Amanuensis

1 Chronicles 4:5-8 Ashhur (the father of Tekoa) had two wives, named Helah and Naarah. Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. Helah gave birth to Zereth, Izhar, Ethnan, and Koz, who became the ancestor of Anub, Zobebah, and all the families of Aharhel son of Harum. 

You read these narratives of births and family lines and who is who in my Word and you get bored and want to just skip over it. Why would I have it in my Word for you to read, to study, to record? Why do I find it necessary for you to know of these otherwise unknown people? Because it is your history. These people actually lived. They had day to day lives such as yours. They had struggles such as you. They had challenges, emotions, needs, experiences – just as you do today. Much of what they struggled with has not changed over the centuries. Sure, the outside circumstances and events may differ. They certainly did not have the ease of technological advances that you all have. No cars. No electricity. No dishwashers. No lawnmowers. No telephones or stereos or internet. They did everything by hand. They walked or used animals for transportation. But they still struggled with the same issues. Food. Shelter. Clothing. Safety. Love. Friendship. Family issues. Illness. Faith. Trust. Hope. Some of the “stories” you read in Scripture tell the tale of how they endured, how they worked through, how they fell to temptation, how they overcame temptation….how they lived. Many times what is shown is my faithfulness to them as they worked through their human lives. I provided their needs. I protected. I strengthened. I led. I provided wisdom and discernment. I provided families, friends, communities. I listened. I responded. I loved. Why do I point this out? So that you will see and remember and hang on to the fact that nothing has changed in that regard. I sitll listen. I still respond. I still love. I still protect and provide. I AM. Not I was. I AM. I am your Father. I am your strength. Your provision. Your healing. Your protection. I AM. Do not allow your enemy to distract you. Do not allow your enemy’s lies to penetrate your heart. Do not allow yourself to be distracted from what is most important – especially in these dark days – staying close to me, communicating with me, studying my Word. I AM. Child, I love you and I have not abandoned you. I am still exactly where I have always been. By your side. Before you. Behind you. Within you. I AM. That does not, can not and will not ever change. The only one who moves, the only one who changes, the only one who stops communicating – that one is you. Don’t let it happen. 

 Psalm 2:1-5 Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.

And so it has been with your nation. You have freed yourselves from “slavery to God” – you have freed yourselves from me. You have rejected me, my Word, my Holy Spirit. You have rejected all that is good and right and moral. For what? What you consider to be freedom? So how is that seen in your world today? Rampant sexuality. Sexualizing children. Exposing innocents to sexual information, pictures, practices that they are too young and innocent to understand or process. Physical mutilation of children that are purposefully exposed to confusing and misleading “information” about gender and sexual preferences and led to believe that my creation is wrong. That I do not know what I am doing when I create each and every one of you. Millions upon millions – almost countless children slaughtered in the womb, their perfect little bodies carved up and the parts sold for use in cosmetics, food and evil, barbaric rituals. “Religious freedom” that has opened the door to the church of Satan establishing clubs in your public schools. Witchcraft and demon worship not only on the rise exponentially, but advertised — promoted even – in your television programs and movies. Violence in your cities such as you have never seen before. Shootings. Beatings. Elderly innocents being attacked and murdered – for sport. Children shooting other children. Evil governments spraying chemicals on you and your land. Food poisoned by pesticides and additives. Millions of innocent, perfectly healthy farm animals – meant to feed my children – slaughtered in the name of “food safety”. Laws passed to stop you from being able to produce your own food, to be self sufficient. Where you once worshipped me, you now worship self – your looks, what you own, what you drive, the house in which you live, your career, your level of “education”. You look to me for religion, not relationship. You snatch me out of your back pocket when it pleases you, when it benefits you, but put me right back there and ignore me when my Word conflicts with your desires. Your own government has brought – and continues to bring – more destruction and violence to the world than any in the history of mankind. Your people choose ignorance and blindness to knowledge and reality. Ignorance and blindness allow you to continue on pleasing yourselves, fooling yourselves into believing that everything will be all right. Ignorance and blindness allow you to ignore the reality of what is happening to the millions of children that are swept up into evil and cruelty every year. The children that are used for sexual pleasure, for sacrifice, for bondage and slave labor. You drive your electric cars and celebrate your status as one who is saving the environment – all the while sacrificing the lives of enslaved children to mine the ingredients necessary for the batteries. You are worse than the whitewashed tombs of the religious leaders that I confronted when I was in your world. And, I am about to wash my hands of you. You are almost out of time and if that day is allowed to arrive where I am no longer willing to have any ties to your nation, when you are completely overtaken by the evil that you have not only opened the door to but welcomed into your nation, when that day arrives I will not listen to your cries for help. The time is now. You only have now. Repent. Now. The days are short.

