By Zethu Zwane
Firstly I just want to thank The Lord God Almighty for His Name that’s above all names. Before I begin I just want to share with you a great testimony. I also hope that it will be a great comfort for anyone who’s in my position, and fear God more than human authority. You’ll recall in a previous blog, I started limiting myself due to all the hardships I faced.
or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
I remember I used to wake up feeling like I’m in some kind of prison, but didn’t know how to get out. I’d wake up staring at my bed feeling like something is wrong here. I’d have some understanding that I feel like I’m in a hold, but don’t know how to get out of that hold.
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My sleepiness and emotions felt odd and not my own. This is depression, like I said in my blog that I’m so grateful because the church carried me through it. Still it wasn’t enough because the cycle would begin again. Whenever I woke up I felt like I was in a hole. Then come Sunday, the church would lift me up, and I would hear a testimony speaking to me not to give up.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
2 Corinthians 12:8 NIV
Submitiing your life to El Roi means He will See you & uplift you at the right time
Yet all glory to YHWH because El Roi made a way for me to relocate for just a bit, so that I could escape this hole. Truthfully in my own strength, I could no longer continue this journey Jehovah has set for me. I tried fasting many times only to faint along the way. That’s because I still needed to run errands and blog. At first my ego was affected because I was so proud of myself for fasting, but I had so much energy.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
In the previous year, whenever I fasted, I could run up and down without getting tired. This year, even holding a fork to wash dishes was tiresome. Fasting exposed just how little energy I had. For the first time I knew what the verse meant that though you’re wasting away, God will hold you. That’s when I turned to God and said I can’t fast. I prayed saying I feel like there’s no bone marrow in me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV
And if you know me, you know I have endless energy; just ask my former coworkers. I could run all 20 miles by noon before setting out to run another 10. Even while fasting, I moved with similar energy, but I was conscious about conserving it. Now I need God more than ever. Coming off my bed to go read my Bible was like crawling toward God. All I needed was a word from Him before I could start my day.
Surrendering your fears and anxieties to God will propel and deepen your faith
Reason for saying all of this is I know how it feels for the business owner who’s just not breaking even. I know how it feels for someone who’s been structurally unemployed, but is trying to wait on God. In your own strength it feels impossible, but praise Elohim for saying His grace is sufficient for your weaknesses. That’s because His power is made perfect in your weakness.
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
Hebrews 7:11 NIV
Can I tell you, I have never seen God this year like in previous years. Something about taking great hits and having no strengths has unveiled the veils of my eyes opening me up spiritually to God. Humanly you can’t understand it, but for some reason suffering has led me to seek God deeper and to hear His voice. Although I was still seeking perfection by fasting, God never denied me His Word.
For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 7:28 NIV
Day by day, God gave me morning Bible readings like manna coming from heaven. For the first time I was reading the bible from God’s perspective. Yes there’s 100s if not 1,000 messages God has given me that I can’t share with you, but I’ve never seen the bible like this. That’s why I love Genesis 50:20.
Elohim strengens you through the trials and hardhips you’ll face
Genesis 50:20 says though you meant to harm me, the Lord God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. That means for all who slander you, stole your business stock or stole R72,000 from you, God overturned the tides for His glory. The other part also says that not only did God save you, He also achieved this so others can be saved.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20 NIV
My hope for you today is you’ll read my blog and experience rivers of living water like when church members speak to me. I also hope it will encourage you not to lose hope and not to give up. Do not let the enemy win. Instead I pray that Following slander, theft and persecution that you’ll hear God in such a new and profound way. I’m so grateful to the Lord God because He’s faithful. He’s the Rock of all Ages.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
For what I’m about to say, you’ll need your own intimate relationship with YHWH. You’ll need to have walked with Him, spend conscious and intentional time with Him to take such advice. This is concerning the new project I was trusted into. Remember I said I went into a panic about this job opportunity because I didn’t seek it out or choose it? Well I still had concerns because I know that disobedience is to please men over YHWH.
Diligently seeking God’s approval above man or your circumstances
However, this morning I received confirmation from God that His favour is still on me. I wanted to diligently seek YHWH in this season due to everything He’s taught me. Moreover, this season God has been taking me through obedience. What I haven’t shared with you is also that for the past 6 years, God has shown me people that He’s disqualified. What I mean by that is God previously gave someone something, but due to following false religions closely related to witchcraft, God judged those people.
How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? [3] Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
Psalms 4:2-3 NIV
A result of His judgement I witnessed people being removed. Although they had 5 years of warnings, they didn’t turn and repent. What’s more my pastor said count yourself blessed if you witness God’s judgement on a wicked act because chances are people have been praying for 10 to 20 years. That means what you witness today is a result Of God’s children crying out for 10 to 20 years. In another blog I said that at some point I became scared of God’s power and authority.
