The Enemy’s Weapon of Recollection

The devil is a cunning foe, full of deception, knowledge, and the weapon of recollection. For the born again saint of God saved from sin, the devil often brings to their recollection their past failures and shortcomings. He brings guilt, condemnation, and a weight of shame and discouragement. He points out your unworthiness in an attempt to keep you out of God’s presence where you find the truth and forgiveness.

However, the devil is too cleaver to use only this one side of the weapon of recollection. There is an other edge to it, it cuts two ways and the second is a little more sneaky. It prays on the seasoned saint who has just come out of great victory and being weary, desires to rest and take it easy. In this state, the enemy comes in with the weapon of recollection and reminds the saint, not of their past sins, but their past wins! He encourages them to stop moving forward, to just sit and rest, to believe that they’ve already made it to the pinnacle of the destiny that God has for them! He reminds them of all they’ve done, tells them that it’s enough, no need to seek the King for more wearying instructions. The tactic is the opposite from the first but the outcome is the same. The saint stops coming boldly before the thrown of grace.

The most dangerous place for the seasoned battle warn believer is right after a great victory. You are weary, you are relieved, and you are arrogant and easy to deceive. God does reward His faithful servants, there is rest for the weary, strength for the weak, grace for the humble, provision for those in need, but those things are meant to equip you and get you to the next fight. As long as your alive, don’t ever let the devil make you think that you’ve arrived and should just coast on to glory or you’ll start to backslide and end up loosing your reward in eternity.

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

You’re still here, there is still work to be don’t for the kingdom, there are still lessons to be learned and blessings to be earned. There is still a mountain to climb, a destiny to be realized. If you stop growing you will start dying. So when things go wrong don’t be ever reminded of it and quit! Repent and get back into the fight. But likewise, even when things go right, don’t believe the lie that that’s it and stop pressing forward to greater glory. Yesterday’s revivals won’t save tomorrow’s sinners. If you’re not in heaven then your not finished, you haven’t arrived at your destination, get back in the fight and run this race to the finish if you really want to win it.

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” – Philippians 3:10-15

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” – Matthew 24:13

Keep Learning

Keep reaching deeper into God’s word and presence in the place of prayer and seeking like the roots of a mighty tree planted by the water. Don’t settle for yesterday’s Manna or easily polluted surface waters. Keep digging, keep drawing, keep growing.

The learner is ever equipped for what’s to come, while the learned is only equipped for a world that no longer exists. So don’t stop. Keep pursuing the teacher, keep going deeper. God’s looking for followers, not more self proclaimed leaders repeating yesteryears sermons. He wants the seekers, who by faith wait to hear what He has to say, then obey no matter what.

To know that God’s wisdom is greater then yours is the first step toward walking in a wisdom that is not of this world, that the logic of man or the grandeur of organizations cannot understand, and that the gates of Hell itself can’t stand against. So don’t be deceived by the pride of knowledge like Adam and Eve in the garden. Seek the one who is the truth, the way, and the life and in every ever-changing situation you will have all that you need, because all that you need will be right by your side. The sure truth, showing you the right way, to abundant and eternal life. So never stop praying, never stop seeking, never stop following His every leading, never stop digging, never stop learning, because when a tree stops growing, it starts dying.

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:5-8

The Many and the Few

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:18-20

I often hear church goers boasting with great pride that they are called by God, perhaps to preach, perhaps to lead, perhaps to the nations, or some other great thing? To which I must reply, “Do you think that makes you special? My friend, everyone is, it’s the great commission and we’ve all been given it.” However few ever truly fulfill it, because while many are called, few are chosen

You want the grandeur of being called to the nations but are you speaking to your Neighbor? You want to be given a mighty congregation but are you neglecting the Nineveh next door, the Ghetto down the street, the hospital, the orphan, the widow in need? Because the few who are doing these small, unseen, un-glorious things are the ones He’s going to trust to send in His Name. Why would He send you to the nations if you won’t be sent to the next city when He calls? He who is faithful in the small things, He will make ruler over much. Prove yourself faithful in Jerusalem, and then He will send you into all the world.

