Expected End

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers (kosmokrator skotos vs helios kosmokrator) of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (light phos)

• Recruited
  • Before the foundations of the world. Ephesians 1:4 he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love
  • In our mothers womb Jeremiah 1:5, Isaiah 49:1
  • While we were yet in our sins. (Romans 5:6-11)
  • Called and drawn by God John 6:44
  • At the right time
• Inducted –Federal law requires everyone who enlists or re-enlists in the Armed Forces of the United States to take the enlistment oath. Read more »
  

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive shall fail,
and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet,
and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

I watch in amazement sometimes at the things professional athletes are able do with their bodies when the situation calls for it. To the runner’s left is the sidelines, to his right and in front of him are defenders, dug in and with outstretched arms. The runner with the ball then leaps up and over the defenders into the end zone. Likewise, in basketball, I’ve seen  players dives for  loose balls:  leaping over the scorer’s table and into the stands. Read more »

In the difficult days we face ahead (not being prophetic, it is a part of life that not everything goes as we would prefer) we need the insurance that God is with us. That he is not just with us but taking and active interest in our affairs and working on our behalf behind the scenes.  And He is working: though we may not always see him at work.

We need to learn to see Him. We need to learn how to be conscious of His presence and His workings at all times. A phrase some Christians use is “Practicing the  Presence of God.” The following are some verses which can help us detect our Lord and increase the strength and accuracy of our “Godar.”

• Genesis 17:1: God is behind me.
  • And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
• Deuteronomy 13:4: God is before me.
  • Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
• Psalm 91:1 : God is above me.
  • He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
• Psalms 40:2 Beneath me as my rock
  • He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
• Genesis 6:9 &  Genesis 5:24 , Revelation 3:4:God is beside me.
  • And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
  • Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy
• Psalm 16:8 : God is on my right.(south)
  • I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
• Job 23:9 : God is on my left (north).
  • On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
• Psalm 34:7 : God is all around me.
  • 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them
• Colossians 1:27 : Christ is in me.
  • To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

(adopted from http://www.ministrylive.org/index.php/2008/09/15/practicing-the-presence-of-god/)

If we know that God is:

• Before us
• Behind us
• Beneath us
• Above us
• To our right
• To our left
• With me and,
• Within me

We can understand what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 1.6:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

And also Philippians 4:6,7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:26,27

We don’t realize how special we are to God. We don’t fully appreciate how He is at work in our lives 24/7/365 tweaking us,  teaching us, loving us, molding us, shaping us, conforming us, and even singeing us till we reach our expected end – when we become full-fledged sons and daughters who look like him, talk like him, and act like him.

He accomplishes this through many means:

• Guidance through His word (Rhema, illumination, revelation of scripture). When we get that flash of insight as to how this scripture applies to our life.
• Other believers, preachers, teachers, prophets, and angels who guide, goad, and sometimes rebuke us.
• Sometimes He puts obstacles in our way which force us to take the necessary detours.
• Finally God shakes us up. Read more »