Esau reached a point where he decided that he had resisted the now-demands of his belly long enough and also decided that his birthright just wasn’t worth living for something in the future (Heb.12:17). We may stay the course with hunger in our belly but we best stay the course. Moby Dick may be doing his best to chew the side off the boat but we must row, bail water & proclaim the promises of God above the racket of mighty molars crunching boat parts. To cease to stay the course is tantamount to selling one’s birthright. In ceasing, we trade the garments of a possessor for the rags of a beggar. Ps.121:1-3, TPT — “I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help. 2 But then I realize that our true help and protection come only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth. 3 He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall. God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.”
Kathy — God help us all if intercession is ever based on deserving or sinlessness. And God help us as intercessors that we never pray, or refuse to pray, based on our opinion or judgment of others. Help us Lord not to ever allow opinions to override obedience. Neither let our opinions be so loud that they deafen us to obedience. 1Sam.15:22, Amp — “Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.”
As the people of God assemble today may they assemble as a governing body. When we assemble as a governing body (ekklesia), there is a synergy created by the power of the Holy Spirit that brings us into the functioning of our destiny. If Jesus did not think that it would work, He would have never ascended to the right hand of the Father. He has, therefore, sent the Holy Spirit with the authority and the power of heaven to bring heaven to earth (Jn.16:7). Heb.10:25, TPT — “This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.”
Jesus was shaking the present religious and political scene when He was recorded to say, “All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and earth has been given to Me. Go then…” (Matt.28:18-19a) and “…just as my Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you.” (Jn.20:21) Key factors we must be aware of: (1) “all authority” and (2) “just as” and (3) “go then.”
Kathy — If we pray out of our opinions and judgments rather than the heart of God, we can bring ourselves under judgment rather than blessing. Also, we position ourselves for discouragement and unbelief because our prayers are hindered as Js.4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives.” (NAS)
Is the real need of this nation a great politician or a real church? Politicians would hardly ever get a mention in the news media if the church was being and doing everything Jesus was and did when He was on earth. One of the major factors that got Jesus crucified was that He was getting more press than Caesar. People were following and clamoring after Jesus because of His acts which so effectively represented the Father. When Jesus confronted and contradicted darkness through redemptive acts it got the nation’s attention. After consistently revealing the Father in this manner, there was a snowballing effort to make Jesus king. Simply put, Jesus was more representative of life and productivity than was Caesar with all his financial resources and all his millions of citizens. Needs were met and problems solved that Caesar had no capacity for.
Kathy — How do we fight for a corporate cause when we are fighting to survive individually? First, we must take hope that God has positioned gifts and strengths geographically and relationally for corporate wars ahead of time, and we must believe corporate agreement will defeat customized weapons as well as enemies with tenure that are attempting to protect ungodly strongholds. Secondly, we have to be confident that being the target does not mean we have to just take a right hook and then wait helplessly for a left jab every time the enemy gets upset. We are not a victim nor a God-authorized target. Once that is settled in us we can fight with confidence and win through time and perseverance. Heb.3:14, Msg — “If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we’re in this with Christ for the long haul.”
Preferred Government — Nebuchanezar was in office for an unlimited term. Nebuchanezar is the one who took the choicest of Israel’s future and enslaved them for the purpose of culturizing them to the values of Babylon. In spite of that fact the Hebrews Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego triumphed and impacted the culture of Babylon with the precepts of Jehovah. (Let us not forget that much prayer was the habit of Daniel.) Saul was in office for an unlimited term. Saul is the one who attempted to murder the future of Israel’s government. In spite of that fact David triumphed. Saul was actually used as a catalyst to join the tribes of the nation to David and see that he was seated on the throne. (Remember: David is an Old Testament type of the New Testament Christ) After being under Saul’s government, Israel much preferred the government of David (NT Christ) over the government of Saul (Heb.: “desired”). He who was so desired became so undesired. (Let us not forget that much worship was the habit of David.)
Kathy — Warfare and Tipping Points — In the old western movies, when the town was too conditioned to the reign of an old foe, the lone sheriff (governmental agent) had to fight him alone. The governmental agent, (the God-appointee to the situation), moved forward and equipped them through example, inspiration and direction. Then “the few” stepped up to unify and finally brought the tipping point. The eventual key to victory was when enough of the townspeople and landowners decided to defy evil and stood together. However, realistically, the tipping point can take a long time to develop because victims are so conditioned to corruption or fear of bucking it. During the time it takes to unify a corporate tipping point, unfortunately, the government agent more often than not becomes the target of rulers of darkness who hold tenure. While being targeted by the enemy, there will be attacks on relationships, circumstances and health to the point that it can seem like the real challenge is keeping the governmental agents ALIVE for the mandate! Rom.12:11-12, The Message — “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.”
As the people of God assemble today, may they realize that they have been elected to an unlimited term of office. May they rejoice in God their Savior Who has elected them to be defended and to provide justice in their behalf. “And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf?” (Lk.18:7, Amp)
