Friday, September 21, 2018

Johnny Enlow: "5779: A Great Day of Deliverance (Trump, Justice, Elections, Israel, Church & the Economy)" - The Elijah List

Johnny Enlow: "5779: A Great Day of Deliverance (Trump, Justice, Elections, Israel, Church & the Economy)"

The Elijah List

Sep 21, 2018
Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:
I always look forward to hearing from Johnny Enlow, as his articles are full of prophetic exhortation for the season we are in.
If you've been reading Johnny's words, you know that he "cuts to the chase" and does not sugar coat anything in any way.
This word for the new year of 5779 is a bit longer...so I will let you get right to reading it. I encourage you to read through it slowly and even read it a couple of times to take it all in.
God has so much in store this year for the 7 mountains! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
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5779 will prove to be the most transcendental year for our nation (and ultimately all the nations) in at least 100 years as God plays a great trump card, demolishing the enemy's house of cards. A year ago for Rosh Hashanah 5778 I titled the word "A New Hidden Way is Here" and we walked through that. This year the way becomes clear. The story of Israel's departure from Egypt through the Red Sea in Exodus 14 is particularly relevant, and this year will be as historical and significant for the United States as the Biblical Exodus was for Israel. The Church will also experience a parallel version of what our nation walks through, though perhaps not as visibly intense.
The scope and scale of shift and change cannot be overstated. We are at the threshold of the greatest breakthrough ever as a nation, but it will feel precarious at times. It is a rescue operation. It is a deliverance of the highest magnitude. 100 years of murky and distorted history will be clarified. Many memorable stories of the past century were not as reported, and much of that will be made clear in this 5779 year. We will better see how God has been progressively rescuing us, but this is now a great day of deliverance.
777.7, 777, and 77: ID Markers of His Intervention
There are several identification markers of the last 10 years that specifically inform us of God having stepped into history to rescue us from organized, deep darkness. These markers are seen by the multiple 7s and they speak to us of the divine, Seven-Spirited One intervening in the affairs of men to short-circuit the conspirators.
"I see "a strong east wind" sent by God, coming through the November midterm elections."
On Sept. 29, 2008 (Rosh Hashanah) the Wall Street Dow Jones fell a record 777.7 and it shook the world's financial markets. An extended economic slowdown followed. Though it looks like the 777.7 was the cause of the world recession it was actually what saved the United States and the world from a deep and prolonged financial depression. Dark world economy manipulators were orchestrating a deep depression, but God intervened—in ways we will also find out about—to save us from a catastrophic, economic collapse. (I have written about some of this in my 2010 book "The 7 Mountain Mantle".)
On June 23, 2016, the very unexpected Brexit vote took place, surprising the "world economists" and again throwing off the sinister world manipulators. That date was "coincidentally" exactly 7 years, 7 months, 7 weeks, and 7 days after the above 777.7 date. The assumed rejection of Brexit was seen as sure a thing as the United States rejecting Donald Trump for president—and again global manipulators were shocked. The Brexit vote is still being warred over, but it was orchestrated by God to create another economic, wild card lever that curtails the dark, world schemes.
In the year 5777 on the Jewish calendar, a man named Donald Trump shocked these same global "elitists" by winning the United States election. He won by 77 electoral votes. Trump was 70 years old, 7 months, and 7 days on his first full day as President. What are the odds this many 7s could be coincidental? These are all signs of God's intervention. The WHY of God intervening is about to become clear, and it goes well beyond God preferring Conservatism to Liberalism or Republicans to Democrats. As the story unveils and as we fully awaken to what we were up against and what He saved us from we will see the immensity of it all. It goes way beyond simple politics, but rather into being rescued from a ring of demonic criminals with tentacles at the tops of every one of the 7 mountains of society.
I saw of vision of the hand of God swiping through the tops of all the mountains, essentially clearing out the tops of media, education, government, economy, family, arts and entertainment, and religion. He is removing the world mafias and thus permitting the sons and daughters of the King to arise where they have been previously impeded from going. Even as He promised to go before the children of Israel—as they crossed into their Promised Land—He will do the same for us as He sees us targeting our cities and nations. He is going ahead of us and making it possible for us to succeed in our missions.
