Stevemidkiff's Blog

Yes, those times when storm clouds gather & circumstances threaten us?

When fear stalks: “

“Be not afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked,
(Nor unscheduled, unscrupulous diseases & plan-demics
when it comes.”

Elisha retained his peace when faced with threatening situations.

In his day Israel was constantly under threat of invasion by Syria.

Fortunately for the king of Israel, on several occasions Elisha was able to warn
him of ambushes set to capture him.
The frustrated Syrian king demanded that his counselors disclose who the spy was.

One counselor astutely told the Syrian king that no spy was warning the enemy of his plans.
Rather, Elisha the prophet was supernaturally enabled to discover the king’s plots.

“Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, tells the king of Israel
the words that you speak in your bedchamber” 2 Kings 6:12

Go and spy where he is, that I may send & fetch him,” said the king 1 Kings 6:13
We can assume that Elisha heard that too!

At that time Elisha was in Dothan, a town on a caravan route not far from Samaria,
so the Syrian king sent soldiers to surround the town.

Elisha was unperturbed, but his servant was greatly alarmed at the sight of
the Syrian soldiers. He
couldn’t understand how Elisha could be so calm in the face of such imminent danger.

“And Elisha prayed & said, Lord, I pray, open his eyes, that he may see.
And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man & he saw & behold,
the mountain was full of horses & chariots of fire round about Elisha”
2 Kings 6:17

What better security could one want?

We who love the Lord have the same security.

Paul, whose life was full of hairbreadth escapes, told us that our life

“is hid with Christ in God” Colossians 3:3

No matter what happens

“we know that all things work together for good” Romans 8:28

No foe can daunt us;
no fear can haunt us.
We’re on the victory side.

No harm can touch us without God’s permission & even then He draws
a predetermined line, the book of Job assures us.
So those who have responded to the highest wisdom & belong to the
family of God need not be afraid, even when calamity comes.

We can have peace in times of stress because we know the place where faith stands:

“For the Lord shall be our confidence & will keep our foot from being taken”
Proverbs 3:26

Faith takes its stand in the Lord.
So we can put all the power of the enemy into proper perspective.

In the book of Revelation we see all the might of Satan massed & mobilized
against the people of God.

Satan appears unmarked as a great red dragon.

He has at his command principalities & powers,
the rulers of this world’s darkness, and wicked spirits
in high places, and he summons them to war.

Demons surge up from the abyss.
Fallen, godless men hail the beast as their sovereign lord.
He is depicted as a monster possessing great ferocity & power.
Countless millions of men march to his drumbeat.
Terror & torture are his weapons.
Such is the power of the enemy.

And what does God have to counter all this raw power?

A Lamb! (Literally a little lamb in Revelation 5:6.

The Lamb has what the enemy does not have:
omniscience & omnipotence.

Wisdom points our faith to that all-victorious, nail-scarred Lamb.

That is where faith stands.

Adapted from John Phillips

HIS WAY

God bade me go when I would stay 　

Twas cool within the wood

I did not know the reason why

I heard a boulder crashing by 　

Across the path where I stood.

He bade me stay when I would go; 　

Thy will be done, I said.

They found one day at early dawn,

Across the way I would have gone, 　

A serpent with a mangled head.

No more I ask the reason why, 　

Although I may not see The path ahead,

His way I go; For though I know not,

He doth Know, safe paths for me. 　

And He will choose 　　　　　　　　　　

The Sunday School Times

Assistance against Evil

God has promised to send angelic assistance when we face attacks from supernatural realms.

It makes sense. Satan & the demons are supernatural beings—so are God’s Angelic armies.

We need supernatural help in our conflict with supernatural enemies.

God controls all power & He wants us strong in Jesus.
So we’re to take everything the Master has provided for us,
His weapons are the only effective articles to battle with.
By using them we’re able to stand up to everything the Devil throws at us.
This is a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his demons.

