No fear, no worry, no doubt

"Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Many PL scriptures deal with the theme of no fear, no worry, no doubt.  Today, the Holy Spirit is telling me through the above scripture not to fear, worry or have any doubt that God is with me and for me.  In order to make this rhema work for me, I must not only hear and understand it but must act on it.  Faith without works is dead.  Inspiration without power is useless.  But God does not just offer faith or inspiration and leave the rest to us.  He gives both the will and the power to act.  I have the word implies that I have also the power to act on the word. 

Lord Jesus, I prayed for inspiration and power earlier this morning.  You answer me now through Isaiah 41: 10.  I believe that in giving me this word, you also give me the power to live this word today.  I am beginning to learn that I must act on your word to bring it alive.  Please help me to know how to act on this word today.  I now see that I should apply this word to the 7-War Zones, viz:

Health, family, money, job, tools, food and future.  Ok, I am getting the idea.  When negative thoughts on health, family, money, job, tools, food and future bombard me, I push back with your word of power to me:  "Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)  Lord, is this all that I should do?  What if I forget this sword of the spirit at the moment of attack?  Would you remind me?  I pray now in your name that you remind me.  I want to learn this important lesson.   You suggest that I memorize it?  Ok.  I will write it out on a piece of paper and put in my pocket.  Thank you Jesus.

Now is a very acceptable time

"For he says: “In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

This scripture is repeated several times during the Lenten Season.  It meant one thing to me.  There is an acceptable time for favors.  There may also be an unacceptable time for favors.  In the world, time is measured in Chronos, a succession of seconds, minutes, hours, weeks and years.  But in the Kingdom, time is measure in Kairos, that is, the fullness of time or the appointed time by God for a special event or favor. In the light of this, it is my experience that I receive the most spiritual favors during the Lenten Season.  I was healed of smoking addiction during Lent.  I took up a number of sound spiritual practices which I have continued now for over 15 years. 

Lent is always an acceptable to come to God for favors through prayers, fasting and good works.

Obedience of faith

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.”  (Deuteronomy 31:6) NIV

How do we live this truth?  If I assent to the truth that God goes with me and will not leave nor forsake me, then I can act strong and courageous.  Then I will refuse to be afraid of anybody or any circumstance.   Living faith shows itself through action.  Isaiah teaches that faith that is firm is also patient. (Isaiah 28:16)  Jean Pierre de Caussade writing in ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE writes:  “If our faith is strong we shall be confident that we lack nothing..”  He asserts the truth of Psalm 23:1 and Hebrews 13:5-6.

Obedience of faith means obeying and acting because we believe.  I am strong and courageous because I believe that God is with me and will not leave nor forsake me.

Wait

“While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father^* about which you have heard me speak; “for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.”  (Acts 1: 4 – 5)

The word “Wait” has become a key word in the Enterprise vocabulary.  At the onset of the Enterprise, I prayed that every day I may grow in patience.  It took some time to understand that waiting, patience, endurance, perseverance are synonymous.  Then one day, I heard the word which came as an answer to a blunt question to the Father.  To the question, “how long must I endure the present impasse?”  I heard one word in my spirit:  “Wait!”  The experience of this elocution was similar to the time when I heard the unforgettable words, “The only thing you need is the Holy Spirit.” 

I knew that the “Wait!” was an answer, a command and a rhema because later that day, I read this scripture:

"Why are you downcast, my soul; why do you groan within me? Wait for God, for I shall again praise him, my savior and my God" (Psalm 42: 6)

The object of the Wait in Acts 1: 4-5 is the Holy Spirit.  What is the object of the Wait in Psalm 42:6?

The Reason for the Enterprise

"The LORD said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will find blessing in you. Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." (Genesis 12: 1-4)

This scripture sits on top of the Enterprise movement.  It is the reason for the journey.  Once it was heard, understood and believed, it became the launching engine and pad for the Enterprise.  The scripture has been revisited again and again at critical juncture in the Enterprise to draw inspiration and purpose and to keep the movement on purpose and strategy. 