1 Kings 17:8-16  Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the City of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring he a bite of bread, too.” But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.” But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her son continued to eat for many days. There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

And so it has always been and will continue to be with you, my child. Have I not always provided? Have you ever lacked the necessities? When it seemed impossible, did I not have another step up and help you? Or free up funds you may not even have known about? Do not get swept up in the constant worry about what is going to happen in your world. Do not get bogged down in the calculations of how much money you need for this bill or that thing. Have I not always provided? Why would I stop now? Do not allow the evil that is being perpetrated in your world to bring fear. I am aware of all that is happening. Nothing that is being done in your world is surprising me. Yes, they are attacking your food supply. Yes, they are trying to change the entire work world with robots and AI. Yes, they are crashing your system of money. But, through it all, despite it all, I remain. I am still the great I Am. I am still on the throne. I have not moved. I have not weakened. I have not forgotten my children. Evil will not reign forever. Your enemy’s time is running out and he knows it. But, whatever is occurring in your world, I still love you, will provide for you, will be with you. None of that has ever changed, nor will it ever. I am your only constant. But I am just that – constant. Notice that my name is “I Am” – not I Was, not I Will Be. I Am. Through the ages, throughout history, through it all and into the infinite future of it all. I Am. So, child, look to me, not around at your circumstances, not at your bank account, not at your wages, not at the prices of goods in your stores. Me. Up at me. Recognize and remember that I am with you. Now. Tomorrow. Always. Your enemy will whisper in your ear that I am not with you, that I have forgotten you, that you need to “do something” to make sure you will be ok. Do not listen. Do not look around. Do not allow his evil to invade any of your thoughts, your soul, your heart – any part of your life. Look up, I am there. Look inward, I am there. Trust. I do not lie. I do not manipulate. I do not forget. I do not abandon. You have asked me into your life, and I am there. Trust me. Believe my words when I tell you I will continue to take care of you, just as I have up to this very day. Breathe, child. And pray. And trust. And believe. And obey. I will take care of the rest when it comes to your needs. 

1 Kings 12:20 When the people of Israel learned of Jeroboam’s return from Egypt, they called an assembly and made him king over all Israel. So only the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the family of David.

I had made a promise to David that his descendants would be on the throne as king forever. Then, Solomon’s son Jeroboam betrayed me and worshipped false gods. So I stripped his kingdom down. Instead of being King over all 12 tribes – all of my chosen people — he was king over only his tribe, the tribe of Judah. All others banded together under another king. Because of my promise to David, I did not strip his family of kingship entirely. But there were severe consequences to Jeroboam’s sins. Loss of almost all of his kingdom and his people. Loss of status. Loss of respect. Loss of power. Loss of connection with others. Loss of connection to me. You are my beloved child. You are saved and sealed with the blood of Christ. But do not be fooled. Your sins come with consequences. Consequences that affect your relationship with me, your ability to hear me, your experience when you join me in Heaven. Do not be swayed by the popular notion – even in those that call themselves my Church – that you can do whatever you want, and I will forgive and look the other way. Yes, I love you. I love you enough to discipline you. I love you enough to teach you that wrong is wrong. I love you enough to demand you keep working on your behaviors, your thoughts, your words – working toward being more Christ-like. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that anything you do is ok since I will forgive you. Forgiveness for true repentance is there but damage is done.

Acts 9:19-22 Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 

Such a transformation. From the greatest persecutor of my followers to my most vocal supporter. Saul’s transformation into Paul is not to be ignored. Had you lived in those days as a member of The Way – had you been one of my followers – you would have been terrified at the thought of Saul being in your community, coming for you, sending you to prison or having you stoned to death. Saul was a death sentence to believers. Until I changed his heart. Until he surrendered his will and his life to me. Until he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then, all was new. Saul was gone and Paul was born. You see this every day around you. Addicts and alcoholics delivered and given new life. Former satanists and wiccans broken out of their spells and demonic possessions and delivered into Truth and Life. Former atheists now believers. These are transformations that only I can do. Supernaturally. Spiritual rebirths. Do not discount these once lost souls. Remember, you were one of them. Your life before me and your life now are two distinct trajectories. Remember what it was like to live without a relationship with me? Without the Holy Spirit? Never forget.  And when confronted with unbelievers, with those who walk in darkness, pray for them. Have compassion on them. Remember they are lost. Alone. Afraid. Powerless. And remember also those who have been delivered. They have a powerful message. Listen to them. Come alongside them. Help train them in my Word and my Way. You are all my children. Seek to help deliver the lost and support those already found. You all need me and you all need each other. 

