Run with Horses

Jeremiah 12:5 exhorts us, "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you run with horses?"  

 Get ready.  The pot is starting to boil!  Prophetic warnings sound across the world that the time of the Lord's return is short and the intensity of the battle with the powers of darkness is increasing exponentially.  However, Jesus shifts our attention from what is happening in the world to focusing on the glory of His plan, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28.

 Sudden or tragic events do not mean it is a time to panic, but rather a fresh awareness to put on the armor, stand equipped declaring the Word, and seeing the kingdom of God overcome all.  Jesus promises, "in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  Furthermore, as 1 John 5 states, because He overcomes, all who are born of Him also overcome!

Several times in John 14 Jesus explains to His disciples that He is telling them what is coming so that when it comes they continue to believe.  Since we have His assurance that He is working all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, we can afford to rejoice, trust Him, and simply “see the salvation of God,” as He told the Israelites at the Red Sea.   The book of Revelation is the “revelation of Jesus Christ” according to verse 1:1 and the message is clearly that He is King of kings and Lord of lords who triumphs over all evil establishing the kingdoms of the world as kingdoms of our Lord.

Praise God forever!  Heaven and earth declare He is worthy of all glory and honor and praise.  Therefore, every time we hear of one more negative thing happening, it is time to praise the Lord more for being greater and conquering this area too   Let’s turn every enemy work into thanksgiving and praise for the victory of Jesus, because God is not mocked, every act and word will receive His just retribution.  Yes, rejoice and give Him glory for His faithfulness and perfect plan.

  

Bad News: Battle; Good News: You Overcome!

You are an overcomer.  You live by faith.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  Receive God's plan for you as stated in Romans 15:13,  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."   

Hope is a sure promise of sharing Jesus' victory.  It shouldn't surprise us that life has battles.  1 Peter 4:12 reminds us not to consider it strange at the fiery trials we face.  Paul shared in Corinthians that an effective door had opened for him to share the Gospel, but there were many adversaries.  All through Biblical history, whether re-building the temple, the walls of Jerusalem, David's challenge with Saul, etc., there have always been obstacles that seek to prevent man from doing God's will.  That is why Galatians 6:9 encourages us to persevere, "do not get weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

1 John 5 gives a message that is even stronger, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  As you stand in faith that Jesus is the Son of God, who overcame, and now His resurrection power dwells in you, you are transformed into an overcomer.

When you are in the middle of problems, take time and let the Word dwell in your richly until you can rest in the spirit and stand in all God has promised and what He has called you to believe.  As Galatians 4 reminds us, we are heirs of God, but if we stay as little children, we don't know all we possess.  It clearly is a season where the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to possess our possessions and not be intimidated by the enemy's threats and setbacks.  Having done all, stand.

My prayer is that you continue to strive to enter that rest of faith and are able to set your mind on the Spirit who knows and reveals all that God has given you.  You will have victory and overcome in the name and triumph of Jesus. 

A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own opinions.

  Guilty! The court of public opinion has spoken.  Whether it is President Trump, Alabama for passing a law to end abortion of babies, or New York for allowing babies to die on the birth table, multitudes of vociferous tweets and chats fill the Internet.  We clearly are in a day where people delight in expressing their own opinions (Proverbs 18:2).  It seems impossible to not be affected by this tsunami of public comment.

What can a person who wants to be informed and yet not negatively influenced do?  Some people have chosen to avoid social media altogether to prevent the complaining and criticizing from poluting their minds.  Others try to either ignore those sites which with they disagree and only subscribe to like-minded people.  Even more difficult to handle, Proverbs 26:4-5 states that if you answer a fool you become like him, and if you don't answer he thinks he is wise in his own eyes (he thinks he won!).  There is seemingly no way out unless you live in a world where you are able to avoid fools!

There is a famous saying in Jeremiah 12:5 that declares if you get weary with the footmen what are you going to do with those on horses?  Consider standing in the ocean, you can walk easily in the shallow water on a calm day, but you really have to brace yourself to not fall in the waves of a hurricane.  The Word suggests the hurricane of thoughts and opinions is coming.

Get ready.  Since clearly the battleground is in the mind, and the way to win the spiritual battle is to take every thought captive, there is only one solution,  Know the truth.  Jesus declared the Word of God is truth.  The more the world pounds on us with their foolish opinions, the greater the need to be able to evaluate every thought with God's truth.  What you sow is what you reap.  Take as much time and enjoyment in understanding the Word as you do what others say in social media.  Delight in understanding by asking the Holy Spirit to open up the truth of the Word so you see clearly.  God is up for the fight, the only question is will you let Him renew your thinking?   As a man thinks, so is he.