God’s Word is our indispensable weapon.
Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.
We Pray hard & long. We Pray for others.
We Keep our eyes open.
We Keep each other’s spirits encouraged so that no one droops, falls behind or drops out.

In Psa. 91: 11–13, the composer describes 3 specific activities of the angels on our behalf.

The Angels are given “charge” of us Ps 91:11

The term “charge” is from the Hebrew tzawa, which means

“to appoint, install, give command of.”

The Lord has actually appointed angels—
heavenly guardians—
to give us aid when attacked by supernatural forces

Jesus says in Matthew 18:10 “Watch that you don’t treat a single one of these
childlike believers arrogantly. You realize, don’t you, that their personal angels
are constantly in touch with their Father in heaven?
The Message

In Acts 12:15 when Peter was sprung from prison by strong Angels he knocked on the door
Of the place the believers we’re praying.
A lady came to the door then ran back to the room where they were praying
they wouldn’t believe her, they dismissed her, the disregarded her report.
They said she was crazy, but. She stuck by her story, insisting.
They still wouldn’t believe her and said, “It must be his angel.”
All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.

Angels “guard” us in all our ways
The Hebrew word shamar means “to keep, watch over, observe, preserve, take care of.”

Angels are overseers of God’s people. Like silent sentries, they stand guard over
those who seek refuge in the Lord, preserving our steps.

Angels “bear you up” in their hands Psa. 91:12
The verb nasah actually means “to lift, to carry, take up.”

When used figuratively in reference to a person, it means “to support, sustain.”

In the context of Psalm 91, the angels see to our mental, emotional & spiritual needs
so that we will not be overwhelmed by the deception of the devil & his minions

“Death, be not proud, though some have called you

Mighty & dreadful, but you are not so;

For those who you think you overthrow

Die not, poor Death, nor can you kill me

From rest & sleep, which but your pictures be

Much pleasure; then from you much more must flow

And soon our best with you do go

Rest of their bones & soul’s delivery

You are slave to fate, chance, kings & desperate men

And do with poison, war & sickness dwell

And poppies or charms can make us sleep so well

And better than your stroke; why swell you then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally

And death shall be no more; Death, you will die.”

by John Donne

It is odd that we can excel in feelings of inadequacy & wallow at the weight
of our problems as gigantic impossibilities.

Then Jesus draws near with His voice through His Word.

He says we are complete in Him,

He reassures that He is the head of all principality & power:

He has all the power & all the needed solutions are supplied in His grace.

We can give everything to Him.

He says: Because we have kept the word of His patience,
He also will keep us from the hour of temptation,
which shall come upon all the world

We feel inadequate but when we keep His Word in front of us,
When we see how patiently He cares for us, our inadequacy is swallowed in Him.

The Word of His patience is Him faithfully surrounding us with Himself.

He patiently knocks at our hearts door asking us to open up to Him.

Keeping His Word of patience is hearing Him & allowing Him in,

We let Him carry our burdens,
We let Him take our inadequacies
We let Him take each problem.

He is our adequacy & we are complete in Him.
We are awed by His patience.

He tells us
Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.
Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you:
You’re to be a prophet to the nations— that’s what He has in mind for us.

But we say,
Wait, Master, Look at us. We don’t know anything. We inadequate!

But GOD says: Don’t say, ‘you’re inadequate,
He’ll tell us where to go & we’ll go there.
He’ll tell us what to say and we’ll say it.
Don’t be afraid of a anyone. He’ll be right here with us, looking after us.

GOD reaches out, He touches our mouth & He says,
Look! I’ve just put My words in your mouth—hand-delivered!
See what I’ve done? I’ve given you a job to do among others!

Our job is to pull up & tear down, take apart & demolish through prayer
And then start over, building & planting with His creative Word

Jeremiah 1:5-10

God knows the number of our hairs

Politicians of Nations & Kingdoms are placed into power & operate by God’s appointment,

It is not by their own authority that they raise up in power.

