Daughters of promise

She gave this name [El Roi] to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me.”  Genesis 16:13

This beautiful name for God was spoken by the least likely candidate ~ a young woman, a slave, not a daughter of Israel, despised and in dire circumstances.  She had been sexually used by a giant of the faith, a patriarch, Abraham.  She had been verbally abused by Sarai, Abraham’s wife, who was barren and jealous of Hagar’s fertility.  

All of this set up Hagar’s desire to escape the presence of her master.  She fled and went into the desert.  Her heart was aching.  She was willing to subject herself to the unknowns of the wilderness rather than stay in unbearable circumstances.  An angel came to Hagar and told her that the Lord had heard of her misery and then he blessed her.  Favor was shown to her before she ever uttered a prayer.  She called God, El Roi, ‘for I have seen the One who sees me.’ 

God sees and hears our affliction before he hears our cries for help.  Before prayers are formed, his compassion has already been engaged.  A desperate exile into the desert set the stage for Hagar to see God.  Completely alone, with no competing voices, she was ripe for a divine encounter.

There are periods of our lives when we’d do anything to escape our predicament.  I’ve had more than a few periods like that.  Perhaps you are in one at this very moment.  God sees you struggling to hold on when you don’t think you can cope any longer.  He sees you taking a breath and holding your tongue when unfair accusations are being spewed.  He sees you giving your best, yet again, to someone who doesn’t appreciate it.  He sees you worrying about medical bills, knowing that paying them is impossible with what’s in your bank account.  He sees your disappointment over a marriage that leaves you lonely and heartbroken.  

God sees. He sees before you pray.  He’s moved by your distress even before you’ve stretched out your faith.  God is near you.  Right now.  You are poised for a divine encounter with El Roi.   

Sometimes, I’ve been too tired to tell you my story.  But You already know.  You’ve been watching and You’ve seen me.  Thank you.  Amen

..and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

God’s angels didn’t always fight.  Their warfare had a beginning, and it will have an end.  Let’s look at both events.

This war began when Satan was expelled from heaven.  Previously, Satan had been a high-ranking angel alongside Gabriel and Michael. He lived in God’s presence and led worship in heaven. Despite his privileged position, he committed an act of treason that resulted in his exile. Satan promoted himself.

Isaiah provides more insight into this event. ” I will climb to heaven and place my throne above the highest stars. I will sit there with the gods far away in the north. I will be above the clouds, just like God Most High. “(Isaiah 14:13-14) Satan felt entitled to the worship that God was receiving and believed he should be the one to sit on the throne. With this twisted ambition, his gifts became corrupted. Pride fueled his supernatural charisma, and he campaigned among the angelic hosts to join his cause. He was remarkably successful, influencing one-third of them to defect. God expelled him – and the angels who joined him – and sent them to earth. From then on, the kingdom of darkness has sought to thwart God’s plans. Angelic armies are sent to cripple their efforts. 

Angelic battles will have an endpoint.  God hasn’t seen fit just yet to send all demons into captivity, but one day, they will be thrown into the lake of fire.  None of them will escape this fate.  

For now, the battle rages on.  Daily, God’s children carry the Gospel to others and live their lives to the glory of God. Each day, Satan strategizes plans to corrupt the faith of every believer.  In the heavenlies, God’s forces are coming to our aid, bringing answers, healing, health, strength, provisions, and encouragement.  One day, they will rest.  One day, we will rest.   And we may learn ‘the rest of the story’ of what transpired behind the scenes when we walked by faith and not by sight. 

I get so caught up in my little corner of the world.  Enlarge my vision of Your kingdom ~ and of Your faithfulness beyond my range of vision.  Amen

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  Psalm 91:11

Jehovah Sabaoth is Lord of the angel armies.  He implements battle plans and dispatches angels to war in the heavenlies.  Satan, the mimic, also implements battle plans against the advance of the Gospel and dispatches his dark angels to carry out his work of resistance.  

There are differing opinions among God’s children regarding the use of spiritual authority in heavenly realms. Satan has assigned high-level territorial spirits to various countries and regions to darken the minds of the people to the truth of the Gospel. Most believers acknowledge that these spirits exist and fulfill these roles.  However, some contend that their spiritual authority extends to these heavenly places.  They ‘take authority’ over these satanic leaders and bind their activities.  Is this biblical?  Or is God the only one who commands His angels to confront these dark forces?  

