A WORD TO THE CHURCH FROM PSALM 13
(And a word regarding South Africa and America)

Bob Jones with Keith Davis - August 12, 1999 Bob Jones/Keith Davis Web site: http://www.bobjones.org

In his epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul teaches, " our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual {forces} of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12) The spiritual forces that reside in heavenly places have set themselves in opposition to the working of the Holy Spirit through the Church. Not only will this evil defiance create snares and traps for Christians, but also assail our minds and spirits during seasons of prayer. At times, it seems we are easily able to move directly into the realm of the Spirit during prayer. At other times it seems as though all the spirits of hell are set against us as we attempt to come before the throne of grace in prayer and intercession. In recent times, it seems the latter has been more prominent than the former. These difficult seasons are allowed to train us in warfare and establish deliverance in us as we wrestle with the enemy, discovering through small victories the omniscience and amazing provision established for us through the Cross.

The Bible often symbolizes God's people as eagles. This symbolism is especially true for prophets. The eagle is able to soar higher than any other creature and is gifted with phenomenal eye sight. We are taught that the eagle is equipped with special filters on its eyes allowing this majestic bird to maneuver directly toward the sun while evading encounters with predators. We must do likewise and flee to the Son when engaged with enemy confrontation.

To see the things the Lord desires to display oftentimes requires battling through the spiritual resistance until we are able to soar above it and hear the things that He will express and see the things that He would disclose. To do this requires diligence and determination through fervent prayer and intercession. It is in the midst of this wrestling that deceiving spirits will often impart revelation from the enemy masquerading as true disclosure. In one Old Testament example the 400 prophets of Ahab each received spiritual revelation containing measures of truth, yet its origin was a deceiving spirit that the Lord allowed because of the unrighteousness of Ahab and his leadership. A true prophet of God was then summoned who was able to soar above the deceiving spirit and receive a true revelation from the heart of God. (I Kings 22:1-28) Spiritual discernment and a good foundation in Truth clearly identifies false revelation, motivating the believer to press-in more earnestly to receive the true revelation.

Recently, while in a season of prayer and intercession, Bob found himself engaged in this spiritual battle. Many opposing spirits attempted to withstand his efforts to soar in the Spirit to receive fresh manna for the Body of Christ. Evil opposition attempted to impart false revelation masquerading as Truth. However, the fruit of this revelation did not incorporate love, hope and faith and was therefore easily discerned. Bob continued to press in for quite sometime until he finally soared above the opposition and received a clear word from the Lord. He was audibly given Psalms 13 with an emphasis on verse 5 as an encouragement for the Body of Christ.

"How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed against him'; lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me." Ps 13:1-6

Many scholars believe this Psalm was written by David after Samuel anointed him to be King of Israel. Despite his prophetic destiny, David found himself fleeing from Saul for the preservation of his life. Although David's future promised greatness and Divine favor, he was required to endure persecution and hardship before being released in the fullness of his calling. It was during these difficult years that character was being formed in him that would prepare him for Kingship. Decisions that he made in the wilderness helped formulate the pattern of his life when he attained the throne.

So has it been for many in the church. It seems as though our enemies have prevailed over us despite the great promises given to us by the Holy Spirit. It is during the difficult seasons that Divine character is being formed in us as we are purged and purified from our own carnality so we can faithfully accommodate the anointing. Righteous decisions made during the dry intervals reap immeasurable dividends during the seasons of prosperity.

One of the most challenging things during the baptism of trials is to wait upon the Lord for His timing in the release of the promises. Like David we cry to the Lord, How Long must we endure these difficult and trying times? Nonetheless, we are admonished to be still and wait upon the completion of His sanctifying work of grace within, so the fullness of His anointing can be released to us. The tendency during these times is to do something, oftentimes misinterpreting ministry for DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER. In Matthew 7 the Lord describes many who were involved in ministry, healing the sick, casting out devils, performing miracles and other worthy things; even so, their destiny was outer darkness. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (Matt 7:21) It is in doing the will of the Father that we access the Kingdom of Heaven and find favor and grace in time of need.

Our encouragement is found in Verse 5, But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. For many, the day of salvation is at hand.

The term for salvation in this passage is "yeshu`sh" denoting deliverance, welfare, prosperity, and victory. It's unique application has to do with deliverance from present troubles and the assurance that the Lord is aware of our condition and will intervene in our behalf. The Lord assures us saying, I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jer 29:11). Our Savior's plans for us are for welfare and prosperity not calamity. However, wilderness experiences are allowed to establish Godly character in us and allow us to sow seeds of righteousness that will reap bountiful dividends in the seasons ahead. We must pray with the same assurance as David despite the external circumstances realizing that the Lord is faithful to His promises. Not one of His promises has ever failed in all of history.

