Articles
Watch and Pray: Be Serious!
Barbara L. Klika, MSW, Undershepherd, Life Coach
February 2013
We continue to read of things becoming increasingly uncertain in every arena of life on a worldwide scale. Repeatedly we are seeing individuals, organizations, church and state appearing to be less and less stable or trustworthy. If our security were in this world as it stands, we would be in deep trouble as indeed, much of the world is in deep trouble. It is long past time to believe that things will turn around. These troubles are of a much greater magnitude at every level of society worldwide, no longer the regional or time limited kind we’ve seen until this season. A list of examples:
1. Multiple national currencies failing
2. Multiple natural disasters worldwide
3. Political unrest calling into question the established leadership of many nations, including apparent questions of the legitimacy of the British Royal family as I have just learned today
4. Undermining of the legitimacy of many church bodies due to sin now being more publically exposed, including sexual sin and what is called crimes against humanity in multiple ways; the apostate church
I have suffered when I see things that are not honoring to our Elohim in the world. Sometimes it seems I have forgotten that this world is not our home. We live in a divided kingdom; a world torn between the forces of wickedness that have license to function now and the knowledge we have of the world as it was intended to be, and is yet intended to be restored. Knowing that the evil one has sway over the world system if we were thinking correctly, we’d be amazed at how often things go well, rather than shocked when they don’t. This would be a worldview consistent with what the Word tells us. We also know that as the time of Messiah’s return comes closer, the forces of wickedness will grow increasingly bold and even appear to have won yet His people will be preserved. In fact, we will not be surprised when we remember that the intent of the powers that be is to create such massive chaos that they can then be perceived as the ones who have the authority to bring peace.
Many of us have read the Scriptures about our confidence and authority in Messiah and have only taken it in to some degree, not as deeply as we will need in order to remain secure and confident in YHWH’s Hand on us through what is to come. There are two equal and seemingly opposite truths. We are not to become proud or arrogant in ourselves. Through Messiah we are mighty in Him to the tearing down of strongholds. If we understand this dual focus; humility before our Creator and Husband to be coupled with confidence, quietness, and rest in Him when we face the enemies of our souls, we will be able to walk in that quiet power of mature authority that is a mark of His Presence in us. When we know where we are in time, we will be more encouraged to stand in bold confidence because we have been told ahead of time what to expect. We must take the existence of this battle seriously!
The battle in the physical realm will only be won to the degree that it has been won in our mind, will and emotions already. I like to describe it as the victory in what happens behind our eyes and between our ears.
The enemy of our souls would prefer that we remain as fearful as possible. Failing the ability to remove all of our confidence, the next best situation is for Yah’s people to vacillate between confidence and fear. In this state we are much more easily manipulated and lose our spiritual authority in a form of doublemindedness!
May we challenge ourselves: do we really believe in the omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience of our Elohim? If we do, anytime we “catch ourselves” beginning to worry about what is to come we must arrest that line of thought and evict it! It is not consistent with our belief.
Do we really believe in the sovereignty of our Elohim? If we do, anytime we “catch ourselves” thinking along the lines of “if only this” or “if only that” we must arrest that line of thought and evict it.
Do we really believe in the promises He has made those who honor His Name and guard His commands? If we do, anytime we “catch ourselves” spending inordinate amount of time trying to figure out every detail of what is to come, we must arrest that line of thought and evict it.
But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4: 7-8 NKJV
Each one of us is both participant and observer. But it is our choice where we put our metaphorical feet; the inner conversation of our mind, will and emotions that leads to our actions. It is almost like two separate roads we can choose to walk; one way focusing first on the physical realities, the other way focusing on the spiritual realities first.
Do we have our “hand teaching” with us? Has our faith turned us right side up or are we still right side down? If we are still at an early place in our faith walk, we may find it more “natural” to think that the physical circumstances are more real. We are still upside down in our priorities. As we mature, we come to understand that eternity is far more real than this temporal life and have begun that process of being made right side up.
1. We stand in the physical world. We hear the massive changes in governments, in fiancés, in church leadership, and dangers that some people plan and intend and others describe, whether they are joyfully anticipating or dreading them.
2. We also stand in the spiritual realm. As those who honor YHWH and have received His Son, our Messiah Yeshua, we have been given assurance that He will never lose out of His Hand those given to Him by our Father.
Which place will we make our first choice in how to view circumstances?
1. The world systems view looking toward the heavens?
2. The heavenly view, above powers, thrones, dominions and every spiritual force of wickedness, looking toward the world systems?
Which focus will we maintain? Does this Bride have her army boots on yet? No more “girly Bride!” This is serious business, doing battle with the enemy of our souls, as we move toward the final battle.
1. If I stand in awareness of the things going on in the earth, there is much reason for anxiety and trepidation. While standing there, I may be looking over at the other way of life, living and walking in confidence in YHWH and Messiah Yeshua, desiring to be there, yet thinking I can’t for any number of reasons.
His promises sound good, but they can’t really be for me, or
They can’t really be for today, or
It can’t really be the last days because people have thought this so many times before and been wrong, or
They can’t really mean in THESE circumstances or…
2. If I stand in awareness of YHWH, and of who I am in Him, and His plan which is unfolding, there is no reason for anxiety and trepidation though there is surely reason for both grieving and joy; Grief as we see the consequences of sin play out around us. Joy as we see His Hand covering those who have chosen to walk after Messiah Yeshua.