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:11-14

In this parable that Jesus spoke, everyone was invite and had equal opportunity in accessing the marriage super. They where all called to come in and participate! Yet because this man did not put on the wedding garment, which the book of revelations tells us is “robes of righteousness” (Rev. 19:7-8), he was not chosen and was cast out. Jesus is coming, the marriage super of the Lamb is being prepared, seek the Lord while He May be found, not titles, stages, prestige, applause, or fame. Seek humility and obedience, seek the fruits of the spirit, seek righteousness.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33

“For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” – Hebrews 12:10-14

Most today seek physical blessings from God, but Paul said to seek the correction of God that it might produce the fruits of righteousness in you unto eternal blessing. For without it you will have no part in the Kingdom.

Paul also states in this passage, that seeking to please God through receiving His correction and Fatherly direction will cause your feet to stay to the straight path. Which brings us full circle back to the many and the few, the called vrs the chosen, the rejected and the righteous! For Jesus makes it very clear exactly who the many and the few are.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matthew 7:13-15

The many that were called are the same many that stayed on the wide and easy road, while the few that are chosen are the same few who decided to crucify the flesh with it’s selfish desires, pick up their cross and follow after Jesus down the straight and narrow path of righteousness. To be led by His Spirit is to be led by His righteousness, into righteousness. Laying aside foolish lust, vain babbling, and doing what He says is right. To pick up your cross and follow after Him is to do what He did and say, “Father not my will, but Your will be done.” The few that truly do this will follow Him into eternal life, while the many that don’t are only deceiving themselves into believing they are ok while all the while they are on the broadway, marching headlong toward hell.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” – James 1:22

As Jesus continues in His warning to the many on the wide and easy road, we see something that should shake us all. While the few chose to pick up their cross and follow Jesus down the straight and narrow, the many on the wide road have followed false teachers, false prophets, and false preachers; the wolves in sheep’s clothing. The ones that sold them a lie of ease and prosperity, that they could walk a road of unrighteousness and still be walking toward heaven. They flattered and fluffed their pride and their lust and led them to their church but not to Jesus. They did not help them by telling them to crucify their will so that God’s will, through them, might be fulfilled. They said, “just profess that He is Lord and do no more!” But they didn’t not correct them or exhort them to be subject to Him, as Lord! So that when they stand before Him at the end they will be astounded at what He will say to them.

They thought they were saved, but they were not, because that they had never given their life away that Christ might live through them. They did their own will, and not the will of the Jesus. They professed Him with their lips, but their hearts and their obedience was far from Him. They did not follow Him. They did not walk in righteousness. What a sad and dreadful place to find yourself in, at the end of this wide path walked by the masses.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” – Matthew 7:21-24

My friend, Jesus made a way of escape and it comes by faith, but true faith in who He is will cause you to seek Him for that way and not simply trust what your lust or what others have to say. Pray, ask Him today to show you the way. It won’t be the easy one, but it will be the right one. Seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened unto you and He will come in and commune with you and lead you into all truth, but then the real test begins, because true faith in what He says in the place of seeking will cause you to trust Him unto obedience and just like Abraham, it will be counted unto you for righteousness. Learn today to follow His leading even when it’s not flesh pleasing. So few truly do. The few among the many.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6

“…Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” – Matthew 22:14

Speak

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:” – Acts 2:16-18

When the Holy Spirit of God was released through the shed blood of Jesus, it was made abundantly clear that it was for everyone. Male, female, young, old, rich, poor, God’s Spirit was released to all flesh to empower everyone to speak the good news of Jesus!

In fact Acts 1:8 tells us that the reason the Holy Spirit was given was to make us a witness. That we, being the new temple, might carry His words and His presence out to others, when before they had to come to it in the temple in Jerusalem.

When the Holy Spirit fell on the first 120 in the upper room, it fell upon men and women alike, of all ages and class and they all began to speak God’s words. Not of themselves, but by the power and leading of His Spirit!

