Monthly Archives: November 2012
Endurance
The dictionary app on our iPhone defines endurance as “the power to withstand hardship or stress” and “a state of surviving.” While this definition may suffice for the world, our experience over 28 years of Kingdom living has yielded a more enhanced interpretation. With each experience or step, although it may not have been easy – and in many cases – probably could be defined as a hardship (misfortune or affliction), the Kingdom result was never just surviving. In fact, with each tribulation, our endurance produced a recovery or stepping stone that led us further down the road. In each instance, we never returned to our previous state – as if nothing had changed – we always received something – whether spiritual or natural. In every circumstance, Yahweh enhanced us, prospered us, encouraged us, enlightened us, and or reinforced us. Our endurance produced because we kept our eyes on our only solution – Our Heavenly Father – and not on the perpetrator of the assault. While it is never easy and you will have to remind yourself over and over while you are in the midst of the battle, war to keep your heart and mind set on Him.
A different spirit…..
We believe that we have rehearsed this story before, but for emphasis, it is essential to do it again. Apostle Ball, on many occasions, has reflected on the story out of Numbers concerning the children of Israel scouting out the promised land. The scriptures state that “not many went in” – when in fact – only Joshua and Caleb (2 of 12 spies) out of the adult population at that time were allowed to enter.
When you think about it again for the first time, you could equate the promised land to the land we occupy today. There are definite giants that have arisen in the United States. To Yahweh – many must sound like the 10 spies that came back and said “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours it’s inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:32-33
This is the report of Joshua and Caleb: “The land we passed through is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” At these words, the Israelites wanted to stone them.
“Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before the children of Israel. Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?” Numbers 14:10-11
You can read as Moses pleads for Yahweh to forgive the iniquity and transgressions of the children of Israel. “Then the Lord said: ‘I have pardoned, according to your word; but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord – because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not headed My voice, they certainly shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.’” Numbers 14:20-24
We can testify today, after 28 years of walking out this Kingdom walk, that Yahweh is truly with us. We have wholeheartedly trusted and headed His every word to us. His protection has kept us, blessed us, prospered us, and healed us. Just recently we have been blessed to acquire a piece of land to us that would exemplify “our promised land.” Yahweh has more than demonstrated His ability to keep and prosper “those whose hearts are loyal to Him.” 2Chronicles 16:9
Let it be said of us and of those who will hear His voice – that we have a “different spirit”. That we will follow and trust our Heavenly Father fully. That we will not fear man or any giants that may rise up against us. That we trust and have confidence in the protection that Yahweh has and will provide. That we have an attentive ear to His Holy Spirit’s every word. That, in the end, we will have brought glory unto Yahweh and left an indelible mark on this earth with our faithfulness to share of His omnipotence!
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