Paul Email -16Sept2013 John 12 (A good word)

How you doin? Stacey and I have been doing our morning devotions together for about 3yrs now. In the past 2yrs, our devotional time has become a life line or a "word" line. We receive tremendous words and impartation from the Holy Ghost during this time in the morning. Like anyone else we deal with Spiritual warfare. I've heard that Spiritual warfare is the only war that the strategy does not involve looking at the enemy. Stacey and I agree with that statement. I've also heard that if you are under constant attack something is wrong with your life or life's choices. Stacey and I disagree with part of this statement. Life choices are certainly relevant in exposing yourself to demonic attack, however we're told in the Bible that the Devil is our constant accuser. The Devil is relentlessly trying to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Stacey and I encounter several people with hardships or demonic attack in their lives. The Holy Ghost gave us this word- "As relentless as the enemy is to steal, kill, and destroy us, we will be equally as relentless to seek God the Father, to hear Jesus' voice, and to follow Him". That's a good word.

Stacey has noticed that throughout the gospels, Jesus is under constant attack, even from the time He was born.  Whether it is Jews picking up stones to kill him, trying to trap him and arrest him... his own disciples rebuking him and leaving him when he tells them they have to eat his body and drink his blood, etc.... Jesus didn't look at the enemy. The disciples did (John 11:7 "but Rabbi... a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"). Jesus stayed focused on His Father and His future that was known to Him in His present.  Jesus says He can only do what he sees the Father doing.  His eyes were fixed on God.  It doesn't matter what other people are doing, what the enemy is doing, it doesn't matter the circumstance.  Following God is a path full of light and truth where we do not stumble (John 11:9... "a man who walks by day will not stumble...it is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light").  Jesus was walking a path full of light.  While they were "attacking him" he could see it coming a mile away and was never in fear of stumbling over it. He was in control of His life because He heard, listened, and payed attention to His Father. That's a good word.

I wrote these first 2 paragraphs before Stacey woke up. We read John 12 today... WOW!!!!!!! In AA we have a saying (several sayings actually), "don't let good intentions cover up bad motives". John 12:4-6, describes this perfectly, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." (12:6)  Verses 10-11, are yet another really bad response by the Pharisees, "So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,". WOW!!!!!!! The hits just keep coming with those following the wrong father. There's been a major truth coming out about "light" in the past few chapters of John. It continues on today. Verses 35-36 really got me. These scripture are all before the cross. Jesus tells His disciples, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” We live after the cross, so we have the "light" all the time. COME ON!!!!!!! Jesus goes on to say even more about this in verse 46, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." I certainly don't want to stay in darkness. To me this truth is a solution to back sliding and retrying old habit or behaviors. Stay in the light. Verses 49-50 give great instruction on how to get this done. While encountering those people, who God brings to us, that are under attack or dealing with our own attack these verses make it possible to stay in the light. Jesus is the perfect model of how we are to live our lives. Here He says in verse 49, "... but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it." In verse 50 he says, "I know that  his command leads to eternal life." SAY WORD!!!!!!! Sin is dark. I'm getting over my fear of seeking purity in my life. I want to walk in the light to make it possible. Jesus is the light. Now that's a good word. Stay in His light today.