Amanuensis

2 Corinthians 4:1-6 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us (Paul and his co-workers) this new way, we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this. If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 

This is your mission. This is your battle in a dark world. You are surrounded by the blind and the deaf. So many who can not or will not recognize, acknowledge who I am. Yet you have been given the gift of understanding. You have been chosen to know Me, to have relationship with Me, to spread the good news about Me. There are many reasons why people do not or can not acknowledge Me. None of that matters. It does not matter whether they have been lied to from birth. It does not matter whether they have been taken captive by fear. It does not matter if they once knew Me and decided to walk away. It does not even matter if they consciously, rebelliously choose to flagrantly sin against Me. None of that matters, that is Mine to know and deal with. Here is what matters: You know Truth. You know Me. And you have been chosen to spread that knowledge with the world in which you find yourself. Be the Light I have placed within you in an ever-darkening world. Be the Truth in the lies that surround you. Be bold. Be honest. Be courageous. Be Mine. Stand firm. Look to Me, only to Me. Do not allow your enemy any egress into your mind, heart or soul. Bathe yourself in My Word daily. Pray without ceasing. Sing songs of praise and worship. Talk to me all day long. Place your mind and heart and soul into my care when you go to sleep at night. I am with you. I will protect you. And when it is time, I will bring you Home to be with Me. In the meantime, you have a job to do. Focus, dedicate yourself, leave the details to Me. I do love you, Child. Remember that at all times and in all circumstances. It has only really just begun to heat up. Hang on. 

2 Corinthians 2:14-17  But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a live giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us. 

And so you, My children. You are to spread the Word. You are to represent Me to all that you meet. Some will rejoice in the message of hope and love you bring. Others will reject it and you – in essence rejecting Me. You have already experienced this many times. It will not only continue, but worsen. As the darkness spreads in your world, so the Light you bring will be rejected – fought against. You will be reviled, rejected, even persecuted. Your Nation has not experienced this in such a way as many of My children in other parts of your world have. You will no longer be spared. It is not just coming, it is already here for you. So, eyes on Me. Heart fixed on My Word. Put on your battle gear. Be ready at all times to defend the Truth. And do not be surprised as the opposition heats up. It is just beginning. But I am in the battle with you. I am beside you, within you. I go before you and bring up the rear behind you. I AM. And your enemy knows that. It just remains that you must abide in those Truths. Fear not. He knows you are Mine and as such, he has no power over you other than that which you grant him. So, no quarter. Stand firm. Advance with the Sword of the Spirit in hand. Truth always on your tongue. My voice always in your ears. 

Job 1:6-7  One day, the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Do not miss this. Your enemy would have you believe he really does not exist. You would be fed lies about how the idea of Satan is just cartoons, fiction, scary movies. Yes, there is a “devil”, but he’s just a fictional character or worse, he exists but has no power whatsoever. Do not miss this. Do you not see what is written in the Word? He prowls the earth, watching everything and everyone. He looks for weakness, chinks in your armor that he can penetrate. He searches for those that please me in order to try to take them down, to sow doubt in their faith, to separate them from me. Look to see what I allowed him to do in the life of Job. Job was a man who pleased me. He was a man who sought to be close to me, to do my will, to follow my laws. That is a man who threatens your enemy. So he sought to sow doubt in Job’s faith. He wanted Job to curse me instead of honoring me. He wanted Job to walk away from me. So he did everything I would allow him to do to wreck Job’s life. Note that: everything “I would allow him to do”. Satan is not equal to me. He is only allowed to do what I allow him to do, and for however long I allow him to do it. And that time is coming to an end. He knows it and is ramping up his attempts to waylay believers, to distract my children from what is important – faith and obedience. Fires. Earthquakes. Flooding. “Natural” disasters. Wars and rumors of wars. Violence. Graft and corruption. None of this is new and none of this is outside of my control. However, my children choose what to do, how to react, what to focus on, whom to serve. And I allow that free will. So choose. Will you pay attention to the bright, shiny events and things thrown at you? Will you allow what is happening around you to dictate what occurs within you? Will you allow the evil that surrounds you to pry you away from my side? Will you be earthly-minded or God-minded? You choose with every thought, every word, every action. Do I want you to ignore what is happening around you? Do I want you to be ignorant of your world and what evil is occurring? No. But neither do I wish that you drown in those things. I do not want you to be so wrapped up in what is happening around you that you fail to look up – focus on me – look inward to see my Spirit within you. That is the real battle – the battle for your soul – the battle to direct your walk – the battle to control your emotions, your thoughts, your spirit. If you lose that battle, your enemy wins. Stick close to me. Look at me. Listen for my voice in the noise of your human life. Be aware and then offer it all up to me to resolve. These, ultimately, are my battles. I will direct your part in the war, but the victory is mine and mine alone. You cannot fight – nor win – alone. But I do need you to engage. And I need you to share me with the lost in your world. I am the only Hope. I am the only Truth. I am the only Life. You know this – but countless others do not. Help them, but as you do, expect opposition. Let it neither surprise you nor dismay you. I will be with you to counter that opposition. And, as so many say without really believing it – the battle is mine and I will win.

