When we talk about strongholds, we usually think about the "pulling down of strongholds" as Paul described in 2 Corinthians 10:4. But there are two different areas of strongholds. The strongholds of the enemy keep people bound, but the stronghold of the Lord keeps people safe and secure. There is a stronghold of safety and protection in the secret place of the Most High. We all know about the stronghold of the enemy and have personally experienced his assault on our minds, our bodies, our homes, and our finances.
King David asked God a question I've asked myself many times. "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again—my Savior and my God!" (Psalms 42:11 NLT). That's what we should do, but many times we don't. The word discouraged means to have lost confidence or enthusiasm, to be disheartened. In modern language that means to be beat down, gloomy, and dismayed. When you are discouraged it's like you have been knocked down and can't get up even after the referee has counted to 10. If you do get up, it's to drag yourself to your bed and stay there. You have no energy.
Dr. Lynn Hiles was in Washington, NC this weekend teaching at The Cave on Friday and Saturday evenings and doing a question and answer session on Saturday morning at the weekly pancake and sausage breakfast. Jay Jones, who heads up the ministry at The Cave had given me a book by Lynn entitled, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." It is perhaps one of the most important books I have ever read. I had the pleasure of hearing Lynn minister in Wallace, NC a few weeks ago, and was greatly looking forward to traveling to Washington to hear Lynn and perhaps spend some time getting to know him.
"Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan" (Numbers 32:5). That is the request of two-and-a-half tribes, the tribes of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. It takes you right to the heart of this extraordinary phase of Israel's history. It is quite impossible to study the whole subject of God's plan for Israel without seeing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God's purpose for Israel was that they should as a whole, in entirety go over Jordan and possess the land.
Loving and being loved are what make our lives worth living. Many people experience times in their lives when they feel unloved. During these times it's easy to dwell on those negative thoughts but allowing it to continue leads to unhappiness and depression. Love is the energy of life. It is what motivates people to get up each day and keep going. Love gives life purpose and meaning. Everywhere you look you see people searching for love…but they're looking in the wrong places. God is love, and they will never find what they're looking for until they find Him.
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world hard and unexpectedly in 2020. It became a public health crisis that sent humanity into a panic and consumed people's lives for the better part of three years. But there is another public health crisis that many don't talk about—one that is just as devastating, if not more so, as COVID. It's called loneliness. In 2021, the United States surgeon general issued this warning: "Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health." Those are some strong words. Loneliness—an epidemic? A public health crisis?
As technology advances, we are blessed to have access to ministries worldwide through video platforms. We could watch replays from years past as well as live stream recordings. Whether it be Sunday morning services, conferences, teaching or prophetic words, we could find them all on a video app. There is a diverse range of styles from traditional to contemporary who are anointed with the Holy Spirit and fire. This afternoon as I scrolled through some videos, I noticed that there was a consistent theme of what pastors and prophets were saying. There was such a hunger and some services were so anointed that I felt the fire of God just by sitting here watching them.
This is a season where many are battling discouragement and depression and the oppression of the enemy. I believe this Word is for many and not just for me. "Where have you been, My child? Where have you been running off to and leaving Me behind? You say that you are doing those things for Me that you get involved in but mainly they've all been just distractions from being with Me. Don't allow the enemy to tempt you to justify your actions. Do not believe the lies of the evil one for he only comes to steal, kill, and destroy who you are in Me. He wants you off from others who love Me, and you, so he can have you all to himself.
I preached at a conference in California in 2013. During one of the meetings the Lord showed me that a woman there was struggling with infertility. I didn't know who she was—all I knew was she was in the auditorium. When I shared this word of knowledge with the audience, a young woman in the back of the room burst into tears. She had recently endured three miscarriages and was depressed because she feared she would never have a baby. After this woman reluctantly came to the front of the auditorium, I prayed for her and asked the Lord to break the spirit of barrenness. Nothing dramatic happened in that moment. But I found out a year later that she became pregnant a month after the conference.
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:33 I'm sure you want the Lord to manifest Himself as the God of peace when you are fearful. So, let's go deeper into what the "God of peace" means. Don't forget that Paul was Jewish, so when he said, "the God of peace be with you," he was saying "Jehovah Shalom be with you." "Jehovah Shalom" is Hebrew for "the God of peace." Now, the first appearance of the name Jehovah Shalom is in the Old Testament story of Gideon in Judges 6.
Follow Up