We Are in Another Exodus
5779 will see us experiencing another historic Exodus 14-type day. In the original story, the children of Israel left Egypt only to find themselves with the impossible predicament of the Red Sea before them and a chasing Pharaoh and army behind them. This day did not seem like a day they would fondly remember and sing of forever (though that is exactly what happened). It more seemed like a day that would live in infamy with destruction coming, either by the chasing Egyptian oppressors or the coming waves of the Red Sea.
Similarly today the enemies seem daunting, once you actually know about them. Today our Red Sea is like "The Swamp". Similarly, Pharaoh and his forces represent our history of being "the tail and not the head" chasing us down. We have been conditioned to expect good outcomes to be pulled out from under us and breakthrough to always be quite elusive. We are in another day now and it is a great day of deliverance. It will not necessarily be easy to go through, but it will be a great day of deliverance. (Photo via Unsplash)
As we remember Exodus 14, the children of Israel were being pursued by Pharaoh and 600 chariots. The 600 represents man's best showing of organized power, as 6 is the number of man. The children of Israel had hundreds of years of some level of bondage to Egypt. The Red Sea was in between them and the open path to their Promised Land. Something had to give. Moses was instructed to raise his rod—with THAT the Red Sea would part and allow them to cross over. He did this, and as Israel crossed on dry land the pursuing Egyptians could be seen bearing down. As soon as Israel was through Moses raised his rod and the Red Sea waters that formerly served the Egyptians' purposes of control now turned on them and drowned them all (v.28).
This dynamic is something we are walking through now. There are the power brokers of society who have thought the future was theirs to script, according to their controlling interests. The great surprise as to Who actually rules has only just begun to slap them in the face as our God, for His own name's sake, interjects into history. The Church has fallen asleep as a result of rapture-minded "end-times-itis" and its ensuing abandonment of the 7 Mountains mandate (being salt and light in society, not just in Church) giving the enemy extended time to become embedded in power. God is now moving with those who are awake, knowing the greater awakening is ensuing.
"If you are a Believer, there is one course of action for you to take moving forward on money matters and that is: Be bold."
Three, specific phrases of Exodus 14 standout and are relevant to us today. Verse 21 speaks of a "...strong east wind..." that the Lord used to make the waters of the Red Sea stand up on each side as a wall. Verse 25 says of the Lord, "He took off their chariot wheels..." leaving the Egyptians to conclude that God was fighting against them. Verse 30 is particularly poignant and says, "So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hands of the Egyptians..." These three phrases speak prophetically to us today which I will go into, in detail, below.
A Strong East Wind is Bringing a Red Wave to the Elections
I see "a strong east wind" sent by God, coming through the November midterm elections. They are going to be key in ultimately unleashing a "Red Sea" wave that will position the man God has chosen to lead the United States with a supporting cast in the Congress, the Senate, and ultimately the Supreme Court. It is not that God is "Republican red" in general, it's just that who God chose He happened to orchestrate through this party. There is great corruption in both parties and some good people in both parties. The world of politics is about to change forever in our nation, as well as everyone and everything being redefined. Because of this, some of those who are presently the most staunchly anti-Trump are going to soon discover that he has been raised to save them from oppressors, who have manipulated them into believing they were for them while keeping them essentially in bondage.
God Will Remove the Chariot Wheels of the Deep State
Just because many "conspiracy theorists" believe in the "deep state" does not mean that it doesn't exist. It does exist. However, the "deep state" is much like the chariot wheels of Exodus 14. They are wheels or circles of syndicated power that run over the common people with the goals or plots of the oppressors. God is going to make them as irrelevant today as they were in the Red Sea crossing. Their own wheels got them stuck in the mud of their own Red Sea and ultimately led to their demise.
Can't You Talk Louder, God?
In our 7 mountain teaching, we identify the color red with the mountain of media. The media has been complicit with the organized darkness that has threatened the freedom God has called us to. Even as Israel had an ultimate goal to be able to freely worship their God, even so, today we have been limited in our ability to worship our God in every mountain of society because of the syndicated criminal element that has been in a position of power. Much of this power has been embedded in the mountain of media, and the spiritual battle presently taking place is apparent to anyone truly open to discernment.
