"Wisdom Rules!"

"Wisdom Rules!"

Jesus saith unto him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Matthew 4:7)  The enemy of God, satan, Lucifer, had it all: beauty, perfect in all his ways, the anointed cherub, created for music, but he fell to pride and "iniquity" ruled him  ...  he has yet to learn that The Lord Jesus Christ is still his Creator, and he will fail at all attempts against God's saved creation, because it's a fact  ...  "Wisdom Rules!"

Jesus Christ defeating satan

Persecution is the mainstay of the Christian faith:  satan, you throw a powerful Christian in prison and he will "Sing" and "Write" and convert millions for centuries with his faith-dripping, blood-bought, "I'm knocked down but not defeated," heart-stabbing, faith it till you make it, soul-saving, strength-bearing WORDS.  The Wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ flowing in the spirits of His people will "ALWAYS" defeat you, satan!  

satan, defeated

"I'm goin' to the enemy's camp to take back what he took from me," is the song for "today."  When we, as Christians, realize who it is that lives within us, we will rise up against disease, depression, oppression, attacks, seductions, deceptions, mind games, "spirits" of infirmity, and rebuke the defeated one by the Name, the Word, and the Blood  ... and "Reclaim" our dominion.  The problem today is "Power."  When some stand up to satan, he says, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"  He says that, because we lack Power to overcome him.  Power comes by prayer, fasting, consecration, holiness, faith, and righteousness  ...  we can't expect to defeat imps and demons with sin in our lives.  Sin robs us of Power!  The apostles were so full of the Holy Ghost and Power that even their "shadows" healed the sick.  O Lord, let the wisdom and Power of God permeate even our shadows  ... 

satan cast out of Heaven

The devil laughed when Jesus Christ died on the cross, but he shrunk in fear when Jesus Christ kicked open the gates of Hell, took captivity captive, and jingled the keys of death, Hell and the grave in his defeated cast out face.  Almighty God will have the last laugh when satan is thrown into the lake of fire by ONE Angel.

When we take adversity, persecution, the "look" of failure, and use it for good, use it to witness and build up others, use it by the "wisdom" of God to bring "life" out of the ashes of our fires, to plant seeds of the Power of God in everyone around us, the devil asks "why?" he came against us once again.  The Apostle Paul's prison sentence was the best thing that ever happened to him.  Why?  Because he became "still" long enough to write most of the New Testament.  What about our "ash heaps?"  What beauty will emerge from our so-called destruction?  

satan  defeated

 

In this life, we will have tribulation, and a good old preacher said once, "And God expects us to tribulate!"  The "wisdom" of God is like this: Down on our knees is up in the Spirit; we give to get; we lose to gain; we are removed to appear; to bow lower is to climb higher; we burn to glow; we are humbled to be exalted; the last is first; the greatest is the least; to whom much is given, much is required.  How we rise up from the ashes determines our beauty.  

In every trial, we must ask ourselves this essential question:  Is this of God, of man, or of satan.  It can be a test of our Lord in our lives to make us better (of God); it can be of our own making, ie if we spend too much, we will have financial troubles (of man); or it may be an attack of satan.  How do you know if it is from satan?  We must be filled with the Holy Ghost to determine this, because the Spirit of God leads us into all truth.  But, look at satan's attributes:  he has come to steal, kill, and destroy.  God's tests do not destroy us; He will not put more on us than we are able to bear.  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (I Corinthians 10:13)  

There are absolutes in God: Doctrine and Truth.  What does God require of us?  Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. When we get these right, and we walk in repentance and faith, we can know that the Spirit of God within us will sustain us.  

What is this life really all about?  Serving the Creator who created us with all of our hearts, souls, minds, bodies, and strength, and making sure everyone in earth has the opportunity to do the same thing.  The bottom line:  We are "creation" and there is, was and is to come a Creator!  The two roles are distinct; people get into lots of trouble when they forget "who" they are.  

"Wisdom" says there's One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord; and 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If My people which are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land."  ...  satan: your ploys do not work; the saved in the Lord Jesus Christ will always outshine you, outwit you, and defeat you, because "Wisdom Rules!"

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

    

"Christ or Belial"

"CHRIST or BELIAL"

"Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon

Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD

out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities,

and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of 

the cities, and that which grew upon the ground."

