John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessings and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Many Christians don't know what God's will and His Plan is for our lives. Since the time God spoke all things into place (including man), His plan and His will for mankind on this earth, have never changed. God's plan is to bring the entire existence into conformity, to His original plan. We have a Plan B, but God doesn't. God's Plan A is always His agenda. He created all things by His Word and Jesus is His Word. As a Man, Jesus brought everything back to God's original plan.
Neither the world or most of the Church, have never really understood God's Plan A. We've heard so many things through the years, that it's difficult to distinguish Truth from error. We've looked at the things surrounding us, instead of the things of God's Promise. JESUS IS THE PROMISE. We read about the Spiritual Blessing in the above scripture, but many have taught that, "These things are for when we get to Heaven." God Blessed mankind with His Blessing in the Spiritual realm, even before He placed man in this earthly realm. God has also Blessed man with His Spiritual Blessing, even in this earthly realm. These Blessings were never intended for Heaven, but from the heavens to the earth. Heaven doesn't need to be Blessed, because the One Who Blesses is already there.
These Blessings came down from the One Who isn't only Blessed, but the Only One Who can Bless. The Blessing was put on hold at the fall of man in the Garden, until the Fullness of Jesus could be manifest in the earth. God intended His Blessing to rule and prosper the earth, like Heaven on earth.
The Church has spent more time teaching the Law and the Curse, instead of the Truth and the Blessing. Is it any wonder that things aren't working like God's Plan and His will is for us? This was what Jesus came to preach and teach. He was always on the wrong side of those who opposed the Truth. The devil hasn't changed his tactics from the beginning, like he did with Eve, asking, "Did God say?"
Most believers agree that God's Word is True, but like the spies who came back from Canaan, we consider the giants more than the Promise. There are still "giants" in the land, but our God is much bigger than any giant. Do we hold our place like David did or do we submit in fear, at the giants? David wasn't blind to the size of Goliath, but his sight was on his place and covenant with the Most High God!
We've looked at the Promises, but like the Israelites in Numbers 13-14, we've listened to the voice of those who see themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants and have only seen ourselves on our own, without God. If we don't see ourselves as being in Christ and Christ in us, then we've still grasshoppers in this world, not only in our own eyes, but in the eyes of the enemy. Satan knows who is trusting in Jesus and who is trusting in something else.
The seven sons of a certain Jewish priest were trying to cast out devils in Acts 19:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "Seven sons of a certain Jewish priest named Sceva were doing this but one evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know and Paul I know about, but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt leaped upon them, mastering two of them, and was so violent against them that they dashed out of the house in fear, stripped naked and wounded."
This scripture clearly tells us that in the spirit, the enemy knows who is trusting in and is moving in the Holy Spirit and who isn't. He can only devour those who are in fear and not those who are walking in faith and unity with God's Word. You never approach a giant by yourself, but only in the faith of your place in Christ Jesus. 1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) says, "Be well-balanced (temperate and sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours (the devil), roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him: be firm in faith against his onset (rooted and established, strong, immovable and determined), knowing that the same identical sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole Body of Christians throughout the world)."
Notice how the above scripture doesn't say that the devil is going about "devouring everyone," but that he is "seeking someone to devour." You might not be able to stop him from roaring and seeking, but you can withstand him in the faith and remain in taking God's Promise, in spite of the giants around you. Don't be discouraged, because of his attacks. Remember, Peter says that satan "goes around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger, seeking someone to devour." Satan isn't earing up everyone, but he's seeking someone to devour.
Satan came up against Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, John and everyone who walks in faith in God. You're not alone and you're not defeated. Peter even stated that, "Knowing this same thing, comes against the entire Church." It's up to each of us, to stand or fall under satan's roaring. The roar of a lion, can do nothing. It can frighten us, but it cannot eat us.
The "grasshopper vision" was in the hearts of the Israelites in the Wilderness. They saw themselves as grasshoppers. The Israelites turned back from spying out the Promised Land in Joshua 2:10-11 (Amplified), where Joshua says, "For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the east side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed When we heard it, our hearts melted, neither did spirit or courage remain anymore in any man because of you. For the Lord your God, He is god in Heaven above and on earth beneath."
We've done like those Israelites, doing exactly what Jesus tells us not to do, in Mark 4:24 (Amplified), where Jesus says, "Be careful what you hear." We've considered the evil report of those who only heard the roar of the one who thought himself a lion. Peter didn't say that satan "is a lion," but that he goes about "like a lion." There is only One Lion in our lives and He is the Lion of Judah, our Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let grasshopper vision guide your life. Allow the Word of God to do so.
There are so many things being taught in today's Church, but you must seek the Truth of God's Word for your life. The majority might believe the word of their being grasshoppers, but that doesn't mean it is Truth. The majority of the Israelites in the Wilderness opposed the words of Joshua and Caleb, but Joshua and Caleb were the only ones from that generation, that God allowed to enter into the Promised Land. You might be standing against the roar of the enemy, while others don't, but that doesn't mean that the enemy hasn't come to "all the brethren." The roar is only successful against those who don't stand.
Take note that Peter didn't say,"God is the One testing your faith," but the lie of the enemy is looking for someone to devour. When you see the giant instead of the Lord, you become no more than a grasshopper in the eyes of the enemy.
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