When you operate out of a political spirit or when you process things out of a personal wound you will not properly discern, as your lens is clouded. Clear discernment will tell you God has anointed this president with a unique assignment. President Trump is serving as a Moses of sorts, called to lead people out of bondage to sinister agendas. However, it is ultimately God, Himself that is pulling off these chariot wheels of sinister agendas. The corruptors and enslavers will ultimately be put under by the very media and the very "swamp" that they ruled.
God is using Trump, but HE is the rescuer and HE is the great deliverer of the day. Trump will succeed in his assignment to drain the "Red Sea" swamp because he is on assignment from God and empowered by God for that assignment. Forthcoming will be the complicity of the truly "fake news" with the embedded corruption, and it will be even more clear why Trump had to point them out. There is a Great Awakening ahead, but as I have said before it might be preceded by a rude awakening for many.
God Saved the United States (and the Nations)
"The scope and scale of shift and change cannot be overstated."
Even as it was said in verse 30"So the Lord saved Israel..." so it will be realized that we too have been similarly saved, and that we are the recipients of a great work of divine deliverance. This will be something important as we move forward. We sometimes confuse the fact that we do have a responsibility from our end to do something and use that as the proof that it is ALL up to us. Yes, as in Moses' day we must obey and head for our Promised Land of the nations. Yes, Moses must lift up his rod and exercise his authority. Yes, we must respond to the parted sea before us and move quickly. We do have our part—however, it pales in comparison to the rescue operation put on by God. It is He who makes the "east wind" blow. It is He who causes the Red Sea to part. He is the One who makes it instantly dry land. It is He who removes the chariot wheels of the enemy. It is He who causes the Red Sea to cover the very ones who strategically used the Red Sea to keep us limited and in survival-mode.
The great deliverance we are walking through is orchestrated and executed by God. He sees us moving toward the 7 mountains of our Promised Land and He is removing the embedded darkness that thought this to be THEIR Promised Land. The evil power holders are beginning to sense God is fighting for us. It will be more than a "sense" before 5779 is over. They will experience what it is like to be in the cross-hairs of His justice. Though we wrestle not against flesh and blood, some "flesh and blood" has so partaken of the demonic that they are almost one.
Zephaniah 1:9 Will Be in Play for 2019
"In that same day, I will punish all those who leap over the threshold, who fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit." (Zephaniah 1:9)
Those who "leap over the threshold" are associated with the worship of Dagon. Dagon was the Philistine deity who was the father of Baal. Part of what will be coming out in 5779 is the proof that many of the corrupt ones being disempowered are actual worshipers of Baal, Molech, Dagon, and satan himself. Some of the most abominable practices imaginable will come to light and it will be initially hard to believe because it will be so evil—and so widespread among certain evil elite. Their violence and their deceit have filled this nation, even in multi-generational ways. They are now going to be punished. Some you will never hear about it, but their lives will just be taken, even as Herod's life was taken in Biblical times. If you are one of these you will be in His cross-hairs in 5779.
Don't Be Confused by Deceitful Symbolism
A strategy of satan—that works with his lack of creativity—is to essentially hijack divine symbols and numbers and use them for his purposes. He is a thief and he hopes his stealing and corrupting of these things will cause God's people to cease to acknowledge and benefit from the good. Numbers such as 3, 7, 30, 33, 300 and the rainbow are among those good numbers and symbols. He also uses an upside down cross, a distorted star of David, butterflies, and eagles as symbols for various evil things he is involved in. It is important that we don't allow counterfeits to cause us to toss out the real. The real is still significant in Heaven, and they are not removing something in Heaven just because satan has chosen to use it. You don't throw away real $100 bills just because counterfeit ones have been made.
There is a full rainbow around the throne (Rev. 4) and it is going to remain there. There are 7 blazing flames of fire around the throne and they are the 7 spirits of God, Himself (Rev. 4 and 5). 7 is the most perfect and complete number of our powerful and beautiful God. All of the previously mentioned numbers and symbols will have a positive application in Heaven and still should for us today. For instance, red is not originally a color of Jezebel or code color for pedophilia. It is one of God's colors and most powerfully speaks of the Blood of Jesus, which is and was the game-changer of all game-changers. A crimson tide of deliverance is coming in on our behalf and it will take us into a new day. (Photo via Unsplash)
