The Holy One calls to me this morning. There is the usual stillness, the smell of coffee brewing, and the sounds of the forest dwellers winding down their nightly symphony at first light.
I woke up with a visual of the Lord's team taking the Gospel through the last leg of it's journey back to Jerusalem where it began so long ago. That most dangerous and difficult place is known as the 10/40 window of latitude and longitude. I am not well versed in the knowledge of all that is going on in that geographical area only that it is part of the final leg of a global race to take the Gospel to all nations.
Those who have been given the commission and consider it their privilege to carry the baton of the Gospel through that dangerous place are willing to die if that will advance God's message to the lost in the land.
We sit in comfortable chairs and refuse to go across the street for the lost and here are those enduring such incredible suffering and even death to see the message of Christ's salvation given to all mankind.
Just when the sense of guilt and condemnation is about to break through this Holy moment of communion with the Lord, He speaks, "Live out your calling and do not feel guilty or condemned or attempt to compare the assignment I have given you to the one I have given to another".
A sense of relief flows and with that comes prayers of intercession for my brothers and sisters on the front lines of this kingdom battle that we are all called to participate in so long as our feet are on planet earth.
Ephesians 6:10-18 is a written description of the nature of the kingdom battle we are in on earth. The image of the real enemies of our kingdom and our King are found here and described as "rulers, powers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".
Testimonies abound out of 3rd world countries where the battle is fierce and yet progress is being made. I have a deep understanding that somehow the prayers of the saints here are being used to empower the saints there.
We all have a part to play and none is more or less strategic or important to the mission: that the whole world will be able to know and see the Glory of the Creator as the truth of His love is shared life to life, nation by nation.
My mind is tracking on the unity of the Trinity, and how their fellowship is the model for the Church. I am beginning to grasp a sense of that Divine and Holy unity where each One is separate but equal; there is no competition, no jealousy but just a deep love and respect for each other as they seek to bring glory to one another. The Son came to bring glory to the Father, The Spirit came to glorify the Son. The Father sends answers to the petitions that glorify the Son and magnify His Holiness. Each seeks to glorify the others and we are given the privilege to glorify all three.
As I process the magnitude of the truth that the Holy One just compressed into a few words of His gentle wisdom to my mind, the subject switches back to the battle and Eph. 6:12 NIV, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
I am so aware that we are all caught up in this kingdom battle whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not. Ephesians 6 not only tells us how to fight in this battle and the armor that we need but also confirms who the real enemy is and conveys the truth that no one is exempt from the war that has been declared against man.
Since the real war takes place in the unseen realm, we cannot do effective battle in the natural realm. against a spiritual force of evil. Since God is Spirit and in His very being, good and perfect, we must accept that what we see as wickedness truly is a spiritual force of evil coming against us in different forms of attacks.
So many questions come to mind that I would love to have answered. Sometimes the Holy Spirit shares them and gives revelation like a flood light. Thinking about the saints in the 10/40 window, I wonder why the battle is so fierce the closer they get to the goal?
The progression of the Gospel around the world has been steady for all generations of those who answered the call to take it to the nations. There has always been opposition and always been resistance to its advance. But these days, the brutality and martyrdom of the chosen in other countries has exceeded previous numbers throughout history and I silently wonder why?
The Holy One gives His answer, "The days of the demons are coming to a close. They will be cast into the lake of fire; a final judgement they cannot escape. Once the Gospel has circled the globe , the demon's days are over. The end of man's days on earth mark the final end of theirs for all eternity".
For humanity, the Gospel will be preached in all nations and then the end will come . The dark lords know truth better than many humans. But they also know God. Unlike humans they have no hope for redemption and await the final act of Holiness that will send them to their doom.
The closer we get to that day,the more we must engage in the spiritual battle to overcome the darkness. The Church of the living God is called to be a warring church. Jesus came to earth the first time as the suffering Messiah, but provided the blue print and marching orders for His Church. His return will be a powerful act of invasion as a warrior King. If we miss that aspect of our calling, we will be impotent and neutralized even as a servant of Christ.
Being aware of the truth about the unseen realm of life here, gives us what we need to know about wielding the Sword of Christ and the authority that goes with it. Standing firm and in tight relationship with our Lord who is the Captain of the Heavenly Hosts, is what we must do, as the demons play out their last act of unbridled hatred against the Creator and His Beloved human family.