1 Kings 11:1-3 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, ‘You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.’ Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

Solomon was the chosen heir to David’s throne. He was wise, wiser than anyone else. He was devoted to serving me and his people. Yet, he had a major weakness – women. And instead of relying upon me to help him to overcome his fleshly desires for the wrong women, he gave in to them. Consistently. Repeatedly. 700 wives and 300 concubines is not the result of slipping once in a while. He was engaged in repeated sin. Yet, I still loved him. Did it end our relationship? No. Did it harm it? Yes, gravely. His heart was turned away from me and toward those women, and ultimately towards the gods they served. Do not think you dabbling in sin is ok. Will I stop loving you? No. Will it harm our closeness, will it make hearing me harder? Yes. And these are dark days. While I never want you to do anything that comes between us, it is more important in these days of darkness, of spiritual battles raging around you – it is vital that you not do anything that encumbers our relationship, that causes you to not hear me. You are in the battle for your life, the life of your Nation, the life of humanity – and not just the earthly life of humanity, but the eternal life. When you are tempted to waste your time, your resources on the wrong pursuits, slow down, listen for my voice, look for the way out I provide and allow me to help you. When you do succumb, when you do slip, when you do fall – get up right away and seek my face. Confess. Repent – remembering that repentance requires a change in direction. I love you, Child and do not want you to waste even a second of the precious time you are here. I need you in the battle. Your enemy watches and takes advantage of every opportunity to distract, to waylay my warriors. Do not put your guard down. Everything you do matters. All your thoughts, all your prayers, all your actions – all have an impact on the outcome of these battles. And for every today that is not my time to return, it is your time to represent me in battle. Warriors must be 100% engaged. Armor up. Listen to me. Follow my lead. Do not give in to distractions. Yes, maintain the life I have given you, but do not wander off into activities and pursuits that are not of me. And do not listen, do not give heed to that small, hissing voice of your enemy saying you do not matter, you are not big enough, not strong enough, not enough of a warrior to make a difference. Have I not chosen you? That is all you need to know. If I have chosen you, you are my warrior. Step up. Stand up. Advance. And always, always, always look up, not around. Listen for my voice, no others.

1 Kings 8:23 “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below!”

Do you feel this about me? Do you really know, in your heart of hearts – in your very soul – do you know the truth of this statement? Do you worship me in Truth and Spirit and with the holy knowledge that I am? I am the One True God. I am the Holy of Holies. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, all power, all knowledge, all. I am all. Do you really, truly, inside and out know this? Until you do, you cannot worship me appropriately. You cannot understand the importance of spending time with me. You cannot understand the depth of truth to the fact that, without me, you are nothing. Because I made you in my image. Yes, my image. And until you recognize the power behind that truth, you are not who I created you to be. You cannot be what you do not acknowledge. And if you do not acknowledge the truth about me, you cannot develop into my image. Seek that knowledge. Spend time with me. Unless you do so, you cannot get to know me and, consequently, know who you are. 

1 Kings 8:5 There, before the Ark, King Solomon and the entire community of Israel sacrificed so many sheep, goats and cattle that no one could keep count!

This is the type of sacrificial giving that is missing from your hearts. This is what I would want to see. Sacrificing so many animals that no one could keep count means nothing to you today in your modern, convenient lives. But these animals were their livelihood. They were their means of sustenance. They were the food for their tables, for the nourishment of their families, their communities. Many were beloved animals that they raised from birth, nourished, cared for. They gave not just willingly, but out of the abundance of love and gratitude they felt in their hearts toward me. This was true sacrifice. Not just dollar bills and checks and other lifeless symbols of wealth. They sacrificed life blood -the life blood of their stock and the life blood of their businesses, that of their families’ food supplies. They felt this sacrifice in ways you never do. Dig deep, my children. What is a fitting sacrifice? A few dollars? A lot of money? Or, perhaps, the sacrifice of your selfishness, your will on the altar of obedience? The sacrifice of your time for Kingdom pursuits? The sacrifice of your comfort for the comfort of one who is suffering? What is on the altar of your heart?  Is it me? Dig deep. These are weightier questions than you wish to admit. And how you answer these questions and, more importantly, adjust your behavior – how you answer these questions and adjust your lives will in great part determine what direction your Nation – your world – will take in the dark days to come. 

