Gideon was threshing wheat at the bottom of a wine-press to hide the grain from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” Sir, “Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, The Lord brought us up out of Egypt?” But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I’m sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” Judges 6:11-15 (NLT)
Gideon was at the threshing floor at the bottom of a wine-press. The threshing floor is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. The wine-press is where the grapes are squeezed and the impurities are removed from the wine. I believe that it was at the threshing floor at the bottom of the wine-press that Gideon’s heart became positioned to hear the word of the Lord. It was there the angel of the Lord called Gideon who God said he was. “Mighty hero” go with the strength that you have for the Lord is with you. It was there Gideon questioned the angel of the Lord and told him how unqualified he was. Although scripture often speaks of the threshing floor and the wine-press. It is not often that we choose to go to the threshing floor or the wine-press in the spirit realm. After all who whats to be sifted or pressed. But there are times when God calls us to the threshing floor or the wine-press to separate us from the world or our carnal nature. There are times when He just wants to get us alone to love on us and tell us who we are to Him. It is at the threshing floor we will come to realize where the true treasure of our heart is. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19 -21 (NLT) We must go alone to the threshing floor. It is a secret place of the deep and personal revelation of God. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Ps. 91:1 (NLT)
Many have often thought of the trashing floor as a place of correction only. But I have found it to be a place of the deeper revelation of God. As I position my heart to hear His voice in the secret place, I can hide all that He has put within me in the shelter of His mercy and grace. I am drawn to a higher place of intimacy with the Father in the place of rest with Him as He gently separates the carnal nature in me so His spirit within me can shine brighter. May he work perfection into every part of you giving you all that you need to fulfill your destiny. And may he express through you all that is excellent and pleasing to him through your life-union with Jesus the Anointed One who is to receive all glory forever! Amen! Hebrews 13:21 (TPT) Many times in life, we go around the same mountain again and again. Even though our navigation system is the same and nothing has changed, we continue to expect a different result.
Some of us need to change our navigation system because the direction we have been going hasn’t been working. Things can not continue as they have always been, in the way we think, act, feel or move if we are to expect a different outcome. The Israelite's roamed around in the wilderness for forty years on what should have been an eleven-day journey. Deuteronomy 1:2 Before they left for the journey, they were given all they needed to complete it. And even though it took the Israelite's much longer than anticipated, God was with them every step of the way. He continued to provide for them and protect them. Yet they chose to remain in the same familiar mindset to which they were accustomed. Rather than shift their thinking from complaining to thankfulness, they remained in denial of who God really was. They chose to worship idols rather than the God who had rescued them. Because of their mindset, disobedience, and unbelief, only two, Joshua and Caleb were able to enter the promise land. Exodus 1-10 Sometimes we blame God or others for things that happen to us when many times, it has more to do with the decisions we make and the consequences of them. God is a loving God who gives us the freedom to make choices on our own, and with those choices come good and bad results. While the Israelites followed Moses with God's leading out of Egypt, they also chose to disobey, continue in unbelief, and murmur and complain all along the way. Some of us have been drinking from a well of bitterness for many years, yet we continue to seek out other wells that contain the same bitter water as the previous well that we left behind, thus getting the same results. We tend to make the same type of friendships and financial decisions and remain in the same lifestyle we long to escape. Yet we continue to roam around the same mountain yearly, expecting a different result. Maybe it's time to seek the Lord while He may be found. Time to seek wise counsel and abide by it. To seek out new relationships and make new choices. Maybe it's time to speak to the mountain in your life and tell it to get out of your temple and off your land. It's time to leave the familiar territory where your footprint is in stone and move to another unknown place, trusting God to lead and guide you. Maybe it's time to stop blaming others and accept responsibility as your own. So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 Maybe it's time to change how you think, speak, and live, for this is a new day. The past has passed, and the future is what you make it. It’s time to see things from God's point of view rather than man's. Maybe it's time to enter your promised land rather than remaining in the wilderness and drinking from the well that will always run dry. If you're having problems in this area of your life, I would suggest you read and take to heart the book of Proverbs in the Bible and seek Godly counsel. God is calling His people to come