David begins this Psalm with a cry of desperation but concludes it by remembering the Lord's faithfulness to His promises and the bountiful favor with which the Lord has vowed to establish His people. So is it with us; though our minds are burdened with the difficulty of our circumstances, our spirits rejoice at the realization of our Savior's promises to us. Repentance and obedience to the Will of the Father will prepare us for the day of visitation. To whom shall the Lord appear in the day of His visitation? Those who have His commandments and faithfully adhere to them. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (John 14:21)

In another prophetic experience Bob was shown a vision of a woman in bridal attire standing in front of a mirror making herself ready for her Bridegroom. The mirror was quite significant in the vision with an unusual design with four beveled corners that were the focus of Bob's attention. A beautiful aroma saturated the room emanating from a bread cake placed upon the table representing the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. Based upon our understanding of the vision, the Holy Spirit is making the Church ready for a divine visitation.

In fact, He is preparing overcomers to whom He can bestow His Holy Spirit in great measure. The mirror with four beveled corners represents the Word of God surrounded by the four living creatures as described in the book of Revelations. It is the nature of the four living creatures that is imparted to the bride in order to make her ready as a suitable tabernacle for the Holy Spirit, becoming One with the Father. The woman standing in front of the mirror represents the remnant willing to make themselves ready. The bread cake represents the table of Shewbread or the Bread of His Presence reserved only for the priesthood that is willing to enter into His sanctuary and come before Him to minister to Him and become a partaker of His divine nature. (Eze 44:15-18) This bread also is representative of great healing power that will be demonstrated in the soon approaching visitation.

In this vision the Lord made an audible proclamation to give us a South African violet . This seemed to represent giftings of the Holy Spirit that are present in South Africa being transferred like a cross pollenization from them to the American Church. In this vision the Lord also gave Psalm 7 as a promise of divine protection as He begins to impart the South African buds into us, along with His promise of divine protection. The Lord is expressing that it is going to become increasingly dangerous to continually resist the Holy Spirit and those who are anointed with a true Godly anointing. Through this Psalm He is declaring that the day is soon approaching when He personally will take action on our behalf when persecuted because of the anointing.

The enemies of slander, gossip, malice, sickness and bondage have prevailed over the Church long enough. The Holy Spirit will awaken as if from a slumber and will act on behalf of those who have been as wise virgins making themselves ready in preparation for the Bridegroom. Though this preparation has oftentimes been at great personal expense and painful persecution, it will prove well worth any cost at the time of His visitation. The devourers of depression, discouragement, rejection, jealousy, selfish-ambition and other spiritual thieves will be rebuked and scattered at His appearing to deliver His people from their enemies.

Psalm 7 is actually identified as a Shiggaion of David describing a wild or passionate song recited before the Lord because of the persecution at the hands of Cush the Benjamite. Many believe Cush was either a close friend or possibly even a relative of David's. Whichever is true, it is apparent Cush obtained Davids trust and was allowed within the intimate circle of David's leadership. Unfortunately, Cush did not possess loyalty toward David but to his fellow Benjaminite, Saul. David represents Gods anointed leadership and Cush symbolizes the enemy efforts to undermine the authority of true spiritual administration. The promise of Psalm 7 is that we are not required to provide a personal defense; rather, the Lord is the defender of our lives and of His anointing. O LORD my God, in Thee I have taken refuge; save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, Lest he tear my soul like a lion, dragging me away, while there is none to deliver. (Ps 7:1-2)

In verse 11 the Lord is actually stating that He is a righteous judge and He is angry with wickedness every day. That is why there has been such a powerful call to repentance in the Church. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

"If he does not turn back, he will sharpen His sword; he bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; he makes His arrows into fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." (Ps 7:11-17

We must repent for our unrighteousness and disobedience so His wrath and indignation will pass over us as it did the children of Israel when the Blood of the Lamb preserved their lives in the land of Goshen. The Lord has prepared for Himself deadly weapons which in reality are angels of destruction/calamity and He is warning the accusers of the brethren to beware, for He will now take issue with those that persecute His anointing and the True Knowledge of Christ.

On one occasion the Apostle Paul, while presenting the Truth of the gospel to the people of Salamis, found himself being continually withstood by the false prophet Bar-Jesus. It is a dangerous thing to withstand the anointing of God in a day of visitation. Elymus was not opposing mere flesh and blood but the very God of all creation working through His servants. Because of the hardness of his unrepentant heart, judgement fell upon Elymus for refusing to cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord .

"And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also {known as} Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him, and said, "You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time. And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand." (Acts 13:6-11)

We must walk humbly before the Lord in a Spirit of Love and unity continually considering others as more important than ourselves, yielding to one another in gentleness and kindness. We must also fervently pray for the Spirit of Discernment to continually know the will of the Father so that we may do it likewise. Thus, we will not inadvertently oppose the working of the Holy Spirit during these final days of preparation. We must cultivate a love for the things that He loves and hate the things that He hates.