1 Samuel 29:6-30:2, 6-8 So Achish finally summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the Lord that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today. But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”  “What have I done to deserve this treatment?” David demanded. “What have you ever found in your servant, that I can’t go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?”  But Achish insisted, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle. Now get up early in the morning, and leave with your men as soon as it gets light.”  So David and his men headed back into the land of the Philistines, while the Philistine army went on the Jezreel. Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amelikites had made a raid into the Negev and Ziklag; they had crushed Ziklag and burned it to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone. …. But David found strength in the Lord his God. Then he said to Abiathar the Priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the Lord, “Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?” And the Lord told him, “Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!” 

David and his men did not understand why they were being sent back from battle. David had been loyal to Achish and his men had been loyal to him. After a three day journey back to Ziklag, they arrived feeling defeated, only to discover their town had been raided, destroyed and all their families and herds taken by the Amelikites. Further defeat. Yet, as will be seen in the next part of this story, David and his troops rallied and went against the Amelikites and rescued them all. You often do not understand why I either do something in your life, or allow certain events or circumstances. You are discouraged, saddened, confused. You often feel as if I don’t care because I allow these things to happen. But, look at David. At a moment of defeat comes a great victory. If Achish had not sent them back, they would not have discovered the Amelikites had raided their town. Their families would have been gone forever. David grieved appropriately, then moved on. He looked to me and found the strength he needed to go after the raiders. And, as I promised, I was with him and they went on to victory and rescued their families and recovered all their property. Do not allow circumstances to defeat you, child. Do not allow the evil of your world to weaken your resolve. Do not allow those who would harm you – in order to harm me – to win. Look to me. Seek my face, my help. I am here. I have not moved. I have a reason for allowing everything that comes into your life and it can strengthen you, strengthen your faith, strengthen your walk, equip you for further battle – if you give it to me, seek my help and guidance and keep going forward. Remember when you lifted weights? It was never fun when you upped the weights. It hurt. It fatigued you. You had to push through. But, after a while, you were stronger and ready for more weight. This is just like that. I have you where you are, experiencing what you are, for a reason. Seek that reason. Seek me. Lean into it, just as you did when you were lifting – which you are doing now, you are lifting weight – spiritual weight. I’m still by your side. I will still catch the weight if it gets too heavy. I will not allow it to crush you. But, you must not allow it to crush your spirit. Your enemy would stop you before you get any stronger. Do not allow that. 

1 Samuel 17:40-52 Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” As Goliath moved closer to attack, David ran out to meet him. Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.Then the men of Israel and Judah gave a great shout of triumph and rushed after the Philistines, chasing them as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron. 

You feel small. You feel outnumbered. You see your enemy as infinitely more well armed than you. But what you need to remember, as my son David did, is that you have me. You have the Lord of Heaven’s Armies on your side. You are my warriors. You represent me. You stand for what I stand for. You are here, you have been put here – chosen to be here – because I decided that you were one of my warriors. Eyes off Goliath, child, and on me. Goliath was a bully. He used his physical stature and his tools of war to intimidate the Israelites – for 40 days they cowered before him. Yet, it only took one small boy with giant faith and trust to defeat him. One small shepherd boy, unarmed but for a sling and a few rocks, one nobody, untrained in the art of war, to defeat this giant of a man. One shot, straight to the head and the giant fell. Who would have believed that David’s skill with a sling and a rock would save the Israelite army, defeat the enemy, and prove – yet again – my faithfulness to my children and my might to the rest of the world? Who would have believed that this innocent mission – being sent by his father to deliver bread and food to his brothers – would result in the death of their enemy – and the death of their fear? The Israelite army focused on the physical size of Goliath, allowed his voice into their heads and hearts, internalized his taunts, and felt too small to defeat him. The tactics of your enemy. What was different about David? He only allowed my voice into his head and heart. He did not listen to Goliath, except to recognize that he was a pagan showing grave disrespect to me. And that was not acceptable to my son David. Your enemy is, at the core of all of this, not coming against you but against me. It wants to defeat you- to decimate you- in order to harm me. But, I have not changed since the days of David. I am still the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And you are still my children. I fight beside you. Trust that. I chose you to fight. Do so. No fear. No worries. No thoughts as to the size of your enemy. It knows that you are more powerful, because it knows me. Grab your sling and choose your rocks, child. Time for battle. Eyes on me. Only me.