When The Enemy is at The Gate

Isreal as a nation has been a shining beacon of how God relates to an individual scince Jacob started having kids.

The setting apart by God, not because they chose it, but because God chose them. He didn't choose them because of their goodness, power, size, or importance. No, He did it because they were small, stupid, and weak.

Isreal, as a nation, took God's choice and internalized it, thinking they were special because of themselves. God, in a unceasing series of disasters and problems, kept at them to humble them, guide them, and discipline them with the obvious truth.

GOD IS.

God, picked them knowing full well the stupidity would be a problem. He is God. He is in control. Nothing they did surprised Him. No, on the contrary, He always set them up to fail so He could show His power, authority, and, yes, control.

Every enemy that attacked that little nation was in fact ordained from God to guide them into a path. That path was either for a deeper faith or long lasting exile.

God shows His greatness for a purpose. That purpose is to give, grow and cultivate faith in His chosen...individuals.

These individuals are chosen just like that little nation was. He then begins a long process of blessings and troubles to make that gift grow.

Yes, its a pain. Pain, like in the book of Job, drives those with faith into the presence of God. Desperation, does that...if the faith is there.

If the faith is not there, It makes the nation, or individual, turn further into self gratification and evil.

Me first.

Self Elevation.

At the expense of all around them.

This is when God sends the Assyrians, Babylonians, or any of the devil's minions. Yes, God does it.

Didn't Satan have to ask God for permission to sift Peter? Job? You?

Of course he does.

Why does God give permission? Is it because, like Isreal, we rebel against Him? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, like Israel or Job, it is just to drive us into deeper knowledge of the power of God...which is how trust is grown.

What will really bust your bonnet, is that even the "rebellion" is predetermined by God The Father to initiate the very scenario that fermented the gift of faith that He alone gave!

Do you trust Him?

That is the whole of the Old Testament.

Oh, and the New...

Look, the lie has always been the cause of the separation. Our effort or work to become like God. It was already in Adam and Eve before the tree. If it wasn't, the temptation would have been useless.

I am never tempted by Brussel Sprouts...never.

Faith in God is trusting God in ALL things. This is what every situation that Isreal as a nation faced...and still does.

They have been a shining example of the individual walk with God. OK, maybe not "shinning" but definately colorful...

So, is the enemy at your gate? It could be cancer, Job loss, relationship problems, failing business or ministry? It could be any pending disaster.

The first thing you do, like that little nation, should be a seeking out of the God you profess to serve.

"Lord, what's going on? Am I doing something you don't like? Do I need to change direction? Do I need to fight? What is you will, and how do YOU want me to respond to it?

First, in seeking, you acknowledge His presense and power. Second, you acknowledge His authority over you and all you have. Lastly, you need to trust Him in both the pending disaster and the outcome. That is the true goal God has...always.

Faith is what He wants. Faith is what He will get.

So, if He doesn't respond. I'm sorry, but He is going to test you in a hard way. You are going to have to dig deep to find that gift of faith, or become a psychotic subject that won't leave the foot of the King.

Persistence pays off.

If you have a wee but of faith, He is likely to give you a response. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I did as I suggested above. He did respond. "Do not worry about it."

So, I didn't. After years of being like a stupid Isreal, I had learned enough to take that vague word seriously.

It didn't mean He would heal me miraculously. He didn't say that. It would have been arrogant to assume it.

He didn't say that the doctors would fix me. He didn't even say which method of treatment I should choose, radiation or surgery. I had to decide that for myself. Well, Martha had a big say in that too.

What He did say plainly, was that He wanted me to trust Him as the enemy was outside my gate. So, I did. I really, really did. I went through all the appointments. I went through the surgery. I went through the discomfort. Now, after two years my doctor declared me cancer free.

OK, this happened in June, but I'm just writing about it now. I write what He wants, when He wants.

Yes, I trust Him in that. He is my Lord. He has my life. He is in charge of everything that is Lou, even my choices. This is what Jesus means when He said "I always do what I see the Father doing." It is purely a matter of trusting God over everything.

Can you see it? It is there, all throughout the Old Testament. Isreal was a perfect example of the project of God giving, growing, and harvesting, faith or trust in Himself.

It has always been His work, not ours.

The enemy wants us to trust in anything other than God. God created the enemy, whether it's the Assyrians, cancer, job loss, or the devil himself, just to be a tool to make you into something more.

A man or woman of faith.

A man or woman of God.

If you are His, you have nothing to fear from the enemy. He sent them. He controls them, and they are there to make you better...as He sees fit.

Do you trust Him?

Do you trust a surgeon, as you are going under? God is way better than any surgeon.

Know who you are.

Isreal was God's nation. His chosen. If you believe in Jesus Christ at all, you are God's chosen. It is a hard fact and had nothing to do with you. You are His work, not yours. You cannot mess up His work.

If you think you can, you don't know Him...His power, His authority, His perfectness.

Your only option? To get in His face and get to know Him better. That will make your faith to grow.

That is the only reason why the enemy is at your gate.

God doesn't make mistakes.

God doesn't fail.

You cannot mess up His plan.

You are His.

That is all you need to know.

If you already know that...185,000 soldiers die in one night.

It's always nice to see God kick some ass.

Matthew 25:23a

[23] "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant!