Amanuensis

1 Chronicles 28:4-10 “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family.  And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel. And from among my sons – for the Lord has given me many – he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom. He said to me,’Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’ So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel – the Lord’s assembly – I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance. And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.”

Thus saith the Lord:

David’s heart was pure in this moment. He did know disappointment when I refused his request to build My temple. But, where did he go with that? To gratitude – to acknowledging what I had given him, to acknowledge all that I had entrusted to his family and to him specifically. To publicly declaring My faithfulness to him and his son Solomon. And to instructing My people in how to walk — in obedience to Me, in an intimate relationship with Me, in faithfulness to all My ways. Now, had David walked in My ways in all things during his lifetime? No. We know his sin. His adultery. His betrayal of Uriah the Hittite, his friend and mighty warrior in David’s army. His manipulations and ultimately the murder of Uriah in order to hide his sin with Bathsheba. David’s sins were great, grievous. But, I forgave him when he repented with a pure heart and allowed him to continue to represent Me, to lead My people. And so with all of my children, including you. Your sins are many. Some have ended and been buried in your past, and others continue in the present. You will never walk a perfect path; a sinless life is not for any of My children in their journeys on the earth. But, when you come to Me with a sincere, repentant heart – when you seek My forgiveness – you receive it. And it is erased from My memory. You are free to go forward, as David did. I can and will still use you mightily – sometimes the lessons learned from those sins and your repentance are powerful weapons in the spiritual battles you face. So, lift your head, Child. Do not hang it in sadness. I am not done with you by a long shot. This dark period will pass, and you will go forth using the lessons learned during this long time of battle you are in. Seek My guidance. Ask Me to continue to show you what I would have you learn in this, what I am wanting to form in your spirit with all the pain and humiliation I am allowing you to endure. Humble yourself, in everything, before Me and allow Me to lift you up. Remember, look up – not around. What others think of you is secondary to what I think. Seek My face, seek My approval, seek My advice, seek My guidance. Mine. Then those that know Me will see Me in you and that is all the approval you need from this world. 

2 Chronicles 1:1

Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.

Thus saith the Lord:

Do you not see? Solomon was powerful because I was with him. Yes, I gave him certain abilities, gifts. I placed him where he was – he was the son of the king of the Israelites. He was wise. He was attractive. He was smart. He was gifted in many ways. But none of that really gave him the ability to rule and run his nation in and of itself. His strength and ability came from the fact that I was with him. I am with you, Child. No more, no less than I was with Solomon. No more, no less than I was with Abraham, Moses, Joseph or any other those mighty men of faith you have studied in Scripture. I am with you. Always. I have promised, and so it is. You allow yourself to be intimidated, to be overwhelmed, to be stopped in your tracks because you feel unequipped, you feel weak, you feel incapable of surmounting the obstacles in your way. Some of those obstacles were placed there by your enemy. Some were placed there by Me. And many were placed there as a result of your own behavior. But regardless of where they originated, they are in the way. You pray that I would remove them. You pray that I would make a way through or around them. You pray for help. And in all that praying you acknowledge that I am stronger, more powerful, more knowledgeable and able in every way to surmount and demolish those obstacles. You demonstrate faith in My ability to deliver you. And so, if in fact I am with you – as I was with all the great heroes of faith who have overcome overwhelming circumstances and events – if I am in fact with you every second of every day, then what is the problem? Do you not have access to Me? Do you not have the abilities to overcome all of this by virtue of the My power dwelling within you? When will you stop separating us out? When will you absorb – to the depths of your heart, soul and mind – and act upon the reality that I have given you My power? I have given you My power to overcome your enemy. I have given you My power to overcome obstacles. I have given you access to My wisdom. I have given you everything you need to succeed in your life. Choose to trust and believe that reality and then act upon that trust and belief. And watch the obstacles fall away as you leave them and this place in your life behind. 

1 Chronicles 28:20 Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.”

Thus saith the Lord:

