Know Your Enemy Part 71

Be Still and Know that I am God

I woke up determined to get back up and back into the fight. I wrote lists on possible titles of blogposts - Battle Strategies 101. I wrote my list of things to do like I do every morning. Walk. Blog. Practice the Guitar. Laundry. Kitchen. I bent down to get my shoes on and my back began to spasm.

I knew I needed to take it easy at that point. Many times in my life my back has gone out and this was the sign to slow down or my back would go out. I did have to drive to the other side of Portland to pick up my mom so I had 45 minutes to talk to the Lord on the way.

I need to get back up Lord. I need to get back in the battle. I have holes in the wall and breaches in security. I feel awful that I have sinned against you and I want to make sure that it does not happen again.

The Lord said No. You have been in a real battle against a real enemy and you have been defeated. You have real battle wounds that need to be attended to and real consequenses to your actions. You tried to fight the battle in your own strength and you will always be defeated. I am the Lord who fights for you. You need to slow down. You need to study to be quiet. You need to be still and Know that I am God and I fight the battles. Even the armor I give you is of Me and I will have the glory. You need to always remember that I love you with an everlasting love and that no one can take you out of my hand. You need to practic being quiet and waiting on me to give you instructions and then you need to obey. You need to slow down your thoughts so that you can lead them captive, one at a time, to the obedience of Christ.

I realized I had actually tried to be fake with God. While the battle was going on and the pressure was so thick, instead of being honest with my Father about my feelings, I actually tried to pretend that I was not upset, that if I could just push through these negative feelings I would be alright. That is so how the world deals with things. Push Through. You can do it. The Lord has shown me, I CANT do it. In my own strength I am nothing and can do nothing and I'm no match for the adversary. I should have been honest with God about my feelings. I should have slowed down and dealt with them properly instead of trying so hard to "push through" and think positive.

It is true that I am not in the battle at the moment. I can feel the Lord's hand of protection on me. The Lord is not some tyrant that sends a wounded soldier back into battle. He is a very concerned nursemaid that is showing me where I went wrong, where I blew it, so that I will never again be tempted in this category.

And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,

And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. Deut 20:2-4

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, 2Ch 20:17

Michael Boldea has a very timely post on this idea:

Break the Pitcher

I know others have mentioned on their websites about The Fuel Project and the Know your Enemy series, but I have been going through them and I highly recommend watching them. I think you should start from Part one and work your way through because I believe Mark Fairley has really done a lot of research and put it is a very easy to understand format. He builds each new video on the information from the one before, so it may take you several days to go through.

Know your Enemy Part One

Be careful out there my friends. We are in a raging battle against an extremely dangerous and psychopathic enemy. Only the Father can fight this battle. Seek Him now while He can be found.

Blessings in Christ
LInda

Return of the Old Man

Several years ago I had a dream. I was in a house with a bunch of other people and they were trying to kill themselves. It wasn't scary or anything I was trying to kill myself too and no one was successful. I saw a door going outside and I decided to escape that house. I was running outside over fields of green grass and the sky was blue and there was a pleasant breeze and it felt so good to just run and run. I was alone out there but then I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye. I stopped and turned around to see what it was. A man was running after me. He was wearing a white robe and had jeans on underneath his robe and messy black hair. I realized it was Jack Nicholson from the movie The Shining. He grabbed me and threw me down to the ground and then I woke up.

At the time, I believed the house represented those who were trying to live the crucified life. Now I believe that the house and people inside are legalism. If you are trying to crucify yourself, you are doing an impossible task. When I had the dream I was still very legalistic. Leaving the house meant leaving behind my legalism of the past and enjoying my new found liberty and freedom in Christ. But the man running after me, I knew then as I do now, is that old man nature coming out of nowhere to take me down at any time.

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow?"

So as I was making my daily rounds I notice a door that has been closed, for a long time. I said to the Father, "Lord, I noticed the door today." The Father said, "Do not go near that door. Everytime you have opened it, bad things happen." I said, Yes Lord, you are right. But every day I walked past the door, I felt a little more relaxed. I began to feel comfortable walking by the door. Like, no big.