Justice 2.0
I have talked often on the theme of justice over the last year, and this focus is only increasing. It is coming in ever-increasing waves. The main thing we want to be aware of about justice is that it is not so much about God being angry with evil and evil-doers but rather about His heart towards those being abused and harmed. His anger toward the evil ones is the secondary effect of His rescuing heart towards those that are "the least of these."
The human-trafficking, sex-trafficking, pedophilia rings are a specific focus of God at this time, and worldwide webs and rings are being disrupted and will be the focus of God's justice in 5779. The high-level purveyors of this abuse of His kids are going to meet up with His justice. In that justice assignment a merciful option to repent will be given—though many will reject it because the evil they have enveloped themselves in is so severe and extreme. It would cause most to face life-imprisonment or worse. Some will nevertheless repent and this will be a best-case scenario, as it will allow for the salvation of their souls. God is ever merciful—even in His justice.
The Economy Will Continue to Prosper
There are all sorts of great, economic numbers for our nation at this time. Dow Jones nearing 27,000, the Wilshire 5000 over 30,000, and unemployment at the lowest ever—despite President Trump supposedly doing all sorts of economically, damaging things, such as entering into trade and tariff wars. We have been blessed economically, and despite the unchartered and somewhat unnerving process we are going through it will all tend towards an even greater financial rescue. Whatever momentary hiccups we may experience from time to time, know that the steady direction will be economic health—despite surreptitious attempts from dark agendas to harm or kill the economy.
"We are in another day now and it is a great day of deliverance. It will not necessarily be easy to go through, but it will be a great day of deliverance."
If you are a Believer, there is one course of action for you to take moving forward on money matters and that is: Be bold. Don't be a hoarder and don't be consumed with self-preservation. This is the time for the righteous to be bold as lions and to ignore fearful speculations. Of course, to the degree that you yield to mammon (fear or greed), you risk missing out on the economic grace available. The rewards of being a Believer don't come because you have said the sinners' prayer. The rewards come by actually being a BELIEVER. That means, staying generous, honoring the Lord with your first fruit, and always inquiring of the Lord. These all become important guardrails as you move forward.
A great multitude of ministers of wealth are about to be formed and released for the mandate of reaching cities and nations with Kingdom solutions. Why not be a part of that great adventure with God?
Israel Will Remain Central
It should seem only logical that if we are valuing the start of a new year based on the Jewish calendar that it is in itself establishing the preeminent place that Israel holds in world and Kingdom affairs. There are so many things regarding Israel that God will be working on in 5779. There are surreptitious elements within Israel's intelligence community that are going to be exposed, and it will be an important national matter and even international matter. Exposure of corruption, especially sexual, is going to be something God is going after, while simultaneously judging the outside nations that attempt to do Israel harm. He is going to be the perfect parent to Israel during these days, both correcting and protecting—and we are to understand and cooperate with His heart towards His initial covenant people. Israel is central to God's master storytelling of the ages and it is worth never losing sight of that. He will be ever-rescuing and delivering Israel because He who began a good work will complete it perfectly.
Conclusion
The goal of every new year must always be to seek how to agree with what God is presently doing. It is the area we most repeatedly miss God. Wrong timing and in the wrong measure is how we generally mess things up. Always be inquiring of God what is NEXT on His agenda and then how passionately to go for that. As long as we are more known for what we are against than what we are for, be assured we are doing something in either wrong timing or wrong measure, or both. God is executing a great day of deliverance on our behalf, but some of what He is coming to save us from is ourselves. Sometimes our greatest oppressors are not the evil, global elite, but Church-released, faulty concepts on God and on His narrative of the day. Sometimes our "Egyptians" are within us and we sabotage ourselves from our own breakthroughs by advancing rules and religion instead of love and relationship.
This year, I declare your great day of deliverance for all of it. He comes to set the captives free. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Johnny Enlow
Johnny and Elizabeth