The Enterprise is a journey of faith.  It had a clear beginning but its end is tightly shrouded in mystery.  I walk by faith and not by sight.

"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5: 38-39)

Your Good Shepherd

"I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land. In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 34: 13 - 15)

As I reflect on the reason for including the above scripture as one of the PL scriptures, I recall Psalm 23:

"The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. II 5 You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days." (Psalm 23)

In both Ezekiel and Psalm 23, we see the strong role of the Shepherd.  Who is the Shepherd if not our Lord Jesus Christ?  He gathers His sheep; He heals them; He feeds them; He leads them to the place of rest.   Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your Good Shepherd?  Then rejoice in the certain knowledge that everything  promised in Ezekiel 34: 13 – 15 and Psalm 23 is yours.

The Family of God

"I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land. In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured on the mountains of Israel." (Ezekiel 34: 13-14)

To whom does this lofty prophecy refer to?  To Israel or the new Israel?  Blessed John Paul II referring to the People of Israel applies Romans 11: 29 to them:

"In respect to the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarchs.  For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." (Romans 11: 28 - 29)

The family of God will be one when the old and new Israel unites through the power of God.  But even then, this prophecy waits for its fulfillment in the Second Coming of Christ.

The Good Shepherd and The Lost Sheep

"I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land. In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD. The lost I will search out, the strays I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, and the sick I will heal; but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them in judgment" (Ezekiel 34: 13-16).

In the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus tells of how the Shepherd left 99 sheep and went in search of the Lost One.    I believe that Ezekiel 34: 13 – 16 extends this teaching.  Although the sheep was lost on account of its foolishness, the Good Shepherd spared nothing to find it and bring it back safely to the fold.  The Good Shepherd treats the Lost Sheep as the Father of the Prodigal Son treats his lost son.  God is deeply concerned with the lost and His deepest desire is the salvation of all.  O that we may have such sensitivity to the lost sheep.

Your Prayer

"I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and every inhabited place in the land. In good pastures I will pasture them; on the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down on good grazing ground; in rich pastures they will be pastured on the mountains of Israel. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest—oracle of the Lord GOD." (Ezekiel 34: 13 - 15)

As I reflect on the reason for including the above scripture as one of the PL scriptures, I recall Psalm 23:

"The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me; he restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. II 5 You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for endless days." (Psalm 23)

In both Ezekiel and Psalm 23, we see the strong role of the Shepherd.  Who is the Shepherd if not our Lord Jesus Christ?  He gathers His sheep; He heals them; He feeds them; He leads them to the place of rest.   Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your Good Shepherd?  Then rejoice in the certain knowledge that everything  promised in Ezekiel 34: 13 – 15 and Psalm 23 is yours.

The Reason for the Journey

"The LORD said to Abram: Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.  I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will find blessing in you. Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." (Genesis 12: 1-4)

This scripture sits on top of the Enterprise movement.  It is the reason for the journey.  Once it was heard, understood and believed, it became the launching engine and pad for the Enterprise.  The scripture has been revisited again and again at critical juncture in the Enterprise to draw inspiration and purpose and to keep the movement on purpose and strategy. 

The Enterprise is a journey of faith.  It had a clear beginning but its end is tightly shrouded in mystery.  I walk by faith and not by sight.

"So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5: 38-39)

Saul failed to keep the time

"He waited seven days, until the appointed time Samuel had set, but Samuel did not come, and the army deserted Saul. He then said, “Bring me the burnt offering and communion offerings!” Then he sacrificed the burnt offering. King Saul Reproved. As he finished sacrificing the burnt offering, there came Samuel! So Saul went out toward him in order to greet him. Samuel asked him, “What have you done?” Saul explained: “When I saw that the army was deserting me and you did not come on the appointed day, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, I said to myself, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not yet sought the LORD’s blessing.’ So I thought I should sacrifice the burnt offering.” Samuel replied to Saul: “You have acted foolishly! Had you kept the command the LORD your God gave you, the LORD would now establish your kingship in Israel forever; but now your kingship shall not endure. The LORD has sought out a man after his own heart* to appoint as ruler over his people because you did not observe what the LORD commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13: 8-14)

