The Message...
For those who didn't spread the Gospel when Jesus sent you during peace time, those who didn't prepare for war in times of peace, the road ahead is about to get more treacherous than it has seemed these past few years. You need to repent and PRAY. Forgiveness is available for you in Jesus' sacrifice (the new covenant).
For those who went forth feet fitted with the READINESS of the Gospel of Peace (Ephesians 6:15), who obeyed the instructions from Jesus, are you not alive and well (Luke 22:35)? Though you've been through some stuff, and He'd agree, He knows you're prepared for what's coming because He has prepared you.
Scripture tells us that as Christians, our sword is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). When the enemy comes to steal from you and you KNOW it's him, are you gonna let him steal AND keep your stuff or are you going to apply the power and authority (Luke 10:19) in the name of Jesus that you have to "pursue, overtake, and recover all (1 Samuel 30:8)"? These Words have been a theme lately.
Incase you're having some challenges now, don't just back down. Seek God. Read His Word. Listen for His voice. Again, His Word is our weapon—our sword, a major part of our armor: The full Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). He may have further strategies for YOU on how to have the victory He has ordained for YOU, but YOU must seek Him.
Your READINESS is being tested here. He has said, no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Before are verses 15-16, and they read:
"If anyone does attack you, it will not be My doing;whoever attacks you will surrender to you.¹⁶“See, it is I Who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I Who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;"
Although the Lord is maker of weapons, they are for His sometimes mysterious purposes but NEVER meant for the purpose of overcoming those He has ordained for victory (those who obey and walk with Him). Furthermore, in Malachi 3:11 we are told that He will rebuke the devourer for our sakes—for those who obey His Word (please apply this part of the Text to its context of tithing as well).
A few weeks ago when satan stole my ID in my dream documented in my previous blog post: "Please Give me my ID" , had I just let this dream go, who knows where I'd be today or a year from now? Honestly, it upset me enough to fight back. No. I wasn't scared. I would not say I am more brave than the next person, but fear isn't what rose up in me when he encountered me, I was very upset that this wrong was happening to me. In reality, it happened FOR me. My READINESS was tested and I was able to show him who God created me to be for His glory. He had no choice but to give up my ID (identity) (Proverbs 6:31) and flee (James 4:7). I surely did recover all in Jesus' name.
My process...
If you're wondering how this Word came about, I often dream. Not all dreams are from God. I will go into this at another time.
As I went searching, scratching my head really, on my phone at 10pm lastnight (5/14/23) looking through a key word on the BLB app, one Scripture stuck out to me. From there, I searched the passage and once I got to the verses with that original keyword in context, I read it over and over until there was a spark of understanding. I am not sure how else to explain what I experienced when understanding came to me. At first I didn't see nor understand it, then suddenly I did and it was as if my entire body agreed that THIS was it: the understanding.
I was then led to read it in the MSG version.
Let me say this...
I cannot place a timeline on this Word because I've learned that just because it feels imminent to me because I am the one who has received the message, it doesn't necessarily mean it will take place tomorrow. Some wisdom: please do not wait until the arrival of an event to be ready. Your READINESS or lack there of, is the theme of this message. "⁶Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: ⁷Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV)."
Scripture References...
Luke 22: 35-36 KJV
Luke 22: 35-37 MSG
Matthew 10:5-20 NIV