In Daniel 10, Daniel received a vision and fasted and prayed for 21 days.  His prayers were heard and answered immediately by God but His intervention was delayed in the heavens by the work and leadership of two territorial spirits: one over Persia and one over Greece.  Heavenly reinforcements were needed, so God dispatched Michael, one of His archangels, to engage in the battle.  Victory was achieved.  

Daniel was unaware of the war in the heavenlies.  Therefore, he did not address them or bind dark forces.  His role was to fast, pray, and leave the matter to the Lord of Hosts.  Did he sense the great battle occurring?  Most likely, yes.  An angel came to encourage Daniel to stand firm and be courageous, addressing him as ‘you who are most loved.’  

Many sincere Christian leaders are training people to engage in spiritual warfare by entering an area, discerning the spirit assigned by Satan to oppress and control it, and then addressing them directly, informing them that God is victorious over them.  This level of strategic warfare is concerning and, I believe, a subversion of our spiritual authority.  While we have been given the mandate to liberate people from demonic oppression on Earth, warring in the heavens is beyond our bounds.  

If you often repent on behalf of our country, understand that this is God’s method to influence the battle where territorial spirits fulfill their mandates.  Like Daniel, we repent, fast, and pray, entrusting the Lord of Hosts to devise battle plans and deploy angelic forces.  Oh, child of God, dearly loved, be courageous, and do not grow weary in prayer.  Humbly defer all battle plans to Jehovah Sabaoth.  His promises in this scripture passage hold true throughout all time.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

…and the government will be upon his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

When was the last time you said, “I wouldn’t want to carry that responsibility on my shoulders!”  Whatever it was that you were referring to, it was deemed too heavy to carry.

Our Prince of Peace doesn’t run from positions of power and authority.  This prophetic word (Isaiah 9:6) assures us that Jesus will shoulder the responsibility of ruling over a literal, earthly kingdom that encompasses all the governments and kingdoms of the world.  As His children, each of us will see it with our own eyes.  

Solomon was given divine wisdom, and we admire his discernment in ruling over complicated civil cases. We recall how he delivered a righteous judgment in the dispute between two women who claimed the same baby as their own. Only God could have inspired the idea Solomon employed to reveal the real mother.  

This embodies the essence of divine leadership. Jesus will govern justly, and the implications and examples are so extensive that we can regard them as countless. No sin will remain concealed. Every motive will be revealed. Every false accusation will prove ineffective. Every con artist will be unseated.  

Furthermore, every unfairness will be righted.  Every victim will have advocacy.  The poor will be fed.  The weak will be strengthened and promoted.  The ambitious and charismatic leader will be asked to serve as the humble are exalted.  

None of this will tire our King of Kings. He rules with ease. Righteousness is inherent to His nature. Those of us who live under His reign will embrace the peace that flows from His throne. We will breathe easily, never fearing the worst. All previous sources of anxiety will fade away in the joy of God’s kingdom. 

I’ll be safe then—and I’m safe now because You are already above all powers and authorities that dominate the front pages of the news. Hallelujah. Amen.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matthew 10:34

Devotion to Jesus can create chasms in relationships.  These words from Jesus are shocking if I cling exclusively to verses that speak of Jesus being the Prince of Peace.  Are these principles contradictory?  Not at all.  Jesus is Peace.  And He will bring peace to those in disharmony when they seek His face and embrace His truth in unity.  But there are just as many times when He will offend those closest to me.  When that happens, I must suffer for righteousness sake and Jesus’ words are an incentive for me to remain faithful.

Oppressors don’t have to be soldiers, beating down the doors of Christian households to take them away to be killed or tortured.  The ones who persecute can be family members, fellow employees, and even children who strain against a parent’s obedience to Jesus.

This devotional reaches out to you today if you are one who suffers in any way because you love Jesus.  When the fire of love and devotion cause you to walk upstream against around you, know that Jesus sees you and will reward you.  As a wife, you may suffer the scorn and ridicule of an unbelieving husband.  As a husband, you may experience the cold shoulder of a wife who wishes your values were more temporal.  As a child, you may feel disowned because your passion for Jesus alters the future your parents desire for you.  As an employee, you feel excluded by everyone around you who are all too willing to play corporate politics.  As a pastor, you feel that your job is in jeopardy because the majority of your congregations wants feel-good-messages rather than solid Bible teaching.

The Prince of Peace is in you and around you. Peace is promised and it can be yours even though His presence has disrupted the harmony of your relationships. Breathe deeply as the Spirit breathes over you today.  Do it, not once, but as a way of life.  

You had the peace of Your Father in the midst of disharmony with your family and religious leaders. Your Father promised peace but peace in Your troubled world. I follow Your example.  Amen