Do not miss this. You are My Temple. When you enter into relationship with Me, when you accept Me as your Lord and Savior, when you choose to have faith in Me, to walk in obedience to Me, to be adopted into My family – then you become My Temple. You become the dwelling place for My Holy Spirit. I am in you. Again, I am in you. Where you walk, I walk. What you hear, I hear. What you see, I see.  What you engage in I become engaged in. What you choose to do, I am taken along. What you choose to say, I am involved in. Your thoughts enter into My Temple. Do not miss this. Your thoughts, words, actions, attitudes – all of these things either improve the atmosphere of the Temple, or harm it. You are either improving My dwelling place or destroying it. Remember what I have told you so many times – everything you think, say, do, believe, focus upon ….everything ….has spiritual implications. Spiritual battles are everywhere, in all things. Are you preparing yourself for battle in all things? Are you protecting the sanctity of My Temple – of yourself – for you are My Temple? You of all My children are very well aware of the evil that surrounds you at all times. You are more aware daily of the subtleties your enemy uses to distract you, to change your attitude, to defeat your heart. He wants nothing more than to destroy My Temple within you. To distance you from Me. To cut off our relationship. No quarter, Child. You cannot afford to be inattentive – ever. When I am working on you, when I am disciplining you, when I am training you, when I am instructing you, when I am allowing you to experience strife, hardship, ugliness, stress….in all of those circumstances I am working on My Temple – you. So, as David told My people – do the work. Do not be afraid. Do not allow yourself to become discouraged. I am working on My Temple – remember that being chosen to be My Temple is an honor and something you want to be attentive to. Allow Me to work, and actively participate in that work, so that the work will be finished correctly. 

1 Chronicles 28:2-3 David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, but God said to me, ‘You must not build a temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’”

Thus saith the Lord:

See this, Child. David wished to build a temple for Me. His desire was pure. His heart was pure. But, I denied him that privilege because he had shed so much blood in battle. Was that an indictment on his past behavior in battle? No. He had engaged in battle for Me and at My direction in order to glorify My name and to protect My people. David had received his warrior spirit and his courage and his abilities from Me, all for My purposes. So why would I deny him the privilege if it was not a punishment for his having shed blood? Because it was in My greater plan to have Solomon build the temple. Did David pout or get angry or get self-righteous and argue with Me over my denial of his request? No. He accepted My decision and did all he could to help prepare Solomon for when it would be time for the building of My temple. He started to gather the materials necessary. He stored the precious metals to be used. He made plans for the temple, though he would not be allowed the privilege of building it. He was obedient in all this, including his disappointment. Can you be a David in this way? Can you trust that when I say “no”, that it is for the greater good? Can you trust that when your plans do not go your way, I am not punishing you? That I am not saying you are not deserving of doing good things? Can you celebrate that I have chosen others for what you wanted to do? Can you, instead of pouting and wanting to know why and wanting to know what I have for you – can you support and uplift and even celebrate the person(s) I have chosen to do those tasks, to fill those positions, to get that recognition? Can you step aside, get out of your pride and need, and allow me to uplift those that I choose to uplift? Every choice I make is not directly about you. It may affect you, but is not specifically about you. But, as with everything in your life, you have a choice as to how you participate in the outcome. Will you be a blessing, or withdraw and feel sorry about it? Will you trust that I know what is best? It is in your choices, your behavior and attitudes following My decisions that it becomes about you. Who do you want to be? How do you wish to represent me? Those issues are what determine if the circumstances become a blessing or a curse – to you and everyone involved. 

1 Kings 18:1-2, 42-45 Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. 

(42-45) So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I don’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. 

Thus saith the Lord:

I told Elijah that it was going to rain. I told Elijah that I would end the drought. And he believed. He believed even when, after doing everything I had told him to do, when he prayed to Me, the rain did not immediately start. He believed even when he had to continue praying, sending his servant over and over – seven times – to check the sky for clouds. He continued to pray, in faith that what I promised would happen. Elijah did not stop believing just because what I said would happen was not immediately fulfilled. He did not stop believing just because he could not see any evidence of what I had promised. He did not stop trusting Me. He did not have the need to be immediately satisfied, to quickly see My promises come to fruition. He trusted through six prayer sessions where his faith was seemingly denied and it appeared My promise of rain would not come to pass. Yet, he persisted. And on the seventh check, he trusted even though the cloud was far off and very small. Faith, child. Faith in the face of seeming impossibility. Faith and trust while you wait. Faith and trust that, if I have said it will happen, it will. In My time. At My direction. Will you continue in faith? Will you trust Me in the waiting? Will you wait until I deem it is the best time to bring about My promises? 

Psalm 105:19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.

Thus saith the Lord:

And so with you. There is much for you to do. I have plans that you cannot understand right now. But they depend upon you passing the tests I have set in your life – tests of your faith and trust and character. Stay with Me, Child. No matter what happens. No matter what the next few weeks bring. Stay with Me. Cling to Me. I will make all land rightside up. It will seem upside down, but I will rearrange it to fulfill My plans for you. Your life does matter. It will be fruitful again. Just keep your eyes on Me, listen for My voice and obey when you hear Me. I love you, Child, and you are right where you need to be. Just obey. Purge, grieve and listen for Me.

