Fear or terror is often associated with confusion due to the unknown, especially when given a bad or adverse report. When we become distressed, our peace is challenged and if we don’t deal with the adversity, our emotions will take control over our spirit. Peace in our hearts will become a distant reality. By spending time with FATHER our peace will once again increase and overtake the fear that has gripped our hearts. We must not let the world determine our state of being. We must overcome fear by trusting in FATHER’S Love for us:
Psalm 23:Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The carnal mind of spiritual darkness is the second challenge. Those who approach Scripture on an intellectual basis have their understanding darkened. FATHER is multifaceted in every area whereas the mind is binary in nature- up/down, in/out, white/black, etc. When the mind is in control, it will create problems to fix instead of walking according to the SPIRIT. Much time and resource are wasted by those who walk intellectually.
1 Corinthians 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
Pride and vain imaginations represent the third challenge. Self-importance is a hallmark of those who walk around in spiritual pride and they move the focus away from FATHER in order to be at the center of attention. They would lead you to believe that without them, FATHER’S Plan will not be fulfilled.
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
You can be assured that those hung up in this third challenge will have their day of reckoning. It may not be today or tomorrow but be assured it will come. They will finally believe their own vain imaginations and take some course of action that will expose them for what and who they are.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
The forth challenge: The harlot spirit of using external gimmicks to falsely indicate an anointing. Oh what a sensitive topic. This area is where we must be vigilant not to be taken in by the appearance of godliness but without GODLY fruit. A harlot will lure you away from the true relationship by the outward appearance only to leave you empty afterward. There is often a formula to success and “if you will only walk out those steps you will be blessed” will be their declaration. Jesus specifically warned us of those who would deceive us with a “false” anointing:
Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.
24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
25 See, I have told you beforehand.
26 “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it
Challenge number five is the “defenseless” walk. In the sight of these people, every solution is on the outside and there is nothing within them to guide them. They rely on everyone else for their blessing or solution. They do not see FATHER inside of them thus they cannot be led by the HOLY SPIRIT. They are not overcomers but are overcome themselves and go from one crisis to another. There is nothing internally to draw from. As FATHER lives in us and thus HIS Life is within, we no longer view ourselves as defenseless but now know HE is with us and will never leave us. As we receive HIS SPIRIT, HE has granted us life within us just as HE did Jesus:
John 5:26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.
Conformance to the world’s way is the sixth challenge. “This is the way we have always done it” is the excuse those people use to conform us using peer pressure. FATHER moved the camp 41 times before the children entered into the Promised Land. We must not allow revelation to become tradition, a recurring theme in the church world. FATHER is refreshing by having us break the mold and often directing us to do unconventional things which make no sense to the world. HE is outside the box of the world’s thinking and would like for us to join him.
Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
The final challenge is overcoming our own trials and tribulation… the ego, flesh, carnal man. This is where the wheat is separated from the chaff, where we put off the old man which is the final challenge of the true overcomer.
Revelation 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels.
The rod of iron is the anointing of power and authority to be given the Overcomers to rule and reign over the nations. This true anointing will be sufficient to overcome all the turmoil and confusion of the current system. The overcomers are not fearful but instead are enlightened and see the stark lawlessness of the current system. These overcomers know that all power is from FATHER and they are HIS vessels of Honor and are fully dependent upon HIS SPIRIT. They are not deceived by the trickery or external gimmicks proposed by those who would appear to have the solutions. They have put on the full armor of GOD and will no longer conform to the world’s ways that lead toward death and destruction. Finally, they have overcome their own carnal nature and put the old self to death. Yes there are challenges to your maturity but FATHER has provided the means and the methods to overcome them all. Those who address these challenges head on will be rewarded accordingly and will enter into the Promised Land.