we find the angel telling Zacharias, fear not, for your prayer is heard. Then the angel told the shepherds; fear not, for I bring you good tidings. Mary was told not to fear, for she had found favor or grace with God. The angel said Joseph should not be afraid for the one to be born should save his people from their sins. This good tidings, was for ALL the people. The message of "fear not" is not just for Mary and Joseph. It is not only for Zechariahs or for the Shepherds. It is for all the people. Why should we not be afraid? Because we have found grace in the sight of God, and our sins have been forgiven. 

I have read and heard many times that the phrase “fear not” is in the Bible 365 times, so there will be one for each day. I am afraid that is a myth. But one thing I know is in the Bible, and that is that his mercy and grace is new every morning. The angel told Mary fear not, for you have found favor / grace in the sight of God. We know the reason for her to not be afraid was that she had found grace. We also know that grace is new EVERY morning. That is why we know that there is a FEAR NOT for every day, even though it is not listed 365 times. If the Bible tells me that I don’t have to fear, because his grace is new every day, I don’t need it repeated 365 times. Every day I wake up to a brand new grace, so that every day I can wake up with a fear not.

A willing God

Matt 8:2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

3And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

If you will, you can… He knew Jesus was able. There was no question of Jesus being able to heal. There was no doubt about the power of Jesus. No the question was if Jesus was willing. For if Jesus was willing, he knew he could do it.
I believe that’s the issue for many Christians today. They know and believe he has the power to heal. But we are not so certain about his willingness. Jesus settled the question for this man, when he said; I WILL, be though clean.

The Psalmist says it like this: “Psalm 73:1Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2But as for me…”

In other words, I know and believe God is good and willing for everyone else. Those that has a clean heart. BUT as for me… I am not so sure about me. It’s not God I am doubting. Its not Gods power I am doubting. Not even his goodness. No, it is myself I doubt. I don’t think I deserve it. I don’t think I am good enough. I don’t think I am clean enough. 

When Jesus met the woman at the well, he said: If you knew the gift of God, and if you knew who talked to you, you would have asked and he WOULD have given you living water. The reason you don’t receive it is not that I am not willing, nor that I don’t have the power. It is because you don’t ask. And the reason you don’t ask is because you don’t know me. I am a WILLING God. Just ask, and is SHALL be given. Knock and it SHALL be opened up. Because I am able, and I am willing.

Are you prepared?

Matt 17:21  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

The disciples of Jesus had just tried to cast out this Devil. Jesus lets them know that this kind only come out through prayer and fasting. There are many things in the Kingdom of God we never see or experience because we are not prepared for it. It was too late to run and pray when the need was there. When the challenge stood right in front of them, it was too late to fast and pray. That should have been done before the need arrived. Jesus however was prepared. He had fasted and prayed, and was ready for the challenge.

Are you ready to be used? Have you prayed and fasted?  Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves, for tomorrow… When tomorrow arrived and they stood in front of Jordan, and when they stood on front of Jericho, they were prepared.

Have you allowed God to prepare you for tomorrow? Are you ready and prepared for the battles and revivals of tomorrow? Have you spent time in Gods presence, and been molded into his image, so that when people in darkness are looking for the light they see you? Have you spent time in his word, so that when the question arise you have the answer? Have you spent time in prayer so that when the need is there, you have the faith it takes?

God will not and cannot use an unprepared vessel. He will not use an unclean vessel. We must do the praying and fasting today so we are ready for the Devil tomorrow. We must do the sanctification today so we are ready for the revival of tomorrow.

Sanctify yourself, for tomorrow...

Joshua 3:5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.

Joshua and Israel was on their way to the Promised Land. They were on their way to great miracles and wonders. Rivers opening up, walls coming down and great victories were waiting on them. 

Oh how many times we have read this, and proclaimed the promise of tomorrow. Tomorrow God will do wonders. Tomorrow God will do miracles, and send us revival. We believe and proclaim the promises God has given us for tomorrow. But we too often forget that the wonders of tomorrow is predicated on the sanctification of today. It is easy to forget the “sanctify yourself” today because we only focus on the wonders for tomorrow. “TODAY if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Heb 3:15)
That was the first time they were suppose to take the promised land. THey missed what they were suppose to do TODAY, so they missed the wonders of tomorrow.
Let us sanctify our self, let us consecrate and prepare ourself for the wonders of tomorrow. We don’t want to miss it like they did the first time. It was lack of faith that stopped them. But faith also includes obedience.

2 Cor 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

So let us in obedience to Gods word, be separate and Holy as God is holy. Then, we can expect wonders and miracles of another level.

Bring your wood

Neh 10:34“We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law.

Prov 26:20 Without wood a fire goes out;

I am aware the text from proverbs is talking about gossip. But I would like to put it  in another context. 

Every fire needs wood to keep it going. The job and responsibility of the priests was to make sure the fire never went out. In order to keep the fire burning there is a need for constant supply of wood. Every family among the Levites and priest, was to bring their contribution of fire.
Are you enjoying the fire of the Holy Ghost in church? You enjoy the presence of God and the powerful atmosphere in worship? Then my question to you is this: Do you bring your share of wood to the fire? Without wood a fire goes out. Do you pray? Do you sacrifice? Are you hungry? Are you a worshipper? 

The reason there is a fire is because somebody has provided the wood. Prayer before church is a good place to come and bring your wood. Worship time is a good time and place to bring your wood. Tithes and offering time is a good time and place to bring your wood. During the preaching, every Amen, and getting with the Pastor as he preaches is a good way of giving your wood. Altar call is also a good place to bring forth your wood.
You see, a church needs a constant supply of wood. Do you enjoy the fire? Then make sure it doesn’t go out. 

True freedom

John 18:39But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?”

40They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!” Now Barabbas had taken part in an uprising.

I don’t know how much Barabbas heard of the commotion going on here. Maybe from his cell he heard them cheer for his name. He was aware of the custom, and was aware that this was the time that they would choose someone to be set free, but I am sure he didn’t have much hope for his name to come up. But suddenly he could hear them shout “GIVE US BARABBAS!” I don’t know what thought that went through his mind. Maybe pride rose as he thought they really fought for his freedom. Maybe he thought that they wanted him free because of love for him. I don’t even know what went through his mind when Pilate set him free. Having the power to set him free, he could mistake that maybe Pilate thought he was innocent after all? But really, Pilate set him free out of FEAR for the same people Barabbas thought loved him. He may not have been aware that the motive was not love for him, but hate for Jesus. I am sure he found out, when he was released thinking that he was popular now, that surely this people do not love me anyway. No one invites me for dinner, and no one wants to hang out with me. 

The Devil fools many people into believing they are blessed because of love and popularity. They have what they have because he wants to “bless” them. But sooner or later the truth will come to the surface. The Devil is not driven with love, but rather with hate. His only goal is to kill, steal and destroy. 

The interesting thing in this story is that the one that caused Barabbas to be set free, is the one that came to set people free. But he did not come to do it this way. The ones he sets free, becomes really free. Barabbas came to find out he was not free, even though he technically was free. Following the voice of the Devil, you can be bound even though you are free. But if you follow the voice of Jesus you can be free, even though you are bound. Just like my friend in prison here in Norway. As God forgave him of his sins, he ran out from his cell, shouting I am free, I am free. He still had five more years to serve… That’s true freedom.