Acts 9:21 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?”

Thus saith the Lord:

Do not miss this. 3 days of blindness after his initial encounter with Me on the road. 3 days where he was not able to do anything he used to do. 3 days of being stopped in his tracks while I was working on his heart. And then, his eyes opened, he could finally see Truth. He could see Me. And he could see who he had become – an enemy to all who walked with Me. All who preached Truth. All who preached Me. Anyone who was on the edge of belief, anyone who was not sure that I AM who I say I am, anyone who was not sure – once they saw Paul (for Saul was dead) could not deny any longer. After that, if they chose not to believe, it was obviously a conscious choice. For the conversion of Saul to Paul was an undeniable miracle. Those miracles still surround you. Drug addicts delivered from their addictions. People freed from hatred and prejudices. Miraculous healings. Complete changes of heart. The conversions have not ended. The miracles continue. Just keep seeing with My eyes. Hope has not left your world. Choose to see it. And, even more importantly, choose to work with Me in bringing about even more miraculous conversions, more rebirths, more lives resuscitated. That is why you are here.

Acts 9:17 So Ananias went and found Saul.

Thus saith the Lord:

Saul was Ananias’ (and every believer’s) enemy. Saul would have Ananias chained, taken to Jerusalem and killed for his belief in Me. Do not miss this, Child. I told Ananias to go to Saul and lay hands on him and heal him. Ananias’ initial reaction was to protest, as he knew who Saul was. Yet, when I reiterated that it was My wish that Ananias do this, he immediately obeyed. I am not angered or annoyed when My children have initial reactions to My commands, to My messages. What I look for is an obedient and loving heart toward Me. Initial reactions do not reflect the depth of feeling and the reality of the heart. They are just reactions. Do not beat yourself up when you have initial reactions to what I am asking. Just check the state of your heart in obedience after the reaction. Do you remain in obstinate disagreement, or do you submit to My will? That is what matters, really.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

Thus saith the Lord:

If I am not in it, it will not prevail. If I have not directed the hands that create it, it will be temporary. If I am not in the planning and execution, it will not stand. Do not be deceived, Child. Much of what is happening all around you “in My name” is not of Me and will not stand the test of time and eternity. Eyes on Me. Do not be deceived by the lying spirits of your age. Do not be deceived by the “churches” that preach an unholy gospel, one that twists and turns My Word to make themselves happy. Do not be deceived by those who would say they come in My Name yet act in ways that are opposed to My Word. This is a time where great discernment and wisdom are needed. Quiet your soul. Quiet your mind. Listen for Me. I will guide you. Always seek Me and My Word when you are confronted with those who purport to represent Me, who say they are doing what is good and right. Remember what I have told you many times, guard your heart, for that is where you are easily diverted and even more easily wounded. Eyes fixed on Me. Ears attuned to My voice. Heart open to Me, and guarded against any and everything that would distract you from Me. This is vital. The noise that surrounds you will not be abating soon, but getting louder and more confusing. Stand firm. Do not allow it to sway you. Feet firmly planted on the Rock. I am with you. And never forget, your enemy knows how to attack you. Know where it comes from and allow Me to fight those battles. Just fix your mind, your eyes, your heart, your ears, your soul on Me. I will take care of the rest. 

2 Samuel 20:20-22 And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town! That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you will hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.”  “All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.” Then the woman went to the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack.

Do you not see? You get angry and frustrated and want revenge against those who oppose you, who oppose Me, who do what is evil. So, in your frustration, you attack randomly. You have only one enemy. It is not your brother. It is not politicians. It is not any one of my children. Your enemy is the same enemy that has been in rebellion against me since the beginning. Your enemy is the one who controls all of them. Fight him. Fight his armies. Fight his schemes. Fight his advances. Use your spiritual battle tools. I have provided my armies to fight against them tactically. You are to fight them spiritually. Put on the armor. Take up the sword. Stand firm. Do not back down, do not show weakness, do not allow an inch of victory. Fight. I am with you. My angelic troops surround you. Do not allow your time or energy to be spent in petty irritation or anger that leads nowhere. When you see injustice, when you are confronted with evil, when you are attacked – fight spiritually. No weapon formed against Me shall stand. You know that. You have My weapons at your disposal. Keep that at the forefront of your thoughts and actions. You have My weapons. They are infallible. Use them. Develop them. Study them. Gather troops to do spiritual battle with you. Prayer groups. Study groups. Battle groups. This is what I have for you right now.