Nehemiah 9:32-37. “And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now. Every time you punished us you were being just. We have sinned greatly, and you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your Law or listen to the warnings in your commands and laws. Even while they had their own kingdom, they did not serve you, though you showered your goodness on them. You gave them a large, fertile land, but they refused to turn from their wickedness. “So now today we are slaves in the land of plenty that you gave our ancestors for their enjoyment! We are slaves here in this good land. The lush produce of this land piles up in the hands of the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They have power over us and our livestock. We serve them at their pleasure, and we are in great misery.”

This is where you find yourselves. And this should be the cry of every heart. You have sinned egregiously. You have allowed evil to take over your land. You have walked away from me, my Word, my precepts, my commands. And now you find yourselves slaves in your own land – in a land of plenty, of beauty beyond measure, of richness – a land I gifted to you. I was once the leader of that land. Slowly you allowed me to be almost completely removed from your Nation. And now you find yourselves enslaved – in prisons you helped created and voluntarily entered. Will you fight to liberate yourselves, your children, your Nation? I will be beside you, helping you, strengthening you, giving your wisdom and discernment. But I will not fight this battle for you. You must be that army. It is precipice time – you yet have time to save yourselves, but very little time. What will you do?

Nehemiah 9:22-24

“Then you (the Lord) helped our ancestors conquer kingdoms and nations, and you placed your people in every corner of the land. They took over the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. You made their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and brought them into the land you had promised their ancestors. They went in and took possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their kings as they pleased.”

Do you not see? Do you not understand why my people were able to conquer these enemies, even giants? It is because they trusted me. They obeyed me. They took my Word and lived it. You have the same power in your world. You have been given dominion over your enemy. You have complete access to my power, to my armies, to my angels. You have been trusted with your world to steward it, to protect it, to be its avenger when necessary. You are to protect my children, to protect and help the widows and orphans. You are my warriors. What are you doing? What steps are you taking to conquer those who would abuse my children, the weak and defenseless? What are you doing to take back possession of your “governments”? What are you doing to bring me back into your Nation? Do you not trust me? Do you not know you have the God of the Universe, the Creator of All, the One True God – you have me on your side? Remember the Wizard of Oz? How the entire land of Oz was afraid of the Great and Powerful Oz? Everyone trembled at his voice. Everyone bowed to his commands. Until little Toto pulled back the curtain and it became evident that the Great and Powerful Oz was just a man with the ability to fool the people. So it is in your world. They have no power other than that which you allow them to have, which you give them. Why do you cower? Why do you listen to them and not to me? Why do you not gather together, create the army I created you all to be and overtake the evil that has been allowed – yes you all allowed it – the evil that has been allowed to overtake your world? Your world is where it is today because you allow it. Let that sink in, let that penetrate your mind, your heart and your soul. YOU ALLOW IT. Just stop. Stop allowing it. Stop going along with it. Fight back. Pick up the sword of the spirit and fight back. Everyone laughed at Nancy Reagan when she said “Just say no.” But, child, it is that easy. When faced with things that you know are not right, that you know are evil, and you know contradict my Word – just say no. No. Such a powerful word. If my children would stand together and just say no, everything would change. Armies are only successful when they are one unit – working together – under one command – following the same directives. So it must be with you. One unit, working together, under one command – me, my Spirit. Following the same directives – my Word. It’s not easy, but it is quite simple. Stop making it so complicated. One unit, working together, under one command, following the same directives. Be that army and take back your world.