As powerful as the forces opposing YHWH are in the earth, they are not omnipotent and they are not as strong as they may appear. I find that if I spend too much time in awareness of what is happening as far as human beings view it and expect things to happen, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. I do think we need to know enough about what is happening so that we know how to pray knowledgeably yet if we watch and only “see” ourselves as caught in the net that is spreading over the world it can only defer our hope! On the other hand, when we take our position and view from the point of view of our Father Who has told us the end from the beginning, and Who has told us of His plan and intentions for us, these same events are much less fearful. He will get us through them!
“And [as] the toes of the feet [were] partly of iron and partly of clay, [so] the kingdom shall be partly
strong and partly fragile.
“As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men;
but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be
destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people;
it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
“Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in
pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king
what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Daniel 2:42-45 NKJV
As all powerful as these hidden hands seem to be that are moving world events along at a faster and faster pace, I have understood that they are not so united in solidarity with one another as they’d like all to believe. There is still “jockeying for position” going on in and amongst them, just as was shown through Daniel’s understanding of the dream that they would not be able to “adhere” to one another. All the while they may think they have the upper hand, our Elohim Who is sovereign and Who holds the kings of the earth in derision, is building His own indestructible Kingdom.
“Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery;
but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out [great exploits].
Daniel 11: 32 NKJV
We do well to remember our weaknesses in ourselves, even as we remember His authority and strength that can be poured through clean vessels!
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.
Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings
are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle [you].
To Him [be] the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5: 6-11
Let’s explore just what He has promised to do after a time of suffering:
1. Perfect - to make good, complete, mature
2. Establish - to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix; to strengthen, make firm, to render constant, confirm, one’s mind
3. Strengthen - to make strong, of bodily vigor
4. Settle - to lay the foundation, to make stable, to found
After a time of testing then, He has promised to stabilize, strengthen, make firm and complete us. The very process of affliction will result in these benefits. Not because of what is in us, but because of what He has promised to do for His Name’s sake. Just as the covenant with Abraham did not rest on what was in him but was entirely resting on YHWH, so does this seem true for us today.
May we also remember that just as there are times for boldness there are also times for strategic retreat.
And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there
three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
Joshua 2:16 KJV
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a
proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Hebrews 11:23 KJV
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were
for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
Isaiah 26:20 NKJV
Moses, Israelite scouts, David, and even Yeshua were all hidden at one point or another during their lives until the time for boldness arrived. May we be serious, wise and discerning today in the same fashion!
These next verses are the ones I was given as our mission statement for Set Apart Ministries. Coming alongside those who had endured satanic ritual abuse has been the most devastating and the most enlightening experience of my life. The calling which has included establishing a community for discipleship and restoration has been no less of any experience. Through the years there has been a kind of progression in which we could see these verses playing out in a chronological way until now we see that we are in the final verses. We are in need of patience, waiting for Him to come and leaning into Him for the strength not to draw back, remaining confident in Him so that we can receive His promises!
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated,
ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions;
and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods,
knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;
but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10: 32-39 KJV
There has been a kind of defensive posture that has been necessary as we have learned one spiritual lesson after another, and attempted to disciple and teach those in need of these disciplines. We have spent a great deal of time dealing with spiritual disciplines of prayer and memorization of Scriptures as well as strengthening and encouraging and exhorting one another toward maturity. Those who have endured the discipline and discomfort of this process, including me, have been blessed to see growth. We also know that we have much to learn. We have understood that “our time is not yet” though there is a plan in mind for us as our Father has been equipping and preparing us in ways we marvel over. We are to be about our Father’s business, preparing and ready to help the lost sheep return to the ancient paths.
More and more often it has become evident that our stance must become more strategically offensive! Though we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and seek to mature and grow in Him, so, too, are we assured that He will deal with what remains unfinished.
Standing firm on the ground He has provided, we are looking to Him in and through all circumstances, trusting that He is the author and the finisher of our faith who has promised to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us. The One Who knows all and sees all; even the unfinished aspects of who we are has yet promised to be faithful and do what is needed in us for His glory and Name’s sake! HalleluYah! Isaiah’s words to Israel then ring true today as all of Israel is about to be brought back together. He knows all about us and loves us still.
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also,
and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
Isaiah 57: 18
With such a foundation and such a Deliverer how can we not be sober, seriously watching in prayer, and strong, knowing our Elohim and having adventures?
Abba YHWH, please remember us- remember how weak we are in our dust and how much we need Your presence as our covering. You are our hope and our strength, our confidence and our strong tower that the righteous may run into for safety. Please exhort and encourage us, especially when we grow faint. Bring Your Face to mind and cause us to remember, remember, remember what You have done in our lives and in the lives of our ancestors so that we cannot doubt that Your character has not changed and You will restore those who look to You once again. Please bring to our minds all those Scriptures that tell us not to fear but to rest in You. May it never be said of us as Isaiah observed:
For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness
and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not,
Isaiah 30:15
Please remember us and work us toward being right side up in You through whatever afflictions are needed. Sustain us and do not let hope deferred make us heartsick but instead make us more and more fully rest in You. It is not a passive rest but an active one. Show us how to be there! Call in our hearts, minds, will and emotions to watch and pray with You yet once again and empower us to be wide awake, alert, serious and confident in You. It is only through You that we will be able to stand. May it be so.