"who hath contentions? who hath babbling?"

One day, as I am sauntering past the door, I hear a noise coming from inside. What is that sound, I say to myself. Is that a typewriter? Who uses typewriters anymore?! Of course I have to open the door, we can't have undetermined noises about can we?

The door opens to a huge ornate ballroom. In the very back, looking small, is a desk with a typewriter on it and stacks of paper. And who is furiously typing away but my Old Man Nature: Jack.

"I thought you were dead." I said to him.

"Nope. Right here." He replys

"Well...what are you doing?" I say.

"Oh, you know...stuff." He says nonchalantly. He continues to type.

I pick up one of the pieces of paper and read it aloud. "The road to sin - or coming back from the dead by Jack Daniels." I stop reading and look at him. "I thought you were suppossed to be Jack Nicholson!"

He grins and in his best Jack Nicholson voice says, "Oh you know A Jack is a Jack."

I left the room and went straight to the Lord. "Father. I opened the door and I can't get the door to shut again. I think I have a crush on Jack." The Lord said, "Shut the door and walk away. This is the flesh and satan trying to entice you. Here is my word, I have made a way out for you." I sigh. Yes Lord, You are right. I know you have made a way out for me.

I can hear the typing going on and on. When I'm near the door, when I'm not near the door. I go in sometimes to flirt with Jack, because he's so cute and clever and I feel so COMFORTABLE around him. Typing. Typing. Typing.

"who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?"

Suddenly the typing stops. I run into the room and down to the desk. Jack is gone. I read what he has been typing, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." Pages and Pages of it. The hair stands up on my arms and I feel very scared. I run outside and there is Jack; breaking down the hedges with a sharp scary ax and he has that crazed look in his eye again. "How did you get out?!" I yell at him. "You let me out," he yells back. He throws down the ax and grabs me by the shoulders and screams, "YOU WANT ME!" and throws me down to the ground.

I wake up. My head is pounding and my mouth is dry and I feel like all the water has been sucked out of my body. I have sinned. I am a foolish woman who tears down her house with her own hands. I have allowed the breach in the security system. I have seen the hole in the wall and dug at it little by little until the whole wall has crumbled down. I was the temptest that refused to be comforted. The Lord wrote me a love letter inviting me to walk with him and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, and I cheated on him with my Old Man Nature.

They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. Proverbs 23:29-35

Sin always starts in the mind. Where did I go wrong? When I opened the door? When I walked past it or when I noticed it? No. What was I doing going round and round by doors of locked sin anyway? A thought occurred that I did not lead captive. Any evil thoughts that are not led to the obedience of Christ have a way of growing and growing until they burst forth as sin. God always makes a way out, but we have to take it.

Time to rebuild the temple. Time to fix the breaches in the security system and shore up the wall.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cr 10:5

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Walking with the Lord

This morning I read the following verses:

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song of Solomon 2:10-13

These verses really stood out to me in a big way. In fact, when I first read them, I thought they were a call again to go out on the road. The repetition of the words to arise, rise up and come away - and the fact that the timing is right - the birds are singing and the rain (we can only hope) is over and gone, the flowers are blooming. etc. The word turtle in the above verse means turtle dove - the symbol of the Holy Spirit.

My van is currently still broke down and my son is not sure when he can come take a look at it. I have $700 to either get it fixed or buy a new vehicle or? an airplane ticket? I currently have no answers as to what I am to do concerning this.

It was last year in April that I got the call to leave, but I didn't end up leaving until the middle of August, due to my own unbelief. So I definately do not want to miss the call again. It may be that details will become clear in the future and I am to be ready for the details to be worked out.

Because there are not any clear answers in the physical realm about possibly leaving, I decided to take a closer look at the verse. Strong's concordance say of the fig tree and the vine, "To sit under ones vine and under one's fig tree is said of those who lead a tranquil and happy life, I Kings 5:5, Zec 3:10, Micah 4:4."

