We have a tendency to presume that we would be ready for battle if suddenly we are faced with a great crisis in life; however it is not the crisis that will build something within us, it will merely reveal what we are already made of.
It’s not when we find ourselves in the battle that we need to be looking for that spiritual weapon of warfare, the protective armor, or that shield of faith that our Father has provided foe us. During peaceful times we may catch ourselves thinking, or even saying, that if we were suddenly called by the Lord into battle, that we would easily rise to the occasion. The truth is that we will not be able to do so unless we have done so on Gods’ training ground.
If we are not fully engaged doing the task that is closest to us today which our Father has engineered into our lives, when the crisis comes, instead of being fit for battle, we will be revealed as being unfit and untrained. These crises that we are faced with, always reveal an individuals true character and on whom they rely, and where they go to first for help.
The greatest essential element of spiritual fitness is the private relationship, that of intimacy with our Heavenly Father, in worship, praise and prayer.
The time will come in every serious believers life, when even as Nathanael was to find out, in John 1:48. When you were under the fig tree I saw you. He sees us, and knows exactly where we are, both in the natural sense of location and spiritually; just as He questioned Adam and Eve, where are you? He knew where they were physically the question was directed at their spiritual position.
Nathanael was enjoying a private fig tree life.
This Hebrew idiom, ‘under the fig tree’ refers to a place of peace with no worries; where a person just enjoys a comfortable quiet life, untroubled and with all needs provided and able to live life doing just what one wanted which as a obedient Jew would have included study of the scriptures and prayer. Nathanael was about to experience that his, private fig tree life, would no longer be possible. He would have to make a life-changing decision.
Everything was about to come out in the open for Nathanael and it is the same for believers; we will find ourselves to be of no value to Messiah if we have not been worshipping Him in everyday situations in our own homes. If our worship is right in our private relationship with our Heavenly Father, then when He sets us free we will be ready to answer His call. It’s in the private unseen life, which only our Heavenly Father sees, that we have become spiritually fit; and when the strain of the crisis comes, He can rely on us to Shema, to hear and obey.
Do we sometimes think that we cant’ be expected to live a sanctified life in our present circumstances, that we have no time for prayer or bible study right now? Do we justify our lifestyle by reasoning that the opportunity for battle has not yet come, and when it does of course we will be ready? We’ll just drop everything and focus on the battle. The simple truth is we will not be ready because if we have not been worshipping, praying and leaning on Him and His Word in day to day situations, when we do get involved in our Fathers’ work we will not only be useless and unequipped ourselves; but we will be a hindrance to those around us, needing to be helped rather than being the ones helping others. Our Heavenly Fathers training ground, where the weapons of our warfare are located, are in the hidden personal worshipping life of the true obedient disciple of Messiah.
No disciple is sent out until they are trained, just as Yeshua/Jesus sent out His and they were suitably attired and equipped for the task assigned to them.
Matthew 10:1; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 6:12-13; 9:1-2.
Our training and equipping will always be equal to the calling and tasks the Father has for us to accomplish.
Hebrews 13:21 equip you in every good thing to do His will, by doing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
Private training away from the public is our Fathers way; just as Davids early life as a shepherd caring for and protecting the sheep, was a forerunner to him caring for and protecting the children of Israel as their king.
His experiences defending the flock against a lion and a bear when no one else was around, were the precursors to him being victorious against Goliath in full public view of both the Israelites and their Philistine enemies.
And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear. 1Sam.17:33-36
This call to minister in everyday situations and opportunities doesn’t mean that we choose our own surroundings, it means being our Fathers very special choice in that we are to be available for use in any of the seemingly random surroundings which He has engineered for us. The very character we exhibit in our present surroundings is an indication of what we will be like in other surroundings. The things that our Savior did were often the most menial of everyday tasks and we need to realize that this is an indication that it takes Gods power in us, to accomplish even the common tasks completing them in His WAY. Are we able to use a towel as He did? Doing all the other ordinary things in our lives reveal what we are made of more quickly than anything else. It takes the presence of His Holy Spirit within us to complete the most menial task as it ought to be done; with the right heart motive and attitude, with no thought of reward or acknowledgment.
Eccl.9:10 encourages us that: Whatever our hand finds to do do it with all our might and we are to do it as unto the Lord.Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward Col.3:23/24 Yeshua/Jesus said John13:15 I have set you an example so that you should doasI have doneforyou. He gave us an example that we should do as He has done to us. If we will take notice of the people He brings around us, we may have cause to reflect that this is His way of revealing to us the kind of person we have been to Him. Now He is asking us to be to those people in exactly the same way that He has treated us. Have we found ourselves saying that, we will do all that once we are out on the mission field and when I’m not so busy? When we think and talk like this, it’s like trying to make a weapon with which to fight and defend ourselves while we are crouching in the trenches on the battlefield with bullets whizzing past our heads.
Sadly we are most likely going to be badly injured or killed while trying to do it. We are called to go the second mile with the Lord Matthew 5:41 and yet sadly some of us are worn out in the first ten steps. Then we say that we will just wait until we get closer to the next crisis in life then we will get prepared; but if we don’t make it our llife-style to minister on a steady consistent basis in the everyday opportunities provided by the Lord, we will not be able to stand strong and will again do nothing when the crisis arises.
John 13:14 wash one anothers feet.
Preparation precedes promotion. If we are to be of any use in the will, plans and purposes of our Heavenly Father we need to do our part and to then allow Him to mold us into a useful vessel with the correct attire and weapons; because those weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. This is a spiritual battle, we are spiritual beings and need the spiritual weapons to fight and win the victory every day. Our life and ministry before Him is first and foremost a spiritual one. It is time to leave the comfort of the fig tree life, it’s time for us to be ready and fully equipped as a good soldier who stays awake and is“sober,” with our spiritual armor already on. We are to be ready at all times for the battle that is coming, equipped, with a courageous heart, presenting a bold front to the enemies of our Savior Lord and King
2 Timothy 2:3-5 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute,
SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name
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