As the return of our King is imminent, the days of the demons are rapidly coming to an end. My job is to get into my armor, press on in my assignment and stand firm in that truth.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
I woke up with a visual of the Lord's team taking the Gospel through the last leg of it's journey back to Jerusalem where it began so long ago. That most dangerous and difficult place is known as the 10/40 window of latitude and longitude. I am not well versed in the knowledge of all that is going on in that geographical area only that it is part of the final leg of a global race to take the Gospel to all nations.
Those who have been given the commission and consider it their privilege to carry the baton of the Gospel through that dangerous place are willing to die if that will advance God's message to the lost in the land.
We sit in comfortable chairs and refuse to go across the street for the lost and here are those enduring such incredible suffering and even death to see the message of Christ's salvation given to all mankind.
Just when the sense of guilt and condemnation is about to break through this Holy moment of communion with the Lord, He speaks, "Live out your calling and do not feel guilty or condemned or attempt to compare the assignment I have given you to the one I have given to another".
A sense of relief flows and with that comes prayers of intercession for my brothers and sisters on the front lines of this kingdom battle that we are all called to participate in so long as our feet are on planet earth.
Ephesians 6:10-18 is a written description of the nature of the kingdom battle we are in on earth. The image of the real enemies of our kingdom and our King are found here and described as "rulers, powers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".
Testimonies abound out of 3rd world countries where the battle is fierce and yet progress is being made. I have a deep understanding that somehow the prayers of the saints here are being used to empower the saints there.
We all have a part to play and none is more or less strategic or important to the mission: that the whole world will be able to know and see the Glory of the Creator as the truth of His love is shared life to life, nation by nation.
My mind is tracking on the unity of the Trinity, and how their fellowship is the model for the Church. I am beginning to grasp a sense of that Divine and Holy unity where each One is separate but equal; there is no competition, no jealousy but just a deep love and respect for each other as they seek to bring glory to one another. The Son came to bring glory to the Father, The Spirit came to glorify the Son. The Father sends answers to the petitions that glorify the Son and magnify His Holiness. Each seeks to glorify the others and we are given the privilege to glorify all three.
As I process the magnitude of the truth that the Holy One just compressed into a few words of His gentle wisdom to my mind, the subject switches back to the battle and Eph. 6:12 NIV, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
I am so aware that we are all caught up in this kingdom battle whether we know it or not and whether we like it or not. Ephesians 6 not only tells us how to fight in this battle and the armor that we need but also confirms who the real enemy is and conveys the truth that no one is exempt from the war that has been declared against man.
Since the real war takes place in the unseen realm, we cannot do effective battle in the natural realm. against a spiritual force of evil. Since God is Spirit and in His very being, good and perfect, we must accept that what we see as wickedness truly is a spiritual force of evil coming against us in different forms of attacks.
So many questions come to mind that I would love to have answered. Sometimes the Holy Spirit shares them and gives revelation like a flood light. Thinking about the saints in the 10/40 window, I wonder why the battle is so fierce the closer they get to the goal?
The progression of the Gospel around the world has been steady for all generations of those who answered the call to take it to the nations. There has always been opposition and always been resistance to its advance. But these days, the brutality and martyrdom of the chosen in other countries has exceeded previous numbers throughout history and I silently wonder why?
The Holy One gives His answer, "The days of the demons are coming to a close. They will be cast into the lake of fire; a final judgement they cannot escape. Once the Gospel has circled the globe , the demon's days are over. The end of man's days on earth mark the final end of theirs for all eternity".
For humanity, the Gospel will be preached in all nations and then the end will come . The dark lords know truth better than many humans. But they also know God. Unlike humans they have no hope for redemption and await the final act of Holiness that will send them to their doom.
The closer we get to that day,the more we must engage in the spiritual battle to overcome the darkness. The Church of the living God is called to be a warring church. Jesus came to earth the first time as the suffering Messiah, but provided the blue print and marching orders for His Church. His return will be a powerful act of invasion as a warrior King. If we miss that aspect of our calling, we will be impotent and neutralized even as a servant of Christ.
Being aware of the truth about the unseen realm of life here, gives us what we need to know about wielding the Sword of Christ and the authority that goes with it. Standing firm and in tight relationship with our Lord who is the Captain of the Heavenly Hosts, is what we must do, as the demons play out their last act of unbridled hatred against the Creator and His Beloved human family.
As the return of our King is imminent, the days of the demons are rapidly coming to an end. My job is to get into my armor, press on in my assignment and stand firm in that truth.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
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