The weird thing is, that 1 Kings 5:5 does not speak of the vine and the fig tree, 1 King 4:25 does. I Kings 5:5 is Solomon saying he is going to build the house of the Lord.

The term "come away" from the Gesenius's Lexicon just means "To go, to walk". It is an invitation to walk with my Lord, just me and him, like lovers would. Smelling the new fruit on the vine and listening to the birds sing and enjoying the flowers. My Maker is my husband like in the verses of Isaiah 54 that He gave me when I started this trip. I looked again at Isaiah:

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. Isaiah 54:10-14

It was an invitation to walk with the Lord and let HIM satisfy my longings and my desires. He is never far away and He will be with me to enjoy the sunshine and the spring with. He is always with me and will never leave me nor forsake me. Oh what an amazing Husband and Maker I have.

Stop and enjoy the sunshine and flowers, and be filled with the Holy Spirit and thanksgiving for all the Lord blesses us with.

Blessings in Christ!
Linda

Of Appetites and Epistles

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. Prov 23:1-3

The first time I read the above verses, I was a baby Christian and was very surprised to see such harsh wording in the bible. I was very carnal at the time so I understood the concept of 'appetite.' I understood the concept of eating too much and drinking too much and of lust. The idea of putting a knife to your throat as a reminder that what you are considering eating will bring sudden death was not lost on me at the time.

Now, as a more mature Christian, re-reading these verses, they are all the MORE important and profound. Because now I understand that the term "meat" in the bible often refers to deep doctrine, and that not everyone believes the same concerning the meatier things of Scripture. So the verse means something far more penetrating. If you are sitting with someone in authority over you be careful of the doctrines laid out before you because they could be all sugar and spice, but not very nice. It is the false doctrines that are the deceitful meat. We see this in our church culture today. The sports arena churches of today are preaching the false Jesus of the prosperity gospel and not the true Jesus of the cross, yet they are the preachers being called to represent "Christianity" in our society. The knife should still be at our throats, because at any moment the "doctrine's of demons" (or dainty meats) will suddenly be something that we could fall for and believe - sometimes due to the peer pressure of the masses.

This world, and in particular, our American culture is SATURATED with filth and false doctrine. Every where you look there is sin and debauchery and you almost can't go anywhere without bumping into a lie and carnality. Now we are all Lot's being vexed day by day, and satan, our evil adversary, is constantly testing the boundaries, constantly assailing us with lies and propaganda ESPECIALLY when it comes to the truth of God's Holy Word. The flesh is always vulnerable to temptation and sin is only a mouthful away sometimes. Consider what it is that you are eating.

Andrew Jukes, in his book, "The Restitution of all things." discusses the idea that God's Word is like a veil AND a revelation. To the carnal man, a veil, and it cannot be penetrated by the natural mind of man. But to the spiritual man - a revelation - and more and more is revealed by the Holy Spirit as he teaches the spiritual man. He also talks about how we are partial revelations as well. I was fascinated by the concept because the Word also says that:

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Cor 3:2-6

Please read 2 Corinthians 3 because there is more there, but I don't have room enough to quote the whole thing.

We are God's epistles - known and read of all men. What do men and women read when they read your life? Are you indistinguishable from the rest of American society? Are you indistinguishable from the prosperity churchs, with their sugar doctrines and deceitful meat? Or do people read, "LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR" when they read you. You will win far more souls by loving them like Christ does, then whether or not you talk them to death. I know that it is God that gives the increase, but we may be the only bible these people ever read.

It is time to leave this carnal world and all it's filth behind and put on the whole armor of God. To stand in the gap for the lost of this world and be an epistle that speaks of the mercy and love of God and how Christ died for them, as he did for us. Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His Might.

Blessings in Christ
Linda

Considering a Vineyard

So let's pretend for the moment, for the sake of argument, that in the end - the very end - every knee shall bow before the Lord Jesus and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord. That there will truly be, at some point down the line in a time far, far away, a "restitution of all things" as in Acts 3:21.