Song of Songs 2:10-13  My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. The fig trees are forming young fruit and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!”

Winter will end and the spring will arrive. See, it comes soon. Do not despair. I have not forgotten you nor will I allow you to live in mourning forever. I am aware. I am with you. I do not forsake you, no matter how you feel. I love you and will bring you through this. Trust me. Allow me to work. Just stay close and keep praying. The spring is coming. I will take you with me, into lands of beauty and rejoicing. (2022)

Ezra 8:28-30 And I said to these priests, “You and these treasures have been set apart as holy to the Lord. This silver and gold is a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of our ancestors. Guard these treasures well until you present them to the leading priests, the Levites, and the leaders of Israel, who will weigh them at the storerooms of the Lord’s Temple in Jerusalem.” So the priests and Levites accepted the task of transporting these treasures of silver and gold to the Temple of our God in Jerusalem.

You have been given gifts, talents, abilities – all treasures given to you by the Father. As a bearer of His gifts, as an image bearer of the Father, you have been set apart as holy to Him. You are to treasure these gifts. You are to protect them, transport them carefully throughout the life you have been given. You are to offer them up as a living sacrifice to Him – using them to further His kingdom. You are to come to know them, to develop them, and to always be cognizant of your use of them. You are never to abuse them nor abuse the positions in which they may place you. Are you a gifted teacher? Then you are to teach about me, for me, and always in alignment with my Word. Are you a prophet? Then the words you speak  of a prophetic nature are only to be my words. Never your own. Are you a carpenter? Then build everything to the best of your ability, with quality materials and flawless construction – building each and every item as if it were a gift to me. Are you a caregiver? Then you should love all your charges with a love that is pure and kind and representative of my love. Do you not see? You represent me. I have gifted you specifically, uniquely so that you may represent me as only you can. I have given you gifts that you may use them to serve me and to serve others. But caution: those gifts come from me. Though I expect you to develop them, do not become arrogant about them. They are of me. And, note that these gifts I have given you are expected to be used (and used appropriately). If you choose to ignore them, or if you use them inappropriately, I will take them away. So, will you accept the gifts, develop the gifts, use them according to my will and my direction and always, always acknowledge that they come from me? 

Ezra 8:21 And there by the Ahava Canal, I (Ezra) gave orders for all of us to fast and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that he would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children, and our goods as we traveled. For I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, “Our God’s hand of protection is on all who worship him, but his fierce anger rages against those who abandon him.” So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. 

