Many times we become blindsided. We are caught without warning. We've been exposed to the unexpected ugliness of humanity which we did not care to see. We have uncertainty, doubts and fears. Many times we have wavered and slowed down and come to a standstill. We have looked around in uncertainty and wondered if we made the right choice, if we should continue on this course.
But this is not a physical warfare. This is spiritual warfare and we shall NOT allow the enemy to destroy what God has given to us! Regardless if the brethren are involved, we need to recognize that they are not the enemy. We need to locate the real enemy, our common enemy, and direct our fire power in that direction. Most importantly we need to refocus our attention on the God of our salvation and lift up our eyes to Him from whom our help comes
Luke 15:11-23 KJV And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
REFOCUSING OUR MINDS!
If there were any person who was horribly blindsided it was Daniel and his three friends. Young teenagers ripped from all that they held dear and all that was familiar they were thrust rudely and violently into a nightmare of idolatry, sorcery, debauchery and deception. How could they survive? What could they do to cope? Here the words of their stand as recorded in the Holy Scriptures: But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel 1:8 KJV
So often we get caught up in the policies of the enemy who very subtly pulls the wool over our eyes, and only allow us to see that which he wants us to see. We then think that this is what we want and are irresistibly drawn to the wrong object, person, ideology or philosophy. We need to look into the Word and see clearly what God says. The popular trend of the day is most of the time not what God wills. It may be easy to fall in with the crowd and float along with the tides of popular opinion. Men and women of God will however consider the Words of God and base their decisions on such! It is very easy to sell one’s soul for a bowl of soup when hunger is staring you in the face. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12:14-17 KJV
Luke 15:17-23 KJV 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
REFOCUSING OUR SIGHT!
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, 2 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. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebrews 12:1-3 KJV
The Greek word for looking is only found here in the Bible. It means not just a looking to, but a turning away from, every other object and item of attraction, distraction and obstruction.
Hear the Word concerning Moses: By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:24-27 KJV
Moses made a deliberate decision based on what he saw. He saw beyond the natural. He saw beyond the present. He saw beyond the earthly. He balanced them against with the reproaches of Christ, made his choice and never turned back!
REFOCUSING OUR STEPS!
Many times we have wavered and slowed down and come to a standstill. We have looked around in uncertainty and wondered if we made the right choice, if we should continue on this course. Paul gives us his mindset and determination in the following words:
Philippians 3:7-16 KJV But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 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. 13 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, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Luke 15:20-21 KJV
So Jesus comes to me smiles and says, "Come meet my Father!"
I say, "I cannot. He will reject me because of my sin(s). I cannot come into His presence of holiness as I am"
He smiles again and says, “No, He will not, He will accept you, if you follow me and come through the Way I lead you!"
So I believe Him and trust Him as I follow Him in wonder and amazement through a pathway of Blood...a door that only He knows, that only He could have made, a private access, strait and narrow, exclusively trodden by those who trust and believe Him. I am awed as I stand in the Father's presence, as the Father reaches out in delight to me, greeting me, “My child! Welcome! And then I become aware that I am clothed in a magnificent robe of Divine Royalty, Holiness White made so by the Red Blood of the Divine Pathway I just trod. I am aware of a clean, freshness I never had before...and it happened because of the Blood of Christ!
The Kinsman-Redeemer has stood by me and drew me to Himself. As his brother and child He brought me to the Father, His Father and now my Father through the shedding of His Blood. The symphony of heavenly love plays out through the life of Christ which is endless with no beginning and no ending...so His life is the Eternal Symphony played in the redeemed lives of the believers. It flows and gurgles in delighted splendor washing away all evil and dirtiness leaving a set of people who forever sings His praises. Loves splashes from Calvary sealing the Covenant. Each drop is presented before the throne of the Father who delights in them because of His Son, sealed with His kiss of sacrificial love
