Gather and Scatter

 Meditation John 7:41-53

1. Many people said that CHRIST is truly a prophet. (V41)
2. Some questioned CHRIST must come from Bethlehem being the seed of David according to the scriptures but he is coming from Galilee. Thus there was division among the People. (42,43)
3. No man laid their hands on him though they wanted to take him. (V44)
4. The  priests and Pharisees asked the officers why they could not take him? For which they said No man spoke like him. (V45,46)
5. The Pharisees asked them if they were deceived too. They told them they are cursed as they knew not the law. None of the Pharisees or the rulers believed in him. (V48,49)
6. For this Nicodemus the ruler who had an encounter with Christ in the night said that the law does not judge anyone before hearing or knowing what that person does. (V50,51)
7. They answered and told him to look as no prophet arises from Galilee and everyone went to their own house(V52, 53)

LIFE APPLICATION::
And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.
John:7:44

Here in our meditation today there Is a huge group of people gathering behind Christ.

 1. One group wanted to really know who Christ was, if he really was a prophet. (V40)
2. Another group opposed even the idea of it. (V41-43)
3. Some of them wanted to take him and kill  him, but they couldn't.  (V44-46)
4. Some of them plotting and convincing everyone that he is not CHRIST.  (V47-49)
5. In the same group there were few who have met CHRIST and spoke for his cause too. (V50-52)

PEOPLE GATHER AGAINST THE RIGHTEOUS:

Today we are going to meditate why  people gather against us and how God is going to raise us up amidst them.
and fight the battle for us.

1. Why do people gather against the righteous and the godly.?

A. Because their thoughts are evil.

Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
Psalm:56:5

B. They gather against the soul of the righteous and to condemn the innocent blood.
They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psalm:94:21

C. They gather to battle  against God and his saints.

And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Revelation:20:8

2. What do the wicked do against the godly?

A. They speak deceitfully against the righteous with a lying tongue.

For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Psalm:109:2

B. They speak words of hatred.

They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Psalm:109:3

C. They slay the broken in heart.

Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
Psalm:109:16

D. They curse the righteous:

Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
Psalm:109:28

E. They condemn the soul of the righteous .

Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
Psalm:109:28

F. They plot against the just and gnash their teeth.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Psalm:37:12

G. They lay snares against the righteous.

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
Psalm:38:12

How does GOD help us to deal with wicked people gathering against us?:

Let's meditate a few of God's promises.

A. We can fall seven times but still we shall rise.

Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Proverbs:24:15

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Proverbs:24:16

B. The candle of the wicked shall be put out.

For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Proverbs:24:20

C. God delivers our soul from the wicked. He preserves our soul.

Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.
Psalm:97:10

D. The horns of the wicked will be cut off.

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Psalm:75:10

E. When the enemy gathers against us  the Lord himself scatters them with his lightning.

Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Psalm:18:14

F. Nations can encompass us. But we will take victory because of our Lord.

All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
Psalm:118:10

They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Psalm:118:12

G. Fire will come down from heaven to destroy them in the day of battle.

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Revelation:20:9

Dearly beloved saints of the most high God....
We have a heavenly father who speaks for us and fights on our behalf.

 We battle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers in darkness... against spiritual wickedness in high places.

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.
Ephesians:6:12

They will gather but God will scatter them that their weapons can never be repaired anymore.

Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.
Psalm:59:11

Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.
Psalm:144:6

Dear Child of God,

No weapon formed against you shall ever prosper. No tongue that rises in judgement against can prosper either. This is our heritage as the servant of God.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah:54:17

You may in the position as David said, encompassed by enemies in all sides,

Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
Psalm:22:12

For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Psalm:22:16

Even the sorrow of death can compass you.

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
Psalm:18:4

But cry out to the Lord your shield and shelter, he will hear from his mighty heavens. He will incline his ears to hear your cry and to deliver you from trouble.

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.
Psalm:18:6


He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
Psalm:18:17

This is the experience of David.... and so will be yours.

Also God sends us people who will speak for us as Nicodemus did... Let not your hearts be troubled.
Your soul is not going to end up in hell. Some of you have lost all your hope as the enemy both physical and spiritual are more stronger than you.

Some of you are under the grips of guilt beating yourself, thinking you are responsible for your own problems

Dear loving child, you are not a cast away.
 Your heavenly father loves you still and you are STILL the Apple of his eye. Cry out to him... and see the salvation of the Lord. May God bless you.

Fear

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

                       

As I was meditating on the word of God, I was brooding over this particular topic on fear for a while. Fear is a peculiar weapon that the enemy uses to shatter the faith of Christians. Fear can keep you under bondage (Romans 8: 15). Fear can torment you. ( 1 John 4: 18) Fear is one among the most fiery darts the devil use to get you paralyzed, frozen and to even give up your walk with the Lord. As humans, we are vulnerable. We fear of things we do not know. We fear things yet to come. We fear consequences of our past. We fear death, at times we even fear to live. We fear people. We fear demons and why not, we even fear GOD out of condemnation.

This is how the devil works. He put thoughts of fear in you and stands as a silent spectator watching the way you react. As you give way, he puts in more of such thoughts till you wind up in depression. Another deception of the devil is to make you feel intimidated when you dare to acknowledge your hidden fears, so that you will be in the same vicious cycle again.

If you have been gripped by fear of any nature, be it acknowledged or hidden, the good news is that you are not alone. Fear had been the devil`s weapon since ages and that is why, the word `Fear not ` has been documented in the Bible for more than 365 times, (as if God is telling us not to fear everyday of the year).

If you have been a captive of fear, today is your day to conquer it. It is written in Hebrews 2: 14, 15 that Jesus died on the cross to take victory over death so that we are no longer under the bondage of fear of death. The Love of God is higher, deeper and wider enough to cast away all your fears. God has given us the spirit of adoption whereby we can cry unto him Abba Father.

So if you are someone seeking how to loosen yourself from fear, just follow these simple steps below.

•  Come before God as you are, as a clay in the potter`s hands, as a child to his or her father, as a creation to the creator, as a captive to the deliverer and cry out to him till he puts his loving hands around you and whisper not to fear.
•  Honestly acknowledge and renounce every of your hidden fears before him, till your burdens are lifted up.
•  Meditate on the word of God till your armor of faith rise enough to repel every dart of fear aimed at you. 
• Be filled with the love of Christ and be ready to take every thought captive according to 2 Corinthians 10:5.
• Use the sword of the word of God and all - prayer to fight back.                                 Remember, We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.(Romans 8:37). God bless!