(Genesis 19:24-25) 

"Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils." (1 Corinthians 10:21)  "What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?..." (2 Corinthians 6:15) 

There are only two to choose from   ...  The Lord Jesus Christ or satan, Heaven or Hell, Good or Evil, Angels or devils, clean or dirty, Holy or unholy  ...  and these "two" are in constant battle for your soul.  You say, "What if I don't believe in either one?"  You're in for a rude awakening, because whether you believe it or not; the "two" are real, and you will wake up one day serving one or the other, in one place or the other, living your life for one or the other  ...  so choose ye this day whom you will serve.  "You're gonna' serve somebody; it may be the devil or it may be the Lord, but you're gonna' serve somebody," as the song says.  

Jesus Christ defeating satan

Sodom and Gomorrah made their choice and as the saying goes "if you play with fire, you're gonna' get burned."  The first thing we should consider is that Jesus Christ, our Lord, always wins!  It is wise, then, to be on the winner's side.  What is "playing with fire?"  It is participating in, seeking for, looking at, delving into, or opening yourself up to, anything "demonic."  What is demonic?  Anything that is wicked, evil, unholy, satanic, of witchcraft, and these things are extremely dangerous.

                   "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his

                 son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or

                    sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or

                  or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who

                   consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is

                          detestable to the Lord ..."  (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)

                              "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are  

                      these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

                    idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of

                  rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy,

                 drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did 

                  before, that those who live like this will not inherit the

                                    kingdom of God."  (Galatians 5:19-21) 

"Why is it dangerous?" you ask.  This is how people become possessed of the devil, and you can be so involved in those things that you no longer have the will to seek Holy things or the Lord Jesus Christ, and you can be turned over to a reprobate mind if you blaspheme against the Holy Ghost.  What does that mean?  There is only ONE sin that is not forgiven by Jesus Christ; blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.  "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation." (Mark 3:29)  

Frightening, isn't it?  If that doesn't put the fear of God in us, we are a little too complacent, which is the attribute of this age in which we are living.  Murder, adultery, stealing, and many other of the sins listed in the Bible are all forgiven if one asks sincerely, humbly, and sorrowfully to be forgiven, but this ONE: Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is NOT forgiven.  How does one go so far that they will reach that point of no return?  Demon spirits can be rebuked and cast out; Mary Magdalene, in biblical accounts, was delivered of seven demons and went on to be a holy example and follower of Jesus Christ.  But, evidently, even in her possession, she did not go so far as to swear against, curse, or speak diabolically against the Holy Spirit of God.  

  Do Not open yourself up to possession by watching vampire films, evil television programs, or playing games of entreating witchcraft, going to fortune tellers, or paticipating in rituals which are demonic or satanic.

You say, "Who are you to tell me what to do?"  Nobody; I'm nobody, but maybe just a "voice crying out in the wilderness of a very witchcraft-filled age."  I was into some of those things before Jesus Christ came into my life, and I tell you the truth, "If you mess with those things, you WILL get burned."  The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy  ... who?  YOU and me, and anyone else he can "con" into his evil ploys.  They always lead to destruction, depression, and once one goes down that road, it leads to deeper and deeper evil  ...  until  ...  Drinking blood is evil, and a blasphemy of the Holy communion of Almighty God; don't watch it, listen to it to participate in it  ...  it is evil!

Heaven or Hell

There is a Heaven and there is a Hell; Lucifer or satan was cast out of Heaven, so he wants to take everyone he can into Hell with him.  Misery always likes company.  But, this is not at all funny; do you hear all the talk of the end of the world coming in 2012?  Who knows what is coming in 2012, but God  ...  we do know there will be judgment coming to the earth; we do know God's Spirit does not always strive with man; we do know a Holy God does not dwell with a sinful world; we do know God's track record  ...  The flood destroyed evil mankind  ...  Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of evil  ...  satan was cast out of heaven because of evil  ...  people dropped dead in the Book of Acts Church because they lied  ...  No one evil will be able to dwell in Heaven  ...