It’s not their clever tactics in their campaigning nor is it their self aggrandizing lies & deception

Sure they devour each other in scheming for ascendency & popularity

They want to be in charge. They want to call the shots. They exploit. They ridicule.

They blame. They find fault. The stir up discontent. They want to extend their territory.

They want to raise in popularity. They want the polls to register in their favor.

We find this peculiar, since we think our present political scene is processed by political vote.

The problem is not who votes but who counts the votes. Are we victims then?

Nope, Gods sovereign purposes are & will is achieved.

He let’s various ones obtain power & wealth. It’s the mystery of His appointments.

Nations rise & fall. Diseases comes & then He leads us to healing. Wars continue.

In it all our God is working & would have us trust in Him & pray.

Even in our failures & feelings of overwhelming defeat & stretched emotions we seek His presence

Why would we ever feel doubt?

Would we ever come to a spot in life where we throw up our hands?

Then say inside, in our deep feelings:

We dont trust You; would we say that to God?

Are these the places where God becomes real?

Is this the spot where we stand barefoot by the burning bush of our life—as God’s Spirit—

Gently deals in our: will nots & our, I can’t’s?

Aren’t these our odd resistances?

God is real! Gods reality is infinitely above our reality

We feel the hurts, the bruise, the spots of defeat. The fears of coming disasters.

But God has His special touch, He moves in our sight, He brings His sound, His scent—

then we see the aching reality that God is more of a reality then we ourselves

all that’s around us that we thought was so impending & impactful is not anything really

but passing mist & shadows.

Yes it may seem Harder than it was ever meant to be & yet, the only way we could come

Whenever I find myself in the company of doubts, I know I am on Holy ground.

I want to take off my shoes & stand there for a while.

The ground starts to stink, it feels like muddy sludge,

There’s no way I’m going to let this feeling swallow me

This can’t take over

I do believe, God is always working. He’s doing in us,

He is working through & around us, all things together for our good

We constantly are bumping into areas of inadequacy.

It becomes a haunting consciousness.

But it’s only that we would cling to Jesus the one who alone is adequate.

We worry over things beyond our control but again we must find security in Jesus control.

We fear failure, which plunges us instantly into collapse.

We recoil, realizing God rewards faith not fears.

We may cop a wrong attitude toward others; it eats up our insides with resentment & guilt.

Stunned with loss of health & energy we realize God would have us learn His love

At times it appears His love develops only in the swamp of the distracting & unlovely.

We study God’s adequacy, ability & achievements over & over.

We write about it, pray it, say it & mouth it at every situation.

But saying it & believing it are worlds apart.

We must learn it & live it in the trenches of our challenges

This is where Jesus would be to us what only He can be. Not I but Christ.

PSALMS 30

REASONS FOR PERSONAL PRAISE V.1-3

RESCUED FROM: THE POWER OF DESPAIR

We will extol you,O LORD; for you have lifted us up

THE PAINS OF DISLIKE

and have not made our foes to rejoice over us.

THE PRESSURE OF DISEASE V.2

O LORD my God, I cried to You & you have healed us.

THE PERMANENCE OF DESTRUCTION V.3

O LORD, you have brought up our soul from the grave:

You have kept us alive, that we should not go down to the pit.

REASONS FOR PUBLIC PRAISE V.4-5

RESCUED TO: HIS PURITY V.4

Sing to the LORD, we believe in Him, give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.

HIS PATIENCE V.5

For His anger endures but a moment; in His favor is life:

HIS PEACE

weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

RUIN FOR PRECARIOUS PRESUMPTION V.6-7

WE FEEL GREAT

And in our prosperity we said, we shall never be moved.

WE FORGET GRACE

LORD, by Your favor You have made our mountain to stand strong:

WE FIND GRIEF

You did hide Your face, and we were troubled.

