WHEN IS IT TIME FOR A CALLED ASSEMBLY
THERE COMES A TIME FOR A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.... WHEN THE ENEMY IS AT YOUR BACK DOOR, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER WITHIN YOURSELF TO FIGHT HIM.... you need help!
Do not wait until it is too late. Do not wait until there is no time to call out upon the Lord. It helps if you already have been talking to God when the crisis arrives. But honestly, this kind of crisis usually arises in a time of backsliding and lukewarmness. Either way, it is time to come together and decide to seek God together.
There is something about unity that moves God. There is something about coming in one mind and one accord seeking His face that sees those times when God manifests the greatest to deliver His people. See, God loves us enough to deliver us even today. God loves us enough to go where we cannot get out and pull us out! He still goes in to lead us out. God delivers again!
HE WILL DELIVER ME AND HE WILL DELIVER YOU WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND GET SERIOUS WITH HIM!
Jehoshaphat heard of what was happening and he did something very human, he feared.... he knew that he did not have what it took to defeat these two armies. HE NEEDED HELP. WHERE IS OUR SOURCE OF HELP? IT IS TIME TO LOOK UP TO WHERE OUR DELIVERANCE COMES... AND IT IS TIME TO LOOK UP TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT SOLEMN ASSEMBLY IS ALL ABOUT.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood in this day, but against principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness of this world, and hosts of wicked spirits in the air. Sometimes, the enemy spits up an army for you to deal with, but if God be for you, who can be against you? You don't ignore the threat, but you put on your holy armour and you stand in the faith of Jesus Christ and after doing all, to stand! You stand and you resist the devil and God moves.
James 4:7 (KJV) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. "
When the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land and they had to "POSSESS THE PROMISE" through warring against the servants of the devil. They were told then that one would chase a thousand and two would chase ten thousand. There is a spiritual principle there in the unity of the Believers when they are obeying God in faith and possessing what God has promised. It does not matter what comes against them, they can join together and God will fight for them and through them!
JEHOSHAPHAT FEARED! THEN HE DEALT WITH HIS FEAR!
The Bible does NOT say that we will never have fear, but that perfect love casts out fear. When our faith arises, then we recognize that God loves us and that there is hope in Him regardless of the circumstances. We are not to let fear take us and become fearful, but instead understand that God is God and He is still on the throne. We can call upon His name as His people and that He will hear us and answer our cries. WHEN WE HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE HIM AND SEEK HIM, IT MOVES THE HEART AND HAND OF GOD.
When we know that we are in the hand of God, we don't fear but we go to God in prayer and total seriousness. We have a solemn assembly when the enemy comes against us in force and it is solemn because of the seriousness, but we assemble together in unity... especially in the evil day... in fearful times.
We are living in fearful times.... it is a time in which men are made afraid.
2 Timothy 3:1 " This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. " (2 Timothy 3:1)
We are facing these perilous times, and now more than ever, the thief is come to try and steal your promises from God. The lion wants to devour you, what do you do when you need a major change?
THE FIRST THING THAT HE DID WAS SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE FACE OF THE LORD... WHO IS MY SOURCE ????
Don't try and be a Lone Ranger unless you just have to. Sometimes, nobody around you will be willing ot seek God with you and you have to seek God alone. God will move for you. But if you want God to move for everyone and for the land, then it is time to come together and seek God together.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) " If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. "
When we come before the Lord... we humble ourselves and take care of the sin in our lives first. We fast and pray and get serious with God because the danger is serious. We quit blaming others and we submit ourselves and repent first. We don't point fingers at others, but we look in the mirror of the Word and deal with ourselves first. Then we cry out to God together for the need!
They came from all of the cities together in one place to ask the Lord for deliverance. " And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. " (Psalms 50:15)
We are called to be like-minded and in one accord. We Should Not Expect God To Move On Us If We Are Separated And Trying To Do Our Own Thing. Too many of us want our own thing we miss God.
Romans 15:5-6 " 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
When we pray together, such as the church for Peter in prison when Herod took him, God does deliver. When God's people humble themselves together, the heart of God is moved.
There is a Psalm that we sing in church today, and it is actually a prayer for deliverance from your enemies. It is powerful! One version today takes the 'ten thousands of people' and says demons, since that is our enemies. IT is powerful... but Thou, O Lord art a shield for me...
Psalms 3:1-6 (KJV)1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Jehoshaphat prayed a prayer in which he, GLORIFIED GOD, QUOTED GOD'S PROMISES IN THE WORD that He had spoken unto them, and then asked for the help that they needed.
