Emails and Face Book posts definitively describe “this” which is expected to happen and “that” which is said to be inevitable. But before any of those persons or entities or their agendas existed, Jehovah God said, “I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone” (1Pe. 2:6). Jesus is the Rock (1Cor.10:4) and He is greater than anything that opposes you, your family, your church, your community or this nation. Rom.9:33, Amp — “Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense; And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”
Kathy — Jesus did not leave us the example that persecution should leave us a shaken, bloody victim. He glorified God. Jn.17:4, TPT “I have glorified you on the earth by faithfully doing everything you’ve told me to do.” By example He showed us that persecution cannot take you out. He left when it was time to leave by God’s direction and not a moment before God said, not a slap before God said, not a false accusation before God said, not one human or demonic maneuver before God said.
Melissa — “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) That’s a Change-Agent’s life right there. We PROVE the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. How? By changing our thought habits. We meditate on God’s will, His original intent for this earth. We stop fixating on the enemy’s war around us by realizing his war has intensified because he is feeling the pressure of this never-ending Kingdom in Luke 1. We turn our thoughts toward that powerful fact. We engage in power, love, and a sound mind by dumping fear-thoughts that have wreaked havoc (2 Timothy 1:7). This is all possible in our lifetime!
Kathy — If persecution is for righteousness’ sake and not our own, we can expect the promise: “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!” Eternal life comes through Jesus, not persecution. This is the promise of God’s authority and rule and power manifesting in our lives–our lifestyle reflecting His goodness, faithfulness and power. It is the kingdom of heaven demonstrated on earth as it is in heaven in our lifetime. (Matt.6:33)
Melissa — Yes, it has come to this: Be vigilant – keenly watchful to detect danger; ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful. (dictionary.com) Let me go ahead and say, this is not a “you deserve a spanking for allowing the world to go down the toilet” article. Rather this article is aimed at being an alarm clock to wake up God’s sleeping giants to war! Is that you? Well, you’re the one reading this right now, and that is NO COINCIDENCE! So, here’s your wake up call, you beautiful heavenly-Change-Agent, you! What is a heavenly Change-Agent? It’s one who makes a difference wherever they are because they carry Heaven in them. When I say Heaven, I mean one who carries the original intent of God wherever they go. What is God’s original intent? Heaven on earth, a Kingdom without end (Luke 1:31-33). The difference between our Change-Agents and the ones making the news right now is that we cause life, healing, peace, hope, restoration—not death and destruction!
Kathy — Self-government keeps us from agreeing with powers of darkness that use emotions. Self-government keeps us from spiritual wickedness in high places that influences thoughts. The beginning basics are (1) we have to know right to recognize wrong and (2) we have to choose right to defeat wrong. Consistently choosing right is the pulse of self-government.
As the people of God assemble today may they allow their holy Creator, by His Spirit, to hover over the chaos of their minds and their doubts as He did in the beginning, so that He can overcome the chaos with His order. May they be enveloped in the wisdom, order and peace of Him Who creates all things good. Gen.1:2-4a, NASB — “And the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good;”
SEEC Magazine Latest Issue Volume 24 Issue 6 __ December2020/January2021 ** Our 24th Year of Publication! ** Marty and Kathy Gabler invite you to read this issue. (Give the PDF magazine a few seconds to load.) CLICK ON COVER BELOW TO READ:
Melissa — If God cloaks something for a time, it is not only to hide it from the devil and his destructive minions, but it is also to hide it from our own self-sabotage. Yes, the devil and self-sabotage are two different things. However, the devil LOVES stoking the flames of self-sabotage! All we have to do is let our fears and concerns fall out of our mouths like kindling for the enemy’s threatening bonfire. So many times we make the devil’s job so easy.
Kathy — Matt.5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” Let’s read it like this: Blessed are they who stay positioned in God-purpose even through contrary winds. Blessed are they who align with God’s character when they are ridiculed for it. Blessed are they who tirelessly remain faithful when compromise would be such a relief.
We are part of a great plan of God that has been intricately designed from before the foundation of the world. Added to the dimension of personal issues and concerns is the dimension that each of us has a part to play out in that great design. Eph.2:10, TPT — “We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!.” Those who stay the course AND those who do not will both have an effect. (2Tim.4:10)
Kathy — Seems the norm is to run into another battle on the way to battle. Jesus had to deal with His own disciples’ betrayal on His way to the cross. David dealt with his brother Eliab’s disdain before Goliath. I don’t doubt that first skirmish turns out to be prep for the second. Think of it as building a battle momentum so you can show up with an already bloody, intimidating sword! Jer.12:5, The Message — “So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm, what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”
Chipmunks and birds gather up provisions in preparation for the coming season, so there is built into each season an opportunity to prepare for the coming season. Part of staying the course includes preparation for the next season. The enemy of our destiny is hoping that we will become so focused on the factors that have put us in the present strain that we will not prepare for the season to come. Prov.24:27, Amplified — “Prepare your work outside And get it ready for yourself in the field; Afterward build your house and establish a home.”