We must choose  ...  The Lord Jesus Christ or Belial, the Lord God Almighty or satan.  Time is running out; the clock is ticking; the sands in the hourglass are pouring to the bottom; the countdown has begun.  In this generation of "choice," the decision is yours; whom will you choose?  The choice is life in Jesus Christ for all eternity where we will live with Him in peace and Joy and love forever  ...  or death with satan to burn in hell forever.  The Lord JESUS CHRIST is not willing that ANY be lost or perish  ...  come to Jesus while there is still time  ...  repent of all of your sins with an honest serious heart, ask Him to fill you with the Holy Ghost and you will speak in tongues as the Spirit gives you utterance; then, be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. 

There will come a day, very soon, when the door will be shut and time shall be  no more  ...  we must choose quickly and carefully  ...  "Christ or Belial."

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

  

"Trailblazers!"

"Trailblazers!"

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."  (Ephesians 3:20) John the Baptist was a whirlwind of power, crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the LORD." (John 1:23)  He was just one in the Bible, who, in today's vernacular, would be among those called "Trailblazers!"

Abraham

Abraham led the way in the long powerful line of blazing biblical trailblazers.  He was the trailblazer of "faith."  God told him to sacrifice his promised son, and Abraham "rose early" to trudge up the mountain and raise the knife to kill his beloved long-awaited son, but the Angel of God jerked his knife-clad hand at the critical moment and directed him to the ram caught in the thicket, the real sacrifice.  How far will God go to test our faith?  How far will we go to prove our loyalty?  The tests continue  ...  today  ...

Daniel



Daniel was thrown into a den of lions, because he refused to stop praying to God, as he was accustomed to doing three times a day.  The king had issued an edict that only "he" should be worshiped; it should be noted that the king probably got less sleep than Daniel that night, since he was very distressed about having to fulfill his law and throw Daniel in with the lions.  The next morning, the king shouted down to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?"  Daniel replied that God did, indeed, deliver him.  Daniel proved that wild beasts also answer to the voice and hand of God!  If someone or some government official told us we could not pray in our own homes, what would we do?  It has already happened in California!  How far will we go to "Stand" for the God we serve?

Moses

Moses was the leader of all time!  The fiery eyes of a Prophet staring Pharaoh in the face stating, "Let My People Go," will always be an impression in our minds of a "trailblazer."  We can do the impossible  ...  if God is in it!  You say, "I could never have led all those people like he did."  Really?  Moses complained, at first, that he stuttered and couldn't talk, so Aaron was sent with him.  But, something happened to Moses when he climbed that mountain and received the holy tablets written by the finger of God.  Something "always" happens  ...  when we climb the mountain, sit at the feet of an omnipotent God in the fog of the morning, and wait ...

Deborah

Deborah was a prophetess and a judge in Israel.  Gill's exposition states, "she endeavoured to convince the people of their sins, exhorted them to repentance, and was a means of reforming them, and administering justice and judgment in all cases brought before her..."  Deborah was directed by God to order Barak to put together an army and fight against Jabin's forces.  Barak insisted that Deborah go with him.  She did; she would not send him where she would not go herself.  

We see leaders in government, leaders in business, leaders in our military, but it's interesting to note that many leaders, especially in our government, are good at the art of delegating but they will not set foot on the battlefield themselves.  And here we have Deborah, headed to the battlefield with Barak.  Don't count out "women;" they were the first at the cross, the first at the tomb, the first to see Jesus alive, and today, they're often first in fasting, first in the prayer rooms, and first in matters of the heart and "sacrifice"  ...

Are you a John the Baptist, a Moses, a Deborah, or a Daniel?  Perhaps you feel things that have never been allowed to come out, and "opportunity" has never afforded "your" gifts to emerge.  Good news for YOU!  "A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men." (Proverbs 18:16)  Stay faithful, prayerful, humble, diligent, hard-working, steady, balanced, and "YOUR" gift will make room for itself.  Nothing just happens; prayer makes things happen; hard work makes things happen; "serving others" makes things happen; and a pure heart makes things happen.  Don't miss prophetic, important, strategic, and anointed "intersections" in this life  ...  Are You a "Trailblazer?"

Trailblazers leave quite a wake!      

