The enemy hates advancement for the kingdom and comes against it full force. So many people that I know are under this feeling of oppression or attack, myself included. I've written about this a few times before and I'm sure it will be a topic that I refer to often. I don't think enough people realize the truth of the battle of the ages that we are living in. I don't think I've had writers block like this in a long while. I feel as though I have so much to say but can't say any of it at the same time. I start a sentence and then backspace it. I start a thought in my mind and get on a little rant, and then it disappears and I can't remember one word of it. So, maybe if I just sit here and type, something good will emerge from this mess that is my brain. Lord take control of my thoughts, my mind has been my battle and I fear I'm losing.
Tuesday I did some shopping. It's been the wrong week of the month for me so I was already hitting up the snack isle for something salty and then the cookie isle for something sweet. I'm grumbling to myself about the way I hate these masks, how I'm bloated and my pants are tight, how I hate the stupid stickers on the floor telling me which way to walk, that I'm upset with the fact that I am rushing to get things and get out before they close; which all leads to this snowball of me being frustrated with the media, frustrated with the government, frustrated with a thousand things that I can't even touch or try to change on my own. It truly takes a village and here I am stomping through the grocery store with smoke coming out of my nose like a dragon, all over the fact that I feel totally out of control in this situation, my flesh is uncomfortable and has had enough.
Then the Lord put it on my heart that it "takes a village" because not everyone can be strong all the time. It takes a village because a support network of true disciples is needed. That was His design for this world. That was what Jesus died for on the cross. That was the purpose of the resurrection. That is the word. To go and make disciples, to share the truth of the gospel and to grow the divine kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven". We are to bring heaven to earth, and we can, but we need our village. This is why "iron sharpens iron". This is why the enemy's first mode of attack is to use your thoughts to produce feelings of isolation. The enemy's attack is to isolate and to cloud your mind with lies.
Hebrews 10:19-25 19 Therefore, brothers,since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
I have no control over legislation, no control over my children going back to school, over this garbage virus propaganda. I have no control over the way this world is shaping itself. I can't change the big things right now and I feel powerless to this loss of control. I am grasping at things for comfort that I shouldn't, like iced coffee, chocolate or soda by day and tylenol PM to get some sleep at night. I start to read the word and I get stuck. Then I become frustrated for being stuck. I feel frustrated for not being who I know I should be. I get angry at myself for knowing the walk and not being able to walk it out myself every day. It's like I see the bigger picture and I can see that the Lord is in control of all things. My spirit can know that I am to rest in His plan. I can preach resting in the Lord and the love of Jesus all day long, but in the end, my flesh is still at war against my spirit for the control that it craves to feel "normal". The truth of the matter is that what is considered "normal" to this world will drag our very souls to Hell. I know this, but at the same time, I am grabbing that soda or iced coffee and dang near chugging nyquil to make myself stop worrying and go to sleep. I toss and turn all night and then wake up to get the kids ready to take on the day so I can go to work and do it all over again. I am beyond fearful of being that luke warm christian that I preach against so much. I was her for so long. I know the way out, yet my flesh wars at me daily to stop me from making the time to truly invest in my salvation.
Hebrews 2:14-18 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Why is it that we will invest in entertainment, we will invest in books, tv, movies, video games, drugs, alcohol, food, all of it to escape our own reality a little bit? We will educate ourselves to obtain degrees that will earn us more money to buy ourselves more things to be used here on this earth. We work hard so that others will consider us successful but we won't work toward or put much effort at all into out own eternal salvation? Why is it that we will rush to the bars when they open but we won't rush to the altar to repent? We will rush to the beach, river or pool to take a dip to cool off but we won't get baptized in that very same water to declare our love for the savior that died for us? Yet, we still consider ourselves "Christians" who are just good enough to get into heaven, worthy of that benefit, even though we haven't read the word on our own or stepped into a church in ages? I dunno about that one guys. The bible is a pretty serious book, you should read it and see what it says about some things.
The only time I feel right, the only time I feel safe, and like my life is together is when I am spending time in the presence of the Lord. When I go to conferences, meetings, worship services or anything where the true presence of the Lord shows up, I find myself losing track of time and only wanting more of that feeling of love, acceptance, truth and revelation. I find myself wanting to dive deeper into the word, to hear the voice of the Lord louder, to see greater visions, to get out of my habit of delayed obedience and just act immediately on what the Lord is prompting me to do. I am in awe and fascinated by the words, visions and prophecy that the Lord flows through his people with the power of the Holy Spirit. I feel most at home when I am out sharing his love with strangers, not when I am sitting on my own couch in my own living room. His presence is truly our "home". Yet so many people think that religion and church is the same as what I have been describing for the last year. It's truly not. Relationship with the Lord and a network of true disciples is not religion and church membership. I challenge you to change your relationship with what you think "church" truly is. I challenge you to experience the truth of the presence of the Lord.
Hebrews 4:11-16 11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Then reality hits and I realize that I have to go to work, be in society and make money to pay my bills. I get back into the adult routine and almost always have the enemy provoking thoughts that I have immediately lost what ground I had gained. At work, I can't have my worship music playing, then in the car I am talking to the kids, when I am home I am watching cartoons, making dinner and doing laundry, and by the time they are in bed I am too tired to stay up. Sometimes even too tired to shower, but I struggle through it. I find that I end up giving the Lord the bits and pieces of my day and wondering why I am losing my peace to these frustrations? Honestly, these blogs are more for me preaching to myself then they are me preaching to you all. I just hope some of the things that I am going through are relatable to you. In all honesty, the Lord never moved, I am the one who has gone farther away. I am the one that puts this life and the things of it before my relationship with the Lord. I am the one that will have to answer to my decisions come judgement day. I am in just as much danger of being called luke warm and being spit out as anyone else. All because I let my flesh get in the way of my salvation. I say things like I am too tired, too annoyed, to frustrated. I feel that I am undeserving of His presence at this point because of being too tired, too annoyed, or to frustrated. I feel like I should give up on giving the Lord any of my time because I feel that I am too frustrated or too angry to approach the throne with my petty problems that are really just caused by my flesh and the enemy's attack on my mind. I get tormented with shame for feeling caught up in the daily frustrations of this life and not being able to get my mind back on track.
Hebrews 3 12-18 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
As I was in the shower last night, I was crying out to the Lord about my frustrations. I was feeling defeated and the Lord was stern with me and simply replied, "are you going to pull your britches up, Ash, or what?" That made me laugh because it was in a familiar voice and tone. My pap used to always say "britches". My brother would always run around when we were little, he was about Nash's age, and I can hear my pap telling him to "pull your britches up". The Lord reminded me in that shower last night that so many are called and so few are chosen because they refuse to pull their britches up. I can sulk in my feelings of insecurity and lack of control, I can blame politics, the virus, the masks, or I can pull my pants up and get on with my life and get my focus back on track to the things that matter most. Bringing the kingdom of Heaven to this earth, now, in this time. One baby step at a time. Simply pull your britches up and make better decisions. Take your salvation seriously, take the calling seriously and WALK IT OUT. Every minute of the day you are either investing in your salvation or your damnation. Choose wisely. Don't be afraid of the Holy Spirit fire, let it burn away everything that is not of the Lord.
So with this blog I challenge myself, as well as all of you, to get back to spending alone time with the Lord. To read the word and to let it sink into your spirit as the living water and bread you need to survive. It's time to set aside all worldly issues and focus on bringing the kingdom to earth on earth as it is in heaven.
Hebrews 5: 7-14 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Apostasy
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 6
6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The Certainty of God's Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 9:11-28
Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 12
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Do Not Grow Weary
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
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