Amanuensis

Exodus 5:2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.” 

The attitude you see today in those who refuse to acknowledge me, who refuse to believe in me, it is nothing new. Do not be surprised, nor alarmed. This is the attitude of Pharaoh. And you know what happened with him. By the end of his life, he did believe in me. He knew firsthand my power. So it will be with those who continue to mock you. Who continue to defy me. They will know the truth at some point. They will regret their attitude. Just stay close. When you face opposition, when you are persecuted – do not blame me. Blame those who are persecuting you. I promised you in my Word that this would happen. Whom will you serve -me, or those who persecute you? Where do you seek comfort? In this world or in eternity with me? Choices, always the same choices dressed up differently.

Exodus 10:23 “During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.”

Spiritually, this is what life is like without me. Darkness. People who are in the dark are unable to truly see anything. They may perceive things with their physical eyes, but this is not really seeing. Only those that know me, that follow me, are able to see clearly. They are able to discern truth – in situations, in people, in life. Rejection of me, unbelief and lack of faith, all bring about a state of darkness that rules life. It causes blindness and lack of awareness of truth. It obscures true light. 

Matthew 16:17 “Jesus replied, ‘You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.’” 

You may testify about me. You may give your story of my work in your life. But, that is not what turns a man’s heart toward me. That is the work of the Spirit. Do not be discouraged about those who refuse to believe in me. Do not be dismayed that you are not having an effect. That may or may not be true. Leave it to me. Your job is to represent me. You have no power over their decisions.

Joshua 4:24 “He did this so that all nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”  

And so it is about to be. I will work in a way that no one will be able to deny that I am the Lord of all the earth. They will know that it is I who works in wondrous ways. They will see that there is nothing impossible for me – for the works I will do are impossible for man – even men who believe themselves to be gods – stronger, more intelligent, better than I. It will rock the world and much will change. But, as always, those dedicated to evil will remain so, and many will still choose not to believe. Do not dismay, do not spend wasted time on them. Theirs is the choice. But never give up on the children. 

Joshua 1:5 “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”

Moses was my servant. Did he perform what I asked perfectly? No. He tried to talk me out of using him at first, due to fear. I know your fears, child. I know your limitations. Yet, I desire to use you. Will you step up?  Moses did. And I treasured him and dealt with him kindly up to the end, even when I had to chastise him for major sin. Yet, I loved him and I called him my servant. 

This is my promise – my covenant promise to you. Be strong. Be courageous. Yes, things are spiritually dark and will become darker yet. But, you have my light. You have my Spirit in you. This is your protection against ultimate harm. And I can and will use you, your light and your willingness to share my words.  (2021)

Luke 13:1-21 “He also asked, ‘What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough’”

You worry that you will not reach enough people. You worry that you can’t say enough, can’t teach enough of my Word but, child, remember my words. Tiny mustard seeds. Yeast that spreads throughout the dough. Just follow my lead. When I tell you to share something, share it. Then let me do the rest. Remember how sometimes your students would come back to you and tell you of some small thing you said or did that impacted them greatly? Do you not think I was in that? I am yet here. I will take your small offering – your few coins – and grow them. I will take your few loaves and fishes and feed the masses. I can do this – you can’t. So stop worrying about if and how it will all work out. Just do my will. I’ll do the rest. I love you, Child. (2021)

Luke 12:35-36. “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.” 

This is what I expect of you. Be prepared at all times. Be close to me, stay in my Word, train in every way. I am going to use you mightily, but you must be ready for  it will not be easy and at times, arduous in every way. But I will be by your side, guiding you, strengthening you, comforting you. Train, child.  (2021)

33:27, 29 “The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the enemy before you; He cries out, ‘Destroy them!’…He is your protecting shield and your triumphant sword! Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will stomp on their backs!’ ”

I am here. I am the one who protects you, guides you, gives you strength, gives you courage. It is all from me. Do not fear. Do not weary. The war is just begun, the battles will be more frequent and more intense. You have trained well, and are ready. Awaken every day to spend this time with me, which is the donning of your armor. Invite the Holy Spirit into the battle and do not lose contact with me for even an instant. Your enemy is cunning. He is all around you, in even the smallest thing. But, I am.  Just remember: I am.  (2021)

Psalm 78: 56-59 “But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey his laws. They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow. They angered God by building shrines to their gods; they made him jealous with their idols. When God heard them, he was very angry….” 

And, so we find ourselves today. Your nation has been in rebellion against me for a long time. You do not obey my laws, you even pass countless laws that are in direct opposition to my law. You are faithless; even most of those who claim to believe in me only believe in the concept of me. They do not believe in me – they do not even know me. You have become a faithless, godless nation. You have erected countless idols in your hearts – all revolving around self. Sex, money, power, fame, notoriety, intellect, abilities – all worthless idols that have replaced me in your hearts. It is testament to the abilities that I have given my children the countless ways you have implemented those idols into your lives. But, whether one idol or a million, the result is the same – I am pushed out of your lives and hence, your nation. And you end up where you are today. (2021)

Leviticus 26:12-13  “I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.”

How quickly so many of you forget the state of your lives before you came to me. You forget the bondage and slavery that ruled your days before I intervened, delivered you and began to walk with you. You forget the misery and ruin in which you lived. You forget that your lives were on a steady decline. No, you get used to the beauty of life without that bondage. You get used to being stable and comfortable. And, you begin to stray. A small compromise here, another there – all the while telling yourselves that it’s ok, I’ve forgiven you and saved you and no matter what you will spend eternity with me. And as the days go by the compromises become more frequent and bigger until, one day, before you know it, you have wandered so far from my side that I have become a foreigner. And some of you become convinced that it is I, your God, He who saved you, that is your captor. You begin to believe the lies of the enemy telling you that being my child, obeying me – that is slavery. That is captivity. That is crippling your life. You forget the freedom that comes with right living. You forget the strength and courage and contentment that come with walking with me. Until life becomes too difficult again and you lose your comfort. Until the events around you cause you to fear for your life and you lose your tranquility. Until health matters come up and you lose your feeling of security. Until money issues arise and you lose your sense of stability. Until you lose your jobs, lose your spouse, lose family members – in essence – until you suffer loss. Then you look to me to intervene and save you once again. If you seek my face – honestly, humbly, repentantly – I will answer. But, remember – never forget – the damage done while you strayed, while you were self-seeking, that damage may be permanent. Or at least some of it. There will be a price to be paid. I will save you. If you are sincere, I will redeem you. But, you and your life will not be the same as it was before you wandered away. (2022)