Things have felt a little out of control these past 18 months with COVID, lockdowns, violent demonstrations, questions about the election, heartbreaking scandals in the Church, political overreach and treachery, untrustworthy media, and more.
Is it any wonder so many are feeling like they have little or no ability to affect what is going on in the world, our nations and even our lives?
While I understand how it could look and feel that way, I want you to hear me – that is not the truth. It's actually a lie the enemy is perpetrating on a grand scale in an all-out attempt to convince God's people to choose the wrong path in this critical and historic time...a path of carnality, a path of fear, anger and frustration; a path of self-pity and victimhood; a path of warring against flesh and blood...a path that will take you out of God's plan for this hour and actually make you an agent of the enemy who spreads fear, hate, accusation, division and darkness.
The enemy knows who you are. He knows you are God's plan for this hour, hand-picked by the Lord God Almighty for this time and place to operate in His authority, move in His power and have real Kingdom impact in the earth. The enemy is scared of the power available to you in Christ. That's why he, the father of lies, is working overtime to convince you that you are powerless.
The Enemy Can't Outmaneuver God
But here is the good news. While the enemy is pulling out all the stops right now to take you "off the board," God has a brilliant counter move. God is waking His people up and reminding us of who we really are – sons, brides, men and women made in His image! He, too, is working to lead us onto a path in this critical hour...a very different path from the enemy's; a path of righteousness, holiness and radical impact; a path marked by His presence, power and personality; a path that will lead us to bearing witness of Jesus like never before. The first step on His path begins with allowing the Lord to do a work in us in the areas where we are most struggling.
Genesis 50:20 shows that what our enemies mean for harm, God can actually use for the good – not only good for us, but good on a level that impacts nations.
That is the type of moment we are in right now in the spirit.
Yes, the enemy has been hammering away with things he means for harm in our world, our nations, our finances, our relationships and our lives. But God can use it all for our good. He wants us to notice the areas where we've been giving place to fear, frustration, anger, and other forms of self-indulgent carnality, and come to Him with them. He will turn it all for our good. He will bring understanding and healing and a great grace to surrender to Him afresh and line up with Him anew. And oh, it will be glorious! (Photo via Unsplash)
Encounter: The Two Paths
This is a time of transformation. God is inviting us to transform into a greater expression of Him in the earth. At the same time, the enemy, who often attempts to twist and pervert the plans of God, wants to trick us into looking and acting more like him.
A few weeks ago, during my morning prayer time, I had an encounter with the Lord where He made this all very clear. These two paths are quite evident once you see them.
One is the path where we allow the Word (God's truth, His will, His ways) to become flesh through us. The Lord showed me how Jesus is the perfect model of this path. He was the Word made flesh (see John 1:14). While we are not, and never could be, Jesus the Messiah, He did tell us that in Him we can do the works that He did here in the earth (see John 14:12).
When a child of God is willing to allow His Word to be made manifest in and through their life, it leads to love being put on display in notable and remarkable ways, which allows the kindness and mercy of God to reach people, and the power and grace of God to transform lives, families, cities, regions, nations and even the world.
The other path is where we allow our flesh (our old carnal nature) to become our "word." This is when we choose to allow how we feel or think or react (even when it is out of alignment with God's Word) to become our guiding principle. This path leads to compromise, corruption, death and destruction – in our lives, families, cities and nations (see Proverbs 14:12).
The first path is one of humbly and faithfully embracing the truth of God's Word as it is written, and submitting to it even when it is challenging, difficult or unpopular. Every Believer who chooses this path will see an increase of the glory of God in and through their lives.
The second path is one of pride and rebellion – rationalizing and justifying sin and carnality. This will serve the purposes of darkness and lead to death and destruction.
During my time with Him, the Lord showed me that there will be a clear distinction between these two paths in the Church in the coming days. Each of us will be on one or the other. (Photo via Unsplash)
Which path will you choose?
An Invitation to Greater Impact!
These are critical days. The Lord is not highlighting the infallible and unerring truth of His Word because He wants to see an increase of religious performance or legalistic self-righteousness. It is because He wants to see His Church, His Bride, His beloved children, walking in all we have been crying out for these past 2,000 years – an increase of the presence, power and personality of our heavenly Father, so that we can see lives, regions and this world come to know Him as He truly is!
His invitation for a renewed alignment with the wisdom, ways and wonder of His Word is not a hoop we have to jump through to get something from Him we don't yet have. It is an invitation to step into the greater manifestations of what we have been given in Christ. It is an opportunity to truly look, sound and be different from the world so that more and more have the opportunity to be drawn to Christ through us.
You are part of God's plan for this hour. You have a key role to play for the Kingdom in the earth. Jesus is the Word made flesh and He wants to grace you to be a similar expression of the Father's truth in your family, workplace, city, region and the world!
Will you allow Jesus to not only be your Savior, but also be The Way? Will you walk the path of righteousness in this hour? Are you willing to be a hero of holiness who trusts in and aligns with the eternal and unerring Word of God? If so, pray this prayer with me:
Lord, I am Yours. My great desire is to look, sound and act more and more like You each and every day. I ask You for a greater grace to align with You, Your will and Your ways in this hour. Ignite a fresh passion for Your Word in me. And every time I am in the Word, let Your unerring truth and infallible wisdom get into me – separating soul from spirit, revealing any compromises in my life, or hardness in my heart. Thank You, Lord, that You are with me. Thank You that You have begun a good work in me and will be faithful to complete it. Light my way, Lord. Help me see and walk the path of righteousness, manifesting more and more of Your presence, power and personality as I do. Amen!
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Robert Hotchkin
Men on the Frontlines | Robert Hotchkin Ministries
Email:Â robert@menonthefrontlines.com
Website:Â RobertHotchkin.com
Robert Hotchkin is the founder of Men on the Frontlines and Robert Hotchkin Ministries. He also serves as one of the core leaders of Patricia King Ministries. Robert hosts the weekly Heroes Arise broadcast, co-hosts the show Propel with Patricia King, and is a regular guest and co-host of Supernatural Life on GodTV. Robert fervently believes every Christian is a miracle-working explosion of the Kingdom waiting to happen. His preaching, teaching, and ministry inspire Believers to grab hold of their restored relationship with the Father through the finished work of the Cross, and walk in the fullness of their authority as dominion agents of impact in the earth.
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Robert Hotchkin is a mature and seasoned voice in the Body of Christ...he has so much wisdom to give and pour out to us!