That word "restitution" is the Greek word apokatastasis which only occurs once (which in itself is signifigant) and means: Restoration of a true theocracy of the perfect state before the fall! How can you get so much meaning into one little word?! I'm not saying that some people will not burn in hell. They will. I'm not saying that there won't be weeping and gnashing of teeth, oh there will. But ultimately after every sin has been paid for and when Death has been done away with and Jesus has put everything under his feet and He has won every last person - because that is who He came to save. Every one. Oh I know this is what is hard to swallow. Because the WHOLE WORLD through Him will be saved - not in this age - because it's just too big a job for just one age. Maybe it will take 70? You know, an age a week? Because didn't God tell Daniel there would be 70 weeks? But that is just a kernal of an idea that the Lord has put on my heart - Just speculation for chewing purpuses - I don't know if the idea is true or not yet, I just started considering it, but the Holy Spirit woke me up to write this whole post tonight.

Anyway, back to our hypothetical situation. If Jesus saves everyone in the end - what is the point of "our" cross? Why strive to go on the narrow way? Why fast? Why pray? Why the whole wilderness experience?

Jesus told a parable about just that exact situation.

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.

Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.

And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Matt 20:1-16

This parable is for us - those that want to BE chosen - who strive to obey and pick up our cross and deny ourselves. The penny symbolizes a day's wage - and it is not insignifigant that in Revelation - it is a day's wages that will buy a loaf of Bread. I think there is more here about that, but it has not yet been revealed to me.

So the question that has assaulted me the last couple days has been, why be good? But see, that IS the test! It is the same test in the same wilderness that the Isrealites had to go through!

And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. Numbers 11:4-6

First, us little kids are afraid of our Father - very concerned about getting a big scary spanking in the form of hell. We look around at the "other" kids and say "nyah nyah, you are getting a spanking and we are not!" Then we get a little more mature and find out that the spanking will not be what we first thought it was. So we love our Father for His extreme mercy and realize that we have to love the "others" as ourselves because the Father will save them too. Then maybe the thought occurs that we should just go out and party like the others are doing? I mean, isn't that what teenagers do?

That is the test because - the Lord is testing us to see if we REALLY DO love HIM with our WHOLE HEART, SOUL, MIND and STRENGTH. And of course, our neighbor as ourselves, but it is really about God. God wants to have a loving and sweet relationship with us. We have to want God because of Who he IS not because we want to avoid hell, or because we believe we have somehow hit pay dirt because we are saved and the others are not. It's not about hell and it's not about our "rewards". Those in Revelation cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus. Because all honor and glory does belong to Him. He saves the whole world and everyone in it.

It's not about us anymore. I guess, it never has been. That is the plan that the Lord has, that a little glimpse has been given. A plan for the ages. That is why it is so important to love our neighbor, like Christ loved us and DIED for us. Because it is still better to be saved in this life. Part of the test is whether or not we will love our neighbor. Love them enough to let them know that Jesus died for them too. We have to grow up, we have to be mature sons and daughters of the King, and bring the gospel of salvation to those who are lost.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. REV 21:1-8

I know, that last verse appears to contradict what I have been saying. But it doesn't. Someone has to be the bad guy. We can't crucify ourselves, just as Christ couldn't crucify himself. But woe to that man right? The lake of fire will still suck, for any length of time. Better to be saved in this life and even better to be good, obedient children. Love God and love your neighbor.

Blessings in Christ,
Linda

Iron Sharpeneth Iron

I'd really like to thank those who made comments and sent emails after my last post. You guys are the best.

The mark of a true friend is one that will give you God's Word when you are down and will remind you of the promises of God when times get tough.

Proverbs 27:9, "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel."

Proverbs 27:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

Some good reads on the internet today:

You Have Not So Learned Christ! by Michael Boldea

UNLESS A SEED DIES IT REMAINS A SINGLE SEED by A. Brother

Blessings in Christ!
Linda