Kathy — Battle heats up by reason of the needed outcome. Heat determines the strength of a weld, so does the intensity of battle establish the strength and longevity of the victory. The vehemence of battle welds the outcome in undeniable purpose rather than just leaving us with fragmented memories of war. Heat is one of the components of long-term victory and intense battle yields intensely awesome results! Ps.18:39, Amplified Version — “For You have encircled me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”
As the people of God assemble today may they experience the elation and joy of realizing that, in the moment of praise and hearing the Word of God, they have won battles over satan. May they experience the lifting of burdens and lifting of the weightiness of despair. Ps.68:19-20, The Passion Translation — “What a glorious God! He gives us salvation over and over, then daily he carries our burdens! Pause in his presence. 20 Our God is a mighty God who saves us over and over! For the Lord, Yahweh, rescues us from the ways of death many times.”
Melissa — Let’s look at “Call to me and I will answer you” through a modern American paradigm: I call on the Lord and He will answer – I will tell Him what I need and He will give it to me because He is a loving God. You know, kind of like curbside grocery delivery. I took the time to get my list together and I took the time to call about this list. Now, it’s on Him to deliver! I’m afraid we North Americans operate out of an entitled mindset not only in our relationship with earthlings, but also in our relationship with God. If I call on Him then ________ (insert pre-determined answer here). The problem with an entitled relationship with God is where the entitlement is rooted. If it is rooted in the Spirit, according to the covenant, then it will put you in a posture of dominion. If, however, it is rooted in the soul then it will hold you in a victimized defensive posture. The soul will keep you chained out of reach of God’s original intent which is indeed dominion. Or said another way, the soul will keep you from being heaven on earth.
Kathy — We can choose to get over painful blows and hurt feelings and refuse to allow them to become offense and self-pity. One way to overcome them is to use anger rather than lie down in it. Ephesians 4:26 – ”Be angry and do not sin…”. It doesn’t tell us NOT to get angry. It tells us when we get angry, 1) resolve it rightly, 2) resolve it quickly, and 3) don’t do anything in the process that gives up ground you’ll have to win back later.
When walking through a season, wouldn’t it be best if we got all we could out of it so that we don’t have to go through another one just like it? It may not be possible for some of us to get through the experiences that course will take us through while maintaining our same old paradigms about who God is and how God works. One purpose of seasons is likely to open up a wider revelation of who God is and what His ways are and how we are to participate with Him. Ps.25:4, TPT — “Lord, direct me throughout my journey so I can experience your plans for my life. Reveal the life-paths that are pleasing to you.”
Kathy — The Holy Spirit has been emphasizing a two-sided weapon, discernment and wisdom. We must have discernment so that we can cut through the fog of emotions and opinions that arise during change and growth. Discernment will keep us from standing against the changes that God is bringing to His church and our lives. We need discernment to choose righteously and then we need wisdom to know how to walk out our choices. Js.1:5, TPT — “And if anyone longs to be wise, ask God for wisdom and he will give it! He won’t see your lack of wisdom as an opportunity to scold you over your failures but he will overwhelm your failures with his generous grace.”
The month of December is for recommitting ourselves to prayer for one another and matters that matter. It seems to be easy to fall out of the habit of regular prayer when the stuff of life happens and pulls on us and disappoints us and distracts us. But we can refocus and return to (or begin) the all-important discipline of regular prayer in December. Eph.6:18, Amp — “With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.” 1Tim.2:8, Amp — “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind].”
Kathy — Wisdom is working to equip us to prevail in days ahead over key forces like offense, self-pity, anger and fear. The power of those forces is that they condition us to defeat ourselves. Offense is stumbling and it causes us to cripple ourselves. Offense causes us to become distrustful and desert our post. We do not have to take in offense even when it comes banging on our door with every logic. Ps.119:165, TPT — “There is such a great peace and well-being that comes to the lovers of your word, and they will never be offended.”
As the people of God assemble today may they all give acknowledgement and give assent that Yahweh is due “Amens” and “Hallelujahs” from everyone — from the ancient ones all the way to us today and to the ones who are yet to be born. Ps.106:48, TPT — “Blessed be our Lord God forever and ever. And let everyone everywhere say, “Hallelujah!” Amen! Faithful is our King!” Let them all say, “Be it so, certainly, truly” for merciful, Almighty God is faithful and true to His Word and to His character. Though people had sinned, though the sins were listed in this Psalm as a witness against them, yet the Lord was merciful to them so that there was reason for thanksgiving, for “Amens” and “Hallelujahs”. Amen, Oh, King of Kings!
martygabler 