out of the walls of tradition and culture in which they have been trapped. He calls us to step out in faith, knowing that He has promised never to leave or forsake us. He is calling us away from the familiar place, of the way it has always been, so a new move of His spirit can freely fall upon the next generation. Just as God called Abraham to step out in faith and move away from the familiar place, He is calling His people to create a pathway that is lined with a new wine skin so that His spirit may flow freely in generations to come, for they will not be held hostage to their past. This generation will go boldly to the throne of God and will not possess the spirit of timidity in the world. They will stand in their enemies' presence and proclaim the Lord's name. But they first must be released by past generations from cultures, traditions, and teachings that have held them captive. Not all of these things are wrong, but some are of man and do not line up with the word of God. Has God not said - "My people are being destroyed for lack of knowledge. "Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. The glory of God has been exchanged for the shame of idols. Even to this day, the Lord would say just as He said to the church of Laodicea, "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!" For He corrects and disciplines everyone that He loves. You are each invited to the place of solitude with Him. You are called to cleanse yourself from what is dishonorable to Him so that you may see clearly, repent and be eager to pursue what is right. That which has always been shall be no more. There was a day and time to observe the culture and tradition of man, but that day has come and gone. So choose this day whom you will serve. The familiar place where you have grown comfortable is no longer where you belong, for God is calling you out into a new day of discovering. A day that will open the doors wide for your children and your children's children, they will be drawn out of the Fami-LIAR mentality into a truth of their own which will be given from heaven above. Because all those He loves, He will unmask and train. So again, I say Choose you this day whom you will serve. Will it be a man and the world's systems, or will it be the Lord? “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:36-37 “The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. Deuteronomy 31: 8, Deuteronomy 30:19-30, Matthew 9:17, Hosea 4:6-7, Revelations 3:15-22, 2 Timothy 2:21, Mark 7:8-10,Genesis 12:1-6, Genesis 17:1-15, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Joshua 24:15 1 Chronicles 21:22-30, Matthew 12:36-37
He was eighty five years old before he received the land that was promised to him. Joshua 14:6-15
1 Samuel 16:12-13 He did not become king until he was 30. 2 Samuel 5:4-5
Genesis 15:4-5. He was 100 years old when Issac was born. Genesis 21:2 What have you been waiting for? Has God placed a dream within your heart? “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.” Genesis 7:9 (NLT) You are cordially invited
to be the honored guest of Jesus son of God COME: “Come and follow me, and I will transform you into men who catch people for God. Matthew 4:19 (NLT) He invites you to come and He will give you the ability and qualify you. He doesn’t call the qualified He qualify s the called. COME: to me, all you who are weary, carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your soles. Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) He invites you to come into a place of rest and peace and learn His ways which are gentle and humble. COME: Pray and watch with me. “Sit here while I go over there to pray. He took Peter, James, and John and he became anguished and distressed. HE told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:36-46 (NLT) He invites us to come with Him to watch and pray. “COME: Join me on the water be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out. Jesus immmediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” Mattthew 14:29-31 (TPT) He invites us to Focus on Him and have faith in Him. “COME: up here and I will show you what must happen after this. And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it.” Revelation 4:1b-2 (NLT) Revelation 11:12 (TPT) He invites you to come closer to Him. While your enemies watch. “COME: now let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.” Isaiah 1:18-19 He invites you to talk with and allow Him to counsel you. He invites you to obey Him. “COME: And dine, Come and eat my food and drink of my wine. Lay aside your simple thoughts and leave your paths behind. Agree with my ways, live in my truth, and you will find righteousness.” Proverbs 9:5-6 He invites you to eat His food and drink His wine. Lay aside your own thoughts and live in His truth. Stop believing the lies!! COME: and drink if you are thirsty. Even if you have no money! COME: take your choice of wine or milk it’s all free! Why spend money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. COME: to me with your ears wide open. Listen and you will find life. Isaiah 54: 1-3 (NLT) He invites you to come to Him, drink of His goodness, let Him feed you and listen with your ears open so that you will find life in Him. “For here is the way God loved the world he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.” John 3:16 He invites you to believe in him so that you can have everlasting life. The Son extends His invitation to you freely. He is waiting for you to COME no RSVP required. Come as you are when your ready to accept His invitation He will be there with open arms waiting just for you. |