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE GOD'S HEART TOWARD YOU SO THAT HE DELIVERS, QUIT DEMANDING, OR BEGGING, OR EVEN SEEKING AFTER SIGNS..... SEEK HIS FACE.
Seeking God's face does take effort. Just How Bad Do You Want God To Deliver You? How badly do you want revival? We need more than just enough anointing to make us shout with no real clout. WE NEED A REAL DELIVERANCE! WE NEED A TRUE REVIVAL! WE NEED ENOUGH TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE AND TO BRING DELIVERANCE! WE NEED ENOUGH TO HAVE A REAL IMPACT!
There is a need for the delivering power of God, BUT YOU MUST "PRAY THE PRICE".
When the disciple could not set a child free of an unclean spirit {a demon}, they asked why : Matthew 17:20-21 " 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. "
Praying and fasting kill our flesh's strength over our lives... we walk much less by sight when we have been in His presence. It brings us to where God can use us.
Pray and glorify Him for who He is and then what He has done for us and what He has promised to do for us. Quote His word to you when you pray. Praise Him, believe Him for His promises, and then ask for His help. THIS PATTERN OF PRAYER IS FOUND THRU THE BIBLE
Philippians 4:6-7 " 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. "
WHEN THE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND PRAY..... THEN THE LORD MOVES. YOU CAN'T BRING REVIVAL... BUT IF WE STAND TOGETHER, THEN GOD WILL BRING IT.
2 Chronicles 20:14-15 " 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's. "
Seek the face of the Lord, and when He moves you don't have to afraid for your family, for your church, for yourself...... you know that the Lord is fighting for you and you are going to win.
Look to your source, quit trying to tell him how to do it or trying to make it work yourself, just seek His face and move with Him. Too many are trying to make God move with them.
" Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God; " (2 Corinthians 3:5)
WHEN THE ENEMY IS AT THE DOOR, THEN IT IS TIME TO PUT EVERYTHING ASIDE AND SEEK THE LORD TOGETHER!
IT IS TIME FOR A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.
- James Coldiron
© 1995 and 2009 by James Dale Coldiron
Voice of the Watchman
2 Chronicles 20:2-13 " 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they [be] in Hazazontamar, which [is] Engedi.
3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. {himself: Heb. his face} 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. 5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
6 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, [art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest [not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand [is there not] power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7 [Art] not thou our God, [who] didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? {who: Heb. thou} 8 And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9 If, [when] evil cometh upon us, [as] the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name [is] in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10 And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11 Behold, [I say, how] they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes [are] upon thee. 13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. "
THERE COMES A TIME FOR A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.... WHEN THE ENEMY IS AT YOUR BACK DOOR, AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER WITHIN YOURSELF TO FIGHT HIM.... you need help!
Do not wait until it is too late. Do not wait until there is no time to call out upon the Lord. It helps if you already have been talking to God when the crisis arrives. But honestly, this kind of crisis usually arises in a time of backsliding and lukewarmness. Either way, it is time to come together and decide to seek God together.
There is something about unity that moves God. There is something about coming in one mind and one accord seeking His face that sees those times when God manifests the greatest to deliver His people. See, God loves us enough to deliver us even today. God loves us enough to go where we cannot get out and pull us out! He still goes in to lead us out. God delivers again!
HE WILL DELIVER ME AND HE WILL DELIVER YOU WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AND GET SERIOUS WITH HIM!
Jehoshaphat heard of what was happening and he did something very human, he feared.... he knew that he did not have what it took to defeat these two armies. HE NEEDED HELP. WHERE IS OUR SOURCE OF HELP? IT IS TIME TO LOOK UP TO WHERE OUR DELIVERANCE COMES... AND IT IS TIME TO LOOK UP TOGETHER. THAT IS WHAT SOLEMN ASSEMBLY IS ALL ABOUT.
We wrestle not against flesh and blood in this day, but against principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness of this world, and hosts of wicked spirits in the air. Sometimes, the enemy spits up an army for you to deal with, but if God be for you, who can be against you? You don't ignore the threat, but you put on your holy armour and you stand in the faith of Jesus Christ and after doing all, to stand! You stand and you resist the devil and God moves.
James 4:7 (KJV) "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. "
When the Children of Israel entered the Promised Land and they had to "POSSESS THE PROMISE" through warring against the servants of the devil. They were told then that one would chase a thousand and two would chase ten thousand. There is a spiritual principle there in the unity of the Believers when they are obeying God in faith and possessing what God has promised. It does not matter what comes against them, they can join together and God will fight for them and through them!
JEHOSHAPHAT FEARED! THEN HE DEALT WITH HIS FEAR!