That same Spirit is available to us today and the same commission for which it was given so that there is no excuse or exception, but all who truly have Him living in them, will freely tell others about Him. It’s the reason the Holy Spirit was given and He drives you to do so just as He did to Jeremiah who said,

“I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not endure it.” – Jeremiah 20:9

To the true God fearing, Holy Spirit filled, Jesus loving servant of God, there is no ceasing from preaching the gospel. No mater age, gender, or class in society. All may not be pastors, but all will preach for Jesus said,

“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” – Luke 9:26

In fact, being willing to preach (which means to proclaim) the gospel of Jesus Christ is not only available to all believers, it is required of all believers!

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” – Romans 10:10-11

Whosoever, believes shall receive the promise of the Holy Ghost and shall not be ashamed of the gospel that it came to empower us all to proclaim! Let every person who believes, young and old, rich or poor, male or female, profess the Name of Jesus and go out speaking whatsoever He tells us! For He has promised to be with us and in us and manifest Himself through us to those around us. If we truly believe, we will follow His Spirit’s lead, being be His hands and feet, and also His mouth piece. So don’t neglect to speak.

“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:18-20

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” – Acts 2:38-39

It’s a War, Be Sober

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8

For several years now, we have had a very clever opossum stealing eggs from our hen house. He has avoided every snare and trap that we have set for him, until today. What was different about today? Today he got drunk under the pear tree on rotten fruit and in it’s lack of sobriety and vigilance, it’s enemy (my husband) was finally able to overcome him.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” – Proverbs 20:1

Real Christians have a real foe. Real soldiers fight a real war. The devil is real and he is out to steal, kill, and destroy. Not being vigilant of this, and sober minded that you might make wise decisions, is the height of ignorance and will lead to your being over taken by him in a moment of weakness . It’s not worth the risk.

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” – 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Not being sober minded (which includes the use of any intoxicating substance. Alcohol, drugs, some medications, and I would dare even include the addicting mind numbing distractions of some forms of modern media which science now tells us effects the brain in the same way as many street drugs do, creating dependencies and apathies) does not only put you at risk of falling pray to the snares of the enemies, but it also allows the enemy to much more easily use you against those around you.

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” – Proverbs 31:4-5

“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.” – Isaiah 28:7

“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;” – Leviticus 10:8-10

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” – Revelation 1:5-6

“It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” – Romans 14:21

For the real Christian fighting a real fight against a real foe, there is no room for childishness, for a lack of vigilance, for selfish indulgences that put you, your purpose, or those around you at risk. There comes a time when God ask all of us this, “are you willing to laid down your will and your wants, pick up your cross, and follow after Me?” Because despite popular belief and mistranslated words, Jesus never drank wine, nor condoned it. There was never a man who needed to be more vigilant then Him. He was a Rabbi and the consumption of Intoxicating substances such as Alcohol were strictly forbidden by both God and the culture and Jesus, being without sin abided by all the laws of God, being sure to fulfill them. So it’s time for the church to stop making excuses for their indulgences. It’s time to put down the bottle and pick up the sword, because if you try to wield both, someone will get hurt. And I assure you that it will be you and those nearest to you, while the enemy stands back and laughs at you as you do, then finally steps in to overtake you. It’s time to grow up and get in the fight, to lay down our life, to do what’s right. It’s time to really believe and leave the things of Egypt behind.

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:11

“Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:10

“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:21

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – 1 Peter 5:8

Get Rid of Plan B

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2

God has a plan for each life. A destiny that He has prepared them for from the foundations of the world. A purpose in this earth and a positioning for placement in eternity. Yet many do not walk the narrow path that God has laid out for them and miss the fullness of what they were predestined to be. They forget their inheritance, their destiny, for a plan B. Something easy, a broad path, the enemies plan wrapped up in the desires of the flesh, the wisdom of man, pleasure, leisure, ease, grandeur, entertainment, or entitlement. An other way, anyway but the narrow way. The one straight path that God has laid.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matthew 7:13-15

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he did not tempt Him to give up His Destiny completely, he simply tempted Him to achieve it by some other means. To choose a different path then the one that would take Him through Gethsemane, to choose a “plan B”. Something easy and flesh pleasing.

