Devo Week 27 - Discerning the Unseen Realm
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt.10:16
You are God’s Field - Culture as Soil
If you want to work with God, you’ll find Him in the garden of your heart. That’s where He does some of His deepest work. Be prepared, though, to get your hands dirty. Good gardening requires much digging, weeding and pruning. Without that, there will be no good harvest.
WHO IS FOR US
God is the great Gardener, and we are His field. (I Cor. 3:9, John 15:1) He watches over us, His plantings, and intends for us to flourish (Rom. 8:35-39, John 10:10) Jesus, the second Adam, came to reclaim and restore all the gardens of the nations. Just as he came to Mary as the Gardener, (John 20:11-18) He comes to clear out (weed and prune) all sin and demonic influences in our lives.
God separates the weeds from the real plant to ensure growth and fruitfulness. With our repentance, God purifies our hearts and cleanses us, while pouring His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 5:3) He roots out sin (purification) and prunes demonic practices (deliverance) in our lives and throughout our culture. This brings redemption, freedom, and grace to us personally and collectively.
WHO IS AGAINST US
Satan also likes gardens, but he is not a gardener. Instead, he hides among tall, thick weeds, as an imposter. Like a snake, he is cunning and deceitful. He feasts on weeds from seeds of sin, and he sows tares, false seeds that grow and look like the real plant. We need to stay alert to the work of the enemy in our fields.
Weeds are our works of the flesh and in time are not difficult to discern, as they do not have the likeness of fruit born of the Spirit. Weeds include such seeds as hate, unrighteous anger, abuse, bitterness, unforgiveness. By our confession and repentance, such weeds can be pulled out.
Tares, on the other hand, are more difficult to discern as they may hide behind our attitudes and motivations. Lurking below the surface, tares will sprout up in pride, hypocrisy, envy, covetousness, etc… We may need deliverance from the Lord to experience freedom at this level.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH
Lord, may we be instruments of redemption among all nations. Reveal to us by the Holy Spirit how you are working among both people and cultures. Give us courage to cooperate with Your pruning in our personal lives and throughout our culture. We pray the gardens of our hearts will flourish, being conformed to Your image, so Your glory will be expressed throughout the earth, in Jesus’ name, Amen!