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"Perfection"

"Perfection"

The year 2011 was robed in power, draped in trial, and

overshadowed in prophetic sounds

But, in the center stood the Lord, an ideal number Seven,

ruling and reigning where power abounds

He is our blood-stained Savior, walking in the

midst of our days, and the 2011 columns

Jesus was there in the floods, the fires, and the

disasters, holding a world still yet fallen

A Savior He IS all through the storms of life's cares,

and the thorns of our burdens

He carries us in His arms when the waves roar in   

seas of despair, among the murky Jordans 

We have nothing to fear, for His Angels are all

around, to protect and deliver

They're like arrows of God, sent forth in an instant

from the portals of heaven's quiver

He IS the Alpha and Omega, the King of all Kings,

and in Him there is no error

The darkness hides at His light and the jingle of Hell's

keys, as He triumphs over evil and terror 

If we are filled with His power, going forth by His

Name, His Word, and His Blood

We are covered when the enemy attacks, steals, and

then, comes in like a flood 

Planet earth is not our home; we're just passing 

through, and we're striving to become whole

A copy of our Master, in the form of a blood-washed,

holy, completed soul

We have conquered another year with toil, sweat

and tears, through this 2011

But, we couldn't have done it without our Lord Jesus, the

One in the middle, the Holy Seven

He IS the Glory and the Splendor; the Majesty of all

beauty basks in His reflection

For He personifies the height of all that's true, and He

IS the reality of "Perfection!"

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"Between the Word and the Cure"

"Between the Word and The Cure"

" ... There met him ten men that were lepers which stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.'  And when he saw them, He said unto them, 'Go shew yourselves unto the priests.'  And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.  And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks  ...  And Jesus answering said, 'Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?" (Luke 17:12-17)  What were the lepers doing "Between Jesus' spoken Word 'of Go show yourself' and the Cure?"   

Showing oneself to the priests was a common practice "AFTER THE CURE."  When Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests, it was already done, before the lepers ever moved, but it was while they were "going" that they were healed.  Healing and miracles always require an "action of faith."  Remember the man with the withered hand, and Jesus said, "Stretch forth your hand."  Then, the man who was blind, and Jesus put mud in his eyes and then asked him, "What do you see?"  What about when Peter told the lame man, "Take up your bed and walk?"  

What happens "Between the Word and the Cure?"

"Thank You!"  ...  That's when it is Done!

Jesus Christ and the ten lepers

Why should we wait to give thanks until we "see" the cure?  Why do we wait until after the financial blessing is in our hands before we "Thank Him?"  What stops us from Giving Him Thanks while our child is still sick?  You say, "What; that's crazy?"  Is it?  We might get a whole lot more blessings, quicker, if we lived in a posture of "thankfulness."  This is a growth step in the maturity of "Faith!"  Should we go around thanking God for all kinds of things that we absolutely do not see manifested?  Why not?  He deserves our devoted thanks for the healing, the deliverance, the blessing, the mortgage payment, the miracle, the return of the husband or wife, the runaway teen, the long-awaited job, and the salvation of our family  ...  Why?  Because it's already Done!  When Jesus said His last words on the cross, "It Is Finished."  It Was!

The Ten Lepers Crying Out To Jesus

We live far below the "miracle line" in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ  expected Peter to walk on the water when He said to him, "Come."  And, Peter DID walk on the water for a moment, until he realized he shouldn't be doing that  ...  it was not scientifically possible.  What if we are supposed to be "living" in that impossible realm?  That realm of "in earth as it is in heaven."  You say, "I don't know what in the world you are talking about!"  Uh huh; it's absolutely beyond reason; it's unheard of; it's not possible to pray over someone and raise them from the dead; it's not possible for a tumor the size of an orange to just disappear; it's not reasonable to say "Thank You, Lord, before it happens  ...

It's easy to say Thank You AFTER the fact, but before?  ...  when the pain's still there, when the lump is still protruding, when we're still rolling in the wheelchair, when we're staring the surgeon in the face, when the foreclosure notice is still in our hands  ...  when  ...

    Thank You, Lord, that I have no pain, that you

    made a way where there was no way, that my

    body is whole.  Thank You, Lord, that You said,

  Before I call, You will answer!  Thank You, Lord!

