QUIT GIVING THIS MONTH TO YOUR ENEMIES

September 30, 1998 Word of exhortation given to: Steve Shultz, The Elijah List

QUIT GIVING THIS MONTH TO YOUR ENEMIES

For the last 48 hours, the Lord has been impressing me with a "warning" not to "keep doing" what we, the church-- keep doing.

The Lord is saying, "Quit giving this month to your enemies."

The scripture says, 2 Cor 2:11: For we are not unaware of his schemes.

And:

Eph 6:11: Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

The church, in the last few years has correctly grabbed hold of the truth that our enemy is real, on the prowl, as a roaring lion--and seeking to devour all in his path. To understand this is fairly new to the church, especially in the United States, where education in this century has replaced awareness of spiritual things--specifically; the spiritual truth that the devil is real!

But now, as the pendulum as swung, the Lord is alerting us to a problem--and that problem is this: Now that we know that the enemy is scheming and now that we understand he has specific times, dates, and seasons in which he operates with all the greater evil--we have begun to (unintentionally) celebrate his power over/with those times and seasons.

Now note this: When we all get together and speak Boldly of the things Satan accomplishes in October, We have gone from being "not unaware of his schemes" to having a "worship service" regarding his effective work during this month.

This is not in keeping with faith or trust in the Lord. For the scripture says,

Ps 118:24-25 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The Lord would have us say of this month, the month of OCTOBER---- Now listen carefully, "THIS IS THE MONTH THAT THE LORD HAS MADE. LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT."

I sense that the Lord is reminding us that this time of year is one of the most active times of the year in the Jewish Calendar (invented by God). This is God's time of the year.

So, before you catch yourself saying out loud, "I can't wait until this month is over (because of the warfare), instead, say with your mouth:

"This is the month that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." And then, as the Psalmist continues in this passage:

25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.

Lord, we give YOU thanks for the Month of October. For these days were made by you, and "it was very good."