In this way does the devil tempt all men to be their own king. To trust in their feelings, their own wisdom and leadings, because these are so easy for him to influence. God’s plan is unchanging. He speaks forth His promises and by faith we must march towards them down the narrow path of obedience. We seek and He speaks and we follow His lead. The moment we cease to abide in that place of prayer, communion, and following, we will began to take steps led by our lust, desires, and feelings rather then by His voice and wisdom, and we will get off track. We will walk right off of the narrow path of righteousness and back into the depths of the wilderness. Many will even convince themselves that it is a good place to settle, having either lost faith for greater in the promised land, just across the Jordan, or having lost faith in God’s willingness to give it to them. Cling to God’s promises and not to your emotions or weariness. His words are unchanging like a rock, while your emotions are ever shifting like the sand. On which ground would you prefer to stand?

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen…” – 2 Corinthians 1:20

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” – James 1:6-8

“He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” – Romans 4:20-22

We must come back to that place of absolute faith, a place of total submission, of seeking and listening, and of desiring His daily leading. A place of fearing to miss a single command or word spoken in humble oblation to the wisdom and perfection of the plans that He has made. We must desire to do it His way, the perfect way, the only way that it will truly work. Any other way is the broad way and it will only lead to destruction in the end.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” – Proverbs 14:12

Plan B is nothing short of an abortion of Destiny. Get rid of your plan B before it cost you everything that God desires to bring forth through you. Choose God’s plan and all that He has ordained for you to walk in! The one you were created for from the beginning. Choose life, choose faith, choose the narrow way, choose to seek God’s face everyday and submit to His will and wisdom even if it brings you through a Gethsemane and a Mount Calvary before you see the blessings. He sees the unseen, He knows what He is doing. Lean not on your own understanding but in everything, determine that His way is perfect and follow His leading. Allow Him to direct your path and He will lead you into a Destiny that bares weight in eternity. Start today by doing away with all your plan B’s and set your face to seek the King in faith for a better way. There is a great Destiny that lays in wait in the unseen for those who dare to believe and step out of the mundane, the plain, and the easy onto the straight and narrow to follow after Jesus.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” – Proverbs 3:5-7

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 7:21

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:” – Matthew 7:24-28

Ask for Joy

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

Are you weary in well doing? Are you in need of strength? Have you prayed for Joy lately? The Bible tells us that God desires us to be fruitful and gives us the fruits of His Spirit. These are the characters that He desires to cultivate in us as an evidence that we are being led by His Holy Spirit. Some are obvious and we pray for them often. Patience, love, meekness, kindness, but how often to we pray for joy?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23

Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit and it is part of the character of Jesus. Now joy is not fleeting like happiness, it’s not a fleshly emotion, it’s a state of being that comes when we get a revelation of the faithfulness of our King. In that does the joy of the Lord become our strength! It makes us enduring in personal trials and it makes us encouraging to others in corporate ones. It is a wellspring of life that drives us forward in faith and helps to strength others who are about to break and loose faith.

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2

Joy comes by one way, by enduring the impossible situations and seeing the impossibly faithful salvation of our God as He comes through for us. It shows us His nearness, His faithfulness, His kindness, and His love. It builds a place of trust in us and in that place there is great joy, which brings us strength, endurance, resolve, peace, and makes us a wellspring of life for those in need.

“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” – Psalms 28:7

Foolish Labor, Weary Saints, and Misplaced Faith

“The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.” – Ecclesiastes 10:15

The word translated into “city” in this verse, in the original text was “‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar”. This word was used for any guarded place like a city, a court yard, or even for the One in charge who resides within that guarded place such as the King. Since the next two verses after it deal with identifying the kind of King that you can trust, then “the King” is most likely what was really meant by “‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar” in this verse.