Jesus Christ "Between The Word and the Cure"

I'm reminded of a time when I was working and I was feeling an "unction" of the Holy Ghost to go to the hospital and pray for people.  It was the middle of the workday, and I really didn't have leave time to take off, so I prayed and asked the Lord to make a way.  Suddenly, there was a ringing of the bell to evacuate the building, and they told us to go home, because they couldn't figure out the problem.  A friend, and fellow believer, and I went to the hospital and prayed for people up and down the halls.  Afterward, I had car trouble, and my friend got out and started walking around the car thanking God for more than an hour, not prayer, only "Thanks," hands raised, shouting thank you to the Lord unashamedly, and loudly, right in the middle of afternoon traffic.  It was quite a spectacle to people zooming by and honking, but to God, it was "Thankful Faith."  To make a long story short, help came, money came, a person came out of nowhere and the car problem was taken care of, and it should have cost several hundred dollars, but I did not spend a penny to fix it.  I observed a valuable lesson that day.  What happened?  It was the God-moving "Thanks" that occurred "Between the Word and the Cure!" 

We are living in miraculous times.  You say, "I don't see any miracles."  I see them every time someone is filled with the Holy Ghost, every time someone in my church is healed of cancer, every time a diagnosis is suddenly changed, every time  ...  Maybe we need a lot more to occur "Between the Word and the Cure."

A Lot More Of What?

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

Do You Have One?

Do You Have One?

"...and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.  Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.  And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite.  So he called her.  And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son." 

(II Kings 4:34-36)  The Prophet, Elisha, brought the son, of the Shunammite woman, back to life, after he had died of a heat stroke.  The question for the world is:  "Do You Have One?"

It was an incredible story.  The Shunammite woman asked the Prophet Elisha to come and eat with her and her husband; it so happened that as often as Elisha passed by her way, that he returned to eat with them.  The Shunammite woman said one day to her husband, "I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually, let us make a little chamber in the wall, with a bed, a table, a stool, and a candlestick ..."  So they did, and whenever Elisha came by that way, he stayed in the little room.  One day, Elisha asked his servant, Gehazi, "What shall be done for her?"  Gehazi answered that she had no child and that her husband was old.  Elisha then prophesied to the woman that she would have a child; she did and he grew.  This brings us to the day he died, and she called for the Prophet to come.  At first, Gehazi was sent with Elisha's staff, and he laid the staff on the child, but nothing happened.  

There are times in life when we cry out to the man of God, "I don't want your servant; I don't want your staff; I want YOU!"  When you have big needs, a threatening disease, a problem that calls for a praying anointed holy man of God, you'll move heaven and earth just to get to him!  DO YOU HAVE ONE?  One what?  A holy, anointed Pastor, Preacher, Prophet to whom you can go to lay hands on you, your family, your trouble  ...  One to whom you can go and you "know" he will touch God for you.  When you've prayed yourself, fasted and cried out, but you have not received your answer, you go to the man of God, whose business it is to receive answers for his sheep, lay hands on them, and bring the victory!

Elisha and the Shunammite woman

Look at the unshakable faith of the Shunammite woman.  She was saddled up, heading for the Prophet, knowing her son lay dead upon the Prophet's bed at home in his little chamber; but, when the servant ran to her and asked what the Prophet told him to ask her, "Is it well with thee?  Is it well with thy husband?  Is it well with the child?"  She answered, "IT IS WELL!"  This is one of the most profound statements in the Bible, "It Is Well."  She had "vision and faith;" she knew the holy man of God would make it all right. 

I've felt that many times on my way to my Pastor's office to get under those anointed hands for prayer, and I thought, "It Is Well," while I was going.  And it was!  I have been healed many times, delivered many times, my spirit lifted many times, because of the anointed hands of the Prophet laid on my head in prayer lines, in services, in a hospital room  ...  and "It WAS Well!"  It will be well for you  ...  that is,   ...  if You have one  ...

Elisha and Shunammite woman

No matter how many "cell" groups go forth; no matter how many ministers are appointed as workers for the Lord Jesus Christ, we always need a Pastor over us.  We are living in the final days before the Lord "catches away His Bride," and we are being sent forth to gather the sheaves, but we still must have a Pastor, and in some unique cases, a Prophet, and a Church.  God set it up this way and that will not change.  You say, "Why is this important?"   Authority, Order, Wisdom, God's Plan, and for our own soul's salvation, to name a few.  Moses appointed many, but he was still the final authority, because God established it.  Without a Shepherd, we are wandering sheep.  

