Of Spirit and Speculation
On the third of July I e-mailed a friend:
"On the fourth, the fireworks will begin!"
I know that that sounds like a no-brainer, but I also knew that it was breathed of God. I understood that something would "begin", but I knew not what.
On the Fourth of July I watched as America launched the space shuttle Discovery. And it reminded me of the Mercury astronauts telling NASA control to, "Light this candle!" They were indicating that there should be no more delay and they should "shoot off" the rocket. I knew that this was significant, but I did not know exactly what it signified.
On the other side of the world, the North Koreans reciprocated and set off their volley of rockets. It was like a confirmation.
The fireworks have begun.
The TV and it's talking heads were abuzz. There were multiple reports and a myriad of speculations as to what all of this meant. These "fireworks" were a message to the world. But whose message, and what does it mean?
As I take in the messages from the media, the Spirit repeatedly declares the same word:
"Contrived!"
All of the reports and the explanations of the "experts" are contrived.
Rapidly I have great difficulty reading or even listening about anything regarding the "fireworks" on the fourth. Because all I can hear is, "contrived." The TV now spends most of the time on "mute." The news becomes no different than an annoying commercial or lying politician. The Spirit tells me not to believe what I've been told, though He also tells me that something began on the fourth and that it is significant.
Shortly thereafter, I come across unintentionally an article on the Internet about Helen of Troy. The article and my limited research reports a mixture of the mythological and the historical. Helen had been kidnapped, not unlike the Israeli corporal near Gaza. Her capture started a war and the burning of Troy. Since then the lighting of the torch was a signal for war or the burning of a city/region. Are not our fireworks a celebration of war also ?
"On the fourth, the fireworks will begin!"
As the days go by I gradually release the mute button. The TV and the talking heads have multiplied and are all clamoring about the Middle East. There have been more kidnappings and rocket attacks, but nothing is new. They have been doing this for decades. Ishmael steals a son of Judah, then months later Judah releases hundreds of sons of Ishmael. Are world wars now to be ignited over corporal's? In the past you had to be at least the rank of a Duke.
And the Spirit says: "Contrived!" Quick , push the mute button.
There are now legions of talking heads. They have even dusted off many of the old ones, brought out of retirement to explain all of the "fireworks." But all of the actions, and all of their words are "contrived."
But don't get me wrong. Innocent people are dying on both sides. The death and the destruction are real! The "causes" and all of the explanations are the things that are contrived. The sheep of each individual flock are suffering while their shepherd's (political and military leaders) are following a script. There is no righteous side to be found since the torches were lit on the fourth. We may only find a righteous remnant hidden within each individual flock. We must pray for that remnant, and pray that we may "remain" when the fire reaches our shore.
I inquired of the Lord. "Father, is your hand in this?"
And very quietly in my spirit I sense that the rulers of this world are acting out their plan. They boldly announced the start of their final act. Everybody is in their place and have memorized their lines. The rulers are confident and no longer need to hide their arrogance. They think they cannot be denied. They have the power!
And then the Father answers.
Exd 10:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:
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Deu 2:30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as [appeareth] this day.
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Eze 38:4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts [of armour, even] a great company [with] bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
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I am at peace knowing that the Father is in full control. He didn't want me caught up with the "wars and rumors of wars" clamor. I can rest easily knowing that the Lord will direct my path. He is faithful and will provide discernment between the Truth and the lie. I can only be deceived if I choose to be. I can only be deceived when I close my ears to His Spirit. I can only be deceived if my eyes and ears are on the world.
I will trust in the Lord!
Shalom, John
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EXCERPT:
Is this War or will they give it some other name?
Posted: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
- written by jerry golden
http://www.thegoldenreport.com/asp/jerrysnewsmanager/anmviewer.asp?a=1053&z=1
We now have three IDF soldiers being held captive, one by Hamas and two by Hizbullah. My daily prayer is for the safety of these three young men and to comfort their families who must be suffering, that the IDF will find its soul that it lost during the Gaza Disengagement while ripping over 9,000 Jews from their homes, for without it they will never be the fighting force they have been known to be. Those of us who have served in the IDF find it hard to understand how the IDF could have went for the trap set by Hizbullah. They shelled several Kibbutzim and Moshavim with Katyushas, causing the main body of the IDF on the northern border to all run to those locations. In the mean time leaving these two IDF soldiers at the mercy of the Hizbullah team who had managed to infiltrate our border and lay in wait for them. Making us wonder about the present leadership of the IDF in that region.
To add insult to injury once again like the first kidnapping in Gaza that should have been prevented the IDF didn’t react for over an hour, giving the kidnappers plenty of time to get the soldiers on a helicopter and fly them into Syria or hide them in Beirut. It seems that the IDF we once admired so highly is losing their ability from the High Command to the Foot Soldier. And in the meantime the new Prime Minister is going to order the IDF soldiers here to force over 100,000+ Jews from their homes in Judea and Samaria. So the big question, is the training we are now giving our IDF soldiers up to par?