Good Morning,
We have got to keep our blinders on to be able to run the race and not be stopped. We know that when sin increases, so does the spirit of confusion and deception. We should be increasing at the same time in the grace of God, His ability over and upon our inability. Let's read "You were running the race nobly, who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the truth. This evil persuasion is not from Him Who called you (Who invited you to freedom in Christ). A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump (it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church). [Gal. 5:6-7; Amplified Bible] Hinder means to beat back; to impede or interrupt; to prevent from acting or happening; an obstacle that restrains one from going forth. We must be wise about the enemy and his ways of causing us to be hindered. In the Greek language hinder portrays the moment when a runner comes alongside another and literally elbows him out of the race. That is how the Message Bible says it. "You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience. This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread." Now I love what is said by faith right after all has been said, "Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect." Defect means to abort, abandon or desert what you are doing to go to something else. This is not the time for quitting or defecting the faith, for what, hell, here and later. Understand all it takes is a little leaven or yeast to cause your whole walk of faith to be perverted. Pervert is to turn from truth or its proper purpose; to distort from its true end. Just think, to run the race and come down to the last leg and be hindered or pervert your run, because of something so small in comparison to what you would gain. The kingdom and all that the Father has prepared for us, for a yeast size obstacle. Whether it is unforgiveness, physical sins, emotional shortcomings, or trials, tribulations or temptations of any kind. It is not worth your race being restrained or stopped.
"I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech. For though I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your (standing shoulder to shoulder in such) orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ (that leaning of the entire human personality on Him absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness)" [Col.2:4-8; Amp.] Beguile is influence done by trickery; to delude or to mislead the mind or judgement of; to deceive by charm; or to falsely persuade others; to divert. As we draw closer to the end-times the enemy is trying to cause believers to become disillusioned and discouraged with their walk with God. Yet, we have more for us than is against us. We have Holy help from on high. We are going to lean (incline with your feelings, opinions, actions on God's power and ability). "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding." [Prov. 3:5] We must daily die, or, in other words, give up our rights to making our opinions, actions, or feelings the leader in our steps or the way we live out our faith. For example, at this very moment I am writing this word to you as I stand and receive the healing of my body. My feelings are trying to rule, telling me, you are much too tired and 'out of it' for this. I can't be body-ruled, I must lean my entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in his power, wisdom and goodness. "So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes." [ Heb. 3:12; The Message]
"Run the Race"
Love,
Pastor D.
Daughters of Z 