Knowing Who We Are

I recently heard a message by David Wilkerson that really encouraged me and I am resolved to not give in to the hopelessness that often attacks us around election time. Many voices are clamoring and 'false prophets' abound with messages of gloom and fear but, to us who believe in the Almighty there is reason to hope. As the favorite Christmas verses say -

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. – Isaiah 9:6, 7

Ladies and gentlemen, the kingdoms of this world are going to become the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that includes the United States! All the political maneuvering, lies, accusations, bribery to get political favor will be exposed for what they are – man’s vain attempt to build his own kingdom. While we have been encouraged by our founding fathers to “prefer and elect” Christians as our leaders, only those endeavors built upon the foundation Christ laid will last. 

The truth is, Satan has a well organized army that is mobilized to defeat Christ 

and us who believe. Although his minions, puffed up with their own importance and position, fine us for having Bible studies in our homes or expel us from school for daring to quote God’s word, such as homosexuality is an abomination to God. Political forces may mock us for believing Biblical principles of righteousness and honesty but they are only following their leader, Satan. There are no political parties that want the truth of Christ to be their ruling standard because they really don’t believe in Him, even though they may profess themselves to be Christians. Remember that both the Republican establishment and Democrat liberals criticized Franklin Graham for praying in Jesus’ name at President Bush’s inauguration. It does not matter, we win in the end! They are like the grass that flourishes for a season but soon withers away. The Prince of Peace has come, and of the increase of His government there is no end. Its increase is an unstoppable force and soon He is coming back to claim His throne. God’s advice to the nations is “kiss the Son while you may lest His anger is kindled and you perish in the way.” - Psalm 2.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. – Isaiah 9:6, 7

When Jesus defeated Satan on the Cross, His government not only was established, but it is increasing! How is His kingdom increasing? - in judgment and justice. Those who follow Jesus the Christ are having their senses exercised to discern good and evil. The Holy Spirit is training us to judge every situation, every temptation by holding up to the light of His Word. When we choose God and His standards, true justice is established. We are not only cleansed by the blood of the Lamb but it also gives us judgment, the act of discerning between the good and evil. When we testify of the good, the truth, (and that means act on it) God’s justice is lifted up like a light in the darkness. When we do not give place to any fear but the fear of God – we overcome. Our prayer rises like sweet smelling incense to God. But, remember –

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. – Ecclesiastes 10:1

Now the devil knows this so he tempts us to listen to things we shouldn’t, to look at things we shouldn’t, to act in ways we shouldn’t because he knows that “dead flies in the ointment” gives a foul smell to our prayers so we can’t do the work of the Lord! When we were 'born again' in Jesus Christ we became spiritual persons and not natural.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. – 1 Corinthians 2:12-15

God wants to reveal to us what He is doing and how to overcome the enemy’s attacks against us, but we must have spiritual insight to see and hear it. If we feed the natural man, it will grow so strong that we cannot be spiritual. We have to judge the ‘dead flies’ in our ointment, call them sin and turn from them. Otherwise we will be too weakened to do the work of God on this earth. As God said to the prophet Jeremiah - 

“See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." – Jeremiah 1:10

God wants to use us, to speak into situations and see them change. But that will only happen when we are in spiritual relationship with God. After all, it is not speaking our desires into a situation that changes it, it is speaking God’s desires into the situation that changes it! 

Every church in America should be filled with repentance as true believers get rid of the flies in their ointment so their prayers can once again be sweet smelling incense before God. God wants to use us and we are the only hope this country has as God works through us to make a difference once again.