The world is looking for a leader, and many Nations are currently floundering in this regard.  But, it's also the impetus guiding the last days to prepare for the antichrist.  Many will be deceived in this last hour, as prophecy predicts; those who will be deceived will have itching ears.  "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3)   This is why we all need a powerful, anointed, holy, consecrated, proven, Man of God to lead us.  We need one who will say, "Thus saith the Lord," whether we like it or not! 

                         

                                            DO YOU HAVE ONE?

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)

"In The Quiver"

"In The Quiver"



"He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver."  (Isaiah 49:2)

Hidden in a quiver is described by Gills' Exposition as "in His secret purposes."  To all those who have lived for the Lord Jesus Christ a long time:  Are you in the quiver?  Have your dreams been shelved for decades?  Has what you thought would be your productive time in the Lord landed you in a desert?  Do you feel forgotten, shoved aside, unappreciated, alone, and somewhat unloved?  You're Not Alone!  You may be "hidden away in God's secret purposes," and He can reach back at any moment and pull the arrow  ...  You will be "shot" to your destination in an instant; it only takes a quick move of the Master's hand  ...

Joseph and Potiphar's Wife

Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph; he refused, and she grabbed and tore off his coat as Joseph was running out.  She then lied saying Joseph tried to seduce her.  Joseph was thrown into prison, but he was innocent of all charges.  

Have you ever felt someone "wronged" you and you're paying the unjustified consequences?  That's where Joseph was  ...  Is that where you are?  In prison for something you didn't do?  In the desert, alone and forgotten?  In a divorce you didn't want or ask for?  In a bankruptcy or foreclosure, yet you've worked hard all of your life?  Are you seemingly sitting in a dungeon watching the goings on in the palace?  Are you just simply waiting on God for the things you've dreamed you would do in God since you were young?  God knows where YOU are!  Allow Him to use You where you are.  Joseph continued to pray and receive from God so that he was able to give interpretations of the dreams of the baker and the cupbearer, who were thrown into prison with Joseph. 

Where YOU are could be a mighty place of "witnessing" for the Lord.  Let God's "secret purpose" flow out of your innermost being to everyone around you  ...  the desert can be like David's pasture  ...  a solitary place of bringing forth the greatest song ever sung, the most profound book ever written (other than the Bible), the moonlight longings of a poet, the play or drama that converts and astounds the world, the sermon that brings His Spirit poured out on all flesh  ...  The solitary place, the lonely dark place shines the light on the deep  ... the deep calleth unto the deep  ...  yield to the "quiver;" it is actually the greatest of your lifetime in God.  

David In The Pasture

While you're out there alone, you'll have some lions and wolves that will come after those little lambs of "secret purposes," but your increased time to pray and fast will make you stronger to fight off the demons that seek to destroy you and your ordained "purpose."  Remember, you're in a "secret" place, and the enemy does not want you to emerge from the "quiver" and reach your designated place of power.  We must be alert in the pasture, in the desert, in that place of high vulnerability, because even though aloneness is good for the development of the soul; it's a dangerous place since there's always strength in numbers, and you're alone.  But, God knows where you are, and He will provide!  

"Sun and moon stood still in the

heavens at the glint of your flying

arrows, at the lightning of your

flashing spear."

(Habakkuk 3:11)

Arrows and spears are part of God's armory.  Barnes' Notes says it beautifully regarding Jesus' disciples: "They were enlightened and began, by preaching, to send forth shining words of truth.  But those words are Thine arrows, shining arrows, showing by their light the way of life, and by their sharp point pricking the hearts of people unto repentance."

Time alone with God hones the ears of our spirit, sharpens the points of our existence in Him, and deepens the valley of groans to reach the infinity of the mind of Christ  ... if we let it  ...

"Send forth lightning and scatter {the

enemies}; shoot your arrows and rout them."

(Psalm 144:6)

When God pulls you from the quiver, aims, and sends you out into the world, you will go forth as a flame in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,  Why?  Because you've endured the heat; you've conquered the desert; you've learned the lessons of solitude; you've overcome the setbacks; the trials have not defeated you; you have become a "flaming secret hidden by the Lord for a time" to go forth at the appointed moment to proclaim His Glory!

Don't despise the time in the desert, the trial of your faith, the burdens on the wheel, the time by the brook, or the pit of solitude  ...  YOU will fly again, no longer to be hidden away in secret, never again "In The Quiver;" with lightning speed, God will send You forth at the appointed time!

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)