Email: Contact@JohnnyandElizabeth.com
Website: www.RESTORE7.com
Johnny Enlow is a social reformer, international speaker, spiritual mentor, and author of The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, and Rainbow God. He and his wife Elizabeth are focused on awakening individuals to their call to provide practical solutions from the heart of God for every problem in society – until the real God of all of life is displayed in the seven primary areas of culture in all nations: Media, Arts and Entertainment, Government, Family, Religion, Economy, and Education.

Hezbollah Threatens Israel with War; Friedman Blasts Palestinians for ‘Unconscionable’ Pay to Ari Fuld’s Murderer; Daily Video Recap! - United with Israel

United with IsraelIsraeli Strikes in Syria Killed 113 Iranians; Violent Gaza Riots Intensify; Despite Ari Fuld’s Tragic Death, ‘the Terrorists Lost’; Israeli Scientists Develop Solution to Global Hunger 
Hezbollah Leader Threatens Israel with ‘Advanced and Accurate Missiles’
Friedman Blasts Palestinians for ‘Unconscionable’ Pay to Ari Fuld’s Murderer
WATCH: Daily Israel News Recap
 
Netanyahu Threatens Hezbollah Leader with ‘Crushing Blow that He Cannot Even Imagine’ 
WATCH: Despite Ari Fuld’s Tragic Death, ‘The Terrorists Lost’ 
Palestinians Intensify Violent Gaza Riots as Truce with Israel Falters 
WATCH: Palestinian Activist Begs Europeans to Cut BDS Funding 
Michigan U Professor Refuses to Recommend Student Studying in Israel 
WATCH: Israeli Scientists Develop Solution to Eliminate Global Hunger 
Report: Preventive Israeli Strikes in Syria Killed 113 Iranians 
 

 
 
 
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Messianic Responses to Israel's Nation-State Law - Israel Today

Messianic Responses to Israel's Nation-State Law

Friday, September 21, 2018 |  Israel Today Staff
Israel's new Nation-State Law continues to make waves, both at home and abroad.
The motion, passed as one of Israel's constitutional Basic Laws, enshrines the Jewish character of the state.
However, in so doing, the Nation-State Law elicited accusations of racism, with opponents insisting that it would lead to preferential treatment for Israel's Jewish majority.
Two local Messianic leaders responded to the law, one in support of it, and one opposed.
Pastor Israel Harel
Already in the Balfour Declaration, the nation of Israel was established as a “Homeland for the Jewish People.” However, because of a flood of ongoing cases being brought to Israel's Supreme Court trying to change and squash this understanding of Israel as a homeland of the Jewish people, it was necessary to make a law in order to protect, in law, the Jewish character of Israel.
Victor Gregorian
As a Jew myself, Israel is my country, as it is for the members of my household who may not be Jewish. The new Nation-State Law weakens and even undermines these foundations, and raises a serious dilemma for me and many others in this land. If, as the new law states, this is a homeland only for the Jewish people, and not for my wife and our non-Jewish children, then what are we doing here?
In the upcoming October 2018 issue of Israel Today Magazine, we explore this issue in more depth, including additional reactions from local Arabic-speaking Christians and leading Israeli analysts.
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Thursday, September 20, 2018

Just How Did That Letter from 65 Women Who Stand by Kavanaugh Come Together so Quickly? - CBN News Crystal Woodall

Just How Did That Letter from 65 Women Who Stand by Kavanaugh Come Together so Quickly?
09-19-2018
CBN News Crystal Woodall
WASHINGTON – As the suspense continues over whether or not Brett Kavanaugh's accuser will testify
before the Senate Judiciary Committee, many are wondering about the seemingly sudden appearance 
of 65 women who came to the Supreme Court nominee's defense last week.

Not long after a then-anonymous letter from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came to light accusing the 
53-year-old Judge Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school, the women, 
all former classmates of Kavanaugh, penned their own letter – this one in support of him.

"We are women who have known Brett Kavanaugh for more than 35 years and knew him while he 
attended high school between 1979 and 1983," the women wrote in a memo to the Judiciary Committee.

Related


Franklin Graham on Judge Kavanaugh Accusation: 'Not Relevant'


ANALYSIS: Kavanaugh, His Accuser, and What You Need to Know


Kavanaugh Accuser Wants an FBI Probe Before She'll Testify - Now What?

"For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women 
with respect," read the letter. "We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the 
committee at this time."

Some, however, are skeptical of how Kavanaugh was able to garner so much support so quickly in 
light of what many view as an 11th-hour smear campaign.

But one of the signatories, Meghan McCaleb, is making it clear that the outpouring of support was a 
testament to Kavanaugh's character and that neither the Senate Judiciary Committee nor the White House
had a hand in coordinating the letter.

"My husband and I have known Brett Kavanaugh since high school," McCaleb said in a new statement. 
"Last Thursday afternoon, September 13, a reporter contacted my husband asking about news reports 
that Senator (Dianne) Feinstein had referred to federal authorities an allegation from a woman to the 
effect that Judge Kavanaugh had acted improperly toward her during high school."

"Having known Brett well in high school, my husband and I were shocked by these news reports," she 
continued. "We agreed that we needed to inform the Judiciary Committee of Brett's high character and 
integrity from high school through the present day. We reached out to one of Judge Kavanaugh's former 
law clerks to discuss preparing a letter from the women who knew Judge Kavanaugh best during his high
 school years."

"Through a group effort with other friends of Judge Kavanaugh, we prepared the letter that ultimately 
was released," McCaleb recalled, noting that the missive "was not coordinated with anyone at the White 
House or the Senate Judiciary Committee."

