Dear GodSippers,

The times are surreal. Even a brief view of the news includes numerous shocking events.

The pot is being stirred worldwide. From controversial opening ceremonies of the Olympics, attempted assassination of President Trump, to multiple wars and threats of war, and destructive weather disruptions, all of these and more reveal a rising action in the supernatural realms of influence. We are living in times of intense revealing and exposing.

Though we have instant everything, there is less patience and understanding, and more anger and hatred. People say ‘love is love’, yet these same ones operate in anger, pride, and greater disregard for life than ever before. Daily, we witness assaults on God and man like no other time in recent history.

Easy access in communication offers opportunities to share experiences around the world, yet we face increasing accusations of ‘hate speech’ simply for disagreeing. People seem less satisfied and more combative in every kind of interaction. We hold others to standards we ourselves do not observe, and to expectations few people can meet on their best day.

Silence might seem a safe response. How can one answer every false accusation, defend oneself, explain every belief and intention, or resolve anything these days? We are being intimidated to avoid saying anything that might evoke a negative reaction. Truly, God is my Defender, but If one dares to answer any contrary voice, a reasonable person weighs every word with caution, or even anxiety and fear. Where is the balance? When to speak and when to refrain from speaking?

No one likes to be misunderstood and it seems there are always bullies ready to take advantage of others who seek to resolve misunderstanding. Divisive people accuse others of division and defend their twisted accusations with actual divisive attacks. People scold others for a lack of tolerance, demonstrating their lack of tolerance by the very act of the scolding. Many dominate in their own little kingdoms in attempt to control, manipulate, and abuse people and narratives. Wherever there is power to grab, the power-hungry will overtake to silence others completely.

It is tempting to quietly withdraw. But is this response the point of it all?

Wouldn’t the enemy love to separate what is intended to be a whole and healed body?

Silence. Withdrawal. Separation.

Those who practice shunning anyone who simply disagrees are not practicing loving, honest, safe face-to-face conversations.

How on earth do we survive together?

Knowing the Father and knowing His word are essential more than ever. To know Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Living Word is to know pure Truth, Grace, Mercy, Love, and Joy. Undefined by any man, God defines and reveals Himself. 

Considering the current state of our world, both within and outside the church, I offer 2 Timothy 3:1-17 for your careful study and prayerful meditation. I share it here from The Message version of the Bible. While it may be lengthy for a blog post, I believe it is important to study multiple versions for greater understanding.

This scripture is about false teachers within religious communities who take advantage of trusting believers.

“Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as people saw through that Egyptian hoax. You’ve been a good apprentice to me, a part of my teaching, my manner of life, direction, faith, steadiness, love, patience, troubles, sufferings—suffering along with me in all the grief I had to put up with in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. And you also well know that God rescued me! Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there’s no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They’re as deceived as the people they lead astray. As long as they are out there, things can only get worse. But don’t let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother’s milk! There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

~ 2 Timothy 3:1-17 (MSG)

Wisdom for the times described in 2 Timothy, and the times in which we live, is found in simply knowing Jesus for yourself, hearing the Holy Spirit for yourself, and studying the Word of God for yourself.

Hear Holy Spirit before you say or do anything. And when you hear Him, do what He says. Often you may find Him telling you to say something unpopular, difficult, or that some people might call divisive. While ultimately encouraging, the word of the Lord may also come with warnings and call for intercession. Anyone who wants to tell you otherwise does not know, or does not want you to know, the broader range of responsibility of those who prophesy.

The difference is this – when you know without question you are hearing Holy Spirit, you know it in your deepest place of His residing, and no one will be able to move you. What He speaks to you will line up with the Word of God and you will have no doubt what He is saying to you. When you steward that word prayerfully, you will act on it according to His direction. 

Your determination to adhere to the word of the Lord you have received will upset those who would like to control you. This is simply because it does not work in their favor and does not further their cause. It’s nothing new. Religious spirits have killed for power since the beginning of time.

Note the next verse from Romans 16:17-18, used as a ‘warning’ some false teachers will twist to use to intimidate, silence, and shun truth tellers. If you take a closer look at multiple versions of this scripture, you’ll find the warning is clearly about false teachers.

“One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.”  

~ Romans 16:17-18 (MSG)

Conversely, In the stirring of the waters, I saw the expanse of open waters and the hand of God stirring us toward them, opening the waters up to us. This scene was light and open and full of life.

And as I saw these, I heard the Lord say,

One is lifegiving and one is life-altering in the insidious way.

Stirring the pot is life-altering for those who control everything around them, as it gives ‘the need’ a home – in the pot- and they stir ‘the need’ to create change, in both themselves, and others.

In themselves, they have felt powerless, and so, taking charge of the pot gives them a part in the management of it all.

In others, the change comes from being stirred by the person grabbing hold of the stirrer.

This can never be for life. For life ‘gets out of hand’ and people must surrender it to live it!

Therefore, stirring the pot is simply churning the emotions inside and giving the one (who is doing the) stirring a sense of power that is false (for them) and misleading (to others). This can never be the way to freedom and life.

But I stir the waters of your heart to do what is right. And when I stir the waters, you move and change into the things I have for you. All good. All pure. All by My Hand.

The stirring of the pot is to create a change from what has been – to draw on the emotions and cause a reaction.

But I am the Creative One who causes the change from the new! I stir the waters.

See the new waves coming to shore? This is life-giving. It is new and fresh from the vast supply and expanse of My love. My creation is not to be contained and created by another.

In the cauldron, the witches brew a concoction to control others, and the enemy waits for an opportunity to cause a stir, and trouble boils up from the bottom.

This is not of Me and does not bring life to anyone; only trickery and deceit,

and turmoil that exists within to create turmoil and strife.

Avoid it!

For I will topple it over in an instant and the plans of the enemy will be thwarted and destroyed instantly.

And I saw the cauldron being tipped over and emptied out, dumped on the ground. But as it tipped over, I realized it had been empty all along – there was nothing in the pot! It was a mirage.

What’s ‘in the pot’ will only have substance if we give it attention and stir.

When the Lord toppled it over, I saw just a little puddle of something spill out and disappear into the ground.

This is the nothingness of the pot.

But God is stirring the gifts inside us, stirring the waters out in the deep for us.

He is bringing the waves of change in us and through us, to His ways, His calling, His desires.

“For I am the Lord your God who stirs up the sea and its waves roar. The Lord of hosts is His name.”

~ Isaiah 51:15

 

“For He spoke and raised a stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.”

~ Psalm 107:25

 

“And Daniel said, “I was looking in my vision by might, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea.”

~ Daniel 7:2

 

“For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water, whoever then first stepped in after the stirring up, was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.”

~ John 5:4

 

By surrendering only to the stirring of God the Father, knowing the Word of God – His Son Jesus Christ, and moving with God the Holy Spirit, who resides within us, we can discern the spirits around us and stay in Him completely and with confidence.

Be encouraged, He has overcome the world!

Leave the nothingness of the pot and let Him stir the true waters within and around you.

Let me know what is stirred in you by reading this and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Stay in touch. I love hearing from you!