The Bible does NOT say that we will never have fear, but that perfect love casts out fear. When our faith arises, then we recognize that God loves us and that there is hope in Him regardless of the circumstances. We are not to let fear take us and become fearful, but instead understand that God is God and He is still on the throne. We can call upon His name as His people and that He will hear us and answer our cries. WHEN WE HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE HIM AND SEEK HIM, IT MOVES THE HEART AND HAND OF GOD.
When we know that we are in the hand of God, we don't fear but we go to God in prayer and total seriousness. We have a solemn assembly when the enemy comes against us in force and it is solemn because of the seriousness, but we assemble together in unity... especially in the evil day... in fearful times.
We are living in fearful times.... it is a time in which men are made afraid.
2 Timothy 3:1 " This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. " (2 Timothy 3:1)
We are facing these perilous times, and now more than ever, the thief is come to try and steal your promises from God. The lion wants to devour you, what do you do when you need a major change?
THE FIRST THING THAT HE DID WAS SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE FACE OF THE LORD... WHO IS MY SOURCE ????
Secondly, he called a fast of all of his people... A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY, to seek God with him.
Don't try and be a Lone Ranger unless you just have to. Sometimes, nobody around you will be willing ot seek God with you and you have to seek God alone. God will move for you. But if you want God to move for everyone and for the land, then it is time to come together and seek God together.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) " If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. "
When we come before the Lord... we humble ourselves and take care of the sin in our lives first. We fast and pray and get serious with God because the danger is serious. We quit blaming others and we submit ourselves and repent first. We don't point fingers at others, but we look in the mirror of the Word and deal with ourselves first. Then we cry out to God together for the need!
They came from all of the cities together in one place to ask the Lord for deliverance. " And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. " (Psalms 50:15)
We are called to be like-minded and in one accord. We Should Not Expect God To Move On Us If We Are Separated And Trying To Do Our Own Thing. Too many of us want our own thing we miss God.
Romans 15:5-6 " 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
When we pray together, such as the church for Peter in prison when Herod took him, God does deliver. When God's people humble themselves together, the heart of God is moved.
There is a Psalm that we sing in church today, and it is actually a prayer for deliverance from your enemies. It is powerful! One version today takes the 'ten thousands of people' and says demons, since that is our enemies. IT is powerful... but Thou, O Lord art a shield for me...
Psalms 3:1-6 (KJV)1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Jehoshaphat prayed a prayer in which he, GLORIFIED GOD, QUOTED GOD'S PROMISES IN THE WORD that He had spoken unto them, and then asked for the help that they needed.
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE GOD'S HEART TOWARD YOU SO THAT HE DELIVERS, QUIT DEMANDING, OR BEGGING, OR EVEN SEEKING AFTER SIGNS..... SEEK HIS FACE.
Seeking God's face does take effort. Just How Bad Do You Want God To Deliver You? How badly do you want revival? We need more than just enough anointing to make us shout with no real clout. WE NEED A REAL DELIVERANCE! WE NEED A TRUE REVIVAL! WE NEED ENOUGH TO SET THE CAPTIVES FREE AND TO BRING DELIVERANCE! WE NEED ENOUGH TO HAVE A REAL IMPACT!
There is a need for the delivering power of God, BUT YOU MUST "PRAY THE PRICE".
When the disciple could not set a child free of an unclean spirit {a demon}, they asked why : Matthew 17:20-21 " 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. "
Praying and fasting kill our flesh's strength over our lives... we walk much less by sight when we have been in His presence. It brings us to where God can use us.
Pray and glorify Him for who He is and then what He has done for us and what He has promised to do for us. Quote His word to you when you pray. Praise Him, believe Him for His promises, and then ask for His help. THIS PATTERN OF PRAYER IS FOUND THRU THE BIBLE
Philippians 4:6-7 " 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. "
WHEN THE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER AND PRAY..... THEN THE LORD MOVES. YOU CAN'T BRING REVIVAL... BUT IF WE STAND TOGETHER, THEN GOD WILL BRING IT.
2 Chronicles 20:14-15 " 14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle [is] not yours, but God's. "
Seek the face of the Lord, and when He moves you don't have to afraid for your family, for your church, for yourself...... you know that the Lord is fighting for you and you are going to win.
Look to your source, quit trying to tell him how to do it or trying to make it work yourself, just seek His face and move with Him. Too many are trying to make God move with them.
" Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God; " (2 Corinthians 3:5)
WHEN THE ENEMY IS AT THE DOOR, THEN IT IS TIME TO PUT EVERYTHING ASIDE AND SEEK THE LORD TOGETHER!
IT IS TIME FOR A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.
- James Coldiron
© 1995 and 2009 by James Dale Coldiron
Voice of the Watchman
