Warm hellos friends, brethren, co-workers, spiritual family, and scattered children of God from here on the Gulf Coast. My wife and I pray and hope this finds you doing well, and that again your week has been blessed.
We’ve had another busy week of writing, visiting, and working, but all has gone well. As I begin this letter it is cold and rainy, the roads and lawns are soaked with water…it’s supposed to be colder, down into the low 20’s this Friday evening…winter is alive and well here in a good part of the United States including the Gulf Coast! Sabbath, Eric Myers will be giving the message here in Spanish Fort. We look forward to fellowshipping and being with God’s family.
I’ve been on the phone with many brethren who are very unsettled right now.
So, like us all, I can’t help but notice how unstable things are in the world. Even while traveling I try to keep up with what’s going on. So many seem to escape by isolating themselves by immersion in social media, movies within their homes, or simply going about life as if nothing has changed.
God clearly states we are to be watching our own spiritual lives, but also the world around us.
(Luke 21:36) New International Version (NIV) “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
What will be the next important prophetic event to take place? Will it involve Europe and disintegration of the EU, paving the way for a future re-grouping of the countries of Europe? Will it involve Israel and Jerusalem and instituting a sacrificial system? Will it involve conditions in the United States and the continuing decline into lawlessness and lack of proper justice? Will this nation be plagued with even more division and brought down further by forces which propel the country further down the road to financial insolvency, ungodly behaviors and invasion by illegal foreigners? What about where you live?
The question that comes to mind is this.
How does the Almighty God bring about the fulfillment of events prophesied long ago?
Some prophecies include many predicted details such as the prophetic details in Daniel 11. The powers that Almighty God has at His disposal are far beyond any human abilities. You and I sometimes forget that. God has awareness of everything and has perfect understanding and recall. There is an amazing statement in the Psalms. “He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:4-5) The ability to just count all the stars is beyond comprehension, much less to name them all!
God can read the minds of human beings and discern attitudes and motives. David declared, “…You have searched me and known me. . . You understand my thought afar off.” (Ps 139:1-2) He can implant thought and impulses into human minds to bring about His ultimate desired will. The LORD can influence the brains of humans to accomplish His will, block the schemes of human kings and leaders, and what is needed to accomplish his purpose. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 list a number of circumstances that God can direct such as drought, famines, blight, desolation by enemy armies, etc. to bring about His predictions.
Might we recall also that the LORD can also use spirit entities, angels, to accomplish certain actions and even influence human beings.
1 Kings 22 records the unwise action of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah making an alliance with Ahab king of Israel to battle the armies of Syria. Jehoshaphat first wanted to inquire of the LORD before he acted. Ahab summoned 400 of his prophets and they all said the same thing, “Go up! For the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.” (v.6) Jehoshaphat insisted on getting input from a prophet of the LORD. Ahab grudgingly had Micaiah quickly brought forth. Ahab’s prophets continued to predict success for Ahab. At first Micaiah sarcastically repeats the words of the false prophets of Ahab. Then Micaiah predicted doom and the scattering of the Israelite troops. What is most revealing, is what he said next concerning how he had come to that decision or revelation.
(1 Kings 22:19-23) 19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left” 20 “And the LORD said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner”. 21 “Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’ 22 “The LORD said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the LORD said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. Go out and do so.’ 23 “Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”
Was this a demon spirit or a righteous angel who put these thoughts and ideas into these prophets? Simply, the LORD used this spirit messenger to bring about the consequences of Ahab’s defeat and demise.
The account goes on to describe how a Syrian soldier “drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.” (v.34) Ahab died at evening and a shout went out, “Every man to his city, and every man to his own country!” This was just as Micaiah had predicted under Gods’ inspiration and revelation.
Did an angel guide the flight of the arrow? It is an example of how the LORD can use various influences to bring about what he has predicted. I have to wonder sometimes when the so-called “news presenters” seem to be all quoting from the same script?
Another example of behind the scenes involvement of spirit entities is revealed in Daniel 10. A powerful angel appeared to Daniel after a three week period of fasting, praying and mourning. It was very likely the powerful angel Gabriel who had appeared to Daniel as recorded in Daniel 8 and Daniel 9.
The angel told Daniel, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.” (vv.12-13) Later, the angel revealed to Daniel, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.” (v.20)
The details are not revealed, but there is clearly a battle for control of events related to Persia and Greece and these angelic powers play a part in the outcomes.
Our great loving God wants us to be successful in responding to His calling! He has the power to help us to fight our battles against human and spirit adversaries. We have to do our part at putting “on the whole armor of God.” (Eph 6:11) The Captain of our salvation, our Commander in chief will fight for us and we will be victorious. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Co 15:57)
“Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” (Ps 60:12)
God has predicted and predestined great things for His called out first-fruits. “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (Romans 8:30) We praise our God for His wonderful unfolding predicted plan of salvation. We have decisions and commitments to be made to each do our part in fulfilling these promises and destinies.
Let’s be watching events, our own spiritual lives, and continue being about our Father’s business…for the future holds great blessings for those who respond to Him and keep on keeping on…enduring to the end as is recorded.
May you have a blessed upcoming Sabbath, and worship and fellowship with one another.
Arms up friends! Our sincere prayers and thoughts are with you daily. Thanks in advance for your heartfelt prayers for us.
