Pastor Jim Sanderbeck
October 28, 2022
Right now, primarily in the USA but literally around the globe, the evil heart of mankind is blatantly displayed on every mountain of society. Many Christians and moral unbelievers, who have stood for good against this evil, have become weary in the battle. Understandably, they have toiled and battled with what is right in front of them, and without seeing the big picture, have become tired and discouraged.
Let it be known that there is a remnant alive. A body positioned to take on and act in governmental authority under the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Ghost. I, and many, call that remnant the Ekklesia. Biblically, it is a word used by Jesus, and translated as “church.” The “church” is not a building; it is a people. This church has been given the Word of God and the office of the prophets to provide available “intelligence” and strategies that encourage and vitalize.
Holy Spirit says this day, “your enemy has felt the pressure of the battle waged. He is filled with fear and he is confused because he has not experienced the ferocity of prayer and declarations that have been released from your mouth. He has not seen the sword swung in this manner for many centuries. The Host of Heaven has joined with you and together you are winning this fight. Your enemies’ entanglements in the flesh have been uprooted and his grasp in the land is now weakened. The avalanche of righteousness is overwhelming him and his dominoes have begun to fall. Do not stop; victory is at hand.”
I draw your attention to a passage of Scripture that speaks both encouragement to the Ekklesia and warning to all who deny God and trust in the natural and carnal ways of men. This is from Jeremiah 17: 5-13 (highlights mine).
Jer 17:5-13 Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. 9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? 10 “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. 11 “As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid, So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly; In the midst of his days it will forsake him, And in the end he will be a fool.” 12 A glorious throne on high from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary. 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD. (NASB)
This translation is also very interesting. It says:
Jer 17:5-13 GOD’s Message: “Cursed is the strong one who depends on mere humans, Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone and sets GOD aside as dead weight. 6 He’s like a tumbleweed on the prairie, out of touch with the good earth. He lives rootless and aimless in a land where nothing grows. 7 “But blessed is the man who trusts me, GOD, the woman who sticks with GOD. 8 They’re like trees replanted in Eden, putting down roots near the rivers— Never a worry through the hottest of summers, never dropping a leaf, Serene and calm through droughts, bearing fresh fruit every season. 9 “The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. 10 But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” 11 Like a cowbird that cheats by laying its eggs in another bird’s nest Is the person who gets rich by cheating. When the eggs hatch, the deceit is exposed. What a fool he’ll look like then! 12 From early on your Sanctuary was set high, a throne of glory, exalted! 13 O GOD, you’re the hope of Israel. All who leave you end up as fools, Deserters with nothing to show for their lives, who walk off from GOD, fountain of living waters— and wind up dead! (Msg. Bible)
This passage of Scripture from the lips of Jeremiah the prophet is being experienced in this Chronos of time. The evildoer is being dethroned. The righteous in Him (the “church”; the Ekklesia) are exalted. This is the time for the bugler to blow “CHARGE!” When a runner comes into the final drive to the finish line his mind and his body must respond to the moment. He must breakthrough the fatigue and declare what will be. His declaration must be “I WILL NOT BE DENIED!
We, especially leaders to whom God has entrusted the souls and lives of their followers, must deploy the weapons of warfare like never before. Like Eleazar, (2 Sam. 23:10) our hands must cleave to the sword. This is not a time to be weary in well-doing. (Galatians 6:7-10) This is the moment when we overrun the wall. (Joel 2:9) Open your mouth to pray and declare. Joel Chapter 2, Nehemiah 4:15-23, and Isaiah 60 tell us of the day and plans God has for us in this season and what we must do about it. Arise and shine in the vitality and the power of our God so that we can stand—unwavering.
So, those who are tired, draw from Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Put off your fatigue and weariness and put on the full armor of God. I smell victory in the camp. As some famous guy from somewhere said, “WE WIN or WE WIN!” There is no Plan B.