REQUESTS FOR PHYSICAL PRESERVATION V.8-10

OUR APPROACH

We cried to You, O LORD & to the LORD we made supplication.

OUR APPEAL

What profit is there in our blood, when we go down to the pit?
Shall the dust praise You? shall it declare Your truth?

OUR ANGUISH

Hear, O LORD & have mercy on us: LORD, be our helper.

RELIANCE FOR PRICELESS PRIVILEGE V.11-12

OUR GREAT CHANGE

You have turned for us our mourning into dancing:
You have put off our sackcloth & dressed us with gladness;

OUR GLORIOUS CHALLENGE

To the end that our glory may sing praise to You & not be silent.

O LORD our God, we will give thanks to You for ever.

A SENSE OF DEFEAT V.1-3

THE AGONY OF REJECTIONS V.1

THE SIGH OF FEELING CONTEMPTIBLE

O God, You have cast us off,

Only God can give victory.

What can we do when we’re facing a tough bastion of entrenched resistance?

This negative opposition is so defiant

It surrounds us & is organized in antagonistic obstruction

It appears invincible.

THE SORROW OF FEELING CONFUSED

You have scattered us,

THE SADNESS OF FEELING CHEAP

You have been displeased;

THE ADJUSTMENT OF RECEPTION

THE SECURITY OF HIS COMFORT

O turn Yourself to us again.

Only God could give victory over a fortress like that, and David knew it.

So he cries to God, acknowledging that “the help of man is worthless” (v. 11).

We have to ask for help & don’t give up. Keep asking.
God gives victory, but we need to ask for it.

THE STRIFE OF HORRENDOUS CALAMITY V.2

AS INHABITANTS TREMBLE

You have made the earth to tremble;

All the shaking of ground around us is to get us to ask, & plead for the Lords hand

AS INDIVIDUALS ARE TRAPPED

You have broken it:

THE SOOTHING OF HIS CARE

heal the breaches thereof; for our shakes

THE ALIGNMENT OF RESULTS V.3

THE DESIGN OF SUFFERING

You have showed us hard things:

THE DRINK OF STUPEFACTION

You have made us to drink the wine of astonishment.

A SIGNAL OF DELIVERANCE V.4-8

OUR CONDUCT V.4-5

RESPONDING RESPECTFULLY V.4

You have given a banner us that fear you

RESULTS IN REALITY

that it may be displayed because of Your truth. Selah

REMEDY IN HIS RESCUE V.5

That we, Your beloved may be delivered;

ROYALTY IN HIS RECEPTION

save with Your right hand & hear us.

OUR CONQUEST V.6-8 (IN THE FACE OF DEFEAT)

REAL ESTATE IS PROVIDENTIALLY PROVIDED V.6

HIS PRONOUNCEMENT

BASED ON CLARITY

God has spoken

HIS PERFORMANCE

BASED ON CHARACTER

in His holiness

HIS PRESENCE

BASED ON CHEERFULNESS

We will rejoice,

HIS PROMISE

He divides the land of promise

HIS PROVISION

I will divide Shechem & mete out the valley of Succoth.
East & west of the Jordan (detached points)

REVERSALS ARE NOT PERMANENT V.7-8

EAST AND WEST LARGEST TERRITORIES (DISTINCT TRIBES)

GOD THE POSSESSOR

Gilead is mine &Manasseh is mine;

GOD THE PERSUADER

Ephraim also is the strength of mine head (military strength)

CHRIST THE PRONOUNCER

Judah is my lawgiver; (Judicial supremacy)

REQUIREMENTS ARE AGAINST THE PROWLER

THREE HOSTILE POWERS

Israel is fought against in the land frequently

THE CONTEMPTIBLE

Moab is my wash-pot;

The first son of Lot through incest=the problem of illegitimate relationship

THE COWERING

over Edom will I cast out my shoe:

Esau’s offspring are the tribe called Edom which means red signifying his
He weirdly chose red pottage (lentil soup) over God’s blessing

BEANS OVER BENEFITS WOULD MAKE ANYONE BLUSH AND COWER

the conquered Philistia, triumph you because of me.