The title of this Blog, SAUL FAILED TO KEEP THE TIME appears ironic.  If you read 1 Samuel 13: 8 – 14, you would conclude that it was Samuel who failed to keep the time.  Samuel and Saul were operating in two different time frames.  Saul was looking at time as Chronos while Samuel was looking at time as Kairos.  Chronos time measures time in seconds, hours, days, years.  Kairos time is the time of grace, the fullness of time, the appointed time.  In a similar situation as Saul, David waited until word came (2 Samuel 15: 28)

A Message of Reconciliation

" And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5: 18 - 20).

This is a PL scripture that reminds me of the great work God did in me by reconciling me to Himself when I was lost.  Now that I have been reconciled to God, I have a mission to lead other people to experience the same joy of reconciliation with the Father of mercies and God of all consolations.

If the Enterprise is of human origin

“So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5: 38-39)

I heard of the above scripture for the first time in 9603.  I had gone to see SJPS to ask for his advice about the idea of the Enterprise.  He quoted the above scripture but misquoted the chapter and verse.  It took me a considerable time to discover the chapter and verse.  I was struck immediately by the truth of the scripture that it was never off my mind.  As I think of it, it gave me peace.  The Enterprise was not a matter of life and death struggle.  If God is with me in the project, it is accomplished.  If not, it will collapse.  If I live, I live; if I perish, I perish.  Now I celebrated the 15^th anniversary of the Enterprise on 1110.  What is my conclusion?  Surely this endeavor, this activity is not of human origin.  So?  No fear; No worry; No doubt.  Amen!

This land now and then

"The LORD appeared to Abram and said: To your descendants I will give this land. So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him" (Genesis 12: 7)

The land of Canaan promised to Abraham by God is a type and shadow of heaven.  Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is among you.”  It means that for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the Kingdom of God is something that is already here and now.  For the Kingdom of God means the complete reign of God in a person.  When this dominion takes place in a soul, the person experiences the gifts of the Holy Spirit of which the chief is peace or shalom.  The fullness of the Kingdom of God is something that is there and then. The Kingdom of God will come in the end when the elect will enjoy the eschatological Banquet of the Lamb.  “Blessed are those who are invited in the wedding of the Lamb.” 

A good and specious land

"Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them up from that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Hivites and the Jebusites." (Exodus 3: 8)

Exodus 3:8 is one of my PL scriptures.  Why?  The Enterprise is a type and shadow of the Exodus.  God saw my plight and came and rescued me from the power of the enemy.  The name of Jesus is Yeshua, which means Savior.  The name says what it is and it does what it says.  God’s plan for my life is an excellent plan (Jeremiah 29:11).  Not only did God rescue me from the enemy, but He leads me into a land that is good and spacious, flowing with milk and honey.  This land that is good and specious, flowing with milk and honey is the image of Heaven, our permanent residence.  Here on earth, the Promised Land is also the country of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites.  All these nationalities are types and shadows of people opposed to the kingdom of God.

Dwelling in tents

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God." (Hebrews 11: 8 - 10)

Why is this scripture one of the PL scriptures?  I was attracted by the fact that Abraham showed the obedience of faith when he left his native land for a foreign country not knowing what to expect.  The Enterprise is a journey of faith.  It is a journey where I pray every day that the joys and sorrows, the delays and disappointments will make for the growth of faith, patience, wisdom, humility, courage, peace and contentment.

Waiting for the Lord 2

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and I hope for his word. My soul looks for the Lord more than sentinels for daybreak. More than sentinels for daybreak," (Psalm 130: 5 - 6)

How long can we wait for the Lord to answer our prayer?  The scriptures below are very revealing.  In summary, they say that we wait until the Lord answers.

a.       Wait for the Lord (Psalm 27: 14; 37:34)

-          Wait patiently for him (Psalm 37: 7)

b.      I wait for you (Psalm 25: 21)

-          For you I wait all day (Psalm 25: 5);

c.       I wait for the Lord more than a watchman wait for the morning (Psalm 130: 5-6);

