And I replied, “I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north.” 14 “Yes,” the Lord said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land. 15 Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the Lord, have spoken! “They will set their thrones at the gates of the city. They will attack its walls and all the other towns of Judah. 16 I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil—for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands! 17 “Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. 18 For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land—the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. 19 They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
In a former blog I spoke of Joshua, who saw the judgment of God against Israel for not believing His Word and desiring to return to their bondage. He stood in a place where he had to be courageous to follow in obedience the Word of the Lord. In this passage we see Jeremiah receiving a Word that demands him to be courageous to be obedient. Recently, I was with my husband as he and a group of veterans were being questioned about their service in WWII. The question was asked by a young lady, "Were you afraid?" They all said they were on the night before they were to go into battle, but after the battle started they did not have time to be afraid. They just had to press on. I thought of our Christian experience. We have not been tested in persecution like some countries or as the early Christians. But we are undoubtedly going to see God's judgment on our land for its many sins. In studying Paul's admonition to the Ephesians concerning the need to stand strong and put on the full armor of God to fight the assignment of Satan to destroy the work of God, I realize this is a timely message for American Christians. We are seeing a swift move away from God in this country. But we are also seeing an awakening that has never been before. More courage to speak out and to stand firm will be exhibited than we have ever seen. But the basic nature of armor, while to protect you, is of an offensive nature rather than defensive. We do not see armor mounted unless there is an understanding that to stand firm, we must engage the enemy. But we are not fighting flesh and blood. Man as such is not our enemy. It is Satan who has the assignment to destroy. He will use others as his instruments but we have to be able to discern the enemy in this battle.
What will win this battle? We look to Jesus for our example. In His life in this realm, He did the will of the Father and won many followers as well as enemies who wanted to kill Him. He lived revealing the Father. He lived a perfect life, fulfilling the Law and the prophets, not retaliating nor defending but speaking what the Father said and doing what the Father did. He will return to a perfect church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish, a Bride made ready for her Beloved. This is how we will win the Victory. By putting aside our natural desires and responses and allowing the Holy Spirit to work the nature of Jesus in us. By having the courage to stand against all opposition and let the Holy Spirit give us the words to say, to reveal the nature of God in all His love, mercy, forgiveness and grace, we will be moving into Satan's territory to reveal his nature and assignment
In a former blog I spoke of Joshua, who saw the judgment of God against Israel for not believing His Word and desiring to return to their bondage. He stood in a place where he had to be courageous to follow in obedience the Word of the Lord. In this passage we see Jeremiah receiving a Word that demands him to be courageous to be obedient. Recently, I was with my husband as he and a group of veterans were being questioned about their service in WWII. The question was asked by a young lady, "Were you afraid?" They all said they were on the night before they were to go into battle, but after the battle started they did not have time to be afraid. They just had to press on. I thought of our Christian experience. We have not been tested in persecution like some countries or as the early Christians. But we are undoubtedly going to see God's judgment on our land for its many sins. In studying Paul's admonition to the Ephesians concerning the need to stand strong and put on the full armor of God to fight the assignment of Satan to destroy the work of God, I realize this is a timely message for American Christians. We are seeing a swift move away from God in this country. But we are also seeing an awakening that has never been before. More courage to speak out and to stand firm will be exhibited than we have ever seen. But the basic nature of armor, while to protect you, is of an offensive nature rather than defensive. We do not see armor mounted unless there is an understanding that to stand firm, we must engage the enemy. But we are not fighting flesh and blood. Man as such is not our enemy. It is Satan who has the assignment to destroy. He will use others as his instruments but we have to be able to discern the enemy in this battle.
What will win this battle? We look to Jesus for our example. In His life in this realm, He did the will of the Father and won many followers as well as enemies who wanted to kill Him. He lived revealing the Father. He lived a perfect life, fulfilling the Law and the prophets, not retaliating nor defending but speaking what the Father said and doing what the Father did. He will return to a perfect church without spot or wrinkle or any blemish, a Bride made ready for her Beloved. This is how we will win the Victory. By putting aside our natural desires and responses and allowing the Holy Spirit to work the nature of Jesus in us. By having the courage to stand against all opposition and let the Holy Spirit give us the words to say, to reveal the nature of God in all His love, mercy, forgiveness and grace, we will be moving into Satan's territory to reveal his nature and assignment
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