Can You Explain That Please?

A close friend and sister in Christ left a comment under the post Stand Still and Wait (from January 18, 2018), which gave me pause and left me wondering if others were having difficulty understanding the word from the Lord that I had posted.  Since my friend posted it to public forum, I asked permission to use her comment to expound on the message that was given, in case others perhaps needed an explanation. Permission was granted. Thank you D.L.

Comment: Tough word Bonita. Wondering if I will wait upon the Lord when He seemingly isn't answering my prayers. It can be tough when disaster appears imminent and you must do something. I pray I and my brethren will have the grace to "stand still and wait" when faced with this test. God Bless you sis. 

So, I emailed her a response. What follows is what I gleaned from my answer (but I will add more to it here, which I did not write to my friend), with the hope that it will help others who may have had questions and/or unclear understanding.

At the beginning of the “Stand Still and Wait” post, I had stated that the word was not meant for everyone. Usually, a message, especially a prophetic message, is understood by those it is meant for. Different situations were being addressed by the Lord, and not every situation pertains to everyone or all people. It is between an individual and God (Jesus).

Mankind vs God?

There are some Christians who are astounded by what mankind has accomplished or plans to accomplish as far as technology goes (AI; virtual reality, holograms, 3D printers etc), weaponry (compact airborne high energy lasers, direct laser weapon system, etc) and biological (cloning, hybrids etc), but God pointed out that some of these same people who believe the “once-impossible” things that mankind has developed somehow struggle to believe Him for the “impossible” miracles which He is more than capable of.

Some people are afraid to believe because of the warnings about false prophets and false Christs, but in both instances (Mat 24:24 and 2 Thes 2:9) the warnings refer to Satan and the son of perdition (Antichrist).  Ultimately the false ones will point away from the true, living God and away from Jesus Christ spoken of in the gospel and point to a different “Jesus” or different “Christ” than the one written about in the gospels. 

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him.  [2Cor 11:3, 4]

That being said, Jesus the Christ (Messiah) still performs miracles today.

The Deceiver

This is where Satan will bring confusion, discouragement, lies and strong doubts, presenting many thoughts (fiery darts) (sometimes in rapid succession, complete with imagery) to try and prove that whatever miracle you believe God for defies logic (even miracles as mind-boggling as Peter walking on water, or the sun going backward ten degrees, or water separating and leaving a dry path, or 10 lepers healed at once, or reversals such as in Job’s situation, etc).

Satan will either try to convince a person that God does not do the impossible today and that you believe a lie, questioning whether God really spoke to you (remember the serpent in the Garden of Eden), or that you have gone off the deep end aka “you are crazy”. Or perhaps even questions will enter the mind such as, “…why would Jesus perform a miracle for you, out of billions of people in the world?”, along with perhaps many other twisted truths, lies and questions, in order to lure you into fear and unbelief.

Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to scriptures that will combat and destroy Satan’s lies. Keep on the full armour of God, and hold fast to your faith. When Satan came against Jesus (who is the Word that came in the flesh), Jesus countered everything Satan said with the Holy Scriptures (the WORD of God). It is written…we are to do the same as Jesus did. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

Danger of Apostasy

Not only are we warned of false prophets and false Christs, but we are to watch for those who are in positions of leadership within the body of Christ that are false brethren and/or deceitful workers.

There are some in leadership who are caught up in sin (adultery, fornication, lies, deception etc) and who speak forth accusations, harbouring bitterness, anger, and/or unforgiveness toward other Christians. This should not be and sets the wrong example. He is and has been calling them to repentance; judgment is at their door.

Some are teaching false doctrines or compromising with the world. There are leaders in danger of becoming reprobate, unless they genuinely repent and change their heart/mind.  In the last days, we are warned by Jesus that many will fall away (apostasy). Repentance is always an option, unless the heart becomes hardened and love waxes cold, and unless God sends them strong delusion because they would not receive the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. [2Thess 2:11]

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. [2Pet 3:9]

Part of the message in "Stand Still and Wait" is addressing Christians and situations such as those in positions of trust and leadership, those  who refuse correction, blinded to truth due to anger, hatred etc and will not humble themselves, confess their sin and repent in brokenness, in order for God to deliver, heal and restore. [2Chron 7:14, 15]

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.  

[2Cor 11:13-15]

They profess that they know God; but in works thy deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. [Titus 1:16]

If the Lord ever instructs you to confront such leaders face to face in His love, giving them opportunity to repent and turn from unrighteousness, and if the warnings are not received, you can expect adverse reaction or response.

When and only IF God leads you, He will give you the words and the strength to stand calmly, without fear, amidst what could very well turn out to be a brood of vipers. He will grant the same grace as granted to Stephen before those he rebuked stoned him to death. Satan, the accuser of the brethren, will turn a warning meant for the salvation of a soul around, mirroring it to accuse the messenger of exactly the sin which those tormented by him are guilty of. He is a master at manipulation, slander and deception.

