During the prayer vigil last weekend, the Lord spoke 3 D's into my heart. It was if He was saying that these 3 D's are the enemy's plans to defeat us during this intense season from July 20-August 10. Here was God whispering the plan to us so that we would not be taken by surprise but instead would be victorious!
The 3D's are: Disctract then Detract and finally Destroy.
Distract-To draw attention to a different object.
Detract-Take away; diminish the value of.
Destroy-Put an end to.
These parallel toehold, foothold, and stronghold. When the enemy distracts us, we shift our FOCUS to something other than what we are suppose to be gazing at. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, let us run with endurance the race marked out for us."
Scripture is littered with the saints getting distracted and the disaster that followed. Peter was doing great walking on the water to Jesus until "he saw the wind....". He shifted his gaze from the Master to the waves....from the solution to the problem.
Luke 10:40 says, "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." Her FOCUS then shifted to Mary and she began to complain to Jesus about her sister.
Look where her eyes were.
Once we are distracted, the enemy begins to quietly detract from us. He steals the blessings we have been given or he diminishes the value of the truths God has worked within us.
Once enough bricks are removed from the wall, it falls. Destruction.
Distraction is subtle. We begin drifting. Our gaze shifts from Jesus to other things or other people. Detract takes away--the stealing of what is rightfully ours. But when enough is stolen and we weakened by it, the full force of the enemy hits and we are destroyed in that area of our hearts.
That is why John 10:10 a says, "The thief comes to steal (detract), destroy, and kill."
But thanks be to God that He has showed us the plan. Our counter plan is to determine in our hearts that we will not be distracted, no matter how glittering. We will keep watching the face of Jessu until this battle is over. We fight the good fight and say no to the thief. The strong man be bound in the Name of Jesus Christ with the end result being Life and that more abundant in lieu of destruction.
Blessings, Father Scott +
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
I Am Sending the Angel of the Lord Ahead of You
Recently, I was reading along in Exodus. Then in chapter 23:20 and following came wonderful promises that God made to His beloved people.
"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." The word for angel in Hebrew means angel or messenger or ambassador. It is obvious this reference is about the Lord Jesus.
"Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion since My Name is in him."
"If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will opose those who oppose you."
These promises of God are like jewels hidden in a handkerchief drawer. The Israelites are trudging through the wilderness and suddenly, God makes these incredible promises that are still valid today.
The mandate to "pay attention to Jesus and to listen to what He says" is more necessary than ever. And note the last condition--if we listen carefully to what He says and do all that the Lord tells us, He will become an enemy to our enemies and will oppose those who oppose us.
I encourage you to let the Lord shine His spotlight into your lives to see where we are listening and where we have turned a deaf ear....where we are obeying and where we are in rebellion. This may answer why there is incredible victory in parts of our lives and captivity in others.
Blessings, Father Scott +
"See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared." The word for angel in Hebrew means angel or messenger or ambassador. It is obvious this reference is about the Lord Jesus.
"Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion since My Name is in him."
"If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will opose those who oppose you."
These promises of God are like jewels hidden in a handkerchief drawer. The Israelites are trudging through the wilderness and suddenly, God makes these incredible promises that are still valid today.
The mandate to "pay attention to Jesus and to listen to what He says" is more necessary than ever. And note the last condition--if we listen carefully to what He says and do all that the Lord tells us, He will become an enemy to our enemies and will oppose those who oppose us.
I encourage you to let the Lord shine His spotlight into your lives to see where we are listening and where we have turned a deaf ear....where we are obeying and where we are in rebellion. This may answer why there is incredible victory in parts of our lives and captivity in others.
Blessings, Father Scott +
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Parable of the Cracked Pot
The Cracked Pot: A water bearer had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 yrs of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!
At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After 2 yrs of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.
Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."
Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!
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