Do you see? Ezra knew I would protect them. He was so assured of it he boasted of it before the king. Yet, he also knew that prayer and fasting were necessary, were the respectful way to approach me. He did not take my blessings for granted. He did not just throw up a quick “please do this” prayer when they needed me. He also really knew me, knew my Word, invested time in his relationship with me. That is what is missing today. My children do not humble themselves. You do not fast and pray. You throw up a few words once or so a week and believe that I hear. You do not spend daily time with me. You do not invest in knowing my Word. You do not attempt to really know me. You are acquainted with me, but so many of you do not really know me. That takes time. That takes effort. That requires a true investment of yourself and your resources. That requires being able and willing to not just talk to me, but to actually listen to me. To look for me in all things. To listen for my voice in all things. To recognize, internalize, even celebrate the the truth that I am in all things. I am not just in your Sunday service. I am not just in your random Bible reading plans. I am not just in the “Christian” movies you watch or music you listen to. I AM. I AM in all things. I AM with you, in you, before you, beside you, around you in every part of my creation. I see everything, hear everything, know everything, feel everything – even (and most importantly really) any and everything you are not capable of seeing, hearing, knowing, feeling. I know your innermost thoughts – even those you do not or can not acknowledge. I know the true state of your heart. I know your true motives. I know the whys and hows and whats and wheres of everything. So if that is true – and you are still my chosen beloved child – what is it that does not make you want to spend every moment with me? Why do you not want or are you not able to acknowledge me in everything? Why would you not want to get to know me better? To know my Word? To experience a true, deep, intimate relationship with me? Silly child, you are so wrapped up in those temporal things you can feel and see and touch and that bring you instant, temporary dopamine pleasure. Or you get so twisted up in your problems and lacks and needs and wants and desires that I cease to exist until you remember that you can ask me to take care of it all for you like a magician. Such a waste of your precious time. Do you not remember that you are only in this world for a short time? Do you not remember that you have an eternity to plan for? Where will that be? What will the quality of that eternity be? Are you saved? Great. Will you be with me for eternity? Ok. But, do you really know who you are spending eternity with? That seems like an important question to me. And when you arrive, what will the answer to my question “What did you do with the time, gifts, talents and resources I gave to you?” – what will your answer be? Will it be an answer you are comfortable balancing he quality of your eternity on?

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 So look at Apollos and me (Paul) as mere servants of Christ who have been put in charge of explaining God’s mysteries. Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide. So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time – before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

This is how I would have you live. You are to focus on me, and on your own actions. Unless someone is obviously, grievously sinning – blatantly disobedient, violent, evil – then do not engage. Many will appear to be doing my work – and are not. Many will seem to be opposed to me, misrepresenting me in some ways – and are not evil but just misguided. You do not know. You do not see the heart. You do not know motive. Only I do. So leave the judging to me. Engage those who are misguided, try to instruct them. But stay out of public outcries, stay away from openly judging them, criticizing them. Remember, I can and do use anyone – even your enemies at times – for greater good. Do not forget the story of Joseph – what was meant for evil I used for good. Do not allow your emotions to dictate how you engage with others. Look to me, to my Word, listen to the Spirit within you. Remember, you have chosen to represent me. So watch yourself and how you walk instead of spending so much time watching and judging others. Discernment is necessary – it will instruct you in how much time and effort to expend, in whom to target, in what to say. Use discernment – but as a way to plan your life, not as a weapon to bash others. And never, never, never forget that your first focus is me – who I am. Then, look to see how your life aligns with that and do whatever is necessary to bring them into alignment. I will take care of everyone else – you take care of you. 

Ezra 7:6 He came up to Jerusalem from Babylon, and the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him.

Do you not see? Do you not remember? Whatever you need, I will see provided. Whatever you ask for that is in my will, I see it gets to you. You do not have to strive so. You do not have to worry. You do not have to fret over where the resources will come from. I control all of it – even that which is in the hands of your enemies and those who do not even know you. It does not matter who has temporary control over the resources of your world – they were all created by me, they all belong to me, I control it all. Any human who believes to have control over anything is but fooling himself. You all control nothing – outside of your choices and decisions. And even those are controlled to a great extent by outside forces that you allow inside. You are to do a few simple things: Stay close to me. Talk to me. Listen to me. Follow my directions. Be obedient. Guard your heart and your mind. Monitor what you allow in and only allow in that which is of me. When you must engage with the world – especially those that you know are your enemies spiritually – be sure you are not alone, that you have put on your armor and you have brought my Holy Spirit into the battle with you. Child, do not forget that this is a war – every minute of your life at this point there is a battle of some sort – whether interior or exterior. Always be prepared to engage. But do not ever for one single instant forget that you are not able to win this war – it is mine. So allow me to fight it through you.