- Feeling suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of defeat?
- Feeling hopeless and unable to carry on?
- Feeling discouraged because you see a bleak future?
- Feeling like a failure because you can't overcome a sin?
- Feeling ashamed of yourself due to the wrongs you've done?
- Feeling like you just want to give up?
We are living in what the Scripture says as 'perilous times' (2 Timothy 3:1). The enemy wants you to dwell in hopelessness and defeatism. The enemy wants you to lose heart and give up on whatever the Lord has planned and purposed for you. In fact, the enemy tries to get you so 'off course' that he wants you to begin to doubt and turn your back on the Lord your God!
Note: According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 'defeatism' means 'an attitude of accepting, expecting, or being resigned to defeat'.
But the Lord says:
"Do not lose heart, because I have won the victory for you! My people shall not be defeated! My anointing is more than enough for you, if you look to Me and receive from Me! I am releasing faith upon My people! I am releasing boldness and courage for My people! And My people shall overcome! Instead of suffering shame, My people shall have double honor!"
Indeed, the redeemed of the Lord shall be strong! And the redeemed of the Lord shall not be defeated, because the Lord has delivered them from the hands of the enemy! The key chapter to read at the moment is Isaiah 61. This chapter describes who He is and what He can do in times like these; and it also speaks of His promises of victory and honor for you, the redeemed of the Lord!
Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV) says, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
These verses came to pass some 2,000 years ago when Jesus came on earth to redeem us. And the good news is the Spirit of the Lord upon Jesus is now also upon you today! As Jesus is, so are you in this world! (1 John 4:17) The word 'anointed' here in Isaiah 61 is 'mashach' in Hebrew, and it means 'to rub with oil, to consecrate, to give power'. As you consecrate your life before the Lord, know that the enemy cannot touch what God calls holy! Not only that, you will be called 'trees of righteousness', which speaks of you being restored from hopelessness into people who are strong, beautiful, and useful (like the trees, the lush and fruitful trees)! When the world look at these trees, they see these are the trees the Lord has planted!
Isaiah 61:4-7 (NKJV) then says, "And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs."
Now, what does 'double honor' mean here? It means if the enemy throws one 'trouble' at you, then for that one trouble, the Lord wants you to expect to receive a double-portion blessing! Indeed, the Lord knows how to turn things around for you, when you look to Him and receive from Him!
In times like these, the Lord is also calling you to walk like Enoch walked! Genesis 5:24 (NKJV) says, 'And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him'. Genesis 5:24 (NLT) says, 'Enoch, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him'. In cross reference, Hebrews 11:5 (NKJV) says, 'By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God'.
Interestingly, the name 'Enoch', from the word 'khawnak' in Hebrew, means 'dedicated (to the Lord)'. His life was a life dedicated and consecrated before the Lord, and the Scripture says he walked in close fellowship with God. Enoch lived 365 years before God took him, and there is certainly no coincidence here. If each year speaks of each day, 365 years speaks of 365 days that make up a year! In other words, Enoch had a daily walk with God like none other in his days! And the expression 'pleased God' here is from the word 'euarestos' in Greek, which actually means 'being fully agreeable (with God)'. To put it simply, Enoch had a close daily walk with God, living in full agreement with God and whatever God says!
In times like these, there's yet another call for each of us who is the redeemed of the Lord - a call to be bold and courageous like Elijah! If Enoch is about your walk with God, then Elijah is about your calling on earth! There's no doubting that Elijah was one of the bolder, if not the boldest human being ever lived on earth! At a time when Baal worship (i.e. worshiping 'the masters of this world') practically overwhelmed and supplanted the worship of the true God, Elijah faced off with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah at Mount Carmel, and won!
People of God, the Spirit and power of God that worked in Elijah those days is also what the Lord wants you to receive today! Let the Spirit of boldness, faith, and courage to stand firm, even against all odds, be released upon you right now, as you walk in your God-given calling on earth!
Do you realize both Enoch and Elijah have one thing in common? They did not see death on earth! They were taken up and taken away by the Lord! These are pictures of what is to come in the end of days, as you prepare yourself for the coming of the great King - who is, who was, and who is to come! (Revelation 1:7-8)
As a matter of fact, even the boldest of men on earth (like Elijah) had his share of discouragement too, and he was even tempted to give it all up! But there is a new strength being released for God's people right now! And there is a fresh anointing being released upon God's people right now! Just as happened when the Angel of the Lord said to Elijah those days, "Arise and eat! Because the journey is great ahead of you!" And the Word of the Lord came to him further, "What are you doing here? Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."
Elijah arose, and he went in the strength of that heavenly food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God! (1 Kings 19:8) People of God, for you too, arise and eat therefore! Eat of His Word, and drink of His living waters, the Spirit of the Lord! Elijah never looked back ever since, and he went on to see the greater things the Lord had prepared for him to see! Like Elijah, may you too see the full completion of all that the Lord has called you to be (and do) on earth (Philippians 1:6). Amen!
