ARISE AND SHINE
LIGHT SHINETH IN THE DARKNESS
DRAPER’S PAPER ROUTE
ARISE AND SHINE
by Adam Carroll Draper
Two weeks ago the missive for this Paper Route was entitled “Iceberg, Right Ahead.” The conclusion offered this perspective: “The world may be on the verge of financial collapse. We may avert it… again. Some people stand to benefit from collapse, however. You will be able to tell who those beneficiaries are by what they try to do with the crisis they can’t let go to waste.”
It clearly did not require the clairvoyance of Nostradamus to see it coming. The market crashed this week. People are freaking out over the Coronavirus, hoarding toilet paper of all things. The whole world is staring over the brink. What do we do now? Funny you should ask because the response to that formed the title of last week’s missive, “Joy is Contagious.” We recognize that the Messiah’s bride is here on this earth for such a time as this. We shine Yeshua!
This reminds me of a joke I liked as a kid. We can take a second for a joke, it’s OK. The world hasn’t ended just yet.
A bull and some cows were standing in a field when an earthquake hit. All the cows fell to the ground, but the bull somehow stayed on his feet through it all.
“How did you keep from falling?” a cow asked.
The bull cleared his throat and responded proudly, “We bulls wobble, but we don’t fall down.”
I must admit that I have been setting up this week’s missive for a while because I knew this moment would come, and that some of us might need exhortation. Again, that did not require some tremendous revelation, but the Lord has been teaching me some precious things for some time now. These insights have provided the perspective from which I have been writing. Three weeks ago, the missive entitled “Keep the Lamp Lit” was about Yeshua’s parable of the ten virgins, and it ended thusly: “Dark times are coming (and may be here), but we are waiting for a party. The world is freaking out, but we are focused on love. Freely we have been given, so freely we give. It’s jubilation. We are shouting out in joy, ‘Come on in, the water is fine!’”
This is simply the gospel, children of the Most High! I will say it again, we are here for such a time as this. “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.”
Remember when our Lord Yeshua charged the disciples, “he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one?” (Luke 22:36). Do you think he was telling them each to get a sword? Come on, they missed it then, just like they missed it when he told them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and they thought he was referring to the fact that they had forgotten the bread. Think about it for a second. The sword was a reference to spiritual warfare. In context, he was telling them about how the Kingdom of God functions and their authority in it. He summed it up by revealing that he was fulfilling Isaiah’s prophesy that he would be counted among outlaws while he was saving us. They responded by telling him they had two swords. He must have thought, “Oi vey!” But he said, “It is enough.”
Beloved, whatever we have at this minute, “It is enough.”
The sword is the spirit, the word of God. It is time for us to put on the full armor of God.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Ephesians 6: 10-18.
The time of spiritual warfare is upon us. Part of waging that war is by rejoicing “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” This is a happy moment, filled with the joy of a battle already won. The end is not in doubt. The war the enemy fights is over us, however. It is over faith which is the substance of the wealth of the heavenlies. All the enemy has is lies and we empower him by believing them. Do not fear or worry because that just aids and abets the enemy. No, we rejoice!
4-5 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! 6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:4-7 (The Message).
The world around us is freaking out. Be strong and courageous. Remain resolute and shine the light that is within you. “The light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” Confound the enemy. Laugh and dance and sing. The Kingdom of God is within you.
He took captivity captive!
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1-2.
If you got anything out of this missive, please give it a thumbs up, comment and/or share it. It helps. I sincerely appreciate that you took the time to read it.