-          I wait for God my savior (Micah 7:7)

-          I wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 40: 1)

-          I wait in silence for God (Psalm 62: 1, 5)

-          We wait for you (Isaiah 26: 8, 33: 2)

d.      Those who wait for the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40: 31)

-          Those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (Psalm 37: 9)

-          Blessed are those who wait for him (Isaiah 30: 18)

-          May those who wait for you not be ashamed through me (Psalm 69:6)

-          This is our God for whom we have waited (Isaiah 25:9)

-          The Lord is good to those who wait for him (Lamentation 3: 25)

e.      Be like men waiting for their Master (Luke 12: 36)

f.        Saul was told to wait 7 days for Samuel (1 Samuel 10: 8; 13:8)

g.       David will wait until word came (2 Samuel 15; 28)

(Roget’s Thesaurus of the Bible)

"But you, prepare yourself; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Do not be terrified on account of them, or I will terrify you before them; For I am the one who today makes you a fortified city, A pillar of iron, a wall of bronze, against the whole land: Against Judah’s kings and princes, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you—oracle of the LORD" (Jeremiah 1: 17 - 19).

The mission laid out for Jeremiah and the manner of its accomplishment reminds me of that of Ezekiel which is reproduced below:

"The voice said to me: Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak to you. As he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD. And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them. But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious." Ezekiel 2: 1-7)

The message in Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 is very clear.  God is sending His envoy to a very challenging mission.  The target audience has a terrible reputation.  Not only are they very rebellious and obstinate, they are notorious for intimidating and treating badly any ambassador sent to them.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed.  The word of God reveals our true identity to us.  It also reveals our mission.  With a tough mission comes a solid assurance of protection from the Almighty.  “Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious."  With this type of assurance, I too count myself ready to go.

There is no ambiguity in the message.  I remember now the mission of Mary as communicated to her by the Prophet Simeon.   I paraphrase it thus:  Your Son will be a sign of contradiction.  His life and mission will be the cause of the rise and fall of many in Israel.  You will be intimately involved in this titanic battle.  A sword will pierce through your heart but you will survive the mortal blow. 

Why are Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 and Jeremiah 1: 17 – 19 part of the PL scriptures?  Each time I read or hear them, I take particular notice.  The mirror is an image of the word of God.  What do I see when I look into the mirror of Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 and Jeremiah 1: 17 – 19?  I wonder whether there is a message for me here.

The Envoy and the Mission

"The voice said to me: Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak to you. As he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD. And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them. But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious." Ezekiel 2: 1-7)

The message in Ezekiel 2: 1 – 7 is very clear.  God is sending His envoy to a very challenging mission.  The target audience has a terrible reputation.  Not only are they very rebellious and obstinate, they are notorious for intimidating and treating badly any ambassador sent to them.  To be forewarned is to be forearmed.  The word of God reveals our true identity to us.  It also reveals our mission.  With a tough mission comes a solid assurance of protection from the Almighty.  “Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious."  With this type of assurance, I too count myself ready to go.

Promise of full protection

"See, I have created the smith who blows on the burning coals and forges weapons as his work; It is I also who have created the destroyer to work havoc.  Every weapon fashioned against you shall fail; every tongue that brings you to trial you shall prove false. This is the lot of the servants of the LORD, their vindication from me—oracle of the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 16 - 17)

Two of my precious images of the Word of God are light and mirror.  Light to guide my path and mirror to help me adjust my moral compass.  What does the above PL scripture say to me?  Isaiah 54: 16 throws light on God’s employment plan.  Every job, every profession is designed by God to help complete the creation of the universe.   All things serve God. (Psalm 119: 91).  In the light of this, I look up to my Creator and ask:  What is my place and purpose on earth?

Isaiah 54: 17 makes a fabulous promise:  I am guaranteed full protection in every assault of evil forces, called here the DESTROYER.  The DESTROYER could be demons, destructive forces of nature like hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wars, etc.  The length and breadth of the Bible makes it clear that the children of God are in a permanent spiritual warfare on earth.   What a joy to realize that we already know the final outcome.