8 In the Quiet

Struggling alone? Wrestling with God about what’s going on in your life or the lives of your loved ones?

It’s hard knowing that I live in Manitoba – where the fields emotional/spiritual/physical fields SHOULD be producing, but aren’t.. (we’re in a drought)

Kinda feels a little more like the Sahara…

Wrestling day are quite days, with not much going on except the struggle. And at times, that struggle may seem to overtake us.

Don’t lose hope. Take heart… the rain is coming.

The Back Story (1 Kings 17)

There was rebellion in the land, starting with the upper echelons of power – from the King himself. The Israeli leadership equated Baal with Yahweh.

God had waited.

And when it was decided in the courts of heaven (Psalms 82 Living Bible) that the time of rebellion had reached it’s fullest measure for God to receive the ultimate glory, God was said, “time’s up”. He sent word to His prophet Elijah that there would no rain or dew except at His word! (it takes 2 chapter/ 3 years for God to make his point to the Israeli administration and the people).

Interestingly enough, the next scene leaves Elijah in quarantine. God tells him to hide and brings him to a Kerith (which means “cut off” or “separated”) Ravine, a quite place far from the palace. God told him” you will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there”. While in isolation, God sent the ravens (who were considered taboo and unclean, Lev. 11:13-15) to feed him bread and meat twice a day.

Thoughts

What circumstances are distracting you from the reality of God? Elijah lived like there was no reality except the reality of the Almighty God. Elijah decided to believe God over the circumstances and he didn’t even have all the information. He was given it piece by piece (more on that in a bit). God’s words were the supreme reality in which Elijah lived. (he shows us his humanity in a wee bit – on another day, but when he trusts, he trusted BIG!)

Take a moment and document/journal any words that God has whispered into your heart. Now write allow yourself to write down a few doubts you’ve been having. Let’s be honest, they are there anyway, you might as well stop them from looping and write them down.

Now, pause your heart before God and ask Him to tell you the TRUTH about the situation. There are things that are probably TRUE about it, but it may not be the SUPREME TRUTH. That’s the difference. The things that are True are so enticing… seem so real… but the reality that God wants to share with us is so much.. real-er. It’s the realest thing possible. That’s the realm that God lives in, and He wants to invite to live in THAT reality. Make a choice to believe the REAL TRUTH.

“For we fix our attention, not on things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever.” 2 Cor. 4:18

Having a hard time believing in the TRUTH that God is showing you? That’s understandable. He has some unconventional ideas sometimes. You know, like a baby being born from a lady who has never had sex? Or people walking on water? Even taking 5 buns and 3 small fish and feeding thousands. Yeah, not normal.

He CREATED normal, but He doesn’t live there. You don’t have to either. Ask God what “normal” thing in your life He wants to replace with His pizzazz perspective. Honestly, even the things we see as normal, (ie. ants and locusts) are spectacular when he gets ahold of it (Prov. 30:24-28)

About the Courts of Heaven… In Psalms 82, we are told that God is indeed, the supreme ruler and makes judgements about what happens here on earth, from His throne, in the assembly. That’s the courts. But here is how it goes down:

STEP 1

The accuser shows up to accuse the saints (that’s you and me, believers in Jesus)

Job 2:1-6
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.

And he does this ALL-THE-TIME. Really – the bible says “day and night” (Rev. 12:10)

STEP 2

Jesus, our legal advocate. In todays’ terms, this is what a legal advocate does in court: According to https://www.jagranjosh.com/author/hemant-singh

A. Lawyer is a person who is still in the process of  pursuing Law This person is not eligible to stand in the court on behalf of his/her client although he/she can give legal advice. On the other hand the advocate is a special type of lawyer who can stand in favor of a client in a court.

B. The Advocate is a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Advocate is eligible to put the points of his/her clients in front of the court but the lawyer can’t do so because he/she is still pursuing law.

C. An advocate may be a lawyer but a lawyer may not be an advocate .An ‘Advocate’ is a step ahead of a’ lawyer’.

JESUS IS OUR ADVOCATE!

He PUBLICALLY (in the courts of Heaven) supports us and recommends our cause.

STEP 3

God is the judge. His son is our lawyer. They agree about EVERYTHING!!!!

Jesus is talking, John one of his BF is taking notes and records Jesus saying, “By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me [God].” John 5:30

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your [God] throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before You.” Ps 89:14

WHAT DO YOU NEED THE COURTS OF HEAVEN TO DECIDE ON? What needs to be addressed? How has the enemy been accusing you? Sit down and let Jesus take your case!!!! LET HIM BE YOUR ADVOCATE!

Just FYI, if it’s anything like the legal process on earth, sometimes these cases can take a long time. Now, the earthly cases take a while because of paperwork and backlog… Heaven’s cases are not like that. BUT what God is doing is that he’s after the maximum amount of fall for the enemy and the greatest win for Him and his people. Sometimes that takes time. Be patient. Hang in there.