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Many things that Believers encounter are for the benefit of others to come into the Body of Christ. The key to not come out emptyhanded.
Secrets In The Storms
Storms sometime come into our lives to take us to a place in the spirit as well as the natural that we are not even aware of or what to do. Why? Because if you are truly a vessel of the Lord, He has need of you. The question is not why me, but who is around me that needs what God has placed on the inside of me. Don't even allow the enemy to make you think that you are off course. You are in position to be used by God. Your storm is an assignment not just for your benefit, but for those who are assigned to you.
It is important that every Believer know and is assured of their identity in the Body of Christ. It is that identity, that distinctive uniqueness that is a threat to the enemy. As we are in a continual process of forming and filling, that adversary does not know all that is in you or even what you are capable of. Some things are only revealed and exposed in the midst of a storm. That is why all things work, operate effectively for your good. The enemy is working for you not against you in the attack. It is a test to see where you are in the spirit. Know this, that as you seek the Lord fervently, revelation and an anointing will come upon you to have a heavenly view enlightening you with spiritual understanding.
In Acts 27, Paul was sailing to Rome through various ports on his last voyage. Paul's life had many storms as he was told that he must suffer for many things. When the ship that he was on encountered dangerous contrary winds, he informed those in authority of the impending danger. Rejecting his words, they continued and as Paul said disaster occurred. But even though the ship was undergirded in the natural, hope came in a word spoken by Paul as it was given to him by the angel of God.
For the amount of time that they spent at sea, must have seemed like an eternity with no sun or stars appearing for days. If you have been in a storm for a long time, this is how it may seem to you, whether it is a storm for your children, your finances, your mates, your job or anything else that the enemy devises to come against you. You have been and will be built by the Word of God. The enemy uses time against the Believer making every attempt to erode and steal your faith. You have been and will be built by the Word of God to sustain you in and through the warfare. Your deliverance comes with revelation knowledge not only for yourself, but for others as well. “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4 MSG). The enemy does not realize that he is assisting with the development of your faith. All you have to do is remain steadfast and unmovable. Whatever the outcome, you will not come out empty handed!
The storm that Paul encountered led him to an island where God used him to demonstrate the power of God. If it were not for the storm, he would have never stopped by this island. The enemy came out immediately to influence the thoughts of the people with deception so that they would think that Paul was a murder because of the snake that attempted to attach itself to his hand. The enemy came out because of the heat of the situation, the heat of the anointing of Paul on the island to bring the Gospel. But the enemy was shaken off as Paul's hands came close to the fire. He was carrying the power of God to convert everyone on the island. He stayed there three months and the power of God was demonstrated through the many that were healed of diseases. God wanted the people on this island to know who He was and He used His vessel Paul, to stop by to bring change. How awesome the love of the Father is that He wanted these people. Can you even imagine who He wants that is around you and that you are chosen to be a vessel of witness of His glory?
Sometimes we encounter mini storms or interruptions that come to frustrate and distract. In the midst of the situation our thoughts move toward anger as a result of the frustration of the moment which what the enemy intends. Take a moment and step back to receive another view. Do not react but act. Anger prevents you from receiving insight from the Holy Spirit to go through with peace that will pass understanding. The insight from the Holy Spirit will cause the scales to be removed from your eyes to the truth. Now that you see differently, you may ask why am I here, Lord? Who is it that needs to see me as an expression of you? Is there someone that you want me to pray for or with? These are the times when you may just see someone, not knowing there name or situation and the Holy Spirit will give you instructions on what to pray for them. Many are awaiting the sons of God to position themselves to be used in and for the wave of glory to cover the earth. The question becomes who will endure?
And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. But what of that? For I consider that the sufferings of this present time, this present life are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! For even the whole creation, all nature waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known, waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship.
(Romans 8:17-19 AMP).
(c) July 2014
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