COME TO ME, COME WITH ME, STAY WITH ME
His words came to my over-active, constantly swirling, crashing around, colliding, cacophony of thoughts – “Come to Me. Come with Me. Stay with Me”. I knew I was finally receiving what He had been teaching me. That is not to say that I’ve figured out everything about this, but it is to share the Light that I have received. The more I know Him, the more I realize He is beyond finding out. And it makes my heart yearn for Him even more. “Yes, Lord, my spirit longs for You. My soul pants for You in a dry and weary place where there is no water. Thank You for speaking to my soul” (Psalm 63).
As I’ve listened to other believers share about their recent spiritual battles, I am convinced that the remnant of the remnant, the ones who have unabashedly thrown off all restraint to follow Him, are experiencing spiritual warfare in greater proportions.
And this conflict of good and evil is playing out right before our eyes as we watch the battle of the ages coming to its final clash of the kingdoms when the evil one is defeated by the coming splendor of the One Called Faithful and True. Meanwhile, it is dawning on believers that our faith is being sharpened into flashing, powerful spiritual weapons through the challenges and opportunities of our daily lives.
When He says, “come to Me”, He means take My yoke upon you and learn of Me. When you feel distressed and unfocused, hear His voice telling you what to do – “come to Me”. Here with Him, you will receive your direction and your peace.
When He says, “come with Me”, He means to go with Him into whatever place, state of mind, or situation, where He leads you. He means that He is teaching you there in that place and using you there for His good purpose and for the Kingdom of God. We can trust Him to take us where He wants us to go, and no matter what the challenge and the requirement, it will be for good.
When He says, “stay with Me”, He means that throughout all our conflicts, frustrations, challenges, and lack of understanding, we are to stay with Him. He is telling us that He has provided a place for us with Him, in Him, and that we are forever hidden with Him in that place of intimacy, now in the olam hazeh, and soon in the olam haba. He is telling us that in His Presence is fullness of joy. And even for our time on this earth, we are allowed the supreme joy of heavenly worship, engaging in the most powerful spiritual warfare of all, glorifying the King of kings. We see and experience it now in part, but we will experience it with Him forevermore. We will see the Kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.
It doesn’t look very powerful to see His people going through their daily lives, working at their jobs, taking care of their families, grocery shopping, mowing the lawn, and doing all the things that are part of life on planet earth. But it is very powerful. Inside of us, is the Ruach haKodesh Who is engaged in the things of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our own spirits, one with Him, are regularly engaged in the spiritual realms.
The realization that is dawning is that the battle for our hearts is a constant one. It will exist as long as we are in the natural realm. Much of the battle is in our minds, with mental anguish over various and sundry things. For many, it includes health and physical attacks, relationship issues, contentious or disturbing interactions with others, financial security, work-related issues, and all the challenging things of this world.
What is happening to us is that we are beginning to see that every physical experience has a spiritual reality. It is teaching us to go deeper with Yeshua and to hear Him speak to us in that transcendent way of His. I marvel at His greatness, the way He teaches us of eternal truth in the day-to-day. How strategic is this warfare training of His! This is what happens when we “come to Him” and take His yoke upon us. He trains our hands for battle. We might look harmless in the natural realm, but He is equipping us and sending us into battle in the spirit realm where victories are being won by the seemingly most mundane choices and activities of life.
And He is saying, “come with Me”, and allow yourself to go with Me into these battles. Recognize what they are. Understand their significance and also understand that this is part of Kingdom living before He returns and ushers in the Messianic Age. Don’t be surprised that you are in this battle. I am learning now that it’s not about getting relief and getting out of whatever challenge we are in, but it’s about us going through it and winning whatever battle He has allowed or even designed for us. When we know that the battle has eternal value, we will be much more willing to trust Him and be part of His victory.
For some who grasp and engage in spiritual global warfare, especially where it concerns Israel, there is intense spiritual warfare in prayers of intercession. If you have His heart for Zion, you have no doubt been experiencing a prolonged period of intense grief over what is happening in the Land and to God’s chosen Jewish people all over the world. Yes, spirit, soul, and body are under intense attack. The world powers are posturing for the end-of-the-age battle. And for those who know the truth, the power of man is beginning to be exposed for what it is – the power and posturing of man is becoming so transparent, so non-impressive, no match for the coming of the King of Glory, regardless of what is going to happen before the end.
We are to “stay with Him” through it all. We should not despise being called into these battles. We can comfort our souls by knowing that this is part of the perseverance that leads to the fulfillment of our eternal hope (Romans 5:3-5; I Peter 1:6-9). Through it all, He provides for us that “secret place” with Him where we can be hidden in His heart as we fulfill the destiny He has for us (Psalm 91). “Yes, Lord, by the power of Your Ruach, we will abide in You. We will come to You. We will come with You, wherever you take us, and we will stay with You forever. You are our God, and we will ever praise You.”
Cathy Hargett
http://www.highwaytozion.org