Meanwhile, Georgetown law professor Rosa Brooks lent her voice to a chorus of critics, which includes 
Franklin Graham, who believe the decades-old incident – whether true or not – should have little if any 
bearing on Kavanaugh's confirmation proceedings.

"There are sound reasons behind statutes of limitations. After 35 years, it is nearly impossible to conduct 
a full or fair investigation," the Boston Herald quoted Brooks.

"I am uncomfortable with asserting that his behavior as a teen tells us anything about his 'character' now,"
 Brooks tweeted. "Yes, even if his behavior as a teen included doing exactly what Ford says he did. This 
is because I don't think teen behavior is predictive of adult behavior... there is a ton of solid research on 
the general idiocy of teenagers, especially teenaged boys, and the neuroscience that explains their 
general idiocy."

Hang On! Don't Let Delays Weaken Your Faith - J. LEE GRADY CHARISMA MAGAZINE

(iStock/Getty Images Plus/leva)
Here's a trivia question: Which building project took the longest to complete? 1) The construction of the Pentagon, 2) the carving of Mount Rushmore, 3) the digging of the Panama Canal, 4) the building of the Empire State Building or 5) the carving and assembling of the Statue of Liberty.
The answer is No. 3. It took 31 years to dig the Panama Canal, mainly because that superhuman task was started and stopped several times due to floods, mudslides, unexpected costs (the total bill for the United States was $375 million in 1914) and a horrific death toll (20,000 French workers and 6,000 Americans died on the job site.) The moral of that story: Expect delays when you cut a 50-mile-long canal to connect two oceans.
I'm not attempting to move millions of tons of earth to make room for cargo ships. My ministry assignment is different. But I still feel overwhelmed at times by the task.
God calls each of us to join Him in His work, but accomplishing anything spiritual—such as building a church, engaging in missions work or influencing secular culture for Christ—is impossible in human terms. We can't accomplish anything for God without faith.
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God gives us a promise—that's the easy part. Then He reveals His strategies, works miracles and sends provision. Working with God is exhilarating when these things happen.
But faith is also warfare. The devil hurls doubts and obstacles in our direction. There are battles and, sometimes, casualties. And there are always, always delays. And it is in those painful times of waiting when we are most tempted to quit.
The Bible is full of stories of men and women who waited and waited for God's promises to be fulfilled. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for Isaac's birth. Hannah endured years of barrenness waiting for her baby. David spent years in the wilderness before he became king.
Zerubbabel and Joshua, the two men commissioned to rebuild Solomon's temple, struggled with intense discouragement as they looked at Jerusalem's ruins. The task was overwhelming, the cost was prohibitive, the workers were dismayed and their enemies were fierce.
They started the work in earnest, but they heard a familiar voice that whispered: "You'll never finish this. God is going to abandon you in the middle of this project."
Fortunately, just when Zerubbabel and Joshua were about to throw in the towel, the prophet Haggai showed up with a refreshing announcement. He told them: "'But now take courage ... and work; for I am with you,' declares the Lord" (Hag. 2:4, NASB).
The Lord also promised He would see the building project to completion. He said: "The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former ... and in this place I will give peace" (v. 9).
Those prophetic promises propelled Zerubbabel and Joshua forward. The words invigorated their weary faith and steeled their determination. Their passion was refueled. Their hands grew strong again and they returned to the work. God's glorious house arose from an ash heap.
This is God's promise to all who are called to labor with Him. He doesn't tell you to begin something and then leave you halfway through it. God is a wise builder and an expert craftsman. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He finishes what He starts.
The apostle Paul knew this when he wrote: "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6, MEV). The Message Bible says it this way: "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears."
Many of God's servants today are weary. Budgets are tight, resistance is strong and people seem distracted and disunified. The devil is busy trying to abort God's promises. You may have been tempted even this week to resign from your assignment. But I want to encourage you with the words of Haggai: "Take courage! The Lord is with you!"
Regardless of what you lack, the Lord's mighty presence is all you need to finish the task. Hang on to Him and keep believing.
J. Lee Grady was editor of Charisma for 11 years before he launched into full-time ministry in 2010. Today he directs The Mordecai Project, a Christian charitable organization that is taking the healing of Jesus to women and girls who suffer abuse and cultural oppression. Author of several books including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, he has just released his newest book, Set My Heart on Fire, from Charisma House. You can follow him on Twitter at @LeeGrady or go to his website, themordecaiproject.org.