Representative of the pretension and intrusion of man in the flesh which belongs to God. Only God conquers the philistine tendencies in Samson is God’s way of deliverance,

Our victory is through the Man from Nazarith

We may utterly fail, as in the days of Eli the Israelites were conquered by the enemy
and the ark taken. The Ark, that picture of God’s presence. It’s what our enemies want to take away. They want us to lose Our Sense of God’s presence.

When Saul was king he was in fear of being conquered ,
The enemy weaseled in & was enabled to enter his dominions because of Sauls fears,
In the battle Saul & his sons lost their lives to enemy.

It was by David, God’s king, that he Philistines were really conquered & under Solomon we find they were tributary. They paid the King given dominion

A SPECIFICATION OF DOMINATION V.9-12

THE PROBLEM V.9

THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF OPPOSITION

Who will bring me into the strong city?

THE INABILITY OF OVERCOMING

who will lead us into Edom?

THE POSITION V.10

THE INCREDIBILITY OF OUR OBSTACLE

HE’S REJECTED US

Will not You, O God, which have cast us off?

HE’S REFUSED US

and You, O God, which did not go out with our armies?

THE PLEA V.11-12

GOD’S HELP IS ENABLING

Give us help from trouble:

MAN’S HELP IS EMPTY

for vain is the help of man.

GOD’S HELP IS ENCOURAGING

Through God we shall do valiantly:

GOD’S HELP IS ENERGIZING

for He it is that shall tread down our enemies.

With God we will gain the victory & He will trample down our enemies (v. 12).

We take the promises of God, we grasp in faith.

We don’t have military battles to fight,
We’ve never seen Edomite.

But this Psalm is directly applicable to us in terms of our spiritual battles. We are members of

Our Lord Jesus Christ is building His kingdom,
Our task is to advance His kingdom in our spiritually hostile surroundings

“Our struggle is not against physical flesh & blood,

but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world

against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms Eph. 6:12

We are in a conquest with these hostile spiritual forces,

the victory over Edom & the overthrow of its mountain stronghold Petra
was not a piece of cake.

How can we gain this greater victory?

Not by ourselves, or even with the help of others.

In this battle “the help of man is [truly] worthless.

We need God to fight with us & in us

We keep asking for God’s help.

Jesus said

Ask and it will be given to us; seek & we will find; knock & the door will be opened to us(Matt.

In Nebuchadnezzar’s vision,

the one that he could not remember but that troubled him so much?

It was a vision of a great statue representing in sequence all the many
great kingdoms of this world.

At the end of the vision a rock “not cut by human hands” struck the statue and destroyed it,

then it grew up to become “a huge mountain” that “filled the whole earth Dan. 2:34–35

That rock is the Lord Jesus Christ & that mountain is His kingdom,

Jesus will triumph.

Believing that, is our banner around which we rally & can confidently fight through prayer

Joy is actually possible, right where we are.

Life is not an emergency…Life is a GIFT.

Life is too short to do anything but truly savor it —

to count all the ways we are truly loved.

The Broken Way

What if Brokenness is the Path into the Abundant Life?

We don’t have to be afraid of breaking under ridicule & becoming a broken thing—

because Christ is redeeming everything & His purposes & plans for us is in crushing us

There’s no other authentic way forward — but a broken way — right into a profoundly abundant life.

The Way of Abundance

So we Journey into a deeply meaningful life steps from heart-weary brokenness

to Christ-focused abundance. The Way of Abundance — is the way forward our heart needs.

We give thanks in everything because this is how we can live through anything

Our workout moment by moment is to exercise our gratitude muscle

This is how we grow strong in joy for the joy of the Lord is our strength

Ann voskamp