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you, if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.  [Jn 15:20]

Times of Danger

I am sure that the Lord is not saying that if we are in a dangerous situation that we have to just sit still and wait, but rather, we are to trust the leading of the Holy Spirit, keeping in mind that God is Sovereign, who knows the end from the beginning.

I cannot pretend to know the mind of God, not even close, but when I was given scriptures such as Moses at the time of the exodus [Ex 14], and all the Israelites were backed up to the Red Sea with nowhere to go, and Pharaoh and his army were closing in, in hot pursuit, what I understood that the Lord was showing me was that He already had planned a way out for them. He knew all along. He was not caught off-guard by Pharaoh and his men.

Pharaoh had over 600 choice chariots and it says he took all the chariots of Egypt, and all his horsemen and army to catch the Israelites, and they were almost upon them. [Ex 14:7] The people were terrified, and understandably so. They wondered why God had brought them out of Egypt only to be killed by Pharaoh and his armies at the sea, where they had no way of escape. [verses 10-12]

Moses told them not to fear, but to stand still (in other words, DONT RUN; DONT PANIC...) and wait for God to deliver them. That's when the cloud and darkness covered the Egyptians whilst waters of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites began to cross over. You know the rest of the story.

It was not a test…God acted immediately, but they still had to wait for God’s answer to unfold. The Egyptians were stopped until the cloud moved and that did not happen until the waters fully parted and all of the Israelites were almost across to the other side.

Just like King Jehoshaphat, when the enemy armies were approaching and he did not know what to do. He was afraid and greatly distressed, but God already had an answer and told him what to do. It was not a test, but they had to go into battle. Singers were appointed to go ahead of the army and sing and praise God. When they got to the enemy camp, they were all dead. The armies had all turned on one another, and fought and destroyed each other.  [2Chron 20:23]

But Jehoshaphat still had to wait (not run, panic or give up), but wait for God, who already had the plan and was unfolding it. The king and his army had to stand still in a spiritual sense, not literally because they still had to march to the enemy’s camp.  

It was not a test and they did not have to wait, as in “stand still like a statue and do nothing”, but in both cases, (Moses and with Jehoshaphat), they only had to stand still (in trusting God) and follow His instructions and wait for things to unfold before their eyes, as God worked. 

                    

Not a Test – God Leads

So, if we find ourselves in danger, do not think it is a test. You are going to have to fight fear, but know in your heart and mind that God has not abandoned you. He is Sovereign and will lead us in that very moment, even if it simply means giving us the strength needed to bear up as He did Stephen.

I do not have all the answers but when we are in imminent danger where action must be taken, I know God is with us. There are times He commands us to stand still (spiritually, do not fear) and wait for things to unfold. Sometimes that is all we can do.

In both scenarios in the Bible, the people and even the leaders were understandably and naturally afraid (God gave us instincts). However, each time, the people were told not to fear (panic), but stand still spiritually (not give up or give in, thinking that God has abandoned you) but wait for things to unfold (such as the time it took for the waters to part, or the time it took to march to the enemy camp, only to find the enemies were all dead and that it was indeed God’s battle...)

Final Surrender

Some of God’s people have one final thing to give up, in order to share with Christ in victory, and that is the final surrender of flesh, along with its appetites and desires. Some are struggling. The Lord God is saying not to keep delaying out of fear, but that there comes a time it has to be done.  

He is saying it is a critical time and He does not want the door to close, but like a good Father, He is calling His people to pay attention...to snap to it, which means to move swiftly and wisely to an action. That would even mean people like me; so let us pray for each other to overcome, to be strengthened.

The key to overcoming fear is to receive His perfect love because it will cast out fear, for fear has torment. The struggle ends when we believe, receive and rest in God’s love. Obedience gives us that confidence and if He asks us to do something, He knows we can do it, and the Holy Spirit is in us to help us.

The message the Lord gave is not to be cruel but rather one of urgency because of things that are coming.  He is “unfolding” His plans for each, but we must follow His instructions.

God also sees and knows that for many who are determined to obey in complete surrender, and who are very close to victory, have seen things that are very close to their heart (very important) suddenly seem to take a nosedive. The enemies of the cross target our vulnerable (weakest) area, with every intention to steal, kill and destroy.

God is saying to stand still spiritually, meaning do not run, panic or give up, but to trust Him. There are times we all face fear, and it is scary and hard and yes, it is a battle. So we find scripture (and yes, I speak to myself as well):

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  [Phil 4:13] 

Search the Word and use it as a mighty weapon against flesh and the enemy.  I did state that the message was not for everyone, my friend, but those who it is meant for will know.

The Lord is not angry (I did not sense any anger at this time as He spoke), but it was definitely a very firm, serious and strong warning about the time we are in, and the importance of being obedient, following instruction.

He wants those who are determined and sincere about overcoming to stand still spiritually (meaning do not stay in fear; do not panic, run or give up, but DO). He has the answer already, just as He did for Moses and the Hebrews, and Jehoshaphat and the Israelites.  It just has to unfold and we have to be strong, and go through whatever He has instructed us to do, trusting that His banner over us is love and in Jesus Christ, there is victory. 

for His glory

Bonita                      dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com