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. [9] There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;
Romans 2:8-9 NIV
Yet fear would mean losing the essence of His actions. God punishes those who turn to idols and become evil and destabable in His eyes. You read this all over 1st Samuel, 2nd Samuel, 1st Kings and 2nd Kings. Since it’s written all over those chapters, it’s not hidden from you. More so, you’ll only struggle with disobedience when you think following God is hard. For instance, if you want God to be more about your feelings, following Him will be hard.
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. [6] So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 NIV
People want to serve both darkness and light
What’s more, if you continue doing as you please, then following God is hard. As I’ve constantly mentioned here; your actions only magnify your beliefs. Personally following God is not hard when you submit to Him daily. Conversely,those who find it hard are people who follow false teachers.
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:22 NIV
Contrasting this with followers of false religious practices. They want both worlds, not knowing you can’t serve darkness and light. Their love for following their deceitful hearts misleads them. This is evidence when I spoke to people who follow false prophets. They’re zealous and ready to fight.
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15 NIV
Then again the bible says the devil has blinded many, leading them to hell. Still while God has come a second time, it’s your duty as Christian to pray for those who are lost. Now a second thing that concerns me about this project is I’ve seen many people plan life then choose God later. Yet my time in the Wilderness has taught me that all great things come from choosing God first.
Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:14 NIV
Why I sought the Lord’s will even after starting the project
Even when God tests your heart to strengthen you and expose you to the opposition you’ll face, God does it purposefully. This is something you must know. All the above reasons are why God judges. Its also the reasons why I didn’t want to agree with people fears over God’s commands. Choosing to do as you please only leads to death.
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
John 6:27 NIV
And deciding based on fears leads to a snare. Yet Jesus is the Truth, the way and the Life. And this is also why there’s purpose in God’s judgement. It has the highest conviction in all the heavenlies and on this earth. Still new to obeying God’s instructions, I felt like this project was pleasing people over God.
I questioned the project because the people who sent me the project are led by human limitation, which made me question the project even more. I didn’t want to leave my place, but I also knew I was in a rut. That’s why I love today’s verse. Since I was sent by human authority to do this task, I was comforted by this verse.
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
2 Kings 5:15 NIV
God will always choose the least & least expected place to demonstrate His glory
Beginning from chapter 5; there was a commander named Naaman who got leprosy. You’ll have to read the chapter this time, I won’t go in-depth like other times, but in verse 15 Naaman says; “now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel,” because Elisha made him go wash in the least preferred river. Elisha chose the least of all rivers, but by obeying Elisha, Naaman was cleansed.
Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
2 Kings 5:10 NIV
How beautiful is this! Isn’t God an awesome God? He even chooses the least of all rivers to demonstrate His power and glory. How purposeful is this God. Now comes the part that God knew I needed to hear. I actually received a message from this passage. Naaman, seeing the Glory of God, asks for forgiveness. He tells Elisha that his master worships a false idol. Not only this, Naaman says whenever his master bows to this false idol, Naaman must also bow.
But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
2 Kings 5:11 NIV
That’s because his master leans on him to bow down to worship this false god. Consequently, Naaman says to Elisha in verse 18: “but may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my Master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and you have to now there also- when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, please may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”
But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this.”
2 Kings 5:18 NIV
When God respects your human authority and parents in accordance to His commands
Elisha replied that God has forgiven Naaman. To be exact, Elisha said go in peace. Now for my honesty; my mother gave me this project, and at first I was thrown into a panic because it’s not what God commanded. Yet in God’s 10 commandments it says to obey your parents. Moreover the bible also says you must obey all human authority as long as it aligned to God’s commandments and gospel. Even if your master is a pagan, there’s certain things you’ll be forced to unwillingly do.
Every day, I had been asking God for forgiveness and assurance that He had sent me because this project was out of the blue and a complete contrast to what God commanded. Yet I know obeying your parents is God’s commandments, so I was conflicted because it’s not like the prophet who lied. I was panicking because I wondered what God would do since my mother arranged this project.
Glory belongs to God because this project is still unpaid. As you know I’ve also been walking in a season where obedience is better than sacrifice. That means making money and tithing is not on God’s agenda for my season. As a result, I heard the project was unpaid, I still had questions. My concern was I didn’t want to turn to the left or to the right of my walk and journey with God.
Go for something God has commanded you to do
Yet at the same time I was still limiting myself. This project was confronting how I was limiting myself. That’s why when I saw Elisha’s judgement on his servant, I was so relieved. Before leaving, Naaman offered money and clothes to Elisha, but Elisha turned it down. However, Elisha’s servant wrongfully ran after Naaman and lied saying that 2 men from Elisha’s company of prophets needed silver and clothes.
Unfortunately in verse 24 and 25 Elisha tries to ask the servant where he went. The servant lies to Elisha, which leads Elisha to confront the servant in verse 26. He said to him; “was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or accept clothes,” continuing to list other things. The punishment was great, but I’m grateful for 1 thing.
