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 Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 4:14-15 (Amplified) says, "Inasmuch then as we have a Great High Priest Who has already ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession of faith in Him. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."
While here in a flesh and blood Body, Jesus endured everything the enemy could use against Him, but He never yielded. We sometimes forget that Jesus was also the Son of man, as well as the Son of God. Jesus' Body was subject to physical tiredness, sickness, pain and all of the same things that plague us in our flesh today. Jesus had more chances to be discouraged, disappointed and frustrated, than any man before or since mankind existed.
Jesus is still walking this earth, in the same way today, in our flesh and blood bodies. Jesus still faces the same trials that He faced here as a Man, through us, the Church which is His Body. Instead of having only one flesh and blood Body, Jesus now lives and walks in over two billion bodies. The same Spirit that Jesus had then, is the same Spirit Who lives in every believer.
With the craziness, turmoil and confusion we're witnessing in today's world, it's easy to forget that Jesus is really "in us," just like He stated. It's can be difficult to recall and function in many of the things we "thought we knew," in times of trouble. It's not that God's Word doesn't work, but we get caught up in the worldly matters of life. Jesus never allowed the world to rattle Him. When He was approached and told about Lazarus, Jesus didn't rush to be at Lazarus' side. Jesus waited on the Spirit to direct Him.
We move by pressure from the outside, instead of direction from within. I received a call at six o'clock telling me that my cattle were out and near the road. As we rushed to drive them back in and mend the fence, I happened to think about other believers around the world, who were facing circumstances of life. The people in America's mid-west are being accosted by devastating floods, storms, tornadoes and destruction. I saw the deceit of the enemy, using these things to distract them from the work of the Kingdom.
It's not always easy to keep our minds "stayed on Him," especially in times of trouble. No matter what, though, we must act by the Spirit, instead of reacting to the trial. Instead of being pressured by the confinement of prison, Paul and Silas chose to act by the Spirit, singing until the jail fell apart. Paul didn't panic when a poisonous viper bit him, but he simply allowed the Holy Spirit to do His work, from within. We forget that the Same Spirit that held the flesh of Jesus from the things around, is the Very Same Spirit that is now living in us.
The Holy Spirit has provided everything we need here on earth, from within us. Proverbs 18:14 (Amplified) says, "The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?" We can become so caught up in the basics of life, that we fail to feed the spirit, keeping it strong by the Word and fellowship with God. Once the enemy weakens our spirit by pressure, then we give in to the surround things in life. We forget that Life comes from within and not only by the physical man. In these Last Days of the Church Age, satan has pulled out all stops. It can seem like, everything that can go wrong, will. Many have become so discouraged and are holding on, until Jesus comes. They have given up any thought of being victorious over the world and the enemy.
When we hear God's Word about healing or deliverance preached, we view it as "pie in the sky" doctrine and some even ridicule these Messages. We're in a battle that cannot be won by anything, other than the Word of God and the Spirit. This isn't the time for us to "hold-on." We need to advance and take back what has been held in captivity. There comes a time in every battle, when we get tired and need rest. Even Jesus had to take the time to stop and spend time with the Father. There was much for Jesus to do and only a certain amount of time for Him to do it, but He still had to come away and rest.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 (Amplified), "Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest, I will ease and relive and refresh your souls." Spending time in God's Word and in His Presence, is never wasted time. The world will always tell you, "There's too much to do, to spend time with God!" We can't wait until we have time, we must make time. Don't try fitting God into your schedule, but build your schedule around Him.
The world is a frantic, busy place and we have many duties to perform in it. It's hard to keep our minds stayed on Him, like He directs us to do. This is the greatest weapon the enemy uses against us, while we're here on earth. Jesus didn't only send the Holy Spirit to be with us, but to direct us too. God intended the Holy Spirit to do than getting us born-again. God intended the Holy Spirit to do what He did in Jesus' Life on earth. Jesus told His followers in John 14:18 (Amplified), "I will not leave you as orphans, comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless, I will come back for you."
We weren't left here without the Father or the Holy Spirit or to get along the best we know how. We are sons and daughters of God and we have Him, to take care of us, like He Promised. We must always keep in mind, that God isn't the One bringing these things against us, but it's the enemy who is trying to separate us from the Father's help. We each have responsibilities in this life and our own manner of dealing with them. Some will chose to stay in the Wilderness, while others will choose to take the Land, like Joshua and Caleb did. Both are God's children, but not all will enter into the Rest that God Promised in Hebrews 4:11.
When I think that I have all the answers, it seems like the questions are changed. I've had to refresh myself in things I learned from the Lord, years ago. Some of the things I knew, I let slide over the years and had neglected things that I previously observed. I realized that some of the things happening in my life, happened because I had neglected what the Holy Spirit had taught me, years prior.
The total amount of information in the world is increasing. Knowledge doubles every 12 hours and is set to rise even faster. One thing I learned in Boot Camp is that basic training is something you never lose. We must hold onto the basic Truth of who we are and Who we serve. We can't forget who the enemy is and become double-minded in our walk with the Lord. The trials of this world aren't meant to strengthen you, but to destroy you. Don't allow the enemy to distract you from victory and deliverance. Stand on God's Word and hold fast your faith, in Him.
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