Having that basis of understanding it makes the passage plain and simple. Unless we humble ourselves in prayer and supplication, inter in to the courts of heaven (of which Jesus gave all to give us access), and seek the council of the King, then we are wasting our laboring. Our own wisdom will fail us, our own plotting will avail nothing, our own labor will be in vain and weary those who are under our command. We will waste energy, time, resources, and lives trusting in the wisdom of man and the manipulation of demons who convince us that it was our plan, when in most (if not all) cases it was there’s from the beginning.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” – Ephesians 5:15-17

Instead, take time to seek the King who knows the end of all things and can rightly guide you around all the snares of the enemy and march you straight forward into destiny. No wasted time going in circles in the wilderness. No laboring in vain trying to achieve spiritual things with physical means. No leading others into weariness following a leader that has not sought an audience with Omnipotence! No limiting the results by trusting in your own logic or strength to achieve what is needed! Instead understand that the resources of heaven are given into your hands when you humble yourself enough to determine that you need them and come to the King to ask for them!

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” – Philippians 4:6

Nothing is too hard for Our King! Nothing is beyond our asking. Therefor, nothing is impossible for those who believe. Today determine to inter into His gates with thanksgiving in your heart and into His courts (‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar) with praise! Let your partitions be made with faith and expectation. Then bend the knee and wait patiently for instruction from the King who lives and breathes and offers His great wisdom to the lowliest of humans like you and me who dare to believe Him, to revere Him, to draw bear unto Him, and to hear Him. This is most pleasing to Him and He counts it as wisdom.

“Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?” – Habakkuk 2:13

“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” – Psalms 127:1

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6

“The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city (court, King).” – Ecclesiastes 10:15

Rejoice in the Lord, Always!

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” – Psalms 34:1-4

We praise Him in the storm because we know He’s in control. We thank Him on the shore because we know He steered the boat. We rejoice with Him on the mountain cause we know He’s blessing us. We love Him in the valley where He’s teaching us to trust. He is good in all His ways, He is faithful evermore. He is wise, and just, and strong, and true. He is my risen Lord!

God is worthy to be praised in every situation. His wisdom is to be esteemed and His love to be trusted. When one is fully persuaded of who God is, that He is God, that nothing is too hard for Him, that He is good and cares for His dear children, that He is faithful and fulfills all of His promises, then they will be able to thank in faith and praise in every situation.

In this does a true revelation of His great and perfect love cast out all fear. For if He is for us, what can stand against us and prosper? What shall be impossible? What will He withhold from us that is truly good for us? When we learn to trust in who He really is. That He is love and He is faithful to the end, and what He has spoken He is able to achieve it. Keep believing, keep praying, keep pursuing, keep praising. He knows what He is doing, so trust Him and love on Him daily in the waiting, and the journey will become just as beautiful as the destination.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4

“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” – Psalms 34:7-8

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” – Psalms 91:1-2

Envying the Anointing

“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” – James 3:14-16

Competition comes from a lack of time in prayer and in the word because that’s where your identity, your calling, commission, and position is given and if you don’t spend time there to get it you’ll start to look for it in other people which will make you competitive, envious, and jealous, and eventually you’ll just try to steal it.

You’ll hunt down and hurt people who could have helped you because you want their anointing instead of seeking God for your own place in the body. We saw it happen to Saul and to the Pharisees.

Saul hunted David and the Pharisees hunted Jesus, in both cases out of envy. Don’t look for your place in the kingdom in other people’s callings. And when they find their’s don’t try to steal it from them or dethrone them out of jealousy or competition. Seek God until you find your rightful position and you’ll see that the one you once envied is likely the one that was meant to help you achieve it. So clever is the enemy of the anointed.

Still the problem always starts with a lack of time with Jesus. He stands at the door and knocks, it’s up to you to open it, but if you choose not too, don’t then become jealous of the one who did. It is a pearl of great price and it will be claimed by the one that values it. Sometimes when God wants to give out diamonds, He asks who is willing to come help Him clean up coals. So cleaver is our God in choosing His anointed.

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” – 1 Corinthians 1:24-29