This is not a season to profit. It’s a season for obedience and to know God. It’s a season to understand God more because witnessing God’s judgement can become blurred if I don’t go through a personal and intimate passage with God. Similarly, when God shows you how He judges, you’ll also benefit from experiencing your own testing and endurance. That’s why in my case, it’s not the time to profit. I know your anxiety; I probably cry once a week, but unemployment will have purpose.
God uses bad moments in your life to demonstrate His goodness and character
With God, your unemployment will have purpose because God will reveal to you countless people who are doing as they please. And guess what it takes a season in the wilderness or the waiting season to see God’s word. In other years, I never paid attention to Judges. I never saw God saying: “decide today whether it’s too difficult for you to follow God.” it took this season to see God said it countless times.
People who say God is harsh for disqualifying people or sending people to hell haven’t gone through the wilderness season. They don’t realise they’re doing like Judges where everyone did as they pleased. They’re like me in my early christian days where I picked what I liked. I read only a select chapter, and not the entire Bible.
This type of thinking and behaviour will destroy your journey and faith in God. It will kill, steal and destroy what’s yours, so you must fight to protect your faith. You do this by knowing the truth of the gospel. Quickly can we praise God that the verse kill, steal and destroy is sealed between God’s confirmed act to fight and protect you. He’s the Good Shepherd. Anyway you protect yourself against false teachings by obeying and submitting your life to the gospel. Refuse to pick what you like; accept all of Elohim.
Praying Genesis 50:20 will bring you victory while testifying for others
It takes unemployment and failing in your business to open up to Elohim. I have failed at multiple projects, but they had a purpose to build me up and become strong and courageous. Don’t resent this passage because God will reveal to you that not all success is good success. Don’t you agree that it’s better to arrive later than be crushed by the Almighty for becoming a type of Pharaoh?
And don’t you need this lesson? Too often pastors and churches are sending lottery-type prayers. They say send your prayer request now and you’ll receive X success this Friday. Not to be disrespectful, but this blanket prophecy hinders many. It robs you of your season in the valley. It robs you of crying out like Paul, pleading for God’s power. God’s power is seen fully in your weaknesses, so choose to submit to God, no matter how gruelling your journey to victory.
Another aspect why I resent “lottery-type,” prayers is they’re misleading at most. That’s because why say this to someone who God is still working on? I find it lazy because those pastors call for masses, instead of selecting this 1 person. Do you know how many people said I’ll receive profits now, and 5 years passed.
Use your Waiting Season to deepen your faith in God’s timing
God’s timing can’t be forced by people’s limitations. That’s why I appreciated the warning and punishment of the servant. It helped me test whether this project was approved by God. In other times you’ll experience delays in your season due to the enemy. I find it ironic how the devil used to put thoughts like; “you could be living your dream now,” when my business first started. Then once I got close to the door, I got many pervasive thoughts like; “quit quit, quit,” screaming in my head.
A person’s journey is governed by God. And I believe it’s the church’s responsibility to warn you about entering your God-given purpose. The devil will work tirelessly to delay your breakthrough. As a result, to resist the devil you must put on the full Armour of God. Stand your ground and learn the gospel from the Bible. Choose to give God all authority and power over your life. All of the above is why I needed time to pray over this project. Even while arriving at my new location, I asked God concerning the project.
Sitting here and reading this 2nd Kings gave me comfort because I know God has told me that profit is not the most important thing right now. Like yourself, I have so many human responsibilities that demand money, but God’s word trumps all these anxieties and demands. There’s no human demand that will overturn God’s timing. This is the power of accepting, surrendering and submitting to God during a desperate season.
A life of Breakthroughs comes from deepening your relationship and submission to God’s authority
A personal and intimate relationship with God will help you see this. It will help you understand that yes, you listened to human authority like your parents, but the project must always align with God’s commands. His command is walk in faith and obedience. When you do, this obedience removes all human comforts. And in my case a profitable business. In your case it will be employment.
Consequently, I want to invite you to begin winning the war over your mind. When you’re in the wilderness or waiting season, every day pray to submit your plans to God. God is faithful as He’s always given you victory to speak over your life. Yes your unemployment and unprofitable business is a need, this is a powerful season to learn. Reason being your vessel is empty.
Your vessel has the potential to be emptied, as that God will fill you up with His spirit. Putting all I’ve said together and in all my morning bible reading is why such a season is a powerful season. You’ve got such a profound opportunity because you’ve got evidence in the Bible showing what type of Obedience God seeks. Consequently spend your time praying to Him concerning this obedience.
Open your spirit to be filled with the Glory of God. You do this by putting aside your anxieties and keep following God no matter how it looks. Remember in my blog when I said I felt like Joseph in prison? Well at God’s perfect timing, He’ll uplift you, and turn your drought into rivers of flowing water. While you wait, keep praising God, and keep learning how to obey God.
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